BooksRBrainFood: July 2020

Review: The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse

The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

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Review: The Vacation

The Vacation by T.M. Logan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Another page-turner from TM Logan. I adore his writing and this was no exception. This is a fast paced thriller that keeps you guessing throughout. This was my experience with his last thriller as well and this one is as good.
My only critique is about the choices in title and release. This was originally written and released in the UK (about a year earlier) under the title "The Holiday" and then "adapted" for US release by trying to make the title more American-friendly. Number one, I don't like the different release dates between the UK and US, as either can simply order from the other country. And secondly, the story takes place in Europe and the characters are clearly not American, so then why did some of the terminology/sayings need to be Americanized? I would argue that anyone who reads authors from the UK or other European countries, expects the differences and has adapted to it. That is just my opinion but I always find slang or phrases or words in an altered book to not quite be right and would rather it not be attempted.
Definitely recommend, especially for thriller lovers and fans of TM Logan.
Thank you for the early copy for review.
#TheVacation #Netgalley #StMartinsPress

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Review: The Suicide House

The Suicide House by Charlie Donlea
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is my first Charlie Donlea book and once I realized it is the second in a series, I was concerned that would make it less enjoyable. Absolutely the contrary! These books are meant to stand alone and only have overlapping characters and references to previous books, but the stories are completely unto themselves. Do not let the series aspect keep you from picking up this one first.
This is a well paced thriller set at an isolated prep school for high school kids. When they start their junior year, a small group are tapped by the senior class to be inducted into a secret society on campus. This particular year, as a group of 6 juniors are going through the various challenges to enter the society and things do not go as expected.
The main characters that are originally introduced in the first book, are a couple, Rory and Lane, who are the brains behind solving some of the most difficult cold cases. This is why each book can stand-alone, the setting and cases change, but these two are the glue holding the series together. In The Suicide House, they are brought into this prep school case, where two murders have occurred during the initiation into the secret society and the case that appears to be closed may have holes. This pair are intriguing and unique characters whose story is interesting on its own. But there are layers and layers to this story.
I was immersed in this world and am looking forward to going back into the previous books by this author.
Highly recommend!!
Thanks for the early copy for review.
#TheSuicideHouse #Netgalley #KensingtonBooks #Kensington

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Review: The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires

The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

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Review: The Shadows

The Shadows by Alex North
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I was hooked on this story very quickly!
I was reading the physical copy of this and enjoying it but today received the audiobook and it really added to the whole atmosphere and creepiness of the story. The narrators, #JohnHefferman and #HannahArterton did a wonderful job capturing the sense of fear and foreboding in this book. Once again Alex North has brought a terrific story through his writing.
The story is compelling in the plot and dual timeline, being told from the perspective of the characters and story of a horrific murder that occurred 25 years before in this small town and the current day timeline of one the main characters being summoned back to town for his mother's failing health. Paul had moved away for university and tried to not think about the events he lived through as a teen. This strategy was somewhat effective until he returned back home to handle his mother's final days. He is quickly drawn back into the previous events and then current events that seem to follow the same course. I enjoyed some of the locales and the references to North's prior book, The Whisper Man.
My only critique of the story is a pet peeve of mine, and may have to occur when marketing the same book in the UK and USA. There are many phrases and terms used throughout the audiobook that were believable as read by narrators with UK accents and the story is clearly set in England. There is also the reverse where terms are artificially changed for the US crowd and it sounds awkward with an English narrator. I found several instances where the physical book had one version and the audiobook had the other. I don't believe there is anything lost in a novel that is kept in its original form, be that UK or USA. Most of people reading these books have enough experience with the differences in terms that we get it.
5/5
#Netgalley #NetgalleyAudiobooks #TheShadows #CeledonBooks #MacmillanAudio

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