The Haters by Robyn Harding

Title: The Haters

Author: Robyn Harding

Publisher: Grand Central Publishing

Release Date: July 2, 2024

The bestselling author of The Party and The Drowning Woman returns with a twisted tale of fame, obsession, and the dark recesses of social media.

Camryn Lane is living her dream. After years of struggle and rejection, her first novel has finally been published. Her editor is happy; her teenage daughter is proud; and her boyfriend and friends are all excited for her. She’s on top of the world—until she receives a disturbing message from an unknown sender.

Rattled by the accusations she finds there, Camryn swallows the sick feeling in her stomach and resolves to put the missive out of her mind. But when she checks her ratings on a popular book site, she finds a scathing one-star review. The reviewer is so articulate and convincing that soon, Camryn’s book is flooded with bad reviews. Could the reviewer be the same person who sent the ugly email? And why do they want to ruin her?

As the online harassment creeps into Camryn’s personal life, she vows to find out who’s behind it. Is it really a disgruntled reader? Or could it be someone she knows? The troll’s actions are escalating, and when the abuse turns deadly, it will take everything Camryn has to unmask the enemy so intent on destroying her—and finally learn why she's being targeted.

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What a gripping thriller!

Camryn Lane’s dream has come true—her first novel, Burnt Orchid, has been published and seems to be on the right path. Then, she receives an email through her author's website from a reader accusing her of using her students' personal problems and secrets in her book. Camryn is shocked by the accusation. She would never exploit the sensitive issues the schoolchildren shared with her and write them into her work. The email deeply affects her, and things only get worse when her book's rating begins to drop after a reviewer tears it apart on a popular book site.

Someone is out to get her. It feels very personal, and as the novel progresses, a growing sense of danger envelops Camryn. She needs to figure out who is targeting her before it’s too late.

The Haters was engrossing. You could tell that Camryn's paranoia was well-founded—someone truly hated her. With multiple red herrings, the novel keeps you on edge. Kudos to the author for keeping us guessing until the very end.

Cliffhanger: No

4/5 Fangs

A complimentary copy was provided by Grand Central Publishing via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Lenny Marks Gets Away with Murder by Kerryn Mayne

 

Title: Lenny Marks Gets Away with Murder 

Author: Kerryn Mayne

Publisher: St. Martin's Press

Release Date: July 9, 2024

Lenny Marks is excellent at not having a life.

She bikes home from work at exactly 4pm each day, buys the same groceries for the same meals every week, and owns thirty-six copies of The Hobbit (currently arranged by height). The closest thing she has to a friendship is playing Scrabble against an imaginary Monica Gellar while watching Friends reruns.

And Lenny Marks is very, very good at not remembering what happened the day her mother and stepfather disappeared when she was still a child. The day a voice in the back of her mind started whispering, You did this.

Until a letter from the parole board arrives in the mail—and when her desperate attempts to ignore it fail, Lenny starts to unravel. As long-buried memories come to the surface, Lenny’s careful routines fall apart. For the first time, she finds herself forced to connect with the community around her, and unexpected new relationships begin to bloom. Lenny Marks may finally get a life—but what if her past catches up to her first?

Equal parts heartbreaking and heartwarming, Kerryn Mayne’s stunning debut is an irresistible novel about truth, secrets, vengeance, and family lost and found, with a heroine who's simply unforgettable.

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Amazing writing of an incredible character!

Lenny Marks is a primary school teacher. For the most part, she keeps to herself and follows her routines. She buys her groceries at the same market, spends her nights at home watching her favorite show Friends, and plays Scrabble with a fictional Monica Geller. She eats the same meals every week and collects copies of her favorite book, The Hobbit. Lenny doesn't drive; instead, she uses her bike to get around.

Lately, people have been suggesting that she make friends or go to therapy. So, she decides to try making some friends at work and step out of her comfort zone. She is also starting to recall events from her childhood. She grew up in foster care after her mother left when she was eleven, and most of her memories from that time are buried deep in her mind.

As a reader, you can't help but wonder what truly happened to Lenny.

Lenny reminds me of Eleanor Oliphant and Molly Gray. She doesn’t always pick up on social cues, and some people try to take advantage of her— or at least, they think they can.

Lenny Marks Gets Away with Murder is a real attention-grabber from the start. The added element of a dog that needs saving makes it even more compelling.  A truly entertaining novel. A great debut!

Cliffhanger: No

4/5 Fangs

A complimentary copy was provided by St. Martin's Press via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Beyond Reasonable Doubt by Robert DugoniKeera Duggan #2

Title: Beyond Reasonable Doubt 

Series: Keera Duggan #2

Author: Robert Dugoni

Publisher: Thomas & Mercer

Release Date: October 22, 2024

A master manipulator accused of murder. An attorney sworn to defend her. Keera Duggan returns in a riveting novel of suspense by New York Times bestselling author Robert Dugoni.

When Jenna Bernstein, disgraced wunderkind CEO of a controversial biotech company, is accused of murdering her former partner and lover, she turns to Seattle attorney Keera Duggan to defend her. Keera is more than a master chess player who brings her intuitive moves into court—she’s Jenna’s childhood friend. But considering their history, Keera knows that where Jenna goes, trouble follows.

Three years earlier, Keera’s father successfully defended Jenna when she was tried for the killing of her company’s chief medical scientist who threatened to go public with allegations of corporate fraud. Keera knows Jenna too well. When she was a kid, Keera saw Jenna for what she a manipulative and frighteningly controlling sociopath. Now, with only circumstantial evidence against Jenna, Keera is willing to bury any trepidation she might have to defend a woman she believes, this time, to be innocent.

As the investigation gets underway and disturbing questions arise, Keera puts her trust in a client who swears nothing but the truth. If this is all just another devious game, Keera might be working to set a murderer free.

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Gripping courtroom thriller!

This is the second book in the Keera Duggan series.

Keera is now working as a defense attorney, having previously been pushed out of the prosecutor's office by her former boss and lover. She now works for her family’s defense law firm, which is still struggling financially, though it's doing a bit better after Keera’s recent win.

When Jenna Bernstein, the CEO of a biotech company, is accused of murder, she asks for Patsy Duggan to defend her once again. Jenna was previously accused of murdering a chief medical scientist a few years back, and at that time, Patsy defended her. However, Patsy is no longer taking cases as first chair—he’s focusing on his struggle with alcoholism. So, it’s up to Keera to decide whether to take the case and defend Jenna.

Keera is unsure whether she wants to take it. She’s known Jenna since they were kids and believes Jenna to be a sociopath, possibly even a psychopath.

Another great addition to the series! The courtroom scenes were thrilling, and Keera’s strategic approach—especially how she applies her knowledge of chess to her cases—was captivating.

The narration by Saskia Maarleveld, as always, is flawless.

Cliffhanger: No

4/5 Fangs

Her Deadly Game by Robert DugoniKeera Duggan #1

 

Title: Her Deadly Game

Series: Keera Duggan #1

Author: Robert Dugoni

Publisher: Thomas & Mercer

Release Date: March 28, 2023

A defense attorney is prepared to play. But is she a pawn in a master’s deadly match? A twisting novel of suspense by New York Times bestselling author Robert Dugoni.

Keera Duggan was building a solid reputation as a Seattle prosecutor, until her romantic relationship with a senior colleague ended badly. For the competitive former chess prodigy, returning to her family’s failing criminal defense law firm to work for her father is the best shot she has. With the right moves, she hopes to restore the family’s reputation, her relationship with her father, and her career.

Keera’s chance to play in the big leagues comes when she’s retained by Vince LaRussa, an investment adviser accused of murdering his wealthy wife. There’s little hard evidence against him, but considering the couple’s impending and potentially nasty divorce, LaRussa faces life in prison. The prosecutor is equally challenging: Miller Ambrose, Keera’s former lover, who’s eager to destroy her in court on her first homicide defense.

As Keera and her team follow the evidence, they uncover a complicated and deadly game that’s more than Keera bargained for. When shocking information turns the case upside down, Keera must decide between her duty to her client, her family’s legacy, and her own future.

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This is my first book by this author (I know, right?)

Keera Duggan worked for the prosecutor's office and was quite good at her job. However, after a not-so-friendly romantic split with her boss, Miller Ambrose, she left her position and joined her family's firm.

Her father, a famous defense attorney, is an alcoholic, and the firm is in financial jeopardy. They need an influx of money fast, and when Vince LaRussa, an investment adviser, is accused of murdering his disabled wife, Keera becomes his defense attorney.

Keera was a childhood chess prodigy. She used to compete and win, but she gave it all up when her dad showed up drunk at one of her competitions. She still plays chess online, and her latest competitor, the Dark Knight, has reignited her love for the game. Her dad taught her the ropes of chess when she was a kid, and she applies those strategic lessons to her cases. She’s always thinking several steps ahead to win them.

I loved this novel. Keera was a fantastic character, and there was enough family drama to keep me engaged, along with the gripping courtroom drama unfolding simultaneously. Her dad’s alcoholism felt very real, and the impact it had on all his children was portrayed authentically.

As soon as I finish this one, I’ll be starting her next book, which is already available!

Cliffhanger: No

5/5 Fangs

The President's Lawyer by Lawrence S. Robbins

 

Title: The President's Lawyer

Author: Lawrence S. Robbins

Publisher: Atria Books

Release Date: October 8, 2024

A high-stakes legal thriller that is perfect for fans of John Grisham and Scott Turow following a Washington, DC, litigator who is hired to defend his best friend, the former President of the United States, against a murder charge

After a long career as one of DC’s most powerful litigators, Rob Jacobson is faced with the case of a lifetime: the former President of the United States—his childhood best friend—has been accused of murdering his mistress.

Rob knows he’s the only one who can prove his friend’s innocence, but he is soon overwhelmed as he attempts to devise a strategy to defend an authoritative man with a taste for infidelity, serious anger issues, and unconventional sexual appetites. As the high-profile case unfurls, the troubled, intertwining pasts of the two men complicate Rob’s efforts and soon, doubts begin to grow in his head. Could his oldest friend truly be capable of murder or is something even darker at play?

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After my book friends—Jayme, Kaceey, and Michelle—raved about this book, I knew I had to give it a try.

The novel centers around former president John "Jack" Cutler, who is accused of murdering his mistress, Amanda Harper, a junior lawyer who worked for him in the White House Counsel’s Office. Her body was found at Rock Creek Park.

Jack asks his childhood friend and brilliant lawyer, Rob Jacobson, to defend him. At first, Rob isn’t sure he should take the case. He’s too close to it: he worked with Amanda and even had an affair with her. But Jack is his best friend, and the publicity could only help elevate his career.

This was an outstanding novel. The plot and narrative were both highly engaging. I particularly enjoyed all the courtroom scenes, and there was still the lingering question of who killed Amanda. Was Jack guilty?

Did I guess the ending? Partly. I figured out the identity of the murderer fairly early on.

The President's Lawyer is an incredible courtroom thriller. It was the debut novel of Lawrence S. Robbins, who sadly passed away on November 2nd.

Cliffhanger: No

4/5 Fangs

The Ex Vows by Jessica Joyce

Title: The Ex Vows 

Author: Jessica Joyce

Publisher: Berkley

Release Date: July 16, 2024

Estranged exes must stick close together to save their best friend’s wedding after a string of disasters in this swoony and steamy second-chance romance.

Georgia Woodward lives by her lists, none more so than the one about her ex, Eli Mora. It’s full of the ironclad dos and don’ts they’ve been following since she returned to the Bay Area after their cataclysmic breakup five years ago.

With the wedding of their mutual best friend, Adam, looming, and them about to step into their roles as best woman and man, Georgia’s never needed it more. She refuses to threaten their tight-knit friend group with her messy—and still very present—feelings. The rules on that list will keep her cool, calm, and compartmentalized.

What’s not on her list? Eli arriving from New York with a new rule-breaking attitude or the all-inclusive venue burning to the ground, leaving the bride and groom in dire straits. Nor does she anticipate Adam asking her and Eli to help him make a miracle happen. Together.

As Georgia and Eli rush up to Napa Valley to pull off the perfect wedding, their old chemistry comes back in technicolor. Somewhere between cake tastings gone wrong, disastrous DJ auditions, and Eli’s heated attention, Georgia starts recognizing the man she fell in love with before. And if she lets herself break her rules, she might find what they’re building isn’t the something old that ruined them—it’s a chance at something new.

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Sweet second-chance romance!

Georgia Woodward, the maid of honor at her best friend Adam’s wedding, is helping the couple plan the wedding of their dreams. When things start going wrong, she knows she has to step in. However, what she wasn’t expecting was for her ex, Eli Mora, to show up at the wedding venue and stay with her in the days leading up to the wedding. She knows she can't push him away—after all, Adam is also his best friend.

Five years ago, Georgia and Eli broke up. She had been living in New York with him, but their relationship suffered as he became consumed with work, leaving them with little time together. After the breakup, she returned to the West Coast and poured herself into her new job.

Seeing Eli again brings up emotions Georgia isn’t ready to confront. Her feelings for him are still very much alive, especially now that she notices how much he’s changed. He’s no longer the workaholic he used to be, and it seems like he might want Georgia back!

The Ex Vows featured likable and realistic characters. I could really feel how much Georgia and Eli loved each other, especially since they were friends before they were lovers. I was rooting for them to find their happiness together.

Cliffhanger: No

4/5 Fangs

A complimentary copy was provided by Berkley via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

They Are the Hunters by Faith Gardner

 

Title: They Are the Hunters

Author: Faith Gardner

Publisher: Mirror House Press

Release Date: January 11, 2024

The family that slays together, stays together.

The Hunters appear to be the textbook definition of a perfect family leading a charmed life. When the enigmatic Olivia West befriends teenage daughter Eliza, Olivia becomes one of the family—an “honorary Hunter.”

Here’s what they don’t know about Olivia: she’s planning a murder. And whether they like it or not, every member of this family is going to become an accomplice.

And here’s what Olivia doesn’t know about the Hunters: they’ll do just about anything to protect their reputation.

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As a fan of the Jolvix series, I couldn’t pass up another book by Faith Gardner.

This one was different; I would describe it more as a YA thriller, but it was nonetheless quite interesting.

The book would have been a 5 for me, except for the ending, which I found disappointing—but that’s just my opinion.

The premise revolves around the Hunter family: Angela and Carson are the parents, and Eliza and Ezra are their teenage children. On the surface, they seem perfect, but once you take a closer look, you begin to notice the cracks in their facade. They harbor secrets no one should discover. Unfortunately, Olivia, a sixteen-year-old girl who befriends Eliza and comes from a difficult home life, infiltrates their world, triggering a downward spiral for all of them.

Cliffhanger: No

4/5 Fangs

A complimentary copy was provided by Mirror House Press via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.