Beneath Devil's Bridge by Loreth Anne White

 

Title: Beneath Devil's Bridge

Author: Loreth Anne White

Publisher: Montlake

Release Date: June 1, 2021

A true crime podcast yields new revelations about a shocking murder.

True crime podcaster Trinity Scott is chasing breakout success, and her brand-new serial may get her there. Her subject is Clayton Jay Pelley. More than two decades ago, the respected family man and guidance counselor confessed to the brutal murder of teenage student Leena Rai. But why he killed her has always been a mystery.

In a series of exclusive interviews from prison, Clayton discloses to Trinity the truth about what happened that night beneath Devil’s Bridge. It’s not what anyone in the Pacific Northwest town of Twin Falls expects. Clayton says he didn’t do it. Was he lying then? Or now?

As her listeners increase and ratings skyrocket, Trinity is missing a key player in the story: Rachel Walczak, the retired detective who exposed Pelley’s twisted urges and put him behind bars. She’s not interested in playing Clayton’s game - until Trinity digs deeper and the podcast’s reverb widens. Then Rachel begins to question everything she thinks she knows about the past.

With each of Clayton’s teasing reveals, one thing is clear: he’s not the only one in Twin Falls with a secret.

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I can't believe I waited this long to read her release of this year. I blame it on work. It has been a busy year for me.

Loreth Anne White's books are a treat. I usually preordered (which I did) and then when the audio is available I listen to it while I drive. She is an auto-buy for me. 

But I digress...

Beneath's Devil's Bridge is set in the small town of Twin Falls. A teenager, Leena Rai was found sexually assaulted and drowned in 1997. The detective in charge of the investigation, Rachel Walczak investigated Clayton Pelley whose confession sent him to jail for over twenty years. 

In the present, Trinity Scott is doing her new podcast, Criminal, which follows Leena's case. When Trinity interviews Clayton, she gets the best soundbite. He tells her he is innocent and that means the real killer is still running free! Of course, Trinity goes in search of Rachel to find out what she remembers from that time and what did the cops miss during their investigation.

Beneath Devil's Bridge was a page-turner, audio-fast-speeding thriller for me. I couldn't wait to see what really happened to Leena and why.  

Loreth Ann White does a wonderful job in leaving all the crumbs necessary for a perfect delivery. 

I can't wait to read/listen to her next book!

Cliffhanger: No

4.5/5 Fangs

Storm Prey by John SandfordLucas Davenport #20

  

Title: Storm Prey

Series: Lucas Davenport #20

Author: John Sandford

A daring drugs raid on a Minneapolis hospital takes place on the same day that Lucas Davenport's wife, Weather, is due to perform an operation to separate conjoined twins. Investigating the raid, Davenport concludes that it must have been an inside job and, as a witness, Weather is now in grave danger.

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Truly enjoyed this one!

A robbery has occurred at the hospital where Weather Karkinnen works at. Weather is Lucas Davenport's wife. During the robbery, a man was attacked and he succumbs to his injuries. Lucas is called to investigate the crime once he realizes Weather might have seen the killers leaving the premises. Unbeknownst to Weather, she has also met another one of the criminals the morning of the attack.

Lucas would like to make Weather leave the city but she is performing a conjoined twin surgery so she won't do it. Weather decides to let Lucas worry about her safety and she will only concentrate on the twins' surgery and their survival instead. 

Another great addition to this series! John Sandford continues to write great character development. He also brings his other main character, Virgil Flowers to help protect Weather which makes fans of both series quite happy. 

There is plenty of action and hilarity on this one too, things that I have come to expect regularly from this series.

Cliffhanger: No

4/5 Fangs

All Her Little Secrets by Wanda M. Morris

 

Title: All Her Little Secrets

Author: Wanda M. Morris

Publisher: William Morrow

Release Date: November 2, 2021

In this fast-paced thriller, Wanda M. Morris crafts a twisty mystery about a black lawyer who gets in over her head after the sudden death of her boss. A debut perfect for fans of Attica Locke, Alyssa Cole, Harlan Coben, and Celeste Ng, with shades of How to Get Away with Murder and John Grisham’s The Firm.

Everyone has something to hide...

Ellice Littlejohn seemingly has it all: an Ivy League law degree, a well-paying job as a corporate attorney in midtown Atlanta, great friends, and a “for fun” relationship with a rich, charming executive—her white boss, Michael.

But everything changes one cold January morning when Ellice goes to meet Michael… and finds him dead with a gunshot to his head.

And then she walks away like nothing has happened. Why? Ellice has been keeping a cache of dark secrets, including a small-town past and a kid brother who’s spent time on the other side of the law. She can’t be thrust into the spotlight—again.

But instead of grieving this tragedy, people are gossiping, the police are getting suspicious, and Ellice, the company’s lone black attorney, is promoted to replace Michael. While the opportunity is a dream-come-true, Ellice just can’t shake the feeling that something is off.

When she uncovers shady dealings inside the company, Ellice is trapped in an impossible ethical and moral dilemma. Suddenly, Ellice’s past and present lives collide as she launches into a pulse-pounding race to protect the brother she tried to save years ago and stop a conspiracy far more sinister than she could have ever imagined…

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Ellice Littlejohn is a corporate lawyer in Atlanta, Georgia. She arrives early to work to meet with her boss, Michael (who is also her lover) at his office on the 20th floor. 

When she steps into his office, she finds him dead with a bullet hole on his head. Instead of calling the cops, she retraces her steps and goes to her floor where she pretends to work until someone else finds his body. 

The rumor mill brings her the news. It seems that Michael has committed suicide. Or has he? Soon after, the police are calling his death suspicious and later on, murder. 

Who murder Michael and why?

Ellice doesn't like the cops. She has reasons for it. One of them is that she is hiding her past. No one at work knows about her brother who has been to jail before or knows about what she had to endure when she was a young girl. She prefers it this way. 

But we all know that secrets don't remain secrets for long. 

Someone knows about her past and Ellice can only watch as her life begins imploding. Worse, she becomes the prime suspect in Michael's death. 

How is she going to clear her name?

__

I believe this is one of those times when my expectations were too high for the story. For me, it didn't quite deliver. 

Why didn't it work for me?

Well, because of Ellice. She is supposed to be a LAWYER but she behaves like someone who has no clue about the law. She does everything to make herself look guilty, guilty, guilty. I could not see past this. She had so many chances to come clean but she kept on just making the wrong choices over and over again.

What worked for me?

*Ellice trying to protect her family. 

*Juice. 

*Ellice's best friend. She was there for her despite learning about Elice's secrets. 

Would I read a book by Wanda M. Morris again:

Yes!

Could I see this book as a movie? 

Absolutely!

Cliffhanger: No

3/5 Fangs

A complimentary copy was provided by William Morrow via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Cage by Bonnie Kistler

 

Title: The Cage

Author: Bonnie Kistler

Publisher: Harper

Release Date: February 15, 2022

Combining the propulsive narrative drive of The Firm with the psychological complexity of The Silent Patient, a gripping and original thriller about two professional women--colleagues at an international fashion conglomerate--who enter an elevator together . . . but only one is alive when they reach the ground floor.

On a cold, misty Sunday night, two women are alone in the offices of fashion conglomerate Claudine de Martineau International. One is the company's human resources director. Impeccably dressed and perfectly coiffed, she sits at her desk and stares somberly out the window. Down the hall, her colleague, one of the company's lawyers, is buried under a pile of paperwork, frantically rushing to finish.

Leaving at the same time, the two women, each preoccupied by her own thoughts, enter the elevator that will take them down from the 30th floor.

When they arrive at the lobby, one of the women is dead. Was it murder or suicide?

An incredibly original novel that turns the office thriller on its head, The Cage is a wild ride that begins with a bang and picks up speed as it races to its dramatic end.

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On a late Sunday, two women entered an elevator at work. 

Lights go off. 

When the power returns and the elevator gets down to the ground level, only one of them is alive.

Did Shay kill Lucy or did Lucy commit suicide?

This is the question The Cage is based on. 

Shay Lambert can't believe what just happened to her. She is a lawyer who was working late. The dead woman's name was Lucy.  She was the head of Human Resources. Shay tells the police, Lucy had a gun and Shay was trying to take the gun away so Lucy wouldn't hurt herself. 

Is Lucy speaking the truth? 

Read it to find out.

It was fun trying to figure out what was really happening. Was Shay an unreliable narrator or was she being set up?

I liked Shay. She was down on her luck, with a marriage that was pretty much done and she was just trying to survive. I began rooting for her and wanting her to win even if she was guilty (where was my conscience?).

I usually stay away from legal thrillers but this one kept my attention throughout. 

Cliffhanger: No

4/5 Fangs

A complimentary copy was provided by Harper via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Pearl by Josh Malerman

Title: Pearl

Author: Josh Malerman 

                         Publisher: Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Del Rey

Release Date: October 12, 2021

From the New York Times bestselling author of Bird Box and Malorie Josh Malerman comes the legend of a strange new monster unlike any other in horror.

Go to the farm just outside of town and you'll hear it.

A voice. Inside your head.

Or is it?

Come to me...

A voice that makes you want to pick up that axe over in the corner of the barn.

And swing it.

And kill.

Feed us. Feed us now.

It is the voice of Pearl.

Sing for me. Sing for your precious Pearl...

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If you want to read a gory story about a pig with a bad eye, this is the one for you. It was definitely NOT for me. 

Pearl is a pig. A pig on a farm. A pig who is not like any other pig. He can manipulate people to do whatever he wants them to do. He has learned over time how to do it and he wants to show the world what he can do. 

The same morning, Pearl has decided this, three teenagers have embarked on a road trip to check out the farm and learn more about this pig that some people say "can talk". Yes, the kids believe this is probably crazy but once they get there, things get scary pretty fast. 

The farmer's daughter as a teenager had her own weird experiences with Pearl, so she left for Brazil as soon as she graduated. Due to financial issues, she is back in town and with her two children in tow. When she can't reach her father she goes to the farm looking for him and later on, the grandchildren go looking for their mom.  

This one was too out there for me. 

Cliffhanger: No

2/5 Fangs

A complimentary copy was provided by Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Del Rey via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Eight Perfect Hours by Lia Louis

 

Title: Eight Perfect Hours

Author: Lia Louis

Publisher: Atria/Emily Bestler Books

Release Date: September 28, 2021

xxxIn this romantic and heartwarming novel, two strangers meet in chance circumstances during a blizzard and spend one perfect evening together, thinking they’ll never see each other again. But fate seems to have different plans.

On a snowy evening in March, 30-something Noelle Butterby is on her way back from an event at her old college when disaster strikes. With a blizzard closing off roads, she finds herself stranded, alone in her car, without food, drink, or a working charger for her phone. All seems lost until Sam Attwood, a handsome American stranger also trapped in a nearby car, knocks on her window and offers assistance. What follows is eight perfect hours together, until morning arrives and the roads finally clear.

The two strangers part, positive they’ll never see each other again, but fate, it seems, has a different plan. As the two keep serendipitously bumping into one another, they begin to realize that perhaps there truly is no such thing as coincidence. With plenty of charming twists and turns and Lia Louis’s “bold, standout voice” (Gillian McAllister, author of The Good Sister), Eight Perfect Hours is a gorgeously crafted novel that will make you believe in the power of fate.

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My favorite romance novel of 2020 was Dear Emmie Blue, so of course, I wanted to read Eight Perfect Hours.

The book starts with our heroine, Noelle Butterby, feeling down after attending her class reunion where the items of the time capsule were retrieved. She was able to get her friend Daisy's letter but not the camera/film. She also saw her ex-boyfriend, Ed who tried to avoid contact with her. Now, she is stuck in the motorway with hundreds of cars and a blizzard is upon them. She has a dead cell phone and she knows her mother is probably freaking out.

Then, someone knocks on her window. The stranger, Sam Atwood, has been watching her and he is asking if she needs help. Noelle after some hesitance agrees to move to his car to charge her cellphone. After spending eight perfect hours together, they each go their own way without exchanging their contact info.

Noelle feels like her life is at a standstill. She would like to be a florist but she cleans houses instead. After the passing of her good friend, she went into a depression and after her mother suffered a stroke, her mother developed agoraphobia and doesn't like to be alone, so Noelle has to stay with her and can't make any plans. She does have a brother but he is an aspiring artist and he is never home. She does have the emotional support of her good friend, although she feels like her friend is hiding something. Then Ed is back in town. It would be so easy to get back together but she keeps on meeting Sam in the most unexpected ways!!

I blame Sam for me not loving this book. After their initial encounter, Sam didn't give me the vibe, he was head over heels for Noelle. He was for the most part trying to avoid her. He didn't want to believe in fate. I felt bad for Noelle who seemed to have fallen hard. 

Overall, Eight Perfect Hours was a pleasant experience. I just wished I had connected with Sam better. 

Would I read Lia Louis's next book? You better believe it!!

Cliffhanger: No

3/5 Fangs

A complimentary copy was provided by Atria/Emily Bestler Books via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Wicked Prey by John SandfordLucas Davenport #19

 

Title: Wicked Prey

Series: Lucas Davenport #19

Author: John Sandford

Publisher: G. P. Putnam's Sons

Release Date: May 26, 2009

For twenty years, John Sandford's novels have been beloved for their "ingenious plots, vivid characters, crisp dialogue and endless surprises" ("The Washington Post"), and nowhere are those more in evidence than in the sudden twists and shocks of "Wicked Prey."

The Republicans are coming to St. Paul for their convention. Throwing a big party is supposed to be fun, but crashing the party are a few hard cases the police would rather stayed away. Chief among them is a crew of professional stickup men who've spotted several lucrative opportunities, ranging from political moneymen with briefcases full of cash to that armored-car warehouse with the weakness in its security system. All that's headache enough for Lucas Davenport-but what's about to hit him is even worse.

A while back, a stray bullet put a pimp and petty thief named Randy Whitcomb in a wheelchair, and, ever since, the man has been nursing his grudge into a full head of psychotic steam. He blames Davenport for the bullet, but it's no fun just shooting him. That wouldn't be painful enough. Not when Davenport has a pretty fourteen-year-old adopted daughter that Whitcomb can target instead. . . .

And then there's the young man with the .50 caliber sniper rifle and the right- wing-crazy background, roaming through a city filled with the most powerful politicians on earth. . . .

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Another good addition to the series!

Lucas has his hands full with this one. The Republicans are in town for the National Convention and as part of his job, Lucas knows he has to keep everyone safe. As if this was not enough, Lucas gets info about a right-wing sharpshooter who is probably in town. Then, Lilly calls from New York, a squad of dangerous people might be heading his way. They have already killed cops. Finally a person from Lucas's past, Randy Whitcomb, the reason he had to leave the force so many years ago, is back. Randy wants revenge and he believes taking and hurting Letty, Lucas's daughter is the way to make him pay.

There is plenty of action in Wicked Prey. Sanford has made such a great character in Lucas. From me disliking him to loving him and wanting to read all of his books. Lucas has become a good friend. Someone I want to check in on. It is a treat to see how Lucas's life is evolving now that he is married and has kids. I also like his team. I was happy that Dell's life is also moving ahead too.

Can I say that I love Letty? 

Did I think she made the wrong decisions? Yep. she did. I didn't agree with the way she handled the situation she was in. It was scary how much she reminded me of Lucas. She has the same darkness. She will do what needs to be done. Already, At her young age, she has lived way too much. She is an old soul.

Next for me is Storm Prey.

Cliffhanger: No

4/5