I Did It For You: A Novel by Amy Engel

(Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book!)

 

about book: (summary from Goodreads)

A twisty thriller from the beloved author of The Familiar Dark, in which a woman returns to the town where her sister was murdered and finds a presumed copycat on the loose

It’s been fourteen years since Greer Dunning’s older sister, Eliza, was murdered, and Greer’s family has never been the same. And now there's been a similar killing in Greer’s small Kansas hometown, Ludlow, after the execution of the convicted killer. A copycat, according to the authorities, but Greer is convinced there is more to the story. That Eliza’s murderer had help all those years ago.

So Greer returns to Ludlow after more than a decade away, desperate to find answers to the questions that have haunted her for years. Her drive to uncover the truth pushes her to form a bond with the unlikeliest of allies. 

At once a riveting mystery and a deep exploration of guilt, loss, and the ways in which a violent murder transforms both the family of the victim and the family of the killer, I Did It For You will keep readers captivated through the very last page.

my thoughts:

A gripping psychological thriller by Amy Engel, I Did it For You, will keep you reading late into the night. I know that I loved staying up to find out what would happen next. I figured out the whodunit pretty early on, but that didn't detract from the story one bit. In fact, it made me want to keep reading to find out the 'why'. 

So, what's the story about? Well, Greer had an older sister named Eliza who was murdered nearly fifteen years ago. She was killed, along with her boyfriend in a parked car. The killer was tried and executed. Although, Greer has always been convinced that there was a second person involved in her sister's murder. Fast forward to the news that two teens have just been killed in the same manner as Eliza and her boyfriend. Is there a copycat? Or, has the real culprit behind her sister's murder struck again? Yikes! Talk about a thrilling mystery!

The more we get to know Greer, the more we get to learn about the town, the people, and her family. All of it makes for quite an unputdownable story. Especially, reading about Greer befriending her sister's murderer's brother - say what? Yep, their attraction is fierce, but so is their family's entangled history. And, that is all I will share about this terrific story. You have to check it out - it's a must-read! Fans of Engel are going LOVE, I Did It For You - I know, I did. 

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book!

Fatal Fudge Swirl: An Ice Cream Shop Mystery by Meri Allen

(Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book!)

about book:

A movie production brings drama―and murder―to a close-knit New England village, forcing Riley Rhodes to scoop out the suspects.

Former CIA librarian and amateur sleuth Riley Rhodes is loving her fresh start as the manager of the Udderly Delicious Ice Cream Shop. The leaves are turning, tourists are leaf-peeping, and Penniman, Connecticut is putting finishing touches on the weekend long Halloween Happening. But the village is also buzzing. Former child star Cooper Collins is overseeing the production of a romantic comedy that’s filming on the town green and his domineering socialite mother, Diantha, is planning her lavish Halloween themed wedding at her Inn on the Green. Her fiancé has run the Inn's kitchen for years, ably aided by his recent ex-wife, chef Mary Ann Dumas. An old friend of Riley’s, Mary Ann turns to her when the bride requests a spooky ice cream wedding cake.

But the weekend takes a frightful turn when Diantha is found dead and suspicion falls on Mary Ann. The cast of potential suspects is long―each wedding guest had a chilling motive to kill the vicious heiress. Can Riley unmask the murderer before another guest ends up on ice?

my thoughts:

Cozy mysteries are my jam. I love them to bits! They are always such a fun treat to read. I was so excited to dive into Meri Allen's latest story, Fatal Fudge Swirl, the third book in her popular series, An Ice Cream Shop Mystery. I found myself indulging in a yummy sundae as I read the story - talk about a delicious combination!

Allen has created an entertaining story chock full of the usual suspects that go hand in hand to make a terrific murder mystery: a quaint New England village, quirky characters, a librarian/sleuth, an ice cream shop, Fall season - Halloween, a murder, and a best friend accused of the murder - yikes! How exciting does that sound? I know I enjoyed every minute I spend with this story. Loved it!

I would happily recommend Fatal Fudge Swirl to fans of Meri Allen and to anyone looking for their next great read - you will LOVE this book! Make sure to check it out!

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book!

Whispers At Dusk: The Blackbird Trilogy, Volume One by Heather Graham

 

(Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book!)

about book: (summary from Goodreads)

When darkness falls, there’s nowhere to hide.

Four bodies have been discovered along Europe’s riverbanks, placed with care—and completely drained of blood. Pinpricks on their throats indicate a slender murder weapon, but DNA found in the wounds suggests something far more sinister. Tasked with investigating, the FBI recruits Agents Della Hamilton and Mason Carter to Blackbird, an international offshoot of the Krewe of Hunters. If you want to catch a vampire killer, you need agents who can speak with the dead. 

The pair travel to Norway, where the shadowy forests of Lillehammer reveal a gruesome scene. The killer is thirsty for more victims, and the bloodless trail soon leads Della and Mason to a group that believes drinking blood is the key to immortality. To catch the culprit of such an intimate crime, the agents will have to get close. Mason’s already lost one partner; he’s not ready to risk Della as bait. But sometimes justice requires a sacrifice…

my thoughts:

Heather Graham is back with a new series, The Blackbird Trilogy. Whispers At Dusk is the first book and it is a thrilling and exciting read. I loved cozying up with it on a rainy night. What a great story!

Okay, so what's it about? FBI agents who can 'see' and talk to ghosts. Yep, Agents Della Hamilton and Mason Carter are tasked with heading up the Blackbird Team, which is part of the Krewe of Hunters. And, they are going international. This new case will have them heading to Norway to hunt down a serial killer 

who may or may not be a vampire. And, they'll need the help of the dead to capture the 'undead'. Yikes! How awesome does that sound? 

Graham has created a great cast and terrifying adventures for them to tangle with. I loved getting to know Della and Mason - their chemistry was fantastic! And, I really enjoyed traveling all over with them - talk about action-packed! What a fun ride!

I would happily recommend Whispers At Dusk to fans of Heather Graham and to anyone looking for their next great read - you will LOVE this new series! Make sure to check it out!

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book!

Try Not To Breathe: A Novel by David Bell

(Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book!)

 

about book: (summary from Goodreads)

An ex-cop sets out to find her missing sister and discovers the horrifying truth about her family...

A traumatic experience in the line of duty forces thirty-year-old Avery Rogers to abandon both her relationship and her position as a Kentucky State Police officer. She retreats to a college town where she works an unfulfilling job as a security guard, breaking up fights between drunken frat boys. 

But a frantic phone call turns Avery’s life upside down. Her father—a retired cop who never fails to convey his disappointment in Avery—says her half sister is missing and in danger. Avery is sure Anna’s just crashing with friends, but her father strong-arms her into searching for the sister she barely knows.

Anna Rogers is fed up with her family—a half sister who resents her existence and a domineering father who thinks it’s okay for cops to shoot unarmed civilians. She hits the road to attend a protest against police brutality, unaware of the danger that awaits her there. 

Just after catching a glimpse of Avery at the protest, Anna receives a shocking text. Now she’s no longer road-tripping; she’s running, pursued by an older sister she doesn’t trust and a violent stranger who has been stalking her for weeks. 

When Avery discovers Anna’s hiding place near a remote cave system, she risks everything to save her. Little do the sisters know that the past is catching up with them—including the explosive secret at the very heart of the Rogers family.

my thoughts:

Whoa! What a thrill ride! Try Not To Breathe by David Bell is AMAZING! It's a mystery thriller at its very best and it is unputdownable! Loved it to bits!!

Avery is an ex-cop turned security guard in a college town. She walked away from her old job and boyfriend after nearly dying in the line of duty. Now, she's just working and getting by. Until she gets a call from her dad - a retired cop - telling her that her half-sister Anna is missing. Avery thinks Anna is just hanging out with her college friends. But her dad convinces her to look for Anna. So, she hits the road. Anna is at a protest about cops shooting unarmed civilians. Little does she know that danger lurks nearby. And, that is all I will share, because this book is too damn good for you to miss out on. Make sure to get your hands on a copy ASAP. You have to read this gem. It is chock full of top notch writing, unlikeable characters that you can't help but connect with, and twists and turns that will have you flipping pages faster and faster to find out what happens next. Such a great story!

I would happily recommend Try Not To Breathe to anyone and everyone - you will LOVE this book!

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book!

The Water Tower by Amy Young

(Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book!)

 

about book:

Josie Ashbury was a successful Hollywood actress with a booming career—until an on-set breakdown sends her back to her small Ohio hometown to recover. Taking a job teaching at her old high school, Josie is beginning to put the pieces of her life back together when one of her students dies under suspicious circumstances. The police close the case quickly, without any real answers. Josie is determined to find the truth behind the girl's death.

At the same time, Josie is battling demons of her own. As she faces debilitating insomnia that leaves her with gaps in her memory, she dives into the tangled secrets surrounding the investigation. When she finally unravels the web, she discovers that the truth lies much closer to home than she could have ever imagined.

my thoughts:

I love a good mystery thriller and Amy Young delivers with her new novel, The Water Tower. Wow! What a great story!

Josie was a hugely successful actress in Hollywood who suffered a breakdown on-set. In order to recover, she decides to head back home to Ohio. She takes a job teaching at her old high school and even starts to date a fellow teacher. Life is moving along. And then, she finds a dead body - a student named Amber. It is suicide? Or is it murder? The police are quick to close the case, but Josie isn't. She soon finds herself caught up in dangerous territory as she struggles to figure out what happened to Amber and what is happening in her hometown. And, that is all I will say - you have to read to find out the rest. 

Young has written a suspenseful and intriguing story that will make you turn pages faster and faster, eager to find out what happens next. Make sure to check it out!

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book!