What it’s about (from Goodreads):

Set against Iceland's stark landscape, Hannah Kent brings to vivid life the story of Agnes, who, charged with the brutal murder of her former master, is sent to an isolated farm to await execution.

Horrified at the prospect of housing a convicted murderer, the family at first avoids Agnes. Only Tóti, a priest Agnes has mysteriously chosen to be her spiritual guardian, seeks to understand her. But as Agnes's death looms, the farmer's wife and their daughters learn there is another side to the sensational story they've heard.

Our thoughts:

We would recommend this to:

Fans of mystery and historical fiction

Close My Eyes by Sophie McKenzie

Published by: St. Martin’s Press

Our source: Audiobook from the local library

What it’s about (from Goodreads):

When Geniver Loxley lost her daughter at birth eight years ago, her world stopped… and never fully started again. Mothers with strollers still make her flinch; her love of writing has turned into a half-hearted teaching career; and she and her husband, Art, have slipped into the kind of rut that seems inescapable.

But then a stranger shows up on their doorstep, telling Gen the very thing she’s always wanted to hear: that her daughter Beth was not stillborn, but was taken away as a healthy infant and is still out there, somewhere, waiting to be found. It’s insane, unbelievable. But why would anyone make that up? A fissure suddenly opens up in Gen’s carefully reconstructed life, letting in a flood of unanswerable questions. Where is Beth now? Why is Art so reluctant to get involved? To save his wife from further hurt? Or is it something more sinister? And who can she trust to help her?

Our thoughts:

This was sort of billed as the next Gone Girl. I don’t really think they should be compared. This had the same screwed-up character quality as Gone Girl, but I feel like it lacked the thoughtfulness of Gone Girl. At times, it felt shocking just for the sake of being shocking.

The main character came across as whiney and annoying and the other characters were never developed beyond stock stereotypes. Also, the love story that was thrown in seemed so out of place that it was jarring.

I had a really hard time getting into this and think that if I hadn’t been listening to it in the background while I worked, I probably would have given up on it.

We would recommend this to:

Fans of mystery/suspense, those who like twisted stories.

Daddy's Gone A Hunting by Mary Higgins Clark

Published by: Simon & Schuster

Our source: Complimentary copy from the publisher

What it’s about (from Goodreads):

When the family-owned furniture firm, including the mansion where priceless antiques are kept, explodes into flames in the middle of the night, Kate must escape to save her life. But the suspicious circumstances point to her involvement. Was the explosion set deliberately? Why was Kate, a gorgeous CPA for one of the biggest accounting firms in the country, on the premises at that hour? And why was Gus, a retired and trusted employee, with her?

Now Gus is dead and Kate lies in the hospital gravely injured. Hannah, Kate’s sister and a rising fashion designer, must discover what drew them there and what dangerous secrets lies hidden in the ashes.

Our thoughts:

I had the pleasure of meeting Mary Higgins Clark at a book signing at Book Expo America, and what a pleasure it was. She is beautiful, sophisticated and sincere. After many years of reading her books, it was a high point for me to finally be meeting her. It's too bad there was a long line of other people also wishing for their moment with her because she is definitely someone I would love to sit and chat with over a cup of tea.

I hurried home to read her book, Daddy's Gone A Hunting, and thought it was marvelous. An explosion at the Connelly family owned furniture company left the buildings destroyed, a disgruntled employee dead and Kate Connelly in a coma - all of the makings for a mystery which Mary Higgins Clark elegantly weaves. Packed with mystery and suspense, this story keeps you on the edge of your seat until the very end.  

We would recommend this to:

Mystery fans