Bookish Mewsings: The Reformatory by Tananarive Due

The Reformatory by Tananarive Due

Gallery/Saga Press; 2023 

Horror/Historical; 570 pgs 

Source: Own TBR

Gracetown, Florida, summer 1950.

Robert Stephen Jones Jr. is sent to Gracetown School for Boys for kicking a white boy’s leg. But the Gracetown School for Boys isn’t just any reform school. As Robert finds, it’s a segregated school that is haunted from the boys who have died there. The Reformatory is an eerie, frightening novel that explores the horrors of our history. [from the publisher]

One of the members of the Historical Fiction Book Club recommended this book to our group after having read it for her Philosophical Horror Book Club. It had been voted as their favorite book in 2023. I can see why. Tananarive Due's writing is beautiful and her ability to put the reader right into every scene of the novel is nothing but masterful. I could feel the emotions of her characters, the tension and fear, as well as the love Gloria and her brother, Robert, had for each other. The novel was both chilling and thought-provoking.

The Gracetown School for Boys, aka the Reformatory, was more than just a juvenile detention facility. It was an institution and business that was an integral part of the Gracetown community. It provided resources and financial support through the labor of the children imprisoned there. The entire town was dependent in some way on the Reformatory, and the people of Gracetown were complicit in the cruelties and abuses that took place there. Is it any wonder than that it is filled with ghosts of those wronged? Tananarive Due does not gloss over the harsh realities of the Jim Crow South during the 1950's. 

Robert is only twelve when he is sent to the Reformatory after trying to defend his sister from the white teenage son of a very influential local landowner. He is sentenced to six months and without a proper trial. His sister goes above and beyond to try and help her brother but to no avail. She is thwarted at every turn by a system that is designed to oppress and control anyone who does not have white skin. She is determined to get him out at all costs, even if it puts her own life in danger.

Sometimes it was easy to forget that Gloria is only a teenager herself, given the responsibilities on her shoulder. Gloria and Robert's mother passed away awhile ago and their father is on the run and living in Chicago, having been falsely accused of raping a white woman. Everyone knows he would never get a fair trial. Robert Sr. was respected in the Black community for being an activist and fighting for civil rights. You can imagine how that went over with the white community at the time. Gloria is raising her brother, having quit school and work to support them.

Young Robert had led a relatively sheltered life compared to some of the children at the Reformatory. What he may lack in so-called street smarts, he more than makes up for in courage and is very smart. He also has the unique ability of seeing haints, or ghosts. It doesn't take long for Robert to understand that the Reformatory is a place of death, where many kids have died, often in unnatural ways. His time at the Reformatory is anything but easy. He is taken under the wing of a couple of boys who become his friends, learning to navigate his new reality, even if unable to completely escape the abuse and neglect all the kids suffer through. Warden Haddock, the superintendent and person in charge, is the worst of the worst. He takes a cruel joy in the harm he causes. In the novel, Robert finds himself caught between the haints and Warden Haddock, both wanting to use him for their own purposes.

Although The Reformatory is fictionalized, with fictional characters and a fictional setting, a mention to a real historical figure here and there, a lot of research went into reflecting a true portrait of what life was like during that time period. Young Robert in the novel is named after a relative of the author's who had died at Florida's Arthur G. Dozier School for Boys. Robert in the book is not based on her relative, although his story did inspire the writing of the novel. A four year project lead by forensic anthropologist Erin Kimmerle in 2012 to uncover the graves of and identify those buried at Dozier led to Robert Stephens finally getting a proper resting place and his family being able to say goodbye.

Since I read this novel for my Historical Fiction Book Club, our focus was on the history in the novel--which plays a significant part in the overall story. The horror aspect of the novel was indeed terrifying, but the greatest threat was not necessarily that of the haints, but of the humans themselves. Not too different from reality, really. The fact that places like this existed, especially targeting children, Black or Indigenous, is deplorable. Unfortunately, even today, maltreatment of children in juvenile facilities is not unheard of, even if more socially frowned upon.

There was not a dull moment in the novel. Tension was high throughout. I felt the first half of the novel was a bit slower than the second, as the author built a strong and necessary foundation, weaving in the injustice and cruelties of racism during that time period. The haints, or ghosts, are very much an important part of this novel, with their own story to tell, and make The Reformatory all the more poignant. As chilling and terrifying as the events in this novel were, I want to point out that there were also some positives: the community rallying together to protect Gloria as the Klan threatened her and Miz Lottie, Miz Lottie and her boys in general for their support of Gloria and Robert, the attorney for confronting the white judge in an attempt to to help Robert, the kind music teacher, Miss Hamilton, and the special bond and love Gloria and her brother Robert share, among the most memorable.  

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© 2025, Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved. If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

Where Is Your Bookmark: My Bookish Mewsings on Murder Road by Simone St. James (& Other Friday Fun)

Along with this mini review, I am linking to both Book Beginnings, a meme in which readers share the first sentence of a book they are reading, hosted by Gillion Dumas of Rose City Reader and Friday 56 hosted by Anne of My Head is Full of Books, in which readers share a random sentence or two from page 56 or 56% of the book they are reading. 

That July night seemed full of possibility, with the empty highway stretching out before us. [opening of Murder Road]

               ★                    

I stared blindly at the printout of account activity. A week ago, there had been several thousand dollars in the account. Then, a withdrawal of all of it. And now there was nothing. [excerpt from 56% of Murder Road] 

Murder Road by Simone St. James

A young couple find themselves haunted by a string of gruesome murders committed along an old deserted road in this terrifying new novel.

July 1995. April and Eddie have taken a wrong turn. They’re looking for the small resort town where they plan to spend their honeymoon. When they spot what appears to a lone hitchhiker along the deserted road, they stop to help. But not long after the hitchiker gets into their car, they see the blood seeping from her jacket and a truck barreling down Atticus Line after them.

When the hitchhiker dies at the local hospital, April and Eddie find themselves in the crosshairs of the Coldlake Falls police. Unexplained murders have been happening along Atticus Line for years and the cops finally have two witnesses who easily become their only suspects. As April and Eddie start to dig into the history of the town and that horrible stretch of road to clear their names, they soon learn that there is something supernatural at work, something that could not only tear the town and its dark secrets apart, but take April and Eddie down with it all. [Goodreads Summary]

 My thoughts: If it hadn't been for work, I likely would have finished Murder Road in one sitting. Instead it took two. From the very first page, I was glued to the pages. April and Eddie, both with their troubled pasts and very much deserving of some happiness in their lives (but nothing can ever be easy, can it?), won me over instantly. They each suffered childhood trauma along with other hardships, including Eddie's time in Iraq. April is the perfect narrator for this supernatural thriller. She is clever, resourceful and edgy. Trust has never come easy to her, and given her history, it's no wonder why. She never expected to fall in love, much less marry anyone. And yet, she and Eddie share a bond that cannot be easily swayed. I loved how they supported each other throughout the novel, even when faced with the worst.

Simone St. James has a way of portraying a real sense of place in her novels, and it was no different in Murder Road. I felt like I was right there in that small town in Michigan. I experienced the heat and occasional stormy weather right alongside the characters.

Murder Road was creepy and disturbing, and nearly always intense. I was just as suspicious of everyone in town as Eddie and April were, and I enjoyed seeing the pieces of  the puzzle fall into place the more the newlyweds learned. I found the mystery and backstories of the murders and different characters well developed and interesting. The couple get help from a few unlikely sources--and those characters became favorites too. 

Murder Road is my third Simone St. James novel and I have enjoyed every one. I am so glad I have more of her work to look forward to. 

Does this sound like something you would enjoy? If you have read it, what did you think?

Tell Me Something Tuesday is a weekly discussion post where bloggers discuss a wide range of topics from books and blogging to life in general. It is hosted by Linda Book Girl of Mur-y-Castell and Jen from That’s What I’m Talking About. Join in by answering this week's question in the comments or on your own blog.

Have your reading interests changed over time?

Yes! My reading interests have expanded over the years. I have always had eclectic reading tastes, but  entering the book blogging community all those years ago opened my life to many more books and authors I might not have heard of or tried otherwise. On a smaller scale, my reading interests do tend to ebb and flow, depending on my mood and what is going on in my life. I go through reading phases, sometimes ones that have a quick turnover and others that last longer. Mystery and Fantasy have long competed for the top place in my reading heart (although I very much enjoy reading other genres as well) and that hasn't changed. But I do tend to rotate through the subgenres, on which one or several appeals to me most at varying times. Although I read it again now, I went years without reading romance after burning out on the genre. A more recent example would be my gravitating more towards lighter books with humor and happy endings the last few years--thanks to the pandemic and other life events. I have only recently been finding myself enjoying darker and more serious books again.

What about you? Have your reading interests changed over the years?

Every Friday Coffee Addicted Writer from Coffee Addicted Writer poses a question which participants respond on their own blogs within the week (Friday through Thursday). They then share their links at the main site and visit other participants blogs.

What's your go-to book to start the summer, and why does it set the tone for the season? (submitted by Billy @ Coffee Addicted Writer)

I wish I could tell you I enjoy starting the summer with books featuring beach settings or snowy climates (anything to avoid the reality of summer heatwaves), but that isn't the case. And it isn't to say these types of books don't make great summer reads because they most certainly do! I have heard summer is a good time to dive into that big book or a classic, which I sometimes do, but not really because it is summer time. I am not much of a re-reader and so do not have a go-to book to kickstart the summer season (although my husband did point out that I have read the latest Electra McDonnell mystery by Ashley Weaver at this time of year for the past four years--I would argue that I have read it in the spring, not summer, so it doesn't count). My reading choices are more random than planned when it comes to the start of summer generally. I haven't decided yet which book will be my first for this summer (I can't believe it officially starts next week!). I could be one of the books I am currently reading or another book entirely. Whatever it is, I hope it will be a good one!

Do you have a go to book to kick off the summer season? 

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend! Be sure and tell me what you are reading!

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© 2024 Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved. If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

Weekly Mews: My January Wrap Up & My Bookish Mewsings on The Djinn Waits a Hundred Years (Vote in my TBR Poll!)

I am linking up to the Sunday Post hosted by Kim of Caffeinated Book Reviewer and The Sunday Salon (TSS) hosted by Deb Nance of Readerbuzz  where participants recap our week, talk about what we are reading, share any new books that have come our way, and whatever else we want to talk about. I am also linking It's Monday! What Are you Reading? hosted by Kathryn of Book Date where readers talk about what they have been, are and will be reading.

I have the fire going in our gas fireplace, the heat turned up. I always seem to be cold these days and keep a blanket close. The area is expecting a big storm again this coming week, starting tomorrow night--oh, but wait! I hear rain outside as I sit and type this. I love falling asleep to the sound of rain and hope it keeps up for awhile. 

It was a relatively average week. Work kept me busy as did getting Mouse to her extra curricular activities. We were able to deliver a couple of Girl Scout cookie orders to local folk as well. We stopped at Barnes and Noble today while out running errands. I came away empty handed, although admittedly, I was not looking to buy anything. I forgot to get a photo of Mouse's finds to share. She used up the last of her Christmas gift cards. 

January turned out to be an exceptional reading month for me. I try to average a book and a half a week, but I was able to read nine books all told. I read a combination of e-books, print books, and audiobooks. There was a good mix of mystery/thriller, fantasy and historical fiction. 

Books Read in January

• On The Bandit Queens by Parini Shroff
• The Storm We Made by Vanessa Chan
• Ceremony in Death by J.D. Robb
• Hammers and Homicide by Paula Charles
• The Masterful Cat is Depressed Again, Today Vol. 2 by Hitsuji Yamada
• The Masterful Cat is Depressed Again, Today Vol. 3 by Hitsuji Yamada
• The Witch With No Name (Hollows #13) by Kim Harrison
• The Japanese Lover by Isbabel Allende
• Legends & Lattes (#1) by Travis Baldree

Of my January reads, Legends & Lattes was my favorite. My least favorite, although by no means disliked, was Ceremony in Death. 

What was your favorite book read in January? Did you have a good reading month?

My daughter was disappointed John Scalzi's Kaiju Preservation Society did not win last month's TBR List Poll because she wanted to know more about the giant pandas from an alternate dimension, and so I promised her I wouldn't put off reading it. I started reading it last night. I also started an audiobook, The Roanoke Girls by Amy Engel, narrated by Brittany Pressley yesterday on my drive to and from work. I am only about 40 minutes into it, but I like the narrator's reading of it. This mystery/thriller was among my small collection of audiobooks sitting on my phone for the past few years, waiting patiently for me to get to it. 

What are you reading right now?

My TBR List was the idea of Michelle at Because Reading, and while Michelle has not been hosting this monthly event for some time now, it's one of my favorite traditions that I cannot bring myself to give up. It's just too much fun! The 1st Saturday of every month, I will list 3 books from my TBR pile I am considering reading and let you vote for my next read during that month. My review will follow (unfortunately, not likely in the same month, but eventually--that's all I can promise). 

I could use your help deciding which book to read next! I struggled with whether to select all historical novels this month, but in the end chose three very different books for you to choose from. Which of these do you think I should read next? Have you read any of them? If so, what did you think? 

Slay by Brittney Morris ~ I heard a lot of good things about Slay when it first came out but haven't managed to get to it yet. I loved both Ready Player One and The Hate U Give so am anxious to read this one. 

Ready Player One meets The Hate U Give in this dynamite debut novel that follows a fierce teen game developer as she battles a real-life troll intent on ruining the Black Panther–inspired video game she created and the safe community it represents for black gamers

By day, seventeen-year-old Kiera Johnson is an honors student, a math tutor, and one of the only black kids at Jefferson Academy. But at home, she joins hundreds of thousands of black gamers who duel worldwide as Nubian personas in the secret multiplayer online role-playing card game, SLAY. No one knows Kiera is the game developer, not her friends, her family, not even her boyfriend, Malcolm, who believes video games are partially responsible for the “downfall of the black man.”

But when a teen in Kansas City is murdered over a dispute in the SLAY world, news of the game reaches mainstream media, and SLAY is labeled a racist, exclusionist, violent hub for thugs and criminals. Even worse, an anonymous troll infiltrates the game, threatening to sue Kiera for “anti-white discrimination.”

Driven to save the only world in which she can be herself, Kiera must preserve her secret identity and harness what it means to be unapologetically black in a world intimidated by blackness. But can she protect her game without losing herself in the process? [Goodreads Summary]

Women of the Post by Joshunda Sanders ~ I do enjoy a good World War II novel, especially one that touches on a part of that time period I haven't yet read about or am not familiar with. This fits both of those categories. 

An emotional story, based on true events, about the all-Black battalion of the Women's Army Corps who found purpose, solidarity and lifelong friendship in their mission of sorting over one million pieces of mail for the US Army.

1944, New York City. Judy Washington is tired of working from dawn til dusk in the Bronx Slave Market, cleaning white women’s houses and barely making a dime. Her husband is fighting overseas, so it's up to Judy and her mother to make enough money for rent and food. When the chance arises for Judy to join the Women’s Army Corps (WAC) and the ability to bring home a steady paycheck, she jumps at the opportunity.

Immediately upon arrival, Judy undergoes grueling military drills and inspections led by Second Officer Charity Adams, one of the only Black officers in the WAC. Judy becomes fast friends with the other women in her unit—Stacy, Bernadette and Mary Alyce—who only discovered she was Black after joining the army. Under Charity Adams’s direction, they are transferred to Birmingham, England, as part of the 6888th Central Postal Battalion—the only unit of Black women to serve overseas in WWII. Here, they must sort a backlog of over one million pieces of mail.

The women work tirelessly, knowing that they're reuniting soldiers to their loved ones through the letters they write. However, their work becomes personal when Mary Alyce discovers a backlogged letter addressed to Judy that will upend her personal life. Told through the alternating perspectives of Judy, Charity and Mary Alyce, Women of the Post is an unforgettable story of perseverance, female friendship, romance and self-discovery. [Goodreads Summary]

Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson ~ I saw this one on a lot of people's favorites list from this past year. I had added a copy to my TBR soon after it came out and keep eyeing it on my shelf. 

We can’t choose what we inherit. But can we choose who we become?

In present-day California, Eleanor Bennett’s death leaves behind a puzzling inheritance for her two children, Byron and Benny: a black cake, made from a family recipe with a long history, and a voice recording. In her message, Eleanor shares a tumultuous story about a headstrong young swimmer who escapes her island home under suspicion of murder. The heartbreaking tale Eleanor unfolds, the secrets she still holds back, and the mystery of a long-lost child challenge everything the siblings thought they knew about their lineage and themselves.

Can Byron and Benny reclaim their once-close relationship, piece together Eleanor’s true history, and fulfill her final request to “share the black cake when the time is right”? Will their mother’s revelations bring them back together or leave them feeling more lost than ever?

Charmaine Wilkerson’s debut novel is a story of how the inheritance of betrayals, secrets, memories, and even names can shape relationships and history. Deeply evocative and beautifully written, Black Cake is an extraordinary journey through the life of a family changed forever by the choices of its matriarch. [Goodreads Summary]

Thank you for voting!

My family has suffered through my talking about the books I have read in more detail than they probably care to hear lately. The latest was The Djinn Waits a Hundred Years which I finished reading Friday night. 

In an old wardrobe a djinn sits weeping. ~ Opening of The Djinn Waits a Hundred Years

The Djinn Waits a Hundred Years by Shubnum Khan
Viking, 2024
Thriller/Horror/Historical; 316 pgs
Source: Source: Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

This dual timeline novel takes readers back and forth between 1932 and 2014, set among a Muslim Indian community in Durban, South Africa. 

Akbar Manzil was once a grand estate off the coast of South Africa. Nearly a century later, it stands in ruins: an isolated boardinghouse for eclectic misfits, seeking solely to disappear into the mansion’s dark corridors. Except for Sana. Unlike the others, she is curious and questioning and finds herself irresistibly drawn to the history of the mansion: To the eerie and forgotten East Wing, home to a clutter of broken and abandoned objects—and to the door at its end, locked for decades.

Behind the door is a bedroom frozen in time and a worn diary that whispers of a dark past: the long-forgotten story of a young woman named Meena, who died there tragically a hundred years ago. Watching Sana from the room’s shadows is a besotted, grieving djinn, an invisible spirit who has haunted the mansion since her mysterious death. Obsessed with Meena’s story, and unaware of the creature that follows her, Sana digs into the past like fingers into a wound, dredging up old and terrible secrets that will change the lives of everyone living and dead at Akbar Manzil.

Sublime, heart-wrenching, and lyrically stunning, The Djinn Waits a Hundred Years is a haunting, a love story, and a mystery, all twined beautifully into one young girl’s search for belonging. [Goodreads Summary]

The writing is lyrical and descriptive, haunting in parts, giving the reader a real sense of place. The estate feels like a character of its own, at times blurring with the djinn, whose grief is so great that it makes the mansion seem alive. Secrets are meant for staying hidden and the past is best left buried, or so the djinn would like us to believe. And as the truth comes out, the house begins to fall into even more disrepair. The djinn in Shubnum Khan's novel is not the wish granting kind like you find in pop culture. He is more of a spirit who can assume various forms and has supernatural powers. In this story, he is always present, most often as an observer, although occasionally taking a more active, yet still subtle, role.

There was much I liked about The Djinn Waits a Hundred Years. Sana and her interactions and influence on the residents of Akbar Manzil were a particular favorite. I really enjoyed the backstories of the secondary characters. Sana is a curious young woman of 15, but doesn't feel as if she fits in anywhere. It isn't just the forgotten places in the house she explores, but the lives of the other residents. She is a catalyst in bringing about reflection and change even for herself. Meena's story was equally as compelling, although more tragic. I was just as taken in by Meena and Akbar's love story as Sana was as she read Meena's diaries. I loved Meena's fierce independence and self-confidence. Akbar's mother and first wife did not make Meena's life at Akbar Manzil easy. They looked down on her because of the color of her skin and her common working class status. Although I initially felt somewhat sorry for the first wife--living a life she did not want and then her husband taking a second wife--I never grew to like her nor Akbar's mother. Both were not very nice people. 

I was not as completely taken with the novel as I might have liked. There were portions of the novel I enjoyed more than others, and, while I liked the climax and ending on one hand, there were aspects of it I found unsatisfying as well. It is impossible to really go into exactly what without spoiling anything, so I will leave it at that. Overall though, I did like The Djinn Waits a Hundred Years. Shubnum Khan does a good job weaving Sana and Meena's story together through the use of the djinn character, and the setting really came alive for me. I look forward to seeing what Shubnum Khan writes next. 

Have you read The Djinn Waits a Hundred Years? If so, tell me what you thought!

I hope you have a great week! Let me know what you have been reading!

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© 2024, Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved. If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

My Bookish Mewsings: Mexican Gothic / The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires / The Family Next Door

The parties at the Tunons' house always ended unquestionably late, and since the hosts enjoyed  costume parties in particular, it was not unusual to see Chinas Poblanas with their folklore skirts and ribbons in their hair arrive in the company of a harlequin or a cowboy. ~ Opening of Mexican Gothic

Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

Del Rey, 2020

Horror/Historical Fiction; 320 pgs

Source: NetGalley for an honest review

Set in the 1950's, a young free-spirited socialite travels to a remote Mexican countryside to visit her cousin and her cousin's new English husband and his family.  Her cousin's letters have been quite concerning, and Noemí worries over her cousin's health and sanity. Noemí is quite out of place at High Place, with her fancy dresses and debutante air. High Place is rather dark and damp with strict rules in place. The servants seems listless and withdrawn. It is clear she is not welcome. Even the house is unwelcoming, invading her dreams with nightmarish images. The ancient patriarch who has taken a particular interest in Noemí, makes her feel extremely uncomfortable. Noemí finds a sympathetic ally in the family's youngest son, Francis, only he holds tight onto his family's secrets. Noemí knows she must uncover the truth in order to save her cousin--and herself. 

Mexican Gothic is an imaginative and atmospheric tale with an underlying tension that builds with each turn of the page and eventually grabs hold of the reader and will not let go. Mexican folklore as well as  the history of the region are woven throughout, adding to the richness of the story. It was especially interesting to see how the author used such threads to weave together the history of High Place, the family's mining business, the curse, and there rise and fall over the years. It was as fascinating as it was disturbing. 

Noemí is one of those characters who grew on me over time. She is clever and smart and does not give up easily. The juxtaposition of the life Noemí leads normally to the life she suddenly finds herself in at High Place is a study in contrast of culture and lifestyle. The imagery and detail Silvia Moreno-Garcia uses paints such a vivid impression of the setting and characters. I found the novel to be at times sad and other times horrifying. This is one of those books I do not want to say too much about because the experience is in reading it. I did not find Mexican Gothic to be a fast paced read, but rather one I wanted to take my time with and savor. 

This story ends in blood. ~ Opening of The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires 

The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix

Quirk Books, 2020

Horror; 400 pgs

Source: NetGalley for an honest review

Patricia Campbell had always planned for a big life, but after giving up her career as a nurse to marry an ambitious doctor and become a mother, Patricia's life has never felt smaller. The days are long, her kids are ungrateful, her husband is distant, and her to-do list is never really done. The one thing she has to look forward to is her book club, a group of Charleston mothers united only by their love for true-crime and suspenseful fiction. In these meetings, they're more likely to discuss the FBI's recent siege of Waco as much as the ups and downs of marriage and motherhood.

But when an artistic and sensitive stranger moves into the neighborhood, the book club's meetings turn into speculation about the newcomer. Patricia is initially attracted to him, but when some local children go missing, she starts to suspect the newcomer is involved. She begins her own investigation, assuming that he's a Jeffrey Dahmer or Ted Bundy. What she uncovers is far more terrifying, and soon she--and her book club--are the only people standing between the monster they've invited into their homes and their unsuspecting community. [Goodreads Summary]

I admit it. I wanted to read The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires solely because of the title. I had read something when I was first considering reading the novel about the author and his penchant for mixing satire into his stories, which also appealed to me. I am so glad I took a chance on this book. It was entertaining, creepy, and fun.

At times cringe-worthy and extremely disturbing, there were many more moments in which the horror elements were more subtle. It's in those moments that the tension builds up the most, leaving Patricia and the reader a little off balance. I really felt for Patricia, not only knowing something was terribly wrong with her neighbor and the threat he may pose to her and her family as well as the rest of the community, but also most people not really believing her and making her think she was going crazy. 

Grady Hendrix's portrayal of vampires is one straight out of nightmares, both seductive and as leeches. It is much darker and more insidious than that of Bram Stoker's Dracula. I found the backstory particularly interesting, especially in comparison to the novel's present day events--and how closely they mirrored each other. 

My blood boiled quite a bit at the treatment of Patricia by her husband. A bit of satire on the author's part, portraying life in the white suburbs, the wives expected to stay in their place. Monsters come in all forms, even the human variety. There are several strong women featured in the novel who turn the idea of helpless little housewife on its ear. I appreciated that the author does not shy away from tackling not just sexism, but racism as well. 

The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires turned out to be all I hoped it would be and more.

At first, the children were laughing. ~ Opening of The Family Next Door

The Family Next Door by Fiona Cummins

Pinnacle Books, 2020

Crime Fiction/Thriller; 400 pgs

Source: NetGalley for an honest review

For Sale: Lovely family home, ready for your updates. Friendly neighborhood setting close to park; secluded.

If not for the bodies discovered in the woods behind their new home, Garrick and Olivia Lockwood couldn't have afforded to buy number 25 The Avenue. It's the fresh start they and their two children badly need. Soon, these terrible crimes will be solved, they tell themselves, and once Garrick has remodeled, he's confident they'll sell the house for a profit.

But the darkest secrets can reside on quiet, ordinary streets like this--behind the doors of well-kept houses and neighbors' friendly faces. Secrets that can destroy a family, or savagely end a life, and will surface just when they're least expected . . . [Goodreads Summary]

There is nothing like an attention-grabbing thriller that once you start reading, you do not want to put down, and so I decided to take a chance on Fiona Cummins' The Family Next Door. Unfortunately this didn't quite hold my interest the way I hoped.

Everyone in this neighborhood seems to have their secrets, some darker than others. A serial killer is on the loose and the most recent victim was the husband of DCI Wildeve Stanton, both police officers assigned to the case. Having stalled in their investigation, the police are desperate for a lead. Each of the dead have their faces painted and are dressed immaculately, earning the killer the nickname  of the Dollmaker. 

The narrative alternates between the killer and other residents in the neighborhood, several of whom could be behind the deaths. I never felt like I got to know any of the characters to any real degree, perhaps because there were so many. It was not too hard to figure out who was behind everything, but there was plenty of suspense and tension throughout, especially the closer we get to the reveal. During the early parts of the book, I found myself wondering where the story was going, and was glad when the pieces finally started coming together. While I did enjoy The Family Next Door to a certain extent, it did not completely win me over in the end.

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© 2020, Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved. If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

Weekly Mews: Back to Rehearsal, Fluxers, The Titanic, and A Sassy Cat Named Marshmallow

I am linking up to the Sunday Post hosted by Kim of Caffeinated Book Reviewer, where participants recap our week, talk about what we are reading, share any new books that have come our way, and whatever else we want to talk about. I am also linking The Sunday Salon hosted by Deb Nance of Readerbuzz where participants discuss what they are reading and other bookish topics. 

What I Am Reading: My daughter and I finished reading Sticks & Stones this week, and are considering between an Ivy + Bean book next or a Rebecca book. This month's TBR winner may win out over those two. Mouse is looking forward to reading Inside Out & Back Again by Thanhha Lai with me. I am still reading Starbreaker (Endeaver, #2) by Amanda Bouchet. Last I left the two protagonists, Shade and Tess, they were enjoying a romantic morning at a resort--which I am sure will end soon enough. Trouble always finds them, after all. I hope to find more time to visit with them this weekend.

Mouse's current TBR pile

What I Am Watching: We caught a couple episodes of Love It Or List It on Hulu this week along with Captain America, and the first of the Avengers movies.

Off the Blog: This was our first week of distance learning. Someone online referred to it as crisis learning, and that seems a more fitting name in some ways. It was a tough week. Motivating Mouse to do her lessons, trying to juggle her lessons while also having to work my paid job from home at the same time, and figure out the ins and outs of Google Classroom and how to submit work. . . There were lots of tears. There were harsh words said on both sides along with lots of hugs and reassurances. Thursday went much more smoothly, and as another Monday approaches, I have a better idea of what to expect and can plan accordingly. This is a learning process for all of us.

Rehearsals for the ballet and musical have started up again. Our Saturdays are back to being full of dance with classes in the morning and rehearsals in the afternoon. The difference is we don't have to leave the comfort of our own home. Mouse hates having to take dance classes remotely, and so it's been a fight sometimes to get her to take part. I do my best to be gentle with her, but at the same time, I think the routine and structure are good for her, especially right now when there's so little of both. Of course, we have no idea if there will even be a show, and it is not at all likely to happen when originally scheduled, but we are all hopeful it will happen eventually.

I only had to go into the physical office one day this past week, and it looks like that will be the norm for the coming weeks as well. I will be teleworking all but one day during the work week and in the office every Friday. It is always so strange being in the office these days. So few staff about.

Mouse gave me a shadow drawing lesson during my lunch break earlier in the week. I need more practice, but it was a nice stress reliever for both of us.

 My first attempt at shadow drawing and Mouse's final instructional artwork

Sometimes when Mouse is especially down, I like to surprise her by setting a scene outside the door of her bedroom (or the bathroom if she's hiding in there). It often will bring a smile to her face when she opens the door and sees it.

 Mouse's "go away" sign

What greeted Mouse when she came out of her room this morning

Tell me what you have been up to! What are you reading, listening to and watching? How was your week? 

When Nory Horace turned into a koat, she had the body of a black kitten and the head of a tiny goat. [Opening of Sticks & Stones]

Sticks & Stones (Upside-Down Magic #2) by Sarah Mlynowski, Lauren Myracle and Emily Jenkins (Scholastic, 2016; Middle Grade Fantasy, 208 pgs)

The kids in Upside-Down Magic know their magic is a little out of control. But that doesn't make them weird -- it only makes them human.

Strange things are happening at Dunwiddle Magic School and the Upside-Down Magic class is getting blamed! [Goodreads Summary]

Everyone is gifted with some sort of magic ability. There are the Fluxers (shape-shifters), Flares (make fire), Flyers (can fly), Flickers (invisibility powers), and Fuzzies (communicate with animals). And then are those whose magic is not quite, well, normal. Their magic is called Upside-Down Magic (UDM).  Flares with the ability to freeze things or make it rain. A Fuzzy who repeals animals or a Flyer who cannot seem to stay on the ground on his own. And a Flicker who sees sound waves. Then there are Fluxers like Nory and Bax--Bax can only flux into a rock. Nory's fluxes seem to be inconsistent--she often changes into two creatures at once. The UDM students are in a class, separate from their classmates who have "normal" magic abilities. They are often the butt of jokes and looked down on by their peers for being different.

Mouse and I broke the cardinal rule of not starting with the first book in the series, and so Sticks & Stones was our introduction to the wonderful UDM kids. Mouse and I enjoyed reading this book together. There were quite a few laugh out loud moments as well as more serious moments, taking on difficult issues school-aged children often face. Like dealing with divorce and a parent's job loss, bullying, overcoming obstacles, self-doubt, learning that it is okay to make mistakes (and that everyone makes them), and how to embrace our differences. The three authors handled each of these subjects with sensitivity and in a knowledgeable way, capturing the feelings of the characters and making them even more relatable.  My 9-year-old was struck by how these great kids were treated so poorly by their peers. "They are normal, Mom. They are unique and may have different talents, but they are just like everyone else." She is unable to pick a favorite character among the UDM students, but she did say that her favorite part was when Marigold accidentally shrunk Lacey Clench, the school bully ringleader.

Both Mouse and I would like to go back and read the first book in the series and continue on with it after. We love the cast characters. I have not told Mouse yet there is a Disney television series coming out this summer based on the books. She is going to be over the moon when she hears that bit of news.

Which magic ability would Mouse and I prefer to have? Mouse and I both wish we could be Fluxers. What about you? If you could be any of the five (Fluxer, Flicker, Flyer, Flare, or Fuzzy), which ability would you want to have? 

I stood in the warm L.A. sunshine, admiring the marquee sign above my store. [Opening of Mimi Lee Gets a Clue]

Mimi Lee Gets a Clue (A Sassy Cat Mystery #1) by Jennifer J. Chow (Berkley/Penguin, 2020; Cozy Mystery, 336 pgs)

Mimi Lee is in over her head. There's her new Los Angeles pet grooming shop to run, her matchmaking mother to thwart, her talking cat Marshmallow to tend to—oh, and the murder of a local breeder to solve...now if only Mimi hadn't landed herself on top of the suspect list. [Goodreads Summary]

Mimi is the prime suspect in this cozy murder mystery, and she is determined to clear her name and further expose the murder victim's cruelty to the Chihuahua dogs he bred as well as who actually did kill him. She enlists the help of her neighbor, a  young lawyer named Josh. The reader gets an inside look at the upper crust of the Hollywood dog scene: doggy yoga and dog acupuncture, included as Mimi attempts to get to the bottom of the crime.

As much as I love cats, I am not always a fan of talking cats or cats who can communicate with their owners in a non-cat like way in mysteries, but it was impossible not to fall for Marshmallow in Jennifer J. Chow's Mimi Lee Gets a Clue. Can he come live with me? Although, my life is not as exciting as Mimi's, I'm afraid. Mimi did not ask for a cat and is reluctant to take in the stray her sister insists she take in, but she does. As the series subtitle describes, Marshmallow, a fluffy white Persian cat, definitely has a sassy side. He is also very insightful and able to get into places humans cannot go, which makes him a valuable partner in a murder investigation.

With a dash of romance, some action, and a lot of sleuthing, Mimi Lee Gets a Clue is a witty and entertaining mystery. Mimi is a relatable character, and I adored her family (cozy protagonists often have the best families, don't they?). There are a whole host of possible suspects to choose from, and give the victim was an awful person, it was hard not to sympathize with all of them for disliking him.  I really enjoyed this cozy mystery, and look forward to seeing what Jennifer J. Chow brings us next.

Do you have any animals in your life? For those of you who are home more now because of the pandemic, how are they coping?  

For a moment, the falling feels like something else entirely--like a brief, wild glimpse of freedom. [Opening of The Deep]

The Deep by Alma Katsu (G.P. Putnam's Sons, 2020; Horror/Historical Fiction, 432 pgs)

Someone, or something, is haunting the Titanic. [excerpt from Goodreads Summary]

Historical fiction is one of my favorite genres, and Titanic stories have long fascinated me. Alma Katsu's novel The Deep features not only the Titanic, but also her sister ship, the Britannic which would take sail years later as a British hospital ship during World War I.

The novel opens with the main character in an asylum, hiding from the world after her ordeal on the Titanic. Annie Hebbley receives a letter from a friend who had served as a maid on that fateful voyage alongside her. Her friend asks her to join her as a nurse on the newly refitted Britannic.

The author takes the reader back and forth between the voyages as Annie remembers her time on the Titanic and begins her new life on the Britannic. She never expects to run into another passenger who had survived the Titanic, bringing back memories Annie would rather have kept buried. The terrors they faced on the Titanic seems to have followed them to the Britannic. Can they survive yet another ill-fated voyage?

I was taken with Alma Katsu's writing in this atmospheric novel. The Deep is not a particularly fast paced book, but it had no problem holding my attention. The historical and subtle supernatural elements are woven together into an intriguingly eerie and dark tale.  I was swept up in Annie's story as she re-visited her past, introducing the reader to a variety of characters, some based on historical figures. The class differences are often very stark. And each of the characters, however minor, has an interesting backstory, which only enhances the book. Unfortunately, there is not a whole lot I can say about this one without offering up spoilers.

There is a definite turning point in the novel where it shifts from more of a historical novel to a thriller. If I had one complaint about the novel, it would that I wish the supernatural aspect had been a little less subtle than it was during the first half if only for continuity's sake. I think it could have been done in such a way as to not spoil any twists or surprises later on. Even so, I thoroughly enjoyed The Deep and look forward to reading more by Alma Katsu in the future.

I personally have never been on a cruise. Have you? If you haven't, would you someday like to?

 I hope you all have a wonderful week. Stay safe and well.  

Happy Reading!

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© 2020, Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved. If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

Bookish Mewsings: The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow & The Girl in Red by Christina Henry

Along with my mini reviews, I am linking to both Book Beginnings, a meme in which readers share the first sentence of a book they are reading, hosted by Gillion Dumas of Rose City Reader and Friday 56 hosted by Freda of Freda's Voice, in which readers share a random sentence or two from page 56 or 56% of the book they are reading.

It has been an eventful week, and we are heading into a busy weekend as well. I had hoped to spend my Monday off getting some much neglected housework done, but I ended up hurting my back. It's a bit better now, but I am still having to be careful least it get worse. And now as another weekend approaches, we all seem to be coming down with colds. Just in time for company and Christmas. Oh well.

I have a few holiday-themed romance reviews that will post next Monday to go with the season, but today I thought I would share two of my other fall reads with you. I highly recommend both of these books!

The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow

Orbit, 2019
Fantasy/Historical; 384 pgs
Source: NetGalley

Book Beginnings:

When I was seven, I found a door. I suspect I should capitalize that word, so you understand I'm not talking about your garden- or common-variety door that leads reliably to a white-tiled kitchen or a bedroom closet.

Friday 56 (excerpt from 56%):

"Did you know?" I asked after a silence. 

"Did I know what?"

I didn't bother to answer. She gave a short, resigned sigh. "I knew some of it. Never the whole story."

My thoughts:

A part of me was worried when I started reading The Ten Thousand Doors of January I would end up disappointed. It sounded too good to be true. January Scaller’s father works for a wealthy businessman, traipsing the globe in search of unique artifacts. Mr. Locke, his employer, has taken January in as his ward, and she spends much of her young life in his care. She’s always felt like a bit of an oddity, not quite fitting in. January loves to read and when she happens upon a strange book, she is instantly swept up in the story—one of secret doors into other worlds and of love and adventure. Only, the story in the book is not a piece of fiction, as January will soon find out.

I enjoy stories within stories as well as dual timeline novels quite a bit, the first being a tad more trickier for an author to pull of successfully—at least in my experience. Alix E. Harrow pulls it off in spades. I loved every aspect of this book and cannot sing its praises enough. I loved both January’s story as well as that of her parents. January is such a great character. She is resourceful and smart. She is extremely resilient. I loved her big protective and loyal dog, Bad. The world building is rich and with each door stepped through, I felt like I was right there alongside the characters. I also really appreciated the way the author ties in the history of the times into the story (early 1900’s), adding an even more nuanced layer. There was action and heartbreak, along with romance and adventure. This fantasy novel had me from the first page and would not let go. I can definitely see myself reading this book again and again. (And I am not much of a re-reader.)


Have you read The Ten Thousand Doors of January? If so, what did you think? If you haven't, does it sound like something you would want to read? 

The Girl in Red by Christina Henry
Berkley, 2019
Horror; 304 pgs

Source: NetGalley

Book Beginnings:

The fellow across the fire gave Red the once-over, from the wild corkscrews of her hair peeking out from under her red hood to the small hand axe that rested on the ground beside her. His eyes darted from the dried blood on the blade--just a shadow in the firelight--to the backpack of supplies next to it and back to her face, which she made as bland as rice pudding.

Friday 56 (excerpt from 56%):

When they reached the village, Red saw that a close-up view made it a lot less picturesque. Every building had peeling paint or stood at the slightly crooked angle that indicated subsidence or had shingles falling from the roof. The houses were clustered tight together, like cattle fearful of wolves.

My thoughts:

Red is on her own, trying to make her way to her grandmother’s house. Danger could be around any turn. Sound familiar? This postapocalyptic Little Red Riding Hood-like novel has much more higher stakes. The Crisis has decimated most of the population. It started with a cough and now the military is rounding up survivors to put in quarantine, which is not an option Red is willing to consider. As Red travels by foot, she reminisces about the past, including what led her to her current situation and the fate she now faces. This now hardened woman is not the same person she was three months ago. The disease is not the darkest of enemies out there, Red knows. She has seen firsthand how cruel mankind can be. When she stumbles on a couple of children in the woods, she cannot just leave them there. They are scared and have little in the way of supplies. They do not know how to protect themselves. She also does not want to be deterred from her path. She must get to her grandmother’s house.

Red has had to toughen up and cut herself off emotionally for survival's sake. She has one good leg, the other being a prosthetic, which adds its own challenge on her journey. I really felt for Red from the start, understanding her need to distance her grief. She does not want the burden of caring for the two children, but she is good at heart and must at least help them prepare for the world they now live in. You can imagine The Girl in Red is full of tension given the circumstances. Christina Henry paints a very dark world Red is now living in: a deadly illness, government quarantines, government secrets, militia groups with ill intent, and the coming winter. The ending came all too soon, and seemed a bit rushed given the attention to detail throughout the rest of the novel. I was left a little unsatisfied the way things were left off. Even so, I really enjoyed The Girl in Red and look forward to reading more by Christina Henry.


Have you read The Girl in Red? If so, what did you think? If you haven't, does it sound like something you might like? 

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend! Be sure and tell me what you are reading and are up to!

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© 2019, Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved. If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.