Category Archives: Atria Books

October 21, 2015 · 11:58 pm

Review: The Lake House by Kate Morton

lake houseTitle: The Lake House by Kate Morton
Publisher: Atria Books
Genre: Contemporary, Historical, Mystery
Length: 512 pages
Book Rating: B

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

From the New York Times and internationally bestselling author of The Secret Keeper and The Distant Hours, an intricately plotted, spellbinding new novel of heartstopping suspense and uncovered secrets.

Living on her family’s idyllic lakeside estate in Cornwall, England, Alice Edevane is a bright, inquisitive, innocent, and precociously talented sixteen-year-old who loves to write stories. But the mysteries she pens are no match for the one her family is about to endure…

One midsummer’s eve, after a beautiful party drawing hundreds of guests to the estate has ended, the Edevanes discover that their youngest child, eleven-month-old Theo, has vanished without a trace. What follows is a tragedy that tears the family apart in ways they never imagined.

Decades later, Alice is living in London, having enjoyed a long successful career as an author. Theo’s case has never been solved, though Alice still harbors a suspicion as to the culprit. Miles away, Sadie Sparrow, a young detective in the London police force, is staying at her grandfather’s house in Cornwall. While out walking one day, she stumbles upon the old estate—now crumbling and covered with vines, clearly abandoned long ago. Her curiosity is sparked, setting off a series of events that will bring her and Alice together and reveal shocking truths about a past long gone…yet more present than ever.

A lush, atmospheric tale of intertwined destinies, this latest novel from a masterful storyteller is an enthralling, thoroughly satisfying read.

Review:

In Kate Morton’s latest release, The Lake House, the seventy year old unsolved kidnapping of eleven month old Theo Edevane takes center stage when DC Sadie Sparrow stumbles across the family’s abandoned home while out for a jog. Told from multiple points of view and through flashbacks, this perplexing mystery is brimming with history, family secrets and colorful personalities.

In 1933, the Edevane’s annual midsummer house party is a time of heartbreak for many of the family members and cherished friends. Sixteen year old Alice, an aspiring mystery writer, has just completed her first novel and her schoolgirl crush on one of the family’s gardeners is about to end in heartache. Oldest daughter Deborah’s relationship with mom Eleanor is fraught with tension as they plan Deborah’s upcoming wedding. Youngest daughter Clementine is a tomboy clinging tightly to childhood but she absolutely adores Theo. Longtime family friend Daffyd Llewellyn is anxious and fighting not to sink into another depression. Grandmother Constance is embittered and her relationships with all of inhabitants reflect her dour, strict nature. Parents Eleanor and Anthony are deeply in love and they are shattered by Theo’s kidnapping. In the wake of Theo’s unsolved disappearance, the entire family departs from the estate with no one returning for the next seventy years.

In 2003, Sadie’s own personal history plays a role in her belief that Maggie Bailey did not abandon her young daughter, but with little evidence to support her theory, Sadie goes a little too far once the case is officially closed. Now trying to salvage her career, she is spending four weeks with her grandfather when her curiosity about the Edevane’s abandoned estate leads her to begin an off the books investigation into the unsolved kidnapping. Stunned to discover one of the policeman from the original case is still living in the local area, she gets a firsthand look into the original file. This information, along with her discoveries from her personal research, provide her with a few theories about what happened to Theo.

Deciding she needs to take a look inside the house, Sadie contacts Alice who is now living in London where she is still writing a popular detective series. Although now in her eighties, Alice shows no signs of slowing down and she still has a keenly analytical mind. Alice is convinced she knows what happened to Theo and she is wracked with guilt over what she perceives to be her role in the events of that long ago night.

The narrative seamlessly flips back and forth in time and through different characters’ points of view, the truth about the Edevane family is slowly revealed. These shifts in perspective and time periods are clearly marked but the story gets a little bogged down in superfluous details. The characters are well-developed with distinct voices and the Edevane family dynamics are quite fascinating. The revelation of long held family secrets effectively keeps readers guessing the truth about Theo’s fate and Kate Morton throws in a whopper of plot twist that is as delightful as it is unexpected.

Atmospheric with plenty of family secrets, The Lake House is an intriguing mystery that I recommend to readers of police procedurals.

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Filed under Atria Books, Contemporary, Historical (20s), Historical (30s), Kate Morton, Mystery, Rated B, Review, The Lake House

August 2, 2015 · 11:56 pm

Review: Trust No One by Paul Cleave

trust no oneTitle: Trust No One by Paul Cleave
Publisher: Atria Books
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery, Suspense
Length: 352 pages
Book Rating: C+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

In the exciting new psychological thriller by the Edgar-nominated author of Joe Victim, a famous crime writer struggles to differentiate between his own reality and the frightening plot lines he’s created for the page.

Jerry Grey is known to most of the world by his crime writing pseudonym, Henry Cutter—a name that has been keeping readers at the edge of their seats for more than a decade. Recently diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s at the age of forty-nine, Jerry’s crime writing days are coming to an end. His twelve books tell stories of brutal murders committed by bad men, of a world out of balance, of victims finding the darkest forms of justice. As his dementia begins to break down the wall between his life and the lives of the characters he has created, Jerry confesses his worst secret: The stories are real. He knows this because he committed the crimes. Those close to him, including the nurses at the care home where he now lives, insist that it is all in his head, that his memory is being toyed with and manipulated by his unfortunate disease. But if that were true, then why are so many bad things happening? Why are people dying?

Hailed by critics as a “masterful” (Publishers Weekly) writer who consistently offers “ferocious storytelling that makes you think and feel” (The Listener) and whose fiction evokes “Breaking Bad reworked by the Coen Brothers” (Kirkus Reviews), Paul Cleave takes us down a cleverly twisted path to determine the fine line between an author and his characters, between fact and fiction.

Review:

Paul Cleave puts a very unique spin on the unreliable narrator plot device with his latest release, Trust No One. Lead protagonist Jerry Grey’s early onset Alzheimer’s causes him to confuse fact with fiction and it is impossible for anyone to trust his version of events. A crime writer of twelve completed novels, Jerry’s condition deteriorates rapidly and he begins confessing to several murders after he goes into a nursing home. Many of these murders are actually the plots of his novels so his confessions are initially discounted by the police. However, Jerry falls under suspicion after a string of homicides begin occurring on days he has wandered away from the nursing home. Has Jerry turned into a stone cold killer? Or are his ramblings a byproduct of his dementia?

Jerry’s world soon begins to crumble after his diagnosis and with his wife Sandra and daughter Eva by his side, they begin planning for the future. Eva’s wedding date is moved up so he can attend and she, along with Sandra, are soon immersed in planning the nuptials. Jerry is working hard to complete the requested edits on his final manuscript but he is having difficulty staying on task. His other mission is writing a journal that will hopefully jog his memory once dementia fully sets in, but these musings quickly turn into a complicated mix of reality and delusion as his condition worsens. With wedding details taking up much of Sandra’s time, Jerry becomes increasingly suspicious of her activities away from home and paranoia begins to set in. By the time Eva’s wedding day arrives, Jerry and his family are hoping he can make it through the ceremony without mishap but it soon becomes apparent that something horrible happened that day, but what? Why are Eva and Sandra now keeping their distance from Jerry?

From my personal experiences with a family member’s dementia, I can safely say that much of what occurs with Jerry is pretty accurate. The parts of the novel that deal with Jerry confusing fact with fiction, completely forgetting discussions and his inability to recognize friends and family are realistically depicted. Reality becomes interwoven with delusions and paranoia begins. There is also a huge degree of repetition since short term memory is often elusive while long term memories are often recalled without much effort. The disease takes an enormous toll on family and friends as they watch the person they love turn into a stranger. It is absolutely heartbreaking and this portion of the novel is incredibly well written.

Unfortunately, some of these aspects also make Trust No One slow paced and repetitious. Trying to decipher what is real and what is delusion is frustrating not just for Jerry, but also for the reader. Not knowing what is actually occurring in real life and what is a product of Jerry’s dementia becomes irritating since the entire novel is written from Jerry’s point of view. His journal entries are helpful in the beginning, but as he mentally declines, they are essentially useless. The storyline is quite suspenseful as Jerry undergoes his harrowing ordeal but the truth is not revealed until the final few chapters. Paul Cleave brings the novel to a spectacular and stunning conclusion that is satisfying but also heartrending.

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Filed under Atria Books, Contemporary, Mystery, Paul Cleave, Rated C+, Review, Suspense, Trust No One

June 15, 2015 · 11:56 pm

Review: The Truth and Other Lies by Sascha Arango

truth and otherTitle: The Truth and Other Lies by Sascha Arango
Publisher: Atria Books
Genre: Contemporary, Suspense
Length: 256 pages
Book Rating: C

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

Dark, witty, and suspenseful, this literary crime thriller reminiscent of The Dinner and The Silent Wife follows a famous author whose wife—the brains behind his success—meets an untimely death, leaving him to deal with the consequences.

“Evil is a matter of opinion…”

On the surface, Henry Hayden seems like someone you could like, or even admire. A famous bestselling author who appears a modest everyman. A loving, devoted husband even though he could have any woman he desires. A generous friend and coworker. But Henry Hayden is a construction, a mask. His past is a secret, his methods more so. No one besides him and his wife know that she is the actual writer of the novels that made him famous.

For most of Henry’s life, it hasn’t been a problem. But when his hidden-in-plain-sight mistress becomes pregnant and his carefully constructed facade is about to crumble, he tries to find a permanent solution, only to make a terrible mistake.

Now not only are the police after Henry, but his past—which he has painstakingly kept hidden—threatens to catch up with him as well. Henry is an ingenious man and he works out an ingenious plan. He weaves lies, truths, and half-truths into a story that might help him survive. But bit by bit the noose still tightens.

Smart, sardonic, and compulsively readable, here is the story of a man whose cunning allows him to evade the consequences of his every action, even when he’s standing on the edge of the abyss.

Review:

The Truth and Other Lies by Sascha Arango is a rather clever novel about a manipulative man whose life takes a dark turn after finding out his mistress is pregnant with his baby. Henry Hayden has a somewhat disturbing past and he does not hesitate to take care of his problems in a very permanent fashion.

Henry Hayden is a bestselling mystery writer who has never written a single word. His wife Martha is actually the author, but with her blessing, he takes the credit for her work. This arrangement works out perfectly since for unknown reasons, Martha was never interested in publishing her books. Martha spends her nights writing while Henry takes care of household chores, attends book signings and goes on publicity tours. In between all of that, Henry also indulges in affairs with his editor Betty and other women he meets along the way. After Betty’s surprise pregnancy announcement, Henry runs through several possible scenarios for this very unwanted complication but he quickly discards them and he impulsively makes a decision that make matters worse for him.

Not much is knows about Henry’s past, but from the little that is revealed, it is clear that he is definitely troubled. After his father’s death and his mother’s disappearance when he was a child, he was in and out of group homes and after striking out on his own, he turned to a life of crime. There is a fairly large gap in his personal history until he meets Martha in his mid thirties and they eventually marry. After they marry, Henry lives a fairly normal life and he is well-liked by the people who know him. He is friendly, generous with his friends and gracious to his many fans. But Henry has a very sinister side that surfaces soon after learning about Betty’s pregnancy and although he still continues to be pleasant and outgoing, he is also desperate to rid himself of the complications that are plaguing him.

While the premise for The Truth and Other Lies is intriguing, the pacing of the story is incredibly slow. There are numerous shifts in perspective and these transitions in viewpoint are often abrupt and not clearly marked. Henry is a rather unreliable narrator so it is difficult to know what events are real and which are figments of his (surprisingly) active imagination. Although the characters are interesting, many of them, including Henry, are difficult to like.

The Truth and Other Lies by Sascha Arango has a very unusual plot which makes it a fascinating novel to read. There are several unexpected twists and turns and it is impossible to figure out how the story will end. The conclusion is a little ambiguous but mostly satisfying.

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Filed under Atria Books, Contemporary, Rated C, Review, Sascha Arango, Suspense, The Truth and Other Lies

April 22, 2015 · 11:57 pm

Review: The Beautiful Daughters by Nicole Baart

beautiful daughtersTitle: The Beautiful Daughters by Nicole Baart
Publisher: Atria Books
Genre: Contemporary, Fiction
Length: 384 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

Adrienne Vogt and Harper Penny were closer than sisters, until the day a tragedy blew their seemingly idyllic world apart. Afraid that they got away with murder and unable to accept who they had lost—and what they had done—Harper and Adri exiled themselves from small-town Blackhawk, Iowa, and from each other. Adri ran thousands of miles away to Africa while Harper ventured down a more destructive path closer to home.

Now, five years later, both are convinced that nothing could ever coax them out of the worlds in which they’ve been living. But unexpected news from home soon pulls Adri and Harper back together, and the two cannot avoid facing their memories and guilt head-on. As they are pulled back into the tangle of their fractured relationships and the mystery of Piperhall, the sprawling estate where their lives first began to unravel, secrets and lies behind the tragic accident are laid bare. The former best friends are forced to come to terms with their shared past and search for the beauty in each other while mending the brokenness in themselves.

Review:

The Beautiful Daughters by Nicole Baart is a complex and compelling novel about betrayal, friendship and redemption. This touching story is an incredible journey of healing and forgiveness that is poignant and ultimately, freeing, for the two main protagonists.

After the death of her fiancé, David, five years earlier, Adrienne “Adri” Vogt fled from her small hometown of Blackhawk, Iowa for a nursing job in West Africa.   She has avoided thinking about the series of events that led to his untimely death but when David’s mother passes away and appoints Adri as the executor of her estate, Adri is forced to return home where she not only confronts the ghosts of her pasts, but eventually reunites with her best friend, Harper Penny. Harper also left Blackhawk and found herself on an increasingly self-destructive path that culminates in an abusive relationship that she finally finds the strength and courage to leave after Adri impulsively reaches out to her. Adri and Harper’s reunion is guarded as both avoid discussing their heartbreaking history until a near tragedy finally forces both women to confront the past that has defined and, nearly destroyed, them for so long.

Adri and Harper’s unlikely friendship begins in college and for four years, they, along with David, Adri’s twin brother Will and Will’s friend, Jackson, were inseparable.  The Five (as they called themselves) enjoyed lavish get togethers at David’s family estate but their close bond begins to feel the strain after David and Adri’s engagement. Both women find themselves keeping secrets that prominently center around David and when Harper convinces The Five to go on one last vacation together following graduation, the trip ends with David’s death. The mystery surrounding the circumstances of his death is one of the driving forces of the novel while the impact of his death on Adri and Harper is just as riveting.

Neither women can forgive themselves for their perceived roles in David’s death but they deal with their guilt in very different ways. Adri isolates herself from her friends and family by taking the job in West Africa while Harper falls into dead end jobs and living paycheck to paycheck. Adri’s self-imposed exile also leaves her little opportunity to date, but just before returning home, her co-worker, Caleb, finally expresses his interest in her which she returns, but refuses to acknowledge. Harper, on the other hand, has been in a relationship for several years with a man whose manipulative behavior is taking an increasingly dark turn.

Flashbacks from both Adri and Harper’s points of view reveal the circumstances leading up their rift. Adri provides the details of their friendship in addition to her romance and subsequent engagement to David. Most of Harper’s recollections focus on David but both women recount the series of events leading up David’s death. Once they finally discuss that fateful day, will Adri and Harper finally be free of the guilt that haunts them? Will they be able to forgive themselves and each other for the mistakes of the past? Will Adri and Harper repair their fractured friendship?

The Beautiful Daughters by Nicole Baart is a character driven novel that is quite captivating. The storyline is well-developed and touches on several relevant social issues in a thought-provoking and sensitive manner. The characters are multi-dimensional and although they are flawed, they are sympathetic and engaging. It is a truly unforgettable story of healing, forgiveness and friendship that I greatly enjoyed and highly recommend.

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Filed under Atria Books, Contemporary, Fiction, Nicole Baart, Rated B+, Review, The Beautiful Daughters

November 10, 2014 · 11:57 pm

Review: After the Rain by Renee Carlino

after rainTitle: After the Rain by Renee Carlino
Publisher: Atria Books
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Length: 304 pages
Book Rating: B

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

From the USA TODAY bestselling author of Sweet Thing and Nowhere But Here comes a deeply emotional contemporary romance about the second chances waiting beyond the shattered dreams of youth.

When eighteen-year-old Avelina Belo meets a charismatic cowboy the summer before her senior year of high school, she doesn’t know that accepting his invitation to dinner will lead to a whirlwind marriage three months later and an exciting new life on a Montana ranch. She also doesn’t know that, in a few short years, fate will send everything crashing down around her.

A thousand miles away and fresh out of medical school, Nate Meyers is poised to become UCLA’s next superstar heart surgeon. His laser focus is the key to his success, but it’s also his greatest liability. When a routine surgery ends in disaster, derailing his career, he’s confronted with the hard truth: there’s no one waiting for him at home, no one to help him pick up the pieces.

Regrouping on his uncle’s Montana ranch, Nate meets Avelina, a beautiful but mysterious young woman who keeps to herself and barely speaks a word. As he discovers the details of her devastating past, Avelina teaches him more about matters of the heart than he ever knew before. But can they trust each other enough to put everything on the line?

The Review:

After the Rain by Renee Carlino is an emotional and sometimes heartbreaking romance between two people deeply affected by very different life-altering events. For Avelina “Ava” McCrea, the devastating loss of her husband in a tragic turn of events leaves her paralyzed with grief. For Nathanial “Nate” Meyers, a medical error leads to a horrific loss that shakes the rising star’s confidence and leads to a re-evualation of his life. A surprising connection to a Montana ranch brings these two unlikely people together, but will the tragedies of their pasts keep them apart?

After the Rain is written in first person and alternates back and forth from Ava and Nate’s points of view. The story beings in 2003 from Ava’s perspective, and provides background information about her family’s history and details her first meeting with her soon to husband Jake McCrea. The novel then jumps forward to 2005 where it switches to Nate’s perspective and his graduation from medical school. Staying in 2005, the story shifts back to Ava where it follows her marriage from the idyllic happy times through the devastating loss of her husband. The story then fast forwards five years where Ava and Nate’s stories intertwine in the aftermath of Nate’s medical misdiagnosis.

The son of a highly successful cardiac surgeon, Nate has always known his path in life. From his early graduation to earning a coveted residency at a prestigious hospital, Nate has single-mindedly devoted himself to pursuing his career. When he is forced to take time off, Nate returns to the ranch where he spent many happy vacations with his aunt and uncle where he begins re-evaluate his life. Pursuing a relationship with Ava is just the first step in achieving a more balanced lifestyle but it is his sudden decision to make a drastic move that provides him the opportunity to make permanent changes to his life.

Ava has been mired in anger, grief and guilt since her husband’s death and although she has people who care about her, they have been unable to help her move past her loss. She is floundering in the wake of Jake’s death and she has turned to alcohol to help cope with her memories. After meeting Nate, she begins to fully engage with the people around her, but this change is tenuous and it does not take much to make her retreat. Given the tragedies she has endured, it is sometimes easy to forget that Ava is in her early twenties and her reactions often reflect this lack of maturity. As much as she would like to fully commit to a relationship with Nate, Ava needs to recapture the person she used to be before she entered into her all consuming marriage and gave up her hopes and dreams in exchange for Jake’s.

The relationship between Nate and Ava is on again/off again with Ava directing the course of their romance. Ava is sometimes frustrating as she clings tightly to her grief and self-loathing instead of accepting the opportunities to move forward. Just as they begin to make progress, Ava pulls away and Nate renews his pursuit. This is a vicious cycle that culminates in a unilateral decision by Ava that Nate has no choice but to accept. Their future together continues to hang in the balance and leads to a very dramatic and poignant outpouring of emotion that is quite touching.

After the Rain is a very compelling novel of self-forgiveness and healing that is fast paced with engaging protagonists. All of the characters are fully developed and three-dimensional with flaws and imperfections that are easy to relate to. The storyline is well-written and unique with real life issues that take time to overcome. Renee Carlino brings the novel to an outstanding conclusion that is guaranteed to melt the reader’s heart. All in all, a lovely romance that I greatly enjoyed and highly recommend.

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Filed under After the Rain, Atria Books, Contemporary, Rated B, Renee Carlino, Review, Romance

September 3, 2014 · 11:58 pm

Review: Accidents of Marriage by Randy Susan Meyers

accidentsTitle: Accidents of Marriage by Randy Susan Meyers
Publisher: Atria Books
Genre: Contemporary, Fiction
Length: 368 pages
Book Rating: B

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

From the bestselling author of The Comfort of Lies, an engrossing look at the darker side of a marriage—and at how an ordinary family responds to an extraordinary crisis.

Maddy is a social worker trying to balance her career and three children. Years ago, she fell in love with Ben, a public defender, drawn to his fiery passion, but now he’s lashing out at her during his periodic verbal furies. She vacillates between tiptoeing around him and asserting herself for the sake of their kids—which works to keep a fragile peace—until the rainy day when they’re together in the car and Ben’s volatile temper gets the best of him, leaving Maddy in the hospital fighting for her life.

Randy Susan Meyers takes us inside the hearts and minds of her characters, alternating among the perspectives of Maddy, Ben, and their fourteen-year-old daughter. Accidents of Marriage is a provocative and stunning novel that will resonate deeply with women from all walks of life, ultimately revealing the challenges of family, faith, and forgiveness.

The Review:

Accidents of Marriage by Randy Susan Meyers is a heart wrenching and insightful novel about the devastating effects of living with someone who is verbally abusive and prone to violent outbursts resulting from poor anger management. The consequences are oftentimes tragic and this eye-opening, poignant story is a timely reminder that anyone can become a victim of domestic violence.

Maddy and Ben are juggling the demands of parenthood with demanding, high stress careers. Maddy, a social worker, is the main caregiver of the couple’s three children, fourteen year old Emma, nine year old Gracie and seven year old Caleb. She is wrung out and exhausted by trying to keep up with household duties, the kid’s frenetic schedules and her emotionally draining job. Maddy is always on edge, waiting to find out which version of Ben is going to return home each night: will it be the loving and devoted husband? Or will it be the derisive, condescending husband whose verbal abuse often ends in physical, violent explosions of anger? After a couple of days that are more stressful than normal, Ben’s anger boils over into road rage that results in a horrible car accident that leaves Maddy in a coma. The doctors are cautiously optimistic about her eventual recovery, but in the meantime, the family slowly disintegrates under the stresses of everyday life and the terrible uncertainty of Maddy’s future.

As a social worker, no one knows the warming signs of abusive relationships better than Maddy, but it is amazing how blinded she is to Ben’s destructive behavior. She makes excuses, blames herself and carefully censors herself in an effort to keep from provoking his temper. She goes so far as to point out that he has an anger management problem and provides him with information to try to help his anger under control. Maddy has moments of introspection where she admits that he has problems but instead of taking the advice she gives her clients, she never seriously considers leaving him.

Ben is a self-centered narcissist who bullies and belittles Maddy into compliance. Although they both have fulltime careers, Ben deems his the most important and he refuses to help Maddy manage the children’s hectic schedules or take on any household responsibilities. Ben works long hours and despite his frequent absences, he is hypercritical of Maddy’s parenting decisions. He is incapable of accepting responsibility for his actions and in the aftermath of the car accident, Ben repeatedly downplays his role in the accident.

Ben and Maddy’s children are the unintended victims of their parents’ dysfunctional relationship but the extent of the damage is not seen until after the accident. As the oldest, Emma is forced into taking care of her younger siblings and household duties while Maddy is in the hospital. She loves Gracie and Caleb, but as the days stretch into weeks, she is resentful of the responsibility she shoulders and she begins looking for relief from the unending stress in all the wrong places. Poor Gracie and Caleb are lonely, confused and scared as they try to understand the drama unfolding around them.

Accidents of Marriage is an emotionally compelling family drama that is raw, gritty and breathtakingly realistic. The characters are well-drawn with all too human flaws and imperfections. The storyline is absolutely heartbreaking but Randy Susan Meyers deftly handles difficult topics with an amazing amount of sensitivity. A riveting and highly complex novel that I highly recommend.

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Filed under Accidents of Marriage, Atria Books, Contemporary, Fiction, Randy Susan Meyers, Rated B, Review