3.31.2025 - Making the Best of What's Left

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for gifting me a digital ARC of the new book by Judith Viorst.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 5 stars!

I have loved all of Judith Viorst’s books, from reading her children’s books to my boys to her decade poem books that I’ve bought for myself and others, so I couldn’t wait to read her latest.  Judith reflects on her life in the Final Fifth, as she terms the period from age 80-100, and living after the loss of her husband.  There are heartbreaking and heartwarming stories, as well as much good practical advice and her trademark humor, honesty, and practicality.  As the caregiver for my mom who’s in her 90s, this one hit home on many fronts.  Highly recommended!

3.31.2025 - Follow Me

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer Amazon Publishing for gifting me both a physical and digital ARC of this debut book by Elizabeth Rose Quinn.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4 stars!

Adrienne Shaw feels like she is the only one who really believes that her twin sister, Chiara, who went missing at a mom-fluencer weekend, never left the resort.  The authorities found nothing, and she feels her brother-in-law is useless.  Adrienne decides to go undercover at the next influencer retreat to see if she can find any answers.  

While this is all a bit over the top, this was an entertaining story with a very relevant storyline.  Especially for moms who are struggling, it’s impossible to measure up with all the Instagram/Facebook perfect pictures and stories.  Adrienne is single and childless and it’s funny to watch her try to fit in with these “perfect” mothers.  Plus, it’s a good mystery to try and figure out exactly what happened to Chiara.  Will absolutely pick up more books from this debut author, plus the film rights have been optioned by Amazon MGM Studios!

3.30.2025 - The Murder Show

 

Many thanks to NetGalley, Tor Books and Macmillan Audio for gifting me an audio ARC of the latest mystery by Matt Goldman, narrated by Dan Bittner.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4 stars!

Ethan is a show runner for The Murder Show, but when a writer's strike shuts down work, he returns to his family home in Minnesota to try and come up with an idea for his next season.  His high school friend and backyard neighbor, Ro, is now a police officer.  The two decide to try and investigate what happened to another high school friend, Ricky, who died in a hit-and-run accident.  But they may be in for more than they bargained for.

This book felt realistic, mainly due to the fact that Matt Goldman is a screenwriter himself.  Ethan and Ro thought the investigation would be a good subject for the next season of Ethan's show, plus it would bring them closure on what really happened to their friend.  I liked the characters and their relationships, and enjoyed following along on the investigation.  The narrator was great with all the voices, and added to the enjoyment of the story. 

3.29.2025 - The Sirens

Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio for gifting me an audio ARC of this intriguing book by Emilia Hart, beautifully narrated by Barrie Kreinik.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own – 4 stars!

 

In 2019, Lucy is being cyber-bullied by a secret boyfriend who shared pictures of her without her knowledge, and the authorities don’t believe her.  When she awakens in his room in the middle of the night with her hands wrapped around his throat, she flees to her sister’s house.  Jess isn’t there, but Lucy stays in her house awaiting her return.  In 1999, we learn Jess’ story of always feeling different, until a teacher takes a special interest in her.  In 1800, Mary and Eliza are forced onto a convict ship from Ireland to Australia, taking them away from all they know. Trapped, they begin to notice changes in their bodies.

 

This is a wonderful magical realism book, highlighting sisterhood, women’s strength and resilience, as well as generational trauma and family secrets.  That’s a lot to wrap your head around in these different timelines, and the book was a bit slow for me at times.  But the beautiful writing will transport you to another world and the power of water and the sea to transform.  The narration was gorgeous too and pulled me into the stories of these sisters.    

3.28.2025 - The Many Mothers of Ivy Puddingstone

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Koehler Books for gifting me a digital ARC of this wonderful historical fiction novel by Randy Susan Meyers.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4.5 stars!

Annabel Cooper wants to save the world. She begins her mission in 1964 as a part of Freedom Summer in Mississippi, trying to register Blacks to vote.  She meets her first love and his disappearance ignites her fight for justice even stronger.  Later, she and her husband as well as four other couples form a Boston political group, living together with all their children.  But as the parents' pull to become more active gets stronger, they move the children to a farm in Vermont, cared for by one of the group members.  Annabel's daughter, Ivy, wants to be normal and misses her parents.  A disaster changes everything.

I love how this book explores the mother/child relationship amid all the political and societal changes from the 60s to present day, as viewed from both Annabel and Ivy.  The parents had the best of intentions - to fight for what they believed is right while keeping their children safe and away from the turmoil.  But we know what is said about good intentions.  This book languished too long on my TBR shift; it was a thought-provoking and sometimes heartbreaking read.

3.28.2025 - The Mysterious Bakery on Rue de Paris

 

Many thanks to NetGalley, Harper 360, Harper UK, One More Chapter for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest book by Evie Woods.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4.5 stars!

Edie Lane is grieving the loss of her mother, and has left everything behind in Ireland for a once-in-a-lifetime job at a bakery in Paris. Except, thanks to a mistranslation, the bakery is not in Paris, and neither is Edie.  The tiny town of Compiègne, complete with its local bakery on the Rue de Paris, holds many secrets. This might not be where Edie intended to be but it's not long before she realizes it's exactly where she needs to be

Evie Woods has done it again, and created a magical world that you won't want to leave.  This time it's a bakery in France, and the food descriptions will leave you hungry and needing pastries - and hot chocolate!  Just who is baking all these delicious treats?  Is there magic in the hot chocolate?  This book is sweet and heartwarming, as Evie makes new friends and works to keep the magic alive.  I appreciated how there were French words and phrases but enough information was given to decipher without constantly looking up the translation.

3.26.2025 - When the Moon Hits Your Eye

Many thanks to NetGalley and Tor Books for gifting me a digital ARC of this wonderful book by John Scalzi.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 5 stars!

The moon has turned into cheese.  Now humanity has to deal with it.  Just how's that going to work?  Do you question your faith in God, in science, in everything you thought you knew?  

I love John Scalzi.  In the same vein as The Kaiju Preservation Society and Starter Villain (both 5 star reads for me), these books explore humanity when faced with the unthinkable.  They are funny, thought-provoking, sci-fi light books and his latest is my favorite, I think.  I loved how it explored reactions from different people from all walks of life in almost a connected short story style, as we followed scholars, pastors, students, writers, government officials, and those billionaires who want to go to space.  This was perfection!

3.26.2025 - Saltwater

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Ballantine Books for gifting me a digital ARC of the sophomore book by Katy Hays.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4 stars!

In 1992 Sarah Lingate is found dead below the cliffs of Capri, leaving behind her three-year-old daughter, Helen. Despite suspicions that the old-money Lingates are involved, Sarah’s death is ruled an accident, and every year the family returns to prove it’s true. But on the thirtieth anniversary of Sarah’s death, the Lingates arrive at the villa to find a surprise waiting for them—the necklace Sarah was wearing the night she died.

It might have been my own distractions while reading this, but I seemed to get confused with the different timelines and POV.  The characters are pretty much all unlikeable, which didn’t help.  That being said, this was an atmospheric, twisty mystery that I really enjoyed - I never saw that ending coming!

3.26.2025 - The Last One to See Him

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest psychological thriller by Kathryn Croft.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4 stars!

Kate is trying to move on after a separation with her husband, when she has a one-night stand with a man she meets in the bar, Jamie.  When she returns to see him the next day, she finds him murdered in his flat!  But her past prevents her from going to the police.  When she meets a new mom at school, Harper, they get invited to her home for a playdate, only for Kate to find Jamie’s wedding picture on the wall. Does Harper have ulterior motives?

Such a completely twisty book – you won’t believe or trust any of the characters or even like them much!  But as always, Kathryn Croft’s writing and storytelling abilities will pull you in until you find yourself glued to the pages.  Everything I thought I knew was wrong and I was so shocked at the ending.  Great read!

3.25.2025 - Breaking the Dark

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Hyperion Avenue for gifting me a digital ARC of this first in a Marvel Crimes series by a favorite, Lisa Jewell.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4.5 stars!

I'll admit to being out of touch with the Marvel Universe since my boys left home, but you don't have to be an aficionado to enjoy Lisa Jewell's novel starring the superhero, Jessica Jones.  While she has superhero qualities, she's trying to live a quiet life and working as a private investigator in NYC.  She's approached by a woman who is convinced that her twin teenagers came back very different after visiting their father in the UK.  Jessica travels to the small British village, which is quite mysterious in itself, to try and discover what happened to them.

This was just a fun novel, with nods to the dangers of social media and our chase of perfection.  There is a storyline that takes us back to the origins of the mysterious affliction that seems to be possessing the twins.  I liked Jessica's character - trying to recover from trauma, drinking too much, but willing to sacrifice everything when necessary.  Lots of good characters in this one, including her teenage assistant and fellow superhero, Luke Cage.  I can't wait for the future books by more favorite authors to come!

3.25.2025 - Witness 8

Many thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Atria Books for gifting me a digital ARC of this wonderful book by Steve Cavanagh.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4.5 stars!

A former resident of the ultra-elite Manhattan upper class, Ruby now works as a maid in the type of houses she used to live in.  She's mostly invisible to those around her, but she sees everything.  When she witnesses a murder, she has a different plan involved rather than telling the truth.  Enter Eddie Flynn, streetwise ex con-artist-turned-defense attorney, now tasked with representing John Jackson - the one charged with the neighborhood murder.  But to save his client’s life, Eddie must first protect his own, as the scariest organized criminals in the city are out for his head.

A new book in this series featuring Eddie Flynn, conman turned defense lawyer, is always something to look forward to.  Eddie is nothing if not loyal, and I love his allegiance to his friends and his clients - especially since he's a defense attorney who only represents those he feels are innocent.  This installment had lots of different POV, but the story kept me glued.  I like legal thrillers, and it was fun to see Eddie be once again one step ahead of the prosecution.  

3.25.2025 - Twist

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest novel by Colum McCann.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 5 stars!

Anthony Fennell, an Irish journalist and playwright, is assigned to cover the underwater cables that carry the world’s information.  Fennell’s journey brings him to the west coast of Africa, where he uncovers a story about the raw human labor behind the task of fixing these cables when things go wrong. . He meets a fellow Irishman, John Conway, the chief of mission on a cable repair ship. The mysterious Conway is a skilled engineer and a freediver capable of reaching extraordinary depths. He is also in love with a South African actress, Zanele, who must leave to go on her own literary adventure to London.  

I thought this subject matter of this book was fascinating – a look into the cables running under the oceans that carry the fiberoptic communication lines that allow us to use the internet and our cellphones.  Do any of us normal mortals ever think about all that goes on behind the scenes to allow us to use our devices?  What happens when they break?  But the main attraction in this book is the beautiful writing of Colum McCann.  It was so immersive and atmospheric that it pulls the reader into another world; it’s tense and slow at the same time.  Plus, there are multiple mysteries and themes – can we fix our past?  How imperative is communication to life itself?  

3.24.2025 - This Book Will Bury Me

 

Many thanks to NetGalley, Sourcebooks Landmark, and Tantor Audio for gifting me both a digital and audio ARC of the latest book by Ashley Winstead, with the audiobook wonderfully narrated by Leslie Howard.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4.5 stars!

After the unexpected death of her father, college student Janeway Sharp heads home to grieve with her mother.  She becomes obsessed with true crime and soon becomes part of an online armchair detective group, finding purpose and friendship.  When three college girls are killed in Idaho, Jane and her friends are determined to solve the crime.  

Ashley Winstead has once again created a book that you’ll have a hard time putting down, especially if you are obsessed with true crime (and who isn’t?).  This book, told in a story-in-a-story format, will pull you into the hunt for a serial killer.  It will have you thinking about the online true crime obsessives – good or evil or somewhere in between?  It’s also a story of grief and trying to come to terms with losing someone we love.  

3.24.2025 - The Unlucky Ones

 

Many thanks to NetGalley, St Martin's Press, Minotaur Books and Macmillan Audio for gifting me both a digital and audio ARC of the latest book in the Black Harbor series by Hannah Morrissey, with the audiobook perfectly narrated by Angela Dawe and Robb Moreira.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4.5 stars rounded up!

Detective Nik Kole finds a dead body in a clubhouse wrapped in bags and doused in bleach.  But things take a turn when the body is identified as Tommy Greenlee, the ex-husband of Hazel and Kole's ex-lover.  Hazel returns to Black Harbor to find out how killed Tommy, only to find that people are looking to her as a suspect.  

I think this series keeps getting better – I’d definitely recommend starting from the beginning, but there’s enough info to enjoy as a standalone as well.  But what I really enjoy in this series is how the characters all repeat, but sometimes in major roles and other times in minor roles in the various books.  The main character from Hello, Transcriber is back as a main character in this book, so we get to see how things have changed for her, as well as her relationship with Detective Nik Kole.  Plus, some previous storylines come to a resolution.  This storyline mirrors the town of Black Harbor – gritty and dark – delving more into the seedy drug world tearing up the town.  Morrissey's writing and the narration brings this town to life.  Wonderful series!

3.23.2025 - Nobody's Fool

Many thanks to NetGalley, Grand Central Publishing and Hachette Audio for gifting me both a digital and audio ARC of the latest thriller by a favorite, Harlan Coben, wonderfully narrated by Vikas Adam.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 5 stars!

When Sami Kierce was in college, he took a fateful backpacking trip with friends to Spain.  Then he woke up one morning, covered in blood with a knife in his hand, and his girlfriend's body lying next to him.  He runs.  Decades later, Sami is now a private investigator, married with a young child.  He's also teaching night school to wannabe investigators when one evening, he recognizes Anna at the back of his classroom.  As soon as they make eye contact, she runs.  Sami knows he must find her to understand the nightmare that has haunted him since Spain.

While this is the second in the Detective Sami Kierce series, I somehow missed that one, although I must admit I saw the Netflix series.  But it’s easily read as a standalone, so don’t hesitate.  There’s a lot going on in this one, with a big timeline and multiple mysteries, but it’s Harlan Coben so you know he pulls it off in grand style.  This is written as though Sami is talking to the reader, a style I enjoy for I feel like it pulls me into the book as a participant and not just an observer.  There are plenty of twists and reveals, along with Coben’s humorous moments.  I ended up mostly listening to this one on audiobook and thought the narration was perfect.  

3.22.2025 - I Would Die For You

Many thanks to NetGalley, St Martin’s Press Minotaur Books and  Macmillan Audio for gifting me both a digital and audio ARC of the new novel by Sandie Jones, with the audio perfectly narrated by a favorite, Imogen Wilde.   All opinions expressed in this review are my own – 4 stars!

 

California, 2011: Nicole Forbes lives a quiet life with her husband and daughter. She is not prepared for a writer to knock on her door asking for details into the downfall of the biggest British band of the 1980s.  Then the same day, her daughter goes missing from school.  Convinced that the two events are linked, Nicole must face her past to protect her family.

London, 1986: Sixteen-year-old Cassie is obsessed with Secret Oktober, the hottest band of the moment, and has an intense crush on the leading man, Ben Edwards.  But when Ben discovers her older sister, Nicole, singing at a local bar, he is immediately drawn to her.

 

I’m a fan of Sandie Jones and enjoyed this book and its nostalgic look into the 80s music scene.  Plus, there are lots of secrets that Nicole has kept from her husband, including why she doesn’t speak to her family.  Told in these alternating timelines, I found myself wanting to just tell Nicole to be honest with her husband!    I couldn’t gather a real connection to the characters, but I enjoyed the mystery of exactly what happened in the past.

3.19.2025 - The Story She Left Behind

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Atria Books for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest historical fiction novel by Patti Callahan Henry.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4.5 stars rounded up!

In 1927, Clara is only 8 when her magical childhood ended.  Her mother, renowned author, Bronwyn, who wrote a book based on an invented language when she was just 12, disappeared off the coast of SC and was presumed dead.  Along with her, everyone's hope for a sequel to the book died.  In 1952, Clara is an illustrator raising her own daughter, Wynnie, who is obsessed with her grandmother's book.  When a stranger, Charlie, contacts her from London, he claims to have discovered a handwritten dictionary of her mother's lost language, that could finally allow the sequel to be transcribed.  While skeptical, Clara and Wynnie travel to London, only to arrive during one of London's most deadly natural disasters - the Great Smog.  They take refuge with Charlie at his family's retreat.

I felt like I was in a magical, fairy tale world while reading this book, but it also had moments of grit and fear.  Based on a true story, be sure and read the author's note about the inspiration for this book and one of the literary world's biggest mysteries.  The writing is beautiful, but the story shines with the themes of motherhood, loss, and forgiveness that will keep you turning the pages.

3.19.2025 - Tilt

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster, Simon Element, Marysue Rucci Books for gifting me a digital and physical copy of this debut book by Emma Pattee.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 5 stars!

Annie is nine months pregnant and shopping for a crib at IKEA when a massive earthquake hits Portland, Oregon. With no way to reach her husband, no phone or money, and a city left in chaos, she realizes there’s nothing to do but walk.  Making her way across the wreckage of the city, Annie experiences desperation and kindness from strangers.  As she walks, she reflects on her life.

Be forewarned – this is a total gush review because I could not have loved this book more.  And it’s a debut?  Even more astonishing.  Because this book will make you FEEL – in all capitals – all the feelings about pregnancy, motherhood, marriage, grief, life, love.  I adored the way it played out – we get the current events over the course of one day as Annie experiences the big earthquake, then interspersed are the chapters that let us see how Annie got to that day and point in her life.  It’s funny, scary, sad, hopeful.  It’s a must read!

3.18.2025 - I Bet You'd Look Good in a Coffin

Many thanks to NetGalley and Harper 360 for gifting me a digital ARC of the second book in the Kitty Collins series by Katy Brent.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 5 stars!

Kitty Collins is a serial killer, because some men just deserve it.  She's trying so hard to be good, even joining a support group called Angry Women Anonymous.  But Blaze Bundy, an anonymous influencer spreading misogyny who's stalking Kitty, is making it really hard for her to control.  Her mostly estranged mother is getting remarried and Kitty doesn't trust him at all.  

You must first read How to Kill Men and Get Away With It, not only because you'll understand this book better, but because it's so darn good.  These books are darkly funny and you will love the characters.  While this book is definitely improbable, it's fun to watch Kitty stick up for wronged women and make sure that these bad men don't hurt anyone else.  Plus there's a mystery to be solved - who exactly is Blaze Bundy?  Put this book on your summer reading list for sure.  Meanwhile, I'm hoping there's another book to come in this series!

3.17.2025 - The Summer Guests

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer Amazon Publishing for gifting me a digital ARC of the second in The Martini Club series by Tess Gerritsen.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 5 stars!

While I’ve been a forever fan of Gerritsen’s medical mysteries, this group of older, retired CIA agents has captured my heart.  Following The Spy Coast (another must read), we see this group (self named The Martini Club) try to find a missing girl visiting Purity, ME, with her family.  Once again, Acting Police Chief Jo Thibodeau is alternately frustrated and grateful for the group’s help (interference).  I love books showcasing the vitality of older adults and this group would put younger people to shame for sure.  Even when they aren't solving local mysteries, they are all active, vibrant and so much fun.  The mystery certainly didn’t go the way I thought it would, but everything resolved neatly at the end.  Great series!

3.16.2025 - First Wife's Shadow

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing/MIRA Books, and Harlequin Audio for gifting me both a digital and audio ARC of the latest thriller by a favorite, Adele Parks, with the audiobook perfectly narrated by Kristin Atherton.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4 stars!

When Emma meets Matthew, a kind, handsome widower, he seems to be just what she needs.  Their friendship moves quickly, and her friends are worried that she might be taken advantage of, since she's rich and Matthew isn't.  Emma isn't worried about that, but she does wonder if she is second best after his perfect first wife.  But who really can Emma trust - her friends, Matthew, or even herself?

I’m a huge fan of Adele Parks and this book is why – perfect writing with a taut storyline that kept my mind guessing, flipping, and shocked.   Emma’s character had me screaming at her naiveté, and lots stretched the imagination, but what a fun ride.  Up until the very end, the twists kept coming.  I thought the audiobook narration was spot on, and I ended up mostly listening to this one.

3.11.2025

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Doubleday for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest book by a favorite, Chris Bohjalian.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 5 stars!

It's 1864 in Virginia, during the end of the Civil War.  Libby Steadman's husband is presumed dead in a Union prison camp.  She spends her days trying to continue to operate their gristmill along with her teenage niece, Jubilee, a hired hand and his wife.  All the grain they produce is taken by the Confederate Army.  When a gravely-injured Union officer, Captain Jonathan Weybridge, is found left for dead in a neighbor's house, Libby makes the decision to bring him to their home to try and save him, in the hopes that someone would do the same for her husband.  But just what is she willing to risk for a stranger?

Based on a true-life story (be sure and read the author's note), this book showcases how good can triumph over evil.  It was a gripping story, with characters you won't soon forget.  The writing will transport you back in time, where every day is life or death, and decisions can have long-reaching consequences.  I loved the strong women characters - Libby, Jubilee, and Sally - and how hard they fought to do the right things, especially when it wasn't easy.  As with most stories about war, it's both horrifying and hopeful, showcasing our human resiliency and strength - a definite must read!

 

3.10.2025 - You Deserve to Know

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Forge Books for gifting me both a digital and physical ARC of this wonderful book by Aggie Blum Thompson.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 5 stars!

Neighbors Gwen, Aimee, and Lisa are the best of friends on their street in Bethesda, MD.  But when Gwen's husband is found murdered, the neighborhood is left reeling.  The police investigation threatens to uncover all their secrets.

Domestic/neighborhood suspense is one of my favorite genres.  It’s the knowledge you never truly know what’s going on behind closed doors or in someone else’s marriage, although we do love to speculate.  Aggie Blum Thompson hit this one out of the park and I loved every minute.  Starting with a Dateline snippet giving a couple clues as to murders that happened in the neighborhood, we go back and forth in time and perspective to see just what’s really happening.  I was reading in the wee hours to finish it; the ending blew my mind and was pitch perfect.  This one gets all the stars from me and is highly recommended.  Go into it as blind as possible and enjoy the journey!

3.10.2025 - All the Other Mothers Hate Me

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam Books for gifting me a digital ARC of this wonderful debut novel by Sarah Harman.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 5 stars!

Florence Grimes is single, broke, and desperate for a career redo.  The one bright spot in her life is her 10-year-old son, Dylan.  But Dylan is a little different and has been struggling in school with bullies.  And Florence definitely doesn't fit in with the other moms at his school.  When Alfie Risby, Dylan's biggest tormenter, disappears during a class field trip, Dylan becomes the prime suspect.  Florence will do anything to save Dylan.

I adored this book!  I'm a huge fan of domestic suspense and dark humor, and this one had those in spades.  Even while you'll question some of Florence's behaviors, she will have you laughing and rooting for her til the end.  Along with her only mom friend, Jenny, they decide to become detectives and try and discover what happened to Alfie.  Such a fabulous debut and I can envision more books starring Florence and Jenny - pretty please?  

3.9.2025 - Girl Falling

Many thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for gifting me an audio ARC of the new novel by Hayley Scrivenor, narrated by Sophie Loughran.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own – 4.5 stars!

Finn and Daphne form a tight, emotional bond at school when they realize they have a shared trauma; both lost their younger sister to suicide.  As they get older and Finn starts a relationship with Magdu, Daphne is jealous, and Finn feels pulled between the two.  When an accident occurs when the three are climbing, was it suicide, an accident, or something else?

 

I was a huge fan of Scrivenor’s debut, Dirt Creek, and loved this book as well.  This is a complete character study of relationships, friendships, grief, control.  These characters felt very real to me and you can feel the intensity and drama between the three.  Told from Before so that we see how the relationships formed and progressed, to Now, when the police investigation looks into the death.  The writing is beautiful and the narration just added depth to the story.

3.8.2025 - Name Not Taken

 

Many thanks to NetGalley, Little A and Brilliance Publishing for gifting me both a digital and audio ARC of the latest book by Madeleine Henry, with the audiobook wonderfully narrated by Natalie Naudus.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 3.5 stars rounded up!

Devon and Richard are engaged, but come from two very different backgrounds.  Devon's was traumatic, being raised by a single mother with mental health issues, while Richard comes from a very wealthy family.  But after dating and living together, she had still not met his family until now.  And it is not going well - the family seems to question everything Devon does and are making Richard question her as well.  Let the mind games begin.

While domestic suspense is usually one of my favorite genres, this one was just okay for me.  I felt bad for Devon and wished she could have stood up for herself better, plus there are so many unreliable narrators that you will be questioning everyone.  I switched to listening to the audiobook and enjoyed it, but was a tad confused with the ending.  I'm blaming it on maybe too much multitasking when listening.  This was also an Amazon Prime First Read selection so try it out for yourself!

3.8.2025 - Message Deleted

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest psychological thriller by KL Slater.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4 stars!

Saffy is trying to get her life back on track and is waiting to go in for a job interview when she receives a text message from her best friend, Leona.  The message says - Can't speak, don't text or call, please just come.  Then the message is deleted.  Saffy is afraid that Leona is in trouble from her husband, Ash, so she rushes out of the interview to check on her friend.  When she gets to their house, Leona says everything is fine and that she didn't send the message.  Then the police show up at Saffy's door because she was the last one to see the family before they all went missing.

As always with Slater's books, this is a twisty book, with short chapters from different POV and timelines, giving the reader lots of suspects and clues along the way.  I felt for Saffy, with all her fears making her overprotective and anxious; definitely not a reliable narrator.  I never guessed how it was all going to play out and thought the ending was perfect.

3.7.2025 - The Undoing of Violet Claybourne

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for gifting me a digital ARC of the new novel by Emily Critchley.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4.5 stars!

It's 1938 and Gillian Larkin is sent away to school while her dad is an expat in Egypt with his new wife and son.  She's used to being a loner but is befriended by her roommate, Violet Claybourne.  Gilly is thrilled when Violet invites her to spend Christmas with her family at Thornleigh Hall.  Gilly is dazzled by the family's wealth and glamour, and especially by Violet's older sisters.  But when there is a terrible accident on the grounds, Gilly's loyalty and conscience are put to the test.  

I was a big fan of the author's previous book, One Puzzling Afternoon, and was excited to read her latest.  This book has such a gothic, dark feel, full of unlikeable characters that drip with privilege and secrets, and who will do anything to protect themselves.  Told from Ginny's prospective, we feel her need to fit in at all costs and her resulting devastating decisions.  I felt for Violet and her undoings (OCDd behaviors).   It's a heartbreaking story, full of betrayal and gaslighting, but it will keep you turning the pages well into the night.  

3.5.2025 - Black Tunnel White Magic

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Mulholland Books for gifting me a digital ARC of this fascinating true crime book by Rick Jackson and Matthew McGough.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 5 stars!

In June 1990, Ronald Baker, a straight-A UCLA student, was found repeatedly stabbed to death in a tunnel near Spahn Ranch, where Charles Manson and his followers once lived. Shortly thereafter, Detective Rick Jackson and his partner, Frank Garcia, were assigned the case. Was there an occult factor?  Their investigation soon focused on Baker's roommates, one Black and one white, and the investigators' dogged pursuit of truth and justice.

I thought this was a fascinating look back at LA in the 1990s, where race, police brutality, and satanism were the headline stories.  But it's also such a close introspection of police work at its finest, where finding the truth takes priority over everything else.  These detectives worked for years and even decades to get justice for families.  It's a look back at the effects of the Rodney King and OJ Simpson verdicts, and you'll recognize many names from that era.  Now that our movements and conversations are tracked by cellphones and cameras, this is true, gritty detective work when DNA was in its infancy.  The crime itself was horrifying and such a tragic loss of a young man, but kudos to Jackson and Garcia for their devotion.  

3.4.2025 - The Last Days of Kira Mullan

 

Many thanks to NetGalley, HarperCollins William Morrow for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest book by the husband and wife writing duo known as Nicci French, and the second in the Maud O'Connor series.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4.5 stars rounded up!

Nancy North is trying to get back to normal after suffering a psychotic break that blew up her life.  She and her partner, Felix, have moved into a new flat and are anxious for a fresh start.  She's doing everything right, but things still seem wrong.  She hears mysterious voices that triggered her first episode, but she tries to justify it as the sounds of a new flat.  But when the young woman in the downstairs flat is found dead, everyone says it's a suicide.  But Nancy feels differently, and no one will listen except for DI Maud O'Connor.

I love this series, but you don't need to read the first book to enjoy this one.  I enjoy how in both books, Maud doesn't make an important appearance until the story is well developed, but she is a great character.  This is part police procedural, but it's also a great story about mental health.  That aspect is done really well, and you can feel Nancy's frustration at being labeled, gaslit, and trapped.  It's a good mystery as Maud tries to figure out exactly what happened to Kira.  Told from both Nancy's and Maud's POV, this is the perfect combination of genres and I couldn't put it down.  Hope there are more books to come in this series!

3.2.2025 - Wild Dark Shore

Many thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for gifting me an audio ARC of this wonderful book by Charlotte McConaghy, wonderfully narrated by the cast of Cooper Mortlock, Katherine Littrell, Saskia Maarleveldm and Steve West.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own – 5 stars!

 

Dominic Salt and his three children (Raff, Fen, and Orly) are caretakers of Shearwater, a tiny island not far from Antarctica, and home to the world’s largest seed bank.  With sea levels rising, the Salts are the only inhabitants and are packing up the seeds before being transported away.  During a terrible storm, a woman washes up on shore. As the Salts nurse the woman, Rowan, back to life, they all come back to life a bit.  Until secrets start showing their faces.

 

This is a wonderful atmospheric novel.  You can see the beauty of the landscape, the wildlife, but see the damage the world has done as well.  The Salt family is completely isolated, running out of food and time, with no way to communicate with the outside world.  When Rowen enters their tiny circle, she keeps the real reason she is there to herself, but the Salt family is full of secrets as well.  It was taut and tense, as the family fight the elements as well as their personal demons.  The audiobook was fabulous, with a full cast making the story even more immersive.

3.1.2025 - Killer Story

 

Many thanks to NetGalley and Brilliance Publishing/Brilliance Audio for gifting me an audio ARC of this memoir/true crime story, written and narrated by Claire St. Amant.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4.5 stars rounded up!

Claire spent almost a decade in network television covering the biggest true crime stories for 48 Hours and 60 Minutes.  In this book, she details how she got there, the cases she covered, and the toll it took on her psyche.  

This was a fascinating look behind the curtain of all those true crime stories I have watched for decades.  Besides going over the cases, it was fascinating to see how these shows develop and get produced, and the race against the clock to beat the competition.  The story of how she almost got indicted for a felony was unbelievable as well.   I appreciated that the author narrated her story, feeling that it adds a more personal touch.  If you're a true crime junkie, this book is for you.

3.1.2025 - Profile K

 

Many thanks to NetGalley, Avon/Harper 360 for gifting me a digital ARC of this stand-alone thriller by Helen Fields.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 5 stars!

Midnight Jones is a data analyst for Necto Corporation in London.  After a potential employee or student takes a Netco-developed test, she analyzes the data to determine the person's fit for that position.  When she gets a profile completely off the charts, she tries to tell her superiors that she received a Profile K - which they all said doesn't exist and is strictly a training protocol.  But Midnight is convinced that she uncovered a very dangerous person, one who may kill again.  

This one was definitely dark, but completely fascinating, partly because with AI and technology advances, you can see how something like this test software could be on the horizon.  Midnight is a wonderful character, as she devotes all non-working hours to care for her twin sister, Dawn.  Midnight didn't know who she could trust and felt completely let down by everyone she went to for help.  The murderer's story was beyond creepy, but I flew through this one.  As always with Fields' books, it's immersive, tense, and gripping.