Some books seem to defy categorization and expectation entirely—Louise Beech’s MARIA IN THE MOON is that kind of read. Releasing from Orenda Books on September 30th, this enchanting and brooding story managed to captivate me, unsettle me, and keep me fully immersed from the first page to the last. I’m delighted to participate in the blog tour for this stunning novel today! Whatever your expectation for this story might be, MARIA IN THE MOON is likely to surprise you; this book is neither crime fiction nor literary fiction, it’s neither terribly dark nor is it wholly uplifting. What it is is honest: Beech’s writing feels raw, as though the reader is privy to the author’s innermost self, laid bare on the page. MARIA IN THE MOON is a beautifully-constructed and wholly transporting novel, one that draws readers into a young woman’s search for her own memories—a search which reveals truths she has long since hidden from herself.
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Book Review: HIDE AND SEEK by M.J. Arlidge (Helen Grace #6)
The wait is nearly over: one of crime fiction's most compelling, complicated detectives DI Helen Grace returns this October in HIDE AND SEEK by MJ Arlidge (Berkley; on sale 10/10/17) – and she's back in a big way. Arlidge's gripping crime series has been a favorite of mine ever since I first dove into Book 1 (EENY MEENY) nearly two years ago. Somehow, Arlidge manages to just get better and better; with each new series installment, Arlidge ups the ante, delivering more insight into Helen's complicated character and higher stakes for the crimes she must solve. True to form, Arlidge has outdone himself yet again with HIDE AND SEEK: this superb thriller reads like a cross between a locked room mystery and an episode of Criminal Minds, serving up one of my favorite reads of the series so far.
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Blog Tour | Book Review: HOUSE OF SPINES by Michael J. Malone
When was the last time you read a book that you genuinely could not put down? Michael J. Malone's forthcoming HOUSE OF SPINES was exactly that kind of read for me. From the first page to the last, this bone-chilling blend of psychological suspense and gothic ghost story seemed to possess me; I read it in less than 24 hours, unable to leave Malone's world of love, lust, and betrayal for too long. HOUSE OF SPINES is a genre all its own—it's a seamless blend of psychological suspense, ghost story, ode to the power of the written word, and immersion in the mind of a man who's losing himself to his family history. In short, it's a must-read.
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Book Review: THE GRIP OF IT by Jac Jemc
It's very rare for me to read a horror novel, but when I first heard of Jac Jemc's THE GRIP OF IT, I knew this was a horror read I had to try for myself. THE GRIP OF IT is an excellent choice for hesitant horror readers—this is not your typical horror read: there are no blood and guts, and very few moments of in-your-face shock. Rather, THE GRIP OF IT is a literary blend of horror tropes with domestic suspense - a smart and subtle examination of the secrets and tensions that can haunt an ordinary couple. While THE GRIP OF IT won't work for horror readers looking for their next twisted and bloody read, it's a worthy addition to the library of any reader interested in literary fiction with a chilling twist.
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Book Review: BEST DAY EVER by Kaira Rouda
There's nothing more disappointing as a reader than picking up a book you're excited about, and strongly disliking the read. Unfortunately, my experience with BEST DAY EVER was not one I'd wish to repeat. What seemed intended to deliver a twisty domestic thriller with an unreliable narrator turned out to be dissatisfying at best, and at worst a simplistic and forced attempt at the psychological complexity a crime novel can offer. Newcomers to crime fiction might be, through no fault of their own, convinced that this kind of read is exemplary of the genre; I would welcome the opportunity to steer them in another direction. Crime fiction can offer readers true insight into human nature and the capacity for evil we all carry within us—BEST DAY EVER attempts, and fails, to achieve this.
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