Looking for a new Mystery book: Check out my recent reads

"All Good People Here" Ashley Flowers

If you are a mystery reader, you might have heard of this one. Highly rated and on many of the top reads for 2022. Quick synopsis, " a journalist uncovers her hometown’s dark secrets when she becomes obsessed with the unsolved murder of her childhood neighbor—and the disappearance of another girl twenty years later."

The read was boring. It was yet again another book I read chapter by chapter, very slowly since it wasn't attention grabbing. You aren't invested in any of the characters for a while, and there isn't anyone to suspect of the murders early on. With any book, we know the initial person of suspect (in this case the mom/brother) did not do it. The writing was kind of bland, I didn't really picture anything but a boring bland town. I will say, at the end, maybe the last 50 pages it picks up and Flowers does have a few good twists in the novel.

I give it a 2.5/5 - PASS.

"The Silent Patient" Alex Michaelides

AMAZING - this is a MUST read. Quick synopsis, "The Silent Patient is a shocking psychological thriller of a woman’s act of violence against her husband―and of the therapist obsessed with uncovering her motive."

I could not put this book down. It is interesting and exciting. You are constantly curious why Alicia did it, why she does not speak now, or can she not? As the book goes on, more secrets and connections are revealed, with a great twist at the end.

Get this book, 5/5 - READ IT!

"Verity" Colleen Hoover

So, I was not going to read anymore Colleen Hoover books after I read "It Ends With Us" recently and was greatly disappointed. The ONLY reason I took a chance on "Verity" was because I put it on hold at the library, the same time as the other book, and after MONTHS, finally got it. Has to be good then? Quick synopsis "Lowen Ashleigh is a struggling writer on the brink of financial ruin when she accepts the job offer of a lifetime. Jeremy Crawford, husband of bestselling author Verity Crawford, has hired Lowen to complete the remaining books in a successful series his injured wife is unable to finish."

Well, I stand corrected - "Verity" was amazing. This was a book I could NOT put down. I finished it in less than 5 days. From the first line, "I hear the crack of his skull before the splattering of blood reaches me," you are hooked. You want to know more. There are twists and turns. It is not predictable. You are constantly wondering, what is the truth? Who knows what? And even at the end, we are still left to wonder who we really believe Verity is and the truth of what happened.

A must read - 5/5! (Also a great Book Club discussion book)

"The House of Wolves" James Patterson and Mike Lupica

I needed a new book when I got back from my trip, so this was the first time I went to the library and just checked out a book (without prior research) on the hot of the press shelf. I thought maybe you can't go wrong with a household name like James Patterson. Quick synopsis: The murder of a billionaire patriarch triggers a bloody battle for control of his empire. For fans of Succession, Yellowstone.

I did read this book within a week, partly because I had to, but also at first it was really interesting and I was curious to find out more about who committed the murder and the turn of events of who will own the newspaper and football team within the family. There's a lot of drama, which keeps you interested for a while but very little detective work and it starts to get repetitive.

If you like Football, strong predictable character's and an easy to follow storyline this is for you. If you like thrills, twists & turns, unpredictability, don't read this one. The ending is especially anti-climatic, it almost seemed rushed.

I give it a 2.5/5 - PASS.