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Ava Saunders #1
Twist of Faith
When family secrets are unearthed, a woman’s past can become a dangerous place to hide… After the death of her adoptive mother, Ava Saunders comes upon a peculiar photograph, sealed and hidden away in a crawl space. The photo shows a shuttered, ramshackle house on top of a steep hill. On the back, a puzzling Destiny calls us. Ava is certain that it’s a clue to her elusive past. Twenty-three years ago, she’d been found wrapped in a yellow blanket in the narthex of the Holy Saviour Catholic Church―and rescued―or so she’d been told. Her mother claimed there was no more to the story, so the questions of her abandonment were left unanswered. For Ava, now is the time to find the roots of her mother’s lies. It begins with the house itself―once the scene of a brutal double murder. When Ava enlists the help of the two people closest to her, a police detective and her best friend, she fears that investigating her past could be a fatal mistake. Someone is following them there. And what’s been buried in Ava’s nightmares isn’t just a crime. It’s a holy conspiracy.
332 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 2018
6497 people are currently reading
13724 people want to read
About the author
Ellen J. Green
7 books179 followersEllen J. Green is the Amazon Charts bestselling author of the Ava Saunders novels (Absolution and Twist of Faith) and The Book of James. She attended Temple University in Philadelphia, where she earned her degrees in psychology, and has worked in the psychiatric ward of a maximum-security correctional facility for fifteen years. She also holds an MFA degree in creative writing from Fairleigh Dickinson University. Born and raised in Upstate New York, Ms. Green now lives in southern New Jersey with her husband and two children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,250 reviews
February 7, 2018
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 / 5
First of all, thank you to Amazon Publishing for providing me with a free finished copy of this book in exchange for my review! All opinions are my own.
I have so many things to say about this book, but I can't say them because I don't want to give any spoilers away! So I will start by saying that I was really enjoying this book... until I got to the ending. Twist of Faith has short chapters (love), multiple viewpoints (love), and I felt like there was quite a bit going on throughout the entire book (also love). I felt like I was reading it really slowly, but I did enjoy it so not sure why that happened.
Of the viewpoints, there is a mystery man viewpoint and I always love when an author does that. I wasn't expecting this book to jump between POVs so much, but it wasn't bad and it didn't get confusing for me. Really it just jumps between our mystery man, Ava, the police detective Russell, Ava's friend Joanne, and Ava's aunt Marie. It was enough viewpoints that I got a feel for the big picture, but still had pretty much no idea what was going on.
I also wouldn't call this book a thriller, but more of a straight up mystery. There were definitely a few tense scenes, but for the most part it was just plain mysterious. Also, I know I said there is a lot going on in this book, but it's not necessarily fast-paced, if that makes sense. Just a lot of moving pieces to the story.
I will also say you don't need to read the blurb before reading this book, it is SO much more than what the blurb says. I would recommend going in blind honestly, that is basically what I did.
Now the ending... If there is going to be a sequel then I would maybe be OK with it, but as it was left I wasn't that thrilled. I can't really say anything without giving something away, but the ending just seemed a little far-fetched to me, and it didn't give me the closure I needed either. I'm all for reading things that aren't completely realistic, but the ending just didn't fit with the rest of the book for me.
Final Thought: I think Twist of Faith will be a good one for mystery fans that don't need as much of a thriller aspect to their books. The ending was really the biggest flaw of this book in my opinion, but maybe there will be a second book that will answer some of my questions (I can only hope). It just didn't make sense to me and took away from the rest of the book for me. This book was very creepy though, and kept me up reading late into the night to figure out "whodunnit". I kind of got a feeling of what was to come, but I definitely didn't have it all figured out. I would also definitely read more from Green!
*This title was published on 01 Jan 2018*
First of all, thank you to Amazon Publishing for providing me with a free finished copy of this book in exchange for my review! All opinions are my own.
I have so many things to say about this book, but I can't say them because I don't want to give any spoilers away! So I will start by saying that I was really enjoying this book... until I got to the ending. Twist of Faith has short chapters (love), multiple viewpoints (love), and I felt like there was quite a bit going on throughout the entire book (also love). I felt like I was reading it really slowly, but I did enjoy it so not sure why that happened.
Of the viewpoints, there is a mystery man viewpoint and I always love when an author does that. I wasn't expecting this book to jump between POVs so much, but it wasn't bad and it didn't get confusing for me. Really it just jumps between our mystery man, Ava, the police detective Russell, Ava's friend Joanne, and Ava's aunt Marie. It was enough viewpoints that I got a feel for the big picture, but still had pretty much no idea what was going on.
I also wouldn't call this book a thriller, but more of a straight up mystery. There were definitely a few tense scenes, but for the most part it was just plain mysterious. Also, I know I said there is a lot going on in this book, but it's not necessarily fast-paced, if that makes sense. Just a lot of moving pieces to the story.
I will also say you don't need to read the blurb before reading this book, it is SO much more than what the blurb says. I would recommend going in blind honestly, that is basically what I did.
Now the ending... If there is going to be a sequel then I would maybe be OK with it, but as it was left I wasn't that thrilled. I can't really say anything without giving something away, but the ending just seemed a little far-fetched to me, and it didn't give me the closure I needed either. I'm all for reading things that aren't completely realistic, but the ending just didn't fit with the rest of the book for me.
Final Thought: I think Twist of Faith will be a good one for mystery fans that don't need as much of a thriller aspect to their books. The ending was really the biggest flaw of this book in my opinion, but maybe there will be a second book that will answer some of my questions (I can only hope). It just didn't make sense to me and took away from the rest of the book for me. This book was very creepy though, and kept me up reading late into the night to figure out "whodunnit". I kind of got a feeling of what was to come, but I definitely didn't have it all figured out. I would also definitely read more from Green!
*This title was published on 01 Jan 2018*
January 2, 2018
1.5 STARS
To be fair, TWIST OF FAITH was my Amazon Prime free read of the month and a probably wouldn’t have chosen the book otherwise. I need to use spoilers to explain my rating.
The blurb suggests twenty-three year old Ava Saunders as the protagonist. She narrates most of the early chapters until she’s “murdered” by her nun aunt and a priest (Insert rolling eye emoji). The remainder of the chapters are varying third person points of view, often confusing to readers.
Ellen Green isn’t a bad writer. Judging from the reviews, a lot of people enjoyed TWIST OF FAITH (or she has a lot of friends and large family). I rooted for Ava, but then she was “murdered”, though I never thought she was actually dead. Turns out she was only a serial killer who readers are to believe murdered at least six people to find out the name of her biological mother.
I have no reason to recommend TWIST OF FAITH.
To be fair, TWIST OF FAITH was my Amazon Prime free read of the month and a probably wouldn’t have chosen the book otherwise. I need to use spoilers to explain my rating.
The blurb suggests twenty-three year old Ava Saunders as the protagonist. She narrates most of the early chapters until she’s “murdered” by her nun aunt and a priest (Insert rolling eye emoji). The remainder of the chapters are varying third person points of view, often confusing to readers.
Ellen Green isn’t a bad writer. Judging from the reviews, a lot of people enjoyed TWIST OF FAITH (or she has a lot of friends and large family). I rooted for Ava, but then she was “murdered”, though I never thought she was actually dead. Turns out she was only a serial killer who readers are to believe murdered at least six people to find out the name of her biological mother.
I have no reason to recommend TWIST OF FAITH.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 3, 2018
I invested all that time? For an awful ending like that? So disappointing. I wish I could have those hours back.
January 4, 2018
Very good plot.
This book was free with my Kindle First Read. You have to read this novel without any interruptions, have to pay close attention. Not many characters but who they are or what they are doing or did will come to surprising ending. Plot is about Ava is trying to find out who was her real mother was and what happened to her.
This book was free with my Kindle First Read. You have to read this novel without any interruptions, have to pay close attention. Not many characters but who they are or what they are doing or did will come to surprising ending. Plot is about Ava is trying to find out who was her real mother was and what happened to her.
January 26, 2018
3.5/5
Anytime a books description references family secrets or old, unsolved cases I’m all in even before I start reading. The idea of a young woman who was abandoned at a church as an infant is just the type of storyline I enjoy and the addition of more current crimes just further piqued my interest. Twist of Faith was a steady build of intrigue and tension shrouded in a dark mystery that began decades before.
This wasn’t super fast paced like many typical thrillers and I would actually describe it as more of a straight up mystery and not really a thriller, though there is a dark edge and some suspenseful moments. There was a lot going on as far as the plot but only a fairly small cast of characters but that didn’t make it easier to figure out whodunnit. Green still managed to plant seeds of doubt, plenty of guessing and quite a bit of misdirection that made it hard to know what would happen next. In the end, I did predict the who but not too early on, so I still enjoyed it.
This was a really solid mystery right up until the very end. I’m not sure if this will be a series, which would be fine, I love several series where the author leaves things open ended and perfectly set up for the next book. But the resolution here just didn’t fulfill me mostly because I didn’t feel like the full truth was revealed. I know that’s super vague, but spoilers. I’m picky about endings though, it may not bother every reader so keep that in mind! Other than that, I really liked this one and would still read another book by this author, especially if it’s a follow up so I can get some solid answers.
Twist of Faith in three words: Skillful, Measured and Promising.
Anytime a books description references family secrets or old, unsolved cases I’m all in even before I start reading. The idea of a young woman who was abandoned at a church as an infant is just the type of storyline I enjoy and the addition of more current crimes just further piqued my interest. Twist of Faith was a steady build of intrigue and tension shrouded in a dark mystery that began decades before.
This wasn’t super fast paced like many typical thrillers and I would actually describe it as more of a straight up mystery and not really a thriller, though there is a dark edge and some suspenseful moments. There was a lot going on as far as the plot but only a fairly small cast of characters but that didn’t make it easier to figure out whodunnit. Green still managed to plant seeds of doubt, plenty of guessing and quite a bit of misdirection that made it hard to know what would happen next. In the end, I did predict the who but not too early on, so I still enjoyed it.
This was a really solid mystery right up until the very end. I’m not sure if this will be a series, which would be fine, I love several series where the author leaves things open ended and perfectly set up for the next book. But the resolution here just didn’t fulfill me mostly because I didn’t feel like the full truth was revealed. I know that’s super vague, but spoilers. I’m picky about endings though, it may not bother every reader so keep that in mind! Other than that, I really liked this one and would still read another book by this author, especially if it’s a follow up so I can get some solid answers.
Twist of Faith in three words: Skillful, Measured and Promising.
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April 11, 2018SPOILERS
Okay. I have many questions.
I’m supposed to believe that a 90lbs woman who is constantly drunk and wasted had the ability to kill 6 people.
The point of her killing these people is to try to figure out who her mother was. So your saying that she had to kill all these people to find that out. But if she had a detective friend, he prolly could have figured that out for you without all the back around mess to figure out who these people where when she already knew enough to kill them.
So you are saying that she was able to find out enough about what happened and who these people were, but didn’t have the brain power to figure out who her mother was?
The beginning of this book didn’t match the ending. In the beginning for he book Ava is a drunken mess but somehow in the last 3 chapters she is composed and has this huge plan figured out?
So confused. Nothing matches.
Okay. I have many questions.
I’m supposed to believe that a 90lbs woman who is constantly drunk and wasted had the ability to kill 6 people.
The point of her killing these people is to try to figure out who her mother was. So your saying that she had to kill all these people to find that out. But if she had a detective friend, he prolly could have figured that out for you without all the back around mess to figure out who these people where when she already knew enough to kill them.
So you are saying that she was able to find out enough about what happened and who these people were, but didn’t have the brain power to figure out who her mother was?
The beginning of this book didn’t match the ending. In the beginning for he book Ava is a drunken mess but somehow in the last 3 chapters she is composed and has this huge plan figured out?
So confused. Nothing matches.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 20, 2018
I’m sort of puzzled why this book has not received higher reviews because it was spectacular from start to finish. Although I never had heard of Ellen Green until this book was featured as a Kindle first selection, I decided to read it because it was free and the plot sounded interesting. I was not disappointed. Unlike some clunkers I have recently read from more established authors, Green’s “Twist of Faith” was a wild ride from start to finish. This book had everything from evil nuns, evil priests, murder conspiracies and a whodunnit all wrapped up into one. When you throw in a complete change in the protagonist/ main character of the story about halfway through the novel ... I can honestly say I have never read anything quite like it. Surely I am not the only one hoping for a sequel to this wild ride. I am thankful to Kindle first for introducing me to Green, who along with John Marrs, brought fresh perspectives to the thriller genre this year. I definitely hope to read many more books from each of them in the future. I cannot recommend this book enough if you are looking for something fresh and exciting that is a level above most thrillers from the well thought out plot to the twists and turns that are present throughout the book.
January 8, 2018
This book had everything going for it for me. A cold case, a missing identity, a lost person, and delving into the past. These are things that are just about certain to capture my interest when reading a book blurb/description. Everything about the description of this books screamed my name.
I got it for free from Amazon Prime’s First Reads section. I’m so glad I didn’t pay for it. I would have been even more furious than I am now.
Positives: This book had great potential. It’s a definite page turner and I read it in two sittings and about 5 hours. I would have done it in one sitting but I had to leave. The characters, while not always likable, draw you into the story and you develop concern for and interest in their well-being. It’s fast paced, and the suspense level is extremely high. The overall premise of the books was interesting, and could have been brilliant.
Negatives: 1. Why does the going trend for heroines seem to be “alcoholic with loose (or no) morals?” I understand the need for unreliable narrators, but for heaven’s sake, must they also be drunk? And unprincipled? Ava, the character we are supposed to be rooting for, is not a nice person. She isn’t even sober. She’s possibly anorexic. She’s Lizbeth Salander in attitude, without the intelligence.
2. The story jumps around a lot. It felt at times like she would get stuck at a point in the narrative, and then just jump to something else. The story weaves around in a way that can be confusing. 3. There is little motivation given for the behavior of anyone in the book except for Ava’s two sidekicks.
And the biggest negative of all? An ending that beats all other endings to any mystery novels I’ve ever read before (and it’s my favorite genre so I’ve read hundreds)for pure silliness. The ending twist of this book is so appallingly idiotic that I don’t see how the editors let it go to print. The story is beautifully set up, captivating and suspenseful, only to turn into the biggest letdown I think I’ve ever experienced. It asks the reader to believe something that makes no sense whatsoever, and suggests that a large number of people have been killed for what has to be the most ridiculous motive ever to grace the printing presses. I’ve never been so disappointed. It’s a blatant setup for a sequel that doesn’t deserve to be written if the motivations can’t make more sense than they did in this.
I was all set to give it a strong 3.5 stars until the last 15-20 pages. And then I was just disgusted. I would give in no stars except that it had so much potential that I have to give it at 1.5.
I got it for free from Amazon Prime’s First Reads section. I’m so glad I didn’t pay for it. I would have been even more furious than I am now.
Positives: This book had great potential. It’s a definite page turner and I read it in two sittings and about 5 hours. I would have done it in one sitting but I had to leave. The characters, while not always likable, draw you into the story and you develop concern for and interest in their well-being. It’s fast paced, and the suspense level is extremely high. The overall premise of the books was interesting, and could have been brilliant.
Negatives: 1. Why does the going trend for heroines seem to be “alcoholic with loose (or no) morals?” I understand the need for unreliable narrators, but for heaven’s sake, must they also be drunk? And unprincipled? Ava, the character we are supposed to be rooting for, is not a nice person. She isn’t even sober. She’s possibly anorexic. She’s Lizbeth Salander in attitude, without the intelligence.
2. The story jumps around a lot. It felt at times like she would get stuck at a point in the narrative, and then just jump to something else. The story weaves around in a way that can be confusing. 3. There is little motivation given for the behavior of anyone in the book except for Ava’s two sidekicks.
And the biggest negative of all? An ending that beats all other endings to any mystery novels I’ve ever read before (and it’s my favorite genre so I’ve read hundreds)for pure silliness. The ending twist of this book is so appallingly idiotic that I don’t see how the editors let it go to print. The story is beautifully set up, captivating and suspenseful, only to turn into the biggest letdown I think I’ve ever experienced. It asks the reader to believe something that makes no sense whatsoever, and suggests that a large number of people have been killed for what has to be the most ridiculous motive ever to grace the printing presses. I’ve never been so disappointed. It’s a blatant setup for a sequel that doesn’t deserve to be written if the motivations can’t make more sense than they did in this.
I was all set to give it a strong 3.5 stars until the last 15-20 pages. And then I was just disgusted. I would give in no stars except that it had so much potential that I have to give it at 1.5.
February 19, 2018
This is a bit hard to review without revealing too much so I'll keep this one short and sweet. Written in multiple POVs with a short cast of characters, there was a little confusion at times on whose POV we were getting. I understand the reasoning behind that once we got further in, but mostly it befuddled me at certain points in the narrative. However, once I figured out what was going on, I was eager to continue and see what was happening.
I think I was expecting more of a thriller with this one when really it's more of a mystery with a bit of suspense in the build up. I was intrigued with the characters. My favorite was Joanne. Her sassiness and interactions with Russell were my favorite parts... even though Russell was definitely not a favorite of mine. Typical showing of a man here... struggling with marrying the girl he's "supposed to" while lusting after the hot mess. Sorry guys, I'm over this... or at least it wasn't working for me in this particular book.
What I did enjoy was that the mystery did keep me reading. I was invested and while the past kept getting revealed and things progressed in the present, I was curious to see if I was correct in my assumptions. The big reveal was definitely a surprise for me. Somehow I did not see that coming and that is always fun when that happens. However, I think the epilogue was unnecessary and took away from the feel of the book. Is this a series? Or are we left a little wanting on purpose? While I don't mind that in some books, I think the ending without this was perfectly acceptable.
2 1/2 stars rounding to 3 ... I really wanted to love this one..
I think I was expecting more of a thriller with this one when really it's more of a mystery with a bit of suspense in the build up. I was intrigued with the characters. My favorite was Joanne. Her sassiness and interactions with Russell were my favorite parts... even though Russell was definitely not a favorite of mine. Typical showing of a man here... struggling with marrying the girl he's "supposed to" while lusting after the hot mess. Sorry guys, I'm over this... or at least it wasn't working for me in this particular book.
What I did enjoy was that the mystery did keep me reading. I was invested and while the past kept getting revealed and things progressed in the present, I was curious to see if I was correct in my assumptions. The big reveal was definitely a surprise for me. Somehow I did not see that coming and that is always fun when that happens. However, I think the epilogue was unnecessary and took away from the feel of the book. Is this a series? Or are we left a little wanting on purpose? While I don't mind that in some books, I think the ending without this was perfectly acceptable.
2 1/2 stars rounding to 3 ... I really wanted to love this one..
January 16, 2018
I couldn't put it down and was ready for the ending to bring everything together and answer all my questions.. But I was sooo disappointed in the ending!! Not even like "I wish the ending had a better outcome bc everyone dies" type dissapointment, but like it didnt make sense to me. it left more questions than answers like did Ross really take in a sociopath kid?? Was that the 4 boys Karma?? Ava went from wanting to find her birth mom's name and find out who she really was, she was a drunk and never ate... 85lbs soaking wet.. to then really being a serial killler. Some things in the book were unbelievable like Marie thought Ava was Claire?? Ava is clearly a hot mess and maybe at the end of it all she was a sociopath who gave the excuse of her birth mom name to kill. Bc she could of easily got her mom name...she worked for the courts and had friends who investigated crimes for a living, But none of this is explained and then when she sent her friends a Polaroid of Anais house... so now Ava is going after her friends??? I just couldn't get past that ending. seemed ridiculous.
March 12, 2019
Ava Saunders was found 23 years ago, wrapped in a yellow blanket, and left at the doorstep of the Holy Saviour Catholic Church and was later adopted.
Her adopted mother and family would never answer questions about her birth, her abandonment, and her natural parents. Now that her adoptive mother has died, Ava is looking for the answers that have always evaded her.
Ava has found a photograph ,,, so far non-threatening ... showing an open door. When Ava locates the house, she finds that the two people living there were brutally murdered.
And there have been more deaths.. with one thing in common ... the Church. And who is the man who is following her? And who wants her dead?
This is a terrific mystery. I liked the characters, and the story premise is a good one. A few twists and turns along the way ... and a major surprise ... will keep you riveted to the pages. The one drawback is there is a cliff hanger. Good news .. the second book in this series, ABSOLUTION is already available.
Many thanks to the author / Thomas & Mercer / Netgalley for the digital copy of this Crime Mystery. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
Her adopted mother and family would never answer questions about her birth, her abandonment, and her natural parents. Now that her adoptive mother has died, Ava is looking for the answers that have always evaded her.
Ava has found a photograph ,,, so far non-threatening ... showing an open door. When Ava locates the house, she finds that the two people living there were brutally murdered.
And there have been more deaths.. with one thing in common ... the Church. And who is the man who is following her? And who wants her dead?
This is a terrific mystery. I liked the characters, and the story premise is a good one. A few twists and turns along the way ... and a major surprise ... will keep you riveted to the pages. The one drawback is there is a cliff hanger. Good news .. the second book in this series, ABSOLUTION is already available.
Many thanks to the author / Thomas & Mercer / Netgalley for the digital copy of this Crime Mystery. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
February 27, 2018
Thank you so much to Amazon Publishing for providing my free copy TWIST OF FAITH by Ellen J. Green - all opinions are my own.
After the death of her adoptive mother, Ava Saunders comes across an old photograph of a house with a strange inscription, “Destiny calls us”, written on the back. She is certain this photograph will answer questions from her elusive past: twenty three years ago she was abandoned in the Holy Savior Catholic Church and rescued from a horrible fate. Or was she?
As soon as I read the description I knew I had to read this book! It has all the key qualities of a great mystery: family secrets, an old creepy house, a mysterious photograph, and a double murder. I mean, where do I sign up? I really enjoyed this book as it is a solid mystery, with a multilayered story and a few twists and turns that keep you engaged throughout! And although there are several point of views that add complexity to this story, I felt that those added to the overall picture.
I loved Green’s writing style: lots of short chapters to keep the pace going and a mystery narrator that added a major creepy factor! Green did a wonderful job keeping me guessing or at least questioning whether or not I was right. The ending definitely leaves it open to a sequel as it feels almost like a “to be continued”, so let’s hope there is a follow up book to tie up some of these loose ends!
My rating is 3.5 / 5 stars!
After the death of her adoptive mother, Ava Saunders comes across an old photograph of a house with a strange inscription, “Destiny calls us”, written on the back. She is certain this photograph will answer questions from her elusive past: twenty three years ago she was abandoned in the Holy Savior Catholic Church and rescued from a horrible fate. Or was she?
As soon as I read the description I knew I had to read this book! It has all the key qualities of a great mystery: family secrets, an old creepy house, a mysterious photograph, and a double murder. I mean, where do I sign up? I really enjoyed this book as it is a solid mystery, with a multilayered story and a few twists and turns that keep you engaged throughout! And although there are several point of views that add complexity to this story, I felt that those added to the overall picture.
I loved Green’s writing style: lots of short chapters to keep the pace going and a mystery narrator that added a major creepy factor! Green did a wonderful job keeping me guessing or at least questioning whether or not I was right. The ending definitely leaves it open to a sequel as it feels almost like a “to be continued”, so let’s hope there is a follow up book to tie up some of these loose ends!
My rating is 3.5 / 5 stars!
January 14, 2018
Twist of (Bad) Faith
This book deliberately tricks the reader, which is standard fare for a mystery/thriller, but this one does so in a way which is paramount to betrayal. The author switches points of view between chapters, most of the time using third person limited. However, in the Ava (the protagonist according to the book blurb) chapters, the POV is first person. From her point of view, we are fed many many questions and, when we later find out that Ava knew the answer to most of them, those chapters are as much a betrayal to the reader as to Ava’s friends. This could have been a clever literary device if Ava’s chapters were also third person limited, but as is, it makes the work look sloppy in its over-calculatedness. The writing is full of tropes and clichéd language of the genre which quickly get tiring and relies on a whip-lash-inflicting plot to keep the book interesting. All in all, suitable for a rainy day read, but hardly compelling.
This book deliberately tricks the reader, which is standard fare for a mystery/thriller, but this one does so in a way which is paramount to betrayal. The author switches points of view between chapters, most of the time using third person limited. However, in the Ava (the protagonist according to the book blurb) chapters, the POV is first person. From her point of view, we are fed many many questions and, when we later find out that Ava knew the answer to most of them, those chapters are as much a betrayal to the reader as to Ava’s friends. This could have been a clever literary device if Ava’s chapters were also third person limited, but as is, it makes the work look sloppy in its over-calculatedness. The writing is full of tropes and clichéd language of the genre which quickly get tiring and relies on a whip-lash-inflicting plot to keep the book interesting. All in all, suitable for a rainy day read, but hardly compelling.
September 24, 2018
Twist of faith
Avas adoptive mother was recently killed which causes her to go back to her past, back to a house, a house that people were mutilated and murdered. This house is not something people want tomess with.
Ava is a master of all languages but her quick tongue wont save her from a bullet or a speeding car.
I liked the relationship between Ava and johanna and Russell. I liked that there was logic in the madness. I liked that the story felt like real life but... it just fell flat. Im not really sure what was about it that made me not love it. I really enjoyed the characters and how their jobs came into play with the case. I thought that Ava was interesting and the story moved along (a bit slow at times but it moved).
It was a soild 3 ⭐️ but I think others would really like this possibly love this.
Avas adoptive mother was recently killed which causes her to go back to her past, back to a house, a house that people were mutilated and murdered. This house is not something people want tomess with.
Ava is a master of all languages but her quick tongue wont save her from a bullet or a speeding car.
I liked the relationship between Ava and johanna and Russell. I liked that there was logic in the madness. I liked that the story felt like real life but... it just fell flat. Im not really sure what was about it that made me not love it. I really enjoyed the characters and how their jobs came into play with the case. I thought that Ava was interesting and the story moved along (a bit slow at times but it moved).
It was a soild 3 ⭐️ but I think others would really like this possibly love this.
January 10, 2018
Fair
This is a very difficult review for me to write. I almost quit a few times, but decided that it wasn't bad enough to not finish what I started. And I kept hoping it would get better as it progressed. I'm guessing the intent was for this to be a thriller; at least that's what I figured out near the end of the book. At first I thought it was going to be a romantic suspense. In the end, it wasn't really much of any of these.
The story itself, I believe, has potential, but there's something missing in the development. I didn't connect with any of the characters and I didn't feel the attraction between Ava and Russell. I fully expected a twist leading to the reveal of the murderer, but between the fact that I didn't really connect/care about any of the characters and the way the story was so scattered, I found that I didn't really care who the murderer was.
This book wasn't for me
This is a very difficult review for me to write. I almost quit a few times, but decided that it wasn't bad enough to not finish what I started. And I kept hoping it would get better as it progressed. I'm guessing the intent was for this to be a thriller; at least that's what I figured out near the end of the book. At first I thought it was going to be a romantic suspense. In the end, it wasn't really much of any of these.
The story itself, I believe, has potential, but there's something missing in the development. I didn't connect with any of the characters and I didn't feel the attraction between Ava and Russell. I fully expected a twist leading to the reveal of the murderer, but between the fact that I didn't really connect/care about any of the characters and the way the story was so scattered, I found that I didn't really care who the murderer was.
This book wasn't for me
January 1, 2018
Welp, Green successfully kept me in the dark as the story's pieces mixed and mingled, built to completeness, and then exploded into my lap. Religion, murder, mysterious pasts and presents; it's all here and I found myself saying, "NO WAY," at its surprising end.
January 1, 2018
Twisted
I picked this for my January First Read because the book listed as a thriller sounded too gruesome, although generally I would have chosen that one. What a surprise- this book is a mystery thriller. It's a very convoluted story, exciting and with unexpected twists- kept me guessing all the way to the end. I will not inject spoilers into my review, it has highly entertaining characters, and quite a complex plot.
I will definitely read more by this author, this was a very surprising, very good book.
I picked this for my January First Read because the book listed as a thriller sounded too gruesome, although generally I would have chosen that one. What a surprise- this book is a mystery thriller. It's a very convoluted story, exciting and with unexpected twists- kept me guessing all the way to the end. I will not inject spoilers into my review, it has highly entertaining characters, and quite a complex plot.
I will definitely read more by this author, this was a very surprising, very good book.
January 9, 2018
If I paid for it it would get one star
Too complicated a story for someone who is not an expert. Parts were ridiculous and silly. The nun was superfluous and not even needed for the story. To drag us through all that nonsense and leave the reader hanging was not clever, just annoying.
Too complicated a story for someone who is not an expert. Parts were ridiculous and silly. The nun was superfluous and not even needed for the story. To drag us through all that nonsense and leave the reader hanging was not clever, just annoying.
January 28, 2019
2 and half stars but I round it up because I don’t know how to feel about this book. It was chaotic and some moments made no sense. Overall it was a mystery with some surprises.
January 2, 2018
Definitely could not put it down
This book grabs you and hold tight ‘til the end. Frankly, I was disappointed in the ending, but the plot was twisty. Could not see where this one was going! Now I need to check out her first book.
This book grabs you and hold tight ‘til the end. Frankly, I was disappointed in the ending, but the plot was twisty. Could not see where this one was going! Now I need to check out her first book.
March 24, 2018
Disclaimers: The synopsis section is ©Goodreads but the rest of the reviews are completely my words and of course the quote section is obviously from the book reviewed.
4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
"Aux grands maux les grands remèdes."
French Translation: To the great evils, great remedies.
Join the Ash The Bookworm Family!
Blurb:
When family secrets are unearthed, a woman’s past can become a dangerous place to hide…
After the death of her adoptive mother, Ava Saunders comes upon a peculiar photograph, sealed and hidden away in a crawl space. The photo shows a shuttered, ramshackle house on top of a steep hill. On the back, a puzzling inscription: Destiny calls us.
Ava is certain that it’s a clue to her elusive past. Twenty-three years ago, she’d been found wrapped in a yellow blanket in the narthex of the Holy Saviour Catholic Church—and rescued—or so she’d been told. Her mother claimed there was no more to the story, so the questions of her abandonment were left unanswered. For Ava, now is the time to find the roots of her mother’s lies. It begins with the house itself—once the scene of a brutal double murder.
When Ava enlists the help of the two people closest to her, a police detective and her best friend, she fears that investigating her past could be a fatal mistake. Someone is following them there. And what’s been buried in Ava’s nightmares isn’t just a crime. It’s a holy conspiracy.
Review:
Man, where do I begin? "All the things that spring eternal can never be crushed."
This is probably the best mystery I have read since I Am Watching You. You honestly don't know who did it until the very last pages. Your guesses are never quite right. I LOVE ALL THE FRENCH. Y'all know how I love different languages in books so this was amazing, and French is such a beautiful language at that.
"Breakfast with Grand-Mère was always the same. Coffee, diluted with lots of cream and sugar, or thick hot chocolate, served in a huge bowl-like mug. There were teeny chips in the handle, and worn colors ringed the bowl. But it was mine, and Anais never let anyone else use it."
This quote takes me back to my childhood for sure. I lost my nana 5 years ago this December, and we were really close so it reminded me of her. It's nice to reminisce once in a while. It reminded me of all the long talks just hanging out with her, it was just us two watching the world, always peaceful.
There were only a handful of characters but the POV changes sometimes were confusing and it took a minute to realize whose side I was reading. Although there were only about 5-6 characters, it was difficult to figure out who did it. Ellen J. Green did was not taking it easy on the readers. I give her props for keeping you guessing until the very last second. I had to read the reveal over a few times for it to really sink in. And even after reading it a few times I was still like "What?" "No way." "Not today SATAN." It was almost confusing.
The ending was a bit frustrating. The suspense never let up, even after all was revealed there were still questions. And how the author wrapped things up was not what I was looking for. YOU CANNOT END A STANDALONE WITH THAT KIND OF CLIFFHANGER! Other than that, it was fantastic. I loved the characters and development, the world building was satisfying and I was overall pleased. Minus the ending. I for sure recommend this book because it's fabulous. If you want something that will make your mind work, this is exactly what you're looking for.
This brought me out of a slump and now I am PUMPED.
Quotes:
"Destiny calls us, bound by Loyalty."
"Les secrets cashés du passé" (Translation: The hidden secrets of the past)
4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
"Aux grands maux les grands remèdes."
French Translation: To the great evils, great remedies.
Join the Ash The Bookworm Family!
Blurb:
When family secrets are unearthed, a woman’s past can become a dangerous place to hide…
After the death of her adoptive mother, Ava Saunders comes upon a peculiar photograph, sealed and hidden away in a crawl space. The photo shows a shuttered, ramshackle house on top of a steep hill. On the back, a puzzling inscription: Destiny calls us.
Ava is certain that it’s a clue to her elusive past. Twenty-three years ago, she’d been found wrapped in a yellow blanket in the narthex of the Holy Saviour Catholic Church—and rescued—or so she’d been told. Her mother claimed there was no more to the story, so the questions of her abandonment were left unanswered. For Ava, now is the time to find the roots of her mother’s lies. It begins with the house itself—once the scene of a brutal double murder.
When Ava enlists the help of the two people closest to her, a police detective and her best friend, she fears that investigating her past could be a fatal mistake. Someone is following them there. And what’s been buried in Ava’s nightmares isn’t just a crime. It’s a holy conspiracy.
Review:
Man, where do I begin? "All the things that spring eternal can never be crushed."
This is probably the best mystery I have read since I Am Watching You. You honestly don't know who did it until the very last pages. Your guesses are never quite right. I LOVE ALL THE FRENCH. Y'all know how I love different languages in books so this was amazing, and French is such a beautiful language at that.
"Breakfast with Grand-Mère was always the same. Coffee, diluted with lots of cream and sugar, or thick hot chocolate, served in a huge bowl-like mug. There were teeny chips in the handle, and worn colors ringed the bowl. But it was mine, and Anais never let anyone else use it."
This quote takes me back to my childhood for sure. I lost my nana 5 years ago this December, and we were really close so it reminded me of her. It's nice to reminisce once in a while. It reminded me of all the long talks just hanging out with her, it was just us two watching the world, always peaceful.
There were only a handful of characters but the POV changes sometimes were confusing and it took a minute to realize whose side I was reading. Although there were only about 5-6 characters, it was difficult to figure out who did it. Ellen J. Green did was not taking it easy on the readers. I give her props for keeping you guessing until the very last second. I had to read the reveal over a few times for it to really sink in. And even after reading it a few times I was still like "What?" "No way." "Not today SATAN." It was almost confusing.
The ending was a bit frustrating. The suspense never let up, even after all was revealed there were still questions. And how the author wrapped things up was not what I was looking for. YOU CANNOT END A STANDALONE WITH THAT KIND OF CLIFFHANGER! Other than that, it was fantastic. I loved the characters and development, the world building was satisfying and I was overall pleased. Minus the ending. I for sure recommend this book because it's fabulous. If you want something that will make your mind work, this is exactly what you're looking for.
This brought me out of a slump and now I am PUMPED.
Quotes:
"Destiny calls us, bound by Loyalty."
"Les secrets cashés du passé" (Translation: The hidden secrets of the past)
September 7, 2018
‘…someone knew their secret. And what they’d done was unforgivable’
A past secret pact between four children has led to murder and not just one murder either. Information is afforded to us, the reader, by the ever-changing point-of-view of the main characters. Why are a set of people connected to the Catholic Church being murdered? What have they done in the past? What was the secret pact all those years ago? Catholic church and past sins. What could it be?
It took me a little while to get my head round the layout of the book and exactly what was going on. I did go back and re-read a couple of pages again just to re-affirm I was understanding the plot correctly but once I got it I whizzed through.
Visions appear or are they, in-fact, real? The character and the reader are unsure. Bit-by-bit the mystery unravels but the main thing with this type of novel is the big reveal. How is it handled? Did it make the whole book worth it? Let’s be honest, it is 300 pages of build up to this. Even the main character says to her detective friend, ‘You’re smart. And you’ll get there…I know you will… And when you do…It’ll be shocking’.
Forget reality. There is none to be found here but on the whole I enjoyed it. The ending was a bit of a whirlwind but some events from the past were not tied up. They were left unanswered or forgotten about? There is one particular scene towards the end where you are made to think a character is a certain type of person but then later you find he wasn’t and I was thinking that there would be no way he would have acted like he did. No way at all.
I am not a mystery novel connoisseur at all so I am not really well placed to say if this really rates as bad, average or great. I thought it is OK and I did want to get back to reading it and finished it fairly quick for me so that is a good sign.
A past secret pact between four children has led to murder and not just one murder either. Information is afforded to us, the reader, by the ever-changing point-of-view of the main characters. Why are a set of people connected to the Catholic Church being murdered? What have they done in the past? What was the secret pact all those years ago? Catholic church and past sins. What could it be?
It took me a little while to get my head round the layout of the book and exactly what was going on. I did go back and re-read a couple of pages again just to re-affirm I was understanding the plot correctly but once I got it I whizzed through.
Visions appear or are they, in-fact, real? The character and the reader are unsure. Bit-by-bit the mystery unravels but the main thing with this type of novel is the big reveal. How is it handled? Did it make the whole book worth it? Let’s be honest, it is 300 pages of build up to this. Even the main character says to her detective friend, ‘You’re smart. And you’ll get there…I know you will… And when you do…It’ll be shocking’.
Forget reality. There is none to be found here but on the whole I enjoyed it. The ending was a bit of a whirlwind but some events from the past were not tied up. They were left unanswered or forgotten about? There is one particular scene towards the end where you are made to think a character is a certain type of person but then later you find he wasn’t and I was thinking that there would be no way he would have acted like he did. No way at all.
I am not a mystery novel connoisseur at all so I am not really well placed to say if this really rates as bad, average or great. I thought it is OK and I did want to get back to reading it and finished it fairly quick for me so that is a good sign.
January 8, 2018
I have such mixed feelings about this book. I was incredibly uninterested until about 2/3rds of the way through the book when it finally picked up. The fact that all of the characters but Joanne were unlikable didn’t help. How could I care about Ava when she seemed like such an awful person to begin with? It’s a very convoluted storyline where you wonder if these people really would have behaved and reacted this way. There was a few twists that made this a worthwhile read though so it gets 3 stars from me.
July 31, 2018
Hmmmmm what to say about this book?? There were plenty of twists and turns that I did not see coming. At the end of the book I was left thinking “How did I not see that coming?” Also I didn’t really care for the very very ending in the epilogue. It just made no sense to me and made the story continuing in a way I felt wasn’t needed and pointless. If you decide to read this book go into it without thinking or over analyzing it. Just enjoy the rollercoaster that it is as it comes 😁
January 12, 2018
Pretty riveting
I only gave it three stars because the backstory was lost on me. They kept alluding to past events but never saying what those events were. I was kept in confusion until the very end .... and the Ava/Claire mix up at the end was unrealistic to me... and I never quite understood Marie. Still had me turning pages to see how it would unfold ... except I still need some pages to turn.
I only gave it three stars because the backstory was lost on me. They kept alluding to past events but never saying what those events were. I was kept in confusion until the very end .... and the Ava/Claire mix up at the end was unrealistic to me... and I never quite understood Marie. Still had me turning pages to see how it would unfold ... except I still need some pages to turn.
January 10, 2018
Meh
Was hoping for a great mystery, but the writing meandered along and although I didn’t predict the ending exactly I didn’t really care how it ended. Reads like a poor imitation of gone girl.
Was hoping for a great mystery, but the writing meandered along and although I didn’t predict the ending exactly I didn’t really care how it ended. Reads like a poor imitation of gone girl.
May 24, 2018
I tried so hard for this novel and the fact that I made it 40% in and still gave up should be telling. When all the characters are cynical, annoying, or otherwise fatally flawed (murderous?) how am I supposed to find interest in anyone? It’s like everyone is either a shade of the Bitter Noir Detective™️ or a miserable lady side-piece (in the sense of the narrative and in the sense of relationships. I have a personal grudge against certain cheating tropes and it hasn’t helped my enjoyment of this book). It would help if the story was a little more engaging - there’s a good mystery, theoretically, and I do like the multiple perspectives and the vagueness of who’s-the-killer, but the characters bog it down. So much red wine drinking, so much bitter-sludge-coffee making (because our heroine is GRITTY, get it??)... there’s only so much I can take.
March 22, 2018
This book kept me guessing until the end. I am usually pretty good at figuring things out before the end but I was slightly shocked by the ending. I did not see that coming.
March 4, 2018
This book begins with Ava, the main character, trying to find out more about her birth mother. She has always been told she was adopted after being left on church steps. Ava has had a tumultuous relationship with her adoptive mother and and a very disjointed upbringing. Her adoptive mother has now died and Ava is determined to find out more about who left her at the church all those years ago. Her Aunt Marie has also been a person that Ava has never really understood or had a positive relationship with. Marie is not willing to give Ava any more details on how to came to live with this family. Ava then confides in her friends, one a coworker and the other a police detective, and they covertly start to unravel the mystery. There are many twists and turns throughout the book and the mystery increases. The ending is a bit too open ended leading to much speculation there is going to be a sequel. Overall a good book with a lot of mystery.
Read
January 30, 2018I think I’m going to put this down for now. May come back to it.
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