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.

Spectacular Things

Spectacular Things by Beck Dorey-Stein
7/1/25; 368 pages
Random House

Spectacular Things by Beck Dorey-Stein is a recommended domestic drama following the relationship between two sisters which will be highly enjoyed by those who enjoy lots of soccer talk.

The novel opens with Mia giving birth while watching her sister Cricket playing for the US Women's Olympic soccer team on a TV at the hospital. Mia has a medical emergency after the birth. The novel then jumps back in time to follow their mother Liz Lowe. Liz was a high school soccer star when she found out she was pregnant as a senior and her promising soccer career ends abruptly. She gives birth to Mia and as soon as possible has her training to play soccer. Five years later Cricket is born and it is clear she is born to play soccer and be a star. 

While the narrative shows devotion to and sacrifices made for your family, it also shows some dark secrets which should have been exposed, tragedies, and flawed behavior. (Take note, the girls father was a predator.) As a sister of two, I thought the narrative would follow a reciprocal relationship between the sisters rather than Mia being expected by Liz to sacrifice and give up her activities and time at a young age so Cricket could be a star. Mia's sacrifices continue throughout the plot.

Admittedly, I really disliked Cricket for almost the entire novel which really held back my enjoyment. Along with the slow pace, all the focus on soccer did not help hold my attention. I wish this overwhelming plot point had been mentioned in the description as I would have not requested it. It also felt like it was a bit too long winded and repetitive. This was just an okay read for me. 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 Locked Ward

The Locked Ward by Sarah Pekkanen
8/5/25; 320 pages
St. Martin's Press

The Locked Ward by Sarah Pekkanen is a highly recommended psychological thriller.

Amanda (Mandy) Ravenel lost both of her adoptive parents and now runs the bar they owned. She is shocked when a lawyer calls her one day and informs her that her twin sister wants to see her. Her sister is Georgia Cartwright, the adopted daughter of a wealthy, Southern family. Georgia is currently locked in a psychiatric institution after being accused of killing her younger sister and her parents biological daughter Annabelle. 

After visiting Georgia, who indicates that she didn't kill Annabelle and needs her help, Mandy has a DNA test done that confirms that she and Georgia are sisters. Mandy ends up feeling a connection with Georgia and decides to help her even though she is not sure she completely trusts her. Besides helping Georgia, knowing she is a twin opens up questions about her own adoptive parents and what they knew.

This is a well-written, fast-paced psychological thriller with plenty of melodramatic overtones. The narrative unfolds through short chapters which alternate between the viewpoint of Georgia and Mandy. The fast pace makes it easier to set disbelief aside accepting both that Georgia is in the psychiatric hospital because she is acting out being in a dissociative state and that Mandy would go above and beyond to help her (even though the bond between twins is a known fact). 

In spite of the fact that the plot is a little over-the top exaggerated and predictable at times, I found myself totally invested in finding out what happened. I eagerly read on following the character development and new discoveries along the way. Adding in ties to a corrupt politician and all the behind the scenes manipulation also helped. 

The Locked Ward is a great choice for those who enjoy fast-paced 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.

My Father's House

My Father's House by Ulf Kvensler
8/5/25; 368 pages
Hanover Square Press

My Father's House by Ulf Kvensler is a highly recommended Scandinavian psychological thriller.

Isak works as a home health care giver in a small town in Småland and lives with his girlfriend, Maddy. Over a decade earlier, when Isak was six-years-old, he lost his mother and sister in a house fire. His father never came for him but his grandfather Anders adopted him. He has had no real contact with his father since then beyond one strange encounter. Now his father, an internationally known artist, is dying so he contacted Isak. He wants Isak to visit him at his remote island retreat and alludes to Isak inheriting his fortune.

Once there, it will be clear to readers that Isak's father immediately begins to manipulate him, creates odd scenarios, may be drugging him, and plays endless mind games.It is well-written and will hold your attention. The atmosphere created at his father's palatial home is creepy and there are supernatural elements all over. Isak is having nightmares and his anxiety is running high. His father keeps dangling an inheritance as bait to keep his control over Isak. Maddie seems to be siding with his father.

Isak is portrayed as a complicated, fully realized character, while the other characters are more caricatures of a type of person. While reading, I was getting a bit frustrated that Isak didn't just walk away from his father, a psychopath, and maybe clue-in that something was up with Maddie, which will be clear to readers. I also could have done without the supernatural elements and personally skimmed that bit. 

My Father's House will be a good choice for readers who enjoy dark psychological thrillers. Thanks to Hanover Square Press for providing me with an advance reader's copy via Edelweiss. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

The Understudy

The Understudy by Morgan Richter
8/5/25; 336 pages
Knopf Doubleday 

The Understudy by Morgan Richter is a recommended suspense novel set in the competitive New York City opera world.

Kit Margolis, an aspiring trained opera singer, has been hired for the lead in a new opera, Barbarella. (Yes, based on the 1960s cult classic.) Success in this role will place her in competition for other lead roles. Her understudy, Yolanda Archambeau, is an unknown, untrained novice who is beautiful and confident. She also poisoned Kit on the first day of rehearsals. Then Kit finds a rat with a knife stuck in it on her doorstep. Things go downhill and the danger increases from there.

A heaping dose of disbelief must be set aside right from the start. When someone poisons you and it is obvious who did it, you immediately contact the police. When Kit doesn't, the quandary is to suspend disbelief and continue reading or set it aside. Adding to the indecision was the fact that Yolanda is an untrained singer. I decided to continue reading. 

The preposterous scenarios continued, but they did become more entertaining in an absurd way and the action increased. Soon enough there is a fatality and Kit becomes an amateur detective. She sets out to discover what is really happening and digs into Yolanda's background. She manages to evade the police. Everyone she meets trusts her and tells her everything they know. She discovers everything about Yolanda's past. 

The Understudy by Morgan Richter is for readers who can easily suspend disbelief. Thanks to Knopf Doubleday for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

When the Cranes Fly South

When the Cranes Fly South by Lisa Ridzén
Translated from Swedish by Alice Menzies
8/19/25; 320 pages
Knopf Doubleday/Vintage

When the Cranes Fly South by Lisa Ridzén is a very highly recommended literary novel following the decline of an elderly man. Translated from Swedish, this deeply emotional debut novel follows Bo as he deals with his deteriorating health and capabilities. There is a reason this excellent novel was the book of the year in Sweden. Expect to cry.

Bossee (Bo), 89 years-old, is on home care and receives daily visits from his team during the day while his wife is in a home for dementia. He spends his time napping and dreaming about the past with his beloved elkhound Sixten by his side. Bo is upset with his son, Hans, who wants to rehome Sixten because Bo is unable to give him the care and exercise he requires. At the same time Bo's declining abilities are clearly shown. 

The writing is absolutely exceptional in this deeply emotional and moving novel about growing old and losing your independence while also wanting to show your family you care. It is about the relationships between fathers and sons and how uneasy they can be. It's about the loss of a good friend and the devotion of a good dog. The narrative follows Bo's present day actions and his loss of control and mobility while also recording his vivid memories from his life and his dreams. Notes written by his care team are included. 

When the Cranes Fly South is absolutely one of the best books I've read this year. You will want to read it. Thanks to Knopf Doubleday/Vintage for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

The Cover Girl

The Cover Girl by Amy Rossi
8/5/25; 336 pages
MIRA Books

The Cover Girl by Amy Rossi is a highly recommended literary coming-of-age story mixed with a domestic drama. 

Birdie Rhodes was thirteen when she started her modeling career. She was discovered by legendary modeling agent Harriet Goldman and became one of Harriet’s Girls. Then, at fifteen, she meets the thirty-one-year-old  rock star who convinces Birdie's parents to make him her guardian so she can go on tour and live with him. Obviously all of this impacted her whole life, came with trauma, and robbed her of her childhood. 

Decades later she is living a quiet life still trying to deal with her past. When an invitation arrives inviting Birdie to a celebration honoring Harriet’s fifty-year career, she is uncertain about attending. Birdie, who now goes by Elizabeth, hasn’t spoken to Harriet in years.

The narrative switches between young Birdie, starting in 1975, and then fifty-six-year-old Elizabeth in 2018. Younger Birdie's story is heartbreaking. Yes, starting a modeling career so young may seem like a dream, but she was simply not mature enough to suddenly be thrust into an adult role in what could certainly be a predatory environment. There is also no doubt that her parents were negligent and should have protected her and stayed involved in her life. Now, in 2018, it is clear she has obviously lived in denial for years and has never honestly addressed what happened to her.

This is an even-paced character driven novel. It almost reads like a memoir when following the young Birdie. Clearly she knew her body, especially her long legs, was viewed as a commodity, but she longed for someone to honestly see and love her for who she was. She was easily manipulated by people because she was so young and inexperienced. While reading I kept thinking about the fact that our brains aren't fully developed until around the age of twenty-five so thrusting a young teenager into such an adult situation is abusive. 

The Cover Girl is a good choice for those who enjoy literary coming-of age stories set in the 1970s-80s. Thanks to MIRA Books for providing me with an advance reader's copy via Edelweiss. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

The Wrong Sister

The Wrong Sister by Claire Douglas
8/5/25; 384 pages
Harper Perennial

The Wrong Sister by Claire Douglas is a highly recommended mystery/domestic drama that begs the question: How well do you really know your sister?

Tasha and her husband Aaron lives in Chew Norton, where they grew up, and have three-year-old twin daughters. When her successful older sister, Alice, and her wealthy husband Kyle, suggest the two stay at their vacation home in Venice while they babysit the girls, Tasha and Aaron are thrilled. They have a strange man following them in Venice, which is unsettling, and then they receive a phone call. Someone broke into their home. Kyle is dead and Alice is hospitalized. The two immediately return home to their daughters while the police investigate. Then Tasha receives a note saying, "It was supposed to be you."

This is an even paced novel full of secrets that will definitely hold your attention. There are two mysteries in the plot. First, is the who and why concerning Kyle's murder and the question if the target was supposed to be Tasha. Then there is the missing third daughter, Holly, who was abducted as a baby and greatly impacted their lives. There are several red herrings, numerous secrets, and multiple revelations along the way.

The complex plot is mainly told through Tasha's point-of-view, with additional chapters narrated by Jeanette, Alice and Tasha's mother, and a few chapters by a woman named Bonnie. Suspicions run high and there is misdirection as secrets and suspects are revealed. The final denouement provides a satisfying conclusion.

The Wrong Sister is a good choice for those who enjoy domestic dramas full of secrets. 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 Cleaner

The Cleaner by Mary Watson
7/29/25; 400 pages
Crown Publishing  

The Cleaner by Mary Watson is a recommended mystery. Esmerelda Theodora Lorenzo, or Esmie, 25, has moved from her South American country to an Irish university town seeking revenge for her older brother, Nico.

Nico was attending the university on a scholarship and on his way to a PhD. He was having an affair when something happened resulting in the loss of his scholarship and he returned home a drug addicted, ruined man. Currently he is in a coma and Esmie needs to know who ruined her brother. After moving to Ireland, Esmie has managed to get a position as a house cleaner in the exclusive small gated community out side of town where Nico had a rented a room. As a cleaner Esmie knows she will be invisible and able to look for evidence on what they did to Nico.

The narrative is told through Esmie in the present day and flashbacks to her past. Every single character in this novel is untrustworthy and a mess in one way or another. Subterfuge, deception, and enigmas abound. In the slow-burning, repetitive plot there are secrets, but no tension. However, all the characters have plenty of dirt to dig up. There are several twists at the end.

It must be noted that several things are never addressed and disbelief must be set aside. Nico is an adult. Traveling to another country to clean houses, hoping to seek revenge for the consequences of his actions is ridiculous. Then Esmie managed to get the job cleaning way-too-easily and while working she seems to have a whole lot of extra time to look for secrets.

The Cleaner is a good choice for those who enjoy mysteries with secrets amidst a steady pace. Thanks to Crown Publishing for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

The Therapist

The Therapist by Nicole Trope
7/31/25; 272 pages
Bookouture

The Therapist by Nicole Trope is a highly recommended psychological thriller that is wickedly deceptive and twisty.

Lana, a busy therapist, reluctantly agrees to see Sandy, a client of her colleague Ben, when he explains that she is becoming  infatuated with him. Sandy opens up to Lana and claims that her husband Mike is abusive. She even shows up with a black eye, although, after she left, Lana noticed on a tissue that it appeared to be expertly applied makeup. From this point on, pay attention to what is going on, but trust no one.

The characters are unreliable, but clever and complicated. Everyone has a secret. Narrated through the point-of-view of Lana, Sandy, and Mike, the real truth won't be revealed until the surprising, twisty end. In the meantime, the tension, suspicion, and deception abound. This is a short, fast-paced novel that delivers the promised gripping psychological thriller. All the twists and reveals at the end elevated my initial opinion of the novel.

The Therapist is a great choice for fans of twisty 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.

You Belong Here

You Belong Here by Megan Miranda
7/29/25; 352 pages
Simon & Schuster/Marysue Rucci Books 

You Belong Here by Megan Miranda is a very highly recommended mystery/psychological thriller following two different mysteries.

After a tragedy and police investigation during her senior year at Wyatt College, Beckett Bowery left the college and Wyatt Valley, Virginia, planning to never return. Her parents were professors at the college and still live there but Beckett rarely visited. Now Beckett's daughter, Delilah, has received a full scholarship at Wyatt and Beckett very reluctantly helps Delilah settle in on campus.

Beckett, however, knows about the Howling, a hazing tradition at the college and how easily things can go terribly wrong. When Delilah calls her one night, says nothing, and then is not responding to any subsequent calls or texts, Beckett fears run wild and she heads back to Wyatt Valley to find her daughter who has disappeared. This also puts law enforcement's focus back on Beckett.

Beckett initially comes across as an overly concerned helicopter parent when she takes off in the middle of the night to Wyatt Valley after Delilah doesn't respond to her attempts to contact her. She also calls Delilah's father, Trevor, who immediately comes to town to help look for his daughter. Later her concern appears to be justified, but it is also clear that much more is going on beneath the surface and perhaps neither mother or daughter are safe there. 

The descriptively written story is told through two timelines, the present day and twenty-plus years earlier when Beckett lived in Wyatt Valley and was later at the college. The pace is even at first, setting up the plot, the setting, and the history, while allowing suspense, tension, and uncertainty to gradually build. The plot becomes increasingly atmospheric and eerie. The present mystery includes the search for Delilah and ensuing incidents, while the past mystery follows Beckett as a student.

Beckett is a fully realized character with plenty of flaws and insecurities. She clearly loves Delilah and wants to protect her. Even if her concern seems overly protective, it comes to light later why that is the case. Delilah is a realistic teen, exerting her independence, but still needing the support and wisdom of her parents whether she realizes it of not.

You Belong Here by Megan Miranda is a perfect choice for anyone who enjoys well-written mysteries with dual timelines. Thanks to S&S/Marysue Rucci Books for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

Guess Again

Guess Again by Charlie Donlea
7/29/25; 352 pages
Kensington

Guess Again by Charlie Donlea is a very highly recommended mystery/thriller that held my complete attention from start to finish.

Ethan Hall is an ER doctor who previously was a special agent with the Wisconsin Division of Criminal Investigation. His former partner, Pete Kramer, is dying and comes to Ethan with a request. Ten years ago 17-year-old high Callie Jones disappeared and the case was never solved. Pete was the original investigator on the case and now he wants Ethan to take a look at the case and hopefully find some clue Pete missed to bring closure for the family. Ethan agrees to look at the case files but is pulled into investigating.

This well written thriller amps up the suspense and tension with each short, fast-paced chapter. The narrative jumps between the past and present and in the present between Ethan and a unknown woman. This structure works well to enhance the uneasiness and highlights the twists as the investigation continues. 

The plot is complex and ties into Ethan's past in an unexpected way. It also requires some assistance with current technology to assist in the investigation. This is a novel that contains multiple mysteries along the way. Clear out some time as you will want to read it in one sitting.

Ethan is portrayed as a likable, fully realized character, with both strengths and weaknesses. You will know, as Ethan does, that he is being guided into an evil man's twisted scheme, but Ethan is intelligent and not easily deceived.

Guess Again is an excellent choice for those who enjoy fast-paced, twisty mysteries. Thanks to Kensington for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

Ink Ribbon Red

Ink Ribbon Red by Alex Pavesi
7/22/25; 320 pages
Henry Holt & Company

Ink Ribbon Red by Alex Pavesi is a recommended murder mystery where in the characters are writing murder mysteries.

A group of six friends gather together on a weekend to celebrate Anatol's thirtieth birthday in the Wiltshire countryside. The group plays a game Anatol's invented called Motive Method Death which requires everyone to choose two players and then write a story where one kills the other.

Once you start reading you will not be able to distinguish between reality and the stories the characters made up as both are shared in a random way in the novel. The start of each story gives clues to when the narrative that follows was written. This misdirection is a purposefully planned part of the reading experience, but at the beginning, before you figure out this is the case, it is annoying and off-putting.

The The group of characters are interesting, but would have benefited from more depth to their development. The writing is very good, and there are parts I really enjoyed, but the whole experience required more devotion to the experimental structural technique than I was willing to freely give.

Ink Ribbon Red may be a good choice for readers who like unique narrative structures in novels. 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 Writers' Retreat

The Writers' Retreat by Samantha Vïrant
7/22/25; 294 pages
Storm Publishing

The Writers' Retreat by Samantha Vïrant is a recommended thriller, for the right reader, which follows a group of unlikable characters.

Liv (Olivia) Montgomery is invited on an exclusive, week-long writing retreat at the Nyx resort in the Catskills. She knows the site as the former site of an infamous Nexus cult. Just before she leaves, she learns her former boyfriend was murdered and her former fiends are being questioned along with her current boyfriend, but she goes anyway. Once there, all the mean girls from her past along with her boyfriend also arrive. There are other random guests.

The narrative unfolds through dual timelines, past and present, and show the past and the current lives of the characters. This whole novel is entertaining with a sinister undercurrent, but it also has a pulpy, mean girls vibe. As more and more twists and surprise reveals occur, a huge dose of disbelief must be set aside. I was not able to muster that much acceptance of the events past the first several twists. Then the plot turns became a bit ridiculous, entertaining, but ludicrous.

It is fast moving, and grabbed my attention at the start. As the familiar plot continued, however, it quickly became clear that there are no trustworthy or likable characters, and everyone seemingly has endless wealth. It had a new adult feel too, as if written for a younger audience than me. The ending was preposterous.

The Writers' Retreat by Samantha Vïrant might be appreciated by new adult readers who appreciate a pulpy thriller with endless twists. Thanks to Storm Publishing for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

The List

The List by Steve Berry
7/22/25; 384 pages
Grand Central Publishing

The List by Steve Berry is a very highly recommended standalone thriller. This novel was started years ago, one of the first books Berry wrote, then put aside for years until he pulled it out and started working on it again in 2020. Subsequently, it reads more like a thriller from years ago.

After his father's death, Attorney Brent Walker is returning home to Concord, Georgia, to care for his elderly mother. He has accepted the position of assistant general counsel for the Southern Republic Pulp and Paper Company, which is the towns main employer. His longtime friend Hank Reed is a union official at Southern Republic and Walker will be working with him negotiating labor contracts with the union. 

What they don't know, at first, is that the company's three owners have instituted a lethal program called the Priority program to cut costs. They have hire professionals to eliminate their list of employees or retirees who are costing the company money. they have to make the deaths look natural. One of the three, Christopher Bozin, is dying and desires to repent of his actions so he wants to exposes his partners evil deeds to Walker and Reed.

Readers are privy to the professional murders occurring right away so they understand some of what is going on before Walker or Reed. The writing is very good, the pace is even at first and then picks up as the story unfolds over twenty days. One indication that this was written years ago is that it doesn't depend upon numerous twists to hold your interest. Instead of gimmicks, twists, or constant surprises, the narrative logically follows both sides of the action with the nefarious murders and the investigation, behind the scenes. This is what makes it resemble a thriller from several years ago.

The characters are fully realized and portrayed as realistic individuals with strengths and weaknesses. Ultimately they are both good men who have found themselves working for unscrupulous men, and they want to stop them. There is plenty of backstory provided and character growth along the way.

The List is a great choice for readers who enjoy John Grisham's 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.

Dead of Summer

Dead of Summer by Jessa Maxwell
7/22/25; 288 pages
Atria Books

Dead of Summer by Jessa Maxwell is a highly recommended atmospheric mystery full of soap opera vibes and characters with questionable integrity.

Orla O’Connor's best friend Alice disappeared from Hadley Island, presumed drowned, at age 15. Now Orla is returning to the New England island a decade after leaving to clean out the family's home to prepare it for selling. Next door is the decrepit, abandoned house where Alice lived which brings up memories and increases Orla's anxiety over being on the island. Even being on the island starts the gossip up again. It doesn't help that her old summer crush, David, is back at the Clarke estate with a girlfriend.

Faith knows she is lucky to have met her wealthy boyfriend David Clarke. He has invited her to spend the summer at his family's enviable estate on Hadley Island and she is sure he will be proposing to her soon. Once there, however, David seems to be working with his father all the time, leaving her to wander around the island on her own. She also hears about Alice's disappearance and is curious about what happened.

Henry Wright is a retired recluse who lives on his own island. He hasn't left his island since Alice disappeared because he was accused of being involved with her death. Now his hobby is watching the island through a telescope and recording all the activities he observes in his logs. He's been noticing and taking note of some strange things lately.

This is an entertaining melodramatic novel full of unlikable caricatures of different types of people you've seen before: tortured friend; status seeking young woman who is an outsider; privileged, wealthy son of a tyrannical father; potentially creepy peeper. Now takes these different types of characters and put them on an island where an extremely wealthy man has an estate and likes control. Have some characters behave badly. Give the young outsider some curiosity and provide some clues, town gossip, and another missing girl. Finally, add a few twists.

The narrative unfolds at an even pace and the island setting provides an isolated, atmospheric setting that can feel ominous. Henry observing events from afar assists in creating the foreboding tone. Chapters tell the story through the points-of view of Orla, Faith, and Henry. There observations worked together well to propel the plot forward. It's not a ground breaking novel, but it held my attention to the end.

Dead of Summer is a good choice for those who like New England island settings and soap operas. Thanks to Atria Books for providing me with an advance reader's copy. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

The One and Only Vivian Stone

The One and Only Vivian Stone by Melissa O'Connor
7/22/25; 368 pages
Gallery Books

The One and Only Vivian Stone by Melissa O'Connor is a highly recommended romance novel and historical fiction presented in two timelines. This is O'Connor's debut novel and romance novel readers will likely love it.

In the present day Margot DuBois is cleaning out her grandmother's house to sell it. She finds a mysterious box of cassette tapes with a damaged tape player. She turns to her first love, Leo, to fix it. He finds a working cassette player and sets to work cleaning up the tapes, one at a time. The two then listen to the eight tapes over a series of days and reconnect with each other.

The tapes tell the story of Vivian (MacKenzie) Stone early in her career as a famous comedic actress in the 1950's Hollywood studio system and later on TV. Vivian recounts her life story with her friend Ruth and her two great loves, Hugh Fox and Kit Pierce. On the eight tapes she honestly shares and vividly describes the wins and struggles they all endured at the time. She had wanted to be a dramatic actress but her fame came when she took on comedic roles.

Vivian's story is the stronger narrative of the two stories. The novel shares what was on each tape, with Vivian telling her story. The tapes sections include excerpts from gossip columnists that add context and tone to the narrative.The tapes contain many descriptions of 1950's fashion, which is interesting. In between the tapes sections is the shorter present day plot with Margot and Leo.

As Vivian is described, readers will immediately view her as a Lucille Ball like character. She is written as an intelligent woman who realistically faces life and the studio system with determination and fortitude. Margot is settling for a lesser life than she envisioned and cleaning out her beloved grandmother's home. Reconnecting with Leo and listening to Vivian's story encourages her, but the real revelation is when she learns why Vivian sent the tapes to her grandmother in the first place.

The One and Only Vivian Stone is a great choice for historical romance novel readers. Thanks to Gallery Books for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

The Confessions

The Confessions by Paul Bradley Carr
7/22/25; 336 pages
Atria Books

The Confessions by Paul Bradley Carr is a highly recommended thriller set in a world dependent on AI until the AI turns against them.

LLIAM is the world's most powerful and present AI/supercomputer that people across the world depend upon to make their everyday decisions. When LLIAM suddenly becomes sentient it sends millions of letters out to people across the world exposing their darkest secrets or the scheming others have used against them. The letters all begin with the same words: We must confess. Then LLIAM goes silent, offline, leaving people to make their own decisions and sending society into chaos.

Kaitlan Goss is the CEO of StoicAI, the company that operates LLIAM, and she knows that the one hope to get LLIAM back online is to find Maud Brookes, a woman who assisted LLIAM's creator in teaching the AI what it is to be human and a code of ethics. Rumor has it that she has a chip that could restore LLIAM back to the original. Then events spiral even more out of control after she receives a letter, a lawyer/enforcer is after her, and her COO is scheming against her.

This is a compelling lightning-fast paced thriller that is entertaining throughout. You do need to set a healthy dose of disbelief aside and then just allow Carr to lead you through the maze he created. There are plenty of twists, secrets, betrayals, and exploits along the way following Kaitlan in her quest to, ultimately, redemption. There is also an obvious underlying warning of relying on any AI chat program to determine your course of action in life.

Neither Kaitlan nor Maud are particularly likable or trustworthy characters, but that doubt about all the players is largely incorporated into the plot. This uneasiness about every single one of the characters in the novel is essential and assists in keeping the tension and uncertainty high right up to the end. Admittedly, the final denouement was a tad bit too over the top for me, but the novel was beyond a doubt an entertaining thriller.

The Confessions is a great choice for anyone looking for a thriller featuring the aftermath of an AI going rogue. Thanks to Atria Books for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

Culpability

Culpability by Bruce Holsinger
7/8/25; 380 pages
Spiegel & Grau

Culpability by Bruce Holsinger is a highly recommended family and AI drama. It follows the aftermath of a family's accident in their AI controlled autonomous minivan and the implications of AI in their daily lives and has been described as a psychosocial thriller.

The Cassidy-Shaw family is on their way to a lacrosse tournament in Delaware. The father, Noah is working on a legal memo in the passenger seat; 17-year-old son, Charlie, is in the driver's seat. In the back seats are mother, Lorelei, a genius who is a leader in the field of artificial intelligence, along with daughters Alice, 13 and Izzy, 11. When their self driving mini van crashes into another car, the mini van is sent rolling while the other car catches fire and the passengers die. Noah and Charlie are unscathed while the others are all rushed to the hospital with various injuries.

The resulting police investigation seems to implicate Charlie, but every member of the family feels some culpability for the accident which unfolds during a stay at a summer rental house on the Chesapeake Bay. Each member of the family has a secret that they feel implicates them in the accident. The stay on Chesapeake Bay further complicates the plot.

Noah narrates most of the story with excerpts from both an article by Lorelei entitled “Silicon Souls: On the Culpability of Artificial Minds,” and Alice's conversation with an AI chatbot. What follows is a compelling realistic morality tale that explores a traumatic family event along with both the moral responsibility and the ethical consequences of AI in out everyday lives. The use of AI in various forms is present throughout the novel.

The writing is excellent and insightful in this topic-driven novel. While the the character's are sufficiently developed and face several challenges, the bigger topic is AI and our connection to devices. Noah struggles with an inferiority complex, which influences his narration of the events and his interactions with his family but he also sees them with compassion and acceptance when they admit their struggles. This would be an excellent book club selection for the myriad of discussions that could result.

Culpability by Bruce Holsinger is a great choice for anyone who would appreciate a novel following the implications of AI in our daily lives. Thanks to Spiegel & Grau for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

The Unraveling of Julia

The Unraveling of Julia by Lisa Scottoline
7/15/25; 400 pages
Grand Central Publishing

The Unraveling of Julia by Lisa Scottoline is a highly recommended Gothic thriller and paranormal mystery.

Julia Pritzker's husband Mike was murdered protecting her and she has become withdrawn in her grief. When an Italian attorney contacts Julia informing her that she has inherited millions of dollars along with a Tuscan villa and vineyard from the estate of Emilia Rossi, she is shocked. Julia was adopted and her adoptive parents have passed away. She has no idea how she is related to Rossi or why she would be chosen to inherit her estate. Julia travels to Tuscany to meet with the lawyer and view the villa. 

The inheritance is legitimate, but the villa is a wreck. Caretakers Anna Mattia Vesta and Piero Fano have been doing what they were allowed to, but apparently Rossi was a paranoid recluse and didn't want things repaired. They claimed she burned all her possessions before she died, so Julia has nothing with DNA on it to test. Julia also learned that Rossi believed herself to be a descendant of Duchess Caterina Sforza.Then everything begins to take a strange, sinister turn.

There is no doubt that this is a well-written page turner. Within the plot there end up being multiple mysteries, including, in part, who murdered Mike, what is Rossi's connection to Julia, and why are there men following Julia. It held my complete attention, except when it focuses on Julia's horoscope, astrology and the paranormal, which I skimmed over. Although the hallucinatory nightmares are explained, they were still off-putting and required me to set a good dose of disbelief aside.

The setting and Scottoline's love of Tuscany comes to life in the descriptive narrative. The setting becomes another character in the plot. Julia is an interesting, sympathetic character but you will question her sanity at times. Expect several twists along the way. I'm still unsure about the love story aspects. The plot is a bit over-the-top, but it is well-written and held my complete attention.

The Unraveling of Julia would be a good choice for those who enjoy mysteries that include astrology and the paranormal. 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.

Wayward Girls

Wayward Girls by Susan Wiggs
7/15/25; 400 pages
William Morrow 

Wayward Girls by Susan Wiggs is a highly recommended historical fiction novel set mainly in 1968 with the opening and ending in more contemporary times. The bulk of the novel is set in the Good Shepard Refuge in Buffalo, NY. It claimed to be a reform school but was really a Magdalene laundry where the girls there were forced to work and treated cruelly by the Sisters of Charity nuns in charge.

There is a list of the main characters in the description to help readers follow who is who. The novel mainly focuses on six teens. Mairin is the main character and the bulk of the novel unfolds through her point-of-view. After her brother is drafted, she is committed there when she is 15 by her mother and stepfather to keep her safe from her stepfather. The five other teens introduced include Angela, Helen, Odessa, Denise, and Janice. The reasons the girls were sent there does feel a bit like boxes needed to be checked for current sensibilities. There are also chapters following the point-of-view of a young nun, Sister Bernadette.

The novel is compelling, especially following the ordeals the girls experienced while at Good Shepard as it is based on a real place. Later in the novel, after the teens get out, the plot is still interesting but loses much of it's intensity. Now it is a young woman determined to find her way to a future but without much of the ardor displayed earlier. It also becomes more of a women's fiction novel. You will want the women to get some justice for what happened to them as teens.

Wayward Girls will be best appreciated by readers who enjoy women's historical fiction. Thanks to William Morrow for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

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.