About Book Marks
Recent Reviews
Denise Mina
Rave Book Reporter Denise Mina’s Confidence will take readers on a lively journey around several countries, while its heroes meet unscrupulous sorts and wiggle their way out of some very tight spots. As they go along, history sneaks in --- a lot of which is due to what Lisa found in that chateau, but also due to how religion shaped what people did over the years. It’s a wild race from the start, from the moment the podcasters make their escape, to the end, when they return home much the wiser.
A F Carter
Positive Book Reporter The Yards is told from alternating viewpoints—Delia Mariola, Git O’Rourke, Connor Schmidt—very different people with very different goals. It’s the intersection of their lives that makes A. F. Carter’s novel so explosive.
John Le Carré
Rave Bookreporter ... one last thrilling novel ... Lily is a colorful character with language to match ... we as readers are blessed with this final contribution by the author of some of the top spy thrillers ever to hit bookshelves. Read it as a fitting tribute to this superb literary giant.
LIV Constantine
Rave Bookreporter Sisters Lynne Constantine and Valerie Constantine (aka Liv Constantine) are masters at building suspense ... races along like a rocket on steroids. Once you’ve opened the book, figuring out who Addison Hope is and how she got to Philadelphia will become your reason for waking up in the morning. Just give into it, set aside a day or two, and immerse yourself. But prepare for spine-tingling thrills.
Amy Mason Doan
Positive Bookreporter ... takes us back to an era in music that was fun and much more carefree. While far from innocent, it was a much less strident period in our history. Like the book\'s cover picture, young women wore flowers in their hair and sundresses, and went barefoot. Amy Mason Doan’s novel allows readers the chance to enjoy that all over again while embroiled in a family secret, the consequences of which are bound to be uncovered.
Mary Kubica
Positive Bookreporter Mary Kubica has devised some of the best twists I’ve seen in a thriller. It is full of sympathetic characters --- and despicable ones --- and moves along with the pace of a rushing river in flood stage. Until it slams into a wall. The ending will sneak right up on you.
Amy Suiter Clarke
Positive Bookreporter Podcasts that are done well can instantly hook their audiences, draw them in deep and keep them coming back for more. In Girl,11 chapters of \'Justice Delayed\' episodes will do just that for readers. As Elle investigates, she interviews retired Detective Sykes, who worked the TCK case; family members of the victims; her own husband, a coroner; and anyone who has an ounce of information related to the girls’ disappearances. You’ll hear the witnesses’ accounts in their own words, which adds immense depth to the story. What’s more, the major twist that debut author Amy Suiter Clarke drops like a bomb is an incredible \'wow\' moment.
Martha Teichner
Rave Bookreporter This is a book not just about friendships but about the hard parts of life, and people helping people --- putting aside one’s own comforts to lessen the hardships of another. It points out how drawn we are to caring for one another ... When Harry Met Minnie will bring tears to your eyes --- happy ones and sad ones, ones that come from knowing this is how life is meant to be. Nothing is forever. The bad comes with the good. In the meantime, be thankful for the kindness of others and the incredible connections we make.
Joe Ide
Rave Bookreporter Quintabe springs onto the detective scene as a fresh, highly intelligent and extremely clever --- not to mention wholly human --- player here. He is real, has seen what life throws at people, and has the compassion necessary to make a difference. Joe Ide writes with authenticity, humor and grit. He doesn’t mince words, and it pays off. Big time.
Eliza Jane Brazier
Rave Bookreporter Podcasts are a popular form of entertainment, none more so than true crime for many. So ask yourself what you would do if your favorite host went missing. Would you try to find out what happened? Would you want to slip into the role of amateur sleuth? I suspect it would be tempting ... Author Eliza Jane Brazier lays out a thrilling mystery here that plays out in a beautiful, wild setting. What’s not to love?
Paraic O'Donnell
Rave Bookreporter Paraic O’Donnell has a special talent for creating unique voices of characters. For instance, Inspector Cutter tries to be forbidding, but his soft side shines through ... Most intriguing is the spiritual thread that weaves its way through this story, which is subtle at first but constant ... enchanting and rough at the same time. Enjoy a trip back in time to this fascinating Victorian-era mystery.
John Banville
Rave Bookreporter ... a gritty mystery, set in dark, bleak winter days in a secretive Irish village whose inhabitants have futures to protect and pasts they don’t want discovered ... Banville does a stunning job of capturing the chill --- of the residents, of the aristocratic Osbornes, of the weather --- and he uses it all to great advantage in creating a sinister mood, and joining it all together to build an atmosphere that will send shivers down your spine and have you running for a well-lit, warm room.
Richard Osman
Rave Bookreporter The characters are the true driving force and a huge part of the charm. Their unique voices will linger long after you finish the book ... They are full-blown personalities—witty, tragic, sad, forgiving and enviable—the many emotions one finds in the waning years of one’s life. British TV personality Richard Osman’s debut novel is an exceptional gem. I guarantee you will want to join the Thursday Murder Club.
Karen Dionne
Rave Bookreporter While you might see what’s coming and want to yell, \'No, don’t go there!\' you know it’s going to happen anyway. But the real mystery in Karen Dionne\'s The Wicked Sister is in what happens next. And there’s always something happening next. Diana Cunningham is a truly wicked character. And Rachel, the one who sees the best in everyone, does figure it out, but she’s the good sister, which keeps her from totally embracing how wicked Diana is. This is classic good versus evil. A real live cat-and-mouse game. Moreover, it’s an absolutely eerie delight to read.
Sarah Stewart Taylor
Rave Bookreporter Far beyond a simple mystery, The Mountains Wild is a gorgeous rendering on paper of Ireland in all its beauty. Sarah Stewart Taylor captures the moodiness of the Irish mist, the bustle of Dublin’s streets, and the crisp bite of the morning air. You can hear the Irish brogue in the pubs, smell the Guinness in the pint glasses, and feel the warmth of the peat fire after stepping in from the cold. Taylor has a lyrical style to her writing that makes every sentence a pleasure to read, and every pleasurable sentence brings readers closer to answering the crucial question: What happened to Erin? This is a five-star read.
Sulari Gentill
Positive Bookreporter While the concept behind this novel is fascinating, I found it challenging at times to keep straight which reality the reader was inhabiting: Edward’s or Madeleine’s. It changes frequently, often from paragraph to paragraph, which may be intended as a device to allow the reader to experience Madeleine’s plight. Psychologically, it twists the brain time and time again. Plus, there’s the bonus of a murder mystery to solve. All in all, After She Wrote Him satisfies on many levels.
Erica Spindler
Positive Bookreporter Erica Spindler’s The Look-Alike is such a quick read that you won’t need to set aside much time for it. Once you open the book, the pages will turn themselves.
Robert Bryndza
Positive Bookreporter Nine Elms is the first Kate Marshall thriller, and I know it won’t be a one-off. The main character has lots of baggage --- baggage of the type that readers want to see worked out because they can relate to her. Kate is tough but infinitely human ... Along with superb characters, the plotline is a rollercoaster ride that will keep your stomach churning and your head spinning. Nine Elms, quite frankly, will terrify readers.
Saul Black
Positive Bookreporter The pacing of Saul Black’s Anything for You will have you absolutely soaring right through it. One surprising twist after another will keep your head spinning. You’ll walk alongside Valerie as she agonizes over her future and bemoans her past. Valerie is a tortured soul; she needs guidance to steer her on the right path. Will she find it? See if you agree with her decision --- rather, decisions --- at the end.
Hank Phillippi Ryan
Positive Bookreporter What looks like a classic romance turns into something else. And while every character has two distinct faces --- at least --- it can be hard to recognize if you’re seeing the yin or the yang. They wear different hats, assume different personas, and show the world what they want the world to see at that point. These characters are all very flawed, making them easy --- and hard --- to like. The Murder List is a new animal in the world of legal thrillers. Predatory and lethal.
Sarah Lotz
Positive Bookreporter ... breaks the mold on thrillers. Author Sarah Lotz is off and running from the day in the graveyard that Shaun learns about his uncle to the day that the killer is unmasked. During that timeline, every page reveals a new nugget of Teddy’s life --- and another clue to his death. There are many quirky characters, with their online usernames, which can lead a reader to want a chart for reference. But as soon as you get to know them individually, with their unique personalities, you’ll want to step into their lives and learn more about each one of them ... not just about finding Teddy and what happened to him. It’s also about the cast of players here. Every one of them has a burning need for growth. Some achieve it. Others --- well, read and see.
Catherine McKenzie
Positive Bookreporter I\'ll Never Tell is a fiendishly clever twist on a story of family members pitted against each other. With so much at stake, trust flies out the window. However, in order to unmask Amanda’s attacker, they must expose some of their innermost secrets ... Who did it? Prepare to be shocked.
Steve Cavanaugh
Rave Bookreporter Joshua Kane is one of the most unique serial killers ever created ... It will take someone who can think outside the box to catch him. Following Flynn as he works out the solution to this case shows how fiendishly clever he is. Thirteen earns five stars for its gripping premise, page-turning pace and ability to thrill. It truly is a game-changer in legal suspense.
Jack Carr
Rave Bookreporter Prepare for a thrilling journey into the world of spooks and spies ... True Believer is the real deal here. Author Jack Carr spent a lot of time as a Navy SEAL sniper himself, so he knows the job, the politics and the dealings firsthand. His life inside the SEALs lends authenticity to his main character and Reece’s team. Carr’s own experience gives the reader an eye-opening look at the realities of the war on terror and the corruption rampant in government. Not to be missed!
Howard Jacobsen
Positive Bookreporter ... turns the notion of old folks languishing in a retirement home on its head. These Londoners live in their own flats, plot devious ways to become the most popular among them, snag the eligible bachelor, and hold social events galore. They may be almost centenarians, but that doesn’t mean they can’t act like teenagers. A little bit love story, a lot character study, Live a Little will touch your heart and your funny bone at the same time. Go on, enjoy!
Phillip Margolin
Positive Bookreporter \"Margolin’s style simply goads his fans to read one more chapter. It’s almost impossible to stop once you’ve started one of his books. The Perfect Alibi is no exception. Besides, Robin Lockwood is one strong, modern, no-BS kind of woman. Nothing holds her back. She’s going to become a favorite. Don’t miss out on her cases.\
Jessica Strawser
Positive Bookreporter \"Author Jessica Strawser is known for her slow-burn intrigue, and no more so than in Forget You Know Me. The burning question is: Who was the masked intruder? Any number of plausible possibilities present themselves, but the answer will blindside you ... This book is not just fiction, not just about a marriage crumbling and a friendship at risk. It’s about how life unfolds, the traps in which we find ourselves, and the choices we make.\
Sarah Bailey
Rave Book Reporter The nail-biting action packed into this book stems not only from the bold killer executing a murder in plain sight, but also from the self-destructive detectives themselves. Brilliant as they both are, they have a tendency to make all the wrong choices, at least during their off-duty hours. They seriously need to get their lives together, or they may be cut short. Into the Nights is both hair-raising and downright entertaining. Sarah Bailey could be a new favorite author for a lot of readers.
Jonas Jonasson, Trans. by Rachel Willson-Broyles
Positive Bookreporter \"If you’re in the mood for some hearty belly laughs, pick up this sequel ... The book is full of irreverence, absurdities, silliness and, yes, even intelligence. It attacks today’s politics and political leaders with a vengeance.\
Ian K Smith
Positive Book Reporter All the makings of a superb thriller. Author Ian K. Smith draws on his own experience with the Harvard final clubs, injecting authenticity into every rich layer.
Lisa Gabriele
Positive Bookreporter \"The Winters plays off of Rebecca, but with a darker twist. While Daphne du Maurier’s novel was plenty spooky, Lisa Gabriele’s reimagining takes spooky to a whole new level. If you’re a true thriller fan, you’ll want to spend this Halloween month checking out what’s happening with the Winters at Asherley.\
Doug Burgess
Positive Book Reporter Armstrong House sits on Fogland Point, overlooking Narragansett Bay. It’s the spooky old place that David Hazard remembers as the scariest spot to hang around on Halloween. The mansion has fallen into disrepair now, but David still thinks of it as super creepy. He grew up in Little Compton, a small town where nothing happens. We can’t always choose where we live in our childhood years, but we sure can when we’re old enough. So David chose to leave as soon as he could. Not all of his memories from that time are good ones. Now, reluctantly, he’s come back after receiving a frantic call from his grandmother...he heads out in a panic late at night and arrives to find her dithering around her house. Exasperated, he finally coaxes something close to the real story out of her, discovering that the problem did not lie with his grandmother but with her neighbor. Poor Emma. She will be missed.
Louise Miller
Positive 20SomethingReads ...a lovely story of how people pull together for each other ... curl up with your own favorite pet and escape into Guthrie for a few hours. You will come away a richer and happier person.
Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen
Rave Bookreporter.com Twists, twists and more twists. The Wife Between Us will keep readers off balance through the whole story. It may seem obvious what’s going on here. But keep in mind: nothing is obvious in this book. Vanessa was Richard’s nervous Nellie, the beautiful but skittish young woman he vowed to take care of. But now he’s replacing her with Emma. What was it that Vanessa did to push her handsome husband away? You’ll never guess.