The Night Shift by Alex Finlay

The Night Shift by Alex Finlay
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4 stars

In 1999, Blockbuster video store in Linden, NJ, it was a typical work night for 4 teenaged girls and their manager. But only 1 girl was escaped death that night – Ella

15 years later, Linden, NJ – There has been another killing of young people working in an ice cream parlor and there is only one survivor – Jessica

Ella is working as a therapist and is called to talk to the only survivor of Ice cream parlor killings, Jessica. Soon they find a connection and become friends. Meanwhile, the blockbuster murder prime convict ,Vince Whitaker has vanished from the face of this earth. Chris Whitaker, Vince’s brother has escaped his abusive father after Vince’s disappearance, found a loving foster family and is a lawyer now.

Badass FBI Agent Keller is trying to connect these two crimes which have similarities is also 8 month pregnant.

As the story goes forward, we try to find the authenticity of the relationships between many characters. Questioning ourselves and suspecting almost everyone. So many threads coming together almost at the end and such a suspense. The book just flew by. A smart, fast-paced thriller.
Happy Reading!!

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To Make Monsters Out of Girls by Amanda Lovelace (things that h(a)unt #1)

To Make Monsters Out of Girls by Amanda Lovelace
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4 stars

A wonderful collection of poems on identifying one’s own worth and choose a path for oneself. Being in a relationship with a person who is not helping you grow in anyway but pushing you towards the darkness is hard. To leave this kind of a place not only physically but mentally is very hard. These poems show us the mental struggle one goes through to break free of such a relationship and do what is good for yourself.

A great set of poems on unhealthy relationships and moving on.
Happy Reading!!

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The Miracles of the Namiya General Store by Keigo Higashino

The Miracles of the Namiya General Store by Keigo Higashino
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

3.5 stars

“The Miracles of the Namiya General Store” is a set of interconnected stories focusing on individuals whose life was changed by the store and are connected to a nearby orphanage “Marumitsuen”.

We follow the lives of several people who approach the store to find answers for their life problems. The book comes to a full circle when these people come back after 33 years and let the store know how their life turned out because of store’s help through letters.

An optimistic , cozy book with an element of magical realism. Overall a good read, but seriously think that much of the magic was lost in the translation.

Happy Reading!!

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The Dark Hours by Michael Connelly (Renée Ballard, #4)

The Dark Hours by Michael Connelly
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4 stars

A pandemic thriller. I never thought I would be reading a Pandemic book.
On New Year’s Eve celebrations Ballard is called in on a gun shooting and starts to suspect it as murder. Along with this case, Ballard is tangled with a team of rapists called “The Midnight Men”. And during the investigation, retired detective Bosch is also pulled in and both work together towards justice.
Absolute brilliant thriller. Connelly has put together a fabulous story. A Nail biter 🙂

Happy Reading!!

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The Night Fire by Michael Connelly (Renée Ballard #3)

The Night Fire by Michael Connelly
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4 stars

Harry Bosch is left with a 20 year old Murder Book by his recently dead mentor. This is about an old murder of drug addict and ex-con John Hilton. While Bosch is wondering on this stolen murder book, Ballard is called out to a fatal tent fire at night that kills a homeless man, Edison Banks Junior. Though it looks like a tragic accident Ballard doesn’t seem to think so.

Once again we find ourselves in a tight and intricately plotted crime thriller. The relationship between Bosch and Ballard is seen to be growing, a unspoken trust building slowly. We also met Haller, Bosch’s attorney half-brother and get to know their chemistry. And as a surprise we see Ballard dealing with Olivas (who is responsible for Ballard’s move to The late show) and I liked it.

Bosch and Ballard work together and see that both their cases and few more on the side and see how some of the threads join together. Loved reading this one.

Happy Reading

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Dark Sacred Night by Michael Connelly(Renée Ballard, #2)

Dark Sacred Night by Michael Connelly
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

3.5 stars
Second in the LAPD detective Renee Ballard series and we meet Harry Bosch. Ballard and Bosch somehow click together. Two odd ducks who can’t go a single crime out of their hands without finding an answer.
Bosch is working on cold cases and Ballard is called on new/current cases. Both work in a synchronization towards justice without rest. I loved the chemistry in here. Only thing which took of the stars from review was “Daisy Clayton” story line, which I already watched on Bosch. Otherwise, Highly recommended!

Happy Reading!!

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Fiona and Jane by Jean Chen Ho

Fiona and Jane by Jean Chen Ho
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4 stars

Fiona and Jane is a set of stories which show us their life in different times. How their friendship started , went through ups and downs and how it sustained into their adulthood. Though the stories are more focused on Fiona, Jane too has her element in the book. But sometimes I forgot that those tow were individuals. I almost started to merge their identities.

The stories brushes family, grief, relationships, sexual identity and of course friendship.
A beautiful meditation on friendship.

Happy Reading!!

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A Dance with Dragons (A Song of Ice and Fire, #5) by George R.R. Martin

A Dance with Dragons by George R.R. Martin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4.0 stars

Honestly I did not like half of the previous book A Feast for Crows. It was all unnecessary and drag. Though I liked the story line which had all the main characters.

I share the same views in this book too. I know Mr. Martin is trying to bring all those secondary/tertiary characters to help the main plot but its too obvious. That was the another thing which annoyed me. As always I loved the main characters and their part of the story. Everything else just felt unnecessary. In book 4 and 5 the plot advanced at a snails pace. Very annoying. And not a single Dragon danced !

Finally I have finished all the 5 books which I started reading back in 2020.
And now I wait. For the Winter. Which was supposed to come in 2015.

My reading pace + George R R Martin writing Winds Of Winter pace= I will be completing the book with my grand kids 😛

Happy Reading!!

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The Last House on the Street by Diane Chamberlain

The Last House on the Street by Diane Chamberlain
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

DNF

A dual timeline with 1960 and 2010. The 1960s storyline was quite predictable. Its slow and with a topic that does not interests me. I am not a big fan of the dual storylines and didn’t enjoy this one.
No point of for continuing on this one 😦

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Show Your Work!: 10 Ways to Share Your Creativity and Get Discovered by Austin Kleon

Show Your Work!: 10 Ways to Share Your Creativity and Get Discovered by Austin Kleon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4 Stars

I liked the first book Steal Like an Artist: 10 Things Nobody Told You About Being Creative by the same author. So I thought lets try this one.
It’s a Quick Read. And it will be more appropriate for the people who have their own gigs or who are interested in having a business of their own or who are a creative lot like writers, artists etc.
Below are the chapters or topics in the book which pretty much speak for themselves. But a detailed view would help those who might feel a bit directionless.

1. You don’t have to be a genius.
2. Think process, not product.
3. Share something small every day.
4. Open up your cabinet of curiosities.
5. Tell good stories.
6. Teach what you know.
7. Don’t turn into human spam.
8. Learn to take a punch.
9. Sell out.
10. Stick around.

Smart and observant book.
Happy Reading!!

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