Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

October Book Club Pick- great choice!

Summary (back of book)
On a warm summer morning in North Carthage, Missouri, it is Nick and Amy Dunne's fifth wedding anniversary. Presents are being wrapped and reservations are being made when Nick's clever and beautiful wife disappears from their rented McMansion on the Mississippi River. Husband-of-the-Year Nick isn't doing himself any favors with cringe-worthy daydreams about the slope and shape of his wife's head, but passages from Amy's diary reveal the alpha-girl perfectionist could have put anyone dangerously on edge. Under mounting pressure from the police and the media--as well as Amy's fiercely doting parents--the town golden boy parades an endless series of lies, deceits, and inappropriate behavior. Nick is oddly evasive, and he's definitely bitter--but is he really a killer?
As the cops close in, every couple in town is soon wondering how well they know the one that they love. With his twin sister, Margo, at his side, Nick stands by his innocence. Trouble is, if Nick didn't do it, where is that beautiful wife? And what was in that silvery gift box hidden in the back of her bedroom closet?

My thoughts 
 In all honesty, I LOVED this book! I was so convinced in the first few chapters that Nick killed his wife. I mean it made sense, it all added up- except the body. But then once you actually start seeing Amy through Nick's eyes, and even reading the Diary Amy entries, you start to think, what? Yes, Nick looses his temper but is he really capable of murder? I don't think so. This book is brilliant, from beginning to end. I mean, Gillian Flynn is a genius. A true genius. The mind it takes to fashion a crime so devious, is remarkable. 
It's hard for me to really decide if Amy is demented sociopath or just pure evil. I think both really. Yes, she's incredibly smart but who the hell does THAT to their husband to teach them a lesson? I mean come on. Just divorce him for heaven's sake. I mean the attention to detail she had planning her own murder/death, wow. I could never do that- which probably why I'm considered normal. I mean it took her a year or so to plan all the details. The fake credit cards, the fake diary..I mean, wow. In a sick way, she is to be admired. She's the kind of psycho that has followers and copycats. Flynn definitely broke the mold creating this character.
Nick is a tired, bored husband who only has one thing going for him- the 20-something hot college student he's banging. He never sees the setup by his wife coming. He does figure it out though. And the good thing is that one of the officers is on his side. I mean you get the feeling he's just not that smart to pull off a murder. He would do something to screw it up. In a big way, like call 911 on himself. In the end though, I just feel incredibly sorry for him. I mean geez, to figure out your wife framed you for her own murder, then she shows back up after killing her supposed 'kidnapper, rapist' well, damn, that sucks so bad. And the thing is, he can't divorce her. She has too much on him. His life is rough and it sucks. I really would love to know what happens though. I would love to know if he does end up killing her, like she should be, that demented witch. 
Amy's parents are a different breed. I hated them. I mean HATED them. They are the reason she is the way she is. 
I loved loved this book. The plot and all the twists and turns will keep you wanting to read and make you not want to sleep. In total, it took me 24 hours to read. I started it one morning and finished it the following afternoon, after begrudingly going to bed because my eyes were going bleary. It's so worth the lack of sleep.

5 out of 5 stars!

Cat in the Stacks Mystery Series (books 1-5) by Miranda James

I convinced my husband to take me and our daughter to the book store a week or so ago just so I could peruse the goodies on the shelves. Well, I ended up buying the first 5 books in this mystery series. I am such a sucker for mysteries! Especially when they have all the books in that series ready for you to buy..Bless my husband's heart..he stood no chance.

The books:
1. Murder Past Due
2. Classified as Murder
3. File M for Murder
4. Out of Circulation
5. The Silence of the Library

As you can see the series is set in libraries and revolves around library type stuff. Miranda James is an alias for Dean James. He also writes under a couple other names. I LOVE this series because it's set in Mississippi, which is where I'm from. Honestly, it made me very homesick.

Overview
Charlie Harris is a 50ish year old man, widower, with 2 adult children. He also is works at the college library in Athena, MS. He volunteers at the public library once a week also. What makes Charlie interesting and the talk of the town is his companion, Diesel. Diesel is a Maine Coon cat, who is large even for the breed. Charlie and Diesel go everywhere together.
In Murder Past Due, Charlie is working hard when his old high school classmate, Godfrey Priest, arrives. Priest is an unbearable man who is famous for writing thrillers. Events unfold quickly once Priest arrives- he lands a man in the hospital, and then he's found dead- by Charlie. Justin, a boarder in Charlie's house, is the biological son of Priest. They both just found out and were getting acquainted. The story continues with Charlie helping out Deputy Berry solving the murder. Who killed Priest and why? Can Charlie clear Justin's name? Yes he does. Read Murder Past Due to find out who kills Priest! 

In Classified as Murder, Charlie is asked by the town's eccentric resident, James Delacorte, to do inventory for him of his rare books collection. He has feelings that someone is stealing his books, and the thief is related to him. On the first day of inventory, Charlie leaves for lunch only to return to find Mr. Delacorte dead in the library. Charlie once again is thrown into the investigation to help find out who killed Mr. Delacorte and why. Charlie tries not to step on Deputy Berry's toes and tries to stay out of trouble poking his nose around. After receiving threats, Charlie can't stop. He must find out who killed this man. Can Charlie put all the facts together? Read Classified as Murder to find out!

File M for Murder revolves around the arrival of noted playwright, Connor Lawton. He's in town helping Athena College perform a new drama. We also meet Charlie's daughter, Laura, and learn of her previous relationship with Connor. After Connor calls Laura and asks her to come over to his hotel room, Laura finds Connor dead. She immediately calls Charlie and asks him to come help her and what to do. Deputy Berry arrives sometime later full of questions for both Charlie and Laura. Can Charlie make Berry see that Laura would never murder anyone? Charlie has to find who killed Connor before Deputy Berry arrests Laura for a murder she did not commit. Charlie poles his nose around and soon finds out who did it and the twist on why! This was probably the most twisty book in the series. I enjoyed this one because it had drama with it- stalkers, loud clothing, drama actors. Read File M for Murder, you will love it!

Out of Circulation finds Charlie as a member of one of the town boards- along with some very high rolling ladies. The Ducote sisters are one of the wealthiest and charitable ladies in town. Along with Vera Cassity they like to throw big todo's in town to raise money for various organizations. Charlie finds himself disliking Vera and throwing his vote in with the Ducote sisters. But was that the right thing to do? Especially after they tell him, Vera will get what's coming to her soon. At the party of the year, Vera is found dead and Charlie's maid, Deputy Berry's mother, Azalea, is in the midst of it- or so it seems. Can Charlie help Berry clear Azalea's name? and find out who the true murderer is? This book is full of twists and turns! I LOVE this one too!

The Silence of the Library is about National Library Week and the week of events that will be happening in honor of it. Charlie is working on a display about mystery series. One of the series authors, Electra Barnes Cartwright, is rumored to have settled close to Athena. He and Teresa (library director) go and visit Mrs. Cartwright to invite her to talk during the week. She gladly accepts! Teresa is called the next day by Cartwright's daughter to discuss the fee- something the Teresa is shocked about since money wasn't discussed at the meeting. Now Teresa fears that the author won't appear because paying her isn't in the library budget. Soon, collectors start to arrive and try to bully their way into having Mrs. Cartwright sign all their copies of her mystery books. They are willing to pay crazy amounts for her to do this. When the president of the ECB's fan club is found murdered Charlie puts on his detective hat once again to help solve the murder and find out if Mrs. Cartwright is truly alive at 100 yrs old or if something more sinister happened to her.

My feelings
I absolutely loved this series! I read it in 5 days- yes, one book a day. I was uncertain about having a man as the lead character in a mystery series but I really love Charlie and his cat Diesel. I'm so used to having strong female leads in the mysteries I read, that it was refreshing to have Charlie and his sweet cat be the spotlight. I loved this book even more because it's set in my home state of Mississippi. It made me so very homesick that I was calling my mom regularly (which I do anyways but more so). I even researched Miranda James to find out more about her only to find out she's a he! It made more sense that Dean James would have a male lead in a detective series such as this once you discover the name Miranda James is his pseudonym. It works though! I especially love Diesel! I would love love love to see a Maine Coon in person. They sound like such amazing and beautiful animals, smart too.
One of my favorite characters, besides Charlie and Diesel, was Deputy Kanesha Berry. She was the first African American woman Deputy in the small town of Athena and she is FIERCE! Her character is strong, smart, and badass. She's intimidating but she knows good help when she finds it. She doesn't trust many but when she does she relies on them. I thought her character was needed in the story. She was the yang to Charlie's ying since he's so nice and welcoming.

I HIGHLY recommend this series! I cannot wait to read the next books in the series.

5 out of 5 stars for all 5 books!!

Unravel Me Book (Shatter Me series #2) by Tahereh Mafi

I'm a little disappointed that I just found out that there are 1/2 books between the regular series books. Which I hate when authors do that, why do you need book 1, book 1 1/2, book 2 and so on...I never see the point. But anyways, since I didn't know there were 1/2 books between the others I went right ahead and read book 2..

In book 2, the story picks up where Juliette and Adam have escaped to Omega Point, where they are safe from the crazy, power driven Winston.This is when Juliette starts to realize her power. And her love, her crazy obsessive love, for Adam. Adam feels the same. We also learn that Adam has a power. He can 'deactivate' others' powers by touching them- which is why he can touch Juliette. It's not until Juliette stops acting like a self-centered brat (thanks to Kenji) that she really starts to focus on using her gift and seeing what she is capable of. She becomes someone they can depend on. Except when she loses her shit- that girl is like the She Hulk. I swear. Holy balls. Do not make her angry!
We do see Winston again after a meeting between his father and Juliette where Juliette loses her shit (again) and shoots him in both legs (spoiler?) and is about to kill him (which would have been amazing cause he's a bigger shit than Winston). But Kenji (oh Kenji *swoons*) stops Juliette. And they take Winston hostage- which if you pay attention to the relationship between Winston and his dad, not too brilliant of a plan, as his dad could give less than two shits about him.
Omega Point has Winston and they keep him in a nice room and have Juliette talk to him. Which, I was all 'why? he loves her and she's attracted to him..' so it didn't make sense to me. But in the end, it does work. He tells them his father's plans. We also learn, (major spoiler) that Adam's dad and his little brother's dad (who they thought were dead) is in fact the man that Winston calls Dad. That's right...Adam and Winston are half brothers. My mind was blown. Plot twist!
What I really liked is the steamy scene between Winston and Juliette. I mean they are about to have sex when she's all like 'Adam' and Winston is like "WTF". Breaks his heart. And that is the only time I feel sorry for him. We also find out his first name is Aaron.
It's a good story. I didn't ruin too much of it for you...So read it.

4 out of 5 stars.

Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

I saw this book on Tumblr a few times and decided to get it from the library to read. I started and finished it in 1 day (my husband is always so shocked I do this but really, if it's a great book- it's not hard).

Shatter Me is about a girl, Juliette, who is trapped. Well, she's held in an asylum..cause she's dangerous, not crazy- very, very, dangerous. She's been held in the asylum for years. Her parents wanted her to be locked up. Her parents were scared of her. They hate her. She hasn't been outside in years. She hasn't seen another person or talked to anyone in years. Then, out of the blue she gets a cellmate- a man. Someone she remembers from her life growing up. But does he remember her? She could never forget those eyes. Those blue eyes. At first, she doesn't talk to him. She ignores him. But then, she slowly opens up. She tells him her name. She talks. He talks. They bond.
Then you find out it was all a trap. A crazy setup led by an even crazier guy- Winston. He wants her to help him rule the world...oh wait..why is she dangerous? you're wondering..She can kill people with her bare hands, she can suck your life out of you by simply touching you with her bare hands. And she's SUPER strong. She's a tiny wisp of a thing- who can lift grown men off their feet, blast through walls and lose herself to the power she possesses. She's a force to be reckoned with. Someone you need and want on your side. Winston is no dummy. He's power hungry. He wants her to help him rule the world. But then something happens..Winston, the bad guy, falls in LOVE with her. But even more than that, the 'cellmate' Adam is in love with Juliette also. Adam is really a soldier in Winston's army. Adam isn't supposed to feel anything. But Adam and Juliette love each other. They run away together.
Then you meet Kenji. Honestly, I love Kenji. He's the one I would date in the book. He's the jokester but kickass soldier who can do what no one else can- blend in with backgrounds..that's right- he can make himself invisible. How effin cool is that?!
So, Juliette learns, after she and Adam break out of Winston's crazy house, that there is a safe place for them, for everyone who isn't fooled by the new government. There's a rebellion forming. There's also people like her, who have special gifts too. She's not alone. She's not crazy.
The relationship between Adam and Juliette is sweet. Their relationship oozes off the pages of the book. You can feel the passion they have for each other. It's a great relationship. The author created a relationship most people in real life look for their whole lives. And these teens in this book, get it. They have this overly emotional LOVE for each other like no one else has had. It's a good relationship. But you get the feeling it just can't happen. Why can Adam touch Juliette without dying? No one else can...and that my friends, is why I read the 2nd book right after this one...

5 out of 5 stars! Must read!!
I would also like to mention that this story reminds me of the t.v. show Heroes.

A Potion To Die For by Heather Blake

I'm a lover of mystery books. Especially the kind where mystery, love, and humor are all weaved together. This book is probably one of the best first books of a series that I've read in a while. The main character, Carly Bell Hartwell, is strong, independent, funny and also a witch. Her specialty is potions for the mind, soul, and body. As the oldest cousin she has the family 'secret recipe' to making potions. Her cousin Delia is constantly trying to find out the secret so her hexes will be more potent. The whole story revolves around Carly and how a dead lawyer is found in her store with one of her potion bottles in his hand. The whole town of Hitching Post, AL thinks she did it. And now, her business is taking a hit. What a girl to do? Solve the murder of course. With many twists and turns and you'll never guess who did it end this book is great!
One of the characters that did steal the show for me was Carly's best friend Ainsley. She was once a wile child but now a preacher's wife with 3 crazy kids. She brings the humor and Southern love and charm to this but also a sense of kickassery to the story too.
Another character worth mentioning is the swoon-worthy love interest of Carly's, Dylan, the sheriff. Those two have some history! Like being engaged twice and both times never getting hitched history. Burning down a chapel is mentioned a few times throughout the story too.
Aunt Marjie is also a character that people will love! She's a crazy old lady who has an itchy trigger finger. I loved her!
I really think that if you want to start reading good mysteries you should start with a good series...START WITH THIS ONE! Loved it sooo much. Give it a try. You won't be disappointed.

5 out of 5 stars!

Game by Barry Lyga

Game delves once again into the creative mind of Lyga except this time a new player is in the this game.
Jazz is at it again but this time the stakes are higher. He's hunting his dad, Billy Dent. Billy has escaped from prison and is killing people. But what's different are the people and what he does to them. Hats and dogs? What does that mean? Jazz travels to New York to help the police solve these murders and soon finds out that maybe Billy has an accomplice or two.
Jazz and the NYPD soon find out that Billy Dent is playing a sick game with 2 others who are doing the killings. Bodies are piling up and Jazz is so close to finding out so many more details of who he is and who Ugly J is.
This book gives us more of everyone else involved in Jazz's life and gets out of Jazz's head and the what if's of him becoming a killer like his dad. It is a BIG jump and leap that NYPD would consult a teenager about anything let alone serial killers but I guess for a fiction book anything is plausible. It does add a little bit of 'I don't know if this should be happening' but Lyga doesn't make it too crazy or out of the ordinary he makes feel like a last resort when the police don't have anything better than this teenager.
Lyga does go deeper into darkness with this book and that makes it more interesting but the humor like that first book isn't there as much. It becomes almost like an adult murder mystery rather than the teen fiction it should be. 
What drives me absolutely mad is when authors leave you hanging and this author does just that...What the hell happens to Jazz? I can't wait for the next book in this series.

4 out 5 stars...only because of the ending that left me going "WTF"

I Hunt Killers by Barry Lyga

I Hunt Killers was a book that I stumbled upon in the bookstore and couldn't stop thinking about after reading the back of it to see what is was about. When I got home, I immediately regretted not buying it and went on my Kindle Fire and bought it and felt so much better.

How do I feel about buying it? I feel like it was the ONLY choice and the BEST choice.

Jazz is a 16 yr old boy whose life is not like most. His dad, Billy Dent, is the most notorious serial killer to ever live. From a very young age, his dad would take him to scope out his 'prospects' and teach him how to be the best at killing. A pretty chilling and sad story about a kid who doesn't want to turn into his father so he works with the police and the local sheriff, G William, to catch killers. He's great at it too. No child should ever have the thoughts Jazz has in this book or worry about whether or not he's going to kill women like his father did. His best friend, Howie, is a great character to have in this story since he gives the comedic relief. Connie, Jazz's girlfriend, is the only one who can stand up to Jazz and takes no shit from him. Jazz's grandmother, well there are no words to describe her except maybe, batshit crazy. She is both hilarious, sad, senile, demented and gentle all at the same time and makes Jazz's life even more interesting.
In the first book of the series, Jazz is helping G. William and the police find what he is certain is a serial killer. He becomes obsessed and no matter how many times is told to stop or to let it go or that it's not a serial killer, he just KNOWS it is.
And it is....
And it's impossible to guess who it is. Lyga does a tremendous job of  making the reader look and think one way and then pulling off a fast one with who it really is. The details of the murders are chilling but in such a way that you can't look away.

5 out of 5 stars!

Up next, Game- Book 2 in I Hunt Killers series.

Unnatural Acts: Dan Shamble Zombie P.I. by Kevin J. Anderson

This second book in the Zombie P.I. series focuses a bit on politics this time. In the Big Uneasy (where Dan lives and works) Senator Balfour is someone who detests unnaturals. He writes a bill titled the Unnatural Acts Act- which bans basically everything from unnaturals. Along with this there is a man who is doing good deeds- or so it seems. His name is Goodfellow ( I love the irony in this book). Goodfellow and his sister Missy are from a very wealthy family (mobsters) and they are evil. One day Goodfellow is almost killed by a piano falling on him so he decides to change his ways. What no one realizes is that he is buying heart and soul combo packs from a little troll to become nice-since evil is in his blood. Dan finds out and he is arrested. Their Smile Syndicate business (Missy runs) is reported for tax evasion and shut down also. We also meet the ghost of William Shakespear or so the ghost claims. A fire destroys the set in the graveyard where Shakespear in the Dark is held. Shakespear hires Dan to find out if Balfour's goons are responsible. Dan finds out that it was in fact Shakespear who set the fire so he could bring MORE interest to his shows. Wow!
Also, Robin takes on a case of discrimination (werewolf and vampire couple) who want to live outside the Big Uneasy but are being told No by everyone because they are unnaturals. We meet a succubus and a Madam of a brothel who is mummy. A witch and her swine sister (literally) who Dan helped in the previous book. They are interviewing him for a book series about a Zombie P.I. (get it?)
I like these books because there is always so much going on but it all ties together some how which is great and genius on Anderson's part.
I can't wait to get my hands on the third book!

5 out of 5 stars! Never a dull moment and always something different.

The Scent of Rain and Lightning by Nancy Pickard

I'm such a huge fan of mystery fiction, it's one of my favorite genres. I actually read this book for a book club I'm in and I am so glad I did. I usually read those little cutesy tootsie mystery series but I may have to branch out and pick up more regular, more adult-like mysteries.
The story centers around Jody, a young woman whose parents were murdered 23 years ago and how the murderer is coming back to town after his being set free by the governor. After the first chapter, it flashbacks to the year the murders happened. Hugh-Jay and Laurie, her parents. were young, twenty somethings who had their whole future ahead of them. Laurie was a spoiled girl who was stealing from the Linders. Hugh-Jay and his family were rich and powerful but a good family in Rose, Kansas. Their marriage was in a rough patch because it turns out Laurie was stealing money from one of their ranches (which didn't surprise me one bit). One of my favorite characters was Chase. He was a rugged cowboy who all the ladies loved but he still worked hard and loved his family. I'm so glad he didn't kill his brother and sister in law since I thought the whole time he did! The man who was convicted of the murders was Billy Crosby, a mean son of a bitch who had a drinking problem and beat his wife and son. His son, Collin, is the one who gets him out of jail because he grew up to be a lawyer. As the story progresses, you find out that the Linder daughter's (Belle) fiance, Meryl, kills them but the way it happens, while horrible, is accidental. Hugh-Jay came home to find Laurie and who he thought was Billy having sex (he thought he was raping her) but really it was Meryl and Laurie having sex as they had been having an affair. Hugh-Jay is shot with his own shot gun after Meryl jumps at him and turns the gun on him. Laurie is taken to the rock formation where she falls to her death. In the end, Colling and Jody fall in love as they were meant to be all along.
I highly recommend you read this book even if you now know who did it. The details are in the book and it's such a good read! It's one of those books you can't put down because it's so well written and suspenseful!

4 out 5 stars! (some typos)