Review: Mayra by Nicky Gonzalez

~ megs14malloy

MayraMayra by Nicky Gonzalez
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Mayra is a slow burn, debut Horror novel set at a mysterious house deep in the Florida Everglades. We follow Ingrid, who after years of radio silence, finally hears from her childhood best friend, Mayra.

While it might seem strange for Mayra to call Ingrid so suddenly, out of the blue, to invite her on a private weekend getaway, it’s actually pretty true to character. Mayra did always march to the beat of her own drum.

Desiring a shake-up, Ingrid impulsively accepts the invitation and sets out on a solo road trip towards her destination, using only the sketchy directions Mayra provided her with.

The Everglades are a tricky place. She’s out of reach of cell service, and as the swamp starts to feel like it will swallow her little car whole, Mayra wonders if she’ll ever actually get to reunite with Mayra.

Luck is on her side though, as she does eventually arrive at the quirky little house where Mayra is staying. The two fall into their old patterns of relating with one another pretty quickly, but soon enough the fun reunion is covered by a dark cloud: Mayra’s strange-behaving boyfriend, Benji.

Mayra did deliver on the solid Southern Gothic atmosphere I was hoping for, but unfortunately, it didn’t deliver much else. The setting was definitely my favorite aspect.

I enjoyed the way Gonzalez described the house, as well as the area around it. It had a true sense of place, which is something I always appreciate, and it was unsettling. I could feel the heaviness of it, of the air and natural surroundings.

Additionally, I did feel the development of Ingrid and Mayra’s characters, as well as their relationship history, was strong, but as far as a plot goes, it just didn’t go anywhere for me. It was too long-winded in the build, and sadly had me bored and frustrated.

I wanted answers, mystery abounds, but as I got to the end, I ultimately ended up with more questions than I had even at the beginning. The finale was way too fever dream for my tastes, and I was left feeling disappointed.

Too much build, too little payoff.

Overall, the 1st-half, that anticipation, was stronger for me than the 2nd-half. I wish it could have kept a solid level of interesting set-up, followed by an actual conclusion that made sense. It would have been a more satisfying read for me if that had been the case.

Sadly, we can’t love them all, and even though the content of this, stylistically, didn’t work for my tastes, I would still recommend it for fans of more Literary, character-driven, Horror, or fever dream narrative styles.

Thank you, Random House, for providing me with a copy to read and review. This is a very solid debut, and I look forward to seeing what Nicky Gonzalez delivers next!

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Review: 80s Ghosts by V.S. Lawrence

~ megs14malloy

80s Ghosts80s Ghosts by V.S. Lawrence
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

**3.5-stars**

Chrissy is determined to make her ghost hunting show a success. Even though her vlog-style show has been developing, she’s literally one failed investigation away from financial ruin.

Her back is against the wall, that’s why her latest investigation has to be a success and she’s willing to do anything, risk anything, to make that happen.

When she receives an invitation to investigate Merlin High School, the location of a fire in the 1980s where many lives were lost, she jumps at the opportunity.

The high school is prime grounds for haunting. They could actually find something good this time. Evidence that will boost her show to the next level.

As she and her team settle in and begin their formal investigation of the school, Chrissy notices everyone seems to be acting strangely, including herself. As past and present begin to blur, the investigation starts to go off the rails.

Before, Chrissy just wanted her show to be a success. Now, she’d be happy for them all to just get out alive. What’s going on at the old Merlin High, and how will Chrissy and her team be able to help and move past it all?

Unfortunately, after an engaging start, 80s Ghosts took a nosedive into eye roll territory about 3/4 of the way through for me. There’s just a certain level of silliness I can get behind, and this was not it.

Let it be known, I love campy, I do not love cheesy.

With this being said, I did enjoy and appreciate the ideas behind this story. The initial set-up was great. I just wanted more intensity and dark horror imagery, which I don’t really feel like I got.

I would be interested in picking up more from this author though. Even though this one didn’t go in the direction I had hoped, I still see a lot of promise with this writing.

I think for Readers who are newer to the Horror genre, or maybe making the transition from YA to Adult, this could be a good fit. Also, if you are really into Ghost Hunting content in whatever medium, this could be a fun one for you.

The audiobook was also well done and I would recommend that format if you’re going to pick this one up. It was a great listening experience.

Thank you to the publisher, Tantor Media, for providing me with a copy to read and review.

I’m glad I had the chance to read this one, and will definitely pick up future work from V.S. Lawrence!

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Review: My Ex, the Antichrist by Craig DiLouie

~ megs14malloy

My Ex, the AntichristMy Ex, the Antichrist by Craig DiLouie
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

**4.5-stars**

My Ex, the Antichrist is quite literally a dream book for me. Putting it simply, I would describe this one as Daisy Jones and the Six for Horror Readers.

If you’re like me, and love the Horror genre above all others, and you possibly read Daisy Jones and the Six, and loved it too, but thought, ‘where’s the murder? Where’s the chaos?‘

This book is for you!

In this book, we follow the rise and fall of a fictional punk band called The Shivers. Lily and her boyfriend, Drake, are the founding members of the group, then pulling in Ramona, Eric and Malcolm.

The entire novel reads like a Behind the Music episode on steroids, and much like Daisy Jones, I highly recommend the audiobook format for maximum impact.

We know that at the end of their run, Lily had confessed to murder. All was steeped in mystery, as the band refused to talk to anyone about what had happened, leading up to Lily taking such drastic action.

A decade later, Lily has agreed to an interview, and the rest of the band members follow suit. This book is comprised of those interviews, perfectly placed to allow the whole history of the band to play out.

This was such a great time. As mentioned above, 1,000,000% recommend the audiobook format if you’re going to pick this one up. I can’t stress this enough, because of how well the audio production is done. I’m not sure I would have enjoyed it half as much if I had just read a physical copy.

More than just the story of the band, I also loved the themes explored, and tend to enjoy epistolary format anyway, so this was a complete treat. I had no idea that’s how this story was going to be told.

It did feel a little stretched out in certain areas, but overall, it was a hella entertaining read. It reads super quickly, and is my favorite Craig DiLouie to date.

It may have you walking away thinking, maybe your ex isn’t so terrible after all…

Thank you to the publisher, Orbit Books and Hachette Audio, for providing me with copies to read and review. This was a complete surprise! So good!

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Review: The Bewitching by Silvia Moreno Garcia

~ megs14malloy

The BewitchingThe Bewitching by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

**4.5-stars rounded up**

Minerva was raised on her Nana Alba’s stories. Stories that included bizarre things, superstitions, magic and witchcraft. These shaped Minerva’s interests into adulthood, as many of us can probably relate to.

Minerva is now a graduate student at a prestigious Massachusetts college, focusing on the history of Horror Literature. More specifically, Minerva is researching the life and work of Beatrice Tremblay, a lesser known author of macabre tales, who once attended the same school.

During her research, Minerva discovers that Tremblay’s most famous novel, The Vanishing, was inspired by true events that happened in her own life.

In The Bewitching, we’re treated to: Minerva’s timeline in 1990s Massachusetts; to stories from Nana Alba’s life in 1900s Mexico and beyond; as well as Beatrice Tremblay’s time in school during the Great Depression, and the events that inspired her most famous novel.

This might sound like a lot, with all the different people and places, but trust me when I say, it’s beautifully-woven together into one easily understandable, overarching tale.

Admittedly, I am a huge Silvia Moreno-Garcia stan. I’m obsessed with her ideas and the way she tells stories. While not every single one has been a hit, more often than not, they have been, and I always love diving into a new book from her, as you never know what you are going to get.

I was intimidated going into this, as it is told in three different time periods, following three different perspectives, and I tend to not love sweeping sagas like that. However, I loved each of these perspectives. I was equally enamored by each, which is a hard feat to pull off.

This story is dripping in atmosphere, across all three time periods. It’s amazing to me how she was able to completely capture the essence of all three time periods in such a lush and compelling way.

The characters are full of life and distinct in tone. I loved the mystery, intrigue and lore behind it all. It was so good, I can’t wait to read it again someday. I’d love to take some more time with it; perhaps finding even more connections.

10/10 recommend for Readers who love vibrant, unsettling atmospheres, and witchy stories, both historical and modern. Also, slight dark academia vibes…

Thank you so much to the publisher, Del Rey, for providing me with a copy to read and review.

I expected to like this, but I was actually surprised at how connected I felt to the story, and how much I ended up loving all the various aspects it was comprised of. This will live in mind for a long time to come!

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Review: Evil Under the Sun (Hercule Poirot #24) by Agatha Christie

~ megs14malloy

Evil Under the SunEvil Under the Sun by Agatha Christie
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Another fun Hercule Poirot story. Poirot may go on holiday, but he never takes a rest from solving murder.

This one was super fun to try to solve. There were so many suspects, in a gorgeous isolated-island setting. It was wildly-entertaining with red herrings galore.

I feel like Christie brought her true cleverness to these pages. I thought I had it solved, but she fooled me again, and again, and again. So many clues, so little time…

I’ve never heard much buzz about this one, and upon reading it, I’m actually surprised. Mostly, that it wasn’t made into a film when the other big ones were recently redone. I feel like this could translate so well to the screen.

I know it has been adapted before, but I think it’s time for a reboot. The setting alone, the isolated, tranquil resort island, would be worth the price of admission.

I thought Poirot’s personality showed quite a bit in this one as well, which was fun to see. He was witty and engaging with the other guests, all whilst taking it all in. As he does.

I would definitely recommend this to any Christie fan, if you’ve yet to read it. It’s also a perfect Summer read, as a lot of the scenes are set at the beach, giving it a warm summertime feel.

I’m glad I made time for this one, and am looking forward to my next Agatha Christie read!

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Review: A Girl Walks into the Forest by Madeleine Roux

~ megs14malloy

A Girl Walks into the ForestA Girl Walks into the Forest by Madeleine Roux
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A Girl Walks into the Forest follows Valla, a teenage girl selected for her beauty to marry a member of the aristocracy of a neighboring kingdom.

Valla sees her betrothal to mysterious Count Leonid as a blessing. It’s not just a way for her to escape the confines of her small desolate village, but it’ll also win favor for the village. Life should be easier for everyone after this.

Unfortunately, in order to get to her new husband, and new kingdom, Valla must traverse the infamous Gottyar Wood, where many dangerous creatures lurk.

Valla is escorted by her brother and sister-in-law, and it seems their journey is cursed from the start. After a vicious attack leaves Valla in a feverish stupor and her face maimed, they’re lucky to make it through alive.

The Count isn’t pleased when presented with Valla’s new, altered appearance. Where is the beautiful bride he was expecting? Ugh, how frustrating for him…

Valla feels the same. Where is her beautiful prize? The luxurious lifestyle and extravagant castle, not to mention the sweet Prince, she was expecting? Because she’s not finding any of those things here.

But Valla’s shock and surprise at the state of the castle, her soon-to-be husband and his family is just scratching the surface of the unpleasantness she is in store for.

This is such an engrossing, beautifully-told YA Dark Fantasy. The blending of Horror elements with the Fairy Tale-feel captured my attention from the start.

I loved the incorporation of the Baba Yaga lore, and the atmosphere was very well done. I was also impressed by the level of body horror included, and how far Roux took some of the darker elements.

I will say the 1st-half was stronger for me than the later half, but overall, I was happy with the conclusion, and the story as a whole. We like it dark!

I’ve never read from this author before, but I’m definitely interested in checking out more of their work. If you have a favorite, drop it below.

The writing was so readable. I liked that Roux didn’t get too flowery with it. I hate when a plot gets lost with overly-purple prose. The way this was told was easy to follow, yet still complex and exciting as far as the themes and action.

I liked the feminist elements as well, and feel like this would be such a great story for younger Readers looking to expand further into the Horror genre. I think this is a great transition novel from YA to Adult, though it can clearly be enjoyed and appreciated by Readers of all ages.

Additionally, if you are a Reader like me, who craves lush, creepy atmosphere, you have to check this out. Starting with the forest, and then into the castle, Roux riddled this story with an atmosphere to get under your skin.

I also appreciated how Roux paced the story. Once the main action in the castle kicks off, things escalate fairly quickly, until everything starts to unravel at once. I was so attached to Valla; I was at the edge of my seat wishing for her safety.

At the end of the day, I think this is a must for Readers of Dark Fantastical Fiction. Particularly, if you still enjoy novels in the YA-space. Bonus for the Feminist Feels.

Thank you to the publisher, Quill Tree Books, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I’m definitely excited to pick up more from this author!

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Review: Out of Air by Rachel Reiss

~ megs14malloy

Out of AirOut of Air by Rachel Reiss
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

**3.5-stars**

Out of Air is a YA Thriller novel that follows a group of scuba diving teens, who get in too deep after discovering a legendary cave, and the power that dwells there.

This sounds creepy, right?

And that’s exactly why I picked it up. I love the idea of following a group of teen divers, and honestly, caves kind of scare me, particularly those you access via water.

I think there so much that can be hidden there, or go wrong, so the possibilities are endless!

This story is full of teen drama, and mainly follows Phibs Ray, and her five friends, who 6-months ago discovered a handful of ancient coins while on a dive. This find boosted them into some social media stardom.

In the current timeline, they have just graduated high school and are taking one last scuba trip together to an island off the coast of Australia. It’s there that they discover the cave, which seems to cause strange changes in some of the young explorers after surfacing.

From there we have some interactions with other treasure hunters, as well as spooky physical and mental ailments going on with the teens.

Overall, this was a good story. Reiss brought some interesting concepts to the page, and I loved that we were following teen divers. With this being said though, I did find the construction a little messy and I’m not sure how memorable it’s going to be long-term.

Even a few hours after finishing it, I had already forgotten all the character’s names except for Phibs, which to me just sort of shows that it lacked that special something to make it lurk around in my brain.

Also, the Horror aspects of the plot were slow to get going, and there wasn’t a ton of distinction between Past/Present in the audio version, which made it slightly confusing.

It would say it at the top of the chapter, but it all felt very one note, so was easy to get lost in time.

These are small quips though, overall, it’s entertaining, and I think it would be a great Summer Read for Teens interested in diving and ocean exploration.

Thank you to the publisher, Macmillan Audio, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I would definitely pick up future work from this author. I’m intrigued!

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Review: With a Vengeance by Riley Sager

~ megs14malloy

With a VengeanceWith a Vengeance by Riley Sager
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

**3.5-stars rounded up**

While this is my lowest rated Riley Sager novel to date, I did still find it quite entertaining. I can’t lie about that. With a Vengeance takes us on a cross-country train journey with a handful of questionable characters.

The full set of individuals was lured onto the trip by a young woman named Anna, who is hoping over the course of the journey from Philadelphia to Chicago, she can get them all to confess their crimes, and the ways they’ve wronged her.

Anna finds out that even the simplest plans can go awry though, when one of the passengers is killed. There’s no stopping now, they’re on a non-stop express to Chicago, trapped with a killer.

What progresses from there is a fairly classic Locked Room Murder Mystery, with a few twists, as well as many revelations involving the various characters.

I listened to the audiobook for this one and did enjoy it in that format. I felt like it kept it moving and helped it to play out in my mind like a movie.

I find this with all of Sager’s writing. The delivery always makes it easy for me to picture everything that’s happening. I also feel like his writing has a touch of a film noir quality to it that I adore.

For this one in particular, I think maybe because of the time period, I couldn’t help but think of Hitchcock, and it perhaps being shown in black and white. The way the characters interacted and their dramatic motivations gave it an air of a classic film.

Overall, this might not be a new favorite for me, but I still had a fun time reading it, and as always, I look forward to whatever Sager is going to grace us with next!!

Earlier:

Denied again for an ARC. Riley, your people hate me.

It makes me so sad. I received the first six of his books early, I believe, but the last two, no way. I used to love getting them early and screaming how much I love them from the rooftops. Sadly, those days are gone.

Problems of a bookworm…

Original:

❤️🖤💙❤️🖤💙❤️🖤💙❤️

Pack your bags. Sager’s taking us on a train journey!

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Review: Murder, She Wrote: A Body in Boston by Jessica Fletcher and Terrie Farley Moran

~ megs14malloy

Murder, She Wrote: A Body in BostonMurder, She Wrote: A Body in Boston by Jessica Fletcher
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was such a fun mystery, set in a city near-and-dear to my heart: BOSTON 🧡💚

Murder, She Wrote: A Body in Boston is the 61st-installment of my all-time favorite Cozy Mystery series. It’s hard to believe that I have read 50-books in this series I started as a kid. The longest commitment of my life — LOL.

Some of you have probably seen me rave about it. I never shut up about this series. To me, it’s the epitome of what a Cozy Mystery should be.

After the passing of the original series author, Donald Bain, the series has been taken on by a few other talented authors. Of all of these, Terrie Farley Moran, the author of this book, has been my favorite.

I feel like Farley Moran has successfully captured the original tone and characterizations, sticking with the classic format that works so well for long-time fans of the series. You know what you’re getting when you pick up a MSW book and I appreciate that TFM hasn’t tried to change that.

In this installment, Jessica gets invited to give a lecture at the Boston Public Library. Seeing she has time in her schedule, and already knowing she loves the city, Jessica accepts and begins to make travel arrangements.

As luck would have it, her dear friend, Seth Hazlitt, the local doctor of Cabot Cove, is also planning a trip to Boston at the same time to see a friend, a fellow doctor. The two decide to travel together and make a full friends vaca out of it.

Once there, Jessica is quick to meet up with her other long-time friend, and roguish heartthrob, Harry McGraw. Harry is a PI, who has frequently used Jessica’s astute brain to his advantage on his cases.

Harry’s latest client is the CEO of a pharmaceutical company, but his good friend, Cookie, the bartender at his favorite watering hole, is also pressing him to look into his daughter’s boyfriend, Victor, who he can’t stand.

What’s a talented PI to do?

Before Harry and Jessica can get too involved in the Victor situation though, Cookie’s daughter, Aileen, arrives at her father’s bar, while Jessica is there waiting to speak to her, covered in blood. She claims to have just discovered Victor’s dead body at his apartment. She fled, not knowing what to do, but now she’s the BPDs number one suspect!

As friends of Cookie’s, Jessica, Harry and Seth are all seriously invested in seeing Aileen’s name cleared. They know the timid schoolteacher could never have killed someone in cold blood.

Digging in and getting adventurous, the dynamic trio will not rest until they figure out who actually killed Victor. It’s really too bad Jessica never gets a break, but with bodies dropping whenever she’s around, her high-powered deductive skills are always in demand.

A Body in Boston was a really enjoyable mystery. Of course I adored the setting being in Boston, but I also just loved the level of intrigue and very stellar amateur sleuthing that went on within these pages.

It was also so fun seeing Harry and Seth actually getting along for once instead of butting heads. They found a few things in common, and before you knew it, it was off to the races with an all new friendship.

Cookie and Aileen were equally well-developed characters, and I liked seeing a father-daughter relationship displayed in such a strong and positive way. I found the mystery itself, their relationship, and the lengths Cookie would go to for his daughter all quite believable.

There were a couple details, or areas, that slowed down the pace a little, but overall, I feel like this is a fabulous installment to this long-running series.

Thank you to the publisher, Berkley, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I hope with my whole heart that Terrie Farley Moran continues to contribute to this series, because no one does it like she does!

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Review: The Bachelorette Party by Camilla Sten

~ megs14malloy

The Bachelorette PartyThe Bachelorette Party by Camilla Sten
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

**2.5-stars rounded up**

The Bachelorette Party is primarily set on a remote island off the coast of Sweden. The story follows two different timelines and includes a podcast element.

All of these were selling points for me, but unfortunately, I found the presentation quite choppy, and I was never really able to settle into the story to enjoy it.

The early set-up involves a group of four women, who make a trip to the island together every year. Best friends since childhood, it’s a tradition they keep in order to continue the good times and their friendship.

They’re also very secretive about the island’s location; telling no one. They have it just for themselves.

This one night of fun without any ties to their regular lives was always a great thing for the women. Until it wasn’t.

Ten years later, Tessa Nilsson, a recently disgraced podcaster, decides to focus on a true crime case that has captivated her attention since she was kid. It’s the story of four friends, who went to a remote island for a night, but were never seen again.

As luck would have it, Tessa’s best friend is about to get married, and her Bachelorette Party is a yoga retreat, set on a remote island with many similarities to the one the friends went missing from a decade ago.

Tessa, of course, attends the retreat and the way things go, she’s positive this is the place. Someone is out for revenge, but for what and for who?

I don’t know what else to say. That’s what the story is about, but it failed to stay with me. In my brain and directly out. I didn’t vibe well with the way it was written and found it difficult to stay focused on the back and forth.

Tessa’s perspective was the most interesting thing going on for me, but even that started to lose me after a while.

I do think if you read this one at the right moment, perhaps it could be a win for you. Please don’t let my apathy about it keep you from at least giving it a try.

I would categorize it as a Popcorn Thriller, so it could be a good one to bring with you this Summer to the beach, or on a quick Weekend Getaway.

Personally, I wish it could have captured my attention a little more, because the premise was certainly intriguing.

At the end of the day, we can’t love them all, and this one just wasn’t for me. I know many Readers are going to enjoy it, and you could be one of them!

Thank you to the publisher, Minotaur Books and Macmillan Audio, for providing me with copies to read and review.

I have enjoyed novels from Camilla Sten in the past, and will continue to check out all her new releases. My favorite so far, if you’re interested, has been The Resting Place.

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