Review: The Project

The Project by Courtney Summers
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I requested a copy of this book through Netgalley for a few reasons. First, I had heard some very positive things about one of Courtney Summers’ earlier books, Sadie. Second, the blurb indicated that the book involved a cult, which intrigues me. We live in a time where people seem to be more likely to be extreme in their views, and even political leanings have shifted into an almost cult-like following, so the topic of the book felt fitting to me with the current culture/climate. Lastly, I love a good mystery thriller where the main character is a reporter, digging up the dirty and juicy details.

The book didn’t thrill me but didn’t disappoint me much either. I felt like some sections of the plot were a little dragged out, but not too many, as most of the book actually moved at an excellent pace. It was fast enough to keep you interested, but had enough backstory and detail to flesh out the story in your mind. One plot device used had a nice surprise reveal - the author didn’t go the expected route, but made you think she was. I really liked that she got that one over on me.

One thing that I really loved about this book was the depth of pretty much all of the major players. Lo was a strong, independent and ambitious young woman, but we also saw her vulnerabilities and weaknesses in a powerful way. Lev’s history and ability to charm were developed perfectly, leaving the reader to wonder if his patience and loving behavior were a facade or his true nature. Bea’s need to believe in something bigger, her latching on to a spot of light in her time of darkness, and her innate drive to connect with others is superbly written. Lev’s right hand Casey, Unity Project members Foster and Emmy, Lo’s boss Paul, Unity Project member Jeremy’s father Arthur - all are fleshed out and we’re allowed to see what pushes them forward, what has broken them, and glimpses into their inner selves. Honestly, I’d say this author’s best skill is her ability to write characters extremely well.

This is marked as a young adult novel, but while it wasn’t super gritty, it got pretty dark at times. It didn’t read as a young adult novel, at least to me. So please don’t let that genre tag stop you from giving the book a chance.

Overall, I’d say it’s a little more than three and a half stars, but a little less than four, so I’ll round up to four. I enjoyed this book enough that I’ll definitely be going back and picking up some of the author’s other books, including Sadie.

I’d also like to thank Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

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Review: The Sanatorium

The Sanatorium by Sarah Pearse
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

During the late 1800s and early 1900s, the medical community opened a new type of institution: the sanatorium. Designed to be a place where tuberculosis patients could receive treatment for their illness, these care facilities were usually built in high altitude locations in order to provide the freshest of air, as at the time, that cold and fresh air was believed to be the best treatment for diseases of the lung. They offered nutrition, sunlight, peaceful rest, and cool, crisp mountain air as the ideal course to help patients heal. Having a beautiful and cold mountain region that fit these criteria perfect, Switzerland was home to many of these sanatoriums. This was, of course, before the discovery of antibiotics, which provided an actual cure for tuberculosis and other diseases. After this breakthrough, these places either shut down or were repurposed for other uses. Unfortunately, sometimes these places also have sordid histories…

Sarah Pearse’s debut novel takes one of these treatment facilities and gives it new life. Architects Lucas Caron and Daniel Lemaitre took an old sanatorium and turned it into a hotel, redesigning this place of illness and suffering into a top of the line luxury resort, tucked deep into the mountains of Switzerland. Main character Elin Warner and her boyfriend Will are headed there to celebrate the engagement of her brother Isaac to their childhood friend, Laure. Alas, someone has other plans for the hotel guests and as winter storms cut them off from the rest of the world, a murderer’s plot unfolds. What the killer doesn’t know is that, even though she’s on leave, Elin just so happens to be a detective, and she’s thrust into a thrilling hunt for a clever killer.

I love a good mystery thriller, especially one set in a locale that’s cut off from the rest of the world, where one (or a few) characters have to use the limited resources they have to solve the case. This book reminded me of some of my favorite stories, with elements reminiscent of The Shining, one of my absolute favorite horror novels and also set in a snow-isolated hotel with a sordid history; of Agatha Christie, a Master of mystery and the Queen of devious plotting with a limited cast of suspects; of the masterpiece PlayStation 4 game “Until Dawn,” in which a group of friends go to a remote cabin lodge that just so happens to have creepy mines and an abandoned sanatorium nearby - and of course, a fantastic, deliciously horrifying storyline.

The Sanatorium was a superbly written amalgam of the aspects I loved best about these stories, minus the paranormal, of course. It’s hard to believe that this is Pearse’s debut novel, as it reads as if it were written by a seasoned author. While I did suspect the killer early on, my theories as to why and how were way off base, and there were some twists and turns that knocked my suppositions off their feet. I love when a mystery author can find new ways to shock and confuse, and Pearse definitely had me second-guessing myself the whole way through.

All in all, highly recommended read for those who love mystery, thriller, and almost-horror suspense novels.

Thanks to Netgalley and the Penguin Group/Pamela Dorman Books for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Originally posted at mysteryandsuspense.com

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Review: The Scorpion's Tail

The Scorpion's Tail by Douglas Preston
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

The creators of Pendergast have done it again. I've always loved both Nora and Corrie, and was super excited to hear about their first book, Old bones, in which they come together to solve a historical mystery *and* a modern mystery. Lucky for us, Preston & Child had bigger plans than just one book, and from this plan comes The Scorpion's Tail.

Interestingly enough, it's pretty clear early on who the bad guy is. The fun in this story is all the twists and turns it took to get there - all of the clues, all of the dead ends, all of the puzzles and conundrums that build towards an explosive finale.

I'm really interested to see, after that ending, where the next Nora and Corrie book will take us. I'm *so* along for this ride.

Highly recommended but pick up book one first. (Honestly, you don't have to read all of the Pendergast books first, but you'd know so much more about these characters if you did.)

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Review: Rhythm of War

Rhythm of War by Brandon Sanderson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars



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Review: The Dark Archive

The Dark Archive by Genevieve Cogman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I love this series, mostly because of the really intriguing world building. The dragons and order, the Fae and chaos, the Library and their Language.... it's all so fun!

You know what wasn't fun? The first 60% of this book. I struggled through it. To be fair, it could have been my reading mood, but I always love these, even when I'm in a slump, so I don't think that was the case. I think it was just the slow start.

Luckily, the last half of the book kicked it up a notch, and really threw things into the fun chaos that follows Irene like a stalker. She's a trouble magnet, and the end of this book finally gives us a reason why.

Cogman, you wily minx, you've done it again. You upped the ante, raised the stakes, brought the thunder.

Overall, I give it four stars.

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Review: Right Move

Right Move by A.M. Arthur
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoy this series. I love me a good cowboy male male romance. But I did find that this one grated on me a little bit and dropped my enjoyment of it. There was a lot more repetition of fluffy things in this one, and lots of conversations that just don't really line up with how gay men really act.

"Thank you for the gift" after trying some not-all-the-way things for the first time? Not really how gay men talk to each other.

It's just another case, I think, of the wider audience of MM romance being female readers, and appealing to them for sales - which is fine, because the more MM that's out there, the more for me to read. Just do wish that there was more than felt written for those of us who actually are. Ya know what I mean?

Overall, I still loved the story of Levi and George, and gave it three and a half stars, rounded up. Also, I want to play with Ginger, Sporty, and Baby. :P

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Review: We Hear Voices

We Hear Voices by Evie Green
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

WOW. This book was really hard to put down. I love the format - short chapters, scenes that are constantly building to an ending that was a teensy bit predictable but also oh so twisty. The book had lots of good reveals, and it really built and built.

It wasn't really horror, though it had quite a bit of horror-element to it. It was more like a sci-fi techno thriller with some horror thrown in. There were so many possibilities as to what could be going on that it left you wondering, and the reveals over time were fantastic.

I also cared for most of the characters, which is a big feat for an author to do. So many times I love the story and feel the characters fall flat.

Definitely recommend this one as a fun read, especially if you're looking to escape the pandemic into, well, a different pandemic. ;)

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