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Reviews by Mark S. (Blauvelt, NY)

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Making Friends Can Be Murder
Making Friends Can Be Murder
by Kathleen West
Who would have thought that murder could make for such a fun, light read? (3/12/2025)
What a fun read and unique premise! The diverse ages and development of the different Sarah's made for a truly enjoyable story, and that is saying something when murder plays such a major role in the novel. West's decision to use video transcriptions and text messages to …more
Serial Killer Games
Serial Killer Games
by Kate Posey
Don't let the title fool you (2/13/2025)
What a fun read! I was already hooked on the Jake and Dodi's characters even before the big plot twist (which I did not see coming). What I loved even more about the book was the creative way that Posey brought all of the characters together in a way that never seemed …more
Jane and Dan at the End of the World
Jane and Dan at the End of the World
by Colleen Oakley
An anniversary dinner date like no other (1/2/2025)
I was already a fan of Oakley's writing (especially The Mostly True Story of Tanner and Louise), but this book definitely makes me want to read more of her work. As someone who gravitates toward mystery and suspense, this had enough surprises to keep me turning pages, but …more
Going Home
Going Home: A Novel
by Tom Lamont
Surprisingly touching! (12/5/2024)
My fondness for this book increased with each chapter. It starts a bit slow and depressing, but this makes sense as the story develops. What initially starts out as a question of who will step up for Joel evolves into something much more complex. For a first novel, Lamont …more
The Cleaner
The Cleaner: A Novel
by Brandi Wells
Uniquely enjoyable! (4/9/2024)
A story narrated by a somewhat invisible, underappreciated night cleaner in a building where a company is floundering turned out to be more entertaining that I thought early on. I enjoyed the unique perspective of the cleaner and her sometimes skewed rationalizations of her …more
The Day Tripper
The Day Tripper: A Novel
by James Goodhand
A must read for time travel enthusiasts (12/31/2023)
As a fan of all things related to time travel, The Day Tripper was outstanding! While I generally spend a few weeks reading each book, this page turner was completed in two days. Goodhand is a gifted writer who does an amazing job of dropping the reader into the same sense …more
Do Tell
Do Tell: A Novel
by Lindsay Lynch
Tell Me More! (7/19/2023)
For a debut novel, I was thoroughly impressed. This type of novel is a bit out of my comfort zone, but the characters, the plot lines, and Lynch's choice to tell her story through the lens of an actress turned gossip columnist kept me intrigued throughout. From the gossip, …more
Panther Gap
Panther Gap: A Novel
by James A. McLaughlin
A Unique Thriller (4/17/2023)
Fascinating read! It takes a little while to get used to the change in time and narrator, but it was worth it to figure out who was who and when was when. Minus the satire, it was similar to trying to figure out what is going on in Catch-22. My initial desire to read the …more
The Mostly True Story of Tanner & Louise
The Mostly True Story of Tanner & Louise
by Colleen Oakley
A "Jewel" of a Story (11/14/2022)
Hats off to Colleen Oakley for writing a story that made me want to read even when I had absolutely no time to do so. This novel is definitely one of the most entertaining stories I have read in the last year. I love the way that the characters are developed both …more
Fruiting Bodies
Fruiting Bodies: Stories
by Kathryn Harlan
Comfortably Uncomfortable (7/3/2022)
Even after finishing this collection of short stories, I struggle to categorize this unique debut. Harlan has a gift for revealing her characters which, at times, left me feeling somewhat uncomfortable. It was as if I were intruding on parts of their lives that I was not …more
The Personal Librarian
The Personal Librarian
by Marie Benedict, Victoria Christopher Murray
A Great Read! (2/21/2021)
I confess to being one who knew nothing about Belle's place in history prior to reading this book, but the authors did a wonderful job of bringing her story to life. Not only is this a timely read, but it is an enlightening look at the the incredible juggling act Belle had …more
Piranesi
Piranesi
by Susanna Clarke
Strangely Exciting and Thought Provoking (9/9/2020)
It took a little while to get going, but I was immediately captivated by the author's prose and the images it created. The ending felt mildly anticlimactic, but the way in which Clarke develops the mystery of who and where Piranesi is made it impossible to put down. I would …more
The Smallest Lights in the Universe
The Smallest Lights in the Universe: A Memoir
by Sara Seager
Finding Life in the Stars (7/28/2020)
Seager's memoir was a thoroughly enjoyable and captivating read. I love the way she bounces back and forth and draws parallels between her "life life" and her "work life." Not only did I learn about Seager's field, but her perspective on a wide range of issues struck me as …more
Daughter of the Reich
Daughter of the Reich: A Novel
by Louise Fein
Moving Debut Novel (3/31/2020)
After a sluggish start, the pace of this novel picks up quickly and becomes difficult to put down. I loved Fein's choices to tell the story from Herta's point of view and to make the story span such a long period of time. Not only does it bring the story to life, but it …more
The Big Finish
The Big Finish
by Brooke Fossey
The Big Finish Lives Up to Its Title (11/11/2019)
For a first work, Fossey has a knack for creating real characters that force readers to both accept them as real and root for them throughout the story. I enjoyed the relationships, the conflicts, and the way that Fossey created such a unique storyline in such an unexpected …more
The Secrets We Kept
The Secrets We Kept: A novel
by Lara Prescott
Hooked on page 1 (7/23/2019)
While I have enjoyed everything I have read through BookBrowse, this was definitely my favorite. Instead of the gradual/slow beginning that can sometimes plague even a great plot, Prescott jumped right into the story. I enjoyed her style, the way she developed the principal …more
Never Have I Ever
Never Have I Ever
by Joshilyn Jackson
Never Have I Ever...Read Something Like This (4/29/2019)
After a somewhat slow start, I truly enjoyed this book. The pacing picked up, and I definitely got caught up in the plot line. There were enough twists and surprises, and I definitely did not see the ending coming. The author did a fine job of developing the characters with …more
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