Tropical Girl Reads

IT WAS THE LAST THING HE TOLD ME: PROTECT HER

Before Owen Michaels disappears, he manages to smuggle a note to his new wife, Hannah: protect her. Hannah knows exactly who Owen needs her to protect – his sixteen-year-old daughter, Bailey, who lost her mother tragically as a child. And who wants absolutely nothing to do with her new stepmother.

As her increasingly desperate calls to Owen go unanswered, his boss is arrested for fraud and the police start questioning her, Hannah realises that her husband isn’t who he said he was. And that Bailey might hold the key to discovering Owen’s true identity, and why he disappeared. Together they set out to discover the truth. But as they start putting together the pieces of Owen’s past, they soon realise that their lives will never be the same again…

No. of pages:- 319 pages

Date published:- May 4th 2021

Publisher:- Viper

Genre:- Psychological Thriller

Rating:- 4.5 /5 stars

This was the one single thing he told her before he disappeared — Protect Her.

Amazon and Goodreads rated this book as one of the best thrillers with the book soon will be made into a TV series. I only have one word–this book is definitely worth to be made into a TV series.

Hannah is a forty something year old woman married to Owen and living in a floating house in Sausalito, California with Owen’s sixteen year old daughter Bailey. Hannah is trying hard to maintain a good relationship with Bailey. But one day, the place, called the Shop was raided by FBI and the police and made to the national news, with the owner being arrested, Owen goes missing as he is an employee of the Shop. Not only that, he leaves a single message to Hannah with two words – Protect Her. And he leaves Bailey a bag filled with money. With no idea to what happened to Owen and where he disappeared, Hannah decides to try to find answers with the help of her friend Jake in New York. But Hannah makes a startling discovery–Owen is not who he really is. In fact, there was no Owen who graduated from Princeton or lived in Seattle and this makes Hannah feel as if she really knows her husband or not. Realizing that Owen has some connections with Austin, Texas, Hannah along with Bailey goes to Austin to find the real truth.

The plot is intense and gripping–I felt as if I was watching a cat and mouse chase game and watching it on the TV instead of reading in the book! That’s how I feel as Hannah is looking around to find the truth about Owen. The story changes back and forth from past to the present–the past being the first time Hannah met Owen in New York, and small, small things about Owen that Hannah has overlooking in the past but is now willing to look at it in a different angle. And besides FBI, what does U.S. Marshal, Grady wants with Owen? I like how the author manage to grab the reader into the story, keeping the reader on the edge of the seat with a heartbeat racing to find out who is the real Owen. Kudos to the original and unique plot! The problem with the plot is not too realistic to me and as I said earlier, I felt this was like a fast paced action packed movie with twists and turns you didn’t expect coming! (which is of course a good thing!) I also think the ending was a bit too rushed. I actually yearned for more!

Now about the characters, Hannah is seemingly a strong protagonist and it was nice of seeing a strong female protagonist. She is desperately trying hard to get along with Bailey and would do anything to protect her and find the secret that Owen has left behind. Bailey sounds a bit spoilt and whiny though I suppose that’s what most teenagers are though I do like how their relationship developed slowly because of this situation.

The writing was truly engaging–it was actually a unique writing with no chapter numbers, except the chapter is written more like a title, which is to me is original as I have never seen a book starting with a title and not as a chapter. The suspense in the book was there, making the reader feel interested and keeping the reader at the edge of the seat. I couldn’t even put this book down and I devoured this book as I was so focused on the book.

Overall, this is a fast paced action packed thriller, unputdownable filled with twists and turns that you wouldn’t expect, and would take you on a roller coaster ride!!! Worth 4.5 stars.

Laura Dave is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Last Thing He told Me, Eight Hundred Grapes and other novels. Her work has been published in eighteen countries and five of her novels, including The Last Thing He Told Me, have been optioned for film and television. She resides in Santa Monica.

Have you ever played two truths and a lie?

It was Emma’s first summer away from home. She made friends. She played games. And she learned how to lie.

Then three of her new friends went into the woods and never returned. . .

Now, years later, Emma has been asked to go back to the newly re-opened Camp Nightingale. She thinks she’s laying old ghosts to rest but really she’s returning to the scene of a crime.

The gripping new thriller from the bestselling author of Finale Girls – perfect for fans of A. J. Finn’s The Woman in the Widow

*Don’t miss Riley Sager’s new thriller, LOCK EVERY DOOR. Available to pre-order*

Because Emma’s innocence might be the biggest lie of all. . .

No. of pages:- 378 pages

Published:- July 12th 2018

Publisher- Ebury

Genre:- Psychological Thriller

Rating:-

Do you want to play Two Truths and a Lie? Well here’s mine

1. This book is intriguing and intense
2. Riley Sager is a good thriller writer
3. I hate reading.

You would have figured out which one is a lie

This is the second book I have read from Riley Sager, the first book being Lock Every Doors. After reading Lock Every Door and getting hooked into horror/thriller genre, I decided to try out Last Time I Lied, another phenomenal thriller book by Riley Sager.

Fifteen years ago, at Camp Nightingale three girls, Vivian, Allison and Natalie disappeared one night and never returned. Emma Davis, the fourth roommate is living in nightmare since then at the disappearance of these three girls,. Now present day, Emma is a successful artist when she was invited to join Camp Nightingale, which was reopened again after fifteen years. But was it a mistake to return back to the same place? Is Emma lying?

The story is told from Emma’s point of view dividing between the present day and fifteen years ago when she was rooming with Vivian, Allison and Natalie, the girls who disappeared under mysterious circumstances. Emma sounds to be a paranoid, confused and anxious character, that makes her a bit unreliable as a character as well as intriguing at the same time–is Emma really innocent as she claims she is about the event that happened fifteen years ago? Coupled with the crime that took place is another folklore going around the camp about the fact that the Lake Midnight used to be a village and that the curse of the villagers is haunting the camp. So it is kind of intriguing and intense so that made the plot really good.

The plot of the story, just like Lock Every Door is interesting and haunting. Initially what would have thought as a haunted story soon turns into an unexpected thriller that the reader was made surprised in the book.

Though the first chapter was a bit boring, it got more interesting and unputdownable when Emma finally reaches the Camp Nightingale. Truth to be told, this story slightly reminds me of the movie Friday 13th (as it is near the lake that is supposedly haunted) but the author did a good job drawing the reader into the story and making the reader feel nervous, anxious and frightened all at the same time! Writing was really good!

By the end of the book, I was so hooked into the story that I couldn’t wait what the ending was going to be. The story is filled with OMG moments, twists and turns that you wouldn’t expect. Overall, I truly enjoyed reading this book!

Riley Sager has officially become one of my favorite thriller authors and so I cannot wait to read more of his books! This book worth four stars! Completely worth it and can guarantee that this will keep you up all night and make you feel scared and intrigued at the same time!

Riley Sager is the pseudonym of a former journalist, editor and graphic designer. Now a full-time author, Riley’s first thriller, FINAL GIRLS, became a national and international bestseller that’s been translated into more than 25 languages. His subsequent novels, THE LAST TIME I LIED, LOCK EVERY DOOR and HOME BEFORE DARK, were instant New York Times bestsellers. His newest thriller, SURVIVE THE NIGHT, will be released in June.

A native of Pennsylvania, Riley now lives in Princeton, New Jersey. When he’s not working on his next novel, he enjoys reading, cooking and going to the movies as much as possible. His favorite film is “Rear Window.” Or maybe “Jaws.” But probably, if he’s being honest, “Mary Poppins.”

Her dream wedding might become a nightmare

Tara Moore feels like the luckiest girl in the world. She’s finally found the man of her dreams, and after the fairytale wedding, she’s leaving Dublin to start a new life in Australia.

Until Avril Ryan’s body is discovered in a house that Tara lived in three years ago.

Tara doesn’t know Avril, so why was she the last person Avril called? How has she become the number one suspect?

But what the police don’t know is that Tara’s past conceals her own dangerous secrets. And as the detectives start digging and old friendships come to light, Tara begins to wonder who she can trust.

Will her wedding day become her last?

A twisty, unputdownable psychological thriller packed with suspense. Fans of T.M. Logan and Samantha Hayes will be completely gripped.

Publisher:- Hera Books

Date published:- will be published on 8th July 2021

Genre:- Psychological Thriller

Rating:-

The second book I have read from this author and an intense psychological thriller.

Tara is planning her dream wedding–she was going to get married soon and move with her new husband Lucas to Australia. But then the discovery of a body in Huntley Lodge, where long time ago, Tara shared the lodge with her friend, Faye and Andrieu during their college years prompted the police to question Tara. The victim’s name is Avril Ryan and according to the police, Tara was the last person she had called before she was murdered. But despite the police’s suspicion, Tara has never met Avril Ryan nor ever met and wondered how on earth this girl got her number…

The story is told from the perspectives of Tara and Faye–Tara works as a barista in a cafe while Faye is a doctor. While Tara sounds friendly and a bit naive, Faye on the other hand sounds like a disturbing character with a vendetta against Tara for something Tara had done during their college years. We do not know which character is telling the truth so the unpredictability of the characters is something I like. However, since there were not much suspects, the one who actually murdered Avril Ryan was obvious and also not much of twists and turns you would expect in a fast paced thriller. Nonetheless, the writing was good, the author did a good job drawing the reader into the story. I also would say that the plot is also good as the thought of a discovery of a dead body actually intrigued me.

Characters wise, I think I like Tara, though despite the fact that in the beginning I couldn’t stand Faye’s character, I started to like her towards the end.

Overall, this is a good thriller that will keep you hooked into the story–worth four stars!

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

Two newlyweds. One remote island. It was meant to be the perfect escape…

Newly-weds Liam and Laura are spending their honeymoon in paradise: just the two of them on a remote island off the coast of Scotland.

But they soon discover that all is not as it seems, and the island has a tragic past. And they can’t shake the feeling of being watched…

When one morning, they wake to find a message scratched into the window, their worst fears are confirmed. They aren’t alone on the island. And this stranger wants them dead.

…but it became the perfect nightmare.

If you enjoy reading twisty psychological thrillers that leave your heart racing, then you’ll love The Stalker from bestselling author Sarah Alderson.

No. of pages:- 368 pages

Publisher:- Avon publishers:

Date published:- will be published on 8th July 2021

Genre:- Psychological Thriller

Rating:-

I only have one word for this book…WOW

The story starts with two newlyweds, Liam and Laura spending their honeymoon in a remote Scottish island all by themselves–a cottage and a castle that was ruined by a fire years ago. Yet what seemingly a quiet honeymoon soon turned to a nightmare when both of them realized that someone else is also in this remote island with them. And there’s a dark forbidding history lurking in the island…

Let’s start with the plot–the plot of the story was great! Intriguing, engaging and for a moment, I thought I was reading a horror story–I had the feeling of horror when I was reading the book and felt like watching a horror movie! The story was intense, the author did a good job hooking the reader into the story that for a moment, I simply couldn’t put the book down as I was so hooked into the book! Then towards the ending, the story got more and more intense with the moments of OMG moments and then comes the most unexpected and twisted ending that I didn’t even see it coming! Really, the ending was so good and unexpected! I did not see that twist coming in the end.

The story was also short, fast paced and quick to read, and has all the qualities of a good thriller book I usually would find in a good thriller! This author did not disappoint me and I am looking forward to read more of her books!

Overall, this book gave me a rollercoaster horror ride that kept me awake at night to finish the book–unputdownable and fast paced thriller with a twisted unexpected ending you didn’t expect–worth five stars!

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

If this book appeals to you, you can pre-order your copy now on Amazon!

Sarah is a British born, LA based screenwriter and author.

Having spent most of her life in London, Sarah quit her job in the non profit sector in 2009 and took off on a round the world trip with her husband and toddler daughter on a mission to find a new place to call home.

She finished her first novel, HUNTING LILA, just before they left the UK, wrote the sequel on the beach in India, and had signed a two book deal with Simon & Schuster by the time they reached Bali. After living there for five years, during which time she wrote another ten books, she and her family made the move to California.

Her first non-fiction book, CAN WE LIVE HERE, based on her family’s travels around the world to find a new home, was published in 2015.

While now writing predominantly for TV and film, Sarah remains a prolific author, writing women’s fiction under the name Mila Gray. Her novels in this genre include the #1 bestselling COME BACK TO ME, STAY WITH ME and RUN AWAY WITH ME.

Her adult psychological thrillers include: FRIENDS LIKE THESE, IN HER EYES and THE WEEKEND AWAY, which is soon to be a Netflix movie.

Her books have appeared in translation in Germany, Mexico, Brazil, France, Italy, Portugal, Russia and Poland.

You can find her on Instagram @sarahaldersonauthor, Twitter (@sarahalderson) and at http://www.sarahalderson.com

I can see her through the glass door. She’s smaller in real life than I expected. She looks the exact opposite of the type of woman that might murder her husband.

Everyone’s heard of Simone Fischer. The young mother accused of killing her husband in cold blood, one sunny afternoon, while their son played in the room next door.

So when journalist Esme secures an exclusive interview with her it feels like the opportunity of a lifetime. Simone has remained silent since her husband’s death but after a decade in prison, she is willing to talk to Esme. And Esme, recently freed from her own toxic marriage, is confident she can get Simone to open up.

At their first meeting, when Esme sees Simone sitting across the table from her in jeans and a lemon tunic top, she is stuck by her ordinariness. Then Simone begins to tell her story of an abusive relationship where she was a prisoner in her own home, and Esme decides that the truth needs to come out.

But not everyone is pleased that Esme is telling Simone’s story. And when Esme’s beloved sister is left for dead in a nearby wood, Esme’s life begins to unravel. Forced to question what Simone has told her, she can’t help but wonder if murder was the only way out of Simone’s marriage. Why has it taken Simone so long to tell the world the truth? And will the consequences be devastating for Esme?

No. of pages:- 370 pages

Publisher:- Bookouture

Date published:- will be published on 1st July 2021

Genre:- Psychological Thriller

Rating:- 3.5 stars

This is the third book of KL Slater I have read and so since I was satisfied with the two previous books I have read from this author, I didn’t hesitate when I requested a copy of her new novel, The Evidence.

Though the plot line was good, I must say, this book gave me mixed feelings–a bit of disappointment coupled with it was OK mood.

Esme Fox is covering a podcast based on Simone Fischer who killed her husband Grant some fifteen years ago. She wanted to air Simone’s version of what really happened and also know that Simone was a victim of domestic abuse. While busy working with her podcast, she was having relationship problems with Owen who refuses to move out of their house, and dealing with after math of her son’s Zachary’s accident. At the same time, many people didn’t want her to do the podcast based on Simone Fischer. So when her sister, Michelle was found nearly beaten to death in the woods, Esme’s life began to change.

Personally, I think the plot was good. However, I didn’t find it appealing and intriguing like I did in her previous books nor I found it that fast paced. I found it a bit boring, a bit predictable as I know what is going to happen next and honestly it was a bit boring to me as well. However, there were some twists and turns and by the middle of the book, the plot thickened and got interesting making the reader hooked into the story. The characters were OK, and I am not sure why the author included Justine as a different chapter (won’t tell much in the review but by the end, I thought it was unnecessary for the author to use Justine)

Overall, this was an OK thriller–worth three stars

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

Kim is the number one bestselling author of fifteen psychological crime thrillers. She has sold over two million copies of her books worldwide. She has also written four Carnegie-nominated Young Adult novels as Kim Slater for Macmillan Children’s Books. Kim has an MA in Creative Writing and lives with her husband in Nottingham, England.

The first book in a new culinary cozy series full of sharp humor and delectable dishes—one that might just be killer….

When Lila Macapagal moves back home to recover from a horrible breakup, her life seems to be following all the typical rom-com tropes. She’s tasked with saving her Tita Rosie’s failing restaurant, and she has to deal with a group of matchmaking aunties who shower her with love and judgment. But when a notoriously nasty food critic (who happens to be her ex-boyfriend) drops dead moments after a confrontation with Lila, her life quickly swerves from a Nora Ephron romp to an Agatha Christie case.

With the cops treating her like she’s the one and only suspect, and the shady landlord looking to finally kick the Macapagal family out and resell the storefront, Lila’s left with no choice but to conduct her own investigation. Armed with the nosy auntie network, her barista best bud, and her trusted Dachshund, Longanisa, Lila takes on this tasty, twisted case and soon finds her own neck on the chopping block…

No. of pages:- 330 pages

Publisher:- Berkley Publisher

Date Published:- May 4th 2021

Genre:- Asian American Literature/ Cozy Culinary Mystery

Rating:-

Again, the book cover made me get attracted to this book and so I pre-ordered this book on Amazon and finally got the book!! This is also the first time I am reading a book written by a Filipino American so it was actually a great change from the books I have been reading.

Lila is working in her aunt’s Filipino restaurant in Shady Falls and is determined to save the restaurant which is on the verge of closing. But when the food critic aka her ex boyfriend Damian dies in the restaurant and the police find that he was murdered with an arsenic poison, things start changing. And the worst thing is she becomes the number one suspect in the murder case after the police finds bags of drugs and arsenic poison in her locker of the restaurant.

Determined to save her name and the restaurant, along with her long time best friend Adeena sets to find the real murderer–her aunt gives her a list of suspects, all restaurants that are given bad reviews by Damian and becomes the Nancy Drew as she tries to find who the real culprit is.

Let’s talk about the plot first–the plot was interesting. I have read some cozy culinary mystery books before and so this book fits perfectly with that genre. The writing was good and engaging with some humorous tints in it. What I like about this book is the diversity which I rarely finds in the books–though the main character is a Filipino, many of the characters are of different ethnic backgrounds from White, Black, Hispanic, Asian to Indians which makes it more thrilling to read. The characters are all mainly likable particularly the main character Lila and her best friend Adeena, not to mention, Lila’s dog, Nisa.

But what makes this book more delicious is the descriptions of the food that makes the reader feel hungry! At the beginning of the book is the Filipino names of food and the descriptions of each of the food so that makes the reader like me (who is also a foodie) to feel hungry. Not only that, with the American background in the story, I also learned a little bit about the Filipino culture, and of course tits and bits of Tagalog as well! Though the beginning was a bit boring, towards the middle and up to the end, the story got interesting and engaging with the mystery and food mingling together!

Overall I give this book as four stars! A good thriller, unputdownable with delicious Filipino meal that will not disappoint you in any way. Can’t wait for the second book of the series!

Mia P. Manansala (she/her) is a writer and book coach from Chicago who loves books, baking, and bad-ass women. She uses humor (and murder) to explore aspects of the Filipino diaspora, queerness, and her millennial love for pop culture.

A lover of all things geeky, Mia spends her days procrastibaking, playing JRPGs and dating sims, reading cozy mysteries, and cuddling her dogs Gumiho, Max Power, and Bayley Banks (bonus points if you get all the references).

Her debut novel, ARSENIC AND ADOBO, comes out May 4, 2021 with Berkley/Penguin Random House and is the first in the Tita Rosie’s Kitchen Mystery series.

Find her on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram: @MPMtheWriter