Category Archives: Book Talk

Welcome to this week’s Book Talk!

Dark Towers by David Enrich: 4.5 stars. Very compelling investigation into Deutsche Bank’s long history. Deutsche Bank’s checkered past includes bankrolling an American railway in the late 1800, their horrifying history with loans to Nazis and their questionable involvement with Donald Trump. It is a very revealing look into the freewheeling days on Wall Street in the years leading up to the crash of 2008. An eye-opening exposé of not just Deutsche Bank but the banking industry overall.

Where They Lie by Joe Hart: 4.5 stars. Child protective services agent Nora McTavish is doggedly peresistent in uncovering the truth about what caused the plane crash that killed three foster children and their foster dad. The only survivor is foster mom and popular family vlogger Kaylee Volk. Although her job is on the line, Nora keeps digging until she discovers the shocking events that lead to the tragic deaths. I am very much looking forward to the next Nora McTavish mystery!

Falling by T.J. Newman: 4.5 stars. Every once in while, I decide to stretch my reading wings and read a book that is not one of my usual genres. Falling is not one my typical selections but I was intrigued by the plot summary. Pilot Bill Hoffman’s latest flight turns into a nervewracking decision about whether to save his family or the passengers. This edge of the seat thriller keeps the pages turning at a blistering pace from the beginning to end. I was completely entraced by this suspense-laden novel. I cannot wait to read T.J. Newman’s next book, Drowning.

The Year of Jubliee by Cindy Morgan: 5 stars. Review will post 4/22.

Now it’s your turn. What have you been reading lately? Join the discussion by commenting below!

Welcome to this week’s Book Talk!

Last week was a slow week for reading for me. In a strange twist, both books have main characters named Kate!

Lovely Girls by Margot Hunt: 4.5 stars. An outstanding domestic mystery with an interesting storyline. Newly widowed Kate and her daughter Alex have recently moved to a coastal Florida town following the death of her husband. While Kate is immediately accepted into a group of friends who are the queen bees in town, Alex immediately finds herself on the wrong side of their daughters. The more Kate gets to know the three women, the more uneasy she becomes. She is also struggling to salvage her tense relationship with Alex is not at all happy about their move.

The chapters alternate between Kate’s perspective and Alex’s video diary. This narration adds suspense to the storyline as Alex recounts the bullying she is enduring. Kate’s chapters are a little heartbreaking as she continues trying to reach Alex. She overlooks unpleasant traits in her new friends but will she finally listen to other people’s warnings about them?

Lovely Girls is a fast-paced domestic mystery. Although Kate and Alex are sympathetic characters, the trio of moms and their daugthers are impossible to like. The storyline is engaging and keeps readers guessing how this terrific mystery is going to end.

Code 6 by James Grippando: 4 stars. A sometimes hard to follow novel that explores a darker side of internet usage. It provides fascianting information about the 1st census and how even back then, techology can used for evil. The characters are well-drawn and the storyline is engrossing once the various plots and subplots begin to come together. The conclusion is action-packed with electrifying scenes that keep the pages turning at a breathless pace.

I started reading Dark Towers by David Enrich. It is a compelling investigative book that deleves into the history of Deutsche Bank. Very eye-opening!

Now it’s your turn. What have you been reading lately? Join the discussion by commenting below!

Welcome to this week’s Book Talk!

I enjoyed a variety of books last week.

Storm Watch by C.J. Box: 4.5 stars. This latest installment in the Joe Pickett series begins with a shocking discovery just as a spring snowstorm hits. Joe is trying to let the sheriff do his job, but he is frustrated by the lack of urgency by local law enforcement. When the feds get involved and Joe is warned to stay out of the investigation, will he let things go?

Nate is trying to rebuild his falconry business when his new friend proposes they go into bitcoin mining together. Nate is also approached by a local group that is part of a secessionist movement. While he is intrigued by some of the ideas, Nate is not convinced he wants to become involved.

This terrific outing finds Joe relying on his wife Marybeth and daughter Sheridan as he tries to uncover the truth about what is happening nearby. He is also uncertain about the fate of his friendship with Nate when his friend toys around with the ideas presented to him by extremists. Joe is in the crosshairs of powerful people as the pieces of a troubling puzzle begin to fall into place. This newest mystery is sure to be a hit with old and new fans of the Joe Pickett series.

Her Amish Springtime Miracle by Winnie Griggs: 4.5 stars. This darling romance was last month’s reading challenge. Read my thoughts HERE.

Those Empty Eyes by Charlie Donlea: 4.5 stars. Lead character Alexandra “Alex” Quinlan is initially accused of murdering her family. The media saddles her with the horrible nickname “Empty Eyes” and she disappears after her name is cleared. Trying to remain under the radar, Alex becomes an investigator with a law firm where she is somewhat unorthodox in her efforts to find the truth about their clients.

This multi-layered mystery is fast-paced and a little confusing due to several story arcs. The characters are very well-developed. It is impossible not to root for Alex as she tries to live an unassuming life while also hoping to solve her family’s murders. The mystery comes to a twist-filled conclusion that weaves the various storylines together in shocking ways.

On a Quiet Street by Seraphina Nova Glass: 4.5 stars. Behind closed doors, neighbors on a quiet street are not quite as perfect as they appear. New mother Georgia keeps to herself and never leaves the house while her husband goes off to work every day. Cora is convinced her husband Finn is cheating on her and she refuses to stop trying to catch him in the act. She also keeps trying to befriend Georgia who continually rebuffs her attempts. Their other neighbor Paige is mourning the tragic death of her son. Her marriage has fallen apart and she is fixated on finding out who is responsible for killing their only child.

This domestic mystery is compelling and incredibly fast-paced. The characters are very well-drawn with realistic strengths and weaknesses. The storyline is chilling as readers see what is happening within the walls of the neighbors’ homes. The seemingly tranquil street is the perfect backdrop for the unsettling secrets that are soon exposed.

Now it’s your turn. What have you been reading lately? Join the discussion by commenting below!

Welcome to this week’s Book Talk!

Last week, I decided to try and get up with the Joe Pickett series.

Dark Sky by C.J. Box: Joe Pickett is tasked with guiding a social media billionaire on an elk hunt. What should be a quick few days in the mountains turns into a bone-chilling, action-filled race to escape from unexpected danger.

In a secondary storyline, Nate Romanowski and Joe’s daughter Sheridan discover someone has been raiding Nate’s raptor nests. Nate is out for revenge in the aftermath of a devastating attack on his family and his livelihood.

Shadows Reel by C.J. Box: Right before Thanksgiving, Joe Pickett is unlucky enough to discover a suspected moose poaching is in fact a murder. Although he knows he should leave the investigating to the new Sheriff, Joe can’t resist poking around a little bit. And in a strange twist, the contents of a package at the library where his Marybeth works might be related to the man’s murder. Uncovering the truth about the package and the murder culminates with a clever plan that is more dangerous than they bargained for.

Meanwhile, Nate continues his hunt for his missing raptors and the man who stole them. His search takes him from Wyoming to Denver then to Seattle. Along the way, he unexpectedly stumbles on a diabolical plot that could plunge the US into chaos.

Now it’s your turn. What have you been reading lately? Join the discussion by commenting below!

Welcome to this week’s Book Talk!

The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls: A memoir detailing the author’s tumultuous and dysfunctional childhood. For most of her and her siblings’ childhood, their parents frequently moved the family from place to place. They grew up in poverty that only worsened in the final move of their childhood. The writing is matter of fact yet very descriptive
and engaging. I have to admit I feel like she and her siblings were failed by their parents and extended family members. This captivating memoir is very thought-provoking.

When McKinsey Comes to Town by Walt Bogdanich & Michael Forsythe: A non-fiction investigative book that details the damage the McKinsey consulting firm has caused many businesses and governments in the US and abroad. I first saw mention of McKinsey in the aftermath of the opioid epidemic in the US. The book details all of the various ways the McKinsey firm’s interactions with corporations, hospitals and governments skew toward profits at the expense of workers, patients and citizens. An insightful look into how McKinsey’s failure to reveal conflicts of interest and their no holds barred, profit-driven business model has reshaped corporations and lives across the globe.

Now it’s your turn. What have you been reading lately? Join the discussion by commenting below!

Welcome to this week’s Book Talk!

Last week’s reads (I somehow chose books with blue covers!):

Sometimes People Die by Simon Stephenson: 4 stars. An interesting character study and murder mystery which takes place mostly in a hospital. The book is written as an autobiographical story of the lead chacter. He is a doctor and recovering drug addict whose chance at redemption takes place in a hospital that mainly cares for poor patients. After the unexpected death of a patient who is ready for release, the police begin an investigation. When even more suspicious death are uncovered, the police begin their hunt for the killer in earnest. I really enjoyed this unique mystery.

What Have We Done by Alex Finlay: 4.5 stars. A washed up rocker, a reality TV producer and a stay at home mom first meet as teenagers at Savior House. Twenty-five years later, someone wants them dead. Unfolding from three points of view, this action-packed mystery kept me guessing right up until the thrilling conclusion. Highly recommend!!

The Soulmate by Sally Hepworth: Thanks to Book of the Month, I was able to read Sally Hepworth’s latest mystery a few weeks early. Pippa and Gabe Gerard live on the top of a cliff that is a popular suicide spot. Gabe has been able to save all but the latest troubled soul. The ensuing investigation makes them very uneasy when the person’s identity is revealed. This compelling mystery keeps pages turning at blistering pace as Pippa tries to piece together the truth about what happened that night. Another outstanding mystery that has plenty of depth and clever storyline.

All the Dangerous Things by Stacy Willingham: Isabelle Drake’s baby boy disappeared from his crib a year ago. The police investigation has stalled and her husband Ben has moved out and moved on. Isabelle’s last hope is that working with a true-crime podcaster will uncover new evidence. Her severe lack of sleep makes her a possibly unreliable narrator as she uncovers startling information. The chapters move back and forth in time between the present, Isabelle’s childhood and her romance with Ben. Isabelle is a very sympathetic character and her desperation to find her son permeates the novel. The conclusion brings jaw-dropping revelations and a shocking resolution to this heartrending mystery.

Now it’s your turn. What have you been reading lately? Join the discussion by commenting below!