"The Girl on the Train"

You know when there is an accident on the highway and traffic slows WAY down because everyone is slowing down to stare at the mess it caused.....this is book is 11 hours of that.   Well, if the accident is really one accident after another accident after another, and every one of them makes you cringe and think WHAT happened here and WHY but for some reason you can't turn away, then you have decent description of this book.

Switching from the first person perspective of 3 female characters, we get to experience all their emotions and thoughts and get to know them.  And then wonder if you really want to know anyone quite that well.

I don't like reading reviews that give too much away....but there is maybe 1 character in this book who is NOT a hot mess.  Rachel, the main character who is the "girl on the train" lives in a fantasy world and doesn't seem to be able to escape.  Unfortunately, the fantasy involves other real life people.  One of them, Meghan, appears to be a woman whose life is perfect (through the eyes of Rachel) but we learn she has some demons of her own.    And then there is Anna, who just wants to have her happily ever after.  We learn all the thoughts and dreams and fears of all 3 of these women.

If you like feel good books with happy endings, then I would avoid this one all together although everything is tied up nicely and we aren't left wondering what happened to someone.  If topics like alcoholism, adultery, infant loss, murder, abuse, or gaslighting trigger you in some way, or if the use of cuss words is offensive, this book is also not for you.  But if you like a fairly twisted mystery that really keeps you on your toes and in the dark for most of the book then I would recommend it.  Although a lot of horrible things happen, none of them are explicitly described (although there are some descriptions).

"The Historian"

by: Elizabeth Kostova

Intrigue!  Mystery!  Quests!  Travel!  Immortality!  Vampires!

For someone who enjoys something a little out of the ordinary and yet tied seamlessly into real world places and events this book was a fantastic adventure.

Written from a few different first person perspectives it was easy to jump over the line between reality and fantasy........ of course the fantasy world included a realer than real, immortal Vlad the Impaler/Dracula and several of his undead minions.  And yet, the writing makes it all seem perfectly feasible, in a darker more secretive world.

The book ties relatively modern day into history by switching from perspectives in the form of written diaries, oral stories, and historic documents with fantasy woven into every nook and cranny.  It explores relationships between father and daughter, colleagues, lovers, and others.

This is a book I'd recommend if you are comfortable with vampires and a darker edge to reality.  It was fast pased and interesting.  I enjoy historic fiction and sci-fi and this book had both in perfect balance.  The characters and relationships were well done and believable.   The writing was spot on.  And if you are into audiobooks (honestly, if you aren't you should be) the narrators are fantastic.  Dracula's voice was....well, you'd need to listen to find out!  :D