8.21.2026 - The Silent Appeal

Many thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster | Atria Books for gifting me a digital and physical ARC of the latest book by the wonderful Janice Hallett.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 5 stars!

The Fairway Players amateur drama group are back, this time staging Agatha Christie's The Hollow.  But much is happening off stage as well - Nicky-Rose, committee cochair Sarah-Jane's sister, is back from Barbados under mysterious circumstances.  Then a murder occurs on opening night.

I'm absolutely enthralled with anything that Janice Hallett writes, and adore the way this series.  Told in the epistolary style of writing, the story plays out through emails, text messages, transcripts, and interviews.  In addition, Femi and Charlotte are back - two lawyers tasked with figuring out just what happened, if the correct person has taken the blame, or if an appeal should be filed.  The lawyers get the same information as the reader, in the same time period, so we see their deductions as we read.  In addition, we get all the gossip, pettiness, and arguing going on backstage.  It's brilliant.   I would highly recommend starting with The Appeal because these books are so good and there is some character retention, but it's set up to read as a stand-alone as well.  Bravo!

8.20.2026 - That Night

 

Many thanks to NetGalley, William Morrow, and HarperAudio for gifting me both an audio and digital ARC of this republished book by a favorite, Gillian McAllister, with the audiobook wonderfully narrated by Amrita Acharia.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4.5 stars rounded up!

Three siblings - Joe, Cathy, and Frannie - are on vacation together in Italy. One night, Frannie makes two phone calls - one to each sibling. The siblings come running and find Frannie covered in blood, kneeling over an unmoving body. They make a promise. They’ll never tell anyone. But then the lies start piling up.

Before I watched the Netflix series, I was anxious to read the book (because the book is always better, right?). What a wild, twisty ride with so many moral and ethical thoughts - just what would you do to protect your family? Told from the POV of the three siblings along with Lydia, Joe's wife, the tension just keeps building as time passes. The siblings are extremely close, bonding after a traumatic event in their childhood, and they live next to each other and work together, causing Lydia to feel like an outsider.  The audiobook narrator did a great job with the voices.  This is a wonderful book and I can't wait to see if the series does it justice!  

8.19.2026 - The Shadow Friends

 

Many thanks to NetGalley, Amazon Publishing | Thomas & Mercer, MBCommunications, and Brilliance Publishing for gifting me a physical, digital, and audio ARC of the latest book in the Martini Club series by Tess Gerritsen, with the audiobook brilliantly narrated by Hillary Huber.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 5 stars!

When a renowned disease expert is found dead during a conference in Purity, Maine, the group of former spies known as the Martini Club are once again pulled into investigating an international crisis.  This time, Ingrid sees chilling links back to a disastrous mission from decades ago.  Soon, the club members are investigating even each other as they try to solve the mystery.

What a dynamic duo - Tess Gerritsen and Hillary Huber have combined once again to make this series so good.  I love how this group of retired spies never feel they are too old to get involved, and instead know that they are strong and capable whatever their age.  Plus, they love a good cocktail with friends at the end of a day - what's not to love?  This book focuses on Ingrid and her past and involves a former lover, international intrigue, and danger.  I highly recommend this series - and it's fabulous on audiobook.  While you could enjoy this as a stand alone, this is a series to start at the beginning to fully enjoy the backstories.  Can't wait for more!

8.18.2026 - My Sister is Going to Kill Me

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for gifting me a digital ARC of the new book by Nina Simon, author of Mother-Daughter Book Club, which I enjoyed.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 3.5 stars rounded up!

Liv and Mandy take a yearly sister trip, alternating who chooses their location.  The two sisters couldn't be any more different - Liv is responsible, practical, organized, while Mandy lives life spontaneously, and on the edge.  This year, Mandy picks a rafting adventure through the depths of the Grand Canyon, but when one of their group is found dead, the rafting trip turns beyond frightening.  They don't know who they can trust, maybe not even each other.

This was definitely more of a slow burn than her first book, with most of the action taking place in the second half.  I really liked the sisterhood angle of this book, although both women seemed to be a bit too typecast in their role, as did the influencer.  Plus, and maybe this was just me, but every time I read the name of the beauty product/company involved, CareFree, I would get distracted and think of the sanitary product instead!  The description of the rafting adventure was frightening to me, but I am sure that it is beyond beautiful.  

8.17.2026 - If Books Could Kill

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Viking Penguin for gifting me a digital ARC of the debut novel by Kate Eberle.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4.5 stars!

Roxie makes a wish with a stranger on the street to live out the plot of her favorite author's next novel.  Anna Matthews is known for her sweet, rom coms and just the kind of happily-ever-after Roxie dreams of.  So when her wish is granted and she finds herself swept into a first date with a handsome stranger, she's ecstatic.  Until it doesn't appear that the handsome stranger is in a rom com.  Desperate for help, she finds herself in the path of Grant, an anxious English professor.  Let the fun begin.

And fun it was!  This book encompasses and just maybe pokes a little fun at these book genres, giving us lots of twists along the way.  It's a madcap race to make the world right, with characters you will love and root for.  I loved Roxie's snark and confidence as well as Grant's anxiety and courage.  I can't wait to read what's next from this author!

8.16.2026 - Promise Me Never

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine | Bantam for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest thriller by the writing duo known as Liv Constantine.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4.5 stars!

After a whirlwind romance, aspiring writer Savannah is married to superstar horror novelist Bennett Bryson.  They settle into Bennett's secluded upstate home.  But soon, cracks appear in Bennett's behavior and he becomes secretive and controlling.  She's also surrounded by reminders of Bennett's first wife who died in a tragic accident.  Then she gets a warning that Bennett may not be who he appears.

Go into this one as blind as possible to fully enjoy it!  This was another wonderful book from this duo and I was flipping the pages as quickly as possible to see where it would all end up.  There are plenty of twists along the way, characters who aren't who they appear to be, and even a dog - what's not to love?  You may have to suspend your disbelief a bit, but the twists and reveals just make it more fun.  Pick this one up for a great summer thriller!  

8.15.2026 - Get Lost

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing | Cardinal for gifting me the fiction debut novel by Justin Halpern.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4 stars!

Lila Dixon gets a call that her mom has gone missing, but it wouldn't be the first time so she doesn't panic.  Except that this time, her estranged dad is the prime suspect.  As much as he has disappointed her, she doesn't believe he has anything to do with her mom's disappearance, so the two begin investigating.

Well, that was fun!  Halpern's trademark humor is on full display here and I thoroughly enjoyed going along for the ride.  Lila had to grow up tough and mostly on her own, so she won't take gruff from anyone - and there are quite a few nefarious characters here.  This is a fast-paced mystery with the theme about repairing relationships.