Mindy's Book Journey

  Title: In Darkness, Shadows Breathe Author: Catherine Cavendish Genre: Psychological Horror Published: January 19th, 2021 by Flame Tree Press   In Darkness, Shadows Breathe by Catherine Cavendish is a psychological horror novel that follows the ghostly haunting of two women, Carol and Nessa. The first part tells Carol's story, and then we follow Nessa's story. They are tormented by an entity that sends them back to Victorian England in a hospital with a dark past. The time bending entity determined on possessing Carol and Nessa left me chilled. I love the atmosphere and setting of this novel when in Victorian times. This novel was really well written and easy to follow despite the frequent time hopping. In Darkness, Shadows Breathe is a time-bending horror novel that has plenty of chilling scenes. I recommend this novel to fans of psychological horror. Thank you to NetGalley and Flame Tree Press for the copy for review.   My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Star...

Title: The Whisper Man Author: Alex North Genre: Mystery/Thriller Published: August 20, 2019 by Celadon Books Thank you to NetGalley and Celadon Books for providing me a copy for review. There are so many things to love about The Whisper Man by Alex North. It is a fast paced thriller involving a serial killer, Frank Carter, called the whisper man who whispers in the windows of children before he abducts them. A recent kidnapping looks like the work of the whisper man. However, Frank Carter was captured and imprisoned 20 years ago. A young boy named Jake receives warnings through an unusual and supernatural gift. Now, detectives Amanda Beck and Pete Willis have to stop the new murderer before it is too late. There is a supernatural element involved throughout the novel that works really well. The characters are well developed with flaws and backgrounds that make them very believable. There is a sense of dread and urgency throughout that makes the book hard to put down. If ...

Title: Superluminary Author: Olivia Rising Genre: Science Fiction/Fantasy Published: August 1st, 2018 Previously published as two separate books: Anathema: Transition and Anathema: Escalation. Two years ago, The Pulse—a sudden shift in Earth's electromagnetic field—caused a global blackout and wiped a minute from mankind’s collective memory. This event introduced superhuman powers to our world and changed everything as we knew it. Now two young women are caught in the chaos of a changing world: Christina Chung, an antisocial misfit whose force fields are fueled by the social bonds she broke during the event of her transition. Former coke addict Sarina Baumann, whose reality-altering power forces her to abandon everything she holds dear. The girls find themselves entangled with the renegade hero Radiant and the authorities that made him. The three must find a way—and a place—to be the heroes they're destined to become. But sometimes, even the heroes fall... Goo...

Title: The Escape Room Author: Megan Goldin Genre: Thriller Published: 2018 St. Martin's Press, First US release July 30th, 2019 Synopsis:  Welcome to the escape room. Your goal is simple. Get out alive. In the lucrative world of finance, Vincent, Jules, Sylvie, and Sam are at the top of their game. They’ve mastered the art of the deal and celebrate their success in style—but a life of extreme luxury always comes at a cost. Invited to participate in an escape room as a team-building exercise, the ferociously competitive co-workers crowd into the elevator of a high rise building, eager to prove themselves. But when the lights go off and the doors stay shut, it quickly becomes clear that this is no ordinary competition: they’re caught in a dangerous game of survival. Trapped in the dark, the colleagues must put aside their bitter rivalries and work together to solve cryptic clues to break free. But as the game begins to reveal the team’s darkest secrets, they realize there’s ...

Title: Waisted Author: Randy Susan Meyers Genre: Contemporary Fiction, Women's Fiction Published: May 21, 2019 by Atria Books  I want to thank Atria Books and NetGalley for giving me a copy of Waisted for review. Alice and Daphne are both working mothers who struggle with their weight. Randy Susan Meyers explores issues of race and of course weight as they are experienced by these wonderful women. They sign up for a weight loss spa along with 5 other women, and agree to be filmed on their weight loss journey. They are promised a supportive and encouraging environment, but that is not what they get. The producers of this documentary are going to extremes to see what these women will do in order to lose weight. The contestants are pushed too far, and they decide to fight back. I found the main characters really interesting and relatable. This novel discusses issues that go along with being overweight in the minds of the women, their families, and society as a whole. Some ...

Title: I Was a Teenage Ghost Hunter Author: Brian K. Henry Genre: YA Horror, Ghost Story Published: Self-published on Smashwords 2014 I Was a Teenage Ghost Hunter is a quirky self-published YA ghost story.  This novel follows Devin, a sixteen-year-old boy, as he navigates a job he hates, friends, and the fact that he can see ghosts. His friends convince him to investigate a creepy mansion while his dad is out of town, and strange encounters occur with the former owner. My Thoughts Thank you to the author for the copy for review. I Was a Teenage Ghost Hunter is light entertaining horror read perfect for teen readers. This novel seemed decently polished for a self-published work. Devin and his friends were interesting and well developed characters that were fun to read about. One character that I wish was more fleshed out would be the father. Devin's father was out of town for work the whole week this story takes pace. I thought that was a bit convenient, and I would h...

Title: The Dark Game Author: Jonathan Janz Genre: Horror Published: April 11, 2019 by Flame Tree Press Ten writers are selected for a summer-long writing retreat with the most celebrated and reclusive author in the world. Their host is the legendary Roderick Wells. Handsome, enigmatic, and fiendishly talented, Wells promises to teach his pupils about writing, about magic, about the untapped potential that each of them possesses. Most of all, he plans to teach them about the darkness in their hearts. The writers think they are signing up for a chance at riches and literary prestige. But they are really entering the twisted imagination of a deranged genius, a lethal contest pitting them against one another in a struggle for their sanity and their lives. They have entered into Roderick Wells's most brilliant and horrible creation. The Dark Game. FLAME TREE PRESS is the new fiction imprint of Flame Tree Publishing. Launched in 2018 the list brings together brilliant new authors...