Review: Strangers at the Feast

Author: Jennifer Vanderbes
Also Wrote: Easter Island

Genre: Fiction

About:  Three generations of the Olson family gather on Thanksgiving in 2007. Hosting the dinner is single daughter Ginny, who will be introducing her newly adopted daughter from India. The chain of doom is set in motion when Ginny’s oven fails and they decide to move the gathering to her brother Douglas' house.  At the same time, 17-year-old Kijo Jackson and his best friend Spider set out from a housing project intent on carrying out a job. Their two worlds collide in a string of tragic events.

Descriptive Words: Dysfunction, tragedy, coincidence, misfortune, death

Overall:  Enjoyed

Liked 

• how well formed and slowly each character was introduced.
• how dysfunctional - bordering on unlikeable - each family member was - and just like watching MTVs Real World, I couldn't tear myself away. 
• how the story went back and forth between past and present and from character to character but in an organized, easy-to-keep-track way.
• that I couldn't put the book down because I wanted to find out about the impending "tragic events" that were mentioned but not disclosed until the very end.

Didn't Like

• the vague ending, and I'm not sure if it's the ending itself I didn't like or that the story was over! I don't like when books end and I think, That's it? It's over? Just like that? I like when I close the book and think, Oh, that was soooo good!  I've been critical of the last few book endings I've read.

Source: Library

Why I Chose: I was intrigued by the storyline and synopsis of "tragic events."

Recommend? Yes

Rating: 4/5

Review: Pray for Silence

Author:  Linda Castillo

Genre:  Mystery/Thriller

About: An Amish family of seven is found slaughtered on their farm.  The formerly Amish Police Chief, Kate Burkholder, discovers a diary kept by one of the teenage girls which reveals a secret double life that may have led to the murders.

Descriptive Words:  Amish, secrets, videos, eerie, disturbing, descriptive, dark.

Thoughts:  The title and cover are ominous looking, so I knew it would be scary, and I knew an Amish family was murdered. Other than that, I had no idea what I was getting into.  I was pleasantly surprised, though, and didn't want to put it down.  The one negative for me was that the main character, Kate Burkholder, the police chief, was female.  In my mind I pictured a male police chief, and it kept throwing me off because she had a romantic relationship with State Agent John Tomasetti.  Not a huge deal, but it took time getting used to.  Loved everything else.  Quite a page turner!

Not quite up there with Still Missing by Chevy Stevens (which I gave 5 Stars), but very close.

Source:  Library

Why I Chose:  The cover and title looked interesting.

Recommend?  Yes if you can handle disturbing content (murder scenes, some sexual scenes, language)

Rating:  4.5 / 5

Other Reviews:

Lesa's Book Critiques
The Printed Page
Thoughts of Joy

Review: Still Missing

Author: Chevy Stevens

Genre: Fiction: Mystery/Thriller (2010)

About: A realtor is abducted and held captive while hosting an open house.

Descriptive Words: Scary, gruesome, sad, riveting, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, abuse.

Thoughts: Loved it. But not at first. Annie's (the realtor) character was brusque and unfeminine, with her foul language and snarky attitude. As the story went on, though, it worked and I got used to it, and it's probably why she survived The Freak's abuse for a year. She was one tough cookie.

The story switches back and forth between the present, as she talks to her therapist, and the past, where she tells what happened to her during captivity. That back and forth usually bothers me in books, but Chevy Stevens transitioned so smoothly that I didn't even notice, and in fact kept it interesting. Also, The PTSD aspect brought about while talking to her therapist was fascinating. How does one get over something like that?

Some of the things The Freak did to her were so freaky and his character so realistic that I thought he'd pop out of the book any minute. There was never a dull moment, and I couldn't wait to see what happened next. Also, the way The Freak constantly used her name when addressing her creeped me out. "Not good, Annie. Not good at all." Ewww.

My ONLY complaint was the abrupt ending. I was fine with the story and the twist of what happened, but I felt unfulfilled. I like when a book ends and I think, "Oh, that was so good!" not "That's it? It's over?" like the author got tired of writing and just wanted it to end.

Other than the ending, I was thoroughly entertained and would read anything by this author, who happens to be a female...I thought Chevy was a man.

Source: Library

Why I Chose: Saw rave reviews on so many blogs I didn't want to miss out. The abduction storyline intrigued me as well.

Recommend? YES! Don't miss.

Rating: 5/5

Other Reviews:

Missy's Book Nook
A Patchwork of Books
Presenting Lenore
Devourer of Books

There are a ton of reviews on this book and I have yet to read a bad one.

Have you read this? Do you plan to?

Review: The Last Child

The Last Child

by John Hart


My Synopsis

Thirteen-year-old Johnny sets out to search for his twin sister Alyssa, who was abducted in broad daylight. His friend Jack says he saw the abduction but is unable to give clear details of the person or the car. Soon after, Johnny's father disappears, and between him leaving and the inability of the police to find Alyssa, Johnny's mother turns to alcohol and drugs for comfort. Social Services then becomes involved when it's determined that she is unable to care properly for Johnny. Clyde Hunt, the lead detective on Alyssa's case, who himself is losing touch with his own teenage son, takes the case far more personally than others think is appropriate. And when another girl, Tiffany, goes missing, Hunt becomes even more determined and obsessed with solving the case.

My Thoughts

I'm not a huge fan of this genre, so I'll tell you why I picked this book. The cover! I'm a sucker. That and the title just got me. The Last Child.

I was very pleasantly surprised by the story line and the characters and the drama. Boy was there drama. It's a 432-page book and I read it in two days. On the second day I couldn't put it down. Just when I thought I figured out who did what...BAM! Wrong.

The only negative comment I have is that some of the things Johnny did seemed unbelievable for a 13-year-old. He drove his mom's car several times, went out after dark to scary neighborhoods, stole and carried a gun and sought out known pedophiles in the area in his search for his sister; far braver than any 13-year-old I know, even the trouble maker type.

Other than that I thought it was great. I loved that I couldn't predict anything even when I tried. There were so many twists and turns and things occurring that my head was spinning. In a good way :)

Do I Recommend?

Yes

Source

Library

My Rating

5/5 Because I love when books are too good to put down.

Other Bloggers' Reviews of This Book:

Book Notes by Lisa
The Printed Page
Reading the Leaves
Rhapsody in Books