Ward D(on’t)

There aren’t many books that I feel morally obligated to share a review about but this one takes the cake. This book is infuriating, damaging with its blatant disregard and stigma perpetuating writing regarding the mentally ill which encompasses the entire book. I did read the updated version but removing one offensive word (and the word “crazy can still be found 22 times in regards to individuals’ mental status) really does nothing to change the damaging and irresponsible misinformation throughout. To think this book was written by a physician specializing in TBIs.  

Three out of the first four chapters are in reference to how the main character is terrified to work in the psychiatric unit of the hospital where she is a medical student. Not just the paragraphs, but almost every sentence within those paragraphs. Over and over she relates how scared she is to be around these patients, how dangerous and “crazy” they are and how it is a very unsafe environment. The MC went as far as to hoping she would get in a car accident and break her arm on the way to her shift so she wouldn’t have to work in the psych unit. I had an extremely hard time getting past that thought.

 There’s so much stigma related to mental illnesses, and this book just lends to that stigma and reinforces it in individuals uneducated on the subject. Although I do struggle with various mental illnesses, my opinion does not come about by being triggered as a patient, but rather in defense as someone who devotes a lot of their time in advocating for all that struggle with their mental health. I absolutely do not get offended easily and that is not something that I take lightly. 

This review is about breaking through the stigma, about human decency, respect and consideration in the treatment of vulnerable individuals that are afflicted with mental illnesses. It comes from a place of standing behind, not just those individuals, but those that love and care for them and mental health advocates as well. I do not feel that this book represents those things. In fact, it enforces the very opposite.

The truth is that those who fight every day to overcome these obstacles are much more vulnerable to be a victim of violence and prejudice than be a perpetrator. The more personal truth is that people with these mental illnesses fight for their lives every day, and this type of misinformation and ignorance that is perpetuated by this type of literature is just one more thing that makes them have to fight harder than they should have to. 

With all of that being said, I Have enjoyed the books i have read by this author and would recommend  some of her other books to anyone who enjoys a great psychological thriller. This book? No. Absolutely not recommending this one. It should not have been published. In the meantime, I, and many like me who I see have left similar reviews, will hold onto hope that this misinformation does not become common place. 

Please check out the NAMI Website for information, education and assistance in regards to mental illnesses.

For psych thriller books from authors who accurately depict mental illness check out Barbara Copperthwaite and AJ Campbell.

A Familiar Sight by Brianna Labuskes is a slow burn with a shock and awe ending!

 A shocking murder carries echoes of the past for a psychologist in a startling novel of suspense by a Washington Post and Amazon Charts bestselling author.

A Familiar Sight by Brianna Labuskes was BRILLIANT! This was my first read by this author but definitely will not be my last. 

The main character Dr. Gretchen White, although a diagnosed sociopath, is relatable and oh so interesting. I love that we are able to get glimpes into her brain and what makes her tick. She is highly intelligent and lives and breathes these cases using parts of them as a way to feed her 'demon' inside and hold it at bay. Being a criminologist and psychologist, she assists Detective Patrick Shaughnessy in profiling and apprehending killers. Their relationship is an interesting one and absolutely one that I loved and felt the connection. 

In this particular case, Gretchen identifies with the accused, Viola. In order to determine whether Viola is the killer or a scapegoat being used to protect someone else, Gretchen has to delve into the life of her friend's past and present as well as those closest to her friend. She puts her life on hold in an attempt to solve this case. 

The volley between past and present is something I thoroughly enjoyed as it really paints a full picture in my mind of how events in the past were linked to the case

I definitely did not expect the outcome of the book and was blown away! I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a delicious, slow burn thriller with a shock and awe ending. 

Special thanks to Brianna Labuskes, Netgalley and Amazon publishing for the opportunity to read and review this book.

K.L. Slater's The Evidence is an up-all-night psychological thriller

 I will start this review by saying that I am a HUGE K.L Slater fan. I have read them all and loved them all! The Evidence is now one of my top 3.

With The Evidence, you don't get a simple psychological thriller. You get THREE in one! With that, you get a crazy, action packed, wild ride!

Esme has just started begun a true crime podcast called The Speaking Fox that has, so far, proven to be a success. She is fairly newly separated from her husband but things are going well. Her son, who was injured in a hit and run, needs additional care so her sister, Michelle, came to the rescue and moved in to help Esme. So far, so good in Esme's world.

Esme begins her career with the investigation and interviewing of a woman, Simone Fischer, who has been incarcerated for killing her abusive husband and has never spoken to the press before. The only people she has left in her life are her over protective, greedy brother and her somewhat estranged son. Esme is determined to form a connection between Simone and the public as well as find out what truly happened the night of her husband's murder.

Due to her son's injuries from the hit and run, he is often up at night with pain. Esme is, at these times, tortured with the fact that there is someone out there free, living their life after causing lifelong disabilities for her young son. During one night, up with her son, two detectives show up at her door and tell her that her sister, Michelle, has been brutally attacked and is in a medically induced coma in the ICU. Esme can't fathom who would want to hurt her sister. Was this a random attack? Was her sister keeping secrets from her? As she begins her own investigation, she has to ask herself, more than once, can she really trust anyone, even those closest to her?

The Evidence is a true psychological thriller. It's characters are well developed and easy to relate to, I cheered Esme along throughout the entire book, this single mom of a disabled kiddo getting her life back on track and becoming a success.

There are turns and twists and then twists and turns, none of which I was able to guess before they were revealed. It was a true shock and awe book!

Pick this one up and prepare to stay up until the wee hours!

I'd like to thank the author, K.L. Slater, the publisher, Bookouture and Netgally for the opportunity to read and give my honest review of The Evidence.

Mary Kubica's Local Woman Missing Should Crown the Top of Your TBR This Summer!

 Why do I love Mary Kubica? Let me count the reasons.... I love her for Don't You Cry and definitely for Every Last Lie , not to mention The Other Mrs.  but I do love her most of all for Local Woman Missing! Janie, Mary and Joseph... whatever you choose for your summer TBR, be sure to add this book to the top!

Early on in the book we encounter Delilah, a young girl who went missing years before. Her disappearance followed a woman named Shelby's and coincided with her mother, Meredith's. What we don't know is whether or not they are connected or has this small community has just been rocked with more than it's fair share of tragedies.

Delilah reappears 11 years after her disappearance in somewhat of a feral state. Her story is heartbreaking. With no memory of her abduction, there is little to tell as to what happened to her and her mother at the time she was taken. The race is on to to put the puzzle together. After all, its a matter of life and death. In order to start, we go back 11 years to meet the husbands, the other children, friends and neighbors. Who can be trusted and whose life needs to be combed through just a little bit more? It is a wild, hold-on-to-your-seat, rollercoaster ride of twists and turns to find the truth!

As with all of this author's books (yes, I have read them all), I was able to easily connect with the players in Local Woman Missing and their characters were well developed. My heart hurt for Delilah, I could feel the loneliness of her younger brother, Leo, and the fear, suspicion and tension of the neighborhood was absolutely palpable. The wrap up of this book took me by complete surprise and left me open mouthed until the very end which, for me, was about 2:00 in the morning! 

Mary Kubica is in my personal Hall of Fame and Queens of Psych Thrillers when it comes to authors and, once again, has hit one out of the ballpark. You can't go wrong with any of Ms. Kubica's books but, I have to admit, Local Woman Missing is my absolute favorite and the best book so far in 2021!

Go grab a copy, grab some snacks and a blankie and leave the light on!

 

The Watcher is a quick and captivating read!

The Watcher by Caroline Eriksson is a quick and captivating read!

Unreliable narrator alert! Love them! Elena is an author that is newly separated from her husband and is now living on her own in a new neighborhood. She finds herself intrigued by her neighbors across the street, the Storm family. As she watches them she becomes more and more curious as to what is going on behind closed doors. Adding to her already suspicious thoughts is the Storm's son, Leo, who wants to be a writer and has befriended Elena. Leo has some stories to tell about his family and Elena's need for inspiration drives her to listen to them intently and fill in the blank spaces on her own. As she begins to write her novel, the lines between reality and fiction become blurred and soon she can't be sure if her paranoia is justified or if she is slipping into a state of insanity.

I loved Elena. I loved her introspection, nurturing traits and her intelligence. I found her to be a very well developed and relatable protagonist. I enjoyed the friendship with Leo and found her relationship with her sister to be so heartwarming! I would love to see more of her, what happens next in her life!

The Watcher is an intense book than will keep the pages open and flipping! I didn't have my 'AHA moment' until right when the twist was revealed which is the way every good book should be. I thoroughly enjoyed every word!

Special thanks to Netgalley and AmazonCrossing for an opportunity to read and review The Watcher.

The Proposal is a fresh take on psychological thrillers!

"The first thing you should know, dear reader, is that I am dead…..."

That line from The Proposal grabbed hold of me immediately and wouldn't let go!

Pippa is a reluctant teacher by day and struggling author by night. All she wants is to fulfill her dream of becoming a best selling author. If she could just find some inspiration......
Then, a knock at the door. In steps inspiration, Ryan.

While put off by Ryan, his disheveled appearance and questionable background at first, Pippa soon starts wondering what his story is. He intrigues her enough to want to know more.  She is used to taking risks so she can talk herself into feeling fairly comfortable allowing this stranger into her life. Will she live to regret this decision?

The Proposal is told through blog posts and journal entries by Pippa. I found at first they were a bit hard to piece together but the devil is in the details and in paying attention they completely worked together.  The 'business/friendship' that ensues between Pippa and Ryan is, without a doubt, dysfunctional at best. It was, personally, a weird experience for me as a reader as I was surprised by the way *I* wanted things to turn out. I was really very clueless throughout most of the book and wondering where it was headed. It was INTENSE for sure! I finished it in a day because I could not put it down! There is a HUGE creep-factor to this book and while at times it made me a little squirmy, the creepiness was essential.

The Proposal was definitely an out-0f-the-box refreshing new plot read! I haven't read anything like it before and that was a very nice surprise!

Special thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read and review The Proposal.

Make Yourself Cozy: A Guide For Self Care .... a necessary book for your self care tool kit!

This is the book we need, ya'll! I mean EVERYONE!

Living with depression and anxiety, I speak loudly about the importance of self care and self love. IT IS VITAL. You would think it would come easily, taking care of yourself. Especially being a parent, partner, or have a position in your career where others rely on you. I mean, if you can take care of other people then how hard can it be to take care of yourself, right?? WRONG. It is so easy to forget and even easier to feel guilty about.

I love, let me say this loudly, LOVE this book, Make Yourself Cozy by Katie Vaz! I have read numerous self help books and more than a couple on self care and this is the one I will carry with me! It is a book of adorable and highly relatable illustrations and interactive pages showing all of the different ways we can practices self care. And it DOES take practice! This is an excellent tool to keep handy when you are feeling overwhelmed, anxious, depressed or even just fine but you have a few minutes to show yourself some care. This book doesn't just tell you to take care of yourself or even that you should. IT IS A TOOL. Some pages give examples, some ask questions for you to answer so that you can practice your own unique coping skills and self care practices. There are pages for you to fill in the blank that will get you thinking about how to become a better you FOR you.

Make Yourself Cozy would be a wonderful tool for everyone to have with them tucked away in a purse or car or downloaded on your phone. I highly recommend this book to everyone as we all need extra help when it comes to taking care of ourselves! I plan on purchasing a copy once it releases and recommending it to my own therapist as a possible tool for her other patients.

Special thanks to Netgalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for an opportunity to read and review this book.

Book release date: 10/2/18