The Row

The Row by J. R. Johansson
On Sale October 11, 2016 by Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Rating: ★★★★

Having a father on death row has never been easy for Riley. Just six when her father was convicted of murdering three women, she's spent her life moving from place to place-- never too far from the prison, but hopefully far enough that no one will figure out who she is. But they always do. Neighbors leave threatening notes, kids at school make fun of her, and her mother has been let go of more jobs than she can remember. The one thing Riley has clung to, her life raft through the choppy waters of guilt by association and social isolation, is the fact that her father is an innocent man.

Then one day, his execution imminent, her father confesses to her, and it turns Riley's world inside out.

Her dad takes back his confession almost immediately, but it's too late to restore Riley's faith is him. Either way, he's lied to her, and it makes her wonder what else he's hiding. She's also distrustful of her mother, who has stopped visiting her father each week and is always at work. Riley is determined to discover the truth behind her parents, no matter what she discovers. Eager to help her is her new, and only, friend, Jordan. But he just happens to be the son of the cop who arrested Riley's father, and he believes the right man is already behind bars. 

I've always believed my parents-- always.

If that sounds naive, it's in part because Riley comes across as much younger than seventeen. I cringed the million times she calls her father "Daddy." I don't know if this down-aging is a problem with her characterization, or if the author has made a deliberate effort to make it seem as if Riley is suffering arrested development on account of her father's conviction.

The mystery part of this book surpassed my expectations. I was pretty sure I had it figured out, and I was so wrong. I loved the ending. The romance didn't impress me as much. I liked some aspects of Jordan, but he wasn't a very realistic character. Right after meeting Riley, he becomes oddly obsessed with helping her, and, honestly, she's a pill toward him the bulk of the time. I don't know what Jordan is getting out of their relationship.

Overall impressions: this is a solid YA mystery novel.

The Couple Next Door

The Couple Next Door by Shari Lapena

Published by Pamela Dorman Books

On Sale Starting August 23 2016

Rating: ★★

I've read this book before.

Well, ok, not this book, but I've read many of its fraternal twins, and the gene pool is starting to feel a bit shallow to me.

The Couple Next Door has an interesting hook: a six month old baby disappears from her crib while her parents are next door at a dinner party. It reminded me of the Madeline McCann case, and I was interested to see how the plot would develop. However, reading this book was at times like playing thriller bingo. The couple that seems perfect from the outside but is hiding deep, dark secrets? Check. A hyper-emotional, weak-willed woman who struggles with basic life skills and is increasingly made to feel unattractive and irrelevant by her seemingly loving husband? Yep. A cast of unlikable characters and a local police force that can't solve its way out of a wet paper bag? You bet.

But this book has problems beyond being derivative. The story starts strong, but deteriorates as it progresses. The writing is lackluster. Marco is a uniquely unsympathetic character, and I was so disappointed at the author's decision to portray him as a victim. What had the potential to be a compelling plot dissolves into a macho pissing match between Marco and his father-in-law. Poor, missing baby Cora gets lost in the fray. While this book certainly isn't horrible, it's impossible for me to recommend when there are so many other, similar thrillers that are executed better.

Curious Minds

I'm not a huge fan of the cover art for this book. It just doesn't say "fun!" to me. This book is coming out in both the UK and US in a couple of weeks. I reviewed the British version.

Authors: Janet Evanovich and Phoef Sutton
Publisher: Headline Review
Release Date: August 16th 2016
Version Reviewed: digital ARC via NetGalley
Rating: ★★★★

I haven't enjoyed reading a Janet Evanovich novel this much since the earliest books in the Stephanie Plum series.

"He was a bootlegger?"
"Not in the least. He merely wanted to maintain his supply. And to have an avenue of escape when the lizard people took over." 

Riley Moon has two professional degrees, but not a lot of real world experience. She's only been on the job at the investment banking firm Blane-Grunwald for two weeks when she's assigned to babysit a VIP client who is concerned about the state of his gold holdings. Emerson Knight is a rich and eccentric conspiracy nut who lacks social grace. He convinces Riley to help him find his gold, and in the process they get sucked into a maniacal plot for world domination that they're determined to stop.

This book has the type of plot that's best not to think about too much. Or at all, really. This isn't great literature, but the ride is fun. I was disappointed to see Evanovich fall back on her old crutch of destroying cars. My favorite bits were the interaction between Riley and Emerson. To be fair, I developed a bit of a crush on Mr. Knight, because emotionally-stunted, clueless men are kind of my thing:

"Would I get paid?"
"Is that important to you?"
"Yes."
"Would you like a zebra?" Emerson asked her.
"No. I'd like money."