ajnel's reviews
659 reviews

The Secret of Cold Hill by Peter James

dark emotional funny mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

 The haunted mansion from "The House on Cold Hill" has been demolished, replaced by a modern housing development. However, the dark secrets of the past refuse to be buried.
The Danes and the Penze-Weedells, move into their new homes in the development. As they settle in, they begin to experience strange and unsettling occurrences. The novel is well-written as it creates the impression that a very sinister and unemaginble plot might be lurking.  The downer to this is however the fact that the story is what you see is what you get. 

The Last Murder at the End of the World by Stuart Turton

adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

A dystopian murder mystery set on a secluded island which is home to a small community of survivors, protected from a deadly fog that has enveloped the rest of the world. The murder of one of the island's elders /scientists triggers a countdown: if the murderer is not identified within 92 hours, the island's protective barrier will fail, and the fog will engulf the community. As the fog closes in, the islanders must grapple with their own secrets, lies, and the possibility that one of their own is responsible for the murder. A very unique medium-paced whodunnit, which is impossible to put down.

The Madwomen of Paris by Jennifer Cody Epstein

adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

A historical fiction murder mystery set in 19th-century Paris in the famous Salpêtrière asylum. The story centers around two women, Laure and Josephine. Laure is a former patient at the asylum and current ward attendant, who is desperate to leave and find her missing sister, Amélie. Josephine is a young woman with amnesia who arrives at the asylum covered in blood and suffering from trauma.
As the novel progresses, Laure and Josephine form a bond while navigating the questionable treatments within the asylum and attempting to find ways out of their respective dilemmas.  Very well researched and more gripping than the title infers.  Fact and fiction intertwine very believably and seamlessly.

The Whitewashed Tombs by Kwei Quartey

dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

Set in Accra, Ghana, the story revolves around gumshoe Emma Djan, who is tasked with investigating the murder of a prominent LGBTQ+ activist. As Emma delves deeper into the case, she uncovers a web of corruption, homophobia, and secrets within the Ghanaian society. An eye-opening account of homophobia in Western-Africa coupled with a very decent whodunnit.  Quartey always delivers with an intriguing gumshoe whodunnit. 

Everybody Knows by Jordan Harper

dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

The novel follows Mae Pruett, a crisis PR expert who specializes in cleaning up the messes of the rich and famous. When her boss is murdered, Mae finds herself drawn into a dangerous investigation that reveals a web of secrets, lies, and corruption. Mae teams up with her ex-boyfriend, Chris, a former police officer who now works for the same shadowy organization. Together, they navigate a world of blackmail, drug deals, and human trafficking.  Harper's gritty neo noir gumshoe novel delves deep into the LA underbelly and reminds of LA Confidential.  A modern masterpiece.

The Grownup by Gillian Flynn

dark mysterious tense

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

A short psychological thriller about a female con artist who poses as a psychic. She's hired by a wealthy woman, Susan, who believes her Victorian mansion is haunted and her troubled stepson, Miles, is possessed. As the psychic delves deeper into the mysterious household, she begins to question whether the supernatural occurrences are real or if there's a more sinister explanation. Very well-written but unfortunately way too short as Flynn's finetuned psychological writing is extremely engaging and justified this mystery novella to be a full novel. 

Cabaret Macabre by Tom Mead

adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

Set in a snowbound English country house. Illusionist and private detective Joseph Spector is called upon to investigate a series of puzzling "locked room" deaths, including a body found in a frozen pond without any means of getting there and a rifle fired through a closed window, killing a man without breaking the glass. Despite being well-written in the classic 1920s style and being thoroughly engaging, the reveal is farfetched and devoid of breadcrumbs leading to it.  

Someone's Listening by Seraphina Nova Glass

dark emotional mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

A psychological thriller that follows Faith Finley, a successful psychologist, author, and radio host. Her seemingly perfect life takes a dramatic turn when her husband mysteriously disappears during a car crash, and she's accused of the sexual abuse of one of her young patients. As she navigates the chaos and suspicion surrounding her, Faith must unravel the truth about her husband's disappearance and clear her own name. Smartly written and fast-paced with loads of twists and turns.

Absolute Proof by Peter James

adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

Investigative journalist, Ross Hunter, receives a mysterious call from Dr. Harry Cook, who claims to have absolute proof of God's existence. Dr. Cook leaves Ross with a series of cryptic clues that lead him on a dangerous international quest.
As Ross delves deeper into the mystery, he finds himself hunted by opposing powerful forces with differing reasons for suppressing his discoveries. The novel is loosely based on a similar visit received by James in the late 1980s, but is essentially a work of historical fiction akin to "Foucault's Pendulum" and the many badly written Dan Brown novels.  James however creates a very believable yarn and keeps conspiracies out of the novel.  The result is an action-packed fast-paced mystery with a well-considered reveal.

Franz Kafka's The Castle by David Fishelson, Franz Kafka, Max Brod, Aaron Leichter

challenging dark mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

"The Castle", follows a land surveyor named K.life in a small town as he attempts to gain access to a mysterious castle which ostensibly employed him. The castle, a symbol of bureaucracy and authority, seems to be inaccessible despite K.'s persistent efforts. The narrative is filled with Kafka's signature themes of alienation, bureaucracy, and the individual's struggle against an oppressive system. The novel, which Kafka never finished, is known for its open-ended nature, leaving many questions, like the exact nature of the castle, its inhabitants, and K.'s ultimate fate, unanswered.  Kafka's ability to bizarre and distopian worlds is unmatched.  So too the looming oppressive dred of authority which he interweaves as a constant underlying theme to his novels.