One Of The Family by Jess Ryder

(Thank you to Bookouture for my copy of this book!)

about book: (summary from Goodreads)

My daughter’s boyfriend feels like one of the family. I couldn’t be happier to have him living with us. But now my daughter’s disappeared… 

I never wanted to have an empty nest. So when my daughter, Liv, asks if she and her new boyfriend, Jensen, can move in, I’m thrilled.

Jensen is so helpful. He tells me how he loves being part of a close-knit family. He’s felt so alone since his parents died. And for me, his presence goes a little way towards replacing the son I lost.

Still, I can’t help but notice that Liv and Jensen are starting to argue. My daughter seems unhappy. Perhaps they just need some time alone together?

But when my husband and I return from our weekend away, Liv is missing. The relationship with Jensen appears to be over but he doesn’t want to leave. And then I discover exactly what he will do to stay in our family…

An utterly gripping psychological thriller that will have you turning pages late into the night. If you love Lisa Jewell and Freida McFadden you will be hooked on One of the Family.

What everyone is saying about One of the Family:

‘A gripping, all-encompassing banger of a book that sucked me in from the first page! A thrilling page-turner with a twisty ending that made my jaw drop! It was a terrific read, and a whip-smart narrative that holds you from page to page! The characters were great, the story itself was very enjoyable and suspenseful, the setting was fantastic! You won’t forget this book in a hurry this is a class above your usual psychological thriller!’ AcrereviewsbyM, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘A brilliant twisty book, really well plotted and kept me engrossed. Finished in one sitting. Highly recommend. ‘ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘ This is a great thriller that I couldn’t put down… A great read and not to be missed!’ Bookloversanonuk, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

What everyone is saying about Jess 

‘Wow this is a stonker of a book. Gripped me from the very first page and even made my bath water go cold in a desperate attempt to finish it… fantastic… takes hold and doesn’t let go.’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘A whopping 5* from me… had me up to early hours of the morning, so transfixed was I to this story that I heard the birds tweeting outside. The ending had me gasping in awe. Truly a masterpiece.’ Sue and her Books, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

my thoughts:

Whoa! What a thrilling read! I absolutely LOVED One Of The Family by Jess Ryder. This story kept me up late into the night, because I had to find out whodunit and what exactly they had done. Talk about a must-read psychological thriller! 

Rachel is feeling her family pulling away from her and she is not liking it one bit. Her husband, Dom, is always working. Her youngest, Meg, is always on her phone and locked away in her bedroom. And her oldest, Liv, has just graduated from college. As for Rachel, well, she's trying to find a way to keep her family together. So when Liv and her boyfriend, Jensen, mention that they are looking for a place to live, she immediately offers up the family home. Rachel tells her daughter that living at home will afford her and Jensen time to look for jobs, a place of their own, and the chance to save some money. Liv reluctantly agrees and soon her boyfriend is ensconced in her family's home and lives. Rachel is over the moon to have all of her family under one roof, but she notices that no one else is happy about the situation, except for Jensen. To alleviate the tension she plans a weekend away with her husband and tells Liv that a bit of privacy all around will do them all some good. Except, when Rachel and Rom return home, Liv is nowhere to be found and Jensen's story about Liv taking off after a disagreement isn't adding up. What really happened to Liv? Where is she? And who is Jensen? Yep, looks like we never really know the people that we love. Yikes! Talk about chills. 

Ryder has written a terrific story chock full of twists and turns that will have you second guessing whodunit and why. Plus, all the family troubles make for quite a gripping read. And the characters are relatable, unlikeable, and unforgettable. One Of The Family is a definitely must-read for fans of Ryder's works and for anyone looking for their next great read. Make sure to grab a copy! Happy reading! 

Thank you to Bookouture for my copy of this book!

The Tapes by Kerry Wilkinson

(Thank you to Bookouture Publishing for providing me with a copy of this book!)

 

about book: (summary from publisher)

‘If you’re listening to this, I’ve been murdered.’

Eve is clearing her father’s house when she finds an old cassette player and a box of tapes. Though grieving, she smiles at the spark of nostalgia.

One tape is labelled ‘Eve’ – in her mother, Angela’s, scrawled handwriting. She disappeared for good more than ten years ago.

The tape whirrs. A voice crackles. ‘My name is Angela’. Tears fill Eve’s eyes at the familiar voice, at the thought this message is just for her. But the next words make her heart pound.

‘If they say I’m missing, I’m not. If you’re listening to this, I’ve been murdered.’

Desperate for answers, Eve has no one left to ask – only a box of tapes that could lead to the truth. But the more she listens, the more she realises she can never go to the police…

Because Eve’s mother had her own secrets. But what if her killer is still out there? And what if Eve is next?

An absolutely unputdownable psychological thriller that will have you racing through the pages late into the night! Anyone who loves Shari Lapena, John Marrs or Lisa Jewell will be totally addicted.

my thoughts:

The Tapes by Kerry Wilkinson sounds like a terrific read, right? I mean, that summary makes you want to grab a copy and dive right in. And so, I did just that. However, the story itself wound up disappointing me rather quickly. I loved the idea of old cassette tapes revealing secrets to Eve about her mother. What I didn't enjoy were all the other little mysteries that seemed to crop up - they were too distracting and way too obviously connected to the secret on the tapes. Overall, this story was not my cup of tea. I just found the twists and turns too predictable. And, the characters were annoying - I didn't like any of them. As for the murder mystery, well, that was interesting, but not enough to stop me from skim reading. Oh well.

I would still recommend The Tapes to fans of Wilkinson - after all, you may enjoy the story in a way that I just didn't. To each his own, right? 

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

Death At Inishmore Castle: A Mercy McCarthy Mystery Book 3 by Lucy Connelly

(Thank you Bookouture for providing me with a copy of this book!)

 

about book:

A grand castle, a glass of Irish whiskey, a good book by the fire… and a rather mysterious murder?

Historic Inishmore Castle is opening its doors for the first time, hosting a charming weekend of whiskey tasting and soda bread baking. Sisters Mercy and Lizzie McCarthy are badly in need of a break, but their relaxing trip takes a decidedly unrestful turn when Mercy finds fellow guest Father Brennen slumped over the desk in the library… Did he have one glass too many or did someone want him dead? 

Even more curiously, Mercy swiftly learns that the priest was no priest at all. So why was he searching through dusty old journals? Can the legend of Inishmore’s lost treasure possibly be true?

Mercy’s suspicions of foul play are confirmed when another of their party is found drowned in the lake at the edge of the manor’s estate. It can’t be a coincidence! Someone in this idyllic Irish castle is up to no good and Mercy is determined to find out who’s behind it, accompanied by her reluctant fellow sleuth and beloved dog Mr. Poe.

With a host of frightened guests and worried staff, and a storm closing in, Mercy soon has more suspects than bedrooms in the castle. Could it be the unconvincing nun, the busybody birdwatcher, or are the owners hiding something sinister? When Mercy realises there are secret passages in the walls, she thinks she might have cracked the case… but will she track the killer down, or will Inishmore be her resting place forever more? 

A completely delightful Irish cozy mystery, full of warmth and wit. Fans of Agatha Christie, Carlene O’Connor and Faith Martin will love Mercy McCarthy! 

my thoughts:

Love, love, love! I am a huge fan of cozy mysteries and Lucy Connelly's A Mercy McCarthy Mystery series is one of my favorites. So, you can imagine my joy when I received the third book - Death At Inishmore Castle. Hurrah! Another fantastic story to get wrapped up in - murder, mystery, Ireland, and the McCarthy sisters - what more could I want? 

This time round, Mercy and Lizzie, along with a few of their neighbors from Shamrock Cove head to nearby Inishmore Castle for a whiskey tasting weekend. The two sisters are in need of a break and have plans to relax, relax, relax. Except, that their idea of a fun getaway takes a turn when a dead body is found in the library. Yep, murder has arrived at Inishmore Castle and it looks like Mercy is on the case. Especially as another body is found in the lake. Yikes! An old castle, stormy weather, and bodies piling up - talk about a weekend gone wrong. And that's all I'll share about this captivating mystery - it's one you won't want to miss out on. Make sure to grab a copy ASAP! 

I'm happy to recommend Connelly's wonderful series - A Mercy McCarthy Mystery. The stories are so much fun to read. The characters are a treat to get to know. Ireland is the perfect setting to fall in love with. And, the whodunits are such great mysteries to solve. All in all, this series is top notch and not to be missed!

Thank you to Bookouture for my copy of this book!

The Summer Reunion by Leah Mercer

(Thank you to Bookouture Publishingf or providing me with a copy of this book!)

 

about book: (summary from Goodreads)

Six friends on holiday. A secret worth dying for.

In a gorgeous French stone villa, a group of friends reunite for a weekend of reminiscing and laughter. But as glasses of wine are poured, they find they aren’t alone. 

Standing at the door is a man the friends thought they’d never see again. With a ferocious storm raging and roads closed, they have no choice but to let him in. Instantly the dream weekend takes a dark turn.

Because someone invited him here.

Because someone has been living a lie.

And someone wants revenge.

But when the truth is revealed, will anyone make it out alive?

A totally addictive psychological suspense thriller that fans of Lucy Foley, Adele Parks and Sally Hepworth will absolutely love.

my thoughts:

Love, love, loved this book! It was such a fun and thrilling story! I found myself hooked right from the start. Leah Mercer's novel, The Summer Reunion was chock full of drama, dysfunctional relationships, shocking secrets, and unbearable truths. What a humdinger of a book!

Okay, so what's this exciting story about? Well, it's about old college friends vacationing together. Except, this group of six aren't exactly besties. Plus, they all have one too many secrets they are keeping - all of which could make or break their lives. Oh, plus, their kids are also joining in on the trip - so, that adds another layer of familial tension. And, did I mention there is a thunderous and rainy storm brewing and everyone in town has been warned to stay indoors? Yep, the whole weekend is a recipe for disaster. And, I loved reading all about it!

I'm not going to share what happened, because it is too damn good to miss out on. You have to read it for yourself. Plus, there are so many people and storylines to parse through - I wouldn't want to ruin any of it for you. The fun was in keeping up with what was happening to who and when - it was all thrilling to read about. The Summer Reunion by Leah Mercer is a definite must-read! Make sure to grab a copy and dive right in  - you are going to LOVE it!

Thank you to Bookouture Publishing for providing me with a book!