Nightshade by Michael Connelly

 

 Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Detective Stilwell has been “exiled” to a low-key post policing rustic Catalina Island, after department politics drove him off a homicide desk on the mainland. But while following up the usual drunk-and-disorderlies and petty thefts that come with his new territory, Detective Stilwell gets a report of a body found wrapped in plastic and weighed down at the bottom of the harbor. Crossing all lines of protocol and jurisdiction, he starts doggedly working the case. Soon, his investigation uncovers closely guarded secrets and a dark heart to the serene island that was meant to be his escape from the evils of the big city. -michaelconnelly.com

 

Nightshade is the first in what promises to be a new series of novels starring Detective Stilwell on Catalina Island.  This isn’t Connelly’s first novel to feature a Catalina resident, it was also home to Terry McCaleb (Bloodwork, A Darkness More Than Night, The Narrows) from the Bosch universe.  While this was a great mystery and cop story, it felt like it was missing something that is present in Connelly’s other series: Bosch, Ballard and The Lincoln Lawyer. I just can’t put my finger on the missing element.  Perhaps it is the fact that all his other characters are known to be in the same universe and those main characters have all worked together, are family or are personally known to each other like the aforementioned Terry McCaleb.  But here with Stilwell on Catalina, we’re introduced to a whole new cast of characters so everyone is a stranger instead of characters we’ve come to know and love.  I did love the Catalina setting and this book definitely inspired me to take a trip out there some day.  The mystery itself was also strong and layered and I appreciated the small resort town misdemeanors referenced as well.  I look forward to the next Stilwell novel in the hopes that it will flesh out the characters a bit more and give us a new hero to root for.

I got my copy of Nightshade from Barnes & Noble where I caught one heck of a deal thanks to my bestie Melanie for racking up member rewards for me! At the time of this writing, Nightshade is currently 30% at Barnes & Noble so might want to pick yours up there or visit your favorite local bookstore or online shop.

 

 

Mother Daughter Murder Night by Nina Simon

 

 

High-powered businesswoman Lana Rubicon has a lot to be proud of: her keen intelligence, impeccable taste, and the L.A. real estate empire she’s built. But when she finds herself trapped 300 miles north of the city, convalescing in a sleepy coastal town with her adult daughter Beth and teenage granddaughter Jack, Lana is stuck counting otters instead of square footage—and hoping that boredom won’t kill her before the cancer does.

Then Jack—tiny in stature but fiercely independent—happens upon a dead body while kayaking near their bungalow. Jack quickly becomes a suspect in the homicide investigation, and the Rubicon women are thrown into chaos. Beth thinks Lana should focus on recovery, but Lana has a better idea. She’ll pull on her wig, find the true murderer, protect her family, and prove she still has power.

With Jack and Beth’s help, Lana uncovers a web of lies, family vendettas, and land disputes lurking beneath the surface of a community populated by folksy conservationists and wealthy ranchers. But as their amateur snooping advances into ever-more dangerous territory, the headstrong Rubicon women must learn to do the one thing they’ve always resisted: depend on each other. -motherdaughtermurdernight.com

I loved this book!  It’s part mystery and part family drama.  The relationship dynamics between Lana, Beth and Jack reminded me a lot of Gilmore Girls except Jack is cooler and more resourceful than Rory.  I loved reading about the change and growth in Lana, Beth and Jack’s relationship.  Lana is a fierce riot.  If gory mysteries turn you off, don’t worry, this one isn’t grizzly.  I also loved the small town coastal setting.  This is one of Reese Witherspoon’s book club selections and I can see why, it’s got a little something for everyone.  Fans of contemporary family stories and mystery fans alike will love Mother Daughter Murder Night. 

****/5

I got my copy of Mother Daughter Murder Night as an ebook through my local library. You can pick yours up at book stores everywhere or your local library.  For more information, visit the author's website.

The Writing Retreat by Julia Bartz

 

Alex has all but given up on her dreams of becoming a published author when she receives a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity: attend an exclusive, month-long writing retreat at the estate of feminist horror writer Roza Vallo. Even the knowledge that Wren, her former best friend and current rival, is attending doesn’t dampen her excitement.

But when the attendees arrive, Roza drops a bombshell—they must all complete an entire novel from scratch during the next month, and the author of the best one will receive a life-changing seven-figure publishing deal. Determined to win this seemingly impossible contest, Alex buckles down and tries to ignore the strange happenings at the estate, including Roza’s erratic behavior, Wren’s cruel mind games, and the alleged haunting of the mansion itself. But when one of the writers vanishes during a snowstorm, Alex realizes that something very sinister is afoot. With the clock running out, she must discover the truth—or suffer the same fate. - simonandschuster.com

I loved this book.  It was an excellent thriller and had really intriguing, well developed, dimensional characters.  While a few beats were predictable, many others were not which was breath of fresh air with the recent glut of cookie cutter thrillers I’ve read lately.  In addition to the thriller elements,   Alex also goes through a period of self-discovery and explores her sexuality in what seemed like a very natural way to me.  The third act of this book goes bananas in a wild way that I was not expecting.  I also loved the book within a book as  Alex crafts her story for the retreat.  With frigid temperatures expected again in the Hudson Valley this weekend, you can’t go wrong with staying in with this winter set thriller. 

****/5 stars

I received my copy of The Writing Retreat as an e-book loan through my local library.   You can get your copy at your local book store, local library or visit the author’s website for more information.   

In My Dreams I Hold a Knife by Ashley Winstead

 

Ten years after graduation, Jessica Miller has planned her triumphant return to southern, elite Duquette University, down to the envious whispers that are sure to follow in her wake. Everyone is going to see the girl she wants them to see—confident, beautiful, indifferent—not the girl she was when she left campus, back when Heather’s murder fractured everything, including the tight bond linking the six friends she’d been closest to since freshman year. Ten years ago, everything fell apart, including the dreams she worked for her whole life—and her relationship with the one person she wasn’t supposed to love.

     But not everyone is ready to move on. Not everyone left Duquette ten years ago, and not everyone can let Heather’s murder go unsolved. Someone is determined to trap the real killer, to make the guilty pay. When the six friends are reunited, they will be forced to confront what happened that night—and the years’ worth of secrets each of them would do anything to keep hidden. --ashleywinsted.com

Have you ever read a book and hated all the characters in it?  LOL  That was my experience with this book.  It was definitely entertaining and it did keep me guessing as to who the murderer was longer than other thrillers have lately.  However, Jessica, the main character, is just awful.   She’s obsessed with materialism and class rank to the point of obsessive neurosis.  Her fellow alumni in their friend group aren’t any better. I don’t even understand why any of them were friends as they all seem to hate each other.  Her friends also break one of the cardinal rules of horror films along the way, which had me screaming at them to not do certain things.  Also, mild spoiler here, if you’re expecting the titular knife to come into play here, don’t hold your breath and pay closer attention to the scissors on the cover art. 

This was another e-book that I borrowed from my local library.  You can find “In My Dreams I Hold a Knife” at book stores everywhere and your local library or for more information, visit the author’s website.

 

***/5