Nanny Needed, By Georgina Cross ~ 4.5 Stars

Tags

Adult Fiction, Coping With Loss and Grief, Dysfunctional Families, Mental Illness, Mystery

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

Release Date: October 5th, 2021

368 Pages

Synopsis: A young woman takes a job as a nanny for an impossibly wealthy family, thinking she’s found her entry into a better life–only to discover instead she’s walked into a world of deception and dark secrets.

Nanny needed. Discretion is of the utmost importance. Special conditions apply.

When Sarah Larsen finds the notice, posted on creamy card stock in her building’s lobby, one glance at the exclusive address tells her she’s found her ticket out of a dead-end job–and life.

At the interview, the job seems like a dream come true: a glamorous penthouse apartment on the Upper West Side of NYC; a salary that adds several zeroes to her current income; the beautiful, worldly mother of her charge, who feels more like a friend than a potential boss. She’s overjoyed when they offer her the position and signs the NDA without a second thought.

In retrospect, the notice in her lobby was less an engraved invitation than a waving red flag. For there is something very strange about the Bird family. Why does the beautiful Mrs. Bird never leave the apartment alone? And what happened to the nanny before her? It soon becomes clear that the Birds’ odd behaviors are more than the eccentricities of the wealthy.

But by then it’s too late for Sarah to seek help. After all, discretion is of the utmost importance. (Goodreads)

Nanny Needed is one of those books that you need to be willing to suspend disbelief, but if you can do that, it’s an eminently fun and addictive read that you’ll find difficult to put down once you begin reading.

Sarah is a relatable protagonist that you can’t help but connect with. While she makes some poor decisions regarding this too-good-to-be-true nanny position, given the financial circumstances she and her supportive fiancé Jonathan are in, you can understand why she doesn’t run as fast as she can once she starts learning about the mysterious Bird family and the secrets they’re keeping. 

As for the Bird family, well to say they’re a train wreck is putting it mildly. They’re a perfect example of how you can be fabulously wealthy, but not have a clue about the correct way to handle personal affairs. 

The plot is completely crackers (in a good way) and I could easily see this being adapted for tv as a movie or miniseries. I did guess what the big twist was going to be fairly early in the book, but it was still entertaining seeing the events unfold up to the climax. The ending perfectly wrapped everything up, but I have to admit I was saddened over the death of one character. You can’t have perfectly happily-ever-afters all of the time though.

Nanny Needed is the first book I’ve read by Georgina Cross, and it’s made me want to go read her two previous books: The Missing Woman and The Stepdaughter. It’s completely over-the-top entertainment which I guarantee you’ll find unputdownable!

The Hawthorne School, By Sylvie Perry ~ 3.5 Stars

Tags

Adult Fiction, Cults, Mystery, Suspense

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

Release Date: December 7th, 2021

304 Pages

Synopsis: For fans of Riley Sager, The Hawthorne School is a twisty psychological suspense about the lengths one mother will go for her child, inspired by present-day obsession with cults and true crime.

Claudia Morgan is overwhelmed. She’s a single parent trying the best that she can, but her four-year-old son, Henry, is a handful–for her and for his preschool. When Claudia hears about a school with an atypical teaching style near her Chicagoland home, she has to visit. The Hawthorne School is beautiful and has everything she dreams of for Henry: time to play outside, music, and art. The head of the school, Zelma, will even let Claudia volunteer to cover the cost of tuition.

The school is good for Henry: his “behavioral problems” disappear, and he comes home subdued instead of rageful. But there’s something a bit off about the school, its cold halls, and its enigmatic headmistress. When Henry brings home stories of ceremonies in the woods and odd rules, Claudia’s instincts tell her that something isn’t quite right, and she begins to realize she’s caught in a web of manipulations and power.

The author’s work as a psychotherapist, with a focus on narcissistic manipulation and addictive power dynamics, guides this exploration of a young mother wanting to do the best for her child. (Goodreads)

The Hawthorne School didn’t quite live up to my expectations, but it was an extremely quick and creepy read, that I mostly enjoyed for the couple of hours it took me to read it. The time it took for Claudia to figure out that there was something sinister behind this “too good to be true” school, had me a little frustrated. I’m not a parent, but my danger radar would have been pinging madly away by the second visit. I kept trying to give her the benefit of the doubt because she was a single mother with a four-year-old son with behavioral issues, but my patience was stretched thin. The rest of the characters weren’t exactly one dimensional, but neither did I find them memorable. The mystery was a tad predictable, but I still wanted my suspicions confirmed and I was eager to get to the ending. The biggest strength of the novel was the beautifully detailed, atmospheric setting, and despite the flaws, the story still managed to be a page-turner. The Hawthorne School is another book I’m struggling with the rating. My first impulse was to give it 3 stars, but I’m rounding it up to 3.5, because as I said, it’s a very quick read and despite the issues I had, I was still entertained.

The Perfect Family, By Robyn Harding ~ 3.5 Stars

Tags

Adult Fiction, College Hazing, Mystery, Sexual Assault, Suspense

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

Release Date: August 10th, 2021

352 Pages

Synopsis: The bestselling author of the The Swap—praised by Samantha M. Bailey, author of Woman on the Edge, as “wickedly delicious, addictive, utterly compelling”—explores what happens when a seemingly perfect family is pushed to the edge…and beyond.

Thomas and Viv Adler are the envy of their neighbors: attractive, successful, with well-mannered children and a beautifully restored home.

Until one morning, when they wake up to find their porch has been pelted with eggs. It’s a prank, Thomas insists; the work of a few out-of-control kids. But when a smoke bomb is tossed on their front lawn, and their car’s tires are punctured, the family begins to worry. Surveillance cameras show nothing but grainy images of shadowy figures in hoodies. And the police dismiss the attacks, insisting they’re just the work of bored teenagers. Unable to identify the perpetrators, the Adlers are helpless as the assaults escalate into violence, and worse. And each new violation brings with it a growing fear. Because everyone in the Adler family is keeping a secret—not just from the outside world, but from each other. And secrets can be very dangerous….

This twisty, addictively page-turning suspense novel about a perfect family’s perfect façade will keep you turning pages until its explosive ending. (Goodreads)

I have to be honest and admit I’ve had mixed results with Robyn Harding’s previous books, and I hesitated before requesting The Perfect Family. The premise however was too much to resist, and although I had a couple of issues, including the ending, I did wind up enjoying this.

Neither Thomas or Liv Adler, nor their two children Tarryn and Eli, are the most likable of characters, although I did eventually wind up feeling more empathetic toward Eli. They’re all keeping secrets from each other, which makes it impossible to guess who is the primary target of their mysterious tormenter. Their actions at times are as puzzling as the actual mystery, and don’t always come off as believable. However, the storyline itself with the twisty mystery make this a page-turner despite the characters’ shortcomings, and I found myself unable to put this book down. The ending, I suspect will leave readers either loving or hating it. It aggravated the heck out of me which is why I gave it 3.5 stars instead of the 4 stars I had originally planned on. Still, despite the elements I disliked, The Perfect Family was a quick read and kept me entertained for the three hours I spent reading it.

Under the Whispering Door, By T.J. Klune ~ 5.0 Stars

Tags

Adult Fiction, Diversity, Fantasy, Grief, Humor, LGBTQ Relationships, Romance, Suicide

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

Release Date: September 21st, 2021

384 Pages

Synopsis: Under the Whispering Door is a contemporary fantasy with TJ Klune’s signature “quirk and charm” (PW) about a ghost who refuses to cross over and the ferryman he falls in love withWhen a reaper comes to collect Wallace Price from his own funeral, Wallace suspects he really might be dead.

Instead of leading him directly to the afterlife, the reaper takes him to a small village. On the outskirts, off the path through the woods, tucked between mountains, is a particular tea shop, run by a man named Hugo. Hugo is the tea shop’s owner to locals and the ferryman to souls who need to cross over.

But Wallace isn’t ready to abandon the life he barely lived. With Hugo’s help he finally starts to learn about all the things he missed in life.

When the Manager, a curious and powerful being, arrives at the tea shop and gives Wallace one week to cross over, Wallace sets about living a lifetime in seven days.

By turns heartwarming and heartbreaking, this absorbing tale of grief and hope is told with TJ Klune’s signature warmth, humor, and extraordinary empathy. (Goodreads)

Last year I saw numerous rave reviews for T.J. Klune’s The House in the Cerulean Sea, and while I still haven’t had a chance to read it, I did finally purchase it. I’ve also enjoyed the first two books in his Extraordinaires series, so I was quite excited to be approved for an eARC of Under the Whispering Door. I’m writing this review after just finishing it and I am happy to say this ticked off all of my boxes.

The characters were wonderful, starting with Wallace. Before he died he was a cold-hearted, selfish man who didn’t appear to have an empathetic bone in his body. But after his death, when he meets sassy Mei, a reaper, and she brings him to Charon’s Crossing Tea and Treats, where he’s introduced to Hugo, a ferryman, his road to redemption begins. Also residing in this strange weigh station are Hugo’s deceased dog, Apollo, and his grandfather, Nelson. It’s a quirky little family and they take hold of your heart almost instantly. The Manager is a little more frightening, as he’s very much an unknown, although near the end even he undergoes a transformation of sorts. The setting of the tea shop and its quirkier attributes is very visual and I could easily picture it in my head. This isn’t what you’d call an action-packed story, but then it’s not meant to be. By turns it’s a whimsical, heartbreaking, and thoughtful exploration of death, grief, and letting go. It’s quite unlike anything I’ve read and I can honestly say I fell in love with both the characters and the story.

Under the Whispering Door is an absolute treasure of a book that by turns will have you laughing out loud, and sobbing into a tissue. Most of all, it will leave you sad when you’ve come to the end and will remain in your mind even after you’ve moved on to other books.

The Stowaway, By James S. Murray and Darren Wearmouth ~ 4.0 Stars

Tags

Adult Fiction, Child Murders, Mystery, Serial Killers, Thriller

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Release Date: September 21st, 2021

320 Pages

Synopsis: From internationally bestselling authors James Murray and Darren Wearmouth comes The Stowaway, a suspenseful masterpiece that leaves a cruise ship stranded at sea with a serial killer hiding aboard…

Two years ago, Maria Fontana was the deciding vote on a jury that set alleged serial killer Wyatt Butler free. Now, she and her family are enjoying vacation on a two week long transatlantic cruise. But when passengers are discovered brutally murdered in a similar way to Butler’s ritualistic MO, the ship goes on lockdown. Maria, one of only twelve people in the world with intimate knowledge of the case, faces a perilous ticking clock. Is it a copycat? Or is she trapped on board with the bloodthirsty maniac she chose to set free? (Goodreads)

To call The Stowaway a fast read doesn’t quite do it justice. I started this 320 page book about 7:00 in the evening and finished it two hours later. The plot isn’t one that requires a lot of deep thinking. The identity of the serial killer is fairly certain from the beginning, and there aren’t that many puzzle pieces to put together. The biggest issue I had concerned a decision Maria made in the first couple of chapters which put not only herself, but her twins at risk. While it was a noble gesture, given that she had two children it didn’t ring quite true to me, and it stayed in the back of mind throughout the rest of the book. It wasn’t enough to stop my enjoyment though. The story itself was extremely tense and suspenseful, and I honestly couldn’t guess how it was going to end. I do need to warn you though, the serial killer here goes after children and there are a few graphic scenes that even made me squeamish. Otherwise, The Stowaway is a heart pounding thriller that I guarantee you’ll find impossible to put down!

My Heart is a Chainsaw, By Stephen Graham Jones ~ 3.5 Stars

Tags

Adult Fiction, Attempted Suicide, Dysfunctional Families, Gentrification, Horror, Incest, Mystery, Native American Culture, Self-harm, Substance Abuse, Suspense

Thanks to NetGalley and Gallery/Saga Press for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Release Date: August 31st, 2021

416 Pages

Synopsis: In her quickly gentrifying rural lake town Jade sees recent events only her encyclopedic knowledge of horror films could have prepared her for in this latest novel from the Jordan Peele of horror literature, New York Times bestselling author Stephen Graham Jones.

“Some girls just don’t know how to die…”

Shirley Jackson meets Friday the 13th in My Heart Is a Chainsaw, written by the author of The Only Good Indians Stephen Graham Jones, called “a literary master” by National Book Award winner Tananarive Due and “one of our most talented living writers” by Tommy Orange.

Alma Katsu calls My Heart Is a Chainsaw “a homage to slasher films that also manages to defy and transcend genre.” On the surface is a story of murder in small-town America. But beneath is its beating heart: a biting critique of American colonialism, Indigenous displacement, and gentrification, and a heartbreaking portrait of a broken young girl who uses horror movies to cope with the horror of her own life.

Jade Daniels is an angry, half-Indian outcast with an abusive father, an absent mother, and an entire town that wants nothing to do with her. She lives in her own world, a world in which protection comes from an unusual source: horror movies…especially the ones where a masked killer seeks revenge on a world that wronged them. And Jade narrates the quirky history of Proofrock as if it is one of those movies. But when blood actually starts to spill into the waters of Indian Lake, she pulls us into her dizzying, encyclopedic mind of blood and masked murderers, and predicts exactly how the plot will unfold.

Yet, even as Jade drags us into her dark fever dream, a surprising and intimate portrait emerges…a portrait of the scared and traumatized little girl beneath the Jason Voorhees mask: angry, yes, but also a girl who easily cries, fiercely loves, and desperately wants a home. A girl whose feelings are too big for her body. My Heart Is a Chainsaw is her story, her homage to horror and revenge and triumph. (Goodreads)

Jones’ The Only Good Indians was one of my favorite horror novels of 2020 so I’ve been eagerly looking forward to diving into My Heart is a Chainsaw, especially when I saw the cover and read the premise. After spending the better part of the week making my way through it, I have to be honest and say this is one of the toughest books I’ve had to rate and review since I began this blog seven years ago.

The first chapter was fantastic and immediately hooked me, but then for about 60% of the novel, the story stuttered along at an excruciatingly slow pace. In fact, it was so bad that at certain points I have to be honest and say I skimmed a few sections, which I hate doing because I feel like I’m cheating. The chapters are overly long third person expository-style and are only broken up by Jade’s first person “Slasher 101” papers she’s writing for extra credit for her history class. Thank goodness for these breaks from the otherwise tediousness of the story, because I think they’re the only thing that kept me going. You see,  seventeen-year-old, half-Indian, Jade, is a Slasher expert, and her papers are full of fun facts and Easter eggs about film franchises such as Scream, Friday the 13th, Nightmare on Elm Street, Halloween, and more. She’s also convinced that there’s some sort real life Slasher that’s materialized in her small Idaho town, and that it’s tied somehow to the new gentrified development across the lake. Jade is a tough character to get a hold of and I spent a good portion of the story flipping back and forth on how I felt about her. She’s the poster child of unreliable characters, yet there’s something uniquely vulnerable about her that makes you loathe to turn away without discovering  what lies underneath her puzzling and unlikable exterior. When the truth is finally revealed, it’s as horrifying as the overarching plot itself, and I found myself firmly in her corner rooting for her.

As slow as the the first half of the book is, shortly past the midway point the story takes off like a bat out of Hell and all the teasing little plot points and what seems like an endless amount of minutiae, come together in a bloody and gory crescendo of mayhem and carnage that left me breathlessly wondering who was the killer and who was going to be the Final Girl. If you asked me when I was halfway through the book what I thought, I would have replied that I was disappointed and was probably only going to give it 2.5 stars. But that all changed because of those last 160 or so pages. I still can’t say I loved My Heart is a Chainsaw, but I can say that Stephen Graham Jones being called “the Jordan Peele of horror literature” is pretty on point. I finished it three days ago and it’s still interfering with my sleep. If you decide to give this a try, my advice would be to expect the slow burn of all slow burns. But if you have the time and patience the payoff is worth it…mostly.

Cul-de-sac, By Joy Fielding ~ 4.0 Stars

Tags

Adult Fiction, Domestic Abuse, Gun Violence, Mystery, PTSD, Sexual Abuse, Substance Abuse, Suspense

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

Release Date: August 10th, 2021

384 Pages

Synopsis: A shooting lays bare the secrets harbored by five families in a sleepy suburban cul-de-sac in this riveting psychological thriller from the New York Times bestselling author of All the Wrong Places.

Someone on this quiet, unassuming cul-de-sac will be shot dead in the middle of a sultry July night.

Will it be Maggie, the perfectionist wife, or Craig, the husband who can’t quite live up to her expectations? They’ve packed up their two children and fled their life in California, hoping for a fresh start in Florida, only to find the demons of the past hovering on their doorstep.

Maybe it will be Nick, a highly respected oncologist, or his wife, Dani, a successful dentist, both with well-kept secrets of their own.

Or Julia, an elderly widow, whose troubled grandson has recently moved in with her, introducing unsavory habits and even more unsavory acquaintances into her formerly quiet existence.

Then there’s Olivia and her husband, Sean. Having lost his job at a prestigious advertising agency, Sean is depressed, resentful of his working wife, and drinking heavily. He is also prone to increasingly violent fantasies.

And what of the newlyweds, Aiden and Heidi, whose marriage is already on the rocks, due to Aiden’s reluctance to stand up to his intrusive mother? Matters aren’t helped when Heidi befriends Julia’s grandson, setting the stage for a major blowup.

A diverse group of neighbors, to be sure. Yet all harbor secrets. All bear scars. And all have access to guns.

Not all will survive the night. (Goodreads)

It’s normally such a quiet street. Small, unassuming, solidly middle class. Not the sort of place one usually associates with the shocking events of that hot July night. Ask any of the residents and they will agree that none of their neighbors seemed capable of committing such a cold-blooded heinous act.

I’ve been reading Joy Fielding’s books since the mid-1980s, and for the most part Cul-de-sac is further proof that despite her being seventy-six, she hasn’t lost any of her mojo. 

There are five houses on this small Palm Beach cul-de-sac, and while at first glance the inhabitants seem fairly ordinary, it soon becomes clear that they’re all keeping secrets and for most of the book it’s anyone’s guess who will turn out to be the shooter and the victim. There are multiple POVs but Maggie’s is the one that takes center stage. Her backstory doesn’t resemble what’s said in the premise. She actually witnessed a brutal crime, and after trying to do the right thing, she and her family are threatened and move to Florida in an attempt to start over. I really liked and emphasized with her, although there’s one incredibly stupid thing that she does near the end that puts not only her life in danger, but also her young son’s as well. The other households of this seemingly serene little neighborhood for the most part fit squarely into various tropes with a few tweaks to each one. My favorite was Julia and her grandson Mark, who is a bit of a troublemaker, yet shows promise. They have a sweet relationship and are surprisingly good for each other. As I reached the final chapters I surmised who this ultimate violent act was going to involve, but it was still interesting to see it play out. I also appreciated the epilogue as it wraps everyone’s stories up leaving no loose ends.

Cul-de-sac, is what I would call a popcorn book. Although it deals with some heavy topics: domestic abuse, sexual assault, PTSD, gun violence, and substance abuse, it doesn’t require any deep thinking and it’s an entertaining and quick read. I unhesitatingly recommend it especially for fans of the late Mary Higgins Clark.

 

The Family Plot, By Megan Collins ~ 3.0 Stars

Tags

Adult Fiction, Alcoholism, Dysfunctional Families, Mystery, Suspense

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

Release Date: August 17th, 2021

320 Pages

Synopsis: When a family obsessed with true crime gathers to bury their patriarch, horrifying secrets are exposed upon the discovery of another body in his grave in this chilling novel from the author of Behind the Red Door and The Winter Sister.

At twenty-six, Dahlia Lighthouse has a lot to learn when it comes to the real world. Raised in a secluded island mansion deep in the woods and kept isolated by her true crime-obsessed parents, she has spent the last several years living on her own, but unable to move beyond her past—especially the disappearance of her twin brother Andy when they were sixteen.

With her father’s death, Dahlia returns to the house she has avoided for years. But as the rest of the Lighthouse family arrives for the memorial, a gruesome discovery is made: buried in the reserved plot is another body—Andy’s, his skull split open with an ax.

Each member of the family handles the revelation in unusual ways. Her brother Charlie pours his energy into creating a family memorial museum, highlighting their research into the lives of famous murder victims; her sister Tate forges ahead with her popular dioramas portraying crime scenes; and their mother affects a cheerfully domestic façade, becoming unrecognizable as the woman who performed murder reenactments for her children. As Dahlia grapples with her own grief and horror, she realizes that her eccentric family, and the mansion itself, may hold the answers to what happened to her twin.

With her signature “spellbinding, poignant, and atmospheric” (Christina McDonald, USA TODAY bestselling author) storytelling, Megan Collins weaves a haunting and suspenseful tale filled with secrets that won’t remain buried. (Goodreads)

I was so excited when I was approved on NetGalley for The Family Plot. It really seemed as though it was going to check all my boxes. Unfortunately, this is a case where the premise is more exciting than the actual book.

For me, the main letdown were the one dimensional characters. For siblings whose names are inspired by serial killers and their victims, I was expecting so much more than the flat personas that were presented instead. I never really connected with any of them which made it an uphill battle to care what was happening, but it wasn’t all bad. After the beginning, which was a bit of an info dump, the creepy, atmospheric setting, multiple mysteries, and red herrings sprinkled throughout made the story a quick and easy read. Despite my issues with the characters, I probably would have rated this between 3.5 – 4.0 stars if it wasn’t for the lackluster ending which had me groaning in frustration.

While The Family Plot didn’t live up to my perhaps too high expectations, other readers have given it positive reviews on Goodreads, so I encourage you to check them out before making up your mind as to whether you want to give this a try. As for me, there was enough here that I liked, that I’ll give the next book by Collins a try.

Dark Things I Adore, By Katie Lattari ~ 4.5 Stars

Tags

Adult Fiction, Mental Health, Mystery, Suicide, Suspense

Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Release Date: September 14th, 2021

416 Pages

Synopsis: A debut thriller for fans of Lucy Foley and Liz Moore, Dark Things I Adore is a stunning Gone Girl-esque tale of atonement that proves that in the grasp of manipulative men, women may momentarily fall. But in the hands of fierce women, men will be brought to their knees.

Three campfire secrets. Two witnesses. One dead in the trees. And the woman, thirty years later, bent on making the guilty finally pay.

1988. A group of outcasts gather at a small, prestigious arts camp nestled in the Maine woods. They’re the painters: bright, hopeful, teeming with potential. But secrets and dark ambitions rise like smoke from a campfire, and the truths they tell will come back to haunt them in ways more deadly than they dreamed.

2018. Esteemed art professor Max Durant arrives at his protégé’s remote home to view her graduate thesis collection. He knows Audra is beautiful and brilliant. He knows being invited into her private world is a rare gift. But he doesn’t know that Audra has engineered every aspect of their weekend together. Every detail, every conversation. Audra has woven the perfect web.

Only Audra knows what happened that summer in 1988. Max’s secret, and the dark things that followed. And even though it won’t be easy, Audra knows someone must pay.

A searing psychological thriller of trauma, dark academia, complicity, and revenge, Dark Things I Adore unravels the realities behind campfire legends―the horrors that happen in the dark, the girls who become cautionary tales, and the guilty who go unpunished. Until now. (Goodreads)

The title, cover, and premise of Dark Things I Adore immediately piqued my interest, so I was quite excited when my wish for this was granted on NetGalley. While I’d call it more of a slow burn suspense rather than a thriller, for the most part it lived up to my expectations.

The story unfolds through the perspectives of Audra and Max in 2018, and Juniper in 1988. The first few chapters were a little slow and I was unsure what connection tied these three characters together, but it didn’t take long for what seemed to be loose threads to start coming together. I must admit that I was much more invested in what was happening in the present day with the cat and mouse interplay between Audra and Max, especially after I guessed the main thrust of the past story. The other reason is because I love a strong female character and Audra definitely fits that criteria and more. I loved how Audra played Max (trust me, he completely deserves what happens), and although I figured out Audra’s main motive for revenge, there were still a few twists that caught me by surprise. The ending was the most shocking of all and helps make this a most memorable novel.

Dark Things I Adore takes the revenge trope, and adds some unique layers such as hidden notes and making art an integral part of the plot. It’s both character and plot driven which I loved, and I think it will stand out in the crowded field of books of this genre. I do want to warn you that this does deal with mental health issues and suicide, so some readers may have difficulty. Otherwise, Katie Lattari has come out with a wonderful debut that’s sure to appeal to fans of authors such as Ruth Ware, Lucy Foley, and Gillian Flynn.

The King of Infinite Space, By Lyndsay Faye ~ 4.0 Stars

Tags

Addiction, Adult Fiction, Fantasy, LGBTQ, Mystery, Romance, Shakespeare Retelling, Suspense

Thanks to NetGalley and G.P. Putnam’s Sons for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Release Date: August 10th, 2021

432 Pages

Synopsis: In this lush, magical, queer, and feminist take on Hamlet in modern-day New York City, a neuro-atypical physicist, along with his best friend Horatio and artist ex-fiancé Lia, are caught up in the otherworldly events surrounding the death of his father.

Meet Ben Dane: brilliant, devastating, devoted, honest to a fault (truly, a fault). His Broadway theatre baron father is dead—but by purpose or accident? The question rips him apart.

Unable to face alone his mother’s ghastly remarriage to his uncle, Ben turns to his dearest friend, Horatio Patel, whom he hasn’t seen since their relationship changed forever from platonic to something…other. Loyal to a fault (truly, a fault), Horatio is on the first flight to NYC when he finds himself next to a sly tailor who portends inevitable disaster. And who seems ominously like an architect of mayhem himself.

Meanwhile, Ben’s ex-fiancé Lia, sundered her from her loved ones thanks to her addiction recovery and torn from her art, has been drawn into the fold of three florists from New Orleans—seemingly ageless sisters who teach her the language of flowers, and whose magical bouquets hold both curses and cures. For a price.

On one explosive night these kinetic forces will collide, and the only possible outcome is death. But in the masterful hands of Lyndsay Faye, the story we all know has abundant surprises in store. Impish, captivating, and achingly romantic, this is Hamlet as you’ve never seen it before. (Goodreads) 

I loved Lyndsay Faye’s Jane Steele which is an imaginative reworking of Jane Eyre, so when I saw The King of Infinite Space, which tackles one of my favorite Shakespearean tragedies, Hamlet, I unhesitatingly requested it on NetGalley. I have to admit in the beginning I started to get a little nervous. There were multiple characters, a lot of information and background being relayed, and so much going on overall, I briefly floundered trying to grasp the myriad of threads and wondered what had I gotten myself into. Thankfully, by the time I was at the 10% mark, I had been completely pulled into this magical, queer and feminist spin on the classic tale.

This is definitely a strongly character driven novel. Everyone in it is flawed, complex, and compelling. The way they love and care about each other tugged at my heartstrings and had me hoping for a happy ending despite knowing the tragic outcome of the classic it’s based on. I wasn’t as fond of Lia’s chapters as she’s off working with three mystical florists and struggling to overcome her addiction. For me I was much more invested in Ben’s and Horiatio’s as they attempt to deal with their relationship as well as solve the central mystery. Lyndsay Faye’s writing style is breathtakingly beautiful and the contemporary setting of New York City adds a further surprisingly rich layer to a concoction that’s already full to the brim of varying elements. The ending, well, if you’re familiar with Hamlet, you won’t be shocked when I warn you to have a box of tissues nearby.

In the end, The King of Infinite Space isn’t perfect, but it’s a uniquely imaginative revision that succeeds on almost every level, and will undoubtedly please a great many fans of Hamlet as well as those who haven’t read it. Best of all it’s proof that in the right hands, a retelling of even a well known classic, can bring it to life in a fresh new way.