Sarah

4.5 really. I think it's a good sign when an author's latest book makes you want to reread all their earlier work to stay in that world. Sneaking in a reference to the Thursday Murder Club counts for bonus points. The character list is long here, but ride it out.

Maybe it's my preference for golden age mysteries, but pulling rabbits and scarves from hats and sleeves at the end of a book, without any hint of droppings, fur, or bright colors early on, feels cheap instead of magical. It seems unfair to call this a locked room mystery when the reader has no hope of solving it.

I like a lot of aspects of this book, especially the scrutiny of group dynamics and the myriad ways they can run afoul or lead people down usually unfathomable paths. I wonder how many more mysteries Hallett can write in this e-palimpsest style.

Really good and honest, and I would love this to be the beginning of a mystery series. The epilogue detracted from a solid ending. It reminded me of The Midcoast, by White.

This was my first Baldacci and I see the appeal, even if this book was more autobiographical than his thriller series. Lots of difficult and depressingly relevant subjects & language. I hope his massive authorial platform helps many readers to appreciate the contemporary parallels.

Dervla McTiernan is excellent.

I appreciated learning some lesser-known historical details, but this wasn't my favorite Quinn novel. It dragged a bit, or I just wasn't as enamored of the characters

I love Osman and was beyond excited to read this new series. There are some fabulous characters and, while I eagerly await the next in the series, I thought the killer was too elusive here. Jolly good romp, what, as a friendly English gentleman might say.

I respect Moriarty's endless empathy for her characters, and her ability to add texture and life through small details. This book felt a little forced - more like a collection of character sketches assembled into a novel.

Well, I tried a Kristen Hannah book. I got a few hours into the lackluster, white savior plot before calling it when the surgeon says, “you have no idea how beautiful you are, McGrath.” C'est fini.
For a great, all the feels war book, read Good Night, Irene.

3.5. I always like a mildly complicated people-becoming-better-people story, you know, by taking time to listen and empathize and connect.

DNF. Plodding. Also, the narrator sounds exactly the same for chapters that alternate between the two central characters, which was unnecessarily confusing.

3.5. One of my favorite of the series.

Good, and one of the more successful Vera Stanhope mysteries. I wish some of the final details were a bit more clear and fleshed out.

Definitely one of my favorite of Ware's books

Right book, right time. Very plot driven and what a fun plot! “Sending people to the attic” is now a staple in my lexicon

A little violent for me but not bad

At some point, all of the convolutions of psychological thrillers will have been exhausted. This was kind of a middle of the road thriller - not gory or violent, and no real shockers if you've read others in the genre.

I enjoyed this even more than some of the earlier mysteries in the series. While the extra layer of the secretive security company feels a bit of a stretch, the mystery itself hangs together nicely and I like the distance of the third person chapters.

Good fun and the audio is pitch perfect

A neat and hopeful ending to this long series. I look forward to more in Winspear's new White series.

Center delivers another solid light romance. That makes it sound frivolous but these are also important books that deliver escapism and hope and fun. Center always throws in some serious issues for balance. On point.

This series keeps getting better. I love how age-positive and inclusive it is without sacrificing memorable characters or a good mystery plot. Bravo!

So good!

I was disappointed by the anti-fat bias in this book. The earlier books in the series undermine ageist stereotypes and I hoped for better. The mystery and story were good, but I'm amazed by the promotion of gross stereotypes.
(I received a galley copy through Edelweiss.)