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eyreibreathe's reviews
369 reviews
The Whisper Man by Alex North
5.0
After his wife's sudden death, Tom Kennedy decides to make a new beginning with his son Jake. Still mourning their tragic loss, the pair move to Featherbank, a town with a haunting past. It's been twenty years since the Whisper Man struck this little town, luring his victims with whispers in the night, before killing them. But Frank Carter was finally caught, and the horrors of the Whisper Man have been left in the past. Or maybe not... because suddenly another boy is missing, following the same pattern as 20 years before. And young Jake Kennedy has been hearing whispers in the night...
Oh, you guys!!!
Oh, you guys!!!
The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell
4.0
There's a reason Lisa Jewell is probably my favorite contemporary suspense writer, and she has me singing her praise yet again after this upcoming book, due to be released on November 6th. Thank you, Netgalley, for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
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The letter comes soon after her 25th birthday - the letter Libby has been expecting. Finally, the mystery of who she is will be revealed, but what Libby did not expect was to inherit the mansion in which she was born. Twenty-five years ago, she was found in her crib upstairs while downstairs, three adults were found dead, along with the quickly written note that was beside them. The other children who had been living in the house had mysteriously disappeared. As Libby delves into the history of her inheritance, she will come face to face with her family's disturbing past.
This book had me riveted from the moment I began reading it. For me, it had a slow burn feel to it, gathering speed in both suspense and creepiness. One thing I love about Lisa Jewell's books is that characters who at first appear to be normal, everyday people slowly morph into something altogether sinister. I also like the different viewpoints and the time shifts - I felt it worked well with the story. If you're looking for a creepy book that will get under your skin and have you thinking about it even when you're not reading, definitely pick this one up. I have a feeling The Family Upstairs will stay with me for a while. ⭐⭐⭐⭐
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The letter comes soon after her 25th birthday - the letter Libby has been expecting. Finally, the mystery of who she is will be revealed, but what Libby did not expect was to inherit the mansion in which she was born. Twenty-five years ago, she was found in her crib upstairs while downstairs, three adults were found dead, along with the quickly written note that was beside them. The other children who had been living in the house had mysteriously disappeared. As Libby delves into the history of her inheritance, she will come face to face with her family's disturbing past.
This book had me riveted from the moment I began reading it. For me, it had a slow burn feel to it, gathering speed in both suspense and creepiness. One thing I love about Lisa Jewell's books is that characters who at first appear to be normal, everyday people slowly morph into something altogether sinister. I also like the different viewpoints and the time shifts - I felt it worked well with the story. If you're looking for a creepy book that will get under your skin and have you thinking about it even when you're not reading, definitely pick this one up. I have a feeling The Family Upstairs will stay with me for a while. ⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Storyteller's Secret by Sejal Badani
4.0
After the heartache of enduring three miscarriages and the impending break-up of her marriage, New York journalist Jaya is desperate to alleviate her grief. When her mother gets a letter saying her estranged father is dying, Jaya decides to venture to India for a change of scenery and with the hope of unearthing the mysteries of her family's past. There she meets Ravi, her grandmother's former servant, who tells of her grandmother's strength, forbidden love, and sacrifices. Through these stories, Jaya comes to understand her own mother and finds a strength she never knew she had.
The Storyteller's Secret is a book that has long been in my TBR stacks, and the timing finally felt perfect for reading it. To be honest, I'm struggling to figure out exactly how I feel about this one. It was a bit of a rollercoaster ride for me. For a good long while, I was coasting along, immersed in the story and the setting. My senses were alive as I tasted the culinary wonders of India, greeted my fellow women in their richly-colored saris, felt the sun baring down on me. I ached right along with Jaya as she mourned her three miscarriages. And I was loving the back and forth shifts in both time and perspective. Then, somewhere nearing the end of the book, the rollercoaster seemed to suddenly veer all over the place. The narrative of the story started to become dramatic in a way that, for me, seemed a little over-the-top, and it felt a bit disorienting. However, the ride did even out, and without giving anything away, I was left feeling very satisfied and emotional in all the right ways in the end. All in all, I was happy to have finally read this book. I feel the good outweighed what didn't work for me.
The Storyteller's Secret is a book that has long been in my TBR stacks, and the timing finally felt perfect for reading it. To be honest, I'm struggling to figure out exactly how I feel about this one. It was a bit of a rollercoaster ride for me. For a good long while, I was coasting along, immersed in the story and the setting. My senses were alive as I tasted the culinary wonders of India, greeted my fellow women in their richly-colored saris, felt the sun baring down on me. I ached right along with Jaya as she mourned her three miscarriages. And I was loving the back and forth shifts in both time and perspective. Then, somewhere nearing the end of the book, the rollercoaster seemed to suddenly veer all over the place. The narrative of the story started to become dramatic in a way that, for me, seemed a little over-the-top, and it felt a bit disorienting. However, the ride did even out, and without giving anything away, I was left feeling very satisfied and emotional in all the right ways in the end. All in all, I was happy to have finally read this book. I feel the good outweighed what didn't work for me.
Never Let You Go by Chevy Stevens
4.0
It's been 11 years since Lindsey escaped into the night with her young daughter Sophie, fleeing her abusive husband Andrew. That same night, events unfolded that landed Andrew in prison, but now he's out, and the little sense of security Lindsey has built for her and her daughter is being shaken. Someone is trying to send her a message. Her home has been broken into, her boyfriend threatened, and Lindsay can't shake the feeling she's being watched. Is it Andrew? He claims he has changed, but how much can she trust his word? And if it's not him, then who?
A few months ago, I stumbled upon a thread where readers were talking about how much they loved Chevy Stevens' thrillers. A suspense lover myself, I immediately hopped on over to check out her books and decided upon Never Let You Go. And am I ever glad I did! I found this book to be a compulsive, fun, addictive read. I partway figured out the ending, but was still taken by surprise in some ways. This was the perfect pick for a quick, unputdownable read. A solid ⭐⭐⭐⭐ for me.
A few months ago, I stumbled upon a thread where readers were talking about how much they loved Chevy Stevens' thrillers. A suspense lover myself, I immediately hopped on over to check out her books and decided upon Never Let You Go. And am I ever glad I did! I found this book to be a compulsive, fun, addictive read. I partway figured out the ending, but was still taken by surprise in some ways. This was the perfect pick for a quick, unputdownable read. A solid ⭐⭐⭐⭐ for me.
Christy by Catherine Marshall
5.0
It's 1912, and Christy Huddleston is leaving behind her life of ease to teach school in remote Cutter Gap, nestled in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee. There she encounters poverty, rough living, and a way of life so rustic that it seems untouched by time itself. Her heart aches for the hardships and the need she sees all around her. In fact, there are times she questions whether she's the right person to bring education and support to the people of Cutter Gap, but she soon discovers in herself a strength and purpose she never knew she had.
After reading this book, it quickly became one of my all-time favorites. It was such an emotional read for me as I became deeply invested in each of the characters. It was also a wonderfully cozy book. In fact, when I think of cozy reads, this is always the first to come to mind, and it's the one I most crave every autumn. I'm a mountain and forest gal myself, so the setting of this book is such absolute perfection that my heart could burst. Best of all, it's historical fiction, but it's actually heavily based upon the life of the author's mother.
After reading this book, it quickly became one of my all-time favorites. It was such an emotional read for me as I became deeply invested in each of the characters. It was also a wonderfully cozy book. In fact, when I think of cozy reads, this is always the first to come to mind, and it's the one I most crave every autumn. I'm a mountain and forest gal myself, so the setting of this book is such absolute perfection that my heart could burst. Best of all, it's historical fiction, but it's actually heavily based upon the life of the author's mother.