The Bug Jar

by Ava Black

For make-up salesgirl Samantha Holland, life is a constant struggle to cling to reality. Her tenuous hold on sanity is exacerbated by a toxic affair with wealthy and powerful State Representative Richard Harrison, who gets sadistic pleasure toying with her already confused mind. But Sam comes closest to losing her grip when Harrison’s emotionally disturbed stepson is murdered—and the police suspect her. When Harrison tries to break off their relationship, Sam tries to save herself by piecing together patchy memories of what might be her own involvement in the killing. The truth she uncovers is more sinister than she could have imagined.

Genres: Fiction

231 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 17, 2018

About the author

Ava is an Amazon best-selling author (Crime Thriller) and contributing editor at Noir Nation. She is the co-creator of the Noir Nation Blot. Her works have garnered rave reviews form Kirkus, Blue Ink, and Book Trib as well as multiple award-winning authors. Her short stories can be found at Noir Nation and Spinetingler while her crime fiction reviews and author interviews can be found at Crimespree Magazine. She reads her work at Noir At The Bar in New York City and Murder At The Mic in Chicago.

Ava lives in the rural Midwest with her charming and handsome black lab, Bucky.

Get connected at: Avablackbooks@gmail.com.

Reviews

[Michelle]

This book is a hot mess - DNF!

"Even with his pasty, flabby arms that showcase unmanly years of paper pushing, his stare melts me like plastic wrap in a microwave."

Really? *groans*

[Joanne Tinkler (Mamajomakes) · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I started reading this book I felt like I’d come across Samantha Holland before but I couldn’t place where or when. Then it dawned on me that she reminded me of Alanis Morrisette as in she seems angry at everything and everyone and bitter towards life in general much like Morrisette was portrayed in the 90’s. The main character in this story has an undiagnosed mental disorder though she has had some treatment but it doesn’t seem to be effective.

Sam is sleeping with Richard Harrison, a career focused man who is running to be the mayor but Richard is already married with a stepson. One morning Sam wakes up to find that Richard’s stepson has died as the result of a hit and run and her car has a fair sized dent that wasn’t there before.......

Personally I feel this book is more about mental illness than it is a thriller. The thriller part of the story is quite bewildering but having said that, I was entertained enough to finish reading the novel. I read a previous review that said she felt the book was more suited to American readers and I would agree with that statement.

Many thanks to the author and NetGalley for letting me read this book in exchange for my opinion.

[CloudOfThoughts_Books Keirstin · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Bug Jar by author Ava Black is a page turner with thrills throughout. The characters are great and well developed as well as the plot. I enjoyed reading The Bug Jar and would recommend it to others.
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of The Bug Jar in exchange for an honest review.

[Karen Barber · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sam Holland has a mental illness, as she reminds us at every possible opportunity, and it’s constantly referred to by every character she interacts with. Unfortunately, her mental health becomes the whole crux of the novel - and for that reason I really struggled to get through this.
While Sam herself doesn’t apologise for her mental health, the way it’s used to hinge the main event on made for uncomfortable reading.
This is a book that has a lot going on; not all of which really felt needed.
Samantha has been having an affair with an older man who’s running for office. His stepson - who also seems to be living with some mental health issue - is killed. Samantha is being set-up for it, and she seems an obvious target though it soon becomes clear she wasn’t responsible.
We then have to wade through some downright bizarre events, none of which seemed particularly credible, and watch as Sam ends up escaping from a mental institution in time to crash a press conference and reveal what really happened.
Maybe some will like this, but it really didn’t work for me. Thanks though to NetGalley for allowing me access prior to publication.

[Julia · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's not easy to rate and review this book. For one thing, I wasn't only sent a review copy through NetGalley, but also got a signed paperback copy from the author. For another, I only marginally know what bipolar disorder is, the disorder the main character is suspected to have.

I liked some aspects of the main character, like her spunk. But had a very hard time connecting with her.

Some of the writing was good too, yet some sentences were so full of geographical references that I actually pulled out a map so it would make sense for me.

I wanted to like this book very much, actually liked the first few chapters, but then it was easy to see where it was going.

[Maria · Rating 3 out of 5]

RTC

[Rosie Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Bug Jar is a suspense story with a mental health theme. The book is contemporary and set in Chicago.

Samantha Hollard (Sam) has mental health issues. Her medication allows her periods of release from the world. She thinks she killed a boy called Evan. However, she first heard of the story on the news; a car with her distinctive type and colouring was reported at the scene. The crime scene is a neighbourhood she regularly visits, and her car does has a child-size dent in the bumper; she just can’t remember the accident. See here for full review https://wp.me/p2Eu3u-c8H

[Lel Budge · Rating 4 out of 5]

Samantha Holland has a mental health problem that she is trying to deal with, taking meds a bit haphazardly and she loses her job as a result.

Sam is also having an affair with a politician, Richard, and has a boyfriend, Mark, whose a mechanic and says he loves her, but she is using him to keep her car on the road.

Richards son dies in an accident and suspicion is on Sam, due to her mental health and she feels someone is out to get her. She is certain it was her that run him down in a yellow car, but signs point to her car being involved. Ava Black has written so many twists and turns, it really keeps you guessing until the last chapter or 2.

This is such a great read, with a really original slant. There’s cheating politicians, dodgy police Sheriffs, honest detectives and the odd mistress all in a clever thriller. It shows that mental health problems are a normal condition that should be treated just the same as any physical health problem. I really enjoyed this and while a cliche, I really couldn’t put it down...

I would like to thank the Author/the Publishers/NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for a fair and honest review

[Jacqie Wheeler · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars.
This book has some of my favorite things in a thriller - an unreliable narrator who is being framed for a murder she possibly didn't commit, lies, affairs, and a bunch of crazy people. I honestly loved this book up until 80% but it completely changed stories and added a bunch of new characters in an entire different setting, until it didn't even feel like the same book anymore. This was upsetting, since I was going to rate this book higher, but this was still a good read!
Thanks to netgalley for the arc!

[January Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book, but we warned it may trigger some people so read the description closely. Well written. I read it from cover to cover in one sitting.

[Douglas Meeks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well this was not a feel good story, it is chaotic, dark and depressing in many places. Samantha is not exactly a character you will like immediately but as the book progresses you get to accept her and like her more mainly because she is a huge underdog in this story and the odds are against her at almost all times. Since she is not exactly mentally stable some of what she believes might or might not be as she believes it to be so beware :)

This has a lot of every thriller/suspense story you ever read woven into this book, throw in some pieces of "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" and you have a story that is going to be rattling around in your memory for a very long time.

Since I don't do spoilers, let me summarize:
Shocking start
Depressing heroine
Corrupt politicians
Ambitious evil women
The almost absence of morals in most characters (but you might not realize that until the end)
Some really nice surprises at the end

So I give it 4 Stars for an engrossing story that did not leave me warm inside but did become addicting as I went along and a great book if you are tired of fantasy and want to balance out all those unicorns and rainbows with a gritty dose of reality.

[Jypsy · Rating 2 out of 5]

When I saw the title, The Bug Jar, I immediately thought of The Bell Jar and Sylvia Plath. Drawing similarities between the two, there is a woman with a mental illness, and Sylvia Plath was also mentally ill. It's a serious issue, mental illness, and more people should realize that. I didn't like this story because I felt that the aspect of mental illness should have been treated differently. The Bug Jar is not for me.

[O. D. Book Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was given a complimentary copy of this book in return for my honest review.

Description:
Sam, a makeup salesgirl struggling with mental illness finds herself the main suspect of a crime she has no memory of committing. The disturbed son of a politician is killed and the evidence all points to her. Her unhealthy affair with the politician isn't helping her sanity or her case. Her enemies want to use her illness and a medicated haze to make sure she never discovers the truth of what happened that night. To find truth and justice she will need to be more brave and cunning than anyone thought her capable of all while dealing with her inaccurately diagnosed condition and incorrect medications.

"I flip onto my stomach, eager to devour the haunting prose, bus as I scan through the pages a passage arouses my inner dread."

In Short:
This was an amazing book. I was completely glued to the elaborate story and just had to know what would happen next. The mystery was elaborate and got more and more involved as the story progressed. If you like the sound of a mystery/thriller about a mentally ill protagonist who is struggling to find the reality surrounding a mysterious death, you should definitely check this book out. I would recommend this book to all fans of mystery especially if you like psychological thrillers and a main character straight from noir.

"This is the bug jar. Insects who bang against the glass make their keepers angry, and for all of their efforts, wind up dead."

Pros:
I was surprised by the ending but it also made perfect sense and it was fantastic. The entire story was well told in short chapters that kept the action flowing and the twists turning. I found the mystery to be absolutely bewildering. I would get some things right and then be totally shocked by other revelations. There was a believable and elaborate cast of characters each with their own secrets and agendas. It wasn't always clear who was friend and who was foe, and how everything was connected. There is a beautiful tension and suspense to this story that really keeps you engaged. I didn't always agree with Sam's choices, or think that she was doing what was really best for her but I still found her to be very sympathetic and even relatable. Usually I find it frustrating when characters do seemingly crazy things but in this book it wasn't like that, and I didn't have to agree to understand why she would make those decisions. Even when her motives seemed selfish, it was understandable and I thought she was likeable. I really rooted for her in the end as things only seemed to spiral more and more out of control. It was such a believable yet imaginative story with a very complex plot. I like how the book brought awareness to mental health issues in the way that other characters tried to take advantage of it, and use it against her, all while she can't afford the medical care she needs. She faced a harsh stigma and a lot of judgement that almost condemned her entirely. This book was very well written and edited. I would highly recommend it to others and I would read more by this author.

"I can't go on like this... not while I have this job and two detectives on my ass. I pick up my cell and dial Dr. Chaitkin to make an appointment for tomorrow. Money or not, I need him. More than Richard or Mark, I need to know what's wrong with me. I need sanity."

Cons:
I have no issues with this book.

Parent’s Guide:
Sexual content best for an adult audience. You can skip the prologue to avoid 1 brief scene of animal cruelty (in the end the animal is fine, the human not so much).

[Jim Thomsen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Meet Samantha Holland, the antiheroic heroine of Ava Black’s debut novel THE BUG JAR: “Normal is a state of mind that sane people disregard. They shouldn’t. I’d do anything to be normal, but I’m not. I’m a lipstick salesgirl who hopes she didn’t kill a kid.”

Samantha, like Chelsea, is a former college student in her early twenties. But for her, drugs are a wobbly source of salvation: she’s mentally ill and weaves between a medicated semi-zombie state and a lively but horrendously messy hypomanic mode. The latter manifests itself in reckless, self-destructive affairs with two men: Richard, a serially philandering rich man on the fast track to being the next mayor of Chicago, and Mark, a backwoods-Wisconsin redneck who loves Samantha, gives her anything she wants, and is desperate to pin her down into marriage and a life of mechanic’s wife. (Guess which one Samantha wants, and perhaps might even kill to have?)

THE BUG JAR sometimes wobbles as much as Samantha. For one, the characters tend to whipsaw all over the place, from friendly to scalding to weak, seemingly acting more out of the plot’s needs than their own. (For instance, the grease-monkey boyfriend’s love for Samantha seems guileless and sincere, yet he exhibits hints of menace and manipulation in her presence that seem at odds with his infatuation.) And two, any suspension of disbelief for the jam-packed plot requires the reader to buy into a shopworn thriller conceit: that one person is willing to invest enormous amounts of time, energy and money into a complicated gaslighting campaign aimed at another individual.

That’s the bad news. The good news is that Ava Black writes well, and she’s got that thing that literary agents say they value more than almost anything else: a crackling voice. THE BUG JAR is full of colorfully acidic observations that give this nimbly paced novel an extra shot of glide: “You’re probably thinking that I have sex with anything that moves, and that all the people around me wind up dead, but that’s not true. I reported his death to the sheriff and called the detective. This morning I took meds.”

Whatever THE BUG JAR’s faults, Samantha Holland never fails to be less than utterly compelling company, even when the novel dives into the blacker shades of dark. Much of the third act of the novel takes place in a mental hospital, and what happens there would make a reader evacuate a stack of ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO’S NEST hardcovers sideways. (Ava Black knows crazy like Alec Cizak knows addiction.)

THE BUG JAR is the rare flawed novel that I recommend, as a showcase for Ava Black’s enormous talent and upside, which I can’t wait to see married to a better sense of watertight storycraft in her subsequent novels.

[emery Buriedinbookland · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley and the author for providing me with this ebook in exchange for my honest review.

When I came across this book on Netgalley and saw it had bipolar representation and found out the author not only did research but also spoke with her bipolar friend, I knew I wanted to give it a shot.

The Bug Jar follows Samantha Holland, who is dealing with undiagnosed bipolar disorder due to being unable to afford the doctor bills, so she overmedicates with her antidepressants thinking it will help. She then is accused of murdering the pychotic step son of the married man she is sleeping with, Richard Harrison, who is also running for mayor. The problem is, due to her black outs, she's unsure if she actually did run him over and kill him.

Plot
As far as plot goes, it was a decent mystery thriller. I had some issues with some things being realistic or believable, which made it slightly cringy at times. However the twists were well formulated and carried out well which made it difficult to put the book down.

Characters/Character Development
The characters were pretty underdeveloped besides the main character. Samantha's character was three dimensional and well done. She had fantastic character development and it was satisfying where her development went by the end of the book.

Diversity/Representation
There was very little diversity in this book but there were a couple POC side characters and our main character had bipolar disorder. Having went through being undiagnosed and unmedicated bipolar a year before I was medicated, due to financials, Samantha and her mental state resonated with me and I identified with her frequently throughout the book. The bipolar rep in this book was incredible and well written.

Writing
The writing was decent, it wasn't anything spectacular but it wasn't bad either. It could've been better and there was a lot of room for improvement but it wasn't blocky or difficult to read.

Thriller-wise, this wasn't a very good book but if you're looking for good mental health rep, mainly bipolar, then I would give this one read.

[Alyssa Smith · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to the author, the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC. Another book that after reading raving reviews left me clueless and questioning myself. While this was a quick read, I felt the writing was slippery and frankly almost amateur, which is probably why it was easy to read in one sitting. There were aspects of it I enjoyed, the narrator’a whit and spunk, but her personality flip flopped so often I couldn’t grasp who she was. Which maybe was the intent, as she was suspected to have bipolar disorder. But for me, it was unrealistic. I also found the descriptions of Wisconsin and Wisconsinites a bit offensive, having lived 5 miles north of the Illinois boarder my whole life, save for two years when I lived outside of the small towns the author mentioned. Definitely no bible thumping red neck dirty sheriffs in these parts. I’m very familiar with the city of Chicago but it was hard for me to even pinpoint locations when the author name dropped streets named in dialogue that felt unnecessarily distracting. With all of that being said, the part of me that never wants to hurt anyone’s feelings is forcing me to say: look, a lot of people loved this book and a lot of people couldn’t put it down, but it wasn’t my thing, it wasn’t for me, and that’s okay, because maybe it will be for you.

[LJ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an advanced reader copy of this novel via NetGalley by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Living with a mental illness is never easy, and for Samantha :Holland, it's about to get a whole lot worse. Unable to afford her treatment, living week to week and relying to toxic relationships to keep her sane, Sam is struggling. When her secret affair with politician Richard Harrison comes to an abrupt end, she is devastated. While she struggles with her mental health, she is horrified to realise that the police suspect her in the recent murder of Richard's step-son, Evan. Slowly losing her grip on reality, Sam fights to find the truth and clear her name.

The first half of this book was great, I thought the writing a little amateur but still enjoyable. The main character was developed really well and I liked reading from her perspective. Towards the second half, things started to get a little messy. A lot of what happened seemed kind of unrealistic and unbelievable and it just lost me. I would still love to see some more work from this author.

[Joanne Tinkler (Mamajomakes) · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I started reading this book I felt like I’d come across Samantha Holland before but I couldn’t place where or when. Then it dawned on me that she reminded me of Alanis Morrisette as in she seems angry at everything and everyone and bitter towards life in general much like Morrisette was portrayed in the 90’s. The main character in this story has an undiagnosed mental disorder though she has had some treatment but it doesn’t seem to be effective.

Sam is sleeping with Richard Harrison, a career focused man who is running to be the mayor but Richard is already married with a stepson. One morning Sam wakes up to find that Richard’s stepson has died as the result of a hit and run and her car has a fair sized dent that wasn’t there before.......

Personally I feel this book is more about mental illness than it is a thriller. The thriller part of the story is quite bewildering but having said that, I was entertained enough to finish reading the novel. I read a previous review that said she felt the book was more suited to American readers and I would agree with that statement.

[Lizbeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a digital copy of this book from the author and Netgalley.com. Thanks to both for the opportunity to read and review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Ms. Black has written an excellent thriller with a deeply flawed, mental unstable heroine. The writing of Samantha's struggle with her illness is very real and thoughtfully done. Sam displays all the trademarks of living with mental illness, but without camp or over dramatization. This is the strongest part of the book.

Readers might use caution in selecting this book. There are very triggering elements in it's storyline.

4 out of 5 stars. Recommended reading.

[Lizbeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a digital copy of this book from the author and Netgalley.com. Thanks to both for the opportunity to read and review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own. Ms. Black has written an excellent thriller with a deeply flawed, mental unstable heroine. The writing of Samantha's struggle with her illness is very real and thoughtfully done. Sam displays all the trademarks of living with mental illness, but without camp or over dramatization. This is the strongest part of the book. Readers might use caution in selecting this book. There are very triggering elements in it's storyline. 4 out of 5 stars. Recommended reading.

[Victoria Zieger · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a quick read. It started out so trying and did not go down the path I was expecting. Between the mystery and suspicion, there is an underlying story about mental health care and issues surrounding the treatment of patients and people suffering with any form of mental illness. I loved the ending and the characters and the writing. Excellent book packed with a lot for a shorter novel.

[Elisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this ebook from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book! It is an easy-to-read thriller that follows Sam, a young woman who is battling her own mental demons while accidentally getting mixed up with crazy rich people who try to frame her for murder. The story does go kind of wild and unbelievable, but it was entertaining so I didn't care. Ultimately, I would read more from this author.

[Meg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dark but full of humor and unexpected twists, this thriller kept me engaged until the final chapter. The book addresses some of the challenges faced by people with mental illness. But the illness does not dominate the story; it only makes Samantha (the protagonist) more human in her struggles. I received this book as part of the Goodreads Giveaway program.

[Sophie Bristow Harris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quite a slog to read. A political and confusing storyline. Not my kind of book really but I hate to give up on a book once I’ve started. I really liked the title and cover art work though.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this book was very good at first. It had me on the edge of my seat through most of the book but I felt like the ending was wrapped of to neatly.

[Heidi Lynn’s BookReviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

First, I want to thank Ava Black and Netgalley for providing me with this book so I can bring you this review.

I am a huge fan of psychological thrillers but never have I read a prologue to a book that shocked me so much as this Ava Black’s The Bug Jar. Warning to readers you may want to skip this section of the book. With that being said dang what a way to start off the book!! You not only shocked the heck out of me you got my total and undivided attention. He was a sick and troubled kid and well it made for a good story!!

This book touches on a very important topic mental illness. Ava brings up stalking, bipolor disorder, depression, animal cruelty by the hands of his owner.

Sam quick wit sarcastic humor made me laugh out loud. Especially about Sam’s take on makeup and her customers buying her makeup products.

I loved how Sam wanted a better life than the one she had. However, having an affair with the soon to be Mayor and hoping he will leave his wife wont work. Sam was delusional and had mental issues that she saw a shrink for.

I could totally see this being an independent movie at the small movie theaters. I think it would do well actually.

Ava’s description, attention and ability to tell a story that is totally outside the box that has never been done before is incredible.

I absolutely loved the cover of the book. It captured the essence of not only the title but the feel of the book as well. Kudos to the graphic artist and the one who came up with the idea.

If you like books about cheating spouses, death of a child, unstable individuals, political campaigns, police investigations, troubled youth, stalkers, then this book might be for you.

[batkat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Summary Short:
Samantha Holland, makeup salesgirl is a suspect in the death of the stepson of the man she is having an affair with.

My Review:
The book starts out with the stepson creating havoc and then quickly losing his life, hit by a car. The following underlying quest, for Samantha, is to figure out whether it was she who hit the son.
Samantha suffers from a mental disorder, one she is not sure of. Is she bipolar or schizophrenic? Thoughts about this are constantly running through her mind, along with the self-awareness of memory loss. I followed Samantha (at a fast pace) as she was on a continual move towards finding out the truth while trying to hide her involvement if it did happen to be her fault. Her affair with the politician and the jealousy of his wife combined with using a man who is in love with her ping-ponged the reader back and forth on whether Samantha is a mean girl or just vulnerable due to her medical and family history.
I was rooting for the main character the whole story, which lead me to finish this book quickly. The author kept me interested with never letting the action die down for long and upping the ante with some bizarre events. Even though the actions/words of the detective and sheriff seemed silly at times, I liked the twists in the story. All in all, a great read.

[GripLitGrl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ava Black starts her debut novel off with Evan a teenage boy with some major serial killer like tendencies, when Evan is murdered you think you know where the story will lead but you won’t see all the twist Black has in store for her characters. From early on I was hooked turning the pages of this one.

This is a gripping read the main character Samantha Holland has a mental illness that is not properly cared for or diagnosed. I found myself turning the pages wanting to get to know Samantha better. Is she a unreliable narrator, how is she able to hold herself together with every plot twist & turn? She is quick thinking & almost always on the defensive. She’s a young woman who says what’s on her mind unfiltered with quick witt at times she’s quite funny & relatable.

I really enjoyed Black’s writting it was the fast pace with short chapters. I was able to devour her book in 2 nights. If I had a free day definitely I could have finished it in a day.

I look forward to reading more from Ava Black in the future a wonderful new author who should be reading. I definitely could see a book to screen adaption in the future for this wonderful page turner.

[Lel Budge · Rating 4 out of 5]

Samantha Holland has a mental health problem that she is trying to deal with, taking meds a bit haphazardly and she loses her job as a result.

Sam is also having an affair with a politician, Richard, and has a boyfriend, Mark, whose a mechanic and says he loves her, but she is using him to keep her car on the road.

Richards son dies in an accident and suspicion is on Sam, due to her mental health and she feels someone is out to get her. She is certain it was her that run him down in a yellow car, but signs point to her car being involved. Ava Black has written so many twists and turns, it really keeps you guessing until the last chapter or 2.

This is such a great read, with a really original slant. There’s cheating politicians, dodgy police Sheriffs, honest detectives and the odd mistress all in a clever thriller. It shows that mental health problems are a normal condition that should be treated just the same as any physical health problem. I really enjoyed this and while a cliche, I really couldn’t put it down...

[Katrece Nelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let me just start out by saying that you absolutely have to read this book!! This book hooked you in straight from the prologue and it was a whirl wind all the way to the end. The Bug Jar starts out with a very Last Mrs Parrish vibe with the narrator having an affair with a married man. The only difference is that this main character, Samantha, is so relatable. She suffers from depression possibly bipolar and doesn’t take her medicine properly. So that compounding with typical female insecurities she craves male attention and it’s not a shock she goes for an older man.

I honestly could not stop talking about this book. I even had it with me at work talking to co workers, who don’t even read, about it. The ending blew me out of the water, which is surprising. As often as I read suspense and thriller, it takes a bit to really throw me for a loop but this one totally caught me looking the other way.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5 out of 5) This book is definitely in my top 5 books for 2018. Will definitely be looking forward to seeing more from Ava Black.