The Ghost Writer by Loreth Anne WhiteNever Tell Collection #2

Title: The Ghost Writer

Series: Never Tell Collection #2

Author: Loreth Anne White

Publisher: Amazon Original Stories

Release Date: March 19, 2024

A reclusive author with a lurid history is ready to divulge her most infamous secret to the world in a chilling short story of Gothic suspense by the bestselling author of The Maid’s Diary.

It’s an offer Grace Logan can’t ghostwrite the memoir of Claudia Blackwell, a successful novelist once accused of a ghastly triple murder. Did she really do it? In self-imposed exile in her island mansion, the frail Claudia is finally bringing her notorious past to a close. But for Grace, the end of Claudia’s story may be more than a sinister reveal…

Loreth Anne White’s The Ghost Writer is part of Never Tell, a heart-pounding collection of stories about secrets, lies, and mind games. They can be read or listened to in one sitting. Just keep the endings to yourself.

Amazon 

A quick read!

Grace Logan is hired as the ghostwriter for the infamous author Claudia Blackwell. Claudia was the main suspect in a triple murder but she was never convicted. Claudia says she is ready to tell her story of the events and Grace can't resist being the person who will write about it. However, Grace will have to leave her life and move to the island where Grace, a reclusive, lives. Is Grace ready for the isolation?

So many questions. Why did Claudia pick Grace? What happened all those years ago? Is Claudia ready to tell the truth?

Loreth Anne White is an auto-buy for me. I couldn't resist listening to the Ghost Writer. It was an attention grabber from the get-go

Cliffhanger: No

3.75/5 Fangs

Swan Song by Elin Hilderbrand Nantucket #4

 

Title: Swan Song

Series: Nantucket #4

Author: Elin Hilderbrand

Publisher: Little, Brown and Company

Release Date: June 11, 2024

In the grand finale of "queen of the beach read" Elin Hilderbrand's beloved Nantucket novels, there's a new couple in town... and they instantly shake things up. Amid the extravagant parties on land and sea, there's trouble on the island, forcing Chief of Police Ed Kapanesh to postpone his retirement and changing the fabric of life on the picturesque island forever...

After thirty-five years serving as the Chief of Police on the island of Nantucket, Ed Kapenash's heart can no longer take the stress. But his plans to retire are thwarted when, with only three days left to serve, he receives a phone call. A 22-million-dollar summer home, recently purchased by the flashy new couple in town, the Richardsons, has burned to the ground. The Richardsons are far from hurt—in fact, they're out on the water, throwing a lavish party on their yacht—but when news of the fire reaches them, they discover that their personal assistant has vanished. The Chief is well-acquainted with the Richardsons, and his daughter is best friends with the now-missing girl, leaving him no choice but to postpone his retirement and take on the double case.

On a small island like Nantucket, the Richardsons shook things up from the second they stepped on to the scene, throwing luxurious parties and doing whatever they could to gain admittance to the coveted lunches at the Field & Oar Club (with increasing desperation). They instantly captured the attention of local real estate agent Fast Eddie, and the town gossip Blond Sharon, both dealing with their own personal dramas. Blond Sharon is going through a divorce, and in order to avoid becoming a cliché, she's enrolled in a creative writing class, putting her natural affinity for scandal towards a more noble purpose. To solve the case of the fire and track down his daughter's best friend, the Chief will have to string together the pieces of the lives of all of these characters and more, rallying his strength for his final act of service to the tight-knit community he knows and loves.

The last of Elin Hilderbrand's bestselling Nantucket novels, Swan Song is a propulsive medley of glittering gatherings, sun-soaked drama, wisdom and heart, featuring the return of some of her most beloved characters, including, most importantly, the beautiful and timeless island of Nantucket itself.

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I love going back to Nantucket for the summer and immersing myself in the characters Elin comes up with.

Two young women meet on the ferry going to Nantucket.

Casey is the daughter of the chief of police. She is an ICU nurse and after losing a newborn in the NICU and realizing the woman she loves is marrying someone else, she decides to leave LA and go back home.

Coco is the other woman on the boat. She is new to the area. She was working in the Virgin Islands where she met the Richardsons. On the spot, Mr Richardson offers her the position as their personal assistant. Coco has a dual reason for accepting. First, she needs the money and second, Bo Richardson is a movie producer and Coco has just finished her first screenplay and she believes this could be the perfect opportunity for her to get it made into a movie.

At the beginning of the summer, The Richardsons buy a large home in Nantucket and pretty soon they make friends all over. Inviting them to the most coveted parties in town. However, by the end of the summer, their house has burned to the ground and Coco is missing.

The Chief of police who is ready to retire after being on the force for over 3 decades, is informed of the fire and Coco's disappearance. He knows that he needs to help with the investigation and find Coco. So many questions are going through his head. Who burned the house? Was it an accident or arson? Was Coco the one who set it up? Did Coco swim away or did someone push her off the boat?

I enjoyed this one a lot. I decided to do the audio and Bennett was fantastic. The characters were all interesting. Some are new, some are old. I was rooting for blonde Sharon to have a happy ending too.

Cliffhanger: No

4/5 Fangs

The Swimmer by Loreth Anne White

Title: The Swimmer 

Author: Loreth Anne White

Publisher: Montlake

Release Date: September 10, 2024

A deviously twisty novel of psychological suspense about secrets, neighbors, a need to belong, and murder by the award-winning author of The Maid’s Diary.

Socially awkward Chloe Cooper divides her time between dog walking, bartending, caring for her ailing mother, and at a safe distance, watching people and inventing the stories of their lives. Like Chloe’s new neighbors: glamorous influencer Jemma Spengler and Jemma’s husband, Adam, a renowned surgeon. They’re attractive, wealthy, and in a house of open windows, so exposed.

A move to the Pacific Northwest is supposed to be a fresh start for Jemma and Adam. It’s a renewed commitment to a marriage fractured by secrets. A chance to work through the tragic losses in their past. For Jemma, however, this new beginning also comes with an unnerving sensation that she’s being watched.

Then, on a fog-shrouded beach early in the morning, Chloe witnesses the murder of a swimmer. Her suspicions aroused, she suddenly sees her neighbors in a sinister new light. But as a detective and her partner close in, nothing is quite as it seems. Because the Spenglers are not the only ones with secrets. And Chloe isn’t the only one who’s been watching.

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A twisty psychological thriller!

Chloe is taking care of her mother who is dying from cancer. Besides being a caregiver, she is a bartender and a dog walker. Chloe who is a loner spends her time watching people. Her newest addiction is watching her new neighbors Jemma and Dr. Adam Spengler, from her apartment window.

Every morning Chloe takes her mother's dog for a walk on Jerrin's beach. Then, one morning Chloe witnesses a jet ski hitting a swimmer and then returning to hit the swimmer again. Chloe believes there is a connection between the swimmer and her new neighbors.

The swimmer had me turning the pages quickly. As I read, I started liking Chloe and was rooting for her. Jemma felt manipulative to me and I wasn't sure about her.

Loreth Anne White always does a great job at piquing my interest from early on. This one was no exception. I liked the addition of multiple chapters "It's Criminal: The Chloe Cooper Story". It gave us so much more detail about what happened. The best part was seeing Trinity Scott in this one too. She was the podcaster from Beneath's Devil Bridge (which I enjoyed too).

I'm looking forward to her next book. Always.

Cliffhanger: No

4/5 Fangs

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

Long Time Gone by Charlie Donlea

 

Title: Long Time Gone

Author: Charlie Donlea

Publisher: Kensington

Release Date: May 21, 2024

When DNA results reveal a disturbing connection to the mysterious disappearance of a famous baby nearly three decades ago, a forensic scientist is plunged into a dangerous search for answers in this engrossing, propulsive new novel from the internationally bestselling author of Twenty Years Later.

Thirty years ago, Baby Charlotte vanished. Today, she’s still in danger.

When Dr. Sloan Hastings submits her DNA to an online genealogy site for a research assignment, her goal is to better understand the treasure-trove of genetic information contained on ancestry websites. Brilliant and driven, Sloan is embarking on a fellowship in forensic pathology, training under the renowned Dr. Livia Cutty.

Sloan has one reservation about involving herself in the she’s adopted. Grateful for a loving home, she’s never considered tracking down her biological parents. The results of her search are shocking. Sloan’s DNA profile suggests her true identity is that of Charlotte Margolis, aka “Baby Charlotte”, who captured the nation’s attention when she mysteriously disappeared, along with her parents, in July 1995. Despite an exhaustive search, the family was never seen again, and no suspects were named in the case.

Sloan’s discovery leads her to the small town of Cedar Creek, Nevada, the site of her disappearance. It also leads her to Sheriff Eric Stamos. The Margolis family’s influence and power permeate every corner of Harrison County, and Eric is convinced that in learning the truth about her past, Sloan can also help discover what happened to Eric’s father, who died under suspicious circumstances soon after he started investigating the case her disappearance.

Slowly, over the course of a stifling summer, Sloan begins getting to know her relatives. Though initially welcoming, the Margolis family is also mysterious and tight-lipped. Not everyone seems happy about Sloan’s return, or the questions she’s asking. And the more she and Eric learn, the more apparent it becomes that the answers they both seek are buried in a graveyard of Margolis family secrets that some will do anything to keep hidden—no matter who else has to die…

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A good thriller!

Dr. Sloan Hastings is starting her forensic pathology fellowship. As part of her fellowship, she needs to do research. She decides to center hers on DNA. Due to this, she decides to submit her own DNA to an ancestor website. Sloan knows she is adopted and even though she had never wanted to meet her biological parents, this could bring insight into her planned research.

No one is more shocked than Sloan when her DNA comes back proving that Sloan is none other than Charlotte Margolis, "baby Charlotte", who went missing with her parents back in 1995. The Margolis family has power and connections everywhere but what do they know about her disappearance?

After making the discovery, Sloan is approached by Sheriff Eric Stamos. His father was the Sheriff in 1995 investigating a hit-and-run case where her mother was a suspect. Just a few days after her parents disappeared, the Sheriff died from an overdose. Eric believes his father was murdered and he needs Sloan's help to prove it.

Quite a compelling plotline with remarkable characters. The suspense was just right.

I'm looking forward to reading another book by this author.

Cliffhanger: No

4/5 Fangs

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

The Unquiet Bones by Loreth Anne White

Title: The Unquiet Bones

Author: Loreth Anne White

Publisher: Montlake

Release Date: March 5, 2024

A shocking discovery of human bones reopens an almost fifty-year-old cold case—and rips apart the lives of a group of friends—in a riveting novel by Loreth Anne White, the Amazon Charts and Washington Post bestselling author of The Maid’s Diary.

When human bones are found beneath an old chapel in the woods, evidence suggests the remains could be linked to the decades-old case of missing teen Annalise Jansen.

Homicide detective Jane Munro—pregnant and acutely attuned to the preciousness of life—hopes the grim discovery will finally bring closure to the girl’s family. But for a group of Annalise’s old friends, once dubbed the Shoreview Six by the media, it threatens to expose a terrible pledge made on an autumn night forty-seven years ago.

The friends are now highly respected, affluent members of their communities, and none of them ever expected the dark chapter in their past to resurface. But as Jane and forensic anthropologist Dr. Ella Quinn peel back the layers of secrets, the group begins to fracture. Will one cave? Will they turn on each other?

The investigation takes a sharp turn when Jane discovers a second body—that of the boy long blamed for Annalise’s disappearance. As the bones tell their story, the group learns just how far each will go to guard their own truth.

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Interesting new detective!

A body has been found beneath an old chapel. The body is of a young woman. The speculation is that the body is none other than Annalise Jansen, a teenager who was last seen after leaving a party 47 years ago.

Homicide detective Jane Munro is in charge of cold cases. Her personal life has been nothing but a living nightmare. Her fiance disappeared months ago after going on a hike never to be seen again. She is six months pregnant and the stress is getting to her.

Jane is leading the investigation with her partner. A forensic anthropologist, Dr. Ella Quinn, is helping with the case. She provides multiple interesting facts about the bones including one that could be the motive for murder.

Besides Jane wanting to find the answers, a reporter, Angela Sheldrick, follows the story too. If she is successful, she can get her own show. 

When Annalise went missing another young man disappeared too. When the cops interviewed Annalise's friends, who were dubbed by the media as the Shoreview Six. they denied any knowledge of her whereabouts. Are they hiding something?

I listened to the audiobook and the narrator did a great job keeping all different POVs separate. I found the forensic pathology aspects of the storyline to be quite appealing.

My favorite character was Jane and she deserves another book. There is still so much to explore about her past and future. I felt that multiple things were left unfinished leaving the door wide open for a series. Just a thought.

Cliffhanger: No

3.75/5 Fangs

Seven Summers by Paige Toon

 

Title: Seven Summers

Author: Paige Toon

Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons

Release Date: May 21, 2024

Six summers to fall in love. One summer to change everything.

Liv and Finn meet six summers ago working in a bar on the rugged Cornish coastline, their futures full of promise. When a night of passion ends in devastating tragedy they are bound together inextricably. But Finn’s life is in LA with his band, and Liv’s is in Cornwall with her family—so they make a promise. Finn will return every year, and if they are single they will spend the summer together.

This summer Liv crosses paths with Tom—a mysterious new arrival in her hometown. As the wildflowers and heather come into bloom, they find themselves falling for one another. For the first time Liv can imagine a world where her heart isn’t broken every autumn. Now Liv must make an impossible choice. And when she discovers the shocking reason that Tom has left home, she’ll need to trust her heart even more . . .

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Seven Summers is a love story but not a rom-com.

Liv is an artist who was abroad in Italy studying her craft. After finishing her classes, she returns to Cornwall and her family home. Her plan is to move to London to continue pursuing her dream of sculpting. In the meantime, she takes a job at Seaglass, the local restaurant. Here is where she meets Flinn, a musician playing with the local band.

Liv and Finn fall for each other quite quickly but how will things work for them? She lives in the UK and Finn lives in the States and only comes to Cornwall for the summers. 

After tragedy strikes, they decide not to keep in contact but to see each other in Cornwall every summer unless one of them falls in love with someone else.

On the seventh summer, we meet Tom, a newcomer who will stir things around. Liv and Tom have an undeniable connection and one that could be worth exploring.

Seven Summers takes you through two timelines: the Present Summer and through the last six.  The story deals with friendship, grief, heartbreak, personal growth, disabilities, and love. 

Paige Toon really knows how to write. Her characters were all believable and relatable and despite loving Finn, I fell in love with Tom too. 

This was my first book from this author but it won't be the last.  

Cliffhanger: No

4.5/5 Fangs

A complimentary copy was provided by G.P. Putnam's Sons via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Mad River by John Sandford Virgil Flowers #6

Title: Mad River 

Series: Virgil Flowers #6

Author: John Sandford

Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons

Release Date: October 2, 2012

They thought they were Bonnie and Clyde. And what's-his-name, the sidekick. Three teenagers with dead-end lives, chips on their shoulders, and guns. The first person they killed was a woman during a robbery. The second was incidental. Simply in the way. Then? Hell, why not keep on going?

It's not until Bureau of Criminal Apprehension investigator Virgil Flowers steps into the Shinder murder scene that the clues begin to come together. As the crime spree cuts a swath through rural Minnesota, a growing army of cops join Virgil in trying to track the teenagers down. But even Virgil doesn't realize what's about to happen.

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Mad River is the sixth book in this series.

The novel begins with a robbery gone wrong. A woman is killed and the perpetrators are teenagers: Jimmy Sharp, Becky Welsh, and Tom McCall.

After leaving the victim's house, the killers realize their car won't work and without a second thought, they go ahead and kill a man and steal his car.

Then, Lucas Davenport calls his best BCA agent and puts Virgil Flowers on the case.

Virgil is trying to catch them fast before the local small-town cops get to them first and perform their own version of justice.

As the body count increases, Virgil is running out of time.

Virgil is quite an entertaining character. He doesn't look or act like your usual detective. He likes indie rock bands and enjoys his off-time fishing.

This continues to be a good series.

Cliffhanger: No

3.75/5 Fangs