Fallout by Carrie Stuart Parks is a complex mystery with plenty of twists and turns to keep readers intrigued. Samantha Willis finds herself smack dab in the middle of a mystery with ties to her past. A car crashes into her classroom full of students. Her life pretty much falls apart, and she has no money, ID or place to stay after the crash. She meets a few strangers, including Mary Thompson who is looking for her wayward husband, and Dutch Van Setter, an anthropologist working for Clan Firinn. Sam has to figure out who she can trust and who might be trying to kill her.

I love Carrie Stuart Parks for her quirky characters! You’ll never have boring run-of-the-mill characters in one of her novels. Sam is definitely the quirkiest, and it makes her all the more likable. I like that Clan Firinn comes into this story (I think it was first mentioned in Woman In Shadow) because it’s an interesting concept – it’s a retreat/rehab center that works with former military/law enforcement who suffer PTDS among other things.

The mystery is complex and filled with danger. The only thing I did struggle with was that the pacing was a bit slow. It was hard to connect everything together until about part way through the story. However, the author takes seemingly random events and weaves it into a fabulous tale with creative characters and an intriguing mystery. Just a warning for fans of romantic suspense, there wasn’t much in the way of romance…fine by me, but I know some readers may look for this. All in all, if you are a fan of complex mysteries with even more complex characters, definitely check out Fallout when it releases 9/13/22.

I received an ebook review copy of this book through NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

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The Souls of Lost Lake by Jaime Jo Wright brings all of the spookiness and mystery we’ve come to expect as fans of this author. The split timeline novel gives readers two intriguing stories. In 1930’s a child is found dragging a bloody axe, her family missing. Ava Coons doesn’t remember what happened to her as a child, but the town thinks she murdered her family and accuse her of more recent murders. Pastor Noah Prichard believes she’s innocent and decides to protect her. In the current timeline, Wren Blythe deals with the mystery of a missing girl. The legend of Ava Coon pulls her into the forest, and she feels a connection to Lost Lake. But things unravel when she starts to realize her personal connection to the missing child.

I love how Wright weaves two different stories into one fabulous tale. The eerie settings and dynamic characters drew me into the story. Both timelines took plenty twists and turns, but also brought out a level of emotion that took me by surprise. Wren deals with a lot of grief and loss, as does Ava. From trauma to triumph, both characters had inspiring journeys through the pages of the book. There’s a layer of romance in the story, and I love the relationship that develops between Ava and Noah, as well as Wren finding out who she truly belongs with.

This story does have that creepy factor, but the haunting story with complex characters will work its way into your heart. Be sure to check out the The Souls of Lost Lake when it releases April 5^th.

I received an ebook review copy of this book through Bethany House. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

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We Were Kings by Court Stevens takes a page right out of Agatha Christie’s playbook.  Nyla Wagner’s mother has spent her life trying to get Frankie Quick out of jail for murder. But when Nyla learns the truth about her family connections to Frankie Quick, she starts her own investigation.

I love murder mysteries with a big cast of crazy characters and the reader gets to track down out the murderer along with the main character. The book is filled with lots of bizarre plot twists and moments that leave the reader gasping, “What just happened!?!” Everyone’s a suspect, and the ending was completely unpredictable. I’d definitely recommend this for suspense fans, even if it’s labeled YA because I think adults would appreciate the story as much as young adults.

I received an ebook review copy of this book through NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

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For fans of complex mysteries

All That is Secret by Patricia Raybon gives readers a mystery to solve through the eyes of an amateur detective. Annalee Spain, a young Black theologian, decides that since no one is going to investigate her father’s suspicious death, she will. She heads back home to her small-town roots, but trouble follows the minute she steps foot on the train to Denver. She meets a lost boy searching for his father, and the two team up with a pastor to uncover clues.

I enjoyed this complicated mystery. Annalee makes an excellent amateur sleuth, fearless at times, like when she faces off with the KKK. At other times she’s a bit naïve, especially when it comes to manners of the heart and Pastor Jack, who captures her interest. I like the quirky characters and the many red herrings as everyone has something to hide. The story is set in the 1920’s, and the only thing I wished for was more of a historical context. It didn’t feel like the 1920’s and felt more modern than historical fiction with the way the characters talked and the setting. Nothing really stood out as being distinctly from this time period. But I like that this is the start of a series, because I would definitely want more stories of Annalee solving mysteries with her side-kick Eddie and her love-interest pastor.  This combination is clever and I definitely want more.

Overall Rating:
4 stars (I liked it a lot and would definitely recommend)

Suspense Rating:
4 stars (lots of action and suspense to keep me intrigued)

I received an ebook review copy of this book through NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

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Hamish DeLuca and Reggie Van Buren are back in action, with their own private investigation firm.

Just be warned that it helps to read Murder at the Flamingo to know what’s happened in the past. This isn’t meant as a stand-alone novel. While there is a murder (as the title implies) much of the story involves Hamish and Reggie sorting out their feelings for one another.

I love the settings and characters. The author paints a fabulous backdrop with Boston in the late 1930’s/early 1940’s. Just before the US joins WWII, racial and political tensions create an interesting and historical window into this time period. Hamish will steal the reader’s heart as he struggles to overcome anxiety to forge his own way in life, similar to what Reggie is doing by making hard choices to leave the past behind while she finds her own identity.

The mystery part wasn’t as intriguing as the setting and characters and played a secondary role for me, so the element of suspense wasn’t there. It wasn’t a fast-paced novel, yet I became completely immersed in Murder in the City of Liberty. It definitely transports readers to a different time period where the characters come to life on every page. The characters have real flaws and struggles, making them vulnerable in a way that tugs on your heart strings.

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

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