Tag: Mystery novel

Book Reviews

The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave

My Reading Nest

My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Synopsis

Before Owen Michaels disappears, he manages to smuggle a note to his beloved wife of one year: Protect her.

Despite her confusion and fear, Hannah Hall knows exactly to whom the note refers: Owen’s sixteen-year-old daughter, Bailey. Bailey, who lost her mother tragically as a child. Bailey, who wants absolutely nothing to do with her new stepmother.

As Hannah’s increasingly desperate calls to Owen go unanswered; as the FBI arrests Owen’s boss; as a US Marshal and FBI agents arrive at her Sausalito home unannounced, Hannah quickly realizes her husband isn’t who he said he was. And that Bailey just may hold the key to figuring out Owen’s true identity—and why he really disappeared.

My Review

This book gave all the feels it should for a family drama. Teen angst with the stepmom. Full on disappearance of the dad. I mean seriously. WHERE DID HE GO?!?! With mystery, some detective work and even federal agencies to round it all out.

Now I have to be honest with you. Listening to this on audio was not my smartest move. I don’t know about you but there are certain types of books that are HARD to listen to. And mysteries definitely fall into that category. There’s a lot to keep track of. And they go at a fast pace. Well, I sometimes get a little distracted while I’m listening to a book. Which is because I’m doing other stuff. Like housework, exercising, or driving. So my mind kind of wanders a little from time to time. 99% of the time I rewind because I’m just that type of girl. But there is a LOT of rewinding with intense books. One day I’ll learn to stick to ChickLits, RomComs, Romances, Historical Fictions and Christian Fiction for listening. But until I learn. . .

That said – even with the audio aspect this book definitely did not disappoint! It was really good! Usually I like everything tied up at the end of the story. And there was a couple of things that weren’t in this case. But. . . I don’t believe it was to get us to read another book in a series. It was just the way the book finished. You – as the reader – were left to ponder about a few things. Which in those cases I like. Don’t you find it pretty cool when you’re still thinking about what might’ve happened with something in a book a month later? Yep. That’s some good writing.

And I have to recommend the Audible version that I listened to which was read by Rebecca Lowman. She did a tremendous job. I hadn’t had the opportunity to hear any of her work and I’m glad I took the chance. She has a lovely voice and she was the perfect choice for this book.

This is a book which has been on everyone’s radar since it came out. It was Reese’s Bookclub pick for May 2021. It’s also being made into a movie for Apple TV starring Julia Roberts and produced by Reese Witherspoon. I cannot wait to compare the movie with the book. And like always I’ll get back to you on what I think.

Have you had a chance to read The Last Thing He Told Me yet? Or anything else by Laura Dave? I’d love to hear what you think.

Book Reviews

Anxious People by Fredrik Bachman

My Reading Nest

My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Synopsis

Looking at real estate isn’t usually a life-or-death situation, but an apartment open house becomes just that when a failed bank robber bursts in and takes a group of strangers hostage. The captives include a recently retired couple who relentlessly hunt down fixer-uppers to avoid the painful truth that they can’t fix up their own marriage. There’s a wealthy banker who has been too busy making money to care about anyone else and a young couple who are about to have their first child but can’t seem to agree on anything, from where they want to live to how they met in the first place. Add to the mix an eighty-seven-year-old woman who has lived long enough not to be afraid of someone waving a gun in her face, a flustered but still-ready-to-make-a-deal real estate agent, and a mystery man who has locked himself in the apartment’s only bathroom, and you’ve got the worst group of hostages in the world.

Each of them carries a lifetime of grievances, hurts, secrets, and passions that are ready to boil over. None of them is entirely who they appear to be. And all of them—the bank robber included—desperately crave some sort of rescue. As the authorities and the media surround the premises, these reluctant allies will reveal surprising truths about themselves and set in a motion a chain of events so unexpected that even they can hardly explain what happens next. 

My Review

I found this book to be everything a book should be. Funny. Cute. Heartwarming. Mysterious.

Bachman did a great job of keeping some of the mystery alive until the very end. Definitely a character driven story with a large cast of people that you’ll actually get to know really well. It was enjoyable to watch the relationships grow. They were all easy to picture. And I adored getting to know the 10+ people during the course of the story.

To make things even more exciting Netflix is coming out with a series based on this very book! I can’t find a date on when it’ll be out yet – so if you have that info I’d love to get it! Everything I find just says “In Production.” When it does come out I’ll do another review to compare the book with the screen version.

Somethings to be aware of…

  • there is a lesbian couple
  • suicide is talked about
  • there is some violence – the book is about a bank robbery and hostage situation
  • adultery is referred to

I definitely loved this book. Believe it or not, it gave me all the happy feelings that I like when reading a story. And everything was wrapped up at the end – which was incredible because there was a ton of storylines going on here people.

So grab a copy. I bet ya you’ll devour it quickly.

I received this beautiful hardcover book from Book of the Month. Want to try them out? Click here and receive your first book for only $5 – Seriously! What a deal!!!

With the referral link I’ll also receive a book credit with your purchase.