Black Wolf by Kathleen Kent is a crime-fiction/spy thriller that takes place in the 90's, when the USSR is starting to break up. "Melvina Donleavy discovers a rare talent growing up. She is a super-recognizer. She can remember any face after seeing it once. She is recruited by the CIA and sent with a team to Byelorussia to seek out some Iranian scientists looking to buy Russian nuclear technology. Mel struggles to stay unnoticed but the head of the KGB knows something is going on with her team. And she's attracted the attention of a serial killer. Mel wonders if her first mission will be her last." This book is part spy thriller. Think Tom Clancy with a female MC. And it's a serial killer crime fiction story. There is some overlap in the story. Kent's killer is pretty terrifying - operating in plain sight and she uses him for story resolution. I wish a little that that had been a seperate book. Just a personal preference The story moves quickly, staying mostly in Mel's head. Her ability is unusual but many readers will have something similar, just not to this extreme. It's nice to revisit the Cold War spy game. Entertaining read from Kent. Thanks to @novelsuspects and @mulhollandbooks for the advanced copy. #blackwolf #kathleenkent #mulhollandbooks #novelsuspectsinsiders #novelsuspects #hachettebookgroup #spythriller #bookstagram #bookshelves #booknerd #readinglife #bookphotography #bookcommunity #bookblogger #sodacityreads #suspensebook #bookhaul #literarycrimefiction #homelibrary #thrillerbooks #domesticthriller #crimefiction #thriller #characterdrivenbooks #mysterythriller #bookrecs https://www.instagram.com/p/CocUa6Mr57p/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

🏝️🔪The Island🔪🏝️ Happy Pub Day! My jaw hit the floor when I opened this book mail Friday afternoon! This was a fast paced 5 ⭐ read for me! I read it in 24 hours and it’s out today! 🔪🏃‍♀️ SYNPOSIS: IT WAS JUST SUPPOSED TO BE A FAMILY VACATION. A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT CHANGED EVERYTHING. YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE CAPABLE OF UNTIL THEY COME FOR YOUR FAMILY. After moving from a small country town to Seattle, Heather Baxter marries Tom, a widowed doctor with a young son and teenage daughter. A working vacation overseas seems like the perfect way to bring the new family together, but once they’re deep in the Australian outback, the jet-lagged and exhausted kids are so over their new mom. When they discover remote Dutch Island, off-limits to outside visitors, the family talks their way onto the ferry, taking a chance on an adventure far from the reach of iPhones and Instagram. But as soon as they set foot on the island, which is run by a tightly knit clan of locals, everything feels wrong. Then a shocking accident propels the Baxters from an unsettling situation into an absolute nightmare. When Heather and the kids are separated from Tom, they are forced to escape alone, seconds ahead of their pursuers. Now it’s up to Heather to save herself and the kids, even though they don’t trust her, the harsh bushland is filled with danger, and the locals want her dead. Heather has been underestimated her entire life, but she knows that only she can bring her family home again and become the mother the children desperately need, even if it means doing the unthinkable to keep them all alive. QOTD: Is this one on your TBR?? If not, you should add it! #theisland #adrianMckinty #2022books #crazybooks #bookworm #novelsuspectsinsiders #bookmailisthebestmail #darkbooks #pubday #allthebooks #somanybookssolittletime #booklife #bookobsessed #booksaremylife#booknerd #bookmail #bookmailisthebestmail https://www.instagram.com/p/CdqGulYLl0X/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Con/Artist is the nonfiction account of the art forgery crimes by Tony Tetro. The subtitle is "The Life and Crimes of the World's Greatest Art Forger". The book is co-written by Giampiero Ambrosi. The story covers Tetro's early life - him becoming a young father and discovering a talent for art. There are stories of him initially selling forgeries to dealers and realizing how much money he could make by faking paintings and other art. There's a lot of name dropping - lots of stories about the exotic sports cars he drove - how important he was in the trendy restaurant scene - and how smart he was at getting away with his crimes. One funny story was when an artist who's art Tetro had forged, walked past a gallery that was displaying the forged piece - the artist lost his mind. The process he used to age paintings was interesting as well as the ways he built provenance for the different fakes. Tetro claimed credit for many of the fakes that were discovered in Prince Charles residence. What's missing in this book is any remorse from Tetro for his crimes. This book glorifies his crimes - "Look at how important I am" "Look at this expensive car I drive" He painted fakes and dealers sold them as genuine, for thousands of dollars. (many times with a big commission.) Many collectors were misled and ripped off. After reading this book, I would be hesitant as a collector to buy any art that I hadn't seen the artist paint themselves. This is a well-written true crime book. Ambrosi does a great job pulling these stories together. It's reads quickly. If you're lookiing for True-Crime where no one is murdered this is a good option. #conartist #tonytetro #giampieroambrosi #hachettebooks #novelsuspectsinsiders #truecrime #nonfictionnovember #bookstagram #bookshelves #booknerd #readinglife #bookphotography #bookcommunity #bookblogger #sodacityreads #suspensebook #bookhaul #homelibrary #bookrecs #arthistory https://www.instagram.com/p/ClEEq7tLnWP/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Thanks to @novelsuspects for the bookmail #novelsuspectsinsiders #conartist #hachettebooks #tonytetro #everybodyknows #jordanharper #mulhollandbooks #theperfectassassin #grandcentralpub #jamespatterson #briansitts #bookstagram #bookshelves #booknerd #readinglife #bookwormlife #sodacityreads #bookworm #suspensebook #bookhaul #literarycrimefiction #homelibrary #thrillerbooks #domesticthriller #crimefiction #thriller #characterdrivenbooks #mysterythriller #bookrecs https://www.instagram.com/p/CjD4hSvrmQH/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

The Darkness of Others by Cate Holahan might just be the best book she has written. "Imani and her husband, Philip, live in a posh townhouse in Brooklyn Heights. They are both stunned when they find out a movie director friend, Nate, has been murdered and his wife, Melissa, is missing. Police want to talk to her because it looks like she might have been the one to pull the trigger. Melissa also happens to be Imani's best friend. Tonya works for Richard at his restaurant. When there's a mixup with her rent she is evicted and with the restaurant shut down because of the pandemic, she has nowhere to go. Richard offers to rent a couple of his extra rooms until she can get on her feet. But Imani thinks she might be involved some way in Nate's murder. And she won't stop until she's found her friend." There is a lot of time spent in Imani's head and Imani spends a lot of it inventing situations. Do you ever have moments where your brain makes these unsubstantiated leaps in logic? "I really hope I don't get Ebola today at lunch." Imani's brain is constantly churning - as a reader you don't know where things are going or who's what. Holahan does a good job hiding the killer. There's one big clue that gives it away and that's where the pace picks up to the end. Some nice twists and surprises. This is more psychological thriller than Holahan's usual domestic thriller. The tough part for me is that the story is set in NYC at the beginning of the pandemic. People didn't really know what was going on and reactions were extreme. It's hard to relive that. Holahan explains her reasons in the acknowledgments. An excellent story from Holahan. Thanks to @grandcentralpub and @novelsuspects for the advanced copy. #thedarknessofothers #cateholahan #novelsuspectsinsiders #novelsuspects #grandcentralpub #pandemicfiction #surfsidebeach #bookstagram #bookshelves #booknerd #readinglife #bookwormlife #sodacityreads #bookworm #suspensebook #bookhaul #literarycrimefiction #homelibrary #thrillerbooks #domesticthriller #crimefiction #thriller #characterdrivenbooks #mysterythriller #bookrecs #psychologicalthriller (at Surfside Beach, South Carolina) https://www.instagram.com/p/ChcNVR-Lc17/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

It’s #nationalbookloversday and #chikfilatuesday Today I’m reading The Darkness of Others by Cate Holahan How are you celebrating today? 🥳📚 #thedarknessofothers #cateholahan #grandcentralpublishing #novelsuspectsinsiders #novelsuspects #cfabushriverrd #bookstagram #bookshelves #booknerd #readinglife #bookwormlife #sodacityreads #bookworm #suspensebook #bookhaul #literarycrimefiction #homelibrary #thrillerbooks #domesticthriller #crimefiction #thriller #characterdrivenbooks #mysterythriller #bookrecs #domesticsuspense (at Chick-fil-A) https://www.instagram.com/p/ChCw29bri1l/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

The 6:20 Man is a new stand-alone novel from David Baldacci. "Every morning Travis gets on the 6:20 commuter train to Manhattan where he works as a low-level analyst at a prestigious investment firm. 'Til one morning he gets an anonymous email that a colleague is dead by suicide...in the building. Travis gets pulled into looking into a conspiracy where it's impossible to tell the good guys from the bad guys. And it looks like a killer has their eye on Travis..." This book has the feel of the Camel Club series. People in power that want more money and more power. And they’re not worried about getting rid of some people to get their way. Travis is a new character from Baldacci. He's similar to previous characters but still has enough of his own personality to feel different and fresh. Once again there’s an unlikable main character named Brad. He’s actually worse than unlikable. Literary Brads get no love at all. C’mon authors - just one time, make him cuddly or something. Baldacci keeps you guessing on whose an enemy and whose a friend. This is an interesting look at Wall St and big money and the rat race that people puts them in for a chance at a certain lifestyle. There is resolution but the ending sets up for more stories with this character. It's the same fast-paced narrative that readers have come to expect from DB. Fans of Baldacci should enjoy this or any reader looking for soem conspiracy fiction. Thanks to @grandcentralpub and @novelsuspects for the advanced copy. What happens to characters with your name? #the620man #davidbaldacci #grandcentralpub #novelsuspectsinsiders #novelsuspects #conspiracythriller #wallstthriller #bookstagram #bookshelves #booknerd #readinglife #bookwormlife #sodacityreads #readersofig #suspensebook #bookhaul #literarycrimefiction #homelibrary #thrillerbooks #domesticthriller #crimefiction #thriller #characterdrivenbooks #mysterythriller #bookrecs https://www.instagram.com/p/CfJaYn5r7SO/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

We have a new family member this week. And even though she won’t be reading for a while, I didn’t want to take any chances on not having enough book options. So here’s a stack of new books for the library. A couple are copies of books l reviewed - Playing Nice, The Kingdom, It’s a Wonderful Woof and Two Old Men and a Baby. BOTM books from May and June. The great used book find was an autographed hardcover of Come In and Cover Me by Gin Phillips Who are the newest readers in your family? #chetandbernie #jonesbo #katherinecenter #darbykane #louisepenny #ginphillips #novelsuspectsinsiders #bradsbookhaul #theisland #bookstagram #bookshelves #booknerd #readinglife #bookwormlife #sodacityreads #readersofig #bookreview #suspensebook #bookhaul #literarycrimefiction #homelibrary #thrillerbooks #domesticthriller #crimefiction #thriller #characterdrivenbooks #mysterythriller #bookrecs #nealstephenson #lessonsinchemistry https://www.instagram.com/p/CeqtTCPLZeB/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Thanks to @novelsuspects and author @cateholahan for the advanced copies. Both are summer releases. What are you looking forward to reading this summer? #thedarknessofothers #cateholahan #the620man #davidbaldacci #grandcentralpublishing #novelsuspectsinsiders #bookstagram #bookshelves #booknerd #readinglife #bookwormlife #sodacityreads #readersofig #bookreview #suspensebook #bookhaul #literarycrimefiction #goodreads #homelibrary #thrillerbooks #domesticthriller #crimefiction #thriller #characterdrivenbooks #mysterythriller #bookrecs #bookreviewer https://www.instagram.com/p/CeRcL30riFw/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

The Island by Adrian McKinty is today’s #chikfilatuesday book. It’s also #pubday for this book. Thanks to @novelsuspects for the finished copy. Thanks to my lovely book model @meredithcox5700 What are you reading today? #theisland #adrianmckinty #novelsuspectsinsiders #littlebrownbooks #novelsuspects #cfabushriverrd #readatlunch #bookstagram #bookshelves #booknerd #readinglife #bookwormlife #sodacityreads #readersofig #bookreview #suspensebook #bookhaul #literarycrimefiction #goodreads #homelibrary #thrillerbooks #domesticthriller #crimefiction #thriller #characterdrivenbooks #mysterythriller #bookrecs (at Chick-fil-A) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cdqk_zELkA7/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

It's, always secrets! Especially in The Night They Vanished by Vanessa Savage "Hanna is thirty now and making it on her own. She doesn't need her family. They blame her for ruining their lives for something that happened fourteen years ago. Hanna stumbles across a photo of her house on a true crime website with an article about a brutal murder.The police investigate but Hanna's family has disappeared. To find them, Hanna must confront what happened fourteen years ago." This is slow-burn, suspense from Savage. Hanna is a character paying for mistakes made as a teenager. People in her hometown despise her and blame her for a young man's death. She just wants a normal life and normal relationships. Hanna's family - father, step-mother, sister. You will definitely have a strong opinion about the father. And what happens when you isolate a teenager by forbidding all technology - Bad decisions happen. There are plenty of clues about what happened and who is responsible. You'll probably guess some. It takes a while to get there but the ending is wild. I like that Savage gives us a bit of epilogue - always nice to know how the characters ended up. Interesting story from Savage. Thanks to @grandcentralpub and @novelsuspects for the advanced copy. #thenighttheyvanished #vannessasavage #grandcentralpub #novelsuspectsinsiders #novelsuspects #domesticsuspense #bookstagram #bookshelves #booknerd #readinglife #bookwormlife #sodacityreads #readersofig #bookreview #suspensebook #bookhaul #literarycrimefiction #goodreads #homelibrary #thrillerbooks #domesticthriller #crimefiction #thriller #characterdrivenbooks #mysterythriller #bookrecs https://www.instagram.com/p/Cc5NxuHL4Nj/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Thursday edition of #chikfilatuesday The Night They Vanished by Vanessa Savage. Some creepy abandoned house in this one. And secrets - and parents with control issues. How often do you read new authors? #thenighttheyvanished #vanessasavage #grandcentralpublishing #novelsuspectsinsiders #ukthriller #cfaballentine #readatlunch #bookstagram #bookshelves #booknerd #readinglife #bookwormlife #sodacityreads #readersofig #bookreview #bookwormlife #suspensebook #bookhaul #literarycrimefiction #goodreads #homelibrary #thrillerbooks #domesticthriller #crimefiction #thriller #characterdrivenbooks #mysterythriller #bookrecs (at Chick-fil-A Ballentine) https://www.instagram.com/p/Ccnhrm6rZID/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

🌻🌱Spring Spotlight🌱🌻 Book mail is the best! Thank you @novelsuspects for the gifted ARC’s! I can’t wait to start these! Nobody But Us by Laura Van Rensburg - Pub Date: 4/12/2022 The Night They Vanished by Vanessa Savage - Pub Date: 5/3/2022 Geiger by Gustaf Skördeman - Pub Date: 5/10/2022 QOTD: Have you read any of these yet? #novelsuspectsinsiders #novelsuspects #grandcentralpublishing #ARC #spring2022 #NobodyButUs #TheNightTheyVanished #Geiger #bookmail #bookstagram #thrlllerbooks #bookmailisthebestmail #bibliophile #bookstagrammer #readmorebooks https://www.instagram.com/p/CbnLUnzrfdi/?utm_medium=tumblr

An Ambush of Widows by Jeff Abbott is a wild story. "Kirsten gets a call that her husband has been killed. She rushes to Austin, TX to find out what happened and who her husband was meeting in Austin. Her foster brother, Zach, , who works for the New Orleans mob, flies in to help her. Kirsten teams up with the other widow, Flora Zhang, to find the connection between their husbands. Why were they together and who wanted them dead?" There are a lot of familiar plot elements here - kids in foster care, hiding a body, the mob family, a hit man. so many secrets and long awaited revenge. But Abbott mixes them up in a way that I have never read before. The story is a crazy mix of reveal after reveal - Kirsten and Zach's story. Who was Uncle Larry and Aunt JJ? And Teddy? What was the connection? So many surprises. The ending is more crazy action especially when you realize how the pieces fit together. Nice resolution and epilogue. Definitely a book you should add to your summer reading list. Thanks to @grandcentralpub and @novelsuspects for the advanced copy. #anambushofwidows #jeffabbott #novelsuspectsinsiders #grandcentralpublishing #netgalley #bookstagram #bookshelves #booknerd #bookhoarder #bookworm #sodacityreads #bookish #bookreview #hardcover #bookcover #bookhaul #literarycrimefiction #goodreads #homelibrary #fiction #domesticthriller #crimefiction #thriller #mysteryandthrillers https://www.instagram.com/p/CQqxsbBrUXH/?utm_medium=tumblr