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A New York Tate of Mind
A New York Tate of Mind
In which this reader and explorer reviews books, muses on literary (and other) matters, and shares some of her adventures.

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My 1-5 rating system:
1 = I did not like it and would not recommend it.
2= It was fine. Read it if the subject matter interests you.
3 = I enjoyed it and would recommend it.
4 = I really liked it, and think you should read it!
5 = One of the best books I've read.
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Review: The Staircase in the Woods
2/5 stars The Staircase in the Woods , by Chuck Wendig (2025) I cannot recommend this book because of all the needlessly disturbing content. Honestly, if there's a trigger, this book has it. TW: Blood & gore, Extreme violence, Sexual abuse, Pedophilia, Self-harm, Drug & alcohol abuse, Death of a child/parents, Torture, Rape, Incest, Addiction, Domestic abuse .... you can view them ALL here: Storygraph - Content Warnings . With that in mind, it's hard to review this book beca
tatedecaro
Nov 72 min read


Review: Model Home
3/5 stars Model Home , by Rivers Solomon (2024) TW: Racism, homophobia & transphobia, child sexual abuse, emotional abuse, parent death,...
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Oct 61 min read


Review: Castle Knoll series
3/5 stars How to Solve Your Own Murder and How to Seal Your Own Fate , by Kristen Perrin (2024 & 2025) How to Solve Your Own Murder ...
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Sep 212 min read


Review: Strange Pictures
3/5 stars Strange Pictures , by Uketsu (2022) Translated by Jim Rion This is an unconventional little murder mystery that has the feel...
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Aug 12 min read


Review: The Last Murder at the End of the World
3/5 stars The Last Murder at the End of the World , by Stuart Turton (2024) "Solve the murder to save what's left of the world..." It's...
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Jul 222 min read


Review: Magic for Liars
3/5 stars Magic for Liars , by Sarah Gailey (2019) Private investigator Ivy Gamble's meat-and-potatoes work is mostly following cheating...
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Jul 92 min read


Review: The Antique Hunter's Death on the Red Sea
3/5 stars The Antique Hunter's Death on the Red Sea , by C.L. Miller (2025) Not quite as fun the first book, An Antique Hunter's Guide to...
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Jun 12 min read


Review: The Enigma of Room 622
1/5 stars The Enigma of Room 622 , by Jo ël Dicker (2020) Translated by Robert Bononno If I were the translator I'd take a biiiiiiig...
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May 73 min read


Review: The Only One Left
3/5 stars The Only One Left , by Riley Sager (2023) Kit McDeere is a home health aide, currently living at home with her father after...
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May 12 min read


Review: Vera Wong's Guide to Snooping (on a Dead Man)
4/5 stars Vera Wong's Guide to Snooping (on a Dead Man) , by Jesse Sutanto (2025) Another cozy murder mystery with your favorite old...
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Apr 162 min read


Review: Those We Thought We Knew
5/5 stars Those We Thought We Knew , by David Joy (2023) Trigger Warning: Racially motivated violence It's hard not to just copy-paste a...
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Apr 115 min read


Review: I Have Some Questions For You
4/5 stars I Have Some Questions For You , by Rebecca Makkai (2023) Bodie Kane is a film professor and true crime podcaster in...
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Mar 42 min read


Review: The Traitor
3/5 stars The Traitor , by Ava Glass (2023) A few years ago I read Alias Emma by Glass, and really enjoyed. Good spy novel. The Traitor...
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Feb 172 min read


Review: The Book of Doors
5/5 stars The Book of Doors , by Gareth Brown (2024) Fantastic book for book-lovers! Cassie works at a bookstore in New York City. She...
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Jan 162 min read


Review: Sleeping Giants
4/5 stars Sleeping Giants , by Rene Denfeld (2024) TW: Child abuse and death, sexual assault, institutionalization, foster care I saw...
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Jan 73 min read


Review: Absolutely Truly
2/5 stars Absolutely Truly , by Heather Vogel Frederick (2014) This is a fun YA novel set in the fictional little town of Pumpkin Falls,...
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Nov 26, 20242 min read


Review: Rubbernecker
3/5 stars Rubbernecker , by Belinda Bauer (2013) Patrick Fort has Asperger's syndrome (I know it isn't referred to that way anymore, but...
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Nov 13, 20242 min read


Review: The Secret Book of Flora Lea
3/5 stars The Secret Book of Flora Lea , by Patti Callahan Henry (2023) London, 1939 - During the Blitz, as German planes bombed the...
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Nov 9, 20242 min read


Review: The Golden Spoon
3/5 stars The Golden Spoon , by Jessa Maxwell (2023) Oooh this was fun. I enjoyed this. A murder mystery that takes place at an American...
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Sep 19, 20242 min read


Review: A House With Good Bones
5/5 stars A House With Good Bones , by T. Kingfisher (2023) To me this was reminiscent of Shirley Jackson's We Have Always Lived in the...
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Aug 19, 20242 min read

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