Kim Ebner's Blog, page 3

Are You Sleeping

My rating: * * *Goodreads DescriptionThe only thing more dangerous than a lie...is the truth.Josie Buhrman has spent the last ten years trying to escape her family’s reputation and with good reason. After her father's murder thirteen years prior, her mother ran away to join a cult and her twin sister Lanie, once Josie’s closest friend and confidant, betrayed her in an unimaginable way. Now, Josie has finally put down roots in New York, settling into domestic life with her partner Caleb, and that’s where she intends to stay. The only problem is that she has lied to Caleb about every detail of her past—starting with her last name.When investigative reporter Poppy Parnell sets off a media firestorm with a mega-hit podcast that reopens the long-closed case of Josie’s father’s murder, Josie’s world begins to unravel. Meanwhile, the unexpected death of Josie’s long-absent mother forces her to return to her Midwestern hometown where she must confront the demons from her past—and the lies on which she has staked her future.My ReviewThis is a clever, suspenseful, gripping, but perhaps also a somewhat predictable psychological thriller novel. The story is told in a fairly unique way by using podcast excerpts, and Facebook and Twitter feeds throughout the book. I loved the way that the story was told, and I loved the idea of the podcast episodes intermingled with the normal story and chapters. I found myself turning the pages quickly in the hope that the next podcast chapter would only be a few pages away. This novel is more of a character driven story rather than a twisty psychological thriller. The book is well written, and trying to solve the murder of Josie's father kept me interested all the way to the end. Being a frequent ID and Crime & Investigation channel viewer, I found it interesting to read how the murder captivated the attention of the media, and how one journalist took it upon herself to start questioning the facts around the murder. I could easily see a story like this being a series that I would watch on TV. This book isn't what I would call fast-paced, and I wasn't really ever totally gripped or absorbed by the story, but I did enjoy it. It was a book that I looked forward to reading every evening when I went to bed. I really enjoyed the characters of both sisters, I enjoyed reading about a once perfect family and how they fell apart, and I enjoyed trying to figure out the murder mystery. If truth be told, I did figure out who the murderer was fairly early on in the story and that was a pity, but I suppose not every book can have you totally flummoxed at the end.I would recommend this read to people who like character driven thrillers, with complex family dramas, and difficult relationships, and stories that are generally lighter with less violence or darkness than some thrillers have. Overall, this is one that I enjoyed and that I do recommend. My Rating: * * *Publication Date: September / October 2017 (South Africa)Genre: Psychological ThrillerFormat: Trade PaperbackSource: Review copy received from the publisher. Many thanks to author, Kathleen Barber and Pam Macmillan SA for my copy. It was my pleasure to read and review this title.

Then She Was Gone

My rating: * * * * *Goodreads DescriptionTHENShe was fifteen, her mother's golden girl. She had her whole life ahead of her. And then, in the blink of an eye, Ellie was gone. NOW It’s been ten years since Ellie disappeared, but Laurel has never given up hope of finding her daughter.And then one day a charming and charismatic stranger called Floyd walks into a café and sweeps Laurel off her feet. Before too long she’s staying the night at this house and being introduced to his nine year old daughter. Poppy is precocious and pretty - and meeting her completely takes Laurel's breath away. Because Poppy is the spitting image of Ellie when she was that age.And now all those unanswered questions that have haunted Laurel come flooding back. What happened to Ellie? Where did she go? Who still has secrets to hide?My ReviewMy first 5 star review of the year, and boy oh boy, did this book deserve it!Then She Was Gone is told mainly from Laurel's point of view, the mother of missing Ellie, who disappeared at the tender age of fifteen. However, we also get glimpses into Ellie's character as some of the chapters are told from her point of view. We hear from Ellie before she disappears, and then again later in the story. I loved the alternating points of view, and the move between first and third person narration. This read really got under my skin, and some of the chapters creeped me out. I felt for Ellie's family after her disappearance, especially for her mother who fell apart, and then who, years later, manages to find some form of happiness with a new man. But really, the chapters that disturbed me the most, were those about Ellie's disappearance and her capture...let's talk about an eerie basement, a tiny window, a solid door with three bolts, and hamsters, lots of hamsters...I found this book to be totally gripping, and even though I've been in a bit of a reading slump for the last couple of months, I couldn't wait to get home every day to read. I definitely didn't feel my slump while turning the pages of this book! And this is why I awarded 5 stars - it was just pure, enthralling, entertainment...and that's exactly what I want from my reads. In summary, I'm not the type of person that enjoys long winded, highly descriptive prose, award winning books that may be extremely well written but which tend to be a tad monotonous and let's be frank...boring. No Sir, not me! Give me a fast paced, rollicking roller coaster of a read and I'll be happy. This one ticks all those boxes! Loved it.My Rating: * * * * *Publication Date: Novemeber 2017 (South Africa)Genre: Psychological ThrillerFormat: Trade PaperbackSource: Review copy received from the publisher. Many thanks to author, Lisa Jewell and Penguin Random House SA for my copy. It was my pleasure to read and review this title.

Midnight At The Bright Ideas Bookstore

My rating: * * * *Goodreads DescriptionLydia Smith lives her life hiding in plain sight. A clerk at the Bright Ideas Bookstore, she keeps a meticulously crafted existence among her beloved books, eccentric colleagues, and the BookFrogs—the lost and lonely regulars who spend every day marauding the store’s overwhelmed shelves.But when Joey Molina, a young, beguiling BookFrog, kills himself in the bookstore, Lydia’s life comes unglued. Always Joey’s favorite bookseller, Lydia has inherited his meager worldly possessions. Trinkets and books; the detritus of a lonely man. But when Lydia flips through his books she finds them defaced in ways both disturbing and inexplicable. They reveal the psyche of a young man on the verge of an emotional reckoning. And they seem to contain a hidden message. What did Joey know? And what does it have to do with Lydia?As Lydia untangles the mystery of Joey’s suicide, she unearths a long-buried memory from her own violent childhood. Details from that one bloody night begin to circle back. Her distant father returns to the fold, along with an obsessive local cop, and the Hammerman, a murderer who came into Lydia’s life long ago and, as she soon discovers, never completely left. Bedazzling, addictive and wildly clever, Midnight at the Bright Ideas Bookstore is a heart-pounding mystery that perfectly captures the intellect and eccentricity of the bookstore milieu.My ReviewThe minute I read the following review by Jess Walter (author of Beautiful Ruins) on the back cover of the book, I knew I was in for a great read:"With Midnight at the Bright Ideas Bookstore, Matthew Sullivan has written - with great panache and suspense - a smart, twisty crime novel filled with compelling characters set in a world that book lovers will adore."Now, it's no secret that I'm a massive fan of twisty crime novels. And it's abundantly clear that I'm head over heels in love with books. So, it then followed that, all things being equal, I was going to love this book. Well Bookworm's, the good news is that I did, I adored it! Right from the opening page, with it's clear and precise prose, until the final few lines of this book, I loved every minute of it...okay, perhaps not the epilogue, but more about that later. The story was clever and totally engaging. Lydia's past, and her encounter with the Hammerman was cleverly interwoven into the present day story, being that of Joey's suicide in the Bright Ideas bookstore. Even though the beginning of this book was a tad slow, it soon picked up pace and I was totally gripped by Lydia's past, the Hammerman, her father, Joey, Raj, and so many other characters and sub-plots in this book. I also loved trying to figure out Joey's cryptic messages, the ones left for Lydia to find inside his books, the broken letters and incomplete words having me stumped on more than one occasion.This book's cover is also deceptive, and hides just quite how dark this book is, a fact that took me slightly by surprise. This book touches on topics like suicide, murder, physical and psychological abuse and a number of other heavy topics, but the story as a whole is just so gripping, with enough lighthearted moments to make it a pleasurable read without being overly heavy.My praise is high for this one, but the book wasn't absolutely faultless and if I had to be critical, I'd say that the epilogue let this one down slightly. I found it a strange ending, and not one that I personally would have chosen. But hey, I'm not the author, and he clearly thought that the ending was great. For me, it took this read from 5 stars to 4.5 stars, and because I don't award half stars, this one ends up with a solid, amazing, resounding 4 stars from me! (Okay, this may seem harsh in light of my praise, but when I award 5 stars, I want the book to be faultless in my eyes).I hope that this review has been enough of a teaser for all of you, and that you rush out and buy this book as soon as possible. I loved it, despite the strange ending, and I'm more than happy to sing its praises.My Rating: * * * *Publication Date: November 2017 (South Africa)Genre: Literary FictionFormat: Trade PaperbackSource: Review copy received from the publisher. Many thanks to author, Matthew Sullivan and Penguin Random House SA for my copy. It was my pleasure to read and review this title.

Last Seen Alive

My rating: * * * *Goodreads DescriptionThe Hero Libby Hall never really wanted to be noticed. But after she saves the children in her care from a fire, she finds herself headline news. And horrified by the attention. It all reminds her of what happened nine years ago. The last time she saw her best friend alive. The Swap Which is why the house swap is such a godsend. Libby and her husband Jamie exchange their flat in Bath for a beautiful, secluded house in Cornwall. It's a chance to heal their marriage - to stop its secrets tearing them apart. The Hideaway But this stylish Cornish home isn't the getaway they'd hoped for. They make odd, even disturbing, discoveries in the house. It's so isolated-yet Libby doesn't feel entirely alone. As if she's being watched. Is Libby being paranoid? What is her husband hiding? And. As the secrets and lies come tumbling out, is the past about to catch up with them?My ReviewClaire Douglas generally writes the type of books that I like to read. And in my opinion, this is her best one yet.Libby and her husband Jamie have had a rough time of things lately. So when a leaflet drops into their letter box offering a house swap, they both think it's a great idea and a chance to have a break from everyday life. A stranger offers them a week at their house in Bath, in exchange for a week in their small flat, claiming that its location is perfect as their daughter will be in a nearby hospital undergoing treatment. But things don’t turn out as expected, and their stay in Bath is marred by strange people and even stranger events. And things don't improve on their return home.Personally, I find the idea of a house swap a little bit far fetched, but apparently this has been quite the thing over the past few years. I couldn't imagine strangers in my house, having access to and using my personal things. But anyway, you'll need to get your head around this concept if you're going to read and enjoy this book.Many of the characters in this novel have issues. Libby has trust issues, and a history that's a tad strange. Her husband, Jamie, is a little bit too dismissive of her concerns for my liking, and his friendship with an old girlfriend is also on the strange side. The ex girlfriend was odd to say the least, living with Jamie's parents and generally hanging around. All of this makes for a fairly gripping read, one where you keep trying to work out who you like and who you don't, and never being quite sure of how you feel. With lies and secrets around every corner, and with a plot that kept me guessing, this was a book that I really enjoyed. Yes, some of the events are a little bit far fetched, but I suppose that that's the case with a number of psychological thrillers and so that didn't bother me much. I thought this was a really good read and I'd definitely recommend it.My Rating: * * * *Publication Date: September 2017 (South Africa)Genre: Psychological ThrillerFormat: PaperbackSource: Review copy received from the publisher. Many thanks to author, Claire Douglas and Penguin Random House SA for my copy. It was my pleasure to read and review this title.

I Am, I Am, I Am

My rating: * * * *Goodreads DescriptionI AM, I AM, I AM is a memoir with a difference - the unputdownable story of an extraordinary woman's life in near-death experiences. Intelligent, insightful, inspirational, it is a book to be read at a sitting, a story you finish newly conscious of life's fragility, determined to make every heartbeat count.A childhood illness she was not expected to survive. A teenage yearning to escape that nearly ended in disaster. A terrifying encounter on a remote path. A mismanaged labour in an understaffed hospital. Shocking, electric, unforgettable, this is the extraordinary memoir from Costa Novel-Award winner and Sunday Times bestselling author Maggie O'Farrell.It is a book to make you question yourself. What would you do if your life was in danger, and what would you stand to lose?My ReviewI read this book over the last two days of 2017, and I must say, it was the perfect read for that time of the year.This book highlights author Maggie O'Farrell's seventeen brushes with death. It's a book about living, about dying, and about how precarious the line between the two can be. It's a book that highlights how we should never take a single day for granted, how we should live life to the fullest, and how we should never think that death isn't around the corner.At a time of year where one generally thinks back over the past 12 months and reminisces about the highlights, and laments the low-lights, where one is slightly apprehensive about the year to come and what it might bring, this read was exceptionally well timed. At the end of the day, it's a lesson in how to appreciate life, in how we should value each and minute that we have, even the ones that cause us pain and unhappiness, because ultimately we are alive, we are living and that's how we are able to have the experiences that we have, both good and bad.I must say, I found this read really interesting and I raced through it. It's not a very long book but I was totally gripped. One really does get a good sense and feel for this author and for the moments in her life that have defined her. I wouldn't say that each and every incident that made it into the book was truly a "near death" experience, but the majority of them were. There are some harrowing stories, where the line between life and death is as clear as day, and then other experiences that must have been very scary but that don't classify as genuine near death experiences, but whose inclusion in the book makes sense, and which I can understand.The book ends with a chapter about the author's daughter and the struggles that they are going through because of her health. Another lesson to all of us to not take our health for granted, and to live each day to the fullest.I loved this book, absolutely and totally! A fantastic read for the start of a new year. We've been given a clean slate, let's use it wisely. My Rating: * * * *Publication Date: November 2017 (South Africa)Genre: MemoirFormat: Trade PaperbackSource: Review copy received from the publisher. Many thanks to author, Maggie O'Farrell and Jonathan Ball SA for my copy. It was my pleasure to read and review this title.

Did You See Melody?

My rating: * * *Goodreads DescriptionPushed to breaking point, Cara Burrows abandons her home and family and escapes to a five-star spa resort she can't afford. Late at night, exhausted and desperate, she lets herself into her hotel room and is shocked to find it already occupied - by a man and a teenage girl.A simple mistake on the part of the hotel receptionist - but Cara's fear intensifies when she works out that the girl she saw alive and well in the hotel room is someone she can't possibly have seen: the most famous murder victim in the country, Melody Chapa, whose parents are serving life sentences for her murder.Cara doesn't know what to trust: everything she's read and heard about the case, or the evidence of her own eyes. Did she really see Melody? And is she prepared to ask herself that question and answer it honestly if it means risking her own life?My ReviewI found this book to be both infuriating and entertaining in equal measure. It's one of those books that's dividing the crowd, and I find myself sitting on the fence with this one. On the positive side, this was a good holiday read. It wasn't overly long or drawn out, it was pretty easy to read, it had a host of cameo characters to love and hate, and it had a few twists and turns, and an interesting ending. It's the type of ending that will have you thinking about the book and exactly how the ending fits in.Now for the negatives. I did find some elements of this story highly unlikely and really far fetched. The journalist that features in the book just seems to be to be way too over the top, and carries far too much clout, even with law enforcement, to be realistic. The TV program that she hosts is also totally unrealistic. Being someone who watches a fair amount of Crime and Investigation Channel on DSTV, I'm yet to see a show where the presenter offers such a pig headed opinion on who's guilty, and why, as opposed to merely presenting the facts. I also found Cara's behaviour very strange. How she just ups and leaves her family behind, travels to a spa in the US, without even a word to her husband and kids. Unlikely. And then to just hand away her cell phone to the first stranger she meets so that she's not tempted to call home. It all just didn't sit that well with me.So, in conclusion, this book isn't bad. If you read it you'll probably enjoy it. Do I suggest you rush out and buy it right away? No, I don't. It's mediocre, it's okay, it passes as an entertaining read, but nothing more.My Rating: * * *Publication Date: September 2017 (South Africa)Genre: Suspense / MysteryFormat: Trade PaperbackSource: Review copy received from the publisher. Many thanks to author, Sophie Hannah and Jonathan Ball SA for my copy. It was my pleasure to read and review this title.

Don't Let Go

My rating: * * * *Goodreads DescriptionSuburban New Jersey Detective Napoleon “Nap” Dumas hasn't been the same since senior year of high school, when his twin brother Leo and Leo’s girlfriend Diana were found dead on the railroad tracks—and Maura, the girl Nap considered the love of his life, broke up with him and disappeared without explanation. For fifteen years, Nap has been searching, both for Maura and for the real reason behind his brother's death. And now, it looks as though he may finally find what he's been looking for. When Maura's fingerprints turn up in the rental car of a suspected murderer, Nap embarks on a quest for answers that only leads to more questions—about the woman he loved, about the childhood friends he thought he knew, about the abandoned military base near where he grew up, and mostly about Leo and Diana—whose deaths are darker and far more sinister than Nap ever dared imagine. My ReviewIt's been such a long time since I've read a Harlan Coben novel that I forgot just quite how good this author is. He always writes gripping, fast paced novels, that are easy to read and highly entertaining. And this novel is no different.The lead character, Nap, is a very different, but totally likable character. A real loner, who doesn't much care what others think about him, he's a man on a mission. The death of his twin brother and his brother's girlfriend 15 years ago continues to haunt Nap, and he's been unable to move on with his life. To add insult to injury, his then girlfriend, the love of his life, left town straight after the death of his brother, a decision that Nap has never been able to understand. Not only did Nap lose his brother on that terrible night, but the love of his life as well. After his old girlfriend's fingerprints turn up at a crime scene, Nap embarks on a mission to find out what happened all those years ago.With great dialogue, a fast paced story line, some interesting characters and a good plot, this is a book that I really enjoyed. At first I thought that the book may be too much of a "boys book" for me, but actually it wasn't. Even though the book involves a secret military base, conspiracy theories around the base and what went on there, a number of male characters, and so on, this book actually suits both male and female readers. It is the type of book that men will find entertaining and enjoyable, but I enjoyed it just as much.Overall, good, solid entertainment. My Rating: * * * *Publication Date: September 2017 (South Africa)Genre: Suspense / ThrillerFormat: Trade PaperbackSource: Review copy received from the publisher. Many thanks to author, Harlan Coban and Penguin Random House SA for my copy. It was my pleasure to read and review this title.

Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine

My rating: * * * *Goodreads DescriptionMeet Eleanor Oliphant. She struggles with appropriate social skills and tends to say exactly what she’s thinking. Nothing is missing in her carefully time-tabled life of avoiding social interactions, where weekends are punctuated by frozen pizza, vodka, and phone chats with Mummy. Then everything changes when Eleanor meets Raymond, the bumbling and deeply unhygienic IT guy from her office. When she and Raymond together save Sammy, an elderly gentleman who has fallen on the sidewalk, the three become the kinds of friends who rescue one another from the lives of isolation they have each been living--and it is Raymond’s big heart that will ultimately help Eleanor find the way to repair her own profoundly damaged one.My ReviewOh Eleanor, what an absolutely classic character you are! I'm going to miss you now that I've finished your story.I was definitely slow on the uptake with this one. I'm sure many of you have already read this book, and I know that it got massive praise earlier this year when it was first released. I had been sent the book by the publisher but hadn't felt the desire to read it. Having heard so much about the book, I was concerned that I wouldn't enjoy it as it had been subject to such good reviews and thus potentially over hyped. Well let me tell you something...I loved it! Eleanor is just such an interesting, funny and likable character, although I didn't find her all that likable in the beginning. For the first quarter of this book, Eleanor really irritated me. I did find her funny, but I also found her social ineptitude pretty irritating...and I'm not quite sure what happened but as the book progressed my feelings about her changed. By the time I reached the midway point, I totally loved Eleanor. She had had me in fits of giggles many times. I must tell you, the scene where Eleanor goes to a beauty parlor for a bikini wax was just so flipping entertaining and funny. I loved that scene, and there were a number more like that.The book, although primarily lighthearted and funny, does have a darker side, and this comes through in tiny snippets throughout the story. Clues are given about Eleanor's past, the fact that her mother is "locked away", the fact that Eleanor has scars, both physical and psychological, all lead us to wonder what could have happened to her. It was this element that I found the most intriguing. While reading about Eleanor's life and experiencing her awkward character, I was always also wondering about her past, about what secrets are going to be revealed. I couldn't wait to find out the full story.This really is a great read Bookworms. There is a lot to like about this one and it's pretty uplifting. You'll definitely have a few chuckles along the way, and you'll be entertained.My Rating: * * * *Publication Date: June 2017 (South Africa)Genre: FictionFormat: Trade PaperbackSource: Review copy received from the publisher. Many thanks to author, Gail Honeyman and Jonathan Ball for my copy. It was my pleasure to read and review this title.

Evil Games

My rating: * * *Goodreads DescriptionWhen a rapist is found mutilated in a brutal attack, Detective Kim Stone and her team are called in to bring a swift resolution. But, as more vengeful killings come to light, it soon becomes clear that there is someone far more sinister at work. With the investigation quickly gathering momentum, Kim finds herself exposed to great danger and in the sights of a lethal individual undertaking their own twisted experiment. Up against a sociopath who seems to know her every weakness, each move she makes could be deadly. As the body count starts to mount, Kim will have to dig deep to stop the killing. And this time—it's personal.My ReviewAlthough this is the second novel in the D.I Kim Stone series, you definitely don't need to read the first book to be able to enjoy this story. In fact, I don't remember any specific reference in this second book to the first one, and I had read the first book years ago and didn't actually remember a thing about it. This in no way detracted from this read for me.Evil Games grabbed me right from the first chapter and held my attention pretty much right until the end. No, I wasn't chewing my fingernails off, nor was I falling over myself to get home and pick up the book, but I was enjoying the read and I wanted to keep going. This book has a number of "baddies" and they were really awful. On the opposite end, it was great to catch up with Kim Stone and her team again, and to learn more about Kim's background, which sounds truly awful in itself. I really do like Kim, although, if truth be told, I find some of her mannerisms and her inability to bond with others, a little bit strange. And sometimes she comes across as pretty unlikable, but she's the type of character that tends to grow on one. She's definitely a tough nut that takes no sh!t from others. I do like that about her.  Overall this was a good read. I'm not quite as besotted with the Kim Stone series as other readers in the UK seem to be, but I've enjoyed the two books that I've read. I also read this second book while in a serious reading slump, and so again, that might have impacted on my enjoyment of the book. I do recommend this book however, as it did keep me interested enough to get to the end, even in my reading slump!My Rating: * * * Publication Date: April 2017 (UK)Genre: Crime ProceduralFormat: PaperbackSource: My own purchased copy.

They All Fall Down

My rating: * * *Goodreads DescriptionShe knows there’s a killer on the loose. But no-one believes her. Will she be next? Hannah had a normal life – a loving husband, a good job. Until she did something shocking. Now she’s in a psychiatric clinic. It should be a safe place. But patients keep dying. The doctors say it’s suicide. Hannah knows they’re lying. Can she make anyone believe her before the killer strikes again?My ReviewI've read a few of Tammy Cohen's books in the past and I've always enjoyed them. I probably wouldn't rate her as one of my all time favourites, but she often writes gripping and entertaining reads. And so too was it with this one.Hannah is a patient in a psychiatric clinic. After two other patients die, Hannah is convinced that they have been murdered but no one believes her. And so begins this twisty novel.Now let me be honest right up front and say that I've found myself in a serious reading slump for the last month or so. I know that I do go through these patches every few years, and so I don't feel specifically stressed about it, but it is something that I should mention as it's possible that this slump negatively affected my enjoyment of this book. I did largely enjoy this book but I found it longer than it needed to be and not quite as gripping as I would have liked. On a positive note, I liked the different chapters written in the different voices, and I also liked the glance back into the past and into this terrible thing that Hannah did. All this made for some gripping reading at first. From there, I struggled a bit. Overall though, this is another good, solid psychological thriller. It has a few twists and turns and many people whose opinion I value highly have really loved this one. So don't trust my opinion alone because I'm hard to please at the moment.My Rating: * * *Publication Date: August 2017 (South Africa)Genre: Psychological ThrillerFormat: PaperbackSource: Review copy received from the publisher. Many thanks to author, Tammy Cohen and Penguin SA for my copy. It was my pleasure to read and review this title.