The Secret Garden Murders

 

The Secret Garden Murders by J. R. Ellis
10/20/26; 283 pages
Thomas & Mercer 

The Secret Garden Murders by J. R. Ellis is a highly recommended cozy mystery/procedural for the right reader featuring a locked garden rather than room. 

In the village of Bishop Hewick in North Yorkshire 70 year-old Clarissa Morden bought a ticket to visit the historic Bishop Hewick Hall run by a trust and managed by June Kendal, Clarissa is later found dead, strangled, and neatly laid out on a bench in a locked, walled kitchen garden that is off limits to the public. She is found by gardeners Richard Cooke and Jenny Brown. DCI Jim Oldroyd and his team are on the case. The biggest hurdle is how did the perpetrator enter and leave the walled garden. The door to it requires a key, yet the key is found in the lock on the garden side and the door was bolted from the inside and the walls are too high to climb. How did the killer leave? 

As the team is trying to figure this out, they soon discover something even more sinister from Clarissa's neighbor. Apparently the old woman was blackmailing people, multiple people, throughout the village. In her cottage they find detailed records she kept on everyone she was watching along with a secret notebook written in a code of her extortion victims. Now the team needs to try and break the code to find out who her victims were along with trying to figure out the walled garden conundrum. 

This is an even-paced mystery where the investigation proceeds at a thoughtful, reliably deliberate speed. There is some suspense along the way, especially when the body of a young woman who thought she had figured out who the killer was is found dead in the river. Clearly the village is full of more secrets than one would expect. The setting, in a small village and at Bishop Hewick Hall adds atmosphere and some tension as the potential suspect could be anywhere and the blackmail list gives even more people a motive to eliminate her.

Each chapter opens with the description, history and location of a famous garden in various estates, which was an interesting addition but added nothing to the plot. It will be interesting to those who enjoy traveling to visit famous gardens. Alas, that is not for everyone. The pace does proceed a bit too slowly at times and certain points within the narrative are repetitious. Even if the investigation felt plodding at times, the clues are logically followed up on, eventually, and the ending is satisfying. 3.5 rounded up when required.  

The Secret Garden Murders is a good choice for fans of cozy mysteries and large garden enthusiasts. Thanks to Thomas & Mercer for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

Split Screen

 

Split Screen by Lee Goldberg
10/20/26; 301 pages
Thomas & Mercer
Eve Ronin #7

Split Screen by Lee Goldberg is a very highly recommended, action-packed thriller/police procedural and the seventh book in the Eve Ronin series, although, as Goldberg notes in his opening comments, it can be enjoyed as a standalone novel.

Detective Eve Ronin of the L.A. Sheriff's Department is on the scene of the suspected murder of former childhood star Juliette Winter, when she is called to meet with the new sheriff in town, Waylon Gifford. Due to the hit TV procedural based on Ronin, Gifford pressures her to exploit her fame by developing a social media presence and allowing the actress who plays her, Erin Casey, to ride along with her for a week.  If she refuses, he pointedly threatens her partner and friend Duncan "Donuts" who has been relegated to desk duty. So, the ride-alongs happen, but not without incident as Erin is mistaken for Eve and shot early on. The incidents and cases follow at a lightning fast speed right up to the surprising conclusion.

It is such an entertaining pleasure to read this well-written, fast-paced action-packed procedural that includes several cases and even side quests. The investigations are all logically investigated and solved, even with unexpected twists, connections, and complications along the way. There is no downtime as one incident, one revelation, follows another and Ronin is busy and on the move throughout the whole novel. The plot is compelling and the pace so fast the pages just fly by as you eagerly follow the action. I thoroughly enjoyed Split Screen and was completely immersed in the plot throughout the whole novel.

Eve Ronin is a great character and even though Duncan is on desk duty the good news is that he still plays a strong role in the plot. Eve continues to be impulsive at times but her intelligence, good instincts, determination, and observational skills also shine through. The interactions between characters is quick, clever, and sometimes sarcastic, sometimes humorous. Arson investigators Sharpe and Walker from another Goldberg series make an appearance too. 

Split Screen is an excellent choice for readers who enjoy action-packed procedurals/thrillers. Thanks to Thomas & Mercer for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

The Pilgrimage of Primrose Honeychurch

 

The Pilgrimage of Primrose Honeychurch 

by Laura Jensen Walker
10/20/26; 316 pages
Lake Union Publishing 

The Pilgrimage of Primrose Honeychurch by Laura Jensen Walker is a recommended feel-good cozy novel - for the right reader. It follows yet another solitary curmudgeonly senior citizen who discovers it is never too late to changes her ways.

Primrose Honeychurch, 70 year-old and a retired librarian, lives in Los Vegas in a rental house and is an endling. She has always loved books more than people, with her dear mother being the exception. After her abusive father died, her mother became ill and died before the two could take a long-planned trip, returning to Cornwall to see her family and the place of their birth. Primrose, who has recently received a medical diagnosis of her own, is now going to undertake that pilgrimage with her mother's ashes. She is also going to visit other destinations, including the famed Welsh town of books. Her trip has several surprises along the way.

This is yet another novel in the increasingly familiar trope of an intractable senior taking some chance and then miraculously changing their whole personality and world view. While on the trip, Primrose discovers among other things, that she is neurodivergent and maybe she doesn't mind jibber-jabbering as much as she claims. This is heart-warming, predictable throughout, eye-roll inducing, and very saccharine. T'aint realistic at all. Set a massive dose of disbelief aside. I understand I am an outlier here. Those who love emotional, bittersweet stories where the protagonist undergoes a transformative change will love this novel.

Admittedly the novel lost major points with me right at the beginning when Primrose unplugs a freezer which is making a bothersome noise at night, accidentally leaves the door cracked open, and discovers, later the next day, the smell of rotten meat. I might believe it was all thawed, or partially thawed, but rotten? Nope. Ain't going to happen that way. Sure she's in Vegas, but her house does have air conditioning, which we know is true later in the plot. Also, as a character, she is portrayed as especially judgemental, demanding, and rude at the beginning which makes her difficult to like.

The Pilgrimage of Primrose Honeychurch is a good choice for those who love transformative stories and can set all disbelief aside. Thanks to Lake Union Publishing for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

Find Me Nowhere

 

Find Me Nowhere by Andrew Klavan
10/20/26; 336 pages
Mysterious Press
Cameron Winter #6 

Find Me Nowhere by Andrew Klavan is an exceptional, very highly recommended investigative mystery and love story. This is the sixth book in the Cameron Winter series featuring the ex-spy turned English professor who has a “strange habit of mind.” I've been following this series from the start and, while they have all been excellent, this is the best so far. Absolutely don't miss Winter's latest mission and if you haven't yet started reading this series, do so and you will be richly rewarded.

The novel opens with a battle scene in Afghanistan where Corporal Geoffrey Tubman dies in a devastating explosion in a cave, while his friend Jonah "Dooby" Henning is severely injured after going after him. Later Geoff's father, Kenneth Tubman, is stabbed and left for dead in the colonial ruins surrounded by woods known as Nowhere, which is by Kinnecombe, PA. The Recruiter visits Winter and asks him to look into Kenneth's death to see if it is somehow related to the death of his son. While talking to Kathleen Tubman, wife of Kenneth, Winter learns that the man is sure he saw his son Geoff alive and at the first Reds game of the year. 

Winter is also followed and threatened by all manner of low-life thugs in Kinnecombe, which is highly suspicious and alerts him that something is surely amiss in the town. As more bad actors and government agents appear, trying to prevent Winter's inquiry, the more his resolve to uncover the truth increases. And yes, Winter's perceptive strange habit of mind which allows him to look at a situation from all angles, deduce how the complicated clues fit together, and reach a clear understanding of what actually happened, is, again, in fine form. While this intricate investigation is underway, Winter is still clearly in love with Gwendolyn Lord and seeing Margaret Whitaker, his therapist, to work through his past.

Find Me Nowhere features remarkable writing, a fast-pace, and interesting, layered plot. Winter uses his abilities and connections to discover information, leads, and make connections that others might miss. The danger is real as a short fat gangster controls a town, a crazy beautiful spy is involved, as well as a violent CIA agent, and a trained sniper. There are also some humorous encounters with a student his nemesis, university diversity officer Lori Lesser, sent to spy on him, and a meeting with undercover operator, Stan-Stan Stankowski.

This is a marvelous continuation of Cameron Winter's story arch. Winter is a poet and a cerebral man who just happens to also have the skills of a trained assassin. At this point Winter is a complex, fully realized character and his strengths and weaknesses are well known. Those following the series won't want to miss this exceptional addition to it.  It can also be enjoyed as a standalone novel, however, you'll then want to go back and read the whole series. The Cameron Winter series consists of When Christmas Comes, A Strange Habit of Mind, The House of Love and Death, A Woman Underground, After That, the Dark, and Find Me Nowhere.

Find Me Nowhere is a perfect choice for those who enjoy intelligent investigative mysteries with a love story included and is a must read for those following the series. Thanks to Mysterious Press for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

Falling Into Us

 

Falling Into Us by Denise Hunter
10/13/26; 352 pages
Thomas Nelson 

Falling Into Us by Denise Hunter is a highly recommended cozy contemporary, clean romance that features family drama, healing, and second chances.

Before Gabrielle (Gabby) Donaldson's mother Alice passed away she asked her to deliver a letter to her estranged mother, Rosemary Lindon. Gabby had been told that her grandmother had died, so this, along with the letters that Rosemary had sent Alice over the years, was a surprise. Gabby rents a B&B in Gibson, NC from Mason Morrison and sets out to deliver the letter. She immediately has a problem when Rosemary is no longer living at the address Gabby has for her. Circumstances lead to her asking Mason for help in finding Rosemary's new address.

Mason, a single father, is a working journalist who is also teaching journalism at the local college. Since he works in the area and his extended family lives there, he has lots of contacts and agrees to help Gabby, but has a favor to ask of her. He'd like to tell the story of her search, using a pseudonym, as a human interest piece for the paper. Gabby agrees and the two begin to work together, while also privately noting their mutual attraction.

This is a sweet, well-written, heart-warming romance that deals with some tough topics, including death, estrangement, healing, family history, long-buried secrets, and Alzheimer's. Along the way there are several twists, and the plot takes an unexpected direction more than once. There are also fall festival activities, pumpkins, tractor rides, and a plethora of pumpkin pies. The narrative unfolds from the point-of-view of Gabby and Mason. The Christian aspect of the plot is low key and some of the emotional healing and family situations that takes place are realistic and challenging.

The characters are portrayed as unique, fully realized individuals with both strengths and weaknesses. These are real people. Both Gabby and Mason have trauma they are healing from. Even though their emotional healing involves different situations, it is handled in a realistic, believable manner for both of them. 

Falling Into Us is a great choice for readers who enjoy cozy romances that also tackle contemporary topics. Thanks to Thomas Nelson for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

Bad Like Me

 

Bad Like Me by Louise Griffin
10/13/26; 352 pages
Union Square & Co 

Bad Like Me by Louise Griffin is a recommended domestic popcorn thriller. If you enjoy soapy dramas featuring suburbanites full of existential angst and behaving badly, this may be for you. It starts with a murder to keep you reading. Oh, and prepare yourself for a swarm of characters to track.

Opening with Larchwood's neighborhood hot dad, Sam, being found stabbed behind the playground bathrooms, the narrative jumps back in time and introduces us to a curated group of local moms, caregivers/babysitters, and children who usually gather in the park after school. Here is a helpful guide to the cast of unreliable and unlikable characters:

We have Rachel, mom to Augie, wife of Elliot, a doctor, and full of social anxiety while wanting to control people and raccoons. She leads, plans events, and actively recruits help for the local Parents Club (PC). Rachel runs everything past her husband for his approval. 
Meg is a down-to-earth caregiver/nanny/babysitter for various moms, usually Rachel. She also works other places and is the only likable character.
Lucy is mom to Bee, wife of Nathan, who is portrayed as a great guy. She's the local hot mom Sam is pursuing and she is responding. She frequently writes/addresses diary entries to her sister Joanna in the plot but didn't listen to her advice to "make good choices."
Sam is married to Grace, a lawyer. He is the main caregiver for Leo and Sorrel, but they also hire a nanny Mariposa. Sam is a complete jerk so its inconceivable that anyone would be attracted to him. You will feel sympathy for Grace.
Carmen is a real estate agent and single mom to Jade. They often go to the park after school even though it's not her neighborhood or Jades school. She's stalking Grace, who was her lawyer. She and Meg get along.
Auxiliary characters: Ashley, son Rider, Fiona and Harmony.

There, that will help you follow the multi-point-of-view narrative which is firmly set in suburbia and involves people with no interests or common sense, and too much time on their hands. There is a surprising investigation opened to an event which happened years earlier. Then the murder happens late in the novel, changing the tone and setting of the whole narrative and it becomes more of a thriller/hostage situation.

Honestly, two important points to make. First. what kept me reading is the fact that Bad Like Me is undeniably a very entertaining novel following people making poor choices, being stupid, and behaving badly. You've met these people before. Second, I finished this novel and thought "I've read this before. Was it a reprint." I checked and, no, it's new, but it the plot is very, very similar to something I've read before, rather recently. I was unable to figure out what novel due to the number of books I read each year, but it was in the similar vein, entertaining but ultimately forgettable.

Bad Like Me is a great choice for those who enjoy domestic popcorn thrillers/soapy dramas full of unreliable/unlikable characters. Thanks to Union Square & Co for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

The River Runs Black

 

The River Runs Black by Tessa Wegert
10/6/26; 288 pages
Severn House
North Country #2

The River Runs Black by Tessa Wegert is a highly recommended police procedural/thriller set in New York’s Thousand Islands area. This is the second book in the North Country series following In the Bones, but it can be read as a standalone novel.

Bobby, 16, and her mother Valerie Ott, a NY State criminal investigator, are attending the Punkin' Chunkin' event by the St. Lawrence River in Clayton. It should be a fun day but the talk of the town is about the overdose of local teen Drew Fielding. Then the two see a shoeless young woman in a bikini walking down the street looking beaten up and like a zombie. When Valerie offers to help, telling her she is a police officer, the young woman runs. 

Three days earlier the team, New York State’s criminal investigators Tim Wellington, Shana Merchant, Jeremy Solomon and Valerie, had just celebrated a huge drug bust, but clearly the drug problem is still ongoing in the small town of Alexandria Bay. The drug involved in the smuggling operation is cocaine. Valerie is in a relationship with Raymond Stoll and it is revealed to readers that he is hiding something from her. Then Bruce Milton, the new Jefferson County Sheriff threatens to blackmail him with the information Raymond wants to hide. Maureen McIntyre (Mac) the previous sheriff knows Bruce is a fraud and liar. Then Bobby disappears, kidnapped, and the search is on.

Clearly, there is a whole lot going on in this well-written procedural, which features an involved investigation, atmospheric setting, and a large cast of characters to follow. While in the middle of the investigation the pace does even out for a time, but there is also a plethora of information being uncovered during this time. The narrative is told through multiple points-of-view as several different inquiries are followed in the investigation. The setting in the Thousand Island area plays an important role in the plot. 

The cast of characters is large, which can be initially off-putting, but they do sort themselves out as individuals while you are reading. This is, perhaps, the one thing that would make The River Runs Black more challenging to read as a standalone since  being acquainted with the characters from previous novels can help. Bobby's safety after her kidnapping kept me personally glued to the pages and interested in the investigation.

There are little clues dropped along the way, plenty of secrets, as well as suspicious characters which all work together to keep both your interest and the suspense high. Expect plenty of twists and surprises at the end. I thought I had most of the plot figured out but there was one twist which surprised me and some information that could become very important in a future novel. 

The River Runs Black is a great choice for those who enjoy police procedurals and everyone already following the series. Thanks to Severn House for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.