Now we move to our #9 best book of 2024. It goes to our first and only sequel to make the list, the second book in the Finlay Donovan series by Elle Cosimano, Finlay Donovan Knocks ‘Em Dead.
What is it about? Taking up immediately after the events of the first book, this second installment follows the adventures of Finlay Donovan, her loyal sidekick Vero, and the hot detective, Nick. I won’t say much about the plot in case you haven’t yet picked up the first story, but this next one in the series maintains the spirit and fun of that first.
Why did I love it? Whenever I enter a second installment of any series, I always make sure to temper my expectations. After all, falling in love a second time can often feel like lightening striking twice. Thankfully, it certainly did with Knocks ‘Em Dead. Ms. Cosimano continues this fun franchise with a fresh story while artfully balancing humor and drama in this book that reinforces my idea that the Finlay Donovan series is an excellent getaway from reality. Book number three is on my TBR list for 2025. Here’s hoping the memento keeps on going!
Read my full review at https://rachelrheil.com/blog/2024/05/finlay-donovan-knocks-em-dead-by-elle-cosimano-review/.
Let the countdown begin! Yesterday I listed my honorable mentions for best books of 2024 and now we move to spot #10. Kicking off this list is Ruth Ware’s snowy thriller, One By One.
What is it about? The music app, Snoop, has taken over the music industry, allowing users to “snoop” on other listeners and their music preferences. With the company expected to continue to grow, the employees of Snoop head to a remote ski resort in the French Alps to discuss strategy and next steps. Everyone is excited by the app’s success and the little getaway trip. Except for former employee Liz, who knows her former colleagues all too well. Things are only made worse when the group becomes stranded in their chalet, leading to an unraveling of sanity that leads to the occupants disappearing, one by one.
Why did I love it? There is something about a snowy thriller that excites me. Perhaps it is the seemingly cozy and innocent atmosphere, or that these types of incidents (being stranded without power) can happen anywhere, leading you to wonder what you would do in that situation. Whatever the case by, One By One is an exciting thriller that expertly builds tension. The mystery itself is also compelling and the ending caps off this horrifying tale in a masterful way.
Head over to https://rachelrheil.com/blog/2024/01/one-by-one-by-ruth-ware-review/ for my full review.
Hello fellow readers and welcome to the first day in my countdown to the best books of 2024. Kicking off our list are three honorable mentions that didn’t quite meet the cut but are still worth the read nonetheless. They are The Paradise Problem by Christina Lauren, 102 Minutes: The Untold Story of the Fight to Survive Inside the Twin Towers by Jim Dwyer and Kevin Flynn, and I Must Betray You by Ruta Sepetys.
What are they about? Starting off light, The Paradise Problem follows Anna Green and Liam “West” Weston, who entered into a marriage of convenience while in college to gain access to cheap housing. But once they graduated, they divorced and went their own ways. Or so Anna thought. She is more than a little surprised when West suddenly appears at her apartment, asking her to accompany him to his sister’s lavish and expensive wedding. Oh, and did I forget to mention they never legally divorced? The nonfiction 102 Minutes by Jim Dwyer and Kevin Flynn is fairly self explanatory, but takes the reader minute by minute of the 9/11 terror attacks, following first responders, victims’ families, survivors, and those who watched it all unfold. Finally, I Must Betray You takes the reader to 1989 Communist Romania and follows teenager Cristian, who decides to take the ultimate step of rebellion, by revealing the horrors of the government’s tyrannical regime to the outside world. But he is willing to risk everything?
Why did I love them? These three books could not be more different; a romance, a nonfiction, and a historical thriller. Yet, these uniquely different works all excel at what they are trying to accomplish. For The Paradise Problem that is romance and situational humor, 102 Minutes‘ meticulous research does justice to both the victims and survivors of that tragic day, and I Must Betray You takes a dark page of history and shows that, even in times of great challenge and fear, one can always find the light. If you are looking to dip your toes into different genres, anyone of these are a fabulous place to start.
If you are interested in reading more about my thoughts, head to https://rachelrheil.com/blog/2024/07/the-paradise-problem-by-christina-lauren-review/ for my review of The Paradise Problem and https://rachelrheil.com/blog/2024/02/i-must-betray-you-by-ruta-sepetys-review/ for my review of I Must Betray You.
Hello fellow readers! We have reached the end of 2024 and what a year it has been. Speaking from a personal level, 2024 was quite the year. In addition to some changes in my personal life, which included a mother-daughter trip to Paris and serving as maid of honor at my sister’s wedding, it was also the year I published Love and Betrayal in the City of Lights and continued to grow this blog. And while I’ll admit I haven’t gotten it down pat, I think I am on the right path.
In addition to using the end of the year as a time to reflect and set goals for the new year, it is also the time when I do my annual Best Books of the year. I’ve been doing this since 2022 and it is honestly something I look forward to every year! If you are new here or don’t recall this tradition, it is when I select my favorite books that I read in 2024 and rank them, providing you with new book recommendations and for me to take inventory on what I want to keep reading and what I can skip on in 2025. As a little refresher, below are my guidelines and rules.
I have to have read the book between December 15, 2023 and December 15, 2024. Since I have to plan these lists a bit in advance, my book year run a little different than the calendar year.
Has to be a book I read for the first time in 2024. Any re-reads are not included.
Book does not have to be published in 2024, just have to be read this year.
I have also selected three honorable mentions, which will kickoff the countdown tomorrow. Any guesses on what made the cut? Check in everyday leading up New Year’s Eve to see what my favorites of the year were.
Hello fellow readers and happy Black Friday, one of the most (in my humble opinion) wonderful days of the year. It’s a day where you can shop amazing deals, make a dent in your Christmas shopping, and pick up one (or more) presents for yourself.
And I have the perfect gift.
Today, four of my books are available for $0.99 on Amazon. So if you aren’t sure what to get someone for Christmas this year, give them the gift of historical fiction. Below are the four books you can pickup on Kindle for either that special someone or for yourself.
Behind the Darkened Glass
Summary: Germany, 1933. As Adolf Hitler and the Nazi party take control of the country, a young German woman returns to the country of her birth. Fleeing into the arms of her aunt, Charlotte Brookfield pays no attention to the events surrounding her as she tries to recover from a devastating discovery.
Hans von Peterson is an officer in the country’s brutal SS. While courting the admiration of his superior and fighting off rivalries, Hans is sent to Berlin to accomplish a seemingly impossible task. That task has Hans crossing paths with Charlotte.
Despite the odds, the two begin a love affair just as the Nazis begin to tighten their grip on the country leading to a bloody climax that will change everything.
https://mybook.to/BehindtheDarkenedGlass
Leningrad: The People’s War
Summary: Leningrad, 1941. As Europe crumbles under the German war machine, the people of the Soviet Union watch. There are whispers of war but not loud enough for the civilians of Leningrad to notice. Instead, they keep their heads down and try to avoid the ever-watching eyes of their own oppressive government.
University student Tatiana Ivankova tries to look ahead to the future after a family tragedy that characterizes life under the brutal regime. But, when the rumors that have been circulating the country become a terrifying reality, Tatiana realizes that the greatest fear may not be the enemy but what her fellow citizens are prepared to do to each other to survive.
As his men plow through the Russian countryside, Heinrich Nottebohm is told to follow orders and ask no questions, even if such commands go against his own principles. His superiors hold over him a past event that continues to destroy him with every day that passes. But, when given the opportunity to take an act of defiance, Heinrich will jump at the chance, ignoring what the end results could be. Leningrad: The People’s War tells the harrowing beginning of a war that forever changed the landscape of a city, told through the eyes of both sides in a tale of courage, love, and sacrifice.
Winner of Book of the Year 2021 for Historical Fiction Modern by The Coffee Pot Book Club.
https://mybook.to/LeningradWar
The Midnight Call
Summary: April 1912.
Helen Harrington has aspirations of being a schoolteacher, a dream shattered by the untimely death of her mother, an event that she blames herself for. To support her younger siblings, Helen abandons her fantasy and appeals to her mother’s former employer, White Star Line, for their help in securing work. Begrudgingly, White Star appoints her to a new stewardess position on the line’s newest ship, the RMS Titanic. Filled with insecurities and regret, Helen does not look forward to the voyage and the responsibilities that come with it until she crosses paths with a fellow crew member.
Having risen steadily up the company ladder, John Phillips is pleased to find himself appointed as the Titanic’s senior wireless operator. Phillips expects an uneventful voyage, but when he meets a young stewardess, he begins to question everything he had thought was right. As Titanic steams towards disaster, Phillips finds himself in an impossible situation. But when given a chance to escape it, will he take it or give his life for others?
Blending fiction and historical fact, The Midnight Call tells the story of one of the Titanic’s most critical tales of bravery, courage, and sacrifice.
https://mybook.to/MidnightCall
Infiltration
Summary: East Berlin, 1986.
Lina Prochnow has dreams. To be the best ice skater she can be. To qualify for the Olympics. To win the Gold Medal and escape the Soviet occupied zone of the German Democratic Republic.
Ernst Jung has no such fantasies. A career Stasi officer for fifteen years, every arrest and interrogation is just another tick on a list of responsibilities he has been forced to memorize. His role is simple; to root out every opposition and keep citizens of the GDR safe, whether they want it or not.
Lina’s dreams and Ernst’s responsibilities collide when they are brought together by the actions of a group called the Brotherhood. To Lina, the organization members are liberators she desperately wants to join. For Ernst, they are a terrorist organization threatening the very foundation of the GDR and need to be routed out.
When Georg Bauer, Lina’s boyfriend, is discovered as the ringleader and executed on Ernst’s orders, Lina vows to avenge his death, even if it means risking her own. Her plan is a risky one, to infiltrate the Stasi by becoming the secretary to the man who ordered his death. Lina believes she has the upper hand, but that would be foolish. Ernst is known for getting his way, and he views Lina’s appointment as his opportunity to infiltrate the Brotherhood, which he believes Lina is part of.
Despite their polarizing ideas, Lina and Ernst have the same goals; to infiltrate the others’ group and come out on top. Told against the backdrop of the crumbling Iron Curtain, Infiltrationblends historical fact and fiction in this dangerous game of cat and mouse between a GDR citizen desperate to survive and the Stasi officer who represents one of the most terrifying police organizations.
Every night, a group of insomniac adults meet in the graveyard of an abandoned church to smoke, talk, and pass away the evening hours. They come from all walks of life but each is haunted by their inability to sleep and find some solace in each other. They work the graveyard shift, and that shift is about to get interesting. When a freshly dug grave is discovered, the group finds themselves in the middle of a terrifying experiment that they must solve before the night is over.
M. L. Rio has written one other book, If We Were Villains, and that was one of my favorite books I read in 2023. As a result, when it was announced she had written a haunting novella, released just before Halloween, I knew I had to pick it up. Standing at just a little over one hundred pages, this story moves quickly and the mystery is off and running right away. Perhaps because it is a novella, Graveyard Shift is rarely slow or lagging.
Yet despite it’s quick pace, I felt the story was not complete by the end came. A few questions still remained and I believe this tale would have done much better as a full blown novel. The underlying issues that Ms. Rio addresses are extremely interesting and I found the characters to be intriguing. I would have loved to seen more exploration of these characters and themes. That is not to say this story should have been 400 pages, but another one hundred or so pages would have made the story all the more better in my opinion.
To summarize, Graveyard Shift is a thrilling late night mystery that is perfect for a dark and rainy weekend. The reader will never find themselves bored, but they may be left wanting more by the end and wishing the mystery took just a bit longer to solve.
It’s September 1st, which means fall is just around the corner. For some, this might be a sad time as the warm nights of summer begin to disappear. For others, like myself, it is an exciting time as we enter, arguably, the craziest but best time of the year. Images of pumpkins, cozy sweaters, baking, and smells of cinnamon dance in my head the minute I get my first whiff of a cool breeze (which, yes, has already happened thanks to the occasional cooler day we sometimes get in Wisconsin towards the end of August).
Fall is also the time of the year where I had some of my most anticipated books of the year. September and October are reserved for spooky reads and dark academia, and I am beyond ready for it this year. I’ve pulled together seven books that I’m hoping to read before the start of November and I’m here to share them with you.
What are you hoping to read this fall?
(Image Credit: Goodreads)
The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova – Have you ever come across a book that has seemingly been around for ages, has good reviews although you can’t recall seeing anyone ever read or talk about it in your every day life, an intriguing cover but for one reason or another you’ve never picked it up? For me, that’s been The Historian. Originally published in 2005, this has been around for sometime and yet, even though I’ve known of its existence for years, I’ve never picked it up. This year, I plan on changing that. I got myself a good copy at my last pilgrimage to Half Price Books and have ever intention on reading it this spooky season. The premise? A young woman inherits her father’s library and a cache of old letters, revealing a terrifying evil that goes back to the Vlad the Impaler.
(Image Credit: Goodreads)
The Hacienda by Isabel Canas – A Rebecca retelling set in post-War of Independence Mexico, The Hacienda is one of two horror novels on my TBR that is set in Mexico. This story follows Beatriz who impulsively marries a rich a man and moves into his sprawling mansion. When her husband is away on business, Beatriz begins to hear voices and see visions related to her husband’s first wife. Determined to discover the truth, Beatriz joins forces with a priest to discover the truth about her husband’s first wife, regardless of the cost. In addition to this book giving off heavy Rebecca vibes, this also seems like a great story to read before re-watching one of my favorite horror movies, Crimson Peak, an underrated gem from Guillermo Del Toro that I watch every fall.
(Image Credit: Penguin)
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte – This is a classic that I ironically did not read for the first time in the fall but in a stuffy classroom in the middle of spring. Not that it mattered. Charlotte Bronte is able to create an atmosphere that is transports the reader into a dark and cold world, regardless of the time of the year they decide to pick it up. I remember reading this for the first time and loving every page, which may explain why in the nearly six years since then I haven’t read it again. Have you ever been afraid to pick up a favorite book, nervous it won’t be as good as you remember it to be? That’s been my concern with Jane Eyre but given how much I loved it, I’m going into it with the belief I’ll still love it. I’ll make sure to keep you updated.
(Image Credit: Goodreads)
My Best Friend’s Exorcism by Grady Hendrix – It’s not secret (or maybe it is since I haven’t really mentioned it on this Blog) but I’m a HUGE Stranger Things fan. I’ve reached the four available seasons as least a dozen times and I eagerly read any updates on the fifth and final season. Yes, I know, I’m a nerd but what else did you expect? But while I anxiously wait for the next season, I’m picking up this horror novel that, according to many reviewers who have read it, will give me all the Stranger Things feels. Written by one of today’s best horror authors, this story follows two friends in the 80s. But as the girls enter high school one of them begins to act…strange and before long a dark, disturbing realization is made. Grab your bikes everyone, we’ve got a demon to take care of.
(Image Credit: Goodreads)
Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia – The second horror novel set in Mexico on my TBR, this book set the book community on fire when it was released four years ago and won Goodreads’ Best Horror novel in 2020. Despite it’s critical reception, it is one I haven’t been able to get to you and am hoping to rectify this year. All I know about this book is that it follows Noemi, who receives an odd but frantic letter from her recently married cousin, begging Noemi to come rescue her. But when Noemi arrives, her cousin seems perfectly fine though it does little to ease Noemi’s suspicions.
(Image Credit: Goodreads)
102 Minutes by Jim Dwyer and Kevin Flynn – The only non spooky, non-thriller on this list is also the one book from this TBR that is a non-fiction work. Recounting the harrowing and horrific 102 minutes of the Twin Towers on 9/11, this account has been on my list for sometime and therefore I wanted to make sure I read this one. I’m admittedly cheating with this one as I have already read it before this post goes up (five stars by the way) but this one I wanted to make sure I got to this year. My initial hope was to read it closer to the anniversary but I’ll be tied up with something else that week, hence my earlier than intended read date.
(Image Credit: Goodreads)
Home Before Dark by Riley Sager – The final book on my fall TBR is this classic from Riley Sager. I read my first Riley Sager book during Summerween, The Only One Left, which I gave a solid three stars to. However, my hopes are higher for this book as Home Before Dark is typical most readers’ favorite book from this author. The story follows Maggie who, as a child, lived on a sprawling Victorian estate until her family fled it in the middle of night, citing ghosts and evil entities haunting the house. Maggie has little memory of this so when she gets the opportunity to return to her childhood home she agrees. After all, ghosts don’t exist. Right?
It is the opening weekend at The Manor, an exclusive resort that anyone who is anyone wants to stay at during it’s inaugural weekend. Every detail has been studied, planned, and executed and it seems The Manor is posed for greatness.
But not everyone is so happy about The Manor’s opening. The local townspeople resents the opening, believing it is intruding their beloved community. But while most are satisfied to grumble under their breath, others are willing to take more decisive action. As the key players take their spots – the owner Francesca, her architect husband Owen, the mystery guest Bella, and the dish washer Eddie – dark secrets from the past force themselves to the surface and the forest The Manor is neighbored too is about to release one or two secrets of its own.
I have become a big Lucy Foley fan after reading and loving The Paris Apartment and The Guest List. So when it was announced Ms. Foley was returning with another mystery/thriller I had to pick it up release week. The premise is a typical Lucy Foley setup, a bunch of characters coming together in a seemingly isolated area and the story is told through multiple perspectives.
The first half of this book is a slow burn. Unlike other Lucy Foley books, this one seemed to take a while to get going. However, once halfway through, the story really does pick up and I found it hard to put down. Ms. Foley also combined a bit of horror into this book with the secrets of the forest and I thought that was a good added detail that separated this book from the other ones she has written.
This book had plenty of twists and turns by the end of the story and this made up for the slower start. I am split on the decision for Ms. Foley to include diary entries throughout the story. While they offered insight to an event that happened in the book, I found it distracting and tended to skim over these sections so I could get back to the present narrative.
Overall this is another excellent thriller by Ms. Foley and I look forward to her next work.
Hello fellow readers! As you might have heard, Amazon is holding their annual prime day event from July 16-17. I don’t know about you, but I’m often overwhelmed by the site’s many sale options and don’t even know where to begin. But I usually start with the books.
Though I prefer to shop at small town bookstores, I will admit that I do purchase some books from Amazon and while we could get into a whole discussion about Amazon’s impact on the publishing industry, I’ll just say that there are some great book deals available on Prime Day that are worth checking out. Below are my recommendations for what books you should pick up.
Rock Paper Scissors by Alice Feeney – Set in a remote cabin in Scotland, married couple Adam and Amelia Wright need this long weekend away to sort out their own personal crises and determine if their marriage is worth saving. What they did not expect was someone to be watching them, and they have a plan of revenge they fully intend on carrying out. I read this during a particularly wintery week and it had all the right vibes for a thrilling mystery.
The Chestnut Man by Søren Sveistrup – Copenhagen is being terrorized by a psychopath, who is targeting married mothers and leaving small chestnut men on their bodies. Detective Naia Thulin is tasked with solving the case, aided by a temporary partner, Hess, who has his own agenda. A old school detective thriller that combines mystery with horror elements, you won’t forget this book anytime soon.
I Must Betray You by Ruta Sepetys – This young adult historical fiction follows teenager Cristian who is forced by the country’s communist regime to spy on an American diplomat’s son. But Cristian is disgusted by the assignment and is determined to undermine the government. But when everyone around you is a potential informer, who can you trust?
The Last Word by Taylor Adams – Emma Carpenter is house sitting a small beachfront home, with only her Golden Retriever providing her company. Bored and with nothing else to do, Emma reads and is dismayed to find her latest read a horrific slasher that deserves nothing more than one star. She provides her honest review on line and believes it to be the end of it, unaware it is only the beginning. A quick read you’ll be able to finish in no time, this fast paced thriller is very much worth the read.
The Maidens by Alex Michaelides – A recent addition to the dark academia thriller, we follow therapist Mariana Andros as she travels to Cambridge to be at her niece’s side after her friend was found murdered. But as more murders begin to happen and Mariana learns of a mysterious Greek tragedy professor, she begins to suspect that the murderer might be a lot closer than anyone expected.
The Golden Doves by Martha Hall Kelly – While working for the French Resistance during World War Two, Josie Anderson and Arlette LaRue became known as the Golden Doves. Caught by the Gestapo, both women were sent to Ravensbrück concentration camp, which they narrowly survived. Now a decade later, both women have the chance to settle the score but getting justice might be harder than either anticipated.
Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi – A graphic novel focusing on the author’s childhood in Iran during and after the Iranian Revolution, this is an unputdownable work that everyone should read. Richly illustrated and told from a child’s perspective as their mature into young adulthood, Ms. Satrapi’s work can not be missed.
The Paradise Problem by Christina Lauren – Anna and Liam entered into a marriage of convenience while in college to receive affordable housing. Several years later, they are now divorced and living separate lives. At least, that’s what Anna thought until Liam appears outside her apartment with a proposition; pretend to still be his wife and he’ll give her a large part of his rich inheritance. Packing her bags, Anna joins Liam on an unforgettable island adventure. If you are looking for the perfect poolside right, look no further than his fun rom-com.
Hello fellow readers! A little bit ago I shared with you that I would be participating in the Summerween Readathon. If you missed my initial post, you can check it out here; https://rachelrheil.com/blog/2024/07/summerween-readathon-2024/.
You might recall that this fun, Halloween-inspired readathon was going to last a week and that I was going to attempt read four books. They were The Only One Left by Riley Sager, Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll, The Fury by Alex Michaelides, and The Midnight Feast by Lucy Foley.
So, did I accomplish my reading goal and what did I think about the books I read? Read on as I wrap up the Summerween Readathon of 2024.
Overall, I read three of the four books I had planned for this readathon. Despite falling a bit short on my goal I’m overall happy with this. As much as I enjoy reading I love to also spend time with family and friends, and do a little shopping of course. To get a glimpse of what I was up to over the last week, you can check out my Instagram page (@rachelrheil). If you aren’t already following me on Instagram, make sure to give me a follow as I plan on sharing more glimpses on what I am up to (writing and reading wise as well as personally), especially as we approach my favorite time of the year.
But that aside, what did I think of the three books I actually read? I’m glad you asked.
The Only One Left by Riley Sager – In 1929 socialite Lenora Hope was accused of brutally murdering her parents and sister. But a lack of evidence allowed her to walk free and the murders have become a dark chapter in her small town’s history. Now, in 1983, home-health aide Kit is assigned to take care of Lenora, a task that does not delight Kit but with no other options she has little choice. She is not entirely alone as Lenora has maintained a small but loyal staff but Kit can’t shake the feeling something is terribly wrong, only confirmed by Lenora herself when she agrees to tell Kit everything about that fateful night in 1929.
Though the premise was excellent and the story kept me interested, this was not a 5 star read for me. While the plot was well developed and the imaginary was vivid, the character development needed some work. Kit in particular needed a bit of an overhaul. I don’t mind having a character who is struggling with a past mistake or haunted by something he or she did, but Kit offered nothing else beside those past mistakes. As the reader we didn’t get to know what else makes up Kit and what guides her to make the decisions she does. Speaking of decisions, some of Kit’s choices are downright odd, strange, and insensitive, if you take in consideration her profession. For example, she is on the job for less than 48 hours before she is asking Lenora if she killed her family. Not exactly the best way to ensure you get to keep your job. My rating is 3.5 stars out of 5.
Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll – It’s 1978 and aspiring lawyer Pamela Schumacher is the president of her sorority at Florida State University. Everything in Pam’s life is seemingly perfect; she has a coveted but slightly stressful role in her sorority, she has a steady if bland boyfriend, and can always rely on her best friend Denise. But when an intruder breaks into the sorority house one fateful January night and brutally murders two students and gravely injures an additional two, Pam’s entire world is flipped upside and she tries the maintain order as best as she can. But that little bit of sanity is quickly snapped when Pam learns the intruder might be a prolific serial killer who has terrorized Pacific Northwest and Pam might just be his next victim. After all, she was the one who saw him as he made his made dash out of the sorority house. Joining forces with Tina Cannon, a wealthy young woman whose best friend Ruth was a victim of the same killer, Pam is determined she will find out who killed her fellow sisters before he hurts anyone else.
If the summary doesn’t give it away, Bright Young Women is a fictional retelling of Ted Bundy’s serial killings and while his actions are at the heart of the story, Ms. Knoll decides not to focus on the killer (or The Defendant, as he referred to throughout the story) but on the women affected by his murderous rampage. For that, I have to give Ms. Knoll high praise. As true crime writer Ann Rule (who wrote one of the definitive books on Bundy) noted, the victims and their loved ones are often lost in serial killer stories and more often than not are just viewed as a name on a list. I also appreciated Ms. Knoll making a conscious effort to not name Bundy in the story but refer to him as a nameless defendant since, as Pam discusses throughout the book, naming him gives him power and a legacy when he really should be forgotten and not given any time or publicity, only to answer for his crimes and receive justice.
Despite this strengths, I felt that the second narrative, told from the perspective of Ruth, one of the victims, took away from the story. I like the idea of having one of the storylines being told from one of the victim’s but the events leading up to Ruth’s sad death didn’t add much to the story and I found myself wishing the second storyline was told from Tina’s point of view and the barriers she faced in trying to get the police to take her seriously and get Ruth’s murder solved. Tina mentions throughout the story that issues she had in getting justice and that would have been very interesting to read about. It was a lost opportunity. I gave this story 3.5 stars out of 5 as well.
The Fury by Alex Michaelides – Lana Farrar is one of cinema’s most famous leading ladies and her surprise retirement a few years earlier sent shockwaves throughout the industry, devastating colleagues and fans alike, including Lana’s fan and close friend Elliot Chase. But, unlike Lana’s legion of other fans, Elliot still gets to see Lana and is one of a few people she invites to join her, her husband, and son on their private Greek island. But when a murder occurs, everyone is a suspect but the person who pulls the trigger might just be the person you least expect.
It is no secret that I’ve become a big Alex Michaelides fan. I’ll recommend The Silent Patient to anyone willing to listen and The Maidens was a juicy addition to the dark academia genre cannon. So when Mr. Michaelides announced his third book, there was no hesitation on my part to snatch it up. The plot may sound formulaic, but I was positive Mr. Michaelides would put a new spin on it and create a twist that would surely delight. And, for the most part, he achieved that. There was a good twist about halfway through the story and the characters were all fairly well developed. The writing flowed well and it is a quick and easy ready.
Unfortunately, I would be remiss to not mention I was also a bit disappointed. After the spectacular twists of Patient and Maidens I was expecting just a good of twist but when that was revealed I was left wanting more. I had guessed the murderer fairly early on and I don’t think the narrative structure helped that earlier discovery. I think The Fury would have benefited from a different narrative structure but as it was now, there wasn’t much mystery to be solved. Nonetheless, it was still a worthy read but would recommend it to someone who hasn’t read Mr. Michaelides’ other works. A solid 4 out of 5 stars.
And this is my reading wrap up for the Summerween Readathon of 2024. This was such a fun and enjoyable readathon and I hope to be participating in next year.
What is it about? Taking up immediately after the events of the first book, this second installment follows the adventures of Finlay Donovan, her loyal sidekick Vero, and the hot detective, Nick. I won’t say much about the plot in case you haven’t yet picked up the first story, but this next one in the series maintains the spirit and fun of that first.
What is it about? The music app, Snoop, has taken over the music industry, allowing users to “snoop” on other listeners and their music preferences. With the company expected to continue to grow, the employees of Snoop head to a remote ski resort in the French Alps to discuss strategy and next steps. Everyone is excited by the app’s success and the little getaway trip. Except for former employee Liz, who knows her former colleagues all too well. Things are only made worse when the group becomes stranded in their chalet, leading to an unraveling of sanity that leads to the occupants disappearing, one by one.
What are they about? Starting off light, The Paradise Problem follows Anna Green and Liam “West” Weston, who entered into a marriage of convenience while in college to gain access to cheap housing. But once they graduated, they divorced and went their own ways. Or so Anna thought. She is more than a little surprised when West suddenly appears at her apartment, asking her to accompany him to his sister’s lavish and expensive wedding. Oh, and did I forget to mention they never legally divorced? The nonfiction 102 Minutes by Jim Dwyer and Kevin Flynn is fairly self explanatory, but takes the reader minute by minute of the 9/11 terror attacks, following first responders, victims’ families, survivors, and those who watched it all unfold. Finally, I Must Betray You takes the reader to 1989 Communist Romania and follows teenager Cristian, who decides to take the ultimate step of rebellion, by revealing the horrors of the government’s tyrannical regime to the outside world. But he is willing to risk everything?
Hello fellow readers! We have reached the end of 2024 and what a year it has been. Speaking from a personal level, 2024 was quite the year. In addition to some changes in my personal life, which included a mother-daughter trip to Paris and serving as maid of honor at my sister’s wedding, it was also the year I published Love and Betrayal in the City of Lights and continued to grow this blog. And while I’ll admit I haven’t gotten it down pat, I think I am on the right path.
Behind the Darkened Glass 
Leningrad: The People’s War
The Midnight Call
Infiltration
Every night, a group of insomniac adults meet in the graveyard of an abandoned church to smoke, talk, and pass away the evening hours. They come from all walks of life but each is haunted by their inability to sleep and find some solace in each other. They work the graveyard shift, and that shift is about to get interesting. When a freshly dug grave is discovered, the group finds themselves in the middle of a terrifying experiment that they must solve before the night is over.
It is the opening weekend at The Manor, an exclusive resort that anyone who is anyone wants to stay at during it’s inaugural weekend. Every detail has been studied, planned, and executed and it seems The Manor is posed for greatness.
