Book Reviews

Trespassers Will Be Prostituted (Gotcha Detective Agency Mystery, Book 9)

Posted on by The Novel Girl

Trespassers Will Be Prostituted cover

Author: Jamie Lee Scott

Series: Gotcha Detective Agency Mystery

Genre: Mystery

Publisher: LBB Company

Pages: 159

 

Mimi Capurro (co-owner of Gotcha Detective Agency) is burned out, and in dire need of a vacation. She and homicide detective boyfriend, Nick, are planning on a trip to Italy. Nothing ever works out quite right for them, though. Meanwhile, a young girl makes her way in to the Agency, and in to Charles’ office. She claims that she was kidnaped and placed in to a sex trafficking ring. She says that she was taken with a thirteen-year-old girl, whom she was unable to save when she escaped. She begs for their help in getting her out. Now, the Agency is eyeballs deep in trying to take down a Russian sex trafficking ring, and may be in for more than they expected.

This is the ninth installment in the Gotcha Detective Agency Mystery series. I love this series, and all the main characters in it. Throughout the series, Mimi, Charles, Nick, Max, and the rest of the gang have been continually developed in to amazing characters. The book can easily be read, even if you haven’t read the rest of the series, but it is even more enjoyable if you read the whole series! The plot is well researched, well thought out, and moves at a great pace. The story is told in alternating viewpoints (Mimi and Charles), but is done very well and never gets confusing. Although the story is centered on very disturbing subject matter, it doesn’t ever get graphic so there is no need for avoidance due to that. This book was a quick read, and great if you are looking for a fun mystery.

The Darkest Lies

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The Darkest Lies cover

Author: Barbara Copperthwaite

Genre: Psychological Thriller

Publisher: Bookouture

Pages: 433

 

The Oak family appears to be the ideal, picture-perfect family: Melanie and Jacob have been together since high school. They have one daughter, Beth, who appears to be a lovely young lady, and a dog. They live in the same small town that Mel and Jacob grew up in, have a nice little home, and seem to be doing well for themselves. Everything seems great…that is until Beth turns up missing. When she is found, she is on the verge of death from a near fatal head injury, and lying in a frozen creek. She was supposed to be at her best friend’s home that night, why was she out on the marsh? Everyone knows everyone in this town, so why does no one seem to have any idea of what happened to Beth? Melanie becomes more and more frustrated with the police’s seeming inaction, and decides to try to get to the truth on her own. What she finds may be more than she bargained for.

This was a pretty entertaining psychological thriller. It was told from alternating viewpoints, but was done very well so it was not at all hard to follow. There were some fun twists along the way, to keep it interesting. It was easy to get a bit frustrated with Melanie at some points, as she seemed to be a bit daft at times, but I could get past that for the most part. I was able to figure out the major twists before they were revealed, but that is the case a lot of times as I read a lot of psych thrillers, so I don’t take much credit away from the book for that. The main characters were fleshed out fairly well. There were a lot of secondary characters, so it would have been a bit difficult to give them all a ton of attention, but enough was given that they were easy to visualize and give a voice to. The setting was well descripted, so it was easy to visualize while reading. Overall, I would say that this was a well written thriller; definitely above average. I would give this author another read.

 

*Thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

Wounded Love (Rocky Harbor, Book 3)

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Wounded Love Cover

Author: Marianne Rice

Series: Rocky Harbor

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Publisher: Limitless

Pages: 318

 

Ellie ran from Rocky Harbor ten years ago, when she was pregnant and abandoned by those that should have been there to support her, including the love of her life. She has now returned, almost ten-year-old son in tow, after winning a local inn in an essay writing contest. She has not had an easy life, being a very young single mom, and doing her best to take care of a son that is sick a lot of the time. She is hoping that this life change will be good for both of them. Colton fled Rocky Harbor around the same time, only he fled to the Marines, after having his heart ripped out by the girl that he loved. He felt betrayed, and left without telling anyone why. Now, medically discharged after having his leg amputated, he has returned to Rocky Harbor as well. Rachael, his sister, is working for Elle at the inn and recommends Colton to help with some projects. Ellie doesn’t realize that who Colton is, until he shows up. The sparks fly in a hundred different ways when the two are reunited. How will everything end for the two (or three?) of them when all of the secrets are finally revealed?

This is the third installment of the Rocky Harbor series, and I blazed through it, just as I have done the previous two. Colton and Ellie’s story took on a bit of a more serious tone than the other stories in this series, covering some more serious topics (PTSD, chronic illness, war injuries, having a child very involved, parentage secrets). These topics were handled well, though, and were woven in to a beautiful story for these characters. This book carried a lot of emotional weight, but it was balanced with a touch of nice humor mixed in. Much like in the previous two books, the setting is lovely and makes me want to move to this magical place and never leave. I highly recommend this book (which can be read as a standalone, but would be much better read as part of the whole series) and series, if you are looking for a contemporary romance to dig in to.

Horrorstor: A Novel

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Horrorstor cover

Author: Grady Hendrix

Genre: Suspense/Horror

Publisher: Quirk Books

Pages: 240

 

Orsk Furniture (basically a knock-off of Ikea) is a wonderful place to work for some, and a dead end for others. Something incredibly odd is happening there, though. Every morning when the employees arrive, they are finding smashed furniture, shattered glassware, a some very nasty substances smeared on couches. The security camera footage shows nothing. The managers are freaking out, because people from corporate will be arriving soon to evaluate. One of the floor managers, along with a couple of employees, volunteer to work an overnight shift in an attempt to find and put a stop to whomever is wreaking havoc. They assume that it is someone sneaking in, and managing to avoid the cameras. What they find, however, is much more sinister than breaking and entering.

This was my first Hendrix novel (also the author of My Best Friend’s Exorcism), and it was thoroughly enjoyable! It was horror, in the traditional sense, but it definitely had a nice creep factor to it. It was elevated by a very nice dose of humor, which I always enjoy. I loved the format of this book, as it was made to mimic a catalog, which really fit the storyline nicely and was very unique. The characters were pretty well developed. Maybe not as well as I would normally like them, but it didn’t seem to detract from my enjoyment of the story the way that it would in a more traditional storyline. If you’re a fan of books with a bit of a creepiness to them, I would recommend this one.

Ungrateful God (Unwilling Souls, Book 2)

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ungrateful god cover

Author: Gregory Little

Series: Unwilling Souls

Genre: Fantasy/Sci-Fi

Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing

Pages: 464

 

Ses and the Artisan Guild are on the run, after she unwittingly revealed their headquarters while saving her father and keeping the gods imprisoned. She placed her trust in the wrong person, Murien. They now must make the long journey to their new headquarters, Ocypode. Once they arrive, however, things are not the way that they expected them to be. They are worse. Meanwhile, Murien is sent undercover in the Pit to infiltrate the apprentice smiths. Things begin happening there, and he doesn’t know who he can trust- quite the turn of events. The gods have servants who are on the move, and putting plans in to action, and Ses is forced to team up with unlikely allies to get to the bottom of it.

I was blown away by the first book in this series, Unwilling Souls. Unfortunately, a lot of time when that happens, the sequels can’t live up to the original. I am so, very, happy to say that was not the case here! The phenomenal world building from the debut only got better. The character building continued, and the characters became more complex. This story was just as gripping as the last, and was so enjoyable to read. I look forward to much more from this author!

Strawberry Kisses (Rocky Harbor, Book 2)

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strawberry kisses cover

Author: Marianne Rice

Series: Rocky Harbor

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Publisher: Limitless

 

Rachel Riley, Graham’s younger sister, is back in Rocky Harbor after being rescued from her abusive ex-boyfriend in California. She is home and safe now, but she is not back to herself at all. The only place that she seems to have found solace is in the comfort of the kitchen, where she is a fantastic chef. Lucy, their younger sister, decides to try to help Rachel find her strength again by signing them up to take a self-defense class.

The class happens to be taught by the bad boy turned good, Jake Morgan. Jake has a sordid past, but he has turned his life around, and teaching the class is part of his way of giving back. He takes a particular interest in Rachel, in a way that he has never done with a student before. The attraction is mutual, and they find themselves falling in love. When a huge part of their pasts collide, will their love be enough to see them through or will it all fall apart?

This is the second book in the Rocky Harbor series (the first was Staying Grounded, which you’ll remember- I LOVED!), and it was just as delectable as the first! The groundwork for Rachel’s character was laid in the Staying Grounded, as it was mentioned that she has been in an abusive relationship, but she continued to be built in to a character that you can’t help but fall in love with. Jake’s character was phenomenally well developed, and turned in to the ultimate book boyfriend. This story kept me just as engaged as the first, and I wanted to read it in one sitting (it ultimately took two). I highly recommend this book and series.

 

Big Little Lies

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Big Little Lies cover

Author: Liane Moriarty

Genre: Thriller/Psych Thriller

Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Sons

Pages: 460

 

Someone is dead… Was it murder, an accident, or somewhere in between? Welcome to the Pirriwee Peninsula in the suburbs of Australia, where everyone knows everyone, or so it would seem. Jane, a young mother to five-year-old Ziggy, has just moved here to start over. She is young enough that she is mistaken as a nanny. She befriends Madeline, who is as outspoken as they come, has a teenage daughter whom she fears that she is losing, and a son in Ziggy’s class. Her ex-husband and his wife have also moved to the Peninsula, and have a daughter the same age, in the same class. We also meet Celeste, a beauty to behold, with rambunctious twin boys, a wealthy corporate husband, and a mind that is constantly running in circles. With them, along with the rest of the cast, we learn that it’s the little lies, that could have the largest impact.

This is the first of Liane Moriarty’s novels that I have read. I admit that I, initially, picked it up because I wanted to watch the miniseries, and I won’t watch until I have read the book. (Yes, I am one of those people!) I am very glad that I picked it up! This book reminds me of a cross between Pretty Little Liars and Desperate Housewives- It was delicious! Once I got in to it, I didn’t want to put it down. The characters are all well fleshed out, with very individual personalities that allow the reader to decide to love or hate them (or somewhere in between). It really took me until very close to the reveal to decide what the answer to the actual mystery was, but I didn’t see the twist coming! I will definitely give another of her books a try in the future.

Little Heaven

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little-heaven-cover

Author: Nick Cutter

Genre: Supernatural Thriller/Suspense

Publisher: Gallery Books

Pages: 496

 

It’s 1966 and Micah, Ebenezer, and Minerva are assassins for hire, the best mercenaries of their time, and they all end up in the same place to kill one another. Needless to say, this does not turn out well. They band together, and are all hired by a woman to do a welfare check on her nephew, who has been taken by her father in to a religious compound known as Little Heaven. This leads to them having to face off with the Biggest Bad that any of them have ever faced before. Cut to 1980 and Micah’s daughter has been taken by one of the bad dude’s minion’s as what he knows is a lure to lead them back to Little Heaven to face off once again.

This book was strange, thrilling, and had nice horror elements all at once. It shifts between the “original” story of 1966 and the “present day” story of 1980, so the reader gets some nice world building for the supernatural elements, and a great backstory. The character development for the main characters was very well done, aside from the “standard” of using rape as one of the female’s main motivations. It is overused, overdone, and I know I am not the only one that is really wishing that authors would, please, come up with another backstory to use for their female characters to motivate them. It is not discussed often throughout this novel, really only in the divulging of her story, but if the mention of it is a trigger- here is your trigger warning. It is also a bit heavy on the racist slurs as part of the dialogue. That could have been cut down a bit. As to the story itself, I really enjoyed it very much! This was my first Cutter book, and his writing style reminded me a bit of King whom I am a huge fan of. It even seemed to borrow some elements from King stories, although not shamelessly or in any sort of a plagiarized manner. If you are a fan of the horror/supernatural suspense genre, I think that you would probably enjoy this novel. I will definitely be reading more Cutter novels in the future.

Thanks to Gallery Books for the copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Shanghai Bandit

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shanghai-bandit-cover

Author: Eric Qiao

Genre: Fiction/Light Thriller

Publisher: Wild Rose Press

Pages: 276

 

It all started with a bank robbery…by two parties…at once… Oh, right, then one robber has a stroke during the heist. Enter Vietnam Vet turned bank teller Major Chin, who offers to help the robber escape, and take the dude to the hospital. While travelling, the guy recovers from his stroke, and decides to hijack the earnings. Major Chin decides that he has a better plan for a heist, and they’re off for another robbery…

This was a quick read, that was quite a bit of fun to get through. It was filled with a great cast of characters, who each had personality. The main characters were pretty well fleshed out, and were fun to follow, though maybe not as well as in his debut (I will give that the debut focused on fewer characters and was bit longer). The book had some nice, subtle commentary on racial profiling/stereotyping, that is relevant to our society at present, but was nicely tempered with the abundant humor throughout the book, so it didn’t feel like it was being forced upon the reader. After reading this sophomore novel, it is clear that Qiao is finding his writing style, and I am looking forward to reading more from this author.

The Library at Mount Char

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library-at-mount-char-cover

Author: Scott Hawkins

Genre: Fantasy

Publisher: Broadway Books

Pages: 388

 

Carolyn and her adopted siblings have been raised in the Library, by Father, since their parents were all killed in an incident many years before. They are all Librarians, in the broadest sense. They are tasked with, collectively, learning literally everything- each about their own catalog. Father, however, wrote the Library. He is what one would consider a god of the age. The problem: Father is missing, and possibly dead. The Librarians know that there will be a battle brewing to take his place, and Carolyn has been preparing for that. She has a plan…

 

This was one of the strangest, and most odd, novels that I have read in a very long time possibly ever- and I loved every second of it! This dark fantasy gripped me from the beginning, because I just needed to figure out what was going on. Honestly, I’m not sure that I really did until close to the end. The structure was laid out in a very different way, but it really worked for this novel. The characters were all very well developed, and fully fleshed out, especially the MCs. I wasn’t entirely sure what to think about Carolyn, the protagonist, throughout most of the book. I liked her, I disliked her, then I rooted for her again. The world building was spectacular. While it is technically set in “our world”, it’s a different world altogether. (Sorry, it’s a bit difficult to explain without spoilers!) I will reveal to you that there were some scenes that may be a bit difficult for some readers. They are not gratuitously placed, in my opinion, they fit in to the plot of the novel. If you want a story that will keep you wondering what is going to happen next, scratching your head, and that is wholly original (not something I can say very often!)- this book may just be for you!