The Burning Girls

The Burning Girls by C.J. Tudor

Thank you to Booklist for the ARC and the opportunity to review this title!

Fans of Gillian Flynn, Tana French, and Jess Lourey will leap at the chance to read Tudor’s new psychological thriller. Reverend Jack Brooks and her teenage daughter, Flo, move from their big-city life in Nottingham to the remote hamlet of Chapel Croft, hoping for a new beginning and some down time. The more Jack and Flo get to know their new neighbors, however, the more they realize a peaceful life is far from their reality. Chapel Croft’s mysterious history involving the sixteenth-century burning of Protestant martyrs is just a drop in the bucket of chaos that awaits. Burning apparitions, the disappearance of two teenage girls, and the cryptic arrival of the former vicar’s exorcism kit force Jack right into the middle of Chapel Croft’s horrific present. Tudor is undeniably talented at producing a slow burn, weaving each piece of the story together to form a creepy yet satisfying conclusion. Jack is a relatable protagonist, stepping away from the stereotypical personality of a vicar by projecting a raw, yet still empathetic, exterior. Gruesome and haunting, The Burning Girls is worth every page turn. Readers will surely be eager for more.

Killer Content

 

Killer Content by Olivia Blacke

Thanks to Booklist for the ARC and the opportunity to review this title!

Louisiana native Odessa Dean has agreed to cat-sit for her aunt in Brooklyn. With a swanky apartment at her disposal and a new job working at Untapped Books & Café, her outlook is bright. But when a fellow waitress’ death is caught on a viral flash-mob video, Odessa’s time in Brooklyn suddenly takes a more challenging turn. As an avid true-crime-podcast listener, Odessa takes it upon herself to investigate her friend’s death. The police are calling it an accident, but she is convinced otherwise, much to the chagrin of the detective on the case. Blacke’s debut novel is straightforward and entertaining. Her descriptions of the Brooklyn landscape and way of life are vivid, providing the reader with an intimate viewpoint of Odessa’s experiences. The story line drags a bit, and the mystery itself is solved a little too easily, but ultimately readers will be satisfied with the inevitable conclusion. Fans of Louise Penny’s idyllic Three Pines, Cleo Coyle’s Coffeehouse series, or Agatha Christie’s underestimated heroine, Miss Marple, might enjoy this one.

Let Her Lie

 

Let Her Lie by Bryan Reardon

Thank you to Booklist for the ARC and the opportunity to review this title!

Theo Snyder was famous once. His documentary, The Basement, became a massive hit and brought all the fame he’d ever dreamed of having. Just as quickly, a scandal brought Theo to the bottom. Looking for a way to find his voice again, he decides to tell the story of the infamous Halo Killer, Jasper Ross-Johnson, a serial murderer facing life in prison. At first, Theo expects Jasper to cooperate, but the further Theo delves into the Halo Killer’s past, more questions arise than answers. Why did Jasper fail to murder his last victim? Who was the woman seen on the beach the night he was captured? Reardon’s mastery at weaving together the strands of a complex psychological thriller is palpable on every page. Theo’s manic foray into Jasper’s life and mind is described in disturbing detail, but this is not the typical murder mystery. Instead of focusing on the gruesome outcomes, Reardon brings forth Jasper’s methods and mind-set, answering the question of why someone would commit such heinous acts. Fans of Gillian Flynn will jump at this one.

Review: A River Called Time

A River Called Time by Courttia Newland
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

Thank you to Library Journal for the ARC and the opportunity to review this title.

Set in a dystopian London parallel, A River Called Time uncovers the truth about the Ark, a structure built to provide a haven for the aristocracy but is revealed to be so much more disturbing. Markriss Denny has worked hard to win a spot inside the Ark. His enthusiasm wanes immediately when his assigned job revolves around political uprising and government deception. Markriss’ only path ahead is to embrace a newly discovered secret; the ability to leave his body and experience parallel universes beyond physical limitations.

Newland’s premise and his alternative world where Africa was not part of European colonization are both intriguing, however the plot is slow going and never quite reaches the potential teased from the beginning. Newland’s writing is stylish but tends to be overly descriptive, making the explanation of Markriss’ travels to parallel universes confusing and hard to follow. Markriss is a difficult protagonist to connect with, only adding to the disjointed feel of the book. Clearly a missed opportunity on the author’s part. Library collections should pass on this one.


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