Category Archives: Domestic Mystery

May 24, 2021 · 12:02 am

Review: Hush Little Baby by R. H. Herron

Title: Hush Little Baby by R. H. Herron
Publisher: Dutton
Genre: Contemporary, Domestic Thriller, Psychological Thriller
Length: 336 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

From the author of Stolen Things comes a twisty thriller that asks how tightly we are bound to our pasts, how much we can trust those around us, and how far a mother will go to protect her child.

Jillian Marsh is a survivor. She escaped her toxic upbringing at the hands of her religious zealot mother as a teenager, and after hitting rock bottom due to alcoholism in her twenties, she not only got sober, she built a successful marriage and medical career, even if she wasn’t able to make amends for all the mistakes she made during her drinking days. But nearly a decade later, things are once again going downhill for Jillian. Her wife, Rochelle, has left her while Jillian is pregnant with Rochelle’s biological child, and she feels constantly unsettled in her now-empty house—items missing from their usual place, burning candles she can’t remember lighting, the screen from her bedroom window removed. Even her mommies-to-be group isn’t the solace it once was. Bree, Camille, Maggie, and Jillian vowed to not only support one another in motherhood but in their sobriety, careers, and maintaining their independence after their babies are born . . . a sisterhood that begins to unravel when the secrets between the women come unwillingly to light.

As things in Jillian’s home begin to escalate, she’s forced to ask herself: Is one of her supposed friends not as trustworthy as she seems? Could Rochelle be gaslighting her in order to claim full custody of their daughter? Or, worst of all—is Jillian turning into her own mother, and imagining all of it in some sort of subconscious sabotage against her unborn child?

When the missing items turn into unambiguous threats, and as the circle of those she can trust continues to dwindle, Jillian knows only one thing for sure: she will do anything to protect her baby.

Review:

Hush Little Baby by R. H. Herron is a thoroughly captivating psychological thriller.

Jillian Marsh is a successful ob-gyn who is weeks away from giving birth. While her professional life is on track, her personal life is a bit of a mess. She and her soon to be ex-wife Rochelle split up a several months ago due to Rochelle’s affair. Jillian has barely adjusted to living without the woman she loves when strange occurrences around the house leave her fearful and afraid for her sanity. Luckily, she has a group of friends whom she can count on to be there for her. As her suspicions grow about who is behind what is happening inside her own home, who can Jillian trust as her due date draws closer?

After a dysfunctional childhood and her battle with alcoholism, Jillian thought she has it all: a successful career, a loving marriage and a baby on the way. But when she is five months pregnant, Rochelle yanks the rug out from under her feet when she moves in with her lover. Now resigned to single parenthood, Jillian focuses on her career and her friendship with a group of women who are also pregnant and in recovery.  But as the strange events continue, Jillian begins to look at the people in her life as she wonders which one of them is responsible. And why.

The tension grows as Jillian’s fears begin to spiral out of control. She is also facing finalizing her divorce and arranging custody arrangements. Rochelle is not exactly helping the situation and Jillian tries to keep a positive attitude. But Jillian grows more and more unsettled as the eerie incidents begin to escalate. With no one taking her seriously, are Jillian and her unborn baby safe from whomever is threatening her?

Hush Little Baby by R. H. Herron is an extremely fast-paced domestic mystery. The storyline is engrossing and the characters are well-drawn. The first part of the story explains important backstory while the latter half is quite suspenseful. With shocking twists and stunning turns, R. H. Herron brings this brilliant thriller to a hair-raising, edge of the seat conclusion.

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Filed under Contemporary, Domestic Mystery, Dutton, Hush Little Baby, Psychological Thriller, Rated B+, Review, RH Herron

May 18, 2021 · 12:01 am

Review: The Plot by Jean Hanff Korelitz

Title: The Plot by Jean Hanff Korelitz
Publisher: Celadon Books
Genre: Contemporary, Domestic Mystery
Length: 336 pages
Book Rating: C

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

Hailed as “breathtakingly suspenseful,” Jean Hanff Korelitz’s The Plot is a propulsive read about a story too good not to steal, and the writer who steals it.

Jacob Finch Bonner was once a promising young novelist with a respectably published first book. Today, he’s teaching in a third-rate MFA program and struggling to maintain what’s left of his self-respect; he hasn’t written—let alone published—anything decent in years. When Evan Parker, his most arrogant student, announces he doesn’t need Jake’s help because the plot of his book in progress is a sure thing, Jake is prepared to dismiss the boast as typical amateur narcissism. But then . . . he hears the plot.

Jake returns to the downward trajectory of his own career and braces himself for the supernova publication of Evan Parker’s first novel: but it never comes. When he discovers that his former student has died, presumably without ever completing his book, Jake does what any self-respecting writer would do with a story like that—a story that absolutely needs to be told.

In a few short years, all of Evan Parker’s predictions have come true, but Jake is the author enjoying the wave. He is wealthy, famous, praised and read all over the world. But at the height of his glorious new life, an e-mail arrives, the first salvo in a terrifying, anonymous campaign: You are a thief, it says.

As Jake struggles to understand his antagonist and hide the truth from his readers and his publishers, he begins to learn more about his late student, and what he discovers both amazes and terrifies him. Who was Evan Parker, and how did he get the idea for his “sure thing” of a novel? What is the real story behind the plot, and who stole it from whom?

Review:

The Plot by Jean Hanff Korelitz is a slow-burning domestic mystery.

Jake Bonner’s life has been in a slow decline since achieving a modicum of success with his first novel. While teaching a creative writing class at an obscure college to make ends meet, Jake’s student Parker Evans eventually reveals the plot of the book he is working on. Jake realizes Parker’s arrogant bragging about his future success is on the mark.  Yet to his knowledge, the book has never been released. With his life continuing its downward spiral, Jake indulges in a bit of internet spying on his former student. Much to his surprise, Parker died not long after they met. In a moment he comes to regrets, Jake appropriates Parker’s storyline and as predicted, the book is a HUGE hit. But when he receives an e-mail accusing him of being a thief, Jake tries to identify who is harassing him before he is publicly disgraced.

Jake has become a defeatist in the years since his first book is published. Although he denies writer’s block is a thing, his latest work in progress has been languishing for many months. Jake turns to on-line editing in addition to teaching, but he eventually has trouble making rent. After “borrowing” Parker’s plot, Jake’s success is a double-edged sword as he fears someone will find out his secret. Just as his life is taking an unexpectedly upward turn, Jake begins receiving the threats he fears will publicly ruin him.

The Plot is an intriguing domestic mystery. Despite a very unique premise, the pacing for the first half of the novel is very slow. Jake gives off a defeated air until he finds success with his pilfered plot. With much to lose if the truth is revealed, he frantically tries to figure out who is targeting him. Astute readers will most likely ascertain the person’s identity long before the increasingly anxious lead protagonist.  Jean Hanff Korelitz brings this unevenly paced domestic mystery to a somewhat disappointing conclusion.

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Filed under Celadon Books, Contemporary, Domestic Mystery, Jean Hanff Korelitz, Mystery, Rated C, Review, The Plot

April 29, 2021 · 12:01 am

Review: The Other Side of the Door by Nicci French

Title: The Other Side of the Door by Nicci French
Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery, Suspense
Length: 400 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through Edelweiss

Summary:

From the internationally bestselling author of The Lying Room, a sexy, intricate thriller about the temptation of secrets, the weight of lies, and the price of betrayal and suspicion.

Who is more dangerous? An enemy, a friend, or a lover?

When Bonnie Graham arrives at her boyfriend’s apartment in London, she is horrified to discover a dead body in a pool of blood on the floor. But she doesn’t call the police. Bonnie hides the corpse and then carefully wipes away any evidence she was ever there.

Bonnie is a music teacher who spent a long, hot summer in London rehearsing with a band to play at a friend’s wedding. It was supposed to be fun, but the band members find the complicated knots of their friendships—some old, some new—unraveling as the days themselves unwind. What was meant to be a summer of happiness, love, and music turns deadly as lovers betray one another, passions turn murderous, and friendship itself becomes a crime.

Everyone tells lies. But is anyone prepared to tell the truth to uncover a murderer?

Review:

The Other Side of the Door by Nicci French is a tightly-plotted domestic mystery.

Bonnie Graham’s first instinct after a shocking discovery is to contact a close friend to help her hide a dead body. She gives no explanation for what happened and together, they decide on a place to dump the corpse then hide the person’s vehicle. Bonnie is upset and barely able to follow through whereas her friend is clear thinking and calm as they take steps to conceal all evidence of what happened. Bonnie just hopes they carry on with their lives without anything from that night being discovered. Unfortunately, the body is found and the police have a lot of questions for Bonnie and her friends.

Over summer break, music teacher Bonnie is in charge of putting together a band for a friend’s wedding. The band is comprised of her ex, Amos, former student Joakim, his dad Guy, college mate Neal, friend Sonia and stranger Hayden. There is plenty of tension between the band members as not all of them are as skilled as others. There is also jealousy over Hayden’s musical ability.

Bonnie is not one to take charge either before or after the death of one of their band mates. She is stuck in a flat that needs a lot of work and she begins work that she never finishes before moving on to another project. Amos is a thorn in her side as he gets his back up over his less than stellar musical abilities. Neal wants more from her than she able to give. Guy becomes angry when Joakim makes a surprising decision. Hayden is a bit of a pot stirrer as he creates conflict with other band members.

With the story moving back and forth in time, The Other Side of the Door is a riveting domestic mystery. Bonnie’s apathy is a bit off-putting as she wishes everything would just go away. The band members are diverse with varied backgrounds and life experiences. The identity of the murder victim is not immediately revealed which adds suspense right from the beginning. With plenty of strife between the members of the band, there are a good number of suspects who could be the killer. With jaw-dropping twists and unanticipated turns, Nicci French brings this smart domestic mystery to a clever conclusion.

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Filed under Contemporary, Domestic Mystery, Mystery, Nicci French, Rated B+, Review, Suspense, The Other Side of the Door, William Morrow Paperbacks

April 27, 2021 · 12:02 am

Review: Her Three Lives by Cate Holahan

Title: Her Three Lives by Cate Holahan
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Genre: Contemporary, Domestic Mystery, Suspense
Length: 353 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

Gaslight goes high-tech in USA Today bestselling author Cate Holahan’s new standalone thriller in which a family must determine who the real enemy is after a brutal home invasion breaks their trust in each other.

Her public life

Jade Thompson has it all. She’s an up-and-coming social media influencer, and she has a beautiful new home and a successful architect for a fiancé. But there’s trouble behind the scenes. To Greg’s children, his divorce from their mother and his new life can only mean a big mid-life crisis. To Jade, his suburban Connecticut upbringing isn’t an easy match with her Caribbean roots.

Her private life

A savage home invasion leaves Greg house-bound with a traumatic brain injury and glued to the live feeds from his ubiquitous security cameras. As the police investigate the crime and Greg’s frustration and rage grows, Jade begins to wonder what he may know about their attackers. And whether they are coming back.

Her secret life

As Greg watches Jade’s comings and goings, he becomes convinced that her behavior is suspicious and that she’s hiding a big secret.  The more he sees, the more he wonders whether the break-in was really a random burglary. And whether he’s worth more to Jade if he were dead than alive.

Review:

Her Three Lives by Cate Holahan is a page-turning domestic mystery.

Thirty-two-year-old Jade Thompson is an influential life style blogger who writes about her Caribbean American culture. Following a bit of a whirlwind romance with two decades older Greg Hamlin, she is now engaged and expecting their first child. Greg is a wealthy, successful architect who is still in midst of a contentious divorce. His two adult children, twenty-three-year-old Violet and younger son Paul are not exactly thrilled with his new relationship. Despite his children’s attitudes, Greg and Jade are blissfully happy and eagerly preparing for their future together. However, their lives are shattered when Greg suffers a serious head injury and Jade miscarries during a home invasion. After he is released from the hospital, their relationship deteriorates as Greg grows suspicious that Jade might have something to with the attack. Jade is keeping secrets from her fiancé but are they related to the vicious assault?

Jade is devoted to assisting Greg during his recovery and she is also mourning the loss of their baby. She is already under stress since their attackers have not been caught when Greg decides to install a security system. Jade sometimes does not recognize the suspicious man she is now living with. After she begins receiving threatening notes in the mail, she is afraid they are connected to her past. Unable to reveal the information she has kept hidden from Greg, Jade tries to find out for sure. Will she unearth the truth about who attacked them and why?

Greg is dealing with side effects as he recovers from his head wound. Unfortunately, he fears losing Jade if he reveals any weaknesses. So, he works hard to keep up a façade of strength when he is around her. Greg also ignores his doctor’s admonition to work with a counselor to deal with his PTSD. With his paranoia and fear of being attacked again rising, he installs a plethora of security cameras both inside and outside of their home. His daughter Violet stokes his fears about Jade and he grows increasingly distrustful of his fiancée. As his temper rises, what will Greg do about his suspicions about Jade?

Her Three Lives is a suspense-laden domestic mystery. Jade is a vibrantly-developed character who is proud of her heritage and shaped by her life experiences. Greg’s wealth insulates him ordinary life which contributes to his unwarranted but very real fears after the brutal assault.  The storyline is fast-paced and the tension increases with every chapter. With clever misdirects, Cate Holahan brings this riveting mystery to an unpredictable dénouement. I absolutely loved and highly recommend this thrilling domestic mystery to fans of the genre.

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Filed under Cate Holahan, Contemporary, Domestic Mystery, Grand Central Publishing, Her Three Lives, Mystery, Rated B+, Review, Suspense

April 8, 2021 · 12:01 am

Review: Just My Luck by Adele Parks

Title: Just My Luck by Adele Parks
Publisher: MIRA
Genre: Contemporary, Domestic Mystery
Length: 384 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

It was supposed to be the lottery win they’d always dreamed of…

For fifteen years, Lexi and Jake have played the same six numbers with their friends. Over drinks, dinner parties and summer barbecues, the three couples have discussed the important stuff—kids, marriages, careers—and they’ve laughed off their disappointment when they failed to win anything.

But then the unthinkable happens. There’s a rift in the group. Someone is caught in a lie. And soon after, six numbers come up that change everything forever.

Lexi and Jake have a ticket worth millions. And their friends are determined to claim a share.

#1 Sunday Times bestselling author Adele Parks returns with a riveting look at the dark side of wealth in this gripping tale of friendship, money, betrayal and good luck gone bad…

Review:

Just My Luck by Adele Parks is a wickedly clever domestic mystery.

For fifteen years, best friends Lexi and Jake Greenwood, Jennifer and Fred Heathcote, and Carla and Patrick Pearson get together on weekends for dinner. They also chip in every week to purchase a lottery ticket. They sometimes win small sums but they have never hit the jackpot.  One weekend, one the of the men bash the lottery and declares he is finished playing. Another couple chimes in and agrees him.  Lexi still purchases the ticket using the same numbers she always selects.

The following weekend, Lexi gets the feeling they are being brushed off by their friends.  Saturday evening, she runs an errand and she arrives home to discover that she holds the winning ticket for that week’s nearly eighteen million pound jackpot. Since the other couples opted out, Lexi and Jake tell their two children, Logan and Emily, to keep quiet about their win. But once word leaks out, the Heathcote’s and Pearson’s demand their share. The situation begins to spiral out of control as the Greenwoods refuse to divvy up the winnings.

Lexi and Jake make much less money than their friends so the lottery win is a very welcome windfall. Lexi is the family’s main breadwinner since Jake frequently changes jobs. She continues working and she wants to donate money to charity. Lexi is absolutely shocked at Jake’s reaction to the having so much money. He allows their kids, fifteen-year-old Emily and thirteen-year-old Logan, to buy whatever they want. At first, Emily eagerly shops both in person and online but this is just a panacea for the loss of her boyfriend, Ridley Heathcote and her best friend, Megan Pearson.

As Lexi begins to wonder if she knows her husband at all, the situation between their former friends worsen. All of the publicity has a negative impact on her job and she is dismayed at the fallout.  Lexi is threatened by people demanding money which plays into Jake’s hands. She manages to keep her objections to herself as he and Emily throw themselves into their latest (extravagant) project.  Lexi’s worries are soon proven to be true when a loved one finds themselves in an increasingly dangerous situation.

Just My Luck is a riveting mystery that is a shocking portrayal of greed.  The storyline is well-written with unexpected plot twists. The characters are a mix of likable and downright disagreeable. With plenty of secrets, hidden agendas, and avarice, Adele Parks brings this mesmerizing domestic mystery to a stunning conclusion. Absolutely loved and highly recommend!

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Filed under Adele Parks, Contemporary, Domestic Mystery, Just My Luck, Mira, Mystery, Rated B+, Review

April 1, 2021 · 12:01 am

Review: Mother May I by Joshilyn Jackson

Title: Mother May I by Joshilyn Jackson
Publisher: William Morrow
Genre: Contemporary, Domestic Mystery, Suspense
Length: 336 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through Edelweiss

Summary:

The New York Times bestselling author of the critically acclaimed Never Have I Ever returns with an even more addictive novel of domestic suspense in which a mother must decide how far she is willing to go to protect her child and the life she loves—an unforgettable tale of power, privilege, lies, revenge, and the choices we make, ones that transform our lives in unforeseen ways.

Revenge doesn’t wait for permission.

Growing up poor in rural Georgia, Bree Cabbat was warned that the world was a dark and scary place. Bree rejected that fearful outlook, and life has proved her right. Having married into a family with wealth, power, and connections, Bree now has all a woman could ever dream of.

Until the day she awakens and sees someone peering into her bedroom window—an old gray-haired woman dressed all in black who vanishes as quickly as she appears. It must be a play of the early morning light or the remnant of a waking dream, Bree tells herself, shaking off the bad feeling that overcomes her.

Later that day though, she spies the old woman again, in the parking lot of her daugh­ters’ private school . . . just minutes before Bree’s infant son, asleep in his car seat only a few feet away, vanishes. It happened so quickly—Bree looked away only for a second. There is a note left in his place, warning her that she is being is being watched; if she wants her baby back, she must not call the police or deviate in any way from the instructions that will follow.

The mysterious woman makes contact, and Bree learns she, too, is a mother. Why would another mother do this? What does she want? And why has she targeted Bree? Of course Bree will pay anything, do anything. It’s her child.

To get her baby back, Bree must complete one small—but critical—task. It seems harmless enough, but her action comes with a devastating price.

Bree will do whatever it takes to protect her family—but what if the cost tears their world apart?

Review:

Mother May I by Joshilyn Jackson is an absolutely riveting domestic mystery.

Bree Cabbat and her husband Trey are happily married with three children. Their daughters Anna-Claire and Peyton are in their early teens and their son, Robert, is three months old. Bree is exhausted so when she wakes to see a “witch” peering in the bedroom window, she and Trey decide she was dreaming. However, later that day, she sees the woman again at her children’s school. Trying to put the sighting out of her mind, she and Peyton settle in to watch Anna-Claire rehearse for the upcoming theater production. After a distracted few minutues, Bree  is shocked to discover that Robert is missing. Frantic with worry, she continues to wait for a ransom note that never arrives. Instead, Bree must perform a task that culminates in a way she does not expect. With the assistance of childhood friend and former police officer, Marshall Chase, they attempt to find out where the kidnapper is holding Robert.

The reason for Robert’s kidnapping is not clear at first. But Bree is in communication with the kidnapper and she gradually begins to understand the motive for what is happening. She and Marshall do not trust the kidnapper to keep their word so they are intent on finding out the person’s identity. With an increasing sense of urgency, they hope to find the kidnapper and Robert sooner rather than later. Once Bree and Marshall understand the reason Robert has been taken has something to do with Trey’s past, they must wait for him to return home for answers. In the meantime, they make a discovery that might just lead them to where Robert is being held. But with time running out, will Bree and Marshall locate him before it is too late?

Mother May I is a suspenseful mystery that is incredibly fast-paced. Bree’s fear for Robert ring true as does her need to right a wrong. Trey is wealthy which gives him a false sense of security. Marshall is loyal friend whose police contacts and background prove to be invaluable. With a stunning turn of events, Joshilyn Jackson brings this tense domestic mystery to an unanticipated but satisfying conclusion.

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Filed under Contemporary, Domestic Mystery, Joshilyn Jackson, Mother May I, Mystery, Rated B+, Review, Suspense, William Morrow