Breadcrumbs and Blindsides

After having his driver's license suddenly and basically in the middle of the road suspended, private investigator Varg Veum witnesses a group of young people on a bus, one of whom later disappears. He finds himself drawn into the mysterious world of a small coastal village. As he investigates the disappearance, he uncovers a complex web of secrets, rivalries, and a possible connection to a previous death, all playing out against the backdrop of unethical large scale Salmon farming. Staalesen creates a detailed and visual experience of a small town where everyone has a secret. He places Veum's slowly coming to terms with his life and his age in a juxtaposition to his menial importance in a much larger criminal investigation. Very well written and pretty gripping. Unfortunately the reveal is impossible to predict as there are basically zero breadcrumbs. 4/5

The novel delves into a complex case that unfolds amidst the backdrop of the life partner of Rhebus' daughter being murdered. Rebus involves himself into the investigation involving a brutal attack on a close colleague, a mysterious hotel fire, and an unidentified body. As always Rankin retains the perfect balance between character development and plot development. The whodunnit is beautifully set up and the reveal highly unexpected. 4/5

Heidi Wood, encounters a young, seemingly homeless woman named Willow, with a small a baby. Moved to compassion, Heidi brings Willow and the infant into her home, despite objections from her family. As Heidi tries to help Willow get back on her feet, she and her husband (separately) start to uncover disturbing facts about the young woman's past; this while Heidi is also slowly losing touch with reality as she starts to confuse the baby for her own baby she lost some 12 years earlier. What starts as a simple act of kindness quickly turns into a dangerous situation filled with secrets and lies. The novel moves a tad too slowly and the overused theme of female mental issues provides the backdrop for most of the novel. A bit of an average read. 3/5

Ethan returns to his childhood home after decades. His peaceful return is disrupted when unsettling events begin to occur which events are linked to the disappearance of his best friend, Billy, which happened in the same house 30 years ago. As Ethan delves deeper into the past, he uncovers disturbing secrets about his neighborhood and the people in it, forcing him to confront the darkness that still lingers. Sager masterfully weaves an almost endless number of twists and turns into this fast paced whodunit, which culminates in an unfold, which has just the right amount of breadcrumbs in place to lead to the reveal. 4/5

Ruby’s mother, Deena disappeared when Ruby was only four years old and while Deena and Lucas were fighting an ugly custody battle. Now living with her controlling father, Lucas, and his enabling mother, Ruby remembers almost nothing about her mother and is not permitted to ask any questions about her. Nessa is however as from the outset convinced that Lucas was responsible for her sister's disappearance. The novel utilises the dual timelines (some 10 years removed) exceptionally and the first person accounts of Ruby and Nessa are richly written and seamlessly integrated. 5/5

Over the course of a week, the unnamed protagonist meticulously analyzes her fifteen-year marriage to someone whom she claims she loves as much as the first day she laid eyes on him. Through her extremely obsessive lens, she examines their relationship, questioning love, control, and the complexities of intimacy. As the narrative unfolds, readers are drawn into a world of doubt, paranoia, and the blurred lines between obsession and love. The novel delves into the depths of the protagonist's very unbalanced psyche as she grapples with her own perceptions of reality. Though only a novella, it could have been shorter and the reveal at the end is somewhat expected throughout the novel. That said, very well-written and very odd. 4/5

Hardy "Hardly" Reed, is a laid-back amusement park worker who loves his simple life. However, his mundane life takes a dramatic turn when he witnesses signs of abuse on two young children. Despite his initial reluctance, Hardy becomes determined to protect the children. As he delves deeper into the situation, he uncovers a dangerous world of crime and corruption, forcing him to confront his own capabilities and limitations. A medium-paced action thriller with an explosive final act. The novel could and probably should have been much grittier and contained the odd twist or turn, but it is pretty enjoyable. 3/5

Just prior to his release from prison, Nate McClusky gets on the wrong side of a white supremacist gang, and a contract is taken out on him, his ex-wife and daughter, Poppy. Though his wife is already murdered by the time he is released, he is just in time to prevent a first murder attempt on Polly. With Polly's life in imminent danger, they embark on a perilous journey, fighting for survival and against a relentless enemy, mostly by stealing from said enemy in a "Bonnie and Clyde"-like homage. A fast-paced and well-written novel with a strong focus on the process of rekindling a father/daughter relationship within an almost futile environment. 3/5

A deadly vehicle accident and the impact and consequences thereof provide the backdrop. As such a young American student and son of NY mobsters loses his life in the accident where all three other parties did something wrong. The focus is however on Carly Chase who finds her world turned upside down when the drivers of the other vehicles involved are brutally murdered. DS Roy Grace is called in to investigate the escalating violence. As the body count rises, it becomes clear that a deadly force is hunting down those connected to the accident. With Carly as the next potential target, Grace and his team race against time to prevent further deadly consequences. The focus in the novel shifts somewhat away from our main series-protaganists towards Carly and her thinking and actions. It works pretty well, but the absence of a whodunnit and unexpected twists and turns renders the novel slightly tedious. 3/5

A horror-comedy that follows two best friends, Abby and Gretchen, as they become best friends against the backdrop of very different economic classes in  1980s Charleston. Their seemingly normal teenage life takes a dark turn when Gretchen starts exhibiting strange behavior. As things escalate, Abby becomes convinced her friend is possessed and embarks on a terrifying journey to save her. The novel blends elements of teenage angst and classic possession horror with the nostalgic backdrop of the 80s.  Despite being written for teens, the novel feels very similar to Chuck Palahniuk's Madison-series (sans the dimensional travel) and is a thoroughly enjoyable read. 4.5/5

In the present, Margot, a journalist haunted by the unsolved murder of her childhood neighbour and best friend, returns to her small hometown to care for her uncle who is starting to exhibit clear signs of dementia. A new girl's disappearance echoes the unsolved case, drawing Margot deeper into the town's dark secrets. As Margot delves into the past, she uncovers disturbing truths about her hometown and those she thought she knew. The novel really alternates well between the two timelines and does not succumb to the normal flat integration which one often finds in multi-timeline whodunnits. The Focus remains on Margot's emotional nexus to both the historic murder and the townsfolk and her underlying need to make square pegs fit round holes. That said, this does not affect the pacing materially adversely and the plethora of well-positioned twists and turns keeps the reader thoroughly engaged. 4/5.

The first novel in a murder mystery trilogy set in a dystopian future London. The story centers around a disoriented man with amnesia, named Sherlock Holmes by a stranger who fished him out of the Thames rive, ie Watson.Together they try to solve the mystery of Holmes' identity while also being entangled in another puzzling case which started with an airliner crash over London. Very clever writing, with true to Connor Doyle atmosphere, which works very well in the dystopian future London. The mystery in this novel focuses around Holmes more than any murder and thus creates the setting for the series which will follow. 4/5

Set eight years earlier in an unusual location of a seemingly idyllic gated community. The peace is however shattered when a new resident, widely disliked by all his neighbours for his brash personality and utter lack of neighbourliness , he is soon found murdered. With a closed pool of suspects, i.e., the residents, Hawthorne is called in to investigate a case where everyone seems to have a motive. The story explores the secrets and dark sides that lurk beneath the surface. Eight years later Horthorne hands the story to Annoy to write. Anothony however ends up with a story without and ending and Howthone missing. This leads to Anthony investigating both the murder and Howthorne's past; possibly with disasterous consequences. A slightly darker novel with the usually complex denouement. But there is also a dark suprise, with trump's the summon gathering. 4/5

Horowitz and Hawthorne's partnership is going through a somewhat strained period while Horowitz is focusing on his new play, "Mindgame," which is premiering in London's West End. However, things take a dramatic turn when the play's scathing review by a prominent critic leads to murder and Horowitz finds himself in the shoes of the main suspect with all evidence pointing at him. He must rely on Hawthorne to clear his name. The story follows them as they navigate a web of suspects, hidden motives, and theatrical intrigue in a race to find the true culprit. A nice little twist to a series which was at risk of falling into recipe writing. Witty, smart and full of twists and turns. The breadcrumbs could have been less but it's a minor complaint. 4/5