Category Archives: Mysterious Press

June 1, 2020 · 11:58 pm

Review: All of Us by A. F. Carter

Title: All of Us by A. F. Carter
Publisher: Mysterious Press
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery, Suspense
Length: 208 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

A twisting, thrilling suspense novel about a woman with dissociative identity disorder borne of unspeakable childhood trauma who must face her abuser’s release from prison

All of Us is a riveting thriller with six compelling protagonists—who all share one body. Though legally she is Carolyn Grand, in practice she is Martha, a homemaker who cooks and cleans for her “family,” Victoria, a put-together people person, Serena, a free spirit, Kirk, a heterosexual man, Eleni, a promiscuous risk-taker, and Tina, a manifestation of what is left of Carolyn after years of childhood sexual abuse.

As they jockey for control of their body, all the personalities also work together to avoid being committed to a psychiatric facility. But Carolyn’s tenuous normal is shattered when Hank Grand, the man who abused her and leased her out to pedophiles, is released from prison. Soon he begins stalking her, bringing back painful memories for all of the personalities.

When Hank is murdered in a seedy hotel room, Carolyn is immediately a prime suspect. But the man has other shady dealings, and the burden of proof weighs heavy on the police—especially when, propelled by demons of his own, one of the detectives assigned to the case finds his way into Carolyn’s very solitary life.

The police and the reader are left wondering: are any of Carolyn’s personalities capable of murder? A deeply suspenseful novel, with a truly unique cast of characters.

Review:

All of Us by A. F. Carter  is a riveting mystery with a delightfully unique premise.

Carolyn Grand’s horrific child abuse at the hands of her father, Hank, and her first foster parents was too much for her shattered mind to endure.  Her body is now host to six distinctive people with very different personalities. Martha and Victoria take care of the day to day tasks of living. Kirk is the family muscle who loves to play video games and watch ballgames. Eleni basks in her sexuality and much to the others’ dismay, she indulges in indiscriminate one night stands. Serena is a bit of a hippy who enjoys art. Tina is the keeper of the memories of their abuse and she mainly resides in the background. Their once stable home-life is threatened after Eleni propositions the wrong man. “Carolyn” must now attend counseling  sessions with a psychologist who is pursuing his own agenda. And after Hank’s early release from prison, it quickly becomes clear he won’t leave his daughter alone. After he is murdered, the police zero in on Carolyn but did one of her personalities kill her father?

With each of the chapters altering between the six personalities, All of Us is fast-paced and gripping. The personalities are well-developed with interesting quirks, strengths and weaknesses. The storyline is well-developed and quite intriguing. The psychologist is odious but the personalities aptly turn the tables on him. The investigation into Hank’s murder is fascinating but the unexpected relationship between one of the detectives and Carolyn crosses an ethical boundary.  With an unanticipated plot twist, A. F. Carter brings this clever mystery to a bit of an abrupt and ambiguous conclusion that is satisfyingly true to the uncertainty surrounding the personalities’ future(s). An outstanding debut that I found impossible to put down and highly recommend to fans of the genre.

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Filed under AF Carter, All of Us, Contemporary, Mysterious Press, Mystery, Rated B+, Review, Suspense

September 29, 2019 · 11:57 pm

Review: Pursuit by Joyce Carol Oates

Title: Pursuit by Joyce Carol Oates
Publisher: Mysterious Press
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery, Suspense
Length: 144 pages
Book Rating: B

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

As a child, Abby had the same recurring nightmare night after night, in which she wandered through a field ridden with human skulls and bones. Now an adult, Abby thinks she’s outgrown her demons, until, the evening before her wedding, the terrible dream returns and forces her to confront the dark secrets from her past she has kept from her new husband, Willem. The following day—less than 24 hours after exchanging vows—Abby steps out into traffic. As his wife lies in her hospital bed, sleeping in fits and starts, Willem tries to determine whether this was an absentminded accident or a premeditated plunge, and he quickly discovers a mysterious set of clues about what his wife might be hiding. Why, for example is there a rash-like red mark circling her wrist? What does she dream about that causes her to wake from the sound of her own screams?

Slowly, Abby begins to open up to her husband, revealing to him what she has never shared with anyone before—the story of a terrified mother; a jealous, drug addled father; and a daughter’s terrifying captivity.

With a suspenseful, alternating narrative that travels between the present and Abby’s tortured childhood, The Pursuit is a meticulously crafted, deeply disquieting tale that showcases Oates’s masterful storytelling.

Review:

Pursuit by Joyce Carol Oates is a dark and gritty mystery.

Twenty year old Abby has just been married to Willem for one day when she walks in front of a bus. Her family history is murky and she haunted by terrible dreams.  Abby does not talk much about her past but she does divulge she was raised by her Aunt Traci after her parents abandoned her. Willem desperately wants to help his wife, but will Abby finally reveal the secrets that have long haunted her?

The story gets off to a bit of a convoluted, slow start but once the perspective switches to Abby’s parents, the pacing picks up.  Their chapters depict a horrifying portrait of a marriage gone terribly wrong following Abby’s father Lew’s return from Iraq.  Both Lew and Abby’s mom Nicola have changed during their time apart and their already troubled marriage falls apart shortly after their reunion.  The situation continues to worsen and Nicola is relieved when Lew leaves town. Believing she and Abby are safe, Nicola is completely unprepared for what happens next. In the aftermath, Abby goes to live with her Aunt Traci who has plenty of problems of her own. After a brief time living in the family’s dilapidated house in the country, Abby’s trauma plays out again and again through her nightmares.

Pursuit is a short but powerful novel with a storyline that deals with PTSD and domestic violence. Abby is a bit of an ethereal character but Lew and Nicola are vividly developed characters.  The scenes with Lew are disturbingly realistic and shockingly violent. Joyce Carol Oates brings this chilling novel to an abrupt but completely satisfying conclusion. An absolutely brilliant mystery that I highly recommend to fans of the genre.

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Filed under Contemporary, Joyce Carol Oates, Mysterious Press, Mystery, Pursuit, Rated B, Review, Suspense

January 28, 2015 · 11:57 pm

Review: Before He Finds Her by Michael Kardos

before findsTitle: Before He Finds Her by Michael Kardos
Publisher: Mysterious Press
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery
Length: 384 pages
Book Rating: B

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

Everyone in the quiet Jersey Shore town of Silver Bay knows the story: on a Sunday evening in September 1991, Ramsey Miller threw a blowout block party, then murdered his beautiful wife and three-year-old daughter.

But everyone is wrong. The daughter got away. Now she is nearly eighteen and tired of living in secrecy. Under the name Melanie Denison, she has spent the last fifteen years in small-town West Virginia as part of the Witness Protection Program. She has never been allowed to travel, go to a school dance, or even have internet at home. Precautions must be taken at every turn, because Ramsey Miller was never caught and might still be looking for his daughter. Yet despite strict house rules, Melanie has entered into a relationship with a young teacher at the local high school and is now ten weeks pregnant. She doesn’t want her child to live in hiding as she has had to. Defying her guardians and taking matters into her own hands, Melanie returns to Silver Bay in hopes of doing what the authorities have failed to do: find her father before he finds her. Weaving in Ramsey’s story in the three days leading up to the brutal crime, Before He Finds Her is a stirring novel about love and faith and fear—and how the most important things can become terribly distorted when we cling to them too fiercely.

The Review:

Before He Finds Her by Michael Kardos is a somewhat poignant but very intriguing mystery. This engrossing whodunit is full of interesting and unexpected plot twists that are sure to delight fans of crime fiction.

For most of her life, Melanie Dennison has been living off the grid with her aunt and uncle in West Virginia. Mostly homeschooled, with very few friends and little social life, Melanie has been slowly spreading her wings since she started taking classes at the local community college. She also has a part time job and a secret boyfriend as well. Now pregnant and tired of living in fear of being found by her father, Ramsey Miller, Melanie returns to her home town of Silver Bay. Hoping to discover the whereabouts of her father, who disappeared after killing her mother, Allison, fifteen years earlier, Melanie’s amateur sleuthing leads to a surprising break in the case.  But learning the truth about the events of that long ago night might not provide Melanie with all of the answers she is searching for.

Melanie is a gutsy young woman who finds herself completely out of her depth when she travels to Silver Bay. She is fairly fearless during her investigation and while she sometimes acts before she thinks, she does use a little common sense during risky situations. Melanie is incapable of subterfuge so it is fairly easy for her interviewees to see through her ploys to find answers for her questions. Most of the time, she is fairly clueless about what she doing but she perseveres despite her setbacks. But Melanie also knows when she needs help and she is willing to ask for it.

The days leading up to Allison’s death are revealed through flashbacks. These glimpses of the past are mostly from Ramsey’s perspective, and this provides readers with important background information about his dysfunctional childhood. His past is not sugarcoated and this helps readers see how much he changed after his marriage. Ramsey is a surprisingly sympathetic character and it is quite touching learning how much he loved Allison and his daughter and what shaped his decisions in the intervening days before the murder.

Before He Finds Her is an well-written novel with an interesting and unique storyline. Michael Kardos does an excellent job weaving past and present into a compelling and fast paced mystery.  The final plot twist is quite shocking and completely unexpected. Although the characters are left with a few lingering questions, all of those loose ends are completely wrapped up for readers. All in all, Before He Finds Her is a satisfying read that mystery lovers will enjoy.

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Filed under Before He Finds Her, Contemporary, Michael Kardos, Mysterious Press, Mystery, Rated B, Review

August 8, 2013 · 1:57 am

Review: Sandrine’s Case by Thomas H. Cook

Title: Sandrine’s Case by Thomas H. Cook
Publisher: Grove/Atlantic
Imprint: Mysterious Press
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery
Length: 352 pages
Book Rating: B

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

Thomas H. Cook offers one of his most compelling novels ever in Sandrine’s Case, in which a college professor falls in love with his wife all over again…while on trial for her murder.

Samuel Madison always wondered what Sandrine saw in him. He was a meek, stuffy doctorate student, and she a brilliant, beautiful, bohemian with limitless talents and imagination. On the surface their relationship and marriage seemed perfectly tranquil: jobs at the same small, liberal arts college, a precocious young daughter, a home filled with art and literature, and trips to some of the world’s most beautiful cities and towns. And then one night Sandrine is found dead in their bed and Samuel is accused of her murder.

As the truth about their often tumultuous relationship comes to light, Samuel must face a town and media convinced of his guilt, a daughter whose faith in her father has been shaken to its core, and astonishing revelations about his wife that make him fall in love with her for a second time. A searing novel about love lost and rediscovered, from one of our greatest chroniclers of the human heart.

The Review:

Thomas H. Cook’s latest mystery is a fascinating psychological drama and intriguing character study. When Sandrine’s Case begins, Professor Sam Madison is on trial for the murder of his wife Sandrine. While Sam alleges that Sandrine committed suicide, the police and prosecutor are convinced Sam murdered Sandrine. As the trial unfolds, Sam’s ruminations provide an in depth look into his longtime marriage and he reaches startling and unexpected conclusions about his wife, their marriage and ultimately, himself.

Narrated in first person by Sam, Sandrine’s Case is a little slow moving at first, but it was not long before I was thoroughly engrossed in the story. As the trial progresses, Sam’s reflections have ominous overtones that are ambiguous and lend credence to the police’s theory that he murdered Sandrine. This part of the storyline brilliantly demonstrates how seemingly innocent remarks, reactions and events can be interpreted as indicators of guilt and wrongdoing.

Sam and Sandrine’s relationship is revealed through flashbacks that illustrate the slow erosion of their marriage. The deeper Sam delves into his memories, the more self-aware he becomes and he begins to have a deeper understanding of Sandrine. He is unflinchingly honest as he readily accepts his culpability in the breakdown of their marriage.

More than a mystery, Sandrine’s Case is an incredible journey of self-discovery. The truths Sam uncovers about himself and Sandrine are shocking and incredibly poignant. Thomas H. Cook masterfully builds suspense about Sam’s guilt or innocence and he delivers a highly satisfying and emotional ending to this powerful story about love and redemption.

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Filed under Contemporary, Grove/Atlantic, Mysterious Press, Mystery, Rated B, Review, Sandrine's Case, Thomas H Cook