“The Whisperer” by Karin Fossum

“The Whisperer” by Karin Fossum

Blurb:

How did a lonely, quiet woman come to kill a man—or did she?

Ragna Riegel is a soft-spoken woman of routines. She must have order in her life, and she does, until one day she finds a letter in her mailbox with her name on the envelope and a clear threat written in block capitals on the sheet inside. With the arrival of the letter, and eventually others like it, Ragna’s carefully constructed life begins to unravel into a nightmare—threatened by an unknown enemy, paranoid and unable to sleep, her isolation becomes all the more extreme. Ragna’s distress does culminate in a death, but she is the perpetrator rather than the victim.

The Whisperer shifts between Inspector Sejer’s interrogation of Ragna and the shocking events that led up to her arrest. Sejer thinks it is an open-and-shut case, but is it? Compelling and unnerving, The Whisperer probes plausible madness in everyday life and asks us to question assumptions even in its final moments.

My Thoughts:

This story had me intrigued from word one. For at least half of it, I had no idea where the story might be going but I certainly wanted to find out. As Detective Sejer questions Ragna over a period of days, her story begins to be revealed. At first glance, she appears to be just an ordinary person who lives alone, goes to work and is very introverted. But then things start to get weird. Ragna becomes convinced that she is being stalked and it certainly seems to be true, but is it? This is very much a psychological thriller which takes you deep into the mind of abnormal psychology. Ragna is a character that I couldn’t help feeling sorry for because of her disability but at the same time I was suspicious of her. I also really enjoyed the calm and almost sedate style of Detective Sejer. He skilfully gains her trust and draws her out of her shell. The winter in Norway setting added to the thrill and mystery of the story. This is one I thoroughly enjoyed and would definitely recommend.

Alinefromabook’s rating:

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Thank you to NetGalley and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review.



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9/10/2019 Releases

Links will take you to the book’s Amazon page.

The Testaments: A Novel by Margaret Atwood (Nan A. Talese, $28.95; ISBN 978-0-385-54378-1). Sequel to “A Handmaid’s Tale”

Everything Is Figureoutable by Marie Forleo (Portfolio, $25; ISBN 978-0-525-53499-0).

At Death’s Door by Sherrilyn Kenyon (Tor Books, $27.99; ISBN 978-0-7653-8574-1).

The Education of an Idealist by Samantha Power (Dey Street Books, $29.99; ISBN 978-0-06-282069-3).

The Last Train to London by Meg Waite Clayton (Harper, $27.99; ISBN 978-0-06-294693-5).

Lifespan by David Sinclair (Atria Books, $28, ISBN 978-1-5011-9197-8).

The Starlet and the Spy by Ji-min Lee (Harper Paperbacks, $15.99 paper; ISBN 978-0-06-293026-2).

Akin by Emma Donoghue (Little, Brown, $28; ISBN 978-0-316-49199-0).

Talking to Strangers: What We Should Know About the People We Don’t Know by Malcolm Gladwell (Little, Brown, $30; ISBN 978-0-316-47852-6).

The Nanny by Gilly Macmillan (William Morrow, $26.99; ISBN 978-0-06-287555-6).

The Years that Matter Most: How College Makes or Breaks Us by Paul Tough (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, $28; ISBN 978-0-544-94448-0).

Women in Art by Rachel Ignotofsky (Ten Speed Press, $16.99; ISBN 978-0-399-58043-7).

Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir (Tor.com Publishing, $25.99; ISBN 978-1-250-31319-5).

BoundlessBoundless by R. A. Salvatore (Harper Voyager, $27.99; ISBN 978-0-06-268863-7).

The Divers’ Game by Jesse Ball (Ecco, $26.99; ISBN 978-0-06-267610-8).

Eyes to the Wind by Ady Barkan (Atria Books, $27; ISBN 978-1-982111-54-0).

If You Lived Here You’d Be Home By Now by Christopher Ingraham (Harper, $24.99; ISBN 978-0-06-286147-4).

Audience of One: Donald Trump, Television, and the Fracturing of America by James Poniewozik (Liveright, $27.95; ISBN 978-1-63149-442-0).

Don’t You Forget About Me by Mhairi McFarlane (William Morrow Paperbacks, $15.99 paper; ISBN 978-0-06-295846-4).

Will My Cat Eat My Eyeballs? by Caitlin Doughty, illustrated by Dianné Ruz, (W. W. Norton, $25.95; ISBN 978-0-393-65270-3).

Yale Needs Women: How the First Group of Girls Rewrote the Rules of an Ivy League Giant by Anne Gardiner Perkins (Sourcebooks, $25.99; ISBN 978-1-4926-8774-0).

To Build a Better World: Choices to End the Cold War and Create a Global Commonwealth by Philip Zelikow and Condoleezza Rice (Twelve, $35; ISBN 978-1-5387-6467-1).

Something Deeply Hidden: Quantum Worlds and the Emergence of Spacetime by Sean Carroll (Dutton, $29; ISBN 978-1-5247-4301-7).

I Know What I Am: The Life and Times of Artemisia Gentileschi by Gina Siciliano (Fantagraphics, $29.99; ISBN 978-1-68396-211-3).

The Fifth Column by Andrew Gross (Minotaur Books, $28.99; ISBN 978-1-250-18000-1).

The Meritocracy Trap by Daniel Markovits (Penguin Press, $30; ISBN 978-0-7352-2199-4).

Tools and Weapons by Brad Smith and Carol Ann Browne (Penguin Press, $30; ISBN 978-1-984877-71-0).

Robert B. Parker’s The Bitterest Pill by Reed Farrel Coleman (G. P. Putnam’s Sons, $27; ISBN 978-0-399-57497-9).

The Titanic Secret by Clive Cussler and Jack Du Brul (G. P. Putnam’s Sons, $29; ISBN 978-0-7352-1726-3).

The Truth About Magic by Atticus (St. Martin’s Griffin, $17.99 paper; ISBN 978-1-250-23281-6).

29 Seconds by T. M. Logan (St. Martin’s Press, $27.99; ISBN 978-1-250-18229-6).

For the Love of Men by Liz Plank (St. Martin’s Press, $27.99; ISBN 978-1-250-19624-8).

The Green New Deal by Jeremy Rifkin (St. Martin’s Press, $27.99; ISBN 978-1-250-25320-0).


books


 

“Creating Hitler’s Germany” by Tim Heath

“Creating Hitler’s Germany” by Tim Heath

Blurb:

Germany’s defeat in the First World War and the Treaty of Versailles that followed were national disasters, with far-reaching consequences not just for the country but for the world itself.

Weaving the stories of three German families from the beginning of Germany’s territorial aspirations of the First World War to the shattered dream of a thousand-year Reich in the Second World War, Tim Heath’s rich narrative explores a multitude of rare and untapped resources to explore the darkest recesses of German social and military history.

Creating Hitler’s Germany presents a nation’s journey not only through everyday life and war, but through its own conscience, pain and inevitable search for some form of absolution from its past. It is real, painful and incredibly human – an essential history to further understand the mind-set of Germany during the most tumultuous years of the nation’s history.

My Thoughts:
Given the current political climate in many countries, I was very interested in reading this book. In the back of my mind I have always wondered how Germany got to the point of being Nazis. Maybe I’m too naive, but I can’t conceive of ever getting to the point in my head where I just hate a group of people so much I want to eradicate them completely. This book focuses less on Hitler himself and more on what was going on in the German society of the time. The book begins with the story of a young, newly-married couple just after World War I and traces their history through to the end of World War II, concluding with their son who was a staunch Nazi and alienated from his mother because of it. The author then intertwines with the historical facts excerpts from interviews and writings of German citizens of the time. Some of them were appalled by the actions of the Nazi regime, while others felt they were just carrying out their patriotic duty. The author also exposes how the political pressures from the “winners” of WWI affected the lives of everyday German citizens and how Hitler’s initial actions improved those lives, lulling them into believing that he was a good guy. It wasn’t until he had solidified his political power that his true colors begin to show. I take 2 things away from this book. First, a better understanding of how a government and it’s people can become corrupted. Second, a warning that as a citizen of a democratic country I need to be very careful when evaluating my leaders because it may not take much to tip the scales towards evil. Finally, I want to acknowledge the resilience and determination that Germany has demonstrated in turning around their country after WWII.
Alinefromabook’s rating:
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9/3/2019 Book Releases

Links will take you to the book’s Amazon page.

Cold Storage by David Koepp (Ecco, $27.99; ISBN 978-0-06-291643-3).

How To by Randall Munroe (Riverhead, $28; ISBN 978-0-525-53709-0).

The Paris Orphan by Natasha Lester (Forever, $16.99 paper; ISBN 978-1-5387-6489-3).

Just Beyond: The Scare School by R.L. Stine, illustrated by Nicole & Kelly Matthews, (KaBOOM!, $9.99 paper; ISBN 978-1-68415-416-6).

All Out War by Sean Parnell (William Morrow, $27.99; ISBN 978-0-06-266881-3).

This Tender Land by William Kent Krueger (Atria Books, $27; ISBN 978-1-4767-4929-7).

Power Grab by Jason Chaffetz (Broadside Books, $27.99; ISBN 978-0-06-294442-9).

The Economist’s Hour: False Prophets, Free Markets, and the Fracture of Society by Binyamin Appelbaum (Little, Brown, $30; ISBN 978-0-316-51232-9).

NFL: 100 Years by Rob Fleder (Abrams, $50; ISBN 978-1-4197-3859-3).

How to Fight Anti-Semitism by Bari Weiss (Crown, $18; ISBN 978-0-593-13605-8).

Dominicana: A Novel by Angie Cruz (Flatiron Books, $26.99; ISBN 978-1-250-20593-3).

Grown and Flown: How to Support Your Teen, Stay Close as a Family, and Raise Independent Adults by Lisa Heffernan and Mary Dell Harrington (Flatiron Books, $27.99; ISBN 978-1-250-18894-6).

The Chestnut Man by Soren Sveistrup (Harper, $28.99; ISBN 978-0-06-289536-3).

After the Flood by Kassandra Montag (William Morrow, $27.99; ISBN 978-0-06-288936-2).

Overtime by John U. Bacon (William Morrow, $28.99; ISBN 978-0-06-288694-1).

Quichotte by Salman Rushdie (Random House, $28; ISBN 978-0-593-13298-2).

Pretty Guilty Women by Gina LaManna (Sourcebooks Landmark, $25.99; ISBN 978-1-4926-9406-9).

The Third Daughter by Talia Carner (William Morrow Paperbacks, $15.99 paper; ISBN 978-0-06-289688-9).

How to Raise a Reader by Pamela Paul and Maria Russo; illustrated by Dan Yaccarino, Lisk Feng, vera brosgol and Monica Garwood, (Workman Publishing, $19.95; ISBN 978-1-5235-0530-2).

Bill Cunningham: On the Street by The New York Times Company (Clarkson Potter, $65; ISBN 978-1-5247-6350-3).

World War II Map by Map and the Smithsonian Institution (DK, $40; ISBN 978-1-4654-8179-5).

Hivemind: Thinking Alike in a Divided World by Sarah Rose Cavanagh, PhD (Grand Central Publishing, $28; ISBN 978-1-5387-1332-7).

Two Peas & Their Pod Cookbook: Favorite Everyday Recipes from Our Family Kitchen by Maria Lichty (Grand Central Publishing, $32 paper over board; ISBN 978-1-5387-3013-3).

Animal Farm: The Graphic Novel by George Orwell, illustrated by Odyr, (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, $22 paper over board; ISBN 978-0-358-09315-2).

Remarkable by Brady Boyd (Howard Books, $26; ISBN 978-1-982101-37-4).

Defending Israel by Alan M. Dershowitz (All Points Books, $28.99; ISBN 978-1-250-17996-8).

Free S**t by Charles Burns (Fantagraphics, $19.99; ISBN 978-1-68396-260-1).

Press Enter to Continue by Ana Galvañ (Fantagraphics, $19.99; ISBN 978-1-68396-216-8).

The Long Call by Ann Cleeves (Minotaur Books, $27.99; ISBN 978-1-250-20444-8).

Great Goddesses: And Other Miraculous Myths by Nikita Gill (G. P. Putnam’s Sons, $15 paper; ISBN 978-0-593-08564-6).

The Nature of Life and Death: Every Body Leaves a Trace by Patricia Wiltshire (G. P. Putnam’s Sons, $27; ISBN 978-0-525-54221-6).

Downton Abbey–A Celebration by Jessica Fellowes, foreword by Julian Fellowes (St. Martin’s Griffin, $29.99 paper; ISBN 978-1-250-26139-7).

Blue by Steve Aoki with Daniel Paisner (St. Martin’s Press, $27.99; ISBN 978-1-250-11167-8).

Condé Nast by Susan Ronald (St. Martin’s Press, $32.50; ISBN 978-1-250-18002-5).

Darkdawn by Jay Kristoff (St. Martin’s Press, $28.99; ISBN 978-1-250-07304-4).

Nothing Ventured by Jeffrey Archer (St. Martin’s Press, $28.99; ISBN 978-1-250-20076-1). One-day laydown.

There’s No Plan B for Your A-Game by Bo Eason (St. Martin’s Press, $26.99 ISBN; 978-1-250-21082-1).

Vendetta in Death by J. D. Robb (St. Martin’s Press, $28.99; ISBN 978-1-250-20717-3). One-day laydown.

The Girl the Sea Gave Back by Adrienne Young (Wednesday Books, $18.99; ISBN 978-1-250-16848-1).

“The Long Call” by Ann Cleeves

“The Long Call” by Ann Cleeves

Blurb:

In North Devon, where two rivers converge and run into the sea, Detective Matthew Venn stands outside the church as his estranged father’s funeral takes place. On the day Matthew left the strict evangelical community he grew up in, he lost his family too.

Now, as he turns and walks away again, he receives a call from one of his team. A body has been found on the beach nearby: a man with a tattoo of an albatross on his neck, stabbed to death.

The case calls Matthew back to the people and places of his past, as deadly secrets hidden at their hearts are revealed, and his new life is forced into a collision course with the world he thought he’d left behind.

My Thoughts:

This is book 1 in the new Two River Series and I was so excited to receive and ARC from NetGalley for this one. I’m familiar with her stories from seeing the TV adaptations but this is my first time actually reading one of her books. This story more than lived up to the hype. The setting is North Devon, which I have never been to, but the author’s descriptions painted a wonderful picture of the place from the beaches to the little villages to the way the two rivers come together. Add to this the characters, a murder and two kidnappings and you have a great read. Matthew is not the typical police detective stereotype. He is full of insecurities and self-doubt, but his partners, both in life and in work, keep him pressing on. This story brings him into contact with family that he has not seen in years and re-opens some wounds he thought long healed. This story deals with issues of religion, homosexuality and disabilities, and does an excellent job of weaving them into the overall storyline. I found this book to be rich in detail, it moved at a good pace, it kept my attention and twisted my brain. I can’t wait for more in this series. This book release tomorrow, Sept. 3, in the U.S. so if your interested click the Amazon link below and pick up your copy.

Alinefromabook’s rating:

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“Blood On the Tracks” by Martin Edwards

“Blood On the Tracks” by Martin Edwards

Blurb:

A signalman is found dead by a railway tunnel. A man identifies his wife as a victim of murder on the underground. Two passengers mysteriously disappear between stations, leaving behind a dead body.

Trains have been a favourite setting of many crime writers, providing the mobile equivalent of the “locked-room” scenario. Their enclosed carriages with a limited number of suspects lend themselves to seemingly impossible crimes. In an era of cancellations and delays, alibis reliant upon a timely train service no longer ring true, yet the railway detective has enjoyed a resurgence of popularity in the twenty-first century.

Both train buffs and crime fans will delight in this selection of fifteen railway-themed mysteries, featuring some of the most popular authors of their day alongside less familiar names. This is a collection to beguile even the most wearisome commuter.

My Thoughts:

This collection of short stories was such a delightful read I could hardly put it down. Some of the authors were names I recognized while most were completely new to me. There were only a couple of stories that didn’t fully capture my attention. All of the stories have something to do with trains. A couple of them were spooky but all of them really exemplified the Golden Age of Mystery. Both male and female detectives are represented across the stories. Several of the stories have a “locked-room” feel to them. I just really enjoyed this collection and I highly recommend it.

Alinefromabook’s rating:

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New Hobby

I have recently been distracted by Diamond Painting. I know, how dare I let anything come between me and my book. But there it is, and I just wanted to show off what I’m working on. I haven’t completely abandoned my books though. I am currently reading “The Long Call”, first in a new series from Ann Cleeve. It releases on 9/3 here in the US and I hope to get my review up this weekend.

Happy Reading!

8/27/2019 Book Releases

The links below will take you to the book’s Amazon page.

The Last Widow by Karin Slaughter (William Morrow, $27.99; ISBN 978-0-06-285808-5).

Into the Planet: My Life as a Cave Diver by Jill Heinerth (Ecco, $29.99; ISBN 978-0-06-269154-5).

The Lost Daughter by Gill Paul (William Morrow Paperback, $16.99 paper; ISBN 978-0-06-284327-2).

What Red Was by Rosie Price (Crown, $26; ISBN 978-1-984824-41-7).

NFL Century by Joe Horrigan (Crown Archetype, $28; ISBN 978-1-63565-359-5).

Cold Warriors by Duncan White (Custom House, $29.99; ISBN 978-0-06-244981-8).

The Ventriloquists by E.R. Ramzipoor (Park Row, $26.99; ISBN 978-0-7783-0815-7).

Scam Me If You Can: Simple Strategies to Outsmart Today’s Ripoff Artists by Frank Abagnale (Portfolio, $19 paper; ISBN 978-0-525-53896-7).

The Other’s Gold by Elizabeth Ames (Viking, $27; ISBN 978-1-984878-49-6).

Doxology: A Novel by Nell Zink (Ecco, $27.99; ISBN 978-0-06-287778-9).

Everybody Wants to Go to Heaven But Nobody Wants to Die by Amy Gutmann and Jonathan Moreno (Liveright, $36.95; ISBN 978-0-87140-446-6).

Rival’s Break by Carla Neggers (Mira, $26.99; ISBN 978-0-7783-0810-2).

The Passengers by John Marrs (Berkley, $26; ISBN 978-1-984806-97-0).

The Dark Side by Danielle Steel (Delacorte, $28.99; ISBN 978-0-399-17941-9).

A Better Man by Louise Penny (Minotaur Books, $28.99; ISBN 978-1-250-06621-3).

8/20/19 Book Releases

Note: Prices listed are usually the hardcover price. The links should take you to the Amazon Kindle page.

The Woman in the Window, movie tie-in, by A.J. Finn (William Morrow Paperback, $16.99 paper; ISBN 978-0-06-290508-6).

Tidelands by Philippa Gregory (Atria Books, $28; ISBN 978-1-5011-8715-5).

Get Good by Ninja (Clarkson Potter, $18.99; ISBN 978-1-984826-75-6).

The Warehouse by Rob Hart (Crown, $27; ISBN 978-1-984823-79-3).

The Chocolate Maker’s Wife by Karen Brooks (William Morrow Paperbacks, $16.99 paper; ISBN 978-0-06-268659-6).

How the Brain Lost Its Mind: Sex, Hysteria, and the Riddle of Mental Illness by Allan H. Ropper, MD, and Brian David Burrell (Avery, $27; ISBN 978-0-7352-1455-2).

Stolen Things by R.H. Herron (Dutton, $26; ISBN 978-1-5247-4490-8).

The World Doesn’t Require You by Rion Amilcair Scott (Liveright, $25.95; ISBN 978-1-63149-538-0).

Chase Darkness with Me: How One True Crime Writer Started Solving Murders by Billy Jensen (Sourcebooks, $25.99; ISBN 978-1-4926-8585-2).

All Fall Down by James Brabazon (Berkley, $27; ISBN 978-0-440-00151-5).

Carnegie Hill by Jonathan Vatner (Thomas Dunne Books, $27.99; ISBN 978-1-250-17476-5).

The Murder List by Hank Phillippi Ryan (Forge, $27.99; ISBN 978-1-250-19721-4).

How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi (One World, $26; ISBN 978-0-525-50928-8).

The Reckless Oath We Made by Bryn Greenwood (G. P. Putnam’s Sons, $26; ISBN 978-0-525-54184-4).



“The Little Book of Energy Healing Techniques” by Karen Frazier

“The Little Book of Energy Healing Techniques” by Karen Frazier

Blurb:

Discover energy healing—find more balance and peace.

Energy healing is the practice of manipulating the subtle energy flow in your body to improve the way you think and feel. The Little Book of Energy Healing Techniques is your introduction to the basics of energy healing, featuring a series of simple exercises you can do anytime.

Heal your mind, body, and spirit, with clear and balanced energy that empowers you to live with greater peace and comfort.

The Little Book of Energy Healing Techniques allows you to:

  • Start from scratch—Practice the exercises in this book right away—no prior knowledge required.
  • Try it on for size—From sound healing to crystals, you can test out multiple types of energy healing and find what resonates with you.
  • Learn active healing—Learn 5- to 15-minute daily routines for centering yourself to alleviate pain and inner turmoil.

See for yourself what the power of energy healing can do for you.

My Thoughts:

Another dive into the world of alternative healing on my part. This little book presents several different alternative techniques. I found the information about crystals to be the most interesting to me. It’s fascinating to think that a little piece of rock can somehow influence the functioning of the human body. I haven’t tried any of these yet but I’m thinking about it. The author presented these techniques in an orderly fashion and the writing made the information easily understandable. If you are interested in alternative healing than I think this book could be a good place to start.

Alinefromabook’s rating:

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Happy Reading!

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