NetGalley

  • Professional Reader
  • 2016 NetGalley Challenge
  • Reviews Published
  • 100 Book Reviews

Monday, June 25, 2018

Book Review: Don't Believe It by Charlie Donlea

So this premise was perfect for me. Sidney, a reporter has done documentaries on three people she believes were wrongly imprisoned. All three people in these cases have been released from prison after their documentary aired. Now she has a new case to present.
I loved the fact that my favorite true crime documentaries was presented in a film format. This was the best mash up of reality TV, a great book, and fictionalized true crime. This was so different and interesting. Just when I thought I had figured out what was going on, BAM I was totally surprised.
Giving too much description on this book will lead to spoilers, so you I will leave it at I loved it!

*Thank you to NetGalley, Charlie Donlea, and t he publisher for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book.



Book Review: The Moor by Sam Haysom

I really enjoyed the beginning of the book. I didn't like where the book ended up going. I was expecting a horror, ghost story, not a stomach churning creature feature. I felt that the book was dumbed down and inconsistent. I was disappointed in this because I saw potential at the beginning.

*Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and Sam Haysom for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: Paper Ghosts by Julia Heaberlin

I can't help it I just fall in love with these twisted creepy tales. This one was very unique.
Grace just knows her sister is dead, even though her body has not been found. She also knows that Carl, a nursing home patient with dementia, was the one to kill her. So she decides to kidnap Carl and take him on a road trip to all the places he killed people.
I actually found myself liking Carl. He was funny and caring. Grace couldn't see truths staring her right in the face. But Carl could help her connect the dots.
What if everything you knew to be true was a lie? What if the people you thought were good were actually the bad ones? What if someone with dementia could discover all the answers you were looking for?
I am going to read more by this author. If you like strange and twisted this might be your cup of tea.

*Thank you to Julia Heaberlin, NetGalley, and the publisher for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
 


Sunday, June 24, 2018

Book Review: I'll Be Gone in the Dark: One Woman's Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer by Michelle McNamara

I am so glad that Patton Oswalt saw to it that his wife's obsession was brought to print! I just wish Ms. McNamara was here to see that her dreams came true and this killer was caught! This is a very interesting book. You can see that Michelle was headed in the right direction, but was unable to connect the dots. Reading this was like having a discussion with a friend. I am a true crime addict, but have never found myself obsessed to the point that Michelle was. This obviously was an important part of her life. The ending is a little strange since the author was not here to finish her work. I honestly don't feel that the ending detracted from Michelle's story. I would have loved to see Michelle tackle some other cold cases. Bravo Michelle! Job well done! 


Book Review: THE BEAST I LOVED: A Battered Woman's Desperate Struggle To Survive by Robert Davidson

June spends her whole life being abused and belittled. She is a child when she marries. She continues to be abused by her husband. She does everything she can to protect her children from her husband. June is never perfect enough. She constantly tries but can never get things right for her husband. After several years she is finally able to break free. She loses her children in the process and must spend years behind bars. She is one of the first women to ever be classified as suffering from Battered Woman Syndrome. It is amazing that she was able to live through all the abuse. It is so sad that her daughters blame everything in their life on her, once again making her a victim. Hopefully her children are able to forgive their mother and understand the position she was in. Robert Davidson did a wonderful job researching this case and lays it all on the line with no sugar coating. This story will stay with you and might change your view on what it means to be abused.

*Thank you to Robert Davidson, WildBlue Press, and NetGalley for allowing me to read a copy of this story in exchange for an honest review.
 


Book Review: The Home for Unwanted Girls by Joanna Goodman

This one will gnaw at your emotions. It is so sad that people didn't have choices in the past and were judged so badly. I did feel that the story was a little slow in spots, and easily predictable in others, but that said, the story was very well written and will stay with you!



Book Review: Sometimes I Lie by Alice Feeney

This one is hard for me to review. I liked the conversational style of the writing. I enjoy a good twist, but there were a few more here then needed. I had a hard time figuring out what was the truth and what was a lie. This was close to a five star but I had a few issues that took away from my rating. I did enjoy the book but a few parts dragged a bit too much.


Book Review: Bullied to Death?: A Story Of Bullying, Social Media, And The Suicide Of Sherokee Harriman by Judith A. Yates

This was a hard book to read. Sherokee was ignored when she asked for help, by her own family, her friends, and her school. This child grew up in a dysfunctional way. Bullying was not the only problem she had to deal with.
Yates did a wonderful job of following Sherokee's story. She did a lot of background work on her story. She also included tons of information for anyone considering suicide, or those being bullied.
I was disappointed in the fact that the story didn't really make it clear exactly what happened with Sherokee on the day the stabbing occurred. Were the other children involved? Did someone else do this to her? I guess we will never know because she is not here to tell us. It is a sad ending to a sad story.

*Thank you to NetGalley, Judith A. Yates, and the publisher for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.



Book Review: The Family Next Door by Sally Hepworth

This is my first book by Sally Hepworth. I look forward to more from her.
This novel revolves around four women who live in the same neighborhood. One of the women is new to town and is hiding why she has moved there. All the other women are hiding things also. All the secrets are revealed in the end. I was surprised at some of the reveals.
Hepworth's novel draws you into each character. You care about them and want them to be happy. There are real life issues here like mental illness and depression, cheating and lying. I liked the way the story was divided up. For me this was a quick read and I will recommend it to friends who like mysteries and women's fiction.

**Thank you to Sally Hepworth, the publisher, and NetGalley for providing me with an arc copy of this novel in exchange for an honest opinion.



Book Review: The Perfect Nanny by Leila Slimani

This one was good until the end. As the nanny starts to lose it the writing becomes more dull and depressing. I had a hard time reading some of the last chapters. I did not like the ending. I need to know why, how, and consequences. The author did a wonderful job of keeping the tension simmering under the surface. With a few fixes this could have been a five star read.


Book Review: Innocent Victims The True Story of the Eastburn Family Murders

This book is intriguing. I am still unsure about this case. I am also unsettled by the fact that this man has been through this ordeal and am unaware of the legalities of this case. I am stumped as to who is guilty, and am pained for the children who were lost. This is a book you ill not soon forget.

*Thank you to Scott Whisnant, the publisher, and NetGalley, for allowing me to read a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.


Book Review: Strangler by Corey Mitchell

I really enjoy the True Crime genre. I thought this book was well written and for me was a very quick read. I am glad to know that the scum in this book has been executed. It is hard to believe thst he fooled so many. The fact that he harmed so many children makes him especially easy to look down on. I would like to read more of Corey Mitchell's books.

*Thank you to Corey Mitchell, the publisher, and NetGalley for allowing me to read a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.


Book Review: My Mother the Liar by Ann Troup

This is hard for me to review. I wanted to get to the end to see how all the mysteries were tied together. I mostly ended up confused. There were so many suggestions on what had happened and who did it that I am still unsure of the answers to some of my questions. The ending was rushed and I felt like too many oddball things were added to tie things up. I have no problem with a dysfunctional family, but this was over the top. I felt the story would have benefited from a few less characters and a few less plot lines.

*Thank you to Ann Troup, the publisher, and NetGalley for allowing me to read an advanced e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.



Book Review: The Man From The Train by Bill James, Rachel McCarthy James

This was too long, too repetitive, and hard to follow. There were several cases here that should not have been included. The author names the killer but doesn't give reasonable explanations for why he is the killer. We also don't know what happened to this assumed murderer. It makes for a confusing read. I enjoyed learning about the reach of trains during that time period. I also enjoyed the history and the true crime elements but I did not enjoy the book as a whole.

*Thank you to NetGalley, the author, znd the publisher for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
 (less)


Book Review: The Haunted History of Huntingdonshire by Mark Egerton

I had honestly never even heard of Huntingdonshire, so that made it all the more interesting. Mr. Edgerton took the time to find out the history of each place where he investigated. I enjoyed the way that the author looked at each individual place and came to his own logical conclusion. You could tell he had a love for these places and people. The pictures were breathtaking and made me want to visit for myself. A few of the places were really creepy. I hope the author will continue to write these type of books.

*Thank you to NetGalley, Mark Edgerton, and the publisher for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.