Althea's Reading Corner

Title: All the Dangerous Things Author: Stacy Willingham Narrator: Karissa Vacker Genre: Mystery & Thriller Format: Audiobook Listening length: 9 hours 55 minutes 34 seconds Date of Publication: January 10, 2023 Description:  One year ago, Isabelle Drake's life changed forever: her toddler son, Mason, was taken out of his crib in the middle of the night while she and her husband were asleep in the next room. With little evidence and few leads for the police to chase, the case quickly went cold. However, Isabelle cannot rest until Mason is returned to her—literally. Except for the occasional catnap or small blackout where she loses track of time, she hasn’t slept in a year. Isabelle's entire existence now revolves around finding him, but she knows she can’t go on this way forever. In hopes of jarring loose a new witness or buried clue, she agrees to be interviewed by a true-crime podcaster—but his interest in Isabelle's past makes her nervous. His incessant questioning p...

Title: Caged Author: Ellison Cooper Series: Agent Sayer Altair Genre: Mystery, Suspense, Psychological Thriller Format: Paperback No. of Pages: 359 Date of Publication: July 10, 2018 Description:  FBI neuroscientist Sayer Altair hunts for evil in the deepest recesses of the human mind. Still reeling from the death of her fiancé, she wants nothing more than to focus on her research into the brains of serial killers. But when the Washington D.C. police stumble upon a gruesome murder scene involving a girl who was slowly starved to death while held captive in a cage, Sayer is called in to lead the investigation. When the victim is identified as the daughter of a high profile senator, Sayer is thrust into the spotlight. As public pressure mounts, she discovers that another girl has been taken and is teetering on the brink of death. With evidence unraveling around her, Sayer races to save the second victim but soon realizes that they are hunting a killer with a dangerous obsession.....

Title: Notorious Author: Allison Brennan Series: Max revere Genre: Mystery, Suspense, & Thriller Format: Hardcover No. of Pages: 432 Date of Publication: March 25, 2014 Description:  Maxine Revere has dedicated her life to investigating murders that the police have long since given up any hope of solving. A nationally renowned, tough-as-nails investigative reporter with her own TV show, Max tackles cold cases from across the country and every walk of life. But the one unsolved murder that still haunts her is a case from her own past. "Buckle up and brace yourself for Maxine Revere."―Sandra Brown When she was a high school senior, a close friend was strangled and another, Kevin, was accused of the crime. Max stood by Kevin―until she found out he lied about his alibi. Though his guilt was never proven, their relationship crumbled from the strain of too many secrets. But that was years ago…and now Max is home for Kevin's funeral. Did he kill himself after years of dr...

Title: The Gender War Author: Bella Forrest Series: The Gender Game Genre: Action and Adventure, Science Fiction Format: Paperback No. of Pages: 416 Date of Publication: February 9, 2017 Description:  "For the sake of Viggo, my brother, my family in Patrus, and every single citizen of our God-forsaken nations, I had to stop the war."  Continue Violet and Viggo's journey in the  electrifying  fourth book of  The Gender Game  series! My Thoughts:  The story continues with Violet and Viggo trying to survive from Desmond (leader of the Liberators), the new queen of Matrus, and the queen's enhanced siblings. Their journey continues with them trying to survive in Patrus where we learn more about Amber and her past, which has been quite a mystery up until now. She takes Violet, Viggo, and the rest of their followers into her home in Patrus. The story still switches between Viggo and Violet, which normally I don't like because it is hard to follow, h...

Title: The Gender Lie Author: Bella Forrest Series: The Gender Game Genre: Action and Adventure, Science Fiction Format: Paperback No. of Pages: 410 Date of Publication: December 31, 2016 Description:  "I'd want you to help me win a war..." After discovering the shocking secret buried deep within The Green, Violet has a grave decision to make. Trust the woman who saved her, or not? So far, everything about the woman has taken Violet by surprise. Her behavior has been honest and upfront - a refreshing change for Violet. Besides, with one of her loved ones hanging on life support, and the other close to falling completely out of reach, Violet doesn't exactly have a lot of choice. Her only way forward is to embark on a dicey excursion. For this, she knows she needs the Liberators' help - and must be prepared to take whatever risks that comes with. But what neither she, nor any of her new Liberator comrades can prepare for, is just how deep the lies of the...

Title: The Gender Secret Author: Bella Forrest Series: The Gender Game Genre: Action and Adventure, Science Fiction Format: Paperback No. of Pages: 426 Date of Publication: November 21, 2016 Description:  Gliding over the treacherous Green in a shaky aircraft she has no idea how to land, Violet Bates is still in shock. The harrowing events of the previous night play over in her mind as she asks herself question after question. Why did Lee Desmond Bertrand behave the way he did? What is the truth about the mysterious silver egg stowed beneath her seat? What happened to Viggo and where is her brother? Is either of them still alive? When Violet manages to reach the toxic ground alive, she has landed in a world of unimaginable danger. She has barely time to catch her breath before she is sucked into a perilous journey at breakneck speed - to uncover secrets guarded for centuries and find the only two people that matter. My Thoughts:  Violet's time in Patrus gets more interest...

A Small Affair : A Novel  Flora Collins On Sale Date: December 27, 2022 9780778386933 Trade Paperback $17.99 USD 336 pages I am super excited to be part of the MIRA Books blog tour for Flora Collins upcoming book A Small Affair: A Novel, which releases on December 27, 2022. Book Summary A twisting novel of psychological suspense about a young woman whose life is torn apart when her wealthy ex-lover is found dead, along with his wife. Vera is ruthlessly ambitious, beautiful by her own account, and knows how to get exactly what she wants--no matter who stands in the way. When she starts a relationship with a wealthy older man who tells her he’s separated from his wife, she thinks litte of it. After only a few dates, she ends things, but that’s only the beginning. Days later, the man and his wife are found dead in their home, leaving behind a note saying Vera’s rejection had driven him to the horrible act of violence. Vera is immediately blamed for the couple’s deaths, demonized by th...

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:...