Good Reads & Views

Codename Villanelle: Killing Eve Series, Book 1 by Luke Jennings
Fiction

What it’s about: This book takes you on an extraordinary journey around the world to the finest places, as if you are really there. It's exciting to imagine being a chic fashionable assassin like Villanelle, until Eve brings you back to reality with her persuasive opinions for pursuing Villanelle with a righteous vengeance. As the storyline unfolds and Eve gets closer to discovering who is and who isn't in the "12," the story becomes a mystery that you can’t decipher half-way through. Highly recommended.

Is it for you? It's a fun book, well written by an experienced author who knows how to create a captivating story.

You might also like: No Tomorrow: Killing Eve Series, Book 2 by Luke Jennings

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Joe Victim: A Thriller by Paul Cleave
Fiction

What it’s about: Joe Middleton, serial killer, whom we previously met in The Cleaner, is now in jail, awaiting trial. Because of him, politicians running in the upcoming elections are looking to bring back the death penalty in time for his sentencing. And Joe still thinks he can just pretend to not remember committing all his murders and the jury will find him innocent by reason of insanity. References from the previous book are woven into the narrative so this can be read as a standalone.

Other characters of note: Melissa, Joe’s “girlfriend” who has reasons for wanting Joe out of jail; Carl Schroeder, fired ex-cop; Rafael, father of one of Joe’s victims; “The Sally” who was instrumental in Joe being caught; and Joe’s mum, oblivious to his plight and focused on her upcoming nuptials. 

Some observations: This is NOT for the faint of heart. Best enjoyed on audio because the narrator does such a fantastic job. You’ll never eat another sandwich before checking what’s inside… And, as the previous book, very dark humor.

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Blacktop Wasteland by S. A. Cosby
Fiction

Why you should read it: For the adrenaline-rush heart-pumping story that’s also a nuanced and emotional examination of masculinity and father/son relationships. Beauregard “Bug” Montage is a former wheelman turned garage owner who takes one last job to pull himself and his family out of poverty, but it doesn't go as carefully planned. This fast-paced, heart-pounding, and violent heist-gone-wrong thriller is backed up by strong, likeable, yet flawed characters forced into heartbreaking situations. Winner of the 2021 Anthony Award.

Reviewers say: “A superb work of crime fiction, uncompromisingly noir but deeply human, too, much like Lou Berney's November Road” (Booklist); “A high-octane, white-knuckle thriller that will have readers whipping through the pages at breakneck speed” (Bookpage); “The epic, jaw-dropping chase sequences that figure prominently are reason alone to read this pedal-to-the-metal but profoundly sorrowful novel” (Publisher’s Weekly).

About the author: S.A. Cosby is an Anthony Award-winning author from southeastern Virginia. He works at J. K. Redmond Funeral Home, but works less hours now that his second novel, Razorblade Tears, debuted at number 10 on the New York Times bestseller list.

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The Cleaner by Paul Cleave
Fiction

The main characters: There is Joe, janitor for the police department by day (The Cleaner), serial killer (The Christchurch Carver) by night. Then there is Sally, Joe's maintenance co-worker, who thinks of him as a stand-in for her dead brother. Last but not least there’s Joe’s wacky mother who keeps making him meatloaf (which he hates), Pickles and Jehova, Joe's beloved goldfish, and a rescued cat (you'll see).

Who it’s NOT for: People who can’t handle serial killers who are not pc; people who are squeamish; people who love goldfish.

An aside: This is definitely to be enjoyed on audio (available from hoopla), the narration is great and I kept laughing. (I know, I know!) And the scene where Joe goes after the cat he rescued is priceless on audio (The cat lives!). Fans of the TV show Dexter should appreciate this.

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Suspicious Minds by David Mark
Fiction

What it’s about: Betsy has been diagnosed with BPD and has run away from her abusive boyfriend. When she crashes her car on a country road, a local farmer comes to her rescue and she ends up staying with him to recover. Farmer Jude writes poetry, is mysterious and attentive, but also rumored to have killed his wife. Betsy is very happy with Jude but isn’t quite sure what to think...

Reviewers say: “A chilling entry from a master of the dark psychological thriller--one that's uncharacteristically tempered by hope” (Kirkus Reviews); “Author Mark's way with words is the star here, describing clammy skin as ‘like a wild mushroom at dawn’ and a trophy wife with ‘costly breasts and teeth like sugar cubes.’ Questions abound until the end” (Booklist).

You might also like: Try the author’s The Mausoleum, A Rush of Blood, and Borrowed Time.

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The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones
Fiction

What it’s about: In this creepy Native American horror story, 4 friends in their 30’s, who all grew up on the Blackfeet reservation, are being stalked by an entity. A decade ago they ignored the hunting boundaries of their community and hunted an elk herd on land reserved for Elders. Big mistake!

Why you might like it: A well-developed cast of characters and a great combination of suspense and creepiness, coupled with beautiful writing, makes this an unusual read for the genre.

Reviewers say: “Jones's writing is raw, balancing on the knife-edge between dark humor and all-out gore as he forces his characters to reckon with their pasts, as well as their culture's. This novel works both as a terrifying chiller and as biting commentary on the existential crisis of indigenous peoples adapting to a culture that is bent on eradicating theirs. Challenging and rewarding” (Publishers Weekly).

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Little Black Dress by James Patterson
Fiction

What it’s about: A young woman determined to experiment with making her fantasies a reality.  With all decisions, there can be delightful and enjoyable consequences OR there can be ghastly and unpleasant consequences. The storyline is enticing to witness how a little black dress transforms her personality. I LOVE Patterson’s new co-author, Emily Raymond. I could not stand to put it down once I started reading it. I’m already looking for more books written by both of them.

Why you might like it: BookShots are an excellent read for people who do not have time to sit down and enjoy a much longer book.

You might also like: Let’s Play Make-Believe, written by James Patterson and co-author James O. Born.

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The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix
Fiction

What it’s about: Unappreciated suburban housewives tend to their True Crime book club while battling a dark force in the shape of James Harris, a charming new neighbor. FYI: Don’t mess with the housewives!

Is it for you? If you are on the squeamish side and break out in a cold sweat when rats (pgs. 128-132) and cockroaches (pgs. 295-298) are involved, you may want to pass on this one. If, however, you like horror with humor and don’t mind some gross stuff, you should enjoy this.

Reviewers say: “Hendrix draws shrewd parallels between the serial killers documented in the book club's picks and Harris's apparent vampire persona, loading his gruesome story with perfectly-pitched allusions to classic horror novels and true crime accounts. This powerful, eclectic novel both pays homage to the literary vampire canon and stands singularly within it” (Publishers Weekly); “Fans of smart horror will sink their teeth into this one” (Kirkus Reviews).

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Troubled Blood by Robert Galbraith 
Fiction 

What it’s about: Private Investigators Cormoran Strike and Robin Ellacott are looking into the cold case of Dr. Margot Bamborough whose disappearance has some similarities to serial killings committed by Dennis Creed, who is serving a life sentence.

Series info: This is the fifth installment in the series which starts with The Cuckoo’s Calling, and continues with The Silkworm, Career of Evil, and Lethal White.

Reviewers say: “After wading through a barrel of red herrings, … Galbraith delivers the real killer, the least obvious of the lot, and it's a masterful, perfectly thought-through revelation … skillfully told, with a constantly gleeful interest in human awfulness” (Kirkus Reviews).

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Darling Rose Gold by Stephanie Wrobel
Fiction

What it’s about: Rose Gold and her mother, Patty, have a complicated relationship. For the first 18 years of her life, Rose Gold believed she was seriously ill, allergic to everything, wheelchair bound, and practically lived in the hospital. Garnishing sympathy from the town, Patty was given money and sympathy from her community, when, in reality, she was just a really, really, really good manipulator. She serves 5 years in prison. Upon her release, she begs Rose Gold to take her in, give her another chance, and everyone in town is shocked when she says yes.

Why you might like it: This novel was a nail biter. It had great pace and really keeps the reader interested. If you like books with surprising twists and a great revenge story, you’ll like this book.

Content warning: The mother in the novel suffers from Munchausen syndrome by proxy, a mental illness in which the caregiver makes up or causes an illness or injury for the person under their care. While I do not feel the author goes over-the-top, this subject matter may be unsettling or upsetting to some readers.

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