Books By Theme: You Think YOUR Family Has Problems??

Touch & Go: A Novel by Lisa Gardner Suspense Fiction. No matter how much they love their teenage daughter, it won't help Libby and Justin save their once happy, now crumbling marriage. When all three are kidnapped, held in an abandoned prison, and tormented into revealing long-held secrets, everything changes. Meanwhile, corporate investigator Tessa Leone (last seen in Love You More) thinks it's fishy that all three were taken -- and no ransom demanded -- and races to discover what it is about the seemingly picture-perfect family that would expose them to kidnapping. Narrated by both Libby and Tessa, the "irresistible momentum" (Kirkus Reviews) of this pulse-pounding novel will keep you turning the pages.

Missing Pieces by Heather Gudenkauf Suspense Fiction. Sarah Quinlan's husband Jack was orphaned as a teenager by a car accident that took the lives of his parents -- or at least that's what he told Sarah more than 20 years ago. When the aunt that cared for him has a serious fall, they immediately go for a visit, where Sarah learns that it wasn't a car accident that killed Jack's parents: his mother was murdered and his father disappeared. And those aren't the only facts he's been hiding from her. If you've ever wondered how well you really know your spouse, this novel might have you up at night.

Defending Jacob: A Novel by William Landay Legal Thriller. For 20 years, prosecutor Andy Berber has been happy with his law career and his home life in suburban Massachusetts. All that changes, however, when his son is accused of murdering a fellow middle-schooler. Putting everything he's got into the investigation and -- for the first time -- into a criminal defense, Andy must make wrenching decisions as he considers the possibility that his son may in fact be guilty. Compared to the best work of Scott Turow and John Grisham, Defending Jacob is a suspenseful, character-driven thriller from an award-winning author.

The Stranger  by Harlan Coben The Stranger appears out of nowhere, perhaps in a bar, or a parking lot, or at the grocery store. His identity is unknown. His motives are unclear. His information is undeniable. Then he whispers a few words in your ear and disappears, leaving you picking up the pieces of your shattered world. Adam Price has a lot to lose: a comfortable marriage to a beautiful woman, two wonderful sons, and all the trappings of the American Dream: a big house, a good job, a seemingly perfect life. Then he runs into the Stranger. When he learns a devastating secret about his wife, Corinne, he confronts her, and the mirage of perfection disappears as if it never existed at all. Soon Adam finds himself tangled in something far darker than even Corinne's deception, and realizes that if he doesn't make exactly the right moves, the conspiracy he's stumbled into will not only ruin lives--it will end them..

Books by Theme: If You Like Alan Bradley...

Flavia de Luce, Canadian author Alan Bradley's precocious 11-year-old chemistry-loving creation, has charmed mystery readers since her award-winning debut in 2009's The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie. In a small 1950s English village, clever Flavia tinkers around the chemistry lab in the large country home she shares with her eccentric widower father and quarrelsome older sisters -- and she occasionally solves a murder. While there isn't another sleuth quite like daring, droll Flavia, some of the books below might interest her smitten fans.

Inspector Armand Gamache mysteries by Louise Penny

The Armand Gamache and Flavia De Luce mysteries are intelligent, character centered, cozies set in small towns. Although the locales and time periods differ, the conversational tone and feel are similar. They also share casts of eccentric secondary characters as well as unique investigators.

Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes mysteries by Laurie R. King

If you prefer your settings English and your young heroines fearless, the precocious young women in these historical mystery series should be your cup of tea. However, while Mary Russell ages throughout that series, 11-year-old Flavia de Luce does not.

Maisie Dobbs novels by Jacqueline Winspear

Despite the age difference between these two sleuths, who investigate during different historical periods, readers who enjoy intelligent characters, well-depicted British settings, and strong, resourceful female protagonists may enjoy both the 11-year-old Flavia and the slightly older Maisie Dobbs.

Mini Review: Freedom's Child by Jax Miller

Freedom's Child
by Jax Miller
Crown (June 2015)
Fiction thriller

What's It All About?

Living in witness protection to hide from her late husband's violent family, Freedom Oliver risks her life in order to save the kidnapped daughter she gave up for adoption.

Who Should Read It?

Read it if you're okay with a pretty far-fetched and melodramatic plot. If Sons of Anarchy and Jodi Picoult had a baby, this book would be the result.

2 stars.

What Else Should I Read?

• Dear Daughter by Elizabeth Little
• Cutting Season by Attica Locke
• Cop Town by Karin Slaughter

What If I Don't Believe You?
Don't take my word for it! Check out these other reviews.

The Dysfunctional Mother Blog | What Danielle Did Next | Mission: Incomplete

What I'm Reading: The Revised Fundamentals of Caregiving

The Revised Fundamentals of Caregiving
by Jonathan Evison
Algonquin Books (August 2012)
Adult Fiction

Summary:

After losing virtually everything meaningful in his life, Benjamin trains to be a caregiver, but his first client, a fiercely independent teen with muscular dystrophy, gives him more than he bargained for and soon the two embark on a road trip to visit the boy's ailing father. 

Why You'll Love It:

• Has all the trappings of the movie Little Miss Sunshine, including embarrassingly funny surprises, side-splitting laughter, and the ability to steal your heart.
• It's a big-hearted novel that tackles the joys and heartbreak of caring for others, told with great wit and deep perception.
• Evison injects some levity with Trev's horny commentary and Ben's wry retorts, blending humor, sharp dialogue, and a rich and detailed backstory.

What Else You Should Read:

•  Me Before You by Jojo Moyes
• Inside the O'Briens by Lisa Genova
• The Truth About Luck Iain Reid