Book Reviews by Genre: Mystery

Millie needs a job, and quickly if she doesn't want to break the terms of her parole. So, when she's hired by Nina Winchester as a housemaid, she can't believe it. The Winchester's are an extremely wealthy family, and Millie can't help but notice that Nina's husband, Andrew, is particularly handsome. All seems to be going well until suddenly it's not. Nina's behaviors are sporadic and eccentric, and she often lashes out at Millie, going back on her word and constantly placing the blame on Millie. Millie's only comfort is Andrew, who, against her better judgement, she continues to get closer to. Except when the time finally comes for Millie to know the truth... nothing is as it seems.

"The Housemaid" is an interesting read, although the plot twist is definitely not as surprising as some of Freida McFadden's other work.

Dan has tried to move on from the traumatic event that happened in his childhood. He is now successfully working in a prison, his job revolving around treating patients and understanding why they committed crimes. So when he gets a call that his father is likely dead, Dan's life is turned upside down. Returning to his home island, Dan becomes suspicious of the circumstances of his father's disappearance. As he continues to investigate, the events from his past make their way into his life... and everything comes together.

"The Man Made of Smoke" is an interesting thriller that does a good job of showing the complexities of father son relationships. The plot twist was definitely unexpected and not in the greatest of ways and somewhat made the whole book slightly confusing. Overall, it was a good read.

Paris can't believe what's happening; it just can't be real. As she awaits trial for the murder of her husband she can't help but wonder how she got here. Despite the lengths she went to escape her past, it all seems to be coming right back after her. Drew is furious Ruby Reyes is getting out of prison. He knows exactly the type of women Ruby Reyes was and the lies she's told the media. Little does Drew know Ruby Reyes and Paris are connected in a way he never expected. Ruby knows Paris' secret, and Paris is willing to do anything to ensure that secret never gets out.

"Things We Do in the Dark" was a very interesting and twisty read. The switch between two storylines was difficult to follow at first and definitely took away from the book. Overall, however the characters were relatable, and the plot twist was amazing.

Paul Sheldon, the bestselling author of the Misery book series, crashes his car in the wilderness of Colorado just after finishing his latest book. Gravely injured and unable to walk, he is rescued by Annie Wilkes - a self-proclaimed "number one fan" of his work. She nurses him back to health in her house, all the while reading his latest Misery novel. However, when she discovers that Paul has killed off her favorite character, she reveals how unstable she truly is. Holding Paul captive, Annie forces him to write another book that will bring Misery back to life. There is no escape - and Paul soon finds that his "number one fan" will use any means necessary to force him to write his newest book...

"Misery" has to be one of my favorite Stephen King novels. The very relevant themes of obsession and addiction that he explores - along with the suspenseful and thrilling plot - made it impossible for me to put this book down! The plot is very well thought-out, and King's writing puts the reader into Paul's mind, allowing them to experience his thoughts, addiction, and pain firsthand. The idea, execution, and writing style of this book are truly amazing, creating a well-rounded and captivating story. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes psychological horror - especially those who have already watched the movie adaptation of "Misery". Although the film does a phenomenal job of telling this story, the inclusion of Paul's thoughts, the slightly different (and more terrifying!) ending, and King's writing itself makes this book a must-read for preexisting "Misery" fans!

A book about a secret school of deadly assassins? Yes please! I had not read a book by Mather before but because of this book I will definitely read again in the future. November is an intriguing character, and she was a great kick butt girl boss. The plot and book flowed nicely and the mystery was well thought out. I'd recommend this book to anyone who likes spies and assassin type books.

I typically love anything JLB puts out but this felt flat. The prospect was intriguing but the book dragged and was very dry. The romance felt rushed and had no chemistry. I honestly was so bored to death and had cringed so much I just did not finish the book. I would not recommend this book, but I would recommend the author!

I really loved the spunky main character Sawyer! Her development throughout the book and trying to be a debutante was entertaining and funny. All of the characters were well developed and at times I found myself laughing out loud at the dialogue. The story was very entertaining, and the mystery woven throughout it was amazingly well thought out! I'd recommend this to anyone who loves a Cinderella story with a mystery twist!

A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson is about a high schooler named Pippa “Pip” Fitz-Amobi who chooses to investigate a murder-suicide event that happened in her town a couple of years earlier for her senior year choice project.

When Pip was younger, Andie Bell, a popular high school girl, was supposedly murdered by her boyfriend Sal Singh. Sal allegedly confessed by text message and committed suicide. The town accepted this explanation, but Pip always felt something didn’t add up - the Sal she knew was kind and unlikely to be violent.

With the help of Sal’s younger brother Ravi Singh, who wants to clear Sal’s name, Pip digs into evidence and interviews people around town. As they uncover more information, they realize there was a lot more to Andie’s disappearance and the case overall than anyone originally believed.

In my opinion, the book was a really good mystery and had plenty of twists and turns which made it hard to predict what actually happened. The case was complex, but the author’s writing style made it easy and entertaining to follow. When I picked it out, I couldn’t put it down until I finished it.

I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a good mystery.

She doesn't remember anything, except the fact she has woken up stranded on the side of a highway. She doesn't know her name, or where she lives, not even as the police officer who picked her up continues to ask. Then her father comes to pick her up, claiming he has been frantically searching for her. Her name is Mary and this man knows everything about her, has pictures and proof, so Mary tries to push away the creeping unease that begins to settle in her.
Drew just wants to find his girlfriend. He wants her to be okay, and he really wants everyone to stop acting like he murdered her. Seriously, that's what everyone thinks except his best friend and family. As everyone assumes Drew is responsible for the disappearance of Lola, and as the police seem to stop their search for her, Drew takes matters into his own hands. What he finds is not what he expected. One thing is for sure, Mary and Drew need to be careful...
This was an incredibly interesting book, with a sad ending but not at all disappointing. The author keeps the characters relatable and the plot twist completely unexpected.

Brooke does everything to maintain a perfect presentation of herself. This includes making sure her looks, behavior, grades, and essentially everything about her is deemed perfect by everyone, especially her parents. Especially after the incident over the summer, that Brooke wishes she would just forget. Brooke plans on creating a brand new life for herself through going to a prestigious college. To celebrate, Brooke and her friends go to a party, where Brooke can finally relax, and maybe everything is all in the past now? Except something Brooke's friend's don't know is that someone is out to get her. Someone who knows what happened the night of the incident. And Brooke will do anything to make sure the truth doesn't come out...
This book was definitely hard top put down and the plot twist was really unexpected. I found Brooke's perspective interesting and part of what made the book so suspenseful. I do wish the ending went into more detail about the events that happened.

Rebecca Sommers has the perfect life; a perfect husband, children, and farm to live on. Well, she has a perfect life according to her Instagram, which Lizzie can't seem to stop scrolling through. This new Rebecca, a stay at home influencer mom who is constantly posting perfect videos, is nothing like the one Lizzie new in college; nothing like the Bex that was once her best friend. Still bitter over their last interaction a decade ago, Lizzie is shocked when Rebecca reaches out and invites her to and influencer event. Agreeing to go, Lizzie has high hopes of reconnecting with her once closest friend. Except shortly after she arrives things go downhill. She soon learns that not everything is as perfect as it seems...
This was a decent book, with the slight plot twist being pretty interesting. The book is told from different perspectives, offering a better understanding of everything that had and does happen.

Winter is here, school's out, and 12-year-old Milo Pine is looking forward to finally relaxing at his home, Greenglass House, which normally serves as an inn (for smugglers) run by his parents. But his plans are disturbed when an unexpected guest arrives at the house, and then another, and suddenly the house is filled with people once again. Among those in the house is a girl whom Milo identifies as the house cook's daughter, Meddy Caraway, a whimsical and bossy girl who drags Milo into playing a game involving Greenglass House and a certain map he'd had found near the inn. But things take a turn when the guests' possessions begin going missing, and the two discover that all of these strange guests bear with them stories that are somehow connected to Greenglass House. Slowly, Milo realizes that perhaps the game they're playing isn't just a game, and there may be more secrets hidden behind their creaky house than he thought - secrets that certain people would do anything to obtain.

This book honestly kind of surprised me. The plot (especially Meddy's game) was confusing for me when I first started reading, and it was a little hard to get into initially. But eventually the suspense began to ramp up, and it left me guessing and reading more to find out what happens next. Milford's writing is genuinely enchanting: the beautiful antique setting of the story, the strange tales of the guests, and the (fictional) historical events surrounding the inn had me really immersed. It was as if I was being transported into a different world entirely, even though this book is set in a modern-day society. I also loved the little puzzles the author put into the book, and despite Milo and Meddy's geniuses at solving them, at the end, they're still children, and it shows in their characterization, keeping some realism. It is also worth mentioning that Milo is adopted; he is ethnically Chinese, and he's had some issues coming to terms with his identity and accepting the aforementioned fact. These issues are well integrated into the plot as Milo sees his inner conflict reflected in the game he plays (and in other circumstances), and watching him develop and accept himself was a wonderful journey. The plot twist at the end was especially shocking, and it is interesting to see how details that were perplexing at the beginning of the book take on a new meaning after the big secret was revealed. Overall, Greenglass House was a lovely read, and it was a novel where I can see the sheer amount of research and work the author put into making the story come to life.

This book is pretty good. As Lucy Carlyle leaves her old job she finds another one in Lockwood and Co. She is a listener that helps fight ghosts. Her job is to listen to the ghost and locate the source. As she joins Lockwood and Co. she doesn’t have to do anything too hard until she discovers a locket and wants to find out what happened to the girl it belonged to. As she dives deeper a shocking truth is unraveled in the most haunted house in Britain, but it might be too late. This book takes you on thrilling ride with lots of action. Although it is a good book, it is not my favorite. It seems to stereotypical and a little repetitive.

This book is an amazing addition to the Naturals series. After their last interaction with a serial killer the naturals were back on cold cases. They had just completed a cold case for the kidnapping of a small child successfully. Though an unexpected turn comes when a new agent comes to the program. She immediately makes it clear that rules were made to be followed, which is hard for some of the kids there. Then she and Agent Briggs get called to a case that strikes too close to home for Dean. Once again the Naturals find themselves working behind the scenes of another active case. As friendships become tighter the reader experiences the thrilling rollercoaster as if they were there. It is an amazing book with twists you never would expect.

The Naturals is a thrilling book that is centered around a girl named Cassandra Hobbes or Cassie who can tell you almost everything about you and your life with just looking at you. She wishes that she will be able to leave her work as a waiter and do something to help. Then a mysterious boy shows up at the diner and leaves a card for the FBI. She figures out that her ability to profile people has landed her a spot in a program that helps catch serial killers that have been dormant. She wishes that she could help on active cases, but when she actually gets dragged into one it hits a little too close to home. As the Naturals work together they try to catch a serial killer while still acting like regular teenagers, flirting, playing games, and getting caught in a love triangle. This book creates a thrilling rollercoaster of emotions and surprises. It is one of the best books I have ever read and it is definitely one of my favorites.

Abby desperately wants a baby. Nothing has worked out; not the treatments and not the potential adoptions. Losing hope and grieving with her husband, Sam, Abby is shocked when a solution finally arises: Monica. Monica is Abby's assistant at work and has offered to be Abby's surrogate. Despite the deep worry Abby feels, she convinces Sam, who doesn't like the idea, that this is the chance to finally have a child. With the conditions set and off to a great start with Monica, Abby is ecstatic about the future of being a mother. Except, when things start going downhill and Monica's behavior begins to raise concerns. As Abby becomes even more suspicious of Monica, she experiences a downhill spiral of events. Abby, with no one to turn to, realizes that Monica may not be such a miracle after all...

Margret "Jet" Mason's motto has always been "there's always later." But everything changes when, on Halloween night, someone breaks into her house and fatally hits her on the back of the head three times. The doctors tell her that, due to the resulting brain aneurism, Jet only has seven more days left to live. Determined to solve her own murder, Jet and her childhood friend, Billy, set out to expose the secrets surrounding that night. With Jet's time running out, they must find the killer before it is too late.

"Not Quite Dead Yet" is one of the best books I have read all year. Holly Jackson blended her signature captivating murder mystery with an almost "The Fault in Our Stars"-style doomed romance, causing me to completely fall in love with this book! Not only were the characters both relatable and loveable, but I was moved to tears by how real all the situations felt. This book is a perfect mix of a thrilling and twisty mystery and heartbreaking love story, perfectly executed with Jackson's amazing writing style. I would recommend "Not Quite Dead Yet" to anyone, regardless of whether or not YA murder mysteries are your go-to genre, as the unique plot makes this book truly one of a kind.

"The Queen's Spade" by Sarah Raughley tells the story of Ina Omoba, better known as Sarah "Sally" Forbes Bonetta, who was Queen Victoria's African goddaughter. After being taken from her homeland in Nigeria and witnessing her friend's murder at the crown's hands, Sally is determined to get her revenge on Queen Victoria and her inner circle. Enlisting the help of her friend, Rui, Sally works behind the scenes to expose secrets and create chaos, ruining the lives of all those who had hurt her. This is a true story based on Sarah Forbes Bonetta's real life in the 1800s, reimagining her life to create a YA romantacy.

When I read the synopsis for this book, I was really excited for its potential. The idea of reimagining such an interesting historical figure's story was really intriguing, and the revenge plot seemed exciting. However, after reading this book, I was sorely disappointed. The plot fell flat, as the storytelling was often confusing and seemed unorganized and even rushed. None of the characters were developed, and it was hard to like any of them. Additionally, the ending was dissatisfying, left a lot of unnecessary loose ends, and was not historically accurate at all, which was heartbreaking and took a lot away from Sarah Forbes Bonetta's story. I was really looking forward to reading this book, but the execution was so poorly done that I could not enjoy it. I would not recommend reading it.

This book has all the makings of a great book--a sweet plot, magic, and of course, candy. The storyline follows Nate, who moves to a new town and joins a club with three other kids: daredevil Summer, steadfast Trevor, and brainy Pigeon. When the new sweet shop shows up in town, they have no idea how good-or dangerous-the candy could be. Mrs. White, the owner, is the sweet old lady who owns the shop, but is that all she is? Can normal people make candy that lets you leap twelve times as high as you could? Soon, she has recruited the four kids. They do special missions in return for magic candy, but something doesn't feel right. Soon, the kids begin to suspect Mrs. White. However, they might be too late, and how can they expect to fight against magic? This book is full of unexpected twists and is an enjoyable read. The combination of candy and magic is too good to resist. Definitely check it out!

I originally only picked this book out because I had read another book by this author, but now I read these books more than the other book! It follows an 11 year old Friday, though in the last book I believe she is 15, who has four siblings and two parents who are theoretical physicists. She has been raising herself almost her whole life, and read all the books in her house, which is a lot. She is a genius, but she is horrible at interactions with other people. She wears an ugly brown cardigan so people notice her less! So, after solving an attempted bank robbery, she decides to spend her cash prize on boarding school. However the boarding school is full of rich and stuck up students who keep getting in trouble. They learn to call on Friday, who solves their problems, like the school's very own Sherlock Holmes. However, there is also a problem with a swamp yeti that she is yet to solve... With the help of her sleepy roommate Melly Pelly, Friday is on her way to becoming the most annoying girl in the school!

"The Tenant" is a chilling thriller that will you leave you questioning if you should ever open your home to strangers...
Things are not going well for Blake. Having just lost his job (and dignity) Blake faces intense stress over how he's going to pay off his house and make a living for him and his fiancé. Felling incredibly grateful to his fiancé, Krista, for still sticking around, he continues to search for ways to make money. When Krista suggest they rent out a room in the house, Blake is hesitant, but not for long when he realizes this might give him the break he needs. Whitney is a perfect candidate to be a tenant and everything goes perfectly at first. That is, until Blake becomes convinced Whitney is becoming vindictive and malicious towards him. With no one believing him, Blake is determined to figure out who Whitney really is and to stop her from tormenting his life. Except what he finds is far from what he expected...
"The Tenant" was a really interesting read and definitely kept me on my toes and needing to know what happens next.

Quinn has done something no one else can know about. Except her actions are sure to be found out, and quickly, so she makes the only decision that could possibly keep her out of trouble: run. Packing her things and leaving her small town as quickly as possible, Quinn hits the road, trying to come to terms with the events leading up to the incident. Driving into a storm, Quinn pulls into a small motel that's empty except for one other guest, who's more of a tenant. During her short stay Quinn begins to question the other guest and the owner of the motel and is soon to learn a dark secret...
"Do Not Disturb" was incredibly intriguing and took a deep dive into the dangers of abusive relationships, with Quinn being a relatable character. Told from three different perspectives, "Do Not Disturb" is definitely worth reading!

"Baby City" was a great slice of life book that offers a unique perspective into the lives of OB/GYN doctors. If you're a fan of Frieda McFadden like I am, this is definitely different than her usual work, but worth the read.
"Baby City" follow Dr. Emily McCoy, who can never seem to catch a break at work. Trying to come to terms with her feelings for her ex-husband, having to teach the new medical student (who can never seem to give Emily a break), work friends, and the new handsome intern, Emily is in a constant state of activity. We watch Emily battle feelings and wonder if doing the right thing is worth risking her status and job…

April is famous for her amazing baking, which she has turned into a YouTube channel. Everyone knows April and from her perspective life is going well and she has no enemies. So why is she getting ominous text messages about things someone could only know if they were watching her? As April attempts to pinpoint who's sending her these disturbing messages, her suspicion of her new neighbor sky rockets. Yet there's more to the story than meets the eye... and the person tormenting April knows her darkest secrets...
"Want To Know A Secret" was a finish it in one day type of intriguing. This book really shows how one person's perspective can be quite convincing but not always reliable. I was a bit perplexed with the plot twist and found it hard to adjust to the rest of the book, but the plot twist definitely changes the story a great deal in an almost creepy way.

Sylvia needs a job; her life isn't going as planned and she desperately wants to get away from her ex who can't seem to let the past be. So when she meets incredibly handsome and charming Adam Barnett who offers her a job taking care of his wife, Victoria, who was in a tragic accident, she says yes. Of course that means overlooking the fact the Barnetts live hours outside of NYC and ignoring her ever growing attraction to Adam. Sylvia begins to feel a bond with Victoria, who cannot walk or speak full sentences any more since her tragic accident. However, Sylvia also begins to notice how desperately Victoria is trying to tell her things, which is when she finds Victoria's diary containing her life since she met Adam. As Sylvia continues to read the diary, take care of Victoria, and grow even closer to Adam, she can no longer distinguish between lies and truth.
"The Wife Upstairs" began as an intriguing story with a lot of potential and was overall a decent read. However I wasn't a fan of how the book ended and the predictability of the ending. It was hard to connect with Sylvia who goes back and forth between what she thinks is the truth and is indecisive the entire book.

Life has been rocky for Tegan ever since the night she got pregnant. Alone, close to her due date, and desperately wanting a better life for her baby, Tegan has a plan to make sure this happens. When that plan goes south, Tegan decides to take a road trip to stay with her brother for the extra support. On her way there a snow storm hits and Tegan's car runs off the road, ending in a broken ankle and totaled car. Panic lessens when Tegan notices a man coming her way and helps her out of the car, taking her back to his house. There is something about this man that unsettles Tegan, but she's glad he has a wife who happens to be a nurse. The first night seemed to go so well, with Tegan being cared for by the wife. Yet, when she's told the next day it's impossible to leave Tegan begins noticing things that make her suspicious of this couple's true motive...
"The Crash" was a great book about a young women simply trying to navigate motherhood. The plot twists of this book were intriguing and kept you rooting for Tegan the whole time. The book also does a great job at showing the complexities of grief, and the things it will drive people to do.

Imagine growing up in a haunted house your family fled after barely living there for three weeks... or, at least, that's what Maggie Holt's father claimed in his book that made his family famous. Except Maggie doesn't believe one word of the book even more so due to the fact her parents never spoke about the events that happened there. Hoping Baneberry Hall is something of her past, Maggie is more than shocked to hear she has inherited it since her father's passing. With big plans to renovate and sell for a big sum, Maggie makes her way back to her short-lived childhood home. Yet the longer she stays the more odd occurrences that happen, making her question the reality of events described by her father. As the truth begins to unravel, Maggie realizes that what happened in Baneberry Hall is much more complicated than her father's famous book lets on...
"Home Before Dark" was a good read that definitely had a surprising ending. I do wish the ending had been more climactic but overall the plot is engaging.

When Nora was a young girl she learned the most sinister secret of her family; her father was murdering young women in their basement. Nora successfully kept this information about her past concealed for nearly three decades and she plans on keeping it that way. Now a surgeon, Nora keeps to herself and work, which she’s extremely talented at. Then something horrible happens; one of her patients is murdered with her father’s MO. Shocked by the news and even more shocked by the fact she’s the prime suspect due, Nora begins to feel her world falling apart. As pieces begin putting themselves together, Nora learns yet another family secret...
"The Locked Door" was enthralling and definitely had a twist at the end. The book instantly makes you think you know who is committing the crimes then takes a whole different path. I appreciated this set up and the narrative of Nora, who’s a likeable character trying to move on from her past. I do wish the book dwelled more on why her father committed the crimes, but overall it’s a book I would recommend.

"When She Returned" follows a family who just received shocking news: Kate, wife and mother who disappeared over a decade ago, is back. Kate’s husband (who has since remarried) and daughter are ecstatic about her return, horrified to hear a cult was responsible for her disappearance. Trying to reconnect as a family is more difficult than not, as Kate is no longer the same woman she once was. Yet there is something more to Kate’s behavior than just fear, something suspicious that only one person in the household is catching onto, the new wife of Kate’s husband, who he and his daughter don’t want to believe. As tension rises secrets are exposed and the meaning of family is questioned.
Overall "When She Returned" was a decent book that kept you wondering what happened for the first half. Unfortunately the book becomes predictable and what was meant to be the plot twist wasn’t much of a twist.

"Sharp Objects" is a riveting story about uncovering the dark secrets of a dysfunctional family.
Camille is a struggling journalist trying to forget her dark childhood with one thing she hopes to never do again; return to her hometown. Yet when murders of young girls begin happening in her hometown, she must go back to create a story that will help her career. Upon her arrival she comes face to face with her mother and their rocky relationship. She also meets her much younger sister, who's behavior is far out of the ordinary for a young girl. As Camille tries to begin her story, she struggles with herself and the memories she must face. Soon Camille begins piecing together parts of her past and the current events, leading her to a shocking discovery.
"Sharp Objects" was a deeply engaging book that kept me on the edge of my seat! Each chapter brings you closer to what Camille thinks has happened, but the end reveals something much more shocking. This is a book I would put on my read again list!