Darcia Helle's Blog
February 16, 2023
A Haunting, Powerful Read — ON THE SAVAGE SIDE by Tiffany McDaniel
Six women—mothers, daughters, sisters—gone missing. Inspired by the unsolved murders of the Chillicothe Six, this harrowing novel tells the story of two sisters, both of whom could be the next victims, from the internationally best-selling author of Betty.
Arcade and Daffodil are twins born one minute apart. With their fiery red hair and thirst for escape, they form an unbreakable bond nurtured by their grandmother’s stories. Together, they disappear into their imaginations and forge a world all their own.
But what the two sisters can’t escape are the generational ghosts that haunt their family. Growing up in the shadow of their rural Ohio town, the sisters cling tightly to one another. Years later, Arcade wrestles with the memories of her early life, just as a local woman is discovered drowned in the river. Soon, more bodies are found. As her friends disappear around her, Arcade is forced to reckon with the past while the killer circles closer. Arcade’s promise to keep herself and her sister safe becomes increasingly desperate and the powerful riptide of the savage side becomes more difficult to survive.
Drawing from the true story of women killed in Chillicothe, Ohio, acclaimed novelist and poet Tiffany McDaniel has written a moving literary testament and fearless elegy for missing women everywhere.
Release Date: February 14, 2023
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My ThoughtsDo you ever see an addict, prostitute, or homeless person and wonder what event(s) led them there?
Do you ever wonder what their lives otherwise could have been? What their dreams were?
On the Savage Side introduces us to a group of unforgettable women. These women show us how a life unravels, how dreams are stomped on by predatory or apathetic adults, how intelligent little girls fall through life’s cracks.
I love stories like this because, by forcing us to look at the reality, they build empathy. I don’t think you can read this book and not look at a disheveled woman on the street a little differently.
The writing is brilliant.
The story is bleak and real and it hurts.
Words have power, and Tiffany McDaniel uses hers with precision and grace.
*Endless appreciation to Knopf Publishing for the free copy.*
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February 5, 2023
Audiobook Review — THE LEVEE by William Kent Krueger
An audio original novella from the bestselling author of Ordinary Grace and This Tender Land, The Levee is a powerful, captivating story of a family, a storm, a complicated rescue, and the true cost of survival.
It’s 1927, and the most devastating flood in American history has swelled the Mississippi River to a width of eighty miles. In an attempt to save a family trapped by the rising water, four men in a tiny rowboat battle the treacherous flow: three are convicts, on loan from the local prison and pressed into service; the fourth, the leader of the team, is driven by his own hidden motives. But to their surprise upon arrival at Ballymore, an ancestral home protected by a high, circular levee, not everyone in the family feels the need to be saved. Pride, greed, loyalty, and even love create their own complex currents behind the massive wall. As the threat from the flood increases and time ticks away, the crew and the family must decide on a course of action, and a desperate plan is hatched to save the weakening levee and all it was built to protect.
The Levee is a propulsive, heartfelt tale of courage, cowardice, and sacrifice in a historic moment when the indomitable human spirit is pitted against the awesome and destructive power of nature.
Release Date: February 28, 2023
My ThoughtsThe Levee is an audio novella that pits men against nature and against each other.
William Kent Krueger excels at atmosphere and setting. I experienced every moment of this story as if I were there alongside the characters.
The plot and characters have surprising complexities, which are gradually revealed as the story unfolds.
For a relatively short novella, this story packs a punch.
J.D. Jackson, the audiobook narrator, does a fantastic job of immersing us in the story. I felt he perfectly portrayed the various characters.
*Thanks to Simon and Schuster for the free audiobook download!*
The post Audiobook Review — THE LEVEE by William Kent Krueger appeared first on Quiet Fury Books.
February 4, 2023
Early Review — FATEFUL WORDS: A Scottish Bookshop Mystery by Paige Shelton
In Fateful Words, the eighth Scottish Bookshop Mystery from beloved author Paige Shelton, bookseller Delaney Nichols stakes her reputation—and her life—when a literary tour turns deadly…
When Edwin, Delaney’s boss at the Cracked Spine bookstore, leaves town on secret business, Delaney is called upon to guide his yearly literary tour around Edinburgh. But on the first night of the tour, at the inn where the tour group is staying, the inn manager falls—or is pushed—off the roof of the inn, and killed. Then, one of the tour members disappears, leaving a trail of puzzles in her wake.
In a race against the clock, Delaney sets out on the expedition of her life, following clues around Edinburgh to get to the bottom of this mystery. Exploring sights from Greyfriars Bobby to the Royal Mile to the Sir Walter Scott Monument, she’ll have to put the pieces together quickly, or the bookstore’s survival could be on the line…as well as her own.
Release Date: April 4, 2023
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My ThoughtsI was looking forward to a fun mystery featuring a bookshop, with a strong sense of Scotland’s atmosphere.
Unfortunately, this wasn’t the case, and I was bored.
The simple mystery became convoluted as a way to sustain it over a number of pages.
The thin plot was padded by the main character conducting a walking tour through Edinburgh. This would have been fun, had it actually been atmospheric and immersive, but instead it read like a factual brochure provided to tourists. I couldn’t visualize anything. Scenery and buildings were barely described, if at all. Instead, these passages read like dry history snippets from Wikipedia.
Even the bookshop was a vague entity, with little time spent there.
This is book 8 in the Scottish Bookshop Mystery Series, which I’ve been wanting to try, and now I have. It reads fine as a stand alone.
*Thanks to Minotaur Books for the ARC.*
The post Early Review — FATEFUL WORDS: A Scottish Bookshop Mystery by Paige Shelton appeared first on Quiet Fury Books.
February 3, 2023
A Fun Adventure — OF MANNERS AND MURDER: A Dear Miss Hermione Mystery by Anastasia Hastings
Of Manners and Murder is the first in the delightful new Dear Miss Hermione mystery series from Anastasia Hastings.
1885: London, England. When Violet’s Aunt Adelia decides to abscond with her newest paramour, she leaves behind her role as the most popular Agony Aunt in London, “Miss Hermione,” in Violet’s hands.
And of course, the first letter Violet receives is full, not of prissy pondering, but of portent. Ivy Armstrong is in need of help and fears for her life. But when Violet visits the village where the letters were posted, she finds that Ivy is already dead.
She’ll quickly discover that when you represent the best-loved Agony Aunt in Britain, both marauding husbands and murder are par for the course.
Release Date: February 7, 2023
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My ThoughtsOf Manners and Murder is a fun adventure into Victorian England.
Our main character, Violet, is a smart, independent young woman who takes over her aunt’s role as Miss Hermione, which is 19th century England’s version of the Dear Abby advice column. This leads her to a mystery that might turn out to be murder.
I loved Violet’s character. She had no problem going against societal convention. I got Murder She Wrote vibes, as she went around the village asking probing questions and stirring up trouble.
This is the first book in the new Dear Miss Hermione Mystery Series. The story had a solid ending, which I always appreciate in a series, while leaving lots of room for future mischief.
*Thanks to Minotaur Books for the ARC!*
The post A Fun Adventure — OF MANNERS AND MURDER: A Dear Miss Hermione Mystery by Anastasia Hastings appeared first on Quiet Fury Books.
January 31, 2023
Audiobook Review — FINLAY DONOVAN JUMPS THE GUN by Elle Cosimano
From USA Today bestseller and Edgar Award nominee Elle Cosimano, comes Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun—the hilarious and heart-pounding next installment in the beloved Finlay Donovan series.
Dating. Diapers. And dodging bullets. Who said single moms can’t have fun?
Finlay Donovan has been in messes before—after all, she’s an author and single mom who’s a pro at getting out bloodstains for rather unexpected reasons—but none quite like this. After she and her nanny/partner-in-crime Vero accidentally destroyed a luxury car that they may have “borrowed” in the process of saving the life of Finlay’s ex-husband, the Russian mob got her out of debt. But now Finlay owes them
Still running the show from behind bars, mob boss Feliks has a task for Finlay: find a contract killer before the cops do. Problem is, the killer might be an officer.
Luckily, hot cop Nick has started up a citizen’s police academy, and combined pressure from Finlay’s looming book deadline and Feliks is enough to convince Finlay and Vero to get involved. Through firearm training and forensic classes (and some hands-on research with the tempting detective), Finlay and Vero have the perfect cover-up to sleuth out the real criminal and free themselves from the mob’s clutches—all the while dodging spies, confronting Vero’s past, and juggling the daily trials of parenthood.
Release Date: January 31, 2023
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My ThoughtsThis series and I must break up. Sorry, Finlay. It’s me, not you.
I’ve come to the conclusion that this series just isn’t for me. Content and dialogue are over the top, implausible, and at times, ridiculous. The crazy antics and such, I think, is the point of it all. I enjoy some zaniness, but I also need something believable to hold on to. And, really, nothing about this story was believable.
I feel like each book gets worse. This one dragged on with all sorts of nonsense. Also, the playful tone of the first lessened in the second, and seems altogether absent here.
This book, like the first two, ends in yet another major cliffhanger. Ugh. Nothing is resolved. These books don’t work as stand alone reads—at all. The plot is a constant thread from one book to the next, evolving and spinning out of control, with no resolution.
I listened to this on audio. Angela Dawe, the narrator, is talented. She does a great job of embracing Finlay’s personality, as well as altering her voice with the necessary accents for the other characters. Her narration is the only reason I got through this book.
*Thanks to Macmillan Audio for the free audiobook download.*
The post Audiobook Review — FINLAY DONOVAN JUMPS THE GUN by Elle Cosimano appeared first on Quiet Fury Books.
January 28, 2023
Twisty Dark Suspense — THEN SHE VANISHES by Claire Douglas
A twisty, compulsive thriller full of jolting shocks and startling secrets involving two sisters, a disappearance, a double murder, and a reporter determined to find the truth from the bestselling author of Local Girl Missing, Last Seen Alive, and Do Not Disturb.
Everything changed the night she disappeared . . .
On a summer’s night in 1994, sixteen-year-old Flora Powell vanished from her sleepy seaside town without a trace. Their hearts shattered, Flora’s mother, her sister Heather, and Heather’s best friend Jess had to somehow carry on not knowing what happened.
Twenty-five years later, tragedy strikes again when Heather walks into a stranger’s house and allegedly kills two people in cold blood.
Why would this loving wife and doting new mother commit such a heinous crime? Jess, now a reporter, returns to the hometown she left behind to cover the case and dig for answers. But this isn’t like any other story. Jess was like a sister to the Powell girls, until the summer that tore them all apart.
What happened to the girl she used to know?
The question haunts Jess and propels her to find the key that may unlock the mysteries involving both sisters. But the search may reveal more . . . a darker side to this idyllic place she thought she knew.
Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Scribd
My ThoughtsThen She Vanishes was exactly the twisty (and twisted) dark suspense novel I needed.
You know when you buy a book, you’re excited to read it, then it sits unread on your shelf for a couple of years? Or is that just me? No idea why it took me so long to finally pull this one off the shelf. It was so good!
The writing style is engaging, characters are interesting, and the layered plot is well executed.
The content is heavy, stark, and sad, without a lot of bright spots. That being said, it’s all woven into the story with purpose. No gratuitous violence or content added for shock value here.
I have vowed that this is the year I’ll catch up on my backlist books, despite all the shiny ARCs coming my way. My heroic effort is being aided, in part, by audiobooks. I alternated between reading and listening to this book. I really enjoyed the audio! We have three narrators who perfectly inhabit their parts. The production is so immersive that I actually enjoyed listening more than reading, which doesn’t often happen. Pacing lagged in parts when I was reading, but the narrators were able to keep me engaged throughout.
The post Twisty Dark Suspense — THEN SHE VANISHES by Claire Douglas appeared first on Quiet Fury Books.
January 25, 2023
New Historical Mystery — PANDORA by Susan Stokes-Chapman
Steeped in mystery and rich in imagination, an exhilarating historical novel set in Georgian London where the discovery of a mysterious ancient Greek vase sets in motion conspiracies, revelations, and romance.
London, 1799. Dora Blake, an aspiring jewelry artist, lives with her odious uncle atop her late parents’ once-famed shop of antiquities. After a mysterious Greek vase is delivered, her uncle begins to act suspiciously, keeping the vase locked in the store’s basement, away from prying eyes—including Dora’s. Intrigued by her uncle’s peculiar behavior, Dora turns to young, ambitious antiquarian scholar Edward Lawrence who eagerly agrees to help. Edward believes the ancient vase is the key that will unlock his academic future; Dora sees it as a chance to establish her own name.
But what Edward discovers about the vase has Dora questioning everything she has believed about her life, her family, and the world as she knows it. As Dora uncovers the truth, she comes to understand that some doors are locked and some mysteries are buried for a reason, while others are closer to the surface than they appear.
A story of myth and mystery, secrets and deception, fate and hope, Pandora is an enchanting work of historical fiction as captivating and evocative as The Song of Achilles, The Essex Serpent, and The Miniaturist.
Published: January 23, 2023
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My ThoughtsPandora plants us in the muck and grime of 1799 London, when women had few rights and classism held people firmly in place.
I really enjoyed this slow-burn historical mystery. The author excels at setting and atmosphere. I had a vivid sense of place, including scents and sounds, as I read.
The story centers around antiquities, with a tie-in to Pandora’s Box. I expected a stronger mythological vibe overall. The plot is rooted in realism, with an underlying sense of unease and possibilities. This makes it a perfect fit for readers who love historical fiction, but who might not love full-on mythology and retellings.
*Thanks to Harper Perennial and BiblioLifestyle for the free copy.*
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January 24, 2023
An Epic Masterpiece — BABEL by R.F. Kuang
Traduttore, traditore: An act of translation is always an act of betrayal.
1828. Robin Swift, orphaned by cholera in Canton, is brought to London by the mysterious Professor Lovell. There, he trains for years in Latin, Ancient Greek, and Chinese, all in preparation for the day he’ll enroll in Oxford University’s prestigious Royal Institute of Translation—also known as Babel.
Babel is the world’s center for translation and, more importantly, magic. Silver working—the art of manifesting the meaning lost in translation using enchanted silver bars—has made the British unparalleled in power, as its knowledge serves the Empire’s quest for colonization.
For Robin, Oxford is a utopia dedicated to the pursuit of knowledge. But knowledge obeys power, and as a Chinese boy raised in Britain, Robin realizes serving Babel means betraying his motherland. As his studies progress, Robin finds himself caught between Babel and the shadowy Hermes Society, an organization dedicated to stopping imperial expansion. When Britain pursues an unjust war with China over silver and opium, Robin must decide…
Can powerful institutions be changed from within, or does revolution always require violence?
Published: August 2022
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My ThoughtsBabel is an epic masterpiece.
Beautiful prose, a vivid sense of atmosphere and setting, complex characters… Roll all that into an intense, powerful, layered, thought-provoking plot. Then add a unique magic system that speaks volumes about humanity’s many pitfalls. Shake it up with all the emotions. And that was my experience while reading this book.
This book is a lot. Content tackles racism, classism, elitism, and Colonialism. But it never feels too wide reaching, and it’s never the least bit preachy. We’re shown everything, told nothing, and left to decide for ourselves.
Babel is a slow build, requiring a patient reader. While the destination matters, the journey is meant to be savored.
The post An Epic Masterpiece — BABEL by R.F. Kuang appeared first on Quiet Fury Books.
January 18, 2023
High-Octane Thriller — THE LAST ORPHAN: An Orphan X Novel by Gregg Hurwitz
Evan Smoak returns in The Last Orphan, the latest New York Times bestselling Orphan X thriller–when everything changes and everything is at risk.
As a child, Evan Smoak was plucked out of a group home, raised and trained as an off-the-books assassin for the government as part of the Orphan program. When he broke with the program and went deep underground, he left with a lot of secrets in his head that the government would do anything to make sure never got out.
When he remade himself as The Nowhere Man, dedicated to helping the most desperate in their times of trouble, Evan found himself slowly back on the government’s radar. Having eliminated most of the Orphans in the program, the government will stop at nothing to eliminate the threat they see in Evan. But Orphan X has always been several steps ahead of his pursuers.
Until he makes one little mistake…
Now the President has him in her control and offers Evan a deal – eliminate a rich, powerful man she says is too dangerous to live and, in turn, she’ll let Evan survive. But when Evan left the Program he swore to only use his skills against those who really deserve it. Now he has to decide what’s more important – his principles or his life.
Release Date: February 14, 2023
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My ThoughtsThe Last Orphan was exactly the high-octane thriller I needed.
This story gives us moral dilemmas with all the shades of gray, wrapped up in a complex plot and tons of action!
Evan Smoak, our hero, takes a slightly different turn here. I love that his character has been evolving throughout the series, and here he hits what might be a life-altering point in his path.
I have to mention Joey. I love her character, and she shines here. I’m hoping she gets her own series in the future. Also, bonus points for Dog the dog!
This is the eighth book in the Orphan X Series. While I recommend reading them all in order, I thought Hurwitz did a fantastic job of weaving in enough backstory for this to work as a stand-alone.
*Thanks to Minotaur Books for the ARC!*
The post High-Octane Thriller — THE LAST ORPHAN: An Orphan X Novel by Gregg Hurwitz appeared first on Quiet Fury Books.
January 17, 2023
Early Review — BEYOND THAT, THE SEA by Laura Spence-Ash
A sweeping, tenderhearted love story, Beyond That, the Sea by Laura Spence-Ash tells the story of two families living through World War II on opposite sides of the Atlantic Ocean, and the shy, irresistible young woman who will call them both her own.
As German bombs fall over London in 1940, working-class parents Millie and Reginald Thompson make an impossible choice: they decide to send their eleven-year-old daughter, Beatrix, to America. There, she’ll live with another family for the duration of the war, where they hope she’ll stay safe.
Scared and angry, feeling lonely and displaced, Bea arrives in Boston to meet the Gregorys. Mr. and Mrs. G, and their sons William and Gerald, fold Bea seamlessly into their world. She becomes part of this lively family, learning their ways and their stories, adjusting to their affluent lifestyle. Bea grows close to both boys, one older and one younger, and fills in the gap between them. Before long, before she even realizes it, life with the Gregorys feels more natural to her than the quiet, spare life with her own parents back in England.
As Bea comes into herself and relaxes into her new life―summers on the coast in Maine, new friends clamoring to hear about life across the sea―the girl she had been begins to fade away, until, abruptly, she is called home to London when the war ends.
Desperate as she is not to leave this life behind, Bea dutifully retraces her trip across the Atlantic back to her new, old world. As she returns to post-war London, the memory of her American family stays with her, never fully letting her go, and always pulling on her heart as she tries to move on and pursue love and a life of her own.
As we follow Bea over time, navigating between her two worlds, Beyond That, the Sea emerges as a beautifully written, absorbing novel, full of grace and heartache, forgiveness and understanding, loss and love.
Release Date: March 21, 2023
My ThoughtsBeyond That, the Sea is a sprawling story of family, love, and loss.
While well written, overall this book was just okay for me.
My main issue was the story skittered across the surface of decades, with two families and multiple viewpoints.
Content was imbalanced. We were given lots of detail about mundane events, such as lazy summer days in Maine, but the major events were glossed over. Consequently, I didn’t feel the emotional turmoil I was told about but didn’t see.
Atmosphere also felt imbalanced. I didn’t get much sense of England during or immediately after the war, or at any time, really. I got a better sense of the Maine summer home, though that could also be because I’m a native New Englander familiar with Maine, so I was able to subconsciously fill in the blanks.
I initially alternated between reading my print copy and listening to the audiobook, but gave up on the print pretty quickly. Formatting made the odd choice of putting dialogue in italics, rather than quotes, which I kept mentally tripping over. The audiobook narration was engaging and well done.
A beautiful story for many readers, so please ignore me and give this one a try if the premise appeals to you.
*Thanks to Celadon Books for the ARC and Macmillan Audio for the free download!*
The post Early Review — BEYOND THAT, THE SEA by Laura Spence-Ash appeared first on Quiet Fury Books.
