Tropical Girl Reads

The woods are hiding more than Chief Maggie Riley could ever imagine. Including her own worst nightmares…

There’s a blood moon rising over the tiny Maine town of Coyote Cove. Chief Maggie Riley is driving home ahead of a storm when she comes across the body of a man, blood seeping from stab wounds into the damp forest floor. And Heather, a local teenage girl, standing terrified, a silent scream on her lips, beside him.

Maggie, a redheaded decorated former homicide detective and more than over-qualified for a two-horse-town police chief, has been hiding from her past for three years. The quiet of Coyote Cove was everything she needed after… what happened. But with this murder, the life she left behind has found her. The townspeople believe Heather—already an outcast, and an easy suspect—is the killer, but Maggie isn’t convinced. To uncover the truth, Maggie must use the skills, and contacts, of her former world, however painful that will be.

As Maggie digs into the victim’s background, she is horrified to unearth another body, this time an infamous local, as callously killed as the first. But Heather’s in custody; there’s no way she could be the culprit, and Maggie’s investigation turns to the townspeople. Who has a secret so dangerous they’d kill twice to keep it hidden?

Then Heather goes missing. The race to identify the murderer is now a race to save Heather. As the search turns to the woods, the hunt is on for the killer so skilled, so twisted, no one knows how many bodies it will take before they’re found. And whether one of those will be Heather’s…

This is the first book of the series Chief Maggie Riley.

The story starts with Chief Maggie discovering the bloody body of a dead man lying in the forest in a small town. Next to the body, a girl named Heather standing next to the body. Heather seemed to be having a dark history and many people in that small town pointed fingers at Heather believing that she may be responsible for the murder. But Chief Maggie Riley believes that Heather is innocent and there might be someone else who is responsible for the murder.

I enjoyed reading Shannon Hollinger’s book so I was super excited that she started on a series. I would say this was good but not as good as her two previous books which kept me hooked till the end. This was fast paced, some twists and turns along the way and above all, the plot was really interesting which made me want to read this book and really want to finish it and see what the ending was going to be. The only problem I had was there were too many multiple character POVs which I don’t mind but there were some characters that I feel were bit unnecessary for the POV. Above all, if you are looking to start a series, I strongly recommend this book to you–worth 4 stars!

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

From the bestselling author of  The Party  comes a “dark and wild ride of redemption, betrayal, and friendship” following a homeless woman fleeing a dangerous past—and the wealthy society wife she saves from “As twisty and pacey as it gets” (Ashley Audrain,  New York Times  bestselling author of  The Push). Most anticipated by Goodreads ·  Indigo​  ·  SheReads

Lee Gulliver never thought she’d find herself living on the streets—no one ever does—but when her restaurant fails, and she falls deeper into debt, she leaves her old life behind with nothing but her clothes and her Toyota Corolla. In Seattle, she parks in a secluded spot by the beach to lay low and plan her next move—until early one morning, she sees a sobbing woman throw herself into the ocean. Lee hauls the woman back to the surface, but instead of appreciation, she is met with fury. The drowning woman, Hazel, tells her that she wanted to die, that she’s trapped in a toxic, abusive marriage, that she’s a prisoner in her own home. Lee has thwarted her one chance to escape her life.

Out of options, Hazel retreats to her gilded cage, and Lee thinks she’s seen the last of her, until her unexpected return the next morning. Bonded by disparate but difficult circumstances, the women soon strike up a close and unlikely friendship. And then one day, Hazel makes a shocking she wants Lee to help her disappear. It’ll be easy, Hazel assures her, but Lee soon learns that nothing is as it seems, and that Hazel may not be the friend Lee thought she was.

The book club I am in chose this book for August reads and so I was excited to read this book.

This is the first time I am reading from this author and I have to say, I was actually impressed with this book. From the start until the end, the book was fast-paced, full of unexpected twists and turns and OMG moments. The story is told from Lee, who became homeless after being impacted by the pandemic and that her restaurant was closed with mountains of debts in her wake and Hazel, a high society woman who is being controlled and abused by her powerful husband. Both the women meet when Lee saves Hazel from drowning and Hazel would often bring morning food to Lee. However, when Hazel confided Lee about her abuse, they hatch a plan to escape together but Lee realizes that Hazel is hiding secrets.

It was interesting to read from both the women’s POV. The story was well written in fact the author manage to grab our reader’s attention and kept us hooked into the book. There were some disturbing moments in the book but nonetheless it was I felt as if I was watching an interesting movie. Basically in general this book talks a lot about domestic violence. I felt more connected towards Lee than towards Hazel that I really want Lee to get a chance of living a happy life instead of being homeless. The ending I felt wasn’t really good–I felt the ending was rushed, which actually lowered my rating from a five star to a four star.

So if you are looking for a thriller that will keep you hook from beginning to end, I recommend this book to you–worth four stars!

ONE OF THE MOST ANTICIPATED NOVELS OF 2023 – “A bravura feat of storytelling…a daring and completely satisfying mystery.” –James Patterson, #1 best-selling author

A PULSE-POUNDING PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER ABOUT A SERIAL KILLER NARRATED BY THOSE CLOSEST TO HIM: HIS 13-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER, HIS GIRLFRIEND–AND THE ONE VICTIM HE HAS SPARED.

“All…of the expected suspense and psychological tension, but offering a story about women—the ones who didn’t know the evil that lurked within, the ones who tried to placate or fight but still perished, the ones who might actually survive. Haunting but never prurient…truly unforgettable.” — Alafair Burke, author of The Wife

Aidan Thomas is a hard-working family man and a somewhat beloved figure in the small upstate town where he lives: he’s the kind of man who always lends a hand and has a good word for everyone. But Aidan has a dark secret he’s been keeping from everyone in town and those closest to him: he’s a kidnapper and serial killer. Aidan has murdered eight women and there’s a ninth he has earmarked for death: Rachel, imprisoned in a backyard shed fearing for her life.

When Aidan’s wife dies, he and his 13-year-old daughter Cecilia are forced to move. Aidan has no choice but to bring Rachel along, introducing her to Cecilia as a “family friend” who needs a place to stay. After five years of captivity, Aidan is betting on Rachel being too brainwashed and fearful to attempt to escape. But Rachel is a fighter and survivor, and recognizes Cecilia might just be the lifeline she has waited for all these years. As Rachel tests the boundaries of her new living situation, she begins to form a tenuous connection with Cecilia. And when Emily, a local restaurant owner, develops a crush on the handsome widower, she finds herself drawn into Rachel and Cecilia’s orbit, coming dangerously close to discovering Aidan’s secret.

Told through the perspectives of Rachel, Cecilia, and Emily, The Quiet Tenant explores the psychological impact of Aidan’s crimes on the women in his life-and the bonds between those women that give them the strength to fight back. Both a searing thriller and an astute study of trauma, survival, and the dynamics of power, The Quiet Tenant is an electrifying debut thriller by a major talent.

This is the debut book of Clemence Michallon and is the most anticipated psychological thrillers. I managed to get a copy of Kindle and thought to give this book a try.

It does deserve to be the most anticipated psychological thriller but there are some hiccups that lowered my rating from a five star to a four star.

This is the story of three women centered about a single person–Aidan Thomas. To outsiders, Aidan is smart, handsome blue-eyed man and is respected by many. But inside, he holds a dark secret–he is a serial killer.

The three women are Rachel, Cecelia and Emily. Rachel, who we know her as “The Woman” as that’s not really her name has been held captive by Aidan and is one of those few lucky ones to be spared from murder. Cecelia is a thirteen-year-old daughter of Aidan and Emily is a restaurant owner who falls in love with Aidan. The story is told from these three women POV’s.

The writing was good and I have to say the author is a very talented writer. The plot of the story is really great–there were some gripping parts in the book. Reading Rachel’s POV was emotional and sad and I am glad that this is one of the books where we focus more on the victim and not on the killer (most of the times, we tend to forget the victims and glorify the serial killer). But there are ones that made me give this book lower to four stars. I did not like the character of Emily at all. I feel Emily is stalkerish, stalking after Aidan but maybe the author did that to give an air of feeling that Emily is going to find Aidan’s dark secret soon. The ending wasn’t so much great–even though I like how the author outlined Rachel (Rachel is the main protagonist here), I wish I know if Emily was intended to be the next victim of Aidan, or the potential to become the next wife of Aidan.

Overall, this book is fast-paced and will keep you hooked till the end–worth four stars!

Four years ago, Brynn left Saint Ambrose School following the shocking murder of her favorite teacher—a story that made headlines after the teacher’s body was found by three Saint Ambrose students in the woods behind their school. The case was never solved. Now that Brynn is moving home and starting her dream internship at a true-crime show, she’s determined to find out what really happened.

The kids who found Mr. Larkin are her way in, and her ex–best friend, Tripp Talbot, was one of them. Without his account of events, the other two kids might have gone down for Mr. Larkin’s murder—but instead, thanks to Tripp, they’re now at the top of the Saint Ambrose social pyramid. Tripp’s friends have never forgotten what Tripp did for them that day, and neither has he. Just like he hasn’t forgotten that everything he told the police was a lie.

Digging into the past is bound to shake up the present, and when Brynn begins to investigate what happened in the woods that day, she uncovers secrets that might change everything—about Saint Ambrose, about Mr. Larkin, and about her ex-best friend, Tripp Talbot.

Four years ago someone got away with murder. More terrifying is that they might be closer than anyone thinks.

This is I think about the fifth book I have read of Karen McManus.

The story starts with Brynn who returns back to St. Andrews and working for a true crime newspaper. She was determined to find out what really happened to Mr. Larkin, who was her eighth-grade teacher and who was found murdered in the woods. His body was found by three other students–Tripp, Shane and Charlotte, Tripp being Brynn’s friend. And Brynn with her investigative journalistic skills start investigating what really happened to Mr. Larkin on that day.

The story is told mainly from Brynn’s and Tripp’s POV. It started out interesting but it kind of grew a little boring although it started getting interesting and gaining momentum towards the end. I do like how Brynn and Tripp couldn’t get along with each other and in the end romance develops between the two. I also like the action and all the drama that is described towards the end. There’s still a cliffhanger in the end, as still the person who murdered Mr. Larkin is not solved yet and I thought the ending was a little confusing.

Overall this was an OK book–worth 3.5 stars!

Color explodes in the night sky, every boom and spray of lights getting louder cheers from the happy crowd. But two little girls are hiding in fear. “I want my mommy,” Abby whispers. A tear falls down her cheek as she clutches her sister’s hand and darkness finally falls…

When six-year-old Abby and nine-year-old Thea are snatched from a crowd at a fireworks display, Detective Nikki Hunt is determined to return the sweet sisters, with golden curls and laughing smiles, to their desperate mother Britney . The last person to see them alive witnessed the girls being led towards the docks by someone they seemed to know.As Nikki begins her interviews, she’s shocked to learn that Britney has a dark secret .

Ten years ago she ran away from Thea’s biological father, a man Britney claims was controlling and dangerous. Certain he must have taken the girls, Nikki urges the state troopers in nearby Thief River Falls to search the isolated ranch where he lives. But he is devastated to hear the girls are missing, and had no idea that Thea was even his daughter…

Then a witness comes forward claiming they saw a young boy clutching Thea’s little pink backpack at the fireworks. Nikki knows he’s the key to finding the girls alive, but she has no idea that someone on her team will do anything to keep his identity a secret. Unable to trust those closest to her, can Nikki unravel the truth and save Thea and Abby before their innocent lives are lost? An absolutely gripping and totally addictive thriller from USA Today bestseller Stacy Green that will keep you racing through the pages all night long.

Fans of Lisa Regan, Rachel Caine and Melinda Leigh will devour this thriller in one sitting!

Agent Nikki Hunt is back with another case–this time the case involved the disappearance of young girls.

Thea and Abby goes missing when their mother Brittney went to the restroom–the family were watching the fireworks. Nikki Hunt was also at the scene when the girls were discovered to be missing. Initially, the main suspect was Britnney’s ex-husband who also happened to be Thea’s biological father involved in a cult that believes in polygamy. She believes that her ex-husband may have kidnapped her daughters. However soon, Nikki Hunt realizes that the ex-husband may not be involved but Britnney’s current husband may have something to do with the disappearance. Thea’s body was found and Nikki knew that she must find Abby before it was too late.

This was a fast-paced thriller–abductions of children actually will make you feel like you are on the edge. As I mentioned in the above, there were so many suspects and so it wasn’t clear who could be the abductor–which is a good thing as the reader was kept in suspense. There were some twists and turns and the ending was totally unexpected. I always read Nikki Hunt series as this series is one of my favorite series so far and the author did not disappoint me at all with this book–cannot wait for the next case! Worth five stars!

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

He loves me. He trusts me. He shouldn’t.

Jay and I have only known each other a short while, but whenever I gaze into his deep green eyes I tell him he’s the one. His little house by the deep forest’s edge is perfect for the two of us – there’s no internet, no phone signal, and no neighbours. I’m about as far from my past as I could be. No one knows where we are, and I need to keep it that way.

He wants me to stay here where he can keep me safe from the outside world. I don’t question him, I won’t challenge him. I have him exactly where I want him. He has to think I’m the perfect girlfriend, far better than the one before. Because I know what he did.

All I have to do now is play my part and bide my time. So I tell myself Jay doesn’t have a clue who I really am. I’ve been so careful. Haven’t I?

A completely addictive psychological thriller packed with incredible twists you won’t see coming. Perfect for fans of The Housemaid, The Split, and The Serial Killer’s Wife.

This book kind of gave a hippie feeling throughout the book.

Lauren meets Jay at a music festival and it was a passionate love affair at the first sight. Lauren moves in to live with Jay and as soon as she moved in, Jay started the things that Lauren owned to get money. Lauren finds out about a girl named Ruth who was Jay’s ex-girlfriend. But Lauren wants to know what really happened to her friend Nell who also happened to know Jay.

This was kind of slow paced but nonetheless it was actually a good story. It has sort of a creepy feeling, like a serial-killer vibe in it, although there is no serial killers in the book. There were some twists and turns but towards the middle and towards the end is where the story started getting juicier and more interesting that I couldn’t wait to see what is going to happen in the end. Jay has gorgeous green eyes while Lauren has luscious black hair–description that seem to embed the reader. The ending was unexpected so overall, I actually enjoyed reading this book. I cannot believe that this was the author’s debut book and cannot wait to read more of her books! Overall, this book worth five stars!

Many thanks to Bookouture for making me a part of this blog tour. Many thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC. The review is based on my honest opinion only.

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There are three rules Brooke Sullivan must follow as a new nurse practitioner at a men’s maximum-security prison:

1) Treat all prisoners with respect.

2) Never reveal any personal information.

3) Never EVER become too friendly with the inmates.

But none of the staff at the prison knows Brooke has already broken the rules. Nobody knows about her intimate connection to Shane Nelson, one of the penitentiary’s most notorious and dangerous inmates.And they certainly don’t know that Shane was Brooke’s high school sweetheart—the star quarterback who is now spending the rest of his life in prison for a series of grisly murders.

Or that Brooke’s testimony was what put him there. But Shane knows. And he will never forget.

Have you read the Housemaid’s Secret by Freida McFadden? If you haven’t, you should check it out as it took me only 48 hours for me to finish that book! So this book, the Inmate is also written by the same author but I feel this book wasn’t as good as the Housemaid’s Secret.

The good things about this book is, the story divides between the present and the past, a murder that happened eleven years ago when Brooke testified against her boyfriend Shane that puts him into Riker Prison. The “go” was there in the book, meaning it was quiet a page turner. The epilogue part was kind of unexpected.

The bad thing about this book is, this was highly predictable and unrealistic in my opinion. Brooke was one of those stupidest and naive characters I have ever read (who would want to work in a prison where your ex-boyfriend whom you testified against is locked up in that prison???). I feel like you are watching a horror/slasher movie. Someone in the Goodreads review commented on how this book is very similar to the movie Scream and yes, I agree with that comment. If you have watched the movie Scream and then read this book, you will find some similarities between the book and the movie (won’t give further details)

Overall, this book worth 3.5 stars!