She Thought She Was Safe

 

She Thought She Was Safe by Terri Parlato
2/24/26; 304 pages
Kensington 

She Thought She Was Safe by Terri Parlato is a highly recommended gothic mystery/thriller set at a small, secluded lakeside community.

Emma Shrader just went through a painful divorce where her ex-husband's huge gambling debts are revealed which was followed by the death of her mother. She decided to look for her father, a man she never knew and whose name her mother never revealed. After he is found and it is determined that they are related through a DNA test, she briefly meets him. Alex Spencer is a wealthy, renowned author who invites Emma to stay at his home on Cheshire Lake in Maine. There are only four homes on the lake and when she arrives it is clear that this is not a simple lakeside cabin, the Spencer house is a large Victorian house.  

Emma meets the welcoming neighbors and settles in to her writing when the unthinkable happens. A neighbor is found dead, and it is determined to be a murder. The police begin investigating. Alex arrives with his daughter Sunny, who is the antithesis of her name, and suddenly the idyllic lake setting and quiet community begins to feels less accommodating and increasingly threatening.

This is an even-paced mystery/thriller with gothic undertones in an atmospheric setting. The tension and apprehension increase gradually with every page leading up to several mysteries followed by some much larger plot twists and a very satisfying ending. I actually enjoyed it and was immersed in the plot throughout. However, the essential requirement to enjoy this novel is that you must be willing to set a huge dose of disbelief aside, multiple times, while reading. 

The first main hurdle of disbelief to jump is that Emma would even accept an offer to stay at her father's lakeside home. She's never developed a relationship with him and doesn't know anything about him beyond what she can find online. Agreeing to meet in order to get to know each other is one thing; staying at one of his homes is another.  Once you accept this premise, the other unbelievable plot points are easier to accept while you keep reading, after all, there is obviously a murder to solve but there are also other mysteries which are revealed and need answers.

Emma has a complicated background and meeting her father does not simplify it, rather it adds more complications. Along with all the residents at the lake, there is also emerges an unspoken, sinister history. The murder investigation uncovers other secrets from years ago, which add to the threatening atmosphere and plot complexities while making the plot take on even more of a gothic atmosphere. 

She Thought She Was Safe is a good choice for those who enjoy mysteries/thrillers with a gothic atmosphere and can set disbelief aside. Thanks to Kensington for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.  

Tyler Green Will Never Be Free

 

Tyler Green Will Never Be Free by Nicci French
2/24/26; 448 pages
William Morrow
Maud O’Connor #3 

Tyler Green Will Never Be Free by Nicci French is a very highly recommended locked-room thriller/procedural following a group of old university friends with a killer in their midst. This novel is alternately titled What Happened That Night and is the third novel featuring Detective Inspector Maud O'Connor.

In 1993 a group of university friends Leo, Will, Ali, Rudi, Marco, Clare, Jay, Ellen, Beatrice, and Tyler meet for a graduation party which results in the murder of Leo and Tyler being imprisoned for the crime. Tyler always claimed he was innocent, so twenty-nine years later when he is released from prison. Tyler wants to meet with the remaining eight friends from that fateful night. They all show up along with Marco‘s young girlfriend Kristen. The evening quickly disintegrates and results in another member of the group found dead.

DI Maude O'Connor with assistance from DS Carrie Kessler are called in to investigate. They arrive to find the scene in chaos, totally unsecured and uncontained. The officer in charge has already determined with no evidence that Tyler is guilty and he is thrown back into prison. Maude has doubts about Tyer's guilt. She quickly takes charge and starts interviewing and investigating to determine what really happened, resulting in a very satisfying procedural.

The narrative is even-paced as this well-written, well-plotted procedural first follows the events of the get together in Part 1 and then starts the investigation in Part 2. Adding Kristen, Marco's young loud-mouth girlfriend, to the mix at the party was a good choice and her questions assist in bringing out the personalities of all the old friends, now in their 50's, during their muddled reunion. The evening quickly becomes sloppy and the wisdom of all these people getting together again is doubtful.

Once the investigation is underway in part two the questioning of the survivors uncovers clues and insight into the group and their individual personalities. This keeps the tension in the plot as the search for the identity of the killer is underway. It truly is a novel of "Old friends, new secrets, one deadly reunion." Nicci French is the pen name of the husband-and-wife writing team Nicci Gerrard and Sean French.

Tyler Green Will Never Be Free is a great choice for those who enjoy locked-room psychological thrillers/procedurals and those following the Maude O'Connor series. Thanks to William Morrow for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.  

Caller Unknown

 

Caller Unknown by Gillian McAllister
2/24/26; 352 pages
William Morrow 

Caller Unknown by Gillian McAllister is a highly recommended thriller following a mother and daughter during a series of disturbing events. 

Simone arrives from the UK to Fort Davis in the Big Bend region of Texas where Lucy has been attending a vocal workshop. The plan is to spend time with her daughter Lucy on an enjoyable vacation before Lucy leaves home for the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, RADA. Simone awakens the morning after their first night in the cabin they rented and finds all her luggage there but Lucy gone. Then she receives a message, caller unknown, on a cell phone left in Lucy's bed. She is instructed to not tell the police, go to a specific location, and be prepared to follow instructions if she wants to see her daughter again. She does receive a video with proof Lucy's still alive.

Simone calls her husband Damien who encourages her to call the police, but she declines, worried about Lucy's safety. Damien says he will be on a flight to the USA and Simone proceeds to follow the kidnapper's instructions. Instead of a ransom demand, Simone is given a task. Simone follows the instructions and this sets into motion a distressing encounter, morality choices, an arduous journey, and intense cat and mouse game.

This well-written thriller starts out at a sweeping, intense, nail-biting pace and then slows down as the situation changes. The sources threatening Simone and Lucy include humans but also the harsh environment as they are on the run. Along with the thriller plot line, the narrative also explores the close relationship/connection between mothers and daughters. The middle part of the novel becomes a thoughtful character study and examination of familiar relationships. The ending explodes back into action with surprising developments and twists. Take note that there are several times I had to set disbelief aside while reading.

The characters are all well-developed and intimately portrayed as complex individuals with strengths and weaknesses. The exploration of the connection between mothers and daughters, and the sacrifices mothers will make for their children is especially well done and compassionately depicted through thoughts and deeds throughout the narrative. 

Caller Unknown is a great choice for those who enjoy thrillers which feature a mother and daughter encountering a tension-packed situation. Thanks to William Morrow for providing me with an advance reader's copy via Edelweiss. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.  

A Good Animal

 

A Good Animal by Sara Maurer
2/24/26; 288 pages
St. Martin's Press

A Good Animal by Sara Maurer is a very highly recommended, beautifully written, coming-of-age novel set in a rural farming area outside of Sault St. Marie, Michigan in 1995. This is an incredible, character driven literary debut novel which perfectly captures people in a specific place and time. I am looking forward to Sara Maurer's next novel. (This might be best appreciated by those who understand the realities of rural/small town life.)

Everett Lindt has always planed to stay on the sheep farm that has been in the family for generations, breeding and selling sheep after he finishes his senior year of high school. When he meets Mary, who has just moved to the area with her Coast Guard father for her senior year, he is immediately attracted to her, but she makes it clear that she plans to leave after high school for college in California. They stumble into dating and a relationship, with Everett secretly hoping she will stay with him and his dream, while Mary adamantly knows she is leaving for her. Then they face complications and hard choices.

A Good Animal is an exquisitely written novel with an even-paced plot. As many adults will understand, young love/first love doesn't always admit the obvious realities clearly present and the relationship between Everett and Mary showcases this fact. They may be attracted to each other, but their individual dreams are distinctly contrary. The sometimes harsh, sometimes satisfying realities of raising, showing, and selling sheep is plainly captured in detail, but readers will know that Everett's future on the farm is a well-chosen decision for his life. At the same time, Mary's obvious fear of sheep is one fact which certainly indicates she is not suited for that life. 

Everett is a well-developed character and depicted as a fully-realized individual with both strengths and weaknesses. He is young and still maturing, but indications of the man he will be one day are present. Supporting characters, including in part Everett's best friend Charlie, his younger sister Katie, and Mary, are also portrayed as realistic characters. Even some of the sheep have personalities. The well-written characters help make the plot soar in this emotionally complex coming-of-age drama. 

 A Good Animal is an excellent choice for those who enjoy well-written coming-of-age stories. Thanks to St. Martin's Press for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

More Than Enough

 

More Than Enough by Anna Quindlen
2/24/26; 256 pages
Random House 

More Than Enough by Anna Quindlen is a very highly recommended literary character-driven domestic drama of self-exploration which follows a woman dealing with infertility, a dying friend, and complicated family relationships. 

Polly Goodman, 42, is a high school English teacher happily married to Mark, a veterinarian at the Bronx Zoo. While Polly is struggling with infertility issues, she has an enviable, comfortable relationship with her brother, friends, in-laws, and her father who is in a nursing home with a failing mind. Her relationship with her mother is more complicated. When her best friends/book club buddies, Sarah, Helen, and  Jamie, give Polly an ancestry test kit as a joke, she takes the test and is surprised by the results. She ends up meeting with her match, a teenager, and while their connected ancestry is still not clear, the two form a connection.

This is a exceptionally well-written, touching literary examination of a slice of an individual's life. From her friends, which she can share everything with, to her interactions with her brother, parents, and in-laws, the keen observations can be touching, humorous, mundane, heart-breaking, and ultimately hopeful. While the pacing is slow through much of the book, it touches deeply on topics many women have experienced and how much interpersonal relationships with family and friendships can mean. It also demonstrates how secrets can affect other's lives.

Polly is a fully realized, well-developed character with both strengths and weaknesses. Readers should quickly finds areas in her life they can either relate to or have observed. Admittedly, while reading there were several times Polly's observations and difficulties resonated with me and hit too close to personal experiences. All of the supporting cast serve to add depth and insight into Polly's character, helping to reveal how our relationships can define us. Additionally, as a bonus it delightfully includes alpacas, humming and pronking.  

More Than Enough is a perfect choice for anyone who enjoys gentle, literary character driven dramas. Thanks to Random House for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.  

The Crossroads

 

The Crossroads by C. J. Box
2/24/26; 352 pages
Putnam
Joe Pickett Series #26 

The Crossroads by C. J. Box is a very highly recommended investigative mystery and the winning 26th addition to the long running series. This time Joe's daughters lead the investigation as Joe is incapacitated.

Marybeth Pickett gets the call she has always dreaded when her husband, Wyoming Game Warden Joe Pickett, is found in his pickup at Antler Creek Junction, shot in the head, unconscious and barely holding on to life. He is airlifted to the hospital in Billings, Montana, accompanied by Marybeth, where he remains in critical condition and in a medically induced coma while being treated. The couples three daughters, Sheridan, April, and Lucy,  converge on the family home, determined to investigate who was responsible for what happened to their father.

The three determine that the owners of the three ranches that connect off of Antler Creek Junction may have something to do with Joe's ambush. They talk to the new sheriff for the county of Twelve Sleep, Steve Sondergard, and they all agree to share any information they uncover in their investigations. The identity of the hired assassins, Dorn Peddy and James Dale O’Bryan, are identified early on in some chapters from their perspective but the identity of who hired them is kept a secret. Also included are chapters from Joe's point-of-view dating back before the ambush which provide extra information for readers.

The pace is fast and the tension rises as the suspects are delved into in this well-written installment of the series. The owners of the three ranches all have a reason to be implicated in Joe's ambush and need to be carefully questioned. The new Sheriff Sondergard has barely had time to settle in when he is confronted with this case and informed by Sheridan that she and her sisters will be investigating it too, with or without his approval. It is entertaining to follow Joe's daughters while they investigate and they prove to be insightful and intuitive, but Joe will be missed by those following the series. Who knew Wyoming could continue to be such a dangerous place to live.

The Crossroads is an excellent choice for anyone who enjoys investigative mysteries set in a rural area and, of course,  for everyone following the Joe Pickett series. Thanks to Putnam for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.  

The Fatal Confidant

 

The Fatal Confidant by Debra Webb
2/17/26; 335 pages 
Thomas & Mercer 

The Fatal Confidant by Debra Webb is a very highly recommended thriller. This is the revised edition of the previously published Faceless. 

Deputy district attorney Carson Tanner is a tenacious prosecutor whose persistence has earned him the nickname the Avenger. His determination to seek justice is driven by the horrific murder of his family fifteen years. His current case involves Birmingham crime boss Otis Fleming. The key to crack open the case may lie with Fleming's staunch confidant and fixer for the wealthy, Annette Baxter. Annette knows who Carson is, intimately initiates contact, and soon it becomes clear that there is more treachery, secrets, manipulation, betrayal and danger than Carson could have ever imagined.

Suspicion and secrets immediately set the tone to this well-written novel. The plot becomes more complex with each chapter as yet another new revelation, secret, threat, and twist occurs. The truth lies somewhere in a twisted maze of personal contacts and private obligations among an elite, wealthy, and well-connected group of people. Annette knows many of their covert actions and the information they need to conceal, but she also know the treachery and misdirection they are capable of initiating. Carson is being thrust into the reality of what may actually be going on behind the scenes.

At first I'll admit I was put off the novel in the beginning by Carson's actions when he succumbed to Annette's overt seduction. It did take awhile to set the distaste of the seduction incident aside, but as the complications, tensions, and danger increased, the incident became less annoying. It certainly sheds light on Annette and Carson's character. When she intimates that she has information about the murder of his family, the question is always how trustworthy is she? Then things begin to become increasingly dangerous and lethal, indicating that there is more going on than he realizes.

Both Carson and Annette are portrayed as fully-realized characters with strengths and weaknesses. Various other characters slowly reveal parts of their true nature along the way. The connections and schemes between all the players in the narrative is intricate and layered, ultimately leading to a shocking final twist.

The Fatal Confidant is a great choice for anyone who enjoys complex thrillers full of secrets and intrigue. Thanks to Thomas & Mercer for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.