His & Hers – Alice Feeney | A Book Review

Title: His & Hers

Author: Alice Feeney

Genre: Mystery Thriller

About the book: It’s a standalone about Anna Andrews who works as a news reporter and is reluctant to cover the murder of a woman. Jack Harper is the detective in charge of the case until he becomes a suspect in his own investigation. There are two sides to every story, and someone isn’t telling the truth.

First impressions: The premise sounded interesting, so I was curious to see how the plot would play out. It alternates between Anna’s and Jack’s point of view.

Characters: The novel mainly follows Anna and Jack. They have flaws, but I liked learning more about them through their backstory. I think the author did a good job developing the characters.

Quote:

“Sometimes you have to lose a lot to remember how much you have.”

Writing: It’s a little over 375 pages with short, suspenseful chapters. The book went in a different direction than I expected, but I enjoyed following along. There are sensitive scenes that contain mature content not suitable for younger readers. As with many thrillers, readers have to suspend disbelief at times. That said, I still found it to be a fun read. Feeney includes many red herrings to make it tougher to predict the ending.

Final thoughts: Everything is explained at the end. The twists and turns kept me wanting to turn the pages. I thought I figured out who did it, but the big reveal took me by surprise. It’s not the most realistic story, but I was still entertained along the way. If you enjoy dual POVs about a murder mystery, I would recommend checking out His & Hers.

The Hit – David Baldacci | A Book Review

Title: The Hit

Author: David Baldacci

Genre: Mystery Thriller

About the book: It’s the second book in the series that follows Will Robie, a skilled assassin for the CIA, as he hunts down another assassin in Jessica Reel. She appears to have gone rogue, killing other members in the agency. As Robie tries to bring in Reel, he realizes there’s more to her betrayal than people realize with her attacks concealing a larger threat.

First impressions: I’m a big fan of Baldacci, so I was excited for this novel. There are some references to what happened in the first book of the series, so I wish I would’ve read the series in order. Nevertheless, I still enjoyed the way the story starts.

Characters: The more I learned about Robie and Reel, the more I liked them. This book revolves around the two of them. Baldacci does a great job of creating likeable protagonists and despicable villains.

Quote:

“Right and wrong, good and bad are in the eyes of the definer.”

Writing: It’s a little over 475 pages long with short chapters. The book feels shorter than it actually is with many action-packed shooting scenes. I like the pacing of the plot and how it played out. There are twists and turns that keep things interesting.

Final thoughts: I didn’t see some events coming. The ending wraps up loose ends but leaves room for the rest of the series to develop. I’d highly recommend The Hit if you’re a fan of political thrillers.

The Winter Sister – Megan Collins | A Book Review

Title: The Winter Sister

Author: Megan Collins

Genre: Mystery Thriller

About the book: It follows Sylvie whose sister, Persephone, was murdered sixteen years ago after being out late at night. Sylvie returns home to take care of her estranged mother, Annie, who is undergoing cancer treatment at the same place where Persephone’s former boyfriend, Ben, works as a nurse. Sylvie deals with her own guilt over the past and begins to uncover what happened the night Persephone died.

First impressions: After reading the premise, I thought the novel had the potential to be a suspenseful read. I like the beginning of the story and how the plot is set up to unfold.

Characters: The characters are flawed, each dealing with their own problems. I wasn’t as invested at the start because a lot of their secrets are revealed later on.

Quote:

“No one ever gets closure when they lose someone they love.”

Writing: It’s almost 325 pages, and the pacing slows down in the middle. The book contains mature topics and themes. I found some parts predictable, but there were a few events I didn’t see coming. The story went in a different direction than I expected. I also had to suspend disbelief at times.

Final thoughts: I wasn’t too sure how the novel would end, but I think it answers lingering questions. Everyone’s secrets come to light, and everything finally makes sense. If you want to read a story about a family broken by tragedy, you might like The Winter Sister.

Long Road to Mercy – David Baldacci | A Book Review

Title: Long Road to Mercy

Author: David Baldacci

Genre: Mystery Thriller

About the book: It’s the first book in the Atlee Pine series that follows an FBI agent as she tries to find her twin sister, Mercy, who was kidnapped at 6 years old. When a mule is found dead at the bottom of the Grand Canyon and the rider disappears, Pine starts to investigate. As she gets closer to solving the case, an order comes down for Pine to stop her search. She doesn’t want to disobey orders, but she also wants to uncover the truth.

First impressions: I’ve read other books by Baldacci, and I was curious to see how this series started. I liked learning more about Pine and her backstory. In the beginning, there are some descriptive passages where the pacing of the plot slows down.

Characters: The characters made this novel for me, as I wasn’t that invested in the plot right away. I enjoyed following Pine and her assistant, Carol Blum, as they try to figure out the truth. I was also a fan of a few secondary characters.

Quote:

“Sometimes the simplest answer was the right one.”

Writing: The story is told in third person. It’s a little under 450 pages long with short chapters. I didn’t mind suspending disbelief at times because I was entertained.

Final thoughts: I had fun watching the story unfold, and everything made sense at the end. The ending is my favourite part of the book. I think the light, funny moments help to balance out the serious scenes. If you’re looking to read a suspenseful crime novel about geopolitics, I’d recommend Long Road to Mercy.

An Anonymous Girl – Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen | A Book Review

Title: An Anonymous Girl

Author: Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen

Genre: Mystery Thriller

About the book: It’s a standalone that follows Jessica Farris who agrees to be a test subject in a psychological study about ethics and morality, because she wants to earn money for her family. But the lines begin to blur as Dr. Shield’s experiments move from the exam room to real life. Jessica’s behaviour is manipulated, and she finds herself caught in a web of deceit.

First impressions: The premise piqued my interest. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I enjoyed the beginning of the story and learning more about the study conducted by the psychiatrist. Jessica had to answer some tough, thought-provoking questions that got me wondering how I would answer.

Characters: The book mainly revolves around Jessica and Dr. Shields. They were both interesting characters with difficult pasts. Their juxtaposition helped to highlight their similarities and differences. While I didn’t always agree with the decisions they made, I could understand their reasoning behind them.

Quote:

“Every lifetime contains these pivot points—sometimes flukes of destiny, sometimes seemingly preordained—that shape and eventually cement one’s path.”

Writing: It’s a little over 425 pages with short chapters that alternate between Jessica’s and Dr. Shield’s perspectives. The pacing of the plot slows down in the middle but picks up at the end. I enjoyed seeing the cat-and-mouse element unfold. The novel also explores sensitive issues like suicide.

Final thoughts: Some events are easier to predict, but the authors included a few twists and turns along the way. The ending fits well with the rest of the story. If you’re looking to read about psychology and morality, I’d recommend An Anonymous Girl. It makes you think about what you would do in tough situations.

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One Woman’s War – Christine Wells | A Book Review

Title: One Woman’s War

Author: Christine Wells

Genre: Historical Fiction

About the book: It’s a standalone set in Europe during WWII, based on Victoire Bennett, the real-life inspiration for the James Bond character, Miss Moneypenny. Victoire “Paddy” Bennett gets a chance to work as an agent on an operation to deceive the Nazis, but it starts to affect her marriage. Friedl Stöttinger must choose between being loyal to the British or betraying thousands of men to save herself from the Nazis. The lives of these two women collide as they go down a road of danger and deception.

I received an advanced reader copy from HarperCollins in exchange for an honest review.

First impressions: I’m a fan of historical fiction novels set during wartime. The pace at the beginning is slower, setting the stage for the rest of the story.

Characters: I liked following the journey of the two women. There are many different people involved, so it took me some time to keep track of who everyone was.

Quote:

“You have to trust someone, or you don’t get anything done.”

Writing: It’s under 400 pages, alternating between point of view between Paddy and Friedl. The author does a good job of weaving the two storylines together. There’s a mix of espionage, history, and romance. The plot starts to pick up speed, and I enjoyed seeing things fall into place.

Final thoughts: I liked learning more about Operation Mincemeat and what life was like during the war in Europe. specifically in London. If you’re looking for a spy novel that follows two brave women working as agents, check out One Woman’s War.

Stolen Things – R.H. Herron | A Book Review

Title: Stolen Things

Author: R.H. Herron

Genre: Mystery Thriller

About the book: It’s a standalone about Laurie Ahmadi, a 911 police dispatcher, who gets a call from her teenage daughter. Jojo is drugged and disoriented, having been sexually assaulted in the home of Kevin Leeds, a pro football player. As Laurie and Jojo look for Jojo’s best friend who is missing, they realize they can’t trust anyone, not even the police.

First impressions: The title and cover intrigued me. After reading the premise, I was curious to see how the story would play out. The beginning starts off at a good pace.

Characters: I enjoyed the main characters and their development throughout the novel. They make mistakes, but they’re easy to root for. I could relate to Laurie and Jojo, seeing parts of myself in both of them. I also appreciate the representation of different communities.

Quote:

“Do you know how it feels to grieve the person you love the most in the whole world?”

Writing: It’s almost 350 pages long with short, suspenseful chapters. The story is told in alternating third person perspectives between Laurie and Jojo. Some events are easier to predict, but several twists and turns surprised me. The book explores many sensitive topics like sexual assault, police brutality, and much more.

Final thoughts: Everything is revealed at the end. I’m glad that loose ends are tied up. I would recommend Stolen Things if you’re looking for a book that touches upon contemporary political and racial issues. In my opinion, it’s a heavy but worthwhile read.

The Half Sister – Sandie Jones | A Book Review

Title: The Half Sister

Author: Sandie Jones

Genre: Mystery Thriller

About the book: It’s a standalone that follows Kate and Lauren, two sisters who recently lost their father. One day, a young woman named Jess knocks on the door, claiming to be their half sister. The family is far as perfect as all of their secrets come to light.

First impressions: I was looking forward to reading this novel. The premise had potential for a suspenseful story.

Characters: The main characters and some of the secondary characters aren’t that likeable. I wish Kate and Lauren were more relatable. I didn’t feel as invested in them as I wanted to, especially at the start. It helped to learn more about them and their backstory. There book revolves around a lot of family drama it focuses on the relationships between the sisters, their mom, and their late father.

Quote:

“You might discover something you don’t want to find.”

Writing: The book is about 325 pages long with short chapters. It’s told in alternating viewpoints between Kate and Lauren. The plot is a little predictable, so I saw some things coming. I think it would’ve been interesting if the author included flashbacks to the past instead of just having the characters talk about what happened before in the present moment.

Final thoughts: The pacing slows down in the middle, but it picks up near the end. Many of the secrets are finally revealed. As with many mystery thrillers, readers will have to suspend disbelief at times to enjoy the plot. If you’re looking to read about family secrets, you might enjoy The Half Sister.