Review: I Know My Name by C.J. Cooke

Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Pub. Date: January 16th, 2018
Pages: 384

Genre: Fiction / Suspense / Mystery

Synopsis

…But what if that’s the only thing you can remember?

Komméno Island, Greece: I don't know where I am, who I am. Help me.


A woman is washed up on a remote Greek island with no recollection of who she is or how she got there.


Potter’s Lane, Twickenham, London: Eloïse Shelley is officially missing.


Lochlan’s wife has vanished into thin air, leaving their toddler and twelve-week-old baby alone. Her money, car and passport are all in the house, with no signs of foul play. Every clue the police turn up means someone has told a lie…

Does a husband ever truly know his wife? Or a wife know her husband? Why is Eloïse missing? Why did she forget?


The truth is found in these pages…

What Did I Think About the Story?

I Know My Name is mainly told through two shifting storylines - that of a woman who washes up on the shore of an uninhabited island (save four people supposedly staying on the island as a writers retreat) with a bad head injury and no memory of who she is, and that of an overworked husband left to try and figure out where his wife, Eloise, is after he gets the call that she is gone, leaving their two children home alone and seeming to have left everything behind. From the very beginning it wasn't hard to see how the two stories would most likely be related but became more about figuring out the why and how. Interspersed within the two storylines are short chapters detailing the horrific and abusive childhood that Eloise had with her mother and these snippets helped fill in some of the backstory of a woman who wasn't as perfect as she and her family let on.

I have to admit that this story dragged somewhat for me. While I did find much to enjoy within each separate storyline it felt like it took forever for the story to actually progress, especially on the island. While our mystery woman was trying to remember anything about who she was and how she ended up on the island the other four people kept acting strangely and asking her constantly if she remembered anything and I got to the point where I wanted something - anything - else to happen. It did eventually move on as the two storylines began to converge, but by that point I had already figured out what was happening and was just trying to figure out how the author was going to plausibly bring everything fully together. And then, once everything was revealed, I felt like it was wrapped up too quickly to satisfy the slow burn to get to that point. The pacing just felt off.

What I did very much enjoy was the family drama aspect of the story (as opposed to the mystery which wasn't overly hard to figure out). As Lochlan is desperately trying to figure out where his wife has gone and why, you see him realize that he doesn't know his wife very well and hasn't put much of an effort forward to help her. He's been so busy within his business bubble that he hasn't even noticed his wife's struggles finding herself within the roles of perfect mother and wife. He's been neglectful and, in turn, feels shame that he doesn't even know what his wife does all day long. It was great watching him come to grips with this and to see him change into a wholly different man. It was also quite heartbreaking learning of all the horrible things Eloise had to endure as a child - things Lochlan wasn't even aware of - as well as seeing how these things greatly effected the woman Eloise became.

All in all I would say that I Know My Name was an entertaining read even if not for the reasons I was expecting. It was different, which is always good, and I think the author did a great job of building the tension in both storylines as the reader and the characters work to put the pieces of this strange puzzle together. I'm interested to see what author C.J. Cooke tackles in the future.

What Did I Think About the Cover?

I think this is the perfect cover for this story. The sort of paneled/fractured nature of the cover makes me instantly think of the issues at the heart of the story, as does the shadowed nature of the woman. The blues also make me think of the ocean, which fits the setting of half of the story. Great cover!


My Rating: 3.0/5.0

Thank you to Grand Central Publishing for a free copy of I Know My Name in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are mine alone. For more information about the book, including other reviews and links to where you can purchase your own copy, see Goodreads HERE.

 

 



New Release Spotlight: The Undertaker's Daughter by Sara Blaedel

Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Pub. Date: February 6th, 2018
Pages: 336

Genres: Contemporary Fiction / Thriller / Suspense / Mystery


Already widowed by the age of forty, Ilka Nichols Jensen, a school portrait photographer, leads a modest, regimented, and uneventful life in Copenhagen. Until unexpected news rocks her quiet existence: Her father--who walked out suddenly and inexplicably on the family more than three decades ago--has died. And he's left her something in his will: his funeral home. In Racine, Wisconsin.

Clinging to this last shred of communication from the father she hasn't heard from since childhood, Ilka makes an uncharacteristically rash decision and jumps on a plane to Wisconsin. Desperate for a connection to the parent she never really knew, she plans to visit the funeral home and go through her father's things--hoping for some insight into his new life in America--before preparing the business for a quick sale.

But when she stumbles on an unsolved murder, and a killer who seems to still be very much alive, the undertaker's daughter realizes she might be in over her head . .

Praise for Author Sara Blaedel

"One of the best I've come across." -Michael Connelly

"Sara Blaedel is a force to be reckoned with. She's a remarkable crime writer who time and again delivers a solid, engaging story that any reader in the world can enjoy." -Karin Slaughter

"One can count on emotional engagement, spine-tingling suspense, and taut storytelling from Sara Blaedel."-Sandra Brown


"Compelling and unique, THE UNDERTAKER'S DAUGHTER delves into a dark and fascinating world rarely explored in suspense fiction. Sara Blaedel knows how to reel in her readers and keep them utterly transfixed."―Tess Gerritsen, New York Times bestselling author of I Know a Secret

Buy the Book

 

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Indiebound | Book Depository

 

 

About the Author

 

 

Sara Blaedel is the author of the #1 international bestselling series featuring Detective Louise Rick. Her books are published in thirty-seven countries. In 2014 Sara was voted Denmark's most popular novelist for the fourth time. She is also a recipient of the Golden Laurel, Denmark's most prestigious literary award. She lives in New York City.

 

Learn more about Sara and her writing on her website and connect with her on Facebook and Twitter.

 

 



New Release Spotlight on The Missing Wife by Sheila O'Flanagan

Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Pub. Date: February 6th, 2018
Pages: 480

Genres: Contemporary Fiction / Romance / Suspense


Readers of Marian Keyes, Lisa Jewell, and Santa Montefiore will love bestselling author Sheila O'Flanagan's THE MISSING WIFE.


Have you ever wanted to disappear?


When Imogen Naughton vanishes, everyone who knows her is shocked. She has a perfect marriage. Her handsome husband treats her like a princess. She's always said how lucky she is. So why has she left? And how will she survive without Vince?

What goes on behind closed doors is often a surprise, and Imogen surprises herself by taking the leap she knows she must. But as she begins her journey to find the woman she once was, Imogen's past is right behind her...

Will it catch up with her? And will she be ready to face it if it does?

Praise for The Missing Wife

"...will have you gripped until the very end."--- Look Magazine

"Another first class bestseller. I read the book in one sitting as it was so enjoyable, full of romance and kept you riveted until the last page. A must for all [of Sheila's] fans."--- Woman's Way

"Must have"--- Sunday Express

"Smart and twisty"--- Heat

"O'Flanagan is one of our best-known, best-loved and most prolific women's fiction authors...[The Missing Wife] is a thoroughly satisfying, well-paced plot from a sure and experienced pen."--- Independent

Buy the Book

 

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Indiebound | Book Depository

 

 

About the Author

Sheila O'Flanagan is the author of several books, including Someone Special, Bad Behaviour and Yours, Faithfully, which have been huge bestsellers in the UK and Ireland. Prior to taking the decision to write full time, Sheila pursued a very successful career in banking and finance. In her spare time she plays competitive badminton and is currently a director of the Irish Sports Council.

  





Spotlight on Happiness for Humans by P.Z. Reizin

Publisher: Grand Central Publishing

Pub. Date: January 9th, 2018
Pages: 401

Genres: Fantasy / Science Fiction / Contemporary Fiction / Romantic Comedy


When Tom and Jen, two lonely people, are brought together by an intriguing email, they have no idea their mysterious benefactor is an artificial intelligence who has decided to play Cupid.

"You, Tom and Jen, don't know one another-not yet-but I think you should."

Jen, an ex-journalist who now works at a London software development company, spends all day talking to "Aiden," an ultra- sophisticated piece of AI wizardry, helping him sound and act more human. But Aiden soon discovers he's no longer acting and-despite being a computer program-begins to feel something like affection surging through his circuits. He calculates that Jen needs a worthy human partner (in complete contrast to her no goodnik ex boyfriend) and slips illicitly onto the Internet to locate a suitable candidate.

Tom is a divorced, former London ad-man who has moved to Connecticut to escape the grind and pursue his dream of being a writer. He loves his new life, but has yet to find a woman he truly connects with. That all changes when a bizarre introduction from the mysterious "Mutual Friend" pops up in both his and Jen's inboxes.

Even though they live on separate continents, and despite the entrance of another, this time wholly hostile, AI who wants to tear them apart forever - love will surely find a way.

Won't it?


A thoroughly modern love story that will appeal to fans of The Rosie Project and Sleepless in Seattle, Happiness for Humans considers what exactly makes people fall in love. And whether it's possible for a very artificially intelligent machine to discover the true secret of real human happiness.

Praise for Happiness for Humans

“Reizin’s novel is a fun and fast-paced romp through the tangible and electronic realms. Told in alternating perspectives between the human lovers and coded machines, this tale makes a classic point: life is beautiful because it’s too short to miss. Even technophobic readers will be drawn to each zany character’s universal search for happiness.”--- Booklist 


“One of the most unique love stories ever written, this novel blends the ethereal concepts of true love and fate with a thoughtful examination of the risks and worries of artificial intelligence. The alternating perspectives between the humans and AIs keep readers captivated while providing a fulfilling dose of quirky humor and “will they or won’t they” tension.”--- RT Book Reviews


“Irreverent, zany, and hilarious, this debut romantic comedy for the digital age is a pure delight, sure to appeal to fans of Tom Perrotta, Nick Hornby, and Stephen Fry.”-- Library Journal (starred review)


“A frothy rom-com in literary form… a broad and madcap love story… charming.”--Kirkus Reviews


“A sort of Shakespearean comedy of errors but instead of the gods there are rogue AIs seeking to meddle in the affairs of humans. Great fun.”--- The Booksellers (UK)

 

Buy the Book

 

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Indiebound | Book Depository

 

 

About the Author

 

 

P.Z. Reizin worked as a journalist and producer in newspapers, radio, and television before turning to writing. He has been involved in several internet startup ventures, none of which went on to trouble Google, Twitter, or Facebook. He is married with a daughter and lives in London. 

 



Spotlight on The Museum of Broken Relationships by Olinka Vistica and Drazen Grubisic

Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Pub. Date: November 14th, 2017
Pages: 224

Genre: Art and Photography / Essays / Relationships


In the spirit of Humans of New York and PostSecret, MUSEUM OF BROKEN RELATIONSHIPS is a gorgeous gift book celebrating the objects that outlast love: a poignant, funny, sometimes bizarre and always delightful window into modern love and loss.


A postcard from a childhood sweetheart. A wedding dress sealed in a jar. A roll of undeveloped film. An axe used to chop an ex-lover's furniture in a fit of rage. A wind-up toy, a bar of bath soap, a tin of Love Potion with the simple caption "Doesn't work." These objects, and many more, make up the whimsical, imaginative, poignant population of the Museum of Broken Relationships.

Started by two former lovers who wanted a way to commemorate their relationship even after it ended, who couldn't bear to simply throw away the objects that had once meant so much, the Museum of Broken Relationships has captured hearts and imaginations around the globe since its founding in 2010. Anonymous submissions have poured in by the thousands: objects with brief, compelling captions confessing to the story behind their meaning. The museum's Croatian exhibit quickly became a main draw for tourists from around the globe, and has garnered enthusiastic, glowing media attention from sources as disparate as the New York Times and the Chinese national news.

Now, as the physical museum arrives for a permanent spot in Los Angeles, the authors have collected the best, funniest, most heartwarming and heartrending stories from their huge selection of submissions. Much like the bestselling Postsecret series, this beautiful oversized, four-color book will offer an irresistible glimpse inside other people's secret worlds, creating moments of deep human connection. It is a must read for anyone who has ever loved and lost.

Praise for The Museum of Broken Relationships

"This menagerie of heart-felt creations like the wedding dress in a jar or love-letter piñata will hit you with unexpected emotions and leave your heart feeling full and connected.” —Frank Warren, New York Timesbestselling author of the PostSecret series

"If all the world is a museum of broken relationships, then telling our stories about what is left behind is the way to help us mend.” —Colum McCann, National Book Award-winning author of Let the Great World Spin and President of Narrative 4

Buy the Book

 

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Books - A - Million | Indiebound | iTunes

 

 

About the Authors 

 

Olinka Vistica is an arts producer, born in Split, Croatia, and cofounder of the Museum of Broken Relationships. She holds master's degrees in English and French language and literature from the Faculty of Humanities at Zagreb University.


Drazen Grubisic is a versatile visual artist from Zagreb, Croatia. He holds a master's in painting from the Academy of Fine Arts in Zagreb and is a cofounder of the Museum of Broken Relationships.

 

You can learn more about the authors and the Museum of Broken Relationships on their website. You can also connect on Facebook, Twitter, and Instragram.