Skipping Christmas

Skipping Christmas by John Grisham

Publish Date: November 6 2001

Read Date: 01/02/2019 - 01/05/2019

Rating: ★★★★☆

Luther and Nora Krank have sent their college graduate daughter Blair off to Peru with the Peace Corps, and have decided that they will not be " doing" Christmas this year. Instead, they are going on a cruise, set to leave Christmas day at noon.

The Kranks forgo decorations, a tree, gifts, charitable donations, even the annual christmas eve party.  Everyone is shocked and disappointed.

Only the Kranks live in a very festive traditional neighborhood, and their neighbors revolt against this idea. Even sending notes and phone calls to free the 7 foot Frosty that normally adorns the top of the Krank house, like every other house on Hemlock street.

The Kranks have hilariously made it through to Christmas eve, when they get a phone call from Blair letting them know she is on her way home and expecting ALL the christmas traditions she is used to.

So now the Kranks are in overdrive to make everything perfect. In the end everyone comes together and Christmas spirit shines through.

Most commonly known by movie form " Christmas with Kranks".

River Bodies

River Bodies by Karen Katchur

Publish Date: 11/01/2018

Read Date: 12/26/2018 - 01/02/2019

Rating: ★★★★☆

New Jersey Veterinarian Becca Kinglsey returns home to Portland Pennsylvania after being forced to leave 10 years ago, to be with her dying father, the former Police Chief. 

When Becca returns she is caught up with a man that eerily watches from across the river, her childhood love interest turned police officer Parker, and a murder investigation that almost mirrors one from her childhood.

Sadly, that is pretty much the premise. That said. The book itself is a good read. It is fairly easy to figure out who did it and why, but the way the story evolves for Becca is interesting.

There is also alot of  police procedural, which if you find that interesting you will enjoy.

I really enjoyed reading this!!!

All The Missing Girls

All The Missing Girls by Megan Miranda

Publish Date: June 28, 2016

Read Date: 11/27/2018-12/26/2018

Rating: ★★★☆☆

Nicolette "Nic" Farrell has returned to Cooley Ridge after 10 years to help her brother Daniel care for her ailing father. The last time she was there, her best friend Corinne disappeared without a trace after a county fair. Corinnes case is still unanswered.

Once Nic returned home, all of the memories of that night, of the investigation came flooding back to her. Almost haunting her in a way, like they never really left the house.

Shortly after she returned home, Nics younger neighbor Annaleise Carter disappears. Annaleise was a witness and an alibi for Nic and her friends to the events that unfolded at the county fair.

Everyone is a suspect, and only 2 people really know what happened.. and one of them is now missing..

There are similarities to both missing girls. Memories and fears are brought back to the surface.

Told backwards, beginning with day 15 and ending with day 1, it can be a bit confusing to keep track of if you stop reading at any point and pick it back up.

I gave it 3 stars because I was not a fan of the set up. This was not a book I could read in 1 sitting because life got in the way and forgetting that it was told backwards became confusing at times. Short of that, it has everything you'd want in a decent thriller.