There is a theory, unwavering for many, that in a single frame of The Wizard Of Oz, the scarecrow has a gun. It’s the nebulous grasp we have on perception this illustrates that forms one of the key bedrocks of this complex and intriguing book. The other key is memory…
Read MoreWhen the Aurora, a luxury space ship disappeared, it was assumed all souls on board were lost. No one ever expected it to be found, and if it was everyone would most certainly be dead. When a salvage team locates it they are woefully unprepared for what shape they find the bodies in. Dying is one thing, dying very badly is another thing entirely!
Read MoreWhat if you discovered your husband was having an affair with his wife? Yes, you read that properly. This book has a lot to love; weird science, murder, bad romance and the unspooling of enough twists to leave the reader with a serious case of whiplash.
Read MoreI have droned on before about how lucky young adult and teen readers are today. They get more depth of storytelling than ever before. Entire worlds and mythologies built. Characters with a multitude of racial, ethnic, and sexual identities and stories that edge, sometimes dive, into a darker side. Here are a few featured books that fit the bill, alongside read alike picks, all new in 2022!
Read MoreTo transform a young reader into a booklover, one must blur the edges, delve into unchartered territories, and push boundaries to flame a life-long hunger for the written word. And what better time of year to stoke the fire than Summertime! Here are a few featured books alongside read alike picks, all new in 2022!
Read MoreIris was delivered her terminal cancer diagnosis with all the feeling of an internet bot issuing a death warrant. In an attempt to navigate her prognosis, she starts a secret blog to share personal anecdotes and revelations. You won’t be able to resist any of this characters as they navigate their loss.
Read MoreA fascinating look at four murders committed by women that blends a novelist’s flair for narrative cadence and an academics focused intelligence to discern what happens when women kill. How are women treated and depicted when they commit a murder? How are their actions construed? Or should I say misconstrued.
Read MoreIt’s not often in crime fiction that you may find yourself rooting for the murderer, but I defy you to resist the particular, let’s call them charms, of killer queen Grace. A wickedly sharp and savage read that is a perfect for anyone who loves dark humour mixed in with their crime fiction.
Read MoreRainy’s secrets are buried deep, and she is not keen to share them. Certainly not with a group of women whose’s company has been forced upon her and who she has nothing in common with and can barely tolerate. Think real housewives of nowhere you’ve ever heard of…
Read MoreA delight of a book that triumphantly introduces a new generation to the brilliance of Agatha Christie. When “cool” girl Alice’s ex bestie is found murdered, she and Iris, her “nerdy” tutor, launch their own investigation, adopting many of the tenants of crime solving Christie’s detectives did. Along the way they collect oddballs and misfits for the cause!
Read MoreHades, God Of The Dead and King Of The Underworld is having a midlife crisis. Bored with the never-ending stream of death that surrounds him, his cynicism and discontent grow with every passing day of his immortal life. In the contemporary world where this imaginative retelling is set, life as he knows it is about to be turned on its head.
Read MoreFull disclosure readers, the thriller part of this story was at times unsavory, but I stuck with it for the complex protagonist at the center of it. Ben is a deputy sheriff who has moved to a small town after a tragedy rocks his world. I love an eerie small-town narrative, rich with furtive behavior and morally ambiguous characters.
Read MoreWho among us doesn’t love reading about the celebrities we admire most? Finding out intimate details about their lives and loves. Discovering the ways in which they are just like us, flawed and at times, barely functioning. Get to know Viola Davis, Kal Penn, Valerie Bertinelli & Will Wheaton on a deeper level!
Read MoreSurrounded by treasures and secrets, one day January discovers a remarkable book. It will turn out that is the least of what it is, and what it will become. Narratives unfold like a nesting doll in this clever and charming read, peeling back priceless gems. We spend time with fierce and fascinating characters and each door teases the reader with a reverential nod to well-known fairytales and fables
Read MoreIn this cleverly crafted story within a story, we never know what is real or imagined. Even upon completion of the book I am not sure what and who were real and what may have been a figment of the narrator’s vivid imagination. And I am okay with that!
Read MoreLola finds herself a test subject for a cult like sales guru who is intent on mastering the power of suggestion to sell high end fix it packages to people who have more money than sense. Chosen because she has been diagnosed by no one of any credentials of an affliction that does not exist, people hoarder, Lola has given them lots to work with.
Read MoreGrace may be many things. Murderess, lunatic, naïve servant, manipulative imposter. After a stint in an asylum, she is now serving a life sentence in prison. A young doctor begins to visit her with the hopes of employing his progressive treatments and gaining Grace a pardon. But as we all know, when seeking out the truth we often get much more than we bargained for.
Read MoreOwen is charming, privileged and chronically dissatisfied. Luna is secretive, reticent, and pragmatic. Despite the disparity in their natures, their bond, forged in their college years, is unshakeable. Until it isn’t. This book has an important life lesson; no good can ever come of a game of truth or dare!
Read MoreThink Survivor but with whiny, irritating teens and armed madmen seemingly plucked straight out of the film Deliverance. Which was in my head long before I read the authors note admitting to channeling the film for the plot idea. Whether that’s a good thing or not, I am still undecided.
Read MoreCreepy neighbours, sounds going bump in the night, eerie sense of someone, or something watching you. All that and more in these thrillers that take place in mysterious dwellings. If you should experience any of these feelings, I might suggest moving. Or running…
Read More
