Review: Two Can Keep a Secret

Two Can Keep a Secret by Karen M. McManus
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Really looking forward to the TV-series - if it happens. And have already pre-ordered her second book in the "One of us is lying"-series.
Standalone. Recommended, but not as good as One of Us Is Lying, sorry to say.
Was in the mood for this after the long winded The Likeness, so I bought it and began reading it the same day.
A little good use of social media and tech ( Skype, facetime, instagram ), but not as much as in "One of us is lying", sadly.

Lots of twists, up to the last sentence.
Why only 4 stars? The police had information which was crucial to solving the case. At least a team effort, but not enough for me for 5 stars, sorry to say. And no love-interest for Ezra and only a hint of one for Mia and it was not entirely clear to me if she was out of the closet or not.
Still recommended, fast read with short, interchanging POV-chapters, clearly dated and marked who was narrating. Page-turner.

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Review: Two Can Keep a Secret

Two Can Keep a Secret by Karen M. McManus
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Really looking forward to the TV-series - if it happens. And have already pre-ordered her second book in the "One of us is lying"-series.
Standalone. Recommended, but not as good as One of Us Is Lying, sorry to say.
Was in the mood for this after the long winded The Likeness, so I bought it and began reading it the same day.

Lots of twists, up to the last sentence.
Why only 4 stars? The police had information which was crucial to solving the case. At least a team effort, but not enough for me for 5 stars, sorry to say. And no love-interest for Ezra and only a hint of one for Mia and it was not entirely clear to me if she was out of the closet or not.
Still recommended, fast read with short, interchanging POV-chapters, clearly dated and marked who was narrating. Page-turner.

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Review: The Likeness

The Likeness by Tana French
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Low price, bought this as the first book in the series and this one are filmed as a limited event series for TV according to this article . Already own the first book.

Like the first book not very suspenseful. Interesting idea, but the hype about Tana French fails to convince me. Took me too long to read, and while I own #05 and #06 (due to their low price or a promo), I am reluctant to read more.
Recommended for fans of Ireland. No page-turner. 3.5 stars rounded down to 3, as this is no debut nor a first in a series, rather more of the same and while interesting not really a crime but more a slow burning mystery.
If the other books also get filmed - the limited TV-Series with 8 episodes is based on the first two books in the Dublin Murder Squad series -, I might change my mind and buy and read more, but for now I shelf that under "ok, but not my cup-a-tea".

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Review: The Likeness

The Likeness by Tana French
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Low price, bought this as the first book in the series and this one are filmed as a limited event series for TV according to this article . Already own the first book.

Like the first book not very suspenseful. Interesting idea, but the hype about Tana French fails to convince me. Took me too long to read, and while I own #05 and #06 (due to their low price or a promo), I am reluctant to read more.
Recommended for fans of Ireland. No page-turner. 3.5 stars rounded down to 3, as this is ni debut nor a first in a series, rather more of the same and while interesting not really a crime but more a slow burning mystery.
If the other books also get filmed - the limited TV-Series with 8 episodes is based on the first two books in the Dublin Murder Squad series -, I might change my mind and buy and read more, but for now I shelf that under "ok, but not my cup-a-tea".

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Review: And She Was

And She Was by Alison Gaylin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Trigger warning: vanished children and teenagers, but no abuse, no torture.
Some killing and violence against adults, a little over the top.
Female MC, currently single, really like her. Story takes place in the USA.

If you watched the "Unforgettable" TV-Show, then you know about the affliction. To call it an illness may be wrong, but it is certainly not really wantable: a different wired brain, where a person does recall every memory in great detail.
In the book the MC Brenna Spector is a PI who can remember everything. Up to a certain point this is interesting and well integrated, but the story gets brocken with memories which do nothing for the cases nor the story nor for me. While it is not too distracting, at least 10% could have been left out without changing the story - boring!

The main case is a cold case about a missing little girl, which may be related to another, older case about the MC's sister going missing.

Quite a few twists, and I guessed none. The case is complicated, and what I really liked was no vigilantism, while the "going places without telling someone" did happen, it was not totally obvious that it would be dangerous. And most of time the MC told someone where she was going. The "no cell phone service"-problem was logical in that context and well explained.

Bought this one and the next one for a low price (less than 3 Eur each for the ebooks, but not sure, wether is the normal price or I was just lucky).

Recommended 3.5 Stars rounded up to 4 for first book in the series, may get better with next one, here is hoping!



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Review: Vow of Silence

Vow of Silence by Chris Patchell
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Lent this with a free Kindle Unlimited trial.
Solid 3 stars, could have been better. If you liked the first book, you may like this one.
Not too fond of vigilantism, but the end is more or less satisfying, even for me.
Technical up-to-date with computers, mobile phones, instagram etc., but could have had more in depth scenes and technical stuff for me, it was real, but barely scratched the surface.
OK read, but no recommendation, except to get closure to the Jill Shannon story.
Not enough twists or suspense, but the final decision by her was great.

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Review: The Lying Room

The Lying Room by Nicci French
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

3.5 rounded up to 4 for good MC. Not enough suspense for full 4 or even 5 stars and some scenes where just too long. And I would have put the daughter (Mable) out far earlier, she should have tried living on her own.
Good twists, I could not even guess the killer. Not entirely my stile, did not really like the books from the Frida Klein series I tried (one I will still read, to conclude one of the cases).
Still recommended.

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