Redemption by David Baldacci (Amos Decker #5)

Note to self: Never start a David Baldacci audiobook unless your schedule is completely clear.

Some audiobooks are content to keep me company on my commute. Others apparently decide I have no plans for the rest of my day. Redemption by David Baldacci firmly belongs in the second category. I fully intended to listen only while driving and/or walking, but before long I found myself listening while making dinner, doing chores, and any old mindless task that allowed me to follow the story.

This is the fifth book in the Amos Decker series, and somehow Baldacci keeps making both the mysteries and the characters better. Amos is still brilliant, with his perfect memory and uncanny ability to spot details everyone else misses. But what I enjoyed most in this installment had nothing to do with solving crimes. It was watching Amos continue to become more human.

His brain injury changed every aspect of his life, including making physical contact with other people practically unbearable. In Redemption, he realizes he can finally tolerate someone touching him and even accept a hug. It sounds like such a small thing, but after following his journey through the series, it felt like a huge moment.

The mystery begins when Amos returns to his hometown in Ohio to visit the graves of his wife, daughter, and brother-in-law. While there, he's confronted by a man Amos convicted of murder years ago. The man insists he was innocent all along, but before Amos can learn the truth, he's murdered. As more bodies begin piling up, Amos is forced to revisit the very first homicide investigation of his career and ask a question no detective ever wants to face: Did I convict the wrong person?

The investigation is clever, full of twists, and kept me guessing until the end. Baldacci does an excellent job of building suspense without relying on cheap tricks or impossible coincidences.

As much as I enjoyed the mystery, it is Amos himself who keeps me invested. He's no longer just the fascinating detective with a remarkable brain. He's learning how to reconnect with people and carry the weight of his past without letting it define his future. That growth has become just as compelling as the investigations.

Five books in, the Amos Decker series continues to impress me. If you're looking for a smart crime thriller with an unforgettable lead character, this series absolutely deserves a place on your reading list. I am already downloading #6.

The Fallen by David Baldacci (Amos Decker #4)

Never invite Amos Decker on vacation unless your town is overdue for a homicide investigation. 

Amos Decker just can't catch a break.

The Fallen, the fourth book in the Amos Decker series, sends Amos and his FBI partner, Alex Jamison, to visit Alex's sister for what is supposed to be a relaxing vacation and her niece's sixth birthday. Instead, they arrive in Baronville, Pennsylvania, where six murders remain unsolved, drugs are tearing through the community, and nearly everyone seems to have a grudge against the last surviving member of the town's founding family. So much for rest and relaxation.

One of my favorite things about this series is watching Amos continue to grow. He's becoming more than just his abilities. His relationships are evolving, he's learning to connect with people, and he's beginning to feel a little less like a machine and a little more human. In this installment, he connects with Alex's niece, although the idea initially terrifies him.

The mystery itself kept me guessing. Baldacci layers multiple storylines together without making them confusing. The small-town setting adds another layer of tension because everyone knows everyone else, everyone has history, and nobody seems eager to tell the whole truth. In fact, some of them don't tell the truth at all. 

If you're looking for a fast-paced thriller with an unforgettable detective, The Fallen delivers. I'll be looking into the next installment just as soon as I finish writing this review. This was another easy five-star read. Apparently, vacations are simply Amos Decker's way of finding his next homicide investigation.

Clear Water by Gabrielle Lucille Fuentes

I kept reading because I needed answers. I just wish the book had answered more of its own questions. 

Every now and then I come across a book with a premise so good that I don't even bother reading the rest of the synopsis. Clear Water by Gabrielle Lucille Fuentes was one of those books.

It's winter in Brewer, Wisconsin. Barefoot teenage girls dressed in white begin appearing out of nowhere before disappearing back into the woods. At the same time, the town is struggling with an opioid epidemic, and an alarming number of young women are either missing or dying from overdoses. Throw in multiple timelines, family secrets, and a touch of folklore, and I was all in.

The mystery was easily the book's greatest strength. I wasn't emotionally attached to most of the characters, but I absolutely wanted answers. Who were these girls? Why were they appearing? What happened to all the missing girls? And why did it seem like no one was making much progress finding whoever was responsible?

The Wisconsin winter provided an eerie backdrop, and the opioid epidemic gave the story emotional weight. This wasn't just a mystery for mystery's sake. Families were grieving, lives were being destroyed, and every new disappearance raised the stakes. I also enjoyed Inger, whose quirky personality and fierce loyalty made her one of the more memorable characters.

Unfortunately, the execution never quite matched the promise of the premise.

Several storylines felt like they were introduced only to fade into the background. Alma's cousin seemed to drift into the story, play a small role, and then drift right back out again without significantly changing anything. Likewise, themes such as racism and one character's sexuality are introduced but never become meaningfully connected to the central mystery. Instead of enriching the story, those threads left me wondering why they were there in the first place.

My biggest struggle, though, was with the supernatural elements. I'm perfectly happy to suspend disbelief, but I like the rules of a story's world to stay consistent. Some of the girls appear to be spirits, another is described as a mythical creature, and yet at least one is physically examined at a hospital. That left me asking practical questions about where she had been living, how she survived a Wisconsin winter, and why she refused to speak. Those questions never received satisfying answers, and by the end I felt more frustrated than intrigued.

In the end, Clear Water landed squarely in my 3-star category: a decent read that kept me curious, but not one I'll be recommending widely. The premise was fantastic, the atmosphere was wonderfully eerie, and the mystery kept me turning the pages. I just wish the story had stayed more focused and tied up more of the questions it asked along the way.

If you enjoy slow-burning, atmospheric mysteries with supernatural elements and don't mind a little ambiguity, this may be worth picking up. If you're expecting a tightly plotted thriller where every clue pays off, you may want to adjust your expectations.

Thank you to NetGalley and Flatiron Books for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review. 

Cold Wind by CJ Box (Joe Pickett #11)

A murder, a rocket launcher, and Wyoming politics. What could go wrong?

Cold Wind by C.J. Box doesn't believe in easing readers into the story. It opens with a murder and immediately gets things moving.

Joe Pickett is a Wyoming game warden whose father-in-law has managed to make plenty of enemies by building a wind farm. While wind turbines may sound like a great idea on paper, the reality isn't quite so simple. The infrastructure hasn't caught up with they energy they produce, they produce a constant hum that nearby residents can't escape, and they certainly change the view if you're used to endless Wyoming skies. Not everyone is thrilled. What a surprise.

When a body is discovered swinging from one of the wind turbines, Joe's thoroughly unlikeable mother-in-law, with her talent for crocodile tears and dramatic performances, is quickly arrested for the murder. The sheriff is satisfied he's found his killer. Joe isn't so sure. Besides, keeping his wife happy is reason enough to dig a little deeper.

At the same time, Joe's estranged friend Nate Romanowski has troubles of his own. After a disagreement, the two haven't spoken in nearly a year. Then a woman, convinced Nate killed her husband, hires a pair of complete yahoos, hands them a rocket launcher, and points them toward Nate's current home. Nate isn't in, but the woman he loves is, and she's killed in the attack.

The two investigations eventually pull Joe and Nate back together. Joe is often described as a modern-day Dudley Do-Right. He believes in the law, even when it's frustrating. Nate is his complete opposite, delivering justice outside the system whenever he thinks the system has failed. Their friendship works because each balances what the other lacks. This is the 11th book in the series, and I don't know how I missed the first 10. Looks like I'll be backtracking some. 

C.J. Box delivers a fast-paced mystery with plenty of twists, believable suspects, and enough action to keep the pages turning. I never felt like the story dragged, and I found myself wanting just one more chapter before calling it a night.

Of course, "just one more chapter" turned into finishing the entire book shortly before midnight. Good thing it's summer break.

If you've been reading the Joe Pickett series, Cold Wind is another winner. If you haven't discovered Joe and Nate yet, you're missing one of the best crime fiction partnerships out there. As for me, I'll be backtracking because I can't believe I missed the first ten books!

The Fix by David Baldacci (Amos Decker #3)

 Another audiobook that wouldn't stay in the car.

Some audiobooks are great for the commute. Others refuse to stay in the car. The Fix by David Baldacci is definitely one of those. I started listening while running errands, continued on my daily walk, and finally finished it while sitting in my living room staring into space because there was no way I was stopping before the end.

This is the third book in the Amos Decker series, and I can honestly say I love this character more with every installment.

The story begins with what appears to be a senseless murder-suicide. A defense contractor walks up to a substitute teacher outside a federal building, shoots her, and then turns the gun on himself. Amos Decker and his team are called in to investigate, and it quickly becomes obvious that nothing about the case is as straightforward as it first appears. Every answer uncovers another question, and every lead seems to point in a different direction. Even the small things are important. Like... why the federal building?

I really like how Baldacci is developing Amos Decker's character. When we first met Amos in Memory Man, he was defined almost entirely by his extraordinary abilities. His perfect memory and synesthesia made him a brilliant investigator, but they also isolated him from everyone around him. As the series has progressed, Baldacci has allowed him to slowly reclaim parts of his life. He's still socially awkward. He still notices everything. He still says exactly what's on his mind whether people want to hear it or not. But now he has something he didn't have before: people.

His partnership with Alex Jamison has become one of my favorite parts of the series. She gets frustrated by his habits and bluntness, which is so real life it makes me laugh, but she understands him better than almost anyone else. Their friendship feels genuine because neither one of them is trying to change the other. They simply have each other's backs.

I was also happy to see Melvin Mars make another appearance. I really enjoyed his character in The Last Mile, so seeing him become part of Decker's inner circle was a pleasant surprise. Too many thriller series introduce memorable characters only to forget they ever existed. Baldacci does the opposite, and it makes the world feel much more connected.

Of course, the mystery itself delivers exactly what I've come to expect from this series. Nothing is straightforward, even when it seems it should be. I was completely immersed in the story, and the pacing made it incredibly difficult (read: impossible) to press pause.

Apparently, I've developed a new five-star test. If an audiobook escapes the car, steals my daily walk, and ends with me staring into space in my living room because I have to know how it ends... it's earned every one of those stars.

The Recovery Agent by Janet Evanovich (Recovery Agent #1)

Wanted Stephanie Plum. Got a chaotic treasure hunt that forgot to be funny.

When I saw Janet Evanovich's name on the cover, I expected something along the lines of Stephanie Plum: An entertaining heroine, ridiculous situations, and plenty of laughs. Unfortunately, The Recovery Agent never delivered on any of that for me.

Gabriela Rose is a recovery agent searching for the legendary Ring of Solomon. Unfortunately, a cult leader believes the ring holds the power of a god and is determined to get it first. What follows is a globe-trotting adventure full of chases, danger, and escalating chaos.

The problem was that none of the chaos worked for me. Stephanie Plum's world is outrageous, but it's also funny. Gabriela's adventures just felt implausible without the humor to make me buy into them. I never connected with the characters, and the plot became increasingly over-the-top without ever becoming entertaining.

I honestly should have DNF'd this one around the halfway point, but I kept hoping it would finally click. It never did. 

The 20th Victim by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro (Women's Murder Club #20)

This is why I don't binge the Women's Murder Club. Murder and mayhem deserve to stay fresh. 

I don't binge the Women's Murder Club series. As much as I enjoy these books, I like to leave a little time between them so each one feels fresh. We certainly don't want murder and mayhem to become old hat, do we?

This installment has several storylines running at once, but Patterson keeps them moving at his trademark pace. Lindsay is investigating a series of murders targeting drug dealers across the country. The victims all seem to be killed in similar ways and at nearly the same time of day, suggesting someone is carrying out a carefully planned mission. Cindy is working on this case as well from the journalist angle.

Meanwhile, Yuki is trying to convince a young wheelman to stop protecting the people above him and finally tell the truth. If he doesn't, he is going to jail for the rest of his life. Yuki wants the people calling the shots more than she wants the wheelman, but convincing him to talk is a challenge in itself.

In the background, Joe is helping his friend Dave, who believes his father's death wasn't natural at all, but the result of a doctor's actions. Joe isn't convinced things happened the way they were reported. Is the doctor some kind of angel of death, or did Dave do his father in?

I appreciated that the book raised an interesting moral question without becoming preachy. If someone takes it upon themselves to eliminate dangerous drug dealers, are they making the neighborhood safer, or are they simply becoming another criminal? I consistently come down on the side of justice, but I haven't suffered at the hands of justice that is frustratingly slow. Would my thinking change with my circumstances? 

As always, the characters are what keep me coming back. Lindsay, Cindy, Claire, Yuki, and Joe have become old friends at this point, and I enjoy spending time with them as much as I enjoy the mysteries themselves. Joe's investigation, in particular, added a personal touch that balanced the larger criminal cases.

Of course, this is James Patterson, so there are plenty of short chapters, twists, and hidden secrets along the way. I never felt like the multiple storylines became confusing, and I liked how Lindsay's investigation and Yuki's case ultimately connected in an unexpected but satisfying way.

Overall, The 20th Victim was another excellent entry in the series. It had the fast pace I've come to expect, characters I genuinely enjoy, enough twists to keep me guessing, and an ending that tied everything together in a satisfying way. If you've been following the Women's Murder Club series, I think you'll be just as satisfied with this installment as I was.

The Last Mile by David Baldacci (Amos Decker #2)

Another "commute only" audiobook that absolutely refused to stay in the car.

One thing is becoming painfully obvious: David Baldacci clearly has no respect for my "commute only" audiobook rule.

The Last Mile was supposed to keep me company on my various commutes. Instead, I found myself sitting in the garage because I needed to know what happened next. And then I just kept it playing on my phone in the house. The couch is more comfortable than the driver's seat. But I digress...

Amos Decker continues to be one of the most interesting detectives I've read in a long time. His perfect memory and synesthesia could have easily turned him into a gimmick, but Baldacci makes those traits feel like just one part of who he is. I also enjoyed seeing Decker make some personal changes. What starts as reluctant dietary changes and exercise slowly becomes a genuine effort to take better care of himself, adding another layer to a character who already stands out.

The mystery begins with a man on death row whose execution is stopped at the last possible moment after someone else confesses to the murders. That premise alone was enough to hook me. As Decker digs deeper (sometimes with the help of the FBI, and sometimes not), it becomes clear that almost everyone involved is hiding something. Secrets pile on top of secrets, and the investigation eventually reaches people in positions of power who believe the rules simply don't apply to them.

I love this series so far because the mysteries are very complex. They're layered conspiracies where every answer seems to uncover another question or reveal enough to make you suspect you're looking for yet another secret. Just when I thought I had things figured out, Baldacci replaced the flooring. While I was standing on it.

If you're looking for a fast-paced thriller with an unforgettable detective, this series continues to deliver. Just don't make the mistake I keep making and tell yourself you'll only listen during your commute. Chances are you'll be finding excuses to stay in the car a little longer. Or just get the hard copy and stay on your couch.

The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman

 I did this backwards.

Sometimes you make a reading mistake before you even crack open the book. In my case, I watched The Thursday Murder Club movie first.

I loved it. I laughed out loud more than once, adored the cast, and thought the whole idea of a group of retirees solving murders was delightful. If someone started a Thursday Murder Club in my town, I'd probably be first in line to join. (Minus the actual murders, of course.)

Then I picked up Richard Osman's novel. And that's when I realized I had done this completely backward.

The book is every bit as well written as I'd hoped. Osman has a warm, witty style, and it's easy to see why readers have fallen in love with Elizabeth, Joyce, Ron, and Ibrahim. Spending time with them is genuinely enjoyable. The problem was that I watched the movie first, and by the time I started the novel, I already knew how the mystery unfolded. Instead of wondering who did it, I was simply waiting for the characters to arrive at conclusions I already knew were coming. That changed the reading experience more than I expected.

The story takes its time introducing residents, police officers, developers, family members, and anyone else who might eventually matter. Rather than racing through the mystery, it invites you to settle into the retirement community and simply enjoy the company. I think that's exactly what Richard Osman intended.

This isn't a high-octane thriller that grabs you by the collar. It's a cozy mystery that asks you to pour a cup of tea, pull up a chair, and spend time with some wonderfully clever people who happen to investigate murders in their spare time.

Normally, I love books that move with a little more urgency. Give me a body in chapter one and a detective chasing clues by chapter two, and I'm a happy reader. The Thursday Murder Club is content to wander, chat, and let the mystery unfold at its own pace.

If I have one regret, it's watching the movie first. I suspect the novel would have landed even better if I hadn't already known the destination. Instead of enjoying the mystery, I was mostly appreciating the journey.

Fortunately, it's a pleasant journey.

The humor is wonderfully dry, the friendships are charming, and the retirement community is filled with people I'd happily spend an afternoon with. In fact, I'd join the Thursday Murder Club in a heartbeat. Just don't ask me to keep track of all the suspects without a notebook.

Sometimes a four-star book isn't one that keeps you up until two in the morning. Sometimes it's simply one that's well written, charming, and thoroughly enjoyable ... even if you accidentally spoiled it for yourself before turning the first page.

The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett (Kingsbridge #1)

 Very well written; just not for me.

I can absolutely see why this novel is considered a classic. Ken Follett is a gifted storyteller, and his writing brought 12th-century England vividly to life. Every scene was so well described that I could easily picture it unfolding.

Unfortunately, the story itself just wasn't for me. I found myself admiring the writing more than feeling invested in what was happening. That's entirely a matter of personal taste rather than any fault of the book.

If you enjoy richly detailed historical fiction and don't mind a slower, immersive pace, I think you'll understand why so many readers love this one. I appreciated Follett's talent enough to give it four stars.

Night School by Lee Child (Jack Reacher #21)

Turns out even the U.S. Army loses track of inventory. Who knew?

I'm making my way through Lee Child's Jack Reacher series and realized I missed Night School. I don't know how I did that, but it may be one of my favorites so far. It had me doing that thing readers know they shouldn't do: "Just one more chapter." A few hours later, I was asleep with the book in my hands and had to finish it this morning.

This time, Reacher is still in the Army. After receiving a medal, he's sent to attend a special course on cooperation between government agencies. Except...it isn't really a course. And it definitely isn't really school. Somebody in high places needs his whereabouts to be ... undisclosed ... for a while.

So Reacher finds himself working with the National Security Council, the FBI, and other agencies to investigate a fragment of intelligence suggesting someone is willing to pay millions of dollars for...something.

The problem is nobody knows:

• Who is selling.
• What is being sold.
• Who is buying.
• Why it's worth millions.

That simple premise makes for an incredibly compelling mystery. Every answer uncovers another question, and the deeper Reacher digs, the higher the stakes become.

As always, Lee Child's pacing is outstanding. Even when Reacher is waiting for the next lead or traveling between locations, the story never feels like it's standing still. Something is always happening somewhere, and each chapter reveals another piece of the puzzle. Before long, you're telling yourself you'll stop after the next chapter. And then you realize you're kidding yourself.

I also enjoyed seeing Reacher back in uniform. Having the resources of the military, along with the cooperation of multiple agencies, changes the dynamic in an interesting way. When he's told he can have anything he needs to complete the mission, he doesn't ask for much. He simply points out that the investigation is unfolding in Germany, so that's where he needs to be. Sitting in a room with a few suits isn't going to solve anything.

One detail that made me laugh was discovering that even the U.S. Army isn't immune to inventory errors. Apparently, missing equipment and paperwork headaches are universal. Who knew?

And then there are the moments that remind you exactly who Jack Reacher is. He has a habit of giving people a choice before things get ugly. They can walk away, take a nice stroll, have a conversation...or they can wake up in the hospital. Their decision. They almost always choose poorly.

I also loved seeing Frances Neagley working alongside Reacher again. They're one of my favorite partnerships in the series. Neither wastes words, both are exceptionally competent, and they trust each other completely. Watching them work together is one of the highlights of the book.

If you enjoy intelligent thrillers, military intrigue, and international settings, Night School delivers all of that with Lee Child's trademark pacing. I couldn't put it down, and it's another easy five-star read for me.

Light It Up by Nick Petrie (Peter Ash #3)

A compassionate hero, plenty of explosive scenes, fresh storyline. Peter Ash is becoming one of my favorite characters.

Peter Ash has quickly become one of my favorite characters. He's tough without being invincible, compassionate without being naïve, and loyal enough to throw himself into danger for the people he cares about. He's also a former Marine (Jarhead to his buddies) who happens to know his way around some seriously heavy artillery. My kind of guy.

This time, Peter heads to Colorado to help his friend Henry after Henry's daughter finds herself in the middle of a dangerous mess. She runs a security company transporting cash and product for cannabis businesses, and when her husband and operations manager disappear along with an eye-watering amount of money, Peter steps in to find out what happened. Just days into the job, his transport vehicle is targeted, four kidnappers are dead, a package is missing, and the cops believe exactly none of Peter's story. 

The mystery kept me engaged from beginning to end, and once things got moving, I had a hard time putting it down. The Colorado setting and the cannabis industry made for a refreshing backdrop, and the action scenes were exactly what I've come to expect from this series. I was also glad to see June is back, and Peter is still working hard on conquering his claustrophobia so the two of them might actually have a long-term future together. Thankfully, this is NOT a romance novel.

There are a couple of things that keep bringing me back to this series. The first is Peter himself. He's flawed, deeply human, empathetic, and willing to risk everything for the people he loves. That combination makes him a character worth rooting for every single time. I can't decide who I like more: Peter Ash or Jack Reacher. Hmm...if I could have both in my corner, why choose?

I also appreciate that each book tells a different kind of story. Petrie keeps giving Peter different problems to solve, and all are in the realm of believability. Meanwhile, Peter remains the same decent, loyal guy with PTSD, still trying to make things right whenever he can. That's the constant that keeps me coming back.

Another excellent installment in a series that's quickly becoming one of my favorites. I've already bought the next to see what trouble finds Peter next. Five stars, hands down. 

Northern Lights by Nora Roberts

Come for the breathtaking Alaskan wilderness. Stay for the sixteen-year-old corpse with an ax in its chest. 

I'm slowly working my way through my 50 States Reading Challenge, and Northern Lights lets me cross Alaska off the list.

Chief of Police Nate Burke has left Baltimore after losing just about everything. Hoping for a fresh start, he accepts the police chief position in Lunacy, Alaska, where the locals (yes, called Lunatics) have a betting pool on how long the newcomer from the Lower 48 will last through an Alaskan winter. They aren't exactly rolling out the welcome mat.

Then three young men decide it's a brilliant idea to climb a mountain called No Name in the middle of winter. Because apparently taking chances, frostbite, avalanches, and hypothermia are necessary badges of honor. After six days, they're finally rescued from a cave...along with a sixteen-year-old corpse sporting an ax squarely in its chest.

Now that's how you get my attention.

The discovery reopens a long-buried mystery that spirals into murder, attempted murder, secrets, and plenty of deception. I found myself far more invested in solving the sixteen-year-old murder than in the romance. As usual with Nora Roberts, I skipped over the steamier scenes, but they were easy enough to bypass without losing the thread of the story.

The real star of the book, though, was Alaska. The endless darkness, brutal cold, breathtaking Northern Lights, and tight-knit community gave the story an atmosphere you just couldn't get anywhere else. Nora Roberts writes scenic descriptions so well I could see it in my mind in living color. Lunacy felt like its own character, full of quirky residents who know everyone's business and always seem to have an opinion about it.

The mystery kept me guessing, the setting kept me fascinated, and I genuinely wanted to know how all the pieces fit together. If you're looking for a romantic suspense where the mystery is every bit as compelling as the relationship, Northern Lights is well worth the trip north.

The House Beyond the Dunes by Mary Burton

Apparently surviving a fatal accident at an isolated house is the perfect reason to book a return trip. I respectfully disagree.

The House Beyond the Dunes had all the ingredients for a suspense novel I should have loved: An isolated beach house on the North Carolina coast, a tragic accident, long-buried secrets. Unfortunately, I never fully bought into the story.

The synopsis promises a creepy atmosphere, but I found the setting more remote than unsettling. A lonely house on the dunes certainly has the potential to be eerie, but I never felt that delicious sense of dread that keeps me turning pages long after I should have gone to bed. As it turns out, there is a neighbor across the street keeping an eye on our main character, so it really wasn't all that isolated (or creepy) as the synopsis suggests. 

Let's talk about that main character, though. Talk about questionable choices...

After knowing a man for only three weeks, she agrees to spend a romantic weekend with him at a secluded beach house. Following a tragic accident, she voluntarily returns to that same house, not just to collect her belongings, but to investigate the man she barely knew in the first place.

Maybe I'm old-fashioned, but I prefer to do the background check before the secluded romantic getaway.

That decision set the tone for the rest of the novel. I never felt like the protagonist was reacting the way a real person would. Instead, many of her choices seemed designed to move the plot where it needed to go. Once I stopped believing the character, it became difficult to stay invested in the mystery, and several of the twists felt more predictable than surprising.

That isn't to say there wasn't anything to enjoy. Mary Burton keeps the story moving at a steady pace, and I was curious enough to finish to see how everything fit together. Fans of domestic suspense with family secrets and a coastal setting may find more to like here than I did.

In the end, this was a three-star read for me. The premise was intriguing, the North Carolina setting checked a box on my reading challenge, but the characterization kept me at arm's length. I wanted to be immersed in the mystery. Instead, I spent too much time questioning the decisions that got the characters there in the first place.

Daggermouth by H.M. Wolfe (Hearts Duology #1)

Murder is not a personality trait. Moving on...

Every month, the Rusty Book Club picks a book for us to read together. Sometimes I discover a new favorite. Sometimes I read something I probably never would have picked up on my own. And sometimes I make it to 35%, close the book, and happily move on with my life. Daggermouth was that book.

Let's start with Greyson. Our hero. Or at least I think he's the hero. He spent so much time letting other people make decisions that I wasn't entirely sure. I kept waiting for him to take charge of...well...anything.

Then there's Shadera. I understand she's supposed to be intimidating, but "likes murder" isn't a personality trait. It's a hobby. I wanted layers, motivation, complexity, something that made her feel like a person instead of a walking crime scene.

And then we have Maximus. Maximus creates a law requiring everyone to wear masks. Fine. Interesting premise. Then his own son gets around it because...loophole.

Oh.

So the law is absolute unless it's inconvenient for the plot. Got it.

The more I read, the more I found myself questioning the logic behind the world instead of getting lost in it. Fantasy asks readers to accept dragons, magic, impossible kingdoms, and all sorts of wonderfully ridiculous things. I'll happily do that. But once the people stop behaving like believable people, you've lost me.

And because apparently I hadn't suffered quite enough, there were sweaty sex scenes that felt about as convincing as everything else. They didn't deepen the characters. They didn't make me care more about the relationships. They mostly made me wonder if everyone involved needed a glass of water and a better editor.

By the 35% mark, I realized I wasn't having fun. I wasn't curious. I wasn't emotionally invested. I was just reading because I felt like I should.

Nope.

One of the best reading lessons I've learned over the years is that life is too short to finish books you're actively avoiding. There are literally thousands of incredible stories waiting on my shelves and my Kindle. Why spend days forcing my way through one that's making me sigh every few pages?

So I DNF'd it. No guilt. No regrets. Just relief.

I wouldn't recommend it. If inconsistent world-building, passive characters, and inexplicable sweaty romance are your thing, you may have a completely different experience. As for me, I'm off to find a book where the characters make sense. And preferably keep their shirts on.

Nowhere to Run by Nancy Bush (Rafferty Family #1)

 Some memories are buried for a reason...unfortunately, killers have excellent memories.

I went into Nowhere to Run expecting a fairly standard romantic suspense novel, but I ended up enjoying it much more than I anticipated.

Twenty years after discovering her mother's body following an apparent suicide, Olivia Dugan has never fully recovered from that traumatic day. When a gunman opens fire in her workplace, leaving multiple people dead, it becomes clear that Olivia isn't just an unlucky witness. It's personal. Detective August "Auggie" Rafferty takes the case while his twin sister, Detective September "Nine" Rafferty, investigates another murder that may be connected. As Olivia's long-buried memories begin to surface, she realizes the truth about her past may be far more dangerous than she ever imagined.

The strongest part of this novel is the mystery. I enjoyed trying to piece together Olivia's forgotten memories alongside the present-day investigation, and the story kept me turning pages to find out who was targeting her and why. The workplace shooting immediately raises the stakes, and the suspense stays high throughout the novel.

The Rafferty twins were also a fun addition. I liked the dynamic of having two detectives working what appeared to be separate cases while the threads slowly came together. Their banter added some welcome personality without taking away from the tension.

Personally, I like less bedroom and more boardroom. When clothes start coming off, I start skipping pages. But overall, this was an engaging, fast-paced blend of psychological thriller, crime fiction, and romantic suspense. The mystery kept me guessing, the tension stayed high, and I was invested enough to keep flipping pages until the final reveal.

Hot Girl Murder Club by Ashley Winstead

 What happens when the people who should protect women ... don't?

"They walk in stilettos. They run on revenge." Who can resist a tagline like that? I entered the giveaway from Minotaur Books on Goodreads as soon as I saw it. Then I actually won! Thank you Minotaur Books for the advance copy! Winning the giveaway was exciting, but reading the book was even better.

Scout Sage has spent the last ten years living in the shadow of her sister Georgia's murder. Everyone believed the case was solved when a socially awkward young man named Alden, who had been infatuated with Georgia, died by suicide. Meanwhile, Detective Grey Holloway is investigating a present-day murder that appears to have ties to Scout, all while quietly carrying the unresolved disappearance of her own sister twelve years earlier. And absolutely everybody has secrets. As the story moves between past and present, those secrets begin to surface, rumors swirl about the mysterious Hot Girl Murder Club, and seemingly unrelated investigations slowly begin to intersect.

The premise immediately hooked me, but what stayed with me long after I finished the book was the question at its heart:

What happens when the people who should protect women...don't?

Not every predator gets arrested. Not every victim is believed. Not every woman has the resources to escape. Hot Girl Murder Club explores those uncomfortable truths with empathy and intensity. The women connected to the Hot Girl Murder Club refuse to let other women remain isolated when they're at their most vulnerable, and I found that idea incredibly powerful. The club represents the support system we all wish existed for women with nowhere else to turn.

The mystery itself unfolds differently than many thrillers I've read. Rather than scattering obvious clues and daring the reader to solve the crime, Ashley Winstead allows the truth to emerge naturally as buried secrets come to light. When the revelations finally arrived, everything fit together in a way that was so satisfying.

Grey Holloway ended up being my favorite character. Beneath her determination as a detective is someone desperately searching for answers about her own sister, and that personal stake made me care deeply about her journey. By the end of the novel, the emotional threads came together just as satisfyingly as the mystery itself, with just enough justice outside the system to leave me smiling.

My one criticism involves the timeline. The novel frequently shifts between the past and present, and while the large cast of characters never confused me, I found myself flipping back repeatedly to figure out where I was in the timeline. I couldn't keep track of both the large cast and the timeline at the same time.

Even so, this was a compelling, emotionally satisfying thriller with memorable characters and something meaningful to say about justice, friendship, and women looking out for one another. It's the kind of story that entertains while also leaving you thinking about its bigger questions long after you've turned the final page.

If you're looking for a thriller that's equal parts Hollywood mystery, emotional suspense, and social commentary, with a cast of women who refuse to let each other fight alone, Hot Girl Murder Club is well worth picking up.

Murder at the Grand Alpine Hotel by Lucy Foley and Agatha Christie

Lucy Foley didn't just bring back Miss Marple. She brought back the little girl who stayed up past her bedtime to read her.

When I was about eight or nine years old, I discovered Agatha Christie. Technically, I was probably too young to be reading her books, but the librarian never stopped me, and my curiosity was stronger than any suggested reading level. Sometimes I needed the dictionary, but that never bothered me. Looking up a word was a small price to pay for another chapter. I remember hiding under the blankets with a flashlight, determined to solve the mystery before Miss Marple did.

Reading Murder at the Grand Alpine Hotel took me right back to those moments.

Set in an isolated luxury hotel high in the Alps, the story gathers together a fascinating cast of guests, each carrying secrets of their own. When murder shatters the elegant atmosphere, Miss Marple quietly begins untangling a web of lies, motives, and hidden connections. The snowbound setting creates the perfect locked-room mystery, with no easy escape and suspicion falling on everyone.

Lucy Foley had the unenviable task of writing an authorized Miss Marple novel, and I think she succeeded beautifully. It's been decades since I last read an Agatha Christie novel, but Miss Marple immediately felt familiar. She sounded exactly as I remembered: observant, quietly clever, and always ready with one of her thoughtful comparisons to village life. I'll admit I smiled when I realized I was reacting exactly as I did as a child: "Okay, Grandma Marple. Can we get back to the murder, please?" Some things never change!

The Grand Alpine Hotel becomes a character in its own right. Its cold, isolated location adds a wonderful sense of atmosphere, making every hallway, conversation, and snow-covered path feel just a little more suspicious. The setting perfectly captures the classic Christie style.

Among the cast, Diana Glass was my favorite. She is intelligent, capable, adventurous, and refreshingly willing to push against the expectations placed on women of the era. More than once I found myself thinking, I never would have survived that time period! She was easy to root for and added an energy that balanced Miss Marple's quieter approach.

The mystery itself is exactly what I hope for in a classic whodunit. The clues are there if you're paying attention, but I still failed to put them together correctly. The ending surprised me while feeling completely earned, which is always the sign of a well-crafted mystery.

Readers expecting one of Lucy Foley's fast-paced contemporary thrillers should know this moves at the deliberate pace of a traditional Agatha Christie novel. Personally, I found that part of its charm. This wasn't trying to modernize Miss Marple or reinvent her. Instead, it felt like stepping back in time and spending an afternoon with an old friend.

Content warnings include murder, discussions of past trauma, and period-appropriate attitudes toward women. There is no graphic violence, explicit language, or sexual content.

More than anything, I appreciated how respectfully Lucy Foley honored Agatha Christie's legacy. Never once did I find myself comparing the two authors. Instead, I simply enjoyed being back in Miss Marple's world, feeling for a little while like the determined little girl reading long past her bedtime. I think longtime Christie fans and cozy mystery readers will especially appreciate this thoughtful return to one of mystery's most beloved detectives.

I give this a solid four stars. I didn't lose sleep, but I didn't lose interest either.

Thank you to NetGalley, William Morrow, HarperCollins, Lucy Foley, and the Agatha Christie Estate for providing me with an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Everything She Didn't Say by Jane Casey

Even the mind games have mind games. 

Jane Casey had me from the very first page. A woman, badly injured and lying at the edge of a cliff, is unceremoniously shoved over the edge. We were already at the races before I knew we had left the house.

Ruth's life is already unraveling when she agrees to impersonate her roommate, Maura, during a Zoom interview for a job on the Irish coast. It seems like a harmless favor that quickly spirals into something much darker. Ruth is later found covered in blood and hospitalized, unable to explain what happened. Maura has vanished, a body washes ashore that isn't hers, and Detectives Farrell and Ben must untangle a web of lies, mistaken identities, and buried secrets where nothing is quite what it seems. Even the mind games have mind games. It's brilliant.

The story cleverly plays with first impressions. Ruth is an easy character to root for despite making some questionable decisions. Maura remains fascinating even when she's off the page, her presence lingering over every chapter. I also loved the investigative team. Farrell initially comes across as somewhat aloof, while Ben seems almost too trusting. Without giving anything away, those first impressions become part of the puzzle, and Ben ended up being one of my favorite characters.

The pacing is relentless. The alternating interviews and police investigation constantly reveal just enough information to keep the suspense building without ever feeling repetitive. The clues are there all along, hiding in plain sight. And that ending... wow. It's the kind of ending that leaves you staring into space as all the pieces finally click into place.

If I had one minor observation, it's that readers looking for nonstop action might not realize just how much of the suspense comes from uncovering layers of deception and watching the investigation unfold. For me, that's exactly what made it impossible to put down.

Content warnings include murder, violence, blood, psychological manipulation, identity deception, grief, and trauma.

This book was a five-star read with clever plotting, memorable characters, fair-play clues, and an ending that made me immediately want to go back and see everything I missed. If you enjoy psychological thrillers, Everything She Didn't Say belongs at the very top of your reading list.

The Whisper by Chelsea Iversen

"Rule 1: When the trees whisper, listen."

"Rule 1: When the trees whisper, listen." That one line from the synopsis was all it took to convince me to request this book. A murder mystery with witchcraft and whispering trees? Count me in.

Fifteen years after the death of their childhood friend Quinn was ruled an accident, Elena, Joey, and Sophie return to the small town they left behind after Joey claims she knows what really happened. Raised together in the practice of witchcraft by two of their mothers and guided by The Book of Aspens and its Rules, the four girls once shared an unbreakable bond. Now they're forced to confront old secrets, lingering guilt, and the truth about Quinn's death.

What I enjoyed most about The Whisper was its atmosphere. The ancient aspens weren't just part of the setting. They became a character in their own right, creating an eerie, almost magical presence that lingered throughout the story. The supernatural elements blended naturally with the mystery instead of overshadowing it, making this feel like more than a traditional murder investigation.

The multiple points of view also worked well for me. Each chapter is told from one of the four women's perspectives, complete with their own assumptions, blind spots, and mistakes, gradually revealing pieces of both the past and the present. The short chapters kept the pages turning, and I found myself constantly wanting to know what each character would reveal next.

Although Sophie ended up being my favorite character because of her empathy and steady, calming presence, the real strength of the novel is the friendship between the women. Their shared history, grief, loyalty, and complicated relationships gave the mystery emotional weight that made me care about the outcome beyond simply discovering what happened.

My only criticism is that there were a few stretches where the emotional introspection slowed the momentum more than I would have preferred. I occasionally found myself wanting the characters to spend a little less time processing their feelings and a little more time unraveling the mystery. Thankfully, those slower moments never outweighed the compelling premise, the wonderfully atmospheric setting, or the emotional payoff.

The ending was satisfying both emotionally and as a mystery. The friends finally found the answers and the healing they had been searching for, making the journey feel worthwhile.

If you enjoy supernatural suspense, atmospheric mysteries, folklore, and stories about lifelong friendships tested by tragedy and secrets, I think you'll find a lot to like here.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for providing me with an advance review copy. All opinions are my own.

Rules of Frost by Brendan Duffy

"The Shining" meets "Jumanji". I've seen these movies before.

Rules of Frost immediately hooked me with its premise: A nearly deserted boarding school over winter break, a blizzard cutting everyone off from the outside world, and a mysterious game that quickly turns dangerous. It has all the ingredients for an atmospheric survival horror story, and the isolated setting is one of the book's strongest assets.

The game itself was also an interesting concept. Watching the remaining students become increasingly invested in completing its quests, even when common sense should have told them to stop, felt believable. As a teacher, I could easily imagine kids getting caught up in the excitement and peer pressure, which added an extra layer of tension.

Unfortunately, the story never fully came together for me. Much of it felt derivative, relying on familiar horror conventions rather than offering a fresh take on them. The isolated campus, relentless snowstorm, dwindling resources, and looming danger created a creepy atmosphere, but they also reminded me of stories that have explored similar ideas with greater originality. Because the plot followed such familiar beats, very little surprised me along the way.

I also struggled to connect with the characters. Although each of the remaining students and teachers had distinct personalities and backstories, I never became emotionally invested in their fates. That lack of connection made it difficult for the suspense to have the impact I was hoping for. Instead of sitting on the edge of my seat, I found myself emotionally detached and waiting for the story to deliver the kind of twist that would make everything click.

To the author's credit, I did not correctly predict the identity of the true villain. However, the reveal felt more surprising than earned, and the final resolution required more suspension of disbelief than I could give, leaving me disappointed by the ending.

Readers who enjoy atmospheric boarding school horror, survival stories, and isolated winter settings may have a better experience than I did. Content warnings include violence, death, child endangerment, psychological horror, and scenes of peril in extreme winter conditions.

While the premise and setting held plenty of promise, the familiar story beats, lack of emotional connection to the characters, and an ending that didn't work for me ultimately made this a two-star read. 

My sincere thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for the advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review. 

Don't Answer the Door by Nicci French (Maud O'Connor #4)

 It's never who you most expect. Never.

I had never read anything by Nicci French before, so I wasn't quite sure what to expect. Five hours later, I had finished Don't Answer the Door and was left wondering why I'd waited so long to pick up one of their books. (Fun fact: Nicci French is actually a husband and wife team of authors.) 

The story begins with the shocking murder of Amy Barton. We appear to have an obvious suspect - the husband, of course. While the local investigators are ready to wrap things up neatly, Detective Maud O'Connor is sent from London to observe the investigation. After all, having an all male investigative team isn't a good look for the murder of a woman. So everyone expects DI O'Connor, as the token female, to sign off on the existing theory and head home. Instead, she does what every good detective should do: She starts asking questions.

Maud quickly became my favorite character. She's intelligent, tenacious, and quietly confident, refusing to be intimidated or dismissed in an environment where she's clearly expected to stay in her lane. I always enjoy a strong female protagonist who earns respect through competence rather than theatrics, and Maud does exactly that.

What impressed me most, though, was the way Nicci French handled the story itself. Just when I thought I had everything figured out, the novel shifted in a direction I never anticipated. Every time I felt confident about where things were headed, the authors subtly pulled the rug out from under me. Nothing felt forced or unfair; it simply reminded me that I wasn't nearly as clever as I thought I was.

I appreciated that the suspense never relied on graphic violence or cheap shock value. Instead, it came from the investigation, the characters, and the growing need to see justice served. I became completely invested in discovering not only what had happened, but whether the truth would ever come to light.

The title couldn't be more fitting, and the ending absolutely sticks the landing. Every thread is tied together in a satisfying way, and I closed the book with complete satisfaction.

If you're looking for a compelling crime novel with memorable characters, a smart investigation, and twists that genuinely surprised an experienced thriller reader, Don't Answer the Door is an easy recommendation. It earned every one of its five stars, and it certainly won't be my last Nicci French novel.

My sincere thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow Paperbacks for the advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.