Review: Reputation by Sara Shepherd

Title: Reputation

Author:  Sara Shepherd
Publisher: Dutton
Publishing Date:  December 3rd, 2019

Pages: 373
Genre: Adult Mystery Thriller

Series:  Stand Alone
Source:  Audio

 

Aldrich University is rocked to its core when a hacker dumps 40,000 people's e-mails—the entire faculty, staff, students, alums—onto an easily searchable database. Rumors and affairs immediately leak, but things turn explosive when Kit Manning's handsome husband, Dr. Greg Strasser, is found murdered. Kit's sister, Willa, returns for the funeral, setting foot in a hometown she fled fifteen years ago, after a night she wishes she could forget. As an investigative reporter, Willa knows something isn't right about the night Greg was killed, and she's determined to find the truth. What she doesn't expect is that everyone has something to hide. And with a killer on the loose, Willa and Kit must figure out who killed Greg before someone else is murdered.

Told from multiple points of view, Reputation is full of twists, turns, and shocking reveals. It's a story of intrigue, sabotage, and the secrets we keep—and how far we go to keep them hidden. Number one bestseller Sara Shepard is at the top of her game in this brand-new adult novel.

Last year I read The Elizas by Sara Shepard last year and I loved it. I wasn't sure if I was going to give her adult books a chance because of my feelings for pretty little liars. But I did like her writing so I thought I would give it a chance. I adored it and when I saw she came out with a new adult book, I was excited. I wanted to read it asap and I did. I loved it! My favorite book of hers so far. So good. I loved the mystery, the characters, the stories, how everything weaved together. It was written well and it dealt with sexual assault on girls very well. I just loved everything about it. 

Aldrich University is a very well known prestigious university. The smartest and brightest kids get in. That is why it was a perfect target for a hacker to go in and make every email account for the university accessible for anyone to read. The story focus on Kit, the wife of a professor and daughter of the president of the university. After the email hack, Kit's husband, Greg,  ends up dead. She and her sister need to find the murderer and find out why he was killed. In the process secrets are discovered and there are numerous suspects because some of Greg's secrets were deadly. 

So what I thought of this book. This book just amazed me and surprised me. Like I said I did enjoy her other adult book, The Elizas, and thought I would enjoy this one too... but I more than enjoyed it. I couldn't put it down. It shocked me, it made me cry, it made me root for some not so good guys, it crossed so many grey areas. It was written very well and it was just amazing. 

One thing I loved about this book, it was told from many pov's. It wasn't confusing either. I was able to keep up quite well. Each individual was very unique and had a strong voice. So many personalities in one book. I can't name all the pov's at this moment, as I can't recall all their names, but there were quite a bit and they all came together to tell the story of what happened leading up to and on the night the murder happened. I really can't say I didn't like any of the characters. I loved them all. They were all so different and so strong in their own way. I feel that every one of their stories were so important. 

The setting was okay. I enjoyed it. I haven't read much from the university setting and I must say I wish there was more of them out there. It was very interesting and I wish that there would have been more details on the setting. It was done well but I feel compared to the story, it lacked a bit. 

The book in the end was really focused on assault on women. I loved how well this was done. There was a bit of women empowering other women and it made me really warm inside thinking about women standing up for other women. Sometimes I feel this lacks a bit. The reasons why women don't come forward, don't think they can speak up, this was done well too. I also loved how it told the other side of women taking advantage of men too. So it wasn't just one sided. The entire thing was just dealt with so wonderfully. 

The mystery was done well too. I had not clue , I mean no clue who did it. Everyone was a suspect in the book and a suspect of mine at one time or another. I was thoroughly confused on who the murderer was. I was shocked a bit but when it came out. Not totally, it made sense I could look back and see how it made sense, but I didn't see it until the author wanted me to see it. Great mystery. 

I really wanted more when it ended. The ending was complete and it was wrapped up nice. But I wasn't ready to leave this world, these characters behind. I would read more if there was more. I really did enjoy it. 

Truly just loved this book. If you like murder mystery and drama, read this book. 

Sara Shepard graduated from NYU and has an MFA from Brooklyn College. She has lived in New York City, Brooklyn, Tucson, Arizona, Philadelphia, and now lives in Pittsburgh, PA. Sara's Pretty Little Liars novels were inspired by her upbringing in Philadelphia's Main Line.

Review: In the Hall with the Knife by Diana Peterfreund

Title: In the Hall with the Knife

Author:  Diana Peterfruend
Publisher: Harry N Abrams
Publishing Date:  October 8, 2019

Pages: 304
Genre: YA Mystery Thriller

Series:  Clue Mystery #1
Source:  Audio

 

When a storm strikes at Blackbrook Academy, an elite prep school nestled in the woods of Maine, a motley crew of students—including Beth “Peacock” Picach, Orchid McKee, Vaughn Green, Sam “Mustard” Maestor, Finn Plum, and Scarlet Mistry—are left stranded on campus with their headmaster. Hours later, his body is found in the conservatory and it’s very clear his death was no accident. With this group of students who are all hiding something, nothing is as it seems, and everyone has a motive for murder. Fans of the CLUE board game and cult classic film will delight in Diana Peterfreund’s modern reimagining of the brand, its characters, and the dark, magnificent old mansion with secrets hidden within its walls.

I only just discovred this book when I was raoming the book store trying to find something calling my name. I hadn't read in a while and I needed something to pick me. This book did that. I love boardgames, I love murder mysteries and thrillers, I love the movie Clue. This book souned perfect. It wasn't perfect but it was good. I did enjoy the read. Lots of characters, a body with the name Boddy, and of course a good mystery. I do wish it had been stormy night when I read the book, but it wasn't stormy or at night..... maybe the next book I will try and get it right. Anyways, it was a good read with much of what I was looking for. 


There is a school with smart and rich kids. Among these there is Orchid, Mustard, Green, Plum, Scarlet, and Peacock. There is a Headmaster named Boddy, there is a house mother named White. The story takes place during winter break in Maine. These characters and a couple of others get stranded in the house during a storm. No power, kids with issues...some anger issues... and of course a murder. Everyone is a suspect, there are clues everywhere, it just a matter of time before the murderer is found. 

So there were many things I enjoyed in this book. I will start with the names. I was so happy to see the kids with the names from Clue...I mean it would be a strange clue mystery without the correct names of the characters. I was a little confused by Orchid. She wasn't in clue but I guess the author wanted 6 kids and wanted to keep Ms. White as the maid type. It wasn't a big deal, just a little confusing. I did like seeing how the names were assigned and how it all fit in. It was just a lot of fun. I was very happy to see that the one murdered was headmaster Boddy. I mean it had to be Boddy that was murdered. It wouldn't be right if not. So all of that was pretty much in order and pleased me. I also loved the title of the book. How does that name not grab you. 

The setting was also very fitting. It was an older house with many rooms and it had a study and a hall and a living room and so on. So also very fitting. The weapons also made their appearance. Candlestick, knife, lead pipe, wrench. All great fun, reminiscent of the game and movie and was just put together well. 

The mystery was good. I thought it was a couple of different people at different times. I liked how there were extra characters so I wasn't sure if it was one of the main characters or a supportive character. I didn't figure it out til the very end. The mystery and the murder made sense too. So it did come together quite well. 

The things I didn't enjoy so much that made my rating come down just a bit. Two things really. One... The story kept going between the 6 main characters. Which I don't normally mind but in this case, the characters were missing a connection for me. I couldn't connect very well and it made it sometimes hard to remember whose point of view it was from. I think they changed back and forth too much. I loved Orchid and Green and Mustard but really didn't feel much for Scarlet, Peacock, or Plum. I feel that there wasn't enough of each to really get to know them. 

Two....I was hoping for more suspense and thrills. It was really a mystery at it's core but just a mystery. Which this isn't bad as it was well done. I think if there were more thrills and suspense, the lack of connection to the characters wouldn't have been an issue. Since there wasn't I needed a bit more to really feel the story. 

Now I mentioned the two things that could have been improved... but I want to say I enjoyed this read. I will read the next installment and the one after that. I think it states it is supposed  to be a trilogy. So I am excited for the next books and I will get them as soon as they come available. I think maybe the characters will grow on my more now that the introductory to them all is out of the way. The mystery was so much fun and the nostalgic vibe that comes with the book... I will need more when they come available. 


I enjoyed this book, it was a great mystery. If you choose to read this..try and schedule it for a stormy dark night. It would set the perfect tone for this read. 

Diana Peterfreund has been a costume designer, a cover model, and a food critic. Her travels have taken her from the cloud forests of Costa Rica to the underground caverns of New Zealand (and as far as she’s concerned, she’s just getting started). Diana graduated from Yale University in 2001 with dual degrees in Literature and Geology, which her family claimed would only come in handy if she wrote books about rocks. Now, this Florida girl lives with her husband and their puppy in Washington D.C., and writes books that rock
Her first novel, Secret Society Girl (2006), was described as “witty and endearing” by The New York Observer and was placed on the New York Public LIbrary’s 2007 Books for the Teen Age list. The follow-up, Under the Rose (2007) was deemed “impossible to put down” by Publisher’s Weekly, and Booklist called the third book, Rites of Spring (Break) (2008), “an ideal summer read.” The final book in the series, Tap & Gown, will be released in 2009. All titles are available from Bantam Dell.
She also contributed to the non-fiction anthologies, Everything I Needed to Know About Being a Girl I Learned from Judy Blume, edited by Jennifer O’Connell (Pocket Books, 2007), The World of the Golden Compass, edited by Scott Westerfeld (BenBella Books, 2007), and Through the Wardrobe, edited by Herbie Brennan (BenBella Books, 2008).
Her first young adult novel, Rampant, an adventure fantasy about killer unicorns and the virgin descendents of Alexander the Great who hunt them, will be released by Harper Collins in 2009. When she’s not writing, Diana volunteers at the National Zoo, adds movies she has no intention of watching to her Netflix queue, and plays with her puppy, a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever named Rio.
 

Review: The Burglar by Thomas Perry

Title: The Burglar

Author: Thomas Perry

Publisher: Mysterious Press

Publishing Date: January 8th, 2019

Pages: 304
Audio Length: 10 Hours

Genre: Mystery Thriller
TW: Murder

Series: Standalone

Source: Audio

 

From Thomas Perry comes a new thriller about an unlikely burglar--a young woman in her 20s--who realizes she must solve a string of murders, or else become the next victim

Elle Stowell is a young woman with an unconventional profession: burglary. But Elle is no petty thief--with just the right combination of smarts, looks, and skills, she can easily stroll through ritzy Bel Air neighborhoods and pick out the perfect home for plucking the most valuable items. This is how Elle has always gotten by--she is good at it, and she thrives on the thrill. But after stumbling upon a grisly triple homicide while stealing from the home of a wealthy art dealer, Elle discovers that she is no longer the only one sneaking around. Somebody is searching for her.
As Elle realizes that her knowledge of the high-profile murder has made her a target, she races to solve the case before becoming the next casualty, using her breaking-and-entering skills to uncover the truth about exactly who the victims were and why someone might have wanted them dead. With high-stakes action and shocking revelations, The Burglar will keep readers on the edge of their seats as they barrel towards the heart-racing conclusion.

What made me pick this book up: 

I don't really know what caught my eye with this one, I think I saw it on someone's blog and I was reading what it's about and the review and it sounds great. 

What did I like about the cover: 

I think it matches pretty well. It's very simple. It's just a cover. Nothing special. 

What made me read this book: 

It sounded really interesting. I love mystery thriller books, and the burglar must solve murder or be murdered definitely caught my attention. 

What did I like the most: 

Like I said, the burglar must solve a murder or be murdered sounded interesting. The burglaring part is interesting enough, then add in the murder, the mystery, the suspense and the thrill of it all. 

This book had me holding my breath, squeezing my phone, zoning out, on the edge of my seat. 

I had NO idea what was going to happen, it wasn't until the BAM was revealed that I finally got it. And that's awesome to me. I don't like figuring it out before it's supposed to be figured out. I want it to be one of those WHAT moments. And this one wasn't really a HUGE what moment, but I still didn't figure out why until the author wanted it to happen. 

So this book wasn't predictable. There was only one part that I was like, oh yep, that's going to happen. But that's okay, it didn't ruin anything for me.

The characters were well written, likable, you could relate with how they were feeling. They didn't feel one dimensional. You felt for them, and wanted them to succeed. 

It took a bit to get going on the book, but I don't feel like it was a bad pace. It was a slow burner, but it wasn't a bad thing with this book. It fit well. 

What didn't I like: 

This book was really hard for me to get into at first. The author describes everything. Where the walls were, where the boards were that she was jumping on, what she could hear, smell, see. It was too much to where I started to zone out when they were describing things. 

I had to listen to the book at 2 speed and gradually listen at a faster speed. 

I haven't read too many adult books, so maybe this is normal to over describe everything, but I feel like the book could have gone without all that. 

That's really the only complaint I have. 

Would I read the rest of the series/more from this author?
Yes! I'm particularly interested in 

I'm really glad I found this book. It was a really well written mystery thriller.

“There was esoteric knowledge to being a burglar—broad areas that took some thought and skill. There was choosing the house, entering the house, and finding the items that were worth taking. Elle Stowell was good at all three."

― Thomas Perry, The Burglar

Thomas Perry is the author of 25 novels. He was born in Tonawanda, New York in 1947. He received a B.A. from Cornell University in 1969 and a Ph.D. in English from the University of Rochester in 1974. He has worked as a park maintenance man, factory laborer, commercial fisherman, university administrator and teacher, and as a writer and producer of prime time network television shows.

He lives in Southern California.
His website is www.thomasperryauthor.com