We Keep the Dead Close: A Murder at Harvard and a Half Century of Silence by Becky Cooper

We Keep the Dead Close: A Murder at Harvard and a Half Century of Silence by Becky Cooper
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Becky Cooper's ten year investigation into the murder of Jane Britton was thoroughly investigated. A thick tome the reader thoroughly investigates Jane 1969 murder, about Harvard and the anthropology dept and police cover-ups.

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The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox by Maggie O'Farrell

The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox by Maggie O'Farrell
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Awesomely narrated by Anne Flosnik, this story was devastating - about a time when parents/people could put a person in an insane asylum for the rest of their life for no better reason than they could. Esme was a different child with parents who did not understand her, she was blamed for everything, and as she gets older, her parents could not deal with her. What I did not like with the narration was the abrupt endings in the flashbacks, but that was not the narrator's fault but probably would have been very apparent in the print version. There were too many questions left as the story went on, and this reader would have liked to know more, especially with the ending.

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If You Tell: A True Story of Murder, Family Secrets, and the Unbreakable Bond of Sisterhood by Gregg Olsen

If You Tell: A True Story of Murder, Family Secrets, and the Unbreakable Bond of Sisterhood by Gregg Olsen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

OMG, I could not put this true crime fiction story down! What those sisters suffered, and that mad, evil, awful mother, Shelly, was a BAD SEED! Gregg Olsen does a stellar job and tells a true story of an unbelievable childhood suffered by not one but three sisters and how their mother kept them as silent prisoners and made them watch and endure as their mother and then father beat, tortured, and verbally abused 3 others (brother figure Shane, Kathy, supposedly Shelly's best friend and Ron, another friend she hoodwinked with her pretended love and caring). A must read! I hope all three of those girls got counseling!

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The Chance to Fly by Ali Stroker

The Chance to Fly by Ali Stroker
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

When Nat moves from her beloved California (losing her best friend and wheelchair racing team) to New Jersey she is so not happy. When she accidentally sees a flyer for Wicked try-outs, she decides to be all in for this musical. I loved Nat----she loved life but also railed (inwardly) about the limits of being in a wheelchair---she does not initially like the house they move into that is totally ADA compliant, her mom and dad annoy her with their support, but the best thing to happen is trying out and winning a part in the Wicked musical and from there so many great and not so great things happen to Nat and her new friends. I loved her crush, her friendship with her theatre friends and how they band together to keep their musical going. This was a great book that hyped being in the arts, how Nat's upbringing kept her pushing for what she wanted (trying out new things did not defeat her at all!) and in the process---help those around her---her parents, adults, and her friends see the real Nat! Highly recommended!

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The Heart Remembers (The Art of Hearing Heartbeats, #3) by Jan-Philipp Sendker

The Heart Remembers by Jan-Philipp Sendker
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Narrated by: Neil Shah, I loved this 3rd and final book, about eternal love, family, spirituality. I did not like TaTa's voice it was plodding, and too slow and Julia's voice was totally different from the other two books. But the story of TaTa and Julia and their son will be one I will not soon forget! This is a must read sesries!

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The Target (Will Robie, #3) by David Baldacci

The Target by David Baldacci
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

These Will Robie books just keep getting better and better; there was alot going on in this book, Will and Jessica are asked by the President to carry off a secret mission all the while there is another plot involving Jessica's past and the final plot line is an assassin from North KOrea whose life was spent in a prison camp. I could not stop turning the pages; I feel like I know and love Will and Jessica and Julie and can't wait for more!

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The Indigo Girl by Natasha Boyd

The Indigo Girl by Natasha Boyd
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Awesomely narrated by Saskia Maarleveld, I could not stop listening to the compelling story of Eliza Lucas, who as a 16 year old in 1739 in South Carolina, is called upon by her father (who seeks to run for office and fight in Antiqua, their old home) to run their 3 plantations as he continues to mortgage against them. I loved her personality, Like Eliza, I rebelled against the lot of women at that time; the way they were treated, talked to and told what what expected of them--be quiet and marry. Eliza may have been alone in her situation but she men (friends of her father and mother) who were able to guide her, help her and offer aid when needed. The horror of slavery was revisited time and time again in this amazing story based on Eliza Lucas' letters and research. Once Eliza hears about growing and producing Indigo as a means to save the plantations, she works single-mindedly and tirelessly to learn from slaves the secret to indigo dye making. A must read about a little known but famous young woman who against everything pursued a new avenue to help her family (and others) survive and succeed in South Carolina.

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