The Girls in the Dark

 

The Girls in the Dark by Avery Bishop
4/24/26; 404 pages
Bookouture 

The Girls in the Dark by Avery Bishop is a very highly recommended psychological thriller. This one improves with each new chapter and ended up capturing my complete attention. 4.5 rounded up.

Twenty year ago Megan escaped a sadistic serial killer who held her and her fifteen-year-old twin sister Alison captives for five months. Their brutal abductor had put shock collars on them and locked them up in cages in an underground room. It was incredible that Meagan escaped, although she is still traumatized by what happened and worries about what happened to her sister. Their abductor was never found and this, too, haunts Meagan.

Once out, Meagan ended up writing a book, which made her even more well known and exposed. Now, on the twentieth anniversary of her escape, during the Q&A after her talk she is asked a question about something only her sister would know. Then she later finds a black rose in her car with a note. It is a warning and she begins to wonder if her sister is still alive and angry at the promise she failed to keep. Complicating matter is the documentary being made about her case and questions about it arising.

This is a well-written psychological thriller that starts out feeling like a tried and true familiar plot but gradually kept getting better and more compelling until it was completely un-put-downable. I suspected one twist in the plot but was completely blindsided for several others. We know through Meagan that she has secrets, that she hasn't told the whole story. This fact alone makes you question everything that is happening to Meagan, and it becomes increasingly threatening. It is also clear that someone knows the truth behind what happened.

The narrative unfolds through dual timelines, the present day threatening occurrences and the horrific events from the past. Both timelines are equally compelling and will hold your complete attention. The past, with the girls in captivity, is horrifying and heartbreaking. The present, where Meagan feels progressively threatened by an unknown entity becomes increasingly ominous. Your sympathy and support will be with Meagan throughout the novel, even when you question her reliability as a narrator.

The Girls in the Dark is a perfect choice for those who enjoy 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.     

Nothing Left Behind

 

Nothing Left Behind by Hannah Brennan
4/23/26; 384 pages
Avon Books
Detective Liz Field #2 

Nothing Left Behind by Hannah Brennan is a highly recommended procedural and the second novel in the series featuring Detective Liz Field.

After years of calling the emergency services number, Anne Evans was labeled a nuisance caller. She repeatedly called claiming that 'he' was going to burn her alive, so when yet another call was made it was assumed to be more of the same. This time, however, it was true. Detective Hunt was first on the scene and ran in to the burning house to save Anne and would have died if next door neighbor Ed hadn't pulled him out of the house. Ed and his wife Rosie were close with Anne and the fire left them homeless. After the fire was under control, Anne's body was found inside but then the home collapsed, making the investigation more complicated for DCI Liz Field and her team. Once the investigation confirms it was arson, it continues to become even more unsettling.

This is a well-written, intriguing procedural that unfolds at an even pace as the investigation into the fire begins. The tension rises and becomes disturbing as the investigation begins uncovering information and Anne was targeted due to her vulnerable position. It follows a logical line of reasoning and all clues and information are followed up on by the team. There are also some twists along the way

The narrative is told through several  points-of-view, including Field, Ed, and Hunt. All of the characters resemble real individuals, including Anne, as the plot unfolds. Liz is a great, fully realized, intelligent character. She comes to life in this novel. Even though this is the second novel in the series, it can be read as a stand alone novel. 

Nothing Left Behind is a great choice for those who enjoy detailed, methodical procedurals and everyone who has read the first book in the series, No Safe Place. Thanks to Avon Books for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.     

Double Shadow

 

Double Shadow by Andrew Ludington 
4/21/26; 288 pages
St. Martin's Press
Splinter Effect #2 

Double Shadow by Andrew Ludington is a highly recommended time travel/historical fiction novel. This is the second novel in the series, following Splinter Effect, featuring Robert "Rabbit" Ward. 

Rabbit Ward is a chrono-archaeologist who travels through time for the Smithsonian on sponsored expeditions to the past to secure precious artifacts moments before they are lost to history. But in this outing he travels to  Jerusalem in 68 CE, to help save his now ally but former adversary, Helen. She is in hiding after being framed for a murder, so she turned to Rabbit to help find Einar Eshek, a murderous thief in first century Jerusalem. Rabbit and Helen determine that Eshek is thief, but also a murderous psychopath. Tension rise due to the search but also because Jerusalem is preparing to go to war with Rome. 

This is another well-written historical fiction time travel adventure. Expect many historical details while reading, which will be appreciated best by those who enjoy detailed historical fiction. There is also plenty of further character development of relationships introduced in the first novel.

Personally, I'd recommend reading the series in order, first Splinter Effect, then Double Shadow, because of the continuing character development, histories, and the continuing relationship between Rabbit and Helen. The first novel also explains the time traveling procedures and along with all ethical archaeological considerations involved is traveling back in time to collect historical artifacts before they are lost. This is an imaginative action story, but is mostly a historical fiction novel.

Double Shadow is a great choice for those who are following the series, and anyone who enjoys history and the idea of a time traveling archeologist should start reading reading it. 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.

Liar's Creek

 

Liar's Creek by Matt Goldman
5/5/26; 336 pages
St. Martin's Press
Clay Hawkins #1 

Liar's Creek by Matt Goldman is a highly recommended character-driven mystery. This is the first book in the Clay Hawkins' Series, set in the small town of Riverwood, Minnesota. 

Clay Hawkins, a professional footballer in England for twenty years, has return to his small hometown of Riverwood, MN, with his twelve-year-old son, Braedon. His relationship with his father and former sheriff, Judd, is as strained as ever, but Judd and Braedon have quickly formed a tight bond. Clay's beloved uncle Teddy has disappeared and Clay, Judd, and now the new sheriff are investigating, but as the days pass they all fear the worst may have happened. 

This is a well-written, character-driven investigative mystery that has a strong sense of place, which is essential to the plot. It is a small town where everyone knows everyone else, but where they can all have secrets. Teddy is a well known figure around town as someone who is likable but frequently skirts the law and seemingly courts trouble. Even with their tense relationship, Clay and Judd are both looking for Teddy. While Judd turns to his contacts within the sheriff's office, Clay defies his father and talks directly to the new sheriff, Zoey Jensen. The father and son do set aside their grievances and work together.

While the main concern is the search for Teddy, there are several other narrative threads also developing, which serve to add tension and drama. The pace is even as various characters are introduced and brought to life. There is also another story line involving Braedon, his new friend, and some older teens in town (which, as it's a small town, everyone should have known who the teens were while privately keeping an eye on them, looking for trouble.) There is a lot of talk about fishing too. 

The character development is excellent as they are all portrayed as complicated, fully realized individuals. Even Braedon is brought to life, along with the minor characters around town. Their interpersonal relationships are realistic and believable. It is revealed along the way that there is more to Clay than meets the eye.

Liar's Creek is a good choice for those who enjoy character-driven investigative mysteries and want to get in at the start of a new series. Thanks to St. Martin's Press for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.      

Shadow Strike

 

Shadow Strike by Brad Taylor
4/21/26; 448 pages
William Morrow
Pike Logan #20 

Shadow Strike by Brad Taylor is a highly recommended political/action thriller. This is the 20th book in the series featuring Pike Logan.

The Ghost, or Abdul Rahman, escapes when a routine prisoner transfer is ambushed. Pike Logan and his team are called in to find the Ghost but the mission quickly escalates into something bigger than just an escaped prisoner.  It is determined that a rogue group of Iranian regime officials want him to assassination the Israeli prime minister. The team tracks the Ghost from his escape through Mexico to Argentina, where they have good intel about the plan and the world-wide wide scope of it.

As expected the action is non-stop and covers a lot of territory as they race against the clock to stop the attacks planned. The plot is compelling and full of geopolitical intrigue and maneuvers. Admittedly, I haven't read every book in this series, but I was still able to follow the action and the various characters so I think it can be enjoyed as a standalone novel for anyone looking for a action-packed thriller. Those following the series will know all the characters. Those new to the series won't see a lot of character development here, but should still be able to distinguish all the individual characters from each other. 

There was one drawback for me, one that Brad Taylor himself marginally addressed in the afterword when he wrote about real life events resulted in the novel requiring earlier editing. With current events now, way-past the margin available for editing, you will have to set even more disbelief aside than would normally be required.

Shadow Strike is highly recommended for fans of the series and those who like political/action 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.      

Mad Mabel

 

Mad Mabel by Sally Hepworth
4/21/26; 352 pages
St. Martin's Press 

Mad Mabel by Sally Hepworth is an un-put-downable, clever, very highly recommended domestic thriller.  This is leagues above and has much more depth than many of the other popular books about grumpy but lovable senior citizens.  

Elsie Mabel Fitzpatrick is eighty-one years old, and has been living on Kenny Lane in Melbourne for sixty years. She knows all her neighbors and can be querulous, but minds her own business, along with her life-long best friend Daphne. Seven-year-old Persephone, a talkative and excitable child, lives across the street and adores Elsie, calling her Elsa. However, when Persephone needs to interview someone old for school, Elsie decides her ninety-three year old neighbor, Ishaan, is a better choice; besides, his dog Nugget, has been relentlessly barking all day. She investigates and finds him deceased. The authorities are called and it is revealed in the investigation that Elsie used to be called Mad Mabel Waller, Australia’s youngest convicted murderer.

As the word spreads and the interest in her by both the police and the public increases, Elsie agrees to doing the “AdLib” true crime podcast with Libby Conquest and Adeem Anand. For the first time she will tell her side of the story to the public. The narrative has Then chapters telling the story of Mabel's past and Now chapters following current events in Elsie's (Mabel) life. What is revealed is heartbreaking. Mabel had a dysfunctional family and childhood full of abuse, neglect, and bullying which sifts between highlights from characters who displayed genuine affection and caring about her well-being. 

The writing is exceptional, and well-plotted, with heartbreaking scenes sharply contrasting with humorous moments and surprises. The pace is fast and her story from both the present and the past is compelling and complex. This is an emotional, character-driven mystery where the past is as important as the present. Her case and life's story are not as simple and straightforward as the public opinion proclaims. What unfolds is a woman's tragic story of her past which, in the end, also becomes a redemption story.

All the characters are portrayed as fully realized, unique individuals who have strengths and weaknesses. They also all experience growth along the way, especially Joan, who starts out as a typical, annoying, self-important "karen." All the neighbors on Kenny Lane are introduced at the beginning so you understand this is a small, close-knit neighborhood where everyone knows each other. Characters from the past also come to life, good and bad. 

Mad Mabel is an excellent choice for those who enjoy character-driven domestic dramas telling the story of a life, contrasting a childhood with the present day. 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.     

No Way Home

 

No Way Home by T. C. Boyle
4/21/26; 368 pages
Liveright Publishing 

No Way Home by T. C. Boyle is an excellent, very highly recommended, literary psychological drama of manipulation, obsession, and revenge in highly dysfunctional relationships. 

Terrence (Terry) Tully, a third-year medical resident in LA, receives a phone call informing him of his mother's death and he drives the four hours across the desert to her home in Boulder City, Nevada, by Lake Mead, to settle her affairs, including selling her house and taking care of her dog, Daisy. Once there, his problems begin. At his lowest point, he meets homeless receptionist Bethany at a restaurant. She immediately clings onto him and manages to insert herself into his mother's, now his, home. She has a tale of woe about her ex-boyfriend, Jesse, a vengeful, macho middle–school teacher. Jesse declares her to be poison. They all drink too much. This begins a psychologically twisted tale of manipulation, obsession, aimlessness, violence, retribution, and revenge.

No Way Home is said to be a love triangle, but it is really a much more brutal, complicated tale of exploitation, retaliation, and control. Terry is a rather naive man and Bethany quickly takes advantage of him. She moves into the house without his permission and his first mistake is that he doesn't immediately kick her out when he learns this. From this point on she's taking advantage of him with his tacit approval and the direction the plot is taking is clear. Jesse is immature and has impulse-control issues along with a violent streak. Encounters between the two men are inevitable, and predictably vicious.

Boyle is an exceptional writer and his talent is on full display in No Way Home. I was totally engrossed throughout and found the novel un-put-downable. None of the characters are likable, although Terry at least has some professional competence. I found myself wanting to lecture or at least install some common sense and self-realization in every single one of these characters. At the same time, I have met people like these characters who embrace their aimlessness like a badge of honor. 

The narrative is eventually told through the point-of-view of all three characters, which doesn't necessarily do them any favors but does showcase their haphazard thoughts and self-serving behavior, especially of Bethany and Jesse. Terry tends to reduce humanity to symptoms and diagnoses and seems a bit clueless at times. They are all very egocentric characters. We are also left with the feeling that there is no projected chance of redemption for any of them.

No Way Home is perfect for those who enjoy literary psychological dramas with erratic, selfish characters and dysfunctional relationships. Thanks to Liveright Publishing for providing me with an advance reader's copy via Edelweiss. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.    

Last One Out

 

Last One Out by Jane Harper
4/14/26; 368 pages
Flatiron Books  

Last One Out by Jane Harper is a recommended domestic literary drama/mystery set in a dying town in rural New South Wales.

Carralon Ridge is a dying town, with many of  the houses and buildings all previously bought up by a mining company. Five years ago during a college break, Sam, the son of Griff and Rowena (Ro) Crowley disappeared when visiting at Carralon Ridge. All that was left was his rental car with all his belongings inside. Sam had been working on an oral history of the town to preserve its legacy. After Sam disappeared, the family fell apart and Ro left, leaving her husband and daughter behind. Every year Ro is returns to the town to be with her husband and daughter Della on the anniversary of Sam's disappearance for a memorial service. 

With the dust and grit from the mining operation ever present and a handful of people left among the abandoned, empty homes and buildings, the setting is depressing. This visit, however, Ro is determined to find clues in the disappearance of Sam that may have been previously overlooked. Even though their relationship is strained, it becomes clear that someone may have secrets they want to keep secret.

Undoubtedly, Harper is an exceptional writer and she manages to create an atmospheric novel that is depressing and generates a sense of menace and danger while exploring a mother's grief amidst a dying town. Harper gets all the points for her ability to create a scene and bring it to life. On the other hand, this is also a glacially slow-paced plot focused much more intently on the character's grief and trauma rather than the mystery. Some descriptive scenes seem repetitious in the narrative.  

In the end much of Last One Out felt overly long and much too slow paced for the majority of the novel. It does pick up toward the end and becomes the promised mystery, but it wasn't quite the great novel I was expecting from Harper. It is still recommended for the quality of the writing. I'll be looking forward to Harper's next novel.  Thanks to Flatiron Books for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

The Waitress

 

The Waitress by K L Slater
4/17/26; 298 pages
Bookouture

The Waitress by K L Slater is a recommended popcorn thriller that require readers to suspend a massive amount of disbelief.

Alicia has left her young son in the care of her sister Jen and moved to London ostensibly to make enough for them all to start a new life for themselves. In London she begins working as a waitress for Elevate, an events planning/catering group. Her real job is to keep her eyes open and watch Trent Connors. Events at a reception at The Orbit, an exclusive high rise for the elite, result in her meeting Trent and quickly becoming close to him - so close that he offers to hire her to play the role of his girlfriend for a large salary. Trent really wants her to observe, listen, and evaluate a business associate of his, Steve Brett, the same man who has been blackmailing and threatening Alicia and wanted her to watch Trent. Let the games begin.

With short chapters and a predictable narrative direction, this story of blackmail and corruption is a quick read but it isn't quite as compelling or have the depth and believably of the other novels by Slater that I've read. It is told through multiple points-of-view, although mainly through Alicia's. This is also a tale of all the characters repeatedly making questionable decisions, however, Alicia's desire to make a better life for her son and sister is understandable.

Certainly you have to begin setting the disbelief aside right away when Alicia is almost immediately hired to be Trent's girlfriend at a high salary and new wardrobe. Hint: if something is too good to be true, it is. Another hint: if something is too good to be true, look for ulterior motives. Chapters through Jen's point-of-view have her back with an abusive boyfriend, another life lesson ignored by these characters. Speaking of the characters, Alicia is a developed character, but along with the other characters not particularly likable or reliable. 

The Waitress will be best appreciated by fans of Slater's novels and those who enjoy popcorn thrillers. Thanks to Bookouture for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.    

Hope Rises

 

Hope Rises by David Baldacci
4/14/26; 432 pages
Grand Central Publishing
Walter Nash #2 

Hope Rises by David Baldacci is a highly recommended thriller and the follow up to Nash Falls (2025), which ended on a cliff hanger. In the case of this series, you need to read Nash Falls before starting Hope Rises in order to understand everything that is going on, as well as the backstory. 

Walter Nash, an informant for the FBI, has transformed himself and is now using the alias of Dillon Hope. He is working as a body guard for the despicable Rhett Temple but his ultimate goal is to take down Victoria Steers and her global criminal operation. As Temple's body guard he accompanies him to Hong Kong at the bidding of Steers. She informs the two that plans are in place for them to free her mother, Masuyo, from a prison in Myanmar. While Nash seeks vengeance, Temple believes following her orders, of which there is no choice, will result in him being able to disassociate from her. Nash knows she will never release her power over anyone, yet being on the inside will potentially give him access to destroy her. 

That's all I'm going to say in order to avoid major spoilers. Let me reiterate, to appreciate Hope Rises you must read Nash Falls first. It's a wild ride to get there, but the loose ends are all tied up here.

This is another well-written novel that is fast-paced, action-packed, and full of twists, however, I'll be the first to proclaim that you need to set aside a healthy heaping amount of disbelief while reading. The chapters are short, helping keep the action and plot moving along quickly. There were certain developments which, admittedly, required the acceptance of more turn of events than I was willing to acquiesce to and this did lessen my interest somewhat as it changed some of Nash's original goals.

Hope Rises is a great, twisty thriller to read for everyone who was left hanging after reading Nash Falls. 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 Left and the Lucky

 

The Left and the Lucky by Willy Vlautin
4/14/26; 256 pages
HarperCollins  

The Left and the Lucky by Willy Vlautin is an exceptional, heartbreaking, beautiful, yet harrowing novel about a friendship between a man and a boy which may save both of them.  The Left and the Lucky is very highly recommended and will definitely be on my list of the very best books of the year. I love this novel. It may be my new favorite novel by Vlautin, but, really, all of his books are excellent.  

In working-class Portland, Oregon, eight-year-old Russell's life has been ruled by abuse and neglect. The family lives with his grandmother, who has dementia. His mother, Connie, works nights as a stripper while his fifteen-year-old brother Curtis, is angry, troubled and increasingly a physical threat to everyone. Russell, who is small for his age, copes by sleeping on the floor in his grandmother's room, but when she goes into care, he spends most of his time outside, avoiding Curtis and waiting for their neighbor Eddie to get home and dreaming of ways to escape.

Eddie Wilkens is a workaholic house painter in his early forties whose wife has left him. He is kind, patient, thoughtful, and caring. After finding Russell out late, alone one night, he now makes sure Russell has a good meal daily and also gives him small jobs to do, like cleaning paint brushes and caring for Eddie's old dog, Early, while also keeping hims safe. Eddie's main employee is Houston, an alcoholic who he has to care for to keep him functioning. Russell ends up living with Eddie and the two become a makeshift father and son, helping each other.

This is a thoughtful, well-written novel. It isn't revealed until late in the novel the real meaning of the book's title and the pain that Eddie has carried for nearly twenty years. It makes the title so poignant but also explains the reason for the care, generosity, and patience Eddie bestows on everyone. It illustrates why Eddie helps others overcome circumstances they are facing and changes their lives.  Yeah, between Russell's circumstances, Eddie's care, and other events, this is a crying novel during multiple chapters.

All the characters are portrayed as fully realized, but broken individuals, including young Russell. Vlautin excels at creating everyday, realistic, and flawed characters who are facing trials that can seem insurmountable. Even with all the pain in the narrative, there are also small moments of humor and keen insight along the way. 

The Left and the Lucky is a perfect choice for reader who appreciate novels where characters face difficult situations, and fans of Willy Vlautin and Fredrik Backman's novels. Thanks to HarperCollins for providing me with an advance reader's copy via Edelweiss. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

Handle with Care

 

Handle with Care by Marybeth Mayhew Whalen
4/14/26; 288 pages
Thomas Nelson 

Handle with Care by Marybeth Mayhew Whalen is highly recommended women's fiction novel following three women who become hostages when a domestic dispute escalates in the small coastal town of Sunset Beach, North Carolina.

Not much happens is ever happening in Sunset Beach, so it is shocking when a domestic dispute at the post office results in four women being taken captive. After a prolonged angry discussion with the postal employee, his wife Nadine, her husband Tommy quickly returns with a gun and the four women there, including Nadine, become his hostages. What follows is a gentle hostage situation, but it is also a deep dive into the thoughts and lives of three of the women, Sylvie, Morrow, and Blythe. 

This is not a fast-paced thriller. While, yes, he is threatening them with a gun, they can't leave, and the situation is frightening, but there is never any real sense that any of the women are truly in danger.  What the situation presents is the chance to take a close examination of the lives of each of the three women who walked into the post office that day. Each of them was planning to mail something that would change their lives. The narratives follows the thoughts of  Sylvie, Morrow, and Blyth. Also involved is Hope, a police officer with her own issues to face. 

Suggestions that this would make a great book club selection are based on the secrets each woman has based on what she was planning to mail. Each of their individual situations would be good fodder for a variety of conversations, and discussion questions are included at the end. Topics include aging, forgiveness, personal struggles, honesty, grace, and hope.

The novel is structure to resemble the five parts of a letter, which, if I'm being honest, wasn't highly effective as it might be in this day and age, although I can appreciate the idea. There were several other issues, some which were addressed after the novel ended, which requires setting disbelief aside. Most immediately glaring was just a front and back door at the post office, no loading docks, side entrances, etc. Additionally, I would have tossed the idea of a hostage situation out and brainstormed another reason for the women to be stuck in a room together for a period of time.

Handle with Care is a good choice for those who enjoy women's fiction where a group of women bond during a crisis. Thanks to Thomas Nelson for providing me with a complimentary advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

Too Close to Home

Too Close to Home by Seraphina Nova Glass
4/14/26; 304 pages
Park Row Books 

Too Close to Home by Seraphina Nova Glass is a highly recommended domestic drama/popcorn thriller. Set disbelief aside and enjoy the over-the-top action. 

Regan, Sasha, and Andi are good friends who live in the elite community of Cloverhill Lakes. It seems to be a perfect suburban community - until Regan's car blows up after she loaned it to another mom, Ally, who just wanted to run to get more ice for the community's labor day picnic. Clearly Regan, a recent widow, was the target, but why? The police think it was a prank gone wrong. 

Sasha is worried about what her teenage son is involved in while sneaking around town. She's also hiding her support for her ex from her current husband, Ray. 

At the same time Andi is dealing with her ex-husband Ray's new wife, Tia, clearly a future HOA president in the making, who is trying to cause problems. When Andi's new husband, Carson, teaches her how to use a gun for protection before he leaves on a trip, it is the second of a series of events, following the initial explosion, which quickly escalate into an over-the-top, twisty thriller.

There is a whole lot of action going on in this well-written, twisty domestic drama which will hold your complete attention throughout. You'll easily set disbelief aside (as several events are over-the-top and poor decisions are made, repeatedly) and keep reading to see what in the world is going to happen next. This is what you expect from a popcorn thriller. The narrative unfolds between the three perspectives of Regan, Sasha, and Andi. The chapters are short, quickly moving the action and point-of-view to the next character, propelling you forward from one crisis to another.

All the characters are introduced at the same time so be sure to pay attention at the beginning in order to keep the different characters separate in your mind. Then sit back and enjoy the ensuing mayhem which follows the initial explosion. Admittedly, the ending is truly over-the-top but so are several other events in the plot, so relish the drama leading up to the dramatic ending. Thanks to Park Row Books for providing me with an advance reader's copy. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

The Burning Man

 

The Burning Man by Trevor Negus
4/12/26; 400 pages, est
Inkubator Books
DCI Danny Flint Book #14 

The Burning Man by Trevor Negus is a highly recommended, detailed investigative procedural and the fourteenth book in the series featuring DCI Danny Flint.

An accident on the outskirts of Nottingham results in a burned-out car. While the injured driver was pulled from the car just in time, a body is later discovered in the trunk (boot) of the car. What appears to be a murder case for DCI Danny Flint, quickly turns more complicated when the victim is identified as an undercover Customs and Excise officer working on stopping the smuggling of massive quantities of heroin into the UK. Suddenly Flint and his team find their murder investigation hampered by another teams undercover operation while simultaneously the body count is rising.

This is a police procedural made for fans of complicated, detailed, and realistic investigations. Each new piece of information or clue uncovered are logically followed up on during the investigation. There is a dual plot following the raw material for the drugs being picked up in Afghanistan and then the final product making its way to Nottingham. At the same time Flint's investigation into the initial murder is becoming increasingly complicated by more murder, the Customs and Excise operation, and corruption. All these complications also serve to increase the risk and danger to everyone involved.

The characters are all well-written and portrayed as realistic individuals with strengths and weaknesses. Everyone already following this long running series will know the characters, especially DCI Flint, and their abilities. This can be enjoyed as a standalone novel too, although you won't have any history of previous cases. 

The Burning Man is a perfect choice for readers who enjoy police procedurals following detailed investigations. Thanks to Inkubator Books for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

Stolen Family

 

Stolen Family by Lisa Regan
4/9/26; 424 pages
Bookouture
Detective Josie Quinn #24 

Stolen Family by Lisa Regan is an exceptional, very highly recommended crime thriller/procedural. You won't want to miss this absolutely un-put-downable 24th book in the Detective Josie Quinn series! Seriously, I had to stay up late to finish Stolen Family. At a certain point in the gripping plot it becomes impossible to not keep racing through the pages while your heart is pounding.

Denton, PA, is having their first Balloons and Tunes Festival which seems to be wildly popular and will hopefully become an annual event. Detective Josie Quinn and Detective Kyle Turner are called to a glamping site at the festival where Maxine and her teenage daughter Haven Barnes have been found murdered and left with white-tipped blood-red camellias laid on their bodies while other flowers are scattered across the room. Turner admits he recognizes Maxine from an earlier spousal abuse incident. As the team is investigating,  a report of another suspected missing mother and daughter is called in. 

The missing are Danielle ‘Dani’ Schwarber and her sixteen-year-old daughter Cassidy and the same camellias are left behind. Even more shocking is that they are Kyle Turner's estranged wife and daughter. Now the clock is ticking to find who abducted Kyle's family and hopefully find them before anymore lives are lost. 

As expected, the writing is superb. The plot is fast-paced, complicated, immersive, and riveting, due to both the investigations and personal interactions. The tension keeps rising right up to the action-packed conclusion. The procedural part of the narrative is excellent with all the clues logically followed and leads investigated. Complicating everything is the personal connection to Turner.

I continued to enjoy all the realistic interaction between the characters. All the characters are portrayed as fully realized individuals with strengths and weaknesses. Josie's personal life is going well. Her husband, Noah, is back at work while still recovering emotionally from a previous case. Their relationship with Wren, the teenager they are custodial parents too, is making progress. Kyle Turner is the character with the most development. He is known for being disagreeable, lazy, and all-around unlikable. Now we are introduced to a different side to his character. 

Although this is the 24th book in the series, Stolen Family could be read as a standalone novel, however, knowing the history of the characters will make it a richer reading experience. There is enough of the backstory covered that new readers can follow along and appreciate this latest thrilling procedural.

Stolen Family is a exceptional crime thriller/procedural and is a perfect choice for everyone following the series. I'm anxiously awaiting the next book in the series! Thanks to Bookouture for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

False Witness

 

False Witness by John Carson
4/5/26; 290 pages
Boldwood Books
DCI Liam Brodie , #2 

False Witness by John Carson is a very highly recommended procedural/crime thriller and is an excellent second book in the series featuring DCI Liam Brody.

DCI Liam Brodie is Called back to Fife, Scotland, when a body is found on the beach that closely resembles the bodies left by a serial killer called The Embalmer from seven years previously. The name was given based on how the bodies of the victims were left. The case was never solved before and the fear is that the serial killer is back or someone is imitating him. As the investigation unfolds, it seems that The Embalmer wasn't as inactive as previously thought and, in fact, he may have been expanding his modus operandi as well as targeting anyone connected with the previous murders.

The writing is exceptional in this series. With a compelling plot, the tension rising throughout this fast-paced, chilling crime thriller. It is always appreciated by this reader when procedurals logically follow the clues and information discovered during the investigation. Included within the investigation are chilling chapters from the point-of-view of victims the killer targeted to protect his identity. This could be read as a standalone novel, but I appreciated having read the first book in the series, Broken Bones. 

All the characters are portrayed as realistic individuals and the whole team continues to work very well together. Brodie's girlfriend/partner psychologist Ruth Calder is back and provides some important insight into the case. The warning about bowling leagues was also noted and appreciated. 

False Witness is an excellent choice for readers who enjoy procedurals/crime thrillers. Thanks to Boldwood Books for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

A Cruise to Die

 

A Cruise to Die For by Heather Graham
4/7/26; 336 pages
MIRA Books 

ruise to Die For by Heather Graham is a so-so romantic thriller set on a cruise ship. State Special Agent Chloe McMurray joins federal Special Agent Wesley Law as they both go undercover as a couple on a cruise ship leaving out of of Miami. There have been a series of murders and suicides which all have a connection to technology and the company that also owns the the cruise company. McMurray and Law are assigned the case and join the Milestones cruise which is also offering technology events.

The explanation for putting a federal agent with a state agent on a cruise to work a federal case was really nonexistent and the whole idea was nonsensical. It required the reader to set aside a huge amount of disbelief, much more than I was willing to do, especially as Chloe's affinity for cruises, the only reason given, doesn't count as a qualifying reason. Further detracting from the story was the dialogue, which felt stilted and oddly awkward. The same could be said for the whole plot, including the romance and technology lecture information. Points are given because I finished reading it. Graham has written better books.

Thanks to MIRA Books for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

Revenge Prey

 

Revenge Prey by John Sandford
4/7/26; 400 pages
Putnam
Lucas Davenport/Prey Novel #36 

Revenge Prey by John Sandford is a highly recommended thriller featuring Lucas Davenport in the 36th Prey novel. Davenport is protecting a former high-ranking Russian intelligence officer.

Leonard Summers, a pseudonym, was a high ranking Russian intelligence officer who defected to the U.S. and provided critical information about spies operating in the country. Leonard, his wife and son are relocated to a safe house in a wooded Minneapolis suburb when a sniper attacks, killing the wife and son but not Leonard. 

U.S. Marshal Lucas Davenport and fellow marshal Shelly White are on the scene and immediately leap into action. While firing at the escape vehicle, two of the snipers are seriously injured. What follows is a Davenport and White, along with John Sherwood from the CIA, tracking down the assassins while also uncovering how information was leaked.

Long time fans of the series will definitely want to pick up this latest action-packed thriller and join Davenport and other recurring characters on the investigation and chase. While they are being tracked and chased, the hit team keeps trying to find Leonard and finish the job, so the tension rises throughout. This was another solid addition to the series which keeps the action going throughout the novel. There was a little slow down midway through, but things soon picked up again.

If you are following the series, you will be well acquainted with the characters. Sherwood was a welcomed addition and his character fit right into the plot. Even though this is a long running series those new to it can enjoy any of the books for the action-packed plots. Thanks to Putnam for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

What Ever Happened to Eddy Crane?

 

What Ever Happened to Eddy Crane? by Kate Crane
4/7/26; 304 pages
Hanover Square Press 

What Ever Happened to Eddy Crane? by Kate Crane is a recommended half memoir/half true crime investigation. 

When Kate Crane was twelve her father Eddy called to say he was on his way home. He never came home and his family had no resolution. Although it was clear something happened to him, Baltimore cops had it filed as a missing-person cold case rather than a homicide cold cases. The case remained cold until twenty years later when Kate Crane, now a journalist in New York City, began to dig for answers, including contracting retired detectives and Baltimore’s Cold Case Unit.

The first half of the book is a very personal memoir which open and honestly covers Kate's mental state in detail as she deals with the grief of losing her father, teenage angst, and the toxic mix of the two in her life. Honestly, while I sympathize with her need to share the turmoil and pain along with the feeling of isolation and post-traumatic dysfunctionality she experienced, I wasn't expecting such a detailed, deep-dive memoir covering her formative years leading into into adulthood and beyond. On the other hand, she is very open and honest about everything. 

Once she begins to look into her father's disappearance as a journalist, and all the individuals and facts tangentially involved in various ways to his case, the narrative becomes more interesting. Justice may never be found, but actually investigating it on her own and asking the questions she needed answered, helped her find some closure for her own life, if not for her father's case. 

Although Crane purposefully chose to start her story as a personal memoir and then switch to the viewpoint of a journalist/crime investigator, this choice didn't work well for me. While the book was described as a blend between a memoir and true crime, the focus on the memoir for almost half of the book was too much. Perhaps it would have helped to start the narrative when, as an adult, she began to her look into her father's disappearance while also including some personal struggles she experienced while growing up. 

What Ever Happened to Eddy Crane? will be best appreciated by those who enjoy memoirs. 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 Keeper

 

The Keeper by Tana French
3/31/26; 496 pages
Viking/Penguin 
Cal Hooper #3 

The Keeper by Tana French is highly recommended literary, character-driven crime fiction and the final novel in the Cal Hooper trilogy. Set in the small village of Arknakelty, Ireland, interpersonal dynamics play a vital role as a dangerous, threatening scheme is uncovered.

When Rachel Holohan goes missing, the community searches for her until her body is found in the river.  She was about to be engaged to Eugene Moynihan, the son of Tommy, the local big shot whose family has controlled the village for decades. Retired Chicago detective Cal Hooper finds himself pulled into the turmoil of generations-old grudges and power struggles as Rachel's death brings many questions, rumors, and divisions between villagers to the forefront. The highly volatile and contradictory opinions of individuals clash and tensions run high throughout Arknakelty. The tension even enters the relationship between Cal and Lena. 

The writing is wonderfully atmospheric and detailed, creating a specific place and setting which is inhabited by a unique set of characters. The suspense rises slowly, sometimes very slowly, as the mystery and subsequent life-long feuds reach a climax. The characters are all brought to life and much of the tale is told through dialogue. Reading this novel is an immersion into life in a small, remote Irish village.

The biggest problem is the pacing, which, on the one hand, can feel glacially slow, but, on the other hand, allows the detailed, nuanced characters and setting to come to life. Initially, I enjoyed the details but then for much of the first half of the novel it made the pace feel too slow for a mystery novel. The second half does pick up, but, at almost 500 pages, it still felt like the whole novel could have benefited from a bit more editing to tighten it up. Admittedly, I missed a book in the series and suffered for my neglect. This is a series where you will benefit from reading all the novels in order: The Searcher, The Hunter, and The Keeper.

The Keepers is a great choice for those following the series and enjoy literary, character-driven mysteries. Thanks to Viking/Penguin for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.     

How to Be Okay When Nothing Is Okay

 

How to Be Okay When Nothing Is Okay by Jenny Lawson
3/31/26; 288 pages
Viking/Penguin 

How to Be Okay When Nothing Is Okay by Jenny Lawson is a highly recommended self-help guide filled with genuine and humorous heartfelt advice for anyone suffering from self-doubt, depression, anxiety, ADHD, creative blocks, distraction, overthinking, and paralysis. That's quite the list and yet Lawson offers her collection of more than one hundred coping strategies for it all.

The book is organized into twelve parts with very short chapters. You can read it straight through or pick and chose sections you may need for a quick boost or reset of your mind. The opening sections will tell you what the short chapters in that section will help you with and the chapter titles will also assist in that endeavor. There are photos, illustrations, and quotes throughout the text.

There were several quotes which I immediately highlighted as they spoke to me right now, which accentuates the intended purpose of the guide. One was the fact that terrible moments make amazing stories which you can share and laugh about. A mantra I have fully embraced for years. Another reminder was something I'm currently struggling with doing, the observation that being kind also means being kind to yourself and removing yourself from bad situations, something that can be easier said than done. An additional tip was that the greatest gift you can give is to share the hard times, the traumatic and terrible things. Even though it may traumatize you, it can also serve to heal those wounds.

Now there were also sections that didn't speak to me right now, but that is the whole purpose of this guide - it will assist you in areas where you need help when you need it. If you are not familiar with Lawson, take note that she is shares deeply personal anecdotes, her humor can be dark, and she can use profanity. 

How to Be Okay When Nothing Is Okay is a mental health guide that offers entertainment and understanding. Thanks to Viking/Penguin for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

Killing Me Softly

 

Killing Me Softly by Sandie Jones
3/31/26; 320 pages
St. Martin's Press 

Killing Me Softly by Sandie Jones is a recommended domestic thriller featuring a cast of disagreeable characters behaving badly and keeping secrets.

Charlie, an up-and-coming chef, and Freya, a charity’s fundraiser, are a picture-perfect loving couple, or are they? When a spectacular fallout at a dinner party with Charlie's boss is followed by the police at their door the next morning with news that Charlie’s car has been involved in a hit-and-run accident. This is followed by the two turning on each other and their true natures being revealed. Accusations, guilt, deception, and vengeance are all involved as the two turn on each other look for someone to blame. Adding to the mix are schemes underway by friends and family.

This is definitely a page turning popcorn thriller. All the characters are insanely conniving as they protect their secrets and make their own evil plans. The narrative alternates between Freya and Charlie’s perspectives while closely following the collapse of their marriage along with an abundance of cunning duplicity from everyone. Unreliable narrators can be an interesting narrative choice, but, honestly, there isn't one likable character present in this tale of domestic turmoil.  As everyone plots behind each other's backs, the stakes rise along with the tension. 

The pacing is a bit off-kilter through the first half of the plot and although stuff happens, for all the drama it still seems slow. Then it picks up the pace as everyone's actions become more suspicious and secrets are outed. Everyone is double-faced and shrewd. There is a shocking twist at the end, but at that point it was expected but did up the thriller aspects of the novel. When down, I felt like I had read this book before but with a better presentation. 3.5, rounded down to 3.

Killing Me Softly is a good choice for those who enjoy domestic thrillers with unreliable, disagreeable characters. 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 Uganda Protocol

 

The Uganda Protocol by Jeffrey James Higgins
3/31/26; 454 pages 
Severn River Publishing
Nathan Burke #4

The Uganda Protocol by Jeffrey James Higgins is a highly recommended international thriller and the fourth novel featuring Nathan Burke. 

FBI Special Agent Nathan Burke is at the airport to take custody of terrorism suspect Imam Omar Yemeni. What he finds instead is a plane full of deceased passengers and Yemeni is no where to be found. This sets into motion an international manhunt for Yemeni, who has many contacts helping him evade being caught. Clearly he and his cohorts are planning something big. Burke needs to find him and thwart the plan.

At the same time Leila Kabiri works as a court interpreter. She is an Iranian immigrant who fled her homeland with her neurodivergent son Darius and mother. As she begins her work as an interpreter, foreign operatives and those working for them begin to contact and threaten her and her family unless she provides them with inside information, placing her in an impossible situation.

This is a well-written, action-packed international thriller in which the tension and suspense keep rising throughout the novel. Time is critical and the conspiracy is global. The stakes are high both internationally and personally as it seems the faction of terrorists is widespread and their actions are planned. As with many thrillers some disbelief must be set aside but this can easily be done along with accepting Burke's seemingly superhuman capabilities. He is an intelligent investigator and exceptionally capable agent who can follow any clues.

The Uganda Protocol can be read as a standalone novel even though it is the fourth book in the series. There is enough general background given on Nathan Burke within the narrative for those who appreciate character development. Everyone reading for the globe-trotting action and heart-stopping action will also be fully rewarded. Those following the series won't want to miss this outing for both the non-stop action and because there are big changes hinted at during the end of the novel. Admittedly, I was hesitant to read this based on current affairs, but after pushing through my misgivings, it proved to be an enjoyable thriller. 

The Uganda Protocol is a great choice for readers who enjoy international thrillers. Thanks to Severn River Publishers for providing me with an advance reader's copy via Edelweiss. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

No Good Deed

 

No Good Deed by Katherine Kovacic
3/31/26; 336 pages
Poisoned Pen Press 

No Good Deed by Katherine Kovacic is a highly recommended character-driven mystery set in the Australian Outback.

Rena is a retired geologist and currently on the cross-country trip she and her husband Tom had planned before he passed away. As she is driving her kitted-out truck on the Great Northern Highway in Western Australia headed for her first destination she notices a burning vehicle off the road and immediately pulls off to see if she can help or stop the fire from spreading. There is no help for the victim inside so Rena calls the police and waits for them. After a few questions the police ask her to stay in the area by the nearby town of Fitzroy Crossing. 

She soon discovers two things. First the area is a proposed site for diamond mining to begin operations and the the community is divided over the action. Then Rena learns that the victim in the vehicle is thought to be a geologist she knew decades earlier. Intrigued by the situation, Rena decides to start looking into the death, especially because it may be related to her area of expertise.

After an attention grabbing opening, No Good Deed features an even-paced plot, even slow at times, that relies more on character development and personal interaction over action, thrills, and twists. While Rena and the police conduct their own separate investigations, the connection to diamonds becomes clear. This make geology which focuses on the exploration for minerals and mining a major plot-point so it helps if this is also an interest of the reader as it becomes important to the plot. The case also becomes increasingly dangerous and threatening toward the end. 

The key to enjoying this novel is Rena. She is portrayed as a complicated, fully-realized, intelligent older woman with strengths and weaknesses. She is grieving the loss of her husband and admits that having a focus and problem to solve will help her mindset. She is certainly a novice sleuth, but the skills she developed as a geologist are useful in noticing details and knowing areas of interest to investigate. Her friendship with much younger Aitch was a welcome addition to the narrative. 

No Good Deed is a good choice for those who would enjoy an even-paced mystery focused on character development over non-stop action-packed twists. 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.     

From the Dust

 

From the Dust by David Swinson
3/31/26; 320 pages
Little, Brown and Company 

From the Dust by David Swinson is a highly recommended murder mystery/police procedural set in a small town in Upstate rural New York.

Retired police detective Graham Sanderson spent years in Washington, DC, as a homicide detective. After his father's death and that of his wife three years earlier, Graham moves into his father's home to look after his brother, Tommy, who suffers from PTSD and agoraphobia. He was hoping for a quiet, peaceful retirement when the local police chief, William Finn, a family friend, asks him to assist brand new detective Mike Gottert with two murders that seem to be connected. Both bodies were found with the same kind of stab wounds. Graham reluctantly agrees to help.

It is always a pleasure to read a well-written police procedural where evidence is collected, people are interviewed, and all the clues are logically uncovered and followed up on as the investigation proceeds. The plot moves at an even pace, picking up toward the end. There aren't multiple wild twists or unbelievable developments along the way, yet suspense rises as the investigation proceeds. You will understand that this rural area is not somewhere where multiple murders are common, but people will also know a bit more about what their neighbors are up to, where they go, and who they see, so a connection between victims is quickly uncovered.

Graham and Tommy are interesting characters and both have had complicated backgrounds which aren't completely revealed here, but may be in a future novel. We know Tommy suffered from abuse at the hands of their mother. Graham also starts a relationship with the woman who owns the bakery in town. 

From the Dust is a great choice for those who appreciate procedurals set in a small town where a crime is logically investigated. Thanks to Little, Brown and Company for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

Killed to Order

 

Killed to Order by Jan Jekielek 
Forewords by Sam Brownback, Joseph Varon 
3/17/26; 264 pages
Skyhorse

Killed to Order by Jan Jekielek is the very highly recommended account of egregious human rights abuses by the CCP. The sub title says it all: The Organ Harvesting Industry of China and the True Nature of America's Biggest Adversary. This is a well-researched account of the nefarious practices of the CCP. 

There is no question that Killed to Order is a difficult book to read based on the atrocities perpetrated by the CCP. Journalist Jan Jekielek, Epoch Times senior editor and host of the show “American Thought Leaders,” does an excellent job taking a plethora of information from reputable sources and combining it with his own research. The result makes a compelling case for the essential need to reconsider our approach to the CCP, especially as they increasingly show that they are a threat to our liberty and  freedom. 

For years there have been news stories, books, and other sources indicating that China is involved with forced organ harvesting and selling organs to people around the world. These organs are harvested from Uyghurs, Falun Gong practitioners (also known as Falun Dafa), and Taiwanese prisoners, along with other targeted groups of undesirable people. As Dr. Joseph Varon makes clear in his introduction: This is not a medical scandal nor an ethical gray zone or policy failure. It is the weaponization of medicine itself. Transplant tourism creates the death on demand and forced organ harvesting. If we do not condemn this evil practice, our silence is complicity in allowing these crimes against humanity.

In the CCP human life has no value beyond an assigned measurable worth - their social credit score - and the party is obsessed with complete control and any action can be justified. The ruling elite always come first. Starting with the human rights abuses, especially the state-sanctioned harvesting of organs, Jekielek exposes the inner workings of the CCP and their regime built on deception, coercion, and control.  Technology will be stolen. Secret police stations are established across Western countries. For them, every technology must have dual usage, especially military applications. Think Covid. 

The book is divided into two parts. Part one covers the ongoing organ harvesting from live people. Part two delves into the history of the CCP and their regime.  Others have tried to get some of this information out for years. Before reading, I had watched an interview between Jan Jekielek and Mike Row. More recently he joined Dr. Bret Weinstein on a Darkhorse Inside Rail.

Killed to Order is an excellent choice for those who follow current events, specifically human rights violations and other atrocities perpetrated by the CCP. Thanks to Skyhorse for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.     

The Guilty Daughter

 

The Guilty Daughter by Victoria Jenkins
3/23/26; 264 pages
Bookouture 

The Guilty Daughter by Victoria Jenkins is a recommended domestic drama and popcorn thriller that purely plays on shocking twists and emotions to keep the pages quickly turning.

Natasha (Tasha) is a criminal barrister who works long hours while her husband Damien's work allows him more flexibility to be there for their fifteen-year-old daughter Ellie. After a recent move, Ellie is exhibiting some teenage rebellion and pushing boundaries. When Tasha returns home one evening to emergency vehicles and an ambulance at a teen party being held across the street, she immediately is concerned that Ellie may be somehow involved. Ellie had been at the party and left abruptly. Now the police want to question her. Ellie, however, isn't the only one with secrets.

This is an uneven novel with a fast pace, plenty of shocking revelations, and a plot that requires you to set a great deal of disbelief aside while reading. It will hold your attention, however, due to the many unexpected turns the plot takes. The short page count also ensures rapid progress through the novel. This makes it a very entertaining novel full of chaotic family drama even while the plot and twists stretch credulity. 

None of the characters are likable or developed enough to garner the level of sympathy required to overlook all of the over-the-top scenes. Perhaps with more depth and backstory the various machinations embedded in the narrative would be more believable and overcome the soapy, popcorn thriller overtones. It's worth mentioning that men are the bad guys throughout the plot, which is a plot element that is becoming clichéd.  

The Guilty Daughter is a good choice for those who enjoy domestic popcorn thrillers. Thanks to Bookouture for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

Scorched Line

 

Scorched Line by Shannon Baker
3/24/26; 273 pages 
Severn River Publishing
Kate Fox #12 

Scorched Line by Shannon Baker is a highly recommended mystery and the twelfth book in the Kate Fox series set in the Sandhills of Nebraska. This time out all the action is focused on family drama.

All of the Fox family is rallying after their sister Louisa was diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer. She is heading to the hospital for a lumpectomy and has instructions for everyone to keep things running smoothly. At the same time, Kate has picked up several clues that point to their estranged mother Marguerite being back in the area. Complicating matters are Louisa having to stay in the hospital longer than expected, a stranger in town making friends with Kate's siblings, and the FBI is back looking for Marguerite. 

The novel moves at a fast-pace following Kate Fox and the on-going family drama, although this time the plot wasn't as complicated or intricate as past novels in the series. The final denouement is predictable, but the drama leading up to it will hold your interest as deceptions and lies are exposed. The question of choosing between legal justice and family, is well played, and Kate's determination to protect her family while struggling with betrayal is a poignant plot element, but honestly, it would be nice to have the whole Marguerite story line done. At the same time Kate's employer, and friend, are still missing in Chile and the novel ends with a hint at the direction the next novel will head.

This is really a series that is best enjoyed by fans who have been following it because of all the backstory I've read several books in it, but still lose track of how some of the characters are connected. Each novel does have an investigation of some kind as the focus, but along with that is the importance of Kate's role in and relationship with her family and other series regulars. Thanks to Severn River Publishing for providing me with an advance reader's copy via Edelweiss. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

Chaos Man

 

Chaos Man by Andrew Mayne
3/24/26; 332 pages
Thomas & Mercer
The Specialists #3 

Chaos Man by Andrew Mayne is an engaging, very highly recommended investigative thriller. I was totally engrossed from the start and thoroughly enjoyed it. This is the third book in The Specialist series which features characters from Mayne's other novels who work together on cases. It can definitely be read as a standalone novel, but fans of Mayne's novels will have greater background information on these characters.

The Specialists are: Theo Cray (computational biologist, math genius, intuitive pattern recognition abilities), Jessica Blackwood (former FBI agent, child of magicians), Brad Trasker (private security specialist, former spy with many military connections) and Sloan McPherson (with the Florida Underwater Investigation Unit).

When a train derails in Idaho, Theo Cray suddenly recognizes a pattern of disasters which connects the derailment to a failure at a battery facility in Florida, along with other previous "accidents" which he now knows were sabotage. Following a mathematical formula, Cray also knows the frequency and scope of the disasters are going to increase, potentially leading to the catastrophic death of millions. When Theo and Jessica are detained by authorities in Idaho, it becomes clear that along with the assistance of Brad and Sloan they will need to follow the clues themselves to stop future disasters perpetrated by a mysterious saboteur who wants to spread chaos.

Chaos Man is another lightning-fast paced, exceptionally well-written thriller with an engaging plot that held my complete attention throughout. Through short chapters, readers can follow the different characters as they logically conduct their investigation using their own, unique individual strengths. There are plenty of gripping action scenes and suspense along the way and the twists, as well as the ending, are not predictable.

At this point, fans of Mayne's novel will know these characters very well. It is entertaining to follow them piecing together clues, using their instincts, and following up on the information they uncover. Each of the Specialists are intelligent, fearless investigators. All of them are portrayed as fully realized unique individuals with strengths and weaknesses and it is always exciting to follow them during their action-packed investigations.

Chaos Man is an excellent choice for those who enjoy well-written, engaging investigative thrillers. I'm always looking forward to Mayne's next book. Thanks to Thomas & Mercer for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.