Review of The Neighbor (Detective D.D. Warren Book #3) by Lisa Gardner

 

My Review:

 

Ever had a book you're not just sure what to say about it? That's how I feel about this book. In fact, I've put off writing this review as I just do not know what to say about it. 

Quick summary, a wife and mother disappears without a trace leaving behind a husband and young daughter. The situation is odd and the dots do not connect. Of course the husband, who has secrets of his own, becomes a suspect along with a neighbor who is listed as a pedophile. Questions about the wife and her recent activities cause further issues with the search. Dective D.D. Warren is trying to make sense of a case with very little clues.

In this book, Detective D.D. Warren finally becomes the focus of the story. She's a likeable character that's tough and willing to step up when others won't. She's no nonsense, and her work is her life. I think I would've liked the book better if it was told solely from her point of view. However, the book switches points of view each chapter between 4 different characters. I think this appoach is to give the reader insight into the plot from different angles, but it gave me whiplash trying to keep up with who was talking. I think it also slowed down the plot as you kept having to read about little side stories connected to the narrator of the chapter.

The subject of this book is a little darker than I like and was a little difficult for me to stomach at times. I also didn't really like any of the characters except D.D. Warren. The other characters telling the story were tragic and had very little redeeming qualities to me. When I read a book, I need a character to root for and connect to, which I had with D.D. Warren, but there just wasn't enough of her. Even the ending left me feeling blah as I just didn't care enough about the characters to have a stronger reaction.

Overall I was disappointed with the book. While the curious side of me still wanted to see how everything ended, I just wasn't satisfied after reading it. In fact, I think I'm going to take a break from the series. I've already read a later book in this series and enjoyed it, so hopefully this was just a misstep in the series. 

How Much Coffe Was Needed:

I didn't need any extra coffee for this book. While it was interesting and I wanted to see who was guilty, I just couldn't get invested in it. As a result, I finished the book but didn't feel that push to keep reading late into the night.

What's Next?

Hot Six by Janet Evanovich

Review of Accidentally in Love by Belinda Missen

 

I've been in a mood lately that consists of alternating between romance and suspense novels. It's like I want to read something dark and exciting, but then I need something light and fluffy to cleanse my palate. My library loan log for my e-reader is just full of alternating romance and suspense. I'm still working on my nonfiction hard copy book Quiet (which is super amazing, just taking me forever to read), but I'm starting to feel like my reading pattern is a little stale. After I clean out my current lists of read, I'm hoping to make an effor to try some other genres out for a little bit.

My Review:

This was just an okay book. It's nothing major and didn't really leave me with much of an impression beyond my connection with the main character. Basically Katherine loses her job and meets Kit in the same day. They do not hit it off to say the least, but there's an undeniable attraction. Katherine decides to make some big life changes and needs Kit's help to get things started. The book has the classic back and forth banter that is really just covering up mutual attraction.

My favorite part of the book is the growth and development that Katherine goes through as she changes her life. She learns to have confidence in her own abilities and to just go for what she wants. She takes some big risks, but works hard to make them work in the end. I connected with Katherine as she spent years working for one career only to figure out it's not what she wants. I'm going through a similar time myself right now, and it's scary, frustrating, and I even feel guilty about it. At this point in my life, I shouldn't be changing my mind on a career. What was the point of the degrees, training, and experience, only to realize that maybe this isn't right for me? It was comforting to see Katherine go through a similar ordeal and come out ahead. Maybe there's hope for me too.

This book is an escape book if you want something light. It will keep you entertained without taxing your mind too much. 

How Much Coffee Was Needed?

I didn't need any extra coffee with this book. I was able to stop and pick up whenever I needed to and didn't feel the urge to keep reading. This is a great book if you need some recovery time from your last book.

Up Next:

The Neighbor (Detective D.D. Warren #3)  by Lisa Gardner

Review of One by One by Ruth Ware

 

My Review:

If you remember, I started reading this book and then my library loan ran out. I was pretty disappointed as the story was just starting to pick up the pace. Well, I got back on the waitlist and thankfully got the book back fairly quick.

I just want to start by saying I really enjoy Ruth Ware's novels. I've read all of her books and was excited to read this one, her latest. She once again does an excellent job giving hints throughout the story and building up the anticipation.

One by One is set in a lodge or chalet in the French Alps and is told from the perspective of two characters. A popular online app, Snoop, is having a company retreat for its employees. One of our narrators is Liz, who is a former employee and stock holder of Snoop. The other narrator is Erin, one of the two employees at the lodge. The two different points of view make the story more complex as you get perspective of a company insider from Liz and an outside who knows nothing about Snoop from Erin. Of course, both Erin and Liz have their own issues and secrets to hide which make things even more interesting.

As the corporate retreat kicks off, things are tense in the group due to differing views on the future of Snoop. However, differences are set aside for some fun skiing. Unfortunately though, bad weather and an avalanche change the plans. The group returns from an afternoon of skiing with one less member much to their surprise. Upon trying to figure out where one of the group went, a large avalanche happens forcing the search to stop and everyone to stay at the lodge. As the group waits for rescue, bodies start appear and the group realizes a killer is among them. 

The isolation helps drive the desperation the group faces as they try to figure out who is killing them off. As secrets are discovered and people turn up dead, the group has to figure out how to get out of this avalanche alive.

Ware does a great job leaving little bits of information that keep you readig more and more. I have to admit that at times, the descriptions and storytelling got a little long. I found myself skimming through some parts just to get to some type of action. Ware may have been doing this to help the reader understand how it would feel to just be stuck in a lodge with no electricty and nothing to do but talk, think, and survive. While I appreciate that effort, as a reader, I just found myself skipping to the action. While it may not be my favorite of hers (that spot belongs to In a Dark, Dark Wood), the book is still a good read if you like suspense and mystery. If you've never read one of Ruth Ware's books before, then don't start with this one. I enjoyed her other ones more than I did this one.

How Much Coffee was Needed?

I'm not sure if it was because of the break I had while reading the book or if I just had extra free time during the day, but I didn't find myself staying up late to read this one. It's a good book that kept me reading, but I just didn't read it at night. Due to the nature of suspense, if you started readig this at night, you might find yourself staying up a little bit to read it. However, I was usually able to find a spot to stop when I needed to so I wasn't compelled to keep reading. So for me, I didn't need any extra coffee, which is unusual for a Ruth Ware book.

My Next E-Read:

Back to the romance, I've got Accidentally in Love  by Belinda Missen up next on my library loan list.