booklistqueen's Reviews (634)

 For generations, Rich Gunderson's family has logged the redwood forest on California's coast and he jumps at the chance to buy a virgin Redwood grove for logging. After a streak of miscarriages, his wife Colleen begins to wonder if there's something in the water. As Colleen investigates the environmental impacts of logging, her search for answers might tear her marriage, and the town, apart.

Damnation Spring is a long slow build that dragged at times with prose overloaded technical logging language. I will admit, I was annoyed that one major plot point was so briefly mentioned that I completely missed it and had to go back to double-check that it was even there. (It was given two sentences in a rather confusing scene). 

The conflict between the logging industry and conservationists made for a great premise, and you really feel for Rich and Colleen. Although I thought it was a pretty solid story, the narrative was so slow that you really have to push through a lot of "meh" to get to the decent ending. 

 When Paris Peralta is found covered in blood standing over her celebrity husband's dead body holding a straight razor, she knows she's looking at a murder charge. Yet, Paris is more worried about her past secrets. Twenty-five years ago, Ruby Reyes was convicted for a similar murder in Canada. Unexpectedly released from prison, Ruby threatens to expose Paris's past, which might force Paris to face two murder charges.

Things We Do in the Dark was a boilerplate mystery with twists so formulaic and obvious they were easy to guess. Although the novel starts in the present day, most of the narrative ends up being tedious backstory explanation. Yet, it was still a quick fun read that made for an enjoyable afternoon, if not a memorable one. 

Nina de Gramont boldly reimagines the unsolved eleven-day disappearance of famous mystery writer Agatha Christie. In a glittery world of privilege in 1925, Nan O'Dea begins an affair with Archie Christie. Told from Nan's perspective, The Christie Affair is a tale of a calculated plot to steal another woman's husband, ending in betrayal and possibly murder.

I'm rather surprised The Christie Affair was a Reese Witherspoon book club pick because it was so dull that I ended up skimming the last quarter. I had read Marie Benedict's The Mystery of Mrs. Christie last year, so I was annoyed at how fast and loose de Gramont played with historical facts. Nan's backstory is intriguing and the best part of the book, but it doesn't mesh well with the mystery of the disappearance.

 Meg. Maggie. Melody. Whatever name she's using at the moment, she's a con artist who slides into your life and takes everything when she leaves. Kat Roberts has been waiting ten years to expose the con artist who upended her life. Yet, when Meg returns, Kat finds matters much more complicated than she realized.

Julie Clark has penned a surprisingly good con artist book where you can easily sympathize with both Kat and Meg. With a quick pace and relatable characters, The Lies I Tell was a fun summer read that leaves you with a satisfying ending. 

 April was the first person Hannah met at Oxford, and they quickly became inseparable with their group of friends until April was killed. A decade after April's murder, Hannah learns that the recently deceased convicted killer may have been innocent. With a journalist probing for details and the murderer likely still out there, Hannah reconnects with her old friend group to uncover their long-buried secrets.

Ruth Ware is one of my favorite mystery writers and, having read all her books, I can tell you that The It Girl does not disappoint. Ware's excellent writing makes up for the fact that the story is your standard dark academia prep school murder mystery. Even though the modern timeline is on the slow end, it didn't seem to drag. If you want a solid summer thriller, Ruth Ware is definitely the way to go. 

 When Carrie Soto retired from tennis six years ago, she was the best player the world had ever seen, shattering every record imaginable. Now a hotshot new tennis star is threatening to break Carrie's legacy. At 37, Carrie attempts to come back for one more epic season to defend her title, even if defying all the odds means she has to train with a man from her past.

If you've read Malibu Rising, Carrie Soto is that tennis player, but you don't need to read Malibu Rising to enjoy the book. I love that Reid gives crossovers hinting at her other books in such a way that it's fun for fans, but doesn't preclude you from reading the book independently. 

I absolutely loved Carrie Soto is Back. I started it half an hour before my bedtime and literally did not put it down until I had finished it. Taylor Jenkins Reid shines with her brilliant writing and complex characters. You do, however, need to at least enjoy tennis, because much of the suspense comes from the actual tennis matches.

 As a female politician, Emma knows it only takes one slip-up to ruin your reputation. Using her position as an MP, Emma is determined fight for female victims and pass a law against revenge porn, even though it brings a slew of threats, both online and in person. When her teenage daughter lashes out at a high school bully, the consequences could be disastrous as Emma is put on trial for the death of a reporter who threatened to publish the story. 

Reputation is like a good Law & Order episode - showcasing the lead-up to the crime and then diving into the court case. Not only did Vaughan write a compelling narrative but also she managed to really hit home on her main themes, violence against women and how our reputation affects our actions. The combination of a killer narrative (pun intended) and deeper underlying themes will make this a great book club choice this summer.

 Even after a decade in her small North Carolina mountain town, Abby Lovett feels like an outsider. Known for its outdoor recreation, Cutter's Pass also has a history of mysterious disappearances, seven in the last 25 years. When a man arrives looking for his missing brother, the town closes ranks and Abigail learns how much she doesn't know about her friends and coworkers.

Megan Miranda's latest thriller gets five stars for its setting, but only three for its story. Cutter's Pass makes for an excellent atmospheric town but the supporting characters lack depth and complexity. A slow-build mystery, The Last to Vanish takes its time getting to the action, hoping the tension will keep you engaged. Which means you'll either love this moody thriller or you will find that it drags too much for your mood.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Scribner through Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. 

 Explaining the roots of modern motherhood, Jessica Grose explains why our expectations of American motherhood today are unsustainable and harmful. Weaving her personal narrative of how pregnancy and motherhood affected her life and career, Grose points out the flaws in how the American culture perceives motherhood and what to do about it.

Lately, I have had a fascination with books about motherhood and gender equality, so Screaming on the Inside seemed right up my alley. Yet the book was only okay. Grose presents plenty of intriguing facts, but the book lacked the passion to really fire me up. In the end, I agreed with her premise, yet wasn't left with any suggestions of what to do about any of it.

 Emery Blackwood's life was shattered at her high school graduation when her boyfriend August was accused of murdering her best friend Lily and then he moved away without her. Still living in their small superstitious island town, August's return sets the whole town atwitter. In town to bury his mother's ashes, August must confront his high school sweetheart and a town that doesn't want him back.

Adrienne Young's new novel is a slow-burn mystery with hints of witchy magic. Honestly, there's not much action in the story (or much magic), just an overhanging sense of dread and secrets running through the town. The atmospheric story was good enough to hold my interest, but I could easily see others being bored with the lack of character development.