Long Way Down

Long Way Down by Lisa Kusel
10/21/25; 320 pages
Crooked Lane Books  

Long Way Down by Lisa Kusel is a highly recommended mystery/domestic drama and light procedural.

Deni Rydell is engaged to Cal Cooper Jr., who works for the family mining business. The family is having a dinner to welcome Cal's brother Grant back home after a stint in rehab and he has brought his girlfriend Erika with him. When their contentious, controlling parents pass away Cal and Grant will be heirs to a massive California mining fortune. In what was supposed to be a short trip, Cal and his parents perish in a small plane crash, leaving Deni devastated and Grant the only surviving heir, along with Erika who immediately takes advantage of his new found wealth.

Detective Robyn Torres is investigating a murder that appears to be drug related. What she initially thought would be a straight forward case soon becomes much more complicated. Torres uncovers clues, lies, and secrets that seem connected to the Cooper family. Deni is also uncovering some disturbing secrets Cal kept from her.

This is a well-written, even paced drama with short chapters that keep the new information and discoveries coming. There isn't a lot of tension or suspense in the first half of the novel but this does pick up toward the end with additional discoveries. The plot and subsequent twists are mostly rather predictable. Even so, it held my attention throughout, if only to see if I was correct in the direction things were going to take, and the short chapters helped by keeping things moving along.

The characters are a mixed bag of complex relationships. Deni's relationship with Cal never felt completely realistic and it unravels as she uncovers secrets he was keeping. Grant is a sympathetic character and Erika is clearly trouble right from the start. Parents, Calvin Sr. and Jeannette (Jean) are depicted as narcissistic, self-involved, and pretentious. They are immediately dislikable. Robyn Torres is an interesting character and the investigation clearly challenges her abilities to the max.

Long Way Down is a good choice for those who like mysteries/domestic dramas that involved complex relationships. Thanks to Crooked Lane Books for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

Two Truths One Lie

Two Truths One Lie by Alex Sinclair
10/9/25; 308 pages
Joffe Books  

Two Truths One Lie by Alex Sinclair is a recommended domestic psychological thriller. 

Brad and Maia decided to hold a dinner party for their anniversary. They have kept to themselves since the death of their older daughter five years earlier. Now they have a three year old daughter and it's time for Maia to start socializing again. The dinner is going well until they decide to play a game, two truths and a lie. Everyone is enjoying it until it's Brad's turn and he says, "I've never seen Harry Potter. I once stole a bike. I once killed a man." Everyone laughs it off but Maia, who is sure she sees something amiss in her husband's eyes, which sends her spiraling.  

This is a fast-paced novel that immediately grabs your attention in the opening chapter and then jumps back a few weeks earlier. In short chapters the narrative alternates between the point-of-view of Brad and Maia. Neither character is likable. They both seem untrustworthy and unreliable. It is clear that Maia is struggling with mental health issues, but Brad seems off too. 

Although it is entertaining and packed with tension, after a strong start the novel starts to feel repetitive. You will have to set a huge, massive amount of disbelief aside, which was a struggle for me. I predicted where the plot was heading early on, which kept me reading to see if I was correct. It is entertaining, with plenty of twists, and I'm sure many readers will enjoy it a bit more than I did.

Two Truths One Lie is a good choice for those who enjoy domestic psychological thrillers with untrustworthy narrators. Thanks to Joffe Books for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

What Have You Done?

What Have You Done? by Nicole Trope
10/17/25; 278 pages
Bookouture

What Have You Done? by Nicole Trope is a highly recommended psychological thriller. The prologue will immediately grab your attention and keep you reading to the twisty ending.

The Neighbors watch as two stretchers are wheeled out of a home followed by a handcuffed disheveled Juliet Cordell being led to the police car as she yells, "Are those my parents?" Jumping back several weeks, Juliet is released to her parents by the private psychiatric facility where she was sent for three months after a self destructive event. At the facility she suddenly recalls abusive actions from her parents when she was growing up. Her parents deny it ever happened, but Juliet resents them. She then meets Adam when getting coffee and they immediately connect as she shares her backstory with him.

Most readers will be able to tell in this fast-paced novel that something else is going on. There are clues and hints that there is much more to the story. Set any disbelief aside and keep reading for your reward. The narrative is presented in two parts and the second part, after Juliet's arrest, will flip the whole story and you will be richly rewarded with a crazy twist in the plot. While a few elements are predictable, the whole story is compelling and a wildly entertaining popcorn thriller.

As for the characters, none of them seem trustworthy. Not one. They are flawed, fragile, and feel a little off, but are also sometimes sympathetic. Trope uses her emotionally intricate characters to propel the plot forward, along with the questions and complications that will arise based on their actions. Their actions will keep you on edge and you will feel psychologically manipulated. The first part of the novel was okay, but the second part elevated it to something better.

What Have You Done? is a perfect choice for those who enjoy popcorn psychological thrillers. Thanks to Bookouture for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

Murder on the River

Murder on the River by Janice Frost
10/2/25; 268 pages
Joffe Books
Warwick & Bell #5

Murder on the River by Janice Frost is a highly recommended procedural and the fifth book in the DI Warwick and SPC Bell series.

Detective Inspector Steph Warwick is Christmas shopping when she gets the call from DS Elias Harper about the body of a young man pulled from the River Witham. He is identified as Max Barsby, a serious archaeology student and his death was caused by someone bashing in the back of his head and not drowning. With Christmas approaching many of the students are gone so finding information is a challenge but they do have a few leads.

At the same time Special Constable Jane Bell investigates a break-in and discovers an unexpected link to Max. Her son Patrick was also friends with Max's cousin so they have contacts with the family and the two begin to look more closely into who could have murdered Max. They come up with more information about the case, ruffling Warwick's feathers, but she also knows Bell has a nice way with people that Warwick is lacking.

The pace moves fast while the information and clues uncovered are logically followed up on.The narrative alternates between the official police investigation with Warwick and Harper and the unofficial investigation by Jane and Patrick Bell. (As a special constable Jane is a volunteer on the police force.)  The plot is actually interesting and held my complete attention. There is a nice balance between the two points-of-view and several surprising twists in the investigation occur along the way. The final denouement is satisfying.

This was my first introduction to the series so it did require a slower reading pace at the beginning to keep all the characters straight. Once They were sorted out, the novel moved very quickly. The characters do reference past events along the way. These would all be known characters for those who have been following the series, but they do show some growth and depth in this outing. I actually enjoyed Jane and Patrick working together and thought they'd be an interesting duo working as private investigators.

Murder on the River is an entertaining, fast-paced procedural. Thanks to Joffe Books for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

The Lines

The Lines by Matt Brolly
10/15/25; 347 pages
Thomas & Mercer
DS Liam Kilshaw #1

The Lines by Matt Brolly is a highly recommended procedural and is the exciting start of a new series set in Cornwall featuring DS Liam Kilshaw, a former marine.

Detective Sargent Liam Kilshaw also volunteers with the local lifeboat crew on the Cornish coast to help combat the PTSD he suffers after nearly drowning on a mission. When the lifeboat crew is called out for a body in the water it quickly becomes clear that the young man was murdered when Kilshaw notices the zip-tie marks on his wrists and ankles. Kilshaw recalls a previous young woman with connections to local drugs gang who was found dead under the same conditions months earlier. It quickly becomes clear that local drug gangs are involved and the danger is spreading.

This is a well-written, engaging procedural where the clues uncovered during the investigation are logically followed up on and the tension increases along the way. Expect several twists along the way and some surprising directions taken. The police rush to try to find the drug gangs and stop the flow of drugs and subsequent violence. Additionally the story explores themes of trust, danger, and the impact of past traumas. The pace starts and ends fast but the middle slows down during discovery of information.

Liam Kilshaw is an interesting character and he is portrayed as a realistic, complicated individual with strengths and weaknesses. He has a good working relationship with his colleague, Maya. This is a great time to start the series and meet the characters right from the beginning. I'll be looking forward to the next case Kilshaw takes on.

The Lines is a wonderful choice for anyone who enjoys multilayered procedurals. Thanks to Thomas & Mercer for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.