joyceheinen's reviews
169 reviews

 I have not had the best luck with B.A. Paris yet. I read her 2024 release “The Guest” which I found extremely boring. But one bad book does not say everything about an author. I was interested in the story of Jack and Grace, who seem like they’re living the perfect life. But they have everybody fooled.
 
The story is told from the perspective of Grace and the chapters alternate between past and present. At first, I felt that Grace wasn’t the smartest main character. She made some questionable decisions and things that happened were a bit predictable. Grace did certain things and I knew what would happen next. What the consequences were to her actions. But as the story went along, there were some really good twists. And the book turned out to be above average because of the ending. I really loved that and I did not expect it either. So that makes “Behind Closed Doors” both predictable and unpredictable.
 
I have read my fair share of thrillers now. So even though this is still a good book, I feel it has a bigger impact if you are fairly new to the genre. And it’s most definitely better then the other book I have read by Paris. 

 With “Somewhere Beyond the Sea”, T.J. Klune once again manages to create an enchanting story that hits you right in the heart. This sequel to “The House in the Cerulean Sea” is full of humor, poignancy and a touch of magic, this novel takes you on a journey that is as surreal as it is compelling.
 
For this book we switch the focus from Linus Baker to Arthur Parnassus, the master of the orphanage, where magical children reside. I’ve read the first book in 2022 and as soon as I read about all these characters again I was reminded of how much I loved it. At the time of reading “The House in the Cerulean Sea”, I didn’t know this was going to have a sequel. And I didn’t really think it was necessary. But now I feel like it was meant to be. Because “Somewhere Beyond the Sea” is just as amazing as its predecessor.
 
Author T.J. Klune is know for his ability to write true-to-life characters, even though they are magical beings, and this book is no different. The main characters are both relatable and charming, and their struggles and growth feel genuine. Most of the story takes place against the backdrop of an idyllic coastal town, and Klune’s description of the setting make you almost imagine the salty sea air.
 
What sets this book apart is the way it interweaves major themes such as loss, love, and self-discovery with an atmosphere of magical realism. The story offers a unique perspective on what it means to face your past and find happiness again.
 
“Somewhere Beyond the Sea” is an amazing sequel, a warm embrace that is a heartwarming, compelling and beautifully written story, filled with the most fantastic characters you will ever come across. Like “The House in the Cerulean Sea”, this is book is a new favorite. So, if you loved the first book, please pick this up too. 

 I went in expecting not much, just a standard thriller. And the synopsis makes you feel like it is. But there is so much more to this thriller and it really pleasantly surprised me. I could not put this book down.
 
Sadie left the U.S. with her daughter Robin, leaving her husband. She is moving into her dead mother’s house. She can’t tell Robin why they left and what really happened at the house she grew up in. Robin goes to a new school, which is also Sadie’s old school. She hated it there, and so does Robin. What is Sadie not telling? And what is going on with her ex-husband? Or at Robin’s school?
 
This is a thriller, dealing with rich people, competition, new beginnings, old memories, but most of all, lots of lies being told. Hence the title. The story is told pretty straightforward, but there are some chapters that are a bit different. The seem like diary entries, but it’s not really clear who they were written by.
 
Besides the main plot, of Sadie trying to make a life for her and Robin. And Robin trying to fit in with the kids in school, with Sadie trying her best to fit it with the moms. There is a side plot of Sadie getting back to work as a barrister. Her friend Zora gets her working on a case of a man who is being accused of having inappropriate relations with a student. This side pot deviates from the main storyline and even though this was also interesting. I feels like they are supposed to be two separate books. I wouldn’t mind to have read this as a separate story. You lose the focus when the story switches to this subplot.
 
The eventual conclusion is something I did predict, but only when I was already very close to the end. Because it’s not on-you-nose obvious. It’s a clever twist.
 
With that subplot being my only negative, I had a really good time with “The Lies You Told”. It’s a very solid thriller, with a good pace and it was a real page turned. 

 A Christmas mystery, it’s the perfect time to read that. It was compared to “Knives Out” which is one of my all-time favorite movies, so I was excited.
 
We meet Maggie, who is the author of cozy mystery novels. She is a huge fan of Eleanor Ashley, a mystery writer who inspired Maggie to become an author herself. She is invited to a Christmas gathering in a huge estate, together with Ethan Wyatt, a thriller author who she absolutely despises. When they arrive, they find out it was actually Eleanor Ashley who invited them, but they have no idea why. The next morning, three days before Christmas, Eleanor goes missing and Maggie and Ethan have to work together to solve the mystery.
 
The book started off so strong, I was eating it up and couldn’t put it down. I loved the banter between Maggie and Ethan. And I love stories about authors. I found the mystery itself interesting at first, but they seemed to deviate from this more and more. Focusing more on the tension and romance between Maggie and Ethan. Which is okay, I guess, but I wanted more mystery and the romance element to be present just a little less. And it got way too sugar sweet and cheesy for me. I do feel that this is a perfect Christmas read, with all the festive vibes and winter atmosphere. And I do see the “Knives Out” comparison, but the mystery in “The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year” is not even close to being as interesting as “Knives Out” is.
 
In the end, it was a fun read, but I wished it had more mystery and less romance.
 

 Ashley Smith is an American art student in London, who was planning to spend Christmas alone. But a last-minute invitation of fellow student Emma Chapman brings her to Starvewood Hallo, the country residence of the Chapman family. Ashely is mesmetized by the cozy, firelit house, the large family and the charming village of Clevemoor. But also by Adam Chapman, Emma’s brother. But he’s being investigated by the police over the recent brutal murder of a girl from the village. And there is a mysterious stranger who haunts the woodland path between Starvewood Hall and the local pub. Over thirty years later, the events of that horrific week are revisited, along with a diary from that time.
 
Peter Swanson is a hit or miss author for me. “The Christmas Guest” is a novella with less than a hundred pages, that you can easily read in one sitting. I was invested in the mystery and the eventual plotting of it. But I also found the story a bit predictable and I did not enjoy the ending. Particularly one element at the end, that felt like a last-minute thought of the author.
 
It's a quick and easy read, if you’re in for a Christmas mystery. The holiday vibes were very present, did enjoy the setting as well. But again, not the most surprising story and that ending was just not that good. 

Not in the mood to pick it up again, only really liked one story so far. The rest is already forgotten. 

 I’ve always heard great things about author Jennifer McMahon, but had yet to experience it myself. “My Darling Girl” follows Alison, who hates Christmas and has already had a troubled relationship with her mother Mavis, due to her being an alcoholic and being violent towards her and her brother. When Mavis is ill and doesn’t have long to live, Alison and her husband Mark decide to take her in. But strange things start to happen and Mavis doesn’t feel the same to Alison.
 
The character of Mavis is very well written. McMahon portrays her as a cold, heartless woman who physically and mentally abused her children. We learn about her in the past and how she is now. And How Mavis is different around Alison, then when she is with Mark or Alison’s daughters. And of course Mavis does everything to get them on her side, and against Alison.
 
I always hate reading about a main character, who suspects something and then nobody believes her. I hate it because it makes me anxious and mad. But it’s a good way of creating extra tension in a thriller or horror book. McMahon used this trope very well.
 
“My Darling Girl” is a creepy story, with tension, a dysfunctional relationship and a few surprising twists. There were some moments in the book I didn’t really like, like some of the motivations and actions of the main character/. But overall I enjoyed reading this book. I will try some more books by Jennifer McMahon. 

The anthology “The Darkest Night” is a collection fo 22 horror stories with a Christmas or Winter theme, each story written by a different author. I really loved this idea and decided to pick it up for the holiday season. With short story collections, you have so many stories to choose from. Most of these stories weren’t really scary and were just okay. Just a few of them stood out and I will spotlight them in this review.
 
The story “Cold as Ice” by Tim Waggoner follows a divorced man who is trying to date, but has no real desire. While driving home ins a storm he sees a strange creature running beside him. This story felt like a true wintery horror story, what I was expecting from this anthology. One of the stories that was actually scary.
 
Caly McLeos Chapman wrote the story “Mr. Butler”, which was a bit strange, but I loved this. A card board box shows up at a man’s house. The same card board box has once been his only friend, called Mr. Butler. It’s very different from the rest of the stories, but I absolutely loved it.
 
Nice by “Nat Cassidy” was probably my favorite, where we meet 6-year-old Mitchell, who has been very good this year and is sure Santa knows it. But when the Elf on the shelf comes alive and tells Mitchell he should be naughty, because otherwise the elves have to work too hard, the young boy takes it a bit too seriously. Surprising story, which takes a very dark turn.
 
The story “Eggnog” by Kristi deMeester didn’t really feel very Christmassy or wintery, other then the fact that part of the story was set at an office Christmas party, but this story somehow really grabbed me. And I felt very fulfilled at the end.
 
Probably the most ridiculous story, but also ridiculously good, was “Being Nice” by Jeff Strand. An eighteen year old receives nothing but a lump of cole for Christmas and he tries to make it right. But everything only gets worse. The story is pretty brutal, but I really laughed at it too.
 
Of these 22 stories, these were the only ones that really stayed with me, the rest was just okay and most of them were very forgettable. I probably would not recommend this book, but if you’re willing to pick it up, these are the stories you should be excited for.  

 Janice Hallett has become one of my favorite mystery authors very quickly, due to her creative way of crafting her stories. She is a modern day Agatha Christie, because she presents her mystery stories in mixed-media form. This is a sort-of sequel to “The Appeal”, only now in a Christmas setting. Like the first book, the amateur theater group the Fairway players are raising money for a good cost by performing a play. And again someone ends up dead.
 
The evidence is presented to two lawyers, in the form of emails, text messages, news paper clippings, etcetera. And we can all puzzle along. Again, at the start, you have no idea who is the dead person. I liked the mystery, but I didn’t love it as much as “The Appeal”. That’s mainly because the ending was not at all satisfying. It felt a bit rushed and I expected a bit more. But for the rest, it was a great read.