Book Review (#108): Eight Perfect Murders by Peter Swanson

Author: Peter Swanson

Published: 3 March 2020

Publisher: William Morrow

Rating: 4/5

Years ago, bookseller and mystery aficionado Malcolm Kershaw compiled a list of the genre’s most unsolvable murders, those that are almost impossible to crack—which he titled “Eight Perfect Murders”—chosen from among the best of the best including Agatha Christie’s A. B. C. Murders, Patricia Highsmith’s Strangers on a Train, Ira Levin’s Death Trap, A. A. Milne’s Red House Mystery, Anthony Berkeley Cox’s Malice Aforethought, James M. Cain’s Double Indemnity, John D. Macdonald’s The Drowner, and Donna Tartt’s A Secret History.

But no one is more surprised than Mal, now the owner of the Old Devils Bookstore in Boston, when an FBI agent comes knocking on his door one snowy day in February. She’s looking for information about a series of unsolved murders that look eerily similar to the killings on Mal’s old list. And the FBI agent isn’t the only one interested in this bookseller who spends almost every night at home reading. The killer is out there, watching his every move—a diabolical threat who knows way too much about Mal’s personal history, especially the secrets he’s never told anyone, even his recently deceased wife.

To protect himself, Mal begins looking into possible suspects . . . and sees a killer in everyone around him. But Mal doesn’t count on the investigation leaving a trail of death in its wake. Suddenly, a series of shocking twists leaves more victims dead—and the noose around Mal’s neck grows so tight he might never escape.

I enjoyed the book it was a good book to listen to whilst I was doing my work.

I like how the book gave or talked about other crime books so there’s quite a few books to be included in my TBR pile.

Other than that, I quite enjoyed how the murders mimicked murders comitted in other books, it felt very Inception-ish and BRUH THE PLOT TWIST AT THE END!!!! I DID NOT SEE IT COMING!!! and I SHOULD HAVE! Because!!! Because I read the book The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie! I had thought that because Malcalm was so honest about everything and seemed like he genuinely wanted to help that I was lulled into the trap! THE PLOT TWIST TRAP!!!!

Overall, I highly enjoyed the book, was interesting enough to hold my attention for the whole day (it’s an audiobook) only qualm I have was the reveal of the antagonist which in itself another plot twist of its own but the why of it I feel disconnected to it.

Book Review (#107): River Bloody Blues By Jeffery Deaver

Author: Jeffery Deaver

Publisher: Pocket Books

Published: 1 December 2000

Rating: 3/5

Jeffery Deaver originaly wrote this under the name William Jefferies.

Hollywood location scout John Pellam thought the scenic backwater town of Maddox, Missouri, would be the perfect site for an upcoming Bonnie and Clyde-style film. But after real bullets leave two people dead and one cop paralyzed, he’s more sought after than the Barrow Gang. Pellam had unwittingly wandered onto the crime scene just minutes before the brutal hits. Now the feds and local police want him to talk. Mob enforcers want him silenced. And a mysterious blonde just wants him.

Trapped in a town full of sinister secrets and deadly deceptions, Pellam fears that death will imitate art, as the film shoot — and his life — race toward a breathtakingly bloody climax.

Honestly, there is nothing much for me to talk about regarding this book other than it being a boring read. I thought it was going to be a murder mystery book but instead all I got was just a book full of miscommunications and then the book ends and I unfortunately was left to feel and think on WTF did I just read.

The book wasn’t a bad read I suppose, I did finish it, it was more of me wanting something different and something more but instead what was given was completely different. So, yeah extremely short review for this book

Book Review (#106): Seducing A Stranger by Kerrigan Byrne

Author: Kerrigan Byrne

Published: 21 September 2020

Publisher: Oliver Heber Books

Rating: 3/5

This Knight of the Crown is driven by a painful past and a patient fury… and his entire life is a lie.

Sir Carlton Morley is famously possessed of extraordinary will, singular focus, and a merciless sense of justice. As a man, he secured his fortune and his preeminence as Scotland Yard’s ruthless Chief Inspector. As a decorated soldier, he was legend for his unflinching trigger finger, his precision in battle, and his imperturbable strength. But as a boy, he was someone else. A twin, a thief, and a murderer, until tragedy reshaped him.

Now he stalks the night, in search of redemption and retribution, vowing to never give into temptation, as it’s just another form of weakness.

Until temptation lands—quite literally—in his lap, taking the form of Prudence Goode.

Prim and proper Pru is expected to live a life of drudgery, but before she succumbs to her fate, she craves just one night of desire. On the night she searches for it, she stumbles upon a man made of shadows, muscle and wrath… And decides he is the one.

When their firestorm of passion burns out of control, Morley discovers, too late, that he was right. The tempting woman has become his weakness.

A weakness his enemies can use against him.

I did not enjoy this book as much as I would have liked as it had tropes that I disliked and due to that I really could not hold my disbelief any longer. Said trope I disliked is love at first sight, more like love at first fuck in regards for this book, I hate this trope because the logistics doesn’t make sense especially how in this book Prudence feels so slighted that Morley doesn’t trust her and shit and she is like you don’t love me that’s why you don’t trust me. Bitch! He barely knows you! WTFFFFFF…

Like, Morley (the hero btw) fucked Prudence once under false pretenses BY THE WAY (Prudence went to a female brothel to lose her virginity and thought Morley is a male prostitute which he isn’t, he is a police officer or something like that) and you expect me to believe after this first encounter and when Prudence is the main suspect of a murder investigation 3 months later, YOU EXPECT ME TO BELIEVE THAT DUE TO THE POWER OF LOVE MORLEY WAS SUPPOSED TO WHOLEHEARTEDLY BELIEVE PRUDENCE WAS INNOCENT. Then, THENNNN when he OBVIOUSLY doesn’t she gets hurt, like bitch he is doing his job… if he just believed anybody who claims innocence in a murder there would be murderers loose all about town!

Now, you might ask me if you hate is so much why did you continue reading it… well my hypothetical book review reader, I read it because the prologue was great! It started out with a street rat named Cutter AKA Morley and his twin sister then his twin sister was raped and murdered and he vowed he will get his revenge and lead a better life for the memory of her…. and I was hooked la. I love murder mysteries, I love revenge stories so I had thought that this book would be MAINLY about Cutter/Morley finding his sisters murderer and getting VENGEANCE THROUGH LEGAL JUSTICE.

I mean Morley in this book is basically BATMAN! He is a vigilante who does his vigilante-ness at night and during the day he is a cop or detective (whatever he is during the day) so I thought la this was going to be some gritty historical romance and Prudence would assist him but NOOOOOOO.

What I got was some sappy love story that is so far from what the prologue insinuated I would get that I was just utterly disappointed. All Prudence did was complain and be upset that Morley didn’t love her and Morley trying to solve her murder case but keeps getting distracted by his lust and feels for her AND MIND YOU THEY JUST MET ONCE BEFORE THIS. ONCE! FUCKING ONCE…. Like I can’t get over that shit man. Ya’ll met once and suddenly ya’ll became obsessed fuckers (literally and metaphorically), you guys have issues man if you become obsessed with a person ya’ll FUCKED ONCE!

Yeah, I dislike this story. Only gave it a 2 star rating and not 1 was because the promise of the book was good. The execution was shit.

Book Review (#105): Kapal Terakhir Di Dunia Episod II by Teme Abdullah

Title: Kapal Terakhir Di Dunia Episod II

Author: Teme Abdullah

Published: 26 May 2021

Publisher: Iman Publication

Rating: 3/5

lala

Jika ada satu sistem yang gagal berfungsi, seluruh Bokor akan turut lumpuh.

Itulah yang sedang dialami Bokor – kapal gergasi berusia 571 tahun yang menjadi tempat berlindung semua manusia. Sementara sistem jentera dibaik pulih, Aria bersama beberapa wakil sektor lain mempertaruhkan nyawa untuk mendapatkan bekalan air bersih daripada sumber luar.

Tanpa diduga, pengalaman di luar Bokor menjadi mimpi ngeri buat Aria. Keadaan semakin meruncing apabila Aria dituduh sebagai pembawa bala kepada Sektor Biru. Penyakit adiknya pula bertambah parah.

Ketika situasi Aria semakin menekan, Vanessa hadir menjanjikan tawaran bersyarat. Adiknya boleh sembuh sepenuhnya, jika Aria bersetuju turuti permintaan Vanessa.

“Percayalah, Aria. Tiada penyesalan yang akan menghantui kau lagi… jika kau pilih jalan ini.”

Aria sedar, pilihannya kali ini ialah peperangan melawan akalnya sendiri.

🌼 I actually liked the 2nd installment in the KTDD trilogy, surprising I know, I did not expect it either. The pacing of the story was far better than KTDD Episod 1, it was consistent throughout the whole book. There was more action so you can see that the plot is actually going somewhere for once.

🌼 It was in this book that I felt empathy for Aria, again this surprised me because I hated this character for his stupidity and naivete, but Teme made me change my mind until of course I read KTDD 3 then yeah I retract back this statement. There are still some things Aria did in this book that still annoyed me for example; Ana was dying yet he didn’t want to force his way through Niha to see her and still with the reactive characterisation (this I shall discuss more once my KTDD 3 review is out).

🌼 Overall, there is nothing much for me to hate nor dissect in this book everything was better than the first book yet still not good enough for me to deem it worthy of more than 3 stars.

Reading Challenge!

Hello!! I have been in an intense reading slump that lasted years henceforth I decided to try different things to kick-start my reading life again and one of the things is doing a reading challenge!

Was the reading challenge successful? No.. Not really I kinda low key failed because I didn’t do consecutively BUTTTT I did achieve what the reading challenge was set out to do which is READ MORE!

So, enjoy my reading vlog guys!

Book Review (#104): The Heart Goes Last by Margaret Atwood

Author: Margaret Atwood

Published: 4 August 2016

Publisher: Virago Press

Rating: 3/5

Stan and Charmaine are a married couple trying to stay afloat in the midst of an economic and social collapse. Job loss has forced them to live in their car, leaving them vulnerable to roving gangs. They desperately need to turn their situation around – and fast. The Positron Project in the town of Consilience seems to be the answer to their prayers. No one is unemployed and everyone gets a comfortable, clean house to live in… for six months out of the year. On alternating months, residents of Consilience must leave their homes and function as inmates in the Positron prison system. Once their month of service in the prison is completed, they can return to their “civilian” homes.

At first, this doesn’t seem like too much of a sacrifice to make in order to have a roof over one’s head and food to eat. But when Charmaine becomes romantically involved with the man who lives in their house during the months when she and Stan are in the prison, a series of troubling events unfolds, putting Stan’s life in danger. With each passing day, Positron looks less like a prayer answered and more like a chilling prophecy fulfilled.

This was my first Margaret Atwood book and it has left me feeling confused. Not from the book but from the hype of Margaret Atwood as a writer herself because she is famous for her book The Handmaid’s Tale and I expected to be blown away by this book (or any of her books to be honest). If not blown away then perhaps feeling that this book would leave me with deep philosophical questions that need answering.

But this book has left me wanting. Wanting for what I am not too sure myself. At the start of the book I was intrigued as to how Stan and Charmaine get out of their current predicament of being homeless and jobless what with the recession and people being let go.

Then, my intrigue was piqued when it seems Stan and Charmaine joined an organization that looked a lot like a cult which also gave me the vibes of Big Brother ala 1984 George Orwell but then the plot kind meandered. Not that it made the book boring, it just made me confused at what the book was trying to say exactly or was it just me who did not understand Atwood’s writing style

The whole time I was reading the book between Stan’s frustration at Charmaine’s vanilla-ness in sex and Charmaine’s extramarital affairs to the extremely weird coerced sexual relationship Stan was in with the wife of the man Charmaine was cheating with (its complicated I know) I just kept thinking to myself is this book trying to tell me something or is it just me being too daft to understand what is going on.

Overall, the book was okay. I did enjoy it eventhough I was confused throughout reading it.

Book Review (#103): Do You Want To Start a Scandal by Tessa Dare

Title: Do You Want To Start a Scandal

Author: Tessa Dare

Published: 27 September 2016

Publisher: Avon

Rating: 3/5

On the night of the Parkhurst ball, someone had a scandalous tryst in the library.
• Was it Lord Canby, with the maid, on the divan?
• Or Miss Fairchild, with a rake, against the wall?
• Perhaps the butler did it.

All Charlotte Highwood knows is this: it wasn’t her. But rumors to the contrary are buzzing. Unless she can discover the lovers’ true identity, she’ll be forced to marry Piers Brandon, Lord Granville—the coldest, most arrogantly handsome gentleman she’s ever had the misfortune to embrace. When it comes to emotion, the man hasn’t got a clue.

But as they set about finding the mystery lovers, Piers reveals a few secrets of his own. The oh-so-proper marquess can pick locks, land punches, tease with sly wit… and melt a woman’s knees with a single kiss. The only thing he guards more fiercely than Charlotte’s safety is the truth about his dark past.

Their passion is intense. The danger is real. Soon Charlotte’s feeling torn. Will she risk all to prove her innocence? Or surrender it to a man who’s sworn to never love?

Okay, I read this book ages ago and can’t remember exactly why I liked it in the first place so goes to show the book was pretty meh but what I can remember was how stupid the secret lovers plotline was as well as how Piers was supposed to be a spy but we don’t see any spy/espionage/spy things going on.

All I see is Charlotte pursuing some sort of mystery and thinking she has the chops to solve it. Also, if Piers was supposed to be such a good spy then why did Charlotte figure it out so easily? She isn’t exactly a genius man and what is up with their romance? Insta-love much?

But, I was willing to forgo this aspect because during the first half of the book, Piers and Charlotte was fun to read but then after the half mark of the book the plot started to drag and just seemed so nonsensical.

Overall, whilst I still enjoyed the book it was still pretty forgettable to me.

Book Review (#102): To Beguile a Beast by Elizabeth Hoyt

Title: To Beguile a Beast

Author: Elizabeth Hoyt

Published: 1 May 2009

Publisher: Forever

Rating: 4/5

CAN A WOUNDED BEAST . . .

Reclusive Sir Alistair Munroe has hidden in his castle ever since returning from the Colonies, scarred inside and out. But when a mysterious beauty arrives at his door, the passions he’s kept suppressed for years begin to awaken.

TRUST A BEAUTY WITH A PAST . . .

Running from past mistakes has taken legendary beauty Helen Fitzwilliam from the luxury of the ton to a crumbling Scottish castle . . . and a job as a housekeeper. Yet Helen is determined to start a new life and she won’t let dust-or a beast of a man-scare her away.

TO TAME HIS MOST SECRET DESIRES?

Beneath Helen’s beautiful façade, Alistair finds a courageous and sensual woman. A woman who doesn’t back away from his surliness-or his scars. But just as he begins to believe in true love, Helen’s secret past threatens to tear them apart. Now both Beast and Beauty must fight for the one thing neither believed they could ever find-a happy ever after. 

This review is going to be short and sweet most probably because this is a historical romance and my standards in loving historical romance are zero to none so lets go!

I enjoyed this book because this is another Beauty and the Beast retelling and for once this books depiction of the “Beast” character made sense. The Beast in this story is Alastair who was wounded and scarred in war causing him to have a severely scarred face which also made him blind in one eye.

The reason I say I am cool with him being blind and severely scarred is because at least then his other body parts are working perfectly fine for the spicy scenes in the book and it doesn’t break my immersion thinking wait a minute if he has debilitating pain how can he do some of the sexy time aspects of the book.

Other than that, the romance was pretty standard, no instalove which I LOATHE… ugh… why even. Alastair was great with Helen’s kids (Helen is the female protagonist btw).

There was just one part in the book that I felt pretty ew about and it was when Alastair calls Helen a whore because she used to be a Duke’s mistress and had his kids and lived a lavish lifestyle because of said extramarital affair. Like bro, calling her a whore is definitely uncalled for.

Other than that, the book was quite enjoyable, wasn’t as good as Wicked Intentions though but still enjoyable enough.

Book Review (#104): Duchess by Night by Eloisa James

Title: Duchess by Night

Author: Eloisa James

Published: 24 June 2008

Publisher: Avon

Rating: 3/5

One night’s disguise could lead to a lifetime of passion…

A Mischievous Charade…

Harriet, Duchess of Berrow, is tired of her title and the responsibilities that come along with it. Enough with proper tea parties and elegant balls; what Harriet really wants is to attend an outrageous soiree where she can unleash her wildest whims and desires. But to attend such an event—especially if the event in question is Lord Justinian Strange’s rollicking fete, filled with noble rogues and rotters, risqué ladies and illicit lovers—would be certain scandal. That’s why she must disguise herself . . .

Looking forward to a night of uninhibited pleasure, Lord Strange is shocked to discover that beneath the clothes of a no-good rake is the most beautiful woman in the room. Why is a woman like her risking her reputation at his notorious affair? And can he possibly entice her to stay . . . forever?

I WAS BORED WITLESS BY THIS BOOK

Thus, I don’t think Eloisa James’s books are for me especially if its audiobook, I think hardcopy would be a different matter, the reason I say this is due to the fact that to me this book dragged on forever for me and I MEAN FOREVER!

THERE WAS TOO MUCH TALKING ABOUT INCESSANT THINGS IN THIS GOD DAMNED BOOK… IT WAS SO MENTALLY TAXING…

Also, I don’t understand why Harriet had to dress as a man to join in the party, Villiers said its due to Tem (Justinian strange, hero of the book) having a disdain for nobility but it was never shown why he has such a disdain for them. I wish there was a better reason that Harriet had to dress as a man, perhaps a good prank? She wanted to feel the freedom that a man has… something more substantial instead of just wanting entry to Tem’s infamous parties.

I say this because eventually most of the characters figure out Harriet is a woman so what was the point? Like what you wanted to have some queerbaiting ala Coffee Prince? or Midsummers Nights? What?

Another issue I have or don’t understand is Harriet’s feelings for Tem’s parties. First, she says she enjoys it and loves it and the freedom she has but then soon after she says she hates it, she hates how there are strangers in Tem’s house constantly and how it is unsafe for his daughter and such and then she wants Tem to change his life. Like, you can’t have it both ways, you can’t love his parties yet also hate it, because if you did that wouldn’t that make you a hypocrite?

Also, this turn to hating his parties felt so rushed. They were having fun and enjoying themselves and then suddenly she just ups and hates it. This change truly felt like it came out of nowhere. Like, okay chill girl.

My last point that made me disappointed in the book was how tame Tem’s parties were. I was fully expecting a sex orgy ala Eyes Wide Shut but what I read was just boring plays and boring dinners. Had the author also explored other aspects of worldbuilding in the book, I felt like the book would have been far more interesting to listen to.

Overall, I didn’t enjoy this book although the premise was so promising.

Book Review (#103): Rogues Rush In by Tessa Dare and Christi Caldwell

Title: Rogues Rush In

Author: Tessa Dare & Christi Caldwell

Published: 22 May 2018

Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform

Rating: 3/5

Two scandalous brides…
Two rogues who won’t be denied…

His Bride for the Taking by New York Times Bestselling author Tessa Dare
It’s the first rule of friendship among gentlemen: Don’t even think about touching your best friend’s sister. But Sebastian, Lord Byrne, has never been one for rules. He’s thought about touching Mary Clayton—a lot—and struggled to resist temptation. But when Mary’s bridegroom leaves her waiting the altar, only Sebastian can save her from ruin. By marrying her himself.

In eleven years, he’s never laid a finger on his best friend’s sister. Now he’s going to take her with both hands. To have, to hold…and to love.

His Duchess for a Day by USA Today Bestseller Christi Caldwell
It was never meant to be…
That’s what Elizabeth Terry has told herself while trying to forget the man she married–her once best friend. Passing herself off as a widow, Elizabeth has since built a life for herself as an instructor at a finishing school, far away from that greatest of mistakes. But the past has a way of finding you, and now that her husband has found her, Elizabeth must face the man she’s tried to forget.

It was time to right a wrong…
Crispin Ferguson, the Duke of Huntington, has spent the past years living with regret. The young woman he married left without a by-your-leave, and his hasty elopement had devastating repercussions. Despite everything, Crispin never stopped thinking about Elizabeth. Now that he’s found her, he has one request—be his duchess, publicly, just for a day.

Can spending time together as husband and wife rekindle the bond they once shared? Or will a shocking discovery tear them apart…this time, forever?

His Bride for the Taking by Tessa Dare (Rating: 3/5)

No complaints about this book honestly. It was short and sweet.

His duchess for a Day by Christi Caldwell (Rating: 2/5)

His Duchess for a Day INFURIATED ME!!! Truly.

9 years… 9 years that stupid bimbo ran away and hid from her husband and so-called bestfriend. Over what? A simple misunderstanding? She says they used to be bestfriends yet were they really because if a simple misunderstanding can cause such a rift it is logical to think that they had the worst communication ever for supposed bestfriends.

I can come to understand why she did not want to confront Crispin but then it is not fair to feel resentment and disdain for Crispin when the man doesn’t even know why you left for FUCKING NINE YEARS. You were the one who left without any explanation and yet you feel you have every right to be pissed at Crispin.

Couldn’t you guys talk it out? Then, you’re telling me within one day that 9 years didn’t matter, that you still had feelings for him. Honestly, the 9 years bothers me so much. IT DOESN’T MAKE SENSE WHATSOEVER.

Yeah, I hated this novella. It was absolutely stupid.