I love, love, love the Sloan Krausemystery series—not so much for the puzzling whodunits, but more for the small Bavarian town surrounded by snow-topped mountains and German-themed breweries! Be still, my heart! Here in Texas, I jump at any chance to visit our very own little German town in the Hill Country called Fredericksburg. It’s just too much fun shopping at cutesy stores and dining at my favorite German-themed microbrewery. Oh, how I love the Enchanted Rock Ale… sigh.
Anyhoo, this mystery was a little weak. The killer reveal was kind of a no-brainer, but whatevs. I enjoyed accompanying Sloan and her fellow microbrewing partner/love interest as they puzzled over the mystery whilst visiting with his family, who, of course, are as charming and lovely as Sloan’s in-laws. Naturally, it would be boring if everything worked out perfectly, so Garrett has to come clean with a secret he’s been withholding for silly reasons. This is why romance books drive me nuts—too much secrecy and miscommunication! At least this time, Sloan chose to actually communicate with him instead of holding it all in. Way to go, girl! This might be the first time she’s gotten out of her own way, and I love this for her.
Overall, this book gave me all the wintry, Bavarian village vibes that made my cozy little heart brim with joy. However, die-hard mystery lovers may feel it’s lacking, so please note that this is more of a 100-piece children’s jigsaw puzzle than a 1,000-piece brain-scratcher. In this case, we’re dealing with a rather shady group of doctors and researchers at the local hospital who are about to announce a “breakthrough” medical miracle study that will rock the entire world off its axis. How this is happening in a tiny tourist town of two thousand residents is beyond me, but let’s not overthink it. As it happens, one of the researchers loses her mind when a flash drive goes missing, and she makes a big scene at Nitro while frantically searching for this thing that apparently will be the death of her. Oops… wrong choice of words. Anyhoo… a murder happens—on the ski slopes, of course—and all signs point to the shady doctors.
Again, I wasn’t too thrilled with the mystery in this installment, but I enjoyed the entire experience nonetheless. There’s a lot to be said for interesting characters, a romance you really want to root for, and a cozy Bavarian town that just brims with holiday charm in the wintertime. So grab yourself a hoppy winter ale—or a hot toddy—and curl up with this book for a cozy night in, away from the madness and crowds.
I loved this author’s previous book, Pumpkin Spice and Everything Nice, but this one just didn’t really sing to my peppermint mocha-loving soul. It’s a cute story about a teenage couple who grew up together and eventually… what do the kids say these days? Oh yes, they caught feelings for each other—yet were incapable of saying the words out loud. Ugh. Not to go off on a tangent here, but this might be the main reason I don’t love romance. These reasonably intelligent people are always jumping to conclusions and suffering in silence when all their problems could be solved with a single conversation!
Sorry, I digressed. So yeah, this is a case of “it is what it is.” I can’t get too upset with a book that follows the same old romance tropes: miscommunication, friends-to-lovers, annoying internal tantrums, passive-aggressive behaviors, etcetera, etcetera. I think this book could have been exponentially improved with a subplot outside of the romance. It needs a mystery to solve, or a mom-and-pop store to be saved, or perhaps a big peppermint mocha barista challenge in the town square! I just needed something else to move the story along.
Also, I’m just wondering why these two think they could ever make it work. Our protagonist, Emma, has a zest for travel and adventure. She can’t get out of that small town fast enough and yearns to attend a college as far away as possible. Aiden, on the other hand, loves his life in Briar Glen and has no desire to move—which is TOTALLY FAIR! I don’t know if the moral of the story is to accept change and leave everything that makes you happy just for the sake of progress. But I don’t think these two should be together. As the kids say, that’s my “hot take.”
Maybe I’m just not a big Emma fan. She brought her new boyfriend to her hometown without even giving Aiden a heads-up? I mean… who does that? Rude. It would be best for everyone if she went back to her fancy boarding school and pursued her path so Aiden can live his best life in Briar Glen.
Although I didn’t love the romance, I did enjoy the Christmassy sights of Briar Glen and the little cameos from characters in the previous book. I would love another book about the coffee shop. Just putting that out there, Miss Katie Cicatelli-Kuc!
With a heavy heart, I must announce my breakup with Audible and Spotify. Dammit—I’m gonna miss their all-access libraries of new-release audiobooks, but I can’t stomach their Trump-mongering shenanigans any longer. While watching the blasphemous desecration of the White House’s historic East Wing, I felt sick to my stomach about the soulless, greedy, power-hungry funders behind it. Lo and behold, Heather Cox Richardson (who I consider to be the voice of our nation) shared a list of big tech companies funding the forthcoming King’s ballroom. Google, YouTube (owned by Google), Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, and many other tech giants are behind this—and for what? It all comes down to greed, power, and the breakdown of antitrust laws that will soon limit us all to the worst of the worst companies for all our technology.
It’s coming, y’all, if we don’t do something to stop it. And we can stop it! Look at how quickly Disney caved after the mass cancellations amidst the Jimmy Kimmel/freedom of speech debacle. Our pocketbooks wield great power—but it takes all of us to unite against evil. With the click of a mouse, we can cut off their life support. Yes, it hurts a little. Sacrifices will have to be made, but we can do it. Just look at how communities came together and made personal sacrifices during WWII.
I get that we live in an individualistic, isolationist society, thanks to COVID quarantines and social media, which may make it harder for people to see the forest through the trees. However, the forest is burning, and the flames are heading our way. In case you haven’t noticed, SNAP (food stamps) benefits will be cut off in November, leaving many families dependent on charities and food pantries. Meanwhile, the Orange Blob in Chief is tearing down the White House and building a royal ballroom, funded by tech giants that have Americans wrapped around their little fingers.
This has been on my mind all morning, so I spent a good part of my Saturday taking inventory of all my subscriptions and Googling (oh, the irony) which companies own them. This led me down quite the rabbit hole, but it needed to be done. I’m ashamed to say I didn’t even know my Ring camera is owned by Amazon, that I’ve been overpaying for my Audible subscription ($18 per month!), and that I’ve been hanging on to my Amazon Prime subscription ($15 per month). My god, I’ve been giving Bezos a good chunk of change every month, which means I’ve been subsidizing the White House desecration among many other traitorous activities.
While traveling down the rabbit hole, I did a little research on Spotify and stumbled across some highly disturbing news. This company—and HBO/MAX (another subscription I have to cancel)—are running ICE recruitment ads with disturbing dystopian language like “protect our American freedom.” Oh. My. God. Well, I guess I can kiss those premium audiobooks goodbye, which really hurts. I’m not going to lie—it’s going to be tough living without these services. But what other choice do I have? Financially support fascism so I can keep my little creature comforts? No thanks. I have plenty of access to free books via the Austin Public Library, and I can always just buy books at the bookstore, thus supporting authors and brick-and-mortar bookstores in the process. Now that’s something I can live with—and I’ll sleep a little better at night.
Anyhoo, if this is triggering your “cancel culture” narrative, I’m so very sorry (but not really). Call it what you will, but at some point, we all need to reconcile with the fact that we are losing our democracy—and it’s time to wake up and start canceling Big Tech as much as we can.
Trigger Warning: Mushrooms 🍄 (Seriously, Why?) Okay, first things first—why did no one warn me about the mushrooms? I mean, yuck. How do people eat those things without questioning their life choices? But once I got past the fungal horror, I dove into what turned out to be a stellar middle-grade horror novel. Sure, I’m a few decades past the target age group, but how could I resist a story from the twisted genius behind A Head Full of Ghosts?
Summed Up (No Spoilers, Promise): Casey’s going through a hard time after a humiliating online classroom incident leaves him isolated and friendless. Things take a bizarre turn when a mysterious stranger shows up at his doorstep with an unexpected houseguest: a waxy, practically faceless boy named Morel. He doesn’t eat. He doesn’t sleep. He’s definitely not normal. Who—or what—is Morel? You’ll have to read to find out.
What Worked: This book is unsettling in the best way—even for the young at heart!! Paul Tremblay doesn’t know how to write not creepy, and I’m grateful for that. The story kept me guessing, which is rare in middle-grade horror, a genre that often leans on predictable tropes. What are the dark forces swirling around Morel? Why is his appearance shifting so rapidly? And what’s going on with Casey’s parents, who seem to be drifting into some kind of dazed oblivion? I tore through this in one afternoon because I had to know.
Thoughts on Character Development: Tremblay doesn’t just deliver scares—he builds characters you care about. Casey’s loneliness, his awkwardness, his desperate need for best friend – it all brings back so many memories from my mispent youth. He’s also navigating life with a visible disability, which Tremblay handles with authenticity. Seriously, so many YA authors need to take notes because it seems like they’re just ticking off some boxes to stay on top of the trends.
Final Verdict: This debut middle-grade horror novel is eerie, emotionally resonant, and totally absorbing. Young readers will find themselves in Casey’s struggles—and older readers will appreciate the creepy foreshadowing and twist ending!
Summed Up: Spanning generations from the Civil War through the 1940s, this sweeping saga follows a sprawling family tree entangled in tragedy. Dozens of interconnected lives unravel through wave after wave of misfortune—brief moments of light dimmed by relentless darkness. At the heart of it all lurks a malevolent force, vengeful and unseen, pulling the strings from the shadows. Spooooooky stuff, eh? Well…sort of.
What’s Missing: After an unforgettable book talk with the author—joined by her fiddlin’ and friends from the Dixie Chicks (cousins, maybe?)—I was all in on the Southern Gothic allure: ghosts, legends, and that thick, haunted humidity of lore. But the malevolent shadow lurking in the woods? It felt more like a footnote than a threat. The dark presence made only a handful of fleeting appearances, easy to forget amid the ceaseless stream of sorrows. And when it did show up, it slipped away just as fast—like a mosquito you swat without thinking, while trying to enjoy a cold Shiner on the porch swing.
What I Liked: While the book is short on ghosts, it is heavy on atmosphere and intrigue. I wasn’t too keen on most of the highly flawed characters (particularly the milquetoast women), and oh—don’t even get me started on Luke and his father, who apparently embraced the “gentle parenting” trend way back in the day. Yet despite all that, I was heavily invested in their stories and anxiously watched the impending trainwreck unfold. Most of all, I loved the descriptions of historic Bandera, my favorite vacation spot in all of Texas! There’s even a group of characters from Pipe Creek—a tiny spot near Boerne where my husband and I stay at least twice a year.
Thoughts on the Characters: In this sprawling, multi-generational saga, you’ll encounter a whole cast of characters grappling with more than their fair share of… personal challenges. Unfortunately, the women in this tale feel shortchanged. Many come across as one-dimensional, lacking the grit, depth, and moral backbone you’d expect—even hope for. Sure, the setting nods to a time when women were often sidelined in favor of their rugged, boot-stompin’ cowboy counterparts—but history’s full of exceptions. It would’ve been nice to have at least one kick-ass woman fighting the forces of evil, but oh well.
The Pacing: Grab your Dramamine because the choppiness might make you seasick! Just when I get hit with a wallop of sadness, the next chapter picks up at another time and place. I don’t get to process the tragedy that just happened because the author has already moved on to the next unfortunate event. My unsolicited advice is to take it down a notch and pay homage to the beloved character you just knocked off. I know readers have short attention spans, but dang! Give this girl a chance to grieve!
Overall: Despite my grievances, I would be lying if I said this wasn’t an interesting story. It was worth every penny of the $20 I forked over for a paperback, and I certainly will read another book by this new author. This was a big undertaking for a debut novel, so I give her props for pulling it off. I just hope she can give us some better characters in her next novel.
Ho ho ho! Merry New Year! This post is a tad late now that we’re in January, but I will share my seasonal reads with you all nonetheless! Seriously, how did Christmas come and go so quickly?! It’s hard to believe the holidays are over and the stores are all peddling their Valentine’s goods. I suppose time flies even when you’re not having fun…and totally dreading what’s to come after January 20th. Wow, that got dark fast.! To lighten the mood, here are my light and fluffy holiday reads:
Christmas at the Mysterious Bookshop, edited by Otto Penzler
I saw this collection of short stories at Barnes and Noble and just had to pluck it off the shelf! How could I resist 12 short stories about crimes surrounding a bookshop during the Christmas season? As with most short story collections, I had to weed through some duds to get to the good stuff, but It was well worth my while. Here are my faves:
“Snowflake Time” by Laura LIppman: This story is told by a typical white male Fox News enthusiast who bemoans the “snowflakes” in his newspaper columns. I despised him right from the jump, and I thoroughly enjoyed watching the karma unfold. This story had the most satisfying ending, and I loved every bit of it.
“The Gift of the Wiseguy” by Rob Hart: This is a bittersweet crime story about a former mob boss making amends with his son. He pays a visit to the Mysterious Bookshop, where his son is giving a reading. Bad things happen when a rival mob discovers their nemesis came out of hiding, and I’ll stop right there to save you from spoilers. I will say that this is a true Christmas story about love and atonement.
“The Christmas Party” by Jeffrey Deaver: This is a twisty little suspense story about a nurse who offers to put a geriatric patient out of his misery—but only after he gets to enjoy his last Christmas party at the old folks’ home. I must admit I didn’t see the plot twist coming—well done!
“A Christmas Puzzle” by Ragnar Jónasson: This is, in my humble opinion, the best story in the entire book! An 80-year-old woman makes a special trip to the Mysterious Bookshop to ask the bookseller to help her solve a puzzle. Together, they solve the literary-themed word riddles, leading to an unbelievable outcome. Wowza—I didn’t see that one coming!
It Happened One Christmas Eve by Jenn McKinlay
This little novella was just fun! If you love a good, silly Hallmark Christmas movie full of hijinks and over-the-top characters, this book is for you. We’re dealing with a reverse Cinderella situation: a woman running away from her Prince Charming (in a glittering ball gown and heels, no less) and hijacking a carriage to get out of dodge. Turns out, she’s stolen Santa’s ride, but this is no ordinary fat man in a red suit. Nope, he’s an undercover reporter with washboard abs looking for a juicy story about the runaway fiancée. Together they make a pact: he helps her get to her hideaway cottage, and she promises him an exclusive story. Hijinks ensue as they run amok in Manhattan, and the romance gets steamier with every misadventure. Love it! This was the perfect escape for all my post-election day woes. A big thanks to the author for giving me a nice little break from reality.
The Scary Book of Christmas Lore: 50 Terrifying Yuletide Tales from Around the World by Tim Rayborn
I’m giving this three stars on Goodreads for the amazing artwork alone. The illustrations are both horrifying and stunning, including the cover art! I just wish I could say the same for the content, which was quite underwhelming. Instead of fireside storytelling, which is what I was hoping for, these little chapters read more like encyclopedia articles, just dry facts about the ghoulish monsters with a few snarky remarks. This would have been better if the author had picked just a few really good, scary stories and fleshed them out more instead of cramming 50 entries into the book. Many of the factoids were repetitive, with each monster punishing naughty children with a switch….blah, blah, blah. I grew rather bored and ended up skimming most of the book. The art, however, is amazing, so I will revisit this little book every holiday season just to scare myself silly by looking at these ghoulish holiday beasts! What can I say? I love a good scare on a cold winter’s night!
Shock and Paw: Cat Cafe Mystery Book 8 by Cate Conte
Let me start off by saying I FREAKING LOVE THIS SERIES! I always look forward to visiting Maddie’s cat café on Daybreak Island. Oh, how I wish this were my life! I mean, yeah, her cute little touristy town has an unusually high murder rate, but other than that, it’s so peaceful and charming. This time around, Maddie’s juggling a lot of plates amidst the busy holiday season. In addition to dealing with her injured grandfather (he really should leave the rooftop decorating to the professionals), she must solve the mystery of the murdered newspaper owner to get her best friend off the hook! Amidst all the madness, there’s a shady cat breeder in town, and Maddie isn’t about to let these poor, helpless kitties get exploited. And this right here is why I love this book series so much. Maddie is passionate about rescuing the kitties, and she hates breeders as much as I do! This was a fun, festive read that delivered all the cozy Christmas vibes for cat rescue enthusiasts. It’s the cat’s meow! Sorry, I couldn’t help myself.
How Snowball Stole Christmas by Kristen McKanagh
This fun little holiday romance is the cat’s meow! Sorry, I couldn’t help myself. I have thoroughly enjoyed all three books in this series and highly recommend them to cat ladies like me who need something light and fluffy to read during the stressful holiday season. This time around, little Snowball is playing matchmaker with two of her newest friends, Lara (the local toy shop owner) and Peter (bookshop owner and Grinch). He’s salty about her securing a coveted storefront location, so he pens an anonymous online column bemoaning this new toy shop interloper’s alleged “corporate agenda.” Gee, what a charmer. I’m really rooting for this guy to win over the girl…not. Thankfully, Snowball is on the beat, and she’s maximizing all of her white, fluffy cute charms to bring these reluctant lovers together. The plot thickens when Lara’s repugnant sister-in-law guilts her into taking care of her little kid—an impossible task for someone who’s burning the candle at both ends to run a brand-new business. Let this be a lesson to all of us: we need to use the word “NO!” more often! Wouldn’t you know it, Peter’s frosty attitude melts away as he swoops in to save the day and, well, you can only guess what happens next. Despite the basic plot and predictable ending, this was the purrfect antidote for my holiday/post-election stress, and I’m a little sad this is the last book in the series. Oh well, that’s why I always have my “Chet and Bernie” mysteries to turn to when life gets too stressful!
Holiday Hideaway by Mary Kay Andrews
First, I must ask: Mary Kay Andrews, are you okay? I mean…what was this story even? A fully employed woman and her dog are left homeless after a nasty divorce, so she ends up squatting at a vacation rental handled by her real estate company/place of employment? How does this even happen? Then, the romance begins when the hunky nephew of the deceased homeowner comes to handle the affairs? What? This was strange, yet mildly entertaining, so I’m going to give it two generous stars on Goodreads. I’d add another star if this had more holiday vibes, which I think the author forgot about while penning one of the world’s most awkward holiday romance novellas. Seriously, so odd.
DNFs
Snowed In at the Cat Cafe by Rachel Rowlands
I could not DNF this book fast enough when I read that most of the cat cafe kitties come from BREEDERS!!! Maybe this is just me being an ignorant American, but do cats not need rescuing in jolly ol’ England? We have a homeless pet explosion crisis all across the nation, so the thought of a cat cafe adopting out (or selling, I guess?) breeder cats is atrocious. It was actually a relief to have a solid reason for giving up on this book early because the beginning chapters were soooooo boring. No thanks.
Murder on the Christmas Express by Alexandra Benedict
I tried. I really did. I came for the “Murder on the Orient Express” thrill ride, but it turned out to be a slow-moving story with a HUGE cast of characters. I couldn’t keep track of everyone amidst the rapid-fire dialogue, so I gave up the ghost very early on. If you choose to read this, I highly advise putting pen to paper and keeping a glossary of all the characters.
A Christmas Ghost Story by Kim Newman
I was hoping this would be a gothic Christmastime ghost story, but this novella didn’t cut it. The plot didn’t seem to go anywhere, and the atmosphere just felt grim and dismal. I’m sorry to say this was not my cup of Christmas tea.
The gist: Told in alternating narratives (the “girl boss,” the husband, the mystery guest, the kitchen helper, the detective), this story revolves around a highfalutin, new-agey luxury resort called “The Manor.” Nestled deep in the English countryside, the resort is built on sacred ground rumored to be haunted by vengeful birds. The townsfolk hate it, yet they’re too busy enjoying the sweet life filled with lavish food and complicated cocktails (all gluten and tannin-free, of course). There’s a lot of bad blood between the Manor’s “girl boss” owner (think Gwyneth Paltrow meets Cruella De Vil) and a mysterious ghost from her past. Things escalate VERY QUICKLY, and I’m here to watch it all come crashing down!
The Plot: When I read the dust cover, I was sold. Lucy Foley had me at “haunted resort.” This was a fun ride with all my favorite elements: spooky lore, haunted woods, a super evil villain and vengeance–YES! With the multiple narratives and occasional time-skipping chapters, the book kept me glued to the pages, making me question everything about everyone! No one–not even the husband–is off the suspect list because the resort owner, Francesca, is EVIL AF! We soon learn that a dead body washed shore below the seaside cliffs, but the author doesn’t reveal the name until the very end. Way to dangle that carrot, Miss Foley! I had so many question marks, but thankfully, everything was answered at the end. And let me tell you, it was such a satisfying conclusion!
The atmosphere: There’s a reason why I’m always down to read a Lucy Foley book. She delivers on the atmosphere and weaves in elements of foreboding that give me the chills in the best possible ways. I felt like I was right there at the exclusive retreat surrounded by spooky trees and flocks of birds soaring through the dark clouds. I loved the creepy feeling of tree branches brushing against the windows in the guest cabin, where a mysterious guest had good reason to be afraid. Oh, how this would make such a fantastic movie. Why can’t Hollywood take a break from all the unoriginal superhero movies and turn these books into blockbuster hits?
Overall: If you are a fan of suspense and don’t mind the multiple narrator/time-kipping format, I highly recommend this one. This $30 hardback was worth every penny!
Good gracious! It’s been a long, long time since my last post! Why must life get so darn busy this time of year? Now that I have a sliver of time to give my little book blog some love, I’m happy to bring you this little roundup of four-star spooky reads…and sadly a few flops.
Graveyard Shift by M.L. Rio
Rarely do I DNF novellas and short stories, but sometimes I just can’t soldier on. I can’t put my finger on it, but this story couldn’t hold my attention. The characters were just too depressing, and I couldn’t tell where this story was even going. While working their night shifts, they formed some sort of cemetery meetup club. At some point, they find the caretaker digging an open grave and decide to investigate him. The premise sounds fun and spooky, but it really didn’t do anything for me. I guess you can say I wasn’t digging it—ha!
The Haunted by Danielle Vega
Oh wow—this was really bad. I’m sorry but claiming this is the “Stephen King of YA” is beyond absurd. The book started off like any campy teen horror movie: a young girl moves into a haunted house with her family and instantly falls into the cool kid crowd. Things start to go bump in the night, and she soon learns that she’s living in a murder house. Sounds fun, right? Just when I thought I might enjoy this book, the author decides to throw in all the annoying tropes. Yep, that means insta-love, a bad boy Vs. good boy love triangle, and a milquetoast “Mary Sue” main character. And then there’s the end! Oh my stars—what a mess! The reveal made little sense, and not clues were dropped along the way to give us readers a chance to piece it together. Not cool, man. I think I’ll go ahead and take the rest of Danielle Vega’s books off of my TBR pile.
Small Town Horror by Roland Malfi
This is my first Ronald Malfi book, which is nuts because I love paranormal horror stories. A YouTube book reviewer likened the storyline to Stephen King’s “It,” so how could I not give this a shot? The storyline involves a group of high school friends reuniting in their dreary small town to ward off evil, which sounds familiar, I’m sure. However, the characters, the town, and the evil forces are far different from Stephen King’s seminal classic. Instead of an evil clown, we’re dealing with witchcraft, curses, and a haunted house with something nasty festering in the basement—such fun! This is a solid horror story set in an isolated seaside town that seems to be shrouded in dread. Think “Midnight Mass” meets “It” meets “I Know What You Did Last Summer.” Loved it!
The Safe Man: A Ghost Story by Michael Connelly
This right here is why I can’t quit Audible. Even though I get free audiobooks on Libby and Hoopla, I still can’t get these treasures anywhere else. I’ll confess: this is my first Michael Connelly story, and boy howdy am I impressed! This guy can pen a fantastic ghost story with clever little twists. I enjoyed the entire storyline of a downtrodden locksmith who gets roped into opening a cursed safe. Soon, he and his client (a pompous best-selling horror writer) must close the portal they opened to escape impending doom. Such fun! I loved the ghostly visits and the all-around creepy vibes. This is an amazing full-cast production that is perfect for a long car ride.
Next up in my 31 Books of Halloween reading roundup, I’m reviewing Riley Sager’s latest twisty thriller, Middle of the Night! This might be somewhat of an unpopular opinion (y’all are hard on him on Goodreads!), but I love his work. This one is great for spooky season because there are a lot of paranormal elements weaved into the mystery, including a creepy “science” institute just around the block, creepy figures lurking in the woods, and cryptic messages from the dead. Here are my thoughts:
The gist: Our protagonist, Ethan, camps out in his backyard and wakes up to find the tent slashed and his best friend gone! Thirty years later, he returns to his childhood home and finds himself in the middle of a mystery when his dead best friend, Billy, sends messages from beyond the grave. He soon learns many people in his upper-class suburban neighborhood have something to hide—including Billy.
What I Liked: The paranormal element took this mystery to the next level. I love a good ghost story, especially when restless spirits are seeking justice! What more could you ask for during spooky season? I also loved that this story took the safest place you could think of—an upper-class, tight-knit suburban neighborhood—and turned it into a place of nightmares! This is the kind of book that makes me check my windows and doors at night…which is a good thing because I’m a weirdo who loves being scared.
What Irked Me: My one and only gripe is the overly precocious kid. When Ethen moves back home, he reunites with his former babysitter, and crush, who is the mother of a highly intelligent, well-read child. Why do authors use this gimmick so much? Maybe this is a way to add to the kid’s likeability, but I find it to be unrealistic and annoying.
Thoughts on the main character: Ethan is a little mopey and withdrawn, yet I warmed up to him when he started interacting with the kid genius next door. We don’t really know much about him, other than he worked as a teacher, yet he doesn’t care too much for kids. Now that I think about it, it was hard connecting with a character who has zero interests and passions. He just chose that profession to follow in his dad’s footsteps. Mostly his entire life has been haunted by that fateful night, so that’s about all we know about him. There’s a side plot involving his wife, but I figured out the “tiwst” to that little mystery right away.
Overall thoughts: This is a solid paranormal thriller packed with shady suspects, making me wonder about the neighbors I wave “hello” to while walking my dog. I’m just glad I don’t live within walking distance of a creepy science institute hidden deep in the woods.
October is here, and I’m excited to embark on my lofty 31 Books of Halloween reading extravaganza! First up is my most recent read, “The House that Horror Built.” The premise and the cover drew me in, so why not give this author one more chance? I DNFed “The Horseman” because it was the silliest version of “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” that I’ve ever encountered, but perhaps it could’ve been a fluke, right? Not so much. This one was a supreme dud as well. Let’s get into it:
The Gist: A downtrodden single mom, Harry, takes a job as house cleaner for a famous horror movie director. Imagine a disgraced Wes Craven who stopped making slashers due to a scandal involving a missing wife and son. Ooooh—intrigue! His house if full of movie props that torment Harry while she’s dusting and mopping.
What I liked: I really wanted to like this book because the setup is just so creepy cool for us horror movie fans who would love to have a peek inside a legendary director’s creepy mansion. So, the one and only aspect of this book that won me over was the spooky haunted mansion atmosphere.
What irked me: This book is a slow burn, and not in a good way. The burn was more of a spark that fizzled out almost immediately. Most of it had to do with Harry’s backstory, which seemed like a lot of filler that had little to do with her situation in the haunted mansion. Then, when the plot starts cooking toward the tail end of the book, I was hit with such a silly ending that was, quite frankly, unimaginative. I was hoping for some sort of resolution for Harry and her precocious 14-year-old son, Gabe (seriously, no kid talks like this), but it all came to a screeching halt. Rude!
What confused me: Okay, I’m no mathematician, but I’m pretty good at adding single digits. When Harry and Gabe moved into the director’s sprawling mansion, they had to put a twin bed in the library for the kid. Umm…how is this a mansion? Another thing that perplexed me was Harry’s financial predicament. She spotted the well-to-do biological father in town, so she can easily find him and sue him for child support. Why was this not a thought, especially when they were teetering on the verge of homelessness?
Overall thoughts: This book was a complete waste of time. If you want an atmospheric haunted house book, check out “Naomi’s Room” by Jonathan Aycliffe or “Woman in Black” by Susan Hill. Plus, you can never go wrong with the classics by Shirley Jackson and E.F. Benson.
BUBBLE BUBBLE BOOKS & TROUBLE 