Do You See What I See by Peter Swanson

 Quick and entertaining short story set at Christmastime.

OK, first thing, I did not realize that this was a short story, novella, or whatever it is meant to be. I do not typically, in fact, rarely read them. Somehow I missed that as I just saw the author’s name and I like his books, so I grabbed it. 

It was fun and of course had some murder and a good twist. I always enjoy a tale with an author writing books about other authors or books. Took me less than an hour to read. 

This particular piece has people gathering at an author’s house at Christmas. All of them seem to have a reason to dislike their host, famous writer, Marco Taveres. Lots of drinking and some bad behavior create some real negative vibes. Pretty soon there are dead bodies. 

The Poison Pen Murders (Ally McKinley #5) by Dee MacDonald

 Cozy mystery set in the Scottish Highlands.

Ally McKinley owns the Auld Malthouse Bed & Breakfast in the village of Locharran. She’s also a naturally nosy woman who happens to be a sort of amateur sleuth in a place that has recently seen its share of murder. When one of the locals contacts her about a friend having received a threatening letter, Ally decides to go with her to do a wellness check and find out more. Unfortunately, they are too late and the woman, Juliet, is dead. With few clues and no note to be found, they contact the local detective, Amir Kandahar, and leave it with him. But, wait, other elderly women are receiving the same notes. Ally soon finds the connection to a young woman who all of them knew when they were in school. Now Ally looks at the guests staying at her B&B and also at some of the other odd men hanging about. One of them has to be the killer. 

This was basically a sort of locked room mystery since the town is small and the characters are mostly well known to each other. It takes no big investigator to realize that one of the outsiders must be doing the deeds and most of the book is Ally running around talking to people about the murders and dodging the many red herrings. There was not much excitement, suspense, or tension as the suspect pool was small. Ally and Ross romance is comfortable and village life should be more quiet as indeed Locharran seems to draw some bad actors. 

This is the fifth book in the series and there doesn’t seem much more that can happen up there in the Western Highlands. I’ve read all of them from the beginning and I’m starting to lose interest. Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for this e-book ARC to read and review.

Books on Tour 11-3-2026

This is the fifth book in the series that is best read from the beginning in order.

Genre and tags: Scotland, cozy mystery, murder, revenge, unwed mother, suicide, 

The Girl in the Lake (#3 Homes, Margaret, and Poe) by James Patterson and Brian Sitts

 Private investigators Holmes, Marple, and Poe have temporarily relocated to a remote lodge in upstate New York following a bombing and fire that destroyed their home and base of operations. When a body of a young mother is discovered in the frozen waters of Cayuga Lake, Holmes and cohort are surprised to hear that there was a note implicating him in the murder. Of course it’s their old and dangerous nemesis Oliver Paul. This time he’s making threats to continue his murderous explosions unless they bring him his wife, the imprisoned and notorious Agnes Matts. 

This third in the series was a bit of a downer as there wasn’t much sleuthing and little actual detecting of any kind. There were tons of side plots and diversions including Marple with her French cooking and exposure of a chef’s sexual abuse, Poe and Virginia obsessed with their muscle car and racing, Holmes with his fixation on his psychiatrist, Grey’s twin pregnancy and a lot of other uninteresting details including the oil rig description and everything about Oliver Paul and Agnes Matts. I’m tired of this continued focus on that particular villain. Can’t we move on? 

Yeah it was a quick and easy mindless read, but I was hoping for more of the intelligent and brilliant deductive reasoning and impressive investigative work that the trio is meant to be doing. The whole romance thing between Marple and Holmes is a bust and there is no way that needs to continue as they should friend zone. Holmes is way too messed up for her. Anyway, that’s my thought. Let’s get back to a good solid crime and a fresh set of bad guys. I missed the suspense and tension and the clever interaction. The title is quite misleading as the girl in the lake took about 2 pages of the book and had nothing to do with the overall plot. 

I was able to listen to the audio book from my local library while also following along in the e-book ARC provided by the publisher. The narrator, Christine Lakin, did a great job as usual with the characters although this would definitely benefit from having a male voice for Holmes and Poe. She definitely mastered the variety of accents. 

This is the third book in the series that needs to be read from the beginning in order.

Genre and tags: detective fiction, eponymous character names, serial killer

Samantha: the Next Chapter by Fiona Davis

 A return to the world of an American Girl

Samantha Parkington, age 25 in 1920, returns to Mount Bedford to spend the summer with her Grandmary. Now an adult, she's independent and determined to create a life of fulfillment with many plans for her future. The reunion is marred by Grandmary's obvious decline and Samantha knows that changes are ahead. It is quite a shock, however, when she learns that  Grandmary's estate has been stolen and Samantha is left without any resources. She takes herself off to find a job and gets involved in a local criminal enterprise while trying to wrest back her fortune from the thieves.

Reads more like YA and is definitely not adult oriented though the author throws in insta romance.
Samantha is just a little bit too much — I think it was her ability with self defense maneuvers that really pushed it a beat too far.
Lots of repetition about her goals with becoming a teacher and also her work with the women’s rights movement. We got it in the first chapter. And then she started her own investigation 
It was like throwing a little bit of everything about 1920s into one book touching on prohibition, women working, race relations, theater and music. Too much.
I liked it OK but I don’t need to read any more about Samantha all grown up or about any of the other American Girls. 
They worked great for middle school age.
I didn’t have really high expectations and I can see what the goal was but I’ll pass. 

I think this might be a planned series. Not going to continue.

Genre and tags: American Girl world, 1920s, YA 

The Not So Happy Couple by Emily Shiner

 Disappointing psychological thriller and domestic melodrama 

Bradley and his wife, Marissa, have an enviable life but that's about to fall apart. To celebrate their anniversary, Bradley takes her out to sea on his luxury yacht. Oh no, a storm sets in, but even worse, they discover a dead body in their bedroom cabin. As they both stare, aghast, at the woman, they realize that each knows the victim. Of course they don't disclose this to their spouse. Bradley calls the Coast Guard to retrieve the corpse and they return home, both shaken and trying to figure out who killed her. When they get back, the real games begin. 

That's when the whole premise falls apart. Told in alternating points of view, this tried to be a suspenseful thriller but it founders under the weight of all the cliches and pacing. It became frustrating listening to the same "he/she is lying to me" lines over and over. The main characters are all thoroughly unlikable, have no depth and nobody cares about them or their secrets after all. Their choices and behavior are unlikable and there are unbelievable connections that strain suspension of disbelief to its absolute limit. It was so very predictable from the first page, but I hung in there for the less than exciting payoff. Definitely fell short of my expectations. 

Key takeaways to consider:

Repetitive 
Totally unlikable characters 
Predictable 
Slow revelations 
Tropes galore 
Anticlimactic conclusion 
Unlikely behavior 
Unbelievable relationships and connections 

I was able to listen to the audio book while also following along in the e-book ARC, both provided by the publisher and I'm so sorry it just was not what I'd hoped when I requested. The three narrators made an attempt to voice their characters, but not all went as it should have there. When Anna Maria does Marissa she's fine but her trying to do Bradley's character it's so bad. Why didn't Kishore Walker, who is voicing Bradley, jump in for all that dialogue featuring him. It was jarring as Kishore did a decent job on the male voice. Ameila Sciandra did OK with Cami but it was sometimes hard to tell the women apart. There was a lot of dialog in the story so it got confusing when different voices were speaking for the same character. Usually the audio book enhances my enjoyment of a story but I just didn't care for it. 

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

 Genre and tags: secrets, lies, bad marriage, domestic drama, cat and mouse, games 

The Liar's Book Club (#9 Secret, Book, and Scone Society) by Ellery Adams

A cozy mystery characterized by friendship and a blend of tragedy, joy, and hope for the future.

A category four hurricane batters the mountain town of Miracle Springs, North Carolina. Guests are waiting for a groom at a wedding and when he fails to appear, his intended bride and her friends are locked in by the storm and unable to find out what has happened. As flash floods isolate the entire community, power is out, and many have lost everything, a body in formal wear is found in a rusted out old car washed up on the banks of the river. In addition, a valuable manuscript that the almost bride, Jess, was working on, goes missing. As the community tries to recover, Nora Pennington and the fellow members of The Secret, Book, and Scone Society must unravel local secrets and lies to catch a killer before all the evidence is gone. 

This is the 9th book in the series and the first one I have read so it's my first time meeting everyone and that was a lot of characters to keep straight and to put into the different groups. The core of girlfriends forming that Scone Society book group is Nora, the main character and owner of the bookstore, along with June, Hester, and Estella. There's another book club run by Sheldon Vega, called the Blind Date Book Club. The bookstore seems to be a popular place in town for people to gather so they all know each other, some better than others. In any event, the tragedy of the storm brings an outpouring of help, donations, and resources for all those affected. All the while, the book club people are investigating the crime and comforting the bereaved Jess. Nora's boyfriend, Sheriff Grant McCabe, is officially on the case and feeds Nora information. So this was typical amateur cozy sleuthing with all the tropes.  It was almost too saccharin and the people overly empathetic, giving, and up in each others' business. Happy ending guaranteed. I liked it well enough, but I don't know if enough to read another. 

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, Cris Dukehart, was able to master different accents and tones to portray all of the different characters though of course a male voice would have really elevated the production. Listening to a good dramatic performance always enhances my enjoyment of a book.
 

This is the 9th book in the series but the first I have read. I think I would have benefited somewhat by having more familiarity with the characters and the backstory.  

Genre and tags: cozy mystery, North Carolina, storm and flood damage, rescue and recovery efforts, murder, folio restoration, robbery, bookstore, food, coffee, wine 

The Trial of Lizzie Bordon: The Making of a Monster by Roland O'Leary

 This audio production features a full cast of narrators so that the story really comes alive. It is reminiscent of an old time radio show with sound effects. The script comes from trial transcripts and other primary sources so it is more accurate than some of the so called docu-dramas about this woman.

I enjoyed it and wish it had been longer. The crime has never really been solved definitively though I’m sure many have an opinion. It was just so long ago and forensics and evidence and trial procedure are much different now.

This is part of the Trials of the Century series and is the 4th but the only one I've listened to.

The performance is about Lizzie Borden, accused and found not guilty of murdering her father and stepmother. 

The Dying Light (Two Rivers #4) by Ann Cleeves

 Excellent procedural drama.

Set in sweltering North Devon, Detective Matthew Venn and his team are called to the scene where a young woman has been found dead in the swimming pool at Tide House, a luxury holiday home owned by a prominent political family. Even more alarming, her best friend, the property owner’s daughter, has vanished. Venn and his cohort are thrust into a tangled web of local friction and some unusual coincidences. The community isn’t as forthcoming to questioning as Matthew would like and they try to decipher the dangerous truths hidden behind the calculated silences. 

There was a lot going on in this story and the mystery Is complicated by the families of the girls and the people in the town. There’s a lot of psychological tension and not much physical evidence. This isn’t fast paced but proceeds methodically as Venn approaches the case in a sympathetic manner. This was the first I’ve read in this series and it won’t be the last. I liked the characters and the glimpses into their personal lives intrigued me. I enjoyed the surprising revelations and the conclusion.

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, Jack Holden, did an excellent job of voicing all the characters with their accents and imbuing them with unique personalities. His pacing enhanced the story and made me enjoy it even more. 

This is the 4th book in a series featuring Detective Matthew Venn but only the first I have read.

Genre and tags: police procedural. Devon. Murder, Friendship. Secrets

Conspiracy Theory: A Thriller

 Engaging and fast paced procedural and legal thriller.

Novelist and lawyer Michael Harris is struggling to find an inspiration for a new book when he stumbles onto an old national tragedy, the assassination of first lady Gloria Hale. She was killed years ago, but Michael starts digging into old files kept by her former secret service agent. The material he gathers obviously triggers someone because a deadly chain of events begins. Key evidence burns and bodies start dropping so Harris starts to believe that his hypothetical is actually an active high level coverup that puts him in danger. Can you say conspiracy? or is it something even more complicated... 

Oh this was so good, and what an excellent writer Phillip Margolin is. The plot is convoluted but it felt grounded and plausible. There are some familiar suspense tropes, but the rapid pacing makes it a genuinely suspenseful read. I liked the characters, and even though I'm not overly fond of series, I wouldn't say no to another book featuring this main character. It was a nice blend of politics, legal maneuvering, police procedural, and serial killer thriller. 

I was able to listen to the audio book while also reading along in the e-book ARC, both provided by the publishers. The narrator, Therese Plummer, did a fantastic job with all of the character voices. Her dramatic flair and acting ability made the drama come alive and created a thoroughly immersive experience that enhanced my enjoyment of the book. 

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

Genre and tags: murder, drugs, serial killer, conspiracy, government cover up, politics, legal 

Murder at the Grand Alpine Hotel by Lucy Foley

 A historical mystery and classic whodunit. 

Set at an exclusive Swiss resort circa 1950, the story is told by four distinct perspectives. When three deaths disrupt the holiday that is meant to be enjoyed by Miss Marple and her friend, recently widowed Mrs. Bantry, In due time, Miss Marple cleverly sifts through long buried wartime secrets to out the responsible party. 

The narrative shifts between the following: Catharine Narracott, wife of Anthony Narracott, Conservative candidate who works in the War Offices. Actress Sylvia Sinclair, mistress of Anthony, who is rapidly aging out of her usual roles. Bruno Crane, a war time acquaintance of Anthony Narracott and loyal companion to Mrs. Bantry, Diana Glass. There is some gold...

After only a day or so, a blizzard sets in and a train wreck in the tunnel ensures that everyone is stranded at the hotel. So this is a typical locked room type mystery. I loved the atmospheric setting and would have loved to know more about the actual hotel, but, alas, there are murders and suspects and backstory and a lot of rambling before the truth comes out and Miss Marple solves the crime. 

I didn't care for the multi-POV and the story moved very slowly with one grand reveal at the end. I didn't like the outcome (no spoilers). Nevertheless, it kept me guessing as first one red herring and then another possible culprit was dismissed. 

I wasn't a huge fan of the basic premise and plot so I might read another of this type by Lucy Foley.

I was able to listen to the audio book while also following along in the e-book ARC, both provided by the publishers. The full cast narration by Hayley Atwell, Lucy Boynton, Adeel Akhtar, Mara Wilson, and Hugh Kermode was refreshing and enhanced my enjoyment of the book. The author, Lucy Foley, also contributes with an author's note. One thing though was that in many cases there were differences between the text and the audio version which can be jarring if you are reading alone. Not sure how many people actually do this, however. And not sure why these changes were made. 

Not sure if this is the first in a new series by the author.

Genre tags: historical fiction, 1950s, cozy, Switzerland, war crimes, stolen gold, Nazi, murder 

Will I Be Next? by Kerry Wilkinson

 Slow burn psychological premise centered on long buried childhood secrets and past trauma catching up in adulthood.

Thirty years ago, six children provided key testimony that sent their Sunday school teacher, Martin Yale, to prison for a heinous crime. Faith, one of those six, receives an unexpected visitor from her past, Jacob, another member of that group who comes to warn her that the others are suddenly dying under suspicious circumstances. Faith has received hate mail in the past from Martin’s son, but those letter stopped. Who is targeting and hunting the members of their group now. It’s time to unravel all the secrets. 

Well, there were some surprises but it took so long to get to them and in such a roundabout way. Once the revelations began, I felt so much of it stretched my credulity and the motivation for what was happening was a stretch. I never quite warmed to any of the characters and definitely kept me guessing about whom to trust. This was less a thriller and more domestic drama with all the shifting relationship dynamics. And, as stated, it was very slow moving. 

I was able to listen to the audio book while also following along in the e-book ARC, both provided by the publisher. The narrator, Rose Robinson, did a fine job of voicing the characters which enhanced my enjoyment of the book. 

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

Genre and tags: psychological drama, childhood sexual abuse, marital affairs, children, secrets, trauma, murder, revenge

A Cruise to Nowhere: my search for Amy Lynn Bradley by James Renner

 Just finished a deep dive into this true crime book about the disappearance of Amy Lynn Bradley over 28 years ago. She vanished from the Royal Caribbean cruise ship Rhapsody of the Seas on March 24, 1998. After reading, I also watched the Netflix documentary and went down the rabbit hole into endless information about this case, this young woman, her friends, and her family. So very frustrating not to have answers after all this time.

I read a lot of true crime and this was a bit different. As the author puts it, it’s also a bit of a memoir, as he does share a lot of his personal thoughts and observations about himself, his life, and his reaction to everything he did as he researched for this book. The personal interviews with many of the important people involved in his search for what could have happened left few investigative avenues unexplored. I did not know anything about this until I picked up this book. Now, thoughts about this are going to keep me awake some nights. I do not like unsolved mysteries. 

I am just left with overwhelming sadness that no one really knows what happened to this young woman. Maybe one day all wil be revealed and the family can get the closure they are searching for as they try to live their lives without her. 

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

Genre and tags: nonfiction, true crime, missing persons, cruise ship

The 10:12 by Anna Maloney

 Claire Fitzroy is just trying to get home when her 10:12 NorthRail train from Manchester to London is hijacked. Although she's a middle aged history of art university lecturer, Claire makes a decision to fight back. Her desperate actions save lives, but the aftermath thrusts her into a chaotic media storm and trial where the public debates if she is actually a heroine or a murderer. Although the outcome sees justice, Claire is left still traumatized and seeking answers about why those men chose that train and why they did what they did. 

The beginning is quite gripping as the train hijacking begins and the passengers, basically led by Claire, start resisting. Lots of action and very fast paced as decisions are made and people die. Trying to keep track of all the characters is a bit daunting as they divide into the good guys vs the baddies. Then the story transitions to disjointed pieces of Claire's book, communication with her publisher, and some texts. A slow burn courtroom session follows and the drama sort of stalls the momentum. After that, we segue into Claire's search for answers and meaning which definitely downshifts the pacing and tension. The shift from action thriller to introspection and Claire's exploration and amateur investigation into the men involved in the terrorist plot changes the tone and it went on overly long. Then there's the hint that things are not what they seem and there are secrets being kept making this a high level coverup conspiracy within a story about terrorists operating under a conspiracy theory. 
It was OK but not what I was expecting. I certainly didn't read this as being any sort of feminine rage story. 

I was able to listen to the audio book while also following along in the e-book ARC, both provided by the publishers. The audio book features an ensemble cast consisting of Elaine Claxton, Sarah Thom, Maxim Reston, and Dane Williams. The performers did a good job with their parts although some really spoke quite fast in a clipped fashion that was hard to follow so I was glad I had the book to help me keep it all straight. The production definitely enhanced my enjoyment of the book. 

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

Genre and tags: suspense thriller, terrorist, hijack train, anti Chinese, incels, conspiracy nuts, courtroom, prison, murder, assault, intelligence community 

It Runs in the Family (Iris Gardner #1) by Denise Grover Swank

 Light romantic farce trying to pass as a domestic thriller.

Iris Gardner, who possesses the ability to have psychic visions of the future, foresees her own murder while working a late-night shift at the local convenience store. The vision involves her missing cousin, Selena, and Iris decides she must locate her to stop this vision from coming true. Along the way there's an insta romance with a sexy stranger and a crazy large cast of eccentric and loser characters who are her extended family. Except for one cousin, Garrett, who is a sheriff's deputy, and a granny who tends to favor her, Iris is entangled in some dubious relationships and her life sounds like the pits. 

I thought I'd like this and that it would be funny. Instead it was just endless inane dialogue that never advanced the plot and that, if eliminated, could have shortened the book by at least half. It was not humorous and Iris seemed like such a flake despite repeated insistence that she was the reliable one in the family. The banal description of events never raised the bar to any kind of suspense and I just could not care about any of this cast of characters. It was so full of predictable small town tropes. The pacing drags through repeated family drama and questionable decisions Iris makes that ended up making the whole story feel like it was never going to be over. I don't see any reason to continue this series as I barely made it to the end of this. I don't like anything about Iris, her family, their drama, or her future. It seemed like it wanted to be a sort of Stephanie Plum knockoff. 

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, Piper Goodeve, did a decent job but it was hard to distinguish between the characters as her voice never changed much in tone or pitch even when she was doing the male voices.

This is the first in a planned series which I will not continue.

Genre and tags: psychic visions, insta romance, drugs, bad guys, relatives, sexy stranger, murder 

The Crossword Murders (Secret Detective Agency #5) by Helena Dixon

 Wartime cozy mystery set in 1942 Devon.

Jane Treen receives an urgent message from her colleague Arthur Cilento and she travels to Devon, only to discover that he has summoned her to attend the funeral of his mentor, crossword creator Professor Sanford Watkins, whose death seems far from natural. Jane and Arthur begin investigating Watkins’s demise and uncover coded clues embedded within word puzzles and private journals. The case seems to be centered around happenings inside a secure underground art storage facility where a team of restorers and curators are cataloging and safeguarding the masterpieces to protect from looters, thieves, and bombs. Someone seems to be secretly removing certain pieces and giving them to the enemy. When another member of the community is killed, Jane and Arthur realize they are tracking someone willing to do anything to mask their secret mission.

Charming and cleverly constructed, the setting offers an atmospheric backdrop. The concept of the victim using crossword puzzles to hide clues was interesting. The dynamic between Jane and Arthur provides a solid anchor for the plot as their relationship seems to be changing as they continue to work together. I’m not a fan of all the Marmaduke cat antics but it seems all cozies now have to include a pet of some kind. 

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this e-book ARC to read, review. and recommend. This is another satisfying entry in the Secret Detective Agency series.

Books on Tour blog date 10-19-26

This is the 5th book in the series that I’ve read from the beginning in order.

Genre and tags: cozy mystery, wartime 1942, Devon, England, murder, art storage during the war

Where the Road Ends by Brian Freeman (Jonathan Stride #12)

 Authentic and suspenseful crime thriller with psychological depth.

In this police procedural, part of the Jonathan Stride series, he and wife Serena deal with the fallout from a devastating double homicide of a judge and his wife. The two detectives find that the crisis escalates quickly when Stride’s partner, Maggie Bei, shoots an unarmed intruder fleeing from the murder scene. Maggie is put on probation and faces a media storm and internal investigation. Meanwhile, Stride and Serena try to figure out what happened in the home of Judge Gordon Hartwick and his wife, Tracy. As the investigation widens, a strange connection to a cold case develops, centered on a teenage girl named Emma Strong who was kidnapped six years prior. 

Fast paced and full of interesting, complex characters, this provided twists and a multilayered plot. An ideal pick for me as I really enjoy realistic crime thrillers with some emotional weight. The setting of Duluth, Minnesota, with the cold and snow, adds to the tone of the story matching the moral gray areas and angst of a tragic mistake. I’ve read a couple of others in this series but now want to go back and get the ones I missed. Like the writing style and these characters. 

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 was the incomparable January LaVoy. I love her voice and the way she inhabits the characters and makes them all sound unique. Listening to her dramatic flair and expression totally immersed me in the story and enhanced my enjoyment of the book. She’s one of my favorite audio book narrators and I highly recommend the listen.

This is the 12th book in the series but I’ve read only a couple. This worked OK for me as enough backstory was given so I don’t feel that I missed out.

Genre and tags: police procedural, murder, gambling, corruption, police shooting, unwed pregnancy, adoption, psychological 

Drowning in Paper Flowers by E. L. Westbury

 The first thing to say is that the publisher’s description of the book is quite misleading and don’t decide not to read it because of what’s said. I was pleasantly surprised by the real story. 

Ruby Powell leads a seemingly nice life in an affluent Dallas neighborhood. But, behind closed doors, she relies on anti-anxiety meds to cope with a failing marriage, as well as trying to deal with a daughter who apparently detests her and a son who suffers some nightmares from a toddlerhood kidnapping. She knows her husband’s secret and decides to bide her time as problems with her children start to upend her life. Especially when she’s threatened. 

This was quite the wild ride and totally not what I expected given the plot summary. The story is told from various points of view with some flashbacks that make sense at the climax and final reveals. I honestly didn’t see that coming and I love when a twist can shock me. The characters were sure interesting and I gravitated between disgust and empathy. I really had a hard time dealing with how Millie treated her mom so hideously beyond normal teenager bad behavior. I appreciated how the epilogues tied things up and all the loose ends came together. I liked the ending. What a messed up family for sure but the most interesting kind are the messy ones. It was a little heavier than I prefer with kid and teen drama but I enjoyed it. And, perhaps an unpopular opinion, but I liked Ruby even if she is really whack. 

I listened to the audiobook while also following along in the e-book ARC given to me by the publisher and NetGalley. At first I wasn’t sure I was going to like her voice, but the narrator, Jessica Taige, ended up doing a fantastic job giving life to all the characters. Her performance definitely enhanced my enjoyment of the book. 

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

Genre and tags: domestic thriller, adultery, family trauma and drama, mental illness. PTSD, teacher-student relationship with grooming, sexual assault, rape

Witch Trial by Harriet Tyce

 This pairing of legal drama with psychological horror struggles to strike a tone and left me unimpressed.

When a boarding school student, Christian Shaw, is found dead in an Edinburgh park, her close friends, Eliza Lawson and Isobel Smyth, are brought to trial for her murder. Heart surgeon Matthew Phillips serves as an initially enthusiastic and devoted juror while the prosecution presents a shocking claim: the death was connected to the practice of witchcraft. As courtroom testimony unfolds, Matthew begins experiencing strange visions, leaving all to question whether supernatural forces are at play or if it is all a calculated deception and the two on trial just carried bullying too far. 

The initial premise of blending courtroom procedures with teenage occultism created real intrigue and hooked me, and the Edinburgh setting lends a fittingly bleak atmosphere, but the whole witch and devil thing really just lost me. The courtroom scenes are repetitive and Matthew is clearly in need of antipsychotic medication as he flips out really early on and I stopped buying into the story. I was not invested in the girls on trial and it all became rather boring. The author attempts a last twist but it falls flat and the final part of the book just left me shaking my head. I don’t think I’m the right target audience for a book of this nature with all of the witchcraft, tarot, ouija boards, devil messages, etc. 

I was provided with an audio book which I listened to while also reading along in the e-book ARC gifted by the publisher. The narrator, Angus King, did and OK job but he really had a heavy accent which made him hard for me to understand and his female characters all sounded the exact same and it wasn’t good. This would definitely have benefited from a female narrator to add some contrast and a change in tone. Usually the audiobook enhances my enjoyment but I had to stop listening at times and forced myself to go back to it. 

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

Genre and tags: teen witchcraft, occult, devil, spells, murder, trial, courtroom, jurors

You’ll Be Sorry by Liz Alterman

 Satisfying and suspenseful domestic thriller.

On the eve of her 40th birthday, successful and wealthy Amelia (Mia) Montgomery spots an advertisement featuring Ethan Blackmore, the ex-fiancé who shattered her life and left her humiliated over a decade ago. Mia rebuilt her entire identity from scratch to escape her past so she’s totally not meant to look deeper into what Ethan has been doing. She can’t help herself. Mia finds that he married well and has a couple of kids, but has lost his fortune and has had some trouble. While she’s happy he’s not on top of the world, she still has unresolved trauma and a deep desire for revenge. Mia can’t leave it alone and now it’s on. She’s going to dismantle everything in his life. 

This was fast and fun and kept me engaged. This is definitely one of those where the main character walks that line between seeking justice and becoming obsessed to her own detriment. Mia was easy to understand, especially at first, but as she went deeper into her dark desires to destroy him, she became unlikeable. Enough is enough. She definitely went too far, and she sort of missed her target (no spoilers) but I don’t think anyone was sorry about that. Mia was malicious and single minded losing sight of the end goal and carried things just a bit too far. I do think she got what she deserved and I doubt she got the closure she wanted, but it goes to show how retaliation can backfire. 

I was able to listen to the audio book while also following along in the ebook ARC provided by the publisher. The narrators, Christine Lakin and Stacey Carolan, did an excellent job of voicing the characters and bringing appropriate dramatic flair. Their performances really enhanced the immersive effect and increased my enjoyment of the story. 

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

Genre and tags: psychological thriller, suspense, domestic, murder, twins, revenge

Malice by Design (Jack Wyatt #2) by Gary Birken

 Medical sleuth Dr. Jack Wyatt and Dr. Madison Shaw return in this second installment of the medial thriller series.

The pair are called in to investigate a terrifying anomaly at a top pediatric oncology hospital. Children who were in remission from leukemia are suddenly developing an inexplicable, severe wasting disease that they name Leukemic Malnutrition or LM. The doctors race against time to uncover the root cause navigating hospital politics as well as discovering links to past unethical research. They ultimately find a secret that someone is willing to kill to protect. 

I had some problems with this book and ended up being disappointed. While it had a decent medical plot, the book as a whole just didn't hit right and was almost a duplicate of the first book as far as these two doctors coming in to save the day with this same obscure type diagnosis and a sinister bad actor behind it all. The characters of Jack and Madison just don't act right, I mean they are supposed to be a romantic couple, and all they ever did was run around the hospital, eat, and talk about the disease. Absolutely no tension or suspense in this story. It was actually kind of boring and slow. Also some errors where the wrong character's name was used, etc.  I have no issues with the medical jargon and descriptions, in fact, that's the only part of this that I liked was the discussion of prions. 

I don't know if I'll bother with further books in this series. The characters need some life and the stories need a new tangent. I am just not buying this super medical detective brilliance stuff. Definitely way too much ethics discussions and yeah, they are self-righteous and know they're correct about everything. 

This is the second in the series, best read in order.

Tags and Genre - medical mystery, prions, leukemia, experiments on humans, unethical research, murder 

What Happened That Night (Maud O'Connor #3) by Nicci French

 A slow-burning, deeply compelling mystery that hinges on tension and atmosphere.

After spending 30 years in prison for the murder of his university friend Leo, Tyler Green is released, still maintaining his innocence. He arranges a gathering of the 8 friends who were present on that tragic night for a reunion in London, seeking answers about what truly happened.  When another murder occurs late in the evening after dinner, Detective Inspector Maud O'Connor steps in to investigate. Tyler is immediately re-arrested and returned to prison but Maud isn't sure. As old secrets unravel and with the past repeating itself, Maud and DS Carrie Kessler must determine whether Tyler is a psychopathic killer seeking revenge or a scapegoat set up once again. 

This is one of those locked room type mysteries where the killer is hidden in plain sight and I suspected each person in turn. What makes the set up work so well in this case is the quiet paranoia and heavy sense of long-buried guilt among the friends. The story shifts focus from simple procedural tracking to a nuanced exploration of shifting loyalties, unreliable memories, past hurts as well as embarrassments, and evidence of how 30 years of secrets can corrode relationships. The characters were so well-developed and sharply drawn and as the friends reveal their stories in police interviews, Maud is laser focused on the timeline and their explanations about the night. The tension builds and the suspense escalates as things soon crystalize while Maud hones in on the likely killer and obtains the confessions. I could barely put this down wondering who did it making all sorts of guesses. It was a very engrossing book. I've read the first in this series but missed the second and now will definitely go back to catch up. 

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, Sophie Roberts, did a very good job of voicing all the characters, giving them unique and distinguishing tones. She had the appropriate dramatic flair which enhanced my immersion into the book and increased my appreciation of the story. 

Note - this book was previously titled Tyler Green Will Never Be Free

This is the third in series featuring DI Maud O'Connor and the second I have read.

Genre and tags: police procedural, murder, locked room, wrongful imprisonment, friendship 

The First Scarlet Door (Anson Bishop 4MK prequel #1) by J. D. Barker

Dark, atmospheric prequel that functions as a gripping origin story for a very unsettling serial killer.

In 1999, Anson Bishop, 15 years old, has escaped to Charleston after his childhood home burns down and his mother vanishes with stolen mob money. In a foster home sort of situation that reeks of child exploitation, he makes some friends who attempt to break free only to find that powerful forces are much more organized and stronger than anyone realized. The violence that surrounded his ruthless upbringing resurfaces and Anson, guided by his father's voice inside his head, is pushed to his limits and must rely on his highly analytical instincts to stay alive. All of his steps toward rescuing himself and the other kids are dangerous choices that push him down the dark path that will ultimately mold him into the notorious Four Monkey Killer. 

I had completely forgotten what a great writer this guy is and he's returned to top form with this first in what is meant to be three stories detailing Anson Bishop's growing up years. The main character is very interesting and you can see how his detachment style gives a unique perspective on the dangerous and scary situations he and the other kids are in. There's definitely a buildup of psychological momentum without losing the gritty and disturbing elements that make this a really great thriller. It's fast paced with short chapters of alternating viewpoints and some tight suspense with sharp plot twists. Who can be trusted in a world where unhoused children are for sale to the highest bidders. Reading this made me want to go back and reread the first trilogy but I'll probably wait until I've read all three of these origin stories. 

I thank NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC audio book which I listened to after also obtaining a copy of the e-book from the local library. The narrators, Michael Crouch and Piper Goodeve, were excellent in immersing me in this very dark world and I could not put this down so read it all in one sitting. Their voices created the tension and dramatic flair I appreciate for a story such as this and thoroughly enhanced my enjoyment of the book. 

This will surely captivate fans of the original 4MK series and likely secure more.

This is a prequel series related to the 4MK trilogy and I believe best read in publication date order.

Genre and tags: children, exploitation, trafficking, murder, torture, corrupt cops 

Fallow by Sarah Anderson

 Entertaining debut with humorous social commentary and a fun read for fans of speculative fiction. 

In a world where employee efficiency still dictates human necessity, Natalie is stuck in a dead-end job logging complaints at a workplace harassment call center. Burdened by debt, lacking dental insurance to pay for treatment, and selling her own plasma to get by, she spots a flyer at a local blood bank that changes everything.

She's recruited to The Company, a huge conglomerate launching a pilot program: to provide corporate funded surrogacy so their female execs don't have to juggle pregnancy and childbirth with the demands of their job. The deal seems like a dream as The Company provides Natalie with everything including an apartment, food, exercise and health programs, as well as a huge amount of money in exchange for carrying pregnancies for its top executives. Natalie enthusiastically accepts and the arrangement works for six years with transactional precision. However, during her final contracted pregnancy, a restructuring at The Company ends her comfortable routine. The shift in her lifestyle is full of surprises as she tries to figure out what she wants and recovery her own autonomy.

This novel is definitely one to make you think about current reproductive politics and modern work culture. What perks might be offered to keep the capitalist machine running at full force. I found this book insightful and with many topics to discuss making it ideal as a book club choice. I liked Natalie even though she's so disarmingly honest about her lack of ambition, desire not to work, and her attitude about what she needs to have a nice life. Her cynical voice makes her journey to self discovery both hilarious and relatable. I was much more interested in her surrogate life than in the communal environment because she didn't seem to fit with any sort of that minimalist mindset and I wonder if she substituted animals for all else that she lacked in her personal life. I also thought the book ended rather abruptly. 

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, Natalie Naudus, did a great job of voicing the mostly all female cast of characters. She handled some accents and tried to make each voice distinguishable. Her tone and pacing was well done and the production added to my enjoyment of the story.

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

Genre and tags: female reproductive rights, surrogate pregnancy, workplace culture, social commentary, self determination 

 

January and July by Jeff Abbott

 A nasty web of spiders and intrigue hidden in a small town.

When Global Intelligence Analytics (Annex) intel officer January Holte messes up on a Paris situation, she's given another chance to redeem herself. The assignment requires her to track a possible traitor from within her organization. She arrives in quiet Lethy, Texas, where everyone in the small town seems to know each other and she can tell there's something a bit suspicious going on. At the same time, a private bodyguard, July Whitlock, arrives to search for his missing client, Bill Connors. The strange duo is forced to team up as the uncover an intricate web of money laundering, fake organizations, and local greed where no one is telling the truth and all seem to be criminals.

This began with an intriguing premise, but it quickly became bogged down with an overwhelmingly large cast of characters and a very convoluted plot. With so many competing perspectives, subplots, and suspects to track, the narrative drug out for far too long making what should have been a tense thriller feel unexpectedly dull and more like a comic book. I am a bit bewildered as well by the choice of the main character's names. When the climax and conclusion finally arrive, it felt so completely predictable and I was disappointed. This was definitely not what I had hoped for when I selected this book. I sure hope there are no plans for this to become a series as I wouldn't read more about this pair. 

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, Lauren Fortgang, did an adequate job but there were far too many different characters requiring a lot of unique voices and accents which just proved a bit too many for her to maintain. This is one of those books that would have benefited from a full cast. 

This is a standalone and not part of any series.

Genre and tags: spies, money laundering, murder, criminal netework 

That Night by Gillian McAllister

 Family drama that was ultimately frustrating and disappointing. 

While on vacation at their shared home in Italy, siblings Cathy and Joe receive a frantic late-night call from their younger sister, Frannie, who has hit and killed a man with her car. To protect Frannie, the trio buries the body near their property and agrees to a pact of silence. Once back home and to work at their shared veterinary practice, escalating secrets and internal paranoia force the siblings to question their loyalty and how far they will go to protect one another. 

Although the narrative sets up a high stakes moral dilemma, the story quickly drags under the weight of endless repetitive emotional monologues that stall the momentum of the plot. It all falls because of a cast of unlikable characters --Cathy, Joe, and Frannie, whose self pity and bad decision-making make them really hard to root for. On top of that, the constant back and forth timeline disrupts the build up of any suspense as the reader guesses what is really going on. I just couldn't understand or relate to any of their responses to their situation. It was far too long as well. I didn't like the ending either.

I was able to listen to the audio book while also following along in the e-book ARC, both provided by the publisher. The narrator, Amrita Archaria, did an OK job but this story would have really benefited from a full cast with separate voices for the three main characters. It all sounded very much the same tone and inflection throughout and lacked unique voices. I like to immerse myself in a production to enhance my enjoyment of the story. 

This is a stand alone and not part of any series.

Genre and tags: murder, siblings, veterinary practice, family, secrets, coverup, bribes, lies 

It's Not What You Think by Claire Mackintosh

 A thriller full of misdirection that will keep you guessing.

Nadeeka Prasanna, convinced her partner Jamie is having an affair, sneaks home early to catch him in the act. Stung by past betrayals, she speeds to her house only to walk into an active crime scene -- Jamie has been murdered. What starts as a classic domestic suspense novel rapidly spirals into something far more dangers as hidden secrets and modern societal tensions come to light.

Wow, what a surprising shift in the story line! I had to keep reading as things kept twisting. Without spoilers, it's hard to say more about the action and plot but this is definitely not what I was expecting. I really liked the two main female characters, Nadeeka, and the DCI Lauren Caldwell. Other characters are also compelling and I was hooked in the first chapter. 

Told in alternating points of view, the pace doesn't let up as the revelations drop. I certainly didn't have this one all figured out and I really enjoyed that. I  will say that I ordinarily avoid reading any books that have social commentary or virtue signaling, but I didn't get pressure or heavy handedness with the issues. The topic is relevant and definitely one that elicits mixed responses. I was expecting domestic drama and a murder mystery, but this was so much more.

I was able to listen to the audio book while also following along in the e-book ARC, both provided by the publishers. This was a full cast recording and what a pleasure it was to listen and be so fully immersed in the story. The narrators, Richard Armitage, Samuel Barnett, Tuppence Middleton, and Vineeta Rishi, were all fantastic and deftly handled their character's voices imbued with appropriate dramatic flair. I really enjoyed them and their performance enhanced my appreciation of the novel. 

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

Genre and tags: (spoilers here) mystery, thriller, murder, domestic suspense.....

don't look down

 

 

domestic terrorism, immigration, far right ideology, racism, xenophobia, radicalization 

Those Who Are Gone (#2 Raquel Laing) by Laurie R. King

 Intricate and highly detailed police procedural.

When San Francisco Inspector Raquel Laing bends the rules on a murder case, she finds herself reassigned to the Cold Case Unit alongside mentor Al Hawkin. What seems like a routine transfer quickly turns personal as Raquel and her adoptive sister, Dee, uncover long-buried family secrets tied to drugs and an old investigation. As past trauma and present danger collide, the sisters are drawn into a dangerous game when forgotten history and family stories come to the surface. 

Although the author definitely knows how to construct a true police procedural, and the sister dynamic between Raquel and Dee adds a compelling emotional anchor, the pacing and the plot just sort of drag into ….well, a sort of boring tale. I just could not bring myself to be too bothered and it was such a slow burn unraveling of their family history that I found it a bit of a slog. I tried really hard to care about the characters, but again, they are so dull and I just couldn’t deal with all their past trauma still controlling their lives. Lots of coincidences and parallels in the case which seemed to stretch my ability to buy in. I didn’t feel any tension and I just wanted this very slow burn to be over and answer all the questions. Ho hum.

I was able to listen to the audio book while also following along in the e-book provided by the publishers. The narrators, Vivienne Leheny and Luis Moreno, did an adequate job of trying to voice the characters with accents and dramatic flair. There were quite a few mispronunciations of places and nouns but I find that quite often in audio. Usually I find listening while reading to create an immersive experience that enhances my enjoyment of a book. Although the plot was plodding, the two did their best. 

This is the second in a series that should be read in order.

Tags and genre: police procedural, sisters, cold case, family, drugs, murder

Buried in the Woods Below by Daniel G. Miller

 A mystery thriller that might keep you guessing.

Charlotte Hoffman agrees to visit a secluded Minnesota island to stay with her childhood family friends after she’s suspended from her job. Supposedly she’s there at her mother’s behest to help the Parkers care for their 8-year old twins and enjoy her time away from work. She arrives to find a house surrounded by dense forests and an abandoned amusement park that was the site of a tragedy 18 years prior. Soon after she settles in, strange notes begin to appear and dangerous incidents escalate. It’s all leading up to a terrifying climax on a stormy night.

The set up was solid but the execution screamed trying too hard as the suspense felt forced. There was a lot of weird stuff going on from the beginning but I, unfortunately, saw the set up and twists right away which dimmed my interest. I didn’t care for the main character and her crush was annoying as were her dreams. The plot seemed overworked and cliche. One happy surprise was, however, that it went where I hoped it would at the end. It was a quick read but the constant melodramatic push kept it firmly meh for me. 

The e-book ARC was provided to me by the publisher for my opinion. I was able to secure the audio book from the library so that I could listen while reading, but I did not care at all for the narrator, Victoria Villarreal, as her voice grated with her stops and starts that were intended to be dramatic. Generally the  simultaneous experience enhances my enjoyment, but I had to stop listening.  

This was a standalone and not part of any series.

Genre and tags: mystery thriller, suspense, island — to give any more tags would give it all away

Fury in Death (Eve Dallas #63) by JD Robb

 A shift from traditional police procedural to a morally complex race against a unique adversary.

In 2061 New York, Lieutenant Eve Dallas investigates the brutal overkill murder of Larry Chu, a top biotech executive at the shadowy conglomerate Banner-Wyst. Alongside Roarke and the rest of the NYPD crew, Eve is faced with a string of violent retaliatory killings of other employees of that company. The trail leads back 13 years to a tragic event that destroyed a scientist’s family. Digital records show millions spent for secret payouts. At the end of the day, Eve is forced to hunt a grieving killer whose quest for vengeance mirrors her own deeply rooted sense of justice even though she’s determined to make them pay. 

This 63rd in the series balances the procedural with an emotional aspect. The tragedy is established early on so the reader understands the reason behind the murders. There is definitely a heartbreaking motive but the crimes against the Banner-Wyst employees are also extremely violent and personal. Eve finds herself in a gray area because of her empathy for the perpetrator while she struggles with what she knows is her unwavering sense of duty to the law. 

As always, enjoy the interaction between all of the characters who are also good friends as well as work colleagues. Their whole history is so intertwined and the relationships so mutually healthy. I get a kick out of all of the futuristic details and conveniences that still seem so far away from what we have today but who knows. Can’t wait for the next in the series as they always seem like fresh and intriguing plots. 

I was able to listen to the audio book while also following along in the e-book ARC, both provided by the publisher. The narrator, Susan Ericksen, has performed all of the “In death” books and she does a great job voicing all the various characters keeping them distinct and identifiable. She’s got the accents and the tone down to an art and her dramatic flair always creates an immersive effect that enhances my enjoyment of the book. 

This is an installment in a long running series that should be read in order from the beginning.

Genre and tags: murder, vengeance, police procedural, friends and colleagues, corporate greed, whistleblower

Mother Daughter Sister Stranger by Hank Phillippi Ryan

 Domestic suspense with many twists and turns.

Sisters Eliza and Bea share a traumatic bond as the only survivors of the plane crash that killed their parents. Years later, on the exact anniversary of the crash, Bea vanishes without a trace, failing to pick up her 11-year-old daughter, Piper, from Eliza’s home. Eliza embarks on a desperate search that unravels a web of family secrets tied to a serial killer from their past. 

This was entertaining with a good premise, but ultimately was way too wordy with repetitious and unnecessary stream of unconsciousness angst as the story evolves from Eliza’s point of view. For example, at one point, it takes 3 pages of wild speculation to get her from hearing someone at the door to actually going to answer. I personally don’t care for all of that and it bogged down the pace of the story. So all these possibilities of what happened to Bea and we skip from one assumption to another as Eliza sees danger around every corner and in every person. Then come the revelations which jump out one after another as they get more outrageous. It all felt more manufactured drama rather than a good mystery. I tried hard to really feel for Eliza and the other characters but they all seemed so superficial and without depth. 

I was able to listen to the audiobook while also following along in the e-book ARC, both provided by the publishers. The narrator, Stevi Incremona, did a decent job of trying to voice all the characters. I always enjoy the immersive experience.

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

Genre and tags: mystery, suspense, family drama, serial killer, pregnancy, adoption, murder, secrets and lies 

They Say a Girl Died Here by Sarah Pinborough

 The genre bending was just too far out for me.

It was more like this book didn’t know what it wanted to be — a suspense thriller, eerie and supernatural, or psychological drama. 

A very traumatized college dropout, Anna Maybourne, moves to the drought-stricken farming town of Harper’s Creek, Nebraska. In a big old sorta spooky type house purchased by her grandmother, Evelyn (who is apparently suffering from extreme dementia), Anna is also joined by her mother and younger sister. The town is haunted by the unresolved “Farmhand” killings, where two local young women were murdered three years apart before the prime suspect was shot dead by police. As the next 3 year anniversary approaches, Anna grows convinced that the real killer remains free and is still right there. At the same time, her grandmother begins speaking weirdly and doing increasingly odd things. Anna decides to challenge the police findings and uncover the real killer.

Anna, who is 22 years old, is the type of character I can’t tolerate. She speaks and acts without any impulse control and behaves abominably to everyone. Of course, everything she does is blamed on “the thing” that happened to her while she was at university. The actual events were not revealed until the very end of the book, but it was quite obvious because of the ever present misandry. I have come to really dislike when a trope of man hating and bashing is so present in a book because of something that happened to the character where all are blamed for the actions of a few. Maybe it’s because I have a lot of lovely men and boys in my life and I get so sick of this on social platforms with sweeping generalizations of anti male rhetoric. In any event, it was a pervasive theme that men can’t be trusted and of course, that bore out with the climax and revelations in this story. This was way too slow a build up and nothing but Anna being a wild card until all of a sudden she pulls out all the stops, solves the crime, and is almost back to whoever she supposedly was before. When, I thought, what she needed from the beginning was some really intense psychotherapy. It was unbelievable and I didn’t buy into the whole Anna is so clever to figure this all out on her own in a minute. It was not suspenseful, the whole intent of trying to create a supernatural element was uneven and I didn’t buy into it, and Anna, as a main character was totally unlikeable. 

I was disappointed because I’ve read and really liked several other of this author’s novels, but this was just frustrating and the stylistic choices made this a frustrating read.  

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, Saskia Maarleveld, was wonderful, but even her skills and dramatic talents were not enough to overcome the shortcomings of the plot and characters. 

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

Genre and tags: psychological, rape survivor, trauma, sexual assault, murder, unwanted pregnancy, marital affairs, supernatural, dementia, small town, cold case, amateur sleuth, mental health

Murder Stage Left by Verity Bright (#26 Lady Swift)

 

Effective blend of artifact theft, arson, and homicide keeps readers guessing in the latest installment of this cozy mystery series. 

The Byron Detective Agency has a new remit when they are visiting Stratford-upon-Avon and find themselves caught up in a theatrical nightmare. The Shakespeare Memorial Theatre is buzzing over an upcoming production of Macbeth starring the charismatic stage icon Richard Ratcliffe. Chaos erupts, however, when it’s discovered that precious Shakespearean artifacts have vanished from the collection, quickly followed by a suspicious fire at the playhouse. As Eleanor, Seldon, and Clifford race to help put the fire out, the grin discovery of a body adds to their investigation. 

Lots of characters with motives, but they are no match for the Agency. Very entertaining and fast-paced, the savvy reader might spot the killer before the set up of the final acts. Another warm and period appropriate treat for fans of this series. 

If interested in Golden Age detective fiction, this is a great series that should be read in order.

Book Blog Tour Stop 9-1-2026
Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for this e-book ARC to read, review, and recommend.

Not a Word by Linwood Barclay

 Fast-paced domestic mystery thriller.

The book opens on a disturbing crime scheme when Reece visits his parents’ home and finds his father and mother dead in their bed. The situation collapses into complete chaos when Reece gets a phone call from his actual mother — who is alive and entirely unaware of the tragedy. What looks like a murder-suicide at first soon becomes something quite different as devastating secrets and lies are revealed. 

There’s a lot going on in this story that is told from multiple points of view and shifts in the timeline. Definitely a lot of drama and trauma as family history is unearthed. Every time I thought I knew who had done what to whom, I was course corrected with the next revelation. I’d like to say I was drawn in and hooked by the many characters, but that would not be true as I never really took to any of them. This family was too much a mess and though there was a lot of angst expressed, the resolutions left a lot to be desired. Certainly many characters to loathe. I was a bit disappointed by how it all played out with the climax and conclusion. It also seemed that there were so many coincidences that kept me suspending disbelief. I did enjoy it, however.

I was able to listen to the audio book while also following along in the e-book, both provided by the publishers. The narrators, Nan McNamara and Jonathan McClain did a great job handling all the different character voices. As always, listening while reading helps to create a really immersive experience that makes me enjoy the book even more. 

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

Genre and tags: murder, whistleblower, secrets and lies, family drama, trauma, drug addiction

Heart of Glass by Jennifer Hillier

 A deliciously dark, addictive read with fabulous twists.

In the small town of Seaside, Washington, 25 years have passed since the Carnival Killer admitted to murdering 5 women, including teenager Lorelei Glass. That admission sealed away a nightmare for her best friends, Barb and Nicolette. 

Now, Barb works as a local reporter while secretly posting on a trashy celebrity gossip blog targeting the hit reality show Trophy Wives. Unknown to her readers, one of the show’s stars, Cole Lennox, is actually Nicolette who fled Seaside decades ago to reinvent herself and  set up a new life. Their separation ends after the Carnival Killer recants his confession for Lorelei’s murder, and a new body washes up along the coast. 

There’s a lot going on in this novel, and no spoilers, but the hits just keep on coming. Eventually the truth of what happened on that fateful summer night comes to light. 

I just could not put this down and so read it in a single sitting today. It’s slick, razor-sharp and it so cleverly fuses small town noir with the glossy, voyeuristic world of reality television. It’s a psychological thriller with a dark mystery that has such flawed and compelling characters. We see the messiness of teenage friendships — the insecurity, jealousy, and lingering guilt — and how it projects into their adult lives. The pacing is relentless as it alternates between the original summer tragedy and the present-day drama trauma. 

I did not read Wonderland, the first book that is set in Seaside but that is a companion more than a first of a series. I also listened to the bonus chapter that featured the serial killer Sam Figg.

I was able to listen to the audio book while also following along in the e-book ARC, both provided by the publishers. The narrators, Brittany Pressley, January LaVoy, Eunice Wong, Ferdelle Capistrano, and Chris Brinkley, were — for the most part — absolutely amazing. I did, however, hate the voice of Kylie Kuhl and can’t find any information to indicate which narrator voiced that character. The others did a great job bringing all the emotion and drama to life and definitely enhanced my enjoyment of the book. I highly recommend listening if you get the chance. 

This is a companion to Wonderland but it’s not necessary to have read it in order to enjoy this one.

Genre and tags: so much going on here: sexual assault, pedophilia, trauma, friendship, murder, teen pregnancy, reality shows, domestic violence and abuse, kidnapping

Error in Diagnosis by Gary Birken (Jack Wyatt #1)

 Thoroughly absorbing medical thriller that relies on clinical detail and diagnostic problem solving at her than emotional theatrics.

Dr. Jack Wyatt, a famed neurologist, is called to consult when an epidemic of severe, atypical neurological symptoms starts to affect pregnant patients across the United States. Partnering with Dr. Madison Shaw, a perinatologist, he tries to find the cause and hopefully a treatment for a newly identified fatal condition termed Gestational Neuropathic Syndrome or GNS. As the body count rises and panic spreads through the medical community and into the highest levels of government, the duo races against time to create a team that will try to pinpoint the source of this outbreak and stop an unimaginable crisis. 

This was very fast paced and it was obvious the author had a medical background. Lots of all the fantastic details I love such as realistic hospital protocols, laboratory work, and epidemiological tracking. It seemed technically accurate in the ways that matter and the disease affecting women and their unborn babies made it feel urgent. I’d love to read another in this series.

I was able to listen to the audio book provided by the publisher while also following along in the e-book. The narrator, Eric Jason Martin, did a fantastic job of voicing all the characters. I appreciated the different tones and accents of the male and female characters. His dramatic flair was spot on. The production definitely enhanced my enjoyment of the book.

This is the first in a medical thriller series. 

Genre and tags: pregnant women, neurological illness, medical thriller

The Secrets We Hide by Karin Slaughter (North Falls #2)

 Fast-paced procedural focused on town dynamics and local corruption.

This sequel takes us back to North Falls, Georgia. Sheriff Emmy Clifton and her sister, former federal agent Jude archer, respond to a shooting on the way back from their mother’s funeral. Inside, former police officer Alison Vickery lies dead in her kitchen while her severely insulted teenage daughter, Mandy, falls through from the attic and is taken away by ambulance. Allison’s husband is missing, and since he was known to be abusive, the town assumes a domestic homicide. As Emmy digs into th crime scene, however, she discovers buried secrets, historical patterns of abuse that are familiar to her own situation, and extensive corruption that points to a far more complex sequence of events. 

Though the plot moves quickly, the whole investigation quickly becomes extremely complex and convoluted. There is so much going on it’s hard to keep up. It is also difficult because there are so many characters to keep track of. We focus on physical evidence and timeline reconstruction and trace Allison’s activities before her murder. All the while, the relationship issues between Emmy and Jude are looming large — will the truth out? I was impatient for the truth to be told and alas, it doesn’t happen (sorry spoiler). I felt the weight of all the family drama and trauma going on in the background during the whole investigation. I wasn’t shocked at the revelations and I sort of feel that there wasn’t quite enough weight given to the perpetrator’s guilt in the end. I think there’s a lot rotten in that small town and brushing one more death under the rug isn’t going to provide the clean up the place needs. I’m thinking there will be another installment that I will definitely read, but I do like when justice is served and I didn’t quite feel that it was in this one.

I was able to listen to the audio book while also following along in the e-book ARC provided by the publisher. The narrator, Kathleen Early, did a fantastic job of voicing the characters and creating an intense environment that heightened the immersive experience. The production definitely enhanced my enjoyment of the book. 

This is the second book in a series that should be read in order.

Genre and tags: police procedural, murder, domestic violence and abuse, small towns, criminals, family trauma and drama

The Unknown by Riley Sager

 Skip this one.

A feature film recreating strange events that happened in 1926 on New Avalon, a remote island on Lake Faraday in Vermont, is about to start production. The cast is gathered on the island for a weeklong immersion rehearsal complete with period costumes and no phones. Shortly after arrival, a medical emergency leaves them without communication to the mainland. Members of the cast begin disappearing one by one. 

This book collapses under the weight of an absurd premise, thin characterization, and nonsensical logic. The cast of characters makes so many illogical choices solely to drag out the mystery and results in them being artificial rather than believable. I think I should have left this unfinished as I started disliking it almost immediately. I never connected with Marin Keene as the main character and I found the plot so overwhelmingly contrived as to border on ridiculous. I don't care about the author writing female POV and supposedly, according to other reviews, getting it so terribly wrong. What I did mind was how he used it to justify revenge murder. Another episode in the whole saga about how women are and will forever be victims of men. 

What could have been a tight dual-timeline thriller devolved into an unconvincing sequence of cheap misdirection and a convoluted setup of motives. The twists were beyond all. It was so frustrating and I am so mad I wasted my time. I won't say it's the worst book I've ever read but it's very close. 

 I have to comment on the audio book that I listened to while also reading along in the e-book ARC provided by the publisher. There were three narrators, Maggie Grace, Patricia Santomasso, and Erin Lin. I had to turn it off half way through as the voices of these women made a bad story even worse. All of them had overly breathy tones and some really heavy and unnatural choppy stops and then a very rapid run that disrupted the rhythm and messed up the pacing. Their overly dramatic performances really created a sense of melodrama more than tension. I do not recommend. 

This is a standalone and not part of any series.

Genre and tags: Hollywood, assault, murder, psychological trauma, multiple personalities 

Murder in a Yorkshire Village (Kitty Underhay #24) by Helena Dixon

 

The 24th installment is a straightforward Golden Age whodunit centered on a local crime during a village event.

In 1938, Kitty and her husband, Matt Bryant, travel from Devon to rural Yorkshire to visit Matt’s parents. Their stay is already a bit rocky and takes a turn for the worse when they attend the village’s annual bicycle race. While out walking the dog, Kitty finds one of the racers dead in a ditch alongside his damaged bike. The homicide victim is none other than Inspector James Lewis’s disreputable brother! Apparently he’s made quite a mess of things between being the fiancé of one local girl and having an affair with a married woman. In fact, Bradley Lewis had his greedy fingers in a lot of schemes. When a second person turns up murdered, Kitty and Matt must work with James Lewis and the local constabulary to figure out who has killed them and why. 

Another entertaining episode in the lives of Kitty and Matt. The story relies on the typical classic cozy elements such as secret affairs, local rivalries, and overlapping motives among the suspects in a small village. Not as dramatic as other cases, it’s a solid functional entry in the series. What’s interesting is that Matt and Kitty seem more like friends and partners rather than a newlywed, madly in love married couple. They do a lot of walking, talking, and eating. 

Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for this e-book ARC to read and review. I do like the series and have read them all, in order, and plan to continue. 

Blog Tour 8-18-26

Genre and tags: cozy mystery, golden age, murder, whodunit

In the Dark Places (DI Vincent Swann#1) by Helen H. Durrant

 A straightforward, plot-driven British procedural.

Detective Inspector Vincent Swann transfers to a new police unit in Manchester. His first major assignment with the team begins with the discovery of a murdered young woman in a skip. She has been beaten so badly that her identity is a mystery. In addition, pram tracks nearby indicate that a child may have been on the scene. Once the team knows this woman's name, they are faced with some real issues as she was the wife of one of the two main gangsters in town and they have to determine if this incident was retaliation or the start of a war between the Pikes and the Fishers. Instead, they find that there is someone else involved and other dynamics at work.

This was a well written and complicated homicide procedural with lots of red herrings and suspects. The story follows standard investigative protocols, following forensic evidence, timeline reconstructions, and witness interviews without straying into dramatics. The characters, especially Vincent Swann and fellow DI Kat Jardine (both vying for promotion within the unit), were well developed and quite interesting. Opposites in many ways, Vincent private and reserved as well as antisocial, and Kat, who is much more outgoing and definitely equal to the tasks, find their way as they navigate the twists and turns the case takes. The pace was steady and maintains a grounded focus as they work.

I was able to listen to the audio book while also following along in the e-book ARC, both provided by the publisher. The narrator, Orlando Wells, did a fine job of voicing all the characters though this definitely would have benefited with a female actor to take on the roles of those women characters. His voice matched the pacing and was appropriately dramatic. This created a nice immersive reading experience that I recommend.

This is the first in a new series.

 Genre and tags: British police procedural, murder, rival gangs, drugs, child abduction, family problems

Dark Harbor (#3 Brock Justice) by Bruce Robert Coffin

 Gripping multilayered police procedural hits the spot.

When multimillionaire Granville Warren and an unidentified burglar are found dead after a chaotic home invasion in a Bar Harbor, Maine mansion, Detective Brock Justice is called to investigate with his partner Detective Chloe Wright and a suspicious new member of the team, Detective Samantha Osborn, who seems to be harboring some hidden motives for being there. 

Granville’s much younger widow, Lily, claims she acted in self-defense but some of the evidence contradicts her story. Brock must navigate the underbelly of the local elite as he discovers that the dead town patron had some serious flaws including the fact that he was blackmailing tons of them. 

I love a good cop story without drama and psycho stuff and this was it. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, I really like tension and gritty authenticity. It’s obvious that the author has real world experience in law enforcement. This is the third in the series I have read and I really like the main character, Brock Justice, who is a compelling resilient protagonist.  I love the hard boiled mysteries and small town intrigue of these and I look forward to the next installment.

ARC compliments of the publisher.

This is the third in a series that should be read in order.

Tags and genre: police procedural, mystery, thriller, murder

Bitter Fall (#2 Brock Justic) by Bruce Robert Coffin

 Tightly plotted but predictable police procedural,

Detective Brock Justice investigates the death of Summer Randall on a dark backcountry road in Greenville, Maine. What initially appears to be a fatal accident caused by a car quickly turns into a homicide investigation when the medical examiner discovers a hidden stab would. Reunited with his partner, Detective Chloe Wright, Justice navigates a complex web of suspects while facing all sorts of political fallout. 

The police details are authentic because the book is written by someone who was an actual homicide detective. The author blends the rugged Maine wilderness setting with a tense, fast-paced plot line that draws the reader in as the investigative team explores all sorts of potential suspects and red herrings. Unfortunately, before even the half way mark, I knew who the killer was and I was so disappointed that it was so obvious and it was this person. 

The author has created a character in Brock Justice who is a flawed protagonist trying to get back on track but who can’t let go of the past. He faces his nemesis and finally makes a breakthrough

I enjoyed this second book in the series and am moving on to the third. My only  issue was that the killer was so obvious and it took them ages to see it.

This is the second book in a series that should be read in order.

Genre and tags: police procedural, murder, pregnancy, best friends, 

Crimson Thaw (Detective Justice #1) by Bruce Robert Coffin

 Atmospheric police procedural that strikes a nice balance between gritty realism and fast-paced suspense.

Former star detective Brock Justice suffers a career tailspin after breaching the code of silence within the thin blue line of te Main State Police. Banished to the frozen landscape of northern Maine as punishment, Brock is assigned to the Major Crimes Unit there and paired up as trainer and mentor to a newly minted Detective Chloe Wright. Their first case begins when Chloe, on a police dive, finds a submerged snowmobile in a pond up at Blue hill. When it’s brought up to the surface, they have their homicide investigation. The pair uncover a dark web of corruption running through some of the key figures in town — on both sides of the law. Brock and Chloe navigate a new and uneasy partnership while trying to figure out who in town is an ally and who is involved in the high stakes drug operation.

You can tell this must have been written by a former homicide detective as there are so many great details about police investigation and process. There is enough mystery and many questions as the probe continues while the relationship between two dynamic main characters evolves to create mutual respect between them. This is a great series opener and I look forward to reading the next two that I have lined up on my TBR shelf. I really like the mix of small town secrets with authentic, hard-boiled investigative work.

I received this as an ARC from the publisher and recommend it. 

This is the first in a series that should be read in order.

Genre and tags: drugs, police investigation, corruption, dirty cops, counterfeit operation, Maine

Two Degrees by Alan Gratz

 I read this along with my 13 year old grandson in our book club for summer reading projects.

The main focus was on climate change — an increase of two degrees Celsius more will be enough to tip the planet into irreversible changes that will destroy it such as catastrophic sea level rise, severe droughts, wildfires, widespread ecosystem loss, and extinction events. 

The story centers on events in 3 different parts of North America as experienced by teenagers. A wildfire in California, a hurricane in Miami, and the melting of Arctic ice in Churchill, Manitoba. 

Talk about harrowing. Lots of drama and trauma.

I’m sure this will give an opportunity for lots of good discussion on the topics explored. 

Juvenile fiction

Not rated

Climate change, natural disasters, survival, teenagers

Where the Rivers Merge (#1 Rivers Books) by Mary Alice Monroe

 Poignant historical novel with a focus on South Carolina from the start of the 20th century.

Set in the South Carolina Lowcountry, this story follows Eliza Pinckney Rivers across two pivotal eras. In 1988, Eliza is 88 years old and is fighting to protect her family's ancestral estate, Mayfield, and the surrounding ACE Basin from her greedy son's development pans. As she recounts her life to her niece and granddaughter, the narrative shifts back to 1908 and details her childhood as a nature-loving free spirit. She navigates family loss, WWI, and societal pressure. This is a sweeping tale of resilience, a woman's lifelong bond with the land, and a tale of the importance of conservation. 

This lovely novel was a joy to read with the way the author fully develops and delivers multidimensional characters while also putting them into a place undergoing many societal changes including racial issues and women's rights. Eliza is a fierce matriarch whose personal growth mirrors the changing Southern landscape around her. There are vivid descriptions of the land that help the reader understand Eliza's passion to preserve it. 

Since this is marketed as a duology with the second book still a year out in 2027, there are some unresolved issues and story arcs. This is indeed a captivating exploration of legacy, female agency, and ecological stewardship. 

I was able to listen to the audio book while also following along in the e-book. The narrators, Jenna Lamia and Cassandra Campbell, delivered a fantastic performance. The accents, the cadence, and their dramatic flair added so much to bring this story to life and created a truly immersive reading experience. Highly recommended. 

This is the first in a duology that should be read in order.

Genre and tags: sweeping family saga, book club fiction, historical fiction, 1900s South Carolina, women's rights, racial issues, conservation, nature 

Tradwife by Michelle Brandon

 Domestic thriller with a not so subtle revenge motive.

In Crystal Harbor, the women curate picture perfect traditional lifestyles for social media while also navigating intense petty rivalries behind closed doors. There’s domestic drama and social jockeying while Jennifer, Miranda, and Ariel try to focus on their children and lives in a town where all are expected to follow the norms and behave properly. 

This was really a hard book to like. None of the 3 women are characters that created any feeling other than annoyance. There was always this predictable element and the ever present hovering of the secrets they were keeping but not telling the reader. I guessed immediately what was going on. Truly suburban drama and it was more tedious than compelling. The big event about the body on the beach comes way late to be a part of most of the book and it was all a bit unbelievable how the story wrapped up. 

Perhaps this was written to be some sort of cautionary tale, but the lives of these women weren’t lived in a vacuum and they all knew each other from young on yet they stayed in town. The blurb is very misleading. The story is basically 3 different points of view with only one of them actually living the tradwife lifestyle. The other two are the current wife and ex wife of one of them male characters. 

I was able to listen to the audio book while also following along in the e-book ARC, both provided by the publishers. The production had a full cast with narrators Ann Marie Gideon, Eva Kaminsky, Amanda Stribling, And Hillary Huber. Two of the voices were so annoying that I had to fast forward the audio and just read the chapters for Ariel and Tara. The publisher hasn’t indicated which of the narrators voiced which characters so I can’t identify them. Usually the audio book enhances my enjoyment of the book, but nothing really helped this time. 

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

Genre tags: domestic suspense, tradwife, traditional roles, marriage and family, revenge, petty rivalry

The Story Keeper by Kelly Rimmer

 An atmospheric, character-driven mystery about grief, hidden trauma, and family secrets.

A new divorced woman, Fiona Winslow, returns to her family home in Australia. It’s a crumbling estate that needs a lot of work, but she’s just the person to do it. Strangely, her mother is not happy at all that Fiona has come back and doesn’t want her to do anything to the mansion. Despite all, Fiona is determined and gets to work trying to clean the place that has been abandoned for over a decade. Under the dust and detritus, she finds a box of books. Intrigued, she starts reading The Midnight Estate, a captivating story of love and betrayal that eerily mirrors her own family and this very house.

I loved the book-within-a-book structure and even though I knew at once what she was reading, I really liked the way the author did the reveals. The timelines and characters are masterfully tied together in a very gripping narrative that kept me glued to the pages. I fell in love with the characters and bristled at the coercive control and abuse. Definitely led to a haunting and satisfying conclusion.

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, Siho Ellsmore, did a fantastic job with all of the character voices. Her dramatic flair and accents really enhanced my enjoyment of the story. Her talent created a vey immersive reading experience and I highly recommend it. 

My copies of both the e-book and audio book were titled The Midnight Estate.

This a standalone and is not part of any series.

Genre and tags: mystery, abusive relationships, old houses, Australia

The Women in White by Sarah Pekkanen

 Engrossing and hard to put down, this psychological thriller blends elements of historical fiction centered on 1960s psychical experiments. 

In 1964, four young women named Betty, Kathleen, Ivy, and Helen are recruited by a university researcher to undergo high-stakes parapsychology studies testing their extra sensory abilities. As the tests grow increasing invasive, the subjects form a tight bond but the program suddenly vanishes from history, leaving the fate of the four women a mystery.

Decades later, a newly divorced woman named Riley Bell takes a live-in caretaker job for an elderly wheelchair bound Betty. Stepping into her home, frozen in the 1960s with no modern technology, Riley begins uncovering Betty’s past. 

Told in a past and present timeline and from the different women's points of view, the journey back reveals what happened to the women and the true extent of their gifts. 

What an eerie, atomospheric blend of historical fiction and psychological suspense that felt remarkably grounded in truth. The dual timeline structure creates a slow burn tension that shifts between the trauma experienced by the women in the 1960s and Riley’s present-day investigation. 

This novel shines witih its rich character dynamics and emotional depth exploring themes of female friendship and solidarity, institutional control, and the restraints placed on women in that particular time period. It also shows the scars left by being treated as research subjects rather than as persons. It was scary to see the women fall under total control of Dr. Trimble and the things he subjected those young women to in the name of pursing his own fame and glory. It was quite sad actually. 

Even though I am a skeptic about ESP and psychic abilities, I recognize it might only be because I’ve never experienced any sixth sense or lucid dreams that predicted an event or provided an answer. I really enjoyed this novel of paranormal suspense.

I was able to listen to the audiobook while also following along in the e-book, both provided by the publishers. The narrator, Saskia Maaleveld, did a fantastic job of creating unique voices for all of the main characters and I was totally immersed in the story. The production enhanced my enjoyment of the book. Highly recommended. 

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

Genre and tags: based on real experiments of 1960s, ESP, parapsychology, test subjects, test effects, historical fiction, psychological thriller, suspense 

The Talking Bone by Rene Denfeld

 Atmospheric mystery thriller focused on exonerating a death row inmate.

Death row investigator, Ruby Spencer, known as the exonerator, travels to Georgia with just two weeks to prove the innocence of a man facing execution for the murder of a gas station cashier. While racing against the clock, Ruby also uses her skills to track down missing women who have been overlooked by society. The investigation soon unearths long-buried secrets that connect the death row case to dark truths about Ruby’s own past and family origins.

Although the premise was solid, there are a lot of things going on in this book that require suspension of disbelief at the coincidences and parallels. The core story and procedural elements are halfway decent, keeping a steady pace as the timeline winds down. The author, however, loses me when she pushes the atmospheric and supernatural elements with the bone giving her clues and information that feel out of place and detract from what could have been a sharp grounded mystery. If you strip away that extra magical realism fluff, it’s enjoyable but didn’t live up to my expectations and its full potential.

I was able to listen to the audio book while also following along in the e-book ARC, both provided by the publishers. The production had two narrators, with the primary being Allyson Ryan. I had a really difficult time tolerating her breathy and overly dramatic voice with her pauses and how difficult it was to differentiate between Ruby and the other female characters who all sounded the same. The character of Mitchell was voiced by James Shippy who did a good job for those short parts. I typically really enjoy the immersive experience of listening while reading. 

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

Tags and genre - mystery thriller, crime thriller, missing women, murder, death row inmate, poor house, orphans, abuse, sexual assault

The Author Weekend by Laura Zigman

 This is a sort of bizarre genre-bending hybrid that sits between a locked room mystery and a sharp satire of the publishing industry and their authors.

Aging mystery author Faye Wader is hostess of a fan retreat on a remote island off the coast of New England. She’s driven by insecurity and has an intense rivalry with an author she calls her nemesis.  The story of the weekend is told through four distinct perspectives — there’s Faye herself, her ambitious long-suffering wanna be author Jade, her agent Hal, and her editor, Merry. Everyone arrives but the event quickly spirals out of control. Faye, afraid her publisher is about to reject her latest book, is triggered by an obsessive fan who is poking holes in Faye’s origin story. She desperately tries to keep the weekend and schedule on track while her world unravels. 

This is crazy with its behind the scenes glimpse into the brutal world of book publishing. Definitely you can see the decimation of the ego, Faye’s desperation, and her psychological implosion. It was a bit of a slow burn and I think it might have been meant as tongue in cheek humor, but I found it hard to empathize with Faye and her neuroses as everything starts to fall apart with multiple betrayals. 

I was able to listen to the audio book while also following along in the e-book ARC, both provided by the publishers. The full cast recording featured four different narrators: Gabra Zackman, Carol Monda, Joel Froomkin, and Emily Lawrence. I thought they did a decent job and I always enjoy lots of different voices for characters but I definitely did not like the voice of Jade Smythe who was voiced by Gabra Zackman. Her voice just grated. Other than that, the audio provided a nice immersive reading experience.

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

Genre and tags: publishing industry, author weekend, fans, editors, agents, murder, competition

The Break-in by Katherine Faulkner

 Slow moving domestic mystery.

Art restoration expert and wealthy London mother, Alice Rathbone, watches her life fall apart after a botched home invasion leaves a young man, Ezra Jones, dead. And, she was the one who killed him. Though the police rule the death as self-defense, Alice is consumed by guilt and paranoia. Online threats, suspicious phone calls, and things going missing from her home create confusion and stress. Alice is obsessed and does some extremely reckless things to try to find answers as to why her house was targeted. She can't move on so begins investigating Ezra's family. Her search drags her into a web of secrets, gaslighting, and betrayals involving her husband, her nanny, and her closest friends. It soon becomes clear  that the real danger was inside her home long before the intruder broke in.

The set up was good with the home invasion and the self-defense angle, but then it quickly got bogged down with endless angst on Alice's part. It became annoying with her running off half-cocked, violating her bail conditions, and making (and keeping) contact with Ezra's mom and sister. At the very end, the pace picked up as the reveals start rolling in one after another. I had to really suspend disbelief at some of the absurd things Alice did. There were a lot of messy subplots going on at the same time that diluted the impact of the primary mystery. Alice had to juggle toxic female friendships, a scheming nanny, hidden past affairs, and personal vendettas along with a revenge scenario. I did not like Alice so all that she did and what happened to her meant I ended up not really caring after all that convoluted mess. It was just too much too late. 

I'm giving this 2.5 stars rounded up. The book was way too long with tons of needless filler that made the story evolve more slowly and also quite boring at times. I almost stopped reading as it seemed like it was going nowhere except Alice whinging about can't move on. More domestic drama than thriller.

I listened to the audio book while following along in the e-book ARC provided by the publisher. The narrator, Shiromi Arserio, did a decent job trying to voice all the different characters but with so many females it definitely would have benefited from a larger cast performance.

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

Genre and tags: affairs, home invasion, stalking, revenge, secrets and lies, toxic female friendship, nanny, blackmail, Huntington's Chorea, grooming, pregnancy