Double Take by Lynette Eason

 

Over a year ago Lainie Jackson's fiance' tried to kill her. Lainie knows that that night he died. Now Lainie and others are seeing him! And it seems he is bent on finishing what he started!

James Cross has come back to his hometown and is working with the local police department. When he gets shot Lainie is the one to help him when he gets to the hospital. Lainie has always had a crush on James. Being the brother of one of her best friends nothing ever came of that crush. But now James is determined to protect Lainie from whoever is trying to kill her. 

Seriously, from the first page Double Take grabs you and throws you into a suspense that literally makes you want to keep reading until the end. I didn't want to put it down, it had me from the get-go. I loved both James and Lainie. I love their struggle with their faith that keeps them hanging on to the Lord even though both of their family lives seem to be gripped with issues. James and his father have been estranged for years and Lainie's parents have their issues that keep her tied up in knots. But both of them help each other to strengthen their faith even though they struggle in those relationships. The suspense was excellent and as I've already said it kept me turning the pages to find out exactly what was going on! I can't wait for the next book in this new series because I am definitely a fan of book one! 

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

 

So I challenged myself for 2024 to read all of the books that were represented on this puzzle that I put together in January:

Gone Girl was the first one that I chose to read.

My Review

Well, at first this had me interested and engaged. By the end I was just thinking can we wrap this thing up already? I found it a cross between Rebecca and that old movie War of the Roses. Could two people destroy each other any more awfully? Ugh! Because I kept reading I gave it a 4, but honestly it just leaves a totally bad taste in my mouth and regret that I hung in there for the whole thing!

Sorry that this is less than a rave review, but it is how I felt when I finished it. Disappointing for sure. 

Holmes Marple & Poe by James Patterson and Brian Sitts

 

Three previously unknown private investigators open their business in an old bread factory. They manage to solve crimes that the police are unable to solve. With their link to their namesakes they are the perfect crime-solving trio. 

Brendan Holmes, Margaret Marple and Auguste Poe. Of course I was interested in this read when I saw the names! I found the book to be interesting. Three investigators with unique abilities in solving crimes. They also have connections that have others wondering where this trio has come from. I love their mysterious backgrounds. While they seem to be a Wonder Trio they are also a flawed trio. Especially the men. It seems that Marple is kind of the glue that holds them all together. The negatives of the story for me were the drugs, sex and language. But there's help to be had for the drugs, the sex is not graphic and the language is sparse. I'm not sure if this is going to be a series, but I kind of hope it is because I'd read the next book to see if we learn anymore about Holmes, Marple and Poe's pasts.