What Lies in the Woods by Kate Alice Marshall

 

From the blurb:  

"Naomi Shaw used to believe in magic. Twenty-two years ago, she and her two best friends, Cassidy and Olivia, spent the summer roaming the woods, imagining a world of ceremony and wonder. They called it the Goddess Game. The summer ended suddenly when Naomi was attacked. Miraculously, she survived her seventeen stab wounds and lived to identify the man who had hurt her. The girls’ testimony put away a serial killer, wanted for murdering six women. They were heroes. They were liars. 

"Now, decades later, Olivia wants to tell the whole story. Then she goes missing, and Naomi sets out to find out what really happened in the woods—no matter how dangerous the truth turns out to be."

What this book has:   Suspense. Mystery. Atmosphere. Flawed yet likable characters. Lyrical prose. Taut plotting. 

My thoughts:  Can you tell I really liked this one? It's a very fun summer read! I appreciated Naomi's sass and attitude, and her grim determination to figure out the truth despite her inner fears and struggles. She's not a perfect character, but I was rooting for her. And I thought the twists and revelations along the way were so well-timed. Some of the secrets I guessed, others were unexpected. But they were all good. 

My rating:  ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Happy Reading!

Uncle Silas by Sheridan Le Fanu

 

For my Wild Card Classic category in Karen's Back to the Classics Challenge, I decided to go with Sheridan Le Fanu's Gothic novel Uncle Silas, which was first published in 1864. It's a good example of Victorian sensation fiction, with thrills, chills, drama, secrets, death and danger, and is similar in feel to Wilkie Collins' novels. 

Seventeen-year-old Maud Ruthyn is the narrator and main character. She lives a quiet, pleasant life in the country with her father until his sudden death. She is then sent to live with her mysterious Uncle Silas, who her father named as her guardian, much to everyone's surprise. Silas, who was once accused of murder, is not a well man. He lives a very isolated life, and though he pretends to welcome Maud in, and to want what is best for her, he has many secrets of his own, as well as an unpredictable temper, and she can't help fearing him and his true intentions. 

"You would have fancied that one so young as I, born to wealth so vast, and living a life of such entire seclusion, would have been exempt from care. But you have seen how troubled my life was with fear and anxiety during the residence of Madame de la Rougierre, and now there rested upon my mind a vague and awful anticipation of the trial which my father had announced ... You perceive I had more spirit than courage. I think I had the mental attributes of courage; but then I was but a hysterical girl, and in so far neither more nor less than a coward." 

Though pretty, well-spoken and educated, Maud is at times also weak-willed, fearful, and naive; but then she's also very young. She befriends her rustic cousin, Millicent, but Millie is also afraid of her father. Maud fends off the advances of her other cousin, Dudley, but can't ever seem to stand up to her uncle. And when her former governess, Madame de la Rougierre, reappears on the seem, all hope of happiness seems lost to poor Maud. 

I have to say, even though this novel dragged a bit in the middle and felt a little long, I enjoyed reading it. I was rooting for Maud to find a way to free herself from her unhappy circumstances. And I liked the Gothic atmosphere that Le Fanu creates throughout the book, as well as his lyrical and descriptive prose. Like here: 

"It was late--just that hour when dejected people feel their anxieties most--when the cold grey of twilight has deepened to its darkest shade, and before the cheerful candles are lighted, and the safe quiet of night sets in."

This turned out to be a great October read. There's even a chilling twist at the end. I'm glad I chose this one as my Wild Card Classic novel. And I look forward to trying some of Le Fanu's other novels.

Happy Reading!

It's a Mystery...

 

Sometimes I don't connect with a book, even when it's well-written and the story is interesting. Like Midnight at the Bright Ideas Bookstore by Matthew Sullivan. There's nothing wrong with this book. In fact, there's a lot to like about it. Lydia, the main character is very sympathetic: she has a secret from her childhood she doesn't want anyone to know about, she's kind, and she works in a bookstore. (And you know how I love a bookstore setting!) I also thought the mystery surrounding Joey --one of Lydia's quirky bookstore customers who commits suicide at the beginning of the novel--was intriguing, with the book codes he leaves for Lydia, and how his past ends up tying in with her own traumatic childhood. 

So then why didn't I connect with this one? 

I think it's because the narrative moves from the present with Lydia in the bookstore, to moments from her childhood with her father, to the present again with her boyfriend, David, then back to the traumatic incident from her past, to the present mystery with Joey, and back again. And I'm not saying the author doesn't do it well. He does. It's just for me, personally, this narrative style can make me feel like I'm constantly getting yanked between the past and present, so that I never fully connect with either timeline. Which is why I don't love it. But that's just me.

Would I recommend this one? I say, if the plot and that bookstore setting appeal to you, definitely give it a read. Because you just might end up liking it more than me.

Happy Reading!

The Sanatorium by Sarah Pearse

 

Word of advice:  Never stay at an abandoned asylum, not even if it's been renovated into a 5-star hotel called Le Sommet, and especially not if it's located at an isolated spot in the Swiss Alps. Things never end well when it comes to asylums.

The plot:  Detective Elin Warner and her boyfriend, Will, are at Le Sommet for her brother's engagement party. Not that she and Isaac get along; they haven't even seen each other in years. But Elin's on leave from her job so she has the time. And she really wants to confront Isaac about what really happened when their younger brother died all those years ago.

But then Laure, her brother's fiancee, goes missing. And she's not the first. Daniel Lemaitre, an architect working on the hotel renovation, disappeared three years ago while visiting the site. And on the same day Elin and Will arrive at Le Sommet, another employee, Adele Bourgs, gets taken by a sinister figure wearing a gas mask. Only no one's noticed her absence yet.

The snowstorm outside doesn't help matters, keeping the Swiss police from reaching the hotel.

So many mysteries! Elin's not sure she can solve any of them, but she feels compelled to try. If only everyone around her would stop keeping secrets.

My thoughts:  So, I had a few issues with this one. First, it's more regular mystery than Gothic thriller. And while it may be set in an old asylum, that history hardly plays a role in the plot at all, which was a little disappointing. The characters do get snowed in at the hotel before the mystery is solved, so that adds some tension, but it didn't exactly make it feel super atmospheric or eerie. The characters were also hit and miss for me. I liked Elin for the most part, though some of her decisions along the way were a little stupid and frustrating. I found Will to be a bit patronizing and critical towards Elin. And I really didn't like Isaac at all at first. (Though both he and Will redeemed themselves at the end.) As for the mystery itself, I felt the pieces came together too slowly, leaving me with more questions than clues for the majority of the book. And then the reveal at the end came out of nowhere and felt very rushed and unsupported, necessitating a lot of explanatory dialogue between the characters in order to wrap things up. Needless to say, it was less than satisfying. (Oh, and I hated the epilogue!) So I didn't end up loving this one, but I got to read it with Melody which is always fun. Be sure to check out her review to see what she thought of this one.

Happy Reading!

Melody's questions to me:

1. What do you like and dislike of The Sanatorium?

I thought Pearse's writing overall was good, and I liked how well-developed Elin's character was, and the novel reads fast. But I disliked the ending, which kind of ruined the rest of the book for me. 

2. This book has a great setting of an abandoned sanatorium being renovated into a luxury hotel. Do you think you'd ever stay in a hotel or any other buildings with a dark past?

Probably not. I'd take a tour through them. Take some pictures. But to stay overnight? I don't think I'd want to do that. Too creepy.

A riveting historical mystery...

"She took an involuntary step back ....Wind-whipped hair, dark as coal, tangled around his face. At first, all Charlotte could make out was a prominent nose, long and with an arrogant flare to its tip. But as he took another stride closer, the rest of his features snapped into sharper focus. A sensuous mouth, high cheekbones, green eyes, darkened with an undertone of gunmetal grey. Ye god, surely it couldn't be...."

THE EARL OF WREXFORD. He may have a brilliant scientific mind, but he's also a bit arrogant and reckless, too, especially when it comes to his own reputation. He's also the main suspect in the recent murder of the Reverend Josiah Holworthy.

CHARLOTTE SLOANE. A young widow and artist, she earns her money drawing satirical cartoons and caricatures of the rich and famous under the nom de plume A.J. Quill. She knows more secrets than she should and the Earl of Wrexford is one of her favorite targets.

In order to clear his own name, Wrexford seeks out the notorious Quill, discovers Charlotte's true identity, and convinces her to share some of her secret sources and informants with him....for a price, of course. Together they form a reluctant partnership, determined to ferret out all the secrets surrounding the Reverend's death before the Bow Street runners come for him.

Murder on Black Swan Lane by Andrea Penrose is the first book in a series revolving around these two engaging and unique characters. It's set in Regency London, and it's fabulous. I loved everything about it, from Raven and Hawk, the two young street urchins who assist Charlotte in her work, to Wrexford's well-educated and acerbic valet, Tyler. Charlotte's and Wrexford's investigation even leads them down the strange path of alchemy and to a secret society. It's great. I can't wait to read Murder at Half Moon Gate, the next book in this entertaining mystery series.

Happy Reading!

Amy Snow by Tracy Rees

The Where & When:  England, 1848

The Who:  Amy Snow, who is abandoned as an infant, and Aurelia Vennaway, the young heiress who saves her from freezing to death.

The What:  Despite the difference in their ages and social standings (and the objections of Aurelia's parents), Amy grows up with Aurelia at Hatville Court and becomes her friend and companion. But then Aurelia gets sick and dies. Her parents, Lord and Lady Vennaway, unceremoniously dismiss Amy from Hatville Court, ordering her never to return. But Aurelia planned for this eventuality and left Amy a very different legacy:

"...this is the start of my last treasure hunt for you. Think of my letters as the clues--each will lead on to the next. I have planned for my story to unfold just a little at a time, with every letter taking you farther from Hatville, farther from the ignominy of your treatment there:  safer and stronger and freer....Our friendship is precious and I hope that you will never regret it, but it kept you a prisoner also, tied to this house and dependent on me. Now you  can fly free, little bird! And I will help you, for you have helped me, more than you will ever know."

 So begins Amy Snow's journey. Aurelia's treasure hunt will take her across England, leading her to new friends, hidden secrets, and unexpected truths. I liked the people she met more than I did her search to uncover the secrets of Aurelia's past; I wish she could have spent more time with each of them, but she always had to move on to the next clue. Still, there are great characters in this book. Amy herself is very naive and young when she leaves Hatville Court, and I have to confess that it took me several chapters to warm up to her. But both she and the story get better as they go along. The only problem I had with this novel was the uneven pacing:  sometimes I got really caught up in the narrative and the pages just flew by, but there were other moments when I felt like the story dragged. Overall, though, it's an excellent read with a fun premise. I mean, who doesn't love a well-plotted treasure hunt?

Happy Reading!