Murder, Magic, and What We Wore, by Kelly Jones ~ 3.5 Stars

Tags

Fantasy, Mystery, Regency England, Suspense, YA Fiction

Thanks to NetGalley and Knopf Books for Young Readers for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Release Date: September 19th, 2017

304 Pages

Synopsis: The year is 1818, the city is London, and 16-year-old Annis Whitworth has just learned her father is dead and all his money is missing. And so, of course, she decides to become a spy.

Annis always suspected that her father was himself a spy, and following in his footsteps to unmask his killer makes perfect sense. Alas, it does not make sense to England’s current spymasters—not even when Annis reveals she has the rare magical ability to sew glamours—garments that can disguise the wearer completely.

Well, if the spies are too pigheaded to take on a young woman of quality, then Annis will take them on. And so, she crafts a new double life for herself. Miss Annis Whitworth will appear to live a quiet life in a country cottage with her aunt, and Annis-in-disguise as Madame Martine, glamour artist, will open a magical dressmaking shop. That way she can earn a living, maintain her social standing, and in her spare time, follow the coded clues her father left behind and unmask his killer.

It can’t be any harder than navigating the London social season, can it?

Murder, Magic, and What We Wore is a cute Recency romp, that had me laughing out loud more than once. 

Annis is a refreshing young miss. Despite her magical talent, she’s no special snowflake. She’s intelligent, but very naive and because of this, makes mistakes and has to rely on others to help fix them. Annis is not afraid to get her hands dirty, and in addition to investing her father’s mysterious death, takes time out to help others.

Millie, the maid to Annis and her aunt, actually wound up being even more interesting to me. She’s far more practical than Annis, and saves the day more than once. I also enjoyed the close friendship that developed between these two girls despite their dissimilar backgrounds. There’s a lot of “girl power” moments courtesy of these two as well as some secondary female characters.

I loved the fantasy elements added to this, but while there’s an acceptance that magical abilities are par for the course, there’s no other details on how they came to be. Also lacking is some character development, specifically in regards to men. There’s a hint of a potential future romance between Annis and her father’s lawyer, Mr. Harrison, but to be honest, by the last page I knew nothing more about him than I did at the beginning of the book. 

The mystery is intriguing and although I guessed who the villain was about halfway through the book, it still kept me reading. The ending isn’t a cliffhanger, but it leads me to believe there will be additional books.

Overall, Murder, Magic, and What We Wore may be a little short on details and development, but is still a quick and enjoyable read. I’m definitely interested in where Kelly Jones takes her characters and story next.

 

 

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Burntown, by Jennifer McMahon ~ 4.0 Stars

Tags

Adult Fiction, Coming of Age Stories, Fantasy, Mystery, Science Fiction, Supernatural, Suspense

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

Release Date: Available Now

336 Pages

Synopsis: Eva grew up watching her father, Miles, invent strange and wonderful things in the small workshop behind their house on the river that runs through their old mill town. But the most important invention of all was the one Miles claimed came from the mind of Thomas Edison himself–a machine that allowed one to speak with loved ones long passed. Smuggled out of Edison’s laboratory, the blueprints were passed down to Miles, and he’s been using them to protect Eva, her mother Lily, and her brother, Errol, ever since.

Then, one night when a storm is raging and the river is threatening to flood, the machine whirrs to life on it’s own. Danger, it says. You’re in terrible danger. The next thing Eva knows is waking up on the side of the river and seeing her mother’s grim face. Eva’s father and brother are dead, their house has been washed away and an evil man is searching for them both. They need to hide.

Eva changes her name to Necco–a candy she always loved–and tries to put everything in the past behind her as she adapts to her new life off the grid. But when her boyfriend is murdered and her mother disappears, she know the past is starting to catch up to her.

What really happened the night of the flood? As Necco searches for the truth, her journey unites her with two women who are on desperate quests of their own. And as the trio follows the clues to solving the mystery of Necco’s past, they discover that sometimes it’s the smallest towns that hide the strangest secrets.

Burntown is a genre-defying novel that’s an interesting mix of coming-of-age, supernatural, fantasy, science fiction, mystery and suspense. I’ve read previous books by Jennifer McMahon’s and one thing I’ve learned is to expect the unexpected, and this latest book is no different.

In addition to the quirky characters, there are mysterious murders, a flood, an obese former circus performer, a machine that may let you communicate with the dead, and a sinister figure wearing a chicken mask. Yes. You read that last bit correctly! While it seems as though all these separate elements are just too dissimilar to work together, somehow the author weaves everything together in an entertaining way.  

The story might be a bit strange, but it’s oddly enjoyable. The only reason why I’m marking this down is because after being captivated throughout the entire book, I found the ending to be a bit anticlimactic. Overall though, Jennifer McMahon has once again proven what an imaginative writer she is. Burntown is a vividly written tale with endearing and memorable characters, and a unique and suspenseful plot.

 

 

 

 

Nyxia (The Nyxia Triad #1), by Scott Reintgen ~ 4.0 Stars

Tags

Science Fiction, Suspense, YA Fiction

Thanks to NetGalley and Crown Books For Young Readers for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Release Date: Available Now

Synopsis: Emmett Atwater isn’t just leaving Detroit; he’s leaving Earth. Why the Babel Corporation recruited him is a mystery, but the number of zeroes on their contract has him boarding their lightship and hoping to return to Earth with enough money to take care of his family. 

Forever.

Before long, Emmett discovers that he is one of ten recruits, all of whom have troubled pasts and are a long way from home. Now each recruit must earn the right to travel down to the planet of Eden—a planet Babel has kept hidden—where they will mine a substance called Nyxia that has quietly become the most valuable material in the universe. 

But Babel’s ship is full of secrets. And Emmett will face the ultimate choice: win the fortune at any cost, or find a way to fight that won’t forever compromise what it means to be human.

When I first started reading Nyxia, I thought it was going to be a knockoff of YA books like Divergent, Hunger Games, Red Rising, and Ender’s Game, but by the time I was a few chapters in, it took on its voice and I really enjoyed it.

There’s a lot of diversity among the characters. Emmett is black, and the other recruits come from all over the globe. My only problem was that the diversity seemed to become overwhelmed by the story. At the beginning we’re told that the teens are given translators, but that’s really all there is to it. If we weren’t told that, I don’t think I would have known that these kids were different nationalities. That said, I still enjoyed the characters who except for a few, were just the kind you want to root for.

The plot is slow-building, with lots of twists and turns. Because I was so emotionally invested in the recruits, I was mesmerized by what was happening. It’s suspenseful and I had a difficult time putting it down. 

My only other issue is with the ending. I thought it was rather rushed and anticlimactic, and it got a little bogged down with an unnecessary and unbelievable case of insta-love. 

Overall though, I think Nyxia is an entertaining and imaginative beginning to this new science-fiction trilogy, and I have no doubt it will have wide appeal with teen and adult fans of this genre. I’m definitely looking forward to the next book.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Screaming Staircase (Lockwood & Co. #1), by Jonathan Stroud ~ 4.0 Stars

Tags

Middle School Fiction, Mystery, Supernatural Fiction, Suspense

Thanks to NetGalley and Disney-Hyperion for providing an ebook in exchange for an honest review.

Release Date: Available Now

401 Pages

Synopsis: A sinister Problem has occurred in London: all nature of ghosts, haunts, spirits, and specters are appearing throughout the city, and they aren’t exactly friendly. Only young people have the psychic ability required to see—and eradicate—these supernatural foes. Many different Psychic Detection Agencies have cropped up to handle the dangerous work, and they are in fierce competition for business. In The Screaming Staircase, the plucky and talented Lucy Carlyle teams up with Anthony Lockwood, the charismatic leader of Lockwood & Co., a small agency that runs independent of any adult supervision. After an assignment leads to both a grisly discovery and a disastrous end, Lucy, Anthony, and their sarcastic colleague, George, are forced to take part in the perilous investigation of Combe Carey Hall, one of the most haunted houses in England. Will Lockwood & Co. survive the Hall’s legendary Screaming Staircase and Red Room to see another day? 

I’ve had this series on my tbr for what seems like forever, but somehow just never seemed to find the time to start it. So, when the first book, The Screaming Staircase, popped up on NetGalley as a Read Now offer, I immediately jumped, and now I’m left asking why I waited so long.

I have to be honest and say that Lucy, who’s the narrator is a little on the dull side. Her personality is well developed, but she’s very reserved, especially when compared to the gallant Anthony and amusing George. I liked her, but she seemed to be missing a certain spark. The relationship between the three is at the heart of this book and I liked that they weren’t copycat characters of others from series like Harry Potter. They’re engaging and work well together, and I was fully invested in seeing what happened with them 

I loved the world-building which is set around an alternate current day London, which has an almost Victorian age feel. There’s a bit of an info-dump which does slow the pace somewhat, but it still makes for a suspenseful and at times, humorous read. 

Despite the couple of issues I had, overall I thought The Screaming Staircase was an enjoyable beginning to the Lockwood & Co. series and I’m looking forward to reading the rest of the books. I think middle-school age kids will gobble this creepy tale.

The Lost Causes by Alyssa Embree Schwartz and Jessica Koosed Etting ~ 4.0 Stars

Tags

Murder Mystery, Suspense, YA Fiction

Thanks to NetGalley and Kids Can Press for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Release Date: Available Now

344 Pages

Synopsis: They’re the kids that no one knows—or no one wants to know. The rich depressive, the OCD chick, the hypochondriac, the drug abuser, the athlete with anger management issues. All chosen for intensive group therapy because they’re out of other options. They’re lost causes, the therapist tells them. She promises them this support group will help them heal.

There’s only one problem. She’s not a therapist. And that water she offers? It contains a dangerous serum that gives each of the kids a psychic power.

Suddenly, they can think clearly, speak to ghosts, see the past, even move objects with their mind. Their earlier problems have vanished, but their new freedom comes with a price. Sabrina, Gabby, Z, Justin and Andrew are to help the FBI solve the grisly murder that has rocked their small town. Their new powers will help them uncover clues and follow leads that have eluded the authorities. Their outsider status gives them the perfect cover.

But the same traits that make them top investigators also make them vulnerable. As they close in on the murderer, they expose a much larger conspiracy that puts them directly in harm’s way and makes them wonder who—if anyone—they can trust.

The Lost Causes has a slight problem with believability, but it’s an enjoyable twisty mystery nonetheless.

I absolutely loved the way the kids were portrayed! They all suffer from various psychological problems which for the most part, turns them into pariahs not only with their classmates, but their families as well. These kids are all sympathetic and relatable, even Justin, the jock with anger management issues. Their home lives play a big part in what ails them, which brings me to one of the reasons why I didn’t give this 5 stars. Once again, not one single adult was a positive role model. The parents are nightmares who never should have had kids. The teachers and school psychologist aren’t much better with their apathetic attitudes toward anyone who isn’t a perfect student. And the FBI agents have absolutely no issues in using teens for their own agenda. I’ve mentioned in previous reviews that for some reason it seems like the majority of YA fiction lately seems to have one-dimensional, unlikable adults. Has anyone else noticed this, or is it just me? It’s extremely annoying and it’s becoming one of my biggest pet peeves along with: love triangles/squares, and insta-love. 

Moving on from my tangent, I loved the the way “the Lost Causes” come together and work as a team despite not being friends at the onset. The psychic powers each teen develops is unique to them, and what makes things even more interesting, as their psychic powers develop, the psychological maladies each suffered from disappear.

The story itself may not be entirely believable, but it’s still a lot of fun. The mystery is intriguing and there are plenty twists and turns which helped keep the story moving. 

Overall, The Lost Causes was a fun and enjoyable read, and it’s one that I think will appeal to a lot of teens. The ending leaves open the possibility of a sequel, and because I liked this group of teenage outcasts so much, I’d definitely be interested in reading another book featuring them.

 

The Woman Who Couldn’t Scream (Virtue Falls #4), Christina Dodd ~ 3.5 Stars

Tags

Adult Fiction, Mystery, Suspense

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

Release Date: Available Now

352 Pages

Synopsis: Beautiful Merida is married to a wealthy older man who takes her around the world as his trophy. Merida is everything a man could want. But a traumatic accident years before left her unable to speak. When her husband dies, she knows it’s her chance to exact revenge on those responsible for her accident—and that vengeance begins in Virtue Falls. Reinventing herself, she slips into village life, biding her time. But someone knows exactly who she is and will use this chance to finish what was started years ago. And this time an accident for Merida will mean silencing her forever.

The Woman Who Couldn’t Scream is the 4th book in Christina Dodd’s Virtue Falls series, and although I haven’t read the first three books, for the most part I had no problem following along. 

Although the premise makes it sound like the book is all about Merida, there’s another main character whose viewpoint also tells the story, Kateri. Both women share a past as well as a few other similarities. Despite the trauma they’ve both suffered from these are strong female characters and I liked both of them. That said, I do think the story would have been better served if it had just focused on one of the women. I grew frustrated at times when a revelation was about to be uncovered about Merida, only to be yanked into Kateri’s story. 

The plot itself focuses more on mystery instead of romance, and it kept me guessing with its many twists and turns. It’s extremely fast-paced and I breezed through it in two sittings.

The Woman Who Couldn’t Scream is really two stories that are connected by a very fine line. It’s a bit disorganized at times, but its fast pace, intriguing mystery, and likable main characters kept me reading. It’s also made me want to go back and read the other books in the series, so that’s a plus. Despite the issues I had with this, I’d recommend it for fans of mystery and suspense with some light romance thrown in.

The Girl Who Was Taken, by Charlie Donlea – 4.5 Stars

Tags

Abduction, Adult Fiction, Mystery, Relationships, Suspense

Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing Corporation for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Release Date: Available Now

320 Pages

Synopsis: Nicole Cutty and Megan McDonald are both high school seniors in the small town of Emerson Bay, North Carolina. When they disappear from a beach party one warm summer night, police launch a massive search. No clues are found, and hope is almost lost until Megan miraculously surfaces after escaping from a bunker deep in the woods.

A year later, the bestselling account her ordeal has turned Megan into from local hero to nation celebrity. It’s a triumphant, inspiring story, except for one inconvenient detail: Nicole is still missing. Nicole’s older sister Livia, a fellow in forensic pathology, expects that one day Nicole’s body will be found, and it will be up to someone like Livia to analyze the evidence and finally determine her sister’s fate. Instead, the first clue to Nicole’s disappearance comes from another body that shows up in Livia’s morgue. that of a young man connected to Nicole’s past. Livia reaches out to Megan for help, hoping to learn more about the night the two were taken. Other girls have gone missing too, and Livia is increasingly certain that the cases are connected.

But Megan knows more than she revealed in her blockbuster book. Flashes of memory are coming together, pointing to something darker and more monstrous than her chilling memoir describes. And the deeper she and Livia dig, the more they realize that sometimes true terror lies in finding exactly what you’ve been looking for.

The Girl Who Was Taken is the first book I’ve read by Charlie Donlea, but I’m certain it won’t be my last! The only reason why I’m not giving this a perfect 5 stars, is because I thought the beginning was a little slow. There’s a lot going on with Megan and Nicole, with switching POVs and timeframes, and it took me a few chapters to get comfortable with the author’s writing style, but once I did I was completely glued to the pages and finished it in two sittings. 

Livia was my favorite character. She’s career driven and also shows a fierce determination to finding out what happened to Nicole. I can’t even imagine working as a forensic pathologist and having the ever present fear in the back of my head that the next dead body that comes in may be my missing sister’s. Yet Livia doesn’t let this effect her job performance, nor does it deter her from trying to find her search. Once Megan returns, and Livia finds what she believes may be the first clue on a body that shows up in the morgue, the two of them work together to uncover the truth of what happened that night. Other girls have also gone missing and while the police don’t see a connection, Livia does. Unfortunately, Megan is suffering from flashbacks and missing time, which further complicates things. 

As the narrative moves back and forth from months before Megan’s and Nicole’s abduction, to the present, in addition to the tension rising, you get to see how two girls who started off as good friends, wound up as enemies, although this was mostly on Nicole’s part. And the odd thing is, that even through these flashbacks, I found Nicole to be an obnoxious, jealous, attention-seeking twit, I was still fully invested in learning what happened to her. 

There were so many twists and turns, that all of my detective work wound up being wrong. There are definitely moments that require a little suspended disbelief, but nothing that’s over the top. I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough because I needed to know what happened. The ending perfectly fits this harrowing tale, and while it leaves some loose threads, I’ve heard rumors there’s to be a sequel so I’m not taking any points off. 

The Girl Who Was Taken, is a well written mystery and suspense story that’s filled with realistic and relatable characters, and will keep you second guessing right up until the end. I cannot recommend it highly enough!

 

Body Parts by Jessica Kapp ~ 4.0 Stars

Tags

Romance, Science Fiction, Suspense, YA Fiction

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

Release Date: Available Now

294 Pages

Synopsis: People would kill for her body.

Raised in an elite foster center off the California coast, sixteen-year-old Tabitha’s been sculpted into a world-class athlete. Her trainers have told her she’ll need to be in top physical condition to be matched with a loving family, even though personal health has taken a backseat outside the training facility. While Tabitha swims laps and shaves seconds off her mile time, hoping to find a permanent home, the rest of the community takes pills produced by pharmaceutical giant PharmPerfect to erase their wrinkles, grow hair, and develop superhuman strength.

When Tabitha’s finally paired, instead of being taken to meet her new parents, she wakes up immobile on a hospital bed. Moments before she’s sliced open, a group of renegade teenagers rescue her, and she learns the real reason for her perfect health: PharmPerfect is using her foster program as a replacement for their pill-addicted clients’ failing organs. And her friends from the center, the only family she’s ever known, are next to be harvested. 

Determined to save them, Tabitha joins forces with her rescuers, led by the moody and mysterious Gavin Styles. As they race to infiltrate the hospital and uncover the rest of PharmPerfect’s secrets though, Tabitha finds herself with more questions than answers. Will trusting the enigmatic group of rebels lead her back to the slaughterhouse?

I was intrigued by the premise of Body Parts because it was reminiscent of Neil Shusterman’s Unwind, which I thoroughly enjoyed. While this wasn’t a perfect read, it was for the most part a fun and enjoyable one.

I really liked Tabitha, although she could be indecisive impulsive, and stubborn at times. Her loyalty to her friends, both old and new is unwavering which I found commendable. Her developing romance with Gavin is sweet and believable. The one thing that bothered though were the multiple secrets they kept from each other, which more than once put their lives and others in danger. There’s also an annoying love triangle involving Tabitha, Gavin, and Parker, who is Tabitha’s friend from the foster center. Thankfully, Parker doesn’t factor in until the last 1/3 of the book.

While not every secondary character is fully developed, several have their own interesting backstories which further flash out the plot. My one othr complaint is once again aimed at how adults are portrayed. Here, except for a couple, they’re either greedy, money grubbing psychopaths who have no problem using and raising children as spare body parts desperate buyers, or he week and ineffectual, too afraid to upset the balance. I don’t know if it’s just me, but I seem to have found an overwhelming amount of YA books where I wind up similar issues regarding the way adults are depicted. Is there a reason why they have to come across as caricatures out of a Lemony Snicket novel? It’s really getting frustrating.

The story itself is interesting and has more than a few surprises, which, when combined with its fast pace, it kept me turning the pages. I thought the ending was a little rushed, and there were a few loose threads that weren’t tied up, but it was still satisfying overall.

Body Parts is a quick read for teen and adult fans who like science fiction and are looking for a YA read that’s a little different. While the romance is G rated, because of the subject matter, I’d recommend this for older teens. As for me, I’m looking forward to future books by Jessica Kapp.

 

 

The Strange Case of the Alchemist’s Daughter (The Athena Club Bk. 1) by, Theodora Goss ~ 4.5 Stars

Tags

Adult Fiction, Adventure, Classic Horror Retellings, Mysteries, Suspense, Victorian Historical Fiction

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

Release Date: Available Now

416 Pages

Synopsis: Mary Jekyll, alone and penniless following her parents’ death, is curious about the secrets of her father’s mysterious past. One clue in particular hints that Edward Hyde, her father’s former friend and a murderer, may be nearby, and there is a reward for information leading to his capture…a reward that would solve all of her immediate financial woes.

But her hunt leads her to Hyde’s daughter, Diana, a feral child left to be raised by nuns. With the assistance of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson, Mary continues her search for the elusive Hyde, and soon befriends more women, all of whom have been created through terrifying experimentation: Beatrice Rappaccini, Catherine Moreau, and Justine Frankenstein. 

When their investigations lead them to the discovery of a secret society of immoral and power-crazed scientists, the horrors of their past returns. Now it is up to the monsters to triumph over the monstrous. 

The Strange Case of the Alchemist’s Daughter is an absolute delight from start to finish for so many reasons. It’s clever, creative, and original, with funny and memorable characters that fans of classic horror will love.

This motley group of young women, or as they call themselves, “monsters”, each take turns contributing to the story that Catherine Moreau is writing, which relates how they meet and the adventure they embark upon. It took me a couple of chapters to get used to the writing, because each character kept interrupting Cat, especially young Diana Hyde who is hysterically incorrigible. While I wound up loving these asides, at the beginning they were a bit distracting. 

The plot itself is so imaginative and Theodora Goss has my deepest admiration for coming up with the idea to bring together the “daughters” of some of classic horror’s most infamous villains to solve a mystery. And not only that, but she gives them all fully developed personalities and backstories without taking away from the central plot. There are even nods to Sherlock Holmes & Watson, and Dracula.

The Strange Case of the Alchemist’s Daughter is truly a monster mash-up of epic proportions, and I cannot recommend it highly enough, particularly to fans of classic horror. I just read that the sequel will be coming out in the summer of 2018, and I can’t wait for the further adventures of the Athena Club!

 

 

 

 

 

A Killer Harvest by Paul Cleave ~ 4.5 Stars

Tags

Adult Fiction, Bullying, Cellular Memory, Medical Thriller, Organ Donation, Serial Killers, Suspense

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

Release Date: Available Now

400 Pages

Synopsis: Joshua is convinced there is a family curse. It’s taken away his biological parents, robbed him of his eyesight, and is the reason why his father Logan, the detective who raised him, is killed while investigating the homicide of a young woman. The suspect, Simon Bowers, is killed by Logan’s partner Ben, whose intentions are murkier than expected. 

After this tragedy, Joshua is handed an opportunity he can’t refuse: a new pair of eyes. But a mishap during surgery leads to Joshua unknowingly getting one eye from his father, and the other from Simon. As Joshua navigates a world of sight, he gets glimpses of what his eyes might have witnessed in their previous life. Memories, truth, and lies Joshua discovers a world darker than the one he has emerged from. What else has he failed to see?

Meanwhile, Simon’s accomplice Vincent, is bent on revenge, going after the loved ones of those involved in Simon’s death, and Vincent is drawing closer and closer to Joshua.

Huh. This was a surprise. I figured I was going to enjoy Killer Harvest after reading so many positive reviews, but I didn’t suspect how much I was going to love it! 

At the heart of this story is the controversial phenomenon of cellular memory. Is it possible for a recipient of an organ donation, to receive the emotions and behaviors from the donor through memories stored in the neurons of the donated organ? It seems like the medical community is divided as of now over this possibility, but there have been cases that make you wonder. There have been plenty of books and movies that have used this theory as part of their premise, but Paul Cleave puts a whole new spin on it.

Joshua is one of the most lovable characters I’ve come across in a while. There are times that it really does seem like some supernatural curse is hanging over his head. He grabbed me by the heartstrings from the very beginning and because of that I was thoroughly invested in the story. He’s sweet, compassionate, and determined to do the right thing. He’s also a bit impulsive, like many teens, and this winds up getting him into trouble. 

There are many secondary characters, and while I didn’t think all of them were necessary to further the plot, there were a few that play a big part in Joshua’s life and I really enjoyed them.

The story itself has more than one theme with organ donation/cellular memory, bullying, and serial killers, among them. This could have been messy and confusing, but the author deftly brings everything together. I was hooked from the very first page, and the surprising twists and mini cliffhangers at the end of each chapter made it impossible for me to put this book down. I started it mid-afternoon and finished about 1:00 in the morning.

The only reason why I’m not giving this a perfect 5 stars is because of the ending. It’s deliberately left open-ended, which I had no problem with, although it’s left me longing for a sequel. However, there were some loose ends concerning a couple of characters that left me a little frustrated.

There are quite a few reviewers on Goodreads who have mentioned that Paul Cleave, who’s from New Zealand, is underappreciated in the U.S. and after reading Killer Harvest, I have to agree. It’s a brilliantly written thriller and a perfect beach and vacation read. I really can’t recommend it highly enough. This was my first book by Cleave, but it certainly won’t be my last!