Fall, Leaves, Fall by Mike Driver

The book begins with a very emotional  prologue dated October 1978, where the protagonist Bridge is running through the park, out of breath and panic-stricken, fearing to be late..  We understand that something dreadful is going to happen but the prologue is over. What has happened? It turns out that Bridge’s friend disappeared that autumn day, and it seems like he feels guilty for it. Although at the beginning of the book he says that his heart already doesn’t stand still when he sees a newspaper announcement about children missing, later in the book it becomes clear that Bridge hasn’t become indifferent and cold-hearted after what has happened to him.  A 12-year old boy’s endured too much, and the memories of that day never let him go, haunting him in his dreams. Perhaps that episode of his childhood left an imprint on his character, made him timid and afraid of speaking up for himself.
The author knows how to hold the reader’s attention and he skillfully uses imagery and different descriptions to convey the feelings and the atmosphere. As you carry on reading the novel, you forget about everything happening around you and engrossed in the book. You feel fear, desperation; you imagine the dull life of the small provincial town and experience every shade of emotions the main character experiences.
It’s a really good read, although some motives of Bridge are not clear to me even after I’ve read the book. Still, it deserves a place on your book shelf!

Girl Undone (TJ Peacock and Lisa Rayburn Mysteries #3) by Marla Madison

I was given a free copy of the book by the author in exchange for an honest review

This is what a really good suspense novel should be like – this thought came to my mind when I was in the middle of the book still puzzled and guessing. One moment Marla Madison makes you think that you got it, you figured it out and right after it you sit dumbfounded, who could ever think that it may turn this way? These are precious feelings which make a crime story worth reading.
The main characters of this novel - TJ Peacock, a private investigator, and Lisa Rayburn, a psychologist - try to catch a serial killer whose hunger for celebrity is so huge that he makes a popular criminal blogger to write about him in his blog. Finally the blogger asks TJ and his colleague for help, fearing for his life.
When all the characters gathered in one house, not knowing who the murderer is and who the next victim is, I remembered the feelings that I had reading Agatha Christie’s “And then there were none”. The tension so high, million thoughts swarming in my head I tried to solve the puzzle that glorious Ms. Madison had given. And I’ll tell you what – don’t even bother if you are not a Sherlock Holmes of our times. The twists and turns, billion details, characters.. the author knows how to bewilder the reader.
Marla Madison is a revelation for me, and I’d happy to continue the acquaintance with her works.