Books Reviewed - Thrillers and a Rom-Com: Sunday Salon

Books I recently reviewed

After the Party by C.L. Swatman, NetGalley book

The book theme is not unusual in thrillers. Several people get in touch with each other again after many years, in this case, 20 years, because the cause of the death of one of their group that long time ago has resurfaced. Hannah is knocking on their doors, intent on writing about the death of the girl found in the lake. When everyone starts getting anonymous notes that threaten their loved ones if they reveal anything to Hannah, things become difficult for the group.

I was surprised by the so called culprit in the death, but the twist at the very end really threw me for a loop, so to speak. A book not only about a mystery death, but also a look at individual personalities, how they interact or fit together, and some times the unintended consequences.

The Dinner Party by Viola van de Sandt, NetGalley book

Franca's experience with fiance Andrew at a dinner party she is cooking for leads to her sessions with a psychiatrist Stella. 

The back and forth in time in the telling of Stella's past and present made me skip pages and fast forward to get to the heart of the story. The book is more than that dinner party, however, but the problems Franca has with Andrew and male aggression is clear cut. I was glad to see how she manages to find her true self and her future going forward.

The Doorman by Chris Pavone, NetGalley book 

Chicky Diaz, the doorman at an exclusive New York City building, has all the info on the famous and wealthy tenants to give him insights into their lives, their prejudices, their penchants. 

The tenants of each apartment are varied, but in total they show much of current big city culture, lifestyle, prejudices, attitudes, likes and dislikes. We also see society and its levels and their interactions or non-interaction. The exclusive apartment building and its tenants' attitudes and lives show many aspects of modern society as it is.

Love and Other Brain Experiments by Hannah Brohm, NetGalley book

Frances Silberstein and Theodore Lewis North, two neuroscientists, sit next to each other on the plane heading to a scientific conference, and begin their academic-rival-to-lovers romance in this rom-com novel.

At the beginning, Frances is angry with Theodore, aka Lewis, because he used some of her research in his own very successful paper four years ago without giving her credit for it.

I liked the slow way these two worked their way towards each other, in spite of Frances' resentment. They begin by fake dating at the conference to protect their reputations and jobs. The ending was a little slow in coming, but this was a satisfying rom com read overall, especially as the main characters were brain scientists who shared aspects of their knowledge, of memory and how it works, with the reader.

Murder Your Darlings by Jenna Blum, NetGalley

Sam Vetiver, a fairly new author, with a writing block meets successful writer, William Corwyn, who promises to help and mentor her while she finishes her book. They become close and romantic, even when they become threatened by a stalker they call The Rabbit.

The suspense that builds up in the novel, with the stalking of the couple and the break ins, leads to an unexpected ending, which I loved. The surprise was really that, a genuine and genius surprise!
I loved the inside look at how authors work and write, and the publishing world of editors, book agents, publicists interacting with writers to produce a printed book.

NOTE: The above books are Not yet published

Currently reading

The Once and Future Me by Melisssa Page, NetGalley

Genre: sci-fi, thriller, mystery 

Description

Dark Matter meets Girl, Interrupted in this gripping psychological thriller about a young woman teetering on the edge of reality.

What are you reading, watching, or listening to this week? 

Memes:  The Sunday Post, It's Monday: What Are You Reading, Sunday Salon, and Stacking the Shelves, Mailbox Monday, Book Blogger Hop