The Running Bibliophile

Happiness Falls  by Angie Kim is a story about a bi-racial Korean-American family whose patriarch goes missing.  Told from twenty year old Mia's perspective, she's not initially concerned when her younger brother Eugene comes home without their father.  As minutes and hours tick away, the entire family finally realizes is something most be horribly wrong for the father and husband not to be home yet. This novel was selected by my book club for our June 2024 discussion.  I hadn't heard of this book or author before, so I wasn't sure what to expect, but I enjoy a good mystery and the synopsis intrigued me. "Meh" is my overall thought of Happiness Falls because I didn't particularly like the main character, Mia.  She seemed awfully self absorbed and unobservant, especially when it came to her younger brother, Eugene.   Eugene is non-speaking and was diagnosed by doctors to being autistic and having a rare disease called Angelman Disease.  T here is ...

The End of Her by Shari Lapena is a gripping psychological thriller that follows Stephanie and Patrick, a married couple struggling to survive the exhausting reality of life with their colicky newborn twin daughters. Already overwhelmed by sleepless nights, stress, and the emotional strain of new parenthood, their fragile sense of stability is shattered when a woman from Patrick’s past unexpectedly reappears. Erica arrives with a devastating accusation: she claims Patrick murdered his first wife and their unborn child. Patrick insists he is innocent and believes Erica is attempting to blackmail them, but her presence triggers a chain of events that threatens to unravel their marriage, their family, and everything they thought they knew about each other. If there is ever a novel that truly feels comparable to Gillian Flynn’s Gone Girl , then The End of Her is one of the closest matches. Both books explore the dark complexities of marriage, deception, and hidden truths, and both lea...

In A Clash of Kings by George R. R. Martin , a comet the color of blood streaks across the sky as the Seven Kingdoms descend further into chaos. Rival kings rise, alliances fracture, and six powerful families fight for control of the Iron Throne. As war, betrayal, and ambition spread across Westeros and beyond, the question remains: who will ultimately claim the throne? I know I’m late to the game when it comes to reading George R. R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire series , A Game of Thrones for you underlings, but I honestly can’t get enough of these books. I still haven’t watched the TV show yet. I’m old school like that; I prefer to read the book (or books) first before diving into the television series or movie adaptation. For me, there’s something magical about discovering the story on the page before seeing it brought to life on screen. Each book in George R. R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire series takes me at least a year to finish. It’s not because the writing is di...

The Breakdown by B.A. Paris opens with teacher Cass deciding to drive home after celebrating the end of the school year with her colleagues, rather than spending the night at a friend’s house. Before leaving, she calls her husband, Matthew, to let him know she’ll be home after all. Concerned for her safety, Matthew asks her not to take the shortcut home through the woods. In a moment of impulsive decision-making, Cass ignores his request and takes the shortcut anyway. Along the isolated road, she encounters a car pulled over on the shoulder with a woman sitting inside. Cass drives past without stopping, a choice that will soon haunt her. The following morning, Matthew informs Cass that a woman was found murdered in her car on Blackwater Lane, the very road she had driven through. While relieved she didn’t stop and potentially put herself in danger, Cass is immediately consumed by guilt. She feels responsible for ignoring her husband’s warning, and things only get worse; she beg...

A Stranger in the House by Shari Lapena is a gripping psychological thriller that explores how quickly a seemingly perfect life can unravel. Tom and Karen Krupp appear to have it all: a beautiful home in upstate New York, stable careers, and a loving marriage. But everything changes one evening when Tom returns home to find the front door unlocked, dinner started, and Karen missing.  Alarmed, he calls friends and family before finally dialing 911. Moments later, the police arrive with shocking news: Karen has been found in a serious car accident in a dangerous part of town and rushed to the hospital.  Even more unsettling, she has no memory of what happened during the hours leading up to the crash.  When Karen returns home, strange things begin to happen. Objects are moved, details don’t quite add up, and an uneasy feeling begins to grow. Soon, Karen finds herself at the center of a murder investigation, and suspicion starts to fall on both her and Tom.  Is Kar...

Joseph Finder delivers another gripping political thriller with The Switch , a novel that is action-packed from the very first page to the very last. Set against the backdrop of Boston, Massachusetts and Washington, D.C., The Switch follows two main characters, Michael Tanner and Will Abbott, with the story alternating between their perspectives in a way that builds tension and suspense throughout the book.  One of the things I loved most about The Switch is how it allows readers to experience both sides of the story instead of focusing on just one viewpoint. This dual perspective makes the plot feel more layered and realistic, and it keeps you constantly questioning motivations and outcomes. The characters are well developed, with complex relationships that feel believable and emotionally grounded. There were characters I immediately connected with, like Michael Tanner and his wife Sara, characters I truly disliked, such as Will Abbott, and characters I wasn’t sure about at f...