"The Silent Wife"

“The Silent Wife”

Written by A.S.A. Harrison

Review written by Diana Iozzia

“The Silent Wife” was utterly disappointing. We begin this tale, knowing off the bat that the main character, Jodi, has a hand in her husband’s death. Then, we begin to read what happened prior to his death, that led her into wanting her husband dead. What a tiresome rabbit hole to go down.

Pitched as better than “Gone Girl”, I don’t think this could come close. Any book compared to “Gone Girl” will possibly pale in comparison. Well, figure this. Any popular thriller that has ever been written that stands the test of time or was a landmark in its genre will always have books compared to it. In this circumstance, the wife and husband despise each other. He’s cheating. She’s upset. How many more thrillers like this do we need? This book barely offered anything new to the table, except perhaps the method of death and the conclusion.

This felt like a drama, more than a domestic thriller. There was hardly any action that led to violence or blood spilled. I felt that marking this as a psychological thriller is hard to do, because it just felt like a marriage on the rocks. Yes, Todd is despicable. He was a terrible husband and a terrible husband-to-be for the woman he left his wife for. This book reminded me a lot of the BBC drama, “Dr. Foster”, if any of you are familiar. I felt just disappointed, more than anything.

I felt the author had a great writing style. I am also falling out of love with first person narrators in thrillers, because they are always unreliable. I liked that we had an omniscient narrator inside both Todd’s and Jodi’s heads separately, rather than hearing them and wanting to shut up the peanut gallery. I also liked the dialogue, the descriptions of location, setting, and the eventual conclusion. It felt refreshing.

In conclusion, I felt that as much as I had wanted to be blown away by this book, I just wasn’t. Perhaps we need to stop comparing books to the landmarks in their genre. Does every book about a creepy man in his forties need to be compared to “Psycho”? Does every mad scientist need to relate to Dr. Frankenstein or Dr. Henry Jekyll? I think in comparing books to landmarks, we set up the book to disengage viewers. If we long for a book to be so similar to something else, it may never turn out that way.

"Kill the Boy Band"

“Kill the Boy Band”

Written by Goldy Moldavsky

Review written by Diana Iozzia

What a wild, wild ride. This teen thriller / comedy was an absolute romp. “Kill the Boy Band” allows its readers to live vicariously through Beatle Mania, One Direction pandemonium, and murder in a delicious fashion. In the vein of “Heathers”, “The Craft”, and “Jennifer’s Body”, we are absolutely treated to an exciting and superbly comedic tale.

The satirical voice is strong with this one. “Kill the Boy Band” follows four teen girls who are purely obsessed with a boy band, The Ruperts. The singers of the band are all appropriately named Rupert. Our story begins in the middle of the story in one of my favorite styles: in media res. In media res is a fun film and book technique that drops you right into the action, with flashbacks and exposition that allows readers to fill in the details. The girls have kidnapped a Rupert. We beg the answer of “Why?”

This book has a lot of fun twists and turns, with a very comedic cast of characters. Goldy Moldavsky creates likeable and certainly murderable characters that feel very real but also surreal. They throw strange pop culture references in, use terrible dialogue. I believe that this is the new “Heathers”. I personally really enjoyed this realization, while also listening to the audiobook reading of this story, narrated by the original Veronica in “Heathers: The Musical”: Barrett Wilbert Weed. She’s also playing Janice Ian in “Mean Girls: The Musical”, another teen comedy. Her narration was comedic and extremely entertaining, with the bad English accents and exaggerated dialogue.

I think that one should go into reading this book, realizing that this is not going to be the best book ever written. The pacing is a bit strange and a bit slow at times. The dialogue, at times, is funny but mostly just irritating. Although this book is satirical, it still includes all of the annoying teen tropes. I think adding murder into the mix made this book much more entertaining, than if it was just teen girls stalking hot boys. I would have really enjoyed this as a teen. I think if you go into this book too critically, the magic is lost. Enjoy it for what it is.

"Tin Man"

“Tin Man”

Written by Sarah Winman

Review written by Diana Iozzia

 

“Tin Man” is one of those fragile, complicated, and beautiful books that you only come across maybe every five years. It’s hard to read in some devastating parts, but so simple and carefree in others. In many English fiction books, characters are told in both perspectives equally. We see them at their strongest and their most vulnerable. The juxtaposition of true happiness and true emptiness plays out like a pianist’s symphony.

“Tin Man” is about Ellis Judd, a man who has loved and lost: his first love and his second love. His first love was Michael. Ellis’s difficult relationship with his father led to an impossible relationship for Ellis and Michael. It simply couldn’t flourish, with Ellis’s father pulling him into a more masculine and tougher narrative, leaving Michael behind. Ellis eventually marries their friend Annie, causing the three to be in a strange friendship.

The metaphor of a Tin Man is lost on me. I think perhaps it’s meant to signify a person who can love but hides their love away, as if they have no heart at all. Perhaps it is represented by Ellis’s tough, false exterior he has to portray, a straight, happy man.

We are told the story of Ellis, Michael, and Annie in small flashbacks, nearly vignettes. We see the before, the during, and the after of all their dynamics. There are so many parts of this book that left me absolutely speechless, my heart torn into pieces.

Without giving too much away about this story, I think this is one that everyone should read. It gives important insight into the LGBT community, especially in the era of the HIV / AIDS crisis. Sarah Winman’s writing is just enchanting.

I received an advance reader’s edition of this book in exchange that I read and write an honest review.

"After I Do"

“After I Do”

Written by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Review written by Diana Iozzia

“After I Do” is a romantic contemporary fiction with a wonderful depiction on marriage. And marriage falling apart. This book follows two spouses, lead character, Lauren and her husband, Ryan. Lauren and Ryan have hit the point in their marriage that after years of being together, they have fallen out of love for each other. They decide after many emotional fights and long nights to separate for one year.

We meet a fantastic cast of characters. I listened to this book as an audiobook. As much as I loved the narrator, her ‘boy voice’ was silly and definitely detracted from the story. Her narration for the females was great, giving little characteristics to each. Lauren has a close family of her mother, her brother Charlie, her sister Rachel, and her grandmother. We also meet some new characters to everyone’s lives: Charlie’s pregnant fianceé, Natalie, the mother’s boyfriend, Lauren’s coworker and friend, Mila, and David, Lauren’s second love interest.

I felt that although I have never been through a marriage difficulty such as separation and possible divorce, this felt like a very natural read. There are many wonderful scenes of heartbreak, happiness, love, longing, and more. I felt that this was a perfect book. At no point did I wish something were to be written differently. I loved the dialogue, the characters, the detail, the story. I could go on for pages upon pages about the dialogue, but I won’t. This was the first audiobook that I truly enjoyed and would give five stars to. I cannot wait to read another book by this author.

I also enjoyed that Ryan’s perspective wasn’t told in first person narration, but we read e-mails from him, which was a nice story telling technique that I didn’t expect.

Oh, actually, I can definitely name something that I wished wasn’t included. God, is it awkward to listen to sex scenes being read out by a narrator? Especially the first one which was full of Lauren screaming. I shudder thinking about it now.

In conclusion, I fully recommend this book. It made me feel so deeply for the characters. I swear, don’t listen to an audiobook in public, because this one was very funny, and I probably looked strange laughing to myself. This reminded me very much so of “The Last Five Years”, which is a favorite musical about the dissolution of a marriage. However, “After I Do” was a much lighter and fluffier version. This is a nice, relaxing read for vacations or tired days after work.

"Girl in the Rearview Mirror"

“Girl in the Rearview Mirror”

Written by Kelsey Rae Dimberg

Review written by Diana Iozzia

“Girl in the Rearview Mirror” was a very divisive thriller for me. I think that my interest level in this book was high when I first began, but I grew less and less interested as I continued to read. The book follows the story of Finn (female), who becomes entangled with many mysteries surrounding the political family she works for. Finn is shady, all on her own, from the secrets she hides and the stories she tells the readers. However, I felt that the intrigue paid off to almost non-existent suspense and insignificant plot reveals. I give credit where credit’s due. This is a good first debut novel, but it just did not blow me out of the water.

There are so many different reveals and plot twists, that it will be hard to review this book without giving much away. To do so, I will list what I liked and disliked about this book, because I’d rather not spoil any details.

Likes:

1. The dialogue was fantastic. It was very realistic and natural. The characters had their own distinct style of speaking.

2. There is a fantastic twist halfway through about the granddaughter of the Senator, the child of the two main characters, Philip and Marina. Goodness gracious, I didn’t see that coming. That certainly knocked my socks off in the best way.

3. I’ve always liked an unsettling final chapter.

Dislikes:

1. The rearview mirror motif was ever-present and extremely overdone.

2. I really disliked the writing style, because there was too much detail. I enjoyed mostly all of the scenes; however, the dialogue was very omniscient. Finn spoke about how characters felt and how they experienced moments that she was not there for. There was one scene where she spoke about the past political campaigns and knew far too much detail, that made her all-knowing rather than the typical first-person narrative. It didn’t make sense to me.

3. The final reveals of all the characters motivations felt very limiting and could have been explored further. The ending felt very rushed. The climax was just plain anticlimactic.

4. Sadly, this book just did not grip me, the way we hope for with suspense thrillers. I did not feel I was on the edge of my seat. I was not desperate to pick the book back up again.

In conclusion, I do recommend this book. This wasn’t a favorite of mine, but the writer has great chops. I feel that she will be a great writer, but I just wasn’t that intrigued by the plot and the characters of this one. I fully plan to read books by her in the future. This book reminded me of “The Last Mrs. Parrish” and “The Other Mother”.

I received this book in exchange for reading and reviewing purposes. Thank you to William Morrow.

"The Cellar"

“The Cellar”
Written by Natasha Preston
Review written by Diana Iozzia



“The Cellar” is a young adult thriller that centers around Summer, an eighteen-year-old girl who is kidnapped by a man who calls himself Clover. Clover kidnaps up to four girls at a time and calls them his Flowers, naming them Rose, Lily, Violet, or Poppy. He chooses to kill those girls who try to fight back or become too much of a problem, when transitioning into his ‘happy family’. He also brings prostitutes and females who he considers to be whores into the basement in his house and kills them, leaving the body to be cleaned up by his kidnapped victims.

Summer, called Lily, is kidnapped and refuses to adjust into the ‘happy family’. She refuses to let Clover take the power away from her, but she also is trying to survive. Many girls and women are killed in front of her, she is raped, and she is abused physically. Summer knows she must survive at all costs. We also see through Clover’s perspective as well as Lewis’s, who is Summer’s boyfriend.

This book was a difficult read for me. The author became famous on Wattpad, which is a site that non-professional writers upload short stories and chapters of their own writing. Natasha Preston became famous and was offered book deals. However, I think her writing just isn’t up to par, in comparison to professional writers that I have read through. The dialogue is often cheesy. I find the characters hard to relate to, feel sympathy for, and honestly just tell apart from each other. Many of the chapters feel redundant, without giving much more information about each character.

My main issue with this book is that it does not stand out. There aren’t any moments or scenes that I felt to be jaw-dropping. I did not feel especially disgusted or horrified when characters were injured and even murdered. This felt very juvenile and base level for a thriller. I was thoroughly disappointed with most of this book.

I did enjoy some aspects of this story:

1. I felt the Flower idea was interesting. Clover attempts to keep the girls very clean and pure, which allows the girls to educate themselves, shower twice a day, eat healthily, and enjoy books and films. They also knit and make clothing. I felt this was refreshing in comparison to many other kidnapping themed thrillers that just have characters tied to bedposts. I felt the way that Clover was portrayed reminded me of “10 Cloverfield Lane”, in which the kidnapper tries to protect his victims, rather than extremely brutalize them. Yes, the sexual assault still exists in this book, but it was not graphic or as crude as other books portray it.
2. I also liked some of the girls. Especially the Violet and Poppy.
3. This felt like a Lifetime movie, in the sense that we don’t read too much graphic violence and gore. I feel this would be better for more sensitive readers.
4. The resolution after the climax was very jarring and effective, similar to the resolution in “Room” by Emma Donahue.

In conclusion, I would not really recommend this book for adult readers, like myself. It’s good for a teen reader’s perspective, but I think I like reading from an older character’s perspective. Also, I feel like this could be enjoyed for readers who are just starting to enjoy the thriller genre, because elements of this book are present in better thrillers. I imagine it would be good to test the waters with.

"We Love Anderson Cooper"

“We Love Anderson Cooper”

Written by R.L. Maizes

Review written by Diana Iozzia

“We Love Anderson Cooper” is an oddball and extremely eccentric collection of short stories. This book has been described as short stories with characters who are treated differently based on their race, sexuality, appearance, gender, and more. However, I felt that this short story collection was just based on people. It did not feel like this empowering, freeing collection with these themes. The reasons why these characters were treated differently are expressed in maybe the first three paragraphs of each story and then hardly influence the plot. This writer creates many different types of characters who all feel realistic, but they are in eccentric scenarios. This collection felt very easy going and natural to read yet realistic, similar to a Jason Robert Brown play (especially with all of the Jewish references). I felt that I liked some of the stories but was disappointed with most. I do not plan to keep this collection or read it again.

The first story in this collection was “We Love Anderson Cooper”. The plot follows a teen named Markus, as he prepares his bar mitzvah. For an aspect of this plot, I researched bar mitzvahs and they often occur when a Jewish boy reaches 13 years old. Markus comes out as gay while reading his speech for the ceremony, also outing his boyfriend. This puzzled me. Then, the story concludes in graphic, underage oral sex. This was just an awful and uncomfortable story to read. Yuck.

“Collections” follows the story of Maya, whose partner of 14 years has passed away, not leaving her anything in his will. Maya starts over and collects debt in exchange for cheaper housework done by a contractor.

“Tattoo” is about a man named Trey who becomes a tattoo artist and begins to obsess with his work. This was one of the best out of the bunch, but I still do not think it was phenomenal.

“The Infidelity of Judah Maccabee” was a funny little tale about a man whose cat starts turning his affection to his girlfriend instead. This was my favorite. It was cute and light-hearted with some fun, Jewish humor.

“No Shortage of Birds” was absolutely infuriating. I hated this story with a fervor like that of an angry volcano. A young woman whose father passes away is gifted a parakeet. She doesn’t give it fresh water, keep it well-fed, lets it overheat in 95-degree heat without air conditioning, which of course kills it. As a bird lover and owner of two lutino cockatiels, I wanted to set the book on fire. And buy six more lutinos to keep them safe from harm.

“L’Chaim” is a poignant vignette about a woman who stands in the venue where she called off her wedding, surrounded by the chairs, chuppah, and flowers. I enjoyed this one as well, because although it was short, it certainly painted a strong picture.

“A Cat Called Grievous” follows a man and wife who struggle to conceive. After taking in a skittish but feisty stray cat, they start to notice the destructive hold the cat has on them. This was another strange but witty story.

“Better Homes and Gardens” was completely forgettable. A man who is so unhappy in his marriage takes up pizza delivering, becoming friends with a customer and her child. The grass is always greener, I guess.

“Couch” was a story about a female therapist who becomes obsessed with a couch. That’s it.

“Yiddish Lessons” followed a young teen, possibly transitioning into a different gender. There was also an interesting arranged marriage plot line as well. However, I thought this story was just okay.

“Ghost Dogs” was yet another sad animal story. There’s far too many here. A woman moves on after both her pets have passed away, hearing thumping by the dog door, reminding her of walks.

In conclusion, I recommend the stories I liked, but I would not recommend this book as a whole. I did not enjoy it very much, even though I really enjoy short story collections. This reminded me a lot of “No One Belongs Here More Than You” by Miranda July, which was another short story collection that I couldn’t stand.

Thank you to Celadon Books for sending me an advanced reader copy. This was not in exchange for a review, but I wanted to review it anyway.

"The Death of Mrs. Westaway"

“The Death of Mrs. Westaway”
Written by Ruth Ware
Review written by Diana Iozzia


“The Death of Mrs. Westaway” was an entertaining, soapy thriller. Enhanced by dramatic scenes and a creepy location, there was still an interesting mystery afoot. I’ve read every book by Ruth Ware so far, so I was eager to read her newest. However, I feel that Ruth Ware writes a book that stands out, then her next is just washed out, and then the pattern continues. “Mrs. Westaway” is a tamer thriller to me, rather than action scene after another. As always, Ware creates a story that begs you to think more about the characters than what meets the eye.

Before explaining the synopsis, I have to mention the successful writing patterns that stand through in each of her stories. Ruth Ware creates very atmospheric and vivid locations and her stories just billow out and build around them, similar to an early railroad town. Her settings are absolutely majestic, whether they are a regal cruise liner or a dingy, crumbling pier. We breathe the air the characters do. In addition, Ware’s introductions always engross me. I find myself catapulted into her stories ala Alice plummeting into Wonderland.

“Mrs. Westaway” is a very simplistic plot with very simplistic characters. Congruent to many other psychological thrillers, we have a death in a very tightly knit family which is far from connected on the inside. To be a fly on the wall in this house. We also have outsider Hal (female) who has mistakenly been included in the inheritance. She makes herself to one of my favorite areas in England (Penzance, Cornwall) and meets the family who she will be pretending to be a part of. This makes for an interesting plot. I often enjoy books that have characters return to their hometown or first home full of secrets. For example, this book reminded me of "The Haunting of Hill House", the "Flowers in the Attic" series, "Roanoke Girls", "Sharp Objects", and "The Missing Years".

However, proceeding Hal’s journey to Cornwall, we are introduced to her pathetic job as a tarot card reader on a pier in Brighton. Hal is struggling for money in every sense of poverty. We are shown how she tricks the customers into believing their fortune, but Hal claims she is not doing it maliciously. She just really needs the money. The full introduction before we arrive in Cornwall is 80 pages! 80 pages of Hal getting harassed by debt collectors, eating soggy fish and chips, fooling innocent people, complaining about her family past, and just being plain miserable. This is easily the worst aspect of the book. I understand to create a character who would commit fraud, you need to create reasons why she would want to. However, this was too slow and too unnecessary. I felt that a majority of this could have been cut down. We would have understood her plight within 30 pages. Desperation is not difficult to comprehend.

After Hal arrives at the Trespassen House (was that name really the only thing Ware could come up with?), she begins to melt into the family. We see in her mixed batch of ‘relatives’ how the family is more gilded than golden. Her eccentric ‘relatives’ and the unsettling housekeeper leave Hal feeling more trapped than excited. She also begins to unravel the mystery of why she was mistaken for a relative and who she really is.

The conclusion of this story was not unpredictable. I’m sure that some readers may figure out the mystery ahead of time, but I did not find myself deducing and sleuthing my way through the story. There weren’t many red herrings, but I was certainly curious to see how the mystery would unpack. I felt very satisfied with the ending, especially with the true villain revealed. I thought this character was a good choice, and I felt made sense for the mystery. In addition, the actual climax was very creepy and delicious. I could also imagine that some readers might think this book was a tad unrealistic in certain areas, but I enjoyed the ride. I fully recommend this book, but please try to get past the 81st page. I think it’s worth it.

"Beautiful Bad"

“Beautiful Bad”

Written by Annie Ward

Review written by Diana Iozzia

“Beautiful Bad” was a very invigorating and unique edition to the psychological thriller genre. To begin, this novel is told in a few different perspectives: Maddie throughout the years building up to the “Day of Killing”, the actual “Day of Killing”, a third person perspective of Ian, letters and emails, and Maddie in the weeks prior to the killing.

I have to admit, that I was highly skeptical of this story, when I had read the premise. In already knowing that all of the events build up to a murder, the book is already polarizing. Some readers may think that knowing this adds suspense. However, readers like me believe that knowing this takes all of the dramatic tension out the window, because we know when the murder will take place; at the end of the book, most likely the climax. As little as I like to say this, I was absolutely wrong. I have been experiencing a period of reading psychological thrillers that I haven’t been too impressed by. Nonetheless, this book really opened up into a fantastically layered story.

The main gist follows the beginning of Maddie and Ian’s relationship; hot and cold, suspicious, manipulative, and charming. Maddie and her friend, Johanna, are working in the Middle East, when they meet Ian and his buddies. Ian is enigmatic, intriguing, and also hiding lots of secrets. We wonder throughout the entire book, “Why on earth would either of you have fallen for each other?” They both aren’t prizes. We like them and dislike them at the same time. They make each other swoon and make each other miserable all in a few sentences in a conversation. We also flash back and forth to the “Day of Killing”, seeing detective Diane as she uncovers the aftermath of the murder. Naturally, we know bits and pieces of the night as the book progresses, only to find out the horrific truths in the conclusion.

I liked how well this book was layered. We have normal and then intense conversations and events. We have a really great political setting in the Middle East, as Ian is a soldier, while the women work in less dangerous scenarios. This is very reminiscent of “Homeland” but without Carrie Mathison, thank heavens. I felt that for a very large portion of the book, this did not feel like a thriller. However, the manipulative and abusive sides of the characters created and built depth to the story. We are absolutely fascinated to see what will happen next. In this type of book where we know a lot about the ending as we read, it can be very easy to predict outcomes. So, although I was able to understand where this was going, it was still a very, very great reveal. There were more details and aspects than I thought encompassed in the dramatic climax and conclusion, but I felt it wrapped up the story very well. I feel this thriller took inspiration from many other thrillers like it but improved upon the others’ shortcomings. I’m very pleased with this book. I look forward to reading more books by Annie Ward in the future.

I do believe unfortunately that the endless chapters about Maddie at the therapist felt difficult to endure. I understand that in the conclusion of the story, we understand why they’re so important. However, my God. It’s tiring.

I received a complimentary review copy of this book by the publisher, in exchange for reading and reviewing purposes. Thank you to Park Row Books and Harper Collins.

"Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter"

“Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter”

Written by Seth Grahame-Smith

Review written by Diana Iozzia

As much as I mocked the idea of this novel for years before reading it, I have found a new favorite within “Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter”. I have recently been branching out into books within the “alternate history / science fiction” genre. I started falling in love with this sort of genre when I read “Dread Nation” by Justina Ireland, which follows main characters Jane and Katherine, two black teens in post-Civil War Baltimore, in a world where the fallen soldiers have begun to rise from the dead as ‘shamblers’, similar to zombies. So, as I came across “ALVH” again, I thought to myself that I might enjoy the story, since it incorporates the Civil War and a beloved literary monster. As a large fan of most vampire folklore, I picked it up and fell in love.

“ALVH” is told in many different types of format. First, we are told of a young teenage Seth Grahame-Smith, the author who has portrayed himself, who has been approached by a mysterious vampire, Henry. Henry has lent Seth the diaries of Abraham Lincoln, so he may write a book about when Abe was a vampire hunter and most of his life before and after. Then, we are launched into a sort of biography about Abraham Lincoln, peppered by the entries from the diary, letters, and altered photographs and art.

I believe that the best thing about this book is that it doesn’t feel like a big fantasy vampire story. It has such amazing depth to it. We love Abe, as we meet him as a young child, to see the heartache and death he endures, as he rises to become an important politician. Then, we have the weavings of a vampire history, telling us all about the interesting aspects of these vampires, the friends and enemies Abe makes, and the gruesome horror, all creating this fantastic epic. Abe is a hero, in the ways that real Americans know and as a vampire killer. The novel is told in three ages of Abe, as a child / teen, as a young adult, and after he rises to political power.

There are so many amazing aspects of this story that have to be recognized. As well as it is horrifically bloody and stomach churning, this is a great piece of horror. The vampires are absolutely terrifying. The world that Grahame-Smith has taken and made his own with his great alterations is so encompassing and interesting. It’s absolutely fascinating to learn about the true historical aspects of Abraham Lincoln’s life and see it explained as if vampires had existed in this world. The novel is so thoroughly researched and explanatory, that you feel that this is a real biography, that this really could have happened. A funny aspect that I was not a fan of at first but grew to like is the footnotes. Grahame-Smith adds in footnotes, explaining small details and giving his thoughts. An important one to note was his making a point how Abe’s language changes as he grows older and more haunted. This was really interesting to read through and notice how he reacted in certain situations and the words he would use.

Now, I have to mention one of my favorite parts of this story. We have a wonderful chapter explaining how Abe met Mary Todd and courted her. This felt like a romantic scene come to life. If you’re a fan of “Hamilton”, think the two scenes that incorporate “Helpless” and “Satisfied”, when Eliza and Angelica meet Alexander for the first time. Actually, a lot of this book reminded me of “Hamilton” in a way.

An element of this book that threw me at first was the incorporation of other famous historical people and events that I would not have expected. In this journey, we see historical representations of Marie Laveau’s house, Edgar Allan Poe, John White from Roanoke, and more. We also have a very interesting explanation behind John Wilkes Booth. Also, in the absolute conclusion of the book, we see a familiar character from this story encounter another very interesting historical figure. Won’t spoil that.

In conclusion, I firmly believe this is a new favorite book for me. I enjoyed this so much more than I really thought I would. This is a fantastic edition into the ‘alternate history’ / fantasy / science fiction genre, and I cannot wait to read the other books by this author. Read this as soon as possible. By candlelight, at midnight. But have a wooden stake next to you, just in case...

"A Good Enough Mother"

“A Good Enough Mother”

Written by Bev Thomas

Review written by Diana Iozzia

“A Good Enough Mother” is one of those cautionary tale type thrillers. We have a main character who becomes quickly wrapped up in a dangerous scenario, that they could have easily prevented, while the villain is enjoying this manipulative, cat-and-mouse game, seeing how far they can push boundaries before the final culmination of the story.

This book is the first that I have read by Beverly Thomas, and I thoroughly enjoyed maybe 50 percent of it. Beverly Thomas has a great way of writing a dramatic narrative, but perhaps the actual plot became a bit too muddled for me. Her main character, who is absolutely a protagonist and an antagonist in one, Ruth, is a director in a mental health ward of an English hospital. Ruth was troubled, by her son disappearing in his early twenties, and now is disturbed by a new patient of hers that is very similar to her son.

Now, we are introduced into further depths of the mental health facility, providing sharp insight into the shortcomings of the United Kingdom’s National Health Service (the NHS). The most interesting aspects of this novel are Ruth’s communications with patients, her work colleagues, and about the NHS in general. We are provided interesting fictional accounts and patients that Ruth has tried to help, with certain patients being failed by her. She is a very sympathetic character, but she makes incredibly unethical choices. She does not call the police, does not contact any emergency room doctors, and leaves herself in highly precarious positions with him alone. Every part of us is screaming, “My God, woman, just stop doing what you’re doing and call for more help!” As she becomes more unraveled by this patient, Dan, the stakes become higher and higher. Ruth connects with her son’s child and the child’s mother, her job is at risk, and we are safe to assume that her life could be at risk by this mentally unstable patient.

I think that creating a narrative that includes a mental unstable patient as the villain could set a negative precedent. Yes, they exist. Yes, they have been used in thriller storylines since the beginning of hospitalization in literature. Some of the great classic thrillers include this premise, but it always feels a little off. Is this a negative portrayal of the mental illnesses described?

To continue, I’d like to touch on the writing style and mechanics of the book, rather than just the plot. When reading this novel, I felt myself engaged in it about half the time. There would be some interesting chapters sprinkled in, but then there would be endless portions to read through. I personally found Beverly Thomas’s writing wasted on this “psychological thriller”. However, I believe she could create fantastic hospital drama fiction, like “Grey’s Anatomy” instead. I felt this story to be very predictable in a sense, without any engaging red herrings or twists. There is a shocking aspect to the climax, but I was sorely disappointed with it.  I felt that this book had a very unsatisfying end, due to a main aspect of the conclusion, but I did not feel myself asking for more. Well, move on to the next book.

In conclusion, this book was a mixed bag for me. I liked the medical aspects of it, but the psychological thriller and villain aspects of it wore me down. I found myself struggling through the book, rather than engaged and not wanting to put it down. I do recommend this author, because of her writing style and the NHS commentary. I would like to read more by her.

I received a free advance proof of this book from Faber & Faber for reviewing purposes. Thank you to the publisher for the opportunity.

"Cemetery Girl"

“Cemetery Girl”

Written by David Bell

Review written by Diana Iozzia

“Cemetery Girl” is one of the many books that David Bell has written about young female teens returning home after a tragic event. In this circumstance, father and mother, Tom and Abby, have become ships passing in the night, after their young daughter disappeared four years ago. Tom and Abby still hold out hope that she will return, but they are taking actions to move on. They hold a memorial service and adopt out her childhood pet, in hopes that moving on will be swift.

Tom keeps in contact with a lawyer, who gives him advice on how to hold out hope that Caitlin will return. She calls him, saying that she knows someone who believes she has seen Caitlin. Hot on this trail, Tom stops at nothing to find Caitlin. After she is found, all those around Caitlin notice a change. Abby becomes suspicious that Tom’s brother, a strange bird, who was one suspected of hurting Caitlin, could still be the perpetrator. We eventually learn all about who took Caitlin, why, and how she reacts to returning home.

I was not impressed with this thriller. It seemed very cut and dry, very stereotypical of this type of thriller. The overprotecting father who is unhinged, who will make unethical choices to protect his daughter. David Bell has written these characters time and time again, but they do not feel refreshing. I felt that this book was not very exciting, and I felt I had to push myself to read it.

Furthermore, I did enjoy the ending. We have a very unsettling, yet interesting choice for the characters. I felt that this ending was not satisfying, in the sense that the characters are at peace. It’s dark and foreboding, and I enjoyed that unexpected ‘resolution’. Other than that, I really would not recommend this. I would just advise to skip it and read his other book, “Bring Her Home” instead. It has a very similar plot, and I enjoyed that one more.

"Final Girls"

"Final Girls"

Written by Riley Sager

Review written by Diana Iozzia

"Final Girls" is a unique thriller, telling the perspective of a ‘final girl’, the teen / young adult who survives the end of a massacre. In cheesier horror movies like “Scream”, “Nightmare on Elm Street”, “I Know What You Did Last Summer”, “Halloween”, the female survivor who defeats the mass murdering male villain is praised for enduring and making it to the end of the film. Often, films like this are parts of franchises, in which the ‘final girl’ continues to survive, throughout at least two or three films. Riley Sager offers us our main character, Quincy, who has survived a group murder at a cabin in the woods.

The story takes place in two separate time periods. As each chapter alternates, the first perspective shows Quincy and her friends at the cabin, as we bite our nails waiting for the killing to start. The second perspective is about ten years later. Quincy was the sole survivor, so she is a neurotic and morally ambiguous woman. She works as a dessert blogger, which was pretty interesting. I enjoy when characters in psychological thrillers have hobbies, so we can relax and read a little about that, instead of chasing back and forth through action sequences.

However, Quincy’s life in the present isn’t just peachy. In the media coverage after the Pine Cottage murders that she survived, the newscasters named her a ‘Final Girl’, also covered with two other girls who have lived through similar events. In the present, Quincy is met by one of the girls, Samantha Boyd, who now goes by Sam. In addition, it has also been released that the other girl of the three has committed suicide, but the police are possibly investigating it further.

Under the influence of Sam, Quincy morphs into a “Mr. Hyde”-like personality. She is reckless and dangerous, injuring herself and others. She makes crazy decisions and becomes unhinged. Sam is clearly unhinged as well, leading us to question her morals and why she decided to seek out Quincy. As the plot progresses, we start to doubt everyone and everything, finding it difficult to trust any word or thought of each character. We also wonder, is Quincy still in danger?

Another aspect of the book that I really enjoyed is the links between each chapter. They are often small and subtle but great to notice if you can. Each “past” perspective has a parallel in the “present” in a clever way. For example, Quincy’s ‘blood-drenched arms’ during the killings links to “her hands covered in frosting” in the present.

To be honest, I was not the biggest fan of the two twists. One I saw coming from the first meeting of one character. The second twist was niggling in the back of my mind, but I hoped that I was not right. However, I still think that I truly loved this book, and the read is certainly worth it. Although I was not hoping for the second twist, I think it was done especially well. It makes complete sense, offering no plot holes, and was really jaw-dropping. I said to myself, “I can’t believe that just happened”. The climax is also incredible, giving a new meaning to ‘final girl’.

In conclusion, READ THIS BOOK. This was my first experience reading Riley Sager, and I cannot wait to read his next books. This became a new favorite.

"A Stranger on the Beach"

“A Stranger on the Beach”

Written by Michele Campbell

Review written by Diana Iozzia

So, I have a lot to say about this book, but I think the first thing that I have to say about it is that if you’re not into reading about sex, rape, strange violence, victim blaming, obsession, unreliable narrators, confusing and conflicting perspectives, and unsettled conclusions, then I’m not quite sure this book is for you. I am not really sure for which type of reader this thriller is for, because it is so unbelievably confusing and muddled, but in a really good way? This is a really hard book to gauge, but I enjoyed it.

To start with, we meet Caroline, who is a very conceited, frazzled, and downright shady woman, struggling with the collapse of her marriage. Then, we meet Aidan, a super-sexy (I guess) madman who obsesses over Caroline after they have a weird, one-night-stand. Then, we have the dual perspectives of Caroline narrating her story, while we have an impersonal omniscient narrator telling us about Aidan. This type of narration style already makes us question: so, is Caroline’s side of the story trustworthy? Who should we believe?

As soon as we begin the book, we are launched into this scandalous (and really gross) one-night-stand. I’ve never been a fan of sex crudely described in books, but this really detracted my interest. As the narratives continue to provide details for us, we see how events experienced by the same characters are told to us differently. Aidan’s perspective makes him seem protective and caring for Caroline and her daughter, wanting to protect her from her horrible and possibly threatening husband. Meanwhile, Caroline tells us how Aidan is manipulative and crazy, trying to rape her and abuse her, while being a severe threat to her family and her. I think based on experience, beliefs, and morals, readers will sympathize with either character, perhaps both sometimes. I felt myself trusting Aidan more, because Caroline’s perspective was told to us by her. I wondered if she was an unreliable narrator throughout the story.

To continue, I felt that this was a highly engaging and gripping book. I really did not want to put it down. It really reminded me of “You” by Caroline Kepnes, with us possibly sympathizing with the villain. Or I did, at least. I felt that this book had great descriptions, dialogue, side characters, and more. I felt that when reading Michele Campbell’s second book, “She Was the Quiet One”, the narrative styles were similar. You can never be sure who to trust and when to trust them. The trust shifts back and forth after every plot reveal and encounter.

In conclusion, we have a satisfying ending, but we also are highly confused. Are we right? Were we wrong? Who should be punished?

I received a complimentary advance reader’s copy from St. Martin’s Press for reading and reviewing purposes.

"Never Have I Ever"

“Never Have I Ever”
Written by Joshilyn Jackson
Review written by Diana Iozzia



“Never Have I Ever” was a domestic thriller with an interesting concept: a woman is blackmailed by a con artist, who knows far too much about a horrific secret. It’s not a surprisingly new concept, but I still enjoyed the book. This story is usually told with male characters, so it was refreshing to have both characters, flawed and realistic, to be women.

There is a book club meeting in a cozy little town. Our main character, narrator Amy, instantly dislikes a new member to the book club, a drifter who is renting a house on the street. Roux is confident, sexy, and irritating. She commands the center of attention, shaking up the lives of these neighborhood women. This was a very soapy, "Desperate Housewives" type of book, also similar to Liane Moriarty's works.

We soon are wrapped up in their game of cat and mouse, and boy, it’s a ride. I think this book was enjoyable, in the fun, summer vacation sort of way. Once you look too much into it, it’s not the best thriller I’ve ever read. I enjoyed the characters, the cunning dialogue, the laugh-out-loud arguments, and especially the intense show-downs. However, this ended in a very predictable way, which was not satisfying enough. There is also a really uncomfortable set of events including sexual abuse of children, which made the book extra disappointing to me.

I felt that this was a very base level thriller, with all of the typical tropes and aspects. Unfortunately, nothing really wowed me. I felt the predictable nature to be a bit flat, the book stalling for me in some parts. I never felt that I just couldn’t put the book down or I was eagerly waiting to pick it back up again. The strange amount of intricate detail made the book feel endless, rather unique for the insight.

Lastly, the red herrings. There are too many to boot. I was able to predict the final big twist, but some of them were just unnecessary. I felt that there was too much detail to not question many of the characters’ secrets and motivations, so not much was left to the imagination. We do not feel clever for figuring out the truth. It just happens.

One last thing that I did like was the inclusion of the scuba scene. No more detail I will include, due to spoilers, but it was an intriguing scene that deserves some recognition.
In conclusion, I give this book 3 out of 5 stars. I felt that it had all of the typical makings for a domestic thriller, but it did not excite me any more than that. I would love to read more by Joshilyn Jackson and definitely give her other books a chance.

I received a complimentary advanced reader’s edition from the publisher in exchange for reading and reviewing purposes. Thank you to William Morrow.