Paula Hawkins - The Girl on the Train: A Novel

22. The Girl on the Train: A Novel by Paula Hawkins (2015)

Length: 323 pages

Genre: Contemporary Mystery

Started: 26 August 2017

Finished: 30 August 2017

Where did it come from? From Bookmooch
How long has it been on my TBR pile? Since 24 August 2017

Why do I have it? I like contemporary mysteries and Paula Hawkins is a new author for me.

Rachel Watson follows the same routine every single day without fail. She takes the same commuter train each morning and evening - using the consistency of that routine to numb some of the grief she feels for her recently failed marriage. Each day as she rattles down the tracks to work, she flashes past the cozy stretch of homes in a suburban neighborhood, and stops at the same signal. This routine allows her to slip into a soothing daydream; one that allows her to watch people as they go about their own business during the day.

As she sits in the same seat, gazing out of the window at the landscape before her, what she sees next will ultimately change everything. Rachel enjoys her little episodes of people watching; she actually looks forward to seeing some of the same people every single day. As a matter of fact, each time that she stops at the train signal, Rachel watches the same couple eating breakfast on their deck. Their daily morning routine is one which she truly admires, and she has even begun to feel like she knows them.

Jess and Jason, as she calls them, seem to have an almost picture-perfect life together. Actually, not unlike the life that Rachel herself once had. So the routine continues day after day, until the day that it changes irrevocably. It only takes a minute before the train moves on, but Rachel sees something so shocking that she cannot keep it to herself.

Now that her routine is broken beyond repair, she feels that she must go to the police. But is she as unreliable as they seem to believe? Soon Rachel is deeply entangled; not only in the investigation being conducted by the police but also in the lives of everyone involved. In the long run, has she done more harm than good?

Actually, I absolutely loved this book and am delighted to see that it is this author's debut novel. In my opinion, it was well-written and captured my attention right from the beginning. I must say that I thought that the time sequence was slightly unusual, but I certainly appreciated how the author utilized it. I would give this book an A+! and will definitely be putting Ms. Hawkins' name at the top of my wishlist.

A+! - (96-100%)

Till we Meet Again, Glow Brightly as Moonlight

Anna Jarzab - All Unquiet Things: A Novel

19. All Unquiet Things: A Novel by Anna Jarzab (2010)

Length: 341 pages 

Genre: Contemporary Mystery 

Started: 10 August 2017

Finished: 14 August 2017

Where did it come from? From a Library Book Sale 

How long has it been on my TBR pile? Since 1 June 2015

Why do I have it? I like contemporary mysteries and Anna Jarzab is a new author for me.

Carly was a sweet girl with a wonderful personality. She was pretty and popular; vivacious and funny. She was as smart as a whip and knew everything about the privileged student body of the Brighton Day School. As much as he still loves her, it's disturbing for Neily to see how much his girlfriend has changed: she has begun running with a much faster crowd, and become extremely self-destructive.

When she suddenly dumps him for a notorious bad boy, Neily is devastated. Bewildered and angered by Carly's strange behavior, he steadfastly doesn't answer the phone whenever she calls. However, what initially seems like a typical teenage reaction to a difficult breakup, becomes tinged with sadness and regret after Carly is murdered. Neily is ultimately wracked with grief and guilt for his own stubbornness.

If he had answered the call she had made before she died, he may have been able to help her. Now, he can't get the image of her lifeless body out of his mind. Desperately hoping to assuage some of the guilt he feels about her death, Neily reluctantly teams up with Carly's cousin Audrey to find her killer. After all, it is the last thing they can do to honor her memory.

Audrey is dealing with her own regrets over her cousin's death. She was the reason Carly got tangled up with Brighton's fast crowd in the first place, and she will have to live with the consequences of that decision on her conscience for the rest of her life. Because Audrey is convinced of two things about Carly's death: someone at Brighton is obviously a murderer, and the police have put the wrong person in jail. So, she turns to Neily for help in finding Carly's killer.

As Neily and Audrey begin to investigate their shared history with Carly, her dealings with Brighton's seedier elements come to light. For the amateur sleuths, these are shocking revelations that lead them to wonder if Carly actually knew something that could have gotten her killed. However, figuring out how Carly and her killer fit together into the twisted drama of Brighton's secretive world will force the reluctant allies to face some harsh truths about themselves and the girl they couldn't save.

To be perfectly honest, I found some of the pettiness between the characters to be slightly annoying. Having said that, I still enjoyed reading the book. I would give this book a definite A!

A! - (90-95%)

Till we Meet Again, Glow Brightly as Moonlight

Elizabeth Brundage - The Doctor's Wife: A Novel

9. The Doctor's Wife: A Novel by Elizabeth Brundage (2004)
Length: 342 pages
Genre: Contemporary Mystery
Started: 24 February 2017
Finished: 3 March 2017

Where did it come from? From Paperback Swap

How long has it been on my TBR pile? Since 21 February 2017

Why do I have it? I like contemporary mysteries and Elizabeth Brundage is a new author for me.

The Knowles family has it all - at least that is the pervasive opinion of everyone who views the family from the outside. Michael and Annie Knowles have been happily married for a decade and have two beautiful children. They both have successful careers and live in a rambling Federal-style farmhouse in High Meadow, New York. While the couple may seem to be living in their own perfect little world, not everything is quite as perfect as it appears.

Michael Knowles is a rising star in the field of obstetrics and gynecology at a prominent private practice in Albany, New York. He also moonlights at a local women's health clinic as well. His wife, Annie teaches at a Catholic college for women just outside of town. Although she has only been teaching for just under a year, her courses are incredibly popular with her students.

Annie may understand her husband's stressful schedule, but she has also become extremely tired of his constant absences. It seems as if Michael is always on call for his patients, but has almost no time left for her or his children. Annie is certainly lonely; and it is beginning to feel like her role as faithful wife, loving mother, and dutiful teacher has worn thin. She needs something to make her feel alive again; something more than just making bagged lunches for her kids, making excuses for her husband, and making up syllabi for her classes.

Enter celebrity painter Simon Haas, whose bad-boy persona captures Annie's attention and interest. To Annie, Simon is everything that Michael is not: creative and passionate, and truly enticing to her soul. He is married to his model and muse, Lydia, a woman who Simon has essentially built his career around. However, Simon and Annie begin a torrid love affair with each other, and Annie discovers that she has so much more to offer someone than just being 'the doctor's wife'.

Her relationship with Simon reawakens Annie's passion - but events soon take a dark turn for the Knowles family. The family begins receiving a series of anonymous threats. The reasons behind this increasing intimidation are not entirely clear...

Michael has seemingly made many enemies of his own: primarily religious extremists who are opposed to his medical practice. Although, are the most violent threats actually meant for Annie? Because she has also made at least one definite enemy in town: someone who has a cellar full of their own dark secrets. Told from the alternating perspectives of four fascinating and extraordinarily complex characters: Michael, Annie, Simon, and Lydia - The Doctor's Wife by Elizabeth Brundage is a stunning debut novel; a compelling and compulsively readable story that is steeped in psychological suspense, intricate plot twists and intriguing mystery.

I must say that I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book; as this is Ms. Brundage's debut novel, I thought it was actually quite an intriguing plot. In my opinion, the story just proved to me that if a person has the desire to do something, they can justify having to resort to any course of action to achieve that desire. I would give this book a definite A!

A! - (90-95%)

Till we Meet Again, Glow Brightly as Moonlight

Mary Higgins Clark - On the Street Where You Live: A Novel

38. On the Street Where You Live: A Novel by Mary Higgins Clark (2001)
Length: 317 pages
Genre: Contemporary Mystery
Started: 23 July 2016
Finished: 26 July 2016
Where did it come from? From a Library Book Sale
How long has it been on my TBR pile? Since 7 June 2016
Why do I have it? I like contemporary mysteries and have read and enjoyed several books by this author in the past.

Emily Graham is a criminal defense attorney who has already been through so much during her lifetime. Having already endured an exasperating ex-husband and the acrimonious breakup of her marriage - as well as the traumatic experience of being pursued by an obsessed stalker - Emily feels the need to get as far away from home as possible. So, deciding that she deserves a change of scenery, she eagerly accepts an offer to leave Albany and take up a position with a major law firm in Manhattan.

Feeling a strong desire to reestablish her roots, Emily buys her ancestral home - a restored Victorian mansion situated in the historic seaside resort town of Spring Lake, New Jersey. Her family had chosen to sell the house back in 1892, after the mysterious disappearance of nineteen-year-old Madeline Shapley - a distant relative of Emily Graham. Unfortunately, Madeline Shapley was never seen again.

More than a century later, as the house is being renovated and the backyard excavated to install a pool, the skeletal remains of a young woman are found. She is soon identified as Martha Lawrence, someone who went missing from Spring Lake over four years ago. However, Martha doesn't seem to have been buried alone - she has another woman's finger bone clutched within her skeletal hand. The lady's finger bone still has a ring on it - a ring that turns out to have been a Shapley family heirloom.

Now, as Emily seeks to discover the link between her family's past and the most recent murder, she actually finds herself haunted by both murders - despite the one hundred and ten years that separate them. Emily's subsequent investigation reveals that both crimes seem to be related to each other, yet this information isn't actually what frightens her the most. What actually begins to frighten Emily the most, is that she has somehow attracted the attention of a very devious and seductive killer - someone who ultimately sees her curiosity as a threat, and has chosen her as his next victim...

I must say that I thoroughly enjoyed reading this particular book. Actually, the story gave me the slightest impression that I was reading an Agatha Christie-style mystery - which means that I hadn't any clue at all who the perpetrator was, but absolutely no one was beyond suspicion. In my opinion, it was an intriguing and intricate plot that held my attention all the way through. I would definitely give this book an A!

I may have said this before, but I will say it again: to me, Mary Higgins Clark is a bit like Barbara Delinsky in terms of enjoyment of their books. The books that I have read by Ms. Clark have all been very entertaining and enjoyable, but sometimes she is a bit of a hit-or-miss author for me.

A! - (90-95%)

Till we Meet Again, Glow Brightly as Moonlight

Phillip Margolin - Capitol Murder: A Novel of Suspense

17. Capitol Murder: A Novel of Suspense by Phillip Margolin (2012)

The Dana Cutler and Brad Miller Series Book 3

Length: 342 pages 

Genre: Contemporary Mystery 

Started: 15 March 2016

Finished: 18 March 2016

Where did it come from? From a Library Book Sale

How long has it been on my TBR pile? Since 23 December 2015

Why do I have it? I like contemporary mysteries and although I have several of his novels on my bookshelf, Phillip Margolin is a relatively new author for me.

Private investigator Dana Cutler and attorney Brad Miller have been partners on several challenging and high-profile cases together. They have had to overcome countless difficulties and have made a variety of extremely powerful enemies over the course of their careers. Against such tremendous odds, Dana and Brad have always done their best to see that justice prevails. Now a series of wicked threats old and new are about to reunite them once again.

Brad Miller is distressed to learn that the death penalty sentences of a convicted serial killer have recently been reversed. As a result, it seems that Brad's former client Clarence Little may be able to appeal his multiple murder convictions. However, Brad is absolutely certain that any judge who hears the trials could not possibly overturn any of his convictions; that just would never happen.

Brad is currently living in D. C., working as the legislative assistant to Senator Jack Carson, a high-ranking member of the Senate's Select Committee on Intelligence. When several hand-addressed letters are delivered to Brad's office as well as to his apartment, he is horrified to discover that Clarence Little has begun writing to him. Although none of his letters are overtly threatening, they still contain just enough personal information about Brad and his family to be genuinely disturbing. It seems that even from an Oregon jail cell, Clarence Little has somehow found a new way to torment people.

Brad becomes utterly terrified for himself and his new wife when a dead body is found in Senator Carson's upscale Georgetown home. The body exhibits all the hallmarks of someone who is a victim of Clarence Little, and the senator himself has disappeared. If this isn't actually the gruesome handiwork of Clarence Little, who could possibly be doing all this?

Meanwhile back in Oregon, where Dana Cutler is investigating the senator's shady background, a terrorist cell is poised to destroy a packed professional football stadium in one of the largest attacks on American soil. As the senator's personal life begins to dovetail with the terrorist cell's evil plan, Brad and Dana find themselves in danger once again. They must risk everything to uncover the truth and save their country.

I must say that although I may have read some of Phillip Margolin's novels in the past, I know that I haven't read books from any of his series. That being said, I still found this book to be surprisingly well-written. I enjoyed it very much, even though this isn't necessarily the typical genre that I would choose to read for myself. The story was still intriguing and fast-paced; I would definitely give this book an A! 

A! - (90-95%)

Till we Meet Again, Glow Brightly as Moonlight

Clare Munnings - Overnight Float: A Mystery

11. Overnight Float: A Mystery by Clare Munnings (2000)

The Rosemary Stubbs Mysteries Series Book 1

Length: 288 pages

Genre: Contemporary Mystery 

Started: 4 February 2016

Finished: 7 February 2016

Where did it come from? From a Library Book Sale

How long has it been on my TBR pile? Since 23 December 2015

Why do I have it? I like contemporary mysteries and Clare Munnings is a new author for me.

Two and a half years after giving up her successful career in the corporate world for a divinity school degree, Rosemary Stubbs arrives on the campus of Sanderson College - a women's college in New England - to take up the post as chaplain. Still devastated by her husband Jim's tragic drowning, Rosemary hopes that she can find some solace in a new vocation, helping the students to resolve their own fears and confront some tough choices. She had absolutely no idea that such a bucolic campus as Sanderson College could possibly hide such intrigue and mystery.

When a member of the faculty dies unexpectedly, soon after Rosemary's arrival, she quickly learns that life in a small liberal arts college is not quite the sanctuary she thought it would be. Indeed, it seems as if Rosemary is caught in the middle of something nefarious; a stunning, seemingly elemental version of good versus evil. As tensions over the faculty member's death continue to mount, secret allegiances and hidden conflicts come to light. 

Rosemary, with the help of a meticulous homicide detective named Raphael Ramirez, finds herself matching wits with a cold-blooded murderer. It will take all of her considerable intelligence and intellect to add up the clues and to avoid getting caught in the clutches of an elusive campus killer. Will she be savvy enough to solve this mystery, before her time runs out?

This is the debut mystery of co-authors Jill Ker Conway and Elizabeth T. Kennan. Both ladies are former college presidents who have written several non-fiction books between them. I must say, that despite the story being so intricately detailed in certain areas, I still enjoyed it very much. I also appreciated that the mystery took place in a collegiate setting. I give this book an A!

A! - (90-95%)

Till we Meet Again, Glow Brightly as Moonlight

Lawrence Block - A Walk Among the Tombstones

4. A Walk Among the Tombstones by Lawrence Block (1992)
The Matthew Scudder Crime Novels Series Book 10

Length: 347 pages 

Genre: Contemporary Mystery 

Started: 14 January 2016

Finished: 16 January 2016

Where did it come from? From Bookmooch 

How long has it been on my TBR pile? Since 13 January 2016

Why do I have it? I like contemporary mysteries and Lawrence Block is a new author for me.

A stunningly resourceful brand of criminal has recently set up shop in the big city; an ingenious breed of human predators who victimize the loved ones of those who live outside the law. These sadistic extortionists have certainly chosen their victims wisely; knowing that criminals will never run to the police, no matter how brutal the threat. As a result, these vicious monsters have consistently been able to get away with their nefarious business.

On a Thursday morning in late March, Francine Khoury leaves her home to run some errands. Hours later, her heroin-dealing husband Kenan receives a mysterious phone call demanding a hefty ransom for Francine's safe return. Despite following all of the caller's instructions - including delivering payment - Kenan is devastated by the discovery of his wife's mutilated body in the trunk of a car.

Desperate to bring his wife's sadistic murderers to justice, Kenan knows that he can't turn to the police for help. Instead, he explores alternative avenues for justice: which is where Matthew Scudder comes in. Matthew Scudder - ex-cop turned private eye - has absolutely no love for the drug dealers and glorified poison peddlers who have now come to him for help. However, Matt's personal aversion to Kenan Khoury's shady lifestyle in no way lessens the private investigator's sorrow for the man's horrific loss.

Matthew Scudder, private eye, will do whatever it takes to bring these perpetrators to justice - because they are using the innocent to fuel their diabolical schemes. He is determined to find the elusive extortionists and put them out of business permanently. Before another drop of innocent blood is spilled.

First of all, let me say that I had initially wanted to read this book after seeing advertisements for the 2014 film adaptation starring Liam Neeson. I may never actually see the movie, but the book was definitely worth the wait to read. In my opinion, while the plot dealt with some seriously dark issues, it was still remarkably realistic. Although parts of the story were difficult for me to read because of some graphically violent passages, I still enjoyed the book very much. I would give this book an A+!

A+! - (96-100%)

Till we Meet Again, Glow Brightly as Moonlight

Christopher Rice - A Density of Souls: A Novel

74. A Density of Souls: A Novel by Christopher Rice (2000)
Length: 307 pages
Genre: Contemporary Mystery
Started: 20 November 2015
Finished: 24 November 2015
Where did it come from? From a Library Book Sale

How long has it been on my TBR pile? Since 1 June 2015
Why do I have it? I like contemporary mysteries and Christopher Rice is a new author for me.

Meredith, Brandon, Stephen and Greg were practically inseparable as children; playing hide and seek and constantly riding their bikes together through the New Orleans woods. The four friends shared an unbreakable bond and an undeniable connection with each other that they all believed would last forever. Such strong friendship should last forever; but teenagers can be fickle.

By the time Meredith, Brandon, Stephen and Greg enter high school, something has changed within the dynamic of their friendship. Suddenly, the four young friends are living drastically different lives; and deep feelings of envy, rage, and secret passions have succeeded in tearing their friendship apart. Soon, two violent deaths irrevocably disrupt the core of what these friends once shared, and they all go their separate ways - certain that they will never see each other ever again.

Five years later, the friends are reunited with each other. And, when one of the mysterious deaths that initially drove them apart is discovered to have actually been murder, secrets once thought to be deeply buried begin to unravel. And the casual cruelties inflicted by thoughtless high school students from the past, suddenly have the potential to develop into acts of brutal violence that threaten to engulf an entire city in the present.

First of all, let me say that I initially thought that this mystery was really quite good. I wanted so much to like this book. I thought the premise was intriguing and I found myself really feeling for the characters and what they were going through. However, by about halfway through the book, I noticed that the story was starting to slide slightly off track for me.

I wasn't quite sure why I felt this way at first, but was finally able to put my finger on the specific reason for these feelings. In my opinion, as a debut novel, this began off as an intriguing mystery and initially had such promise. However, I must say that I found Mr. Rice's writing style to be incredibly detailed and somewhat overwritten at times - some of the overly descriptive passages were hard for me to follow. Overall, I was disappointed to discover that this book was ultimately just not my cup of tea - I had to give it a C!

C! - (70-75%)

Till we Meet Again, Glow Brightly as Moonlight

Laura Lippman - I'd Know You Anywhere: A Novel

70. I'd Know You Anywhere: A Novel by Laura Lippman (2010)

(Originally Published as: Don't Look Back) (2010)

Length: 373 pages
Genre: Contemporary Mystery
Started: 5 November 2015
Finished: 10 November 2015
Where did it come from? From a Library Book Sale
How long has it been on my TBR pile? Since 16 August 2014
Why do I have it? I like contemporary mysteries and Laura Lippman is a new author for me.

Eliza Benedict cherishes her peaceful, ordinary suburban life. She is happily married to her successful husband Peter, and the couple have two precocious children - thirteen-year-old Iso and eight-year-old Albie. Yet Eliza's tranquility is suddenly and inexplicably shattered when she receives a letter from the one person from her past she never thought she would hear from again. He is, in fact, the last person she ever expects - or even wants - to hear from: Walter Bowman.

With his simple statement: "There was your photo, in a magazine. Of course, you are older now. Still, I'd know you anywhere." - Walter Bowman has the disturbing ability to turn strong, self-assured thirty-eight-year-old Eliza Benedict, back into a desperate, frightened teenager named Elizabeth Lerner. In the summer of 1985, when she was fifteen, Eliza was kidnapped by Walter and held hostage for almost six weeks. He had already killed at least one girl by the time he took Eliza, and she always suspected that he had other victims as well.

Now sitting on death row in Virginia for the rape and murder of his final victim - a thirteen-year-old girl - Walter seems to be making a heartfelt act of contrition as his execution nears. Although Eliza wants absolutely nothing to do with him, she has also never forgotten that Walter was always the most unpredictable when he was ignored. Desperate to shield her children from the undisclosed trauma in her past, she cautiously makes contact with Walter. She's actually always wondered why Walter let her live; perhaps now he'll tell her. And finally reveal the truth about his other victims.

Yet, as Walter continues to press Eliza for more frequent contact and a deeper connection, it quickly becomes evident that he has ulterior motives. He wants Eliza to remember what actually happened to her during that long-ago summer. He is after something far greater than forgiveness. He wants her to save his life.

And Eliza, who has worked so hard for her comfortable, cocooned life, will do absolutely anything to protect it...to maintain her hard-won serenity - even if it means finally facing the events of that horrifying summer and the terrible truth she's kept buried deep inside. I'd Know You Anywhere is an edgy, gripping tale of psychological manipulation that will leave readers breathless. This is a tremendous novel about fear, intimidation and survival from the acclaimed, award-winning author Laura Lippman.

I must say that I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. It was an incredibly vivid portrayal of the psychological scars that are left behind by a single traumatic experience. Laura Lippman is a new author for me and this is the first of her books that I've ever read, but I will certainly keep her name on top of my wishlist. I give this book a definite A+!

A+! - (96-100%)

Till we Meet Again, Glow Brightly as Moonlight

P. D. James - Unnatural Causes

69. Unnatural Causes by P. D. James (1967)
The Adam Dalgliesh Mysteries Series Book 3
Length: 256 pages
Genre: Contemporary Mystery
Started: 2 November 2015
Finished: 4 November 2015
Where did it come from? From a Library Book Sale
How long has it been on my TBR pile? Since 10 May 2001
Why do I have it? I like contemporary mysteries and P. D. James is a new author for me.

Maurice Seton was a distinguished mystery writer living in the tiny town of Suffolk, England. He may have come to prominence through his books, but no murder that he had ever devised for one of his stories could possibly have been as grisly as his own. When his gruesomely mutilated corpse is found in the bottom of a dinghy, drifting just within sight of the lakeshore, ripples of shock and horror spread among the tightly-knit circle of Maurice's bizarre friends.

Scotland Yard Inspector Adam Dalgliesh was supposed to be on vacation, visiting his eccentric Aunt Jane. To be perfectly honest, he is actually looking for some time off; some time away from crime and death. However, it would seem that crime and death never got the message, and Inspector Dalgliesh soon finds himself investigating the murder of Maurice Seton. His primary list of suspects seems to come from the close-knit circle of Maurice's self-described friends; certainly an unusually odd bunch of people, if truth be told.

There is a cynical and cruel drama critic, a voluptuous burlesque showgirl, a dissolute young heir, and a young woman who is absolutely terrified that she may become the killer's next victim. Inspector Dalgliesh and his extraordinary aunt Jane are following a tantalizing trail of sin and scandal. And they must make sure that they are on the right track to discovering a dead man's secrets, because if the sleuths are wrong, this perilous plot is bound to take another twisted and murderous turn...

I must say that I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. The mystery itself wasn't too taxing and I found it easy to follow. I also appreciated that there weren't that many characters in the story; I usually find myself getting confused if there are too many characters to remember.

Anyway, I know that I have several other books by P. D. James on my bookshelf, but I haven't found them yet; they are so well hidden. I will say that this was the first book by Ms. James that I've actually read, although I have started to read one or two in the past. For whatever reason, I was unable to really get into either book and had to set them aside for a while. Although I would happily give this book an A+! Guess I'll be looking out those other two P. D. James books next!

A+! - (96-100%)

Till we Meet Again, Glow Brightly as Moonlight

Ruth Rendell - End in Tears

66. End in Tears by Ruth Rendell (2005)

The Chief Inspector Wexford Mysteries Series Book 20

Length: 323 pages

Genre: Contemporary Mystery

Started: 17 October 2015

Finished: 20 October 2015

Where did it come from? From a Library Book Sale

How long has it been on my TBR pile? Since 1 June 2015

Why do I have it? I like contemporary mysteries and have read and enjoyed A Sight For Sore Eyes by this author in the past.

At first there was no reason to link the killings. In fact, the first death could easily have been called an accident. When the car driven by Mavis Ambrose is struck by a falling chunk of concrete and she is killed, the police have absolutely no reason to suspect foul play in her death. However, the bludgeoning of gorgeous eighteen-year-old Amber Marshalson that follows several months later is clearly murder.

In the midst of the hottest summer on record, Inspector Wexford is called in to investigate the Marshalson case. He quickly discovers a potential link between Mavis' death and Amber's murder: Amber was driving the car directly behind Mavis' when the piece of concrete crushed it. Whatever other ties both cases might have, Inspector Wexford is certain of one thing: whoever wanted the teenager dead was willing to kill twice. 

When a third body is found, the case takes a completely unexpected and quite a darkly disturbing turn. And as Inspector Wexford investigates the case further - the darker such realities become. In fact, the more Inspector Wexford digs into the case - and the closer that he gets to solving it - the more it inevitably leaves him feeling adrift; absolutely lost in a world that is seemingly without morals. 

I have always enjoyed reading Ruth Rendell's books and this one was no exception. I have actually read several earlier books from this series many, many years ago. However, while I'm not sure if it is because this is a later mystery in a rather long series or not, I will say that I found the mystery to be remarkably more complex than I was expecting. I had some trouble keeping all the characters straight in my mind, so the mystery became just the slightest bit confusing to me. Despite that, I would still give this book an A! 

A! - (90-95%)

Till we Meet Again, Glow Brightly as Moonlight

Erica Spindler - See Jane Die: A Novel

62. See Jane Die: A Novel by Erica Spindler (2004)
The Stacy Killian Series Book 1

Length: 377 pages 

Genre: Contemporary Mystery 

Started: 28 September 2015

Finished: 29 September 2015

Where did it come from? From a Library Book Sale

How long has it been on my TBR pile? Since 2 February 2013

Why do I have it? I like contemporary mysteries and had read and enjoyed Dead Run by this author in the past.

When fifteen-year-old Jane Killian accepts her older sister Stacy's dare to swim across the freezing lake, she has absolutely no idea just how much her life will change by the end of that March afternoon. Within the short period of time that it takes her to complete her swim and turn back towards the lakeshore, Jane is threatened by a boat speeding across the lake. She narrowly escapes being killed that day, but the shock and fear the encounter sparks in her soul will remain with Jane forever.

Now, seventeen years after the horrifying afternoon that changed her life so drastically, Jane Killian has so much to live for. A series of reconstructive surgeries has successfully restored her lovely face. As a sculptress, Jane has become the toast of the Dallas art community; her edgy sculptures are lauded by a variety of audiences for being both disturbing and beautiful. She and her husband, the renowned plastic surgeon Dr. Ian Westbrook, are completely in love - and overjoyed when Jane becomes pregnant.

Suddenly, Jane's blissful happiness is shattered. A woman with ties to Ian is found brutally murdered. Unbelievably, the police begin to focus their investigation on him, even going so far as to make Ian their prime suspect. Still reeling from this shock, Jane receives an anonymous note that reads simply: "I did it on purpose. To hear your screams."

The police, including Jane's estranged sister, Detective Stacy Killian - are all convinced the frightening message is probably from some crackpot, someone who has become aware of Jane's past through the media attention surrounding her controversial artwork. Yet, Jane knows better. The note has to have come from only one person...HIM! Somehow Jane is certain that the man who stole not only her face, but also her sense of security so long ago, has returned. He was the man who Jane has always believed deliberately hit her - and got away with it. And now, he has found her again.

Living with this terror, Jane digs into Ian's past in an effort to prove his innocence. Yet each new clue that she uncovers points not to her husband's innocence - but to his guilt. And as she struggles against doubt and suspicion, her mysterious stalker moves ever closer. His anonymous messages take a terrifyingly intimate turn, and no one close to Jane, it seems, is safe.

Fighting to save both her husband and the innocent life growing inside of her, Jane must face the devastating truth: Her tormentor apparently knows everything about her. Her likes; her dislikes; her daily routine. Most terrifying of all, he knows Jane's deepest fears...because he feeds on them. And he has no qualms - he will use them - until he can finally...See Jane Die.

I absolutely loved reading this book. I found myself getting really engrossed in the storyline, and avidly wanted to discover the culprit who had done it. I will say that to me, the mystery seemed just the slightest bit more complicated than I was expecting. I was still thoroughly intrigued by the book though, and I give it a very definite A!

A! - (90-95%)

Till we Meet Again, Glow Brightly as Moonlight

Tom Schreck - On the Ropes: A Duffy Dombrowski Mystery

51. On the Ropes: A Duffy Dombrowski Mystery by Tom Schreck (2007)
The Duffy Dombrowski Mysteries Series Book 1
Length: 326 pages
Genre: Contemporary Mystery
Started: 30 July 2015
Finished: 8 August 2015
Where did it come from? My friend Pamela gave it to me as a gift.
How long has it been on my TBR pile? Since 18 July 2015
Why do I have it? I like contemporary mysteries and Tom Schreck is a new author for me.

Duffy Dombrowski - a tough-talking, no-nonsense social worker from a small town in upstate New York - may not suffer fools kindly, but he also isn't your typical sort of caseworker. When he isn't counseling chronic sex addicts and frequent drug users, people can usually find him crooning Elvis tunes, getting 'bombed' with his friends, or challenging ex-Olympians in the boxing ring. Actually, for a man who absolutely dreads doing any type of paperwork, Duffy lives for his extracurricular activities - particularly his time spent in the ring as a part-time professional boxer. As a matter of fact, those extracurricular activities tend to get in the way of his career more often than not.

When a schizophrenic, crack-addicted prostitute named Walanda comes to Duffy and asks him for help, he can hardly deny her. He solemnly pledges to take care of her basset hound, Allah-King, and to find her missing stepdaughter, Shondeneisha. While Duffy isn't quite sure how much of Walanda's fantastic story to actually believe: that she believes her stepdaughter Shony has been kidnapped, and that someone actually wants Walanda herself dead; he can certainly recognize a troubled mind when he sees one, so is determined to help ease her worries if he possibly can.

However, when Walanda's prediction tragically comes true and she is murdered, Duffy begins to believe that she may have been telling the truth about other things as well. In order to assuage his own guilt about doubting Walanda's story, Duffy promises himself that he will find Shondeneisha as soon as possible. But how can a not-so-social social worker who moonlights as an underdog boxer possibly hope to save the girl and solve a murder with only the help of a semi-housebroken, fully disobedient basset hound and four drunk friends at his disposal?

I have to say right from the beginning that I probably wouldn't have chosen to read this book for myself, considering that I've never been all that interested in learning the particulars of the sport of boxing. Yet, I will also say that this book was still surprisingly good, in my opinion. There was a thread of sarcastic humor running throughout the story which I enjoyed, and the mystery was very intricate and intriguing to me. While this is perhaps not the typical kind of mystery that I usually read, it was still a very interesting mystery to read for its genre; I would give this book a definite B+!

B+! - (85-89%)

Till we Meet Again, Glow Brightly as Moonlight

Cammie McGovern - Eye Contact: A Novel

49. Eye Contact: A Novel by Cammie McGovern (2006)

Length: 290 pages

Genre: Contemporary Mystery

Started: 17 July 2015

Finished: 22 July 2015

Where did it come from? From Paperback Swap

How long has it been on my TBR pile? Since 24 February 2015

Why do I have it? I like contemporary mysteries and have read and enjoyed several books by this author in the past.

The students of Woodside Elementary School often spend their recesses playing games as children will do. As the innocent youngsters spend their time waging mock battles on the playground, they are blissfully unaware that soon the real world will intrude into their sheltered world and shatter their childhood happiness forever. And the consequences of such a vicious crime will shake this tiny, close knit community to its very core.

During one particular recess, a little girl and boy - two students - seem to vanish without a trace. Upon further investigation, it soon comes to light that both children were last seen heading across the soccer field toward the woods behind the school. They were last seen together, but witnesses claim not to know what could have happened to them.

Hours pass before only one of them, a nine-year-old autistic boy named Adam, is found alive. Discovered several yards away from the little girl's body, hiding in the sheltering undergrowth, Adam is apparently the sole witness to an incomprehensible killing. Barely verbal on the best of days, Adam has since retreated into his own silent world, unable to tell anyone else what he witnessed.

Adam's mother Cara has an intimate knowledge of her son's mannerisms and attitude, and she knows of Adam's secret, silent, insulated world only too well. With her community still reeling from the shock and her son unable to help the police in their investigation, it falls to Cara to become Adam's voice as she tries to decode the puzzling events. Yet in her desperate desire to protect her son from the various cruelties of life - both inadvertent and deliberate - has Cara somehow made his world a much more dangerous place?

When another child suddenly goes missing, Adam's mother redoubles her efforts to interpret the potential clues. Cara realizes that only she can unlock her son's silence to provide the police with the clues that they need to catch a killer. She knows that when she is finally able to interpret the changes in Adam's behavior, she will not only understand how to better help him deal with the trauma of having witnessed his best friend's murder, she will also have helped the police to solve an horrendous crime. Yet as Cara moves closer to exposing the truth of what happened, her own unsettling past begins to emerge from the shadows.

I thought this was really an excellent book. In my opinion, this was an intriguing and well-written story with a well-developed and fast-paced plot. I found that there was a vibrant poignancy to Ms. McGovern's writing, and I found myself learning and understanding more about the hardships and struggles faced by the parents of autistic children. I could really empathize with Cara and the various difficulties that she had raising her son. I would certainly give this book an A! and definitely will be on the lookout for more books by Cammie McGovern.

A! - (90-95%)

Till we Meet Again, Glow Brightly as Moonlight

Denise Mina - The Dead Hour: A Novel

47. The Dead Hour: A Novel by Denise Mina (2006)

The Paddy Meehan Series Book 2

Length: 341 pages

Genre: Contemporary Mystery

Started: 10 July 2015

Finished: 14 July 2015

Where did it come from? From a Library Book Sale

How long has it been on my TBR pile? Since 9 April 2014

Why do I have it? I like contemporary mysteries and Denise Mina is a new author for me.

Investigative journalist Patricia 'Paddy' Meehan had always thought that she would be further along on her career path after spending three years in her chosen field. Yet, even three years after breaking a big story, Paddy is still working the perpetual night shift with her newspaper - The Scottish Daily News. She's still chasing police calls for that one story which will finally promote her out of the solitary, twilight existence that makes mountains of candy bars and multiple cups of coffee practically a medical necessity. With her father and brothers chronically unemployed and her family perilously short of money, Paddy desperately needs the work.

Responding with the police to a particular late-night call, Paddy arrives at an elegant villa. The loud noise complaint called into the police seems to be fairly run-of-the-mill to her; especially when the domestic dispute that prompted such a call seems to be calming down. As a matter of fact, a domestic disturbance in such a wealthy Scottish suburb doesn't seem all that unusual an occurrence to Paddy - at first. The police officers actually don't seem all that concerned by the situation before them; letting the man who answers the door off with just a warning to keep the noise down.

Paddy can see that the elegant blonde woman standing in the shadows of the doorway is bleeding from an apparent head injury. But the woman also clearly doesn't want any help; and the well-dressed, ingratiating man at the front door assures Paddy that everything is just fine and that she should leave. Paddy wonders how the police were so easily convinced to leave the area after issuing just a warning. She soon has her answer when the man slips a significant amount of cash into her hand; asking her to make sure that she keeps any mention of the incident, whatever it is, out of the press. Then he firmly closes the door in her face.

The next morning Paddy happens to see a television news report. The lead news story is absolutely horrific: the blonde woman's body has been discovered. She was murdered; brutally beaten, tortured and left to die. Far from being the spoiled trophy wife Paddy had assumed her to be, the victim turns out to be a prosecution lawyer with a social conscience.

Bewildered as to why the woman wouldn't accept any help and leave the house when she could, Paddy begins to make connections that no one else can see. When she witnesses the body of a suicide victim being pulled from the river shortly afterwards, Paddy suspects that the two deaths are linked in some way. Paddy is determined to follow her reporter's instincts all the way with this particular story; it's exactly the type of story that will make her or break her...or kill her.

Denise Mina is a new author for me, and this is the first book that I've ever read by her. I must say that I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, I found myself really connecting with the main character, Paddy. She was a feisty, capable person, a hardworking woman in a man's world who doesn't suffer fools kindly. She's not afraid to call things as she sees them; and she is quite willing to go head to head with whomever it is that she suspects is in the wrong. She is also vulnerable, fallible, and she makes mistakes; yet she also does her utmost to fix those mistakes to the best of her ability.

In my opinion, this was a fast-paced and very involved mystery. I found that I really had to concentrate while reading because with all the intricate twists and turns in the plot, this book really kept me on my toes with regards to potential suspects. Overall, I would give this book a definite A! and look forward to reading more from this author in the future.

A! - (90-95%)

Till we Meet Again, Glow Brightly as Moonlight

Kate Morton - The Secret Keeper: A Novel

45. The Secret Keeper: A Novel by Kate Morton (2012)

Length: 484 pages

Genre: Contemporary Mystery
Started: 4 July 2015
Finished: 8 July 2015
Where did it come from? From a Library Book Sale
How long has it been on my TBR pile? Since 1 June 2015
Why do I have it? I like contemporary mysteries and Kate Morton is a new author for me.

At a summer garden party in the 1960's, sixteen-year-old Laurel Nicolson has finally managed to slip away during a children's game of hide and seek. In the family's farmhouse situated in the rural English countryside, Laurel has escaped to her childhood treehouse and is happily dreaming of the future. Suddenly, way off in the distance, she spies a stranger walking along the road towards the farmhouse and watches as her mother speaks to him.

Although she doesn't realize it at the time, before the afternoon is over, Laurel will witness a shocking crime. A crime that will ultimately challenge everything she knows about her family and especially her mother, Dorothy - her vivacious, loving, nearly perfect mother. Laurel's happiness and contentment with her life will be shaken to its foundation, and rediscovering her peace of mind will subsequently lead her on the journey of a lifetime.

Now, fifty years later, Laurel is a successful and highly-regarded actress living in London. The family has gathered at Greenacres farm to celebrate Dorothy's ninetieth birthday. Realizing that this may very well be her last chance, Laurel seizes her opportunity and searches for the answers to questions that still haunt her from that long-ago day. Answers that can only be found buried deep in Dorothy's past.

Dorothy's story spans the years from pre-World War II England through the blitz, into the 1960's and beyond. It is the shared secret history of three strangers from vastly different worlds - Dorothy, Vivien, and Jimmy - who meet by chance in wartime London and whose lives are subsequently forever entwined. The Secret Keeper: A Novel explores longings and dreams and the unexpected consequences they sometimes bring. This is an unforgettable story of lovers and friends, deception and passion that is told against a backdrop of events that changed the world.

I must say that I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. The story captured my attention right away and I was completely intrigued by the mystery. The mystery was certainly engrossing to me, and the plot was extremely dramatic and filled with quite a few unexpected twists and turns. I give The Secret Keeper: A Novel by Kate Morton an A+! I will be sure to put this author's name on my Wish List.

A+! - (96-100%)

Till we Meet Again, Glow Brightly as Moonlight

Harlan Coben - The Woods

39. The Woods by Harlan Coben (2007)

Length: 404 pages

Genre: Contemporary Mystery

Started: 8 June 2015

Finished: 11 June 2015

Where did it come from? From a Library Book Sale 

How long has it been on my TBR pile? Since 9 April 2014

Why do I have it? I like contemporary mysteries and Harlan Coben is a new author for me.

On his deathbed, Paul Copeland's father grabs his hand and urgently whispers one final directive to his son: "Paul, we still need to find her." Two decades before, four teenage campers had wandered into the woods one sultry summer night. Some time later, two of the missing campers were found murdered, but the other two teens were never seen again. The lives of four families were changed forever. Now, twenty years later, they are all about to change again.

Paul 'Cope' Copeland's life was turned upside down twenty years ago with the loss of his younger sister, Camille. Even now, he still feels the muted pain of that loss, although life has inevitably moved on for him. He is now the county prosecutor for Essex, New Jersey - a widower who recently lost his wife to cancer; learning to parent his six-year-old daughter as a single father. Balancing family life and a rapidly ascending career as a prosecutor distracts Cope from all his past traumas, but only for so long.

When a homicide victim is found with evidence linking him to Cope, the long-buried secrets of the prosecutor's family are threatened. Might this homicide victim actually be one of the campers who disappeared with his sister? Could Camille still be alive? Cope can't be entirely sure, but he knows that he needs to find out.

Yet, investigating this case will ultimately force Cope to face so many things from his past; people and emotions he believed he'd effectively left behind during that summer of twenty years ago. There will be Lucy, Cope's first love; his estranged mother, who abandoned her family; and the secrets held by his Russian parents, secrets which they might have been hiding even from their own children. Cope must decide what is better left hidden in the dark and what truths can be set free into the light.

This is the first book by Harlan Coben that I've ever read, although I do have a least two others hidden somewhere on my bookshelf. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book; I found it to be very well-written and the story itself completely held my attention. I also really felt connected to the characters, and was quickly engrossed in the plot. I give this book an A! and this will most definitely not be the last book by Harlan Coben that I read.

A! - (90-95%)

Till we Meet Again, Glow Brightly as Moonlight

Jenny Milchman - Cover of Snow: A Novel

38. Cover of Snow: A Novel by Jenny Milchman (2013)

Length: 326 pages 

Genre: Contemporary Mystery 

Started: 4 June 2015

Finished: 7 June 2015

Where did it come from? From a Library Book Sale 

How long has it been on my TBR pile? Since 1 June 2015

Why do I have it? I like contemporary mysteries and Jenny Milchman is a new author for me.

Nora Hamilton went to bed one wintry evening married to a wonderful man named Brendan - a man who loved his wife dearly, valued his profession deeply, and had an unwavering affection for his quaint hometown nestled in the Adirondack Mountains of New York. Nora Hamilton woke up the next morning in her old farmhouse, to find that overnight her world had effectively shattered into a million pieces. Her husband, Brendan Hamilton - the trustworthy, by-the-book police officer - had committed suicide. Nora is left feeling bereft and thoroughly confused.

Then a disturbing awareness slowly settles in: Brendan left no note and gave absolutely no indication that he was contemplating taking his own life. So, why then would a rock-solid policeman with such an unswerving devotion to his wife, his job, and his community suddenly choose to end it all? Unraveling her husband's final days, Nora searches for an explanation - but seems to be meeting with an extraordinary amount of resistance that she can't seem to penetrate, no matter how hard she tries. 

It seems utterly bewildering to Nora that everyone she speaks with - from Brendan's best friend and partner, to his fellow police officers, to his brittle mother - are remarkably reticent about speaking to her. It quickly becomes apparent to Nora that she is asking questions no one wants to answer; looking for answers that no one is prepared to give. For beneath the soft cover of snow lies a powerful conspiracy that will stop at nothing to keep its presence unknown...and its darkest secrets hidden.

First of all, let me say that I really enjoyed reading this book. The mystery was interesting, intriguing and full of dramatic twists and turns. It was certainly a remarkably good story, and I was drawn into the plot right from the beginning. It was well-written and dramatic, and I found myself really connecting with the characters. I must say that I was enthralled and wanted to know what would happen next. 

This was the debut novel written by Jenny Milchman and, even though I believe that I have at least one more book by this author somewhere on my bookcase, Cover of Snow: A Novel is the first book by this author that I've read. I will say that despite the fact that the book was very good - and it held my attention all the way through the story - I found the mystery just a bit too complex; it was slightly more complicated than I thought it would be. There were also details about the plot that I, personally, found a little implausible. I read best with the theory that 'Simplicity is the Best Policy' securely in my mind; although I would still give Cover of Snow: A Novel by Jenny Milchman a definite A! I look forward to reading more from this author in the future.

A! - (90-95%)

Till we Meet Again, Glow Brightly as Moonlight

Robert B. Parker - Stardust

36. Stardust by Robert B. Parker (1990)

The Spenser Mysteries Series Book 17

Length: 289 pages 

Genre: Contemporary Mystery 

Started: 27 May 2015

Finished: 30 May 2015

Where did it come from? From a Library Book Sale 

How long has it been on my TBR pile? Since 14 August 2001

Why do I have it? I like contemporary mysteries and have read and enjoyed several books by this author in the past.

Tough-talking private investigator Spenser, and his loyal sidekick Hawk are back in action again, and this just may prove to be their toughest case yet. When the Hollywood-based television series 'Fifty Minutes' begins shooting locally, Spenser's love Susan - a psychologist who is acting as consultant to the television film crew - persuades Spenser and Hawk to guard the star of the show, Jill Joyce. Spenser can immediately smell the trouble brewing.

As soon as he meets Jill Joyce, he knows that trouble is bound to be just around the corner. Jill Joyce is stunningly beautiful; one gorgeously sexy bombshell. Yet, on closer inspection Spenser freely admits that she is, to put it charitably, one screamingly hot mess to deal with. She is arrogant, spoiled and neurotic - and absolutely convinced that someone is stalking her.

Spenser really doesn't know what to believe. Jill's abject fear that someone wants her dead may just be a sign that she is out of her mind - a woman who desperately needs to spend some quality time in drug rehab; or she could be one thousand percent right, and someone is actually out to get her. Even though privately, Spenser can hardly blame the potential assassin for their feelings - he and Susan recognize the woman's very real fear hidden behind the celebrity's mask.

In Spenser's opinion, Ms. Joyce's reckless off-camera behavior epitomizes the term 'Drama Queen'. Her antics seem to be at the very height of extravagant depravity; yet as the detective investigates the threatening letters and phone calls received by the troubled starlet, he becomes increasingly convinced that she has some very valid reasons to fear for her life. Someone is definitely not a fan of Jill Joyce; and Spenser is soon drawn into a deadly and nightmarish mystery that gives new meaning to the term 'stage fright'.

Actually, I know that I have read this book before; I just can't remember exactly when that might have been. The story seemed vaguely familiar to me, although I couldn't have told anyone anything about the mystery. Robert B. Parker was really quite the author; and I've always enjoyed his work. I love his easy writing style and gritty characterizations.

I find his plots very intriguing yet still highly readable - and not so convoluted that I can't follow the mystery or understand the solution. There is also a fine thread of dark comedy running through each mystery that seems entirely appropriate to the situation and to each character's personality, as well. All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and am looking forward to reading more from this series. I would give Stardust by Robert B. Parker an A!

A! - (90-95%)

Till we Meet Again, Glow Brightly as Moonlight

Agatha Christie - Third Girl

32. Third Girl by Agatha Christie (1966)
The Hercule Poirot Series Book 35
Length: 264 pages
Genre: Contemporary Mystery
Started: 11 May 2015
Finished: 15 May 2015
Where did it come from? From Barnes and Noble
How long has it been on my TBR pile? Since 23 January 2008
Why do I have it? I like contemporary mysteries and have read and enjoyed several books by this author in the past.

From the moment he meets her, the young girl strikes Hercule Poirot as peculiar. In fact, everything about her - from her tousled appearance to her perplexed stare - seems too strange; downright abnormal to him. Yet it's her vague confession to a murder she's not even entirely sure she committed that really throws the little Belgian detective for a loop. In all his years, Monsieur Poirot has never encountered such an unusual child.

The mystery becomes even darker and more complicated when he finds out that the odd little duck has suddenly flown the proverbial coop. What's more: No one knows where she may have gone, nor does anyone seem to care that she's missing. So, the question is: Just what's her secret? No one's talking. But Monsieur Poirot suspects that the answer is going to be a killer...

Over the past several years, I've actually read a total of eight of Agatha Christie's books - this is the fourth book that I have read in her Hercule Poirot Series. In my opinion, this was certainly an enjoyable read for me, but still incredibly intricate and confusing in parts. This perhaps wasn't Agatha Christie's best book in my opinion, but in typical Agatha Christie style; I was completely in the dark when it came to revealing the 'who-done-it' moment in the story. Overall, I would give this book a B+!

B+! - (85-89%)

Till we Meet Again, Glow Brightly as Moonlight