Middletide by Sarah Crouch

In this gripping and intensely atmospheric debut, disquiet descends on a small town after the suspicious death of a beautiful young doctor, with all clues pointing to the reclusive young man who abandoned the community in chase of big city dreams but returned for the first love he left behind. Perfect for fans of All Good People Here and Where the Crawdads Sing

One peaceful morning, in the small, Puget Sound town of Point Orchards, the lifeless body of Dr. Erin Landry is found hanging from a tree on the property of prodigal son and failed writer, Elijah Leith. Sheriff Jim Godbout’s initial investigation points to an obvious suicide, but upon closer inspection, there seem to be clues of foul play when he discovers that the circumstances of the beautiful doctor’s death were ripped straight from the pages of Elijah Leith’s own novel.

Out of money and motivation, thirty-three-year-old Elijah returns to his empty childhood home to lick the wounds of his futile writing career. Hungry for purpose, he throws himself into restoring the ramshackle cabin his father left behind and rekindling his relationship with Nakita, the extraordinary girl from the nearby reservation whom he betrayed but was never able to forget.

As the town of Point Orchards turns against him, Elijah must fight for his innocence against an unexpected foe who is close and cunning enough to flawlessly frame him for murder in this scintillating literary thriller that seeks to uncover a case of love, loss, and revenge.

Hardcover, 288 pages

Published June 11, 2024

by Atria Books

4/5 stars

Middletide was my May Book of the Month pick by debut author Sarah Crouch.

This book starts with the discovery of a body hanging from a tree one cold January morning. The town doctor appears to have taken her own life after suffering the tragic loss of a child and divorce. What follows is a story that weaves through time to uncover what led to this death and the aftermath.

I really enjoyed this slow paced read, I alternated between my print copy and the audiobook, I might add the reader did a great job. Coming in just under 300 pages it was the perfect length to get to know Elijah, why he came back to his hometown and what his relationship to Erin was like.

As with any mystery I read I always have my sleuth hat on trying to figure out what happened before the big reveal. In this case, I was stumped though I did have my suspicions pointing to a number of scenarios. The author did a great job setting the puzzle pieces into place nicely. The ending was good and I didn’t see one aspect coming at all, so hats off to the author for catching me off guard.

All in all a very, solid debut and I look forward to reading more by Sarah Crouch.

This book was part of my 2024 Reading Off My Shelf Challenge.

Death At The Crossroads by PJ Donison

When hotshot litigator Aaron Anders’ wife, Suzanne, goes looking for a divorce attorney, every lawyer in town turns her down. Except one.
What was Camelia Belmont thinking?

Desperate to make partner, Camelia takes Suzanne’s case, despite Aaron’s notorious scorched earth tactics. But when another high profile client kills himself, and her chances of making partner fizzle, Camelia barely manages to hold her anxiety and the vodka bottle at bay. To complicate matters, Suzanne’s health is failing, and all she wants is to die divorced. But the Paradise Valley socialite’s life gets complicated when sexy senior associate Kaitlyn Fischer is killed on her way to a midnight tryst … in Suzanne’s car.

Was Suzanne’s car used as a murder weapon? And was Suzanne the real target? Camelia’s boss, criminal defense attorney Byron McCaffrey, doesn’t want any part of it, but when she discovers a link to a product liability case Anders won on appeal, Camelia is convinced the “accident” was intended for Suzanne. But she’ll have to come up with more than circumstantial evidence against Aaron Anders, especially since the cops and the prosecutor’s office decide the case was accidental. Camelia can’t help but defy Byron’s demand to leave the criminal investigation alone, even if it means getting fired..

All Suzanne wants is a divorce, but her clock is ticking. Finally, Camelia gets a break from an unlikely ally, but is it too late?
Can she discover what really happened or will someone get away with murder?

Death At The Crossroads is the second book in the suspenseful Camelia Belmont Murder Mystery series. If you like soft-boiled whodunnits with a smart female sleuth, true-to-life characters, and dark insights into the legal profession, you’ll love PJ Donison’s second literary mystery in the series.

Kindle Edition, 569 pages

Published May 27, 2024

 by PublishDrive

5/5 stars

This is the 2nd book Camelia Belmont Murder Mystery series by PJ Donison. I thoroughly enjoyed the first book, Death Comes for Christmas,  and opened when this one when it was released.

Divorce attorney Camille has taken on a new case and it’s a biggie. Suzanne is looking to divorce her attorney husband and given that no one else else in town will take her case Camille does

Death at the Crossroads is an intense story. It’s about a lawyer wanting to do the best for her client despite the numerous obstacles that she has to overcome - between a boss that is antagonistic, the client, her husband and lawyer that are not above board along with her own personal demons. 

This was a fast paced story even if it does come in over 500 pages, it was gripping and it didn’t take long for me to get to the part where I could not put it down. There are many layers and points of view but everything came together at the end.

The ending also left the door open for a sequel, which I can’t wait to read.

Greenwild by Pari Thomson

Open the door to a spellbinding world where the wilderness is alive and a deep magic rises from the earth itself . . .

Eleven-year-old Daisy Thistledown is on the run. Her mother has been keeping big, glittering secrets, and now she has vanished. Daisy knows it’s up to her to find Ma―but someone is hunting her across London. Someone determined to stop her from discovering the truth.

So when Daisy flees to safety through a mysterious hidden doorway, she can barely believe her eyes―she has stepped out of the city and into another world.

This is the Greenwild. Bursting with magic and full of amazing natural wonders, it seems too astonishing to be true. But not only is this land of green magic real, it holds the key to finding Daisy’s mother.

And someone wants to destroy it.

Daisy must band together with a botanical genius, a boy who can talk with animals, and a cat with an attitude to uncover the truth about who she really is. Only then can she channel the power that will change her whole world . . . and save the Greenwild itself.

Hardcover, 364 pages

Published June 6, 2023

 by Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)

4/5 stars

Greenwild is a book I stumbled upon in the world of Instagram, purchasing a copy because I loved the cover...and the blurb. It is book one in a series with book 2 recently released entitled the City Beyond the Sea.

This middle grade fantasy isn’t for the faint of heart as it comes in with almost 400 pages. But it is very interesting and a read which I enjoyed. Eleven year old Daisy has been separated from her mother, in fact, she was told that her mother has died in a far away country. But Daisy knows something is up especially when she is followed and forced to go on the run. What follows next is a mysterious doorway, another world, magic and interesting characters. As Daisy becomes friends with kids with special abilities she begins to wonder what her mother has withheld from her.

Greenwild is a story of friendship and determination. It highlights the importance of the environment and taking care of it. This is a well written story with great world building and I am looking forward to reading the next book.

This book was part of my 2024 reading off my shelf challenge

I Will Ruin You by Linwood Barclay

In the latest novel from New York Times bestselling author Linwood Barclay, a teacher’s act of heroism inadvertently makes him the target of a dangerous blackmailer who will stop at nothing to get what he wants.

How would you react in a life-or-death situation?

It’s a question everyone asks themselves, but few have to face in real life. English teacher Richard Boyle certainly never thought he would find himself talking down a former student intent on harming others, but when Mark LeDrew shows up at Richard’s school with a bomb strapped to his chest, Richard immediately jumps into action. Thanks to some quick thinking, he averts a major tragedy and is hailed as a hero, but not all the attention focused on him is positive.

Richard’s brief moment in the spotlight puts him in the sights of a deranged blackmailer with a score to settle. The situation rapidly spirals out of control, drawing Richard into a fraught web of salacious accusations and deadly secrets. As he tries to uncover the truth he discovers that there’s something deeply wrong in the town—something that ties together Mark, the blackmailer, and a gang of ruthless drug dealers, and Richard has landed smack in the middle of it. He’s desperate to find a way out, but everyone in his life seems to be hiding something, and trusting the wrong person could cost him everything he loves.

What price will he pay for one good deed?

Paperback, 352 pages

Published May 7, 2024

 by William Morrow Paperbacks

4/5 stars

Canadian author Linwood Barclay's latest novel, I Will Ruin You, was a fun read even though there is serious matter. It’s one of those books where I just shook my head at all the poor decision-making, weird coincidences, and at times comical situations. That being said this was an addicted read to find out what was going on, because honestly, I was stumped with all the hijinks.

I mean this book started off captivating as Richard Boyle prevents what could’ve turned into a major tragic event from happening at his school. He is a hero by most, but not all. Then things start to go sideways. That being said it did only take me a couple days to read this as I was curious and taken off guard for part of the conclusion, but not all.

Barclay is one of my go to authors and he remains in that position as I find his books different, twisty, along with some interesting characters.

This book was part of my 2024 reading off my shelf challenge.

The Door-to-Door Bookstore by Carsten Henn

The charming international bestseller about an elderly bookseller who delivers his recommendations door-to-door and an unlikely friendship with a nine-year-old girl that changes his life, for fans of The Midnight Library and A Man Called Ove.

The bookseller Carl Christian Kollhoff delivers books to special customers in the evening hours after closing time, walking through the picturesque alleys of the city. These people are almost like friends to him, and he is their most important connection to the world.

When Kollhoff unexpectedly loses his job, it takes the power of books and a nine-year-old girl to make them all find the courage to rebuild their bonds with each other.

A bestselling phenomenon internationally, Carsten Henn’s The Door-to-Door Bookstore is a feel-good novel about books and friendship.

Hardcover, 239 pages

Published August 1, 2023

by Hanover Square Press

3.5/5 stars

This year I've made a conscious effort to read more books about books, I think that’s the bookworm in me coming out. The Door-to-Door Bookstore is a recent translation that was released in North America last August. 

This was a charming read, also a quick one coming in at 239 pages, but it does pack a punch. From the point of view of an elderly gentleman whose job it is to deliver books to special customers in the evening hours. He has his routine until one day it is interrupted by a nine-year-old girl and then things go amuck.

The Door-to-Door Bookstore is a story of friendship, community and love of books. There is humor, drama, along with righting wrongs.  A nice read that highlights the impact reading has an individuals.

Highly recommend for bookworms out there.

This book was part of my 2024 Reading Off My Shelf Challenge

Meet Me at the Lake by Carley Fortune

Fern Brookbanks has wasted far too much of her adult life thinking about Will Baxter. She spent just twenty-four hours in her early twenties with the aggravatingly attractive, idealistic artist, a chance encounter that spiraled into a daylong adventure in Toronto. The timing was wrong, but their connection was undeniable: they shared every secret, every dream, and made a pact to meet one year later. Fern showed up. Will didn't.

At thirty-two, Fern's life doesn't look at all how she once imagined it would. Instead of living in the city, Fern's back home, running her mother's Muskoka lakeside resort—something she vowed never to do. The place is in disarray, her ex-boyfriend's the manager, and Fern doesn't know where to begin.

She needs a plan—a lifeline. To her surprise, it comes in the form of Will, who arrives nine years too late, with a suitcase in tow and an offer to help on his lips. Will may be the only person who understands what Fern's going through. But how could she possibly trust this expensive-suit wearing mirage who seems nothing like the young man she met all those years ago. Will is hiding something, and Fern's not sure she wants to know what it is.

But ten years ago, Will Baxter rescued Fern. Can she do the same for him?

Paperback, 336 pages

Published May 2, 2023

by Viking

 3.5/5 stars

This is Canadian author Carley Fortune's 2nd book which takes place in Ontario. This Canadian reader loves reading with Canadian settings and places that are familiar.

This was an audio book for me and the reader did a stellar job bringing this story to life. This dual-time story is told from the point of view of Fern Brookbanks, a 32 year old taking place just months after the death of her mother.  It also jumps back 10 years when she first meets Will. 

Meet me at the Lake is story a of relationships, loss and finding oneself. As Fern is still grieving, the past unexpectedly comes back. Can she come to grips with what happened 10 years ago and reconcile to the present. Well, you will have to read the book to find out.

I enjoyed this read, I was draw into the story. It had me itching to head north find a lake and paddle around.  The only negative takeaway is that I wish the ending wasn't rushed and the issues presented were given more space.  The author notes added to the ended with her own experiences.

A good start to my summer reading, hopefully I will be reading her recent release, This Summer Will Be Different in the coming months.

This book was part of my 2024 reading off my shelf challenge .

A Friend in the Dark by Samantha M. Bailey

A digital romance turns deadly...

Eden Miller’s world is crumbling. Her husband blindsided her with divorce, and her daughter barely speaks to her. In an impulsive decision to escape her present and revisit the past, she sends a friend request to her college crush, Justin Ward.

One night twenty-three years ago changed the course of her life. It closed the door on Justin and opened the door to her husband, Dave. But what if Eden could have a do-over?

Eden begins an online relationship with Justin that awakens her in ways she never thought possible, and his voice and words make her take bold risks. But something’s off. He knows too much about her and her family…he’s been following her.

Eden is forced to awaken from her fantasy and look for answers—who really is the man on the other line? The truth about Justin—and about what happened that fateful night two decades ago—puts her and her family in a fight for their lives.

Kindle Edition,  242 pages

Published March 1, 2024

by Thomas & Mercer 

4/5 stars

This is Sam Bailey’s third book and I have enjoyed each of her previous ones. I went into this book blind, which is always fun.

Recently separated, Eden Miller is still struggling with her husband leaving and add to that her daughter is away at school. What follows is an intense series of events that takes her on a journey that awakens the past and it appears someone wants to destroy her future.

A Friend in the Dark is a fast paced story with dual viewpoints and lots of twist and turns. It is dark and suspenseful, I managed to read it in a day while on a recent vacation.

This book is part of my Kindle library, however I hope one day to meet up with the author

 and get a signed copy for my shelf .

The Haters by Robyn Harding

The bestselling author of The Party and The Drowning Woman returns with a twisted tale of fame, obsession, and the dark recesses of social media.

Camryn Lane is living her dream. After years of struggle and rejection, her first novel has finally been published. Her editor is happy; her teenage daughter is proud; and her boyfriend and friends are all excited for her. She’s on top of the world—until she receives a disturbing message from an unknown sender.

Rattled by the accusations she finds there, Camryn swallows the sick feeling in her stomach and resolves to put the missive out of her mind. But when she checks her ratings on a popular book site, she finds a scathing one-star review. The reviewer is so articulate and convincing that soon, Camryn’s book is flooded with bad reviews. Could the reviewer be the same person who sent the ugly email? And why do they want to ruin her?

As the online harassment creeps into Camryn’s personal life, she vows to find out who’s behind it. Is it really a disgruntled reader? Or could it be someone she knows? The troll’s actions are escalating, and when the abuse turns deadly, it will take everything Camryn has to unmask the enemy so intent on destroying her—and finally learn why she's being targeted.

Kindle Edition, 352 pages

Expected publication July 2, 2024

 by Grand Central Publishing

4/5 stars

Author Robin Harding has yet again written another captivating read that kept me glued to the pages.

For any aspiring writer, Camryn,  this would be your dream come true after years of rejection. Her first novel is finally published and what is supposed to be a celebration turns ugly and personal. Who is this mystery reviewer leaving bad reviews that quickly escalates into something personal. For Camryn her emotions get the better of her, doing things out of character.

I enjoyed this book, though I had my suspicions, they would get blocked with the twists that came within the pages. As a devoted guidance couselor Camryn struggles with the accusations. Going through a messy divorce, could it be the ex husband, jealous teachers or friends, students?  A quick read with shortish chapters.

I finished this in a day and half. Look for it on shelf’s in a months time.

My thanks to Grand Central Publishing for a digital arc in exchange for a honest review.

Among the Innocent by Mary Alford

When Leah Miller's entire Amish family was murdered ten years ago, the person believed responsible took his own life. Since then, Leah left the Amish and joined the police force. Now, after another Amish woman is found murdered with the same MO, it becomes clear that the wrong man may have been blamed for her family's deaths.

As Leah and the new police chief, Dalton Cooper, work long hours struggling to fit the pieces together in order to catch the killer, they can't help but grow closer. When secrets from both of their pasts begin to surface, an unexpected connection between them is revealed. But this is only the beginning. Could it be that the former police chief framed an innocent man to keep the biggest secret of all buried? And what will it mean for Leah--and Dalton--when the full truth comes to light?

USA Today bestselling author Mary Alford keeps you guessing as two determined souls plumb the dark depths of the past in order to forge a brighter future--together.

Audiobook, 9 hours 41 minutes

Published June 7, 2022

 by Recorded Books

3.5/5 stars

This was my book club's Feb 2024 pick (yea I am a little behind on my reviews), it's also my first time reading a Mary Alford book.

Leah Miller is a police officer who 10 years previous lost her family to a killer who police say they have identified and is dead. However, Amish women start being murdered with the same MO. Questions about what really happened 10 years ago and who was responsible resurface.

For Christian fiction, I found the violence a bit gritty in its manner. But other than that, I found this to be a compelling read. There were many twists and turns, secrets from the past unearthed in this multilayered story kept me turning pages. Actually I listened to the audiobook, so it wasn't hard to find audiobook worthy chores.

Leah along with the new police chief, Dalton work against a ticking clock to unravel the mystery and catch the killer.  The ending was good though I felt one part left open the possibility of a sequel - because this reader would like to read more.

All in all a good mystery/suspense read.

My copy of the audiobook was obtained through Scribd.

A Study in Drowning by Ava Reid

Effy Sayre has always believed in fairy tales. Haunted by visions of the Fairy King since childhood, she’s had no choice. Her tattered copy of Angharad—Emrys Myrddin’s epic about a mortal girl who falls in love with the Fairy King, then destroys him—is the only thing keeping her afloat. So when Myrddin’s family announces a contest to redesign the late author’s estate, Effy feels certain it’s her destiny.

But musty, decrepit Hiraeth Manor is an impossible task, and its residents are far from welcoming. Including Preston Héloury, a stodgy young literature scholar determined to expose Myrddin as a fraud. As the two rivals piece together clues about Myrddin’s legacy, dark forces, both mortal and magical, conspire against them—and the truth may bring them both to ruin.

Hardcover, 378 pages

Published September 19, 2023 

by HarperTeen

3.5/5 stars

This was one of my impulsive purchases of 2023. That cover just shouted 'buy me buy me'  until I did. Finally in January I sat down and read it and I still remember it and many aspects of the story - that's a good sign when behind on reviews.

A Study In Drowning is the story of two college aged individuals who are sent on different missions involving a recently deceased author and an epic story he wrote. With each having different motives they ultimately come together to solve not just mysterious happenings that are taking place at the estate, but of the legacy left behind by this author.

This was a a gothic ya story and also my first time reading this author.  I felt the premise intriguing, it was atmospheric with the nighttime scenes, strange noises and creatures.  They were parts that felt flat and maybe dragged a little and yea I was confused by the behavior of some of the characters.  But ultimately everything came together at the end with twists that took me by surprise.

All in all 3.5 stars, I was sold with the Gothic setting.

This book was part of my 2024 reading off my shelf challenge