Tropical Girl Reads

The clock ticks down in a heart-pounding crusade for justice

Susan Lentigo’s daughter was murdered twenty years ago—and now, at long last, this small-town waitress sets out on a road trip all the way from Upstate New York to North Dakota to witness the killer’s execution.

On her journey she discovers shocking new evidence that leads her to suspect the condemned man is innocent—and the real killer is still free. Even worse, her prime suspect has a young daughter who’s at terrible risk. With no money and no time to spare, Susan sets out to uncover the truth before an innocent man gets executed and another little girl is killed.

But the FBI refuses to reopen the case. They—and Susan’s own mother—believe she’s just having an emotional breakdown. Reaching deep, Susan finds an inner strength she never knew she had. With the help of two unlikely allies—a cynical, defiant teenage girl and the retired cop who made the original arrest—Susan battles the FBI to put the real killer behind bars. Will she win justice for the condemned man—and her daughter—at last?

No. of pages:- 304 pages

Publisher:- Oceanview Publishing

Date published:- will be published on September 7th 2021

Genre:- Psychological Thriller

Rating:- 4/5 stars

Here’s the thing–I did not expect this book to be really good.

A courageous heroine who after twenty years set on a journey from upstate New York to North Dakota to witness the death sentence of the man who killed her daughter some twenty years ago. However, on the journey, she finds a circumstantial evidence that seemed that the man who supposedly raped and murdered her daughter and who is behind the bars might be innocent and her daughter’s real killer might be still out. But none of them, the FBI agents and even her own mother wouldn’t believe her thinking she was still being emotional and delusional. But Susan is determined to prevent this innocent man from getting the death sentence and put the real man who is responsible behind the bars.

To me, this was somewhat an emotional read. Susan Lentigo seems to be a favorable and courageous character who would do anything to her daughter and so the character grew into me. The story is written in time span–from Present Day when Susan sets the journey to North Dakota to twenty yers ago that led her daughter Amy being murdered. The writing was flawless and engaging and the author did a good job drawing the reader to the story. I was so hooked into the book that I stayed up all night reading this book! The fact that the story is written in a realistic way that these things could happen in real life, where an innocent man could be sentenced to jail is too shocking and emotional to me. I heard this book might be made into a movie so looking forward for the movie as well.

Overall, this book is a heartbreaking, emotional read and quite unputdownable. Worth four stars.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Oceanview for the ARC. The review is based on my honest opinion only.

Matt Witten, a graduate of Amherst and Brandeis Universities, is a TV writer, novelist, playwright and screenwriter. His television writing includes such shows as House, Pretty Little Liars, and Law & Order. His TV scripts have been nominated for an Emmy and two Edgars, and he has written four mystery novels, winning a Malice Domestic award for best debut novel. He has also written stage plays and for national magazines.

The Necklace has been optioned for film by Appian Way and Cartel Pictures, with Leonardo DiCaprio attached as producer.

Eight strangers. One island. A secret you’d kill to keep.

When eight people arrive on the beautiful but remote Buidseach Island, they are ready for the challenge of a lifetime: to live alone for one year.

Eighteen months later, a woman is found in an isolated fishing village. She’s desperate to explain what happened to her. How the group fractured and friends became enemies. How they did what they must to survive until the boat came to collect them; how things turned deadly when the boat didn’t come.

But first she must come to terms with the devastating secret that left them stranded, and her own role in the events that saw eight arrive and only three leave…

A gripping, twisty page-turner about secrets, lies and survival at all costs. Perfect for fans of The Castaways, The Sanitorium and One by One.

No. of pages:- 400 pages

Date published:- Will be Published on 16th September 2021

Publisher:- Avon

Genre:- Psychological Thriller

Rating: – 4.5/5

If you were asked to live alone in an island with eight more people for one whole year, with no connection to the outside world, would you do it? This is what this story is about.

Maddy gets an opportunity to be a part of a show, where she along with seven other people–Zoe, Gill, Maxine, Duncan, Andrew, Frank and Shaun along with two camera men to spend one whole year in a remote island. But soon, while on the island, things take a sour turn with friends becoming enemies and one would do anything to survive in the remote island…even if it involves killing them…

The plot sounded interesting and intriguing and sounds so much like I am watching an episode of Lost! Maddy’s character actually grew into me–Maddy is socially awkward, introverted and into plants and botany with fair knowledge about the plants in the island and recently lost her parents who were very overprotective towards her. What was supposed to be a team work and developing friendships soon turned into sour and bitter enmity between the group, particularly towards Maddy who was soon casted out of the camp in the island. The descriptions and how the team members survive through eating plants, catching rabbits and eating fish all too well describe the life in an island so far from the outside world. There were twists and turns, with small portions dividing between the time spent on island and the interviewer doing a piece on how Maddy survived. Maddy certainly is an unreliable narrator with flaws so that makes this thriller more interesting and intriguing, I stayed up all night finishing the book, wondering what is going to happen next–quiet unputdownable and you would not be disappointed with the ending!

Overall, I really enjoyed reading thriller–an unputdownable twisty thriller and quiet an emotional one as well that will make you stay up all night!

Many thanks to Netgalley and Avon for the ARC. The review is based on my honest opinion only.

Sarah Goodwin is a novelist who grew up in rural Hertfordshire. She was raised on ‘The Good Life’ ‘Anne of Green Gables’ and ‘Little House on the Prairie’ by her parents, who turned a blind eye to her dabbling in herbal medicine, feminism, eco-warrior ideals and witchcraft. They were understandably unsurprised when she developed the lifetime ambition of building a hut in the woods and living there like a soothsayer.

Her second preferred career, was author.

At Bath Spa University Sarah studied for a BA in Creative Writing and self-published many novels across various genres, including YA magical realism, contemporary women’s fiction, romance and horror.

Sarah graduated in 2014 with an MA in Creative Writing from Bath Spa University. After writing several historical novels, she decided to return to her roots and write instead about the wild, the darkness and survival, which led to her coming up with the idea for ‘Stranded’ which would become her first professionally published novel.

Her missing daughter was just the start of the nightmare

Twenty years ago, Christine Donovan took a call she should have ignored while shopping. In those few seconds while her back was turned, her toddler, Heidi, was kidnapped. She’s never been seen again.

Despite having two other children with husband Greg, Christine remains guilt-stricken that her neglect caused her child to be stolen, while haunted by a secret that consumes her.

Just as she takes measures to finally heal, a note is posted through her door, with the words she has always longed to hear: Heidi isn’t dead.

Christine might finally get the answers she craves – but what she doesn’t know is that finding her daughter will uncover dark secrets close to home.

In seeking the truth, Christine might destroy everything that she loves … so how far is she willing to go to find Heidi?

With a truly jaw-dropping end twist, She’s Mine is a dark, scandalous, and gripping read from a major new talent in psychological thriller writing. For fans of Harriet Tyce, C.L. Taylor and Apple Tree Yard.

No. of pages:- 294 pages

Date published:- will be published August 18th 2021

Publisher:- Hera

Genre:- Psychological Thriller

Rating:- 4/5 stars

What an unexpected thriller!!

Christine Donovan has been living with guilt–because of her neglect and a secret love affair, she lost her own daughter Heidi. Now many years later, her marriage to her husband is strained, her two children she had with her husband Greg seemed to be hating her…and she got a confirmation that Heidi was very much alive.

Initially, the story started out a bit slow and multiple characters have given their perspectives–we read from the points of views of Christine, Miranda and Greg and a woman named Heidi. who happened to be Christine’s daughter. so to be honest it was a bit confusing at first. However, the unexpected twist and turn that was revealed in the ending was so good! I did not expect that type of ending! The writing was good, and the author did a good job of drawing the reader! The characters however are not likable in my opinion, particularly Christine’s character but nevertheless it was actually a good thriller!

This book worth four stars! Many thanks to Netgalley and Hera for the ARC. The review is based on my honest opinion only.

A. A. Chaudhuri is a former City lawyer. After gaining a degree in History at University College London, she later trained as a solicitor and worked for several major London law firms before leaving law to pursue her passion for writing. She is the author of The Scribe and The Abduction, books 1 and 2 of her Kramer & Carver legal thriller series featuring the feisty Maddy Kramer, also published in audio. Her first psychological thriller with Hera Books, She’s Mine, will be published in 18th August 2021. Represented by Annette Crossland of A for Authors Literary Agency, she lives in Surrey with her family, and loves films, all things Italian and a good margarita!

#1 Amazon Australia Amateur Sleuth Mysteries (Aug ’19); #1 Amazon Canada Women Sleuth Mysteries; (Aug ’19) top 10 Amazon UK Legal crime thrillers (Aug ’19); #1 Amazon Australia Legal Thrillers (November ’19)

How well do you know the woman next door? 

When Stina and Jack move to an old rural cottage, they’re hoping for a fresh start. Their new home is run-down compared to their neighbour’s, but generous Mrs Barley quickly becomes a friend.  
 
Until Stina sees a mysterious figure in the widow’s garden, and her happy new life begins to unravel. And when she hears strange noises in the night, she is forced to question if Mrs Barley is what she seems. 
 
Why do the other villagers whisper about her? Why is she so eager to help the couple? And what is she hiding in her picture-perfect home? 

No. of pages:- 368 pages

Date published:- will be published on September 2nd 2021

Publisher:- Avon

Genre:- Psychological Thriller

Rating:- 2.5/5 stars

Here comes my most unpopular review…

Stina and Jack moved to a quiet village hut to start their lives fresh. They meet a new neighbor, Mrs. Bradley who seemed to be friendly with the couple. Until Stina sees a mysterious man coupled with the noises coming from the Bradley’s house.

OK, the synopsis initially found it appealing but however as I read, the plot was boring, the story in general as a whole was boring to me that I almost DNF.. It was slow and I just only skimmed through the book. I didn’t really like the main character, Stina much. The only thing I liked about this book was the vivid descriptions of the village that makes the reader feel like they are in the village and the writing was ok.

Overall, this book worth 2.5 stars. Many thanks to Netgalley and Avon for the ARC. The review is based on my honest opinion only.

Anne Wyn Clark lives in the UK, in the Midlands, with her husband, son and a feisty chinchilla. She has three (now grown-up) children and five grandchildren. She is particularly partial to Italian food, decent red wine (or any coloured wine come to that…) and cake – and has been known to over-indulge in each on occasions. She is passionate about animals and their welfare. Whilst she has enjoyed writing for many years, a love of all things gothic inspired her to try her hand at producing something dark and twisty, culminating in the haunting Whisper Cottage.

A mother will risk everything to find her missing daughter in this twisty thriller from the author of Girl Gone Mad.

“Sometimes teenagers run away…Give her a few days. She’ll be back.”

That’s what the police tell Jessica Moore when her seventeen-year-old daughter, Wyn, vanishes. All signs point to this being true. But days become weeks. Weeks become months. And Jessica begins to fear the terrible truth—that she may never see her daughter again.

Then, one year later, when all hope seems lost, Jessica gets a flurry of text messages from Wyn that freeze her blood: mom. please help. i think he’s going to kill me. But Wyn’s terrified plea comes with a warning not to call the police. Her kidnapper wears a badge.

As Jessica’s fears are raised again, so are the stakes. Delving into the months leading up to Wyn’s disappearance, Jessica stumbles upon information that could put her own life in danger. With each revelation, the nightmare deepens. Now she must decide just how far she’ll go to bring her daughter home.

No. of pages:- 366 pages

Date published:- 10th August 2021

Publisher:- Lake Union

Genre:- Women’s Fiction

Rating:- 3.5/5

I thought this book literally made me cry. It’s not a thriller, but it’s about a mother who is searching for her daughter who went missing almost a year ago, on the day of the pep rally in school. After a year, Jessica gets a series of messages from her daughter, asking her to help her, worried that her abductor was going to kill her. Then Jessica enlist the help of her husband and the FBI agent to track down her daughter’s whereabouts.

OK, the story divides between the day of the prep rally leading to Bronwyn’s disappearance and the present day and is told from the perspectives of Jessica, the mother and Bronwyn, the daughter. The story was a bit slow at first but then gradually, I got hooked into the story by the middle of the story. I didn’t like the characters much–particularly the main character but in general, none of the characters appealed to me. What got me interested in this book was when Bronwyn sends the message to her mother, asking her to help her and from then, I really wanted to find out what really happened to Bronwyn. The ending to me was bit sad and emotional, wondering how mean and selfish people can really be, particularly in the small town. Overall, it was an OK book, to me, not too bad, but I wouldnt’ particularly call this book thrilling.

Thank you Netgalley and Lake Union for the ARC. The review is based on my honest opinion only.