The Couple's Secret

The Couple's Secret by Lisa Regan
9/1/25; 370 pages
Bookouture
Detective Josie Quinn #23

The Couple's Secret by Lisa Regan is a very highly recommended mystery/procedural. This is the 23rd novel in the Detective Josie Quinn series but it can be read as a stand-alone novel. In fact, after reading it you will want to read more in this series.

A call comes in alerting the Denton Police department that a car has been spotted in the river at a remote area. Detective Josie Quinn and her partner Gretchen go out to investigate and Josie determines the car has been there for several years. It is revealed that inside the car are the skeletal remains of Tobias Lachlan and his fiancée Cora Stevens, a couple who disappeared seven years earlier. 

The medical examiner reveals that the couple were both murdered which means the car was pushed into the river and the missing persons case is now a murder investigation. Tobias and Cora’s children, Jackson, Zane and Riley, are now adults and Josie is determined to find who murdered their parents because someone always knows something.

The writing is excellent, the pace is lightning-fast, and the tension rises with each chapter as all the clues are all logically followed up on in this compelling murder mystery. There are some obvious suspects, but, as the investigation unfolds, secrets are uncovered and seem to multiply. There are several twists in the plot as new information is uncovered and changes the direction of inquiries.

In Josie's personal life, Noah, who also works for the police department, is still recovery from the aftermath of a previous case. The two are now custodial parents to Wren, a teenager who is still grieving from her parents deaths. All the backstory and history of the characters is covered enough that new readers can follow along and appreciate this latest addition to the series. I really enjoyed all the realistic interaction between characters which helps bring them all to life as fully realized individuals.

The Couple's Secret is a natural choice for anyone following the series, but new readers can jump into it this time and enjoy the excellent mystery/procedural. Thanks to Bookouture for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

Fallout

Fallout by Logan Ryles
9/2/25; 334 pages
Severn River
Prosecution Force #8

Fallout by Logan Ryles is a highly recommended thriller. This is the eighth book in the Prosecution Force series and very highly recommended for those already following the series. 

There have been two nuclear blasts, at the Panama Canal and in Azerbaijan. Reed and four other members of the CIA's elite Prosecution Force are being held and tortured in Azerbaijan. The White House is trying to prevent global war, but with the president ill,  Vice President Stratton is in charge. The world is careening toward WWIII while leaders from Russia, China and Iran are missing and unavailable to contact. Separated from the others, Lucy is shell-shocked and in a daze, and, while Turk has the intelligence information needed, he has no way to get the information back to Langley. He also needs to rescue the missing team members, but it is clear that troops in Azerbaijan are preparing for war at the border with Georgia and Russia. 

This is a tension-filled, action-packed, heart-stopping thriller that takes off at a gallop and doesn't let up until the end, which will leave readers longing for the next installment of the series. It will hold your complete attention throughout. Fallout really is a riveting thriller. The strength and sense of purpose of all the characters is impressive. The only drawback for me was starting the series here, with the eighth book. After reading Fallout it became clear it might have been better to start at the beginning and follow the team to this point. 

Fallout is a perfect choice for those who enjoy action-packed thrillers and are already following the Persecution Force series. Thanks to Severn River for providing me with an advance reader's copy via Edelweiss. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

At Last

At Last by Marisa Silver
9/2/25; 288 pages
Simon & Schuster 

At Last by Marisa Silver is a recommended, melancholy domestic drama which consists of twelve chapters that are actually interconnected short stories.

Helene Simonauer and Evelyn Turner first meet in Omaha, Nebraska, in 1971 when their children, Tom and Ruth, are getting married. Helene is tasked with getting flowers for the wedding and Evelyn drives her to the flower shop. The two women immediately don't like each other. From this point on the two women are connected by their granddaughter, Francine, even after their children divorce.

While the quality of writing is good, the pacing is very slow in this rather depressing character driven novel. There is a time jump between the chapters, so the novel covers decades in their lives. None of the characters are fully developed and never felt like real individuals, although their flaws are exposed. None of them are likable and they are all unhappy. Disappointment reigns supreme throughout the novel.

The plot point about the translated letters was left hanging, which was disappointing. There was also a throw away line early in the novel saying Evelyn's family sold the family farm east of Omaha. This puzzled me. My first thought was 'what, you mean across the Missouri River in Council Bluffs, Iowa' because, of course, Omaha is a river city, right by the river. Perhaps a small plot of land by the river, but no farm would be happening east of the city.

At Last may be best appreciated by those who enjoy domestic dramas through interconnected short stories. Thanks to Simon & Schuster for providing me with an advance reader's copy via Edelweiss. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

Buckeye

Buckeye by Patrick Ryan
9/2/25; 464 pages
Random House

Buckeye by Patrick Ryan is a highly recommended multigenerational domestic drama and historical fiction novel which follows decades in the lives of two families.

In Bonhomie, Ohio, where they both grew up, Cal Jenkins marries Becky Hanover and takes a job managing her father’s hardware store. Due to having one leg shorter than the other Cal is unable to serve during WWII. Becky has the ability to communicate with those who have passed on and she conducts seances in her family's home to help others find closure. The two have a son, Cal Jr. who is nicknamed Skip.

In 1939 Felix, and Margaret Salt moved to Bonhomie for him to help manage the aluminum plant. Margaret is ashamed of her past and never shares the fact that she was an orphan, abandoned as an infant. Felix decides to enlist in the Navy and is assignment to a cargo ship in the Pacific. On VE day, Margaret and Cal meet and begin a short affair before Felix returns home from the war, wounded in more than one way. The two have a son named Tom.

This is an exceptionally well-written character driven novel which follows through the centuries how decisions made by flawed adults change the lives of members of both families in this one small town. Since it is character driven, Ryan explores the inner lives of his characters and their relationships. He also carefully includes historical events along the way covering the 1920s, into WWII, the 1950s, the Vietnam War, and right up into the early 1980s.

The characters are all portrayed as fully realized individuals and expertly crafted, with both strengths and weaknesses. He delves deeply into their insecurities and interpersonal struggles throughout the novel. The deep insight into the characters helps make this a very compelling novel. This would be an excellent choice for book clubs as the characters and events would provide fodder for great discussions.

There were two minor issues I had with the novel which means I'm a bit of an outlier with my rating. First, at times the pacing occasionally felt too slow and deliberate. Secondly, the whole focus on Becky's ability to communicate with the deceased annoyed me. 

Buckeye is a wonderful choice for those who enjoy character driven domestic dramas and historical fiction. Thanks to Random House for providing me with an advance reader's copy via . My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

Space Ships! Ray Guns! Martian Octopods!

Space Ships! Ray Guns! Martian Octopods! by Richard Wolinsky 
9/2/25; 264 pages
Tachyon 

Space Ships! Ray Guns! Martian Octopods! by Richard Wolinsky is a highly recommended compilation of interactive discussions between writers from the Golden Age of science fiction, between 1920 and 1960. The discussions are from  Probabilities, a radio show which ran from 1977-95 and the text follows a free flowing discussion on topics rather than an interview of one author at a time. The interviews were conducted on air by Wolinsky and his fellow writers and co-hosts Richard A. Lupoff and Lawrence Davidson.

There is a lot of discussion of various pulp magazines, editors, science fiction publishers, inside gossip, and personal opinions all from more than fifty legendary writers. The Table of Contents will provide readers with insight on how this collection is organized by era, starting in the 1920's, and topic. It also lists who is being interviewed and some of the pulp magazines (additional ones are mentioned by authors in the text) for that era. 

Chapters are: Chapter 1 Space Ships! Ray Guns! Martian Octopods!: Science Fiction in the 1920s; Chapter 2 The Story of Weird Tales; Chapter 3 The Years of the Depression: Triumph of the Pulps; Chapter 4 The King of Science Fiction: John W. Campbell & Astounding; Chapter 5 World War II & Beyond: Science Fiction in the Forties; Chapter 6 The Fifties: The World Rushes In; and Chapter 7 From the Science Fiction League to the Futurians: Fans for All Seasons. Appendix II lists the interviews.  

Wolinky suggests you read the book following George Plimpton's advice (for a book he wrote) and approach it as if you were at a cocktail party and happen to overhear discussions. Many of the discussions do resemble a group of friends discussing various topics and people they know, with all the gossip, opinions, complaints, and insider's knowledge that this implies. One drawback of the book for me is how the interviews are not by individual writer, but are an amalgamation of several authors addressing a topic. It does create a nice discussion format, but I was expecting more individual interviews.

Space Ships! Ray Guns! Martian Octopods!  is definitely a good choice for anyone who enjoys early science fiction. Thanks to Tachyon Publishing for providing me with an advance reader's copy via Edelweiss. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

The Tapes

The Tapes by Kerry Wilkinson
8/11/25; 317 pages
Bookouture

The Tapes by Kerry Wilkinson is a highly recommended domestic mystery/psychological thriller.

Eve's father has recently died and she is tasked with cleaning out his house. Her dad was a bit of a hoarder, which makes the task difficult. While digging out things in his garage, she discovers a cassette player, which she sets aside to show her daughter Faith. Then she discovers a box of tapes all labeled in her mother's handwriting. Eve's mother Angela disappeared without a trace thirteen years ago. As Eve plays a tape, she remembers her mother recording a diary of sorts on them. 

Then she notices a tape labeled 'Eve.' On it her mother says, "If you're listening to this, I've been murdered and I need you to know that I love you ." Apparently, her mother who was a kleptomaniac stole a jewelry box from someone and discovered in it the earrings collected by a serial killer named "the Earring Killer." Her mother is sure the person will know it was her who took the jewelry box and will come for her next. Eve needs to discover who owned the box so she can identify the killer.

The well-written fast paced narrative follows Eve in the present day as she tries to find out who owned the jewelry box in order to identify the killer. Also included are excerpts from a book about the Earring Killer that was written years earlier which identifies all the victims and includes interviews with their family members. The novel held my complete attention throughout. Alternating between Eve's present day search while dealing with her father's death with the books true story of the victims of the serial killer worked very well. There are several twists along the way.

Eve is a complicated, fully realized character who is very flawed, but you will like and support her in her search. She knows her flaws and struggles. She also knows Angela's weaknesses and realizes that the tapes would mean nothing to the police because of her mother's history. There are several suspects along the way and no one who is really trustworthy.

The Tapes is a great choice for anyone who enjoys reading domestic mysteries that have some aspects of a psychological thriller. Thanks to Bookouture for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

The Burial Place

The Burial Place by Stig Abell
8/26/25; 368 pages
HarperCollins
Jake Jackson #3

The Burial Place by Stig Abell is a recommended mystery and the third novel in the Jake Jackson series.

Jake Jackson is a former London detective who now lives a bucolic life in the country at Little Sky and is in a relationship with local vet, Livia. When a group of archaeologists at a nearby dig site uncover the remains of a Roman settlement, members of the team begin to receive threatening letters signed Wulfnoth. The early letters were ignored, but then they became increasingly threatening. After a team member is killed, Jake offers his assistance to the new Chief Inspector David McAllister to find the killer.

While the quality of the writing is very good, it is almost overly descriptive and focuses way too much on Jake's personal life rather than the mystery. This slows the plot to a crawl and it was a struggle to hold my interest. Personally, I'm reading for the mystery, so I ended up skimming through Jake's personal shenanigans to focus on following the mystery and figuring out whodunit. Admittedly, I have not read the previous two novels in the series so this is my first introduction to Jake. For those who enjoy classical music, Abell provides a glossary of selections he listened to while writing at the end of the novel.

The Burial Place will be most appreciated by those who have read the previous books in the series. Thanks to HarperCollins for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

Three Girls Gone

Three Girls Gone by Carolyn Arnold
8/27/25; 343 pages
Bookouture
Detective Amanda Steele #14

Three Girls Gone by Carolyn Arnold is an excellent, very highly recommended police procedural. Even though this is the fourteenth novel in the Detective Amanda Steele series, there is enough backstory to easily read it as a standalone. Arnold writes great procedurals.

The body of six-year-old Hailey Tanner is found dressed in a pink ballerina tutu on the carousel in a local park. Detective Amanda Steele and her partner Trent Stenson rush to the scene and begin the investigation. They learn that Hailey wasn't picked up after dance class after her nanny received a phone call saying Hailey's mother would be picking her up. While searching her room at the family home, Amanda discovers one of Hailey's tutus and a pair of slippers have been taken from the home. It is clear that her abduction was carefully planned.

It also becomes increasingly similar to the Julie Gilbert, a child abduction and murder case from twelve years ago. Katherine Graves, Amanda's former colleague, is still conducting her own, private investigation into this case. A note is found that ties Hailey's murder to Katherine's investigation of the Gilbert case, so she joins them to share her discoveries.

This is an excellent, very well written, fast-paced police procedural that carefully follows clues and discoveries. The tension increases with each new discovery as the plot logically leads Amanda and Trent to new suspects, lines of inquiry, and revelations. Both Amanda and Trent are intelligent, fully realized characters, and it is always a pleasure to see them investigate a case.

Three Girls Gone is a well-written, fast-paced, engaging, intelligent police procedural which will hold your attention from start to finish. This is an excellent choice for readers who enjoy procedurals. Thanks to Bookouture for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

The Break-In

The Break-In by Katherine Faulkner
8/26/25; 400 pages
Gallery/Scout Press

The Break-In by Katherine Faulkner is a highly recommended psychological thriller/mystery full of secrets.

Alice Rathbone has two friends over on a playdate for their children when a young man breaks into the house, grabs a knife from the kitchen, and moves toward the room where the children are playing. Alice grabs a stool and hits him on the head, resulting in his death. Now she is waiting to learn if she will be charged or cleared for the fatality and mentally struggles with what happened. Although her husband Jamie tells her to let it go and move on, she was protecting the children, she can't. 

Amidst her mental struggles Alice wants some closure. She learns that the young man was 18-year-old Ezra Jones and he has a surviving mother and twin sister. At this same time she is receiving phone calls warning her and threatening on-line comments. Inexplicably she goes to Ezra's house, meets his mother and later his sister, never identifying herself. She enlists her journalist friend Stella to investigate them. What follows is a series of impossibly flawed decisions and poor discernment as Alice's life unravels.

The writing is very good in this psychological thriller and twisty mystery which will hold your complete attention. The plot moves at an even pace, with several twisty reveals and surprises along the way to keep the momentum moving. You will have to set a healthy dose of disbelief aside several times as the narrative unfolds. Alice makes one bad decision after another and seems clueless about the the actions of people and the events happening around her. 

Alice is the main narrator with other character's viewpoints occasionally inserted, along with newspaper articles and the comments which follow. Most of the action is in the present, but there are also flashbacks to past events. This is a very satisfying novel, although a case could be made that better editing could have tightened up the story and result in a faster paced novel.

None of the characters are likable. Alice is a sympathetic character, but all her flaws and poor choices can overwhelm your feelings about her. You'll wish her well, but you will also want to tell her to snap out of it, open her eyes, and get a clue already. Sometimes it is difficult to believe that she is an adult woman in her forties and it was hard to believe she could be so clueless, especially about Jamie.

The Break-In is a great choice for anyone who enjoys psychological thrillers and mysteries. Thanks to Gallery/Scout Press for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

The Martians

The Martians by David Baron
8/26/25; 336 pages
W.W. Norton & Company/Liveright 

The Martians by David Baron is a highly recommended entertaining and historical account of the obsession with Mars that occurred at the turn of the 20th century. As science journalist Baron explains in the prologue this fixation on Mars and it's potential canals and intelligent life forms is an example of human imagination and inventiveness but it is also a cautionary tale of mass delusion and battling egos. Ultimately, it is a historical account of people projecting their fantasies, desires, and ambitions onto an alien world.

Involved in the claim of observing and recording of canals on Mars and the contention of intelligent life were primarily Percival Lowell in America, Camille Flammarion in France, and scientist Giovanni Schiaparelli in Italy, who first purported seeing ancient canals. The narrative mainly follows Lowell's obsession with canals and a civilization. He even went on lecture tours and wrote books about Mars. Inventor Nikola Tesla was sure he would be able to invent a way to signal Mars. Also encouraging the obsession were numerous science fiction writers. The text includes many photos and illustrations.

Beginning with the Prologue, the book is then presented in three parts: Century's End - 1876-1900; A New Civilization - 1901-1907; The Earthlings Respond - 1908-1916. This is followed by an Epilogue, Children of Mars, which follows the impact of the Martian mania on popular culture. This is followed by Notes on Sources, an Abbreviations index, Notes, a List of Illustrations, and a Select Bibliography. Baron notes that the research for the book has involved hundreds of books, thousands of newspaper and magazine articles, and tens of thousand of pages in dairies, scrapbooks, logs, and letters form a wide variety of archives.

Anyone who enjoys history and associated pop culture trends will be entertained by The Martians. Thanks to W.W. Norton & Company/Liveright for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

Peace Like a River

Peace Like a River by Scott Gould
8/26/25; 222pages 
Regal House Publishing

Peace Like a River by Scott Gould is an exceptional literary Southern family drama that explores the relationships between fathers, sons, and grandfathers. It is very highly recommended.

Sixty-something Elwin McClennon learns that his father is dying from his father's friend Linda McCrea. Elwin hasn't seen his father, The Old Man, since his mother’s funeral 15 years earlier. Now he is heading to the small town of Kingstree by the Black River in South Carolina's Lowcountry with Thom, his precocious and on the spectrum thirteen-year-old son. Elwin never married Roma, Thom's mother, and his father's dying coincides with the two weeks he has Thom in the summer. The Old Man is meeting Thom for the first time.

On the drive to Kingstree, we meet both Elwin and Thom and observe their awkward interactions. Thom's numbering Elwin's stories immediately adds some humor to the novel and his comments and observations show that he is intelligent and clearly on the spectrum. While Elwin and his father struggle to make a final connection before his death, Thom quickly connects with The Old Man, Linda, and Lily, the daughter of the motel owner. It is clear that Elwin needs to find healing from his past and forgive himself and his father. 

The writing is excellent as both relationships are explored and complications arise. As the narrative quickly continues, the plot clearly takes on an emotional depth and insight into the sometimes uneasy relationship between fathers and sons, as well as other relationships. The week spent on the Black River is quite eventful. The ending provides an insightful look into handling pain, healing, understanding, and forgiveness. The river itself is an important element in the plot and adds atmosphere and difficulties.

Elwin is portrayed as a realistic, fully realized individual full of strengths and weaknesses. His character experiences the most emotional growth in the narrative. Thom is also well-developed character who experiences growth as he faces some challenges. The supporting characters are all memorable, unique individuals.

Peace Like a River is very highly recommended for anyone who appreciates well-written Southern family dramas. Thanks to Regal House Publishing for providing me with an advance reader's copy via Edelweiss. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

Forget Me Not

Forget Me Not by Stacy Willingham
8/26/25; 336 pages
St. Martin's

Forget Me Not by Stacy Willingham is a very highly recommended mystery/thriller with a look back at a murder case, an atmospheric Southern setting along with some cult vibes. This excellent novel is hard to put down once you start reading.

Claire Campbell is a journalist living in Manhattan when her father calls to let her know that her estranged mother has had a bad accident and may need some help. Her parents are divorced so Claire texts her mother she's coming for a visit. After she arrives in South Carolina, she overhears her mother on the phone making it clear that she doesn't need Claire's help. Before immediately leaving she takes the box of photos she found in her deceased sister Natalie's room. After her eighteenth birthday twenty-two years ago, Claire's older sister, Natalie, disappeared. Evidence was found in the car of her older boyfriend that led to his conviction for her murder. At the time Claire was eleven and this event traumatized her. 

Now that she is back in the area, she decides to visit Galloway Farm, a vineyard and farm where her sister worked that last summer. It results in Claire being offered a seasonal job by Liam, the farm manager, that includes a cottage to stay in, meals, and a decent payout after the month ends. In the cottage she finds an old diary written by Marcia, the wife of Mitchell, the vineyard's owners. She begins to secretly read the diary and it slowly becomes more sinister, indicating information about crimes, other missing women, and maybe a tie to her sister.

The well-written narrative follows Claire in the present day and excerpts from Marcia's diary entries written in the past. A sinister atmosphere is created and the tension slowly builds as Claire's suspicions that the owners of Galloway Farm may have been involved with Natalie's disappearance increase. The pace is even in the first half, allowing the tension to build until it quickly picks up. There are a few incidences where you have to set skepticism aside, which is easily done because the story is so compelling. I was totally engrossed in the story and did not guess a couple big twists. 

Claire is a fully realized character with strengths and weaknesses, and you will wish the best for her. The other characters are also portrayed as unique individuals. Marcia's diary entries develop her character then, which are in stark contrast to the woman now. It also develops Mitchell's character, which seems increasingly sinister. 

Forget Me Not is a great choice for anyone who enjoys atmospheric Southern mysteries/thrillers. Thanks to St. Martin's for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

The Real Jaws

The Real Jaws by Rachel Lee Perez
8/30/25;  224 pages
Pen & Sword

The Real Jaws by Rachel Lee Perez is a highly recommended review of the 1916 shark attacks in New Jersey, a look at historical views of sharks, shark fear, ultimately, how the movie shaped how sharks are perceived, and then an opinion section. The movie Jaws was released in 1975, fifty years ago, so this is an opportune time to look back at both the history and the movie. 

While the 1916 New Jersey shark attacks, which occurred over a two week period, induced plenty of fear, part of that interest and fear was exacerbated by the newspapers at that time which ran the news on the front page. A case can easily be made that the headlines made the fear worse than the actual attacks. As Perez says, the attacks caused the deaths of nearly five people, not hundreds, over a course of two weeks. This event changed how sharks were viewed and made them into man-eating machines. Once the US entered WWI in April 1917 and the Spanish flu epidemic took hold in 1918, the shark headlines disappeared.

Once the book exits the 1916 attack and the aftermath of the movie Jaws, Perez loses the historical and cultural thread and the book becomes an opinion piece. It is pointed out later in the book that the result of the log term fear of sharks has resulted in precautions taken to keep sharks away from beaches (which can harm other species). It seems she wants to protect the sharks, but I'd have to firmly stay on the side of protecting humans. There are around 80 unprovoked attacks are reported worldwide every year. Yes, it's not a huge number, but there are many things we take precautions for that aren't killing a high number of people. I will agree with her on banning shark fin soup.

I really very much enjoyed much of the book until the last part. A look at the page count will confirm that The Real Jaws isn't meant to be a complete, in-depth look at shark attacks throughout history or deep insight into the movie. It's more some moderate shark and movie information followed by an opinion piece. The book is short and does include Notes, a list of Resources, a Bibliography, and an index, so those looking for a more scholarly book can find further books to read on the topic. Thanks to Pen & Sword for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

Estate: To my once darling child

Estate: To my once darling child by J. Andrew Shelley
8/1/25; 256 pages
TENZL

Estate: To my once darling child by J. Andrew Shelley is a highly recommended dysfunctional family drama centered around the many complications experienced as a son, who was named executor, closes the estate of his late mother. This is the fictional, but true-to-life, well-written, and sometimes humorous tale of what not to leave behind or unplanned for your family to handle upon your death, as well as a warning that after a death someone will have hurt feelings over something.

Tim Watts is the eldest son of Holly Suter Hampton and was named the executor of her estate. His younger brothers are Matt and Ethan. Their youngest brother died earlier. His mother said handling her estate would be easy, but it was everything but easy. The even paced narrative follows Tim trying to wade through the paperwork, hurt feelings, and too much stuff involved. 

Their mother was not a beloved character. She was a passive aggressive manipulator and a hoarder. One important lesson to take from this novel is to collect all your paperwork, will, and get your affairs in order early. Another is to get rid of your stuff before hand. You may love that collection of (insert knick-knack) but it will likely be a burden to the next generation. If you have everything in order it will reduce subsequent hurt feelings and arguments.

Having experienced the sudden, unexpected death of a family member and all the problems which followed, this story almost cut too close to home. Certainly it delineates everything involved that can makes a death a stressful time that will bring out the true character of everyone involved, including greed and entitlement.

Estate: To my once darling child is a great choice for those who enjoy dysfunctional family dramas with an underlying helpful message. Thanks to J. Andrew Shelley for providing me with an advance reader's copy via LibraryThing Early Reviewers giveaway. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

The Graveyard Girls

The Graveyard Girls by Rita Herron
8/14/25; 444 pages
Bookouture
Detective Ellie Reeves #11

The Graveyard Girls by Rita Herron is a highly recommended crime thriller. Detective Ellie Reeves, Ranger Cord McClain, and Special Agent Derrick Fox all return to search for a serial killer. Even though this is the eleventh book in the series, it can be read as a standalone novel.

In the opening we know cousins Ida and Hetty see a girl being attacked fifteen years ago and they think they recognize the killer. Then we learn sixteen-year-old Ruth Higgins has disappeared and their father, gravedigger Earl Bramble was the suspected killer. He disappeared before he was arrested. In the present, when the skeletal remains of a teenage girl is found, with a red shoe nearby, it is thought to be Ruth, but turns out to be another girl. It is clear that a serial killer is at work when another teen girl is found in a burial site. Detective Ellie Reeves, Ranger Cord McClain and Special Agent Derrick Fox are called in to assist local law enforcement with the investigation.

The writing is very good as it follows the present investigation and also includes flashbacks and journal entries from the past. Brambletown, in Northern Georgia, is a small town that is being poisoned from an underground fire and the area is in a depression. The setting adds a eerie atmosphere to the novel with both poisoned minds and land involved. 

Those following the series will already be acquainted with Ellie, Cord and Derrick who are all well established characters. There are many other characters involved with the investigation, many of them wounded emotionally and/or physically. All the characters are distinctive individuals. As with the last book, I'm not interested in the side story of Ellie and Cord's burgeoning relationship.

The narrative held my complete attention to the end. While reading for clues about the identity of the killer, there are plenty of red herrings and unlikable characters along the way. It is assumed that Earl is back, but he is never seen, and Ida and Hetty both confirm that they haven't seen him. Clearly the investigation must expand follow the clues to look for other suspects in the area. 

The Graveyard Girls is a great choice for those who enjoy crime thrillers and are following the Ellie Reeves series. Thanks to Bookouture for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

Bitter End Birding Society

Bitter End Birding Society by Amanda Cox
8/19/25; 336 pages
Revell

Bitter End Birding Society by Amanda Cox is a very highly recommended faith-based domestic drama that follows two timelines. It explores trauma, forgiveness, healing, and redemption along with enjoying nature and others while bird watching.

Teacher Ana Leigh Watkins protected her kindergarten class from a shooter, but now she needs to escape from the attention and heal herself. When her great-aunt Cora asks her to spend the summer in Bitter End (Roan Mountain), Tennessee helping her prepare her house to sell, Ana accepts the offer to get away. When she arrives, Cora is leaving for a cruise, but she leaves lists of tasks for Ana along with contacts should Ana need help or have questions. Ana meets neighbor Sam, a shepherd who also needs healing, Jake & Inez, and Marilyn, Cora's sworn enemy who seems perfectly nice. Marilyn leads the Bitter End Birding Society, a small group of amateur birders, and Ana joins them (along with a dog she adopts).

The second story line is set in 1959 and follows Ana’s grandmother Viola Whitt, Cora's older sister. They were daughters of Ruby and the local moonshiner Wild Wayne. When the new Reverend and Mrs Quincy Chambers and their children Trilby and Marilyn arrive to keep a small church going, Marilyn and Cora are immediately best friends. Viola and Trilby fall in love, which results in her father disowning her. All of this history still  was unknown to Ana.

This is really a beautiful, well written novel with a faith based message. All of the characters are experiencing some kind of emotional and physical issue and need healing, forgiveness and redemption in their lives. Ana's goal to escape actually results in a transformative journey and the healing that all the characters need to experience. Each of them have to face their past event to find freedom from the emotional burdens they are carrying. Their birding adventures help to assist in this.  

This may be the tale of a family's extended history and healing, but it is also a character driven drama. The novel is successful not only because of the message embedded in the narrative, but also because all the characters are realistically portrayed as unique, fully realized individuals with both strengths and weaknesses. All the characters are struggling with something and need healing and restoration in some way. They all learn to trust God to get them through

Bitter End Birding Society is a great choice for those who enjoy Christian based fiction and a tales of healing and friendship. It would also be a perfect book club selection. Thanks to Revell for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

Something to Look Forward To

Something to Look Forward To by Fannie Flagg
8/19/25; 288 pages
Random House 

Something to Look Forward To by Fannie Flagg is a heartwarming, very highly recommended collection of thirty short stories, several of which are interconnected. I loved every one of these delightful, humorous, nostalgic, and insightful stories and the memorable characters in them. The story telling is superb and flows quickly and smoothly. Once I started reading, the stories immediately grabbed my complete attention and they were so enchanting that it was impossible to stop reading.

Flagg has a special way of bringing her characters to life, making them believable, relatable, down-to-earth, and human. The characters are from several different towns and cities across America. Velma Ruth Vanderhoff is in several stories and I grew to love this sweet grandma from the small town of Cottonwood, Kansas. I commend Helen from Ithaca, New York, and how she handled her cheating ex-husband. Darla Womble's experiences showcased exactly what member of her family cared. Special Agent William Frawley from Planet 8676 visits Fort Wayne, Indiana, and learns about humans.

Something to Look Forward To is a must-read, especially for fans of Fannie Flagg. Thanks to Random House for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

Joy Moody Is Out of Time

Joy Moody Is Out of Time by Kerryn Mayne
8/19/25; 352 pages
St. Martin's Press

Joy Moody Is Out of Time by Kerryn Mayne is another excellent character driven, quirky domestic drama integrated with a crime novel. It is very highly recommended, unique, and not formulaic.

Bayside’s bright pink laundromat, Joyful Suds, has been home to Joy Moody and her twin daughters, Cassiopeia (Cassie) and Andromeda (Andie). They run it, own it, and live behind Joyful Suds. All of that is about to change because the twins are turning twenty-one. For their whole lives, Joy has been keeping the girls safe from The People, protected, and isolated. She has told them that they are really from the future and now that they are twenty-one they will be transported to the year 2050, where they will fight as daughters of the revolution against The People.

Joy always meant to eventually tell them the truth, but her circumstances have changed. She has a brain tumor she hasn't told anyone about and is now struggling to know the truth from the lies. Andie has figured out it is a story and even knows the books Joy's fanciful tales were based on, but Cassie believes. The morning after their birthday and failure to transport, Joy is found dead. The girls are now facing circumstances and the real world Joy never prepared them for, but they do eventually find their support system.

The narrative is divided into four parts, Life in a Laundromat, Death in a Laundromat, Dear Customer, and Under New Management, with an epilogue. Their are chapters that explain how Joy came to be the mum of the twins and the reason she has kept them isolated, homeschooled, away from all devices, and told them the fanciful tale of how they are really from the future. For all her care to protect the girls, isolating them from real life was a mistake. It is good their neighbors and friends are there to watch out for them.

The writing is exceptional. I was immediately engrossed in the story and cared about these characters and what happened next. Just when it seems it's going to take a science fiction turn, the plot quickly moves back into reality and a crime novel. Joy's death is initially thought to be suspicious, so the police are involved. This involvement expands as the plot becomes even more complicated later in the novel, due to a note Joy sent before her death. 

This is a character driven story and all of them come to life as fully realized, believable individuals with strengths and weaknesses, including the two antagonists. There are several morally dubious actions, but, that too is realistic as sometimes circumstances lead to bad decisions for a good reason. (And homeschooling done right is not isolating.)

Joy Moody Is Out of Time is a perfect choice for everyone who loved Mayne's excellent debut novel, Lenny Marks Gets Away With Murder. 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.

One Dark Night

One Dark Night by Hannah Richell
8/19/25; 384 pages
Atria Books 

One Dark Night by Hannah Richell is a highly recommended atmospheric investigative mystery and gothic thriller.

On Halloween night a group of teens had a bon fire and party at Sally in the Wood, a near the folly that is said to be haunted by the ghost of a murdered girl. The next day the body of a murdered teen is found and the investigation begins with DS Ben Chase and DCI Hassan Khan taking a close look at teens from the nearby boarding school, Folly View College. Ben Chase's ex-wife Rachel is the school guidance counselor and his daughter Ellie attends as a scholarship student. 

Many of the students know who was there and all the attendees are eventually interviewed. Ellie doesn't admit that she was there until forced to do so. It's clear that the teens and others are keeping secrets that are slowly exposed, and there is plenty of doubt about what happened that resulted in the death. 

The pace remains fast and the tension increases right up to the explosive ending in this well-written twisty thriller. The Gothic vibes run strong here, especially at the beginning. The narrative unfolds through multiple perspectives, which gives the novel depth. The woods, the caves, and the folly on top of the hill provide plenty of chilling atmospheric touches throughout the plot.

All the characters are fully realized and presented with both strengths and weaknesses. The relationship between Rachel and Ellie is very realistic and believable. All the teen's responses, secrets, and attitudes are present and plausible.

One Dark Night is good choice to read around Halloween for those who enjoy atmospheric investigations. Thanks to Aria Books for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

The Stranger Inside

The Stranger Inside by Amanda Cassidy
8/7/25; 308 pages
Canelo

The Stranger Inside by Amanda Cassidy is a highly recommended crime thriller. Set disbelief aside and enjoy this lightning-fast paced thriller.

Midwife Ciara Duffy needs to make a quick trip to the store. It is pouring rain, her husband Morgan is out of town, and Sally, her 9-year-old daughter, has a friend there for a sleep over. Rather than getting the girls all dressed to go out in the rain she sets up the video monitor to watch them, knowing it will be a very quick trip. Then, when she is leaving the store, she sees a stranger behind the girls. She rushes home, checks the whole house, but finds no sign that anyone was there, other than a broken pot in the bathroom.

The evening goes on, with Ciara still on edge. She gets the girls to bed, makes sure everything is locked up, and finally goes to sleep. Then, in the middle of the night she hears a noise, she gets up to check, finds nothing, gets back in bed and realizes someone is in the bed. Ciara turns on the lights and sees it is her husband, dead, with a knife in his chest. Ciara is arrested and charged with murder. Ciara knows she is innocent, but she also has a secret. Soon it becomes clear that she needs to escape to uncover the truth herself.

This is a very entertaining, compelling thriller. As mentioned, you need to set disbelief aside as well as accept incredible coincidences, and and just go where the plot takes you. The chapters are short which keeps the pace fast. The action is non-stop so the pages will fly by as one twist after another occurs, followed by one new clue after another. When things go wrong here, it just continues and the tension rises. Once you start reading it will be hard to put it down.

Ciara is a tenacious, intelligent character whose emotions are running high, and for good reason, throughout the novel. Her big secret is revealed through her memories as the narrative unfolds, but her secret isn't the only one. The Stranger Inside is a great choice for those who enjoy action-packed, fast-paced thrillers. Thanks to Canelo for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

Gone in the Night

Gone in the Night by Joanna Schaffhausen
8/12/25; 320 pages
St. Martin's Press
Annalisa Vega #5 

Gone in the Night by Joanna Schaffhausen is a very highly recommended investigative mystery. This is the fifth novel featuring Annalisa Vega, now a private investigator but formerly a police detective. It can be easily be read and appreciated as a standalone novel. 

Annalisa Vega is back with her ex and now current husband, Nick and is currently pregnant with their first child. He is still a detective with the police department and she's working as a PI, but business is slow. 

Annalisa is surprised when her brother Alex asks her to visit him in prison because neither has forgiven the other for his role in the murder that she turned him in for. When she arrives it turns out that he wants her to look into the conviction of Joe Green. Green received a note in prison saying the eye witness in his case that lead to his conviction lied. 

When Annalisa starts looking into the case. She knows that Nick was the officer who arrested Green. Upon investigating, she determines that the eyewitness did lie about what she saw the night of the murder and that there may be other similar murders. Some how they may be connected to a women’s shelter, Ruby's House.

The writing is excellent in this mystery. The main mystery is the Joe Green investigation which is full of complications and increasingly looks into the past along with the present. After determining the eye witness lied, the question is why, and that question increases the intrigue and suspense as more information is uncovered. There are a couple surprising twists in the investigation. Readers are provided with information in the opening chapter that show Green was innocent, so we know that Annalisa may be able to discover the truth. There is also a smaller, lighter, side investigation to help a woman, Effie Christo, find a missing ring her late husband, Theo, gave her. The only suspects are her close group of friends. 

Annalisa and Nick are both fully realized characters with plenty of strengths and weaknesses fully displayed. Annalisa is intelligent and complex, and those traits are present throughout the novel. All of the other characters are also realistically portrayed. There is a tie-in to abuse of some characters. This is my favorite Annalise Vega novel to date.

Gone in the Night is a great choice for those who enjoy investigative mysteries. 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.

Rope

Rope by Tim Queeney
8/12/25; 336 pages
St. Martin's Press

Rope: How a Bundle of Twisted Fibers Became the Backbone of Civilization by Tim Queeney is a very highly recommended in-depth examination of rope and its impact on civilization. For a single topic book, it is amazing and fascinating how much we have depended upon rope over the ages. This is for everyone who enjoys history, sailing, and has spent an inordinate amount of time looking for and using rope in our daily lives.

This is a comprehensive look at how rope was made and used throughout history for tools, weapons, boats, construction, in culture/mythology, fishing, crime and punishment, for tricks and adventures, and in space. There is a special extensive focus on the use of rope for sailing and the significance of sailing for exploration, trade, fishing, etc. 

The various materials used to make rope are discussed. Everything from bark, numerous plant fibers, animal hides and hair, etc. to the use of more current metal strands and synthetic fibers have been used to make rope. Queeney, who has knot tying videos available online, also has an interesting section on the importance and use of knots for the obvious, but also past use of knotted cords for messages, record keeping, and calendars.

Rope is very well researched. There is a note at the beginning that the book is AI Free - No AI was used in the research or writing of the book. I appreciated this after reading several cases where AI made up sources. The amount of researched involved in the book is impressive. This can be seen in the extensive Bibliography, which includes books, web articles, journals, and newspapers. There is also an Index and Notes.

Rope is a good choice for those who like history, sailing, and rope. 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.

We Are All Guilty Here

We Are All Guilty Here by Karin Slaughter
8/12/25; 448 pages
HarperCollins
North Falls #1

We Are All Guilty Here by Karin Slaughter is an exceptional, very highly recommended investigative thriller/police procedural. This is one of the best procedurals I've read this year and I'm thrilled that it is the first book of a new series set in the small town of North Falls, Georgia. Slaughter always writes excellent novels and continues to be an automatic go-to author for me.

Officer Emmy Clifton, 30, and her father Sheriff Gerald Clifton, 74, are on duty during the Fourth of July fireworks celebration in North Falls when two 15-year-old girls, Cheyenne Baker and Madison Dalrymple, disappear. The crime scene immediately points to violence and abduction. The FBI is called in and the investigation begins in earnest as every passing minute means it is less likely the girls will be found alive. Everyone works tirelessly to uncover any clue or person with a tie to the girls as well as exposing some dark secrets. The investigation results in two men being sent to prison, one of them for the death of the girls.

Next the plot jumps twelve years into the future when the man imprisoned for the earlier crimes is released after a true crime podcaster reported on the case. He returns to North Falls and then 14-year-old Paisley Walker goes missing under similar circumstances. An angry crowd gathered, someone is shot, and the tension becomes explosive as again the FBI is called in and an investigation ensues. Adding to the intrigue a recently retired FBI special agent,  psychologist Jude Archer, arrives on the scene to assist. Jude has secret ties to both the town and the Clifton family.  

The writing is excellent and the plot is fast-paced with unwavering stress as each investigation unfolds. The relentless tension and dread remains red-level high throughout the whole detailed, gripping, gritty, suspenseful and unpredictable plot. There are many dark secrets, unexpected twists, and new clues. While natural instincts are in doubt and grief is an overbearing burden, the tenacity, intelligence, and resilience of Emmy is in full display. Clues are logical followed in the investigation. The novel is a procedural first, but is also a family drama.

All the characters are well-developed and fully realized. They are portrayed as believable, realistic individuals with both strengths and weaknesses. The characters all experience growth, but it always comes at great cost. Along with the individual characters, the dynamics between family members and the community also play a role in the plot.

We Are All Guilty Here is a perfect choice for anyone who enjoys complex, gritty procedurals and is one of the best books I've read this year. Thanks to HarperCollins for providing me with an advance reader's copy. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

Kiss Her Goodbye

Kiss Her Goodbye by Lisa Gardner
8/12/25; 416 pages
Grand Central Publishing
Frankie Elkin Series #4

Kiss Her Goodbye by Lisa Gardner is a very highly recommended investigative thriller. I stayed up late to finish this excellent, un-put-downable novel. Even though it is the fourth installment of the Frankie Elkin series, Kiss Her Goodbye can also be enjoyed as a standalone novel. 

Frankie Elkin is a middle-aged woman and recovering alcoholic who spends her life searching for missing people that everyone else has stopped looking for. She travels light, picks up a job, and finds a cheap place to stay. This time she travels to Tucson after being contacted by refugee resettlement volunteer Aliah to search for her Afghan refugee friend Sabera Ahmadi. Sabera has been missing for three weeks, leaving behind Zahra, her four-year-old daughter, and her husband, Isaad. The police aren't seriously looking and Aliah is sure more is going on than meets the eye. Sabera would never leave Zahra behind.

Frankie finds a pet sitting job that lasts a month and also includes accommodations. It is offered by a young, wealthy tech guy. She can have chauffeur Daryl drive her where she needs to go and housekeeper Genni provides meals. The drawback is the pets she will be caring for: a large green iguana, Petunia, a huge python, Marge, and twelve baby pythons. The pets are on a strict eating schedule and Petunia gets TV time with Frankie.

The case of Sabera's disappearance quickly becomes even more complicated and convoluted. Isaad receives a package, leaves Zahra with a neighbor, and disappears. Then a man comes to the apartment complex looking for Zahra. Two Afghan men are found dead nearby and it appears to be Sabera on the security camera footage. Frankie quickly surmises that there is a whole lot more going on than it appears. Helping her is Daryl, his ballroom dance partner and former parole officer Roberta, and Roberta's police detective brother. Genni jumps in to assist also.

The well-written narrative follows Frankie in the present day search for Sabera and includes excerpts from Sabera's letters to her daughter explaining her past. The letters follow her childhood up the fall of Kabul to the Taliban and the chaos and death that followed. Sabera's past is traumatic and horrific, especially in the refugee camps. In the present things become increasingly perplexing, dangerous, and misleading. 

There are plenty of unexpected twists and discoveries in the intricate plot that add tension, depth, and trepidation along the way. The direction the plot takes is totally unpredictable, and full of intrigue and danger. There is a lot of backstory that needs to be revealed to solve the case of Sabera's disappearance. I was increasingly concerned about Frankie this time out. Lending some comedic relief to the story are the pet sitting duties and Genni's daily outfits. 

Frankie continues to be a great character and it was good to see her back. She is a fully realized, complex character with both strengths and weaknesses. Her determination, intelligence, and instincts are always present at the forefront as she tackles an investigation.

Kiss Her Goodbye is an excellent choice for anyone who enjoys complex investigative thrillers. Thanks to Grand Central Publishing for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

The Frequency of Living Things

The Frequency of Living Things by Nick Fuller Googins
8/12/25; 336 pages
Atria Books

The Frequency of Living Things by Nick Fuller Googins is a recommended family drama, for the right reader, that follows three sisters and their absent mother.

The youngest Tayloe sister Josie, left her PhD program and now takes care of her older sisters. Twins Emma and Ara had a hit record years ago with their band named Jojo and the Twins where Emma was vocals and on the guitar while Ara wrote the songs and played drums. Now the two are broke, Ara is on drugs, and they depend upon Josie to take care of them. Their mother, Bertie, is off doing her own thing. Now Ara is in jail and detoxing, Emma wants to use this situation to create a new album, and Josie is trying to raise bail money.

At it's core, this is a novel about choices and consequences. Part of my issue with it was everyone was making bad choices without considering the consequences. This required setting aside a great deal of disbelief. While the quality of the writing was basically good, the pace felt glacially slow to me and it was a slog to finish. The one good choice was Ara using her incarceration to detox from drugs and her family.

None of the characters were likable and I struggled to connect with them. I hated that Josie sacrificed to care for her sisters who are adults. They were both capable to go find a job, pay their own rent, and care for themselves. It wasn't Josie's responsibility to do so but her sisters seemed to expect her to take care of them while they were never grateful. 

Bertie is an annoying character with no redeeming qualities. All the political messaging in any chapter featuring her was irritating and off-putting. This along with the rampant bad choices made The Frequency of Living Things a struggle for me to read and stay invested in the story. Thanks to Atria Books for providing me with an advance reader's copy. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

The Society of Unknowable Objects

The Society of Unknowable Objects by Gareth Brown
8/12/25; 352 pages 
William Morrow

The Society of Unknowable Objects by Gareth Brown is a highly recommended magic realism fantasy featuring a secret society, magic, superpowers, and evil.

Magda Sparks grew up visiting Frank Simpson at his Bell Street Bookstore with her mother Imelda. When Imelda died ten years ago, Magda learned that her mother was one of four members of a secret society, the Society of Unknowable Objects, and now Magda would take her place. The current members of the society are lead by Frank and include Magda, Will Palin, and Henrietta “Henry” Wiseman. Henry hasn't attended a meeting for a couple of years. The society meets every six months in a basement room at the bookstore. The society's purpose is to find and protect hidden magical objects, ordinary items with extraordinary properties, and keep then from being used. 

There is a startling new development when Frank learns of a new, found magical object in Hong Kong. James Wei learned about the society through his father who knew Will’s late father years ago. Magda volunteers to go investigate and immediately feels a connection with James. She also senses that they are being followed. When James is showing her the object, a professional killer enters the room, shoots James, and demands the object. Magda escapes by using a magical item she possesses. This encounter sets off a series of dangerous encounters and several surprising truths.

Expect lots of talk about magical items, the use of magical items, and several encounters with evil men after the items, which can also be used for evil. Almost all of the characters have a tie to a magical item that they can use, like a super hero's power or a super villain's power. Some of the encounters with the malevolent characters are very dark and disturbing and clearly demonstrate the evil that magic can result in when used with bad intentions.

There is a wide variety of characters in the novel and the narrative unfolds through their multiple perspectives. Magda is the only fully realized character. She is portrayed as young for her age, but she is likable and readers will care about and support her. Obviously, you have to set disbelief aside while reading. 

Although this is a stand alone novel, it does have ties to Brown's first novel, The Book of Doors, including that responsible people need to protect who owns magical objects because they can be used for evil. There is a mention of the Fox Library, which protects magical books, at the end. Thanks to William Morrow for providing me with an advance reader's copy via Edelweiss. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.