Tag: Murder

Book Review

Tender Beasts

TheShelfLife

Tender Beasts by Liselle Sambury

Publication Date: February 2024 |Thanks NetGalley for an ARC

Overall Verdict: Intense psychological thriller that shows the intricacies of family and how far they will go to support one another.

4/5 Stars

Book Summary: Sunny has 4 siblings, one of whom is being charged with murder. Her mothers dying wish was for her to be the leader of the family, but her older sister takes on the role before she could even start. When an increasing number of murders rock the private school that her family owns and attends, Sunny dives deeper into uncovering the killer. Working with her accused brother who she barely knows, they look to discover family secrets that have long been buried.

My Analysis: This is a solid psychological thriller/horror book. The focus is definitely on the Behre family, their secrets, and how far they will go to better themselves and protect one another. Even though this book is filled with murder, not a ton really happens throughout, but at the same time it still works well in keeping you guessing and interested. There is an entity that is worshiped, and the author does a nice job of making the reader question reality vs supernatural elements. On that note, the author does provide a list of triggers at the beginning of the book that people may find helpful. My favorite part of the novel was the deceased mothers journal entries from when she was a teen that are dispersed throughout. It was a nice way to give some necessary background information and helped to keep any reveals well-timed. If you liked Delicious Monsters, you’ll definitely like this one as well. It has a very similar vibe, although a very different story. If you’re into psychological thrillers and family drama, this one is for you.

Book Review

The Invocations

TheShelfLife

The Invocations by Krystal Sutherland

Publication Date: January 2024 |Thanks NetGalley for an ARC

Overall Verdict: A beautifully written but ultimately unsatisfying story revolving around witches and the occult.

3/5

Book Summary: Zara Jones will do anything to bring back her murdered sister, even if that means partaking in the occult to raise the dead. Jude Wolf is cursed after a deal with a demon went horribly wrong, and she has been suffering the consequences ever since. Emer Byrne is a cursewriter, helping desperate women exchange part of their soul for power. As these three paths cross, the more each realizes they must work together for their goals to succeed. When Emer’s clients start to be murdered, they turn to one another for answers.

My Analysis: Sutherland’s writing is beautiful. The imagery she provides is outstanding. The story however- absolutely boring. I had hoped this one would be an improvement over House of Hollow, but to me it wasn’t. Both written elegantly but the plots just aren’t interesting enough. I’m not sure if she’s just trying to hard to make it this gruesome story that has shock value and is failing, but the overall story is not satisfying. The characters she portrays are well developed, and I did appreciate their relationships with one another. Especially given the fact that these characters are pushed together as strangers who become friends. If you’re really into witches and the occult, it’s worth a read, but if not I say it’s one to skip.

Book Review

The Kill Factor

TheShelfLife

The Kill Factor by Ben Oliver

Publication Date: April 2024 |Thanks NetGalley for an ARC

Overall Verdict: A unique idea for a dystopian society that will appeal to most teens in the age of social media influences. Geared toward a younger YA audience

3/5 Stars

Book Summary: In a dystopian future where brand currency that is gained through social media followers reigns supreme, Emerson finds herself at the bottom of society. When she is arrested while trying to provide for her family, Emerson is met with an offer. A new reality TV show has been created for teens facing criminal charges. The winner will be released with no consequences. Contestants must complete mental and physical challenges and are put up to a public vote. The more followers someone has, the more advantages they have on the show. Emerson knows this isn’t going to be good, but she had no idea that she would also be fighting for her life along with her freedom.

My Analysis: I really like the concept of such a strong influence of social media on this dystopian society. It honestly isn’t too far off of what could happen in terms how it impacts financials and relationships. I can really see this idea appealing to teens who are so surrounded by social media in their everyday lives. I do think a younger YA audience would appreciate this more as the writing is more surface than depth. Is it a bit far fetched in terms of the TV show? Sure, but it’s interesting. It’s a bit of The Hunger Games meets #murdertrending. I thought at first that the challenges that the contestants were facing were a bit lacking in creativity, but I think upon further reflection that it was done that way purposefully by the author. There was one twist I didn’t see coming, but appreciated. Oliver definitely set the ending up for a potential sequel or series as well.

Book Review

Tag, You’re Dead

TheShelfLife

Tag, You’re Dead by Kathryn Foxfield

Publication Date: December 2023| Thanks NetGalley for an ARC

Overall Verdict: Fast-paced thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Geared toward a younger YA audience.

3.5/5 Stars

Book Summary: Social media influencer Anton begins a city-wide game of tag, with the prize to become one of his personal assistants. As contestants chase each other around London, their motives for joining the game become more apparent and secrets are revealed. When someone posing as the ghost of one of Anton’s former assistants interjects themselves into the game, everything begins to fall apart.

My Analysis: I enjoyed this book more than I anticipated I would. It was very fast-paced and kept me hooked to want to know what would happen next. The writing is geared more towards a younger YA audience, but if you can get by that it’s a solid thriller for anyone to read. I liked the concept of a city-wide contest and teenagers will definitely appreciate the social media presence throughout. Not sure how the parents of some of these kids are cool with them running around the streets of London unsupervised, but not going to let that detract from the story. You may figure out a few things along the way before the characters do (as I did) but the author does a nice job of making everyone look guilty. If you’re looking for a unique thriller that’s a quick read, give this one a try!

Book Review

The One That Got Away With Murder

TheShelfLife

The One That Got Away With Murder by Trish Lundy

Publication Date: April 2024| Thanks NetGalley for an ARC

Overall Verdict: Drama-filled and reads like a telenovela. If you can get passed how unrealistic some details are, it’s a fast-paced thriller.

2.5/5 Stars

Book Summary: Lauren moved to a new town for her moms new boyfriend, and also to escape some mistakes of her past. When she meets Robbie, they strike up a casual relationship. Lauren quickly learns however that Robbie and his brother also have a past- including two dead girlfriends. While navigating new friendships, she attempts to discover exactly what happened as everything begins to close in on her. When Lauren finds a new piece of evidence, she knows there’s no turning back.

My Analysis: I’ll admit I have mixed feelings about this one. To me it reads as more of a telenovela style story where it’s intriguing and drama-filled but you know it’s so unrealistic that all of this could possibly happen. If you’re able to get passed that, it is a super fast-paced read. I ended up reading it in just a couple days. What I liked: the supporting characters. They were interesting and I liked what little growth was shown in them. What I didn’t like: the main protagonist. She was really tough to root for, with her personality and decision-making. Something to be aware of with this one- there is a lot of mentions of casual sex, drug use and alcohol. May be better suited for older YA readers who are mature enough to handle the actions of the characters throughout.

Book Review

Suddenly a Murder

TheShelfLife

Suddenly a Murder by Lauren Munoz

Publication Date: September 2023 | Thanks NetGalley for an ARC

Overall Verdict: A quick read with an unlikely scenario, but an intriguing locked-room murder mystery.

3/5 Stars

Book Summary: Celebrating their High School graduation, a group of friends stay at Ashwood Manor for a week long 1920s themed getaway. Kassidy has planned everything from the outfits to the menu to the lack of technology to immerse everyone in the experience. Everything seems to be going well, until Kassidys boyfriend Blaine is murdered. With all of the party guests suddenly suspects, drama and secrets unfurl.

My Analysis: This was a quick read, and overall a pretty decent murder mystery. I enjoy a locked-room mystery and the author did a good job at making everyone suspicious. There is a past and present format to the book as well, and the past glimpses really dive into potential motivations for each character. It did alternate between being written in third person for the past chapters and first person for present, so something to be aware of. I do think that the plot of this group of rich teens being able to rent out this old manor and spend tons of money on all the 1920s details seemed to be a bit far fetched, but it worked enough to set the scene. I can definitely see a younger audience being drawn to the getaway concept. If you enjoy a murder mystery, give this one a go!

Book Review

Last Girl Breathing

TheShelfLife

Last Girl Breathing by Court Stevens

Publication Date: November 2023 | Thanks NetGalley for an ARC

Overall Verdict: A suspenseful thriller that focuses on deep character development, trauma, and the lengths people will go to to protect and survive.

4/5 Stars

Book Summary: Lucy has never been able to escape the tragedy that took her younger brothers life. Years later, she is focused on making the Olympic Air Rifle team when disaster strikes her small town again. Two murders that occur on the same land where her brother died push her into investigating secrets and suspicion seems to be pointing at everyone.

My Analysis: I enjoyed this book! I am a fan of Court Stevens, and the writing did not disappoint. It is a little slower paced at some points, but overall the characters keep you guessing throughout. Although it is written for a YA audience, I can see some of the younger side of that demographic struggling to get into the story. This novel is more depth than pure entertainment to read. I like that the author included a female protagonist that is interested in air rifle shooting. This is something that could be appealing to some readers who don’t usually get to see that combination represented. I really appreciated the character development throughout and the comprehensive nature to the story which combined together past and present events. So long as you’re able to put up with the slow burn pace, this is a thriller you don’t want to miss.

Book Review

Summer Rental

TheShelfLife

Summer Rental by Rektok Ross

Publication Date: June 2023 | Thanks NetGalley for an ARC

Overall Verdict: A thriller with some good jump scares, but only worth the quick read if you can put up with lackluster writing and suspended reality.

2/5 Stars

Book Summary: Summer Rental tells the story of a group of recent graduates who rent a house on remote Palm Key Island to have one last party before college. Even though they are a seemingly close group of friends, everyone is hiding something from one another. When a hurricane hits, they are cut off from the rest of civilization and trapped inside the house. This is only the beginning of their problems however, as they soon find one of their group has been murdered. As the body count rises, everyone is forced to confront their secrets.

My Analysis: I have mixed feelings about this book. The premise is very intriguing and overall the plot moves forward at a nice pace. There are a lot of ‘jump scare’ moments that I enjoyed and added to the thriller aspect of the novel. I did not see the twist towards the end coming until it was just about to happen, which I appreciated as the reader. The language that the author used however, drove me a little crazy. Making the characters very clear that they were teenagers was way overdone – the slang she included detracted from the story. I also did not appreciate the toxic friendships that were portrayed in the narrative. I understand why the author wanted to show this, but it is not a great example for teen readers to see characters acting this way toward one another. I think she could have gotten her point across without them being quite so awful to one another, even if many of them were entitled. Overall it is a quick psychological thriller that may be enjoyable if you can get past the writing.