2021'S TOP TEN BOOKS I READ

 

Here we are at last, at the end of another year. And this one was particularly trying. With the coronavirus pandemic and the resulting quarantine, 2021 has felt long. It wasn’t as hard for me as for other people (I’m an introvert) but I wouldn’t call the year a pleasant experience. 2020 was quite the tough start of a new decade. I’m with everyone hoping for a better 2022.

Even without a pandemic or home isolation, I read every day. The number of books I finished this year wasn’t that much higher than usual. Some of them were really good, which made it a hard choice to pick between them. As I’ve done before, I ended up with 10 picks. These are the books I enjoyed reading the most this year. The list starts after the jump:

BOOK REVIEW: AN INFINITE LOOP BY DAN RIX

Title: An Infinite Loop

Author: Dan Rix

Genre: Science Fiction

Published on: May 7, 2015, self-published

Time travel sucks.

You have to squeeze inside this fridge-sized quantum computer and suffer hours of mind-numbing boredom while it loops back in time. No light, barely enough air, total solitude. All the time in the world.

It’s also like a drug.

After her first nine-hour timeloop, teenage loner Iris Strasser craves another loop, if only for the rush. Determined to one up her, pretty boy Cory Holland ignores the warning signs that they’re meddling with something dangerous and programs in his own timeloop, daring Iris to make increasingly reckless trips into the past.

But when Iris steps into a timeloop and never steps out, leaving Cory with an empty time machine and an ache in his heart, he must come to grips with the unthinkable truth—he’s lost her inside an infinite loop from which she can’t escape. He’s trapped her in the past, and this time, time travel can’t reach far enough back to save her.

Young geniuses Cory Holland, Iris Strasser, and Noah Wright are back for another adventure. It didn’t seem like they’d be up to more time shenanigans, though. In the previous book, the trio clashed against the creator of the Chronos. Edgard Faye didn’t like that they discovered his machine’s secret. He tried scaring them into leaving the Chronos alone. But the huge cliffhanger means Cory and his friends must use the machine yet again. An Infinite Loop starts right where book two left off. Iris gets a strange call, but Cory isn't sure she should answer, lest they open another can of worms.

The trio resume classes the week after their retreat. They’ve resolved to stay away from the Chronos. Of course, the temptation is too great. Cory is stung that Iris one-upped him by getting to time travel before he did. He doesn’t care that she did it out of need rather than fun. Cory wants a go as well. He comes up with a way to use the Chronos without Faye knowing about it. Iris had secretly wanted to sneak into the machine as well. Time traveling left her with an itch, an urge to do it again.

BOOK REVIEW: HUNTER'S TRAIL BY MELISSA F. OLSON

Title: Hunter's Trail

Author: Melissa F. Olson

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Published on: September 2, 2014 by 47North

Actions have consequences--a lesson Scarlett Bernard is learning the hard way. As a "null," Scarlett has always been able to negate the powers of the supernatural beings that surround her. But now her reckless decision to permanently change Eli from a werewolf to a human has left the Los Angeles werewolf pack in shambles, and upset the balance of power among the city's supernatural factions. To make matters worse, Scarlett's employers discover that a newly changed werewolf is running amok in the city. To catch the rogue werewolf, Scarlett will need help from both Eli and Detective Jesse Cruz of the LAPD...a situation that will force her to finally choose between them.

However, Scarlett and her friends aren't the only ones on the hunt--someone else is chasing the wolf. Someone with no reservations about collateral damage. Now Scarlett and her allies must stop both the rogue wolf and the deadly hunter before the full moon rises and all hell breaks loose.

Filled with the same suspense and wit readers loved in Dead Spots and Trail of Dead, this may be Scarlett Bernard's most harrowing adventure yet....

Here is the latest book in Melissa F. Olson’s Scarlett Bernard trilogy. The previous one ended with a doozy of a cliffhanger, so Hunter’s Trail picks up almost right afterward. Scarlett, the protagonist, is a “null”, a human capable of negating magic within a radius around her. She lives in a fictional LA where other supernatural beings live in relative peace. The three factions (witches, vampires, and werewolves) rule with equal power. Scarlett uses her ability to erase magical traces from crime scenes, keeping the Old World secret from humans.

Scarlett Bernard has solved two major Old World-related cases so far. She was injured in the last one, after a showdown with the main villain. There were major casualties in the struggle. Some of them were because of Eli—the beta werewolf of LA’s pack and a love interest of Scarlett’s. Eli fell under the influence of wolfberry, a plant that causes werewolves to go berserk. He ended up killing people before Scarlett showed up to handle the situation. The experience leaves Eli angry with himself. Scarlett, who wasn’t thinking clearly after so much stress, made a reckless decision. She turned Eli back into a human, thinking it would make his life easier.

BOOK REVIEW: BEAUTIFUL BROKEN MESS BY KIMBERLY LAUREN

Title: Beautiful Broken Mess
Author: Kimberly Lauren
Genre: Romance, New Adult
Published on: April 7, 2015 by Montlake Romance (first self-published in 2013)

Jace Riley and Audrey Mills had a tender and irresistibly passionate romance…until Audrey shattered his heart. Years later, she still can’t stop thinking about him. They shared kisses that she’ll never forget, and one brief, explosive encounter that she wishes she could. But no boy could rescue Audrey from her nightmarish home life, so she rescued herself, got through college and got into graduate school…only to find herself at the same school as Jace and his identical twin brother, Jaxon, who has his own complicated history with her.

It takes only one glimpse of Audrey’s long legs and brown eyes for Jace to ache for her once more. Yet he’s determined not to fall for her again. She ripped apart his heart and betrayed his brother…or so he thought. But what if Jace made a terrible mistake about Audrey? And what if he has one last chance to fix it?

After a few sporadic appearances in Beautiful Broken Rules, a minor character returns as a protagonist. She’s Audrey Mills, a young woman attending college. Beautiful Broken Mess takes place after book one, but the beginning is from an earlier time. It introduces readers to twins Jace and Jaxon Riley before they met Emerson Moore. The Riley brothers are from a wealthy Texas family. In contrast, Audrey lived in a trailer park with a seriously abusive father.

One day, Audrey meets Jace Riley by chance. The two quickly hit it off and agree to stay in touch. Later, Audrey goes to a party Jace invited her to. Things become an absolute mess that day. Audrey makes an inadvertent mistake she’ll regret for years to come. She distances herself from the Riley family and goes on to become a model college student. Audrey hasn’t forgotten Jace, though. Despite having known each other for a few hours, they left a lasting impression on the other.

BOOK REVIEW: AFTERLIFE BY MARCUS SAKEY

Title: Afterlife

Author: Marcus Sakey

Genre: Fantasy, thriller

Published on: July 18, 2017 by Thomas & Mercer

Between life and death lies an epic war, a relentless manhunt through two worlds… and an unforgettable love story.

The last thing FBI agent Will Brody remembers is the explosion — a thousand shards of glass surfing a lethal shock wave. He wakes without a scratch. The building is in ruins. His team is gone. Outside, Chicago is dark. Cars lie abandoned. No planes cross the sky. He’s relieved to spot other people — until he sees they’re carrying machetes.

Welcome to the afterlife.

Claire McCoy stands over the body of Will Brody. As head of an FBI task force, she hasn’t had a decent night’s sleep in weeks. A terrorist has claimed eighteen lives and thrown the nation into panic. Against this horror, something reckless and beautiful happened. She fell in love… with Will Brody. But the line between life and death is narrower than any of us suspect — and all that matters to Will and Claire is getting back to each other.

When it comes to novels (especially sci-fi) it all has been done before. Even novels about a life after death. Still, Afterlife manages to feel fresh and intriguing. I’ve read a few books by Marcus Sakey before—the Brilliance saga. He has a distinctive writing style and extraordinary imagination. I started this book with high expectations. Is Afterlife as compelling as it sounds? Read on to find out.

The main character is Will Brody, an FBI Special Agent. He’s in Chicago working an unusual serial killer case. An unknown subject has been murdering random people with his sniper rifle. Leading the task force to catch this murderer is Claire McCoy, the Assistant Director of the Chicago FBI office. After 18 casualties, the city is in full panic. One day Will follows a clue that he hopes will end in him catching the sniper. He goes to a church to stop the killer’s reign of terror once and for all. Unfortunately, Will doesn’t realize he walked into a trap until it’s too late. A bomb goes off, killing Will instantly.

BOOK REVIEW: THE PROFILER'S DAUGHTER BY P.M. STEFFEN

Title: The Profiler's Daughter
Author: P.M. Steffen
Genre: Mystery

Published on: October 19, 2012 by Lion Dog Press

A grisly murder. A six-year-old eyewitness. A gun from the grave.

The Profiler's Daughter is a psychologically haunting thriller that combines murder mystery, love triangle, and family intrigue in one satisfying page burner.

Sky Stone was born into the wealth and privilege of Boston's oldest Brahmin family but chooses instead to follow in the footsteps of her deceased father, legendary FBI profiler Monk Stone. In the chilly morning hours before the Boston Marathon, when a beautiful university student is found strangled and mutilated, her body left at the base of Heartbreak Hill, Sky returns from self-imposed exile to investigate. Thirty-six hours into the investigation, Sky's world turns upside down when she is fired from the Homicide team. They pin the murder on an innocent man, forcing Sky into a life-threatening game of cat and mouse with the real killer. From the stately mansions of Beacon Hill to the flat scrubland of central Texas, Sky keeps the reader on a razor's edge, culminating in a no-holds-barred shoot-out.

This is one of the best novels I read in 2013. At first glance, I didn't think it would be so good, reminding one not to judge a book by its unremarkable cover. I liked the main character, Skylar Winthrop Stone (a really cool name). She's a forensic psychologist, daughter of legendary FBI profiler Monk Stone, and heiress to the Winthrop fortune. Sky has just returned from a self-imposed exile after a tragedy that happened months ago. She leads the investigation of a college student’s murder, the morning before the Boston Marathon. This crime baffles the police throughout the book.

Skylar, whose youthful looks conceal her real age (she’s 24), already has a doctorate. She also has a variety of other talents, including interviewing and crime scene analysis. Sky is described as having great beauty, especially when she dresses up. She doesn’t have a flock of guys after her, though. That’s not to say men are immune to Sky’s charms. O’Toole and Axelrod (two of Sky’s cop friends) have a small crush on her, but they’re otherwise just friendly. Sky’s also very smart and observant. She obviously inherited her father’s talents. Despite her sophistication, Sky has one little quirk. She’s a bit of a kleptomaniac. Sky even acknowledges this quirk. It’s amusing and harmless. As she’s already rich, Sky obviously doesn’t steal for gain.

BOOK REVIEW: OUT OF TIME BY JEN MCLAUGHLIN

Title: Out of Time
Author: Jen McLaughlin
Genre: Romance, New Adult

Published on: December 1, 2013, self-published

Desperate to keep him...

I've finally gotten everything I ever wanted: love, freedom, happiness, and, most importantly, Finn. Our love is everything I expected it to be and more. We've finally found each other, but the world seems determined to tear us apart. We thought my father was the only obstacle between us, but now it's the military. With Finn’s departure looming, we’re squeezing in every moment together before we run out of time.

Trying to make every moment count…

Being Carrie’s bodyguard was one thing. Being her boyfriend is another. Every day she’s mine is a day the sun shines in my life. Yet our time together is running out. Her father will never think a tattooed Marine will be good enough, so I’ll do whatever it takes to be worthy of her love. But the road will take me away from the girl who makes me feel alive--the girl I can't live without.

Time only gets us so far...

This is book two in the Out of Line trilogy. It’s a New Adult romance, and the main character is Carrie Wallington. She’s a college freshman who moved from the East Coast to LA to have more freedom. Her father, a prominent senator, takes overprotective to the extreme. The senator wanted to send Carrie with bodyguards, but she put her foot down. He deployed one anyway: Finn Coram. He’s a Marine, selected to protect Carrie in secret because his youth allows him to blend in among college students.

Carrie and Finn are now dating. She spotted him early on, and he couldn’t stay away from her. They ended up falling deeply in love. Carrie was furious when Finn told her who he really was. That’s all over now, and Finn promised Carrie there wouldn’t be any more lies. Senator Wallington can’t know about their relationship, though. Carrie is sure her father would not approve of her dating a guy like Finn, partly because of his tattoos. Finn is acting as if nothing had happened, keeping Senator Wallington updated about Carrie.

BOOK REVIEW: DARE YOU BY JENNIFER BROWN

Title: Dare You

Author: Jennifer Brown

Genre: Mystery, Young Adult

Published on: February 14, 2017 by Katherine Tegen Books

In the second book of the suspenseful Shade Me trilogy, Nikki Kill becomes embroiled in another mystery where only her synesthesia can help her unravel the dark truth.

Nikki Kill didn’t realize that trying to find out who killed Peyton Hollis would tangle her in a web of dangerous family secrets that would rock her identity to the core. But now that Nikki knows the truth, the all-powerful Hollises want to frame her for Peyton’s murder.

And now Nikki’s only chance at escaping the cold black bars of prison or the crimson grip of death is teaming up with the enigmatic Detective Martinez and relying on an ever-shifting kaleidoscope of clues....

After the stunning events in Shade Me, I readily bought a copy of Dare You. It continues the story of Nikki Kill, a teen sleuth with an unusual condition. This sequel takes place several months after Shade Me ended. Nikki’s graduated from high school, but she isn’t sure what’s next. She hasn’t really stopped to think about what she wants to do with her life. It’s almost a given that Nikki won’t go to college. She has synesthesia, a condition that makes some of her senses overlap. While it’s been really useful for memorization and following clues, it makes reading difficult.

In the previous book, Nikki got tangled in a criminal investigation. Someone beat up Peyton Hollis (the school’s queen bee) brutally. Unfortunately, she couldn’t survive her injuries. After following several clues that Peyton left behind, Nikki discovered they were half-sisters. She also found out what led to Peyton’s attack…and it almost cost Nikki her life. Now, she’s left all that behind to lead as normal a life as possible. While Nikki’s just minding her own business, the police turn up and arrest her. It appears someone planted drugs in Nikki’s car. For what reason, it's revealed soon afterward.

BOOK REVIEW: THE GHOST AT RETREAT LAKE BY DAN RIX

Title: The Ghost at Retreat Lake
Author: Dan Rix
Genre: Science Fiction

Published on: December 4, 2014, self-published

On the eve of the senior class lake retreat, seventeen-year-old ice queen Iris Strasser watches her future collapse before her eyes—literally—when she crawls out of a malfunctioning time machine, mumbles a cryptic warning, and then falls dead. Sudden cardiac arrest.

Cancelling the retreat is a no-brainer, but her infuriating arch nemesis—popular prick Cory Holland—will have none of it. Still raw from using time travel to save his ungrateful crush, he’s been looking forward to a weekend of zip-lining, bonfires, and hot bikini-clad girls getting frisky in the lake all summer—Iris Strasser notwithstanding. Besides, if anything goes wrong, they can always use the time machine again.

But when the retreat unfolds in a series of bizarre and deadly accidents, each preceded by a ghostly figure rumored to be death itself—here to finish the job Cory and Iris short-circuited the last time around—they realize they’re not the only ones dipping their fingers into the past, and now the ripple effects are catching up with them.

Now there’s only one way for Iris to outsmart death: she must set aside her hatred of Cory and learn to trust him completely—even if it means letting him get dangerously close to her when she’s most vulnerable. Cory, for his part, never anticipated that he would want to.

This time, though, meddling with the past has larger consequences than either of them could have imagined.

After the pulse-pounding time travel adventure in A Strange Machine, I was piqued for more. This series has three main characters. They are Cory Holland, Iris Strasser, and Noah Wright. The three attend Lakeside Upper (yes, Bill Gates’ alma mater). Cory is an arrogant young genius, Noah his down-to-earth best friend, and Iris a competitive brainiac. In the previous book, Cory and Iris stumbled upon the Chronos. It’s a quantum computer prototype recently donated to their school. While tinkering with it in secret, they discover it’s a time machine.

A Strange Machine ended with a huge cliffhanger. Cory had just saved his crush, Samantha Silvers, from death. He and the others were in the room with the Chronos when it opened by itself. Iris (possibly a version from the future) emerges with half a warning. The sight shocks present-time Iris. She takes it as a warning not to go to the school’s weekend retreat. Cory being Cory refuses to miss the trip. The trio end up going to the retreat after all. It’s at a lake a few hours away from the city. The whole senior class shows up for the trip, of course.

BOOK REVIEW: BEAUTIFUL BROKEN RULES BY KIMBERLY LAUREN

Title: Beautiful Broken Rules
Author: Kimberly Lauren
Genre: Romance, New Adult

Published on: April 7, 2015 by Montlake Romance (first self-published in 2013)

The most valuable lesson Emerson Moore ever learned was from her parents: Never get too attached to someone else. That’s why this hard-partying college student plays by her own code of bedroom conduct, refusing to stay with the same guy for too long. She gets all the pleasure of having a good time without the messiness of a relationship.. So what if frat house–hopping has earned her a certain reputation around campus? At least no one gets hurt this way—especially her.

When ridiculously gorgeous Jaxon Riley moves in next door, Emerson’s not sure how long her vow against emotional intimacy can last. Jaxon’s tattoo, muscles, and sexy voice make him tempting, but he also seems to really understand her…until his jealous ex-girlfriend and Emerson’s life-changing discovery about her parents get thrown into the mix. After everything she’s been through, can Emerson handle a real relationship? Or will breaking her rules just lead to a broken heart?

One of the things that drew me to Beautiful Broken Rules is the cover art. It looks great in its simplicity, because it’s neither messy nor bland. Another is the heroine, Emerson Moore. She’s as interesting and alluring as her name is unconventional. Em (the way she prefers to be addressed) attends an unnamed California college with her stepsister/roommate, Quinn. Although Em is guarded with her emotions, she’s promiscuous. And it’s not in a slut kind of way; Em’s just comfortable with her sexuality.

The book starts shortly after one of Em’s hookups. Someone put her clothes out of reach. Em decides to go to her car for her spare outfit. She almost stops when she notices three guys outside. Steeling herself, Em keeps walking in her underwear. She knows two of the guys (one’s her best friend Cole) but the other is a newcomer. Em later sees him in her journalism class. He introduces himself as Jaxon Riley, a new arrival at the college. Jaxon gets to know Em after the professor pairs them into groups for an assignment.

BOOK REVIEW: TRAIL OF DEAD BY MELISSA F. OLSON

Title: Trail of Dead

Author: Melissa F. Olson

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Published on: June 4, 2013 by 47North 

As a null, Scarlett Bernard possesses a rare ability to counteract the supernatural by instantly neutralizing spells and magical forces. For years she has used her gift to scrub crime scenes of any magical traces, helping the powerful paranormal communities of Los Angeles stay hidden. But after LAPD detective Jesse Cruz discovered Scarlett’s secret, he made a bargain with her: solve a particularly grisly murder case, and he would stay silent about the city’s unearthly underworld.

Now two dead witches are found a few days before Christmas, and Scarlett is once again strong-armed into assisting the investigation. She soon finds a connection between the murders and her own former mentor, Olivia, a null who mysteriously turned into a vampire and who harbors her own sinister agenda. Now Scarlett must revisit her painful past to find Olivia—unless the blood-drenched present claims her life first.

After solving a pivotal case in the previous book, Scarlett Bernard’s place in the Old World is more secure. She’s a null, a human who negates all magic around them. Thanks to this power, Scarlett works as a crime scene cleaner for LA’s supernatural groups. Trail of Dead picks up after a hiatus of several weeks. Scarlett flew to New York to meet with another null and learn more about what their power can do. This would be a big help for future missions.

Scarlett barely puts one foot back in LA before Detective Jesse Cruz approaches her. He’s another main protagonist and a love interest for Scarlett. Jesse had been waiting for her arrival so he could ask about a new crime scene. At the moment, though, Scarlett and Jesse’s relationship is strained. They like each other, but issues keep holding them back. One of them is Jesse’s expressed dislike of Scarlett’s job. This is because she sometimes makes dead bodies disappear. When they have obvious signs of magical harm, Scarlett can’t allow the police to see them. Jesse is a righteous cop and won’t condone tampering with evidence in such a drastic and permanent way.

BOOK REVIEW: SACRIFICE BY CLYDE PHILLIPS

Title: Sacrifice

Author: Clyde Phillips

Genre: Mystery, police procedural

Published on: August 13, 2013 by Thomas & Mercer (first edition: June 17, 2003)

San Francisco homicide detective Jane Candiotti’s life is finally looking up, thanks to a new promotion and a new husband. But navigating newlywed life takes a backseat when Philip Iverson, a powerful Bay Area philanthropist, is found murdered in a downtown hotel. An hour later, a homeless man is stabbed to death at the docks, a crime most cops would shrug off. But Jane isn’t like most cops.

Her gut tells her there’s something bigger at play here, something linking the victims in death when it’s likely their paths never crossed in life. But uncovering the truth won’t be easy: the Powers That Be are demanding that the SFPD focus all their resources on the Iverson case, despite alarming evidence that a serial killer is at work. If Jane can’t solve these murders—and fast—she could lose more than just her job…

It takes great characters to make a reader stay with them for three books or more. Jane Candiotti and Kenny Marks certainly are more than interesting to read about. This is their third book, and it’s just as good as the other two. Candiotti is now the lieutenant of the Homicide division at the SFPD. She’s said to be the first woman to hold the position. Candiotti took over after her previous boss resigned due to the events in Blindsided.

The first character we’re introduced to in Sacrifice is Philip Iverson. He’s a billionaire philanthropist and apparently San Francisco’s most beloved citizen. After a gala event he organized, Philip is found dead in a parking lot. Jane and Kenny rush to the scene, and are shocked at what they find. The police manage to keep Iverson’s death secret at first, to avoid scaring the public. Later that same night, Jane comes across another murder. This time, the victim is a homeless man.

BOOK REVIEW: OUT OF LINE BY JEN MCLAUGHLIN

Title: Out of Line
Author: Jen McLaughlin
Genre: Romance, New Adult

Published on: April 30, 2013, self-published

Desperate to break free…

I've spent my entire life under my father’s thumb, but now I'm finally free to make my own choices. When my roommate dragged me to my first college party, I met Finn Coram and my life turned inside out. He knows how to break the rules and is everything I never knew I wanted. A Marine by day and surfer by night, he pushes me away even as our attraction brings us closer. Now I am finally free to do whatever I want. I know what I want. I choose Finn.

Trying to play by the rules...

I always follow orders. My job, my life, depends on it. I thought this job would be easy, all the rules were made crystal clear, but when I met Carrie Wallington, everything got muddy. She's a rule I know I shouldn't break, but damn if I don’t inch closer to the breaking point each time I see her. I’m ready to step out of line. And even worse? I’m living a lie. They say the truth will set you free, but in my case…

The truth will cost me everything.

If I could choose a few novels that represent my "cup of tea" when it comes to reading, Out of Line would be among them. Although I’m a guy, I enjoy romance novels (as long as they don’t gush over the male protagonist or have a shirtless dude on the cover). This is the kind of book I wish I’d written if I were an author. I liked the relationship between Finn and Carrie. It develops steadily over the course of the book. They first start out as friends, but right from the start they're aware that they feel something stronger towards each other.

Finn is supposed to be a student at the same college Carrie attends. However, he has a secret of his own: he's Carrie's bodyguard. Finn was sent by her father to make sure she's safe at all times. Yeah, he's that kind of father. I'm frankly horrified by how far this man will go to "protect" Carrie. He's so overly paranoid it's not funny: this weirdo went so far as to have two guards watch Carrie sleep. If he could have some Secret Service agents follow his daughter around (perhaps with a helicopter or two and a SWAT team just in case), he would. It's no wonder that a suffocated Carrie flat-out refused to have a bodyguard. Her father agreed but slipped her one under the table anyway.

BOOK REVIEW: CASSIDY JONES AND THE ETERNAL FLAME BY ELISE STOKES

Title: Cassidy Jones and the Eternal Flame

Author: Elise Stokes

Genre: Science Fiction, Young Adult

Published on: March 5, 2017 by JACE Publishing LLC

Some boundaries should never be crossed…

The diabolic Metal Woman takes three people hostage. Her ransom demand: the location of a mysterious and unprecedented weapon, rumored to have been a gift to the Third Reich from Vulcan, the Roman god of fire.

When a rescue attempt goes sideways, Cassidy Jones seeks justice. Her quest leads her to the Seattle Underground, where she falls into the grip of an inexplicable evil. Cassidy learns too late that her desire for revenge may cost the life of someone she loves.

Another mystery to solve emerges in Cassidy Jones’s latest adventure. She’s a fifteen-year-old superhero who has an array of great powers. Helping in her exploits is Emery Phillips, a teen genius. He’s the son of Serena, the scientist who accidentally gave Cassidy her powers. Cassidy is also now dating Jared Wells, a guy she’s had a crush on for a long time. Their relationship is going well, especially as Jared knows about Cassidy’s powers and her nightly activities. But Jared may be keeping a secret that could drive them apart.

Lily White/Metal Woman is back. She’s a supervillain who first showed up in Vulcan’s Gift. Lily’s body fused with her (mystical?) metallic suit of armor after Cassidy kicked her into a fire. Now, Lily has kidnapped a trio of people who she suspects know the location of something she’s after. Cassidy and Emery catch wind of this not long afterward. The two resolve to find a way to locate Lily and stop her for good. Cassidy can’t wait for another showdown with her. She’s pretty sure she can take the Metal Woman.

BOOK REVIEW: SHADE ME BY JENNIFER BROWN

Title: Shade Me

Author: Jennifer Brown

Genre: Mystery, Young Adult

Published on: January 19, 2016 by Katherine Tegen Books

Nikki Kill has always been an outsider. Born with rare synesthesia, she sees the world differently. In Nikki’s eyes, happiness is pink, sadness is a mixture of brown and green, and lies are gray.

To Nikki, Peyton Hollis, the ultrarich it-girl at school, was seemingly untouchable. That is, until Peyton is violently attacked and the only phone number the hospital finds in Peyton’s cell is Nikki’s. Suddenly Nikki is pulled into Peyton’s glittering, fast-paced world as she tries to unravel an unfolding conspiracy.

As Nikki gets closer to the dark truth—and to Peyton’s gorgeous older brother—the only thing she can be sure of is death is a deep, pulsing crimson. 

The cover art is what first drew me to this book. Then I read the description, and I was hooked. Shade Me introduces Nikki Kill, an outcast with an interesting name. She’s your average high school student, apart from one thing. Nikki has synesthesia, a condition that causes some of her senses to overlap. It makes her “see” emotions as colors. For example, when a room has a happy atmosphere, Nikki sees pink. If someone is being dishonest, she sees gray. Letters, numbers, and words have their own fixed color in her eyes as well. A fun quirk about this is that Nikki memorizes phone numbers by their colors, not the actual digits.

One night, Nikki’s life is changed forever. She gets a call from the hospital, asking her to ID a girl who was just admitted. When Nikki arrives, she’s stunned to see the girl is Peyton Hollis, almost beaten to death. She’s the queen bee at their school and comes from a rich family. The issue is, Nikki and Peyton have never had anything to do with each other. Nikki’s puzzled when a nurse says her phone number was the only one saved in Peyton’s contacts. This makes Detective Chris Martinez (who showed up to investigate Peyton’s attack) curious about Nikki.

BOOK REVIEW: POINT OF NO RETURN BY TIFFANY SNOW

Title: Point of No Return

Author: Tiffany Snow

Genre: Romantic suspense

Published on: May 20, 2014 by Montlake Romance

Kathleen Turner wasn't expecting to fall in love when she came to Indianapolis a year ago, much less with two very different men. And not just any men. Brothers.

Blane Kirk, former SEAL turned attorney, is every woman’s dream man. A playboy who changes women as often as he changes his tie, trying to hold on to Blane could only break Kathleen's heart.

Commitment is a foreign word to Kade Dennon, assassin-for-hire and genius hacker, and safety is non-existent. A future with Kade would surely end in disaster—for both of them.

Past betrayals come to a head and the choice Kathleen makes could sign her death warrant. Everything’s at stake as Blane, Kade, and Kathleen reach the Point of No Return.  

Finally, the last book in the Kathleen Turner series is here. The previous one ended with a sort of edge-of-your-seat moment. Kade did something to save his brother, Blane, and it didn’t end too well. Fortunately, everyone is safe…for now. Kathleen’s been spending so much time with Kade now. She’s made her choice almost clear: Kade is the man she is in love with. Because of this, Blane’s been a little cold toward her. He’s not happy about losing Kathleen yet again. Whether they’ll get along ever again is a big question.

Kathleen is still reluctant to come between Blane and Kade. She feels she can’t be part of their lives without keeping them driven apart. When something unexpected happens, Kade chooses to stay with Kathleen no matter what. He is determined to change his life for her. Kathleen is joyful over this, and it seems like they’re finally getting their HEA. Of course, things can never be easy. For reasons unknown, Kade and Kathleen are driven apart yet again. And this time, it seems like it’s permanent. This leads a disillusioned Kathleen to flee to her hometown. The only person she lets know about her location is Alisha, Kathleen’s new friend and next-door neighbor.

BOOK REVIEW: A STRANGE MACHINE BY DAN RIX

Title: A Strange Machine
Author: Dan Rix
Genre: Science Fiction

Published on: December 4, 2014, self-published

She’s dead.

Samantha, her wavy caramel-colored hair, her little Bambi eyes, her angel face…dead.

I killed her.

Sure, I didn’t crush her skull and bash her brains in. The telephone pole did that. The drugs did that. The other car’s high beams did that.

But I killed her.

She had just said I love you. She said she missed me. She was coming to spend the night. She was high. She asked for a ride.

I was lazy.

But what if there was a way to save her? What if there was a way to send back a warning? What if there was a way to undo it all? The crash. Us. Falling in love. All the way back to the beginning.

What if there was a machine? 

Well-researched sci-fi is a joy to read for me. Part of the reason is that I find futuristic tech fascinating. A Strange Machine deals with a certain awesome invention. The main character is Cory Holland, an egocentric genius teen who attends Lakeside Upper. If that name sounds familiar, yes, it’s the same private school that Bill Gates went to. It’s got prestigious STEM courses. Cory is good at virtually anything, especially programming. He hacks into the school’s system to get the hottest girls signed up into his Advanced Physics class. Cory is about to start his senior year, and he wants it to be perfect.

Another of the main protagonists is Iris Strasser. She’s a competitive overachiever whose life’s mission is to beat Cory in the classroom. Iris usually ends up matching his scores, though. For Cory, excelling at school is effortless. Iris needs to work hard just to keep up with Cory. She’s also going into her senior year. Iris wants it to be different, so she changes her style drastically. She used to wear baggy, awful-looking outfits. Now Iris is switching to clothes that show her figure and letting her hair down. Iris isn’t ugly, but she didn’t turn guys’ heads either.

BOOK REVIEW: WHEN IT'S REAL BY ERIN WATT

Title: When It's Real
Author: Erin Watt
Genre: Romance

Published on: May 30, 2017 by Harlequin Teen

Under ordinary circumstances, Oakley Ford and Vaughn Bennett would never even cross paths. 

There's nothing ordinary about Oakley. This bad-boy pop star's got Grammy Awards, millions of fangirls and a reputation as a restless, too-charming troublemaker. But with his home life disintegrating, his music well suddenly running dry and the tabloids having a field day over his outrageous exploits, Oakley needs to show the world he's settling down—and who better to help him than Vaughn, a part-time waitress trying to help her family get by? The very definition of ordinary. 

Posing as his girlfriend, Vaughn will overhaul Oakley's image from troublemaker to serious artist. In return for enough money to put her brothers through college, she can endure outlandish Hollywood parties and carefully orchestrated Twitter exchanges. She'll fool the paparazzi and the groupies. She might even start fooling herself a little. 

Because when ordinary rules no longer apply, there's no telling what your heart will do…

This book ended up being something totally different from what I expected. The synopsis made me think When It’s Real would be soap-operay, kind of like a rom-com guilty pleasure. Well, the book is a romance but not a comedy or soap opera. It’s more of a New Adult romance. The protagonists are Vaughn Bennet and Oakley Ford. The former is an average girl from LA. She lives with three siblings—their parents died in an accident years ago. Vaughn and her family are strapped for cash. She had to graduate from high school early so she could work and help keep her family afloat. Vaughn doesn’t know what she wants in life, anyway.

In contrast, Oakley Ford has known he wanted to sing since he was a kid. At nineteen, he’s a wildly successful pop heartthrob. The fame’s got to Oakley’s head a bit. He knows he’s a big deal and has become a big partier. Oakley’s had a creative block lately, though. Seeking to help him (and clean his reputation), his manager Jim Tolson cooks up a plan. He wants Oakley to date an ordinary girl, knowing it’ll make him seem more down-to-earth and relatable. Oakley feels like refusing…until renowned music producer Donovan King makes an irresistible offer. He’ll produce Oakley’s next album if the latter proves he can settle down and do music for the craft rather than money and fame.

BOOK REVIEW: BLINDSIDED BY CLYDE PHILLIPS

Title: Blindsided

Author: Clyde Phillips

Genre: Mystery, police procedural

Published on: August 13, 2013 by Thomas & Mercer (first edition: March 1, 2000)

Homicide inspector Jane Candiotti's personal life is taking a turn for the better: still single and nearing 40, she's about to set up housekeeping with her partner on the force, Kenny Marks. Her future at the San Francisco Police Department is looking good too, until Skip Lacey, a former cop who's fallen on hard times, turns up dead in a railway yard, his eyes brutally gouged out. The killer's got a big score to settle, as well as a talent for turning up in the strangest places, like the funeral of Jane's father. He also has a sharpshooter's eye and a deadly aim: bent on revenge for a 15-year-old miscarriage of justice, he picks off six more cops, all in Jane's precinct.

In this second outing after the Hitchcockian Fall from Grace, which also starred Candiotti and Marks, Phillips telegraphs the killer's identity early on, but that doesn't keep the suspense from mounting. This gripping police procedural has a wallop of a denouement that will come as a surprise to most readers. The action is well paced, the characters sympathetically drawn, and the love story adds a nice touch without sinking into sentimentality.

The first book in this series left me wowed, so I was eager to find out what’s next for the protagonists. They are Inspector Jane Candiotti of the SFPD, and her partner Kenny Marks. Fall from Grace ended on sort of a bleak note. Jane went through a huge disappointment that almost cost her her life. Now, she and Kenny are closer than ever. Jane’s starting to realize that he’s the man she loves after all.

It’s been almost a year since the events of the previous book. Blindsided starts by introducing the main villain, whose identity is revealed right away: Jacques Carpenter. He’s an ex-con who got released due to good behavior. Now, Jacques intends to exact revenge on those who he feels have messed up his life. His first kill doesn’t make much of an impact. Jane and Kenny all but dismiss it, thinking the victim just pissed someone off. The brutality of the kill leaves a huge impression on them, though.

BOOK REVIEW: DEAD SPOTS BY MELISSA F. OLSON

Title: Dead Spots

Author: Melissa F. Olson

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Published on: October 30, 2012 by 47North 

Scarlett Bernard knows about personal space: step within ten feet of her, and any supernatural spells or demonic forces are instantly defused—vampires and werewolves become human again, and witches can’t get out so much as a “hocus pocus.” This special skill makes her a null and very valuable to Los Angeles’s three most powerful magical communities, who utilize her ability to scrub crime scenes clean of all traces of the paranormal to keep humanity, and the LAPD, in the dark.

But one night Scarlett’s late arrival to a grisly murder scene reveals her agenda and ends with LAPD’s Jesse Cruz tracking her down to strike a deal: he’ll keep quiet about the undead underworld if she helps solve the case. Their pact doesn’t sit well with Dash, the city’s chief bloodsucker, who fears his whole vampire empire is at stake. And when clues start to point to Scarlett, it’ll take more than her unique powers to catch the real killer and clear her name.

This is the book that started the author’s Old World saga. It’s an urban fantasy series set in our contemporary world, only with supernatural creatures. Witches, vampires, and werewolves are the three main races. The protagonist, Scarlett Bernard, plays a special role in this world. She’s a null, a rare being who can cancel out all magic within a certain radius around her. Scarlett works as a crime scene cleaner for the ruling members of Los Angeles’s Old World. She does this to erase all supernatural traces, keeping humans from learning about them.

Scarlett’s main boss is Dashiell, the cardinal vampire of LA. In this city, the three supernatural factions rule with about equal power. Scarlett works for them all. She hasn’t had any particularly noteworthy job, until now. Dashiell calls Scarlett to a crime scene in a park. There, she comes upon a scene so horrible it would shock even seasoned policemen. Unfortunately, rookie detective Jesse Cruz arrives before Scarlett can deal with the scene. Even more, a werewolf runs away right in front of Cruz’s eyes. Shell-shocked, Cruz makes a deal with Scarlett. He’ll keep quiet about the Old World if Scarlett helps him solve the case. With Dashiell’s reluctant blessing, Scarlett agrees.

BOOK REVIEW: THE COMPETITION BY MARCIA CLARK

Title: The Competition

Author: Marcia Clark

Genre: Mystery, legal thriller

Published on: July 8, 2014 by Mulholland Books (first hardcover edition)

A Columbine-style shooting at a high school in the San Fernando Valley has left a community shaken to its core. Two students are identified as the killers. Both are dead, believed to have committed a mutual suicide.

In the aftermath of the shooting, LA Special Trials prosecutor Rachel Knight teams up with her best girlfriend, LAPD detective Bailey Keller. As Rachel and Bailey interview students at the high school, they realize that the facts don't add up. Could it be that the students suspected of being the shooters are actually victims? And if so, does that mean that the real killers are still on the loose?

A dramatic leap forward in Marcia Clark's highly acclaimed Rachel Knight series, The Competition is an unforgettable story that will stay with readers long after the last page has been turned.

Three books in, famous prosecutor turned novelist Marcia Clark has proved her amazing talent. The Rachel Knight legal thriller series is phenomenal. Can The Competition top the stunning third entry in its series? As usual, a few months have passed since the events of Killer Ambition. Rachel Knight and her police detective partner Bailey Keller are pretty much household names now. They solved one of the most high-profile cases to have emerged in LA. This doesn’t mean Rachel and Bailey get stopped for autographs now, though. They’ve gone about their normal lives...as normal as they can be.

The Competition starts from the point of view of two students at Fairmont High, a local LA school. Christy Shilling is a girl who’s worked too hard to make the varsity cheerleading team. Harley Jenson is a studious boy who seeks to win a scholarship to MIT. Their next day at school, things seem like they’ll go as usual. Except, what should have been a normal school day is brutally interrupted. Two unidentified shooters open fire at a pep rally, killing several students instantly. Sadly, one of them seems to be Christy. My heart went out to her. It was so unfair that Christy got killed the day of her debut as a cheerleader. So much hard work, only to be killed when she's had all but a sip of success. Harley’s fate is left ambiguous, though.

BOOK REVIEW: TAMING TROUBLE BY JIFFY KATE

Title: Taming Trouble

Author: Jiffy Kate

Genre: Romance

Published on: November 30, 2017 (self-published)

The day Tucker Benoit left his father's farm in French Settlement to pursue his love of music was the best day of his life.

Or so he thought...

After years of booze, girls, drugs, and gigs, Tucker finds himself back where he started. Only this time, he finds solace on the farm that once isolated him from the world.

Now, the only thing hindering his much-needed R and R is the smart and sassy Piper Grey. The fire between them is palpable and lands them between the sheets more often than not.

But when a blast from Tucker's past shows up out of nowhere, he's forced to re-evaluate his life. The future never looked more uncertain and his heart never felt more torn apart.

Suddenly, staying on the road doesn't seem like such a bad idea after all...

After finishing the two books that make up Micah Landry’s and Sheridan (Dani) Reed’s story, I was eager to read Piper Grey’s. She is Dani’s best friend. Although Piper had a rather small role, she piqued my interest. I found her intriguing, and her name is cool to boot. Taming Trouble is book four in this southern romance series. I skipped the second because it's a prequel, and I was more interested in Micah, Dani, and Piper. The protagonists of Taming Trouble are Tucker Benoit and Piper Grey. It takes place in French Settlement, Louisiana. Tucker is a notorious bad boy and womanizer. I kid you not, Tucker earned himself the crude but amusing nickname Tucker the Fucker. He doesn’t do serious relationships.

Tucker used to be an aspiring singer. Failing to make it big, he returned to French Settlement to regroup. There, he struck up a friends- (or rather, enemies) with-benefits relationship with Piper. They couldn’t stand each other, but their chemistry was blazing. Taming Trouble starts after one of their trysts. They wake up after a drunken night at a club. It turns out a bandmate of Tucker’s filmed the latter’s drunk proposal and posted the video on Twitter. Tucker finds the situation amusing, but Piper is not thrilled. She runs away in a fury.

BOOK REVIEW: CASSIDY JONES AND THE LUMINOUS BY ELISE STOKES

Title: Cassidy Jones and the Luminous

Author: Elise Stokes

Genre: Science Fiction, Young Adult

Published on: September 25, 2014 by JACE Publishing LLC

They need. They seed. They breed.

An inhuman evil lurks in the depths of Lake Washington— an evil that walks among us. They look like us...they talk like us...but they are not us. And when Cassidy Jones discovers that they threaten life as we know it, can she summon the power to stop them? In her greatest test yet—and her greatest adventure— the world hangs in the balance against a relentless and insidious adversary: the Luminous.

After three books, I’ve become a big fan of Cassidy Jones. She’s such a memorable character. At only fifteen, Cassidy has become a superhero after gaining powers in a lab accident. She even has a rogues gallery now. They’re rather wacky but not lame. Lily White/Metal Woman seems to be Cassidy’s main nemesis. She’s sitting this book out, though. Cassidy and her sidekick, Emery Phillips, are going to have plenty on their plate without worrying about previous villains.

Cassidy Jones is the talk of Seattle now. She spends her nights working off excess energy; this sometimes involves crime-fighting. The news has taken to calling Cassidy the “Seattle Shadow.” She doesn’t have an actual superhero suit (or even name), but takes care to dress in all black. There’s a change in the status quo now, too. Cassidy’s family is aware of her powers and what she’s been up to this whole time. They’re understandably worried, but Serena and Gavin (Emery’s parents) assured the Joneses that Cassidy can handle herself.

BOOK REVIEW: ONE OF US IS LYING BY KAREN M. MCMANUS

Title: One of Us is Lying

Author: Karen M. McManus

Genre: Mystery, Young Adult

Published on: May 30, 2017 by Delacorte Press

On Monday afternoon, five students at Bayview High walk into detention.

Bronwyn, the brain, is Yale-bound and never breaks a rule.

Addy, the beauty, is the picture-perfect homecoming princess.

Nate, the criminal, is already on probation for dealing.

Cooper, the athlete, is the all-star baseball pitcher.

And Simon, the outcast, is the creator of Bayview High's notorious gossip app.

Only, Simon never makes it out of that classroom. Before the end of detention, Simon's dead. And according to investigators, his death wasn't an accident. On Monday, he died. But on Tuesday, he'd planned to post juicy reveals about all four of his high-profile classmates, which makes all four of them suspects in his murder. Or are they the perfect patsies for a killer who's still on the loose?

Everyone has secrets, right? What really matters is how far you would go to protect them.

When I picked up One of Us is Lying, it was one of those books I knew would be among my top reads of the year. The synopsis sounded awesome. This is a YA mystery set in a high school in southern California. It has four protagonists who are brought together after a suspicious incident. On a fateful Monday, five senior students show up to detention after school. They are Bronwyn Rojas, Addy Prentiss, Cooper Clay, Nate Macauley, and Simon Kelleher. When it’s over, only four of them leave the classroom alive.

None of the five students run in the same circles. They’re sort-of teen movie clichés, but not boring at all. Simon is the one who’s dead by the end of the school day. After the police look into it, they conclude his death wasn’t an accident. Simon’s role in the book is unclear at first. He’s an outcast at Bayview High School. Simon is semi-respected (read: feared), though, as he’s the creator of a gossip app. Simon has been exposing his peers’ dirty secrets for years. The police discover that Simon was about to publish secrets about the four students he had detention with. This makes them suspects right away.

BOOK REVIEW: OUT OF TURN BY TIFFANY SNOW

Title: Out of Turn

Author: Tiffany Snow

Genre: Romantic suspense

Published on: December 17, 2013 by Montlake Romance

Breaking up is hard to do, as Kathleen Turner discovers. After a falling-out with her ex, high-powered attorney Blane Kirk, she’s moving on the best she can. Unfortunately, someone from her past is set on revenge and nothing short of killing Kathleen will stop them.

Keeping his brother’s ex-girlfriend alive isn’t something new to assassin-for-hire Kade Dennon, but this time can he protect her from himself? She’s a woman he can’t convince himself to walk away from, no matter what it costs him.

Regret is a constant companion for Blane as he realizes the truth behind the lies he’s been told. Can love heal the past, or can some mistakes not be undone?

Murder reunites Blane, Kade, and Kathleen as the police put Blane in their crosshairs. Blane may lose everything unless he and Kade can find the real murderer before it’s too late. But if they can’t set aside their love for the same woman and work together, it will tear them apart.

In Out of Turn, Kathleen is caught between two warring brothers, and the consequences may be fatal.

After the way the previous book ended, I readily started Out of Turn. The stakes are higher than ever now. Blane Kirk, one of the protagonists, made a terrible mistake that may just have cost him the love of his life, Kathleen Turner. She’s been recovering from their breakup for the past few months. Kathleen’s done her best to live her life as usual, returning for work at The Drop (a place she used to bartend at). Everything’s normal for Kathleen now, almost monotonous. This doesn’t last long, though. Someone out th
ere wants to kill Kathleen yet again. And much to her dismay, Blane endeavors to protect her.

It must be extremely awkward to interact with an ex again after months of no seeing each other. To make it worse, the reason Blane and Kathleen broke up was awful. Even though she wants him out of her life, Blane won’t go anywhere while Kathleen’s life is in danger. Needing some buffer, Kathleen asks for Kade to return. Unfortunately, she suffers another attempt on her life. An unsettled Kade hightails it back to Indy to protect her.

BOOK REVIEW: STARSIGHT BY BRANDON SANDERSON

Title: Starsight
Author: Brandon Sanderson
Genre: Science Fiction, Young Adult

Published on: November 26, 2019 by Delacorte Press

All her life, Spensa has dreamed of becoming a pilot. Of proving she's a hero like her father. She made it to the sky, but the truths she learned about her father were crushing. The rumors of his cowardice are true--he deserted his flight during battle against the Krell. Worse, though, he turned against his team and attacked them.

Spensa is sure there's more to the story. And she's sure that whatever happened to her father in his starship could happen to her. When she made it outside the protective shell of her planet, she heard the stars--and it was terrifying. Everything Spensa has been taught about her world is a lie.

But Spensa also discovered a few other things about herself--and she'll travel to the end of the galaxy to save humankind if she needs to.

After months of anticipation, I was at last able to read Starsight. The first book doesn’t end with a cliffhanger, but I was still piqued. The main character, fighter pilot Spensa Nightshade, is back for another adventure. Six months have passed since the final battle in Skyward. Spensa (callsign “Spin”) narrowly saved her people from an attack that would have been catastrophic. She’s now not only a full-fledged Defiant Defense Force pilot. Spensa is legit a lieutenant. That impressed me. Spensa's come a long way from the outcast daughter-of-a-coward she used to be.

A returning character has a new role as well. He’s Cobb (callsign “Mongrel”), Spensa’s old flight instructor. He got promoted to commander of the DDF. If you recall, the DDF’s raison d’etre is to fight the Krell. They’re an alien race that have been at war with humans for decades. The Krell have kept humans stuck on Detritus the whole time. Spensa recently found out why. Her ship has an AI called M-Bot, and he hacked into Krell databases at the end of Skyward. The intel was useful for the DDF, but now things have changed. It appears the Krell want to eradicate humans rather than keep them isolated.

STATUS UPDATE: BLOG POST #100

Good morning! I am back with another status update. This post is special for one reason: it’s the 100th to be published to this blog. That’s a milestone I didn’t feel like passing by without mention. It’s been more than a year since I launched Ivan’s Insights. As I’ve mentioned, the main reason I started this blog was to share my book reviews. I’m an avid reader, so I’ve read a lot of books over most of the past decade. I wrote reviews almost from the beginning, but didn’t think of publishing them until later.

I’m still posting new book reviews. That isn’t going to run out; I read an average of one novel per week. I took a break this past late May and early June because of a trip. I already had my Covid-19 vaccination, and in good time. I was able to visit family who live out of the state. This trip was a breath of fresh air as well. I haven’t left my city at all since the pandemic started. Now that I’m vaccinated, I’m hoping to have more freedom to go out more often eventually.

BOOK REVIEW: FALL FROM GRACE BY CLYDE PHILLIPS

Title: Fall From Grace

Author: Clyde Phillips

Genre: Mystery, police procedural

Published on: August 13, 2013 by Thomas & Mercer (first edition: April 22, 1998)

Veteran San Francisco homicide detective Jane Candiotti never had a problem drawing the line between her personal and professional lives—until the night she meets David Perry after his socialite wife, Jenna, is brutally murdered. The facts are damning: the Perrys were embroiled in a bitter divorce and now David stands to inherit millions in the wake of Jenna’s death. But Jane’s instincts tell her there’s more to this case than just greed and love gone sour.

To uncover the truth, she must dig into the sordid secrets of the city’s most powerful families, a quest that will draw her inextricably closer to David and his teenage daughter…and to the cold-blooded killer who’s stalking their every move. But when the case takes a shocking turn, it’s not just Jane’s reputation that’s hanging in the balance—it’s her life.

A terrifying noir thriller from the executive producer of Dexter, Fall From Grace was hailed by Dennis Lehane as “a deftly plotted first novel with the pace of a hurricane and the impact of an earthquake.”

As I’m a fan of mysteries/thrillers with law enforcement characters, I picked up this book when it was discounted. By now, it’s 2016 and I’ve read several books with female investigators. In Fall from Grace, the protagonist is Inspector Jane Candiotti of the San Francisco PD. She is said to be one of the best officers in their force. The book starts with a liberal amount of backstory that hardly seemed relevant. After reading chapter one, I thought that it served only to humanize the characters in it. It’s apparent the author didn’t want them to just be faceless victims of a tragic accident. The following chapters introduce supporting characters. Then Jane Candiotti finally showed up.

One of Fall from Grace’s most important characters is David Perry. He’s an attorney who’s going through a divorce. His wife, Jenna, was having an affair with a close friend of hers. She’s not just any woman, though. Jenna comes from one of the richest families in SF. She kicked David out of her house, and he’s now living in a condo. David is still allowed to see his and Jenna’s daughter, Lily. She’s thirteen, smart, and rather endearing. As expected, Lily is deeply affected by her parents’ divorce. This comes a year after her maternal grandfather died in a plane crash.