The Bug Jar

Samantha Holland has a mental health problem that she is trying to deal with, taking meds a bit haphazardly and she loses her job as a result.

Sam is also having an affair with a politician, Richard, and has a boyfriend, Mark, whose a mechanic and says he loves her, but she is using him to keep her car on the road.

Richards son dies in an accident and suspicion is on Sam, due to her mental health and she feels someone is out to get her. She is certain it was her that run him down in a yellow car, but signs point to her car being involved. Ava Black has written so many twists and turns, it really keeps you guessing until the last chapter or 2.

This is such a great read, with a really original slant. There’s cheating politicians, dodgy police Sheriffs, honest detectives and the odd mistress all in a clever thriller. It shows that mental health problems are a normal condition that should be treated just the same as any physical health problem. I really enjoyed this and while a cliche, I really couldn’t put it down... 

I would like to thank the Author/the Publishers/NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for a fair and honest review

The Bug Jar by author Ava Black is a page turner with thrills throughout. The characters are great and well developed as well as the plot. I enjoyed reading The Bug Jar and would recommend it to others. 
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of The Bug Jar in exchange for an honest review.

The Bug Jar is a thriller, ordered well done.  The writing has the right amount of edge and a psychological undercurrent that adds to the suspense.

Description:
Sam, a makeup salesgirl struggling with mental illness finds herself the main suspect of a crime she has no memory of committing. The disturbed son of a politician is killed and the evidence all points to her. Her unhealthy affair with the politician isn’t helping her sanity or her case. Her enemies want to use her illness and a medicated haze to make sure she never discovers the truth of what happened that night. To find truth and justice she will need to be more brave and cunning than anyone thought her capable of all while dealing with her inaccurately diagnosed condition and incorrect medications.

“I flip onto my stomach, eager to devour the haunting prose, bus as I scan through the pages a passage arouses my inner dread.”

In Short:
This was an amazing book. I was completely glued to the elaborate story and just had to know what would happen next. The mystery was elaborate and got more and more involved as the story progressed. If you like the sound of a mystery/thriller about a mentally ill protagonist who is struggling to find the reality surrounding a mysterious death, you should definitely check this book out. I would recommend this book to all fans of mystery especially if you like psychological thrillers and a main character straight from noir.

“This is the bug jar. Insects who bang against the glass make their keepers angry, and for all of their efforts, wind up dead.”

Pros:
I was surprised by the ending but it also made perfect sense and it was fantastic. The entire story was well told in short chapters that kept the action flowing and the twists turning. I found the mystery to be absolutely bewildering. I would get some things right and then be totally shocked by other revelations. There was a believable and elaborate cast of characters each with their own secrets and agendas. It wasn’t always clear who was friend and who was foe, and how everything was connected. There is a beautiful tension and suspense to this story that really keeps you engaged. I didn’t always agree with Sam’s choices, or think that she was doing what was really best for her but I still found her to be very sympathetic and even relatable. Usually I find it frustrating when characters do seemingly crazy things but in this book it wasn’t like that, and I didn’t have to agree to understand why she would make those decisions. Even when her motives seemed selfish, it was understandable and I thought she was likeable. I really rooted for her in the end as things only seemed to spiral more and more out of control. It was such a believable yet imaginative story with a very complex plot. I like how the book brought awareness to mental health issues in the way that other characters tried to take advantage of it, and use it against her, all while she can’t afford the medical care she needs. She faced a harsh stigma and a lot of judgement that almost condemned her entirely. This book was very well written and edited. I would highly recommend it to others and I would read more by this author.

“I can’t go on like this… not while I have this job and two detectives on my ass. I pick up my cell and dial Dr. Chaitkin to make an appointment for tomorrow. Money or not, I need him. More than Richard or Mark, I need to know what’s wrong with me. I need sanity.”

Cons:
I have no issues with this book.

Parent’s Guide:
Sexual content best for an adult audience. You can skip the prologue to avoid 1 brief scene of animal cruelty (in the end the animal is fine, the human not so much).

It starts with the death of a psychotic little boy. Samantha Holland didn't imagine having an affair with a State Representative would cause so much drama in her life. It did! Not only is she now being accused of murdering his son, but she's supposed to have also murdered her boyfriend. 
Then she's sent to a mental hospital where there may be no escape. Taking the right medication for bipolar or schizophrenia was on her to do list. Now she has no choice. All she wants to do is escape the "Bell Jar" and prove her innocence. The best time is at the press conference.  All she has to do is escape and try to find a way there.  
Greatly entertaining! Absolutely a must read!

I have never read a book that so accurately portrays bipolar disorder like this does. And then take that sufferer and drop her in the middle of a political quagmire and you have The Bug Jar.  I started this book and could not put it down. There is an interesting mystery here and some characters that are beyond despicable but so well drawn. Excellent plotting and lots of twists right up until the end. I will say that the part of the book from which the title is derived dragged on a bit longer than it maybe should have and almost felt disjointed in a way. I found myself skipping through that section. And it could not have ended on a more enjoyable note. This was a really great read and I found myself sorry to see the last of Samantha. I can not recommend this enough.  Thank you so much NetGalley for the copy to review!

First, I want to thank Ava Black and NetGalley for providing me with this book so I can bring you this review. 

I am a huge fan of psychological thrillers but never have I read a prologue to a book that shocked me so much as this Ava Black’s The Bug Jar. Warning to readers you may want to skip this section of the book. With that being said dang what a way to start off the book!! You not only shocked the heck out of me you got my total and undivided attention. He was a sick and troubled kid and well it made for a good story!! 

This book touches on a very important topic mental illness. Ava brings up stalking, bipolor disorder, depression, animal cruelty by the hands of his owner. 

Sam quick wit sarcastic humor made me laugh out loud. Especially about Sam’s take on makeup and her customers buying her makeup products. 

I loved how Sam wanted a better life than the one she had. However, having an affair with the soon to be Mayor and hoping he will leave his wife wont work. Sam was delusional and had mental issues that she saw a shrink for. 

I could totally see this being an independent movie at the small movie theaters. I think it would do well actually. 

Ava’s description, attention and ability to tell a story that is totally outside the box that has never been done before is incredible. 

I absolutely loved the cover of the book. It captured the essence of not only the title but the feel of the book as well. Kudos to the graphic artist and the one who came up with the idea. 

If you like books about cheating spouses, death of a child, unstable individuals, political campaigns, police investigations, troubled youth, stalkers, then this book might be for you.

The Bug Jar, by Ava Black is an unusual murder mystery where the protagonist has undiagnosed Bipolar Disorder. The twisty plot starts with the death of her lovers' unstable son and continues with her not being able to remember what really happened.   The plot is interesting, the writing good and well paced, overall an original and entertaining read.  Recommended.

The Bug Jar is a suspense story with a mental health theme. The book is contemporary and set in Chicago.

Samantha Hollard (Sam) has mental health issues. Her medication allows her periods of release from the world. She thinks she killed a boy called Evan. However, she first heard of the story on the news; a car with her distinctive type and colouring was reported at the scene. The crime scene is a neighbourhood she regularly visits, and her car does has a child-size dent in the bumper; she just can’t remember the accident.

Sam has a complex life; she dropped out of college, struggles to hold down a job and is sleeping with two men. One of them is politician Richard Harrison, who is currently in the running for mayor; he’s also Evan’s stepdad.

The layers of plot are skilfully muddied by Sam; the reader must decide if her state of mental health makes her a reliable witness or not. And what about the police; do they want to solve Evan’s murder, but risk political wrath, or maintain their pay checks? In a stand against a society label which threatens to keep Sam quiet and locked away, she fights to be heard and to be given a fair second chance.

I enjoyed this book, and was first attracted by the stunning book cover. The descriptions of the rampaging political machine, which shows no remorse or care for fellow humans, were very believable. I thought the mental health themes were well written and they made me think about the messages in the book long after I’d finished reading. Recommended for those who enjoy a mild suspense.

An easy, fun thriller. A woman is accused of the murder of her lover’s stepson. She questions whether she did it due to her recently diagnosed bi-polar disorder and soon learns who did...and why. I read this on a plane ride and just flew through it.Dark but full of humor and unexpected twists, this thriller kept me engaged until the final chapter. The book addresses some of the challenges faced by people with mental illness.

This was an amazing book. I was completely glued to the elaborate story and just had to know what would happen next. 

The entire story was well told in short chapters that kept the action flowing and the twists turning. I found the mystery to be absolutely bewildering. I would get some things right and then be totally shocked by other revelations. There was a believable and elaborate cast of characters each with their own secrets and agendas. It wasn't always clear who was friend and who was foe, and how everything was connected. There is a beautiful tension and suspense to this story that really keeps you engaged. I didn't always agree with Sam's choices, or think that she was doing what was really best for her but I still found her to be very sympathetic and even relatable. Usually, I find it frustrating when characters do seemingly crazy things but in this book, it wasn't like that, and I didn't have to agree to understand why she would make those decisions. Even when her motives seemed selfish, it was understandable and I thought she was likable. I really rooted for her in the end as things only seemed to spiral more and more out of control. It was such a believable yet imaginative story with a very complex plot. I like how the book brought awareness to mental health issues in the way that other characters tried to take advantage of it, and use it against her, all while she can't afford the medical care she needs. She faced a harsh stigma and a lot of judgment that almost condemned her entirely. I was surprised by the ending but it also made perfect sense and it was fantastic. 

Overall, this book is very well written and edited. I would highly recommend it to others and I would read more by this author. If you like the sound of a mystery/thriller about a mentally ill protagonist who is struggling to find the reality surrounding a mysterious death, you should definitely check this book out. I would recommend this book to all fans of mystery especially if you like psychological thrillers and a main character straight from noir.

Many many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for making the eARC of this book available online.

Excellent book. It got me so hooked up that read through the night without stopping. Fast plot, bit twisted, worth recommending.