Review: Where They Lie by Joe Hart

Where do I begin? Where They Lie by Joe Hart was not supposed to be my next review. I have a list a mile long of reads I am always excited to read and share my thoughts (as if they matter). Lately, I've been coming across titles that kinda just take hold of me and refuse to let go.

Where They Lie crashes onto the scene with a literal crash. Yes, pun intended. An unsuspecting sailing enthusiast, fearful of his choice to sail as a storm brews in the waters, is stunned by the (intentional?) crash of an aircraft.

Enter Nora McTavish. News of the private plane's "accident" leads Nora on a quest to understand what went wrong. As a child protective services agent, she's unable to look away from this tragedy. Unable to ignore the guilt she feels having brought this family together, Nora searches for the truth. Why did this family die and why was one of the foster children being blamed for the tragedy?

Before long, Nora's search for an answer puts her in danger.

Obviously! Or we wouldn't have this novel.

First of all, I enjoyed reading Hart's Where They Lie. It's a fast paced, quick read that grips readers that are forced to see where this thriller leads. Nora's narrative is impeccable and encompassing... as far as first person narratives go. No matter how intuitive our antagonist is, they leave a wake of thinly drawn characters along the way.

Nora is a complex, damaged character, who begrudgingly allows us pieces of her life. If anyone deserves their happy ever after, it is Nora. Yet, Hart offers the readers Kaylee Volk. Those who have read the book blurb know that she's a big deal in this plot.

Kaylee Volk, a social media influencer, chronicles her life as a foster parent to three teenagers ripped from their dangerous homes. After having won the foster kid's lottery, one of those teens are blamed for killing the entire family, except Kaylee.

Honestly, I only mention Kaylee because she, and her family are the catalyst that moves the story forward. What secrets are they hiding? Why would a young, rich, married couple insist on fostering teens? Why is death more enticing than keeping up the influencing charade?

Where They Lie was an interesting read that kept me interested even when I wasn't reading. But... my gripes are that the characters are as flat as the acting skills of your favorite influencer.

ALSO!

I'm not sure if this mattered to Hart but using the "influencer" trope will ultimately date this novel. Yes, this phenomenon of average people making a shi*load of money is beautiful, it's also not sustainable. Kaylee was exactly who/what I think of when I see "influencers". The cookie cutter image we all have in mind.

Overall, I enjoyed reading Where They Lie. Joe Hart is a solid fixture on my list of authors I must read if I'm in the mood to be hooked. A solid read but definitely not something that will stick with me for long. Since this seems to be the beginning of a series, I will definitely follow Nora and her subsequent novels.

Copy provided by Thomas & Mercer via Netgalley

***

A Time for Mercy by John Grisham

 

It took me some time to get through A Time for Mercy by Grisham. Admittedly, it took me some time to get through Sycamore Row as well. Although much of Grisham's work has taken on a more political stance (that I'm aligned with), I've been searching for the his current works to be more compelling like A Time to Kill or The Client. Sadly, I haven't found that spark again. Don't get me wrong... John Grisham reigns supreme in list of favorite authors of courtroom and legalese drama. I mean c'mon, I have a certificate in Paralegal Studies so I live for the day I can come up with the precedent or overlooked piece of evidence that wins the jury and the trial.

Enough about me, let's talk about A Time for Mercy.

We're introduced to a (barely) teenager, Drew Gamble, who's been arrested for the murder of his mother's boyfriend. This piece of sh** boyfriend is a drunk, abusive, sadistic, and corrupt individual who happens to be deputy. When the call goes out that Drew has rid the world this trash, Jake Brigance is called upon to defend his killer.

Ultimately, Brigance is presumably the only defense lawyer in town that judges force into defending the ones who are indigent and indefensible. Fine! You can have that Grisham. We know Brigance is a badass.

Enter Brigance, a brilliant attorney with a fledgling law practice. Grisham does not waste any opportunity to remind the reader Brigance is broke. Even after winning the settlement in Sycamore Row--- should have said spoiler alert but that novel is really not that important.

Brigance is expected to defend a child really, for murdering a cop in Mississippi where it's blasphemy to say anything about the boys in blue (or brown, or whatever color they wear down there).

***Before I have the "BLUE LIVES MATTER" or "ALL LIVES MATTER CROWD" come for me I want to be honest and frank. I am a person of color who will proudly defend that Black Lives Matter... Those who are offended by that stance will find no argument here as I'm not equipped with the patience to argue with you. Those who are steadfast in saying the person on the accepting end of that fatal shot was a "thug" or "criminal" are beyond convincing. If the average person can watch and defend Derek Chauvin as he carelessly kneeled on a dying George Floyd, convincing themselves "ALL LIVES MATTER" have already ignored all logic and factual proof.

So... my reason in touting that blip into my personal beliefs is because we have Brigance defending Gamble, who is dead center in the bible belt, in a county that loves and will defend their police force. Regardless of the evidence that this officer is sh**. I'm not sure if this was the point in this novel, as I mentioned Grisham has taken on a more political stance in his recent novels, but we've placed the boys in blue on pedestals that not all are worthy of.

Ultimately, A Time for Mercy explores the topic of where the line is drawn. Gamble killed Deputy Stuart Kofer because he thought his own life was in danger after Kofer had killed his mother. Those who believe the boys in blue to be infallible would likely want to crucify Gamble. Unless Jake Brigance has his way.

So why the 3-star rating? I felt the novel was jut wrapped up. Ironically it took me some time to read this novel but it felt the ending was just too undone and too wrapped up. Doesn't make sense, right? How can something be undone yet done. Read this book and you'll find out. A Time for Mercy is a great addition to the Brigance series but I need the Grisham of yesteryear to be completely satisfied.

Copy provided by Doubleday via Netgalley

***

Review: Win by Harlan Coben

 

My rating is a hover between a 3 and 4 star. I've been completely honest about my bias towards Harlan Coben. He's one of my favorite authors. His mystery thrillers are always fast paced with a protagonist that usually has all the odds against them. Win Lockwood is not in the same position as many of his other leading characters. Win has money to burn and is almost a Bruce Wayne-Batman type figure. He's out to right the wrongs and injustices of the world and has the money to boot. The only difference is Batman doesn't usually kill the villain. Win doesn't care one way or the other...

I digress... but you've been warned. I love Coben's writing so, essentially I lean towards a favorable rating of his work... but... (imagine me shaking my head in shame and embarassment). I'm on the fence with this read.

Starting with the basics, enter Win Lockwood. In the first few pages he's painted as a playboy, billionaire vigilante hellbent on imposing justice on those who have escaped the long-arm of justice. He's immediately undeniably likeable (hence my Batman comparison). He's a 1 percenter that looks out for the little guy... but not really.

Skip ahead and we find out Win is great friends with another Harlan Coben staple, Myron Bolitar. Those who know Coben know that Bolitar was the catalyst for much of Coben's success. Bolitar is a former basketball player turned sports agent that investigates murders. Hence, the little guy against the big bad unknown that I've come to love about Coben's work. Yet, in all honesty, I've maybe read only one Myron Bolitar installation. My love for Coben wasn't dependent on that dude... I digress...

Well... Win gets word that a precious family heirloom is found among the belongings of a fugitive from the 60s or 70s (I'm not sure nor does it really matter... or maybe it does...) who was responsible for the tragic deaths of innocents after throwing a molotov cocktail protesting some sort of green initiative or what have you from those times. The 50s-70s were a tumultuous time for people and social consciousness reined supreme. Suffice it to say, a political statement turned deadly and Win is on the heels of the 6 involved in the crime.

Why does Win care about the crime involving the murdered man found to be in possession of his family's Vermeer painting? Well... Win believes this painting may lead him to the person who murdered his uncle and abducted and raped his cousin years earlier.

So... yes!!! We have a story of revenge? Right?

Wrong... kinda... but not really... but kinda...

Before I get into my issues with this read, I'll begin by saying I was hooked from page 1. I've said that many times... but the phrase is always accurate. I was reading a few other reads and trying to pass the Spring 2021 semester when I told myself I was only going to read a couple sentences. I was bored with my current reads and saw the release date for Win was approaching and figured that Coben's reads are usually fast so... let's go.

Before long, I was engrossed in Win's life. The privilege, the money, the jet-setting, and the bad-assery of it all had me hooked. And then... I was pulled away from the read. Although I repeatedly came back to read more, I grew more annoyed with Win.

Those who read many novels understand that the easiest hurdle to remove from the any-man is means. The means to book a flight at last minute or have the time to casually issue their own form of justice on a whim. I'm not sure if it's because I'm a little more socially aware nowadays of the disparity of classes, but ultimately, I became annoyed with Win. All his money, privilege, and arrogance became annoying.

I'm not trying to make this review racial or controversial. Generally, my reviews are based on how a novel makes me feel. But as Coben forces an ending that neatly wraps up Win's debut novel, I realize I didn't like him. The very things that attracted me to him on page one annoyed me by the end of Win. There were no obstacles for this man. The one obstacle he encounters leads to a quick recovery (not surprising since he's rich and can afford great doctors). He's just so damn... lucky. Rather, he's always winning. He wins at everything... and.... I want him to be more human.

I want him to be more plausible. He's even a friend of the police. WTF!!!!!!

Does his privilege and money know no bounds?

NOPE.

Yet, I love Coben's writing. Win isn't a favorite and after writing this review, I realize this is more of a 2-3 star book. Sure, the story is captivating and interesting from page one. A total page turner... Yet... aren't there enough Batman stories? I didn't even get into how this narrative is provided by someone who isn't even all that likeable after awhile.

My apologies. I simply feel this novel ignores that we're tired of the rich and their problems. I prefer the every-man of Coben's past novels suggesting that against all odds, the truth might set us free.

Copy provided by Grand Central Publishing via Netgalley

***

Review: House on Fire by Joseph Finder

I intended to finish House on Fire before the New Year and was totally on track to do that but I my best friend decided it was time to break my New Year's tradition of sleeping in and having an impromptu party/double date at my house. Once that happened, I knew that life would resume to normalcy including work and school with Finder's novel being its first victim. Ultimately, I finished House on Fire a week ago. In traditional fashion, I am now finally able to share my thoughts.

Review: Nothing More Dangerous by Allen Eskens

There's nothing more dangerous than devouring a book and suddenly finding yourself begrudgingly glaring at the stack of "to-read" books because you know few of them will leave you wishing the story didn't have to end. I'm in that place where I know I will miss Boady narrating his life in the rural Ozark hills and I loathe the hole finishing Nothing More Dangerous has left behind.

Review: The Other Mrs. by Mary Kubica

When I started The Other Mrs., I wasn't prepared to get drawn into the story the way that I had. Mary Kubica hooked me and before long, I found myself stealing any free minute to continue with this twisted, psychological thriller.

Review: Run Away by Harlan Coben

Harlan Coben is one of my favorite writers and Run Away is proof of why he still deserves that title. Coben manages to place the every-man in situations that are seemingly impossible, mixes in a lot of danger, some homicidal maniacs, and serves it to us fans on steaming hot plate of 300 or 400 pages or so.

Review: The Shape of Night by Tess Gerrittsen

I went back and forth with myself and the rating I wanted to give The Shape of Night by Tess Gerritsen. I have been a fan of Gerritsen's for years. Her Rizzoli and Isles series is quite intriguing and rather different from this title.

Review: Recursion by Blake Crouch

I actually started reading Recursion a month or so ago and forgot to add it to my currently-reading shelf. Upon initially beginning the title, Blake Crouch totally pulled me in and grabbed my attention similarly to Dark Matter, another of his science fiction thrillers.

Review: If She Wakes by Micheal Koryta

Michael Koryta has grown to be one of my favorite suspense writers over the last few years. His novels are intricately woven with thrilling characters, plowing through a plot that just won't let go. If She Wakes does not disappoint. 

Review: The Invited by Jennifer McMahon

"Some people move into a haunted house, but you, you want to build a haunted house, Helen."

Review: The Boy by Tami Hoag

Tami Hoag has been a favorite author of mine for so long. Her mystery thrillers are always fast paced, engaging, and captivating and The Boy is no different. Detective Nick Fourcade is called in to the devastating crime scene where a young boy was murdered, where his mother narrowly escapes from the same fate. Det. Fourcade, a father of a young boy, takes this murder personally and makes it his personal mission to find the killer.

Review: Judgment by Joseph Finder

I have been a fan of Joseph Finder for quite some time now so when I was approved for a review of Judgment I broke into the requisite approved dance and got to reading ASAP. Like other reads by this author, the suspense does not letup and before long, the last page is turned, and the last sentence is read. I always look back like what the hell? I wasn't ready for it to end.

Review: A Ladder to the Sky by John Boyne

I have yet to read a novel by John Boyne that I don't absolutely get engrossed with. After finding and reading The Absolutist I've been a huge fan of his. After missing the deadline to read The Heart's Invisible Furies earlier this year, I thought I could redeem myself by reading A Ladder to the Sky in order to maintain my fan status. Suffice it to say, Boyne does not disappoint.