reecaspieces

Overview

Death comes for everyone.

Deep in the Florida Everglades, the body of a woman is discovered in pieces, presumably ravaged by an alligator. Upon closer inspection, it’s determined no animal could make such perfectly precise cuts. Only a blade could do that. Wielded by a human. Soon, dozens of oil drums emerge amid the river of grass. Each one packed to the brim with body parts.

FDLE special agent Amy Larson and her partner, FBI special agent Hunter Forrest, share a bad feeling that extends beyond the horrifying nature of the grim discovery. They’ve seen this kind of sadistic killing before, and when a small beige horse is discovered at the bottom of one of the barrels, they know exactly what it means. The fourth horseman of the apocalypse rides a pale horse—and his name is Death.

With so many bodies to identify, connecting one victim to the next is easier said than done. But finding a pattern in the chaos might be the only way Amy and Hunter can zero in on the killer, testing their skills as agents—and their relationship—like never before. And when the disturbing trail of clues signals these slayings are just the beginning, the agents will have to return to where it all started before it’s too late. The apocalypse is coming, and Hunter and Amy have only one chance to stop it, even if it means sacrificing each other.

Review

Amy Larson and her partner, Hunter Forrest have been called into a body dump in the Everglades. They have come across this killer before. So when they find a toy horse, they know there is more to come and it is going to be a long process.

Amy and Hunter are a unique pair. I enjoy their chemistry, on and off the murder scenes. And when Amy becomes and target…LOOK OUT!

I can always count on this author keeping me captivated! This book has some crazy folks in it. I swear! Talk about a sadist! I love a book with religious undertones. This story is full of them…the apocalyptic horses….Geez! Graham definitely takes the reader down a path which is twisted!

Need a wicked thriller…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today n

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

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Overview

The Most Anticipated 2024 Book Releases by Nerd Daily

Most Anticipated Crime Fiction Novels of 2024 by Novel Suspects

“[An] entertaining thriller [that] maintain[s] tension and intrigue through to the satisfying end. The author’s fans will devour this.” —Publishers Weekly

The Paris Apartment meets The Wrong Family in this thrilling tale of crime, passion and murder set in a run-down apartment complex packed with shady characters willing to go to deadly lengths to keep their darkest secrets from the stranger in their midst.

When Anna Hartley’s husband, Henry, calls her with a terrible, guilty confession, she can’t believe what she hears. It has to be a bad joke—the mild, predictable artist she married would never hurt a fly, let alone commit murder. But her confusion turns to horror when police find his body washed up on the banks of the Rio Grande. 

Desperate for answers to the millions of questions his untimely death has raised, Anna checks in to The Sycamores, the run-down motel turned apartment Henry rented as an art studio. As she absorbs every bit of gossip the eclectic mix of residents are willing to share about her husband and each other, she begins to piece together a picture of a very different man than the one she married, and the life he led behind her back. The more she learns, and the less sense things seem to make, she finds herself wondering: Did she ever really know Henry at all? 

But Henry’s secrets aren’t the only ones; as Anna’s search for clues expands, Cass, the mysterious, jaded motel manager, seems more and more determined to keep Anna in the dark. And when threatening letters start appearing at her door, Anna has to decide what’s more important—the truth, or her own safety.

Review

This story is told from two different narrators, Anna and Cass. Cass’ world has just fallen apart and she has taken a job at a rundown motel that has been turned into apartments. Anna’s husband has recently killed himself. She decides to move into the cheap apartment he kept as an art studio. This apartment is in this rundown hotel but she wants to understand why he kept this place.

There are quite a few characters in this tale. And I enjoyed every one. I loved the “trailer park” feel! The strangeness and the connections they have to each other is quite amusing. And the author uses each character to help uncover the truth about what is happening at this trailer park…uh..apartment complex!

This story weaves back and forth between Anna and Cass. They each have a different storyline which eventually comes together to catch a killer! Cass is my favorite…she is not really a good person but she just has a charisma you don’t want to miss!

Need a good thriller with unique characters…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today!

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

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Overview

From bestselling author and award-winning journalist Jo Piazza, comes a transporting novel rooted in the author’s own family history about a long-awaited trip to Sicily, a disputed inheritance, and a family secret that some will kill to protect . . .

Sara Marsala barely knows who she is anymore after the failure of her business and marriage. On top of that, her beloved great-aunt Rosie passes away, leaving Sara bereft with grief. But Aunt Rosie’s death also opens an escape from her life and a window into the past by way of a plane ticket to Sicily, a deed to a possibly valuable plot of land, and a bombshell family secret. Rosie believes Sara’s great-grandmother Serafina, the family matriarch who was left behind while her husband worked in America, didn’t die of illness as family lore has it . . . she was murdered.

Thus begins a twist-filled adventure that takes Sara all over the picturesque Italian countryside as she races to solve a mystery and learn the story of Serafina—a feisty and headstrong young woman in the early 1900s thrust into motherhood in her teens, who fought for a better life not just for herself but for all the women of her small village. Unsurprisingly the more she challenges the status quo, the more she finds herself in danger.

As Sara discovers more about Serafina, she also realizes she is coming head-to-head with the same menacing forces that took down her great-grandmother. At once an immersive multigenerational mystery and an ode to the undaunted heroism of everyday women, The Sicilian Inheritance is an atmospheric, page-turning delight.

Review

Sara has lost her restaurant and then she lost her husband. She is truly at a crossroads. So, when her beloved aunt passes away and leaves her a letter telling her to head to Sicily. Sara jumps at it! Sicily and her family heritage end up being a bit more than she bargained for.

Sara is a character that is a bit lost and I loved her! Then there is her grandmother, Serafina. Serafina’s tale begins in the early 1900s. She is a healer…but it is complicated. Sara needs to find out what happened to her to gain her inheritance.

I enjoy a novel with dual timelines and this one is right in my wheelhouse. The only reason for the 4 star rating, it slows down a bit in the middle. I wanted this to unfold quicker. But, the atmospheric setting and the family secrets are not to be ignored!

Need a good family mystery tale…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

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Overview

Fasten your seat belt. This is one wild ride.” ―Kirkus (starred review)

A road trip to find closure… or a reckless chase that could turn deadly?

Penny has never met anyone smarter than her. That’s par for the course when you’re a savant–one of less than one hundred in the world. But despite her photographic memory and super-powered intellect, there’s one mystery Penny’s never been able to solve: why did her father leave when she was in a coma at age seven, and where is he now?

On Penny’s twenty-first birthday, she receives a card in the mail from him, just as she has every year since he left. But this birthday card is different. For the first time ever, there’s a return address. And a goodbye.

Penny doesn’t know the world beyond her mother’s house and the special school she’s attended since her unusual abilities revealed themselves, but the mystery of her father’s disappearance becomes her new obsession. For the first time ever she decides to leave home, to break free of everything that has kept her safe, and use her gifts to answer the questions that have always eluded her. What Penny doesn’t realize is she might not be able to outsmart a world far more complicated and dangerous than she’d ever imagined…

Review

Penny is a 21 year old savant. She is not your usual savant. She received her abilities through an accident. She has also been raised in a facility. She has been studied because she is so rare. But now she has decided it is time to find her dad. He left after her accident and she needs him. This adventure does not go as planned.

I enjoyed Penny. She is tougher than you think. And she makes some pretty tough decisions, are they the right decisions??? Hmmm! But, I do admire her thought process and her tenacity. I love reading about savants. I have read some stuff before and it is still unique and interesting.

I did figure out part of the ending. However, that was probably the author’s intention. Then there is the part I didn’t figure out. A bit of a surprise but it fit perfectly with this tale.

Need a good cross country adventure…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

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Overview

Named an Anticipated Read of 2024 by Entertainment Weekly and a Best Historical Fiction novel of 2024 by BookBub.

As death stalks a gothic mansion in Miami, the lives of two women intertwine as the past and present collide in New York Times bestselling author Chanel Cleeton’s atmospheric new novel.

With the Great War finally behind them, many Americans flock to South Florida with their sights set on making a fortune. When wealthy industrialist Robert Barnes and his wife, Anna, build Marbrisa, a glamorous estate on Biscayne Bay, they become the toast of the newly burgeoning society. Anna and Robert appear to have it all, but in a town like Miami, appearances can be deceiving, and one scandal can change everything.

Years later following the tragic death of her parents in Havana, Carmen Acosta journeys to Marbrisa, the grand home of her estranged older sister, Carolina, and her husband, Asher Wyatt. On the surface, the gilded estate looks like paradise, but Carmen quickly learns that nothing at Marbrisa is as it seems. The house has a treacherous legacy, and Carmen’s own life is soon in jeopardy . . . unless she can unravel the secrets buried beneath the mansion’s facade and stop history from repeating itself.

Review

Wealthy industrialist, Robert Barnes and his wife, Anna are building a massive home in south Florida. Anna is not really enjoying how big their home is becoming. But, she is staying silent. It is what her husband wants. However, when there is a death off the wall around Biscayne Bay, secrets start to unfold.

Years later, Asher and his wife Carolina purchase this run down mansion with the goal of making it the showplace it was meant to be. But, Carolina ends up murdered and Asher is the main suspect.

Give me a house with a past and a possible ghost and I am here for it! I enjoyed this atmospheric setting! Add in the unsolved murders and the family history and you have a pretty dad-blamed good tale!

I enjoyed how this story unfolded. The different time periods that are parallel to each other really increased the mystery surrounding the house and the occupants.

Need a story which will captivate you…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today!

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

Purchase Here

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Overview

One by one, they will get what they deserve…

“I stayed up all night reading this book and loved it!” –Amazon

A night spent sleeping on dirt and leaves is not how Claire Matchett expected to spend her vacation.

She thought this would be a break from the stresses of work and raising her young children. A chance to repair her damaged marriage. A week of hiking and hot tubs with two other couple friends. It sounded like heaven.

Then Claire’s minivan breaks down on a lonely dirt road. With no cell reception, the group has no choice but to hike the rest of the way to their hotel. But it turns out the woods aren’t as easy to navigate as they thought.

Hours later, they are lost. Hopelessly lost. 

And as they navigate deeper into the woods, the members of their party are struck down mysteriously one by one. Has a wild animal been hunting them? Or is the hunter one of them?

But as more time passes, one thing becomes clear:

Only one of them will return home alive.

Review

Claire’s marriage is falling apart and she is going to end it. So when she and her husband and some friends decide to get a way for the weekend, she has asked for a separate room. But, Claire is not on the up and up. She is having an affair with her husband’s best friend. He is also on this trip. But, before they get to their destination, things start to fall apart. The car breaks down and they all get lost in the woods…then the real danger kicks in.

I am slowly working my way through Freida McFadden’s books. This one seems a bit more disjointed than her other books. These main characters, and there are quite a few, make some really stupid decisions and I wanted to pinch them silly, especially Claire!

But, the story itself is pretty intense and intriguing. At first, I thought this was going to be more of a horror tale. But as it unfolded I realized what was happening. And no one can make a twisty tale like McFadden!

Need a tale you won’t forget…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

Purchase Here

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The Book of Thorns

Author: Hester Fox

Publication Date: April 2, 2024

ISBN: 9781525812019

Publisher: Graydon House, Trade paperback original

Price (US) $18.99

Book Summary: 

An enchanting tale of secrets, betrayal, and magic…

Penniless and stranded in France after a bid to escape her cruel uncle goes awry, Cornelia Shaw is far from the Parisian life of leisure she imagined. Desperate and lacking options, she allows herself to be recruited to Napoleon’s Grande Armée. As a naturalist, her near-magical ability to heal any wound with herbal mixtures invites awe amongst the soldiers…and suspicion. For behind Cornelia’s vast knowledge of the natural world is a secret she keeps hidden—the flowers speak to her through a mysterious connection she has felt since childhood. One that her mother taught her to heed, before she disappeared.

Then, as Napoleon’s army descends on Waterloo, the flowers sing to her of a startling revelation: a girl who bears a striking resemblance to Cornelia. A girl she almost remembers—her sister, lost long ago, who seems to share the same gifts. Determined to reunite with Lijsbeth despite being on opposite sides of the war, Cornelia is drawn into a whirlwind of betrayal, secrets, and lies. Brought together by fate and magic at the peak of the war, the sisters try to uncover the key to the source of the power that connects them as accusations of witchcraft swirl and threaten to destroy the very lives they’ve fought for.

“The Book of Thorns is a gentle, magical tale of hope and healing in the midst of war. Fox does not hide from the fact that for all the romance surrounding Bonaparte’s exploits, nobody who fought at Waterloo came out unscathed, whether they were breathing by battle’s end or not. But Fox also reminds us that, even in fields tilled by cavalry charges and fertilized with gunpowder, flowers can grow.” –BOOKPAGE

Review

This story follows two young ladies, Cornelia and Lijsbeth. These two are sisters but with a different life path. Cornelia was kept and raised by her cruel uncle and Lijsbeth was given away and placed into a life of servitude. Their lives cross at a crucial time and it will take all these sisters have to escape the noose…even witchcraft.

I have enjoyed every novel by this author. And I have read almost every one. I love how magic plays a huge role in all her books. And this one definitely has magic and more!

Cornelia and Lijsbeth come together in the end to save Cornelia. I was unsure how this was going to happen…and you will need to read this to find out…but Lordy…I was a bit terrified there for a second!

Give me a good book with family mystery and magic and I am hooked. Add in the setting of the Napoleon era and you have a good read!

Need a book with a unique history and a bit of the occult thrown in…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

About the Author

Hester Fox is a full-time writer and mother, with a background in museum work and historical archaeology. She is the author of such novels as The Witch of Willow Hall, A Lullaby for Witches, and The Last Heir to Blackwood Library. When not writing, Hester can be found exploring old cemeteries, enjoying a pastry and seasonal latte at a café, or  scouring antique shops for old photographs to add to her collection. She lives in a small mill town in Massachusetts with her husband and their two children.

Social Links:

Author site: https://hesterfox.com/ 

GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17440931.Hester_Fox 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/hesterbfox?lang=en 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hesterbfox/ 

Buy Links:

HarperCollins: https://www.harpercollins.com/products/the-book-of-thorns-hester-fox?variant=41079517413410 

BookShop.org: https://bookshop.org/p/books/in-the-season-of-violets-original-hester-fox/20070119?ean=9781525812019 

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-book-of-thorns-hester-fox/1143567257 

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Book-Thorns-Novel-Hester-Fox/dp/1525812017/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr= 

Overview

The sensational brand new thriller that BookTok is calling “absolutely A-M-A-Z-I-N-G” (@hollylovesbooks1519) and “impossible to put down” (@kurryreads), from the bestselling author of Local Woman Missing and Just the Nicest Couple

Everyone has secrets, but not everyone has remorse…

A terrible accident.

Meghan Michaels is trying to find balance between being a single mom and working full time as an ICU nurse, when a patient named Caitlin arrives in her ward with a traumatic brain injury. They say she jumped from a bridge and plunged over twenty feet to the train tracks below.

A shocking revelation.

When a witness comes forward with new details about Caitlin’s fall, it calls everything they know into question. Was Caitlin actually pushed and if so, by whom and why?

No one is safe.

Meghan lets herself get close to Caitlin until she’s deeply entangled in Caitlin’s and her family’s lives. Only when it’s too late, does she realize that she and her daughter could be the next victims…

Review

Megan is a single mom trying to balance it all. She an overworked ICU nurse and when she gets assigned the patient Caitlin, she knows her abilities will be tested.

Caitlin has a traumatic head injury. She jumped from a bridge…or did she. New evidence has been brought forward and Caitlin just might have been pushed.

I will be honest, there were places in this book where I found Meghan a bit naive and stupid. I even rolled my eyes a time or two. I kept reading thinking it would change and some of the mundaneness of this tale would fall away and I would see some action. And when I hit over half way through…I cussed a blue streak…I did not see the twist coming. And I should have, I know this author does this! What a fabulous set up! So, in other words…don’t give up!

This story takes you on a wild ride of trust! As a reader, you have no idea who to trust in this tale. Everyone is a suspect!

Need a good thriller with a huge twist…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

Purchase Here

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