Category Archives: Gallery Books

Review: When She Was Gone by Gwendolen Gross

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  • Paperback: 304 pages
  • Publisher: Gallery Books; Original edition (March 19, 2013)
  • ISBN-10: 1451684746
  • Source: Publisher

Linsey Hart is supposed to head to Cornell, embarking upon her new life in college, in a week. When she goes missing her mother, Abigail, is obviously frantic, calling on her neighbors for help. No one seems quite as concerned as Abigail about Linsey’s disappearance; she’s a typical teen, forced to break up with her boyfriend so she can start anew. As a matter of fact, her neighbors seem more concerned with their own personal issues to become to invested in hunting for Linsey.

Mr. Leonard, the Hart’s next-door neighbor and former piano teacher, is dying from cancer he refuses to treat. Suffering from insomnia, he’s often seen playing his piano wearing his deceased mother’s ballgown. He is the last to see Linsey before she disappears, watching her leave her house early one morning before dawn. Reeva leads the clique of mothers. Rather than being concerned about Linsey’s disappearance she’s more concerned with her latest obsession: a young (young!) barista she’s with whom she’s having an affair. Then there is Timmy, Linsey’s heartbroken ex-boyfriend and George, an eleven-year old whom Timmy calls upon to help him locate Linsey.

A huge cast of characters, many of which having nothing to do, or have concern about, Linsey’s disappearance. While I understand the author’s intent, to show how a small community seemingly unravels after the disappearance of a young girl, the story really didn’t connect with me. So many characters, most of which lacked depth and I honestly had no connection with. Even Linsey, the “victim” in this novel, generated zero sympathy from this reader. Perhaps if each of the characters were more developed, even if that meant an increase in page count, I could have become more invested in this novel. Unfortunately, that was the case and I honestly felt little attraction to this book. As a fan of the author’s previous book I kept holding out, hoping something would spark my interest and pull me into this novel. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen and I was left feeling completely empty upon reading this book.

Perhaps I have high expectations, demanding more from the characters I read about? Reading this novel after a truly exceptional one, perhaps my standards were set too high? Perhaps this just wasn’t the novel for me? I do implore you to make your own judgement on this novel, read it yourself before judging solely on my opinion.

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Review: Three Graves Full by Jamie Mason

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  • Hardcover: 320 pages
  • Publisher: Gallery Books (February 12, 2013)
  • ISBN-10: 1451685033
  • Source: Publisher

Over a year ago, Jason Getty killed a man, burying his body in his own back yard.Jason spends every waking moment thinking about the body and its potential discovery. Just as he gets close to accepting his crime will go undetected, the police uncover two bodies buried on his property, neither of which is the body Jason buried.  Jason is desperate to keep the police from discovering the body.  His attempts to lay low are thwarted when the wife of one of the victims begins to snoop around the property. Add Detective Tim Bayard, a small town detective who can’t get rid of his suspicious feelings about Jason’s involvement and Jason has his work cut out for him.

Three Graves Full is a novel full of potential. Interesting and engaging storyline, intense plot and eloquently written prose. Unfortunately, all this vast potential was left unmet. It is clear in Mason’s writing that she is a truly talented writer. Unfortunately, the cookie-cutter characters and uneven and inconsistent writing left this reader craving for more.

I’m a fan of incredibly descriptive prose…when appropriate. In reading Three Graves Full there were scenes in which I thought the writing to be a bit too descriptive and others where it wasn’t descriptive enough.

Additionally, I found it difficult to connect with any of the characters. The point of view alternated between each of the main characters, providing the opportunity to develop each individual. Jason’s character was created to generate sympathy from the reader, yet I couldn’t care less as to what happened to him. Unfortunately, the only character I found a connection with was the incredibly intuitive dog belonging to the small town detective.

Bottom line: While this novel wasn’t a winner for me, the fact that Mason’s writing is so strong lends me to believe that subsequent novels will have marked signs of improvement. My feelings about this title won’t prevent me from reading Mason’s future works. If you are looking for a psychological thriller with a tinge of dark humor, this is the title for you.

 

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Review: Ghost Town by Jason Hawes, Grant Wilson & Tim Waggoner

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Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: Gallery Books (October 9, 2012)
ISBN-10: 1451613822
Source:  Publisher

Ghost trackers Amber, Drew, and Trevor travel to Exeter, the “most haunted town in America” to present at a convention as part of Exeter’s “Dead Days” celebration. Exeter is a town known for supernatural events; decades ago a horrible flood ravaged the small town, causing numerous deaths and left a path of devastation. Sightings of spirits is common in Exeter the Dark Lady, a woman adorning a black dress is the most often spotted ghost. However, as the Dead Days celebration nears, the spiritual activity has increased dramatically, starting with the brutal death of a bookseller, literally pummeled to death by the books that adorn the shelves of a supernatural bookstore.

Amber, Drew, Trevor must track down the source of the string of killings and put an end to it before more lives are lost. When the Dark Lady makes an appearance and takes control of Mitch, Amber’s abusive ex-boyfriend, the entire investigation becomes a little more personal. Aided by the most unlikely of allies-the spirit of a former team member- the Ghost Tracker team must once again rally together to put an end to the deadly supernatural activity.

The second book in the Ghost Tracker series, Ghost Town is the perfect Halloween read for someone wanting a chilling read, but nothing too terrifying. Although it is the second book in a series, there is sufficient back story to familiarize the readers with the character and their past. Younger fans of SyFy’s Ghost Hunters series will enjoy the paranormal investigations the team embarks upon.

New to the series? The lucky winner of this week’s Murder, Monsters & Mayhem series will win both books in the series, both Ghost Trackers and Ghost Town!  All you have to do is link up a horror/thriller post in the link-up that will go life on Friday.

 

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Review: The Meryl Streep Movie Club by Mia March

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  • Paperback: 352 pages
  • Publisher: Gallery Books; Original edition (June 19, 2012)
  • ISBN-10: 145165539
  • Source: Publisher (for She Reads)

After their parents died in a car accident, June and Isabel moved into their Aunt Lolly’s inn on the Maine Coast, joining Lolly’s daughter Kat. This new living situation was a challenge for all of them especially Kat, who also lost her father in the deadly car accident. The three girls didn’t necessarily grow up with the strongest relationship but decades later, when Lolly requests that each of the girls return home to the inn, they each know the news must be major.

Each of the women have dramatically different lives. Isabel’s marriage is falling apart. She met her husband when she was a young girl, marrying young as well. They made a pact to have to children, a pact that she wishes she never made. June’s seven-year-old son, Charlie, is desperate to know more about the father he has never met, the father that walked out of June’s life before she had the chance to tell him about Charlie. She promises Charlie that she’ll find his father, a promise she has difficulty keeping. Kat still lives with her mother at the inn, serving as the local baker for the inn & the neighboring businesses.  She’s been best friends with Oliver since they were six; now she’s been asked to raise their relationship to a whole new, more permanent, status.  Finally, Lolly has always been the strong, perhaps cold, matriarch of the family. Her one soft spot: Meryl Streep movies.

When Lolly deals out bad news, news that will forever affect the lives of the three young women, they are forced to put aside their differences and do what is best for the family as a whole.  While they never really visited much over the years, the news has bonded them, the Friday night Meryl Streep movie nights providing them an outlet to share their inner thoughts and feelings. The discussions they have over movies like Kramer vs. Kramer, Mama Mia,  and The Devil Wears Prada allow them to find hope and a new direction and life.

While I did have a difficult time keeping track of all the characters at the beginning, within a few chapters I was able to differentiate them, with the help of a character map I created. Also, while I didn’t necessarily bond with any of the individual characters, they each taught me a important lesson: the value of family and understanding one’s own wants and desires.

The Meryl Streep Movie Club would make a perfect book/movie club selection for there is a wealth of subject matter to be discussed. The book includes an extremely resourceful book club guide at the end of the book to aid in/inspire discussion.

All in all, The Meryl Streep Movie Club was an incredibly heart-felt, rewarding read. It’s certainly a book that will give you a good cry, but like family, don’t we all need that every once in a while? Recommended.

Read an excerpt here.

If you have read this book, be sure to check out and participate in the She Reads September Book Club Discussion!

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Review: Freak by Jennifer Hillier

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  • Hardcover: 352 pages
  • Publisher: Gallery Books (August 7, 2012)
  • ISBN-10: 1451664540
  • Source: Publisher

Abby Maddox is a celebrity in the maximum security prison in which she’s been held since her release. Her claim to fame? Her boyfriend was Ethan Wolfe, a serial killer who brutally murdered over a dozen women. Abby’s serving a twenty-two year sentence for the brutal attack on Jerry Issac, a Seattle police officer, now private investigator. Jerry will never forget the attack for a brutal scar now marks his neck, forever altering his voice.  This scar, a constant reminder, causes him physical pain and irritation whenever he thinks of Abby.

Also barely surviving the killing rampage is Puget Sound State professor Sheila Tao, a woman who succumbed to Ethan’s charm, allowing him to seduce her. Her life was spared…barely.

Abby now spends her time reading the dozens of fan letters.  A new wave of killings may spare Abby from fulfilling her entire sentence. The killer left a message carved into each of his victims: Free Abby Maddox. Jerry, although no longer formally a part of the police department any longer, reluctantly agrees to join the investigation. He and Sheila Tao know Abby better than anyone…or so they think. They must put their fears and hatred for Abby behind them in order to put an end to the killing spree. It’s a Catch-22; allowing Abby to get one step closer to freedom in order to stop the killer at large.

Freak is rich with incredibly detailed and developed characters, individuals fans of Hillier’s previous book, Creep have grown to admire or, as in some cases, despise. While many sophomore books often fail at grabbing the reader’s attention, Freak instead actually expands upon, enhancing the bond readers have with the main characters. A year has passed since the incredibly devastating killing spree of Ethan Wolfe and Jerry and Sheila are still recovering from the after effects of Ethan’s horror-filled rampage. They have both experienced a great deal of healing and recover but still have far to go.

Filled with action from page one, Freak is an adrenaline-inducing, heart-pounding delight of a read.  Hillier’s writing is intense, her knowledge of police and legal procedures spot-on, lending to the overall believability and addictiveness of this novel.

One can’t help but see parallels between Hillier’s Abby Maddox and Chelsea Cain’s Gretchen Lowell, but the differences are vast enough that the reader can see marked differences in the writing of these two incredibly talented writers. Hillier’s writing isn’t as graphic or morbid as Cains, thereby making it a suitable starting point for someone wanting to take the leap into psychological thrillers.

This reader personally cannot wait for more from this author, a woman who has successfully made a name for herself in the world of thriller fiction. Highly recommended.

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Review: This Dark Earth by John Hornor Jacobs

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  • Paperback: 352 pages
  • Publisher: Gallery Books; Original edition (July 3, 2012)
  • ISBN-10: 1451666667
  • Source: Publisher

Dr. Lucy Ingersol first notices something is amiss when people walk into her hospital with strange symptoms, including seizures and Tourette-like verbal outbursts. The number of victims with these symptoms dramatically increases within a matter of minutes. Lucy, worried about her son and husband at home opts to leave the hospital after it is overrun with the infected.

As this plague continues to spread, Lucy notices another symptom: the recently dead rise, now crazed flesh-eating monsters. To make matters worse, the government responds by dropping bombs that send out waves of electromagnetic pulses that wipe out all electronics, including vehicles and spreading radiation.  On her attempts to reach her home, she is picked up by Jim “Knock-Out” Nickerson, a big teddy bear of a truck driver. It doesn’t take long them to see the devastation surrounding them. After barely surviving a number of attacks, they reach Lucy’s home and find her ten-year-old son, Gus.  The trio embark on a mission to seek a safer ground.

Fast forward three years and the trio now lives in Bridge City, potentially one of the few remaining human civilizations.  Lucy and Knock-out have gained power in this motley crew of survivor, grooming Gus to become a future leader. Bridge City is a pretty impressive fortress using ingenious means to keep the zombies out, all at the hands of Gus, now a war-hardened young man. Their safety is threatened when they learn of a group of slavers heading that way to take over their civilization. Gus is their only salvation. He must now use the knowledge imparted upon him by his mother and Knock-out to stand up against a completely new form of enemy: the living.

I know I seem to say this a lot lately, but this novel puts a completely unique spin on the typical zombie novel. Yes, the flesh-eating buggers play a pretty key role in this novel but ultimately the real story is that of the survivors. The novel starts out like many other zombie novels but the similarities stop there. Instead, Jacobs uses this novel to reflect and report upon the human condition, how we as individuals with a conscious and morals and laws react when our world is completely turned on end, or in this case, pretty much burned to a crisp.

It is easy for the reader to identify with the main characters as they start of as completely typical, unremarkable individuals. That changes when their lives are put at risk, forced into completely unimaginable situations.  This is a novel that makes one think, a completely rewarding cerebral experience. Highly recommended.

Note: violence, sex, violence of a sexual nature. Not for the weak of heart.

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Review: The Reckoning by Alma Katsu

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  • Hardcover: 352 pages
  • Publisher: Gallery Books (June 19, 2012)
  • ISBN-10: 1451651805
  • Source: Author

It’s been two hundred years since Lanore entombed the horribly wicked Adair behind a wall of stone and brick. She now lives in London with her new lover, Luke Findlay. In an attempt to atone for her past sins she is giving away the treasures she has accumulated over the years. Despite the horrible brutality Adair used to show his love for Lanore, she still feels guilty for entombing him. Additionally, just months before she was forced…urged by Jonathan, a man who she had loved with all her heart, to end his suffering.

Meanwhile, the massive home in which she and Adair resided, the place in which he gave her eternal life, is being demolished. This destruction frees Adair from his tomb and he has only one thing on his mind: find Lanore.

Lanore notices instantly that Adair is free; she senses a tingling in her body she cannot explain. Despite being an ocean away, she instantly feels fear for what Adair may do to her when he does find her. Unwilling to allow Luke to risk his life and the lives of his daughter, she flees. She locates friends from her past, other immortals, to assist her. Fans of The Taker will recognize many of these characters. Knowing that Adair has just as many individuals willing to assist him, yet not realizing that those she chooses to trust are working for the very man from which she runs. Understanding there is no point of attempting to evade Adair she instead decides to build up the strength, both mentally and physically, to confront him.

Meanwhile, Adair is forced to adjust to the changes in technology (and attire) that have transpired over the past two centuries. He uses this technology to track down his spell books, willing to do whatever it takes to get Lanore back. He performs a spell that brings back from the dead someone so near and dear to Lanore’s heart that she cannot resist the temptation to find him.

In The Taker, we learn of the sick and sadistic relationship Adair has with Lanore. At first, she was drawn to his power but soon learned of his plans to switch souls with Jonathan. It was then that Lanore decided to end Adair’s reign. In The Reckoning, Katsu very eloquently reveals a great deal of Adair’s past, how he became immortal, how he achieved his level of power.  Never a fan of Adair myself, I still found it quite interesting to learn about his history and how he became the horribly vile creature he is now. Additionally, we see a lighter, kinder (though not by much) side of Adair. Despite this, I still hold a great deal of hatred for his character, though this new information lessens my feelings of hate a bit.

Bottom line, The Reckoning is a tremendous follow up to The Taker and serves the role a second book in a trilogy should: fill the reader in with more information on the history of the characters. Additionally, the ending paves a clear path to the third book in this trilogy, and a hopeful ending at that! My favorite part of this trilogy, what I think is the biggest selling point,  is the skillful way the author portrays the concept of immortality metaphysically, magically, without the need for supernatural characters.

Ultimately, The Reckoning is a novel about redemption, betrayal and, for you romantics out there the power of love. This is a trilogy you cannot afford to miss out on! Highly, highly recommended.

Note: I do feel it is important to be transparent about my relationship with Alma. I do consider her a dear friend; we’ve shared meals together and I have very willingly provided advice and pointers to her along the way. I was beyond ecstatic to find myself mentioned in the acknowledgements. All this said, my friendship with Alma in no way influenced this review or my feelings about this book.

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Review: The Possibility of You by Pamela Redmond

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  • Paperback: 384 pages
  • Publisher: Gallery Books; Original edition (February 21, 2012)
  • ISBN-10: 1451616422
  • Source: Publisher

Three women from three different worlds. Each are forced to make a personal decision that influence subsequent generations.

Bridget (1916)-A nanny for a young boy. She’s more of a mother to him that the woman who birthed him. When he is torn from their arms, she is forced to relive his passing, day after day. She loses part of herself the day he dies and becomes forever connected to the woman she worked for.

Billie (1976)-After her father passes away, she discovers a part of her family, and a deep dark secret,  she’d never realized existed.

Cait (present day)-Adopted, she never really wanted/needed more from her parents. Yet, she always finds herself running…from life, but mostly from herself. She decides to track down the mother she gave away, in hopes that this discovery will help her make the decision about keeping her own unborn child.

Each of these three women have one thing in common: they have become unexpectedly pregnant. As they search for a decision about the fate of their unborn child’s life, they also search for their own personal identity, a sense of belonging. Their decisions tear apart families and friendships, but in doing so forge new, more stable relationships.

Set in New York, important movements in the history of women’s rights in the background, The Possibility of You, is at the core more than simply a novel about the lives of three women, forever changed by potential motherhood. It also deals with a whole host of other topics and issues, including racism, family, and an incredibly timely topic: the right to have access to birth control/family planning. It is a truly endearing, yet complex, tale with incredibly rich and sympathetic characters. We learn a great deal about each of these women, ultimately rewarded by learning how they are each connected in the end. This is a book that will be savored by women of all ages, talked about at book clubs, and at the dinner table at night. It is a book that I can see hitting the big screen; I found myself planning the casting in my head as I read along. An emotionally charged, completely addictive book I recommend wholeheartedly.

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Review: The Midwife of Venice by Roberta Rich

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  • Paperback: 352 pages
  • Publisher: Gallery Books (February 14, 2012)
  • ISBN-10: 1451657471
  • Source: Publisher

Hannah Levi is known throughout the Jewish ghetto of Venice as a midwife that can coax the most reluctant babies out of the wombs of their mothers. The tools of her trade are “birthing spoons” that she designed herself. One evening, she is approached by a count, begging her to assist his wife who has been laboring for hours. Jews are forbidden from performing medical treatments on Christians, but Hannah, desperate to be able to pay the ransom for her husband, agrees to assist.

When she arrives, she doesn’t receive a warm welcome from many of the members of the Countess’ family. To them, she is equivalent to a witch performing magic. The Count,  desperate to have an heir, is willing to put the life of his child before that of his wife. The choice Hannah makes puts not only her life at risk, but the lives of the Countess’ baby and that of her husband.

Set in 16th century Venice, The Midwife of Venice is lush with rich historical detail. The reader not only gets a glimpse inside the social and religious customs of the time but also a unique look a the history of midwifery.  Additionally, Rich creates a vivid character in Hannah Levi, a heroine that any reader would root for. The chapters alternate between the points of view of Hannah in Venice and her husband, a prisoner in Malta. As Hannah battles to travel to Malta to save her husband, he has assumed she has died due to the plague and attempts to start a new life in her absence.  The journey Hannah embarks upon to rescue her husband adds a level of suspense to the story, something I truly enjoyed. I couldn’t read the book fast enough, I found myself putting my own “real life” on hold so I could find out what happened to Hannah. Yet when it ended, I ached for more, not because I don’t think the author concluded the story adequately, but because I didn’t want to part with the characters I’d grown to love.

Rich reinvigorates my love of historical fiction. Rich historical detail, a little bit of suspense, how can one resist? Highly recommended.

Check back tomorrow for a guest post from Roberta Rich (and a giveaway)!  Until then, please take a look at this clip of Rich discussing how she fell in love with Venice:

 

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Review: Creep by Jennifer Hillier

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  • Hardcover:368 pages
  • Publisher:Gallery; Original edition (July 5, 2011)
  • Language:English
  • ISBN-10: 1451625847

Dr. Sheila Tao is a psychology professor, an expert in human behavior. She also has a pretty difficult past, suffering from sex addiction.  She’s dating a wonderful man, Morris, abstaining from sex until they marry.  Morris is completely ignorant of Sheila’s illness and of her past. When her father passes away, Sheila reverts to her old behavior and begins to have an affair with her teaching assistant, Ethan Wolfe. She knew this relationship would be dangerous, perhaps not realizing the severity.

When Morris proposes, Sheila puts an end to her relationship with Ethan. The affair wasn’t a long one, just three months, but Ethan can’t seem to let go.  He threatens Sheila with a sex video, evidence of their relationship that would end her professional career as well as her relationship wtih Morris.  But this is just the tip of the iceberg for Ethan.  If he can’t have Sheila, no one can…

One can’t help think of the lyrics to Radiohead’s Creep while reading this book, specifically the following lines:

I don’t care if it hurts
I want to have control…
I want you to notice when I’m not around

By far, Creep truly lives up to its title. The terror Sheila experiences really makes me glad I’m not a part of the dating scene!  Hillier does a tremendous job of portraying Ethan as a monster, his sociopathic behavior latent until he is angered. All of the main characters are so well-defined, it’s not hard not to connect with them, viewing them as “real” people. Despite Sheila’s faults, I was rooting for her through the entire book.

Several times while reading, I actually started yelling at Sheila’s character, much like I do when watching horror movies (“Don’t run up the stairs you idiot, run outside!” or “No, no, don’t go in there!”). The pacing is fast; I literally blew through the first few hundred pages in one sitting. It’s darkly delicious in a way not many thrillers are lately; I had goosebumps nearly the entire time I was reading it.  You don’t want to stop reading it, but in order to do so you must turn on all the lights and lock all the doors.

The ending was left open, leaving the possibility but not a promise of a sequel. In any case, it was a perfect end to such a completely terrifying book! I’ve done nothing but talk about this book to book-loving friends of mine; so many are intrigued I have a line assembling full of people who want dibs on my copy!

Jennifer Hillier is an author to watch, Creep is a tremendous debut thriller ; I can’t wait to see what she comes up with next. Highly, highly recommended!

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