Man of War (Eric Steele #1) by Sean Parnell (2018)

 

In his fiction debut, the author introduces the reader to Eric Steele, a former Special Forces operative, now a member of an elite clandestine operation assigned to a US intelligence unit known simply as the "Program." It’s members, known as Alphas, work solely for the President of the United States, handling situations that cannot be dealt with through normal channels.

When a hostile force attacks a military convoy and steals a nuclear weapon, everyone who should be in the know are blindsided. Steele, who is stationed in the Middle East, is sent to clean up the mess. The hostile leader turns out to be a rogue Alpha and Eric’s former mentor and he leads Steele through the Middle East, Europe, and Africa before things come to a head in Washington, DC.

Parnell’s writing style is both informative and captivating while building the reader’s curiosity and suspense. Chapters shift between character viewpoints—one chapter may be told from Steele’s perspective, while the next is from the Vice President’s or the Director of the CIA or some other character. The suspense builds as the reader tries to find the connecting thread.

The author, Sean Parnell, is a retired Army captain and is well acquainted with the military and how special forces operators walk, talk, and handle themselves on and off the battlefield. He uses military acronyms throughout the book which are always explained but can get confusing if you don’t have a military background or a particular interest in military weapons.

Currently there are three books in the Eric Steels series (all can be found at EPL) and the fourth one is to be published in September. A personal storyline carries through the series, but it is not necessary to read them in order as each book is a complete mission.

3.96 stars on Goodreads, 4.6 on Amazon

The Dutch House by Ann Patchett

 

    The Dutch House tells the story of Danny and his sister Maeve who grow up in the suburbs of Philadelphia over the course of five decades. Danny is the book’s narrator. The two children are brought up in what the locals of their hometown refer to as the Dutch house. The house was obtained by their father Cyril Conroy after WW2 as a gift for his wife, but instead of a gift this house leads to ruin for those he loves. After the war their father pursues a career in real-estate renting out apartments in New York.

    This book is often referred to as a dark fairy tale, and I would have to agree that the onset of this novel shares commonality with fairy tales. At a young age Danny’s mother leaves their father to pursue other interests in life. After she leaves, Cyril takes an interest in another woman and remarries, and moves his new wife into the Dutch house with her two daughters. This new wife despises both Danny and Maeve and is determined to make their lives miserable. In this narrative we can draw various parallels with the wicked stepmother motif often found in fairy tales. This can be drawn from the way in which the stepmother views Danny and Maeve as second class citizens in their own home. After their father passes away, their stepmother wastes no time kicking Danny out of the Dutch house. With Maeve no longer a minor, Danny takes up residence with his sister.

    As the novel progresses, the two siblings learn their father has left a fund for Danny and his two stepdaughters to attend college. With Danny being the oldest of the three children, Maeve devises a plan to have Danny attend medical school to drain the fund, as a way to get revenge on their stepmother. While Danny goes along with Maeve’s plan, he is none too enthused. Instead his goal is to follow in his father’s footsteps and pursue real estate. As the book progresses we see how both of the siblings lives unfold, and while they both may have been unwelcomed in the Dutch house by their stepmother they always seem to be drawn to meeting just outside of it.

    I recommend this book if you have an interest in historical fiction taking place in the decades after WW2, with regards to family dynamics. This book may also appeal to those looking for something that feels like a fairy tale written in modern times, but with a historical context.

Goodreads – 4.11 out of 5, Amazon –  4.4 out of 5

The Promised Neverland Vol. 1, by Kaiu Shirai

 

The Promised Neverland appears to be a story about a group of happy orphans and their day to day life’s at Grace Field Orphanage. Where the only concern they have is rigorous testing. However, readers quickly learn this is not the case. Instead the book turns into a story of survival for Emma and the other children. As the story unfolds the reader learns more about Emma’s world, and what it’s going to take make it at Grace Field.

I’m currently in the middle of reading this series, and found it quite enjoyable from the first chapter. The series doesn’t take its time showing its true nature.  As mentioned above right in the first chapter the reader learns that this is a suspenseful series, and can be considered a horror manga. While I don’t want to go into details on what happens in that first chapter I would recommend this manga if you enjoy the horror genre.

This is an ongoing series, needed to be read in order, and not available at Eastpointe Memorial. However, a librarian can place a copy on hold from another library in the cooperative. This review only pertains to Vol. 1.

4.48 on Goodreads, 4.9 on Amazon

The Thursday Murder Club (Thursday Murder Club #1) by Richard Osman (2020)

 

In a beautiful retirement community, four seniors meet every Thursday in the Jigsaw Room, but they try to solve puzzles of a different sort. The Thursday Murder Club: Joyce, Ron, Ibrahim, and Elizabeth, pore over old files from cold cases, trying to figure out what the police couldn’t. Using each of their particular areas of expertise – Joyce the nurse, Ron the union man, Ibrahim the psychologist, and Elizabeth the…well Elizabeth won’t confirm or deny her previous profession, but it included a very particular set of skills- they are ready to get to the truth. When murders start happening in their community, the group decides to join forces with the local police and help them solve the crimes, whether the police want their help or not. Red herrings abound in this fun and cozy mystery, and everyone is a suspect, even the club members themselves.

The author, Richard Osman, is a British comedian and game show host. His wit makes for some absolutely delightful dialogue that rings true even in its occasional absurdity.

Fans of the movie “Red”, the TV show “Murder She Wrote”, and British humor will thoroughly enjoy this book.

The second book in the series, The Man Who Died Twice, is due to be published in September 2021.

4.02 stars on Goodreads, 4.3 stars on Amazon

I Cosmo by Carlie Sorosiak (2019) (YA)

 

“I was born a puppy. Thirteen years ago in a garage …”

As the title and book cover suggest, this book is narrated by a golden retriever named Cosmo. He is the big brother to ten-year-old human Max and four-year-old Emmaline. Cosmo’s human parents are Mom and Dad. Cosmo has a good life with his human family; his biggest concerns being the evil sheepdog down the block and his arthritic joints. The bond between Max and Cosmo will pull at your heartstrings.

When the family is away, Max leaves the TV on for Cosmo whose favorite channels are Discovery and Turner Classic Movies. His favorite movies are Grease and Singing in the Rain. Deep down Cosmo knows he has the soul of a dancer.

When Max’s parents begin to fight a lot and Dad starts sleeping on the couch, Max confides in Cosmo his concern that his parents will divorce, and the boy and his dog will end up in separate households. When Max learns of a canine freestyle dance contest, he is convinced that winning the competition will be just what is needed to remind his parents of the good times and make them stay together. Cosmo can’t deny Max anything so he is all in, regardless of the stiff joints. With the help of Uncle Reggie, the pair practice and practice until their routine is perfect.

The author, Carlie Sorosiak, must have been a dog in an earlier life. Cosmo’s behavior and thoughts are exactly what I would imagine any dog is thinking. If you have ever shared your home with a dog you will know just what I mean.

Although the book was written for the young adult audience, readers of all ages will enjoy this heart lifting story of the power of love.

4.28 stars on Goodreads, 4.8 on Amazon

This book is not available at EPL. Ask any of the reference librarians to get it for you from an area library.

One of Us is Lying (One of Us Is Lying #1) by Karen M. McManus (2019) (YA)

 

One of Us Is Lying is the story of what happens when five strangers walk into detention at Bayview High and only four come out alive. Everyone is a suspect, and everyone has a secret.

Bronwyn Rojas is the Yale-bound brain, Adelaide Prentiss is the beauty, Nate Macauley is on probation for drug dealing, and Cooper Clay is the school’s all-star baseball pitcher. Simon Kelleher, the creator of the Bayview’s gossip app, is the outcast.

Simon is dead before detention ends and the police rule his death a homicide. All four fellow detainees become suspects when the police discover Simon planned to post juicy reveals about all four of them on his gossip app the very next day

How far would you go to protect your secret?

4.05 stars in Goodreads, 4.6 on Amazon

This book is not available at EPL. Ask any of the reference librarians to get it for you from an area library. The second book in the series, One of Us Is Next, is available at EPL.

Invisible Girl by Lisa Jewell (2020)

 

This book follows three people bound together by the actions of two very bad individuals. Owen Pick, a geography teacher, is the odd neighbor who lives across the street from Cate Fours. Cate , a physiotherapist, has recently moved onto the block with her husband Roan, a child psychologist, and their two children. Saffyre Maddox is a 17-year old girl who was a former patient of Roan and is now his shadow.

Saffyre is reported missing during a string of assaults on women in the community. The last person to see her alive is Owen Pick and he is suspected in her disappearance and quite possibly the assaults.

Owen isn’t exactly who he appears to be. Cate suspects him but, at the same time, feels something is amiss with her husband. The book is full of twists and turns with many of the characters investigating each other to learn the real truth about Saffyre's disappearance. Needless to say, it isn’t what you think but then it never is when it comes to Lisa Jewell novels.

3.80 stars on Goodreads, 4.3 on Amazon

Beautiful Boy: A Father's Journey Through His Son's Addiction by David Sheff (2018) 362.299S

 

I do not typically read non-fiction. Not because I don’t respect the genre, but I find that at this age I enjoy reading for pleasure and escape. But this book got so much hype I couldn’t help but check it out. It was also an option on one for the Beanstack reading challenges in which I was participating.

Beautiful Boy is the true story of one man’s path alongside his drug addicted son. In fact, David’s preoccupation with Nic’s situation becomes an addiction in itself. While the story does discuss some of Nic’s thoughts and feelings; it is more focused on how the addiction of a family member affects the parents and siblings. I cried a lot reading how David took on the burden of assuming he had done wrong when raising Nic. I couldn’t imagine how hard it must have been for David when he hit rock bottom of his co-dependency at the same time as his son with his addiction.

If you are not already a non-fiction reader, please take the time to read this one.

4.09 stars on Goodreads, 4.7 on Amazon

The Couple Next Door by Shari Lapena (2016)

How can one night out at the next-door neighbor’s dinner party turn so bad? Anne and Marco decide to leave their baby Cora at home alone while they’re at the party. She is in bed, the baby monitor I turned on, and they go home and check on her frequently. Yet at the end of the night they return home to find that Cora has been kidnapped.

The scene is too neat, and the stories just aren’t adding up. Is Marco responsible in an attempt to free up his life? Did Anna have something to do with the disappearance of her daughter? Or is there a mad man on the loose? All of these seem possible scenarios until the ransom note arrives. Soon after both Anne and Marco begin to realize their marriage and life is not what they thought it was.

Who did take that sweet baby, and will she be returned safely? Pick up the book and find out. You won’t regret it. This was the second book I read by Shari Lapena and it was truly a page turner.

3.79 stars on Goodreads, 4.3 on Amazon

Best Day Ever by Kaira Rouda (2017)

 

This book is about Paul Strom and his wife Mia who appear to have the perfect marriage. Paul has planned a romantic weekend with his wife at their summer home before the season starts. He continually refers to the getaway as the Best Day Ever. On the drive-up Mia gets very irritated by Paul. I was annoyed with him as well. The character seems to be a real jerk, and he gets even more egotistical as the couple gets closer to their destination. By the time they arrived at the summer house I believed Mia was having an affair with a neighbor.

It is as the evening comes to an end that the reader begins to see why Paul believes his is the Best Day Ever, at least for him. Or is it?

I found this book to be simply wonderful, bringing something new to the usual thriller plotline. I gave it a big fat 5-star review on GoodReads.

3.71 stars on Goodreads, 4.1 on Amazon

The New Husband by D.J. Palmer (2020)

 Nina Garrity finds herself in a position where her husband Glen disappears, presumably drowned while fishing on his boat. However, there is no body, nothing to indicate whether he is dead or alive. Nina would like to say she cares at this point but it’s hard because she has learned he has been lying to her. Nina, both broke and broken, must move on with her two children. Just when she is at her lowest point, a new man comes into her life.

Simon couldn’t be more perfect. He seems to know so much about Nina although they just recently met. A short time after meeting this perfect man Nina and the kids move into a new home with Simon. The problem is the youngest child is not adjusting well to the new situation. Not only is Simon a teacher at her school, daughter Maggie is also disappointed that her mother wants to believe the worst of her dad.

Maggie begins receiving messages on social media that she believes are from her dad as Simon becomes weirder. Finally, Nina starts to notice things aren’t adding up. Will she get the bigger picture before it is too late?

3.80 stars on Goodreads, 4.3 on Amazon

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig (2020) (Large Type)

 

Goodreads Choice Award for Fiction (2020)

I thought his book was extraordinary.

The story starts out with Nora making a decision that will change her life forever. Yet what she thinks will be the end to her story is only a detour on the real journey. Nora wakes up in a library full of books. Like a regular library, each book provides an escape for the reader. In each volume Nora experience a version of her life that coulda, shoulda, woulda been. It gives her a chance to live out regrets and dreams that have hindered her life. Or so she thinks. In reality, Nora is learning what regret really means.  She discovers the consequences of the choices she made in her life and must decide whether to continue on with her real life or choose one of the other options.

I typically read suspense and thrillers and this one was neither. Yet I would highly recommend this book to any reader. Especially now in a time when people are contemplating their lives and the choices they’ve made. Were they the right ones?

This really is a must read for any reader. It was a quick read but quite meaningful.

4.19 stars on Goodreads, 4.4 on Amazon

Our Darkest Night by Jennifer Robson (2021)

 

Our Darkest Night is Robson’s sixth book and I have read all of them but this one I couldn’t put down. The story takes place in Italy during the German occupation, a dark time which brought out the best and worst of mankind. Antonina Mazin is a young Jewish woman who lives with her father in Venice, her mother in the equivalent of a nursing home. When Jewish roundups seem imminent, Antonina’s father sends her away with a friend of a friend, Niccolo Gerardi.

Antonina Mazin becomes Nina Marzoli and goes to live with Nico on his families’ farm, posing as his Christian wife. Nina was training with her father to be a doctor and has no knowledge of the work required to run a farm. Guided by the last words of her father, “Eat the food they give you. Do the work that is expected of you. Never complain.” Nina slowly adapts to life on the farm.

Nico’s neighbors are leery of the girl Nico suddenly married and their distrust is shared by the local Nazi official who has a vendetta against Nico. Karl Zwerger becomes obsessed with Nina and learning everything about her in his quest for revenge. As the charade becomes a reality, can Nina and Nico survive until the end of the war?

Jennifer Robson has a doctorate in British history from Oxford and relies upon conventional research sources as well as personal recollections for her books. She doesn’t shy away from the horrors of the time. Robson’s writing style brings the characters and historic events to life.

4.18 stars on Goodreads, 4.5 on Amazon

This book is not available at EPL. Ask any of the reference librarians to get it for you from an area library.