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.

Memory Man by David Baldacci (Amos Decker #1)

The best protagonists aren't the ones with extraordinary abilities. They're the ones who have to pay for them.

I picked up Memory Man as a commute audiobook, fully expecting to listen to it only in my car. I should know better. We're talking about David Baldacci, after all. The production company he uses for his audiobooks is fantastic. Kudos to narrators Ron McLarty and Orlagh Cassidy. This isn't the first time I've listened to them, and it certainly won't be the last. I didn't wait for my next commute to finish this book, and I have already purchased the next two books in this series.

Amos Decker isn't your typical thriller hero. A former detective, he has hyperthymesia, a condition that allows him to remember virtually every detail of his life. At first, it sounds like the perfect skill for solving crimes. But Baldacci wisely doesn't treat it as a superpower. Instead, he shows it for what it really is. As Adrian Monk would say, it's a blessing and a curse.

Most of us heal because memories soften with time. The sharp edges dull. We forget little details, and sometimes that's a gift. Amos Decker doesn't have that luxury. Every tragedy, every mistake, every painful memory remains as vivid as the day it happened. That includes every single little detail of the day he found his family murdered. His greatest strength is also the thing that keeps him from moving forward.

That alone would have made for an interesting character, but Baldacci wraps him in an investigation that kept me guessing until the very end. The clues are all there from the beginning, but Baldacci has a gift for steering readers toward the wrong conclusions. I found myself making the wrong assumptions exactly as he intended.

Decker is socially awkward, grieving, stubborn, physically imposing, and emotionally scarred. He's competent, but deeply flawed. Those are the protagonists I connect with most because they feel like real people rather than action heroes. Decker doesn't breeze through impossible situations because he's invincible. He succeeds despite carrying burdens most of us couldn't imagine.

Memory Man is more than a cleverly plotted thriller. It's an exploration of memory, grief, and the cost of never being able to forget. The mystery may be solved by the final chapter, but Amos Decker's journey feels like it's only beginning. I'm looking forward to following him wherever Baldacci takes him next.

Bone Maker by D. F. Bailey (Will Finch #1)

 PSA: Bears are not picky eaters. Just sayin'. 

Bone Maker by DF Bailey is one of those thrillers that builds slowly. It actually took me three days to read, which surprised me because the opening made me think I was headed for a marathon reading session.

We begin with Ethan and his son Ben. They are out hunting when they come across a Mercedes parked with its window open and a bear happily chowing down nearby. And let’s be honest, bears aren’t exactly picky eaters when they’re hungry. 

So immediately we have questions. Who was the bear’s dinner? Why would someone see a bear and open the window? Did that even happen the way it appears?

As the story progresses, Bailey doesn’t hide who the villains are. Instead, the tension comes from watching reporter Will Finch piece everything together. Once it’s discovered that the victim was shot before becoming bear food, the mystery shifts from who did it to how Will is going to uncover the truth without ending up on the menu himself.

The middle moves at a measured pace, but the investigation gradually gathers momentum, and by the end I was fully invested in seeing how Finch would connect the dots. If you enjoy crime thrillers where the suspense comes from the hunt for evidence rather than a last-page twist, Bone Maker is worth picking up.

Depth Perception by Linda Castillo

Murder, mayhem, and mystery. I would love it if we kept our clothes on. 

I just finished reading Depth Perception by Linda Castillo, and it earned a solid four stars from me. I originally picked it up because I thought it was another entry in the Kate Burkholder series. I was initially disappointed to discover it wasn't. It didn't take long for the murder, mayhem, and mystery Ms. Castillo writes so well to convince me I'd picked up a winner.

The story follows two people returning to the small town they once called home. Nick has just been released from prison after serving six years for a crime he didn't commit, framed by his business partner. While he was behind bars, his young son drowned in what was ruled an accident. Natalie returns after spending two years in a coma following the brutal murders of her husband and son and her own suicide attempt. Those murders remain unsolved, and she's determined to find the person responsible.

Before the deaths of Nick's and Natalie's sons, several other children's deaths had also been dismissed as tragic accidents. When two more children disappear, Nick and Natalie begin asking some uncomfortable questions. Suddenly, all those accidents don't look accidental anymore.

By now, I really should know better than to suspect the obvious. Linda Castillo has fooled me enough times that I should know the most suspicious character usually isn't the guilty one. And yet she surprised me again.

One thing I appreciated was how the mystery kept expanding. What begins as two parents searching for answers slowly grows into something much darker. The emotional stakes are high because this isn't just another police investigation. Nick and Natalie have lived with unimaginable loss, and their determination to uncover the truth gives the story real heart.

The novel also includes a paranormal element. After waking from her coma, Natalie discovers she can communicate with her deceased son through trance writing. Normally, that's not something I gravitate toward, but I thought it worked well here. Whether you believe in that sort of thing or simply see it as part of the story, it adds another layer of mystery and reinforces Natalie's role as an outsider in her own hometown. More importantly, it becomes an integral part of solving the case rather than feeling like a gimmick.

Nick and Natalie also make a strong investigative team. Once Nick begins accepting Natalie's unusual abilities, they complement each other well, and their shared grief creates a believable partnership built on understanding as much as attraction.

Now for my one complaint.

As many of you already know, when the clothes start coming off, I start skipping pages. The romance itself didn't bother me, but the explicit love scenes pulled me away from a mystery I was eager to get back to. Your mileage may vary, but I'd have happily traded the steamy scenes for a few more pages of investigation. Or even another murder. I'm not too picky. 

Fortunately, the mystery is strong enough that it more than makes up for it. The ending ties everything together, justice is served, and there are no frustrating loose ends left dangling.

If you enjoy mysteries with emotional depth, personal stakes, and just a touch of the unexplained, Depth Perception is well worth the read. Just remember: if you think you've figured out the villain halfway through, Linda Castillo is probably smiling.

South of Nowhere by Jeffery Deaver (Colter Shaw #5)

The only thing wrong with finishing the fifth Colter Shaw novel is realizing there is no sixth waiting on my TBR list.

I have a confession to make. I read South of Nowhere, the fifth and (currently) final Colter Shaw novel by Jeffery Deaver, in one day.

To be fair, Mr. Deaver made it nearly impossible to stop. Every chapter ended with something that convinced me I'd quit reading after "just one more chapter." Several hours later, I reached the last page and realized the sun was setting. Oops.

This time, Colter Shaw finds himself in a small mining town facing what appears to be an unavoidable natural disaster. Days of relentless rain, rapid snowmelt, and an aging levee that has long been ignored have everyone watching the water rise. If the levee fails, the entire town could be washed away. That looming catastrophe creates an urgency unlike any of the previous books in the series. The mystery is compelling, but Mother Nature is keeping her own countdown.

I labeled this one a small-town thriller, and the setting deserves just as much credit as the characters. In a small town, everyone knows everyone else's business (or thinks they do). You have local politics, curious bystanders, selfie seekers, opportunists hoping to profit from the chaos, and officials trying to keep everything from falling apart. One of my favorite details was the mayor suddenly finding himself serving as the completely inexperienced chief of police. Only in a small town could that seem remotely plausible.

One of the things I've always loved about Colter Shaw is how his mind works. He doesn't rely on hunches alone. He assigns percentages to possibilities, constantly recalculating as new information comes in. Maybe that's the math geek in me, but I love watching him analyze every situation instead of simply charging ahead. Even five books into the series, his methodical approach never got old. If anything, it became one of the reasons I kept turning pages.

Jeffery Deaver is also a master of misdirection. Just when I thought I understood where the story was headed, well, nope. Add in relentless pacing, and this became one of those novels where putting the book down felt impossible. So I didn't.

The supporting cast shines as well, especially Colter's mother, Mary Dove. Hey. Someone was shooting at her children. What's a mom to do? I may have smiled at a little justice outside the system.

One scene, in particular, had me holding my breath. Dorion receives a simple text message: "Need you now." It names a local medical center, and suddenly everything changes. It's a perfect example of how Deaver can create enormous suspense with just a few carefully chosen words.

I've also been watching Tracker, the television series inspired by these books, and I've enjoyed it. But reading the Colter Shaw novels is a different experience entirely. The show captures the spirit of the character, but the books let me climb inside Colter's analytical mind. I get to watch him weigh possibilities, notice details everyone else overlooks, and build the solution piece by piece. Reading creates a richer experience because my imagination gets to direct the movie.

Looking back over all five Colter Shaw novels, what impresses me most is that none of them felt repetitive. Each adventure presented a completely different challenge, and South of Nowhere may be the most unique of them all by blending a disaster thriller with a small-town mystery.

If this truly is the end of the series, I'll miss following Colter's adventures. But if Jeffery Deaver ever decides to write a sixth book, I'll happily clear my schedule. Because apparently reading an entire Colter Shaw novel in one day is now a thing I do.

Burning Bright by Nick Petrie (Peter Ash #2)

 Sometimes the hardest battle is learning to heal. 

There are thriller protagonists you enjoy reading, and then there are the ones who earn a permanent place in your heart. Peter Ash has become one of mine.

If you've never met Peter before, he's a military veteran who returned home carrying invisible wounds. His PTSD manifests itself as severe claustrophobia, what he calls "white static", making it nearly impossible for him to stay indoors for any length of time. It's an unusual obstacle for an action hero, and it's one of the reasons Peter feels so real. He doesn't overcome his fears by pretending they don't exist. He works around them, one impossible situation at a time. And Burning Bright wastes no time throwing him into another impossible situation.

While hiking through a California redwood forest, Peter unexpectedly comes face-to-face with a hungry grizzly bear. His only escape is to climb the nearest tree. Near the top, he discovers a series of climbing ropes leading from tree to tree, eventually reaching a platform occupied by a woman named June Cassidy ... who greets him by pointing a gun at him. If that opening doesn't hook you, see your doctor.

June has escaped from kidnappers after her mother's mysterious hit-and-run death, and she has no idea why she's being hunted. Before long, Peter and June find themselves trapped high above the forest floor while heavily armed men close in beneath them. From that point forward, Nick Petrie grabbed my attention and refused to let go.

As exciting as the action is, though, the real strength of this novel is its characters. One of my favorite aspects of the Peter Ash series is the loyalty between Peter and the people he trusts. When Peter needs help, Lewis and Manny don't hesitate. They simply show up.

Lewis has become one of my favorite supporting characters. He's rough around the edges, has a  (very) questionable past, and makes me laugh. He is delightfully sarcastic, and he's exactly the kind of friend you want when everything goes sideways. Manny, one of Peter's brothers-in-arms, is equally dependable. Together they remind us that some bonds, especially those forged through military service, don't fade with time or distance.

I also appreciated the mystery. I suspected several different people as the story unfolded, but Nick Petrie stayed one step ahead of me the entire time. Just when I thought I had everything figured out, I realized I'd been looking exactly where Mr. Petrie wanted me to look.

What elevates Burning Bright above many thrillers, however, is Peter's personal journey. Peter has learned how to survive with his PTSD. In this book, he begins to realize that surviving isn't the same thing as healing. His growing relationship with June doesn't magically fix him, nor should it. Instead, it helps him recognize that seeking professional help isn't weakness. It's hope for a future. June simply wants a man who can come inside and build a life with her, and that's a perfectly reasonable thing to ask. Peter's decision at the end of the novel felt honest and earned. Lewis sums it up perfectly: "Jarhead gotta stop camping out someday."

As someone with veterans in my own family, stories like Peter's resonate with me. They remind me that freedom isn't free, and that some battles continue long after soldiers return home. Peter's military service is part of who he is, but it doesn't define him. What defines him is his unwavering commitment to doing the right thing, even when it's difficult, uncomfortable, or terrifying. And that's what makes him such a remarkable hero. Jack Reacher may be fearless. Peter Ash isn't. He carries his fear with him every day and still chooses to step forward when someone needs help.

To me, that's an even greater kind of courage.

Nick Petrie has officially become one of my favorite thriller authors, and Peter Ash has become one of my favorite fictional characters. I can't wait to see where their journey takes me next. Yes, I have already purchased the next book in the series. 

Scream City by Hannah Morrisey

"Imagine the scuttlebutt."

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Minotaur Books for providing me with an advance copy of Scream City in exchange for an honest review.

Imagine living your entire life in the shadow of a serial killer's legacy ... especially when that serial killer was your grandfather. That's the burden Alice carries as she runs a quirky bookstore housed in what was once his piano shop. Meanwhile, retired detective Rex is trying to rebuild his life after an unimaginable family tragedy. When women begin turning up dead in murders that echo the crimes of decades past, Alice and Rex find themselves searching for the truth while their beloved Cream City neighborhood fights to survive against an aggressive developer.

This is an atmospheric, character-driven crime novel with several twists that genuinely caught me by surprise. I thought I had things figured out more than once, only to discover I was completely wrong. The mystery is well constructed, and I enjoyed trying to untangle who was behind the copycat murders and why. Was someone trying to drive down property values? Seeking revenge? Chasing money? The possibilities kept changing as the story unfolded.

The characters were the heart of the novel for me. I felt especially sorry for Alice, whose entire identity has been shaped by crimes she had absolutely nothing to do with. Watching her navigate the assumptions people make about her because of her family history was heartbreaking and frustrating. At the same time, she has an endearing eccentricity, punctuating her conversations with the phrase, "Imagine the scuttlebutt," whenever she and Rex begin piecing together another possibility. It's a small character detail, but one that made her feel distinct and memorable. Rex was equally compelling. The tragedy involving his son is almost unimaginable, and I admired his determination to keep moving forward despite carrying that burden every day. I also loved the slow-building chemistry between Alice and Rex. It's clear the connection has been there for a long time, and I found myself rooting for them to finally make it work.

The reason this settled at four stars instead of five is that it never quite felt like a thriller to me. I was invested in the mystery and the characters, but I never experienced that overwhelming urgency to keep reading "just one more chapter." The pacing is more deliberate, allowing the atmosphere and relationships to take center stage rather than nonstop suspense.

Content warnings should include violence against women, serial murder, discussions of past murders, grief, trauma, and death of a child.

If you enjoy character-driven mysteries, police procedurals, and crime fiction with memorable protagonists, emotional depth, and surprising twists, Scream City is well worth picking up. Readers looking for relentless, edge-of-your-seat thriller pacing may find it slower than expected, but mystery fans will find plenty to enjoy.

The Drifter by Nick Petrie (Peter Ash #1)

Jack Reacher fans, meet Peter Ash. Justice is coming, and it's driving a 1968 Chevy C20.

Move over, Jack Reacher. I am making room on the shelf for another wandering trouble magnet.

Peter Ash comes home from war carrying an unusual burden. His PTSD manifests as "white static," making it almost impossible for him to stay indoors. After time spent climbing mountains and living outside, he learns that an old friend has died. Wanting to help the widow and children, he starts fixing up their house and discovers a suitcase hidden under the porch. It's full of money. A LOT of money. And explosives.

That discovery kicks off a thriller that never slows down. Who hid the suitcase? Who wants it back? Why is Peter being followed? Every answer leads to more danger.

What really made this book shine for me was Peter Ash himself. He's resourceful, loyal, and deeply affected by his experiences, but he refuses to let that stop him from doing what's right. His struggles feel authentic, and his determination makes him easy to root for.

And then there's the justice. If you love Jack Reacher's brand of "bad people made terrible decisions and now they have a problem," you'll appreciate Peter Ash. He doesn't go looking for trouble, but trouble keeps finding him, and the bad guys generally regret it.

The mystery is excellent, the pacing is fast, and the action scenes are outstanding. Best of all, I finished the book already looking forward to the next one.

Nick Petrie has earned a place on my list of favorite authors.

One Last Secret by Blake Pierce (The Governess #5)

A woman whose employment history includes five murder houses should probably come with a warning label.

One Last Secret, the fifth book in Blake Pierce's The Governess series, continues to prove why these books are perfect commute audiobooks. They're entertaining, fast-paced, and this one was just twisty enough to make me sit in the driveway after getting home because I needed to hear the end.

Mary has definitely grown on me over the course of the series. She still has a remarkable talent for finding employment in homes where murder has happened or is about to happen. At this point, five out of her last six jobs have involved homicide. That's not bad luck; that's practically a supernatural gift.

What I appreciated most about this installment was that the mystery surrounding Annie, Mary's sister who disappeared thirty years ago, finally received a satisfying resolution. That thread has been hanging over the series from the beginning, and I was pleased with how it was handled.

I also enjoyed the hopeful ending. Without spoiling anything, the book leaves the door open for Mary to have her own happily-ever-after, and after everything she's endured, I find myself rooting for her. I'm going to have to download the next few in the series. 

These books aren't deep literary masterpieces, but they don't pretend to be. They're quick, engaging mysteries with a likable heroine who somehow manages to stumble into danger with astonishing regularity. And when a book keeps me sitting in the car to finish the last chapter, that's always a good sign.

A Muslim Girl's World by Roha Rahman

Understanding begins when we listen to one another's stories.

I freely admit that I am biased. Roha Rahman is one of my seventh-grade students, and seeing her name on the cover of a book filled me with more than a little teacher pride. But pride aside, A Muslim Girl's World deserves every one of its five stars.

The book tells the story of a Muslim girl attending public school for the first time. What should be an exciting new chapter quickly becomes something much harder as she encounters bullying, ignorance, and harassment simply because she is different. Reading about her experiences was heartbreaking. I found myself asking the same question over and over: Why do people do that? Why is being different so often treated as something to be feared or mocked?

Sadly, this isn't just a story about being Muslim. It's a story about being human. Anyone who has ever felt like an outsider, or who has watched someone they care about struggle to fit in, will recognize those feelings. The details may be unique, but the emotions are universal.

What impressed me most was Roha's writing. She tells the story with honesty and sincerity, and she does so with remarkable maturity. Her words invite readers into her world and help them understand experiences they may never have had themselves. That's one of the greatest gifts books can give us: empathy.

As a teacher, I know middle school can be wonderful, awkward, exciting, and cruel, sometimes all before lunch. Kids are trying to figure out who they are while learning how to navigate friendships, expectations, and the opinions of others. Some succeed with kindness. Some don't. Stories like this remind us that our words and actions matter, and that kindness costs us nothing.

Writing a book is hard. Finishing one is harder. Publishing one while you're still in middle school is extraordinary. I couldn't be more proud of Roha for sharing her voice and telling a story that deserves to be heard.

If A Muslim Girl's World helps even one reader understand someone different from themselves a little better, then it has already accomplished something beautiful.

Paradise Valley by CJ Box (The Highway #4)

Backstabbing bureaucrats, a terrifying predator, and one stubborn investigator made this impossible to put down.

If there's one thing Cassie Dewell knows, it's that no good deed goes unpunished, especially when politicians and ambitious prosecutors are involved.

Paradise Valley, the fourth book in C.J. Box's Highway Quartet series, opens with a sting operation aimed at capturing the "Lizard King," a sadistic predator who targets prostitutes at truck stops. Everyone in authority is eager to claim the glory if the operation succeeds, but if it fails, they are more than happy to throw Cassie under the bus.

Naturally, things go sideways.

What follows is a tense cat-and-mouse hunt as Cassie pursues the killer while dealing with backstabbing colleagues, dishonest officials, and plenty of people who seem more interested in protecting their own behinds than protecting innocent lives. Four years after the Lizard King slipped through her fingers, Cassie still carries that failure with her. This time, the stakes become painfully personal.

One of my favorite characters in this series is Kyle. He has a severe speech impediment, and life hasn't exactly dealt him an easy hand. But he never gives up. Kyle's determination and courage make him impossible not to root for. When he is kidnapped, the case becomes much more than another investigation. Kyle is Cassie's son Ben's best friend, and Cassie is determined not to lose him. Suddenly, this isn't just unfinished business with a psychopath. It's personal.

That's one of the things I love about Cassie herself. She's smart, persistent, and not particularly interested in office politics. She keeps going even when the people who should have her back are busy protecting themselves. 

There is plenty of diabolical criminal behavior here, but also a healthy dose of bureaucratic nonsense, which sometimes feels just as dangerous. Watching Cassie refuse to quit while everyone around her is busy assigning blame made this another five-star read for me.

To The Nines by Janet Evanovich (Stephanie Plum #9)

Stephanie Plum may be chaos personified, but Lulu is the exponential multiplier of chaos itself.

If you've ever wondered what would happen if a bounty hunter possessed equal amounts of courage, bad luck, and questionable judgment, look no further than Stephanie Plum.

To the Nines is the ninth installment in Janet Evanovich's long-running Stephanie Plum series, and it reminded me exactly why these books are so much fun. The mystery itself is entertaining, but I'm here for Stephanie's endless ability to turn a routine assignment into a full-scale disaster.

This time around, Stephanie is searching for a missing man while trying to stay one step ahead of a psychopath trying to kill her. No worries... Evanovich knows exactly when to inject humor and keep things from becoming too heavy.

And then there's Lulu.

Oh, Lulu.

There were scenes involving Lulu that had me laughing so hard I had tears running down my face. The woman is a walking disaster wrapped in confidence and bright clothing, and every scene she's in is guaranteed entertainment. Stephanie may be chaos personified, but Lulu ... oh, Lulu.

What continues to make this series work is the cast. Stephanie, Morelli, Ranger, Lulu, and Grandma Mazur all feel like old friends at this point. Their interactions are funny, familiar, and endlessly entertaining. Let's face it. Grandma Mazur is one funeral away from an international incident all on her own.

The mystery was solid, the pacing was quick, and on this rainy day in June, the humor was exactly what I needed. Some books keep me reading because I need to know what happens next. Stephanie Plum books keep me reading because I can't wait to see what ridiculous thing happens next. Ridiculous, but in Stephanie and Lulu's world, absolutely believable. Hey, it's Jersey.

If you're looking for a serious crime novel, this probably isn't your series. But if you enjoy mysteries with plenty of laughs, memorable characters, and enough chaos to fill several police reports, To the Nines delivers.

Five stars. I laughed, I was entertained, and I want more.

Strange Bedfellows by Amanda Mortlock

 A girl who is also a cat, witches, familiars, missing memories, and murder. I'm in!

Strange Bedfellows was unlike anything I've read before, and that's saying something. I usually spend my reading time chasing murderers, serial killers, and psychological twists, so a story about familiars, witches, magical bonds, and a woman who is also a cat was well outside my comfort zone. I approached it with an open mind, and surprisingly, it worked!

Cleo is both herself and Cat, her feline counterpart, and the relationship between the two creates a fascinating mystery from the very beginning. When she finds her witch, Wes, under unusual circumstances, she becomes entangled in a world of magic, missing memories, hidden truths, and dangers that stretch back into the past. As Cleo struggles to understand who she is and what has been forgotten, the story builds a steady sense of urgency that kept me turning pages.

What I enjoyed most was the suspense. Beneath the fantasy and romance elements is a genuine mystery. I needed to know what had happened, why memories were missing, and how the past was influencing the present. That mystery kept me invested even when I was navigating unfamiliar fantasy concepts.

The characters were engaging, especially Cleo. Sometimes I didn't like her very much, but watching her piece together her identity and place in this magical world gave the story its emotional core. I also enjoyed the dynamics between the familiars and witches, particularly the unique relationships that developed throughout the story.

My biggest challenge was the worldbuilding. As someone who doesn't read much fantasy, I occasionally felt as though I had been dropped into the deep end without a life jacket. Terms, magical concepts, and lore were sometimes introduced with little explanation, leaving me feeling like I was trying to follow a gourmet recipe with only basic cooking skills. Fantasy readers will likely have no trouble with this, but I occasionally wished for a bit more guidance.

The romance wasn't always my favorite aspect of the story and had me rolling my eyes more than once, but it never overshadowed the stronger elements. The mystery, suspense, and originality kept me engaged from beginning to end.

If you enjoy fantasy romance with unusual magical systems, mysterious pasts, magical familiars, witches, and a healthy dose of suspense, I would absolutely recommend Strange Bedfellows. While it pushed me outside my usual reading preferences, it also reminded me how enjoyable it can be to explore something completely different.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for providing an advance review copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.