Book review: Under The Willows by Pamela Mc Cord

Author: Pamela Mc Cord
Publisher: Acorn Publishing
Publication Date: 15 May2020

Book review: Under The Willows

 Kelly  and her son TJ  moved to a new house in Ohio which TJ's  father inherited from his grandmother. Unfortunately due to accident TJ lost his dad.
The house was beautiful and there life started  to overcome the tragic incident until one day TJ  hears crying of a little girl asking for help.The sound was coming from Alexa. He make her mother hear the sob too, and finally they decided to solve the mystery behind the crying of the little girl.

My view:
A very different kind of horror story which  made me eager to look for the answer till the end, but there were few questions which was unclear and left me dissatisfied.
I wanted to know more about the little girls and how and why the incident happened. Especially Emma.
Language is easy and if you are looking for some light read this book is recommended from me.
A mix of mystery, horror, action , love and emotion is what this book is all about.

Ratings : 3/5


Thank you #netgalley and #underthewillows for the ARC in exchange of my honest review.

Book Review : The Mother-in-Law by Sally Hepworth

The Mother-in-Law
Author:Sally Hepworth


Synopsis


A twisty, compelling novel about one woman's complicated relationship with her mother-in-law that ends in murder...

From the moment Lucy met her husband's mother, Diana, she was kept at arm's length. Diana was exquisitely polite, and properly friendly, but Lucy knew that she was not what Diana envisioned. But who could fault Diana? She was a pillar of the community, an advocate for social justice who helped female refugees assimilate to their new country. Diana was happily married to Tom, and lived in wedded bliss for decades. Lucy wanted so much to please her new mother-in-law.

That was five years ago.

Now, Diana has been found dead, a suicide note near her body. Diana claims that she no longer wanted to live because of a battle with cancer.

But the autopsy finds no cancer.
The autopsy does find traces of poison and suffocation.
Who could possibly want Diana dead?
Why was her will changed at the eleventh hour to disinherit both of her adult children and their spouses?

With Lucy's secrets getting deeper and her relationship with her mother-in-law growing more complex as the pages turn, this new novel from Sally Hepworth is sure to add to her growing legion of fans. 


Excerpt from the book:

Someone once told me that you have two families in your life – the one you are born into, and the one you choose. But that’s not entirely true, is it? Yes, you may get to choose your partner, but you don’t, for instance, choose your children. You don’t choose your brothers- or sisters-in-law, you don’t choose your partner’s spinster aunt with the drinking problem…. More importantly, you don’t choose your mother-in-law.”


My Thoughts :


A family drama/ mystery novel  about a complicated relationship with Mother in Law. The book opens with the death of Lucy's Mother in law, Diana. It was said she committed suicide leaving a note  in the drawer.  But police feels their is more to it and its not a suicide.
Every women getting married and joining a  new family  wants to feel accepted by the mother in law. Lucy too wanted to get the motherly love from her mother in law Diana as she lost her own mother in her childhood days. But unfortunately Diana was always reserved and tried to keep distance.

As the story unveils slowly, we see how complicated people gets in terms of relation. Each chapter has been written in terms of characters perspective. How they feel and why they feel.
The story opens up with Diana's past her  and how she met her husband Tom.
Though with the past story of Diana ,the author tried to create sympathy, I think her attitude towards everyone at times were mean. Diana was sympathetic towards strangers but towards her grandchildren or children she was extremely mean and stingy. Some time being too much practical is  not good for relationship.
I am not surprise she is dead ! What surprised me was the ending, how she died.
Overall it was a light read.

3/5


"of course  there are plenty of ways to give your life meaning  beyond having children . Every one says this. Some people believe it. But in the end it doesn't matter  because I dont believe it. And this is after all my life."

Book Review:This Little Dark Place By A.S Hatch

This Little Dark Place By A.S Hatch

Rating: 4

 How well do you know yourself? Or How well do you speculate things? 

Reading this book, I was confidently going with the thought  of the protagonist Daniel, but then I found that my speculation sucked big time. The last few pages changed my whole point of view.

The story starts off with Daniel writing a letter to a person name Lucy. We don’t know who Lucy until the very end.

The couple Daniel and Victoria tried to conceive for a very long time, but in vain. They took medical assistant but ended up with miscarriage. Slowly their happily built up nest got filled up with depression. Each started their own way to cope with life. Victoria joined Yoga program while Daniel joined a pen pal program where he gets to write letter to a prisoner. There he meets Ruby. Convicted of assault on an abusive partner.  They both write to each other, sharing their darkest secret, making ruby slowly like Daniel. And one day she comes to find Daniel. Meanwhile Victoria is unaware of the entire thing. How will Daniel manage Ruby whom he thinks is somewhat Schizophrenic.

 The story is more deep than what the blurb has portrayed.

Throughout the book reader can predict what is happening and who is doing until the end will blow you off.

Though the  switching back and forth in the letter was little difficult to understand at times,but overall enjoyed the thriller.

I received this from Netgalley in exchange of an honest review.

The book is expected to release on 3^rd of Oct 2019

Book Review:The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides

The Silent Patient 

..And so it went on, endless  speculation- no answer , only more  questions-about Alicia's motives and her subsequent silence . Why did she refuse to speak? What did it mean? Was she hiding something ? Protecting someone? if so who? And Why?

Alicia, 33 years old, married for 7 years was held captive for murdering her husband Gabriel , who was a fashion photographer in demand.

Alicia herself was a well known painter and together they had a perfect married life with success and comfort.  But one fine day Alicia shoots her husband on his face and remained silent for years  refusing her guilt or confessing it.  Her silence turned into story. The only statement she made was " The painting" The title was " Alcestis". The entire London was curious to know what has happened and why she is silent for years. She was finally made to stay in a forsenic Unit Grove under extreme supervision. Theo Faber a forensic psycho therapist  was fascinated by the mystery of Alicia and her enduring silence.He wanted to help her ,heal her and get her well and therefore took the case.

My thoughts:

 The hype for this book is 100% real, and people buying it  wont regret !

This psychological suspense thriller was recommended bytheguywiththebook and finally when I am done reading this novel my brain is whip lashed with its twists. 

Beautifully build up plot and well narrated in first person.

 Extreme research on criminal mind will hypnotise your brain into the reading.

 From the very first page you will be drowned into it,as it is written in very simple English.

The story takes you into details of the characters life. Also the diary pages written by Alicia ,was quiet interesting to know if she had any conflict with her husband or even childhood trauma

The ending startled me. Well entertaining and well satisfying .

I think everyone should read this book and not miss it.

Rating 5/5

Are you planning to read this anytime soon? Or adding in your TBR?

Book Review |Dark Blossom- By Neel Mullick

Dark Blossom

Author : Neel Mullick

Rupa Publisher

No of : Pages 212
Click to Buy from Amazon.in

When a book has been endorsed by one of the most popular author  loved by all ages "Ruskin Bond"  and published by Rupa Publisher then there much be something in it (kuch toh baat Hogi)

Let me come straight to the point The storytelling is just WOW.  Every chapter proves the amount of research  which was been done to built up the story ( the thought process, the conversation, the narration is one such fine example)

The first few chapter might not give you any clue where it might take you to ,but the story gradually develops and fits like a perfect puzzle.

The story is of two families Cynthia and Sam. Sam lost his a son and  wife in a freak accident. Clueless about the entire tragedy, the anger in him , made him take up counselling for anger management. He goes to Cynthia who is a counsellor for help.  

Meanwhile Cynthia too is in distress .She and her teenage daughter Lily just came out from an abusive relationship. Cynthia had her own issues with her daughter and vice versa. But in all this Lily harbours a secret, Cynthia is shocked to hear the  dark secret from her blossom.

Though both Sam and Cynthia are sailing in the different  direction there ship will anchor in one place. How is it all connected with Sam? Will Sam get the answer he was looking for? How Cynthia's mind deceived her is what been revealed in this Novella. 

I am bawled over the beautiful cover of the book.
Language Medium to hard.

A thrilling novel which will keep you hooked till the end .

Recommended to all  Mystery/Thriller lover

To me " Life itself is a string of coincidences and,to be perfectly  honest, I dont get our obsession with either controlling or explaining them." - Cynthia

Ratings : 💕💕💕💕