The understudy by BA Paris, Holly Brown, C Mackintosh and Sophie Hannah

​"The understudy" by BA Paris, Holly Brown, C Mackintosh and Sophie Hannah - A slow burn!

This book is published by Hodder paperbacks  in 2019 and has 352 pages. 

Jess, Bel, Ruby, Sadie are best friends and are studying in Orla Flynn academy of performing arts, a very competitive school. Previous year Ruby has tried to bully Jess. Ruby repented. The principal Adam Rakie has let her off easily. A new girl Imogen Curwood joins them. Weird things start to happen from the day she arrives. 

Who is behind weird things? Imogen? Ruby? Someone else? Why?

There was an issue between Jess and Ruby last year but now it’s resolved and the four girls are best friends. Mother of the four girls are also friends but not close friends. Arrival of Imogene changes the group dynamics. It creates a rift in the group. 

Elise Bond, mother of Sadie, is a scientist and has open marriage with husband Nick. Bronnie Richardson, mother of Bel, works at the academy as non teaching staff. Kendall Donovan, mother of Ruby, has relocated from America to UK for her daughter, leaving her husband behind. Caroline, mother of Jess, is a law professor and is writing her dream musical. 

When the strange incidences start to happen, the mothers try to get to the truth. But it’s not easy. One, they are all girls. Two, they are teenagers (17 year olds). Three, they are all actresses. So, it’s difficult to determine what’s true and what’s not. 

To add to the mix, every mother has a secret of her own. The group dynamics of girls and mothers is complex. Everyone has a secret. Everyone hides something from others. No body is fully transparent. The question is, whose secret is relevant to the mystery? The story is slow. It’s not ‘happening’. But it manages to keep the readers interested. It’s a slow burn!

This is an interesting book because it’s authored by four authors. The story is narrated by four mothers and each author writes for one of them. Clair Macintosh writes as Elise. Holly Brown writes as Kendall. Sophie Hannah writes as Caroline. BA Paris writes as Bronnie.

The book ends, not the story. There will definitely be a sequel. Authors have not only dropped a hint about it, they have almost indirectly confirmed it by watering the seed of next story.

This book is called Season 1 and the book is divided into episodes, not chapters. Another strong hint of sequel or even a series. 

Addition to the collection of my interesting sentences:

“It’s good when your kids shit all over you, it means you have a strong bond.”

Why did I read this book? Concept of four authors. 

What I didn't like? Pace. Stretched end. 

What did I like? Intrigue. 

Recommend reading.

The 6:20 man by David Baldacci

​“The 6:20 man" by David Baldacci- Weak seed! 

This book is published by Macmillan in 2022 and has 432 pages.

Travis Devine, ex military and special forces, leaves military, does his MBA and is now working as financial analyst in a firm. He takes 6:20 train to work every day. On the train he sees a palace and in it, over a period, he sees a beautiful woman sometimes skinny dipping sometimes wearing various dresses, a bandaged man, owner of his firm etc. A mysterious message tells him that Sarah Huges, who worked in the same firm is dead. A mysterious person tries to intimidate and recruit Divine. Another murder. Two more. 

Why did Devine leave army? Why does he choose a career in the world of finance, that he doesn’t like? What does he see on 6:20 train? Who is the mysterious man? Why is Devine the targeted one and the chosen one? Whodunit?

Devine shares a house with three others. Each has his/her own room. Will Valentine-a Russian white hatter, Helen Spears-the about to be lawyer and Jill Tapshaw who runs a dating website. Emerson Campbell, a former two star general recruits him. Brad Cowl, Uber successful business tycoon who created everything from nothing, is the owner of the firm he works for. Then there is the mysterious beautiful lady Michelle Montgomery. She’s girlfriend of Brad Cowl. Travis Devine has rebelled against family and joined army. But then exited army to join financial world that he hates. He is well built, handsome, compassionate, supreme fighter. Well almost all the virtues. The character is likable.

The story has a good build up. Apparently random things come together. There is a background story of Devine. A conspiracy is afoot. Needle of doubt traverses almost all characters at some point in time. Almost, not all. Author also manages to hide the identity of the perpetrator. The least doubted theory applies. But the revelation is a bit anti climactic. Book ends with a strong hint of sequel because the murder mystery is solved but not the conspiracy. 

Lack of security cameras at one of the premier financial firms and lack of basic security is perplexing and unconvincing. One person achieves what all government agencies couldn’t. Unbelievable!

Exit of the villain is very abrupt. It’s as if the author suddenly got bored with the character and decided to toss him out of the window and started looking for a better villain, probably for next book. 

Why did I read this book? Author.

What I didn't like? Weak seed. Story is based on something Devine sees when the train stops at the signal for few seconds. 

What did I like? Character of Devine and Michelle.  

OK to read. 

The loyal friend by A. A. Choudhury

​"The loyal friend" by A. A. Choudhury - Good one!

This book is published by Hera in 2022 and has 341 pages. 

Jade, the fitness instructor is missing. Natalie, narrator of the story is the only one who’s worried. Police start the investigation. Secrets tumble out. 

Who has the secret? What are the secrets? Are they relevant to the disappearance? What happened to Jade? Who’s the loyal friend?

Jade is 30 and works as fitness instructor. She’s beautiful, humble, friendly, encouraging. From being a PT teacher, she has changed career and become fitness instructor. Natalie, the librarian, has grown up in foster care, a difficult childhood subject to abuse. She’s lost the only person close to her, her brother Jack, at 12. Since then she is taking therapy. Grace and her husband Jim blame each other for the reason their sons are not with them. Jim is an academic and is writing a book. Suzanne is rich and has drinking issues. There is no love between her and her husband Lance any more. They have three grown up children. DI Bailey and DS Khan are the investigators. However most of the investigation is done by DI Bailey. 

Jade has a secret that she wants to protect. Grace also has as secret or two that she has kept from everyone. Suzanne also has a secret that she has revealed to one person. Natalie also has a dangerous secret. All the ladies have their own secret. The question is who’s secret is relevant to the disappearance of Jade?

It’s a slow story. But it still retains your interest because author keeps revealing new facts, little twists and turns all along. This story passes the test of not letting readers guess the mystery. Although, I could guess who, I couldn’t guess why? That comes as a surprise. That’s when little crumbs of clues scattered all over the book fall in place and the Penny drops. To top it up, author gives another shock after the mystery is revealed. This is a new kind of strategy. You close the book with the satisfaction of having read a good mystery. 

The story is narrated in first person by four ladies; Natalie, Grace, Suzanne and Jade. So author puts forth different point of views. Each trying to establish her innocence and casting doubts on others. 

A. A. Chaudhuri is British author with Indian ancestry. She was a solicitor before she became full time writer. 

Why did I read this book? Gooodreads stars. 

What did I like? The mystery. 

What I didn't like? Was final twists necessary?

Recommend reading. 

Bone Rattle by Marc Cameron

​"Bone Rattle" by Marc Cameron - In the mines!

This book is published by Canelo action in 2022 and has 368 pages. This is Book 3 of Arliss Cutter series. 

Arliss and Lola are assigned duty to protect the jury, if they are sequestered, in case of trial of a pair of notorious gangsters. Arliss decides to take his Sister-in-law, Mim and his twin nephews there for a vacation. An unsavory wealthy person is making a road to his gold mine. While excavating they discover an ancient burial site and a bone rattle. But this evidence is suppressed.

Arliss is the good guy, dependable, likable, unsmiling, one who can’t stand injustice. Lola is his assistant who relies on him. There is the native reporter who has gone to hell and returned.  Harold Grimsson is the rich guy and villain. Dollarhyde is his soft spoken guy who handles Grimsson’s illegal side. 

A pattern has emerged from first three books of the series. Arliss goes somewhere. There he has to get involved in an unrelated case. For the main portion, he is separated from Lola. He gets assistance of a single lady, local to the town he is in. He protects her. There is no romantic involvement. 

Name of the story is bone rattle. There is a bone rattle in the story. But the relevance ends there. Then why the name? A more appropriate name would have been ‘Missing in the mine’. 

Author starts the story of Arliss’ niece and drugs. There is another thread of murders of girls. There is a thread of Hernandez brothers. Author leaves them  as loose threads. Probably he will pick them up in next book. 

My collectible sentence from this book:

The horrific music coming out of her earphones was like brain matter melting out. 

Why did I read this book? Author. 

What I didn't like? Pace and coincidence. 

What did I like? Life in Alaska. 

Read only if you plan to read the series, otherwise give it an miss. 

Caught by Harlan Coben

​"Caught" by Harlan Coben -  Interesting end!

This book is published by Orion in 2011 and has 400 pages. 

TV reporter Wendy Times runs a TV show that operates sting against pedophiles. Her sting against Dan Mercer results in his arrest and the judge throwing out the evidence. Dan calls Wendy and says he was framed. Father of a boy that was previously sexually assaulted kills Dan but since there is no body, no weapon and there is alibi, he is released. Evidence emerges linking Dan with a missing girl. Everyone is convinced Dan is guilty. Dan’s ex-wife is sure he is innocent. Wendy is undecided. 

Was Dan Mercer a pedophile? Didn’t he kill the girl? Did Wendy destroy an innocent man? Is there more to it than what meets the eye?

It’s an open and shut case for police, community and media. Dan is guilty. Good riddance! But the incorrigible reporter in Wendy thinks that something doesn’t add up. She doesn’t give up. She perseveres. She digs deep into his background to his Princeton years. 

Wendy is the main character. A widow and mother of a teenager. On one side she can’t forgive the drunk driver who killed her husband. On the other she dreads that may be Dan was innocent. If he was, who will forgive her? Her father-in-law is a biker. In his flashy lifestyle he gives her good support and advise. Win is her Uber rich friend who appears when she needs him and then disappears from the story. Dan is an orphan, Princeton graduate, works for destitute and orphan children and is basically a loner. Sheriff and Investigator duo are investigating cases of Dan and missing girl. Jenna is Dan’s ex wife, now married to a surgeon. She is still a very good friend of Dan. Dan is godfather of her daughter. When everyone declares him guilty, she’s the only one who comes out in his support. 

Although it’s not a page turner, it’s a good story. There is good flow to it. Enough to keep you interested all the time. Identity of the culprits is cleverly masked by the author, so when it’s revealed it becomes a mini Eureka moment.

The end of story is interesting. It’s different. Not like any run of the mill whodunit?

Why did I read this book? Author. 

What I didn't like? Umm... 

What did I like? Makes identity, the end.

Recommend reading.