True Crime Story Book Review

 

True Crime Story

A Novel

By: Joseph Knox

Publish Date: December 7, 2021

Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark/Sourcebooks Landmark

Mysteries and Thrillers

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I would like to thank both NetGalley and Sourcebooks for allowing me to read and review this book. Sorry it has taken me so long to do so. All opinions are my own.

Book Review:

This book is a true crime story that has taken place in England in 2011. I gave this book 4 stars.

The book is written in interview style and emails. I like how the author has who is talking at the moment and the emails between himself and the original person who started the idea of the book. There are photos and news article as well. The author gives credit to the person who started this book project.

In this book the author takes through the before during and after the disappearance of Zoe Nolan. He also goes through how he really wasn't interested in the doing the story until his friend started sending him emails for him to read and give his opinion. As he got invested, he gave ideas and possible areas to look into. 

The book goes into details about Zoe's life, and you feel for her and can see what she was thinking and feeling at the time. You are invested, in her life and want to find out what happened to her. 

I won't tell you if they out what happened to her or not because that would be a spoiler and you should read the book.

Side notes if you listen to the audio, they don't give the name of who is talking so I recommend that you read along with the book.

Watch Us Fall Book Review

 

Watch Us Fall

By: Christina Kovac

Publish Date: December 2, 2025

Publisher: Simon and Schuster

Mystery and Thrillers/Women's Fiction

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I would like to thank both NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for allowing me to read and review this book. All opinions are my own.

Book Review:

I really enjoyed this book and gave it 4 stars. To be honest I thought this book would be a cozy mystery boy was I wrong. This book is set in Washington DC during winter.

In this book you have four college friends who have been out of school for a little over a year. They all have jobs but only one has her dream job. Addie has her dream job of working at the American History Museum. Lucy is the narrator of the story. Pen is working at a clinic trying to get into med school. Eli is jumping from job to job. Addie has discovered that her ex-boyfriend, Josh has gone missing and she is worried, but this isn't normal for him. He has a high-profile job, and he is known for being on time. What could have happened to him. 

Josh discovers that Lucy isn't telling the truth about herself as he was trying to surprise Addie with a special gift. He confronts her but she doesn't reveal the full truth to him. He then tells Addie, and she doesn't believe him. This causes the break-up because he gets a little violent which scares her.

Addie is attacked during one of her runs and Lucy helps her get herself back together. The police show up at this time to ask about Josh and where he is. They are just looking for him know he hasn't been reported as missing yet but it will be soon.

Lucy helps by looking into the internet through her job because she knows Addie is worried and still has feelings for him. It hasn't been that long ago that they broke up. things are not what they seem to be because things are discovered that have been hidden.

Will Josh be found or is he gone forever and never to be found. You will have to read the book to find out.

I like how the chapters are laid out for the reader to follow.

Lights Out Book Review

 

Lights Out 

By: Natalie Walters

Publish Date: November 2, 2021

Publisher: Reveil

Christian Fiction

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I would like to thank both Reveil and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book. Sorry it took me so long. All opinions are my own.

Book Review:

I am glad to say that I really enjoyed this book. I gave it 4 stars. I liked the way the characters got along even though two of them had a history that wasn't great. I liked that the book was clean of foul language and sexual exploits. It was a great change.

In this book Brynn is working with an ex to figure out if one of her candidates is involved in terrorist plans. They learn somethings that wasn't even on their minds. They also learn to work together even though they have bad feelings towards each other or do they. The team works hard to uncover plans that are well hidden and come up with some unexpected events along the way. You learn quite a lot about Brynn and Jack's past both together and separate.   This is the first book in a trilogy, and I can't wait to read the other two books.

Christopher Hawkins and His Daring Escapes Book Review

 

Christopher Hawkins and His Daring Escapes (Young Readers Edition)

A Revolutionary War Novel

By: Jeanne Brownlee Becijos

Publish Date: December 9, 2025

Publisher: Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op

Children's Fiction/ Historical Fiction/ Middle Grade

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I would like to thank Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for allowing me to read and review this book. All opinions are my own.

Book Review:

I so enjoy a book the revolutionary war. It doesn't matter to me if it is for young readers or for my age. I like to read stories so that I can understand the war the better and sometimes it is easier to take in when it is geared to the younger crowd. I gave this book 4 stars. I think the children will enjoy reading this story and feeling what Christopher felt towards this new beginning. I also like how the author put her heart into the story and then gave use the back story on why she wrote it.

In this book Christopher wants to be a sailor and to fight the King and his mean. He wants to be free not only in his real but from the crown. He is young but full of love for his new country and his family. He is able to escape several times due to his own wits or from the help of others. Along the way he learns things about himself.

I highly recommend this book not only for the younger people but also for the adults and it would be great if the adults would read along with their children to have a great discussion.

Artifacts of An Ex Book Review

 

Artifacts of An Ex

By: Jennifer Chen

Publish Date: November 14, 2023

Publisher: St. Martin's Press/Wednesday Books

Teens and YA

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I would like to thank both NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/Wednesday Books for allowing me to read and review this book. All opinions are my own.

Book Review:

This was a cute book. I enjoyed it and gave it 4 stars. This is about a young lady who has moved from New York with her parents to live in LA to help take care of her grandma. They run a bakery that the grandma used to run but is no longer able to do so. Chloe, the young lady, boyfriend has broken up with her by sending her a box with her stuff back with note stating he can't do a long-distance relationship. She is heartbroken and is about to throw away the box, but a school friend runs into, and they get to talking which gives Chloe an idea. The idea is to have an exhibit with other boxes about break ups. She is able to get a few boxes, and the exhibit does well, not great but good enough. Chloe thinks she is a failure because it doesn't go well. At the exhibit she meets another young man and at first, they don't get along because he isn't following the rules of the exhibit because he is filming and that isn't allowed. They do end up working together to make the next exhibit better. Along the way Chloe starts to have feelings for him, but he only wants to be friends because he doesn't want to be the rebound guy. They both have things they need to get over and work through. Do they end up together well you will have to read the book.

When Sleuthing Spells Trouble Book Review

 

When Sleuthing Spells Trouble

By: T. C. LoTemplo

Book 8 of A Nick and Nora Mystery

Publish Date: November 18, 2025

Publisher: Beyond the Page

Cooking, food and wine/Mystery and thriller

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I would like to thank both Beyond the Page Publishing and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book. All opinions are my own.

Book Review:

I enjoyed this book and gave it 4 stars. This is the third book in the series that I have read, and I enjoyed being back to the Hot Bread Cafe. You don't have to read the books in order for this series because they have a different mystery to them. With that being said you do miss out on the growing of the characters though. 

In this book a supposed murderer is released from prison. In her statement upon release, she states she wants to recover her memory and find out who the true killer of her husband even if it does end up being her.

Nora's friend Hank asks her to help Mariah to find out what really happened that night 6 years ago. He isn't able to help her because he has another case in Chicago. Nora has always been interested in case even though she was out of town when it happened.

Needless to say, there are a lot of people who actually didn't like Maraih's husband. But there were quite a few women who did enjoy him more than they should have.

There are many clues that lead to many different people and Nora is struggling to find the right pieces. Lucky for her she has people who willing to help her and they even go as far as protecting her.

I just love how she is able to comfort those around her even though she isn't a fan of them. I also love how Nick, who is a cat helps and gives his opinions to the case. 

Can she figure out the true murderer before it is too late? You will have to read the book.

Act Like A Lady, Think Like A Lord Book Review

 

Act Like A Lady, Think Like A Lord

A Mystery

By: Celeste Connally

Publish Date: November 14, 2023

Publisher: St. Martin's Press/Minotaur

General Fiction (Adult)/Historical Fiction/Mystery and Thrillers

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I would like to thank both St. Martin's Press/Minotaur and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book. All opinions are my own.

Book Review:

This is the first book in a series called Lady Petra Inquires. I have read the second already and reviewed it not realizing I needed to read this book first and that I actually had a review copy. Like the second book I enjoyed it and gave it 4 stars. Lady Petra's fiancé has dead just weeks before the wedding and has just announced that she will not marry anyone else. This doesn't go over with the society she is part of because it is unheard of. Her uncle has come to her father's estate with a possible suitor but before Petra is able to meet him, she receives an invitation to a ball from the Queen.

While at the ball she discovers that one of her friends has passed away. The footman for the friend thinks otherwise and lets Petra know. They agree to meet somewhere else to talk about this but before the footman can display his thoughts he is killed. This leads Petra to investigate not only his murder but if there is any truth behind his claim. She finds out more than cares to and finds herself in a situation that she will need the help of her friends.

What does she find out? You will have to read the book to find out.

What I enjoyed about this book is the friendships and the support they give her. I also like that Petra does shy away from those less than herself in society. I like how Petra's father supports her decision and believes in her.