7.20.2026 - The Half Life

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest novel by Rachel Beanland.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4.5 stars!

Eileen is still mourning the death of her brother in Vietnam when she meets Paul, a Navy officer.  Soon afterwards, he gets orders to report to the Mediterranean island of La Maddalena, where Paul will be heading up Radiological Controls aboard a submarine tender.  Rather than be separated, they quickly marry and Eileen finds herself newly married in a country where she doesn't speak the language and the rules for a Navy wife are long.  She soon becomes involved in the local politics and meets an Italian journalist, who awakens her in many ways.

I really enjoyed this look at a woman in the 1970s who is just on the cusp of figuring out who she is.  I couldn't help but relate it to my mom who got married quickly when my dad was being sent to France in the late 1950s.  The pressure on being perfect in a situation where you don't know the language or culture had to be so difficult.  Eileen was a strong woman, trying to keep her marriage going, but discovering that there's a big world out there.  Beautifully written and a personal story (be sure and read the author's note), it was told in the form of a written letter to a person unknown until the very end of the book.  That person may have learned more than she wanted to!  Very entertaining and informative as only the best historical fiction is.

7.20.2026 - Destination Funeral

 

Many thanks to NetGalley, St Martin's Press, and Macmillan Audio for gifting me both a digital and audio ARC of the latest novel by Paige Harbison, with the audiobook perfectly narrated by the author.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4.5 stars!

When Babe dies, her two daughters, Didion and Sammie, and their two friends, Matt and Austin, are summoned to Mercy Island for the reading of the will.  Didion arrives and realizes that all the old resentments and hurts traveled along with her.  What should be a quick weekend takes a twist when they wake up and it's Saturday - again.  And then again.

Told from Didion's POV and from two different timelines - the present and summers past - we gradually learn exactly what happened to break all these people apart.  While at first I wasn't a fan of Didion's character, I gradually changed my mind and found her relatable.  Any daughter who has had to step up to family responsibilities will understand her complicated feelings and will be more compassion towards her.  I was a huge fan of Harbison's previous book, The Other Side of Now, and she once again did magical realism to perfection.  It never felt hokey to me but instead was a wonderful way of peeling back all the layers.  Extra kudos because the author once again narrated the audiobook and did it to perfection, showing her great range of dialects.  Perfect book for this summer.

7.19.2026 - The Story Keeper

 

Many thanks to NetGalley, HTP Books | MIRA Books, and Harlequin Audio for gifting me both a digital and audio ARC of the new historical fiction novel by Kelly Rimmer, with the audiobook wonderfully narrated by Siho Ellsmore.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4.5 stars!

Fiona Winslow once called Wurimbirra home, and after her uncle's death, she bought it with the hope of restoring it.  She quickly learns that the townspeople consider the house haunted, and she begins wondering when strange things happen.  When she finds a book, The Midnight Estate, in her uncle's library, she is plunged into a tale that seems to mirror her own.  

This is a book-in-a-book story done so well – I was equally invested in both storylines and was anxious to get back to both.  The creepy, possibly haunted, Gothic mansion in Australia with a graveyard in the back was the perfect setting for this mysterious tale.  I felt emotionally for so many of these characters in both stories – this book was a testament to the power of the stories of those before us that have shaped our lives.  Another great read by this author, and the narration was perfect!

7.18.2026 - The Last to Drown

Many thanks to NetGalley and Dynamite Books for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest thriller by a favorite, Noelle W. Ihli.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 5 stars!

Kaia is going on a women's rafting trip as a way to honor her deceased husband.  But now all she feels is dread.  Because there are stories about what happened at Camas Creek seven years ago, when a rafting guide murdered a group of rafters on this same stretch of water.  The true-crime community has never stopped asking questions.  Apparently for good reasons.

Noelle Ihli is now a must-read author for me - each of her books has been a non-stop thrill ride.  But this one had me so gripped from the first page that I'm not sure I breathed well the whole time.  I just couldn't put it down because it was so intense.  The descriptions of the white water rafting were so frightening - good thing that's not on my bucket list!  Besides all the action, I felt very connected to these characters and invested in their stories, especially Kaia.  If you like high-intense books, this is a must read!

7.17.2026 - The Death Row Club

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Gallery Books | Scout Press for gifting me a digital ARC of the debut book by V.A. Vazquez.  All opinions expressed in this book are my own - 4 stars!

An invitation to the Death Row Club brings adult children of serial killers together for a secret retreat.  The retreat is founded by Greer Woods, the host of the hit true crime TV show To Catch a Killer.  Nicola's world has just fallen apart as her father is arrested for the murder of five women.  Nicola counted on Greer as a friend, but she hasn't returned a call since the show about her father aired.  Then a mysterious girl arrives at the retreat, shattering the club's fragile peace.

This was an intriguing debut - I loved the fact that the book mostly focused on the victims and the children of the serial killers, as opposed to the killers themselves.  The story is told from two POV - Nicola and Steffanie, a young woman desperate to escape from her father.  It was a twisty locked-room mystery and an ending I wasn't expecting.  I will be looking forward for more from this author!

7.17.2026 - Heat Trap

 

Many thanks to NetGalley, Amazon Publishing and Brilliance Publishing for gifting me both a digital and audio ARC of the Amazon Original short story by Ellery Lloyd.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4 stars!

A group of friends gets together every year for a summer getaway.  As per usual, Lizzie has taken on the task of organizing everything for their stay in France.  This year, she's excited to bring along her new boyfriend, Mal.  But something sinister is happening.

This was a quick read - actually, I listened to the audiobook, which was done well.  For a short story, this one had all the requisite thriller components to keep me completely interested, and it could have been fleshed out into a novel.  But I enjoyed my little time with these characters and story!

7.17.2026 - Catch the Devil

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Knopf for gifting me a digital ARC of this true crime story by Pamela Colloff.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 5 stars!

This is the true story of the murder of a young girl in Florida in the 1980s and the man wrongfully imprisoned for that murder.  The conviction relied on the testimony from Paul Skalnik, an inmate, conman, and pedophile who received deals for snitching.  

The book was so well researched and documented, first giving us the history of Paul's exploits before delving into the story of the convicted man, James Dailey.  How incredibly sad that the legal system has allowed this man to linger in jail on death row for decades based on the false story from a conman, who was freed to continue his crimes over and over again.  The author's account of this travesty of justice is gripping and compelling.  So many people in this book should be so ashamed of themselves for allowing this mistreatment.  I pray that it gets the word out to someone who can possibly allow this man to live his remaining few years in freedom.  Highly recommended.