Book Review and Giveaway - Booked on Murder (A Haunted Library Mystery) by Allison Brook

My Review

Booked On Murder is the eighth and final book in the Haunted Library cozy mystery series.  Small town librarian Carrie Singleton is planning her wedding to Dylan Avery when they find a body on the grounds of their wedding site.  As they look into the mystery, there is another mystery that pops up involving a very old, historical diary of a woman who was persecuted for witchcraft years ago. As always, Carrie's ghostly friend Evelyn and her library friends all play an important part in the story.

I wanted to read this mystery because I absolutely love this series!  I have recommended it so many times to friends, and have loved reviewing the previous books in the series here as well.

This is one of my favorite books in this series!  I am sad the series is ending but this conclusion was absolutely perfect.  The author did a wonderful job at balancing Carrie and Dylan's story with the different mysteries in this book.  And this novel was mystery packed!  There was one case after another ... with questions of how they were related.

The mystery aspect of this novel was well done, with several strong suspects.  I guessed the suspect, but enjoyed watching Carrie solve the mystery (with a very dramatic denouement!).

I highly recommend Booked on Murder - and the whole series - for fans of cozy mysteries.  Readers who enjoy library settings, small town locales, and a light friendly ghost element will particularly like this series.

Book Synopsis

Librarian Carrie Singleton must catch a killer before she can say “I do” in the 8th delightful installment in Agatha Award-nominee Allison Brook’s Haunted Library mystery series.

Carrie Singleton is ready to kiss the single life goodbye. Her wedding to Dylan Avery is just a few weeks away, and a happy ending is about to be hers. But when a body is found on the lawn of their wedding venue, happily-ever-after is looking deadlier than ever.

The victim turns out to be Billy Carpenter, a young man recently released from prison after serving time for a bank robbery. The stolen money he’d buried is gone and Carrie and the police suspect Billy’s two alleged co-conspirators, his friends Luke Rizzo and Tino Valdez. But then Luke is murdered and Tino is nowhere to be found.

With no leads and only a week to go before her big day, Carrie is on the hunt for clues. She hopes to wrap up this investigation with a neat bow before she and Dylan tie the knot. Carrie has something old, something new, and something borrowed ready for her walk down the aisle. Now she needs to find the killer without becoming the ‘something blue.’

Author Bio

A former Spanish teacher, Marilyn Levinson writes mysteries, romantic suspense, and novels for kids. Her books have received many accolades. As Allison Brook, she writes the Haunted Library series. Death Overdue, the first in the series, was an Agatha nominee for Best Contemporary Novel in 2018. Other mysteries include the Golden Age of Mystery Book Club series, the Twin Lakes series, and Giving Up the Ghost. Her romantic suspense, Come Home to Death, was released on April 30, 2024, and her romantic suspense, Dangerous Relations, will be republished in 2025.

Marilyn’s juvenile novel, Rufus and Magic Run Amok, was an International Reading Association-Children’s Book Council Children’s Choice and recently appeared in a new edition. And Don’t Bring Jeremy was a nominee for six state awards. Her YA horror, The Devil’s Pawn, came out in a new edition in January 2024.

Marilyn lives on Long Island, where many of her books take place. She loves traveling, reading, doing crossword puzzles and Sudoku, chatting on FaceTime with her grandkids, and playing with her kittens, Romeo and Juliet.

Author Links
Website:  http://www.marilynlevinson.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marilyn.levinson.10?ref=ts&fref=ts
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/161602.Marilyn_Levinson
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MarilynLevinson ; https://twitter.com/AllisonBrookML
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/marilyn-levinson; https://www.bookbub.com/authors/allison-brook
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/marilev/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marilynlevinsonauthor/

Buy links:
Amazon  Penguin Random House   B&N    BAM   Bookshop.org    Hudson Booksellers   Powell’s      Target      Walmart

Giveaway 

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Book Review - Silent Shadows by Natalie Walters (Harbored Secrets, Book 3)

My Review
Pecca Gallegos has relocated to a small town in coastal Georgia with her young son.  She works as a nurse and physical therapist at a nursing care center for injured servicemen.  Her new life is good - until a threat from her past in Texas comes back to haunt her, and she is in danger.  She is determined to stay safe with the help of a handsome Army veteran, Colton Crawford. 

I wanted to read Silent Shadows because I really enjoyed the first book in the Harbored Secrets series.  I love the setting of these books and the suspenseful tone.

Pecca is a strong protagonist.  She is caring, independent, and determined to make a happy life for herself and her young son.  She is very committed to her work, helping returning servicemen, and her care is admirable.  I enjoyed reading about her friendships in the little town and the romantic sparks she experiences with Colton.

The mystery aspect of this story is terrific -- fast paced and so suspenseful that I was up past my bedtime reading to see what happened next!  I saw the denouement of the mystery coming, but really enjoyed the conclusion.

I read the first book in this series, somehow missed the second, and then picked up with the third.  This book would work fine as a stand alone, but I think most readers will enjoy the character development and sense of place you get from the series.

My only regret is that this appears to be the end of the series.  I wish there were more reads!  I look forward to reading what comes next from Natalie Walters.

Book Synopsis
They're running from their pasts into an unknown future.
But first, they'll have to survive the present.

Nurse Pecca Gallegos moved to the tiny town of Walton, Georgia, to protect her son and escape the dangerous lifestyle that once defined her. When a series of strange circumstances evolves into threats, Pecca finds herself confiding in an unlikely ally--her stubborn patient.

Army veteran Colton Crawford is desperate to recover from the disorder that is ruining his life, and his instincts are on high alert when threats against his nurse and her son force him to take action. But Colton's involvement only ramps up the danger when he uncovers a family secret revealing that whoever is after Pecca is closer--and more deadly--than they realized.

Welcome back to Walton, Georgia, where everyone knows your name--but no one knows your secret.

Author Bio
Natalie Walters is the author of Living Lies and Deadly Deceit. A military wife of twenty-three years, she currently resides in Hawaii with her soldier husband and their three kids. Natalie comes from a long line of military and law enforcement veterans and is passionate about supporting them through volunteer work, races, and writing stories that affirm no one is defined by their past. Learn more at www.nataliewalterswriter.com.

Book Review - One Little Lie by Colleen Coble

My Review
One Little Lie tells the story of Jane Harper. As a young woman she escaped from a cult with her father.  Years later, she becomes the interim sheriff of Pelican Harbor, Alabama, when her father retires.  Then in quick succession, her father is framed for theft and murder; a serial killer is loose in the area;  a documentary filmmaker, Reid Bechtol, comes to town and wants to include her in an upcoming film.  There are romantic sparks with Reid but she isn't sure whether she wants to get involved.

I wanted to read this book because I love Colleen Coble's fiction!  Her mysteries are fast paced and engrossing, and she does a great job with atmospheric romantic suspense.

This was a strong start to the new Pelican Harbor book series.  I am definitely hooked and plan to read the upcoming books in this series!  I really like Jane as a protagonist.  She is strong and brave and resourceful.  I like her loyalty to her friends and father, and her honest, direct manner.  Because of her honesty, she has a hard time with a lie from her father and some secrets Reid has kept from her.  I also like Reid, and enjoyed the way his backstory slowly was revealed.

The setting of Pelican Harbor, a small town near Mobile, Alabama, was great -- I could picture the little town from the descriptions in the book.  (And I love a southern setting!)

I recommend One Little Lie for fans of romantic suspense.  It was one of those "can't put it down" books, and I know other readers will enjoy staying up late to read it as well.


Book Synopsis

It started with one little lie. But Jane Hardy will do everything in her power to uncover the truth in this gripping new romantic suspense. 

Jane Hardy is appointed interim sheriff in Pelican Harbor, Alabama, after her father retires, but there’s no time for an adjustment period. When her father is arrested for theft and then implicated in a recent murder, Jane quickly realizes she’s facing someone out to destroy the only family she has.

After escaping with her father from a cult fifteen years ago, Jane has searched relentlessly for her mother—who refused to leave—ever since. Could someone from that horrible past have found them?

Reid Bechtol is well-known for his documentaries, and his latest project involves covering Jane’s career. Jane has little interest in the attention, but the committee who appointed her loves the idea of the publicity.

Jane finds herself depending on Reid’s calm manner as he follows her around filming, and they begin working together to clear her father. But Reid has his own secrets from the past, and the gulf between them may be impossible to cross—especially once her father’s lie catches up with him.

 

Purchase Links

Amazon | Books-A-Million | Barnes & Noble | Thomas Nelson

Author Bio

Best-selling romantic suspense author Colleen Coble’s novels have won or finaled in awards ranging from the Best Books of Indiana, the ACFW Carol Award, the Romance Writers of America RITA, the Holt Medallion, the Daphne du Maurier, National Readers’ Choice, and the Booksellers Best. She has nearly 4 million books in print and writes romantic mysteries because she loves to see justice prevail. Colleen is CEO of American Christian Fiction Writers. She lives with her husband Dave in Indiana.

Book Review - State of Lies by Siri Mitchell

Book Synopsis
The secrets of those closest to us can be the most dangerous of all.
 
Months after her husband, Sean, is killed by a hit-and-run driver, physicist Georgie Brennan discovers he lied to her about where he had been going that day. A cryptic notebook, a missing computer, and strange noises under her house soon have her questioning everything she thought she knew.
With her job hanging by a thread, her son struggling to cope with his father’s death, and her four-star general father up for confirmation as the next Secretary of Defense, Georgie quickly finds herself tangled in a political intrigue that has no clear agenda and dozens of likely villains. Only one thing is clear: someone wants her dead too.

The more she digs for the truth, the fewer people she can trust.

Not her friends.

Not her parents.

Maybe not even herself.

Purchase Links

Amazon | Books-A-Million | Barnes & Noble | Thomas Nelson

My Review
Georgie Brennan is a physicist living in the D.C. area with her husband Sean and young son Sam.  When Sean dies in a tragic accident, her life is turned upside down.  Her father is being considered for Secretary of Defense, but she finds herself in danger that she doesn't understand.  She works to solve the mystery before it is too late.

State of Lies is a fast paced thriller.  The jeopardy that Georgie faces is intense and changeable.  I found it an exciting read and stayed up late two nights in a row reading because I couldn't put the book down!

Georgie is an interesting character.  She is a brilliant physicist and uses her deductive skills to solve the mystery she faces.  I know very little about physics, but the analogies and descriptions with physics terms are beautifully worded, and I think readers with a science background will especially appreciate them.  I loved reading passages like:

"I was missing a piece of the puzzle. ... It was like the gap between quantum physics and general relativity.  The first described the smallest particles in the universe while the second explained its vastness.  The problem was, neither could describe the other.  When you tried to join them together, the theories fell apart.  We all kept hoping that someone, somewhere could figure out a way to bridge the two and reconcile both branches of physics.  There had to be a solution.  We just didn't know what it was" (p. 293).

I found the story of Georgie and Sean, as it unfolds after his accident, particularly interesting.  Without giving spoilers, she realized that she didn't know some basic things about the man she married.  For instance,

"So that was the challenge.  How could I unknow the Sean I'd married?  How could I re-see the man I'd once known?  I needed to look, not for clues, but for something obvious.  Something, perhaps, that had been there the whole time" (p. 42). 

There is a political aspect to the mystery in this book, and the political pieces of the puzzle were intriguing;  they brought another level to the story and added extra twists and turns.

I highly recommend State of Lies for fans of well written mysteries and thrillers.  Just set aside some extra time -- this is a book that will keep you up late reading!

Author Bio
Siri Mitchell is the author of 14 novels. She has also written 2 novels under the pseudonym of Iris Anthony. She graduated from the University of Washington with a business degree and has worked in various levels of government. As a military spouse, she lived all over the world, including Paris and Tokyo. Siri is a big fan of the semi-colon but thinks the Oxford comma is irritatingly redundant.

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Book Review - Living Lies by Natalie Walters

Book Synopsis

In the little town of Walton, Georgia, everybody knows your name--but no one knows your secret.

At least that's what Lane Kent is counting on when she returns to her hometown with her five-year-old son. Dangerously depressed after the death of her husband, Lane is looking for hope. What she finds instead is a dead body.

Lane must work with Walton's newest deputy, Charlie Lynch, to uncover the truth behind the murder. But when that truth hits too close to home, she'll have to decide if saving the life of another is worth the cost of revealing her darkest secret.

My Review
Living Lies is a mystery set in small town Georgia.  Lane Kent is a young widow;  she returns to her hometown with her young son.  She runs a diner, deals with family politics (literally - her father is running for office), and struggles with depression.  When she finds the dead body of a girl in the woods, she becomes involved in a mystery that brings her into close contact with deputy Charlie Lynch, who is also new to town.  They work together to solve the mystery before more lives are lost.

I wanted to read this novel because I enjoy mysteries, and I was curious about the small town Georgia setting.  I am from Georgia and tried to place the fictional town from clues in the story.  I wonder if the author was inspired by Richmond Hill, Georgia, because of several references in the novel - the Ogeechee River, Ways Station, a little Henry Ford history.

This was a real stay-up-late read for me.  I read it in record time because I really wanted to know what happened in the mystery.  This book has elements of both a traditional mystery and a romantic suspense novel.   I felt the author did an especially good job of blending these two genres.

Lane was a strong protagonist, especially as she is seen moving through her own stuggles with depression and the difficulties of being a young widow.  She pushes through to really try to help others, not just by solving the mystery, but also helping an older veteran friend who is dealing with PTSD.  I really liked the relationship between Lane and Charlie, which began slowly as friendship and evolved into a romance as they worked together.

The small town atmosphere was especially appealing and well done.  I loved the way the author evoked a sense of place with descriptions.   

There was even a cute, sometimes naughty, little terrier dog (Charlie's dog Bane) in the book!

I recommend Living Lies for readers who enjoy traditional mysteries, romantic suspense, and small town settings.  I look forward to reading future mysteries by this author.


Author Bio
Natalie Walters is a military wife who currently resides in Hawaii with her soldier husband and their three kids. She writes full-time and has been published in Proverbs 31 magazine and has blogged for Guideposts online. Natalie comes from a long line of military and law enforcement veterans and is passionate about supporting them through volunteer work, races, and writing stories that affirm no one is defined by their past.

Book Spotlight - Justice Mission by Lynette Eason

Book Spotlight
Caught in a killer’s sights…

Introducing the True Blue K-9 Unit series

After K-9 unit administrative assistant Sophie Walters spots a suspicious stranger lurking at the K-9 graduation, the man kidnaps her—and she barely escapes. With Sophie’s boss missing and someone determined to silence her, NYPD officer Luke Hathaway vows he and his K-9 partner will guard her. But he must keep an emotional distance to ensure this mission ends in justice…not cold-blooded murder.

Purchase Links

Amazon | Books-A-Million | Barnes & Noble

 

Author Bio
Lynette Eason lives in Simpsonville, SC with her husband and two children. She is an award-winning, best-selling author who spends her days writing when she’s not traveling around the country teaching at writing conferences. Lynette enjoys visits to the mountains, hanging out with family and brainstorming stories with her fellow writers. You can visit Lynette’s website to find out more at www.lynetteeason.com or like her Facebook page at www.facebook.com/lynette.eason

 

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Book Review - Formula of Deception by Carrie Stuart Parks

Book Synopsis
An artist hiding from an escaped killer uncovers one of World War II’s most dangerous secrets—a secret that desperate men will do anything to keep hidden. 

After the murder of her twin sister, Murphy Anderson changed her name and appearance and moved to Kodiak, Alaska, to avoid the press and publicity. But when local authorities discover she’s an artist and request her help in drawing a dying man’s memories, she unintentionally ends up in the limelight again—and back in the killer’s crosshairs.

The deathbed confessions of an Alaskan hunter have Murphy drawing the five bodies he discovered on remote Ruuwaq Island ten years ago. But what investigators find has them mystified. Evidence suggests that the bodies were deliberately destroyed, and what they uncover in an abandoned Quonset hut from World War II only brings more questions.

As one by one the investigators who were at the hut die, Murphy knows there is something much darker at stake. What happened on this island during the war? And who is willing to kill to keep its secrets buried?

Purchase Links

Amazon | Books-A-Million | Barnes & Noble | iBooks

My Review
Formula of Deception tells the story Murphy Anderson, an artist who has changed her appearance and name and moved to Kodiak, Alaska, after her sister was murdered.  Murphy unexpectedly slips into work as a forensic artist with the local police department.  She becomes involved in a mysterious case involving a remote World War II Quonset hut in Alaska.  And then she learns that her sister's killer is on the loose.

I was intrigued by this novel from the start.  The World War II period mystery in the story and the Alaska setting made me want to read the book.

This is such a fast paced and suspenseful novel!  I began reading Saturday evening and finished Sunday afternoon because I could not let the book go until I knew what happened.

Murphy is a fascinating character.  I like the way Carrie Stuart Parks introduced more details about Murphy bit by bit, including some real surprises.

The pacing of Formula of Deception is exceptional.   It is so fast paced.  I am usually a leisurely reader who reads an hour or so at bedtime.  This is a novel that demands more.

I'm glad the author included a family tree at the beginning of the book.  I bookmarked it and referred several times to the character history in that tree.   

I have never read about the work of a forensic artist before and found that aspect of the novel unusually interesting.  The author has a background as a forensic artist, and the details of this work were fascinating.

There are many twists and turns in this novel as the story of the World War II era mystery, the current day implications of those events, and the murder of Murphy's sister all unfold.  Every time I thought I knew the answer there was another surprise.  The ending denouement was so unexpected!

I highly recommend Formula of Deception for fans of fast paced, exciting mysteries, and especially for anyone interested in Alaskan life.

Author Bio
Carrie Stuart Parks is an ECPA Christy Award and multiple ACFW Carol and Inspy Award–winning author. An internationally known forensic artist, Carrie draws on her extensive experience with actual criminal investigations to write authentic, true-to-life fictional suspense. Carrie lives in Idaho and travels with her husband, Rick, across the US and Canada, teaching courses in forensic art to law enforcement professionals. She has won numerous awards for her fine art and is the author/illustrator of numerous books on drawing and painting. CarrieStuartParks.com, Facebook: CarrieStuartParksAuthor, Twitter: @CarrieParks.

 

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I received a copy of this book from TLC Book Tours.

Book Review - Death at the Selig Studios by Frances McNamara

Book Synopsis
The early summer of 1909 finds Emily Cabot eagerly anticipating a relaxing vacation with her family. Before they can depart, however, she receives news that her brother, Alden, has been involved in a shooting death at the Selig Polyscope silent movie studios on Chicago’s northwest side. She races to investigate, along with her friend Detective Henry Whitbread. There they discover a sprawling backlot, complete with ferocious jungle animals and the celluloid cowboys Tom Mix and Bronco Billy. As they dig deeper into the situation, they uncover furtive romantic liaisons between budding movie stars and an attempt by Thomas Edison to maintain his stranglehold over the emerging film industry. Before the intrepid amateur sleuth can clear her brother’s name she faces a serious break with the detective; a struggle with her adolescent daughter, who is obsessed with the filming of the original Wizard of Oz movie; and threats upon her own life.  

My Review
Emily Cabot, university lecturer who sometimes helps the police solve crimes, is back with a new adventure.   Death at the Selig Studios takes place in Chicago in 1909.  Emily's brother, Alden, has been accused of murder at the early silent movie studio, and she works to find answers and to clear his name.

I have a long time interest in silent movies, and belonged to a wonderful silent film society in my city for several years.  That said, I was not familiar with the Selig Studios in Chicago.   I found the silent film aspect of this novel absolutely fascinating.   I loved the glimpses of filming, especially the early production of The Wizard of Oz.  As an animal lover, I am horrified to learn that animals were actually killed during early movie production, like the lion who was shot while making a jungle adventure movie at Selig.

Frances McNamara writes such a smart, well researched mystery.  Her books are a perfect example of what a good historical mystery should be -- well rounded characters, terrific plot with some unexpected turns, and a wealth of historical detail.

Emily is a wonderfully smart character, and I enjoyed watching her solve the murders in this book.  I also liked more details about her family life, and 1909 Chicago.   

The writing is also a treat.  For instance:

"There were still horse-drawn carriages on the streets but more and more motorcars were taking their place.  The streetcars had been electrified and there were many more women riding them, as young women came to the city for jobs.  Every day, Chicago became more crowded.  I usually felt invigorated by the energy of the city, but, by this time of year, I was worn out.  The summer was for wading in saltwater pools with my children, eating clams and lobsters, and having adventures on boats" (p. 3.).

I really enjoyed Death at the Selig Studios and have already recommended it to friends.  I look forward to future books in the Emily Cabot mystery series!

Author Bio

Frances McNamara grew up in Boston, where her father served as Police Commissioner for ten years. She has degrees from Mount Holyoke and Simmons Colleges, and recently retired from the University of Chicago. She now divides her time between Boston and Cape Cod.

Emily Cabot Mysteries publication order:
Death at the Fair
Death at Hull House
Death at Pullman
Death at Woods Hole
Death at Chinatown
Death at the Paris Exposition
Death at the Selig Studios

I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

Book Review and Giveaway - The House on Harbor Hill by Shelly Stratton

Book Synopsis

Set in the past and present, The House on Harbor Hill is a murder mystery that tackles the issues of racial prejudice and spousal abuse in the lives of two very different women…

She’s generous, kind, and compassionate–yet Delilah Grey will forever be an outcast in the small seaside town of Camden Beach, Maryland. She takes in women shattered by abuse, poverty, illness, or events beyond their control. But no matter how far she’s come or how many she’s helped find their way back, there is no safe place for Delilah. Acquitted of her rich husband’s mysterious death decades ago, she lives in her beautiful mansion consumed by secrets–and mistakes she feels she can never atone for. . . . Until she takes in desperate mother Tracey Walters and her two young children.

Tracey won’t say where she’s from or what sent her into hiding. But her determination and refusal to give up reminds Delilah of the spirited, hopeful girl she once was–and the dreams she still cherishes. As Tracey takes tentative steps to rebuild her life, her unexpected attraction to Delilah’s handsome, troubled caretaker inadvertently brings Delilah face to face with the past. And when Tracey’s worst fears come brutally calling, both women must find even more strength to confront truths they can no longer ignore–and at last learn how to truly be free . . .

Resonant, moving, and unforgettable, The House on Harbor Hill paints an unforgettable portrait of two women struggling to forgive themselves, take a chance on change, and challenge each other to finally live.

Purchase Links

Amazon | Books-A-Million | Barnes & Noble

My Review
The House on Harbor Hill tells two stories.  Delilah Gray lives in a beautiful and mysterious beach house in Camden Beach, Maryland.  Her personal background leads her to help young women who are escaping abusive marriages.  That is how she meets Tracey Walters.  Tracey is a young mother with a little boy and a baby girl.  She comes to Harbor Hill to stay with Delilah.  While she is there, rebuilding her life, she also meets Harbor Hill's handsome caretaker, who is wrestling with memories of his own past.

This is such a unique book!   It is a dual storyline, told in the present and also in 1968, so there is an element of historical fiction.  It is women's fiction, but it also is a mystery, as the pasts of Delilah and revealed bit by bit.  There is a mystery in Delilah's past that she has struggled with her whole adult life, and she is able to solve that mystery at last.

The 1968 period details were particularly well done and the story of racial prejudice was powerful and moving.  Shelly Stratton does a wonderful job at evoking a time and place.  I could visualize Harbor Hill and Camden Beach from her descriptions in this book.

The characters, though, are the real stars.  Delilah is one of my favorite characters that I have met through reading this year.  She is warm and vulnerable, but also so strong and compassionate.  What she does for Tracey, and what she has done for many other women in trouble, is a real gift.

I loved the storytelling and the way the narrative revealed itself in bits here and there as the reader learns about the past, and especially Delilah's story and the mystery of what happened the fateful night that changed her life.

I recommend The House on Harbor Hill for fans of women's fiction, mysteries, and historical fiction.  It is a beautifully told and engrossing read.

Author Bio
Shelly Stratton is an award-winning journalist who earned her degree at the University of Maryland, College Park. Another Woman’s Man, her novel written under the pseudonym Shelly Ellis, was nominated for a 2014 NAACP Image Award. A film buff and amateur painter, she lives with her husband not far from Washington, D.C. Visit her online at www.shellyellisbooks.com.
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Giveaway
One lucky reader will win a copy of The House On Harbor Hill.  Giveaway is for the U.S. only and ends at midnight on April 27.  Winner will be contacted by email and will need to respond within 48 hours or another name will be drawn.  Good luck!

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I received a copy of this book from TLC Book Tours.

Book Review and Giveaway - Look for Her by Emily Winslow

Book Synopsis
Lilling might seem like an idyllic English village, but it’s home to a dark history. In 1976, a teenage girl named Annalise Wood disappeared, and though her body was later discovered, the culprit was never found. Decades later, Annalise maintains a perverse kind of celebrity, and is still the focus of grief, speculation, and for one young woman, a disturbing, escalating jealousy.

When DNA linked to the Annalise murder unexpectedly surfaces, cold case detective Morris Keene and his former partner, Chloe Frohmann, hope to finally bring closure to this traumatized community. But the new evidence instead undoes the case's only certainty: the buried body that had long ago been confidently identified as Annalise may be someone else entirely, and instead of answers, the investigators face only new puzzles.

Whose body was unearthed all those years ago, and what happened to the real Annalise? Is someone interfering with the investigation? And is there a link to a present-day drowning with eerie connections? With piercing insight and shocking twists, Emily Winslow explores the dark side of sensationalized crime in this haunting psychological thriller.

Book Details:

Genre: Psychological Thriller
Published by: William Morrow
Publication Date: February 13th 2018
Number of Pages: 304
ISBN: 006257258X (ISBN13: 9780062572585)
Series: Keene and Frohmann #4 | Each is a stand alone novel

Purchase Links: Amazon 🔗 | Barnes & Noble 🔗 | Goodreads 🔗

My Review
Look for Her is the story of Annalise Wood.  Annalise was a teenager who disappeared in 1976 from a small English village.  Her body was found later, although the murder is never solved, and she becomes famous in death in this small town. 

As the book opens, a therapist has two patients who are obsessed with Annalise.  One seems to want to be her, and the other believes she is Annalise's child.

Then some new evidence is found, and the cold case is open again.  Former detective partners Morris Keene and Chloe Frohmann reunite to find the murderer and finally solve the case.

Look for Her is a unique book, told from several different perspectives.  The therapist Laurie Ambrose puzzles over the women who have presented with obsessions with Annalise.  The transcripts of their therapy are important to the story.  There are also the perspectives of Morris and Chloe.  It took me a bit to sort out the characters, but as I did I became very interested in this complex story.  Emily Winslow does a good job at delineating a number of very strong, unique characters.

The pace starts slowly and builds as the book continues with several surprising twists and turns.  This book kept me guessing to the extent that I was truly surprised by the ending.  

The tone of Look for Her is dark with a sadness that pervades the book, just like it does the small town in the novel.

I have not read the other books in this series, but this worked as a standalone.  I think that fans of dark, twisty thrillers like Gone Girl and The Girl on the Train will enjoy Look for Her as well.

Author Bio
Emily Winslow is an American living in Cambridge, England. She trained as an actor at Carnegie Mellon University’s prestigious drama conservatory and earned a master’s degree in museum studies from Seton Hall University. For six years she wrote for Games magazine, creating increasingly elaborate and lavishly illustrated logic puzzles. She lives with her husband and two sons. She is the author of four novels and a memoir.

Catch Up With Our Author On:
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Giveaway
This is a rafflecopter giveaway hosted by Partners in Crime Virtual Book Tours for Emily Winslow and William Morrow. There will be 1 winner of one (1) physical copy of each of the 1st three books in the Keene and Frohmann Series: The Whole World, The Start of Everything, and The Red House AND there will be 5 Winners of one (1) physical copy of their choice of ONE of the 1st three books in the Keene and Frohmann Series: The Whole World, The Start of Everything, and The Red House. The giveaway begins on February 12 and runs through March 18, 2018. This giveaway is open to US & Canada residents only. a Rafflecopter giveaway

I received a copy of this book from Partners in Crime Virtual Book Tours.