My Mother, Munchausen's and Me

I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

I am a lover of true stories (although I usually lean more towards true crime), I couldn't not pick up this book. I have always been fascinated with women who have Munchausen's (and Munchhausen's by proxy). Its a captivating topic and this book did not disappoint. Throw in some good old fashioned narcissism and you've got the makings of a great book.

This book could have been called: But she's my mother.....

Helen is a woman whose mother lied to her for decades feigning illness and gathering sympathies from a myriad of people in their lives. Even going so far as to cut out those who challenged her. Helens mother states she has ME (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis ("Chronic Fatigue Syndrome"), which severely limits her childhood as she is basically just a caretaker for her mother and the house as her mother cannot do normal activities such as housework. Over the years, after Helen marries and has kids, her mothers illness morphs into Parkinson's, which again sucks all the life from their relationship, this time ignoring the grandkids, using her more major illness as a excuse to not partake in their lives.

As the years tick by, Helen, starts to realize that her mother may be making up a lot of her symptoms. When she starts asking her mothers friends about this they respond by validating her suspicions. Even a nurse assigned to her mother says she's making it all up. The ME, the Parkinson's, its all been for show. To gain attention. She's a narcissist at her core. 

The revelation that her mother is a bold faced liar is almost too much. After her mother passes she able to read through her mothers journals that started in the 1960's and she that she's been obsessed with her health from a very early age. Even within her own journals she admits she's faking. 

I really enjoyed this book. It was sad, fascinating and a harrowing tale of a daughters devotion to her mother, only ending once she realized the horrific truth of her life. I would definitely read more by this author.

The Scarlet Pen

I really enjoyed this story. A little history and a little fiction. I love the 1800s era and this did not disappoint.

Stephen Dee Richards, donned "the Ted Bundy of the Old West" is a man from Mount Pleasant, Ohio, and is engaged to a young lady named Emma Draycott. Emma is the daughter of a local banker and does not like Stephen very much but cannot put his finger on why. When a series of counterfeit bills start showing up in town it brings Clay Timmons in. Clay is a Secret Service agent who has worked for the Pony Express in the past. He quickly finds out that Stephen has passed a few of these bills within town but has left with a companion to travel west for "business" or at least that what he's told Emma.

In reality, Stephen is a cold blooded killer. Killing 9 people over the course of three years and two states. He even killed a woman and her three children. Emma, thankfully, was informed of his misdeeds and in the end did not marry him. Instead she ends up marrying the kind and courageous Clay.

I really enjoyed the historical aspect of this story, even with the changes to the history a little bit, I found the story to be well written, suspenseful and it definitely held my interest. I am a huge fan of true crime and just when I've thought I had heard about almost every serial killer out there, I am shown a new one. I had not heard of this killer or his crimes. At the end of the book the author is nice enough to show where she made the changes to the story and why.

This was a great book and I will definitely be checking out more from this author.

Couple Found Slain

When I first saw the title of this book, I was intrigued. I love a good true crime story and even better if they have photo's within the book, macabre maybe but hey what can I say, I am fascinated with that kind of stuff. Thank you to Netgalley.

However, this story is not so much about the incident, the brutal slaying of a married couple in their home by their son, but instead its about the aftermath. What happens to a man who murders his parents in a state of insanity?

Brian Bechtolds life was horrible. His parents were garbage people by all accounts. He was the last of 5 kids, a menopause baby, to a woman who didn't give a crap about being a mom let alone one so late in life. She was a horrible housekeeper, lazy and relied on her older daughters to play caretaker to the young child. One incident stuck out to me " Brian and his sister Cathy were at the local pool, when another boy dropped a watering can on his head cutting it open. The mother of the boy took Cathy and Brian home, their mother on the phone couldn't be bothered to come outside to check on him, so Cathy asked the woman to take them to the hospital so her could be treated." What kind of mother does this? Not to mention the father who was an alcoholic abusive belligerent man who beat not only his kids but his wife, punching her in the stomach when she was pregnant with Brian (gotta wonder if that played into his issues later in life).

In 1992, Brian has been living back at home after leaving DeVry college. He had been on probation on a drug charge and his probation officer said he had violated his parole by moving out of state to attend college. His father stopped paying the tuition instead of helping him to work things out with the courts so he could continue college. His life quickly fell apart after this. His mothers health had declined, she had breast cancer (karma?) and was very ill. In turn, the house deteriorated even more than before. She was unable to keep it up and his dad, who literally never helped anyway, certainly wasn't going to life a finger now even though she was dying.

Its at this time he has a breakdown and kills his parents. Shooting them with a shotgun. His dad in the kitchen and mom in her recliner. He then leaves and drives to Florida where he turns himself in to the police and confesses his crime after having read the bible for three days, Believing he had been possessed and now saved by Jesus (whose to say that didn't happen though?)

He has a trial where he is found "not criminally responsible". From here he is sent to Clifton T. Perkins, Marylands only maximum security forensic psychiatric facility. He remains here for decades while other inmates, some of whom had done just as bad or worse things, are released around him. He is seen by umpteen doctors, most of which only see his mental illness, not him, and in turn only repeat what the previous doctor has said.

The author not only speaks of Brian's misjustice, and that's how I view this story, a misjustice, but also of the ongoing abuse of patients and how they are basically just swept away into oblivion. The author states "no federal agency is charged with monitoring them; no registry or organization tracks how long they've been incarcerated, or why.....some held indefinitely." I have my own views on whether or not the government should be involved in stuff like this but at the very least there needs to be some kind of accountability. 

I found this book to be fascinating and sad all at the same time. I cannot begin to imagine what its like to have a psychotic break, to know that you committed a crime, but to also know that you wont ever do it again, only to have doctors over and over say that you aren't capable of rejoining society because you a threat to others.. I only wish the ending of the book had been more positive. I was really hoping he would get out, finally, after years of appeals, court cases and his "compliance" with the doctor in regards to medication. 

I felt the story was a compelling one, a fast read, well paced with loads of information, maybe too much at times, but still a worthy read. Especially if you, like me, have suffered from or know someone who has a mental illness. 

Have You Seen Me?

I recieved this book for free for an honest review, thank you Booksirens.

I was on the waiting list for this book for a few weeks when I was finally chosen and boy was it worth the wait.

This is a classic mystery story with a little bit of a teen slasher and romance thrown in there. I literally could not stop reading it and thought for sure I knew who the killer was only to discover I was wrong. The twist ending is something I did not see coming.

Aubrey LaRoux is a woman who once attended Waverly Prep school. While she was attending the school as a teen, a fellow student went missing, as well as several students from the 90's. She's back at the school, this time as a history teacher. She's immediately drawn in by some of the students who are investigating the recent disappearance of a girl named, Lindsey. One by one the students she's helping start dying and she's now in a race against time to uncover the truth of the school and find the murderer.

I really enjoyed this story. At its core, its a murder mystery. I love a good murder mystery and even better is one that is action packed and keeps you guessing until the very end. Its also suspenseful and has a little romance in it that revolved around the teacher, Aubrey and the town sheriff Mason. I'm a sucker for a happy ending and this one did not disappoint. I really liked that it takes place in a real place, Louisiana. It brings things to life especially since I've been to Louisiana and I know what its like there.

All together I felt this was a really good story and it even kind of ends on a cliff hanger. I could definitely see a sequel, Id like to see what happens with Aubrey and Mason and what happens to the school. I will definitely be looking for more from this author.

Here Comes The Homicide

This is the first book I have read by this author. Apparently this is a stand alone in what is called The Wedding Crasher series.

I love a good mystery. Especially ones that keep me guessing. Glory is a wedding planner in a small town. When she hit the town center statue with her car, she is horrified to see a dead body underneath, the dead body of her uncle. Her parents were killed when she was 5 in a car accident. Now there's rumors her father was involved in her uncles death. Can she clear her fathers name before its too late?

Overall I really enjoyed the story aspect. A family mystery, two rival towns, a wedding and a chicken romance. It had its moments where I chuckled and the mystery aspect was on point. But this is the third book in a row (not by this author) that has had the same "all men are worthless cheaters" trope and I'm over it. I could have done without the male bashing and lines like "I need to wash the taste of testosterone out of my mouth" and "boys will be boys".

I'm not sure if Ill check out the other two books in this series but Im thankful to have had the opportunity to read this one.

Goodreads=A Good Year

 At the beginning of the year, I made the decision to once again participate in the Goodreads year long reading challenge. I have participated in the past but have always kind of faltered and never completed my goal. 

I set a goal of 50 books for the year 2021. I never really expected to get close to it. I am a slow reader and as the title of my blog states, reading makes me sleepy. I don't know why but it does. These days, I often have a cup of coffee, while I am reading and it seems to help. 

I recently came across ARC books (advanced reader copy) books. I had no idea it was a thing and was a tad excited to make the discovery. I have been using Booksirens and just this week signed up for Netgalley. I like Booksirens better right now. For the month of July alone, I have read 17 books, which is unheard of for me, but I have thoroughly enjoyed the books I have been allowed to read in advance.

My goal is surpass my goal of 50. How far, I'm not sure. 

Destroy Me (SPOILERS)

 I received this book courtesy of Netgalley in exchange for a free review.

On the surface, I chose this book because the story sounded intriguing.

Catherine Bayntun, a recently separated mother, is horrified to see a police sketch of what looks exactly like her, down to the mole on her cheek, on the evening news. She is being sought after a woman, Charlie, is found murdered. Catherine and Charlie were school friends but she hasn't seen her in over 17 years. 

Seventeen years ago they were at a party when Catherine discovered Charlie having sex with a guy she had a crush on. Catherine takes off from the party, walking home when she is chased down my Charlie in a car, a car that isn't hers, its Catherines. They have an argument and then make-up, deciding to go home as they are both very drunk. As Catherine is driving, a dog runs out in front of them and then a 5 year old little girl, Daisy. She tries to stop but its too late, suddenly theres a thud and Daisy is flying though the air. They stop and realize she's already dead. Charlie doesn't have her phone and Catherines phone battery is dead, or so she says (we find out later it wasn't). They decide the girl is already dead and an ambulance wouldn't help her, plus it would ruin their lives. So they leave. They leave a 5 year old little girl, dead in the street.

Fast forward 17 years, Catherine has a 5 year old son, Dylan. One day he comes home from school and she's checking his backpack when she finds an envelope with a photo in it of the park near her house. Then she receives another one of the road where the girl died, the exact spot. She soon realizes that someone from the girls family is targeting her. It all goes south when Charlie is murdered and she is now a suspect. She's eventually cleared but then her son is taken. Once she realizes who took him she has to get him back without alerting the police. Alerting them could harm him and would end her life as the hit and run would come out. 

Daisy's sister, Beth, killed Charlie and targeted Catherine by taking Dylan, so that she would go to the police and confess her killing of Daisy. An intense car chase ensues and Catherine crashes, waking in the hospital. She finds out Beth was apprehended and Dylan is safe but she has a spinal injury and nothing will ever be the same. Her soon to be ex says he'd like to come back and take care of her and Dylan and she agrees to forgive him (he had cheated on her).

The book ends with a rehashing of a previous entry where Catherine was remembering the night she hit Daisy. She tells Charlie that her phone battery is dead but it wasn't. She could have called an ambulance but chose not to to save her own life. 

I really disliked the ending. I felt it didn't really wrap anything up. Yes, the woman targeting her was arrested but then Catherine didn't have to take responsibility for the murder of a 5 year old. I don't care if it was 17 years ago. As a mom, I don't know that I could have gotten past that. It is a quick read but I'm not sure if I will read anything else from this author, I will have to play it by ear. 

The New Home

 

I received this book for free from Netgalley for an honest review.
When I first chose this book, I chose it for the description. The mystery of a missing person and her daughter. A husband who isn't what he seems and the possibility that he's a murderer.

Here's, what I liked about the book. I really enjoyed the base story. A woman, Freya and her fiancé Jack, moved in next door to a family, Michael, Emily and their daughter Thea. Everything seems perfect with them until they are invited over for dinner and see that things between Michael and Emily aren't at all what they seem. Some days later, Emily and her daughter are missing and the husband seems to be hiding something. The truth is much darker and I truly enjoyed and did not see the twist ending coming. I felt the pacing was nice and the suspense literally had me turning the pages quickly. It took me about 3 hours to read this book. The felt like I got to know the characters and I was really happy with the ending. I felt it wrapped up nicely.

All in all, it comes down to the story for me. I did enjoy the mystery, suspense aspect of the story was great. I literally was on the edge of my seat and could not stop reading. I was determined to find out what happened to Emily and her daughter.. I honestly don't know if Ill read anything from this author again but I'm thankful I got the chance to review this book.

Hide and Seek: Book 2

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you Booksirens.

This is the sequel book to Lost and Found. Another one that I read in a few hours.

Its three months later and Phoebe is still dealing with the fallout from her missing friend, Adele. Alan hasn't spoken to her since he left the hospital and she hates her job. She's still wanting to find out where her friend is, when she starts receiving letters from her, or are they from her?

The book picks up literally months after the last book ended and the continuation is well done. There's a lot of build up to the climax, a twist ending I didn't see coming until I was 3/4 of the way through and an ending that has closure, what more could you ask for?

I love how well the characters are plotted out. In depth, allowing us to get to know Alan and Phoebe better throughout, as well as Adele. The story is laid out really well, with emotional turmoil and heartbreak you can feel oozing from the pages. The suspense throughout literally had be turning pages quickly, so much that I felt I couldn't wait to find out what had happened to Adele.

Phoebes world start to unravel and she doesn't know who she can trust, and in turn neither do we. But in the end, the truth is exposed and lives will be destroyed.

I really liked both of these stories. I felt the pacing was nice and the suspense really kept me on the edge of my seat.

Lost and Found: Book 1

 

Oh my gosh! What can I say about this book!? It was fantastic! I read it in three hours. I just could not stop. I even powered through an ocular migraine, that's how much I wanted to find out what happened to Adele.

Phoebe and Adele are friends and have known each other since they were children and are now roommates attending university. Phoebe has a crush on Alan, who lives across the street and is crushed when she finds out Adele is sleeping with him. Suddenly, Adele goes missing and strange things start happening surrounding Alan. Phoebe keeps seeing a woman who looks just like her lurking around. She begins to think its Adele in disguise. What happened to Adele? Who is the woman that seems to be stalking her? Why cant she find anything out about Alan online?

This story literally kept me on the edge of my seat. I was really surprised at the ending. I did not see the twist coming. At first I thought it might be some kind of Single White Female thing but it wasn't. In fact, the book ends on a cliffhanger! I cannot wait to read the next one. I will definitely be looking for more from this author!

The Woman He Used to Know

 I love a good mystery. Especially one that keeps me guessing until the very end.

Nick Ryan is a detective in Denver, Colorado. One night he's dispatched to a homicide only to discover not only does he know the victim, he has a sordid past with the victims wife, Elizabeth. As the spouse, she's automatically the prime suspect, despite protesting her innocence. Can Detective Ryan prove her innocence and uncover why her husband was killed before Elizabeth is arrested?

The story is written really well. The chemistry between Nick and Elizabeth is electric. I could definitely feel it. The pacing is fast and the chapters are short, which I like. It was a fast read, I had a really hard time putting it down. There are a few sex scene, fairly explicit, so if that's something you're not into then this might not be a good read for you. I felt the mystery aspect of it was written perfectly. I literally had no idea who it might be, although I had a few suspects. The romance part was nice too, and I'm a sucker for a happy ending. All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and will be looking for more from this author. Available September 1, 2021.