Tag Archives: Secrecy

Jackal’s Mistress: A Novel by Chris Bojahlian

20 Saturday Sep 2025

Posted by in action, adventure, Historical Fiction, History, murder, romance, suspense, United States

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“The true story of a wounded Union officer saved by a Confederate woman… adding imaginative twists to the original story line… when Capt. Jonathan Weybridge is severely wounded in battle and left to die… Libby feels honor bound to do for him what she hopes a Union woman would do for her husband. Thus ‘the Jackal…’ becomes a secret member of their household and a perilous friendship blossoms.”—Alida Becker, The New York Times Book Review

“This page-turner from bestselling Bohjalian…will not disappoint fans of American Civil War narratives. The vividly drawn characters and historical details make for a compelling read.”—Library Journal, Starred Review

“Top-notch…. Based on a true story, The Jackal’s Mistress brings all the propulsive plot and sensitive character development one has come to expect from Bohjalian; here, he spins a tale of unlikely romance between a wounded Union soldier from Vermont and a gritty Virginia woman.”—Kate Tuttle, The Boston Globe

“Elegant, poignant, and richly atmospheric….Bohjalian once again demonstrates his profound respect for women, endowing his female protagonists with depth and nuance.”— Booklist, Starred Review

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Culpability by Bruce W. Holsinger

12 Friday Sep 2025

Posted by in detective, Fiction, suspense, United States

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“I was riveted until the very last shocking sentence!”—Oprah Winfrey

“If you want an engaging novel sure to spark great discussion about that thorny [AI] future, this is it.”—Ron Charles, The Washington Post

“A fascinating, thought-provoking novel. Bruce Holsinger is a master at combining revelatory social commentary about important, timely issues (AI this time) with deeply moving insights about family dynamics. I highly, highly recommend this book.”—Angie Kim, author of Happiness Falls

“Holsinger seems to have created his own subgenre of psychosocial thriller, spinning super-smart, propulsive page-turners out of zeitgeisty worries . . . If you are not already hooked on Holsinger, it’s time to join the club.”—Kirkus (starred review)

“In Culpability, Bruce Holsinger brings his sharp eye and fearless storytelling to one of the most urgent questions of our time: What does it mean to be responsible in a world shaped by systems we no longer fully control? Part family drama, part techno-thriller, this riveting novel traces the moral fallout of a self-driving car crash through the lens of a fractured family. With piercing insight and deep compassion, Holsinger captures the unsettling drift between human intention and algorithmic consequence—never losing sight of the fragile, fallible people at the heart of the story. Gripping, wise, and eerily prescient, Culpability is a family novel for the age of AI.”—Christina Baker Kline, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Orphan Train

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The Impossible Thing by Belinda Bauer

05 Friday Sep 2025

Posted by in Fiction, Historical Fiction, mystery, nature, suspense, thriller

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“It was the greatest mystery never told . . .

1926. On the towering cliffs of Yorkshire, men are lowered on ropes to steal the eggs of the sea birds who nest there. The most beautiful are sold for large sums. But when small and hungry Celie Sheppard finds an ”impossible” red egg, it will forever alter the course of her life – and the lives of others.

One hundred years later in a remote cottage in Wales, Patrick Fort discovers his friend, Nick, and his mother tied up and robbed. The only thing missing: a carved case containing an incredible scarlet egg. Doggedly attempting to retrieve it, Patrick and Nick discover the cruel world of egg trafficking, and soon find themselves on the trail of a priceless collection of eggs lost to history. Until now. “ – Amazon

‘A captivating novel from one of the UK’s most talented storytellers. I loved every page of this unique mystery.’ CLARE MACKINTOSH, bestselling author of I Let You Go

”[The] most ingenious of crime writers . . . A funny, moving and beautifully written tale” The Guardian

‘Part crime caper, part historical mystery, The Impossible Thing is one of the most enjoyable novels I”ve read in ages’ PAULA HAWKINS, bestselling author of The Girl on the Train 

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Three Lives of Cate Kay by Kate Fagan

15 Friday Aug 2025

Posted by in Fiction

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Cate Kay is a pseudonym for the author of a global bestseller being adapted into a movie at the beginning of this novel. As the book progresses, we learn more about the real woman behind the name and the childhood friendship that shapes her life. Full of interesting characters, this story is told through multiple perspectives and I highly recommend the audiobook.

“An electrifying story of a bestselling author’s secrets. Fagan fascinates with her enigmatic and shape-shifting protagonist, and the tightly woven plot will keep readers on the edge of their seats. It’s a blast.” —Publishers Weekly, Starred Review

“An emotionally driven thriller that explores friendship, love, and the pitfalls of fame. I couldn’t stop reading this twisty, big-hearted novel. The Three Lives of Cate Kay is simply unputdownable! Kate Fagan is a masterful storyteller.” —Emiko Jean, New York Times bestselling author of The Return of Ellie Black

“An addictive page-turner infused with humor and heart, The Three Lives of Cate Kay balances the dishy allure of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo with the empathy of Slow Dance. A joy to read from first page to last.” —Melissa Albert, New York Times bestselling author of The Hazel Wood

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The Twyford Code by Janice Hallett 

05 Monday Aug 2024

Posted by in Fiction, thriller

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I listened to the audio version and really enjoyed the British accents and slang. It becomes a bit complicated and confusing. I think listening provided a better reading experience than reading print for this one. 

“The Twyford Code is easily one of the cleverest and most original mystery novels in recent memory.”—BookPage (starred review)

“[I]ngenious… Filled with numerous clues, acrostics, and red herrings, this thrilling scavenger hunt for the truth is delightfully deceptive and thoroughly immersive.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“Hallett continues to pull the rug out from under the reader every time we think we understand what’s going on… It’s complicated, in the best way, and the reveals over the last section of the book are truly gaspworthy… Code lovers rejoice! This one’s for you.”—Kirkus Reviews

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This is Happiness by Niall Williams

11 Saturday Mar 2023

Posted by in Fiction, meaning of life, nature

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How did I miss this book in 2019?! Travel back to a simpler time in a small Irish parish with a young boy/man living with his grandparents.  Niall Williams’ language and turn of phrase will keep you savoring every twist and turn of the character’s experiences made so real you will think you are right there with him. A portrait of community and the power of stories.

“Warm and whimsical, sometimes sorrowful, but always expressed in curlicues of Irish lyricism, this charming book makes varied use of its electrical metaphor, not least to express the flickering pulse of humanity. A story both little and large and one that pulls out all the Irish stops.” ―Kirkus Reviews, starred review

“Williams has the eye of a poet and the raconteur’s knack for finding a tale in the most unpromising nook of everyday life.” ―The Daily Mail

“The beauty and power of Irish author Niall Williams’ writing lies in his ability to invest the quotidian with wonder. A truly peerless wordsmith, he even makes descriptions of gleaming white appliances and telephone wire sing…the book is hilarious among its many other virtues. Buy, rent, get your hands on this book somehow and savor every word of it. Its title says it all: Plunging into This is Happiness is happiness indeed.” ―BookPage, starred review

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Two Nights in Lisbon by Chris Pavone

25 Wednesday Jan 2023

Posted by in action, adventure, detective, Fiction, mystery, suspense, thriller

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“An elegantly twisting, lyrical, rocket-paced international thriller of the first order. With sterling prose, layered characters, searing insights, and gripping suspense, Chris Pavone writes with a deep knowledge of the world we live in―its many injustices, flaws, and the bending, dangerous road we sometimes must take to justice.”―Lisa Unger, author of Last Girl Ghosted

“There’s no such thing as a book you can’t put down, but this one was close.”―Stephen King

“I absolutely loved Chris Pavone’s Two Nights in Lisbon, an unputdownable thriller that’s his best novel yet. It stars a strong and savvy heroine who wakes up one morning to find her husband missing, and the action never lets up. This is a masterly, sleek, and sophisticated novel about love, marriage, and truth. Read it!”―Lisa Scottoline, author of Eternal

“I defy anyone to read the first twenty pages of this breakneck novel, then try to put it down for five minutes. It can’t be done. The plot is too devious, the pace is too gripping, and the characters are seldom who they are supposed to be. This is smart suspense at its very best.”―John Grisham, author of A Time for Mercy

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The Love of My Life by Rosie Walsh

25 Wednesday May 2022

Posted by in 20th century, Fiction, romance

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Despite some struggles, Emma and Leo have a happy marriage and a daughter they love, but Emma has not been honest with Leo about who she really is. While the concept sounds like many popular thrillers, The Love of My Life is a slower, more thoughtful mystery about love and family, with beautiful descriptions of London and the English coast.

“Walsh masterfully shows both [protagonists’] points of view while maintaining an intoxicating air of mystery…a propulsive thriller with heart that will keep readers guessing.”—Kirkus, starred review

“[A] heartbreaking thriller…[that] explores the complexity of secrets in marriages…Walsh cleverly integrates twists that not even jaded readers will be able to predict…that builds to an emotionally raw yet satisfying conclusion. Walsh is a writer to watch.”—Publishers Weekly, starred review

“The Love of My Life is a dazzling supernova of a book, it picks you up on line one and doesn’t let you go until the very end. Each chapter is filled with heart-breaking twists and revelations, and it is brimming with human warmth and intelligence.”—Lisa Jewell, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Night She Disappeared

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The Henna Artist (The Jaipur Trilogy Book 1) by Alka Joshi

11 Monday Apr 2022

Posted by in 20th century, Fiction, Historical Fiction

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Lakshmi at 17 years old, escapes an arranged, abusive marriage leaving her village to arrive in the pink city of Jaipur where she cultivates her original artistic designs of henna as she cultivates her upper class clientele.  She can never reveal her past but one day her husband finds her with a high-spirited 13 year old sister in tow that she never knew she had and all begins to unravel…..

“Rich in detail and bright with tastes and textures, The Henna Artist is a fabulous glimpse into Indian culture of the 1950s.”—Bookpage, Starred Review

“Vibrant characters, evocative imagery, and sumptuous prose create a satisfying, unforgettable tale.”—Christian Science Monitor


“Joshi has constructed a bewitching glimpse into the past with a tough heroine well worth cheering on.”—Booklist

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Lady Sunshine by Amy Mason Doan

28 Monday Feb 2022

Posted by in 20th century, detective, Fiction, mystery

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The author does a great job of creating the atmosphere of the 1970’s – it felt nostalgic and like a trip back to a simpler time.

“Amy Mason Doan creates a whole world and mood with her exquisitely crafted novel, Lady Sunshine. It’s replete with late-’70s nostalgia, and Doan masterfully renders the lives of musicians and those who are drawn to them, no matter the price. A delicious daydream of a book.”
—Elin Hilderbrand, New York Times bestselling author of 28 Summers

“With a winning combination of lyrical writing and a page-turning plot, Amy Mason Doan chronicles the evolution and mysterious demise of the friendship between two young women at the California estate-cum-commune of a renowned musician. A tone-perfect evocation of the free-spirited late 1970s and a riveting coming-of-age story, Lady Sunshine captures the highs of artistic creation, the dangers of hero worship, and the costs of trying to outrun your past. This sun-dappled book has it all: heart, smarts, and an irresistible musical beat.”—Karen Dukess, author of The Last Book Party

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