Thornhedge by T. Kingfisher

 

This is the second time T. Kingfisher has dabbled in retelling fairy tales, A Sorceress Comes to Call being the other, and she does a masterful job. In her take on Sleeping Beauty, she twists it with dark humor and charm.

Toadling was switched at birth by fairies. The fairies loved and nurtured her, and she developed some magical skills, such as turning into a frog. Time passes faster in faerieland, and the adult Toadling is asked to return to her father's house to attend the Christening of the changeling, Fayette. She is to bestow a blessing that will stop Fayette from harming those around her. Unfortunately, Toadling doesn't work the magic correctly and spends several years trying to protect animals and humans from Fayette. Toadling eventually uses her magic to put Fayette under a sleeping spell, builds a thorn hedge to protect her, and spends centuries defending Fayette. All is going well until a hapless knight comes looking for the beauty in the castle. Now, Toadling must convince him to keep Fayette under the sleeping spell.

I love Kingfisher's writing and imagination. This is an excellent, thoughtful, and entertaining twist on Sleeping Beauty. Toadling is a wonderful character whose sense of duty overcomes her lonely task. This is another winner from T. Kingfisher. 

4/5 stars.

For more information:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Boundary Waters by William Kent Krueger

 

I'm doing it! I am finally accomplishing what I promised myself I'd do many years ago when I first discovered William Kent Krueger: I'm making progress reading his Cork O'Connor series. I just finished this fantastic second book, and book three is in the queue.

Trying to get her life in order, country music star Shiloh finds herself stranded in a remote cabin in Minnesota's Boundary Waters wilderness area when her friend Wendell Two Knives fails to return to guide her out. What she doesn't know is that men have killed Wendell and are now out to find and kill her as well. But why?

Meanwhile, her father has engaged Cork O'Connor to help him find her. They join a search party comprised of two FBI agents, Wendell's nephew, Stormy, and led by Stormy's ten-year-old nephew, Louis.

As both factions search for Shiloh, she attempts to escape the wilderness area, armed with only a crudely drawn map Wendell left for her. With winter setting in, Shiloh is now in a race against time while trying to evade those who want her dead.

I love Krueger's writing. His Cork O'Connor books expertly capture the wilds of Northern Minnesota and the people who live there. As with his standalone books, this series has memorable characters and excellent plots. The Native Americans who populate this book series add richness to the stories with explanations of their ancient and modern culture. All of these elements combine to form an engaging, entertaining story. 

5/5 stars.

For more information:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

No One Will Know by Rose Carlyle

I liked Rose Carlyle's debut novel, The Girl in the Mirror, but this second book, No One Will Know, is even better. The prose is smoother, the action more intense, and the twists believable.

Eve Sylvester has found the man of her dreams, but when he is killed in a car crash, she finds herself penniless, homeless, and pregnant. Enter the mysterious Zelde Finch with an offer that will solve her problems: become the nanny for the wealthy Hygate family and raise her child with theirs. It appears idyllic: living in luxury on a remote island in Tasmania and giving her child advantages Eve could never afford. Eve accepts the Hygate's unusual offer, but it's not long before she has second thoughts based on unusual conditions tied to her employment. Why must no one know she is there until her child is born? What's happening with the mysterious yacht that sometimes comes in the night? These and many more questions give her pause.

The moral dilemma that Eve faces drives the plot: to what extent is she willing to go for the welfare of her child? This twisty, suspenseful story is entertaining and kept me guessing. The characters are interesting, and I rooted for Eve to overcome life's obstacles. 

4/5 stars.

Thank you, NetGalley and William Morrow, for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. The publication date is October 1, 2024.

For more information:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Kill Sequence by Steve Griffiths

 

I'm always in the mood for a good techno-thriller, and Kill Sequence is good. It's got great characters and an engaging plot that sucked me right in.

Shawn is a grieving widower holed up in his remote English farm when a stranger at his door tells him someone is coming to kill him. Upon questioning, the stranger, a dandy replete with a posh accent, pinstriped suit, and umbrella, impresses upon Shawn the need to act quickly or be killed. The stranger, Michael, wasn't lying. Not a killer himself, Shawn confronts his "fight or flight" instincts and goes on the offense when a man with a gun shows up on his doorstep.

Thus begins what is a rollicking good story, as Shawn is both the hunter and the hunted in this fast-paced thriller. Shawn is a sympathetic character who is caught up in international intrigue as he tries to find out what happened when his wife was murdered. Although the plot revolves around advanced computer technology and programming, one doesn't have to be a computer guru to enjoy the story. Shawn and Michael make a good team, and Griffiths leaves the door open for future books pairing these two. 

4/5 stars.

For more information:

Amazon

Burn by Peter Heller

 I loved Heller's The River and The Guide. Both were back-to-nature murder mysteries that painted a wild environment filled with natural and artificial danger. My favorite book of his is The Dog Stars, a dystopian work that captured my imagination. Burn is another dystopian work of fiction that is all too probable, given today's political climate. That is not to say it's political, just that it is easy to imagine right now.

Childhood friends Jess and Storey embark on their annual hunting trip in Maine to escape the political turmoil sweeping the United States. They emerge to find towns decimated and being shot at by both secessionists and the U.S. military. Living off their wits and scavenging food, they try to get to neutral territory and work their way home. However, an unexpected encounter alters their plans, and they must adjust to new circumstances using their survival skills.

This book discusses male friendships and the dangers of clinging to an ideology at the expense of family. It has many flashbacks to show why the bond between Jess and Storey is so strong. I liked that it does not take a political stand or seek to explore belief systems. As always, Heller does an excellent job weaving nature into an intriguing plot with well-drawn characters. 

4.5/5 stars.

Thank you, NetGalley and Knopf, for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. The publication date is August 13, 2024.

For more information:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

The Collector by Daniel Silva

 

One of the things I like best about Silva's Gabriel Allon series is that they are always relevant. This book deals with the war in Ukraine and Russia's aggression. While that may seem like a downer, Silva's blend of fact and fiction is so good and plausible I had a hard time distinguishing between them.

Retired from the Israeli spy game and now restoring paintings full-time in Venice, Allon is approached by the head of Rome's Art Squad when a murder victim is found in his villa on the Amalfi Coast, and a long-lost van Gogh is also there. What's missing is another stolen painting, this one by Vermeer, and Gabriel is asked to track it down. How does he end up involved in the Russian/Ukrainian war? Well, that's at the heart of the novel, and even with side trips to Denmark and Finland,  it all ties together.

I always learn something from a Daniel Silva book--mostly art-related--but his focus on current world events is always enlightening. I do like the main character with his struggle to lead a quiet life after the everyday violence he seemed to face when he was an Israeli spy. No matter how hard he tries, he always gets pulled back into the game. Although the books are somewhat formulaic, they are always action-packed and entertaining. This latest book in the series is no exception. 4 Stars.

For more information:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

The Stranger Upstairs by Lisa M. Matlin

 I'm always searching for new authors and finding this debut novel by an Australian author piqued my interest even more. Based on this promising book, I will add Matlin to my list of authors to follow.

Sarah Slade is a therapist and best-selling self-help author whose own marriage is in shambles. When she and her husband buy a run-down Victorian house where a gruesome murder occurred 40 years ago, Sarah hopes to restore it and flip it for a profit. She doesn't count on the hostile neighbors who want the house demolished, not restored, and the creepy feeling the house emanates. When odd things begin happening both to her and the contractors working on her house, she begins to wonder if the stories about the house are true: is it haunted?

I found the story a bit uneven at times, but overall this was a satisfying read. Although Sarah increasingly is captivated, if not captured by the house, her personality begins to change--or maybe it's revealing her true self. In any event, she becomes an increasingly unlikeable character whose decisions become poorer as events spiral out of her control. I think this is a good atmospheric novel and I look forward to more from Matlin.

Thank you NetGalley and Bantam publishers for an advance copy of this book n exchange for an honest review. These opinions are my own. The publication date is September 12, 2023.

For more information:

Amazon  | Barnes & Noble | Bantam