The Sixth Wicked Child

 

The Sixth Wicked Child by J.D. Barker  626 pages

In the riveting conclusion of the 4MK trilogy, Barker takes the thriller to an entirely new level.

Hear No Evil
For Detective Sam Porter, the words “Father, forgive me” conjure memories long forgotten; a past intentionally buried. For Anson Bishop, these three words connect a childhood to the present as he unleashes a truth concealed for decades.
See No Evil
Found written on cardboard near each body, these words link multiple victims to a single killer—discovered within minutes of each other in both Chicago and South Carolina—clearly connected yet separated by impossible miles.
Speak No Evil
Chicago Metro and the FBI find themselves caught in chaos—a hospital on lockdown, a rogue officer, and corruption at the highest levels. When Anson Bishop, the prime suspect in the notorious 4MK serial murders turns himself in, he reveals a story completely unexpected, one that not only upends the current investigation, but one that will change the lives of all involved.
Do No Evil
With unrelenting tension and pulse-pounding suspense, the past unravels at breakneck speed as the truth behind the Four Monkey Killer’s motive is finally revealed in this masterfully crafted finale.

This one is a bit more interesting than The Fifth To Die. You HAVE TO read this to understand why he last book ended the way it did. All in all, it as a satisfying ending with a nice twist.

Trigger warning: sexual abuse of children

The Perfect Marriage by Jeneva Rose

The Perfect Marriage by Jeneva Rose  337 pages

Sarah Morgan is a successful and powerful defense attorney in Washington D.C. At 33 years old, she is a named partner at her firm and life is going exactly how she planned.

The same cannot be said for her husband, Adam. He is a struggling writer who has had little success in his career. He begins to tire of his and Sarah’s relationship as she is constantly working.

Out in the secluded woods, at Adam and Sarah’s second home, Adam engages in a passionate affair with Kelly Summers.

Then, one morning everything changes. Adam is arrested for Kelly’s murder. She had been found stabbed to death in Adam and Sarah’s second home.

Sarah soon finds herself playing the defender for her own husband, a man accused of murdering his mistress.

But is Adam guilty or is he innocent?

I enjoyed this story. The ending was unexpected and well explained though you're strung along for two chapters before it is explained.

She Started It by Sian Gilbert

 

She Started It by  Sian Gilbert   352 pages

The party of a lifetime is nothing like what they expected...

Annabel, Esther, Tanya, and Chloe are best friends—or were, as children. Despite drifting apart in adulthood, shared secrets have kept them bonded for better or worse, even as their childhood dreams haven’t quite turned out as they’d hoped. Then one day they receive a wholly unexpected—but not entirely unwelcome—invitation from another old friend. Poppy Greer has invited them all to her extravagant bachelorette party: a first-class plane ticket to three days of white sand, cocktails, and relaxation on a luxe private island in the Bahamas.

None of them has spoken to Poppy in years. But Poppy’s Instagram pics shows that the girl they used to consider the weakest link in their group has definitely made good—and made money. Curiosity gets the better of them. Besides, who can turn down a posh all-expenses-paid vacation on a Caribbean island?

The first-class flight and the island’s accommodations are just as opulent as expected...even if the scenic island proves more remote than they’d anticipated. Quite remote, in fact, with no cell service, and no other guests. The women quickly discover they’ve underestimated Poppy, and each other. As their darkest secrets are revealed, the tropical adventure morphs into a terrifying nightmare.

I would recommend this book. I liked the beginning but put it down. It has a lot of triggers for me. (bullies) I was encouraged to pick it back up. I did so but skipped the remaining diary entries by Poppy and went straight to the –spoiler alert—REVENGE! These characters are so hateable (almost unbelievably so) that you want horrible things to happen to them. 

Boys from Biloxi by John Grisham

 Boys from Biloxi by John Grisham, 454 pages

Two boys the same age who were best friends.  They choose opposite paths once they reach their mid teens.  As adults, one has the power to change the other ones' life.  An engrossing story that keeps you guessing until the very end.  I enjoyed it very much

The Christie Affair by Nina de Gramont

 

                                                                             

           The Christie Affair by Nina de Gramont-307 pages

I love anything Agatha Christie; so of course I had to read this!  Sad to say it was a real struggle for me
to get through.  I had to keep reminding myself that this is a work of fiction.  There are too many strange story lines and the whole plot is bizarre.  Since the story teller is Arche Christie's mistress, Nan O'Dea, it is more her story than Agatha's. I found myself wondering what Dame Agatha would have thought about such an outlandish re-imagining of her mysterious eleven missing days.

Not sure what I was expecting but it certainly was not this. 

The Count of Monte Cristo (Manga adaptation) by Ena Moriyama

 The Count of Monte Cristo (Manga adaptation) by Ena Moriyama-274 pages

This is a Manga adaptation of the original novel by Alexandre Dumas. I have not read the novel, but I have seen the film of the same name (starring Jim Caviezel in the title role). The Manga has several differences from the film. One such difference is that Danglars is a banker in this Manga, but he is First Mate on the Pharaon in the film. Most of the differences are minor. I enjoyed reading the Manga, but I enjoyed the film much more. 

The Revenge Pact by Ilsa Madden-Mills

 The Revenge Pact by Ilsa Madden-Mills -- 486 pages

River Tate is a god on campus.
The king of football.
A tattooed bad boy with gunmetal eyes that see right through you.
The only chink in his armor is her, the girl he pretends doesn’t exist, the forbidden one with the shy smile and lavender hair.

Anastasia Bailey is a nobody.
The queen of nothing.
An outsider with the face of an angel and a body made for sin.
The only chink in her armor is him, her boyfriend’s frat brother, the football player who hates her.

But when Anastasia’s life comes crashing down, River’s the one who sweeps in and picks up the pieces. Torn between loyalty, lies, and secrets, he battles the temptation to take everything from her when they make their revenge pact. He can’t tell her no. Because revenge (or love) is, sweet, and once you get a taste, the craving never ends.

The Guest List by Lucy Foley

The guest List by Lucy Foley-313 pages

How many lives can you shatter before someone takes revenge?  Unbelievable how one person can impact so many different lives in such horrific ways.  Keeps you guessing until the end.  And families are made stronger in the aftermath.  It was just ok.

Spirit Circle, v. 2 by Satoshi Mizukami

Spirit Circle, v. 2 by Satoshi Mizukami - 180 pages

Fuuta decides to figure our his past lives by himself.  He sees his life as Rune, a builder of a sphinx who was lonely.

I just don't really care about the characters.  I'm giving up on this series.

Close Up by Amanda Quick

Close Up by Amanda Quick - 304 pages

Vivian is a modern woman trying to make it as a photographer in 1930s California.  Nick, a private investigator, is sent as a bodyguard to protect Vivian when she is targeted by a killer.  Now they have to work together to figure out why she is being targeted and who is targeting her.

This is the fourth book in Amanda Quick's Burning Cove series of historical romantic mysteries.  While I enjoyed this book it was my least favorite of the series so far.  The only reason I can really give is that it didn't seem as if the characters had any chemistry together.  The romance seemed to come out of nowhere.

Brotherhood in Death by J.D. Robb

Brotherhood in Death by J.D. Robb - 400 pages
In Death series #42

Eve Dallas is about ready to head home for the day when she gets a call that Dr. Mira's husband has been assaulted and his cousin is missing.  This leads to the discovery that Mr. Mira's cousin and his college friends are being kidnapped, tortured, and murdered.  Will Eve find the killers before they are all killed?

This is an entry in Nora Roberts' futuristic mystery series about police detective Eve Dallas.  It is a great entry advancing the character of Eve and the Miras.  I would definitely recommend this mystery series.

Golden in Death by J.D. Robb

Golden in Death by J.D. Robb - 387 pages
In Death #50

Eve Dallas has a new case.  A beloved pediatrician has been murdered by means of toxin mailed to his house.  There doesn't seem to be a motive.  Then the wife of a college professor is killed in the same manner.  What could possibly tie together these two well loved members of their families and communities.  Dallas must work quickly to figure this out before more people are killed.

This is the 50th book in the Eve Dallas series of mysteries by Nora Roberts (under the pen name J.D.  Robb).  This book in the series did not focus on any development of the series characters.  Instead, it was a strict mystery to be solved.  Still, I really enjoyed the book.  It's a great addin to the series.

The Red Scrolls of Magic by Cassandra Clare

The Red Scrolls of Magic by Cassandra Clare & Wesley Chu - 350 pages

The story of Magnus Bane and Alex Lightwood's vacation to Europe.  Unfortunately, it is interrupted by an evil demonic cult bent on revenge against Magnus.

I listened to this on audio and really enjoyed it.  Only one issue was one of production values -- sometimes the narrator's voice got so soft that you couldn't hear.

Half Wild by Sally Green / Half Lost by Sally Green

Half Wild by Sally Green - 414 pages
Half Lost by Sally Green - 342 pages

Nathan continues his quest to be free of the White Witches.  He rescues Annalise, joins the rebellion, and fights.

These are the last two books in the Half Trilogy by Sally Green.  Overall, I found these books to be depressing.  Although the "war" is won in the end, there is no happy ending for Nathan. 

Tightrope by Amanda Quick

Tightrope by Amanda Quick - 309 pages

A man has just been killed by a robot in front of an entire audience during a demonstration.  Amalie is horrified at what she sees.  However, she's is even more horrified when the newcomer to town shows up at her bed and breakfast investigating the murder.  Matthias has ties to local mobster Luther Pell.  Now, to save her business before it fails from all the negative publicity, Amalie must work with Matthias to discover just what happened.

This is the third book in Amanda Quick's Burning Cove mystery series set in 1930s California.  It is also the first one to reintroduce her popular Jones family from her previous Arcane Society series.  I enjoyed the book.  I thought the mystery was well done.  The book did a good job of hiding the identity of the villain until the end.  I did find it strange that after all the Arcane Society books which wholly embraced the idea of psychics that this book did its best to downplay the idea -- never coming out one way or the other on whether it was true they existed or not.

Silver Master by Jayne Caste

Silver Master by Jayne Castle - 307 pages

Matchmaker Celinda Ingram seems to be caught up in a guild investigation for a missing relic.  Detective Davis Oakes is determined to stay by her side until he recovers the relic . . . and to protect her from those out to harm Celinda.

This is a futuristic romance by Jayne Ann Krentz set on the alien world of Harmony.  Most of the characters have some kind of psychic ability.  While the mystery was fairly easy to figure out, the romance was still fun to read.

The Reckoning by Yrsa Sigurðardóttir

The Reckoning: a Thriller by Yrsa Sigurðardóttir; translated from the icelandic by Victoria Cribb --- 375 paes including Pronunciation Guide; Book 2 in The Children's House Series.

Yrsa Sigurdardottir, winner of the 2015 Petrona Award for best Scandinavian Crime Novel, delivers another mesmerizing crime thriller in her new Children's House Series, which pairs the socially inept Huldar, a detective in the Reykjavík CID with Freyja, a psychologist who treats traumatized children at The Children's House, investigating crimes involving children. 

This partnership is fraught with tensions because  Huldar and Freyja have an awkward personal history that makes it difficult for them to work together at critical moments in the investigation. The story picks up shortly after the conclusion of the first book in the series, The Legacy. Reading the books in order isn't necessary to understand the plot, but is necessary to fully grasp the relationship between Huldar and Freyja.

Ten years ago a local school had a time capsule project, and the students all wrote letters predicting the future and put them into the capsule.  Now the school has dug up the capsule, and one of the  letters predicts six people will die. The problem is, the letter is unsigned, and the six people are listed only by initials. 

It's probably just some kind of adolescent prank, but Huldar is assigned to evaluate the potential threat. Huldar suspects he's been given the job just to keep him busy so he can't screw up another major case like he did the last one. But it's an excuse to call Freyja, and try again to ingratiate himself with her. 

However the case takes a sudden dark turn when a series of horrifying events culminate in the savage murder of a retired prosecutor whose initials match one set of initials in the time capsule note. And this is just the start of a series of attacks that seem to be triggered by the release from prison of a paedophile who raped and murdered a young girl from that same school twelve years ago.

Huldar and Freyja realize they only have a short time to discover what links all of these events together in order to find the killers and stop them.

This is an expertly plotted and paced psychological thriller, and a furious indictment of any society that tolerates those who use their privilege and power to abuse the innocent. 

Click HERE to read the * review in Publishers Weekly.

Click HERE to read the review from Kirkus Reviews.

Click HERE to read the review from the Crime by the Book blog.

Kindred in Death by J.D. Robb

Kindred in Death by J.D. Robb - 374 pages

When the 16 year-old daughter of a newly promoted police captain is brutally murdered, Eve Dallas is requested to head up the investigation.  Why would anyone kill such an innocent girl?  Surely, it is a case of revenge against her father . . . .

I enjoyed this entry in the Eve Dallas mystery series by J.D. Robb (aka - Nora Roberts).  It took a little longer to unravel the mystery in this book which I enjoyed rather than the characters figuring out the killer immediately. 

Shelter in Place by Nora Roberts

Shelter in Place by Nora Roberts - 438 pages

Thirteen years ago, three boys went on a rampage in a mall killing and injuring many before taking their own lives.  Now the sister of the "ringleader" is out to complete their mission by killing those who escaped that day.

I listened to this on audio.  I really enjoyed the book.  The villain was very chilling.  The main characters were multi-faceted.  And the romance was well integrated into the story.

Visions in Death by J.D. Robb

Visions in Death by J.D. Robb - 371 pages

Somebody is killing women and leaving them displayed in the city's parks.  Detective Eve Dallas will do anything to solve the case . . . even work with a possible psychic that showed up saying she's seeing the murders happen in her dreams.

I thought this was one of the better volumes in the Eve Dallas series by J.D. Robb (aka Nora Roberts).  It reveals more about the history of Eve while also growing several other characters stories and motivations.