Over the last few years, I've been on a quest to read (or reread) all of Agatha Christie's books. So it was with horror that I realized it's been over a year since I've read a book of hers! Obviously, I had to rectify the situation posthaste.

The Man in the Brown Suit isn't your typical Agatha Christie. It reads more like a thriller than a mystery. Instead of a murder and an investigation with a small group of suspects, it's more of a heroine's journey laden with suspicious happenings, close calls, and romantic intrigue.

It starts off with Anne Beddingfeld finding her life to be ever so dull, so she goes off to London to look for adventure. When she inadvertently stumbles onto something suspicious, she's thrilled. She immediately dives headfirst into its murky circumstances in the hopes it will bring her the excitement she so desperately craves.

I see the mixed reviews for this book, and I understand the differing opinions. On the one hand, when you go into an Agatha Christie, there's a certain expectation of what you're getting, and this one doesn't quite meet that. On the other hand, I had great fun with it. Time and again, no one can so consistently pull me into a story the way she can.

The reason I didn't rate this higher is that it isn't as amazing as the rest of her stories, but honestly, that's a high bar she's set for herself. If this were by any other author, I would probably rate it at 4 stars. But since it's Agatha Christie, this highly enjoyable story is just middle of the pack among her books.

Readaroo Rating: 3 stars

I always try to skip book blurbs and go into stories blind, especially if they are labeled a mystery or thriller. But that often means they don't turn out quite the way I expected, which is what happened with Mother May I.

Bree is startled awake one morning to the face of a witch at her window. Yes, you read that right: a witch. She takes that to be an omen, a sign of something bad to come. Later that day, she sees the witch again. Not long after, the unthinkable happens, and Bree's harrowing journey is only just beginning.

The part I enjoyed the most is the central investigation. It reads like a police procedural, and it was entertaining to follow along as each clue is unearthed and to see how it leads to the next step. However, I didn't quite connect with the rest of the story, and I'll try to explain why without giving anything away (the perpetual conundrum when talking about a thriller).

One of the main conflicts of this story is a moral dilemma. How far would you go to save someone you loved? And in this book, the answer is very far. So far, in fact, that it comes across as hard to believe. Obviously some suspension of belief is necessary for any thriller, but the things that happen in here are very far-fetched.

Another issue for me is that the book tries to tackle too much. It's like a thriller with a conscience, giving me suspense while also trying to teach me morality lessons. I don't have a problem with the message, but it was done very heavy-handedly. It took a lot of the momentum out of the story to stop and lecture about right and wrong and the gray area in between.

Speaking of the pacing, instead of picking up speed as the story unfolds, it feels like it slowed down. This is probably due to how thoroughly everything was explained. Many times I thought the story was concluding, only to be bogged down with some more follow-ups about this or that. I prefer my books to be tautly paced, and part of that is not spelling everything out for me, I want room to fill in the blanks and make my own connections.

In the end, I enjoyed the investigation part of the story, with its clues being unearthed and leads being followed. But I had trouble connecting with the rest of it. It tried to cover too much ground, sapping the momentum and stretching beyond plausibility.

Also, I was a little disappointed there were no actual witches in here.

Readaroo Rating: 3 stars

Well, crud! No one's more surprised than me, but Second First Impressions isn't what I wanted at all.

At first glance, this seems like your typical cute romcom. Ruthie works at a retirement home and doesn't have much of a life outside of work. Then the owner's son, Teddy, shows up, and turns her world upside down through a combination of wit and looks. And she realizes that maybe she's ready for love after all. What's not to like, right? Well, a lot, as it turns out.

You guys know that I adore strong and spunky female characters. Unfortunately, Ruthie isn't that. She's more like the extreme opposite, as in the blandest wallflower ever. She's so easily spooked that she's afraid to leave the grounds of her workplace. She dresses like an old lady, then gets hurt when people point that out. She needs to be constantly reassured that she has value, which every person around her does for her.

As for Teddy, he is a huge guy covered in tattoos and has beautiful, luxurious, long hair, which we are told constantly as Ruthie daydreams about freeing it from its elastic, running her hands through it, and tugging on it. I don't have a problem with any of those, but it's so specific, you know? It feels like it appeals to a very particular taste, and it's not mine. I kept imagining Teddy as a tatted up Fabio, and it didn't do it for me.

On top of that, I didn't feel even the tiniest of sparks between our two main characters. I don't understand what they see in each other other than looks. Ruthie is such a bland non-person, and Teddy just whines about how much he needs someone to take care of him. Whenever they flirted with each other, it's so jarring and sleazy that I felt creeped out. At one point, Ruthie says no to lunch, so Teddy just picks her up and carries her out to the car.

Speaking of being creeped out, I was expecting adorable old people in a retirement home. But the old people in here are strange and inappropriate. Two of the old ladies wanted to hire a young hot guy to be their assistant. They would make him cut a Big Mac into bite-size pieces and feed it to them, bury and dig up clothing, sleep in crawlspaces, and wear stripper outfits that say "Hot Stuff" on it. Am I crazy for not finding that to be funny and cute?

But that's not the biggest problem. (There's more, you say?) My biggest issue is that I couldn't follow the writing. A lot of it is in dialogue form, but what each person says doesn't make sense from the previous line. Or what they do in one paragraph doesn't make sense from the previous one. I kept going back and rereading pages to try to make sense of what I've missed, but I can't find the cues to help me understand. It feels so random and nonsensical.

Perhaps you're still undecided if you should read this book, so I've devised a litmus test:

His wallet is a squashed leather medieval relic, run over by horse and cart a thousand times. I want to open it and read every single card and receipt. I want to sleep with it under my pillow.

If you can relate to that, then this book is for you. On the other hand, if you've never wanted to sleep with your beloved's wallet, then perhaps it is a good idea to stay away.

Readaroo Rating: 1 star

Thoroughly imaginative, scientifically sound, and emotionally stirring, Project Hail Mary slayed me and is destined to become one of my all-time favorite books!

Ryland Grace wakes up in a spaceship light years from Earth. The problem is he doesn't remember who he is or what he's supposed to do. But whatever it is, it must be important, or he wouldn't have been sent on this mission with two other astronauts. Unfortunately, neither of them survived the journey, so he is all alone. And he is Earth's last hope for survival.

One thing that completely amazed me was how believable and plausible the science is in here. There's nothing worse than reading a science fiction book and realizing that the science part is all sham. Not here, folks. Not only is the premise intriguing and ingenious, but the whole thing actually makes sense. And it's easy to grasp and digest, divided into small bits that any layman can understand.

For me, science fiction falls into two categories: the Twilight Zone kind where kooky things are going on and explanations are a bit handwavy; or things are happening based on real science and there are actual explanations for everything. And this book falls solidly in the second, which is my favorite kind.

Science aside, this story is so much more. It is about hope and finding connections in the most unexpected of places. It's overcoming fear and adversity. It's digging deep within yourself, rising to the challenge, and becoming all that you are capable of.

I'm not sure how Andy Weir came up with the idea for this book, though I can't help but wonder at its sheer audacity. It was compelling from the first page, and it just got better and better. It was utterly unputdownable.

When I'm reading a book, I'm always looking for that special rare experience where the book touches me and I walk away irrevocably changed. This book made me laugh, think, hope, and marvel. It doesn't get any better than this.

Readaroo Rating: 5 stars!

This was an add-on for my Book of the Month box. If you're curious about BOTM or want to find out how to get your first book for $5, click here.

I had thought he brought salvation with him. Instead he had traded my existing bondage for another.

I just cannot pass up a Greek mythology retelling, and the story of Ariadne is an undeniably fascinating one. Growing up in Crete as the daughter of King Minos, she sees her mother suffer at the hands of the gods as retribution for their anger towards her father. Ariadne vows to never be a pawn for the gods or mortal men. When she is faced with the terrible atrocities happening under King Minos, will she have the courage to do the right thing and finally accept her destiny?

I love stories about strong female characters, and immediately found Ariadne to be a captivating heroine. Her character is well fleshed out in all of its complexity, triumph, and heartbreak. She displays strength and resilience in the face of adversity, and it was fun to follow along and cheer her on. I also found her relationship with her sister Phaedra heartwarming to read.

However, I did find the pacing a bit uneven throughout. This is the story of Ariadne's life instead of just one event in it, so certain parts definitely feel more essential and cohesive than others. The first 100 pages were absolutely unputdownable, with a riveting story arc that just propels the narrative forward. The next 100 pages slows down a bit. Not much happens, and we get a lot of background stories on tangentially related mythology characters. But then it ends on a strong note, with the last 100 pages picking up the arc of another interesting storyline and taking it all the way to a satisfying close.

The struggle for females to break free from the influence and punishment of men is a familiar tale, and the infusion of Greek mythology makes it that much more exciting. I'm always thrilled to come across a compelling debut, and I cannot wait to see what else Jennifer Saint comes up with.

Readaroo Rating: 4 stars

This was my Book of the Month pick for May. If you're curious about BOTM or want to find out how to get your first book for $5, click here.

After a certain age, you can pretty much do whatever takes your fancy. No one tells you off, except for your doctors and your children.

The Thursday Murder Club meets every Thursday (hence the name) at Coopers Chase, a peaceful retirement community where nothing much happens. That is, until a murder occurs within its idyllic community, and four of its septuagenarian residents decide to stick their noses in and solve it themselves.

I was immediately taken with the quirky and loveable cast of characters. The senior citizens made me chuckle with their sassy antics and their unapologetic zest for life. The gentle humor strikes just the right balance, without coming across as too flippant or cheesy. I also adored the detectives in here, with their protectiveness of these septuagenarians and their good-natured acceptance of their often questionable behaviors.

As for the mystery itself, it started out really strong. I was completely bought in during the first half, playing arm chair detective while following along with each clue and red herring. But then it kind of became convoluted and confusing. It seems like the book tried to insinuate guilt on every single character, one by one. It was fun for the first one or two, thinking that I've been duped, but it quickly became tedious. Thankfully, the ending wrapped everything up in a satisfying, if long-winded, way.

Overall, this was a really entertaining read, in large part due to its cast of sweet and funny characters. I'm glad this is the first of what looks to be a series, and I can't wait to read more.

Readaroo Rating: 4 stars

Intricate, poignant, and completely captivating, What Could Be Saved knocked me over and left me wanting more.

Laura Preston is a struggling artist living in Washington DC when, out of the blue, she's contacted by a stranger claiming to be her missing brother Philip. He had vanished without a trace four decades ago when the family lived in Bangkok in 1972. Since then, Laura, her sister Beatrice, and their mother have forged a complicated relationship, none of them quite able to come to terms with the loss of Philip. Told in dual timelines, we follow the family through their loss in 1972 and again now in the present as they hope for healing and a second chance.

Gosh, this story just grabbed me and refused to let go. Reading it felt like being transported to a different life and time and location. Initially, it took me a few chapters to get into it, but once I did, I was fully immersed. It's one of those reading experiences where the story feels so vivid and alive, my real life became pale in comparison. Every moment I wasn't reading, I was thinking about it and looking forward to the next time I could pick it up again.

It's hard for me to describe what this story is about because it's about so many things. It's a character study, with each person chasing their own dreams, living out their lives as best as they can. They each have flaws, and the flaws make them complex and interesting. It's also a story about sibling and familial bonds, which can stretch and decay, but can also strengthen and become resilient. It's a story of hard choices and redemption and facing one's own demons.

With dual timelines, I'm always a bit wary that one of them will be less interesting than the other. But in this story, both were equally compelling and important. It helps that we don't switch back and forth constantly, but rather, each storyline is given ample time and space to come to fruition.

This is a story that will stay with me for a long time. Now that I'm done, I don't feel like I'm ready to leave this world and this family that Liese O'Halloran Schwarz has so expertly crafted. I just want to start over on page one and savor it all over again. This is my first book by Schwarz, and it definitely won't be my last.

Readaroo Rating: 5 stars!

My heartfelt thanks for the copy that was provided for my honest and unbiased review.

His gaze held hers as his mouth twisted in hate. "You did something to him."

Ah yes, I always know when I'm in the midst of a domestic thriller: everyone acts extremely guilty even when innocent, every small word and action is blown out of proportion, and accusing each other of murder is the neighborhood hobby.

Welcome to Ithaca, New York, the bucolic college town where Lila and Aaron have been living for the past several years. When Aaron goes missing, the spotlight naturally falls on Lila. Is she guilty, or is she just the Pretty Little Wife that has been wrongly accused? With everyone guarding their own secrets, it's hard to tell where the lies end and the truth begins.

This was an easy and fast read for me. The plot was outrageous and it unfolded with plenty of salacious twists and tidbits, keeping me riveted and turning the pages. I found it well-paced for the most part, with plenty of forward momentum that did not let up until the very end.

But domestic thrillers is a well-trodden area, and it didn't feel like this story brought anything new to the table. It's definitely overwritten in the way that is true to the genre, with lots of eye-rolling moments when emotions and paranoia take over. The scent of guilt deftly surrounds every character. And the police are plenty tenacious, and no amount of evidence or lack thereof will throw them off the scent of spousal wrongdoing.

Still, it was a fun and mindless way to spend a few hours. I wouldn't say this surprised me at any point, but it was a steady stream of entertainment from beginning to end, and fans of domestic thrillers will surely very much enjoy it.

Readaroo Rating: 3 stars