10.6.2026 - The Memory of Borrowed Books

Many thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for gifting me a digital ARC of the debut novel by Meg Anderson.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4 stars!

Claire is the librarian in the coastal town of Foxhollow Bay.  When the town announces the plan to shut it down, her life begins to crumble.  One night, while wandering the stacks after hours, she discovers a door that shouldn't exist, and a secret room lies beyond filled with books no one else can see.  Each book pulls her into memories of those who have passed through the doors of the library, and she knows she must do all she can to save the library.

This is a love story to the power of books and libraries in particular.  It's a reminder that every book can be special to someone at a moment in their life, and the library holds the power of more than just books alone.  It's also a story of the power of community and friends to help us when we need them the most.  A wonderful debut and I'm anxious for more from this author!

10.6.2026 - Newbourne Park

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Putnam Books for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest book by Jennifer Thorne.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4.25 stars!

Martha is ready for a break after years of caring for her dying mother.  When her brother invites her to spend the weekend at the fabulous country estate where his friend works, Martha agrees to go.  She's been assured that security cameras will be off and staff gone.  Martha finally begins to relax.  Until nightfall, when the owner returns and she's not alone.  

This is hard to review without giving anything away, and trust me, it's way more fun to go in with no spoilers.  So don't read the reviews and just read the book!  It's quietly tense and foreboding until it goes way beyond that and veers into horrific!  It's written so well, and I loved Martha's character growth.  This is the perfect October read!

10.6.2026 - Do You See What I See?

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for gifting me a digital ARC of this novella by Peter Swanson.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4.25 stars!

Nicholas Child's first book had modest success but he was just dumped by his publisher.  Then, his agent approaches him with an offer - spend Christmas with Marco Tavares, a best-selling author, and his family.  Marco has writer's block and his agent wants Nicholas to get him moving on the right path again.  But a feeling of dread hangs over the seaside house, and each guest has a reason to want their host dead.

A perfect novella that you can finish in one sitting to get you in a bit of Christmas spirit while it's not even Halloween!  I liked the creative way the story was told, with Nicholas narrating, complete with different versions, as he writes his version of events to a police detective.  Plus, there's a wonderful literary theme.  Add this to your Christmas list!

10.6.2026 - Birds of Prey

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Penzler Publishers | The Mysterious Press for gifting me a digital ARC of this short story collaboration, edited by CJ Box.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4.5 stars!

Harlan Coben put out a challenge to a group of highly-successful thriller articles - to pick a bird of prey and write a short story about it.  Trust me - they all stepped up and I loved them all.  Of course, in any short story collection you will like some more than others, but they are all unique and compelling.  Some even have ties to the authors' other books or series, which is fun.  There's an intro by each of the authors before their story, which was also interesting.  Pick this one up for sure!

10.5.2026 - Death of an Ordinary Man

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Mariner Books for gifting me a digital ARC of this quietly beautiful book by Sarah Perry.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4.5 stars rounded up!

The author's father-in-law, David, is diagnosed with cancer and dies only 9 days later.  This story is the account of her and her husband tending to his father in his last days.  

Having lost my mother this year, this book rang so true and was so touching on many levels.  The author goes through each of David's end days, describing the factual parts of his care as well as the emotional and spiritual.  I loved how she went from not being able to imagine performing intimate care to feeling all the women carers before her, extending an arm to help her do what needed to be done.  Then, counting that as a gift to be performed for someone, also knowing that someone will someday be doing it for her.  It was interesting seeing the difference between the Hospice care David received and what I personally experienced in the US.  I felt bad that the family had to be the ones to make certain calls and decisions, and even had to go out and get the morphine prescriptions.  But at its heart, it shows that there is no ordinary man.  Everyone is important and we all go down the same paths, but we can help others with love, dignity, and respect.  

10.3.2026 - Dive Bar at the End of the Road

 

Many thanks to NetGalley, St Martin's Press, and Macmillan Audio for gifting me both a digital and audio ARC of this wonderfully creepy novel by Kelley Armstrong, with the audiobook perfectly narrated by the talented trio of Helen Laser, Sean Patrick Hopkins, and Shane Ghostkeeper.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4.5 stars rounded up!

It's a dark, stormy night when a car swerves to avoid something, or someone, standing in the road, only to hit a fallen tree.  Four more cars will follow in a pileup no one can seem to avoid.  These strangers find themselves in a backwoods dive bar, waiting for daybreak and hoping for cell service.  But they soon notice that not everything is as it seems and going outside is a very bad idea.

I cannot believe this is a new-to-me author, but this is the perfect book to read for spooky season.  I listened to it on audiobook and would highly recommend that format because of the wonderful narration, which just added to the story for me.  It's such an atmospheric read, with the creepy woods around the bar and just everything feeling wrong - kind of like an old Twilight Zone episode.  There's also some good themes here to ponder but I don't want to reveal them in case I would inadvertently spoil anything.  It's a non-stop thrill ride that you won't be able to look away from.  

10.3.2026 - The Back Bedroom

 

Many thanks to NetGalley, Amazon Publishing | Amazon Original Stories, and Brilliance Publishing for gifting me a digital ARC of this true crime story by Gregg Olsen, with the audiobook narrated by Karen Peakes. All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4 stars!

In 1976, police found the decomposing body of Davey Weilbacher, just 3 years old, who had been beaten by those who should have loved him. The adults in the home claimed that Davey was possessed and that they were trying to rid him of the Devil.

Such a sad story, and another chapter in the unbelievable saga of people falling under the spell of one man, whether it be a family or a cult. It's heartbreaking that these people just went along with whatever the patriarch of this family said to do, and could inflict such trauma onto a toddler in the name of religion. The story is short and you can read it in one sitting, but poor Davey's plight will stay with you.  The audiobook narration was very well done - the narrator's voice added to the creepy feeling of the story.