One Split Second

 

One Split Second by Robert Dugoni
9/15/26; 415 pages
Thomas & Mercer
Tracy Crosswhite #12 

One Split Second by Robert Dugoni is a very highly recommended investigative mystery that covers a current case that has ties back to a cold case from 45 years earlier. This is the twelfth novel in the excellent Detective Tracy Crosswhite series.

Sheriff Jenny Almond of Klickitat County, Washington receives a phone call from Anthony Alvarez, a Vietnam vet who suffers from PTSD, asking for her deceased father and former sheriff, Buzz. Even though Jenny lost her reelection after a dirty campaign by newly elected Travis Beaumont, she responds because she is still the sheriff for a few more weeks. When she gets to Alvarez's place the whole encounter ends with Alvarez shot twice, by Jenny and an unknown shooter. Beaumont charges Jenny with first-degree murder. Jenny calls Detective Tracy Crosswhite and her husband, attorney Dan O’Leary, who both rush to help. While Dan sets in to defend Jenny, Tracy begins to investigate.

Alternate chapters jump back to 1980 and the disappearance of fifteen-year-old babysitter Jacquelyn Parker, which seems to tie into the current case. Buzz Almond was the under sheriff at that time and investigated the case. Initially Alvarez was a person of interest, but it became clear he was framed. As Buzz's investigation in 1980 is followed, Tracy's current investigation uncovers connections back to that case that seem to point to evidence someone is trying to hide.

The writing is exceptional, the pace is fast, the plot is interesting, and the tension rises as the past may be the key to Jenny's defense. Alternating chapters between the kidnapping investigation from 1980 and current investigation and defense of Jenny works exceptionally well in the plot, helping to uncover the conspiracy while holding my complete attention throughout. The story in both timelines is compelling and intricate. The courtroom scenes are especially entertaining.

At this point if you have been following the series, Tracy and Dan are known characters and it is a pleasure to join them in another mystery. For those starting here, One Split Second can be enjoyed as a standalone novel. There is enough background information on the characters to easily jump into the investigation and mystery. The final denouement is very satisfying.

One Split Second is an excellent choice for those who enjoy cold cases solved along side current investigations. Robert Dugoni continues to be a reliable go-to author for me. Thanks to Thomas & Mercer for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

I'll Be Watching You

 

I'll Be Watching You By Allison Brennan
9/15/26; 384 pages
Hanover Square Press
Anelhart Investigations #3 

I'll Be Watching You By Allison Brennan is a very highly recommended investigative procedural and the third novel in the Angelhart Private Investigators series.  It was a pleasure to follow Margot and the Angelhart family in another investigation.

Private investigator Margo Angelhart has recently rejoined her family's PI business, but she is still determined to prove that her father Dr. Cooper Angelhart did not kill Dr. Devin Klein. When Liz Swanson, a nurse who worked with Dr. Cooper, has a patient's entire chart disappear, she mentions it to Georgia Rollins, who was a part of Margo's earlier investigation. Georgia encourages Liz to call Margo. The two agree to meet the next morning, but Liz and her husband are murdered right as they are leaving for the meeting. 

Margo visits her father in prison after this to see if he will tell her the truth now. He encourages her to talk to her mother, Ava. Then, without warning, Cooper is transferred  to a Federal Supermax prison in Colorado at 2 am. Finally, Ava tells the truth. Cooper confessed to the murder to protect his family. Apparently Dr. Devin Klein was murdered after he discovered falsified data from a drug trial, including patients who had their adverse reactions removed from their files. Cooper's family was directly threatened, so he confessed to the murder to protect them. Now the killer is back and the family's investigation to clear Cooper's name will make them all targets.

This is another well-written, compelling, complicated, and intricate investigation in a fast-paced plot. Margot and her whole family with Angelhart investigations work well together, logically follows clues while uncovering a deadly conspiracy. Those involved with the coverup seemingly will do anything, including murder, to keep the falsified data and adverse reactions secret. There are plenty of clues to follow and Margo and her family quickly realize that the danger to the whole family is exponentially growing with each new discovery.

At this point I'm well acquainted with all the characters. They are realistically portrayed as complicated individuals with strengths and some flaws. Margo is tenacious, intelligent, and very intuitive. She has plenty of discernment and can really read people and get them to open up to her when talking to them. Margo's relationship with Cal Rafferty, a DEA agent, is growing.

Even though this is the third book in the series enough background is provided that it can be enjoyed as a standalone novel, but those following the series will, perhaps, enjoy it more as they know the characters and the background information. As a family business, Angelhart Investigations consists of, in part, Margo, an experienced P.I., her brother Jack, a former police detective, her sister Tess, who excels at research, and her mother, Ava, a former county attorney and prosecutor.

I'll Be Watching You is an excellent choice for everyone who enjoys intricate investigations featuring a tenacious P.I. 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 Thoroughbreds

 

The Thoroughbreds by Elin Hilderbrand, Shelby Cunningham
9/15/26; 464 pages
Little, Brown and Company
The Academy #2 

The Thoroughbreds by Elin Hilderbrand and Shelby Cunningham is a recommended drama, for the right reader, and a sequel to The Academy.

School is back in session and the students from The Academy are arriving at Tiffin Academy, a boarding school, for their senior year. This year sees two new students are added to the senior class and two new staff members.  Expect plenty of teen drama, relationships, partying, treachery, and changing allegiances, etc. as the novel follows the school year and follows the school year month by month. Additionally, Head of School Audre Robinson has lost 7 million dollars. The beginning of the novel does recap what happened in the previous book.

The pace moves fast and the story lines provide constant drama, which does keep you reading to see what in the world will happen next. The opening of the novel provides the cast of characters to assist readers in knowing who's who. This should be appealing for those interested in a boarding school drama and all the inside scandals that entails. The brand name dropping always annoys me. Honestly, for me, this seemed to be more a new adult/YA novel and is full of teen angst and misbehavior with only a few more adult scenes in the mix. 

I would recommend that those interested in The Thoroughbreds read The Academy first. I didn't do this and felt the disconnect. It is well-written, but I don't think I was the right reader for this novel. It was just okay for me. 3 very generous stars acknowledging that I was not the intended audience for this novel and others will likely enjoy it much more. 

The Thoroughbreds is for those who enjoyed The Academy. 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.

A Perfect Mother

 

A Perfect Mother by Miranda Smith
260 pages; 9/10/26
Bookouture 

A Perfect Mother by Miranda Smith is a highly recommended, soapy, domestic suspense novel following a social media mommy blogger.

Megan Thorne has made it. She has an impressive and profitable social media presence with her blog "The Years Are Short," and a best selling book. Her content features her and her adorable five year-old daughter, Stella, with her husband Ian preferring to stay in the background. She has two nannys/helpers, Sabrina and Tanner, and even a social media advisor, Eliza.

Imagine her shock when, during the media questions following her speaking at a conference, Sabrina stumbles into the room, blood on her face, and no Stella in sight. Apparently, while in the bathroom on the main floor of the conference center, Sabrina was injured and Stella was kidnapped. Katy Wang, head of security, looks at the cameras and they find the suspected perpetrator. Detective Olivia Ross is on the case with her team. Megan is left wondering how this can be happening to her.

There is plenty of tension and drama as the intricacies of the plot unfold. The narrative is presented from the point-of-view of Megan and the kidnapper in alternate chapters. As Megan is a self-absorbed, self-promoting lifestyle and mommy blogger, most readers should already be primed to have some dislike for her just on the amount of narcissism this requires. The kidnapper has her own agenda. There really isn't a lot of character development for anyone beyond the main characters, but don't expect any likable characters beyond Stella, Ian, and minor characters like Detective Ross. 

As some basic background information is released, some plot points are predictable early on in the narrative. However, since the page count is low, the pages will fly by. Set disbelief aside, stay hydrated, and enjoy the soap opera-like disaster about to implode. This could also be a cautionary tale to keep the photos of your children private, and regulate your online profile to a minimum, especially if you have some hefty secrets to hide. The over-the-top ending is really something spectacularly enjoyable.  

A Perfect Mother is a good choice for anyone looking for a short, fast-paced, entertaining soapy drama. Thanks to Bookouture for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

Board to Death

 

Board to Death by J.C. Eaton
8/18/26; 314 pages
Level Best Books
A Charcuterie Shop Mystery #5 

Board to Death by J.C. Eaton is a recommended cozy mystery, for the right reader, and the fifth book in the Charcuterie Shop Mysteries series. J.C. Eaton is the penname for Ann I. Goldfarb and James E. Clapp.

Katie Aubrey owns the Char-board, a charcuterie restaurant and sandwich shop in Cave Creek, Arizona. Katie also has a vintage-clothes-loving ghost, Edith Ellroy, living in her home and apparently Edith is in trouble with her Supervisor from the Netherworld Larkeshian Drimmelspout, Larken for short. Edith has missed her bi-annual performance review and Larken is looking for her. Edith, who seemingly follows Katie around everywhere is constantly interrupting and making snarky comments only Katie can hear. 

The busy week has even more complications when the Heavenly Holsteins Dairy Farm is sabotaged resulting in a whole lot of cows running loose and blocking roads. Katie and her employees Lilly-Ann, Javie, and Matt, already have several caterings, including preparing twenty custom charcuterie boards for an event at The Pinnacle, a prestigious five-star senior residence. Then, as the event is winding down, Katie and an employee discover the body of The Pinnacle's manager beneath a date palm. It was murder, and there is some evidence that connects it to Javier. Clearing his name is the impetus for Katie to start investigating the Pinnacle and its residents on her own.

Honestly, at the heart of this novel is a very good cozy mystery. Katie inserts herself into the investigation and looks for clues that will solve the whodunit. What sets it back and significantly lowered my rating is the gimmicky inclusion of the multiple ghostly annoyances, and their overly large and exaggerated role in the novel. The synopsis mentions Edith, but it didn't hint at the major role she plays in the plot. That Katie even replies to Edith, out loud, with others around, was exasperating and points to questionable mental health. Sure, I guess all the shenanigans add an element of humor to the plot, but what it takes away from the plot is credibility.

The novel can be read as a standalone novel, although reading the previous novel would provide more background information about the character. Intrigued by the charcuterie plot element, this was my sampling of the series and I'm going to bypass the previous novels in the series based on the plague of irritating ghosts. 2.5 rounded up when needed. It would be 4 but for the bothersome Edith and friends.

Board to Death will best be appreciated by those already following the series. Thanks to Level Best Books for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

The Christmas Killer

 

The Christmas Killer by Ross Greenwood
9/2/26: 330 pages
Boldwood Books
DI Barton #9 

The Christmas Killer by Ross Greenwood is a very highly recommended police procedural and the 9th book in the DI Barton Series. Expect a plethora of twists and surprises in this unpredictable plot.

Barton, who is on sabbatical, is out golfing with retired medical examiner Mortis, who subsequently invites Barton to join him at the scene of a mummified body he has been asked to examine. Immediately following this DC Superintendent Andrew Troughton calls Barton also inviting him to examine the same scene and asking him to return for two weeks to help the investigation as MIT is short staffed due to illness. The scene is brutal. The victim was taped to a chair, with his mouth taped shut, and left to die a slow, tortuous death. When another murder occurs closely resembling the first, the race is on to uncover the past secret that connects the two, and hopefully prevent any more from occurring. 

This is a very well-written, unpredictable procedural with an abundance of twists. The complicated investigation logically and intelligently follows all the clues. It held my complete attention throughout. The murder investigation serves to keep the tension high and accelerating throughout the novel as the team digs into the past to try and uncover the identity of the intelligent and cunning killer. Along with the murder investigation there is also an ongoing departmental internal investigation, so the tension is already high. Even the weather becomes an ominous atmospheric presence as winter storms arrive.

The narrative is mainly told through Barton's point-of-view, along with a few others, including the killer. For those following the series, these are all known characters and we have a history with them. Greenwood does include a cast of characters at the beginning of the novel to assist those new to DI Barton novels as well as anyone who needs a refresher course on the characters. The novel will be loved and welcomed by fans, however, it could also be enjoy as a standalone novel for new readers. 

The Christmas Killer is an excellent choice for anyone who enjoys complex procedurals along with readers following the beloved series. Thanks to Boldwood Books for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

Switzy

 

Switzy by Emma Cline
9/8/26; 352 pages
Random House 

Switzy by Emma Cline is an exceptional, very highly recommended literary novel following a man with Alzheimer’s disease on his final destination. This novel has been rightfully longlisted for the 2026 Booker Prize and will be on my list of best books of the year.

"Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light."

                                                        - Dylan Thomas 

The narrative follows the scattered, thoughts in the mind of David Hastings. He is in his 70's and has amyloid plaques in his brain, the primary markers of Alzheimer’s. David hears this as Amy Lloyd, and hates her. His former boss loaned him his private plane to fly to Switzerland for his assisted death. Traveling with David is his assistant, Cody, who has all the schedules and papers needed. "The boy" keeps track of David. In David's pocket is his notebook, with notes he can no longer read. The two will stopover in London to see David's daughter and meet an estranged friend in France. Then they will meet Anna Gould, called Ghoul by David, for his final destination.

Switzy is an incredible, masterful novel and the writing is absolutely perfect as it captures the interior dialogue in David's mind, as well as the situations he tries to traverse during his final trip. He mishears words, has bursts of anger, loses himself in past memories, can be suspicious of Cody, and forgets... Oh, how he forgets as his mind is unraveling, while at the same time he is trying to remember and unable to grasp what he once had. Is he likeable, no, not at all, nor is he relatable, but he is a sympathetic character because in the final sum of a man's life, death comes to all. 

Switzy is an excellent choice for everyone who appreciates literary novels covering hard topics. Thanks to Random House for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

Fury in Death

 

Fury in Death by J. D. Robb
9/8/26; 368 pages
St. Martin's Press
In Death/Eve Dallas Series #63 

Fury in Death by J. D. Robb is a highly recommended procedural for those following the long-running series. This is the 63rd book in the In Death/Eve Dallas Series.

The opening chapter is set in 2048 and introduces us to Steve Redman, his son Luke, 2, and his very pregnant wife Ari. Steve works for the Banner-Wyst Corporation on the Rainmaker Project and is on the path to stabilizing the climate. However, he just discovered some of the people in power at the company are traitors who are planning to use the ability to control the climate to their own benefit for power and financial gain. He has installed a virus into his program and plans to talk to the FBI the next day. As he is returning from buying ice cream for his wife, their building is bombed and all the residents perish, including his family.

In September 2061 NYSPD lieutenant Eve Dallas and her partner Detective Delia Peabody respond to the death of Dave Pressley. It appears the retire 83 year-old man accidentally fell off a ladder, but Dallas needs to collect all the evidence to be sure. Then she is called to another death. The victim is Lawrence (Larry) Cho and this time it was clearly no accident as he has been brutally beaten to death. Cho was the director of bio engineering at Banner-Wyst. As the investigation continues, it appears that Cho received a large payout 13 years earlier from the company and since then he has amassed a great deal of wealth. It seems the killer may be tied to the Banner-Wyst Corporation.

This long-running futuristic procedural introduces features the return of the known series characters and continues their stories and development while uncovering clues to solve the murders. The procedural part of the narrative is satisfying as they logically investigate, uncover information, and followup on clues and leads.Honestly, as this is the 63rd book in the series, fans know all the characters, their history, and will be anxious to read this latest installment. 

The actual investigation is rather predictable. The fact that the perpetrator is known from the start didn't work for me in this novel. It means readers are missing and have lost some of the intrigue created by following clues and trying to piece together the identity of the killer. Yes, we have the background information which provides the impetus for his actions, but in this case it didn't make up for a lack of mystery. Since I've only read a couple books in this series, I'm not quite as accepting about knowing whodunit from the start. 

Fury in Death will be appreciated by all those following the long running 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.

Untamed Coast

 

Untamed Coast by Kevin C. Morris
9/1/26; 304 pages
Ballantine

Untamed Coast by Kevin C. Morris is a very highly recommended debut mystery set on the Alaskan coastline and told through three timelines. 

In 2017 Marconi (Marco) Franco is still grieving the loss of his wife, Michelle, while carrying on their dream aboard their boat, Radio Flyer, in the coastal waters of Chichagof, Alaska, by Pelican, when he receives a garbled radio message on a SSB (single sideband ) radio from a woman who seemingly has fallen overboard and is in the water. She says something about an island and a red metal roof. Marco switches to VHF and contacts the coastguard about the message, but he is determined to also search for the woman. 

In 1938 Joe Baxter is on Radioville, an island off Chichagof in a cabin with a red roof.  It is a communication outpost and temperature monitoring station and Joe, the radio operator there, provides radio contact via Morse Code for the locals to the mainland. He also has a secret gold smuggling operation. Currently, the island has been offline for 70 years. Then, in 1982, Anya Baron is in the same waters operating the fishing boat Lady Melinda with her abusive husband.

As Marco continues his search for the missing woman, he learns that two other women have also gone overboard recently. Since he is sure the coast guard will only be doing a perfunctory one, he continues searching. Then it seems that someone doesn't want him to continue looking and he might be in danger. 

This is a well-written debut novel that uses the three different timelines to it's advantage. All three stories are interesting and quite different from each other. The danger also increases, due to both the setting and the characters/actions, in all three  time periods as the narrative unfolds. I appreciated that the individual stories in each timeline played out before everything began to come together. It also has a very strong sense of place and time in each storyline. 

Rest assured, the stories from the three individuals do all eventually converge and make sense in the very satisfying final denouement. I appreciated the descriptions of the setting and the way everything came together in the plot. This is a good debut novel and I enjoyed Morris's writing style. 4.5 rounded up when needed.

Untamed Coast is a great choice for those who enjoy intricate mysteries in a unique, authentic setting. Thanks to Ballantine for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

Sez I to Myself

 

Sez I to Myself: The Collected Essays by Frank and Malachy McCourt 
Editors: Tom Allon, Jonah Allon  
9/8/26: 336 pages
Abrams Press 

Sez I to Myself: The Collected Essays by Frank and Malachy McCourt is a very highly recommended collection of essays, articles, and speeches from the brothers which span decades. For those who have enjoyed their writing over the years this will be a welcomed and cherished addition to your library. I have been anxiously anticipating reading this and it was a pleasure to do so.

Both of the McCourt brothers were gifted story tellers and known for their wit, shared memories, insight and keen observations. All of the pieces included are exceptionally well-written and distinctly personal from their individual points-of-view. The pieces in this collection run the gamut from humorous to deeply serious. Frank (1930–2009) died at 72 and his brother, Malachy (1931–2024) at 92. It is a pleasure to read every one of these pieces.

The essays are sorted into eight topics. Each essay is presented with it's title, where it was published, the date of publication and which McCourt authored the piece. There is a Foreword and Editor's note by Tom Allon and Jonah Allon and Acknowledgements at the end. Contents include (I'm only including the date and author of the essays): 

The Writing Life: Looking at Schools, Bars, and Houses of Worship (1987, Frank); My Mission: Write 800 Words Weekly (2001, Malachy); Growing Dependent on the Wayne Independent (2003, Malachy); Excerpt from a 2003 Speech at the Southampton Writers Conference (Frank); Yes, I Can Go Home Again (2000, Malachy)

McSorley's and the Rest: McSorley's: A Great Manhattan Pub (1987, Frank); Kiss Me I'm Irish (1999, Malachy); Yes, Recovery's Possible (2001, Malachy); A Ship, A Pint, and a Pamplona (1988, Frank)

The Religious Life: When You Think of God What Do You See? (1998, Frank); Defenders of the Faith (2000, Malachy); The People of Mercy at Ansche Chesed (1988, Frank); This Old House (1999, Malachy); Exploration and "Humanness" (1988, Frank); They're Seeking Scapegoats (2002, Malachy); The Pope and I (2003, Frank); Mourning My Pals (2001, Malachy); Spiritual Business as Usual at Methodist Church (1988, Frank); Where We Pray (2004, Frank)

New York City and 9/11: We Share Certain Images From the 11th. They Won't Go Away (2001, Frank); A Season to Honor Fallen Firefighters (2001, Malachy); The Dog's Days of Summer (2004, Frank); Advice: Get Out (2001, Malachy); New York: My Town, One Year On (2002, Frank); Packing For America (2004; Frank); Remembering John Scanlon (2001, Malachy); Because of the Pitcher's Eye (2000, Frank); What About the Homeless? (2005, Malachy); From an Affair with Books to a Book Fair (1997, Frank); How Tragedy Reveals America's Vital Heart (2001, Malachy); Seeing Rudy the G. Through a Hayes (1999, Malachy); The Day the Lights Went Out: Blackouts, a Rite of New York (2003, Frank)

The Classroom: On Staten Island: a Buried Treasure (1998, Frank); Brandeis Class Examines Afro-American Literature (1987, Frank); Mothers Who Get By (1997, Frank); An Immodest Proposal (1999, Malachy); What Children Really Want for 1988 (1988, Frank); Love and Learning at Children's Storefront (1988, Frank); Not for Extra Credit (1999, Frank); Hope and Education (1998, Frank); This West Side Story Is Doing What You Want (1988, Frank)

The Irish Life and St. Patrick's Day: Visiting with Bill at a Magazine Pow Wow (2001, Malachy); Patrick Was No Saint (2002, Malachy); Getting Mired in the Oul' Sod (1970, Frank); Cardinal Sins (1999, Malachy); On the Trail of a Jewish Princess (1971, Frank); Neighbors Provide Entertainment (1998, Malachy); Back on the Job (2002, Malachy); A Parcel of Celtic Paradox (1998, Frank); Ashes to Ashes? (2001, Malachy); Blowing the Lid Off... The Spud (1990, Frank); James Joyce Destroyed My Romance (1997, Frank)

Family: My Mother (2009, Frank); Not Ordinary Ever (1999, Malachy); Christmas Past (1997, Frank); The Brother (1998, Malachy); The Random Nature of the Grim Reaper (2000, Malachy); The Good Old Days of Raising Kids Are Over (2001, Malachy); My Unsainted Brother (2009, Malachy); Deadhead Daughter (1998, Frank)

Bits and Pieces: The Puritanical Punishing World of Business (2001, Malachy); A Diseased Nation Moans (2000, Malachy); Saluting a Fine Young Man (1999, Malachy); Closing a Hellhole (2000, Malachy); Smoke Out the Smokers (2002, Malachy); A Speech at the 2002 Southampton Writers Conference (Frank)

Sez I to Myself: The Collected Essays is an excellent choice for those who appreciated the McCourt's writing and is perfect addition to any library.  Thanks to Abrams Press for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

Sipsworth

 

Sipsworth by Simon Van Booy
5/7/24; 240 pages
paperback 9/1/26
David R. Godine, Publisher 

Sipsworth by Simon Van Booy is a very highly recommended tender and insightful literary tale about an elderly woman finding a reason to live.

After living in Australia for six decades, Helen Cartwright, 83, has returned to the village of her childhood to finish her life where it began. Since losing both her husband, Len, and son, David, she is ready to face the end of her days. She's living an uneventful life in a detached pensioner's cottage on Westminster Crescent where one day seems like another until she brings in an aquarium from the neighbors trash. Initially she notices a diver toy inside and it reminds her of David, but, later, she hear something late at night and discovers a mouse inside a box in the aquarium.

Initially, she wants wants to get rid of it but the mouse ends up living in her kitchen sink, is named Sipsworth, and he watches TV and listening to the radio with her, while sitting in a slipper. The arrival of Sipsworth gets her out, interacting with the world and meeting people, as she cares for him. We also learn that Helen was a once a renowned pediatric cardiologist when Sipsworth has a medical issue and she meets people willing to help her save him. Caring for him gives her a reason to live.

This is simply a lovely, heartwarming, compassionate, and well-written story of an elderly woman opening herself up to caring, finding a new reason to want to live, and allowing new friends into her life. In the opening of the novel, Helen is a bit of a curmudgeon, but readers will see a gradual change in her as Sipsworth provides companionship and gives her a purpose, as she opens herself up to caring and, in that, establishing a connection to other people. 

If you have ever felt alone, if your life has lost all meaning, and then made a surprising connection with a pet (or person) you will understand Helen. Taking care of Sipsworth gives her life meaning, a goal, and purpose again. She thought she would die alone, but clearly she now has a group of people who will care, help, and watch out for her, just as she will for Sipsworth.  

Sipsworth is an excellent choice for those who appreciate heartwarming stories with meaning  and insight into the human condition. Thanks to Godine for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

Good Villains

 

Good Villains by Shane Cashman
9/1/26; 312 pages
Skyhorse 

Good Villains by Shane Cashman is a highly recommended collection of fourteen news stories/essays, following an introduction. In the essays Cashman presents his personal journey along with a cultural investigation of various personalities. As with any collection of essays, some will resonate and interest readers more than others. As Bret Easton Ellis said, “Cashman will infuriate, delight, and offend just about everybody.”  Keep in mind the full title is: Good Villains: My Journey to the Frontlines of Fame, Controversy, and the War on Reality. 

You may not agree with him or be interested in all of the selections, but they do represent the wide variety of interviews/topics/stories/experiences from his point-of-view during a specific time period. However, he is also a journalist and these stories are all extremely well-written. Many will know Cashman from his appearances on and work for Tim Pool and for his show Inverted World Live, which should clue you into where some of his interests lie (conspiracies, big foot sightings, aliens, mind control, etc.). In a very timely manner while I was reading these essays Fauci was in the news repeatedly pleading the fifth with his twee diary exposed. Along with many people Cashman's life was very much personally affected by Covid and opens with this marking his entry into politics and current political topics. 

Contents include:

The Invisible Enemy: the intro and covid; "Either it'd [covid] disappear from headlines in a week or it was going to become my generations next psychological scar - like 9/11, WWDs, Y2K, Columbine, or worse, the Macarina."
The case for President Ye
Invalid Ballot Department - Kari Lake
The Perpetual Truama Machine - the Doomsday clock, Eliza Bleu 
Ohio's Airborne Toxic Event - The contamination and nonexistent/lackluster response after the catastrophic train crash and fire in East Palestine, Ohio
The Million Dollar Mullet - Riff Raff
Everyone Loves Alex Jones
The Bridge to Nowhere - smuggling and unsecured border
Vultures in Miami - Ye 
The Demon Hunters - Alex Rosen's Predator Poachers
The invasion of the Tech Vampires - "A tech vampire is a monster that pretends to be human that works in Silicon Valley and creates evil technology to feed off you, your emotion, your fear, your hatred, your love, and your dreams."
Inauguration at the End of the World - the incestuous relationship between politics and media
The FBI Sacrifices One of It's Own - whistle blower Teresa Tumblin
The Simulation is Burning - the Charlie Kirk assassination, do not let your emotions capture you, do not let your biases hold you hostage
Who Will Survive and What Will Become of Them?

Admittedly, there were some interviews/stories that didn't interest me (Ye, Eliza Bleu, Riff Raff, Alex Jones) but I found the others interesting whether I agreed with Cashman's extrapolations or not. It was noted that some reviews I saw were negative with no basis in reality. Yes, some of the topics may be polarizing for some people, but in that case, be a professional, note the essay you didn't like, and move on. Or, if you are not going to finish the book, say you are going to decline reviewing it and why. Of course the collection is from his point-of-view and biases and you are showing your point-of-view and biases by DNF it and then giving it one star. Certainly you can't disagree with stopping child predators, porn, and traffickers or think that it is a conspiracy? 

Good Villains is an excellent choice for those interested in journalistic essays and stories from an independent point-of-view. Thanks to Skyhorse for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

The Long Call

 

The Long Call by Ann Cleeves
9/3/19; 400 pages
St. Martin's Press 
Two Rivers #1 (Detective Matthew Venn)  

The Long Call by Ann Cleeves is a recommended procedural/murder mystery and the first book in the Two Rivers series which feature Detective Matthew Venn.

DI Matthew Venn is secretly attending the funeral of his father. He was raised in the Barum Brethren church and he was immediately shunned by his parents when he renounced their religion. Now he is a police detective in North Devon and married to Jonathan Church. After silently leaving the service he receive a call about a body found stabbed on a nearby beach. He meets DS Ross May and DS Jen Rafferty at the scene at Crow Point. From an address found on the body they quickly learn the man is Simon Walden. The tattoo of an albatross on his neck helps with the ID. 

The address is for a house where Simon Walden rented a room. It is owned by Caroline, daughter of Woodyard trustee Christopher Preece. Gaby Henry also shares the house with Caroline. The investigation quickly leads to the Woodyard Center, a restored factory that’s home to  counseling services, artists, and charitable organizations and is run by Jonathan. It is also quickly learned that Walden often rode the bus and befriended Lucy Braddick, a woman with Down syndrome who attended classes at the Center. The case is a slowly evolving set of clues and then another event happens, putting the pressure on the investigation.

This is a well-written procedural which provides very detailed descriptions of the people and the area along with a lot of background information. Expect a plethora of descriptions and character development. It is also very even-paced, even slow, until late in the novel. As someone who loves procedural, the team does follow clues in a logical manner while a lot of deception and lies are delivered to them, however the pacing dragged the story down. 

It does serve the purpose of introducing Matthew Venn and the setting as the first book in the series. Apparently this was also opted for a TV series. The issues is that I never felt fully invested in the plot or the characters and didn't particularly enjoy some of the descriptions. It could be that this first novel in the series is now already dated due to the attempt to be relevant. It would have served Cleeves better to simply write a good murder mystery/procedural with a fast-paced investigation. 2.5 rounded up because this novel may be an aberration for the normally very good oeuvre one normally expects from Cleeves.

The Long Call is a good choice for those who want to read the first book in the Two Rivers 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.

A Small Memory

 

A Small Memory by Robert Dyer
8/11/26; 304 pages
Atmosphere Press 

A Small Memory by Robert Dyer is a very highly recommended coming-of-age novel about friendship, forgiveness, memories, and recovery from trauma. This is an exceptionally well-written novel that captures a moment in time that completely changes two lives.

In 1975, Mike Youngstown is eighteen, fresh out of high school, and headed to Appleton College in Morrison Ohio for classes and to play basketball. His best friend Ted Dirksen who is older than him and already attending college, has a great offer for Mike. Ted's roommate is leaving and Mike can take his place as a counselor at the group home for developmentally disabled adult men. They get room, board and a small salary while teaching the men, Stuart, Mark, Paul, John, Kevin, and Henry, the basic skills to live on their own. They all have jobs during the day and go home on the weekends. 

After several incidents involving Henry, one where Mike had to pull him off Ted, he is replaced by Ray. It is immediately clear that Ray doesn't get along with the other residents and has a violent temper which is demonstrated when he threatens Ted with a screw driver and Mike had to restrain him. The Hope Agency Executive Director, Brad Douglas dismisses their concerns. Then Mike returns home one weekend night and finds Ted seriously injured and Ray, who does not go home on weekends, is gone, along with Ted's car. Ted is left in a coma. 

Ted's injury and gradual recovery marks the start of an emotionally charged, nuanced, thoughtful and insightful examination of friendship, forgiveness, memories, and blame. Their easy, well established friendship is displayed early in the novel, so we know what Mike has lost. He is there for Ted and his parents as the long road to recovery begins. Mike is at the hospital daily and blames himself for Ted's attack. He is sure he could have stopped it if he was there and carries the huge burden of guilt that grows and even threatens his relationship with his long time girlfriend, Karen.

The unreserved honesty of Mike's psychological state is clearly and honestly portrayed as he realizes he has lost the previously comfortable ease of his friendship with Ted. He also needs to undertake the enormous task of forgiving himself, along with others. With the change of Ted, their previous relationship has died, so he is in mourning for what was, even as he works toward a new relationship and friendship with Ted as he slowly recovers. He also needs to heal his relationship with Karen, which he set aside after Ted's injury.

What makes this an especially poignant narrative is the youth and future potential of these two young men who are portrayed as realistic characters. Mike is only eighteen when this happened and not yet fully matured. Ted's loss of capacity marks a sudden propulsion into maturity and an increase of responsibility for Mike. At the same time, Mike is continually struggling with blaming himself/forgiving himself while still trying to do his best. This reads like a real life experience. 

A Small Memory is an excellent choice for those who appreciate coming-of-age stories depicting life-changing events. Thanks to Atmosphere Press for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

Paper Ghosts

 

Paper Ghosts by Sarah Addison Allen
9/1/26; 288 pages
St. Martin's Press 

Paper Ghosts by Sarah Addison Allen is a recommended Southern Gothic ghost story permeated with generational family secrets and a hint of magic realism. It follows two grandmothers in the Wester family, one in 1976 and her granddaughter in the present day.

1976: In Hen Town, North Carolina, Alice Wester runs the town. She knows all the secrets and isn't hesitant about using them to her advantage. Living with her is her 18 year-old granddaughter Willamena (Wills) who will be graduating from high school soon and is then set to marry Terrence Wester, a fourth cousin chosen by her grandmother for Wills. When former resident Andy Smooth offers to give the high school a free concert, it results in Smooth kicking Jack Vaughn out of the band. Wills is immediately taken with Vaughn, which has repercussions and ends disastrously.

Present Day: Willamena is now the matriarch of the Wester family and she has taken her grandmother's position in the town. She has the same gift her grandmother had and has her own rules. Will's son Terrence (Tug) arrives with his daughter/her granddaughter Bailey after the death of her mother. Bailey is instructed to call Wills, "Mim." She lives there through high school, discovers she has the same gift her grandmother has, leaves after an "event." In the final part of the novel Bailey returns eight years later.

The opening section set in 1976 was intriguing and displayed potential for an interesting novel. Then the abrupt jump decades ahead in time left my interest behind, still yearning to complete the 1976 plot thread. This disjointed experience continued with Bailey, seeing her through high school and subsequently jumping ahead another eight years. A person as a child or at 18 is not the same person when they are 30, 40, etc. and have faced life, with all the dilemmas, consequences, struggles, and, hopefully, overcoming them. There are secrets and betrayals throughout. 

All of these jumps in time simply served to destroy the pacing, character development, and ultimately my interest. Wills was left as a husk of a character. Certainly Bailey learns long-buried secrets connected with the ghosts, but the price was the lack of character development and pacing. I'm not a huge fan of straight-up ghost stories, per se, but appreciate Southern Gothic fiction, and this seemed to veer too far into the ghost territory, leaving some more nuanced magical realism behind. In the end I realized that I am definitely not the target reader for this novel. 2.5 but rounded up for the prose and the book cover.

Paper Ghosts would be a good choice for those who enjoy supernatural 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.

Scion

 

Scion by James Islington
9/1/26; 240 pages
S&S/Saga Press 

Scion by James Islington is a highly recommended cyberpunk dystopian science fiction thriller following a hired assassin and, by all appearances, this novel is very likely the start of a new series. 

Living in a corporate dystopian world where the ultra-wealthy "lifers" can pay for immortality, Azure is an assassin whose revs (somatic and cognitive genetic revisions or enhancements) give him a significant edge in combat. He works for the Keres, who paid for his revs and now they assign him contracts/jobs to pay off his debt. After a job eliminating a lifer that required he first fights a biotech bipedal Argos with 6 clawed arms in order to get inside, Atti, his AI software assistant, gives Azure his next assignment. He has a 2 week contract to protect, Jasa, who is clearly one of the ultra-wealthy, but appears to be quite old, before other assassins kill her. 

This short novel is very tightly plotted and the pace is lightning fast. Above all else, it is very entertaining. It features non-stop action as the characters, especially Azure, move from one threat and one temporary solution to another. Azure is an interesting, morally ambiguous character. Much of his intuition, reactions, and the multiple twists are all handled in a rather causal, humorous way, even when they are deadly.  When he learns who Jasa really is, it adds an additional twist more than once.

Admittedly, the abbreviated length of the novel also resulted in a loss of complex explanations in the world building as well as the tech and advancements. Much of these things are simply mentioned rather than explained in the narrative as the plot propels itself forward. It seemed to be a very cinematic approach, which means if you can picture in your mind what you are reading, it will greatly improve your enjoyment. Actually, I thought this could be a great movie the whole time I was reading. It is great escapism.

Scion is a great choice for anyone looking for a fast-paced cyberpunk dystopian thriller that should be made into a movie. Thanks to Saga Press for providing me with an advance reader's copy via Edelweiss. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

The Truth About Ruby Cooper

 

The Truth About Ruby Cooper by Liz Nugent
1/26/27; 336 pages; Gallery Books
Simon & Schuster Canada (3/12/26) 

The Truth About Ruby Cooper by Liz Nugent is a very highly recommended, twisty, psychological domestic drama following two sisters and the scandal that changes their lives and family forever. This is an incredible, compelling drama that unfolds over decades and is un-put-downable. 

Sixteen-year-old Ruby Cooper is jealous of her beautiful, intelligent eighteen-year-old sister Erin. They live in Brookline, a suburb of Boston. Their father, Douglas Cooper is an investment broker and the pastor over several churches. Their mother Maureen is Irish. In September 1999, an incident happens that results in immediate, major repercussions for the whole family. Ruby and her mother leave in a hurry for Ireland, to live with her grandmother in Dublin, while Erin and her father stay behind. Erin moves to her Aunt Rachel's house in Worchester.  

The novel then follows Ruby and Erin over 25 years and the impact the incident had on their lives for decades. Ruby and Maureen stay in Ireland. Ruby spirals into self-destructive actions and addiction. Erin focuses on her education at Harvard and a career. Erin also continually receives anonymous messages attacking and threatening her. Their parents divorce. Ruby studies drama and theater but ends up going to rehab. She has a daughter, father unknown. The two remain unreconciled and estranged.

The writing is absolutely perfect, as is the pacing. The plot is intelligent, layered, twisty and intricate. The questions raised are troubling as these characters traverse an uncharted course impinged by trauma, addiction, and long held resentment and trust issues, all while heading for an intense reckoning. It will hold your complete attention even while you know that there is no sugar coated resolution in sight as they head for a brutal fallout.

This is a novel that focuses on exceptional character development. They are all depicted in depth as complex, nuanced, fully realized individuals with strengths and weaknesses, and their emotional scars are many. These are not likable characters, but they are very much realistic characters. As the narrative alternates between Erin and Ruby’s perspectives over time, two very different women emerge based on what they are struggling with, but they are both damaged and their lives were totally changed.

The Truth About Ruby Cooper by Liz Nugent is an excellent choice for everyone who enjoys complex, twisty domestic dramas with flawed characters. Thanks to Gallery Books for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

Bring Them Home

 

Bring Them Home by Carolyn Arnold
8/27/26; 324 pages
Bookouture
Detective Amanda Steele #16

Bring Them Home by Carolyn Arnold is a very highly recommended procedural/crime thriller and the 16th book in the series set in Prince William County, Virginia, featuring Detective Amanda Steele. This is another excellent addition to the series.

A family disappears and evidence shows they have been kidnapped. Detective Amanda Steele and her partner Detective Trent Stenson are first alerted to the crime when officer Traci Cochran is called out to investigate a car that has been in a mall parking lot for several days. At the scene through the window is observe a purse with a phone on the front seat inside, something a person would not leave behind for days. It is determined that the missing family is Paul, Valerie, and their teen daughter Brooke Archer. (Their son Landon has been hospitalized for months.) A black van is filmed on security cameras holding those who abducted Brooke and Valerie at the mall, while is taken Paul at another location.

While investigating, the team is called out to a remote farm field where the remains of a body have been found. It is a gruesome scene as the vultures have been at the body. (It was not "charred" as written in the synopsis.) Their activity was the indication to the farmer that something dead was in his field. The body is that of Paul Archer, who also happened to be Amanda's adopted daughter Zoe's teacher, which opens up a whole other trauma. Then Amanda uncovers a connection to a woman who went missing ten years ago and the case becomes even more complicated.

This is another excellent, compelling addition to the series of well-written, fast-paced, and well-plotted procedurals. The tension increases as Amanda and Trent logically follow the clues and discoveries as the investigation uncovers several suspects, lines of inquiry are expanded, and unexpected information is revealed. Even though this is the 16th book in the series, it can be appreciated as a standalone novel, especially for fans of procedurals who enjoy carefully following logical, complicated investigations rather than personalities.

Detective Amanda Steel and her partner Trent Stenson are well developed and known to those following the series, but those new to it will appreciate the intelligent, likable characters. They are fully realized characters who always logically follow the clues and information they discover. Amanda is a strong woman and this time out she must also deal with Zoe being re-traumatized. There is some forward movement in the relationship between Amanda and Trent. 

Bring Them Home is a perfect 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.

The Opposite of Murder

 

The Opposite of Murder by Sophie Hannah
8/25/26; 352 pages
Poisoned Pen Press 

The Opposite of Murder by Sophie Hannah is a recommended murder mystery which opens with a woman at the police station confessing to a murder she wants to commit, but hasn't yet done.

Jemma Stelling wants to murder her stepmother, Marianne Upton. She believes her confession to the police will stop her from committing the act, but the police are obviously questioning her mental stability. While Jemma is at the station, Marianne is found murdered, stabbed to death. This gives Jemma an excellent alibi, but begs the question did she plan the murder for someone else to commit. 

First, this is an evil stepmother tale, you really can't trust anyone and you will be required to suspend a huge dose of disbelief while reading. In this case, I wasn't entirely sure it was worth it, but the final reveal is satisfying. 

The strong opening is followed by the introduction to a large cast of unreliable and several unlikable characters. The narrative follows them from October 30th to November 7th through the points-of-view of mainly Jemma, but also Charlie, Gibbs/Sellers, Simon, and Sam. Also interspersed through the narrative are diary entries. The frequent shifting, and altogether unreliable perspectives in this very dialogue heavy narrative can become annoying.  The whole secret room/office red herring was also annoying.

It should be mentioned that the plot is complex and clues are present along the way which can piece together the mystery. If you enjoy closely following clues and don't mind just going with the flow, no matter how unbelievable it is, this novel may work well for you. However, this complexity combined with the shifting points-of-view can result in the direction of the plot feeling vague, off-putting, and occasionally overwhelming, especially if you are craving a more straightforward action-packed procedural or murder mystery. 

The Opposite of Murder may be a good choice for those who enjoy dialogue heavy mysteries and can suspend disbelief. 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.

The Silent Appeal

 

The Silent Appeal by Janice Hallett
8/25/26; 480 pages
Atria Books
The Appeal Series #2

The Silent Appeal by Janice Hallett is a highly recommended mystery which is presented in an epistolary novel. The series which began with The Appeal, followed by the novella The Christmas Appeal, returns readers to Lower Lockwood and the local theater group, The Fairway Players. This can be read as a standalone novel.

This year the Fairway Players drama society committee co-chairs Sarah-Jane and Kevin MacDonald have chosen to stage Agatha Christie’s The Hollow. A murder happens and lawyers Femi Hassan and Charlotte Holroyd are tasked with reviewing case documentation for Roderick Tanner QC, uncovering exactly what happened on the opening night of The Hollow and whether an appeal should be filed. The entire novel is told through an epistolary style via texts, WhatsApp messages, emails, interviews, articles, and diary entries. Readers won’t know who died or who killed them until late in the novel.

If you are confident in your ability to piece together clues and solve mysteries through snippets of information, this novel will certainly appeal to your inner investigator. It's really best, in my opinion, to start this novel with just the basics and follow along, meeting the characters, uncovering information, and gathering clues as you read. Some characters are frequently sending out and replying to emails, texts, etc., while others are only respond infrequently or just mention in the written materials. All crime novel enthusiasts will know to pay attention to every clue. Interspersed in the many documents are chat messages between Femi and Charlotte discussing what they think at that point in their investigation. 

Again, due to the format of the novel, character development is not straightforward at all for many of the characters, although you will develop an impression of almost all of them. Some are very present in the written material, others not so much. One picture or interpretation will develop and then quickly be replaced by another theory as the characters provide more information. This is a complex, intricate puzzle of a novel that is full of suspects and motives. I did feel like it was a tad bit too long at times, but it is clever and does hold your attention.

The Silent Appeals a wonderful choice for armchair detectives who enjoy piecing clues together and appreciate the epistolary style. Thanks to Atria Books for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

Not a Word

 

Not a Word by Linwood Barclay
8/25/26; 368 pages
William Morrow

Not a Word by Linwood Barclay is a highly recommended mystery/domestic thriller following a tragic crime scene in the family home which leads to a shocking conclusion.

Reece Chartwell stops by his parent's home outside of Toronto to return two books to his father, Brent, when he discovers his parents in bed, dead. It appears to be a murder-suicide and he immediately calls the police. Detective Janice McCabe questions Reece and as he waits for her to return after viewing the crime scene he receives a phone call... from his mother, Catherine. She was apparently at some luncheon. Reece immediately leaves to pick her up, and carefully break the bad news, but she is not waiting for him. It appears that the woman with his father was Leah Kennard, however, inconsistencies in the crime scene and lack of motive suggest his dad may not have shot himself.

The investigation uncovers a myriad of secrets starting with the crime scene. The secrets may also going way-back in family history, perhaps even to his father's very successful job in pharmaceutical sales of the highly addictive pain reliever, Oxy-Mirac, for Wiffel-Smith before he retired. Reece’s mother, Catherine, also seems to have more than her share of long-held secrets and dubious connections. Also involved in the events and investigation are Reece's wife Diana, son Gage (14), and brother Holden, a recovering addict. These people put the "dys" in dysfunctional family, especially Catherine.

This features a well-written, intricate, intelligent, fast-paced plot. The narrative has chapters jumping back in time to 1999 and the chapters are narrated by several different characters, including Reece, Gage, McCabe, Catherine, and a couple others (no spoilers here). The characters are developed as individuals with strengths and weaknesses along the way. As the secrets are exposed, the tension increases along side new clues which are logically followed up on in the plot. There are plenty of twists and surprises along the way. Everything works together to a satisfying conclusion. The final denouement is shocking and heartbreaking.

Not a Word is a great choice for everyone who enjoys 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.

The Shadow Friends

 

The Shadow Friends by Tess Gerritsen
8/25/26; 319 pages
Thomas & Mercer
The Martini Club #3  

The Shadow Friends by Tess Gerritsen is a very highly recommended spy thriller and the welcomed third book in the reliably excellent Martini Club series. The Martini Club in Purity, Maine, is composed of likeable, skilled former CIA agents, Ingrid and Lloyd Slocum, Maggie Bird, Declan Rose, and Ben Diamond.

After opening with a scene from a CIA operation Ingrid was a part of 28 years earlier, the action moves to the present day. There is a global affairs conference being held at the Cod Cove Resort in Purity which Ingrid is helping coordinate when her former ex-CIA colleague and lover Rodrigo Estrada shows up, hoping to recruit her for his private security agency Argus. Events escalate when Mikhail Maslov, a renowned disease expert and Russian defector mysteriously becomes very ill and later dies. 

When this is followed by the murder of a waitress at the conference hotel which has clue that is intrinsically connected with the disastrous operation from 28 years ago, Ingrid decides to join Rodrigo in an attempt to uncover the truth and they head to Amsterdam to track down the killer. The remaining members of the Martini Club Investigate and closely following on their own to protect Ingrid are Lloyd and Maggie. Involved in the local investigations is the intelligent and capable police chief, Jo Thibodeau, who is well acquainted with the members of the Martini Club.

This is another, excellent, well-written, intelligent, fast-paced, intricately plotted, and action-packed addition to the series. Nothing is exactly as it seems at first glance and some of the clues to help the present investigation are clues that were buried in the past. There are plenty of discoveries and twists along the way while all the clues are logically followed. The plots in every one of the books in the series are dependably interesting and compelling.  Honestly, every book in the series has been exceptional and The Shadow Friends is no exception. The series includes: The Spy Coast (2023), The Summer Guests (2025), and now The Shadow Friends (2026)

Another major reason this series excels is because all of the characters are so likable and portrayed as fully realized unique individuals with distinct personalities and experiences. They all have plenty of secrets in their past and with those secrets, a world of experience. Since the characters have been in three novels now, they were all well-known to me and I was thrilled to follow them on another investigation. It would be a mistake to not mention the long-suffering police chief Jo Thibodeau who has interacted with the club members from the start.

The Shadow Friends is an excellent choice for those who enjoy spy thrillers and everyone following the series. Hopefully we will see these seniors on another case soon. Thanks to Thomas & Mercer for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

God's Country

 

God's Country by William Kent Krueger
8/18/26; 256 pages
Atria Books
Cork O'Connor #21

God's Country by William Kent Krueger is a highly recommended thriller and the 21st addition to the Cork O'Connor series. This can be read as a standalone novel, but would best be appreciated by those following the series.

Cork O’Connor, former police officer in Tamarack County, has his whole family coming to visit for Memorial day. Planned is a father and son canoeing/camping trip, including Cork's two grandsons, out on the Boundary Waters. It will be the first trip for Luke, 7, while Waaboo, almost 8, has went once before. Before the trip both Waaboo and Stephen had a vision about Cork that seemed ominous. As Cork picked up the canoe, he learned his friend and guide Cordell Bishop went out with a group of suspicious men. 

As the trip starts, Cork finds signs that make him become increasingly concerned for his friend. Then when the group finds trash, blood and rope marks on a tree, Cork sends the rest to return home as he sets off to rescue Cordell. Soon the words given to him when they went to talk to elder, grandfather Henry Mishomis, become clear. Henry told Cork, "Maybe you are the wolf," as he ends up dealing with a pair of dangerous criminals, the Kennedy brothers, who are looking for something valuable their father hid.

The pace is fast, assisted by short chapters and abbreviated page count. Once the action takes off, it escalates quickly, and violently. Because Cork knows the Boundary Waters and what he's doing, he is able to negotiate with the duo to some extent, but there are still shots fired, people wounded, and several deaths along the way to the expected violent conclusion. Having actually canoed in the Boundary Waters many years ago, it was easy to picture what was going on and understand the effort needed to traverse the area and any portages.

There isn't a great deal of character development or subtle insights into anyone, especially the antagonists, the Kennedy brothers. Since this is the 21st book in the series, however, those following it know the characters, especially Cork, and background information. Krueger does a good job introducing the whole family at the opening, but then this information dump doesn't really matter for the majority of the plot which focuses on the current precarious situation and Corks ability to manage it with finesse.  

God's Country is a good choice for those already following and enjoying the series. Thanks to Atria Books for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

Nearshore

 

Nearshore by Steve Hawk
8/18/26; 352 pages
Penguin 

Nearshore by Steve Hawk is a so-so literary novel about homegrown nuclear terrorism. 

It starts when a small homemade nuclear device is set off in West Virginia claiming two lives. Then the action flips to the west coast where lifeguard Jamie Palmer responds to a boating accident where the victim turns out to be his good friend Alex “Boneyard” Bonnard, a Stanford University professor, and surviving is Bonnard's teenage son, Luca. As godfather to Luca, Palmer steps in to care for him as a guardian. This is when he meets Chelsea Wu, a doctoral student, who confides to Palmer, along with Luca who also knew what was going on, that she and the professor uncovered a connection between the founder of a Silicon Valley megacorporation with the bomb. Then a second device is detonated in Nevada, claiming eight lives and...

This is a well-written literary thriller which starts out very strong, shows promise, and then inexplicably the choice is made to ascribe political elements to the billionaire megalomaniac antagonists and their conspiracy. Yet again I need to caution an author to keep their personal political/social views to themselves as it diminishes the novel. It is well documented where the current violence originates, so no obfuscation is needed. FYI, ask any coder, billionaire owners of tech companies are not the ones writing code. They profit off of profit, not anger. Hawk gets an extra star because he can write, but I wouldn't recommend this novel. Thanks to Penguin for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

That Night

 

That Night by Gillian McAllister
8/18/26; 400 pages (originally published 7/8/21)
William Morrow 

That Night by Gillian McAllister is a recommended character driven mystery, for the right reader. This is a re-release of the novel which was originally published on 7/8/21 in the UK. 

While on vacation in Italy, three siblings, Cathy, Joe, and Frannie Plant, cover-up a death. Frannie calls her siblings late one night, they come running, and find her by a body that she just hit with her car. They then work together to clean up the crime scene and bury the body. It turns out the man was an English expatriate, but also a police officer. He was carrying a warrant that may have been for Joe. The story follows the aftermath and their emotional turmoil.

Normally I have very much enjoyed everything I've read by McAllister and she is a reliable, go-to author. This earlier novel by her was an exception. Right from the start it felt like such a familiar trope: a close group of people, siblings in this case, cover up the murder of someone to protect a member of their group, and then everything escalates and the fallout begins. The story could have been told in half the pages. McAllister does increase the interest somewhat with the format of “Then” and “Now” chapters following two different timelines. "Then" chapters follow the death and aftermath, while the shorter "Now" chapters are leading up to a trial. 

None of these characters are likable or relatable in any way, but the strength in the novel is the character development. Joe is full of anger. Frannie is a spoiled brat. Cathy is the closest to a sympathetic character as she deals with loneliness, low self esteem and guilt. The character development is most certainly there but still... I'm just going to go on record that there has been no time in my life when I would have covered up a crime and buried a body for my siblings, no matter how much they cried or whined. I would have called the ambulance and police asap, and let what happens to happen. Actions have consequences.

McAllister gets points for adding complications to the narrative, a few disclosures, and for character development, raising my score to 3 stars. I am still very much looking forward to her future novels. That Night will be enjoyed by those who enjoy popcorn mysteries with a familiar plot. Thanks to William Morrow for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

The New Wife

 

The New Wife by Gemma Rogers
8/14/26; 280 pages
Boldwood Books 

The New Wife by Gemma Rogers is a highly recommended soapy domestic psychological thriller for the right reader. This one throws everything, including the soapy kitchen sink, into the opera. 

Lucy Davenport, 24, is a baker at “Crumbs Bakery" when she strikes up a relationship with a new customer named David Brightman, an orthodontist who is two decades older than her. What began as a friendly companionship soon grew into love and the two got married on a trip to the Maldives. After the marriage, David quickly turned into a controlling, abusive husband. Lucy feels stuck in the marriage, however, because her mother has stage-four Parkinson’s and requires full-time care. David is paying for her mother's stay at an excellent care home, Wyntham Manor.

When David doesn't come home for dinner, after giving her explicit instructions about the meal for the guests he is bringing, business partner Torsten and his wife Erika who are from Germany, she is unable to contact him. When she contacts his work place she learns that David was married before, told no one there about her, and that he died the day before from anaphylactic shock. No one contacted her because they didn't know about her. Now Lucy needs to collect the papers to prove they are married so she can handle the details. She in for a shock, however, as new details, secrets, people, opportunists, threats, and dangers emerge all seemingly targeting her.

This is a short, fast paced domestic psychological thriller with major soap opera sensibilities. Almost every plot point and twist you could think of happens to Lucy. I would list them but that would ruin the fun. Many of them felt familiar but they are used here to create the suspense, tension, and diversion this novel needed after a bit of a overly familiar opening.

Although several twists are predictable, I am glad I pushed on, kept reading, and did not set it aside. I almost went this direction when it was seemingly another woman in a bad marriage situation, especially when, very early in the plot, this was combined with Lucy unable to find her marriage certificate and she has no idea where it might be located. (She may be young, but, come on, she should have not only known where it was but I'm assuming in the UK she would have had to sign for a marriage license, file paperwork, and use it for updates to other personal information.) Thank goodness the narrative does get better and moves beyond this. 3.5 rounded up when needed.

Lucy can be an exasperating character, but she is tenacious as she attempts to uncover secrets and protect her mother. She has to endure numerous aggressive, manipulating, and potentially lethal actions against her.  The situation David's death puts her in is stressful, especially because his money pays for the excellent care her mother is receiving. 

The New Wife is a good choice for those who enjoy fast-paced domestic psychological thrillers with soap opera vibes. Thanks to Boldwood Books for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

Under the Falls

 

Under the Falls by Richard Russo
8/11/26; 256 pages
Knopf

Under the Falls by Richard Russo is a highly recommended literary/crime drama that exposes resentment, betrayal, and secrets in a small town.

After growing up in a dysfunctional family, Tyler Sinclair left Stone Mountain at eighteen with his guitar and without a word to any of his friends, including his best friend Curt. He never looked back. Now he has success and fame as the front man of his band, Stone Mountain, and finds himself returning for a one-night-only benefit concert to the place he left behind eighteen years ago and vowed never to return to, Stone Mountain. The concert will benefit an old friend, Doc, who had an accident at the swimming hole that left him paralyzed and in a wheelchair when he was twelve. When Tyler meets with Doc before the concert for an interview, he learns from Doc while driving to the local high school that some people in Stone Mountain Blame him for Doc's accident. 

When the news comes during the concert that Doc has unexpectedly died, all the resent for Tyler's fame and his never returning or sharing his wealth/fame with them breaks out in the crowd, resulting in a melee. He discovers that Curt is now Stone Mountain’s chief of police and married to Freddi, the girl they both liked. As Tyler and his crew is escaping town in a limousine, they are driven off the road, down the side of a mountain by someone, leaving only two very injured survivors, Tyler and Beth, singer and co-writer. Young police officer Deb is tasked with finding them and calling the ambulance, etc, which sets into motion the start of the crime drama.

This is a very short novel that displays some of Russo's gift in empathetic character development while including flawed individuals, male friendships, and small town issues before veering into a crime story. Russo himself understands a small town's resentment and expectations that a famous former resident should return to benefit them and their situation, despite how that former resident's experiences in the town. This is personally understandable in a roundabout way for me as my family moved a lot when I was a child and when someone in the small town where I attended high school proclaims "and you're from____" I always want to reply, "No, I'm not." 

In an afterword, Russo writes that the novel began as a TV script that didn’t survive the Writer’s Guild strike. As a fan of his writing, this explains some of what the novel is missing, including more of his wit and humor, the abbreviated character development, and better pacing and editing. It also explains the predictability of the plot. While we're confronting this flaw, actually, an astute editor should have also removed the three small, throwaway, dated political comments that serve no purpose in the plot and were all both pointless and unnecessary. Additionally Stone Mountain is a well known city in Georgia, so perhaps another name would have been better. Russo gets points for his body of work. 3.5 rounded up.

Under the Falls is a good choice for fans of Russo's oeuvre. Thanks to Knopf for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.