TH1RT3EN by Steve Cavanagh

(Book 4 of the Eddy Flynn series)

323 pages

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

Summary (Goodreads):

The serial killer isn't on trial.
He's on the jury...
They were Hollywood's hottest power couple. They had the world at their feet. Now one of them is dead and Hollywood star Robert Solomon is charged with the brutal murder of his beautiful wife.
This is the celebrity murder trial of the century and the defence want one man on their team: con artist turned lawyer Eddie Flynn.
All the evidence points to Robert's guilt, but as the trial begins a series of sinister incidents in the court room start to raise doubts in Eddie's mind.
What if there's more than one actor in the courtroom?
What if the killer isn't on trial? What if the killer is on the jury?

My thoughts: This book was really hard to put down. I was entertained and captivated the entire time. There are so many twists and turns; it was an incredible read. I'm glad I didn't put it down after reading the first chapter of the serial killer. It was worth it!

This is part of a series - the books can be read out of order. This was my first one. I will keep reading books from this series.

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

371 pages

⭐⭐⭐⭐.5/5

Synopsis (from Goodreads)

The unforgettable, heartbreaking story of the unlikely friendship between a wealthy boy and the son of his father's servant, The Kite Runner is a beautifully crafted novel set in a country that is in the process of being destroyed. It is about the power of reading, the price of betrayal, and the possibility of redemption; and an exploration of the power of fathers over sons—their love, their sacrifices, their lies.

The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides

357 pages

⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

Summary (Missouri Evergreen):

Alicia Berenson's life is seemingly perfect. Until one night, when her husband, Gabriel, returns home late from work. Alicia shoots him five times in the face and then never speaks another word. Alicia's refusal to talk, or give any kind of explanation, turns a domestic tragedy into a mystery that captures the public imagination. And she, the silent patient, is hidden away from the tabloids at the Grove, a secure psychiatric unit in North London. Criminal psychotherapist Theo Faber is captivated by Alicia's story and jumps at the opportunity to work with her. His determination to get her to talk and unravel the mystery of why she shot her husband will take him down a path more unexpected and more terrifying than he ever imagined.

My thoughts: Really enjoyed my reading sessions with this one. I didn't like the ending - but it gave me plenty to think about. My friend now has it on her list to read, too, so we can discuss it.  

What Are Taylor Swift's Eras? by Niki Catherine

What Are Taylor Swift's Eras? by Niki Catherine - 107 pages

I listened to the audiobook of this.  It was interesting how the author broke down the eras into styles of music, symbols, and colors.  I thought it interesting that seemed to focus more on music that wasn't necessarily played on the radio as I didn't recognize a lot of the song titles.  This would definitely be a book for a Swiftie fan.

For Your Own Good by Samantha Downing

 

For Your Own Good by Samantha Downing - 373 pages

Teddy Crutcher has won Teacher of the Year at the esteemed Belmont Academy, home to the best and brightest.

He says his wife couldn't be more proud—though no one has seen her in a while.

Teddy really can’t be bothered with the death of a school parent that’s looking more and more like murder or the student digging a little too deep into Teddy’s personal life. His main focus is on pushing these kids to their full academic potential.

All he wants is for his colleagues—and the endlessly meddlesome parents—to stay out of his way.

It's really too bad that sometimes excellence can come at such a high cost

Wow, Teddy really takes it upon himself to "help" people.  I like how self-righteous the author makes him and the different POV of the characters throughout the chapters.  I really enjoyed this one and liked the ending....it leaves a bit to the imagination.

Hot Hex Boyfriend by Carly Bloom

Hot Hex Boyfriend by Carly Bloom -- 368 pages

Delia Merriweather does not believe in magic. But she does believe in family, and her family happens to identify as witches. Their lack of magic doesn’t dampen this heartfelt belief, because according to lore and legend, they’re hexed. Convenient? Yes. True? Probably not.

Thanks to a weird birthmark, the eccentric circle of Merriweather women believe that Delia is their blue witch. In other words, she’s supposedly the person capable of restoring magic to the Coven Merriweather. However, A) magic isn’t real and B) the spell is truly horrific and illegal in all fifty states. Who’s going to boil a baby, for crying out loud? So, they’re all completely blown away when Delia accidentally breaks the hex (sans baby-boiling obviously). Chaos and mayhem ensue, drawing the attention of the invisible witching world. And that includes the sexy, brooding, and excessively irritable Max Halifax who has recently moved in next door to settle his uncle’s estate.

Just when Max thinks he’s done with his endless tour of duty—keeping an eye on the bumbling Merriweather women—he discovers Delia Merriweather has somehow broken the hex placed by his great-great grandfather. He worries that beneath the Merriweathers’ seemingly harmless antics, lies the very real possibility that this gaggle of clueless witches will somehow stumble into their power and, like their ancestors, threaten to rule the witching world by controlling the hearts of men. Maybe it’s even starting already. Because Max’s heart beats erratically whenever Delia Merriweather is around.

William by Mason Coile

 

William by Mason Coile - 220 pages

Henry is a brilliant engineer who, after untold hours spent in his home lab, has achieved the breakthrough of his career—he’s created an artificially intelligent consciousness. He calls the half-formed robot William.

No one knows about William. Henry’s agoraphobia keeps him inside the house, and his fixation on his project keeps him up in the attic, away from everyone, including his pregnant wife, Lily.

When Lily’s coworkers show up, wanting to finally meet Henry and see the new house—the smartest of smart homes—Henry decides to introduce them to William, and things go from strange to much worse. Soon Henry and Lily discover the security upgrades intended to keep danger out of the house are even better at locking it in.

I wasn't too sure about this one at first but it ended up being pretty good.  And the reveal at the end...mind blown (although I should've seen it coming).  Kind of creepy to think about with AI being so prevalent.