Tag: Fiction

ARC Review: Little Darlings by Melanie Golding

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Goodreads: Little Darlings
Publisher: Crooked Lane Books
Publish date: 30 April 2019
Genre: Mystery/Thriller, Supernatural Thriller
Rating: ★★★½

“Mother knows best” takes on a sinister new meaning in this unsettling thriller perfect for fans of Neil Gaiman, Grimms’ Fairy Tales, and Aimee Molloy’s The Perfect Mother.

Everyone says Lauren Tranter is exhausted, that she needs rest. And they’re right; with newborn twins, Morgan and Riley, she’s never been more tired in her life. But she knows what she saw: that night, in her hospital room, a woman tried to take her babies and replace them with her own…creatures. Yet when the police arrived, they saw no one. Everyone, from her doctor to her husband, thinks she’s imagining things. A month passes. And one bright summer morning, the babies disappear from Lauren’s side in a park. But when they’re found, something is different about them. The infants look like Morgan and Riley—to everyone else. But to Lauren, something is off. As everyone around her celebrates their return, Lauren begins to scream, These are not my babies. Determined to bring her true infant sons home, Lauren will risk the unthinkable. But if she’s wrong about what she saw…she’ll be making the biggest mistake of her life.

Oh wow, this one really took me ages to read! I think I kind of psyched myself out of reading it because it’s a supernatural thriller and the supernatural isn’t really my jam. I had no clue when I read the blurb that it would have these elements, I honestly thought it would be about a woman who was suffering from postpartum depression or something along those lines. I don’t really see this as a thriller but perhaps more of folk tale inspired slow burn mystery. That said, I don’t think my apprehension to read this affected how I felt about the story. I didn’t dislike it, but it did fill me with a lot of anxiety, though I enjoyed the uncertainty of not knowing what was real and what wasn’t.

The story is told in alternating perspectives between Lauren and Detective Sergeant Joanna Harper. Harper’s POV was pretty much standard police procedure and detective work, although there was a lot of personal conflict with her character. She felt pity for Lauren but also understood her situation as a mother, which led her to taking the leap and believing something that should’ve been completely ridiculous. Ultimately though it was for the wrong reasons and only added to make the situation worse.

Lauren’s anguish, depression and loneliness was palpable throughout the book. It left me feeling anxious about what would happen next, and sad for her character and what she was going through. My least favorite character in this novel was her husband, Patrick, who was honestly such a weak and spineless man; I wanted to push him off a cliff with how patronizing and selfish he was! To be honest though, since we only saw his character through Lauren’s eyes, I wasn’t sure whether he was really like that or if it what we saw was clouded by Lauren’s depression and mania.

Perhaps the reason why I didn’t absolutely love this story was because I don’t have children, and at this point in my life, I’m leaning towards not having any of my own. This story is fully about a mother’s love for her children and her willingness to do just about anything to get them back, and I couldn’t really connect with that anguish and desperation. While I’m not saying that it’s necessary to have children to understand the intensity of this novel and Lauren’s character, I think it definitely helps to connect with it.

I thought this was a fairly well-paced mystery, although certain parts in the middle really slowed it down for me and got boring. I liked how every chapter began with excerpts from various folk tales–it definitely added to the creepy supernatural vibe of the story. I will also admit that this was a lot less creepy than I thought, although many things to do with babies and the supernatural kind of freak me out in general 🙂 There ended up being quite a lot of elements in this story and at first I was wondering how Golding would tie it all together, especially when a new one was introduced so late in the book; but while the climax was slightly unrealistic, this was inspired by a folk tale so it fit with the overall story arc. One thing I will say is that this novel kept me guessing throughout and although I knew none of it could be real, I still couldn’t help but wondering “what if“. Overall, I’m impressed with how Melanie Golding packaged everything for a satisfying, if not slightly sad, conclusion.

Thanks to Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for the free copy in exchange for a free copy. This book was published on 30 April 2019.

Birthday Month Book Haul #1

Dini @ dinipandareads4 Comments

Not only are there are a large number of exciting new releases that are coming out this month, it’s also my birthday month, which means that I’m allowing myself to go a little wild on the book haul front. My bank account might not be loving this idea because compared to other (Western) countries where you can buy a lot of pre-loved and new books or for cheap, buying English books in Indonesia can get pretty expensive! As a book lover, this is one of the things that makes me pretty sad but I’m super lucky that I have a job that allows me to indulge in my passion for books!

To kick off my birthday month, I hit the bookstore last week without really having any intentions to buy a book (*cough*), let alone a small stack, but I was delighted to walk in and find that there was a 30% sale going on for a few books I’ve been excited to get my hands on for a while! Isn’t that just the best kind of surprise? 😃 I’m quite pleased with this first haul, especially since I got three well-loved non-fictions and a new book for the Asian Readathon. Have you read any of these?

Time’s Convert by Deborah Harkness
A passionate love story and a fascinating exploration of the power of tradition and the possibilities not just for change but for revolution, Time’s Convert channels the supernatural world-building and slow-burning romance that made the All Souls Trilogy instant bestsellers to illuminate a new and vital moment in history, and a love affair that will bridge centuries.

Educated by Tara Westover
Educated is an account of the struggle for self-invention. It is a tale of fierce family loyalty, and of the grief that comes from severing one’s closest ties. With the acute insight that distinguishes all great writers, Westover has crafted a universal coming-of-age story that gets to the heart of what an education is and what it offers: the perspective to see one’s life through new eyes, and the will to change it.

Dread Nation by Justina Ireland
Jane McKeene was born two days before the dead began to walk the battlefields of Gettysburg and Chancellorsville—derailing the War Between the States and changing America forever. In this new nation, safety for all depends on the work of a few, and laws like the Native and Negro Reeducation Act require certain children attend combat schools to learn to put down the dead. But there are also opportunities—and Jane is studying to become an Attendant, trained in both weaponry and etiquette to protect the well-to-do. It’s a chance for a better life for Negro girls like Jane. After all, not even being the daughter of a wealthy white Southern woman could save her from society’s expectations.

Free Food for Millionaires by Min Jin Lee
A young woman is torn between her Korean heritage and American upbringing. The elder daughter of working-class Korean immigrants, Casey inhabits a New York a world away from that of her parents. As Casey navigates an uneven course of small triumphs and spectacular failures, a clash of values, ideals and ambitions plays out against the colourful backdrop of New York society, its many layers, shades and divides… ‘Take Zadie Smith’s White Teeth, add the glamour of The Devil Wears Prada, and throw in a social commentary on modern identity crises’ Eve. 

The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris
The Tattooist of Auschwitz is based on the true story of Lale and Gita Sokolov, two Slovakian Jews who survived Auschwitz. Like many survivors, Lale and Gita told few people their story after the war. They eventually made their way to Australia, where they raised a son and had a successful life. But when Gita died, Lale felt he could no longer carry the burden of their past alone. He chose to tell his story.

Notes on a Nervous Planet by Matt Haig
The world is messing with our minds. After experiencing years of anxiety and panic attacks, these questions became urgent matters of life and death for Matt Haig. And he began to look for the link between what he felt and the world around him. Notes on a Nervous Planet is a personal and vital look at how to feel happy, human and whole in the 21st century.

Reasons to Stay Alive by Matt Haig
Reasons to Stay Alive is about making the most of your time on earth. In the western world the suicide rate is highest amongst men under the age of 35. Matt Haig could have added to that statistic when, aged 24, he found himself staring at a cliff-edge about to jump off. This is the story of why he didn’t, how he recovered and learned to live with anxiety and depression. It’s also an upbeat, joyous and very funny exploration of how live better, love better, read better and feel more.

Have you already gone book shopping this month? Have you read any of these books? Let me know in the comments below and let’s chat 🙂

#WWWWednesday: 08 May 2019

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Is it really only Wednesday? Because today had me feeling like it was Friday and I’m just so ready to shut off and have it be the weekend already! Work has been taking over my life the last week and today was finally the last day of our biannual regional meetings. While it’s been a blast having my colleagues from all over Southeast Asia visiting, 10 days straight of meetings can be such a drainer. One good thing is that I’m forced to really come out of my book cave and be sociable; but that also means I’ve had so little time to read and I feel like I’m an addict going through withdrawal. Girl needs to get back to her reading, now! 🙈

On that note, it’s time for another WWW Wednesday, a weekly meme hosted by Sam @ Taking On A World of Words, which means I’ll be talking about:

  1. What did you read last?
  2. What are you currently reading?
  3. What will you read next?

What did you read last?

This past weekend I finished All Your Perfects by Colleen Hoover. I hadn’t read a CoHo book for years until I picked up Verity earlier this year and I enjoyed that mix of thriller-romance so much that I decided I’d start reading CoHo again. I joined a buddy read for All Your Perfects and while we were meant to be reading this in two parts, we all basically finished the book in one sitting! CoHo’s books just suck you in and this one also reminded me how easily she can sucker punch me in the feels every. single. time! If you’re looking for a heart-wrenching, beautiful romance about the struggles of imperfect people in an imperfect relationship (although to me they were perfect), then I’d suggest this one. Check out my review.

What are you currently reading?

I’m still reading Good Omens by Terry Pratchett & Neil Gaiman. This book is actually going a lot slower than I anticipated but because I’ve been so busy and haven’t had much time to read (and blog and post on IG), I haven’t really had the chance to let it sink in. I’m liking it so far though, especially the humor, so I think once I get the chance to devote good reading time to this, I will enjoy it more! I’m also ashamed to admit that I’m still reading Little Darlings by Melanie Golding because the pub date was 30 April; but I’m still adamant that I won’t read it at night, which really only leaves weekend mornings. It’s not a bad book though and I’ve enjoyed what I’ve read of it so far (50%), even though I want to throw the husband off a cliff and what Laura experiences gives me insane anxiety 😂 Hopefully this weekend will bring me some uninterrupted reading time to finish the latter and get through a big chunk of the former!

What will you read next?

I plan to join the Asian Readathon this month to celebrate Asian characters and authors, so in honor of the challenge I’m thinking of reading The Vegetarian by Han Kang next. It seems like a short read, but very twisted and full of magical realism. This aspect has me feeling wary of reading it (I’m not really a fan of magical realism), but I’m keen to at least give it a try. Read the synopsis on Goodreads. Looking through my shelves, I realized that I really don’t have a lot of Asian authors on there, but I hope to remedy that from this month onward!

What are you currently reading? Have you written a WWW Wednesday post too? Leave your link in the comments below! 🙂

Sundays in Bed With… #MyWeeklyWrapUp [04]

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The Sundays In Bed With… meme dares to ask you what book has been in your bed this morning! This meme is hosted by Midnight Book Girl. Come share what book you’ve been you’ve spent time curled up reading in bed with, or which book you wish you had time to read today!

I can’t wait to get back into bed with Good Omens by Terry Pratchett & Neil Gaiman. This week, including my weekend, has been so busy I haven’t had much time to read, so I’m looking forward to tucking in with this book. Neil Gaiman is one of my favorite authors and this will be the first book I’ve read by Terry Pratchett. I wonder if I’ll be able to identify the differences in the writing with these epic fantasy authors. So far I’m really enjoying the pace and the dry humor in this story! It makes me even more excited for the series to come out at the end of the month.

What are you currently reading?

This week has passed in (almost) the blink of an eye. The work week has been filled with endless meetings but also good times catching up with my colleagues from all over Southeast Asia. While these periods are some of the busiest times of the year for me, the enjoyment of seeing everyone helps to make the meetings less draining and the time pass quickly! With my busy days and evenings and how drained I’ve felt at the end of every day, I’m honestly surprised and quite pleased that I was able to post as much as I did! Here are the posts I’ve made this week:

First Lines & First Impression Friday with All Your Perfects
Review: Pride by Ibi Zoboi
My April Monthly Wrap Up!
WWW Wednesday: 01 May
Top Ten Tuesday: Inspiring & Thought Provoking Quotes from Books
My Most Anticipated May Releases!

How has everyone’s first week of May been so far? Hope you’re all having a great weekend 🙂 Here’s to another productive, book filled week!

April 2019 Monthly Wrap Up!

Dini @ dinipandareads8 Comments

IT’S MAY! I can’t believe we’re five months into the year already. I mean, where are the months flying to?! April has been a pretty decent month in terms of work, life and reading; actually it has been more than a decent reading month for me! I think I even shocked myself when I counted how many books I got through. In no particular order, here’s what I read:

  • ARC
    ★★★½☆☆
  • ★★★☆☆
  • ARC
    ★★★☆☆
  • ARC
    ★★★★☆
  • ARC
    ★★★☆☆
  • ARC
    ★★★☆☆
  • ★★★★☆
  • ★★★★☆
  • ★★★★★
  • ARC
    ★★★☆☆
  • ★★★★½☆
  • ★★★★★
  • ★★★½☆☆
  • ★★★☆☆
  • ★★★★☆
  • ★★★½☆☆

So in total I read 17 books in April. I thought I was having a bit of a slow reading month but that definitely wasn’t the case! I read the majority of these as e-books and I realize that I often read much faster on my Kindle compared to when I’m reading a physical book. I’m also glad that I was able to get through 6 ARCs this month because my NetGalley TBR was getting a little ridiculous! My Goodreads Reading Challenge is currently at 60/75 books, so I think it’s about time I change my goal and bump it up to…90 books. If my year continues this way, I think 2019 will be a record making book year. Exciting times!

Out of all these books, my favorite(s) have to be The Dry and The Lost Man by Jane Harper. These were both such fantastic reads and I couldn’t possibly choose between them. I’m so glad that I finally picked up Jane Harper this month because she has made a place for herself on my favorite authors list and also my auto-buy authors list. I’d highly recommend picking her up up if you haven’t yet!

There are so many books I’m looking forward to reading in May and I’ve already posted about the books I’m most excited for. I just got an email today telling me that my Special Edition Owlcrate Finale box has just shipped today. AAAH 😃

How was your reading month? What was your favorite read?

#WWWWednesday: 01 May 2019

Dini @ dinipandareads3 Comments

Happy first of the month, book lovers! It seems that there’s a lot to look forward to in the month of May. Work is going to be hectic this month but I’m also taking a week off to celebrate my birthday with my bestie who’s coming up from Brisbane to join me in Bali! It’s gonna be a week of awesome hangs, reading pool/beachside, exploring what Bali has to offer, and of course, eating. Also, we’re five months into the year already — can you believe it?!

On that note, iIt’s time for another WWW Wednesday, a weekly meme hosted by Sam @ Taking On A World of Words, which means I’ll be talking about:

  1. What did you read last?
  2. What are you currently reading?
  3. What will you read next?

What did you read last?

Pride by Ibi Zoboi. I finished this book in the nick of time for it to be counted as my last April read! I’m a little bit on the fence about it because while I really enjoyed how Zoboi took this classic and made it into such a culturally vibrant modern tale, I wasn’t too keen on Zuri Benitez or Darius Darcy, the two MCs. Pride & Prejudice is one of my all-time favorites and while all the ‘boxes’ were basically ticked, I also felt that maybe the story could’ve done without some of them because not all elements added to this story. Still mulling over my review for this one, and I’ll hopefully post it soon!

What are you currently reading?

I’m currently reading three books. Little Darlings by Melanie Goldman, Mixed Signals by Mia Heintzman, and Sorry I’m Late, I Didn’t Want To Come by Jessica Pan. Yes, I’m still reading Little Darlings. I can’t bring myself to pick it up at night and this week has been so busy with work and after work dinners and outings that I haven’t had much time to read. I hope to finish it by the weekend though! 🤞🏽 The other two are also ARCs because I want to cut my NetGalley reads down by just a little bit; my list on there has grown alarmingly fast and I’ve banned myself from requesting new reads until I read and review a few more! Mixed Signals is a cute little rom com that I’m reading alongside Little Darlings to keep myself happy, and Sorry I’m Late, I Didn’t Want To Come is a non-fiction about the author’s experience as an introvert living the extrovert life for a year. As an socially anxious introvert, this book really appealed to me and I’ve enjoyed what little I’ve read so far!

What will you read next?

Next up are two buddy reads that I’ve committed myself to with my bestie and an IG group. Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett and All Your Perfects by Colleen Hoover. I’m hoping to read Good Omens before the show comes out this month!

What are you currently reading? Have you done a WWW Wednesday too? Leave your link in the comments!

#WWWWednesday: 24 April 2019

Dini @ dinipandareads5 Comments

We’ve come to the last Wednesday of April! I’ve seen a lot of people posting about trying to fit in their last few reads for the month and I am too! I think it’s been a pretty decent reading month though and I think it might even be comparable to March! Hope everyone has been going well with their April reads too! But without further ado, let’s get back to it… It’s time for another WWW Wednesday, a weekly meme hosted by Sam @ Taking On A World of Words, which means I’ll be talking about:

  1. What did you read last?
  2. What are you currently reading?
  3. What will you read next?

What did you read last?

Monstress, Vol. 3: Haven (Monstress #3) by Marjorie M. Liu. I discovered this gem earlier last year when I started exploring graphic novels. If you can’t tell by the name and the cover, it’s a pretty dark tale. Set in a matriarchal 1900s steam-punk Asia, the story is full of violence, magic, and supernatural monsters. While the story is still a little bit confusing, the world building is mind-blowing and the artwork by Sana Takeda is so beautifully gothic. We follow Maika Halfwolf, who’s on the run from coalition forces and who embarks on a journey to learn about her late mother’s secrets, and to learn how to cope with the monster living inside her. If you don’t mind a bit of a twisted gorey read, I would definitely recommend this to you!

What are you currently reading?

Normal People by Sally Rooney. When this book exploded on my bookstagram feed earlier this month, I was quite hesitant to pick it up because of how I felt about Rooney’s debut novel, Conversations with Friends. It was one of my least favorite reads last year and it left me feeling angry and full of discomfort, and I was sure that I wouldn’t pick up another of Rooney’s books again (a big statement, I know). So when I was facing my two-book hangover last week and picked this up on a whim, I didn’t think it would be the one to pull me in, but I was hooked from the start! It’s honestly shaping up to be one of my favorite reads so far this year, although it should come with a trigger warning for major depression, suicidal thoughts, depictions of physical and sexual abuse, and consent.

I’ve also started The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides on the side. I’m only a few chapters in but I can sense that this is going to be a thrilling and fast read that will be keeping me on my toes until the very end! This is another book that’s been very hyped everywhere, so I’m hoping it’ll live up to my expectations!

What will you read next?

One of the books I am going to stop waffling over and will definitely be picking up at the weekend is the e-ARC for Little Darlings by Melanie Golding. When I requested to read this on Netgalley, there was no mention in the description that it would a supernatural thriller, otherwise I probably wouldn’t have requested it. Supernatural horror is really not my jam. I’m not even gonna lie, I’m weak like that and I’m absolutely okay with it, so the thought of reading this is making my imagination jump from 0-100 and I’m basically just shit scared. Hopefully it won’t be as bad as I think but best believe I’ll be reading this under the full light of day and I’m aiming to finish it before sundown!

Have you read any of these or are you planning to?
What are you currently reading? 🙂

Book Review: The Hunting Party by Lucy Foley

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Goodreads: The Hunting Party
Genre: Thriller, Mystery
Rating: ★★★★☆

EVERYONE’S INVITED. 
EVERYONE’S A SUSPECT.
In a remote hunting lodge, deep in the Scottish wilderness, old friends gather for New Year.
The beautiful one
The golden couple
The volatile one
The new parents
The quiet one
The city boy
The outsider

The victim.
Not an accident – a murder among friends.

I stayed up until the wee hours of the morning to finish this book because once I picked it up and the ball got rolling, I didn’t want to put it down. It didn’t take long for me to warm up to the story and I was quickly intrigued by the dynamics within this group of friends who’ve known each other since uni. The more I learned about them, the more I wanted to find out what went down. From the beginning it wasn’t difficult to sense that something wasn’t right within the group and that there was a lot of awkward tension between a few of them. This tension was only heightened as the group arrived at their holiday destination: an isolated area in the Scottish Highlands located hours away from the closest train station. The setting was painted beautifully by Lucy Foley; it was eerie and haunting, and really set the tone for a juicy thriller! Surrounded by endless snow and the wilderness, and far removed from the closest hints of civilization, you could feel how the environment added to the idea that something sinister was waiting just around the corner.

The story was told in alternating narratives between three of the friends and the two outsiders who managed the luxurious lodge. I didn’t particularly gravitate towards any of the characters because many of them had pretty nasty personalities, maybe except for Nick and Bo, as they seemed the most harmless and least nasty of the group. While not liking any of the characters would normally put me off a book, it didn’t take away any enjoyment from my reading this one. There’s something horrifying and fascinating to read about how friendships can become so bitter and competitive over time, and without any party willing to acknowledge it, it only got worse and worse.

The writing was compelling and although this wasn’t as fast-paced a thriller as I expected it to be, it was definitely a page turner. After a certain point it wasn’t difficult to tell who the victim was, especially with all the tension and animosity this person created within the group. On the other hand, it wasn’t as obvious to me who the killer was, although many readers said that it was clear from the start. I guess I just didn’t read into all the signs enough but I was happy with trying to figure it out throughout the novel. It kept the pace going at a good speed, which otherwise might have been slightly tedious because there was a lot of backstory. While I usually like backstory to support character development, a lot of flashbacks to their uni days and much of the internal dialogue was very bitter and full of envy and made me feel squirmy. But that was probably the point!

There were some flaws with how the story concluded that left me feeling baffled, but I obviously won’t go into detail about those. I will say that those scenes were unbelievable and it was irritating to think of the book ending on such a weak note. Overall though, I think the author did a great job of bringing the storylines and the narratives together. This book really made me think about how well you really know “your people” especially when you believe you’re the one who knows them best.

Essentially I think this quote sums the story up quite well:

“But that’s the thing about old friends, isn’t it? Sometimes they don’t even realise that they no longer have anything in common. That maybe they don’t even like each other any more.”


On Friday I wrote a First Impressions post where I predicted whether I’d like this book and what I’d rate it, and I’m happy to say that I was spot on!

Have you read The Hunting Party? Did you love it or was it a let down?
Let me know in the comments below and let’s chat books 🙂

ARC Review: Don’t Even Breathe by Keith Haughton

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Goodreads: Don’t Even Breathe
Publish date: 18 April 2019
Genre: Thriller, Mystery
Rating: ★★★☆☆

Florida homicide detective Maggie Novak has seen hundreds of brutal murder cases, but when she is called out to investigate the charred remains of a young woman, in what appears to be a Halloween prank gone wrong, she is confronted with a twenty-year-old secret. The body is formally identified as that of school counselor Dana Cullen, but a distinguishing mark makes Maggie look again. She believes it is the body of her school friend Rita, who perished in a fire twenty years ago. Maggie’s hunt for the truth behind the murder takes her back to a cruel high school trick she’s desperate to forget. And when another body turns up, Maggie realizes she too may be the target of a sinister plot creeping toward its final act. Maggie needs emotional distance to do her job, but she’s so close to this case that she can’t even breathe. Will Maggie be able to uncover the truth of who wanted Rita dead? Or will her past mistakes catch up with her first?

Don’t Even Breathe was more of a slow burn murder mystery than a fast paced thriller. I don’t know if I would even consider this a thriller but the element of mystery was thick throughout the whole novel. The writing style was simple but engaging and it hooked me in from the first chapter; however, Maggie’s narrative was filled with heavy introspection that often times brought the pace down to a crawl. From the beginning, you get the sense that the plot is more complex than what it seems on the surface, and I was constantly left wondering how the different storylines would tie in together.

Maggie’s character was very intense. She was a typical detective, strong and determined with her focus reserved solely for work, and who allowed herself little to no time for a social life. While I found most of her relationships–whether with her boyfriend or father–to be strained and a little detached, I really enjoyed her partnership with Loomis and I thought they made a great team. His character brought a welcome levity to the story and I looked forward to the more active scenes that involved him, and less of Maggie’s inner dialogue. For much of the novel, there were hints of a terrible incident in her teen years that changed everything in her life and was (what she believed to be) the cause of all the ensuing devastation. This was so built up that when the incident was explained, I was disappointed with its execution–it was vague and patchy and fell short of my expectations.

I don’t know if I was entirely convinced of her detective work, it seemed that half the time a second party would be filling in the blanks and connecting the dots for her. But what I found most surprising (and a little irritating) was that, for as great a detective as she was claimed to be, she didn’t realize how her theory of ‘whodunit’ made very little sense. Everything clicked for me at the 80% mark and although the showdown itself felt a bit rushed, I thought Keith Houghton did a good job pulling it all together for a reveal that was a little surprising but not entirely unpredictable. It’s a good lesson in how certain acts in high school, particularly related to bullying, can spread its poison well into adulthood.

This was my first read by Keith Houghton and while it was filled with the typical elements of a detective murder mystery, I enjoyed it enough to be want to pick up another of his books. Thanks to Netgalley, the author and publishers Thomas & Mercer for the copy in exchange for an honest review.

Does “Don’t Even Breathe” sound like a book you’d be interested in reading? It’s out on 18 April 2019 so be on the lookout for that awesome cover!

First Impression Friday: The Hunting Party

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There’s a brand new meme hosted by JW Martin called First Impression Friday! It sounded like a fun way to reflect on a new book, so I thought I’d play along! Here’s what it’s about:

First Impression Friday will be a meme where you talk about a book that you JUST STARTED! Maybe you’re only a chapter or two in, maybe a little farther.Based on this sampling of your current read, give a few impressions and predict what you’ll think by the end. Did you think you’d love and ended up hating it? Or did you think you’d hate it and wound up loving it? Or were you exactly right?

I started reading The Hunting Party this morning and I’m about 20% of the way through (okay, it’s a little bit more than the first two chapters but still…). My first impression?

The descriptions of the secluded, snowy Scottish Highlands is eerie and lends the perfect atmosphere for a good murder-mystery. There are multiple narratives that gives a lot of insight into the various players. Although the main characters are all supposed to be childhood friends, you can feel there’s a certain kind of tension in the group that’s somewhat competitive. So far, all of this packaged together is setting up the story quite well for a high-intensity thriller.

The chapters have been very descriptive, so I think if this keeps on, it won’t be a very fast-paced thriller. But I can already feel the tension and unease pulling me in! I’m so curious to know whose died and of course, whodunit! I think this’ll be a ★★★★☆ read for me, and I can’t wait to find out if it lives up to the hype it’s been receiving on bookstagram. I really hope it does!

Have you read The Hunting Party? Do my first impressions sound similar to yours? If you’ve written an FIF, I’d love to know what you’re reading & what your first impressions are! Drop your link in the comments and let’s talk books 🙂