Books & Wheels

The Last One by Will Dean

The Last One by Will Dean requires oodles of suspension of disbelief but remains a compelling thriller.

Synopsis

Caz and her relatively new boyfriend, Pete, board the exclusive RMS Atlantica ocean liner, excited for their journey to NYC. They spend their first evening enjoying the ship and listening to safety drills. The next morning, Caz wakes up to no sign of Pete and soon realizes she may be the only one on the ship. The other cabins are open and empty, with practically no indication that anyone was ever there.

What happened, and where the heck did everyone go?

Review of The Last One by Will Dean

I thought this thriller would hinge on one of two possibilities, and it turns out one of my guesses was correct. So a point for me.

It’s pretty dark and disturbing, but at the same time, it could have been a lot darker. Caz has a whole backstory of why she wanted to go on the cruise, but I did not find it added anything interesting to the plot.

While this isn’t my favourite thriller, as it’s fairly unrealistic, it is extremely tense and compelling. The writing is quite good. I enjoyed the author’s last book, First Born, making it two for two, so I think I’ll keep reading his books as they release.

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

Expected Publication: 08 August 2023

Thank you to Atria Books for providing an arc via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

For regular reading updates, check out my Goodreads profile.

For past reviews, click here.

Someone You Trust by Rachel Ryan

Someone You Trust is a riveting nanny thriller/domestic suspense from the first page.

Synopsis

Running from her past, Amy becomes a nanny for a wealthy family in a remote location. Amy thinks it is the perfect opportunity to start anew; however, she quickly realizes the husband is not as kind he first presented. On top of that, they have a reclusive teenage son whom they never mentioned. Also, someone keeps drawing threatening graffiti in the tiny village.

Review of Someone You Trust

This domestic suspense is a quick read and follows Amy’s pov in the past and present.

I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this book. I didn’t know what to expect going in. It’s likely I never would have picked this up had I not received it in the mail. It was compelling from the first page. I liked the deliberate way everything unfolded, finding out the details of Amy’s past and why she ran. Some parts may be a little OTT for some readers, but I found engaging overall. I liked Amy’s character. Except for a few unwise decisions, she was easy to root for.

I will definitely read future books by this author. If you enjoy nanny thrillers, you’ll probably enjoy this one too.

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Expected Publication: 01 August 2023

Thank you to Simon & Schuster Canada for providing a physical arc in exchange for an honest review.

For regular reading updates, check out my Goodreads profile.

For past reviews, click here.

Strange Sally Diamond by Liz Nugent

Strange Sally Diamond has similar vibes to Eleanor Oliphant and The Maid but is much darker.

Synopsis

The book opens with Sally Diamond and her adoptive father laughing about putting him out with the trash when he dies. Sally thinks the joke is that her father says she’ll be crying her eyes out, but she never cries, so har har.

When he dies, Sally, dry-eyed, takes his body out to the barn and puts him in the incinerator, as they do with all the garbage. She doesn’t understand what she did wrong. She was only following her father’s directions.

Soon Sally is in the spotlight, and revelation after revelation comes out about her childhood before her adoption.

Review of Strange Sally Diamond

This thriller is a fast read and is hard to put down.

I’m slightly surprised that it kept me glued to the pages since I’ve tried to read one of the author’s past releases and could not get into it. This one was engaging from the beginning to the end. Some plot lines were predictable, while others were unexpected.

This is definitely one of the standout thrillers I’ve read so far this year. It is dark and disturbing, but it also incorporates lightness and humour.

It is sad to think that the experiences in this book are not isolated and that this has happened and probably still does. While I liked the book and storyline, there’s just something that niggles at me about reading a thriller loosely based on real-life situations and trauma for entertainment, ya know? I think the author handles the subject matter well enough, but it could have easily turned gratuitous. I still felt a little icky reading it at times. I’m lowering my rating by half a star because of this.

But I was completely wrapped up in the story, so there’s that.

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

Expected Publication: 18 July 2023

Thank you to Simon and Schuster Canada for providing an arc via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

For regular reading updates, check out my Goodreads profile.

For past reviews, click here.

Excavations by Hannah Michell

Excavations by Hannah Michell examines the cost of greed and how well you really know someone.

Synopsis

In Seoul, Korea, Sae waits with her two toddlers for her husband Jae to return from work. He’s never usually this late, so she starts to worry. She turns on the news and sees the rubble of a tragic accident: the skyscraper where Jae works has collapsed.

The rest of the story follows Sae in the days and weeks after the accident as she investigates what went wrong. Jae told Sae he was installing a pool on the tower’s roof. So why do reports indicate he was in the basement working on a different project?

Review of Excavations by Hannah Michell

This book follows two seemingly unrelated POVs that eventually intersect with each other. It tells a tale of political and economic greed and corruption.

It also looks at motherhood in a way that is probably not often discussed.

While this story unfolds in an intriguing way with a shocker reveal, it is a slow burn, and the writing style keeps the reader at a distance. The writing style slightly dampened the emotional impact, although it was probably a deliberate choice.

Still, I’d say this is worth a read.

CW: SA.

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

Expected Publication: 11 July 2023

Thank you to Random House for providing an arc via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

For regular reading updates, check out my Goodreads profile.

For past reviews, click here.

A Grandmother Begins the Story by Michelle Porter

A Grandmother Begins the Story follows five generations of Métis women managing their traumas and trying to heal from them.

Synopsis

Carter, a young mother, wants to reconnect with her heritage. Allie wants to get to know her daughter and protect her from her own mother. Lucie tries to get her granddaughter, whom she’s never met, to help her die. Geneviève wants to overcome her alcoholism before it’s too late. And Mamé is in the Afterlife torn between ensuring her descendants are okay and letting them go.

There are also some ancient canine and bison perspectives, which are equally compelling and heart-wrenching.

Review of A Grandmother Begins the Story

The characters are so well-crafted that it is not difficult to keep track of them, even though there are many. Each character’s chapter was as riveting as the next. If I had to choose my favourite POVs, they would be Carter, Dee, and Geneviève. The characters feel fully realized as if they could walk off the page and start a chat with you.

A Grandmother Begins the Story by Michelle Porter

The chapters are more like vignettes, from half a page to several pages.

Themes include colonialism, generational trauma, grief, life, death, and family.

This novel is beautifully written and entirely captivating. I could have read an additional three-hundred pages of it. It is emotional and moving but also ripe with Native humour.

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Now Available.

Thank you to Penguin Random House Canada for sending a finished copy to review.

For regular reading updates, check out my Goodreads profile.

For past reviews, click here.

The Curse of Saints by Kate Dramis

The Curse of Saints uses a lot of familiar and well-loved tropes, but overall is missing something to make it stand out from other books in the genre.

Synopsis

Aya is Spymaster to the Queen, making up one-third of her inner circle. She has sworn an oath to protect those she fights alongside, including her rival Will, the Queen’s Enforcer. When Aya’s powers spin out of her control and whispers of dark magic arise in a nearby kingdom, the Queen sends Aya and Will to investigate.

Review of The Curse of Saints

This enemies-to-lovers fantasy romance follows three POVs. It’s a longer book, nearly 500 pages, but it is a fast read for the most part. The pacing slows down in the middle.

The book opens with Aya throwing her slight weight around, so it initially seemed like she would be the usual tiny but fierce FMC. However, the reader soon learns that Aya is more apt to process information and respond accordingly.

The other characters weren’t as fleshed out as I was expecting. They felt one-dimensional.

The romance wasn’t that great for me, either. I found Aya and Will had more chemistry and tension when they hated each other compared to what came later. It was a little flat.

Fortunately, the romance did not overpower the plot, which had some good world-building and an intriguing magic system.

I think I read this too soon after reading the Crown of Nyaxia books, so it’s difficult not to compare the two. Both books utilize enemies to lovers, and both FMCs have similar powers. If you don’t mind this, then you may love this book.

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️.5

Expected Publication: 11 July 2023

Thank you to Sourcebooks Casablanca for providing an arc via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

For regular reading updates, check out my Goodreads profile.

For past reviews, click here.

My Men by Victoria Kielland

My Men by Victoria Kielland is translated from the Norwegian and is based on the true story of a female serial killer named Brynhild Gunness.

Synopsis

In 1876, seventeen-year-old Brynhild fell in love with a wealthy older man. When Brynhild learns how cruel and abusive he is, she moves to America to join her sister as a maid. There, she changes her name to Bella (later Belle) and eventually falls in love again.

But life is far from easy for Bella. One day she’s in a happy marriage, and the next, she’s plotting how to lure men to their death.

Review of My Men by Victoria Kielland

The writing style is unusual, slightly disjointed and very literary leaning. The writing is a little hazy towards the end. Most of the book has a melancholic feel to it.

While reading this, I wondered if the plot would even get to the killings or if it would end just as she begins. It eventually got there, just not until the last 20% of the book. Since the book is fairly short, it didn’t take up very many pages.

I liked how the author handled Belle’s character. In the beginning, Belle is clearly very young and naive, and her character changes as she experiences hardships. But there are no distinct personality changes between serial killer Belle and pre-serial killer Belle. She’s the same woman, except now she’s killing men one at a time while looking after her family.

I’m not big on true crime, but this fictional account based on a true story seemed intriguing, and I don’t regret reading it.

I’d recommend this if you enjoy dark, translated literary fiction.

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Expected Publication: 27 June 2023

Thank you to Astra House for providing an arc via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

For regular reading updates, check out my Goodreads profile.

For past reviews, click here.

Zero Days by Ruth Ware

Zero Days by Ruth Ware is a middle-of-the-road thriller, but it won’t be a memorable read for me.

Synopsis

Jack and her husband Gabe test company security systems by breaking into them. Jack handles the physical breaking-in while Gabe hacks the digital end.

After completing a job, Jack heads home to find Gabe brutally murdered. In no time at all, Jack becomes a person of interest. But Jack is innocent and decides to evade arrest.

Review of Zero Days by Ruth Ware

This thriller starts out a bit slow but eventually picks up the pace. It’s told entirely from Jack’s perspective.

Initially, I wasn’t a big fan of Jack. She makes some truly ill-advised decisions, like running from authorities while being interviewed at the police station. And the flirty banter between her and her husband was cringeworthy, even though I’m aware it was supposed to demonstrate their love for each other. But she eventually grew on me with her persistence to find the truth.

The murder reveal was predictable, but I still felt compelled to keep reading.

I’ve enjoyed previous books by the author, but this one felt average. I’ll still definitely read future books.

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Expected Publication: 20 June 2023

Thank you to Gallery/Scout Press for providing an arc via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

For regular reading updates, check out my Goodreads profile.

For past reviews, click here.

Morgan is My Name by Sophie Keetch

Morgan is My Name is a beautifully written feminist retelling of the villainess Morgan le Fay.

Synopsis

Until her father’s death, Morgan had a happy childhood. Morgan’s hatred for her father’s killer, King Uther Pendragon, ignites when he tricks her mother into marrying him. Morgan’s parents allowed and encouraged her to pursue her education. But the king strictly forbids it, only allowing her to pray.

However, with the help of her father’s priest, she continues her education in secret. As she grows up, she falls in love and learns she possesses special powers. Powers that might cast her as a witch in the eyes of men. Powers that might rival Merlin, the king’s sorcerer.

Review of Morgan is My Name

I know next to nothing about Arthurian Legend, but when I saw that this was being touted as a feminist retelling from the villainess’s pov, I snatched it up immediately.

And I’m glad I did because the writing is beautiful and captured my attention immediately. It is a slowly-paced character-driven novel. Morgan’s voice seamlessly transitions from that of a child to a young woman. We see Morgan’s hatred for the king and the constraints of her time spill over.

The ending has me itching for more Morgan. After some Googling, it seems like Morgan’s story is just getting started, and this is the beginning of a trilogy.

If you like retellings, I’d highly recommend giving this a go.

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

Expected Publication: 13 June 2023

Thank you to Random House Canada for providing an arc via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

For regular reading updates, check out my Goodreads profile.

For past reviews, click here.

Have You Seen Her by Catherine McKenzie

Have You Seen Her follows a woman on the run from her past set against the backdrop of Yosemite National Park.

Synopsis

Cassie is running from her old life in New York City, equipped with a burner phone and a new job at Yosemite National Park. After ten years, she’s rejoining the Search and Rescue team. She becomes friendly with a group of seasonal workers and summer vacationers. But Cassie is not the only one running from her past. And the past will eventually catch up with them.

Review of Have You Seen Her

This atmospheric thriller has two timelines. It includes a mix of Cassie’s pov along with journal entries, Instagram posts, and YouTube transcripts.

This thriller is nicely paced, with compelling characters set against the vivid landscape of Yosemite. I’ve never been to Yosemite, but the author made me feel like I was there.

I was invested in this story right from the beginning. But the ending slightly fell apart for me. The final reveal was a bit of a letdown.

But other than that, I think this would be a great book to add to your summer tbr.

My Rating: 3.5/5

Expected Publication: 27 June 2023

Thank you to Atria Books for providing an arc via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

For regular reading updates, check out my Goodreads profile.

For past reviews, click here.