I don’t know what I was expecting when I started reading this book but it was not what I got. And I mean that in a good way! So much going on. I was on the edge of my seat for almost every page.

In late 1800s New York, there lives a girl of dualities. She is two people, lives two lives, has two hearts. An outcast from her wealthy family, she makes her living in a less than savory way. A member of the seedy underworld, she walks a dangerous line and could just as soon end up with a knife in her back as money in her hand. And the knife might be far closer than she thinks.

This book was so good. I’m not often surprised when reading a thriller. I usually figure things out fairly quickly (probably because I read so many of them). But I’ve got to admit, this one almost got me. Twists and turns galore. And pretty much everyone is more than they seem. Betrayal is a second language to almost all of them.
It also has a female main character that takes no prisoners and is determined to make it on her own. In a time when women were often scoffed at and dismissed, she firmly stands her ground with the men.

Oh and I did mention that the author is a doctor?!? She gives hope to those of us that work a grueling job and wants to break free into the world of books ❤️

A tale of loss, learning, and new hope. The Direction of the Wind explores cultural differences across continents and how they impact the life of two women. It is a moving story. So much packed into the journeys of these women. A moving look into the human natures our parents possess that we sometimes forget is there.

Lost and alone after the death of her father, Sophie feels even more adrift than she did as the only child in India with a French name. And then she finds out that there are secrets her father couldn’t take to his grave. Her mother didn’t die, she left. Sophie embarks on a journey to find out about herself and her past before her life is set on a path not completely of her own choosing.

I like the format of this book, moving back and forth across timelines allowing the voices of major characters can all be heard. I also appreciated how the author outlined the impact of cultural differences throughout the book and the different timelines as well. It allows you to see the growth and development of the characters in different aspects of their lives.
As someone who has traveled alone to a different country, I felt a kinship with Sophie and Nita as they stepped off the plane into the great unknown full of excitement and a bit of trepidation. The learning curve might have been steep but they rose to meet the challenge.

Trigger warnings for addiction and emotional abuse/manipulation.

A thriller for sure. Somewhat predictable to me as someone who is a fan and regular reader of the genre. I felt that it moved at a good pace, kept me interested enough that I finished it within a few hours.

Annie has had a rough couple years. She’s self medicating with alcohol and pills to keep her panic attacks at bay so she can minimally function in her family. She and her husband and son have relocated to beautiful Kauai and everything should be paradise now right? One a stormy night Annie is going to find out she’s not the only one with problems.

This book did a good job highlighting some cultural differences, particularly the negative view of mental health issues and use of therapy in certain cultures. I feel like this is a universal sentiment; mental health still remains a taboo topic around the globe and seeking help can be seen as a sign of weakness. While it may go to extremes, this book shows that it isn’t a weakness to acknowledge mental health issues and seek treatment.
I think that Lyn Liao Butler also did a good job of making sure that everything connected in the end. Sometimes books with twists and turns can leave you with loose ends and unanswered questions. I didn’t feel like that at the end of this book.

Trigger warnings for mental health issues

A delightful blend of Murder She Wrote and small town 90s rom-com. A small town where everyone knows everyone and gossip travels faster than anything else. Six degrees of separation is cut in half in places like that

A heartfelt tale of women learning to love others by better loving and understanding themselves. A story of women empowerment, self acceptance, and family support. Three women, three generations coming together to help each other achieve dreams and support each other. They are determined to be more than society expects of them.

Bindu is an anything but old grandma. She embraces her inner goddess with a take no prisoners attitude. But a sudden windfall has her worried that secrets she’s kept for years will be brought to light.
Aly had been doing her best to achieve her dreams in her new post divorce life. And she’s finally found a way to make her big break. Will it be taken from her like all her other chances?
And finally Cullie. A tech whiz in her twenties that had hit a wall. She needs to come up with a new project fast if she wants to save her original creation. The problem is she had no idea what to make.

Well written, evenly paced. Every time things start to settle some new crazy experience happens and brings the story back up. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll commiserate. A light read that will have you appreciating yourself more at the end.

Holy twists and turns Batman

I felt the science in this mystery more than in Lydia Kang’s other books. And the hinting of magical realism that was present in the other books (supernatural beings, unexplained events) is not present in this one. It seems more straightforward mystery.

Death at a dinner party. Everyone seems ready to write it off as a straightforward champagne induced fall down the stairs but Allene is not so sure. With the help of her one time estranged friends Birdie and Jasper, this New York socialite intended to get to the bottom of everything. While the rest of the world is dealing with war and the outbreak of Spanish Influenza, for Allene this puzzle is what’s important.

I got real “Emma” vibes from Allene (Jane Austen novel). Like Emma, I found Allene to be a vain young lady who can’t see past her own needs and wants to those of her friends/family yet views all of her actions as selfless. I think that was the biggest problem I had with this book. Granted, I really did not like “Emma” so that might have colored my opinion since almost from the first chapter I associated the main character with that book.
I liked the science based nature of this book more than the other two I read. I still very much enjoy Lydia Kang’s style and science based mystery genre. And while this might have been an accurate portrayal of an early 1900s socialite, I hope I don’t get too many Jane Austen vibes from future books (or at least make it a better character