Because paradise is a library
The Downstairs Neighbours is a thriller I picked almost as an afterthought. I had no expectations going in and I ended up being surprised—in a good way! Cooper’s debut is a captivating read, featuring mystery and secrets in equal measure.
Another unreliable narrator for My Half-Sister’s Half-Sister, a detail that warrants a star first and foremost. Why? Because unreliable narrators are hard to write, and Henthorn does a good job with it.
The Dissent of Annie Lang recounts the life of Annie, the youngest of the Lang family. Her background is religious to the point of being cult-like, and given the historical setting, her upbringing is stricter than most. Personal tragedies and a controlling environment shape her personality, but don’t break her spirit.
homeless and winter is closing in. So she can’t believe her luck when a total stranger, Mr. Adams, invites her to stay. But Mr. Adams has a secret. He has chosen Rosie because she reminds him of someone very special from long ago. Maybe she can even help him recapture that distant happiness. Of course, she might need a little encouragement, but that’s fine…
Unreliable narrators can make or break a book. There’s no in-between, it’s either a huge success or a huge failure.
In Whisper Cottage we follow Stina and Jack, a married couple who decide to ditch their big city life and move to the countryside, hoping for a fresh, bucolic start. They’re expecting a kid; the small village of Avoncote is as charming as the cottage they bought, and the widow who lives next door looks so nice - right?
Well, wow. Watch For Me is both the kind of book I wasn’t expecting to read and one that met my expectations to a T.