Tag: #suspense

I met Lisa Gardner at Paramus Barnes & Noble

I had a great evening meeting suspense author Lisa Gardner. She talked about how her career as an author began and a little glimpse of her research for her new book, Kiss Her Goodbye. Check out her new book.

Goodreads Blurb


A young mother haunted by war, determined to make a fresh start. But sometimes, the sins of the past aren’t so easy to escape.

Recent Afghan refugee Sabera Ahmadi was last seen exiting her place of work three weeks ago. The local police have yet to open a case, while her older, domineering husband seems unconcerned. Sabera’s closest friend, however, is convinced Sabera would never willingly leave her three‑year old daughter. At her insistence, missing persons expert Frankie Elkin agrees to take up the search through the broiling streets of Tucson. Just in time for a video of the young mother to surface—showing her walking away from the scene of a brutal double murder.

Frankie quickly realizes there’s much more to the Ahmadi family than meets the eye. The father Isaad is a brilliant mathematician, Sabera a gifted linguist, and their little girl Zahra—she has an uncanny ability to remember anything she sees. Which given everything that has happened during the girl’s short life, may be a terrible curse. When Isaad also disappears under mysterious circumstances and an attempt is made on Zahra’s life, Frankie realizes she must quickly crack the code of this family’s horrific past.

Someone is coming for the Ahmadis. And violence is clearly an option. When everything is on the line, how far would you go to protect the ones you love?

Frankie is about to find out.

Currently Reading: Mother-Daughter Murder Night by Nina Simon

Goodreads Blurb

Nothing brings a family together like a murder next door.

A lighthearted whodunnit about a grandmother-mother-daughter trio of amateur sleuths. Gilmore Girls , but with murder.

High-powered businesswoman Lana Rubicon has a lot to be proud her keen intelligence, impeccable taste, and the L.A. real estate empire she’s built. But when she finds herself trapped 300 miles north of the city, convalescing in a sleepy   coastal town with her adult daughter Beth and teenage granddaughter Jack, Lana is stuck counting otters instead of square footage—and hoping that boredom won’t kill her before the cancer does. 

Then Jack—tiny in stature but fiercely independent—happens upon a dead body while kayaking. She quickly becomes a suspect in the homicide investigation, and the Rubicon women are thrown into chaos. Beth thinks Lana should focus on recovery, but Lana has a better idea. She’ll pull on her wig, find the true murderer, protect her family, and prove she still has power. With Jack and Beth’s help, Lana uncovers a web of lies, family vendettas, and land disputes lurking beneath the surface of a community populated by folksy conservationists and wealthy ranchers. But as their amateur snooping advances into ever-more dangerous territory, the headstrong Rubicon women must learn to do the one thing they’ve always depend on each other.

Author Biography

I write crime stories about strong women. My first novel, MOTHER-DAUGHTER MURDER NIGHT, is a New York Times bestselling mystery about a grandma, single mom, and teenage girl who come together to solve the murder of a naturalist who washes up in the Monterey Bay.

Writing has always been my joy. In college, I was an electrical engineering student by day and a slam poet by night. After a brief stint at NASA, I started designing interactive exhibits and eventually became a museum director. I wrote two books of nonfiction about creating participatory, relevant cultural institutions. Nonprofits were my “real” job; writing was on the side.

Then, my mom got sick. I quit my job to help care for her, and I found myself turning to fiction as a way to escape and find some pleasure during a hard time. My mom and I both always loved mysteries, and I decided to try to write one myself, with a detective/hero based on my mother. Now, my mom is doing better, and I’m gratefully spending my days reading, writing, and caring for my family.

I live off-the-grid in the Santa Cruz mountains. You can find out more about me at https://ninaksimon.com/

My review will be posted soon.

Review: Secrets in the Sand by Candice Poarch

Goodreads Blurb

Two-time divorcee Kristin Mayer moved to Wet Sands, North Carolina, to be near her sister. Her fixer-upper comes as a bargain due to an eight year old murder that stifles sales. But Kristin packs heats and she’s fine with a bygone crime. Chase Holloman is intent on protecting his grown daughter who as a child was accused of murdering their neighbor. Now, another murder has pulled her back into police crosshairs. Meeting Kristin rocks Chase’s world. Yet as Kristin plows through her home renovation, she finds mysteries deepening with every uncovered wall. Long-suppressed secrets come to life, forcing Chase and Kristin to reassess their live as bodies pile up. Can they clear Chase’s daughter and remove the obstacles between them and real love?

My Review: Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Wow, this book was amazing. It had me going all the way through. I kept on thinking that the murderer was the old ladies son since she was acting weird and he kept to himself. It’s very sad how someone so ignorant and selfless could ruin so many lives. Family, too , was just a manipulation of affection and had no feelings for no one. Blaming a poor young girl of murder is horrendous. He took her mom and her friend away from her, and she took the blame for something she wasn’t capable of doing. Loved that Kristin was not scared of anyone and that she was able to protect herself and others. She was a better detective. Conan was living life with rage that his mother was murdered and put the blame on Megan. His father was a drunk who didn’t really care about his children, especially after his wife was gone. Chase was so overprotective of his daughter that he forgot that Conan needed him since he was like a father to him. I liked how Candice started the book with Conan coming from school and that his dad was a drunk who was careless. Then, it automatically zoomed into action with Conan trying to harm Megan. It really took me off guard. I thought he was a smart young man with a future, and he was heading the same way as his father. Loved that there was romance between Chase and Kristin, but it also had mystery and action. I highly recommend this book.

Author Biography

Even as a child, Candice Poarch was a dreamer and created scenes in her mind. She quickly fell in love with writing stories centered around families and romance. The quest for love is universal, she says. Being familiar with rural Virginia, she portrays a sense of community and mutual support in her novels, many of which are set in small-town America.

Candice grew up in Stony Creek, Virginia, south of Richmond, but now resides in northern Virginia. She has been married for thirty years and is the mother of three children. A former computer-systems manager, she has now made writing her full-time career.

Review: The Master Undone by Lisa Renee Jones

Goodreads Blurb

I told him goodbye, and I will not call him. I know if I do, it will be my undoing, and I’ll once again be caught up in his spell. I will once again be…lost.

In her private journals, Rebecca laid bare her soul, revealing her obsession for the one man whose erotic demands captivated her imagination–and enslaved her forever. Now, with Rebecca no longer in his life he is lost, questioning everything he thought he knew about himself and about control he holds in such high regard. One women will reach out to heal him and then turn away, leaving him haunted. She is nothing he thought he wanted and somehow everything he needs. He tells himself to forget her but he cannot escape his desire for her. He has to have more…

My Review: Rated 5 out of 5 stars

I will say that the last chapter was hot and seductive. Another amazing book written by Lisa. Crystal works for Mark and is very attached to his mother. His mother gets ill and has to get operated, and Crystal is there for moral support. Mark doesn’t want to be around Crystal because she sees parts of his emotions no one has seen. He tries to put barriers up so that he isn’t looking for comfort, yet he craves it. His parents’ relationship was with many ups and downs, but if anything happened to his mother, his dad would be heartbroken. Crystal is temptation and danger to Mark. She is the one with the control, and he wants to be the master with control. She is very direct with her comments and has been having control at all times. He wants to show her who he really is. Their attraction is so intense that just a touch or a slight stare sends heat waves through their bodies. He describes it as “fire in my veins,” “it burns to kiss her, and it’s intense.” Oblivion is where Mark will take Crystal with those wild feelings. You don’t want to miss any book in this series.

Author Biography

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Lisa Renee Jones is the author of the highly acclaimed INSIDE OUT series. Suzanne Todd (producer of Alice in Wonderland) on the INSIDE OUT series: Lisa has created a beautiful, complicated, and sensual world that is filled with intrigue and suspense. Sara’s character is strong, flawed, complex, and sexy – a modern girl we all can identify with.

In addition to the success of Lisa’s INSIDE OUT series, she has published many successful titles. The TALL, DARK AND DEADLY series and THE SECRET LIFE OF AMY BENSEN series, both spent several months on a combination of the New York Times and USA Today bestselling lists. Lisa is presently working on a dark, edgy new series, Dirty Money, for St. Martin’s Press.
Prior to publishing Lisa owned multi-state staffing agency that was recognized many times by The Austin Business Journal and also praised by the Dallas Women’s Magazine. In 1998 Lisa was listed as the #7 growing women owned business in Entrepreneur Magazine.

Book Event: Chelsea Conradt in Conversation with Rachel Harrison

I have heard rave reviews for Chelsea Conradt’s new release, The Farmhouse. It’s a horror novel that will keep you at the edge of your seat.

Goodreads Blurb

Every woman who has lived on this farm has died. Emily just moved in.

When Emily Hauk’s mother dies, it’s time for her and her husband, Josh, to finally leave San Francisco. A farm in rural Nebraska is everything they want for a fresh start: clear skies, low costs, and distance from the grief back home.

They should have asked why the farm was for sale.

Three years ago, a teenage girl went missing from the farm. Soon afterward, the girl’s mother mysteriously died. The deeper Emily digs, the more stories she uncovers of women connected to her new home who’ve met their own dark ends.

With each passing day, Emily’s sanctuary slips further away. The barn seems to move throughout her property as though chasing her. Her mother’s favorite music drifts across the cornfield. She swears she saw blood in one of the farmhand’s trucks. And the screams that wake her are not fox howls, no matter how many times her husband says they are. If she wants to claim this place as her own, she’ll have to find out the truth before whatever watches from the cornfield takes her, too.

Author Biography

Chelsea Conradt (she/her) writes twisty speculative thrillers. Her books are packed with both murder and kindness because we can be more than one thing.

When not writing stories that make you question what’s real, she is likely watching a baking show or a true-crime documentary. She is nothing if not on brand. Chelsea lives in Texas with her husband, son, and two big dogs.

Meet Jo Piazza on Book Tour

Jo Piazza will be on the book tour next month for her new book release, Everyone is Lying to You. You can RSVP for each event via this link: https://www.jopiazza.com/everyone-is-lying-to-you-tour

Goodreads Blurb

Lizzie and Bex were best friends in college. After graduation, Bex vanished, leaving Lizzie confused and devastated.

Fifteen years later, Bex is now Rebecca Sommers, a “traditional” Instagram influencer with millions of followers who salivate over her perfect life on her ranch with her five children and handsome husband, Gray. Lizzie is a struggling magazine writer, watching reels while her young children demand her attention.

One night out of the blue, Bex calls Lizzie with a career-making proposition—an exclusive interview with her about her multimillion-dollar business venture and an invitation to MomBomb, the high-profile influencing conference.

At the conference, Bex goes missing and Gray is found brutally murdered on their ranch. Lizzie finds herself plunged into the dark side of the cutthroat world of social media that includes jealousy, sordid affairs, swingers, and backstabbing. She must learn who her old friend has become and who she has double-crossed to try to find her, clear her name, and maybe even save her life.

Piazza’s master storytelling and razor-sharp insight into the world of social media brings us a pulpy, juicy, and cleverly plotted read that will have you guessing all the way through and leave you gasping for more.

Currently Reading: The Man Made of Smoke by Alex North

Goodreads Blurb

Dan Garvie’s life has been haunted by the crime he witnessed as a child—narrowly escaping an encounter with a notorious serial killer. He has dedicated his life since to becoming a criminal profiler, eager to seek justice for innocent victims. So when his father passes away under suspicious circumstances, Dan revisits his small island community, determined to uncover the truth about his death. Is it possible that the monster he remembers from his childhood nightmares has returned after all these years?

With his signature shock and suspense, Alex North brings us The Man Made of Smoke. In turn emotional, introspective, and utterly terrifying, this is a story of fathers and sons, shadows and secrets, and the fight we all face to escape the trauma of the past.

Author Biography

Alex North was born in Leeds, England, where he now lives with his wife and son. The Whisper Man was inspired by North’s own little boy, who mentioned one day that he was playing with “the boy in the floor.” Alex North is a British crime writer who has previously published under another name.

Review: The Last Mrs. Parrish by Liv Constantine

Goodreads Blurb

Amber Patterson is fed up. She’s tired of being a nobody: a plain, invisible woman who blends into the background. She deserves more—a life of money and power like the one blond-haired, blue-eyed goddess Daphne Parrish takes for granted.

To everyone in the exclusive town of Bishops Harbor, Connecticut, Daphne—a socialite and philanthropist—and her real-estate mogul husband, Jackson, are a couple straight out of a fairy tale.

Amber’s envy could eat her alive . . . if she didn’t have a plan. Amber uses Daphne’s compassion and caring to insinuate herself into the family’s life—the first step in a meticulous scheme to undermine her. Before long, Amber is Daphne’s closest confidante, traveling to Europe with the Parrishes and their lovely young daughters, and growing closer to Jackson. But a skeleton from her past may undermine everything that Amber has worked towards, and if it is discovered, her well-laid plan may fall to pieces.

With shocking turns and dark secrets that will keep you guessing until the very end, The Last Mrs. Parrish is a fresh, juicy, and utterly addictive thriller from a diabolically imaginative talent.

My Review: Rated 4 out of 5 stars

Be careful what you wish for!! The grass is not always greener on the other side.

It is a story of a desperate woman yearning to be rich at whatever cause, a psycho abuser and a woman trapped with the most evil man. Who will have the upper hand?

Amber Patterson is desperate to marry a man with status and money. She makes friends with Daphne Parrish yearning to replace her in her marriage with Jackson Parrish. You will go down a rabbit hole with these characters and will be shocked at the real truth behind closed doors.

At the beginning of the story, I wasn’t very interested in this book. When the story moved to Daphne’s take on how her life with Jackson was far from perfect, I got hooked on the story. I couldn’t wait to see what would happen to Jackson and Amber. They both belonged together. I was so happy at the turn of events. Revenge was perfection in this story. They both got what they deserved. This story gave you a front row seat at how abusers take control in every aspect of a woman’s life. They use verbal and sexual abuse and fear to take full control. This story, though fiction, told the story of many women who are in similar relationships.

Author Biography

Liv Constantine is the pen name of sisters Lynne Constantine and Valerie Constantine. Lynne and Valerie are New York Times and international bestselling authors with over two million copies sold worldwide. Their books have been translated into 29 languages, are available in 34 countries, and are in development for both television and film. Their books have been praised by The Washington Post, USA Today, The Sunday Times, People Magazine, and Good Morning America, among many others. Their debut novel, THE LAST MRS. PARRISH, is a Reese Witherspoon Book Club selection. Visit Liv at http://www.livconstantine.com

Out Now! The Man Made of Smoke by Alex North

I can’t wait to dive into this serial killers mind. I have read two of Alex’s previous books, and they were frightening 🫣 and thrilling 😱. I highly recommend you pick up his books.

Book synopsis

Dan Garvie’s life has been haunted by the crime he witnessed as a child―narrowly escaping an encounter with a notorious serial killer. He has dedicated his life since to becoming a criminal profiler, eager to seek justice for innocent victims. So when his father passes away under suspicious circumstances, Dan revisits his small island community, determined to uncover the truth about his death. Is it possible that the monster he remembers from his childhood nightmares has returned after all these years?

With his signature shock and suspense, Alex North brings us The Man Made of Smoke. In turn emotional, introspective, and utterly terrifying, this is a story of fathers and sons, shadows and secrets, and the fight we all face to escape the trauma of the past.

Author Biography

ALEX NORTH is the internationally bestselling author of The Angel Maker, The Whisper Man and The Shadows. He lives in Leeds, England, with his wife and son, and is a British crime writer who has previously published under another name.

Review: Free of Malice by Liz Lazarus

Goodreads Blurb

Laura Holland awakes in the middle of the night to see a stranger standing in her bedroom doorway. She manages to defend herself from the would-be rapist, though he threatens to return as he retreats. Traumatized with recurring nightmares, Laura seeks therapy and is exposed to a unique treatment called EMDR. She also seeks self-protection— buying a gun against the wishes of her husband. When Laura learns she could have gone to prison had she shot her fleeing assailant, she decides to write a hypothetical legal case using the details of that night. She enlists the help of criminal defense lawyer, Thomas Bennett, who proves to be well versed in the justice system but has an uncanny resemblance to her attacker. As the two work together to develop the story, Laura’s discomfort escalates particularly when Thomas seems to know more about that night than he should. Reality and fiction soon merge as her real life drama begins to mirror the fiction she’s trying to create.

My Review: Rated  5 out of 5 stars

Bravo!!! This was such a captivating book. I was at the edge of my seat reading it. I kept on being suspicious of the three men who spent time with Laura and never saw what was coming head-on. I loved that the story revolved around the process of the court system. I took a course in college similar to the way this book was written. I not only was suspicious of the other characters, but part of me also thought she imagined the whole scenario. This is Liz’s first book, and readers would never be able to tell. This book had so much emotion, mystery, and thrill, which kept me focused. I highly recommend this psychological legal thriller.

Author Biography

LIZ LAZARUS is an engineer by education, a consultant & business owner from experience and an author given her passion to tell stories.

Her first novel is loosely based on a personal experience and a series of ‘what if’ questions. FREE OF MALICE traces the after effects of a foiled attack; a woman healing, and grappling with the legal system to acknowledge her right to self-defense.

PLEA FOR JUSTICE depicts the journey of a paralegal striving to reveal the truth about her estranged friend’s incarceration, and leading her on a parallel path of self-discovery.

SHADES OF SILENCE showcases the resilience of a woman faced with devastating loss, the unexpected friendship forged from tragedy and the recurring societal themes that confront every generation.

Some of Liz’s favorites: red wine, dark chocolate, spin class (to compensate for items 1 & 2), great music, a cozy bath robe, cats and Saturday mornings!