Book Review: Hour of the Witch by Chris Bohjalian

Hour of the Witch by Chris Bohjalian is a period piece in the mid 1600 America. It was you typical divorce stories husband beats on wife, she tries to divorce him and gets called a witch and has to defend against being a witch; so not typical at all. This novel will have you scream at characters, that I’m sure are accurately portrayed but so one sided and biased. The novel is set when the husband was king and they referred to the wife as the helpmate, it was not a partnership. This novel can be seen a feminist, it’s a fight for equal rights and to have a woman with strong ideas is not a bad thing. The trials are the best part of the book. The story is at it’s core simple but the way the story is told is what makes it so interesting. My only draw back was the novel repeats its self a lot. We go over the same issues twice during trial. It is an interesting story that could have totally happened and probably did during those times which makes is so believable. The Old English dialogue was fun to read. The ending was surprising and very fulfilling.

The Plot: Mary is married to Thomas a brut of a man who has two sides the good Christian and the abusive terror that only Mary gets to see. Mary is 24 and barren which is rare for the times, not with her lack of trying. Mary has a brain an thinks logically when other wives don’t. Mary believes in tonics and plants to heal instead of blood letting with leeches. She trusts in a woman Constance who heaven for bid choose to live alone and is referred in town as a witch one woman who was hanged already for a witch had dealings with Constance. Her father stirs trouble when he brings the devil’s trident to town, which we now a day refers to as a fork. Mary’s trouble starts when she finds a fork sticking up in the ground next to their door as a curse she accuses Catherine her handmaiden that has a crush on Thomas her husband. She dismisses it and finds one the next night but Catherine thinks she saw her plant it and already blames Mary’s tonics on killing her brother that was dying any way. Mary is accused of which craft her husband drunk and angry of the incontinence drives a fork into her hand. Mary files for divorce the next day as she is also accused of witchcraft. Will Mary get a happy ending or will she hang for being a witch, and will she find out who wants her, Thomas, or Catherine cursed?

What I Liked: The language was really fun. I loved the word “prithee” which means pray thee. The story was really interesting, simple but fascinating. I have not put much thought into divorce and it origins in the New World, but it was really interesting, almost as interesting as the witch angle. The trial and many judges, was also interesting. The ending was really stratifying, I didn’t know how it was going to end, but was happy when it ended the way it did. I had read the poetry of Anne Bradstreet a depressed puritan woman whose brother published the poems in England; I liked how they were used in the story. I liked that the character of Judge Adams wasn’t so biased and one sided that he thought of Mary as evil he could have figured it all out; I loved the moment when she realized and acknowledged how close he was to the truth of everything.

What I Disliked: the repetition was too much at times, the characters were not one note but a lot of their words were. That is the only thing I disliked but it was a high level of it.

Recommendations: This book is great, it is a little too repetitive but it still manages to be interesting. The 17th century is not a time period that I have read many books from, but I really enjoyed my time here. This is mainly a trail story, but there is drama and a mystery that fills the time not in the trial. I rated Hour of the Witch by Chris Bohjalian 4 out of 5 stars.

Book Review: Marvel Masterworks – The Amazing Spider-Man Volume 6 by Stan Lee

Marvel Masterworks The Amazing Spider-Man Volume 6 by Stan Lee is getting Spiderman in the larger story arcs. Spiderman has had minor stories arc like turning in his costume then having to use a spare, injuring his shoulder and being in a cast, or poor Aunt May being sick and weak for a couple issues. The villains have lasted only two issues until now. Spidey fights Doc Oct. and Kingpin for 3 – 4 issues. The main villains are Kingpin, who was just introduced in Amazing Spider-Man issue 50 and is in 5 issues in this volume, Doc Oct, Mysterio, and Allister Smythe and his Spider Slayer. Peter Parker’s love life takes a turn where he has to choose Gwen Stacey and Mary Jane Watson. This volume sees a death of a minor but important character, and introduces Gwen’s father Captain Stacey and Robbie Robertson who are all important to Peter Parker / Spiderman’s legacy. Marvel Masterworks: The Amazing Spider-Man Volume 6 collects The Amazing Spider-Man 51 -61 and Annual #4

Plots: Kingpin wants to take down all those articles about organized crime, and heads for J. Jonah Jamison to stop him for good. Jamison and Spidey team up to make a very unusual pair. Doc Ock has just been released from prison he wants to lay low to scheme on stealing a power device, he just happens to look for a room when Mary Jane opens one up. These issues hit close to home, as he cannot go after Doc Ock because he has charmed Aunt May. Spiderman has lost his memory and tricked into being a bad guy for sometime proving Jamison right. Kazar visits New York and tracks the menace that is Spiderman down.

What I Liked: The advanced storytelling and the bigger arcs that really up the stakes. Spiderman doesn’t win all the time, and has some great cliffhangers, that make you keep turning the pages. The spiderman classic quips are really clever and a joy to read. The Brainwasher itself was lame but I did like how it was attached to Oscorp and we got to see Norman Osborn as the victim, still struggling with life after not remembering he is the Green Goblin. Allister Smythe is becoming the ruthless creator of the Spider Slayer that I remember; it has taken him 4 appearances to nail the character. Gwen Stacey blinds Peter with science where he can talk about science with here and not Mary Jane. I liked some of the hard choices Peter and Spiderman have to make in this volume.

What I Disliked: The Brianwasher storyline took a long while to get good. The Spidey and the Human Torch Annual was 48 pages and took so long to get started. I have liked one annual storyline and it was the first one.

Recommendations: This Volume is great and big issue in terms of Spiderman story arcs and multiple issue storytelling. The Kingpin is mainly thought of a Daredevil villain but the first 5 issues the Kingpin makes a big splash with how ruthless and smart he is. I rated The Amazing Spider-Man Volume 6 by Stan Lee 4 out of 5 stars.

Book Review: Survive the Night by Riley Sager

Survive the Night by Riley Sager is a twisty thriller that takes you on a ride with a serial killer.  The twist keep coming and coming, some I could foresee but others will change the way you read this novel, making you go, What! Just happened!?!.  Every character in this book has a major change of how the reader perceives them.  He ending is non-stop the last 150 pages are on the edge of your seat as the twists keep coming.  The climax is very satisfying, I saw the final twist coming for a while but the actions after that were very satisfying.  The flaw of this novel is the beginning was hard to get into, it takes a little time for this book to get into rhythm, but when it does it is really hard to put down.  I have read all 5 of Riley Sager’s novels; I look forward to them every summer.  He is the king of summer thrillers.  Sager’s writing hooks me in by taking a horror trope and making it into a thriller, he as explored slasher, summer camp horrors, creepy apartments, haunted house and now a psycho-like road trip.  A big thanks to Netgalley and Dutton publishing for giving me an Advanced Reader’s Copy of Survive the Night.  Survive the Night is published on 7-29-21.

The Plot: Charlie is leaving school, she can’t handle the pressure of school and her roommate and best friend getting murdered by a serial killer.  The Campus Killer has killed a victim every year and Charlie’s roommate was murdered two months ago.  What makes it worst is the last conversations was a fight late at night between friends saying words they will regret the next day but there is no next day.  Charlie saw or thinks she saw the killer or at least the last person to see her alive, but cannot seem to make out the face.  Charlie has breaks in reality like she’s in a movie, and she can’t know if this is reality or a movie.  She post a ride share flyer and is approached by Josh a handsome stranger who is a little bit older. She agrees but once she’s in the car, she feels that something is not right, and that Josh might not be who he says he is, he might be a killer, or is it all in her head?

What I Liked: I liked that I was surprised of the direction this novel took, there were point where I thought I knew were it was going then thrown a curve ball.   The novel was all about finding your own power and not being the victim.  The non-stop back half of this novel is so fast paced an intense, I loved almost every minute of it. I liked a lot of the movie references being a movie buff and having seen most of the movies referenced.  I enjoyed the 90’s references especially Nirvana.  I liked the twist and how character’s actions were explained after the fact.  Charlie took a while to warm up to but I did root for her at the end. Marge the waitress was my favorite character.  I liked the final twist in the prologue that explained the events we witnessed.

What I Disliked: The beginning took a while to get into; I thought it was too much exposition, right at the beginning, which gave me a detachment to Charlie at first.   I saw one of the major twists coming really early about the Campus Killer’s identity, It was a man I wish I’m wrong about who this is, but I was right.

Recommendations: Nobody writes thrillers like Riley Sager, you have to experience this intense novel.  The only drawback is a really slow beginning but man is this book setting you up for a fast-paced ending.  I rated Survive the Night by Riley Sager 4 out of 5 stars.  My ranking of every Riley Sager novel from highest to lowest is: The Last Time I Lied, Home Before Dark, Final Girls, Survive the Night, and Lock Every Door.

Book Review: Malorie by Josh Malerman

Malorie by Josh Malerman is the sequel to the best selling Bird Box. Bird box is a novel at the start of a dystopian future, where mysterious creatures on earth can make a human go insane instantly when they see them. The people of the world live sheltered boarding up there house allowing no out side light in, those that do venture out do it with a blind fold wrapped around their heads. A pregnant Malorie is just trying to survive in this new world. At the end of Bird Box she finds what she believed to be sanctuary for her new family. Is it? The first “pulse pounding” chapter answers that question. The tense moments are still there from the first book putting the reader instantly on edge. For most of the book you are behind the blind folds of various characters, relying on sound. touch, smell and feel for you the reader to get a full picture. The climax has lots of rising action to get you to the climax which was a little of a let down. The characters are the same but have really matured and grown since the first book. Malorie is somehow more untrustworthy towards others tan Bird ox, which says a lot. Bird Box was an instant 5 star review for me, Malorie is a worthy sequel, that delivers on tense situations and twist, but the climax left me wanting more. There’s room for a third book so who knows, but I don’t feel Malerman is done with these characters. Bird Box was adapted into a Netflix movie starring Sandra Bullock, the book is slightly different with a character that returns in this book but didn’t’t make it in Bird Box the movie. This is my fifth Josh Malerman book, and will not be my last.

The Plot: The book start right where the characters ended up and Malorie’s sanctuary. Tragedy happens and the book jumps 11 years in the future, where Maloria and her family live in the woods not trusting anybody. A stranger comes and brings news of a blind train and people being immune to the creatures gaze. Malorie finds news that shakes her and a little bit of hope that she has lost. Will Malorie risk everything for a chance of hope?

What I Liked: The tension in the book you can cut with a knife. Malorie is tension filled and I loved it. The book will make you not trust these new characters. I liked the way the audience has grown with Malorie and her two kids Tom and Olympia . The Blind train is a cool idea. I also loved Tom’s glasses idea. There’s some really good fun twist that change situations and pearl drastically. I liked the balance of dark and light and how some fit in the gray area. I liked the Malorie’s motivation is all about hope and happiness.

What I Disliked: There’s a character from the first book that I was really excited see because of what they did in the first book they cased such , but when they are revealed it feel kind of flat, with motivations not explained or nonexistent. I was bummed that the part about the birds sensing the creatures was dropped, I thought hat part was clever.

Recommendations: I enjoyed most of my time in Malorie. The was a great tense novel that will have other readers on the edge of their seat, turning pages late into the night.. I rated Malorie by Josh Malerman 4 out of 5 stars.

Book Review: The 7 Deadly Sins by Tze Chun

The 7 Deadly Sins by Tze Chun is a western graphic novel set in 1857, not to be confused with the anime with the same name. It is about a group of six convicts that have one sin from the seven deadly sins and their financier that release them from death row. The story mirrors the Magnificent seven and the Seven Samurai. This graphic novel is about redemption. It is multiracial cast with diverse backgrounds. The story was just okay, but some character motivations just did not make sense. I will say that I did love the colors used and every wide panel, but the close up or medium panels were sometimes confusing, having me flip back to tell just what action happened. The book is very bloody and gory. This book had the worst drawings of noses that were so bad they were almost distracting. I loved only two characters stories and background far more than any others one was the burned pregnant slave girl and the other was the priest assistant and financier of the mission to return his daughter to the murderous chief. The Seven Deadly Sins collects issues 1 – 6 for TKO comics.

The Plot: A chief is on a rampage killing families in 1857 Texas. The Texas Rangers want to stop him but he can avoid capture, but a reverend’s assistant hold the key in his daughter, that was stolen on a raid 9 years ago. He uses the reverend’s number one enemy when he releases him with 5 other death row inmates. He offers them money, fresh start, and some redemption in doing a good deed. They are hunted by the priest who wants the money that his assistant stole, which he was stealing from the church.

What I Liked: the color art was the best thing it was really beautiful and captured the desert landscape. The storyline involving the pregnant and burnt slave was the best, she should have been lead because she was by far the most interesting character with a heart breaking background. I like the reverends assistant storyline and the relationship with his daughter. The scene with the underground pond escape was really great. The scalping of the priest was brutal and creepy that he survived it.

What I Disliked: The character of the reverend and Daper’s motivations made no sense, and really hurt the story. It was a little hard to place the character to the seven deadly sins, I still have question marks over a few of them. The art of people and especially there noses, so distracting.

Recommendation: The 7 Deadly Sins was interesting in some parts, but not enough for me to recommend. The purchase price was cheap at 1.99 and was worth that price on kindle. I rated The 7 Deadly Sins 2 out of 5 stars. I might try one more TKO comic in Sara by Garth Ennis.

Book Review: Star Wars: The High Republic: Into the Dark by Claudia Gray

Star Wars: The High Republic: Into the Dark by Claudia Gray is an adventure filled Star Wars novel where the best character is a rock, no I’m not kidding the rock steals so many scenes and keeps the humor up. I liked the mix of humor and adventure. Into the Dark takes place at the same time as the first High Republic novel Light of the Jedi. This book covers 4 new Jedi that were not mentioned in Light of the Jedi, the timeframe is at the same time but these Jedi are dealing wit a different crisis. I liked the main character Reath Silas and enjoyed his adventure best. the other Jedi were hard to connect with for some reason. I enjoyed the story overall but I did feel disconnected to some of the characters. The story does a good overall arc and nails the theme of teamwork. Into the Dark is written for young adult audience of 12 and up, i thought this dealt with more adult themes than Light of the Jedi, it has drug use and a couple times does a character ask about having sex. I have heard good things about Claudia Gray’s writing especially Lost Stars which I have never read but friends and other bloggers are obsessed with, I love the overall arc and theme but was not blown away by it. I felt the ending was satisfactory and well plotted out with a lot of action. The High Republic takes place 200 years before The Phantom Menace.

The Plot Reath Silas is a 17 year old Padawan who loves the research aspect of being a jedi and living at the Jedi Temple, when his master takes a position on the outer rim, the frontier for the Jedi. Reath can think of a million reasons not to go. He reluctantly takes the journey to meet his master when his voyage is cut short by a disaster that blocks all the hyper space lines of travel. They find a space station that is off the map, and assist other stranded ships. But what the Jedi finds is a space station with the dark side of the force lurking in the dark. Can Reath and the other stranded Jedi’s stop this force before it starts effecting others?

What I Liked: I didn’t know where this story was heading, it kind of has two parts, and a twist in the middle. Liked the ending a lot great rising action with some twist thrown in and nailed the climax which got intense. Geode the rock and navigator of the Vessel is awesome the strong and silent type. Geode is the butt of a lot of the jokes and darn it if I didn’t chuckle every time. Reath Silas is almost a Bilbo Baggins type character that is so against adventure until he’s in it and wants to go back in it. I liked the whole Vessel crew they were all fun characters.

What I Disliked: The Obvious jokes about Spice in Star Wars being compared to marijuana, It was too obvious and took me right out. The flashbacks are pointless until the end it could have been summed up in a story instead of breaking it into 5 boring parts (the first part was exciting then they grew boring) I could only connect to one out of 4 Jedi’s.

Recommendations: I will recommend Into the Dark on story alone. The story is really go it does add a whole lot to the Jedi lore but it is just a good unpredictable story. The good out weighed the bad in this story. I rated Star Wars: The High Republic: Into the Dark by Claudia Gray 3 out of 5 stars. I was between 3 and 4 but ultimately thought is was closer to a 3. I will check out more of Claudia Gray’s writing which was good but still felt detached from far too many characters.

Book Review: The Apocalypse Seven by Gene Doucette

The Apocalypse Seven by Gene Doucette is a fantastic science fiction thriller with a clever ending you will not see coming. This book is The Wanders by Chuck Wendig meets Contact by Carl Sagan. A really good mix of the apocalypse with alien involvement. The characters are unique only a couple are annoying, by most in a quirky sort of way. The plot moves pretty fast and the more you find out is pretty interesting, every chapter digs more into the mystery. The finale is was really clever in what it means, I was kind of disappointed in the direction it was going but the book has a twist that totally redeems its self. I really hope people read this book, this has been my favorite new science fiction since The Wanders and Recursion. I don’t think it is on the same level as those books but was very surprised how much I enjoyed this book. I read this book curtesy of Netgalley and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt as part of John Joseph Adams/Mariner Books. The Apocalypse Seven was published on May 25 2021.

The Plot: Robbie wakes up in his dorm after at Harvard after a hangover, to find everything in his room changed, he’s in the right dorm but everything is different. It is so different he can not find another living soul on his floor. He here’s faint crying from a distance it is a blind woman Carol calling for her seeing eye dog. She says she can’t hear anything, and Robbie looks out side to see a vast forest and no other species around. They start finding various people and finding signs temperature changes, tornadoes, and roaming wolf packs, that the earth as they know it doesn’t exist. They call it the whateverpocalypse because it is so random, but will they survive it? They feel watched but can’t see who is watching?

What I Liked: I liked how funny parts were, it makes the novel really flow. I liked the mystery of what happened to 7 random strangers and how it kept building with every chapter. I liked liked how Carol who is blind was written through sounds and feeling, which made for intense scenes with the wolf pack. I love loved the ending, I was setting myself up for disappointment but the final twist was great one that changed everything. I liked that we met the puppet master and he was not who anybody was expecting. I liked how Robbie became the reluctant leader. I loved Win and how tough she was.

What I Disliked: The character of Toure was a bit much at times. I wanted to see more of Paul’s encounter’s with the wild. There were a couple of moments where you have to suspend disbelief and science a lot, I was able to do that and still enjoy the book, I know some people can’t and this might not be the book for you.

Recommendation: I think this was a fun little book, with good storytelling and fun characters. The ending is fantastic and such a good twist. I had a lot of fun with this book. I rated The Apocalypse Seven by Gene Doucette 5 out of 5 stars. The rating was between 4 and 5 with the fun level and twist pushing it to a 5. This is my first Gene Doucette but I will check out other works in the future.

Book Review: Marvel Masterworks: The Amazing Spider-Man – Volume 5 by Stan Lee

Marvel Masterworks: The Amazing Spider-Man – Volume 5 by Stan Lee is full Spiderman’s classic villains, The reptile returns, Kurt conners has been turned back when he helped Spiderman defeat a new foe. Kraven the Hunter returns and the Vulture gets a new person to take his wings as the old vulture rots in prison. We finally get introduced to Mary Jane. Peter Parker moves in with Harry Osborn. Spiderman is introduced to classic villains the Rhino, The Kingpin, and the Shocker. This comic features others in the Marvel Universe: Daredevil, The Wasp, Ant-man, Thor, Iron man, Hawkeye, And the Hulk. This volume contains issue 50 called Spiderman No More which heavily influenced Spiderman 2 with Tobey Maguire and Alfred Molina, who are both rumored to join the MCU (or Spidey-verse) in Spiderman: No Way Home. Marvel Masterworks: The Amazing Spider-Man – Volume 5 collects issues 41-50 and annual #3 from The Amazing Spider-man Marvel comic book.

The Plots: The Rhino hits the scene and is looking for J. Jonah Jamison’s son, astronaut John Jamison who has been exposed to spores that grant him his own powers. Flash Thompson has been drafter to the Vietnam War. The Lizard returns as doctor curt Conner makes a serum to stop the Rhino he becomes exposed and changes into the Lizard once again. The new Vulture who tricked the old Vulture to give away the location of his wings. The Vulture beats Spiderman or so it seems which brings back Kraven the Hunter to destroy the new Vulture who beat Spiderman and Spiderman himself. Peter Parker wants to me Spiderman no more as he is failing in being a friend, failing in school, and it gets to him being called a menace day by day from J. Jonah Jamison who started broadcasting his own news, with Spiderman being gone a new criminal rises who calls himself the Kingpin.

What I Liked: The villains introduced are the real deal, of Spiderman villains that are still around, Rhino, Shocker, and Kingpin. Flash Thompson dates the comics but it was interesting that this bit of everyday life was brought up. The Mary Jane and Gwen Stacy fight for Peter Parkers love. replaced the Betty Brandt and Liz Allen feud from the first 25 issues. Spiderman No More comic is interesting and looks at the frustration of living a double life, and seeing exact panel recreated in Spiderman 2 is pretty cool. Fredrick Foswell almost finding out Peter Parker is Spiderman, and Foswell’s return to crime. The Vulture and Kraven fights was one of the best fight sequences so far. I liked that Spiderman was injured fighting the Lizard and kept his injuries over 3 issues. Stan Lee’s writing and jokes when setting a scene, he calls out lazy writing in the editorial by using the phase “meanwhile” then keeps using it.

What I Disliked: The rhino introduction was good on power and unstoppability but not that great on actual substance, The annual with the Avengers was just okay.

Recommendation: This volume is a classic that can not be missed for Spiderman fan, too many iconic villains get introduced, along with Mary Jane. Big things happen with Peter Parker moving away from Aunt May and in with Harry Osborn. I rated Marvel Masterworks: The Amazing Spider-Man – volume 5 by Stan Lee 5 out of 5 stars.

Book review: Goosebumps – Deep Trouble by R. L. Stine

Deep Trouble by R. L. Stine is the 19th Goosebumps book in the original order. Deep Trouble is more about adventure than horror. It is Stine’s take on a Dirk Pitt like character from a Clive Cussler novel. When the horrors come they are mainly in bad dreams. This book has sea creatures (both real and mythical), pirates, and danger. The story is okay it takes the first 30 pages to really get going. The story was kind of close to The Curse of the Mummy’s Tomb in the structure of the story and the way things happen. The fear part of the book is based on you don’t really know what is under you in the deep sea.

The Plot: William Billy Deep Jr. is with his sister, and their Uncle Dr.D and a research assistant in the deep sea. Dr. D has a grant from Ohio to investigate and find new deep sea creatures. Dr. D’s funds are running low and a local zoo ask him to find a mermaid for a million dollars. He’s to keep this top secret but Billy overheard and wants to help. He swims out deeper then he is supposed to and finds trouble in a hammerhead shark, Billy is saved before he is shark bait by a… Not going to tell.

What I Liked: The fear of you don’t know what is below you was set up really well, it is a shame it wasn’t followed once the real story happens. I liked Dr. D he has pretty good morals. Billy is best when he is dreaming of being a famous deep sea explorer. I liked the plot once it got going it, was not scary but it had some heart to it. The final twist was fitting and a good way to end the story.

What I Disliked: There’s a plot point about the zoo people freaking out that billy eased dropped on the zoo paying for Dr. D to find a possible mermaid, which is ridiculous the zoo wants the mermaid with in 2 days, billy lives with his uncle on a boat on the sea, who is he going to tell. The plot took too long to get going with any direction.

Recommendation: This story falls in the middle for me as good but not great. I’m going to review this the same as The Ghost Next Door it is not scary but the story has a lot of heart in it. I rated Deep Trouble by R. L. Stine 3 stars out of 5. Here’s my full ranking of the 19 Goosebumps books that I have read in order to my favorite to least favorite:Stay Out of the Basement, Piano Lessons Can Be Murder, The Haunted Mask, One Day At Horrorland, Night of the Living Dummy, Welcome to Camp Nightmare, The Curse of the Mummy’s Tomb, Say Cheese and Die, Let’s Get Invisible, Welcome to Dead House, Monster Blood II, The Girl who Cried Monster, Deep Trouble, The Ghost Next Door, Be Careful What You Wish For… ,Why I’m Afraid of Bees, The Werewolf of Fever Swamp, Monster Blood, And You Can’t Scare Me!.

Book Review: Local Woman Missing by Mary Kubica

Local Woman Missing by Mary Kubica is a uniquely told mystery because it is told in reverse, but you still don’t know all the facts making it very compelling. There are some big twist that will make you change your whole theory of what is going on. The writing was good with just enough description to let you visualize what is going on. The narrative is told at three different times by four different people in the story, at first this is a little dizzying, but then starts to fit in to place. The way the story is told makes it brilliant, if it was told the normal way it would still be good but they way it is told makes you question and doubt everything. This is my first Mary Kubica and I was blown away I have heard her name mentioned in mystery but didn’t expect to be this blown away and frankly jealous that I did not think of this brilliant way to tell a story. The finale is heart ponding and the villain gets what they deserved. This book does have LGTBQ characters. There are trigger warnings of extreme child abuse that could ruin this book for some. I would like to thank Netgalley and Harlequin trade publishing for giving me an advanced reader’s copy of Local Woman Missing. Local Woman Missing by Mary Kubica is published on may 18th 2021.

The Plot: A girl escapes people that have been torturing her for 11 years, the girl is famous of a sort for missing. The novel jumps back 11 years to the day of the missing girl, and we know she is not the only one missing the mom and another local woman are missing as well. Then the novel jumps back even further to 11 years and 3 months, where the mom receives a threatening text message saying I know what you did years ago, you will be punished.

What I Liked: The plot and the way it is told add so much tension. The past will change you perception of the future, it was really cool how that was done. I liked the psychological aspect to the book on the toll of reintroduction of a girl missing takes on her and the family, having Leo, the younger brother of the missing girl be the narrator was great as we get in his head. I did like there was a lesbian couple that no one batted an eye at and trusted there kids with. The finale was tense you already know who the villain now you want to find out if they get caught or they do more destructive things. I was very satisfied with the ending and the turn of events.

What I Disliked: There was one plot twist about a cheating husband, an accusation, then we find one girl had an affair I was bummed that it wasn’t tied into the husband, and that the husband having an affair just went away in the story, I kind wanted to know if it was true, or the accuser was just paranoid. I liked having the perspective of Leo a young 14 year old, but he has some lines about love and sex that felt more like a 40 year old that has been through the ringer not a 14 year old virgin.

Recommendation: Read local Woman missing it is a really smart mystery, that takes the reader for a ride shows you all the suspects and slowly fill in the details of the past and the present. Be warned of the trigger warning for extreme child abuse and entrapment. If I had to compare the narrative style to another book I would say it was closest to The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins, as close as it is the two are very different and this book doesn’t have a perspective that you can not trust. I rated Local Woman Missing by Mary Kubica 5 out of 5 stars. I will definitely be reading more Mary Kubica in the future.