Going Rogue: Rise and Shine Twenty-Nine

Going Rogue: Rise and Shine Twenty-Nine (Stephanie Plum Book 29) by Janet Evanovich NewYork: Atria Books, 2022. 324 pages. ****

In this latest Stephanie Plum novel, Connie and Vinnie are kidnapped, and held for the return of a coin. Grandma attempts to help Stephanie locate them and to keep Bella, Morelli's Grandmother at bay. Bella has a warrant out for her failure to appear in court and threatens anyone with the "eye" who attempts to bring her in. Throw in a car and office explosion, Ranger, Morelli, and Lancelot try to protect Stephanie each in their own way to humorous results. 

I view a Janet Evanovich book as a palate cleanser. The situations that Lula and Stephanie get themselves into makes me laugh out loud. I know that when I start one of her books, I will read it in two days and thoroughly enjoy it. I will be in a good mood afterwards and won't tire of the doughnut eating and stops for fried chicken. Even though this is her 29th novel in this series and somewhat formulaic, it is tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches, a comfort food kind of book. You know what you are getting and it's something that you need right now.  If you are a Stephanie Plum fan, you will not be disappointed. 

From Amazon - Janet Evanovich is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Stephanie Plum series, the co-authored Fox and O’Hare series, the Knight and Moon series, and the Lizzy and Diesel series as well as twelve romance novels, the Alexandra Barnaby novels, Troublemaker graphic novel, and How I Write: Secrets of a Bestselling Author.Janet Evanovich is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Stephanie Plum series, the co-authored Fox and O’Hare series, the Knight and Moon series, and the Lizzy and Diesel series as well as twelve romance novels, the Alexandra Barnaby novels, Troublemaker graphic novel, and How I Write: Secrets of a Bestselling Author.

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As Bright As Heaven

 

As Bright As Heaven by Susan Meisssner. New York: Berkley, 2018. 387 pages. ***

It's 1918 and the Bright family moves from Quakertown to Philadelphia in search of a better life for their three girls. Uncle Fred, an undertaker, invites them to live with him and he will teach the trade to his nephew and pay for the girls' schooling. Reeling from the death of their infant son, the plan provides hope for all of them until the 1918 Spanish Flu invades the city. Many of the young men have left to fight in the Great War and no family is left untouched by the flu. Bodies pile up at the mortuary and given the unsanitary conditions, masks are ineffective against this pandemic. How anyone survived is a miracle and the Bright family is no exception in their loss. 

This story may be too soon for some readers after Covid. Having experienced life during a pandemic, I have been curious as to how my family survived in Philadelphia in 1918. Blue collar workers of modest means, I have seen pictures from that time and marveled that here we are. Meissner touches on the parade which caused a resurgence of cases and deaths. While a sad tale, love and hope prevail. Each of the girls adapts to their new environment and disappointments, while finding love and a purpose in helping others. The first half of the book was stronger than the second half, a strong start and weak finish. 

From her website-

Susan Meissner is a USA Today bestselling author of historical fiction with more than three-quarters of a million books in readers' hands and translations in eighteen languages. She is an author, speaker and writing workshop leader with a background in community journalism. Her novels include The Nature of Fragile Things, which earned a starred review in Publishers Weekly; The Last Year of the War, named to Real Simple magazine’s list of best books for 2019; As Bright as Heaven, which earned a starred review in Library Journal; Secrets of Charmed Life, a Goodreads finalist for Best Historical Fiction 2015; and A Fall of Marigolds, named to Booklist’s Top Ten Women’s Fiction titles for 2014.

She attended Point Loma Nazarene University in California and makes her home with her husband and yellow Lab in the Pacific Northwest.

Visit Susan at her website: https://susanmeissnerauthor.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/susanmeissnerauthor/ on Twitter at @SusanMeissner or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/susan.meissner

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Where Are the Children Now?

 

Where Are the Children Now? by Mary Higgins Clark and Alafair Burke. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2023. 275 pages ****

In this sequel to one of Clark's best-selling novels, Where are the Children? Melissa is preparing for her marriage to Charlie and her role as stepmother to his daughter, Riley. Her brother, Mike is concerned that Melissa has not worked through what happened to them as children and feels that she is in denial and rushing into marriage. Charlie's first wife accidentally died while on vacation in Norway and Riley while happy about the wedding misses her mother and wishes her mother could attend. When Riley wanders off, Melissa is forced to confront what happened to her as a child while trying to convince the police that Riley has been abducted. 

Won a copy through Goodreads. 

It's been a long time since I read a book by Mary Higgins Clark, she passed away in 2020. However, I won this book through Goodreads, so why not? It is an excellent quick read. Even though it is a sequel, it works well as a standalone. Enough background is provided that the reader can understand what is going on. Like all psychological thrillers there are many twists and turns, I did have an idea where the story line was going, however, it did not take away from the enjoyment of the book. 

From Amazon...

The #1 New York Times bestselling author Mary Higgins Clark wrote forty suspense novels, four collections of short stories, a his­torical novel, a memoir, and two children’s books. With bestselling author Alafair Burke she wrote the Under Suspicion series including The Cinderella Murder, All Dressed in White, The Sleeping Beauty Killer, Every Breath You Take, You Don’t Own Me, and Piece of My Heart. With her daughter Carol Higgins Clark, she coauthored five suspense novels. More than one hundred million copies of her books are in print in the United States alone. Her books are international bestsellers.

Alafair Burke is the New York Times bestselling author of fourteen novels, including The Better Sister, The Wife, The Ex, and Find Me, in addition to the Under Suspicion series, coauthored with Mary Higgins Clark. A former prosecutor, she now teaches criminal law and lives in New York City.

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Hide

 Hide (Detective Harriet Foster Book 1 of 2 ) by Tracy Clark. Seattle, Thomas and Mercer, 2023. 377 pages ***

Detective Harriet Foster with 17 years experience as a Chicago cop returns to work after her partner commts suicide and her son is a victim of street violence. Partnered with the most obnoxious detective in the department, she is determined to rise above his crude behavior. When a red-haired woman is discovered brutally murdered in downtown Chicago, her partner thinks he has solved the case without investigating the inconsistencies at the crime scene. When another woman is discovered dead in the same manner as the first, Harriet is determined to hunt for the murderer and suspects that there is a serial killer on the loose.

Quick read with many twists and turns, somewhat predictable. Enjoyable escapism. I will definitely read the 2nd book, Foster is a likable character and has potential for further development. 

From Amazon

Tracy Clark, a native Chicagoan, is the author of the Cass Raines Chicago Mystery series, featuring ex-cop turned PaI Cassandra Raines. Her debut, BROKEN PLACES, made Library Journal’s list of the Best Crime Fiction of 2018 and CrimeReads named Cass Raines Best New PI of 2018. The novel was nominated for a Lefty Award for Best Debut Novel, an Anthony Award for Best Debut Novel and a Shamus Award for Best First PI Novel. Her second Raines novel, BORROWED TIME, was a finalist for the 2020 Lefty Award for Best Mystery Novel and won the 2020 G.P. Putnam’s Sons Sue Grafton Memorial Award. Book three in the Raines series, WHAT YOU DON’T SEE, was also short-listed for the 2021 Left Award for Best Mystery novel. Book four, RUNNER, releases June 29, 2021. Tracy, a proud member of Sisters in Crime and Mystery Writers of America, is a lifelong South-Sider and roots for every Chicago team with equal enthusiasm. She is currently busy writing her next book.

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