Tag: beach read

  • Spoiler-Free Review: Everyone in My Family has Killed Someone

    Spoiler-Free Review: Everyone in My Family has Killed Someone

    “Apart from the murders, it had been a successful reunion”

    Author: Benjamin Stevenson

    When your dad dies in a shootout with the cops, your family doesn’t get invited to a lot of potlucks. That makes family reunions all the more important.

    For the Cunningham family, death is part of life.  Murder, self-defense, medical malpractice, it seems that every member of the Cunningham family has blood on their hands. They are also gathering together for a family reunion… at a remote ski resort… with a massive storm front coming in… this sounds like a great idea!

    It’s not long before the bodies pile up and Ernist Cunningham decides to play detective. Ernist figures he’s read enough murder mysteries to help the bumbling local cop. Unfortunately for Ernist real life isn’t a detective novel.

    This was a very fun read! Stevenson takes the Agatha Christie tropes like the trapped with a killer plot and twists it around just enough to leave you guessing. Stevenson has a banty style that is hilarious to read, he not only winks at the audience he actually dares you to solve the case yourself reminding you of detective novel “rules” along the way.

    If a killer is ever revealed and your ‘percentage read’ isn’t at least in the high eighties, they cannot be the real killer; there is simply too much of the book still to be read.

    I liked how cheeky the style is, I usually read cozy murder mysteries as “turn your brain off entertainment” but Stevenson wouldn’t let me! I had to stop and think to put all the clues together with him reminding me of “detective novel rules” every step of the way. This is a cozy murder mystery that keeps you on your toes.

  • Spoiler-Free Review: Remember Me?

    Spoiler-Free Review: Remember Me?

    The problem with giving yourself a pep talk is that deep down, you know it’s all bullshit

    Author: Sophie Kinsella

    During a girl’s night, the down on her luck (and single again) Lexi falls and hits her head. She wakes up years later with a amazing career and adoring husband. This isn’t a mistake, or a dream this IS Lexi’s life, Lexi has amnesia and has forgotten the last two years of her life. What changed? If only she could remember.

    I really like this book. It’s a fun light read with a fun element of mystery. You spend most of the book wondering why Lexi would make many of the choices that she did. When you finally find out the big change that happened in Lexi’s life, you understand why Lexi changed.

    I like the balance with Lexi’s husband, he’s not evil or abusive, but he has issues, but they can be worked on. It’s completely believable that pre-amnesia Lexi would start a relationship with this guy.

    This is a great summer beach read.