Do Not Disturb by Freida McFadden

 

Do Not Disturb by Freida McFadden - 325 pages

Quinn Alexander has committed an unthinkable crime.

To avoid spending her life in prison, Quinn makes a run for it. She leaves behind her home, her job, and her family. She grabs her passport and heads for the northern border before the police can discover what she’s done.

But when an unexpected snowstorm forces her off the road, Quinn must take refuge at the broken-down, isolated Baxter Motel. The handsome and kindly owner, Nick Baxter, is only too happy to offer her a cheap room for the night.

Unfortunately, the Baxter Motel isn’t the quiet, safe haven it seemed to be. The motel has a dark and disturbing past. And in the dilapidated house across the way, the silhouette of Nick's ailing wife is always at the window. Always watching.

In the morning, Quinn must leave the motel. She'll pack up her belongings and get back on the road to freedom.

But first, she must survive the night.

Overall a pretty good book, it starts with a crime and ends with the famous McFadden twist.  Not her best but it was still pretty entertaining.

Past Tense by Lee Child

Past Tense by Lee Child - 400 pages
Jack Reach Book 23

I was fortunate enough to snag an advance copy eBook through NetGalley.  The book will be released on November 5th. 

This book opens of course with Reacher on his travels across the country with his toothbrush in his pocket and a minimal plan, just a destination.  Chance leads him to a small New England town where his father was raised in a random quest to stop by the family homestead.  In true Jack Reacher fashion he soon involves himself in the affairs of the town and serves as an avenging force to help right both current and past wrongs.  Reacher learns truths about his family that are very startling.  The side plot involving an isolated motel reads like a slowly unrolling horror movie and is very chilling. 

By the time you reach the 23rd book in a series, you pretty much know the formula and aren't there if you aren't on board for it.  This book held my attention more than the past few entries in the series.  I found the action more in the realm of possibility than the others.  Child is falling into the habit of placing Reacher in locations and situations without cell service and in this book it is more organic to the plot than it has been so I wasn't thrown out of the story.