Review: The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware

4.5 stars for The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware.

The Woman in Cabin 10. The book title by itself is creepy enough to reel me in, and since I have such an enjoyable time scaring myself reading the author's debut novel, In A Dark, Dark Wood, I decide to wait no longer and plunge headlong into the story.

True to its title, I am creeped out. And because this novel is brilliantly written with effective use of imagery, the flow of pictures in my mind's eye is so vividly created that I feel as if I am Laura Blacklock, the British travel journalist who is invited - to the wrong place at the wrong time - to the maiden voyage of the Aurora Borealis, a boutique super-luxury cruise liner bound to travel around the Norwegian fjords to catch the spectacular majesty of the northern lights.

Reading the book feels exactly like watching a suspenseful psychological thriller film, a jigsaw with too many pieces to fit the frame, only that it is right there in my head, one exclusively aired for my viewing pleasure.

Review: In a Dark, Dark Wood by Ruth Ware

4.5 stars for In a Dark, Dark Wood by Ruth Ware.

Who can I trust, if I cannot even trust myself?

Read this psychological crime thriller and you get a front row seat to all of the action that set the stage for a solitary writer, Leonora Shaw, who is invited to a bachelorette party by her best friend from school, a friend who she has not seen in a decade.

I learn from the author's website that "Film rights have been optioned by New Line Cinema, with Reese Witherspoon attached to produce". Wow! I am definitely looking forward to catching this dark, spooky setting of a story on the big screen at a movie theatre when the time comes.

Review: A Wild Light (Hunter Kiss #3) by Marjorie M. Liu

3 stars for A Wild Light (Hunter Kiss book 3) by Marjorie M. Liu.

I cannot remember when I started reading this series. It could easily have been eight years ago. Or ten, or more? Similarly, I also cannot recall the reason for not continuing with the series as well as much of the details in book 1 The Iron Hunt and book 2 Darkness Calls. Even then I am unwilling to reread the first two books for the reason that time is alway on the short side for me.

The good thing is, the more I read, the more the memories start to come back. Now I know why I did not pursue further with this series. Riddles. Too many. Answers. Not forthcoming. Together, they make the story incomprehensible and needless to say, post a major challenge to the flow of pictures in my mind's eyes.

That said, I am still curious as to how the series will end ultimately and I may continue reading to find out more.

Review: Belle Chasse (Sentinels of New Orleans #5) by Suzanne Johnson

4 stars for Belle Chasse (Sentinels of New Orleans book 5) by Suzanne Johnson.

.. And so the political chaos continues in the preternatural world involving the wizards and elves, faeries and vampires, water species and historical undead, weres and shifters.

.. But then, nothing really happens in this book despite all the political maneuverings. Still, I am glad to have read Belle Chasse and followed through with this series that comes with exotic titles, at least so far.