Under The Radar Books.

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  • Book Review: First Born by Will Dean

    First Born by Will Dean

    Synopsis.

    From the acclaimed author of The Last Thing to Burn, a psychological thriller about the dark secrets that emerge when a woman’s twin sister is murdered, with his signature “intense, gripping, taut, terrifying, moving, and brilliant” (Lisa Jewell, #1 New York Times bestselling author) prose. Sisters. Soulmates. Strangers. Molly Raven lives a quiet, structured life in London, finding comfort in security and routine. Her identical twin Katie, living in New York, is the exact opposite: outgoing, spontaneous, and adventurous. But when Molly hears that Katie has died, possibly murdered, she is thrown into unfamiliar territory. As terrifying as it is, she knows she must travel across the ocean and find out what happened. But as she tracks her twin’s final movements, cracks begin to emerge, and she slowly realizes her sister was not who she thought she was and there’s a dangerous web of deceit surrounding the two of them.

    The Review

    First Born by Will Dean Right from the start of this thriller, I felt it was intended for a youthful audience. We’re following a woman whose twin sister was just murdered. As the story unfolds we find there is a slew of possible suspects and everyone has something to gain and everything to lose. The writing felt a little loose, and there were a lot of unnecessary details that led nowhere. It felt like the author was throwing things at me to see what would stick, hoping it was smart enough but not too much so. The plot was pretty basic and clear, making it really easy to understand and follow. I was never confused and had fun guessing the twist. I think some readers will enjoy that and others definitely will not. I landed somewhere in the middle. First Born…⭐️⭐️⭐️

    Screen Pairing

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    Book Pairing

    If you liked this review…you might like: And There He Kept Her by Joshua Moehling
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  • Book Review: NSFW by Isabel Kaplan

    NSFW by Isabel Kaplan

    Synopsis.

    Blisteringly sharp, hypersmart, and compulsively readable―meet Isabel Kaplan’s searing debut novel about a young woman trying to succeed in Hollywood without selling her soul. From the outside, the unnamed protagonist in NSFW appears the vision of success. She has landed an entry-level position at a leading TV network that thousands of college grads would kill for. And sure, she has much to learn. The daughter of a prominent feminist attorney, she grew up outside the industry, better versed in gender dynamics than box office hits. But she’s resourceful and hardworking―what could go wrong? At first, the high adrenaline work environment motivates her, yet as she climbs the ranks, she confronts the reality of creating change from the inside. Her points only get attention when echoed by male colleagues. She hears whispers of abuse and sexual misconduct. Her mother says to keep her head down until she’s the one in charge―a scenario that seems idealistic at best, morally questionable at worst. When her personal and professional lives collide, threatening both the network and her future, she must finally decide what to protect: the career she’s given everything for or the empowered woman she claims to be.

    The Review

    NSFW by Isabel Kaplan In NSFW, we’re following an intern at a television network in bustling Los Angeles. This book is very LA. That is not a compliment, completely. Overall, I was disappointed in how the ending was handled. This may have been a case of wrong reader-right book because according to Goodreads this rates about four stars. On the back of the book, there are blurbs referencing the smart humor and I completely missed that. However, the original title “The Feminist Guide to Getting Ahead”, might have been a more appropriate title than NSFW, which stands for Not Safe For Work. I appreciated some of the commentary however mousy it was conveyed. I could handle a lot more clarity and a better tied-up ending. I think given the nature of the themes it would be warranted. NSFW…⭐️⭐️⭐️

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    Book Pairing

    If you liked this review…you might like: Acts of Service by Lillian Fishman
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  • Early Book Review: Daisy Darker by Alice Feeney

    Daisy Darker by Alice Feeney

    Synopsis.

    The New York Times bestselling Queen of Twists returns…with a family reunion that leads to murder.

    After years of avoiding each other, Daisy Darker’s entire family is assembling for Nana’s 80th birthday party in Nana’s crumbling gothic house on a tiny tidal island. Finally back together one last time, when the tide comes in, they will be cut off from the rest of the world for eight hours.

    The family arrives, each of them harboring secrets. Then at the stroke of midnight, as a storm rages, Nana is found dead. And an hour later, the next family member follows…

    Trapped on an island where someone is killing them one by one, the Darkers must reckon with their present mystery as well as their past secrets, before the tide comes in and all is revealed.

    With a wicked wink to Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None, Daisy Darker’s unforgettable twists will leave readers reeling.

    The Review

    Daisy Darker by Alice Feeney

    This is the fourth book I’ve read by Alice Feeney and it ranks up there amongst my favorites.

    It’s Nana’s 80th birthday and everyone gathers to celebrate in one of the darkest and deadliest family reunions I’ve ever read.

    You see, there is more than just a little bit of tension between the family members. And as events unfold over time you learn everything that lies between them as one by one each family member turns up dead.

    I thought the way the book unfolded was intriguing and loved the “Daisy Darker” premise. I didn’t guess the twist and the revelations were done in a way that I couldn’t wait to see who did it.

    Daisy Darker comes out on August 30, 2022.

    Daisy Darker…⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

    Thanks to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for the advanced copy!

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