saltygalreads's reviews
306 reviews

In Tehran, Iran, little Sara is traumatized by witnessing the brutal assault and murder of her 9 year-old sister by a man she knows. She is left mute by the experience, unable to communicate her terror and grief. She then develops a strange reaction to the trauma, by sprouting a beard every time she is forced to be around a man she doesn't know. Over time, Sara leaves Iran and becomes a great spiritual leader known as the Prophetess, where she then experiences further oppression and manipulation by social media.

This is a strange and thought-provoking little novel - a work of magical realism which skillfully depicts the impact of state, social and religious-sanctioned oppression and violence towards women. Sara is all women, angry at having to cover themselves, lower their voices, defer to men and be invisible.

As the Prophetess, a journalist asks her with what gender she identifies. "All the women in me, who have come a long way, laugh at this. They say being a woman is absolute misery, and those who are born even a little bit male should hold on to that privilege. This is the outcome of thousands of years of what men have done to us...but I am a woman. Not just one, but millions."

This book couldn't be more timely or relevant than right now. I hope that many people will read it and that it sparks an important conversation, not just for women but for all of us. Much gratitude to Vehicule Press for sending this gem to me, and to Dimitri Nasrallah for recommending it in his Giller Prize interview.

I struggled greatly to finish this book. While I read many thrillers, I don't read many with this level of grisly depiction of torture, so that was unsettling and not really to my taste.

The chapters are short and change POV regularly between the two main characters - Alysa and Morgan, and the time period frequently changes between present day and "then". For much of the book I was fairly confused and sometimes I just had no idea what they were talking about. Theirs is a curious kind of friendship, or perhaps I should call them frenemies. There seems to be a great deal of mistrust, deception and antagonism between them although they proclaim to be best friends.

Things started to make more sense to me in the second half of the book, although I was left with lingering questions - likely things I just missed or misunderstood. I recognize that this seems to be an unpopular opinion, but this book missed the mark for me.

When I received this digital copy to read, I assumed it was a lightweight summer read, timed for the vacation season. I could not have been more wrong about it.

Rachel is now in her thirties and married to a very steady, nice man who wants children. But Rachel has a dark past, going back to the summer when she was seventeen years old and working on a Greek island. This is where she begins working at a bar owned by a notorious millionaire named Henry Taylor, who always seems to have a bevy of beautiful, very young girls at his villa to "entertain" his many male friends and acquaintances. Rachel has a passionate affair with Henry Taylor's employee and right-hand man, Alistair, who is mysterious, sexy and much older than Rachel. That summer has dramatic consequences for Rachel and her friend circle on the island. Years later, Rachel and her friends come to some startling realizations about that summer and how Henry and Alistair capitalized on their youthful exuberance and inexperience for their own dark purposes.

This was an engrossing read and I definitely stayed up past my bedtime to finish it. In the post #metoo era, the subject matter is timely and relevant. The flashbacks of the Greek island setting feel dreamy and idyllic contrasted with the rainy and dreary present day English setting. This helps to imbue those distant, youthful memories with a false golden glow of happiness and romance. Rachel is still obsessed with Alistair after all those years, even after he abandoned her without a word.

My only criticism would be that Rachel's continued defence of Alistair and rationalization of his actions into her thirties were difficult to believe in and accept. A certain amount of denial about the extent of his involvement and culpability is acceptable but I felt her continued naivety was a stretch. Altogether a very enjoyable and engrossing read! Many thanks to St. Martin's Press for the copy to read.

Speak of the Devil begins with a shocking and disorienting scene: the discovery of a man's grotesque severed head on display in a hotel room. Even with this macabre opening, the beginning chapters of this novel go slowly and it takes time to be completely drawn into the story. The lives of seven very different women, who on the surface level should have nothing in common with each other, are all tied tightly together by the existence and actions of one man.

Jamie Spellman was never wanted by his mother or his aunt. Does that explain his malevolence and twisted personality? The ages-old debate of nature v. nurture will be in your mind as you read this novel and follow the investigation of his murder by detective Nova Stokoe as she digs into the lives of the seven key women in his history. Jamie is a despicable character and as a reader you will feel no sympathy for him, but Nova, on the other hand, is a very likeable character, competent but also very human in her empathy and humour.

As the stories of the seven women unfolded, I was completely hooked. The slowness of the earlier chapters progresses with steady revelations on the backgrounds of the characters and their connections to each other and to Jamie. The conclusion and exposure of the murderer, while not unexpected at that stage, feels abrupt. I wanted there to be more. This was a fantastic debut novel and I look forward to reading more from Rose Wilding. Thanks to Minotaur and NetGalley for providing a copy.

Two journalists, with a history of mildly antagonistic competitiveness, do research to complete their books on The Alperton Angels case. The notorious case dates back to the early 2000s when a shocking multiple homicide case captured the attention of the nation: a cult obsessed with angels and the end of days is uncovered when most of its members are found murdered and mutilated. Meanwhile, a young female member of the cult shows up at a hospital carrying a newborn baby in a plastic bag. The two journalists struggle to piece together events and find the real story while mysterious forces work against them.

This is the third book written in Hallett's signature style - presented as a file composed of transcribed interviews, research notes, WhatsApp conversations, and so on. True to form, it is full of twists and hidden agendas, with a little breadcrumb trail scattered through the narrative if the reader pays attention. I found this one more enjoyable than her last (The Twyford Code) and certainly much easier to follow. However I think this style has a limited shelf life and three novels might be the limit.

Wendy Wise is an advice expert - for years she has been dispensing her brand of wisdom to loyal readers of her column. Unfortunately, Wendy's advice is starting to sound a little out of touch with the times, so when her employer decides that Wendy's column is done, she decides to fill the gap in her schedule by swooping in for a long overdue visit with her daughters. Barb Wise has been more of a mother figure to sister Clementine over the years, due to the fact that Wendy was often absent and attending to her career. Neither one welcomes a visit from Wendy, with her trite advice and annoying meddling. Unknown to Wendy, both Barb and Clementine are struggling these days, in their relationships, finances and work. Can the three help each other through their difficulties and resolve the resentments of the past?

This was a fun, enjoyable book and a fast read. The pace is quick and lively, and the mood light, despite the seriousness of some of the issues including bullying, betrayal, financial struggles, gentrification, and absentee parents. Because of the light tone and the fact that none of these issues is explored in any depth, the reader only gets to know the characters on a very superficial level. The issues are resolved tidily in the conclusion, parts of which I perceived as very unrealistic.

However if you are searching for a light read, perhaps to take on vacation, and you don't want to be stressed out then this is a good choice. Many thanks to Harper Collins Canada and Suz Dugard for the copy!

Dark academia? Count me in!

At a university in North Carolina, a small group of graduate students is working with Professor Joe Lyons on a research project about the propensity to lie. The conditions of the study sometimes go a little far in provoking a reaction from the subjects, and has in fact just sparked a violent response from one of the participants. The graduate students are all very different from each other in background, circumstances and personality, so some of them do not get along with each other very well. All of them have histories that they have not shared with each other. The arrival of a new team member, with a prickly personality and a directive to provide legal counsel and keep the group on an ethical track, sets everyone's nerves on edge. Shockingly, one of the graduate students is violently murdered in Joe's office after-hours. The local detective, Alana Larson, teams up with Officer Patrick King to solve the murder.

I found this novel a little slow to start, but once it began to pick up the pace I had trouble putting it down. I quite enjoyed the small college town setting and the enclosed little world of university academia, along with the exploration of the students' characters. The partnership of Larson and King was especially enjoyable. I had difficulty wrapping my head around the experiment/study and how it was supposed to examine lying and deceptive behaviour, not that it was critical to the plot, but it bothered me that it didn't make sense to me. The reader is able to anticipate the identity of the murderer, but it takes some time to get to the bottom of the mystery of why. I think I would have preferred a different character to be the murderer. I can't explain why without spoilers, but I think I would have been more satisfied with a different murderer. Ultimately, the novel checks some of the boxes but not all. It is a very solid debut mystery novel however, so thanks to Sourcebooks Landmark for the copy to read.

When I saw this title from GCP, I knew I had to read it! I love a good non-fiction book - if you haven't tried them I highly recommend it as a great "palate-cleanser" and a reset, especially after a heavy read or during a book hangover.

"Quitting" gives the word, and the action, a make-over by demonstrating to the reader that dogged perseverance is sometimes harmful and non-productive, while quitting just might be the healthier alternative. Dr. Julia Keller explains the history of how refusing to quit became the ultimate compliment and quitting became shameful. "My father used to say, 'You've got to have stick-to-itiveness.'" This line got me in the feels because it is, verbatim, what my own father has always said, and still says.

She lays out a compelling case for changing our attitude toward quitting, and helps the reader to understand that it is not solely a dramatic, burn-it-all-down approach. Although this is how society conventionally thinks of quitting, it can be a more thoughtful, gradual approach, or even a partial one, a "pivot" to something similar but different. Interspersed through the chapters are numerous anecdotes of people quitting activities or life choices that simply don't provide the rewards expected. Once we can view perseverance without the "veneer of virtue", we are better able to let go and change course without the voice of judgement inside our heads.

Of course, Dr. Keller does not argue that quitting is a universally sound approach, acknowledging that perseverance is the quality that has allowed so many achievements to come into existence. What she does argue, mostly successfully, is that never, ever giving up is not about virtue, and quitting is not about the lack of it. She points out that there is a time and place for both, and that quitting should be viewed neutrally, as a valid alternative when something simply is not serving us. As she notes in the introduction, "it's a gesture of generosity toward yourself and your future".

This is a relatively quick read and an enjoyable one. The only recommendation for improvement I could make is that perhaps the inclusion of a little empirical research might give the book and the argument more heft. Thanks to GCP Balance for the copy!

I was immediately intrigued by the title of this novel: Love and Murder in the Time of Covid. It conjures visions of surreptitious sleuthing in narrow lanes under the watchful eye of the CCP, and I wasn’t far wrong.

Former Chief Inspector Chen Cao is “recruited” to investigate a series of violent murders close to a hospital in Shanghai, along with the current Chief Inspector and his faithful assistant, Jin. The pandemic is raging in China and the people are suffering as their medical system is completely overwhelmed, some literally dying on the doorsteps of the medical facilities. Meanwhile, the regime clamps down ever harder on communication with the outside world, spinning a story of control and success over Covid due to their superior zero-Covid policy. At the same time, a close friend of Chen Cao’s has written an account of the suffering of the people he has called The Wuhan File and, at great personal risk, Chen Cao is translating this and working with others to get the document out of China.

I note that the publisher has classified this as a police procedural and I think that is a better description of this novel than calling it a mystery. There is very little focus on the “whodunnit” aspect of the story as Chen Cao very easily gets to the bottom of the case. The true interest in the novel lies in the peek into Chinese life that it affords the reader – the subterfuge, the veneer of calm and stability overlying an atmosphere of threat and danger, and the hidden meanings in speech. I will admit to googling quite a bit on the history of Chairman Mao’s reign and cultural revolution to understand some of the references. Some of the language reads a little stilted and awkward, but at the same time is rather charming. One thing that jars, however, is the treatment of Jin as Chen Cao’s “little secretary” and all the attendant sexism that implies. At one point, the Chief Inspector states he will leave Chen Cao in Jin’s “soft hands”, which made me physically cringe. The inclusion of The Wuhan File was a stroke of brilliance however, as a nod to The Wuhan Diaries, and was an excellent addition to the storyline.

Altogether, this was a fascinating read and a glimpse into what lies beyond that red curtain. Many thanks to Severn House for allowing me to read it.

How to Kill Men and Get Away With It is a tongue-in-cheek take on vigilantism. with Instagram darling and influencer Kitty Collins avenging wronged women by killing their stalkers and rapists, and feeding them through a meat grinder. She is surrounded by a circle of wealthy socialites who spend their time jetting to hot spots or preening themselves vacuously for a selfie. Kitty considers herself a step above all this, with a mission to rid the world of men who prey on women. In the midst of all this, she meets a genuinely nice guy and struggles to keep her extra-curricular activities on the QT.

I will admit to a thrill of satisfaction as I read, thinking about all the guys out there who objectify, use and mistreat women. But ultimately this novel did not quite satisfy. Kitty was as shallow as all the others in her social circle, name-dropping designer everything and indulging to excess in recreational drugs and booze. I thought perhaps her experiences, and in particular one huge mistake, would produce some soul searching and a flash of something deeper in her character. I kept hoping for a final surprise twist at the end of the book (perhaps the boyfriend wouldn't be so good after all) but it never came. It was a fun read, but I think the author could have dug deeper and made this something special.