Insidious by Catherine Coulter

I enjoy a good murder mystery now and then but it can't be too gruesome and gory and it can't have kids.  That can be tough to find.  I was a bit sceptical when I received a copy of Insidious but all was good.

Insidious was a good clean murder mystery.  A real page turner without a ton of blood and guts and harming small children.  There is a serial killer though and someone is trying to kill an 87 year old grandmotherly business tycoon.  At first it seemed like so many characters to keep straight and try and figure out how they all fit together but it all came together quickly.

Someone has been trying to poison Venus the 87 year old grandmother.  But who?  And why?  Surely, she can't have that much longer to rule the business empire.  Can't they just wait to die naturally?  And which one of her children or grandchildren is so anxious to see her gone?  They are all quick to point fingers.

In Hollywood it's a pretty competitive world.  Everyone is trying to be a star.  After the third murdered starlett the FBI realize they have a serial killer on their hands but how many more up and coming stars need to be brutally murdered before they catch the killer?

The Good Sister by Chelsea Bolan

The Amador family takes great pride in their family name and family business - the bar that all the tourists flaunt to.  They are a family that is respected in their community.  Raul Amador is the proud leader of his family.  Nothing will tarnish their family name.

When rumours begin to circulate that his youngest daughter Gabriela has been up to no good with a local man, Raul can take no chances and must protect his family image.  He acts quickly to cleanse his home and name of any shame not stopping to think twice or listen.

With Gabriela no longer a name that is allowed to be spoken in the presence of her father, Lucy must remain the good sister.  Although her name may not be spoken, Lucy can't drive away her thoughts of her sister.  Where is she?  Is she safe?  Is she alive?

Lucy travels across Mexico to find her beloved sister.  Her travels take her through a side of Mexico that is hidden away from the many tourists that visit every day.  The author, Chelsea Bolan, describes a Mexico filled with history and beauty.  The Good Sister tells a story of tragedy and loss but throughout the story the sisters each encounter so many kind and giving strangers as well.  The Good Sister will transport readers to Mexico with every page.

After You by Jojo Moyes

Me Before You is one of the best books I've ever read.  I LOVE that book!  With the movie in theatres right now it has received a lot of attention.  I've seen a lot of people I know quickly trying to read the book before the movie.  I haven't seen the movie yet.  I will soon.  But while everyone is rushing to read the amazing Me Before You that I've know to be amazing for years, I've moved on to the sequel.

I think many people are unaware that there is a sequel.  Spread the word!  A sequel has big shoes to fill to one of my favourite books ever.   After You is not quite the heart wrenching love story that Me Before You is, but it is actually a very good sequel.  There were a few rapid page turning moments.  No kleenex required.  You can read it in public and not fear embarrassment.  But definitely read the sequel.  Definitely read the first book before you see the movie.  

Light Between Oceans Read Along

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I received an email today inviting me to join a read along for The Light Between Oceans.  This book has been on my to read list for a while now.  The publisher tells me that there is a movie coming out soon.  I definitely need to finish the book before the movie!  I also love the idea of a read along.  There is a schedule on Goodreads that seems quite manageable.  Then there will be online discussions over the weeks.  Sounds like fun.

Here's a link to the Goodreads group.  Consider joining and following along.  You have a few weeks to grab a copy of the book and they are even giving away a few copies.

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/18140314-read-a-long-schedule

Shooter by Caroline Pignat

Caroline Pignat is a Canadian author that attracts quite a few readers in my school library.  One of the most popular being Egghead.  I haven't had a chance to read any of her books up until now when I received an ARC of Shooter.

Shooter begins with a school being placed in lock down and students running for cover.  After many classrooms being locked a group of students find themselves hiding out in the boys bathroom.  These five students all think they've got the others pegged on who they but after an hour in lock down together they quickly realise that maybe their perceptions are all based on image and rumours.

The back cover of Shooter recommends the book for ages 12 and up.  Unless it shows up as a Red Maple nominee in the Forest of Reading next year, I don't think it is something I will add in my school library.  I think it is an excellent story but a bit too mature for the majority of my readers.  

Book Clubs

Last night I had book club.  I look forward to it every month.  It's a nice night out having dinner with the girls.  We are quite a small club - just three of us.  But it works.  We always manage to find a date that works for the three of us.  We are all busy with kids and work.  I think if we had more than three we would struggle to find a time that works for everyone.  Often people laugh when I say it's a book club of three but it works.

In reality we spend very little of the night discussing the book but the books are what bond us together.  This month we were discussing The Nest by Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney.  This book has been getting so much publicity lately.  People calling it gripping and a page turner.  We didn't feel it.  For once we all agreed.  It was a good book.  For once, we all finished it in time!  We didn't love the main characters.  We thought the characters could have been more developed.  We did like a few of the secondary characters.  It was a good book, we just felt it was not quite as amazing as some of the reviews have been raving.

We take turns picking the restaurant and the book.  It typically is a bit of a discussion but one person gets final word.  Last night the book clubber choosing the next book wanted to read a classic book now.  The other two immediately shot her down and said we want modern fiction.  Overruled!  This month we will be reading Dumplin by Julie Murphy.

Are you in a book club?  What was your latest read?  What are you reading now?  Tell me about your book club.

Britt-Marie Was Here by Fredrik Backman

Britt-Marie is quite content taking care of others and making her home shine.  She is a slightly older lady that is quite set in her ways.  But when she finds out her husband has done her wrong she won't stand around and put up with it.   Although he is in the hospital with some heart trouble and it doesn't feel right to leave some one when they are down and out; that is just what Britt-Marie does.

If she's going to be out on her own, she is going to need a job.  With no work experience Britt-Marie's job prospects are very limited.  She quickly finds herself in a worn down town outside the big city running a recreation centre.  Britt-Marie soon finds herself in the midst of the town's core - the soccer pitch; or lack of it.

I thought this story was going to be quite predictable but it actually wasn't.  Even mid-through when I changed my ending prediction I was still wrong.  A great group of characters.  Britt-Marie Was Here certainly leaves her mark.

Check out A Man Called Ove also by Fredrik Backman.