I was so close to getting everything shared in its own post, but with it being the final day of 2024, I need to condense these three to one post.
All are some horror novels to get you in the mood for the fall season!
Mini Reviews – September 2024:
THE TASTING MENU – Stuart MacBride (Released September 1st, 2024 – Thanks to Amazon Publishing for the copy)
Three friends go on a foodie road trip to the Scottish Highlands and Islands to celebrate their pending retirement, expecting stunning scenery, great food, fine wines, and a chance to reminisce about the good old days. When they somehow secure a reservation at a remote and extremely exclusive restaurant set on a private island in Loch Broom, they know they’re in for a once-in-a-lifetime dining experience.
The question is: what is on the menu? Because all is not as it seems. One of the three friends is a killer, one is a liar, and one will do whatever it takes to survive…
My Thoughts: 3.5/5 stars: I loved the openings to each chapter being each course in the meal, and it gave me similar vibes to the movie The Menu. However, this is significantly more bizarre, extremely dark, and wow, talk about a bloodbath. Coming in at under 130 pages, this is a very short story, so there isn’t going to be a ton of in-depth character development or backstory. It gets right into the excitement and has plenty of twists packed in. This is dark – there’s carnage, there’s dark humor, and isn’t for the faint of heart!
THE PAPER – John K. Addis (Released July 9th, 2024 – Thanks to the author for sending me a copy)
In 1988, two seventh graders teamed up to publish an independent kid-run newspaper in their hometown of New Haven, MI. But who will dare tackle the story behind the house at the end of the street?
Inspired by actual events. And then some
My Thoughts: 4/5 stars – Right off the bat, this book is a SLOW slow burn. Something good to keep in mind when starting it – I know that personally helps me get in the right mood/set expectations before I crack open a book.
I think the horror elements in this are much more subdued. It’s nothing in your face or obvious in the beginning. It creeps up on you, and you don’t even realize until it hits you. It takes a while to get there, but I think the story and mystery surrounding the Black House at the end of the street was intriguing. The real standout of the story was the characters. Becoming a teenager sucks enough, but dealing with bullying and changes and learning about relationships and friendships makes it even harder.
If you’re game for a slow building story with some horror elements, then I think this will work out for you perfectly! The real driving force for this book is the kids, and the creepy house is just a bonus.
NOT THE KILLING KIND – Maria Kelson (Released September 10th, 2024 – Thanks to Crooked Lane Books for the copy)
Boots Marez is a Latina single mother raising a headstrong and sly 18-year-old boy she adopted six years ago. She also runs a school that helps the undocumented people in her politically divided town in Northern California. When her son Jaral is jailed for the murder of one of her former students, her world is turned upside down. Struggling to protect her son, Boots has to spotlight a community used to living in the shadows, putting her hard work over the years in doubt. Meanwhile, a vicious parents’ board wants to trash her ideals and oust her from the school she helped build. As she faces increasing danger to clear her son’s name, she must decide how far she is willing to go to bring her son home. But nothing is as it seems–Jaral has been keeping secrets from her after all. And as she puts the missing pieces together, she will discover a deeper and darker web of lies that has been hiding in plain sight.
My Thoughts: 3/5 stars – This one is a little harder to review without potentially spoiling anything. It is a mystery/thriller and kept a steady and engaging pace, but I also wasn’t on the edge of my seat the entire time. I liked the characters and the plot, but I think there were some very out there moments that went a little beyond believable. While I wasn’t expecting the direction the ending took, I wasn’t mad about it. I think the journey there was tense and kept me hooked.
This was a very middle ground book for me. I really liked it but wasn’t completely wowed. I think if the synopsis catches your eye, definitely give this a read. I’ve seen a lot of good reviews and see that people have enjoyed the audio!
Jessicamap Reviews 