{I've Been Reading} Please See Us

 

Please See Us by Caitlin Mullen

Two dead girls lie in the marsh, not far from the Atlantic City boardwalk. A teenage psychic begins having disturbing visions. Please See Us is bleak and atmospheric and the plot slips between quite a few different characters. (It wasn't until the end of the book that I finally figured out I had thought that two different women were actually the same person and by that point, I wasn't about to go back and re-read it to get things straight.) The pace is slow, but the atmosphere kept me reading until it started to become clear how the different  characters all fit into the plot. 

 

Disclosure -- The publisher provided me with an advance review copy. This post contains affiliate links. 

{I've Been Reading} A Plus One For Murder

A Plus One for Murder by Laura Bradford 

The first book in the Friend for Hire mystery series is fast paced and fun. Her work as a travel planner has slowed to nothing and Emma Westlake is trying to find new sources of income when a friend suggests that she offer herself as a paid companion. It seems to be going great --until one of her clients drops dead at open mic night halfway through his poem. He'd already warned her that four of the audience members wanted him dead and because Emma left the venue before the police showed up to investigate, she's looking a little guilty herself. Luckily two of her clients are extremely enthusiastic about helping her figure things out. I loved this one and can't wait to spend more time with Emma and her quirky clients.

Disclosure -- The publisher sent me an advance review copy. This post contains affiliate links. 

{I've Been Reading} The Life She Wants

 

The Life She Wants by Mel Sherratt 

Most of the book alternates between two women. Juliette has just moved into a new home and is grieving the death of her young daughter. Her husband is still working in the city so she's alone for most of the  week. Sarah has lived with her own husband in the house next door for years and is concerned about the impact new neighbors will have on their life, especially after Juliette asks about the little girl she saw in their garden.  

 

I didn't love this one. I'm not sure if I wasn't paying close enough attention or if I was actually  supposed to confuse the first person narrators in some chapters. The book jumps back and forth in time and it wasn't immediately obvious that certain events didn't make sense compared to what was happening in the present day. 

Disclosure -- The publisher provided me with an advance review copy. This post contains affiliate links.