1.6.2026 - The Ice Angels

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Recorded Books Media for gifting me an audio ARC of the latest thriller and first in a new series by Caroline Mitchell, with the audiobook wonderfully narrated by Aryana Ramkhalawon.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 5 stars!

Ten years ago, in the depths of the Finnish winter, Detective Elea Baker’s daughter, Liisa, was taken—and never found.  Elea has never been the same and holds onto the hope that her daughter is still alive.  Now, in the UK, girls are disappearing again.  When one is found alive but not speaking, detectives feel she may hold the answer if they can reach her.  Detective Swann calls his almost ex-wife Elea to help, because she knows more about the so-called Ice Angels than anyone.  

Wow - this was a gripping, atmospheric story.  You will feel the bone cold weather as well as the chilling events.  Told from the alternating perspectives of Elea in the present and Liisa in the past, I was emotionally pulled into these characters.  Elea is such a broken person but determined that she will bring Liisa home and prevent this from happening again.  The best part?  This is going to be a new series!  The interaction between Swann and Elea as well as the new detective on the scene was fabulous.  Caroline Mitchell is always a must-read author for me, because as a former police officer, she writes such realistic yet sensitive police procedurals.  Grab this one when it comes out!  The audiobook narration and production were top notch and just added to the listening experience.

1.6.2026 - Skylark

Many thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster | Atria Books for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest historical fiction novel by Paula McLain.  This was just picked as the January Good Morning America Book Club selection!  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 5 stars!

In Paris in 1664, Alouette works in secret to make dyes from plants, while her father works as a dyer for the guild.  Women are not allowed or deemed able to create dye recipes, only to do all the manual labor involved in the process.  But when her father is accused of treason and taken away, both their lives are in jeopardy.  Alouette soon finds herself in a mental asylum, subjected to horrific "treatments."  During WWII as Hitler invades Paris, Kristof is working as an intern in a psychiatric facility, becoming alarmed at the "treatments" being inflicted upon the patients.  At home, he becomes friendly with the Jewish family living below him.  At night, a friend introduces him to Paris underground.

This is a beautiful novel of human determination, grit, and resiliency in the face of evil, as well as a reminder of what an impact small acts can make on the world.  I thought the exploration of the world beneath Paris was fascinating, and the dual timelines show how the tunnels were created and used.  Both timelines are taut with palpable fear and angst, and I was totally immersed in both.  I liked that not all of the stories within had clear endings, nor are the timelines specifically connected.  It added depth to the feelings of helplessness and lingering questions that especially the WWII generation experienced.  But the characters' spirits really shine in this novel, making this a must read!

1.5.2026 - The Odds of You

 

Many thanks to NetGalley, St Martin’s Griffen and Macmillan Audio for gifting me an audio ARC of this book by Kate Dramis.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own – 4 stars!

 

Sage did what her parents wanted and became a data analyst.  When she quit to become a writer, they were definitely not happy, even when her novel became a hit.  But now Sage is stuck and can’t make any headway on the novel’s sequel.  On a flight, she meets Theo, a Scottish actor who is up and coming in Hollywood.  Paparazzi catch a moment and their lives blow up.

This was a fun book – I liked both the main characters as well as Sage’s friends.  While it’s a cute rom com, it also touches on important subjects, like standing up for yourself regarding others’ expectations, ignoring the noise and not worrying about opinions of people who don’t matter.  This is the second book I’ve read recently that talks about parasocial behavior – something I had to look up the first time around.  You can definitely see how it’s becoming more prevalent that people think they “know” others through their online persona.  And – thank you Kate Dramis for being completely on the right side of the pop vs soda debate (pop all the way!).  The narration was great and loved the Scottish accent.

1.5.2026 - The Storm

Many thanks to NetGalley, St Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio for gifting me both a digital and audio ARC of the latest thriller by Rachel Hawkins, with the audiobook narrated by a full cast.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own – 4 stars!

St. Medard’s Bay, Alabama, is famous for three things:  the deadly hurricanes that sweep into town; the Rosalie Inn that’s survived every one of those storms; and Lo Bailey, the local girl accused of the murder of her lover, Landon Fitzroy, in 1984.  Geneva Corliss’ family has owned the Rosalie Inn but it’s struggling now.  When she is contacted by a writer, she’s hoping that a true crime book might help draw people to the inn.  But August Fletcher brings Lo Bailey along with him, who says she’s anxious to clear her name.  But as Geneva gets closer to both of them, she has her doubts.

Rachel Hawkins is wonderful at atmospheric thrillers, and this one definitely has tension as yet another storm is about to hit the bay.  I started reading this one, but the audiobook has an amazing full cast which I love, and I quickly switched over to that format.  There are multiple POV and timelines as we learn about the hurricanes’ impact on the Inn as well as the women in the story.  I enjoyed seeing the mysteries and secrets unravel.  

1.4.2026 - The Viper

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest thriller by a favorite, Brad Meltzer, and the third in the Zig & Nola series.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4.5 stars rounded up!

Andrew Fechmeier has spent decades concealing a secret that could get him killed. So when he’s diagnosed with a terminal disease, he heads for the local funeral home carrying the blue suit he eventually wants to be buried in. But what no one knows is that Fechmeier secretly tucked something inside, turning the suit into a final, untraceable hiding spot.  It's a perfect plan. Until Fetch is brutally murdered by a mysterious killer who will stop at nothing to find the priceless object hidden in the suit.  Enter Roddy, a law enforcement officer, who is investigating the case because he thinks it just may be tied to his mother's murder decades earlier.  Roddy recruits Zig, a mortician, in the investigation, and Roddy's twin, Nola, begins investigating on her own.  

I love this series and this book dives back into the history of Roddy and Nola.  You could read this as a stand alone but you'd be doing yourself a disservice because this is a must-read series.  One of my favorite parts is that Zig is a mortician for the government, paying such respect to fallen soldiers and their families.  This is a top-notch thriller, even when it's a bit complicated, so stay with it and enjoy the ride.  The characters are flawed but doing their best to do what's right.  I cannot wait for more in this series!

1.2.2026 - The First Time I Saw Him

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Scribner for gifting me a digital ARC of the much-anticipated sequel to The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own – 4.5 stars!

Five years after her husband, Owen, disappeared, Hannah Hall and her stepdaughter, Bailey are settled into new lives.  They also both have close relationships with Nicholas, Bailey’s grandfather.  But when Owen shows up at Hannah’s new exhibition, she knows they are in danger again.  Can they be safe and still find a way back to Owen?

I loved the first book as well as the Apple TV+ series and was anxious to read this sequel.  I would strongly recommend reading that book first to be able to fully understand the sequel.  I sometimes struggle when sequels are so far from when I read the first, since I read so many books in between.  Dave did give background but just read the first if you haven’t already!   This is high-action, pure adrenaline, cat-and-mouse fun.  But it’s also about loyalty and forgiveness.  It’s a quick read that you won’t want to put down.

1.1.2026 - No One Knew

 

Many thanks to NetGalley, Montlake and Brilliance Audio for gifting me both a digital and audio ARC of the latest police procedural by a favorite, Kendra Elliot.  The audiobook is perfectly narrated by Stephanie Németh-Parker.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own – 5 stars!

 

In central Oregon, a teenage girl hunting for cans finds a body abandoned in the woods.  Detective Noelle Marshall is on the case while dealing with a community with a big distrust of outsiders, especially the police.  FBI Special Agent Max Rhodes is investigating a different darkness – chatter about a violent uprising from a shadow militia group.  Can these two cases miles apart be related?  

This is the second book in the Noelle Marshall series, with appearances by characters from her other series (all are fabulous – read them!).  Elliot knows how to write a strong police procedural/crime fiction/thriller/suspense – whatever genre you want to call it, she nails it.  I loved getting back to these characters and professional relationship, as well as their beginning personal one.  Plus, we delve more deeply into their backgrounds and how it affects them today. This was atmospheric, tense, and another great book by Elliot.  I appreciated having an immersive experience with both the digital and the wonderfully narrated audiobook as well.