April 4, 2017: Foxlowe by Eleanor Wasserberg
Foxlowe
young girl’s perspective
moorland commune disaster
before & after
strange residuum unfolds
in darkly compelling ways
MM
March 21, 2017: The Cutaway by Christina Kovac, c2017
The Cutaway
Washington, DC
young TV news producer
ruthless ambition
author’s insider knowledge
enriches the first-rate plot
MM
February 7, 2017: Always by Sarah Jio
Always
‘90s Seattle
a lucky unlucky girl
finding her true love
seamlessly woven timelines:
Which fiancé does she choose?
MM
November 1, 2016: Faithful by Alice Hoffman
Faithful
Awful Accident
trying to destroy herself
fateful night’s burden
she’s Guilt surrounded by Love
a lost soul’s coming-of-age
MM
June 28, 2016: All the Missing Girls by Megan Miranda
All The Missing Girls
a small, Southern town
destroying the living to
find the dead at last
cleverly told in reverse:
How far would you go for love
MM
May 16, 2016: The After Party by Anton DiSclafani
The After Party
Houston’s River Oaks
chasing grown woman’s secrets
devotion . . . or obsession
exquisitely formed tension
great 1950s details
MM
April 26, 2016: Tumbledown Manor by Helen Brown
Tumbledown Manor
Aussie countryside
buying back her heritage
not over-the-hill
little bit of everything
somehow works — cute, fun beach read
MM
April 5, 2016: The Last Painting of Sara De Vos by Dominic Smith
The Last Painting of Sara De Vos
threads intersecting
Dutch artist & her forger
centuries apart
showcasing art’s power in
brilliantly rendered layers
MM
March 1, 2016: The Passenger by Lisa Lutz
The Passenger
city-to-city
life on the run outrunning
her identity
dark thriller -- could not put down
knock-your-socks-off surprises
MM
February 2, 2016: Into the Magic Shop: A Neurosurgeon's Quest to Discover the Mysteries of the Brain and the Secrets of the Heart by James R. Doty, MD
Into the Magic Shop
memoir and science
energy of mind & heart
making dreams come true
bold, exceptional primer
to shape your life step-by-step
MM
October 20, 2015: The Lake House by Kate Morton
The Lake House
lovely Cornwall home
past & present intertwine
a baby missing
well-plotted mystery with
threads tied up amazingly
MM
September 8, 2015: Drowning Is Inevitable (YA) by Shalanda Stanley
Drowning Is Inevitable
bold bonds of friendship
lives spiral out of control
How far will they go?
emotionally wrenching
beautiful gem of a book
MM
June 30: Death in Brittany by Jean-Luc Bannalec (c2015) translated from the German by Sorcha McDonagh, c2015
Death in Brittany
croissants & sea air
caught in a web of silence
curious murder
good old-fashioned mystery
dipped in the French countryside
MM
June 16, 2015: Every Last Word (YA) by Tamara Ireland Stone
Every Last Word
hidden room mismatched
teen swimming in OCD
listen, clap, and breathe
quirky cast discovering
friendship through shared poetry
MM
March 10, 2015: Nightbird (Juv Fic) by Alice Hoffman
Nightbird
two hundred year curse
a shadow being revealed
we are who we are
magical story of friends,
family, & hope . . . Charming!
MM
February 24, 2015: The Third Twin (YA) by CJ Omololu
The Third Twin
dates turning up dead
twin sisters blame it on her
twisted mystery
lots of red herrings pepper
this whodunit page-turner
MM
February 10, 2015: The Last Good Paradise by Tatjana Soli
The Last Good Paradise
island get-a-way
all pursuing happiness
caught up in dramas
serious absurdities
highlighting realities
MM
January 27, 2015: Unbecoming by Rebecca Scherm
Unbecoming
web of deception
clever title tells all twice
cultivating lies
psychological twister
with velocity & verve
MM
November 11, 2014: Wakening the Crow by Stephen Gregory
Wakening the Crow
consuming coldness
with musty little secrets
tinged by a nightmare
gloriously different
pure Poe-inspired creepiness
MM
October 29, 2014: The Tone Poet by Mark Rickert
The Tone Poet
living symphony
music-based mysticism roots
all searching for Light
very creative piece where
Echoes of horror rise high
MM
September 16, 2014: Sway (YA) by Kat Spears
Sway
college town high school
the guy with what people want
dealing with his life
sharp humor and hard-core haps --
Hooked from the start. Fantastic.
MM
May 6, 2014: The Memory Garden by Mary Rickert
The Memory Garden
lush scents & secrets
aged friends daring to look back
scattered forgiveness
sweet wisps of witchcraft bound with
botanical beginnings
MM
March 1, 2014: How Sweet the Sound by Amy K. Sorrells
How Sweet the Sound
Southern 'seventies
burdened by swirling sadness
searching for ladders
serious issues addressed
through gentle, lovely writing
MM
February 11, 2014: The Winter People by Jennifer McMahon
The Winter People
in the Devil's Hand
bringing the dead back to life
loose ends; however . . .
multiple timelines converge
pure creepiness through and through
MM
January 28, 2014: Ophelia and the Marvelous Boy (Juv Fic) by Karen Foxlee
Ophelia and the Marvelous Boy
vast, old museum
one brave enough to believe
good versus evil
modern Snow Queen, unique twist
suspense-filled, harrowing fun
MM
August 30, 2013: This Song Will Save Your Life (YA) by Leila Sales
This Song Will Save Your Life
school hierarchies
disc jockey in the making
trying to fit in
realistic portrayals
teen problems matched to music
MM
August 6, 2013: Listening for Lucca (Juv Fic) by Suzanne LaFleur
Listening for Lucca
old beach house of dreams
sees through time, collects the lost
a presence whispers
softly paranormal tale
seizes your heart from the start
MM
July 2, 2013: Whistling Past the Graveyard by Susan Crandall
Whistling Past the Graveyard
'sixties' turbulence
spunky southern nine-year-old
trouble seeking home
look behind all that happens
to find the gifts tucked inside
MM
June 11, 2013: Far Far Away (YA) by Tom McNeal
Far Far Away
in darkest darkness
girl, boy, and Grimm ghost-buddy
evil is revealed
spunky, whimsical fun mixed
with some modern derangement
MM
June 4, 2013: The Yonahlossee Riding Camp for Girls by Anton Disclafani
The Yonahlossee Riding Camp for Girls
Depression era
isolated; obsession
lay claim to your life
selfish main character but
the gentle prose is brilliant
MM
April 15, 2013: One Step Too Far by Tina Seskis
One Step Too Far
nightmare of a twin
running away to forget
trains of tragedies
journey through twist after twist
to unearth the catalyst
MM
April 9, 2013: The Perfect Ghost by Linda Barnes
The Perfect Ghost
Cape Cod's infamous
biographer blending lies
broken beads of facts
a wicked weave of deceit
cloaked in smoky, slow suspense
MM
March 12, 2013: Poison (YA) by Bridget Zinn
Poison
Kingdom of Mohr
a teenage assassin with
passion for potions
fun romp peppered with witches,
fiends, and a really cute pig
MM
January 29, 2013: Revenge: Eleven Dark Tales by Yoko Ogawa, translated from the Japanese by Stephen Snyder
Revenge
cruel life shadows
interconnectedness spins
sad desires' dark knot
simple, effective writing
unusual and unique
MM
January 15, 2013: The Drowning House by Elizabeth Black
The Drowning House
Galveston Island
consequences sidestepping
clouded memories
impressive focus on rich
symbolic details. Bravo!
MM
January 1, 2013: The Dead and Buried (YA) by Kim Harrington
The Dead and Buried
a new home possessed
no one listens, a dead teen
haunted by their pasts
a could-not-put-down ghost tale
Spectacularly Spooky
MM
December 1, 2012: Chojun: A Novel by Goran Powell
Chojun
War, Okinawa
art, caught between two giants
true karate's way
history and fiction blend
skillfully transcending all
MM
November 13, 2012: Refuge (YA) by Carole Rummage
Refuge
red wolf safe haven
youths suffering immense loss
a strange malady
refreshing teen love story --
no over-the-top teen angst
MM
October 30, 2012: Babycakes: A Cupcake Club Romance by Donna Kauffman
Babycakes
island bakery
likable cast, turtles too
new relationships
sweet story and recipes
oh la la! . . . a bit naughty
MM
October 14, 2012: Ashen Winter (YA) by Mike Mullin
Ashen Winter
volcanic snowscape
teens brook both land and minds warped
rescue family
from cannibal gangs amok
a full-on blast of action
MM
October 2, 2012: A Working Theory of Love by Scott Hutchins
A Working Theory of Love
San Francisco fog
son lost, dad computerized
all seeking true paths
relationships delved into
a timely and timeless gem
MM
September 25, 2012: The Assault (Recon Team Angel, book 1) (YA) by Brian Falkner
The Assault
earth now alien
teenage soldiers in disguise
to save humankind
abundant combat action
and one traitor in the mist . . .
MM
September 4, 2012: Blackwood (YA) by Gwenda Bond
Blackwood
hundreds missing, trapped
she is the freak, curse-bearer
the alchemist's void
authentic teen voices lead
swift action right from the start
MM