Amy M. Reade's Blog

In the Woods by Tana French

In the Woods by Tana French is the first book in the Dublin Murder Squad series.

Here’s what online retailers have to say about it:

“As dusk approaches a small Dublin suburb in the summer of 1984, mothers begin to call their children home. But on this warm evening, three children do not return from the dark and silent woods. When the police arrive, they find only one of the children gripping a tree trunk in terror, wearing blood-filled sneakers, and unable to recall a single detail of the previous hours.

Twenty years later, the found boy, Rob Ryan, is a detective on the Dublin Murder Squad and keeps his past a secret. But when a twelve-year-old girl is found murdered in the same woods, he and Detective Cassie Maddox—his partner and closest friend—find themselves investigating a case chillingly similar to the previous unsolved mystery. Now, with only snippets of long-buried memories to guide him, Ryan has the chance to uncover both the mystery of the case before him and that of his own shadowy past.

Richly atmospheric, stunning in its complexity, and utterly convincing and surprising to the end, In the Woods is sure to enthrall fans of Mystic River and The Lovely Bones.”

***

I have lots of thoughts about this story. The first one is that I have rarely read a book with better-drawn characters. Each of the main and secondary characters is equisitely complex and the reader comes away feeling like they’ve been given a glimpse into the psyche of each one. The intricate dance that encompasses the relationships between and among all of them is well-plotted and precise.

Our narrator, Detective Rob Ryan, is a troubled soul and there’s good reason for that (as you read in the blurb above). Together with his partner, Cassie Maddox, he is trying to ferret out the identity of a child killer. This alone would be a lot for anyone, but Ryan is also trying to understand and reconcile the events that changed his life twenty years ago. Memories are fleeting and ethereal—images in his mind that flutter just beyond his reach. But he’s convinced his experiences have a connection to this recent murder.

This is not a book for the faint-hearted. It was originally published in 2007 with no mention of the more greusome details, but if it were published today it would probably come with a trigger warning. With that being said, its subject matter is tame compared to a lot of other books out there. But it did push me to the cusp of what I’m willing to read.

And now we get to the most interesting part of the book: the end. I’m not going to give away a single thing, but let me just say that there’s controversy surrounding it and I can see why.

I will say that upon finishing it, I immediately went online to see what other readers thought. And there are some very intriguing theories out there, some of which I agree with and some I don’t.

In sum, this was a fascinating read that I didn’t want to lay aside for things like food and sleep. It’s well-paced, exciting, and thought-provoking.

If the subject matter doesn’t put you off, I encourage you to read In the Woods yourself and make your own decisions. And if you do read it, I’d love to hear your thoughts.

***

See you next time,

Amy

https://www.amymreade.com

The Forger’s Daughter by Susan Cory

It has been a while! I’d like to thank everyone for continuing to support my blog, and one reader in particular who pointed out that it’s been a long time since I posted.

I’m going to do my best to keep to my one-review-a-month promise, and so the blog reset is here!

Full disclosure, this month’s mystery was written by one of my critique partners.

The Forger’s Daughter is Book 8 in the Iris Reid Mystery Series. I’m a big fan of the books and recommend all of them. Each novel has a fully encapsulated mystery, and readers can get a good handle on the characters no matter where they start in the series. Some people like to start with the first book; some don’t care where they start as long as they can get into the mystery quickly. I’m in the latter camp, but no matter where you fall on the continuum, I recommend all of Susan Cory’s books.

Here’s my review:

In the latest Iris Reid mystery, Iris finds herself thrust into a world of deception, desperation, and danger.

All she wants to do is help Ash, her boyfriend’s son, locate a missing friend, Luna Esposito. Luna is a brilliant artist, but one who doesn’t easily divulge information about herself or her past. When Ash receives a panicked call from her, he knows she’s in trouble. He turns to Iris for help, and they soon find out Luna isn’t the only one in peril.

In this fast-paced art forgery thriller, readers race along with Iris to locate the missing artist before time runs out. The villain, whom we meet fairly early on, is adept at keeping himself and his business practices well-hidden and will go to great lengths, even murder, to hold on to the power, wealth, and prestige he has accumulated.

As always in the Iris Reid books, the characters are three-dimensional and complex. We continue to learn more about Iris, her boyfriend Luc, and Ash in each installment of the series. The settings, from the tony world of Beacon Hill to the grittier neighborhoods surrounding Boston, are well-drawn and realistic.

From the first page, this book doesn’t let up. The quick, even pacing provides the reader with enough excitement to keep them reading late into the night while allowing them moments to digest and process the events taking place on the page.

Highly recommend if you’re looking for something well-written and exciting!

***

See you next time,

Amy

https://www.amymreade.com

No Stone Unturned by Pam Lecky

Lucy Lawrence is having doubts about her marriage to Charlie when he is found dead on the streets of London in this Victorian-era mystery full of intrigue, danger, and surprises.

As time passes and the circumstances of Charlie’s recent business dealings come to light, it becomes clear that Lucy’s doubts were well-founded (though not for the reasons she thought). With her financial future uncertain, Lucy reluctantly heads to her family’s estate in Yorkshire for the holidays, only to find malice and ill will awaiting her. When she is charged with the theft of a priceless family heirloom, things look bleak for her indeed.

What’s worse, Lucy can’t decide whether Phineas Stone, an enigmatic insurance investigator assigned to a case involving her late husband, is a good apple or a bad seed.

The characters in this novel are highly developed and three-dimensional, adding layers of emotion and depth to the story. The plot is unique and engrossing, with lots of twists to keep readers interested and turning those pages.

Lucy herself is a delightful heroine, full of spunk and attitude. No one can tell her what to do (well, they can try—but she isn’t about to follow orders, especially from a man). The dialogue is full of wit, intelligence, and even humor. With the help of her maid, Mary, and a couple good friends, Lucy is determined to clear her name and forge her own future.

I highly recommend this book to any lover of historical mysteries. I’ve already read book 2 and I’m in the middle of book 3!

***

See you next time,

Amy

www.amymreade.com

Double Chocolate Biscotti

Happy Holidays! Welcome to the Third Annual Virtual Cookie Exchange, the brainchild of blogger and author Staci Troilo.

The Exchange is easy. Once you’ve read my recipe below, hop on over to https://stacitroilo.wordpress.com/2024/12/12/fourth-cookie-exchange/ and you’ll find the master list of bakers and the recipes they’re providing this season. Visit some or all and start collecting a new batch of bakes for this year!

DOUBLE CHOCOLATE BISCOTTI

Ingredients:

1 3/4 c. + 2 T. flour

1/4 c. + 2 T. unsweetened cocoa powder

1 t. baking soda

1/2 t. salt

1/2 c. (1 stick) butter, room temperature

3/4 c. + 2 T. granulated sugar

2 large eggs

2 t. vanilla extract

1 c. chocolate chips, any variety (I used semi-sweet for this batch, but the next time I make it I’m going to use white chocolate)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat.

In a medium bowl, whisk flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt.

In a large bowl, mix the butter and sugar using a hand mixer on low-medium low until light and fluffy. This should take at least 2 minutes. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in the vanilla and mix well.

Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture. Add the chocolate chips. Using the hand mixer, mix on low speed until flour streaks disappear. Do not overmix.

You can use a fresh work surface for the next step, but I just use the parchment paper/silicone mat that’s already on the baking sheet. Sprinkle the surface or paper/mat with flour and tip the dough onto the surface. It will be sticky, so use a spatula to make sure you get all the dough out of the bowl. Sprinkle the dough with a little more flour (to make it easier to work with) and shape it into a ball.

Using a bench scraper or sharp knife, cut the ball in half. Pat each half into a rough log shape. If you’re not working on the parchment paper/mat already, place the logs on the paper at this time.

Shape each log until it’s 2-3 inches wide and 3/4 inch tall. Place the logs a little bit apart to allow for spreading during baking.

Bake for 35 minutes. Remove pan from oven and allow to sit for 5 minutes. Do not turn the oven off.

Remove each log to a cutting board and, using a serrated knife, slice into pieces about 3/4 in. wide.

Place each piece back onto the same baking sheet, this time with a cut side down. Bake for another 10 minutes at 350 degrees. Remove from oven and allow to cool for 2 minutes before transferring to a baking rack to cool completely.

These make great Christmas gifts! A clear bag and a pretty ribbon are all you need!

Wishing you all a happy, healthy holiday season filled with all your favorite people and things!

Until next time,

Amy

Bastard Verdict by James McCrone

Full disclosure: the book I chose for this month’s post is by a member of my Sisters in Crime chapter. But please rest assured that what follows is my honest review.

I might start by defining the term bastard verdict. As you may know, in American law (and without getting too technical) we generally have two outcomes to a criminal trial: guilty or not guilty. In Scotland, however, there is a third option: not proven, or the bastard verdict. The phrase was coined by Sir Walter Scott and it means that the trier of fact believes the defendant committed the crime, but that the state has failed to prove its case. It doesn’t mean the defendant is guilty, but it doesn’t mean he’s innocent, either.

On to the review.

Imogen Trager is an FBI agent who got into some trouble with the bureau in her last adventure, so now she’s on a leave of absence, working at a university in Scotland as a visiting scholar. Her plan is to do the research she came to Scotland to do, keep her head down, and stay out of (more) trouble.

But if that happened, we wouldn’t have this great thriller to read.

So when Imogen is asked by a government official to look into possible malfeasance during the referendum, she takes the chance that her career will be intact at the end of the investigation, which is a million miles outside her jurisdiction.

What Imogen finds is a conspiracy that has tentacles in the highest echelons of government. There are people who will stop at nothing to make sure she doesn’t go public with the information she’s uncovered, and she’s not sure who she can trust.

I love the setting of this book. Most of it takes place on the gritty, working-class streets of Glasgow and Dundee. The Scottish cold and rain play a role in making the atmosphere almost tactile, and the building descriptions are spot-on if you are at all familiar with Glasgow and/or Dundee. The dialect the author uses lends a layer of richness to this novel, too. The way the Scottish characters speak is real and adds to the feeling of being close to the action.

I like Imogen because she’s a calculated risk-taker, but acts decisively once she’s determined her best course of action. She’s also imperfect, with a great backstory that includes personal loss, job troubles, and lingering doubts from her previous job-related undertakings.

What’s most obvious is that the author knows his stuff. He’s clearly done a deep dive into Scottish and UK politics and election/referendum policy and procedure. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a good political thriller. Especially in light of world events over the past several years, this book is especially timely.

***

See you next time,

Amy

The Turncoat’s Widow by Mally Becker

They say one should never judge a book by its cover, but we all do it. Or at least most of us do. And who is “they,” anyhow?

But I’m no different—this gorgeous cover is the first thing that attracted me to The Turncoat’s Widow, a beautifully written Revolutionary War mystery.

The widow is Rebecca Parcell. The turncoat is her husband Phillip, an officer in the continental army who died aboard a British prison ship. The rumormongers in town are saying Rebecca gave him up to the British army to escape her unhappy marriage, but the fact is, Phillip was spying for the British. And some very important people, including George Washington, knew it. What those people don’t know, however, are the other spies who were working with Phillip.

Rebecca, now a widow, is desperate to save her farm. She has nowhere else to go. The deal George Washington offers her is tempting, but fraught with danger: he promises to save her farm if she can provide him with the list of the other British spies.

With the help of Daniel Alloway, the last person to see Phillip alive and himself an enigmatic escapee of the same British prison ship, Rebecca faces an uphill struggle to unearth the secrets her husband left behind.

As I mentioned above, this book is beautifully written. The prose is easy to read, captivating, and especially interesting if you’re into American history. The pages practically turn themselves. The story has everything I enjoy—espionage, twists and turns, a strong and compelling female protagonist, and a little spark of romance.

The settings are vividly drawn, from towns and villages in wartime New Jersey to the seedy neighborhoods of New York City, and from the farm Rebecca longs to keep to the glittering salons of city socialites.

The characters come from both American history and the author’s imagination. They mingle seamlessly in the pages of the book, and I was fascinated to learn more about the activities of the patriots and loyalists in New York City at the time of the American Revolution. The backstories of the main characters, Rebecca and Daniel, contain subtle complexities which make these flawed characters come alive.

As an author of historical mysteries, I could tell as I read the book how much research went into the writing of it. The author knows her stuff: the clothing and language usage of the time, the architecture and the physical layout of the places where battles were waged and spies were forged, and a deep understanding of the intricate politics in New York and New Jersey during the Revolutionary War.

I’m eager to read books 2 and 3 in Becker’s Revolutionary War Mystery Series. In the meantime, I would recommend The Turncoat’s Widow to anyone who loves a good historical mystery and a tale rich with characters and events from American history.

***

And speaking of American history, my new book, The Night the Light Went Out, is available for preorder! Here’s the info about the book, which will be released on August 6th and is the 3rd in my Cape May Historical Mystery Collection:

September, 1821.

Nine souls are trapped inside the Cape May Lighthouse as a treacherous storm ravages the New Jersey coast with punishing winds and rising waters … but the tempest escalating among those cut off from civilization may be even more lethal.

Deputy Sheriff George Moore, a newcomer to Cape May, knows nothing of the dark histories of the eight other people confined with him. When the first victim falls, everyone is left reeling. But was the death natural or was it a cold-blooded murder?

As the relentless march of death claims more victims, George must unravel the malevolent secrets swirling around him before it’s too late.
Step into the storm of the century as the ill-fated men and women in the lighthouse face the threatening sea, stifling darkness, and the sinister evil destroying them one by one.

Here are the links to preorder the ebook (the paperback will be available on 8/6/24):

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Kobo

Apple

Google Play

***

See you next time,

Amy

In the Bleak Midwinter by Julia Spencer-Fleming

This is the first book in the Clare Fergusson/Russ Van Alstyne mystery series and WOW. I finished it on June 20th (the summer solstice) and enjoyed it so much that as of this writing, I’ve finished the second book in the series and I’ve moved on to book 3. And I’m a slow reader.

Reverend Clare Fergusson is a newcomer to the small town of Millers Kill, NY, and she’s finding that the Adirondack town is a world away from her home state of Virginia.

For one thing, the winters are a whole lot worse. It’s a cold December night when Clare finds a baby abandoned on the front steps of St. Alban’s, her new parish church. There’s a note with the baby, detailing the mother’s wish that a certain couple at St. Alban’s adopt the child.

Enter Millers Kill police chief Russ Van Alstyne. He’s a tough, no-nonsense Vietnam vet who doesn’t quite know what to make of the young, newly-ordained priest (in fact, he had no idea women could even be priests). It’s not long before he realizes that whatever he thought about priests, female or not, Clare does not fit the mold.

(She, too, is a military veteran, having flown helicopters in the U.S. Army and attained the rank of Captain prior to attending seminary. She knows a thing or two about tenacity and bravery and resourcefulness—and it seems Chief Van Alstyne has met his match.)

Not long after Clare discovers the baby, she and Chief Van Alstyne find the body of the baby’s mother. Thus begins a frantic search for answers about the mother’s identity, the father’s identity, the killer, and the reasons behind behind the whole tragic affair.

What did I like best about this story?

How much time do you have? Just kidding. I’ll keep it short.

First, the characters were exceptionally well-drawn. From the main characters to the secondary and tertiary roles, everyone feels three-dimensional and real. The relationship between Clare and Russ can be testy at times, but that doesn’t obscure the friendship that’s growing between them. Or the attraction. Russ describes himself as happily married, but there’s an undeniable force between him and Clare that is fascinating to watch unfold. And in terms of forbidden love, can there be any higher stakes than a married man and a priest?

Second, the plot not only follows an extraordinary mystery, but the author has thrown roadblocks into Clare’s way in the form of her extremely conservative church members and vestry committee. Her attempts to solve the mystery, as well as her goal of creating and funding a program for unwed mothers, do not sit well with her flock.

And third, the setting is impeccable. I grew up in northern New York, so I know what a long, cold winter looks like. The author has nailed it—from the driving conditions to the bitter, slicing wind to the heavy snow to the fierce beauty of it all.

And best of all, there’s a book 2 … and beyond.

***

This month I’m celebrating Christmas in July with a sale! The Worst Noel is just $1.99 for July only (and free in Kindle Unlimited!). Please note, it’s only available as an ebook on Amazon. If you haven’t read it yet, now is a great time to grab a copy. Read it now or wait until the holidays! And remember, you can always gift an ebook to a friend or family member, too.

Click the book cover or the link below and enjoy!

Find The Worst Noel here on Amazon.

To my readers in the United States, have a happy and safe July 4th!

***

See you next time!

Amy

No Justice for the Deceived by Nancy Herriman

A high-society engagement, a masquerade ball, a poisoning, and the death of an innocent young woman are the building blocks upon which Nancy Herriman has constructed her new historical mystery, No Justice for the Deceived (book 6 in the Mysteries of Old San Francisco). And what a mystery it is!

Two wealthy families are about to be joined in matrimony, and it’s the type of engagement that engenders the juiciest gossip in town. One reason for all the gossip? The groom. He’s a philanderer. And worse than that, he’s been accused of being behind a vicious assault on one of his many former amours.

The bride-to-be is a beautiful young woman with a substantial fortune—a fortune that will belong entirely to her husband as soon as they are man and wife. Her dream is to open a women’s clinic similar to Celia’s, but her betrothed has indicated his strong disdain for the project and has no intention of using the money to pay for it.

So it comes as no surprise when someone tries to poison the groom. Unfortunately, the poisoning goes awry and an innocent woman dies instead. Suspects abound.

No Justice for the Deceived brings Celia and Nick, everyone’s favorite San Francisco detective, together again, this time to figure out who wanted the groom dead. As always in this series, it’s a delight to watch Celia and Nick interact. Their banter is witty and sharp and despite Nick’s frequent annoyance with Celia’s attempts to investigate the crime, their deep feelings for each other are clear.

Besides the relationship between Celia and Nick, this book has plenty of twists to keep the reader engaged. And I’m always amazed at the amount of research that the author must put into each book in this series, and I learn something new and fascinating about San Francisco’s history with each successive mystery.

One puzzle remains unsolved at the end of the book—Nick has been receiving strange and disturbing packages in the mail, and he doesn’t know who they’re from or why he’s receiving them. I guess we’ll have to wait until book 7 to get an answer!

I would highly recommend No Justice for the Deceived to anyone who loves historical mysteries, old San Francisco, and great tension between characters.

***

And speaking of historical mysteries, Cape Menace, book 1 in the Cape May Historical Mystery Collection, is on sale for $1.99 through April 15, 2024! Don’t forget—you can always gift someone an ebook. Here are the links to each retailer, so pick your favorite … you know what to do.

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Kobo

Apple

Google Play

See you next time!

Amy

Black River by Matthew Spencer

Two murders of young women in an upscale area of Sydney (Australia) have local residents on edge. The crimes bear significant ritualistic similarities, enough to classify the perpetrator as a serial killer. BMK, he’s called. The Blue Moon Killer.

When a third young woman’s body is found on the grounds of an elite private school during the summer break, there are some indications it could be the work of BMK. But there are differences, too. What do those differences mean? Is BMK toying with the police? Is there a copycat killer out there? Is he altering his modus operandi?

Detective Sergeant Rose Riley, a member of the task force trying to find BMK, is on edge. She’s got this case on her mind night and day. More than anything, she wants justice for the victims. Her quest to do right by the murdered women and their families not only leads her to the hallowed halls of power and money, but also to the sickening depths of human depravity and straight into the sights of a killer.

She and her team need help, and they find it—more or less—in the form of Adam Bowman, a reporter who likes his booze and has a murky connection to the school where the third body was found. Rose and her team feed Adam exclusive but limited information, and his stories serve to rile up certain persons of interest.

The question is this: can Rose and the task force, with Adam’s help, figure out who BMK is before he strikes again?

If you’re looking for a page-turning thriller, this book should be in the running. The action moves at a fast clip and there’s always a lead that needs to be investigated. Rose’s boss is a hard-driving Detective Chief Inspector who lives and breathes the work of the task force. He trusts Rose and gives her the support and freedom she needs to pursue leads and theories. It’s a great working partnership, and that was one of my favorite things about the book.

For the most part, the book alternates between two points of view: Rose’s and Adam’s. I liked getting to know each character in more depth, but at the same time I felt like I knew all the other characters pretty well, too (which is not to say I liked them all—some of them are despicable). Many readers don’t like books that oscillate between points of view, but I find it exciting and a great way to get inside characters’ heads.

The author of this story, Matthew Spencer, is a former journalist who clearly knows his way around a newsroom as well as the ins and outs of working with police and other authorities. His experience shines in the book and gives it an overall aura of authenticity. He’s Australian, too, and readers from elsewhere in the world have an opportunity to learn some Aussie phrases and culture.

I highly recommend this thriller to anyone looking for a book with well-developed characters, a fast pace, and an alternative to the more ubiquitous American or British police procedural.

***

House of the Hanging Jade is on sale for $1.99 this week only! The sale ends at midnight EDT on Friday, 3/15/24, so if you haven’t read it, grab your copy now! Click HERE to go to my website, where you can be redirected to your favorite online bookseller.

My publisher owned the rights to the book until last year, when the rights reverted to me. So I revised the story and had a new cover designed for it (I LOVE the new cover). The new version currently has no reviews on Amazon, so I’d love to see some reviews! Thanks!

See you next time!

Amy

Where They Lie by Joe Hart

When a private plane carrying the family of Kaylee Volk, vlogger* and social media influencer, plummets into the ocean, Nora McTavish is the one trying to figure out how it all happened. The only survivor of the crash has a story to tell, but Nora isn’t so sure she’s getting the whole truth.

*vlogger: one who blogs via video

Nora is a case worker with the state child protective services agency and she’s familiar with the Volk family: Kaylee and her husband Justin, along with their three foster children. Nora has even had occasion to investigate the family—someone at school has reported that one of the siblings has bruising around the neck, and that child has confirmed that another sibling is responsible.

Nora is devasted by the loss of the three foster children in the plane crash. Her compulsion to continue investigating the case after the children’s deaths has as much to do with her feeling of unease about the whole situation as it does with her personal history of familial abuse and the foster care system. She is a survivor, and it’s her mission to help other kids survive, too.

What I liked most about this book was Nora’s tenacity. She continues to look for answers on behalf of the three kids despite being suspended from her job, a violent personal assault, and a horrifying attack on her home.

The book is told from Nora’s point of view, though occasionally chapters are interspersed with snippets of Kaylee’s vlog, both on-screen and off. There have been reviewers who believe the snippets are extraneous, but I think they serve an important purpose—they show Kaylee’s family as the rest of the world sees them, but they also show a bit of behind-the-scenes tension between family members as Kaylee shoots her videos.

This book is a thriller, no doubt about it. It moves at a rapid pace, unfurling twist after twist as Nora rushes to find answers in the face of increasing risks and soaring stakes.

Where They Lie isn’t just a thriller—it also offers a commentary on the foster care system and the positives and significant negatives of child protective service laws and related state agencies. There’s also a dark, albeit fictional, look at the culture of social media influencers and how society interacts with them.

One thing that’s important to note: if you’re triggered by child abuse, this might not be the book for you. It deals with some pretty heavy topics. But it’s a good read, and one that I recommend if you’re looking for a thriller to keep you up at night.

***

A Traitor Among Us: A Mystery of Revolutionary America, is on sale for 99¢/99p this week only! The sale ends at midnight EST on Friday, 2/16/24, so if you haven’t read it, grab your copy now! Click HERE to go to my website, where you can be redirected to your favorite online bookseller.

See you next time!

Amy