Small Press Spotlight! Valancourt Books!

Posted on October 11, 2018 by Jenn

Valancourt Books

Ladies and gentlemen!! I can’t tell you how excited I am to have discovered this small press, located just a few hours from me in Richmond, VA! Valancourt’s  mission is to resurrect rare, neglected, out-of-print fiction.  They’ve been around since 2005, but I just recently discovered them randomly on Instagram!

One of the many reasons I’m so thrilled they exist is that they are bring back to life some of the classic horror I’ve missed reading.  Horror hasn’t always been a genre publishes rush to obtain, so I’m ecstatic that the great people at Valancourt not only seek it out, but embrace it wholeheartedly!

Not a fan of horror? Not to worry, for they publish a whole gamut of genre, most with a supernatural tinge.  Take a look at their catalog here:

Literary Fiction
Horror & Science Fiction
Vintage Thrills and Chills
LGBT Interest
Gothic & Romantic
Victorian & Edwardian

 

I’m pulling down my “wish list” of titles to purchase now!  Do any jump out at you?

Posted in Murders, Monsters, & Mayhem | Leave a comment

Review: The Witch of Willow Hall by Hester Fox

Posted on October 10, 2018 by Jenn

I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Review: The Witch of Willow Hall by Hester FoxThe Witch of Willow Hall by Hester Fox
Published by Harlequin on October 1, 2018
Genres: Fiction, General, Ghost, Gothic, Historical, Occult & Supernatural
Pages: 408
Format: eARC
Source: the publisher
After a scandal rocks the reputation of the Montrose family, the three daughters  Catherine, Lydia and Emeline, leave Boston with their parents and head to their new home, Willow Hall.   Country life is meant to be a source of calm for the family, but it's soon obvious that something ominous resides on the grounds of Willow Hall.  Lydia, the middle daughter, has struggled with her "temper" most of her life.  At Willow Hall, surrounded by the remnants of its dark and haunting past, she soon understands that there is something in her family's past that explains these "spells" she experiences. The new setting seems to feed this aspect of her life, and she must learn to control them in order to protect not only her life, but the lives of those around her.

I absolutely adored the dark and Gothic setting!  A perfect fall read, this most certainly put me in the mood for Halloween.

Fox has created quite the addictive read (I read it in one weekend afternoon).  The setting, so vivid and well developed is truly almost a character itself.  The depth that the author goes into describing it makes it leap from the pages. You feel the chill in the air, the dampness of the rain.  The characters, too are expertly crafted. The each have their own uniqueness about them, making it quite easy to stand out from one another.  Lydia was easily my favorite character. Overshadowed by her gorgeous older sister, she’s often the one that is forgotten.  Her abilities, however, allow her stand out in true form!

When reading a 19th century historical fiction with themes like witchcraft, readers are often forced to endure cliches about the Salem Witch trials and what transpired. That’s not the case with this title.  It does stand out as a truly unique read.

I labeled this as horror for there are some dark and spooky aspects, but in reality it reads a bit more like a historical Gothic romance with tinges of horror.  This is certain to appeal to readers of all types. Highly recommended.

Posted in Horror, Murders, Monsters, & Mayhem, Mystery/Suspense, Review | 1 Comment

Review: The Lies We Told by Camilla Way

Posted on October 9, 2018 by Jenn

I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Review: The Lies We Told by Camilla WayThe Lies We Told by Camilla Way
Published by Penguin on October 9, 2018
Genres: Crime, Fiction, Psychological, Suspense, Thrillers
Pages: 336
Format: eARC
Source: the publisher
From a young age, Beth knew there was something wrong with her daughter, Hannah.  She experienced no emotion, lacked the ability to develop friendships and seemed to find pleasure in hurting others.  Beth knows that she should take Hannah to get professional help.  While it may help curb her destructive and dangerous behavior, she fears that Hannah may reveal the secret she overheard.  The truth can't be discovered, for it would mean the end of their lives as they knew it.

Luke and Clara have a seemingly perfect relationship. Luke comes from an idyllic family and showers Clara with love and affection.  One day, however, he disappears without a trace. The police leads dwindle, so Clara and Luke's best friend embark upon their own investigation.  Thinking Luke's disappearance may be tied to a hurt and bitter former girlfriend, they delve into his past and Clara soon learns that Luke isn't quiet as perfect as he seemed.  Now his life is in danger because of the secrets he and his family once kept.  They must find him before revenge deals a deadly blow.

There is a lot going in this thriller! Told in two different points of view, that of Beth in the past and Clara in the present.  At the onset, it isn’t apparent that the two stories are intertwined. The author does an expert job at curating and building up the individual storylines, but quite compelling and engaging in their own. It’s when they start to converge, and the multitude of secrets are revealed, that I began to struggle.

The effect of lies on relationship is a common theme in fiction.  Yes, everyone lies to some extent, but in the case of this title, EVERYONE lies and they aren’t little fibs either.  Unreliable narrators are an effective tool when used properly, but in this case, I felt it was a little overused.  Nearly everyone had secrets they were keeping from one another. Some were revealed as the plot advanced and seemed natural given the feel of this read.  Then, there were excessive ones that felt unnecessary that didn’t add any value to the overall reading experience.  Does this deter from the overall reading experience? Perhaps not, but it’s certainly something that lingered in my mind as I read.  Additionally, the lack of police involvement in many aspects of Luke’s disappearance , requiring Clara to solve the case herself, seemed a little far-fetched and unbelievable.

All this said, I wouldn’t denounce this as an engaging read.  The author certainly has a way of captivating her readers with the characters she’s developed.  Independently, each storyline independently could have made truly outstanding thrillers!  Hannah’s character reminded me a lot of the child in Baby Teeth!  Together, both storylines are quite a lot, but engaging nonetheless.

Posted in Murders, Monsters, & Mayhem, Mystery/Suspense, Review, Thriller | Leave a comment

2018 Murder, Monsters & Mayhem Week 1 Recap!

Posted on October 5, 2018 by Jenn

 

It’s the end of the first week of Murder, Monsters, & Mayhem!

Here’s what happened on the blog, in case you missed it:

 

I’m looking forward to the weekend; my first weekend off of work in two weeks! Cooler weather is here; time to catch up on some spooky reads (and maybe a Halloween movie marathon)!

Did you read any spooky titles this week?

Posted in Murders, Monsters, & Mayhem | 1 Comment

Review: The Impossible Girl by Lydia Kang

Posted on October 4, 2018 by Jenn
Review: The Impossible Girl by Lydia KangThe Impossible Girl by Lydia Kang
Published by Amazon Publishing on September 18, 2018
Pages: 364
Format: eBook
New York. 1850. Cora Lee is an illegitimate child born out of a relationship between a wealthy socialite and an unnamed immigrant. The circumstances about her birth (and her survival) were kept secret from the wealthy side of her family.  For many reasons, she's a remarkable woman.  She has unique trait that sets her apart from the world: two hearts beat within her body.

As the only female resurrectionist in New York, she has quite the talent for tracking down bodies with the most remarkable abnormalities.  Anatomists have a difficult time getting their hands on such anomalies, and most are willing to pay a pretty penny in order to display them in public.  Her line of work also allows her to keep track of who is hunting for her, for her ailment is the source of legends.  Obtaining her body would render any anatomist the most lucrative of rewards.

Cora Lee catches news of a rise in the number of murders. The victims just happen to have specific anatomical anomalies, individuals whose names Cora Lee has kept hidden in her journal. These deaths hit too close to home, and now Cora Lee is left without anyone to trust.  As the killer(s)?! continue to go down the list of bodies to procure, she soon learns that hers must be the last one on it.  Though young in age, it's not implausible Cora Lee could die of a sudden, unnatural death...

What an incredibly fun read! This title appeared on my Kindle as a free read and boy, am I glad! I don’t know that I would have been aware of this title, otherwise.  It’s a completely unique storyline, one rich with history and filled to the brim gothic goodness!

Cora Lee is quite the unique character!  As  a woman, she’s not often given access to the things that men might.  Rather than sit down and let her trade be overcome by men, she dresses up as a man (in her case, her brother), to get the job done.  This proves to be a bit of a challenge on occasion, yet Cora Lee is thick-skinned and determined, not letting something as simple as this to hold her back.

I loved the setting and Kang does an outstanding job of keeping the reader’s attention.  A physician herself, it’s obvious that she has a passion for the history of medicine. I’m now making it a mission to check out her other titles.   Highly recommended!

Posted in Murders, Monsters, & Mayhem, Review | 1 Comment

Review: The Good Demon by Jimmy Cajoleas

Posted on October 3, 2018 by Jenn

I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Review: The Good Demon by Jimmy CajoleasThe Good Demon by Jimmy Cajoleas
Published by Abrams on September 18th 2018
Genres: Horror, Young Adult Fiction
Pages: 320
Format: eARC
Source: the publisher
Since her exorcism, Clare has been lost without her demon.  Simply known as Her, Clare's demon was like a sister to her.  After she randomly meets the son of the preacher who exorcised her, Clare begins a mission to do whatever it takes to get Her back.  In doing so, she learns that her small Southern town has a deep, dark history, rich with occult roots. Her search forces her to question many things, including the line between good and evil, and religion and free will.

Cajoleas has created quite the sympathetic character in Clare.  Lonely in a small Southern town, with alcoholics as parents, her possession forged the only true “friendship” Clare had ever experienced.  Clare’s character is genuine and believable, a typical teen girl struggling with her own self-identity.

A wholly unique storyline, we follow Clare on her journey toward self-appreciation and growth, a coming-of-age like none other.  We meet Clare after her exorcism and, at least in her eyes, her possession was never dangerous our something to fear.  As her search to be reunited with Her, though, Clare discovers the relationship isn’t quite as innocuous as it seemed.

I dare you to find another title like this!  Highly recommended for readers looking for a touch of horror, but nothing to gruesome or chilling.  It isn’t until the near end that I felt chilled to the bone.  Clare’s journey, and the build-up to the end, is truly remarkable and rewarding.  Highly recommended!

 

Posted in Horror, Murders, Monsters, & Mayhem, Review, YA | 1 Comment

Review: Foe by Iain Reid

Posted on October 2, 2018 by Jenn

I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Review: Foe by Iain ReidFoe by Iain Reid
Also by this author: I'm Thinking of Ending Things
Published by Simon and Schuster on September 4, 2018
Genres: Fiction, Literary, Psychological, Suspense, Thrillers
Pages: 272
Format: eARC
Source: the publisher
Junior and Henrietta lead a quiet, remote life on their farm. They never get visitors, so when a man appears late one night, their suspicions are instantly raised.  The man, Terrance, is an agent for a company called Outercore.  Terrance breaks most unusual news: Junior has been selected to represent Earth on a mission that will take him far...far from home.  Apparently, he's been observed by Outercore for some time now, without his knowledge.   The mission isn't a quick one; he will be gone for a few years.  Though Junior didn't ask or apply for this mission, it's paramount that he accept it. While he awaits this journey, Terrance visits frequently to study Junior and Henrietta's relationship to ensure that his "replacement," an individual who will keep Henrietta company while he is gone, is most suited for the responsibility.

As time passes, Junior reflects often on his relationship with Henrietta.  Rather than getting closer as his mission date approaches, he finds she is distancing herself from him.  As the truth is revealed, Junior is left with answers that question not only his relationship with Henrietta, but his very existence.

Reid’s previous title,  I’m Thinking of Ending Things, introduced me to the sheer talent that is Iain Reid. When I heard he had a new title releasing, I knew I had to get my hands on a copy.

In true Reid form, this most recent novel takes you on a whirlwind ride.  You soon learn you cannot trust any of the characters; you are left questioning (and often doubting) nearly everything you read.   Not only is this a truly dynamic suspense/psychological thriller, it’s an examination of human relationships, the human condition…essentially everything that makes up being human.

To me, Foe is quite reminiscent of the Twilight Zone.  The setting, story-line, characters…everything could easily have been taking from that great classic.  From the unique story line to the mind-blowing and twisty ending, I honestly kept thinking I’d start hearing that eerie theme music in the background.

All in all, this is a highly, highly recommended read!

 

Posted in Mystery/Suspense, Review, Thriller | 2 Comments

2018 Murder, Monsters & Mayhem Kick-Off!

Posted on October 1, 2018 by Jenn

 

 

Happy October 1st or, as I like to call it, the first day of Halloween!  Our temps have been vacillating between blazing hot and seasonably chilly, so this kick-off to fall has been a little challenging.

Anyone who has followed this blog for any significant period of time understand just how much I love Halloween (and Fall in general)! To celebrate my obsession with the macabre, each year I host a month long feature in October called Murder, Monsters & Mayhem (Mx3). For the entire month, I’ll be sharing some horror/thriller/mystery suspense titles that gave me the chills!

I’ll officially kick off with the first review post tomorrow, but wanted to start the link-up for others reading spooktacular books this month!

Stay tuned for more….and keep your lights on!


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Review: I Know You Know by Gilly Macmillan #iknowyouknow

Posted on September 18, 2018 by Jenn

I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Review: I Know You Know by Gilly Macmillan #iknowyouknowI Know You Know by Gilly Macmillan
Published by HarperCollins on September 18, 2018
Genres: Fiction, Mystery & Detective, Psychological, Thrillers
Pages: 384
Format: eARC
Source: the publisher
Two decades ago, eleven year olds Charlie Paige and Scott Ashby were found murdered, their bodies left overlooking a dog racing track. Though a man was convicted and sentenced for their murder, unanswered questions still plague the surviving friend, Cody Swift.

Cody typically would have been with Charlie and Scott, yet he was kept home by his mother that fateful evening. Haunted by the unanswered questions, he returns to Bristol, starting a podcast in an attempt to get someone to come forward with additional information.  Years ago, Charlie's mother, the young Jess Paige, received public shame for her involvement that morning; she was responsible for keeping an eye on the boys.  Now married and with another child, she's reluctant to dredge up the past and reveal what really happened that night.

Meanwhile, a long-dead body is found close to the the location where the boys' bodies were dumped. A whole new murder investigation is launched, led by Detective John Fletcher, the very man who discovered the bodies all those years ago. This additional murder forces everyone to question the real identity of the killer. Fletcher built the case that convicted Sidney Noyce, a mentally challenged man, of the crime.  In order to save his career, he must uncover the identity of the true killer

Wow.  This thriller is chock full of secrets and lies, all of which Macmillan expertly and patiently reveals to her readers.  This is my first sampling of her writing, despite frequent recommendations by readers whose opinions I value and trust. I now have plans to seek out her backlist!

What really stands out about this thriller is the sheer volume of angles Macmillan examines, drafting a number of truly dynamic and well-developed characters.  The very individual who was shamed all those years ago is the one who is unable to uncover the secrets and lies that have been buried all this time.  Jess has her own secrets she wants to keep buried so the reader is left questioning whether or not she can be trusted.  Her secret, along with the identity of the killer, are revealed almost simultaneously, leaving the readers jaw dropped with shock.

All in all, this is a truly well written read, one I devoured in one sitting! Highly, highly recommended!

 

 

Purchase Links

HarperCollins | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

About Gilly Macmillan

Gilly Macmillan is the Edgar Nominated and New York Times bestselling author of What She Knew. She grew up in Swindon, Wiltshire and lived in Northern California in her late teens. She worked at The Burlington Magazine and the Hayward Gallery before starting a family. Since then she’s worked as a part-time lecturer in photography, and now writes full-time. She resides in Bristol, England.

Find out more about Gilly at her website, and connect with her on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

 

Posted in Mystery/Suspense, Review, Thriller | 4 Comments

Review: Cross Her Heart by Sarah Pinborough

Posted on September 11, 2018 by Jenn

I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Review: Cross Her Heart by Sarah PinboroughCross Her Heart by Sarah Pinborough
Also by this author: Behind Her Eyes
Published by HarperCollins on September 4, 2018
Genres: Fiction, General, Mystery & Detective, Psychological, Suspense, Thrillers
Pages: 352
Format: Hardcover
Source: the publisher
For many years, Lisa's whole life has revolved around her daughter, Ava. Other than her daughter, and her best friend Marilyn, she's kept everyone else at a distance.  Yet when a new client seems to show interest in her, Lisa wonders if it's time to trust once again.  A horrific secret from her youth puts up a barrier between her and any other relationship.

Everything changes when Ava rescues a drowning boy. Her picture, now all over the news, brings the secret bubbling up from the past. She can no longer hide from the truth, and now must determine who she can trust, now that her entire world is threatened.  She broke a secret she make long ago and now she's forced to face the consequences.

I’ve been a fan of Sarah Pinborough for some time now.  She’s known for her shocking thrillers and terrifying horror titles.  Her previous title,  Behind Her Eyes, gave readers a glimpse of her terrifying potential.

This title is definitely one of her more tamer novels.  While there are twists and turns, it wasn’t nearly as shocking as her previous titles.  I think this opens up to a whole realm of new readers, those that aren’t quite prepared for jaw-dropping fiction.

As with her previous works, Pinborough has crafted well developed and genuine characters.  She excels at capturing the Ava’s youth, her teen drama and angst, while simultaneously building Julia’s character of a mother out to protect her daughter.  Julia’s character is developed more slowly; her past revealed slowly carefully.  She likely did this as to not destroy the “caring, loving mother” vibe once we found out more about her past.

As I mentioned previously, Pinborough’s characteristic twists and turns are there, but toned down. She still managed to surprise me on numerous occasions, a sure indication of writing brilliance.  After reading an author for so long, usually I’m able to predict where they are going. In this case, the journey took an unplanned detour that did leave me breathless.

All in all, I do highly recommend this novel to fans of suspense thrillers!  If you haven’t read Pinborough before, let this serve as your leaping off point!

Thank you to TLC Book Tours for providing me the opportunity to review this title!

Posted in Mystery/Suspense, Review, Thriller | 3 Comments