🔮 T R A U M A T I C T U E S D A Y review 🔮 featuring “The Night Side” by M.M. DeLuca.

BOOK REVIEW: 🖤🖤🖤🖤/5

Ruby Carlson ran away from home at 18 years old vowing to never return to her life (or her Mother) in Stoneybrook, Montana.

Her mother Ida is an awful woman who poses as a medium and scams her clients into thinking she is a psychic. Ruby grew up in a home littered with greed, manipulation and being controlled. Ruby either had to play along with her mother’s scam or get punished and deprived of basic life necessities.

20 years later Ruby receives a haunting phone call from her ex boyfriend Aidan that her mother is missing OR dead and that it looks like possible suicide … but no body has been found. Ruby must return to Stoneybrook to settle Ida’s affairs and finds that many enemies are waiting there for her. People that lost a lot due to Ida’s cons and are out for revenge. Did Ida really end her life or did she stage her suicide to avoid dealing with all her crippling debt?? Or is there something much more sinister lurking about Stoneybrook??

I loved the gothic vibes in this book that created even more a bone chilling atmosphere for readers! Evil lurks around every corner and a haunting past comes back full force with vengeance and a sinister agenda to wreak nothing but havoc in its wake 💀!

Thank you kindly to @mmdelucaauthor @severnhouseimprint @netgalley for my advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest review. This book releases on December 5, 2024!

this book wasn't for me and fell flat. couldn't get into it. Ruby was very one dimensional and not developed well at all. The twists felt really soapy and unbelievable.

Oh my, this story! It had everything from a young girl’s upbringing in a dysfunctional family to her mother’s ‘persuading’ ways of survival, secrets, lies, and deceit. I became attached to Ruby and was rooting for her all the way through! The past and present dual storytelling was brilliantly crafted, colliding beautifully at the end of the journey. I don’t want to spoil the story any further; if you enjoy small-town drama and layers being peeled back on a web of deceit, you will definitely enjoy this one too.

Many thanks to the author and Netgalley for the advanced copy, which I received for an honest review. I'm looking forward to reading more of her work.

So many secrets. So many twists and turns, it will leave you wondering every step of the way. It's a good one!

20 years after escaping from her grifter mom, Ruby returns to her hometown when her mother is missing, and presumed dead… by everyone but Ruby. I felt that Ruby was a very two-dimensional character, existing entirely in Ida’s shadow with little personality of her own, even as an adult. The plot itself was more about her relationship with Aidan than finding out what happened to her mom, as we see through flashbacks what led to her leaving initially. Even though there was a lot happening, I found myself getting bored with the soap-y qualities of the story (TWO sets of twins? Really?) and wanting to get to the end. The final scene felt rushed, and while I’m fine with suspending disbelief for a story, it was a little over the top. I wasn’t a fan of the writing style, but the author did seem to tie up the loose ends, even if the explanations were sometimes outrageous.

M.M. DeLuca is back with another crime thriller! Filled with lies, secrets and everything in between, DeLuca explores the familial relationship and strains between mother and daughter.

I’m going to go with 3.5 stars rounded up to 4 stars.

It was a thoroughly enjoyable read. I loved the time-hopping narrative, which gradually revealed more about Ruby and Ida and the events that led to the present. Ruby is a fantastic character, and the pacing and mystery elements were spot on.

However, I did struggle a bit with some of Ida’s schemes and her ability to manipulate people in rather absurd situations. Still, the story set a precedent for her charisma and the blind devotion of those caught in her influence.

Thank you to NetGalley and Severn House for providing a review copy.

Wow, I could not put this book down! I loved the build-up, the suspense, and the way it all unfolded!
A really good read for sure! anyone who likes mystery books needs to read this!

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC of this book. This was a great read! The story kept me wanting more after every chapter. Suspenseful and quite a mystery that I highly recommend

Another creepy-good novel revolving around Ruby and her mother, Ida. Ruby was raised with her grifting con-artist mother who conned people out of thousands by "seeing" their futures through visions using Ruby as her pawn. Vacillating between the past and present, the book shows us Ruby's current life in England until she is called back to her small town when remains found suggest Ida may be dead. And so begins an incredible tale of who's who and who is responsible for all the crazy things that have transpired since their "fortune telling" days. It's a whirlwind and kept me breathless until I finished!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!

This was such a sneaky slow build surprise that led to a final 1/3 of a book that I couldn’t put down.🤩

I’m always intrigued by a story involving psychics. My mom told me some wild stories growing up that have me fully believing that there are people who are more sensitive to other worldly phenomenon. I also believe that there are a lot of folks out there who can successfully read others in a way that allows them to prey on those who are seeking some connection to other realms. That being said, this book throws in a little bit of both, and an ultimate question about which of those categories one of the character falls into with regards to her abilities.

This isn’t my first book by the author (see my much earlier review for The Savage Instinct - which I highly recommend if you’re into historical thrillers) and I’m reminded why I enjoy her writing so much. Her character development is so layered and authentic, and even when highly unlikable, you’re interested in a character’s story. I really liked Ruby, and her complex relationship with her past, and the growth she demonstrated. I also appreciated that for all that felt unlikely in her story, she felt very real, and made decisions that felt believable.

I’ve had The Perfect Family Man on my TBR for a while, and I definitely have to move it up the list after this gem.

I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Sometimes you can come home and it's a nice welcome but for Ruby, this was not the case. Twenty years after leaving, Ruby's mom is now missing and presumed dead and Ruby now has to clean up her mother's mess although she vowed to be done with that part of her life. Although she was just a child and her mom made her a part of her scams to people, others still think Ruby had a say in what she did. They don't realize that Ruby had the worse scam done to her with her mom using her in all that she did.

I really enjoyed The Night Side by M.M. DeLuca. Just like all mysteries, I try to figure out what could of possibly happened and was shocked to find out I was so far from the truth! The timeline does go back and forth from Ruby's childhood and to the present time as an adult but it's needed as the story progresses and not only do we learn more about how things unfold but so does the main character, Ruby as well because not all is as true as it seems.

Thank you to NetGalley and Severn House the ARC. Also thank you to the author, M.M. DeLuca for the amazing writing and great read! Looking forward to reading some more of your books!

I found myself entangled in a web of mystery and suspense that didn't loosen its grip until the very last page. This fast-paced narrative unfolds like a tightly wound coil, each revelation adding another layer of intensity.

The protagonist, Ruby Carlson, pulls you into her world with a narrative that is both haunting and captivating. Her return to the small town of Stoneybrook, after two decades, unravels a tapestry of secrets and deception, centering around her enigmatic mother, Ida. The atmosphere is thick with tension as Ruby delves into the shadows of her past, uncovering a truth that is as chilling as it is unexpected.

DeLuca masterfully navigates the complexities of family dynamics and the long-reaching consequences of deceit. The small-town setting becomes a character in itself, with every alley and hidden corner harboring secrets that keep you guessing. The author skillfully intertwines the past and present, creating a narrative rhythm that mirrors the beating of a heart in suspense.

"The Night Side" doesn't shy away from the darkness that resides in human relationships and the consequences of buried secrets. The atmospheric storytelling, combined with well-crafted characters and unexpected twists, makes this a standout thriller. The sense of urgency and the need to unravel the truth mirror the pulse of the narrative, creating a heart-pounding experience that will leave readers on the edge of their seats.

Reading Between the Wines book review #2/130 for 2024:
Rating: 3 🍷 🍷 🍷
Book: The Night Side
Author: M.M. Deluca
Available now!

Sipping thoughts: So many secrets, lies, deceit, and evil. Ruby’s childhood was not the loving one that we all dream of. Her scamming mother made her do things that she did not want to. But twenty years later when Ruby returns, she cannot recall what memories and feelings are real or just dreamt. After her mother goes missing and all the ghosts of her pasts return, Ruby realizes she has to face them and figure out what happened so that she can move forward. There were a lot of surprises in this book and some things you can sense coming. I really enjoyed reading this!

Cheers and thank you to @SevernHouse and @Netgalley for an advanced copy of @TheNightSide.

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A dark, twisty and disturbing thrilller that kept me hooked and reading even if I found a bit too slow at times.
Well plotted, poignant and gripping
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

"Twenty years of secrets. One deadly truth." This gripping premise sets the stage for Laurie Anne Forest's psychological thriller, "The Night Side." A tale that will keep readers on the edge of their seats, the story centers around Ruby Carlson, who made a decisive escape from her manipulative and deceitful mother, Ida, two decades ago, vowing never to return to her hometown of Stoneybrook, Montana.

When Ida goes missing and is presumed dead, Ruby feels compelled to return home to settle her mother's affairs. What ensues is a captivating narrative of mystery and intrigue as Ruby delves into a complex web of lies and secrets.

Laurie Anne Forest skillfully crafts a story filled with chilling memories, intricately drawn characters, and unexpected twists. "The Night Side" promises to be a riveting psychological thriller that keeps readers guessing until the very end.

This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and I would read more of their work. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

Ruby returns home when her estranged mother is reported missing. the story is told in a dual time line that explains why Ruby has made the choices she has. A slow start for but overall, a well told story.

I had a hard time getting into this book but once I did I enjoyed it. The story centers on Ruby, who returns home to her small town in Montana when she receives word that her estranged mother, Ida, is missing. Ida was a manipulator who made Ruby’s life hell, prompting her to run away as a teen and leave the love of her life, who of course also lives back home in that small town and is now a police officer investigating Ida’s disappearance.

The story takes place in dual timelines between Ruby’s teen years and the current time. The flashback chapters give good insight into the ways that Ida manipulated and cheated those around her, as well as Ruby’s reluctant involvement. I understood why Ruby did the things she did and felt like she really had no choice but to flee. In the recent timeline, lots of secrets were exposed, which is when I really got into the story. I thought the ending was really well done and liked how it turned out.

Overall, I thought this was a good book despite the slow start and would recommend to those who like psychological thrillers and mysteries. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

In a dual timeline format The Night Side tells the story of a young woman who escapes from her controlling mother who is a manipulative schemer. Although Ruby did not want to be involved in her mother’s schemes, she was forced to participate until she left. I found the switching time periods to be distracting, forcing me to leave an interesting episode to something I thought was less important.

Ruby Carlson escapes her childhood home leaving behind her conniving deceitful mother, as well as her true love Aiden, fleeing all the way to England where she lives a simple content life. This all changes with a phone call from home informing Ruby that she needs to come home as something has happened to her mom. Returning home it’s clear that others have not forgotten what she and her mom did so many years ago. Ruby is torn in returning to the life she is comfortable with in England or staying to find out what happened to her mom. This will keep you on the edge of your seat.