Past Lying

Past Lying by Val McDermid, 452 pages

It's late March 2020, and DCI Karen Pirie and her team at the Historic Crimes Unit are bored to tears with nothing to do during COVID lockdown when a call comes in from the National Library with a possible lead in a cold case. Late thriller author Jake Stein donated his personal archives to the library upon his death, and as archivists started to go through his belongings, they discovered an unpublished manuscript that matches very closely the details of an unsolved case of a missing woman. Now Pirie and her team must figure out how to reopen the case under the tight restrictions of lockdown.

I love the premise for this book, the seventh in McDermid's Karen Pirie series, though I was a bit surprised by how mobile the HCU team was during Scotland's strict lockdown regulations — I seriously thought they'd be doing all of the interviews via Zoom, yet they were meeting people in the park and sitting 6 feet away instead. That said, this was a remarkably quick and engaging read for 450 pages, and even though I figured out several of the twists WAY early, I still enjoyed the book, particularly the relationship between Pirie and her two teammates. I haven't read the other books in this series, but I'll probably put them on my TBR to check out at some future date.

Sheine Lende

 Sheine Lende by Darcie Little Badger, 391 pages.

Shane, like many of the women in her family before her, has the power to rouse ghosts from the world below. She and her mother use these powers, including the tracking power of their ghost dog, to find missing people (whether they can pay or not). Which is the right thing, but also hard, since money has been tight since they lost their home, community, and several family members in a flood many years ago. Things get even harder when her mother goes missing on a search and rescue mission for two siblings, and Shane has to go further than she ever thought possible to get her back.

This prequel to Elatsoe really works as a prequel in a way that many don't. The story didn't undercut anything from that book, while also not being rendered less meaningful because we know how Shane eventually ends up. Rather it added a lot of depth and history to a character we only see in passing, letting her own her story in the same way the Ellie does in her book. That being said, this book didn't work for me quite as well as Elatsoe. I found the pacing to be a little slow and clunky, and I had a hard time really getting into this book. It's still worth reading for fans of Darcie Little Badger, but I would recommend her other books first if you're looking for modern fantasy mixed with Lipan Apache mythology. 

Safe and Sound

Safe and Sound by Laura McHugh, 288 pages

Amelia and Kylee were safely asleep upstairs when their cousin Grace (who had been babysitting them) went missing several years ago. Other than a smear of blood in the kitchen, there's been no trace of her in their chunk of rural Missouri, nor anywhere else they can think of. Now, as teenagers, the sisters are torn between doing as Grace wished and leaving town to seek their future elsewhere, or staying in tiny Beaumont, where their aunt keeps hoping for some sign of Grace. When a body is discovered nearby, the sisters start their own investigation into Grace's disappearance in the hopes that they'll find some closure and be able to move on with their lives.

This is just about the slowest burning thriller I've come across, and it's a fairly depressing one. That said, the characters are well-realized, and the only thing that keeps me from fully recommending this one is the end, which gets a bit wonky, given the lead-up to it. Still, not a bad book, as long as you're OK with a stripped-bare version of rural Missouri.

What Happened to Nina?

What Happened to Nina? by Dervla McTiernan, 322 pages

Nina and her boyfriend Simon have been dating for several years when they decide to spend a week alone at his family's vast country estate in Stowe, Vermont, hiking, climbing, and generally enjoying the mountainous landscape. But when Nina doesn't turn up at home when she said she would, her parents become panicked and are convinced that Simon knows more about her whereabouts than he's letting on. Before long, the search for Nina has become a social media sensation, with increasingly crazy conspiracy theories and slanderous spin against both Simon and Nina's family (though the latter is at least partially fueled by Simon's wealthy and influential parents). Still, Nina's parents just want to know what happened to their daughter... but will they ever find out?

Based on the 2021 murder of Gabby Petito, this fast-paced thriller keeps you guessing as it bounces back and forth between points-of-view of Nina's parents, Simon's parents, the investigating police officer, and even, in the foreword, Nina herself. It's compelling and surprisingly fresh, given the "ripped from the headlines" nature of the book. A good quick read.

This Disaster Loves You

This Disaster Loves You by Richard Roper, 380 pages

After 20 years of marriage, Brian's wife Lily unexpectedly disappeared. She sent a postcard saying she'd be gone for a while, but seven years later, she still hasn't returned to the small inn and pub they ran, and both Brian and the pub are worse for wear. But when Brian stumbles across a series of Tripadvisor reviews that he thinks were written by Lily, he embarks on a trek that crisscrosses Britain, following her clues.

This was an OK book about a man dealing with his grief, though I had trouble fully buying into Brian and Lily's love story as it's presented and one reveal at the end had me doubting the structure of everything that led up to it. However, Brian's friend Tess, an Australian woman he meets on the road, is amazing, and I'd happily read a book about her. Unfortunately, this isn't that book.

Forbidden Fruit

Forbidden Fruit by Kerry Greenwood (2010) 269 pages

This fifth book in the Corinna Chapman Mystery series is every bit as good an escape as any of her others. Corinna Chapman is a baker in her second career, after having left her career as an accountant as well as her spouse. She's a size 20 woman, who is finally being appreciated for who she is. Now she runs a bakery and shop in a colorful (and slightly seedy) area of Melbourne, Australia.

Her lover, Daniel, has taken a job in which he is to locate Brigid, a the 16-year-old girl who has supposedly broken out of a third story suite in her parents' mansion, while quite pregnant. Also missing is the gardener's son, Manny. Brigid's parents are out for vengeance. As the search continues, Brigid's parents appear more and more culpable.

Meanwhile (there is always a "meanwhile,") Christmas is around the corner, and in Australia, that means it's HOT, and the carolers are out in force, in addition to a group called the "freegans." 

The characters are fun, often rather eccentric, and as they come into the series, they often stay and become people who feel like they're our neighbors as well. One of the newest characters in this book is a donkey named Serena, who turns out to be of great service when Brigid goes into labor. A nice story, with a few weird twists, which keeps the reader wondering.

Lost in the Valley of Death

Lost in the Valley of Death by Harley Rustad, 286 pages

Justin Alexander Shetler was always a person interested in exploration and isolation. He learned how to live off the land at a young age, and connected his spirituality to nature and learning about the world. He was also a handsome social media star who documented his world travels through his Instagram and Facebook pages. Seven years ago, Justin traveled to the Parvati Valley in India, a place known for its seclusion and spiritual pilgrims, and also as a place where foreigners have often gone missing, never to be heard from again. As can be assumed from the title, Justin vanished there, during a multi-day hike to a lake with a spiritual guru.

Rustad tells of Justin's life before his final voyage, but he also offers up tales of others who have gone missing in the Parvati Valley, as well as the many theories for what happened to them. I read this with a bit of a cynical eye, perhaps because I'm a bit skeptical of anyone who talks about dedicating their life to connecting spiritually or physically with the natural world but doesn't leave Instagram behind. However, I may be in the minority here, as Justin certainly had a lot of followers, and his disappearance was certainly intriguing. Give it a read and let me know your theories.

The Department of Rare Books and Special Collections

 The Department of Rare Books and Special Collections / Eva Jurczyk, read by Hannah Cabell, 323 pgs.

Liesl returns from sabbatical when a health issue puts the boss out of commission. He is a well-respected and dynamic leader who excels at fundraising. Closer to retirement than a burning desire to take the helm, Liesl immediately discovers a very rare and expensive Plantin Bible set has gone missing. Is it misplaced or has there been a silent heist? Next a librarian goes missing. Are these events related?   The story has enough personal detail that the characters, their interactions and history are as intriguing as the mystery. The end result reveals the exciting life of librarians and is a study on leadership. Narrator Hannah Cabell does a great job conveying Liesl’s frustration, stress and exhaustion while voicing other characters with equal aplomb.  

As the Wicked Watch

I didn't read the
large-print version, but
that's the image I found.

As the Wicked Watch by Tamron Hall, 388 pages

Chicago TV news reporter Jordan Manning is getting sick and tired of her producers and managers overlooking and downplaying the stories of missing black girls. But when one of these girls turns up dead, Jordan is able to convince her bosses to let her do a bit of investigative reporting, diving deep into the community surrounding the dead teenager to search for an answer. But can she do it without getting drawn into the emotions and danger surrounding the girl?

It's nice to read a mystery that really shows how hard reporters work, and this one definitely did that (of course, having an Emmy-winning reporter for an author helps). It's a thrilling story, and I'm looking forward to other Jordan Manning stories in the future.

The Missing Treasures of Amy Ashton

The Missing Treasures of Amy Ashton by Eleanor Ray, 305 pages

Years ago, Amy Ashton's best friend and boyfriend vanished on the same day. While the police concluded that they ran off together, Amy's convinced that her two favorite people in the world would never do that to her. As investigators, family, and friends moved on, Amy became stuck, staying at the same "temporary" job she had when they disappeared and gathering lost "treasures," that include discarded bottles, plant pots (but not the plants), newspapers, and a veritable flock of ceramic birds. Now, Amy's treasures have overtaken her home, and the pressure of meddling neighbors and rambunctious children next door is beginning to make Amy's collection, and her mental health, crumble.

This is a very real and humane look at hoarding, mental health, grief, and the relationships that make up our lives. I loved the way Ray treated Amy's many issues with kindness and empathy, particularly as hoarding has become such a sensationalized issue in much mainstream media. I absolutely loved this book, and recommend it to those who enjoyed Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine.

When the Stars Go Dark

 When the Stars Go Dark / Paula McLain, 370 pp.

Anna Hart is a San Francisco detective who specializes in missing persons cases, particularly those of young women.  She has an extremely complex past herself, including both childhood and recent trauma.  The plot revolves around three separate cases of young missing girls in northern California in the area around Mendocino.  (a locale which, thanks to McLain, I now want to add to my travel bucket list).  I was less impressed by the plot than I was by the astute psychological perspective McLain brought to the stories of these young women, and how past trauma may amplify vulnerability to predators.  Compassionate and smart, and very fast moving.

Pretty Little Wife

Pretty Little Wife by Darby Kane, 402 pages

While it looks great from the outside, Lila and Aaron's marriage is rotten to the core. Aaron constantly subjects Lila to emotional and verbal abuse that eventually turns physical, and Lila has discovered some fairly horrible habits of Aaron's, that could land him in jail if the info gets out. So when Aaron goes missing, the rest of the community is concerned. Lila, however, is frantic — after all, she killed him, and dead guys don't just walk away, do they?

It's an interesting premise, and Kane does a good job of creating suspense and shifting suspicions. There are, however, absolutely ZERO likeable characters in this book, so keep that in mind if you pick it up. Fans of Gone Girl would probably enjoy this one.

The Mystery of Mrs. Christie

The Mystery of Mrs. Christie by Marie Benedict, 272 pages

In December of 1926, in an event that could have been torn from one of her own books, Agatha Christie vanished, leaving behind only her abandoned car. Eleven days later, she mysteriously turned up, safe and sound, with no memory of the preceding week and a half. No further explanation has ever arisen. This is all true. 

In The Mystery of Mrs. Christie, Benedict presents her theory for those mysterious days, creating a captivating tale of love gone sour and a woman desperate to live on her own terms. Through chapters that bounce back and forth between 1926 and the early days of the author's marriage to Mr. Christie, readers are treated to a twisty potential answer that makes us question everything. An excellent story, and sure to please Christie's fans.

The Return

The Return by Rachel Harrison, 296 pages

Two years ago, Elise's best friend, Julie, went missing during a hike. While Julie's husband and other friends seemed to accept that Julie was dead, Elise never gave up hope. So when Julie suddenly returns, Elise feels shocked yet vindicated. Elise, Julie, and their friends Mae and Molly embark on a girls' trip to a remote hotel that is meant to celebrate their reunion, but when the arrive, the hotel is more creepy than charming, and Julie...well, Julie's not at all like she was before.

This horror novel is a bit Ruth Ware, a bit The Shining, and more than a bit creepy, what with the constant rain and fractured relationships between friends. I wouldn't call it my favorite horror novel, but I would say that it's a page-turner, and one that you definitely shouldn't read right before bed.

Skin Deep

Skin Deep by Sung J. Woo, 324 pages

After Korean American Siobhan O'Brien (she's adopted) unexpectedly inherits the private eye business where she's been apprenticing, she's a bit uncertain about how to proceed without her mentor. But when a friend from her past shows up seeking Siobhan's help tracking down her college-age daughter, Siobhan is on the case and up to her eyeballs in higher education, secretive feminist activist groups, a cutthroat beauty industry, and, oddly enough, a hippie-esque yoga retreat. All of them tie together somehow, right?

Siobhan is a great character, and several of the elements of this story were intriguing. But with so many disparate things thrown together, it was a bit hard to follow the thread of the plot. I feel like a few of the elements could have been edited out, and the romantic side-plot toned WAY down, and it would've been a better story. Not bad, just not the best.

In a Midnight Wood

In a Midnight Wood by Ellen Hart, 301 pages

Twenty years ago, popular high school senior Sam went missing and all efforts by his family and police to find him were in vain. But on the eve of what would've been his 20th high school reunion, his remains are found, buried under a casket in a local cemetery. True crime podcaster Jane Lawless is visiting a friend in town when she hears about the cold case being reopened, and decides to do her own investigation, leading to a complicated web of secrets that have long been buried.

Considering this was the first Jane Lawless book I've read and also the 27th (!) in the series, I was impressed by the fact that I had no trouble picking up the story. It was definitely intriguing, and great to see an older lesbian lead in a novel, though I'll admit that there were some story elements that I wasn't too keen on. That said, it kept me guessing until the end.

Long Bright River

Long Bright River by Liz Moore, 482 pages

Sisters Kacey and Mickey grew up being raised by their grandmother since their parents were addicted to opiods. Mickey managed to break the cycle, avoiding drugs, graduating from high school, and becoming a patrol cop in the rough Kensington neighborhood of Philadelphia, near where she and Kacey grew up. She's even the mom of a super-smart four-year-old son. Kacey, however... well, she didn't fare so well, becoming addicted on her own, eventually becoming a prostitute to feed her addiction. After years of trying, Mickey knows she can't change her sister, but she does try to keep an eye on her during her patrol. But when Mickey finds a strangled prostitute on her rounds, she realizes it's been a few months since she's seen Kacey, and starts searching for her while simultaneously trying to catch the killer.

This thriller/mystery is also a beautifully told story of a real-life, hard-on-its-luck neighborhood and the people who live there. Moore does an excellent job of weaving the story of a family, a city, and a nationwide crisis into a page-turning mystery. Definitely a great read.

Norwegian by Night

Norwegian by Night by Derek B. Miller  303 pp.

Sheldon is an 82 year old widower who has been transplanted to Norway from New York City by his daughter and her Norwegian husband. He feels out of place, doesn't know the language, and is increasingly caught up in his memories of the Korean War which his doesn't believe. His life is further disrupted when he rescues a neighbor and her young son from the son's father but is unable to keep her from being killed. He takes the boy and goes off on a trek into the Norwegian countryside, trying to find his son-in-law's hunting cabin while avoiding the gangsters that want the boy and the police who are searching for the errant duo. Along the way he cons his way into a night at a high priced hotel, steals a boat, and a tractor. This was a slow starter and I almost quit on it but then the story grabbed me and I ended up enjoying it. In spite of the seriousness of the plot there were moments when I laughed out loud.

Dead Man's Chest

Dead Man's Chest by Kerry Greenwood (2010) 259 pages

This 18th installment of the Phryne Fisher mystery series delves more into Phryne's family life than usual--her adopted daughters are featured, as well as Dot, her beloved companion. The group arrives at a vacation destination four hours from home in Australia (although with Phryne driving, it was just three hours away). They discover that the rental home is missing the married couple who were to provide care and meals for them. After exploring the place, and finding no evidence of a murder, but only of a hasty retreat, they decide to stay after all, with one of Phyrne's daughters eager to try her hand at cooking. A local young man whom Phryne dubs Tinker is asked to join the group to provide some muscle as well as to sleep near the kitchen for protection. As much as Phryne, a detective, attempts to stay off the job during this holiday, a number of people show up in need of her services. The group has its share of excitement.

This was an enjoyable read; nothing terribly deep, but as always, Phryne's personality and opinions provide entertainment.

Dead Souls

Dead Souls by Ian Rankin  406 pp.

I haven't read many of the books in the Inspector Rebus series but I generally enjoy them because Rebus is far from the perfect cop. This episode, however, was hard to get through. There are so many story lines going on it was hard to keep track of all the characters. A police colleague of Rebus's committed suicide with no explanation, a known pedophile has come under Rebus's suspicions, a released convicted murderer deported from the U.S. is targeting Rebus and his friends and family, the son of old friends has gone missing, and Rebus's love life becomes convoluted. To add to my confusion the pedophile is named Darren and the missing man is named Damon. Everything is resolved satisfactorily at the end but it was a slog to get there.