jkjoy_books's reviews
1615 reviews

Pretty Polly: A twisty, gripping psychological suspense thriller that will keep you guessing! by Abby Davies

mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

 Pretty Polly is a psychological thriller that keeps readers glued to the pages. The story involves the psychologist, Jessie, who treats a teenage girl called Polly, who has wounded herself and screams for her help. Jessie sets out to uncover the cause of Polly’s many problems, but she is met with brutal personal remarks that make her feel threatened in her own home.

The tension is heightened when three bodies are found, and the killer is running loose. The tension continues to grow because it becomes evident that someone deliberately intends to target Jessie, though the identity of this someone remains eerily vague.

Davies delivers a chilling story of monsters that may hide even behind the most harmless-looking masks. The plot is constructed skillfully and will capture the readers' attention from the first page. This is intensified by the vivid characters and an evocative, unsettling mood.

With the increase in the attacks on Jessie, no one is secure, and the psychologist is in haste to reveal the identity of the killer before they become a victim. This psychological thriller will send chills down your spine, and if you are a fan of the genre, you should definitely read it. Pretty Polly offers unexpected turns and twists until the last page, making the reader gasp for air. So that you know, I read Davies’s book Arrietty and found it amazing! In my opinion, she is an excellent writer.

Thank you to the author and Booksirens for allowing me to read and review this book. 

The Last Resort by T.J. Emerson

4.0

The Last Resort draws you in from the very first page with its inviting portrayal of a secluded Cyprus getaway – the perfect escape for the protagonist to retreat to. However, this paradise comes at a high cost, and the financial pressures mount up, leaving you wondering how far the character will go to hold onto this dream home.

When all seems lost, a shocking offer presents a moral dilemma: murder to keep the house. This unexpected twist ramps up the stakes and suspense very masterfully. As a reader, you can’t help but devour the pages to discover whether desperation wins out over the conscience.

While I won’t spoil the ending, the author provides a thrilling trajectory toward the finale with many hair-raising moments. The tension-filled premise and the high-risk decisions maintain the momentum and will keep thriller fans rapidly turning pages.

With its serene setting belying darker secrets and the riveting suspense, The Last Resort delivers an addictive psychological thriller with moral complexity. It’s a 4-star escape into a twisted paradise that stays with you for long after the final page. I highly recommend this to all you thriller fans.

Thank you to Boldwood Books, and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book. 

The Bordeaux Book Club by Gillian Harvey

4.0

 In her latest novel, “The Bordeaux Book Club,” Gillian Harvey transports the readers to the picturesque countryside of France. Protagonist Leah uproots her life to move there with her husband and teenage daughter, expecting to live out an idyllic existence growing their food. But Leah soon realizes that farm life is not the romantic ideal she envisioned.

Seeking connection, Leah joins a newly formed book club at the urging of her friend. This ragtag group of members initially seems to be very mismatched, yet they all bond over the stories they read and the intimacy of sharing their struggles. Leah forms many meaningful female friendships through the club to sustain her when her marriage shows many cracks.

Harvey excels at creating relatable characters and immersing the readers in the beauty of the French landscape. The themes of friendship, new beginnings, and reinvention give the story depth. Yet the pacing falters when Harvey lingers on the descriptive details at the expense of the plot movement.

Overall, the bibliophiles will delight in this story-within-a-story exploring the power of books to unite the people. Through the book club members ‘ literary discussions, Harvey delivers witty dialogue, well-crafted metaphors, and an aesthetic escape. For fans of female-centered fiction examining life’s inevitable ups and downs, “The Bordeaux Book Club” makes for a charming and quintessentially beach read.

Thank you to Boldwood Books, and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book. 

The Berlin Letters by Katherine Reay

4.0

 The Berlin Letters by Katherine Reay is a historical fiction novel that takes the readers back to the tense days leading up to the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989. The story follows Luisa Voekler, a CIA cryptographer who stumbles upon a coded message that hints her long-lost father is imprisoned by the Stasi in East Germany. This discovery launches Luisa on a dangerous mission across the divide of the Iron Curtain to find and free him before it’s too late.

Reay excels at capturing the chaos and confusion swirling around the big, squat, ugly, gray Berlin in the final years of the Cold War. Through Luisa’s eyes, the readers experience the bizarre juxtaposition of the Western capitalist and Eastern communist societies seated side-by-side, separated only by an artificial border. The stories of Luisa and her father under Stasi’s imprisonment are woven together skillfully, building suspense as his health deteriorates. Luisa races to navigate the complex ties of spies and smugglers on both sides of the wall to reach him.

The Berlin Letters succeeds as both a gripping thriller and a heartfelt story of a family torn apart by secrecy and political turmoil. Reay’s extensive historical research shows as she vividly reconstructs the covert wheeling and dealing behind the Iron Curtain while also maintaining an emotional core focused on reconciliation and second chances. As the wall crumbles around her characters, so do the barriers that keep Luisa from her father.

It’s a very satisfying and fascinating glimpse at an iconic historical moment through the eyes of a family that embodies its complex legacy. This was definitely out of my normal genre of reading, however, I did enjoy reading it. I recommend this book to all historical fiction lovers.

Thank you to Angela Melamud, and Katherine Reay for allowing me to read and review this book. 

Lenny Marks Gets Away with Murder by Kerryn Mayne

4.0

 At the age of 37, Lenny does not seek a life of excitement and romance but rather one of routine and control that provides her comfort in the form of order. She is a teacher at a local school, and her nights are devoted to solitary activities such as Scrabble, TV, and arranging her The Hobbit books collection. But with the encouragement of her loving foster mother, Lenny has unwillingly made up her mind to spice up the mundane but safe life she has.

As Lenny embarks on this tentative journey, her world is transformed by a letter from the Adult Parole Board, likely concerning her stepfather. This brings back the childhood memories and pain Lenny has been suppressing for so long. As she tries to look away from the events, we feel that the very groundwork of Lenny’s carefully planned life starts to crumble.

Lenny’s psychological struggle to come to terms with her traumatic past is at the core of Mayne’s spare yet stirring prose, which creates an intriguing story. We hurt for young Lenny and cheer on 37-year-old Lenny as she faces this internal conflict. This book is sure to strike a chord with people from all walks of life, considering its revelations about dealing and recovery. “Lenny Marks Gets Away With Murder” is a delightful and captivating debut novel that offers readers an immensely enjoyable and charming story.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book. 

History Vs Hollywood: How the Past Is Filmed by M.J. Trow

4.0

The book presents the phenomenon of adaptation of historical events and characters to the screen for more than 100 years, which led to the creation of thousands of films covering the entire human history. It asks some funny questions about the truth of these depictions – were prehistoric women really like Raquel Welch in her fur bikini from One Million Years B.C.? Although the author admits the right to artistic freedom, she notes that Hollywood does not always do an excellent job of translating the depth of historical realities and personages into two hours of film.

Illustrations are given of miscast actors such as Charlton Heston, who is too tall to portray General Charles Gordon authentically, and Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway, who are too glamorized compared to the real-life Bonnie and Clyde outlaws. The passage recognizes that any attempt by condensers to summarize critical events into palatable narratives for the masses invariably oversimplifies history’s complex details.

However, though the author is willing to admit that Hollywood tends to engage in selective and distorted historical storytelling, generations of moviegoers have been gripped and captivated by the power of cinema to conjure up the past. Therefore, although the typical historical blockbuster should be distinct from high-fidelity history, Hollywood should be given some credit for the ability to captivate historical environments and people for millions of viewers worldwide.

Overall, this is a sober reflection of the fundamental limitations of historical films made in Hollywood while also recognizing their lasting appeal as entertainment and their impact on culture. The prose has a tone of amusement and insight to analyze this tension between historical truth and dramatized interpretation and imagination on-screen.

Thank you to Pen & Sword, and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book. 

Like Mother, Like Daughter by Kimberly McCreight

4.0

 In the gripping domestic thriller “Like Mother, Like Daughter” by Kimberly McCreight, a mother’s disappearance on the night of her daughter’s homecoming dinner reveals a web of long-buried family secrets.

Corporate lawyer and crisis manager Kat has built a life by keeping scandalous secrets for high-profile clients. Meanwhile, her relationship with her daughter Cleo strains under Kat’s perfectionism and control issues. On the night Cleo comes home to reconcile, Kat goes missing, leaving behind a bloody shoe under the sofa.

Kat’s disappearance catalyzes many revelations about her double life. Through flashbacks from Kat and Cleo’s perspectives, we learn that Kat hid debts, cheating spouses, a dangerous new boyfriend, and many more from her family. Most shockingly, she discovers unsettling information about Cleo’s partner but she does not warn her.

As the truth spills out, so do the decades of misunderstanding and resentment between Kat and Cleo. They must confront the painful mistakes and work to rebuild their trust to find Kat.

While light on the thrilling action, the book delivers emotionally resonant family drama. Flawed yet sympathetic characters and the nuanced relationship dynamics deeply immerse the readers into Kat and Cleo’s worlds. Doling out reveals at an addictive pace, McCreight examines the weight of secrets, lies, and unrealistic expectations we place on the ones we love.

Thank you to Knopf, and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book. 

Don't Open The Door by Cole Baxter

medium-paced

• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

 Samson Chase—formerly a happily married military contractor—suddenly wakes up in a world of nightmares when two seemingly innocent women who enter his life threaten to turn his life upside down. He was unaware that these women had intentions other than the ones they displayed and managed to get Samson into a compromising position. Waking up without remembering what happened the night before, Samson's life becomes shambles. It leaves him with destroyed relationships, financial problems, and a burning thirst for vengeance. 

Samson Chase is an intriguing character who must be transformed from a happy writer to a man seeking revenge. It sounds realistic and convincing. 

Each chapter ends with a cliffhanger, making readers want to turn pages. The story is fast-paced. The story is full of surprises, making it hard for the reader to determine what is real and an illusion. 

Samson's mission for retribution gradually pushes the novel towards asking more questions about the moral complexities of revenge and its mental effects on one's mind. It allows readers to ponder their ideas of justice and the sacrifices they might make to protect their loved ones. 

Nevertheless, there are a few times when the plot begins to become foreseeable, and a few of the secondary characters could have been fleshed out more to improve the breadth of the story. Further, the conclusion is hurried, and a few ends could have been drawn more closely. 

With this in mind, "Don't Open The Door" is the first book I have read by Cole that I felt was a lot like a movie with Keanu Reaves in it, which I found to be very odd. Otherwise, his books have always been 5 stars for me. Cole can write some very good psychological thrillers, this one is just not one of them. 

The Wife's Mistake by Lorna Dounaeva

3.0

 I recently finished reading "The Wife's Mistake." Sadly, it wasn't very good. The concept of the story was good, but it could’ve been better.

My big problem with this book was that the characters didn't grow or change. The main character is thought to have a perfect life but is always afraid and suspicious. But, the reasons behind her worries are only partially examined or explained.

Also, the story seemed easy to guess and needed new ideas. The discovery of a secret message and the main character's wish to hide her secrets was overdone. It did not offer anything new in the thriller kind of story. The pace of the book might have been faster; this was sort of a slow burn.

The writing style could have been better, but nothing significant. The writing needed to be deeper, which made it hard to get into the story.

Ultimately, "The Wife's Mistake" could have been good. But it just needed to deliver better. Not having enough character development, an easy-to-see storyline, and okay writing stopped me from enjoying this book thoroughly.

Thank you to Bookouture, and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book. 

The Girls: From Golden to Gilmore by Stan Zimmerman

4.0

 The Girls: From Golden to Gilmore is a memoir about the life and career of Stan Zimmerman – a gifted writer, producer, director, and playwright. Amusingly and entertainingly, Zimmerman narrates his work on famous shows such as The Golden Girls, Roseanne, and Gilmore Girls while also allowing readers a look into his personal life.

A significant strength of this memoir is Zimmerman’s ease in describing his upbringing in a small-town suburb of Detroit. His portraits of the powerful and clever women who shaped his existence, including his mother, grandmother, and sister, are touching and motivating. It can be seen that their prompting and guidance greatly influenced Zimmerman’s creative attitude.

Zimmerman’s story of going from an awkward Jewish boy who aspired to be a great actor to a celebrated writer and director is as accurate and uplifting as can be. Determination and passion for his craft are evident on every page, and readers will cheer for his triumph.

The unpredictable nature of the memoir is its candidness and wit. He spills the beans on relationships with some of the most renowned women in entertainment, such as Roseanne Barr, Lily Tomlin, Sandra Bernhard, Lauren Graham, and Alexis Bledel. These stories are fascinating insider accounts of show business and a peek into who these creative women were.

Together with diary notes, Zimmerman’s narration becomes more personal and touching. By doing so, readers get an insight into his mind, feelings, and hurdles he had throughout his life. It is such moments that make The Girls an endearing and identifiable read.

Although becoming a wildly successful actor may not have been Zimmerman’s cup of tea, his ability to succeed as a writer, producer, director, and playwright shows that he was a very talented and determined person. The Girls: From Golden to Gilmore is a book that inspires and entertains.

Overall, The Girls: Golden to Gilmore is a four-star memoir that provides a unique insight into the world of entertainment and dedication. He is captivating in his storytelling, his jokes are contagious, and his journey is both familiar and tremendous. If you are an avid lover of The Golden Girls, Roseanne, or Gilmore Girls or appreciate good writing, this book is a must-read.

I want to thank Indigo River Publishing, and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book.