{I've Been Reading} An Insidious Inherirtance

Tell Me What You Did by Carter Wilson 

Poe Webb's podcast is made up of confessions. She gives her guest fifteen minutes to talk, then questions them about what they've just revealed.  Whatever the police or her listeners will do with those revelations is out of her hands. The format has made her famous -- but now she's got a man on the other end of her internet connection claiming to have impossible information about her mother's murder. The first confession in the book had me on the edge of my seat. After that, it took a little while for me to figure out the format, but once I did I was hooked and the book held my attention until the last few chapters. I'd recommend this one if you're intrigued by the world of true crime podcasts. 

The Family Inside by Katie Garner 

Iris's husband was murdered, then she lost her house to forclosure, then she lost her job. She's about to become homeless with her eighteen-year-old daughter...then her new love interest suggests that they move in with him. And his mother. He's making repairs to her dilapidated old mansion and there's plenty of extra room. There are also plenty of other family members living there. The old house is creepy and Hugh's siblings are weird and unpleasant. And the plot is a fast paced roller coaster of crazy that just keeps speeding up and finding new ways to twist. I'm not sure how I feel about the whole thing. None of it is plausible, but it was oddly entertaining once I figured out what was actually going on.  

An Insidious Inheritance by Amelie West

This mystery, set in 1930s New York State, conjures up imagery of old black and white movies and Nancy Drew books. When Clara Dawson inherits a dilapidated inn from her estranged father it could be the solution to her problems, or just another source of debt. It was a fun read, but I found myself wishing for a little more detail (did the inn not have electricity because it was an isolated building in 1933....or because it had been shut off?) Clara is smart and self sufficient and I look forward to reading more about her in future books. 

Devil's Island by Midge Raymond and John Yunker

By far the best part of this thriller is the setting. I wish the characters had been as interesting as the wildlife. With an inexperienced guide who has already proven that she's not quite up to the job, dangerous weather, and a missing camper, I expected this to be a lot more suspenseful than it actually was. 

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