Tropical Girl Reads

You can never truly know what goes on behind closed doors…

My darling son, Sam, is marrying his childhood sweetheart and I couldn’t be prouder of the man he’s grown into. Walking out on his abusive father all those years ago was the best thing I ever did. And today he stands, tall and handsome, saying ‘I do’ to my dream daughter-in-law. If I hadn’t pushed them together all those years ago, he might never have found a girl as perfect as Lauren. It’s true what they say, mother always knows best.

But weeks later, Lauren is dead and police cars fill the driveway of their idyllic countryside home. As they question Sam, I sense he’s hiding something. Why won’t he look me in the eye? And who does he rush off to meet as soon as the police are gone?

Desperate, I do what every good mother would do: I let myself into Sam and Lauren’s bedroom. What I see, I will never be able to forget. My son’s beautiful new wife was hiding a dangerous secret. Can I clear my son’s name? And could my life be in danger now too?

So the only book I have read of Sue Watson is First Date so I decided to try out her new book, The New Wife.

Plot:- Sam and Lauren were childhood friends and later husband and wife that even their families had been inseparable to each other. But one day, Georgie, Sam’s mother receives a frantic call from her son, saying that Lauren is dead. What seemed to look like an accident now rules out as murder and Sam was arrested. Now Georgie would do anything to prove that her son is innocent. Meanwhile, she finds Helen and Tim, Lauren’s parents’ marriage has secrets…

Writing:- The first past of the story was a bit boring. However, soon by the middle of the book, it got interesting and intriguing with some dark secrets that seems to be revealing and of course some twists and turns along the way. The story is mainly told from Georgie’s perspective and with so many suspects, Georgie has a hard time, trying to prove her son is innocent. The ending was kind of unexpected.

Characters:-I believe except for Georgie, other characters are quite unlikable to me.

Overall:- this was actually a good thriller, that will keep you on the edge of the seat! Worth four stars

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

She was beautiful: shiny blond hair, crystal blue eyes and the widest smile Nikki had ever seen. She thought back to what she had seen in the ground, the dirt that caked the white bones. All that remained of her now was the silver locket that was still around her neck…

When construction workers unearth a girl’s skeleton in Stillwater, Minnesota, Special Agent Nikki Hunt is called to the scene by her boyfriend Rory. Nikki knows instantly that the girl was murdered, but she is shocked when Rory immediately recognizes her. The victim was his childhood sweetheart, Becky, and he was the last person to see her before she went missing twenty-four years ago.

With the love of her life now a potential suspect, Nikki is forced to take a step back from the case. But then her colleague Liam finds lies in Rory’s statement – it appears that Becky may have been carrying Rory’s child when she was killed. Despite this, Nikki still thinks he could be innocent, and knows she must find the real killer herself if Rory stands any chance of walking free.

When Nikki finds a potential link to two pregnant girls who were found murdered years before it’s clear that this is the most twisted killer that she has ever faced. And then another girl goes missing from Stillwater. Can Nikki unearth the truth and protect the man she loves? And will she find the missing girl in time to save her life?

A dark and twisty crime thriller that will make you hold your breath as you race towards the end. The Girl in the Ground is an unputdownable new mystery for fans of Lisa Regan, Robert Dugoni and Willow Rose.

Agent Nikki Hunt is back with another case!

Plot:- After handling the last case that left Nikki traumatized, Nikki is back at the precinct again. This time, a young woman’s remains were found in the ground where her boyfriend, Rory works. But there’s a problem–the woman happened to be Rory’s ex-girlfriend named Becky and Rory is the main suspect. Nikki wanted to help Rory, believing that he is innocent but he is refusing to cooperate with the police. Meanwhile, another woman named Joyce goes missing and soon, Nikki realizes that Becky and Joyce’s cases are related and that there’s a serial killer on loose…

Writing:- I enjoyed reading all the three books in the series and this book is no exception!! I was literally hooked to the story from the beginning to the end, wanting to know what is going to happen next! The thing about this book is, there are not much suspects so you have to literally rack your brains to see, who is the suspect. It’s like a whole cat and mouse chase. It was fast paced, with twists and thrillers that you wouldn’t expect. The ending was great, dramatic and I kind of feel like I was watching this action movie and going on a roller coaster ride while reading this book.

Characters:- Nikki Hunt is one of my favorite FBI agents and there’s no other characters that I found unlikable.

Overall:- this was a roller coaster ride filled with twists and turns that you would be up all night reading this book!!! Worth five stars!

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

From the author of The Aftermath comes the story of a whirlwind friendship—and the dark secrets lurking beneath it.

After a tumultuous marriage, Mary Wilson is happy in her uncomplicated life, focusing on her twelve-year-old son. She’s always been content with her little family—but then she finds an old postcard that throws her whole past into question…

When an invitation arrives for her high school reunion, Mary jumps at the chance of a distraction from the shock discovery, and meeting her old classmate April feels like a gift. Despite barely remembering April, Mary throws herself into the new friendship and finds her previously quiet social life reinvigorated.

But as the bonds between them are forged, Mary finds herself drawn further and further into April’s life and marriage, increasingly fearing that everything is not as perfect as it seems. Is her own painful past clouding her judgement, or is Mary right to suspect that the people she trusts most are the ones with the most to hide?

This is the first time I have read a book in the South African setting and the plot sounded intrigued to me so I was so happy when I got this as the ARC.

Plot:- Mary Wilson has been living happily with her twelve year old son Django after a tumultuous marriage. She gets invited to a twenty year old high school reunion where she reconnects with many including a woman named April. Mary doesn’t have any memories of April but the two become best friends. And soon, she finds that April is living a life of secret and lies.

Writing:- The story is told from the perspectives of Mary. The story talks mainly about the victims of domestic abuse and the consequences it has on the victims. Mary herself was a victim of domestic abuse and so is April so I give five stars to the author for addressing such an issue. The writing was spot on. Initially, the beginning was a bit of a slow burn but gradually it got more intense with some twists along the way. However, I kind of expected the ending so the ending was nothing new. Overall, I was hooked into the story and didn’t realize I finished reading the book until I came to the end!

Characters:- April and Mary are victims of abuse and so I do feel sympathy towards their characters. I do like Mary having a strong father-daughter relationship with her father and also mother son relationship with Django.

Overall:- this was a good thriller that will keep you hooked into the story–worth four stars!

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

The police say it was suicide.
Anna says it was murder.
Who do you believe?

One year ago, Caroline Johnson chose to end her life brutally: a shocking suicide planned to match that of her husband just months before. Their daughter, Anna, has struggled to come to terms with their loss ever since.

Now with a young baby of her own, Anna misses her mother more than ever and starts to ask questions about her parents’ deaths. But by digging up the past, is she putting her future in danger?

Sometimes it’s safer to let things lie . . .

This is the third book I have read of Clare Mackintosh, and I have yet to still read her latest book, the Hostage.

Plot:- Tom Johnson committed suicide by jumping out of the cliff. Few months later, his wife, Caroline follows the same suit. But now, a year later, their only daughter, Anna Johnson receives a note, claiming that her parents didn’t commit suicide but were murdered. And as Anna hands over the case to a retired CID officer, Murray, someone doesn’t really want Anna to know the truth.

It will be better to lie than to tell the truth.

Writing:- Unlike her first book, I Let You Go which actually prompted me to read all the books written by this author, this was a slow burner and a bit of a disappointment. The story started out slow and at times it was boring. The story is told mainly from the perspectives of Anna and Murray with an extract from a mysterious person who wants Anna to stop digging. I found some unnecessary parts in Murray’s part but it was OK. However, towards the middle of the book, the story started developing and soon, it became unexpected twists and turns like cat and mouse chase. It was by the end of the book that I got hooked into the story. The ending was confusing to me a bit but I am not sure if it was just me.

Overall, compared to Clare Mackintosh’s previous books, this was a bit of a disappointment. But that doesn’t mean I won’t stop reading more books from this author–worth three stars!

Perfect for fans of Celeste Ng and Megan Abbott, Lynne Reeves’ The Dangers of an Ordinary Night is an exploration of the explosive family secrets that are often hidden in plain sight.

On a chilly fall evening at the prestigious Performing Arts High School of Boston, best friends Tali Carrington and June Danforth go missing after auditioning for a play. They’re last seen in grainy, out-of-focus surveillance footage that shows them walking away from the school. Two days later in a town south of Boston, Tali is found disoriented and traumatized by the ocean’s edge, while June is pronounced dead at the scene.

Tali’s mother, Nell, is so bent on protecting her daughter from further emotional harm that she ignores rumors of her husband’s involvement and enlists the help of Cynthia Rawlins, a reunification therapist with personal insight into the riptide that hides below the surface of every unsuspecting family. Meanwhile, Detective Fitz Jameson uncovers a criminal undertow involving the high school’s overachieving students, and finally sees an opportunity for personal redemption from a secret that’s haunted him for years.

As Nell, Cynthia, and Fitz confront their own contributions to the scandals that beleaguer them, their lives turn out to be more deeply intertwined than they’d ever imagined. In the end, they must decide what lengths they’re willing to go to protect the people they love while also saving themselves.

The summary when I read sounded interesting to me that I was glad that Netgalley and Crooked Lane gave me an opportunity to read this novel. But unfortunately, this is not my cup of tea.

Plot:- Two girls Tali and June goes missing after auditioning for a play. They are both best friends. Few days later, the two girls were found–Tali is disorientated and seemed to be traumatized while June is pronounced dead. Nell, Tali’s mother is bent down in protecting the well being of her daughter while her husband Zeke is suspected for the case and meanwhile, the school where Tali and June are attending is holding a secret.

Writing:- The plot as I said earlier was interesting, prompting me to want to read this book. The first few chapters were good but then soon, it got boring that I almost DNF the book. I am usually one of those people who don’t DNF books as I would continue to read to finish the book. The pace was slow which was a negative thing about the book and I felt there was a bit too much talking and not much OMG moments. However, the ending was OK in my opinion–bit predictable but nonetheless it was OK.

Characters:- I am not sure what I can say about the characters but Nell might be probably one of the favorites.

Overall:- It’s a slow burn I have to say and for those who like slow paced thriller books, then this might be the one for you. But I prefer fast paced thrillers so I will pass out.

Thank you Netgalley and Crooked Lane Publishers for the ARC. The review is based on my honest opinion only.

My husband was not a monster. No matter what they say…

The day my husband, Michael, stepped in front of a lorry after being questioned by the police, my world fell apart. He was devoted to me and our six-year-old daughter. But they’d connected him to the disappearance of a young mother from our tiny village.

Now I stand at Michael’s funeral, clutching my little girl’s hand, with tears in my eyes as I insist to all our friends that he died an innocent man. Yet the questions have started, and nothing I say will stop them digging for the truth.

But none of them can read the secrets in my heart, or know about the phone I found hidden in his toolbox…

I’m determined that my daughter will not remember her father as a monster. I will erase any hint of wrongdoing in this house whatever the cost.

Because to keep my daughter safe, the last thing I need is for people to start looking at me…

I have been a fan of K.L Slater for these few months and is determined to read all her books, even though I haven’t read her first few books. This is the fourth book that I have been reading of this author.

Plot:- A Polish woman named Suzy goes missing leaving her son behind. The main suspect is Michael Shaw, Kate’s husband. Michael was loyal to Kate and had a good marriage, always letting her know everything. But was Michael hiding from Kate something?
Meanwhile, the police are investigating a missing case of a Polish man named Jakub, who went missing and whose family back in Poland wants closure. While investigating the case, they find that Jakub used to work for Michael and then soon things start to change as the bodies were recovered in a field where Michael Shaw worked.

Writing:- This story was so engrossing! Literally, I was so hooked into the book, from start to finish, wanting to know what is going to happen next. The story is told mainly from Kate Shaw’s point of view with some tits and bits about Jakub–his life in Poland to how he came to work in UK. There were some twists and turns and the story was written in a fast pace that I couldn’t wait what the ending is going to be. Is Michael Shaw guilty? What is his connection with Jakub? And soon, these questions began to get answered by the middle of the book. It was intense and the author as usual did a good job drawing the reader to the story. This was indeed a true psychological thriller! I also like the childhood friendship between Aleks, Suzy’s son and Tansy’s Kate’s daughter along with Ellie, Donna’s daughter who is also another one of the characters. The ending was unpredictable and unexpected but I truly enjoyed reading this book!

Characters:- I really like Kate’s character very well as she worked hard to prove her husband’s innocence and I like her relationship with her friend Donna who was supportive of her.

Overall:– overall, this was an intense and fast paced thriller that will make you at the edge of the seat–worth five stars!

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

Recognition hits me as I look at the woman lying in the long grass. It’s my sister. Her hot-pink nails are chipped and caked with dirt, her blue eyes are cold and vacant. I desperately shake her, even though I know. She’s gone.

Fresh out of the Military Police, Georgia Fell has returned to her Michigan island hometown a decade after she ran away. Late to meet her younger sister at a bar on the isolated tip of the isle, she arrives to her worst nightmare: Rachel dead, purple bruises around her slim, beautiful neck.

When the police rule out murder, Georgia knows it can’t be true. Reluctantly, she must turn to the person she’s been avoiding since she came home. Georgia can’t forgive single dad Lincoln McNamara for his betrayal the night she left, but he has an in with the dangerous crew operating out of the roadhouse where Rachel was killed. The question is, can she trust him?

But before she can convince Lincoln to help her, another local girl goes missing. How deep into the darkness of island life must Georgia go to find out the truth? And with an innocent girl’s life on the line, does she even have a choice?

An absolutely unputdownable suspense thriller. Readers who adore Tami Hoag, Mary Burton and J.D. Robb will be hooked on this jaw-dropping new crime series.

One thing I like about reading ARC is I get to start on a series. This is the first book of Georgia Fell series.

Plot:- Fresh out the Military Police, Georgia Fell returns back to her small island near Michigan after being away for more than a decade. She came back to meet her little sister but instead found Rachel dead. Though the police rule out murder, Georgia believes that Rachel was murdered and set about to find the truth about Rachel’s death. Meanwhile, she reconnects with her former childhood lover, Lincoln who is actually an ex con. Is Lincoln innocent as he seems or something sinister?

Writing:- The story is told from the perspectives of Georgia and Lincoln that you have a chance of getting to know their characters. There were some twists and turns but it started a bit slow and soon it got fast paced. I was on the edge of the seat while reading this book and then couldn’t wait to see who the killer was! The author does a trick of tricking you to believe that particular person is the killer but the ending completely threw me off the radar. So anyway, this book actually was a complete surprise to me. The writing was really good and the author did a good job of drawing the reader to the story, making the reader feel like they are a part of the story.

Characters:- Since the story is told from the perspectives of Georgia and Lincoln, you get to know both their characters. I didn’t like Jenna’s character and I like how the relationship between Georgia and Lincoln soon developed towards the end.

Overall:- This was a great book, quite unputdownable with twists and turns along the way–worth four stars

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