Review: I'll Be Gone in the Dark: One Woman's Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer

I'll Be Gone in the Dark: One Woman's Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer by Michelle McNamara
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Michelle McNamara was a talented true crime writer and this book proves it. The writing was engaging and full of well-researched information, but not graphic or salacious in any way. The book had a slightly unfinished feel to it and was pieced together from several previously published pieces, which makes sense as it was published posthumously. I'm sorry that McNamara didn't live to see the Golden State Killer caught, but I'm sure her "obsessive" research and dogged pursuit of this monster's identity contributed to his capture. If true crime is your thing, I think this book is worth a chance.

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Review: The Raven King

The Raven King by Maggie Stiefvater
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Overall, I enjoyed this series. It was imaginative, funny, exciting, suspenseful, a real page-turner. However, I have to say that I was a little disappointed in the ending. I liked how several of the storylines wrapped up, especially Adam and Ronan's, but I didn't love the ending overall. I invested a lot in the buildup of this series and I found the climax to be, well, anticlimactic. It just seemed to end really abruptly and it just didn't feel as satisfying as I had anticipated. I guess I was just expecting more than I got. Even though I was a little disappointed, I still think this series is worth reading. Maggie Stiefvater's writing is amazing and she is an author worth checking out.

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Review: Every Day Is Extra

Every Day Is Extra by John Kerry
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

As far as politicians go, I've always liked John Kerry. I appreciate his service and the fact that he has always been willing to stand up for his beliefs, even when they are not popular. I like memoirs because they tell the story behind the public figures and I liked the book. Kerry's narrative was engaging and it wasn't too academic. If you like memoirs about political leaders, then this one is a good one to check out.

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Review: Every Breath

Every Breath by Nicholas Sparks
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I liked this one, not as much as other Nicholas Sparks's books, but I did find the story engaging. It had all that you would expect from a Nicholas Sparks romance novel and you will enjoy it too if you are a Sparks fan. I especially loved the idea that it was based on a true story, which added a new element and layer to the story. But then...

**Spoiler Alert**

Sparks ruined it by telling his readers that it wasn't a true story after all. While I appreciate Sparks's desire to immerse himself into the story and make himself a character, I was disappointed that the story didn't actually turn out to be true. I think because I thought it was true, I invested in the characters and story in a different way, and to have that taken away at the end, diminished my enjoyment a bit. It became just a love story in the land of fantasy rather than something with a basis in reality. Nevertheless, the story is still good and it's still worth the read.

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