Category Archives: Sourcebooks Landmark

October 2, 2019 · 11:58 pm

Review: Where She Went by Kelly Simmons

Title: Where She Went by Kelly Simmons
Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery, Suspense
Length: 304 pages
Book Rating: B

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

What happens when your worst fear comes true?

Her only daughter has just gone away to college, and Maggie O’Farrell knows she’s turning into one of those helicopter parents she used to mock. Worrying constantly, texting more than she should, even occasionally dropping by the campus “just to say hi.” But Maggie can’t shake the feeling that something terrible is about to happen to Emma. And then, just as Maggie starts to relax, her daughter disappears.

The clues are disturbing. An empty dorm room where Emma was supposedly living. A mysterious boy described as Future Husband in her phone. Dormmates who seem more sinister than friendly. As Maggie combs over the campus looking for signs of her daughter, she learns more about Emma’s life than she ever thought possible.

Kelly Simmons delivers another gripping novel in Where She Went, an unforgettable story of letting go and the secrets that surface when the person keeping them is gone.

Review:

Where She Went by Kelly Simmons is a suspenseful domestic mystery.

As soon as the police show up at her salon, Maggie O’Farrell knows something has happened to her eighteen year old daughter, Emma. Unfortunately, her intuition is not wrong and she is devastated to learn to Emma is apparently missing. Immediately demanding to be taken to her daughter’s dorm room, Maggie notices quite a few things that just don’t add up. She also feels like the detective assigned to the case is not pursuing the investigation vigorously enough so she takes matters into her own hands.

Despite feeling sympathetic for her situation, Maggie is a bit of an unlikeable character.  Her reaction to her daughter’s disappearance is understandable but her behavior is over. the. top.  Maggie eventually receives help from a very surprising source, but will she and the police find her missing daughter?

While events in the present unfold, chapters from Emma’s perspective detail what she was involved in during the months leading up to her disappearance. College life falls short of her expectations as she fails to make any real connections to her roommates or other students.  Interested in becoming a reporter for the university newspaper, Emma stumbles onto a story that could be explosive if she can nail down sources to back up her hypothesis.

Where She Went is a clever mystery with an intriguing storyline.  Of the two narrators, Emma is a much more interesting and likable character. Her struggles at university are realistic and relatable. Maggie’s desperation to find her daughter is easy to relate to, but her behavior is exasperating and downright irritating. With the suspense building with every chapter, Kelly Simmons brings the novel to a somewhat abrupt and frustrating conclusion. A bit of a mixed bag but an overall enjoyable mystery with a topical storyline.

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Filed under Contemporary, Kelly Simmons, Mystery, Rated B, Review, Sourcebooks Landmark, Suspense, Where She Went

September 2, 2019 · 11:58 pm

Review: Today We Go Home by Kelli Estes

Title: Today We Go Home by Kelli Estes
Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark
Genre: Contemporary, Historical, Women’s Fiction
Length: 416 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

Seattle, Washington
Larkin Bennett has always known her place, whether it’s surrounded by her loving family in the lush greenery of the Pacific Northwest or conducting a dusty patrol in Afghanistan. But all of that changed the day tragedy struck her unit and took away everything she held dear. Soon after, Larkin discovers an unexpected treasure—the diary of Emily Wilson, a young woman who disguised herself as a man to fight for the Union in the Civil War. As Larkin struggles to heal, she finds herself drawn deeply into Emily’s life and the secrets she kept.

Indiana, 1861
The only thing more dangerous to Emily Wilson than a rebel soldier is the risk of her own comrades in the Union Army discovering her secret. But in the minds of her fellow soldiers, if it dresses like a man, swears like a man, and shoots like a man, it must be a man. As the war marches on and takes its terrible toll, Emily begins to question everything she thought she was fighting for.

Review:

Today We Go Home by Kelli Estes is a compelling novel that features dual timelines.

In the present, Larkin Bennett is struggling with severe PTSD following her final tour in Afghanistan. Medically discharged from the Army, she has returned home to stay with her beloved Grams while she tries to recover from the loss of her best friend, Sarah Faber, whose death she feels responsible for.   Larkin finds solace in a civil war era diary that was given to her by Sarah.  While reading the diary, she becomes obsessed with  searching for other women with unconventional  wartime service.  Despite the diary’s distraction, Larkin continues to suffer from debilitating nightmares, guilt, self-loathing and anger control issues. She is also self-medicating with alcohol and ignoring the advice of her therapist. Will connecting with Sarah’s estranged brother Zach help her comes to terms with her devastating loss?

In 1861, the Civil War has just begun and Emily Wilson’s father and older brother David enlist in the Union Army. She worries about their safety and she finds comfort in writing in her diary. Emily and her younger brother Ben eventually leave their Indiana farm and she makes the unusual decision to masquerade as a man in order to fight alongside her brother. As the months pass, Emily revels in the freedom she receives from her disguise.  But as she, Ben and their fellow soldiers go into battle, she finally begins to realize exactly what  she is fighting for. And like Larkin in the present, Emily discovers transitioning back into civilian life does not mean she leaves her wartime experiences behind her.

Today We Go Home is a poignant novel with a thought-provoking storyline. Larkin’s post-war experiences are realistically portrayed. It is absolutely heart-wrenching to witness her struggles to recover from her survivors guilt and PTSD. Emily’s story springs vibrantly to life through her diary entries and chapters written from her perspective. The novel is extremely well-written and researched is impeccably. The story is quite fascinating and Kelli Estes highlights the struggles that women face during and after military service. I truly enjoyed and highly recommend this informative and engrossing novel.

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Filed under Contemporary, Historical, Kelli Estes, Rated B, Review, Sourcebooks Landmark, Today We Go Home, Women's Fiction

August 11, 2019 · 11:58 pm

Review: Trust Me When I Lie by Benjamin Stevenson

Title: Trust Me When I Lie by Benjamin Stevenson
Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery, Suspense
Length: 352 pages
Book Rating: B

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

“An outstanding debut-confident, compelling, with a surprise around every corner. I loved it.” —Jane Harper, New York Times bestselling author of The Dry

Producer Jack Quick knows how to frame a story. So says Curtis Wade, the subject of Jack’s new true crime docuseries, convicted of a young woman’s murder four years prior. In the eyes of Jack’s viewers, flimsy evidence and police bias influenced the final verdict…even though, off screen, Jack himself has his doubts.

But when the series finale is wildly successful, a retrial sees Curtis walk free. And then another victim turns up dead.

To set things right, Jack goes back to the sleepy vineyard town where it all began, bent on discovering what really happened. Because behind the many stories he tells, the truth is Jack’s last chance. He may have sprung a killer from jail, but he’s also the one that can send him back.

Review:

Trust Me When I Lie by Benjamin Stevenson is a chilling mystery that is quite suspenseful.

True crime producer Jack Quick revisits the murder conviction of vineyard owner Curtis Wade for his debut television documentary. He sifts through the questionable evidence that led to the conviction and begins to believe Curtis was wrongly convicted. Just as Jack is wrapping up edits, he makes a surprising discovery and he makes a fateful choice that could come back to haunt him. The documentary leads to Curtis’s conviction being overturned and he is released from prison. A shocking murder leaves Jack guilt-ridden and questioning his actions that led to Wade being set free.  With growing certainty that he made a terrible mistake, Jack begins investigating both murders in hopes of unmasking the killer.

Jack is a deeply flawed character who is determined to right a possible wrong. He is not always truthful with himself or those around him but he genuinely wants to uncover the truth. The first thing Jack needs to find out is whether or not one person is responsible for both murders or if he dealing with a copycat killer. So he  sets off for the small town where the original murder occurred. The townspeople band together and try to get rid of him but Jack refuses to leave. He remains deeply troubled by the decision he made during edits of Wade’s documentary but Jack knows he has to follow wherever the evidence takes him.

Jack is unable to escape the ghosts of his past during his investigation. Although both Curtis and his younger sister Lauren are surprisingly co-operative, he is  frustrated by his lack of progress.  He must tread lightly around his only police source as he tries to get copies of the current victim’s autopsy report.  Do the answers he is seeking lie within this report? Are Jack’s past mistakes  giving him tunnel vision as he continues to second guess himself?  Realizing he is running out time, will Jack make a fateful decision that could cost him his life?

Trust Me When I Lie is a cleverly written mystery that is set in Australia.  The characters are well-developed  but not always easy to like.  The small wine-making town where the majority of the story takes springs vibrantly to life.  With stunning twists and brilliant turns,  Benjamin Stevenson  keeps readers on the edge of their seats as this dazzling mystery comes to an unpredictable and completely shocking conclusion.  I thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommend this thrilling debut to fans of the genre.

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Filed under Benjamin Stevenson, Contemporary, Mystery, Rated B, Review, Sourcebooks Landmark, Suspense, Trust Me When I Lie

July 8, 2019 · 11:58 pm

Review: The Last List of Miss Judith Kratt by Andrea Bobotis

Title: The Last List of Miss Judith Kratt by Andrea Bobotis
Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark
Genre: Contemporary, Historical (20s), Fiction
Length: 320 pages
Book Rating: B

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

Some bury their secrets close to home. Others scatter them to the wind and hope they land somewhere far away.

Judith Kratt inherited all the Kratt family had to offer–the pie safe, the copper clock, the murder no one talks about. She knows it’s high time to make an inventory of her household and its valuables, but she finds that cataloging the family belongings–as well as their misfortunes–won’t contain her family’s secrets, not when her wayward sister suddenly returns, determined to expose skeletons the Kratts had hoped to take to their graves.

Interweaving the present with chilling flashbacks from one fateful evening in 1929, Judith pieces together the influence of her family on their small South Carolina cotton town, learning that the devastating effects of dark family secrets can last a lifetime and beyond.

Review:

Seamlessly weaving between 1929 and 1989, The Last List of Miss Judith Kratt by Andrea Bobotis is a poignant novel set in a small southern town.

Judith Kratt’s inventory of her family’s treasures sparks an introspective journey of the events that led to her fourteen year old brother Quincy’s murder in 1929. Family patriarch Daddy Kratt rules his family and his businesses with an iron first and he ruthlessly makes his fortune through blackmail and hard work. Twenty years younger that Daddy Kratt, Judith’s mother is an ethereal, wispy woman who lives on the periphery of the family. Judith’s youngest sister Rosemarie lives in her own world and runs from trouble instead of facing it head on.  Believing the worst, Rosemarie runs away from home right after Quincy’s murder. Once the wealthiest family in Bound, SC, the tragedy sets the stage for their downward spiral.

Judith lives in family home with her childhood friend, Olva. They thrive on routine with their days languidly slipping by. The first ripple in their lives is the sudden reappearance of Rosemarie  whose only contact with Judith is through blank postcards sent to Olva.  Wondering why her sister has returned after all this time, Judith and Rosemarie clash virtually every time they are together. Judith is also a little hurt that Olva and Rosemarie do not include her in their daily plans.

As if Judith’s life is not in enough upheaval, Rosemarie and Olva invite Marcus and his six year old daughter Amaryllis to stay with them. Marcus is struggling financially to make ends meet and he needs to lie low to escape his racist landlords, Jolly and her son Rick. Since Bound is such a small town, Marcus’ history is closely intertwined with the Kratt’s troubled past. Judith is initially a reluctant and unbending hostess but young Amaryllis begins to soften her hardened heart.

The Last List of Miss Judith Kratt is a multi-layered novel which does not shy away from difficult subjects such as racism and classism. Judith is stubborn but as she inventories objects in the house, she gains a new understanding of the events that culminated in tragedy. Olva is a lovely woman who is finally ready to reveal the truth about herself and her family. Rosemarie is brash and intractable as she attempts to bend everyone to her will but can her interpretation of the past be trusted?  Andrea Bobotis brings her beautifully written debut to an unexpected, but completely gratifying conclusion.  I greatly enjoyed and highly recommend this thought-provoking novel.

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Filed under Andrea Bobotis, Contemporary, Historical, Historical (20s), Rated B, Review, Sourcebooks Landmark, The Last List of Miss Judith Kratt

July 3, 2019 · 11:57 pm

Review: Meet Me at the Cupcake Cafe by Jenny Colgan

Title: Meet Me at the Cupcake Cafe by Jenny Colgan
Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark
Genre: Contemporary, Women’s Fiction
Length: 427 pages
Book Rating: C+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

A smart, quirky contemporary cupcake book of recipes and friendship, fans of Sophie Kinsella, will be heading for their mixers to create a story as sweet and complex as Issy’s.

Issy Randall can bake. No, Issy can create stunning, mouthwateringly divine cakes. So when she loses her desk job, she starts her own café and finds life can be tougher, and sweeter, than she ever dreamed.

After a childhood spent in her beloved Grampa Joe’s bakery, Issy has undoubtedly inherited his talent. She’s much better at baking than she is at filing so when she’s laid off from her desk job, Issy decides to open her own little café. But she soon learns that her piece-of-cake plan will take all of her courage and confectionary talent to avert disaster.

Funny and sharp, Meet Me at the Cupcake Café is about how life might not always taste like you expect, but there’s always room for dessert!

Review:

Meet Me at the Cupcake Cafe by Jenny Colgan is a novel of new beginnings, friendship and love.

After unexpectedly losing her job, thirty-one year old Isabel “Issy” Randall becomes a new business owner after opening a cupcake shop.  She is also getting over a broken heart since her secret romance with her boss Graeme ends at the same time she is made redundant.  Issy has a treasure trove of recipes from her beloved Grampa Joe whose health is rapidly declining.  She has a supportive flatmate and friend, Helena, who does not hesitate to tell Issy the truth about the mistakes she is making. Needing help in her cafe, Issy hires single mum Pearl McGregor, whose little boy, Louis, easily steals their customers’ hearts. She also hires wealthy soon to be divorcee, Caroline,  whose life “problems” include possibly losing her swanky home in her divorce. Just as Issy begins getting her life back on track, Graeme reappears but does he have her best interests at heart?

Issy is a pushover who is also a bit immature. She allows Graeme dictate the terms of their “relationship” and she is content with the scraps of attention he throws her way. It soon becomes obvious that Issy might be settling for second best as she watches her friends settle down and start families of their own. She does have a sound idea for the cupcake cafe, but will Issy step out of her comfort zone in order to make her new endeavor a success?

Issy is fascinated by her banker, Austin Tyler, but she knows better than to mix business with pleasure. He is a handsome man whose life took an unexpected detour years earlier when he became the guardian of his much younger brother, Darny.  Austin  is somewhat disorganized but he does have sharp instincts. He is attracted to Issy but he is also wary of becoming involved with a client. Just as he decides to see if a relationship might be possible with Issy, Austin feels betrayed when a shocking business proposition crosses his desk. Could he have completely misjudged Issy?

Meet Me at the Cupcake Cafe has a cute storyline but the pacing is a rather slow. Issy is an annoying character who really needs to stand up for herself. Austin is a charming man but his life is a bit of a disaster.  Pearl and Helena are fantastic secondary characters who are quite lovely.  The recipes are a nice addition but some of the passages are difficult to slog through because they are soooo long-winded and loaded with extraneous details.  Jenny Colgan wraps up the novel with a lovely epilogue that hints at a possible future for Issy and Austin.

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Filed under Contemporary, Jenny Colgan, Meet Me at the Cupcake Cafe, Rated C+, Review, Romance, Sourcebooks Landmark, Women's Fiction

May 29, 2019 · 11:58 pm

Review: A Long Way Down by Randall Silvis

Title: A Long Way Down by Randall Silvis
Ryan DeMarco Mystery Series
Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery, Suspense
Length: 464 pages
Book Rating: B

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

Just when you think you’ve reached the bottom…

Ryan DeMarco would rather not go home. Not now, maybe not ever. But when his estranged wife attempts suicide, he has no choice but to return to western Pennsylvania, and all the memories that wait for him there. Unfortunately, it’s not only ghosts from the past waiting to greet DeMarco upon his return. An old high school classmate has risen through the ranks to become a county sheriff, and he is desperate for help investigating a series of murders that might tie into a cold case from his and DeMarco’s school days.

DeMarco and his new love, Jayme, agree to join the team working on the case. But it’s not easy for DeMarco to be walking the streets of his troubled past, and the deeper he and Jayme dig into the disturbing murders the less likely it is that either one of them will escape the devastation.

Review:

A Long Way Down by Randall Silvis is a perplexing mystery. Although this newest release is the third installment in the Ryan DeMarco Mystery series, it can be read as a standalone (but I do recommend books one and two as well).

During a visit to his long estranged wife, Laraine, Ryan DeMarco runs into his old high school buddy and current Sheriff Ben Brinker. After hearing about a series of recent murders that bear an eerie resemblance to still unsolved cases from 1988 and the 1930s, Ryan agrees to help with their investigation.  With his girlfriend and private investigator partner Jayme Matson by his side,  Ryan battles troubling memories while the duo try to find the killer.

Ryan is still a bit brooding and uncommunicative about his emotional wounds.  Returning home is not as easy he thinks it will be and he is besieged by long ago memories that are rather dark. Shaking off his somewhat grim mood, Ryan is soon embroiled in trying to figure out who murdered Jerome Hufford, Justin Brenner and college student Samantha Lewis. Ryan is certain there is no connection to the previous unsolved cases despite the similarities so they exclusively work on the current murders.

Jayme is frustrated by Ryan’s lack of communication but she tries to remain patient with him. She is hoping to move their relationship in a new direction but she is unsure of Ryan’s reaction to her suggestion. Jayme is troubled by Ryan’s dark moods but she is hopeful he will confide in her about what is troubling him.  But personal issues take a backseat to their investigation into the three current murders.

Jayme and Ryan decide their best chance in catching the murdered is to concentrate on the victim whose murder is a bit of an outlier. Certain aspects of the murder are quite different than the others and their research leads them to a popular college professor.  There is something about the arrogant professor that raises both Jayme and Ryan’s suspicions,  but will they unearth a connection between him and the other two victims?

In their downtime, Jayme and Ryan are both quite contemplative as they sort through Ryan’s murdered author friend Thomas Huston’s unpublished writings. Huston’s mother has requested his assistance in selecting additions for an upcoming publication. Will Ryan come to terms with his emotional baggage as he reads his friend’s wise words?

A Long Way Down is a cleverly written and engrossing mystery. Ryan is still a work in progress as he attempts to come to terms with his troubled past. Jayme is optimistic their relationship will survive the emotional battering  from Ryan’s tumultuous past but will he be able to fully embrace the changes she is hoping for? Their investigation into the three murders is quite interesting and moves a slow but realistic pace as they track down clues and follow leads. With a very shocking twist, Randall Silvis brings this suspenseful mystery to an action-packed, poignant conclusion.  With one thread left dangling, readers will be anxiously awaiting the next installment in the Ryan DeMarco Mystery series.

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Filed under A Long Way Down, Contemporary, Mystery, Randall Silvis, Rated B, Review, Ryan DeMarco Mystery Series, Sourcebooks Landmark, Suspense