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Tuesday, June 05, 2018

What My Sister Knew, The Ghost of Marlow House, and True Fiction

Twins--their similarities, their difference, their relationships--consistently provide fodder for novels.  When you are a singleton, twins are a genuine curiosity, and novelists make the most of our inquisitive nature.  What My Sister Knew by Nina Laurin examines the strained relationship between a pair of fraternal twins.  

The dynamic between good-looking, smart, and dominant Eli and his less attractive and bullied sister Addie is cause for unease even during their childhood.  

When Eli, at thirteen, is convicted of a terrible crime, Addie's life does not immediately improve.  Years after the tragedy, however, Addie finally seems set for a better life.  She's in a good relationship and has overcome many personal demons.

Then Eli turns up again, and Addie's world begins disintegrating.  What does his sister know?

Read in May.  Review scheduled for June 5.

NetGalley/Grand Central Publishing

Suspense.  June 19, 2018.  Print length:  384 pages.  



The Ghost of Marlow House  is a fun cozy paranormal mystery.  Danielle inherits an old mansion that she hopes to turn into a B&B.  But in addition to the house and furnishings, she quickly realizes that she has also inherited a ghost who doesn't realize he's dead.  

Light and entertaining, The Ghost of Marlow House reminds me a bit of The Ghost and Mrs. Muir.   Danielle needs the ghost to move on in order for her B&B plan to work. Eventually she manages to convince Walt Marlow that he is, indeed, dead.  Walt, however, is not ready to leave his home and enter the afterlife and persuades Danielle to investigate his death.

This is the first in a long series and reads as such in several ways, but I found it an entertaining counterbalance to some of the darker mysteries I read.  


Free on Kindle.

Paranormal Mystery.  2016.  Print length:  256 pages.


True Fiction is another book that lands on the light side of the scale.

From the blurb:  When a passenger jet crashes onto the beaches of Waikiki, bestselling thriller writer Ian Ludlow knows the horrific tragedy wasn't an accident.

Years before, the CIA enlisted Ian to dream up terrorism scenarios to prepare the government for nightmares they couldn't imagine. Now one of those schemes has come true, and Ian is the only person alive who knows how it was done...and who is behind the plot. That makes him too dangerous to live.


Comical and yet...I've often wondered, as I'm sure some of you have, if some fictional scenarios have not actually been translated to real life.  The idea that the CIA or terrorists  have taken ideas from fiction doesn't sound that far-fetched to me.  Sometimes truth really is stranger than fiction.

True Fiction offers adventure, suspense, and comedy as Ian Ludlow, nerdy author, must think like his fictional protagonist if he wants to survive.  

Kindle Unlimited

Suspense/Humor.  April 1, 2018.  Print length:  248 pages.

JUST for Fun


We are all influenced by book covers, but take a look at some of the pulp covers of classic literature!  (source: Literary Hub)




13 comments:

  1. Ha! That cover! I think What My Sister Knew sounds good. Actually, all 3 books sound good. Since I have Kindle Unlimited, I'll check out the other two there.

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    1. Those pulp covers are eye catching, aren't they? They may be a bit misleading about content, though. :)

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  2. Oh my, those pulp covers are fantastic. Cover art is so interesting. I definitely have noticed certain trends in modern publishing which makes some books seem so "samey". For example, compare What My Sister Knew to the cover of In a Dark, Dark Wood. Kind of similar, no?

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    1. So many covers are easily interchangeable. A vulnerable woman in the distance works for most crime thrillers. Kind of like titles with "Girl" or "Wife." :)

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  3. The covers are excellent. Funny that the one for Dr. Jekyll had the image of Spencer Tracy who was the star of the film. I guess even back then movie covers were being used to attract audiences to the book version! I have the Nina Laurin book on my Kindle and am looking forward to it!

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    1. The pulp covers make classics look so suggestive. :) Cover porn!

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  4. The twin book sounds interesting and the one where she inherits a ghost along with the house sounds like fun. And that cover is awesome! :)

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    1. It was an interesting variety of topics!

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  5. Diverse bunch of reads here -- and in particular True Fiction and the relationship in What my sister knew is sooooo creepy and yet I must know more!

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    1. True Fiction was a combination of funny and a little frightening. The premise concerning the hijacking of a plane's computer was too close for comfort. The characters of Hollywood & Vine, the television show Ian wrote for before publishing his first novel were ridiculous and amusing. In fact, the star of the show was my favorite character. What My Sister Knew was creepy and kept my interest without me actually "liking" it.

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  6. Haha! That's an interesting cover. :-)

    The Ghost of Marlow House sounds like a great start to a series. I haven't heard of the author before, but will have to add her books to my to read list. I've sometimes come across true life stories that could have come right out of fiction--it makes them all the more amazing that they are true. I will have to check out True Fiction.

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    1. The Ghost of Marlow House was a fluffy little ghost story. :) A comical conspiracy, True Fiction mixed ridiculous with the conceivable. Just thinking of some of the bizarre CIA scandals (at least those we know about)....

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  7. What My Sister Knew and Haunting Danielle both sound intriguing and I love the cover of the latter. :)

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