Review: Breakfall

Breakfall by Zhanna Slor
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

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

Mina Bansky, writer and mother, is still dealing with the consequences of her infidelity and subsequent divorce. Even her beloved Jiu Jitsu class at the gym down the street can no longer lift her spirits. When two Chicago detectives show up looking for Dylan, a friend from Mina's gym, and the van she let him register in her name, Mina’s life soon becomes even more chaotic. Dylan’s disappearance makes everyone at the gym a suspect, further distancing Mina from her old life. While intended to be part thriller, part romance, in reality Breakfall focuses mainly on Mina’s inner turmoil, her sexual desire, lack of control, and the self imposed destruction of her life, with just a sprinkle of mystery. While Dylan’s disappearance happens early on, it's not until the very end that the reader learns what happened; the wrap up taking place in just a few pages. The story would have been stronger if it had worked out Mina’s issues. The novel doesn't really work as a thriller, but, Slor’s writing style is absorbing and suggests better books may be in the offing from her. Copyright 2023 Booklist Reviews.

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Review: Three Can Keep a Secret

Three Can Keep a Secret by M.E. Hilliard
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

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

Three can keep a secret if two of them are dead.” Greer Hogan, reference librarian and amateur sleuth in the hamlet of Raven Hill, is drawn into yet another murder investigation (following Shadow in the Glass, 2022). When the head of the library board is found dead in her car, no one seems surprised. Anita was in constant conflict with various townspeople, going so far as blackmail to get what she wanted. When a local professor also turns up dead, Greer suspects a connection and starts digging for answers. What she finds turns Raven Hill and its residents upside down. The series’ third installment is entertaining, albeit predictable. Librarians will appreciate the details concerning the daily life of a public librarian, including a breakdown of interlibrary loans, the weekend Friends of the Library book sale, and the annual children’s Halloween programs. The mystery itself is cozy and simple. Those who have read the previous two books will not get any further information about Greer’s husband, but there is an obvious nod toward a fourth book. A worthy addition to the series. Booklist 2023

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