saltygalreads's reviews
306 reviews

Nine Lives is a riff on the Agatha Christie concept behind And Then There Were None, a concept that has been heavily borrowed and copied in thriller books for the last couple of years. As much as I love Dame Agatha, that should really be the end of copying this particular book. The book is frequently referenced in Nine Lives, going so far as to call it by its original title and, in this audiobook, saying the N-word out loud, on multiple occasions. I know that Swanson never retreats from being provocative but this was unnecessary and I cringed upon hearing it.

In the novel, a type-written list of names is sent to a group of nine people with no other information or explanation. When people on the list begin dying under suspicious conditions, the FBI commences an investigation. There were a few twists and surprises in there, and I was moderately entertained, but by the time you reach the conclusion of the novel, the explanation is not really a surprise.

For those who have read/listened to this book, what did you think of the very end? Were you pleased or did you feel it detracted from the story? I would consider this to be a solid but not brilliant mystery, although I do not consider it a thriller.

Empire of Pain is a non-fiction book which explores the Sackler family origins and the introduction of oxycodone to the world on a mass commercial scale. It reads almost as a modern day Greek tragedy, with all the necessary human frailties of greed, pride, entitlement and denial. While the Sackler family is not solely responsible for the opioid crisis, they lit the match and it could not have taken place without them. The truly disheartening piece of the story for me is that so many public institutions and structures designed to protect citizens failed, and succumbed to greed and self-interest.

The reader is left with an unsettled feeling at the conclusion, knowing that the Sacklers walked away from the mess with billions in their offshore bank accounts and no remorse whatsoever for the trail of loss and destruction they helped to create. A sobering and important read.

July 1. Naomi is not having an easy time. Her parents are separated, her family is struggling financially, and her best friend in the world, Diesel her dog, was hit by a car and died. Then Naomi, trying to learn how to swim, jumps off a dock and drowns. She wakes to find it is a week earlier; and Diesel is alive and talking to her! He says he can help save her and the "entire pack". Can Naomi work with Diesel to set things right and save both herself and Diesel?

I loved this charming story for middle school readers and would highly recommend it to parents of young readers anywhere from grade 6-9. It covers themes of family, responsibility, trust and of course, the close bond with our furry friends. The commentary from Diesel throughout was so funny, and the ending is so satisfying.

I saw The Whispering Dead in the horror section of Chapters recently, and having seen it all over bookstagram, decided to give it a try. The storyline briefly goes as follows: the female protagonist Keira awakes from passing out to find herself outside in a storm and being pursued by unknown assailants. She finds refuge and kindness from a local pastor, staying in the old cemetery groundskeeper's cottage. Before long, she finds herself settling into the cottage, with a couple of new friends and a little black kitty. However Keira becomes aware of a frightening ability she possesses-the ability to see and hear the spirits of the dead - and there are a number of them lingering on earth around the cemetery. It becomes Keira's mission to help one tortured soul by solving an old unresolved murder case from years ago.

I found this to be a quick read, with interesting characters and a quickly moving plot. I don't think I would really consider it to be horror, as there was nothing particularly frightening about it. It was enjoyable and if you are looking for a quick, interesting read, perhaps on vacation, with no overly complex plotlines then this could be it. However there wasn't sufficient substance in it to keep me continuing with the series.

It is a very brave act to be a poet. I admire anyone with the courage and vulnerability to write these words and put them out into the world. Your innermost feelings and musings are put out there for others to see.

There are many poems in here to reflect on and they cover so much - the state of the world, parenthood, the breakdown of marriage, the loneliness of lockdown etc. My favourite is the first one "This Sort of Thing Happens All the Time", in the way it elevates the normal act of going for a walk in the evening in the suburbs into a surreal, out-of-body experience.

I'm glad the world discovered Maggie Smith.

Daniel, an Irish expat living in the US, is walking the Camino to Santiago de Compostela, the way of the pilgrim for hundreds of years. The Camino is a test of the body, mind and soul, as Daniel is coming to learn. In his knapsack, Daniel carries the ashes of his beloved wife Petra, who died slowly and agonizingly from cancer. In his heart, Daniel carries the guilt and grief over Petra's final moments and his role in them. While on the Camino, word spreads about a woman who went missing from the trail under suspicious circumstances.

Daniel commences a prickly and difficult friendship with a young woman on the trail named Ginny. Ginny is from California, and is doggedly determined to reach Santiago, even more than most pilgrims for some reason. She and Daniel walk together, occasionally discussing many things but also in companionable silence, and ultimately arguing and clashing. Then they both see horrific sights of a creature following them closely, one that carries the stench of rot and death. Why is the creature dogging their footsteps? Is she truly there or is Daniel succumbing to the exhaustion and mental torture of the Camino and his own guilt?

This was a page-turner, and because I had heard nothing about it previously, it took me utterly by surprise. At times, I found myself holding my breath, both fascinated and freaked out! I have long since wanted to walk the Camino, but having read this, I would think twice about doing it alone.

Fantastic book and I cannot wait to read more from this author.

Due to Lisa Unger's star status, this one was much hyped when it was released. The novel explores the thrills and dangers of "swiping right" and connecting to find love online. Wren Greenwood (a made-up name if ever there was one) recovered from a traumatic childhood to make a new life as an advice columnist. Her friend convinces her to try the online app Torch (aka Tinder) to find some dates and have some fun. She does so, and falls for mysterious Adam, who has her in his sexual thrall, but about whom she knows almost nothing. When he suddenly ghosts her, she decides she needs to find him, and in the course of doing so, finds a trail of missing vulnerable young women who also swiped right on Adam, under various pseudonyms.

This is a solid Lisa Unger read if you're a huge fan, however there were a few things that didn't work for me. As is typical of many of her novels, there was the usual jumping back and forth in time and while I don't mind this on occasion, it is overused. There were also some minor events in the novel that seemed unrealistic and a bit silly to me, but I won't outline since they would be spoilers. I did find that it was a little longer than it needed to be and it dragged a bit for me at times. Overall it was just OK for me, which is reflected in the three star rating.

Unveiled is a fictional imagining of the story behind the The Veiled Virgin, a sculpture by Italian artist Giovanni Strazza, and housed at the unlikely location of the Presentation Convent, St. John's, Newfoundland.

The story is told from the point of view of art history major Rebecca Howell, as she travels from Newfoundland to Italy to work on her PhD with the sculpture as her subject. I am not certain how I could classify the novel since it crosses over into various categories - drama/mystery/romance.

Although it is a short book, only 231 pages, I struggled through this and took more time to finish than I should have. I had expected a mystery, but encountered a novel that wasn't sure what it wanted to be; and much of the romantic and family story relating to Rebecca seemed unnecessary to the storyline. The conflicts and setbacks are all resolved so neatly and to everyone's satisfaction, and the romance is wrapped up in such a trite little happy ever after package at the end, that it almost seems like a Disney novel for adults. Perhaps if you enjoy Hallmark romances (sorry for the shade there), this is your cup of tea, however not one I can recommend.

I listened to this light and cosy mystery on Audiobooks about a trio of British ladies who become amateur sleuths and fast friends while trying to solve a triple murder mystery.

I quite enjoyed the light-hearted atmosphere and the likeable characters, especially intelligent and fierce 77 year old Judith. However, the portrayal of the police incompetence was a little over the top, with the lead detective having almost no team around her to solve three murders and looking completely out of her depth, while three civilians go on to solve the murders. It all comes off as unrealistic and silly, and the final revelation at the very end was off-putting, making the brave and reckless Judith appear almost sinister.

I wanted to love it, but ultimately it didn't live up to its promise.

Martin Asher has been in the US Congress for 30 years - his district in Ohio is known as "Asher Country". HIs intelligent and beautiful wife Jody has been his partner through this and a crucial factor in his success. However Martin has made some judgement errors that have landed him in a potential scandal and might lead to the demise of his political life in Washington. Jody is in an ice-cold f = ury. Her whole life is in Washington and she loves being a political spouse. She is NOT losing all this due to her husband's stupidity! But it will take a cool head and some political maneuvering to make things go exactly her way. Fortunately, that is where Jody, an unapologetic sociopath, excels.

I loved this novel - so devilishly entertaining! What if you could completely ignore the angel on your shoulder and act completely selfishly to achieve your own ends? This is how Jody lives her life. I enjoyed following the machinations and psychological manhandling in this pursuit of power and wealth. And I was rooting for Jody all the way!