Oh, I loved this right off the mark.  It starts off strong, introducing serial killer Edmund Reese who inexplicable disappears from the electric chair as he's being executed.  Where did he go?  Was it real or was it made up to make the boogey man even scarier? What does this have to do with the family we are introduced to next?  There are so many threads tying everything together, when it all comes together it's so satisfying.

You KNOW the big bad is going to come, you just don't know who it going to happen to or when.  The style of Wendig's writing, jumping abruptly from character to character, jumping from past to present, the short chapters, it all keeps you unsettled and adds to the atmosphere.  I read this book in small bursts, I had to put it down fairly often to get some distance from it. I definitely thought about it while I wasn't reading it.  This book reminds me of the old school creepy horror novels I used to read, in the best way!  If you want something to keep you up at night, either because you are reading it or thinking about it, this is it.  

 

So, my first impression of this novel turned out to be wrong, I admit it.  I started out irritated with how the author was jamming the ambiance down my throat.  I lost count of how many times the words "ancient" and "ancestors" were used in the first few chapters.  I get it.  The house is old and has been in the family forever.  Once I got past that, the story began to pull me in.  I am a sucker for stories that take place on the Great Lakes, especially Lake Superior.  Superior is constantly bitter cold and killer storms actually happen, it's a great setting for creepy and strange.  

Once the plot began to fully form, I ripped through this book.  There was just enough of the supernatural to keep it spooky and the family dynamics added another spicy layer.  A wacky Mom, grumpy cousins, caretakers who flit in and out being all cryptic... there's something for everyone!  When the weird becomes dangerous, it's up to the twins, Anni and her brother to figure out what is really going on before someone ends up dead.  I always know a book has "gotten me" when I think about it in my non-reading times.  This one definitely showed up in my thoughts when I was supposed to be, I don't know, folding laundry or helping with math.  Give it a shot!

The Maid

 

I really wanted to get my hands on this book, and it did not disappoint!  I would classify this as a cozy mystery with a twist.  The twist is the main character/narrator.  What a refreshingly different voice.  Molly the maid knows she's different than everyone else.  She has difficulties reading social cues and has always relied on her grandmother to help interpret facial expressions and body language.  After her grandmother passes away, Molly soldiers on and attempts to keep her life as "normal" as possible.  The bright spot in her life is her job at the Regency Grand Hotel where she is capable of achieving perfection in at least one aspect of her life.  

As a maid in the hotel, she is invisible to almost everyone.  The biggest exception to this is a repeat guest, Mrs. Black.  This friendship is the highlight of Molly's life, but inevitably leads her into a sticky spot.  Reading Molly's interpretation of events and intentions, while understanding what it truly happening, was engrossing and fascinating.  There are plenty of twists and turns, some romance and redemption, and a very satisfying conclusion.  No spoilers here, but wow!  I did not see that coming!  Molly's growth and her path to self reliance is satisfying.  I was rooting for her the whole time.  I will recommend this to all my reader friends!

The Hollywood Spy

 

At this point, I feel like Maggie is an old friend of mine!  You know that question of what literary character you would most like to have dinner with?  I think Maggie would be an amazing choice!  She's smart, she's led an adventurous life, she's imperfect and complicated.  It would be an interesting dinner for sure!  This time around, Maggie is back in California meeting up with an old flame.  It's awkward, what with her investigating the murder of the old flame's fiancée, but things are never as they seem in a Maggie Hope mystery.  

The plot revolves around a difficult subject.  Racism was rampant during at that time, adding in the stresses of war and politics.  The more things change, the more they stay the same.  I thought the subject was handled well, it wasn't gratuitous and helped to move the plot.  This series continues to be one of my favorites, I don't get bored and it certainly isn't repetitive!  Another home run!

 

I've read books in this style before, using letters, e-mails, texts and other communications.  I find that although it's interesting, it can be disjointed and distracting.  I found it difficult to get a good feel for the characters so there wasn't as much connection as I'd have liked.  The concept is original and appealing, I really liked the build up and tension, but overall it was a bit of a slog for me.