Posts Tagged 'secrets'

The Girls From Hush Cabin by Marie Hoy-Kenny

Published April 4, 2024 Uncategorized Leave a Comment
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Genre: Mystery

Calista, Holly, Zoe, and Denise were best friends at the summer camp they went to every summer and they loved their camp counselor, Violet. A tragedy strikes the camp and forces it to close and a few years go by as they finish up high school and slowly drift apart from each other. Then, one of them learns that Violet has died tragically and they all come together again to go to the funeral. At the funeral they are stunned to learn Violet died by drowning because she was a very strong swimmer. Even more shocking is that her appearance has completely changed and they almost don’t recognize her. They start to become concerned that this might not have been an accident. Despite the fact they all have things they need to get back to, they decide to stick around and find ways to investigate what happened on their own. They are forced to face the reality that Violet was not perfect and in many ways manipulated the girls in their youth. Can they get to the bottom of what happened to Violet? Can they reconcile the past and become good friends again?

This mystery has an interesting premise and four strong main characters. The details of the past are slowly revealed until it becomes clear what led to the close of the camp they all loved so much. They all have things they are dealing with at home as well. The final reveal won’t be satisfying to some mystery readers, but it does explain everything and gives hope to the four characters that they’ll be able to move on from this. Recommended for fans who enjoy mysteries.

The Night in Question: An Agathas Mystery by Kathleen Glasgow and Liz Larson

Published March 22, 2024 Uncategorized Leave a Comment
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Genre: Mystery

Iris and Alice are back in this new Agathas mystery and their friendship seems stronger than ever despite their very different backgrounds. While attending a school dance at the infamous local Levy Castle they can’t help but feel a little haunted by the fact that a famous actress, Mona Moody, died mysteriously at this very place in the 1940s. When a bizarre attack happens to a girl in their class, they find themselves in the center of another mystery and despite their success in helping to solve their friend Brooke’s murder (in the previous book), no one wants or seems to appreciate their help. The police seem to be focused on the friend who was found at the scene holding the murder weapon, but Alice does not think she is capable of something so heinous. Plus, Alice finds it curious that all of the Mona Moody archives that had been on loan from the historical society appear to have been rifled through at the attack scene. Is it possible the two cases are connected? Can they find a way to help find the right person who committed this attack? What surprises might they find inside this castle?

Fans of traditional mysteries will enjoy this title because there are a lot of references to old mystery tropes such as hidden staircases, old diaries, etc. The characters have developed a bit more in this novel too and it’s understandable why Iris’s mom might be hesitate about her new friendship with Alice as well as why Alice’s relationship with her own parents is so complicated. The resolution is interesting and holds up with the facts presented and there’s still room for more sequels as it is obvious there is more to learn about the main characters. Fun for mystery fans, especially those who like Agatha Christie.

Secrets Never Die by Vincent Ralph

Published January 24, 2024 Uncategorized Leave a Comment
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                  Genre: Suspenseful Thriller

Sam Hall was a child tv star until tragedy struck and he stepped away. Rumors have plagued him ever since as no one really knows the truth about what happened to his family and why he wanted to quit acting. Sam and his friends have a yearly tradition where they go into an abandoned hut in the woods on Halloween and reveal their innermost secrets. They believe it is cathartic and will help them heal, but this year their session was interrupted by screaming and someone throwing eggs at the hut that are filled with blood. They are all justifiably scared by this, but they convince themselves it was a Halloween prank and try to move on. Soon, however, they all start receiving creepy messages from someone named Sasha and it is quickly revealed that this “Sasha” has something to do with one of their secrets. It becomes clear that someone knows the secrets they revealed in the dark that night and they are coming to life to haunt them. None of them want to seek help because then they would have to reveal their innermost secrets, but as the threats become more serious they wonder if they have any choice and what lengths the person behind this will truly go to in order to get what they want. Would this person actually harm them? Is there any way to confront their attacker without having to let the entire world know their darkest secrets?

This story was surprisingly creepy and suspenseful. The threats are intricate and keep getting spookier and spookier. Eventually, they do bring in their families, but their reaction to the threats is very unexpected and helps build up to the climax of the story. Most readers will find the ending satisfying, but it is still a little crazy who is behind it and how far they were willing to go to terrify these teenagers. The story does send a positive message about how bad things happen to everyone and it’s important to try to heal, move forward, and look at any positivity that may have come from the bad things. Many teens often feel like everyone else has it all together and they are the ones struggling when in reality everyone has stuff they are dealing with. Recommended for fans of more suspenseful mysteries. 

Reign by Katharine McGee

Published November 15, 2023 Uncategorized Leave a Comment
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Genre: Romance

In this fourth and final chapter of the American Royals series, Jeff and Daphne are getting married because Daphne told Jeff she’s pregnant (which is a lie). Beatrice is still in a coma from the accident she suffered in the last book and Sam doesn’t know right away about her sister’s accident because she had run off with her boyfriend to live a quiet life on the beach. Once she learns that her sister has not woken up yet she rushes to her side only to find that in her absence Jeff has been named the acting King and she has been completely left out in the cold. She must prove herself to be accepted back into the family business, but is that something she really wants? Meanwhile, Jeff is suddenly forced into the principal position of power and he begins to wonder if anyone really knows who he is at all or if they just see him as the royal heir? Nina is doing great in college and trying to shed her feelings for Jeff after learning of his engagement, but try as she might she cannot avoid romance for long. How will this riveting series end for these characters?

This final chapter of the alternate America Katharine McGee has created is everything readers will want it to be. There is action, romance, drama, surprises, and so much more. Plus, while the book does offer hope for all of the characters it comes with realistic expectations and outcomes. Fans who have followed this series will be very pleased with how this book remains faithful to the characters while also moving the story along.

Stars and Smoke by Marie Lu

Published October 18, 2023 Uncategorized Leave a Comment
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Genre: Action Mystery

Winter Young is the biggest pop star in the world, but he is still reeling from the untimely death of his older brother. Despite his enormous popularity he can’t help but wonder if his life is fairly pointless, unlike his brother who was in the peace corp. So, when he is approached by a secret agency to help take down a powerful trafficker he thinks this might be his chance to do something important. He does not have much time to train, however, so he is paired with Sydney Cosette, a long time secret agent despite her young age. The two get prepared as best they can, but then they must go undercover knowing that things could get very dangerous if their true motivations are revealed. As Winter gets to know the daughter of the criminal they are trying to take down, he quickly realizes that every situation has many people involved and is difficult to navigate at times so that the wrong people don’t get hurt. Can he and Sydney fulfill the goals they set out to do with this mission? Will they become more than friends along the way?

This story is fun and exciting with many suspenseful action scenes. Technically, there is a little bit of romance, but I would not let that deter any boys who enjoy action from picking this one up. It very much reads like a spy novel and the characters are engaging from the start with several revelations coming out about both of their backgrounds. There are many surprises in regards to what they think they know about this mission and the ending is very exciting and dramatic. Definitely recommended for anyone who enjoys a good action spy adventure.

The Survivors by Jane Harper

Published September 27, 2023 Uncategorized Leave a Comment
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Genre: Mystery

When Kieran returns to his hometown with his baby and wife, he fears the memories of his past will be waiting to haunt him. He grew up in a small sea town where most people made their living off the water and therefore could have their ups and downs. Something traumatic happened that forced Kieran to leave and he is only now returning to help his parents with a new transition. Shortly after he arrives, a body turns up on the beach and immediately questions start flying around about who could have done this and wondering if it’s connected to the disappearance of a teenage girl years ago. Suddenly, Kieran knows the entire town is thinking of that terrible night where he made a bad decision and people’s lives were forever torn apart. Can he get to the truth of what really happened all those years ago? Does it connect to the terrible murder of this college student today?

Fans looking for an engaging mystery story will enjoy this title. Slowly, the events of the past start to emerge and you learn why Kieran has avoided this place for so long. The supporting characters all play a part in both the past and the present which helps to build the suspense before the murder is solved. This book really shows the many emotions that go along with trauma and how those feelings can build if not resolved in a timely manner. Kieran and those around him who were affected by the past events are still carrying around a lot of feelings and stress and this new murder pushes them all to face the past they can’t come to peace with. Recommended for fans of The Woman in the Window and the Woman in Cabin 10.

The Getaway by Lamar Giles

Published September 20, 2023 Uncategorized Leave a Comment
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Genre: Futuristic Fiction

Jay and his friends and family feel very blessed to be able to work and live in the vacation oasis reserved for the wealthy and powerful because everyone knows how difficult life is outside the walls of this getaway. One day, however, his friend Connie and her family mysteriously move out in the middle of the night and he’s pretty sure it’s not her answering the texts on her phone. Meanwhile, he starts to notice changes around the resort. The patrons are getting meaner and never seem to go home. It even comes to their attention that the wealthy guests can shoot electric currents through employees using their employee bracelets. This sets an unfortunate imbalance of power that the guests seem to relish. Jay’s parents have also been reassigned to menial, back breaking jobs instead of the ones that qualified them to live in the oasis in the first place. Jay’s one wealthy friend, the heiress to the entire place, has been cold and different and he knows she knows more than she’s letting on about the current changes going on around them. Should he try to escape this place and take his chances outside the “protective” walls? Or, should he try to join the underground rebellion that is growing as the workers are treated worse and worse? Who can he trust and is the world really coming to an end all around them and they are too sheltered to know?

This book takes on many issues in a thrilling setting including race, class, climate change, and corporate control. Jay is the central figure, but there is a lot going on with his family and friends and he struggles sometimes to keep up with everything while still trying to keep himself safe in this increasingly unpredictable place. The ending is exciting and satisfying and will answer most of the questions, but will leave readers wanting to know more. Fans of futuristic fiction such as the Testing and Divergent will be instantly hooked by the unusual setting and unknown future of the characters.

Live Your Best Lie by Jessie Weaver

Published April 6, 2023 Uncategorized Leave a Comment
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Genre: Mystery

Summer Cartwright is a very powerful social media influencer who has gathered secrets about those closest to her including her best friend, Grace, her ex-boyfriend, Adam, her former camp mate, Laney, and a sophomore who aspires to be just like her, Cora. Everyone has heard the news that Summer has secured a book deal and plans to release ALL of the secrets she has on everyone else. Therefore, everyone feels they need to be especially nice and accommodating so that she might change her mind. Summer is planning the biggest, splashiest Halloween party and insists these four come. However, shortly after everyone arrives they receive a strange text message that Summer will be dead in five minutes. The party guests assume it’s a murder mystery party and start looking for clues…but then Grace, Cora, Laney, and Adam stumble upon Summer’s body and they know it was all too real and that they will all be prime suspects. Who would kill Summer at her own party? How did they do it? Is there a way for them to clear their names before it’s too late?

This story covers a lot of issues including parental abuse, academic pressures, plagiarism, the dangers of social media, and even teen dating. Many readers will find something they can commiserate with as they get to know these characters. It’s told in alternating chapters so you get to see how each one of them feels about Summer and her murder, but it takes awhile before all of the secrets spill out and it becomes clear who the killer is. The ending is exciting and satisfying and will leave readers wanting to know more about these characters. Recommended for anyone who enjoyed One of Us is Lying.

Love & Gelato by Jenna Evans Welch

Published May 13, 2022 Uncategorized Leave a Comment
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Genre: Romance

Lina is spending the summer in Italy with the father she’s never known after the tragic death of her mom. Howard, her father, seems eager to please and although he wants to explain why he hasn’t been a part of her life Lina puts him off because she’s not ready to hear it just yet. Meanwhile, she receives the diary her mother kept the year she went to art school in Italy and she slowly begins learning what happened to her mother the year before she got pregnant. Lina also meets a local boy named Ren who agrees to show her around Florence and introduce her to other students of the American high school, a place Lina still isn’t sure she wants to go in the fall. As Ren and Lina become friends she allows him to read her mother’s journal and the two of them decide to start retracing her mother’s footsteps. Can they get to the bottom of why Lina’s mom left Italy and Lina’s father behind when she clearly loved it there? Will she ever learn why Howard was never a part of her life? Will Lina and Ren become more than friends?

This romance story has a beautiful setting in Italy and Lina does visit everything from famous landmarks to local restaurants, which makes for a fun journey. Lina’s grief for her mother is very clearly illustrated with her words and actions, but it is still frustrating to watch her struggle to find the truth when it could have been so much easier if she had trusted those around her. At times, both Lina and Ren act in ways that don’t seem to fit with their character up to that point, but as everyone knows, sometimes you can’t help how you feel. Recommended for audiences that enjoy romances.

For Your Own Good by Samantha Downing

Published April 29, 2022 Uncategorized Leave a Comment
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Teddy Crutcher is an English teacher at an elite prep school where money talks and appearances definitely matter. Whenever he feels a student is spoiled or entitled he often tries to find a way to take him or her down a peg and in his mind he is actually helping the student to learn that not everything in life can be bought. Enter Zach Ward, a rich and entitled student with very demanding parents who cannot handle their son not getting straight As in order to set up his entire future. Zach isn’t as worried about his grades as his parents are, but he definitely isn’t used to teachers not liking him and believing every word he says so he starts to keep a closer eye on Mr. Crutcher. Then, during a party at the school a very overbearing mom suddenly drops dead during the speeches. Everyone is shocked to learn that she was actually poisoned, but was it murder or an accident? Was she even the intended target? Soon, everyone at school is alarmed and the growing chaos leads to more gossip and false leads. Sadly, it also leads to more unfortunate incidents at the school that leaves everyone, including police, reeling and struggling to make sense of it. Who is trying to hurt people at this school and is it random or calculated?

In a place where everyone has secrets it can be hard to expose others without your own getting revealed. This story follows several different characters who all have connections to the Belmont Academy and their motivations are quickly revealed, as well as how far they will go to get what they want. The students and staff all feel superior to others in their own way and believe they deserve everything they want. Many are truly surprised when things do not work out as planned. The set up of this school is incredibly believable as students are more competitive than ever to get into prestigious colleges so they can enter enviable careers. It’s not hard to imagine how much tension there can be in an environment where everyone has such lofty goals. Teddy’s motivations are revealed quickly, but several other characters are concealing shady secrets of their own to the point that it’s hard to know who to root for. Fans of crime fiction and true crime podcasts will enjoy this title as it creates an eerie but realistic vibe.

Castles In Their Bones by Laura Sebastian

Published April 15, 2022 Uncategorized Leave a Comment
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Genre: Fantasy/Romance

Beatriz, Sophronia, and Daphne are princesses and triplets who were raised for the sole purpose of marrying the three nearby princes so that their mother could secretly find weaknesses that would allow her to invade and someday rule all of the land. They understood their purpose and endured a lifetime of training in poisons, code breaking, fighting, seductions, and so much more. Yet, once they are all sent to their new kingdoms things are not as simple as they first appeared and they start to realize there is more at play than they originally thought. Daphne arrives to find that her situation has changed irrevocably just prior to her arrival and is scrambling to re-strategize. Beatriz really likes her prince, but there is a problem that neither of them can ignore regarding their relationship. Sophronia, considered by their mother to be the weakest, starts to notice discrepancies in the way the kingdom collects and spends taxpayer dollars and starts to believe her and her new husband could potentially be really good rulers…if she doesn’t let her mother’s plotting get in the way. Can the three sisters who are so far from each other work together to untangle all the betrayals and secrets? How will they know who they can truly trust?

This exciting plot twists and turns from the beginning right up to the end. Fans of Grace and Fury and The Ash Princess series will devour this book and clamor for more. The three main characters are all placed in very different yet equally precarious situations that they must figure out largely on their own. All of them uncover betrayals and secrets that leave them shocked, which is saying something considering they were all raised with the sole purpose of overthrowing kingdoms. Their mother, while not a big character, is felt throughout the story and clearly has more power than even they could have predicted. The ending reveals some answers, but there are still many more to be had. Recommended.

The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave

Published April 1, 2022 Uncategorized Leave a Comment
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Genre: Mystery

Hannah has been married for over a year and it has been going relatively well except for the fact that her husband’s teenage daughter does not care for her. She’s still hoping that things will get better when she receives a note from her husband, delivered by a stranger, asking Hannah to protect his daughter. That is the moment that Hannah learns her husband has gone on the run and she has no idea why. His daughter, Bailey, is equally confused and hurt once she discovers that he left her a bag full of cash and no further instructions. Hannah and Bailey reluctantly work together to find out the truth about Owen, but the more they learn the more they discover they didn’t know about him. First of all, his name was not actually Owen and he is not from New England like he had said. It’s not a coincidence that Owen went on the run after his company was highly publicized for fraud and other charges, but Hannah isn’t convinced that is the issue he’s running from. She thinks there’s something from his past that he is terrified will find his daughter, but the question is what and will they ever see him again? Can Bailey ever trust her enough to find out the truth together?

Fans of The Woman in Cabin 10 and the Woman in the Window will enjoy this title, but it is not as dark as those. As Hannah begins to find answers, the reader will most likely be surprised at why Owen ran and the difficult choices Hannah feels she needs to make going forward. Recommended for readers looking for a fun, fast paced mystery or for a book club looking for an engaging mystery.

You’ll Be the Death of Me by Karen M. McManus

Published March 18, 2022 Uncategorized Leave a Comment
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Genre: Mystery/Suspense

Ivy, Cal, and Mateo used to be close in junior high after they all skipped school one day and had “the best day ever” and were never caught. They have drifted apart in high school, but one day fate brings them together and they all decide to skip again in the hopes of rekindling that magical day. Unfortunately, things do not go as planned and they end up witnessing the aftermath of the murder of a classmate. They know they had no business being there and it looks very bad so they run. As they try to figure out what happened on their own, it becomes clear they are all dealing with some pretty difficult secrets that they must trust each other with in order to be able to move on. Can they clear their names even as rumors start swirling that they know what happened to their classmate and could have been involved? Will they ever be as close as they once were? Is there anyone out there they can trust?

This story engages readers right from the beginning, because you naturally feel for all of them in one way or another. It is really easy to identify with all of their struggles and yet you can see how they all came to make the choices that they did. Without giving too much away, the ending is very exciting and dramatic and leaves room for more in a potential sequel. Readers who enjoyed One of Us is Lying will enjoy this title.

Don’t Let Go by Harlan Coben

Published January 21, 2022 Uncategorized Leave a Comment
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Genre: Mystery

Napoleon “Nap” Dumas has never gotten over the fact that his twin brother, Leo, and Leo’s girlfriend, Diana, were found dead after apparently getting hit by a train their senior year. It was ruled an accident, but it never sat right with Nap and he’s never been able to move on. The same night his brother died his girlfriend, Maura, ran away and was never heard from again. Nap grew up to become a detective after Diana’s dad, Augie, the police chief took him under his wing and became his mentor. He also became very close to a classmate named Ellie after the deaths and she’s still his best friend to this day. He has tried to move on, but there’s always a part of him that will wonder what happened that night. Then, Maura’s prints turn up at a crime scene where another classmate of theirs is mysteriously gunned down. Nap can’t help but wonder if it’s connected. How many of their classmates are going to die under strange circumstances? Why did Maura show up again after all of these years? Is it possible to really find out the truth about what happened that night? Does he really want to know?

Fans of Harlan Coben will enjoy this suspense mystery. There are many layers to the mystery as Nap is trying to find out how his brother and his brother’s girlfriend died all those years ago as well as finding out why friends of theirs seem to be targeted now all these years later. There are many supporting characters who contribute to the story, but not so many that you can’t keep them straight. The ending will satisfy those who love an exciting resolution.

In the Study with the Wrench by Diana Peterfreund

Published October 1, 2021 Uncategorized Leave a Comment
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Genre: Mystery

Number of pages: 327

Still reeling from the murder of their Headmaster in the first book of this series, Orchid, Vaughan, Scarlet, Mustard, Peacock, and Plum have all returned despite the fact that they are now referred to on campus as the “murder crew.” All of them have their own reasons for wanting to return, but are not expecting it when another staff member is murdered. They also start getting mysterious notes that seem to just be targeting the six of them. There is also a new student who has been keeping an annoyingly close eye on the group and some of them don’t believe she’s a regular student. The school administration is trying desperately to keep things afloat after all this tragedy and do not want the students snooping around or making anything worse, but they feel they have a real need to find out what’s going on because they seem to be targets for whomever is behind these terrible events. Can they find out who is behind this new murder without getting hurt themselves? Is this murder unrelated to the murder in the first book? Can they trust each other or will their secrets get in the way?

This sequel to In the Hall with the Knife is a natural continuation of the first story and fans will want to keep going with these characters. In the first book, the reader learned how many secrets each character has and those were fleshed out a bit more in this one. The characters are all interesting and developed and it will be fun to see how they develop even more in the next one. Readers looking for a fun, lighter mystery will enjoy this title.

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