10.11.2026 - The Spirits

Many thanks to NetGalley, WW Norton & Co., and Recorded Books Media for gifting me both a digital and audio ARC of this contemporary Christmas Carol by Bonnie Jo Campbell, with the audiobook narrated by Christina Delaine.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4.25 stars!

It is the night before Christmas, and a family has gathered at an isolated farmhouse in Michigan.  Sister is haunted by her father's death and has estranged herself from everyone, taking refuge in the plants and trees she tends.  A surprise guest appears for dinner, and the family begins to open up and talk about the event that changed all their lives.

This is a dark tale of a family haunted by the secrets and lies they each have kept.  It moves slowly as we learn what happened nine years ago, as well as all the trauma the family has endured.  It's very character driven and the atmosphere is dripping with foreboding, as each of the family members eventually shares their version of events.  While quite different from Dickens' version, it's still a tale of redemption and compassion for others, with a nod to the past, present and future.  The narration of this story added to the haunting feel of the narrative.

10.11.2026 - It Ends Here

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press who granted my wish to read the latest book from Heidi Perks.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4.5 stars!

In a quiet seaside town, a shot rings out early in the morning from a small cafe.  A witness is able to describe the people inside but not all of the people are able to be identified quickly.  There are no demands and no word from inside.  Nothing about the scene makes sense and it's up to the detectives to figure it all out.

I thoroughly enjoyed this creative thriller.  Five people inside, one the shooter.  The story is told from the points of view of the detective, the gunman, and the loved ones waiting outside.  We learn each of their stories and secrets while they wait, each convinced that their loved one couldn't be the gunman.  But one of them is wrong.  It was fast-paced and tense, while also maintaining an emotional punch throughout.  It's a totally different twist on a typical locked-room type thriller, being privy to some private thoughts of the gunman, but not knowing the identity.  I raced through it and thought that the ending was satisfying as well.  

10.11.2026 - Killer in the Family

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Recorded Books Media for gifting me an audio ARC of this true crime collection by Melissa Moore and Michele Matrisciani, narrated by Libby McKnight.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4.5 stars!

Melissa Moore is the daughter of the notorious Happy Face Killer, and she has made it her life work to investigate and report on true crime stories, but with a focus on the victims.  There are 8 cases presented here, with a short synopsis of the crimes, the media coverage, and those left behind.  I appreciated the fact that the perpetrators of these crimes were not the focus, instead it was on the family members.  It was a dive into how parents, siblings, children came to grips with the fact that they love someone who could commit such heinous crimes.  It was a different side to true crime, and I listened to it in one sitting.  The narration was well done and kept me listening.

10.10.2026 - Every Story is a Love Story

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House for gifting me a digital ARC of the new book by Imbolo Mbue.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4 stars!

Three years ago, Wolo’s wife was killed in a tragic car accident, along with any hope of their future.  Now living a quiet life, he receives a letter from Victoria, the woman behind the wheel of the car involved in his wife's accident, asking to meet with him.  His family begs him to ignore it, but he eventually meets with her.  He begins to wonder if the road to healing can be shared.

This was a beautifully-written story about grief, loss, and forgiveness that will make you think about those important themes in a different way.  It's also about family, and the narrative goes back and forth in time as we learn the story of Wolo and Yoma.  It was a bit of a slow book, but one I was glad to have spent time with.

10.9.2026 - The Paris Files

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Viking Penguin | Pamela Dorman Books for gifting me a digital ARC of this wonderful book by Eva Jurczyk.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4.5 stars rounded up!

Genie doesn't have a great track record with romance, but that doesn't stop her from falling hard when she meets Jacob.  They agree to meet in Paris and rent a wonderful apartment and begin planning their life.  Everything is wonderful, until Jacob disappears.  Genie knows Jacob would never leave her, but her story doesn't quite hold up when talking to police.  Just what happened?

I love the creative way this story plays out, completely through police interviews, records, and audio transcripts from all the people involved.  Of course, everyone's got a different take and the reader is left wondering who or what to believe.  I kept changing my mind as to just what was happening and couldn't have been more wrong!  I couldn't read this one fast enough, plus I loved the Parisian setting and food descriptions.

10.9.2026 - Where There's Smoke

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and St Martin's Press | Minotaur Books for gifting me a digital ARC of the second book in the Coldren County series by Rachel Louise Adams.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4.5 stars!

Dolores is recently divorced and relocates to rural Wisconsin to work as a medical examiner and to be closer to family.  She's quickly pulled into a case when a body is found at the local slaughterhouse, and the case brings her FBI friends to town.  Someone is willing to go to extremes to stop them from finding the truth about the slaughterhouse murder.

I loved the first book in this series, No Rest for the Wicked, and this one was just as fabulous.  While I'd highly recommend starting with that one, you don't need to have read it to enjoy the follow-up.  The story is definitely gross and dark, but the characters shine brightly.  Both Dolores and Kate, a new FBI agent, are strong women who also have issues they are dealing with.  It's a tense and gripping police procedural, full of small town secrets and family drama.  Can't wait to see what's next for these characters!

10.7.2026 - Home for the Homicides

 

Many thanks to NetGalley, St Martin's Press | Minotaur Books, and Macmillan Audio for gifting me both a digital and audio ARC of this first in a series novel by the wonderful duo of Elle Cosimano and Hannah Morrissey, with the audiobook perfectly narrated by the cast of Angela Dawe, Colin Donnell, and Patti Murin.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4.5 stars!

Welcome to Christmas, a town so cozy and charming it could be the backdrop of a Hallmark movie, where crime is never in season and it’s the holidays all year round. So when a tourist is found stabbed to death by an icicle in the middle of the town nativity scene, the local police are out of their depth—after all, how do you find a criminal in a town where crime doesn't exist?  Holly and Mark must solve the crime before the annual Jingle Bell Jubilee festival plus, whichever of them cracks the case will receive a promotion to Major Crimes—and there's only one spot.

This was just plain fun and I loved it - just the Christmas-themed names are worth the price of admission!  I found myself laughing out loud throughout the book, and the audiobook narration just made it all the better.  It's definitely a mystery, but on the lighter side due to all the Christmas shenanigans.  It's a bit bawdy and I can only imagine how much fun these two authors had writing this one.  It's the first in a series, so I'm waiting for the next for sure!