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Another great batch of books to start a new month, yay!

A Long Stretch of Bad Days by Mindy McGinnis
Missing Clarissa by Ripley Jones
The Mimicking of Known Successes by Malka Ann Older
Ending Eleven by Jerri Chisholm
Antimatter Blues by Edward Ashton
Moths by Jane Hennigan

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Clik here to view. A Long Stretch of Bad Days by Mindy McGinnis
Published by HarperCollins US on March 14, 2023
Pages: 368
Format:eARC
Source:Copy provided by publisher for review, via Netgalley
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Lydia Chass doesn’t mind living in a small town; she just doesn’t want to die in one. A lifetime of hard work has put her on track to attend a prestigious journalism program and leave Henley behind—until a school error leaves her a credit short of graduating. Undeterred, Lydia has a plan to earn that credit: transform her listener-friendly local history podcast into a truth-telling exposé. She’ll investigate the Long Stretch of Bad Days: a week when Henley was hit by a tornado and a flash food as well as its first—and only—murder, which remains unsolved.

But Lydia needs help to bring grit to the show. Bristal Jamison has a bad reputation and a foul mouth, but she also needs a credit to graduate. The unexpected partnership brings together the Chass family—a pillar of the community—and the rough-and-tumble Jamisons, with Bristal hoping to be the first in her family to graduate. Together, they dig into the town’s worst week, determined to solve the murder.

Their investigation unearths buried secrets: a hidden town brothel, lost family treasure, and a teen girl who disappeared. But the past is never far, and some don’t want it to see the light. As threats escalate, the girls have to uncover the truth before the dark history of Henley catches up with them.

This gripping mystery from award-winning author Mindy McGinnis shows the power of a name and one lie and how two girls can use their voices to change a town forever.

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I feel like 2023 should be officially dubbed “The Year of the Podcast BooksImage may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.”. I am pleased to report that I have been quite enjoying said podcast books, this one certainly among them. So this is a mystery, clearly, and as such, I will keep it short. There are a few things you should know and that I want to tell you, so let’s do that!

Since this book is written by Mindy McGinnis, who is one of my absolute favorite authors of all time, it has all the trademarks: Smart, witty, sarcastic characters, tons of amazing twists, compulsive readability, and genuine heart. So let’s break those things down!

• The characters are so complex! Look, full disclosure, if you’re anything like me, you’re going to spend the first few chapters downright loathing Lydia. You’re the grinch meme, wondering why this girl has a book. But character growth is the name of the game here, friends. So worry not. Also, the other characters are fabulous. And you will love Bristal from the first second, so it’ll be fine. They are so freaking hilarious together, too, which is great at offsetting some of the darker themes. Their families also have a pretty big focus in the story, which I also loved.
• Lots of great commentary on classism. Lydia is given tons of opportunities that Bristal would never have, based solely on who her parents are versus who Brital’s family is, and there is a lot of discussion about that.
• The whole mystery of the “stretch of bad days” is pretty great. I mean, I wanted to know from the start what was up! Sure, some of it was obviously just nature and weather, but you can tell from the start that there is way more to the story.
• To that end, the twists are fabulous! I had some guesses, but truly I had no idea and I love that! I could not put the book down, so eager to find out what was happening!

Bottom Line: Between the phenomenal characters and incredibly engaging plot, I was beyond immersed in this book and loved every single minute.

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Clik here to view. Missing Clarissa by Ripley Jones
Published by Wednesday Books on March 7, 2023
Pages: 256
Format:eARC
Source:Copy provided by publisher for review, via Netgalley
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In a gripping novel perfect for fans of Sadie and A Good Girl's Guide to Murder, two best friends start a true crime podcast—only to realize they may have helped a killer in the process.

In August of 1999, dazzlingly popular cheerleader Clarissa Campbell disappears from a party in the woods outside the rural town of Oreville, Washington and is never seen again. The police question her friends, teachers, and the adults who knew her—who all have something to hide. And thanks to Clarissa’s beauty, the mystery captures the attention of the nation. But with no leads and no body, the case soon grows cold. Despite the efforts of internet sleuths and true-crime aficionados, Clarissa is never found—dead or alive.

Over twenty years later, Oreville high-school juniors and best friends Blair and Cameron start a true crime podcast, determined to unravel the story of what—or who—happened to this rural urban legend. In the process they uncover a nest of dirty small-town secrets, the sordid truth of Clarissa’s relationship with her charismatic boyfriend, and a high school art teacher turned small-town figurehead who had a very good reason for wanting Clarissa dead. Such a good reason, in fact, that they might have to make him the highlight of their next episode…

But does an ugly history with a missing girl make him guilty of murder? Or are two teenage girls about to destroy the life of an innocent man—and help the true killer walk free?

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Hey, what do we have here, another podcast book from The Year of the Podcast BooksImage may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.? Sure do! In Missing Clarissa, we have two friends who decide to make a true crime podcast for a school project, with the intent to try to figure out what the heck happened to missing cheerleader Clarissa, who hasn’t been seen since she explained it all in the 90s. (That reference was for The Olds, hope you enjoyed.) Anyway, my first thought was “wow ladies, this is a terrible idea, considering this young woman’s family and friends are still alive” and kind of wondered why anyone allowed it to happen. But, once I got past that bit of disbelief, it was quite good!

It’s clear from the start that our main characters have gotten themselves in over their heads- if no one else can solve this long-standing case, there is probably a reason, right? But they also have the advantage of time, fresh eyes, and a lack of bias, so I suppose it evens out. I think the best part of this story was that as the girls went along, they began to learn a lot more about themselves, and about the importance of the case beyond morbid curiosity. I felt like realizing that Clarissa was a real human being who was loved and missed and flawed all at once was the greatest lesson here.

But beyond that, the mystery was great, and I found myself very invested in the “whodunit” aspect. I also really liked that the author discussed that Clarissa’s case was so famous because she was a middle class, conventionally attractive white girl, and that so many other cases, especially those of people of color, are so often ignored by the media. There is also quite a bit of commentary on the corruption of the police force, and how it seems that the well-to-do white guys in the story seem to face no ramifications for their actions.

Bottom Line: The plot and story were entertaining and well developed, and the character growth was fabulous. Yet another Podcast Book win!

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Clik here to view. The Mimicking of Known Successes by Malka Ann Older
Series: Mossa & Pleiti #1
Published by Tordotcom on March 7, 2023
Pages: 176
Format:eARC
Source:Copy provided by publisher for review, via Netgalley
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The Mimicking of Known Successes presents a cozy Holmesian murder mystery and sapphic romance, set on Jupiter, by Malka Older, author of the critically-acclaimed Centenal Cycle.

On a remote, gas-wreathed outpost of a human colony on Jupiter, a man goes missing. The enigmatic Investigator Mossa follows his trail to Valdegeld, home to the colony’s erudite university—and Mossa’s former girlfriend, a scholar of Earth’s pre-collapse ecosystems.

Pleiti has dedicated her research and her career to aiding the larger effort towards a possible return to Earth. When Mossa unexpectedly arrives and requests Pleiti’s assistance in her latest investigation, the two of them embark on a twisting path in which the future of life on Earth is at stake—and, perhaps, their futures, together.

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In this story, we’re introduced to Mossa, who is living on what seems to be Jupiter and is tasked with solving a missing persons situation. Thing is, it is pretty hard for people to go missing on a planet where everything has to be contained in a veritable bubble. As such, Mossa is perplexed, and heads to find her former partner, Pleiti, who is a historian of Earth. And from there, the story involves the two of them trying to figure out not just the disappearance of the man Mossa is tasked with figuring out, but some sketchy stuff happening at Pleiti’s workplace too.

They’re also trying to navigate their own relationship, as they clearly have some unresolved feelings. And the rest of the story is basically these two trying to figure out what is happening around them, but also what is happening between them, too. I liked the story, especially the intricacies of the world. It was pretty intriguing how much this society valued old Earth mores and history, and their goal was less to expand their colony on Jupiter, but to go “home” to Earth. I also really liked Mossa and Pleiti and their confused feelings. I mean, who can’t relate to confused feelings, right?

The only real downside here is, it’s awfully short, and I didn’t feel like I had enough time to connect to either character as much as I’d have liked. However, it was recently announced that there will in fact be more books with these characters forthcoming, so I feel like I can forgive it much easier now, heh.

Bottom Line: It’s crime solving and angsty romance on Jupiter, how could you not be here for it?

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Clik here to view. Ending Eleven by Jerri Chisholm
Series: Eleven Trilogy #3
Published by Entangled: Teen on March 6, 2023
Pages: 383
Format:eARC
Source:Copy provided by publisher for review, via Netgalley
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My name is Eve Hamilton.Everyone in Compound Eleven thinks I was killed. But they’re dead wrong…

I spent my entire life in Compound Eleven as a fighter. Surviving in an underground city filled with violence, oppression, and tyranny. We were told the world above was scorched, an immediate death sentence. I should have died never knowing the truth. Instead, when I fought Wren—a boy from the top floor, a Preme—I fell for him. And eventually learned that my reality was an insidious lie.

Escaping Compound Eleven nearly killed me and Wren. Now we’re aboveground, where the world is anything but a toxic, burning wasteland. It’s green and lush, filled with sunshine, fresh water…and hope. All of which tastes bitter when I see what it’s cost me. Because something in Wren has changed. He’s broken—along with whatever it was between us.

Now the tides of violence in Compound Eleven are rising, threatening to spill out and shatter this peaceful place with brutality, corruption, and death.
But do I stop them…or join them?

The Eleven trilogy is best enjoyed in order. Reading Order: Book #1 Escaping Eleven Book #2 Unraveling Eleven Book #3 Ending Eleven

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CW, via Entangled Website: “Ending eleven is a fast-paced, exciting dystopian novel full of intrigue and romance. However, the story includes elements that might not be suitable for some readers. Violence, bodily harm, suicide, and death are included in the novel. Readers who may be sensitive to these elements, please take note.”

Ah, here we are, at the end of the Eleven Trilogy, and I for one am sad to see it  come to its conclusion, but very satisfied with the whole series. This installment in particular gave me a bit of a Hunger Games (or I suppose, Mockingjay) vibe, but that is not a bad thing! I loved that the stakes were high- perhaps even higher than the rest of the series, somehow, and it did not feel like anyone was safe.

Without giving much about the first two books away, I will say that this one picks up where the last one left off, and we’re thrown right into the thick of it, with Eve suffering all kinds of hardship right off the bat. I love learning more about the world outside of Eleven, and was so glad we get to see more of it, too. There are a lot of great new characters introduced too, and much like Eve, I had no idea who was going to end up being worthy of her trust. So suffice it to say, it kept me guessing throughout.

The ending was definitely satisfying, but also realistically believable, which is kind of my favorite combo. Ultimately this book did a tremendous job of wrapping up the series, all while having a strong enough plot to keep the reader on their toes.

Bottom Line: Sad to see it go, so glad I had the chance to read it!

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Clik here to view. Antimatter Blues by Edward Ashton
Series: Mickey7 #2
Published by St. Martin's Press on March 14, 2023
Pages: 304
Format:eARC
Source:Copy provided by publisher for review, via Netgalley
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Edward Ashton's Antimatter Blues is the thrilling follow up to Mickey7 in which an expendable heads out to explore new terrain for human habitation.

Summer has come to Niflheim. The lichens are growing, the six-winged bat-things are chirping, and much to his own surprise, Mickey Barnes is still alive—that last part thanks almost entirely to the fact that Commander Marshall believes that the colony’s creeper neighbors are holding an antimatter bomb, and that Mickey is the only one who’s keeping them from using it. Mickey’s just another colonist now. Instead of cleaning out the reactor core, he spends his time these days cleaning out the rabbit hutches. It’s not a bad life.

It’s not going to last.

It may be sunny now, but winter is coming. The antimatter that fuels the colony is running low, and Marshall wants his bomb back. If Mickey agrees to retrieve it, he’ll be giving up the only thing that’s kept his head off of the chopping block. If he refuses, he might doom the entire colony. Meanwhile, the creepers have their own worries, and they’re not going to surrender the bomb without getting something in return. Once again, Mickey finds the fate of two species resting in his hands. If something goes wrong this time, though, he won’t be coming back.

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Mickey (in his seventh iteration, mind) is back! I want to say so many great things about this book, which I daresay is better than the first, but ugh, I don’t want to ruin anything! I’ll try though, yeah? So Mickey is… enjoying some down time, if you will, after being the literal cannon fodder for any and all dangerous missions on their new planet. He was the expendable, after all, and they could just grab a new Mickey out of the Easy Bake Oven when their current one was blown up, or thrown down a ravine, or eaten by aliens or whatever. Mickey, Seventh of His Kind, has had enough though. I mean, talk about exhausting work, right? So when we catch back up with him, things are chill. They obviously won’t stay chill, or this would be a weird book.

Mickey finds himself thrown back into danger based on some shenanigans he pulled in the first book, which I won’t get into for spoilery reasons. But in this installment, the stakes are impossibly even higher, and the fate of pretty much every living thing depends on Mickey being able to live up to his promise of speaking to aliens. Which he did not know whether was possible. I think in this book, we get to know Mickey even better, and his personally is really well developed, making him even more likable to the reader. We also get to know those around him a lot more, making the missions seem that much more important, since we care what happens.

I found this book to be full of action, too. There was a perfect balance between character and relationship development, and the plot/action bits. It is also chock full of thought provoking bits, and morally gray questions, which I adore. It also is infused with great bits of humor, which break up the heavier plot lines brilliantly. Mickey himself grows leaps and bounds during the course of this one, too.  And I think it sets itself up fabulously for a third book, which I don’t know if it is happening, but it should. It really, really should.

Bottom Line: I need more Mickey, please and thank you. And more of this hostile planet, frankly!

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Clik here to view. Moths by Jane Hennigan
Series: Moths #1
Published by Angry Robot on March 14, 2023
Pages: 312
Format:eARC
Source:Copy provided by publisher for review, via Netgalley
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Moths: A chilling dystopian thriller and a must-read debut for 2023

A divergent future with a thought-provoking feminist slant, perfect for those who loved The Power, The Handmaid's Tale and Vox.

Mary considers tying her teenage son to the radiator.

Olivia flees the bloody scalpel of a surgeon, as he hunts her through the corridors of A&E.

All around the world men are turning into crazed killers or dying in their sleep, as toxic threads find passage on every breath of wind.

Humankind will survive. But only just.
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‘Out they came, away from natural predators, nesting in damp corners and in the tops of trees, crossbreeding with common cousins and laying thousands upon thousands of eggs. Then… the eggs hatched and an army of hungry caterpillars spread their tiny toxic threads on every breath of wind.’

The threads spell doom for humanity – half of it, at least. All around the world, men are dying in their sleep or turning into rage-fuelled killers. The world, as we know it, ends. However, humanity adapts and society moves on.

Many years later, very few even remember what life was like before the change. Mary does, though, and when an opportunity presents itself, she is faced with soul-searching decisions to make. Will she cling to the only strand of the past she has left or will she risk it all in the name of equality?
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I don’t like moths. Sorry, but I don’t. They eat your clothes, and will get up in your business without invitation. And in this book, they’ll also kill or severely compromise your son, husband, father… basically anyone male they come in contact with. So suffice it to say, this book did not exactly lessen my distaste for these little miscreants. Anyway, we meet Mary, who has been living for many, many years in a post-male society. So long, in fact, that many of her colleagues don’t even remember what having men in society was like. I found this take extraordinarily fascinating, to explore a society that is taking place so long after the fact.

While we are treated to flashbacks via Mary, and the storytelling of her new friend Olivia, most of the book takes place long after the fall of “our” society, and well into the remaking of a new one. A lot of the women are just fine with raising the men as a sort of pet, and for their own “use”, if you catch my drift. But Mary, having lost loved ones of her own, just isn’t willing to make that leap. Some of the men died from moth attacks, but those who survived were forever changed. Now, they’re kept in institutions, and the men who were not infected are also kept in tight lockup, so they don’t become infected.

The commentary is certainly on point, especially when younger members say things to Mary like “don’t be ridiculous. Their brains aren’t wired for complex ideas”, much like men would have said about women not long ago (and, that a very gross subset would still claim today, frankly). But beyond the treatment of men in the present day, the stories that Mary and Olivia told were beyond heartbreaking. I could not even let myself go down the “what would I do?” questioning path in so many cases, because it was just too awful to extrapolate on.

There are so many great themes explored in this book, including of course who gets to control things in this new world, and why. And then, upon finishing, I was delighted to find that there is a sequel! I definitely need more of this world, and I hope that there can be some semblance of peace found in this dark world.

Bottom Line: Incredibly thought provoking, complex, and emotive, I loved Moths (but not moths- those guys still suck).

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Have you read any of these books? Plan to? Let us chat about them!  

The post Reviews in a Minute: The Dawn of March appeared first on It Starts at Midnight.