The Attic child by Lola Jaye

Good morning, everyone! Today I'm a stop on the Random Things tour for Lola Jaye's The Attic Child. 

Two children separated by almost seven decades, share a similar trauma in this latest from Lola Jaye. 

Dikembe was just a boy when he was given over to Sir Richard. In truth, he couldn't have known his mother's fears for his future. And she was promised that he would gain an education and be brought up as an English gentleman. 

Torn from his home and everything he'd ever known, he was thrown into British society. Renamed Celestine, he served as Sir Richard's companion and was given every privilege befitting Sir Richard's place in society. 

But he always longed for home. Even when he was told his home and his family were gone. 

And then Sir Richard died. 

Lowra's early life was a happy one. But when her mother died and her father remarried, all of that changed. Her father disappeared, leaving her in the charge of her new stepmother, who made no bones about her feelings for the young girl. And the abuse she suffered at the woman's hands were unknown to everyone else in her life. 

She escaped when she was fifteen, living in group homes until she turned eighteen. 

Now, at thirty, she has just learned that her stepmother has died. And the house where she experienced the worst years of her life is hers. It's there that she once found evidence of another child. And now, so many years later, she's determined to find out what she can about the boy who lived in the attic before her. 

This is a hard read. The abuse both Dikembe and Lowra suffer truly made my heart ache as I read the book. But it's about a deeper trauma than that. A history of upper class society figures basically kidnapping children from what they viewed as lesser societies. 

These children, and there are a few mentioned in the book, were, as Dikembe is, part of a collection. Yet another piece or artifact showing off wealthy people's travels and allowing them to pat themselves on the back for their "good deeds."

In truth, Dikembe's slate is wiped clean as soon as he's handed over to Sir Richard. His name, his history, his culture, his family...all of it is lost to him. 

Lowra too experiences something of the same at the hands of her stepmother. All of the photographs of her family are gone. She knows nothing of her past or her family connections. Nothing of her own story. 

This is a heart wrenching book. But it's also one about holding on to the things that are important to you. Dikembe never forgets his family. Never forgets where he came from. And in searching for his story, Lowra learns more than she ever expected about a history she was completely unaware of. 

The Attic Child is a beautifully written story, even at it's most painful to read parts. 

The Last Guests by J. P. Pomare

Funds have been tight for Lina and Cain for some time. Cain, a former SAS soldier, has been trying to get a personal training business off the ground but it's Lina's job as a paramedic that keeps them afloat. 

And then their friends turn them onto WeStay, a site that would let Lina and Cain list Lina's grandparents' house for rent to guests. 

It's a nice house, just needs some sprucing up. And it's ideally situated on a lake. But Lina has reservations about opening it up to strangers. It's the house she grew up in. The one she wants to raise her own family in. 

But she goes along with it anyway. Until it turns into a nightmare that threatens to reveal her darkest secrets. 

Let's just call this book what it is, the one that make never want to stay in an AirBnB ever again!

Lina and Cain both have secrets. Cain had a bit of an issue with gambling, but it seems to have ended by the time the book begins. And yet, they still have money problems Lina can't quite figure out. 

The bigger problem is the fact that they've been told it will take a virtual miracle for them to conceive a child. Which is where Lina's big secret comes in. And both issues are what make her agree to list her grandparents' home on WeStay. 

And at first things are fine. The reservations start rolling in and they're getting good reviews. Easy money. 

Except anything that seems to good to be true...

The prologue for the book really does set the tone. An anonymous man is placing cameras in a rental home. And that definitely tells you where some of the plot is heading. But there's way more to the plot that just a twisted voyeur. 

This is a super creepy premise—maybe more for people like me who are already inclined to be uncomfortable with vacation rentals :)

I should note that I both read the physical book and listened to the audio over the weekend. Sarah Mollo-Christensen is the narrator on that edition and she does a fabulous job!

Pomare is a a new-to-me author I've been aware of but hadn't read yet. He's an award-winning author from New Zealand (where this title is set), currently living in Australia. 

I really enjoy both New Zealand and Australian crime fiction and I've been trying to read more of it of late. If it's a genre that interests you, I've been getting recs from Craig Sisterson's Southern Cross Crime. 

Order a copy from your favorite indie via Bookshop!

The Agathas by Kathleen Glasgow & Liz Lawson

Good morning, readers! Today I'm a stop on the Random Things tour for Kathleen Glasgow and Liz Lawson's The Agathas!

Apologies as this was supposed to post last Thursday. 

Alice Ogilvie has been on the outs with her best friend ever since she stole her boyfriend. In fact, when Alice and Steve broke up, she was so upset about the whole thing that she decided to teach everyone a lesson and disappear. Her hope was that they'd all be so worried about her, Steve in particular, that he'd beg for her to take him back. 

It didn't quite work out that way. And now Steve is dating Brooke. 

But when Brooke herself goes missing after the big Halloween party, Alice knows she has to do something. Even though she hated Brooke, she was still her best friend. Plus, Alice has an admittedly big admiration for everything Agatha Christie. 

Iris Adams is not an Agatha Christe fan. But she is Alice's new tutor. And, seemingly, Alice's only friend currently. So when Alice becomes determined to solve the mystery of Brooke's disappearance, Iris agrees to go along. 

It helps that Brooke's uber rich grandmother is offering a reward—money that would go a long way towards getting Iris out of town. 

Two teen detectives and a town with a history of missing girls...The Agathas is a fabulously fun read and an excellent homage to Agatha Christie!

Alice and Iris are seemingly as different as two girls can be. Alice is a "Main" or one of the popular kids. At least she was before she faked her own disappearance and got caught. Now she's on the outs with all of her old friends. 

Iris is a "Zoner" one of a group that doesn't really fit in with anyone. But Iris is also super smart, which is why she's tapped to tutor Alice once she returns to school after being on house arrest. 

It's the tutoring that throws them together but it's Brooke that forms the bond. See, Alice was involved in a bit of a tiff between Brooke and Steve on the night of Brooke's disappearance. And Iris...well, it seems she might have been the last person to see Brooke alive. 

Together, with some of Iris's buddies, they take on a case the cops believe is open and shut. Which of course turns out to be anything but!

The plotting is tight and the pacing follow suit. But it's definitely Iris and Alice (and Agatha Christie) that make this a great read! 

Alice has been knocked down several spots in high school popularity. She's actually become something of a pariah. Which is a shame because her parents are pretty much nonexistent in her life. Iris offers some stability, but she has her own issues and is desperate to get our of Castle Cove as soon as possible. Both of their stories are intertwined with that of Brooke and the mystery that makes up the bulk of the story, making it a rich and layered read—perfect for, dare I say, Christie fans!

I absolutely loved The Agathas! And I can't be sure, but I think we may see a return of Alice and Iris in future books. At least, that's what seems to be hinted at in the end. Castle Cove is a hotbed of mysteries, it seems, and I would definitely like to see them return in at least a few more titles!

Life Sentence by A.K. Turner

Happy Thursday! Today I'm a stop on the Compulsive Readers tour for A.K. Turner's latest, Life Sentence. 

Cassie Raven believes her job is a calling. As a mortuary technician, it's her responsibility to offer consolation to grieving family but also to prep the dead. 

She'd always been fascinated by death. It helps that the dead speak to her as well. Which is why she occasionally gets caught up in solving mysteries too. 

This time, though, the mystery is closer to home. 

Cassie had always believed that her parents died in a tragic car accident. As it turns out, her father served over a decade in prison for beating her mother to death in a drunken rage. It was only after a stroke that her grandmother finally revealed the truth to an adult Cassie. Which causes mixed feelings, to say the least. And in all the time since her father was released, he's never contacted her. Until now. 

He's always sworn innocence. But now it's up to Cassie whether or not to listen. 

This is technically the second book to feature Cassie Raven, after Body Language. Rest assured, though, while there are some relationships and back story alluded to, it is quite easy to sink into this one as a newbie to the character and series!

Cassie is an interesting character. A former goth girl raised by her Polish grandmother, she's a bit of an underling in her job—especially now that her former boss and coworker have both left her to completely new and a bit haughty colleagues. 

Because this book deals so much with Cassie's family, it works as a bit of a standalone. She has fond memories of her parents. Especially her father. Which is why the real story behind her mother's death and her father's incarceration come as such a shock to her. But more than that, she's always wondered why her father never got in touch after serving out his sentence. And has to consider whether she really wants him to. 

And this is how the story begins!

If you're a fan of early Cornwell and Reichs, I think you'll be really excited to dive into a new forensic mystery series with such a young character still learning her way in the industry!

(A.K. Turner formerly published under the pen name Anya Lipska.)

Desolation Canyon by P. J. Tracy

This follow up to Deep Into the Dark brings Nolan, Sam, and Remy back for another LA mystery. 

Maggie is still getting over the fact that she killed a man in the line of duty. He deserved it, but taking a life isn't something to take lightly. And when you add family drama on top of that, Maggie is definitely in need of a relaxing drink with a colleague she knows could be much more. 

Stumbling upon a body was not part of the plan!

Meanwhile, a desert run leads to Sam Easton's involvement in a truly strange case that turns out to be connected to Maggie's. 

Sam had meant to catch up with his friend Lenny after his run in Desolation Canyon, but it turns out Lenny's taken a few days off. Knowing the man is likely on his boat, Sam takes a trip out only to find signs of a struggle and a very confused Lenny. Apparently Lenny had offered shelter to a woman and her daughter on the run from the Children of the Desert, a group that offers self help retreats but sounds more like a cult. And when Sam learns the few details Lenny knows about the woman's escape, they both know her disappearance can't mean anything good. 

I am really enjoying this new series from Tracy!

This is a direct follow up to Deep Into the Dark, taking place shortly after the events in that book. 

Maggie and Sam have both come a long way in a short period of time. 

As mentioned, Maggie has been dealing with the fact that she killed a man. She's also been grieving the loss of her brother. The aftermath of recent events have meant a bit of healing in terms of her relationship with her family, so much so that her mother has even signed on for a retreat to deal with the loss. A retreat hosted by the Children of the Desert. 

Sam is making headway with therapy and has started to connect with others, making a real effort where he's previously been closed off. Which kind of lands him in hot water—again. 

Sam knows Lenny well enough to know that the man has no immediate family. So hearing that he's playing host to his daughter and granddaughter immediately alerts Sam to the fact that something is off. But it's the very clear signs of struggle on Lenny's boat that seals the deal for Sam. No way is he letting Lenny deal with this on his own, even if it means getting the attention of some really nasty people. 

Maggie's case is a complicated one. A divorced, well-to-do attorney who appears to have committed suicide. But Maggie suspects there's something more to the case. 

As with the previous outing, the book is focused on a whole cast of characters, which I've mentioned is a particular favorite element of the previous series as well. 

Desolation Canyon is another quick read with great plotting! And given how different it is from Deep Into the Dark, I really can't wait to see what comes next!

Order a copy from your favorite indie via Bookshop!

The Broken Room by Peter Clines

Hector was minding his own business, working his way to the bottom of a bottle as per usual, when Natalie showed up. She said Tim sent her. Problem is, Tim has been dead for quite some time. And apparently he's talking to Natalie. But dead or not, Hector owes Tim.

When Natalie reveals she's been part of the Project, Hector knows he's in for trouble. Everyone in his line of business has heard of the Project but no one knows exactly what it is. That Natalie escaped at all is an insane prospect. That she was helped by a dead agent who continues to guide her, is almost more than Hector can believe. 

But when agents start tracking them, willing to do anything it takes to retrieve Natalie, Hector knows he has to help her. 

I love Peter Clines! I first discovered him with Ex-Heroes, the first in his fantastic series that pit super heroes against zombies, and I have been a die hard fan ever since. So The Broken was already on my must read list. And then one of my other favorite authors, Scott Sigler, blurbed the book calling it "The Professional meets Stranger Things..." and I was sold all over again!

And really, that is the most appropriate comp/description you can give this book!

Hector is retired. Not officially, because in his line of work officially retired basically means dead. But he lives off the grid, ready to disappear at the drop of a hat. And all he really does with his day is drink himself into oblivion. 

In spite of that, he's still very good at his job. And Natalie needs someone at their best. 

The girl is about twelve and as she reveals her story, it turns out she's been through more than any twelve year old should ever have to go through. And that was before she was recruited into the Project. 

Hector wants to protect her, but Natalie and Tim have other ideas. And as Hector and Natalie spend more time together, it quickly becomes clear to Hector that he has to help her any way he can. And that means infiltrating the Project itself. 

This book is weird and excellent! It's everything I wanted out of a new Peter Clines read and so much more! It's cinematic in scope, it's excellently plotted, and the pacing is phenomenal. And it really is The Professional meets Stranger Things!

Highly, highly, highly recommended!

Order a copy from your favorite indie via Bookshop!

The Chain by Adrian McKinty

Thirteen-year-old Kylie is old enough and responsible enough to walk to the bus stop by herself. Neither  she nor her mother ever considered—or prepared for—the possibility that someone might kidnap her. 

But that’s exactly what’s just happened. 

Rachel receives the call on her way to a doctor’s appointment. An appointment that promises bad news. But Rachel never makes it to the appointment because she’s learned that she and Kylie are now part of “The Chain.” 

Kylie has been kidnapped and if Rachel wants her back, she has to follow very strict instructions. She can’t call the police. She has to deal with it alone. She’s to gather the ransom and purchase bitcoin to pay. But that’s not all. After she’s paid the demanded ransom, she has to find a target and kidnap someone herself. Only when that person’s family has paid their ransom and kidnapped another, will Kylie be released. 

But once you’re part of the Chain, you’re always part of the Chain. 

So here’s a fun fact, The Chain is currently under option with Edgar Wright attached to direct. But that’s not all. His upcoming book, The Island (due out in May), has also been optioned and is being developed for Hulu!

The premise of this book is literally a parent’s nightmare. And at first, the people behind the Chain itself seem to be part of some large scheme that’s years in the making. At least that’s the impression they’ve given everyone touched by the Chain.

Rachel is contacted by the woman who kidnaps Kylie. She’s also warned twice with regards to following the instructions. She’s physically assaulted by another member of the Chain and also told to look into the murder of another family as proof of the Chain’s reach. 

There’s no denying this is an intense story, but I didn’t love it as much as I thought I would. 

My main issue was with the bad guys. I wanted more on them. We did get chapters about the start of the Chain and a few from the POV of the main baddie, but I didn’t really feel like McKinty delved into the motivation and mind of the bad guys as much as he could. It felt like he pulled the punches, so to speak. 

It was also frustrating that there was a piece in particular where they feel Rachel needs further punishing. That paired with another tidbit where Rachel is told that the Chain might, in some cases, pick a target themselves rather than leaving it to Rachel, felt like there was something more being hinted at that was never fleshed out or explored. 

All in all, this was well-executed and fun read—certainly it will make great fodder for a movie—but I felt like it could have been more. 

Order a copy from your favorite indie via Bookshop.