I don't know how any reader could not love Stephen King. 

This was far from the normal for him, yet not stretched.  Just like with many of his novels, I found myself chuckling throughout.  His sense of humor and delivery is always perfect.  He's not pretentious, doesn't get caught up on vocabulary (screw the big words with complex definitions) and he describes his characters like know other.  You can't help but get a vivid picture of each of them.

I hear the sequel, Finders Keepers takes us a little ways back in time.  It takes us to the old Misery style of writing.  Let's see how that goes. #StephenKing #MrMercedes #ReadingKeepsMeSane

By:  Paula Treick DeBoard

ISBN: 978-0778318378

Publisher: MIRA

Publication Date:  4/26/2016 

Format: Other

My Rating: 5 Stars + 

A special thank you to MIRA and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Put Gone Girl & The Girl on the Train in your "rear view" mirror:Paula Treick DeBoard's THE DROWNING GIRLS is mind-blowing; The new 2016 fatal attraction psycho-suspense domestic thriller with a modern twist!" Top Books of 2016.

Following sensational The Fragile World landing on my Top 30 Books of 2014, the “Queen” of domestic suspense, once again delivers her “third in a row *5 Star* winner” HER BEST YET!

An emotional edge-of-your-seat gripping and deeply unsettling psychological tale of chilling dark secrets and obsession. An ordinary family. A wealthy idyllic California neighborhood. What lies below a perfectly manicured gated community’s seemingly flawless surface? It is not pretty. The Palms may not be as it appears.

Liz has not had an easy life. Now, her "only dreamed of" fairy tale may be becoming a reality (or a nightmare). Liz and her husband Phil are moving to The Palms, with Liz’s fourteen-year-old daughter, Danielle.

The Palms. A gated golf country club. Exclusive. Tightly knit. The rich. Entitled. High Maintenance. Mini-mansions, golf yoga, walking trails, and all the amenities of a luxury resort. On the surface, Liz was mesmerized. Picture perfect.

Phil’s job was to soothe the residents. Kiss ass, deal with them, and make them feel important. Keep them happy. The house had come with Phil’s job, a package deal. Parker-Lane, the real estate developer covered their lease, and the hefty monthly HOA fees, with a salary that left them house rich, cash poor. Phil was their new community relations specialist. No money for furniture, but the bare essentials. A prestigious address.

However, once inside its gates, reality sets in. What lies and secrets lie beneath the façade? A forgone conclusion. They do not belong. Her family is not “their kind” of people. It was a mistake.

Prior to moving, Liz had never given much thought to her neighbors, until now. Bringing out her feelings of insecurity. She wants to fit into this fictional world. She cannot dress like them. She does not run in their circles. They share no interests. Nor can they afford this lifestyle, or fit in.

In practical terms, this meant that the people who were fawning over them were paying dearly for the right to hit tennis balls, play golf, and jog along the community trail, while they could participate for free.

Liz was a single mom, raising her daughter alone; until, she met the charming Phil, from Melbourne. Men and women alike were drawn to the sexy Australian accent from the outback. They have a solid marriage.

As Liz settles in she wants more than anything for her daughter to fit in and establish friends. At a wine tasting/fund raiser (which they could not afford to attend), she meets some neighbors. Danielle spends most of her days with a nose in a book, a nerd; and this other girl sounds as though she would be years ahead of her daughter socially. They arrange for the girls to meet. Not sure what they would have in common. Maybe this girl can take Danielle under her wing, and accept her.

A high school counselor Liz feels inferior around these well dressed, made up women. She had left the old Liz Haney behind, pregnant in college, dependent on financial aid and a half dozen part time jobs and section 8 housing until she landed her counseling position. She was still struggling with the rent, when she met Phil. Now here she was hobnobbing with the rich and trying to blend in. She wants desperately for her daughter to fit in—she knows firsthand the peer pressure can be tough especially for teens.

Soon Liz sees the kids at school are miniature reflections of their parents—designer clothes and disposable income. From wealth and privilege—a high cost of admission. The pretty girls—getting everything they want. Social media frenzy. Texting. Sexting. Cyber bullying. Superficial.

Her daughter soon meets Hannah (a chubby insecure girl) and Kelsey (a femme fatale goddess). Kelsey could have been a model in a men’s magazine, with her black bikini, using her sexy manipulative goods, to seduce her husband, plus use her daughter in the process, like a black widow spider filtrating their lives.

Kelsey Jorgensen, a bored, disturbed, deeply troubled, (two faces) evil and malicious femme fatale has now entered their household, their lives, corrupting their daughter, and now obsessed with her husband. How can this family escape the madness before it destroys their lives?

Phil, a thirty-seven-year-old community relations specialist, who loves his wife; however, not opposed to a little flirting or using his charm, to help him out with his job. The women have nothing better to do than to stop by with a problem, expecting him to feed their ego. Is he a helpless victim of circumstances?

From dropping in Phil's office to his home--Kelsey with her short skirts, and indecent proposals, seduction, to stalking and obsession—what is he going to do? She could ruin his job and family. Should be retain an attorney? Everything she does is calculating--designed for attention. She is sick. Indecent photos. Can he tell his wife? Would she understand?

What has this girl done to this family? Repulsive. Obsession. Calculating. When will she strike again?Liz has to protect her family. Phil has to protect his family. However, neither communicate their thoughts. They keep this disaster to themselves. Afraid of the consequences.

With alternating chapters, we hear from Liz and Phil--from past to present— (several months) the pool scene, a drowning---a crime scene---keeping the reader in breathtaking suspense as to how they arrived at this point. Impending tragedy is lurking. Darkness. We know it is coming, but how?

Despite everything, Danielle seemed happy with her friendship with Kelsey—who has taken over their lives. What has happened to the old Danielle? She is not the same girl. Liz and Danielle are no longer close. Liz and Phil are not communicating. Their house, the job, their lives are in jeopardy.

Twisted. Lies. Secrets, a dangerous fixation, stalking. When would Danielle realize Kelsey wasn’t her ticket to cool? Taking over their lives like a deadly disease they could not get rid of.

Living at the Palms is far from the idyllic life Liz and Phil had expected. Maybe there was no normal at The Palms. The entitled and over-privileged. Unhinged. An attempted suicide? An accident. What is the truth?

A strained marriage, and a life spiraling out of control. Things were going to end badly. A place that represented happiness and security, had only been a mirage, evaporating quickly. Suspicions. Trust. Will this life slip away as quickly as it came?

Wow! You cannot miss this one. No one can tell a complex twisted tale like DeBoard! The scary part – this could happen to anyone. Everyday, ordinary people finding themselves caught in the middle of a living nightmare. Characters under enormous amounts of pressure from extenuating circumstances.

With all her books, she writes of families, facing pressures, from tight knit communities to others facing scrutiny of their neighbors, and those concerned with reputations, and the personal secrets of marriage and family.

Everything about the tale was spot on, perfectly paced, complex, emotional, gritty, and dark. "OMG... The Palms is more scandalous than Desperate Housewives’ Wisteria Lane, Fatal Attraction, and the Boy Next Door! YUM." This gal is pure evil! Readers will be glued to this one—reserve the time—you will not be able to put it down.

The Mourning Hours
"...a gripping portrayal of a family straining against extraordinary pressure, and a powerful tale of loyalty, betrayal and forgiveness."
​Published June 2013
​
The Fragile World
"...a journey through America's heartland and a family's brightest and darkest moments, exploring the devastating pain of losing a child and the beauty of finding healing in unexpected ways."
Published October 2014

The Drowning Girls
"...a tale of dark secrets, shocking lies and a dangerous obsession that will change one neighborhood forever."
Coming April 2016

​​

On a personal note:
When I was married we lived in a very upscale gated country club and the residents were similar to fictional characters referenced. In addition, for years, I worked as a Regional Sales and Marketing Manager for a large real estate developer--overseeing upscale luxury multi-million-dollar golf communities, and waterfront mansions on the east coast of Florida, as well as the design centers. The entitled residents were a bit like the ones described. I attended a few HOA meetings and found myself reliving some of the book. Scary.

Plus, Paula is one kick ass talented writer, and anything with her name attached – you know you are in for a treat! The pool scene with the slip of the bikini top was priceless, combined with Paula’s wit and humor—Highly Entertaining.

Movie Worthy! I want a front row seat at the premier. Has to be the top domestic suspense of the year. Fans of Mary Kubica will enjoy the slow burning intensity.

(2013) The Mourning Hours
(2014) The Fragile World

By: Linwood Barclay

Series: Promise Falls #2

ISBN:  9780451472700

Publisher: Penguin/Berkley

Publication Date: 3/22/2016

Format: Hardcover 

My Rating:  4 Stars

A special thank you to Berkley/NAL and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. 

Linwood Barclay heats up the action, drama, secrets, betrayal, and scandal in the fictional Upstate New York small-town of Promise Falls, with the second installment,FAR FROM TRUE, following “Best Cliffhanger Mystery Thriller Suspense Series” Broken Promise, #1, landing on myTop 50 Books of 2015 and teaser novella, Final Assignment#1.5.

Barclay fans will love all the characters from previous books: Detective Barry Duckworth (loves his donuts), David Harwood, his parents, Marla, Lucy Brighton, Cal Weaver, Derek Cutter, and Randal Finley, etc…..

Keep your score card handy, in order to keep up with all the characters and how each is connected. There are murders to solve, as evil lies from the past began to surface, further complicating the lives of those in Promise Falls.

A run down drive-in movie theater, the Constellation collapses, killing four people and injuring others. Demolition was not scheduled for the following week. The owner had sold the property to a developer, Mancini Homes and he and his wife were headed to Florida for retirement. A shootout at the laundromat, an attempt to kidnap a child, and we are just getting started.

This was supposed to be the last night at the drive in. Of course Randel Finley, who is trying to work his way back into the good graces of the people and politics, does not listen to David Harwood, former reporter and now assistant to the former mayor. David did not even want this job; however, he needed the money to start his new life over with his young son.

David is not cut out for all the drama. He had enough of it with his late wife, Jan, and the episode with Marla and her baby. Even his former reporting days had not prepared him for this kind of unrelenting stress.

Detective Duckworth is on the case. In the meantime, Lucy, (daughter Crystal), we met in FINAL ASSIGNMENT, hires Cal Weaver regarding a break in at her dad's house. (Adam) and step mom, Miriam. They were at the drive-in --her father’s Jag car was crushed. Former writer, and bad boy ex Harley biker. (hedonist)

Turns out Lucy’s dad was up to no good (naughty, naughty)—a sex room, (a man on the verge of sixty with a younger wife, a past, no new books, a hidden sex room, fully equipped with sex toys, spouse-sharing, prostitution, and a break-in. (how many involved-and participants) ? A missing letter, and an ex wife. Someone is after some incriminating evidence and Lucy is in search for something critical. Her biggest concern is to protect her daughter and provide for special needs.

As always, things become complicated, connected, and one thing leads to another. Nothing is how it appears. Everyone has hidden secrets and motives. Connection between Jack Sturgess and Olivia? Now Cal and Lucy become close, jeopardizing the case, a step mom appears, and of course we are updated on the events from the last book, Thackery College drama, the murders of Olivia Fisher and Rosemary Gaynor, blackmail, murder, and last but not least the mystery surrounding NUMBER 23. From the 23 dead squirrels, number on Mason’s hoodie, the three mannequins with “you’ll be sorry” in carriage 23 of the Ferris wheel at Five Mountains—coincidence?

The explosion at the drive-in occurred at twenty-three minutes past twenty-three hundred hours. (military time)-No coincidence. Duckworth no longer believed the frequency with which “23” was popping up was just happenstance. Something was going on. Mr. Twenty-three (per media) is tying to scare everyone to death. Terrorism? Finley is such a politician, always working an angle and David may be the person to finally put him in his place (maybe—for 5 seconds).

Readers are left with another cliffhanger and new drama. Sorry, folks, we need to wait until the next installment to solve this mystery of Twenty-Three.

As I mentioned in my tweet this week to Lisa Unger and Linwood Barclay. I want a joint collaboration to combine both fictional upstate New York troubled cities Unger's (The Hollows) with Barclay’s (Promise Falls). Possibly Unger’s Eloise or Finley (psychics) could head over to Promise Falls to help solve this #23 Mystery. Can you image these two cast of characters in one book, plus the creativity of Unger and Barclay? Explosive!

Entertaining! Even though I am enjoying this series and a huge Barclay fan, with lots of wit, mixed with crime thrills---#1 Broken Promise was a little more intense; possibly from the usage of so many characters--#2, this go around (making your head spin); a lot of S**T going down. However, anxiously awaiting #3! Highly recommend all his books.

Peyton Place + Desperate Housewives + Murder + Lies + Dark Secrets + Twenty-Three = Promise Falls

By: Lisa Unger

ASIN: B013CSCW2U

Publisher: Pocket Star

Series:  The Whispers

Publication 

Date:  1/4/2016
Format: e-book 

My Rating: 5 Stars

Talented Lisa Unger delivers a riveting and intriguing (addictive) series, THE WHISPERING HOLLOWS surrounded by The Hollows.

A fictional upstate New York town with an agenda and its own personality. It does not like secrets, yet it seems to encourage paths to cross. The Hollows is a character. All chain linked by place and people. So many elements. Layers, shades, something unique for each character. If you are a fan of the series, you will understand. Eloise "listens" and she is the one to lead the way. This is her life,and her extraordinary journey.

If you have not read the three novellas, this is your chance to catch-up with all the characters in one book, with a preview of the highly anticipated upcoming INK AND BONE.

The Whispers is a novella told in three-parts, spanning 30 years in the life of Eloise Montgomery, who discovers her amazing gift in the wake of tragedy. Its tendrils reach back to FRAGILE, the novel in which Eloise first appeared, through CRAZY LOVE YOU (5 Stars) and ahead to INK AND BONE (June 7, 2016)

Even though I have read all the books in the series, was dying to get a glimpse at Lisa Unger’s upcoming thriller, Ink and Bone.

INK AND BONE preview: We hear from a young girl, (third grade), her love for her daddy, mom and older brother. She especially loves her Daddy; however, he seems to be often distracted by his phone. Dad was not supposed to be talking on his cell phone during their special outing on a hiking trail, while enjoying the nature and birds. A tragedy occurs, dad and brother are hurt, and she was taught to run. However, she was not fast enough. The men have caught her. All is turning black.

A delicious tantalizer--Finley Montgomery (Eloise’s granddaughter) will have her own story. She will move to The Hollows, and lands in the middle of a dangerous investigation involving a young girl who has been missing for ten months and the police have all but given up hope. 5 Stars

Whispers #1 THE WHISPERS Eloise Montgomery discovers her amazing gift in the wake of tragedy, an accident taking the lives of her husband and oldest daughter. She and her younger daughter try to move forward, as she learns to deal with this complex gift, using it to help save lost women and girls. 4.5 Stars

Whispers #2 THE BURNING GIRL Ten years after Eloise discovers psychic abilities, she is a full-fledged working psychic, with a partner and a business. She discovers some disturbing things: secrets about her genealogy that are, perhaps, best left in the past and not all her visitors want to be helped. 3.5 Stars

Whispers #3 THE THREE SISTERS At the end of The Burning Girl, Eloise discovers her granddaughter, Finley has powers. Presently, twenty-year old Finley comes to live with Eloise. (Much to Eloise’s daughter Amanda’s controlling displeasure). THE THREE SISTERS was my favorite of the three; a multi-layered story with gripping narrative, where all three elements fit together for an explosive finale of control, revenge, love, and forgiveness. 5 Stars

There is much drama and suspense in The Hollows in this fast-paced, action filled series. Get on board, where there is never a dull moment. Highly Recommend. Can't wait for June--Hope I can snag an ARC.

Love Florida Authors!

Fans of Linwood Barclay's Promise Falls series will enjoy The Hollows--both upstate New York fictional towns-- full of secrets, crimes, and intrigue. Maybe a book with both authors/towns-- fun, fun! Can you imagine?