Thriller – Page 3 – Nonfiction and Nonsense

Verity by Colleen Hoover

After seeing this book mentioned frequently amongst readers of a particular genre I decided that I had to read it. I then went into this book knowing only what was summarized on the back cover. I was pleasantly surprised with the story, which goes back and forth between the present day and the not so distant past. We follow Lowen as she struggles to get her life back in order while also trying to get the extensive notes of an unfinished book series in order. Then there is Verity, the talented writer who no longer has the ability to finish her series, the very same series that Lowen is trying to make outlines for as she goes through the piles of papers that Verity has strewn about her large office. The themes comprised a mixture of loss, mystery, thriller, romance, desire, and macabre, which worked extremely well together and I loved it.

I could see this becoming a film one day, something which has a racy and perplexing feel comparable to that of Gone Girl, which also happens to be an incredible book. It was a delight to finally read a well written book that was also a little bit sexy, but not overly so, one that didn’t try too hard and was not the main draw of the story. I definitely need more books like this in my life and I am probably going to do some research towards finding ones that have a similar feel. If you couldn’t tell, I am encouraging you to read this book, it is worth it.

The Last House On Needless Street by Catriona Ward

Fiction

This book had me changing my mind about what I thought was happening every few chapters. I reached a point where I was thinking, some of this is not making any sense, what the heck is going on? After the truth of what was actually happening was finally revealed, I was like, ok, this is a bit much. Then something even crazier and unexpected occurred. I’m trying to think of another book I have read that had me going through so many plot twists and turns, a story that kept puzzling and surprising me, and I am having a really hard time with it.

At first you think you’re reading a story about a missing girl, as narrated primarily by the girl herself, the person who kidnapped her, and the older sister who is desperately trying to find both the girl and the person who took her. But at some point you start to realize that things are just not adding up in a way in which this situation is the reality. There is not much more that I want to say, this is not a book I want to spoil for anyone by revealing too much, because this is the perfect book for readers who love psychological thrillers. Be prepared for depictions of mental and physical abuse, torture, mental anguish, animal cruelty, and consider skipping this novel if any of those themes disturb you. I will say, as a lover of cats, some of the excerpts made me very upset. Additionally, when the point in the story came to where I believe most people will start to feel sympathy for Ted, it was easy for me to do so given the author’s descriptive imagery, which enabled me to clearly visualize what had been done to him. This book has me curious to know if the author’s other works are just as amazing.

My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell

Fiction

I picked this book up because I liked the title, and I started reading it not knowing what it was going to be about. Very shortly in, I was completely engaged and I found myself staying up past my bedtime for several nights as I tried to consume more and more pages. This first person narrative of a young girl who is preyed upon by her boarding school teacher comes out during a time of relevance, but it is a tale that I think people will come back to once they experience not only how well it is written but how gratifying it is to read.

It feels a bit odd to describe a story like this as gratifying when you consider the subject matter, but it is. I loved how authentic the story felt. Even though it is a work of fiction, you feel as though you are reading about the life events of an actual person. The story is believable because it doesn’t go too far, the author goes into just enough detail with the sexual encounters without it being overly vulgar. She simultaneously makes you feel sadness at the destruction of what could have been a normal, even slightly privileged, life for young Vanessa, while also making you frustrated that the woman she becomes continues to let herself be abused not only by her pedophilic lover, but by other men she involves herself with. The denial is what ends up frustrating me the most. The conversations between Vanessa and Mr. Strane lays out the subtle mental manipulation of the abuser towards the victim in a manner which makes it clear to the reader what he is doing, even though Vanessa seems ignorant to what is happening.

The tale is disturbing, it may not be for everyone, I would not suggest it for anyone who has been a victim of sexual abuse. But I believe it is the type of book you want to make sure people know about, as it could be a helpful way of reaching out to anyone who may have had a similar experience, and hopefully give them a push towards getting any aid they may need. I am looking forward to seeing what else this first time author comes up with.

A Flicker In The Dark by Stacy Willingham

Fiction

This story contains three hundred fifty four pages spread out into forty eight chapters, and I had correctly guessed who the killer was by page eighteen. When I had reached the climax of the story and the grand reveal, I was kind of disappointed that it had been that obvious, at least it was for me, but the story was still engaging nonetheless. I enjoyed suspicions bouncing around, evidence surfacing, and the main character going slightly mad. It kept me going, waiting to see if she herself needed as much, if not more, help than the patients that came to her for mental aid did. I did keep expecting the psychiatrist to get locked in the psych ward, which for me would have been a terrible cliche to include in the story on top of it being clearly evident who the killer was, so I’m a little glad that that did not happen.

I can see why the book is popular amongst certain social media circles, it can be read in a few days, justice prevails, it is not a difficult read, but it is entertaining, and therefore it can appeal to a large audience. It’s a book that makes me not want to buy books just because I see them in the recommended piles at bookstores, but I am also glad that I did read it to see what the fuss was about. I’m not bummed out that I spent my money on it, but I also don’t know if it is something I would find worthy of my time to read again. I’d say, it’s a good book for a reader who is just starting out, but it might be a let down for seasoned readers. It also makes me wonder if the author’s other works are better or if I will find myself feeling that I just read another average book.

The Lost World by Michael Crichton

Fiction

Another week has gone by and I still haven’t finished the book I started two weeks ago. I feel like no one is going to believe that I have actually finished the book once I do, and that I will have made the review up. If it wasn’t for a sudden onset of abdominal pain and an emergency room visit over the weekend, I believe that I would have been able to focus and get through it. Due to anxiety and discomfort, I needed to read something entertaining to try and keep my mind off things while I waited in my hospital bed. I grabbed The Lost World from my pile before I drove to the hospital.

I had nothing else to do but read while I sat in the emergency department for four hours, but I was not only reading to pass the time, I was reading because the story was excellent. A character that was supposed to have died in Jurassic Park was surprisingly still alive. I actually said “what…”, as I was completely flabbergasted that I was finding myself reading a passage from their point of view. I am glad that this character wasn’t dead, I really enjoyed them in print and in the films. There are several new characters in this sequel, and you will recognize some of them if you have seen the movies. You will also notice that some of the characters are combined into one, or that personality aspects of certain characters are given to several different ones in the film adaptation. Besides enjoying the characters, the plot itself is rich and philosophical as it explores the great debate of all the questions and concerns regarding genetic exploration.

At the end of the book I longed for more, but sadly the author passed away at a relatively young age. I don’t know if he was planning on these books being part of a trilogy, but it definitely could have been explored. In the future, I plan on reading through the entire Michael Crichton collection; he has enough sci-fi books to keep me, or anyone else, going for a long time.