The Briars

 

The Briars by Sarah Crouch
1/13/26; 320 pages
Atria Books

The Briars by Sarah Crouch is a highly recommended literary mystery melded with a romance novel.

After her marriage ends, Annie Heston accepts a job as a game warden in the small town of Lake Lumin, Washington, in the forests and mountains of the Pacific Northwest. When she arrives, Annie discovers a small office where she works closely with young local sheriff Jake Proud. Immediately there is a cougar that she needs to track and collar. This becomes more serious when a body is found near hiking trails with claws marks on it. Later it is determined that the claw marks were postmortem, the young woman was already dead.

The search is on for who killed the young hiker. While tracking the cougar, Annie meets recluse Daniel Barela who owns land near the lake. He allows her to set traps for the cougar and the two immediately feel a connection. Then the body of another young woman is found in the briars that border Daniel’s property, and Annie assists the local sheriff with the investigation.

The well-written novel immediately sets the atmosphere and setting of the plot while introducing the characters. Annie is an interesting young woman who has been deeply hurt but is very invested in her job as a game warden. Jake is depicted as an outgoing, friendly, and inexperienced. Daniel is a much more careful and guarded character, but his background, which he eventually shares with Annie, is heartbreaking. All the characters are depicted as fully realized individuals with strengths and weaknesses.

The narrative is mainly told through the point-of-view of Annie and Daniel, with some chapters through Jake's perspective. Since the town is small, Annie helps Jake with the murder investigation, While the search for the cougar is what intrigued me about the synopsis of the novel, the narrative very quickly set that plot point aside and focused on the burgeoning relationship between Annie and Daniel and the murder investigation. I'm not a great fan of romance novels. The unexpected focus on the quickly developing new relationship felt unrealistic as did the unlikely pairing of Jake and Annie investigating the murder together.

The Briars is a good choice for those who enjoy literary mysteries mixed with romance. Thanks to Atria Books for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

One Sun Only: Stories

One Sun Only: Stories by Camille Bordas
1/27/26; 304 pages
Random House

One Sun Only: Stories by Camille Bordas is a highly recommended collection of twelve literary short stories which explore the human condition. The majority of these were originally published in The New Yorker with the rest either from The Paris Review or original stories.

All of the stories are thoughtful character studies and present a slice of life of life rather than a conventional plot. They are perceptive, attentive, and reflective while following characters through a specific situation or while dealing with an occurrence. The characters can be acutely soul-searching and flawed as their lives are portrayed from multiple faucets while they deal with various situations.

The quality of the writing and use of language is what elevates these stories above the ordinary, even while they frequently portray ordinary events in the lives of their characters. The characters all react in understandable, ordinary ways to the events that they are experiencing. Admittedly, because the stories are more a slice of life with no real final resolution, I did feel a loss of closure for some of the stories. On the other hand they really represent a perfectly presented slice of life.

One Sun Only: Stories is a wonderful choice for anyone who enjoys literary short stories. Thanks to Random House for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

Illusion of Truth

Illusion of Truth by James L'Etoile
1/6/26; 430 pages
Oceanview Publishing
Detective Emily Hunter #3

Illusion of Truth by James L'Etoile is a very highly recommended procedural and mystery. This is the third novel featuring Detective Emily Hunter following Face of Greed and River of Lies. It can be enjoyed as a standalone procedural.

Two explosions hit the police officers who responded to a false report of a break-in at a church in Sacramento. Fellow cop and Detective Emily Hunter's boyfriend, Sergeant Brian Conner, is caught in the blast and is in serious condition. Emily and her partner Javier Medina are investigating when Officer Clay Milton determines that bomb components found at the scene can be traced to those in remote control cars. Soon another bomb targets more officers with a similar m.o. While Emily and Javier are trying to follow clues, City Councilman Rob Davis, is inciting antagonism and riots against the city’s police force. Emily must discover what incident from the past ties all the officers together and now makes them all a target.

During the tension from the high pressure investigation, Emily is also dealing with Brian's health struggles and her mother’s progressing Alzheimer’s. Emily and Brian's relationship was facing a hurdle before his serious injuries, which may change everything. At the same time Javier is also facing some challenges in his relationship with his girlfriend. These story lines don't detract from the main plot, but do add depth and realism to the characters, helping their development as individuals.

The pace is fast and the plot feels realistic in this well-written intricate procedural/mystery that feels like it could be ripped from headlines today. The political ramifications and involvement of various government departments along the way add credulity to the plot which is intricate, twisty and intelligent. The pressure and tension are unrelenting as the investigation unfolds.

Part of the plot is inferred in the title. Illusory truth is when repeated exposure to false information leads people to believe it is true, even when recognized as false. We can be more likely to believe something if we've heard it repeated multiple times. There are numerous examples of this in the news today where people set critical thinking and fact-checking aside.

Illusion of Truth is a wonderful choice for anyone looking for a tension-packed procedural. Thanks to Oceanview Publishing for providing me with an advance reader's copy via Edelweiss. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

The Viper

The Viper by Brad Meltzer
1/6/26; 400 pages
William Morrow
Escape Artist #3; Zig & Nola Novel

The Viper by Brad Meltzer is a very highly recommended tense and well-written thriller. This is the third escape artist novel featuring Zig and Nola but it can definitely be enjoyed and relished as a standalone thriller. Zig and Nola are not friends, but she always seems to be there to help him.

Andrew "Fetch" Fechmeier, who has been in hiding and living under a pseudonym for years, is dying from Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. He hides something in a suit at the funeral home that will handle his burial. Then he is murdered in his motel room when he won't reveal the information about the location of the item he hid which is sought by the perpetrators.

Jim “Zig” Zigarowski is a skilled mortician who is called by Roddy LaPointe, Nola Brown's brother, to assist with his investigation into Fetch’s murder, as well as the murder of his mother Daniella, who's death was labeled a suicide, when Nola and her twin brother, Roddy, were 3 years old. There was a group of teenagers over 25 years ago who called themselves The Breakfast Club. Since then they have been targeted by someone for something they stole back then. As the two investigate and are being followed, Nola starts investigating too while trying to watch out for Zig and Roddy.

The writing is exceptional, the pace is fast, and the engrossing plot is full of twists and surprises. This intelligent, unpredictable thriller grabbed my attention immediately and held it throughout. As the narrative switches between points-of-view along with covering Roddy and Nola's past, the shorter chapters help propel the plot forward while providing all the context and information you need to follow the intricate plot. There is some humor along with heart-stopping action.

This is my first Zig and Nola novel and it was really enjoyable. There is enough background information provided that I never felt like the narrative left me behind. They are still provided with additional character development in this outing and are depicted as fully realized characters with strengths and flaws. It need to look into the previous two novels.

The Viper is the perfect choice for those who enjoy fast-paced thrillers. Thanks to William Morrow for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

The Castaways

The Castaways by Lucy Clarke
1/6/26; 400 pages (originally published on 3/18/21)
Grove/Atlantic

The Castaways by Lucy Clarke is a highly recommended mystery and survival tale. This is a reissue of the novel originally published on 3/18/21.

Sisters Lori and Erin are taking a vacation on one of the small remote islands by Fiji. While on Fiji the night before they are to fly out to their final vacation destination, they have an argument. Erin stomps off in anger and misses the flight the next morning. The small plane disappears and her sister Lori is gone. Two years later the pilot of the downed plane shows up ill, on Fiji. Erin, who works as a journalist in the UK, returns to Fiji to talk to the pilot and find out what happened, how he survived, and what happened to the passengers. In a reply he uses the word "we" which gives Erin hope that Lori may be alive.

Two years ago, Lori did survive the crash landing on a small uninhabited island. Other survivors included the pilot, two male passengers, and a baby. While present day chapters follow Erin's investigation and search for Lori, alternate chapters follow the first 31 days for the castaways on the island through Lori's point-of-view. From each of their viewpoints, the bond between the sisters is clear and they are both mourning their loss but in vastly different circumstances.

This is a well-written, fast-paced investigative mystery mixed with a survival story. The story and experiences as told by each each sister are intensely different but both are compelling. Erin is in denial, consumed by the mystery, and mourning her loss while Lori misses her sister but is struggling to survive while caring for a baby. The overwhelming question is did Lori survive, if so, where is she, and can Erin find her sister or find closure.

The Castaways is a great choice for those who enjoy survival stories tempered by an overarching present day mystery. Thanks to Grove/Atlantic for providing me with an advance reader's copy via . My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

The First Time I Saw Him

The First Time I Saw Him by Laura Dave
1/6/26; 288 pages
Scribner 
Hannah Hall #2

The First Time I Saw Him by Laura Dave is a recommended thriller and the sequel to The Last Thing He Told Me (2021), which you will want to read first, or watch the TV show which has apparently been made based on The Last Thing He Told Me. 

Almost 6 year ago (5 years, 10 months, 24 days)  Hannah Hall's husband and her stepdaughter, Bailey's father Owen disappeared, leaving them with a bag of money and a note to keep her safe. Now it seems they may be in danger again. Owen shows up almost unrecognizable at Hannah's new exhibition and secretly slips her a flash drive. Almost immediately after that Hannah receives a message to get out of there now and she and Bailey are on the run again. They are following an intricate plan they have in place to keep them safe. 

The pace is fast and the tension is high throughout this sequel about the power of forgiveness. The crime family of Frank Campano Pointe from the Organization are after Hannah and Bailey again. It also appears the Nicholas, Bailey's grandfather, has passed away, but that is later proven to be untrue and he has a plan. Between present day action are multiple points-of-view following the backstory of where Owen went along with other explanatory background information/stories.  

Hannah and Bailey get along in this outing, which is a nice change from the teen with an attitude from the first book. All the interpersonal relationships between Hannah, Bailey and Nicholas are well done. This sequel is well written, but predictable and, again, uneven in parts. It also requires you to set a huge dose of disbelief aside. While I enjoyed this book, the first book was stronger, based on my review,  and after all this time I clearly never felt a sequel was needed.

The First Time I Saw Him is recommended for those who have read The Last Thing He Told Me and have been waiting for a sequel. Thanks to Scribner for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

The Storm

The Storm by Rachel Hawkins
1/6/26; 288 pages
St. Martin's Press 

The Storm by Rachel Hawkins is a highly recommended, atmospheric, Southern gothic mystery set in at the Rosalie Inn, a century-old Gulf Coast beach motel on St. Medard’s Bay, Alabama, an area where hurricane season can be murder.

For Geneva Corliss, the current owner of the Rosalie Inn, every day is a struggle to survive between maintenance and booking customers. When writer August Fletcher offers to pay double to book a two month stay, Geneva knows it can help save her bottom line. When August shows up, he brings the infamous Gloria “Lo” Bailey with him and books a room for her too. Now 60 years-old, back when she was 19, Lo was the mistress of political heir 30 year-old Langdon Fitzroy. During 1984’s infamous Hurricane Marie, Langdon died and his family presumed he was murdered by Lo. Lo claimed he was injured during the hurricane and was acquitted after a mistrial for lack of evidence. Now August and Lo are working on a book about the case.

Along with ties that interconnect many characters to each other through generations, the occurrence of hurricanes and their devastation is also a running theme through the novel. The story unfolds through the point of view of Geneva, events from the past, through the writings of Lo and August, and old letters, articles, etc. This is an entertaining, atmospheric, even-paced thriller that held my attention throughout. 

The characters are all portrayed as realistic individuals with strengths and flaws. Geneva is the character with the most development, but all the others receive some further development. The setting is also comes alive and is an important part of the story. This generational tale is Southern to it's core and the mystery is satisfying.

The Storm is a great choice for anyone who enjoys Southern gothic mysteries with strong female characters. 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.