Book Review: "Razorblade Tears, " by S.A. Crosby

Razorblade Tears, by S.A. Cosby, is an action-packed novel that will leave you rooting for
two fathers seeking justice. Set in Virginia, this is a story about two fathers, one a Black man and a White man. Both are former convicts trying to stay on the straight and narrow. What brings them together? Deep grief. Someone has murdered their sons, leaving their 3-year-old granddaughter fatherless. After the police don't get anywhere in the investigation, the two fathers decide to take vigilante justice into their own hands. I happened to be reading this book while also watching Yellowstone. They mirrored each other in their drama, violence, and protecting your family at all costs, so it was easy for me to visualize the scenes in the book. However, this novel is more than just about a story of retribution. It also looks at how race, bigotry, sexual identity, and our communities shape us. It is about understanding that we don't all live with the same privilege. Most of all, it is a story about accepting your children for who they are before it is too late. Despite some gruesome scenes, this book left me emotional at the end. 

Review: "The Last Thing He Told Me," by Laura Dave

The Last Thing He Told Me, by Laura Dave, is a gripping novel that you will have difficulty putting down. After the FBI raids his office, Hannah's husband, Owen, disappears. The last thing he does is to leave Hannah with a message to protect his teenage daughter. She is left with more questions than answers as she tries to figure out why Owen has fled. The biggest question is, is Owen really who she thinks he is?

As Hannah questions what she knows about Owen her stream of consciousness gives you their backstory. The novel starts off in Sausalito, California, and then the action-packed plot takes you to Austin. As someone who has lived in the Austin area for 20 years, I found these scenes a little distracting. I kept nitpicking the accuracy of small details of the city. However, the storytelling, the suspense, and the action held my attention. It has been a while since a book has kept me up past midnight. I found the resolution somewhat unrealistic, but I still enjoyed the overall story. If you like a fast-paced, suspenseful novel then check this one out. 

Review: "Saint X", Alexis Schaitkin

 

One of the perks of being a Little Free Library steward is getting books donated and reading them first. In the past year, Celadon Books, an imprint of Macmillan books, created a program with the LFL organization to send books to stewards to promote their authors' works. Usually, I put them straight in the LFL so that they can get read by others. When Saint X arrived in the mail, the cover art quickly caught my attention. Yes, I will admit that I do judge a book by its cover. I scanned the back cover to read the synopsis, and I was quickly intrigued by the story and just had to read it before passing it along. The book did not disappoint.

The story opens up on a fictional island in the Caribbean, where affluent, White people come to experience the island's culture from a distance. When Alison, a college freshman on vacation with her family, disappears, the novel really begins. The aftermath that this experience has on her family, especially her younger sister and the suspects in her disappearance, is the novel's core. Told in lush language, Schaitkin takes your imagination from Saint X to New York City in vivid detail. The novel is non-linear, going back and forth between memory and present-day to unfold a story about the secrets we keep and how no one really knows another's truth, even you, yourself. While there are elements of suspense this element is just a small part of the story.  I really enjoyed Schaitkin's writing style, and her social commentary on how being born into privilege is merely the luck of the draw.  📖🐛🐛🐛🐛

Review: "The Couple Next Door," by Shari Lapena

 

This novel starts off as a whodunnit mystery and halfway turns into a psychological thriller. Anne and Marco come home after a night of drinking with their next-door neighbors to find that their 6-month-old baby has gone missing. Just when you think you know the full story of how baby Cora has disappeared there are many twists to be unraveled. Characters are flawed and everyone but Anne is unlikable, so you are not sure who you can trust. The pacing of the story is intense making it a quick read. If you like a nail-biter with a fast-paced storyline then you might enjoy trying to unravel this suspenseful mystery. 📖🐛🐛🐛