An Anonymous Girl

Fiction by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen

https://www.barnesandnoble.com

Jess, a young make-up artist in New York City, decides to try to make some quick cash by participating in a psychological study that promises high compensation in exchange for revealing your deepest secrets. But as she gets more involved with the psychologist conducting the study, she find that her secret revelations may have gotten too deep for comfort.

This was a good thriller with a dual point of view, although I found the psychologist's point-of-view odd, because the passive voice is used so much.

I also read recently by these authors: The Wife Between Us

And Then There Were None

Fiction by Agatha Christie

https://www.barnesandnoble.com

This is definitely an Agatha Christie classic, although I wouldn't say it's my favorite of hers. I like the absence of a detective in this story, although it makes the solution even harder to work out. It's a "locked-room" kind of mystery, although the place involved is actually an island.

It's funny that I remembered almost all of this story, but I still didn't know who the murderer was until the end...

I also read recently by this author: Death on the Nile

Mother's Day

Fiction by Patricia MacDonald

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/

At the beginning of this story, the body of a teenage girl is found in a nature preserve, causing a flurry of media attention that eventually dies down when the girl remains unidentified. Still, some townspeople are uneasy, and Karen Newhall is quick to assume the worst when her 13-year-old daughter Jenny fails to turn up for their traditional Mother's Day lunch. But this is only the start of the trouble for Karen and Jenny...

This was an exciting and enjoyable thriller.

I also read recently by this author: Secret Admirer

Fair Coin

Fiction by E. C. Meyers

https://www.barnesandnoble.com

This is technically a "young adult" book, meaning it's for teenagers, but I really enjoyed it.

Ephraim comes home from high school to find that his mother has tried to kill herself because she thought he was dead. She's not crazy; there was an actual boy matching Ephraim's description and carrying his library card who had been hit by a bus that afternoon. But it wasn't Ephraim, obviously, because he arrived home in time to call 911 and save his mom's life. But the mysterious lookalike boy left behind a strange coin that might be magic...

A fast and fun read, this book was very enjoyable. Apparently there's a sequel, too!

The Turn of Midnight

Fiction by Minette Walters

https://www.barnesandnoble.com
This is the sequel to The Last Hours, a historical apocalyptic book I read last year. Yes, there can be a historical apocalyptic story-- people during the Dark Ages who experienced the The Black Death were pretty certain it was the end of the world, I think. When over half the population just dies, it's pretty darn scary.

This was a good sequel; I had really wanted to know what would happen to the people in the previous story, and the wrap-up done in this book was satisfying. I don't think the author plans another book in this series, but I could be wrong.

I also read recently by this author: The Shape of Snakes

The Institute

Fiction by Stephen King

https://www.barnesandnoble.com

Oh, Mr. King. I love your characters so much! Why are you so mean to them?

This book begins with Tim, a man who takes a job as "a night-knocker" (which seems to be kind of a security guard employed by the sheriff's office), and Luke, a brilliant twelve-year-old with a loving family and an early acceptance at MIT and Columbia. I liked both of the guys, but I just loved Luke.

Of course, I knew bad things were coming for this poor kid, and that he would eventually meet up with our man Tim somehow, but I had no idea where this story would really go. I won't ruin it for you  by saying any more (although the synopsis from the book jacket will give more information than I have).

This was a really good, although disturbing, book.

I also read recently by this author: Revival

Free Food For Millionaires

Fiction by Min Jin Lee

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/

Casey Han is a Korean-American girl in New York City trying to remain true to herself, while being pulled in different directions by her traditional parents' and modern society's expectations.

This was a really good character story. I liked Casey and wanted things to work out well for her, and her sister and best friend too. It was a long book and held my attention well. I enjoyed it, although I was not completely happy with the ending.

I liked the other book I read by this author better (see below), maybe because it was historical.

I also read by this author: Pachincko