Until Alison

Until Alison by Kate Russo
7/15/25; 304 pages
Penguin/Putnam 

Until Alison by Kate Russo is a explores adolescent angst and a college murder mystery. It is recommended. This novel will be appreciated more by New Adult readers

In Waterbury, Maine, Rachel Nardelli and Alison Petrucci were friends as children, had a fall out during middle school, and Rachel really hasn't talked to her since they were 14. Alison was bullied and considered the weird girl in grade school and middle school. She came from a wealthy family and later went to an exclusive high school due to the bullying. During their senior year at college, Rachel was drunk at her boyfriend Cam's party when Alison showed up and later left with a guy. Alison's body was found in a pond the next day.

Rachel is a journalism major and part of the college newspaper staff so she starts investigating the murder with her fellow journalists. She also privately reflects on her former relationship and interactions with Alison, but neglects to mention until much later her previous relationship with Alison or the fact that she saw her leave Cam's party with a young man.

For mature adult readers it should be noted that this is really a new adult novel. The narrative reads exactly like an immature college student ruminating about her past. Most college students have matured, move on, etc. and don't dwell on or deeply ponder events from middle school to this extent. They are usually looking toward the future, leaving their childhood and many of the people they knew from school behind them, in the past.

As the narrator of the story, Rachel is unlikable and a large part of it, for me, is her immaturity. Rachel mistakenly thinks because she saw Alison that night she could have prevented her murder. She was also so removed from Alison in the present that she should have easily shared the fact that she knew her from years ago. They had no current connection with each other. Alison is never really developed as a sympathetic character other than her oddness in middle school when she was the target for bullies.

The quality of the writing is good, but it also seemed like Russo wanted to write a social commentary about class, gender, political alignments, and violence against women rather than a mystery. These topics are present in the narrative but don't feel incorporated into the plot in a natural manner. The novel held my attention and Russo gets points for her writing ability but the presentation could have been better.

Until Alison would be a good choice for New Adult readers on the younger side. Thanks to Penguin/Putnam for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

 

Our Last Resort

Our Last Resort by Clémence Michallon
7/8/25; 320 pages
Knopf Doubleday 

Our Last Resort by Clémence Michallon is a very highly recommended mystery/thriller following two cult survivors embroiled in a murder investigation. This is an excellent second novel after her debut novel, The Quiet Tenant.

Frida and Gabriel are on a vacation at the luxurious Ara Hotel in the secluded desert of Escalante, Utah. The two shared a traumatic childhood as they live in a cult under fanatical leader Émile until they escaped fifteen years ago when they were 18. They consider each other brother and sister. Ten years earlier Gabriel's wife Annie went missing and was found dead. He was the main suspect. Nothing connected him to the crime, but tabloids had a field day trying to indict him. The two drifted apart after this but are trying to reconnect.

Late one night Frida overhears a fight between wealthy, aging tabloid tycoon William Brenner and his very young, beautiful wife, Sabrina. The next morning Sabrina is found dead. Frida tells a deputy about the argument she overheard. William is arrested but is soon released and the focus seems to be on Gabriel.

The writing is exceptional in this engrossing literary mystery/thriller which unfolds through Frida's point-of-view. The pace is fast, allowing the narrative to build suspense and tension with each page and each new twist. Chapters alternate between the present day murder investigation and Frida and Gabriel's life growing up in the cult. There are actually several different mysteries within the plot.

The dual timelines work very well, are equally compelling, and help develop and provide insight into the characters. Frida is a fully realized, complex character with both her strengths and weaknesses displayed. Growing up in the cult helped shape both Frida and Gabriel's personalities. Understandably, they are both deeply flawed individuals who had to overcome a lot to learn how to live in the world. The final denouement was a shocking surprise.

Our Last Resort is an excellent choice for those who enjoy a well-written mystery/thriller. Thanks to Knopf/Doubleday for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

The Woman in Suite 11

The Woman in Suite 11 by Ruth Ware
7/8/25; 400 pages
Gallery/Scout Press
Lo Blacklock #2 

The Woman in Suite 11 by Ruth Ware is a highly recommended thriller/mystery and a sequel to The Woman in Cabin 10 (2016). It can be read as a stand alone novel.

Lo Blacklock is now married to Judah and they have two sons. After taking several years off from writing full time, Lo, a travel writer, is ready to ready to reestablish her journalism career. She is surprised to receive an invitation to attend the press opening of a luxury hotel launch by the Leidmann Group on the shores of Switzerland’s Lake Geneva. Judah encourages her to go and she believes she can get a paying article or two out of it, especially if she can interview Marcus Leidmann, the reclusive billionaire who owns it. After the event she can visit her mother in England for a few days.

Immediately Lo is surprised to find that her plane ticket was upgraded to first class. When she arrives at the hotel she is shocked to run into three people from an event in her past, Ben; gourmet critic Alexander; photographer Cole. They were all on the Aurora with her and she wrote a best selling book about it (The Woman in Cabin 10).  Then she is left a note in her room to come to suite 11 as soon as possible. She does so, receives another shocking surprise, and commences to make multiple bad choices.

As expected, the writing is excellent, compelling, and the action held my complete attention, however, part of my immersion in the narrative involved scolding Lo for being so foolish and naive. So, yes, you need to set a large dose of disbelief aside in this one. If you are able to ignore Lo's dumb choices, expect plenty of twists and surprises along the way. The final denouement is heart stopping.

The main characters are well-written and have both strengths and flaws. (No names/no spoilers) I actually like Lo as a character because I believe she is kindhearted and thinks she's doing the right thing, but doesn't have a clue.

The Woman in Suite 11 is a great choice for fans of Ruth Ware and those who want to reacquaint themselves with Lo Blacklock. 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 Blue Horse

The Blue Horse by Bruce Borgos
7/8/25; 368 pages
St. Martin's Press
Porter Beck Mystery #3

The Blue Horse by Bruce Borgos is a highly recommended investigative mystery and the third novel in the Porter Beck series. This is set during 2020, and features wild horse round-ups, murder, and Covid.

Lincoln County, Nevada, Sheriff Porter Beck and his deputy, Tuffy Scruggs are watching a helicopter pilot rounding-up wild horses for the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) when the pilot is shot. Jolene Manning, who is coordinating the maneuver for the BLM, blames CANTER, a horse rescue group run by Etta Clay. Then Manning is found brutally murdered along with a young man working with her, and federal law enforcement gets involved. Beck's girlfriend, State Detective Charlie Blue Horse, also arrives to help with the investigation.

The pace is fast, the tension quickly rises, and a list of suspects grow in this well-written investigative mystery. Beck may have retinitis pigmentosa (degenerating night vision) but he still has keen insight and instincts. The FBI have a suspect in mind, but Beck thinks there is something else going on and he is correct. There is an alternate story line following Brin with a group of at-risk teens on a camping trip and a teen named Rafa. Borgos continues to write a compelling thriller and mystery

All the characters in the series are well-developed and portrayed as realistic individuals with strengths and weaknesses. Returning characters to the series are Beck's dog, Columbo/Bo, Beck’s 90 year old father who has dementia, his sister Brinley, his daughter Mercy, the identical twin deputies (Twin Peaks/Jolly Greens), and the podcaster named “X-Files."

The only drawbacks for me was setting this during 2020, including Covid in the plot and touching on politically sensitive topics. The first two books in the series were exceptional five star reads. This one gets four. I am looking forward to the next book in the series and expect it to be back to a five star read. 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.

The Obsessions of Harvey Usher

The Obsessions of Harvey Usher by David Putnam
7/8/25; 315 pages
Level Best Books

The Obsessions of Harvey Usher by David Putnam is a recommended thriller set in two timelines.

Harvey Usher, 80, is shocked when he wakes up and a young Rita Hayworth look-a-like named Dolores is making him breakfast. Harvey's beloved wife of 50 years, Sylvia (Lois) passed away years earlier. Now Dolores, who he starts calling Rita, is claiming they've been married for two years. She is concerned that he is losing his memory, and lovingly continues to care for him.

First Harvey calls the police, but Dolores has a driver's license with her married name and address as well as a marriage license. The police are wondering if Harvey needs to go into long term care. Then Harvey turns to his neighbor, Esther, and a PI named Eddie Gurski to help him prove who Rita is so he can determine what con game she is playing. Things get much more complicated when people start dying.

The plot unfolds in two timelines, 1968, when Harvey met Lois, and the present. There is a connection with organized crime dating back to the 1960s timeline. Events become complicated when past actions come forward years later and it is difficult to know who he can trust. There are some exciting moments and twists along the way. The narrative starts out intriguing but then began to lose my full interest when events from the past began to unfold.

I never really liked Harvey or any of the characters in the novel, which did make it difficult to care about what was happening in either timeline. Those who appreciate organize crime novels may like this one more. Thanks to Level Best Books for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

Vera, or Faith

Vera, or Faith by Gary Shteyngart
7/8/25; 256 pages
Random House

Vera, or Faith by Gary Shteyngart is a highly recommended family drama set in the future following a precocious ten-year-old girl in a struggling family.

Ten-year-old Vera is academically advanced, but has intense anxiety and is likely on the spectrum. She is making lists, lists of words, things she needs to know, ways to fit in at school, and reasons to keep her family together. The members of the Bradford-Shmulkin family, composed of Russian, Jewish, Korean, and blue blood New England heritage, is falling apart. Daddy is Russian and Jewish and a struggling editor. Vera is Korean, Russian and Jewish. Her mom-mom left her and Daddy is raising her along with Anne-mom, a blue blood New Englander. Their son, Vera's half brother, is Dylan. The family all love each other, but they all seem to be struggling, and Daddy and Anne-mom are fighting all the time.

This short, well-written story is set in an alternate future there are self-driving cars, AI chess sets, a controversial proposed constitutional amendment, and unrest in the country. The focus is on Vera while she is trying to make sense of her life and the narrative is told through her point-of-view. She doesn't always understand what she hearing, but she is a sympathetic character and you will wish the best for her and her family.

Vera, or Faith is a good choice for those who enjoy Shteyngart's writing and a novel that unfolds through the eyes of a child. Thanks to Random Hose for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

Fast Boys and Pretty Girls

Fast Boys and Pretty Girls by Lo Patrick
7/8/25; 336 pages
Sourcebooks Landmark

Fast Boys and Pretty Girls by Lo Patrick is a very highly recommended literary Southern mystery and coming-of-age story told in a dual timeline. I have read and loved every novel Lo Patrick has written.

Danielle (Dani) Greer moved back to North Georgia after a brief career as a teen model in NYC. Now she is a married mother of four daughters living in her childhood home. One afternoon her girls coming running back into the house saying they found bones in the ravine behind the house. Danielle knows who it couldn't be, but may know who it was. She calls local police officer Cady Benson.

Years ago when insecure teenage Dani, 17, came home from NYC for a visit she fell in love with motorcycle riding bad boy Benji Law, 15, and quickly became obsessed with him. Her modeling career may not be taking off as fast as promised, but her fixation on Benji is overwhelming, although seemingly not reciprocated in kind. He was killed in a motorcycle accident on the road in front of her family's house so she knows the body in the ravine isn't his and still recalls the events leading up to his death.

The extremely well-written literary novel held my complete attention throughout. The narrative unfolds through chapters following events in dual timelines set in 2004 and 2019. Danielle is the narrator and the novel follows her point-of-view. Even though it is a slow-burning novel, it is full of psychological insight, complex family dynamics, and tackles the emotional intensity of a first love. We have both a mystery and coming-of-age story, that follows the folly of a youthful and the realities of adulthood.

Danielle is portrayed as a fully realized individual, with strengths and flaws, especially since we meet her as a teen and later as an adult (who is likely suffering from depression). Her character development is carefully crafted and Patrick manages to capture the heartbreak, confusion, and resignation she experiences in pitch-perfect prose that is both insightful and poignant.

When the realization of what happened becomes clear toward the end with clues provided in the plot, it is both surprising and shocking, yet somehow understandable. I may be an outlier in my love and appreciation of Fast Boys and Pretty Girls, but I was completely immersed in the novel from start to finish.

Fast Boys and Pretty Girls is a perfect choice for those who enjoy literary novels, Southern fiction, mysteries, and coming-of-age stories. Thanks to Sourcebooks Landmark for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

Them Bones

Them Bones by David Housewright
6/24/25; 320 pages
St. Martin's Press
Rushmore McKenzie #22  

Them Bones by David Housewright is a highly recommended investigative mystery and the 22nd novel featuring unofficial P.I. Rushmore McKenzie. This outing is a search for a stolen dinosaur skull.

Angela Bjork saved McKenzie's life seven years ago and now she needs his help. Angela, who is now a doctoral candidate at the University of Minnesota, was working at a dig site near Powderville, Montana when she found skeleton of an Ankylosaurus. At the end of the season the skull was stabilized and loaded on a truck to move to the university, but that night the camp was attacked and the skull, valued at $6 million, was stolen. When it appears the police investigation is going nowhere, Angela turns to McKenzie for help in finding the skull.

The first quarter of the book involves Angela relating the actions, people, and dynamics at the dig site. It is engaging if you are interested in the finer details at a dig site and does serve to introduce all the characters. Once McKenzie is contacted the investigation takes off. He has plenty of contacts through official and unofficial sources to assist with his inquiries. His initial suspect list consisting of 10 professors, graduate students, and undergraduate interns involved with the dig.

Them Bones can be enjoyed as a standalone novel. You won't have the background information and insight into previous cases and interpersonal relationships, but you will be able to follow the current investigation. The even paced novel provides plenty of clues to follow along the way and the plot takes an interesting turn in the effort to recover the skull. There is some humor along the way and the interaction between all the characters is interesting.

Them Bones would be a good choice for those who enjoy low-tension mysteries and for everyone following the McKenzie series. 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.

It Happened on the Lake

It Happened on the Lake by Lisa Jackson
6/24/25; 592 pages
Kensington 

It Happened on the Lake by Lisa Jackson is a highly recommended atmospheric thriller with Gothic undertones.

It's 1988 and Harper Reed Prescott has just turned 37, the age her grandmother's will stipulated she would inherit her estate and the Victorian mansion located on a private island on Lake Twilight. Recently divorced with her daughter now in college, Harper, who never planned to return to the island, finds herself back living in the mansion while deciding what to do with it. 

The island is the site of tragedies for her. Her mother died here when Harper was nine. Her brother died there. Her grandmother died and boyfriend Chase disappeared on the same night twenty years ago in 1968.  Right after she entered the mansion, Harper sees Chase's mother on the lake, her boat on fire. She calls 911, swims out to save her, but fails and is injured in her attempt. And now that Harper is staying in the mansion, creepy things are happening.

As expected this is another well-written and twisty thriller from Jackson. The slow-burning narrative jumps back and forth between the past, in the 60's, mainly 1968 and the present year, 1988. It is easy to follow what time period the novel is following as dates are given at the opening of the chapters. Chapters are from multiple points of view, including Harper, Rand, a childhood friend and currently a police officer, and Levi, Chase's brother. 

There is a plethora of backstory for all of the characters, showcasing their personalities and past interactions. They are all portrayed as complex, fully realized individuals who all have secrets from the past and the present that they want to keep. The setting on the lake and in the mansion loom large in the plot, bringing up memories and creating a moody, Gothic atmosphere. The police, Rand and his partner, begin looking at some of the past deaths centered around the lake and the Reed Mansion, which is interesting and provides further insight into all the characters.

However, the pace slows down in the middle. At almost 600 pages some more editing would have helped to tighten this up and remove some of the repetitious and extraneous bits. The pace picks up along with the twists and surprise reveals toward the end and reaches a very satisfying conclusion.

It Happened on the Lake is a good choice for those who enjoy character driven Gothic thrillers and don't mind a big book. Thanks to Kensington for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

Smile for the Cameras

Smile for the Cameras by Miranda Smith
6/24/25; 320 pages
Random House

Smile for the Cameras by Miranda Smith is a recommended locked-room thriller and horror movie drama.

Twenty years ago the slasher movie Grad Night was released and became a cult-classic. In the movie Ella Winters was the sole survivor and this role made her famous. However, something happened during the making of the movie which Ella and her co-stars agreed to never mention again, but the secret has weighed heavy on Ella for years. Ella left acting after this to care for her ill mother. 

Now her mother has passed away and Ella is talked into doing a reunion documentary about Grad Night. She has never wanted to do this but all her co-stars in the film have agreed to participate. If she does the reunion she is promised a role in a new film, which will ease her way back into acting. The reunion show is being filmed at the original site, an isolated cabin in rural Tennessee. Ella immediately knows this is a mistake.

There is a lot of potential for this plot. The narrative follows the present day reunion shoot, the actions from twenty years ago during the original movie, and includes excerpts from the Grad Night script. Everything indicates something bad is going to happen and it does. The pace starts out slow and builds to create more tension toward the end.

The characters all slide into their roles smoothly, and all of them have overlaying shadows of suspicion surrounding them. Ella is generally likable, but incredibly fragile.

The atmosphere created is never really that frightening and while it held my attention, the plot never quite came together for me. Perhaps if I was more a fan of slasher movies rather than locked-room thrillers it would have helped, along with more originality and surprises. I actually started skimming the script excerpts because they were so insipid. The biggest drawback, however, was a surprise twist toward the end that left me shaking my head and saying, "No, just no." It also knocked a star off.

Smile for the Cameras might be best appreciated by slasher movie fans. 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 Medusa Protocol

The Medusa Protocol by Rob Hart
6/24/25; 320 pages
Penguin/Putnam 
Assassins Anonymous #2

The Medusa Protocol by Rob Hart is a very highly recommended thriller and the second book in the Assassins Anonymous series. This is a great series for anyone who enjoys action-packed plot with a good dose of humor.

Mark, formerly the killer known as the Pale Horse, now runs a 12-step Assassins Anonymous' group that helps killers recover from their violent ways. He is the sponsor of Astrid, known in her assassin days as Azrael. When Astrid stops showing up to the group, Mark is concerned, but when a pizza with olives on it is delivered to their meeting he knows it's a sign from her that something is wrong. This is immediately proven true when a group tries to attack Mark and his fellow AA members, Booker, Ms. Nguyen, Valencia and her baby Lucia at their meeting. After taking care of them, Mark and Booker set out to find Astrid.

Astrid hasn't relapsed into her assassin lifestyle. She has been abducted and is being held prisoner at a complex on a remote island teeming with poisonous snakes where a doctor is performing tests on her. What she doesn't know is what the tests are and who is financing them.

Chapters follow Mark and his present day efforts to find Astrid, Astrid in captivity, and flashbacks to Astrid's past that not only show her history but may point to why she was abducted. All of the characters are portrayed as interesting, complex, and intelligent individuals. We know they all have a past, but their past also gave them some mad skills, intense training, and contacts.

The action is non-stop, the tension is high, twists abound, and the humor runs rampant on every page of this entertaining, well-written thriller. Sure, you have to set disbelief aside, but it is totally worth if for this un-put-downable, exceptional addition to the series. The plot moves along at a lightning fast pace and even the flashback sections work perfectly in the narrative. I'm hoping there is another addition to this exceptional series.

The Medusa Protocol is a perfect choice for those who like thrillers with action and humor. Rob Hart is an outstanding writer. Thanks to Penguin/Putnam for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

The Red Queen

The Red Queen by Martha Grimes
7/1/25; 256 pages
Grove Atlantic
Richard Jury #26

The Red Queen by Martha Grimes is a recommended procedural and humorous cozy mystery. This is the twenty-sixth novel in the series featuring superintendent Richard Jury. It may be best appreciated by those who have been following the series and intimately know all the characters. Many of them are present, including Melrose Plant.

Jury and Wiggins of New Scotland Yard are asked to investigate when businessman Tom Treadnor is shot through the window at The Queen pub in Twickenham. No one saw who did it and Treadnor doesn't appear to be well liked, including by Alice, his wife. He was planning to divorce her. At the same time Jury sees a photo in the newspaper of a man who is the doppelgänger of Treadnor. The man is traveling in the USA and unable to be located.

Another case involves Wiggins, Jury’s partner at New Scotland Yard. His missing sister sent a postcard to their mother and Wiggins takes off with Macalvie to find her. The two follow various clues to find her. Eventually the two investigations begin to converge. There is also an incident with a goat and some pigs.

This is a short, fast-paced novel that can be quickly read. Along the way there are some delightful scenes and humorous encounters. This doesn't represent the best novels in the series. It doesn't have the suspense or complexity of earlier novels. The investigation seems lackluster and was easily predicted. However, Grimes is in her nineties now so another Richard Jury novel is a feat in itself.

The Red Queen is a great choice for those who have been following the Richard Jury series. Thanks to Grove Atlantic for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

A Beautiful Family

A Beautiful Family by Jennifer Trevelyan
6/24/25; 320 pages
Knopf Doubleday

A Beautiful Family by Jennifer Trevelyan is a very highly recommended family drama set in 1985 at a New Zealand beach town

Alix and her family decide to go on vacation at a beach town rather than the secluded places they normally chose for their holiday. Vanessa, 15, wants nothing to do with her family, Alix, 10 (but almost 11) plans to spend as much time as she can at the beach, their mother is going to finish writing her book, and their father wants to grill and watch cricket. Alix meets a boy, Kahu, 12, who is also in town on vacation and he tells her about Charlotte, 9, who disappeared, presumed drowned two years ago. Her body was never found so the two decide to conduct their own investigation.

While Alix and Kahu are looking all over at the beach for clues during the day, Alix is noticing other things going on with her family. Her parents seem to be fighting all the time. Her mother, who is supposed to be watching her, keeps disappearing. Her sister is sneaking out at night. There is also a creepy older man who is constantly watching her.

This well-written debut mixes a coming-of-age novel with a mystery that results in a compelling family drama. The pace moves quickly and held my complete attention throughout. With each chapter another twist is revealed and the tension increases. You will be waiting for something to happen. There is so much going on, but it is told through the eyes of a child.

The narrative is told through the point-of-view of Alix. She observes and takes note of what is going on around her, but her age and naivety means she doesn't always completely understand what she is seeing so she is unable to piece the clues together. She is a fully realize character, but is still a child. Readers will quickly realize what Alix is missing and sympathize with her.

Although the novel doesn't end with everything completely wrapped up, this resonates with me. It is the story of a specific time in a child's life. Think of Alix now, as an adult, looking back at this specific memorable vacation and telling the story of it, as she understood things at that time, with the full knowledge as an adult of all the little clues she missed and didn't put together at the time.

A Beautiful Family is an excellent choice for readers who enjoy coming-of-age family dramas. Thanks to Knopf Doubleday for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

The Beast in the Clouds

The Beast in the Clouds by Nathalia Holt
7/1/25; 288 pages
Atria/One Signal 

The Beast in the Clouds by Nathalia Holt is a very highly recommended account of the 1928-1929 Himalayan expedition across China and Tibet undertaken by Theodore (Ted) Roosevelt Jr. and Kermit Roosevelt, the eldest sons of Theodore Roosevelt, to find the mythical beishung, or panda bear. Chicago's Field Museum was supporting the expedition, funded by William Vallandigham Kelley. This was a time when many scientists, adventurers and hunters were searching for physical specimens for museum collections, including the American Museum of Natural History.

This is a well written story that will appeal to those who enjoy history, nature, and adventure tales. The pace is actually fast as it immediately opens with the expedition. Holt not only chronicles the brothers exploration and the many challenges, dangers, and hardships they faced, she also includes information on the plant and animal life as well as the cultures of the people they encountered as they traveled. Additionally, she focuses on the other members of the team of scientists and naturalists along with the men and women who assisted in the expedition and actually made it possible. The brothers are portrayed as realistic individuals, with their strengths and weaknesses included.

The text includes photos throughout and following it are notes and an index. The Beast in the Clouds is a real life, well researched adventure story. Thanks to Atria for providing me with an advance reader's copy via Edelweiss. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

The White Crow

The White Crow by Michael Robotham
7/1/25; 368 pages
Scribner 
Philomena McCarthy Series #2

The White Crow by Michael Robotham is a highly recommended crime novel/procedural. This is the second novel featuring police officer Philomena (Phil) McCarthy (the first one is When You Are Mine) but can be read as a standalone novel.

Philomena McCarthy is a young officer with the Metropolitan Police and her husband Henry is a firefighter. When she sees a child wandering in the streets alone at night she stops and helps her. It's a little girl, Daisy, who leads Phil to her home and the discovery of the body of her mother. At the same time across town Chief Inspector Brendan Keegan responds to a violent robbery of a jewelry store and a man left with a bomb strapped to his body. The man is Daisy's father, who was taken from his home and forced by masked men to open up the store. Millions of dollars of jewelry is gone.

Complicating matters further is that Phil's family may be implicated in the robbery. Phil is the daughter of Edward McCarthy, a London gangster and leader of a criminal empire he has built with his brothers. This case may put her career and possibly her life in jeopardy, especially if it really does involve her father and uncles. Chapters alternate between Phil and the police investigation, and her father and uncles concern over a new mobster/crime boss from Eastern European moving into London.

Once again Robotham provides an extremely well written, perfectly paced, and wonderfully intricate puzzle of a thriller. The complicated, layered plot moves quickly while keeping the tension high. There are so many clues presented and questions that will arise concerning Phil's investigations along the way.  It's always a pleasure to follow an investigation with twists and surprising discoveries along the way.

Phil continues to be a fully realized, complex character and an engaging protagonist. She has keen investigative instincts, but you may question her judgment at times in the novel. You will want the best for her, but she can be a frustrating character for me. Her family is a colorful but loyal group of mobsters. DCI Keegan who is leading the police investigation can be a frustrating character, but he does experience growth.

The White Crow is a good choice for those who enjoy procedurals. Thanks to Scribner for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

Party of Liars

Party of Liars by Kelsey Cox
7/1/25; 336 pages
St. Martin's Press

Party of Liars by Kelsey Cox is a very highly recommended character-driven psychological thriller full of twists. This one is unpredictable. You will try to piece all the clues together but you won't be able to guess where the plot is going. Well played Kelsey Cox, this is a superb debut.

Sophie Matthews is being thrown a Texas-sized Sweet Sixteen party at the luxurious restored Victorian mansion where her father Ethan and his second wife Dani live in the small Texas town of Bulverde. The party is going to be a huge event and everyone attending is excited to see the inside of the renovated mansion, especially because it is rumored to be haunted. We know from the opening that someone falls to their death from a balcony the night of the party. But who was it?

The characters are important in this psychological thriller. Four characters, Dani, Orlaith, Mikayla, and Kim are narrators in alternating chapters.
Dani is Ethan's 27-year-old second wife and mother to 5-month-old Charlotte. Her dream is to open a bakery. She has struggled with paranoia and then postpartum depression. Someone is watching and threatening her.
Orlaith is the Irish nanny in her sixties. She has many dark, depressing stories to share and is superstitious. Her trustworthiness is suspect.
Mikayla has been Sophie's best friend since they were very young. As the story continues it becomes clear that she has secrets of her own.
Kim is the mother of Sophie and Ethan's first wife. She is the one who worked on renovations of the mansion. Now she's an alcoholic, anger, bitter, and holding a grudge. 

Other notable characters included in the narrative include: Ethan, a psychiatrist, father to Sophie, husband to Dani, ex-husband to Kim, and the host of the party. Spohie is the birthday girl. She is a cheerleader and her ex-boyfriend is Mason. Curtis is Ethan's partner and Dani's psychiatrist. Gemma is the wife of Curtis. There are numerous other characters, townspeople, and teens, mentioned too.

The writing is pitch-perfect, the twists and surprising revelations abound, and Party of Liars held my complete attention throughout. The plot unfolds in three parts, Before the Party, The Night of the Party (the longest section), and After the Party. As you closely follow the four narrators relating their experiences and thoughts, suspicions bound and the tension rises. The plot is set up as a locked-room whodunnit, but on a Texas sized scale with a gothic ghost story influence. Even though most of the action is during one night, the pace moved quickly because so much was going on and so many clues were dropped.

All of the characters are fully realized, complex individuals who are realistically portrayed with both strengths and weaknesses. They are so well-written and portrayed that you'll swear you know some of these people or met them before. While reading you will alternately sympathize with them, question their sanity, be suspicious, actively dislike them, and care deeply. They all seem to be lying about something. The ending completely surprised me.

Party of Liars is an excellent choice if you enjoy complex character-driven psychological thrillers. 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.

The Homemade God

The Homemade God by Rachel Joyce
7/8/25; 336 pages
Random House/Dial Press 

The Homemade God by Rachel Joyce is a very highly recommended, insightful domestic drama following a dysfunctional family and a potential murder.

Artist Vic Kemp, 76, invites his four children out to lunch to inform them that he is in love with Bella-Mae, 27, and plans to marry her. He is also going to plan to start painting his final masterpiece. He has given up drinking, drinks the special tea Bella-Mae makes, and has lost a lot of weight. He wants them to all meet at the family's summer retreat, an Italian villa on Lake Orta. Vic is a man who was a erratic parent who also has had an unhealthy hold on his children who all want his attention.

His children range from 40 to 33 years old and they are unusually close after their mother die at a young age. Basically the oldest, Netta raised them. Netta is now a lawyer who drinks too much. Susan married an older man with twin sons. she had wanted to be a chef. Goose (Gusta) is a failed artist who had a breakdown. He is his father's studio assistant. The youngest, Iris, is the most fragile. She gets entry level jobs and wears thrift store clothes.

When their father marries Bella-Mae in Italy and later dies, the family rushes to the villa. Netta is looking for the will and evidence that Vic was murdered. The others are all grieving, confronting their childhood roles and emotional scars, as well as years of things left unsaid.

This is a beautifully written, atmospheric, character driven novel that closely examines a family on the verge of collapsing when their father dies. Admittedly, it feels like a slow start, but much of that is establishing the status quo between the family members and the significance Vic plays in all of their lives as well as their individual roles in the family dynamics. Once the plot and the mystery take off, the tension and drama increase dramatically. This novel gets better with each turn of the page.

The characters are all portrayed as fully realized, complex individuals with both strengths and weaknesses. Bella-Mae is the exception as her character development doesn't receive the same attention until the very end of the novel. The four siblings have spent years donning their expected role while never honestly sharing their real thoughts or the damage done to them by Vic. During their time on the island after their father's death they are all finally heading toward facing the truth.

The Homemade God is an excellent novel that would provide a book club with lively discussions. Thanks to Random House/Dial Press for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

Don't Let Him In

Don't Let Him In by Lisa Jewell
6/24/25; 368 pages
Atria

Don't Let Him In by Lisa Jewell is a very highly recommended domestic psychological suspense novel following one one con man, or perhaps three, and the women he targets. Once you start reading this one it's impossible to put it down.

Recent widow Nina Swann receives a condolence card and soon after that a lighter from Nick Radcliffe, who claims to be an old friend of her late husband, Paddy. She meets Nick and starts a relationship with him, much to the dismay of her daughter Ash, who has bad feeling about him. Ash begins to look into Nick. In a nearby town, Alistair, husband of Martha, a florist, seems to be traveling for work more and more and she is suspicious something else is afoot. Then there is also a jump back in time following man who hates his wife and is scheming to get her money.

The writing is absolutely excellent. The tension ramps up with each revelation and shocking twist leading up to a very satisfying conclusion. Obviously, it will be clear that Don't Let Him In is following the nefarious deeds of a man who is a smooth operator and a narcissistic sociopath. His actions and thoughts are increasingly treacherous and cunning.

Give the narrative time to set up the different scenarios as it follows alternating points of views, indicated by a change in fonts. When it moves back in time, it is noted before the passage. This man's slick but devious actions will infuriate you, but keep reading. While it may seem disjointed at the beginning, things will quickly become clear and the plot becomes intense, ominous, and un-put-downable.

The characters are all portrayed as fully realized individuals with strengths and weaknesses. Following the thoughts and deeds of Nick/Alisair will anger you. At the same time you will be cheering for Ash's efforts to find out more about the man who calls himself Nick Radcliffe.

Don't Let Him In is an exceptional novel of psychological suspense. Thanks to Atria for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

I'll Be Right Here

I'll Be Right Here by Amy Bloom
6/24/24; 272 pages
Random House

I'll Be Right Here by Amy Bloom is a so-so novel about found families. 

In 1942 Gazala, seventeen, works for the writer Colette. She immigrates alone from Paris to New York after World War II, and becomes friends with sisters Anne and Alma Cohen. Gazala’s adopted brother, Samir, later joins her and the two become lovers. These four characters become life long friends and a family to each other.

This is a beautifully written novel but the(dis)organization and the lack of a noteworthy plot make it a mess to read. Nevertheless, I persisted and stayed with it because it is also a very short novel. Be forewarned that the chapters jump back and forth in time throughout the narrative. It is not a before and after set up, it is jumping back and forth to random years. It is also consumed with various interpersonal relationships. All of this and the narrative fails to tell a story. The beginning of the novel focuses on Gazala but she later becomes a secondary character. 

Bloom gets a point for her descriptive writing, but the presentation and lack of a cohesive story were disappointing. 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 Whyte Python World Tour

The Whyte Python World Tour by Travis Kennedy
6/24/25; 416 pages
Doubleday

The Whyte Python World Tour by Travis Kennedy is a very highly recommended novel that blends tales of an 80's hair metal band with a Cold War PSYOP. This entertaining, fun book really is on a "satirical knife-edge between high-suspense and head-banging hilarity."

In 1986 Drummer Rikki Thunder (Richard Henderson) met his girlfriend Tawny Spice while putting out flyers for his band in Los Angeles. She soon manages to get him on as a drummer for the up and coming band Whyte Python. Rikki is thrilled to join the members of Whyte Python - lead singer, Davy Bones, shredding guitarist, Buck Sweet, and bassist, Spencer Dooley. The the band's success takes off. They have a hit single and are selling out clubs. Their album soars on the charts and they go on tour. He has a beautiful girlfriend. Life is good.

What he doesn't know is that Tawny Spice is actually Amanda Price, an undercover CIA agent with Project Facemelt. The goal is to propel Whyte Python to fame and get them to tour in eastern bloc countries behind the Iron Curtain. The mission is to inspire a youth revolution through American music. Rikki Thunder is thrust into the role of drummer and international spy as the band spreads "peace, love, and epic shredding across the globe."

Honestly, it was surprising how much I enjoyed this headbanging, shredding comedy. And yes, it is mainly a comedy, but there are some suspenseful and serious scenes too. The plot unfolds through the point-of-view of Rikki and Tawny. Readers should take note that the action is a little slow to take off but once it does it is definitely worth the wait. Expect a lot of name dropping of bands from the 80s.

The Whyte Python World Tour would make an excellent retro 80s rock 'n' roll movie. Thanks to Doubleday for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

What We Leave Behind

What We Leave Behind by Sue Halpern
6/24/25; 352 pages
Harper Perennial

What We Leave Behind by Sue Halpern is a highly recommended domestic drama following two women of different ages and backgrounds.

Delia Marcus, wife of Eddie and mother to Melody, 17, dies in a freak accident. While Eddie is deeply mourning a woman he loves, Melody, who was adopted at age 3, is both mourning and confused. She was planning on taking the SATs and then heading on to college. Now, she has never heard the full story of her adoption and her mother is dead. After talking to friends, she questions if she should even go to college, take a gap year, or work on an organic farm.

Candace Milton is a successful HR professional in her forties. She has a best friend, Paul. After growing up in a turbulent home, she is intentionally single and unattached. When her company moves to Connecticut, she leaves New York City for a home in the country located closer to her job. Friends from the city come out to visit her and on Thanksgiving they save a man who fell into the pond when he broke through the ice. His name is Tom and he may offer the emotional attachment she needs.

The chapters alternate between the separate narratives following the lives of these two women. Their individual stories are distinctive and not kindred tales. Their lives do connect, but only briefly toward the end, and in an incidental way, although it is an encouraging occurrence. Basically, the novel follows two very different women contending with their own diverse emotional trauma from their parents and their destiny.

The writing is very good and the characters are all portrayed as sympathetic, unique individuals with strengths and weaknesses. You will hope both Melody and Candace find their way through life, overcome their emotional pain, and encounter future peace of mind. The choice to tell the story of these two women, side by side, in two distinct narratives is an interesting, especially since they are not dependent on each other. It kind of comes together in the end, but not completely.

There were several little issues along the way in the plot. They include: No mention of doing or even hiring someone to do yard work or snow removal at Candace's house in the country. All the climate change comments, which added nothing to the plot. Finally, the throw-away line about not moving with a company to South Dakota, specifically mentioning the Bad Lands, came across annoyingly coastal elitist since that is not where tech companies are relocating to in SD.

What We Leave Behind is a good choice for those who enjoy domestic dramas and can appreciate the dual story lines. 3.5 rounded up. Thanks to Harper Perennial for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

The Accidental Favorite

The Accidental Favorite by Fran Littlewood
6/24/25; 320 pages
Henry Holt & Company

The Accidental Favorite by Fran Littlewood is a recommended drama featuring a dysfunctional family.

Vivienne and Patrick Fisher have three adult daughters, Alex, 45, Nancy, 44, and Eva, 40. When all three generations of the family gather at a glass house in the country to celebrate Vivienne's 70th birthday a near- tragic accident reveals to everyone that their father, Patrick, has a favorite daughter. This revelation results in sibling rivalries being resumed, while secrets abound, long held resentments surfaces, and family ties are strained.

The narrative unfolds from alternating perspectives of the sisters Alex, Nancy, and Eva, and their mother, Vivienne. The revelations follow events from 1976 to the present, exposing their present situations and past grievances. As with any family the tensions can span years and confront varying different memories of events. Also included are all the children and partners of the sisters.

Occasionally an insightful and impactful observation surfaces, and there is some humor along with emotional depth, but, beyond that, the plot mostly feels unfocused as it wanders between memories and current problems.  They are all portrayed as realistic individuals, but, personally, I struggled with caring about all these characters.  I was left with the overwhelming questions: Why did they all agree to this week long vacation together? Why not just a quick weekend?

Normally, a story with a dysfunctional family can hold my attention, but I struggled  here. It may be the author's writing style simply isn't a preferred style for me. The ending did bump up my rating. If you like dramas with messy dysfunctional families you might want to give The Accidental Favorite a try. Thanks to Henry Holt & Company for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

The Black Highway

The Black Highway by Simon Toyne
6/24/25; 368 pages
HarperCollins
Laughton Rees #3

The Black Highway by Simon Toyne is a highly recommended investigative thriller. In England the River Thames is also called the black highway because of the number of homicide victims that are found in it. This is the third novel in the Laughton Rees series.

Detective Chief Inspector Tannahill Khan is called to the banks of the Thames where a male body, without hands and head, has been found. Tannahill is in a relationship with forensic specialist Laughton Rees so he immediately notices that her address has been written on the mans arm. The same night Laughton's teenage daughter, Gracie, demands to know who her father is for a school family tree project. Gracie’s father, Shelby Facer, was recently released from prison for his involvement in an international drug trafficking ring. When he unexpectedly turns up at Laughton's door he provides information that leads to the identification of the body. Then a second body in the same condition is found in the Thames.

It seems the case is tied to events from years ago and Tannahill and Laughton need to explore a past case, one that Laughton's father, Police Commissioner John Rees, was involved with. There are several twists and complications as the even-paced plot unfolds and new clues and evidence is uncovered. The pace does seem slow in the middle of the narrative. Along the way, the relationship between Laughton and Tannahill is explored and further developed.

The writing is very good and the story is interesting, however, having Gracie's father show up right after she learns his name is was way-too-much of a concurrence at the opening of the novel. It tempered my opinion while reading the rest of the novel, which essentially meant it had to be excellent in order to make-up for that glaring coincidence. Keep reading. It does make amends in many ways and the ending is surprising.

The Black Highway is a great choice for those who enjoy procedurals and investigative thrillers. Thanks to HarperCollins for providing me with an advance reader's copy via Edelweiss. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

You Don't Know Me

You Don't Know Me by Theo Baxter
6/22/25; 320 pages
Inkubator Books

You Don't Know Me by Theo Baxter is a recommended family drama following a family after the death of their wealthy parents.

Isobel, Harold, and Annabelle Marconi are planning their father's funeral when their mother is killed in a hit and run accident. At the service for both of her parents, Mary and her son David show up and introduce themselves. David is apparently their half-brother from an affair their father was having years earlier. Annabelle is uncertain, but Isobel forges ahead and invites them to move in and stay with the family while the estate is settled. Now the question of inheritance looms large as the family is very wealthy. Soon it becomes abundantly clear that something evil is afoot.

The first part of the novel does capture your attention, and sets up an interesting plot. It will keep you reading to see how events are going to unfold. Annabelle is the narrator so all the events are from her point-of-view, with the exception being the opening scene. The conflicts between siblings is realistic, if a bit overdone. The tension remains throughout the novel and the threats to their health and safety are quite credible. There are plenty of secrets on several fronts.

However, all the bad decisions and misplaced trust made throughout the narrative simply stretched my disbelief to the breaking point - and I can handle a big dose of disbelief for a good novel. Any family with the kind of wealth the Marconi's are portrayed as having would taken much more care and caution. The final denouement is also quite predictable, so the suspense lies in the anticipation of the final reveal, rather than in the whodunit question.

You Don't Know Me is for those who like family dramas with a YA feel. Thanks to Inkubator Books for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.