Althea's Reading Corner

Title: Vendetta Author: Iris Johansen Series: Catherine Ling Genre: Mystery, Suspense, Thriller Format: Hardcover No. of Pages: 416 Date of Publication: October 23, 2016 Description:  With his dying breath, Carl Venable, head of the CIA task force on terrorism and Jude Brandon’s final link to terrorist ringleader Max Huber, gives Brandon a mandate: keep his daughter, Rachel, safe at any cost. But Rachel Venable has a shocking, twisted past of her own, one that comes rushing back after her medical clinic in Guyana is attacked by Huber―the same man who murdered her father and kept her imprisoned for months. Brandon and Catherine Ling, Rachel’s longtime ally and fierce protector, are determined to keep Rachel out of danger, but she knows that it’s impossible to stay hidden when Max Huber wants you dead. As Rachel and Brandon race against the clock to bring Huber down before he can orchestrate a disaster that will lay waste to half the country, they also fight a growing attraction ...

Title: Never Tell Author: Lisa Gardner Series: Detective D.D. Warren Genre: Mystery, Suspense Format: Kindle ARC No. of Pages: 414 Date of Publication: February 19, 2019 Description:  A man is dead, shot three times in his home office. But his computer has been shot twelve times, and when the cops arrive, his pregnant wife is holding the gun.  D.D. Warren arrives on the scene and recognizes the woman--Evie Carter--from a case many years back. Evie's father was killed in a shooting that was ruled an accident. But for D.D., two coincidental murders is too many.  Flora Dane sees the murder of Conrad Carter on the TV news and immediately knows his face. She remembers a night when she was still a victim--a hostage--and her captor knew this man. Overcome with guilt that she never tracked him down, Flora is now determined to learn the truth of Conrad's murder.  But D.D. and Flora are about to discover that in this case the truth is a devilishly elusive thing. As layer ...

Title: Her Deadly Secrets Author: Laura Griffin Series: Wolfe Security Genre: Mystery & Suspense Format: Kindle ARC No. of Pages: 368 Date of Publication: July 2, 2019 Description:  Private investigator Kira Vance spends her days navigating the intricate labyrinth of Houston’s legal world, and she knows all of its shadowy players and dark secrets. On a seemingly normal day, she’s delivering a report to her top client when suddenly everything goes sideways and the meeting ends in a bloodbath. Twenty-four hours later, the police have no suspects but one thing is clear: a killer has Kira in his sights. Fiercely independent, Kira doesn’t expect—or want—help from anyone, least of all an unscrupulous lawyer and his elite security team. Instead, she launches her own investigation, hoping to uncover the answers that have eluded the police. But as Kira’s hunt for clues becomes more and more perilous, she realizes that she alone may hold the key to finding a vicious murderer. And sh...

Title: The Missing Husband Author: Natasha Boydell Narrators: Rupert Degas and Penelope Rawlins Genre: Mystery & Thrillers Format: Audiobook Listening Length: 8 hours and 11 minutes Date of Publication: September 2, 2021 Description:  Kate and Pete have been the perfect couple ever since they were teenagers. Fifteen years later, they have two young daughters, live in a beautiful London townhouse, and seem like they have it all. But one day, Pete leaves for work and never comes home.   In a note Kate discovers, he confesses that he’s been unhappy for a long time and that he’s met someone else. Distraught, she later learns that he has left everything behind, including his mobile phone, and she sets out to learn the truth about his disappearance.  But is she prepared for what she will learn? My Thoughts: I really wanted to like this book as I love a good Mystery & Thriller. However, this was totally not what I expected it would be from the description of the book. Th...

Title: Keep Her Close Author: M.J. Ford Series:  DS Josie Masters Genre: Thriller Format: Kindle ARC No. of Pages: 353 Date of Publication: March 7, 2019 Description:  His hand went around her middle, and the other came up over her face, holding some sort of material against her nose and mouth. He dragged her backwards, trailing her scrabbling feet … When a young woman goes missing from Jesus College, Oxford,  DS Josie Masters  is plunged into a world of panic as fear grips the city. Along with Thames Valley Police’s newest recruit, the handsome  DS Pryce , Josie must act fast – and when two more students disappear from Oriel and Somerville colleges, she realises the killer is sending her a deadly message in a cruel game of cat and mouse. This time, the case is personal – but who is the perpetrator? In a desperate race against the clock, Josie hunts for the kidnapper, and soon discovers he could be a lot closer to home than she’d ever thought… My Thoughts:...

Title: Heartsick Author: Chelsea Cain Narrator:  Carolyn McCormick Series: Archie Sheridan & Gretchen Lowell Genre: Mystery Thriller Format: Audiobook Listening length: 11 hours 1 minute Date of Publication: August 9, 2007 Description:  Damaged Portland detective Archie Sheridan spent ten years tracking Gretchen Lowell, a beautiful serial killer, but in the end she was the one who caught him. Two years ago, Gretchen kidnapped Archie and tortured him for ten days, but instead of killing him, she mysteriously decided to let him go. She turned herself in, and now Gretchen has been locked away for the rest of her life, while Archie is in a prison of another kind---addicted to pain pills, unable to return to his old life, powerless to get those ten horrific days off his mind. Archie's a different person, his estranged wife says, and he knows she's right. He continues to visit Gretchen in prison once a week, saying that only he can get her to confess as to the whereabouts of mor...

Title: Bodies and Bows Author: Elizabeth Penney Series: The Apron Shop Series Genre: Mystery Format: Paperback No. of Pages: 288 Date of Publication: March 30, 2021 Description:  Bodies & Bows  is the third in the charming cozy Iris Buckley mystery series set in an apron shop in Maine―Elizabeth Penney will have you on pins and needles … Iris Buckley is hoping for a bit of rest and relaxation now that the summertime rush is winding down in Blueberry Cove, Maine. Her apron shop Ruffles & Bows has been a huge success, her friendships are stronger than ever, and now she’s ready for all of the end of summer cookouts on the beach that she can handle. But before Iris can even turn on the grill, Bella’s latest fling, former Olympian sailor and gorgeous bad boy Lance Pederson is killed in a hit and run while jogging at dawn―and all the evidence points to Bella herself. Suddenly the month of August isn’t looking so restful, since now Iris has been roped into the Lighthouse Rehab...

Title: Exposed Author: Alex Kava Series: Maggie O'Dell Genre: Psychological Thriller Format: Paperback No. of Pages: 384 Date of Publication: February 11, 2019 Description:  Veteran FBI profiler Maggie O’Dell and Assistant Director Cunningham believed the threat targeted Quantico. It targeted them. A deadly virus—virtually undetectable until it causes death from a million internal cuts. The victims appear random, but Maggie wonders if vengeance isn’t the guiding hand. An aficionado of contemporary killers, using bits and pieces from their crimes—the Beltway Sniper’s phrases, the Unabomber’s clues, the Anthrax Killer’s delivery. Maggie knows dangerous minds, but she must tackle this new opponent from within a biosafety isolation ward—while waiting to see if death is already multiplying inside her body. She just fears her last case might end with the most intelligent killer she’s ever faced escalating from murder…to epidemic. My Thoughts:  Maggie's story continues when she a...

Title: The Gender Game Author: Bella Forrest Series: The Gender Game Genre: Action and Adventure, Science Fiction Format: Kindle No. of Pages: 414 Date of Publication: September 24, 2016 Description:  A toxic river divides nineteen-year-old Violet Bates's world by gender. Women rule the East. Men rule the West. Welcome to the lands of Matrus and Patrus. Ever since the disappearance of her beloved younger brother, Violet's life has been consumed by an anger she struggles to control. Already a prisoner to her own nation, now she has been sentenced to death for her crimes. But one decision could save her life. To enter the kingdom of Patrus, where men rule and women submit. Everything about the patriarchy is dangerous for a rebellious girl like Violet. She cannot break the rules if she wishes to stay alive. B ut abiding by rules has never been her strong suit, and w hen she is thrust into more danger than she could have ever predicted, Violet is forced to...

Title:  Stay Awake Author:  Megan Goldin Genre:  Mystery & Thriller Format:  Kindle Number of Pages: 345 Date of Publication:  August 9, 2022 Description:  A murder she doesn’t remember committing. A killer she doesn’t remember meeting.  Megan Goldin’s  Stay Awake  is an electrifying novel that proves memory can be deadly. Liv Reese wakes up in the back of a taxi with no idea where she is or how she got there. When she’s dropped off at the door of her brownstone, a stranger answers—a stranger who claims to live in her apartment. She reaches for her phone to call for help, only to discover it’s missing. In its place is a bloodstained knife. Her hands are covered in scribbled messages, like graffiti on her skin: STAY AWAKE. Two years ago, Liv was thriving as a successful writer for a trendy magazine. Now, she’s lost and disoriented in a New York City that looks nothing like what she remembers. Catching a glimpse of the local news, she’s hor...

Title: Stay Awake Author: Megan Goldin Narrator: Imogen Church and January LaVoy Genre: Mystery & Thriller Format: Audiobook Listening Length: 11 hours and 59 minutes Date of Publication: August 9, 2022 Description:  A murder she doesn’t remember committing. A killer she doesn’t remember meeting.  Megan Goldin’s  Stay Awake  is an electrifying novel that proves memory can be deadly. Liv Reese wakes up in the back of a taxi with no idea where she is or how she got there. When she’s dropped off at the door of her brownstone, a stranger answers—a stranger who claims to live in her apartment. She reaches for her phone to call for help, only to discover it’s missing. In its place is a bloodstained knife. Her hands are covered in scribbled messages, like graffiti on her skin: STAY AWAKE. Two years ago, Liv was thriving as a successful writer for a trendy magazine. Now, she’s lost and disoriented in a New York City that looks nothing like what she remembers. Catching a ...

Title: Holy Chow Author: David Rosenfelt Narrator: Grover Gardner Series: Andy Carpenter Mystery Genre: Cozy Mystery Format: Audiobook Listening Length: 6 hours and 27 minutes Date of Publication: July 5, 2022   Description:  In   Holy Chow , the next mystery from bestselling author David Rosenfelt, the beloved characters—both human and canine—of this fan favorite series are back on the case with the author’s trademark wit and humor. Retired lawyer Andy Carpenter’s calling has always been running the Tara Foundation. The dog rescue organization places hundreds of dogs in new homes every year. It’s added up to so many dogs and new owners that Andy can’t even do the math. But there’s one dog—and one owner—Andy will always remember. About a year ago, Rachel Morehouse came to the foundation looking for a companion. In her sixties and recently widowed, Rachel wanted a senior dog that also needed someone. Andy took a liking to her, Rachel took a liking to Lion, an older Chow Ch...

Take My Husband  Ellen Meister On Sale Date: August 30, 2022 9780778309871 Trade Paperback $16.99 USD 400 Pages I am super excited to be part of the HarperCollins blog tour for Ellen Meister's newest book Take My Husband, which releases on August 30, 2022. ABOUT THE BOOK: A witty, insightful domestic comedy about one woman's unexpected, thought-provoking journey out of her marriage as she realizes how much better off she would be if her husband had not survived a serious car crash. When Laurel Appelbaum gets a call at work from the local hospital informing her that her unemployed husband Doug has been in a serious car accident, she is in shock. Summoned immediately to his bedside, she doesn't know in what condition she will find him. As she rushes to the ER, her mind is full of dire thoughts of this abrupt and unpredictbale end to her marriage...that is until she remembers the large life insurance policy they are carrying in his name. Suddenly Laurel can't help but imag...