The Hanging Place

 

The Hanging Place by Nick Louth
5/14/25; 336 pages
Canelo Crime
Detective Jan Talantire #5 

The Hanging Place by Nick Louth is a very highly recommended procedural and the 5th book in the series featuring Detective Jan Talantire. This continues to be an excellent series with interesting investigations. Previous books in the series include: The Two Deaths of Ruth Lyle, The Last Ride, The Dark Edge, and The Deep End.

First there was a theft on his farm and then, at a later date, Police and Crime Commissioner Lionel Hall-Hartington (Bagpuss) and the employee in charge of security are both shot dead at his farm, Bychecomb Manor. All CCTV footage from security is down. Lionel's disabled wife, Helena de Courchevel, Mrs. Hall-Harrington, is found injured and suspended upside down in an ancient well in the cellar, her wheelchair left upstairs. On the door to the well is a creepy Victorian-style doll and a knife on the floor. There are bloody footprints, but no real clear perpetrator or suspect is in sight. Most employees were at an engagement party at the pub. It appears the house has been ransacked, but no clear robbery has taken place. 

Jan Talantire and her team have their work cut out for them trying to determine exactly what happened with the clues available. The number of potential suspects at the manor is limited because almost everyone was at the party, making this akin to a locked room mystery. Helena is hospitalized the team has to wait to question her more about any clues she may recall. 

This is another well-written, intricate, and expertly investigation that includes twists and surprising discoveries. Nothing is as it seems and every piece of evidence and lead has to be carefully examined and considered while trying to figure out what the clues left behind may mean. The case was very compelling this time out and held my complete attention.

Talantire's is portrayed as a tough, intelligent and compelling character with strengths and flaws. Her character's personality is well established by this addition to the series and most of the team members should be recognizable to those following the series. I think it could be enjoyed as a standalone novel but you would miss the previous character development

The Hanging Place is a great choice for readers who enjoy complicated procedurals and especially those following the series. Thanks to Canelo Crime for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.    

Space Marine

 

Space Marine: and the Edge of Moon Rising by Stephen R. Pratt
5/2/26; 702 pages
Ocean's Light Publishing
Space Marine #1 

Space Marine: and the Edge of Moon Rising by Stephen R. Pratt is a very highly recommended science fiction adventure/space opera for New Adult readers featuring a group of unlikely heros.

Aspiring marine biologist and naval cadet Naval Mason Beckett, 21, just failed his diving test aboard the submarine Arleth. Of course having a robotic shark attack him wasn't exactly his fault, but Mason informs Captain Silva that he's giving his notice. His father and sister Ella, 14, are going to visit the moon colony via the space elevator, while he'll be staying with Nan, his grandmother who has Alzheimer's disease. Mason doesn't have empathy status, which allows those who do have it to not only get away with a lot, they can also claimed to be easily triggered, get cushy jobs, and benefit from others doing the hard work. Mason, who does have a crippling fear of heights, finds a new position in the strategic command building. 

In his new position he formally meets Winston Huxley, who he briefly met on the sub, and Zoe Torres. The three are together when they learn that something is going wrong on the moon and they are running out of oxygen. Clearly something big is in play as the quantum distortion has grounded all aircraft and all governments are claiming any rescue mission is impossible. Mason, Winston, and Zoe all have family on the moon so the three devise a daring lunar rescue plan using a submarine, the Stealth Falcon, and launching it into orbit by using the space elevator.

This well-written, entertaining but hefty space opera unfolds in five parts and represents the first book in a planned new Space Marine series. It is indicated that it is a New Adult book, but most fans of hard science fiction will enjoy it. At 700+ pages there is room for plenty of action scenes and narrow escapes as the nefarious plot taking place on the moon is uncovered and our young heroes take it on while trying to save the survivors. Sure, some disbelief must be set aside but it is easily done as you will want to know what happens next.

The three main characters are all portrayed as fully realized individuals with strengths and weaknesses who must go far beyond what they think they are capable of during their daring rescue mission. You will be rooting for them as they are undertaking the seemingly impossible task of rescuing survivors from the moon in a submarine. Along the way there is backstory provided for the characters, with the focus on Mason. 

The one drawback for some readers is going to be the substantial page count. A case could be made for additional editing to pare it down, but on the other hand many readers who enjoy sagas set in space won't mind the extended story and action. There are author's notes at the end on the science and the very specific date chosen for this story. 4.5 rounded up.

Space Marine: and the Edge of Moon Rising is a great choice for readers who enjoy science fiction adventures/space operas with a hefty page count. Thanks to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

Dissection of a Murder

 

Dissection of a Murder by Jo Murray
5/5/26; 416 pages
Dutton  

Dissection of a Murder by Jo Murray is a highly recommended British legal thriller, courtroom drama, and a great debut novel. 

In Durham, England, Leila Reynolds, a newly qualified barrister from a working class background, is defending club bouncer and ex-con Jack Millman who is on trial for the murder of Crown Court judge Anton Smythe. Millman asked for Leila personally to represent him. The experienced and ruthless prosecutor, Leila's opponent, is her mentor and now husband, Julian Kesler. Let the games begin, where no one is seemingly telling the truth and more is going on behind the scenes than anyone will admit.

The narrative is mainly told through Leila's point-of-view with some chapters from the mysterious Witness X. Leila is clearly recognizable as an unreliable narrator, and this is proven out as the plot continues. Witness X not only knows what happened, they also know secrets from Leila's past and become increasingly threatening about exposing the secrets they know. Along the way there are details about numerous other entanglements and relationships thrown into the mix.

Dissection of a Murder opens with an explanation of the court system procedures and legal terminology in Great Britain, which is helpful. Author Murray was a Criminal Barrister so her experience provides insights about the British legal system, including the procedural peculiarities and gender inequality ingrained in it. The astute information about the inside working of the legal system are presented throughout the plot.

Then the novel is presented in two parts. Part One is The Arrest and follows events leading up to the trial. Quite frankly, this part, while playing an important, informative role in the plot, can be a little slow moving even while it builds tension and suspense. Lots of suspicions about others are raised during this part. Part Two is The Trial, which is really putting all the information together for the surprising, very twisty conclusion and revelations after the trial. 

Dissection of a Murder is a great choice for everyone who enjoys legal thrillers, especially British courtroom dramas. Thanks to Dutton for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.    

The Anniversary

 

The Anniversary by Alex Finlay
5/12/26; 336 pages
St. Martin's Press  

The Anniversary by Alex Finlay is a very highly recommended suspenseful mystery/thriller following an elusive serial killer in small towns of Nebraska dubbed the May Day Killer because he strikes his victims on May 1st. 

On May 1, 1992, teenagers Jules Delaney and Quinn Riley both end up separately attending the same concert. Following it Jules is assaulted in her car by the May Day Killer. She is one of the lucky ones he allows to live and she reports it to no one until later, through a letter anonymously. The same night Quinn breaks up a fight, resulting in his being arrested and sent to juvenile detention. Jules is traumatized by her attack and begins to drink daily. While Quinn is in juvie, his mother is bludgeoned to death. 

What follows is an addictive story spanning over ten years revisiting Jules and Quinn on May 1st. Jules continues to ask "Why was she spared?" even as she suddenly finds success as a model. When released, Quinn first wants to find out who murdered his mother, but he goes on to join the army, is injured, and returns to become a private investigator. The narrative alternates between the story of Jules and Quinn every May 1st catching up with the two. Their paths occasionally intersect over the years. 

This excellent, well-written character-driven thriller moves at a fast pace with a compelling plot. It held my complete attention and I stayed up late to finish it since it quickly became un-put-dowable. As the years went by, I was equally interested in the lives of both Jules and Quinn. They both experienced very different trauma and hardships, but also worked to overcome them. This single day of the year held such trauma and dread. 

Both of the characters were fully realized, with both strengths and weaknesses. Doing what he thought was the right thing changed Quinn's life as a teen and now he still persists in finding out the truth behind his mother's murder. Jules questions why she survived and eventually turns her traumatic experience into something that could help others. I had suspicions but was totally surprised by the twisty ending.

The Anniversary is an perfect choice for everyone who enjoys character-driven, suspenseful mysteries/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.

The May House

  

 

The May House by Jillian Cantor
5/12/26; 368
Atria Books 

The May House by Jillian Cantor is a recommended domestic drama/soap opera saga for the right reader. It follows three sisters over forty years for the one week they spend together.

Julia, Emily, and Nora May spend one week every May creating memories at their maternal Grandmother Vera's beach side home in Coronado, near San Diego. They also made a life-long friend with Nate, who lived next door and was pleased to see them every year. Their mother passed away when they were very young and the three grew up with their father in Chicago, so Grandma Vera was a link to their mother. After Grandma Vera's passing the three inherit her home on the condition that they continue to meet together one week in May every year. Even as they go their separate ways, they continue the tradition until one year when Julia didn't show up, arriving first, as she always did.

While the quality of the writing is good, the pace is rather slow and plodding. The narrative is written in a non-linear timeline, jumping between the present (mainly 2019) and various years in the past when they were in Coronado. In this case the presentation of the plot via the dual timeline was a drawback. It wasn't very effective to have "Oh no, Julia didn't show up" in 2019 going on for an abundance of chapters contrasted with events from many years earlier. It might have made more sense to tease with an opening about 2019 and then organize the novel chronologically as a family saga over the years leading up to Julia not arriving first and missing.

The sisters are all portrayed as unique individuals with strengths and weaknesses, but, honestly, none of the characters in this book were likable or relatable in any way. There are some strong story lines along the way, however, making a promise that you will meet every May for one week is nonsensical in real life. I guessed the big twist immediately. Additionally, Nate's continuously damp, tousled, curly hair and acorn colored eyes, along with everyone else have green or hazel eyes was mentioned way-too-often. I'm an outlier here as most reviewers enjoyed this novel much more.  My rating is generous.

The May House is recommended for those who enjoy soapy family dramas. Thanks to Atria Books for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

Death on the Norfolk Express

 

Death on the Norfolk Express by Ross Greenwood
4/30/26; 392 pages
Boldwood Books
The Norfolk Murder Series #6

Death on the Norfolk Express by Ross Greenwood is the very highly recommended sixth procedural in the Norfolk Murder Series featuring Detective Inspector Ashley Knight. This investigation is centered around the steam engines on North Norfolk Railway also called the Poppy Line.

When Terry Hardy, 90, is found dead in one of the carriages on the North Norfolk Steam train, it is initially assumed he had died of natural causes but later determined to be murder. When another man is spotted tied to the tracks and barely manages to free himself before being hit by the train. At the start DI Ashley  Knight is dealing with life shattering news but still chooses to work to take her mind off of things. The man tied to the tracks is identified as Luke Dillon, and there is a connection between the Hardy family, Dillion, and others. When another murder occurs it is clear that resentment and anger is still seething below the surface due to events that happened many years ago and this may be the impetus for the current murders.

In this character-based procedural the action follows DI Ashley Knight of a Wymondham based Norfolk Major Investigative Team and her colleagues as they carefully, and methodically investigate the murders and the interconnections between the victims. All the characters are fully realized and familiar to readers following the series. There are further development on personal matters for several characters too. For those new to it there is a helpful list of the team members at the front of the novel. 

This marks another well-written procedural in the series. With a fast-paced plot, it is descriptive, atmospheric, and interesting throughout. The investigation proceeds logically, clues discovered, information revealed, and suspects were noted. Even though I had several suspects in mind, the perpetrator was completely unpredictable until the end.  Along the way I learned some new information about steam trains and the North Norfolk Line. Although this is the sixth in the series, I think new readers could read this a a standalone novel.

Death on the Norfolk Express is a great choice for those who enjoy character-based procedurals and for everyone following the Norfolk Murder 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.

Our Little Secret

 

Our Little Secret by Samantha Hayes
5/5/26; 322 pages
Bookouture 

Our Little Secret by Samantha Hayes is a highly recommended psychological thriller that epitomizes everything a popcorn thriller should encompass.

Gemma and Doug have been happily married for twenty years and have two teenagers. She has a clothing store she loves and a new assistant who is wonderful help. Gemma also meets once a week with a support group for her previous drinking problem, a secret she keeps from her husband, claiming to go to the gym. This is the life she dreamed of after running away from a secret in her past and a man she knows was dead the last time she saw him.  When Aiden Black, the man she once loved and left for dead, shows up at the support group one night, Gemma is shocked. Aiden is the one man who knows her deepest, darkest secret and now he begins to insert himself into her life again.

The action will grab your attention from the start, mostly because of the over abundance of lies, continuous bad choices, secrets, nonsensical actions, and highly unlikely coincidences, which all quickly multiply. Adding to the absurdity is how very annoying Gemma can be as a character. However, sit back, set a huge, gigantic dose of disbelief aside, tamp down any initial annoyance, keep reading, and let the ridiculousness play out. It will quickly reach popcorn thriller perfection, become wildly entertaining, and will hold your complete attention.

The narrative is through Gemma's voice and chapters alternate between present day action and events from over twenty years ago when Gemma and Aiden were dating. While we watch Gemma feel threatened in the present day, she is fawning over Aiden in the past. The pressing question is what did he do to change her mind about him? The next question is why is he back? The twists in the action from both timelines come quickly toward the end. Some you will have predicted, other's maybe not, but there is no question it ended up entertaining.

Our Little Secret is a great choice for those who love popcorn thrillers and can set any and all disbelief aside while reading. Thanks to Bookouture for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.