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The Guest List
by Lucy Foley narrated by: Jot Davies, Chloe Massey, Olivia Dowd, Aoife McMahon, Sara Ovens, Rich Keeble Irish island, present time, Psychological Thriller, Suspense Book Review A destination wedding has gone wrong on a remote island off the coast of Ireland. A dead body is found during the reception and all the guests are suddenly suspects. The Guest List is a whole mood. I found this book to be completely engaging. Rich, descriptive and captivating characters will immediately grasp your attention while a primitive fear oozes in the background. What an utterly engrossing “who dunnit” that you will not want to put down. My thoughts on the last TWO…
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The Silent Patient Book Review ~ Suspense in the Psych Ward
by Alex Michaelides London, present time, Psychological Thriller Book Review “No crazy parts allowed.” The Silent Patient is visceral. Michaelides is extremely descriptive and yet clean, using no unnecessary fluff words. He took his time rolling the story out but it didn’t feel slow; I was never bored or easily distracted from the book. It just felt as if he purposefully immersed the reader into the minds of Theo and Alysia. At first, I had no interest in Theo’s story. I just wanted more of Alysia. but then I started getting hooked on Theo’s psychotherapeutic interpretations of the other characters. No spoilers but The “Twist” that hyped this book and…
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The Empress Book Review ~ A Madwoman in Mexico
by Laura Martinez-belli 1866, Mexico Book Review 4.5/5 I knew I was going to love this book when it began with a cast of characters à la a Shakespearean play. Enriched with little known history and authentic persons, the dullness of centuries past becomes suffused with color, bright and alive. Somewhat reminiscent of Philippa Gregory’s works, The Empress is full of Mexican culture, international politics, power struggles and aristocratic manipulations. Though centurial affairs can be at times dry, there was never a lack of interesting storylines. Martinez-Belli kept the narrative thriving through her many characters, especially the regal Empress Carlota and her questionable lady, Constanza. I absolutely adore all things…
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The Monsters We Make Book Review
by Kali White VanBaale narrated by Mia Barron set in Des Moines, Iowa, 1984 Book Review Des Moines, Iowa, 1984; the center of the Midwest, where “kids were taught God and manners….Bad was other places. Other cities…..” A second paperboy has vanished in the span of two years. Sergeant Goodkind is now in charge of finding 13 year old Christopher Stewart after failing to solve the disappearance of Matthew Kline. Goodkind, struggling to repair his damaged marriage, is again being pulled away from his family and inside the hunt, a constant search for the missing boys. This couldn’t be happening again. Paperboy Sammy Cox and his older sister Crystal, an investigative…
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You Are Not Alone
by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen narrated by Barrie Kreinik & Dylan Moore set in NYC, present day Book Review “On average, women report having eight close friends. Studies have found that, when under stress, women tend to seek out these female friends.” But what do you do when the people you share your life with are using you for foul purposes? Dark undertones, twisted plots, beautiful and manipulative villains. You Are Not Alone is my first book by Hendricks and Pekkanen but it won’t be my last! This dynamic duo was made to write thrillers together. I absolutely loved this book!! Thrilling from the start, it is packed with Nerdy…
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Behind Every Lie
by Christina McDonald narrated by Lisa Flanagan and Fiona Hardinghamset in Seattle, WA and London Book Review 3.5/5 I absolutely adored The Night Olivia Fell and so I had high hopes for McDonald’s latest novel. It was a fast paced, agreeable read. Eva has been struck by lightening. She emerges from a coma only to learn her mother has been killed- and that she is the prime suspect. Her memory is gone and so she starts the search to uncover the truth only to find her entire life has been a lie. Kat’s story parallels Eva’s, each telling their personal tale in expressive detail. For me, Behind Every Lie was…
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Comanche
by Brett Riley set in Comanche, TX and New Orleans, LA, present time Book Review Quick review: Comanche is a macabre and slightly stilted western ghost story. Overall I found this book to be a fantastical read with low budget horror movie vibes. In Depth Review: Comanche is the tale of two private eyes versus a murderous gun slinging ghost. Oh, and the detectives have a psychic side kick (try saying that three times!) Still here?? Okay. You will probably like this book. This was an easy fantastical story, despite some questionable descriptions and horrible analogies (ie: “the mayors face turned deep red, as if someone had chopped his head…
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My Lovely Wife
by Samantha Downing narrated by David Pittuset in Central Florida, present day Book Review 4/5 Romance + Thriller = My Lovely Wife. Uneasiness crept across me from the first chapter. Going into this book blindly, I found it completely intriguing with a twist at the beginning- a “wait, what?” moment. I think Downing did a great job delving into the mind of our unnamed family man, although at times I found it hard to reconcile these loving parents with the storyline. Also, I wanted more from Millicent’s POV. Even though it felt like the book was lacking half the story the ending tied up all loose ends. Overall, Downing does…
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Long Bright River
Audiobook Review: 3.5/5 Sometimes the greatness of a beat cop narration is it’s instructive, systematic roll out of information. In this way, Ryan delivered; maybe too well. I found the narrative straight, somewhat dry in her hands. Yet, always clear, Ryan’s performance reflects Mickey’s stoic character well. She has the sarcasm inflection down pat, but there’s not much variation with the other characters. The accents are sometimes indistinguishable (Gee sounds a lot like Mrs. Mahon). Overall, still better than listening to yourself sing while walking. Well done; I would consider this audiobook good company. Book Review: 4/5 Two sisters, one small town, and a world between them. Mickey is a…
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The Dutch House
author, Ann Patchett narrator, Tom Hanks setting, Philadelphia Book Rating: 3/5A moving autobiographical fiction novel, The Dutch House focuses on the relationship between two siblings, Danny and Maeve Conroy. This was my very first Ann Patchett novel and I wanted to LOVE it!! It was beautifully written. Ms. Patchett is very definitely talented. I could feel the moods that settled over different scenes. I found myself thinking about parts of this book while doing dishes or rocking my baby to sleep. The lives of Danny and Maeve built a compelling story but I didn’t keep-walking-in-the-rainstorm-because-I-couldn’t-stop-listening ”love” it. (I miss you Crawdads!) Also, I couldn’t attach to the characters which is usually…
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The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo
author: Taylor Jenkins Reid narrators: Alma Cuervo, Julia Whelan, Robin Miles setting: Hollywood, NY 1950s-present Book Rating: 5/5If you could choose between true love or wealth and Hollywood fame…… Hollywood legend tells all. This book has everything: sexy iconic old Hollywood; gimlets and manhattans and cigarettes; mansions and wealth and fame. Think Marilyn Monroe surviving into old age and deciding to spill all of her deepest secrets. There was something raw and real in this book that spoke to me. Evelyn’s strength and vulnerability were palpable at times and there are pure gems of wisdom to stumble over. Multiple times I had to stop reading to reflect. Other times I had to…
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Verity Book Review ~ A Twisted Tale
by Colleen Hoover narrated by Vanessa Johansson & Amy Landon , set in the Vermont countryside, present day Book Rating: 4.5/5CoHo is a mastermind and I’m officially a forever fan. I’ve often wondered about how authors of thrillers/suspense can create such intense stories. This book gives us a twisted glimpse into the mind of such a writer. This book never stalled, never tripped. It was a full speed, twisty ride until the end. I didn’t want to put it down. Verity will take everything you thought was creepy and make it seem like a children’s bedtime story. Enjoyable is not an appropriate word for this book. Disturbingly entertaining seems a more…
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The Nightingale Book Review
author, Kristin Hannah narrator, Polly Stone, setting, France, 1940s Book Rating: 5/5 “In love we find out who we want to be; in war we find out who we are.” This book has a presence. A heartbreaking yet inspirational novel, The Nightingale was such an emotional read for me. I listened to the audio during my daily walks and I remember sobbing while walking past fields of cows, their big cow eyes following me down the road. I carried this book around in my heart for weeks. I couldn’t stop thinking about it. I related to it throughout different aspects of my daily life. Even a year later, I feel an…
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The Giver of Stars Book Review ~ An Epic Inspiration
This book stuck with me. It inspired a trip to the mountains of Kentucky, horseback riding in the cold and some great comfort foods! by Jojo Moyes narrated by Julia Whelanset in eastern Kentucky, 1930s Book Rating: 5/5British born Alice is adrift in the mountains of depression era Kentucky as well as her confounding new marriage. In a quick paced turn of events, Alice finds herself volunteering to be a pack horse librarian. Moyes composes a magical journey about a young woman finding her place in the world, the meaning of friends and true love. She does all this while paying homage to the power of the written word and…
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Reviews by The Nerdy Gourmet
What do the stars ratings mean? Here are easy explanations for all grades.
