Book Review: Two Nights by Kathy Reichs

I'm a huge Tempe Brennan fan, and when I saw a book by Reichs that wasn't a Tempe novel, well, I was skeptical.  I shouldn't have been.  Reichs is a great storyteller, and I thoroughly enjoyed Two Nights.

Sunnie is an ex cop with issues.  As the story progresses, we learn of her very disturbing childhood in a cult.  But she's also a tough cookie, and when called upon to find the perpetrators of a heinous bombing of a Jewish school that happened years ago, she can't resist.  One of the victims of the bombing was a young girl who disappeared.

Sunnie is being bankrolled by the missing girl's grandmother, and her investigation takes her to several cities, and she in involved in several altercations with some very bad people.  Her life is in danger several times.  She eventually calls on her twin brother for backup.

The main character is well-developed and interesting.  I liked how we got chapters that were back in time, during her vary harrowing experiences in the cult and her escape.  The other characters are not as well defined, serving to support Sunnie and the plot.

The story unfolds with some unexpected plot twists.  The pacing is excellent, keeping the reader hooked as the tension ebbs and flows. The conclusion is realistic and mostly happy.

If you are a fan of Reichs, and even if you aren't, Two Nights is a worthwhile investment. I think teens will enjoy this one too.

Published by Bantam, July 11, 2017
eARC obtained from NetGalley
336 pages

Rating: 4/5

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Book Review: The Sacred Lies of Minnow Bly by Stephanie Oakes

The Sacred Lies of Minnow Bly is hard to put down. Young people who have experienced abuse are hard to read about, but Minnow's strength and determination are compelling.

In the opening scene, we find Minnow under a bridge, covered in blood after she has just beaten someone almost to death. We then experience her arrest and trial. She ends up in a juvenile detention center. Given Minnow's previous existence, prison is a very hard adjustment.

As this part of the story unfolds, Minnow takes us back to her past, where when she was five years old her father moved her family deep into the woods. He's been enamored with The Prophet (Kevin) who has convinced him to give up his worldly ways. So Minnow has lived a very sheltered life in the cult. Always in fear of torture and beatings, she has the scars to prove it.

We learn very early in the book that Minnow's hands have been cut off. We don't really learn how this happened until much later in the book. Minnow also reveals her relationship with a boy in the woods near the cult -- how she sneaked out to meet him for years. The reader is pretty sure early on that this boy was punished, and killed, by the cult after his discovery. We also learn early on that the buildings in the cult have all burned, and Kevin, The Prophet, is dead.

Many of these stories are told to Minnow's cell mate or her counselor, who is also an FBI agent. He want's Minnow to tell him who killed Kevin. In return, he will testify at her parole hearing to help her. It's interesting to see the trust build up between these two. The relationship between Minnow and her cell mate is also complex and interesting.

The changing relationships, both in Minnow's past and present, are part of what makes The Sacred Lies of Minnow Bly fascinating.  Also the unbelievable story that unfolds of the nutcase Prophet and his followers.

The Sacred Lies of Minnow Bly is a very quick read that I flew threw. I think teens who enjoy cult stories must read this one. This is a great story that will get you thinking about blind faith and how people can get in these kinds of situations and are unable to break free. Can't wait to pass The Sacred Lies of Minnow Bly around to my teens.

Published by Dial, 2015
Copy obtained from the library
396 pages

Rating: 5/5

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Book Review: Creed by Trisha Leaver and Lindsay Currie

I thought Creed was going to have a supernatural element, but it doesn't, which makes it all the more spine chilling.

Dee, her boyfriend Luke, and his brother Mike run out of gas in the middle of nowhere, and it's freezing cold. Since no cars seem to be driving by to help, they decide to walk to the nearest town. The town is strangely quiet and seems to be abandoned. There is a siren going off, so the teens assume everyone evacuated for some reason. What they end up finding is much worse than they could ever dream.

You could call this a religious cult book. They are kidnapped. The townspeople listen to only one man, and the teens become his target. It's scary, and gruesome and horrifying.

Creed was a very quick read for me. Although there are more than one truly unbelievable contrivances (starting out with the fact that they stopped at a gas station and FORGOT to get gas), I still found the book compelling. I also didn't care for the ending. I'm being purposefully vague here to avoid spoilers, but I thought the adults' behavior was unrealistic. There had to be some evidence.

I think teens who love survival/horror stories will eat this one up. I won't hesitate to recommend it to them.

Published by Flux, November 8, 2014
eARC obtained from NetGalley
264 pages (qualifies for my Books You Can Read in a Day Challenge!)

Rating: 4/5

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