Friday Fives - Five Quick Reviews for Books I've Read Recently

I'm in a list making kind of mood so I thought I'd start making random five lists.  Sometimes they'll be bookish other weeks not so much. This week I'm sharing 5 quick reviews for books I've read recently.

1.  Incident at Badamya by Dorothy Gilman - This was an interesting read and very different from the Mrs. Pollifax adventures.  Gen Ferris is an American who has lived her whole life in Burma in chaotic and often violent times.  She is now an orphan and trying to get to the US with very little resources.  Along the way she is captured and held for ransom with six other people.  The story that evolves is a bit slower paced but shows how people aren't always what the seem and how different people react to strenuous circumstances. This was an enjoyable read with an interesting premise and I am looking forward to reading more of Gilman's standalones.   My Rating: Really Liked It (4 Stars)

2.  Mother-Daughter Murder Night by Nina Simon - I ended up really enjoying this one though it did take me a little bit to get into it.  I didn't love Beth or Lana at first though as the story went on I really enjoyed getting to know them and understand their issues.  Jack was a joy from page one and comes across as such an authentic teenager.  Once I got into the book I couldn't put it down and was just as motivated to see how the relationships developed as I was to see who the bad guy was.  My Rating;  Really Liked It! (4.5 Stars)

3.  The Liar by Nora Roberts - This was a reread for me and I enjoyed it just as much as the first time.  I did remember the twist but didn't remember quite how it all came to be.  This is a good romantic suspense title from Roberts with a fantastic community feel and a likable main character who is finding her feet again.  The relationship developed nicely as did the plot.  Even though I knew how everything was going to work out I was still holding my breath a little bit as I waited for it to play out.  My Rating: Really Liked It (4 Stars)

4.  The Wolf Tree by Laura McCluskey - I have pretty mixed feelings on this one.  I do love a good claustrophobic feeling mystery and it is hard to get more claustrophobic than a remote island in Scotland during a storm.  I also love a good cold case which is hinted at in the blurb and occasionally referenced as the story goes on.  However, the pacing of this one felt a bit slow and I never truly felt like the mystery investigation really came together.  The ending was an interesting one but overall, I don't think this author's style is really for me. My Rating: Liked It (3 Stars)

5.  The Foundling: The True Story of a Kidnapping, a Family Secret, and My Search for the Real Me by Paul Joseph Fronczak - This case has fascinated me since I first heard of it and as soon as one of my favorite true crime YouTubers (Gabulosis) mentioned this book I put it on hold from the library.  It's a fascinating read about a double kidnapping but even more so about an investigation spearheaded as genetic genealogy evolves and how the search impacts everyone involved.  The story really hooked me and I felt like I was chasing leads down with the team.  This was much more emotionally in-depth than I was expecting and I was swept up from page one to the end.  If this kind of case fascinates you like it does me than this is a must read.  My Rating; Loved It (5 Stars)