A quick little roundup of several smaller reviews I wrote in late 2022. Beware of spoilers!
Title: A Sinister Revenge
Author: Deanna Raybourn
Series: Veronica Speedwell #8
Great thanks to Deanna Raybourn, Berkley, and Edelweiss for allowing me to read a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Overall this was a good addition to the series. Not exceptional, but good. I love that Veronica and Tiberious have developed a deep fraternal bond, and I loved the interesting dinosaur information. I officially want to adopt Merry as a pet and cuddle him. I missed Stoker quite a bit, though, what with him keeping his distance from Veronica–which seemed rather immature to me, honestly. I’ve had about enough of those kinds of antics between them. Per the butterfly breaking free of its cocoon at the end, I’m hopeful Veronica is done running from her feelings and such antics will cease.
A few other things left me wanting toward the end. First, how were the TV Bros able to perform such a timely rescue? I really hope I missed the explanation, otherwise it’s the laziest and most blatant case of deux ex machina I’ve read in a long time–maybe ever.
Second, Veronica’s grand gesture gets a big ol’ thumbs down and fart noise from me. Partly because Raybourn neglected to remind the reader why Keats was a big deal to Stoker, and partly because it was just plain lame.
Third, what in the seven hells did Nanny whisper to Stoker? I imagine she secretly approves of Veronica, but I still want to know.
My final note is one of slight confusion–the end reads with a tone of finality, so strong that I became panicked and searched the net for mention of this being the final installment. Can’t find one, though, so I’m looking forward to Veronica #9!
Title: The Foundling
Author: Ann Leary
Series: n/a
DNF 38%. Just not into it. Interesting at points, but plot too meandering, feels like nothing’s happening.
Title: Working Stiff
Author: Annelise Ryan
Series: Mattie Winston Mysteries #1
I got about halfway into this audiobook and had to stop, not because it was bad, but because the story began to ramble more and more and I lost patience with the irrelevant scenes. The story needed more red pen taken to it in the development stage to help it focus. The humor was also incongruous tonally and felt rather forced. The underwear at the crime scene, the gaping hole in the dress… Sigh. Not what I wanted out of this book. Maybe I’ll give Ryan another shot someday.
NOTE: I did enjoy A Death in Door County (4 stars), which is what prompted me to try this book.
Title: The Family Across the Street
Author: Nicole Trope
Series: n/a
DNF at 50%
While I’m mostly into the writing style and would probably enjoy a different kind of story by this author, two things are driving me absolutely insane. First, the jumping around in time. Fastest and easiest way to confuse a reader. The head-hopping is bad enough, at least have a linear chronology.
But that was a minor annoyance. What made me give up the book was sheer frustration with the characters. WHY WAS NO ONE CALLING THE POLICE TO REQUEST A WELFARE CHECK????? They’re a thing in Australia, too, I checked. Multiple people had noted the strange behaviors, had tried to investigate further, had thought about calling the police. But no one actually did.
If someone HAD called for a welfare check and the police thought all was ship-shape, that would be different. That would add to the tension and the readers’ feeling of helplessness. But just ignoring the possibility is angering. I thoroughly regret paying for this audiobook. UGH!
Title: Little Eve
Author: Catriona Ward
Series: n/a
Thank you to Catriona Ward, Macmillan-Tor/Forge, Tor Nightfire, and NetGalley for allowing me to read a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Catriona Ward is decidedly not to my taste. I can’t say if she writes well because I’m so distracted by how dark and bizarre the story is to think of mundane things like pace and structure. I can say it’s not a book you want to read (or listen to) when you’re only paying half attention to it. With the POV and time switches on top of the weirdness, you’ll get lost easily. I know from experience; between 30 and 40 percent I wanted to DNF because I’d gotten lost and confused and wasn’t into it. But I kept on and gradually made more sense of the tale.
It’s full of triggers, so if you’re extra sensitive to cults, rape, snakes, hallucinogens, suicide, animal cruelty, child abuse, pedophilia, homocide—steer clear. But if you’re a fan of true crime documentaries and are fascinated by people who are just plain evil or how people can get sucked into cults and doctrines, then you’ll probably love this book!
But yeah, between this book and Needless Street, I think I’ve had my fill of Catriona Ward. Don’t misunderstand, I’m not saying these books were bad, I just prefer my leisure reading to be a bit more entertaining and feel-good.
Title: Secrets of the Nile
Author: Tasha Alexander
Series: Lady Emily Mysteries #16
I would like to thank Tasha Alexander, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for allowing me to listen a free audio galley in exchange for an honest review.
A pleasant, Agatha Christie-esque return to Lady Emily’s world! It was nice to see everyone again, except maybe Cat. I still rather resent her existence, and her attitude toward Emily doesn’t help my opinion of her. The boys were a huge source of hilarity without even being present, love them. The ending, in regards to them, was perfect.
I could have done without the B storyline in Ancient Egypt. It was anachronistic at times, partially in the terms and expressions used (someone was game to do something, for example) and partially because the plot was something commonly seen in psychological thrillers today, which made it feel much more modern than it should have. And other than providing irrelevant backstory for a tomb, the storyline didn’t serve much purpose. A great idea, but not well executed.
Bianca Amato was an excellent narrator!
Title: A Certain Darkness
Author: Anna Lee Huber
Series: Verity Kent #6
Thanks to Anna Lee Huber, Kensington, and NetGalley for allowing me to read a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I had a really, really hard time getting into this book. Actually, I never did get into it; don’t ask me what happens in it because I have no idea. Verity and Sidney do some spy stuff and deal with PTSD—pretty much the same as in all the Verity books. It took me several days to finish the audiobook, which is pretty unusual for me, and no matter how often I told myself to focus on the story, it always became background noise as my mind wandered and I did other stuff. I found it so boring . . . waaaay too much exposition and talking among characters, not enough action happening to grab my attention.
The narrator, Heather Wilds, was definitely part of the problem. I’ve listened to many books narrated by her before and I don’t remember having a problem with her until now. The way she read was droll, like she was just as bored as I was. She handled the languages and accents beautifully, expertly, and she certainly sounds sophisticated, but this time she was very monotone, with little energy or inflection. Between all the exposition and Wilds’s narration, this audiobook was a snoozefest. I’d have DNF’d if I hadn’t needed to review it for NetGalley, and if the author hadn’t been Huber. She’s so nice, I hate that I can’t give her a better review.
You might really enjoy this book if you’re into spy thrillers with World War backdrops. Verity Kent is a great character, Sidney’s grown on me a lot, too, and Huber definitely did her research. My god, did she do her research. But for all that I want to like this book, it’s just not for me. Lady Darby is more to my taste.
Title: TJ Powar Has Something to Prove
Author: Jesmeen Kaur Deo
Series: n/a
This book was INCREDIBLE. I went in thinking it’d be a passably interesting YA and was blown away by how well written it is. Could have started with a better hook than a dry debate, but get past that and you won’t be able to put it down. Yes, it has strong feminist and anti-establishment themes, but not so heavy-handed that it overshadows the narrative and turns the reader off. It doesn’t conclude that women are awesome and men suck, nor that all women should be au natural –it concludes that everyone is different and has different tastes, different ideas of what is beautiful, and that everyone and their tastes should be respected, whether you agree with them or not. Just brilliant. Recommended for all.
