{I've Been Reading} Morsel

Morsel by Carter Keane 

This is a wild ride of a horror novel.  Along with her dog, Lou sets off to do an appraisal on a remote property. Take some pictures, write a report, and get a desperately needed paycheck. It should be straightforward, but there's something in the woods and her truck won't start. Fast paced and brutal, this book really pulls you into Lou's head and lets you know what she's feeling. You'll definitely worry about the dog. 

You Did Nothing Wrong by CG Drews

It opens with a mother and child playing together in a quiet nursery filled with vintage toys, but that perfect bit of domestic tranquility is brief. Elodie has carved out little bubbles of peace in the house her new husband is rennovating. The rest of the old mansion is filled with dangers -- open holes in the walls, mold, lead, splintered wood, power tools... Bren would never hurt her son, she knows that, but the house is still unsafe. She's watchful and cautious, but her careful facade is slipping bit by bit even before she starts hearing things in the house. This book is dark and heart wrenching and a brutal ride. If you're a reader who relies on trigger warnings, I strongly suggest you look them up before getting yourself into this one.  

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

{I've Been Reading} What We Did to Survive

 What We Did to Survive by Megan Lally 

The title and cover art of this one grabbed me and the plot delivered everything that the exterior of the book promised. On the last day of their vacation in Mexico, best friends Hannah and Emma join Emma's new fling on a chartered sailboat with Emma's older brother along to keep an eye on them. They're looking forward to a few last hours in the sun and will be back at the resort packing their bags long beforfe the predicted storms hit the area. The first few chapters effectively set the scene and, once things start to go wrong, the plot moves quickly. One plot element jumped out to me as glaringly predictable...or maybe there was supposed to be a sense of dread knowing what was coming. I can't quite decide. 

The Agony of Her by Cassandra L. Thompson

Haunted houses and folk horror are a great combination. This one has parallel plots set in 1910 and 1981. It's not the nostalgic, neon soaked 80s that so many books are exploring lately, it's the isolated from your neighbors by lack of a cell phone version. Lori Greene has inherited Haite Hill, a dilapidated gothic mansion that sits above a former mill town. Having her two stepdaughters with her while she plans the renovations is less than ideal, but her ex-husband dropped them off with no notice and she's making the best of things. In the earlier timeline, Ada Haite is banished to the house with her own stepdaughters. The book is creepy and atmospheric and held my interest as both women dealt with the same evil in different timelines. 

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

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

 A Place to Die For by A. M. Strong and Sonya Sargent

Jordan and Sam had the rug pulled out from under them just as they expected to sign the papers and buy their own home. Then, seemily out of nowhere, they're invited to buy a condo at an exclusive luxury building. The other residents are welcoming and their unit comes already filled with luxurious furniture that they'd never have the budget for. Never mind that dark stain under the carpet in the foyer, which must be paint. Those distressing sounds she hears echo through the hallways must be Jordan's imagination. As readers, we all know it's too good to be true, but Jordan and Sam are oblivious. I was fine with the slow burn, but problems keep repeating themselves a few too many times without the characters starting to question whether something else is really going on.  I loved the setup, but quickly lost patience with the characters and found the eventual reveal to be disappointing. 

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

{I've Been Reading} Strange Buildings

 

Strange Buildings by Uketsu

After the publication of Strange Houses, the author received reports of even more confusing floorplans and houses with troubling histories. This new book contains the details of eleven different properties, all of them somehow connected. Once those stories have been told, the remember of the book consists of the author and his architect friend talking through the mysteries to find the solution. It's definitely an entertaining read and I could see myself reading it again to see if I can catch clues that I missed the first time around. The whole thing is made up of interviews and floorplans and there's a lot of repetition. What's lurking behind all of these missing rooms and hidden doors is more perplexing than shocking.

A Ghastly Catastrophe by Deanna Raybourn 

The latest Veronica Speedwell mystery opens with a note from the author, Veronica, accusing Mr. Stoker of somehow basing the incidents described in his popular new book on her own experiences. That was all it took to hook me! A body has been found in a carriage near Highgate Cemetery, drained of blood, odd marks on its neck. Their investigation leads to a shadowy secret society and strange rituals. It's all wonderfully creepy and atmospheric and even though this one felt a little less wonderful than the previous books in the series, I adored it.  

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