Book Reviews by Genre: Mystery

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!

"A Simple Favor" is a twisty novel that has some disturbing aspects... and not in the greatest of ways. It follows Stephanie and the disappearance of her best friend Emily. Stephanie attempts to solve the mystery of Emily's disappearance all while taking Emily's place which she believes her best friend would have wanted. Little does Stephanie know there's so much more to Emily's disappearance than meets the eye. As Stephanie begins to put broken pieces together, paranoia rises from both her and Emily's husband.

"A Simple Favor" had a lot of potential as a thriller novel but there were some aspects that were just too out there. Stephanie wasn't a very likeable character and her perspective of everything was twisted in a way that was just frustrating rather than suspenseful. The story also put a lot of emphasis on things that didn't seem all that relevant to the plot, and were just there to further enhance each character's odd personalities. Emily was by far my favorite character, but I wouldn't read this book again.

"The Perfect Son" is a book that is bound to keep readers on their toes, and ultimately leave them questioning everything that happened.
Told from two perspectives, "The Perfect Son" follows a mother (Erika) and her family of two children and husband. She undeniably adores her son (Liam) in particular who has few flaws. Yet, there is something about Liam that worries and even frightens Erica. This worry only increases when Liam's classmate goes missing, especially after Erica learns Liam was the last to see her and his avoidant behavior about the topic. Desperate to learn what really happened and protect her family from the growing criticism of the town, Erica keeps her son under close watch and becomes increasingly suspicious. Could her son really have done this?
This book was impossible to put down! With relatable characters and a storyline that makes you believe you know what happened (except you really don't!), Freida McFadden offers an eerie story about deciding if protecting your child is worth the risk.

"The ABC Murders" follows Hercule Poirot as he is contacted by a new killer, forcing him to crack yet another seemingly-unsolvable case. When Alice Asher is found dead in Andover with an ABC Railway Guide next to her body, Poirot knows this is the start of a gruesome series of serial murders. Working desperately against the clock with Arthur Hastings and Inspector Japp to solve the clues presented to him, Poirot must stop the killer, "A.B.C.", before they can complete their gruesome series of killings. With twist after twist, this murder mystery will be impossible for you to put down!

I absolutely love Agatha Christie and all her books. In "The ABC Murders" in particular, she manages to craft another perfectly thrilling tale that leaves you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end. This book has the perfect balance of terrifying suspense and familiar banter between Poirot and Hastings. Christie always finds a way to elegantly set up the reader's expectations in order to utterly shock them with another amazing ending, and "The ABC Murders" is no exception! I highly recommend this book for anyone who is starting to get into Christie's work, especially if they enjoy reading Poirot's books, as this is definitely one of her best.

Emma Paxton has never had a family. So when her long-lost identical twin, Sutton Mercer, messages her and asks to meet in Arizona, she is overjoyed. However, things are not as they seem. Emma soon discovers that Sutton was murdered - and she must take Sutton's place in her twin's lavish (albeit complicated) life. With Sutton's murderer watching her every move, Emma must work to find the killer and avenge her sister, diving deeper into her twin's dark past and her twisted involvement in The Lying Game, uncovering secret after secret.

I really liked reading Shepard's more famous series, "Pretty Little Liars," so I picked up "The Lying Game" in the hopes that it would be the same page-turning mystery filled with high school drama. However, although some plot points and revelations were interesting, I was largely disappointed by this book. It is told in first perspective by Sutton from beyond the grave, following Emma's current activities in third person, and the idea of Sutton telling the story (although essential, as it gave context clues that Emma had not figured out yet) was a little awkward. Honestly, the whole book felt a little unbelievable and the characters were all stereotypical and flat, making it hard for me to enjoy. If you are looking for a Shepard's style of YA mystery, I would recommend reading "Pretty Little Liars" or "The Perfectionists" instead.

"Listen for the Lie" by Amy Tintera follows Lucy Chase as she returns to Texas five years after she was found in the woods, covered in her best friend, Savvy's, blood. Claiming to have no memory of the murder, Lucy is suspect number one - and now a podcast is being made by Ben Owens, following the case. With Lucy back at the scene of the crime, she has no choice but to face her past, even if it means suspecting everyone around her. As secret after secret is revealed, Lucy realizes that she can trust no one, as her memory of that night is the only thing that can clear her name and reveal the killer.

"Listen for the Lie" is an absolutely captivating book. Each chapter reveals another secret, and each plot twist makes the book impossible to put down. With alternating perspectives between Lucy's perspective and the episodes of the podcast, this tale weaves an intriguing story that leaves you guessing from beginning to end. Tintera does a great job with making Lucy's amnesia believable (even though her delusions about killing those around her and hallucinations can feel awkward at times), while also shifting the reader's perception of her as more clues are revealed. "Listen for the Lie" is a great mystery full of hilarious moments, captivating romance, and a gut-wrenching ending.

"Reputation" follows the students and faculty members of Aldrich University, who will do anything to protect their reputations - even if it means committing murder. After the most prestigious universities in the United States suffer a serious hack, exposing juicy secrets and scandalous cover-ups, everyone is panicking with the sudden influx of exposed lies and deception. Soon after, Kit Manning-Strauser's husband is mysteriously murdered, suddenly, everyone is a suspect. Willa, her sister, begins to investigate, and as lie after lie is uncovered, no one in Aldrich is safe. How far will the murderer go to protect their reputation?

I read a lot of Sara Shepard's books, and I really love the plot lines she comes up with and her writing style. However, I was honestly a little disappointed with this book. Compared to her other books, which largely center around high school girls, it was evident that Shepard was trying for a more "mature" theme and that really fell flat and didn't add to the story. The plot twists just weren't as exciting as in her other works, and it was hard to follow each character, because there were so many different, unrelated, viewpoints. Although some aspects of the conclusion were interesting, "Reputation" was altogether not that exciting. Overall, I wouldn't recommend this Sara Shepard book to anyone looking for her style of murder mystery, and I would stick to series like "Pretty Little Liars" and "The Perfectionists."

"Holly" by Stephen King follows Holly Gibney, a middle-aged woman employed at a detective agency. In the midst of the COVID 19 pandemic, a young woman goes missing, and in the wake of her mother's death, Holly is desperate to help. However, when one disappearance leads to another, Holly finds herself in over her head. With alternating perspectives between Holly, others in the detective agency, and even the killer themselves, suspense runs high as the culprit turns their attention to Holly herself to silence her once and for all.

I really love reading mystery books (especially ones about serial killers) and this book really was perfect to me. I haven't read any other of King's books, but this one was a great place to start, as his writing style, organization, and plot points were spot-on. Additionally, the fact that this book is set during the coronavirus pandemic makes it relatable for readers, drawing them in and adding a lot to the story. Overall, the intriguing concepts, haunting ending, and intricate clues linger with the reader long after the book has been finished. Although it may seem like a difficult read (the book is over 400 pages), "Holly" is absolutely worth it, and each page-turning chapter makes it nearly impossible to put the book down.

"A Good Girl's Guide To Murder" by Holly Jackson introduces lovable and realistically flawed characters Pippa Fitz-Amobi and Ravi Singh as they work to not only complete Pip's senior capstone project, but also to solve the murder of Andie Bell. Every character in this novel has complex thoughts, feelings, and motives that weave together to create a shocking, multi-layered mystery and page-turning plot. Presented in an engaging mixture of transcribed interviews, project notes, and Pip's own perspective, you will not be disappointed by picking up this book!

After reading and adoring many of Karen M. McManus's novels, I found myself looking for a similar read, and after stumbling across Jackson's work, I was hooked! Not only is "A Good Girl's Guide To Murder" perfect for those seeking a good mystery, but "Good Girl, Bad Blood" and "As Good As Dead" (the other books in this amazing three-part series), tie in beautifully to the already-compelling world Jackson has created, leaving the reader stunned with every plot twist. Jackson presents a story - and series - where the characters, clues, relationships, and resolutions feel anything but forced, and each new twist leaves the reader wanting more of not only Ravi and Pip's adorable relationship, but also more of the mysteries in Fairview which seem to never stop unraveling!

"Curtain - Poirot's Last Case" by Agatha Christie is another one of this author's must-reads. The reader is hooked from the start of the story as Hercule Poirot and his friend, Arthur Hastings, travel back to the location of their first case to face their most formidable enemy yet. Not only does this story incorporate Christie's signature touch, filling the reader with suspense and leaving them wanting more, but it also plays into the reader's emotional connections with the characters they have read so much about.

I have been obsessed with Agatha Christie and her timeless mysteries for a while now, and have fallen in love with Poirot, Hastings, and many more of her amazing characters. I recommend reading Curtain after enjoying some of Christie's other Poirot mysteries (especially Poirot's first case, "The Mysterious Affair At Styles"), as I had fallen in love with the character so much that the ending left me in tears. Each of her mysteries is both distinctive and flawless, each plot point perfectly executed.

Bad Blood is the fourth and final book in the Naturals series. The story follows Cassie Hobbes and her journey as a part of the FBI’s Naturals Program; an elite team of teenagers with unique abilities to help the FBI profile and solve cold cases. From the day Cassie joined the Naturals program she was always set out to solve her own mother's cold case. In Bad Blood Cassie and the team are even closer to solving the mystery of her mother’s cold case than they even know. Cassie and the team end up investigating in the town of Gaither, Oklahoma. The town is small, and brings back a flood of memories for Cassie, as she lived there with her mother as a child. Not only do these memories bring back crucial information for Cassie’s mom’s case but also ultimately help the FBI find the cult-like group who has been killing people for generations.
The book was a wonderful way to finish off this series. The book was full of plot-twists, mystery, great imagery, and intriguing details. The entire series never disappointed and especially this final book. The book had many surprising moments and adapted on mysteries and details in the other books. Something I really enjoyed is how Barnes had plot-twists relating to things in the other three books. I thought that played a nice role in ending the series but also kept me interested and surprised. The themes of friendship and the team dynamic that also play a role in this book make all the difference. Even in moments of great turmoil, when two of the characters had a disagreement, whatever it was, in the end the characters all come together and care for one another which is something I loved about the book. Another great part of this book is it touches more on their complex backstories of some of the characters like Micheal and Lia and introduces mysterious new characters like Mason Kyle or Holland Darby. Sometimes the details in the plot-twists can get confusing, but overall, an easy and fun book to read. If you are a person who loves thrilling mysteries, plot-twists, and a team dynamic the Naturals series is for you!

The Winter Soldier: Cold Front is a YA novel that focuses on Bucky Barnes' life before and after WW2. What I like most about this book is that it goes back to the comic book origins of the winter soldier. One thing I disliked about the book is how he and Steve Rogers met. This is an intriguing story that combines Bucky's past and his future. My review grade on The Winter Soldier: Cold Front is a solid 7.

Avery Grambs is used to barely scraping by: with her mom dead, her dad nowhere to be found, and her half-sister's abusive boyfriend moving into their small apartment, Avery spends her days living inside her car and can only dream of a stable and financially secure future. That is - until she gets summoned to the will-reading of the late businessman Tobias Hawthorne (who also happens to be filthy rich)...and finds out that he left her almost all of his assets under a certain condition: she must live in the enormous Hawthorne estate for at least a year to inherit.

For her, it should be a perfect turn of luck: she'll never have to be worried about money ever again, right? But Avery is just as confused as the family. She's never met Tobias Hawthorne and has no familial connections with him that she knows of. Furthermore, the Hawthorne family are obviously not very pleased with a complete stranger inheriting what should have been rightfully theirs: Tobias' daughters firmly believe Avery is a con woman, and their hypercompetitive sons - Grayson, Jameson, Xander, and Nash - see her as an obstacle, a puzzle to solve. But as cryptic messages behind Tobias' will reveal themselves, Avery finds out that her inheritance is indeed part of a game, engineered by the puzzle-obsessed businessman, and she becomes entangled into the Hawthornes' complex family drama as she discovers secret passageways and compartments, as well as the secrets kept by the Hawthorne boys, unraveling truths of stories better left untold that could destroy the family - and Avery herself.

I will be honest, this novel felt extremely messy, and I had a very hard time describing the plot to other people asking about the book who haven't read it already. However, The Inheritance Games does have its merits. Barnes does a good job at giving her book emotional output: there were moments in the story where I genuinely felt pity for what some of the characters have gone through, and I feel especially sorry for the two prospective love interests, Jameson and Grayson. The intricate family drama was a bit excessive and made the novel feel like an on-paper-rendition of a soap opera, but it was intriguing, and I felt engrossed in it (although I really hope they find a way to resolve it somehow). The storyline itself, although it had its golden moments, moved along way too slowly for me and never seemed to get anywhere: the book spans 91 chapters, and by chapter 60, I was wondering when it would end - or if it would ever end, for that matter. The ending as well was incredibly unsatisfying: most of the questions posed about Avery's inheritance at the beginning of the book were either not answered at all or very vaguely addressed, and the cliffhanger only infuriated me more. I do understand that this book is the first in a series, which would explain the cliffhanger, but I felt so tired out from the plot that I considered not reading the rest of the books. There were also not as many puzzles as the plot promised, which disappointed me, and the story was mainly focused on the family drama as well as Avery's strange relationship with Grayson and Jameson (which isn't a completely bad thing, but I started this book thinking there would be more puzzles, and the few that were in the plot were only okay, not brilliant).

As for the characters, I honestly found Avery to be a slightly dislikeable main character: she was as much of a mess as the Hawthorne brothers were, and at times she was honestly kind of stupid. I did enjoy Xander and Nash. Xander was such a funny, lively character, and his obsession with robots and mechanics made him even more endearing. And Nash, unlike most of his family, was actually level-headed and calm, and I respected him for his demeanor, even though his role was also supposed to be controversial, as well as Xander's. Overall, the book was an entertaining read, and there were parts of it that I did love, but it did feel melodramatic and stretched out. I don't think I'll read the rest of the series, but this book was by no means a completely unpleasant experience.

If you are a fan of Janet Evanovich/Stephanie Plum, you will love Finlay Donovan! Finlay is a freshly divorced single mother of two and a struggling novelist. Somehow she gets mistaken for a contract killer and "accepts" a job to get rid of a problem husband. This is when the craziness ensues! There is a fun cast of characters - the ex-husband, the mysterious nanny, and a sexy cop! A fun, fast read!

Ten strangers, all holding secrets are invited to an island together. No one knows the man that invited them and soon they will all reveal that they are trapped there. They will have to find creative approaches to make sense of what will happen on that island before all of them are gone. And Then There Were None by world-renowned author Agatha Christie is another great murder mystery. Throughout the entire book you will be thinking of who the murderer is, and every twist and turn will put you on the edge of your seat. This is an amazing book and murder mystery lovers would really enjoy this book.

I really liked the concept behind this book—it felt unique and pulled me into a genre I don’t usually read. The story follows 17-year-old Cassie Hobbes, who gets recruited into a special FBI program made up of gifted teens, each with their own talents that help solve crimes.
I thought this was a good strong introduction to the series and the characters. I really liked the team dynamic and how each character brought something different to the table. Their interactions were interesting to read and made reading more enjoyable.
That said, there were moments when the writing felt a little dramatic and some plot points came together too neatly, like everything just worked out a little too perfectly. It made certain scenes feel less believable, even though the overall story was still really engaging.
I did however enjoy the twists. Even when I had some suspicions, I was still surprised, and those moments definitely added to the excitement. I'm curious to see how the story and characters develop in the next books.

After the last investigation Pip is haunted by what events that transpired. She can't seem to escape the last investigation and with the death threats becoming more severe, she is left to solve this case. Pip thinks that this case will solve her, but this time the stakes are higher, and if she doesn't find out who this is she will disappear.

I think this book was truly amazing, Holly Jackson did a fantastic job explaining the effects of the last book (Good Girl, Bad Blood). The ending was dark and twisted. This is a great book for mystery lovers.

When smoke emerges from the house of the wealthy Samuel W. Westing and he is found dead, his sixteen heirs are invited to the reading of his will. Soon they will find themselves involved in a game to win his fortune, divided into pairs they must use nonsensical clues to win the game. No one is able to trust any of the other heirs, so when a huge snowstorm traps some of them together tensions are high. With unexpected twists in every corner of the book Ellen Raskin’s The Westing Game is a must read for any mystery lover. Every character is crafted brilliantly, with unique backstories and great character development. This book keeps you on your toes the whole time, with great vocabulary and a unique plot it is a one-of-a-kind masterpiece. The Westing Game is a perfect mystery novel for people of many ages and keeps you wanting more.

Although I usually do not like historical fiction novels, this book managed to surpass my expectations and become one of my favorites. The Blackthorn Key follows the story of Christopher Rowe, the apprentice of the renowned apothecary Benedict Blackthorn, and takes place in 17th century England. In the beginning, Christopher lives content, creating medical remedies and cracking codes with his kind master, although he sets off a couple of explosions along the way. But a string of apothecary murders begins to work its way through England and hits closer and closer to Christopher's home, with rumors of the killings being tied to the mysterious Cult of the Archangel. When the murderers eventually kill Benedict, Christopher discovers a cryptic note left by his master right before his death and finds himself hunted by the killers, and as he deciphers Benedict's last message, he uncovers the secrets to a powerful weapon that has the potential to destroy the world.

This novel is thrilling and fast paced, and although its plot is dark in nature, Sands brilliantly incorporates some laugh-out-loud humor into the book. I loved Christopher's personality; he is easygoing and playful, but also incredibly clever and serious when he needs to be. The little nods to the historical aspect of the novel were very enjoyable, especially if you do know what was happening in England during the time period this novel is set in. The plot is filled with twists and turns that keep you guessing what happens next, and the ultimate reveal of the mastermind behind the killings serves as a stunning climax to the novel. As this book is the first in a series, I will surely read the rest of the novels and keep an eye out for Sands' other works. I recommend this book to anyone interested in historical fiction, fantasy, mystery novels, and puzzles.

“The Clue is in the Pudding” by Kate Kingsbury is a delightful read for those who enjoy a delicious mix of bone-chilling mystery and delightful drama. In it, Cicily Baxter, owner of the Pennyfoot Hotel, is hoping to have a very merry Christmas this year. She is planning on entertaining her guests at her annual Christmas party in order to draw in business. Alas, not everything is going as planned. Her head maid has gone to visit family, and the replacement is the most opinionated, fussy, and unfriendly person she has ever met. She causes all sorts of trouble with the rest of her staff. When things seem unable to get any worse, a guest dies mysteriously in his room, and the new maid is chief suspect. However, things are not exactly what they seem, and motives begin popping up left and right amongst the guests. Can Cicily sniff out the murderer before Christmas arrives? As part of the Pennyfoot Hotel series, it may require some thinking from the reader to fill in the holes of the characters’ backgrounds if they have not read any of the other books. The plot is somewhat long, but it is worth it once the end comes! For readers who like romance, suspense, and drama all in one, this book is sure to be a real treat!

I have heard mixed reviews about this book so I kept a neutral expectation for it. This book completely broke my standards. The magic, lore, and world in the this book is so unique, creative and perfectly easy to understand and be captivated by. There were some points where I was slightly bored but I’m ever so glad I stuck through because when it did get dramatic, oh did it get dramatic. This book is perfect for those who like an equal mix of fantasy and romance and a small portion of action, of course.
The female main character is totally relatable especially for those who can relate to the role of the cautious yet extremely caring older sibling. Scarlett risks everything for her sister and she has such a big heart. Scarlett’s decisions will have you on the edge of your seat, because in this book it’s hard to forget that everything is just an act.
Speaking out for the hopeless romantics, the two main male characters, Dante and Julian, are everything! I swear I blushed a couple times because of them. The story wouldn’t be nearly the same without them.
This book will forever be engraved in my memory. You will never forget the feeling of the magical world inside Caraval and Isla de los Suenos. Even though it wasn’t 5 stars, this will definitely be in my top books of the year.
I didn’t quite understand the intensity of this repeated quote but always keep in mind, “remember it’s only a game”.

Reviewer Grade: 9

"One of Us Is Lying" by Karen M. McManus is an addictive blend of suspense, secrets, and teenage drama. McManus crafts a gripping narrative filled with twists and turns that kept me hooked from start to finish. The characters are multi-dimensional, each with their own motivations and secrets, making it impossible to trust anyone completely. The story unfolds through multiple perspectives, allowing for a deeper exploration of each character's psyche and adding layers of complexity to the mystery. McManus's writing is sharp and atmospheric, creating a palpable sense of tension that lingers throughout the novel. As the plot unravels, the stakes escalate, leading to a thrilling conclusion that will leave readers on the edge of their seats. "One of Us Is Lying" is a must-read for fans of suspenseful thrillers with a compelling cast of characters.

"The Inheritance Games" by Jennifer Lynn Barnes is a captivating rollercoaster of mystery and intrigue. Barnes masterfully weaves together a tangled web of secrets, puzzles, and unexpected twists that kept me guessing until the very end. The protagonist, Avery Kylie Grambs, is a complex character whose journey from obscurity to inheriting a billionaire's fortune is both thrilling and thought-provoking. The dynamic between Avery and the Hawthorne family is filled with tension and suspicion, adding layers of depth to the plot. Barnes's writing style is engaging, with vivid descriptions and sharp dialogue that bring the story to life. The pacing is brisk, ensuring that there's never a dull moment as Avery navigates the treacherous waters of the Hawthorne estate. Overall, "The Inheritance Games" is a gripping read that will leave you eagerly anticipating the next installment in this thrilling series.

Agatha Christie is an author you can rarely go wrong with, and Hallowe'en Party is no exception. The book is another Hercule Poirot mystery. In this one, his friend Ariadne Oliver attends a Halloween party where a girl named Joyce claims that she once saw a murder. Later in the night the girl is found drowned in the barrel of apples.

The characters are fairly standard, though they're fairly entertaining. The dynamic between Mrs. Oliver and Poirot is particularly charming. The dead characters and the eventual murderer are also given some degree of depth. Other than that, the characters are serviceable but shallow.

The plot mostly consists of Poirot speaking to the various suspects and witnesses. It drags a bit at points, but quickly picks up. The twists are all well built up, and nothing feels like it comes out of nowhere. All the pieces fall together in a satisfying way.

This book is also sold as "A Haunting in Venice". This is because the new Hercule Poirot movie is loosely based on this story. However, the key word is loosely. So, if you watched the movie first, be aware that these two stories have almost nothing in common (aside from the main character).

I would recommend this book to fans of Agatha Christie and mystery fans in general.