Category Archives: Rated B

February 11, 2021 · 12:01 am

Review: The Power Couple by Alex Berenson

Title: The Power Couple by Alex Berenson
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Genre: Contemporary, Suspense
Length: 428 pages
Book Rating: B

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through Edelweiss

Summary:

From #1 New York Times bestselling author and Edgar Award winner Alex Berenson comes a supercharged thriller about marriage and the dangerous secrets spouses keep.

Rebecca and Brian Unsworth appear to have it all. A nice house in the suburbs of Washington, DC. Two well-behaved, healthy teenage children. Important government jobs—Rebecca working in counterterrorism for the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Brian serving as a coder for the National Security Agency. Their lives stand to improve even more as Brian, in his off-hours, has just developed and sold a highly profitable app.

However, the Unsworths’ marriage isn’t as perfect as it seems. After two decades together, they’ve drifted apart, talking little and having sex even less. Seeking to revive their strained relationship, they decide for their twentieth wedding anniversary to take their two kids, Kira and Tony, on a European getaway.

They have a blast…until one night in Barcelona when Kira doesn’t come home from a dance club. She’s gone. Abducted. Over the course of a single weekend, the Unsworths will do everything possible to find her—as Kira herself discovers just how far she’ll go to break free of the trap that’s been set for her. And even as Rebecca and Brian come together for Kira, they realize their marriage is more tenuous than they realized.

The Power Couple is both a fast-paced, globe-trotting espionage novel full of surprising twists and a nuanced look at modern marriage—the challenges of balancing career, parenthood, sex, and love.

Review:

The Power Couple by Alex Berenson is a suspenseful mystery about a couple whose daughter has been kidnapped during a family vacation.

Rebecca Unsworth is an FBI agent stationed in Washington, DC. Her intense dedication to her career lands her a job working Russian counterintelligence. Her climb up the career ladder has had an impact on her marriage to Brian and her kids, but things are finally settling down at home. Brian works for the NSA as a coder.  Their daughter Kira is nineteen and attending college and son Tony is seventeen. Rebecca and Tony are celebrating their twentieth anniversary with a European vacation with their kids.

Their first stop is Paris, where unbeknownst to her parents, Kira meets a young man. The family is leaving for Barcelona the next day and she is delighted by his suggestion they meet at a bar he knows in town. When Kira fails to return after her night out, Rebecca and Brian are afraid something dire has happened to their daughter. When their worst fears are realized, they frantically hope for word from the kidnappers in hopes of arranging her release.  And Rebecca and Brian cannot help but wonder if their daughter was targeted at random. Or is her kidnapping related to either one of their careers?

Rebecca always planned on having children but she failed to realize how dedicated to her she would be to her career. With Brian staying home with Tony and Kira, she concentrates on ensuring she makes the most of her transfers to different cities.  With several successes under her belt, Rebecca is thrilled with the transfer to Washington. But instead of working less hours, Rebecca continues to put her career before her family.

Despite her flourishing career, money is always tight for the family and Brian is not always happy to be pushed into taking jobs he does not like. He also resents Rebecca’s spendthrift habits. Despite the growing rift between them during one of their moves, Brian is happy to stay home with the kids and they are quite close.  After their move to Washington, he finds his niche at the NSA and when he sells an app he designed, they family is much more financially stable.

When Kira goes missing, Rebecca utilizes her FBI resources to get the local authorities to begin searching for her daughter. She is frantic with worry but Kira is resourceful as she tries to placate her captors. She also intends to escape if at all possible because she is afraid of what the kidnappers plan to do with her. Using any means necessary, Kira plots her escape but will she be successful?

Unfolding from Kira, Rebecca and Brian’s perspectives, The Power Couple is an engrossing mystery with a clever storyline.  The chapters from Rebecca and Brian’s points of view provide an intimate look into their marriage and the effects of Rebecca’s career on the home life. Kira’s chapters reveal an intelligent young woman who keeps her wits about her during her harrowing ordeal.  With very shocking plot twists, Alex Berenson brings this riveting mystery to an edge of the seat conclusion. I greatly enjoyed and highly recommend this twist-filled thriller.

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Filed under Alex Berenson, Contemporary, Rated B, Review, Simon & Schuster Inc, Suspense, The Power Couple

February 10, 2021 · 12:01 am

Review: Love and Other Lies by Ben McPherson

Title: Love and Other Lies by Ben McPherson
Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks
Genre: Contemporary, Suspense
Length: 460 pages
Book Rating: B

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through Edelweiss

Summary:

A mother and father search for the truth behind their daughter’s disappearance in this stunning psychological suspense novel that takes Nordic noir to a level that is “emotional, painful, and utterly memorable” (Alex Marwood, Edgar Award–winning author of The Poison Garden).

Cal and Elsa have the perfect relationship; they’re still deeply in love after fifteen years of marriage, they have three incredible children, and most importantly, they never lie to each other. But when their oldest daughter disappears in a summer camp shooting outside Oslo, Norway, Cal and Elsa’s lives are changed forever.

Cal believes his family is strong enough to weather this blow and hold out hope for Licia’s return, but as they all deal with the tragedy in different ways, doubts begin to creep in. Their younger daughter, Vee, is definitely hiding something from her parents. And Elsa would never lie to Cal, but is she telling him the whole truth? As the reality of what happened at the camp comes to light, each family member’s morals will be tested. In the end, will their love for one another be enough to hold them together?

Review:

Based on a true story, Love and Other Lies by Ben McPherson is a gripping thriller set in Oslo.

Cal Curtis, his Norwegian wife Elsa and their three children are currently living in Oslo. Their happy life is turned upside down in the aftermath of a bombing and mass killing. At the time of the attacks, their oldest daughter Alicia “Licia” is currently attending a summer camp on a small island.  While their baby, Franklin, is home with them, their middle daughter Viktoria “Vee” is at a friend’s house. Cal immediately picks up Vee, who is unexpectedly close to the where the bomb detonated. Unable to reach Licia, their worry turns to fear when Cal and Elsa learn shocking news. The island where their daughter is attending the summer camp is the scene of the mass shooting.  Their dread turns to hope when they discover she is not amongst the dead. But she is also not brought back to Oslo as one of the survivors. As the days and weeks pass, Cal and Elsa try to remain hopeful, but they cannot help but wonder: Where is their daughter?

Cal and Elsa’s lives are forever changed the day Licia goes missing. The police have captured the shooters, but they also have to investigate their daughter since she has vanished. All of their cell phones and computers are confiscated for examination. Cal and Elsa are also questioned by Chief of Police Ephraim Tvist. They are taken off guard when Tvist tells them shocking information about what the investigators discovered about their computers.

As the month’s pass, Cal and Elsa’s once happy marriage becomes fractured. New information comes to light about Licia’s actions on the island during the killings but she remains missing. The police come under fire as stunning revelations about their response to the tragic events is uncovered.  The shooters are seemingly connected to a local far-right religious organization and Cal befriends its leader Father Bror. Vee continues her quest to uncover any information she can about Licia. Will the families of the victims find justice? And will Cal and Elsa ever find their missing daughter? And are they prepared for what they might learn if they do?

Love and Other Lies is a compelling novel with a topical storyline. Some of the characters are more likable than others but this does not detract from the unfolding story. The plot is loosely based on the 2011 terrorist attack carried out by a far-right extremist. With stunning twists and unexpected turns, Ben McPherson brings this riveting novel to a poignant conclusion. Highly recommend this timeless novel which highlights the dangers of right-wing extremism.

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Filed under Ben McPherson, Contemporary, Rated B, Review, Suspense, William Morrow Paperbacks

February 9, 2021 · 12:01 am

Review: Let Her Lie by Bryan Reardon

Title: Let Her Lie by Bryan Reardon
Publisher: Crooked Lane Books
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery, Suspense
Length: 288 pages
Book Rating: B

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

In New York Times bestselling author Bryan Reardon’s captivating thriller, a dejected filmmaker lets his curiosity get the best of him and plunges into a web of depravity and danger from which there might be no escape.

Theo Snyder is at the end of his rope. One minute he was on top of the world, his documentary film The Basement a massive critical and commercial hit, the next crestfallen when his latest film was canceled after an embarrassingly public misstep. As his desperation grows, he makes a bold decision: to pursue the story of the notorious “Halo Killer,” Jasper Ross-Johnson. But delving into the life and mind of a serial killer could prove more deadly than Theo ever could have imagined.

At first, things are looking up. Jasper is willing to talk, the footage of the jailhouse meetings is spectacular, and famed investigator Zora Neale Monroe joins him on the project. Theo is sure he’s getting close to something no one else has discovered: the truth about why Jasper was captured before he could kill his final victim. Someone else was on the beach that day, someone who knows a lot more than they’re telling and just might know how it all happened. The truth could lead to more killing–unless Theo can uncover the real ending to the story of the Halo Killer first.

Review:

Let Her Lie by Bryan Reardon is a riveting mystery about a documentary film maker’s latest project.

Theo Snyder quickly fell from grace following the huge success of his first true crime documentary. While working on his second project, he made a terrible mistake that makes him persona non grata for most people in the industry. Hoping a change of scenery will help repair his reputation, Theo relocates to New York where he cannot resist beginning a new documentary about serial killer Jasper Ross-Johnson. He is pleasantly surprised when investigator Zora Monroe agrees to work with him. Jasper is fully co-operative so Theo begins his latest film by interviewing the convicted killer in prison. Theo soon has many  questions but will he find the answers he is searching for?

Theo is obsessive and single-minded as he goes back to Jasper’s first victim in hopes of learning new information. He is soon not sleeping as he desperately goes back over notes and comes up with various theories. Theo then uncovers stunning new information about Jasper’s childhood. Did these events set the stage for him to turn into a serial killer?

As the situation becomes unexpectedly dangerous, Theo dreams up  wild theories that Zora does not agree with. No matter who tries to get him to back off and stop inserting himself in the story, he frantically veers from place to place in hopes of uncovering the truth about Jasper, his victims and an abandoned baby who is now an adult. His actions culminate in an absolutely stunning confrontation with an ending even Theo could not predict. He initially believes he has all the details he needs to finish his documentary, but Theo cannot quiet his nagging doubts there is more to the story. Will he uncover the proof to support his newest supposition?

Let Her Lie is a mesmerizing mystery with a clever storyline. Theo is an interesting character who becomes increasingly unreliable.  The plot is gripping and takes many unanticipated twists and turns. With stunning plot twists, Bryan Reardon brings this mystery to an ambiguous conclusion. An overall enjoyable read, but the ending is somewhat frustrating.

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Filed under Bryan Reardon, Contemporary, Crooked Lane Books, Let Her Lie, Mystery, Rated B, Review, Suspense

February 5, 2021 · 12:01 am

Review: The Project by Courtney Summers

Title: The Project by Courtney Summers
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Genre: Contemporary, Young Adult, Mystery, Suspense
Length: 339 pages
Book Rating: B

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

From Courtney Summers, the New York Times bestselling author of the 2019 Edgar Award Winner and breakout hit, Sadie, comes a sensational follow-up—another pulls-no-punches thriller about an aspiring young journalist determined to save her sister from a cult.

“The Unity Project saved my life.”

Lo Denham is used to being on her own. After her parents died, Lo’s sister, Bea, joined The Unity Project, leaving Lo in the care of their great aunt. Thanks to its extensive charitable work and community outreach, The Unity Project has won the hearts and minds of most in the Upstate New York region, but Lo knows there’s more to the group than meets the eye. She’s spent the last six years of her life trying—and failing—to prove it.

“The Unity Project murdered my son.”

When a man shows up at the magazine Lo works for claiming The Unity Project killed his son, Lo sees the perfect opportunity to expose the group and reunite with Bea once and for all. When her investigation puts her in the direct path of its charismatic and mysterious leader, Lev Warren, he proposes a deal: if she can prove the worst of her suspicions about The Unity Project, she may expose them. If she can’t, she must finally leave them alone.

But as Lo delves deeper into The Project, the lives of its members, and spends more time with Lev, it upends everything she thought she knew about her sister, herself, cults, and the world around her—to the point she can no longer tell what’s real or true. Lo never thought she could afford to believe in Lev Warren . . . but now she doesn’t know if she can afford not to.

Welcome to The Unity Project.

Review:

The Project by Courtney Summers is a poignant young adult novel that is full of suspense.

Bea Denham is heartbroken when her parents die in a car accident. Her younger sister Lo survives the crash but she is in critical condition. Bea is looking for a miracle when she encounters Lev Warren, the charismatic leader of The Unity Project, in the hospital chapel.  Lo survives her injuries but she has a long road to recovery ahead of her. Bea is supportive but when their great aunt steps in to help them, she spends less and less time with her sister. Lo leaves the hospital and not long after, she loses Bea to Lev and The Unity Project.

Six years later, Lo is now working at a digital magazine with hopes of eventually becoming a journalist. She has never given up on she reuniting with Bea, so after witnessing a tragic event, she decides to investigate the Project. Lo believes it is a cult and she is determined to find Bea and answers about the Project. She begins by attending a public event in which Lev’s speech is designed to  bring in new members. However, after being unceremoniously removed by his assistant, Lo tries to figure out her next move. She also continues trying to reach out to Bea.

Bea’s part of the storyline unfolds in a series of flashbacks. Her feelings about Lo following the accident are complex as she joins Lev at the Project. She never stops missing Lo but she is soon distracted by Lev and their efforts to recruit more members into their fold.  As her circumstances evolve over the years with Lev, Bea reflects on her choices.

The Project is an engrossing young adult novel with an engaging storyline. Lo and Bea are well developed, sympathetic characters. Lo’s research into the Project takes an unexpected turn yet she never stops trying to find Bea. With shocking twists, Courtney Summers brings this emotional novel to a bittersweet yet gratifying conclusion.  I enjoyed and recommend this unique young adult novel to adult and teen readers.

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Filed under Contemporary, Courtney Summers, Mystery, Rated B, Review, Suspense, The Project, Wednesday Books, Young Adult

January 22, 2021 · 12:01 am

Review: Hopeless Romantic by Marina Adair

Title: Hopeless Romantic by Marina Adair
When in Rome Series Book Two
Publisher: Kensington Books
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Length: 290 pages
Book Rating: B

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

A funny and delightful story from the New York Times bestselling author of the St. Helena Vineyard series that fans of Avery Flynn, Kristan Higgins, and Helena Hunting will love.

Set against the breezy backdrop of coastal Rhode Island, bestselling author Marina Adair’s latest novel asks whether two of a small town’s biggest hearts can learn to put themselves first—in the name of love. . .

As caregiver for her autistic brother, Beckett Hayes knows how meaningful a little extra help can be when life happens. Which is why she runs Consider It Done, a personal concierge service in her small town. Her job also gives her the flexibility to follow her passion, being Rome, Rhode Island’s unofficial special needs advocate, training emotional support companions in her spare time. There’s not much of that, though, and certainly not enough for serious dating. It’s always been family first for Beck. But one unquestionably gorgeous, good-natured man is suddenly a temptation that’s getting tougher to resist . . .

Sixteen years ago, Levi Rhodes was ready to sail off into the sunset—literally. But then his father’s death and his sister’s unexpected pregnancy postponed his sailing scholarship and the adventures he had planned. Running the family marina and bar was the least he could do for his grieving mother. Plus, his niece needed a father-figure. But now that she’s in high school and has her bio-dad in her life, Levi’s wondering if it’s time to get his sea legs under him again. Or he was wondering, until curvy, caring Beck showed up in his bar, and then in his dreams . . .

Review:

Hopeless Romantic by Marina Adair is an endearing romance. This newest addition to the When in Rome series can easily be read as a standalone.

Beckett Hayes has shouldered caring for her brother, Thomas and dad Jeffery ever since her mother abandoned her family. Both are on the autism spectrum and while Jeffery is also a composer and performer, Thomas requires more support. Due to her sometimes chaotic home life, Beckett has to drop everything when things go wrong. A bit scarred by her first serious boyfriend, she instead dates men from out of town so if their relationships blow up, she does not run into them again. Beckett has been fighting her attraction to local Levi Rhodes for quite some time but will he convince her to change her mind?

Levi understands Beckett’s devotion to her family. Years earlier, he gave up college to move back home to help his single sister raise her daughter, Paisley.  Now his niece is in high school, Levi is planning the sailing trip he also postponed. However, the family business is currently lacking a few crucial employees and his best friend is marrying soon. Then there is his fascination with Beckett.   Levi has not had a committed relationship for a few years and he would like to explore his desire for Beckett. But will she agree to give him a chance?

Hopeless Romantic is an entertaining romance with a quirky but loveable cast of characters. Beckett and Levi are beautifully developed with realistic issues to overcome. Thomas is easy to like but Jeffery is somewhat frustrating. Beckett and Levi’s relationship is quite touching with an underlying simmering sexual tension. With an unexpected conflict, Marina Adair brings this charming romance to a heartfelt conclusion.  Old and new fans will be eagerly awaiting the next installment in the When in Rome series.

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Filed under Contemporary, Hopeless Romantic, Kensington, Marina Adair, Rated B, Review, Romance, When in Rome Series

January 19, 2021 · 12:01 am

Review: The Blood Is Still by Douglas Skelton

Title: The Blood Is Still by Douglas Skelton
Rebecca Connolly Series Book Two
Publisher: Arcade Crimewise
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery, Suspense
Length: 353 pages
Book Rating: B

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

Investigative journalist Rebecca Connolly returns in this riveting, immersive thriller from the author of Thunder Bay—for readers of Ian Rankin, Val McDermid, and Denise Mina

When a man in eighteenth-century Highland dress is found dead on the site of the Battle of Culloden, where Bonnie Prince Charlie led his forces to a rout seared into Scottish memory, Rebecca Connolly takes up the case for the Chronicle. A controversial film about the rebellion and battle is being shot nearby, and it has drawn the ire of the right-wing nationalist movement Spirit of the Gael. Is there some link between the murder—the weapon used to impale the man leaves no doubt it was murder—and Spirit of the Gael or the shadowy militant group New Dawn, thought to be associated with them?

Meanwhile, in the working-class part of town, Rebecca’s assignment to cover a protest against the placement of a convicted child molester into the community leads her to Mo Burke, the unlikely protest leader. Mo is a formidable woman, but she is also the matriarch of a known crime family and usually prefers to shun the spotlight. What has drawn her out? And what of her two grown sons, who share in the family business? The older one, Nolan, with Ben Affleck good looks, is clearly intrigued by Rebecca, as she is by him, despite her better instincts to steer clear of their dangerous, violent world.

And then another body is found, this one wearing the Redcoat uniform of the victorious British army.

Review:

The Blood Is Still by Douglas Skelton is a timely mystery set in Scotland. This second outing in the Rebecca Connolly series can be read as a standalone.

Rebecca Connolly is an investigative journalist who becomes intrigued by two cases. The first involves a local family whose matriarch Mo Brooks unexpectedly puts herself in the spotlight. When a child molester is about to be released from prison, she and her neighbors protest a plan to house him in their neighborhood. But when local far right politician Finbar Dalgliesh shows up, the demonstration takes a darker turn.  Mo is also displeased by her son Scott’s recent actions and ties to Dalgliesh . And her other son Nolan is on the cusp of making a big decision.

The other case is the discovery of a murder victim on a historic site.  Detective Chief Inspector Valerie Roach is assigned to the case and the last she wants is sensationalized press coverage. Rebecca and her former boss and current friend Elspeth McTaggart  join forces to cover the story. With a change in management at her paper, Rebecca is eager to scoop other reporters. With the help of Historian Anna Fowler, Rebecca learns information that might help DCI Roach in her investigation. But what will Roach offer in exchange for this detail that might help break her case open?

With plenty of action, The Blood Is Still is a riveting mystery with a topical storyline. Rebecca is a bit contemplative as she ruminates on personal events that have occurred recently. She is also possibly approaching an unanticipated crossroad as her newspaper undergoes yet another management change. DCI Roach is an outstanding addition to the cast of characters. She is a highly intelligent woman whose dedication has consequences in her personal life. Rebecca’s stories and Valerie’s investigation move at a brisk pace. With shocking plot twists,  Douglas Skelton brings this brilliant mystery to a shocking conclusion. Old and new fans will enjoy this newest addition to  the Rebecca Connolly series.

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Filed under Arcade Crimewise, Contemporary, Douglas Skelton, Mystery, Rated B, Rebecca Connolly Series, Review, Suspense, The Blood Is Still