{I've Been Reading} This is How It Ends

 

This is How it Ends by Eva Dolan 

Only a few residents remain in the once crowded apartment building, refusing the developer's offers to buy them out, knowing that their days there are numbered. A party in the building ends with a man's body in one of the vacant units and two of the protesters disposing of him down an elevator shaft. Its bleak setting sets this thriller apart from others I've read. The plot moves slowly, but it's definitely got atmosphere. 

 

Disclosure -- The publisher provided me with an advance review copy. This post contains affiliate links. 

{I've Been Reading} Her Sister's Secret

 

 

 Her Sister's Secret by S. E. Lynes 

A late night call from her nephew brings Isla running. All she knows is that there was a fire, that her sister and her sister's new husband are dead, and that Callum needs her. Isla quickly realizes that she didn't know much at all about her sister's marriage or her new life. Things weren't as perfect as  they appeared from a distance.

I loved this domestic thriller with its intriguing plot and fun little details that kept me immersed in the book. The story unfolds with Isla in the present and Annie's recent past leading up to the days just before the fire.  

 

The Perfect Father by Charlotte Duckworth

When Esther receives a text message from her husband that just reads "sorry" and comes home to find an empty house, she's panicked. Robin has stayed home to care for their daughter since her birth and, after an extremely difficult pregnancy, Esther was grateful that he did. Now he's left with their two-year-old and she's filled with questions. 

This is one of those books where the narrator is deliberately withholding information from the reader. Almost immediately, we discover that Robin wasn't a perfect father or husband. The plot jumps between the past and present and chapters alternate between husband and wife. It was interesting, but everything important had happened long before that text message and I never felt a real sense of urgency or suspense. 

   

 What She Knew by Miranda Rijks

When a researcher approaches her for an interview about her college roommate, Stephanie's husband advises her not to speak to him. He doesn't want her dredging up bad memories. It's been almost ten years. Allison's presumed murderer is behind bars even though her body was never found. There's an explanation for why Stephanie didn't ask more questions at the time, but it seems like at some point between then and now she would've started to wonder more about what happened. 

I didn't love this one. It had me reaching for the dictionary twice in the first few chapters. I didn't have that reaction to The Visitors or The Influencer, so I'm guessing that it was supposed to be the protagonist's educated vocabulary.   I didn't really warm up to Stephanie although until the plot started to unfold. Near the end of  the book, things got much more interesting. 
 

Disclosure - The publisher provided me with an advance review copy. This post contains affiliate links. 

{I've Been Reading}

Antiques Carry On by Barbara Allan 

Brandy and Vivian Bourne are off to London to meet with their new editor, squabbling as usual. In addition to the meeting, they've got some touristy stuff planned and an errand to visit a local antique dealer...and that's where things start to very wrong and the authorities become involved. 

This is the kind of fast paced fun that I've come to expect from this series. Brandy and Vivian are still bickering with each other (and their editor) and Vivian has a new informant that's crazy even for her. 

Disclosure -- The publishers provided me with advance review copies. This post contains affiliate links. 

Let's Make Baby Quilts! {July 2021}

 

Let's Make Baby Quilts Linky Party Rules:  Link directly to your post or specific Flickr photo. Your post can be about a baby quilt that's finished, or in progress, or you can be writing about what you have planned,  as long as it's about baby quilts. You're welcome to link to baby quilt posts that aren't brand new, but please don't submit the same post or picture more than once. I'd love it if you linked back to my site, either with a text link or the Let's Make Baby Quilts! button.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter