jaihook's Reviews (389)

This wasn't as good as the first one but I am enjoying Finlay's amateur sleuthing. She is still a hot mess but in the best way. I love her and Vero's friendship. 

Can we take a moment and talk about Angela Dawe's narration of this series?? The way she can do different characters and accents is incredible!! Five stars to Angela!

This Ends Now is the second book in the Detective Sheridan Holler series by T.M. Payne. I like Detective Holler and can’t wait to see how this series progresses. I will say that this one didn’t hold my attention as well as the first one (that is probably more me than the book) but it is still good. I don’t know what is next for Detective Holler but I am ready to go along for the ride!

Thank you Thomas & Mercer and Netgalley for the advanced copy.

Beautiful Ugly had potential, but it missed the mark for me. The synopsis teased a thrilling missing-person mystery, but the story felt scattered, weighed down by bizarre side plots and unlikable characters. Abby and Grady, in particular, were frustrating—therapy and communication could’ve worked wonders. Even the island’s supporting cast had their own icks, making it hard to care about anyone.

On the bright side, the audiobook production was solid, with immersive sound effects. And Columbo, the dog, was a delightful bright spot in an otherwise odd story—definitely a good dog surrounded by weirdos.

Ultimately, this one wasn’t for me, but Columbo deserved better!

James Caine delivers a fast-paced mystery in The Cheating Husband, though the momentum stalls midway before picking up again for a solid conclusion. While the twists and turns are engaging, the story's predictability detracts from its impact—after all, it's rarely the most obvious suspect. 

Emma, the protagonist, comes across as frustratingly desperate for love, diving headfirst into a relationship with Owen without truly knowing him. Owen himself falls flat as a character, offering little beyond his good looks, with his supposed career as a real estate agent feeling like an afterthought. Meanwhile, Chloe, Emma's young daughter, exemplifies the trope of kids in adult fiction being more irritating than endearing. 

Overall, The Cheating Husband is an enjoyable, if flawed, read. It’s worth picking up another James Caine novel to fully gauge his writing style, as this one leaves room for improvement.