Rating: 4 Stars Genre: Paranormal M/M Comedy Romance Series/Standalone: Medium Trouble #1 How I got this book: Bought via Audible Hiro Though I was born with the ability to see the dead, I struggled with it until my brother was killed and his ghost was left behind. Now, I’m determined to figure out who is responsible for his death… the problem is that Detective Maddox Booker, the one working the case, is a grumpy and stubborn man who wants nothing to do with me and definitely doesn’t believe in ghosts. It doesn’t help that I keep finding myself looking ridiculous in front of the detective, thanks to interfering ghosts who enjoy laughing at my expense. Still, the more I’m around Maddox, the more I realize that beneath that surly exterior is a kind and caring man who will do anything to help. Maddox When another man dies, I know we have a serial killer on our hands—the same murderer who has remained elusive for a year and a half. To add to my frustration, I keep running into Hiro at crime scenes only to hear him claim that he can talk to ghosts. The words of the dead could lead us to the serial killer and even tell us who is next, but ghosts? There’s no such thing as ghosts. Hiro is determined and charming, and no matter what I do, I can’t stop letting him get involved. He's definitely snagged my attention, but when he nearly winds up dead, I know he's getting closer to the truth—and if I don’t do something soon, he might be next. TW: Murder, attempted murder
Ever since listening to A Villain for Christmas by Alice Winters, narrated by Michael Lesley, I've been meaning to listen to more of this author's books. So, when Audible recommended Ghost of Lies, I was instantly intrigued. I seem to be on a bit of a paranormal kick just lately and a funny rom-com with a ghost-y twist sounded perfect. Ghost of Lies is narrated by Greg Boudreaux, who I don't think I've listened to before, though I can't be sure because he has an extensive catalogue, also narrating under the name Greg Tremblay. It was actually the narration that fully sold me on the book and I loved (almost) every moment of it. This book was so much fun! It starts with a really great scene where we meet both characters. Hiro is in the middle of a dangerous situation, which he seems to have a penchant for, as he tries to help a murder victim find peace. Then, in walks grumpy Maddox to "arrest" Hiro for tampering with yet another crime scene, and the fun ensues. The characters of Hiro and Maddox, and the supporting characters all have very distinct and different voices. I love how the narration really brought them all to life, and I particularly loved the sarcastic banter between all of the characters. The chemistry between the two main characters was sweet and sort of a grump meets cinnamon roll kind of trope. I liked how the relationship built in a bit of a slow burn but found the sex scenes a little more cringy than steamy. Honestly, there's only so many times I can hear the word 'cock' in the space of around 2-3 paragraphs 😅 The pacing was great and kept the story moving forward as I tried to guess who was behind the string of murders, and I enjoyed not being able to figure it out. I love it when a book surprises me...even though, in this case I felt it was a bit of an odd choice. I really enjoyed how the author blended the paranormal with reality, but overall I felt the humour was the strongest part of the story. It's a story that isn't meant to be taken seriously and is instead an over-the-top romp perfect for fans of A Villain for Christmas by Alice Winters and The Lightning Struck Heart by TJ Klune. Turn The Page Podcast: Ep 12: What Makes a Thriller? with Kathryn Foxfield and Maya MacGregor6/8/2022
Welcome back to the Turn The Page podcast.
This month, our episode is all about Thrillers. Sophie is a big thriller reader, but thrillers haven't always been my cup of tea, or so I thought. But after chatting about different books, and seeing what falls under the 'thriller' category on Goodreads, this month, we're asking the question, 'What exactly makes a thriller a thriller?' To help us out, I'll be chatting to two thriller/mystery authors, Kathryn Foxfield and Maya MacGregor about their latest books and asking them what goes into writing a gripping thriller/mystery. Rating: 4.5 Stars Genre: LGBT/YA/Mystery/Thriller Series/Standalone: Standalone How I got this book: Gifted by the publisher In this queer contemporary YA mystery, a nonbinary teen with autism realizes they must not only solve a 30-year-old mystery but also face the demons lurking in their past in order to live a satisfying life. Sam Sylvester's not overly optimistic about their recent move to the small town of Astoria, Oregon after a traumatic experience in their last home in the rural Midwest. Yet Sam's life seems to be on the upswing after meeting several new friends and a potential love interest in Shep, the pretty neighbor. However, Sam can't seem to let go of what might have been, and is drawn to investigate the death of a teenage boy in 1980s Astoria. Sam's convinced he was murdered--especially since Sam's investigation seems to resurrect some ghosts in the town. Threatening notes and figures hidden in shadows begin to disrupt Sam's life. Yet Sam continues to search for the truth. When Sam discovers that they may be closer to a killer than previously known, Sam has a difficult decision to make. Would they risk their new life for a half-lived one? TW: Homophobia, transphobia, hate crimes, murder, attempted murder
This is another one of those times where, because I enjoyed a book, I don't have a great deal to say about it...but I'll do my best. It has made me desperately want to pull out all of my Queen and David Bowie records and just space out listening to them because of this book! The author did such a great job bringing the story and the characters to life in such a visceral way that I now can't get certain songs, and scents, out of my head. This book is definitely an experience. The Many Half-Lived Lives of Sam Sylvester has everything - it has neurodivergent rep, non-binary rep, trans rep, bisexual rep, gay rep, adoption rep - there's so much diversity, I love it! Then there's the plot which is part contemporary YA mixed with a dash of romance and then a paranormal-esque mystery/thriller that gave me chills. I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of this book, and the mystery element kept me guessing until the final reveal. I love Sam, they're a unique character with a great voice and lots of heart. I love how the author portrays Sam and keeps their actions and responses feeling true to the character while adding in a cast of side characters that both compliment Sam and highlight their uniqueness. I really enjoyed how all of the different layers of this story intertwined. Some books have the characters constantly focused on a single main objective with no interruptions, but I love how the author keeps the pacing fresh and moving by having lots of issues and tension constantly building and circling Sam and their friends. To sum up, this book gave me major The Extraordinaries meets One of Us Is Lying vibes and would be perfect for fans of both of those books who love being kept on the edge of their seat. |
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About Kay (She/Her)
Book addict, film mad, music lover, business owner, writer and mum (not necessarily in that order), living in the UK. About Sophie (She/Her)
Sophie loves books (obviously). She has a passion for photography and spotting wildlife, and is interested in anything made with passion and creativity. THIS BLOG IS SPOILER FREE!
Rating system: 5 Stars - AMAZING!! 4.5 Stars - Almost perfect! 4 Stars - I really loved it 3.5 Stars - I liked it alot 3 Stars - I liked it (I don't typically review books that I rate below 3 stars)
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