Skip to content
  • Home
  • Booklists & Readalikes

BookAppeal

Category: a) Atmospheric

A more generic setting than “strong sense of place” but prominent in the story.
Three Pines, Cormoran Strike’s London, Sherlock Holmes, Longbourn (and other historicals)

The Broken Girls by Simone St. James

In 2014, journalist Fiona Sheridan finds out that an elderly woman plans to re-open the long-abandoned boarding school where the body of Fiona’s sister was found 20 years ago. In 1950, the school was where “troubled” girls were sent. Four roommates from very different backgrounds form a friendship in the strict, dreary school. When one… Read More The Broken Girls by Simone St. James

April 29, 2019 BookAppeal

The Twelve Lives of Samuel Hawley by Hannah Tinti

Loo’s whole world revolves around her father.  At age 12, he’s the only parent she’s ever known.  Loo’s mother, Lily, drowned when she was just a baby.  Hawley and Loo have lived many places since and they never stayed in one place for too long – Hawley was always ready to pack up and move… Read More The Twelve Lives of Samuel Hawley by Hannah Tinti

January 16, 2018May 28, 2018 BookAppeal

Mr. Dickens and His Carol by Samantha Silva

As the author describes it, this is a playful reimagining of how Charles Dickens wrote A Christmas Carol that incorporates historical facts but sometimes changes or embellishes them to fit the story. Silva captures the tone of Dickens’ era and quite probably what his life was like at times – he was well-known and popular… Read More Mr. Dickens and His Carol by Samantha Silva

November 24, 2017January 2, 2018 BookAppealLeave a comment

Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

The Grisha #1 A boy and a girl, orphaned by war, grow up to be best friends.  Alina feels something more for Mal but he’s still playing the field. When their military unit is sent forth by The Darkling, a most powerful and unique Grisha who leads the Second Army, to cross the Shadow Fold,… Read More Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

June 13, 2017 BookAppealLeave a comment

The Hanged Man by P.N. Elrod

1st in series – Her Majesty’s Psychic Service Alex Pendlebury is a forensic psychic reader, able to detect the emotions of people, even after they’ve left. Her skills come in handy, serving as a lie detector and a good start to uncovering a perpetrator’s motive. But when she’s called to a hanging suicide just before… Read More The Hanged Man by P.N. Elrod

May 28, 2017 BookAppealLeave a comment

The Impossible Fortress by Jason Rekulak

This novel is pure enjoyment.  It doesn’t try to explore deep issues, it focuses on depicting the lives of a few 14-year-olds coming of age in the 1980s.  The inclusion of cultural detail is sometimes clunky but not heavy-handed.  The boys do pretty stupid things but, hey, they’re 14!  Treatment of female characters is refreshingly… Read More The Impossible Fortress by Jason Rekulak

May 21, 2017 BookAppealLeave a comment

I Let You Go by Clare Mackintosh

A 5-year-old boy is struck and killed in a hit-and-run.  Detective Inspector Ray Stevens of the Bristol police puts his team on the case.  Kate, new to the Criminal Investigation Department, is already proving to be smart and dedicated to the job.  With few leads, however, the investigation is going to be difficult.   The… Read More I Let You Go by Clare Mackintosh

May 16, 2017 BookAppealLeave a comment

A Conjuring of Light by V.E. Schwab

Picking up where A Gathering of Shadows left off, Lila Bard takes off after Kell who was lured to White London by Holland whose body is now controlled by Osaron, the shadow king.  Kell is imprisoned and losing strength and power, causing Prince Rhy to struggle for his life back in Red London, effectively cutting short… Read More A Conjuring of Light by V.E. Schwab

March 11, 2017 BookAppealLeave a comment

The Dry by Jane Harper

Aaron Falk left his home town, a small farming village five hours from Melbourne, Australia, when he was a teenager. He had no intention of returning but when the father of his childhood friend, Luke, beckons him to Luke’s funeral, Aaron cannot refuse. Luke apparently murdered his own wife and son before turning the shotgun… Read More The Dry by Jane Harper

January 19, 2017 BookAppealLeave a comment

In the Woods by Tara French

1st in Dublin Murder Squad series   I have owned this book for several years but never got around to reading it.  Tana French occasionally comes across my radar in reviews of other authors’ works so I finally committed to reading this one.  I listed to most of it on audio and the narrator is… Read More In the Woods by Tara French

September 30, 2016 BookAppealLeave a comment

Posts navigation

Older posts

Go to:

LCPL PAC
Booklists & Readalikes
BCTG Kits
Fantastic Fiction
Goodreads

Categories

Tags

18th century 1980s accidents adventure african-american aging amateur investigator Amish amsterdam anger animals ARC asperger's BEA16 books bookstores British brothers bullying change-of-life child-parent relationships child abduction childhood Christmas coming of age competition contemporary fantasy cozy mystery crime daughters deafness death disability disasters dogs domestic abuse dual narrative dysfunctional family empty nest end-of-world Europe evil family fantasy fatherhood fathers fear first love forgiveness friendship gender issues genre-blend grief guilt heroes historical historical mystery hit-and-run holiday homelessness humor insecurities investigation investors kidnapping Lake Michigan legal LGBT librarians lies loss magic marriage media mothers murder mystery nonfiction paranormal parenting police politics power private investigation psychological suspense Romance secrets siblings sisters social media steampunk Suspense terrorism thriller tragedy trust war widows women young boys
Blog at WordPress.com.
BookAppeal
Create a free website or blog at WordPress.com.
Cancel
Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy