REVIEW: Deep Water

 Deep Water
Author: Emma Bamford

The blurb for this book reminded me a bit of a true story -- the murders on Plumyra Atoll. Wealthy couple sails their boat to an Atoll to enjoy a few days in the sun, only to discover there are already two other people there. The two younger people sailed to the Atoll to escape drug charges and their boat motor conked out. They coexist for awhile....then things turn bad.  Several weeks later, the druggie couple sails into port with the wealthy couple's boat. The wealthy couple is never seen again. 

The story in Deep Water is similar but different. A naval ship encounters a boat at sea sending out distress signals. An injured man and his wife are on board. The woman confesses to doing something bad and killing people. She agrees to tell the whole story.....they sailed to an isolated island to enjoy the beach only to find there was a group of sailors already there. Things go fine for awhile.....but when it goes bad, it goes bad quickly. 

This story was just ok for me. The pacing was a bit too slow, and I felt like I was reading a reworking of a true story/earlier book by another author. I expected a bit more excitement. Slow burn is sometimes too slow when there really isn't an exciting moment until the very end. The ending just didn't pack enough power to justify the slow, slow pacing. It just took to long to get there for me. 

I'm glad I read the story, but it did disappoint me a bit. 

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

REVIEW: Old Bones

 Old Bones
Authors: Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child

I first read this book when it came out in 2019. The third book in the Nora Kelly series just released, so I decided to go back and read the series from the start again! I grabbed book one, Old Bones, from Audible and got to listening!

Here is my original review of the book from September 2019:

I'm a big fan of the Agent Pendergast novels by Lincoln & Child. The stories are always suspenseful and creepy-cool. That's why I jumped right on this first novel in a new spin-off series featuring Nora Kelly. Kelly appears in two prior Pendergast novels and as the main character in a prior stand alone novel, Thunderhead.

The Basics: Kelly is an archaeologist and museum curator. She is approached by historian Dr. Clive Benton about a lost camp site of the Donner Party. Promising the chance to excavate previously undisturbed remains of the ill-fated party who descended into madness and cannibalism while trapped by heavy snow in the Sierra Nevada mountains, Benton also pulls Kelly in with the possibility of a stash of gold coins hidden at the site. Meanwhile, new FBI agent Corrie Swanson (another character from previous Pendergast novels -- Still Life With Crows & White Fire) is investigating grave robberies, one disappearance and a murder that seem related to a member of the Donner Party. When members of the group excavating the lost camp start dying, Kelly and Swanson work together to solve the case.

I loved this story! I liked Nora Kelly and Corrie Swanson when they appeared in the Pendergast series. Nice to see them getting a series of their own! Both are strong, intelligent women and they worked well together in this story. Pendergast does make an appearance at the end, but the investigation and action in this new novel is all Kelly & Swanson!

It isn't necessary to have read the Pendergast novels before Old Bones. The story really doesn't refer much to prior cases or characters from the Pendergast books.The story would still be enjoyable even with no knowledge of Pendergast or the prior cases Kelly and Swanson helped investigate. This book can stand on its own just fine.

Enjoyable read! I will definitely be reading more of this series! Happy to see two favorite characters from the Pendergast series get to branch out a bit on their own!

And, now adding my thoughts on the audio book.

The audio, narrated by Cynthia Farrell, is just shy of 11 hours long. Farrell has a pleasant voice and reads at a perfect pace. She is a skilled narrator, blending into the background and letting me just get sucked in by the story. I wasn't distracted by mispronounced words, bad pacing or other issues -- I just got to enjoy the story! Loved it! 

I love stories that incorporate real historical events like the Donner Party, Dyatlov Pass, etc. Preston & Child are so skilled at pulling me in with their creepy-cool plots! I've been a fan of the Pendergast series for years, so of course I love this spin-off series as well!

Now on to book 2, The Scorpion's Tail! 

REVIEW: Dark Stars

 Dark Stars
Author: Various

What do horror writers do during lockdown? They write! This bewitchingly dark collection of 12 stories is the product of an idea in the mind of Editor John Taff mixed with the weird situation in 2020. Who expected the entire world to basically shut down for an extended period? So bizarre....but the perfect backdrop for horror. Perfect timing for Taff to turn his idea into an actual project!

12 stories. Vastly different stories. Everything from slow burn to AHHHHHHHH!!!!! As with any story collection, there were some that I loved and some that just didn't resonate with me at all. But that's perfect -- it means this is a varied and diverse anthology. These stories are imaginative, different and chilling. Some of the writers are new to me -- I love books and stories from "new to me'' writers to my TBR pile. And some of these stories were by writers that I've read before. It was awesome to read a bit of short fiction by familiar storycrafters to see what creepiness they could impart in the brevity of short story. I'm happy to say that although some of the stories weren't scary for me or didn't pull me in like some others did, I did enjoy each one. I loved the fact that these tales are not merely variations on a single theme or style....but each is unique and completely different. 

I read one story per day for 12 days. And after reading each tale, I did my usual clicking around on the internet to find out some info on each author and their collection of writing. My TBR is a bit bigger and my enjoyment of horror a bit more varied since reading this collection. That's the gift of short stories....you get a taste of the writer's style that leaves you wanting more! 

My favorite story? Mrs. Addison's Nest by Josh Malerman. Followed closely by The Familiar's Assistant by Alma Katsu. Malerman's story is different and creepy-strange. I liked it because it's weird and the ending is vague. It leaves much to the imagination. Who really trusts a high school librarian? I kept thinking of one school librarian I had growing up that had creepy vibes....sucked me right into the story because I kept seeing her as Mrs. Addison in my mind. Alma Katsu's vampire tale is short, but develops into a coldly undead nightmare. Loved it! 

**I voluntarily read a review copy of this anthology from Macmillin/Tor-Forge. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

REVIEW: Friend of the Devil

 Friend of the Devil
Author: Stephen Lloyd

This book snuck up on me. I didn't expect it to be quite so creepy and weird. I enjoy horror stories set in upper class twit boarding schools, and figured this story would be another along the lines of multiple others I have read. I was wrong....oh so wrong. Joyously wrong. Stephen Lloyd weaves sarcasm and wit around a horror plot with grace and style. He caught me by surprise with some of the twists and turns of this plot. A fun creepy read!

The basics:  Sam Gregory is a detective for an insurance company. Sam is a product of Too Much and Too Many.  Too Many Vietnam memories. Too Much Smoking. Too Much work. Too Many vices. Too much Stress.  He's called to investigate a case involving a stolen rare book at Danforth Putnam, an elite boarding school. The setting is perfect -- the school is on an isolated island. The school is creepy. The faculty is creepy. And the kids are......teenagers. Scary as hell! 

This tale rapidly becomes more than just a search for a priceless book gone missing from a safe. There is much, much more going on at Danforth Putnam. It's not a long book -- the pacing is fast. This was a binge read for me. The sort of warped Scooby Doo feel coupled with the jaded aging detective all tangled in a supernatural edged mess.....the tale sucked me right in. Despite several obvious clues and misdirections, I didn't really see the end coming. But then again I'm also the one who knows the jump scare is coming....I know it's coming....then it comes and I still scream and jump like an idiot. Every time!! 

Very entertaining story. It reads like a fleshed-out television script. Short, fast paced, a bit of humor thrown in to break up the creepy, a few tropey side characters and just a couple MCs, and a completely cinematic awesome setting. 

Glad I read this book! It was engaging and very creepy! But not something that was going to weigh on my mind for long after I finished reading. Creepy, entertaining and quick dash of horror -- just what I like for a rainy afternoon scary read! 

This is the first book by Stephen Lloyd that I've read. I will definitely be reading more. 

**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from Penguin/Putnam Group. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.** 

REVIEW: The Deepest of Secrets

 The Deepest of Secrets
Author: Kelley Armstrong

The Rockton series is one of my favorites! I love the setting, the characters and just the premise itself....a town hidden in the Canadian wilderness where people in trouble go to disappear for awhile. It makes for great suspense novels! 

The Deepest of Secrets is the 7th book in the series. This time, the residents of Rockton are on edge. Every one of them came to the hidden town to hide out and keep their past secrets private But someone is revealing information and the threat of exposure causes the residents to start turning on each other. Soon the situation escalates from gossip to violence. Can Detective Casey Duncan find out who is behind it all before things spiral completely out of control?

This story starts off at a slow burn....with the plot developing over the first half of the book. And then it just really takes off. I was hooked on each word. After 7 books I'm invested in these characters and what happens to them.....so I totally binge read this one! I enjoy Casey and her lover Eric Dalton (Rockton's sheriff) as main characters. They work well together to keep things safe in Rockton, and I just like the characters in general. They've been through a lot in seven books! 

I read somewhere that this might be the last book....I hope not! I'm definitely in line for the next book if there is one...love this series! 

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

5/5/2022 -- I initially read a digital review copy of this book back in February. This series is one of my favorites so after publication I picked up the audio book. Decided to listen to it while on vacation this week. Such a good story! The audio book is narrated by Therese Plummer. She does an excellent job of bringing the story to life. She reads at a good pace, and gives an excellent voice acting performance. Loved it! But....from what I have read, this is the last novel in the series. The ending was perfect for a novel, but not really a closure for a series IMHO. Maybe there will be a spinoff series? Or maybe it's just done without all the loose ends being safely tucked away. That may actually be a better choice for an ending, as the characters were all hiding their past and their lives from the outside world. Great series! 

REVIEW: The Dungeon Anarchist's Cookbook

 The Dungeon Anarchist's Cookbook
Dungeon Crawler Carl #3
Author: Matt Dinniman

The best book so far! Carl, Princess Donut and her sidekick Mongo face the toughest floor yet. The Iron Tangle. The world's subway and train systems have all been jumbled up and linked together into a dungeon of massive and utterly confusing proportions. Navigating the way to the stairs down to the next level in only 8 days will be nearly impossible. Doing so in boxers, with a scrappy sentient cat and her dinosaur pet is just downright epic! 

Once again, I grabbed up the audio for this book and enjoyed Jeff Hays' performance. Fun and entertaining story! Complex traps, a complicated dungeon and unexpected events carry this story through to floor collapse. Enjoyed it!! 

On to the next book!! 

REVIEW: Carl's Doomday Scenario

 Carl's Doomsday Scenario 
Dungeon Crawler Carl #2
Author: Matt Dinniman

I am not a binger.  I'm always a season or two behind on television shows because I watch a few episodes and pause to digest what I've seen so far. Then I come back and view more, etc.  Frustrates my husband to no end as he always wants to discuss the ending with me....and I'm forever 8 episodes or more behind him. Same with books. I don't want to hit the current book and have to wait a year on a cliff hanger to find out what happens, so I meander my way through a series.  Just not a binger.

Until this series.

A friend recommended this series to me. I read the blurb for book one, and got the audio. Loved it! Next thing I know I've listened all the way through to the end of book 3, and have book 4 queued up on Audible. Binge-city. It's not just Dinniman's mix of adventure and humor -- it's that darn Jeff Hays. Comes sauntering in like he's the best and narrates the complete shit out of these books. I couldn't stop listening!  And now I'm going to catch up to the writer and be stuck waiting.... I learned my lesson with that red wedding writing non-publishing author that shall not be named. Or the comic series with Wolverine's legs up a damn mountain.....and no next issue. Jeff Hays made me break my cardinal rule....I binged. I binged hard. In my excuse, I couldn't help it. So good. I even snorted my coffee at one point when Princess Donut had a moment. 

Darn Jeff Hays. Now I'm looking for other books he's narrated. Dude, you are so good at what you do! And Dinniman -- I work in social services. It's been 2 years of complete crap for me.....but your books made me smile and just have a good time. Such a fun series! I recommend this series to any fan of LitRPG or adventure fantasy. Definitely. And I feel better about the binge -- book 5 about ready to come out on audio. And I can meander through some other books offered through Sound Booth Theater while I'm waiting on Dinniman to churn out more Carl

Love this series! Love the characters! Just entertaining and fun. I did learn one lesson though -- never report to the end of the world in your underwear and a leather jacket. Not a good idea. :)

Definitely reading this series until the very last dungeon floor.  And Jeff Hays is at the top of my favorite narrator/voice actor list with Scott Brick, Neil Gaiman, Wil Wheaton and Ray Porter. Yep -- that good, in my opinion. I can't pick a fav -- you guys all grouped up at the #1 spot. It takes a lot to make a caseworker laugh out loud at the tail end of a two year pandemic -- but ya got me Jeff. Several times. 

:) All smiles here!  Publish more Carl, Dinniman!! :) 

I hear tell that Matt Dinniman is going to be in Charlotte, NC at Dragon Con in August.  I may just send one of my minions to buy me a signed book. Damn it, Dinniman -- making me a fan girl. Ruining my curmudgeon rep. Sigh. 

Great series, guys! If you are into LitRPG -- read it! Or listen like I did. Jeff Hays gives a great performance. Too good at times -- I spit water all over myself when he bleated like a screaming goat guy. Don't drink and listen -- dangerous.  Well, damp any way. 

REVIEW: Claws for Suspicion

 Claws for Suspicion
Author: Deborah Blake

The first thing that caught my attention making me want to read this book is the cover. Pretty fall colors, a black kitty, an idyllic lake.....the skull and crossbones. Definitely cozy style. A small town so peaceful and wonderful....until a dead body pops up. :)Gotta love cozies! Plus, Fall is my favorite time of the year, so I jumped right on this book. 

I somehow missed the second book in this series and didn't realize it until I got a bit into this book. Claws for Suspicion is the third book in the Catskills Pet Rescue series. It didn't harm my enjoyment of the book that I skipped the second book....not really any spoilers and I was easily able to follow the characters and plot. 

The basics: Kari Stuart is settling into her new business - an animal shelter called Serenity Sanctuary. But then her ex husband Charlie shows up, spouting nonsense about she owes him a rather large sum of money from lottery winnings. It gets even worse....Charlie turns up dead and Kari is the #1 suspect, of course. So much for serenity....

Enjoyable story! I'm definitely going to backtrack and read book 2. I like the characters, the setting and an animal shelter being part of the background of the plot. The story moves at a nice pace, and there is plenty of investigation and surprises. There aren't any intricate twists or huge reveals, but it was a fun, entertaining cozy! And the front cover is awesome! 

**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from Berkley Publishing. All opinions expressed are entirely my own**

REVIEW: Damn Lucky

 Damn Lucky
Author: Kevin Maurer

John "Lucky" Luckadoo was a bomber pilot in WWII. He dropped bombs over Germany under heavy fire, protected by his Bible and his girlfriend's silk stocking he wore around his neck like a scarf. He completed 25 missions and returned home after the war. 

Kevin Maurer does such a great job writing about John Luckadoo's experiences during the war. I found myself completely sucked into the story from the start. The detailed descriptions of battle, air combat and the daily life of the airmen are mesmerizing, intense,  and so interesting. I can only imagine how horrible and frightening the entire experience must have been for pilots. Anyone with an interest in WWII history will enjoy this book. 

This is my first experience with Kevin Maurer's writing. An award winning journalist and war correspondent, Maurer tells this story with skill. I'm definitely reading more of his books. I've already got 3 of them added to my TBR list! 

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

REVIEW: A Matter of Death and Life

 A  Matter of Death and Life
Author: Simon R. Green

I have been a huge Simon R. Green fan ever since I first started reading the Nightside series years ago. I was so sad when that series ended....but, I perked up when he started writing the Ishmael Jones books. And, now the Gideon Sable series. Both have a bit of that Nightside creepy-cool feel to them. Love it, love it, love it! 

A Matter of Life and Death is the 2nd book in the new Gideon Sable series. Gideon is a thief....a con man....a scoundrel. But he doesn't steal the normal things like money, jewels, bonds. He's out to find supernatural, powerful, bizarre things. Items with power....dangerous things. Unusual things. Gideon has a code though -- he only steals from those who truly deserve it. This time, Gideon has to repay a favor and steal a heavily guarded item from a casino. The Masque of Ra. With immortality on the line, this job might just be the hardest one Gideon and his crew of misfits have ever tried to pull off!

Another great story in this new series. I love Simon R. Green's style. I read everything he writes. If he wrote a stereo installation manual, I would read it. :) Definitely waiting in line for the next story in this series! I wonder what Gideon is going to steal next??? 

**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from Severn House. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.** 

REVIEW: The Paradox Hotel

 The Paradox Hotel
Author: Rob Hart

The Paradox Hotel sits near the Timeport. Hotel guests arrive dressed for their foray into time, so one never knows what might be seen or experienced at The Paradox. January Cole is a detective. She spends her days jumping back and forth in time to stop people from changing the past. There's a cost though...she experiences time skips and other bizarre side effects. And it's starting to have an effect on her mental health. 

Things are getting a bit dicey at the hotel. The government is preparing to privatize time travel tech, and all sorts of people are showing up to get their piece of the pie. Powerful people. Dangerous people. As January slowly loses her grip on reality, she struggles to investigate a dead body only she can see and the dangerous situation building at the hotel. 

I loved the plot and suspense of this story. There's nothing like a great time-travel tale! The story moves at a perfect pace, and January Cole is a great main character. 

This is the second book by Rob Hart that I've read. I also enjoyed The Warehouse. Can't wait to read more! Very enjoyable story!

**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from Random House Publishing/Ballentine. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

REVIEW: Umboi Island

 Umboi Island
Author: J.J. Dupuis

I love monster stories. Cryptids. Kaiju. Legends. Any sort of monster and I'm gonna watch/read/listen to it! My podcast playlist is filled with bizarre tales, "true'' stories and all sorts of cryptoid goodness. Monster movies, books, comics, audio theater, podcasts....love it all! So when I came upon this series totally by accident, I had to read! I don't normally jump into a series at book 3, but -- Monsters! -- so I just jumped on the review copy I was offered and got to reading! 

Laura Regan is the host of a film series on Cryptids. This time the subject of the show is the Ropen, a flying creature with bioluminescence from Papua, New Guinea. Laura and her film crew travel to Umboi Island in hopes of spotting one of the legendary creatures. In the midst of interviewing locals for stories about sightings and input from believers and skeptics, a dead body turns up in camp. Laura and her crew end up chasing a killer as well as looking for a mysterious flying creature. 

I loved the blend of legend, action-adventure and mystery! The book wasn't too bogged down in Cryptid action -- no monster rampaging and tearing limbs off the film crew. This was a mix of humans doing bad things to each other and investigating a mysterious legend. The story is paced perfectly. I liked the characters and the setting. Very enjoyable read!

I'm definitely back-tracking and reading this series from the beginning. I wish there were audiobooks, but I do understand that they can be cost-prohibitive for authors. This is the first book by J.J. Dupuis that I have read. I've already added the rest of the Creature X series to my TBR, and can't wait to see what creature his characters investigate next!! 

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

REVIEW: Diablo Mesa

 Diablo Mesa
Authors: Douglas Preston, Lincoln Child

I read every book these two write. I'm a long time fan of the Pendergast series, and jumped right into this spin-off when they first started writing novels about Nora Kelly. Diablo Mesa is the 3rd book in this series, and the stories just keep getting better and better!!

This time Nora is tasked with investigating at Roswell, New Mexico. Yep -- aliens and The Incident we all know about. And, she isn't happy about it. Nora is a total skeptic when it comes to the legendary alien event. But her annoyance with the excavation comes to an end when they dig up two dead bodies. The bodies have obviously been mutilated to obscure identity. The FBI becomes involved and the case gets stranger and stranger. This is more than just murder -- but a possible cover-up of something much more dangerous and sinister. 

Loved this story!!!!! I couldn't stop reading! Preston and Child hit it out of the park again! As usual -- they never disappoint me. Definitely up for whatever adventure they send Nora on next -- it's always action-packed and very suspenseful. 

**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from Grand Central Publishing. All opinions expressed are entirely my own**