Behind Every Lie by Christina McDonald

Behind Every Lie by Christina McDonald
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Behind Every Lie opens with Eva waking up in the hospital after being struck by lightning., but that's not all. Her mother, with whom she has a strained relationship, was murdered that same night, and it appears Eva was there. But Eva can't remember, because she has amnesia, which she also has for all other events significant to the plot of this book. That's because, as we're reminded what seems like every few paragraphs, Eva is broken.

This lacked a strong voice and I was annoyed by the constant overuse of adjectives and images such as "night was an obsidian fist squeezing me in its grasp" that seemed wedged in to try to float the flimsy story.

The author did a great job with the structure, which alternates between past and present, and between mother and daughter, and I enjoyed the overall theme of resilience and the lengths family will go to protect you.

Thanks to the publisher for a review copy.

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Good Girls Lie by J.T. Ellison

Good Girls Lie by J.T. Ellison
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A worthy addition to the boarding school canon, Good Girls Lie is a fast-paced and satisfying thriller. Ash is living under an assumed name when she arrives at the all-girls Good School after her parents die under mysterious circumstances. Ash is excited to get a fresh start, but her classmates soon suspect that Ash is hiding more than grief. Why are so many people around Ash dying?


Thanks to the publisher for a review copy.
Click here to purchase Good Girls Lie from your local indie bookstore.

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The Other People by C.J. Tudor

The Other People by C.J. Tudor
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Gabe's wife and daughter were murdered in a home invasion, only Gabe is convinced his daughter has actually been kidnapped and is still out there, and spends his days driving up and down the service roads looking for the car he believes he saw her in.
This is fast-paced read, which is pushed along by multiple perspectives and cements C.J. Tudor as a go-to for thrillers that weave supernatural elements out of human suffering.


Thanks to the publisher for a review copy.
Click here to purchase The Other People from your local indie bookstore.

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The God Game by Danny Tobey

The God Game by Danny Tobey
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The God Game starts with a cool premise and totally delivers. A group of high school nerds receive an invitation to play a game with an AI chat bot that purports to be God. They're quickly sucked into this action-packed virtual reality game, where they get points in the game for doing things in real life. But are the friends playing on the same team, and is God in control, or are the other players? And who else is playing?
I was sucked in from the first page, and loved all the action and high school drama blended with philosophical and religious musings.

Thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy.

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Follow Me To Ground by Sue Rainsford

Follow Me to Ground by Sue Rainsford
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was captivated by the beautiful writing in Follow Me To Ground, which offers a glimpse into the mind of a childlike woman who was birthed from the ground and heals the humans around her. We also get to hear what the townspeople think of this mysterious father-daughter duo that is unbothered by human concerns. I wish there was less attempt at a plot, because I didn't care for the whole Samson plot or the ending, which I don't think had quite the impact that the author intended.
I still really enjoyed it and the writing style.

Thanks to the publisher for a review copy.

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Rewind by Catherine Ryan Howard

Rewind by Catherine Ryan Howard
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

In Rewind, a creepy inn proprietor in a desolate seaside resort town has been recording his guests, while an Instagram star has begun to suspect her husband of cheating on her at that very inn. When she spontaneously drives there to collect evidence, she steps into the cross hairs of a killer, exposing secrets of the town's residents along the way.

This book moved along nicely, I loved the Irish seaside setting, and the ending was satisfying without being too out there.

Click here to purchase Rewind from your local indie bookstore.

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The Reckless Oath We Made by Bryn Greenwood

The Reckless Oath We Made by Bryn Greenwood


The Reckless Oath We Made has all the hallmarks of a Bryn Greenwood novel: messed up families, memorable characters, and glimpses of hope and humor in dark places. Through the story of independent but loyal Zee and chivalrous Gentry, Greenwood explores whether an oath is always worth keeping.

The Reckless Oath we made is out August 20th. Thanks to the publisher for a review copy.

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