The Secret Dinner: A Novel by Raphael Montes

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

I love the cover of this book and I love the sound of it:

"The internationally acclaimed #1 bestselling thriller, now in English

“This rollercoaster of a novel is highly imaginative and totally unique. I devoured it — no pun intended! — in one sitting. By turns gory, shocking, macabre and often very funny, you won’t be able to put it down. Just be grateful you’re not on the menu…” —Alex Michaelides #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Silent Patient

Four childhood friends, eager for a taste of city life, swap rural Brazil for an apartment in Copacabana, Rio. But they have no idea of the fate that awaits them there. . . .

Dante, Piglet, Miguel, and Hugo are your average students trying to make ends meet with part-time jobs, excited about the bright futures at their fingertips. So when their rent skyrockets, they struggle to keep their new lives and big dreams afloat. They need to make money however they can. In order to keep their apartment, the friends adopt an unorthodox plan and are soon sucked into a dark world of secret dinner parties catering to the twisted fantasies of Rio’s elite.

What starts as a joke quickly spirals out of their control. As the four friends fall deeper into this dark underworld and earn more money, the stakes get higher and the consequences deadlier, revealing the devious depths that lurk within each of them and threatening not only their friendship but also their lives."

Are you kidding me? How great does that sound? Makes me want to grab a copy and devour it in one sitting. I love stories that involve a group of friends - that means there will always be secrets, revelations, differing perspectives on an event, etc. Also, it's always fun getting to know the friends and how they view one another. And, when push comes to shove, it's always interesting to see who sticks around. Okay, aside from the foursome, I do love the idea of a story set in Brazil - we get a taste of the differences between the haves and have-nots. Plus, a dark underworld about dinner parties for the elite and their twisted proclivities - I mean, c'mon, how could I not want to read about that? So, yeah, this book sounds like a definite must-read to me. I am so excited to dive right in and see what will come of Dante, Piglet, Miguel, and Hugo as they take a job working one of these twisted dinner parties. I'm positive it will make for quite an unputdownable and unforgettable story. I would recommend grabbing a copy and reading The Secret Dinner. I think you'll wind up loving this story. Happy reading!

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

Monday Musings...

Anxiety is high. Especially after a bit of family drama the other day. So, I spent the afternoon reading another Shari Lapena novel:

 

Today, I plan on running a few errands, tackling my to-do list, and dipping into yet another Shari Lapena book:

Hoping to write it out later today and get some of these anxious thoughts out of my head. Wishing you all a lovely week. Happy reading!

My Friday Five...

1. Reading this book that is confusing me so much, but I can't seem to stop reading. I have to find out what is happening and who done what.

 

2. Thanking God for helping my aunt through a terrifying moment. She was rushed to the hospital and it turns out she had a mini-stroke. She's back home and on new meds to help prevent anything happening in the future. She sounds great and I'm so grateful she's okay. 

3. Checking out the Hobonichi reveals for their 2027 lineup and deciding that all I want is a Weeks - the Moomin one in the green. That's all. No more, no less.

4. I bought another Gwendoline Riley book. I can't wait to read it!

5. Watched the Tiny Desk concert with Death Cab for Cutie and LOVED it. Reminded me how much I love their music. So good!

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend. Happy reading!

Three Things...

1. I'm much better, just a slight cough. So happy to finally feel able to do all the things, instead of just wanting to lie down. 

2. Reading this gem, which I am LOVING:

3. Enjoying The Real Housewives Ultimate Girl's Trip that celebrates 20 years of Housewives - so much fun to see the women in a different group and different cities. It's crazy ridiculous drama, which I love. And, I am also loving The Real Housewives of London - such a great city and group. However, those are the only two I'm watching on Bravo. I just can't seem to watch any of the other shows - too much toxic drama. 

Wishing you all a lovely Thursday. Happy reading!

Murder in Blackfriars: A Below Stairs Mystery by Jennifer Ashley

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

about book: (summary from Goodreads)

In Victorian London, valiant cook and amateur sleuth Kat Holloway must help the man she loves solve the murder that will finally uncover his mysterious past, from the New York Times bestselling author of A Silence in Belgrave Square.

Kat Holloway’s beau, Daniel McAdam, has always had a past shrouded in mystery. He knows nothing about his origins, only that a kind man rescued him from the streets all those years ago. So when a man claiming he knows where Daniel comes from turns up dead moments before meeting with them, Daniel goes on the hunt for the killer. It soon becomes clear that to see justice served, Daniel will have to figure out who he truly is and where he came from. When Daniel asks Kat for her assistance, she readily complies, knowing she’ll do whatever it takes to protect the man she’s come to love.

The quest takes Kat and Daniel deep into the East End, where they face dangerous foes from Daniel’s rugged past, many of whom aren’t happy that Daniel now works with the police and will stop at nothing to keep Kat and Daniel from uncovering their secrets. As Kat begins to learn things about Daniel’s history she’s not certain she wants to know, she fears that the darkest secret—his true name and lineage—will tear apart the tender bonds they’ve begun to form.

my thoughts:

A new-to-me series about an amateur sleuth named Kat Holloway. She's determined to help her boyfriend solve a murder in order to find out more about his past. Yep, there is mystery, murder, romance, and, Victorian London. How fun does that sound? Plus, unforgettable characters and an unputdownable story. This is the latest book in the Jennifer Ashley's popular series, A Below Stairs Mystery, and from what I understand it is her last one unless she signs a new contract. So, looks like I may have stumbled upon a great new series right at the very end...hmm...hopefully not. 

All I know is that I really enjoyed getting lost in London and getting to know Kat and Daniel. I definitely plan on reading the other books in the series and I do hope that a new one or three are forthcoming in the future. I would happily recommend this book to fans of Ashley and to anyone looking for their next great murder mystery read - you are going to enjoy this one! Make sure to grab a copy ASAP! 

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