Book Review: The Locked Door by Freida McFadden

 The Locked Door

by
Freida McFadden

Psychological thriller

audiobook/ 8 hours

Quote:" Dad always says that If you're going to do something wrong, at least be smart enough not to let anyone see you do it."

From the cover:

Some doors are locked for a reason...

While eleven-year-old Nora Davis was up in her bedroom doing homework, she had no idea her father was killing women in the basement.

Until the day the police arrived at their front door. 

Decades later, Nora's father is spending his life behind bars, and Nora is a successful surgeon with a quiet, solitary existence.

Nobody knows her father was a notorious serial killer. And she intends to keep it that way.

Then Nora discovers one of her young female patients has been murdered. In the same unique and horrific manner that her father used to kill his victims. 

Somebody knows who Nora is. Somebody wants her to take the fall for this unthinkable crime. But she's not a killer like her father. The police can't pin anything on her.

As long as they don't look in her basement...

My Review:

This is my fourth read by Freida McFadden. I so wanted to love this book as much as the first 3 I've read. Sadly, I did not.

The book started out pretty well, and I'll even say had good bones, but somehow it just fell short of my expectations.

I almost felt like this book was made in haste, possibly falling into the quantity over quality trap.

For me, Nora just seemed a tad off. Not in a daughter of a serial killer way, but off as in the writer never really figured out who she was supposed to be.

She seems to have had, at one time, similar traits to her father, but then insists she is nothing like him.

She cannot remember her ex-boyfriend, or why she broke up with him years ago, yet she feels safe enough to hop in the sack after their second meeting.

Furthermore, she makes reference over and over to her father's type, yet never mentions any similarities in the one around her with those features.

I loved the idea this story had going, but there were just too many times I was going, "What? That makes no sense!" 

Right up until the very end.

For the record, I will definitely continue reading McFadden's books! Everyone can have an off project.

It wasn't my favorite, but for the sake of author's name, the idea of the story, and a few well played scenes, I'm giving,The Locked Door a 3-star rating.

Book Review: Do Not Disturb by Freida McFadden

 Do Not Disturb

by

Freida McFadden

psychological thriller/crime/mystery

Library Audiobook/8 hours

Quote: 

" Then I have to decide if I'll forgive him. I probably will. It gets easier each time, and I have to admit, I don't know what I'd do without him."

From the cover:

Quinn Alexander has committed an unthinkable crime.

To avoid spending her life in prison, Quinn makes a run for it. She leaves behind her home, her job, and her family. She grabs her passport and heads for the northern border before the police can discover what she's done. 

But when an unexpected snowstorm forces her off the road, Quinn must take refuge at the broken-down, isolated Baxter Motel. The handsome and kindly owner, Nick Baxter, is only too happy to offer her a cheap room for the night.

Unfortunately, the Baxter Motel isn't the quiet, safe haven it seemed to be. The motel has a dark, and disturbing past. And, in the dilapidated house across the way, the silhouette of Nick's ailing wife, is always at the window. Always watching.

In the morning, Quinn must leave the motel. She'll pack up her belongings and get back on the road to freedom.

But first, she must survive the night.

Do Not Disturb is a Hitchcock-style thriller, that will keep you tearing through the pages until you reach the shocking conclusion!

My Review:

After reading, and reviewing The Perfect Son, I knew I would be reading more of Freida McFadden's books.

I'm a sucker for an excellent thriller. McFadden is quickly moving up the ranks on my favorite authors list.

Do Not Disturb grabs you from the very beginning, right in the grips of the action. Sometimes,...usually, I prefer a little backstory, or leading up; this story does not have or need that aspect. You'll get all that later on, just when you need it. Details of the before sprinkled throughout. Again, this is only my second book by Freida Mcfadden , but this seems to be her writing style. Honestly, I've really enjoyed the way she can jump from one character, or time frame, and then to another without losing the reader. The story is easy to keep up with, and full of details.

After reading/listening to this book, I did hop over to Goodreads and read a few reviews on this one. I don't know if this is a habit I should break. I want to give my opinion solely based off my experience of the book, and what I personally took away from it, not tainted by other's opinions. Although there were several people who caught a few things just as I did.

There were some serious inconsistencies in a character that couldn't be ignored. I'm not sure if McFadden had intended readers to see something else, maybe we missed. Either way, it left a lot of us baffled.

I wasn't triggered about the excuse/explanation why the character did what they did, but it seemed to be an issue for other readers.

There were a couple small things, I wish had been explained or concluded a bit more, but nothing to frown on the book about.

Throughout reading this twisted thriller, I had a few ideas on the whodunnits and whys. I got a few right, and a couple wrong. I'd say suspense was a 8/10, shock/plot twist 7/10

My favorite character had to be Rob, or Nick, which doesn't happen often. I usually find one of the female characters that stick with me most.

I think weird Greta or maybe even hot/cold Rosalie were my least favorites. But, you'll have to read Do Not Disturb by Freida McFadden for yourself to see why, or if you agree.

I'm giving this one 4 stars!

Have you read this one? I'd love to know what you thought!

Any fans of McFadden's? What should I read next?

Book Review: The Perfect Son by Freida McFadden

 The Perfect Son

by

Freida McFadden

Quote: "But, I never believed him. Even when he was sobbing in my office, it seemed incredibly fake. I don't think he was sorry at all. Not even a little bit. The only thing I think he was sorry about was that we found her."

Date started: Aug 4, 2022

Finished: August 5, 2022

Kindle/e-book edition, 237 pages

mystery/psychological thriller

From the cover:

"Mrs. Cass, we were hoping your son could answer a few questions about the girl who disappeared last night..."

Erika Cass has a perfect family and a perfect life. Until the evening, two detectives show up at her front door. A high school girl has vanished from Erika's quiet suburban neighborhood. The police suspect the worst--murder. And Erika's teenage son, Liam, was the last person to see the girl alive.

Erika has always sensed something dark and disturbed in her seemingly perfect older child. She wants to believe he's innocent, but as the evidence mounts, she can't deny the truth- Liam may have done the unthinkable.

Now she must ask herself:

How far will she go to protect her son?

My review:

The book begins with the transcript of Erika's interview with the police.

It then goes on to be told from Erika's point of view, and remains that way throughout the book.

The first chapter starts off as a mundane, typical suburban daily routines. Breakfast, chats about their days, school, plans. But, in Erika's mind, there is a lot going on that is not your typical stay-at-home-mom's thoughts.

I do like that this particular story stayed with one narrator, although she wasn't my favorite. 

The story is pretty fast-paced, and flows. There were a few parts that threw me off. They just didn't seem to have good reason to be placed in the story. I kept waiting to see why, but even then, it didn't seem relevant. Maybe too many "fillers" for the book.

The relationship between the Cass family and the school, teachers, friends, neighbors seemed a tad unrealistic due to the nature of their situation. Also, within the household, it seemed they all had separate lives, and secrets.

Do we really even know the people we live with?

Hannah(sister) and Jason(dad) didn't play a huge role in the book until later into the story.

A few times while reading, I would think, "Oh, this is it!" "This is where we figure it out." and then...nope! Wrong!

The Perfect Son definitely holds up to the plot twist factor. I'd say the last 3 chapters, I couldn't read fast enough. After all my failed attempts to figure it out, I just had to keep going.

The ending? *Mind Blown*

I gave this one 4 stars

I'd definitely recommend for anyone looking for a good psychological twist mystery.

This is the first book by Freida McFadden that I've read. I really enjoyed her style and the story. I'll be looking into more of her books

Find your copy here:

The Perfect Son by Freida McFadden

Audiobook Mini Reviews: Crime, Suspense, and Mystery

I'm super excited to get these audiobook reviews finally done!
I know y'all have been waiting patiently and I really appreciate it!
For the most part, I can get these audios "read" much faster than actual books, so I decided to try and do a round-up 3.
These are the three that fell into the category of crime, suspense, and mystery.
I'm hoping to have a theme similar with each set of mini reviews I do.
That may mean larger gaps between reviews, depending on what I read and how I can categorize them. Just bear with me.

*This post contains affiliate links.

1. The Life We Bury~ Allen Eskens

(Detective Max Rupert #1)

mystery/fiction/thriller

College student Joe Talbert has the modest goal of completing a writing assignment for English class. His task is to interview a stranger and write a brief biography of the person. With deadlines looming, Joe heads to a nearby nursing home to find a willing suspect. There he meets Carl Iverson, and soon nothing in Joe's life is ever the same. Iverson is a Vietnam veteran- and a convicted murderer.

My Review:

This book had so much going for it. Joe has enough of his own issues going on, home life, a dysfunctional mother, college, an autistic brother, a crush on his neighbor. The last thing he needs is a murder mystery to solve. Yet, that is exactly where this story takes us.

Joe wonders how this respected veteran with his loyal friend and stories of heroism can be convicted of such a violent crime.

Joe, with the help from his girl neighbor, are determined to find the truth. Will it be too late?

A must read.

2. Adam~ Ted Dekker

Christian fiction, mystery, horror, thriller

FBI Behavioral psychologist Daniel Clark has been made famous by his arguments that religion is one of society's greatest antagonists. What Daniel doesn't know is that his obsessive pursuit of a serial killer known only as "Eve" will end in his own death at Eve's hand. Twenty minutes later, Daniel is resuscitated, only to be haunted by those twenty missing minutes of life.

My Review:

Dekker! (swoon)

I truly do love all of his books. I love his writing style and how he combines his Christianity and beliefs into real scenarios. Real stories that will not only grip you from the beginning but also give you tons of food for thought.

Adam is a twisted mix of obsession, pursuit, capture, release, mind altering, abuse, trauma, consequences, and beliefs. It truly has a little something for everyone.

For myself, this books real question...the real "take-away" is; Which is better or right. Facing our demons and finding release to heal. Or hiding them, hoping they go away from fear of what happens when they are revealed?

3. Harvest~ Tess Gerritsen

mystery, thriller, crime, suspense

Medical resident Dr. Abby Matteo is elated when the elite cardiac transplant team at Boston's Bayside Hospital taps her as a potential recruit. But faced with a tormenting life-and-death decision, Abby helps direct a crash victim's harvested heart to a dying teenager -- instead of a wealthy older woman who was supposed to receive it. The repercussions leave Abby shaken and plagued with self-doubt.

My Review:

I fell in love with Gerritsen's writings through her Rizzoli and Isles series. I have continued to enjoy many more of her books.

Harvest is a stand alone book. It was such a great book without the commitment of getting sucked into another series.(I just don't have time at the moment).

This story very much could be true. I'm sure it has happened to some degree, somewhere. Greed is everywhere and the fight to live only fuels that. What would you be willing to pay to save a loved one?

Would you be willing to look the other way in order to save one of your own?...For the right price.

Dive into this twisted mystery and find out how it plays out.

I just checked the website, Thriftbooks,  This Link Here! All three of these books are now available in copies for $3.79 and up depending on condition!

Go, buy the book!

Seriously, you can also join their amazing awards program and earn points towards FREE books!

Book Review: The Priest's Graveyard

The Priest's Graveyard

By

Ted Dekker

Quote:

" Of course. Of course. There's nothing worse than injustice. I've always believed that those responsible for it should be brought to their knees even when they come in small, frail packages." ~ Danny pg. 129

Started: September 13, 2017

Finished: September 27, 2017

hardback cover, 360 pages

* This posts contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase from the link, I will receive a small commission at no extra charge to you.
(TIA for adding to my book fund ;)

From the cover:

Two abandoned souls are on the hunt for one powerful man, soon, their paths will cross and lead to one twisted fate bound by a perilous love.

Danny Hansen came to America with hopes of escaping haunted memories of a tragic war that took his mother's life. Now he's a priest, incensed by the powerful among us who manipulate the law for their own gain, uncaring of the shattered lives they leave behind. It is his duty to show them the error of their ways, even if he must put them in the grave.

Renee Gilmore is the frail and helpless victim of one such powerful man. Having escaped his clutches, she now lives only to satisfy justice by destroying him, regardless of whom she must become in the pursuit.

But when Danny and Renee's paths become inexorably entangled things go very, very badly and neither of them may make it out of this hunt alive.

My Review:

I bought this book from ThriftBooks a few years ago but it had been put up and forgotten. I went through a huge  Ted Dekker phase and read about 5 of his books almost back to back. I absolutely love his writing style and amazing stories. I think I jut burnt myself out and moved on to something lighter and this book got forgotten. I'm so glad I found it and decided to read this one. 

It is a stand alone and I love that I wasn't getting in to a commitment...I have so many on my TBR list that I have slacked off on series unless, I already have the whole set.

Dekker did not disappoint!

As with all of his books, I was hooked from the first page.

He has an amazing way of saying just the right words to make you immediately ask the question, "What's happening here?"...and you have to keep going to figure it out.

Always action packed from the beginning.

In The Priest's Graveyard, it starts out with Renee asking a priest if he will listen to her, or rather Danny's confession, but only if he is 100% he will keep confidence and have time to hear the full story and hopefully understand Danny better. 

The Priest assures her God can forgive anything, but Renee isn't so sure... this time.

Danny's confession, written out in a journal, describes how it all started. How he became the priest who claims the lives of those who have done evil and gotten away with it. 

It details how he became who he now is and the events he has been involved in.

Throughout the book, Danny and Renee's relationship takes many turns and their lives become more entangled. They become teacher and apprentice, friends, partners, and even foe.

Much of Renee's life has been forgotten or at the least regressed memories that her brain isn't ready to deal with just yet. Will Danny uncover her secrets and be able to help her through the memories...or will he help to destroy her and the life she is now building with him?

How will all these events play out and what are the final consequences? Who really gets the final say?

I don't want to spoil the story for you readers. So, ....READ IT!

I can only say good things about yet another awesome Dekker book!

Make sure you check out all of his great books over at Goodreads!

Have you read any of his books?
Which is your favorite?

Shop now for thousands of quality used mystery, thriller & suspense books starting at under $4

Review: Cover Of Snow

Cover of Snow

By~ 

Jenny Milchman

Quote: " The only thing I can tell you about Brendan's last days is he was doing a lot of talking. More than usual even."~ Club

( pg.60)

Started: July 31, 2017

Finished: Aug. 7, 2017

paperback/336 pages

From the Cover:

Waking up one wintry morning in her old farmhouse nestled in the Adirondack Mountains of New York, Nora Hamilton finds her world suddenly shattered. Her husband, Brendan, has committed suicide. Then a disturbing awareness slowly settles in: Brendan left no note and gave no indication that he was contemplating taking his own life. Why would a rock-solid police officer with unwavering affection for his wife, job, and quaint hometown suddenly choose to end it all? Unraveling her late husband's final days, Nora searches for an explanation- but finds a bewildering resistance from Brendan's best friend and partner, his fellow police officers, and his brittle mother. It quickly becomes clear to Nora that she is asking questions no one wants to answer. For beneath the soft cover of snow lies a powerful conspiracy that will stop at nothing to keep its presence unknown...and its darkest secrets hidden.

My Review:

This is by far one of my new favorites!

It jumps right in and holds you from the beginning. 

The mysterious suicide of a small town cop starts a peeling away at a lifetime of secrets and crimes.

Nora, his wife is determined to find answers no one else wants uncovered. She is learning friend from foe along the way and keeps stumbling. She is struggling to understand the clues her truest ally, Dugger, an autistic man is trying to tell her. His rhymes are codes. "Red head, Red dead" He is trying to show her the big picture in small clips, recordings and sing songs.

Ned a  reporter, starts out with his own agenda(yet another crime the cops covered up), but quickly realizes he too has to help Nora and dives into all the danger at any cost to save her before the truth gets her killed.

Who knows the truth? What is the truth? Who is covering things up? and why?

This book definitely keeps you engrossed and wanting more.

Wonderful characters, plot, twists and action.

I think Jenny Milchman has done an amazing job and I will definitely recommend her and this book to any reader that loves a good thriller mystery.

5 Stars for Cover of Snow!

Review: Spare Change

Spare Change

by Bette Lee Crosby

Quote:" I believe he's a man who can be trusted, but you'll have to be the one to decide whether or not you want to tell him the truth of what happened."-Olivia pg. 212

Started: Jan. 3, 2013

Finished: Jan.5, 2013

280 pages/ paperback

From the cover:

Olivia Westerly's father disowned her when she tossed her nose in the air and left home in pursuit of a job he considered scandalous. He expected that she'd marry and settle into having babies as her friends had done; but Olivia simply couldn't tolerate the thought. Why just the mere mention of children sent chills up her spine!

 Believing that children weigh a woman down like a pocket full of stones, Olivia avoids such entanglements for almost forty years... but then she meets Charlie Doyle and everything changes. Even though Charlie has a son, and a grandson he's supposedly never seen, Olivia is blinded by love and happily says " I do,"

 That happiness is cut short when Charlie dies on their honeymoon and Olivia returns home to find eleven year old Ethan Allen Doyle sitting on her doorstep. The boy's parents are dead and only two people know the truth of what happened- Ethan Allen isn't talking and the murderer wants to make certain he never does. Olivia is the only one who can stop it from happening.

My Review:

I am so excited to finally get to this review! This is my first review on a book that was sent to me personally from the author! Signed and everything!!! Woo hoo! I am more than delighted to do this review for what I am discovering is a wonderful author, Mrs. Bette Lee Crosby.

Be sure and visit her website or you can even be her fan/friend on Goodreads by clicking here.

Don't forget to add her books to your reading list!

Spare Change was such a sweet, heartwarming and sometimes sassy book. While some reviewers have claimed this book to have a slow start, I rather enjoyed the character building aspect of the first few chapters. I really enjoyed the well way it was written in short chapters by individual characters views.

The character's personalities immediately show through and draw you into the story.

Olivia is a woman who has always known what she wanted and what she didn't want in life.

Charlie is the all American man of her dreams, Olivia has been waiting for.

Susanna is a feisty, dreamer that struggles with what she can do and what she wants to do

Benjamin is the hard-working, never has it good enough, rough-necked drunkard

Ethan Allen(my favorite) is the neglected, spunky little guy with too much life experience for his age

Scooter Cobb is the slimey, over sized, above the law wannabe!

Detective Jack Mahoney, good-guy, christian cop who wants to save the day and right all wrongs

There are several other, smaller characters, but all have very distinguished personalities.

This book showed me how you never know how or when you will find faith, trust and hope. The Lord does indeed work in mysterious ways. Crosby shows that no matter what we think we want in life, He always has something better for us. at least in Olivia's case.

I don't want to include any spoilers which makes this part of the review so difficult. I really enjoyed this story and hope that there will be a sequel. I will say I wish Crosby had written more about why Charlie hadn't spoken to his son and where did Susanna really come from. I think those were the only two things that never really got answered for me.

I have already recommended this book to several friends and have 3 people in line to borrow my copy!

Definitely 5 stars*****

Review: Still Missing

Still Missing

by Chevy Stevens

Quote: " I've tried to play women's games before, with some unfortunate results, but I won't make that mistake again." ~The Freak pg. 40

Started: December 12, 2012

Finished: December 20, 2012

352 pages, hardcover

From the cover:

On the day she was abducted, Annie O'Sullivan, a thirty-two-year-old Realtor, had three goals: Sell a house, forget about a recent argument with her mother, and be on time for diner with her ever-patient boyfriend. the open house is slow, but when her last visitor pulls up in a van as she's about to leave, Annie thinks it just might be her lucky day after all.

 Interwoven with the story of the year Annie spent captive in a remote mountain cabin-which unfolds through sessions with her psychiatrist- is a second narrative recounting the nightmare that follows her escape: her struggle to piece her shattered life back together, the ongoing police investigation into the identity of her captor, and the disturbing sense that things are far from over.

  The truth doesn't always set you free. Still Missing  is a shocking, visceral, brutal, and beautifully crafted debut novel about surviving the unsurvivable- and living to bear witness.

My review:

I have mixed feeling about this book. There were some things I really enjoyed about it and others I couldn't believe(literally), or just couldn't understand. It seems to me there were too many holes in this story. Too many un-established characters and too much left untold. It made the story very hard to follow or to even try to solve the mystery. Which for me is half the fun of reading. Don't we "want" to figure it out? 

I felt very confused throughout most of the book. 

I did like the "idea" of the book and how it gave some detail into what she went through and had to endure. I did feel her dissociating after the event believable. Maybe this book was meant to be as confusing and unbelievable as it would actually be.

How would any human "be" after such events? Don't we all question why, how, after something evil or unjust happens? Maybe this book IS more real, simply because it makes no sense. It is about a tragic, horrible "thing" that happened and someone, many people are left to go on afterwards with unanswered questions. No quick problem solved. Yet, they must go on with whatever they do have, whatever is left of themselves.

I gave Still Missing 4 stars*

Review: The Midwife's Confession

The Midwife's Confession

by Diane Chamberlain

Quote: " I feel like I don't know her. I know I've said that a lot lately, but now I really, really feel that way." ~ Emerson pg. 138

Started: Oct. 29, 2012

Finished: Oct. 31, 2012

417 pages/ paperback

From the cover:

Dear Anna,

What I have to tell you is difficult to write, but I know it will be far more difficult for you to hear, and I'm so sorry...

The unfinished letter is the only clue Tara and Emerson have to the reason behind their close friend Noelle's suicide. Everything they knew about Noelle- her calling as a midwife, her passion for causes, her love for her friends and family- described a woman who embraced life.

 Yet there was so much they didn't know.

With the discovery of the letter and its heartbreaking secret, Noelle's friends begin to uncover the truth about this complex woman who touched each of their lives- and the life of a desperate stranger- with love and betrayal, compassion and deceit.

Told with sensitivity and insight. The Midwife's Confession will have you turning pages late into the night.

My Review:

This book will definitely be among my Top 10 favorite books ever. Honestly, I couldn't tell you exactly why and yet, there are so many reasons why! Confused? Me too! I don't know. It was just such a well written book with the most intriguing characters. I could not put it down. I literally read on and off for less than 2 days and had it finished. i even went back and re-read skipping around trying to take it all in again and make sure I hadn't missed anything. I couldn't get enough of the characters!

 Everything falls into place just when it should. It gives you such insight into how complex humans truly are. How even the people we are closest to can be so much more than we ever knew or ever thought possible. 

This is such a tragic and heart wrenching story about a woman's life, mistakes, lessons learned and how she copes with the things both in and out of her control. Right, wrong or ugly this was who she was. As you read you learn which parts she chose to expose and what she kept hidden until after her death. things that even then were only found by accident and the drive to find answers. to find the truth!

Completely amazing!

*5 stars* (should be 10!)

Please check out more of  Diane Chamberlain's books.

I know I will be!

Review: House

House

by

Frank Peretti and Ted Dekker

The light came into the darkness, and the darkness did not understand it.

My heart holds all secrets; my heart tells no lies.

House

The Only way Out is In

started reading~ 9/16/11
ended~ 9/22/11

Frank Peretti and Ted Dekker come together to give us a chilling, heart thumping look into the battle between good and evil. Every chapter has you wanting to hear more and finding more twists than the last. 

It starts out with Stephanie and Jack... a not so perfect couple, with some secrets and turmoils of their own.

After arguments, pity parties, and then...car trouble things go from bad to worse.

They decide to head out on foot to find help or shelter until daybreak. Up ahead is a sign that reads THE WAYSIDE INN. It is their only hope,... or is it?

There's a game to be played in order to leave this house! There are rules to his game. The rules are simple.

Rule 1.God came to my house and I killed him

Rule 2. I will kill anyone who comes to my house like I killed God

Rule 3. Give me one dead body and I might let Rule 2 slide

I really enjoyed this book. My first impression of the cover was that it would be creepy in a gruesome kind of way, but having read Dekker before I should have known it would be way deeper than boogeymen and zombies.

 I think Jack's character was well written but could have given more details into all the characters....don't want to give any spoilers away. Susan was by far my favorite, the most mysterious of them all.

By the middle of the book, the message is clear but it still has a few twists you weren't expecting. nothing is ever as it appears.

Over all I would give this book 4 stars.

It was definitely a book I would recommend and I have already ordered the movie based on the book. I cannot wait to see how it compares.

Hope you enjoy your next read!

Don't forget to check out other great reads by Ted Dekker and Frank Peretti