Thriller #2 - The Couple Next Door

I have been reading a TON of thrillers the past few weeks to see if there was one out there that should be on my Thriller Countdown list. My criteria for choosing a book to read is usually that it was a New York Times Bestseller, it has close to a four star review, and I read the reviews by other authors and book critics (the short blurbs on the back cover). This book was mentioned more than once as

"unputdownable" and was recommended again and again on all of my book apps, SO...

#2 on my Thriller Countdown to Halloween is: The Couple Next Door by Shari Lapena. This is a novel about a couple whose baby daughter goes missing while they are at a dinner party next door. As the case unravels, page after page of secrets are revealed and leaves you questioning - How well do you really know the couple next door? Your husband? Your parents?

You will like this book if-

✔ you enjoy mystery/crime novels
✔ you like twists and turns at every corner of detective work
✔ you want a book chock full of secrets, lies, betrayals
✔ you want to know who actually took Baby Cora
✔ even once you think you've figured it out, the ending will shock you
✔ UNPUTDOWNABLE is apparently an adjective you can appreciate

I thought I had this book figured out at several different points in the story. But then it would twist and turn and I would be second guessing my original thoughts. I've been listening to a lot of True Crime podcasts lately and this novel fit right into that theme of mystery and suspense.

Have you read this one? What did you think? Will you be adding it to your list? Comment below!

Comments

Thriller #6 - The Girl on the Train

When I decided to do a countdown of some of my favorite thriller/suspense novels, The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins, was one that immediately jumped into my mind! This is going to be more of a recommendation, rather than a review, because I don't want to give a single thing away. So, you may like this book if: ✔ you like a good page turner ✔ you are or you sympathize with super nosy people ✔ you like when the plot is unpredictable ✔ you like a good twist (or two) ✔ you are willing to stay up late to finish the book, because you won't be able to sleep otherwise If the above list sounds like a fun romp, you're going to need to get your hands on a copy of this book! Disclaimer: apparently there is a movie, and no, I have not seen it. If you have, comment below! What was better? The book or the movie? I read this book a couple years ago, so I don't remember many of the details, but what I do remember was the SUSPENSE I felt reading it and vaguely remember

A Review of "Educated" by Tara Westover

Educated by Tara Westover is a memoir about the author's childhood growing up in a survivalist family in rural Idaho. Her father, being anti-establishment, never sent her to school and her homeschooling consisted of finding books to read to herself around the house. At 17, she studies for and takes the ACT, is accepted to Brigham Young University, and from there goes on to earn a doctorate at Cambridge. It is a story of overcoming one's trials and pushing through to achieve what shouldn't have been possible. Reviewing a memoir is difficult, because while there are parts of the story you may dislike, you can't fault them for being what happened to the best of the author's memory. This book was extremely well written. It is clear that the author is well read and well educated in the way she presents the story. There were times, though, where she was quoting her mother or sister from emails that were written and she changed their verbiage completely to match her

Who Am I?

"Who am I?" Oh, hang on, I need to let my mind finish singing Jean Valjean's famous reprise from Les Miserables in my head.... and.... we're good. My name is Diane J. Owen. I am a woman, a friend, a wife, a mother, a musician, a cook, a quilter, sometimes a baker, but most importantly, for this blog, I am a reader. Once upon a time, I received an English degree from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (Go Rebels!). During those three years, my mind was opened to many different facets of literature and even more confusing... ways to analyze that literature. By the time I walked across the commencement stage in 2009, I could write a five page essay without blinking an eye and theorize with you over Melville. However, what they didn't teach me was how to get a job with a degree in English. So, I came crashing down to reality, was offered a Graduate Assistantship in Recreation and, consequently, in 2011 was the proud owner of a Master's degree in Sport and

Second Chapter Reads

Search This Blog