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Dragonfly Summer
No small town’s secrets can stay buried for long. Moncrieff digs into the treachery of memory and the power of female friendships...
"Moncrieff’s new book is rich in narrative and empathy [...] This is an exceptional story that really trends a fine line balance between two worlds of small town life and action paced thriller that is really a hard thing to balance but she does this as a pro." - Literary License Podcast Dragonfly Summer is a gripping thriller that What happens when the past comes back to haunt you? Jo Carter never thought she'd return to Clear Springs, Minnesota. But when the former journalist receives a cryptic note about the disappearance of her friend Sam twenty years before, she's compelled to find out what really happened. During her investigation, she learns another high school friend has died in a mysterious accident. Nothing is as it seems, and Jo must probe Clear Springs' darkest corners and her own painful and unreliable memories to discover the truth - and save herself from the killer who could still be on the hunt. Deliciously twisty and suspenseful from the first minute to the last, Dragonfly Summer proves that no small town’s secrets can stay buried for good.
FLAME TREE PRESS is the imprint of long-standing Independent Flame Tree Publishing, dedicated to full-length original fiction in the horror and suspense, science fiction & fantasy, and crime / mystery / thriller categories. The list brings together fantastic new authors and the more established; the award winners, and exciting, original voices. Learn more about Flame Tree Press at www.flametreepress.com and connect on social media @FlameTreePress.
"Moncrieff’s new book is rich in narrative and empathy [...] This is an exceptional story that really trends a fine line balance between two worlds of small town life and action paced thriller that is really a hard thing to balance but she does this as a pro." - Literary License Podcast Dragonfly Summer is a gripping thriller that What happens when the past comes back to haunt you? Jo Carter never thought she'd return to Clear Springs, Minnesota. But when the former journalist receives a cryptic note about the disappearance of her friend Sam twenty years before, she's compelled to find out what really happened. During her investigation, she learns another high school friend has died in a mysterious accident. Nothing is as it seems, and Jo must probe Clear Springs' darkest corners and her own painful and unreliable memories to discover the truth - and save herself from the killer who could still be on the hunt. Deliciously twisty and suspenseful from the first minute to the last, Dragonfly Summer proves that no small town’s secrets can stay buried for good.
FLAME TREE PRESS is the imprint of long-standing Independent Flame Tree Publishing, dedicated to full-length original fiction in the horror and suspense, science fiction & fantasy, and crime / mystery / thriller categories. The list brings together fantastic new authors and the more established; the award winners, and exciting, original voices. Learn more about Flame Tree Press at www.flametreepress.com and connect on social media @FlameTreePress.
249 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 15, 2022
13 people are currently reading
127 people want to read
About the author
J.H. Moncrieff
33 books260 followersJ.H. Moncrieff's City of Ghosts won the 2018 Kindle Book Review Award for best Horror/Suspense.
Reviewers have described her work as early Gillian Flynn with a little Ray Bradbury and Stephen King thrown in for good measure.
She won Harlequin's search for “the next Gillian Flynn” in 2016. Her first published novella, The Bear Who Wouldn’t Leave, was featured in Samhain’s Childhood Fears collection and stayed on its horror bestsellers list for over a year.
When not writing, she loves exploring the world's most haunted places, advocating for animal rights, and summoning her inner ninja in muay thai class.
To get free ebooks and a new spooky story every week, go to http://bit.ly/MoncrieffLibrary.
Reviewers have described her work as early Gillian Flynn with a little Ray Bradbury and Stephen King thrown in for good measure.
She won Harlequin's search for “the next Gillian Flynn” in 2016. Her first published novella, The Bear Who Wouldn’t Leave, was featured in Samhain’s Childhood Fears collection and stayed on its horror bestsellers list for over a year.
When not writing, she loves exploring the world's most haunted places, advocating for animal rights, and summoning her inner ninja in muay thai class.
To get free ebooks and a new spooky story every week, go to http://bit.ly/MoncrieffLibrary.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews
November 25, 2022
This originally was listed as an audio book only and now is also printed novel although not yet listed on Goodreads!
Jo Carter, a single woman and former war correspondent journalist swore she would never go back to the small town where she grew up, Clear Springs, Minnesota yet twenty-seven years later here she is. Jo has so many bad memories especially concerning her abusive father that she has not had any contact with him since she left for college almost a lifetime ago. Jo receives a cryptic note seemingly out of nowhere concerning her beautiful and vivacious best friend Sam, who mysteriously disappeared before prom and high school graduation but when Jo tries to remember Sam she can't even recall what Sam looked like which doesn't make any sense. Jo realizes she must go back to Clear Springs to recover her faulty memories and to do some investigating on her own to find out what happened to Sam and why can't she seem to remember anything about her high school years.
After Jo arrives she finds that another friend (Amanda) has suddenly died which police said it was a horrific accident but Jo's instinct tells her differently and that somehow both of these tragic cases are related even though they are decades apart but how and where will she begin putting the pieces together when she can't seem to remember anything at all about her high school years or the most important people.in her life during that particular time! Will this trip back to Clear Springs spark Jo's mysterious blank memory or will she discover that certain memories should be left dead and buried!
Oh, this was a difficult book to review. I was so excited to read this exciting, sounding mystery but it became an entertaining mess for me. I couldn't connect with the writing, sometimes the story seemed written like a cozy mystery yet too much of the subject matter was very dark and all the characters were shallow. and didn't respond with appropriate connecting emotions. Jo was a feisty and fun character yet for the way her actions were portrayed I could never have seen her being out in the field as a news war correspondent There were some heavy, graphic and taboo scenes that seemed weirdly glossed over without any depth of emotion from any of the people involved. While sounding negative I was still entertained by the story because the author did throw in many red herrings and twists but maybe that was the problem for me, there just was too much material thrown in and rushed over without giving enough any detail to connection of thoughts with emotion. When I read a dark mystery or thriller I just want to feel tension and experience some feelings for the characters involved not just reading words that don't carry enough depth to reach my mind or heart. When I read a book I want to feel or believe I'm being transported into the pages of another place and time, not feeling is a such waste of time or me. Please don't go by my review alone since a good majority of other reviews found the book riveting and exciting so maybe I must be the tall weeds standing out in the beautifully manicured garden with my opinions. I would encourage mystery readers to take a chance if the storyline appeals to you and base your own opinions. I have read one other book by "Moncrieff" and thoroughly enjoyed it giving a five star rating but unfortunately this book was just all over the place for me even writing in a bit of the supernatural (lol) which just then became Way, Way, Way over the top!
Trigger Warnings: Physical Abuse, Rape, Incest, Etc.
I want to thank the publisher "Flame Tree Press" and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this digital copy and any thoughts or opinions expressed are unbiased and mine alone!
I have given a rating if 2 1/2 BROKEN AND FALLEN ⭐⭐🌠 STARS!!
Jo Carter, a single woman and former war correspondent journalist swore she would never go back to the small town where she grew up, Clear Springs, Minnesota yet twenty-seven years later here she is. Jo has so many bad memories especially concerning her abusive father that she has not had any contact with him since she left for college almost a lifetime ago. Jo receives a cryptic note seemingly out of nowhere concerning her beautiful and vivacious best friend Sam, who mysteriously disappeared before prom and high school graduation but when Jo tries to remember Sam she can't even recall what Sam looked like which doesn't make any sense. Jo realizes she must go back to Clear Springs to recover her faulty memories and to do some investigating on her own to find out what happened to Sam and why can't she seem to remember anything about her high school years.
After Jo arrives she finds that another friend (Amanda) has suddenly died which police said it was a horrific accident but Jo's instinct tells her differently and that somehow both of these tragic cases are related even though they are decades apart but how and where will she begin putting the pieces together when she can't seem to remember anything at all about her high school years or the most important people.in her life during that particular time! Will this trip back to Clear Springs spark Jo's mysterious blank memory or will she discover that certain memories should be left dead and buried!
Oh, this was a difficult book to review. I was so excited to read this exciting, sounding mystery but it became an entertaining mess for me. I couldn't connect with the writing, sometimes the story seemed written like a cozy mystery yet too much of the subject matter was very dark and all the characters were shallow. and didn't respond with appropriate connecting emotions. Jo was a feisty and fun character yet for the way her actions were portrayed I could never have seen her being out in the field as a news war correspondent There were some heavy, graphic and taboo scenes that seemed weirdly glossed over without any depth of emotion from any of the people involved. While sounding negative I was still entertained by the story because the author did throw in many red herrings and twists but maybe that was the problem for me, there just was too much material thrown in and rushed over without giving enough any detail to connection of thoughts with emotion. When I read a dark mystery or thriller I just want to feel tension and experience some feelings for the characters involved not just reading words that don't carry enough depth to reach my mind or heart. When I read a book I want to feel or believe I'm being transported into the pages of another place and time, not feeling is a such waste of time or me. Please don't go by my review alone since a good majority of other reviews found the book riveting and exciting so maybe I must be the tall weeds standing out in the beautifully manicured garden with my opinions. I would encourage mystery readers to take a chance if the storyline appeals to you and base your own opinions. I have read one other book by "Moncrieff" and thoroughly enjoyed it giving a five star rating but unfortunately this book was just all over the place for me even writing in a bit of the supernatural (lol) which just then became Way, Way, Way over the top!
Trigger Warnings: Physical Abuse, Rape, Incest, Etc.
I want to thank the publisher "Flame Tree Press" and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this digital copy and any thoughts or opinions expressed are unbiased and mine alone!
I have given a rating if 2 1/2 BROKEN AND FALLEN ⭐⭐🌠 STARS!!
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April 26, 2025CW for graphic r*pe on page, incest & other things you would expect from a thriller with murder elements
Dragonfly Summer is a page-turning thriller about secrets from the past with a heroine who doesn't remember much of her high school years. (for reasons that are actually somewhat explained later on) She's returning to her hometown to investigate the disappearance of her former BFF right after high school after being contacted in ways that suggest she might still be alive. This book did keep me fairly engaged, but it also did some things I really dislike in this genre.
I am not someone who believes you should never depict sexual assault on page. It's unfortunately a reality for many people and including that in some books makes sense. However, there are ways of doing it with care- actually considering the resulting trauma and commenting on the ramifications in thoughtful ways.
Dragonfly Summer did not do that at all. In this book trauma is used for shock value and plot twists, not in considered ways. Characters act rashly in ways that don't always make sense, and the development of motive for the culprit(s) of things are not well-considered. And honestly, using trauma and overdone tropes in this way is just lazy writing as well. It tells me you don't really know how to do good character work and plot a thriller that feels believable, or at least allows you to suspend your disbelief. For those reasons, this book was just okay for me. I received a copy of this book for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Dragonfly Summer is a page-turning thriller about secrets from the past with a heroine who doesn't remember much of her high school years. (for reasons that are actually somewhat explained later on) She's returning to her hometown to investigate the disappearance of her former BFF right after high school after being contacted in ways that suggest she might still be alive. This book did keep me fairly engaged, but it also did some things I really dislike in this genre.
I am not someone who believes you should never depict sexual assault on page. It's unfortunately a reality for many people and including that in some books makes sense. However, there are ways of doing it with care- actually considering the resulting trauma and commenting on the ramifications in thoughtful ways.
Dragonfly Summer did not do that at all. In this book trauma is used for shock value and plot twists, not in considered ways. Characters act rashly in ways that don't always make sense, and the development of motive for the culprit(s) of things are not well-considered. And honestly, using trauma and overdone tropes in this way is just lazy writing as well. It tells me you don't really know how to do good character work and plot a thriller that feels believable, or at least allows you to suspend your disbelief. For those reasons, this book was just okay for me. I received a copy of this book for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
September 19, 2022
DRAGONFLY SUMMER, by J.H. Moncrieff, felt like a mystery/thriller with supernatural undertones. This was originally available as an audio book only, but is being released in print/eBook formats in November, 2022.
Jo left her hometown of Clear Springs, Minnesota to move to NYC immediately after graduation. While she remembers her childhood, all memories of her best friends--Sam and Amanda--as well as her graduating year, are inexplicably . . . missing.
When a newspaper clipping with a picture of her friend, Sam--missing now for 27 years--arrives with a handwritten note on the back, Jo begins to remember bits and pieces about that year.
"Whoever said 'You can't go home again' had it wrong . . . You could, but you shouldn't . . . "
This is where our story takes off. Jo's character has all the attributes I like in a MC: dogged determination, snarky attitude, cunning, and the desire to uncover secrets at any cost.
The revelations she encounters, combined with the frustration of missing memories, makes this book one I hated to put down at any point.
As an added bonus, with Jo missing so much about her last year there, we are shown her "friends" as she comes across them. There's no need to "tell" what they are like, when she is practically discovering them anew.
Overall, I felt this was a fast-paced thriller, with exciting characters, and possible clues around almost everyone and everything. The complex tale was woven through events past and present, with a possible supernatural bend to it that I loved. These characters felt three-dimensional, and the town a place I could easily envision. This is, in my opinion, one of the author's greatest strengths.
Enjoy your visit to Clear Springs!
Recommended.
Jo left her hometown of Clear Springs, Minnesota to move to NYC immediately after graduation. While she remembers her childhood, all memories of her best friends--Sam and Amanda--as well as her graduating year, are inexplicably . . . missing.
When a newspaper clipping with a picture of her friend, Sam--missing now for 27 years--arrives with a handwritten note on the back, Jo begins to remember bits and pieces about that year.
"Whoever said 'You can't go home again' had it wrong . . . You could, but you shouldn't . . . "
This is where our story takes off. Jo's character has all the attributes I like in a MC: dogged determination, snarky attitude, cunning, and the desire to uncover secrets at any cost.
The revelations she encounters, combined with the frustration of missing memories, makes this book one I hated to put down at any point.
As an added bonus, with Jo missing so much about her last year there, we are shown her "friends" as she comes across them. There's no need to "tell" what they are like, when she is practically discovering them anew.
Overall, I felt this was a fast-paced thriller, with exciting characters, and possible clues around almost everyone and everything. The complex tale was woven through events past and present, with a possible supernatural bend to it that I loved. These characters felt three-dimensional, and the town a place I could easily envision. This is, in my opinion, one of the author's greatest strengths.
Enjoy your visit to Clear Springs!
Recommended.
January 8, 2022
I had to make myself listen for over three hours hoping it would get better but...nope
Not as good as its said to be.
Not as good as its said to be.
February 21, 2020
My review of DRAGONFLY SUMMER can be found at High Fever Books.
J.H. Moncrieff may be best known for her horror works, like her recently released Those Who Came Before or her Ural Mountains creature-feature, Return to Dyatlov Pass, but as her Audible Original Dragonfly Summer proves, she’s more than adept at tackling a straight-up murder mystery.
When she was a teenager, one of Jo Carter’s best friends was murdered. Now, thirty years later, she receives a strange newspaper clipping and news of another friend’s death that urges to return home to Clear Springs, MN. Although Amanda has died in a tragic car accident, it has never been entirely clear what happened to Samantha when they were children. After a series of strange occurrences, and the discovery that Amanda had been investigating Samantha’s disappearance and presumed death, Jo, a former newspaper reporter and war correspondent, is determined to get to the bottom of things and find out the truth about what happened to Samantha.
Dragonfly Summer is positively loaded with plenty of intrigue, small-town mysteries, false leads, and red herrings. Moncrieff layers the story with question after question, leading listeners down a rabbit hole of discoveries that constantly provoke further questions. She also injects a few light supernatural elements into the proceedings, adding yet another level of mystery to the proceedings. Her protagonist, Jo, is nearly every bit a mystery herself as Samantha’s cold case, given her strange, broken memory. Jo had vowed never to return to Clear Springs, although she can’t quite remember why, and the two girls she had been so close to as a teen are people she barely remembers now. Whatever she had done as a young woman, though, has earned her the ire of several Clear Springs residents, and she’s met with hostility at several turns. This is further compounded by other oddities, like the strange notes and packages being left for her.
Worse, still, is the revelation that there are a surprisingly large number of suspects that would or could have potentially caused harm to Samantha, and the investigation into the girl’s death or disappearance has put Jo in the crosshairs of a killer hellbent on keeping the truth buried.
Moncrieff does a fantastic job building suspense throughout the course of Jo’s investigation, slowly pulling back the curtains to reveal the various tragedies that have befallen this small town and those left behind in the wake of whatever it was that ultimately happened to Samantha. The author lines up a number of plausible connections and red flags, peppering in a decent amount of action and hairpin thrills that keep you guessing. This is a solidly crafted whodunit, and Moncrieff seemingly effortlessly keeps the reader engaged and curious.
On narration duties is Natalie Gold, a new-to-me performer, who does an excellent job keeping the book moving and capturing the sense of confusion, loss, bullheadedness, and occasional wonder exhibited by Jo in her quest for answers. Jo’s a strong woman, and having formerly covered the Syrian civil war right from the frontlines, she’s not easily rattled. Gold does a great job capturing her sense of character, making her a familiar presence to the listener, while Moncrieff’s words show she’s not a woman to be trifled with, either. Between the author and narrator, Jo really comes alive as a fully-realized, three-dimensional heroine.
Dragonfly Summer is a deft, surprising, and captivating audio-only mystery, and Gold makes for a perfect reader of Moncrieff’s prose. While this story works perfectly as a standalone one-and-done story, I certainly wouldn’t mind reading another Jo Carter mystery, and I’m certainly one hundred percent all-in on another J.H. Moncrieff Audible Original.
J.H. Moncrieff may be best known for her horror works, like her recently released Those Who Came Before or her Ural Mountains creature-feature, Return to Dyatlov Pass, but as her Audible Original Dragonfly Summer proves, she’s more than adept at tackling a straight-up murder mystery.
When she was a teenager, one of Jo Carter’s best friends was murdered. Now, thirty years later, she receives a strange newspaper clipping and news of another friend’s death that urges to return home to Clear Springs, MN. Although Amanda has died in a tragic car accident, it has never been entirely clear what happened to Samantha when they were children. After a series of strange occurrences, and the discovery that Amanda had been investigating Samantha’s disappearance and presumed death, Jo, a former newspaper reporter and war correspondent, is determined to get to the bottom of things and find out the truth about what happened to Samantha.
Dragonfly Summer is positively loaded with plenty of intrigue, small-town mysteries, false leads, and red herrings. Moncrieff layers the story with question after question, leading listeners down a rabbit hole of discoveries that constantly provoke further questions. She also injects a few light supernatural elements into the proceedings, adding yet another level of mystery to the proceedings. Her protagonist, Jo, is nearly every bit a mystery herself as Samantha’s cold case, given her strange, broken memory. Jo had vowed never to return to Clear Springs, although she can’t quite remember why, and the two girls she had been so close to as a teen are people she barely remembers now. Whatever she had done as a young woman, though, has earned her the ire of several Clear Springs residents, and she’s met with hostility at several turns. This is further compounded by other oddities, like the strange notes and packages being left for her.
Worse, still, is the revelation that there are a surprisingly large number of suspects that would or could have potentially caused harm to Samantha, and the investigation into the girl’s death or disappearance has put Jo in the crosshairs of a killer hellbent on keeping the truth buried.
Moncrieff does a fantastic job building suspense throughout the course of Jo’s investigation, slowly pulling back the curtains to reveal the various tragedies that have befallen this small town and those left behind in the wake of whatever it was that ultimately happened to Samantha. The author lines up a number of plausible connections and red flags, peppering in a decent amount of action and hairpin thrills that keep you guessing. This is a solidly crafted whodunit, and Moncrieff seemingly effortlessly keeps the reader engaged and curious.
On narration duties is Natalie Gold, a new-to-me performer, who does an excellent job keeping the book moving and capturing the sense of confusion, loss, bullheadedness, and occasional wonder exhibited by Jo in her quest for answers. Jo’s a strong woman, and having formerly covered the Syrian civil war right from the frontlines, she’s not easily rattled. Gold does a great job capturing her sense of character, making her a familiar presence to the listener, while Moncrieff’s words show she’s not a woman to be trifled with, either. Between the author and narrator, Jo really comes alive as a fully-realized, three-dimensional heroine.
Dragonfly Summer is a deft, surprising, and captivating audio-only mystery, and Gold makes for a perfect reader of Moncrieff’s prose. While this story works perfectly as a standalone one-and-done story, I certainly wouldn’t mind reading another Jo Carter mystery, and I’m certainly one hundred percent all-in on another J.H. Moncrieff Audible Original.
dnf
July 5, 2021
October 26, 2022
Huge massive thanks to J.H. Moncrieff, Flametree Press and Netgalley for sending me a digital ARC of this one!
Originally released as an audible only release back in 2020, fans of Moncrieff were elated when this was announced as coming in November in physical form! As a massive fan of her work, I’m always excited to see what she’s creating and knowing that this one was partially inspired by a real-life moment from her youth, I knew this one would be filled with emotions. The other thing that I was curious about – Moncrieff and myself both come from small-towns (at opposite ends of the same province) but we both share similar feelings towards ever returning to those places.
What I liked: The story follows Jo Carter, who, after receiving some odd bits of mail regarding her high school best friend, Sam, who disappeared mysteriously around grad, returns to her hometown. A town she vowed she’d never return too, but is now determined to get to the bottom of what happened to her friend.
Moncrieff does a wonderful job of showcasing just how claustrophobic and intermingled these small towns can be, and how interwoven appearances and justice are. Money and subsequently status associated with money play a prominent role and as Carter begins to discover little bits and pieces, we see that rear up.
Moncrieff also does a pointed, spot-on job of showing how those who typical remain behind can end up bitter, jaded and outwardly aggressive to those who return. This not only begins to create issues for Carter, but it also begins to highlight Carter’s memory struggles, which move the story along really well and help to heighten the chaos that is continuously happening.
The ending is messy, complicated and worked really well to show just how much each person involved had to bury for so many years to keep their stories straight.
What I didn’t like: When taken as a whole, there are a number of ‘tells’ throughout that give away the ‘who’ as you go on. Fear not, that only pushes Moncrieff to try and deflect and distract more often, which gives us some other clues to fill in the gaps.
As well, I think if someone hasn’t experienced the frustrating aspects of small town life, they may find this to come off a ‘bit much,’ but trust me when I say – it is 100% accurate.
Why you should buy this: Fans of Moncrieff will know exactly what they’re in for – a solid, strong female lead, a mystery-wrapped-in-a-riddle and electrifying sequences that are tailor-made for the big screen. ‘Dragonfly Summer’ walks the line between her straight ahead horror novels and her Ghostwritten series and will make fans very happy!
Originally released as an audible only release back in 2020, fans of Moncrieff were elated when this was announced as coming in November in physical form! As a massive fan of her work, I’m always excited to see what she’s creating and knowing that this one was partially inspired by a real-life moment from her youth, I knew this one would be filled with emotions. The other thing that I was curious about – Moncrieff and myself both come from small-towns (at opposite ends of the same province) but we both share similar feelings towards ever returning to those places.
What I liked: The story follows Jo Carter, who, after receiving some odd bits of mail regarding her high school best friend, Sam, who disappeared mysteriously around grad, returns to her hometown. A town she vowed she’d never return too, but is now determined to get to the bottom of what happened to her friend.
Moncrieff does a wonderful job of showcasing just how claustrophobic and intermingled these small towns can be, and how interwoven appearances and justice are. Money and subsequently status associated with money play a prominent role and as Carter begins to discover little bits and pieces, we see that rear up.
Moncrieff also does a pointed, spot-on job of showing how those who typical remain behind can end up bitter, jaded and outwardly aggressive to those who return. This not only begins to create issues for Carter, but it also begins to highlight Carter’s memory struggles, which move the story along really well and help to heighten the chaos that is continuously happening.
The ending is messy, complicated and worked really well to show just how much each person involved had to bury for so many years to keep their stories straight.
What I didn’t like: When taken as a whole, there are a number of ‘tells’ throughout that give away the ‘who’ as you go on. Fear not, that only pushes Moncrieff to try and deflect and distract more often, which gives us some other clues to fill in the gaps.
As well, I think if someone hasn’t experienced the frustrating aspects of small town life, they may find this to come off a ‘bit much,’ but trust me when I say – it is 100% accurate.
Why you should buy this: Fans of Moncrieff will know exactly what they’re in for – a solid, strong female lead, a mystery-wrapped-in-a-riddle and electrifying sequences that are tailor-made for the big screen. ‘Dragonfly Summer’ walks the line between her straight ahead horror novels and her Ghostwritten series and will make fans very happy!
July 2, 2021
This was on sale at Audible so I thought I'd give it a try. I had just listened to Sun Down Motel, a very similar mystery. However Dragonfly Summer was a disappointment. The entire "mystery" is based on the main character's faulty memory and old journals in which teenage girls wrote about "him", "he" and "that person", never mentioning names - in their own personal, private journals! That's not a mystery. That's contrived and lazy. Also it was difficult to distinguish which character was speaking or who was reading something off a page because the narrator's intonations didn't really change. Very much the opposite of Sun Down Motel. Overall, this story was dull, dreary, and full of boring characters who were mostly unpleasant. I'm not sure if that was due to the narration. I couldn't root for any of them. The ending was unexpected, but far from mind-blowing.
March 5, 2020
Honestly i read some reviews and picked this book.. But to the surprise this book took me to the swirl of thrill and suspense. credits to the Narrator Natelie.
I am gonna pick a book of Natalie’s especially for her narration.
I am gonna pick a book of Natalie’s especially for her narration.
October 10, 2022
Actual rating 4.5
The main reason I applied this rating is due to feeling as though the blurb didn't fully prepare me for what I was about to read. I think I would have also benefited from a trigger warning, but I know some people don't like those.
This is an excellently scary book in so many ways; plus, I love when I don't figure everything out before the big reveal.
This author's talent for twisting a tale is more evident in this book than in any of her other stories, and I've read and admired all most all of them. This is probably the darkest tale I've read from the author, and that's taking The Restoration into account. This story is steeped in relatability even with its subtle paranormal elements. By the end of the story, it almost feels like the paranormal elements were slightly imagined which makes all the creepy stuff even more creepy. It's one thing for a ghost to haunt you and another for a real person to hunt you.
This is a very mature book, best for adults. The language and content may not be suitable for some teens but I always leave that up to individuals and their parents to determine. While there is some strong language, it serves a purpose. I don't want to give spoilers but...
Which I was not prepared to read. I almost gave the book a lower rating because of that, but ultimately, this is a really good book and an engaging story. I simply wish I had known what kind of content I'd encounter going in so it wouldn't have been so shocking to me. There are other strong and intense themes present throughout this book that may serve as triggering depictions to other readers such as domestic abuse and violence, abuse enabling, substance abuse, parental neglect, body shaming, slut shaming, obsessive behaviors, stalking, mental health, mental health treatment controversies, and intense apathy.
I had mixed feelings about the way in which one particular mental health treatment was depicted. It felt out of character for this author to pick such a strong one-sided approach. I was expecting there to be more debate or conflict about the validity of the treatment without there ever being a consensus as to whether the reader was supposed to be for or against it, but it seemed that the author wanted the reader to feel a very specific way about this treatment. It just seemed odd to me.
Lastly, I was a bit put off by the fact that I never really grew to like any of the characters in this book. I was starting to like the "jock" character (this is me trying not to give more spoilers) but based on how he reacted to what I wrote in the spoiler, I didn't really care for him either. Jo was ok, but not really someone I could imagine being long-term friends with. I think we could be good casual acquaintances.
Overall, if you like being scared, this is the book to read.
Highly recommended to adult readers of thriller and horror, strong female characters, and small-town mysteries. Be aware of triggering content.
The main reason I applied this rating is due to feeling as though the blurb didn't fully prepare me for what I was about to read. I think I would have also benefited from a trigger warning, but I know some people don't like those.
This is an excellently scary book in so many ways; plus, I love when I don't figure everything out before the big reveal.
This author's talent for twisting a tale is more evident in this book than in any of her other stories, and I've read and admired all most all of them. This is probably the darkest tale I've read from the author, and that's taking The Restoration into account. This story is steeped in relatability even with its subtle paranormal elements. By the end of the story, it almost feels like the paranormal elements were slightly imagined which makes all the creepy stuff even more creepy. It's one thing for a ghost to haunt you and another for a real person to hunt you.
This is a very mature book, best for adults. The language and content may not be suitable for some teens but I always leave that up to individuals and their parents to determine. While there is some strong language, it serves a purpose. I don't want to give spoilers but...
Which I was not prepared to read. I almost gave the book a lower rating because of that, but ultimately, this is a really good book and an engaging story. I simply wish I had known what kind of content I'd encounter going in so it wouldn't have been so shocking to me. There are other strong and intense themes present throughout this book that may serve as triggering depictions to other readers such as domestic abuse and violence, abuse enabling, substance abuse, parental neglect, body shaming, slut shaming, obsessive behaviors, stalking, mental health, mental health treatment controversies, and intense apathy.
I had mixed feelings about the way in which one particular mental health treatment was depicted. It felt out of character for this author to pick such a strong one-sided approach. I was expecting there to be more debate or conflict about the validity of the treatment without there ever being a consensus as to whether the reader was supposed to be for or against it, but it seemed that the author wanted the reader to feel a very specific way about this treatment. It just seemed odd to me.
Lastly, I was a bit put off by the fact that I never really grew to like any of the characters in this book. I was starting to like the "jock" character (this is me trying not to give more spoilers) but based on how he reacted to what I wrote in the spoiler, I didn't really care for him either. Jo was ok, but not really someone I could imagine being long-term friends with. I think we could be good casual acquaintances.
Overall, if you like being scared, this is the book to read.
Highly recommended to adult readers of thriller and horror, strong female characters, and small-town mysteries. Be aware of triggering content.
January 7, 2023
3.5/5
You definitely need to check trigger warnings before reading this as some of it is quite graphic.
Jo was an amazing character and the fact that we were learning along with her as she discovered things made it feel like we were part of the story.
It was scary and disturbing but intriguing and thrilling. I was surprised and shocked by some of the twists and turns of this book. However I did guess quite a few of the big plot twists (I’m not rating it down bc of this as I tend to do this quite a lot with books)
The writing was okay but some of it wasn’t great (this is the main reason for rating it down) and the way the author told this story was difficult to follow in places.
Despite all of this I still enjoyed it and if you enjoy crime/thriller books then you will probably still really enjoy this.
I do wish that the ending had not included the epilogue but it was still good.
You definitely need to check trigger warnings before reading this as some of it is quite graphic.
Jo was an amazing character and the fact that we were learning along with her as she discovered things made it feel like we were part of the story.
It was scary and disturbing but intriguing and thrilling. I was surprised and shocked by some of the twists and turns of this book. However I did guess quite a few of the big plot twists (I’m not rating it down bc of this as I tend to do this quite a lot with books)
The writing was okay but some of it wasn’t great (this is the main reason for rating it down) and the way the author told this story was difficult to follow in places.
Despite all of this I still enjoyed it and if you enjoy crime/thriller books then you will probably still really enjoy this.
I do wish that the ending had not included the epilogue but it was still good.
November 18, 2022
The story:
Just before her graduation, honor student Samantha Kennedy went missing. The only suspect at the time was boyfriend Doug Flaherty, who was released without charge.
Jo Carter escaped the small town of Clear Springs for New York as soon as she could, leaving her unhappy childhood and cruel father, but also her friends, behind. But now an anonymous message has drawn her back, and Jo is determined to uncover the truth behind her best friend’s disappearance.
But without being able to trust her own memory, how can Jo get to the bottom of events that happened 27 years ago? And will the secrets she uncovers be worth the risk?
My thoughts:
I read "Dragonfly Summer" by JH Moncrieff in just a few sittings, and this twisty, fast-paced thriller gives just the right balance of plot and excitement!
Jo's childhood home of Clear Springs, a small town in Minnesota, is the perfect setting for the mystery of Sam's disappearance to play out. Everyone knows everyone else, and they all seem to have secrets to hide. That is apart from Jo, whose memory loss means she's discovering the town's hidden past along with the rest of us.
Jo is a tenacious and likeable character, drawn back to her childhood home even though she hates it, to try and find out what happened to her friend. And there are plenty of suspects to consider! From Sam's creepy younger brother, to her aloof and unhelpful father, to ex-boyfriend Doug, there’s no shortage of motives for Jo to try and unearth. But the biggest questions of all are — is Sam really dead, and if so, how can she be sending messages to Jo?
The story has supernatural elements to it, but nothing that couldn’t be explained so it is left up to the reader to decide… Spooky stuff! I would recommend this book to all fans of psychological thrillers where small towns hide big secrets. I'll be looking out for more of JH Moncrieff's books to fill the dark winter nights!
Just before her graduation, honor student Samantha Kennedy went missing. The only suspect at the time was boyfriend Doug Flaherty, who was released without charge.
Jo Carter escaped the small town of Clear Springs for New York as soon as she could, leaving her unhappy childhood and cruel father, but also her friends, behind. But now an anonymous message has drawn her back, and Jo is determined to uncover the truth behind her best friend’s disappearance.
But without being able to trust her own memory, how can Jo get to the bottom of events that happened 27 years ago? And will the secrets she uncovers be worth the risk?
My thoughts:
I read "Dragonfly Summer" by JH Moncrieff in just a few sittings, and this twisty, fast-paced thriller gives just the right balance of plot and excitement!
Jo's childhood home of Clear Springs, a small town in Minnesota, is the perfect setting for the mystery of Sam's disappearance to play out. Everyone knows everyone else, and they all seem to have secrets to hide. That is apart from Jo, whose memory loss means she's discovering the town's hidden past along with the rest of us.
Jo is a tenacious and likeable character, drawn back to her childhood home even though she hates it, to try and find out what happened to her friend. And there are plenty of suspects to consider! From Sam's creepy younger brother, to her aloof and unhelpful father, to ex-boyfriend Doug, there’s no shortage of motives for Jo to try and unearth. But the biggest questions of all are — is Sam really dead, and if so, how can she be sending messages to Jo?
The story has supernatural elements to it, but nothing that couldn’t be explained so it is left up to the reader to decide… Spooky stuff! I would recommend this book to all fans of psychological thrillers where small towns hide big secrets. I'll be looking out for more of JH Moncrieff's books to fill the dark winter nights!
June 1, 2022
CW: Rape, incest
I’m giving this three stars because, as an audiobook, it did keep me interested. But it’s a low three. There’s a lot of ridiculous stuff trying to prop up this weak plot.
Our heroine, Jo, returns to visit her small town in Minnesota after almost 30 years to find out what happened to her best friend. It took her that long to get curious because she has massive amnesia…for reasons…and forgot all about her friend until she got a mysterious clipping in the mail.
So I don’t want to dive too deep into spoiler territory, so I will just say…
1. Things don’t work that way!
2. Jo is so stupid that she couldn’t find her way out of a paper bag if Captain Obvious gave her a map and a GPS.
Beyond the spoilery plot stuff, there was just enough nonsensical nit picky stuff to kill my willing suspension of disbelief.
One scene has the heroine walking in to her local hospital to get her medical records from 27 years before. The receptionist turns out to be her nurse from all those years ago, who happily provides the records on the spot, explaining that tech savvy “candy stripers” scanned them all in! As someone who has worked in the medical field for decades, let me tell you…nothing about that scene makes sense.
Another example, the author mentions several times how chilly it’s getting as the season changes to fall. And also frequently mentions bugs, including fireflies, and the heroine wishing for DEET. So which is it? Fireflies or autumn weather?
Maybe you don’t care about the details and you just want to know, is it a good mystery? My answer would be…it’s not terrible. I mean, it kept my interest enough for a three star rating. But it’s not particularly compelling either.
My final complaints:
1. Is this a gritty suspense tale or a feel good chick lit? Cause I felt like it dabbled in both, but if it was more chick lit, the rape scenes were a bit graphic, perhaps gratuitously so.
2. Really awkward paranormal insert…just didn’t work for me.
Welp, summing up, I actually kind of enjoyed this one, while simultaneously rolling my eyes about everything that didn’t gel for me. So I guess it’s worth a read/listen if it sounds appealing.
I’m giving this three stars because, as an audiobook, it did keep me interested. But it’s a low three. There’s a lot of ridiculous stuff trying to prop up this weak plot.
Our heroine, Jo, returns to visit her small town in Minnesota after almost 30 years to find out what happened to her best friend. It took her that long to get curious because she has massive amnesia…for reasons…and forgot all about her friend until she got a mysterious clipping in the mail.
So I don’t want to dive too deep into spoiler territory, so I will just say…
1. Things don’t work that way!
2. Jo is so stupid that she couldn’t find her way out of a paper bag if Captain Obvious gave her a map and a GPS.
Beyond the spoilery plot stuff, there was just enough nonsensical nit picky stuff to kill my willing suspension of disbelief.
One scene has the heroine walking in to her local hospital to get her medical records from 27 years before. The receptionist turns out to be her nurse from all those years ago, who happily provides the records on the spot, explaining that tech savvy “candy stripers” scanned them all in! As someone who has worked in the medical field for decades, let me tell you…nothing about that scene makes sense.
Another example, the author mentions several times how chilly it’s getting as the season changes to fall. And also frequently mentions bugs, including fireflies, and the heroine wishing for DEET. So which is it? Fireflies or autumn weather?
Maybe you don’t care about the details and you just want to know, is it a good mystery? My answer would be…it’s not terrible. I mean, it kept my interest enough for a three star rating. But it’s not particularly compelling either.
My final complaints:
1. Is this a gritty suspense tale or a feel good chick lit? Cause I felt like it dabbled in both, but if it was more chick lit, the rape scenes were a bit graphic, perhaps gratuitously so.
2. Really awkward paranormal insert…just didn’t work for me.
Welp, summing up, I actually kind of enjoyed this one, while simultaneously rolling my eyes about everything that didn’t gel for me. So I guess it’s worth a read/listen if it sounds appealing.
June 17, 2023
There is something about summer that makes me want to read all the beach books.
Late last night after my third fight with the pillow and snoring husband I gave up and started scrolling . I was too tired to research but too awake to sleep so I was just going to pick a book based on a cover ….
Dragonfly Summer
By: JH Moncrieff
This was an easy read that I flew through in just a couple of hours . This book is under 300 pages and gets straight to the point. No repetitiveness or corny dialog. The twist was just enough to give you a gasp and the characters were the perfect blend of likable and unlikable.
Teaser :
Dragonfly Summer is a gripping thriller that asks: What happens when the past comes back to haunt you? Jo Carter never thought she'd return to Clear Springs, Minnesota. But when the former journalist receives a cryptic note about the disappearance of her friend Sam twenty years before, she's compelled to find out what really happened. During her investigation, she learns another high school friend has died in a mysterious accident. Nothing is as it seems, and Jo must probe Clear Springs' darkest corners and her own painful and unreliable memories to discover the truth - and save herself from the killer who could still be on the hunt. Deliciously twisty and suspenseful from the first minute to the last, Dragonfly Summer proves that no small town’s secrets can stay buried for good.
Late last night after my third fight with the pillow and snoring husband I gave up and started scrolling . I was too tired to research but too awake to sleep so I was just going to pick a book based on a cover ….
Dragonfly Summer
By: JH Moncrieff
This was an easy read that I flew through in just a couple of hours . This book is under 300 pages and gets straight to the point. No repetitiveness or corny dialog. The twist was just enough to give you a gasp and the characters were the perfect blend of likable and unlikable.
Teaser :
Dragonfly Summer is a gripping thriller that asks: What happens when the past comes back to haunt you? Jo Carter never thought she'd return to Clear Springs, Minnesota. But when the former journalist receives a cryptic note about the disappearance of her friend Sam twenty years before, she's compelled to find out what really happened. During her investigation, she learns another high school friend has died in a mysterious accident. Nothing is as it seems, and Jo must probe Clear Springs' darkest corners and her own painful and unreliable memories to discover the truth - and save herself from the killer who could still be on the hunt. Deliciously twisty and suspenseful from the first minute to the last, Dragonfly Summer proves that no small town’s secrets can stay buried for good.
March 2, 2023
I really enjoy J.H. Moncrieff's books and was excited about this one!
Jo is a strong female character - I think the only thing that really confused me here was her work background, it just didn't seem to fit in or really be relevant.
I enjoyed the whodunit and actually didn't expect the big reveal at the end! I liked all the characters, Doug seems like a big ol' sweetheart with terrible luck. Amanda was just tragic.
I gave this 4/5 because I wish there was a content/trigger warning for the very explicit and graphic rape scenes, I felt the amount of detail given to the sexual abuse was way too much in relation to the rest of the writing. Having said all that if you are into crime, thriller or mystery then I still think you would enjoy this!
Jo is a strong female character - I think the only thing that really confused me here was her work background, it just didn't seem to fit in or really be relevant.
I enjoyed the whodunit and actually didn't expect the big reveal at the end! I liked all the characters, Doug seems like a big ol' sweetheart with terrible luck. Amanda was just tragic.
I gave this 4/5 because I wish there was a content/trigger warning for the very explicit and graphic rape scenes, I felt the amount of detail given to the sexual abuse was way too much in relation to the rest of the writing. Having said all that if you are into crime, thriller or mystery then I still think you would enjoy this!
November 15, 2022
4.5 ⭐️ rounded off to 5
🏡 “YOU COULD’NT GO HOME AGAIN, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT HAD NEVER BEEN HOME IN THE FIRST PLACE.”
🏡 Without giving away any spoilers the story follows Jo Carter, the former journalist who receives a mysterious note about the disappearance of her best friend Sam twenty years before. She travels to her hometown Clear Springs to find out what actually happened on the night of Sam’s disappearance. During her investigation she finds out that her other friend Amanda had died too in mysterious way. Will Jo be able to uncover the truth?
🏡 Pick this up if you like/don’t mind:
📌 small town setting
📌 fast paced plot
📌 mystery behind disappearance of a girl
📌 strong female protagonist with memory loss
📌 whodunnit vibes
📌 paranormal and creepy vibes
📌 unexpected turns and twists
📌 reading past bed time 🛌
📌 finding it hard to stop reading and pausing your daily activities so you can read one more chapter. ( guilty of doing this 😭 )
📌 losing your brain cells trying to figure out the mystery. ( yeah I have read many mysteries and I was able to predict few things but rest came as a total surprise )
📌 rushed ending
⚠️ TW: rape, domestic abuse, mental health.
🏡 I have seen quite mixed reviews about this one but I was totally blown away by the book. This was a real page turner that kept me on the edge of my seat. Though I was eager to uncover the mystery but I never wanted the book to end either. Highly recommended. 👍 Thanks 🙏 to the author for the ebook in exchange of an honest review.
🏡 “YOU COULD’NT GO HOME AGAIN, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT HAD NEVER BEEN HOME IN THE FIRST PLACE.”
🏡 Without giving away any spoilers the story follows Jo Carter, the former journalist who receives a mysterious note about the disappearance of her best friend Sam twenty years before. She travels to her hometown Clear Springs to find out what actually happened on the night of Sam’s disappearance. During her investigation she finds out that her other friend Amanda had died too in mysterious way. Will Jo be able to uncover the truth?
🏡 Pick this up if you like/don’t mind:
📌 small town setting
📌 fast paced plot
📌 mystery behind disappearance of a girl
📌 strong female protagonist with memory loss
📌 whodunnit vibes
📌 paranormal and creepy vibes
📌 unexpected turns and twists
📌 reading past bed time 🛌
📌 finding it hard to stop reading and pausing your daily activities so you can read one more chapter. ( guilty of doing this 😭 )
📌 losing your brain cells trying to figure out the mystery. ( yeah I have read many mysteries and I was able to predict few things but rest came as a total surprise )
📌 rushed ending
⚠️ TW: rape, domestic abuse, mental health.
🏡 I have seen quite mixed reviews about this one but I was totally blown away by the book. This was a real page turner that kept me on the edge of my seat. Though I was eager to uncover the mystery but I never wanted the book to end either. Highly recommended. 👍 Thanks 🙏 to the author for the ebook in exchange of an honest review.
February 28, 2020
When Jo receives a message in the mail dredging up a tragedy that devastated her senior year in high school, she returns to her childhood home to find out what really happened to her friend Sam. Not everyone feels a happy reunion at her reappearance, nor her prying into the lives of her former friends and their parents. Moncrieff has crafted a thriller that keeps you listening well past your bedtime. Natalie Gold is an excellent narrator of this gripping tale. (This is an Audible original.)
October 23, 2022
Good murder mystery thriller dealing with past relationships, old friends, memory (& loss of memory) which provides an interesting angle to the story. Plot & pacing kept you reading and the ending worked well. Characters were drawn well and they fit in nicely with the story. However I found Jo a little too reactionary at times, leading her to jump to the wrong conclusion about people and situations. And for me that detracted from the reading.
3.5 stars.
3.5 stars.
October 23, 2022
Good murder mystery thriller dealing with past relationships, old friends, memory (& loss of memory) which provides an interesting angle to the story. Plot & pacing kept you reading and the ending worked well. Characters were drawn well and they fit in nicely with the story. However I found Jo a little too reactionary at times, leading her to jump to the wrong conclusion about people and situations. And for me that detracted from the reading.
3.5 stars.
3.5 stars.
November 18, 2022
Just when I thought I had solved the mystery, the author threw in another unexpected twist. I love books that keep you guessing and this is a great example. Twenty seven years ago, Jo Carter left Clear Springs because something momentous and awful happened there. Now she's back, in search of answers. Who killed her best friend? Why has no one ever been caught? The deeper she delves the more questions arise and, in among the mystery, there is something supernatural. The ghosts of the past.
Thriller, suspense, mystery and crime combine in this dark fiction novel that I would recommend to anyone who enjoys a compulsive read with strong plot, setting and characters. JH Moncrieff certainly knows how to write stories you don't want to put down. This is one of her best.
Thriller, suspense, mystery and crime combine in this dark fiction novel that I would recommend to anyone who enjoys a compulsive read with strong plot, setting and characters. JH Moncrieff certainly knows how to write stories you don't want to put down. This is one of her best.
August 4, 2022
I'm familiar with some of J.H. Moncrieff's horror books and enjoyed everything I've read by this author so far. If you're into supernatural/horror novellas, definitely check out her other work! In any case, Dragonfly Summer is proof that Moncrieff is capable of writing a suspenseful mystery as well.
In this book we're following Jo Carter, who returns to her small Minnesota hometown after receiving a series of strange messages. While she was in high school, one of her friends disappeared mysteriously, and now her other friend seems to have died in similarly strange circumstances.
Now Jo is determined to find out what exactly happened in the town of Clear Springs, even though she seems to have little to no memories about her own life before graduation and is unsure about her own involvement in the events. If she didn't have anything to do with it, then why would she be met with such suspicion?
I really liked Jo as a main character: giving up is not part of her vocabulary and she doesn't shy away from a challenge or a dangerous situation. Just like we expect from a story written by J.H. Moncrieff, the female characters are courageous and fearless women.
The story itself is very fast-paced and will keep you guessing until the very last chapter. If you're looking for a slow burn mystery - look elsewhere, because this isn't it. Just like Jo, the reader doesn't have a clue who is genuine and which characters are playing mind games on her. I would fully trust a certain character, only to put them at the top of my 'distrust list' a few pages later.
It was fun to slowly gather all the pieces of information and unravel the truth along with Jo - this makes the book very engaging in my opinion.
The dialogue in Dragonfly Summer is weaved in between page-turning, suspenseful scenes. I really flew through the action scenes, they were written so well! The balance between high-speed action and slower small town drama and gossip was done exactly right.
The only thing that kept me from rating this book 5 stars is that I wasn't entirely on board with how Jo's memory loss was used by the author. Having a character remember next to nothing about her past might be a little bit too convenient...
But don't let this deter you from reading this book. It's the perfect story to get you out of that reading slump if you're into small town drama, intrigue and action-packed mystery.
A huge thank you to the author and Flame Tree Press for providing the e-arc in exchange for an honest review!
In this book we're following Jo Carter, who returns to her small Minnesota hometown after receiving a series of strange messages. While she was in high school, one of her friends disappeared mysteriously, and now her other friend seems to have died in similarly strange circumstances.
Now Jo is determined to find out what exactly happened in the town of Clear Springs, even though she seems to have little to no memories about her own life before graduation and is unsure about her own involvement in the events. If she didn't have anything to do with it, then why would she be met with such suspicion?
I really liked Jo as a main character: giving up is not part of her vocabulary and she doesn't shy away from a challenge or a dangerous situation. Just like we expect from a story written by J.H. Moncrieff, the female characters are courageous and fearless women.
The story itself is very fast-paced and will keep you guessing until the very last chapter. If you're looking for a slow burn mystery - look elsewhere, because this isn't it. Just like Jo, the reader doesn't have a clue who is genuine and which characters are playing mind games on her. I would fully trust a certain character, only to put them at the top of my 'distrust list' a few pages later.
It was fun to slowly gather all the pieces of information and unravel the truth along with Jo - this makes the book very engaging in my opinion.
The dialogue in Dragonfly Summer is weaved in between page-turning, suspenseful scenes. I really flew through the action scenes, they were written so well! The balance between high-speed action and slower small town drama and gossip was done exactly right.
The only thing that kept me from rating this book 5 stars is that I wasn't entirely on board with how Jo's memory loss was used by the author. Having a character remember next to nothing about her past might be a little bit too convenient...
But don't let this deter you from reading this book. It's the perfect story to get you out of that reading slump if you're into small town drama, intrigue and action-packed mystery.
A huge thank you to the author and Flame Tree Press for providing the e-arc in exchange for an honest review!
March 30, 2020
This well-constructed mystery will keep you guessing. There are enough suspects and red herrings to sink your teeth into; and the fact that multiple crimes, both past and present, may or may not be connected is an added bonus to the mix. In the end, most of the questions I had while reading were answered, which is usually a good thing. And the final pages surprised me enough to make for a satisfying payoff. If you enjoy suspense with a sprinkling of the paranormal (just the right amount of ghost-y stuff—yay!), this book is for you.
Overall, Moncrieff weaves in some subtle themes. One of these is our connection to the past. A profound question: how accurate are our memories, especially if they’re steeped in trauma? While Jo pokes around her hometown, her friends and their families struggle to piece together their recollections—or bury these recollections as deep as they can. As a result, we (along with Jo) sift through fact and fiction, all the while wondering if any of characters, including Jo, are the same person as they were back then. In fact, this read explores the idea of our history and how it connects to our identity and sense of self. I love that Jo grapples with all of this. Plenty of juicy fodder surfaces in the plot along these lines.
Jo’s experiences, thoughts, and feelings are extremely realistic throughout. I really appreciated her breaking from the stereotypical gender role and coming to grips with that. (Perhaps another subtle theme, methinks.) In her middle-ish age, she hasn’t married nor had any kids. At one point another character even questions Jo’s sexuality because of this. At another point in the story, her being single leads to in an extremely awkward situation with one of her male friends. It’s through these aspects of the book where we see Moncrieff’s knack for making the cast of characters come to life. They are so believable and relatable, partly because each of them is so gloriously flawed. I think that’s truly what makes this novel shine.
Catch this page-turner on Audible. It’s sure to engross you. You might even start seeing some dragonflies in your midst, if you’re lucky…
Overall, Moncrieff weaves in some subtle themes. One of these is our connection to the past. A profound question: how accurate are our memories, especially if they’re steeped in trauma? While Jo pokes around her hometown, her friends and their families struggle to piece together their recollections—or bury these recollections as deep as they can. As a result, we (along with Jo) sift through fact and fiction, all the while wondering if any of characters, including Jo, are the same person as they were back then. In fact, this read explores the idea of our history and how it connects to our identity and sense of self. I love that Jo grapples with all of this. Plenty of juicy fodder surfaces in the plot along these lines.
Jo’s experiences, thoughts, and feelings are extremely realistic throughout. I really appreciated her breaking from the stereotypical gender role and coming to grips with that. (Perhaps another subtle theme, methinks.) In her middle-ish age, she hasn’t married nor had any kids. At one point another character even questions Jo’s sexuality because of this. At another point in the story, her being single leads to in an extremely awkward situation with one of her male friends. It’s through these aspects of the book where we see Moncrieff’s knack for making the cast of characters come to life. They are so believable and relatable, partly because each of them is so gloriously flawed. I think that’s truly what makes this novel shine.
Catch this page-turner on Audible. It’s sure to engross you. You might even start seeing some dragonflies in your midst, if you’re lucky…
August 22, 2022
My first taste of J.H. Moncrieff was when her novella THE BEAR WHO WOULDN’T LEAVE was recommended to me by a well respected friend. I absolutely loved it. Since then, I’ve read a number of her books, and have never been disappointed.
So when I heard she had another coming out called DRAGONFLY SUMMER, I had to get a copy. Full disclosure, this is one of the few times I sought out a book based on it’s title and cover; without even checking what it was about. Look, I love dragonflies - that’s not a crime; is it?
Anyway, I’m very glad I did - and thanks to Sarah Miniaci for contacting me with an offer to receive an ARC for a review! It was very unexpected, and a welcome surprise. I’m just sorry it took so long for me to finish the book, and get this review written; I was actually in the process of reading two other books for “slush pile” review.
But finish it I did, and here’s my review - without the typical rehash of the story (which, I’ve been known to do once or twice).
Let me start with, while Ms. Moncrieff is typically known for horror, she removes that hat to put on her deerstalker and take on the murder mystery genre. And she does so with finesse; throwing in some serious intrigue, a lot of false leads, along with a helping of some red herrings. I have to say, with mystery not being my “go to” genre, I did find myself pulled in, with my smacking my head more than once saying, “Dummy, how didn’t you see that coming?”
Of course, she couldn’t completely give up her horror roots, so she adds a little sprinkling of a supernatural element to the mix.
I’ve seen a lot of reviews panning the book for poor story, criticizing her descriptions of certain things (trying to keep this spoiler free), or the typical, “That’s not how works”. Look, it’s called FICTION. Writers take liberties all the time - if you are looking for things to be exact, get a text book or a medical journal. Enjoy a story for what it is - a story.
I would say that DRAGONFLY SUMMER is more of a YA novel (not sure how it’s going to be marketed), but if you are looking for a fun, and quick read, that will have you guessing, you can’t go wrong with this one.
So when I heard she had another coming out called DRAGONFLY SUMMER, I had to get a copy. Full disclosure, this is one of the few times I sought out a book based on it’s title and cover; without even checking what it was about. Look, I love dragonflies - that’s not a crime; is it?
Anyway, I’m very glad I did - and thanks to Sarah Miniaci for contacting me with an offer to receive an ARC for a review! It was very unexpected, and a welcome surprise. I’m just sorry it took so long for me to finish the book, and get this review written; I was actually in the process of reading two other books for “slush pile” review.
But finish it I did, and here’s my review - without the typical rehash of the story (which, I’ve been known to do once or twice).
Let me start with, while Ms. Moncrieff is typically known for horror, she removes that hat to put on her deerstalker and take on the murder mystery genre. And she does so with finesse; throwing in some serious intrigue, a lot of false leads, along with a helping of some red herrings. I have to say, with mystery not being my “go to” genre, I did find myself pulled in, with my smacking my head more than once saying, “Dummy, how didn’t you see that coming?”
Of course, she couldn’t completely give up her horror roots, so she adds a little sprinkling of a supernatural element to the mix.
I’ve seen a lot of reviews panning the book for poor story, criticizing her descriptions of certain things (trying to keep this spoiler free), or the typical, “That’s not how works”. Look, it’s called FICTION. Writers take liberties all the time - if you are looking for things to be exact, get a text book or a medical journal. Enjoy a story for what it is - a story.
I would say that DRAGONFLY SUMMER is more of a YA novel (not sure how it’s going to be marketed), but if you are looking for a fun, and quick read, that will have you guessing, you can’t go wrong with this one.
February 15, 2020
They say you can’t go home but that’s not always true. It’s just sometimes not recommended, depending on what you left behind at home and what parts of your past will be there to greet you. This story was full of aching history, mysteries galore and many lives impacted by a singular tragedy that took place years ago. The narration was impeccable and the narrator managed to convey emotion and varying voices in a subtle and brilliant way. It gave personality and faces to the characters. I’m a fan of Moncrieff already but this shows how diverse her talent is and how capable she is of writing deeply emotional stories that seep inside your bones.
June 28, 2021
I had a few days until a new audible credit so I decided to buy this book. The writing is lazy and the « mystery » very easy to guess. Even as a filler this book was disappointing.
January 27, 2022
Contrived, predictable, and not worth the time
March 16, 2022
Tears. I loved it! Had some big issues and by the end i was close to calling this 3 stars, but the ending gave it the final push
Read
June 4, 2022Some bad writing, mediocre story
November 26, 2022
This book was not at all what I expected from reading the blurb. I love it when this happens. I love it when a book takes you completely by surprise and whisks you off in a totally different direction than the one you were expecting it to go. It’s like being on one of those switch-track rollercoaster that suddenly take your breath away and make you squeal with a combination of delight and fear. I can’t think of a better way to describe this book, actually. A mixture of delight and fear.
It’s going to be hard to explain exactly why this book is so surprising without giving away the very things that make it so. Suffice it to say that I started out believing this was going to be a fairly ordinary, psychological thriller and it is anything but. It goes to unexpected places and makes you feel unexpected things and it had an unexpected ending. Unexpected is good. I like to be surprised and befuddled and caught out when I’m reading a book. It is what makes a book compelling and makes you want to read on and on to find out what happens. This book is very compelling and hard to put down. If you are looking for something gripping, prepare to be gripped.
The main character in this book is fascinating, both in who she is and what has happened to her (of course, one of those things informs the other, as you would expect.) I enjoyed the claustrophobic, small town setting, the feeling of your past coming back to haunt you and resolving trauma from your youth. But it is the unexpected aspect of this book that really make sit stand out, which is why it’s such a shame I can tell you about them. You’ll just have to take my word for it, I’m afraid!
I went into this book with no great anticipation of what was to come, but I was taken on a thrilling journey that terrified, entertained and enthralled me all at once. It is one of those books that comes out of nowhere and makes itself memorable. It’s one of those books that I would probably never have come across if it weren’t for blogging, but boy am I glad I did. If I manage to bring it to the attention of some other person who might not have read it otherwise and who enjoys it as much as I did – well, that’s why I blog. For books like this.
It’s going to be hard to explain exactly why this book is so surprising without giving away the very things that make it so. Suffice it to say that I started out believing this was going to be a fairly ordinary, psychological thriller and it is anything but. It goes to unexpected places and makes you feel unexpected things and it had an unexpected ending. Unexpected is good. I like to be surprised and befuddled and caught out when I’m reading a book. It is what makes a book compelling and makes you want to read on and on to find out what happens. This book is very compelling and hard to put down. If you are looking for something gripping, prepare to be gripped.
The main character in this book is fascinating, both in who she is and what has happened to her (of course, one of those things informs the other, as you would expect.) I enjoyed the claustrophobic, small town setting, the feeling of your past coming back to haunt you and resolving trauma from your youth. But it is the unexpected aspect of this book that really make sit stand out, which is why it’s such a shame I can tell you about them. You’ll just have to take my word for it, I’m afraid!
I went into this book with no great anticipation of what was to come, but I was taken on a thrilling journey that terrified, entertained and enthralled me all at once. It is one of those books that comes out of nowhere and makes itself memorable. It’s one of those books that I would probably never have come across if it weren’t for blogging, but boy am I glad I did. If I manage to bring it to the attention of some other person who might not have read it otherwise and who enjoys it as much as I did – well, that’s why I blog. For books like this.
February 6, 2023
It's been almost thirty years since Jo left the tiny town of Clear Springs. In that time, not only has she never looked back, but apparently she's forgotten most of it.
Including the disappearance of one of her best friends.
But someone wants her to remember. She receives an anonymous note with information about a vigil to be held all these years later. And on the note is a message to find Sam.
Sam's case was never solved. Most assume she died. And while someone wants Jo to find the truth, many want this part of the past to remain buried.
I thoroughly enjoyed this latest from Moncrieff! A decades-old mystery and the drama of teenage friendships...it had an air of Yellowjackets around it that I am 100% on board for!
Jo has been living in New York City ever since graduating high school. And though her plans to become a writer have fizzled, her interest in investigations can't be denied. Most disturbing though is the fact that when the article about Sam's vigil arrives, Jo has no memory of her at all.
As the dawning realization hits that this is someone she knew and that this was undeniably a huge event in her life, the prompt to look into it is one that pulls her back to Clear Springs. That and the discovery that the other friend in their old trio has died as well.
Jo is the only one left who seems to want to find out the truth about Sam. But she can't even trust her own memories, which is something I find absolutely fascinating!
I know for most, comfort reading right now means holiday rom coms. For me, though, Dragonfly Summer is exactly the kind of comfort read I'm looking for! A good mystery, a twisty plot, and a book that I can get cozy and curl up with that begs to be read in a single sitting!
Including the disappearance of one of her best friends.
But someone wants her to remember. She receives an anonymous note with information about a vigil to be held all these years later. And on the note is a message to find Sam.
Sam's case was never solved. Most assume she died. And while someone wants Jo to find the truth, many want this part of the past to remain buried.
I thoroughly enjoyed this latest from Moncrieff! A decades-old mystery and the drama of teenage friendships...it had an air of Yellowjackets around it that I am 100% on board for!
Jo has been living in New York City ever since graduating high school. And though her plans to become a writer have fizzled, her interest in investigations can't be denied. Most disturbing though is the fact that when the article about Sam's vigil arrives, Jo has no memory of her at all.
As the dawning realization hits that this is someone she knew and that this was undeniably a huge event in her life, the prompt to look into it is one that pulls her back to Clear Springs. That and the discovery that the other friend in their old trio has died as well.
Jo is the only one left who seems to want to find out the truth about Sam. But she can't even trust her own memories, which is something I find absolutely fascinating!
I know for most, comfort reading right now means holiday rom coms. For me, though, Dragonfly Summer is exactly the kind of comfort read I'm looking for! A good mystery, a twisty plot, and a book that I can get cozy and curl up with that begs to be read in a single sitting!
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