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Reviews by Nanette S. (San Pierre, IN)

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Ill Will
by Dan Chaon
Dark, gripping story (10/2/2017)
Okay, this is one book that is hard to describe. It left me confused, sad, uptight, repulsed, a bit scared, and yet, it kept me reading to find out the stories of both the past and present murders. It was well written, you just need to pay attention. There are all kinds of personalities, all kinds of lifestyles and temperaments. Do you believe the stories told to you by others? Your family members, your acquaintances, your patients? Every character telling this story might be unreliable, so how much of it do you believe and how much of it is truth? Parts of the story can be hard to grasp since it is written in a way that is somewhat disjointed in parts and one needs to know who is narrating and what time period. This story may not be for everyone.
If I Was Your Girl
by Meredith Russo
If I was Your Girl (2/23/2017)
A good storyline for all ages. No matter how/why you may believe life should be lived, this story will show one author's take about a "different" lifestyle than the "norm". It is not a preachy book about how the rights or wrongs about life, especially in high school, should be/ not be lived by any individual, nor about how one should react to any individual and their lifestyle choice, it is simply a story about a girl, and how she must handle her choices made during her high school years and beyond. It does not delve too heavily about medical operations, or about the way of life in the early years, or about the relationships created in a new high school. This story just is. It would really have a multitude of subject matter for any book club.
The Girl Before
by JP Delaney
The Girl Before (11/20/2016)
Could you? Would you?
Could you decide to rent a place where you needed to answer forms and agree to abide by the rules of the "house"? Would you agree to live there if you passed inspection? Are the happenings a result of yourself or the "house"? This is a real suspense builder filled with intrigue and mystery.If you like books that keep you turning pages faster and faster, you will enjoy reading this one.
The film rights have already been purchased by Ron Howard and I can't wait to see it!
Falling
by Jane Green
Falling by Jane Green (6/7/2016)
Probably my favorite Jane Green book--and I love all of them! If you cried after Me Before You, you will be bawling after Falling. Loved the characters, and flow of the book.
The Widow
by Fiona Barton
The Widow (12/19/2015)
You never really know what goes on with families behind closed doors, and this is one of those stories. you have a husband and wife, a single mother caring for a small child, the police, and a reporter. The story is told through varying years of the incident where the 2 year old daughter has disappeared, and the chapters are told through the widow, the detective, the mother, the reporter, and the husband. This approach did take some getting used to because I had to remember which character was narrating and what year was being discussed. Once that was worked out the story flowed pretty well, where you find out exactly what type of people you are actually dealing with, and how/why the child may have disappeared. It is one of those books where you are kept guessing to the end.
Broken Promise: A Thriller
by Linwood Barclay
A Broken Promise (7/1/2015)
When an author discovers a "voice", the writer and the reader both profit because that character becomes both a friend and confidant to each. That relationship can last decades such as Sanford's Lucas Davenport, Connelly's Harry Bosch, and Burke's Dave Robicheau have to many. David Harwood, the protagonist in this novel, showed promise as a "voice" but, in Barclay's case, we are required to devote three book reads to get to know him since this book is Part 1 of a trilogy. Other authors create stories that begin and end in one volume while Barclay does not. While David Harwood and his family are the main focus of the ongoing story, the reader is introduced to over 50 characters in this book all of which show interest if developed fully- the police chief, the former mayor, the Thackery College staff, etc. All of the characters seem to either have significant character flaws or a "to be revealed" secret as their hometown, Broken Falls, New York falls into decline creating an environment where misfits and evil deeds seem to prevail. The plot was a "page turner" and the characters were all interesting (if somewhat predictable). My disappointment with the novel stems from the fact that I did not know that it was Part 1/3 and there were too many threads left open for the next installment. I recommend the book with the warning that there will be more to follow.
Little Black Lies
by Sharon Bolton
Little Black Lies (5/17/2015)
This is a very good story about three characters Rachel, Catrin and Callum, where each describe their reaction to the disappearance of a third missing child in the last two years in the Falkland Islands. Each character has a story to tell about their lives and how they intertwine amongst each other. I like how the story was told, getting a separate version through each character and how each character related to each other through their own words.
Whispering Shadows
by Jan-Philipp Sendker
Whispering Shadows (1/18/2015)
Excellent story about love, loss, friendship and mystery in a culture that has changed over the years in China. The story is told from a few different points of view, which helps in discovering how the characters feel in their situations, and how they reflect with each other. Paul, an American, who has lived in China for thirty years, meets another American, who is having issues with her son and asks Paul for advice while sitting in a cafe. Paul reluctantly helps as little as possible. He is somewhat of a loner and speaks with his policeman friend to get some advise and help for the American woman so he could be rid of the problem and not have to contact her again, and this is where the mystery begins. Good story for book clubs to discuss. We have a few different topics in this story that could easily be discussed within a group.
The Cairo Affair
by Olen Steinhauer
The Cairo Affair (1/19/2014)
Intrigue and mystery wind through this tale of espionage, deceit, and double dealing. The author infuses all aspects of spycraft into his characters and their actions. The story begins with Sophie, who must decide who to trust when trying to find out who and why her husband, Emmett, a diplomat, was killed while they were having lunch in a Budapest restaurant, Emmett had just confronted her about an affair she had when they were living in Cairo. No sooner had he brought up the subject, a strange man had entered the restaurant, shot him dead, and walked out.

Good story with different points of view used to portray Sophie's actions, although it is sometimes confusing to decipher what time frame, present or past, is being described.
The Cairo Affair
by Olen Steinhauer
The Cairo Affair (1/19/2014)
Good story line about spies, diplomats and government agencies, and how they interact with information, secrets and intel collected while living overseas with their allies. You get various points of view from the characters about how they give and receive their needed information and what to do with it once it has been received. Can you rely on the information you've gotten? What do you do with it once you've received it?
That is all something that Sophie must decide when her husband, a diplomat, has just been killed in front of her in a restaurant in Budapest. Why was he a target? Did it have something to do with her affair while living in Cairo? or was it something her husband was working on?
It is sometimes a bit confusing to remember which character you are reading about and if you are in the present or in a flashback, but still a book worth reading. This is my first Olen Steinhauer book I have read and plan on reading some of his earlier material.
How to Be a Good Wife
by Emma Chapman
How to Be a Good Wife (8/12/2013)
Very good debut story about the life of Marta and Hector. They have been married for so long Marta remembers nothing before her wedding to Hector, yet she is starting to hear voices and see a young blonde girl, or is she? Can it be she is missing her son since he has moved out for good, or is something from her past coming to the surface? Her life seems to be very simple, or is something deeper happening? Is she well, or does she need her pills, those same pills she had taken early in her marriage as suggested by her husband? Decide for yourself.
All You Could Ask For
by Mike Greenberg
All You Could Ask For (3/22/2013)
I listen to Mike and Mike in the Morning almost every day. I have also read the first two books that he has authored and co-authored. When I saw this book being offered, I knew I had to request it. When I heard Mr. Greenberg on the radio describing why he decided to write this book, I wanted to read it even more, and I am glad I did. It is a very good story about three women, how they live their lives and how they meet. It shows how women can lead strong lives and help others and themselves when times can get pretty rough.
Gone Girl: A Novel
by Gillian Flynn
Gone Girl (8/26/2012)
I love this book! What a story written by Gillian Flynn.
Great suspense about the missing wife, was she to blame, or not? Did the husband do it, or not? It is worth the read to find out!
Now You See Me
by S. J. Bolton
Now You See Mt by S.J. Bolton (7/8/2012)
Wow, what a story! I was lucky enough to receive the book Dead Scared, the second Lacey Flint story, for free through Goodreads First Reads and had started that one when I realized that the story kept referring back to something that had taken place before. I finally found out that Now You See Me should be read first and boy am I glad I did. What an excellent story line - you get a copycat killer who seems to resemble Jack the Ripper and a rookie cop, so to speak, with a hidden past she hopes to never have to reveal. The story moves along at a good pace and builds suspense as you turn the pages, and what an ending I didn't see coming! I can't wait to go back to Dead Scared and start where this one left off. I will definitely read more of her previous books.
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