As The Wicked Watch by: Tamron Hall

Genre: Mystery/Crime 

Published: October 26, 2021 by: William Morrow 

Pages: 384 

Rating: 3.5/5 stars 

Jordan Manning is a star reporter in Chicago, and she continues to be a voice for the voiceless. After she covers a string of murders of young Black girls, Jordan becomes frustrated with how soon these girls are forgotten. When Masey James, a 15-year old girl is murdered, Jordan knows that she can turn her anger into action, and she seeks to use her reporting skills to solve the case. She quickly gains contacts within Masey's inner circles. But, solving a crime will prove dangerous, especially when the killer may be closer then she believes. 

I've never really watched Tamron Hall on tv, as she's not as popular in Canada as she is in the States. However, the name recognition definitely did make me intrigued to pick up this book, as a reporter writing about a reporter interested me. I knew that Hall would definitely use her skills to produce a factually accurate piece, especially one that provides the reader with an inside look at how newsrooms work. This book didn't disappoint, though there were some issues with it that I couldn't shake. So, let's get into it: 

First things first, I really appreciated Hall's sensitivity when writing a crime novel. As true crime becomes such an oversaturated market, full of insensitive portrayals of serial killers and disrespecting victims, I am always weary of reading crime books. Despite this book being fictional, I knew it would play off of the tropes of true crime. However, Hall handles the story with as much respect as possible, as these victims mirror the lives of real-life victims. Hall does well to show Manning's anger with the current justice system and how she seeks to correct it. I also appreciated how Manning slowly begins to learn how to deal with victim's families, and she seeks to teach others, especially the younger interns in her newsroom, how they too can be respectful towards grieving families. At no point did I feel like this book was just profiting off of people's interest in crime content, and I think Hall's expertise in the subject of news reporting really came through in that aspect. 

I also think that each character in this book was well-written. Of course, we hear everything from Jordan's point of view, but I actually liked learning about Masey's family the most. Her mother, in particular, is a frightened, obviously very shaken individual, who walks a fine line between wanting to fight for justice for her daughter but also wanting to be at peace. Jordan's interactions with Masey's mother were the most interesting to me, as I think Hall accurately portrayed a grieving mother who has to make some tough decisions, and whose opinions change based on new information she is given. Hall did a good job at showing how victim's families go through a range of emotions and opinions during an investigation, and that their grief is not a one and done process. 

I think Jordan was a strong character, and I didn't mind at all reading from her point of view. The problem I had with her, however, is not necessarily a reflection on her character, but how Hall writes about the investigative system as a whole. Manning is given free-reign to interview suspects, investigate neighbours, and head into crime scenes with not so much backlash at all. In real life, I can't imagine that a reporter would be allowed to be as involved in an active investigation as she was, as she was not a detective and yet knew more than the detectives did. It just didn't strike me as realistic that Jordan had as much freedom as she did and didn't experience any repercussions for clearly crossing boundaries in an investigation. In real life, I would imagine that detectives and police would be quite secretive towards reporters, and it seemed in this text that everything was an open book. 

I also found the ending to be slightly underwhelming. As I discussed, I really loved Masey's mother's character in this book. However, by the end of the book, once the crime is solved, we do not get to see her reaction to the events that unfolded. She just kinda fades into the background as an unanswered question, while Jordan experiences relief that the crime is solved. For someone who played such a big part in the ongoing build up in the book, to have her not be at the end to see the crime be solved really confused me. I wanted to know her reaction, and I was left guessing. 

Overall, this book left me conflicted. It wasn't awful, and had some strong points. But, I didn't leave it feeling fully fulfilled by the ending, and some things just struck me as unrealistic despite Hall being a reporter. I wouldn't not recommend it to people, but I also think that the mixed reviews are valid. 

Have you read As the Wicked Watch? What did you think? 

Emily @ Paperback Princess

Four Aunties and a Wedding (Aunties #2) by: Jesse Q. Sutanto

Genre: Contemporary, Mystery 

Published: March 29, 2022 by: Berkley Books 

Pages: 293 

Rating: 4/5 stars 

Meddy Chan is engaged to her handsome college sweetheart Nathan, and wedding plans are in full swing. Of course, Meddy's meddling aunties and her doting mother have made their opinions on the planning known, especially since Meddy doesn't want the aunties' wedding catering business to cater the wedding, but instead have the aunties just enjoy the day as guests. The aunties propose that Meddy hire another wedding catering company run by a Chinese-Indonesian family just like themselves, and Meddy is immediately charmed by the company's photographer, Staphanie, who reminds Meddy of herself. However, things quickly turn devious when Meddy learns that Staphanie and her family are connected to the mafia, and they intend to use Meddy's wedding day to get some revenge. Soon, the aunties and Meddy become tangled into another criminal mess, all while Meddy tries to keep her big day, and her family, under protection. 

This is the second book in the Aunties series, the first one being Dial A for Aunties, which I absolutely loved. I adored the quirky humour of the book and the fact that Sutanto was able to weave a criminal mystery into a hilarious story of immigrant aunties and their antics. I knew I had to give the second book a try. I was delighted by the setting of a wedding, as I just love wedding-centred books, and the charm from the first book remains. I definitely think this book falls into the category of not outdoing the original, but overall, I found it to be a satisfying accompaniment. 

Like I mentioned before, I thought the setting of this book was fabulous. I thought that the aunties' occupations as wedding vendors in the first book made for a very entertaining story, as wedding settings can prove to be full of chaos, especially when opinionated family members are involved. But this time, the wedding that the aunties are preparing for is Meddy's, and we got to see how each aunty truly wanted Meddy to have the best day ever, even if sometimes their intentions could have been a bit overbearing. Sutanto makes it clear that although the aunties are meant to be a bit embarrassing and quirky, they truly do mean well, and the family dynamics of this book are meant to highlight the eccentrics of aunties in a lot of Asian families, as opposed to readers simply making fun of the aunties. I appreciate the aunties because they remind me a lot of the aunties on my Pakistani side: very much into gossip, heavily opinionated, and a little too obsessed with British culture. Still, I think whether you can relate your aunties to these aunties or not, you will find this story to be deeply joyous. 

I enjoyed getting to learn a bit more about Nathan in this book. We meet him in the first book as an accomplished businessman who has a heart of gold. Nathan and Meddy have such a sweet relationship, and he treats her aunties with so much respect. While the aunties try a little too hard to win over Nathan's British family, he never once disrespects them or pokes fun, he truly sees how much they care about Meddy and that's all that matters to him. I loved Meddy's and Nathan's positive relationship and seeing it flourish in this book was so awesome to read. 

I thought the mafia plot to this book was interesting. Meddy and Staphanie start by really connecting due to their family's similarities, and at first you think that a unique friendship is forming. Of course, very quickly it is revealed that Staphanie's family are into some shady business, and I thought the mystery plot of this book was handled with intense organization and well development, so that no plot holes were left. While it's hard to believe how the aunties could get into such an absurd situation again, part of the charm of this series is the absurdity of it all. It's supposed to be over the top, and I can appreciate that. 

I've read a lot of reviews of people saying that while they enjoyed this book, they didn't feel as wowed by it because the personalities of the aunties is already known at this point. And I could definitely agree. Since I already know the aunties are opinionated and eccentric, it was a bit more difficult to be surprised or engaged with their antics as I was in the first book. I don't know if Sutanto will ever be able to top the entertaining aspect of getting to know the aunties for the first time. While I will definitely read the third book, I wonder if eventually, the personalities of the aunties will wear off simply because I already expect what they're going to do. I suppose I'll have to wait and see. Still, if you have yet to explore the world of Meddy and her aunties, please do so! You won't be disappointed. 

Have you read Four Aunties and a Wedding? What did you think? 

Emily @ Paperback Princess

Winter Counts by: David Heska Wanbli Weiden

 Genre: Mystery, Thriller 

Published: August 25, 2020 by: Ecco 

Pages: 336 

Rating: 5/5 stars 

CW: drug use, heroin overdose, discussion of alcohol addiction, discussion of violence against children, gun violence, blood 

Virgil Wounded Horse lives on Rosebud Indian Reservation with his nephew Nathan, who he adopted after his sister died. After struggling with alcoholism, Virgil is now completely sober, and dedicates his life to being a vigilante on the reservation. When the police or tribal council fail to deliver justice, Virgil steps in to set things right. However, when drugs make their way onto the reservation, Virgil faces a new kind of threat, as the drugs have found Nathan, the boy who Virgil has dedicated his new life to protect. Together with his ex-girlfriend Marie, Virgil travels around the reservation and beyond to find the source of the drugs and shut it down, but this task will prove dangerous as Virgil sinks deeper into the investigation. 

I am very picky with thrillers. Sometimes thrillers do not grip me like they should, and the crimes and aftermath end up going way over my head. Admittedly, sometimes I find thrillers extremely boring. So, I wasn't sure what to expect when reading this book. I was excited for the Indigenous representation, specifically Lakota representation, as I don't read many books that centre around the Lakota nation. David Heska Wanbli Weiden is a member of the Lakota nation (thanks Cee @ Dora Reads for pointing this out!), so a big plus for the novel is the #OwnVoices representation. I was immediately engrossed into the story, and I thought that David Heska Wanbli Weiden did a fantastic job at building up the threat and investigation, while also weaving through the story topics of Lakota identity, customs, and traditions. 

Virgil is an incredibly complex character. He was previously addicted to alcohol, but now he is sober and his only mission is to protect his nephew Nathan, as well as anybody on the reservation who needs someone to advocate for them. While Virgil's methods of resolution may be unorthodox, his role as vigilante plays such an important part in the building up of the crime and Virgil's personal connection to it. Not only do the drugs affect Virgil because Nathan is involved, but he also has a strong care for children and teens, and it is evident that he pushes hard to solve this crime because he wants better futures for the kids on the reservation than perhaps the early adult years that he had. I rarely ever read vigilante characters, but I found myself rooting for Virgil every step of the way and I could completely understand that his heart was in the right place. 

I also really loved Virgil's ex-girlfriend, Marie Short Bear. Marie was fascinating because she is somewhat caught in between worlds. She is dedicated to the reservation and making the lives of the people on it better, despite them not always being supportive of her. However, she also has the opportunity to leave the reservation and go to medical school, and she struggles with making the decision to leave, or staying and finishing the work that she started. Marie was empathetic, intelligent, and a great foil to Virgil's character. I thought that the two complimented each other very well. While Virgil likes to seek reparations using physical force, Marie prefers to use her mind to come up with a solution. Both methods work for each character, and the book doesn't try to tell the reader why Marie is a better character than Virgil or vice versa. Marie teaches Virgil to be more patient, and Virgil teaches Marie that there are many causes worth fighting for. They were a fantastic pairing, and their dynamic was great to see. 

The story was well-balanced, with a great mix of information surrounding the crime, climatic action, and falling action/resolutions. Throughout the story we see Virgil reconciling with his Lakota identity, something that he hasn't always embraced, and there was also interesting information about Lakota customs for readers who may be unfamiliar. I cannot recommend this book enough if you are into thrillers, as I think it offers something different into the thriller genre, with its diverse cast of characters and integration of the Lakota nation from a Lakota author.   

Have you read Winter Counts? What did you think? 

Emily @ Paperback Princess

When No One is Watching by: Alyssa Cole

 Genre: Fiction, Thriller

Published: September 1, 2020 by: William Morrow Paperbacks 

Pages: 352 

Rating: 5/5 stars 

CW: anti-Black racism; including physical violence against Black people and body gore 

Sydney lives in Brooklyn, NY, in a tight-knit neighbourhood that is slowly beginning to disappear before her eyes. When gentrification takes hold and new expensive condos are being put up, Sydney attempts to learn more about the city she thought she knew by taking part in a walking tour. On the tour she meets Theo, who has just moved in to the neighbourhood with his pretentious and racist girlfriend. When Sydney's neighbours start disappearing under mysterious circumstances, her and Theo team up to get to the bottom of what's really happening to this once vibrant street. However, what they uncover will be more terrifying than they ever imagined. 

I'm not an avid reader of thrillers, however when I do read them, I'm usually blown away. I saw this book being hyped up and I knew I had to give it a go. What I got was a shocking, terrifying and sadly accurate exploration of the horrors of gentrification and anti-Black racism. I've seen this book being compared to the likes of the movie "Get Out," but it truly stands on its own as a fantastic work of fiction that mirrors what life is like for many people of colour who live in cities. 

I've read some reviews that critiqued the pacing of this book, but I personally thought that the pacing was spot-on. I loved how fast-moving the story was, because it kept me engaged throughout the entire book. I finished this book rather quickly because I always wanted to know what happened next, and what Sydney would uncover. Every chapter was like a new, haunting discovery for Sydney, and I desperately wanted to know if she could make things right. This made for a very quick read. 

I loved the dynamics that each of the characters brought to the story. Sydney was strong, confident and fiercely loyal to her community, which was fabulous to see. When faced with danger, she does not cower, she takes the perpetuator head-on. She is a constant reminder of the resilience of POC who will never back down when faced with white supremacy. 

Theo was also a fascinating character, as we see throughout the book how he tries to work through his own privilege as a white man and attempt to keep his girlfriend in check. Theo is critical of his girlfriend throughout the entire book, and it's quickly made apparent that their relationship is extremely flawed. While Theo's girlfriend drifts more apart from him, Theo grows closer to Sydney and it was great to see how his determination to make things right in his new community flourished as well. 

This book brings the genre of a mystery/thriller into the real world. There are no supernatural elements, nothing that you could debate whether or not it could be real. The villains in this story are villains that we hear about in the news, and sadly, the victims are as well. There is no denying that this book is a work of horror because the events are scary, but they also shine a light on what we can do in the real world to ensure that these horrors can be stopped. Cole was able to blend fact and fiction in a way that was unique, and important. I can only hope that more of these thriller novels that take on real-life issues are able to inspire people to take on the horrors of the modern world we live in. 

Overall, it's apparent that I loved this book. I thought it was a fresh take on the thriller genre, full of diverse characters and a main character who wants justice for her community. I will definitely be on the lookout for more by this author and more thrillers by POC. 

Have you read When No One is Watching? What did you think? 

Emily @ Paperback Princess

The Secret History by: Donna Tartt

 Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Dark Academia 

Published: April 13, 2004 by: Vintage 

Pages: 559 

Rating: 1/5 stars 

TW: Murder, Blood and Gore, Torture, Sexual Assault, Incest, Addiction, Suicide, Panic Attacks 

*As you can see, this book has its fair share of disturbing content, and for that reason, my review will contain a discussion of some of these topics that may be triggering to some readers. 

Richard Papen has made his way into the elite Hampden College in Vermont, in order to study Ancient Greek. He is soon intrigued by one of the Classics professors, Julian Marrow, who keeps his enrollment strictly to a small group of students: Twins Charles and Camilla, Francis Abernathy, Henry Winter, and Edmund "Bunny" Corcoran, who is an extremely wealthy bigot. Richard is able to make his way into this mysterious group, but soon begins to regret that decision after the group becomes entangled in a murder that they have all sworn to keep quiet about. 

*Warning: rant review ahead. If you are looking for a professionally written review that is free of hyperboles, then this review is not for you. Also, I just want to say that I know this book is super popular and a staple of the dark academia genre, and this post is not meant to hate on anyone who loved this book or who loves dark academia. We all have different book tastes, and that's ok. Everyone's opinion is valid. However, I do have issues with this genre that I have been pondering for a long time, and I want to discuss them.

It's been a long while since I've written a rant review, so *cracks knuckles,* here we go. This book incited a rage in me that I could not describe. This book began and ended my relationship with dark academia. This book ruined Greek Mythology for me. (Ok, that last part is an extreme stretch. Nothing can ruin my love for Greek Mythology. But, I'll stick to the Percy Jackson series). I did not like this book. It had no redeeming qualities. Let's talk about why. 

I do not think the dark academia genre is for me. And this is no hate towards people who like it, but I just do not think I would be able to tolerate reading another book about privileged white kids who commit heinous acts of violence without any repercussions. And I'm supposed to like these characters? Nope, no thank you. Richard was a naive idiot. Charles and Camilla were creepy. I had some sympathy for Camilla, but her actions were still unforgivable. Francis was complacent. And don't get me started on Bunny. I did not grieve once for that arrogant asshole. *spoiler hidden* This is such a character driven novel, so you'd think that to enjoy it, you'd have to enjoy reading about the characters. But these characters were the absolute worst, and I did not like them one bit. 

The plot is also a whole bunch of nothingness. This novel was so incredibly wordy, and for no reason whatsoever. Even though this book has two murders in it, it didn't feel like this novel had any concept of rising action, climax, and falling action. It was all over the place, disorganized, with most of the scenes just being comprised of a bunch of unhealthy behaviours. I couldn't see why these scenes would be appealing to read. 

This book was also way too triggering for me. It deals with some seriously dark things. But it does not deal with these subjects in a sensitive way. Characters receive no consequences for their actions, and extremely dark issues are left unresolved and brushed under the rug. Why did the author have to put in so many gruesome, disturbing moments, but not resolve them? Was this just to leave your readers disturbed? Well, it succeeded. 

I couldn't deal with how pretentious this book was. All of these characters seemed to speak down onto me. This book almost creates the idea that these elite students are better than everyone else, which is certainly not the case because they all suck. I just think if you're going to write dark academia, you have to address the ways in which the post-secondary system is inherently elitist, racist, and pretentious. You have to discuss how the post-secondary system fails marginalized students. This book did none of that, although it did certainly give us some elitist, racist and pretentious characters. 

I was excited for this book because I love Greek mythology novels. I will usually love anything that makes reference to mythology. But this book takes Greek mythology and turns it into this elite concept that is only accessible to the privileged few. And this upset me, because mythology is for everyone, and should be accessible to everyone! I just think this was not the mythology book I was looking for, and I will be sticking to what I know from now on. 

Yeah, so I hated this. It left me stressed out and angry. I totally get why it has received a lot of praise, and this is not hate towards anybody who loves dark academia and Tartt's novels. But, I hope that the few of you who don't like dark academia like me, don't feel afraid to share your unpopular opinions. Some books just aren't for everyone, and that's ok! 

Have you read The Secret History? What did you think? 

Emily @ Paperback Princess

E

Two Can Keep a Secret by: Karen M. McManus

Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Mystery, Thriller
Published: January 8, 2019 by: Delacorte Press
Pages: 329
Rating: 4/5 stars
Content warnings: murder, kidnapping, predatory behaviour

When Ellery and her twin brother Ezra are forced to move into the sleepy town of Echo-Ridge, Ellery is less than enthused. However, she is a murder mystery enthusiast, and she takes this opportunity to investigate the mysterious disappearance of her aunt who lived in Echo Ridge years prior. Soon she befriends Malcolm, a shy kid whose brother has been suspected of the murder of one of the town's most beloved girls. As more girls start disappearing from the town and ominous messages are being painted on walls, Ellery and Malcolm seek to reveal some of the townspeople's shady secrets.

This book is a YA murder-mystery enthusiast's dream. It is creepy, complex, and there are so many different characters from varying backgrounds, that at some point you wonder if a murderer even exists. I didn't expect to enjoy this book as much as I did. However, I did have some issues with it.

First of all, I think this book would be perfect to read in the fall. It takes place in a very stereotypical creepy small town, where almost everyone has got secrets. Not to mention that the book starts off in the fall, so there are definitely a lot of Halloween vibes. If you're into spooky things to kick off the fall season, this book is definitely for you. I can always appreciate this setting, so this was definitely a plus for me as well.

I really enjoyed the characters of this book. Ellery was super strong and intelligent, and Malcolm was also quite lovable. He was definitely everything I look for in a male protagonist. Nerdy, shy, and also very respectful. I hate it when the main male protagonist is super condescending to the female protagonist. Malcolm really let Ellery do her own thing and take charge, and it was awesome to see.

I did find myself wanting a bit more from some of the characters. Ellery's brother Ezra was a super funny queer guy, and I would have loved for him to have been more centered in the story. Being a twin myself, I also quite enjoy reading twin dynamics in books, so I would have loved more of that from this book.

I did not suspect who the murderer was at all. So that was a big shock, and the whole story really was brought together neatly. That being said, the ending was one big content warning for me. Without spoiling, there is a lot of adult predatory behaviour at the end of the novel, stuff that made me super uncomfortable. I think this book could have done with a content warning at the beginning, so it wouldn't shock people too much. It definitely put a damper on the big reveal for me.

I think this book goes for the shock value. Did I enjoy it? Yes. I don't read many YA thrillers anymore, and I think this book did the genre justice. I will also say that the final lines of the book are super creepy and really well crafted, so that is definitely something to look forward to. I can see people who love this genre really loving this book. But, approach with caution please, especially if you are going through any kind of trauma. I'm in a stage where I really have to be careful with the media I consume, so this might have been a little tough to get through.

Have you read Two Can Keep a Secret? What did you think?

Emily @ Paperback Princess

The Secret of the Old Clock (Nancy Drew #1) by: Carolyn Keene

Genre: Children's Fiction, Mystery
Published: September 1, 1991 by: Applewood Books
Pages: 210
Rating: 4/5 stars

Nancy is the daughter of Carson Drew, a famed lawyer in town. When Nancy learns that the old Josiah Crowley has died, and left his fortune to the greedy Topham family, Nancy is compelled to help the number of people who really needed the money, and who were promised the money from Crowley. Nancy discovers that Josiah's true will was left hidden in an old clock, and she uses her sleuthing skills to try and uncover the clock, and help those who are in need of her help.

I had to read this book for my children's literature class, and I thought that I wouldn't find it to be anything special. However, I was pleasantly surprised! This book was quick, easy to get through, and reminded me of the detective books I used to read when I was younger. I can definitely see myself reading more from this series.

I really enjoy the tone of old-timey books like these. They're just so wholesome and cute. They remind me of classic movies by the way these people talk. There's something that is kind of endearing about it all. I can't say you would go for this book if you're looking for some diversity, as Nancy is the epitome of white privilege, but I guess she really did help those who are less fortunate.

These old detective children's books can often be the cure for my anxiety. I used to be a huge fan of the Famous Five series, and this book took me way back to the nostalgia I felt through that series. These books are just easy reads, not heavy in subject matter at all, and always end happily. If you really need to be exposed to some light-hearted entertainment, what's not to love?

Have you read Nancy Drew? What did you think?

Emily @ Paperback Princess

One of Us is Lying by: Karen M. McManus

Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Mystery
Published: May 30, 2017 by: Delacorte Press
Pages: 361
Rating: 5/5 stars

Five students went into detention at Bayview High, only four walked out. Bronwyn is the brain, destined for greater things. Cooper is the jock, a southern sweetheart who is just trying to make it in baseball. Then there's Addy, the beauty queen, and Nate, the criminal. Finally, Simon, the outcast who runs a gossip website solely used to embarrass the students at Bayview. When Simon is dead by the end of detention, all fingers point to somebody who was in the room with him. All four of these students have secrets, and the question is, how much are they willing to reveal?

I literally finished this book in less than 12 hours. It is so thrilling to find something so incredibly fast-paced that hooks you in straight away!! I could not put this down and I thought that the breakfast club theme made it even better.

I fell in love with all of the characters. Nate was by far my favourite and I really felt so bad for him but loved how sweet he was inside. He was your perfect example of a bad boy who is just so damn lovable. I also loved Cooper and enjoyed his storyline the most as well. I think there was so much depth to each of the characters.

The plot was off the charts amazing! Every chapter had a twist and I did not see the ending coming. I thought that everything came full circle in the end and it was overall a really well-thought out novel.

Have you read One of Us is Lying? What did you think?

Emily @ Paperback Princess

Five Little Pigs by: Agatha Christie

Genre: Mystery
Published: December 15, 1985 by: Berkley
Pages: 224
Rating: 3/5 stars

Everyone knew that Caroline Crale had poisoned and killed her husband, a brilliant painter named Amyas. Now sixteen years after she was convicted and died in prison, Caroline's daughter seeks Hercule Poirot to reopen the case, after a letter from her mother before she died insists that she was innocent. Poirot interviews the group of people who were last around the Crale's before the incident, and with his knowledge of human psychology, Poirot finds himself caught into a web of truth and lie.

This was only the second Christie book I have read and I was extremely excited for it. I find her books clever, easy to get through, and they always leave me feeling shocked. While this one did not live up to the hype I had built up in my head, it definitely was cleverly thought out.

I wasn't as impressed as I had hoped to be while reading this. I found the case really confusing and too complicated for my liking, and I lost track a lot while reading. I don't think that this book captured my attention as well as The Mousetrap did, and I found myself with just a lot of questions after I finished.

I get Christie's intentions, and I definitely think that this case was extremely complex and well planned, but it just didn't click enough for me. That being said, I am definitely looking to read more of her novels as the endings always surprise me.

Have you read Five Little Pigs? What did you think?

Emily @ Paperback Princess

The Mousetrap by: Agatha Christie

Genre: Play, Mystery
Published: 1952
Pages: 70
Rating: 5/5 stars

In Christie's classic story that has turned into the world's longest running play, a group of strangers are snowed in a historical mansion while a detective investigates which one of them is connected to a mysterious murder that happened earlier in the day.

I had to read this play for my horror and mystery lit class, and I was really into it! It was the first Christie play I had ever read, so I was incredibly impressed by her plot twists, her characters, and the way she really plays up the suspense.

I love the idea that the ending to this book is a sworn secret. When people see the play, they are told not to reveal who the killer is to the public, so everyone gets to experience it for themselves. I kept guessing and guessing as the story went on, but I never knew until the very end, and I was really shocked when I found out! Christie has such talent in making everything come full circle in the end.

Christie also creates amazing characters. Each one has such detailed, specific traits that could make any one of them the suspect, which makes the guessing game even harder. Every character was well-rounded and three-dimensional, and I loved every one of them.

I don't think this will be my last Agatha Christie play I read. I don't get into mystery all that often, so when I do, I am often left so amazed by the author's ability to deter you from the actual suspect. Christie is a classic author of mystery and she definitely is the best at it, so I think I will be steering my direction into her books in the future.

Have you read The Mousetrap? What did you think?

Emily @ Paperback Princess

A Study in Charlotte by: Britney Cavallaro

Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Mystery
Published: March 1, 2016 by: Katherine Tegan Books
Pages: 321
Rating: 2/5 stars

Jamie Watson does not want to be at the prestigious Sherrington prep school, and he most certainly does not want to associate himself with Charlotte Holmes, also known as Sherlock Holmes' great-great-great granddaughter. When a fellow student is killed and Watson and Holmes are framed, Watson must join forces with the cunning girl he clashed with so that she can clear their names, and protect them from any danger that may be lurking.

All I can say about this book is: meh? Sherlock has never really interested me, but I thought a YA retelling with a female Holmes would be a lot more to my taste. I can say that this book still left me underwhelmed, and quite unattached. It seemed like I was reading the words, but not comprehending the story whatsoever.

I will say that I liked the characters in this book. I thought Holmes was a great protagonist, cunning an intelligent, and Watson was witty and adorable. I enjoyed their banter and thought it was a great addition to the otherwise quite boring plot.

I guess I wanted more action from this book? There was some, obviously it is a mystery, but nothing really got the book going for me and made me want to keep flipping. In the simplest of terms, I was bored from beginning to end and honestly didn't feel like I grasped any of the story. If you asked me to recite the plot back to you, I don't think I could. I didn't retain much from this.

Overall, if you liked Sherlock Holmes maybe you'd enjoy this more than I did. I think it's more suited towards hardcore mystery lovers, and people who have read Holmes before. For me, it missed the mark.

Have you read A Study in Charlotte? What did you think?

Emily @ Paperback Princess

Kitty Hawk and the Curse of the Yukon Gold by: Iain Reading

Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Mystery, Adventure
Published: November 30, 2012 by: Amazon Digital Services
Pages: 336
Rating: 3/5 stars

*Synopsis taken from Goodreads

After leaving her home in the western Canadian fishing village of Tofino to spend the summer in Alaska studying humpback whales, Kitty finds herself caught up in an unforgettable adventure involving stolen gold, devious criminals, ghostly shipwrecks, and bone-chilling curses. Kitty's adventure begins with the lingering mystery of a sunken ship called the Clara Nevada and as the plot continues to unfold this spirited story will have armchair explorers and amateur detectives alike anxiously following every twist and turn as they are swept along through the history of the Klondike Gold Rush to a suspenseful final climatic chase across the rugged terrain of Canada's Yukon, the harsh land made famous in the stories and poems of such writers as Jack London, Robert Service and Pierre Berton. It is a riveting tale that brings to glorious life the landscape and history of Alaska's inside passage and Canada's Yukon, as Kitty is caught up in an epic mystery set against the backdrop of the scenery of the Klondike Gold Rush.

Thank you very much to Book Publicity Services and the author for giving me a copy in exchange for an honest review. Kitty Hawk is a adventurous series of a teenage pilot and mysteries she needs to solve amongst her travels. This was my first Kitty Hawk book, and it was thrilling, that's for sure! If you love action and adventure novels, then I definitely think you would love this. 

I loved the setting of this book. It's set in Canada (some bias there), in the Yukon mountains. Reading did an amazing job at establishing a beautiful setting and inspiring me to put the Yukon on one of my travel lists. Just the atmosphere alone made me want to continue reading. It seemed breathtaking. 

I also really liked how this book features a strong female heroine. You don't read many books about teenager pilot, and Kitty gave me kind of Amelia Earhart vibes that I thought was very powerful. 

I wasn't too crazy about the plot of this book, however. I found that it jumped from thing to thing, and was quite confusing to follow. I think it just moved too fast and there were way too many plot lines that was hard to follow. I think there was too much going on for me to be fully invested. 

That being said, for a fast-paced adventure book, it definitely delivered that and if you love some action, you will get that. 

Have you read Kitty Hawk? What did you think? 

Emily @ Paperback Princess

ARC Review: Code Red: A Faith Flores Mystery by: Janie Chodosh

Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Mystery
Published: February 7, 2017 by: Poisoned Pen Press
Rating: 3.5 /5 stars

Fresh off of solving her mother's mysterious murder, Faith Flores is back for another tough crime to solve. When she excepts an internship at a lab facility, she begins investigating a string of overdoses surrounding a drug dubbed "liquid gold."When her step sister falls ill, it becomes personal, and Faith uses her fierce determination and new found friends to catch the culprit, and bring the victims to justice.

Thank you very much to the publisher and author for providing me with this copy for an honest review. This book is the second in the Faith Flores mystery series, and I thought that it was witty and captivating. While I did have some issues on some tropes, I do think that this book was a great young adult mystery.

First off, I loved the characters in this book. They were incredibly diverse, there was some great Latina representation and amazing biracial rep as well. I loved how this book touched on a slew of issues, and didn't just focus on your typical, white characters. The characters were incredibly well written and there was a great dynamic.

The plot was also very engaging, very interesting. I don't read much mystery, and I felt like this book was good for people like me who are just getting their feet wet in the genre. For me though, I felt as if there was a need for a little more drama and action. I felt as if that was what took away from it being a really thrilling mystery, there was a need for more thrilling aspects.

I also didn't not entirely enjoy the sort of insta-lovey tropes in this book. It's not very explicit, but it is kind of implied and for me, that took away from the chemistry of the two characters. It just seemed like the romance wasn't even necessary because I couldn't see the chemistry between them at all. I would have preferred for the protagonist to remain independent.

But other than that, I felt as if this was a really great mystery for me, who isn't all that familiar with mysteries! It was easy to get through and very easy to follow the story, so I am very thankful for that. You can catch Code Red being released tomorrow!

Emily @ Paperback Princess

Gone Girl by: Gillian Flynn

Genre: Adult Fiction, Thriller, Mystery
Published: September 26, 2012 by: Thorndike Press
Pages: 707
Rating: 3.5/5 stars

On Amy and Nick Dunne's 5th wedding anniversary, Amy Dunne mysteriously disappears. Distraught and confused, Nick opens up a police investigation, and soon the whole town erupts in a Find Amy campaign. However, as growing evidence points towards Nick as being the kidnapper, Nick must prove his innocence as everyone seems to turn against him. Nick starts to investigate the mystery that is his wife, and she may be hiding something.

I finally can say that I've read this book! And not too long after that, I read the book, so I really am caught up. I will say that this book was as shocking as everyone said it was, and you definitely have to see to believe. However I did have some problems with it.

First off, I loved the characters of this book. I think each one had a unique voice and personality, and I definitely loved Nick's point of views. I also really loved hearing Amy's diary entries, as they gave a better glimpse into their past and it was overall very intriguing.

I think that the ending of this book was good, but for me, it was completely predictable. I could predict most of the shocking elements of this book. Maybe it's just because I watch way too much Law and Order that I'm pretty much a detective at this point, but I just knew what was going to happen. Idk, maybe I'm just not normal.

I also really didn't like the last few pages of the book. They felt rushed and confusing, and definitely anticlimactic. The solving of the mystery was interesting, but the aftermath was really stupid to me. It just didn't seem to fit with everything else that had happened.

This is pretty much all I can manage to attempt a perfect, spoiler free review. You kind of have to read this for yourself in order to judge the mystery, but I think Flynn had a great premise here. Maybe I should just become a detective in the future.

Have you read Gone Girl? What did you think?

ARC Review: Frayed by: Kara Terzis

Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Contemporary, Mystery/Thriller
Expected Publication: June 7, 2016 by: Sourcebooks Fire
Pages: 304
Rating: 4/5 stars

*Thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebooks for providing me with this copy in exchange for an honest review*

Ava will stop at nothing to find her sister's killer. Fostered at a young age, Ava and her sister Kelsey were inseparable. Until, Kelsey showed up murdered with no suspects. Now Ava must uncover the truth behind her sister's killing, by trusting those she never thought she would, investigating those she thought she trusted, all while battling her own personal demons.

With thrilling twists and a surprising ending, this book was insanely good to say the least! The plot kept me hooked from start to finish, and I felt like I was right along with Ava trying to figure out the murder. This book weaved together many different elements such as mental illness, PTSD, relationships and crime, all while keeping a very engaging atmosphere. The only problems I had were minor ones.

I loved how this book seemed to intertwine many different genres. There was definitely a contemporary feel with the themes of mental illness, and a protagonist that seemed real and relatable. However the main genre was actually a mystery-thriller, which was shown through the overall dark atmosphere of trying to solve a crime and the dangerous aspects to it. This book satisfied my contemporary side, all while being an easy to read mystery as well.

You'll definitely want to keep reading until the ending. The ending was completely mind blowing and totally unexpected, and this book seemed like a crime show that you just want to keep watching until the end. The plot had me hooked on finding out who committed the murder, there was absolutely no room for boring parts.

The only problem I had with this book, was the protagonist, Ava. I found that she wasn't really described well, so I couldn't really get a feel of her personality type or her inner problems. All is revealed at the end, however I wanted to know a bit more about her as the book went on. I feel as if she was quite underdeveloped until the very end.

Overall, this was a great book if you want to start out reading mystery, but also a great book for the veteran mystery lover. This book will keep you entertained, and definitely leave you surprised.

What do you look for in a good mystery-thriller? Do you have any rec's for me?

Emily @ Paperback Princess

Dangerous Lies by: Becca Fitzpatrick

Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Contemporary
Published: November 10, 2015 by: Simon and Schuster
Pages: 400
Rating: 4/5 stars

After being the prime witness in a brutal crime surrounding her mother's drug dealer, Stella Gordon is whisked into the witness protection program and sent to live in small Thunder Basin, Nebraska. Living with a retired cop, Stella must stay on guard for any of her mother's dealer's hit men, who she's sure will be sent to kill her. As Stella makes new friends and develops an interest in charming cowboy Chet, she must make sure to keep her true identity as secret. Or else, they'll be after her.

This book was suspenseful and mysterious that kept me wanting to read more. Stella's story was as heartbreaking as it was scary, and the plot kept me fully hooked and worrisome as to who would be after Stella next. While I did have some issues with the romance in this book, it was a great, thrilling read.

I loved how this book was as much of a mystery-thriller than it was a contemporary. Even though I would mainly classify it as contemporary due to the real-life scenarios, it still had a very suspenseful feel to it that was similar to that of a classic mystery novel. I loved how the author was able to incorporate both genres in a way that worked in harmony.

The plot of this book was OUT OF THIS WORLD! It was kind of scary to read to be honest, about this people being after Stella, but it kept me wanting more and it hooked me through the book's entirety. There was never a dull moment in this book, let me tell you.

Romance was a key factor in this book, with Stella having to let go of her old boyfriend for her safety and trying to trust Chet. However I think in this element was where it went flat. Chet was just SO TYPICAL of any contemporary love interest, I could just picture him in my head, and he was just like all the rest. He was so overprotective, always saving the day, which I guess was helpful for Stella considering her situation but it was nothing special at all.

There was definitely insta-love in this book. You knew as soon as she first mentioned Chet that these two were going to fall in love, and there was no hesitation to make her be swooped up by him. I'd just like something new and fresh every once in a while.

Overall, even if the romance lacked this book was still thoroughly engaging and shocking. It was a huge thrill-ride.

Have you read Dangerous Lies? What did you think?

Emily @ Paperback Princess

In Place of Never by: Julie Anne Lindsey (ARC Review)

Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Contemporary, Mystery
Published: February 2, 2016 by: Kensington Books
Pages: 269
Rating: 5/5 stars

*Thank you to Netgalley and Kensington Books for allowing me to receive this book in exchange for a honest review.*

Mercy Porter has been living in darkness ever since her sister Faith tragically drowned. Now three years later, Mercy wants to piece together what happened that fateful night, by interviewing a travelling band of gypsies who were accused of being involved in the death. However when Faith develops a love for one of the travellers Cross, she must find a way to hide from her strict pastor father who wants to drive the gypsies out of town, all while protecting herself and her younger sister Pru from Faith's bitter and alcoholic ex boyfriend, who will stop at nothing to torment the Porter girls for his girlfriend's fate.

This book was incredibly emotional and unique!! I absolutely love reading about travellers and gypsies, specifically in YA. I feel like their culture is so interesting, and it is something that never fails to spark my curiosity. This book contained heavy themes such as self-harm, family and abuse, but it also handled forbidden love in a perfect/non cheesy way.

Each character had their own special characteristics that added something to the book. I loved Mercy's determination, Pru's humour and confidence, and of course, Cross's kind and caring heart. Mercy broke my heart, the poor girl had been through so much, but she never failed to bring herself some closure. Strangely enough, I even had a great respect for her father by the end of the book. He cared for his daughters so much, and I loved how the author made him develop for the better.

The romance in this book was executed perfectly. Even though it revolves around a strong theme of forbidden love, it was handled in a way that wasn't unrealistic or even predictable. Cross and Mercy seemed like a real couple, they had their differences and their love developed slowly. Ugh, I could not handle Cross in this book, he was such a cutie.

I feel like this book also handled strong themes of diversity. Mercy's small Virginia town did not like the idea of the gypsies who came every summer. They called them slurs, and had prejudice towards them. However on the other side, the gypsies weren't too fond of the "settled" people either. I loved in the end how the two communities were able to join together and at least have some closure.

Overall, this book was so interesting, it was unpredictable, and the ending will put a smile on your face. It was filled with things that you would never expect, and the writing kept me wanting to read on. An amazing book!

Emily @ Paperback Princess

We Were Liars by: E. Lockhart

Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Contemporary, Mystery
Published: May 13, 2014 by: Delacorte Press
Pages: 227
Rating:4.5/5 stars
*all reviews may contain spoilers*

A stunning book about love, loss and mystery, We Were Liars tells the adventures of 4 best friends: The Liars, in their family's summer manor. However, a tragic accident has left one of the Liars with amnesia, and she tries to remember all that happened during the past summer, that lead up to the accident, as well as where she stands with another Liar, after their summer fling.

*now time to freak out*

OMG THIS BOOK WAS AMAZING!! Glad I got that out of my system. But in all seriousness, this book was beautiful. I think what made this book so special, was that it's so different. There is no other book out there quite like this one. Mystery books aren't really my thing, but this book was a mixture of mystery, romance and contemporary all jumbled together in an amazing YA read.

I loved this book because it was quite unpredictable. Every chapter brought a new plot development, but it all flowed very nicely. Everything just made sense. Then there's the plot twists!! I feel like the selling point of a book for me are the plot twists, and this book had A LOT of them. Again, they still complimented each other and didn't make things confusing.

The Liars could be very relatable. Four teens in for some adventure, but in an instant, it is all torn apart. I loved the realistic fiction component, about what it feels like to lose something close to you. Each Liar had their own struggles, and I really enjoyed reading each of them on their journeys, as well as their developments.

I think that the only thing that prevented me from giving this book a perfect 5, is that it was a bit confusing at the start. The book started with immediate action, and I would have liked some background information first. However by the third chapter, I was hooked.

I rated this book 4.5 stars because of the amazing journeys, developments and how unique it was. I would highly recommend it to anyone who is looking for a great, emotional contemporary. If you're into mystery, this book would be great was well.

Have you read We Were Liars? What did you think?

Emily @ Paperback Princess

Birthmarked by: Caragh M. O'Brien

Genre: Young Adult Fiction,Adventure,Dystopia

Birthmarked tells the story of sixteen-year-old Gaia Stone, and her quest to find out the secrets of her parents' strange disappearance. In this post-apocalyptic world, the people are separated into two worlds. Those who live inside the walled town, or "The Enclave", are perfect. They work good jobs, wear nice clothes and are taken care of. Those who live outside The Enclave are the outcasts. These people are the ones with "imperfections". They are poor, and have to work very hard to make ends meet. Gaia lives outside The Enclave, because of a scar she has on her cheek. This scar means that Gaia and her family must not enter The Enclave. Gaia works as a midwife, delivering perfect babies to The Enclave, to be brought up by adopted parents. The babies are taken from their "imperfect" parents outside the wall, and brought inside the wall. If they do have "imperfections", they must live with their birth parents. Gaia finishes delivering a baby, but soon finds her parents to be missing. Another midwife tells her that her parents have been arrested by The Enclave, but that her mother left her a note. Gaia takes the note, and is soon entered into a quest to find the truth behind The Enclave's evil ways.

I really enjoyed this book. This book was suspenseful and interesting, with surprising twists. I love books with plot twists, and this was definitely one of them. The book really made me think. The clues that Gaia uncovers throughout the book, made me want to try to figure them out as well.

I liked this book because it was a different take on Dystopia. I have never read a dystopian book quite like this one before. The plot was unlike any other book I have ever read. It was different because it contained quite more mystery than most other dystopian books. This book wasn't only based on romance and adventure, but instead brought forth more clue-solving.  The only complaint I have about this book is that I wish it contained a bit more information. What I mean by this is, some parts were hard to understand, and in a book with a lot of clue-solving, I found that parts of the book were left with no explanation. I had to read parts over again because I didn't understand what was going on. However, it still was very good.

Overall, I would rate this book 3 out of 5 stars, for a unique plot, but a few confusing parts.

Bye for Now!

Paperback Princess

Paper Towns by: John Green

Genre: Young Adult Drama, Romance, Adventure, Mystery

Paper Towns is one of my all-time favourite books. The book follows Quentin, a high school senior who has a crush on a mysterious bad girl named Margo. One night, Margo whisks Quentin off on an adventure to get revenge on all of the people who have annoyed them both. The next morning, Quentin remembers all of the fun he had, however he notices that Margo is missing from school. She is still missing until graduation, so he and his friends go on a road trip to find her.

I can say that Paper Towns is one of my favourite books. I liked how this book did not just contain some romance, but also mystery and adventure. Once again, John Green has created a genius book. 

This book has many different genres, so it can draw the attention of many different readers. The book is so versatile, and that is why I like it.

Overall, this book had many different elements to it. I liked the many different genres, so I didn't get bored. This book was filled with suspense, and I couldn't put it down. I would rate this book 5 out of 5 stars, for it's versatility.

Bye for Now!

Paperback Princess