Runner 13 by Amy McCulloch

 Lots of action in this survivor thriller.

An elite runner, Adri, returns to do an ultra marathon in the Saharan Desert after years away from the sport. The race is 250 miles long under additional extreme circumstances and the goal is not only for her to finish, but to win. She knows most of the other elite runners on this course, but there's also a contingent of fun runners who won't be forced to endure the same rigid rules and conditions. It all starts out as expected, but then some of her friends are hurt or are being kicked out on some flimsy evidence and she wonders if there is more danger on the sand and weather or if it comes from someone else in the competition. 

The story is told from a dual point of view -- two female characters, one is Adri and the other is Stella. The premise, while initially intriguing, ultimately felt contrived and the depth was just not there to turn this from mediocre to great. I'm not a runner, in fact a lot of extreme physical activity scares me, so I couldn't relate to any of the reasons for someone to want to do this. So much so that I really can't even believe the things those runners did and endured. I never connected with or liked any of the characters. The whole mystery thing with the killer part seemed so artificially inserted with the motivation quite lame. There were so many clues for all that led up to what was supposedly the big twist at the end so I found the conclusion predictable and way too tidy a wrap. 

I was able to listen to the audio book while also following along in the e-book ARC provided by the publisher. There were two female narrators for the parts of Adri and Stella, and I honestly didn't care for either voice. They just didn't sound right for their characters to me. Also for specific spots, ie the podcast, the two male voices did a fine job. Unfortunately the production wasn't enough to really enhance my appreciation of the book.

This is a standalone and is not part of any series.

Genre and tags - ultra marathon running, killer, mystery, desert, sexual abuse, suicide, attempted murder 

Departure 37 by Scott Carson

 Captivating premise isn’t enough to make this Cold War mystery thriller a standout for me.

The calls come in the middle of the night, ostensibly from the moms of pilots meant to fly the next day. The message is clear and results in a callout that empties the skies. 

That’s a pretty exciting opening and honestly, that whole concept would have been enough to get me really going, but the whole Seeker Script plot line just fizzled. Then the dual timeline starts and we are alternating between a brilliant physicist, Dr. Martin Hazelton, doing experiments in 1962 and then to present day when two teenagers left alone in Ash Point, Maine, can’t escape their little peninsula when electricity and internet go off when the airline shutdown occurs. Just so happens they are close to a supposedly inactive airfield owned and maintained by the US Navy. And then a B-62 bomber appears out of the sky and lands. Charlie and Lawrence, both 16, learn about secrets and bizarre aviation events from the Cold War. 

I can suspend disbelief about lots of scientific things in a heartbeat, but what I just could not wrap my brain around was the inclusion of these two teenagers and them having such a huge impact on what happens in the story. Seriously? If I want my heroes and main characters to be that age, I’ll read young adult literature. It ruined the book for me honestly. I’m sure I’m an outlier, and that’s fine, because it would have made a better and more realistic climax and ending if it wasn’t for that “perceptive” teen girl and her tagalong. Maybe I’m not the right audience but I do like science fiction and the whole concept of being able to disappear a plane and then call it back was quite interesting. All of the characters felt incomplete and at times the flip between past and present was disorienting. There were other issues I might expand upon as well too explain why this book didn’t really work as well for me as I had anticipated, but that would be spoilers.

I was able to listen to the audio book while also following along in the e-book ARC provided by the publisher. The narrators, Mia Barron, Catherine Ho, and Johnny Heller, were a mixed bag. I liked the voices and performance of both women, but Johnny Heller consistently mispronounced the word, nuclear, and that got on my last nerve. I finally had to just skip over his part because I did not find his voice fitting for the part.

This is a standalone and is not part of any series.

Tags and genre - science fiction, time travel, Cold War, pilots, dual timeline

Kiss Her Goodbye (Frankie Elkin #4) by Lisa Gardner

 The search for a missing woman turns deadly.

 

This is the 4th book in the Frankie Elkin series. This time, she makes her way to Tucson, Arizona, to find a missing Afghan woman.

Frankie, a missing persons expert, heads out with her meager belongings and finds temporary lodgings at a huge gated mansion in Tucson where she is hired to pet sit an iguana and some snakes. Also in residence, since the owner is absent, are a transgender cook and a big tough chauffeur with an obviously checkered past. The three team up to investigate the local Afghan refugee community while searching for the missing Sabera Ahmadi at the behest of her friend. The local police are uninterested and Frankie immediately ascertains that there is much more going on than a missing wife who left her 4-year-old daughter and husband behind. It seems that Sabera has some very unique skills and abilities that made her a target for those who want the information she hides.

I was looking for a classic escape into the typical but this was too sad, too emotional, and too real for the type of suspense thriller that I was expecting in this series. I just couldn't get into all the background of what happened (twice) in Kabul with the Taliban and the people of Afghanistan. Their terrible struggles to survive and their treatment in refugee camps both abroad and in USA were just not what I was anticipating in a beach read. Also the whole ghost thing isn't something I like to read in a novel in any case. It was just too realistic on one hand and too out there with the visions on the other. There were other aspects that detracted as well. And can we please stop with the main characters being able to find the passwords and get into computers and/or phones they happen to find lying about? For the most part, I just couldn't buy into the whole story arc and how it all played out.

Anyway, this was an OK read, but wasn't what I was looking for in a book in this series. It seems I'm an outlier in my review and reaction and I'm find with that. If there's another in the Frankie Elkin series, I'll likely check it out. This one can stand alone as everything you really need to know requires no backstory to be appreciated. 

I was able to listen to the audio book while also following along in the e-book ARC, both provided by the publishers. The narrator, Hillary Huber, did a nice job with all the character voices, particularly with the accents. I always believe, however, that a production would be enhanced by having a male speaker as well. In any event, enjoying both simultaneously enhances my appreciation of any novel.

This is the 4th in series. You  may want to read them from the beginning but this worked for me as a standalone.

Genre - crime, murder, Afghanistan, Afghan refugees in USA, Kabul, missing persons 

The Tapes by Kerry Wilkinson

 

Blog stop for Bookouture - 3.5 stars

A murder mystery with an old school feel.

Eve Falconer is clearing out her recently deceased father’s house when she finds a box of old cassette tapes. When she listens to one marked with her name, she hears her mother’s voice reaching her over time and space for her mom disappeared out of the blue over 13 years prior. On the tape Angela talks about her life, with some exaggerations and what Eve knows are outright lies in some spots. But one thing she can’t wrap her head around is when her mom’s recording tells Eve that she’s probably been murdered. 

Eve can’t believe what she’s heard and even more worrisome is that she’s concerned that her mother was a victim of a serial killer that hunted in her town of Sedingham for many years and was never caught. Her mom left a clue that she knew who it was and Eve becomes obsessed. Unfortunately, the killer doesn’t want Eve to figure it out.

There was a lot going on in this thriller with plenty of red herrings and many characters that were suspicious. Eve has a history of behaving badly and is an alcoholic on the wagon so people she talks to don’t always take her seriously. They feel she might be unreliable. Anyway, she investigates on her own asking questions all over town. This moved a little slow with a bit too much repetition of the particular tape segments until we get to the climax and the big reveal that might surprise some. 

I was able to read this in a single setting and it kept my interest.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this e-book ARC to read and review. Blog tour 8-14-2025

This is a standalone and is not part of any series.

Tags - murder, cassette tapes, alcoholism, unreliable narrator

Bless Your Heart by Leigh Dunlap

 Fast and fun debut mystery thriller.

Don’t mess with the Buckhead Betties. These affluent Atlanta women aren’t afraid of anything or anyone. Except outsiders who have no idea how hard it is to maintain their images in this social cesspool. They know everything about each other’s marriages, children, and lives; any secrets they have will soon be outed. When Anderson Tupper, a single, handsome, and wealthy Little League coach, is found murdered right after their big charity bash, tongues wag and everyone in their tight circle is a suspect. 

This was so entertaining as these women get down and dirty while the accusations fly. There’s a lot going on behind the closed doors of those mansions. The investigation, led by Detective Shay Claypool and her partner, Sergeant Dub Rattigan, is stonewalled and the pair is met with snubs and plenty of reasons why many of those residents would want Tupper dead. Lots of rich people cliches and designer name drops pepper the narrative, but it’s all satirical while showing that even people with tons of money have problems. Slowly but surely the truth is revealed and the climax was quite surprising with the conclusion taking a great twist. 

The narrative is told in a before and after fashion with each of the main female characters taking a turn at point of view. Keeping them straight got easier after awhile with trying to remember who was married to whom and the names of the kids. I liked the writing style and the themes involving social status, race, and family. I’ll definitely look for future books by this author. 

I was able to listen to the audio book while also following along in the e-book ARC, both provided by the publishers. I loved the narrator, Hallie Ricardo, who did a fantastic job voicing the female characters giving them individuality with various accents, tone, and timbre. Her performance definitely enhanced my enjoyment of the book and I highly recommend it. 

This is a standalone debut and is not part of any series.

Tags - south, Atlanta, wealthy, murder, society, family, female friendship

High Season by Katie Bishop

 Engrossing summer mystery thriller.

The beautiful Côte d’Azur is the setting for this nostalgic coming of age story that involves a murder. It’s got a dual timeline — 1999 to present day — so the back and forth allows multiple narrators and points of view to describe what happened on the fateful night in question.

Evelyn Drayton, a former “it” girl and her family have always summered here in the French Riviera. Her grandfather had designed and built the place where the entire family have spent years. Rarely interacting with any of the locals, the family has an air of magic attached to them. The 17 year old twins, Blake and Tamara, along with their little 5 year old sister, Nina, have the run of the place while their mother, Evelyn, tries to keep hold of her latest husband. When Tamara is found dead on the night of her mother’s birthday party, the entire town is in shock. It’s unbelievable to hear that one of their own, Josie Jackson, has been accused of killing Tamara. Motive speculated, but never known.

I loved the multifaceted characters in this story, especially Josie and Tamara. All of the things that were going on behind the curtain so to speak and led to Tamara’s death were never really exposed or explored. Nina’s testimony at trial when only 5 years old led to Josie going to prison for 10 years. It’s only twenty years later that a true crime blogger wants to delve deeper into the case and help to figure out what really happened that night. The author deftly weaves a web of connections that point to another as the perpetrator. Even tho I guessed the whodunit, I really enjoyed how the author got me there with all the revelations. 

I loved the writing and even though I don’t relish stories about teenagers and the ridiculous things they get up to, some of that was necessary to put the reader in the right headspace to understand all that led up to Tamara’s death.

I was able to listen to the audiobook while also following along in the e-book ARC, both provided by the publishers. The narrator, Alix Dunmore, did a fabulous job of voicing all the characters in the story. Her dramatic flair and ability to adapt accents and tone really enhanced the production. The only voice that grated on my nerves was when she did the annoying podcaster’s voice. But that was fleeting thank heavens and probably quite an accurate portrayal. I’d highly recommend the audio book.

This is a standalone and is not part of any series.

Tags. Coming of age, murder, mystery, teenagers, thriller, podcast

The Locked Ward by Sarah Pekkanen

 Compelling psychological thriller about sisters with a unique connection. 

Georgia Cartwright is locked up in the psych ward after she’s accused of murdering her younger sister, Annabelle. Pretending to be in a disassociate state, she is desperate to prove her innocence and reaches out to Amanda — her twin. The shock of finding that she has a twin is almost too much for Amanda, owner of a bar, to process, but she tries to wade through all the secrets and lies of Georgia’s wealthy family to find out the truth. 

I enjoyed the dynamic between the sisters and the slow reveals about their relationship as well as what happened with Annabelle. Some of it was predictable, but definitely kept be interested and invested. The narrative is told in alternating points of view between Amanda and Georgia. Raised separately, their twinship is an awakening for them both. The other characters were rather one dimensional and it seemed like a few threads were left unanswered, like who were their birth parents, etc. and what about Patty? Anyway, I liked it well enough.

I was able to listen to the audio book while also following along in the e-book ARC provided by the publisher. The narrator, January LaVoy, did a great job of giving two distinct voices to the twins and even included a fairly convincing southern accent. She always brings te characters in the book to life and her performance enhances my appreciation of the story.

This is a standalone and is not part of any series.

Tags - twins, murder, psych ward, adoption, mystery, lies and secrets

The Woman in Suite 11 (Lo Blacklock #2) by Ruth Ware

 Entertaining mystery thriller that is as predictable as it is entertaining. 

First and foremost, before you open this book, you need to know that it features many of the characters from The Woman in Cabin 10 and it's probably a really good idea to read it first if you have not.

Secondly, you must suspend any and all disbelief as this entire story will seriously strain any credulity you have. 

It's been 10 years since Laura (Lo) Blacklock experienced all of the traumatic events on the Aurora. Since her lucky escape from death, she's gotten married, had two children, and written a bestseller about her experience on that ship. She has, however, not worked at all since and wants to get back to her old career as a travel writer. Out of the blue, she gets an invite to the opening of a grand hotel owned by Marcus Leidmann, a billionaire. Lo manages to leverage that name with an old contact who works for Financial Times publication who encourages Lo to go to Switzerland and try to get an interview with the man. Lo does go to Switzerland and finds herself quickly in way too deep in a new and crazy situation. And it gets even more wild when she reconnects with someone from her past.

As always, Ruth Ware hooks the reader quickly and you're in way too deep before you realize that Lo hasn't changed a bit and she's still not experienced as much personal growth as we would have hoped. There are lots of twists and turns and many red herrings though a savvy reader will be able to guess where it's all going. The fun is in seeing how the author gets you there. Was this sequel necessary? Nope, not at all, but it was a quick read and kept me dialed in and amused.

I was able to listen to the audio book while reading along in the e-book ARC provided by the publisher. I liked the narrator, Imogen Church, only when she was voicing the main character. The way she did other voices, especially the kids, was almost cringe sometimes. (Maybe there should be a prohibition in adult books with narrators trying to imitate children.) The accents and male voices didn't fare much better. In any event, I do enjoy the immersive experience of both at once.

This is a sequel to The Woman in Cabin 10 and it should be read before this one.

Tags - travel writer, murder, naive, Britain, mystery, suspense, thriller 

Coded Justice (Avery Keene #3) by Stacey Abrams

 Artificial intelligence — villain or savior?

This is a thriller that tackles many different aspects of AI, but specifically in this book it is working on delivering medical care to marginalized veterans. Avery Keene, now working in the private sector, is hired by Dr. Rafe Diaz, CEO and founder of Camasca, an AI enabled healthcare tech company after an incident that resulted in the death of one of the head programmers. Ruled an accident in a cursory police investigation, Diaz is concerned that there’s something going on that might impact the IPO he’s planning. Avery is meant to assemble a team as an internal investigative unit with attorney client privilege to see if there are any potential issues that might derail the big debut. So Avery gets her best friends and boyfriend on board and they get busy.

There’s a lot of technical jargon and detail about AI and a lot of other things in this novel. It’s almost exhausting to read through the info dumps, even though it’s all very interesting. And scary. Especially when it starts to look like the various components of this huge neural network might be going rogue. I really liked the medical application aspects and the mission of Camasca with its focus on veterans. But the bottom line is that giving over a huge part of anything to quantum computers with sophisticated learning models could prove more deleterious than it does good. 

I wasn’t sure who or what was going to answer the questions about the issues at the company so I had to finish the book in one sitting. Definitely mind boggling and will provide a lot to think about. At present, there’s no regulation or set of rules about how this type of technology is to be created, implemented and evaluated so I still feel that without some checks and balances it could all be a very dangerous tool in the wrong hands. And certainly I don’t want to see sentience. 

The author is obviously creative and brilliant and I’ve enjoyed the previous Avery Keene books as well. Who knows what’s next for her and friends, but I look forward to reading more.

I was able to listen to the audio book while also following along in the e-book ARC provided by the publisher. The narrator, Adenrale Ojo, did a great job of voicing the characters and giving the appropriate dramatic flair. The voices were distinct, but of course I always wish for a male to be doing the men. The production enhanced my enjoyment of the story. 

This is part of a series, the third book, and they should be read from the beginning in order.

Tags - legal thriller, suspense, AI, medical, veterans, murder, greed

The Hampton’s Lawyer (Jane Smith #3) by James Patterson and Mike Lupica

 Fast and entertaining legal thriller.

This is the third in the series featuring criminal defense lawyer, Jane (Effing) Smith, who is, at least in her own mind, the best of the best but definitely so in this part of Long Island. This is the only one I’ve read, but I’m definitely hooked and look forward to checking the others out.

In this book, Jane and her investigative partner, both ex NYPD cops, are defending a local real estate creep named Rob Jacobson. He’s been accused of murder, the triple homicide of a man, wife and teen daughter. The evidence against him is overwhelming, but Jane and Jimmy Cunniff have a plan. Unfortunately, the case has ties to a local bunch of bad guys who are into loan sharking, racketeering, and bookmaking. 

Meanwhile, Jane is dealing with a personal health crisis of her own that means she has to win this case if it is the last thing she does. 

Lots of action and bad guys doing what they do. The characters were interesting and I’d probably know them better if I had read the first two books. This was fine as a stand alone. The medical aspect was a bit, ok wildly, unbelievable but I just ignored that and went with it. This is the type of book you can just lose yourself in for a couple of hours and just have fun with it.

I was able to listen to the audio book while also following along with the e-book ARC provided by the publisher. The narrator, Eva Kaminsky, did a great job of voicing the characters and they were easy to differentiate. Her dramatic flair added a nice touch and made the immersive experience more pleasurable.

This is the third in a series and even though I didn’t, they probably should be read in order for best enjoyment.

Tags - murder, mob, loan shark, legal thriller, suspense

The Maid’s Secret (Molly the Maid #3) by Nita Prose

 Heartwarming cozy mystery series comes to a touching end.

It’s wedding bells for socially awkward Molly the Head Maid/Events Coordinator and her handsome chef fiancé, Juan Manuel. Both work at the Regency Grand, a five star hotel, and are looking forward to the big day. Plans are interrupted however, when Molly finds that a Faberge egg left to her by her grandmother is worth millions. With all the media attention and theft of the egg, Molly is overwhelmed but finds answers to many secrets hidden in her grandmother’s diary. 

This is part fairy tale with a riches to rags theme as well as an ill fated love story. I enjoyed the diary entries and Flora’s history which explains so much. In addition, we have the present day mystery of who stole the egg and why. The connections are a bit too convenient and hard to believe, and the conclusion is quite predictable. I think this was a bit more contrived than the other books in the series, but it wraps everything up and alls well that ends in a happy ever after, right? It might be a bit too much sappiness for some, but it seemed a fitting end to the series. 

Thank you to NetGalley for the e-book ARC to read and review. I did enjoy the series and would recommend it. I listened to the audiobook while reading and the narrator, Lauren Ambrose, does a fantastic job of voicing Molly. The other characters also have distinct voices which made the book come alive and created a more immersive experience.

This is the third in a series that should be read from the beginning in order. A novella, The Mistletoe Mystery, is also part of the story. 

Tags - cozy, mystery, neurodivergent main character, hotel, maid, family secrets, heirloom