A while ago I made some noise about posting reviews on my blog. I never did this in the past, but hope to do it monthly as I move ahead. I’m afraid posting reviews and blurbs will make the post too long, so I’m only going to share my reviews. If you’re interested, click the Amazon link under each book for the blurb and more information.
To kick off 2019, these are the books I read in January. Maybe one of them will appeal to you.
You know all those slasher movies where a group of teens are stalked by some crazed killer and when everything drills down to a close, there’s only one person remaining? That’s the idea behind Final Girls.
In this case, Quincy Carpenter is the “final girl” of Pine Cottage. The sole survivor of a grisly night when her friends were butchered in the woods. Ten years later, she has her life almost back on track, when Sam, another final girl shows up on her doorstep. The plot quickly gets twisty. While I thought the book was a little slow in getting started, it’s a page-turner once Quincy and Sam begin interacting. Riley Sager weaves layers of mystery, including plenty of threads that lead the reader astray for several surprises at the end.
Suspenseful, tense and satisfying. A recommended read!
Wow! I’ve been addicted to this series from Book 1, and Verses of the Dead is a home run in so many ways. I had doubts about Pendergast working with a partner, but the addition of Agent Coldmoon was a stroke of genius. Not only is Coldmoon a great character, but it gave readers a chance to see Pendergast–along with all his quirks and unorthodox methods of working–through his eyes. Toss is a new boss for Pendergast, new location (Miami Beach) and a string of bizarre murders and you’ve got a perfect recipe to hold the reader glued to the page.
The authors verge away from anything supernatural this time and stick to crime-solving, something Pendergast does exceptionally well. I love “watching” him work. The murders, the method in which they occur, and the reason behind them unfold in an ever startling trail of clues. Pendergast (and Coldmoon) get to interact with several new, interesting characters. Cab driver Axel was one of my favorites. The high-speed taxi ride through Miami is a blast.
I also have to applaud the authors for creating an unusual killer with an unusual motive. Although I love the supernatural twists in many of the Pendergast novels, I admit to enjoying the intriguing details of crime-solving best. I also believe this is a book you could pick up, having never read a single Pendergast novel before, and thoroughly enjoy without knowing any background from the previous books. The new location, new boss, and addition of a partner all go to “seeing” Pendergast through fresh eyes. Highly recommended!
NOTE: Aloysius X. L. Pendergast is a book boyfriend. I love this guy! These books are pure addiction for me. Although this is book 18, it’s a great place to start for an introduction to the character if you’re unfamiliar with this series.
What a rollicking, magical, high-octane, deftly plotted adventure! Remember when Dorothy steps from her black-and-white world into the Land of Oz for the first time? That explosion of color, wonder, and delight is equivalent to what the reader experiences in Voyage of the Lanternfish.
Wow, where to begin? I won’t reiterate the plot (click the link and read the blurb), but I will say you’re in for a treat with this story of pirates, high-sea adventure, a diverse cast of characters and plenty of bizarre creatures. Where else will you encounter root monsters, an anvil bird, Fu dogs, owlcats, and a moving reef? And those are just some of the imaginative beings Boyack introduces with his latest release.
I developed a special fondness for the root monsters with their unwavering loyalty, nightly story-telling sessions, rabid delight in receiving names, and atrocious mangling of language. Of special note: You can’t read this book and not appreciate the cleverness of “I I I I”
Trust me. 🙂
The cast is every bit as colorful as the creatures and extremely diverse in backgrounds. They each have such strong personalities, it’s hard to choose a favorite. Even secondary characters and third level characters get plenty of moments to shine. The battle scenes involving mortars, guns, and claiming ships are perfectly executed. I was dazzled and glued to the pages.
I have read several books by this author but this one is in a league of its own. Hop aboard and set sail. You won’t be disappointed!
Note: Craig Boyack is one of my Story Empire co-authors. I’m giving an extra shout-out here, because he really nailed it with this book!
Did you ever read a book and just KNOW it should be a movie? I’ll be shocked if a filmmaker doesn’t pick this story up. According to my Kindle, I devoured 70% of the novel in one sitting. I would have finished the whole thing if I hadn’t needed to call it a night and get some sleep. The next day I tuned out everything else and dug in, irritated by any distraction that pulled me from the pages. This book held me GLUED!!!
Darby Thorne is a wonderful protagonist, an average college student who likes to take rubbings of gravestones. When a blizzard strands her at a rest area with four strangers, she makes a horrifying discovery. One of them has a young girl caged in a van outside. Seeking help, Darby tips her hand to the wrong person—the kidnapper.
Hooboy! I applaud the author for creating one of the most twisted, psychotic villains I’ve ever encountered in a novel. Even more for giving Darby the inner strength and courage to stand up to this predator. She is clever and strong, but never portrayed as a kick-ass hero. She does what she does out of necessity, full of doubts and weaknesses along the way. Jay (the girl in the cage) is also one tough cookie, as she proves when she and Darby team up.
Throughout the long night, the two play a game of cat and mouse with Jay’s abductor. One that involves intellect, physical strength, endurance, and constantly puts Darby in the crosshairs of impossible situations. Her goal is to survive until morning when snow plows are certain to reach the rest area. In the meantime, she is cut off from the world with a dying cell phone, a young girl depending on her, and a kidnapper determined to silence her. It’s hard to say more about this book without giving away spoilers.
There are numerous twists and surprises along the way with a constant buildup of suspense. Sometimes it creeps, sinister and edgy, other times it explodes. The characters are well developed, and the snowbound setting adds a suffocating feeling of claustrophobia. I can’t recommend this book highly enough. If I could give it more than five stars I would. I have no doubt this will become one of my favorite reads of 2019.
As a diehard Beatles fan, and most especially a McCartney fan, I’ve always been interested in anything related to Paul or Linda. I’ve read several books about the Beatles and Paul, and was excited to find a book on Linda. I enjoyed reading this, getting a glimpse of Linda’s background, her early years, life as a renowned photographer, years with Paul, and her devotion to vegetarian and animal causes. Some of it was a little plodding, but on the whole it read smoothly and held my interest. I loved getting to know Linda up close and personal. She was an amazing woman who I will always admire!
Review sharing is new to me. I read most every night as a way to unwind and I look forward to sharing the books I discover. Do any of these books intrigue you? What about the covers? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments!
Great selections of reviews Mae! I’ve only read one of these, but I had to add “No Exit” to my Kindle. That gave me chills reading your review, so must read:)
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Denise, I wish I had hours upon hours to read. It’s one of my great pleasures in life. I’m glad my reviews intrigued you, and I think you’ll enjoy No Exit. I was gobsmacked by how good it was! 😀
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Well I bought Lanternfish on the strength of your review and about half a dozen other favourable reviews I’ve recently read. No Exit intrigues me greatly but I’ve got soooo many books on the go, I’ve bookmarked it instead of rushing out and buying. Thanks for the suggestions Mae!
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Yay! Thank you.
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🤗
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So many good books, so little time. I’m sure you’ll enjoy Lanternfish, Jess, and if No Exit ever surfaces on your TBR, I’m sure you’ll enjoy that one too. Oh, for more hours in the day to read! 🙂
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Nice reviews! I’m going to read Voyage of the Lanternfish for sure.
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Thank you, Priscilla.
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I’m sure you’ll love it, Priscilla.
I I I I 😀
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Terrific reviews, Mae and you really should make this a regular feature of your blog. The last two intrigue me and I can see myself devouring a large chunk of No Exit in one sitting. Intense. Linda McCartney always struck me as an intelligent woman and I would like to learn more about her life. Many thanks for your recommendations! 😀📚📖
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I’m glad you enjoyed them, Annika. No Exit is an amazing read, and the book on Linda McCartney was a pleasure to read. So much is written about Paul and The Beatles, but it was great having a book devoted to her.
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Good reviews. My to read list just got longer.
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LOL! I can so relate to that. I swear every time I log online, I find something to make my TBR explode 🙂
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Excellent reviews, Mae. I’m adding to my bursting Kindle and look forward to the read. 🙂
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Hi, Gwen! I’m glad I shared some reviews that have you intrigued and your TBR list growing. I so love to read and it’s a pleasure to share books I enjoyed with others!
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These are not what I would normally read, but your reviews are wonderful.
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Thank you, Dan. Sometimes I struggle to write reviews, so that is wonderful to know! 🙂
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Thanks for the second bite at the apple. I really like your format for these. Posts like this will boost your traffic too.
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I read so much, I figure it’s time I start sharing. And I was delighted to post my thoughts on Lanternfish again. Looks like more than a few people are hooked 😉
I’m happy to spread the news of your latest imaginative tale!
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Thanks again.
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You’ve got a great selection here, Mae. You know I love Lanternfish, and the other books look great. Glad you shared them.
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I love reading, And I think I’m going to love sharing each month, Staci. There are so many excellent reads out there. I just love discussing books!
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You manage to read more than I do (and I used to think I read a lot until I saw you and Teri), but I’m always happy to discuss books! Looking forward to these posts.
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LOL! so glad to hear. And for the record, I think you manage to read a heck of a lot, too (especially with all the editing and writing you do!)
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I’ve read Preston and Child books in the past, but not this series. I’ve always enjoyed them. No Exit sounds fabulous – think I’ll be looking for that one. And I’m currently listening to Voyage of the Lantern Fish. Thanks for the recs, Mae!
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Oooh, cool that you got Lanternfish on audio!
Preston and Child are at the top of my auto buy list with their Pendergast series. I’m besotted with that character, LOL.
I think you’d really enjoy No Exit, Teri. I probably would have read the entire book in one sitting if I hadn’t started it so late in the day!
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You are amazing, Mae. Terrific reviews.
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Aww, thanks, John. I’m excited to start this new feature on my blog.
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😀
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You make every single one of these books sound amazing. Great reviews!
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So gerat to her, Judi. I loved every one of them. I often find it challenging to write reviews, but since I enjoy reading so much, I want to do better at sharing them!
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No Exit and Lanternfish really took my eye. Like you, I read at night before bed to unwind. I remember getting yelled at from my mom to shut out the lights and get to sleep as a kid, so I guess I’ve been the same way for a while now 🙂
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LOL! Now that is cool, Jacquie. I love that you have maintained the habit from the time the you were a kid. So many people tell me they can’t read at night because they fall asleep after just a few pages. I’m the total opposite. I could stay up all night when I’m focused on a good book.I hate to put it down to go to bed.
I’m sure you’d enjoy both Lanternfish and No Exit. Two completely different genres, but both so engaging. Happy reading!
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Great reviews and I’m enjoying the format, it works so well when posting multiple reviews. I’m already a huge fan of Craig’s work and Lanternfish is waiting patiently on my TBR. No Exit also sounds intriguing. My TBR list is now waving a white-flag.😊
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LOL! I’m with you on the white flat waving, Soooz. I have such a list of books to catch up with! I’m sure you’ll be smitten with Lanternfish, and based on what you write, I can see you throughly loving No Exit. I think you’d enjoy the heck out of it.
Now, if there were only more hours in the day to manage our TBRs 😉
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Fabulous reviews to share, Mae! My TBR list is getting huge, and that’s just awesome! Happy Friday! 🙂
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Happy Friday, Natalie! Glad you enjoyed the first glimpse of my reviews! 🙂
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Psychotic villains…LOVE ‘EM. And Paul, he has always been my favorite Beatle.
sherry @ fundinmental
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Ahhh, a girl after my own heart. We love the same things, LOL!
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Wow, Mae. You’ve been reading a lot. Great reviews and a lot of thrillers! I got nervous just reading about the plots. Ha ha. Thanks for the recommendations!
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Glad you enjoyed them, Diana. Thanks for visiting!
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Fantastic reviews, Mae! I have read only one of these books, (Craig’s), but you got my attention with the others! Thank you for sharing!
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Thanks, Jan. I loved every one of these books. As much as I read each year, I thought it was time to start sharing some of my reviews. I never tire of discussing books!
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You asked about the covers so I studied them. All of the covers are good, but the cover of ‘No Exit’ is really eye catching.
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Covers always grab my attention before anything else, Rob. The cover for No Exit sucked me in the second I saw it. That book was an exceptional read–a perfect match for the cover!
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Agreed. Simple and effective.
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Wonderful job of reading / reviewing and thank you and WAY TO GO with the alarming expansion of my TBR list:)
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LOL! Always happy to contribute to someone’s TBR, Flossie 🙂
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Oh man. I knew my TBR was in trouble. Every one of these sounds wonderful! I haven’t read any of the Pendergast novels since the first one, but I’ve always meant to get back to them. Great reviews, Mae!
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I’m addicted to the Pendergast novels. I’m with them like some people are with the Harry Dresden novels, always impatiently waiting for the next, LOL.
An dit’s always a pleasure to add to your TBR, Julie 😉
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What a marvelous reading list you have, Mae. I enjoyed hearing your thoughts on these.
Paul McCartney was my first crush. 😉
Hugs on the wing. And on Wings!
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I still have a crush on Paul, Teagan, LOL!
{{hugs}}
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This was fun. I will file some of these books away and seek them out later. I appreciate you doing this. I hope you continue.
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I’m already looking ahead to February reviews, Bryan. I found it fun to do. Glad you enjoyed it!
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These are all great reviews, Mae. I am deeply into Voyage of the Lanternfish and will finish it in the next few days.
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Happy reading, Robbie!
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Intriguing books to check out. Thanks for sharing your reviews. I am interested in No Exit after hearing that you devoured it nearly in one sitting.:)
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Hi, Janice! Great to have you drop by. I really enjoyed each of these books for different reasons.No Exit was fabulous and highly recommended! 🙂
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Verses for the Dead was great. I think some of the later books weren’t quite as good as the older ones, but this one is so much better. It’s like they got their mojo back. (Although I’ve never DISLIKED a Preston & Childs book!) I agree that the addition of Coldmoon was a great idea. I hope we see more of him.
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Me too, Lauralynn. I thought the one before this wasn’t on par with some of the others, but Verses really brought things back into focus. Like you, I felt the mojo was on par with my favorite Pendergast novels. I can’t wait for #19 and hope Coldmoon is back again.This book is one of my all time faves in the series!
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This is great, been in a reading slump lately, greatly needed.
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Hi, Mickey. So glad you dropped by to check out the reviews. I love to read and plan to keep this feature up every month. I hope you’ll find some good selections in the choices I share. It’s great to know this post is a help for your reading slump! 🙂
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