Tropical Girl Reads

Perfect town. Perfect homes. Perfect families. It’s enough to drive some women mad…

In a tale inspired by real events, pregnant journalist Joan Harken is cautiously excited to follow her fiancé back to his Minnesota hometown. After spending a childhood on the move and chasing the screams and swirls of news-rich city life, she’s eager to settle down. Lilydale’s motto, “Come Home Forever,” couldn’t be more inviting.

And yet, something is off in the picture-perfect village.

The friendliness borders on intrusive. Joan can’t shake the feeling that every move she makes is being tracked. An archaic organization still seems to hold the town in thrall. So does the sinister secret of a little boy who vanished decades ago. And unless Joan is imagining things, a frighteningly familiar figure from her past is on watch in the shadows.

Her fiancé tells her she’s being paranoid. He might be right. Then again, she might have moved to the deadliest small town on earth.

No. of pages – 347 pages

Date published:- January 1st 2021

Genre:- Thriller

The story is set somewhere in 1960’s. Joan and Deck move to Lilydale, Minnesota, from Minneapolis to live with Deck’s parents. Joan is pregnant and is actually a journalist. When she moves to Lilydale, the town is haunted by the missing case of a four year old, Paulie, who disappeared mysteriously back in 1944 and Paulie’s mother too disappeared and the house where Paulie lived with the mother was burned down. Then a boy who claimed to be Paulie returns back to this small town and Joan is asked to write the article. And Joan finds many disturbing things about this small town.

Since this was actually based on real events, the story itself intrigued me. However, the first part of the story was a bit boring but it got tad interesting towards the ending. The development of the story was a bit slow but the ending, there was this unexpected twist that I literally did not expect! Overall, it was actually a good thriller and the writing was good. I am not giving too much details about the story but there were some parts in the book, that was actually a bit disturbing and disgusting to read but nonetheless it was a good thriller. Worth four stars!

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the book. This review is based on my honest opinion.

Jessica (Jess) Lourey teaches, travels, and writes about secrets.

Jess is the Amazon Charts bestselling Lefty, Agatha, and Anthony-nominated author of nonfiction, YA adventure, magical realism, and crime fiction. She’s a tenured professor of writing and sociology, a recipient of The Loft’s Excellence in Teaching fellowship, a Psychology Today blogger, a TEDx presenter (check out her TEDx Talk to discover the surprising inspiration behind MAY DAY, her first published novel), and a leader of writing retreats for women and online creative writing classes for all.

She lives in Minneapolis with her family and foster cats (and occasional foster puppies, but man those goobers are a lot of work). You can find out more at jessicalourey.com.

(The UNSPEAKABLE THINGS epilogue lives here: http://jessicalourey.com/survey-two.)

Welcome to the neighborhood. Watch your husband, watch your friends, and watch your back.

Cat Winthorpe has worked hard to get what she has: a gorgeous home; social standing; and William, her successful, handsome husband. Then a friendly new couple moves into the estate next door. While cautious, a good neighbor like Cat greets them with open arms and warm hospitality.

Neena Ryder isn’t a fellow lady of leisure. A life coach with off-the-rack dresses, personal issues, and a husband who hasn’t delivered, she’s anxious to move up in the world. This beautiful new town is a step in the right direction. It’s also making Neena aware of what she doesn’t have. Namely, William. When Neena’s infatuation escalates into obsession, it’s just a matter of eliminating a few obstacles to get the life she wants. The life next door.

As Neena’s secret fixation grows, so does her friendship with Cat. But beneath their cordial interactions is a wealth of temptations, secrets, and toxic jealousy. For both women, the desire for a perfect life can turn perfectly dangerous.

No. of pages:- 291 pages

Date published:- December 1st 2020

Genre:- Psychological Thriller

I got this early copy from the publisher but I only finished reading this book now. So thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the book!

Cat and William Winthrop seemed to be having perfect married life when another couple, Matt and Neena Ryder moved into the house opposite of their house. And Neena is going to work for William’s company. While Cat is suspicious about Neena’s past, Neena has plans to seduce Cat’s husband, William.

The book is filled with drama and became intense towards the end. Though initially, it was a bit boring at first, it started to reach it’s climax by the middle of the book and towards the end. The writing was really good that the author did a good job keeping the reader into the story. The story is a bit realistic as well. The characters however are all detestable and unlikable–I am not sure if the author did it intentionally but none of the characters to me was likable. The ending was a bit sad. And it was actually a twisty suspense, something that I enjoyed reading.

Overall, I give this book as four stars! Quiet enjoyable and unputdownable that will keep you up all night!

A.R. Torre is a pseudonym for New York Times Bestselling Author Alessandra Torre. You can view Alessandra’s list of books through her Amazon Author page or by visiting AlessandraTorre.com.

The little boy played with his toy trains in the bedroom, keeping quiet so as not to wake his mother. He stayed silent as he watched his window creaking open and heard the whisper from outside. A minute later, Tommy and the trains were gone.

An unrelenting heatwave sweeps the country and starts a fire which uncovers the charred remains of a young woman. But when DI Eleanor Raven attends the post-mortem it reveals some disturbing details—the girl was dead long before the fire, her body had been lovingly preserved before being dressed up, her hair perfectly arranged, and a lime-green scarf knotted around her neck.

With little evidence surviving the fire, Eleanor and her team have no solid leads. But back on duty after six months’ enforced leave, Eleanor is determined to prove herself fit for service, and she won’t accept that this case could prove impossible.

Following a tenuous link to an old missing-persons case, Eleanor discovers the poor woman’s identity: Giselle Baker was a young dancer at a local bar before she disappeared two years ago, leaving behind a worried roommate and, concealed amongst her things, a curious wooden carving of a snake. Before Eleanor can uncover the significance of the toy though, another woman goes missing, and then, a little boy… It seems that someone is collecting a family for themselves.

As Eleanor battles her own demons, she pushes herself to the limit to find the killer. But her fight to save his last innocent victim may become a battle to save herself…

A totally gripping, fast-paced mystery thriller that will leave your jaw on the floor. The next rollercoaster read for fans of Lisa Regan, Angela Marsons and Robert Dugoni.

Perfect Little Dolls was previously published as The Vault.

No. of pages:- 289 pages

Date published:- 18th January 2021

Genre:- Mystery/Thriller

Thank You Netgalley and the publisher for the book! This review is based on my honest opinion.

This is the second book of the DI Eleanor Raven’s series but the first book I have read from the author. A burned body of a woman is found in a maintenance site and by investigating, the body belongs to a transgender person named Giselle who disappeared a few days ago. Then a little boy named Tommy also goes missing along with the trains, DI Raven and her partner must find the murderer before he attacks again.

This was to me a good thriller, quiet fast paced but to me some parts of the story was a bit boring. But it was actually a quick read. I am waiting to read more books from this author.

Worth Four stars!

Karen Long was born and raised in the English midlands, educated at Bangor University and taught English and Drama for fifteen years. During her teaching years she studied biology and neurology with the Open University and this interest in medicine, forensics and forensic psychology is reflected in her writing. She is an enthusiastic traveller and has spent time in Toronto, which became the backdrop and inspiration for The Safe Word.

She is a keen amateur naturalist with a deep and abiding love for the crow family. She has dedicated time, love and several fingers in an effort to rehabilitate crows, magpies, rooks and ravens.

You thought your little girl was safe at summer camp. You were wrong…

She drags her eyes open, realizing she’s starting to fade. Did she imagine the voices, or were they real? She tries calling out—“Daddy?”—using all her remaining strength. But she’s too late and her little voice just isn’t loud enough…

When Detective Madison Harper arrives at a remote summer camp in Shadow Falls, northern California, her heart breaks for Jenny, the sweet little girl last seen splashing in the lake with her friends before she vanished. Peering into the silent cabins filled with rows of neatly made beds, Madison knows this idyllic place is hiding a terrible secret.

The girl’s parents are distraught, and the local police have no leads—they desperately need Madison’s help. She’ll do whatever it takes to crack this case, because it’s the only way back to the son she lost to the care system years ago when she was framed for a crime she didn’t commit.

But with the camp staff keeping tight-lipped and her new partner on the edge of a breakdown, Madison can’t find any truth to her instinct that there is more to Jenny’s perfect parents than meets the eye. Until she discovers a disturbing family portrait Jenny drew at the local library. Was this angelic girl more troubled than anybody knew? Was she in danger from those she trusted most?

One thing is certain, if Madison doesn’t find the answers soon, the lives of more innocent children will be at risk…

An absolutely unputdownable crime thriller that will keep you up all night! Perfect for fans of Angela Marsons, Robert Dugoni and Melinda Leigh.

No. of pages:- 391 pages

Date published:- will be published on January 25th 2021

Genre:- Thriller

Thank You Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC! This review is based on my honest opinion.

This book is the first series of Detective Madison Harper’s series. The story begins with Nate Monroe, who was released from the death row after proving his innocence for the murder of his fiancée, Stacey is working as a PI. He then pairs up with Madison Harper, who was a former detective and who was also released from the prison for serving up a crime she didn’t commit and sets off to find a twelve year old girl named Jenny, who had been missing from the summer camp. They were hired by the girl’s grandmother, Esme although both parents seemed to be reluctant for Nate and Madison to investigate the case due to some reasons…

This was really good!!! Quiet unputdownable, fast paced thriller with so much twists and turns that you wouldn’t expect! I couldn’t even put this book down and I was reading it till the end! The writing was really good and the author did a good job drawing the reader into the story. As a reader, you would feel sorry for Madison and Nate for the injustices they have faced and their determination to clear their names. I really enjoyed reading this book and I couldn’t wait to get my hands on the second part of the series!!!!

Completely unputdownable, fast paced thriller that will keep you awake at all night reading and wanting more–worth five stars!

Wendy is a former coroner’s assistant turned crime writer who lives in the UK with her husband and 3 cats.

The Detective Madison Harper crime series from Bookouture at Hachette UK includes:

Book 1 – FIND MY CHILD – and book 2 – CRY FOR HELP both available to pre-order now (released Jan & Feb 2021). Books 3 and 4 will follow shortly.

The Dean Matheson crime series is out now on all platforms.

As well as her two crime series and the YA crime novel – The Girl Who Died – Wendy has several short stories published in UK and US anthologies. She has also been shortlisted and longlisted for various competitions, including the Mslexia Novel Competition.

HOW FAR WOULD YOU GO TO PROTECT YOUR DAUGHTER?

From the first moment single mother Nicolette Winchester held her daughter in her arms, she knew she’d do everything in her power to keep her safe. Now eighteen years old, Ella is bright, kind and a cello prodigy headed for Juilliard. Nicolette can’t help but feel proud of the young woman her daughter’s become.

Then Ella calls home one night. There’s been an accident. A classmate is dead. And Ella is the only one on the scene. To protect her daughter, Nicolette makes an unthinkable decision: hide the body, and ensure her daughter is kept out of the ensuing scandal.

There’s only one problem. Someone knows what she did.

And that person is going to make sure Nicolette pays.

No. of pages:- 357 pages

Date published:- September 12th 2020

Genre:- Psychological Thriller

Nicolette Winchester is a single mother who would do anything for her daughter, Ella. Ella is a cell prodigy daughter who is off to start at Julliard. But one night, a frantic call from Ella brings Nicolette to a scene–Ella’s friend Amber is dead and Ella claims Amber fell and died. Nicolette, in order to protect her daughter does the unthinkable–wraps the body up with the blankets and dumps the body into the river, hoping that the body will never be found. But then someone had seen Nicolette dumping the body and is threatening her to tell everyone if she does not cooperate…

I really like the plotline and the story. The story is told from the second perspective with Nicolette as the narrator, talking to her daughter, Ella. The story somewhat seemed realistic as Nicolette as a single mother would do anything to protect her only child and daughter. Overall, the story is well written, with twists and turns you wouldn’t expect. The ending was so unexpected that it left me breathless at the end!

Overall, this book worth five stars!