Psychological Thriller

Beneath The Marigolds by Emily C. Whitson

 

FTC: I received a free copy of this book from Partners In Crime Book Tours in exchange for my honest review. I received no other compensation and the opinions expressed in this review are one hundred percent true and my own.

Beneath The Marigolds by Emily C. Whitson was a fascinating book.  I spent a good portion of this book wondering what was going to happen next.  The author did a great job of giving just enough information to keep me confused and wanting to find out what happened next.  I know you aren’t supposed to judge a book by its cover but the cover of this book is one of the reasons that I decided to read this book.  It has a haunting look to it, and that drew me in as I read.  I also bought a copy of the audiobook because sometimes it is easier for me to listen to a book than read, and the narrator of this book’s voice fits the characters.  I can say that I couldn’t figure out what was going to happen next as I was reading, and I loved that.  This book kept me on the edge of my seat as I was reading because I never knew what the next page turn had in store for me.  I tend to worry when I read the first book that and author ever wrote because you don’t know anything about the author, but I can tell you that even though this is Emily’s first novel, I can’t wait to see what she comes out with next.  She is a fantastic writer, and I am sure I will enjoy her next book as much as I loved this one.   If you love a good mystery book, then I would for sure recommend this book to you.

About The Book

Genre: Thriller/Psychological
Published by: CamCat Books
Publication Date: September 21st 2021
Number of Pages: 320
ISBN: 0744304202 (ISBN13: 9780744304206)

Playing on our universal fascination with reality TV, Emily C. Whitson’s Beneath the Marigolds is The Bachelor(ette) gone terribly wrong.

When her best friend, Reese Marigold, goes missing after attending Last Chance, an exclusive singles’ retreat on a remote island off the coast of Hawaii, no-nonsense lawyer Ann Stone infiltrates the retreat.

Ann quickly realizes there’s more to Last Chance than meets the eye. The extravagant clothes, never-ending interviews, and bizarre dates hint that the retreat is a front for a reality dating show. Could Reese be safe, keeping a low profile until the premier, or did something sinister occur after all?

Torn between the need to uncover the truth and her desperate desire to get off the island, Ann partakes in the unusual routines of the “journey to true love” and investigates the other attendees who all have something to hide. In a final attempt to find Reese on the compound, she realizes that she herself may never get off the island alive.

Praise for Beneath the Marigolds:

“Cleverly plotted…Whitson’s debut novel is an intriguing new entry in the women’s suspense genre, driven by dual first-person narrators and tension-filled parallel timelines.”— Carmen Amato, Silver Falchion Award Finalist and author of The Detective Emilia Cruz Mystery Series

“Exhilarating twists and turns…a fast-paced psychological thriller that mashes up the reality series The Bachelor with Gone Girl.” — Helen Power, author of The Ghosts of Thorwald Place

“A fun, propulsive read…this book cleverly combines the archetypes of “reality TV” and the “trapped-on-a-remote-island” mystery that will perpetually keep you guessing.” — Marcy McCreary, author of The Disappearance of Trudy Solomon

About The Author

Emily Whitson received a B.A. in journalism from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She worked as a marketing copywriter for six years before pursuing a career in fiction and education. She is currently getting her M.Ed. at Vanderbilt University, where she writes between classes. She is particularly passionate about women’s education and female stories. This interest stems from her time at Harpeth Hall, an all-girls college preparatory school in Nashville, Tennessee. When she isn’t volunteering, writing, or in the classroom, Emily can usually be found with her dog, Hoss, in one of Nashville’s various parks. Beneath the Marigolds is her debut novel.

Catch Up With Emily C. Whitson:
EmilyCWhitson.com
Goodreads
BookBub – @emilycwhitson_author
Instagram – @emilycwhitson
Facebook – @emilycwhitson

 

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This is a rafflecopter giveaway hosted by Partners in Crime Virtual Book Tours for Emily C. Whitson & CatCam Books. There will be 1 winner of one (1) print edition of Beneath the Marigolds by Emily C. Whitson (US, Canada, and UK Only). The giveaway runs October 1 through November 2, 2021. Void where prohibited.

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Digiprove sealCopyright secured by Digiprove © 2021 Margaret Margaret

Gone by S.H. Love

FTC: I received a free copy of this book from Audiobookworm in exchange for my honest review. I received no other compensation and the opinions expressed in this review are one hundred percent true and my own.

Gone by S.H. Love was a great book.  I was hooked right from the start of this book because although this is a genre that I read and listen to all the time, this plot was different from anything else that I have read.  I also really enjoyed the narrator’s voice, and I would love to listen to other books he reads in the future.  I listened to this entire book in one sitting because I had to know what was going on and what was going to happen next.  Just when I thought I had it all figured out, I would realize I was wrong and go back to trying to figure out what was happening.  This book kept me on the edge of my seat as I was listening to it, and I loved that.  I also didn’t see the ending coming, and it is always a good thing when I am reading books in this genre.  This book was just long enough to keep me interested but not so long that you get bored of the story before the end.  If you are looking for your next great read, I would pick up a copy of this audiobook.

About The Book

Author: S.H. Love

Narrator: Gary Anderson

Length: 7 hours 17 minutes

Publisher: Jason Tanamor⎮2021

Genre: Psychological Thriller

Release date: July 27, 2021

Synopsis: What would you do if you woke up and found your spouse missing?

When Rory Richards wakes up from a failed suicide attempt, he learns that his wife, Maggie, has vanished without a trace. All Rory can remember about the previous night is that the two had the fight of a lifetime.

The dispute causes him to storm out of the house and steal prescription pills from his neighbors in an attempt to overdose. After that, everything is a blur.

Now, he must retrace his steps to find out what happened to her.

Was she kidnapped?

Did she disappear on purpose?

What happened to Maggie?

Gone is a gripping psychological thriller that is filled with suspense.

Recommended if you like Gillian Flynn, Mary Kubica, J.D. Barker, and Paula Hawkins.

About The Author

S.H. Love is the pseudonym of a critically acclaimed author of fiction. Love writes psychological thrillers and horror stories and is influenced by the master of suspense, Alfred Hitchcock.

About The Narrator

Gary Anderson is a seasoned stage actor with 20 years experience. Currently, he narrates the true crime podcast, “still…” available on Apple Podcasts or wherever podcasts are available.

Website

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Digiprove sealCopyright secured by Digiprove © 2021 Margaret Margaret

Black Label by James L’Etoile

FTC: I received a free copy of this book from Partners In Crime Book Tours in exchange for my honest review. I received no other compensation and the opinions expressed in this review are one hundred percent true and my own.

Black Label by James L’Etoile was an exciting book.  I love that there were medical aspects in this book because those always interest me.  There wasn’t a ton of medical things going on, so if that is something that you don’t like, then I would still check this one out. This book did have quite a bit of suspense running throughout most of the book, which I loved.  The more tension that book has, the more I am going to enjoy the story.  The author did a great job of making the characters and the story come alive as I was reading.  I read this book in just a couple of days.  This book had just about everything that I love in an excellent psychological thriller.  This book kept me on the edge as I was reading, and I was sad when the story ended because I wasn’t ready to move on from these characters or this story.  If you love super suspenseful books, then I know you will love this book like I do.

About The Book

Genre: Thriller
Published by: Level Best Books
Publication Date: July 20, 2021
Number of Pages: 300
ISBN: 978-1-953789-14-3

Sanity is something you don’t miss until it’s gone. Hard charging pharmaceutical executive Jillian Cooper fears she’d destined to inherit her mother’s history of mental illness when she finds herself accused of murdering her boss. All the evidence tells her she’s either a murderer, or insane. When Jillian struggles to find the truth, she uncovers a web of black market pharmaceuticals, prison gangs, and greed. She begins to believe she may have killed to cover up the off-the-books drug operation.

Can she discover the truth before she’s condemned to life in prison, or a mental hospital?

Praise

“Tight, terrific, terrifying. BLACK LABEL delves into the murky world of pharmaceuticals where profit is prioritized above all else. L’Etoile creates a strong female lead in Jillian Cooper, a woman who faces obstacle after obstacle, but still charges into the abyss. More unnerving than a fistful of amphetamines. Unputdownable.”
—K.J. Howe, international bestselling author of SKYJACK

“James L’Etoile’s BLACK LABEL is a delightfully complex and twisty thriller with a ripped-from-the-headlines plot that will make you think long and hard before you swallow your next dose of medication. Add in an intrepid heroine willing to do whatever it takes to uncover the truth no matter the cost, and L’Etoile’s newest offering is a winner!”
— Karen Dionne, author of the #1 international bestseller THE MARSH KING’S DAUGHTER and THE WICKED SISTER

“Relentlessly fast-paced and compellingly twisty! The talented James L’Etoile sets up an irresistibly high-stakes situation: a woman is certain to be charged with murder and doesn’t remember a thing. Can she prove her innocence before she’s silenced forever? A dark journey through the world of big Pharma and big money—you will turn the pages as fast as you can.”
— Hank Phillippi Ryan USA Today Bestselling author of THE FIRST TO LIE

“If this book had a tag, it would say ‘proceed with caution’ because nothing is what it seems. Told with a vivid and visceral style, this is le Carré’s Constant Gardener meets The Fugitive. As the title suggests, BLACK LABEL is a top of the line thriller.”
— Gabriel Valjan, Agatha & Anthony Award nominated author

About The Author

James L’Etoile uses his twenty-nine years behind bars as an influence in his novels, short stories, and screenplays. He is a former associate warden in a maximum-security prison, a hostage negotiator, facility captain, and director of California’s state parole system. He is a nationally recognized expert witness on prison and jail operations. He has been nominated for the Silver Falchion for Best Procedural Mystery, and The Bill Crider Award for short fiction. His published novels include: At What Cost, Bury the Past, and Little River -The Other Side of Paradise.

Catch Up With James L’Etoile:
http://www.JamesLEtoile.com
Goodreads
BookBub – @jimletoile
Instagram – @AuthorJamesLEtoile
Twitter – @JamesLEtoile
Facebook – @james.letoile

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This is a rafflecopter giveaway hosted by Partners in Crime Virtual Book Tours for James L’Etoile. There will be Seven (7) winners for this tour. Two (2) winners will each receive a $20 Amazon.com gift card; Three (3) winners will each receive a $10 Amazon.com gift card; and Two (2) winners will each receive 1 signed print edition of At What Cost and Bury the Past by James L’Etoile. The giveaway begins on July 12 and runs through August 10, 2021. Void where prohibited.

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Digiprove sealCopyright secured by Digiprove © 2021 Margaret Margaret

Saving Grace by D.M. Barr

FTC: I received a free copy of this book from Partners In Crime Book Tours in exchange for my honest review. I received no other compensation and the opinions expressed in this review are one hundred percent true and my own.

Saving Grace by D.M. Barr was a great book.  I loved that this book had a unique plot that will keep most people guessing as they are reading.  I loved this book because there was no way to guess what was going to happen and what was going on.  I loved that this book kept me thinking, and I always wondered what was going on.  I am for sure going to read more books by this author in the future because I fell in love with her writing.  I loved that this book keeps you guessing because you are never sure what is going on and what is all in her head.  The author did a great job of keeping me interested and keeping me reading.  This book had just the right amount of suspense that I read it in only a few days.  I also felt terrible for Grace because I can’t even imagine how hard her life had been and how hard it had to be for her family to watch her going through everything.  If you are looking for a different to read, I would recommend this book to you because I know you will love it as much as I did.

About The Book

Genre: Psychological Thriller, Domestic Suspense
Published by: Black Rose Writing
Publication Date: October 15th 2020
Number of Pages: 255
ISBN: 978-1684335565

Grace Pierrepoint Rendell, the only child of an ailing billionaire, has been treated for paranoia since childhood. When she secretly quits her meds, she begins to suspect that once her father passes, her husband will murder her for her inheritance. Realizing that no one will believe the ravings of a supposed psychotic, she devises a creative way to save herself – she will write herself out of danger, authoring a novel with the heroine in exactly the same circumstances, thus subtly exposing her husband’s scheme to the world. She hires acclaimed author Lynn Andrews to help edit her literary insurance policy, but when Lynn is murdered, Grace is discovered standing over the bloody remains. The clock is ticking: can she write and publish her manuscript before she is strapped into a straitjacket, accused of homicide, or lowered six feet under?

With a cast of secondary characters whose challenges mirror Grace‘s own, Saving Grace is, at it’s core, an allegory for the struggle of the marginalized to be heard and live life on their own terms.

“A psychological thriller with more than enough twists, turns, and misdirection to keep even the most jaded reader turning pages all night long.”

–Lori Robbins, author of the Silver Falchion Award-winning novel, Lesson Plan for Murder

About The Author

By day, a mild-mannered salesperson, wife, mother, rescuer of senior shelter dogs, competitive trivia player and author groupie, happily living just north of New York City. By night, an author of sex, suspense and satire.

My background includes stints in travel marketing, travel journalism, meeting planning, public relations and real estate. I was, for a long and happy time, an award-winning magazine writer and editor. Then kids happened. And I needed to actually make money. Now they’re off doing whatever it is they do (of which I have no idea since they won’t friend me on Facebook) and I can spend my spare time weaving tales of debauchery and whatever else tickles my fancy.

The main thing to remember about my work is that I am NOT one of my characters. For example, as a real estate broker, I’ve never played Bondage Bingo in one of my empty listings or offed anyone at my local diet clinic. And I haven’t run away from home in fear that my husband was planning to off me.

But that’s not to say that I haven’t wanted to…

Catch Up With Our Author On:
http://www.DMBarr.com, Goodreads, BookBub, Instagram, Twitter, & Facebook!

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This is a rafflecopter giveaway hosted by Partners in Crime Virtual Book Tours for D.M. Barr. There will be 1 winner of one (1) Amazon.com Gift Card. The giveaway begins on October 12, 2020 and runs through November 15, 2020. Void where prohibited.

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