A Nun in the Closet

Fiction by Dorothy Gilman.

https://www.barnesandnoble.com

It's the mid-1970's, but the sisters of St. Tabitha's convent in rural Pennsylvania have been cloistered for so long that they've never heard the words "women's lib," "hippy," or "Watergate." All of that is about to change when they receive word that they've been left a mysterious property in New York state! Sister John and Sister Hyacinthe embark on a journey to check things out, and they stumble upon a mystery.

This was a fun little story. I enjoyed it!

I also read recently by this author: Mrs. Pollifax, Innocent Tourist

Bring Her Home

Fiction by David Bell

https://www.barnesandnoble.com

Bill's daughter Summer and her best friend Haley are missing for three days when he gets the call that they have been found beaten and left in the park. He rushes to the hospital to find Summer unresponsive in the ICU, and learns that Haley has already died. Bill doesn't know how to cope with all of this, especially since his wife died a little over a year ago. But surprises are still to come...

This was a good thriller and also an interesting character book.

Lost Boy Lost Girl

Fiction by Peter Straub

https://www.barnesandnoble.com

I have read a novel coauthored by Stephen King and Peter Straub (see below), but never one by Mr. Straub alone. His style is actually pretty similar to Mr. King's, but less wordy and (I think) less character-driven. I did not like this book as much as the coauthored one, and I think it's because I didn't feel as invested in the characters.

Since it's categorized as "horror fiction," I suppose I should have expected the awful and creepy parts of this story, but I didn't feel like the good parts outweighed the bad. Also I didn't like the ending.

I did want to keep reading and find out what happened, so... I guess I'll give it half a thumb?

I also read by this author: The Talisman

Stranger in the House

Fiction by Patricia MacDonald

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/

This story begins with a kidnapping. Anna's little boy disappears at the age of four. The good news is: she gets him back. The bad news is: it takes eleven years. So the child who comes home is not the sweet toddler who left; he's a confused and sullen teenager. The "stranger in the house" is her own son. But there are mysteries still to come...

This was a good thriller!

I also read recently by this author: Not Guilty

Not Guilty

Fiction by Patricia MacDonald.

https://www.barnesandnoble.com

In this exciting thriller, Keely escapes one tragedy to find herself enmeshed in another. Is she just unlucky, or is there an connection?

This was a good book; I didn't expect the ending.

I also read recently by this author: Suspicious Origin

Why Didn't They Ask Evans?

Fiction by Agatha Christie.

https://www.barnesandnoble.com

This story has also been published under the title The Boomerang Clue.

Bobby Jones and his companion find a body while playing golf. The man is not quite dead, however, and Bobby is the only witness to his last words, which are the question above. What could it possibly mean?

This is a really good mystery story!

I also read recently by this author: Lord Edgeware Dies

The Lost Family

Fiction by Jenna Blum

https://www.barnesandnoble.com

This story begins in 1965 with Peter, a restaurateur and survivor of Auschwitz, and follows him and his family until 1986. I'd say it's essentially a character story.

I liked the characters in this novel and found them very believable, although I didn't like their choices sometimes. I wasn't crazy about how things turned out at the end.

It's a good book but not as good as the first one I read by this author.

I also read recently by this author: The Stormchasers