Tag: Mystery

Book Critic, Book Review, Books, Literary Criticism, Reading

Review: The Sanatorium by Sarah Pearse

by The Lit BitchLeave a Comment on Review: The Sanatorium by Sarah Pearse

Converted sanatorium urned into five star hotel—-stop right there while I clear my reading calendar! I was completely sold on this intense and atmospheric debut from the opening description. Then it was picked as a Reese Witherspoon Book Club pick and that right there was enough to get me even more excited about this novel!

It has been getting a ton of advanced praise and so much buzz on social media but when I started reading it, it was easy to see that all the buzz was absolutely worth it! I loved the atmosphere of this book and it was exactly what I was hoping that it would be, something dark, twisty, and chilling.

I normally don’t like minimalist or super cold Norwegian/Scandinavian type thrillers but this novel has so much to recommend itself and it’s not to be missed. I also included some videos about the resort and the author talking about the book as well so keep reading to check both of those out and if you are looking for your next thriller, this is it!

Continue reading “Review: The Sanatorium by Sarah Pearse” →
Book Critic, Book Review, Books, Literary Criticism, Reading

Review: Home Before Dark by Riley Sager (Audible Edition)

by The Lit Bitch1 Comment on Review: Home Before Dark by Riley Sager (Audible Edition)

This is my very first Riley Sager novel and I can’t believe it took me this long to read one of his books. I have seen a number of his books on my social media and I know that many of his books have book Book of the Month selections, but I have to be honest none of them really grabbed me. Until this one.

I love haunted house stories. I binged The Haunting of Hill House and Haunting of Bly Manor on Netflix and have been looking for something to read that would be similar to those shows. I have of course read some haunted house novels but I wanted something with a little more substance to it and this one seemed to fit the bill.

It was a Book of the Month pick last year and I ordered it but put off reading it after my sister said she didn’t love it. She thought that Sager didn’t write believable female characters. That sounded off putting to me, but when the mood struck me to read a haunted house novel this was the first one that came up. And I am incredibly glad that I ignored my sister.

Continue reading “Review: Home Before Dark by Riley Sager (Audible Edition)” →
Book Critic, Book Review, Books, Literary Criticism, Reading

Review: The Vanishing at Loxby Manor by Abigail Wilson

by The Lit Bitch3 Comments on Review: The Vanishing at Loxby Manor by Abigail Wilson

The very first novel that I remember loving was The Silk Vendetta by Victoria Holt. I was eleven or twelve and no doubt missed all the adult nuances of the story, but what I didn’t miss was the Gothic atmosphere of the novel. I went through a lengthy Victoria Holt period in my early teens and then again as an adult. I am always looking for books that capture what I loved about Victoria Holt…..creepy, atmospheric historical fiction with a romantic element.

This book sounded like exactly that—and it was! I have never grown out of my Gothic Lit phase and reading books like this, I am reminded just how much I love Gothic novels with romance. Many authors have tried to strike a similar balance like Victoria Holt, but not many authors have succeeded. I can think of only a few authors who I would consider similar to Victoria Holt but Abigail Wilson is now one such author!

I adored this book even if there were some things that I thought could have been more nuanced or flushed out, over all this novel had me transfixed and in suspense until the very end. I have been looking forward to this one for quite some time and was thrilled with all the atmosphere this one delivered!

Continue reading “Review: The Vanishing at Loxby Manor by Abigail Wilson” →
Book Critic, Book Review, Books, Literary Criticism, Reading

Re-share Review: The King’s Justice (Maggie Hope #9) by Susan Elia MacNeal

by The Lit BitchLeave a Comment on Re-share Review: The King’s Justice (Maggie Hope #9) by Susan Elia MacNeal

The King’s Justice is out in paperback now and I am celebrating the release of the paperback by re-sharing my original review with you guys! When I first stumbled on Maggie Hope, it was early 2012. I was one of the first people to read and review Mr Churchill’s Secretary and I fell head over heals for Maggie right then and there!

I have adored many of the books in the series thus far and I can’t believe we are on the 9th book already! The 10th book is coming out in July 2021 and I cannot wait for that one to release to see what awaits Maggie across the pond as it were.

Obviously when this book came up for review, I was thrilled to be reading more about Maggie’s journey and checking in with many of my favorite characters in the series. After the last book, I had high hopes for this one as well! This is a series that you could jump around in but to fully appreciate Maggie and her personal journey of growth, you will want to start from the beginning. She’s a great heroine and her stories are all so wonderful. I can’t wait for the next one, but until then check out the paperback release and enjoy my original review!

Continue reading “Re-share Review: The King’s Justice (Maggie Hope #9) by Susan Elia MacNeal” →
Book Critic, Book Review, Books, Literary Criticism, Reading

Review: The Wife Upstairs by Rachel Hawkins (Audible Edition)

by The Lit BitchLeave a Comment on Review: The Wife Upstairs by Rachel Hawkins (Audible Edition)

This book has been receiving a ton of hype. It was a Book of the Month pick, it’s been featured on countless ‘most anticipated release’ lists and the fire storm of praise on Instagram and other social media platforms made me so excited to read this one.

It’s marketed as Jane Eyre for the modern woman. It’s a retelling of the Victorian classic Jane Eyre with an added Southern Gothic edge. Sounds irresistible right? Jane Eyre isn’t my favorite classic but I loved the idea of a modern retelling with the roles of Jane and others reversed or turned on their head and put into a thriller.

I loved the idea so much that I even brought this book up for our book club pick for January. I was sure that this book as going to be a hit. Not only did it sound compelling but the praise from so many readers was undeniable. We had to love it right? It has to be good right?

Reader, I hated it.

Continue reading “Review: The Wife Upstairs by Rachel Hawkins (Audible Edition)” →