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Home Read. Review. Repeat. Genres Thriller Noir

Category Archive

Below you'll find a list of all posts that have been categorized as “Noir”

Review: THE BRIGHT LANDS by John Fram

Janelle August 7, 2020 Advance Copy, Book Reviews, Book Spotlight, Finished Copy, From Publisher, Hanover Square Press, Horror, Mystery, Noir, Paranormal, Supernatural, Suspense, Thriller Leave a Comment

Thank you to Hanover Square Press for my free copy.  If you haven’t read my interview with John Fram on Tor Nightfire, click here – he’s the cat’s pajamas! Description:  The town of Bentley holds two things dear: its football, …

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Review: TANGERINE by Christine Mangan

Janelle March 25, 2018 Advance Copy, Book Reviews, Ecco Press, Finished Copy, From Publisher, Mystery, Noir, Psychological Thriller, Suspense, Thriller Leave a Comment

Thank you so much to Ecco Press for providing my free copy – all opinions are my own.  “Tangier and Lucy were the same, I thought. Both unsolvable riddles that refused to leave me in peace. And I had tired …

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EPIC Book Mail: THE SANDMAN by Lars Kepler

Janelle March 7, 2018 Alfred Knopf, Book Mail, Finished Copy, From Publisher, Mystery, Noir, Psychological Thriller, Suspense, Thriller Leave a Comment

BIG thank you to Abby from Alfred Knopf for sending me this free copy! OMG I have never been so excited to read a book in my entire life! I suggest you order yourself a copy today! SYNOPSIS:  “Sensational … …

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Review: SUNBURN by Laura Lippman

Janelle February 21, 2018 Advance Copy, Book Reviews, Finished Copy, From Publisher, Mystery, Noir, Psychological Thriller, Thriller, William Morrow 1 Comment

Thank you so much to William Morrow for providing my free copy – all opinions are my own. “Sometimes, he used to wake up in the middle of the night and find her looking at him. The light from that …

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Quote of the Week

Instagram

✨ FACE FRIDAY ✨ Here is my late attempt at #F ✨ FACE FRIDAY ✨ Here is my late attempt at #FaceFriday - I took this photo about a month ago right before I spoke with David Duchovny. I failed to get very much of my #bookshelf in the background 😂 Thanks to @wherethereadergrows we’ve been watching Why Women Kill and it’s the best thing ever. I’m also reading YOU WILL REMEMBER ME for #buddyreadstodiefor What are you all up to this weekend?! 💋
✨ BOOK RECS ✨ Here are a few #books I recomme ✨ BOOK RECS ✨ Here are a few #books I recommend for #pridemonth 🏳️‍🌈 Have you read any of these? I love all of them for very different reasons. THE BRIGHT LANDS and DOCILE @scaredstraightreads practically shoved down my throat, which I am forever grateful for 💋🏳️‍🌈 Also, this pin from @livelyghosts is one of my favorites. It looks amazing on my coffin pinboard and oddly enough, on my #typewriter too 😏 GO SHOP @livelyghosts and use code SHEREADSWITHCATS to save 10% 👻🏳️‍🌈
✨ COVER REVEAL ✨ Have you read THE BRIGHT LAN ✨ COVER REVEAL ✨ Have you read THE BRIGHT LANDS by @john.fram yet? I read it last year and absolutely loved it! I’ll leave a snap shot of my original review below, but mark my words, you need this book. And guess what?! It’s out on paperback! SWIPE ⬅️ FOR THE PAPERBACK COVER REVEAL and tell me what you think! Are you in?! #BookReview 👀 John Fram wrote a wildly fantastic debut. It’s perfect for summer reading and will take your mind off the world around us. There is a full cast of characters to follow, and the book itself is nearly 500 pages, but don’t let that intimidate you. The story moves along quickly, and there is never a dull moment. THE BRIGHT LANDS utilizes a slew of fantastic components such as horror, noir, suspense, and thriller, while also incorporating social commentary, strong and intriguing characters, and many of the, all too important, *gasp* worthy moments. Can you tell how much I love this book?! My advice is to go in blind, but I’ll leave you with a brief description. In the small rural Texas town of Bentley, the star quarterback on the high school football team, Dylan Whitely, goes missing. Shortly before, Dylan’s older brother, Joel, receives several alarming texts from his brother, so he reluctantly decides to return home to help him. As you can imagine, homophobia, racism, and misogyny run rampant, so I love how John writes his characters. The female Sheriff’s Deputy, Starsha Clark, is working the case and handles herself like a pro in a town full of toxic masculinity. I have a soft spot for Joel, but I loved every primary character in this book. Mind you, it’s not because they are magically perfect; it’s because they are sympathetic characters filled with complexity and depth. John is not only a talented writer, but he wrote an emotional story with unique twists and original characters. I’ve never read a story with queer characters written in this way - he executed it perfectly. It’s a novel that keeps on giving - I think about this book constantly, and it keeps getting better with every thought. #CoverReveal
✨ BOOK REC ✨ Thank you so much @tornightfire ✨ BOOK REC ✨ Thank you so much @tornightfire and @tordotcompub for my review copy. This is going to be a @night_worms #review party, so watch this space #NightWormsBookParty I may or may not have already read SUMMER SONS by @leemandelo. I may or may not have devoured it in one day and recommended it to everyone I came in contact with. If you haven’t already guessed, I’m obsessed with this book. My review is coming soon, but for now, trust me…PREORDER THIS ASAP. What #book are you most looking forward to? Synopsis: Andrew and Eddie did everything together, best friends bonded more deeply than brothers, until Eddie left Andrew behind to start his graduate program at Vanderbilt. Six months later, only days before Andrew was to join him in Nashville, Eddie dies of an apparent suicide. He leaves Andrew a horrible inheritance: a roommate he doesn’t know, friends he never asked for, and a gruesome phantom that hungers for him. As Andrew searches for the truth of Eddie’s death, he uncovers the lies and secrets left behind by the person he trusted most, discovering a family history soaked in blood and death. Whirling between the backstabbing academic world where Eddie spent his days and the circle of hot boys, fast cars, and hard drugs that ruled Eddie’s nights, the walls Andrew has built against the world begin to crumble. And there is something awful lurking, waiting for those walls to fall.
✨ BOOK FRIENDS ✨ What was the last book you r ✨ BOOK FRIENDS ✨ What was the last book you read based on a #bookish friend’s recommendation? I love #truecrime #horror #nonfiction and #survival stories, so of course when @jobis89 recommended THE INDIFFERENT STARS ABOVE, I immediately went out and bought it. I am endlessly fascinated by the #DonnerParty and was looking for the right book. I’ve already started #reading it and I’M IN IT. It’s good you guys! Thank you Johann for always giving us fantastic #bookrecommendations - you rock, my friend 😽😽 Whoever knows how to train kittens, please message me. This is the best I could do. 😹 I meant to post this yesterday for #Caturday but I was deep in the middle of migraine-ville. So anyway, here are baby Jules & Mia aka “my kittos” 😸😸
✨ FRIDAY LOVE ✨ I spy with my little eye a fe ✨ FRIDAY LOVE ✨ I spy with my little eye a few #pridemonth books in this #bookstack 🌈 I plan to post as many #pride friendly books as I can, whether it’s books I’ve read and recommend or books I cannot wait to read. Tell me, which #books you’re reading for #pride2021 ✨
✨ REVIEW ✨ @quirkbooks #prhpartner @night_wor ✨ REVIEW ✨ @quirkbooks #prhpartner @night_worms #nightwormsbookparty @claymcleod’s WHISPER DOWN THE LANE is a horror-esque psychological suspense book based on true events which took place in the 1980s during the Satanic Panic. I was a child of the 80s, but mostly I remember the Satanic Panic mob mentality and paranoia because of my older, way-too-cool, punk rock sister. The McMartin preschool trials were not something I knew too much about, which made this story all the more compelling. The story alternates between two timelines, 1983 and 2013. In 1983, we meet five-year-old Sean and in 2013 we meet art teacher Richard, who appears to be leading a seemingly normal life. Unfortunately for Richard, his past has caught up to his present to haunt him. Chapman is a genius in the way he sets up the story, and with alternating chapters, it reads incredibly fast. I think he does a fantastic job writing the details of what happened without being gratuitous. There are scenes with animal cruelty, but nothing that didn’t make sense. One narrative was slightly more slowly paced than the other, but it didn’t bother me much. Quirk Books really outdid themselves with the cover design. It’s basically perfect. If you are looking for a fun book to read with a rad cover, definitely check out WHISPER DOWN THE LANE.
✨ READ WITH US ✨ @gareindeedreads and I decid ✨ READ WITH US ✨ @gareindeedreads and I decided to host a #buddyread this month. GARE chose RAGDOLL by Daniel Cole and I am 100% on board. This #crimefiction novel sounds like a real page-turner! What do you say, will you join us?! If so, use hashtag #shereadswithgare so we can see your photos 📸 Take a 👀 at the synopsis below... William Fawkes, a controversial detective known as The Wolf, has just been reinstated to his post after he was suspended for assaulting a vindicated suspect. Still under psychological evaluation, Fawkes returns to the force eager for a big case. When his former partner and friend, Detective Emily Baxter, calls him to a crime scene, he’s sure this is it: the body is made of the dismembered parts of six victims, sewn together like a puppet—a corpse that becomes known as “The Ragdoll.” Fawkes is tasked with identifying the six victims, but that gets dicey when his reporter ex-wife anonymously receives photographs from the crime scene, along with a list of six names, and the dates on which the Ragdoll Killer plans to murder them. The final name on the list is Fawkes. Baxter and her trainee partner, Alex Edmunds, hone in on figuring out what links the victims together before the killer strikes again. But for Fawkes, seeing his name on the list sparks a dark memory, and he fears that the catalyst for these killings has more to do with him—and his past—than anyone realizes. #bookcommunity #bookclub #readalong #ragdoll #bookstagram #moodyvoodies #bookshelf #thrillerbooks #bibliophile #igreads #booksofinstagram #read #currentlyreading #reading #ilovebooks #bookish #lovebooks #shereadswithcats #gareindeedreads #bookblogger
✨ REVIEW ✨ “Juana’s arm was numb, her tor ✨ REVIEW ✨ “Juana’s arm was numb, her torn clothes covered in bits of flesh and gore, flies landing and relanding. I am clothed in the body of my enemies.” SHADOW OF THE VULTURE by @rgarzamitchell is the ninth installment of the splatter western series from @deaths_head_press. As I’ve stated in previous reviews, each book is a standalone, so you can pick and choose which ones sound good to you. At under 100 pages, this bloody imaginative story read fast and tickled my witchy horror fancy. In a small town called Soledad, we encounter witchcraft, death, violence, and mayhem, but that’s not all. The women in this story go to great lengths to protect what they love and it made me emotional at times. There are some brilliant characters in this story, my favorites being Juana and Analisa. I would love to see more with these characters, but that did not deter me in anyway. Regina Garza Mitchell writes vivid imagery and the characterization is excellent. It is nothing like it’s predecessors in terms of depravity and gore, but there is plenty enough to tickle my splatter western loving heart. I really appreciate the fact that this is an own voice author, so take note. SHADOW OF THE VULTURE is the perfect novella to cleanse my palette for book number ten. Thank you so much @deaths_head_press and @night_worms for my review copy #nightwormsbookparty #promotehorror
✨ SUNDAY MOOD ✨ All I want to do is eat reall ✨ SUNDAY MOOD ✨ All I want to do is eat really good food and binge watch something. Any suggestions? #catsofinstagram #catstagram #cat #booksandcats #catlife #catlover #book #read #bibliophile #bookphotography #catphotography #bookish #catoftheday #photooftheday #atriabooks #sundayvibes #currentlyreading #reading #bookstagram #fiction #books #shereadswithcats
✨ BOOK CLUBS ✨ One of my favorite online #boo ✨ BOOK CLUBS ✨ One of my favorite online #bookclubs is @belletrist. @emmaroberts and @kpreiss select diverse, interesting, and thought-provoking books. I constantly discover books I may not otherwise have on my radar. Let’s face it, it gives me an excuse to buy a new #book LOL. Also, the author interviews are the coolest perk of following along each month. And I love that they pick things to feature that are not always in the mainstream, such as indie publishers, authors, and bookstores. Plus, they have great swag! Tell me, are you a #BelletristBabe ?! ✨
✨ BOOK MAIL ✨ ( thank you to the tagged publis ✨ BOOK MAIL ✨ ( thank you to the tagged publishers for these amazing free books #prhpartner ) Good evening, all! I received some pretty fantastic #bookmail from some very kind publishers. See anything you’re excited for? I started YES, DADDY by @jprampage for @scaredstraightreads new #bookclub called #scaredstraightreads (appropriately enough 😂). OoOooOo Dennis I hope I didn’t miss the author interview! The other day I finished GREAT CIRCLE by @shipstead and it is EXCELLENT. Thank you @aaknopf for always publishing great books. #CurrentlyReading CHILDREN OF CHICAGO by @cinapelayoauthor and I am captivated! @mother.horror has been singing its praises, so I cannot wait to see where it goes. And have you seen the new illustrated edition of Douglas Adams’ THE HITCHHIKER’S GUIDE TO THE GALAXY?! It’s out-of-this-world rad! Thanks again @delreybooks for this glorious edition ✨✨
👻👻 OBSESSIONS 👻👻 We are all obsessed 👻👻 OBSESSIONS 👻👻 We are all obsessed with books. We know this. But lately, I’ve been seeing posts here and there on #Bookstagram (👀 @jobis89 & @gowsy33) about our current obsessions. Besides #books what are YOU most obsessed with? I collect mugs, horror paraphernalia (dolls, Stephen King, Funkos, etc), stickers, bookmarks, and PINS. Man oh man, do I love enamel pins! And @livelyghosts creates some of my very favorites! My velvety black heart adores LIVELY GHOSTS 👻 Lindsay Kaye has such a gorgeous shop. Her creations are dark, elegant, and unique. I am in love with her beautiful enamel pins, stickers, creature blankets, beanies, coffin pinboards, okay okay... EVERYTHING 👻 I’m not sure if you know this about me, but I am obsessed with Greek mythology. I can’t stop staring at my shiny #Medusa sticker. Her eyes follow you wherever you go. And of course, I love love love my new pins. As you can see I was already a customer, but Lindsay was kind enough to add to my collection. Just look at “No One Lives Forever” and “Sword Swallower” pin - they are perfect. Thank you so much @livelyghosts 👻 Head on over to @livelyghosts shop #linkinbio and use be sure to use code SHEREADSWITHCATS to save 10% at checkout 👻👻
✨ HORROR BOOK OF THE WEEK ✨ Hey all! So I’v ✨ HORROR BOOK OF THE WEEK ✨ Hey all! So I’ve been writing a weekly article on the @night_worms blog where I recommend whichever #horrorbook grabbed me for the week. I’m having an absolute blast writing these segments and I have @mother.horror and @spookishmommy to thank for it. This week’s spotlight is on @ejlarocca! His upcoming book, THINGS HAVE GOTTEN WORSE SINCE WE LAST SPOKE is excellent! The epistolary style in which it is written and unique characters will grab you and never let go. Plus, the cover art is spectacular. Head over to the #NightWorms blog for my full review #linkinbio Mia and Jules are my little reading buddies! Stella is still a puppy, but I’m working with her to become an honorary #bookstagrammer 😂 Do you have any pets? If so, drop the deets it in the comments 🐶🐱🐱
✨ BOOKWORM CHALLENGE ✨ I was tagged a million ✨ BOOKWORM CHALLENGE ✨ I was tagged a million years ago by @ritasreadings for #iamabookworm so here goes... Q: Why do you like to read? A: There are so many reasons. For escape, adventure, knowledge, excitement, to be challenged, to analyze people, to see the world, to be a villain, and fall in love. Q: Do you read one book at a time? A: Nope. Always reading several books at a time. #polyreader Q: Do you reread a book? A: Rarely. I only read the same books over and over by Stephen King and Margaret Atwood #favoriteauthor Q: What genres do you like to read? A: Horror, thriller, true crime, literary fiction, classics, and science fiction. Also, anything else I damn well choose. #horrorrules Q: Do you listen to music while reading? A: Not really. I have taught myself to watch television and read at the same time #booksandcats Q: Do you have a favorite place to read? A: I love to read outside, in my library, or in bed. Always with my cats #shereadswithcats Q: Physical books, ebooks, or audiobooks? A: All of the above. I will read any form of anything. I do collect rare books and special editions #bibliophile I tagged a few people to play, but feel free to participate if you like. It’s fun! WHAT ARE YOU READING RIGHT NOW?
✨ THRILLER THURSDAY ✨ @randomhouse #prhpartner ✨ THRILLER THURSDAY ✨ @randomhouse #prhpartner Where are all my @carolinekepnes fans? 🙋🏼‍♀️ Her books are always so thrilling and fun! I am really looking forward to more time with Joe. Also, I’m desperate to watch another season, so I need to read YOU LOVE ME quick! Have you read this series?! 🔖 #thrillerthursday #thrillerbooks #read #thrillerreads #bookstagram #booklover #bookish #bookinstagram #typewriter #bookinstagram #youloveme #book #carolinekepnes #randomhouse #joegoldberg #bookblogger #bibliophile #igreads #bookstafam #fictionlover #amreading #badassbookbabes #currentlyreading #shereadswithcats
✨ SUNDAY VIBES ✨ ( tagged publishers #partner ✨ SUNDAY VIBES ✨ ( tagged publishers #partner ) Happy Mother’s Day! We are spending the day with my parents, most likely eating and drinking something delicious. Most of the day we’ll stick around the house because of our PUP-zilla Stella, but it will be nice to eat at an actual restaurant. And of course, all four of us are #vaxxedtothemax ✨ What did you do today? Or what are you reading this week?!
✨ I MET DAVID DUCHOVNY ✨ Last Saturday, May 1 ✨ I MET DAVID DUCHOVNY ✨ Last Saturday, May 1st @ 1230pm I spoke with @davidduchovny for approximately 20 minutes. I mean, what can I possibly do next? My life is done, it’s over #micdrop Okay, in all seriousness, he’s a genuinely nice person. Cool as a cucumber and super easy to talk to. I was, of course, the nervous laughing, babbling nerd you see before you on this account, but I’m fine with it. The first thing he said was something like... “that’s intimidating” (referring to my bookshelf background) and asked if it was real. I said yes and he casually said “so you’re a reader” (insert YES + my nerdy laugh). I told him how much I love all four books, especially #BuckyFuckingDent and #TrulyLikeLightning . We discussed the politics in the book and the relevance it had to the story. I told him I reluctantly read his books and listened to his music, but *sigh of relief* it turned out to be a good thing. He introduced me to his music crew as they were all sitting in a studio together for the first time since the pandemic. I brought up what vinyl I own for no other reason than because I tend to babble. Their new album comes out on August 20 or so and I said “right by my birthday” and he said “mine too”. They might tour this fall and you bet your ass I’ll be there! We discussed our beloved pets (obvi 💁🏼‍♀️). I brought up that Stella is a large German Shepherd/Lab mix puppy and she desperately needs a training class. He said training is a-ok because he rescued @brick_duchovny already full grown and he doesn’t “mind shit” (I geekishly laughed). Then he actually looked at my Stella Insta post *swoon* I gave him an accidental 360 degree tour of my library + bar while I snapped a photo. I told him I appreciate his way with words, i.e. stories and lyrics. He said he hopes to see me at a concert and I said thank you for taking the time to talk with me. All I can say is it was really awesome. Funny thing is much I prepared, as I wrote extensive notes, bothered friends, and searched my brain for details of his newest novel, but I didn’t need any of it. He’s super chill. I’m still pinching myself. Maybe someday I will get to interview #DavidDuchovny on IG Live ;)
Thank you so much @avidreaderpress for this stella Thank you so much @avidreaderpress for this stellar package #partner ✨ When this amazingness arrived on my doorstep, I nearly lost my mind! OMG that tote! My kitten-heart exploded! #Falling by @tj_author: You just boarded a flight to New York. There are one hundred and forty-three other passengers onboard. What you don’t know is that thirty minutes before the flight your pilot’s family was kidnapped. For his family to live, everyone on your plane must die. The only way the family will survive is if the pilot follows his orders and crashes the plane. Enjoy the flight. #Animal by @lisadtaddeo: Joan has spent a lifetime enduring the cruelties of men. But when one of them commits a shocking act of violence in front of her, she flees New York City in search of Alice, the only person alive who can help her make sense of her past. In the sweltering hills above Los Angeles, Joan unravels the horrific event she witnessed as a child—that has haunted her every waking moment—while forging the power to finally strike back. #InfiniteCountry by @patricia__engel: Talia is being held at a correctional facility for adolescent girls in the forested mountains of Colombia after committing an impulsive act of violence that may or may not have been warranted. She urgently needs to get out and get back home to Bogotá, where her father and a plane ticket to the United States are waiting for her. If she misses her flight, she might also miss her chance to finally be reunited with her family in the north. #LeonoraIntheMorningLight by @michaelacarterbooks: Leonora and Max embark on remarkable journeys together and apart, the full story of their tumultuous and passionate love affair unfolds, spanning time and borders as they seek to reunite and reclaim their creative power in a world shattered by war. When their paths cross with Peggy Guggenheim, an art collector and socialite working to help artists escape to America, nothing will be the same. ✨ Which #book tickles your fancy? ✨
You must be KITTEN me! Mia and Jules are thick as You must be KITTEN me! Mia and Jules are thick as thieves. They have definitely bonded for life. Unfortunately, they have to be separated for seven days, mainly for Mia to recover, and they are so upset. I walk down the hall and hear their sad meow kitty chorus from separate bedrooms. I love these cute little faces 🐱🐱 I just finished SORROWLAND and it’s amazing. I am #currentlyreading GREAT CIRCLE and HOUR OF THE WITCH. What are you reading?
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