This was fascinating and almost unbelievable, considering how many lies Drewe had woven. It slowed down a little in the middle, but then it picked up with the investigation and trial. Kudos to the investigators, jurors, and judicial staff who had to put up with Drewe's antics. I thought it was funny and telling that the jurors were granted exemption from ever serving again.

What a fun, informative (without being dry or tedious) read! I learned a lot of neat trivia about animals and plants that I don't normally think about even though they are all around me. I had no idea crows had such a great sense of humor. I never realized how smart and hardy pigeons are. I didn't realize ants functioned as nearly one mind. This is a short read, really just a glimpse, of some everyday animals, plants and trees that we see without seeing nearly everyday.

This started pretty well with a dinner party where you quickly learn that the perfect marriage is not as great as it looks. The twist is revealed pretty early so there wasn't any motivation to keep reading. I was annoyed with how Grace seemed to have little common sense, I was annoyed by the language Millie used because it seemed like a stereotype of a person with Down's syndrome, and I was turned off by how unrealistic it seemed. Maybe I just wasn't in the right mood. If you're looking for a better psychological thriller, check out "Dark Matter" or "The Good Goodbye." I read both recently, and those were page turners that kept me reading and guessing.

4.5 stars. This was a fascinating peek into the lives of women in several different Arab countries in the Middle East. It was a lot of ground to cover since the stories are compiled from several years when the author lived and worked in the Middle East. It's a look at the cultures and young women in Syria, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Lebanon, the UAE, and more. I learned a lot and yet there's so much more. The stories on honor killings, courtship, gender segregation, and women's rights activism were so interesting and eye opening. This book will spark great conversations.

Wow, that was an epic last book! At 650 or so pages, it makes sense that some parts seemed slow. My favorite parts were the boat trip and stop at the ghost market and the finale. My least favorite parts that I made myself read rather than skip were the flashbacks to Holland's story. He plays a big role in the final book so I can see why Schwab told more of his story, but I still didn't care much about his character.

Word is this trilogy will be made into a movie franchise. Obviously, Hollywood can't resist a fantasy with a feisty female lead character. It could be one of the better adaptations if they do everything right. I would like to see the magic tackled in a similar way as it is in the newer Snow White adaptations.

This lived up to the hype. It was an honest look at what life is like for the working class poor in the rust belt. The author gave a voice to those who are overlooked and unheard. It's amazing that the author did so well despite all the cards stacked against him. It showed just how important good role models and a safe space are. Kids think everyone's families are the same, and with no glimpse of anything different will just repeat the cycle of poverty. That's why everyone should do what they can to help, whether it's volunteering, mentoring or giving monetary support. Sure, some people are scamming the system and some don't want help, but there are many that would benefit and succeed if they had the support. This also made me so thankful that I was lucky enough to have loving, supportive parents.

This is not for the squeamish. It's a well written account of all the crazy, gross things a medic deals with. Reading on my lunch break maybe wasn't the best idea given the level of blood, piss and maggots involved, but it was still a great read.

Whoa. This was hard to put down yet I felt unsettled and almost icky while reading it. The description is pretty vague because of course this is a psychological thriller, but I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have started this if I knew it was about

Spoiler

human trafficking

. While it is all told from one point of view, it quickly moves back and forth from past and present. The glimpses of the past are not told in chronological order, which was confusing at times, but I see why the author chose to reveal bits and pieces out of order.