Although not my usual genre, this book was a real page turner, and I'm glad I gave it a chance. Highly recommended.

Pearl River Mansion by Richard Schwartz has levels of drama and suspense all the way through the story. It is a very entertaining book that kept me reading non-stop for hours! The plot is set in Mississippi and Arkansas.
Joan Chandler is accustomed to living in wealth and privilege at Pearl River Mansion, and does not hesitate to let her adult son Tyler know he has been a disappointment to his family. He married Sarah without his parents blessing because she was pregnant. After the twins are born he keeps Sarah busy not only with the babies, but she must be at his beck and call when he is home. I really disliked the character of Tyler! Poor Sarah, the event which happens to her is terrible.
The character of Pamela was a bit strange. Is she a gold-digger or just selfish and naïve?
Mr. Gibbs and Regina find themselves entangled into a situation with Mrs. Chandler which could put them in jail. The treatment of Rachel by her mother, father, brother Cody, and her grandmother will make your heart hurt for the child.
Jack and Stacy are clearly the heroes of this story. Once they realize an injustice has been done, they go forward to correct the problem. Sarah's sister, Emily, seeks their investigation services to find answers which will help her mother and uncle.
I don't want to post spoilers, but there are so many conflicts, deceits, and lies told by nearly everyone until you wonder how Rachael will ever survive. There are scenes in the story that are humorous, too.
Publication Date: July 7, 2020
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Pearl River Mansion ⁣⁣⠀
Richard Schwartz ⁣⁣⠀
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I was attracted to Pearl River Mansion the moment I saw the cover. It had a ominous vibe that immediately made me want to read it. ⁣⁣⠀
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I had no idea what I was getting into when I opened this book. This was a gut wrenching story about a little girl, Murder, abuse and the worst family drama you can imagine. Get ready to ugly cry, big crocodile tears. ⁣⁣⠀
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Rachael has lived all of her short life so far being the outcast, an unloved child simply because she was a girl. After the tragic loss of her mother, her father makes it clear that she is not wanted. A nasty custody battle ensues from both sides of the grandparents to adopt Rachael. Both sides are willing to go to horrible extremes to make Rachel theirs. ⁣⁣⠀
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Through out this book there is so much addressed that helps make the story an amazing read. Wealth, privilege, racism, and class are a major factors that mold the characters and their actions. ⁣⁣⠀
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This book made me cry, it made my heart hurt. There were times I was so appalled that I wanted to scream and throw this book! It brought out every single emotion a person could have. There were times I was happy crying, because there are parts that are so filled will love, it was hard to get through them with out a tissue box. ⁣⁣⠀
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This was an emotional book that delivered in every way possible. It had all the feels, it was suspenseful, it was dark, there was joy, it made me laugh, it made me cry. I did not expect the level of depth in this book when I picked it. I’m in awe at the amount of emotion this book inspires. The author has a true talent for writing. ⁣⁣⠀
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Pearl River Mansions is a must read. ⁣⁣⠀
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Intricate and complex story ,with a bit of everything. The characters were all brilliant.I look forward to the next instalment.

This book was a little slow to get going but once it hooked you in it deliverered
I enjoyed the descriptive setting of this book and being a non American was drawn into a way of life that was quite an eye opener.
The characters became very real. The story was a little far fetched but the twists and turns were very well explained.
I also enjoyed this style of writing. I would recommend this book as a good read

Many Thanks to Net Galley, Mascot Books and Richard Schwartz for a chance to read and review this book.

#PearlRiverMansion #NetGalley

I picked this book solely because of its gorgeous cover. The image of a forlorn child with a backdrop of sprawling mansion really had me intrigued. As the story begins, we are introduced to the main family members, Joan, the matriarch of the family, Tyler, the spoiled immature son, Sarah his meek wife, and the twins Cody and Rachel. 20% into the story, too many things have happened in supersonic speed, that a reader is left gaping. How can the death of one person cause such humongous repercussions? That’s exactly what we get to see in this brilliant story.

Book 2 in the Underdog Detective Series, Richard Shwartz has wonderfully managed to eke out an emotional tale of a child of 4 years who suffers severe trauma from the people responsible for her care. Jack and Stacy as the private investigators become involved in the missing child case and it was heartening to see the roles played by the caretakers Regina and Gibbs with his grandson Jayden who offers some warmth to the lonely Rachel.

The issues being discussed in this book is quite vast, like wealth, privilege, class and racism, snobbish attitude towards the domestic help, then of course the abuse for Tyler, for Sarah, for Rachel, each part of the story actually makes the reader emotional.

A very complex and intensely related tale of lost innocence, Pearl River mansion is definitely a story to savor. But there are still parts of it that had a lost feeling .The first part with Pamela and Tyler and Sarah’s death was literally zip, zap, zoom that I never felt the loss or grief, it is only when Jack and Stacy are introduced that the story picks up pace. Stacy was the most lovable character with her passion and kindness shining thru till the end.

Warning to readers who cannot abide child beating, there’s an intense scene which can be disturbing for some.

Tyler Chandler comes from a well to do family. His Mother had only ever wanted a daughter and all she got was Tyler. Now Tyler is married with a set of twins, one boy and one girl, and finds himself only caring for the boy. While he shuns his Mother’s money, Joan Chandler knows that it can buy people, things and her own way and she is not afraid to wield that power.

When Tyler’s wife is bitten by water moccasins and dies on the river, he agrees to let his mother adopt his daughter and takes his son to live with him and his new girlfriend. But his late wife’s family also wants to adopt the young girl and try to kidnap her. When the young girl disappears, Tyler is actually heartbroken and vows to find his daughter and become the father he should be to her. Unfortunately, some things never change and actions speak louder than words as the story unfolds.

While I found the book to be engrossing, I also struggled with the hard, cold reality of some humans. It’s just fiction, but it’s based on some kernel of truth that we have seen and your heart aches as you hope for good to prevail over evil. A good book for mystery fans to add to the summer reading list.

This book is 2nd in the series but can be read as a standalone ( I did ). The book started a little slow for me but all of a sudden, wham! I was hooked. I wouldn't recommend this book to the faint of heart, some of the subject matter is disturbing. Infidelity, abuse, murder, lies, deceit, and snobbery are predominant in this book. Frankly, I really enjoyed it.

Pearl River Mansion by Richard Schwartz started a bit slow but picked up after a bit. This book has some very mature topics that may be a trigger for some people: cheating, abuse, deception, and murder. Along with the many topics, there A LOT of characters and many of these characters have awful traits and are not hard to hate. This can get confusing if you are a fast reader. However, the author did wrap up the story in a way that was satisfying for the reader. All in all, this was a good summer day or rainy evening read.

***** I received an ARC from NetGalley, the publisher, and the autor for my honest review. *****

OMG!!!!! This book was so great. I couldn't put it down. I would love to see a book written that takes the story a little further and show how the little girls life was affected from what she went through. It needs a warming about child abuse though because if someone that went through abuse it might bring up memories.

I have to say that the author that wrote this book is very imaginative and detail oriented. In the first chapter, a little boy falls overboard into a alligator infested lake, and from there the story unfolds. Pearl River Mansion is a old world mansion with plenty of gloom behind the walls. The cast of characters provides a storyline for all readers., and they mesh together for a page turning story.

The south is a unique place and the people of the south are set in their traditions. Families go back centuries and secrets are hidden and many.
Take a trip south with the Chandler family and sit back for a book worth reading. Compromise and compassion are two words the Chandlers are not. The twins are the stars of the show and couldn’t be more different. A full range of emotions will make a debut as you read the words on the pages. There are parts of this storyline that are disturbing and horrific, but that leads to a very well rounded and robust experience.

Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to review this book, I loved and hated it. Enjoy!

Hard to put this one down. I really felt for these characters, especially Rachael. A lot of twists and sadness in this story, and one I highly recommend. Creepy at times, but a page turner.

We have a list of very strong characters in this book. Joan is a very powerful woman, used to getting her own way. Tyler her son and heir knows that his mother will only give anything if there are conditions attached and all are in some way or the other beneficial to her. Sarah his wife, impressed by the family wealth (she comes from very humble background) and then there are the twins Cody and Rachel.


The story set in the South at a time of racial inequality is reflected in this book and it is at times disturbing and makes one aware of how hard it was for the average American black man to live or even to survive unless he toed the line and did everything that was expected of him by his white neighbours or his boss.

The story of Joan Chandler, the control she had over her domestics, her grandchildren and the manipulative way she went to circumvent justice, just to get her own way in obtaining sole custody of her grand daughter were beyond imagination.

The detectives in charge of the case saw it as an open and shut case. It was the determination of a private investigator instructed by a sister who knew that her father's absence was no missing runaway but that it hid a deeper secret and who pursued her belief that uncovered the whole sorry mess.

Complicated, and a family saga this was a long story but it did hold my interest throughout.

Attracted by the cover of this book; a lonely girl sits by the river with the mansion in the background! I could not put this book down and read it really very quickly. It holds your attention the whole way through and you just want to know what happens next.

The detective pairing of Jack Kendell and his assistant is a great one and they don't give up on finding the truth, thankfully. The author describes the setting of the mansion, it's history and the area well and the story grips you from the start.

I will be recommending this book to my library and also the Reading Group that I run. I will also be looking our for more books from Richard Schwarz.

Since I now live in Mississippi, this title called to me. And, I enjoy a good mystery.

It took me a while to feel a connection to the characters and story. I'm not sure if it is just that some of the initial stories are so over the top that it didn't seem plausible.

It was when you are finally introduced to Detective Jack Kendall and Stacy Young that the story begins to fit together a bit better. There are new twists and turns added at places many would consider the end of the story, which made it a bit more like real life in that things do not get wrapped up in a tidy package topped with a bow.

I enjoyed the descriptive setting of this book and being a non American was drawn into a way of life that was quite an eye opener.
The characters became very real. The story was a little far fetched but the twists and turns were very well explained.

this had an enjoyable read, the characters were great and I really enjoyed the spooky atmosphere. It was a joy to figure out what was going on in this mystery.

A long and difficult read, my first encounter with Detective Jack Kendal. Based in the Deep South of America makes the reader wonder what era this story is based in as definitely not PC for current time. Glad I persevered to the end as a gratifying conclusion.

I came across this book and wanted to know more based on the cover. It's gorgeous. When I read the synopsis I was more intrigued. Parts of me thought I would enjoy it, other part thought I may hate it. I loved it. Some characters were so great and endearing while others I hated passionately. The world descriptions drew me in, could visualize the scenery so perfectly, and it had so many twists and turns that I never guessed or expected what may or may not happen. It definitely had my senses on alert

I thoroughly enjoyed this rollercoaster of a thriller which twists and turns almost per chapter. I can honestly say it is action packed with many unexpected punches, which keeps it very entertaining and readable. I loved the setting in the Deep South, the contrasting characters and the nonstop drama. The main character Rachel suffers quite a lot, so for some readers this could be a bit too graphic though it’s quite far fetched which reduces the emotional impact. If you enjoyed Flowers in the Attic or The Client, this should hit the spot.

Pearl River Mansion was a great read although it started off a bit slowly it is worth persevering and I found that it was an absorbing book. Recommended!

The author sure knows how to tug at your heartstrings! This is a fierce drama thriller with a host of interesting characters. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and could not wait to read the next one in the series!

I would like to thank Mascot Books and the Netgalley website for allowing me to read this book.

We find the detective Jack Kendall and Stacy Young who assists him investigating a case of disappearances on the whole country and around the Mississippi.

As for Joan and Tyler Chandler, they stand to inherit the Pearl River Mansion, a 450-acre post-Civil War estate. Tyler's mother controls the people with her wealth except Tyler doesn't even want the money. Except he's not as good as her at this game and will find himself trapped in a marriage that will infuriate his mother.

A book read almost in one sitting, I was so hooked on the story that it was gripping, captivating, addictive, full of suspense and twists and turns with endearing characters.

So I originally requested this book because of the cover, and then when I read the synopsis I was thinking it would be pretty good. This book is INCREDIBLE!! From the very beginning it is packed with action and adventure, love, betrayal and so much more. The characters are engaging and come alive so well on the pages that I felt like I was watching a movie in my mind as I read. You love the characters, and hate a couple too! I cannot wait to see what comes next from Richard Schwartz!!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you NetGalley, Richard Schwartz and Mascot Books for this edition and hearing my honest review. Looking forward to reading more with you
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