Rope

Rope by Tim Queeney
8/12/25; 336 pages
St. Martin's Press

Rope: How a Bundle of Twisted Fibers Became the Backbone of Civilization by Tim Queeney is a very highly recommended in-depth examination of rope and its impact on civilization. For a single topic book, it is amazing and fascinating how much we have depended upon rope over the ages. This is for everyone who enjoys history, sailing, and has spent an inordinate amount of time looking for and using rope in our daily lives.

This is a comprehensive look at how rope was made and used throughout history for tools, weapons, boats, construction, in culture/mythology, fishing, crime and punishment, for tricks and adventures, and in space. There is a special extensive focus on the use of rope for sailing and the significance of sailing for exploration, trade, fishing, etc. 

The various materials used to make rope are discussed. Everything from bark, numerous plant fibers, animal hides and hair, etc. to the use of more current metal strands and synthetic fibers have been used to make rope. Queeney, who has knot tying videos available online, also has an interesting section on the importance and use of knots for the obvious, but also past use of knotted cords for messages, record keeping, and calendars.

Rope is very well researched. There is a note at the beginning that the book is AI Free - No AI was used in the research or writing of the book. I appreciated this after reading several cases where AI made up sources. The amount of researched involved in the book is impressive. This can be seen in the extensive Bibliography, which includes books, web articles, journals, and newspapers. There is also an Index and Notes.

Rope is a good choice for those who like history, sailing, and rope. Thanks to St. Martin's Press for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

We Are All Guilty Here

We Are All Guilty Here by Karin Slaughter
8/12/25; 448 pages
HarperCollins
North Falls #1

We Are All Guilty Here by Karin Slaughter is an exceptional, very highly recommended investigative thriller/police procedural. This is one of the best procedurals I've read this year and I'm thrilled that it is the first book of a new series set in the small town of North Falls, Georgia. Slaughter always writes excellent novels and continues to be an automatic go-to author for me.

Officer Emmy Clifton, 30, and her father Sheriff Gerald Clifton, 74, are on duty during the Fourth of July fireworks celebration in North Falls when two 15-year-old girls, Cheyenne Baker and Madison Dalrymple, disappear. The crime scene immediately points to violence and abduction. The FBI is called in and the investigation begins in earnest as every passing minute means it is less likely the girls will be found alive. Everyone works tirelessly to uncover any clue or person with a tie to the girls as well as exposing some dark secrets. The investigation results in two men being sent to prison, one of them for the death of the girls.

Next the plot jumps twelve years into the future when the man imprisoned for the earlier crimes is released after a true crime podcaster reported on the case. He returns to North Falls and then 14-year-old Paisley Walker goes missing under similar circumstances. An angry crowd gathered, someone is shot, and the tension becomes explosive as again the FBI is called in and an investigation ensues. Adding to the intrigue a recently retired FBI special agent,  psychologist Jude Archer, arrives on the scene to assist. Jude has secret ties to both the town and the Clifton family.  

The writing is excellent and the plot is fast-paced with unwavering stress as each investigation unfolds. The relentless tension and dread remains red-level high throughout the whole detailed, gripping, gritty, suspenseful and unpredictable plot. There are many dark secrets, unexpected twists, and new clues. While natural instincts are in doubt and grief is an overbearing burden, the tenacity, intelligence, and resilience of Emmy is in full display. Clues are logical followed in the investigation. The novel is a procedural first, but is also a family drama.

All the characters are well-developed and fully realized. They are portrayed as believable, realistic individuals with both strengths and weaknesses. The characters all experience growth, but it always comes at great cost. Along with the individual characters, the dynamics between family members and the community also play a role in the plot.

We Are All Guilty Here is a perfect choice for anyone who enjoys complex, gritty procedurals and is one of the best books I've read this year. Thanks to HarperCollins for providing me with an advance reader's copy. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

Kiss Her Goodbye

Kiss Her Goodbye by Lisa Gardner
8/12/25; 416 pages
Grand Central Publishing
Frankie Elkin Series #4

Kiss Her Goodbye by Lisa Gardner is a very highly recommended investigative thriller. I stayed up late to finish this excellent, un-put-downable novel. Even though it is the fourth installment of the Frankie Elkin series, Kiss Her Goodbye can also be enjoyed as a standalone novel. 

Frankie Elkin is a middle-aged woman and recovering alcoholic who spends her life searching for missing people that everyone else has stopped looking for. She travels light, picks up a job, and finds a cheap place to stay. This time she travels to Tucson after being contacted by refugee resettlement volunteer Aliah to search for her Afghan refugee friend Sabera Ahmadi. Sabera has been missing for three weeks, leaving behind Zahra, her four-year-old daughter, and her husband, Isaad. The police aren't seriously looking and Aliah is sure more is going on than meets the eye. Sabera would never leave Zahra behind.

Frankie finds a pet sitting job that lasts a month and also includes accommodations. It is offered by a young, wealthy tech guy. She can have chauffeur Daryl drive her where she needs to go and housekeeper Genni provides meals. The drawback is the pets she will be caring for: a large green iguana, Petunia, a huge python, Marge, and twelve baby pythons. The pets are on a strict eating schedule and Petunia gets TV time with Frankie.

The case of Sabera's disappearance quickly becomes even more complicated and convoluted. Isaad receives a package, leaves Zahra with a neighbor, and disappears. Then a man comes to the apartment complex looking for Zahra. Two Afghan men are found dead nearby and it appears to be Sabera on the security camera footage. Frankie quickly surmises that there is a whole lot more going on than it appears. Helping her is Daryl, his ballroom dance partner and former parole officer Roberta, and Roberta's police detective brother. Genni jumps in to assist also.

The well-written narrative follows Frankie in the present day search for Sabera and includes excerpts from Sabera's letters to her daughter explaining her past. The letters follow her childhood up the fall of Kabul to the Taliban and the chaos and death that followed. Sabera's past is traumatic and horrific, especially in the refugee camps. In the present things become increasingly perplexing, dangerous, and misleading. 

There are plenty of unexpected twists and discoveries in the intricate plot that add tension, depth, and trepidation along the way. The direction the plot takes is totally unpredictable, and full of intrigue and danger. There is a lot of backstory that needs to be revealed to solve the case of Sabera's disappearance. I was increasingly concerned about Frankie this time out. Lending some comedic relief to the story are the pet sitting duties and Genni's daily outfits. 

Frankie continues to be a great character and it was good to see her back. She is a fully realized, complex character with both strengths and weaknesses. Her determination, intelligence, and instincts are always present at the forefront as she tackles an investigation.

Kiss Her Goodbye is an excellent choice for anyone who enjoys complex investigative thrillers. Thanks to Grand Central Publishing for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

The Frequency of Living Things

The Frequency of Living Things by Nick Fuller Googins
8/12/25; 336 pages
Atria Books

The Frequency of Living Things by Nick Fuller Googins is a recommended family drama, for the right reader, that follows three sisters and their absent mother.

The youngest Tayloe sister Josie, left her PhD program and now takes care of her older sisters. Twins Emma and Ara had a hit record years ago with their band named Jojo and the Twins where Emma was vocals and on the guitar while Ara wrote the songs and played drums. Now the two are broke, Ara is on drugs, and they depend upon Josie to take care of them. Their mother, Bertie, is off doing her own thing. Now Ara is in jail and detoxing, Emma wants to use this situation to create a new album, and Josie is trying to raise bail money.

At it's core, this is a novel about choices and consequences. Part of my issue with it was everyone was making bad choices without considering the consequences. This required setting aside a great deal of disbelief. While the quality of the writing was basically good, the pace felt glacially slow to me and it was a slog to finish. The one good choice was Ara using her incarceration to detox from drugs and her family.

None of the characters were likable and I struggled to connect with them. I hated that Josie sacrificed to care for her sisters who are adults. They were both capable to go find a job, pay their own rent, and care for themselves. It wasn't Josie's responsibility to do so but her sisters seemed to expect her to take care of them while they were never grateful. 

Bertie is an annoying character with no redeeming qualities. All the political messaging in any chapter featuring her was irritating and off-putting. This along with the rampant bad choices made The Frequency of Living Things a struggle for me to read and stay invested in the story. Thanks to Atria Books for providing me with an advance reader's copy. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

The Society of Unknowable Objects

The Society of Unknowable Objects by Gareth Brown
8/12/25; 352 pages 
William Morrow

The Society of Unknowable Objects by Gareth Brown is a highly recommended magic realism fantasy featuring a secret society, magic, superpowers, and evil.

Magda Sparks grew up visiting Frank Simpson at his Bell Street Bookstore with her mother Imelda. When Imelda died ten years ago, Magda learned that her mother was one of four members of a secret society, the Society of Unknowable Objects, and now Magda would take her place. The current members of the society are lead by Frank and include Magda, Will Palin, and Henrietta “Henry” Wiseman. Henry hasn't attended a meeting for a couple of years. The society meets every six months in a basement room at the bookstore. The society's purpose is to find and protect hidden magical objects, ordinary items with extraordinary properties, and keep then from being used. 

There is a startling new development when Frank learns of a new, found magical object in Hong Kong. James Wei learned about the society through his father who knew Will’s late father years ago. Magda volunteers to go investigate and immediately feels a connection with James. She also senses that they are being followed. When James is showing her the object, a professional killer enters the room, shoots James, and demands the object. Magda escapes by using a magical item she possesses. This encounter sets off a series of dangerous encounters and several surprising truths.

Expect lots of talk about magical items, the use of magical items, and several encounters with evil men after the items, which can also be used for evil. Almost all of the characters have a tie to a magical item that they can use, like a super hero's power or a super villain's power. Some of the encounters with the malevolent characters are very dark and disturbing and clearly demonstrate the evil that magic can result in when used with bad intentions.

There is a wide variety of characters in the novel and the narrative unfolds through their multiple perspectives. Magda is the only fully realized character. She is portrayed as young for her age, but she is likable and readers will care about and support her. Obviously, you have to set disbelief aside while reading. 

Although this is a stand alone novel, it does have ties to Brown's first novel, The Book of Doors, including that responsible people need to protect who owns magical objects because they can be used for evil. There is a mention of the Fox Library, which protects magical books, at the end. Thanks to William Morrow for providing me with an advance reader's copy via Edelweiss. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

Spectacular Things

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

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

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

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

Admittedly, I really disliked Cricket for almost the entire novel which really held back my enjoyment. Along with the slow pace, all the focus on soccer did not help hold my attention. I wish this overwhelming plot point had been mentioned in the description as I would have not requested it. It also felt like it was a bit too long winded and repetitive. This was just an okay read for me. Thanks to Random House for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

The Locked Ward

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Locked Ward is a great choice for those who enjoy fast-paced psychological thrillers. Thanks to St. Martin's Press for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.