I have been reading 6-7 books per month, but I managed 8 in April (though I’ve been working so much, I don’t know that I’ve absorbed any of them – ha). I dove further into the world of Catriona Ward, knocked out a couple of novellas, and indulged in another cozy mystery. I also discovered just two days ago that Ivy Tholen released a sequel to Tastes Like Candy, so naturally, that has jumped to the top of my TBR pile!

Here are the books I devoured in April.

Sundial (Catriona Ward)

Rating: 4/5

Have I mentioned that I adore Cat Ward? No? Well, I do. I’ve enjoyed every book from her that I’ve read, and Sundial is no different. I love her writing style, the complexities of her (flawed) characters, and how there’s always a twist that catches me just a little off-guard. I also appreciate the fact that she can break my heart into a million pieces with the tragicness of her characters, even if one would typically consider them “bad.”

Sundial explores the darkest parts of human nature, and how deep familial bonds can go…even triumphing over science. “You can’t escape what’s in your blood.“ But perhaps you can help control what you pass on.

Devil in Ohio (Daria Polatin)

Rating: 3/5

I read Devil in Ohio after I watched the series, and I actually liked the show better. (And I never say that.) The twist at the end of the series was frustrating, but it worked. Not to say the book was bad! It wasn’t, and you should definitely read it. The story is fascinating and dark. I thought the characters were very real, especially the teen daughter, Jules. The writing style is easy; I finished the book much quicker than I thought I would.

Bad Girls With Perfect Faces (Lynn Weingarten)

Rating: 4/5

Another quick read. Bad Girls With Perfect Faces was nothing that I expected. The story kept me guessing, and every character was relatable in certain ways and very sympathetic. It was a book that had me considering what I would do in the main character Sasha’s position. (There were multiple points of view, but Sasha was the major player, involved on all fronts.) I would recommend this be added to your TBR right now! I will be checking out other books from Lynn Weingarten.

Channel X: A Streaming Service to Kill For (Matt Shaw)

Rating: 3/5

This could have been a good book, if Shaw had bothered to go a little deeper and make the characters more three-dimensional. However, I didn’t hate it. When I was finished, I just thought “Meh.” The violence and gore were on point, if that’s your thing, but the plot was not a fresh one. It’s been done before and done better. If you like books that focus on newer technology and have a penchant for blood splattered pages, Channel X is for you.

Alice (Christina Henry)

Rating: 4/5

I love retellings of Alice in Wonderland. There’s so much that can be done with it, and Christina Henry took it in the direction of a gangland and the sex trade. It is a darkly enchanting book, a horror fantasy, an adult fairytale. There is violence and murder and multiple mentions of rape, but if you can handle that, I would highly recommend this novel.

The Social Media Murders (Jon Athan)

Rating: 2/5

The Social Media Murders was a book that had a solid – if overdone – concept, but the execution fell flat. Reminiscent of any number of slashers that have come into being since the rise of social media, the plot is simple: students being slaughtered for views, all because (spoiler alert) someone was bullied. I feel that Athan put a lot of thought into the methods of murder, but let everything else slide. I did not care for the writing style, either. Sorry I keep mentioning that; it’s just important to me.

Murder Next Door (Michele Pariza Wacek)

Rating: 2/5

Book 3 in the Charlie Kingsley series really fell flat for me. It took me ages to get through it. The plot wasn’t great. Charlie was attempting to solve two mysteries at once, and I’m still not sure exactly how she arrived at the right answer this time. One minute she’s talking to the girl who was missing and reappeared, the next she suddenly knows who murdered the man who was found in someone’s backyard. I still like the writing and the characters, and I will give this series another chance. Murder Next Door just wasn’t it.

The Wonderland Murders (Lanie Olson)

Rating: 2/5

This is another missed opportunity. It was only 65 pages, so there was zero character development. The story was short, quick, and had an abrupt, unsatisfying ending. And honestly, I could have done without the unnecessary smut. I don’t suggest reading this one.

***

I am currently reading Stillhouse Lake (Rachel Caine), The Mermaid’s Sister (Carrie Anne  Noble), and Eat, Drink, and Be Scary (Olivia Jaymes).

Progress: 27 of 50