The chaos of life in November gave way to the coziness of December. As I got used to my new life as a mom, I found an all-new appreciation for my Kindle during those late-night nursing sessions. Here is part one of my roundup of what I spent those nights curled up with - and thank you to NetGalley for providing me with these ARCs to review.

december roundup: part one

Nothing Without Me

Author: Helen Monks Takhar
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
Publication Date: 2/6/2024
Genre: Mystery/Thrillers
Rating: 3/5 Stars

Film director April Eden is finally getting the recognition she has been craving with her latest film, The Vanished Woman. Everything she has been working towards is within her grasp, assuming she can keep her leading lady, disgraced starlet Essie Lay, from going off the rails again.

Unfortunately, things don’t go to plan when April finds Essie face down in her pool on opening night. From there, things only continue to get more chaotic when Essie’s body later goes missing. Was it all a publicity stunt gone awry, or is someone playing a sinister game with April? If Essie is dead, why would someone take her body?

While April scrambles to uncover the truth, the reader gains insight into the complicated friendship between the two women. This is done through alternating viewpoints from both characters across the span of twenty years. Throughout the book, it becomes clear they’ve been shaped by their toxic friendship, as well as abuse at the hands of those with power over them. Working through the ghosts of their past is key to finding out what happened to Essie.

Ultimately, this is a cautionary tale about the dangers of both fame and living life online in today’s world. It is a compelling read, albeit a bit dark, and certain aspects are so unbelievable it pulls the reader out of the story. That being said, this is ultimately a fun thriller and would make for a good beach read for fans of the genre.

The Main Character

Author: Jaclyn Goldis
Publisher: Atria Books
Publication Date: 5/21/2024
Genre: Mystery/Thrillers
Rating: 4/5 Stars

Ginevra Ex has a unique approach to her mystery novels; she bases her main characters on real people she hires and interviews. It’s a method that has mostly served her well, and she is hoping her latest book will be her best. After all, this main character is unlike any other she has found.

After crafting her novel with the main character Rory, Ginevra decides to thank her with a once-in-a-lifetime trip on the Orient Express along Italy’s Mediterranean coast. Unbeknownst to Rory, Ginevra has also invited Rory’s brother, best friend, and former fiancé. Once the trip is underway, it becomes clear to Rory she is still playing the role of the main character, but this time with greater stakes. Can she uncover Ginevra’s true intentions of inviting all of them on this trip before it’s too late?

Told from the different perspectives of each character, this is a fun and twisty mystery. The author does a nice job of creating a scenic atmosphere, using both the train and Italy to her advantage. It almost feels like watching a movie. Additionally, the plot works as a cute nod to Agatha Christie. It is easy for the reader to get caught up in the mystery.

Ultimately, this is a great choice for anyone looking for an entertaining mystery to pass an afternoon. There are some cliché moments, but it is overall an enjoyable read.

True Crime

Author: Georgina Lees
Publisher: HarperCollins UK
Publication Date: 1/30/2024
Genre: Mystery/Thrillers
Rating: 3/5 Stars

It has been ten years since college student and aspiring investigative journalist Katy disappeared. Since then, the case has gone cold and Katy’s mother Grace has felt alone in her quest to discover what happened to her daughter. That all changes when Grace is approached to take part in a new documentary special exploring Katy’s disappearance.

As the documentary special ignites new interest, Grace finds she is not any closer to getting the answers she wants regarding Katy; if anything, more questions are being raised. Who in Katy’s life would have wanted to hurt her? What secrets was she hiding from everyone, including Grace? And what could she have uncovered in her investigation so terrible someone would have wanted her permanently silenced?

Told from the perspectives of both Katy and Grace, this is an entertaining read, but the characters are frustrating. Katy is a bit of an enigma throughout the story; it is hard to determine whether she fits the idealized image Grace created of her or the less likable version told by others in the story. Where Katy is a mystery, the opposite can be said of Grace. While she is a sympathetic character, she is also careless and hotheaded, and this makes her a challenge. By going rogue in her investigations, she manages to make more mess and the chaotic energy she exudes is grating.

Overall, the plot of the book is fairly fast-paced and it is a solid choice for a vacation read. However, the last portion of the book not only feels a bit rushed but also manages to blend being both far-fetched and predictable. While fans of the true crime craze will enjoy this book, the last part of the book could have been better developed, and loyal readers of the genre will find that frustrating.

Bright and Tender Dark

Author: Joanna Pearson
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA
Publication Date: 1/4/2024
Genre: Mystery/Thrillers
Rating: 2/5 Stars

Two decades ago, charming undergrad Karlie Richards was found brutally murdered in her college apartment. At the time, it seemed like a simple case to most, with the suspect quickly apprehended and convicted. However, when Karlie’s former roommate Joy finds a letter from her twenty years later, Joy finds herself questioning if the right person was punished.

Shifting back and forth between 1999 and 2019, the reader gains insight into Karlie’s complicated relationships, including her tumultuous friendship with Joy and her illicit affair with a professor. Throughout the book, it becomes clear several people had motives for killing Karlie.

While the premise of this book is solid, it falls victim to having both too many characters and too many plot points. In addition to the teacher/student affair, the storyline also includes evangelism culture in the 90s, as well as a random urban legend involving scaring realtors in 2019. With so much going on and no clear connection tying it all together, it becomes hard for the reader to gauge where the story is going. It is also frustrating to have so many characters introduced only to realize they are not at all essential to the plot. The author would have done well to kill some of her darlings.

Overall, this book will be able to find its audience, but true lovers of the genre will have a hard time with the superfluous subplots.

Stay tuned for Part Two. Until then - cheers and happy reading! Follow me on Instagram for more updates.