Review: The Class Assignment is Murder - Carolyn Kleinman - October 2023 What would you do if an innocent-looking classroom project led you into a chilling murder investigation, buried secrets and memories you had spent a lifetime trying to forget? That is exactly the situation Hannah Stein finds herself in in The Class Assignment is Murder by Carolyn Kleinman. Set in the seemingly peaceful town of Parkerville, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, the story introduces us to Hannah, a Jewish English professor and widow in her forties. Back in 2005, the town was rocked by a horrific crime when teenage Matthew Baker murdered his family and raped his cousin. Fourteen years later, Baker suddenly claims he is innocent, leaving Hannah with more questions than answers. Looking for an unusual topic to capture the interest of three students, Hannah suggests they investigate the old Baker case. What begins as an academic exercise soon becomes something far more personal and dangerous. As the students...

Review: Everyone Who Can Forgive Me is Dead - Jenny Hollander - February 2024 There are books you plan to read, and books that find their way to you. This one arrived as a happy accident . a Bookstagram raffle win that led to a small pile of vouchers and the chance to finally pull a wishlist title off the shelf. Everyone Who Can Forgive Me Is Dead by Jenny Hollander was one of those deliberate choices, and I can say with certainty it was the right one. "She walked out alive and covered in blood. What she couldn't walk out with was the truth." The novel centres on Charlie (Charlotte), a woman who, during her journalism studies in college, survived a horrific event that would come to be known as the Scarlett Christmas Massacre a night when her friends were stabbed and she was the one left standing, bloodied and shattered. In the years since, Charlie has done what so many trauma survivors do: she has sealed the memory off, smoothed it into a shape she can live with, and move...

Review: Aftermath - Book #2 The Ripple Effect - Cally Jackson - December 2023 At the end of Book #1 The Ripple Effect which was an Australian time travel novel, that reminded me a bit of The Time Traveler's wife, we read as our main female Caitlyn decided to travel back and save the person she loved in the past, back in the 1980s. The thing though as since she saved him, she has caused a big ripple effect in her actual timeline as she is about to discover her life is completely different.  Her parents are divorced, her mum is alive, her sister Milly is older and her brother Brent is now Brett and younger. The thing though Caitlyn is happy for is that Toby back in the 80's is alive and well.  In the present time, Caitlyn ends up in the hospital as her parents are worried about her and believe she has amnesia - which in a way she does as every time she has come back after time traveling, her life is different. When Caitlyn has the chance to go back, she wonders what it would be...

Review: Do You Remember? - Freida McFadden - January 2022 I have felt this month has been quite a slow reading one for me, even more than usual and I am not sure the reason, though we have been busier at work. I just haven't had the energy or passion to read as much. In saying that I still know that compared to others, it probably seems like a good amount but in myself it makes me feel a little disappointed as I know I can do way better and it's not like I am not spoilt for choice. After having a DNF with a romance, I knew a thriller could change my mind and I am busy enjoying Freida McFadden's psychological thrillers. This one had me thinking about Megan Goldin's Stay Awake as it followed a similar situation, where the main female Tess had experienced some trauma a year ago. Now every couple of days, she wakes up with no current memory and believes it is seven years ago. A world before her company made billions, a world where she was engaged to the man of her dreams Ha...

Review: Dottie's Memories - Book #2.5 Finding Emma Series - Steena Holmes - August 2013 If you loved Caroline B. Cooney's The Face on the Milk Carton, then you will enjoy the Finding Emma series. This is the last book that I needed to read and then I have read all five books in this series. As readers know, Dottie was Mary's mother who due to her dementia thought that Emma was her granddaughter sent by Mary. Emma became Emmie and went to live with Dottie and Jack from the age of 3 to the age of 5 years old when she was returned to her parents. Dottie's Memories is a series of journal excerpts written by Dottie during this time as she has her waves of clarity and then her unsureness creeps in. The book is written completely in journal/diary format and only makes sense if you have read the other books in this series. It is also a nice quick read if you are on the lookout for something to just hit that reading itch. This series has been one of my favorites as I love readi...