Julie Elizabeth Powell

Puzzles; secrets; riddles; problems ~ there is no doubt, Murder Mysteries are intriguing and, in this case, a bit sexy.

Who knew that the world of online magazines could be a rough and tough business? I certainly wouldn't have thought that. But when dealing with an adult market, I suppose anything is possible.

Gavin and Alex run the sexy magazine literally named Dirty. They and their staff become mixed up in a who-dunnit detective case when models begin to turn up dead.

That isn't the only mystery. We see the plight of an unknown woman trying to escape from a kidnapper, but, in the beginning, we have no idea who she is or who her captor might be.

The clues keep coming and I have to admit I changed my thoughts several times during the novel as to who was guilty. This was one of the harder of the mysteries I have read to solve.

Powell is on my list of authors to check out again in the future! 4/5 stars… (mehr)

The box that Jane Built is actually the main tale in a series of four short stories and it alone deserves all five stars.

This psychological thriller is sure to bring out goosebumps and send shivers up your spine.

Jane escapes the asylum but not the confines of her own mind. She goes full stalker mode on her past partner and daughter. The twists and turns are enough to make the reader wonder what's around the corner.

Jack is a writer and I almost wondered if this was happening inside one of his stories in his own mind. The possibility exists from my point of view.

The shorter stories that follow are also worth a read for any thriller lover. I am looking forward to reading more by this author 5/5 stars.… (mehr)

I love books that make a reader think and that is exactly what Of Sound Mind is. As the reader, you decide what exactly is going on. As such, I can only give you my insights as I interpreted Powell's actual intentions. Only through reading this book can you form your own opinions.

The book is written as if it were an open letter. The question is where is it taking place. I believe the letter only exists within the mind of the main character.

We have all heard stories of lives flashing before a dying person's eyes. In my opinion, that is exactly what we are witnessing. The life we see, however, is only partially real.

After the death of her mother, Jorja is left in the care of her aunt. Set some time in the past, Jorja's family doesn't accept her due to her illegitimate birth. She is committed to a mental hospital. As she approaches adulthood, she is tricked into believing her only way out is to sign her rights to her mother's estate and her person over to her aunt. A few days later the young girl describes what I believe was a lobotomy.

Often, we escape that which is real in the confines of our own minds, creating fantasies to whisk us away. Jorja, in my opinion, was an expert at doing just that her whole life. Once locked within the confines of her mind, she created a fantasy world to replace the one she was robbed of.

Of course all of that is my speculation. Read it for yourself. I'd love to hear other possibilities. A solid 5 star rating!… (mehr)