Rosepoint Publishing

He Started It by Samantha Downing #AudiobookReview #TuesdayBookBlog #DarkHumor

Best Mystery, Thriller & Suspense

Book Blurb:

From the twisted mind behind mega hit My Lovely Wife comes the story of a family—not unlike your own—just with a few more violent tendencies thrown in….

Beth, Portia, and Eddie Morgan haven’t all been together in years. And for very good reasons—we’ll get to those later. But when their wealthy grandfather dies and leaves a cryptic final message in his wake, the siblings and their respective partners must come together for a cross-country road trip to fulfill his final wish and—more importantly—secure their inheritance.

But time with your family can be tough. It is for everyone.

It’s even harder when you’re all keeping secrets and trying to forget a memory, a missing person, an act of revenge, the man in the black truck who won’t stop following your car—and especially when at least one of you is a killer and there’s a body in the trunk. Just to name a few reasons.

But money is a powerful motivator. It is for everyone.

My Review:

Without realizing it, I borrowed two audiobooks by the same author within a month. I previously read and reviewed Too Old For This and greatly enjoyed it, perhaps because it involved a female senior main character. Major dark satire. This book is also dark. Very dark and also quite original.

This one, however, doesn’t include the satire; no sense of humor. At first I thought the bickering between siblings was meant to establish a sense of familial connectedness. Boy, was I wrong. Grandpa died and the inheritance comes after a road trip.

He Started It by Samantha Downing — He Started It – US cover

Beth, Portia, and Eddie Morgan all have widely different personalities and they all remember their grandfather differently. For that matter, they remember their parents differently as well.

Not the first book I’ve read recently with totally unlikeable characters, truly dysfunctional. They all have secrets and are disturbed to varying degrees. You can’t believe what happens on this cross-country trip they are forced to recapture of the one with their grandpa when they were all little—some twenty years ago. There are caveats, of course, but they must all do the trip just like they did before, including the dumps they stayed in and the greasy spoons where they ate. Beth, the middle child, is both the narrator and a liar.

He Started It by Samatha Downing — He Started It – UK cover

This trip is a little more complicated, given that now there is a marriage involved along with another significant partner. Beth was given the edict to find their missing sister by their mother—now in prison. But guess how that goes.

Yes, it’s a mind-blowing, skull-numbing read, with twists and whip-fast, shocking turns. Once I got my eyes back and focused, I’d reread that passage. No, that’s what I read. Who writes this stuff?!

Okay, so the deal was that the siblings had to complete the trip, report back and get their inheritance—no small change. So, how in hell did this ending solve that one? Hated the ending. So much drama, never-ending bickering, one extra little zinger after another. (Who is following them? Why did grandpa whisk the kids away from their parents and what’s with the calls? What’s the deal with Eddie?) It’s clever, keeps you hooked, entertained until the end. And did we find out what happened with the missing sister?

Many thanks to my local library for providing me with the opportunity to listen to and review this audiobook. The thoughts expressed here are my own.

Rosepoint Publishing: Four Stars

Book Details:

Genre: Dark Humor Literature & Fiction, Dark Humor, Psychological Thrillers
Publisher: Penguin Audio
Narrator: ‎ Karissa Vacker
Release Date: July 21, 2020

Title Links:

Amazon-US | Amazon-UK | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

The Author: Samantha Downing is an internationally bestselling thriller author. Her novels include My Lovely Wife, He Started It, For Your Own Good, and A Twisted Love Story. Her debut novel, My Lovely Wife, was nominated for Edgar, ITW, and Macavity awards in the US, the CWA award in the UK, and was the winner of the Prix des Lectrices award in France.

Her latest thriller, Too Old For This, was released in August 2025.

#ThrowbackThursday

The Girl on the Train: A Novel by Paula Hawkins #AudiobookReview #ThrowbackThursday #psychologicalthriller

Best Books of the Year 2015

Book Blurb:

The #1 New York Times bestseller, USA Today Book of the Year and now a major motion picture starring Emily Blunt.

Rachel takes the same commuter train every morning and night. Every day she rattles down the track, flashes past a stretch of cozy suburban homes and stops at the signal that allows her to daily watch the same couple having breakfast on their deck. She’s even started to feel like she knows them. Jess and Jason, she calls them. Their life—as she sees it—is perfect. Not unlike the life she recently lost.

And then she sees something shocking. It’s only a minute until the train moves on, but it’s enough. Now everything’s changed. Unable to keep it to herself, Rachel goes to the police. But is she really as unreliable as they say? Soon she is deeply entangled not only in the investigation but in the lives of everyone involved. Has she done more harm than good?

My Review:

Sorry, not sorry, that I did not find Rachel sympathetic.

This is a novel I sucked into because it was a book of the year. Not the first time I’ve wondered if I read the same book alluded to in the raves. It wasn’t until I actually started this review that I discovered it also became a successful movie starring Emily Blunt. Well…Emily Blunt. Now I’ll have to go and look for the flick, but it won’t be involved in my review of the novel.

The Girl on the Train - US cover — The Girl on the Train – US cover

There are actually three main characters but Rachel Watson has the predominant POV. Also included in short chapter bursts are Anna and Megan. They all share the storytelling, but it’s Rachel who is the most dominant and unreliable narrator. Excuse me, but did they all have to be so nasty? There’s no one here to invest in.

It’s Megan who goes missing. It’s Anna who is the sweetie who stole Rachel’s hubby (the rat) and became pregnant just to spite Rachel. Anna obviously knew Rachel couldn’t conceive, thank heaven, as with the amount of booze Rachel consumed, the poor thing would come out in the shape of a bottle.

Never mind all that. Rachel manages the money to continue to commute to the city every morning where she was fired for drinking and being totally obnoxious on the job. One morning on the way in though, she believes she witnesses what has to be a crime and she attempts to report it.

HA! No one takes her seriously. Would you? So she decides to find out what happened herself. Does this sound familiar at all?

The Girl on the Train - UK cover — The Girl on the Train – UK cover

The narrative manages a timeline shift as well as POV shifts, some stretching disbelief, some little more than a repeat, but therein lies a heavy philosophical study in the mind of three disparate women. There are twists galore, because…who do you trust to tell this tale?

The denouement, when it comes, may not be one of the answers you’d thought of, but is rather a let down anyway and my summation: meh.

Many thanks to my local library for providing me with the opportunity to listen to and review this audiobook. The thoughts expressed here are my own.

Rosepoint Publishing: Three Stars

Book Details:

Genre: Psychological Thrillers, Women’s Fiction, Literary Fiction
Publisher: Penguin Audio
Narrators: Clare Corbett, Louise Brealey, India Fisher
Release Date: January 13, 2015

Title Links:

Amazon-US | Amazon-UK | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

The Author: PAULA HAWKINS worked as a journalist for fifteen years before writing her first novel. Born and brought up in Zimbabwe, Paula moved to London in 1989. Her first thriller, The Girl on the Train, has sold more than 23 million copies worldwide. Published in over fifty languages, it has been a Number 1 bestseller around the world and was a box office hit film starring Emily Blunt.

Paula’s thrillers, Into the Water and A Slow Fire Burning, were also instant Number 1 bestsellers.

Audiobooks with headphones — Graphic books and coffee courtesy Freepik.com

Conspiracy (A Sanctuary Novel) by Colleen Coble #BookReview #ChristianMystery

A small town, second chance romantic suspense

Book Blurb:

In the third book in USA Today bestselling author Colleen Coble’s Sanctuary series, Paradise Alden learns firsthand that a conspiracy of lemurs is a family . . . but a conspiracy of people can be deadly.

Fifteen years of secrets. One chance for justice.

Just as wildlife veterinarian Paradise Alden begins to envision a future with Blake Lawson, the ghosts of her past return with a vengeance. The murder of her parents has shadowed her for fifteen years, but a new threat brings the cold case into the terrifying present. A trained leopard–a chilling embodiment of Paradise’s deepest fears–is now stalking her.

Haunted by resurfacing memories, Paradise, Blake, and her newfound brother, Drew, follow a trail of clues that leads them into a web of dark family secrets. The deeper they dig, the more shocking the connections become, linking their families to a dangerous conspiracy that someone is still willing to kill to protect.

With every step closer to the truth, the killer becomes more desperate. Paradise, Blake, and Drew must race to expose a murderer who has remained hidden for fifteen years, but this time, they are the ones being stalked. If they can’t unmask the killer, the past will destroy both the fragile future Paradise and Blake are trying to build and the family she has finally found with her brother.

Colleen Coble’s Conspiracy combines gripping suspense with slow-burn romance and includes intriguing mysteries from both the past and present, sabotage and danger, second-chance romance, found family, and themes of overcoming pain and how the past doesn’t have to define you. Perfect for fans of Laura Dave, Allison Brennan, and Lynette Eason.

The Sanctuary series: Ambush (book 1), Prowl (book 2), and Conspiracy (book 3)

My Review:

My guess is that I acquired this book hoping Book 3 could read as a standalone and, for the most part, it does. I didn’t read either Book 1 or 2 and missed that it is faith based. I expected a suspenseful mystery story and, again, for the most part, it is.

First, the names of the two main characters began to annoy me: Paradise and Blake. Her half-brother Drew, perhaps more formally Andrew, possibly based from Celtic roots. I’m not sure why the clash bothered me, but I kept tripping over “Paradise.”

Then I realized I’d missed the part that called it a slow burn. And, indeed, it is. Guess I prefer that to she and Blake jumping into bed at every opportunity for some afternoon delight.

When Paradise lost her parents, she became a ward of the courts and foster care, where, once again, descriptions of abuse at the hands of caregivers is enough to make a twelve-year-old opt to live on the streets instead. (How do I manage to have successive books with the same theme? Usually it’s the same names.)

Then there is Drew, a (former?) detective, who is ready to join the half-sister train and move to Alabama. Together, their goal is to solve the murders of Paradise’s parents and Drew’s dad. Yup—can’t be a coincidence—but that’s how they found each other.

I was impressed, however, that Paradise is written as a wildlife veterinarian at an animal refuge in Alabama. Blake’s mother owns it. This book doesn’t go deeply into how Paradise comes to work there or where she came from or how with such varied and sufficient knowledge. My bad for not reading Book 1 and 2 first! Not a fan of apes in general, however, was interested in the different origins and biology of a “wet-nosed” primate. Lemurs came before apes. “Conspiracy” is the collective noun for lemurs as is a “murder of crows.”

In between twists, some building tension, and clues dropping like bread crumbs, there are slow areas for me (i.e., romance). The relationship with Blake is a sweet one though, since she has no family and he has plenty, a believable match. There are numerous references to faith and prayers.

Although an interesting or unique plot, I had a little problem with the pacing, losing the thread, and the protagonists’ half-brother, as well as the MC names.

Many thanks to my local library for providing me with the opportunity to read and review this book. The thoughts expressed here are my own.

Rosepoint Rating: Three point Five Stars

Book Details:

Genre: Christian Mystery & Suspense Romance, Christian Mystery & Suspense
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Publication Date: July 7, 2026

Title Link(s):

Amazon-US | Amazon-UK | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

The Author: USA TODAY and Publishers Weekly bestselling author Colleen Coble has captivated readers with over 6 million books in print, earning #1 spots on Amazon. Her novels blend suspenseful plots, emotional depth, and faith-filled redemption that keep fans turning pages late into the night.

Colleen also teamed up with attorney Rick Acker. Together they launched the high-octane Tupelo Grove series which infused her signature coastal intrigue with Rick’s courtroom-sharp twists. Multiple high concept novels continue to flow from their fun and exciting collaboration including I Think I Was Murdered, a ripped-from-the-headlines AI suspense novel.

A passionate mentor to aspiring writers, Colleen has served on the American Christian Fiction Writers board for 20 years, helping foster a warm and supportive community. A life-long Hoosier, she and her husband recently moved to Arizona where she continues to spoil her grandchildren and craft stories in the sunshine.

*Rafael Peier

The Seagull by Wes Snowden – #BookReview #seaadventuresfiction #NetGalley

Rosepoint Publishing: Five Stars

Book Blurb:

In the turbulent years leading up to the American War of Independence, one man’s journey will redefine his destiny and the future of a nation.

Jeremy Whitehall, a privileged young man from London, suddenly finds himself stripped of wealth and thrust into the hands of his ruthless uncle. Forced into an unwelcome mission to Nantucket, Jeremy’s task is clear: manipulate the burgeoning New England candle industry to serve his uncle’s greed. But as the Atlantic swells beneath him, Jeremy’s conscience awakens, leading him to question the path laid out for him. Upon arrival in Nantucket, Jeremy crosses paths with the spirited daughter of a whaling ship captain, who ignites a transformation within him. Together, they plot to thwart his uncle’s sinister plan. However, an unforeseen disaster at sea catapults Jeremy into a world of peril and opportunity, where he must navigate treacherous waters, both literal and moral. From the lavish halls of London’s elite to the wild, unforgiving seas off the coast of Brazil, The Seagull charts Jeremy’s thrilling metamorphosis from a pampered wastrel to a man of honor and determination. Set against the backdrop of a world on the brink of revolution, this spellbinding tale of adventure, romance, and personal redemption will captivate readers from the first page to the last.

His Review:

Mr. Jeremy Whitehall was born into wealth in Great Britain. The colonies were suppressed by exorbitant taxes on every transaction payable to George the Third. The taxes help support a war with France and the colonists get no benefit from the taxes. Also, all shipping is required to sail through British ports and pay a fee to the King before delivering or selling anything developed in the Colonies. The British merchants and King have a monopoly on all production and deliver no benefit to the Colonies.

Jeremy could care less. The bars in London are loaded with beer and spirits. He works for his uncle but in reality is a “Never-do-well”. His well-to-do uncle tires of his wild ways and sends him to America as a hand on a sailing ship. He works at every job on the ship and becomes a very good sailor.

He meets a lovely young lady in the Colonies and decides he wants to wed her. However, a whaling ship goes out for an indefinite period of time and he is not sure she will wait for him.

A well written novel and believable tale of love. There is romance and clashes between some of the characters. It’s a well plotted and paced narrative, well worth the reader’s time. Despite a slightly slow start, I found my interest growing as I read and by halfway through the book did not want to put it down. Read and enjoy. You will not be disappointed. CE Williams

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with the opportunity to read and review this ebook. The thoughts expressed here are my own.

Book Details:

Genre: Sea Adventures Fiction, US Historical Fiction
Publisher: Corvent Creative
Publication Date: September 5, 2024
Source: Publisher and NetGalley

Title Link(s):

Amazon-US | Amazon-UK

The Author: Wes Snowden is an author primarily as a result of an unforeseen event.

A born storyteller, Wes would often find himself surrounded by groups of excited kids. Their high-pitched voices demanding to hear the latest chapter on the adventures of Pirate Joe, or The Lost Princess, The Magic Opal, or whatever was current.

One day, a good a teacher friend listened in. At her gentle insistence, Wes was encouraged to commit those early verbal stories to paper for the benefit of future generations of youngsters.

However, as is often the case in life, that first bite of the apple produced an intense desire for more. After honing his craft writing several children and young adult books, Wes now focuses on writing unique, entertaining full-length stories for adults.

White Swan Wishes, Zachary’s Gold, One Last Move, and The Leprechaun Wars will be joined by Firebug, the latest novel in the fall of 2020.

After a successful career as an international business owner, Wes now spends his writing time between Toronto, Vancouver, and Scottsdale, Arizona.

Wes Snowden is a member of Writers & Editors Network.

The Music Shop: A Novel by Rachel Joyce #AudiobookReview #bookclub #TBT

Best Literature & Fiction

Another book I’d have never chosen, but a book club selection for September. An older book, albeit one that caught a lot of attention including a star rating of 2 (Kobo) to 4.3 (Amazon-US), that, once again, I struggled with. Being honest, it moved so slowly I might have DNF’d it, had it not been a book club pick we would be discussing at our October meeting.

My Thoughts

The glacial pace, for me at least, was occasionally moved to cruise when discussing the nuances of a particular portion of a popular song, whether contemporary or classic. The ensuing discussion often led to a new understanding of the lyrics and what they might really have meant. Not that the author was just happy at that point that the lines rhymed.

The Music Shop by Rachel Joyce — The Music Shop – US cover

Frank has a gift…no, not a gift, as he’s had a lifetime to build that acute sense of music and the acquired expertise, memory for songs instilled in him by a mother consumed by music. More devotion to her music than even for a son, longing for acknowledgment, love, and respect by devouring everything from old to new pieces, artists, and genres.

His loss is palpable. Sad. But his talent is in hearing a customer’s story and recommending the one song that will absolutely resonate with them, bring them back to joy and heal.

There were times when I got annoyed with Frank and his insistence on staying with vinyl. I could imagine, and knew, he’d be left behind with new technology and changes with the delivery of music and that he’d be woefully left behind times. Not that his whole neighborhood wasn’t changing, battling new ideas for development that didn’t include him.

So when Ilse is introduced to the storyline, I couldn’t see where in the world she’d fit in the scenario and what her angle might be. Frank has his secrets, so does she, and both so stubborn they’d lose twenty-one years of what might have been. ARGH!

I perked up near the conclusion and the flash mob idea with Handel’s Messiah Hallelujah Chorus. Still, even that disappointed and I had to search YouTube for a better version.

Book Club Thoughts

Once again, the book provided many a lively discussion, often times getting off topic with music providing such a wide arc for thought and conversation. Lots of sharing favorites—those songs that resonate deeply, personally, the lyrics that spoke to you. A variety of questions, most from author suggestions rather than the publisher.

A few of the questions specifically examined were:

► Why is Frank so insistent on staying with vinyl?

He inherited his mother’s huge collection; that is where his heart is.

► What did the people on Unity Street mean to him?

He was left alone after his mother passed and they were what constituted his family.

► What does Frank’s gift tell us about himself, his childhood?

He had absorbed the absolute meaning and feeling that music represented and could interpret what was most appropriate for the one seeking solace.

► Do you listen to music a little differently now?

Yes.

Reflecting on the music that gives me goosebumps, I can’t listen to Elvis singing, You Gave Me a Mountain without getting them. Of course, there are others. Having lost my brother during the ‘Nam war, it’s hard not to cry when I hear Bring Him Home (Josh Groban).

The book stirred some emotions, but, mercy—slow and sad just doesn’t do it for me. What did you think of the book? Your favorite song?

Book Details:

Publisher: Random House Audio
Narrator: Steven Hartley
Publication Date: January 2, 2018

Title Link(s):

Amazon-US | Amazon-UK | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

The Author: Rachel Joyce is the author of the Sunday Times and international bestsellers The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry, Perfect, The Love Song of Miss Queenie Hennessy, The Music Shop, the instant New York Times best seller Miss Benson’s Beetle, Maureen Fry & the Angel of the North and a collection of interlinked short stories, A Snow Garden & Other Stories. Her latest novel The Homemade God will be published in April ’25 in UK, and June ’25 in US and Canada.

Rachel’s books have been translated into thirty-seven languages and sold millions of copies world-wide. The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry was shortlisted for the Commonwealth Book prize and longlisted for the Man Booker Prize. The critically acclaimed film of the novel, for which Rachel wrote the screenplay, was released in 2023 starring Jim Broadbent and Penelope Wilton, and in 2025 the musical will open in Chichester Festival Theatre, for which Rachel also wrote the script. Miss Benson’s Beetle won the Wilbur Smith Adventure Writing Prize 2021, Rachel was awarded the Specsavers National Book Awards ‘New Writer of the Year’ in December 2012 and she was shortlisted for the ‘UK Author of the Year’ 2014. In 2024 she was given an honorary doctorate by Kingston University.

Rachel has written many original afternoon plays and adaptations of the classics for BBC Radio 4 and she is currently adapting Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen which will be aired later this year. You can follow her on Instagram at rachelcjoyce.

The YMCA Bookclub

Too Old for This by Samantha Downing #AudiobookReview #ThrowbackThursday #crimethrillers

Best Mystery, Thriller & Suspense

Book Blurb:

Lottie Jones thought her crimes were behind her.

Decades earlier, she changed her identity and tucked herself away in a small town. Her most exciting nights are the weekly bingo games at the local church and gossiping with her friends.

When investigative journalist Plum Dixon shows up on her doorstep asking questions about Lottie’s past and specifically her involvement with numerous unsolved cases, well, Lottie just can’t have that.

But getting away with murder is hard enough when you’re young. And when Lottie receives another annoying knock on the door, she realizes this crime might just be the death of her…

My Review:

The first time the hammer came down, I was shocked out of my wits. She did what? I reread it. No, I was right. OMG!

Here I was, innocently enjoying a new surge in the books with senior main characters. It never dawned on me that what looked like on the surface as a sweet old lady, might instead harbor a serial killer. Well, of course, there is that book cover…

This is definitely not your average serial killer.

Lottie is living the dream. Self-sustaining, she is independent, capable, and wicked smart. She’d have to be to get away with her horrific background all these years, never having been caught.

So when a journalist arrives that wants to interview her, get her story, something has to give. If I had false teeth, I’d have dropped them. This is definitely a hook that will get you listening beyond preparing dinner.

Lottie is never going to win any contest for being an agreeable senior, easy to manipulate. That fiendish sense of propriety, humor and wit, there is very little that gets past her. And there is no way anything about her past could come out. That would just destroy the sweet and comfortable set up with her senior lady friends, circle of church acquaintances, and compelling and relaxed atmosphere she has created for herself in the beautiful Pacific Northwest.

How does a writer give you a reprehensible character and make her charismatic enough to actually root for her? Do you? Maybe not. But watching her maneuver the sticky situations that ensue while listening to her new aches and pains attributable to her physical age or complaining about forgetting something important can be, admittedly, hilarious.

Where did she come up with her moral code, the justification? The book is addictive. The septuagenarian can hold her own with any street smart teen, meet them with their language, and best them in clever strategizing.

I think reading this book could be fun, but for even more fun, I’d recommend the audiobook narrated beautifully by Elizabeth Wiley. She hits all the nuances, the inflections, and manifests the dark humor. It’s compelling, engaging, entertaining. Suspend a little disbelief and enjoy the twists; the intellect is delicious.

Many thanks to my local library for providing me with the opportunity to listen to and review this audiobook. The thoughts expressed here are my own.

Rosepoint Publishing: Four point Five Stars

Book Details:

Genre: Crime Thrillers, Psychological Thrillers, Suspense
Publisher: Penguin Audio
Narrator: Elizabeth Wiley
Release Date: August 12, 2025

Title Links:

Amazon-US | Amazon-UK | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

Please accept my sincere apologies for accidentally posting the incorrect picture of this author. This is the pic that should have appeared.

The Author:

Samantha Downing is an internationally bestselling thriller author. Her novels include My Lovely Wife, He Started It, For Your Own Good, and A Twisted Love Story. Her debut novel, My Lovely Wife, was nominated for Edgar, ITW, and Macavity awards in the US, the CWA award in the UK, and was the winner of the Prix des Lectrices award in France.

Her latest thriller, Too Old For This, was released in August 2025.

Woman cooking dinner while listening to an audiobook. — AI generated by Gemini.Google.com

Forget You Saw Her: A Thriller by Noelle W Ihli #AudiobookReview #ThrowbackThursday

Book Blurb:

Seventeen years ago, Sabina made the most difficult decision of her life: giving her newborn daughter, Andrea, up for adoption. She’s lived with the guilt ever since, clinging to the hope that Andrea was safe, happy, and loved.

Then the letter from the police arrives.

Andrea Beaumont is a missing person.

Desperate for answers, Sabina dives headlong into a frantic search for the daughter she never knew. But the deeper she digs, the more certain she becomes that Andrea isn’t coming home.

And yet…as Sabina follows the disturbing trail of evidence, she swears she can feel her daughter reaching through her dreams, warning her—and guiding her toward the truth.

But someone else is watching—and keeping close tabs on Sabina’s search. And they’ll do whatever it takes to make sure the truth stays buried.

Inspired by true events, Forget You Saw Her is a standalone prequel to the blockbuster international bestseller Ask for Andrea, sure to keep readers gasping for air long into the night.

My Review:

Seems like I’ve been bumping into a number of books lately with the same common theme of adoption. It doesn’t sound like being female and adopted is a fun childhood and many of these books would have you kissing the feet of your own parents—if you have both.

I see by the posted reviews that this was a highly successful book, based on a true experience. Perhaps that makes it even more tragic, as this book contains a number of trigger warnings, not the least of which is abuse. With readers disclosing the level of emotion the narrative wrought, it was expected to be very poignant. And to some extent, it was.

Confession here—I have not read Ask for Andrea and, therefore, had no expectation other than the description in the blurb. You’d think then that the long, possible redundancy regarding some of the characters as they are fully fleshed would be familiar enough by those who had to become tedious. It was for me and slowed the pace to the point where there were small portions I might have tuned out.

Once again, noted it contained some elements of paranormal piqued my interest and, indeed, they were a point of re-engagement for me.

Somehow, I always look for the rainbow, good triumphs over evil, everything will turn out okay. In this novel, it is heart-breakingly unattainable. I never really attained a solid connection, still, a tragic event is emotional. The storyline is told through multiple POVs and is well plotted. The writing style is beautiful.

Not what the reader might expect. I didn’t get my happy ever after, maybe that’s my problem. You may very well find this a delicious, can’t put it down thriller. Go for it.

Many thanks to my local library for providing me with the opportunity to listen to and review this audiobook. The thoughts expressed here are my own.

Rosepoint Publishing: Three point Five Stars

Book Details:

Genre: Psychological Thrillers, Suspense thrillers, Domestic Thrillers
Publisher: Simon Maverick
Narrators: Andi Arndt, Carlotta Brentan, Brittany Pressley
Release Date: November 4, 2025

Title Links:

Amazon-US | Amazon-UK | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

The Author: USA Today bestselling author Noelle W. Ihli lives in Idaho with her husband, two sons, and three cats. When she’s not plotting her next thriller, she’s scaring herself with true-crime documentaries or going for a trail ride (with her trusty pepper spray).

Lady Reid’s Legacy by Jean Grainger #BookReview #HistoricalIrishHistory #TuesdayBookBlog

The Dunmara Series – Book 3

#1 Best Seller in Historical British & Irish Literature

Book Blurb:

In 1846, a young bride arrives at Dunmara as the Great Famine tightens its grip on Ireland. Evelyne Reid quickly learns that her marriage is nothing more than a debt repaid, and that her husband, Lord Reid, is as cold and merciless as the hunger stalking his tenants. Powerless by law, Evelyne must choose between obedience and her conscience.
But Evelyne makes a decision in 1846 that will echo across two centuries.

Over 150 years later Dunmara Estate is in grave peril.
On Ireland’s wild West Coast, a ruthless developer has this ancient place in his sights, and those fighting to save it are losing ground with every passing day. The answer to Dunmara’s survival is hiding in plain sight. But first, someone has to see it.
Evelyne’s legacy is all but forgotten, reduced to a whisper as the years roll on.
The question is whether anyone will hear it — before it’s too late.

My Review:

Ah, the third in the series, and my favorite so far, gets ever deeper into Orla’s contemporary fight to save her historic Dunmara House, ring fort and tower. This installment, however, introduces us to Becca who becomes a co-main character with split timeline Evelyne Reid.

I usually enjoy the early portion of the timeline more so than the contemporary one, but in this installment, I found both were pretty fascinating reading, following the author’s expert storytelling as she weaves in the background of Becca and her quest to find her (Irish) roots and that of Evelyne Reid.

Evelyne of the nineteenth century is unfortunate enough to have been married off to Lord Reid as her poverty-stricken parents face losing their home and their lives as well as those of the younger children. Evelyne is nothing more than a means to provide Lord Reid of an heir. What he does with her after she is successful is horrible and my heart sank—trying to help Ms Grainger with ways to save her. Fortunately, Ms Grainger had her own ideas.

As the Great Famine of the time wields a shocking axe to the population and changes forever the path of their lives, the author once again details the agony of hunger and the role of the overlords. Also, there is ample use of, as well as explanation of, folk or Celtic lore, which is usually an eye-opening history of a current tradition.

“…there was a cross on a donkey’s neck where it met their back to remind the world that the noble animal had carried the baby Jesus.”

“Oscar Wilde used to say? I can resist everything except temptation.”

Also, love the colorful turn of phrase, humor, euphemisms, and accents and these are also included in abundance.

Does Orla find proof of help in her fight to save Dunmara House? Does Becca find that missing link that may lead to surprising roots? You and I will both have to wait to find out but I can tell you this saga is heating up beautifully, the tension is building, and is there a possible budding romance or two coming at us in Book 4?

Well! This time, even I hope so.

Many thanks to the author for providing me with the ARC and the opportunity to read and review this book. The thoughts expressed here are my own.

Rosepoint Rating: Four point Five Stars

Book Details:

Genre: Historical British & Irish Literature, Historical Irish Fiction, Historical Mystery, Thriller & Suspense Fiction
Publication Date: September 24, 2026

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The Author: Jean Grainger is a USA Today bestselling author with over 100,000 5* reviews of historical and contemporary Irish fiction. She is acclaimed for her authentic portrayal of Irish life and history. Born in Cork, she draws from her experience as a history lecturer, teacher, and tour guide to craft characters that feel like friends, and sometimes foes. Grainger’s works span multiple series and standalone novels, covering significant periods in recent Irish history, but told from the perspective of families, the humans behind the headlines. Her stories often intertwine historical events with personal journeys, exploring themes of family, friendship, and human resilience. Grainger’s writing style, characterized by its warmth and authenticity, has earned her comparisons to renowned Irish authors like Maeve Binchy. Her dedication to research and character development has resulted in a loyal readership who feel deeply connected to her stories and characters.