Prognosis Critical by Gary Birken

 High stakes medical thriller that excels because of its procedural accuracy and chilling realism.

Dr. Jacey Flanigan has just completed her pediatric cardiology residency and landed a prestigious position at the Children's Heart Hospital in Manhattan. Her excitement at the new job turns sour after a run-in with a hostile heart surgeon and the discovery of a culture defined by rigid secrecy. Jacey notices disturbing patterns -- surgeons refuse to operate without their own specific teams and don't want her observing in their rooms, and the post operative course doesn't seem to be the norm. When a patient nearly dies under suspicious circumstances, Jacey doubles down even as she starts to suspect that whistleblowers before her arrival have not survived. Trapped in a web of collusion and coverup keeping her at distance, Jacey seeks to expose the truth. 

This was the first good medical thriller I've read in a long while. I devoured it as I thoroughly enjoyed the fact that the author swapped out melodrama for the far more frightening portrayal of institutional silence and greed as well as the hubris of surgical ego. I liked the main character of Jacey and appreciated her strength in not backing down even as the newbie in her job. I liked the accuracy of the clinical detail and the believability of the scenario. I'll definitely look for more of this author's books.

I was able to listen to the audio book while also following along in the e-book, both obtained from my local library. The narrator, Susan Lyons, did a good job with the voice of the main character, but the other vocal choices felt uninspired and flat. The accents (southern) didn't ring true and the male voices all sounded basically the same. This production definitely would have benefited from at least a male narrator or a full cast. I always like listening while reading as it typically enhances my whole reading experience. 

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

Genre and tags: medical thriller, mystery, pediatric cardiac patients 

Too Close to Home by Seraphina Nova Glass

 Well this was a literal banger of a thriller that kept me engaged and rapidly turning the pages to finish it in a single sitting.

The story opens when Regan Hoffman's car explodes at a Labor Day party in the gated community of Cloverhill Lakes. The blast shatters the peace of the neighborhood and creates a sense of fear because it was not Regan who died. Secrets start to leak out from behind the doors of the homes as three women find that something very sinister connects them. Regan spots her supposedly dead husband. Andi accidentally ends up with an unthinkable dilemma, and Sasha knows her teenage son is getting deep into trouble. 

This was a high tension domestic thriller with multiple points of view narration. The plot is layered and the chapters end at tantalizing cliffhangers forcing you to read on. The pace is fast and the action non stop as the characters make some really bad choices and do crazy and reckless things, but it's so addictive that one ignores some of the outrageous coincidences and just suspends disbelief to go along for the ride. It's a fun and suspenseful story with a 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 narrators, Brittany Pressley, Rebecca Lowman, and Karissa Vacker, did an excellent job of bringing the three main female characters to life. Their voices created unique footprints through distinct, consistent cadence and patterns so they are easily identified. The production created a great immersive reading experience and I highly recommend listening.

This is a standalone and not part of any series.

Genre/tags: murder, revenge, secrets and lies, domestic thriller 

A Ghastly Catastrophe (Veronica Speedwell #10) by Deanna Raybourn

 In 1890 London, Veronica Speedwell and Stoker investigate a macabre vampire mystery after a young man is found near Highgate Cemetery with his body drained of blood. When a second victim is discovered after an apparent suicide, the trail leads the duo to a dangerous secret society of immortality seekers led by a self-proclaimed creature of the night and a practitioner of witchcraft. Amidst the investigation, J.J. turns to them for help, and the case forces a brief encounter with Lady Julia and Nicholas Brisbane to track down a crucial witness.

This was a fast and fun tenth entry into what I consider my favorite historical fiction mystery series. Leaning into gothic atmosphere without losing any of the trademark wit, the pair dives into folklore and myth despite their scientific skepticism. I love the interaction between Veronica and Stoker and the author’s understanding of the time period is expressed in their exchanges with such marvelous word play. The partnership is sound and the characters work together so well. I am always eager for the next installment. 

I was able to listen to the audiobook while also following along in the e-book ARC provided by the publisher. The narrator, Angele Masters, did a superb job voicing Veronica. She has just the right tone for every sentence and truly embodies the character. It was, however, quite jarring to hear her perform Stoker’s voice because he doesn’t sound at all like I imagined. Way too raspy and not deep enough or suave enough. Anyway, it did provide entertainment but the production would definitely benefit from a full cast because those characters deserve their own voices! 

If you’re considering a historical fiction series, I highly recommend this one. And start from the beginning.

This is the 10th book in the series that should be read from the beginning. 

Genre and tags: Victorian London, amateur sleuth, investigations, witchcraft, mesmerism, historical fiction

I, Spy by L.M. Kemp

 Kendal Carter, a former intelligence operative living under an alias, is forced out of hiding when her location is compromised. To protect her young daughter, she accepts an assignment from her former handler: relocate to London and surveil a new agent trainee living in the lower apartment of her huge house who is working at a tech firm. She enrolls her daughter in school and attempts to blend into the suburban routine. As she navigates the complexity of this mission, she realizes that she might be falling into a trap. Her main goal is to protect herself and her daughter.

This was a fast paced thriller that bridges the gap between domestic fiction and traditional espionage because of the single mother angle. Although often annoyed by the large presence of a child character in adult fiction, I was able to overcome this despite some of the decisions Kendal made. I'd prefer even less of Rosie moving forward. I was mostly interesting in seeing how a mother would use her professional training to navigate lethal situations. The issue of child care or a babysitter is always going to be that one thing that has to be worked out for any woman who works and most definitely for someone who's a spy. Also interesting was the relationship between Kendal and her own mother. There are so many avenues to explore in future installments and I'm looking forward to reading them. I liked the writing style and the main character. 

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, Ell Potter, did a really great job of voicing the characters though I think all audio would benefit from full cast recordings or at least a male and female voice. She wasn't overlay dramatic and she handled the pacing of the book with ease. I definitely enjoy the immersive experience of listening while reading and recommend you try it. 

This seems to be the debut of a new series.

Genre and tags: thriller, domestic, single mother, spy, murder, covert operations, thriller 

This Weekend Doesn't End Well for Anyone (Vacation Mysteries #3) by Catherine Mack

 Snarky, sharp, and fun episode in this mystery series.

Best-selling author Eleanor Dash heads to a rundown resort in the Bahamas for a murder mystery writers' conference with her boyfriend, Oliver, hoping for a rare break. Instead, upon arrival, they find a dead body on their hotel room floor. Surrounded by a cast of suspicions colleagues, Eleanor tries to navigate another real-life whodunit where everyone around is a crime writer and they all know how to commit them.  

I enjoy these satirical romps that make fun of the publishing world from authors to editors to readers. The pace is fast and the narrative kept me guessing. I like how the writing style breaks the fourth wall and those snarky comments and footnotes were hilarious and drew me deeper into the connection with Eleanor. This novel had a lot of complexity for as few actual suspects as were present. It felt important to have read the previous books in the series as the characters are all drawn from the beginning. Some good red herrings and a surprising reveal wrapped up a really fun 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, Elizabeth Evans, does a fantastic job voicing all the characters and handling the accents. I'm all about full casts with both male and female voices, but I hardly noticed during her performance as she had such seamless delivery. The format provided a fun immersive experience that enhanced my enjoyment of the book.

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

Genre and tags: murder, mystery, cozy, snarky, humor, satire, authors, book publishing 

The Afternoon Tea Murders (Secret Detective Agency #4) by Helena Dixon

 

Wartime cozy historical fiction mystery. 

In 1942, Whitehall agent Jane Treen is pulled away from her desk by an urgent warning: her colleague, codebreaker Arthur Cilento, is in danger at a remote assignment at Downland House in Devon. Jane travels there under the guise of conducting a routine audit. As she starts to go through household accounts and assess the mission’s objectives, Jane finds that there are some disturbing irregularities and not much progress has been made. She and Arthur take a day to travel into the local village only to find the local tea shop owner dead on the floor. Jane must figure out if the threat is coming from inside the house. 

Well-paced whodunit that captures the quiet tension of the English Home Front and their efforts on breaking coded messages during the war. The story showcases the practical intelligence of Jane Treen and the analytical skills of Arthur Cilento. It feels authentic and uses wartime constraints like rationing and blackouts. This will definitely be appreciated by readers who appreciate historical accuracy and a strong professional partnership versus a trope romance. Even if a bit predictable, after all there aren’t that many possible suspects, it was a fun and fast read. 

This is the 4th installment in a series that should be read from the beginning in order to understand and appreciate the relationship between Jane and Arthur. He continues to be sickly and his manservant, Benson, is always reliable to step in when it counts. 

I received an ARC from Bookouture for a Blog Tour date on May 1, 2026 and can definitely recommend this cozy mystery.

This is the 4th installment in the series.

Genre - World War II, cozy, historical, mystery, murder, spies

The Girls Before by Kate Alice Marshall

A tense and tangled mystery thriller. 

School counselor and search-and-rescue expert Audrey Dixon has never stopped thinking about her childhood best friend, Janie, who vanished years ago into the shadows of local folklore (Jenny Red Hands). When she discovers a necklace associated with the legend in the woods and hears about another currently missing girl, Meghan Vale, she becomes obsessed with finding her and researches all of the cold cases. She immediately suspects that a local family might be connected to these disappearances and she begins a dangerous investigation. 

The story is told in alternating "Above" and "Below" chapters with the latter featuring the perspective of a girl shackled in a dark bunker. 

If you're fond of amateur sleuths going off piste and managing to stumble into incredible discoveries with luck, coincidence, and daring, then this is the story for you. The narrative becomes increasingly convoluted as it tries to tie together the urban legend with the multi generational drama of a prominent family. The tension is high but for some reason, the book seemed to drag at times. The final reveals felt way over the top with the shocking twists and the ambiguous ending. 

I was able to listen to the audio book while also reading along in the e-book ARC, both provided by the publisher. The narrators, Karissa Vacker and Ina Barron, did an admirable job of voicing the main female characters though at times they both got carried away with dramatic flair. Listening always enhances my pleasure in the book and this was no exception. 

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

Tags and genre: missing girls, kidnapped, murder, amateur sleuth, family drama