The Loose End

The Loose End by A.J. Cross
11/5/24; 317 pages
Severn House
Teigan Craft #1 

The Loose End by A.J. Cross is a recommended procedural and the start of a new series featuring Professor Teigan Craft, a neurodiverse forensic psychologist.

DCI Steve Thompson likes to take the straightforward cases that have him home at 6, so when his boss, Supt. Graham Holdsworth, assigns him to a case that is sure to be complicated, he is not happy. Builders have found the mummified remains of a woman in a house being remodeled at 3 Forrest Road, Birmingham. It is determined to be a murder and the woman is identified to be Emma Matheson. Forensic psychologist Professor Teigan 'Tig' Craft from Central University is called in to assist the team with the investigation.

The unusual detective duo of Thompson and Teigan don't work well together. He is not thrilled or convinced when she uncovers a number of cold murder cases involving young women linked by geography and time to Emma's murder. Under pressure from Holdsworth to make an arrest, the two need to learn to work together.

This procedural starts out at a slow and steady pace that finally picks up toward the end. It takes awhile to grab your attention, to care about the case or investigation, and to connect with the characters. This was surprising, considering the narrative starts with a mummified body, a natural attention grabber. There are clues provided along the way but the perpetrator was easy to predict.

Introducing Teigan Craft, the plot starts depicting her character quirks, her need for quiet and her working style without revealing the reason for this until later. This should have been front and center for a new series introducing a new main character rather than saved for later.

I'll read the next in the series, assuming some of the pacing and personality problems can be smoothed out and the intrigued ramped up. Thanks to Severn House for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

The Swarm

The Swarm by Andy Marino
11/5/24; 512 pages
Redhook Books

The Swarm by Andy Marino is a highly recommended bug horror novel featuring swarms of cicadas that are bringing about the apocalypse. The buzz of the cicadas is a constant presence throughout the novel.

In Fort Halcott, in upstate New York, police officers Vicky Paterson and Ken Grimes are investigating a gruesome remains of a dead body in a hoarders home, while noticing the increasing noise level of the emerging cicadas outside. Then, when Vicky arrives at home, her daughter Sadie goes outside to play and has cicadas swarm her, sending Vicky to the hospital trying to save Sadie.

Across town, Will and Alicia Bennett, divorced private investigators or fixers, are looking for a missing young woman named Violet Carmichael and come across a weird cult involving cicadas that Will watches through a window. The two later find themselves in their hotel when the swarms of cicadas hit. It becomes obvious that viewing the cult ritual from something he calls the Order of Hemiptera has changed Will.

As the cicada swarms increase and continue their attacks, the novel introduces two more characters and locations. Rebecca Perez is a forensic entomologist in Louisiana, while Anton Hajek is a tech company founder in NYC. It is clear that the fate of humanity is at stake as the swarms increase their attacks.

Set disbelief aside and follow the insect invasion with horror. The action starts out strong at a very fast pace as it becomes clear that it is also a band-of-survivors tale. Expanding the scope of the invasion and covering more territory than just upstate NY was also a wise choice. My one small complaint was that the novel could have used a little more editing and tightening up. Most readers who chose this will enjoy it while cringing with discomfort and disgust.

Those who know cicadas and the loud buzz they make will understand how overwhelming it can be, let alone how annoying the periodical cicadas are when they emerge. Knowledge of them will make the invasion more intimidating, visceral, and the actions of these cicadas extra terrifying. This is most definitely a horror novel, so keep that in mind, especially if large bugs make you squeamish. Thanks to Redhook Books for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

The Village Killer

The Village Killer by Ross Greenwood
10/25/24; 401 pages
Boldwood Books
DI Barton #7

The Village Killer by Ross Greenwood is a highly recommended procedural and the 7th novel in the series with Detective Inspector John Barton.

After three years behind a desk, Inspector John Barton is offered the opportunity to return to Major Crimes. After discussing it with his wife, he accepts and the team immediately are called in to investigate an attempted murder which seems to be linked to the case of a missing child. Soon enough a murder occurs, and Barton is thrust back into the back into the life of a detective with early mornings, late nights and endless pressure to get to the truth.

The well-written narrative follows the discoveries of the intricate investigation with occasional chapters from the point-of-view of the village killer. The cases also test Barton personally to see if he still has what it takes. There are several suspects to chose from as the plot unfolds and clues point to who could be behind the crimes.

The team knows each other, get along, including Barton's friend Zander, and a new member. They all work well together. Banter between the characters can be witty, as well as insightful. Greenwood keeps the investigation moving at a steady pace within the plot while also touching on current societal concerns, including an online "fans" site and concerns over handling those with neurodivergent conditions in the legal system.

The Village Killer is a great choice for those who appreciate detailed procedurals. Thanks to Boldwood Books for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

The Coldest Case

The Coldest Case by Tessa Wegert
11/5/24; 306 pages
Severn House
Shana Merchant #6

The Coldest Case by Tessa Wegert is a highly recommended investigative thriller and the sixth book in the Shana Merchant series.

On the small remote island of Running Pine, part of Lake Ontario’s Thousand Islands Archipelago, eight people are overwintering, including six year-rounders and two Social media influencers, Cary Caufield and Sylvie Lavoy. Cary and Sylvie are documenting their stay on the Instagram account Running Wild and receiving thousands of dollars of merchandise for product placement. When Cary goes missing while ice fishing, the state police are called in to assist.

Tim Wellington, Shana Merchant's partner and husband, is part of the initial 2 person team who make the dangerous journey to the island. Shana is almost 7 months pregnant and trying to cut back on risky activities, but on the island Sylvie insists to Tim that she will only talk to Shana, so Shana also makes her way to the island to talk to Sylvie. At the same time, Shana has called an old friend to help look into a cold case that still haunts her. She believes it may be tied to a serial killer case from New York City.

The even-paced plot follows the present day freezing cold search for Cary, which turns into a murder investigation, with flashbacks to Shana's previous unsolved cold case in NYC from 4 years ago. It is easy to follow both cases, although I found the current case more interesting than the cold case. The action does pick up later in the novel with some unexpected developments. Both cases have surprising twists that are unpredictable.

As the sixth book in the series, I personally felt that this would work better for readers already following the series. At times it felt as if I was missing pieces of information or had an incomplete picture of background information and character development. It is still a very satisfying investigative mystery/thriller. Thanks to Severn House for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

The Boundaries We Cross

The Boundaries We Cross by Brad Parks
11/5/24; 416 pages
Oceanview Publishing

The Boundaries We Cross by Brad Parks is an excellent, very highly recommended thriller. Don't miss this un-put-downable, topical, academic thriller that has twists which will surprise you.

Charles Bliss has taught creative writing at the elite Carrington Academy for eleven years. As a teacher he insists on always keeping strict boundaries between himself and his students, so when he is summoned to the head of school’s office and accused of engaging in a romantic relationship with a student, Hayley Goodloe, he is shocked. He would never cross that line and denies the accusations. Hayley, the daughter of a state senator, the granddaughter of an ex-governor, and an heiress to a massive fortune, has a family with a lot of influence on the school - and the money to back it up. Charles is out of a job, presumed guilty, and finds himself trying to prove his innocence after Hayley disappears.

The compelling, well-written narrative is mainly through chapters from the point-of-view of Charles, with excerpts from Hayley's journal interspersed between them. This allows you to meet both Charles and Hayley through their own voices and actions. Adding to Charles' account are the occasional "midlogues" where he departs from the storyline to explain something to the reader. The choice to present the narrative in this manner works exceptionally well and is an absolutely brilliant choice.

The fast-paced plot takes off quickly and will immediately grab your complete attention. There are mysteries to solve, shocking surprises, and a couple completely unpredictable twists. 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 Girl in the Smoke

The Girl in the Smoke by Matt Hilton
2/6/24; 240 pages
Severn House

The Girl in the Smoke by Matt Hilton is a highly recommended action thriller that moves at a fast and furious pace.

Eight-year-old Danni lives with her adoptive mother Josie, and Josie's partner Pete. Danni is tall for her age and loves dogs. When she sees a woman, Steph, walking a small Bichon Frisé named Franklin, Danni is excited to pet the little dog, even though she knows she is not suppose to talk to strangers. Josie and Danni later see Step out with Franklin again, so Josie meets Steph and invites her over to their house. Josie also notices a dangerous looking man out watching Danni for the second day.

While visiting with Steph at her house, a strange man shows up at the front door while the dangerous looking man enters the back door. They want information from Danni, from before she was adopted and still with her mother. Danni has claimed no memory of anything after she was the sole survivor of an accident. The men want information and are trying to force Danni to remember because her mother stole something before she died and they want the information to find it.

They end up kidnapping Josie and Danni in an attempt to get more information. They leave Pete beaten and tied up in a pantry. Josie's sister Grace arrives at her big sister's house finds Pete and learns her sister and niece were taken. Pete insists no police, so Grace takes matters into her own hands and contacts a man she met, Kyle, who she is sure has the skills she needs to rescue her sister and niece.

After introducing characters and setting up the story, The Girl in the Smoke quickly becomes an action-packed, lightning-fast-paced, un-put-downable thriller that is sheer escapism. Yes, you will need to set disbelief aside a time or two and there is violence, but you also know that the clock is ticking and the safety of Josie and perhaps even Danni is not guaranteed.

The characters are given enough development to easily understand their mindset and how they think. The transitions between the different points-of-view in the plot are smooth and seamless. You will care about the fate of Danni and Josie and be rooting for Grace and Kyle to save them. Thanks to Severn House for providing me with an advance reader's copy via Edelweiss. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

Like Mother, Like Mother

Like Mother, Like Mother by Susan Rieger
10/29/24; 336 pages
Random House

Like Mother, Like Mother by Susan Rieger is a recommended generational drama following three women in a family, Lila, Grace, and Zelda. The novel mainly focuses on Lila and Grace as they struggle with the complexities of relationships and trauma.

Lila Pereira had an abusive father and no mother growing up. She ended up executive editor of a major newspaper, The Washington Globe. She marries Joe and they have three daughters, Stella, Ava, and Grace . Lila leaves the parenting of their daughters to Joe while she concentrates on her career. The older two daughters, don't mind but the youngest, Grace, resents her mother's lack of involvement in her life, and constantly takes notes concerning her mother. Grace ends up writing a novel fictionalizing her mother's life.

There is a guide at the beginning to assist readers in following all the characters. The novel itself is divided into three parts. The first focuses on Lila, the second Grace, and the third Zelda. The stories of the individual characters is not linear, but goes back and forth in time to develop the characters and their backgrounds. Starting at the end of her life, the narrative eventually jumps back in time to Detroit in 1960. Lila Pereira is two years old when her angry, abusive father has her mother committed to an asylum. She never sees her mother again but is physically abused by her father until she leaves for college. Grace can't seem to understand her mother's hesitation to be the main parent and her toxic resentment influences her life. Zelda was always presumed to be dead, but Grace looks into what really happened to her grandmother.

While I appreciate the look into generational trauma, none of these characters were even remotely appealing or relatable to me. At times it was a struggle to continue reading, as Grace, the main character driving the plot forward, is a decidedly annoying. Adding to the disjointed feeling, the narrative seemed to lose focus at times and feels scattered, while the dialogue isn't always very well executed. Embedded in the novel is too much editorializing on social/political views on contemporary topics, which is always off-putting.

Thanks to Random House for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

Death Stake

Death Stake by Andrew Mayne
10/29/24; 315 pages
Thomas & Mercer
Trasker #2

Death Stake by Andrew Mayne is a very highly recommended action-packed thriller and the second novel in the Brad Trasker series following Night Owl in 2023. This is a great addition to the series!

Retired intelligence operative Brad Trasker is head of security at Wind Aerospace for CEO Kylie Connor when he learns about a security breach. A photo of their top-secret AI-designed hydrogen engine has surfaced online. Trasker's investigation points to Josiah Levenstein, a young man who is clearly not a criminal mastermind and later is found dead. This leads to the start-up company xQuadrant started by three young software developers. Kylie invested in it and now the young men have disappeared along with nearly a million dollars in investment money.

Trasker begins to follow the trail of the missing young men. It leads him to Bangkok, Thailand, where the HQ of xQuadrant is a padlocked crime scene. The complex investigation in to what happened enters the sophisticated high-tech world of cryptocurrency, the international underworld,  cyber-crime, digital espionage, spies and double agents, and internal betrayal.

Death Stake follows Trasker's investigation in this compelling, high octane, action-packed, complicated thriller. There are so many intricate twists and turns in the plot you will be unable to set the fast-paced novel down. I enjoyed every minute of following Trasker as he pieces together clues and makes numerous plans on the fly in order to escape death multiple times.

Trasker is an interesting, full-realized, savvy character with a keen intelligence, a world of experience, and a smart mouth. Even though this is the second book in the series, it can be read as a standalone. I would recommend reading Night Owl first because it is another very highly recommended novel and it is a great initial introduction to the characters.

Death Stake is an exceptional, dynamic, satisfying thriller and I'm looking forward to a third installment featuring Brad Trasker! Thanks to Thomas & Mercer for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

Pillars of Creation

Pillars of Creation by Richard Panek
10/22/24; 256 pages
Little, Brown and Company

Pillars of Creation: How the James Webb Telescope Unlocked the Secrets of the Cosmos by Richard Panek is a very highly recommended overview of some of the known advances to science and future potential discoveries due to the James Webb Space Telescope.

"For the past four hundred years, each new generation of astronomers has inhabited a new universe." As each generation makes advances more of the universe is revealed and the Webb Space Telescope is transforming the universe right before our eyes. It was launched in 2021 as a successor to the long-serving Hubble Telescope but the planning for it began even before the Hubble was launched. This is the inside account of how the mission originated, how it performs its miracles of science, and what its revolutionary images are revealing.

All the new images capture the imagination and interest of many amateur astronomers around the world who anticipate even more incredible. For those who follow the pictures released, many of us marveled at seeing the rings of Neptune. The new Pillars of Creation and deep space images showing innumerable galaxies.

This is not a comprehensive collection of all the known discoveries to date, but instead is an overview making the material comprehensible and digestible for the more casual reader who is interested. The chapters are composed of three components: personal experiences of scientist or scientists, a sampling of the scientific breakthroughs Webb has achieved, and the inclusion of a historical context. Included are notes, an appendix, charts explaining the science and technology, and sixteen pages of awe-inspiring, full-color photos.

Pillars of Creation is a great choice for those interested in the potential scientific discoveries of the Webb Space Telescope as well as a brief history of astronomy. Thanks to Little, Brown and Company for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

The Ice Sisters

The Ice Sisters by Rita Herron
10/25/24; 404 pages
Bookouture
Detective Ellie Reeves #10

The Ice Sisters by Rita Herron is a highly recommended investigative thriller and the tenth novel in the series featuring Detective Ellie Reeves.

On a hike to the lake, Detective Ellie Reeves has an accident which causes her to discover two dead little girls, twins. Ranger Cord McClain and Special Agent Derrick Fox rush in to find Ellie when she doesn't show up for Thanksgiving dinner at her parents, and they find both Ellie and the little girls. Back at the station later Ellie finds that no one has reported two girls missing. 

At the same time a car accident near where the girls were found results in a woman, Barbara, being hospitalized. Barbara leaves the hospital before being interviewed but a DNA test confirms that she is the girls' mother, however, Barbara's home shows no sign of any children living there. The investigation seems to be stalled, and then another little girl goes missing.

This is an excellent well-written investigative thriller that will hold your complete attention. As the team searches for the killer, the short chapters from multiple points-of-view help to keep the pace fast while adding tension, complexities, and twists. There is more than one suspect who are all equally creepy.

Those new to the series should note that even though this is the tenth book in the series there is enough background information provided that it can easily be read as a standalone novel. Those who are following the series are going to relish this latest case and the final denouement.

The Ice Sisters is very highly recommended for the right reader but note that the subject matter, while about families who want their children, also involves the death of children which was a difficult topic for me and resulted in a lower recommendation. Thanks to Bookouture for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

 

The Night of the Crash

The Night of the Crash by Jessica Irena Smith
10/1/24; 330 pages
Headline

The Night of the Crash by Jessica Irena Smith is a highly recommended thriller told through a dual timeline.

Steppy Corner is the popular true crime podcaster of "All the Dark Corners." When she wakes up in a hospital she has no memory of what brought her to Heartsick, Colorado, the small town where her estranged family lives. She learns she had a car accident on the way up the mountain to her family's home. Then others inform her that her mother was murdered and her brother Garrett is the prime suspect. Slowly Steppy starts to piece together exactly why she was in Heartsick.

The narrative is told through Steppy's point-of-view in a past and present dual timeline reflecting before and after the accident. In the past timeline before the accident we learn that Steppy was in Heartsick to investigate a missing person case where Garrett was a suspect. We also see the tension within her family and the stress Steppy was under in her personal life. In the present after the accident Steppy has no memory of the information she uncovered so she is re-investigating the missing person case while trying to figure out who murdered her mother. Garrett disappeared after the accident.

The dual timeline was an interesting plot device but also could have been used more effectively. It does add additional complexity to the plot and helps to increase the tension and suspense. It was interesting to follow Steppy uncovering clues or trying to figure out what she previously had uncovered. On the other hand, it also seemed to drag a bit in the middle for me and stretched out the story too much while covering the same information. The merging of the timelines leads to a satisfying conclusion and a surprising twist. Thanks to Headline for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

In Too Deep

In Too Deep by Lee Child, Andrew Child
10/22/24; 336 pages
Random House
Jack Reacher Series #29

In Too Deep by Lee Child and Andrew Child is the very highly recommended 29th installment of the popular action thriller series featuring Jack Reacher.

Jack Reacher wakes up handcuffed to a table. He has a broken wrist, double vision, a headache, and memory loss concerning what happened to him. One thing is for sure, whoever is responsible will pay. Lessons are taught to the man guarding him and then Reacher proceeds to look for an exit. He runs into a man named Ivan Vidic, who tells Reacher what is happening and then offers him a fortune to help him in a double-cross of the people running this particular operation. Reacher agrees, but for his own reasons.

Expect an entertaining, action-packed, complex plot with Reacher using his super-human powers of deduction to stay multiple steps ahead of everyone else while assessing the situation. Even injured, he retains his incredible strength and ability to fight. There is help from a female suspended law enforcement officer who is following one of the players in this gang. (She demonstrates the obvious fact that it is probably time for Reacher to at least get a cell phone.) There is plenty of coffee, pie, and sandwiches plus an unexpected twist at the end.

In Too Deep will hold your attention right from the start. This is everything you look for in a Reacher novel. 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 Woman in the Cabin

The Woman in the Cabin by Becca Day
10/23/24; 300 pages
Embla Books

The Woman in the Cabin by Becca Day is a highly recommended psychological thriller.

Mary is the perfect wife who knows her main job is to keep her husband Cal happy and to complete all her household duties. They live in a remote, isolated cabin in the Scottish Highlands. No known neighbors and Mary has no idea how far it would be to any town. She has a whole list of duties that she is expected to accomplish along with always looking good and having dinner ready on time. And the she finds the letters addressed "To the next woman," and begins to question her role.

This is a dark tension-packed story of control, fear, abuse, and manipulation that will hold your attention throughout as it could take several different paths. Obviously this plot does cover well-trodden territory as a common story archetype so you will feel like you've read something similar before. There are a few surprises along the way in the plot and the ending was unexpected and satisfying.

The main questions readers will have is why did Mary comply for so long, however her dilemma will induce serious thoughts and speculation about her circumstances. This novel dives deep into the human psyche and the many ways people can be broken.

The abuse and manipulation present in the novel might give some readers pause. Thanks to Embla Books for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

Everyone Has Secrets

Everyone Has Secrets by A J McDine
10/21/24; 361 pages
Bookouture

Everyone Has Secrets by A J McDine is a highly recommended domestic mystery.

Noah and Eve Griffiths live with their sixteen-year-old son Joe in the village of South Langley. For his birthday, Joe is having a few friends over to play video games. Noah and Eve are going across the street to her best friend Lisa's house while Lisa's teenage daughter Annie heads across the street to the party at the Griffiths house. All is fine until Joe calls his mom to say Annie is unconscious on the kitchen floor and struggling to breath. Annie is rushed to the hospital and now the police and Eve want to figure out what happened.

Reasons to recommend the novel include a fast-paced, an intriguing plot, an ongoing sense of apprehension, plenty of people with secrets, some interesting twists, and the focus on a drug overdose from MDMA (Ecstasy or Molly). It really isn't a gripping psychological thriller. It is more a domestic mystery or drama with a very engaging plot.

The main problem with the novel for me was Eve. She was a very annoying character and became more unlikable with every page. In fact, the only truly likable character in the whole novel is a child, Bobbi Jo. This is a novel best appreciated for the plot development rather than the characters. Thanks to Bookouture for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

Beyond Reasonable Doubt

Beyond Reasonable Doubt by Robert Dugoni
10/22/24; 384 pages
Thomas & Mercer
Keera Duggan #2

Beyond Reasonable Doubt by Robert Dugoni is an engaging, very highly recommended legal thriller and the second book featuring lawyer Keera Duggan. This can be read as a standalone, but both Beyond Reasonable Doubt and the first novel, Her Deadly Game, are excellent and worth reading.

Jenna Bernstein is accused of murdering her former business partner and lover Sirus Kohl. The word from Adria Kohl, the daughter, is that her father was cooperating with the feds to bring a fraud charge against Jenna, so she had a motive to murder him. Jenna has to turn to Seattle law firm Patrick Duggan & Associates to defend her. Patsy Duggan previously successfully defended Jenna Bernstein and she was found not guilty of killing Erik Wei, a researcher at the company she and Kohl ran.

However, Patsy is no longer taking on trial cases so the case would go to attorney Keera Duggan. If she takes to case it will be up to Keera to defend Jenna, a woman she has known since they were both children. Keera knows Jenna is trouble. She is a liar, as well as a narcissistic sociopath. As a master chess player, Keera is very adroit at reading body language and instinctively seeing several steps ahead. She watched Jenna at the previous trial with her father and knows what she faces if she takes Jenna on as a client.

Leading up to the trial it is intriguing to follow both the investigation of the case by Detective Frank Rossi of the Seattle PD and the legal team investigation by J.P. Harrison. Both characters add depth and insight into the case and the discovery process. Keera is a wonderful, fully realized character. She is intelligent, has remarkable analytical abilities and shrewd courtroom skills.

The writing is exceptional in this fast-paced legal thriller. The plot is well thought out, with an intriguing mystery, interesting discoveries in the investigations, and tension filled courtroom scenes. This series should appeal to fans of mysteries and legal thrillers. Thanks to Thomas & Mercer for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

Run

Run by Blake Crouch
10/22/24; 336 pages
Random House/ Ballantine Books 

Run by Blake Crouch is a very highly recommended apocalyptic thriller. This re-release of Crouch's first novel (originally 2011) is an un-put-downable horrifying death march following a man and his family running for their lives while trying to escape incomprehensible evil killing mobs in an America gone mad.

The epidemic of a killing rage began an now the infected are mobilizing and reading the addresses of those to be killed on the Emergency Broadcast System. Jack Colclough is listening over the battery-powered radio on his kitchen table in Albuquerque, and he just heard his name. People are coming to his house to kill him, his wife Dee, his teenage daughter Naomi, and his seven-year-old son Cole. They were packing their range rover to leave, but now they must leave immediately.

The race to escape the killing hoards sends them heading north with the goal to evade and survive. At one point they learn that an intense aurora borealis which could be seen in most of North America, likely in the 5 range, set off in those who watched it some genetically ingrained need to eliminate everyone who didn't see it. (Sort of a Day of the Triffids event and plot.) They also learn that Canada wasn't infected and has camps for refugees, so their goal is to keep going north.

Set disbelief aside and enjoy the fast-paced, intense, horrifying, heart-stopping, action-packed adventure. Along the lines of many classic B movies and stories of a similar ilk, the crisis sending them in survival mode may not be as fully explained as some readers want, but there have to be plenty of us who enjoy this kind of survival-thriller-action-adventure trope (dinosaurs, zombies, triffids, insects, etc.).

If you like apocalyptic stories mixed with survival tales, read Run. Thanks to Ballantine for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

 

Her Deadly Rose

Her Deadly Rose by Carolyn Arnold
10/18/24; 322 pages
Bookouture
Detective Amanda Steel #12

Her Deadly Rose by Carolyn Arnold is a highly recommended investigative thriller and the twelfth book in the Detective Amanda Steele series.

After her special performance in Woodbridge, Virginia, champion figure skater Michaela Glover is discovered dead in her dressing room. Penny Glover, Michaela's aunt, Amanda, and her daughter Zoe were all attending the show and they were the ones who discovered her body. After a brief look at the room, Amanda immediately suspects foul play and calls her partner Detective Trent Stenson to set the investigation into motion. Once the team begins to collect evidence it becomes clear Michaela was murdered.

Amanda and Trent must look closely at Michaela's life to try and uncover who could have been responsible for her murder. She had a troubled past and there are clearly people who could be culpable. The discoveries and clues initially uncovered in the investigation lead to several suspects. The complexity in the case increases with each new revelation as the clues are followed logically to another line of questioning.

Even though it is part of a series, it can be enjoyed as a stand alone novel too. You may not have all the background information on the lives of the characters, but you can still appreciate the plot. There is enough basic background information to follow along.

This well-written, fast-paced, engaging police procedural will hold your attention from start to finish. Thanks to Bookouture for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

One Last Prayer

One Last Prayer by Carla Kovach
10/16/24; 369 pages
Bookouture
Detective Gina Harte # 16

One Last Prayer by Carla Kovach is a highly recommended investigative thriller and the sixteenth novel in the Detective Gina Harte series. This procedural quickly turns into a complicated investigation.

Local vicar, Sally, finds a note asking for help at the morning mothers and toddlers group and immediately knows Nell wrote it. She rushes to Nell's home and hears her one-year-old son Alfie crying. Looking for a way in to the house, she finds Nell's body in the backyard and calls the police. DI Gina Harte and team are called in to investigate and are searching for a brutal killer. As the police begin to investigate, the case quickly becomes increasingly complicated and the violence continues.

The well-written narrative unfolds through several different points-of-view, along with diary entries. The suspense ratchets up with each new piece of information uncovered and discovery made in the investigation. There are a whole lot of people who could be suspects so the plot also increases in complexity and twists abound. 

At one point there were almost too many twists, suspects, and characters to parse. In some ways this is a good development, in others, maybe not so much. I wasn't a fan of Gina's increasing health concerns in the plot.

Even though this is the sixteenth book in the series, it can be enjoyed as a standalone. This is a great choice for those who love complicated procedurals with lots of suspects. Thanks to Bookouture for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

 

A Woman Underground

A Woman Underground by Andrew Klavan
10/15/24; 312 pages
Penzler Publishers/Mysterious Press
Cameron Winter #4

A Woman Underground by Andrew Klavan is an exceptional, very highly recommended investigative mystery and the fourth novel featuring college professor and ex-spy Cameron Winter. This features an intricate and sophisticated plot where, for Winter, the past and present are at the forefront. Don't miss this one!

Cameron Winter is sharing with therapist Margaret Whitaker the troubling memories of his mission with the Division to track down Jerry Collins, a missing operative investigating a Turkish sex trafficker while avoiding discussing Gwendolyn Lord. He is also recalling memories of his first childhood love, Charlotte Shaefer, when he smells her perfume outside his apartment door and sees her visiting him on the security camera. Winter begins to track her down from clues on the camera shot of her, which leads him to a novel, Treachery in the Night, which Winter believes may be telling her story. Adding even more complexity, colleague Roger Sexton believes he loves a student, Barbara Finley, and confides to Winter he plans to leave his wife and child for her.

Winter has what he calls "a strange habit of mind." He is able to look at a situation from all angles, deduce how the complicated clues fit together, and reach a clear understanding of what actually happened. As a previously a trained operative, his extra-special understanding of human nature has been developed over time. It is a sheer pleasure in following along. 

All of the various narrative in the plot are complicated, intense, compelling, and complex. A Woman Underground held my complete, rapt attention throughout. The tension increases with each page, each new development as Winter investigates and tells his story from the past mission.

Winter is a fully realized, well-developed character who will garner sympathy and compassion from readers. He is intelligent and tenacious while investigating and following what he senses is really going on. It is clear that Winter is working through the demons from his past while using his abilities to solve a current mystery. As he tells Margaret, "In my mind, it’s all one story."

Even though it is the fourth book in a series, A Woman Underground can be read as a stand-alone novel. The Cameron Winter series consists of When Christmas Comes, A Strange Habit of Mind, The House of Love and Death and A Woman Underground.

A Woman Underground is an absolutely riveting, un-put-downable mystery. Thanks to Mysterious Press for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

Dogs and Monsters

Dogs and Monsters: Stories by Mark Haddon
10/15/24; 288 pages
Doubleday

Dogs and Monsters: Stories by Mark Haddon is an exceptional, very highly recommended collection of eight stories that utilize Greek myths, dystopian concepts, and human and animal behavior in the narratives. This is the best short story collection I've read in years. The writing is superb in every single story included in the imaginative collection. The keen insight and empathy into the circumstances and spirit of the human condition presented make every story mesmerizing and compelling. 

The stories include:
The Mother's Story: a narrative following the myth of Pasiphae and Asterion, or the Minotaur; briefly touches on Icarus too.
The Bunker: a short post-apocalyptic tale.
My Old School: a contemporary narrative featuring the bullying and cruelty that can be found among adolescents, and the aftermath.
D.O.G.Z.: a recounting of the myth of Acteon, who was turned into a stag after glimpsing the naked goddess Diana.
The Wilderness: a science fiction someone is doing extreme cycling through the wilderness and crashes; genetic engineering
The Temptation of St. Anthony: a hermit who has dedicated his life to God.
The Quiet Limit of the World: a re-imagining of the immortal love story of Tithonus and Eos, the goddess of Dawn.
St. Brides Bay: written to accompany Virginia Woolf's short story, "The Mark on the Wall." (This was the only story that I didn't love.)

Those who appreciate literary short stories (or literary stories period), should absolutely read Dogs and Monsters. It was a pleasure to read this extraordinary collection. Thanks to Doubleday for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

The Launch Party

The Launch Party by Lauren Forry
10/15/24 (originally in 2023); 400 pages
Bonnier Zaffre Books UK

The Launch Party by Lauren Forry is a highly recommended locked room mystery set in the first hotel on the moon.

Ten lucky people have won a free trip and the opportunity to be the first guests at the grand opening of the Hotel Artemis, the first hotel on the moon. After their arrival it quickly becomes clear that things have gone badly awry. While champagne and a buffet dinner are waiting, all their bags are piled up in the lobby and there is no staff available anywhere. In fact they appear to be completely alone in the hotel. After the guests decide to find their rooms and then rejoin each other to drink and dine the night away.  

The next day the guests are shocked to see one of their own dead. The group pushes the emergency alarm, calling for help back at the hotel, which is at least three days out. What follows is a search for who is the killer among them, trying to figure out the layout of the hotel, and striving to not be the next one targeted.

With a police detective, Penelope Strand, and an investigative reporter, Tonya Burton, among the guests, there is sure to be an investigation. Also among the guests are Dr. Erik Wyss, Dai Uchida (a billionaire), Frau Charlotte Richter, Alison Crane, Robert (Bobby) Rannells, Jackson Smith, Sasha Eris, and Freddy Nwankwo. The characters are unique enough to easily follow who's who. All the characters, except Penelope, are suspects.

After setting any and all disbelief aside, I was totally entrench in this entertaining character- driven locked room murder mystery taking place in a unique setting. The descriptions of their accommodations is interesting as you follow the investigation Penelope undertakes. The atmosphere is appropriately creepy and frightening, after all they are all on the moon with no support staff or help in sight. The tension increases right up to the satisfying conclusion.

The Launch Party is a satisfying mystery in an unusual setting and is certainly worth reading for all mystery lovers. Thanks to Bonnier Zaffre Books UK for providing me with an advance reader's copy via Edelweiss. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

A Little Getaway

A Little Getaway by Bonnie Traymore
10/9/24; 261 pages
BooksGoSocial

A Little Getaway by Bonnie Traymore is a highly recommended suspense novel.

Morgan Murphy is concerned that her husband, Kyle Murphy, may be cheating. They have always had a spicy marriage but Kyle's attention has diminished lately. Morgan's friend Carla Flores, actually follows Kyle and does get photo of a woman that he may be involved with. While Morgan tracks her husband’s movements, he increases their life insurance policies and then surprises her with a weekend getaway. 

At the resort cabin, Kyle disappears and Morgan is attacked and nearly kidnapped. Could Kyle be hiding something from her and is Morgan still in danger? And will investigative reporter Tara Harker from K-PAL, who is now following the case uncover what is really going on?

This is a fast-paced thriller that is best enjoyed after you set all disbelief aside and just go with the flow. There are plenty of unrealistic situations, but the fast pace, action, brief chapters, and short length means you can breeze through the novel quickly while following the various plot twists. Everyone has something to hide, no one seems trustworthy, and it is hard to know anyone can be believed. Even though the novel is subtitled "A Spicy Suspense Thriller" any spice is talked about rather than endlessly described.

None of the characters are likeable or that well-developed, but this makes sense with the abbreviated page count. Everyone in this novel is an unreliable character. Morgan is, however, an interesting character. Tara comes the closest to having some code of ethics later in the novel, but she starts out just in it for the story.

This is an excellent choice if you are looking for a quick, fast-paced novel of suspense. Thanks to BooksGoSocial for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

Happy-Go-Lucky

Happy-Go-Lucky by David Sedaris
5/31/22; 273 pages
Little, Brown and Company

Happy-Go-Lucky by David Sedaris is a highly recommended collection of his essays on a wide range of subjects. The subject matters covered lean more to deeper, serious topics, including his father's death, with a few lighter musings included, like  buying gummy worms to feed to ants. Everything still has Sedaris's unique irreverent take on it.

After reading and enjoying almost everything Sedaris has written for years, in this outing he is, perhaps, showing his age. I was expecting the collection to leave me laughing and guffawing out loud throughout the collection and then spend days quoting various parts to everyone I see. Instead these stories are uneven. There are several quotable comments and laughs along the way, but not as many as I was expecting. Perhaps it's due to the essays stepping into the whole Covid lockdown.

Long time fans will definitely want to read Happy-Go-Lucky and will grant Sedaris a measure of grace for the inconsistent set. Those new to him will want to start with his earlier work. 

Close Range

Close Range by Shannon Baker
10/8/24; 300 pages
Severn River
Kate Fox #9

Close Range by Shannon Baker is a highly recommended mystery and the ninth book in the Kate Fox series set in the sandhills of Nebraska.

There is plenty of small town intrigue as Sheriff Kate Fox is facing a recall election started by a petition her very own sister Louise filed. Kate's best friend, Sarah, is at the hospital awaiting the birth of her next child when Garrett Haney,  Sarah's brother, is found electrocuted.  Kate has the state police start the investigation, and then, after she loses the recall, she and the new, young Sheriff Zoe also look into it and find his death to be suspicious.

The focus of most of the plot is a whole lot of on-going family drama that I'm sure was started much earlier in the series. Admittedly, I haven't read the other books in the series and did lose track of some of the family and interpersonal relationships at times, but could parse out all the connections I needed to in order to follow the narrative in Close Range.

Fans of the series who have been introduced to all the characters are very likely going to easily jump right into the action. The main characters receive further development and experience some growth. However, there were some characters that I never quite figured out how their inclusion in the plot mattered.

There were a couple nice twists and the ending was a surprise. Thanks to Severn River for providing me with an advance reader's copy via Edelweiss. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

What Does It Feel Like?

What Does It Feel Like? by Sophie Kinsella
10/8/24; 144 pages
Random House/The Dial Press

What Does It Feel Like? by Sophie Kinsella is a very highly recommended, heartbreaking, fictionalized, powerful account of the author's real life brain cancer diagnosis. Sophie Kinsella writes that the book "is fiction, but it is my most autobiographical work to date. Eve’s story is my story."

Eve is a successful author, married to Nick, and mother to five children. The novel opens showing her success as an author, and then, abruptly, has Eve waking up in a hospital with no memory of how she got there. Her patient, loving husband is always there to explain what happened and encourage her. She learns, and needs to be told this repeatedly, that she was diagnosed with stage 4 glioblastoma which is a cancerous brain tumor and had an eight hour long operation to remove the large, malignant tumor growing in her brain. The narrative then follows Eve learning walk, talk, and write again, as well as explaining her illness to her children.

After the operation, the story is told through brief chapters. As Eve can't remember anything due to the loss of her short term memory, she must have everything repeated, everyday. Her determination and bravery is shown as she as she learns to walk and talk again, along with doing the most basic things. Her husband is admirably ever patient with her. She even has humorous passages among the heartbreaking ones.  The fact that this is based on her real life experiences make it even more compelling, poignant and powerful.

Sophie Kinsella writes, "Why did I write such a personal book? I have always processed my life through writing. Hiding behind my fictional characters, I have always turned my own life into a narrative. It is my version of therapy, maybe. Writing is my happy place, and writing this book, although tough going at times, was immensely satisfying and therapeutic for me."

What Does It Feel Like? is an excellent, heartrending book. Tears are going to fall while reading, but it is definitely worth reading. Thanks to The Dial Press for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

The Blue Hour

The Blue Hour by Paula Hawkins
10/29/24; 320 pages
HarperCollins 

The Blue Hour by Paula Hawkins is a highly recommended, atmospheric, even paced psychological thriller.

The late painter Vanessa Chapman has a retrospective at the Tate Modern when a forensics expert says a bone in one of her sculptures is a human bone. The Fairburn Foundation manages her estate and sends James Becker to Eris Island, where Chapman lived for the last decade of her life, to discuss the matter with her companion, Grace Haswell, who was willed the property and is the executor of Vanessa’s will.  Admittedly, Grace has been hesitant to hand over all of Vanessa's papers, journals, and art work, causing a dispute between her and the foundation. The Scottish Eris Island has only one house on it and is accessible only twice a day, at low tide.

There are many characters, rumors, obsessions, and secrets introduced in the novel and all of them centers on the enigmatic artist. It is clear that not all hidden truths are meant to be uncovered and some may lead to danger. Chief among the secrets is the disappearance of Julian, the notoriously unfaithful husband of Vanessa who disappeared twenty years ago. The Lennox family behind the foundation has their own secrets, as does the island itself.

The writing is masterful. The narrative is written through multiple points-of-view and follows several timelines. Interspersed between chapters are excerpts from the artist’s journal entries. The island setting is part of the atmospheric novel. Expect dislikeable characters. The pace is even and slowly reveals insights into the characters along with a few surprises. Thanks to HarperCollins for providing me with an advance reader's copy via Edelweiss. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

Broke Heart Blues

Broke Heart Blues by Joyce Carol Oates
10/1/24 (re-release, originally published in 1999) 446 pages
Akashic Books 

Broke Heart Blues by Joyce Carol Oates is a recommended celebration of high school notoriety and obsession. Originally published in 1999, it is being re-released on 10/1/24.

The novel unfolds over three parts to tell the story of John Reddy Heart, mainly through the eyes of others. The first part covers his arrival in Willowsville, NY, from Las Vegas, at age 11 in the 1960's, and the murder he commits when he shot his mother's lover. Each chapter is told through the point-of-view of a different classmate but what they all discuss is a circular repetition of the same lore of John Reddy. The second part follows the adult John Heart and is actually more interesting. The third part returns to the former classmates now at their 30th high school reunion where they all return to acting like adolescents.

The first and the third parts of the novel are a struggle to read and develop any kind of engagement with the chorus of anonymous voices. The second part is the only compelling part of the narrative with any kind of a plot. It has been said that the point of the novel was to capture how our imaginations create our own reality, which I can see, but I also believe it failed to do that.

Apparently this was one of JCO's favorite novels. I found most of the narrative incredibly boring, tedious, and never understood the endless nostalgia for high school exhibited by her characters. Did none of these characters actually grow up? According to one of her characters, "After high school in America, everything's posthumous." This is simply not true for most people.

This is a novel where it is best to understand what you are about to read before you start it. Thanks to Akashic Books for providing me with an advance reader's copy via LibraryThing. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

 

The Day He Disappeared

The Day He Disappeared by Catherine Miller
10/3/24; 282 pages
Bookouture

The Day He Disappeared by Catherine Miller is a highly recommended family drama/love story for the right reader.

Kate meets Theo when she is rushing back from a bachelorette party to get to her brother's bedside at the hospital where she works as a nurse. Her brother, Matthew, has cystic fibrosis and her parents called her to let her know he has taken a turn for the worse and may not live much longer. When thee train is delayed by a tree on the track, Theo notices her distress and offers her a tissue. The two strike up a conversation and Theo offers to drive Kate to the hospital. 

Later, a chance meeting between the two happens when Theo was bringing his Nan in and sees Kate. The two happily exchange numbers. Before he dies, Matthew meets Theo and asks him to make a promise. The two begin dating and Theo is there for Kate when Matthew dies. Their relationship is going well until Theo gets some bad news and ghosts Kate. She knows something isn't right, but first she has to get Theo to talk to her.

The Day He Disappeared is a light read. There is no complicated, twisty plot. It is not a thriller and much closer to a love story. The plot is predictable. This is not my usual fare at all as I prefer more action and complicated plots, but I will admit that The Day He Disappeared is a heartbreaking emotional novel that held my attention throughout.

If you enjoy love stories that move at a fast pace and have an emotional impact, then this would be fine choice for your next book. 3 stars for me personally, but 4 for readers who gravitate toward this genre and because I kept reading even after I realized it was not a thriller. Thanks to Bookouture for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.