Tag: thriller

Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)1 Comment

Essence of McFadden… but also, a little Steven King. ~Sheila

Author Grady Green is having the best day of his life. He just received wonderful news from his publicist regarding his newest book. The only thing that would have made this moment better is if his wife had been there to celebrate with him. But she is on her way—he just spoke with her, and she is so close to home.
But as the minutes tick by, Grady begins to worry. Where is Abby? When he runs up the road, what he finds will haunt his dreams forever. Abby’s car is on the side of the road with the door open, her phone and car remain in the seat, and Abby is nowhere to be found.

A year later, Grady still does not have the answers. Abby was never found. Grady can no longer write. His finances have dwindled to nothing and he has moved into a cheap hotel with his dog. When his Editor offers him a three-month stay in a cabin she inherited on a remote island to clear his head and maybe start writing again – Grady has no choice but to humbly accept.

At first, the Island seems to be just the answer. It’s small, remote, and beautiful. Every shop is locally owned, and while admittedly, the folks seem a little odd, Grady thinks he can make this work.
But things are more than a little off on this small island and in short time strange things start happening that Grady can not ignore… and when he sees a woman in a red coat who looks just like Abby… things get even stranger yet.

I read this in two days in the RV on our way to Florida. (Yes you read that right – that may be the norm for many people – but not for me…I don’t have a lot of reading time usually so it takes a bit longer to finish a book) – this is a little bit of WOW for me 🙂

It’s a little hard to describe this book without giving anything away. While it held my attention all the way through, when the reveal came – I was….
admittedly confused – not that the reveal did not work… I’m just not sure if (IMO) it worked well. For me to fully grasp what just happened – I would need to go back and reread certain chapters and honestly – I just didn’t want to. If I were to describe how the reveal felt – it didn’t give me the “Ahhhhhhhh!” moment I think it was going for. It was more like a “huh.”

That said – the book is not bad- its good and I really enjoyed it except for that part. It feels a little like McFadden and oddly, I picked up vibes on Stephen King – especially on the small Island. I think if you think about it, you will too 🙂

I would love to hear other thoughts on this one.

Rated: 3.5 out of 5
Read Author Before: I do not believe so
Read Author Again: I would give her another try
Where Read: Traveling to Florida in the RV – between Georgia and Florida 🙂

The Housemaid’s Secret by Frieda McFadden

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It’s fun to revisit the characters you enjoy – and Millie is definitely one to have on your side. ~Sheila

Millie has a reputation as being “a fixer”. As word got out that Millie had a way to take care of the bad husbands, she had a little stint with the help of a friend cleaning up some messy marriages.

Those days, however – are in the past. Millie still with a record of her jail time, just wants a nice easy job to pay the bills and keep her moving forward. When Douglas Garrick calls about her working for him and his wife – a little housekeeping, a little errand running, a little cooking – Millie says yes. The Garricks seem easy to work for, their house is never dirty and Mr Garrick is pleasant in their encounters. The only thing that makes Millie wonder is Mrs. Garrick, who keeps to herself in her room with some assorted health issues. And the longer she works for the Garrick’s the more mysterious it seems that Mr Garrick does not want Millie to talk to his wife…

What could possibly be going on?

I’m a little proud of myself with this one. I feel like I finally have a bit of a grasp on McFadden’s style and even predicted a couple of things in this one. (Go Me!!!) But – don’t get me wrong… when this story begins to fully unfold – there is the usual McFadden Origami style here that once again – in the end… had me fooled.

I enjoyed this one as a sequel but probably not as much as the first one – still a strong read and I am glad I did 🙂

Rated: 3.5 out of 5
Read Author Before: Yes
Read Author Again: Of Course 🙂
Where Read: Listened to audio – finished right before leaving on our RV trip

The Housemaid by Frieda McFadden

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)4 Comments

Yup. She did it again. #blownaway ~Sheila

Millie thought she had found the answer to her prayers when Nina Winchester said, “Welcome to the family – and please, call me Nina.”

After time in prison, Millie is just trying to get on her feet and the job cleaning and a little light cooking for the Winchesters seems to be just the ticket to setting herself back on track. Sure the house is an absolute mess, and their daughter Cecelia is awful, yet Millie is up for the challenge. It doesn’t help that Mr. Winchester is kind and well.. easy on the eyes.

Yet as days turn into weeks, Millie senses something is very very wrong. Nina, or Mrs. Winchester as she has told Millie more than once since her date of hire that they are not friends so not to call her Nina, seems to be… well… a little crazy. She tells Millie to do something and then screams at her that she never said that. She talks down to her every chance she has and often threatens to fire her. Millie knows she is so lucky that she has the job with her record and just needs to keep saving but it gets harder and harder – and the creepy attic bedroom she stays in with the lock outside the door is a bit much…

Do they not understand what she is capable of?

Somehow… in all the books I have read by McFadden, I missed this one, the one, by all accounts it seems, made Frieda McFadden an author to keep an eye on.
It was Jenny who does my hair who mentioned it a few months ago and with all the other books I was reading it didn’t stick to add it to my list. Then, this past week Jenny asked if I had read it as she is now reading the third book, The Housemaid Is Watching.
Well… I knew I was behind so got right on it!

The Housemaid is definitely good. As mentioned before, I am finding this pattern with me and the McFadden books. At some point – something usually makes me mad or feels like she is being too predictable – yet, I have discovered that IMO, she does this intentionally. I believe McFadden loves to throw the reader off – loves to make them think “Oh Frieda, really? That’s a little obvy isn’t it?” And then – she slams on the breaks – puts you in a tailspin and suddenly the book is upside down… what you thought was true was nothing but a bucket of red herrings and in the end….
Your hair is mussed, you are smoking a cigarette (you don’t smoke..) and you have a goofy look on your face.
Yeah… it be like that.

The Housemaid, in all of its glory, has rightfully earned the reputation of readers suddenly taking a closer look at what McFadeen is doing and she continues to create Psychological Thrillers that amaze. I was once again taken in and better for it. The Housemaid, while not perfect, is a book to add to your TBR list – and soon.

I’m already digging into The Housemaid’s Secret….book two.

Rated: 5 out of 5
Read Authro Before: Yes
Read Author Again: I already am 🙂
Where Read: I listen to this on audio at home while cleaning and puzzling… its Minnesota winter after all

The Locked Door by Freida McFadden

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McFadden never ceases to surprise me! ~Sheila

Nora Davis knows to keep her eyes open and alert to her surroundings. She learned this lesson as a child when she watched her parents be incarcerated for kidnapping and killing women of a certain age and look.
Raised by her Grandmother, Nora, 26 years later, now a surgeon, keeps mostly to herself, living alone – well, unless you count the stray cat. Which she doesn’t… not yet. Her father remains in prison and will for the rest of his life. And thankfully, no one knows- not friends, not co-workers, about her past or her connection to the “Handyman”, the serial killer who removed his victim’s hands.
At least, she thought no one knew.

When two young women turn up dead with their hands severed AND they just happen to both be women who were Nora’s patients. The Police are knocking on Nora’s door and the similarities between what happened then – and what is happening now are just too great.
Is it a copycat killer looking for the notoriety of the famous Serial Killer the Handyman? Or is it something even more sinister?

It’s no secret that I am a McFadden fan. I was so excited to see a new book had been published and could not wait to be fully engaged in what new creation she has come up with – and for the most part… she did not disappoint.
My only time peeve (and it is a small one) – was the repeating of the description of the women victims too often (like… make a drinking game out of how often it said often)… I get that it was making a point and a connection to the victims of the past to those in the present as well as Nora noticing similar traits in her acquaintances which, in her mind, meant they could be potential targets for whoever was doing the killing…. but – it weighed on me as it was mentioned too frequently.
Other than the peeve, McFadden got me again. When you think you know that they know that you know and… well…. you are completely wrong – that’s a McFadden. The way it all wrapped up left me impressed again and of course… wanting more.

New to McFadden? If you like a good psychological thriller – take your pick:

One by One
The Perfect Son
The Inmate
The Coworker
The Teacher

Rating: 4 out of 5
Read Author Before: Yup
Read Author Again: Oh Yeah
Where Read: Listened to on audio while cooking, cleaning and puzzling


The Heiress by Rachel Hawkins

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)6 Comments

It was a great twisty time spent in the halls of Ashby House! ~Sheila

Ruby McTavish has definitely lived an interesting and full life. She is the victim and the survivor of kidnapping as a child, and as an adult, she has been widowed 4 times and is the owner of Ashby House, her family’s estate in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Ruby never had children with any of her husbands, however, she did adopt a boy she named Camden who would be her sole heir. As Camden grows into a young man, there are many things he doesn’t approve of that his mother, as well as the extended McTavish, does. When Camden separates himself from the family as well as his full inheritance as Ruby’s only heir, he has no intention of ever returning to the Ashby House. Instead, he becomes a teacher in a small town in Colorado, where he meets Jules, also with a messy family past, who becomes his wife.

Ten years later, Ruby has long since passed away, and with the passing of his Uncle, Cam finds that he has to clean up some loose ties with the family and begrudgingly plans a trip back to the home and the people he closed the door to all those years ago. Jules is excited to see the magnificent home she has only seen in photos and what she has read online, but Cam has fears of what may be revealed to his wife when he reenters his past. But Cam is not the only one with secrets… secrets can come from any unsuspecting direction – even from the grave.

It’s been a while since I have read a truly can-not-put-down book and I am excited to share that I launched into 2025 with this one. Not the first book I said I would be reading (mainly because this one is paperback and easier to travel with on a plane).

This book grabbed me right from the start which is such a plus for me. The storyline was interesting and engaging, even the chapter transfers of narrator between Cam, Jules, and Ruby flowed so well that I never lost who was speaking or tried to recall what was going on when it came back to their story.

I am impressed with the book – the twists and turns made sense and I loved how many surprises there were along the way that fell right into line with the story. That sort of writing does not always work but it did here – and it worked well. HIGHLY Recommended.

Rating: 5 out of 5
Read Author Before: Yes – years ago! Hex Hall (I actually did not connect this was the same author until I looked to see if I had read here before!)
Read this author again: Absolutely
Where read: Started in Brainerd MN, read while traveling to Florida and on a Cruise into Cazamel, finished in Miami.

~Sheila

One by one by freida mcfadden

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)1 Comment

There comes a time when the twists and u-turns can simply just overwhelm the story ~Sheila

Claire Matchett is at the end of her marriage. The magic has been gone for longer than she can remember. Noah and Claire live together with their children, but they may as well be roommates. They barely talk to one another. 10 Years into what Claire thought would be a magical reunion of growing old together has turned into a desire to just be done with it all.

When a hiking/camping trip is planned with two other couples, Claire is less than thrilled. As if her marriage isn’t hard enough in private – now they would be taking it public. Yet, a break would be nice, and really – what could possibly happen in the presence of their friends?
Turns out… anything and everything can happen.

It’s no secret that I have been on a McFadden kick. I like that the books are not overly long, they are engaging, and easy to follow in what is my busier than busy season.
I am a big fan of a good twist and I love to be blown away by a great read with a WHOA ending – yet… there is the possibility of too many twists and turns and rerouting and sidling and … well you get it.

While I enjoyed the synopsis, the convenient settings that allowed for what to happen happen – was a bit too staged feeling. The book left you feeling anyone could be the one behind what was happening and while that can be exciting – I feel McFadden set this one up where honestly in the end – none were likable enough for me to care.

Maybe I’m jaded on the genre.

I will give credit to the alternating chapters with the anonymous narrator. This I liked and as it all played out – my rating is because of these chapters being told by an unknown author. While it didn’t save the book entirely, it certainly kept me going.

I did see a review that compared this book to Friday the 13th (full disclosure – this intrigued me…. (80’s girl who liked scary movies). I disagree with that review… while there were woods, there was no Jason Vorhees (boo!)… and if they would have had a Camp Crystal Lake, they would not have been so thirsty.

Maybe… a McFadden mini-break is due…


Girls Trip by Jason Letts

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)3 Comments

Is there such a thing as too many twists… too many turns? Yes. ~Sheila

Alice, Taylor and Emily are fairly new co-workers. On a whim, they decide to plan a girls trip over Labor Day Weekend. This is a chance to blow off some steam and get to know each other better.
Staying at a quaint little cabin in a small town in Texas, at first things appear to be shaping up nicely.
But – appearances can be false.

With a strange host with his cabin attached to their rental, a sense right from the start that they are being watched, a strange encounter at the local bar, and the constant changes to the cabin entry pad, – the girls can not tell if they are being messed with by the host or if they are in real danger.


Honestly – the book had my attention at the title Girls Trip. Who doesn’t love a good girls trip? I was all to soon disenchanted with the unlovable protagonists. As there was no real bonding moment in the book where as a reader you get to know the characters, they were hard to get a read on and IMO never really fully character developed for me to care one way or another about any of them. The continuous twists and turns that often led nowhere or were left to chase another direction – I found the book confusing and for the most part lost interest early on – but wanted to finish to see what really happened.

In the end – it was still not a fit for me. I love a good phycological thriller but this was a goose chase of a read with I am certain, good intentions that missed the mark.

Any one read this? Thoughts?

The Inmate by Freida McFadden

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)1 Comment
McFadden has a way with creating a twist time and again that you think you know what’s going to happen…. but you really have no idea. ~Sheila

Brooke Sullivan is still wondering if taking the job as Nurse Practitioner at the Men’s Maximum Security Prison was the right decision. Sure, it was going to pay the bills, and it is going to help to build a better life for herself and her 10 year old son….
But old memories resurface when she runs into an old friend from school. Not only do they share a past, but they also share the night that Brooke was almost killed by her boyfriend, who just so happens to be in the very prison that Brooke is now working.

Yes… I have been on a McFadden kick. This is the 3rd one this month and this one, only because I realized I had already downloaded it and you know… why not? This one may be my least favorite of the three. Brooke’s decision to work where the man who attempted to kill her as well as be in situations where they are in a room together doesn’t fit for me. Too many things we have to suspend disbelief
1) This Maximum Security Prison did not do a back ground check on Brooke’s past? Wouldn’t knowing an inmate personally and in this way be a deal breaker?
2) Brooke’s consistent naivety in trusting and making poor decisions
3) Shane was put in prison when Brooke could not even identify him – she claims several times she never saw her attacker

Throughout this whole book I felt that the author was being too predictable…. I was sure I had the answer and was just waiting to hear how it would all come together… and then…

I was McFaddened.
The way this book came together was a WHOA….. wait… WHAT???? The ending was actually pretty crazy and I had no idea.
While an impressive ending, even right up to the end Brooke was making crazy half assumptions and I just… could not.

I will most likely read this author again. At Book Club last night several of the girls had read others by her and we overall found her books to be engaging, entertaining, and average reads.

The Co Worker by Frieda McFadden

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)3 Comments

Enjoyably twisted…. just the way I like them. ~Sheila

Dawn Schiff is high level functioning autistic (IMO). She does her job well. She is beyond punctual. She has a love of turtles. She notices things others wish she wouldn’t. She struggles with friendships of any kind.

When the day comes that Dawn does not arrive at work with no phone call stating she is ill… co worker Natalie Farrell is quick to notice and find it odd. As clues begin to fall into place – a startling realization does as well… Dawn has met with foul play – and there are more than a few clues that point right at Natalie and its up to Natalie to clear her name – if she can.

This is my second book I have read by McFadden. Honestly, I read it right after my first book by her (The Teacher) which I read for book club and wanted a more well rounded idea of who McFadden is as an author, rather than basing my opinion on one book.

I believe, while the writing style is similar and I get a real sense of her style of twists and turns, I like this one a bit more than the previous one. Perhaps the subject matter was a little more user-friendly… and of course, my personal opinion. The Co-Worker was a good read with plenty of happenings and twists to keep me guessing until the end. Definitely a lighter mystery, it never felt dark or made me think too hard or struggle to keep track of the main characters.

Enjoyable? yes
Size? About perfect – on audio I like a good 7 to 11-hour commitment unless I know I am in for a real treat and then I am happy to go longer. Book size – standard.

Recommended? McFadden feels like an author everyone should give a try. I have seen a lot of positive thoughts on her books from fellow readers.

None Of This Is true by Lisa Jewell

Published on by Sheila (Book Journey)2 Comments

An adventure of twists and turns and rights and lefts… never knowing what is going to happen next – but in a good way. A very good way. ~ Sheila

Popular Podcaster, Alix Summers meets Josie Fair while out celebrating her birthday. Turns out, it is Josie’s birthday too. A few days later, the two women find each other again and Alix in intrigued by this mysterious woman who showed up with a matching birthday. Josie, who has been listening to Alix’s podcasts feels she would be a great subject to be interviewed as she has an interesting life story. Intrigues, Alix agrees – calling the podcast, “Birthday Twins” and sharing with her fans the story of how she and Josie met.

As the two women dig into the podcasts, Alix finds that not only is Josie’s retelling of her life story interesting – it is down right shocking. Married to a much older man when Josie was only 16, Alix finds herself thinking of words like – pedophile, groomer, and rapist – and truly begins to worry about Josie.

As the two women create some sort of friendship, the unthinkable happens to Josie and the only place she feels she can turn is to Alix… and Alix, dealing with her own troubles in her marriage, feels that she has no choice…. not knowing – this would be the beginning of the end and her podcast was about to be introduced to a new and darker theme. Darker than anyone seen coming.

My gosh it has been a long time since I have read Lisa Jewell and after reading (well listening to) this, I wonder what has taken me so long to return to this incredible author. The story line held me, and while at first the breaks in the narration by the podcast felt odd… the style of reading grew on me and actually ended with me thinking if was pretty brilliant to put the audio version together this way.

I actually really enjoyed this dark read and feel those who enjoy a good twisted story would find this one interesting. I use the word dark in my description as topics of child rape/neglect, as well as abuse are themed throughout the book.