An Unwanted Guest by Shari Lapena

A special thank you to Edelweiss and Penguin Publishing Group for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Lapena's debut The Couple Next Door was an instant hit and received rave reviews and I thought it was a solid effort. Admittedly, I was a tiny bit underwhelmed by her second book, A Stranger in the House, but feel that An Unwanted Guest is on par with The Couple Next Door (and that was a solid 3.5 out of 5 stars). It takes place at a secluded hotel and what unfolds is a thriller that is reminiscent of a classic mystery—think Agatha Christie.  

Mitchell's Inn, nestled in the Catskills, boasts a cozy atmosphere, but this is anything but a cozy mystery. The stately rooms feature woodburning fireplaces and have just the right amount of nostalgia to be quaint, including no Wi-Fi or cell service.  

When a winter storm knocks out the power, all contact with the outside world is cut off. The guests try to make the best of the situation until one of them turns up dead. At first it appears to be an accident, but then a second guest dies and panic sets in.    

With everyone being a suspect, the guests have no choice but to weather the storm and each other.  

I liked how Lapena juxtaposed the violence of the storm against the violent acts of murder and thought the premise was clever. The atmosphere and description were the stand out parts of the book—I did tire of the repetitious thoughts about who the killer could be. The reader does not need to be reminded that each character needs to figure out which one of them is the killer—isn't that the whole point of the book?  

What I ultimately struggled with, and what continues to baffle me, is how removed Lapena can be. Given that this book is told from multiple points of view, this should be a character-driven novel, but there wasn't enough character development. There wasn't enough distinction between their voices so for the most part, it felt like there was only one narrator. 

I haven't given up on Lapena yet, her stories are incredibly engaging and imaginative.    

SHARI LAPENA worked as a lawyer and as an English teacher before turning to writing fiction. A Stranger in the House, as well as Lapena's suspense debut, The Couple Next Door, were both New York Times and international bestsellers.

Killer Crime Club: A. J. Finn and Mary Kubica

Author promotional photos credit: HarperCollins.  All other photos belong to Girl Well Read — do not use without written permission.

Ben McNally Books and Harper Collins Canada hosted an evening of great conversation with New York Times bestselling authors A. J. Finn (The Woman in the Window) and Mary Kubica (Every Last Lie, and When the Lights Go Out) that was moderated by Karma Brown (The Life Lucy Knew, and Come Away With Me).

A topic that is always interesting to hear about is the writing process—Karma asked if they were a "pantser" as in fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants, or a "plotter." Mary expressed that she is definitely more of a pantser which obviously has worked incredibly well for her given the success of all of her previous books. She also went on to say that her process is to write one storyline in full before starting the other, in this case she wrote Eden's first before moving on with Jessie's, and then she meshed them together. Whereas A. J. is definitely more of a plotter.  

Kubica's book was inspired by a personal experience with sleep deprivation. Mary had taken a red-eye flight to ensure she would be home in time for a prior commitment for one of her children thinking that she would rest on the plane. It turns out that she couldn't sleep on the flight and got home completely exhausted. So exhausted in fact that when she was unpacking, she put her shoes away in the dishwasher. She thought to herself that's only one night without sleep, what would happen if my character missed several nights without sleep? The insomnia piece adds a whole other layer to her story—Kubica likes to push her characters to the limits.

"A. J. Finn" is actually a gender-neutral pen name that is a mash-up of his cousin's name, Alice Jane, and Finn is the name of another family member's French bulldog (he will soon be a French bulldog owner too), his real name is Daniel Mallory. As a former book editor, he chose to use a pseudonym in order to distinguish himself from his profession.

The idea for The Woman in the Window came to Finn one night while he was sitting on the couch watching Hitchcock’s “Rear Window.” Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed a lamp switch on in the apartment across the street and marvelled at the parallel of spying on his neighbour just like Jimmy Stewart was in the film.

Finn has injected some of his own experiences in Anna. He is very open about his struggles with agoraphobia and bipolar II disorder as well as his treatment. Anna Fox may be a mess, but she owns her mess, and does so all without the help of a man. This is so refreshing for this genre because so often women characters are worrying about men, fretting about relationships, worrying about family and are relying too heavily on others, when in fact women are perfectly capable of rescuing themselves.

When asked what books the two wished they had written, A. J. spoke highly of Tana French's Into the Woods and how brilliant he found the recently published The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton. One of Mary's picks was Before I Go to Sleep, a brilliant thriller by S. J. Watson that was also adapted for the big screen.

It was a fantastic evening. Karma was her wonderful, engaging self and I thoroughly enjoyed hearing from Mary and A. J. about their books. There is no end to their talent and I wish them continued success.

The Woman in the Window by A.J. Finn

The #1 Instant New York Times Bestseller – Soon to be a Major Motion Picture

“Unputdownable.” —Stephen King

For readers of Gillian Flynn and Tana French comes one of the decade’s most anticipated debuts, to be published in thirty-six languages around the world and already in development as a major film from Fox: a twisty, powerful Hitchcockian thriller about an agoraphobic woman who believes she witnessed a crime in a neighbouring house.

It isn’t paranoia if it’s really happening . . .

Anna Fox lives alone—a recluse in her New York City home, unable to venture outside. She spends her day drinking wine (maybe too much), watching old movies, recalling happier times . . . and spying on her neighbours.

Then the Russells move into the house across the way: a father, a mother, their teenage son. The perfect family. But when Anna, gazing out her window one night, sees something she shouldn’t, her world begins to crumble—and its shocking secrets are laid bare.

What is real? What is imagined? Who is in danger? Who is in control? In this diabolically gripping thriller, no one—and nothing—is what it seems.

Twisty and powerful, ingenious and moving, The Woman in the Window is a smart, sophisticated novel of psychological suspense that recalls the best of Hitchcock.

BUY NOW

A. J. FINN has written for numerous publications, including the Los Angeles Times, the Washington Post, and the Times Literary Supplement. Finn’s debut novel, The Woman in the Window, has been sold in forty territories worldwide and is in development as a major motion picture from Fox.

A native of New York, Finn lived in England for ten years before returning to New York City.

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When the Lights Go Out by Mary Kubica

A woman is plunged into a bizarre case of stolen identity in this ambitious and riveting thriller by the blockbuster bestselling author of The Good Girl, Mary Kubica

Jessie Sloane is on the path to rebuilding her life after years of caring for her ailing mother. She rents a new apartment and applies for college. But when the college informs her that her social security number has raised a red flag, Jessie discovers a shocking detail that forces her to question everything she's ever known.

Finding herself suddenly at the centre of a bizarre mystery, Jessie tumbles down a rabbit hole, which is only exacerbated by a relentless lack of sleep. As days pass and the insomnia worsens, it plays with Jessie's mind. Her judgment is blurred, her thoughts hampered by fatigue. Jessie begins to see things until she can no longer tell the difference between what's real and what she's only imagined.

Meanwhile, twenty years earlier and two hundred and fifty miles away, another woman's split–second decision may hold the key to Jessie's secret past. Is Jessie really who she thinks she is? Has her whole life been a lie? The truth will shock her to her core…if she lives long enough to discover it.

BUY NOW

MARY KUBICA is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author.  She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, in History and American Literature.

She lives outside of Chicago with her husband and two children and enjoys photography, gardening and caring for the animals at a local shelter. 

The Rain Watcher by Tatiana de Rosnay

A special thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Linden Malegarde has returned home to Paris from the United States where he lives with his partner.  It has been years since his family was all together.  They have reunited for the patriarch's birthday; Paul is celebrating a milestone and is turning 70.

The City of Lights is on the verge of a natural disaster when the Seine bursts and it floods the city.  Paris is as fragile as the Malegarde family's relationships—each member is trying to balance the delicate family dynamics.  Paul is a world-renowned arborist that only seems to have eyes for his grove of trees.  Lauren is his American wife who is determined to make the weekend a success.  Tilia, the blunt oldest child has an 18-year-old daughter Mistral who is adored by her uncle Linden.  Colin is Tilia's much older spouse, an elegant British art dealer that can no longer hid his drinking problem.

And that leaves Linden.  He has never been comfortable in his own skin and never feels settled having grown up as an American in France, and a Frenchman in the US.  His relationship with his father has always been off.  Even though he is a successful and in demand photographer, he feels that he will always be a disappointment to his parents.

Bound by tragic events, the family must fight to remain united as secrets unfold and their greatest fears surface.

Set in Paris during a rainstorm, this gorgeous, haunting work was captivating from start to finish.
de Rosnay's writing is elegant,  hypnotic, and incredibly moving.  The story is profound and intense, yet soft and beautiful.  I devoured this book in one sitting and would highly recommend.

TATIANA DE ROSNAY is the author of more than ten novels, including the New York Times bestselling novel Sarah’s Key, an international sensation with over 9 million copies sold in forty-two countries worldwide that has now been made into a major film.

Tatiana lives with her husband and two children in Paris.

The 7 ½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton

A special thank you to NetGalley, Edelweiss, HarperCollins and Sourcebooks Landmark for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.  

"Nothing like a mask to reveal somebody's true nature."

Evelyn Hardcastle, the young and beautiful daughter of the house, is killed. But Evelyn will not die just once. Until Aiden Bishop—one of the guests summoned to Blackheath for the party—can solve her murder, the day will repeat itself, over and over again.

But each time the day begins again, Aiden wakes in the body of a different guest. And someone is determined to prevent him ever escaping Blackheath...

As far as any book goes, the concept is actually brilliant, especially for a debut.  The book is smart, (mostly) well-executed, and clever.

Here's where my glowing review ends.  I was confused throughout and had to keep going back to reread parts which given the size of the book, was not ideal.  It was unclear at times as to which body Aidan was in and at what times.  There were also a lot of characters and it was challenging to keep them straight.  Having a character change their identity eight times is a gamble for Turton and he almost pulls it off.  Where he fails is that the reader questions how well they know and understand the characters—they are suspect because of all of the different identities inhabited.

The premise, as mentioned, is fantastic.  When you read the synopsis, there is definite intrigue, but actually reading it was a whole other matter.  I was left disinterested around day six.  There was some unnecessary bulk at this point in the storyline and hopefully this will be resolved in the published product.  My final thought is that given the level of detail, the number of players, and the intricate plot, this should have been a series.

STUART TURTON is the author of a high-concept crime novel and lives in London with his amazing wife, and drinks lots of tea.

The Favorite Daughter by Kaira Rouda

A special thank you to NetGalley, Edelweiss, Harlequin, and Graydon House for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Jane Harris is living the perfect life with the perfect family in the perfect neighbourhood.

From the outside looking in, the Harris' have a gorgeous home in an elite gated community.  From the inside, the family is marred by grief.  A year ago, a tragic accident took the life of Jane and David's oldest daughter, Mary.  Jane has been consumed by grief,  anti-depressants, and alcohol, she is unable to function.

That's about to change—it is time for Jane to reclaim her life and family.  As she is resuming her daily life, Jane quickly realizes that things have changed while she's been checked out.  Her husband is working longer-than-normal hours and her daughter, Betsy, incredibly distant.  Mary was such a good girl, devoted to her friends and family, excelling at school, and beautiful.  But there is someone that knows more about what really happened that fateful day that Mary died.

Just how far is too far for someone to go to keep their family together?

Rouda is back and embracing another narcissistic, unreliable narrator in Jane Harris.  I had the pleasure of reviewing Best Day Ever last year and enjoyed the palpable tension she created between the married couple.  Her writing is sharp and engaging.

In The Favorite Daughter (or Favourite if you are in Canada), Jane as a character has more depth than Paul from Best Day Ever because of the added layer of tragedy.  As a mother, I can't think of anything more horrific than the loss of a child.  

The pace of the narrative is manic and plays right into Jane's personality.  The only thing I was unsure of was the writing style—it was rather choppy at times with Rouda using several short sentences in succession that could've been synthesized or compounded for easier reading.  Perhaps this was done on purpose since the reader is in Jane's head, but I found at times this to be exhausting.  Interestingly she also breaks the fourth wall on several occasions with Jane directly address the reader.  I thought this was rather clever and definitely something a narcissist would do.

Secrets, lies, guilt, and consequences.  This novel packs a punch right up until the very ending.

KAIRA ROUDA is a USA Today bestselling, multiple award-winning author of contemporary fiction exploring what goes on behind closed doors of seemingly perfect lives. Her novels include Best Day Ever, All the Difference, Here, Home, Hope, In the Mirror, and The Goodbye Year.  Her modern romance novels are set on beaches, including the Indigo Island series and the Laguna Beach series, also its own Kindle World.

She lives in Southern California with her family.  

Everything but the Earl by Willa Ramsey

A special thank you to the author, Willa Ramsey, for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Caroline Crispin is the daughter of London's most in-demand architect.  While at a party, she overhears two men calling her vulgar names and making a bet over which one of them would bed her before the end of the season.  She is shattered, these men were supposed to be her friends.  Sure, she flirts a little, and may be on the boisterous side, but she is simply not what they are alluding to.

Lord Adam Ryland also has a reputation—his father was a boxer and Adam appears to have inherited his skill.  The only problem is that Adam is after a more simple life, to get married and live in the country, not in the shadow of his late father.

After her shock subsides, Caro decides she will not be played and decides to teach them a lesson.  She employs the help of Adam—he's a little on the shy side, but he'll do.  Although Adam is wanting to settle down, Caro is looking to him for a different kind of partnership that what he is after.  What follows is a romp through London, love, and friendship.

Caroline is a fab heroine who is smart, sassy, and determined, not unlike her mother.  She is also no shrinking violet and simply ahead of her time.  Caro is refreshing, cheeky, and just the type of character deserving of Ramsey's humour.

Told from both Caroline and Adam's perspectives, the alternating viewpoints bode well to not only further the narrative, but to juxtapose Caro and Adam's personalities.  Although the characters are modern in their ideas and traits, the historical setting gave this story more depth and added an interesting layer.    

This book is pure joy.  It is lighthearted and playful, the perfect way for me to end the summer.  Ramsey sprinkles humour and wit throughout.  She has an incredible ear for dialogue which translates very well on the page—she has accomplished in her first novel what it takes many authors several books to achieve.

Charming, witty, and above all, a fun read.  Willa, congratulations on this book and I would love to review the next instalment in the series.