Here are four quickie reviews of books I’ve read recently.

After That Night by Karin Slaughter

Fifteen years ago, Sara Linton’s life changed forever when a celebratory night out ended in a violent attack that tore her world apart. Since then, Sara has remade her life. A successful doctor, engaged to a man she loves, she has finally managed to leave the past behind her. Until one evening, on call in the ER, everything changes. 

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ This was another couldn’t-put-it-down addition to the already excellent Will Trent series. Will took a bit of a back seat in this one as Sara’s story took center stage. It was very hard to read at times. It was difficult to truly comprehend the depravity of the crimes, the level of deliberate organization to make them happen, and the callous disregard for people displayed by the potential suspects. The victims’ experiences were effectively communicated through Sara’s own feelings and actions. I also loved seeing Faith and all her insecurities. The characters in these books are all flawed, real, and relatable in some way.

Genre: Suspense
Published: August 22, 2023
Sensuality Rating: Subtle
Series: Will Trent

The Poisoner’s Ring by Kelley Armstrong

Dr. Duncan Gray moonlights as a medical examiner, with Mallory as his assistant, and their latest case hits close to home. Men are dropping dead from a powerful poison, and all signs point to the grieving widows, the latest of which is Gray’s oldest sister.

⭐⭐⭐⭐ The plot took us through quite a few convoluted twists and turns, and even though I had a tentative guess as to the identity of the poisoner, it still unfolded with plenty of surprise. Mostly I enjoyed the writing style, Mallory’s thoughts and words were sprinkled liberally with hilarious quips and smart deductions. The idea that Mallory is occupying Catriona’s body still makes me uncomfortable. This is a not-to-be-missed series if you like historical fiction with a time travel element and heaps of mystery and suspense.

Genre: Suspense
Published: May 23, 2023
Sensuality Rating: None
Series: A Rip Through Time

Cocktails & Chloroform by Kelley Armstrong

Mallory follows Alice one evening after Alice receives a mysterious letter. She finds Alice at what seems like a simple dance hall, watching young men and women flirting and whirling in pretty dresses and dapper suitcoats. But nothing here is what is seems, and what starts as a simple surveillance exercise turns into a full-scale spy mission with Mallory’s boss, Dr. Duncan Gray, at her side. 

⭐⭐⭐⭐ Short and filled with a nail-biting adventure. This venture into human trafficking in Victorian times was quite chilling. I’m still not comfortable with Mallory “living” in Catriona’s body, but it definitely came in handy for her in this story. I’m enjoying this series a lot so far and curious as to what will happen next for Mallory.

Genre: Suspense
Published: December 1, 2023
Sensuality Rating: None
Series: A Rip Through Time

Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer

ASSISTANT WANTED: Notorious, high-ranking villain seeks loyal, levelheaded assistant for unspecified office duties, supporting staff for random mayhem, terror, and other Dark Things In General. Discretion a must. Excellent benefits.

⭐⭐⭐⭐ This book was a lot of fun. The encounters between Evie and The Villain were always unexpected and interesting and I looked forward to seeing them interact. I think this book very successfully portrayed good and evil as two sides of the same coin and that everyone single one of us have the capacity for both. And though it ended with more to come, that ending was spectacular and very fitting.

Genre: Fantasy Romance
Published: August 29, 2023
Sensuality Rating: Warm
Series: Assistant to the Villain

Hope you enjoyed these quickie reviews. Have you read any of these books yet?

^{**Image by Freepik}