leandrathetbrzero's Reviews (412)

This story was recommended to me by my friend, Moriah. Funnily enough, this is the only book (I believe) that she had read by Flynn and I had read her other three longer form works. There are definitely elements that I enjoyed and due to it being a short story, it’s worth the read. I found the story to begin quite slowly. My investment didn’t begin until the narrator made her way to the house and started experiencing the dysfunction within it. When Flynn personified the house, as if it were watching and reacting to the narrator, that reminded me of The Haunting of Hill House. I loved that parallel. The ending did feel a bit thrown together and too absurd in places for the genre, and the teenaged character’s dialogue did not feel realistic, but I found the last few actions and thoughts of the narrator on the final page to be quite satisfying. Overall a solid read, and it was interesting to return to an author I hadn’t read in many years.

 Jealousy is a Potent Poison

↓ Other Death by Poisoning Plots ↓

“Is there much difference between thinking and doing murder?”

On the day that Miss Elinor Carlisle receives an anonymous letter warning her of a risk to her inheritance, this is the first of many events that eventually lead her to being on trial for murder. Leading up to this trial, Hercule Poirot is asked to join the defense and gain Elinor an acquittal, but the great Belgian detective isn’t so sure of her innocence. Did she poison the young woman who resembles a flower?

A part of my 2023 reading plans is participating more in #ReadChristie2023. Over the years, I have periodically joined in the fun but without any consistency. This time around, I was very fortunate to receive a gifted copy of Sad Cypress, the official pick for January, fitting the Methods & Motives monthly theme of “jealousy.” And this was one I had never read before! Needless to say, it did not disappoint.

I really enjoyed the opening scene in the courtroom before the narrative flashed back to Elinor’s receival of the anonymous letter. It was fascinating to follow the events leading up to the murder of Mary Gerrard from the perspective of Elinor herself, the case’s main suspect. Being privy to Elinor’s dark thoughts about Mary, and her ever growing instability, reminded me of traditional thriller elements. I am also a sucker for potential subplot romances, so - unsurprisingly - Dr. Peter Lord’s infatuation with Elinor, even as she stands trial, had me hooked. A battle warred within me as I wondered just how much I could trust Elinor as a reliable narrator. The mystery is extremely fast-paced, in my opinion, due to its heavy reliance on dialogue. At times, I felt as though I were reading a play more than a novel, and I thoroughly enjoyed that narrative style for this mystery.

I feel confident in saying this is an Agatha Christie now on my shelves that is destined to be reread numerous times. Such a great book to kick off Read Christie 2023!

I think I would have enjoyed this book more if I had the print version to read. I’ve realized that GADF reads can be hit or miss when it comes to my connection with the voice narrator, and this one didn’t quite grip me. I also blame myself for multitasking a bit too much while listening. I loved the threatening letters, the impossible crime element, and the humor throughout. I fully intend to reread this title as a physical copy one day because I think it should probably have been a 4-star read. 

Piper Bellinger is a Hollywood socialite whose affluence and beauty have prevented her from ever taking true responsibility for her actions. That is, until she gets arrested for an unauthorized pool party with expensive consequences for her stepfather. Next thing Piper knows, she is shipped off to a small Pacific Northwest beach town. It’s the same town where her mother and birth father fell in love; it’s also where the latter lost his life. As Piper learns more about herself and how to live in the real world, one of the town’s grumpy captains catches her attention. Neither seem able to fight the passion building between them. Will Piper find her way back to Hollywood, or will this fisherman entangle her in an inescapable net?

I am sorry, but this book was far too dramatic for me. It started with the weird ominous warning from Piper’s mother: Beware of irresistible fishermen! The woman will be living on her own and handling her own finances for the first time in her life. How about some budgeting tips first? Maybe buy her a cookbook. Not to mention a moment when Hannah airs her sister’s tragic past of horrible boyfriends in the middle of the street for both Brendan and the rest of the town to hear. This same sister at one point – when Piper runs back to Hollywood – mourns the fact that she will never know how successful their bar was…Hannah, never is a strong word. You couldn’t just call your sister with the good news?

As much as I enjoyed the grumpy/sunshine dynamic, the relationship also grew serious way too quickly. Not in the physical sense – I was on board for that – but in the proclamations of undying love and discussions of future children. These two have only known each other for a couple of months, dating each other (not very officially, might I add) for even less time. Plus, I wasn’t a huge fan of Brendan’s refusal to accept Piper’s initial desire to keep things casual. I feel like that’s an unhealthy standard: thinking that when someone says they want things casual, it means they are lying to themselves or afraid. Many people say they want casual, and they mean it. Respect that. I also found myself MORE invested in the romance that book 2 in this series is dedicated to, that of Hannah and Fox, which is probably not a great sign.

With that said, this is an excellent choice for spicy romance lovers. The two lovebirds definitely get hot and heavy, and their moments of vulnerability are poignant and relatable. Bailey writes the grumpy/sunshine trope well, too. So, while this wasn’t my cup of tea, that doesn’t mean it won’t be yours. 

Trans-Horror: The Perspective We Have Been Missing

 

↓ Similar Reading Experiences ↓

Life has been rough since the virus known as T-rex found its way into every community world-wide. It targets those with high levels of testosterone. If infected, you become feral, more aggressive and violent. In this post-apocalyptic world, most of the men (cis and trans) in the world run in hordes, tearing apart any fleshed being in their path. And if they don’t tear you apart, they try to impregnate you. Beth and Fran, two trans women and skilled manhunters, hunt these packs and harvest their estrogen-rich organs. In this balls-to-the-wall dystopian novel – pun 100% intended – prepare for lots of gore but also…and even scarier…TERFs.

This was a buddy read with my friend, Moriah, and both of us ruled this as such an important addition to the horror genre, and literature in general. It highlights an area in dystopian lit especially which is lacking: the trans perspective. How different would gender-focused dystopias like The Handmaid’s Tale and The Power be if they included a dominant trans voice into the mix? As I read this book, I reconsidered numerous futuristic titles with a feminist focus that failed to include a sufficient trans voice.

I also had a personal revelation as I considered this book’s genre. Labeled as horror, I found myself categorizing Manhunt as more of a dystopian thriller. But then, I contemplated the reality of characters like Beth, Fran, and Robbie. Due to the T-rex virus, and the desolation of society as we know it, these characters will remain in perpetual transition. It makes you rethink what horror truly is to the individual person, what hell might look like to someone unlike myself.

I cannot emphasize how important this book is. As someone who is a novice to the horror genre, I’m grateful this is among the titles to introduce me to horror. And I want books like this to continue to shape my understanding of this complex, rich genre. 

 Be Careful What You Wish For In This YA Fantasy

Book Review: Small Favors by Erin A. Craig 
↓ Similar Reading Experiences ↓

Ellerie Downing has only ever known the quiet, isolated community of Amity Falls. In the surrounding forest live creatures of old, packs of wild beasts, and strangers never to be trusted. As winter grows ever closer, Ellerie finds herself in charge of her family and the bees her father has always kept safe. As the days grow colder, paranoia instills itself in every household. The monsters of the forest have somehow found their way into Amity Falls, and no one can be trusted. Not even your neighbor. In this YA Fairy Tale-retelling, keeping your secrets – and even more precious, your wishes – close to your chest will be the only way to survive and see another Spring.

I absolutely adored this stand-alone fantasy! So much so that, after reading my library’s copy, I proceeded to buy one of my own so I can return to the spooky atmosphere of this dark fantasy whenever I choose. I loved the inclusion of other Fairy Tale elements and mythological stories in this Rumplestilskin reimagining. The fantastical elements are met with those of horror and thriller genres which makes this story even more rich and unnerving. Ellerie is also a protagonist with sense and determination. Too often, YA novels have main characters who fall too easily into traps, but Ellerie keeps her secrets close to her chest, observes her surroundings carefully, and puts survival before anything else. Her dark, unsettling romance with Whitaker – a trapper and stranger to the Amity Falls community – also had me reeling.

There is so much symbolism and complexity in this novel. I cannot wait to reread it one day, discovering details I hadn’t noticed during my first read. A masterpiece, truly. 

 Ghostface Gets a Makeover...Meet Frendo the Clown

↓ Similar Reading/Watching Experiences ↓
(1) Clown in a Cornfield 2: Frendo Lives by Adam Cesare (book 2, TBP)
(2) Watch: Scream
(3) Dark Places by Gillian Flynn

Quinn Maybrook and her father move from Philadelphia to Kettle Springs, Missouri, in hopes of a fresh start. They don’t realize that they’ve entered a community with a ticking time bomb. When Quinn is invited by the school’s cool kids to a party out in the corn, what begins as an odd yet fun barn party quickly turns into a bloodbath. Quinn and other party-goers must do all that they can to survive the night, running from the town’s mascot: Frendo the Clown.

I borrowed this book from my hometown library while visiting my parents one week during August. The book was devoured and returned within 2 days of my receiving it. As soon as I heard the synopsis for Clown in a Cornfield, I knew I had to give this YA Horror a try. It seemed like a book that would give me Scream vibes from start and finish, and I wasn’t wrong! The tension was palpable among the characters and, as soon as the action started, I lost track of the body count. I also loved the social commentary on the war raging between today’s generations over politics, culture, and social justice reform. It isn’t something you expect to see in a slasher, but it also did not overpower the narrative at all. 

While the book ends in a fiery ball of chaos, I was totally along for the ride. And I am fully satisfied with the ending. So much so, that I will likely not have the emotional strength to pick up book 2, Frendo Lives. I’ve heard we can’t trust that those who lived through book 1 will survive the sequel. This likely excites the hardcore horror readers, but not me. I would rather believe the survivors attended life-long therapy after such traumatic events and died of old age.

This book is 100% Certified Fresh (blood). It’s not one to miss this spooky season! 

↓ Similar Reading Experiences ↓

Did you know the creator of Winnie-the-Pooh was also a mystery writer?

A.A. Milne is known for his successful career as a children’s author, but he published detective fiction too! From short stories to articles about the genre to this one novel-length mystery, Milne was a serious whodunnit-head. 

In this locked room mystery, the estranged brother of Mark Ablett arrives to Red House after years of living in Australia. When the brother is discovered dead, and Mark is missing, Tony Gillingham finds himself unexpectedly wrapped up in the investigation and determined to solve it. And he’s confident he knows the identity of the culprit. But how will he prove his theory?

I’ve wanted to read this book ever since I saw that it was one of the eight mysteries referenced in Eight Perfect Murders by Peter Swanson. I refuse to read the latter title until I’ve read all 8 stories! And The Red House Mystery was definitely worth the read. There is a lot of humor and clever dialogue between Tony and his Watson-sidekick Bill. And the mystery is more of a howdunnit than a whodunnit which is a rare narrative structure in the mystery genre. 

Have you ever read a howdunnit?

Think Sherlock Holmes. But in Bombay.

↓ Similar Reads ↓

1. Peril at the Exposition by Nev March (book 2)
2. Sherlock Holmes stories by Arthur Conan Doyle
3. The Widows of Malabar Hill by Sujata Massey (Bombay 1921)

Bombay, 1892: Captain Jim Agnihotri is tasked with uncovering the truth behind the apparent suicides of two women who had everything to live for. Packed with adventurous treks across the British Raj, impersonations and disguises that would make Sherlock Holmes proud, and a forbidden romance, this novel features far more than its initial mystery.

As a huge fan of historical fiction mysteries, it’s no surprise that I adored this book. With that said, this book is anything but your typical HF whodunnit. March adds so much rich detail, bringing the British Raj to life. She also gives an impressive amount of insight into the tense political climate during this turbulent time of imperialism in Indian history. Jim’s investigation takes him all over as well, and he interacts with Indians of different castes and backgrounds. Not only is the mystery compelling but so is the world surrounding it!

Highly recommended for lovers of historical fiction mysteries, Golden Age detective fiction, and those interested in dipping their toes into the British Raj!

 These Bibliomysteries Are To Die For

↓ Other Bibliomysteries ↓
1. The Body in the Library by Agatha Christie
2. Buried in a Good Book by Tamara Berry
3. Murder, She Wrote (obvi)

What is a bibliomystery?

A mystery that involves a literary element or theme. Perhaps the murder victim is a librarian, or the amateur sleuth is a bookseller or a writer; maybe a key clue is found inside a book, or the crime is stealing a valuable manuscript. You get the gist. It’s a bibliophile mystery reader’s dream!

As someone who loves her mysteries brimming with metafictional references, this anthology feels as though it was made for me! And even though these stories fit under the same mystery subgenre, that is where their similarities end. There is a great variety in locations, crimes, and story structures. This collection also includes many writers who are new to me which is always super fun because it increases my TBR wish list tenfold.

I was most impressed by how often the writers experimented with their twists at the end and their choice in perspectives. Sometimes we found ourselves following the killer’s movements, other times we discovered that one of the victims was not a victim at all. I loved this book so much that I bought myself a physical copy because it’s one that I will definitely be returning to time and time again.

My favorite stories (among SO many brilliant ones):

“Malice Domestic” by Philip MacDonald
“Chapter and Verse” by Ngaio Marsh
“A Question of Character” by Victor Canning
“Dear Mr. Editor…” by Christianna Brand

Thank you so much to Poisoned Pen Press and #Netgalley for gifting me an ARC of Murder By The Book edited by Martin Edwards in exchange for this honest review!