{I've Been Reading} How to Fake a Haunting

 How to Fake a Haunting by Christa Carmen

I loved everything about this book including the cover. The idea of a woman staging a fake haunting to scare her alcoholic husband out of their house intrigued me and Lainey and her best friend tackle the project with such zeal that their enthusiasm is contagious. The prologue lets you know exactly why they're sure their plan will work and by the end of the first chapter you'll know exactly why Lainey is so desperate. She quickly realizes that her friend is willing to go to extreme lengths. Things spiral quickly out of control in a wonderful nightmare of haunted house imagery and unexpected twists. 

Antiques Round-Up by Barbara Allen 

This series is near the top of my "drop everything and read the new book immediately" list. Vivian and Brandy's antics are always entertaining and this book is as wild as ever. The mother/daughter teams sets off for a city wide garage sale in Texas, seeking new inventory for their antique store. And of course they're up to their ears in trouble before they get anywhere near their destination because that's what happens to these two. The murder mystery iteself is well developed and doesn't take a backseat to the other things that are going on. It's fun and fast-paced and filled with references to previous events in the series, but it always includes multiple author's notes to let you know which book those events happened in. 

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

{I've Been Reading} A Tour to Die For

 

A Tour to Die For by Michelle Chouinard

As much as I loved the first book in the Serial Killer's Guide to San Francisco series, I might love this one a little bit more. Capri is such a great character! She's older than the protagonists in most of the mystery series I read, but doesn't dwell on the fact. She's got amazing people skills and manages to push strangers for details without making a pest of herself or doing anything morally questionable. The details of San Fransico's history are fascinating and in this book create some truly suspenseful moments.  I don't know if it quite qualifies as a cozy in the strictest sense, but if not it's awfully close. Waiting for the next book in this series is going to be HARD.

Disclosure -- The publisher provided me with an advance review copy. 

{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.