jbronderbookreviews

The Weight of Lies by Emily Carpenter

Beachgoers who tuck a copy of Carpenter’s new book into their bags this summer can expect the thriller—packed with riddles, a novel-within-a-novel, and characters who take the definition of Southern Gothic to sinister new levels—to keep them on their chaises long past sundown. It’s what Carpenter considers her idea of the perfect beach read. One with a twist.

Meg Ashley leads a life of privilege, thanks to a bestselling horror novel, Kitten, her mother wrote decades ago. But Meg knows that the glow of their very public life hides a darker reality of lies, manipulation, and the heartbreak of her own solitary childhood. Desperate to break free of her mother, Meg accepts a proposal to write a scandalous, tell-all memoir.

Digging into the past—and her mother’s cult classic—draws Meg to Bonny Island, Georgia, and an unusual woman said to be the inspiration for the book. At first, island life seems idyllic, but as Meg starts to ask tough questions, disturbing revelations come to light…including some about her mother.

Soon Meg’s search leads her to question the facts of a decades-old murder. She’s warned to leave it alone, but as the lies pile up, Meg knows she’s getting close to finding a murderer. When her own life is threatened, Meg realizes the darkness found in her mother’s book is nothing compared to the chilling truth that lurks off the page.

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Early Praise

“Twists aplenty in this searing murder mystery should leave readers dizzy, in the best way possible.”

—KIRKUS (Starred Review)

“An unputdownable read.”

—PUBLISHER’S WEEKLY (Starred Review)

“Don’t let this nail-biter of a good read pass you by!”

— ROMANCE TIMES

“The Weight of Lies might just be my perfect summer crime book.“

—CRIME BY THE BOOK

“Overall, this is a well-crafted, must-read thriller with bits of romance, horror and intrigue used strategically by Carpenter to keep pace and amp up tension.

—VILMA’s BOOK BLOG

Author’s Bio

Emily Carpenter, author of Amazon bestselling debut, Burying the Honeysuckle Girls, which sold over 100,000 copies in just under six months, grew up in Alabama and lives in Georgia. Southern Gothic is in her blood, and she’s vacationed on islands like the fictitious Bonny for many years.

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My Review

4 stars

Frances Ashley wrote a horror story called Kitten and has become famous with a cult following. Meg Ashley is her daughter and has never had to work a day in her life living off the riches of the book. Meg is estranged from her mother and not spoken to her in three years. She gets offered the chance to write a tell-all story about her troubled home life and the story behind Kitten and jumps at the chance to make lots of money and get away from her mother.

Meg finds herself at Bonny Island to add more realism to the story. As she is there she finally feels like she is home and makes a connection with Doro Kitchens, the inspiration for Kitten. But as she starts digging she starts to realize that there is more to the real life story when she is first warned then she finds her life in danger. But she can’t quit now, Meg has to learn the truth.

Meg is a spoiled little brat that can’t get along with her mother but is sure fast to stick out her hand for money. She decides to write the tell-all to make a break for herself and to get her own money. But as she starts digging into the murders at Bonny Island that the book Kitten is based on things start taking a turn for the worst. As we follow Meg we also get snippets of the book Kitten that entices you to keep reading to see what is truth and what is lies. And how does Doro play into the murders.

This is a great thriller that gave me goose bumps. Although Meg annoyed me and you jump around in the story, I did really enjoy it. I think this is one of those that many will like.

I received The Weight of Lies from Sabrina Dax Publicity for free. This has in no way influenced my opinion of this book.

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Pipeliner by Shawn Hartje

For seventeen-year-old Jason Krabb, high school life in 1990s Idaho is a world of cargo shorts, cassette tapes, and junk food. Plagued equally by algebra and puberty, Jason sets out to find a girlfriend and become a rock guitarist. His quest is irreversibly jolted when he attends a bonfire and meets an alluring girl from the other side of town and a rag tag crew who are bringing gas lines through the desert in order to keep the lights on in Portland and Seattle, places where Jason hopes to find his nirvana as a guitarist.

Meanwhile, things deteriorate at home. Jason’s pediatrician mom, Leah, sadly faces the twilight of her parenting years while his father, Curtis, contends with the enormity of running a big ticket research laboratory and coming to terms with his son’s wayward path.

Pipeliner is at once a coming of age love story and a comical timestamp of early 90s family life. Set in the fictional Idaho town of Helen Springs, pop. 58,000, its characters are as vibrant as the lofty peaks and purple sunsets of the high desert. Here we find rich farmers, poor ranchers, dutiful Mormons, government honchos, disgruntled vets, drug-dealing bruisers, irksome teachers, and spirited students, all doing their best to keep the lights on.

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Author’s Bio

Shawn Hartje was raised in Sioux City, Iowa and has lived in Idaho, Colorado and West Virginia. He has lived in Northern California since 2002. He enjoys high desert scenery, paddling rivers, and skateboarding with his kids.

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My Review

4 stars

Jason Krabb is trying to find his place in the world in a small Idaho town in the 90’s. His family has some money with a successful pediatrician for a mother and a less successful father that constantly has to hear it from his wife. Jason was the star of the swim team but now that it is disbanded he doesn’t know what to do. He hears about some pipeliners that are laying pipe for gas and is kicking around the idea to drop out of high school to work with them then head to Portland or Seattle to be a rock star.

Jason’s parents don’t think he can live up to his older, smarter brother’s standards. He is an average student and focuses on his guitar. Jason is trying to figure out where he fits into the world when he meets new girl Betsy and is drawn to her and the pipeliners. Of course he is going to experiment with sex, drugs, rock and roll to find himself.

When I first read the summary to Pipeliners I had to laugh. I could think of the stupid stuff that I did as a teenager. When I read about Jason thinking he could just be a rock star or simply dropping out of school to lay pipeline I had to chuckle. I remember those half-baked ideas that sound award winning when you are young.

Although you have an idea of where this story is going, it’s about the journey. I was laughing and remembering the 90’s for myself. I grew up in a small farming/ranching area so I understand a lot of what Jason is going through. It’s a good read of one kid trying to figure out himself and his place in the world.

I received Pipeliner from the author for free. This has in no way influenced my opinion of this book.

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