Plain Truth: A Novel by Jodi Picoult – A Journey Through Faith and Justice When I first picked up Plain Truth, I was drawn in by Jodi Picoult’s reputation for weaving complex narratives that challenge our perceptions of morality and humanity. A murder in a tranquil Amish community? That’s a premise promising depth and unexpected contrasts. Throughout my reading journey, I found myself grappling with questions of faith, familial loyalty, and the nuances of cultural disparity. The story revolves around Katie Fisher, an 18-year-old Amish woman accused of infanticide...

Book Review: Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone by Benjamin Stevenson From the moment I stumbled upon the intriguing title of Benjamin Stevenson’s Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone, I felt an irresistible pull—a mix of curiosity and trepidation. Who could resist a darkly humorous mystery that causes you to ponder your own family's skeletons? Here we find a clever blend of classic and modern murder mystery that keeps you guessing while eliciting hearty chuckles. Spoiler: it didn’t disappoint! At its heart, we meet Ern Cunningham, a lovable,...

Close to Death: A Novel - A Whimsical Whodunit in a Gated Community From the moment I picked up Close to Death: A Novel, the latest in Anthony Horowitz's Hawthorne and Horowitz series, I couldn't help but feel a mix of excitement and intrigue. A story revolving around a murder in a seemingly perfect gated community? Count me in! Horowitz has a knack for crafting intricate mysteries that keep you guessing, and this one was no exception. With his signature wit and clever narrative play, he managed to deliver...

Remarkably Bright Creatures: A Novel by Shelby Van Pelt – A Heartfelt Dive into Life’s Complexities When I first picked up Remarkably Bright Creatures, I was captivated by the intriguing premise: a widow forming an unexpected bond with a giant Pacific octopus. The title alone piqued my curiosity, and after reading about Shelby Van Pelt’s acclaimed debut, I couldn’t resist diving into a tale that promised to be as heartwarming as it is profound. At its core, this novel is a gentle exploration of loneliness, the human condition, and...

Much Ado About Margaret: A Final One-Star Farewell As the year winds down, I find myself reflecting on the literary journeys I've taken this year, and I must confess, the latest offering from Gina L. Maxwell, Much Ado About Margaret, has left me with enough questions to fill a novel of its own. After diving into the novel with high hopes, I now find myself wrestling with my disappointment, feeling that I quite unceremoniously ended the year with a one-star read. At its core, the story promises to explore Maggie’s...

Review of Shattered by Hanif Kureishi In a world where most of us grapple with the fragility of life, Hanif Kureishi’s Shattered caught me right in the heart, pulling me into a profound exploration of suffering, identity, and resilience. Kureishi, renowned for his incisive reflections on society and the human condition, offers us an unfiltered peek into his own life following a devastating accident that changed everything. As I turned each page, I was reminded of how art often arises from the deepest of pains, and how the voice...

Book Review: Someone Knows by Lisa Scottoline As I cracked open Someone Knows by Lisa Scottoline, I was immediately drawn to its layered complexity—a personal favorite of mine when delving into contemporary thrillers. The premise intrigued me: a college professor, Elizabeth, returning to her past to confront the ghosts of her youth. It felt like the perfect setup for a deep dive into the darker dimensions of human relationships and secrets, something I believe Scottoline does well. However, while the book had its merits, and I had high hopes,...

A Journey Through Time with The Bard and the Book: How the First Folio Saved the Play As I settled into my reading nook, my curiosity was piqued by the title The Bard and the Book: How the First Folio Saved the Play by [Author's Name]. Shakespeare’s timeless words have woven themselves into the very fabric of our culture, and the enigma of how they survived for over 400 years drew me in like a moth to a flame. This book not only serves as a tribute to the...

Book Review: Julieta and the Romeos by Maria E. Andreu As a long-time lover of youthful romantic stories, Maria E. Andreu’s Julieta and the Romeos piqued my interest from the moment I heard about its intriguing premise. Combining the timeless essence of Romeo and Juliet with a modern, You’ve Got Mail-style twist, this novel promises to unravel the tangled threads of love, ambition, and identity in a way that speaks to the heart. Drawing from my own experiences of navigating friendships and crushes at that age, I felt an...

No One Was Supposed to Die at This Wedding: A Delightful Mystery on Catalina Island As an avid fan of Catherine Mack (the pseudonym for the talented Catherine McKenzie), I couldn’t have been more excited to receive the ARC of No One Was Supposed to Die at This Wedding. It feels like a reunion with an old friend—as Eleanor Dash, the eccentric, brilliant author, is back for another escapade, and I was all in for a weekend of suspense and laughter on Catalina Island. In this second installment of the...