Wednesday, July 8, 2020

Whisper Man by Alex North


Found: new psychological thriller author to love! The Whisper Man is a creepy, thrilling story with serial killers and child abductors, but also a tender story about fathers and sons, love and loss, loyalty and new beginnings. Sound weird? It is!

The killer known as the Whisper Man is safely in jail where detective Pete Kennedy put him, even though one of the boys he abducted was never found. This fact still haunts Pete even years later as he works at solving other crimes and winning his war against alcohol, the war that cost him his relationship with his own son. Then another boy is abducted 20 years later, and children are talking about the Whisper Man again. Enter Tom Kennedy and his son Jake who move to Featherbank after the loss of their wife/mother. They are struggling with their new relationship to one another but decide a fresh start would help. So father and son move to Featherbank where Jake continues to talk to his imaginary friend, a girl in a blue dress who always seems to know what to do and who to be afraid of.  Strange things start to happen in their new house with the dark history, and the Whisper Man likes to hang around.

But during all this heart-pounding, creepy, mystery story, there is also a tender one about how families endure loss and come together. Tom's feelings of inadequacy as a parent will resonate deeply with anyone who cares for children, and Jake's innocent, all-encompassing love for his dad may even give parents a unique view inside a child's mind. I will remember Tom's words, "When we argue, we still love each other very much," for a long time. And I am glad that Jake is always able to remember them.

Give this unique and poignant thriller a try! But make sure you have a large block of time to keep turning the pages. And don't turn out the light! :)

Conjure Women by Afia Atakora



Midwife stories have always fascinated me, and so, on another recommendation from my sister, I picked up Conjure Women. The title also intrigued me because it speaks to me of mysticism and voodoo - other topics that I love! But this book is so much more than just another midwife tale.

The book is told from three perspectives: Miss May Belle, healer and slave woman who is asked not only to cure all manor of ailments, birth babies, and provide "other duties" to the master, she is also frequently called on to make or lift curses or cast spells for the slave workers. Another point of view comes from her daughter, Rue. Rue grows up as the "pet" of the master's daughter, and as she grows, she learns her mother's healing skills. These are both a blessing and a curse to her in her life, which becomes glaringly evident when she helps the birth of a child they call "black-eyed bean" because of the strange color of his eyes. The village sees Bean as a cursed thing, but Rue has a special love for him that others find difficult to understand. Then we have the master's daughter, Varina, the other point of view, the one of privilege in many ways but of poverty when it comes to love and companionship. Varina and Rue grow close, but as the war ends and the slaves are freed, loyalties and bonds become precarious and unpredictable.

The weaving together of these three stories during this time period is beautiful and involving. The writing is rich and transporting, and I look forward to many other books by Atakora.

Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins



It's here! The book Hunger Games fans have been waiting for! If you think that prequels and sequels are never as good as the originals, you may change your mind after reading this one!

This book takes us back to the time of the 10th Hunger Games, when Coriolanus Snow is a teen. The Snow family that used to be considered among the royalty of the Capital has come on very hard times, and Coriolanus and his family struggle to make ends meet. So, when an opportunity arises for Coriolanus to mentor a tribute in the Games in order to secure a place and scholarship at college, he can't pass it up. But he is given Lucy Gray, the tiny, female tribute from District 12 to mentor. The odds are not ever in his favor. And the Games are quite different from those in the first three books. Things are old school in #10 so that everything looks more like a waiting game with starvation than it does a battle of wits and skill. However, Lucy Gray, with Coriolanus rooting for her, is determined to use her flair and appeal to help her take control. Will Snow land on top?

There isn't much left to say about The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes except - GO READ IT! And make sure you have time to finish it in one reading bite! It's a fascinating and thrilling addition to the series that will not disappoint loyal fans.


Mrs. Everything by Jennifer Weiner


I had never read anything by wildly popular Jennifer Weiner before. Her books fly off the shelves at the library and are brought back with rave reviews. I always thought they were a little too "romancy" for me, but when my own sister recommended Mrs. Everything, I had to try it, since she is always right about books I would like. And she was right again!

Jo and Bethie are sisters in the book, but they could not be more different. Growing up in 1950's, Jo was the girl with the radical ideas who wanted to change the world. Bethie was the pretty princess type who had no trouble being a good girl, modeling after her mother. But when they are all grown up, it is the '60's, and circumstances, like the turbulent times they lived in, changed everything for both of them. Jo is the one who becomes the reliable wife and mother, although she always wishes for something very different. Bethie dives into the '60's scene and has a hard time swimming out of it.

What happens is that you can't stop reading about these two women because you can see yourself in both of them, and you really want to know what happens to them. That's the sign of great characters in a believable book that makes you sad when you are done. Mrs. Everything is. . .well, everything! Enjoy!

One of Us is Lying by Karen M. McManus


I spent many a pleasant hour at my house watching "Pretty Little Liars" with my daughters, so I have been wanting to read this little gem of a YA for a long time. One of Us is Lying by Karen M. McManus is a fast and furious mix of thriller, love story, and gossip saga all rolled into a mystery.

The set-up for the story is that five Bayview High students get detention and are about to serve it in one classroom. There is a distraction at the window, and then boom. One is dead. How does Simon die? Well, that is one of the many curious things: a nut allergy. How does someone die of a nut allergy in a classroom where the students can only drink water? No one seems to know, but the other four students are all suspects because they are the focus, for various reasons, of Simon's brutal, tell-all blog. As their secrets come out one by one and the story is big news everywhere, we get to know these characters better and better. Yet it seems impossible that any of them is capable of murder. But anything is possible, right?

If you like a fast read full of intrigue and interesting characters, this one's for you. And oh, yeah! There is a sequel! Come check them out at the library!