Behind Her Eyes ~ By Sarah Pinborough – 4.5 Stars

Tags

Adult Fiction, Mystery, Psychological Thrillers, Suspense

Thanks Flatiron Books for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Release Date: January 31st, 2017

320 Pages

Synopsis: Why is everyone talking about the ending of Sarah Pinborough’s Behind Her Eyes?

Louise is a single mom, a secretary, stuck in a modern-day rut. On a rare night out, she meets a man in a bar and sparks fly. Though he leaves after they kiss, she’s thrilled she finally connected with someone.

When Louise arrives at work on Monday, she meets her new boss, David. The man from the bar. The very married man from the bar…who says the kiss was a terrible mistake, but still can’t keep his eyes off Louise.

And then Louise bumps into Adele, who’s new to town and in need of a friend, but she also happens to be married to David. David and Adele look like the picture-perfect husband and wife, but then why is David so controlling, and why is Adele so scared of him?

As Louise is drawn into David and Adele’s orbit, she uncovers more puzzling questions than answers. The only thing that is crystal clear is that something in this marriage is very, very wrong, but Louise can’t guess how wrong– and how far a person might go to protect their marriage’s secrets.

After finishing Behind Her Eyes, there were two words that immediately sprang to mind: “Holy Guacamole!” I started this at about 7:00 pm last Monday, finished it around midnight, and then was left wide awake for the next couple of hours because of that flippin’ ending!

I think this is the first book that I’ve read where I didn’t particularly care for any of the characters, but couldn’t stop reading it anyway. To call it suspenseful doesn’t quite do it justice. With this story, Pinborough takes the stereotypical love triangle(s) and completely turns it on its head. The multiple storylines are told from different perspectives as well as jumping between the past and present, and it’s cleverly and masterfully done. The tension keeps building throughout the entire book which is why I simply couldn’t put it down. And finally, just when I thought I couldn’t take it anymore, the author brings all the pieces of this maddening puzzle together at the ending, which I hated yet at the same time thought it was absolutely brilliant! I was already a fan of the author’s after reading The Language of Dying and The Death House but now after Behind Her Eyes, which more than lives up to the hype, I think I can say I will read anything that Sarah Pinborough writes in the future. I highly recommend this to fans of suspense and psychological thrillers. 

 

 

 

 

Fred Korematsu ~ January 30, 1919 – March 30, 2005

Tags

Fred Korematsu, Inspirational quotes

Today’s Google Doodle which is illustrated by artist Sophie Diao, honors the birthday of Fred Toyosaboro Korematso who was a civil rights activist who objected to the internment of Japanese Americans during WWII. He bravely challenged the orders of Franklin D. Roosevelt and subsequently became a fugitive, before eventually being captured and sent to an internment camp in Utah with his family until the end of the war. Both California and Virginia are the only two states who recognize this courageous man each January 30th.

If you have the feeling that something is wrong, don’t be afraid to speak up.

~ Fred Korematsu ~

The Ripper’s Shadow (Victorian Mystery #1) ~ By Laura Joh Rowland – 4.5 Stars

Tags

Adult Fiction, Jack the Ripper, Mystery, Prejudice, Suspense, Victorian Historical Fiction

Thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

368 Pages

Synopsis: The year is 1888 and Jack the Ripper begins his reign of terror.

Miss Sarah Bain, a photographer in Whitechapel, is an independent woman with dark secrets. In the privacy of her studio, she supplements her meager income by taking illicit “boudoir photographs” of the town’s local ladies of the night. But when two of her local models are found gruesomely murdered within weeks of one another, Sarah begins to suspect it’s more than mere coincidence.

Teamed with a motley crew of friends–including a street urchin, a gay aristocrat, a Jewish butcher and his wife, and a beautiful young actress–Sarah delves into the crime of the century. But just as she starts unlocking the Ripper’s secrets, she catches the eye of the local police, who believe she knows more than she’s revealing, as well from the Ripper himself, now bent on silencing her and her friends for good.

Caught in the crosshairs of a ruthless killer, Sarah races through Whitechapel’s darkest alleys to find the truth…until she makes a shocking discovery that challenges everything she thought she knew about the case.

I think I may have mentioned once or twice that I’m a little addicted to the mystery of Jack the Ripper and tend to jump on any new book on the subject whether it’s fiction or non-fiction. The Ripper’s Shadow not only gives a unique and imaginative spin to the unsolved murders, but also provides a cast of well-developed and endearing characters who I instantly became emotionally invested in. Sarah is the type of heroine that you can’t help rooting for. Smart, and stubbornly determined you can feel her frustration not only with dealing the indifferent and bigoted police, but also with her models as they fail to take note of her warnings. Her team of fellow amateur sleuths are truly a motley crew with each having their own interesting backstories. By the end of the book they’re not only a team, they’re a family. The story is action-packed and is filled with shocking plot twists, and surprising suspects. There’s also some humor included which nicely balances the darker aspects of the book. The author’s prose truly brings to life the Victorian London, from the fog and soot which seems to encompass everything, to the corrupt police and prejudiced attitudes towards women, immigrants, and homosexuals. I highly recommend The Ripper’s Shadow to readers looking for a suspense-filled historical mystery filled with colorful characters. I’m eagerly looking forward to the next book in the series!

Two Empresses ~ By Brandy Purdy ~ 4.0 Stars

Tags

Adult Fiction, Historical Fiction

I’d like to thank the author for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Release Date: January 31st, 2017

384 Pages

Synopsis: 1779, France. On the island paradise of Martinique, two beautiful, well-bred cousins have reached marriageable age. Sixteen-year-old Rose must sail to France to marry Alexander, the dashing Vicomte de Beauharnaise. Golden-haired Aimee will finish her education at a French convent in hopes of making a worthy match.

Once in Paris, Rose’s illusions are shattered by her new husband, who casts her off when his mistress bears him a son. Yet revolution is tearing through the land, changing fortunes–and fates–in an instant, leaving Rose free to reinvent herself. Soon she is pursued by a young general, Napoleon Bonaparte, who prefers to call her by another name: Josephine.

Presumed dead after her ship is attacked by pirates, Aimee survives and is taken to the Sultan of Turkey’s harem. Among hundreds at his beck and call, Aimee’s loveliness and intelligence make her a favorite not only of the Sultan, but of his gentle, reserved nephew. Like Josephine, the newly crowned Empress of France, Aimee will ascend to a position of unimagined power. But for both cousins, passion and ambition carry their own burden.

From the war-torn streets of Paris to the bejeweled golden bars of a Turkish palace, Brandy Purdy weaves some of history’s most compelling figures into a vivid, captivating account of two remarkable women and their extraordinary destinies.

I’ve read two previous books by Brandy Purdy —The Secrets of Lizzie Borden and The Ripper’s Wife– both of which I enjoyed immensely, so when she contacted me about Two Empresses I jumped at the opportunity to read and review it. While I knew a little about the woman (Rose) who became Josephine Bonaparte, thanks to a report I did on her back in the 5th grade, I knew absolutely nothing about her younger cousin Aimee. Both women’s stories are told in the first person POV which allows the reader to really get into their heads. More than half of the book follows Josephine who I found difficult to emphasize with at times. She’s selfish and self-centered and is willing to sleep with just about anyone who will help her attain her ambitions. There’s no mistake that she suffered horribly at times, but there were others where I felt she was her own worst enemy, particularly in regards to Napoleon. He is passionate about her at the beginning of their relationship, but because Josephine is pretty much forced into marrying him, she cheats on him immediately. When he discovers her infidelities, well, let’s just say his feelings sour and he treats her abysmally. Yet it’s then that decides she loves him. But even worse, I believe she commits an unforgivable betrayal of her innocent daughter, forcing her into a loveless marriage just to save herself. Because of this, any sympathy I had for her went right out the window. Aimee du Buc Rivery was indeed the cousin of Empress Josephine who disappeared at sea. There’s a legend that she was captured by Barbary pirates and sold to a Sultan in Constantinople and that she was the same person as Naksidil Sultan, who became a Valide Sultan (Queen Mother) of the Ottoman Empire. However there’s no hard evidence of this, and scholars have pretty much proven that the legendary Naksidil was of Georgian descent, not French. But it’s this figure that Brandy Purdy draws upon in her portrayal of Aimee, who I loved. She also suffers greatly, yet she perseveres because of her intelligence, courage, determination, and unwavering love and devotion to those she cares about. While she was almost entirely fictional, I found myself wishing that there were more chapters devoted to her. Overall, I thought Two Empresses to be an intriguing blend of fact and fiction. It’s a captivating read which reconstructs one of the most famous women in history, flaws and all, and brings to life one whose life probably ended much too soon. At the same time, she also captures the social norms and political upheavals of the time period. I definitely recommend this to readers who love historical fiction.

The Devil Crept In ~ By Ania Ahlborn – 4.0 Stars

Tags

Adult Fiction, Child Abuse, Horror, Relationships

Thanks to NetGalley and Gallery Books for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Release Date: February 7th, 2016

384 Pages

Synopsis: Young Jude Brighton has been missing for three days, and while the search for him is in full swing in the small town of Deer Valley, Oregon, the locals are starting to lose hope. They’re well aware that the first forty-eight hours are critical and after that, the odds usually point to a worst-case scenario. And despite Stevie Clark’s youth, he knows that, too; he’s seen the cop shows. He knows what each ticking moment may mean for Jude, his cousin and best friend.

That, and there was that boy, Max Larson…the one from years ago, found dead after also disappearing under mysterious circumstances. And then there were the animals: pets gone missing out of yards. For years, the residents of Deer Valley have murmured about these unsolved crimes…and that a killer may still be lurking around their quiet town. Now fear is reborn–and for Stevie, who is determined to find out what really happened to Jude, the awful truth might be too horrifying to imagine.

I loved Ania Ahlborn’s previous book, Brother, and while I had a few issues with The Devil Crept In, it’s clear that she is an excellent storyteller along the same lines of horror writers like Stephen King. The book is divided into three sections with part one focusing on ten-year-old Stevie Clark’s determination to find his cousin and best friend, Jude. While I’m all for slow-building horror and suspense, I found myself getting a bit impatient with the pacing in the beginning. I felt as though Ahlborn spent a little too much time on the set-up. The second part takes you back in time, detailing a creepy house in the woods and the backstory of Rosie, the woman who lives there. The third part brings both storylines together.  I never once felt disconnected and Ahlborn does a brilliant job at fitting all the pieces together. My biggest issue was that with the exception of a few, the majority of adults in this story are completely one-dimensional and do not come across in a positive light. You’ve got the abusive step-father stereotype, the abused mother who can’t/won’t protect her children, and the judgmental, holier-than-thou townsfolk. There are two characters that don’t fall into these stereotypes. One is Stevie’s teacher, but sadly she only makes a brief appearance. The other is an elderly shop keeper who tries to help Stevie, but he’s maddeningly slow at giving him much needed information. And of course there’s Rosie, who I found utterly exasperating at times, yet still emphasized with the horror her life had become. Ania Ahlborn is also an absolute genius at creating subtle and menacing atmospheres and creepy goosebump-raising storylines. I was completely sucked into the small town of Deer Creek and its hidden horrors and I felt as though I were actually in the story. But the absolute best part of the book is ten-year-old Stevie, whose courage and innocence is what drives the story and his attributes are in direct contrast to the disturbing nature of the narrative and the rest of the characters. His resilience is remarkable given that he’s surrounded by adults, who at best don’t believe the things he insists he’s witnessed, and at worst are verbally and physically abusive. Making things worse is that Stevie suffers from an unnamed disorder(s), which further adds to the suspicion and doubt that people view him with. Yet despite all this, this small child never gives up and I absolutely loved him. The ending is complicated, and there’s some questions I had that weren’t answered, yet for the most part it’s in keeping with the rest of the story. Despite its flaws, I found The Devil Crept In to be a disturbing and emotional read, and one which I have no problem recommending. It’s a solid blend of horror, mystery and suspense and it’s left me excited for Ania Ahlborn’s next venture.

 

 

 

The Orange Elephant In The Room.

Tags

The New World Order

Hi Everyone. So, you may have noticed a lot is happening right now that not only has far reaching consequences for America, but also the world. When I first started By Hook Or By Book in 2014, my idea was that it would be primarily a place to discuss books, with occasional funny posts, and (hopefully) inspirational ones. While I addressed current events, they were few and far between. And then Donald J. Trump came along. For the past week or so, I’ve been in a conundrum. You see, I want this blog to continue to be an entertaining book-related one for the most part, but to be honest, I cannot stay silent while a deranged demagogue sits in office and uses the power that comes with being the President of the United States to trample on people’s rights and freedoms. Whether it’s building a wall, banning people of a certain religion from entering our country, stoking the flames of prejudice and bigotry, setting women’s rights back 44 years, or the insane denial of climate change, I feel a light needs to be shined on what is happening. I realize that not everyone agrees with me and I respect that. I truly do. But as you may have guessed, I feel pretty passionately about what is happening and I simply can’t sit this one out silently, hoping we all survive until the next election in four years. Because of my health I find it impossible to attend protests or rallies. But, I have a voice and this little blog whose subtitle reads: Book Reviews, News, and Other Stuff. So, I’m hoping y’all don’t mind some more frequent posts concerning the News and Other Stuff. I welcome any comments whether you agree or disagree, as long as we can keep it civil. And I hope I don’t lose any of you due to my decision because that would just break my heart. If you decide to keep following, thank you. I really love you guys!

To finish this post off on a positive note, I’m going to leave you with this: 

 

Happy Year Of The Rooster!

Tags

Chinese New Year 2017, Inspirational quotes, Year of the Rooster

Life is like a book. Each day is a new page, with adventures to tell, lessons to learn and tales on good deeds to remember.

~ author unknown ~

This Isn’t America

Tags

Donald Trump, Immigration, Religious Freedom

Emma Lazarus: Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to be free…

Donald Trump ~ Unless you’re Muslim.

RIP Sir John Hurt 1940-2017

Tags

Inspirational quotes, Legendary Actor, RIP Sir John Hurt

 We are all racing toward death. No matter how many great, intellectual conclusions we draw during our lives, we know they’re all only man-made, like God. What can you do, except do what you can do as best as you know how.

~ Sir John Hurt ~

Holocaust Remembrance Day 2017 ~ Never Forget

Tags

Elie Wiesel, Holocaust Remembrance Day, Inspirational quotes

I swore never to be silent whenever and wherever human beings endure suffering and humiliation. We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.

~ Elie Wiesel ~