I do love my thrillers, and this one was no exception. Alicia, a very successful painter, appears to shoot her husband and then never speak another word. Enter Theo, a psychotherapist, that is determined to breakthrough her silence to find out what truly happened that night. The story unravels to a giant twist and kept me guessing. Definitely unique- I enjoyed it!

Sandra Pankhurst is a trauma cleaner. Not only does she clean scenes after traumas and horrific events, she also is a lifeline for the real people involved. Her own life is full of abuse and neglect, yet she is a survivor that faces each day with so much courage and makes a difference in her clients‘ lives. I listened to this true story and fell in love with this inspirational, vibrant woman. A five star read for me.

I chose this one to fulfill a challenge for a book set in a post apocalyptic world. I ended up liking it more than I thought as this is not usually a genre I enjoy. The story is a very unique take on how the people of the Anishanaabe community deal with the loss of all technology due to an unknown event and the far reaching consequences. The author is a Native American so his description of a Native community is own voices and very compelling.

What could be better than a mystery that takes place in the Australian outback? Jane Harper is quickly rising to the very top of my favorite mystery authors and I think this is her best yet. The atmospheric way that she sets the story of the death of one of three brothers and the search to find his killer convinced me that I was in the desert alongside the characters. I am definitely a Jane Harper fan.

I finished this quite a while ago, but I‘m still thinking about it. Knowing that this story is based on the true events surrounding Georgia Tam and the many babies that she stole from poverty-stricken families to sell to the rich breaks my heart in many pieces. Lisa Wingate is a master at making the reader feel as if they have climbed into the heads and hearts of her characters and she does that here. Read with the tissues close by.

Even though I found this story to be entirely predictable, I loved how it unfolded. The author does an amazing job of walking the line between heartbreaking and hopeful as she tells the story of Maggie learning to put her life together after a horrific event that forces her to find her new normal. I thought all the characters in this book had a different voice and were very well developed. Easy and enjoyable read!

Tana French is one of my top five favorite writers, making anything she writes an auto read for me. I love how she develops characters and uses even the setting to move along the story. However, this story of a family uncovering a decades old murder was my least favorite of all her books. The character development is a little too detailed and slow for me. I still liked it, but would have enjoyed it more had it been 100 pages shorter.

As a lover of puzzles and someone who considers themselves pretty adept at solving them, I hate to admit that I lost my way often during this story. Aiden inhabits 8 different bodies over as many days and has to figure out who killed Evelyn during that time. If he fails, he will have to start all over again. The plot is unique and the writing‘s great, but I spent most of the time confused. I‘m guessing that can be attributed to slow reader brain!

I‘m a thriller junkie and I love a setting as a character, so this story should have been my jam. I really appreciated the writing, but this story about three unusual people sharing a dilapidated English mansion just didn‘t pull me in. Although I finished it, I found myself not at all anxious to get back to reading it each day. This usually means I‘m not in the right head space at the time. I may try again in the future.

This one surprised me! I am not a fantasy person, but I‘m trying hard to be. I have read so much about this series that I decided to give it a try. I really enjoyed this and I‘m already falling in love with the “misfit” children at the heart of this world. The story did take a morbid turn that I wasn‘t expecting, but I will definitely continue with the series. Maybe there‘s a fantasy reader inside me...baby steps! 😀 #LitsyAtoZ #TheLetterE

I think Maggie O‘Farrell was aiming to make readers really consider how fleeting moments can alter the course of their lives. In this memoir, it is clear that her near misses with death gave her a new respect and awe of life that she shares with her readers in a very profound and extremely personal and intimate way. And that last chapter about her daughter left me breathless. i was afraid to read this, but I‘m truly glad I did!

This account of the rise and fall of Elizabeth Holmes and her company, Theranos, is fascinating. The investigating reporting that Carreyrou did was incredible. I‘m left with many questions regarding how in the world this woman was able to build and market a healthcare company based on so many secrets and lies. To say my mind is blown is an understatement. My goal is to listen/read at least 15 nonfiction books this year. This one was a great start!

Young Adult contemporary isn‘t usually my thing. But someone very important to me (my niece) asked me to read this one, so of course I had to do it right away. I actually thought this was a very sweet story of a teenaged girl navigating family and first love. I think I‘ll have to tell my niece that I‘ll be reading the rest of the series with her!

I have to read a manga book for one of the challenges in which I‘m participating. So I chose Volume 1 of several issues of Orange. I‘ve never read manga before, so I was completely surprised that I enjoyed it so much. It has a time travel element involving high schoolers that are trying to save their friend by changing the future. I‘ll definitely read Volume 2, and if you have any recommendations of other Manga titles, I‘d love to hear!

Sometimes I find books are overhyped. However, this one deserves all the stars and more. Intelligent and sensitive Kya raises herself on the marsh without the support of family. When she is accused of murder, she must find a way to keep her heart intact and allow others to love her. As I was reading, I felt like I was sitting in Kya‘s shack, listening to the water and the singing of the crawdads. An exceptional debut.

Woah! This was the most thrilling thriller I have read in a long time. I was holding my breath through every page. Darby gets snowed in at a rest stop with some strangers and finds something horrifying is going on. If you like cat and mouse thrillers, this one is for you. However- don‘t choose this one if you can‘t read violence or stories of children in danger. Had to deduct a star because the violence was a little too much for me too.

I confess that I am always reading 3 or 4 books at once. And there is always a thriller in the mix. I enjoyed Sarah Pinborough‘s latest thriller much more than her first. I‘m finding that my favorite (and scariest) thrillers are those that have believable elements which is probably why Pinborough‘s first, Behind Her Eyes, was such a miss for me. This one was much more in my wheelhouse!

I truly love this series. The tension between Robin and Strike is always fun and the mysteries are always interesting. Anything by Roger Galbraith (J.K. Rowling) will always be an auto read for me. However- I didn‘t enjoy this one quite as much as the others. I still really liked it, but it felt just a little long to me. I‘m already anxiously awaiting the next one!

Sally Rooney is a new author for me. I really enjoyed her writing style, but I‘m not completely sure how I felt about the story. Her character description is great- I did feel like I could see inside the heads of these four friends as they form a challenging triangle. But I‘m a little torn about the ending. This would be a good book club pick as it would inspire a lot of discussion. I will read more by Sally Rooney. #LitsyAtoZ #TheLetterC

As many have said, this book is STEAMY. But my favorite part of the story was the characters. Stella has Asperger‘s and does not know how to navigate a romantic relationship...until Michael. I love how the characters accepted each other and never lost sight of who they were as individuals...as they fell in love. #LitsyAtoZ #TheLetterK

As an avid thriller reader, it is surprising to me that I have never read Linwood Barclay. I really enjoyed this backlist title of the disappearance of a family that leaves a young girl behind who spends her life trying to find answers. I‘m looking forward to reading the follow up to this story and many more titles by this author. #LitsyAtoZ #TheLetterN

I heard about this book from Rincey on Book Riot‘s Read or Dead podcast (which I love). She loved this one and so did I! Fast read. If you love puzzles, you will like this one. #TheLetterD #LitsyAtoZ

What do you do when you know your sister is a serial killer of the men she dates and the man you are interested in falls in love with her? This was a quick read- more of a novella than a novel - written by Nigerian author, Oyinkan Braithwaite. I really liked the writing style and enjoyed the story, but didn‘t love the ending, even though the ending is probably more plausible than what I wanted to happen. Definitely worth the read!

I‘ve been reading a lot of really heavy books lately. I needed something light with a happy ending. Loved this story about Laurie and Jack who glimpse each other from a bus window and then spend many years finding their way to be together. A very sweet and interesting romance. #LitsyAtoZ #TheLetterO

This is the first Fiona Davis book I‘ve read, but it won‘t be the last. I loved how the story moved back and forth between 1885 and 1995 as it tells the story about life and mysteries in the historic hotel, The Dakota, in Manhattan. I love when a building or setting becomes one of the characters and The Dakota takes on a life of its own in Davis‘ novel. She also kept me guessing about the characters and their mysterious connections to each other.

Beautiful story of devotion and sacrifice for female friendship. Rao writes her characters so intimately- I felt as if I was on the streets of India as Poornima and Savitha experience heartbreak and horrifying abuse as they try to find their way back to each other. Read this one with the tissues nearby. #LitsyAtoZ #TheLetterG

My favorite thriller in a very long time. Very twisted tale of a cash-strapped young girl that decides to participate in a survey about ethics and morality...but get more than she bargains for. Somewhat unbelievable, but some of the best thrillers are! This one consumed me. I couldn‘t put it down.

Nothing that I could say would do this beautiful debut novel justice. This story of a Muslim family whose faith, love and loyalty are tested in American culture is a quiet masterpiece. Fatima Farheen Mirza broke my heart, made me laugh and has left me in awe of her incredible talent. ALL the stars for this amazing debut that will probably be my best read of 2019. I can‘t wait to read what she gives us next.

I really wanted to like this. There have been so many great reviews, and I was excited to read it. I only stuck with it because I thought it would get better. Found it weird, unsettling, and depressing, and I‘m not even sure I could explain the plot to anyone because I don‘t really think I understand it myself. #LitsyAtoZ #TheLetterM

I don‘t always enjoy political thrillers, but the writing of Attica Locke pulls me in every time! #LitsyAtoZ #TheLetterP

Continuing my goal of randomly reading what is on my Kindle. Super dark and kind of violent thriller. #LitsyAtoZ #TheLetterI

SNOW DAY! Starting this one today and I‘m excited about it!

Wow- What a page turner! I loved the fast-paced action as a mother desperately tries to save her children. This is the first book written by Haylen Beck, pseudonym for Stuart Neville. I‘m looking forward to his next one! #LitsyAtoZ #TheLetterH

I liked a few of these stories and think this is a really cool idea. But most of them were just not for me. I may pick it up and reread again in the future. #LitsyAtoZ #TheLetterT

I love when a book surprises me! One of my reading goals this year is to read randomly from the many books on my Kindle. I picked this one up on a $1.99 sale without knowing anything about it. I really enjoyed it...almost a one-sitting read for me. Jude uses her skills and senses, that were sharpened while she was held captive for three years, to track down a killer. I will definitely read more of this unique fast-moving series. #LitsyAtoZ #B

“No one can really understand the whole of a person. In many ways, the people I was closest to, the people who meant the most to me - were strangers. Beautiful strangers.” Family mysteries, secret society, college campus- I‘m here for all of those. #LitsyAtoZ #TheLetterA

I know that I‘m definitely in the minority with this one. Thrillers are my jam, but I just didn‘t enjoy this one as much as I hoped I would. It‘s hard for me to put into words my reasons other than I felt like the story was spinning around in circles and not really going anywhere. I liked the the surprise ending most of all, but the rest of the story felt like a wild goose chase that had me somewhat confused.

Kristen Lepionka is an automatic read for me! Love her kick butt P.I. Roxane Weary. #LitsyAtoZ. #TheletterW

#LitsyAtoZ
#TheLetterL

The Heart‘s Invisible Furies
Kristin Hannah
Hart to Hart
Honeydew

#manicmonday
#letterH

Catching up (again)!

The Great Alone
Lisa Gardner
Glee
Guacamole

#manicmonday
#letterG

Force of Nature
Nicci French
Friday Night Lights
French Fries (of course 😳)

#manicmonday
#letterF

Educated
Janet Evanovich
Elementary
Edamame

#ManicMonday

Catching up!

The Dry
Daphne du Maurice
Dexter
Doritos

#ManicMonday

The Couple Next Door
Harlan Coben
Chicago anything (Fire, Med, PD)
Cheese

#ManicMonday

Library hold came in! Excited to dive into this one...

B answers!

Bluebird, Bluebird
Blueberries
Alan Bradley
Blindspot

#ManicMonday

How fun- Catching up!

After Anna
Megan Abbott
American Idol
Apple Pie

How much fun is it to be really enjoying a series knowing that there are several more books left to read? I love historical mysteries with strong, smart, feisty female characters. Maisie does not disappoint! I‘m loving following her adventures as a private investigator in post World War I in London after she returns from her service as a nurse in the war.

Definitely one of my favorites of the year. 5+ stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟