Suspense

House Next Door (Susan DiLallo) 4⭐
Killer's Wife (Max DiLallo) 3.5⭐
We. Are. Not. Alone (Tim Arnold) DNF

First two stories were surprisingly good. I like the characters and mysteries in both, although the second story was predictable. Enjoyable! Can't say the same for third book. ( )

Nice solid suspense stories. Never trust your neighbor. ( )

I know James Patterson gets a ton of raves from his fan base, but I haven't read very much of his work. I typically don't read a lot of novellas because it usually lacks a lot of in-depth character development and story building. This three-novellas-in-one-book is a good idea, but I think the last story should have been thrown out as it did little to keep my attention. This is why it took me over three weeks to finish! I usually finish a book in 3-5 days!
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A suspenseful trio . . .
“The House Next Door” brings Laura Sherman new neighbors. At first, the attention paid to her by Vince seems innocent enough, but it quickly promises to evolve into something more. For just a moment, Laura thinks that could be a good thing, but Vince has secrets of his own . . . .

“The Killer’s Wife” pits a police detective against a serial killer preying on young high school girls. But after apprehending the suspected killer, the detective finds himself dealing with the man’s wife.

“We. Are. Not. Alone.” When the first message from outer space arrives, it’s one that will change everything. But this proof of alien life, this first contact, will pit discredited scientist Robert Barnett against an unexpected foe as mankind races toward its first alien encounter.

While character development in these tales is on the slim side, there’s enough in each of these stories to draw the reader into the telling of the tale. The tension builds, especially in “We. Are. Not. Alone” although readers may find the stories leaning toward predictability. But the quick pace and the short chapters help to heighten the suspense and keep the reader involved. There are a couple of surprises along the way as each carefully-crafted story unfolds; these quick-read trios are enjoyable page-turners. ( )