Happy last week of September! How the heck did we get here so fast? Hubby and I just came off a week’s vacation at the beach. It was wonderful, and we couldn’t have asked for better weather. Check out below to see what happens when you eat too much seafood. Fortunately, I was able to walk it off the next day, thanks to a Goodyear tire, LOL!


I have two book reviews today, both 5-star novels, so I’m excited to share them. Here we go!
BOOK BLURB:
Allie Garvey is heading home to the funeral of a childhood friend. Allie is not only grief-stricken, she’s full of dread. Because going home means seeing the other two people with whom she shares an unbearable secret.
Twenty years earlier, a horrific incident shattered the lives of five teenagers, including Allie. Drinking and partying in the woods, they played a dangerous prank that went tragically wrong, turning deadly. The teenagers kept what happened a secret, believing that getting caught would be the worst thing that could happen. But time has taught Allie otherwise. Not getting caught was far worse.
Allie has been haunted for two decades by what she and the others did, and by the fact that she never told a soul. The dark secret has eaten away at her, distancing her from everyone she loves, including her husband. Because she wasn’t punished by the law, Allie has punished herself, and it’s a life sentence.
Now, Allie stands on the precipice of losing everything. She’s ready for a reckoning, determined to learn how the prank went so horribly wrong. She digs to unearth the truth, but reaches a shocking conclusion that she never saw coming–and neither will the reader.
A deeply emotional examination of family, marriage, and the true nature of justice, Someone Knows is Lisa Scottoline’s most powerful novel to date. Startling, page-turning, and with an ending that’s impossible to forget, this is a tour de force by a beloved author at the top of her game.
MY REVIEW:
Allie returns to her hometown, twenty years after a calamity that altered her life. As fifteen-year-old, she and a group of friends played a prank that resulted in a tragic death. Crippled by grief, she has been going through the motions of living, not even able to tell her husband what happened that dreadful night.
When one of the friends who were with her dies unexpectedly, Allie returns home to attend the funeral. It forces her to come face to face with the others. She wants to dig for the truth of how the prank could have gone so horribly wrong, but not everyone feels the same, including someone who wants silence kept at all costs.
The book is divided into two sections, the first devoted to Allie’s past. When she makes a discovery in the woods, she becomes part of a small circle of teens whose lives will be altered by the find. There are multiple POVs, a good six to seven, which covers the teens and several adults. At the start, it can be a little daunting to keep track of the characters and how they relate to each other. Narration is third person, each chapter headed by the character sharing events. As someone who enjoys books with multiple narrators, I was able to settle in rather quickly.
The second half of the book is set in the present, twenty years after the tragedy. There are several characters I really felt for, especially Larry, Allie’s husband. Of special note, the scenes in the Pine Barrens of New Jersey were so vividly written, I felt like I was there, swallowed by pitch-black darkness and fleeing through the woods. The twists at the end were not any I saw coming. I thought I had the “who” figured out but was proven wrong.
If you enjoy a good domestic thriller that puts family and friendships under a microscope this story is perfect. Excellent character development, polished writing, and a supensful ending.
BOOK BLURB:
ONE ICONIC FAMILY. ONE SUMMER OF SECRETS. THE DAZZLING SPIRIT OF 1970S CALIFORNIA.
For Jackie Pierce, everything changed the summer of 1979, when she spent three months of infinite freedom at her bohemian uncle’s sprawling estate on the California coast. As musicians, artists, and free spirits gathered at The Sandcastle for the season in pursuit of inspiration and communal living, Jackie and her cousin Willa fell into a fast friendship, testing their limits along the rocky beach and in the wild woods… until the summer abruptly ended in tragedy, and Willa silently slipped away into the night.
Twenty years later, Jackie unexpectedly inherits The Sandcastle and returns to the iconic estate for a short visit to ready it for sale. But she reluctantly extends her stay when she learns that, before her death, her estranged aunt had promised an up-and-coming producer he could record a tribute album to her late uncle at the property’s studio. As her musical guests bring the place to life again with their sun-drenched beach days and late-night bonfires, Jackie begins to notice startling parallels to that summer long ago. And when a piece of the past resurfaces and sparks new questions about Willa’s disappearance, Jackie must discover if the dark secret she’s kept ever since is even the truth at all.
MY REVIEW:
This is an enjoyable novel that explores families and friendships. Seventeen-year-old Jackie Pierce spends one magical summer at the bohemian estate of her uncle, a legendary folk singer. There, among the free-spirits, creative thinkers, and musicians who come and go, she meets her cousin Willa. Though opposites in many ways, the girls form a fast and deep friendship.
I loved scenes of them exploring beaches, collecting sea glass, or wandering nighttime woods. The author brings the magic of summer and teen years beautifully to life. The descriptions are so vivid it’s easy to get lost in them. But something happens at the end of that enchanted summer that causes Willa to disappear.
Twenty years later, Jackie inherits her uncle’s estate (called the Sandcastle) and returns to the property with the intent of preparing it for sale. Her plans take a detour when a music producer, his crew, and musicians show up to record a tribute album to her uncle.
The dual timelines of the novel are set in 1979 and 1999. I was more partial to the chapters set in the past—perhaps because of the hippie-like atmosphere of the Sandcastle and the assortment of colorful characters who populated it. There’s also the sense of nostalgia evoked by summer magic in a year I remember well.
This is a “quiet” book which moves at a slow pace. It isn’t even until the last quarter of the novel that events surrounding Willa’s disappearance gradually unfold. The strength of the story lies in its summer vibes and the amazing friendship between the girls. I was a little disappointed in the actual “mystery” but loved the ending. 4.5 stars rounded up to 5 for review purposes.
These both sound good, though I’d probably prefer the first (just because of the action). The 70s vibe of the second is compelling, though. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I loved the 70s vibe and the summer setting of Lady Sunshine, but it definitely had a much slower, quiet pace. I do think you’d enjoy the first one, and that ending n the Pine Barrens was gripping.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow, look at the size of that tire! I’m glad you had a good vacation. Both books sound fabulous, especially Lady Sunshine because it sounds like Doan nailed the 70s vibe, how fun!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love the Ripley’s Believe it or Not museum, Priscilla. Isn’t that tire amazing?
Both books were great, and the 70s vibe of the second one brought back a lot of memories!
LikeLike
LOL! That first photo is hilarious, Mae! I’m glad you and your husband had a great trip. Thanks for the reviews. Both books sounds good. I do have Lisa’s on my Kindle.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Every time I look at that first photo I have to do a double take, Jill, LOL. The Ripley’s museum is a lot of fun, and we had a great vacation.
Lisa’s book is a great mystery, and I thought the ending in the Pine Barrens was very tense!
LikeLike
The first photo provided a giggle…thank you! The two book reviews gave me reasons to purchase both books. Thank you for your honest and thorough reviews.
LikeLike
Whoa, that’s awesome the reviews were such motivation, Karen.
And I’m glad you got a giggle out of the photo. My hubby did, too, LOL!
LikeLike
Two great reviews. Thanks for sharing. Glad you enjoyed your vacation, Mae 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Harmony. I never tire of the beach!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Both books sound interesting. I’d actually had the Lisa Scottoline book on my radar. I like the 70’s element of the second one. A slow burn is okay on occasion.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I enjoyed them both, Joan. The second one is slow, but the summer/70s vibe is very cool, and I think you’d enjoy all the music references.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ooh now I am intrigued!
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Looks like you had a fun time away. When I was a miner, all the dump trucks had tires like that. It’s like watching buildings drive around the pit.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow, really, Craig? That tire was mind-boggling.
Must have been something to see in action!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Welcome back and nice to see you had a fun time away! I’m bookstuffed for now and neither of these are floating my boat thankfully!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I like the word “bookstuffed.” I’m going to have to remember that one and keep it tucked away with chuffed 😉
Love the avatar, too. You find the coolest ones, Fraggle!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Mae, I did a bit of trickery with a comic book cover 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s VERY cool! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well, you’ve enticed me to read both of these books, but particularly Scottoline’s. I enjoyed her first books following female lawyers in Philadelphia, but turned off to her following novels with the child kidnapping/etc themes that she seemed to write about for a while. But this book sounds great, particularly considering that I grew up near the Pine Barrens in NJ, and remember the “NJ Devil” stories we kids used to listen to.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Pamela, Someone Knows was the first book of Scottoline’s I ever read and I really enjoyed it. I don’t think I would like any with child kidnapping, but this one was good. I love that you grew up near the Pine Barrens. I’m fascinated by folklore, including stories of the Jersey Devil. You’d probably recognize a lot of the references in the book.
And Lady Sunshine made for a nice escape, too!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Glad you were able to walk off all that seafood so quickly, Mae – looks like you had a wonderful time! Both of these sound suspenseful, but I’d probably enjoy the first book more. I want to know what happened that summer.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I was a little surprised about what actually did happen that summer and the way it all slotted into place, Teri. Definitely a good read.
And the beach was so much fun. Good thing I was able to walk the boards, LOL!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I can’t even tell you how long it’s been since I’ve been to the boardwalk (or “hit the boards” as we use to say when I was in high school – lol). I miss the smells – the funnel cake and Thrashers fries, mixed with the scent of sunblock and the ocean breeze. Luckily, I can get steamed crabs mailed here because that would be missing too much. Glad you had a good time and your fill of seafood ❤️. And, Someone Knows sounds absolutely wonderful. I will definitely keep that one in mind. Great review!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Tessa, you describe the scents so perfectly. I could inhale those aromas all day long. And, of course, we had to stop and get Thrashers fries (along with Fisher’s Popcorn). Hubby is a fan more so than I am, but it’s part of the boardwalk experience.
In there any place in particular you use for shipping steamed crabs? We use Maine Lobster Now for most of our seafood orders but they don’t have Maryland blue crabs.
Glad to hear Someone Knows is on your radar!
LikeLike
I use Harbor House https://www.ilovecrabs.com/ They are packaged very well and are always good quality.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks. I will definitely check them out. I’m always in the market for good seafood!
LikeLike
I loved your photos, Mae, they brought plenty of happy smiles. Your two reviews are excellent. So much so that I ran to Amazon. At $10, I’m going to wait until I’m ready to read them. Thank you for sharing. 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
We had a wonderful time at the beach, Gwen. It was so much fun, and it feels like my backyard I’ve been going there for so many decades.
It’s good to know the reviews enticed you. I think I was able to grab the first one when it was on sale, so I understand about the pricing!
LikeLike
Thanks for the smiles this morning. I love those pictures you have shared. Sounds like you had a fun vacation Mae. Those two reviews are compelling enough to pick them up. Fabulous reviews.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Glad the photos brought some smiles, Balroop. We had a lot of fun on vacation. I never tire of time at the beach.
I’m glad you enjoyed the reviews, too. Both of these were great reads!
LikeLiked by 1 person
LOL. I’ve never seen anyone lose weight so fast:) Glad you had such a wonderful vacation. Interesting that both books had a similar type of theme, keeping a teenage secret for years and then learning the truth. And the books were so different. That’s the fun thing about writing. Every author approaches common themes in such different ways. Someone Knows sounds awesome!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yep, it was the fastest diet ever, Judi, LOL!
You made a good point about both books having a similar theme relating to a secret from teenage years. I hadn’t thought about that but it’s so true, and both books were so different. I love that about stories!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Glad your vacation went well and love the pictures:) Great reviews, both sound good, and I love collecting sea glass 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Vacation was awesome, Denise. I’m ready to go back again, LOL.
The use of sea glass in Lady Sunshine made me want to comb beaches myself. It really added a wonderful summer vibe to the story.
LikeLike
Hi Mae, it was lovely to see pictures of you. You hardly ever share any. Two excellent reviews, but I like the sound of the first book the best.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Robbie. I know I should share more photos on my blog and hope to in the future. I’m glad the reviews intrigued you. Both were great but the first seems to appeal to the bulk of commenters. I’m glad you enjoyed the post.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for sharing the reviews and those delightful photos. You look very relaxed, Mae.
LikeLiked by 1 person
LOL! Relaxed is my Zen state whenever I’m at the beach, John.
LikeLiked by 1 person
😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Glad you enjoyed Lady Sunshine!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It was an excellent read. The only reason I grabbed it was because of your review 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
There’s no such thing as “too much seafood”. LOL.
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is so true, Sue. I could eat seafood forever!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Both books sound good, MC, although Linda Scottoline is one terrific writer. You must have had some tremendous meal to blow up like that! Luckily it didn’t stay with you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Noelle, I’d never read Scottoline before so this one was quite the introduction.
Loved all the seafood, and am so thankful the boards gave me a chance to walk it off chasing that Goodyear tire, LOL.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It sounds as though the cover on the second title suits the book perfectly- I love when that happens 🙂
Great reviews, Mae, they both look like entertaining reads.
Love the photos! Glad you had a good time 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
The beach was awesome, Jacquie. I’m already wanting to go back! We had such an awesome time.
Glad you enjoyed the reviews. I always like when I can share great reads!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Super cute and fun pics of you. Glad you had a nice vacay and the weather was grand! How fortunate for you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
September is always iffy at the beach, but we couldn’t have asked for better weather, Betsy, and the boardwalk and Ripley’s was a lot of fun. I could go again in a heartbeat, LOL!
LikeLiked by 1 person
So happy for you!! I hope the “high” from that experience lasts a long time. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
This sounds like a good read and one I would enjoy! I love the vacay pictures, Mae! Adorable. 🙂 Thanks for sharing!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Jan. Vacation was a lot of fun, and so needed after all the pandemic stuff. Glad the reviews intrigued you, too!
LikeLiked by 1 person
A couple of wonderful reviews, Mae. “Someone Knows” reminds me of a ’90’s movie called, “I know What You Did Last Summer.”
LikeLiked by 1 person
It did kind of have that vibe, Mark. I love stories like that.
Thanks for checking out the reviews!
LikeLiked by 1 person