Tag Archives: suspense

Aug5

Lil Red’s Book Club: It Could Have Been Her By Lisa Jewell Edition

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Lil Red’s Book Club: It Could Have Been Her By Lisa Jewell Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new edition of Lil Red’s Book Club! In a spoiler free setting, as always, we will be discussing Lisa Jewell’s newest thriller called It Could Have Been Her. I am an avid fan of Lisa Jewell and thoroughly enjoyed the talk she did through the library systems last year. It was so cool to see one of my favorite authors on the computer screen answering questions from readers and talking about her writing process and upcoming projects. I was super excited to read her latest book and it did not disappoint. It Could Have Been Her was a wild ride! Before we begin our chat, I will be placing a big fat trigger warning for child abuse, domestic abuse, sexual violence, and highly disturbing content. You ready? Let’s get to it!

Twice divorced Jane is in her mid fifties and lives a solitary life in her family’s crumbling estate located in the middle of nowhere. She doesn’t have much in the way of human company but she loves her four dogs more than life itself. As her and her pups take their daily walk, they come across a small white dog that Jane has never seen before. She takes him to the vet and learns from his microchip that the dog’s name is Hugo and lives in London. How did this little dog get all the way to her property? Although she would like to keep Hugo, she makes the trip to return him to his owner and is shocked by where he lives. In a home that will forever be seared into her memory as what could have been her final resting place when she was twenty-nine years old.

The man who answers the door is named Stuart Tucker and he is dodgy but appreciative that his dog is back. Shortly after Jane drops Hugo off, she receives a call from the vet who heard something strange from Jane’s closest neighbor. Hugo was with a girl who was renting a spare room in her house. She has left all of her belongings and is nowhere to be found. This piques Jane’s interest as she fancies herself an amateur sleuth and wants to crack the case. What happened to the girl who rented the room under the name Rose White?

Stuart Tucker is a keeper of secrets. He lives with his partner, Jessamine as well as her daughter Daisy and mother named Annie. Jessamine spent her childhood in a house of horrors and her life revolves around when she can have her next drink. Stuart dotes on Daisy because no one else will and waits on Annie as if he were a butler. All the while, he takes the verbal and physical abuse of Jessamine as she is prone to fits of rage. He knows something terrible happened in this house but does his best to avoid thinking about it. If he does, he might just run away for good even if that means leaving Daisy all alone.

Tucker knows that Jane is poking around with her detective work and his family’s downfall might be coming sooner than he thinks. And Jane doesn’t think, she knows that she is getting close to finding answers. Rose is somehow connected to the house that lives in her nightmares. If Jane finds her, she can come to terms with her own trauma and move on with her life. But will Jane really want to learn the answers to the questions that have lived rent free in her mind for over two decades? Read It Could Have Been Her to find out!

Let me just get this part out of the way: There were some parts of It Could Have Been Her that were really difficult to read. In fact, this is one of the most disturbing thrillers I have read in recent memory and I do not say that lightly. Having said that, this book was really REALLY good and might just be Lisa Jewell’s darkest novel yet. The plot of this book twisted and turned at a rapid pace and the beauty of it was that every twist made perfect sense. This was a delight after reading My Husband’s Wife where every reveal was meant to shock as opposed to moving the story forward. Lisa Jewell weaved a tale of inter generational trauma that infected everyone it touched and it was up to the characters in the story to pick up the broken pieces the best way they knew how.

For all of the macabre in It Could Have Been Her, it was balanced out by our lovely heroine Jane. This woman was an absolute joy with her quick wit, her loves for dogs, and the blinding pride she feels for all of her stepchildren. She was truly the bright light that this book needed as Jewell guided us through the depths of human depravity. Throughout the book, I could see her confidence grow and her world expand and it was exciting to read about her whole new lease on life. Because for her to move forward, she needs to confront her past. This is no easy feat for anyone and it will be impossible for you to not root for her every step of the way if you read this book!

Overall, I am going to rate It Could Have Been Her with an eight out of ten stars. This was exactly what I needed after reading the massive dud of My Husband’s Wife and further solidifies Lisa Jewell as one of my go to authors. Just read at your own discretion!

Who is your favorite author? Have you read any good thrillers recently? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Aug2

Lil Red’s Book Club: My Husband’s Wife By Alice Feeney Edition

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Lil Red’s Book Club: My Husband’s Wife By Alice Feeney Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new edition of Lil Red’s Book Club! In a spoiler free setting, as always, we are going to be discussing one of Alice Feeney’s newest books called My Husband’s Wife. When I began reading this book, I was most intrigued. Then, my tune changed drastically close to halfway through. I am telling you right here right now that My Husband’s Wife was the most far fetched garbage I have ever read lol and I encourage all of you to not waste your time on it. But, hey, that’s what these reviews are all about – for you to enjoy a book too or find something better! Before we begin, I will be placing a trigger warning on My Husband’s Wife for suicide, child abuse, cancer, and graphic crime scene descriptions. Let’s do this thing:

Eden and her husband Harrison have just moved to the famous Spyglass house in Hope Falls with the hopes of a fresh start. Harrison will continue to travel back to London as his business is booming and Eden will spend her time painting. In fact, she even has an exhibition at a gallery this very night. To clear her mind before the big event, she goes for a run and returns to Spyglass to shower, don a pretty dress, and show the world her art. She inserts her key into the lock and it doesn’t turn. Did Harrison change the locks while she was out? After pounding on the door, a woman answers and she looks a lot like Eden and Harrison is treating this mystery woman like his own wife. But Eden is Eden so who in the world is she?

Olivia Bird AKA Birdy lives a life of solitude and prefers the company of her dog, Sunday, to almost all people. Birdy is also harboring a secret. Her body is riddled with tumors and she does not have long to live. Before she passes, there are loose ends to tie in Hope Falls as her grandma left Spyglass to her in her will. Bird visits the home once before putting it on the market and it is quickly purchased by Eden and Harrison. Her task is done but her life’s trajectory will soon call her back to Hope Falls, a place that she only vaguely remembers from her childhood.

Hope Falls is one of the safest places to live and the small town only has one police officer named Carter. A promotion to become head detective hangs over his head but it is snatched up by a more decorated person on the force. Their arrival couldn’t have come at a better time as a body has washed up on the shore and it looks a lot like Eden. The real or fake one is yet to be determined as the body is badly disfigured. Whoever this person is, there is a murder to solve and every new piece of information leaves the officers even more confused. Was the death of the unidentified person a case of suicide? Or was it part of a sinister plot to both bury and avenge the past? *Don’t* read My Husband’s Wife to find out!

My Husband’s Wife started out with a bang. The changed locks, an identity crisis, the the introduction of the elusive Olivia Bird. I was loving it as I worked my way through the first one hundred and twenty pages or so and then this book took a drastic turn and not in a good way. The relative simplicity of the plot that was being established began to turn so convoluted and each discovery in the investigation seemed more unlikely than the next. Now, don’t get me wrong. I completely understand that the thrillers I enjoy reading are far fetched but My Husband’s Wife was just too much. Each passing plot twist upped the ante in ridiculousness that it was almost humorous if it wasn’t all so dumb lol.

The sad thing about this book is that it did start out so strong and I had a fondness for Olivia Bird. She was truly the only saving grace in My Husband’s Wife with her cool attitude, dry wit, and sleeves of tattoos. I really did like reading about her but that wasn’t enough to salvage this utter train wreck. As you all know, I fancy myself an amateur detective and revel in figuring out grand reveals. It’s a game I play every time I read but My Husband’s Wife was so lackluster that I didn’t even care to try. And that’s really saying something!!

I am going to bestow zero out of ten stars upon My Husband’s Wife. If you are looking for a twisty thriller, check out Freida McFadden’s latest books because this one is SO not it!

What is your favorite thriller? What are your thoughts on My Husband’s Wife? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jul29

Lil Red’s Book Club: Dear Debbie By Freida McFadden Edition

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Lil Red’s Book Club: Dear Debbie By Freida McFadden Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new edition of Lil Red’s Book Club! In a spoiler free setting, as always, we are going to be discussing one of Freida McFadden’s newest books called Dear Debbie. Freida McFadden is a hit or miss author for me. Some of her books are great, others leave a lot to be desired and I feel like there is no middle ground. Her books are either good or bad lol. However, her most recent thrillers have hit hard – so much so that I finished Dear Debbie in one day! I just couldn’t put it down! Before we begin our discussion, I will be placing a trigger warning on Dear Debbie for sexual assault (one instance involving minors), graphic violence, and disturbing content. You ready? Let’s get to it:

Debbie gives great advice but she never necessarily takes her own. She is the voice of “Dear Debbie” in the local newspaper and does her best to point lonely or sad housewives in the right direction. Her own direction these days? Aimless. Her husband, Cooper, pulls disappearing acts during the evening and there is something going wrong with her teenage daughters that she is completely in the dark about. Debbie’s life wasn’t supposed to be this way. She was a promising student at MIT until an incident happened that made her academic dreams crash and burn. So she became a wife, a mother, and every day since the incident has left her feeling inadequate.

The only thing Debbie really has going for her is Dear Debbie and she enjoys her work. She takes pride in encouraging others to make a change but in one article, her advice goes too far in the eyes of the editor. A woman wrote to Debbie about the financial restraints her husband constricts her to and Debbie advised her to get a divorce. That did not fly for the family friendly publication and Debbie loses her job. Now, Debbie has nothing left to lose and decides to start righting the wrongs in her life.

Her targets are the people who do wrong for the sake of doing it. People who have made her daughters cry. Someone who is standing in the way of her husband’s promotion at his job. The snarky housewives who simply tolerate Debbie’s existence. But this is all child’s play because Debbie is working up to the number one person on her list. The person who derailed her life when her future could have been so vastly different. Debbie is going full on vigilante and there is nothing that can stop her now that her mission has begun. Who will suffer her wrath? Read Dear Debbie to find out!

It has been a while since I read a twisty thriller as I was working through a few palette cleanser books. Dear Debbie scratched that itch and then some! This book was a fast paced tale of revenge and what happens when a woman has had enough. For over twenty years, Debbie lived with her secret and shame and her getting fired from the newspaper was the straw that broke the camel’s back. It was absolutely delicious to read about this “super mom” getting more unhinged with each passing page and I genuinely had no idea what she was going to do or say next. It is rare that I finish a book in one day but this one was just that good.

One of my complaints with Frieda McFadden’s work has been her twists. In her earlier books, they seem to be placed so haphazardly with the point of shocking rather than making complete sense. It always left me feeling disappointed because better options were out there and weren’t being used. Her most recent books are so much more concise with grand reveals that actually feel plausible and tie the story line in a bow rather than leave the reader scratching their heads over the frayed edges. The twists in Dear Debbie were shocking, for sure, but they also kept the story moving along and kept me turning the pages until there were none left.

Overall, I am going to rate Dear Debbie with an eight out of ten stars. Freida McFadden has definitely moved up on my radar and I cannot wait to read what she writes next!

What are you currently reading? What is your favorite Frieda McFadden book? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun17

Lil Red’s Book Club: Bitter Falls By Rachel Caine Edition

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Lil Red’s Book Club: Bitter Falls By Rachel Caine Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new edition of Lil Red’s Book Club! In a spoiler free setting, as always, we will be discussing the fourth book in the Stillhouse Lake series by Rachel Caine called Bitter Falls. I have been trudging through the Stillhouse Lake series with palette cleansers between each book and, I have to admit, I am a little bit over it lol. This seven book series is growing more ridiculous and, frankly, unbelievable with every turn of the page. However, I refuse to not finish the series so onward and upward, I suppose! Before we begin out chat, I will be placing a trigger warning on Bitter Falls for physical, sexual, and emotional abuse, highly disturbing content, and graphic violence. You ready? Let’s get to it:

Life for Gwen Proctor, Lanny, Connor, and Sam Cade has, blessedly, been more low key than in recent memory. Sam is getting steady construction work, Gwen is now working as a private investigator, and the family participates in solo and group therapy sessions. Unfortunately, this peaceful interlude at Stillhouse Lake is short lived. Lanny and Connor are struggling in school and Gwen makes the decision to home school them after a scary indecent during an active shooter drill. It’s no secret that the Proctors have never been welcome in Stillhouse Lake and school kids are the least of Gwen’s worries. The powerful drug family, the Belldenes have declared war on Gwen and her family with a warning. Leave the town to get the constant newscasters and lookie loos away so their crimes can continue to fall under wraps or the Belldenes will remove them themselves.

The Proctors can’t stay in Stillhouse Lake under constant threat of the Belldenes but, luckily, Gwen has been assigned to a new case. The three year old cold case of a missing college kid named Remy. He was out at a bar with friends, got separated, and was never seen or heard from again. Although Gwen is hesitant to take the kids and Sam along to begin working the case, she has no other options and the family hits the road. Gwen has no expectations of finding Remy alive but it is her job to find answers for his parents. What she uncovers is way more than she ever bargained for.

After some good old fashioned detective work, Gwen learns that Remy was spending time with a young woman named Carol. He told his parents that he met her at church and was helping her. When Gwen eventually tracks Carol down through their old church, she finds that Remy was, indeed, a knight in shining armor. Remy had helped Carol escape from a cult, he disappeared, and Carol has been on the run from the members of the cult ever since. If Gwen wants any hope of finding Remy dead or alive, she must first infiltrate the cult. But how? In a shocking turn, Gwen will end up on the compound in a situation that is out of her worst nightmares. What happens next? Read Bitter Falls to find out!

Sigh… Where to begin with Bitter Falls? Here’s the thing… I thoroughly enjoy the core four cast of Gwen, Lanny, Connor, and Sam. And, you all know me, I love a twisty thriller more than the average bear. The difference is, I love a twisty thriller that has a real world plot. While the first three books of the Stillhouse Lake series were far fetched, I still found them to be worthwhile reads. But Bitter Falls was like the plot of an insane action movie on steroids and not even a good one. Rachel Caine threw in every crazy plot point but the kitchen sink and absolutely none of them stuck. The cult, the feud with the Belldenes, the podcast?! It was like a never ending litany of shock value plots that held little substance whatsoever.

I know I said that I refuse to not finish the Stillhouse Lake series and I’d like to redact that statement. I will read the fifth book, Heartbreak Bay. If it is as bad as Bitter Falls, I will be done. If Rachel Caine manages to turn it around, I will proceed. I feel slightly hopeful that Heartbreak Bay will be better because a big part of me does want to see what happens next. But I just can’t justify sacrificing my reading time to wildly subpar books. Bitter Falls definitely had me questioning why the Stillhouse Lake series needed seven books as well as Rachel Caine’s judgement lol. It was a massive dud!

Overall, I am going to rate Bitter Falls with a two out of ten stars. This was a most lackluster read and I would honestly recommend stopping the series at Wolfhunter River. Whomp whomp!

What are you currently reading? What did you think about the Stillhouse Lake series? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun8

Lil Red’s Book Club: The Divorce By Freida McFadden Edition

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Lil Red’s Book Club: The Divorce By Freida McFadden Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new edition of Lil Red’s Book Club! In a spoiler free setting, as always, we will be discussing one of Freida McFadden’s most recent thrillers called The Divorce. Freida McFadden books are very hit or miss for me. Some are pretty good and some just actively suck lol. However, I really enjoyed The Divorce and it was a welcome palette cleanser after reading the second installment of the Stillhouse Lake series. It was easily one of the best Frieda McFadden books I have read in recent memory! Before we begin, I will be placing a trigger warning on The Divorce for violence, disturbing content, addiction, and mental illness. You ready? Let’s get to it!

Naomi lives a picture perfect life. She is a stay at home mom to her darling son, Teddy, while her husband, Jeremy, works hard and makes lots of money as a hedge fund manager. Although Jeremy’s schedule is erratic and he is constantly on call for his posh clients, he is an excellent father and is always home to put Teddy to bed. They are truly a happy family and life is good. Until the rug gets swept under Naomi’s feet. Jeremy tells her that he wants a divorce and that Teddy should stay in his home while Naomi lives in a tiny apartment.

How could her picture perfect life go so terribly, terribly wrong in the blink of an eye? Naomi tries to ignore the fact that there could be another woman involved and makes many attempts to talk to Jeremy but he just doesn’t want to listen. So, Naomi takes matters into her own hands and makes a late night house call to her former home where her worst nightmare is confirmed. Jeremy is seeing someone else and she is beautiful and very young. Then, things start to go downhill and fast.

As their divorce mediation begins, Naomi’s mental health deteriorates rapidly while Jeremy and his girlfriend, Ronnie’s, love blossoms. Jeremy has introduced Ronnie to Teddy and they are even planning a big birthday bash for him while Naomi flounders to earn full custody. Naomi is convinced that if she could just speak to Jeremy then she will win him back and Ronnie will be a thing of the past. He has made it clear that this is not an option and now her attention is fully on Ronnie. If she can’t have her husband back then why should Ronnie have him either?

The divorce is getting messy and Naomi believes that Ronnie is a threat to her and her family’s safety as she begins to experience strange and dangerous behavior. Ronnie attempted to poison her. Ronnie calls her at all hours making threats. Ronnie wants to get rid of Teddy so she can have Jeremy all to herself. But who is tormenting who? One of Jeremy’s primary concerns of Naomi as a parent is her mental instability. Is he just painting her in a poor light or is she really as unhinged as he claims? Someone in this love triangle is not being truthful. Read The Divorce to find out who!

The Divorce was an ultra quick read and I finished it in three sittings because I just couldn’t put it down! It is rare that I find myself truly excited about a Freida McFadden book because they always fall on an average or way below average scale for me. This is mainly because I figure out the grand reveals really quickly! I am pleased to report that I did not see the twist coming in The Divorce whatsoever and it really did put the thrill back into her thrillers for me. The Divorce had more twists and turns than the most intense of rollercoasters and all I could do was hang on tight and enjoy the ride.

What was so interesting about The Divorce was how I felt about the characters throughout it. Normally when I read a book, I have the characters who I like set in stone and that doesn’t falter. With every new surprise that this book offered, my opinions shifted until I didn’t even know what to think. I went from despising Ronnie to feeling sorry for her. From rooting for Naomi to fearful and rocking back and forth from “good for him” to “what the hell?” on Jeremy’s part. This made the delicious plot of The Divorce all that more enticing and made the grand reveal even more shocking. There is no solid ground in this book and it left my jaw on the floor until the final page!

I am going to award The Divorce with the coveted ten out of ten stars. This was an excellent thriller and it is hands down some of Freida McFadden’s best work which must be commended. Highly recommend!

What is your favorite Freida McFadden book? What are you currently reading? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun2

Lil Red’s Book Club: Wolfhunter River By Rachel Caine Edition

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Lil Red’s Book Club: Wolfhunter River By Rachel Caine Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new edition of Lil Red’s Book Club! In a spoiler free setting, as always, we will be discussing the third book in the Stillhouse Lake series by Rachel Caine called Wolfhunter River. I have been so enjoying this twisty series about the ex-wife and family of a serial killer and couldn’t wait to dive into the third book after a palette cleanser called The Midnight Show. The Stillhouse Lake series has been a page turner from the jump and Wolfhunter River was no exception. I devoured it in three sittings! Before we begin, I will be placing a trigger warning on Wolfhunter River for graphic violence and highly disturbing content. You ready? Let’s get to it:

Gwen Proctor shot her ex-husband, Melvin Royal, dead. So why does it feel like he is still everywhere? Through meticulous planning, he has managed to sent posthumous correspondence to Gwen and the internet trolls have never let up. What’s more, one of Gwen’s nightmares has come to fruition. That’s right, a documentary is being made about Gwen and her involvement in Melvin’s crimes despite being acquitted. She will be thrust into the spotlight along with her children, Lanny and Connor, and partner, Sam, and the light will be anything but flattering. Documentarians have already swarmed on Stillhouse Lake and it takes immense self control for Gwen and her family to not smash the cameras.

Gwen, Sam, and the kids have all but been sequestered to their home to avoid the documentary crew but they won’t be cooped up for much longer. While her and Sam are doing the dishes, the phone rings and Gwen hears the voice of a terrified woman named Marlene. This is not uncommon. Since killing her ex-husband, Gwen has received a lot of calls from women trying to escape their abusers. Marlene requests that Gwen visits her in nearby Wolfhunter so she can learn the full story as she’s not comfortable discussing it on the phone. Gwen refuses as this is surely a trap. Why would a stranger want to lure her away, alone to a remote one stoplight town if not for something nefarious?

One day later, Gwen receives another call from Marlene’s number but it isn’t Marlene on the phone. It’s her daughter, Vee. Vee has found her mother dead after returning home from a bender and the police are moments away from breaking down the door and arresting her. Vee claims her innocence and Gwen somewhat believes her. Then, she thinks back to her conversation with Marlene. Someone or something was scaring her to death. Could this be the repercussion for Marlene reaching out to her in the first place?

As a family, the Proctor crew makes the trip to Wolfhunter to find out who killed Marlene and protect Vee from the death penalty. In this small town, no one is a friend to the family of outsiders. The cops are crooked, the locals refuse to speak, and Gwen finds herself in the middle of a plot that goes far beyond the murder of Marlene. With no one to trust but each other, the Proctors tread carefully to begin their own investigation. Time is of the essence and not just for Vee. A little girl needs Gwen’s help too. Will Gwen and her family crack the case? Or will those she needs to save succumb to the brutality of Wolfhunter? Read the Stillhouse Lake series to find out!

Wolfhunter River was a fast paced thrill of a ride that kept me on my toes the whole way through. There was, admittedly, a lot going on in this book and it was somewhat difficult to keep track of it all. However, when the pieces began to come together everything became crystal clear and it turned the urgency dial up to one thousand. As always, Gwen led this book like the badass she is and it was exciting to see Lanny and Connor come into their own as more major parts of the story. And, of course, the “Will they? Won’t they?” of Gwen and Sam continues to add a delicious touch of romance!

The third book in the Stillhouse Lake series was interesting because it was the first one where Melvin was dead. Rachel Caine expertly crafted Wolfhunter River because despite Gwen killing him, it was like you could still feel Melvin lingering on every page. Every fork in the road the Proctors encountered felt like something Melvin would have planned and delighted in himself. There are far more monsters in the world than just Melvin, though, and Wolfhunter River gave Gwen and her family a crash course in the danger that goes beyond one of the worst serial killers the world has ever seen.

Overall, I am going to rate Wolfhunter River with an eight out of ten stars. I liked this one a lot better than the sequel and can’t wait to tuck into Bitter Falls next!

What are you currently reading? What is your favorite book series? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

May24

Lil Red’s Book Club: The Midnight Show By Lee Kelly & Jennifer Thorne Edition

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Lil Red’s Book Club: The Midnight Show By Lee Kelly & Jennifer Thorne Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new edition of Lil Red’s Book Club! In a spoiler free setting, as always, we are going to be discussing a delightfully refreshing whodoneit by Lee Kelly and Jennifer Thorne called The Midnight Show. I admit that I was a little ambivalent about this book for the first fifty or so pages but once I got used to the unique format and plethora of characters, I was SO in. I’m also pleased to report that I figured out the grand reveal way beforehand and it didn’t deter my enjoyment of this book in the slightest. The Midnight Show was an excellent palette cleanser as I work through the ultra intense Stillhouse Lake series and I highly recommend it. Before we begin, I will be placing a trigger warning on The Midnight Show for addiction and emotional abuse. You ready? Let’s go!

Lillian Martin was a beloved comedienne of the 1980s who had her big break on the first handful of seasons of The Midnight Show (Think Saturday Night Live and we’ll refer to it as TMS for short). She was thrust into fame with the members of her old improv troupe and TMS cast but that came at a cost. The last thing Lillian ever wanted was being chased down by fans, being sent psycho stalker letters, and feeling unsafe as she went about her daily life. The turmoil of her newfound celebrity as well as an abusive relationship led to addiction and she passed away before her time. However, was her passing suicide, murder, or simply an accident?

Forty years after Lillian’s death, Madeline Cohen who is a culture writer for Rolling Stone wants to dig deeper. Sure, she’d like to solve Lillian’s cold case but she is also interested in how the male centered world of comedy might have played a part in Lillian’s downfall. Through interviews with Lillian’s estranged family and former TMS castmates, Madeline begins to put together the pieces of the years leading up to one of the leading ladies of comedy’s death. Each cast member believes that one of their former crew had something to do with Lillian’s untimely passing. But who? Read The Midnight Show to find out!

The Midnight Show was written primarily through TMS cast interviews as well as email correspondence and newspaper clippings. It almost read more like a script for a play rather than a novel and it was a lot to take in all at once as former castmates were introduced rapidly. After the initial sense of being overwhelmed by all of the information, I found my bearings and was able to dive into The Midnight Show and relish every page. The plot was so intriguing and fast paced, the kooky TMS cast members were often hilarious, and it was an exciting and fresh take on a classic whodoneit.

There was one particular character who I just couldn’t get enough of and that was Gina Ross, Lillian’s BFF. Gina was bold, brash, and provided something to laugh about every time she appeared on page. Her sharp wit as she conversed with Madeline really pushed the story forward but underneath all of that humor, you could tell how much the tragedy of Lillian pained her. Make no mistake, though, Lillian’s demise pained everyone interviewed and everyone could be a suspect. My advice if you want to solve the mystery ahead of time too? Take off the rose colored glasses. Your favorite characters might just be covering up a murder!

I am going to award The Midnight Show with the coveted ten out of ten stars. This has got to be one of my favorite books that I have read all year and I think you will like it too!

What are you currently reading? What should I read next? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

May19

Lil Red’s Book Club: Killman Creek By Rachel Caine Edition

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Lil Red’s Book Club: Killman Creek By Rachel Caine Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new edition of Lil Red’s Book Club! In a spoiler free setting, as always, we are going to be discussing the second book in the Stillhouse Lake series by Rachel Caine called Killman Creek. I dove into this series knowing nothing about it and all I have to say is: Holy twists and turns! I really enjoyed Stillhouse Lake and was hopeful that the second book would be just as good. I am pleased to report that Killman Creek was even better than its predecessor and I can’t wait to sink my teeth into the third book next! Before we begin, I will be placing a trigger warning on Killman Creek for graphic violence, disturbing content, animal cruelty, and child abuse. You ready? Let’s get to it:

Killman Creek picked up exactly where Stillhouse Lake left off: Gwen saved her children, Lanny and Connor, from one of her serial killer ex-husband’s cronies by the skin of her teeth. And, oh yeah, her serial killer ex-husband, Melvin Royal, has escaped from jail which has put Gwen and the kids on the run once more. Their endless days of travel and seedy motels comes to a halt after Gwen receives a text from Melvin. He tells her that nowhere is safe. Rather than continue fleeing, Gwen decides to stop being the hunted and become the hunter instead. She leaves Lanny and Conner with her dear friends, Javier and Kezia, while her and Sam Cade begin tracking down the world’s most notorious serial killer.

Gwen and Sam figure the best place to start tracking down Melvin is to track down the people behind Absalom first. The hacker group, Absalom, used to be Gwen’s strongest ally in keeping herself and children safe. Little did she know in book one, they were feeding information to Melvin the whole time. With the help of Sam’s old acquaintance, Mike Lustig of the FBI, they have a starting point in Nowhere, USA to find an Absalom associate named Arden. She informs them of the address of someone higher up in the chain and they head to his remote cabin next.

Minus paper receipts and a hidden thumb drive in the cabin, Gwen and Sam come up with nothing. Until they enter a hidden door that leads them underground to a locked room. In their haste, they didn’t realize they were walking right into a trap and the cabin combusts. The thumb drive, however, proves to be worth its weight in gold as it provides another name: Ballantine Rivard. Rivard is an uber rich entrepreneur who has his own reasons for wanting to find Absalom and shows the duo something shocking acquired off of the dark net. A deep fake video of Gwen helping her husband abduct a victim: Sam’s sister. The deal? Track down members of Absalom and Rivard will pay to have the video removed.

Of course, Gwen has been acquitted as an accomplice and this video hasn’t seen the light of day. Regardless of if its fake or not, it drives a deep wedge in Sam and Gwen’s relationship. What’s more, her children have seen the video too and detest her for it. Gwen is now a woman with nothing to lose. Sam doesn’t trust her and her children want nothing to do with her. The only thing she can do to protect her kids now is to offer herself up as bait. Let Melvin come to her. And if he does, she will be the one to kill him. Will Gwen be able to make it out of this trap alive? Will the only relationships she cares about be salvaged? Read Killman Creek to find out!

Killman Creek was a delicious game of cat and mouse. Make no mistake, though, Sam and Gwen are most definitely the mice in this situation. No matter where they go or what they do, Absalom and Melvin are aware of it and it is up to them to think ten steps ahead. Until Gwen’s world comes crashing apart with the deep fake video. That is when all hell breaks loose, leaving Gwen to her own devices and proving to us once more that she is a woman not to be messed with. Every step forward in this book felt like a success until traps were revealed, guaranteeing danger with every turn of the page as well as the heartbreaking realization that beloved characters might not make it out alive.

As far as characters go, I can’t say that I’m a huge fan of Gwen’s son, Connor, but I absolutely love Gwen and her daughter, Lanny. Both of these gals are tough as nails, hurling themselves into danger rather than shying away from it to protect those that they love. They are brusque to the point of being stand offish but that is just a shield to keep themselves strong as they continue to navigate an impossible situation. Every action they make is done with the highest level of care and it simply radiates. It makes every instance they appear on the page so urgent because I like them both so much! They are, for sure, the stars of the Stillhouse Lake series and I am so looking forward to seeing what happens in the next book!

Overall, I am going to rate Killman Creek with a seven out of ten stars. This was a really strong sequel and sets the stage for even more craziness in book three!

Have you read the Stillhouse Lake series? Who is your favorite character? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

May11

Lil Red’s Book Club: A Perfectly Nice Family By Nicole Trope Edition

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Lil Red’s Book Club: A Perfectly Nice Family By Nicole Trope Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new edition of Lil Red’s Book Club! In a spoiler free setting, as always, we are going to be discussing a thriller by Nicole Trope called A Perfectly Nice Family. This is the second book of Trope’s that I have read and it was pretty good! It didn’t blow my mind but it was still a solid, twisty suspense novel. After breezing through this book in three sittings, I am excited to start the second book in the Stillhouse Lake series next! Before we begin our chat, I will be placing a trigger warning on A Perfectly Nice Family for disturbing content, general violence, and sexual violence. Now, let’s get to it:

Stephanie is a divorced mother of two to sixteen year old Luke and twelve year old Avery and she is barely getting by. She works part time while trying to obtain a degree, care for her children, and budget like crazy to make ends meet. It doesn’t help that child support from her ex-husband, Doctor Christopher Gordan, is so sporadic and she is sick and tired of begging him to do better. However, a change in luck might put Stephanie’s financial troubles at bay. Thanks to a suggestion from her best friend, Gail, she has decided to rent the granny flat behind her home to a struggling family called the Kemps. They recently lost their home in a fire and need somewhere to stay until they gather their bearings.

In a mere few days, the Kemps have moved in. Husband and wife, Cecilia and Jason, as well as their fifteen year old daughter, Polly. Although she knows that this family has been through a lot, Stephanie can’t help but feel that she has made a big mistake. Jason might be kind and friendly but Cecelia and Polly are a different story. They are rude, mean spirited, and all around off putting. Each respective member of the family seems to be constantly at Stephanie’s door with a request or a complaint. They have signed a six month lease and it promises to be the longest six months of Stephanie and her kids’ lives.

Shortly after the Kemps move in, things in Stephanie’s home begin to fall apart. A broken dishwasher, rotted window frames, and busted pipes occur within weeks. All repairs that Stephanie simply can’t afford to make. She has been suspicious of the Kemps since their arrival. There are no traces of them on the internet and their strange demeanor can’t go unnoticed. But, surely, they are A Perfectly Nice Family, right? Unfortunately, they are far from it and the damage that the Kemps are causing is just beginning. What is their end game? Read this book to find out!

A Perfectly Nice Family fell under my “good but not great” category. I did enjoy the quick read, though! This book went back and forth between Stephanie, Cecilia, and Avery and I loves me a back and forth narrator. It’s always interesting to read the different perspectives and watch as the pieces begin to come together! As far as the plot went, it was a classic Lifetime Movie novel (As Johnny calls my books!) through and through… Strangers are introduced, strange things start happening, and you know the rest. It wasn’t the most inspired story I have ever read but it definitely kept me turning the pages. Even though I easily figured out the grand reveal! Detective Lil Red on the case!

My primary issue with A Perfectly Nice Family were the characters. While I was, of course, rooting for Stephanie and her family, I failed to feel any kind of connection with them. They just seemed to be there to move the plot along and, of course, I sympathized with them deeply but I didn’t have a fondness for them. The Kemps were terrible, to be sure, but every character felt surface level at best with little to no development. If I could have hooked onto just one person in this book, I think I would have liked it better. It just didn’t work out that way.

Overall, I am going to rate A Perfectly Nice Family with a six out of ten stars. This is a thriller you can take or leave. It was fine for what it was but it’s also fine if you skip on it!

Have you read any of Nicole Trope’s books before? What did you think of them? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

May3

Lil Red’s Book Club: Stillhouse Lake By Rachel Caine Edition

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Lil Red’s Book Club: Stillhouse Lake By Rachel Caine Edition

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new edition of Lil Red’s Book Club! In a spoiler free setting, as always, we will be discussing the first book of a seven part series by Rachel Caine called Stillhouse Lake. If the other books are even half as good as this one, then I know I will be in for a treat! Stillhouse Lake had a crazy plot, was jam packed with twists and turns, and kept me guessing until the very last page. And, of course, that cliffhanger at the end made me want to sink my teeth into the next book ASAFP! Before we begin our chat, I will be placing a trigger warning on Stillhouse Lake for graphic crime scene content, gruesome violence, sexual violence, and highly disturbing content. You ready? Let’s get to it:

Gwen Proctor is a tough mama bear who will go to no end to protect her two children, Lanny and Connor. However, she didn’t always used to be this way. She used to be Gina Royal. The submissive, complacent wife to the notorious serial killer, Melvin Royal. She was tried as an accessory to his crimes but was acquitted, claiming she knew nothing despite his murders happening in their own home. Since her release from jail, her and her children have been on the run. She may have been acquitted in the court of law but in the public eye she is very much still guilty and undergoes constant threats to the safety of herself and children.

After several moves and with the help of her hacker ally, Gwen and the kids have found a place to possibly settle down. A small community in Tennessee called Stillhouse Lake. While Gwen works from home, her kids have a chance for a somewhat normal life by attending a new school and even making some friends. Although their new home provides a sense of security, the family is never truly safe. One slip up could blow their new identities, Gwen receives constant death threats per day, and Melvin still attempts to communicate with her through writing letters. It’s only a matter of time before they will have to pack only what they can carry and move far away from Stillhouse Lake.

That time might be sooner than they think. A body has been discovered in the lake directly in front of Gwen’s front door. Her wounds, cause of death, and disposal method are all too familiar – it is exactly like Melvin’s. Due to her past life and proximity to the body, Gwen is a prime suspect and must once again go to great lengths to prove herself innocent. Everyone who she might have trusted seems to give her reasons not to and she is all alone. Gwen’s only goal is to keep her children safe and all ties will be cut from them if she is arrested. Could her ex-husband be the cause of this crime even from jail? Or is Gwen not as innocent as she claims to be? Read Stillhouse Lake to find out!

Prior to cracking this book open, I had a very lackluster reading experience with No Exit by Taylor Adams. Stillhouse Lake was a breath of fresh air and I enjoyed it very much! This book was a slow burn at first which I can often find to be very tiresome. However, when the scene was set and the pace picked up, it transformed into nonstop action in a true cat and mouse game. While I had an inkling as to who the cats could be, there was one in particular that was especially shocking and it completely blindsided me. I fancy myself an amateur detective and pride myself on figuring out grand reveals prior to so I absolutely love a twist that I didn’t see coming.

What I really liked about Stillhouse Lake is that it left me with more questions than answers. This is a seven book series and I could tell that Rachel Caine was carefully planting the seeds for future plot points throughout the book. I am so excited to read Killman Creek next! What I do know, is that Gwen Proctor is a leading lady who is not to be messed with. Her strength, tenacity, and quick thinking never faltered even in unspeakable danger. She was brusque but her love for her children radiated off of the pages and created plot turns that felt like a punch in the gut. This is the beginning of Rachel Caine expertly crafting our key players in the series and I can’t wait to see what happens in the sequel!

Overall, I am going to rate Stillhouse Lake with an eight out of ten stars. This was an incredibly strong opening to a lengthy series and I am SO in!

Have you read the Stillhouse Lake series? What did you think of it? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah