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The Pact
Title: The Pact
Author: Sharon Bolton
Genre: Psychological Thriller
Published: 2021
Obtained: Audible
Six friends spend the summer together before embarking on their bright futures. The six of them have a secret game, however, that is dangerously risky; while they lucked out the first 5 times, they aren’t so lucky on the 6th turn. Privileged, young and self-centered, they panic. Megan, one of the six, agrees to take the blame for the accident–with a catch. Her friends soon turn their backs on her, leaving her to rot in prison. Twenty years later, she is a free woman and is out to collect on their part of the deal…and revenge.
Let me start of by saying that Sharon Bolton is one of my favorite authors. And The Pact starts off in true Bolton fashion–tense and suspenseful. I loved the premise of the story and the building tension. Of course, I also love the twists and turns Bolton writes. I didn’t particularly like any of the characters, so I found myself surprised that I was so quickly engrossed in the novel. I was disappointed, however, by a few things–including the ending.
The Pact is almost like a character study that looks at how people deal with trauma and guilt in vastly different ways. Each one of these characters has flaws and ugly habits/tendencies that stem from the horrible accident they caused; this leads to the various dysfunctional ways they dealt with the aftermath. The only person I was rooting for was Megan, and that was mostly on principle. I disliked the other characters so much I wanted her to destroy them in vengeance. I was disappointed when her plan was revealed, as it was anticlimatic.
Bolton is the absolute queen of twisty thrillers. I devoured this book for it’s mounting suspense and the idea that I wasn’t sure how it was going to end. I enjoyed watching the five friends squirm as Megan always seemed to be a step ahead of them. I liked the way Bolton revealed more depth to the history of the friends. But, some of the plot devices seemed out of left field–unbelievable and disappointing. While I typically enjoy the surprising endings to Bolton’s books, they always seem to work. When I reach the end of her novels, I can look back and be mindblown that there were clues all along that I just didn’t grasp or pick up on along the way. I didn’t guess the ending to The Pact. But, in all fairness, I don’t think it made any sense. It felt cheap; I felt blindsided and cheated. There were so many other directions the story could have taken, and I was left feeling let down. Not every story can be everyone’s cup of tea and I can totally see how some people loved this novel entirely.
I am giving The Pact 3 out of 5 stars. I liked the book, but I didn’t love it. Maybe because I’ve gobbled up so many of her other books and felt consistently mind blown by the twists—I was just expecting so much more from the ending! But, as I’ve said, I can see why some readers wouldn’t have my same complaints. I paired this book with a rosé prosecco. La Marca was fitting as it made me feel like I was sitting by Tal’s lavish pool…minus the reckless joyride! It’s a perfect bubbly beverage for reading—it’s dry and crisp with hints of peach and berries. Honestly, I think I’d take the zesty prosecco over this read any day! Happy reading (and sipping)!
Rating: 3/5
Wine Pairing: La Marca rosé prosecco
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Rock Paper Scissors
Title: Rock Paper Scissors
Author: Alice Feeney
Genre: Psychological/Domestic Thriller
Published: 2021
Obtained: Barnes & Noble
The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Wright has been in trouble for a while. Adam Wright is a work-obsessed screenwriter with facial blindness; he doesn’t recognize any familiar faces, including his own wife’s. The couple has some optimism for their marriage, however, when they win a weekend getaway to Scotland to celebrate their anniversary. Adam’s wife writes him a letter each year, along with a traditional gift—but she never gives him the letters to read. This anniversary she decides to change that. Their romantic getaway takes a wild turn of lies, deceit, suspense and a lurking stranger in the remote Scottish landscape.
Rock Paper Scissors was at the top of my read list this year. I have a love for all things Scottish, mysterious and suspenseful. This novel had a few really strong bits, but also failed to deliver on some of the anticipated twists and turns. I liked the build-up of the characters, the setting and the general storyline. I found a lot of the story unbelievable to the point where it was distracting from the heart of the story. I didn’t particularly like Mr. or Mrs. Wright, which made it hard to always care what happened to them. And Adam’s facial blindness syndrome was a bizarre, albeit convenient, tidbit.
I typically enjoy a novel that bounces between different POVs with the characters; however, this one was difficult for me because I honestly wasn’t rooting for anyone…except Bob, the dog! I did like the way Feeney incorporated the letters from wife to husband—I thought this was a compelling way to give the reader some insight on the marriage history. I thought Feeney also did a nice job of peeling back each layer of secrecy between the characters.
Again, the setting was outstanding. The eerie and isolated church in the remote part of Scotland was perfect for a fast-paced, twisty read. As much as I loved the atmospheric descriptions and the tension that Feeney managed to build with the remote location…it all seemed to build up to nothing. I wanted more to happen after a suspenseful build up to the characters going into the creepy wine cellar and out into the Scottish landscape.
This was the first Alice Feeney book I’ve read, and I thoroughly enjoyed her actual writing. It was witty and twisty and full of great one-liners. She turns a phrase so well, that I think that’s what kept me so engaged in the novel. What I didn’t love was the bit about Adam’s facial blindness. I just felt it was a cheap way to make the character unreliable—it reminded me of how so many authors use the woman-is-an-undependable-drunk strategy when wanting unreliable narration. I found myself so distracted from the story and went down a rabbit hole on the internet to find out if facial blindness would play out the way it does for Adam. I’ll let you be the judge for yourself—but for me, it was a stretch.
I am giving Rock Paper Scissors 2.5 stars. I didn’t dislike the story, but I found I ended with a lot more questions than answers. I wasn’t really surprised by much in the book—at least not by anything that was purposely meant to shock me as a reader. I loved the setting, and I loved a lot of the prose. I paired this read with a red blend called Troublemaker. It is a full, dark red with hints of fruit, spices and rich caramel. I love a good syrah or zinfandel—so naturally I loved this blend where both of those could be really tasted! It also doesn’t hurt that it’s strong (14.5%)—which really helped me get through this one.
Rating: 2.5/5
Wine Pairing: Troublemaker by Austin Hope, Red Blend
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Verity
Title: Verity
Author: Colleen Hoover
Genre: Psychological Thriller
Published: 2021
Obtained: Barnes & Noble
Lowen is a struggling writer who is hired to complete a famous, but incapacitated, author’s novel series. What she signs on for is more than she bargains for, however. She finds herself in a strange house, with a vacant and debilitated Verity, her husband, Jeremy, and their five year old son. As she begins to dive into the task of finishing the series, she discovers something far more sinister. It’s clear to Lowen that Verity never intended for anyone to read her autobiography, but the confessions are unsettling–particularly those about Verity’s children. Lowen must decide if showing the work to Jeremy, who she is falling for, is the right answer–while wondering if Verity is as harmless as she seems.
I had a hard time setting Verity down. I devoured it in 24 hours. I read somewhere that it was a modern day Rebecca and I definitely picked up on that vibe. But, this was far more disturbing. The tension runs rampant from the very first chapter–which was a huge plus in my book (pun intended). I love a novel that leaves you questioning everything right up until the very end, and Hoover accomplished that with Verity. I really enjoyed how she incorporated the written manuscript within the storyline and the way she made the narrator a little skeptical of what she was seeing since the secret autobiography was certainly taking a toll on her. My only complaints on this book are minor.
This book was intense! I love that about Hoover’s writing. The opening chapter sucked me in right away. And I liked that the pace didn’t stall too much; before I knew it, I felt like I was in the meaty part of the novel where Lowen is settled in that big creepy house haunted by a woman who is still alive. I appreciated that I didn’t know at first if Lowen was reliable or not, and I think there were still times throughout the whole book where you sort of question it as a reader. I had a really difficult time digesting the manuscript confessions. As a mother, it was so much more disturbing and upsetting than a lot of things I’ve read lately. I needed a strong drink to wash parts down.
The way the novel was set up was also super creative. I liked how the manuscript was woven into the rest of the story. At times I was annoyed to be going back to a chapter about Lowen when all I wanted to do was find out what this crazy Verity lady did next; but then, Hoover would reveal her next horrific confession and going back to Lowen and Jeremy was a welcomed breath of fresh air. The ending was done just right, in my opinion. It was ambiguous without leaving loose ends flying around. As a reader, I felt like I had all the necessary information, it was just a matter of deciding which version of events was the truth.
I rate this book a 4.5/5. I loved it, truly. The sex in the manuscript was an overkill–I understand that it was there to exemplify how unbalanced Verity was as a person, but I got really tired of reading about all the ways she could get her husband off. I also felt like the sleepwalking bit was underutilized; I understand that it set up an important scene, but it was underwhelming. Otherwise, I have no criticisms of this book. I suggest sipping on Conundrum, a red blend from California. It’s a strong wine at 14.6% ABV to get you through the disturbing thoughts and confessions of Verity. It’s also one of the better red wines I’ve had lately–full of flavor, potent and smooth. I’m really interested to hear opinions on Verity. Whatever you wind up believing in the end, I hope you enjoy the read!
Rating: 4.5/5
Wine Pairing: 2018 Conundrum, California red blend
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No Exit
Title: No Exit
Author: Taylor Adams
Genre: Thriller/Mystery
Published: 2017
Obtained: Amazon
Darby is on her way home from college for the holiday when she becomes stranded at a rest area due to a Colorado blizzard. She finds herself waiting out the storm along with four strangers. As Darby is attempting to find some cell reception, she is shocked to find a child locked in the back of a van. Thus begins the longest night of her life—who is the child and which one of the strangers is responsible for her abduction?
Let me just channel my inner Janice Hosenstein and say…”OH MY GOD!” This book is intense—like nail-bitingly, jaw dropping, I need a strong drink kind of intense. I was a little skeptical going in because it had so much hype, and lately overly hyped books have been underwhelming for me. But this one did not disappoint! The main character, the tension, the twists…it all was pretty damn near perfect.
Darby is a fantastic narrator. I found her funny and intelligent. She is flawed, as is everybody, and totally believable as a character. I rooted for her throughout the story. I enjoyed the other characters, as well. It’s hard to go into too much detail without giving away spoilers, but I found them all to be written convincingly well. I was surprised that the villain is glaringly obvious from the start, and yet, I loved that not all the characters are what they initially seem to be.
The tension is deliciously stressful. I wanted to cover my eyes at so many parts, but they were glued to the words. Adams has a wonderful way of painting the scene with just enough gore and suspense to keep you engaged, but not too much to make you want to put the book down. A lot of the twists stem from mistakes the characters make, particularly Darby; however, this made it more believable, because at the end of the day, Darby is an ordinary young woman thrust into this terrible situation. Any bits that I managed to predict (or blatantly saw coming) didn’t deter me from devouring this book within two days.
Overall, I loved this read. It was fast paced, terrifying, a little gory, extremely intense and super vivid. If you love a good thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat, I highly recommend it. I give No Exit a rating of 5 stars. I also recommend Tall Dark Stranger, a rich malbec from Argentina. It’s strong and smooth with a nice berry flavor, but not sweet—a full-bodied wine to sip with a rich, intense thriller. Enjoy!
Rating: 5/5
Wine Pairing: Tall Dark Stranger 2017 malbec
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Dead Woman Walking
Title: Dead Woman Walking
Author: Sharon Bolton
Genre: Mystery/Psychological Thriller
Published: 2017
Obtained: Amazon
Thirteen people go up for a hot air balloon ride near the border of Scotland and witness a man commit a murder. Only one of the thirteen individuals comes back down. Unfortunately, the murderer and the female survivor have seen each other’s faces and thus the race for survival begins. Between the detectives on the case and the murderer hunting her, who will find the witness first?
Dead Woman Walking is the third Sharon Bolton novel that I have had the pleasure to read. It did not disappoint! Although this novel bounced around quite a bit between time frames and characters, it was engaging and suspenseful. The characters were well developed and multidimensional. The plot was climactic and full of tension that makes for a great read.
The opening of this book had me tense and on the edge of my sofa. It was a little more gory than the previous books I’ve read of hers, but not overly done. After the initial terror, the action settles and gives way to flashbacks and mounting tension. True to her style, everytime I thought I had the story figured out, Bolton threw one wrench after another into the mix. I can see how the shifting between time frames could be overwhelming to a reader, but I enjoy the way Bolton keeps me on my toes.
Bolton’s character development is by far one of my favorite elements of her writing. The protagonist, the villain, the detective and even the nuns were multidimensional and well-rounded. Bolton has a way of leading the reader to make assumptions about characters and then completely turning the theories upside down. I love this about her novels. She manages to make even the most evil of characters relatable on some level.
I highly recommend Dead Woman Walking to anyone who enjoys a suspenseful thriller with unpredictable twists and turns. I had a hard time putting this one down. This was the second to last book and wine pairing I was able to indulge in before my pregnancy. That being said, I suggest sipping on Chateau Souverain Cabernet Sauvignon. It’s a dark, fruity wine that isn’t overly sweet. But, I suggest sipping slowly, as it has a 13.9% alcohol content and goes down smooth which can make it difficult to muddle through the details, flashbacks and shifts in time. I gave this book a 4.5 out of 5 stars; it was a fabulous read. Do yourself a favor and pick up this book and pour yourself a glass!
Rating: 4.5/5
Wine Pairing: Chateau Souverain Cabernet Sauvignon 2016
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The Craftsman
Title: The Craftsman
Author: Sharon Bolton
Genre: Mystery/Psychological Thriller
Published: 2018
Obtained: Amazon
Florence Lovelady was an up and coming female officer in the late sixties when she made her career by arresting Larry Glassbrook for the disappearances and grizzly murders of local teens. Thirty years later, as she attends Larry’s funeral, she stumbles across new evidence suggesting that the mystery is, in fact, unsolved after all these years. Unable to live with a potentially wrong conviction, Lovelady must begin to investigate the case again…this time, however, the investigation becomes much more personal.
I picked up this book while I was recovering from a laparoscopy procedure, and it definitely helped keep my mind occupied. This book is fantastic! Bolton has created another masterpiece. The storytelling, details, suspenseful plot, three dimensional characters and overall mystery weaves the threads of this novel together. I had a really hard time putting this book down and when I did, my mind was still wrapped up in the story.
Sharon Bolton definitely knows how to keep the reader on the edge of his/her seat. I read this book after Little Black Lies, and while they both consist of exemplary storytelling, The Craftsman was much creepier. I loved the actual set up of the novel — it’s told in three parts. The first part is in the year 1999, following Florence Lovelady who is returning to the place where she first was investigating and, as it becomes apparent, arrested a man named Larry Glassbrook for the murder of missing teens. The eerieness seeps in fast with the initial setup, as the reader learns that Larry was a casket maker at the local funeral home — an alarming and harrowing career, especially as Bolton reveals details surrounding the mystery and deaths of victims. The second part of the story goes back to the last 60’s to tell Lovelady’s story of the missing teens and investigation, to the sexist treatment from Lovelady’s male coworkers, to the involvement of witches and finally to the arrest of the Larry Glassbrook. The final segment of the novel is set again in 1999 where Lovelady and her teenage son happen upon new evidence that leads them down a suspenseful, dangerous road. Lovelady is torn between her own safety and the truth from all those years ago. Bolton, naturally, crafts the story in such a way that the reader is lost in this case and the dark, grimy world she has created.
Bolton’s characters are wonderfully portrayed. Bolton has a knack for writing characters both with depth and mystery; you think you have them figured out, but leave each chapter questioning how much you actually know about them and their motives. Lovelady was a spectacular protagonist. She was tough and yet vulnerable — encompassing qualities that are familiar and relatable. She faces the men and women who scoff at her presence in the police force straight on without an inkling of giving up on the whole ordeal. She is intelligent, determined, open-minded and resilient as all hell. I’m super excited that Bolton will be creating a series with Lovelady because she is, quite frankly, a badass.
Bolton has a way of easing you into her mystery in such a way that, as a reader, you hardly notice your descent into her words. One moment I was on my couch, heating pad and tea, and next moment I was digging up a freshly mounded grave, sweating and questioning right along with the characters. My friend that recommended Bolton made a comment that as an author, she has a habit of hiding clues and information in plain sight; I couldn’t agree more. As with her previous novel, every time I thought I had the mystery and plot untangled, there would be another twist or another truth-bomb exploding off the pages that made me question everything I thought I had solved. As someone who largely enjoys mystery and thriller fiction, this is exciting! There is nothing more disappointing than reading a mystery novel and not being remotely shocked or surprised by the ending. Bolton does not disappoint in this aspect (in any aspect really, if you want my whole truth); again, up until the end, I was trying to figure out what the protagonist had decoded that I had not…what clue was she given to solve the case that I had not discerned? And, as my dear friend pointed out, it was a clue that was planted in the open that I had simply overlooked.
If you can’t tell from the review thus far, I recommend this book one thousand percent. It had the right amount of creepy without crossing the line into horror. It was beautifully written both with the language and with the creation of the plot. The characters are multi-dimensional and incredibly crafted. Most importantly, The Craftsman is an intriguing mystery that unfolds in a suspenseful way and leaves the reader contemplating the twists and turns even after the book has been set down. I give this book a golden 5 out 5 stars; it was gripping and deliciously eerie. I recommend Saved Red Blend as the wine pairing for The Craftsman. This wine consists of a few various wines, including Malbec and Syrah (two of my favorites) and has a fig-gy, spiceful taste. The soft tannins and explosive flavor pair well with the thrilling storyline and the combination of strength and vulnerability in Florence Lovelady. As a bonus, this wine has an alcohol content of 15%, making it well-suited to the spine-tingling story. Once you pick up a Bolton novel, you’ll be hooked on her writing! Enjoy!
Rating: 5/5 Stars
Wine Pairing: Saved Red Blend 2014
Snag your own copy at Amazon or Barnes & Noble
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The Hunting Party
Title: The Hunting Party
Author: Lucy Foley
Genre: Mystery/Psychological Thriller
Published: 2018
Obtained: Amazon
A group of friends meet for the new year, as they do every year since they graduated from school. This time, the location is at a remote lodge in the Scottish highlands. They become snowed in following a blizzard. As the snow builds up around them, so does the tension as old regrets and secrets come to light. One of the friends winds up dead and it’s obvious that it must be one of the individuals staying in the lodge. But who?
I was so looking forward to this read, after reading the short synopsis about it. The story takes place in the Scottish Highlands, involves a mysterious death among friends and had what was, overall, a super creepy premise. I was sorely disappointed, unfortunately. Lucy Foley has a way with words, her writing was strong. I felt unattached to the characters as they were lacking depth. I was disappointed that there was not more focus on the amazing setting and I found the mystery to be lacking of vitality.
Scotland is place near and dear to my heart. I’ve been twice having strong family ties to the country. From personal experience, I can sincerely state that the landscape is some of the most beautiful country I’ve ever seen—rich in colors, fog and mist and rolling hills in shades of green I didn’t even know existed until I saw them with my own eyes. Perhaps I hyped this all up in my own mind, but there was none of this really in the book. The characters were from London, so I guess I was expecting the highlands to be a major focal point. I honestly forgot about halfway through that the book was taking place in Scotland, as the writing didn’t transport me there.
The characters were relatively vapid. I felt no real connection to anyone—I didn’t root for anyone. Granted, there were all significantly flawed in regards to their history and personalities (nobody cares for perfect characters). But, I just didn’t feel any pull towards any of them, and sometimes got the men confused. As the mystery unfolded, I predicted a lot of the outcomes and wasn’t really blown away by anyone’s big secrets.
The plot was extremely similar to Ruth Ware’s In A Dark, Dark Wood. Several acquaintances hulled up in a remote location where a mysterious death occurs and everyone is suspect. It played out similarly, though not exact. But, the “big reveal” was flat and anti-climatic. I was on the edge of my seat for a while, but that didn’t last very long. I felt like I had read this story before, and when the ending was slightly different I was left feeling unsatisfied.
Lucy Foley can turn a phrase quite well. Her book consisted of really beautiful writing. Her mystery was pretty well crafted and didn’t have any major plot holes or gaps that I could spot. The problem for me was that the writing seemed to tell me most things instead of showing me or leaving some of it up to the imagination. There was a lot of potential for a really great story, it just lacked some luster overall in the build up of the mystery. Overall, I gave this book a 2 out of 5 stars. While I appreciated her writing and style, I was disappointed in the lack of character depth, overall setting and mystery. I recommend sipping something dark and dry to pair with the dry, and sometimes terrible, personalities of the characters and the mystery surrounding them. I enjoyed a malbec called Tall Dark Stranger, which I thought went well with the whodunnit-feel of this book. It contains a strong alcohol content of 12.5%, which helped me digest the unfavorable aspects of the book.
Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
Wine: Tall Dark Stranger Malbec 2017
Snag your own copy at Amazon
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Little Black Lies
Title: Little Black Lies
Author: Sharon Bolton
Genre: Mystery/Psychological Thriller
Published: 2015
Obtained: Amazon
After another child goes missing on the Falkland Islands, Catrin finds it hard to empathize, as she’s still wrapped up in the accidental deaths of her own sons. But, as she and her ex-lover, Callum, begin to assist in the search, dark secrets begin to emerge between them and the other islanders (including her ex bestfriend, Rachel). After the third child goes missing, the characters must face the fact that it’s hard to chalk the missing kids up to coincidence. Is there a villian living among them?
Where do I begin? This is the most well-constructred mystery novel I have read to date. The characters are well-crafted and complex. The plot is both thrilling and dramatic. Sharon Bolton’s writing is rich and vivid; her ability to set a scene and build suspense is fantasic. I read this book within 48 hours and every time I had to set it down was torture.
Little Black Lies is told from the view points of three protagonists. The story begins with Catrin, a recluse woman who lost both of her children in an accident a few years back; Catrin is finding it hard to emotionally invest in the current situation of another missing child—the third missing child, in fact, since her own sons died. Catrin’s voice is dark, sad and, at times, bitter. The second part of the story is told from the viewpoint of Catrin’s ex-lover, Callum. A war veteran who struggles with PTSD, Callum’s story line is definitely more emotional than Catrin’s. The final third of the story is told through the eyes of Rachel, Catrin’s ex-bestfriend. Rachel has her own dark history and while I found it difficult to sympathize with her initially, by the end of her story I had a slightly different perspective. Each character offers a different angle at which to view the missing boys scenario, along with differing understandings of the past. Bolton provides the opportunity to perceive the plot from differnet points of view, which makes the mystery all the more difficult to figure out!
I love a good mystery. The biggest disappointment when reading a mystery is being able to predict the ending too early in the story. Black Little Lies did not lead to this situation…at all. Everytime I thought I had it figured out—BAM—another twist! This happened, literally, until the final page of the novel. I can’t remember the last time I was completely blown away (and blown off course several times) by a mystery novel. That alone should be motiviating you enough to go buy this book! The twists and turns are dizzying.
Bolton sure can set a dramatic scene. The opening scene with Catrin alone at night in the middle of the sea had me captivated from the start. It was compelling to see the actions and individualism of characters through more than one viewpoint…not to mention, she does each character’s arch great justice. Her writing is dynamic; Bolton transports the reader to the Falkland Islands and evokes the tension and, at times, hysteria of the characters. Bolton writes in such a way that the reader cannot stop thinking about the story, even after he/she sets the book down.
Seriously, I cannot think of enough fine things to say about Little Black Lies and the author, Sharon Bolton. I was struggling to find a really engaging read when this one came recommended by my best friend. I am so glad I took her up on the suggestion because it truly did not disappoint. The characters, plot and overall style was enticing and thrilling with a completely gratifying ending. I am giving Little Black Lies 5 out of 5 stars and I highly recommend it to mystery and thriller fans—or to anyone who loves a well-built, highly engrossing story. I enjoyed sipping a good red wine with this read; I suggest Hope’s End Red Blend 2016. Interestingly, I selected this wine on a whim, but it did pair surprisingly well with the hopelessness felt in the main character, Catrin; the label also uses the words “dark side” to describe the wine, which I feel pairs well with the ability Bolton exhibits to transport the reader to the bleak setting of the book. The alcohol content (13.5%) does help mullify the heavy content as the reader digests it all. If you’re looking for an excellent page-turner, I highly recommend picking up this awesome piece of fiction!
Rating: 5/5
Wine Pairing: Hope’s End Red Blend 2016
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Pretty Girls Dancing
Title: Pretty Girls Dancing
Author: Kylie Brant
Genre: Mystery/Psychological Thriller
Published: 2018
Obtained: Amazon
Seven years ago, a young teen, Kelsey, was abducted from her hometown leaving her family nearly destroyed in the aftermath. Affected by her disappearance are her parents, both distant and battling their own struggles, and her younger sister Janie, an intelligent but anxious teen. Now, another girl has gone missing and Kelsey’s family members are all grappling in their own way to deal with the news. Mark Foster, a detective assigned to the new case of the missing girl, begins to link similarities in the cases of the two missing teens. Foster must find an effective way to approach Kelsey’s family and discover any family secrets that may help him find Whitney before it is too late.
Pretty Girls Dancing is a page-turner! I finished this book almost as fast as I can down a good glass of rosé. Told from the varying points of view of multiple characters, the mystery unfolds at a fairly decent pace. I didn’t have an inkling that the killer was a known character until the chapter before the big reveal—and there was another twist after that!
What I enjoyed about the book was that the first chapter had me hooked. I love a good opening chapter with some kind of action that pulls me right into the story; this did not fail to disappoint. I thoroughly enjoyed the idea of the story being told from the viewpoints of different characters. Unfortunately, I really only enjoyed two of these characters: Whitney and Janie. Several of the characters felt undeveloped, which inevitably led to me being uninvested in them. Whitney and Janie, however, were rich in layers of personality and their chapters really pushed the story forward whereas Janie’s parents’ chapters felt stagnant.
The plot of Pretty Girls Dancing was intriguing. Serial Killer stories are ones that I find engrossing—they often offer the right amount of mystery and thriller that keeps me turning the pages. After a while, I began to wonder if the killer in this book was just some mystery person we weren’t supposed to know at all, given that there were no real clues to decipher the identity of the villian. However, right before the big reveal, I did have that, “Aha!” moment—but I will confess it was built on a pure guess, not context clues from the novel. I still have some confusion and questions regarding the wild goose chase the detectives embark upon in the final chapters of the book; there were no solutions or answers to what the suspected villains had to hide. This aspect of the story left me unsettled and unfulfilled.
I was surprised to discover that much of the narrative reveals less of the mystery and more of the grief and devastation that can come from a family member (particularly a child) being abducted. While I did not always enjoy reading from the viewpoints of certain characters, these pages did make me think about all the emotions and aftermath of something so traumatic happening to a family. Furthermore, for as gripping as the opening chapter was, I was surprised by how long it took for the story to really pick up at a suspenseful pace.
I recommend this book for a quick, fun read. I finished it in two days and had to keep plundering on until I could identify the bad guy and discover what kind of endings the author would write for Whitney and Janie. If you’re looking for a complex, perfectly-constructed thriller/mystery–then this is not it. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a good book (and an enjoyable read), but it had so much more potential than what Brant delivers. I recommend a strong, dry rosé to pair with it; I prefer to save my more expensive wines for more complex and riveting books. Therefore, I suggest something like Dark Horse Rosé; this wine is sweet and crisp to pair with the innocence of the girls who have been affected by the serial killer, but also dry and strong (12.5% alcohol content) to get you through both the thrilling and not-so-thrilling parts of this book.
*I could not find this wine in a bottle when I went to purchase, but it tastes just as good!*
Rating: 3.5/5
Wine: Dark Horse Rosé
Snag your own copy of Pretty Girls Dancing: Target or Barnes & Noble
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The Woman in the Window
*Photograph is a screenshot from my Audible app*
Title: The Woman in the Window
Author: A.J. Finn
Genre: Mystery/Psychological Thriller
Published: 2018
Obtained: Audible/Amazon
Anna Fox was once a child psychologist, but is now a recluse with a drinking problem and Agoraphobia. Anna passes her lonely time by spying on her neighbors with her camera while mixing her medications with red wine. One day, Anna sees a dangerous incident in her neighbor’s house and her life begins to spiral out of control. The story whittles down to what did Anna really see and why doesn’t anyone believe her?
This was a super fun read! Initially, I was slightly creeped out by the main character, Anna Fox, who spends her days spying on the neighbors through her window. But, as the story unfolds, I began to warm up to her. Anna is a child psychologist who suffers from severe Agoraphobia mixed with a drinking problem. She is separated from her husband, who is the primary caregiver for their daughter; their daily phone calls help Anna get through her house-bound, merlot-fueled days. One day, Anna sees an appalling scene unfold across the park in her neighbor’s home. Not only does Anna struggle to find a way to help, being unable to leave her house, but she also struggles to determine if what she saw was real…given that she often mixes her medications with copious amounts of alcohol. The story barrells on in a psychological whirlwind. What really happened? Who’s to blame? It’s a page-turning thriller right up to the very end.
The Woman in the Window was the best psychological thriller I have read in some time. I will say, however, that I am tired of reading female protagonists who are unreliable due to drinking habits; it feels overdone. Anna is a character full of interest—her past is a story that unfolds slowly over the pages and keeps the reader hooked in order to discover her truth. The trauma in her past with the Agoraphobia (fear of open spaces) along with her pill popping, obsession with old thriller flicks and background in professional psychology would have been enough, I think, to convince the reader that she may be a questionable witness. On the other hand, her steady flow of red wine had me uncorking my own bottles as I read.
If you’ve read enough psychological thrillers, one of the plot elements will probably seem fairly obvious. Luckily, this element of the story is not the big twist that will keep you turning those pages faster than Anna gulps down that Merlot. Truthfully, even if I had guessed the final twist and the ending of this novel, I would have continued to read it. Finn writes beautiful prose. This was a pleasant surprise for me as a reader. I was not anticipating the poetic-like passages in The Woman in the Window. Not only is the novel suspenseful, but the sequence of words is alluring and elegant. Once I learned that the main character was a recluse, I shuddered with claustrophobia—I was afraid that the house would be too confining and could, potentially, dull the story down. I was pleasantly surprised by this too. It created an uncomfortable, suspenseful feel to the story that clung to me even when I put the book down for the evening.
The other characters in the story were well developed and memorable. I enjoy those characters that have that love-to-hate feel to them (like Dolores Umbridge); I felt that with a few of these characters. As Anna grew more paranoid throughout the story, I could feel myself analyzing the other characters—trying to pick them apart. They were each distinct—from the members of the Russell family to the detectives working the case. Each character had memorable aspects to them and I retained those details in case they were needed as the mystery unfolded.
Lastly, I loved the way Finn intertwines the story with Anna’s love for old thriller films. The films she watches alone often correlate, in some form, with the actual plot of the novel. As a reader, and someone who thoroughly enjoys and is familiar most of these old films, I found myself equating the film plots with Anna’s story and trying to figure what clues the author was dropping along the way. Despite a reminiscent feel of Rear Window, the tidbits of plot and dialogue from various other classic movies created a refreshing spin on this type of book.
While I can argue that this novel may not be a revolutionary or new storyline, I can argue that it is strikingly unique to others in the same genre. Finn manages to breath new life into a classic plot. I was enthralled while reading and ate up each page in desperation for answers. Finn works with a limited setting, confined primarily to Anna’s house, and with a handful of characters. Yet, he creates a spine-tingling story that evokes the reader to stick with Anna until the very end. I give this book a 4.5/5 for Finn’s prose, character development and creativity with the plot. It was a fun, electrifying read that I thoroughly enjoyed from cover to cover. Of course, I have to suggest a Merlot to pair with it, as it is the main character’s drink of choice; I wanted to pour myself a glass of red each time Anna did—if only to let her know she wasn’t drinking alone. My wine of choice for this book is the Merlot by Josh Cellars. This is a smooth and soft red that balances the bumpy, more thrilling parts of this book.
Rating: 4.5/5
Wine: Merlot, Josh Cellars (Vintage 2016)
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