Exciting Conclusion to the Foruth Monkey Killer Trilogy

Title: The Sixth Wicked Child
Author: J.D Barker
Genre: Thriller/Suspense
Source: Paperback
Rating: 4 out of 5 paws


The words "Father, forgive me"  could have a multitude of meanings.  For Detective Sam Porter, they conjure memories of a past long buried and forgotten.  For Anson Bishop, they connect his childhood to his present as he reveals the truth that has been hidden for decades.  Written on near each new victim, the words connect multiple victims to the Fourth Monkey Killer.  Though the bodies are found in miles apart, in Chicago and South Carolina, clearly they are somehow connected.  Now Chicago Metro and the FBI are fighting through a cloud of chaos as they try to track down not only a killer, but a rogue officer and struggle to find a solution to potential mass pandemic.  When Anson Bishop, suspect in the 4MK murders he reveals a story that is not only unexpected but couldn't possibly be true...could it?  Finally the Fourth Monkey Killer's motive is revealed and the case is finally put to rest.

What a conclusion to a fast paced trilogy!  I have enjoyed this series from the very beginning with Fourth Monkey Killer and Fifth to Die, and now Barker keeps the suspense and breakneck pace with this chilling conclusion. There is so much going on throughout the novel, that it doesn't seem like much focus is on the bodies, especially after Anson turns himself in.  The novel is lengthy coming in at about 624 pages, there is a lot of action and suspense throughout the story.  While it does take a few chapters to pick up the pace, once it does; readers are in for a wild ride through Anson's past to discover the motive to the murders.


Characters are all likable, even ones that get introduced in this novel, and the antagonist.  You cannot help but like and wonder if Anson could really be the Fourth Monkey Killer or not.  He is very compelling in his case that he isn't the killer.  I liked getting the different viewpoints, and we get a few more than we have in the other books.  While they may seem like too much to some readers, it is needed to grasp the full story.  There are so many unexpected twists and turns that each viewpoint reveals that you don't want to miss something.


Porter I liked from the beginning, and while it started to look like he was either mad, or a part of the crimes, I was rooting for him the whole time.  He is intelligent and knows his suspect inside and out which could at times make things more difficult for him.


Anson Bishop is the perfect antagonist to Sam Porter.  He is cunning, smart, and resourceful.  He knows what he has at his disposal and uses it to his fullest advantage.  The diary entries were a geat addition to the story to give us not only clues, and backstory but an insight to a crazed mind.  You almost want him to NOT be the killer.


This is a trilogy that I would highly recommend to anyone.  Barker has done a phenomenal job at creating a story that is unique and stands our from the other novels in the genre.  I cannot wait for the movie/tv series that are in the works.

Literarycat Review: Death Is In The Details by Heather Sunseri

Title: Death is in the Details
Authors: Heather Sunseri
Genre: Thriller/Suspense
Source: Kindle eBook
Rating: 3 out of 5 Paws

Faith is a forensic photographer who is haunted by vivid memories of the night her mother and step father were murdered.  Twelve years later a string of fires are eerily similar to the one that took their lives.  Oddly enough the fires seem to correspond with the release of Faith's stepbrother from prison.  Ethan was convicted of setting the fire that killed his father and Faith's mother, but new evidence proved his innocence.  So who set the fire all those years ago and why are they trying to frame Ethan now?  FBI agent Luke Justice will not rest until he catches the serial killer who uses arson to mask his murders. What does he do when the evidence points to someone close to Faith, a woman he is growing fond of?  Can Faith and Luke find the truth behind it all before the flames eat them alive?

I keep going back and forth on what I think about this book.  There are moments when I like and other moments when I felt like it isn't a book for me. It progressed rather slowly for me and took a while for any of the action or clues to really make an impact on the feel of the novel.  I didn't feel attached to any of the characters, though the idea of Faith having a condition that makes her recall every moment that has happened to her with vivid clarity, as if it is happening at that moment.  For a good chunk of the book it wasn't as suspenseful or thrilling as I would have expected it to be, and I figured out the killer fairly early on in the novel.

I did like the motive behind the the murders.  There were some things that still didn't make sense when I finished the novel; things that were never truly explained with the big reveal.  The romantic part was unrealistic and was not needed.  Thriller/suspense novels do not need a romantic interest for them to be engaging and this was definitely a novel that would have been better without it.  It didn't feel like it added anything relevant to the story.  The main character solves everything by turning to alcohol and making really bad choices.  I simply could not connect with her as I absolutely hated her and Luke.  Luke just quickly gets into bed with her and just barely does anything to keep her safe and seems a little caustic as well.  He's a little too protective for only knowing her a short time, ready to fight for her after what a week?

Sunseri has a writing style that I could get into, but sadly it was the drull and boring story and very unlikable characters that made the novel feel like it was lacking something.  I am not sure if I would read anything else from her.

Kingdom of Souls by Rena Barron

Title:Kingdom of Souls

Author: Rena Barron

Genre: YA Fantasy

Source: Hardcover

Rating: 5 out of 5 paws

Arrah comes from a long line of powerful witch doctors, but unfortunately it seems like magic is passing over her.  Eachyear she tries to be blessed by the gods, but each year she comes back disappointed. When a premonition comes to her grandmother regarding Arrah and a green serpant, then local children become missing spurs Arrah into action, to buy magic with her life.  What she discovers goes beyond her most horrific nightmares and becomes more than betrayal. Now she must learn how to master magic, or find ways to buy it without losing too much of her life in order to save herself and those she loves most.

What can I say about this novel that goes beyond "WoW'?  I am so glad that I picked up this novel because it blew me away.  I couldn't put it down.  It was so beautifully written I wonder to myself why did I let it sit on my shelf for so long? Rena Barron builds a world of magic like I haven't seen before, she goes beyond the general stereotypes and creates soemthing new and amazing.  I love how she describes the magic and each other gods that play a role within the story and how they each present themselves.

Arrah is an enjoyable strong character once she gets past complaining about not having magic.  She does learn how to access her own inner strength and be powerful without needing to rely on magic to help her achieve her goals.  She is not afraid to do what she needs to do in order to protect those she loves and she deals with betrayal and mistrust in a strong mature way.  One thing that I wanted more of was the different tribes and how each tribe interacts and their beliefs, maybe we will get more as the series progresses, but it seems like such a big aspect of the story that seemed to fall to the background and I think may make the story a lot more powerful.

Rena Barron does a fantastic job building her world and characters that make readers CRAVE more of them.  I cannot wait for the next book in the series and see where Rena will take the story.  I want to learn more and be engrossed in this world more.  I was excited to see that there is a movie in the works that I will be sure to see whenever it comes out.

Literarycat Review: Evermore by Sara Holland

 Title:Evermore (book 2 of Everless series)

Author: Sara Holland
Genre: YA Fantasy
Source: Paperback
Rating: 4 out of 5 paws


Everyone knows the legends of the Alchemist and the Sorceress and the magic they both possess.  But could those stories be true?  For Jules Ember the reality of those stories becomes all to real for her as she came to realize she is the Alchemist, and Caro, the Queen's lady in waiting (and also murderess), is the Sorceress.  The whole kingdom believes Jules is responsible for the death of not only the Queen but also Jules' first love Roan.  With a large bounty on her head Jules must escape Caro and follow clues to find a weapon strong enough to defeat the Sorceress.  By piecing together lost memories, Jules quickly discovers the truth behind the stories, and how to save those she loves.

I had read the first book last year and thought I had reviewed it, but must have missed it in my time away from media and dealing with life's changes.  I highly enjoyed the first book as it dealt with something very unique as time being currency and extracted from blood.  It took me a little while to get the chance to read book two and I loved it as much as I did the first some.  Though, I do wish there was more to the story.  There were times it seemed like things got rushed and "squished" into the story.  I would have liked seeing certain things be revealed to other characters and their reactions.  Other than that this is a duology that I think is highly underrated.

Jules is a wonderful character.  I mean she just found out she is this ancient alchemist she only thought of as a legend.  Then on top of that she is also battling a friend who has become her mortal enemy, literally.  She has a lot going on in her mind and she takes it on like a champ and does what she needs to in order to learn more about herself and how to defeat her enemy.  Though I would have liked to see more of her trying to piece things together and getting used to her new-found power.  She almost instantly knew how to use her power.  I am okay with the love interest, though again I would have liked to see more interaction between the two and something else to build their relationship other than stolen glances, soft touches.  She was just in love with his brother Roan, and flits to Liam easily.  There should have been some build up.  I definitely wanted more of Caro.  She's our big baddie but rarely makes an appearance.  She uses other people to do her work.

The world the Sara Holland builds is a beautiful one.  I want to more about it.  We see the different class systems and how each responds to the blood coins, and payment.  She even briefly mentions what would happen if someone ate or drank blood from someone who has died.  She created a well rounded world that I want to get lost in more often.  Again I wish this was a longer series with more interactions between Caro and Jules leading up to a bigger show down.

Overall I loved this novel and I look forward to reading some other books by Sara Holland.  She creates something interesting and unique.

Review: Year of Yes By Shonda Rhimes

Title: Year of Yes
Author: Shonda Rhimes
Genre: Memoir
Source: Paperback
Rating: 3 out of 5 paws

Shonda Rhimes is the creator of hit shows like Grey's Anatomy and Scandal. In her memoir she discusses taking a year and saying Yes to anything that scares her and takes her outside of her comfort zone.  Throughout her book Shonda discusses the events that put her outside her comfort zone and how those moments helped her grow, and become a stronger woman.

I was super excited to read this book because I love Shonda's shows and from what I have read about her she is a strong powerful, and inspirational woman. I was excited to see what she learned about stepping outside your comfort zone because that is something I also do not do.  If it is something scary to me then I do not do it. That being said, I have to admit I feel a little let down with this book.  Don't get me wrong I love her writing style and at point I was laughing and I enjoyed the book for the most part, but it was not what I was expecting.

A good bit of what she talks about deals with her fame and as she continued to remind readers, how she's a big time Hollywood writer. Now I think it's amazing she found success, but what I wanted to learn along the way was how did she find that success?  What rejections did she have, what lead her to where she is, maybe that's a different book.  BUT what I was hoping for was what did she learn from giving a speech at Darmouth, not reading what the speech said.

The best sections where when she discussed her body image and saying yes to accepting who she is, but also saying yes to wanting to get healthy rather than fitting into a certain body image, and when she realized she didn't want to be married which ultimately ended a relationship.   Those points felt true and honest, that we got into a deep part of Shonda, but the rest of it felt more like a "look at me" type of story.  She talks about the importance of her family, but we don't get many story about her family and how they have helped her through the year of yes other than something her sister said which prompted the experiment.

I so wanted to like the book more than I did, and like I said it is not so much her writing style which is very fun and pleasant.  It was more of how she presented herself.  I wanted more depth to the book, much like what we see in her shows, but we don't get that.  Though it did prompt me to ponder doing a year of yes myself and see what happens.

Review: Crown of Feathers

   

Title: Crown of Feathers
Author: Nicki Pau Preto
Genre: Fantasy
Source: Kindle e-Book
Rating 5 out of 5 paws


Veronyka is an orphan who has dream of becoming a Phoenix Rider, like those from the stories she grew up on.  Veronyka has a fight with her sister who in turn betrays her in the worst way and Veronyka begins her journey to find the mysterious Riders.  This means disguising herself as a boy so she could join their ranks if she happens to find them. Everything is going fine until her sister suddenly shows up and reveals a web of lies that changes everything Veronyka thought she knew.  The empire has learned of the return of the Phoenix riders and intends to destroy them all.

This was a book that I didn't know I needed.  First off let me say how amazing it is that phoenixes are utilized in this book rather than the typical dragon we tend to see in fantasy novels. Now that is all I want!  I want more phoenixes in my life, so much so that I have the next books slated to be read within a few days.  I think this book has made me love phoenixes more than I love dragons.  Not many authors utilize them in their stories to the fullest potential and I am so happy that Nicki Pau Preto has done just that and made them into majestic creatures that they are.


While we read through this story of people recovering from a brutal war and a young woman trying to find her place in this world, we are introduced to unique world with it's own history.  I love that Pau Preto has included so much of the history in the novel, that you feel like you know the people, know who they are and where they've been.  It is very evident that she took the time to plan out her story and how she wanted things to unfold.


The plot was a little slow building but it was very character based which is so interesting and makes you connect with the characters and with this being the first book in the series, you want some background and depth to your characters.  It takes a little while to build up to the heart of the story, but when it does you become so sucked into the story that you don't want to do anything else (I didn't want to go to work, but I had too). 

While the book may not be for everyone because there is a lot of info dumping and takes time to build up, but I found it to be one of those books that you are excited to read, and need to take a minute once you have finished.  The next book Heart of Flames is a bit bigger coming in at 619 pages, but I am so ready to tackle it.

Happy Easter

 

 

I am hoping everyone is having a very happy Easter this year.  So many things have changed for me since last Easter, and I am looking forward to spending time with my family.  I've learned a lot in the last year and it makes me appreciate this time and every time I have with family even more. 

 

I am looking into Easter themed books for the blog for next year and welcome any suggestions you all have, leave some in the comments!

The Girls in the Garden

Title: Girls in The Garden
Author: Lisa Jewell
Genre: mystery/thriller
Source: Library hardback
Rating: 4 out of 5 paws

A young mother moves into a picturesque terrace of houses in London.  In the center of the terrace is a beautiful garden that all the children have the freedom to play in, or whatever they wish to do.  It is the perfect place for secrets, whisperings, and gossip as well.  Grace is found in the garden on her birthday unconscious, which leads to many questions about the residents of this small community.




This is not the first Lisa Jewell book I have read, I've read several so far and each time I enjoy her work even more.  I am always left wanting to read more and be brought into her world deeper each time.  Lisa Jewell has the knack of delivering character driven stories that captivate and engross her readers.  She gets into the mindset of the characters and provides readers with everything they need to have an enjoyable reading experience.

Girls In The Garden is an expertly written novel filled with intrigue, suspense and keeps you guessing at every turn.  There are so many red herrings that you don't know who can be trusted and who to question.  It is a steady pace that keeps the story moving making you want to know what happens next, who's secret will be revealed next.  In the beginning of the book is a map of the garden, so readers get a good idea of where each of the homes are.

There are some things that are eluded to in this novel that might be a trigger for some readers, but Jewell presents it in a way that is tasteful and respectful.  Jewell gives readers a set of characters who are not perfect.  They are flawed in every way and I think that is one thing that makes her writing so wonderful.  It is easy to relate to the characters and picture them as yourself or even someone you know.

I loved this novel and plan on reading a lot more of Lisa's novels.  If you haven't tried her writing yet, this is a good one to begin with.

Title: Celtic Tales: Fairy Tales and Stories of Enchantment from Ireland, Scotland, Brittany, and Wales
Author Kate Forrester
Genre: Fantasy, Fairy Tales
Source: Ebook
Rating: 4 out of 5 paws

The traditional stories of Ireland, Scotland, Brittany, and Wales transport us to the fantastical world of Celtic folklore. Translated and transcribed by folklorists in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the 16 stories in this compilation conjure forgotten realms and rare magical creatures in vivid prose. These timeless tales brim with wit and magic, and each one is brought to life with elegant silhouette art by Kate Forrester in this special illustrated edition.

I have always loved fairy tales and folklore, none more than Celtic Tales as that is my heritage.  I was so excited when I seen this book and delved right into the stories.  They are short enough to devour in a few short hours, or you can read a few and set the book aside for another time.  Great for bedtime reading.  I love the story about the skelkies and the Witch of Lok Island.  They are all great stories but those two were among my favorites, I love skelkies as a whole and for some reason Lok Island Witch was interesting as well, it was one I haven't read before.

There is a certain enjoyment from reading fairy tales especially those from one's ancestry and this was no different for me.  I almost crave more Celtic tales to add to my knowledge and this book definitely does that.  I love how it is broken up between tricksters, the sea and romance.  Now if I want a short romance story or one about tricksters I know where to look.  Each story tells you where it originates and includes a nice little illustration.

Kate Forrester did a great job putting this collection of fairy tales together and I am glad I got to read it.  While the book is only about 177 pages take the time to enjoy each story and the fantasy world it creates.  Let the magic overtake you to a new realm.

The Other Girl

Title: The Other Girl
Author: Erica Spindler
Genre: Mystery, Thriller/Suspense
Source: Library Hardback
Rating: 4 out of 5 paws.

Miranda Radar is a highly trusted and respected officer in the small town of Harmony, Louisiana, but she had to work hard to overcome her troubled past.  But when the murder of a prominent college professor comes her way, she must once again face the trials of her past, including an assault that no one believes.  Miranda must now to try solve the case of the murder all the while trying to convince everyone around her that 1) the professor was not the man everyone thought he was and 2) that she had nothing to do with the gruesome and brutal murder.  When another man from her past winds up dead with more links to her, she struggles to prove herself innocent.  Will she be able to solve the issue of why her, why now? Or will the evidence be too much to handle?

 

I seen this one at my library and decided to check it out and see what it was about.  I am glad that I did, while this was my first Erica Spindler novel, I don't think it will be the last. I enjoyed every bit of the story, even though there were some elements that are normally not my cup of tea, but Spindler presents everything in a way that it's easy to handle to hard subjects.  The novel has shorter chapters which makes it feel like it reads fast, which is a good thing.  I finished this one in roughly 5 or 6 hours on a Saturday night.  I devoured the book, it would have been a shorter read time, but conversations were being had while reading.

There is nothing about this novel that I didn't like.  I love than the MC Miranda had a troubled past, run-ins with the law and overcame all of that and became an officer herself.  She quickly becomes the strong female lead that I love reading in novels.  As we read through the story, we see she has faults and weakness but that makes her all the more relatable and likable.  I could have done without the relationship aspect between her and her partner Jake, but it wasn't overdone nor did it overthrow the rest of the story.

The story is not completely predictable and sends a few red herrings your way.  I figured one aspect out, but not the other which blew my mind and I may have whispered "no way" when I got to the big reveal.  Spindler presents a story that holds its own without the need for excessive violence, gore, or sex scenes.  Sure there is a little bit of everything, but it isn't overdone, she presents it neatly and in a tasteful manner.

I would highly recommend this book to other mystery, thriller/suspense readers.  It is definitely one to add to the book shelf or to read shelf.  It will hold your attention and make you crave what happens next.  I have already added some of Spindler's other books to my to read shelf and will search my library for more.

WitchBorn

Title:  Witch Born
Author: Nicholas Bowing
Genre: Fantasy
Source: Library Hardback
Rating: 3 out of 5 paws

Alyce's mother is brutually burned at the stake when she was a young girl.  Witchhunters return to her home in search of Alyce, in a fit of self defense, Alyce manages to kill the hunter.  But she is captured and taken to an asylum, which she manages to escape after sometime and befriends an actor and innkeeper.  She knows she needs to find a Mr. John Dee, but she doesn't know what to expect when she finds him.  While she searches, witchhunters continue to hunt for her and Alyce manages to find herself in the company of actors who happen to be living in Queen Elizabeth I's palace.  Throughout her trials Alyce continues to wonder why her, why is she so important.  Caught in the battle between two Queens Alyce now has the fate of England on her shoulders.  Can she manage it?

I wonder why so many authors use Queen Elizabeth and Queen Mary as witches in stories, granted I have only read two that utilize this, but I am sure there are more.  Let me just say this novel was nothing like what I was expecting it to be.  I expected a suspenseful novel of a young girl coming into her powers (yes there was that, but I don't think enough) trying to hide from a group of neredowells.  What we get is a young girl who sort of stumbles onto her powers I don't even remember when or how they began to manifest, but nothing extravagant.  We also have villains looking for her, but it seems all to easy that they find her basically in the second place they look.

I love love fantasy novels with witches and such, but this one seemed like a little bit of a let down for me and that makes me sad.  I was so excited to read this because it felt like a fantastic book.  I was able to predict almost everything that happened, the big "twist" towards the end was very predictable though I told myself it would be what I thought it was.  Overall it was kind of meh for me while reading.  I didn't find it super exciting or super dull.  It held pace, held my attention and had characters that could be more than what they were.  I enjoy Solomon a lot and wanted to see more from him, even maybe a little bit of magic from him too.  Like an opps kind of thing for him.

Young adult fantasy lovers I think would find this book enjoyable.  I would recommend it because even if it was the end all books for me, someone else might find it the best book they read this year.  I find myself more of a Deborah Harkness kind of witch lover.  Check it out for yourself see what you think.