Case Histories

Goodreads Summary:
Set in Cambridge, England, it introduces Jackson Brodie, a former police inspector turned Private Investigator as he encounters three seemingly unconnected family tragedies - the disappearance of a three-year-old girl; the brutal murder of a husband; and the apparently motiveless murder of a solicitor's daughter.

My Review:
I really didn't like this book very much. I found it so slow moving and that stayed true from beginning to end. It's about 3 cold cases that a private investigator brings together and finds links that were not seen before. Case one involves the disappearance of a young child, case two involves a seemingly innocent young adult who is slashed to death on her first day of work at her fathers office, and case three involves an unstable mom who comes unhinged one day and lashes out at her husband.
3/5 stars

The Circle of Blood

Goodreads Summary:
As the assistant to her father, the county coroner of Silverton, Colorado, Cameryn Mahoney gets to witness all aspects of death, including the autopsy room. Yet somehow that feels easy, compared to her personal life. Now that her long-lost mother has made a surprise return, Cameryn's more confused than ever. Things only get worse when she and her mother pick up a mysterious young hitchhiker. Cameryn senses that the girl is running away from something, but before she can find out more, the girl is found dead a gun in her hand. Is it suicide? Or something even more sinister? Mixing forensic details and ripped-from-the-headlines themes, Alane Ferguson makes her reader's hearts pound yet again with this edge-ofyour- seat forensic mystery!

My Review:
I just loved this book and can't believe I started at number 3 in the series. This is, in fact, a series and I would advise anyone to start from book one.

This book has as much suspense and gore as any adult thriller. I found it hard to put down and totally enthralling. The story is about a 17 year old assistant coroner, Cameryn Mahoney, whose father is the coroner. The author clearly has done extensive research to bring this book to life. In a quiet town two people die on the same day, which is very rare. The second one presents as a suicide and the book hinges on this as Cameryn's mom could be the only suspect if she doesn't act fast...
4/5 stars

Peeps

Goodreads Summary:
For use in schools and libraries only. Cal Thompson is a carrier of a parasite that causes vampirism, and must hunt down all of the girlfriends he has unknowingly infected before they can create even more of their kind.

My Review:
This book will appeal to anyone who enjoys biology. The author weaves actual biological facts about parasites into the story, which is about vampires that are also parasites according to the author. It's somewhat of a historical take on vampire lore integrated into a very interesting and fast paced story.

The main character, Cal, is somewhat of a vampire hunter while being a vampire himself (but all he requires is pretty much an Atkins diet). Before he knew what he was he infected several ex girlfriends with vampirism and must track them down before they become a harm to themselves and others. It's very much an action adventure vampire story. I thought it was pretty fast paced and interesting.
3.5/5 stars

Switched

Goodreads Summary:
When Wendy Everly was six-years-old, her mother was convinced she was a monster and tried to kill her. It isn't until eleven years later that Wendy finds out her mother might've been telling the truth. With the help of Finn Holmes, Wendy finds herself in a world she never knew existed - and it's one she's not sure if she wants to be a part of.

My Review:
When I started reading this earlier today I didn't think I was going to finish it. Actually I found the first 50 pages a little boring and moving quite slowly. I decided I would give it a few more pages before abandoning it...and that's all it took to hook me. I just couldn't put it down once I got past a certain point. This book is the first one I can fairly say was exactly like Twilight but with trolls (albeit pretty ones) rather than vampires.

The book begins with Wendy, a six year old, dissatisfied by her birthday party so much that her mother tries to kill her...literally attacks her with a butcher knife. As the story progresses an elusive boy at school, Finn, turns out to be the one there to take her to her other life, the life of a troll where it turns out the whole society is awaiting her arrival. She turns out to be a very special girl...
4/5 stars