Review of THE PERFECT HOSTS by Heather Gudenkauf

On November 6, 2025 By vickleaIn blog tour, Book Promo, Book Review3 Comments

About the Book

On Sale Date: November 4, 2025

ISBN: 9780778360049, 0778360040

Trade Paperback : $18.99 USD, $24.99 CAD

Genres: Fiction / Thrillers / Suspense

Pages: 320

Synopsis

A couple’s gender reveal party turns deadly and everyone is a suspect in this gripping thriller from the New York Times bestselling author of The Overnight Guest.

Is it a boy or a girl? They would die to know…

Madeline and Wes Drake have invited two hundred of their closest friends and family to their sprawling horse ranch for the most anticipated event of the year: a “pistols and pearls” gender reveal party so sensational it is sure to make headlines. But the party descends into chaos when the celebratory explosive misfires, leaving one woman dead and a trail of secrets.

As the aftershocks of the bloody party ripple across the small town, Agent Jamie Saldano is brought on the scene to investigate. Battling his own demons from the past, Saldano unearths a web of deceit spun around the Drakes. The appearance of some unexpected houseguests only deepens the mystery. And as tensions mount, it becomes clear that the explosion wasn’t just an unlucky accident. But who was the target, and why? As the shadow of a killer looms, the happy parents-to-be must unravel the truth before it’s too late.

My Thoughts

My goodness! This book and all of its twists and surprises kept my head spinning and my mind whirling as I anticipated the next unexpected revelation. The story begins with a bang, literally, as a gender reveal party’s explosive plan turns deadly. Madeline and Wes had no idea that their party would end up killing a guest, injuring many more and bring an ATF agent to their doorstep to investigate. Agent Jamie Saldano is not a stranger to the area since he grew up there and it also the place from which his older sister disappeared when they were both still in high school. I really enjoyed the complex plot that involved various characters and their backstories. The author did a masterful job of weaving the whole plot together into a cohesive tapestry by having each character voice their own point of view. There are plenty of characters and plenty of action happening throughout this thought-provoking thriller and all of them kept me guessing. I think my favorite character was Saldano since he was the one who kept his cool and kept investigating in spite of all of the roadblocks and subterfuge. The characters were all relatable although some were hard to like, like Mellie who seemed to be a gold digger with secrets and a hidden agenda. The story is engaging, fast-paced and one not to be missed for those who enjoy thrillers that are expertly crafted and gripping. With an unexpected ending and an addictive story, this book gets five plus stars from me and a warning to be prepared to read all night. Trigger warning: abuse and violence.
I voluntarily received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions expressed are my own.

Contemporary Fiction, Thriller, Suspense, Rated PG-13

About the Author

Heather Gudenkauf is the critically acclaimed author of several novels, including the New York Times bestsellers The Weight of Silence, The Overnight Guest and Everyone Is Watching. She lives in Iowa with her husband and children.

Social Links:

Website: https://heathergudenkauf.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Heather-Gudenkaufs-Books-259685275092/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heathergudenkauf/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/hgudenkauf/

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/heather-gudenkauf

Excerpt

MADELINE

“Madeline,” comes Wes’s voice, tinny and faraway-sounding. “Are you okay?”

She is lying flat on her back, the air still hazy with smoke. Is she? Is she okay? The ringing in her ears is fading, and she can hear again. In the distance she can hear sirens. Help is coming. Madeline does a mental scan of her body. Nothing seems broken, but her head is pounding. She touches her hairline, expecting her fingers to come back with blood, but instead they find an egg- sized lump. She tries to remember exactly what happened. Wes pulled the trigger, and the truck exploded. An explosion, that’s what it was. Something had gone wrong with the reveal. The baby. Oh God, is the baby okay? She presses her palms against her belly.

“Madeline, Madeline,” comes Wes’s voice again, this time more insistent. His frantic face comes into view.

“Shhh,” Madeline orders. “Please be quiet.” She needs to lie completely still, has to concentrate so she can feel the baby move. She. The baby is a girl, Madeline thinks, remembering the wisps of pink smoke she saw among the fiery black cloud. Her little girl will kick her in the bladder, one of her favorite moves, any second now. There is nothing. No cartwheels or wiggles. Nothing.

Wes kneels beside her and slips his hand into hers. “Help is coming. Stay put. Don’t move.”

Madeline nods as hot tears roll down her cheeks. “What happened?”

“It must have been the truck,” Wes says. “It must have triggered a bigger explosion.”

“But how?” Madeline asks. “You said it was safe . . . Is anyone hurt?”

“It was. It was supposed to be.” He shakes his head, be- wildered. “I don’t know what happened.”

Madeline struggles into a sitting position and looks around. Charred lumber litters the lawn. The canopy over the dining tables has collapsed and is covered in dancing flames that a handful of guests and waitstaff are trying to smother with what- ever is handy: cowboy hats, table linens, an old horse blanket. Other guests are gathered in small, tight clusters, holding on to one another. Some sit in the grass crying, others stand slack- faced, as if in shock. Through the smoke a rodeo clown appears, his brightly colored clothing now blackened with soot and his makeup running down his sweaty face. The clown is helping the photographer, who is bleeding from the head. But it is the old storage barn that Madeline finds herself fixated on. Huge f lames shoot from the hayloft window and the roof. Someone pulls a hose from one of the horse barns, and suddenly buckets and containers of all sizes appear. Others, including Johanna’s husband, Dalton, are running toward the burning barn and tossing water onto the structure. They know that one wayward spark could ignite the house or, worse, the barns filled with her beloved horses.

“Can you walk?” Wes asks. “We have to get you away from here.”

Madeline nods, and Wes helps her to her feet. She is barefoot. The blast had lifted her in the air and knocked her flip-flops clear off her feet. Madeline, leaning against Wes, winces with each step, the rough ground pricking at the soles of her feet. He leads her to the meadow, a safe distance from the burning barn, but still close enough for her to see what’s happening. Some of Madeline’s earlier numbness is beginning to wear away, and the enormity of what has happened begins to descend.

“Go,” Madeline says, knowing they need as many hands as possible.

Wes shakes his head. “No,” he says. “I’m not leaving you.” “I’m fine,” she says, but is she? She fell hard, and still the baby hasn’t moved.

Madeline scans the crowd. “Where’s Johanna?” she asks. “Have you seen her?”

“I haven’t,” Wes says. “But I’m sure she’s around here somewhere. Have you seen Dix?”

“No,” Madeline says. The last she saw Dix was just before he handed the microphone to Wes. “Go,” Madeline repeats. “Really, I’m fine. I just have to get my bearings,” she assures him when he turns his gaze to her doubtfully. “Go help, find your brother. And check on the horses.”

“You wait here,” Wes says. “Don’t move from this spot, and I’ll come back and find you.” He squeezes her hand and kisses her cheek before darting away and disappearing into a cloud of black smoke.

Madeline continues to eye the property for any sign of Johanna’s long dark braid, her suede skirt. In the distance the wail of sirens grows closer. Help is coming. The meadow to the left of the house was being used as a makeshift parking lot for the guests’ vehicles. One wayward spark from the fire landing on the stubbled field could set off a chain reaction where upward of a hundred cars and trucks, tanks filled with gasoline and diesel, sit idly.

The air is filled with inky smoke blotting out the face of the mountain and the setting sun. A fire truck pulls through the side yard, crushing Madeline’s lavender and Russian sage, its massive tires carving deep ruts in the soil. Madeline barely notices—it’s what she sees as a group of guests part to let the truck through that causes her breath to lodge in her throat. A woman lies on the ground, her arm thrown over her face, while someone presses a blood-soaked cloth to her abdomen. One by one, Madeline registers the carnage. Someone is doing CPR on Gary Wilson, the president of the bank that holds their mortgage. One of her equestrian students is wandering aimlessly through the smoke, tears running down her face. A fifteen-hundred- pound bull has escaped the rodeo paddock and is trotting toward the mountains. She sees Mellie, the young waitress, running and screaming, fire dancing up the front of her legs. A partygoer tackles her, smothering the flames with his body.

This is bad. So very bad. Madeline fights the urge to vomit. She wants to help. But how? Water, Madeline thinks. She can pass out bottles of water, try and keep the guests calm and reassure them that help is here, that everything is going to be okay. On unsteady feet she moves toward the party barn, where she knows there is plenty of bottled water, but someone grabs her arm. Mia. “Have you seen Sully?” she asks tearfully, her arm hanging at an odd angle. “I can’t find him.”

Madeline shakes her head. “I’ll help look for him,” she promises. “You’re hurt. Sit down.”

Mia shakes her head. “I need Sully,” she says thickly and stumbles away. There are too many injured and not enough emergency personnel.

The fire truck has come to an abrupt stop. Two firefighters are urging those guests who jumped in to try to put out the fire to move away from the blaze. With machinelike efficiency, they unroll the hoses.

Madeline is mesmerized by the flames that roll across the roof of the barn, the dense cloud of smoke, the roar of lumber being eaten by the flames. She moves closer, unnoticed by the firefighters, her face growing pink from the heat. Madeline vaguely becomes aware of more sirens and shouts of “Over here” and “Please help!” More help has arrived. The spray of water hisses and snarls as it strikes flames and wood. The barn turns into a living thing then, twisting and groaning until it collapses in on itself, turning to a big heap of charred lumber with sooty farm equipment peeking out here and there.

Purchase Links

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Perfect-Hosts-Novel-Heather-Gudenkauf-ebook/dp/B0DQQ9BRLR

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-perfect-hosts-heather-gudenkauf/1146709766?ean=9780778360049

Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-perfect-hosts-original-heather-gudenkauf/22162822?ean=9780778360049&next=t

Libro.fm: https://libro.fm/audiobooks/9781488236150-the-perfect-hosts

Books-A-Million: https://www.booksamillion.com/p/Perfect-Hosts/Heather-Gudenkauf/9780778360049

Target: https://www.target.com/p/the-perfect-hosts-by-heather-gudenkauf/-/A-94483956?preselect=94481317#lnk=sametab

Indigo: https://www.indigo.ca/en-ca/otherwise-engaged-a-novel/9780778387268.html

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-perfect-hosts?sId=7c9b6427-a9f0-4dbf-824b-e63babdb3880

AppleBooks: https://books.apple.com/us/book/the-perfect-hosts/id6739534386

**With deep appreciation to HTP BOOKS for including me in the Fall 2025 Blog Tour for THE PERFECT HOSTS by Heather Gudenkauf. A wild and enjoyable thrill ride!**

Review: THREAT OF REVENGE by Jessica R. Patch

On August 28, 2025 By vickleaIn Book Promo, Book Review2 Comments

About the Book

Following an anonymous tip about a gun-trafficking ring, patrol officer Jenna Morrow arrives in small-town North Dakota—and narrowly escapes the bomb that detonates in her car. Rescued by rancher Clay Miller, Jenna and her K-9 partner, Augie, take refuge at his remote property to continue her investigation. But even when she’s under Clay’s protection, an unknown assailant continues to threaten Jenna, making it clear someone wants her dead…and it’s personal. As the killer closes in, Jenna and Clay must unmask an attacker who won’t stop until a long-awaited revenge is complete.

Product Details

ISBN-13:9781335957214 Publisher:Harlequin Publication date:08/26/2025 Series:Dakota K-9 Unit , #6 Pages:208

My Thoughts

Jenna Morrow is a patrol officer on assignment trying to find gun runners when her life is threatened repeatedly by an unknown assailant. Taking refuge at Clay Miller’s ranch, Jenna thinks she will be safe there, but ends up having the danger follow both her and Clay. With her trained K-9 on the job and constantly vigilant for anyone threatening her, Jenna has a better than average chance of catching the perpetrator, but she is thwarted at every turn by surprise attacks against friends and even Augie, her dog. The action is fast-paced and non-stop, with pulse pounding scenes of danger and suspense. The characters were dynamic and relatable as the protagonists discovered feelings for each other that they were afraid to voice due to their pasts. I enjoyed the well written plot, but the characters are what kept me reading because I was invested in their happy ending and their solving the mystery of the attacker who just wouldn’t quit. With twists, red herrings and great clues throughout the book, this is a must read for those who enjoy romantic suspense and guessing games.
I voluntarily received a complimentary copy of this book via BookFunnel. I also purchased my own copy. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions expressed are my own.

About the Author

Publishers Weekly Bestselling Author, Jessica R. Patch has penned over 27 novels and is known for her dry wit and signature twists whether she’s penned a romantic suspense or a dark, twisty thriller. When she’s not getting into fictional mischief with her characters, you can find her cozy on the couch in her mid-south home reading books by some of her favorite authors, down the street at the Mexican restaurant, or collecting recipes to amazing dishes she’ll probably never cook. Sign up for her newsletter “Patched In” at www.jessicarpatch.com and receive a FREE short thriller.

To purchase a copy of this book, follow this link:

Harlequin and links to other retailers

Audible

Vickie Approved and Vickie Recommended

Review of THE NATURE OF SECRETS

On March 14, 2023 By vickleaIn Book ReviewLeave a comment

**Book Details:**
**ISBN-13**: 9781662508820
**ISBN-10**: 1662508824
**Publisher**: Thomas & Mercer
**Publish Date**: March 2023
**Dimensions**: 8.19 x 5.35 x 1.02 inches
**Shipping Weight**: 0.79 pounds

About the Book:

From USA Today bestselling author Debra Webb comes a thrilling installment in the Finley O’Sullivan series about a well-connected woman who stands accused of her husband’s murder. She’s innocent—unless Finley proves otherwise.

Legal investigator Finley O’Sullivan has had a difficult year in the wake of her husband’s murder. But in her line of work, there’s no time to grieve. Her job is to protect the firm’s clients and defend their innocence through grueling investigative work.

Ellen Winthrop is a force to be reckoned with in the financial world. In a male-dominated industry, she shattered the glass ceiling by empowering and promoting women. But now her husband is dead, killed in the Winthrop family home—and she stands accused of his murder.

Finley, as the investigator at the firm Ellen Winthrop hired to defend her, has a clear objective: prove that Ellen didn’t do it. But the deeper Finley digs into the Winthrops’ marriage, the more she starts to doubt Ellen’s story. The uncomfortable truth is that Ellen Winthrop may in fact have killed her husband.

And he might not have been the first.

My Review:

The second book in the Finley O’Sullivan series explained a lot of loose ends and was a totally satisfying read. Finley and Jack are hired by wealthy Ellen Winthrop to represent her when she is suspected of murdering her philandering husband. On the path to investigating Ellen’s case, Finley makes astonishing discoveries about the murder of her own husband Derrick as well as uncovering secrets about Jack and her mother, the Judge who barely speaks to her. The characters were credible and fascinating, with backstories that were riveting and complex. The plot was fast-paced and equally complicated, with brilliantly woven twists and clever details thrown in as clues. I really enjoyed this book, especially finding out more about the characters and how determined Finley is to get at the truth about Derrick’s death. There were sub-plots and secondary characters in the mix, too, all insightfully included into the main plot and giving the plot an edgy feel, with the accompanying misdirection that is appreciated by mystery fans like me. This is a story rich in detail and even has some romance peeking it. Those who enjoy a good whodunit with some breath-stopping suspense will enjoy this book.
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and the author via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guidelines Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

Rated PG-13 due to content and subject matter.

**DEBRA WEBB** is the *USA Today* bestselling author of more than 150 novels, including reader favorites the *Faces of Evil*, the Colby Agency and the Shades of Death series. She is the recipient of the prestigious Romantic Times Career Achievement Award for Romantic Suspense as well as numerous Reviewers Choice Awards. In 2012 Debra was honored as the first recipient of the esteemed L. A. Banks Warrior Woman Award for her courage, strength, and grace in the face of adversity. Recently Debra was awarded the distinguished Centennial Award for having achieved publication of her 100th novel. With this award Debra joined the ranks of a handful of authors like Nora Roberts and Carole Mortimer.
With more than four million books sold in numerous languages and countries, Debra’s love of storytelling goes back to her childhood when her mother bought her an old typewriter in a tag sale. Born in Alabama, Debra grew up on a farm and spent every available hour exploring the world around her and creating her stories. She wrote her first story at age nine and her first romance at thirteen. It wasn’t until she spent three years working for the Commanding General of the US Army in Berlin behind the Iron Curtain and a five-year stint in NASA’s Shuttle Program that she realized her true calling. A collision course between suspense and romance was set. Since then she has expanded her work into some of the darkest places the human psyche dares to go. Visit Debra at www.debrawebb.com.

Available NOW! Purchase Links:

https://amzn.to/3l6PQBn

https://www.powells.com/book/the-nature-of-secrets-9781662508820

http://bit.ly/3TdzLGL (BN)

http://bit.ly/3JcpXIq (Book Shop)

http://bit.ly/3YKjkmm (Target)

http://bit.ly/3YCFx5G (Books-a-Million)

Books in the Series:

THE NATURE OF SECRETS is the second book in the series and may be read as a standalone. I recommend, however, that you start with the first book in the series so you get to know Finley O’Sullivan and what makes her search for the truth in THE NATURE OF SECRETS. Here is a link to the series: Amazon

Review of THE LIES I TOLD by Mary Burton

On July 28, 2022 By vickleaIn Book ReviewLeave a comment

This book is an intricately woven and multi-layered suspense/murder mystery that is centered around a family with a lot of problems. Marisa’s twin sister Clare was murdered when she was sixteen. As a result, Marisa has a problem with alcohol abuse and the inability to close that chapter of her life since Clare’s killer was never caught. Brit, her older sister, is a control freak who is a successful lawyer who generally gets her way about everything. The cast of characters is as numerous as the possible suspects and at times, it was difficult to discern the red herrings from the real clues. The story was so well-woven and intricately designed to keep me interested and guessing. There are friends who were around when Clare was killed, new friends, a police detective about to retire and unhappy that he hasn’t been able to close the case. I loved how the author developed the plot like a spiral…start from the outside with a lot of different things that could be true and work towards the middle to what is actually true. This was an edge-of-my-seat and talk-to-the-characters kind of book for me. I didn’t want to see Marisa hurt, even though she showed her weaknesses at times and allowed herself to be manipulated. In fact, this is a book about manipulation, trust issues, addiction and anger issues that was hard to put down. The plot was believable and the details so realistic that at times I felt as though I were reading a news report. The characters were not so much likable as easy to get to know and feel sympathy for them. The book is told with several POVs including Richards, the detective, Brit, Jo-Jo (a good friend) and Marisa, with Marisa’s story being the majority of the narration. The pieces of the mystery fit together like a good puzzle once the climax was reached and what had really happened to Clare was laid out clearly. Then, the part after the climax was amazingly well done, with a little nudge to make me think about what would happen to these characters whom I had befriended after I finished the book. What a great book for fans of mystery and suspense who like to play Sherlock Holmes as they read!
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

Rated PG for content. Triggers include: rape, assault, violence, and substance abuse.

*BIO and PHOTO from the author’s website at* http://www.maryburton.com

This mesmerizing book is available on August 2, 2022, but you can pre-order it now. Purchase Links:

Connect with the author on social media by following one of these links:

Book Bub

Facebook

Goodreads

With deep appreciation to the author for including me on her review team!

Review of THE LAST LIE TOLD by Debra Webb

On July 27, 2022 By vickleaIn Book ReviewLeave a comment

Finley O’Sullivan, the protagonist of a new series, is my new favorite heroine. Smart, determined and with a past that could kill a weaker person, Finley is a legal investigator who throws her best efforts into whatever task she is assigned. Working with Jack, the head of the investigative agency and her godfather, Finley is tenacious as well as compassionate with the clients. The realistic portrayal of the characters, with all of their weaknesses and self-doubts, is what makes this author one of the best and one of my go-to authors when I want a good book to read. This book was exceptional in that it introduced a new series with a complicated plot and plenty of suspects to choose from. The twists were innumerable and there were plenty of surprises along the way, too. I liked the relationships that Finley had with Jack and her friend Matt, a man who seems to want more but who isn’t pushy about it. I was captivated by Finlay’s mother, the Judge, because she has few attributes of a mom and all of the characteristics of a woman seeking more power. I am looking forward to finding out more about their broken relationship in future books of the series. The plot is one that is original, with a killer recanting his confession and the repercussions from his actions to all involved in the original murder, investigation and conviction. There are some real lowlifes in the book who genuinely need to be taken behind the woodshed and have some sense knocked into them. But they are integral parts of the story, so I was content just to dislike them. There is a sub-plot, too, in which Finley is trying desperately to find the men who murdered her husband Derrick and left her injured in body and soul. There are quite a few twists in that part of the tale, too! Fans of suspense with a kick butt female protagonist will enjoy this new series as much as I did and look forward to the next book.
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.” Final note: I pre-ordered my own copy of this book because I love the author’s writing style so much that I have a collection of them.

This book releases on August 1, 2022. It is available to preorder now! Purchase Links:

GET THIS BOOK TODAY AND ON AUGUST 1, YOU CAN MEET FINLEY O’SULLIVAN FOR YOURSELF!

Review of GOOD HUSBANDS by Cate Ray

On June 8, 2022 By vickleaIn Book ReviewLeave a comment

This is a book with an original plot and a slow burn. Jessica, Stephanie and Priyanka all receive the same letter, accusing their husbands of sexual assault about two decades ago. The victim is dead and no one is talking, so the three women set out to discover the truth. Stephanie is the most reluctant participant in the investigation, but all three women have a lot to lose if the truth is what they suspect it is. There are some definite triggers in this book and some real surprises as more is revealed. The plot was slow and methodical, laying out the case against each male as the women continue to find more clues. I did not particularly like or identify with any of the women since they are all more upper crust than I am. Also, they seemed somewhat stiff and unrealistic in their reaction to their husbands’ purported crimes. All of them reveal a very human and selfish side while also trying to protect their ways of life. That seemed somewhat realistic but stilted and not a totally natural reaction. The plot was original and engaging for the most part. I even managed to like two out of the three husbands; one was too self-centered to be likable or relatable. All in all, the book was good domestic drama with some secrets revealed slowly and some surprises along the way.
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

Rated M for mature readers due to content.

Cate Ray is an author of four previous novels of suspense published in the UK under the name Cath Weeks. She was named an Author to Watch by Elle magazine. She lives in Bath with her family.
Social Links:

Author website: https://cateray.co.uk/
Twitter: @cateraywriter
Instagram: @cateraywriter
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CateRayWriter/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/21803031.Cate_Ray

Available now. Purchase Links:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Good-Husbands-Novel-Cate-Ray/dp/0778333205

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/good-husbands-cate-ray/1140154452

IndieBound: https://www.indiebound.org/book/9780778387015

Books-A-Million: https://www.booksamillion.com/p/Good-Husbands/Cate-Ray/9780778333203?id=8529866004140

AppleBooks: https://books.apple.com/us/book/good-husbands/id1585493364

Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Good_Husbands_A_Novel?id=EY5CEAAAQBAJ&hl=en_US&gl=US

Excerpt:

Jess

I’m one hundred percent average, said no one ever. Yet that’s what most of us are, myself included. I know the sum of my parts and it equals ordinary and there’s no shame in that. In fact, it’s a strength. My parents were ordinary too and as their only child they raised me to respect being a leaf on a tree, a grain of sand on the beach. You get the picture. But it doesn’t mean being insignificant, anonymous. It means being part of a community, a tribe, a cause greater than yourself.

I realise this kind of thinking isn’t very now. The idea of being average scares my girls to death. I wouldn’t accuse them of it outright, yet it’s probably in their DNA too and at some point, they’ll have to confront it. Mediocrity isn’t something they can deal with and perhaps that’s where we’re going wrong because ordinary is what gets you through. Ordinary is noble, life-affirming. It’s the heart of humanity and somehow, we’ve forgotten that.

And then the letter arrives and I know as soon as I read it that I’m going to have to re-think everything. Because I’m fairly sure that ordinary people don’t get letters like this.

It’s the first day of autumn and I don’t know if it’s actually colder or whether I’m imagining it, as though a door closed yesterday on summer and a chillier one opened, but I’m definitely feeling it today. The tip of my nose is icy and I would get a hot water bottle for my lap, only I’m leaving the house in twenty minutes.

I’m meeting Duane Dee, my favourite sculptor—the only sculptor—on my client list and anything could happen. You never know what you’re going to get with artists, which is why I like working with them. They’re up and down but more than that, they’re honest. I’ve never known a profession like it. My artists talk about integrity and authenticity all the time and I lap it up. I love that the men don’t shave for meetings, the women don’t dye their greys, no one bothers ironing anything.

The investors are another sort altogether. People who buy and sell art are very different from those who create it. I know whose company I prefer, but I keep that to myself because even I know not to bite the hand that feeds me.

Max thinks it’s funny that I work for Moon & Co—he calls them the Moonies—even though he was the one who got me the job. He knows everyone in Bath because he grew up here, whereas I’m originally from the East End, London. I’ve been living here for twenty years and it still makes me laugh that locals think it’s urban, even though I can see cows from our bathroom window.

I’ve just got enough time for a quick look at Facebook. I don’t know why I do it to myself, but sometimes I feel that if I don’t keep up, I’ll be left behind. Which is odd because it’s not as if it’s a race, is it, being human?

I’m forty-six years old and still looking for friends. I’m pretty sure I won’t find them here in this endless scroll of happy images. People work so hard to make themselves look perfect, it’s hard not to try to find faults. I don’t enjoy it. It makes me feel bitchy but still I return and peek.

I glance at the time: ten minutes until I have to go. Outside, red leaves are hanging on the trees as though they’ve gone rusty and can’t move. There’s no wind today, the air completely still.

Duane Dee doesn’t use social media. He thinks the tech companies are using us to get rich and that it’s odd I’m willing to be a pawn in Silicon Valley because I strike him as militant.

It’s probably because I still have a slight East End accent, which can sound blunt, tough, but I like to think of it more as plain-talking. My late Dad used to say that the EastEnders wore their hearts of gold on their sleeves. A firefighter all his life, he believed in helping people out, especially along our street of identical terrace houses where no one could set themselves apart.

Enough of Facebook. I shut it down, telling it I won’t be back, knowing I will. And then I gather my things, ready to take off.

In the hallway, I sit on the stairs to put on my trainers, wondering when I started dressing like a teenager, and that’s when the postman comes. There’s only one small piece of mail, which slips in like a piece of confetti, drifting to the mat. I pick it up with interest because it’s handwritten and I can’t think when I last received one of those.

Then it’s out of my mind because I’m locking up and putting on my puffa jacket as I walk to the car. And then I’m driving to town—the sun a pale wedge of lemon above me—running through what to say to Duane Dee.

Is he well? Is he pushing himself too hard? Is he sleeping enough? He always looks chronically tired.

I ask too many questions. Intrusive. That’s the little bit of feedback my boss always gives me. Jess, here’s some feedback you didn’t ask for…

When people say you’re intrusive, assertive or direct, they’re basically telling you to be quiet. Are men given feedback like that? I don’t know. But I’m thinking about this as I enter the Sicilian café which is my personal preference and not Duane’s. Whenever he chooses, we end up somewhere too dark to see our food, sitting on tasselled mats.

The service here is very good. Within seconds of my sitting down, the waitress hands me a menu even though I always have an Americano and an almond pastry.

Glancing in the wall mirror beside me, I note that my expression is severe. A semi-friend told me recently that I carry a lot of tension in my face. It was a bit passive aggressive of her to say so, but I know what she means. I have bony cheekbones and thin lips that can look mean if I’m not careful.

So, I’ve been making an effort lately to smile more, worry less and unclench my hands. I also tend to tap my teeth together and I’m doing that now in time to the café music as I wait for Duane.

And then I remember the letter.

It takes me several minutes to find it, as well as my reading glasses. Since hitting my mid-forties, I misplace things all the time. I normally ask myself, where would I have put it? And it’s never there.

The letter is in the front compartment of the rucksack which I haven’t used for so long, there are crumbs and bits of foil in there from the primary school-run. Flicking the crumbs off the envelope, I examine the handwriting, feeling a pang of nostalgia at the idea of someone putting pen to paper just for me.

The writing is tiny and in capitals, internet code for shouting, but in this case is more like whispering. Something about it gives me the sense that it’s trying its hardest not to offend or take up too much space. I have to prise the paper out of the envelope, where it’s wedged, folded into eighths.

THURS 1ST OCTOBER

DEAR JESSICA,

I HOPE YOU’RE SITTING DOWN TO READ THIS AND THAT YOU’RE ALONE.

THIS IS SO DIFFICULT. YOU WOULDN’T BELIEVE HOW OFTEN I IMAGINED TALKING TO YOU, BUT I DIDN’T KNOW HOW TO GO ABOUT IT. AND NOW IT’S TOO LATE.

For what? I check the postmark on the envelope: Monday 5th October, 5pm. That was last night. Shifting uneasily in my seat, I turn over the letter to see who sent it: Holly Waite.

I’VE KNOWN FOR SOME TIME THAT I WON’T MAKE OLD BONES, BUT NOW IT’S URGENT AND I’VE ONLY GOT A FEW DAYS LEFT. SO, I’LL JUST COME OUT WITH IT.

ON 22ND DECEMBER 1990, MY MUM NICOLA WAITE WAS RAPED BY 3 MEN IN THE MONTAGUE CLUB, BATH. THE MEN WERE ANDREW LAWLEY, DANIEL BROOKE AND MAXIMILIAN JACKSON.

MY MUM FELL PREGNANT WITH ME. SHE ASKED THE MEN FOR HELP, BUT THEY DIDN’T WANT TO BE INVOLVED. SHE NEVER RECOVERED FROM WHAT HAPPENED AND DIED 9 YEARS AGO OF AN ACCIDENTAL OVERDOSE.

9780778333203_TS_SplitBG_txt.indd 19 11/12/21 8:18 AM CATE RAY 20

EVERYTHING I OWN IS AT STONE’S STORAGE, UNIT 21, 156 CLEVEDON ROAD. IF YOU GO TO THEM, THEY’LL GIVE YOU THE KEY. YOU’RE WELCOME TO ANYTHING. I HAVE NO ONE ELSE TO LEAVE IT TO.

WE NEVER KNEW WHO MY FATHER WAS. SO, I’M ALSO WRITING TO:

PRIYANKA LAWLEY. 32 WALDEN WAY, HIGH LANE, BATH.

STEPHANIE BROOKE, 7 SOUTH AVENUE, BATH.

I’M SORRY TO DO THIS. I KNOW IT’LL BE A SHOCK, BUT I COULDN’T GO WITHOUT TELLING YOU. YOUR HUSBANDS WENT UNPUNISHED, WALKING AWAY COMPLETELY FREE. I ALWAYS HOPED THAT ONE DAY I’D SEE JUSTICE DONE, BUT I COULDN’T THINK OF A WAY TO DO THAT WITHOUT DESTROYING MORE LIVES.

NOW THAT I’M OUT OF TIME, I CAN SEE THAT IT WASN’T MY CHOICE TO MAKE. SO, I’M PASSING IT OVER TO YOU, TELLING YOU WHAT YOU SHOULD HAVE KNOWN FROM THE START. IT ALWAYS FELT SO PERSONAL, BUT IT WASN’T, NOT REALLY. YOU CAN’T DRAW A LINE WHERE ONE LIFE STARTS AND ANOTHER BEGINS.

ONCE AGAIN, I’M SORRY.

I HOPE YOU DO THE RIGHT THING.

YOURS TRULY,

HOLLY WAITE X

The kiss throws me the most. I stare at it. It’s like she’s trying to add a softener, after making the worst possible accusation.

I read the letter again, my eye lingering on Maximilian Jackson. No one ever calls Max that. It doesn’t even sound like him.

“Jess?” I glance up to see Duane standing there, untying his Aztec scarf, clay stains on his jumper. “Alright, darlin’?”

I can’t pull out a smile for him. I’m not great at hiding my emotions. It’s one of the things Max has always loved about me and I like it about myself too. Yet suddenly, it feels like an impairment; a liability even.

Slipping the letter into my bag, I stand up robotically and we exchange kisses. He smells of autumn air and his cheek as it brushes mine is so cold it makes me shiver. “Hi, Duane.”

We sit down and Duane scans a menu before tossing it aside. “Who am I kidding? I’m gonna get the calzoni. I always get the calzoni.”

“So…how are you?” I manage to ask. “How’s the new project going?” I sound uptight, formal. I clench my hands, trying to stop them from trembling.

The waitress takes our order. And then I sit rigidly in my chair, listening as Duane describes his latest creation—how it embodies technoculture, hyperreality, paranoia.

When the coffees arrive, I drink mine too quickly and burn my tongue.

“You OK?” He cocks his head at me.

No, I’m not. How could I be?

“Actually, I just need to pop to the ladies. Could you excuse me a minute?”

Out in the restroom, I stand with my hands against the sink, trying to breathe, feeling dizzy. Closing my eyes, I see Maximilian Jackson again in that tiny handwriting.

It’s not Max. It’s some sort of mistake. Holly Waite…whoever that is…is wrong. And perhaps, dead.

I don’t think I’ve ever felt happy before to hear of someone’s demise, but as I open my eyes it occurs to me that if this woman is deceased then there’s no one present to make any accusations.

I return to the table, where Duane is tucking into his calzoni, a thread of cheese hanging from his lip. Normally I wouldn’t hesitate to tell him, or anyone, so they could set themselves straight.

But something strange happens and I just sit there, silent, watching the thread dangle as he chews and talks. It seems to me that I don’t know who I am. Or more to the point, who my husband is.

Review of MY WIFE IS MISSING by D. J. Palmer

On May 9, 2022 By vickleaIn Book Review3 Comments

This book made my heart race and my pulse pound as I raced through the pages to the satisfying conclusion. The story of Natalie, an insomniac who does not trust her husband and Michael, the husband who has many secrets to hide from her, is mesmerizing. Neither narrator is particularly reliable since Natalie never sleeps more than a couple of hours per night and Michael has a vested interest in hiding his past. I totally enjoyed getting to know the characters and guessing what their next step in the twisted plot would be. The fact that Natalie flees from her husband because of her suspicions and that Michael pursues her and the children had me absorbed and waiting for the next red herring to be thrown into my path. I really liked the character of Kate, a former classmate of Natalie’s who lives on a farm and who agrees to shelter her. She seemed strong and reliable whereas Natalie seemed somewhat weak and undecided about some of her actions. Michael teams up with a police detective from his past, Amos Kennett, to track down Natalie and the twist there was worth reading the whole book. In fact, this is one of the best books that the author has written (and I have read all of his psychological thrillers), with an endangered family and deceptive spouses making me wonder who could be trusted. Excellent book with lots of action, great characterization, plenty of mystery and suspense and thrills!
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

Information about the author and his other thrillers can be found at his website at http://www.djpalmerauthor.com

This book releases tomorrow on May 10, 2022. Available for preorder now. Purchase Links:

Review of BURN YOU TWICE by Mary Burton

On September 28, 2020 By vickleaIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

Just when I thought that Mary Burton couldn’t get any better with her suspense thrillers, she proved me wrong by writing this book. It was a total thrill ride from the beginning to the satisfying conclusion! It includes a cast of characters that are a motley crew of suspects for current fires in the college town of Missoula, Montana. Joan Mason has left behind her job as a homicide detective in Philadelphia to return to Missoula when arsonist Elijah Weston is released from prison. Joan is determined to prove that Elijah is still setting fires and should not have been released. Joan also encounters her college sweetheart Gideon Bailey and her former roommate Ann. The interactions between the characters is absolutely electric! The entire book consumed me because the story was mesmerizing, with all kinds of twists and rabbit-hole leads. I enjoyed going along with Joan on her journey to discover the truth. My heart raced when more fires were set and more people were endangered or killed. I just wanted to find out who the fire bug was and why this seemed to be such a necessity for his/her life. Mary Burton is an absolute master of moving a story along quickly with action and descriptions that are as fiery as this book was. I highly recommend BURN YOU TWICE to anyone who loves suspense thrillers and who wants entertainment that will not disappoint or leave you hanging. I was actually sad to see the story end because I want more of Joan and the other inhabitants of the little town of Missoula, a town with a personality of its own. What a thrill ride you are getting on when you pick up this book!
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

*I would rate this book a strong PG-13 because of the content. There is violence with descriptions of victims of fires and some reference to pre-marital and extra-marital sexual encounters.*

Excerpt (from the author’s website):

Prologue

Missoula, Montana
May 13, 2010
1:00 a.m.
Ten Years Ago

The college campus bar was packed with students celebrating the end of another school year. All eyes were on the small stage, now flashing with blue and white spotlights as a singer gripped the mike and hit the high notes on the song’s last chorus. Everyone was mesmerized, including Joan and Ann who were standing near the bar.

He had been watching the two women for weeks. He knew where they lived, where they hid the spare key to their house, their class schedules, and even what they ate for breakfast. He had been in their house several times, lain on their beds, inhaled the scent of their perfume from their clothes and dreamed about this night. Over the course of the last few weeks, the rhythm of their lives had become second nature to him.

Now as Joan and Ann seductively moved to the music’s beat, he removed a small vial from his jean pocket and moved closer to the bar. When the bartender turned to fill a drink order, he quickly squeezed several drops of a sedative into each woman’s drink. The drugs would not knock either woman out immediately, but the dosage was enough to coax each back across campus to the safety of their home.

As he melted back into the crowd and the song ended, Joan and Ann turned back to the bar and gulped from their beer mugs. Their bodies glistened with sweat and they were laughing. They were so confident and sure of their bright futures.

He had only five minutes to wait before Ann set her drink down. She yawned, said something to Joan, who shook her head as if she wanted to stay. He thought for a moment Ann might leave alone. Having only Ann at the house was not part of the plan. For it all to work, Joan needed to be in the house as well. Tension rippled through him as he thought about all his plans crumbling. Maybe he should have put more drops in their drinks.

And then minutes later, Ann spoke to Joan again and the two stepped out into the cool night air. He followed, careful to keep a safe distance.
“I just need a minute,” Ann said as she walked toward the middle of the parking lot. “I’m dizzy.”
“I’m a little tired myself,” Joan said yawning.
“Would we be wimps if we called it a night?” Ann said.
“No. We’ll both head home.” Joan’s words sounded a little slurred.
Ann blinked and gently patted her own cheeks with her hands. “But you have been looking forward to hearing this band.”
“I’ve heard enough,” Joan said. “And you look dead on your feet.”

They walked the three blocks to their small one-story house located at the edge of the campus. He followed, careful to remain in the shadows. Several times, they paused, drew in breaths as if to clear their heads, and then continued walking.

When they arrived home, Joan fished out the key from under the front doorstep mat and pushed it into the lock. “I didn’t think I was that drunk. But I feel like I’ve been kicked by a mule.”
Ann leaned against the house. “We’re tired, is all. We’ve both been burning the candle for weeks.”

Joan opened the door and clicked on the light. Ann said something he could not hear, and they both giggled as they moved into the living room and plopped onto the couch by the bay window.

Anticipation burned in him as moved toward his truck parked across the street. He was anxious to get this party started but knew patience and the details mattered. He pushed back a surge of desire.
“Focus,” he whispered. “Stick to the plan.”

Joan rose and moved toward the kitchen. She tripped, righted herself, and then opened the refrigerator door. While she stared, her body swayed as if standing up straight required too much concentration and effort. Finally, empty handed she closed the door and moved past Ann, who had now passed out on the couch.

She shut off the light in the living room and seconds later a beside light in her room clicked on. She all but fell down on the purple bed spread. She tugged off her shoes, tossed them on the floor and shut off the light.

He waited another ten minutes before reaching under a tarp covering the bed of his tuck. He grabbed the handles of two gallon sized plastic jugs stowed side by side. The containers were each filled with gasoline and the tops were sealed with fragments of a torn gym sock.

The night’s inky blackness offered him the cover he needed, as he moved with practiced efficiency. He had planned this night for weeks and pictured each and every detail down to the last moment.
Crossing the small front yard, he ducked around the side of the house. He set the first unlit device under Joan’s window and then moving around the house place the second jug by the back door. There was a third gasoline styled bomb under the house’s crawl space and positioned under Joan’s bedroom.

As he reached for his lighter, he noticed that the backdoor was unlocked. “Sloppy, girls. Sloppy.”

The temptation to see Joan and Ann unconscious and helpless was too strong to resist, so he carefully pushed open the back door. The house was silent as he moved into the small living room toward Ann, who lay on her belly, her hand draped over the side of the couch.
A part of him was sorry for her. Ann was sweet by nature and so pretty.
“You should have listened to me.”

He moved more confidently across the room and carefully pushed open Joan’s bedroom door. She lay on her back, her body relaxed and boneless. Her breathing was deep and steady. He stood by her bed and gently brushed back her dark hair. She had a pretty face. A very nice body. But she was bossy. Loud. Had a real mouth on her.
“This is all your fault. Ann will suffer because of you. You just don’t know when to stop pushing.”

As if something deep inside of her sensed the danger, she drew in a deep breath and rolled on her side toward him. He stood very still, watching and waiting for her eyes to open. Even as he feared discovery, a part of him wanted her to see him standing over her. He imagined her shock and then her fear. God, how he wanted to see her tremble.

“Joan,” he whispered. “Guess who?”

Dark urges burned inside him. It would be so easy now to strip her naked, shove inside of her and show her just how badly she had underestimated him. But that was not part of the plan. His fire would dish out the perfect punishment.

He rose, crossed the room and closed her bedroom door. He closed and locked the kitchen door behind him, carefully centered his device by the door and adjusted the torn sock deeper into the gasoline. He fished a lighter from his pocket and dragged his thumb over the spark wheel. A flame flickered. For just a moment, he stared at the pretty flame that danced and undulated as it whispered promises of destruction.

He lighted the gasoline-soaked cotton cloth, and it caught fire immediately. Practice had taught him that this was the critical time. There were only seconds before the flame reached the gasoline reservoir, so he had to move quickly to the second device, light it and hurry to his truck.

As he slid behind the wheel and started the engine, the first bomb exploded. Though it was tempting to stay and watch his fire roar to life, he pressed the accelerator and slowly drove down the street. The second explosion under Joan’s window pulled his gaze to the rearview mirror now illuminated with orange and yellow flames licking up the side of the house. The blaze on the backside of the house cast off dark billowing smoke that threaded up and through the flames.

God, it was beautiful. Pride swelled in him. He grew hard, sorry now he had not taken Joan.

As he turned the corner, the third bomb denoted, and more flames shot up as a fire engine’s siren blared in the distance. Help was on the way. Too bad it would not be in time.

*For more information about the author, go to her website at* MaryBurton.com *Photo was taken from this site.*

Available tomorrow, but you can pre-order it now! Purchase Links:

Review of DON’T LOOK FOR ME by Wendy Walker

On September 15, 2020 By vickleaIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

This twisted, scary, gripping book fits into multiple genres. It is a thriller, psychological suspense and mystery all rolled into the pages of a book that grabbed me and wouldn’t let go. The story is a complicated one about a family that has suffered a tragedy and lost themselves in the midst of it. Molly Clarke’s daughter Annie was killed in a terrible accident, and Molly and Nicole both blame themselves. Molly’s husband becomes distant, her son ignores her and Nicole withdraws. One night, Molly leaves her son’s football game and goes for a drive. Like in all of the Snoopy novels, “it was a dark and stormy night.” It is unimaginable what happens to Molly! She runs out of gas and gets a ride with a truck driver and his daughter Alice. Then, she just disappears. There is a note left in a hotel that she booked and the note tells her family, “Don’t look for me.” Nicole is not satisfied with that and is determined to find her mom, thus endangering her own life since Molly was actually kidnapped by a seriously deranged man. The emotions that I felt as I read this creepy book were terror, hatred, hope, and awe. I think that these were the same emotions that the narrators, Molly and Nicole, were feeling as they traversed the journey to find each other again. Action packed and filled with family drama, this was a really original look at what happens when you decide to walk away from your old life and try to start a new one. The surprising twists kept me absorbed in the stories of Nicole and Molly as I gasped at each new turn in this strange roller coaster ride. Fans of psychological suspense, mystery and thrillers will really enjoy this book but will need to set aside time to read it in one setting because it will be hard to put down!
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

*Because I love mystery and suspense, this book was perfect for me. But it will not be for everyone because of its content. I would rate it a hard PG-13.*

Available for purchase today! Purchase Links:

Connect with the author:

Wendy Walker Twitter: @Wendy_Walker

Wendy Walker Instagram: @wendywalkerauthor

Wendy Walker Facebook: @WendyWalkerAuthor

Review of THE LAST WIFE by Karen Hamilton

On July 10, 2020 By vickleaIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

This is a domestic drama with some hints of psychological thriller and suspense, but the latter two elements never really got there for me. The domestic drama was well-written with a narrator who is self-centered and who tells the story from her own point of view, without noticing her own weaknesses. Marie, Camilla, Charlie and Nina go on vacation together and one of them dies there. That’s the beginning of the mystery, but it really isn’t one for long as Marie tells us quickly what she surmises had happened. Marie is extremely jealous of Nina and her life as a mom with a perfect family. That obsession is the foundation of the story. I really didn’t sympathize with any of the characters unless it was the children who had to put up with such nonsense from the adults. Nevertheless, the plot was cleverly written with just enough twists to keep me reading. Fans of domestic drama with a hint of mystery and thriller will enjoy this new book by Karen Hamilton.
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

*I would consider this book for mature audiences only because of its subject matter and content.*

Author Bio:

Karen Hamilton spent her childhood in Angola, Zimbabwe, Belgium and Italy and worked as a flight attendant for many years. Karen is a recent graduate of the Faber Academy and, having now put down roots in Hampshire to raise her young family with her husband, she satisfies her wanderlust by exploring the world through her writing. She is also the author of the international bestseller The Perfect Girlfriend.