Everyone Here is Lying by Shari Lapena

 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Everyone Here is Lying by Shari Lapena - 336

William Wooler is a family man, on the surface. But he's been having an affair, an affair that ended horribly this afternoon at a motel up the road. So when he returns to his house, devastated and angry, to find his difficult nine-year-old daughter, Avery, unexpectedly home from school, William loses his temper.

Hours later, Avery's family declares her missing.

Suddenly Stanhope doesn't feel so safe. And William isn't the only one on his street who's hiding a lie. As witnesses come forward with information that may or may not be true, Avery's neighbors become increasingly unhinged.

Who took Avery Wooler?

Nothing will prepare you for the truth.

The title says it all.  I really enjoyed how this book was laid out, from different characters' view points.  It flows well.  I really like the plot of this book; I'm sure other books are about a child going missing but when that child is difficult and manipulative it adds a nice twist.  What happened to her?  That's the question you just keep asking and cannot figure out until it is revealed.  The answer is stunning and what happens after is brilliant.  

We Now Return to Regular Life by Martin Wilson

We Now Return to Regular Life by Martin Wilson - 379 pages

Sam Walsh disappeared three years ago.  Then he's found.  Now he's home.
This book, told by Sam's sister Beth and Sam's friend Josh, who was the last person to see Sam, tells of the first few months after Sam is found and returned home.  While it does reveal some of what Sam is going through now that he's back home, it really is more the story of how his return affects Beth and Josh.

Possession in Death by J.D. Robb

Possession in Death by J.D. Robb - 120 pages

Eve Dallas is thrown for a loop when she comes across a dying woman who asks her to find her missing granddaughter.  It seems that the woman has possessed her leading to her being able to see and talk to the dead.  Now Eve must balance the insights given to her by the woman's gift and her own police logic to solve the woman's murder and find the missing granddaughter.

I listened to this on audio.  It was a departure from the usual Eve Dallas mysteries with the introduction of the supernatural.  While it was interesting to see that inclusion and the problems it caused for the characters, I am glad that it is not a usual part of the series.

The Leaving by Tara Altebrando

The Leaving by Tara Altebrando - 423 pages

Eleven years ago, six kindergartners disappeared on the first day of school.
No one knows what happened to them.  The only clues were a man carrying wrapping paper and a comment one of the kids made that she was "going to the leaving".

Now, five of the kids have come back. 
They still don't know what happened as none of the kids have memories of their time away.  They were simply dropped off at a playground with maps to their homes.

Who took them?  Where have them been?  And where is the sixth kid?

This was a very strange book.  It used spacial blocking, highlighted fonts, and symbols throughout the book to help tell the story.  To be honest, I found it more annoying than adding anything to the story.  Still, the mystery was interesting and kept me reading to the end of the book.

The Hot Zone by Jayne Castle

The Hot Zone by Jayne Castle - 338 pages
A Rainshadow Novel

Sedona Snow has just started feeling safe on Rainshadow Island when the new Guild boss Cyrus Jones shows up.  Sedona has been leery of the Guild ever since she was kidnapped on his last Guild job and subjected to experimental drugs.  It turns out that Cyrus is interested in Sedona, however, he wants to protect her from the men who originally kidnapped and experimented on her.

This is one of the futuristic paranormal romances written by Jayne Ann Krentz under her pen name Jayne Castle.  I listened to this book on audio and did enjoy the story.  However, the audio production values were poor.  There were weird pauses during the narration.  This was in addition to the fact that the narrator had a cadence like William Shatner.  It was very distracting from the story itself.

Twin Star Exorcists, v. 7 by Yoshiaki Sukeno

Twin Star Exorcists, v. 7 by Yoshiaki Sukeno - 202 pages

Rokuro is finally going through his Ascertainment Test and the spirit possessing him is a huge surprise!  Then Sayo is kidnapped by two Basura and it is up to Rokuro, Benio, Shimon, and Mayura to rescue her.

I am loving this series.  The only bad thing is that I have now caught up with the published books and will have to wait for the new books to come out.

Assassination Classroom, v. 12 by Yusei Matsui

Assassination Classroom, v. 12 by Yusei Matsui - 200 pages

Class 3-E is still trying to assassinate their teacher Koro Sensei and they have a new weapon in their arsenal -- indestructible uniforms.  But will they help when one of their teachers is kidnapped by the Grim Reaper assassin?

A great addition to the story with character development.  I can't wait to read the next installment to see what happens.

Hero by Alethea Kontis

Hero by Alethea Kontis - 282 pages
The Woodcutter Sisters, Book 2

Saturday can't wait for her chance at adventure.  She is the only normal one in her family of magical, enchanted children -- or so she thought.  When she accidentally creates an ocean in her backyard she is kidnapped by an evil witch who wants revenge on her brother.  Her only hope is a fellow victim, a prince under a spell to look like witch's daughter.  They must work together to defeat the witch and escape from the mountain prison.

This was a great sequel to Enchanted.  While Enchanted was a combination of several fairy tales woven together, Hero was more of an original tale.  There were elements of other tales thrown in, but they were more side characters and story lines.  I can't wait for the third book to come out.