BookBrowse | Book Reviews and Recommendations

Trust No One: A Thriller
by Paul Cleave

What Do You Know for Sure? (5/25/2015)

This novel is both a heartbreaking, terrifying journey into dementia and a chilling mystery full of suspense and suspicions. I will definitely be reading more of this author's work.

What Doesn't Kill Her: A Reeve LeClaire Series Novel
by Carla Norton

What Doesn't Kill Her (4/22/2015)

Since I enjoyed Norton's first Reeve LeClaire novel, The Edge of Normal, I was looking forward to this one. I didn't feel as connected to the characters or the story as I did previously but this is still a solid suspense novel that will keep you reading.

The Secrets of Midwives
by Sally Hepworth

An Enjoyable Read (12/2/2014)

This is a good, solid women's fiction novel, full of heart and warmth and strong characters, who are struggling with secrets that may forever change who they are and the relationships they hold dear.

Five
by Ursula Archer

A Good, Solid Mystery (10/1/2014)

Although the pace moved a little slowly for me, the interesting characters and intriguing premise kept me reading until the end. A good, solid mystery.

The Quick
by Lauren Owen

The Quick (4/8/2014)

I really enjoyed the beginning of the book - the Gothic mysterious quality to the story, and the relationship between James and Charlotte. As the story went on, however, it became unwieldy with too many characters, and the length of the book slowed the pace way down. The suspense and horror I wanted to find, to feel, were missing, lost in the sheer number of pages.

The Deepest Secret
by Carla Buckley

The Deepest Secret (12/6/2013)

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It serves as a warning to be careful because when cracks form in the foundation of our lives, of our families, they are so easily and insidiously filled in with lies and secrets and silences. The elements of tension and suspense and deep family dynamics in this story reminded me of Buckley's first novel, THE THINGS THAT KEEP US HERE. Both novels would make a great book club picks.

Bellman & Black
by Diane Setterfield

Bellman and Black (9/2/2013)

I was pulled in right away by the storytelling nature of the voice, and the underlying eerie quality of the prose. But after the first chunk of the book, I wasn't as hooked by the story or the characters as I wanted to be. I kept reading because the writing itself was lovely and I was interested enough to see what was going to happen.

Letters from Skye
by Jessica Brockmole

Letters from Skye (6/7/2013)

From David's first letter - smart, cocky, with a hint of humor - to Elspeth, I was hooked. And by the time I finished her reply, I was ready to be swept away by their story. This novel has it all - great characters, foreign settings, friendship, love, poetry, war, mystery. Oh, and the ending! A great read all around.

Close My Eyes
by Sophie McKenzie

Close My Eyes (4/7/2013)

I would actually give this a 4 and 1/2 rating if I could. When I wasn't reading this book, I wanted to be reading it! It is fast-paced with an underlying urgency and a sweeping suspense that carried me along, even over a few of the rough spots that kept me from giving this a 5 rating. If you're in the mood for a mystery/thriller, definitely pick this up.

Walk Me Home
by Catherine Ryan Hyde

Walk Me Home (4/1/2013)

I definitely enjoyed aspects of this novel - the secondary characters, like Delores, Alvin, Lois, and Malcolm were wonderful as were a number of scenes which almost broke my heart.

I struggled with the writing itself, which felt choppy to me, and I didn't connect with the two main characters the way I wanted to.

Beneath the Shadows
by Sara Foster

Beneath the Shadows (5/9/2012)

I enjoyed this novel. I did find the writing style a bit choppy. There was a little too much in and out of memories with the character/reader then being snapped back to the present. But overall, It was a creepy and spooky read, and I also liked how the moors almost became a character in their own right.

All Woman and Springtime: A Novel
by Brandon W. Jones

All Woman and Springtime (3/6/2012)

By the end of the first page, we are fully in Gi's world, drawn in by strong language and powerful descriptions that elevate, never disguise, the actual story. Every character is complex and complicated, and our hearts ache, break and race for these girls.

This is not an easy story to read. It is moving and gut-wrenching, and at first glance, it seems there is no hope. But it turns out there is hope, and strength, in perhaps the least likely of people.

Three Weeks in December
by Audrey Schulman

How Did I Miss This Author?! (12/22/2011)

I don't think I have enough room to say all the good things I want to about this novel! The story is suspenseful and fascinating, with just the right amount/type of facts - no information dumps here. The two main characters are complex and intriguing, and their alternating points of view are equally compelling. The details and descriptions are not lavish and long-winded - they are tight and controlled, rich with power and insight, every sense is utilized. I've already added the author's previous works to my To-Be-Read list.

Arcadia: A Novel
by Lauren Groff

Language vs Story (11/29/2011)

The language in this book is absolutely lovely. Almost every line has a musical, poetic quality and the details and descriptions are both spot-on and unique. The problem, for me, was that I cared more about the writing than the characters and I didn't find the story/plot all that interesting or compelling.

The Homecoming of Samuel Lake: A Novel
by Jenny Wingfield

A Homecoming for the Reader (7/6/2011)

This book has it all. A quick, sharp writing style that's softened by the down home voices of the characters. Laugh out loud lines. A character named Swan Lake. It's a got a little boy who will break your heart and a group of people who will put it back together again. Oh, and a villain who'll you want to take care of with your own two hands. Don't miss this book!

Outlander
by Diana Gabaldon

A Sweeping Saga (3/11/2011)

I enjoyed this sweeping saga very much. It truly does have everything - time travel, history, war, love, lust, humor, excitement. It also has a smart, bold, practical heroine in Claire. And although it ran a little long for me, I'm still happy I read it - and even happier the second book in the series is sitting on my shelf.

The Discovery of Jeanne Baret: A Story of Science, the High Seas, and the First Woman to Circumnavigate the Globe
by Glynis Ridley

The Discovery of Jeanne Baret (12/21/2010)

I thought this sounded like a fascinating story about an amazing woman. And it is, except I felt it got a little lost in too much background and too much exposition. I also felt sort of like I was being lectured at. But I want to stress that I don't read a lot of nonfiction so others might enjoy this more than I did.

The Girl in the Green Raincoat: A Novel
by Laura Lippman

The Girl in the Green Raincoat (10/29/2010)

I'm a big fan of Laura Lippman, especially her stand alone novels. I enjoyed this Tess Monaghan story - it's deceptively short and simple, but it's layered not only with the mystery itself but also with themes of the various kinds of love out there in the world and all the people who bring it into our lives. It's got a snappy style with engaging characters. I also liked the Author's Insight pages at the back of the book.

Man in the Woods
by Scott Spencer

A Quiet Tension (6/29/2010)

I enjoyed this book overall but more for the writing than for the story. The quiet tone/voice of this novel emphasizes the underlying tension running throughout, and there are some great lines of razor-sharp description. But I felt a disconnect with most of the characters, especially the main ones, and I found I didn't care what happened to them as much as I wanted to.

The Swimming Pool
by Holly LeCraw

The Swimming Pool (2/28/2010)

The writing is lovely and lush, but the story itself didn't move me. I often felt like I was watching the characters through a window/pane of glass, like there was a distance between us that kept me from connecting with or liking them. I thought Callie's story/plot line was the most compelling part of the book and wished more time had been spent on that.

Reviews by Madeline (Florida)

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