The North Light by Hideo Yokoyama

I am a slow reader when it comes to a good story. It requires a lot of time and attention to gain a detailed understanding.

For someone who loves a thriller, the plot line of this book held my attention. The author's writing style is another reason for the high rating. I feel a connection between the characters. I expected something different with the ending - the combination of the whimsical but by the time I got to the end, my skeptical frown had long since given way to a grin of satisfaction. So I guess, this is my last book of 2023 that I proudly love and give 5 ⭐️ 😭😭 

Minoru Aose is an architect. A client has requested to build their new home. They requested the same design that featured The Best Design of the Year, the famous Y Residence. The owner of Y Residence is Touta Yoshino. The feeling of resistance to build a clone home overlapped with the disappearance of Yoshino's family without a trace. He believes his world and Yoshino's are intertwined. If someone were to able to solve the whole mystery, it's Aose. The whole point of the mystery is to learn more about atoning, Aose's childhood, a possible red herring and Bruno Taut, a German architect who took asylum in Japan in 1933. 

Thanks to @definitelybooks #pansing for the review copy. Opinions are my own 💙 

*Available at all major bookstores in Singapore and Malaysia and their online stores

I'm planning on reading other Hideo's work next year 🤞🤞

The Kamogawa Food Detectives by Hisashi Kashiwai

 

I adore the heartwarming story of Kamogawa Diner and Detective Agency. Mr Kamogawa and his daughter Koishi are such a dynamic duo, always going above and beyond to ensure their clients are satisfied. The way they recreate dishes to bring back memories is simply magical.

This story is a delightful reminder of the simple pleasures in life, and how they can bring us so much joy. Food is symbolic of love when words are inadequate. Nostalgia can be just as vital an ingredient that promotes a sense of self-identity, and belonging and reflects on difficult moments. The sentimental longing for the past can be a delightful feeling.

A brief fictional prose narrative. A gentle reminder, the author's style of writing is straightforward to read and follow. I've always imagined that the last chapter might leave my expectations in chaos but there's none. I did wonder why put Drowsy on the cover. So, yes, it is what it is.

Thanks to @definitelybooks #pansing for the review copy. Opinions are my own 💙 

*Available at all major bookstores in Singapore and Malaysia and their online stores

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#definitelybooks #donereading #TheKamogawaFoodDetectives by #HisashiKashiwai #igbooks #igreads #letsgetreading #emabaca #bookrecommendations #bookreview #malaysiamembaca 

None Of This is True by Lisa Jewell

 

I am beyond thrilled to share my thoughts on this book. The author's talent for taking a seemingly ordinary plot and turning it into a riveting page-turner is truly remarkable. I couldn't put it down. The captivating writing style and enigmatic character had me hooked from beginning to end. 

Alix Summer, a prominent feminist podcaster, and Josie Fair, a survivor of her past, join forces to pursue a new project about her quite traumatic life. Alix allowed Josie into her life and had been a houseguest for a week claiming to have been a victim of domestic abuse at the hands of her husband. But their collaboration ultimately leads to Josie's true colour and leaves a lasting impact on others. 

I highly recommend this book and give it an enthusiastic 5 ⭐️ rating. These are my personal opinions, and I want to express my gratitude to @definitelybooks #pansing for the review copy. You can find this must-read book at all leading bookstores in Singapore and Malaysia, as well as online stores. Trust me, it's a book that will leave you feeling joyful and inspired, especially with its unexpected moments of brilliance.

Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll

 

 

Inspired by the real-life sorority targeted by America's first celebrity serial killer in his final murderous spree. It takes on the story of Ted Bundy and is told from the perspective of a student who survives a horrific attack on a sorority house in Tallahassee, Florida. He attacked two others and killed two women.

The survivor, Pamela Schumacher, 21 years old, is a chapter president, she's the only one who saw the intruder. She was able to give a good and strong description. It was not long after, Martina Cannon, a woman in a different state claimed that the suspect was the same man who had a prior history of escape after being convicted of kidnapping and awaiting trial of brutal slaying.

The case was strong, but the DA couldn't be bothered with anything approaching justice until he started killing again. The MO didn't fit though but I am not a person who needs a happy ending in a book. The book utilises a dual pov with the story being told by the two main characters: Pamela and Ruth Wachowsky.  I was struggling to get through the book, as it is slow-paced although shows fairly character-driven.

4 ⭐️

Thanks to @definitelybooks #pansing for the review copy. Opinions are my own 💙 

*Available at all major bookstores in Singapore and Malaysia and their online stores

Snail by Minu Kim

 

I think it's not easy to comprehend the story. Looking at pictures and talking about related examples is a way to explore the issues that can arise. When it comes to sibling rivalry, as parents we must have a way that suits our children. Some are used to slow implementation and others may struggle to understand the issues.

Snail or tortoise is a popular symbol of struggling group in our life chain. Despite our slowness, the most important thing is that you're learning a new thing.

Thanks to @netgalley and the publisher for the earc. I give 3.5 ⭐️

LUCAS the Spy Cat by Samantha Shannon

 

I think all cats are like Lucas. Curious and love adventure. And use the spy camera is a way to check out how our cats are doing especially when night is come. 

Thanks to @netgalley and the publisher for fun earc. I give 4 ⭐️

What We Kept To Ourselves by Nancy Joo youn Kim

 

The book as a whole had my emotions all over the place for so many different reasons. It is not only focused on a stranger's identity, a failed dream and a history that had made so many men killed but also on a wife's emotions and how she feels as a human being.

Kim Jung Ho and his wife, Sunhee, were two refugees, children of war who had immigrated in the 70s from Korea. America was a promising country that could offer the adventure of a lifetime. But nearly two decades, Sunhee aka Sunny clearly couldn't handle the marriage anymore. Her loneliness, grief and the hours that she spent in another person's dream have clawed her sanity. She just left the house leaving also her two children.

No one wanted to talk about it until a body was found behind the loquat tree in Kim's yard and nearby lay a white envelope with the words 'Sunny Kim' on it. The death of Ronald James was like the point of bringing up old wounds. They believe that their mother's disappearance had something to do with RJ's death. It seems she had hidden some kind of secret from her family.

Overall, it's an emotionally gripping read for fans of the melodramatic genre with a slow-paced story. The novel is presented in alternating chapters that jump back and forth between periods of painstaking journey. 

4.5 ⭐️

Thanks to @definitelybooks #pansing for the review copy. Opinions are my own 💙 

*Available at all major bookstores in Singapore and Malaysia and their online stores

Holly by Stephen King

 

I have just finished reading this book! I have to admit, compared to King's other works, it may not be the most standout read, considering I have a bit of a love/hate relationship with the writing style and characters. At times, I even wondered if it was written by ghostwriters! But the last few chapters of this book alone were packed with raw emotion, more than most entire books. 

The story follows Penelope Dahl, who hires Holly Gibney to investigate her daughter's disappearance. Holly just inherited Finders Keepers, a private detective agency previously owned by Bill Hodges. Although Holly doesn't expect any breakthroughs, the similarities of location and belongings left behind seem to relate to another series of missing persons and human cannibalism was not at all on her mind. 

This slow-paced thriller even offers some realistic insights during the time of the coronavirus outbreak. Holly has appeared in several of King's previous works, but while reading this book, I didn't see her as a strong character and it was intentionally portrayed! 

Thanks to @definitelybooks #pansing for the review copy. Opinions are my own 💙 

*Available at all major bookstores in Singapore and Malaysia and their online stores

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#donereading #Holly by #StephenKing #igreads #igbooks #bookstagram #goodreads #bookrecommendations #bookreview #emabaca #definitelybooks #letsgetreading #malaysiamembaca 

The Fraud by Zadie Smith

 

Before starting to read this book, I considered doing some research on William Ainsworth. All in all, Ainsworth was a contemporary writer. He was a clean stylist and published 41 novels. His first success as a writer came with Rookwood in 1834 and Jack Sheppard, which did outsell the Oliver Twist. 

This novel is based on the life of William (1805-82) from the point of view of his cousin by marriage, Eliza Touchet. Her husband left her in poverty with William's household. It is written through time and anecdotes that struck her as significant moments and some meaningless from the outside literary world.

Eliza is incredibly brave, brilliant, loving, and kind. She gives a very fair and balanced view of the scandal that titillated Victorian England, The Tichborne Claimant cases. In 1852, Roger Charles Tichborne, heir to the Tichborne title, disappeared at sea. Twelve years later, Tom Castro, a large Cockney butcher from Wagga Wagga in outback Australia claimed to be him. But she was more obsessed with a formerly enslaved Jamaican man named Andrew Bogle, a key witness in the trial of the Tichborne Claimant. Zadie does very good work with the story of sympathetic characters, race, class and colonisation complexities.

Thanks to @times.reads and @putrifariza for the review copy. Opinions are my own 💙 

*Available at all major bookstores in Singapore and Malaysia and their online stores

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#donereading #TheFraud by #ZadieSmith #igreads #igbooks #bookstagram #goodreads #bookrecommendations #bookreview #emabaca #malaysiamembaca

The Turnglass by Gareth Rubin

 

In 1939, Ken Kourian went to a party at the house of Oliver Tooke, a wealthy young man who wanted to pursue life as a writer. They were immediately acquainted.

Oliver's life is not a bed of roses apparently. He died by suicide. Ken tried to think of a reason why Oliver might have done it. 

He had been thinking a lot about Oliver's new book, The Turnglass. He thinks Oliver left it as a sign in case something happened to him. He wanted Ken to let people know the truth if he couldn't himself. There are a lot of subtle messages in his book. 

The events in the book were based on what had happened to Oliver's grandfather almost sixty years earlier. He thinks those events were connected to what had happened to the family. His book took some unravelling about Turglass House which always had something corrupt and malign. 

His death was most likely linked to his mother's being in an asylum and his brother being abducted when they were small. It was why Oliver had spoken of the guilt a lot before he died. 

Oh my. The most underrated book I've read this year. This book is unique not only because of tete-beche. The plot and the author's writing are amazing. A story within a story is a captivating tale filled with mystery and mind-blowing endings. 5 ⭐️ !!

Thanks to @definitelybooks #pansing for the review copy. Opinions are my own 💙 

*Available at all major bookstores in Singapore and Malaysia and their online stores

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#donereading #TheTurnglass by #GarethRubin #igreads

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Traitors Gate by Jeffrey Archer

 

Superintendent William Warwick is a part of the Crown Jewel's escort. Sword of State and Imperial State Crown would once again be worn by Her Majesty at the House of Lords on Queen's Speech for the State Opening of Parliament. 

There was an attempt to steal the Crown Jewels in 1671 but unfortunately, it didn't succeed. Miles Faulkner who has 4 years of fraud and returns to his shady business trying to seek revenge implies that Warwick is the next target.

Jeffrey Archer's writing of a British police procedural crime thriller is straightforward. The plot is linear and clear. My first impression of Warwick is that he is too perfect and almost boring for lack of flaws. It is very easy to become invested in the story from the first chapter of this latest William Warwick series.

Thanks to @times.reads and @putrifariza for the review copy. Opinions are my own 💙 

*Available at all major bookstores in Singapore and Malaysia and their online stores 

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#donereading #TraitorsGate by #JeffreyArcher #igbooks #igreads #emabaca #bookstagram #goodreads #letsgetreading #bookreview #malaysiamembaca

Cahokia Jazz by Francis Spufford

A body has been found on the Land Trust roof. Joseph Barrow and Phineas Drummond, a detective from Cahokia PD Murder Squad investigating the murder. But the body was put there to tell a story, deliberately someone's idea to create a chaos and crazy scheme.

The city of Cahokia is home to three major ethnic groups: native Americans (takouma), African Americans (taklousa) and European Americans (takata). The story of a city that is full of accidents, improbabilities, grand ambitions, tragedies, sudden changes and the slow march of time to wipe away native power and native property rights.

This historical crime novel is set circa 1922. It is a whimsical and imaginative tale that explores topics of organisations such as subversive networks, anarchists, race radicals, KKK, Class solidarity, the Church, ancient Aztecs and the Inca.

The book is definitely NOT about whodunnit but focuses particular attention on symbols and the inside story of distinctive of the ethnic. The author also expertly pulls all the threads together to provide a satisfying detective noir theme to tell history through a wider and more inclusive lens. My personal rating is 5 ⭐️

Thanks to @times.reads and @putrifariza for the review copy. Opinions are my own 💙

*Available at all major bookstores in Singapore and Malaysia and their online stores 

Geneva by Richard Armitage

Sarah Collier was a scientist who worked on a prototype gene therapy and just received a Nobel Prize. Not even 50 yet, she left everything and considering an early retirement. She starts to show symptoms of dementia and wants to keep things private until then. 

Her husband, Daniel urged her to attend an event on a new product that would be held in Geneva - brain implants. This product could be a lifeline, but it could also be a terrifying Pandora's box if it fell into the wrong hands before it was fully trialled. Only potential investors were in attendance. Unfortunately, the truth about her condition was exposed. She's losing her grip. 

I can honestly say, the author offers a window into the subtlety of dementia. This is how Sarah felt in the early stage, which affected her thinking, memory, reasoning, personality, mood and behaviour. Having a father with Alzheimer's has taken quite a toll on Sarah. But the truth is more shocking! 

Another imaginative and uniquely twisted story about betrayal and relationships, and how all is not always as it seems.

Thanks to @times.reads and @putrifariza for the review copy. Opinions are my own 💙 

*Available at all major bookstores in Singapore and Malaysia and their online stores 

The Spider by Lars Kepler

Joona Linna and Saga Bauer begin to build somewhat of a 'history' with Jurek Walter, a serial killer. To make a long story short Walter was killed by Joona. Since then, Saga has been getting help from a psychiatrist and struggling to return to duty.

After three years, she received a package that contained a metal figurine of a man and nine white bullets. It was posted before the murders took place. National Crime Unit think that there must be some influence by Jurek Walter. The killer aimed to make things personal. Eight people close and had conflicted with Saga died. She's been trying to stop a serial killer, but in the process, she becomes a suspect.

Of course, it's full of murders. It feels surreal and I can understand why it takes longer to capture the killer. Absolutely a psychological mess it puts you through violence and torture.

There were a few parts where I had to step back and process what I had just read because it was just a bit too much for me. It managed to surpass my expectations. The character-driven is the best part of this book. 5 ⭐️


Thanks to @definitelybooks #pansing for the review copy. Opinions are my own 💙

*Available at all major bookstores in Singapore and Malaysia and their online stores

The Marriage Act by John Marrs

It is set in a dystopian future in which AI is rising at an exponential rate. Making Britain better necessitates improved health and economic conditions. To do this, the government is pro-marriage and has been requested to disseminate the benefits of the Marriage Act. A modern housing area was built as a Smart Marriage home, allowing Audites installed in their own homes to be judged and experience firsthand the complexities of these married couples' relationships. The Smart Marriage demonstrates how out of control life has become, not only destroying marriages and communities through gentrification, but also discriminating against those who refuse to upgrade, cohabiting, single, and bereaved inhabitants. 

The premise of this novel piqued my interest. The stories are filled with extraordinary supporting characters who question society's notions of government propaganda. Despite the blurry line between what is ethical and what is not, the story concludes with a moral.

Thanks to @definitelybooks #pansing for the review copy. Opinions are my own 💙 

*Available at all major bookstores in Singapore and Malaysia and their online stores

The Night House by Jo Nesbo

Wow. Definitely 5 ⭐️. I certainly try to avoid spoilers. I could understand by reading other reviews that this book has gone wildly far from expectations. I didn't expect to love this SO much. A great plot with SHOCKING twists. I'm terrified to read a different genre from Jo Nesbo.

Delusions and hallucinations are the two symptoms that can involve paranoia. In the beginning, the author delves into the fascinating world of supernatural horror to the lasting impact on emotional grittiness. The book contains three parts that identify who Richard Jonasson is. An insight into the depths of his psyche, and a stark exploration of trauma that takes him to the point where he believes this serious mental health problem affects how he thinks, feels and behaves. His recollection of fifteen years earlier in writing is vivid when he tells his family has the same tendency to paranoid schizophrenia. How things piece together at the end brings the story to a satisfactory conclusion.

Thanks to @definitelybooks #pansing for the review copy. Opinions are my own 💙

*Available at all major bookstores in Singapore and Malaysia and their online stores

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#donereading #TheNightHouse by #JoNesbo #igreads

#igbooks #bookstagram #emabaca #goodreads #bookrecommendations #bookreview #letsgetreading #definitelybooks #malaysiamembaca 

Lying Beside You by Michael Robotham

This may be my first time reading Michael Robotham but surely not the last. His writing claims distinguishable visceral qualities to form a good example of characters. The third instalment brings another solid crime writing. 

On his nineteenth birthday, Elias Haven killed his parents and twin sisters. He began to hear voices of “demons” that tormented him and told him to commit murder leaving his brother, Cyrus Haven the only one who survived. After 20 years, he was released from psychiatric hospital. 

Cyrus is now a forensic psychologist who investigates a violent and suspicious death. Rohan Kirk, 67 was found beaten to death in his house and his daughter, Maya is missing. Two days later, the police discovered her body. The case is unexpectedly drawn into the prior crime based on the similarities of facts. A great crime thriller that kept me guessing right up to the end! And the method of alternating chapter by chapter between POV characters is brilliant. I give 4.8 ⭐️

Thanks to @definitelybooks #pansing for the review copy. Opinions are my own 💙 

*Available at all major bookstores in Singapore and Malaysia and their online stores

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#donereading #LyingBesideYou by #MichaelRobotham #definitelybooks #igbooks

#igreads #bookrecommendations #bookreview #bookstagram #goodreads #emabaca #letsgetreading #malaysiamembaca

My Husband by Maud Ventura

Oh my. I don't think Ariane needs a husband more than a psychiatrist. After 15 years together, she couldn't stop comparing her life and evaluating the relationship. She has always loved her husband unconditionally, despite jealousy and doubt. She became obsessed and meticulous about everything and wrote down notes categorized thematically to reflect experiences that influenced her daily life. She's even going through her husband's things. 

This book contains themes of chronic anxiety, marital problems, and adultery. Going through her life is exhausting. Generally, the idea that this kind of person existed before me is surreal, even revolting. What I need most in a long-term marriage is peace, quiet, and learning how to restrain. There's no single formula for successful marriages. It does not come with a guide. Bear in mind that marriages take work, sacrifice, and respect.  

So, what's wrong with Ariane's husband? Is he some kind of psycho or what? And yet, the epilogue of the book shows the perspective and frame of the story from him. Brief, unsettling, and mind-boggling. I give 4.5 ⭐️ 

Thanks to @definitelybooks #pansing for the review copy. Opinions are my own 💙 

*Available at all major bookstores in Singapore and Malaysia and their online stores

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#donereading #MyHusband by #MaudVentura #igbooks #igreads #emabaca #bookrecommendations #bookreview #bookstagram #goodreads #letsgetreading #definitelybooks 

The End of August by Yu Miri

This book has a lot to offer as a valuable window into Korean history. The End of August is a semi-autobiographical of the author's grandfather, Lee Woo-Cheol from 1925 until he died in the late 1970s. The story begins with the scene of called forth for her ancestors through ritual (thanks to kdrama!). How the author put down their last moments together is phenomenal and like a closure for me.

Lee Woo-Cheol was a long-distance runner in Korea. His dream was robbed because the Tokyo Olympics were cancelled in 1938. Furthermore, he has mouths to feed and is trapped under Japanese rule. Despite all that, he was a philanderer, and his wife left him leaving their children behind. The rest of the story is quite sordid like everyone in the family has such a terrible fate.

Considering everything, it's a remarkable and thought-provoking exploration of a Japanese invasion, women's exploitation, and communism through the lasting impact of dramatic backstories. I give 4.5 ⭐️

Thanks to @times.reads and @putrifariza for the review copy. Opinions are my own 💙

*Available at all major bookstores in Singapore and Malaysia and their online stores

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#donereading #TheEndofAugust by #YuMiri #bookstagram #bookreview #bookrecommendations #igbooks #igreads #goodreads #emabaca #malaysiamembaca 

Zero Days by Ruth Ware

Thanks to @definitelybooks #pansing for the review copy. Opinions are my own 💙

*Available at all major bookstores in Singapore and Malaysia and their online stores

Jacinta Cross and her husband, Gabriel Medway conduct a security system for a living. But something unusual when she came home late from work one day. She confronted the most traumatic experience, Gabe was found dead with his throat cut. It's not a burglary gone wrong or a case of mistaken identity, clearly.

The nightmare was only just beginning. The police didn't seem happy with her timeline and thought it was suspicious. Plus the huge insurance policy was taken up before Gabe died. Someone was setting her up for Gabe's murder. She has to prove herself innocent. Her only mission is tracking down who and why someone killed Gabe to that extent. She's been on the run since then.

Ruth Ware is another author I've been curious about for years. I love her writing style. They're full of tension, and intrigue with a bit of techy stuff (I haven't a clue of 🤭). The plot is pretty decent but I love the main characters, Jack and her sister, Hel drive the story forward in time.

The Other Daughter by Lisa Gardner

The truth did not always set you free. Sometimes it bound you to dark, bloody deeds and cost you the people you loved. 

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Melanie Stoke had been abandoned as a child at City General Hospital with no memory of where she came from. She had been adopted by the rich parents whom she loved. The real daughter of Stokeses, Meagan was murdered before Melanie arrived by a serial killer, Russell Lee. He was sentenced to death for kidnapping, torturing and murdering other six small children. 

After twenty-five years, Melanie suddenly has a sense of dejavu, a black void, and voices. Someone who knows what happened to the family got a tip from an anonymous caller saying that she was Russell's daughter and there are a lot of unanswered questions about the death of Meagen. 

I am pretty confident that these promising premises could fulfil my expectations. For me, the disappointment of the romance dynamic between the characters itself became an unnecessary element of the story. However, nothing about these characters is to be trusted and I have to go through their 'messy' lives. The Other Daughter was originally published in 1999. I cannot believe it is the first time I've read anything by Lisa Gardner. Somehow, this is my crime fiction explorations and still kept my interest.

Thanks to @times.reads and @putrifariza for the review copy. Opinions are my own 💙 

*Available at all major bookstores in Singapore and Malaysia and their online stores

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#donereading #TheOtherDaughter by #LisaGardner #igreads #igbooks #bookstagram #goodreads #bookrecommendations #bookreview #emabaca #malaysiamembaca 

Fairy Tale by Stephen King

A make-believe story comes in many forms along a continuum. Seventeen-year-old Charlie Reade has a normal life, a sober father, plays two varsity sports, and has accidentally saved an old man when he fell off a ladder. Mr. Howard Bowditch is a fellow who lives alone with his old dog, Radar and is famous for his foul temper. 

Charlie made acquaintances and did chores as a caretaker since Howard was badly injured. He was sure the old man had secrets in his shed. About time, he left everything to Charlie including the house and Radar. What he was leaving him wasn't a gift but a burden, he claimed. Through the cassette tape, he describes what is in the shed in case Charlie decides to follow in his footsteps. There is a hole/ well of another world within reach. If he brings Radar, there is a place and a way to make the dog young again and give her a second chance. He wanted to find out the last request from Howard only he knew it was a dangerous mission, a world created out of a collective of old-time bed stories. 

I enjoyed the revamped story of a journey through the mind of a young man. These methods often have similarities in general throughout King's distinctive writing style. I give this book 5 ⭐️ regardless of the cliché ending.

Thanks to @definitelybooks #pansing for the review copy. Opinions are my own 💙 

*Available at all major bookstores in Singapore and Malaysia and their online stores

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#donereading #FairyTale by #StephenKing #igreads #igbooks #bookstagram #emabaca #goodreads #bookreview #bookrecommendations #definitelybooks #letsgetreading

Deep Water by Emma Bamford

 

This novel had so much potential, at least judging by the synopsis, a great setting, premise, and beautiful book cover, but unfortunately, it didn't work for me. Don't feel intimidated by my review😅. It's just my two cents. 

Jake and Virginie are on a big sailing adventure in their Wayfinder. Their life savings were invested in her. Then, they come across an island, Amarante. Amarante was a prison in a penal colony. Westerners think Amarante like a paradise that will heal the wounds. They met other groups. They traded lives on land for dreams of adventure at sea. Their rules are simple, to show willingness to help others, to provide, to hunt, to fish together. 

However, the conflict arises when the boat has an engine problem.  They might lose everything, belongings, money, dreams, and their future together. The main protagonist being an unlikable character creates unnecessary tension. Am I the only one crying out for the reveal of the characters and Amarante's backstory? 

Thanks to @definitelybooks #pansing for the review copy. Opinions are my own 💙 

*Available at all major bookstores in Singapore and Malaysia and their online stores

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#donereading #DeepWater by #EmmaBamford #igreads #emabaca #igbooks #goodreads #bookstagram #definitelybooks #letsgetreading #bookreview #malaysiamembaca

The Last Dance by Mark Billingham

 

Two bodies were discovered in adjacent rooms at the Sands Hotel. One of them was Adrian Cutler. He's from a well-established family that links to organised crime. Just on a big case on his first day back after his wife's death, Detective Sergeant Declan Miller who's a bit quirky, unorthodox, brilliant, inattentive, flippant, and sarcastic is a perfect main character who I love. Alexandra was murdered when she was investigating the Cutlers and the other gangland. The investigation was still ongoing. Whoever had been responsible for the killing had not only been careful but 'might' be connected to his wife's murder. 

5 ⭐️. I was so pleased to have read a good premise and great writing from the author. Definitely not the last. What I did not like about this book is I had to wait until next year for the next instalment. Urgh. I hate it. 

Thanks to @definitelybooks #pansing for the review copy. Opinions are my own 💙 

*Available at all major bookstores in Singapore and Malaysia and their online stores

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#donereading #TheLastDance by #MarkBillingham #igreads #igbooks #goodreads #bookstagram #emabaca #letsgetreading #definitelybooks #bookrecommendations #bookreview #malaysiamembaca

Wraith by Mark Wheaton

 

Cecily Underwood and her mother never stayed in one place for too long and avoided large crowds since they left France.

After her mother died under tragic circumstances, she

inherited a fortune from her great-grandmother who is dying to see her for the last time. Unfortunately, Marguerite LeClercq had been found dead an apparent suicide.

Though they were long estranged, Cecily believes the wraith has something to do with it. She knew the tragedies that had befallen her family had lived on in the form of a curse and carried it down through the centuries. 

About half the story, I felt a little disoriented, but it fits in Cecily's current state of mind. She hadn't known her family history and the curse capable of making everyone suffer. This is a story of unsettling revenge in a slow-burn horror that sends chills down your spine. I give 4 ⭐️

Thanks to @netgalley and the publisher for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review!

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#donereading #wraith by #markwheaton #igreads #igbooks #bookstagram #goodreads #emabaca #bookrecommendations #bookreview #malaysiamembaca 

Penance by Eliza Clark

 

A teenager, Joan Wilson was murdered by three girls who set fire to a small beach chalet in 2016. Hours earlier, Joan was struck by them and locked in the chalet. The burns covered 80% of her body and she died after three days of the ordeal. Several years later, a journalist, Alec Z. Carelli wrote a book about emotional insight before the murder. 

This is a work of fiction but based on actual events with some adding for dramatic purposes. It drove my mind. A lot of complicated feelings for such a young girl to carry. The most common problems of teenagers are peer pressure, growing up too fast, and identity crises. Personally, I don't require trigger warnings for myself 😅😅. But please be warned. This book heavily contains bullies, torturers, violence, weak-minded, grief, manipulation, homophobia, suicide, attention-seeker, fandom of true crime, and delusion - to name some of them. 

The story delves into the psychology of the characters and their motivations including the pov of the victim's mother, the perpetrators and their parents, teachers n friends. Eliza Clark does a really good job of depicting the narrative of a twisted yet driven murderer. Unlike many other crimes, a prank gone wrong appear to be senseless, right? Despite the display of a realistic depiction, it's not normal behaviour to kill someone for no reason. I thought the details could be worse irl. 5 ⭐️ 

Thanks to @times.reads and @putrifariza for the review copy. Opinions are my own 💙 

*Available at all major bookstores in Singapore and Malaysia and their online stores

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#donereading #Penance by #elizaclark #igreads #igbooks #emabaca #goodreads #bookstagram #bookrecommendations #bookreview #grantabestyoungnovelist #malaysiamembaca

Silence For The Dead by simone St. James

 

The Gersbach family built a home, Portis House. During WWI, they disappeared and the house is being used as an asylum. It's an exclusive retreat of peace and solace with proper care for soldiers who became unstable. They are treated with rest, quiet surroundings, and routine. 

Portis House had advertising for nurses and Katharine Weekes was accepted to perform the duties of a nurse although she lacked experience. 

The patients are having strange nightmares. The dream is always the same tale about ghosts.  Something was going on outside of normal rationality. Kitty is convinced there's a secret that someone's keeping and she has to find out. 

Silence For The Dead is originally published in April 2014. The combination of post-war and gothic is so compelling. It is my first time reading a Simone St. James novel and I don't really read the reviews/synopsis beforehand, so I love the feeling that still lingered in me. Please beware that this book may contain material on child abuse, PTSD, bullying, suicide and war veteran and their mental distress. Def 5 ⭐️ 

Thanks to @times.reads and @putrifariza for the review copy. Opinions are my own 💙 

*Available at all major bookstores in Singapore and Malaysia and their online stores

📚

#donereading #SilenceForTheDead by #SimoneStJames #igbooks #igreads #bookstagram #goodreads #emabaca #bookrecommendations #bookreview #gothic #malaysiamembaca

Prom Mom by Laura Lippman

 

Amber Glass was sixteen years old when she delivered a baby on a prom night. The baby died and she accepted a plea deal in a juvenile facility until she was eighteen.

She returned to her hometown twenty years later, where she 

ran across Joe Simpson, her prom date. They had become friends, and she had fallen for him. Again

Joe Simpson is a successful businessman who is happily 

married (or so he believes). Despite his explanations and unwavering ambition, he has 

never changed. It is set in COVID times. The pandemic had made people claustrophobic and affected their lives.

This story started a bit slow as we get to know these characters and their backstories. I realized the low-scoring reviews and classified it as an unconventional thriller. The book undeniably hooked me with an unexpected ending. 5 ⭐️ for me.


Thanks to @times.reads and @putrifariza for the review copy. Opinions are my own 💙

*Available at all major bookstores in Singapore and Malaysia and their online stores.