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.

Hunting Time by Jeffery Deaver (Colton Shaw #4)

Jeffery Deaver doesn't just pull the rug out from under you. He keeps replacing the floor.

I finally made my way back to one of my favorite series and was reminded exactly why I enjoy Colter Shaw so much. Hunting Time is everything I want in a thriller: high stakes, constant tension, intelligent characters, and enough twists to keep me guessing until the very end.

One of Jeffery Deaver's greatest strengths is misdirection. Not the cheap kind where a random character suddenly turns out to be the villain in the final chapter. Deaver carefully constructs an entire reality for us, then gradually reveals that we've misunderstood it from the beginning. Throughout this book, I found myself questioning who the good guys were, who the bad guys were, and whether anyone was telling the truth. 

Even the title is a clever piece of misdirection. When I first started the book, I interpreted Hunting Time as "it's time to go hunting." By the end, I realized Colter Shaw was actually hunting for time itself, trying to stay alive long enough to uncover the truth. Every decision, every clue, and every narrow escape becomes a battle to gain a few more precious minutes.

Colter Shaw remains one of my favorite protagonists because he isn't simply charging through obstacles. He approaches every situation like a puzzle that needs solving. He's smart, resourceful, and persistent, but he doesn't have all the answers. Readers get to unravel the mystery alongside him, which makes the journey even more satisfying.

As much as I enjoy the Colter Shaw books, I have to admit I enjoy them far more than the television adaptation. My imagination creates a much richer experience than anything Hollywood has managed to put on screen. Deaver's intricate plotting and constant twists simply work better on the page.

This was a masterfully constructed thriller from start to finish. The pacing never let up, the surprises felt earned, and the ending was incredibly satisfying. If you're looking for a thriller that will keep you guessing while still playing fair with the clues, Hunting Time is an easy recommendation.

Five stars all the way.

One Last Goodbye by Blake Pierce (The Governess #4)

Mary's greatest mystery isn't the murder. It's her ongoing war with common sense.

I just finished listening to One Last Goodbye by Blake Pierce, and I have reached an interesting point with this series. I keep coming back. Not because I'm captivated. Not because I'm sitting in my driveway listening to "just one more chapter" before going inside. And certainly not because I'm losing sleep wondering who the killer is. I keep coming back because the books are mildly entertaining. They make my commute more enjoyable. Sometimes that's enough.

This time, Mary finds herself working for a wealthy family in Switzerland. She has also hired a private investigator back in Boston to continue searching for information about her sister, a storyline that has been simmering in the background throughout the series. Before long, the investigator is digging into Mary's new employers as well.

At first, there doesn't seem to be much to find. Naturally, that doesn't last. Within the first few weeks, the head of the household is murdered, and Mary once again decides it is her personal responsibility to bring the killer to justice.

We hear that phrase a lot.

At this point, the formula is pretty well established. Mary accepts a governess position. She discovers secrets. Somebody dies. Mary ignores all reasonable boundaries and proceeds to investigate. Eventually, she brings the killer to justice.

Wash. Rinse. Repeat.

The thing that continues to frustrate me is Mary's complete lack of common sense. She is obviously intelligent. She notices details. She connects clues. She solves mysteries. Yet she repeatedly makes decisions that leave me staring at my earbuds wondering what on earth she was thinking.

I've finally decided that Mary's greatest mystery isn't the murder. It's her ongoing war with common sense.

That said, I don't dislike these books. If I did, I would have abandoned the series several installments ago. The chapters are short, the pacing is brisk, and the stories move along quickly enough to keep me listening. They're easy audiobooks and make excellent commuting companions. 

What they are not, at least for me, is compelling. When I arrive at my destination, I hit pause and move on with my day. I don't find myself thinking about the characters later. I don't rush back to continue the story. I enjoy the ride while it lasts and then happily step off.

For that reason, I'm settling on three stars for One Last Goodbye. It entertained me for a few hours, advanced the ongoing storyline about Mary's sister, and delivered another serviceable mystery. It just never rose above that level.

And yet, despite all my complaints, I suspect I'll be picking up the next book. Because apparently Mary's ongoing war with common sense is difficult to quit.

Tourist Season by Brynne Weaver (Cape Carnage #1)

 Cape Carnage: Population is tourists, serial killers, and questionable life choices

I picked up Tourist Season by Brynne Weaver because it was the selection for one of my book clubs. The premise sounded delightfully unhinged: Harper Starling is a serial killer who disposes of bad people with a woodchipper. I'm not saying that's a healthy coping mechanism, but as thriller hooks go, it certainly grabbed my attention.

At first, I thought I was settling in for a darkly humorous thriller. Harper was interesting, the setting was quirky, and Cape Carnage seemed like the kind of place where everyone knows their neighbors and several of those neighbors probably have bodies buried in the backyard. Then Nolan Rhodes arrived.

Nolan is another serial killer who comes to town intending to kill Harper after mistaking her for someone else. Instead of a cat-and-mouse thriller, the story quickly became a dark romance centered on the attraction between two serial killers. If dark romance is your genre, you'll probably understand the appeal much better than I did. Unfortunately, that's where the book started to lose me.

I'm not much of a romance reader, and I'm definitely not the target audience for pages and pages of sweaty bondage sex. Once the clothes started coming off, I found myself skipping ahead. That's never a good sign. By about two-thirds of the way through the book, I realized I wasn't particularly invested in the story anymore.

The biggest issue wasn't that the book was bad. It was that it wasn't the book I expected. I came looking for a thriller and found a romance that happened to feature multiple serial killers. The murders, investigations, and vigilante justice all felt secondary to the relationship.

And speaking of serial killers ... there are a lot of them. Harper and Nolan are only the beginning. By the time additional killers started appearing, I found myself wondering whether Cape Carnage has a larger serial killer population than most major cities.

That said, I can see why this series has found an audience. The writing is engaging, the concept is memorable, and readers who enjoy dark romance will likely have a completely different experience than I did. Harper herself is a fun character, and the opening chapters genuinely hooked me.

In the end, though, this wasn't my kind of thriller because it really wasn't a thriller at all. It was a dark romance wearing a thriller costume.

If you're looking for morally questionable characters, over-the-top situations, and a romance between serial killers, you may have a great time. If you're hoping for a traditional thriller, you might find yourself staring at the final page asking the same question I did:

"What on earth did I just read?"

The Storm by Rachel Hawkins

Come for the mystery. Stay for the increasingly ridiculous list of people who had reasons to hate the victim.

I just finished The Storm by Rachel Hawkins, and I'm giving it four stars. It wasn't one of those books that kept me awake until 2 a.m. making terrible life choices, but it was entertaining enough that I kept thinking about pretzels every time a new twist landed.

The story follows a cast of characters trapped together with a murder, a mountain of secrets, and enough questionable life choices to keep a therapist employed for years. As the story unfolded, I found myself constantly reassessing who I trusted.

At first, Geneva felt like a narrator I could rely on. Then I realized she simply didn't know enough to be reliable. That's a very different thing from an unreliable narrator. She wasn't lying to me. She was just missing critical pieces of the puzzle, which meant I was missing them too.

Lo, on the other hand, drove me a little crazy. I never quite understood what motivated her until the very end. Every time I thought I had her figured out, she'd do something that sent me back to square one.

August gave me creepy vibes from the beginning, and those vibes never entirely went away.

The victim didn't earn much sympathy from me either. As more details emerged about his behavior, I found myself less interested in mourning him and more interested in figuring out which of the many people he'd wronged finally decided they'd had enough. The man left a trail of broken promises and damaged lives behind him. Posthumously, he became less likable with every revelation.

My one real complaint involves the multiple narrators. Several chapters began without making it immediately obvious whose perspective I was reading. More than once I spent a page or two getting oriented before realizing who was telling the story. It's a small issue, but it occasionally pulled me out of the narrative.

Overall, though, The Storm delivered exactly what I wanted: family drama, buried secrets, suspicious characters, and enough twists to keep me entertained from beginning to end. It may not have cost me any sleep, but it cost me a bag of pretzels.

One Last Breath by Blake Pierce (The Governess #3)

Will Mary survive Mary's decision-making?

Three books into the Governess series, I've come to accept a few things. First, Mary is going to involve herself in situations that are absolutely none of her business, much like every single one of my 7th graders. Second, she will continue making choices that would have most sensible people backing slowly toward the nearest exit. Her curiosity consistently outruns her common sense. Third, somehow she keeps surviving.

This time, Mary finds herself entangled with a wealthy family in Savannah. Naturally, there is a murder. Actually, there are two murders, one recent and one that happened more than fifty years ago. Because why solve one mystery when you can solve two?

The family itself is a collection of colorful characters. There's a grandmother struggling with dementia and a mother who spends her time talking to her geraniums. To be fair, if I lived in that house, I might start talking to plants too.

One thing I appreciated in this installment is that Mary seems to have learned at least one lesson. Fence climbing appears to be firmly in her past. After a couple of unfortunate encounters with gravity, she has apparently decided that scaling obstacles is best left to younger people. Character growth!

Even more impressive, Mary finally remembers that emergency services exist. This may be the biggest development in the series so far. There were moments when I wanted to cheer and say, "Yes, Mary! Let trained professionals handle it!" Of course, that doesn't stop her from conducting her own investigation, because then we wouldn't have much of a story.

As a mystery, One Last Breath kept me engaged throughout my commute. The plot moves along at a good pace, and there were enough twists and family secrets to hold my attention. That said, it never quite reached the point where I couldn't wait to get back to it. This series continues to occupy that sweet spot of being entertaining without becoming all-consuming.

At this point, I've realized that the real attraction of these books isn't necessarily the mystery itself. It's Mary. She's stubborn, curious, and possessed of an almost supernatural ability to insert herself into dangerous situations. Watching her navigate eccentric families, old secrets, and murder investigations is consistently enjoyable, even when I find myself shaking my head (repeatedly) at her decisions.

Overall, I'd give One Last Breath three stars. It's a solid audiobook, an easy listen, and perfect commuting material. It held my attention, made the drive go by faster, and never once tempted me to sit in the parking lot after arriving somewhere just to hear one more chapter.

And honestly, that's not a bad thing. After all, the goal is to get home safely. Mary can handle the danger for both of us.

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig

Woman auditions infinite alternate lives. I wanted her to get a hobby.

First, let me say that this book is so far outside my usual reading habits that I had to create a book journal category called "Wild Card" just to shelve it somewhere. My comfort zone is thrillers, mysteries, serial killers, and people making terrible decisions while being chased by dangerous people. This book is about one woman making terrible decisions while being chased by her own regrets.

Close enough, I suppose.

The story follows Nora Seed, who has reached the point where she believes she has no purpose, no value, and no meaningful place in the world. Her job is gone. Relationships have fallen apart. Even the elderly gentleman she used to help no longer needs her assistance. Then her cat dies. Honestly, it reads like the opening verse of the saddest country song ever written.

After deciding she no longer wants to live, Nora finds herself in the Midnight Library, a strange place between life and death. There she encounters the Book of Regrets, a massive volume containing every choice she wishes she had made differently. It nearly suffocates her.

From there, Nora gets the opportunity to explore alternate versions of her life. What if she had stayed with the boyfriend? What if she had pursued competitive swimming? What if she had become a famous musician? Each life presents a different possibility, and if she finds one she truly loves, she can stay.

Now, this is where my reading experience may have differed from many other readers. A lot of people describe this book as inspiring. Hopeful. Life-affirming. Meanwhile, I spent a large portion of the novel wanting to grab Nora by the shoulders and say:

"Would you please stop doing this to yourself?"

I wasn't discovering the lesson alongside Nora. I felt like I had already figured it out and was waiting for her to catch up. 

The entire book is built around regret. Every road not taken. Every opportunity missed. Every alternate version of success she imagines she should have achieved. But I kept coming back to the same thought: Whose success are we talking about? Her father's? Her mother's? Her friend's? Society's? 

What about Nora's?

The more alternate lives she visited, the more I found myself thinking that she was searching for the wrong answer. She wasn't looking for her purpose. She was looking for proof that someone else's version of success would have made her happy.

Life doesn't work that way. Life is messy. And it's certainly not linear. Everyone has ups and downs. Sometimes those downs are devastating. Sometimes they knock us flat. Sometimes they last far longer than we'd like. But we keep going. That's not because every day is wonderful. It's because our lives matter whether we can see that fact clearly or not.

One of the things I did appreciate was Nora reconnecting with her old school librarian. That felt fitting. Out of all the fantastical elements in the novel, that relationship felt grounded and genuine. It reminded me that sometimes the people who influence our lives most aren't the loudest voices or the biggest successes. Sometimes they're simply the people who showed up when we needed them.

By the end of the book, Nora learns that her life has value and that no alternate existence is perfect. It's a good message. I just arrived there a few hundred pages before she did.

In the end, I didn't dislike The Midnight Library. I appreciated what it was trying to say. I understand why so many readers connect deeply with it. But while Nora spent the novel auditioning alternate universes, I kept wanting to hand her a cup of chamomile and say: "Your cat died. Your job fell apart. You're disappointed in yourself. Fair enough. Now stop shopping for different realities and figure out what you want to do tomorrow."

Maybe that's the thriller reader in me.

Or maybe it's just life experience talking.

Girl Number 8 by Janice Okoh

What happens when a missing-persons case is tangled up with politics, superstition, and secrets?

Freida is Girl Number 8, the eighth young girl to disappear from one of four villages. Detective Sola Adeyemi is investigating a troubling pattern: every four years, shortly before an election, four children vanish. The timing feels too deliberate to be coincidence, and as Sola digs deeper, the possibility of ritual killings and political corruption becomes impossible to ignore.

One of the things I appreciated most about this novel was how completely it immersed me in a setting that felt unfamiliar. This is the first book I've read set in Nigeria, and the setting wasn't just a backdrop. It was essential to the story. The dialogue reflects local speech patterns, which took me a chapter or two to adjust to, but once I did, I could practically hear the characters speaking. It added authenticity and helped bring the world to life.

I also found the social commentary fascinating. The casual acceptance of corruption among some of the police and political figures was eye-opening, as were the community beliefs surrounding Freida's green eyes. Seeing a child viewed with suspicion because of a genetic trait was both heartbreaking and thought-provoking. The book explores how fear, superstition, power, and tradition can shape people's lives in ways that are often unfair and devastating.

Detective Sola Adeyemi was my favorite character. She's determined, intelligent, and committed to finding the truth even when the obstacles seem overwhelming. I enjoyed following her investigation and watching her piece together the mystery.

The plot kept me engaged throughout, and I was invested in discovering what had happened to the missing girls. While the pacing occasionally slowed as the story explored broader social issues, those same elements are what made the novel stand out from many crime thrillers I've read recently. This isn't just a mystery; it's a story that raises questions about justice, power, and the stories communities tell themselves.

Content warnings should include violence against women and children, murder, ritual practices, child disappearances, and corruption.

Overall, Girl Number 8 is a compelling and thought-provoking crime novel that offers both an intriguing mystery and a vivid sense of place. It's the kind of book that lingers in your mind after you've finished the final page, and I suspect I'll be thinking about it for quite some time.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for providing an advance review copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Admit Nothing by Scott Urbach (Grant Hunter #1)

 Sometimes the bad guys need a different brand of justice.

Every now and then I pick up a thriller that reminds me why I enjoy this genre so much. Admit Nothing by Scott Urbach was one of those books.

The story begins in Bangkok when a CIA operative is found dead in a place he definitely should not have been. Before long, his wife is also dead, Russian operatives are involved, and what initially appears to be death by natural causes turns into a conspiracy involving traitors in high places.

In other words, nobody is having a good day.

What I enjoyed most about this book was the way Urbach balanced the plot with character development. As the mystery unfolded, Grant Hunter's character was taking shape. He quickly became the kind of protagonist I enjoy reading about: competent, determined, and guided by a strong sense of justice even when the official system isn't getting the job done.

My book journal has a trope called "Justice Outside the System," and Grant Hunter fits that category perfectly. He isn't reckless or looking for trouble. He simply refuses to let bad people hide behind power, influence, or bureaucracy. Or diplomatic immunity.

The plot itself kept me hooked. Every time I thought I had a handle on what was happening, another layer of the conspiracy appeared. The international setting added extra tension, and the involvement of intelligence agencies and Russian operatives gave the story a nice political-thriller feel without becoming overly complicated.

This was one of those books I read in a single day, although not in the "ignore all responsibilities and forget to eat" way. I still managed to get some housework done and even took a nap. That's usually my sign of a solid four-star thriller. I was invested, entertained, and eager to keep reading, but I wasn't desperately racing to the finish line.

The ending was especially satisfying. The story delivered on the promises it made early on, the conspiracy was unraveled, and Grant Hunter handled the bad guys in a way that felt earned. Nothing is more disappointing than a thriller that builds suspense for 300 pages and then stumbles at the finish. Fortunately, that wasn't the case here.

Overall, Admit Nothing was an enjoyable political thriller with an engaging protagonist, a fast-moving plot, and a satisfying conclusion. Most importantly, it convinced me that I want to spend more time with Grant Hunter.

And that's probably the best compliment I can give a first book in a series.

The Lightning Girl by Sam Ripley

What if the friend you spent decades mourning wasn't who you thought she was?

When Sarah returns to her hometown after her father's death, she finds herself drawn back into the mystery that has haunted her since childhood: the death of her best friend, Gen. Officially, Gen died after falling from a cliff years ago. Sarah has never fully accepted that explanation, and as she settles her father's estate, old memories and old questions begin resurfacing. The deeper she digs, the less certain she becomes about what really happened.

This was a solid four-star read for me. The biggest strength of the novel is the mystery itself. For most of the book, I genuinely had no idea what happened to Gen. Was she murdered? If so, by whom? A suspected serial killer? The groundskeeper? Someone else entirely? It kept me guessing.

I also appreciated how unsettled the book made me feel. Not frightened exactly, but disconcerted. That's a quality I enjoy in a thriller. Sarah starts out as a narrator I trusted completely, but as the story unfolds, I found myself questioning her perceptions and interpretations of events. The uncertainty added another layer to the mystery and kept me engaged.

Sarah was my favorite character. Even during the moments when I thought she might be a few fries short of a Happy Meal, I still liked her and wanted answers right alongside her. Her grief over both her father and Gen felt genuine, and her determination to uncover the truth kept the story moving.

The supernatural elements worked better for me than I expected. Personally, I'm not fully convinced that talking to dead people is a thing, and there were moments that earned a little eye roll from me. On the other hand, the ambiguity surrounding those experiences added to the novel's uneasy atmosphere. Whether the explanations were supernatural, psychological, or something in between, they helped create a constant feeling that something wasn't quite right.

The pacing is steady, with enough twists and revelations to keep the pages turning. While this wasn't one of those books that kept me awake far past bedtime, it was consistently entertaining and rarely made me roll my eyes ... a compliment thriller readers will understand.

Readers who enjoy mystery thrillers with psychological suspense, unreliable narrators, and a touch of supernatural ambiguity will likely find a lot to enjoy here.

Content warnings: murder, violence against women, grief, death of a parent, and discussions of a possible serial killer.

Overall, The Lightning Girl delivers a compelling mystery, memorable twists, and an unsettling atmosphere that kept me guessing until the end. I am already recommending it to my friends. A special thank you to Atria for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

One Last Smile by Blake Pierce (The Governess #2)

 She is still charging in where angels fear to plonk their holy feet.

There must be something in the water around Mary because wherever this woman goes, trouble follows close behind. In One Last Smile by Blake Pierce, Mary has once again landed herself in a wealthy household. This time, she's supposed to be tutoring Lucas, helping him prepare for admission to a prestigious university. Sounds simple enough ... flashcards, essays, standardized tests, and perhaps the occasional reminder to put down the phone and study ... Naturally, that is not what happens.

Instead, Mary learns about a young woman connected to the family who disappeared and was never found. Most people would file that information under "interesting but none of my business" and continue helping Lucas with his studies. Mary is not most people. Despite repeatedly reminding herself that she is not a detective, Mary once again launches herself into an investigation with all the caution of a squirrel crossing a six-lane highway. 

To be fair, the mystery itself kept me listening. This was actually a great commute audiobook. The pacing moves along nicely, and the story gives you enough breadcrumbs to keep you interested during a drive to work without demanding your complete attention. I never found myself desperate to get back to it, but I also never dreaded pressing play.

The biggest hurdle for me was Mary herself. She has a remarkable talent for inserting herself into increasingly questionable situations while fully acknowledging that she has neither the training nor the authority to be doing any of it. Every time she thought, "I'm not a detective," I found myself agreeing enthusiastically.

The book isn't bad. In fact, it's entertaining enough that I happily listened through to the end. The mystery was interesting, the narration was easy to follow, and I wanted to know what had happened to the missing young woman. But there were enough eye-roll-inducing moments that I can't place it high on my recommendation list.

In the end, I'd call this a solid three-star audiobook. If you're looking for something engaging to fill your commute, it does the job. If you're looking for a psychological thriller that will keep you awake at night thinking about it, this probably isn't the one.

Just be prepared for Mary to charge directly into situations where angels fear to plonk their holy feet.

UNSUB by Meg Gardiner (UNSUB #1)

 Nothing like the 9 circles of hell to keep you awake at night...

Some books politely conclude their business, shake your hand, and send you on your way. UNSUB looked me in the eye and said, "See you in the next book." Fair enough.

The story follows Detective Caitlin Hendrix, whose father, Mack Hendrix, spent years chasing the infamous Mercury Killer. The case consumed him, nearly destroyed him, and was never fully solved. Now the killer appears to be back, and Caitlin finds herself walking down the same dark path her father traveled years before.

One thing I really appreciated was Caitlin herself. She's competent without being invincible, determined without being reckless to the point of making me want to throw the book across the room, and realistic enough to feel like an actual detective rather than a superhero with a badge. But let's be honest here. The Mercury Killer is the real star of the show.

Every time he appeared, I sat up a little straighter. He's the kind of villain who keeps you guessing because his actions don't fit neatly into a pattern you can solve halfway through the book. Just when I thought I understood what was happening, he found a new way to make things weird, creepy, or both.

Then came the twist I genuinely didn't see coming.

The murders are connected to Dante's Inferno.

As someone who has read plenty of thrillers featuring serial killers with grand plans, bizarre obsessions, and enough free time to create elaborate crime scenes, I thought I'd seen it all. Apparently not. The Dante connection added an interesting layer to the investigation and gave the murders a twisted sense of purpose.

The pacing was solid throughout. Not quite "cancel all your responsibilities and stay awake until three in the morning" territory, but definitely engaging enough that I wanted to keep reading.

And then there was that ending. You know the type. Not a cliffhanger exactly. More like the literary equivalent of someone opening a door, pointing into the darkness, and saying, "There's more." And now I need to know what happens next.

So congratulations, Meg Gardiner. I picked up one book and somehow ended up committing to a series. The Mercury Killer completely stole the show, and the ending practically guaranteed I'll be reading the next Caitlin Hendrix book.

The Psychopath Next Door by Mark Edwards

 The Neighborhood Association from Hell

Any book that makes me accidentally skip dinner is doing something right. That's exactly what happened with The Psychopath Next Door by Mark Edwards. One minute I was planning to read a few chapters before bed. The next minute I was squinting at the clock wondering why it was dark out and why my stomach was making sounds usually associated with dying farm equipment.

The story follows Ethan Dove and his family as they attempt a fresh start after some marital turbulence. Unfortunately for Ethan, life has other plans. At about the same time they settle into their new home, Fiona moves in next door. And Fiona is not bringing banana bread to welcome the neighbors.

Recently released from prison, Fiona is carrying enough resentment to power a small city. She blames certain people for the death of her partner and the prison sentence that followed, and she has no intention of moving on peacefully.

What I liked most was that the characters felt believable. Ethan wasn't perfect. He made mistakes. Sometimes I wanted to shake him. But his decisions felt human rather than thriller filler. I wasn't entirely sure about Emma for much of the book. She kept me guessing, which may have been exactly what the author intended. By the end, though, she earned my respect. Dylan, the teenage son, mostly performed his assigned duties as Teenager™. You know the role: appear occasionally, be mildly annoyed by everything, and vanish back into the background.

Then there's Rose.

Without spoiling anything, I'll just say that Rose made me uncomfortable almost immediately. Sometimes a character walks onto the page and your instincts start waving red flags. Mine certainly did. The uncomfortable feeling wasn't accidental, either.

And Fiona was creepy from the very beginning. Not cartoon-villain creepy or twirling-a-mustache creepy. The much more unsettling kind of creepy where every appearance raises your blood pressure a little because you know something bad is coming.

The tension builds steadily throughout the book, and the twists genuinely worked for me. That's becoming harder and harder to accomplish. I've read enough thrillers that I usually spot at least part of the ending coming down the tracks.

Not this time.

Mark Edwards managed to pull the rug out from under me, and I happily face-planted right onto it. By the time I reached the final pages, I was fully invested, thoroughly surprised, and wondering whether I should finally go find something for dinner.

If you're looking for a psychological thriller packed with family drama, revenge, secrets, suspicious neighbors, and an ending that actually delivers, The Psychopath Next Door is well worth your time.

Just maybe eat dinner before you start reading.

X Ways to Die by Stefan Ahnhem (Fabian Risk #5)

I felt like I walked into the movie theater 20 minutes late, but then I realized the movie is excellent! 

I started X Ways to Die by Stefan Ahnhem feeling completely disoriented. Characters already knew each other, relationships had history, and everyone seemed to be carrying emotional baggage I clearly should have recognized. About fifty pages in, I looked it up, and discovered this is not the first book in the series. Mystery solved.

Turns out this is part of the Fabian Risk series, and once I adjusted, it didn’t take long to settle in. The story does a surprisingly good job of pulling new readers along without making you feel hopelessly lost.

The main case involves a serial killer whose methods and victim choices appear completely random, and I don't mean “chaotic genius with hidden clues” random. There doesn’t seem to be a pattern, motive, or logic tying the murders together, which made the investigation feel especially tense because law enforcement never seems fully grounded. 

At the same time, Fabian Risk is also digging into suspicions surrounding one of his own co-workers, apparently using whatever scraps of “free time” homicide detectives are supposed to have. That storyline added another layer of paranoia to an already twisty plot. Between internal politics, cross-border politics between Sweden and Denmark, and powerful people playing their usual political games, this book had a lot going on.

And it worked.

The multiple points of view could have become overwhelming, but instead they made the story feel bigger and more immersive. The glimpses into the killer’s mind were especially unsettling. “Twisty” almost undersells it. 

What I appreciated most was how intricate the plotting was without becoming unreadable. There are a lot of moving pieces here, but they eventually begin locking together like gears. You can tell Ahnhem enjoys building complicated crime stories and trusts readers to keep up.

It didn't keep me awake at night in existential terror, but it did completely pull me in and keep me turning pages. An easy 4.5 stars for me, rounded up to 5 for Goodreads.

You Girls Play Nice by KD Aldyn

I didn't clean the house today. And who needs food?

I received an ARC of You Girls Play Nice by KD Aldyn from NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press in exchange for an honest review.

This book consumed my entire day. I don't remember if I ate. Who needs food when there is rage, revenge, female friendship, and a murder trial that goes spectacularly wrong?

The story opens at the end of a sexual assault and murder trial. Rebel, Jackie, Sue, and Willow sit through every day of the proceedings, desperate for justice for their murdered friend. Instead, the accused, Daniel, walks free after being found not guilty on all charges. The women try to move on, but grief, anger, and unanswered questions have a way of festering. Years later, the friends begin discussing hypothetical ways they would kill Daniel if they ever chose revenge. Hypothetically, of course. Because nothing says “healthy closure” quite like plotting imaginary murder over drinks.

This book does not waste time easing readers into the story. It drops you directly into the emotional wreckage and lets the tension build from there. The pacing was excellent, and I flew through this book in a single sitting because I needed to know where it was heading.

What really made the story work for me was the friendship between the four women. They each felt distinct and believable instead of blending together. Rebel absolutely lived up to her name, Jackie was quietly intellectual, Willow brought warmth and optimism even while doubting herself, and Sue grounded the group. Their friendships felt layered and authentic, especially the smaller bonds within the larger group dynamic. These women loved each other, protected each other, frustrated each other, and carried their grief differently.

The revenge discussions were some of the strongest scenes in the book because they felt disturbingly understandable. The women are not presented as cartoon vigilantes. They are grieving women failed by the justice system, trying to cope with unbearable anger. The moral grayness of those conversations kept pulling me deeper into the story because part of me understood exactly why they were having them.

I also appreciated how emotionally tense the story felt throughout. This was not simply a mystery about solving a murder. It explored the aftermath of trauma, the damage left behind by violence against women, and what happens when justice and legality are not the same thing.

The reveal genuinely surprised me. Looking back, the clues were there, but I completely underestimated one character because I assumed they were only a minor player in the story. My only small critique is that I would have liked a little more development surrounding the larger villain operating behind the scenes and covering for Daniel. That said, it did not lessen my enjoyment of the book at all.

This was an easy five-star read for me. Readers who enjoy darker psychological thrillers and morally messy stories will probably love this, especially fans of Karin Slaughter. Content warnings should include violence against women, sexual assault, murder, grief, and trauma.

Murder, She Wrote: A Killing in Real Estate by Jessica Fletcher and Terrie Farley Moran

Cabot Cove still feels like home...cozy, charming, and statistically overflowing with murder.

I just finished reading Murder, She Wrote: A Killing in Real Estate by Jessica Fletcher and Terrie Farley Moran. Reading this book felt like I was climbing into a time machine.

I remember watching Murder, She Wrote in the 90s and never missed an episode if I could help it, even going so far as to set my VCR to watch it later. Reading this brought all of that rushing back immediately. I could practically hear Angela Lansbury’s voice in my head while reading. Jessica Fletcher still feels exactly like herself all these years later: sensible shoes, bicycle rides to clear her mind, quiet intelligence, and a knack for finding murder wherever she goes.

This mystery takes place in Cabot Cove, where tensions are rising over a developer hoping to build a four-star hotel in the area. Naturally, not everyone wants the beautiful small-town landscape turned into a tourist destination. At the same time, the town is searching for a new mayor who will protect Cabot Cove from overdevelopment. When murder enters the picture, Jessica starts untangling the secrets and motives hiding beneath the town’s polite surface.

What I enjoyed most was the atmosphere and nostalgia. Cabot Cove still feels cozy and familiar, almost like visiting an old friend. The town itself remains one of the strongest “characters” in the series. I also appreciated that Jessica has not been dramatically modernized or changed into someone unrecognizable after 62 books. She is still calm, observant, compassionate, and quietly sharp.

The mystery itself was solid and entertaining, although this was not one of those books that kept me awake all night because I absolutely had to know what happened next. Instead, it felt comfortable and reliable. The pacing was steady, the small-town politics added an interesting layer to the plot, and the story captured the same cozy charm that made the television series so beloved.

As for content warnings, this is a cozy mystery, so readers should expect murder and investigation themes, but nothing felt overly graphic or disturbing.

Overall, I gave this one 4 out of 5 stars. If you love cozy mysteries, small-town settings, or grew up watching Jessica Fletcher solve crimes from her little corner of Maine, this is a very enjoyable nostalgic read. Even though this is the 62nd book in the series, it works perfectly well as a standalone cozy mystery.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for providing me an advance review copy in exchange for an honest review. 

Hysteria by LJ Ross (Alexander Gregory #2)

Beautiful people, fake identities, psychological trauma, and murder? Paris Fashion Week has really escalated.

Hysteria was a five-star read for me. I picked it up intending to read a few chapters and ended up devouring the entire thing in one sitting. This is absolutely a psychological thriller, and an exceptionally well-done one at that.

Dr. Alexander Gregory is called to Paris during Fashion Week after the attempted murder of a model whose identity appears to have been fabricated only weeks earlier. Then another model turns up dead, and suddenly the glamorous world of high fashion starts feeling less like luxury and more like a pressure cooker waiting to explode. Beneath the beauty and wealth is rot, secrets, manipulation, and people who are very much not what they seem.

What I loved most about this book was the characterization, especially Gregory himself. He is brilliant and respected in his field, but still deeply human. He makes mistakes. He struggles. His night terrors and mental health challenges felt believable and respectfully handled rather than exaggerated for drama. In fact, I think those struggles are what make him so good at understanding other people. He recognizes suffering because he lives with it himself, and that gave the story emotional weight beyond the murder investigation.

The pacing hooked me immediately and never let go. Every time I thought I understood who I could trust, the author quietly removed the entire floor from under me. I genuinely did not see the reveal coming. Even more impressive, the twist felt earned rather than random. 

I also really appreciated the humor. It was dry, sarcastic, and occasionally dark in exactly the right way. In a story dealing with murder, trauma, and psychological strain, those moments kept the book from ever feeling emotionally heavy in a tedious way.

Honestly I can’t think of a single critique. I didn’t even roll my eyes once while reading, which thriller readers know is practically a miracle. The plot stayed believable, the tension stayed high, and the characters remained compelling throughout. I even liked the villain…until the ending made me rethink everything.

Content warnings for murder, abuse, and mental health struggles.

I would highly recommend this to fans of psychological thrillers, especially readers who enjoy damaged but believable investigators, morally complicated characters, and mysteries where appearances are constantly deceiving.

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for providing me with an advance review copy in exchange for an honest review.

 Would I like to visit? Absolutely not. Everyone there is probably in a murder cult.

Nothing says ‘relaxing island getaway’ quite like ritual murders, religious fanatics, and enough secrets to sink a fishing boat. After a couple of recent reads that barely scraped past “aggressively mediocre,” I picked up Holy Island by LJ Ross and immediately remembered what it feels like to actually enjoy a thriller again. This book completely understood the assignment.

The setting absolutely carries this story. Holy Island is isolated, naturally quiet, stormy, and the kind of place where everybody knows everybody else’s business while simultaneously pretending they know nothing at all. The island feels less like a backdrop and more like an active participant in the mystery. Every scene has this eerie stillness hanging over it, like the entire town collectively agreed to keep several terrible secrets. Which, as it turns out, they basically did.

We’ve got ritual murders. We’ve got creepy religious circles. We’ve got suspicious locals. We’ve got a pastor who proves once again that fictional clergy are rarely just handing out casseroles and good advice. Every time I thought I had somebody figured out, the book cheerfully informed me that I did not.

DCI Maxwell Ryan was also exactly the kind of detective I enjoy reading about: intelligent, observant, capable, and underestimated by the people above him. There’s something deeply satisfying about watching a competent investigator quietly outthink everyone around him while his bosses act like he’s one missed memo away from disaster.

Then there’s Dr. Anna Taylor, who returns to the island as a police consultant and immediately walks back into years of emotional baggage, especially with her sister, who never escaped island life in the first place. Their relationship added a really grounded emotional layer to the story. In between all the murder and cult nonsense, there’s this underlying tension about family, resentment, and what happens when one person leaves while another stays behind.

The romance was surprisingly well done. It didn’t take over the plot or turn into melodramatic sweaty nonsense every five chapters. It just added warmth and chemistry to a story already drowning in suspicion and ritualistic murder scenes. A refreshing change.

What really made this book work for me, though, was the atmosphere. This wasn’t one of those thrillers where characters sprint alone into danger armed only with bad instincts and a flashlight from Dollar Tree. The tension came from the environment itself: the isolation, the silence, the feeling that the island was watching everything unfold. By the end, I was completely immersed.

Would I visit Holy Island after reading this book? Absolutely not.

Beautiful scenery. Excellent mystery. Very high chance of accidental involvement in a murder cult.