REVIEW: The Lost Girl

 The Lost Girl
R.L. Stine

This story was quite spooky and twisty! I enjoyed every bit of the audio book! 

Michael's life takes a strange turn when he meets a new girl in town. Lizzie is different, a bit mysterious and somehow mesmerizing. His girlfriend, Pepper, is definitely less than enthused about Michael's developing obsession with Lizzie Palmer. When a strange snowmobile accident pits a psycho against Michael and his friends, events surrounding Lizzie just get stranger and stranger. 

At first I found the plot a bit confusing. The intro didn't seem to fit with the rest of the book, but as the story progressed I found myself completely engaged with the story. I didn't expect the ending -- a totally Fear Street appropriate ending! I listened to the audio version of this story. The audio is just over 5 hours and narrated by Brittany Pressley and Dan Bittner. They gave a great performance! Very entertaining listen. 

Definitely an R. L. Stine Fear Street story! Loved it! Can't wait to watch the Netflix stories! 

**I voluntarily listened to a review copy of this audio book from Macmillan Audio. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

REVIEW: The Dead Boyfriend

 The Dead Boyfriend
Author: R.L. Stine

Back in the day my son loved the Goosebumps books. He's 30 years old now, but we still reminisce about evenings spent reading about frightening neighbors, aliens, killer toys, ghosts.....  R.L. Stine gave us many hours of entertainment. As an adult when I'm looking for a fun, slightly scary story to read, I still check his books out of the library for a nostalgia read. Why not? :) The Fear Street series was the teen version of Stine's horror vision....the horrors of high school, prom queen evil, bad parties, frights at work, cheerleader mayhem...stuff I worried about at 16 worked up into cheesy horror tales. So fun! I have to admit I have also read many of these teen screams too! Again, why not? 

Now the series has been revamped a bit and is a movie trilogy on Netflix! I will watch all 3 this weekend! I had no idea the Netflix series existed until I saw this series of Fear Street Relaunch books. I downloaded three of the audio books immediately! If it has R.L. Stine's name on it, I'm going to read it. Pretty much without a moment's hesitation....

This story was fun, Stein-ian horror. The trials of a teen girl revved up into something truly horrific. Caitlin is 17. She's had a few dates, but never really a steady serious boyfriend. Then she meets Blade. Her friends warn her she's going too fast, getting too deep into the relationship before she really knows him. But she doesn't listen -- can't listen. All she can think about is Blade. Then she meets Deena Fear and Caitlin's life swings wickedly out of control. Being 17 is bad enough....but being stalked by a dead boyfriend? The boyfriend you killed? That's bad with a capital B.

I listened to the audio book version of this story. The audio is a bit over 5 1/2 hours long and narrated by Brittany Pressley. I had great fun listening to Caitlin's life descend into a bloody mess (literally). The story kept my attention from beginning to twisty ending. Very nostalgic! A simple, slightly scary story that was a perfect break from heavier adult fiction. 

There are six books in the Fear Street Relaunch series. I like Stein's style...I plan to read them all! And this weekend -- I will be enjoying the Netflix series! :)

**I voluntarily listened to a review copy of this audio book from Macmillan Audio. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

REVIEW: Dogged to Death

 Dogged to Death
Author:  Laura Scott

My job is pretty high stress at the moment. Reading is my escape, and there are days I just need an entertaining cozy mystery to just let me escape into a story for a few hours. When I read the name of this new cozy series, I had to read it right then. No question. Immediate read required. 

Furry Friends Mysteries. 

Yes. Please. 

And I'm glad I jumped on book 1 of this new series and read it! Very enjoyable story! 

The basics: Ally Winter is a veterinarian. Her life implodes - fiance gone, savings gone, vet clinic gone. All gone.  So she moves back to her hometown, Willow Bluff, WI,  to begin a do-over and to help her grandpa after his hip replacement surgery. Things get worse when Ally finds a local shady attorney dead. Can a down-and-out vet and  a true-crime buff grandpa catch a killer??

Ally and her grandpa are awesome characters! Roxy the dog is also wonderful -- I have a dog named Roxie so the name alone made me smile! The mystery is entertaining and engaging. I like the characters and the side plot. Overall, a very enjoyable cozy mystery. I'm definitely reading more of this series. 

This is the first book by Laura Scott that I've read. I will definitely be reading more by her. Love it when I find a new-to-me author that I enjoy! The front cover is so cute. Cozies have the best covers!

**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from Crooked Lane Books. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

REVIEW: Secrets of the Force

 Secrets of the Force
Author: Edward Gross, Mark Altman

I was 9 years old when I waited in line with my parents and my Weird Old Uncle Bob to see the first Star Wars movie. It was the first time I ever remember there being a line of people halfway around the building all wanting tickets. In 1977 in small town America, theaters had one screen and one showing a night....if the movie sold out you had to come back another day. Star Wars had people lining up, even in middle-of-nowhere Kansas. Luckily we got there early and managed to get seats. My Weird Old Uncle Bob had talked my parents into seeing the film, promising that it would be one of the most wonderful movies ever. My dad wasn't sure. I remember him mumbling that he didn't want to go see some "silly space thing.''  When we left after the movie, my father said that it had been a great movie. It was one of the only times he admitted Weird Old Uncle Bob was right about anything. (But then again, Weird Old Uncle Bob thought if you turned your car off when going downhill and restarted it at the bottom of the hill that you would save gas. This sort of thing was why we called him weird.)

That silly space thing is still a big deal for many, even after 44 years. I kinda fell off the Star Wars band wagon with the prequel movies. Jar Jar Binks just killed it for me. Ugh. Jar Jar is the Scrappy Doo of the Star Wars Franchise. Barf. My love came back with the newer movies and the new Mandalorian series on Disney+. One look at Baby Yoda and I forgot all about Space Scrappy Doo.

So, of course I wanted to read some trivia and reminiscences about the movies! In fact, I'm still reading this book! When the book blurb says this book tells the story of the Star Wars Franchise in "one exhaustive volume'' it means this is one gigantic 570+-page gi-normous tome of Star Wars lore. Gi-freaking-normous! This book talks about the movies, the actors, extras, games, toys....everything Star Wars from Alderaan to Yoda (I couldn't come up with a SW word that started with Z....but it's probably in this book somewhere!)

The information is entertaining, interesting, supremely nerdy and nostalgic! I'm reading my way through a little bit at a time and enjoying every minute! This is one review copy that definitely got me to add the physical book to my must-buy list. 

And, it just proves that Old Weird Uncle Bob was right (once). Star Wars is wonderful! 

**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from St. Martins Press. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

REVIEW: The Maidens

 The Maidens
Author: Alex Michaelides

Therapist Mariana Andros is sure she knows who killed her niece. Very sure. And she's determined to prove it. So determined that she becomes obsessed. She will prove Edward Fosca is a killer, though it may cost everything she has. Her career. Her credibility. Even her life. 

Lots of Greek tragedy vibes in this story. It's not overdone....just gives the suspense and story a bit more depth. The plot is a slow build. In the beginning, I was a bit confused, but kept listening....as the story built, things became clearer. I wish I could say I saw the ending coming, but I didn't. Nicely done! I do have to admit that I really didn't like any of the characters in this story, but I don't believe I was meant to. Mariana became so shrill, mentally fragile and annoying by the end of things....but that really was her purpose. And Fosca...so above it all and that overeducated, overprivileged weird icky vibe. And the "maidens'' -- disturbing. But.....an author who can make me actively dislike characters is doing their job. Definitely invoked an emotional response. And the story definitely kept my attention. All in all, an entertaining listening experience. 

I wasn't sure what to expect from this book. I didn't read the blurb. I didn't read any online reviews or opinions. I just jumped in and started listening with no prior knowledge. I find I enjoy slow-build, suspense stories like this so much more that way! I wanted it to keep me off balance until it was time for me to see the plot threads all pull together So enjoyable! 

This is the first book by Alex Michaelides that I've read. I will definitely be reading more! Narrated by Kobna Holdbrook-Smith, the audio is just over 9 hours long. Smith has a pleasant voice, reads at a nice pace and gives a very good voice-acting performance. All in all, a very entertaining listening experience. 

**I voluntarily read/listened to a review copy of this book from Macmillan Audio. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

REVIEW: Fallen

 Fallen
Author: Linda Castillo

I have been a fan of the Kate Burkholder series since book 1 published in 2009. I read each book eagerly as it comes out. Fallen is the 13th book...and I enjoyed it just as much as the first!

The basics: A young formerly Amish girl is found beaten to death in a motel room. Kate Burkholder feels a strong emotional tie to this story because she is also formerly Amish and is now the police chief in the area where she grew up. Rachael was never one to obey the rules...that's why she is no longer living with the Amish. But, why such a violent, gruesome death? Kate is determined to find out the truth. 

Another great story in this series! I had a review copy of the book and the audio book, so switched back and forth between the two. When I didn't have time to read the ebook, I started up the audio book! Definitely enough suspense to keep my interest from start to finish! The investigation portion of the plot revved up quickly and kept the pace up until the end. There were a few twists I didn't expect, and the ending was awesome! And, the role of Kate's boyfriend, John Tomasetti, was toned down a bit in this book. He's still there...still supportive....still assists....but just LESS. That was a relief for me, as the Tomasetti was spread on a bit thick in a couple of the past books. I want investigation....and less boyfriend. This book delivers that. Still a few kisses and his concern for Kate putting herself in danger, but he isn't mentioned on every page and isn't a key player in the entire investigation. Much better. A little Tomasetti goes a long way. :) 

The audio book is narrated by Kathleen McInerney. She always does a great job of narration! She voices all the characters with skill, even the male characters. Very entertaining listening experience. 

Loved this new book! Can't wait to find out what happens next! 

**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book (St Martins Press) and audio book (Macmillan Audio). All opinions expressed are entirely my own**

REVIEW: Couple Found Slain

 Couple Found Slain
Author: Mikita Brottman

I've read many true crime books and listened to even more crime related podcasts and audio books. Most delve into the case and end with the perpetrator being brought to justice. The cell door closes on the convicted criminal and the family/loved ones of the victim talk about justice....The End.  That isn't how this book ends. Couple Found Slain starts with the history of the family involved, moves on to the murder, and then focuses on the subsequent decades of the killer's life in a psychiatric facility. 

All true crime stories should be disturbing. They deal with harsh, real subjects, victims and punishment or cold cases where no solution was found. Those things are automatically disturbing. But this book takes it to a new level. I found myself completely disgusted by the victims...abusive, horrible people. And  I was simultaneously sympathetic and judgmental of the killer....horrible way to grow up and understandable he finally had a mental break, but nobody has the right to murder anyone. And finally completely confused about how I feel about his incarceration in a mental facility. Should he be released? Should he stay confined? Yikes....    In the end, I just had to throw up my hands and say that I am not really qualified to have an opinion in this case. But, the book did get its point across. And leaves me with one main thought: is the justice system meant to rehabilitate and release at some point, or is it meant to permanently file mentally ill criminals away with no hope of living outside a facility? And are mental facilities real treatment, or extended torture for basically permanent residents? Like I said -- for me this book was disturbing as it left me with thoughts/questions on subjects that I am not qualified to even begin to form an educated opinion. I can form an emotional one....but not one based on facts. 

Very interesting book! I loved the fact that the story didn't just revolve around the crime...but the history of those involved and the aftermath for the murderer. The entire story. Obviously careful and complete research went into this project!

I listened to the audio version of this book. Narrated by Christina Delaine, the book is just shy of 9 hours long, Delaine has a pleasant voice and reads at a nice steady pace. All in all, a good listening experience. 

**I voluntarily listened to a review copy of this audio book from Macmillan Audio. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**