{I've Been Reading} Breathe in, Bleed Out

 Breathe in, Bleed Out by Brian McAuley

An isolated new age healing retreat provides the perfect backdrop for this fast-paced horror novel, especially when the author throws in an old legend about a murderous miner's ghost. Hannah's friends convince her that the getaway is going to be a perfect escape from the nightmares that plague her. The yoga and hot springs seem to be helping...until the grisly murders start. The author is a fan of slasher films and that's exactly what this book feels like, with more character development. It was a quick, entertaining read  and I look forward to tracking down his other titles. 

 Watching Evil Dead by Josh Malerman

I haven't read Bird Box (or even seen the movie), but I've read and enjoyed several of the author's other horror novels. I love most of the Evil Dead franchise. And I really loved the beginning of this book. The author's ideas about creativitiy and filling in gaps in your knowledge really struck a chord with me. Then, somewhere between Evil Dead 2 and the remake, it became more about smoking weed and the relationships between friends and whatever phenomenological psychology is and I wasn't nearly as interested in that. 

Please Don't Lie by Christina Baker 

When Hayley moves with her husband to a small town in the Adirondacks, she's escaping her past. He's returning to the place he grew up. They're both keeping things hidden. This is an straightforward, enjoyable domestic thriller without any really crazy twists or flashbacks or shifts between narrators. I picked it up for the setting, but I this book could have taken place in any small community in the mountains. 

Disclosure -- The publishers provided me with advance review copies.    

{I've Been Reading} Don't Go Downstairs

 The Stranger at No. 6 by Gemma Rogers 

Before moving into the house on Church Road, Molly spent time watching the family who lived there, learning their routines and calculating the odds of her living there without them noticing. It's her third attempt at "phrogging" and this time she plans on documenting the entire process for her anonymous blog.  It's risky by nature, but she's saving her money for future goals and relying on unwitting strangers for food and shelter is how she's decided to make it happen. Too bad she doesn't suspect that her perfect hosts are hiding some pretty awful secrets. This one isn't nearly as fast paced as The Night Shift and I found myself wanting to yell at the protagonist for constantly finding new ways to potentially expose herself. I never  fully warmed up to Molly, but it's an interesting read with some unexpected reveals along the way. 

Don't Go Downstairs by Jack Dane

I absolutely flew through this short thriller! It begins with a note from the property owner, assuring the couple that he's agreed to swap houses with that even if it sounds like someone is in the seaside cottage wtih them, it's just the old house settling. He wants them to enjoy their stay, to use whatever they'd like -- just not to go down into the basement (which isn't even locked.) The whole story is told from Deb's point of view as she tries to get closer to her husband of thirty years and drag her marriage out of the rut they've fallen into. Her enthusiasm for her plan is contagious and I found myself immediately liking her. This was a quick, entertaining read, perfect for an afternoon on the couch. 

Laying Down the Latte by Ellie Alexander 

I can see the long running Bakeshop Mysteries becoming one of my favorite series. This is the twenty-second book and I've only read a couple of others, but I enjoy the author's writing style and the great way she immerses the reader in the varied settings. This time it's Costa Rica, where Jules, her husband, and their favorite barista have travelled to visit an old friend and research possibilities for their coffee shop. There's tension on the coffee farm even before the tragic death occurs, which means there are plenty of potential suspects. I enjoyed the mystery and the way that Jules stays in contact with her friends and employees back home so none of my favorite characters were totally left out of the story. 

Disclosure -- The publishers provided me with advance review copies. 

{I've Been Reading} How Bad Things Can Get

 How Bad Things Can Get by Darcy Coates 

What happens when the internet's biggest influencer hosts a festival on a private island with a dark past? The guest list is filled with internet personalities and hundreds of guests who won their tickets, all excited to drink and party in the sun and sand. Their devotion to their host could almost be compared to a cult, at least that's what Ruth sees and with her history she's the one who would know. Their host promises a spectacle and that's what he delivers, but it's gory and blood soaked and what happened on the island before pales in comparison. I happily lost myself in this fast-paced wild ride of a book. 

{I've Been Reading} House of Monstrous Women

 House of Monstrous Women by Daphne Fama 

Josephine has been invited by her dearest childhood friend to the Ranoco house where they will play a game. The prize, if she manages to win, is her heart's desire. The house itself is mazelike, with color coded hallways and ominously decorated walls. Veiled servants lurk silently in corners and corridors. The game is one they played in the forest as children, with much higher, darker stakes. Because the book is set in the Phillipines in 1986, I didn't have a clear picture of the setting and had only the vaguest understanding of the politics that play a major part in Josephine's life. (I knew a bit about the folklore because one of my kids explained it to me a few months back.) It's a dark, fascinating horror story that I thoroughly enjoyed.  

Red Runs the Witch's Thread by Victoria Williamson

Set in seventeenth century Scotland, this short horror novel is drenched in vivid imagery. Christian Shaw strives to produce the whitest threads possible and is unable to escape the fragmented memories of what she did as a child. The story is fascinating and probably not for the squeamish since it absolutely wallows in the blood and fear and misery associated with menstruation and childbirth. I didn't realize until the author's note at the end that Christian and her company -- and the witches who were burned after her accusations -- were real.  

The Witch's Orchard by Archer Sullivan

Three little girls were abducted, creepy apple head dolls left in their places. Ten years later, the crimes haven't been solved and PI Annie Gore is hired by a member of one girl's family to investigate. I liked Annie and the way she viewed her world. I also liked the complex web of relationships the author developed between the townspeople. What threw me were the dolls. It's repeated over and over that they're strictly an Appalachian thing...but my great-grandma was making them here in the Pacific Northwest. I'm probably overthinking that.  

Last One Out by Steph Nelson

This thriller got off to such a strong start that I was immediately hooked. Three teenagers hike to an isolated hotspring late at night, never dreaming that a killer lurks behind the rocks. Two bodies are discovered the following morning. As for Chloe....well, there's no trace of her until she walks into her own memorial twenty-five years later. After those first few chapters, things started to bog down. The plot moves between Chloe in the past and her cousin in the present day.  The trigger warnings before the book give away significant plot elements, making me think that there has to be a better way to provide the information to readers who want to be forewarned without spoilers for those of us who are fine taking our chances. 

The Mango Murders by Lucy Burdette 

Hayley Snow is literally plunged into this mystery when the boat she's attending a cocktail party on explodes, sending everyone into the ocean. Once the authorities determine how the boat waas destroyed, the next question is why? And who did it? Before finally arriving at the right answers, Hayley explores a ton of different possibilities. This is only the second book in the series I've read, so I know I'm missing more than a dozen book's worth of back story. I enjoyed the setting, and the relationship between Hayley and her friends and family, but I found the random quotes at the beginning of each chapter distracting. 

Disclosure -- The publishers provided me with advance review copies.