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Hawthorn Woods
Summer, 1989. Reeling from a catastrophic divorce she just can’t seem to leave behind, Francine Haddix flees San Francisco for a two-week stay at her sister’s house in Hawthorn Woods, Illinois. The quaint neighborhood of shady trees and friendly neighbors seems like the perfect place to sort through her pain and finally move on with her life—but the tranquility doesn’t last long.
Beginning with a complete stranger throwing a drink in her face at her own welcome party, Francine soon discovers the supposedly idyllic suburb is hiding a disturbing number of mysteries. Why is the handsome-ish guy next door lying about who he is? What’s hidden in the back of the teenage troublemaker’s shed? Who wrote a threatening message in blood? Which of the smiling neighbors has a secret they’d kill to keep?
Seeking to reclaim a natural passion for sleuthing numbed by her divorce, Francine rewrites her prescription from one of relaxation to one of investigation. If she can detect the lies, follow the clues, and remember how to trust herself, she might get to the bottom of what’s so very wrong in Hawthorn Woods. She might even be able to believe the future can be good again—assuming she lives long enough to be in it.
Beginning with a complete stranger throwing a drink in her face at her own welcome party, Francine soon discovers the supposedly idyllic suburb is hiding a disturbing number of mysteries. Why is the handsome-ish guy next door lying about who he is? What’s hidden in the back of the teenage troublemaker’s shed? Who wrote a threatening message in blood? Which of the smiling neighbors has a secret they’d kill to keep?
Seeking to reclaim a natural passion for sleuthing numbed by her divorce, Francine rewrites her prescription from one of relaxation to one of investigation. If she can detect the lies, follow the clues, and remember how to trust herself, she might get to the bottom of what’s so very wrong in Hawthorn Woods. She might even be able to believe the future can be good again—assuming she lives long enough to be in it.
301 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 4, 2020
About the author
Patrick Canning
6 books237 followersPATRICK CANNING is the author of the novels For Your Benefit (2024), Cryptonalia (2021), Hawthorn Woods (2020), The Colonel and the Bee (2018), and Cryptofauna (2018).
His work often blends genres, combining elements of humor, adventure, fantasy, and mystery into stories with imaginative settings, quirky characters, and typos.
Patrick lives in Chicago with his Australian Shepherd, Hank. When he isn’t writing, he enjoys walks on the lakefront, being excited/worrying about AI, and eating his bodyweight in potatoes.
@catpanning (Instagram)
His work often blends genres, combining elements of humor, adventure, fantasy, and mystery into stories with imaginative settings, quirky characters, and typos.
Patrick lives in Chicago with his Australian Shepherd, Hank. When he isn’t writing, he enjoys walks on the lakefront, being excited/worrying about AI, and eating his bodyweight in potatoes.
@catpanning (Instagram)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews
August 20, 2020
*I was given a copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for my fair and honest review.*
Hawthorn Woods by Patrick Canning is set in 1989 as well follow Francine, a recent Divorcee as she goes to visit her sister for two weeks, staying in a nice, quiet Illinois neighborhood call Hawthorn Woods. But Hawthorn Woods is neither quiet nor innocent. It's full of mysteries- why did a stranger throw her drink in Francine's face at a dinner party? There is a neighbor who is hiding his identity for some reason, and then there is a murder. And Francine sets out to solve each one of these mysteries.
The book is very intriguing and all of the strange events keep you turning the pages and well as all of the mysteries and thrills throughout the novel. The suspense is built up with a feverish pace throughout the novel. I loved the throwback to the 1980's as I was an 80's kid myself!
The writing was good- Canning has a great style and narration. He knows how to keep the reader engaged. The characters were all well portrayed and realistic. I highly recommend this for anyone who loves a good mystery!
Hawthorn Woods by Patrick Canning is set in 1989 as well follow Francine, a recent Divorcee as she goes to visit her sister for two weeks, staying in a nice, quiet Illinois neighborhood call Hawthorn Woods. But Hawthorn Woods is neither quiet nor innocent. It's full of mysteries- why did a stranger throw her drink in Francine's face at a dinner party? There is a neighbor who is hiding his identity for some reason, and then there is a murder. And Francine sets out to solve each one of these mysteries.
The book is very intriguing and all of the strange events keep you turning the pages and well as all of the mysteries and thrills throughout the novel. The suspense is built up with a feverish pace throughout the novel. I loved the throwback to the 1980's as I was an 80's kid myself!
The writing was good- Canning has a great style and narration. He knows how to keep the reader engaged. The characters were all well portrayed and realistic. I highly recommend this for anyone who loves a good mystery!
September 4, 2020
I write this as a member of Rosie’s Review Team, and I freely chose to review an ARC copy of this novel.
I had come across Patrick Canning thanks to Rosie’s Review Team, where his previous novel got great reviews, and I had to check his new book. It is quite different to The Colonel and the Bee demonstrating that this is an author who has plenty of tricks up his sleeve, and one likely to enchant us with a variety of stories for a long time to come.
This is a difficult book to review without revealing any spoilers, as talking in any detail about the plot or the characters could let the cat out of the bag, so I apologise for being a bit vague here. I think the synopsis I include above offers a fair idea of the plot. The premise makes one think of a cozy mystery. Francine, a young woman who works as a hairdresser and is still trying to get over her failed marriage (she was convinced it was going to be forever, but they didn’t even make it to their first wedding anniversary) takes the chance of her sister’s long-delayed honeymoon trip to housesit for her, intent on having a therapeutic holiday while there that will help her to move on in her life. The setting reminded me of Desperate Housewives, Blue Velvet or many series and novels about small towns or housing estates, perfect on the surface but with a fair amount of dirt hidden under the carpets. When Francine puts on her Nancy Drew hat and starts investigating what at first-sight appears to be a pretty harmless incident, things soon start to unravel, and she discovers she is not the only amateur detective at work. We realise that what appeared to be a light read starts getting darker, and by the end of the book it has touched on some very serious topics: domestic violence, intolerance and prejudice, historical memory, Justice, animal cruelty, anti-Semitism, mental health problems…
Francine is an eminently sympathetic character. She is going through a hard time but keeps trying to make the best out of things and is always prepared to give everybody a second chance (even when it might be risky). We learn early on that she has always taken refuge in fantasy, loved reading Nancy Drew novels as a child, to the point where she would take on her persona, and her self-esteem is quite low (she does not see herself as others do). She believes in her intuition but second-guesses herself often and can easily be swayed by others she trusts. She is also quite fixated on a questionnaire her ex-husband gave her, and each chapter starts with one of the questions of the questionnaire and her answers (the questionnaire is real, just in case you wonder) which also help give us an insight into the workings of her mind. Most of the story is told from her point of view (in the third person), but, as mentioned, her perception of things is coloured by her own experiences and feelings about herself, and she is not the most reliable of narrators. There is a long catalogue of other characters, although we don’t get to know them in as much detail as we do Francine. There is a much younger narrator as well, who reminded me of Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn mixed in one, a bit naughty and not always a follower of rules, but he knows how to enjoy himself and is a great observer (and yes, a detective of sorts as well). There is a nice elderly man who becomes a father figure to Francine; there is a mysterious and attractive stranger; there is a friend of Francine’s sister who adopts her and takes her under her wing (and she brings a bit of a chick-lit element to the story); there is a vet Marine of a certain age who believes he is still a Don Juan; there is a youth with a motorbike whom everybody believes is a troublemaker; there is a woman who has become the self-appointed queen bee and insists all should follow her rules; there’s the sheriff and his jealous Russian wife (rumoured to be a mail catalogue wife)… As I said, we don’t get to know all of them in detail, but there are secrets and mysteries hiding in many of their lives, and I think most readers will be taken by surprise by how deceptive appearances can be.
The writing flows easily, and we get a good sense of the neighbourhood and the characters without long-winded descriptions disrupting the action. The pace is fairly steady to being with —it ebbs and flows, with some moments of contemplation punctuated by excitement and action— but towards the end the pace increases and the book crams a lot of action in the last few chapters. Although most of the book is pretty light, with only some hints at dark goings on (I’ve mentioned animal cruelty, and there are a couple of instances of it), towards the end, things become more tense, minor incidents pile up, and then there is an explosion of action and violence (not extremely explicit or gore, but I would recommend caution to those who prefer a light read) that will get readers turning the pages faster and faster.
I always mention the ending, and I enjoyed this one. Yes, it did not disappoint. In fact, it ties everything up in a most satisfactory way (together with something that happens in the book and I won’t mention).
I recommend this book to people who like the idea of cozy mysteries but prefer something darker; to those who enjoy small town settings with a dark underbelly, and to readers who delight in putting puzzles together and questioning everything they read. There are unreliable narrators, details that don’t quite seem to fit in, lovely dogs, wayward kids, romance, several mysteries, a colourful cast of characters, and a heroine most of us will root for. If you like the sound of all that, check a sample and give it a go. It will entertain you, make you think, and might even surprise you.
I had come across Patrick Canning thanks to Rosie’s Review Team, where his previous novel got great reviews, and I had to check his new book. It is quite different to The Colonel and the Bee demonstrating that this is an author who has plenty of tricks up his sleeve, and one likely to enchant us with a variety of stories for a long time to come.
This is a difficult book to review without revealing any spoilers, as talking in any detail about the plot or the characters could let the cat out of the bag, so I apologise for being a bit vague here. I think the synopsis I include above offers a fair idea of the plot. The premise makes one think of a cozy mystery. Francine, a young woman who works as a hairdresser and is still trying to get over her failed marriage (she was convinced it was going to be forever, but they didn’t even make it to their first wedding anniversary) takes the chance of her sister’s long-delayed honeymoon trip to housesit for her, intent on having a therapeutic holiday while there that will help her to move on in her life. The setting reminded me of Desperate Housewives, Blue Velvet or many series and novels about small towns or housing estates, perfect on the surface but with a fair amount of dirt hidden under the carpets. When Francine puts on her Nancy Drew hat and starts investigating what at first-sight appears to be a pretty harmless incident, things soon start to unravel, and she discovers she is not the only amateur detective at work. We realise that what appeared to be a light read starts getting darker, and by the end of the book it has touched on some very serious topics: domestic violence, intolerance and prejudice, historical memory, Justice, animal cruelty, anti-Semitism, mental health problems…
Francine is an eminently sympathetic character. She is going through a hard time but keeps trying to make the best out of things and is always prepared to give everybody a second chance (even when it might be risky). We learn early on that she has always taken refuge in fantasy, loved reading Nancy Drew novels as a child, to the point where she would take on her persona, and her self-esteem is quite low (she does not see herself as others do). She believes in her intuition but second-guesses herself often and can easily be swayed by others she trusts. She is also quite fixated on a questionnaire her ex-husband gave her, and each chapter starts with one of the questions of the questionnaire and her answers (the questionnaire is real, just in case you wonder) which also help give us an insight into the workings of her mind. Most of the story is told from her point of view (in the third person), but, as mentioned, her perception of things is coloured by her own experiences and feelings about herself, and she is not the most reliable of narrators. There is a long catalogue of other characters, although we don’t get to know them in as much detail as we do Francine. There is a much younger narrator as well, who reminded me of Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn mixed in one, a bit naughty and not always a follower of rules, but he knows how to enjoy himself and is a great observer (and yes, a detective of sorts as well). There is a nice elderly man who becomes a father figure to Francine; there is a mysterious and attractive stranger; there is a friend of Francine’s sister who adopts her and takes her under her wing (and she brings a bit of a chick-lit element to the story); there is a vet Marine of a certain age who believes he is still a Don Juan; there is a youth with a motorbike whom everybody believes is a troublemaker; there is a woman who has become the self-appointed queen bee and insists all should follow her rules; there’s the sheriff and his jealous Russian wife (rumoured to be a mail catalogue wife)… As I said, we don’t get to know all of them in detail, but there are secrets and mysteries hiding in many of their lives, and I think most readers will be taken by surprise by how deceptive appearances can be.
The writing flows easily, and we get a good sense of the neighbourhood and the characters without long-winded descriptions disrupting the action. The pace is fairly steady to being with —it ebbs and flows, with some moments of contemplation punctuated by excitement and action— but towards the end the pace increases and the book crams a lot of action in the last few chapters. Although most of the book is pretty light, with only some hints at dark goings on (I’ve mentioned animal cruelty, and there are a couple of instances of it), towards the end, things become more tense, minor incidents pile up, and then there is an explosion of action and violence (not extremely explicit or gore, but I would recommend caution to those who prefer a light read) that will get readers turning the pages faster and faster.
I always mention the ending, and I enjoyed this one. Yes, it did not disappoint. In fact, it ties everything up in a most satisfactory way (together with something that happens in the book and I won’t mention).
I recommend this book to people who like the idea of cozy mysteries but prefer something darker; to those who enjoy small town settings with a dark underbelly, and to readers who delight in putting puzzles together and questioning everything they read. There are unreliable narrators, details that don’t quite seem to fit in, lovely dogs, wayward kids, romance, several mysteries, a colourful cast of characters, and a heroine most of us will root for. If you like the sound of all that, check a sample and give it a go. It will entertain you, make you think, and might even surprise you.
September 14, 2020
I received a copy of this book free for my review, however, all thoughts are 100% my own. A good solid mystery in a small little town. There was one little twist that had me gasp a bit but made me feel better overall because I was questioning what was going on in that area the whole time. Enjoyed it though!
May 31, 2021
I am a huge fan of mysteries based in small towns because the characters seem to know each other closely. At the same time, these characters find that the ones they think they know have a lot to hide. So, Hawthorn Woods by Patrick Canning captures that small-town closeness that is hiding enormous secrets. Set in the summer of 1989, Francine Haddix flees to her sister’s house in Hawthorn Woods. The quaint neighborhood seems like the best place to escape from her devastating divorce.
Yet, the quaint small town of Hawthorn Woods isn’t what it appears. It starts out with her getting a drink thrown in her face at a party and a woman who seems to have a vendetta against her, without any rhyme or reason. Then there’s another new man in town, who seems to have his own secrets to hide. He might be attractive but that still doesn’t negate the fact that he’s there for some other reason than a vacation.
Her friend Laura Jean is a charming breath of fresh air and has taken her under her wing, determined to make sure that Francine has a good time and leaves feeling like a new woman. Francine also takes care of her adorable nephew, Charlie, who is off onto his own adventures to figure out the secrets in the town. She also enjoys bending the ear of Roland Gerber, a distinguished older man, who might have his own secrets to hide. No matter where Francine goes, there are mysterious, unexplainable things that follow closely behind her. At another party, a violent animal killing leaves questions about who is to blame, while antisemitic crimes crop up along the way as well.
Francine finally gets the chance to get close to the new man in town, whose name is Bruno, and finds out he’s in town to investigate a mystery.
Reading this book made me feel like I was getting to know a real group of people. In fact, I was actually disappointed when it was all over. I loved the twist in the end and learning about the mystery that Francine and Bruno explore. It’s connected to Nazi Germany, and that surprising historical element proved to be a captivating element introduced in the book. There are small things that bugged me like the switch in POV between Francine and Charlie but then there’s a reason for that which is explained in the end.
I’d absolutely recommend this book and I’m sure you won’t be disappointed!
Yet, the quaint small town of Hawthorn Woods isn’t what it appears. It starts out with her getting a drink thrown in her face at a party and a woman who seems to have a vendetta against her, without any rhyme or reason. Then there’s another new man in town, who seems to have his own secrets to hide. He might be attractive but that still doesn’t negate the fact that he’s there for some other reason than a vacation.
Her friend Laura Jean is a charming breath of fresh air and has taken her under her wing, determined to make sure that Francine has a good time and leaves feeling like a new woman. Francine also takes care of her adorable nephew, Charlie, who is off onto his own adventures to figure out the secrets in the town. She also enjoys bending the ear of Roland Gerber, a distinguished older man, who might have his own secrets to hide. No matter where Francine goes, there are mysterious, unexplainable things that follow closely behind her. At another party, a violent animal killing leaves questions about who is to blame, while antisemitic crimes crop up along the way as well.
Francine finally gets the chance to get close to the new man in town, whose name is Bruno, and finds out he’s in town to investigate a mystery.
Reading this book made me feel like I was getting to know a real group of people. In fact, I was actually disappointed when it was all over. I loved the twist in the end and learning about the mystery that Francine and Bruno explore. It’s connected to Nazi Germany, and that surprising historical element proved to be a captivating element introduced in the book. There are small things that bugged me like the switch in POV between Francine and Charlie but then there’s a reason for that which is explained in the end.
I’d absolutely recommend this book and I’m sure you won’t be disappointed!
May 17, 2021
This one really kept me on my toes!
Francine is still raw following her divorce, so a visit to her sister is in order. Swapping San Francisco for the suburban streets of Hawthorn Woods, Illinois should get her back into the swing of things. What she didn't bargain for was a local mystery to get stuck into . . .
As this is an author new to me I wasn't quite sure what to expect, but this is a very readable and enjoyable novel. With wide ranging characters - as you would find in any small community - and plenty of twists and turns, my focus never wavered as I read long past the time when I should have been asleep. I enjoyed every twist and turn then got hit with shocks and surprises; with plenty going on, there is no shortage of suspects and I was glued right up until it was all done and dusted. I'm happy to recommend this one and give it 4.5*.
Francine is still raw following her divorce, so a visit to her sister is in order. Swapping San Francisco for the suburban streets of Hawthorn Woods, Illinois should get her back into the swing of things. What she didn't bargain for was a local mystery to get stuck into . . .
As this is an author new to me I wasn't quite sure what to expect, but this is a very readable and enjoyable novel. With wide ranging characters - as you would find in any small community - and plenty of twists and turns, my focus never wavered as I read long past the time when I should have been asleep. I enjoyed every twist and turn then got hit with shocks and surprises; with plenty going on, there is no shortage of suspects and I was glued right up until it was all done and dusted. I'm happy to recommend this one and give it 4.5*.
October 30, 2020
This was a wonderfully intriguing story. I loved the twist towards the end of the story. There were a lot of different things happening in this story. I loved Francine and Charlie. This story shows all of the strange things that can happen over a summer in a single neighborhood. I received a copy of this book from Smith Publicity for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.
October 8, 2020
Disclaimer: I received a free copy from a publisher in exchange for an honest review!
MILD SPOILERS!
So the reason why I became interested in Hawthorn Woods is that it's being compared to Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty and Stranger Things tv show both which I absolutely loved. While the book gave some Big Little Lies vibes I didn't quite catch the Stranger Things mood. Maybe it's because I didn't live in the 80's so I didn't get most of the references. But then again, I almost never catch any Easter eggs from books or tv series anyway.
The story was a bit slow to start and I had trouble getting interested in the beginning but when it truly got going around page 120 I was hooked. I read most of the book in one night because I couldn't put it down and got seriously sleep deprived because of that. I didn't see most of the plot twists coming and that was a pleasure. Some things totally surprised me and had to feverishly keep reading which is always a nice experience. Still I feel that the mystery element could've been done a bit better and smoother and in a way that would have hooked the reader sooner rather than later.
The characters were really interesting especially our main gal Francine Haddix. She was well rounded up and I feel I got a good picture of what she was like. I wish the same could be said of other characters but most of them were just briefly mentioned or just some details were revealed and I think the reader would have benefited if there would've been more about everyone from all of the neighbors to the suspects and suspicious characters. That would have allowed more guessing about whodunnit because now there really was just two suspects.
I really enjoyed seeing Francine's relationship with her nephew. I would have liked more about her ex-husband but I feel the length of the book got in a way of that. If the book would have been a bit longer maybe we would have gotten to know more. It would have been interesting to see more of her previous marriage explored because that too was one of the reasons I was interested in the book. Also I feel that Francine's relationship with Roland Gerber, one of the suspects, would have felt more realistic if the reader could have seen more of it developing. Now it felt kinda rushed and the trust Francine showed to him by talking openly about her divorce seemed a bit weird and sudden. Also the love interest of the book was a bit obvious- here's one single dude so he must be the romantic interest. I liked that he was quirky but, again, the length of the book didn't really allow that relationship to be fully explored either.
The questionnaire at the beginning of each chapter was a nice addition and I enjoyed how it got incorporated to the story in the end. Also I liked the cover well enough. It wasn't ugly but it also wasn't something I would have picked up on my own from a library or a bookstore. I know you shouldn't judge a book by its cover but..
All in all the story was nicely wrapped up in the end and after the slow start the story got really fast-paced towards the end!
3 bunnies
MILD SPOILERS!
So the reason why I became interested in Hawthorn Woods is that it's being compared to Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty and Stranger Things tv show both which I absolutely loved. While the book gave some Big Little Lies vibes I didn't quite catch the Stranger Things mood. Maybe it's because I didn't live in the 80's so I didn't get most of the references. But then again, I almost never catch any Easter eggs from books or tv series anyway.
The story was a bit slow to start and I had trouble getting interested in the beginning but when it truly got going around page 120 I was hooked. I read most of the book in one night because I couldn't put it down and got seriously sleep deprived because of that. I didn't see most of the plot twists coming and that was a pleasure. Some things totally surprised me and had to feverishly keep reading which is always a nice experience. Still I feel that the mystery element could've been done a bit better and smoother and in a way that would have hooked the reader sooner rather than later.
The characters were really interesting especially our main gal Francine Haddix. She was well rounded up and I feel I got a good picture of what she was like. I wish the same could be said of other characters but most of them were just briefly mentioned or just some details were revealed and I think the reader would have benefited if there would've been more about everyone from all of the neighbors to the suspects and suspicious characters. That would have allowed more guessing about whodunnit because now there really was just two suspects.
I really enjoyed seeing Francine's relationship with her nephew. I would have liked more about her ex-husband but I feel the length of the book got in a way of that. If the book would have been a bit longer maybe we would have gotten to know more. It would have been interesting to see more of her previous marriage explored because that too was one of the reasons I was interested in the book. Also I feel that Francine's relationship with Roland Gerber, one of the suspects, would have felt more realistic if the reader could have seen more of it developing. Now it felt kinda rushed and the trust Francine showed to him by talking openly about her divorce seemed a bit weird and sudden. Also the love interest of the book was a bit obvious- here's one single dude so he must be the romantic interest. I liked that he was quirky but, again, the length of the book didn't really allow that relationship to be fully explored either.
The questionnaire at the beginning of each chapter was a nice addition and I enjoyed how it got incorporated to the story in the end. Also I liked the cover well enough. It wasn't ugly but it also wasn't something I would have picked up on my own from a library or a bookstore. I know you shouldn't judge a book by its cover but..
All in all the story was nicely wrapped up in the end and after the slow start the story got really fast-paced towards the end!
3 bunnies
May 18, 2023
This is a book with a serious identity crisis. On the one hand, it's a joyful romp through summer with fireflies, popsicles, outdoor parties, blanket forts, and cool drinks. Our heroine is coming off a tough breakup and she is soothing her heartbreak with Nancy Drew novels and all the fun summer can offer. It's lighthearted and refreshing.
On the other hand, about halfway through the book it becomes a gritty detective novel with spying, wiretapping, and Nazi atrocities spelled out in awful detail. There are now animal bones and gore, attacks on neighborhood pets, and an abusive alcoholic father trying to kidnap his daughter. Oh, and a family eating roadkill to stay alive. Yuck - nothing light or refreshing here.
Where have all the editors gone?! Either the first half of the book needs to be rewritten or the second half needs to be rewritten. And I'm going to put my vote in for the second half being completely trashed and rewritten from scratch, because that is where the book lost touch with reality and spun out of control into absurdity.
Stop reading here if you want to avoid spoilers:
So, there is a kindly and sweet gentleman in the book who is the most wise and grandfatherly sort you could ever hope to meet. Except that he turns out to be a Nazi guilty of the most heinous crimes imaginable. I'm not saying this is impossible, but a good author would have put in hints and some foreshadowing along the way so that once it was revealed it made sense and came together in a satisfying (albeit shocking) way.
One of our main characters turns out to be nonexistent - a complete fabrication of someone else. See above regarding foreshadowing and how to make the reader feel satisfied instead of cheated.
And our heroine turns out to be a depressed, delusional, paranoid schizophrenic and a psychopathic deviate - unmedicated and not under psychiatric care. Seriously? SERIOUSLY? Though I will give the author a tiny bit of credit on this front because there were indications along the way that our main character was not mentally well. However, it would be reasonable if we found out she was having stress-related panic attacks, or bouts of depression - not the whopping diagnosis that would keep most people on medication and seeing a psychiatrist regularly. And honestly, if you had a relative with that diagnosis (schizophrenic AND psychopathic) in a depressive state and reeling from a divorce, would you leave that person in your home alone for two weeks?
And a couple of minor gripes:
1) You cannot drug someone sufficiently with Benadryl that they will sleep through minor surgery.
2) Gaslighting was not a common term in the 80s.
3) Nazis trying to stay hidden and blend in with the community would not, under any circumstances, risk being unmasked just to slaughter a pet goat.
4) A history teacher would know where the battle of Shiloh took place.
5) A woman who finds out she has moved ten thousand miles from her native country to marry a man who is actually gay and is cheating on her would need some time to process that betrayal instead of running down the street to apologize to a woman she thought had been her rival.
6) Describing an overweight woman as "globular" and "tented in a . . . dress" and a "sphere" is unkind.
7) What kind of a weirdo calls his paranoid schizophrenic ex-wife hundreds of miles away and offers to sleep with her one last time before the wedding? That isn't being a bad person; that is ridiculous.
So, so many issues with this book. I cannot imagine what is going on in the heads of all the people who are writing the four and five-star reviews. How could they have read the same book I did?
On the other hand, about halfway through the book it becomes a gritty detective novel with spying, wiretapping, and Nazi atrocities spelled out in awful detail. There are now animal bones and gore, attacks on neighborhood pets, and an abusive alcoholic father trying to kidnap his daughter. Oh, and a family eating roadkill to stay alive. Yuck - nothing light or refreshing here.
Where have all the editors gone?! Either the first half of the book needs to be rewritten or the second half needs to be rewritten. And I'm going to put my vote in for the second half being completely trashed and rewritten from scratch, because that is where the book lost touch with reality and spun out of control into absurdity.
Stop reading here if you want to avoid spoilers:
So, there is a kindly and sweet gentleman in the book who is the most wise and grandfatherly sort you could ever hope to meet. Except that he turns out to be a Nazi guilty of the most heinous crimes imaginable. I'm not saying this is impossible, but a good author would have put in hints and some foreshadowing along the way so that once it was revealed it made sense and came together in a satisfying (albeit shocking) way.
One of our main characters turns out to be nonexistent - a complete fabrication of someone else. See above regarding foreshadowing and how to make the reader feel satisfied instead of cheated.
And our heroine turns out to be a depressed, delusional, paranoid schizophrenic and a psychopathic deviate - unmedicated and not under psychiatric care. Seriously? SERIOUSLY? Though I will give the author a tiny bit of credit on this front because there were indications along the way that our main character was not mentally well. However, it would be reasonable if we found out she was having stress-related panic attacks, or bouts of depression - not the whopping diagnosis that would keep most people on medication and seeing a psychiatrist regularly. And honestly, if you had a relative with that diagnosis (schizophrenic AND psychopathic) in a depressive state and reeling from a divorce, would you leave that person in your home alone for two weeks?
And a couple of minor gripes:
1) You cannot drug someone sufficiently with Benadryl that they will sleep through minor surgery.
2) Gaslighting was not a common term in the 80s.
3) Nazis trying to stay hidden and blend in with the community would not, under any circumstances, risk being unmasked just to slaughter a pet goat.
4) A history teacher would know where the battle of Shiloh took place.
5) A woman who finds out she has moved ten thousand miles from her native country to marry a man who is actually gay and is cheating on her would need some time to process that betrayal instead of running down the street to apologize to a woman she thought had been her rival.
6) Describing an overweight woman as "globular" and "tented in a . . . dress" and a "sphere" is unkind.
7) What kind of a weirdo calls his paranoid schizophrenic ex-wife hundreds of miles away and offers to sleep with her one last time before the wedding? That isn't being a bad person; that is ridiculous.
So, so many issues with this book. I cannot imagine what is going on in the heads of all the people who are writing the four and five-star reviews. How could they have read the same book I did?
December 30, 2020
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy from the Author. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.Hawthorn Woods by Patrick Canning is a suspense-filled mystery that carries us through a neighborhood plagued with old prejudice and prideful people.
Will Francine and Charlie figure out what is going on in Hawthorn Woods before they are in danger too?
Francine
Francine is a hairdresser from San Francisco who is house and baby-sitting in Hawthorn Woods while her sister and brother-in-law are vacationing in Paris. She is recently divorced and is hoping to figure out what her next step in life will be. She gets involved in solving the crazy things that are happening in this lovely quiet neighborhood.
I found Francine such a relatable character. She has such passion and warmth, with flaws that aren't always seen. Francine has the ability to, at times, see beyond the facade that people present to us. She fancies herself a grown-up Nancy Drew. I was rooting for her from the minute that drink hits her in the face.
The Mystery
Many mysteries are going on in this story. It starts with a woman throwing a drink in Francine's face at her sister's bon voyage party. Then there is a goat murdered, a writer who may or may not be a writer investigating someone in the neighborhood, an attack on a dog, a shed full of animal bones, and an abusive father stalking his family. Let's say that Hawthorn Woods isn't as quiet as it seems.
Four Stars
My rating for Hawthorn Woods by Patrick Canning is four stars.
I immensely enjoyed the back and forth of the mysteries. Francine is a wonderful main character with a surprising amount of courage. I loved the setting and time period. It reminded me of how easy things were before technology took over our lives. The author does a brilliant job of weaving the stories of the neighborhood into one fine mystery.
I recommend this book to all you mystery readers out there.
Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of Hawthorn Woods by Patrick Canning.
Until the next time,
This review was originally posted on Baroness' Book Trove
Will Francine and Charlie figure out what is going on in Hawthorn Woods before they are in danger too?
Francine
Francine is a hairdresser from San Francisco who is house and baby-sitting in Hawthorn Woods while her sister and brother-in-law are vacationing in Paris. She is recently divorced and is hoping to figure out what her next step in life will be. She gets involved in solving the crazy things that are happening in this lovely quiet neighborhood.
I found Francine such a relatable character. She has such passion and warmth, with flaws that aren't always seen. Francine has the ability to, at times, see beyond the facade that people present to us. She fancies herself a grown-up Nancy Drew. I was rooting for her from the minute that drink hits her in the face.
The Mystery Many mysteries are going on in this story. It starts with a woman throwing a drink in Francine's face at her sister's bon voyage party. Then there is a goat murdered, a writer who may or may not be a writer investigating someone in the neighborhood, an attack on a dog, a shed full of animal bones, and an abusive father stalking his family. Let's say that Hawthorn Woods isn't as quiet as it seems.
Four Stars
My rating for Hawthorn Woods by Patrick Canning is four stars.
I immensely enjoyed the back and forth of the mysteries. Francine is a wonderful main character with a surprising amount of courage. I loved the setting and time period. It reminded me of how easy things were before technology took over our lives. The author does a brilliant job of weaving the stories of the neighborhood into one fine mystery.
I recommend this book to all you mystery readers out there.
Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of Hawthorn Woods by Patrick Canning.
Until the next time,
This review was originally posted on Baroness' Book Trove
August 29, 2020
Well this book ended up a twisted surprise! I was offered this book as a review consideration. It appealed to me because it was set in Hawthorn Woods, Illinois. I lived near there and knew the place. A summer in the 1980’s sounded like something I would enjoy after the past five months of Covid reality. Wasn’t I surprised when it went from slow moving summer in the suburbs to Nazi mystery and mental health issues!
Francine, (a funny coincidence as that was a nickname I had when I was living there), needed some breathing time after her divorce. Her sister, who lives in Hawthorn Woods, is going to Paris so Francine has gone back for the summer.
On Francine’s first night there she attends a neighborhood gathering to meet everyone. She makes a friend or two and sees a mystery man who looks promising. Things go sour when a drink gets thrown in her face. From there things continue to get weird. A goat is killed, shocking the neighborhood. Francine, who has a love for Nancy Drew, starts sleuthing. She finds out mystery man is an amateur detective on a case. They compare notes and friendship blossoms. Oh. There is also a nephew she is babysitting. Only problem with that is, her sister doesn’t have any children.
There is quite a bit going on. The author did a great job with capturing summer in the burbs, (while adding in the mystery). There is a Chicago suburb with a big Jewish community that was in the news with clashes they were having when pro Nazi groups marched through their neighborhood. I can still bring up photos from that in my mind. For me, with that background, it was easy to believe the case was being investigated in Hawthorn Woods. It was also easy for me to imagine antisemitism happening there. I also kept feeling something was off about her nephew, Charlie. I didn’t imagine the twists though. Does the book feel like reality? No but, kind of. There is a lot that that happens that is a, “well that could never happen that way”. But a twist that comes about leads to an understanding that we can’t trust Francine. Which means that her reality is not realistic.
I enjoyed reading this book much more than I thought I would. I thought it would be a fun summer escape read. It was that but more. I really liked the mystery case and kept switching sides. I think both the mystery case and the Charlie plot bring up a lot to discuss making this book an interesting book club selection.
Francine, (a funny coincidence as that was a nickname I had when I was living there), needed some breathing time after her divorce. Her sister, who lives in Hawthorn Woods, is going to Paris so Francine has gone back for the summer.
On Francine’s first night there she attends a neighborhood gathering to meet everyone. She makes a friend or two and sees a mystery man who looks promising. Things go sour when a drink gets thrown in her face. From there things continue to get weird. A goat is killed, shocking the neighborhood. Francine, who has a love for Nancy Drew, starts sleuthing. She finds out mystery man is an amateur detective on a case. They compare notes and friendship blossoms. Oh. There is also a nephew she is babysitting. Only problem with that is, her sister doesn’t have any children.
There is quite a bit going on. The author did a great job with capturing summer in the burbs, (while adding in the mystery). There is a Chicago suburb with a big Jewish community that was in the news with clashes they were having when pro Nazi groups marched through their neighborhood. I can still bring up photos from that in my mind. For me, with that background, it was easy to believe the case was being investigated in Hawthorn Woods. It was also easy for me to imagine antisemitism happening there. I also kept feeling something was off about her nephew, Charlie. I didn’t imagine the twists though. Does the book feel like reality? No but, kind of. There is a lot that that happens that is a, “well that could never happen that way”. But a twist that comes about leads to an understanding that we can’t trust Francine. Which means that her reality is not realistic.
I enjoyed reading this book much more than I thought I would. I thought it would be a fun summer escape read. It was that but more. I really liked the mystery case and kept switching sides. I think both the mystery case and the Charlie plot bring up a lot to discuss making this book an interesting book club selection.
March 9, 2021
Ah, the suburbs-well-manicured lawns, middle class homes, and families living the American Dream. Suburbs are the ideal place…
…or are they. Francine Haddix is about to find a lot a dastardly secrets in Hawthorn Woods in Illinois.
Devastated by a horrific divorce, Francine escapes to Hawthorn Woods for a two stay in the summer of 1989. She’s been entrusted with taking care of her nephew Charlie while her sister and brother-in-law vacation in Paris.
Things don’t get off on the right foot when Magdalena, the Russian born wife of the town’s police chief her first night in town. But that's pretty mild compared to what Francine’s vacation holds in store.
There are other citizens of Hawthorn Woods who become a part of Francine’s life. There’s Laura Jean who befriends Francine instantly. There’s Lori, a bitchy busybody and over-grown mean girl. There are the Banderwalts, considered the town trash.
And then there’s Roland Gerber, who claims to be a simple gentleman who immigrated from Switzerland after World War Two. But is he rally someone else? One who has a disturbing, hateful past.
It isn’t long before Francine meets Michael Bruno (known as Bruno) who is visiting from New York City. Bruno claims to be a writer, but he’s actually a teacher. He’s also a budding investigator. Bruno has been hired to find out the truth about Roland Gerber. Is he truly Oskar Lishka, a Nazi war criminal? Bruno has been hired by a Holocaust survivor to uncover Roland’s past.
Francine is skeptical. How could the unassuming Roland Gerber be a former Nazi? She’s actually had tea and cookies with him.
Yet, Francine’s inner Nancy Drew is intrigued. So she decides to join Bruno with his investigation.
Now remember, this takes place in 1989. Francine and Bruno can’t just use Google or social media to learn the truth about Roland/Oscar, not to mention everyone else involved in the town’s dysfunction.
Hawthorn Woods is a fantastic potpourri of thriller, romance, and black comedy. The plot zigs and zags. There twists you won’t see coming. When I read about the truth regarding Francine’s nephew, I gasped out loud!
Francine Haddix is a character you root for. She’s curious, devoted, and willing to go the extra mile to get the truth. Hawthorn Woods is a roller coaster of a ride.
Originally published at the Book Self:
https://thebookselfblog.wordpress.com...
…or are they. Francine Haddix is about to find a lot a dastardly secrets in Hawthorn Woods in Illinois.
Devastated by a horrific divorce, Francine escapes to Hawthorn Woods for a two stay in the summer of 1989. She’s been entrusted with taking care of her nephew Charlie while her sister and brother-in-law vacation in Paris.
Things don’t get off on the right foot when Magdalena, the Russian born wife of the town’s police chief her first night in town. But that's pretty mild compared to what Francine’s vacation holds in store.
There are other citizens of Hawthorn Woods who become a part of Francine’s life. There’s Laura Jean who befriends Francine instantly. There’s Lori, a bitchy busybody and over-grown mean girl. There are the Banderwalts, considered the town trash.
And then there’s Roland Gerber, who claims to be a simple gentleman who immigrated from Switzerland after World War Two. But is he rally someone else? One who has a disturbing, hateful past.
It isn’t long before Francine meets Michael Bruno (known as Bruno) who is visiting from New York City. Bruno claims to be a writer, but he’s actually a teacher. He’s also a budding investigator. Bruno has been hired to find out the truth about Roland Gerber. Is he truly Oskar Lishka, a Nazi war criminal? Bruno has been hired by a Holocaust survivor to uncover Roland’s past.
Francine is skeptical. How could the unassuming Roland Gerber be a former Nazi? She’s actually had tea and cookies with him.
Yet, Francine’s inner Nancy Drew is intrigued. So she decides to join Bruno with his investigation.
Now remember, this takes place in 1989. Francine and Bruno can’t just use Google or social media to learn the truth about Roland/Oscar, not to mention everyone else involved in the town’s dysfunction.
Hawthorn Woods is a fantastic potpourri of thriller, romance, and black comedy. The plot zigs and zags. There twists you won’t see coming. When I read about the truth regarding Francine’s nephew, I gasped out loud!
Francine Haddix is a character you root for. She’s curious, devoted, and willing to go the extra mile to get the truth. Hawthorn Woods is a roller coaster of a ride.
Originally published at the Book Self:
https://thebookselfblog.wordpress.com...
October 24, 2020
Francine is counting on a two week house sitting gig in Hawthorn Woods, Illinois, July 1989, to heal from two years of post-divorce pain. Usually the life of the party, she would love her drama to take a backseat to the small town’s intrigue, but she quickly becomes its target. On her very first night, she’s attacked by Maggie, Russian wife of the town’s police chief. Maggie is just one of Hawthorn’s many colorful characters. There’s Laura Jean, Francine’s new best friend. The bossy dispatcher, Lori, rivals Laura Jean for town organizer and gossip.
Most intriguing of all is Bruno, also visiting, like Francine. Unlike Francine, though, he’s not relaxing; he’s working to track down a missing criminal. Francine, up for a distracting challenge, joins his hunt, only to discover things are going to get worse before they get better. Hawthorn Woods is a hotbed of deception and crime. The deeper Francine and Bruno dig, the line between victim and perpetrator is hard to define.
The Nancy Drew-esque investigation, modernized with Stranger Things-esque setting and characters, draws the reader right in. Their antics are entertainingly weird. Lori has a goat. Bruno wears hideous ties. Parades, garage sales, and animal carcasses are the talk of the town. But below the surface, deeper concerns lurk. Canning draws timely and philosophically astute parallels between events of the past and the ongoing life of the psyche. Each chapter begins with a question on a personality inquiry. Are the answers Francine’s, or could they be anyone’s? After a busy two weeks detecting, the finale ramps up to lightning speed. Justice prevails through Francine and Bruno’s combined talents.
Hawthorn Woods, Canning’s third novel, is as complex and whimsical as his previous two, but aimed at an older audience. A crime-thriller with a comedic-romantic twist is just what the doctor ordered to treat the Covid doldrums.
Most intriguing of all is Bruno, also visiting, like Francine. Unlike Francine, though, he’s not relaxing; he’s working to track down a missing criminal. Francine, up for a distracting challenge, joins his hunt, only to discover things are going to get worse before they get better. Hawthorn Woods is a hotbed of deception and crime. The deeper Francine and Bruno dig, the line between victim and perpetrator is hard to define.
The Nancy Drew-esque investigation, modernized with Stranger Things-esque setting and characters, draws the reader right in. Their antics are entertainingly weird. Lori has a goat. Bruno wears hideous ties. Parades, garage sales, and animal carcasses are the talk of the town. But below the surface, deeper concerns lurk. Canning draws timely and philosophically astute parallels between events of the past and the ongoing life of the psyche. Each chapter begins with a question on a personality inquiry. Are the answers Francine’s, or could they be anyone’s? After a busy two weeks detecting, the finale ramps up to lightning speed. Justice prevails through Francine and Bruno’s combined talents.
Hawthorn Woods, Canning’s third novel, is as complex and whimsical as his previous two, but aimed at an older audience. A crime-thriller with a comedic-romantic twist is just what the doctor ordered to treat the Covid doldrums.
August 6, 2020
Hello there! I hope you all are doing great. Today I have for you a review of Hawthorn Woods, a thriller by Patrick Canning. I have read his book before and am honored that he asked me to review his latest. So without any further ado, let’s get started!
What I Liked
Starting off, I loved that it was set in 1989 perhaps because I loved the 80s. Gives me that warm, fuzzy feeling just thinking about it. I think I enjoyed the story more because of the time setting. There were no mobile phones or internet at the time and people used to talk, meet up, and rely on their intuition to crack cases like these. In other words, people were more alive back then.
Anyway…
The story starts off at a nice pace. Having read the author’s work before I can safely say that I love his style of writing and narration. He builds up the suspense throughout Francine’s stay to give a surprise at the end. Like any good thriller, it keeps the reader engaged. The climax is to watch out for, by the way. An unimaginable (for me atleast!) twist.
I have to mention that the neighborhood of Hawthorn Woods is exquisitely described. It seems down to earth with simple people and you can’t help but feel nostalgic. There I go with the time period again!
I liked the characters too, very well portrayed. I don’t want to give spoilers here so let’s just say there were some that I had my doubts on and some that I loved – Francine and Laura Jean especially. But during the process of my guess work I was completely caught off guard with what happened towards the end. No, I did not see that coming!
Have I got your attention yet? It is after all an absorbing thriller.
What I Did Not Like
Honestly, nothing.
Would I Recommend It?
Yes, of course! It has just been released and I have the buy link for you below. So, what are you waiting for? Grab the book and get ready to be thrilled!
What I Liked
Starting off, I loved that it was set in 1989 perhaps because I loved the 80s. Gives me that warm, fuzzy feeling just thinking about it. I think I enjoyed the story more because of the time setting. There were no mobile phones or internet at the time and people used to talk, meet up, and rely on their intuition to crack cases like these. In other words, people were more alive back then.
Anyway…
The story starts off at a nice pace. Having read the author’s work before I can safely say that I love his style of writing and narration. He builds up the suspense throughout Francine’s stay to give a surprise at the end. Like any good thriller, it keeps the reader engaged. The climax is to watch out for, by the way. An unimaginable (for me atleast!) twist.
I have to mention that the neighborhood of Hawthorn Woods is exquisitely described. It seems down to earth with simple people and you can’t help but feel nostalgic. There I go with the time period again!
I liked the characters too, very well portrayed. I don’t want to give spoilers here so let’s just say there were some that I had my doubts on and some that I loved – Francine and Laura Jean especially. But during the process of my guess work I was completely caught off guard with what happened towards the end. No, I did not see that coming!
Have I got your attention yet? It is after all an absorbing thriller.
What I Did Not Like
Honestly, nothing.
Would I Recommend It?
Yes, of course! It has just been released and I have the buy link for you below. So, what are you waiting for? Grab the book and get ready to be thrilled!
August 22, 2020
The 411:
Secrets and lies can always be found in every little quaint town!
I was into this book from page 1. The story is about Francine who is going through a bitter divorce and staying at her sister Ellie's and brother-in-law's house as they head out on their "honeymoon" finally. At the "meeting the neighbor party" a woman throws a drink in Francine's face and this my friends is where the ball starts rolling on a mysterious thrilling ride well written by Patrick Canning.
So why would a stranger throw a drink in newcomer Francine's face? I had no idea and neither did Francine or anyone else. Ellie introduces Francine to Laura Jean another neighbor and they become fast friends.
Thanks to Laura Jean, Francine now has a "friend" in this foreign land called suburbia with its quaint neighborhood, friendly neighbors albeit "pixie cut, drink thrower" until a neighbor's goat Brownie is murdered and a bloody message is left in the street.
Francine and newcomer Bruno a teacher/investigator are on the case but can Francine trust Bruno? Are his assumptions legit? Is Francine in over her head?
The cast of characters is long and I have only mentioned a few but they are all interesting and the twisted ending had me so shocked that I had to re-read a few passages to see where I could have missed it! I didn't. Patrick Canning is just a really good writer. He definitely created a thrilling world in a small suburban town and I loved all the questions at the start of each chapter. Not sure how I missed the twist but WOW so happy I did because that "wait? what? in books doesn't happen often and I am so happy when it does!
I am really trying not to spoil things here and feel I am leaving much out of this review. My final thought...you will love it!
Secrets and lies can always be found in every little quaint town!
I was into this book from page 1. The story is about Francine who is going through a bitter divorce and staying at her sister Ellie's and brother-in-law's house as they head out on their "honeymoon" finally. At the "meeting the neighbor party" a woman throws a drink in Francine's face and this my friends is where the ball starts rolling on a mysterious thrilling ride well written by Patrick Canning.
So why would a stranger throw a drink in newcomer Francine's face? I had no idea and neither did Francine or anyone else. Ellie introduces Francine to Laura Jean another neighbor and they become fast friends.
Thanks to Laura Jean, Francine now has a "friend" in this foreign land called suburbia with its quaint neighborhood, friendly neighbors albeit "pixie cut, drink thrower" until a neighbor's goat Brownie is murdered and a bloody message is left in the street.
Francine and newcomer Bruno a teacher/investigator are on the case but can Francine trust Bruno? Are his assumptions legit? Is Francine in over her head?
The cast of characters is long and I have only mentioned a few but they are all interesting and the twisted ending had me so shocked that I had to re-read a few passages to see where I could have missed it! I didn't. Patrick Canning is just a really good writer. He definitely created a thrilling world in a small suburban town and I loved all the questions at the start of each chapter. Not sure how I missed the twist but WOW so happy I did because that "wait? what? in books doesn't happen often and I am so happy when it does!
I am really trying not to spoil things here and feel I am leaving much out of this review. My final thought...you will love it!
Read
September 21, 2020Welcome to the 80s! I’m so in love with this book being set in the 80s because honestly, some of my favorite music and movies came from this time period! And then there’s the fashion! I mean, it was wild and out there but still so so amazing! So add a thriller to this setting and it’s basically the perfect spooky season read!
So, since this is a mystery/thriller I don’t want to get into the plot AT ALL. So, basically: there’s some twists and turns, the characters are all engaging and important to the story, and there are a few *gasp* moments. Out main character, Francine, is going through a difficult time in life and uses her hunt for the “who-done-it” as a sort of prescription from the thoughts clouding her mind (which is relatable after dealing with COVID for so long). As she puts her all into the mysteries of this neighborhood we learn that there is much more than meets the eye to our characters and there are some shocking things occurring amongst the neighbors.
With a wonderful setting and lot of shocks, Hawthorn Woods is an AMAZING read! It gave me all the eighties feels and I literally couldn’t put the book down. I’m sometimes a little iffy with thrillers, but this one had my attention from the start and the added mystery really pulled me in. There was just so much action and underlying secrets that you cannot help but become invested in this small community.
You can view my full review on my blog! I also post about a lot of different types of books!
Reader | Bookstagrammer | Blogger | Reviewer
@ya.its.lit - https://www.instagram.com/ya.its.lit/
Blog - https://yaitslitblog.wordpress.com/
So, since this is a mystery/thriller I don’t want to get into the plot AT ALL. So, basically: there’s some twists and turns, the characters are all engaging and important to the story, and there are a few *gasp* moments. Out main character, Francine, is going through a difficult time in life and uses her hunt for the “who-done-it” as a sort of prescription from the thoughts clouding her mind (which is relatable after dealing with COVID for so long). As she puts her all into the mysteries of this neighborhood we learn that there is much more than meets the eye to our characters and there are some shocking things occurring amongst the neighbors.
With a wonderful setting and lot of shocks, Hawthorn Woods is an AMAZING read! It gave me all the eighties feels and I literally couldn’t put the book down. I’m sometimes a little iffy with thrillers, but this one had my attention from the start and the added mystery really pulled me in. There was just so much action and underlying secrets that you cannot help but become invested in this small community.
You can view my full review on my blog! I also post about a lot of different types of books!
Reader | Bookstagrammer | Blogger | Reviewer
@ya.its.lit - https://www.instagram.com/ya.its.lit/
Blog - https://yaitslitblog.wordpress.com/
August 3, 2020
Hawthorn Woods. 1989. A quiet neighborhood in somewhere, Illinois. Francine arrives there for a two week vacation to babysit her seven year old nephew Charlie while her sister and husband take a belated honeymoon. She’s recovering from a devastatingly painful divorce and hopes her time in this quiet suburb will help her find peace. There’s only one problem. Hawthorn Woods is neither peaceful nor quiet.
The first night Francine’s sister throws a party to welcome her to the neighborhood. A stranger throws a drink in her face. The second night, at another party, there’s a more disturbing incident. She does meet the neighbors. Laura Jean, open and friendly; Roland Gerber, a Swiss octogenarian; Lori, super mom and activities organizer and her husband Dennis; mechanic and war vet Del; the Banderwalts, who moved into a fixer-upper and left it alone; Police Chief Hollis and his mail-order bride - what a cast of characters! And there’s the neighborhood mystery man, Michael Bruno, who may or may not be a writer. Everyone is hiding something. Some secrets are far more dangerous than others. Some only hurt the people who are hiding them. After the two weeks Francine spends in Hawthorn Woods, there are no secrets left.
This review is spoiler free so I can’t tell you anything that happens. I can say that I read this straight through. It’s a thriller and a mystery and a character study rolled into one. Patrick Canning is an excellent, talented writer and Hawthorn Woods is not to be missed. 5 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley, Amazon and Patrick Canning for this ARC.
The first night Francine’s sister throws a party to welcome her to the neighborhood. A stranger throws a drink in her face. The second night, at another party, there’s a more disturbing incident. She does meet the neighbors. Laura Jean, open and friendly; Roland Gerber, a Swiss octogenarian; Lori, super mom and activities organizer and her husband Dennis; mechanic and war vet Del; the Banderwalts, who moved into a fixer-upper and left it alone; Police Chief Hollis and his mail-order bride - what a cast of characters! And there’s the neighborhood mystery man, Michael Bruno, who may or may not be a writer. Everyone is hiding something. Some secrets are far more dangerous than others. Some only hurt the people who are hiding them. After the two weeks Francine spends in Hawthorn Woods, there are no secrets left.
This review is spoiler free so I can’t tell you anything that happens. I can say that I read this straight through. It’s a thriller and a mystery and a character study rolled into one. Patrick Canning is an excellent, talented writer and Hawthorn Woods is not to be missed. 5 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley, Amazon and Patrick Canning for this ARC.
August 17, 2020
Francine is reeling from a devastating divorce in 1989 in San Francisco when her sister Ellie suggests a child/housesitting stay at her home in Hawthorn Woods, Illinois while they take a European vacation. It certainly looks benign enough, quaint, friendly, and attractive. A nice getaway when she needs one.
A bon voyage party-welcome turns a bit ugly, however, when one of the guests throws a drink in her face. There are certainly enough neighbors here to offer a variety of single and married, tempers, secrets, and fears. When Francine further discovers the death of Brownie (a goat), she decides it’s time to start investigating the neighbors more deeply.
And what a smorgasbord of characters there are! Hers is not the only temporary stay in the hood and it is Bruno with whom she collaborates in his own secret research.
Francine is fragile and easy to invest in; Bruno a history teacher smothered in cliché right up to his bow tie and brown corduroy trousers and I really liked them both. There are obvious red herrings. It’s a slow burn but weirdly compelling. What IS going on here?
The conclusion brings a shock you never saw coming and a head-shaking revelation you can’t compute. Yes, yes, you knew the one answer, but…
The author’s writing style is clever and wily fun. Keep reading and watch his mind twist you in the wind. He has a signature…um, JUST WAIT…that is constantly surprising you. A suspense thriller that you shouldn’t miss. Totally recommended.
FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author and these are my honest thoughts.
A bon voyage party-welcome turns a bit ugly, however, when one of the guests throws a drink in her face. There are certainly enough neighbors here to offer a variety of single and married, tempers, secrets, and fears. When Francine further discovers the death of Brownie (a goat), she decides it’s time to start investigating the neighbors more deeply.
And what a smorgasbord of characters there are! Hers is not the only temporary stay in the hood and it is Bruno with whom she collaborates in his own secret research.
Francine is fragile and easy to invest in; Bruno a history teacher smothered in cliché right up to his bow tie and brown corduroy trousers and I really liked them both. There are obvious red herrings. It’s a slow burn but weirdly compelling. What IS going on here?
The conclusion brings a shock you never saw coming and a head-shaking revelation you can’t compute. Yes, yes, you knew the one answer, but…
The author’s writing style is clever and wily fun. Keep reading and watch his mind twist you in the wind. He has a signature…um, JUST WAIT…that is constantly surprising you. A suspense thriller that you shouldn’t miss. Totally recommended.
FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author and these are my honest thoughts.
September 25, 2020
When I started reading the first few chapters, I got a feeling of reading a chick-lit. But, the story slowly transforms into a mystery as well.
Hawthorn woods is just like any other neighborhood with different types of people and gossips around. Laura Jean is my favorite actor and I can relate to those kinds of people in real life. They are great friends and fun to share our lives with.
Francine is depressed by her divorce and still cannot come out of those memories yet. She seeks comfort in using her detective skills for an investigation along with Bruno and finally falls in love with him.
Until the truth is found, Ronald is my second most favorite character. Calm and sensitive individual looking for a relaxing retirement life.
The characterization is great. I loved the portrayal of Charlie, Bruno, Eric, and Lori. The narrative is interesting. It's basically a cool read, unlike a suspense thriller. There are one or more great twists in the story and unexpected turns, but till the last few pages, it's smooth and predictable.
The pace is just right to me. The title and the book cover are appropriate. I loved the tag line of the book and the lines from the questionnaire before each chapter. Those lines before each chapter are relevant to the story.
I don't have anything that I disliked about the book. If you are looking for a chick-lit mixed with a little mystery, you will love this book.
My Rating : 5/5
PS: I have received this review copy from the author in exchange for a review and this is my honest opinion on the book.
Hawthorn woods is just like any other neighborhood with different types of people and gossips around. Laura Jean is my favorite actor and I can relate to those kinds of people in real life. They are great friends and fun to share our lives with.
Francine is depressed by her divorce and still cannot come out of those memories yet. She seeks comfort in using her detective skills for an investigation along with Bruno and finally falls in love with him.
Until the truth is found, Ronald is my second most favorite character. Calm and sensitive individual looking for a relaxing retirement life.
The characterization is great. I loved the portrayal of Charlie, Bruno, Eric, and Lori. The narrative is interesting. It's basically a cool read, unlike a suspense thriller. There are one or more great twists in the story and unexpected turns, but till the last few pages, it's smooth and predictable.
The pace is just right to me. The title and the book cover are appropriate. I loved the tag line of the book and the lines from the questionnaire before each chapter. Those lines before each chapter are relevant to the story.
I don't have anything that I disliked about the book. If you are looking for a chick-lit mixed with a little mystery, you will love this book.
My Rating : 5/5
PS: I have received this review copy from the author in exchange for a review and this is my honest opinion on the book.
February 19, 2021
About to depart on a European holiday, Francine's sister has asked her to house-sit while she's away. Newly divorced Francine sees it as an opportunity to recharge her batteries and get her life back on track. At first glance, her new surroundings, Hawthorn Woods, is idyllic but things quickly take a downward slide as she becomes entangled in a series of mysteries.
Set in the Summer of 1989, Hawthorn Woods was a good read. The writing was excellent and flowed easily. Being British, I struggled with some of the American-isms but a quick search on Google soon set me straight. For instance I've never come across the term 'blacktop' before. In my world this is a black-coloured t-shirt (lol) but I've now discovered it's also a North American term for an asphalt or tarmac road surface 😊.
What I did find slightly jarring was the 'cozy' storytelling style when compared to the 'heavy' (Nazi war criminal) subject matter. Being perfectly honest I would have preferred a less light-hearted approach. There were also a couple of animal cruelty incidents which readers may find upsetting.
That being said, the characters were a wonderful eclectic mix of personalities and I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know them. Some played a much larger role than others but the author succeeded in making them feel real. The questionnaire/personality quiz at the start of each chapter was a nice touch and I loved how it tied-in with the outcome. There were plenty of red herrings along the way and the final, unexpected twist was fantastic — I never saw it coming! A very entertaining read.
Book Source: Review copy from the author
Read my review on my blog: https://bit.ly/2OTmW7j
Set in the Summer of 1989, Hawthorn Woods was a good read. The writing was excellent and flowed easily. Being British, I struggled with some of the American-isms but a quick search on Google soon set me straight. For instance I've never come across the term 'blacktop' before. In my world this is a black-coloured t-shirt (lol) but I've now discovered it's also a North American term for an asphalt or tarmac road surface 😊.
What I did find slightly jarring was the 'cozy' storytelling style when compared to the 'heavy' (Nazi war criminal) subject matter. Being perfectly honest I would have preferred a less light-hearted approach. There were also a couple of animal cruelty incidents which readers may find upsetting.
That being said, the characters were a wonderful eclectic mix of personalities and I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know them. Some played a much larger role than others but the author succeeded in making them feel real. The questionnaire/personality quiz at the start of each chapter was a nice touch and I loved how it tied-in with the outcome. There were plenty of red herrings along the way and the final, unexpected twist was fantastic — I never saw it coming! A very entertaining read.
Book Source: Review copy from the author
Read my review on my blog: https://bit.ly/2OTmW7j
September 5, 2020
It’s 1989 and Francine is recovering from a devasting divorce, after a marriage that lasted less than a year. So, when her sister and brother-in-law suggest that she can spend two weeks in Hawthorn Woods, Illinois, taking care of their seven-year-old son, while they celebrate their anniversary in Paris, Francine jumps at the chance. It’s just the opportunity she needs to relax and regroup. But, almost before she unpacks her suitcase, she realizes that people in Hawthorn Woods are hiding secrets. As she meets her neighbors and cares for her nephew, Francine channels Nancy Drew, a favorite book character from her childhood, and investigates some of the mysterious activities.
Hawthorn Woods is a great read. I thoroughly enjoyed the characters and the throw-back to the ‘80s. The dialogue between Francine and her nephew, Charlie, is playful and fun. The characters are varied – some likable and some not so much. Meanwhile, the plot certainly kept me entertained, with its subtle humor and words of wisdom. And, finally, the references to lazy summer activities reminded me of my own adolescence and how summers were always special. Hawthorn Woods is a clever story that is perfect for an afternoon read. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a copy of this book for review.
Hawthorn Woods is a great read. I thoroughly enjoyed the characters and the throw-back to the ‘80s. The dialogue between Francine and her nephew, Charlie, is playful and fun. The characters are varied – some likable and some not so much. Meanwhile, the plot certainly kept me entertained, with its subtle humor and words of wisdom. And, finally, the references to lazy summer activities reminded me of my own adolescence and how summers were always special. Hawthorn Woods is a clever story that is perfect for an afternoon read. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a copy of this book for review.
November 14, 2020
Getting over a divorce in the summer of 1989, Francine Haddix goes to her sister's house in Hawthorn Woods, Illinois. The idyllic neighborhood proves to have a lot of mysteries simmering beneath the surface, including marital strife, simmering grudges, and a secret so terrible, someone will kill to keep it hidden.
House sitting while her sister is away on vacation in Europe, from the start Francine is nominally in charge of her nephew, too. I say nominally because summer for kids in 1989 was staying outside to play all day with neighbor kids, and coming in for lunch and once it's dark outside. With little to do and not many people to call, Francine starts looking into the oddities of her new neighbors. She isn't the only one, and it's interesting to see some of the discord beneath the veneer of small-town life. There are great callbacks to the '80s, like the Glo Worm that Diana has, right down to the incredibly heavy head and light body that it had, VHS tapes and movies of the era.
The final third of the book zoomed along and had lots of surprises. The reveals to multiple questions came one after the other until we get to the final one. It was quite the ride through the novel, and definitely not the quiet book it seemed like at first. With the weather turning cold, reading about a hot summer is a welcome change.
House sitting while her sister is away on vacation in Europe, from the start Francine is nominally in charge of her nephew, too. I say nominally because summer for kids in 1989 was staying outside to play all day with neighbor kids, and coming in for lunch and once it's dark outside. With little to do and not many people to call, Francine starts looking into the oddities of her new neighbors. She isn't the only one, and it's interesting to see some of the discord beneath the veneer of small-town life. There are great callbacks to the '80s, like the Glo Worm that Diana has, right down to the incredibly heavy head and light body that it had, VHS tapes and movies of the era.
The final third of the book zoomed along and had lots of surprises. The reveals to multiple questions came one after the other until we get to the final one. It was quite the ride through the novel, and definitely not the quiet book it seemed like at first. With the weather turning cold, reading about a hot summer is a welcome change.
October 29, 2022
With the wounds from an ugly divorce still fresh and lingering, Francine decides to spend a few weeks at her sister’s place in Hawthorn Woods for a little R&R and to try to put her troubles behind her. She’ll soon find, however, that the ghosts of her past aren’t willing to let her go that easily. To distract herself, she’ll try to bury her thoughts in a Nancy Drew-esque mystery involving happenings in the neighborhood. But when the investigation begins to take darker and darker turns, she’ll learn that even in a quiet, friendly neighborhood like Hawthorn Woods, everyone has secrets.
Every once in a while, a story will come around and knock your socks clean off. That’s exactly what “Hawthorn Woods” from Patrick Canning did to me. Everything worked so well together from the romance to the titillating mystery down to the details of the character’s idiosyncrasies and the sharp-witted notes of humor sprinkled throughout clever lines of dialogue. All of it wrapped up tightly for the stunning conclusion, with twists that literally made my jaw drop. I really can’t say enough about this book except that I think it should have much more notoriety than it does. But I’m sure a story this good won’t stay a secret for long. Even this late in the game, “Hawthorn Woods” takes the crown for my favorite read of the year thus far.
Every once in a while, a story will come around and knock your socks clean off. That’s exactly what “Hawthorn Woods” from Patrick Canning did to me. Everything worked so well together from the romance to the titillating mystery down to the details of the character’s idiosyncrasies and the sharp-witted notes of humor sprinkled throughout clever lines of dialogue. All of it wrapped up tightly for the stunning conclusion, with twists that literally made my jaw drop. I really can’t say enough about this book except that I think it should have much more notoriety than it does. But I’m sure a story this good won’t stay a secret for long. Even this late in the game, “Hawthorn Woods” takes the crown for my favorite read of the year thus far.
July 27, 2020
I was provided a copy of this book via NetGalley, and here is my honest review.
WARNING: This review contains spoilers.
“Hawthorn Woods” is an adult mystery/thriller novel that talks about the many mysteries that the main character Francine encounters when she stays in a Illinois neighborhood called Hawthorn Woods.
Francine decides to stay with her sister for two weeks in Hawthorn Woods, but it’s not long before things begin to get suspicious. A stranger throws a drink on Francine during a party she attends, her mysterious temporary next-door neighbor is lying about who he is, the night of another party ends with a suspicious note written in blood, and a character named Brownie is murdered. Francine quickly tries to figure out who did that, but a man she meets earlier on in the book (who insists on only going by Bruno) agrees to help her, but he tells her some suspicious information about Roland Gerber, an older man that she befriends and trusts shortly after she arrives in Hawthorn Woods.
I thought that this book was very intriguing, and the many strange events and secrets throughout the book made it an even more interesting read. If you enjoy mystery books, I would recommend checking this one out.
Rating: 4/5
WARNING: This review contains spoilers.
“Hawthorn Woods” is an adult mystery/thriller novel that talks about the many mysteries that the main character Francine encounters when she stays in a Illinois neighborhood called Hawthorn Woods.
Francine decides to stay with her sister for two weeks in Hawthorn Woods, but it’s not long before things begin to get suspicious. A stranger throws a drink on Francine during a party she attends, her mysterious temporary next-door neighbor is lying about who he is, the night of another party ends with a suspicious note written in blood, and a character named Brownie is murdered. Francine quickly tries to figure out who did that, but a man she meets earlier on in the book (who insists on only going by Bruno) agrees to help her, but he tells her some suspicious information about Roland Gerber, an older man that she befriends and trusts shortly after she arrives in Hawthorn Woods.
I thought that this book was very intriguing, and the many strange events and secrets throughout the book made it an even more interesting read. If you enjoy mystery books, I would recommend checking this one out.
Rating: 4/5
August 8, 2020
Thank you Netgalley for this ARC of Hawthorn Woods by Patrick Canning.
Unfortunately this is a DNF for me, I made it about 25%. And it had so much potential!
My biggest criticism is that the relationships and dialogue were just ridiculous. It felt like a bunch of 5th graders playing house. You don't go to a BBQ for your very first time, learn everyone in your neighborhood's name, make an instant best friend to whom you immediately divulge all of your secrets, and have a drink thrown in your face with zero explanation, apology, or police being called. Adults don't freaking act like that, unless they're reenacting a campy telenovela.
The drink in the face had me intrigued, but then when the husband of drink thrower (cop) later apologizes weakly, like, "oh yeah, sorry, my wife, she's a spicy one, heh." I was just done. Again, no! You throw a drink in my face, I'm not going to just be a bit puzzled about it. I'm going to tackle your a$$ down and demand some answers! By that point, I was done. Not to mention, the kid in the story ironically acting way more adult than kids act, but in that obnoxious way. Kids that act too adult in stories are not only hard to believe, but annoying. Nope, can't do it.
Unfortunately this is a DNF for me, I made it about 25%. And it had so much potential!
My biggest criticism is that the relationships and dialogue were just ridiculous. It felt like a bunch of 5th graders playing house. You don't go to a BBQ for your very first time, learn everyone in your neighborhood's name, make an instant best friend to whom you immediately divulge all of your secrets, and have a drink thrown in your face with zero explanation, apology, or police being called. Adults don't freaking act like that, unless they're reenacting a campy telenovela.
The drink in the face had me intrigued, but then when the husband of drink thrower (cop) later apologizes weakly, like, "oh yeah, sorry, my wife, she's a spicy one, heh." I was just done. Again, no! You throw a drink in my face, I'm not going to just be a bit puzzled about it. I'm going to tackle your a$$ down and demand some answers! By that point, I was done. Not to mention, the kid in the story ironically acting way more adult than kids act, but in that obnoxious way. Kids that act too adult in stories are not only hard to believe, but annoying. Nope, can't do it.
November 10, 2020
Set in the late 80s, Hawthorn Woods gives us Francine, who is taking a mini-vacation at her sister Ellie’s house to jumpstart her life after a devastating divorce. Ellie’s home is in a close-knit neighborhood, where everyone is into everyone’s business, and they don’t love newcomers. Francine has trouble from the start, but she’s found a good friend in Laura Jean. But when she stumbles upon a mystery, Francine jumps in head first, but it might be more than she can handle.
I have to be very careful reviewing this because I don’t want to spoil anything. I loved the mystery element to this, and that Francine was so persistent in trying to figure it all out. I loved Laura Jean and her friendship with Francine. They fed off each other, and it was highly amusing. This book brought back a few fond memories of the 80s, especially the neighborhood game of Kick the Can, which we turned into kick the ball because it went farther and made for a bigger challenge, but I digress. I loved the characters, even the ones you loved to hate like Lori. Hawthorn Woods is my second book by Canning, and if you haven’t read him yet, you need to. This was a super fun read from start to finish, definitely a book that could start a fantastic series.
I have to be very careful reviewing this because I don’t want to spoil anything. I loved the mystery element to this, and that Francine was so persistent in trying to figure it all out. I loved Laura Jean and her friendship with Francine. They fed off each other, and it was highly amusing. This book brought back a few fond memories of the 80s, especially the neighborhood game of Kick the Can, which we turned into kick the ball because it went farther and made for a bigger challenge, but I digress. I loved the characters, even the ones you loved to hate like Lori. Hawthorn Woods is my second book by Canning, and if you haven’t read him yet, you need to. This was a super fun read from start to finish, definitely a book that could start a fantastic series.
August 10, 2020
A two week stint house-sitting at her sister’s home in HAWTHORN WOODS Illinois seems like the perfect get-away for California hairdresser Francine, who is desperately trying to escape the trauma of trying to deal with her recent divorce. With her sister and brother-in-law vacationing in Europe this seems to be the ideal setting to rest, relax and re-group but her first foray into the lives of the residents of the Woods results in an unknown woman throwing a drink in her face. Francine is completely baffled by the woman’s actions, not to mention those of some of the other neighbors and decides to do a little investigating. She is particularly intrigued by the mysterious stranger who is temporarily renting one of the neighborhood homes and makes him #1 on her investigative check list.
What she discovers about the neighbors as well as herself provides enough mystery, twists, turns and personal drama to keep the reader breezing through chapters at a pace assuring they will devour the book in one sitting.
A great summer escape - 4 1/2 stars
What she discovers about the neighbors as well as herself provides enough mystery, twists, turns and personal drama to keep the reader breezing through chapters at a pace assuring they will devour the book in one sitting.
A great summer escape - 4 1/2 stars
August 19, 2020
** Thank you to Smith Publicity for the advance reader copy I was given for my honest review**
This is my first Patrick Canning book, so I went into it with an open mind. I’m happy to say I really enjoyed this thriller. Set in 1989, which any book set in the 80s-90s always gets me excited, our main character Francine is looking for a way out. She’s gone through a horrible divorce that has left her devastated, so she flees to her sister's house. What can be wrong with the beautiful neighborhood and getting to start over? When a number of disturbing events happen, Francine starts to feel like this neighborhood is hiding a lot more than meets the eyes.
It was definitely a thrilling read. The characters are well written and the plot draws you in. There was also some parts and actions the characters did that made me laugh and feel like I was right there with them. I’ll definitely be checking out more of Patrick’s books.
Thank you again to Smith Publicity for sending this book my way!!
This is my first Patrick Canning book, so I went into it with an open mind. I’m happy to say I really enjoyed this thriller. Set in 1989, which any book set in the 80s-90s always gets me excited, our main character Francine is looking for a way out. She’s gone through a horrible divorce that has left her devastated, so she flees to her sister's house. What can be wrong with the beautiful neighborhood and getting to start over? When a number of disturbing events happen, Francine starts to feel like this neighborhood is hiding a lot more than meets the eyes.
It was definitely a thrilling read. The characters are well written and the plot draws you in. There was also some parts and actions the characters did that made me laugh and feel like I was right there with them. I’ll definitely be checking out more of Patrick’s books.
Thank you again to Smith Publicity for sending this book my way!!
August 26, 2020
Hawthorn Woods is a real town in the far northern suburbs of Chicago. When I saw a book that takes place in a town about 10 minutes from where I live, I knew I wanted to read it. Patrick Canning's novel offers a great story for a variety of readers - it will appeal to fans of thrillers and literary fiction.
Following a horrible breakup of her marriage, Francine leaves her home in California to house-sit and watch her nephew for her sister in Hawthorn Woods, Illinois while her sister is on vacation. This is a new change for Francine - a time to restart her life as a newly divorced woman. But things get off to a rocky start when a neighbor she's never met throws a cocktail in her face. Soon she finds out an attractive man in the neighborhood may have lied to her.
Hawthorn Woods may be a beautiful and ritzy town, but its residents are hiding lots of secrets. One in particular may have deadly consequences.
FTC disclosure: I received an eARC from the publisher via NetGalley.
Following a horrible breakup of her marriage, Francine leaves her home in California to house-sit and watch her nephew for her sister in Hawthorn Woods, Illinois while her sister is on vacation. This is a new change for Francine - a time to restart her life as a newly divorced woman. But things get off to a rocky start when a neighbor she's never met throws a cocktail in her face. Soon she finds out an attractive man in the neighborhood may have lied to her.
Hawthorn Woods may be a beautiful and ritzy town, but its residents are hiding lots of secrets. One in particular may have deadly consequences.
FTC disclosure: I received an eARC from the publisher via NetGalley.
October 29, 2020
Thank you Smith Publicity for the free copy!
Newly single Francine visits Hawthorn Woods for a temporary stay at her sister's house. While Francine is adjusting to her new life she meets the close knit community and feels that something is off when a series of events start to happen. Teaming up with another temp guest, they realize there is someone laying low in Hawthorn Woods. Someone is keeping a huge secret and Francine is determined to find out.
Great story line....great character development.. it was an enjoyable read. There was a love story blooming out of it which isn't always common with this plot line. I left it at 3.5-4 stars because it seemed as though Francine and the other temp guest, Bruno, their story line was sped up. I could feel the attraction, but it was 1 to 100 quick with little passion so it was a bit of a let down.
The story line (which was awesome but I don't wanna give it away) was really interesting and I flew through the ending.
Newly single Francine visits Hawthorn Woods for a temporary stay at her sister's house. While Francine is adjusting to her new life she meets the close knit community and feels that something is off when a series of events start to happen. Teaming up with another temp guest, they realize there is someone laying low in Hawthorn Woods. Someone is keeping a huge secret and Francine is determined to find out.
Great story line....great character development.. it was an enjoyable read. There was a love story blooming out of it which isn't always common with this plot line. I left it at 3.5-4 stars because it seemed as though Francine and the other temp guest, Bruno, their story line was sped up. I could feel the attraction, but it was 1 to 100 quick with little passion so it was a bit of a let down.
The story line (which was awesome but I don't wanna give it away) was really interesting and I flew through the ending.
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