Middletide by Sarah Crouch

In this gripping and intensely atmospheric debut, disquiet descends on a small town after the suspicious death of a beautiful young doctor, with all clues pointing to the reclusive young man who abandoned the community in chase of big city dreams but returned for the first love he left behind. Perfect for fans of All Good People Here and Where the Crawdads Sing

One peaceful morning, in the small, Puget Sound town of Point Orchards, the lifeless body of Dr. Erin Landry is found hanging from a tree on the property of prodigal son and failed writer, Elijah Leith. Sheriff Jim Godbout’s initial investigation points to an obvious suicide, but upon closer inspection, there seem to be clues of foul play when he discovers that the circumstances of the beautiful doctor’s death were ripped straight from the pages of Elijah Leith’s own novel.

Out of money and motivation, thirty-three-year-old Elijah returns to his empty childhood home to lick the wounds of his futile writing career. Hungry for purpose, he throws himself into restoring the ramshackle cabin his father left behind and rekindling his relationship with Nakita, the extraordinary girl from the nearby reservation whom he betrayed but was never able to forget.

As the town of Point Orchards turns against him, Elijah must fight for his innocence against an unexpected foe who is close and cunning enough to flawlessly frame him for murder in this scintillating literary thriller that seeks to uncover a case of love, loss, and revenge.

Hardcover, 288 pages

Published June 11, 2024

by Atria Books

4/5 stars

Middletide was my May Book of the Month pick by debut author Sarah Crouch.

This book starts with the discovery of a body hanging from a tree one cold January morning. The town doctor appears to have taken her own life after suffering the tragic loss of a child and divorce. What follows is a story that weaves through time to uncover what led to this death and the aftermath.

I really enjoyed this slow paced read, I alternated between my print copy and the audiobook, I might add the reader did a great job. Coming in just under 300 pages it was the perfect length to get to know Elijah, why he came back to his hometown and what his relationship to Erin was like.

As with any mystery I read I always have my sleuth hat on trying to figure out what happened before the big reveal. In this case, I was stumped though I did have my suspicions pointing to a number of scenarios. The author did a great job setting the puzzle pieces into place nicely. The ending was good and I didn’t see one aspect coming at all, so hats off to the author for catching me off guard.

All in all a very, solid debut and I look forward to reading more by Sarah Crouch.

This book was part of my 2024 Reading Off My Shelf Challenge.

Death At The Crossroads by PJ Donison

When hotshot litigator Aaron Anders’ wife, Suzanne, goes looking for a divorce attorney, every lawyer in town turns her down. Except one.
What was Camelia Belmont thinking?

Desperate to make partner, Camelia takes Suzanne’s case, despite Aaron’s notorious scorched earth tactics. But when another high profile client kills himself, and her chances of making partner fizzle, Camelia barely manages to hold her anxiety and the vodka bottle at bay. To complicate matters, Suzanne’s health is failing, and all she wants is to die divorced. But the Paradise Valley socialite’s life gets complicated when sexy senior associate Kaitlyn Fischer is killed on her way to a midnight tryst … in Suzanne’s car.

Was Suzanne’s car used as a murder weapon? And was Suzanne the real target? Camelia’s boss, criminal defense attorney Byron McCaffrey, doesn’t want any part of it, but when she discovers a link to a product liability case Anders won on appeal, Camelia is convinced the “accident” was intended for Suzanne. But she’ll have to come up with more than circumstantial evidence against Aaron Anders, especially since the cops and the prosecutor’s office decide the case was accidental. Camelia can’t help but defy Byron’s demand to leave the criminal investigation alone, even if it means getting fired..

All Suzanne wants is a divorce, but her clock is ticking. Finally, Camelia gets a break from an unlikely ally, but is it too late?
Can she discover what really happened or will someone get away with murder?

Death At The Crossroads is the second book in the suspenseful Camelia Belmont Murder Mystery series. If you like soft-boiled whodunnits with a smart female sleuth, true-to-life characters, and dark insights into the legal profession, you’ll love PJ Donison’s second literary mystery in the series.

Kindle Edition, 569 pages

Published May 27, 2024

 by PublishDrive

5/5 stars

This is the 2nd book Camelia Belmont Murder Mystery series by PJ Donison. I thoroughly enjoyed the first book, Death Comes for Christmas,  and opened when this one when it was released.

Divorce attorney Camille has taken on a new case and it’s a biggie. Suzanne is looking to divorce her attorney husband and given that no one else else in town will take her case Camille does

Death at the Crossroads is an intense story. It’s about a lawyer wanting to do the best for her client despite the numerous obstacles that she has to overcome - between a boss that is antagonistic, the client, her husband and lawyer that are not above board along with her own personal demons. 

This was a fast paced story even if it does come in over 500 pages, it was gripping and it didn’t take long for me to get to the part where I could not put it down. There are many layers and points of view but everything came together at the end.

The ending also left the door open for a sequel, which I can’t wait to read.

Greenwild by Pari Thomson

Open the door to a spellbinding world where the wilderness is alive and a deep magic rises from the earth itself . . .

Eleven-year-old Daisy Thistledown is on the run. Her mother has been keeping big, glittering secrets, and now she has vanished. Daisy knows it’s up to her to find Ma―but someone is hunting her across London. Someone determined to stop her from discovering the truth.

So when Daisy flees to safety through a mysterious hidden doorway, she can barely believe her eyes―she has stepped out of the city and into another world.

This is the Greenwild. Bursting with magic and full of amazing natural wonders, it seems too astonishing to be true. But not only is this land of green magic real, it holds the key to finding Daisy’s mother.

And someone wants to destroy it.

Daisy must band together with a botanical genius, a boy who can talk with animals, and a cat with an attitude to uncover the truth about who she really is. Only then can she channel the power that will change her whole world . . . and save the Greenwild itself.

Hardcover, 364 pages

Published June 6, 2023

 by Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)

4/5 stars

Greenwild is a book I stumbled upon in the world of Instagram, purchasing a copy because I loved the cover...and the blurb. It is book one in a series with book 2 recently released entitled the City Beyond the Sea.

This middle grade fantasy isn’t for the faint of heart as it comes in with almost 400 pages. But it is very interesting and a read which I enjoyed. Eleven year old Daisy has been separated from her mother, in fact, she was told that her mother has died in a far away country. But Daisy knows something is up especially when she is followed and forced to go on the run. What follows next is a mysterious doorway, another world, magic and interesting characters. As Daisy becomes friends with kids with special abilities she begins to wonder what her mother has withheld from her.

Greenwild is a story of friendship and determination. It highlights the importance of the environment and taking care of it. This is a well written story with great world building and I am looking forward to reading the next book.

This book was part of my 2024 reading off my shelf challenge

I Will Ruin You by Linwood Barclay

In the latest novel from New York Times bestselling author Linwood Barclay, a teacher’s act of heroism inadvertently makes him the target of a dangerous blackmailer who will stop at nothing to get what he wants.

How would you react in a life-or-death situation?

It’s a question everyone asks themselves, but few have to face in real life. English teacher Richard Boyle certainly never thought he would find himself talking down a former student intent on harming others, but when Mark LeDrew shows up at Richard’s school with a bomb strapped to his chest, Richard immediately jumps into action. Thanks to some quick thinking, he averts a major tragedy and is hailed as a hero, but not all the attention focused on him is positive.

Richard’s brief moment in the spotlight puts him in the sights of a deranged blackmailer with a score to settle. The situation rapidly spirals out of control, drawing Richard into a fraught web of salacious accusations and deadly secrets. As he tries to uncover the truth he discovers that there’s something deeply wrong in the town—something that ties together Mark, the blackmailer, and a gang of ruthless drug dealers, and Richard has landed smack in the middle of it. He’s desperate to find a way out, but everyone in his life seems to be hiding something, and trusting the wrong person could cost him everything he loves.

What price will he pay for one good deed?

Paperback, 352 pages

Published May 7, 2024

 by William Morrow Paperbacks

4/5 stars

Canadian author Linwood Barclay's latest novel, I Will Ruin You, was a fun read even though there is serious matter. It’s one of those books where I just shook my head at all the poor decision-making, weird coincidences, and at times comical situations. That being said this was an addicted read to find out what was going on, because honestly, I was stumped with all the hijinks.

I mean this book started off captivating as Richard Boyle prevents what could’ve turned into a major tragic event from happening at his school. He is a hero by most, but not all. Then things start to go sideways. That being said it did only take me a couple days to read this as I was curious and taken off guard for part of the conclusion, but not all.

Barclay is one of my go to authors and he remains in that position as I find his books different, twisty, along with some interesting characters.

This book was part of my 2024 reading off my shelf challenge.