Trey's Reviews

Dexter meets Mr. and Mrs. Smith in a delightful, dark and twisted psychological thriller that features a perfect loving couple with the requisite two kids, nice house, and great jobs, who also happen to be serial killers. Samantha Downing’s devious plot goes well with her warped characters in this impressive debut. The surprising twists kept me turning the pages until the final unexpected stab at the end! - Trey

Rough-and-tumble San Francisco private eye Lee Crowe gets more than he bargained for in this gritty mystery/thriller. Questions start to pile up as he investigates the suspicious death of a wealthy young woman. What are the strange marks on her back? Who is the woman living in her home, marked in the same way? Jonathan Moore has written a well-crafted, engaging tale. This is an author worth checking out.  

A whirlwind inside account of the rise and fall of the 70’s legendary rock band Daisy Jones & The Six. Well written and believable as a biography of a real band, this unique and fun novel is hard to put down once started. The unusual interview style illuminates the complex dynamics propelling the band to stardom. This is an entertaining read for all fans of rock and roll. - Trey

This well-crafted mystery builds momentum and suspense as the tale unfolds. Ten years ago six Oxford students vacationed at a farmhouse in the countryside of France. Severine, the French girl next door, became an integral part of their week together. On the last day of their visit, she disappeared. Now the discovery of Severine's body unearths long buried secrets that threaten everyone. - Trey

A beautiful French novel exploring the difficult subject of mental illness. Written to the soundtrack of Nina Simone singing Mr. Bojangles, this is a magical love story. A young boy tells the story of watching his parents dance their way through life even as his mother descends into madness. This is a book that will make you laugh and cry. An international bestseller. - Trey

This daring debut novel by actress, poet, and activist Amber Tamblyn is a powerful gut-wrenching indictment of sexual violence. A gender role reversal has the effect of immersing the reader into the dark emotional and physical aftermath of sexual assault. Tamblyn's brilliant mix of prose and poetry had me captured from the first page. - Trey

This eye-opening book explores the impact of ageism on individuals and society. It's a clarion call for action that changed many of my attitudes and assumptions about aging. Applewhite details how unchallenged ageism negatively impacts health, sex, money, the workplace, and all areas of society. Guaranteed to lead to lively discussions, this is a great book club selection. - Trey

Meet K, a heroin-addicted high-end prostitute who loves drugstore sushi. Staccato-like vignettes take us through a year in her life. The writing is sparse and brutal, sexy and repellent. The story is riveting and hypnotic, making it impossible to look away. This novel is not for everyone but I think it's remarkable. The conclusion left me speechless and lingered in my thoughts for days. - Trey

Burgundy France is the setting for this tale of fine wine, mystery, and romance. Ann Mah has crafted a dual timeline story that pairs present day Kate with 1940's Helen-Marie. A long lost diary found at the family's ancestral vineyard reveals secrets buried in the past. Compelling characters and descriptive language make this an enjoyable and enlightening read. - Trey

A great introduction to Artificial Intelligence, deep learning, neural networks and machine learning. Hussain is a well-known AI technologist and entrepreneur. He presents a comprehensive view of the potential benefits and dangers of AI in a well written and easy to understand format. Recommended for anyone interested in what is coming in this field a few years down the road. - Trey