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