Roses & Thorns

Roses & Thorns

Wednesday, March 29, 2017

House of Silence by Sarah Barthel #Historical #Suspense #HxlPsychiatricAssylum



The Plot:

Oak Park, Illinois, 1875. Isabelle Larkin’s future—like that of every young woman—hinges upon her choice of husband. She delights her mother by becoming engaged to Gregory Gallagher, who is charismatic, politically ambitious, and publicly devoted. But Isabelle’s visions of a happy, profitable match come to a halt when she witnesses her fiancĂ© commit a horrific crime—and no one believes her.

Gregory denies all, and Isabelle’s mother insists she marry as planned rather than drag them into scandal. Fearing for her life, Isabelle can think of only one escape: she feigns a mental breakdown that renders her mute, and is brought to Bellevue sanitarium. There she finds a friend in fellow patient Mary Todd Lincoln, committed after her husband’s assassination.

In this unlikely refuge, the women become allies, even as Isabelle maintains a veneer of madness for her own protection. But sooner or later, she must reclaim her voice. And if she uses it to expose the truth, Isabelle risks far more than she could ever imagine.

Weaving together a thread of finely-tuned suspense with a fascinating setting and real-life figures, Sarah Barthel’s debut is historical fiction at its most evocative and compelling.

About the Author:

Sarah Barthel is an historical fiction author, specializing in untold stories in America’s past.

Review:

Having been born, raised, and spent most of my life in Illinois, I’m fascinated by Abraham Lincoln and his family, so I jumped on House of Silence when I saw it on Net Galley. However, I was mildly disappointed in the first chapter when Isabelle Larkin, the heroine, was proud of the way her dress “popped.” Dresses did not “pop” in 1875. That expression wasn’t coined until this century, or maybe the end of the last one. Such anomalies are the reason I shy away from historical fiction.

Fortunately, Ms. Barthel managed to stay in the era through the rest of the book without too many more glitches, and her dilemma pulled me in and kept me reading. Even before Gregory Gallagher commits the crime that causes Isabelle to seek refuge in an insane asylum (and considering the state of mental health treatment in 1875, you know she has to be desperate!), he’s controlling and abusive toward her—definitely not the kind of man I’d want my daughter to marry. But Isabelle’s mother is equally desperate to acquire the money and stature she thinks marriage to the up-and-coming politician will bring. How can Isabelle accuse him of such heinous behavior? He’s their savior from poverty—their ability to remain in society and even climb higher. But Isabelle knows he has a secret. One he’s willing to kill to keep buried. And she’s afraid he’ll kill her.

House of Silence held my attention, and I do recommend reading it.

Warnings:  Violence
Length: 300 Pages
Prices:
Print:  $15.00
Digital:  $9.99

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Sunday, March 26, 2017

"The Sound of Rain" by Gregg Olsen @Gregg_olsen #Mystery #Suspense #Thriller





 
The Plot:

Former homicide detective Nicole Foster has hit rock bottom. Driven off the force by her treacherous partner and lover, she’s flat broke and struggling with a gambling addiction. All Nicole has left is the dream of a warm bed at a homeless shelter and the haunting memories of three-year-old Kelsey Chase—whose murder case ended her career.

As Nicole obsesses over the old facts, she realizes everything about that case felt off: a disinterested mom, a suicidal pedophile, and too many questions left unanswered. When the little girl’s grieving father begs Nicole for help, she’s drawn back into the investigation…and given one shot at redemption.

But the deeper Nicole digs, the more evil she uncovers, including betrayals that hit painfully close to home. Will a shocking discovery be the key to finally getting justice for Kelsey and resurrecting her own life?

About the Author:

#1 New York Times bestselling author Gregg Olsen has written more than twenty books. Known for his ability to create vivid and fascinating narratives, he’s appeared on multiple television and radio shows and news networks, such as Good Morning America, Dateline, Entertainment Tonight, CNN, and MSNBC. In addition, Olsen has been featured in Redbook, People, and Salon magazine, as well as in the Seattle Times, Los Angeles Times, and New York Post.

Both his fiction and nonfiction works have received critical acclaim and numerous awards, including prominence on the USA Today and Wall St. Journal bestseller lists. Washington State officially selected his young adult novel, Envy, for the National Book Festival, and The Deep Dark was named Idaho Book of the Year.

A Seattle native who lives with his wife and twin daughters in rural Washington State, Olsen’s already at work on his next thriller. Connect with him via Facebook and Twitter or through his website, http://www.greggolsen.com.

Review:

I’m not sure if authors are getting better at writing mysteries or if I’m just choosing better books, but once again I really did not see the ending coming. The Sound of Rain grabbed me at the beginning and kept me burning through the pages. I found myself quitting work early to read, and staying up late. As a food addict, I identified with Nicole Foster’s need to gamble, even knowing what it does to her—whether she wins or loses—even when she’s homeless.

Nicole could have been just another addict, but she’s more than that. She’s a cop—a good cop, who can’t quite let go of that last case. The one she failed to solve. The missing child she never found. The one that ended her career. Something was off, and she can’t rest until she figures out what it is. And you won’t believe where that quest takes her. You just have to read The Sound of Rain. But make sure you have time to read the whole thing when you pick it up. Because you won’t be able to put down Gregg Olsen’s The Sound of Rain.

Author Website:  http://www.greggolsen.com
Warnings:  Violence
Length:  350 Pages
Prices:
Print:  $11.99
Digital:  $4.99
Audio:  $9.99

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