genre: mystery – Pixel Reads Books

title: Let Me Go (Archie & Gretchen #6)

author: Chelsea Cain

my rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
genre(s): Fiction, Mystery, Thriller

my thoughts: under the cut, no spoilers.

Okay sooo I love these characters and I love reading this series. It would have been cool to have a conclusion but I’m also looking forward to more (I hope we get more anyway). I can see why some people would be tired of Gretchen getting away yet again but eh I didn’t mind. I was also able to handle Susan a little better in this book than in the other ones. Anyway I recommend this series to everyone but maybe #5 & #6 for die hard Archie and Gretchen fans.

title: We Have Always Lived in the Castle

author: Shirley Jackson

my rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
genre(s): Horror, Gothic Horror, Mystery, Classics, Fiction

my thoughts: under cut for spoilers!

The cover was what originally caught my eye and I immediately put it on my TBR list. I checked out the book from the library at the end of September because I thought it would be a great read to get into the Halloween spirit. I love horror books like this, nothing scarier than the human mind imo. Immediately after learning about the death of the Blackwood family I knew that Constance was covering for her little sister whose mind was full of dark thoughts. And it turned out that was indeed the case (most of the time I’m wrong so I was doubting myself). This was pretty smooth sailing, a book about the horrors of life really with no big epic conflict. I know that’s not everyone’s cup of tea but I loved that aspect of the story. If you don’t mind those quiet endings that make you think, this book might not be for you.

After finishing I looked up Shirley Jackson and learned a lot, I ended up reading her whole wiki page and learning that the new netflix show, The Haunting of Hill House is based on one of her books. I’m excited to read more of her books.

Finish date: 10/21/18

title: Behind Closed Doors

author: B.A. Paris

my rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
genre(s): Mystery, Thriller, Fiction

my thoughts: under the cut for spoilers.

This book is definitely a thriller and a very easy read that kept me interested. I wouldn’t say it’s a mystery, pretty much everything is right there in the beginning as well as in the summary but that didn’t make the story any less intriguing. You want to find out what’s going to happen next and I was rooting for Grace to escape. Jack was terrible! The main characters were wonderfully written.

Finish date: 10/09/18

A5. A book with a fruit or vegetable in the title – Tangerine by Christine Mangan

Finished 09/28/18

I was immediately sucked into this story and it was a very quick read. The ending did leave me wanting. I wanted something more final but I guess that’s life and this story was true to that. This is the author’s first novel and I hope she has plans for more books in the future because I enjoyed her writing.

A1. A bestseller from the year you graduated high school – The Scarecrow by Michael Connelly

Finished 09/21/18

I read The Poet by Michael Connelly back when I was in high school and I didn’t know there was a second Jack McEvoy book until I went searching for a book to fit this prompt. It was fun to read about McEvoy and Walling once again. I like their dynamic and how realistic Connelly portrays these characters. They’re human and humans are not perfect and that was one of my favorite things about The Poet. I’m glad I came across this book and that I was able to read it. I plan to check out more of Connelly’s books.

37. A book you meant to read in 2017 but didn’t get to – Kill You Twice by Chelsea Cain

Finished 08/27/18

This is book 5 of the Archie Sheridan & Gretchen Lowell Series. The first two books were a birthday present and I loved them! I immediately bought the third book and then continued to pre-order the rest of the books as they were released. Due to personal things I was going through I hadn’t had the chance to sit down and read the last two published books in this series, Kill You Twice and Let Me Go. Finally I had the time and energy to read this book and it was not a let down. It had been so long that some facts and characters were a little fuzzy but eventually it came back to me and I was able to follow the book. So if you’re new to this series and interested in reading it, I recommend starting from the beginning.

Kill You Twice is classic Archie & Gretchen. It was very cool to learn a little about Gretchen’s past, I would love her full background but I agree with Chelsea Cain’s reasoning for not making that available to readers. I also realized how much I dislike Susan. Oh man oh man she really got on my nerves but I also enjoy books when there are characters like that, I’m personally no interested in books where I love every single character and it’s too perfect. Okay I’m just rambling at this point. Anyway, I’m so grateful I was introduced to this series, seriously one of my favorites. I can’t wait to read the next in the series.

40c. A book with an unreliable narrator – Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

Finished 08/22/18

Wowowow what a ride! I had a lot of fun reading this book. The two main characters, Nick and Amy are just terrible horrible people. Flynn did an amazing job writing them. What a world she built with all the characters, including the supporting/side characters. I’m excited to read more by Flynn.

11. A book with a female author who uses a male pseudonym – Flowers in the Attic by V.C. Andrews

Finished 08/20/18

There was an interview with Andrews were she said they sent her a copy of her book which had her full name but then went and printed the book under the name VC Andrews. She was told it was a mistake but too late to correct because it had already been printed, later she learned it was done on purpose because her publishers believed it would sell better if people assumed the book was written by a male. That fits perfectly for this prompt.

I’ve always wanted to read this book because it is considered a classic. After finishing the books I was looking at a few of the top reviews on goodreads and they were all scored so low. After reading them I see it was because they initially read this book in middle school because it was a taboo book or seen as trashy. I didn’t read it that way or see it like that. This is categorized as a horror book on goodreads and it definitely reads as one (Andrew’s wiki says her books are Victorian Gothic Horror). These kids were abused, neglected and shut up together for over 3 years with only each other to rely on for their social needs, comfort and platonic/familial love that turned into romantic love. Their life experiences were hindered for them and they became overly dependent with each other. A true psychological horror imo. And a very quick and easy read which was what I essentially wanted.

“When I read, if a book doesn’t hold my interest about what’s going to happen next, I put it down and don’t finish it. So I’m not going to let anybody put one of my books down and not finish it. My stuff is a very fast read.” -V.C. Andrews

title: The Assassin Game

author: Kirsty McKay

my rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
genre(s): YA, Mystery, Contemporary

my thoughts: under the cut for spoilers.

This isn’t usually something I read, the first time I read the summary I just wasn’t interested in reading about a bunch of rich kids hazing each other. It was chosen in my book club and I’m trying to expand my genres so I thought I’d give it a shot because why not. I’m honestly glad I did, it was so much better than I expected. Okay so they are a bunch of rich kids with high IQs who want to be a part of this secret society but I really had fun and I could not figure out who was trying to kill their fellow students. All the red herrings! Seriously I was like is it this person or this person, well turned out I wasn’t even close. The only thing that was weird was that **SPOILERS** the summary gave the impression that students were dying and being harmed but no one actually ended up dying. **SPOILERS**

Anyway other than that it was a well written whodunnit.

Finish date: 07/11/18

title: The Old Willis Place

author: Mary Downing Hahn

my rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
genre(s): Middle Grade, Horror, Mystery

my thoughts: Mary Downing Hahn is one of my favorite childhood authors. I have been reading her books since elementary school and the stories are always interesting and fun. I recommend this book if you like middle grade stories and want an interesting and easy read.

Finish date: 06/15/18