2 Bloggers 1 Series - Triptych (Will Trent #1)

 

After finally finishing Karin Slaughter's Grant County series last year, Stormi and I had always planned on starting the companion Will Trent series.  I never stopped to think how hard it would be to get my hands on a copy since the TV series recently started but I FINALLY managed to snag a large print copy at one of my local libraries.  So read on to see my thoughts and then hop over to Stormi's at Storm Reads to see her's.

TITLE: Triptych (Will Trent #1)

AUTHOR: Karin Slaughter

PUBLISHER:: Delacorte Press

PUBLISHING DATE: August 16, 2006

SOURCE: Library

PAGES: 393

FROM GOODREADS: In the city of Atlanta, women are dying—at the hands of a killer who signs his work with a single, chilling act of mutilation. Leaving behind enough evidence to fuel a frenzied police hunt, this cunning madman is bringing together dozens of lives, crossing the boundaries of wealth and race. And the people who are chasing him must cross those boundaries too. Among them is Michael Ormewood, a veteran detective whose marriage is hanging by a thread—and whose arrogance and explosive temper are threatening his career. And Angie Polaski, a beautiful vice cop who was once Michael's lover before she became his enemy.

But another player has entered the game: a loser ex-con who has stumbled upon the killer's trail in the most coincidental of ways—someone who may be the key to breaking the case wide open...

MY THOUGHTS: So Triptych is your basic police procedural mystery and as I have read quite a few Slaughter books by now, I expected it to be gory and full or twists and turns.  I wasn't wrong in that aspect but I was a bit shocked by how montonous I found this one.  Several women in Atlanta have been killed in similar ways hinting at a serial killer on the loose.  The local police officer. who I disliked right from the start, is looking into the matter and Will Trent, an famous or maybe infamous is a better description, is assigned to assist.  The men do not really like each other, possibly due to the fact they have both had a relationship with the same woman in the past, and lots of ego-filled posturing occurs.  The investigation is further complicated by the presence of an ex-con who may or may not be linked to the killings and possibly in more ways than one.

So, I have to ask.  Does Karin Slaughter have an issue with female law enforcement?  ANgie, the main female officer in this book, is almost a carbon copy of Lena, along with her hot-mess of a life, who was prominent in the Grant County series.  And I couldn't stand Lena so there was no hope for Angie right from the start.  I also found Will Trent kind of dull and reallly hope the series picks up in the next installment.  The mystery was decent but it was written as to where you pretty much see what is going on as it progresses and the narrative basically just explains what you've already been told.

As I mentioned, I do plan in continuing with a few more books because I know this series is well-loved.  I just hope some things change and that I find them more enjoyable that this one.

RATING: 3 PAWS

2 Bloggers 1 Book

 

So Stormi had another interesting pick for her thriller project this month and I jumped right on the bandwagon and picked up as copy as well.  I do believe I enjoyed this more than she did so she may be regretting her choice but I am glad she brought this book to my attention.  So, check out my review and then hop over to Stormi's at Storm Reads to see her's.

TITLE: One of the Girls

AUTHOR: Lucy Clarke

PUBLISHER: G.P. Putnam's Sons

PUBLISHING DATE: June 28, 2022

SOURCE: Library    

PAGES: 432

FROM GOODREADS: It was supposed to be the perfect weekend away. Six very different women travel to a sun-soaked Greek island for a bachelorette trip, to celebrate Lexi’s upcoming wedding. From the glorious ocean views to the quaint tavernas and whitewashed streets, the vacation seems too good to be true. But dangerous undercurrents run beneath the sunset swims and midnight cocktails – because each of the women is hiding a secret. Someone is determined to make sure that Lexi’s marriage never happens – and that one of them doesn’t leave the island alive.

Gripping, twisty, and full of sun-soaked suspense, this timely thriller examines the joys of female friendship…as well as the deadly consequences when a relationship goes wrong.

MY THOUGHTS: At the beginning I didn't have high hopes for this book.  We are following 6 women who are headed to a Greek Island for Lexi's hen party prior to her impending wedding.  Some of the women are part of an old friend group and a few are new.  It took a while for my brain keep track of who was who at the beginning but since I had the physical copy, I easily caught on.  

From the start the reader is clued into the fact that someone has died, and the book unravels what leads to that incident without ever revealing the identity of the victim.  The reader is given back stories and clues and to be honest, I had a few candidates I desperately wanted to nominate for the role.  This book held plenty of twists and turns and even though in my opinion most were predictable, it was still a fun ride.  And at the end, I was pleasantly surprised and a bit shocked at the conclusion.  

My main complaint with this book is that I find it highly unbelievable that 6 people, especially some who are new to this long-established friend group, have lives that are so entwined that the plot is even possible.  At times I couldn't put this down and for me, it was a quick read.  I really liked that we got chapters from each of the girls' perspectives, some more than others, and was overall satisfied with the ending.  I don't think this book has gotten a lot of hype but for people who enjoy thrillers, I do think it's worth consideration.  

RATING: 4 PAWS

2 Bloggers 1 Book - Daisy Darker

 

So Stormi has made it one of her goals to read more thrillers this year so she is including me in on the ones I am interested in.  So January started out with a bang in that I don't remember the last time I actively despised a book so bad.  So read on for my thoughts and then hop over to Stormi's at Storm Reads to see her's.

TITLE: Daisy Darker

AUTHOR: ALice Feeney

PUBLISHER: Flatiron Books

PUBLISHING DATE: August 30, 2022

PAGES: 352

SOURCE: Library

FROM GOODREADS: After years of avoiding each other, Daisy Darker’s entire family is assembling for Nana’s 80th birthday party in Nana’s crumbling gothic house on a tiny tidal island. Finally back together one last time, when the tide comes in, they will be cut off from the rest of the world for eight hours.

The family arrives, each of them harboring secrets.  Then at the stroke of midnight, as a storm rages, Nana is found dead.  And an hour later, the next family member follows...

Trapped on an island where someone is killing them one by one, the Darkers must reckon with their present mystery as well as their past secrets, before the tide comes in and all is revealed.

MY THOUGHTS: I went into Daisy Darker expecting to enjoy myself.  I read Rock, Paper, Scissors last year and loved it.  Let's just say, now I'm gonna have to pick up a third by this author so I can figure out which read was the fluke.

This novel starts out as a very eclectic, very estranged and very odd family gathers on the island home of their Nana to celebrate her birthday.  Years ago, Nana had been told she would not live past 80 so she believes this birthday may very well be her last.  Early on we learn that most of the family is angry at Daisy for some reason, and as the book unfolds, we learn what happened years ago which led to this family being rather dysfunctional.  Suddenly the family members begin to drop like flies and the remaining members are trying to determine who is out to get them.

I only found one likeable character in this whole novel, and it was the dog!  While I don't have to like any of the characters in order to enjoy a book, in this case, it might have helped to have someone to connect to because as it was, they couldn't die fast enough for me.  I get that Daisy had a rough childhood, but she was so depressing and self-deprecating that I really couldn't take much more.  And the rest of her family and friends?  They were just as bad.  I did kind of like Nana but as the synopsis indicates, she isn't around for long.  If I was her, I'd have been grateful to be the first to go as well.  The reader gets the impression early on that she wasn't a big fan of her family members and Feeney does a good job to make the reader understand why.

And finally, the ending.  I will not add any spoilers but if you have read this book, if you know, you know.  I feel the ending was a complete copout and it had me so angry that I wanted to throw the book in the road and pray someone rolled over it repeatedly.  

I believe this is a book you will read and either love or hate.  I doubt there is much middle ground.  While I cannot recommend it, I also won't discourage anyone to check it out for themselves.  I'm giving this author one more chance but that's it.

RATING: 2 PAWS

2 Bloggers 1 Series

 

So this month Stormi and I are buddy reading not one, but two in the Virgin River series.  We are on target to definitely finish it up in 2023 and I'm pretty impressed with how we're doing.  In our next post, you'll see why we were so anxious to slate two on the schedule this month.  So check out my thoughts and then hop over to Stormi's at Storm Reads to see her's.

TITLE: Harvest Moon (Virgin River #13)
AUTHOR: RObyn Carr

PUBLISHER: MIRA

PUBLISHING DATE: February 22, 2011

PAGES: 361

SOURCE: Hoopla

FROM GOODREADS: Rising sous-chef Kelly Matlock's sudden collapse at work is a wake-up call. Disillusioned and burned out, she's retreated to her sister Jillian's house in Virgin River to rest and reevaluate.

Puttering in Jill's garden and cooking with her heirloom vegetables is wonderful, but Virgin River is a far cry from San Francisco. Kelly's starting to feel a little too unmotivated…until she meets Lief Holbrook. The handsome widower looks more like a lumberjack than a sophisticated screenwriter—a combination Kelly finds irresistible. But less appealing is Lief's rebellious stepdaughter, Courtney. She's the reason they moved from L.A., but Courtney's finding plenty of trouble even in Virgin River.

Kelly's never fallen for a guy with such serious baggage, but some things are worth fighting for. Besides, a bratty teenager can't be any worse than a histrionic chef…right?

MY THOUGHTS: No real spoiler but this installment kind of hints at a cheating trope which I have to admit, never really sits well with me.  However, it quickly pulls it out of the dumpster and a few chapters in, the MC Kelly, who I found very problematic in the beginning, became more likable and I became invested in her story.  For a few reasons, Kelly is leaving the big city and her fast paced job in a famous restaurant.  She goes to stay with her sister in VIrgin River and soon meets Lief and his rebellious teen, Courtney.

I really liked the dynamic between Lief and Kelly and it was really nice to not have a baby-focused Virgin River book.  I have to admit the daughter Courtney is probably my favorite character in the book and it's fun to see her growth and learn what makes her tick.  We get to see some of our old series faves but not as much as in the past.  Carr has created such a huge cast of characters that it only makes sense that it's harder and harder to work some of the people in to each installment.  

Overall, this is another strong installment, and I can basically crank these books out in a day or two, even when working, so they've become my go-to reads for something light and quick in between some heavier reads.  I'm so glad we added two to out December plans so stay soon for another review soon!

RATING: 4 PAWS

2 Bloggers 1 Book - The Witching Hour

 

So, this time around Stormi and I tried a new series.  I read the entire trilogy when I was in high school/college and loved it so much. I'm pretty sure I've been on to Stormi for several years to read it.  Well, we finally did - or should I say we tried.  Read on to see my thoughts.  In order to make it a tad more interesting, I'm doing my review in the form of a conversation between Past Me (PM) and Current Me (CM).  Then hop over and see what Stormi thought at Storm Reads  ... and if she is still talking to me.

TITLE: The WItching Hour (Lives of the Mayfair Witches #1)

AUTHOR: Anne Rice

PUBLISHER: Alfred A. Knopf

PUBLISHING DATE: October 1, 1990

PAGES: 965

SOURCE: Own

FROM GOODREADS: Demonstrating, once again, her gift for spellbinding storytelling and the creation of legend, Anne Rice makes real for us a great dynasty of witches—a family given to poetry and to incest, to murder and to philosophy; a family that, over the ages, is itself haunted by a powerful, dangerous, and seductive being.

On the veranda of a great New Orleans house, now faded, a mute and fragile woman sits rocking... and The Witching Hour begins.

It begins in our time with a rescue at sea.  Rowan Mayfair, a beautiful woman, a brilliant practitioner of neurosurgery—aware that she has special powers but unaware that she comes from an ancient line of witches—finds the drowned body of a man off the coast of California and brings him to life.  He is Michael Curry, who was born in New Orleans and orphaned in childhood by fire on Christmas Eve, who pulled himself up from poverty, and who now, in his brief interval of death, has acquired a sensory power that mystifies and frightens him.

As these two, fiercely drawn to each other, fall in love and—in passionate alliance—set out to solve the mystery of her past and his unwelcome gift, the novel moves backward and forward in time from today's New Orleans and San Francisco to long-ago Amsterdam and a château in the France of Louis XIV.  An intricate tale of evil unfolds—an evil unleashed in seventeenth-century Scotland, where the first "witch," Suzanne of the Mayfair, conjures up the spirit she names Lasher... a creation that spells her own destruction and torments each of her descendants in turn.

From the coffee plantations of Port au Prince, where the great Mayfair fortune is made and the legacy of their dark power is almost destroyed, to Civil War New Orleans, as Julien—the clan's only male to be endowed with occult powers—provides for the dynasty its foothold in America, the dark, luminous story encompasses dramas of seduction and death, episodes of tenderness and healing.  And always—through peril and escape, tension and release—there swirl around us the echoes of eternal war: innocence versus the corruption of the spirit, sanity against madness, life against death.  With a dreamlike power, the novel draws us, through circuitous, twilight paths, to the present and Rowan's increasingly inspired and risky moves in the merciless game that binds her to her heritage. And in New Orleans, on Christmas Eve, this strangest of family sagas is brought to its startling climax.

MY THOUGHTS: 
PM: Man, I loved this book.  It's so great everyone should read it.  The witches, the New Orleans atmosphere, the creepy characters.  It's all so great I'm sure it's gonna be one of my all-time favorite reads.  I carried this book around in my car for years I loved it so much.

CM:  Yea, it was an all-time favorite until you tried to read it again.  You were in college when you read this.  Are you sure you weren't influenced by something else?  And as for it being in the car for years, I'm pretty sure it was in the trunk from where you moved and you just left it there.

PM:  No, Anne Rice is a wonderful writer.  I'm going to read everything she comes out with. The woman is a genius. 

CM: In all honestly, you've read three books from her in the past 30 years, she can't be THAT much of a favorite.  And as for her being the best???  Do you know how many other books you are going to read in your lifetime? You should probably hold back on making judgement calls after falling in love with one book.  And I'm pretty sure she's weird.

PM: Well, more people definitely need to read this and man, it's so good, they should make a series.  I'm so glad it was almost 1000 pages long.  More pages equal more to love.

CM:  Yea, that Anne Rice sure was a wordy woman.  And you didn't even manage to make it past 400 pages this time around.  If it wasn't for the fact that you finished "Little Heaven" which she DNF'ed, I'd say Stormi might not do any more buddy reads with you.  How did you convince her to read such drivel? How much description do one really need about the Louisiana heat and the decrepit porch or the growing kudzu?  That guy should have hit his head when he went off the bank into the ocean and died.  Book over.

PM:  You don't know what you're talking about.  You're so lucky they finally are making a series.  And the relationship between Michael and Rowan is so romantic.

CM:  Pretty sure you had a pretty low bar for romance back then.  Yep I'm lucky alright.  I can't even bring myself to watch the new Vampire series after being scarred by Tom Cruise as a would-be romantic bloodsucker years ago.  I'm not so sure I'll be tuning in to the witch one.  On the other hand, it might be somewhat better than the book but seeing as how I didn't finish it this time around, I'll probably never know!  I still think you were on something.

RATING: DNF

2 Bloggers 1 Book - Wild Man Creek (Virgin River #12)

 

If you would have told me the one series Stormi and I would have continued on with when we started this project would be the Virgin River series, I would have thought you were nuts.  This was really NEVER on my radar until Netflix released the show, but I've really come to love both the books and the Netflix adaptation. So this month we read another one and we actually have 2 slated for December.  So read on to see what I thought and then hop over to Stormi's at Storm Reads to see her's.

TITLE: Wild Man Creek (Virgin River #12)

AUTHOR: Robyn Carr

PUBLISHER: MIRA Books

PUBLISHING DATE: January 25, 2011

PAGES: 361

SOURCE: Hoopla

FROM GOODREADS: Colin Riordan came to Virgin River to recuperate from a horrific helicopter crash, the scars of which he bears inside and out. His family is wonderfully supportive, but it's his art that truly soothes his troubled soul.

Stung personally and professionally by an ill-advised affair, PR guru Jillian Matlock has rented an old Victorian with a promising garden in Virgin River. She's looking forward to cultivating something other than a corporate brand.

Both are looking to simplify, not complicate, their lives, but when Jillian finds Colin at his easel in her yard, there's an instant connection. And in Virgin River, sometimes love is the simplest choice of all….

MY THOUGHTS: This installment continues on with the book's exploration of the Riordan brothers.  We've seen glimpses of all of them in the past few books and now it's Colin's time to shine.  COlin is still recovering from a major military air crash which left both his spirit and body broken.  He goes to Virgin River to plan his next steps and ends up meeting Jillian.  Jill is coming off a bad corporate work experience and trying to find her way as well.  Her way ends up in a garden and one day she stumbles across Colin who is painting on her property.  She encourages him to explore his art and he encourages her to explore her love of all things garden related and as they say, the rest is history.  

As far as the series goes, the relationship in this book was almost smoother than most of the others.  Yes, they both had their issues and yes, it was not going to be easy all the time, but it wasn't so much drama that it sent me off the deep end.  The book also has a good side story of Jack and Denny but for the most part, not many of our old faves pop up. Which might be good because as much as I love Mel, her name has been synonmous with drama the past book or two.

My only real complaint in this book is that the author really goes overkill on talking about all of Jill's gardening, planting and harvesting.  It got a bit old but overall, I still loved this book.  The author is also pretty good at setting up the next book and I have my suspicions on who it will focus on.  Virgin River is a series that keeps on giving and the cozy reads I need from time to time.

RATING: 4 PAWS

2 Bloggers 1 Series - Faithless

 

So, Stormi and I continued on with the Grant County series this month.  Only one more to go until we finish this series and then we plan on starting fresh on the spin-off Will Trent series in January 2023. Read on to see how this installment holds up, I think so far books #1, #2, and #3 have all gotten 5 paw reviews from my but book #4 fell to 4 paws.  Then hop over to Storm Reads to see Stormi's thoughts.

TITLE: Faithless (Grant Co. #4)

AUTHOR: Karin Slaughter

PUBLISHER: Delacorte Press 

PUBLISHING DATE: August 30, 2005

PAGES: 576

SOURCE: Library

FROM GOODREADS: The victim was buried alive in the Georgia woods—then killed in a horrifying fashion. When Sara Linton and Jeffrey Tolliver stumble upon the body, both become consumed with finding out who killed the pretty, impeccably dressed young woman. And for Sara and Jeffrey, a harrowing journey begins, one that will test their own turbulent relationship and draw dozens of lives into the case.

Lena Adams is one of them. A Grant County detective for years, she has her own reasons for being drawn to this case and a fierce drive to see justice done. For these three people, who have each seen the darkest side of human nature, the body of the murdered girl is but the first in a series of shocking and sordid revelations.

Now, as Jeffrey and Sara narrow the field of suspects, they must confront their own doubts and indiscretions, while Lena Adams sees herself reflected in the frightened eyes of a battered woman who may be the key figure in the case. As Faithless builds to a stunning and unforgettable climax, Karin Slaughter masterfully brings together strands of interlocking lives, family secrets, and hidden passions with one astounding truth: the identity of a killer who is more evil and dangerous than anyone could have guessed.

MY THOUGHTS: I really love all the elements of Slaughter's mysteries in each installment so far.  They are almost always dark and twisty with all kinds of evil and morally grey characters.  I rarely guess the outcomes or see the twists and since I read this book, which is close to 600 pages, in only a little over a 24-hour timespan, you can say it definitely had me hooked.  Jeffrey and Sara are taking an afternoon stroll in the woods when they stumble upon a breathing tube sticking out of the dirt.  After some digging, they uncover a deceased young lady.  This leads them to an odd religious with more secrets than even I could keep up with for a while.

Now to discuss what is really getting old with this series.  I am tired of obstacle after obstacle being thrown in the way of Sara and Jeffrey's relationship.  Their romance is only a small side plot of the series but every book seems to be one thing after another with these two. The second main issue is with Lena, one of Jeffrey's deputies.  Lena is a hot mess and only gets worse and worse.  She has a definitely character arc but so far, it's all been downhill.  I don't know how she can ever be redeemed at this point but I am curious to see what hot mess she lands in next.

I am really glad to see this series wrapping up and am excited for what comes next.  This series read was a recommendation from Stormi and I'm thrilled she encouraged me to pick it up.

RATING: 4 PAWS