ajnel's reviews
678 reviews

A Song for the Dark Times: An Inspector Rebus Novel by Ian Rankin

dark 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? No

4.0

The novel delves into a complex case that unfolds amidst the backdrop of the  life partner of Rhebus' daughter being murdered. Rebus involves himself into the investigation involving a brutal attack on a close colleague, a mysterious hotel fire, and an unidentified body. As always Rankin retains the perfect balance between character development and plot development.  The whodunnit is beautifully set up and the reveal highly unexpected. 

Pretty Baby by Mary Kubica

dark emotional mysterious reflective medium-paced

• 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

3.0

Heidi Wood,  encounters a young, seemingly homeless woman named Willow, with a small a baby. Moved to compassion, Heidi brings Willow and the infant into her home, despite objections from her family.
As Heidi tries to help Willow get back on her feet, she and her husband (separately) start to uncover disturbing facts about the young woman's past; this while Heidi is also slowly losing touch with reality as she starts to confuse the baby for her own baby she lost some 12 years earlier. What starts as a simple act of kindness quickly turns into a dangerous situation filled with secrets and lies. The novel moves a tad too slowly and the overused theme of female mental issues provides the backdrop for most of the novel.  A bit of an average read. 

Middle of the Night by Riley Sager

challenging dark emotional 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

Ethan returns to his childhood home after decades. His peaceful return is disrupted when unsettling events begin to occur which events are linked to the disappearance of his best friend, Billy, which happened in the same house 30 years ago. As Ethan delves deeper into the past, he uncovers disturbing secrets about his neighborhood and the people in it, forcing him to confront the darkness that still lingers.  Sager masterfully weaves an almost endless number of twists and turns into this fast paced whodunit, which culminates in an unfold, which has just the right amount of breadcrumbs in place to lead to the reveal. 

The Reaper: Autobiography of One of the Deadliest Special Ops Snipers by Gary Brozek, Nicholas Irving

adventurous dark funny tense fast-paced

4.0

The first memoir by Ranger Sniper Nicholas Irving.  Cleverly written by focussing on specific fire fights whilst setting them off against snippets from his basic training and boyhood (pre-military) life.  It's  raw and unflinching look into the life of one of the U.S. military's deadliest snipers. 

Tell Me What I Am by Una Mannion

dark emotional reflective sad tense 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

Ruby’s mother, Deena  disappeared when Ruby was only four years old and while Deena and Lucas were fighting an ugly custody battle. Now living with her controlling father, Lucas, and his enabling mother, Ruby remembers almost nothing about her mother and is not permitted to ask any questions about her.  Nessa is however as from the outset convinced that Lucas was responsible for her sister's disappearance. The novel utilises the dual timelines (some 10 years removed) exceptionally and the first person accounts of Ruby and Nessa are richly written and seamlessly integrated. 

Way of the Reaper: My Greatest Untold Missions and the Art of Being a Sniper by Gary Brozek, Nicholas Irving

adventurous reflective fast-paced

3.0

A firsthand account of the life of an elite Ranger sniper during active duty in Iraq and Afghanistan. Irving provides a detailed look at the sniper's craft at the coal face . He also, albeit very superficially, touches on the psychological toll of such a demanding and dangerous role.  An honestly written autobiography which would have benefited substantially through the services of ghost writer. 

My Husband by Maud Ventura

dark emotional reflective medium-paced

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

4.0

Over the course of a week, the unnamed protagonist meticulously analyzes her fifteen-year marriage to someone whom she claims she loves as much as the first day she laid eyes on him. Through her extremely obsessive lens, she examines their relationship, questioning love, control, and the complexities of intimacy. As the narrative unfolds, readers are drawn into a world of doubt, paranoia, and the blurred lines between obsession and love. The novel delves into the depths of the protagonist's very unbalanced psyche as she grapples with her own perceptions of reality.  Though only a novella, it could have been shorter and the reveal at the end is somewhat expected throughout the novel. That said, very well-written and very odd.

Dark Ride by Lou Berney

dark funny tense medium-paced

• 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

3.0

Hardy "Hardly" Reed, is a laid-back amusement park worker who loves his simple life. However, his mundane life takes a dramatic turn when he witnesses signs of abuse on two young children. Despite his initial reluctance, Hardy becomes determined to protect the children. As he delves deeper into the situation, he uncovers a dangerous world of crime and corruption, forcing him to confront his own capabilities and limitations. A medium-paced action thriller with an explosive final act.  The novel could and probably should have been much grittier and contained the odd twist or turn, but it is pretty enjoyable. 

She Rides Shotgun by Jordan Harper

adventurous dark emotional 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? It's complicated

3.0

Just prior to his release from prison, Nate McClusky gets on the wrong side of a white supremacist gang, and a contract is taken out on him, his ex-wife and daughter, Poppy.  Though his wife is already murdered by the time he is released, he is just in time to prevent a first murder attempt on Polly. With Polly's life in imminent danger, they embark on a perilous journey, fighting for survival and against a relentless enemy, mostly by stealing from said enemy in a "Bonnie and Clyde"-like homage. A fast-paced and well-written novel with a strong focus on the process of rekindling a father/daughter relationship within an almost futile environment.

Dead Man's Grip by Peter James

dark emotional tense fast-paced

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

3.0

A deadly vehicle accident and the impact and consequences thereof provide the backdrop. As such a young American student and son of NY mobsters loses his life in the accident where all three other parties did something wrong. The focus is however on Carly Chase who  finds her world turned upside down when the drivers of the other vehicles involved are brutally murdered. DS Roy Grace is called in to investigate the escalating violence. As the body count rises, it becomes clear that a deadly force is hunting down those connected to the accident. With Carly as the next potential target, Grace and his team race against time to prevent further deadly consequences.
The focus in the novel shifts somewhat away from our main series-protaganists towards Carly and her thinking and actions.  It works pretty well, but the absence of a whodunnit and unexpected twists and turns renders the novel slightly tedious.