january roundup: part one
For a new year, I dove into reading lots of new books. Some I absolutely loved and I count that as a great way to get 2024 going. Read on for my (many) reviews, and stay tuned for part two.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with these ARCs to review.
january roundup: part one
Big Time
Author: Ben H. Winters
Publication Date: 3/5/2024
What would happen to your life if minutes were taken away and given to someone else? This is the question posed to the reader in Ben H Winter’s Big Time.
When Grace Berney, a bored employee of the Food and Drug Administration, boss gives her a strange photo of a young woman in a hospital, she makes it her task to figure out how the woman ended up in the hospital and where she is now. As Grace becomes more and more obsessed with finding her and bringing her home to safety, she finds herself embroiled in something crazier than she ever could have imagined.
While books involving elements of science fiction are not usually ones I gravitate towards, I enjoyed this one. I thought the relationship between Grace and her nonbinary child River was realistic and River’s personality rang true of a teenager finding their identity. Additionally, the mystery of the woman in the hospital offered up an intriguing storyline. I was curious to see where it was all leading.
This is a quick read that would make a fantastic book club pick, as it is bound to lead to interesting discussions.
The Woman Who Lied
Author: Claire Douglas
Publication Date: 7/30/2024
Emilia is working on her 10th and final book of the detective series that made her a household name. Her excitement to move on from it is overshadowed by strange things happening; someone is leaving her strange messages, making it clear she has a stalker. Things take a troubling turn when it occurs to her that the person terrorizing her has read the draft of her last novel – one she’s only shared with a select few. Why would someone close to her want to hurt her?
As the novel plays out and Emilia tries to piece together clues, it becomes clear she has a big secret she is hiding. The book within a book aspect adds a nice element to the mystery and the twists and turns of the plot keep the reader guessing. The result is a smart thriller with a relatable, albeit sometimes frustrating, protagonist.
This would make a great choice for a book group, as there would be plenty of topics to discuss (trust, loyalty, mistakes people make when they are desperate). It is sure to please fans of mysteries and thrillers, especially if those without gratuitous violence are preferred.
Society of Lies
Author: Laura Ling Brown
Publication Date: 8/13/2024
Maya is supposed to be celebrating her little sister Naomi’s graduation from Princeton; instead, she is mourning her death. Initially, it seems like Naomi tragically drowned in the lake, but Maya knows there is something much darker at play – something likely involving a secret society and another mysterious death ten years earlier. Now it is up to Maya to figure out who is behind what happened to her sister and if it is connected to Maya’s past.
Told from the alternating viewpoints of Maya and Naomi, the reader is given clues from ten years earlier, the months leading up to Naomi’s death, and the present day. Some of the plot is a bit predictable (Maya and Naomi are women of color from less privileged backgrounds taken in by a wealthier group of friends – some of them questionable; there is a prestigious club with powerful people covering up dastardly deeds) but it is a fast-paced read with an intriguing plot. Maya and Naomi make for solid protagonists, as both women are likable.
Overall, this is a solid choice for fans of mysteries and would be a good selection for a book group.
Rabbit Hole
Author: Kate Brody
Publication Date: 1/2/2024
Ten years after her sister’s disappearance, Teddy’s father takes his own life. As she sets to work tying up his loose ends left behind, Teddy learns he was actively perusing Reddit to find out what happened to Angie and engaging with people who may have answers to her outstanding questions. As Teddy picks up where he left off, she finds herself tumbling down a rabbit hole. Will she be able to find the answers her father could not?
This book has an intriguing premise, but it falls flat in execution. The result is a complicated plot without any real resolution. It sounds like a mystery/thriller in theory, but this is an incorrect way to market the book. More of a family drama, fans of mysteries and thrillers are likely to be disappointed in this read.
Additionally, the book is not an easy read. There are several challenging and disturbing sections (the way the family dog is treated throughout the book is extremely upsetting; some of the sex scenes are not going to be easy for some) and Teddy is perhaps one of the least likable main characters I have ever read in a book. It is not simply that she is flawed or challenging; she is one of the few book characters I’ve continuously called an idiot while reading. Selfish and fancying herself as more intelligent than she is, it was hard to care what happened to her halfway through. With an ending that is less than satisfying, the fact I pushed through the book is even more frustrating.
As a dark drama, this book will have an audience. As a mystery/thriller, I would have a hard time giving my recommendation.
A Lovely Lie
Author: Jaime Lynn Hendricks
Publication Date: 5/28/2024
Twenty-two years ago, two fresh high school graduates were killed in a car accident. Everyone thinks they know what happened, but only Scarlett and her best friend Pepper know the horrifying truth. Since she and Pepper lost touch, Scarlett thinks that part of her life can remain in the past – until Pepper’s daughter Zoey shows up at her place of work asking questions that threaten to expose what really happened that night.
Told from the viewpoints of Scarlett, Zoey, and Pepper, this is a gossipy, fun read perfect for a beach vacation. Even though there are flashbacks in the book, nothing feels unnecessary to the plot, and there are plenty of twists and turns to keep it interesting (albeit not always believable). Additionally, none of the characters serve as reliable narrators, so it is almost hard to know who to root for (although Zoey and her sleuthing ways comes the closest to being the hero of the story); that being said, it is an entertaining enough read where the likability of the characters is not essential.
This is a great pick for thriller lovers who like stories told from multiple points of view (and times) and a healthy dose of narcissistic characters. It is a little over the top in parts (of course Pepper is a failed soap actress), but is ultimately fun and light, making for an enjoyable read to pass the time.
House of Glass
Author: Sarah Pekkanen
Publication Date: 8/6/2024
Stella Hudson, a best interest attorney, has been given her most intriguing case yet. Rose, a young girl, witnessed the murder of her nanny who was also sleeping with her father. As a result, she is no longer speaking. Stella knows what that is like; she briefly stopped talking after the traumatic death of her mother when she was a child. However, as Stella begins to work with Rose, she realizes there is something more sinister at play. Soon she finds herself questioning whether Rose is the one who needs protecting or the actual villain.
This book has a slow start, but it adds to the tension throughout. Rose reads as an unsettling character from the beginning, giving off Damien vibes. Is she as terrifying as she seems, or is she misunderstood?
The well-intentioned Stella is smart and likable, but her traumatic past starts to bubble to the surface, distracting her at times. As a result, this subplot takes away from the main part of the story. There is so much going on with Rose’s family that adding a traumatic past for Stella is a little bit of overkill.
Overall, this book is hard to put down and the mystery aspect is solid. The author does a great job of building both suspense and an overall creepy feeling. The last section of the book gets a little bogged down with subplots, but fans of thrillers will enjoy this book.
Stay tuned for part two of my January roundup. Until then - cheers and happy reading! Follow me on Instagram for more updates.
