Let me get this out of the way first.  I unabashedly love Hank.  Her books are awesome sure, but she’s also a super awesome human being.

Most of those in my area may know her from being the lead investigative reporter in Boston Channel 7 News.  She brings that same investigative skills to her books as well.  Her Jane Ryland series got me hooked.  Set in Boston, it follows a one time tv reporter to the world of newspapers and of course murder and mayhem.  Plus, the detective Jake is dreamy.  Or he is at least the way I imagine him.

Anyway, so just this past month, she released her newest novel:

Trust Me by Hank Phillippi Ryan

It’s a standalone novel, centered around the court case of a young mother accused of murdering her child.  For those in the Boston area, it is reminiscent of the “Baby Doe” case that gripped the city a few years ago.  The only difference is, the mother more closely resembles Casey Anthony than a drug addicted woman.  While trying to pull herself out of a depression, former reporter Mercer is assigned to follow the case for a potential book.  Everyone knows Ashlyn (the mother) is guilty.  Mercer thinks it as well.  The first part of the book follows the trial and is interspersed with Mercer’s notes/write ups.  They clearly signify Ashlyn’s guilt.

The second part of the book takes a turn as Mercer and Ashlyn are thrown together.  I won’t spoil how, but it has to do with the book.  Ashlyn seems to be a master manipulator, and even the reader starts to wonder if they got everything wrong.

The mystery at the end is wrapped up tidily, which was a bit of a disappointment.  I thought the end could’ve used a little more explanation.  But, at the same time….fans of shows on Discovery ID will like this book for the courtroom drama.  I definitely wanted to read to the end to find out it if the reader ever learns if Ashlyn is really guilty or not.

Hank is so good at making a good beach/winter read.  And as a Massachusetts person, I love reading books set in Boston.  It makes me feel like I’m part of the action!

I’ve been MIA recently..and it’s for a good reason!

I started a new job last week, and I’m actually busy with work.  I ended up having a week off between jobs, and I read/finished about 5 books.  I probably should’ve wrote about them then, but I got distracted by starting my second book in the Baseball Mysteries.  I need to get words on paper!

Also, I now have to write monthly blog posts with my publisher, Pandamoon Publishing, so sometimes I get so wrapped up in that that I forget to tell you about all the good books I’ve read lately.

This is just a tiny sampling, but I wanted to reommend them.

First Up:

Scarlet by A.C. Gaughen

Like any girl of a certain age, I can remember one of my first crushes being the Fox from Disney’s Robin Hood.  I mean, how cute was he?  I also remember falling in love with the Robin Hood myth/story at that moment.

This book is a re-telling of Robin Hood, but with one twist.  Will Scarlet is a woman!   And, ***spoiler alert***

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ALSO MAID MARIAN!

Dead.  I died.  So good.  I finished the book last night, and I’m waiting anxiously for my Book Outlet order to come with the other two books in the series.  There was adventure! Romance!  Tough women!  Knives!  Fights! Humor!  Yeah, I was a bit into it.  And of course it has made me want to go back and watch more Robin Hood things.  I loved the BBC version, and hope I can find it on Netflix/Amazon for this weekend!  (Before the Pats game of course!)

Okay, now an ARC review.

Treacherous is the Night by Anna Lee Huber

I’ve written before about my love for Anna Lee Huber’s work, and this book just continues the love.  The new  Verity Kent mystery doesnt’ come out until September 25, but I was lucky enough to be approved for an early copy on NetGalley.com.

Guys.

It was good.  Verity is dealing with the fact that her husband has returned from the dead, but also her past as a “spy” during the war is now coming to light and dangerous things are afoot.  Someone is murdering members of “La Dame Blanche”, a network of women who were working for the allies during the war.  This leads Verity to hunt down one of her former partners in espinoge to ensure their safety.  What follows is a trip through war torn Belgium and France as her and Simon follow clues to the elusive woman.

I loved.  Much like I lover her Lady Darby mysteries.  So another two thumbs up for me.

And finally….

European Travel for Monsterous Gentlewomen by Theodora Goss

This one was WAY better than the first one, but don’t read this unless you’ve read “The Strange Case of the Alchemist’s Daughter.”  That book provides the background you need to follow the exploits of the newly formed Athena Club.  Made up of the daughters of famous horror villians, these women find a bond with each other that no one in the “real” world understands.  And of course there are nefarious plans being hatched by the villians of their own stories and new villians that they alone can stop.  This book takes the reader out of London and through a little jaunt through Europe….starting in Vienna and ending in Budapest….oh, and there is the Orient Express too!  It was a fun ride, and the heroine’s are split up a for a time that really gives the reader a chance to learn more about each character which I enjoyed.

So, there is a little bit of everything this week.

Stay Tuned next Spring for my book!

And read my blog over at Pandamoon Publishing

As always, you can find me on twitter @nanazlyn (I write about the books I read there a lot too).