This was my first but not last book written by Michael Crummey. I plan to read The Innocents next to determine whether it will give me further insights into The Adversary. If you want a book where one or more of the main characters are likeable, you won't find it in this book. it is a dark tale set in rugged 18 century Newfoundland. It's offenses followed by counter-offenses with little compassion or caring for the damage caused. The people caught in the middle of the power struggle are who you root for in this book.

Lindsay's and her children's lives take a dramatic twist from enjoying life wealthy without financial worry due to the success of her husband's tech start-up when he losses everything in illegal scams. If their lives weren't traumatic enough Lindsay's husband dies in a surfing accident. How she and her three children emotionally and mental survived as well as they did was amazing.

Lindsay buys a motel on the island of Oahu, sight unseen, with money she received from her husband's death benefits. Sound crazy based upon the roller coaster of events? Lindsay feels it will be the perfect way for her and the children to start fresh and put the trauma of Portland behind them.

I loved the story line until later in the book when the author introduced a twist that for me changed the whole feel of the writing. I enjoyed learning more about Hawaii's history and culture. Viewing the events that unfolded in the book was made more powerful through the author telling it not through the perspective of Lindsey, but from her three children.

Nick Medina addresses the plight of missing and murdered Native American women in more of an adult way versus young adult horror as some critics have portrayed the book. There are elements of Takoda folklore interwoven into the storyline, but it's more of a story of a family in crisis and the failure of the reservation law enforcement and local law enforcement to address crimes that overlap both jurisdictions. The characters are well developed and loved the research the author had done on Native American and First Nation women that go missing.

The Immortal King Rao is a very intriguing and well written story that is extremely appropriate for the time we are living where big tech dominates our lives in more ways than ever envisioned. It tells a story of a dystopian society of an Indian man who invents a computer and social order that treats every person in the world as a shareholder. Each person's actions raise or lowers your shares. Like any corporation there is a Board that oversees the new world order and an algorithm that decides the value or payment of your actions. Initially King Rao and his wife are busy creating new products but then King Rao disappears. He moves to a small island with his daughter Athena. Athena has been given all her father's memories. Athena loves her dad and her life until her father is unable to answers her questions. She leaves her father, joins a group known as the Exes and lives on Bainbridge Island where they don't live by the rules and algorithm of the Coconut.

Reminded me of "Station Eleven" and as I previously stated the book seemed extremely appropriate of our current love / hate relationship with big tech. I enjoyed it very much and highly recommend it especially to fans of "Station Eleven".

Many readers of this book are probably unaware of Argentina's Dirty War – the period of state terrorism from 1976 – 1983 when state security forces, military, and right-wing death squads hunted down political dissidents and anyone believed to be associated with socialism. It is estimated that between 9,000 and 30,000 people were killed or disappeared. All were killed in an attempt by the ruling military dictatorship to silence social and political opposition.

On a Night of a Thousand Stars is historical fiction with dual timelines: Argentina in the 1970s and New York in 1990s. The main character, Paloma, is a college student whose father is a wealthy diplomat from Argentina. Paloma decides to learn more about her father's life in the 1970's. When the family travel to Buenos Aires, Paloma meets Franco, an activist and part of a group whose parents were disappeared during Argentina's Dirty War.

The book is beautifully written, and you feel as though you've been transported to the time and places being described. The author explored diplomacy, dictatorship, human rights, tragedy, and family ties to the past in telling the story. It's a great read and I highly recommend it!

One of my favorite books of all time is Dostoevsky's The Brothers Karamazov and its lessons that people should not judge one another and should forgive another's sins. Like the Brothers Karamazov, the plot is fueled by the relationship of a father with his adult sons.

The book blends family drama, mystery, and some dark humor. Similar to Brothers Karamazov it examines many crucial philosophical questions - ambition, family, loyalty, mental health, spirituality, cultural identity, racial stereotyping and immigrant assimilation.

While I found the first half of the book, prior to the death of Leo Chao, a little slow, I was unable to put the book down after his death.

The main character Chloe is an 18 year-old that changed her name from Michelle and identity after being raped and videotaped when 12. Chloe has been labelled a psychopath — empathy and a conscience, and part of a program studying psychopaths at a university in Washington, D.C. Her rapist is also a student athlete at the same school. At the beginning she continually is focused on killing him and his death couldn't come soon enough.

The novel is primarily told from Chloe's point of view. Alternating chapters are told from the perspective of other characters that interact with Chloe. While this writing style provides greater insight into all of the characters and their thoughts it at times becomes cumbersome. My personal preference would have been that the entire novel was told only from Chloe's perspective.

Another odd aspect of the novel is most of the action occurs in the first half of the book with the balance of the book focused on the characters attempting to figure out what happened and what's happening now. There's also a bit of a twist at the end of the book.

As a previous foster parent this story brought back sad memories of true stories foster children have shared. Maddy experiences the horror of some children when she is part of the system designed to protect children - food rationed, children locked in their rooms, etc. by foster parents that are only in the role for the money.

I found the author's portrayal of life on the street from dumpster diving, crime, drug and alcohol abuse, scamming for money, etc. consistent from these children's stories.

I highly recommend this book.

I really enjoyed the book and found it well written. The author has that unique gift of describing the location and events where the reader can visually imagine themselves part of the story. While I greatly enjoyed the book, I found the description of the book a little misleading – I was expecting a historical fictional story. I appreciated learning more about life in Haiti and New Orleans in the 1700s during the time of slavery.

If you enjoyed Next Year in Havana you'll want to check this one out. If not, this book can be read as a stand-alone, but the first book is so good that you really don't want to miss it. Unlike many other readers of both books, I'm not big into romance novels, but loved the author's detail description the period in these historical fiction books. It is a thought provoking read on many levels.

This book begins after the Perez family was forced out of Cuba after Fidel Castro's took control of the government. Beatrix is still longing to return to Cuba and the life she loved. Unfortunately, like many of us she allows her emotions to make decisions that can have rather dire consequences. She believes Castro killed her twin brother and wants to avenge his death by becoming involved with the CIA. She agrees to work as a spy for the CIA and infiltrate Castro's inner circle. Once involved as a spy she learns there is a dirty side of politics on both sides of the conflict. As the Cold War continues, Beatrix must make a decision between her quest for revenge and her desire to spend her life with the man she loves.

The main character is so well written that all of her actions fit in with her personality. The setting in Miami brings back memories of my visits to this beautiful city and allow me to image it during an earlier time.

It is hard to believe this is Samantha Downing's debut novel - its insanely (LOL) twisted and unpredictable! She does a great job of character development and you'll quickly develop a love/hate view of them. While no family is perfect - this takes it to a whole new level. Think - "Dexter" only a couple... Perhaps the best psychological thrillers I have read this year or last several years.

Warning: Many readers may find this book too dark, sad and brutal - unfortunately it is probably a very accurate of life at the time (1930's) and place (Georgia). As difficult as it was to read I was also compelled to finish the book to learn the fate of the "Gemini Twins". The author's third person narrative may be frustrating for some readers, but I enjoyed learning the main characters' thoughts and motivations. Although the chapters bounce back and forth through time, I felt the author did an excellent job of helping the reader transition from one time to another.

Not my usual novel genre, but I am pleasantly surprised that I chose to read this book. Its one of those rare books that captures you in the opening pages and doesn't ever let you go. You could feel the author's passion for the subject matter.

I enjoyed how the author alternated between the late 1950's and now. Chanel brought added dimension to the story through her skillful weaving of Cuba's history throughout the storyline. Against this historical background she tells a wonderful story of family, love and relationships.

When Marisol's grandmother, Elisa, dies her last request was that Marisol return her ashes to Cuba. While Marisol considers herself to be Cuban she has never set foot on the island - upon her arrival she experiences a sense of homecoming. Marisol compares the Cuba she knows from her grandmother's stories with the Cuba she experiences while on the island. Her visit brings family secrets into the open and Marisol is forced to make a decision that will impact many people in her life.

As an American Irish Catholic man, I was drawn to the book after reading the publisher's summary and wasn't disappointed! The story covers 40-years in the 70-year life of the narrator - Cyril Avery spanning from Dublin / West Cork, Amsterdam and New York. Contained in the story are familiar themes -- the rigidity of the Catholic Church and the hypocrisy of church leaders especially priests fathering children yet denouncing their relationship and the mothers. The author develops each character and we feel as if we knew each of them.

The books also covers the familiar topics of the IRA and the AIDS epidemic. Less frequently covered is the story of the life of gay men in Ireland during the second half of the 20th century or the friendship between a gay and straight man. The author captures their emotions brilliantly.

I laughed, I cried, and most of all I loved the book!

If We Were Villains is an incredible read even if you are not a Shakespeare fan. When the novel opens, Oliver Marks, one of seven young actors studying Shakespeare at an elite college in Illinois, finishing up a ten-year sentence in prison for the murder of one of his classmates. After ten years of silence, he decides to finally tell the truth of the events that occurred the night of the murder.

The book is extremely well written with gradual revelation of events from the past with the presence. It's suspenseful and every page you wonder if this is when you'll learn what really happened. Warning if you don't like Shakespeare – lines from his works are heavily quoted in the book. The book is told in five acts and the characters play the roles common in all his works – the hero, villain, tyrant and the femme fatale. The author has made each of the characters genuine, likable, and sympathetic. Highly recommended!

Loved this book – it captures you from the beginning and never let's go! Friedrich Nietzsche said it best, "What does not destroy me, makes me stronger" – in this case it applies to Sophie and Barry's survival after their small plane crashes in the middle of the South Pacific. Great story of their evolving relationship. Characters are well developed and the story is written in a manner that you can image yourself there with them.

Rappaport has written an amazing account of what happened in 1917 Russia. The book begins with Russia at war and flooded with refugees. Despite a war and the challenges that it brought life for the Russian citizens, the Petrograd large foreign community as well as international industry were sheltered from its horror.

The book is told through the perspective of several foreigners (diplomats, merchants, journalists, entrepreneurs and charity workers) staying at the Hotel Astoria. The author reveals how little these people understood what was happening outside of their luxury hotel - anarchists plotted revolution or the poor waited in line for soup.

It's a wonderful read, full of larger than life characters with the accounts of the Revolution vivid and frightening. While I loved the book as written, I would have enjoyed hearing the perspective of Russians as well as a perspective of events that were occurring outside of the capital.

One of the best books I read in the last several years!

Normally I stay away from books about the Holocaust – I've read many and while I hope mankind never forgets this tragic chapter in history, I find that afterwards my belief in man suffers when I reflect on how most of the world stood by while these horrors occurred. Something about the book intrigued me, perhaps the legal thriller aspect to the story line.

Once I began to read it, I found myself not wanting to put it down. I rooted for Lena, Catherine, and Liam and got angry at Lena's selfish son. I loved the blending of the two storylines – the present in Chicago and the past events that primarily occurred in Poland. The writers use of flashbacks and character development was well done and added to the richness of the book. This style made the book engaging and made me feel as if I was not only listening to Lena's story, but actual there with her in the past.

The intrigue keeps you on the edge of your seat (present and past) and the ending is swift and surprising.

Loved, cried and cheered for Miss Jane! Brad Watson has written an incredible novel that offers readers a view into pre and post depression South, the struggles of a woman born with a defect (lack of a vagina) that prevents her from bearing children or effectively control her bodily functions and a relationship with her country doctor that most of us would envy. The book inspired me and challenged me to reflect on how I've dealt with adversity in my life, the incredible power of human determination.

The Last Confession of Thomas Hawkins is a wonderful historical fiction piece set in London during the Georgian period (18th century). I liked The Devil in the Marshalsea, but totally fell in love with the sequel! Although a sequel, you don't need to have read The Devil in the Marshalsea to enjoy and understand this book, but it does contain some spoilers if you read them out of order. The author's use of imagery enables the reader to experience London's squalor and wealth with all of their senses. Equal to the setting and the imagery is the plot and character development. It is a wonderful tale of secrets, lies, murder and sin. The love between Tom and Kitty is an added bonus. Similar to Dickens' novels there are a fair share of evil characters that commit brutal and violent crimes. As a fan of Dickens this reinforced how I imagined London during this period.