One of my favorite authors. I'm never disappointed because Ms St James always tells a fresh and different story populated with wonderful characters. IOne of my favorite authors. I'm never disappointed because Ms St James always tells a fresh and different story populated with wonderful characters. I never know where she's going with her plots. Uncle Toby (a ghost hunter) falls off a cliff and dies. Did he fall or was he killed? His niece, Jillian is designated to close out Toby's affairs and when she arrives at the seaside village where Toby lived strange things begin happening. It's a pretty straight forward storyline but nothing is as it seems. To me this is not her most memorable novel, but it has nice pacing and enough going on to keep me reading to find out "what next?". 4 stars...more
Crackle is still my favorite of Ms Harrison's novels, but this book about two best friends seduced by a family of vampires is second on my list. The sCrackle is still my favorite of Ms Harrison's novels, but this book about two best friends seduced by a family of vampires is second on my list. The story moves along, the girls are realistic and I laughed out loud more than a few times. 4 stars...more
An underwhelming locked room mystery (in this case -hotel) about a group of six incredibly dislikable former college roommates reuniting after sixteenAn underwhelming locked room mystery (in this case -hotel) about a group of six incredibly dislikable former college roommates reuniting after sixteen years at a hotel owned by one of them at his theme based Hitchcock Hotel. Each arrives with his or her own vindictive agenda. Secrets and lies motivate the constant twists and there is little to no redemption or pay off at the end. It's humorless and silly and the Hitchcock gimmick wears thin. I was happy to say goodbye to the survivors at the end. 2.5 stars...more
I am late to the party reading this book. I just never got around to it until now. Maybe, if I had read it in it's heyday I would have had a more posiI am late to the party reading this book. I just never got around to it until now. Maybe, if I had read it in it's heyday I would have had a more positive impression. But given all the changes and styles Mr King has undergone and the hundreds of books, short stories, essays, nonfiction, etc, etc, he has since published (most of which I have read)- this book doesn't work in 2024 as a first time read for me. It certainly worked for readers in 1975 when it first was published. Now it's a tired trope of a vampire coming to a small town and the local guy hero saving the day (plus there's been many TV and movie adaptations). It's a blueprint for a vampire invasion. Now, I'm leary of rereading The Stand (my Constant Reader favorite) fearing it may not stand (no pun intended) the time test. 3 stars...more
What a nice surprise this mystery-thriller was by a (new to me) author. Realistic, believable characters, a plot that keeps moving along and a tidy, sWhat a nice surprise this mystery-thriller was by a (new to me) author. Realistic, believable characters, a plot that keeps moving along and a tidy, satisfying ending. No gore galore, no spooks or demons, no out of nowhere ridiculous twists. Just a well-paced, readable story by an author I will read again. 4 stars...more
I enjoyed Look Closer so I jumped into this new book. So many twists and turns, so many characters and time jumps. I would not recommend the audio; itI enjoyed Look Closer so I jumped into this new book. So many twists and turns, so many characters and time jumps. I would not recommend the audio; it was too hard to follow for me. There was just too much going on all at the same time. Glad when I finished. 3 stars...more
The title was off-putting, but the concept was great for me. This is a thinly veiled retelling of Dracula (even using the same characters names), but The title was off-putting, but the concept was great for me. This is a thinly veiled retelling of Dracula (even using the same characters names), but with a feminist perspective. In London psychiatrist Dr Mina Murray receives an email that her dear childhood friend Lucy has been stricken with a strange and thus far untreatable disease. Mina quickly departs for Wales where she hopes to assist Lucy in her recovery. She discovers eerie similarities between Lucy's illness and a patient she currently treats in London. As the story unfolds there are unexpected happenings, old stories and an ancient evil reveal themselves. This is a cracker-jack good book that I read in almost one sitting proving you can't tell a book by it's cover... or in this case... it's title. 4 stars...more
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