Althea's Reading Corner

Title: A Desperate Place: A McKenna and Riggs Novel Author: Jennifer Greer Genre: Mystery, Suspense, & Thriller Format: Kindle Arc No. of Pages: 316 Date of Publication: August 11, 2020 Description:  Three separate homicides. Three unrelated victims. One grisly secret. When the body of famous actress Niki Francis is unearthed from its shallow grave, the small town of Medford, Oregon is alarmed, but not shook. After all, there should be plenty of motives and suspects--Niki had fame, wealth, looks. The kill was targeted, premeditated, and it's about her celebrity. Or so they thought. Whit McKenna is licking her wounds, working as a reporter for the local Medford rag. Fresh from a harrowing assignment for her previous post at the  L. A. Times  which cost her her husband, Whit must pull herself together for the sake of her two daughters. The wound has hardly begun to scab when she's called to cover the murder, so she teams up with her best friend, medical examiner Katie R...

Title: The Persuasion Author: Iris Johansen Series: Eve Duncan Genre: Mystery, Suspense, Thriller Format: Kindle ARC No. of Pages: 465 Date of Publication: June 2, 2020 Description:  When Eve Duncan's daughter, Jane MacGuire, becomes a killer's target, Jane must team up with longtime love interest Seth Caleb in this suspenseful novel from the #1 bestselling author of  Smokescreen . Forensic sculptor Eve Duncan and ex-Navy Seal Joe Quinn are about to give Seth Caleb their trust for the most important duty of his life: keeping their daughter, Jane, safe at any cost. Her talent as an artist has caught the attention of a brilliant psychopath with a violent past. Seth, Jane's strongest ally and fiercest protector, is determined to keep her out of danger, but that becomes nearly impossible when Jane is forced to take matters into her own hands and confronts the madman who wants her for himself...and wants Seth Caleb dead. As Jane and Seth chase down their blood-thirsty adversary,...

Title: The Turn of the Key Author: Ruth Ware Genre: Mystery, Suspense, & Thriller Format: Kindle ARC No. of Pages: 384 Date of Publication: August 6, 2019 Description:  When she stumbles across the ad, she’s looking for something else completely. But it seems like too good an opportunity to miss—a live-in nannying post, with a staggeringly generous salary. And when Rowan Caine arrives at Heatherbrae House, she is smitten—by the luxurious “smart” home fitted out with all modern conveniences, by the beautiful Scottish Highlands, and by this picture-perfect family. What she doesn’t know is that she’s stepping into a nightmare—one that will end with a child dead and herself in prison awaiting trial for murder. Writing to her lawyer from prison, she struggles to explain the events that led to her incarceration. It wasn’t just the constant surveillance from the home’s cameras, or the malfunctioning technology that woke the household with booming music, or turned the lights off at...

Title: Closer Than You Think Author: Darren O'Sullivan Genre: Psychological Thrillers Format: Kindle ARC No. of Pages: 384 Date of Publication: March 15, 2019 Description:   He’s watching. She’s waiting. The unmissable new thriller from Darren O’Sullivan, author of  Our Little Secret  and  Close Your Eyes . Having barely escaped the clutches of a serial killer, Claire Moore has struggled to rebuild her life. After her terrifying encounter with the man the media dubbed The Black-Out Killer, she became an overnight celebrity: a symbol of hope and survival in the face of pure evil. And then the killings stopped. Now ten years have passed, and Claire remains traumatised by her brush with death. Though she has a loving and supportive family around her, what happened that night continues to haunt her still. Just when things are starting to improve, there is a power cut; a house fire; another victim found killed in the same way as before. The Black-Out Killer is ba...

Title: Something Hidden Author: Kerry Wilkinson Series: Andrea Hunter Genre: Mystery, Thriller Format: Kindle ARC No. of Pages: 355 Date of Publication: December 10, 2018 Description:  Two people are dead. Your father was holding the gun. Fiona Methodist’s father is accused of shooting dead a young couple at point-blank range before turning the gun on himself. She knows her softly spoken father wasn’t capable of killing, and won’t stop until she clears his name. For investigator  Andrew Hunter —no stranger to cases that appear unsolvable—it’s obvious something doesn’t add up. When he digs into a robbery the murdered couple witnessed just days before they died, a chilling clue at the scene of the crime leads Andrew to a horrible realization… Will Andrew have to put his own life at risk to find the truth? My Thoughts:  This is the first book that I have read by Kerry Wilkinson, so I was unsure what to expect. The story starts out strong and introduces you very quickly t...

Title: The Perfect Alibi Author: Philip Margolin Series: Robin Lockwood Genre: Crime Thriller Format: Kindle ARC No. of Pages: 320 Date of Publication: March 5, 2019 Description:  A young woman accuses a prominent local college athlete of rape. Convicted with the help of undisputable DNA evidence, the athlete swears his innocence and threatens both his lawyer and his accuser as he's sent to prison. Not long after, there's another rape and the DNA test shows that the same person committed both rapes―which is seemingly impossible since the man convicted of the first rape was in prison at the time of the second one. Now, the convicted athlete, joined by a new lawyer, is granted a new trial and bail. Shortly thereafter, his original lawyer disappears and his law partner is murdered. Robin Lockwood is a young lawyer with a prestigious small law firm and a former MMA fighter who helped pay for Yale Law School with her bouts. She is representing the victim of the first rape for he...

Title: The Day I Had a Dinosaur Author: Ashley Wall Series: The Day I Had a.... Genre: Children's fiction Format: Digital No. of Pages: 36 Date of Publication: June 11, 2024   Description:  From the bestselling author of  The Day I Had a Bulldozer  comes a dinosaur filled adventure sure to engage every dinosaur fan! Have you ever had a dinosaur? Join these kind friends in this fun-filled friendship story about our favorite prehistoric reptiles … Dinosaurs! When Luke and his friends have “real-life” dinosaurs for a day, there can only be one outcome, the best-osaurus day ever! Join these kind-hearted friends as they adventure through their day, ensuring that no dinosaur is left out, and everyone has fun working together. Perfect for: Dino enthusiasts. Teaching inclusion, teamwork, and kindness. Kids who love silly pictures. Parents who want a fun book to read. Gifts for all occasions. "A laugh-out-loud, fun-filled playground adventure, with a dino-sized twist." - Read...

Title: You'll Never Know I'm Here Author: Kiersten Modglin Narrator: Stacy Gonzalez Genre: Thriller Format: Audiobook Listening Length: 5 hours and 48 minutes Date of Publication: February 27, 2024 Description:  When six book influencers take a weekend getaway to connect with their fellow creators, it’s meant to be a chance to relax, collaborate, and discuss all of the books they love. But from the start, something’s clearly amiss. From the host’s mysterious absence and an unexpected guest to an odd occurrence in town and the strange and worrisome behavior of the neighbors, what starts out as an innocent and lively vacation quickly becomes a weekend filled with terror. And when one of the group members believes they see something horrifying at the house next door, their carefully laid plans begin to unravel. Drawn into a mystery that runs far deeper and is more sinister than they could’ve imagined—and surrounded by those who refute their story—the group struggles to unearth the...

Title: The Teacher Author: Frieda McFadden Narrator: Leslie Howard and Danny Montooth Genre: Mystery, Thriller Format: Audiobooik Listening Length: 9 hours and 35 minutes Date of Publication: February 6, 2024 Description:  Lesson #1:  Trust no one. Eve has a good life.  She wakes up each day, kisses her husband Nate, and heads off to teach math at the local high school. All is as it should be. Except… Last year, Caseham High was  rocked by a scandal involving a student-teacher affair,  with one student, Addie, at its center. But Eve knows there is far more to these ugly rumors than meets the eye. Addie can’t be trusted.  She lies. She hurts people. She destroys lives.  At least, that’s what everyone says. But nobody knows the real Addie. Nobody knows the secrets that could destroy her. And  Addie will do anything to keep it quiet… My Thoughts:  Freida McFadden was recommended to me by a coworker and I'm so glad she was. The Teacher is about a...

Title: Where Hands Go: The Power of No Author: Krystaelynne Sanders Diggs Genre: Children's Fiction Format: Kindle No. of Pages: 40 Date of Publication: February 09, 2023 Description:  "Where Hands Go: The Power of No" - A Must-Read Book for Parents! This is the third book in the series and it is a powerful and inspiring children's book that teaches the importance of body safety and the power of the word "no." With playful and engaging rhymes, children will learn to recognize and speak out against unwanted touches, set boundaries, and communicate with trusted adults. The book includes a comprehensive parent resource guide that provides valuable information and support for parents, teachers, and caregivers. With one in four girls and one in six boys at risk of sexual abuse before the age of 18, it is crucial that we educate our children about body safety. The book helps to increase knowledge and awareness, empowering children to protect themselves and create ...

Title: Feelings on the Farm Author: Heather Wall Genre: Children's Fiction Format: Hardcover No. of Pages: 12 Date of Publication: October 4, 2023 Description:  Help your child understand their feelings with this relatable and engaging board book. Babies and toddlers might be small, but their emotions can be very big. With this engaging board book, filled with our favorite farm animals, little ones will start understanding their emotions. Being able to put a word to a feeling and know what made them feel that way, is a huge step in social and emotional health. Praise for Feelings on the Farm: “Libraries and parents seeking board books that excel in the easy understanding of emotions by the very young will find Feelings on the Farm a major attraction.”  - Midwest Book Review “An entertaining and engaging SEL addition to add to your bookshelf!” –  The Barefoot Librarian “It's a book that your family can enjoy for years!” –  Reedsy Expressive animal illustrations to eng...

Book Review I really enjoyed Liar's Point by Laura Griffin. It is her newest beachy romance suspense book and a definite must read this Summer.  I loved watching Detective Nicole Lawson's love life unfold in the story. Detective Lawson was easily one of my favorite characters followed by Detective Emmet Davis.  The story was so much fun to read and listen to. I was fortunate enough to receive both a digital and audiobook copy of Liars Point. I loved the romance, the suspense, and mystery. The second half of the book was my absolute favorite because it's when everything starts to come together and facts about the case are slowly revealed. The ending was well done. The narration done by Teri Clark Linden was spot on for me. She did a great job bringing the story to life. Thank you so much to Berkley for the digital review copy as part of their blog blitz. Thank you to Dreamscape Media and Netgalley for the audiobook review copy  Definitely a 5 out of 5 for me!!! LIAR’S POIN...