She Fell Away

 

She Fell Away by Lenore Nash
3/10/26; 352 pages
Atria Books
Lake Harlowe #1 

She Fell Away by Lenore Nash is a highly recommended mystery and is the first book in a new series featuring Lake Harlowe, a U. S. State Department diplomat. 

Lake Harlowe has recently accepted a new appointment in Wellington, New Zealand, when she receives a notice that American NFL player Bruce Walter has been found dead, seemingly from an accidental overdose. Part of her job is to support American citizens who are traveling abroad. This also includes notifying the next of kin if necessary, but when contacting Bruce's wealthy family, his father, Glen, immediately becomes threatening and combative. Quickly following this, an exchange student from Las Vegas, 18-year-old singer/songwriter Bowie Bishop, is reported missing by her mother Suzie. Suzie, a former rock star, is currently a cocktail waitress at a Las Vegas casino owned by Glen Walter. As Lake tries to assist in the search for Bowie, the search quickly ties into something more nefarious and ties into wide spread corruption.

The writing is good and very descriptive, but the pace was slow to take off. The pace does pick up in time, and the atmosphere becomes oppressive, melancholy, and suspenseful as the psychological complexity of the characters and the situation they find themselves involved with is slowly revealed. Several of the plot twists are largely predictable, so the journey the narrative sends you on must hold your interest, which it does to some extent. As the plot develops the novel does become more compelling and interesting, but while reading I felt like I had heard this story before. 

Chapters are mainly told through the point-of-view of Lake, with some from Bowie. Some of the chapters follow a non-linear timeline. Lake is a complicated, unique character and there are several small insights into her troubled past. Bowie is an interesting character and actually better developed than Lake. The lyrics to some of the songs she is writing are included. This seems to be a new trend in current novels. If I'm being honest, I am quickly becoming weary of reading novels about aspiring musicians which include their song lyrics. 

She Fell Away by Lenore Nash could be a good choice for those who enjoy mysteries and want to read the book starting a new series. 3.5 rounded up. Thanks to Atria Books for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

Westward Women

 

Westward Women by Alice Martin
3/10/26; 304 pages
St. Martin's Press 

Westward Women by Alice Martin is a so-so dystopian/alternate history/plague novel. This is Martin's literary debut. 

An illness is spreading across the country that affects young women, 18-35 years-old. It begins with itching, followed by memory loss, and then an unstoppable compulsion to journey west. The novel follows three women Eve, Teenie, and Aimee. Eve is a reporter who thinks following the story will be her big break. She hears about a man called the Piper, who has a bus and assists women in their journey west. Aimee, who is searching for her infected best friend Ginny, has also heard of the Piper. Teenie is a infected woman heading west.

Honestly, I normally enjoy dystopian science fiction novels and was intrigued by the synopsis and premise of this one.  Initially, Martin does get points for the quality of her writing. She manages to create a dream-like atmosphere while following her characters, But an atmospheric setting does not make up for the failings.

My problems with the novel started almost immediately. Take note: it is supposedly set in 1973. If you are setting a novel, even an alternate history novel during a specific time period you need to know how life worked then. At that time you would not be picking up phones making random phone calls, especially long distance calls at will. You would be looking for quarters to use at a phone booth, you would be dialing an operator to reverse charges. Any business would ask if the call was local before allowing you to use their phone. Cell phones did not exist then, yet Martin has her characters making phone calls without a second thought all the time. This was immediately very distracting and annoying.

The very slow pace of the novel did not help distract me to overlook that overt error. Then, although the plot is told through the point-of-view of her three main characters, they were really interchangeable for much of the beginning of the novel. Initially, it requires great concentration to tell them apart. Once the plot reaches the halfway point, story lines were predictable. Finally, once the overt messaging started it became repetitious while any actual, historical connections to the time period were ignored. 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.

Served Him Right

 

Served Him Right by Lisa Unger
3/10/26; 384 pages
Park Row Books 

Served Him Right by Lisa Unger is a recommended revenge thriller following two sisters and their group of friends along with a plethora of medicinal plants discussions.

After a gripping opening the focus switches to sisters Ana and Vera. The two are very close and were raised by their late Aunt Agnes, who also taught them about herbal remedies. Vera is hosting an ex-orcism brunch for Ana's breakup with Paul. Invited are a group of her close friends, including Iggy, Esme, and Payton. During the brunch the police detective Timothy Bandeau knocks at the door informing the group that the body of Ana's ex, Paul has been found buried in a shallow grave by a walking trail. Ana is an obvious suspect. The brunch quickly ends, but soon after this Iggy becomes violently ill and must be hospitalized.

The quality of the writing is good, as expected, but after a strong start most of the novel is slow-paced.  Adding to the slow-pace is a plot that starts out strong, moving quickly, and then it slows down to a slog through the majority of the novel. Switching between multiple points of view and timelines did not help hold my interest, especially when many of the chapters seemed like filler with little plot development. It does pick up toward the end with some twists and a satisfying conclusion. It might help to hold your interest if you are highly interested in natural remedies, herbal cures, using poisonous plants, and mysterious groups of women healers.

Admittedly, none of these characters are likable or appealing in any way so it was a struggle to even want to know what happens to them. Iggy had promise as a likable character but she is hospitalized and near death for most of the novel. Paul was an evil man and deserved his fate so the question is who extracted revenge for his nefarious deeds. There are many past secrets/actions brought to light along the way.

Served Him Right will be best appreciated by those who enjoy novels focusing on unlikable characters extracting revenge and lots of medicinal plants discussions. Unger is a favorite author and normally all her books are highly rated, however this novel is just average and doesn't represent her best work. Thanks to Park Row Books for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

Dead Woman Walking

 

Dead Woman Walking by Carolyn Arnold
2/25/26; 304 pages
Bookouture
Detective Amanda Steele #15  

Dead Woman Walking by Carolyn Arnold is a highly recommended procedural and the 15th book in the Amanda Steele series set in Woodbridge, Virginia. This continues to be an excellent series. 

Detective Amanda Steel and her partner Trent Stenson are investigating the murder of Christine Lane, a real estate agent. After Amanda's half-brother Spencer calls her worried because he can't get a hold of his girlfriend, Christine, she and Trent get permission to look into it. Their inquiry results in Christine's body being found in a house she was showing. Spencer is immediately on the suspect list, along with others, because of his relationship with her. The house where the body was found is owned by caustic lawyer Dominique Sharp, who certainly also has enemies.

The Amanda Steel series continues to be a well-written, excellent series of procedurals. The novel moves at a fast pace and is well plotted as the investigation logically follows clues and discoveries. The tension increases as the investigation continues to look at new suspects, lines of inquiry, and unexpected information. Even though this is the 15th book in the series, it can be appreciated as a standalone novel, especially for fans of procedurals who are carefully following the investigations rather than personalities. 

At this point fans of the series know Amanda and Trent, but those new to it will appreciate the intelligent, likable characters. They always logically follow the lades provided by the information they discover. This wasn't my favorite case the two have solved, but it is always enjoyable to join in one of their investigations.

Dead Woman Walking is a great choice for readers who enjoy fast-paced, engaging police procedurals. Thanks to Bookouture for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

Wait for Me

 

Wait for Me by Amy Jo Burns
3/3/26; 336 pages
Celadon Books 

Wait for Me by Amy Jo Burns is a highly recommended domestic drama following two folk singers decades apart. This beautifully written story will hit the right note for those who love poetry, song writing, and music. 

In 1973 folk singer Elle Harlow, 22, reaches the height of her fame, following two successful albums and one devastating betrayal. After an appearance on the Grand Ole Opry stage, she disappears from the public view, back into her rural Appalachian home town. In 1991, Marijohn Shaw, 18, is pumping gas at her father Abe's rural Pennsylvania gas station while writing songs and playing her broken mandolin. Marijohn was found in a basket along with the mandolin and a note with her name outside the gas station in 1973, right after Abe swears Elle Harlow stopped for gas. It is assumed Elle is Marijohn's mother.

When Marijohn and her friend Laz are making a video right as a meteor strikes the woods and they record it all. The video of the meteor is on the news and Elle sees it, along with the mandolin Marijohn is playing. She immediately recognizes the mandolin as one originally owned by her mentor Merry and seeks out Marijohn. Elle wants to know where she got it while demanding it's return to her, which opens up a relationship between the two women. 

This is a beautifully written, even-paced novel that focuses on songwriting, mentorship between women, the struggle for success, and personal relationships. The importance of lyrics, music, and how together songs tell the personal story of someone's life plays an important role in the novel. There is a great focus on writing lyrics and the written lyrics to songs are even included at the end of the novel. The lives of these characters develop through the lyrics they are writing. The dark side of the music industry is also an important part of the plot.

The atmospheric novel follows several different timelines as the narrative unfolds telling the story of both these women across the years, before and after they meet. The complex relationship between women, as well as with the loves of their lives, is also portrayed. The characters are presented as fully realized individuals, including both strengths and weaknesses. All of their emotions and experiences end up being tied back to the lyrics they write.

There is some disbelief that must be set aside during several parts of the novel. Since much of the novel focuses on the music industry and song writing, an interest in both will assist readers in enjoying the plot. Wait for Me is a great choice for those who enjoy novels with music and lyrics as a main focus of the characters. Thanks to Celadon Books for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

The Mother Upstairs

 

The Mother Upstairs by Becca Day
3/2/26; 272 pages
Bookouture 

The Mother Upstairs by Becca Day is a highly recommended psychological thriller which moves at a lightning fast pace. Take note that it should be titled The Mother-in-law Upstairs. In the opening before Mellie’s wedding to Henry her future mother-in-law, Pauline Winslow, confronts her saying, "I know your secret and I will not let you marry my son." After which the narrative jumps ahead two months and we learn that her mother-in-law had a stroke following this declaration.

Now Pauline is moving back home the home where Mellie and Henry currently live. She is purportedly completely incapacitated and requires for for everything, but Mellie has reason to believe Pauline is more capable than she's letting on. Mellie knows that Pauline will expose her secret, but Mellie is also looking into Pauline's secrets. While doing so, she discovers a secret of Henry's. 

This is an entertaining, fast-paced psychological popcorn thriller that will hold your complete attention throughout and is exactly what you are looking for from Becca Day. Set all your disbelief aside and go with the flow. There is no way to predict where the plot is heading. Secrets abound and seem to multiply everywhere. As the unsettling narrative unfolds readers will begin to learn about some of these secrets, which all lead up to the revelation of what was Mellie's huge secret and an absolutely over-the-top final scene. 

Mellie is a character that you will support and hope she comes out safe at the end. You know she had a tough childhood. As more and more secrets are exposed, her fear and anxiety is ever present and growing. It is clear that a threat is present and she must expose it. Pauline is the obvious antagonist, but she is bedridden, right? Or is she? And what's up with her loving husband Henry.

The Mother Upstairs is a good choice for those who enjoy fast-paced 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.   

A Far-flung Life

 

A Far-flung Life by M. L. Stedman
3/3/26; 448 pages
Scribner 

A Far-flung Life by M. L. Stedman is a highly recommended epic family drama, character driven novel. It is a novel of family tragedies and secrets as it follows members of the MacBride family living on Meredith Downs, a vast sheep station that covers nearly a million acres and contains 20,000 sheep in the outback of Australia. 

In 1958  a truck accident results in the death of Phil MacBride and that of his eldest son. Younger son Matt, 17, survives, but suffers from a traumatic brain injury resulting in cognitive issues and memory loss. Matriarch of the family, Lorna MacBride, visits Matt at the hospital and eventually cares for him along with his older sister, Rosie, 20, while trying to keep the sheep station running. This is followed by a secret which eventually ends up resulting in Rosie's death, but  she leaves behind a son, Andy, who has a youthful optimism and a love for geology. During the Australian mining boom in 1969, geologist Bonnie Edquist and her team start exploring the Meredith Downs lands and she forms a connection with Andy and also Matt. 

This is an exceptionally well-written family saga that follows the repercussion of tragedies and secrets across decades while also addressing the self-sacrifices that families and people can make while dealing with the implications of their moral imperfections while protecting those they love. The writing is descriptive, capturing both the setting and the inner lives lives of these people. There are several incidents in the plot, that do, in fact, remind one of a Greek tragedy, that may bother some readers, although listing them would mean spoilers. 

The plot can be quit compelling, however, it is also overwhelmingly gloomy, depressing, overly long, and the pace can be glacially slow. While I wanted to know what happened to these characters, especially later in the novel when two new characters were added , I also founding my self wanting the narrative to reach a conclusion. Emotions run high throughout the novel.

The main characters are all developed as fully-realized individuals with obvious strengths and weaknesses. They will all come to life for you. Of the secondary characters, Roo shooter Pete Peachy, was also a well-developed character who added important depth to the plot. Other secondary characters were also well-written and added to the overall story arch.  This is a 3.5 rounded up.

A Far-flung Life is a great choice for those who enjoy long, epic family sagas full of secrets and emotion. Thanks to Scribner for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.    

Strangers in the Villa

 

Strangers in the Villa by Robyn Harding
3/3/26; 336 pages
Grand Central Publishing 

Strangers in the Villa by Robyn Harding is a highly recommended psychological thriller focusing on a couple who are trying to rebuild trust in their relationship when they befriend a couple of tourists.

Curtis, Sydney Lowe’s husband, has admitted to having an affair which sends them to couples counseling. The two decide to leave NYC and move to Spain to repair their marriage while while also renovating a remote hilltop villa in Spain’s Costa Brava. One day they have a young Australian couple, Bianca and Damian, show up at their door with car problems. Sydney, craving companionship, invites them inside and eventually encourages them to stay, saying they could help them work on the villa. Curtis isn't as thrilled with her decision. Soon it becomes clear that everyone has secrets and the Aussie's have their own agenda.

After I  the jumped the enormous hurdle of setting aside disbelief and accepted that anyone would be foolish and naive enough to invite strangers to stay in their home, and this took great effort, the novel quickly became tension packed and compelling. Everyone has some secret agenda going and clearly there is more to everyone's story than they are admitting. The setting serves to isolates all the characters while slowly releasing clues to increase the trepidation that something is very wrong and there are many secrets left unspoken. 

The well-written, fast-paced narrative follows the point-of-view of the various characters and also includes notes from the marriage counselor the Lowe's were seeing before they moved. Some of the secrets are slowly revealed, but they are not always what it is assumed. Sydney is obsessed with the woman Curtis said he was with for only one night. Curtis has a bigger concealed problem. Damien and Bianca have even more hidden objectives. Once everything begins to come out, the novel becomes un-put-downable. 

Strangers in the Villa is a good choice for those who enjoy destination psychological thrillers and can set disbelief aside. 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.   

Missing Sister

 

Missing Sister by Joshilyn Jackson
3/3/26; 272 pages
William Morrow 

Missing Sister by Joshilyn Jackson is an exceptional, very highly recommended domestic thriller. This tension-packed, well-written Southern character-driven drama following the complex relationship between sisters, as well as revenge. Any novel by Joshilyn Jackson is a novel that should be read immediately. This is one of the best of 2026. 

Penny Albright is a rookie cop in Kennesaw, Georgia, whose deceased twin, Nix, is always on her mind. The two grew up with the close connection twins and sisters share. Second guessing actions she could have taken, Penny continues to feel guilty after Nix died from an overdose five years earlier.  So when she is called to her first first murder scene, Penny is shocked to realize she recognizes the victim, Danny Bowery. He is one of the three men who assaulted Nix, sending her into the downward spiral which ended in her death. 

When Penny is tasked with cordoning off the area, she smells something and goes off to investigate. In an alley she finds a woman, drenched in blood, vaping, with a bloody box cutter nearby.  She calls herself Thalia Grey and intimates that Bowery's death is related to something much larger. Something that involves sisters.  Something that is not done, that doesn't involve cops. Penny feels an inexplicable connection with Thalia, tells her to run and lets her go. She bags the box cutter and says nothing, later hiding it. Circumstances spiral out of control, leaving Penny willing to sacrifice her career to find out who Thalia really is and, perhaps, help her.

As expected, the writing is excellent, the pace is fast, and the tension rises with every page in this un-put-downable thriller following Penny investigating on her own. Penny also knows that Xav Castillo, another one of the three men involved in Nix’s death, has also been murdered recently and questions if his death is connected to Bowery's death. With Thalia's comment that it was about sisters on the forefront of her mind, Penny wonders if it is about revenge for Nix or a sister of Thalia. Complicating matters are family issues, with her niece Shadow, who has been suspended from school for hacking, and her wandering, influencer brother, Shadow’s father, Gand, arriving. 

Penny is a complex, fully-realized character with both strengths and weaknesses. Personally, I thought she was a great, well-developed character. Jackson captured the special connection that sisters, especially twins, can have, including the talking to/thinking about the missing sister after one passes away. Thalia along with the supporting characters also come to life under Jackson masterful writing. 

All of the twists and surprises in the plot are unpredictable while adding to the anxiety and fear over what could happen next. Perhaps some suspension of disbelief is required, but I willingly, easily did so as the tension increased along with the questions and danger. My complete attention was held right up to the surprising final denouement. I sincerely hope this is the start of a new series featuring Penny Albright.

Missing Sister is an excellent choice for everyone who enjoys character-driven domestic thrillers. Thanks to William Morrow for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.  

One Beautiful Year of Normal

 

One Beautiful Year of Normal by Sandra K. Griffith
2/24/26; 312 pages
She Writes Press  

One Beautiful Year of Normal by Sandra K. Griffith is a highly recommended Southern domestic drama, with gothic and soap opera undertones, which focuses on character development while exploring family secrets.  

At age eight while living in NYC, August Caine's father was murdered and her French mother retreated into silence and depression. August was caring for her mother and their home until Helen showed up on August's eleventh birthday, getting her mother help and taking August to Savannah. August spent one wonderful year with her Aunt Helen and experienced a real childhood, safety, a social life, and bonding with an adult who cared for her. Then her mentally ill mother arrived, and snatched August away to France and keeping them constantly on the move so they couldn't be found.

Then August, at age thirty, receives a shocking phone call from a Savannah attorney informing her that her Aunt Helen has passed away - but August's mother said she died fifteen years earlier. August, who was living in Paris under a new name, returns to Savannah, Georgia for her aunt Helen's funeral and to settle the estate, which August inherits. Once there she realizes she needs to solve her father's murder, address the complex relationship with her mother, dig into her family history, and even reconnects with an old friend.

This is a well-written, descriptive and atmospheric, but slow-paced, character driven drama written from August’s first-person perspective as she explores her past while dealing with her current situation. Much of her life has been filled with deception, starting with her father's unsolved murder followed closely by her mother's illness and lies, resulting in much of the soul-searching narrative focused on an examination of her life. The plot is really an introspective deep dive into the psychological effects of the trauma and deceit in her life. This exploration makes since based on Griffith’s background in psychology.

The narrative was interesting and held my attention, however, the novel also requires a huge does of disbelief to be accepted. The obvious first doubt raised is that no one questioning/noticed much sooner August, at age eight after her father was murdered, taking care of her mother and moving through the city. This includes the police officer who eventually contacted Helen. The second, which gave the novel a soap opera feeling, was the depiction of everyone seemingly recipients of great generational wealth.  Finally, the end felt rushed, like an information dump. 

One Beautiful Year of Normal  is a great choice for those who enjoy Southern domestic dramas, and enjoy ghost stories. Thanks to She Writes Press for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

The Wolves Are Watching

 

The Wolves Are Watching by Victoria Houston
2/24/26; 240 pages
Crooked Lane Books
Lew Ferris Mystery #4 

The Wolves Are Watching by Victoria Houston is a highly recommended cozy mystery set in the Northern Wisconsin woods which follows a murder investigation, illegal betting, arms dealing, and some fly fishing. This is the fourth book in the Lew Ferris series following Wolf Hollow, Hidden in the Pines, and At the Edge of the Woods. It can be enjoyed as a standalone novel but reading the previous books in the series does provide more background information. 

Sheriff Lew Ferris, of McBride County and the Loon Lake area of northern Wisconsin, receives a call from the state patrol who think a couple of missing wolf watchers, the McKenzies, may be in her area. Lew quickly calls part time deputy Ray Pradt, an excellent tracker and fishing guide, to assist in the search. Ray agrees, but also brings to Lew's attention the information that a man is trying to blackmail one of the students he is coaching to throw the first round of a state high school fishing tournament. 

When assessing the situation, Ray is sure he knows the area where the missing wolf watchers would likely go. During the search he finds an old log cabin which has recently been fixed up and is now full of crates of high-powered weapons. Lew puts the cabin under surveillance hoping to catch the illegal gun runners and now has three cases to investigate.

This is another well-written, fast-paced, and fun addition to the ongoing mystery series. All the books include an investigation of possibly interlocking crimes, involve outdoor activity, and will include fly fishing at some point. The wolves in this outing are a distraction as the humans are much more dangerous predators. Dentist Doc Osborne, along with Dani and other known characters, are back and make an appearance during the investigations. 

The Wolves Are Watching is a great addition to the series where the books are entertaining, short, and can be quickly read as the mysteries are all straightforward, investigated logically, and not full of complications. 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.  

Trust No One

 

Trust No One by James Rollins
2/24/26; 432 pages
HarperCollins 

Trust No One by James Rollins is a very highly recommended stand-alone thriller of international intrigue. It opens with a treacherous event which will immediately grab your attention and pull you into the story.

Sharyn Karr is an American student in a postgraduate program covering the history of witchcraft, folklore, and spiritualism at the University of Exeter in England. Shortly before his death when the two meet in the school's library, Professor Julian Wright entrusts her with a valuable and historically significant ancient book, the locked and encrypted journal from the Count of Saint-Germain, an 18th-century alchemist. He instructs her to never open it, keep it safe and, trust no one. He also gives her a number to contact if she needs help. Events quickly force Sharyn to confide in her two roommates along with Duncan Maxwell and his friend. 

The five university students are being chased by a lethal cabal and law enforcement while being blamed for murder. They flee, following instructions via their unknown contact, but are followed at their every move and pursued across England, France, and into the Italian Alps by their deadly pursuers. They learn from Malick Laurent, a guardian of the book who joins them in their flight, that Confrérie des Illuminés is the group after them.

As expected, this is an extremely well-written, fast-paced thriller that grabs your attention from the start and never lets it go. The plot is compelling and the menacing group hunting for the students as they are on the run keeps the tension very high throughout the novel. Their enemies always see just a few steps behind them. At the same time the group needs to solve the puzzles in the ancient text while always just a few paces ahead of death. Rollins does his usual mixing historical facts and places with fiction and includes a note afterword about what is real and what he took liberties with in the plot. The narrative also includes illustrations and maps.

The characters are all fully realized individuals and you will care about what happens to them. Sharyn has a very specific background and hidden skill set which brings a lot to bear on the plot. The rest of the characters also add their own special abilities that assist the group in their mission and hope for survival. I would personally follow another outing of this group should a series be a possibility. 

Trust No One is a perfect choice for everyone who enjoys a fast-paced well-written thriller.  Thanks to HarperCollins for providing me with an advance reader's copy via Edelweiss. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.  

She Thought She Was Safe

 

She Thought She Was Safe by Terri Parlato
2/24/26; 304 pages
Kensington 

She Thought She Was Safe by Terri Parlato is a highly recommended gothic mystery/thriller set at a small, secluded lakeside community.

Emma Shrader just went through a painful divorce where her ex-husband's huge gambling debts are revealed which was followed by the death of her mother. She decided to look for her father, a man she never knew and whose name her mother never revealed. After he is found and it is determined that they are related through a DNA test, she briefly meets him. Alex Spencer is a wealthy, renowned author who invites Emma to stay at his home on Cheshire Lake in Maine. There are only four homes on the lake and when she arrives it is clear that this is not a simple lakeside cabin, the Spencer house is a large Victorian house.  

Emma meets the welcoming neighbors and settles in to her writing when the unthinkable happens. A neighbor is found dead, and it is determined to be a murder. The police begin investigating. Alex arrives with his daughter Sunny, who is the antithesis of her name, and suddenly the idyllic lake setting and quiet community begins to feels less accommodating and increasingly threatening.

This is an even-paced mystery/thriller with gothic undertones in an atmospheric setting. The tension and apprehension increase gradually with every page leading up to several mysteries followed by some much larger plot twists and a very satisfying ending. I actually enjoyed it and was immersed in the plot throughout. However, the essential requirement to enjoy this novel is that you must be willing to set a huge dose of disbelief aside, multiple times, while reading. 

The first main hurdle of disbelief to jump is that Emma would even accept an offer to stay at her father's lakeside home. She's never developed a relationship with him and doesn't know anything about him beyond what she can find online. Agreeing to meet in order to get to know each other is one thing; staying at one of his homes is another.  Once you accept this premise, the other unbelievable plot points are easier to accept while you keep reading, after all, there is obviously a murder to solve but there are also other mysteries which are revealed and need answers.

Emma has a complicated background and meeting her father does not simplify it, rather it adds more complications. Along with all the residents at the lake, there is also emerges an unspoken, sinister history. The murder investigation uncovers other secrets from years ago, which add to the threatening atmosphere and plot complexities while making the plot take on even more of a gothic atmosphere. 

She Thought She Was Safe is a good choice for those who enjoy mysteries/thrillers with a gothic atmosphere and can set disbelief aside. Thanks to Kensington for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.  

Tyler Green Will Never Be Free

 

Tyler Green Will Never Be Free by Nicci French
2/24/26; 448 pages
William Morrow
Maud O’Connor #3 

Tyler Green Will Never Be Free by Nicci French is a very highly recommended locked-room thriller/procedural following a group of old university friends with a killer in their midst. This novel is alternately titled What Happened That Night and is the third novel featuring Detective Inspector Maud O'Connor.

In 1993 a group of university friends Leo, Will, Ali, Rudi, Marco, Clare, Jay, Ellen, Beatrice, and Tyler meet for a graduation party which results in the murder of Leo and Tyler being imprisoned for the crime. Tyler always claimed he was innocent, so twenty-nine years later when he is released from prison. Tyler wants to meet with the remaining eight friends from that fateful night. They all show up along with Marco‘s young girlfriend Kristen. The evening quickly disintegrates and results in another member of the group found dead.

DI Maude O'Connor with assistance from DS Carrie Kessler are called in to investigate. They arrive to find the scene in chaos, totally unsecured and uncontained. The officer in charge has already determined with no evidence that Tyler is guilty and he is thrown back into prison. Maude has doubts about Tyer's guilt. She quickly takes charge and starts interviewing and investigating to determine what really happened, resulting in a very satisfying procedural.

The narrative is even-paced as this well-written, well-plotted procedural first follows the events of the get together in Part 1 and then starts the investigation in Part 2. Adding Kristen, Marco's young loud-mouth girlfriend, to the mix at the party was a good choice and her questions assist in bringing out the personalities of all the old friends, now in their 50's, during their muddled reunion. The evening quickly becomes sloppy and the wisdom of all these people getting together again is doubtful.

Once the investigation is underway in part two the questioning of the survivors uncovers clues and insight into the group and their individual personalities. This keeps the tension in the plot as the search for the identity of the killer is underway. It truly is a novel of "Old friends, new secrets, one deadly reunion." Nicci French is the pen name of the husband-and-wife writing team Nicci Gerrard and Sean French.

Tyler Green Will Never Be Free is a great choice for those who enjoy locked-room psychological thrillers/procedurals and those following the Maude O'Connor series. Thanks to William Morrow for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.  

Caller Unknown

 

Caller Unknown by Gillian McAllister
2/24/26; 352 pages
William Morrow 

Caller Unknown by Gillian McAllister is a highly recommended thriller following a mother and daughter during a series of disturbing events. 

Simone arrives from the UK to Fort Davis in the Big Bend region of Texas where Lucy has been attending a vocal workshop. The plan is to spend time with her daughter Lucy on an enjoyable vacation before Lucy leaves home for the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, RADA. Simone awakens the morning after their first night in the cabin they rented and finds all her luggage there but Lucy gone. Then she receives a message, caller unknown, on a cell phone left in Lucy's bed. She is instructed to not tell the police, go to a specific location, and be prepared to follow instructions if she wants to see her daughter again. She does receive a video with proof Lucy's still alive.

Simone calls her husband Damien who encourages her to call the police, but she declines, worried about Lucy's safety. Damien says he will be on a flight to the USA and Simone proceeds to follow the kidnapper's instructions. Instead of a ransom demand, Simone is given a task. Simone follows the instructions and this sets into motion a distressing encounter, morality choices, an arduous journey, and intense cat and mouse game.

This well-written thriller starts out at a sweeping, intense, nail-biting pace and then slows down as the situation changes. The sources threatening Simone and Lucy include humans but also the harsh environment as they are on the run. Along with the thriller plot line, the narrative also explores the close relationship/connection between mothers and daughters. The middle part of the novel becomes a thoughtful character study and examination of familiar relationships. The ending explodes back into action with surprising developments and twists. Take note that there are several times I had to set disbelief aside while reading.

The characters are all well-developed and intimately portrayed as complex individuals with strengths and weaknesses. The exploration of the connection between mothers and daughters, and the sacrifices mothers will make for their children is especially well done and compassionately depicted through thoughts and deeds throughout the narrative. 

Caller Unknown is a great choice for those who enjoy thrillers which feature a mother and daughter encountering a tension-packed situation. Thanks to William Morrow for providing me with an advance reader's copy via Edelweiss. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.  

A Good Animal

 

A Good Animal by Sara Maurer
2/24/26; 288 pages
St. Martin's Press

A Good Animal by Sara Maurer is a very highly recommended, beautifully written, coming-of-age novel set in a rural farming area outside of Sault St. Marie, Michigan in 1995. This is an incredible, character driven literary debut novel which perfectly captures people in a specific place and time. I am looking forward to Sara Maurer's next novel. (This might be best appreciated by those who understand the realities of rural/small town life.)

Everett Lindt has always planed to stay on the sheep farm that has been in the family for generations, breeding and selling sheep after he finishes his senior year of high school. When he meets Mary, who has just moved to the area with her Coast Guard father for her senior year, he is immediately attracted to her, but she makes it clear that she plans to leave after high school for college in California. They stumble into dating and a relationship, with Everett secretly hoping she will stay with him and his dream, while Mary adamantly knows she is leaving for her. Then they face complications and hard choices.

A Good Animal is an exquisitely written novel with an even-paced plot. As many adults will understand, young love/first love doesn't always admit the obvious realities clearly present and the relationship between Everett and Mary showcases this fact. They may be attracted to each other, but their individual dreams are distinctly contrary. The sometimes harsh, sometimes satisfying realities of raising, showing, and selling sheep is plainly captured in detail, but readers will know that Everett's future on the farm is a well-chosen decision for his life. At the same time, Mary's obvious fear of sheep is one fact which certainly indicates she is not suited for that life. 

Everett is a well-developed character and depicted as a fully-realized individual with both strengths and weaknesses. He is young and still maturing, but indications of the man he will be one day are present. Supporting characters, including in part Everett's best friend Charlie, his younger sister Katie, and Mary, are also portrayed as realistic characters. Even some of the sheep have personalities. The well-written characters help make the plot soar in this emotionally complex coming-of-age drama. 

 A Good Animal is an excellent choice for those who enjoy well-written coming-of-age stories. 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.

More Than Enough

 

More Than Enough by Anna Quindlen
2/24/26; 256 pages
Random House 

More Than Enough by Anna Quindlen is a very highly recommended literary character-driven domestic drama of self-exploration which follows a woman dealing with infertility, a dying friend, and complicated family relationships. 

Polly Goodman, 42, is a high school English teacher happily married to Mark, a veterinarian at the Bronx Zoo. While Polly is struggling with infertility issues, she has an enviable, comfortable relationship with her brother, friends, in-laws, and her father who is in a nursing home with a failing mind. Her relationship with her mother is more complicated. When her best friends/book club buddies, Sarah, Helen, and  Jamie, give Polly an ancestry test kit as a joke, she takes the test and is surprised by the results. She ends up meeting with her match, a teenager, and while their connected ancestry is still not clear, the two form a connection.

This is a exceptionally well-written, touching literary examination of a slice of an individual's life. From her friends, which she can share everything with, to her interactions with her brother, parents, and in-laws, the keen observations can be touching, humorous, mundane, heart-breaking, and ultimately hopeful. While the pacing is slow through much of the book, it touches deeply on topics many women have experienced and how much interpersonal relationships with family and friendships can mean. It also demonstrates how secrets can affect other's lives.

Polly is a fully realized, well-developed character with both strengths and weaknesses. Readers should quickly finds areas in her life they can either relate to or have observed. Admittedly, while reading there were several times Polly's observations and difficulties resonated with me and hit too close to personal experiences. All of the supporting cast serve to add depth and insight into Polly's character, helping to reveal how our relationships can define us. Additionally, as a bonus it delightfully includes alpacas, humming and pronking.  

More Than Enough is a perfect choice for anyone who enjoys gentle, literary character driven dramas. 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 Crossroads

 

The Crossroads by C. J. Box
2/24/26; 352 pages
Putnam
Joe Pickett Series #26 

The Crossroads by C. J. Box is a very highly recommended investigative mystery and the winning 26th addition to the long running series. This time Joe's daughters lead the investigation as Joe is incapacitated.

Marybeth Pickett gets the call she has always dreaded when her husband, Wyoming Game Warden Joe Pickett, is found in his pickup at Antler Creek Junction, shot in the head, unconscious and barely holding on to life. He is airlifted to the hospital in Billings, Montana, accompanied by Marybeth, where he remains in critical condition and in a medically induced coma while being treated. The couples three daughters, Sheridan, April, and Lucy,  converge on the family home, determined to investigate who was responsible for what happened to their father.

The three determine that the owners of the three ranches that connect off of Antler Creek Junction may have something to do with Joe's ambush. They talk to the new sheriff for the county of Twelve Sleep, Steve Sondergard, and they all agree to share any information they uncover in their investigations. The identity of the hired assassins, Dorn Peddy and James Dale O’Bryan, are identified early on in some chapters from their perspective but the identity of who hired them is kept a secret. Also included are chapters from Joe's point-of-view dating back before the ambush which provide extra information for readers.

The pace is fast and the tension rises as the suspects are delved into in this well-written installment of the series. The owners of the three ranches all have a reason to be implicated in Joe's ambush and need to be carefully questioned. The new Sheriff Sondergard has barely had time to settle in when he is confronted with this case and informed by Sheridan that she and her sisters will be investigating it too, with or without his approval. It is entertaining to follow Joe's daughters while they investigate and they prove to be insightful and intuitive, but Joe will be missed by those following the series. Who knew Wyoming could continue to be such a dangerous place to live.

The Crossroads is an excellent choice for anyone who enjoys investigative mysteries set in a rural area and, of course,  for everyone following the Joe Pickett series. Thanks to Putnam for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.  

The Fatal Confidant

 

The Fatal Confidant by Debra Webb
2/17/26; 335 pages 
Thomas & Mercer 

The Fatal Confidant by Debra Webb is a very highly recommended thriller. This is the revised edition of the previously published Faceless. 

Deputy district attorney Carson Tanner is a tenacious prosecutor whose persistence has earned him the nickname the Avenger. His determination to seek justice is driven by the horrific murder of his family fifteen years. His current case involves Birmingham crime boss Otis Fleming. The key to crack open the case may lie with Fleming's staunch confidant and fixer for the wealthy, Annette Baxter. Annette knows who Carson is, intimately initiates contact, and soon it becomes clear that there is more treachery, secrets, manipulation, betrayal and danger than Carson could have ever imagined.

Suspicion and secrets immediately set the tone to this well-written novel. The plot becomes more complex with each chapter as yet another new revelation, secret, threat, and twist occurs. The truth lies somewhere in a twisted maze of personal contacts and private obligations among an elite, wealthy, and well-connected group of people. Annette knows many of their covert actions and the information they need to conceal, but she also know the treachery and misdirection they are capable of initiating. Carson is being thrust into the reality of what may actually be going on behind the scenes.

At first I'll admit I was put off the novel in the beginning by Carson's actions when he succumbed to Annette's overt seduction. It did take awhile to set the distaste of the seduction incident aside, but as the complications, tensions, and danger increased, the incident became less annoying. It certainly sheds light on Annette and Carson's character. When she intimates that she has information about the murder of his family, the question is always how trustworthy is she? Then things begin to become increasingly dangerous and lethal, indicating that there is more going on than he realizes.

Both Carson and Annette are portrayed as fully-realized characters with strengths and weaknesses. Various other characters slowly reveal parts of their true nature along the way. The connections and schemes between all the players in the narrative is intricate and layered, ultimately leading to a shocking final twist.

The Fatal Confidant is a great choice for anyone who enjoys complex thrillers full of secrets and intrigue. Thanks to Thomas & Mercer for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.  

When I Kill You

 

When I Kill You by B.A. Paris
2/17/26; 304 pages
St. Martin's Press

When I Kill You by B.A. Paris is a recommended psychological thriller where stalking/stalkers is the focus.

Nell Masters' life is going well now and she's in a good relationship with Alex. She also knows someone is following her, she just doesn't know who it is or why it is happening, but all the indications are there. Fourteen years ago Alex was Elle Nugent. After she saw  Bryony Sanders, who was later found murdered, get into a stranger’s car, Elle became obsessed with the man driving the car and relentlessly stalked him. This experience ended badly, thus her name change, but it is also this experience years earlier that fuels her certainty that she is currently being stalked. 

The glacially slow but entertaining plot unfolds through chapters that alternate between the past and present, telling the story of Elle/Nell. Included in between the earlier/later chapters are chapters through the voice of Nell's stalker, which always end with the words, "when I kill you." There are plenty of secrets held by everyone and more than one suspect for the current stalker. The chapters are short, which helps hold your attention.

Nell's anxiety does increase, but the slow pace kept much of the tension at bay for this reader. Younger Elle is immature and her obsession can be annoying while, as Nell, she has a reason for her current paranoia. This one lost the thrill early on and the suspense and trepidation about the identity of the stalker was slow building. Not a bad novel, but B.A. Paris has written much better. 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 New Neighbors

 

The New Neighbors by Claire Douglas
2/17/26; 400 pages
HarperCollins 

The New Neighbors by Claire Douglas is a highly recommended domestic soap opera focusing on suspicious new neighbors.

Henry and Mariella Morgan, in their sixties, have moved in to the neighborhood on a suburban street in Bristol. They are next door to Lena, mother to seventeen-year old son Rufus, who separated from her husband Charlie seven months earlier. The Morgans seemed nice after Lena briefly met them, but later when she is setting up a microphone to record daytime noises for Rufus's film project, she accidentally picks up a disturbing private conversation they were having. This starts Lena covertly looking into the Morgans while simultaneously seeing suspicious behavior in their words and behavior while she is advised by those she tells to be careful.

The plot unfolds through multiple timelines and narrators. Chapters are from the point-of-view of Lena (who has some chapters set in the past), Henry (whose chapters start back in the 1980's), and an unknown woman named Natalie. The chapters set in the past provide the background information needed to understand. Lena is an emotionally conflicted character whose life, between Rufus going to the university and her separation, is heading toward a transition. 

This is a another well-written, entertaining domestic drama that reads like a soap opera. It might be easy to pick apart the character's actions and thoughts, and there are several things that could be targeted, but it is much more entertaining to set all disbelief aside and just follow the intricate plot and action to the exciting conclusion. Thanks to HarperCollins for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.  

Ashland

 

Ashland by Dan Simon
2/17/26; 208 pages
Europa Editions 

Ashland by Dan Simon is a highly recommended literary family drama following the intimate, accepting bonds built between mothers, sisters, and cousins, as well as the story of the small town of Ashland, New Hampshire.

Carolyn, born to an unwed teenager, grows up along side her mother Ellie, her aunt Jennie, who also had children as a teenager, and her cousins in the small declining town of Asland. The inclusive family love and support each other always and through everything over the years. Carolyn, who loves writing, audits writing classes at the local university taught by writing instructor, Geoff. Also told is the story of other characters, including Edith and Gordon, a couple who meet in a 1920s tuberculosis sanatorium. All the stories together tell not only her family's history but also the history of Ashland.

This beautifully written, poetic literary novel tells the desperate story of quiet lives, or perhaps demonstrates Thoreau's "The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation.” Carolyn herself finds contentment and peace in the present even while others wistfully recall the past and she writes about her experiences and the people she knows. The novel develops both the individual characters and the setting/place of Ashland.

The narrative unfolds in chapters through several first-person narrators who tell their own stories through their own thoughts. It also jumps around switching narrators and time periods throughout. This can feel a little disconcerting as if it holds the reader at arms length keeping a distance between them and the characters. It does cover a wide variety of experiences they endure over times. The ending ties all the stories together beautifully.

Ashland will be best appreciated by those who enjoy literary fiction told through multiple narrators. Thanks to Europa Editions for providing me with an advance reader's copy. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.   

Adrift

 

Adrift by Will Dean
2/17/26; 352 pages
Atria/Emily Bestler Books 

Adrift by Will Dean is an excellent, disturbing, and gripping domestic psychological thriller following a highly dysfunctional family. It is very highly recommended. My broken heart was in my throat and tears were in my eyes throughout most of this gripping tale of abuse and gaslighting. Adrift is most certainly going to be on my list of the very best books of 2026.

Drew and Peggy Jenkins, both aspiring writers, and their fourteen-year-old son Samson (Sammy), live an isolated existence on a deteriorating longboat in a canal near Cairo, Illinois. Drew forced them to sell Peggy's mother's bungalow after her death to buy the boat. Now Drew has complete control over Peggy and Sammy, including where the boat will dock for the night, and he uses this power to isolate, belittle, gaslight, sabotage, manipulate, threaten, and inflict psychological abuse on them. Drew has complete control over them, including what/if they eat. He requires their total silence when he sits down to write each night.

Peggy volunteers at the local library, because Drew won't allow her to earn her own money, but this also allows her the opportunity to work on writing her own book which will hopefully open up a way for her and Sammy to escape. Sammy is a scholarship student at a private school where he is relentlessly bullied and tormented daily for his physique and poverty. Every night the two don't know where the boat will be docked as Drew continually moves it. When Peggy finishes her book and it is accepted by a publisher, it sets off a rage in Drew followed by a disastrous series of events.

All of these characters are so well-written, so fully-realized as complicated individuals, that they come to life on the pages. While reading you will feel like you know them, which becomes increasingly heart-breaking as the plot unfolds. You will want Peggy and Sammy to escape and make it out alive, even while it seems impossible because Drew controls everything. Drew is a completely malevolent character. Anyone who has ever known someone who is an expert at gaslighting or desires complete control of others will have a deep empathetic understanding for Peggy and Sammy.

The writing is exceptional, eloquent, and vividly captures the gaslighting, abuse, and isolation Peggy and Sammy experience from Drew as he exerts complete control and subjects them to one cruel action or word after another. As Drew emotionally terrorizes his family while isolating them, the tension keeps rising throughout the novel and it became impossible to set it aside as the trepidation of what might happen next kept me glued to the pages, hoping they would find a way out. You will know what Drew is capable of and understand why Peggy doesn't just take Sammy and run for help.

Adrift is an outstanding, well-written domestic thriller which I very highly recommend. Thanks to Atria Books for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

Our Beautiful Mess

 

Our Beautiful Mess by Adele Parks
2/10/26; 448 pages
Park Row Books/Harlequin

Our Beautiful Mess by Adele Parks is a so-so, tedious family drama which is indeed both a mess and a miss. This one has soap opera vibes and not in a good way. Adele Parks has written much better novels.

Connie is thrilled to have all of her daughters home for Christmas. Her oldest, Fran arrives with her boyfriend Zak and surprises everyone with her obvious pregnancy. Connie is unsettled by Zak because he resembles a man she had an affair with years ago. Let the secrets be exposed and the slow moving family drama ensue.

I may be an outlier, but I found all the the characters supremely off-putting and annoying right at the start. Adding to that frustration is the very lethargic pace. Sure, drama was going on but it was stretchered out forever with internal monologues and predictable twists. Soon the drama requires you to set disbelief aside multiple times and the novel was no longer compelling or even enjoyable. Once it felt like a chore to continue reading I lost almost all my engagement with it. It does pick up toward the end but by then it was too late to redeem.

Our Beautiful Mess will likely best be enjoyed by those who enjoy romance mysteries mixed with a family drama and die-hard fans of Adele Park. Thanks to Park Row Books for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.   

The Replacement

 

The Replacement by Matt Brolly
2/10/26; 299 pages
Thomas & Mercer
DS Liam Kilshaw #2

The Replacement by Matt Brolly is a highly recommended procedural and the second book in the Detective Sergeant Liam Kilshaw series following The Lines. It can be enjoyed as a standalone novel. Kilshaw, a former Marine, is a intuitive investigator who also suffers from PTSD and has alopecia.

When a body in a hessian bag (burlap for US readers) washes up on Sennen Beach in Cornwall, DS Kilshaw is called out to investigate. The face of the man in the bag is so mutilated identification is almost impossible. Kilshaw takes note when a local man brings up the legend of Bucca Dhu, a sea monster who demands human sacrifice, but clearly this is the result of human depravity. When a second man's body is found on the shore also in a burlap bag with the face beaten beyond recognition, it is clear that a serial killer is at work. Kilshaw must use all his skills to find the perpetrator before another body is found.

The opening prologue will immediately attention grabbing and also provides the reader a brief glimpse into what may be related to what is currently happening. Set during the winter in Cornwall, the atmosphere in the novel is literally chilling in words and deeds. The narrative unfolds through the point-of-view of Kilshaw and another person, who's viewpoint will keep your attention focused even when the investigation slows the pace down in the middle of the plot. The anticipation over what may happen next is ever present in this even-paced procedural and there are several twists along the way. The ending is, as expected, action packed.

Kilshaw's character development continues in this second novel as he works on his interpersonal relationships, a skill with which he struggles. He is portrayed as a realistic, complicated individual with strengths and weaknesses. He has a good relationship with his boss, Maya, his ex-wife and tries to makes sure to see his son George. Additionally, thank you Matt for making sure the dog was okay, which may be a spoiler for some but other readers will want to know this.

The Replacement is a great choice for those who enjoy British procedurals and investigations set by the sea. Matt Brolly is always a dependable author who writes compelling stories. Thanks to Thomas & Mercer for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.   

The Final Problem

The Final Problem by Arturo Pérez-Reverte
2/10/26; 320 pages
Little, Brown and Company/Mulholland Books
Frances Riddle, Translator  

 The Final Problem by Arturo Pérez-Reverte is a recommended locked-room murder mystery, highly for fans of Sherlock Holmes novels and movies. My review copy was translated from the original Spanish by Frances Riddle.

In 1960, Ormond Basil, a well-known actor famous for his portrayal of Sherlock Holmes in seventeen movies, is stranded due to weather along with other travelers at the only hotel on the Greek island of Utakos.  When Edith Mander, a British tourist, is found dead in a beach cabana, it looks like suicide but there are indications of foul play. 

With the island cut off from the police, the other guests turned to Basil, based on his powers of deduction on the big screen, to actually be the investigator and look into the details of the murder.  A Spanish mystery writer named Francisco Foxá, whom Basil met earlier, acts as his Dr. Watson for the investigation. What the two soon realize is that the killer is playing a deadly literary game and basing each crime on a story by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. 

My initial impression was very favorable and I found it a fun locked-room mystery which was overtly a tribute to a certain period of time, the golden age of film, and Sherlock Holmes movies. After about half-way through I'll readily admit the name-dropping, the constant personal ruminating of Basil, and the plethora of quotes from and references to Sherlock Holmes' novels began to wear me down. The narrative felt like an over-the-top homage to things of the past and various troupes rather than an intriguing and compelling murder mystery. Additionally, all the characters were caricatures of a type of person.

The Final Problem is going to be best appreciated by those who revere all things Sherlock Holmes along with the golden age of cinema. Thanks to Mulholland Books for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

Ours Is a Tale of Murder

 

Ours Is a Tale of Murder by Nora Murphy
2/10/26; 384 pages
Sourcebooks Landmark

Ours Is a Tale of Murder by Nora Murphy is a highly recommended domestic psychological suspense novel following three different families.

Klara Martin and Troy Weston are both lawyers who have a whirlwind romance and quickly marry. Troy surprises Klara with a house in Hawthorne Heights where the two settle in after their honeymoon and Klara leaves her job. Their relationship becomes increasingly unsettling. 

In the same neighborhood Mary, a retired teacher, is clearing out her home to sell. She reminiscences about her beloved son Owen and her many regrets over her late husband Ed.   

Henry is a grown man living in the basement of his parents home after losing his job months earlier. He keeps watch on the neighborhood, especially watching Klara, Troy, and Mary. Henry has a long history of stalking women.

These three stories unfold, followed by a big twist in part two of the well-written novel which happens relatively late in the narrative, where the perspective of everything shifts. There is no doubt that the slow-burning novel does hold your attention from the start but following the three different stories/characters and their points-of-view is really telling three divergent stories until late in the novel where the big twist happens about 2/3rd the way through. At this point the narrative changes and events coalesce into the tale of murder. 

The novel is character driven, but none of the characters are particularly likeable. Their reliability is questionable, they all are flawed, dysfunctional, and secrets abound, which is all an essential part of the plot. The tone of the whole atmospheric novel is heavy, unsettling, and gloomy. Additionally, you will have to suspend some disbelief along the way. This may be a totally personal feeling, but in my opinion misandry pervades this plot and this left me with a dubious opinion early on while reading. In the end the opening warning and title of the book. "Ours is a tale of murder" comes to fruition. 

Ours Is a Tale of Murder is a good choice for those who enjoy slowly building psychological suspense novels. Thanks to Sourcebooks Landmark for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

The Patient

 

The Patient by Tim Sullivan
2/3/26; 416 pages
Grove/Atlantic
DS George Cross Mystery #3

The Patient by Tim Sullivan is a very highly recommended procedural/mystery and the third novel in the series featuring Detective Sergeant George Cross with the Bristol Crime Unit which can also be enjoyed as a stand alone novel. This was originally published in Great Britain in 2022. Cross, who is on the autism spectrum, can be awkward, unemotional, and blunt, but he is also extremely perceptive, logical, tenacious, and intelligent.

After a discussion with Sandra Wilson outside the Bristol Crime Unit, DS Cross agrees to look into the death of her daughter Felicity (Flick). Her death had been ruled an accidental drug overdose, but Sandra is sure Flick was murdered. Flick had been clean for over two years and had a young daughter. After questioning police staffer Alice Mackenzie and pathologist Clare Hawkins, Cross is convinced that something else happened and decides to reopen the case. His partner DS Josie Ottey assists him in the investigation. There are several suspects, including her ex-boyfriend, Simon Aston, and Danny Stokes, the boss at the dry cleaner’s where she previously worked.

At the same time, Cross's father Raymond, who broke a hip, is about to be released from the hospital which poses a huge problem. He does not want to live with his son, for several reasons, but Raymond is a hoarder and his home must be cleaned out for his own safety. Cross comes up with a great solution and makes a contact at the same time.

This is a very well-written procedural which sets itself apart with the uniqueness of the main character and the twisty, complicated, intuitive, and analytical investigation into Flick's death. Cross, as well as Mackenzie and Ottey, is portrayed as a fully realized individual with strengths and weaknesses. The strong characterization, along with the complicated, well reasoned plot, helps propel the action forward and also serves to set this series apart from others with it's unique main character. 

The intelligent investigation which proceeds through logically and instinctively following the clues and putting the puzzle together made  The Patient an enjoyable procedural that is a pleasure to read. The final denouement held several surprises. Thanks to Grove/Atlantic for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

Impostor

 

Impostor by LJ Ross
2/3/26: 304 pages
Poisoned Pen Press
Alexander Gregory #1 

Impostor by LJ Ross is a very highly recommended investigative thriller. This is the first book in the series featuring psychologist and profiler Dr. Alexander Gregory. 

Psychologist Dr. Alexander Gregory is working at Southmoor Hospital for the criminally insane and has one particularly volatile patient called called Cathy Jones who troubles him. Alex previously worked for a criminal profiling unit so it isn't a surprise when he is called in as a profiler for a murder committed in the small town of Ballyfinny, County Mayo, Ireland. There he will be assisting the local Garda, brothers Niall and Connor Byrne, to find the killer. While Alex looks at the evidence for and delves into the mind of a cunning killer, his dreams are also haunted by Cathy Jones.

The opening prologue set in 1987 will immediately grab your attention and provides background information for the infamous Cathy Jones. This also sets the atmosphere for this extremely well-written, compelling, fast-paced, and tension-packed thriller. The mystery at the heart of the investigation begs the question for the local Garda, "How could this action be from one of own people?" Alex must use his skills to show them a glimpse into what is likely happening in the mind of the killer to help them figure out suspects.

Alex is a complex, intelligent and interesting fully realized character. The other characters are also developed and given depth beyond just the perfunctory information. They work together in the investigation, uncovering several surprises with some plot twists along the way to the surprising final denouement. There is also shocking reveal at the end of the novel that will insure readers will be anxiously awaiting the next installment. First published October 31, 2019, this is a review of the Poisoned Pen Press edition being released on February 2, 2025. 

Impostor is a great choice for readers who enjoy investigative thrillers that feature a profiler. Thanks to Poisoned Pen Press for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.