The Replacement

 

The Replacement by Matt Brolly
2/10/26; 299 pages
Thomas & Mercer
DS Liam Kilshaw #2

The Replacement by Matt Brolly is a highly recommended procedural and the second book in the Detective Sergeant Liam Kilshaw series following The Lines. It can be enjoyed as a standalone novel. Kilshaw, a former Marine, is a intuitive investigator who also suffers from PTSD and has alopecia.

When a body in a hessian bag (burlap for US readers) washes up on Sennen Beach in Cornwall, DS Kilshaw is called out to investigate. The face of the man in the bag is so mutilated identification is almost impossible. Kilshaw takes note when a local man brings up the legend of Bucca Dhu, a sea monster who demands human sacrifice, but clearly this is the result of human depravity. When a second man's body is found on the shore also in a burlap bag with the face beaten beyond recognition, it is clear that a serial killer is at work. Kilshaw must use all his skills to find the perpetrator before another body is found.

The opening prologue will immediately attention grabbing and also provides the reader a brief glimpse into what may be related to what is currently happening. Set during the winter in Cornwall, the atmosphere in the novel is literally chilling in words and deeds. The narrative unfolds through the point-of-view of Kilshaw and another person, who's viewpoint will keep your attention focused even when the investigation slows the pace down in the middle of the plot. The anticipation over what may happen next is ever present in this even-paced procedural and there are several twists along the way. The ending is, as expected, action packed.

Kilshaw's character development continues in this second novel as he works on his interpersonal relationships, a skill with which he struggles. He is portrayed as a realistic, complicated individual with strengths and weaknesses. He has a good relationship with his boss, Maya, his ex-wife and tries to makes sure to see his son George. Additionally, thank you Matt for making sure the dog was okay, which may be a spoiler for some but other readers will want to know this.

The Replacement is a great choice for those who enjoy British procedurals and investigations set by the sea. Matt Brolly is always a dependable author who writes compelling stories. Thanks to Thomas & Mercer for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.   

The Final Problem

The Final Problem by Arturo Pérez-Reverte
2/10/26; 320 pages
Little, Brown and Company/Mulholland Books
Frances Riddle, Translator  

 The Final Problem by Arturo Pérez-Reverte is a recommended locked-room murder mystery, highly for fans of Sherlock Holmes novels and movies. My review copy was translated from the original Spanish by Frances Riddle.

In 1960, Ormond Basil, a well-known actor famous for his portrayal of Sherlock Holmes in seventeen movies, is stranded due to weather along with other travelers at the only hotel on the Greek island of Utakos.  When Edith Mander, a British tourist, is found dead in a beach cabana, it looks like suicide but there are indications of foul play. 

With the island cut off from the police, the other guests turned to Basil, based on his powers of deduction on the big screen, to actually be the investigator and look into the details of the murder.  A Spanish mystery writer named Francisco Foxá, whom Basil met earlier, acts as his Dr. Watson for the investigation. What the two soon realize is that the killer is playing a deadly literary game and basing each crime on a story by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. 

My initial impression was very favorable and I found it a fun locked-room mystery which was overtly a tribute to a certain period of time, the golden age of film, and Sherlock Holmes movies. After about half-way through I'll readily admit the name-dropping, the constant personal ruminating of Basil, and the plethora of quotes from and references to Sherlock Holmes' novels began to wear me down. The narrative felt like an over-the-top homage to things of the past and various troupes rather than an intriguing and compelling murder mystery. Additionally, all the characters were caricatures of a type of person.

The Final Problem is going to be best appreciated by those who revere all things Sherlock Holmes along with the golden age of cinema. Thanks to Mulholland Books for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

Ours Is a Tale of Murder

 

Ours Is a Tale of Murder by Nora Murphy
2/10/26; 384 pages
Sourcebooks Landmark

Ours Is a Tale of Murder by Nora Murphy is a highly recommended domestic psychological suspense novel following three different families.

Klara Martin and Troy Weston are both lawyers who have a whirlwind romance and quickly marry. Troy surprises Klara with a house in Hawthorne Heights where the two settle in after their honeymoon and Klara leaves her job. Their relationship becomes increasingly unsettling. 

In the same neighborhood Mary, a retired teacher, is clearing out her home to sell. She reminiscences about her beloved son Owen and her many regrets over her late husband Ed.   

Henry is a grown man living in the basement of his parents home after losing his job months earlier. He keeps watch on the neighborhood, especially watching Klara, Troy, and Mary. Henry has a long history of stalking women.

These three stories unfold, followed by a big twist in part two of the well-written novel which happens relatively late in the narrative, where the perspective of everything shifts. There is no doubt that the slow-burning novel does hold your attention from the start but following the three different stories/characters and their points-of-view is really telling three divergent stories until late in the novel where the big twist happens about 2/3rd the way through. At this point the narrative changes and events coalesce into the tale of murder. 

The novel is character driven, but none of the characters are particularly likeable. Their reliability is questionable, they all are flawed, dysfunctional, and secrets abound, which is all an essential part of the plot. The tone of the whole atmospheric novel is heavy, unsettling, and gloomy. Additionally, you will have to suspend some disbelief along the way. This may be a totally personal feeling, but in my opinion misandry pervades this plot and this left me with a dubious opinion early on while reading. In the end the opening warning and title of the book. "Ours is a tale of murder" comes to fruition. 

Ours Is a Tale of Murder is a good choice for those who enjoy slowly building psychological suspense novels. Thanks to Sourcebooks Landmark for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

The Patient

 

The Patient by Tim Sullivan
2/3/26; 416 pages
Grove/Atlantic
DS George Cross Mystery #3

The Patient by Tim Sullivan is a very highly recommended procedural/mystery and the third novel in the series featuring Detective Sergeant George Cross with the Bristol Crime Unit which can also be enjoyed as a stand alone novel. This was originally published in Great Britain in 2022. Cross, who is on the autism spectrum, can be awkward, unemotional, and blunt, but he is also extremely perceptive, logical, tenacious, and intelligent.

After a discussion with Sandra Wilson outside the Bristol Crime Unit, DS Cross agrees to look into the death of her daughter Felicity (Flick). Her death had been ruled an accidental drug overdose, but Sandra is sure Flick was murdered. Flick had been clean for over two years and had a young daughter. After questioning police staffer Alice Mackenzie and pathologist Clare Hawkins, Cross is convinced that something else happened and decides to reopen the case. His partner DS Josie Ottey assists him in the investigation. There are several suspects, including her ex-boyfriend, Simon Aston, and Danny Stokes, the boss at the dry cleaner’s where she previously worked.

At the same time, Cross's father Raymond, who broke a hip, is about to be released from the hospital which poses a huge problem. He does not want to live with his son, for several reasons, but Raymond is a hoarder and his home must be cleaned out for his own safety. Cross comes up with a great solution and makes a contact at the same time.

This is a very well-written procedural which sets itself apart with the uniqueness of the main character and the twisty, complicated, intuitive, and analytical investigation into Flick's death. Cross, as well as Mackenzie and Ottey, is portrayed as a fully realized individual with strengths and weaknesses. The strong characterization, along with the complicated, well reasoned plot, helps propel the action forward and also serves to set this series apart from others with it's unique main character. 

The intelligent investigation which proceeds through logically and instinctively following the clues and putting the puzzle together made  The Patient an enjoyable procedural that is a pleasure to read. The final denouement held several surprises. Thanks to Grove/Atlantic for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

Impostor

 

Impostor by LJ Ross
2/3/26: 304 pages
Poisoned Pen Press
Alexander Gregory #1 

Impostor by LJ Ross is a very highly recommended investigative thriller. This is the first book in the series featuring psychologist and profiler Dr. Alexander Gregory. 

Psychologist Dr. Alexander Gregory is working at Southmoor Hospital for the criminally insane and has one particularly volatile patient called called Cathy Jones who troubles him. Alex previously worked for a criminal profiling unit so it isn't a surprise when he is called in as a profiler for a murder committed in the small town of Ballyfinny, County Mayo, Ireland. There he will be assisting the local Garda, brothers Niall and Connor Byrne, to find the killer. While Alex looks at the evidence for and delves into the mind of a cunning killer, his dreams are also haunted by Cathy Jones.

The opening prologue set in 1987 will immediately grab your attention and provides background information for the infamous Cathy Jones. This also sets the atmosphere for this extremely well-written, compelling, fast-paced, and tension-packed thriller. The mystery at the heart of the investigation begs the question for the local Garda, "How could this action be from one of own people?" Alex must use his skills to show them a glimpse into what is likely happening in the mind of the killer to help them figure out suspects.

Alex is a complex, intelligent and interesting fully realized character. The other characters are also developed and given depth beyond just the perfunctory information. They work together in the investigation, uncovering several surprises with some plot twists along the way to the surprising final denouement. There is also shocking reveal at the end of the novel that will insure readers will be anxiously awaiting the next installment. First published October 31, 2019, this is a review of the Poisoned Pen Press edition being released on February 2, 2025. 

Impostor is a great choice for readers who enjoy investigative thrillers that feature a profiler. Thanks to Poisoned Pen Press for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

Jigsaw

 

Jigsaw by Jonathan Kellerman
2/3/26; 256 pages
Ballantine Books
Alex Delaware #41

Jigsaw by Jonathan Kellerman is a very highly recommended investigative mystery. This is a satisfying 41st addition to the Alex Delaware series and those following the long-running series will welcome returning to check in with Alex, Milo, Robin and Blanche.

Psychologist Alex Delaware is contacted by Detective Milo Sturgis to assist with two cases. In the first case, Sophie Barlow, a young woman, is found dead at her kitchen table. DNA on cigarette butts indicate her ex-boyfriend, but he has an airtight alibi, so the investigation is stymied. The second case is of an old woman, Martha Joline Matthias, who was murdered and her mutilated body was found in a deep freeze.  She was a former police detective and Milo knew her. Martha was also a hoarder and her home is packed with things and envelopes of cash. During the investigation they find a tenuous connection between the victims, but the perpetrator is a mystery.

Reading an Alex Delaware novel is always a welcomed, comfortable experience. You appreciate the fact that the writing will be excellent, the characters are well-known, and the mystery/investigation will be compelling and hold your complete attention.  As fans of the series know, Milo always calls psychologist Alex Delaware, his best friend and a long-term consultant on “those cases.” The ones that are different, and these cases fit that expectation.

If you are new to the series, the character development may seem spare, but as installment 41 in the series, those who have been following the series for years deeply know these characters and their background. Reading a new installment of the series is returning to characters that are very well known while they must solve complex, unpredictable cases. 

The pace is fast, the page count low, the case intelligent, and the characters known so Jigsaw was a pleasant diversion. Thanks to Ballantine Books for providing me with an advance reader's copy via . My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

Good Intentions

 

Good Intentions by Marisa Walz
2/3/26; 336 pages
St. Martin's Press 

Good Intentions by Marisa Walz is a highly recommended psychological suspense novel. This slow-burning debut explores grief and obsession.

Cady has a luxury event-planning business and has been married to the man she's loved since she was seventeen. When her identical twin sister Dana suddenly dies after a car accident, Cady's life falls into a downward spiral. While deep in her grief she focuses on and becomes obsessed with Morgan, a grieving mother she briefly met in the emergency room who lost her twelve year-old son in a bicycle accident on the same day. Cady begins to stalk Morgan and deceptively inserts herself into Morgan's life. Cady's grief and obsession quickly threatens her marriage and business.

While this is a well-written novel the plot does proceed very slowly and the initial complete submersion into Cady's grief and constant internal dialogue to Dana can be overwhelming. This does allow the tension to slowly build along with trepidation over what will happen next. For anyone who has grieved the loss of a close sibling, at first Cady's grief is understandable, but quickly turns to something darker and disturbing as she obsesses over Morgan and helping her deal with her grief too. 

It is abundantly apparent that Cady is an unreliable, flawed narrator and that something unspoken is going on. The plot depends upon Cady's obsessive thoughts, which are unsettling, distorted, and untrustworthy, to create tension. Spending so much time in her mind is uncomfortable. The atmosphere becomes oppressive as the dread over what may happen next increases. The final chapter was shocking.

Good Intentions is a good choice for readers who appreciate psychological suspense novels with an unreliable narrator dealing with grief and obsession. 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.