Told with stories-within-the-story, the plot centers on a group of friends who gather for a weekend at one of their country homes to celebrate a milestone birthday and play a "murder game" each randomly draws one name as a victim and one as a murderer, an most write a short story describing a murder, to be read out judged at the end of the weekend. Soon the reader is unsure if a chapter is a real plot point, or simply one of the murder stories crafted by the participants. A late arriving friend begins to unravel the doings and soon figures out what is afoot. A very interesting premise, well written, but a bit confusing for the reader.

Loved the story line and the writing! A novel centered around the lives of three women over 3 generations. Lila, in the middle, was raised by an abusive father and became a very successful journalist but a not-so-usual mother. Her youngest daughter, Grace fictionalizes Lila's abandonment by her mother (Zelda) and their family life in her first novel, and has always wondered if Zelda was truly dead, as Lila's father maintained, or had simly escaped her marriage. There's a bit of that mystery, set among well developed characters amid a unique and interesting family. Highly recommend.

Very well crafted historical novel centered on Anna Maria della Pieta, a Venetian orphan in the 17th century who rose to fame as a Violinist and eventually the Maestro of the Figlie della Pieta, a renowned ensemble of musicians led, at a time, by Antonio Vivaldi. While there are few historical records concerning Anna Maria (as a female of that time), this imagining feels rich with detail and possibility.

Based on real-life heiress Aimee Crocker, this historical novel follows her life as se sets her own course in the restrictive early 1900s. Seeking spiritual guidance and self-understanding, Aimee travels the world while tormented by visions of a Woman in White, which often preclude a death in her path. Entertaining, but a bit far a field in some points with little backing in history.

Quick, contemporary read with a "Real Housewives" meets "Pretty Little Liars" vibe. Not challenging or deeply enlightening, it was an easy airplane read that made the trip pass quickl

Quick read, well told through multiple narrators (honestly, a few too many). The main plot centers on the death of a young high school student at a party, but the various characters offer different perspectives in the slowly built details of the night.

A very interesting plot and characters, but overall it was a little to angst-y and long for me. Three young African American women in Philadelphia in 1837: Nell, a free-born Philadelphian of means involved in Abolitionist causes; Charlotte, an escaped slave who posses as her father's housemaid whil he passes as white; and Evie, an enslaved girl who is brought North to assist her mistress, from whom Charlotte escaped 4 years ago. As the three communicate clandestinely and try to coordinate Evie's escape, the city prepares for and the Abolitionist Convention scheduled to celebrate the creation of the opening of Philadelphia Hall, built to support the abolition of slavery. At times, there are too many side plots involving Nell's engagement, Charlotte's relationship with Evie and with her father, and Evie's efforts to thwart her mistresses marriage, etc, that do advance the overall plot but at the expense of the reader keeping track of it all. Worthwhile read, but could have used some streamlining in the editing process.

A tightly written psychological study and thriller, My Husband by Maud Ventura is look into the chaotic mind of a woman obsessed with her husband and her marriage. Through the course of one week, the main charater evaluates every minute detail of her interactions with her spouse, from how long he holds her had to his every interactin with others in her presence. With a surprise ending, the reader is left with an in depth look at obsession, paranoia, and the protaganist's definition of love.

Delightful as an audiobook, this novel on the life of a prankster from "Little Egypt" in Southern Illinois follows him from the depression through to today, as he grows and experiences the world, while raising a family and growing a business in a town divided into "oil people" and "sharecroppers". His goal to have his own band of Merry Men and a Camelot to share with them culminates in the biggest prank of all - targeting his neighbor and rival, and oil company employee he has know since childhood. The narration is spot on and lends a twangy voice to our protagonist which rings so true and makes the jokes even funnier!1111

Light and fast paced, this book covers less than a year of Olivia Green's life, but one of great change. She is a house cleaner in Manningham, England, with a husband and two teenage sons. She has worked several days a week for her favorite author, Essie Starling, whose books she has read for 20 years. Essie's faith in her and her own desire to become a writer, push Liv to rethink who she is as she completes one last task assigned by Essie. Sort of a late-in-life coming of age tale, during which Liv grows, investigates, and feels differently about her own self and her own life. A light read, with entertaining characters. Includes discussion questions for book groups.