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Reader’s Log 026: Irish Fairly and Folktales

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I’ve recently been reading, “The Story Collector” by Evie Woods and it is a wonderful story. This story’s premise includes Irish fairy stories and as I was almost half way through the book, it struck me that I have a book on in my book stacks, “Irish Fairly and Folktales” by W.B. Yeats. I’ve had the book for years now and was thrilled to have thoughts of it while reading Woods book. Ireland has a long-standing tradition of engaging in the mystical past. Stories have been passed down through the generations through oral story-telling.

Yeats book was first published in the 19th century. The book includes just about every sort of Irish folk and fairy tales according to the book description. More about the book…

— Nobel Prize winning writer and poet W.B. Yeats included almost every sort of Irish folk in this marvelous compendium of fairy tales and songs that he collected and edited for publication in 1892.

— Yeats was fascinated by Irish myths and folklore, and joined forces with the writers of the Irish Literary Revival. He studied Irish folk tales and chose to reintroduce the glory and significance of Ireland’s past through this unique literature.

About “The Story Collector” by Evie Woods

In a quiet village in Ireland, a mysterious local myth is about to change everything…

One hundred years ago, Anna, a young farm girl, volunteers to help an intriguing American visitor translate fairy stories from Irish to English. But all is not as it seems and Anna soon finds herself at the heart of a mystery that threatens her very way of life.

In New York in the present day, Sarah Harper boards a plane bound for the West Coast of Ireland. But once there, she finds she has unearthed dark secrets – secrets that tread the line between the everyday and the otherworldly, the seen and the unseen.

For readers interested in folklore, I highly recommend reading both books.

Stephanie

Reader’s Log 025: Cover Crush

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Van Gogh Has a Broken Heart by Russ Ramsey – Published October 22, 2024 by Zondervan

What Art Teaches Us About the Wonder and Struggle of Being Alive  

I love art history and I was thrilled to come across this book from a YouTuber I follow. The cover is a stunning piece of art and the premise of the book sounds intriguing! Are you an art history enthusiast? Adding this one to my wish-list.

Stephanie

Book Description:

Beyond a mere introduction to great art, Van Gogh Has a Broken Heart is about loving to learn what art has to teach us about the wonder and struggle of being alive.

Did you know that:

  • Vincent van Gogh’s attempt to start an artist’s colony with Paul Gauguin lasted only nine weeks, ending in his infamous “ear episode”?
  • Pablo Picasso was a prime suspect in the disappearance of the Mona Lisa?
  • Artemisia Gentileschi was tortured with thumbscrews to verify her testimony at her own rapist’s trial?
  • Norman Rockwell’s critics said his work would never be accepted as “high art”–and he agreed?

These stories–and many more–shaped the work these artists left behind. In their art are lessons common to the human experience about the wonder and struggle of being alive: dreams lost, perspectives changed, and humility derived through suffering.

In Van Gogh Has a Broken Heart, Russ Ramsey digs into these artists’ stories for readers who may be new to art, as well as for lifelong students of art history, to mine the transcendent beauty and hard lessons we can take from their masterpieces and their lives. Each story from some of the history’s most celebrated artists applies the beauty of the gospel in a way that speaks to the suffering and hope we all face.

Reader’s Log 024: Trilogies Part I

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Thomas De Quincey Trilogy by David Morrell

Quite a few years ago now, I had the pleasure to interview and review about David Morrell’s Thomas De Quincey Trilogy. A few weeks ago, I was looking through my book stacks and came across paperback copies of his trilogy. I thought this would be a great story to read again and how it would be a great idea to re-post about his books and the interview I had with him, back in 2013. Gosh, has it really been that long ago since I interviewed David? Time flies! Morell’s Thomas De Quincey Trilogy is a fantastic read and perfect for the fall season to curl up with. By the way, did you know that Morrell is best known for his debut 1972 novel First Blood, which would later become a successful film franchise starring Sylvester Stallone?

Stephanie

Murder as a Fine Art #1

Gaslit London is brought to its knees in David Morrell’s brilliant historical thriller.

Thomas De Quincey, infamous for his memoir ‘Confessions of an English Opium-Eater’, is the major suspect in a series of ferocious mass murders identical to ones that terrorized London forty-three years earlier.

The blueprint for the killings seems to be De Quincey’s essay “On Murder Considered as One of the Fine Arts.” Desperate to clear his name but crippled by opium addiction, De Quincey is aided by his devoted daughter Emily and a pair of determined Scotland Yard detectives.

In ‘Murder as a Fine Art’, David Morrell plucks De Quincey, Victorian London, and the Ratcliffe Highway murders from history. Fogbound streets become a battleground between a literary star and a brilliant murderer, whose lives are linked by secrets long buried but never forgotten.

My interview with David Morell and review for Murder as a Fine Art

Inspector of the Dead #2

The year is 1855. The Crimean War is raging. The incompetence of British commanders causes the fall of the English government. The Empire teeters. Amid this crisis comes opium-eater Thomas De Quincey, one of the most notorious and brilliant personalities of Victorian England. Along with his irrepressible daughter, Emily, and their Scotland Yard companions, Ryan and Becker, De Quincey finds himself confronted by an adversary who threatens the heart of the nation.

This killer targets members of the upper echelons of British society, leaving with each corpse the name of someone who previously attempted to kill Queen Victoria. The evidence indicates that the ultimate victim will be Victoria herself.

My book review of “Inspector of the Dead”

Ruler of the Night #3

Thomas De Quincey is beginning to control his opium addiction when the excitement of his current case threatens to unravel his grip on reality once and for all. On their way home to the Lake District, the De Quinceys become unwitting witnesses to a truly historic murder: the first to take place on one of England’s newly constructed railways.

The railways changed everything in the Victorian era, transforming the English countryside, revolutionizing modern industry, and as the De Quinceys discover, providing the perfect escape. Giving chase in a cat-and-mouse game unlike any that have come before, the De Quinceys uncover a dangerous secret that reaches all levels of English society.

My book review of “Ruler of the Night”

David Morell’s website

Cover Crush: The Garden by Nick Newman

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Whenever I come across a story that entails a walled garden, a boarded house, and eccentric siblings or people in general; I’ve got to check it out! I just hope it isn’t as dark and depressing as the last book I read and couldn’t finish.

Isn’t this book cover beautiful?!

I have an ARC of this book from the publishers through NetGalley for an honest review. My review will probably be posted a week or two before the publishing date. –Stephanie

About the book:

Pub Date Feb 18 2025

PENGUIN GROUP Putnam

304 Pages

Description:

In a place and time unknown, two elderly sisters live in a walled garden, secluded from the outside world. Evelyn and Lily have only ever known each other. What was before the garden, they have forgotten; what lies beyond it, they do not know. Each day is spent in languid service to their home: tending the bees, planting the crops, and dutifully following the instructions of the almanac written by their mother.

When a nameless boy is found hiding in the boarded house at the center of their isolated grounds, their once-solitary lives are irrevocably disrupted. Who is he? Where did he come from? And most importantly, what does he want?

As suspicions gather and allegiances falter, Evelyn and Lily are forced to confront the dark truths about themselves, the garden, and the world as they’ve known.

Book Review: The Coldest Case by Tessa Wegert

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Pub Date Nov 05 2024

Publishers: Severn House

There is so much to unpack with this story and while I can’t cover everything in this review, I’m just going to share a bit of an overview of some of my thoughts while reading the story.

Book Description:

News of a missing Instagram celebrity brings Senior Investigator Shana Merchant to a frozen island community of just eight people. When the visit turns deadly, her hunt for a killer collides with a cold case she’ll never forget . . .

It’s February in the Thousand Islands and, cut off from civilization by endless ice, eight people are overwintering on tiny, remote Running Pine. Six year-rounders, used to the hard work, isolation and freezing temperatures . . . and two newcomers: social-media stars Cary and Sylvie, whose account documenting their year on the island is garnering thousands of followers, and thousands of dollars’ worth of luxury gifts.

The long-term islanders will tell you Running Pine can be perilous – especially for city slickers who’ll do anything to get the perfect shot. So, when Cary doesn’t return from ice fishing one morning, his neighbors fear the worst.

With the clock ticking to find the missing influencer, a police team are dispatched to take the dangerous journey to the island . . . but Sylvie, his frantic partner, will only talk to one person: newlywed Senior Investigator Shana Merchant.

Where is Cary – and what is it that Sylvie’s not sharing? With aspects of the case reminding Shana of an unsolved homicide from her past that haunts her still, she risks her own safety to help. But little does she know that a storm is coming – and if she doesn’t solve both crimes soon, she may become the island’s next victim . . .

My Thoughts:

Imagine investigating a deadly crime on a secluded island during the harsh winter where a small group of people overwintering are tight knit and deeply rooted in the Islands history. Imagine trying to break a wall of ice-no pun intended- in solving a murder under those conditions. No one can be trusted, no one is safe, everyone is keeping secrets and it is cold. Bone chilling cold. Yeah, that makes a great story-line.

Author Tessa Wegert does a brilliant job weaving all the senses of seclusion with an apocalyptic feel at times. Blended with psychological elements of the small Island’s community heightens the intensity of how vulnerable everyone is on the Island. This would also be the case for Shana Merchant and her team as they investigate the crime. You experience that with the characters throughout the book-particularly as the situation escalates.  

Merchant’s backstory is an interesting one to say the least and this investigation is another test of her mental capabilities in solving the crime. I say this without reading the other books in the series, that is how well Wegert pens a good backstory.

This crime thriller takes dangerous conditions to a whole different level!

Stephanie Hopkins

I obtained an ARC from the publishers through NetGalley for an honest review.

Book Review: Two Times Murder by Adam Oyebanji

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A Quiet Teacher Mystery

Book Description:

Greg Abimbola is many things. He’s Black, British and fluent in Russian. He’s a snappy dresser, a reasonable teacher, and an unenthusiastic sports fan. But most of all, he’s exceptional at keeping secrets. Like, who he really is, and the things he’s done.

Determined to keep his head down after helping solve a murder in the school basement, Greg fears a trap when Sergeant Rachel Lev of the Pittsburgh police corners him in his apartment. Because his refusal to take credit isn’t modesty, it’s a survival tactic.

But Rachel is here on another matter entirely. She needs his help. She’s lead detective on the homicide of an unidentified man fished from the Allegheny River. With clues scant, and surrounded by colleagues who’d love to see her side-lined, Greg is her final roll of the dice.

Greg has no choice. He knows more than he’s saying about Rachel’s mysterious corpse. To add to his troubles, a school trustee plunges to his demise after a heated board meeting. Both deaths come with potentially lethal consequences. If he doesn’t find answers, and soon, Greg Abimbola might be the third man on the autopsy table.

My Thoughts:

Two Times Murder is a multifaceted story told in an extraordinary way. I have not quite read a story such as this and I find myself wanting to know more about the protagonist Greg Abimbola and his side kick, Andrea Velasquez. Greg works hard at keeping a low profile, which is not working out great for him and Andrea, who is the assistant custodian at the Academy, is happy to help Greg out in solving the death of one of the Academy’s trustees. They are great team and their backgrounds make the story all the more intriguing. The other characters in this story make a great diverse cast of characters.

The DEI and culture war themes in the story had me pause at first when I came across the subject in the story. I had several thoughts on that score and was worried that this is a theme that would completely turn me off from wanting to read this book at all. Well I’m glad I chose to read this story and these themes were woven through fairly well without being obnoxious or in your face. After all, it is an issue of our day… I did find Greg’s remarks about what he calls “pampered, privileged white kids” to be somewhat of an issue especially since he is a teacher. You see, even what he may considered privileged and not having real problems in life is a bit of an assumption and a dangerous one at that. One never knows what goes on behind closed doors and all his students can be dealing with something that on the surface may seem insignificant or superficial but life teaches us that often times there is something boiling below the surface despite the backgrounds people come from. Greg definitely has room for growth.

I have not read this first book so I’ve missed a few details but this story made a great standalone and has me wanting to read the other book. An intriguing story with all the right bunches of a crime thriller. Bravo to the author!

Stephanie Hopkins

Book 2 of A Quiet Teacher Mystery

Pub Date Nov 05 2024  by Severn House

Side Bar: This book contains profanity but not so much that is distracting.  

I obtained an ARC from the publishers through NetGalley for an honest review.  

Reader’s Log 021: Mystery & Thrillers

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On My Radar

I have been collecting book titles for 2025 reads and I discovered these thrillers on NetGalley. I’m particularly interested in Baldacci’s book. I love historical fiction thrillers and the story looks like it will be a fantastic read. Be sure to check out the others below. Are you a mystery and thriller reader? Do any of these titles mentioned spark your interest?

Stephanie

Strangers in Time by David Baldacci

A World War 2 Novel

Grand Central Publishing

Pub Date Apr 15 2025

Description:

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of A Calamity of Souls comes David Baldacci’s newest novel, set in London in 1944, about a bereaved book shop owner and two teenagers scarred by the second world war, and the healing and hope they find in one another.

Fourteen-year-old Charlie Matters is up to no good, but for a very good reason. Without parents, peerage, or merit, ducking school but barred from actual work, he steals what he needs, living day-to-day until he’s old enough to enlist to fight the Germans. After barely surviving the Blitz, Charlie knows there’s no telling when a falling bomb might end his life.

Fifteen-year-old Molly Wakefield has just returned to a nearly unrecognizable London. One of millions of people to have been evacuated to the countryside via “Operation Pied Piper,” Molly has been away from her parents—from her home—for nearly five years. Her return, however, is not the homecoming she’d hoped for as she’s confronted by a devastating reality: neither of her parents are there, only her old nanny, Mrs. Pride.

Without guardians and stability, Charlie and Molly find an unexpected ally and protector in Ignatius Oliver, and solace at his book shop, The Book Keep, where A book a day keeps the bombs away. Mourning the recent loss of his wife, Ignatius forms a kinship with both children, and in each other—over the course of the greatest armed conflict the world had ever seen—they rediscover the spirit of family each has lost.

But Charlie’s escapades in the city have not gone unnoticed, and someone’s been following Molly since she returned to London. And Ignatius is reeling from a secret Imogen long kept from him while she was alive—something so shocking it resulted in her death, and his life being turned upside down.

As bombs continue to bear down on the city, Charlie, Molly, and Ignatius learn that while the perils of war rage on, their coming together and trusting one another may be the only way for them to survive.

The Wrong Sister by Claire Douglas

Harper Paperbacks

Pub Date Aug 05 2025

Description:

Two sisters discover that the secrets they keep from each other prove to be deadly.

You’ve known her all your life. Or have you?

Tasha and her older sister Alice may look alike, but they couldn’t be more different. Tasha’s married with two children and still lives in their hometown near Bristol. Alice is a high-flying scientist who travels the world with her equally successful husband.

Yet each sister would trust the other with her life.

When Tasha and her husband Aaron need a break and Alice offers to stay in their home with the kids, Tasha knows her family is in safe hands.

She couldn’t be more wrong.

The call from home is devastating. Alice and her husband Kyle have been attacked, leaving Alice in intensive care and Kyle dead. Rushing to the hospital, Tasha finds the police trying to piece events together. She can’t think why anyone would attack her sister.

Then the note arrives, addressed to Tasha:

It was supposed to be you . . .

Every family has secrets. Some more deadly than others.

Nine Minutes Eleven Seconds by L. V. Pederson

Raconteur 888

Pub Date Jan 28 2025

Description:

Everyone has secrets. Some are just more deadly than others.

When Madison starts her first real job as an executive assistant at a Silicon Valley tech giant, she has hopes to start afresh and put her troubled life in Boston behind her. But it is not to be.

A young employee out for an evening jog turns up dead.  

Her charismatic VP boss fills her with unease. 

And when Madison uncovers his deadly secret, her ordinary life is thrust into a high-stakes conspiracy the FBI is desperate to crack.

An unprecedented crime from the past is about to be repeated on an unimaginable scale.

A shocking revelation, and her quest for redemption, could get her killed.

Tick-tick-tick…

The Fourth Girl by Wendy Corsi Staub

Thomas & Mercer

Pub Date Mar 25 2025

Description

On the anniversary of a teen’s disappearance, three friends face a deadly hometown reunion in this twisty suspense novel by a New York Times bestselling author.

On prom night, Caroline Winterfield walked away from the ruins of an abandoned mansion called Haven Cliff and into the woods…never to be seen again. Only her three best friends know what really happened. But a secret is a secret, and a promise is a promise—even when it shatters lifelong friendships.      

On the twenty-fifth anniversary of that night, Midge, Kelly, and Talia reunite at Haven Cliff, now a gleaming architectural jewel. But they aren’t alone. Someone is watching. Someone who knows what really happened to Caroline—and to the man who now lies dead a stone’s throw from where she was last seen.

Police detective Midge knows she’s dealing with a murder the moment she sees the item clutched in his lifeless hand. Only three other people in the world would grasp its significance. That means Kelly and Talia are either involved or in danger, because Caroline is long gone…or is she?

Reader’s Log 020: Cover Crush

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It has been ages since I’ve posted a cover crush. I spotted this one (see below) on NetGalley and had to share. Wouldn’t it be lovely to take a stroll down that street? The colors, sky and dome of the building is what first caught my attention.

Have you ever thought about when the piano was invented? Though I love the piano, I had not really thought about its invented in-depth. According to my brief research, the piano was invented by Bartolomeo Cristofori (1655-1731) of Italy. According to Yamaha, the instrument’s ancestor can be traced back through various instruments such as the clavichord, harpsichord, and dulcimer.

The creation of Music sounds like a fascinating story.

Stephanie

The Creation of Music by Britian Bell

Pub Date Nov 13 2024 by Candor Publishing Group

General Fiction (Adult) | Historical Fiction | Romance

Description:

Bart dreams of being an inventor, of building something that matters. When a famous composer asks him to make an instrument that doesn’t exist, an opportunity exceeding his imagination presents itself, along with it, struggle and heartache of overwhelming proportions.

When life throws its worst at him, and his decade-long vision is destroyed by his own hands, everything seems lost. But with the help of friends closer than family, his wife, Adele, and a mountain of grit, an idea becomes a reality.

Take a trip to Florence, Italy, and journey back in time to witness firsthand the creation of the most influential instrument on earth. The invention that changed the landscape of music forever. The king of all instruments. The piano.

Be sure to listen to The Creation of Music (Original Soundtrack) available everywhere you listen to music on January 31st, 2025!

Reader’s Log 019: Book Stack Part 6

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Acquiring books and reading them are entirely two different hobbies. I must say in the last few years, I have been working on curating my home library and working out what criteria I want to set to grow my stacks.

In this book stack series, I’m sharing books I’ve previously read and reviewed from NetGalley and want to obtain a physical copy for my home library. Today, I’m doing something a little different with this post.

A fellow blogger tagged me in a, “Spook Scary Book Tag” post and was excited to spot a few titles I’m not familiar with and appreciated the tag. As I was checking out the books listed, I came across, “I see You” by Clare Mackintosh. I made a comment on the post stating “I see you” is on my to-read list. Umm…shortly after, I remembered I read and reviewed the book for the publishers! Good grief. That said, it is worth reading the story again and I will be adding a physical copy of this story to my book stacks. It is also a perfect October read. If you haven’t yet, I highly recommend you do.  

About the Book:

When Zoe Walker sees her photo in the classifieds section of a London newspaper, she is determined to find out why it’s there. There’s no explanation: just a website, a grainy image and a phone number. She takes it home to her family, who are convinced it’s just someone who looks like Zoe. But the next day the advert shows a photo of a different woman, and another the day after that.

Is it a mistake? A coincidence? Or is someone keeping track of every move they make . . .

I See You is an edge-of-your-seat, page-turning psychological thriller from one of the most exciting and successful British debut talents of 2015.

My book review of, “I See You” here.

In the mid to late 90’s and early 2000s, I used to read Dean Koontz books. Well, this past Tuesday, I went over to my local thrift store to get out of the house a bit and came across one of his books! I’ve read so many books, I can’t remember if I’ve read the book I spotted. So, I picked it up and examined the book for wear and so forth… It’s a hardback and the edition is from 1992. The book is called, “Hideaway.” Are you familiar with the story? Maybe once I start reading it, I will remember if I have read it or not.

About the Book:

Strange visions plague a man after he survives a near-death experience in this chilling thriller from #1 New York Times bestselling author Dean Koontz.

Surviving a car accident on a snowy mountain road is miraculous for Lindsey Harrison, but even more so for her husband, Hatch, who was clinically dead for eighty minutes.

 After experimental procedures bring Hatch back to life, he awakens with the terrifying feeling that something is it out there. But it soon becomes apparent that the evil stalking Hatch is within him—a dark force of murderous rage that hides within us all…

Tagging:

Mybookworld24

Be sure to check out Alex’s books he mentioned in the post he tagged me on.

Stephanie

Reader’s Log 017: A Very Short Story and New ARCs

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Sunday Morning Drive

Yesterday morning, the air was cool, crisp in an autumn sort-of way and I had the urge to go for a Sunday drive. Normally, I would have waited later in the day. Although, morning drives on Sundays means less traffic. Not a walk you ask? Well, that would have been nice but a drive it was. After I drove around near my local favorite spots to drive by, Not ready to go home yet, I pulled in an almost empty parking lot. I parked next to a spot facing a street and a tree for shade. The sun was so bright. While I sat there, I watched cars drive by while reflecting on this coming week’s blog posts. After a few minutes, I cracked my two front side windows just a bit to feel the cool fresh air and as I began to back out of the parking space, I suddenly heard voices. I pressed down on the break and looked behind me and I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. I was completely stunned. Surely my eyes were playing tricks on me. A man appeared out of nowhere-it seems-and as he walked by, he smiled and waved to me. That wasn’t what what stunned me. The man-for the exception of modern-day clothes and phone in hand-looked exactly like the character, Ragnar Lothbrok in the Viking show. Literally. I kid you not. What are the odds I ask you? So, I made a mad dash home -I drove safely-to write down what I had just experienced. Funny how this happened close to Halloween. Now I’m thinking about catching up on the show because I never finished the seasons. Maybe it was meant to be.

Now let’s talk about books.

Since recently getting back to reviewing books for Publishers on NetGalley, I’ve created a rule that I have to turn in a certain amount of ARC reviews before accepting (Auto Approved) or requesting more. How is the rule going for me and why the rule? Well, I almost obeyed the rule by short of two reviews. Sigh. I know. I’ve got to stop looking at the Dashboard. The rule- I set for myself- is so that I can get through my backlog on the site. I am determined. You might be thinking, “Not determined enough if you’re breaking your rule.” I can’t help but laugh thinking that. Okay, I will do better. I will really try. In my defense, I’m mostly reading on my free time so I’m getting through them in a timely manner.

Would you like to see the books I got? One of the publishers auto-approved for and the other one, I requested. Matter of fact, they approved my request within literally minutes of requesting the book. I don’t believe that has ever happened to me before.

Stephanie

We Are Made of Stars by Rochelle B. Weinstein

Pub Date Feb 25 2025 by

Lake Union Publishing

Description:

Secrets, lies, and second chances are served up beneath the stars at a picturesque mountain getaway in this powerful novel about love and family by the bestselling author of This Is Not How It Ends.

At the Vis Ta Vie inn, Reneé and Jean-Paul De La Rue face the daunting decision to close their beloved home for good.

They’re not the only ones going through a season of change, though. Their guests include three couples in crisis: Hollywood celebs Leo and Penny are spending their silver anniversary together while on the cusp of divorce. Lucy, a practical-minded therapist, and Henry, an astronomer with his head in the stars, are struggling to find common ground. And former lawyer and current stay-at-home mom Sienna and charismatic sports agent Adam look perfect but are hiding rifts of their own. Thrown into the mix are self-absorbed single mother Cassidy and her sullen fifteen-year-old daughter, Rosalie.

The stage is set for a week of betrayals, regrets, and shocking truths that can rend the heart or heal it. Vis Ta Vie—live your life—captures what it means to love through the darkness, and to find the light even after the magic fades.

The Secrets of Good People

by Boo Walker; Peggy Shainberg

Pub Date Mar 18 2025 by

Lake Union Publishing

Description

A whirlwind romance. An impulsive marriage. A Floridian paradise. And a murder among friends in a twisty whodunit by Boo Walker, the bestselling author of The Stars Don’t Lie and An Echo in Time, and coauthor Peggy Shainberg.

On a tiny island off Paradiso, Florida, in 1970, neighbors gather to toast two new arrivals: shy Catherine and her taciturn husband, Dr. Frank Overbrook, who is taking over an old friend’s medical practice. It’s an intimate welcoming for the newlyweds, who have abandoned city life for swaying palms and an ocean breeze. But the morning after is anything but peaceful when Frank is found dead on the beach.

Detective Quentin Jones has his eyes on the island’s residents and the welcome party’s guest list. There’s the retiring doctor and host, as well as his nurse. Volatile marrieds Miriam and her husband, David, constantly at each other’s throats. The Carters, a strangely antisocial young couple. And Sylvie, a blind sculptor to whom Quentin lost his heart years ago.

But which one is a murderer? As the investigation unravels a close-knit group of friends, secrets are exposed—and more than one of them is worth killing for.

The Perfect Ex-Wife

(A Psychological Thriller)

by Winter K. Willis

Pub Date Dec 02 2024 by

Celestial Bear Publishing

Description:

Ramona has spent the last twelve years trying to build the perfect family with her husband and stepdaughter. In their picture-perfect home and neighborhood, she thought she’d finally found the life she always dreamed of. But one thing still haunts her every day: the shadow of her husband’s missing ex-wife. No matter how hard she tries, neither her husband nor stepdaughter can let go of the past.

Ramona has quietly hoped that time would help her replace the memory of the woman who disappeared without a trace. But when the police show up at her doorstep with new evidence, everything changes. As buried secrets resurface, Ramona is forced to confront the truth about the woman who came before her—and just how far she’ll go to protect the perfect life she’s built.

Perfect family. Perfect home. Perfect lie.

For fans of Freida McFadden, Jeneva Rose, Daniel Hurst and John Marrs.

In this gripping domestic thriller, family secrets unravel and Ramona is pulled into a web of mind games and psychological manipulation. Her once-perfect life spirals into a tense, heart-pounding mystery, filled with suspenseful twists and a twisted past that refuses to stay buried. As the truth unfolds, Ramona must confront her worst fears in a mind-bending, edge-of-your-seat psychological thriller that will leave readers questioning everything they thought they knew.