mackenzierm's reviews
1519 reviews

4.5 stars.

Barry Sutton is a NYC cop investigating a phenomenon that has been dubbed ‘False Memory Syndrome’, where victims experience memories of lives they’ve never lived. Neuroscientist Helena Smith has dedicated her life to creating a technology that preserves our most precious memories. As Barry is searching for the truth, he encounters an opponent more terrifying than any disease, that doesn’t just attack the mind, but our collective pasts. Only he and Helena have a chance at defeating it. 

RECURSION was recommended to me by a friend, and having never really read sci-fi of this nature before, I was a bit nervous. Nevertheless, this was such a fascinating read that I had trouble putting it down.

The concept of False Memory Syndrome is so interesting, and I really enjoyed how Crouch developed this idea into such a compelling and thought-provoking story. Crouch displays an excellent capacity at intricate storytelling, writing a story that is dense and could be very convoluted and confusing in a very digestible and intriguing manner. I enjoyed that while this has a sci-fi focus, there is still a very human and emotional outlook within these pages. This is definitely a page-turner read with some very skillfully placed twists and fast-paced storytelling. 

The multiple timelines were excellently written and were easy to follow, even as an audiobook. I adored the dual POV as well, which gave such a well-rounded outlook on this story.

The ending was well-done, making for a satisfying conclusion to this story, with a somewhat of an open-ending. I’ll pick up more of Crouch’s work in the future, no question!

4.5 stars.

Lachlan is a contract killer but would prefer a quieter life, working in his leather studio and forgetting about his traumatic past. When he messes up a job for his boss’ biggest client, Lachlan knows he will never get out of the underworld. Lark offers him a deal he can’t refuse – she will secure his freedom if he hunts down a killer for her. The catch? He has to marry her first.

I was super stoked to pick up this book, particularly after having read and loved BUTCHER & BLACKBIRD a few weeks ago. LEATHER & LARK is such a fun read with an excellent story. 

Grumpy/sunshine dynamic? Check. 
Marriage of convenience? Check. 
Interesting and well-developed characters? Check. 
Lots of action, dual POV, and palpable chemistry? Check, check, check.

What’s not to love here? Lachlan and Lark’s story is well-written, has palpable chemistry and plenty of action. It certainly checked all the boxes for me and made for an excellent continuation of this trilogy! I was intrigued by both of these characters while reading B&B and was excited to get to know them better here. I absolutely adored both Lark and Lachlan – their backstories were so interesting, and I love the dynamic they develop. I found this one to be way steamier than B&B, but that’s not a bad thing. Don’t sleep on the trigger warnings though, Weaver doesn’t play. 

I loved the plot of this story and was so happy with how it turned out. I was expecting something a little ‘darker’ than what we got but it was so good that I can’t complain. There are some truly excellent, morbid scenes that are filled with humour - multiple good chuckles and cringes throughout this read! The ending with the bonus chapter was absolutely excellent.

Can’t wait to see what will come in book 3!

The audiobook narration is well done, particularly Lachlan’s - I love his accent. My biggest annoyance and frustration with this audiobook narration was all of the chuckling/giggling peppered throughout the book – it didn’t feel natural and was really grating after a few occurrences.

June 2024:
4 stars ⭐️ 
Reread via audiobook.

A killer in the city of Atlanta is killing women with a single, chilling mutilation. This killer has left behind enough evidence to fuel a frenzied police investigation, with victims in varying levels of wealth and race. Michael Ormwood is a veteran detective whose marriage is falling apart, and whose arrogance and temper are threatening his career. Angie Polaski is a vice cop and an old lover of Michael’s before she became his enemy. An ex-con has stumbled onto this killer’s trail and may be the key to solving the case.

I first read this novel in 2018 and much enjoyed it! I decided to do a reread as I’d like to read the whole series in order and have zero recollection as to how this story began. 

I really enjoyed the multi-POV that is told in three parts: Detective Michael Ormwood, John Shelley, and Will Trent/Angie Polaski. This was an interesting separation of the book’s perspectives and allowed a better look at the case as well as the bigger picture. TRIPTYCH is a gripping read that contains many twists and turns. I had a vague recollection of what occurs from my first read but was intrigued as to how it all came together.

I would definitely recommend, as with any book, to check the warnings before picking it up as Karin Slaughter is notorious for writing gritty, gruesome, and graphic scenes. 

I can’t wait to see what’s next in the Will Trent series!

4.5 stars.

Meghan is a full-time nurse and single mom to her teenage daughter, and she’s trying to strike balance between it all. One shift, a patient named Caitlin comes in with a coma due to a traumatic brain injury after jumping off a bridge to the train tracks over twenty feet below. A witness comes forward with some shocking details that brings many questions into the mix. Meghan tries to stay emotionally unattached from her patients, but this patient is different, and Meghan gets too close putting herself and her daughter at risk. 

When I saw early reviewers for SHE’S NOT SORRY praising this book with glowing reviews, I was beyond excited to get my hands on it. An ICU nurse as the main character in a psychological thriller? Say less. 

I absolutely loved this story with its shocking twists. There’s a twist that threw me for such a loop that I had to play it a second time while audibly gasping. The pacing was excellent with ample suspense and tension. 

The main character is an ICU nurse which I thought was super interesting. I also liked that Kubica took this opportunity to shed a light on critical care nursing, as well as the current state of the healthcare system. This story is based in the USA but I think some aspects are applicable to Canadian healthcare as well. There’s a lot of food for thought here. 

The ending was a bit too smooth for my liking and I didn’t really love the side plot that gets resolved at the end. I don’t think that this side plot contributed much to the overall plot and could have been cut altogether. 

Lenny Marks is a character of routine - she bikes home at exactly 4pm from work each day, buys the same groceries for the same meals each week, and owns 36 copies of The Hobbit. Her closest friendship is playing Scrabble against Monica Gellar while watching Friends reruns. Lenny is also very good at not remembering what happened the day her mother and stepfather disappeared. Until a letter from the parole board arrives in the mail and Lenny starts to unravel as long-buried memories resurface. For the first time, Lenny is forced to connect with the community around her and unexpected new relationships begin to blossom.

Lenny Marks is a quirky and socially awkward character. She mostly keeps to herself but she also seeks friends on her own terms, while actively trying to keep people at a distance. She's a hoot to get to know over the course of this story. I adored her coping mechanism of using words and rearranging them into other possible words to calm herself. She spends a lot of time alone watching Friends reruns and I truly loved the Friends references thrown in. She also has a strong affinity for The Hobbit and there's some references to the characters thrown in here and there as well.

The first half of this book is on the slower side as we learn about Lenny and her current routines, but it picks up as the story progresses and we learn about her past and the memories she has buried. I loved Malcom, he was the perfect addition to her life - and Rottweilers are my favourite type of dog so easy win.

I really liked the ending of this story and enjoyed the realizations that Lenny has about the people in her life. It's more of a cozy, whimsical and heartwarming story than a crime/mystery story so keep that in mind if you decide to pick this up!

I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher, St Martin's Press, of this advanced digital copy for the opportunity to read this novel in exchange for an honest review! All opinions shared are my own.

Lucy is Thundersvilles's sweetheart and has returned home from college to open her dream bakery on Main Street. Lucy's family has always been her biggest support system and everyone offers a hand to help get her bakery up and running, including her brother's best friend, Cam. Cam is Thundersville's playboy and has a reputation for never wanting to settle down. As Lucy and Cam spend more time together, sparks fly and feelings change, blurring the lines between their friendship and something more.

I can't believe IT'S OUR TURN brings about the end of the Underwood Farms trilogy. It's so bittersweet. I've truly loved each couple that's been introduced over the last three books and have been so invested in their relationships.  I've also really loved the setting of the small town of Thundersville and Underwood Farms in particular.

I adored Lucy and Cam's story. They've known each other since a young age and evidently had a sibling-like relationship before Lucy went to college. Lucy's always had a crush despite all her attempts to shift her focus. I liked that the story was told in dual POV, alternating back and forth between Cam and Lucy's perspectives. I loved seeing them fall for each other, as well as the banter and chemistry they share. The romance is beautifully written with lots of spice. This is a swoony read and I absolutely loved the epilogue.

Many thanks to SunnyBabePR for a gifted copy of this digital ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.

Linda Conrads is a famous novelist who is a mystery to her fans and the media having never set foot outside of her home for the last ten years. She is extremely successful with a comfortable life despite its highly artificial nature. Over ten years ago, Linda found her sister Anna in a pool of blood and saw the murderer fleeing. His face has haunted her dreams, but he has never been apprehended. It is a tremendous shock to Linda when she glimpses his face on the TV and realizes he is a high-profile journalist, Victor Lenzen. With this knowledge, Linda decides to devise a trap for Victor by writing a novel based on the death of her sister and promote its release via an interview with Victor.

THE TRAP is a novel translated from German and rings in at less than 300 pages. It is a slow burn psychological thriller (or maybe suspense would be more apt?) with some interesting and unique features. The storytelling feels disjointed and almost flat at times, but this is unclear as to whether there is a loss of context/depth due to translation or by design.

I really enjoyed the unreliable narrator aspect of this novel which was well done and added a certain tension to the read. It is a compelling story with some red herrings and some unclear motives. THE TRAP features short sections of Linda's new novel within certain chapters that seemingly serve to give context to Anna's murder, but other times have an unclear purpose.

Overall, this is an intriguing story with a decent ending that provides adequate closure.

As Eero fights to reclaim his throne, it pushes the rebellion forward leaving war looming on the horizon. Aurelie and Eero uncover the darkest shadows of their realm and it threatens the fabric of their bond. A malevolent force emerges from the depths of the fae realm, leaving Aurelie to grapple with the consequences of her magic. As the rebellion escalates and alliances shift, Aurelie and Eero have no choice but to face their deepest fears and desires.

As the second book in this series, these must be read in order. A SWORD OF GILDED EMBERS consists of further expansion on the world building, historical context, and to a certain extent the magic system. I liked this added context and explanation in comparison to book one, but still feel as though there are questions I'd like to have answered for a more complete understanding, particularly with respect to the Courts, and more specifically the Winter Court. I'd also appreciate more discussions of the magic system as I don't really feel like it has been fully fleshed out yet.

I liked that this novel still maintains a dual POV, alternating between Aurelie and Eero's perspectives. I enjoyed the character development of Aurelie and Eero over the course of this story. Aurelie has experienced a lot of trauma (in book one) and is learning to work through it over the course of this novel. I enjoyed that she also spends time learning about herself and her capabilities with her newfound magic. The emotional connection that continues to develop between Aurelie and Eero is well done, and their physical chemistry is becoming more prevalent as well. The throne room scene was excellent.

I really enjoyed all the action that occurs here, making this story fast-paced and intriguing. I loved all the battles and was always anxious as to what the outcome would be! I am excited to see what book 3 will bring!

Many thanks to the author for a digital ARC of this book.

Aurelie Cane's life is forever changed after striking a deal with a slimy merchant. She finds herself traded to the fae to maintain peace between the two realms and her captor intends to sell her hand in marriage in exchange for his own personal gain. Aurelie confides in her bodyguard, Eero, and soon uncovers the truth of her bloodlines and magic, as well as the fact that her guard has quite a few secrets of his own. Together, Aurelie and Eero dig up forgotten evil leaving Aurelie with a choice that could tear apart kingdoms.

A CROWN OF ASH & SILVER gives off strong ACOTAR vibes at the beginning, which took me some time to mentally parse through and separate the overt similarities between the two stories. As with most fantasy books I've read, there's a strong need for some world-building, context to the magic, as well as context to the current occurrences in the book. I found this part of the book to be somewhat adequate, although I would have liked more context on the history of the magic/bloodlines/kingdoms, as I felt that there's a lot going on currently that began a couple centuries ago and I wasn't entirely clear on the how, why, and what. The author has a note in the beginning of the book that explains her other trilogy (The Runed) explains the magic system in greater detail but I feel like this should have also been addressed here as this is an entirely different series and a reader may not have picked up the other series before starting here.

I enjoyed the dual POV alternating between Aurelie and Eero's perspectives. Both characters have the potential to be interesting and I liked the dynamic they shared. As a slow burn romance, their relationship is well written and their chemistry becomes palpable as the book progresses. There is a small amount of open-door spice within the novel. I thought the concept of mates was pretty cool and am interested in having this expanded upon further as I don't really feel it got addressed here. While I liked both characters, I did find Aurelie to be a bit too meek and naive. I am hopeful for her continued character growth in the next book. I also feel like Eero is hiding a lot of secrets and information from Aurelie and am worried this may lead to unnecessary miscommunications.

The plot is intriguing and feels as though this book is building up towards the plot of book 2. The first 3/4 of this book felt a bit long and uneventful, but the last 15-20% of it really made up for it. There's a lot of big reveals, action, and plot development that occurs and truly convinced me that I should pick up my ARC of book 2 next!

Many thanks to the author for providing a gifted digital copy of this novel.

Before becoming proud new moms, Alice and her friends bonded more than a group of prenatal moms usually would, becoming accidental amateur sleuths and solving a crime together. Alice's son Jack is now already a year old, and Alice is keen to catch up on some sleep. When the opportunity presents itself to participate in an eco-protest, Alice and her friends chain themselves to trees and settle in for some overdue rest. The next morning, one of their fellow protestors is found strangled, leaving Alice and her friends entangled in a new crime that they can't help but want to get to the bottom of.

DEAD TIRED hits just the right spot. I ended up liking this one more than its predecessor, THE EXPECTANT DETECTIVES. I had so much fun revisiting the cozy town of Penton, as well as Alice, her group of friends, and their dogs. Honestly, Helen and the other dogs steal the show yet again, but I think that's to be expected. Helen is always up to no good and getting herself into some sticky messes. Alice is still a hot mess, although seemingly amplified in her postpartum state. She's still getting things done though, so I'd call that a win.

I really enjoyed the complex mystery with its many moving parts in DEAD TIRED. I had absolutely no clue who could be responsible for this whodunnit and ended up being quite surprised by the ending! Lastly, I love Ailes' writing style and sense of humour; I can't wait to see what's next for Alice and her friends.

I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher, Minotaur Books, of this advanced digital copy for the opportunity to read this novel in exchange for an honest review! All opinions shared are my own.