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Reviews by Madeline (Florida)

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The Lies I Tell: A Novel
by Julie Clark

The Lies I Tell (3/28/2022)

This is a taut, suspenseful cat-and-mouse chase where the roles of 'cat' and 'mouse' are constantly shifting. It will have you guessing - and second-guessing! - all the way through. Another winner by Julie Clark!

The Last Chance Library
by Freya Sampson

The Last Chance Library (7/12/2021)

This novel is a joy! June Jones is an unlikely but endearing heroine surrounded by a cast of charming, quirky characters. You'll root for them all, all the way through. If you're looking for a feel-good read, this is it. It will do your heart good.

He Started It
by Samantha Downing

Not Your Average Road Trip (2/10/2020)

This is not a nostalgic family road trip story. This is a dark, twisted tale, laden with lies, seething with secrets. The voice is hard, harsh. The characters aloof and cold, keeping everyone, including each other, from getting anywhere close. And yet, we are compelled to keep turning those pages, to finish the journey, even if we have a sneaking suspicion we won't like where we end up.

The Sun Down Motel
by Simone St. James

Haunted and Haunting (11/3/2019)

I so enjoy the work of Ms. St. James, and I was thrilled to get my hands on an ARC of her newest novel. Creepy scenes had me looking up from the page to make sure I was actually alone in the room, while other moments had me thinking about all the lost girls in the world.

I did struggle with connecting to the present day storyline and the POV character. However, the past storyline and the POV character of Vivian Delaney were utterly haunting.

Never Have I Ever
by Joshilyn Jackson

Never Have I Ever (4/7/2019)

Joshilyn Jackson takes her much-loved Southern fiction voice and her women's fiction genre and edges them with a sharp darkness that is absolutely thrilling. This is not a flip-the-pages-as- fast-as-you-can suspense novel. This is a sit-inside-the-story tale where the twists and turns are slow and subtle yet leave you shaken by their power.

As a long time fan of Ms. Jackson's, I am thrilled to see her take on - and thrive! - in this new genre. I can't wait to see what she comes up with next.

The Night Tiger: A Novel
by Yangsze Choo

The Night Tiger (12/4/2018)

Settle in for a story steeped in magic and myth, for a tale where fate and superstition tangle with life, love and death. The details of the time period and the setting are fascinating, but it is the young, gentle houseboy, Ren, who will beckon you into this story, keep you there, and steal your heart.

My Lovely Wife
by Samantha Downing

A Wild Ride! (10/4/2018)

This is one wild ride of a read! Compelling, creepy and twisted, this story will get into your head and have you questioning everyone in the story...and everyone out of it.

Sold on a Monday
by Kristina McMorris

Desperate Times, Desperate Measures (8/2/2018)

This is a solid historical fiction novel about characters who make choices out of desperation and must then deal with the repercussions. The setting and details of the time period add an interesting layer to the story.

The Chalk Man
by C. J. Tudor

Solid suspense (11/28/2017)

The Chalk Man is a solid suspense novel that pulls the reader in from the first page of the Prologue. It's a twisting tale of secrets told with an underlying old-school creepiness. Looking forward to more from the author!

As Bright as Heaven
by Susan Meissner

As Bright as Heaven Shines (9/29/2017)

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel, from the characters of the girls we watch grow up to the different perspective on the period of the Great War. It is a story where death and loss are ever present, but it's also one where hope and love live, too.

The Scribe of Siena
by Melodie Winawer

Pack Your Bags (4/11/2017)

This is a thoroughly enjoyable time-travel, historical fiction read. It's packed with science, history, art, mystery, love. Smart, strong female characters abound, in all the time periods - from the main character of Beatrice to Donata to Sister Umilta and Ysabella, these women are far more interesting - to this reader, anyway - than most of their male counterparts. An excellent debut!

Cruel Beautiful World
by Caroline Leavitt

Cruel Beautiful World (8/4/2016)

Layered and complicated, this novel draws readers in and keeps them there as characters' dreams die and secrets unfold. The pacing in the last half of the book slows down, though, leaving the last chunk of pages feeling like an overly long wrap-up. The language is absolutely lovely, enhancing the story rather than distracting from it.

Karolina's Twins
by Ronald H. Balson

Missing Something (7/7/2016)

Overall, I enjoyed the story, and I thought Lena - both in the past and in the present - was a great character. But I felt the writing was stiff and kept me at a distance. I also didn't connect with Catherine and Liam at all. I just wasn't able to become as involved, as caught up in the novel as I would've liked.

Security
by Gina Wohlsdorf

Almost There (3/25/2016)

This book had a lot of potential that, in my opinion, it just didn't reach. The concept of watching the story unfold through the security cameras was intriguing. The "twist" learned three-quarters of the way through the book, was excellent - I would've loved for that reveal to happen sooner. The story took a turn into graphic/explicit and gross/gory territories that made me uncomfortable, but that I also just found unnecessary to the story itself.

The Widow
by Fiona Barton

What the Widow Knows (11/29/2015)

From the beginning, the reader watches the dark threads of this story twist and twine then slowly unravel, revealing its secrets. With its fast pace and interesting characters, this is a novel of quiet tension and suspense.

All Is Not Forgotten
by Wendy Walker

This Story Will Not Be Forgotten (9/29/2015)

I was chilled by the first paragraph, and I was pulled in by the first chapter. The intriguing, detached voice of the narrator keeps the suspense level high and tight in this psychologically intense story. It asks complex questions about what we would do to protect those we love, what we would do to find the connection we need to feel whole and not alone, and what memory is and isn't. A thoroughly satisfying thriller.

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