Showing posts with label Mystery. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mystery. Show all posts

Review // A Fatal Affair by A.R. Torre

July 14, 2023


The female victim wasn't beautiful.
Wasn't rich.
Wasn't single.
So how did she end up in a Beverley Hills mansion with Trent Iverson? And why was she dead?


A Fatal Affair by A.R. Torre


My Rating - ★★★★
Release - June 20, 2023
Standalone
Genre - Murder Mystery
POV - Multiple 3rd person
Source - borrowed from Kindle Unlimited
Length - 313 pages

Actress Nora Kemp loves two men. One is Hugh Iverson, a philanthropic movie star who gives Nora security and respectability. The other is Hugh’s twin brother, Trent, a Hollywood bad boy who brings out Nora’s wild side. When Trent and an unidentified woman are found dead on the Iversons’ Beverly Hills property, more than Nora’s and Hugh’s reputations are at stake.

An investigation suggests murder-suicide. But there’s more to the crime than first meets the eye: suspicions of a serial killer with a bizarre motive, Hugh’s unnerved and cautious staff, and a missing mother and son. As two LA detectives sift through the deceptions of the innocent and the guilty—some living and some dead—solving the case becomes a cunning cat-and-mouse game.

Because in a city of illusions, the truth—no matter how dangerous—is so easy to hide.

Find it here: Goodreads * Amazon


My Two Cents

Was I caught completely by surprise? No.
Did I guess the answers pretty much from the beginning? Yes.
Did any of this matter? Absolutely not!

It’s been some time since I’ve read from this author, but thanks to Deanna @A Novel Glimpse and her fantastic reviews, this story hit my radar.

I love a good mystery and A Fatal Affair delivered. While I guessed many of its secrets before their reveals, I wasn’t as prepared for all of the ultimate twists and turns involved in this story. When reading a mystery, what more can you ask for than a book that keeps you guessing until the end?

I really liked how everything was wrapped up so neatly. There was a crime, many suspects, loads of secrets, a ton of subtext, and I enjoyed it all. There were multiple sides to the story and each one was captured in its own short chapters, moving the story along fast and keeping me engaged. I read this in TWO HOURS!! I’d recommend this one to anyone who likes a bit of fun and intrigue with their reading.

The Author

A.R. Torre is a pseudonym of Alessandra Torre and is her dark alter ego. While Alessandra enjoys spicy romances, A.R. love twisted stories filled with secrets, suspense, drama, and danger.

Alessandra/A.R. is a multi-time Goodreads Choice Nominee. Her books have hit the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and Amazon Charts bestseller lists. Over a million readers have enjoyed her novels in more than thirty countries.

In addition to writing, Alessandra teaches online courses to aspiring and published authors via www.alessandratorreink.com. She hosts an annual conference and has built a community of over 40,000 authors.

Visit www.alessandratorre.com for more information

Review // The Good Lie by A.R. Torre

November 25, 2021

The Good Lie by A.R. Torre

William S. Burroughs once said that no one owns life, but anyone who can lift a frying pan can create death. He was right. Killing is the easy part. The act of living—of finding happiness in life—that’s the hard part.

────── ♔ ──────


The Good Lie by A.R. Torre

The Good Lie by A.R. Torre


Standalone
Release - July 20, 2021
Genre - Mystery/Thriller
Primarily Singular POV - 1st person
Heat Level - 1.5 / why is this author afraid of the heat?
Format/Source - ebook borrowed through Kindle Unlimited
Length - 254 pages
Publisher - Thomas & Mercer

Six teens murdered.
A suspect behind bars.
A desperate father.
In a case this shadowy, the truth is easy to hide.


Psychiatrist Dr. Gwen Moore is an expert on killers. She’s spent a decade treating California’s most depraved predators and unlocking their motives—predators much like the notorious Bloody Heart serial killer, whose latest teenage victim escaped and then identified local high school teacher Randall Thompson as his captor. The case against Thompson as the Bloody Heart Killer is damning—and closed, as far as Gwen and the media are concerned. If not for one new development…

Defense attorney Robert Kavin is a still-traumatized father whose own son fell prey to the BH Killer. Convinced of Thompson’s innocence, he steps in to represent him. Now Robert wants Gwen to interview the accused, create a psych profile of the killer and his victims, and help clear his client’s name.

As Gwen and Robert grow closer and she dives deeper into the investigation, grave questions arise. So does Gwen’s suspicion that Robert is hiding something—and that he might not be the only one with a secret.

Find The Good Lie here: Goodreads * Amazon


My Two Cents

3 "Everyone's messed up" stars

After reading a review from Deanna at A Novel Glimpse, something pushed me to add this book to my tbr. From there, it was inevitable that I would borrow it from KU. When I was looking for something different, I picked it up. And now I'm here. At the end. And I don't even know where to begin!

All of the characters were messed up. ALL OF THEM!
While I expected some of them to be, because Gwen was a psychiatrist, I didn't expect even the doctor to have so many problems.

There was one character who deserved a ton of praise... Nina. That lady was the real detective of this novel!

I was able to predict most of what happened. Maybe not all of the details, but I wasn't left surprised by the end. It was obvious, but I did enjoy the journey.

My biggest issue with this story was the endless minutiae of Gwen's life. Not a direct quote (obvs), but it was something like this: I walked to my dresser. I grabbed a barrette. I put the barrette in my hair. I put my bangs to the side. No, I don't like that. I put my bangs to the other side. LMAO!! So freaking accurate!!

There's murder, there's mystery and a bit of a thrill to give it a bump. The writing was exceptional. The characters are... a mess. If this book sounds like your thang, read it.

About the Author

A.R. Torre is a pseudonym of Alessandra Torre and is her dark alter ego. While Alessandra enjoys spicy romances, A.R. love twisted stories filled with secrets, suspense, drama, and danger.

Alessandra/A.R. is a multi-time Goodreads Choice Nominee. Her books have hit the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and Amazon Charts bestseller lists. Over a million readers have enjoyed her novels in more than thirty countries.

In addition to writing, Alessandra teaches online courses to aspiring and published authors via www.alessandratorreink.com. She hosts an annual conference and has built a community of over 40,000 authors.

Visit www.alessandratorre.com for more information

JEZEBEL BOXED SET by K. Larsen

June 08, 2019

Jezebel by K. Larsen
30 years of affection.
10 years of soul shattering love.
8 years of happy employment.
2 months of turmoil.
1 week of truth.
A lifetime of betrayal.

Would you have seen it coming?

Annabelle Fortin landed herself in a bit of trouble. Mandated to community service at an assisted living facility for early onset dementia she meets Jezebel, one of the residents. This is the story that unfolds over the course of Annabelle's court ordered six month sentence. Nothing is what it seems.


Goodreads | Amazon

ARC Review: THE ELDER by Celia Aaron

February 05, 2018

Mississippi King
Now called Mississippi King: An Azalea Novel

A shocking murder.
A suspicious son.
A dedicated detective.
In Azalea, Mississippi, the only thing hotter than the summer days are the men of the King family.
When the patriarch Randall King is found dead, Detective Arabella Matthews will race the clock to stop the killer from striking again.
Benton, the eldest of the King siblings, has to decide if he wants to cooperate with the feisty detective or conduct his own investigation.
The more he finds out about his father—and the closer he gets to Arabella—the more he wants to keep her safe.
But the killer has different plans . . .

--> This is a full-length mystery with a slow-burn romance. xx

Review: The Inheritance Murders

January 05, 2018

The Inheritance Murders by E.L. Johnson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Standalone
Release - October 11, 2017
Genre - Mystery
Multiple POV
Heat - 3 out of 5
Length - 186 pages

Crystal works as a personal assistant, but when her boss turns up sick, it is up to her to go to a rich client’s house and support him as his family prepares for his uncle’s passing.

Finding her boss’ sex-filled emails makes Crystal determined to stay professional at all costs . . . until she meets the client’s brother, who is exactly her type of sexy.

When the uncle dies under suspicious circumstances, Crystal takes on more duties than your average PA: funeral tasks, investigating multiple deaths, searching a haunted house and becoming a sexual playmate. But, someone doesn’t want her around, and they’re willing to kill to keep their inheritance. Too bad for them that Crystal’s got a few tricks of her own.

In this tale of sex, murder and ghosts, sometimes the hired help is a bit more than average, and sometimes bodies just won’t stay dead.

ARC Review: The Ghostwriter by Alessandra Torre

October 01, 2017

The Ghostwriter by Alessandra Torre
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Standalone
Release - September 29, 2017
Genre - Mystery
Multiple POV - Heroine (1st) and secondary characters (3rd)
Length - 318 pages

Four years ago, I lied. I stood in front of the police, my friends and family, and made up a story, my best one yet. And all of them believed me.

I wasn't surprised. Telling stories is what made me famous. Fifteen bestsellers. Millions of fans. Fame and fortune.

Now, I have one last story to write. It'll be my best one yet, with a jaw-dropping twist that will leave them stunned and gasping for breath.

They say that sticks and stones will break your bones, but this story? It will be the one that kills me.

Find your copy of The Ghostwriter here:
Goodreads | Amazon
FREE with Kindle Unlimited

Review: The Old Man and The Princess by Sean-Paul Thomas

August 19, 2017

The Old Man and the Princess by Sean-Paul Thomas
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Standalone
Release - September 30, 2016
Genre - YA Mystery
Dual POV - 3rd person
Length - 211 pages

'Is the old man really who he says he is? And is he telling Sersha the truth about where she is truly from?'

A mysterious old man kidnaps Sersha, a young, headstrong, Irish girl, from the streets of Galway and tries to convince her that her life's destiny is tied to a mysterious cave in the Scottish Highlands. But with half of the Irish criminal underworld violently on their trail (or could they really be bounty hunters from another planet?) the kidnapped Sersha, struggles back and forth with the old man's real identity and far-fetched intentions to whether he truly is genuine in his wild and fantastical beliefs. Or is he just some kind of mad, demented, old fool, having a mental breakdown in his twilight years?

Review: The Girl At The Bar by Nicholas Nash

January 29, 2017

The Girl at the Bar by Nicholas Ash
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Standalone
Release - February 1, 2017
Genre - Sci-fi Mystery/Thriller
Multiple POV - 3rd person
Heat - 1 out of 5
Length - 390 pages

Rebecca, a brilliant cancer researcher, disappears after a one-night stand with a neurotic man with a questionable past.

Her sudden disappearance in the midst of a high-stakes quest to cure cancer between two rival billionaires sets into motion an inexplicable chain of events as the bodies start to pile up.

No one knows why she disappeared. The race to find answers ensnares everyone around her, one of whom is a deeply disturbed psychopath lurking in the shadows.

Is Rebecca still alive? What happened to her? Who did it? And why? Questions about her vex everyone looking for answers. No one can be trusted and no one is above suspicion…

Review: EXPLOITS: A Glamorous, Dangerous Romance by Clara Grace Walker

January 01, 2017

Exploits by Clara Grace Walker
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Sex & Secrets #1
Release: July 1, 2016
Length: 368 pages

What would you do if someone left a dead body in the backseat of your car?

Publicity-shy author Sunny Drysdale is forced to find out. After bumping into celebrity impersonator Boyd Bradford at a wedding reception the night before, and seeing him leave with rival author Darla Arnold, Sunny knows exactly who to blame for his appearance in her car. She’s suffered countless dirty tricks at Darla’s hands, and Sunny is determined this one will be the last. Her plan to return the body to Darla is thwarted, however, when she is flagged down, corpse still in car, by handsome police Chief Jeremy Jennings.

How can you love someone if you can’t trust them?

Jeremy is torn by his attraction to Sunny. If life has taught him anything, it’s that relationships are a trap. Worse still, he has two main suspects in Boyd Bradford’s disappearance, and Sunny Drysdale is one of them. With counterfeit bills popping up all over town and Boyd rumored to be a mob hit, Sunny is either in way over her head, or a beautiful, but devious criminal. His head says she’s only using their romance to distract him. His heart is determined not to care. Telling himself his interest in Sunny is only about solving his case; Jeremy loses himself to the passion simmering between them.

Will these two ever be honest with one another, and give in to the desire tempting them both? Or is their romance doomed to a catastrophic end?

Goodreads | Amazon

Read it for FREE with Kindle Unlimited

Review: Falsified by A. Akinosho

Falsified by A. Akinosho
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Standalone
Release: May 20, 2016
Length: 382 pages

The kidnap is achieved leaving us with the question. Who kidnapped Tamara?
Tamara Turner is a smart and sassy college co-ed. She had a chance meeting at the magnificent mile with a uniquely different yet special man. She secretly married the man, after a whirlwind romance of only a few weeks. A silent yet powerful enemy pulled all strings to end the relationship.
Years later, Tamara is now a rising assistant state’s attorney. She is trying her first murder trial as the lead prosecutor. The case brings the men in her past to her present. The chance man, the obsessed man and the possessive man, all three fired up and unwilling to let go. She makes a choice of the three. Her choice unbeknownst to her makes her the target of enemies willing to kidnap or kill her.