Infuriating, determination and captivating are three words that come to mind after reading “All Good People Here” written by Ashley Flowers. Ashley Flowers has an incredible way of telling true crime stories with her popular podcasts Crime Junkie and with this fictional novel.
I have been hooked on Crime Junkie for a while now and look forward to a new episode every Monday morning and I know that I am not the only one.
Which makes me ask the question:
what makes humans so captivated with true crime? According to an article published 2021 on “The University of Law” blog it states:
“True crime gives an insight into our culture and norms as well as our anxieties and values.”(https://www.law.ac.uk/resources/blog/why-we-love-true-crime).
I get invested in the human aspect in of these cases. What brings people to commit these crimes and how can so many of these cases go unsolved. In all these cases what part does the media play in all of this?
From the mid 90’s with the first high profile case of OJ Simpson vs. The People of California, or my first ever case that I remember “Casey Anthony vs. the State of Florida.” I remember being glued to the tv from the beginning to the end of the case. Being incredibly disappointed with the outcome. Now I’ll admit it, I had my judgement of Casey before the trial even began and I still believe that she is guilty beyond belief. However, I know now that not all cases are all clear cut and open and shut cases. There is always more to the story than what is being shown on the news. I still think about how this little 3 year old girl would be a young teenager today and there is still no justice for little Caylee and we just have to be ok with that.
The media has had the important responsible to bring the world facts but these cases. However, I believe the media has become irresponsible with these times of cases. Only highlighting one side of the story. A lot of times with cases media painting the suspect has some sort of celebrity and “throwing them in the slammer” before a fair trial is even given. Sometimes even forgetting who the real victim is by the time everything is said and done.
However, Ashley Flowers and all people at Audio Chuck Production, has a real gift of telling these stories with an unbiased mind. Laying out all the facts of the stories on both sides of the aisle. Treating both the victim and the suspects has real human beings. Without ever forgetting who the real victim is. She interviews people connected to the cases that the police have never even thought about talking to. And she tries and sometimes succeeds in getting true justice for these families that have been through hell and back!
And she does just that in “All Good People Here” where the main character Margot moves back home to help with her haling uncle. And starts investigating a case of a missing little girl a town over. Her mission is to connect it to another missing girl case from when she was a child. A girl she considered her best friend. As she sets off trying to connect this puzzle, she reconnects with people from her past and soon realizes that this little town holds more secrets than she original thought. Even secrets in her family.
This story is a powerful and insight story of a story of a missing little girl isn’t always an open and shut case.
Sources:
[Website] Schmidt-Petersen, J. (2021). Why are we so obsessed with true crime. https://www.law.ac.uk/resources/blog/why-we-love-true-crime/#:~:text=True%20crime%20gives%20an%20insight,is%20a%20common%20psychological%20trait%E2%80%9D.
My review on “Memorial” by Bryan Washington. Including my thoughts and opinion on the Demi Lovato documentary “Dancing with The Devil” part 1 & part 2 — This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/bridget-hadley/support
Acceptance, Secrets and Family are the 3 words that come to my mind after reading “The Bright Lands” by John Fram. A horror thriller about the secrets with deathly consequences that are being held by beloved members of a small town.
Dylan Whitley is the star quarterback and beloved member of the small town of Bentley, Texas. After leading his team to the state championships, Dylan goes missing the week before the big game. Now Joel Whitley a disgrace member of the town and Dylan’s older brother must return to his hometown after running away 10 years prior to help find his younger brother. Leading Joel to relive aspects of his past to bring about the truth of× the present.
Between the secrets, horror, and thriller aspects of this story, it keeps the reader captivated from beginning to end just wanting to see what happens next. With an ending that will have you speechless! At the same time begging for more!
In his debut novel John Fram does an amazing job by inserting real life aspects into this horror/thriller/ mystery novel. It gets the reader having deeper thoughts about the atmosphere that small towns can leave on such young minds. The expectations that smalls town create on their members and at time the corrupt nature and lasting effects they can leave as well.
I would recommend “The Bright Lands” to anyone who enjoys Thrillers with horror aspects, that will have you on the edge of your seat.
Love, law and family are the 3 words that come to my mind after reading “Chicks Man” by J.D Hollyfield. A romance a lifetime in the making that will could have deathly consequences.
Levi Dent the small town high school football star come lawyer and Hannah Matthews the ambitions girl with big dreams of following in her daddies footsteps at the family law firm but with one small problem she will always be seen has the little sister of Kipley Matthews (especially in she crush Levi Dent’s eyes). However, that is all about to change after chance encounter at Kipley’s wedding, they become inseparable and keep their hands off each other.
Now will the new secret romance brewing, they are forced to work together at the family’s law firm and on the firm’s biggest case to date. All the whiling trying to keep their romance hidden from Hannah’s family. When an unexpected guest shows up at the law firm and threatens everything Hannah and Levi have worked towards both on a personal and professional level. It will even cost someone their lives!
I went into this book not expecting much but a predictable office romcom. Besides a twist that will have you captivated in certain parts and a tight nit family dynamic. It was just as I predicted. I felt that there was lack of character development in certain parts. A romance that based of the physical need and lust more than anything else. A young woman finally fulfilling her child dream crush of dating her brothers’ best friend. With the occasional serial killer vibes mixed it. Overall the story was sweet, and the twist was suspenseful and emotional! However, due to the lack of connection I felt for these main characters I could not quite 5 star rate this one. I hope to attempt another book by the same author in the future.
Magic, war and betrayal are the 3 words that come to my mind after reading “Children of Virtue and Vengeance” written by Tomi Adeyemi. A whirlwind sequel to the magical novel “Children of Blood and Bone”. A jaw-dropping and at times heartbreaking magical journey that will leave you on a cliff-hanger and wanting more!
THE MAGIC IS BACK IN THE LAND OF ORISHA!! However, it does not go as well as Zelie had pictured it. The ritual went array and the magic got into the hands of the Monarchy and left them as powerful as ever!! Now it is up to Zelie, Tzain, Amari to battle the monarchy of the Queen and Inan himself to take back the throne and bring the land of Orisha back to the home they fell in love with! However, it is not as simple as one might think. When differences in opinion get in the way and fights within each tribe ensue promises are broken, lives are loss, truths are revealed, and things may never be the same again!!
Tomi Adeyemi has done it again!! She has brought her readers back to the wonderful land of Orisha for another action packed, magical fantasy!! By the fantastic descriptions and the well-written beloved characters the reader gets transported right into the novel! You will be scared, you will scream, cry, and feel every emotion throughout this novel. Also with Tomi Adeyemi’s ability to leave the book on a cliff hanger, you will be begging for more!
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoy being sucked into a land of fantasy and with battles that keep you at the edge of your seat up to the very end!!
Love, relationships and fate are the 3 words that come to my mind after reading 28 Summers by Elin Hildebrand. Have you ever wanted a “Same Time Next Year”? A person that you only get together with once a year with no strings attached! Well this Elin Hildebrand novel is just that! A fantasy love story of 28 years all wrapped in just little over 400 pages!
This story follows Mallory Blessing as she inherits a cottage on Nantucket from her late Aunt Greta. On her first Labor Day on the island Mallory reluctantly hosts her brothers Bachelor party. A party that although goes downhill the second it starts brings the most unlikely of a person into Mallory’s life. By the name of Jake McCloud. From that every first weekend, they become inseparable. They make a plan for Jake to visit Nantucket every year without anyone else knowing. This continues through relationships, marriages, children and when Jake’s wife goes into politics through elections as well. You might ask yourself, what is holding them back from making it official and public? Do they get caught?
Elin Hildebrand takes the reader on a journey of forbidden love, heartbreaks, life’s highs and lows and does not hold back. She makes you fall in love with these characters. You begin to root for them, all the while yelling at them for the decisions that are being made. It is just that type of book! It is a fantastic novel that will leave you wanting more for sure! I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a good love story and quick beach read.
A drama packed, revenge filled, mystery are the 3 words that come to mind after reading “Big Summer” by Jennifer Weiner. A novel that is filled with every twist and turn imagine. That will have the reader on the edge of their seats from first page to the very end.
Daphne Berg is an up and coming Instagram Influencer, after a video of her went viral and a huge fight with her best friend Drue. Now after 6 years of not speaking, Drue shockingly asks Daphne to be a part of her wedding. Never mind it being the event of the year! However, when tragedy strikes on the morning of the wedding, it is up Daphne to get to the bottom of things and find out the truth.
This book takes the reader along side Drue as she deals with friendships, shocking revelations, and tries to heal, all whiling trying to deal with this tragedy that has rocked the Cape. It a great summertime mystery, beach read. A book that will blow your typical chick flick out of the water!!
Love, betrayal and relationships are the 3 words that come to my mind after reading “If I Never Met You” by Mhairi McFarlane. A story of a pretend relationships created for selfish reasons to having blossom into some undeniable love for one another.
After a bombshell announcement that ends her 18 year-long relationship with her first and only real boyfriend, Laurie is left to pick up the pieces of her broken heart. When she finds herself trapped in the elevator with the office player. From that chance encounter that cook up a plan of a fake relationship with two selfish intents 1.) to make Laurie’s ex Dan (who also work at the same place) jealous and 2.) To help Jamie get a promotion at work.
However, it all comes tumbling down when people at work begin to catch on. Also what will happen when real emotions come into play?
Mhairi does a great job depicting a real sense of betrayal that Laurie felt towards Dan after the breakup. Also, adding the factor that both Laurie and Jamie got to lean on each other for support on family issues. Support that neither of them got from previous relationships. I believe that you really got to slowing see the changes in the main characters that was national and unintentional. The fact that Laurie did not always have to lean on a guy for support with her friend Emily was a nice touch as well.
“If I Never Met You” is a love story with a somewhat predictable ending but with its own twist and turns that makes it, its own special love story for modern times.
Family, Love and Fame are the 3 words that come to my mind after reading “Kris Jenner and All Things Kardashian.” A story of how one women born and raised in San Diego California came to be one of the worlds famous momager.
This book takes you through Kris Jenner’s life from growing up in a loving household, to finding love with a well-respected lawyer at a young age and starting a family. Kris Jenner is candid about her feelings in her first marriage. Which ultimately led to divorce. To finding love again with an Olympic legion and completing her family. She really opens up and goes into great detail about the hurt caused and love and faith that helped her family get through the toughest of times. From the trial of the century to the decision of starting a reality television show and the stardom that followed and everything in between.
To be honest I thought I knew everything about Kris Jenner. I mean her life is on camera. However, I learned about her childhood and the mother-daughter relationship she had her mom that inspired her to have the same relationship with her own children. By reading this book, I have developed a newfound respected for Kris Jenner. A women who devotes her life to loving and supporting her children in the best way she knows how.
Hadley Books 