January, 2023
January 4th, 2023, 7:55 p.m. - "People can get away with almost anything if they're likable"
1. The Family Game (Catherine Steadman)
Up next: The Stranger Times (C.K. McDonnell)
January 11th, 2023, 6:29 p.m. - More Reggie, please
2. The Stranger Times (C.K. McDonnell)
Up next: This Charming Man (C.K. McDonnell)
January 19th, 2023, 8:02 p.m. - I got more Reggie; now I want more Cogs and Zeke
3. This Charming Man (C.K. McDonnell)
Up next: The Villa (Rachel Hawkins)
January 28th, 2023, 2:16 p.m. - "In order for me to prove I haven't killed anyone, I have to kill someone?"
4. The Bandit Queens (Parini Shroff)
Up next: The Villa (Rachel Hawkins)
I liked this more than the previous Steadman I read, but I think she still has some work to do before she's on the same level as other thriller writers. There were a few things that were telegraphed too much and would have worked better if they were subtle. That said, even though I guessed the big twist, it was well done, and the payoff worked for me.
This was SO MUCH FUN. I think they're doing a TV adaptation in the U.K., so I'm going to start finding a way to watch now, in case it doesn't make it across the pond.
Way too much going on in this one, but still really fun. I'm glad I only have to wait a few weeks for the next one to come out.
I couldn't figure out what this book was trying to be. If it was supposed to be all humorous, there are beats where it gets too dark to qualify. But if Shroff intends to be a humor writer, she should, because she's really funny. This just didn't all click together for me.