Ward D by Freida McFadden

The scariest thing in Ward D was how badly I wanted Amy to stop whining.

I usually have a pretty good track record with Freida McFadden, but Ward D is the first of her books that just didn't work for me. Which is particularly disappointing because the premise is fantastic.

Amy is a medical student assigned to spend a night shift in Ward D, the locked psychiatric unit of a hospital. As if that isn't uncomfortable enough, her ex-boyfriend Cameron, another medical student, is working the same shift. The hospital's internet system is down for maintenance, there's no cell reception, and then one of the patients urinates on an electrical connection, causing a temporary power outage that resets the codes on the locked doors, including the seclusion rooms.

Oh, and Amy's childhood best friend Jade is a patient on the ward. Jade believes Amy wronged her years ago, and she's been holding one heck of a grudge.

On the surface, this had everything I should have loved. Locked ward. No communication with the outside world. Power problems. Doors that may or may not stay locked. Someone inside who has a very personal reason to hate Amy. Then people started disappearing.

Unfortunately, the tension never matched the premise.

My biggest problem was Amy herself. For heaven's sake, this woman was whiny. She repeatedly complains that Cameron dumped her for a test, conveniently glossing over the fact that the "test" was his board exam and he wanted to devote his time to studying for it. I also spent a good portion of the book wanting to shake her. She was in Ward D to observe and learn. Why she couldn't keep her head down and do what she was asked to do was beyond me.

The psychiatric ward itself should have been wonderfully creepy, but it never quite got there. The patients were mostly quirky rather than frightening. There's SpiderDan, who believes he's Spider-Man and eventually creates a web out of dental floss. Mary spends her time knitting a seemingly never-ending scarf. Miguel believes he's the son of God. Jade was really the only patient who felt genuinely dangerous because she was absolutely convinced Amy had wronged her, and nothing was going to change her mind.

Then there were the coincidences. The internet is down. There's no cell reception. An electrical problem causes a power outage. The door codes reset. And apparently this locked psychiatric ward in a hospital doesn't have an adequate backup plan for any of this.

OSHA would have had a field day.

There are twists toward the end, and I didn't see all of them coming. Unfortunately, by that point I wasn't invested enough for them to have much impact. The tension was so lacking that I seriously considered DNFing the book halfway through. Then the truth comes out rather quickly, everything gets wrapped up, and...that's that.

The audiobook narration was good, but even a strong narrator couldn't make Amy less irritating or manufacture the suspense I kept waiting for.

Ward D had a five-star premise trapped inside a two-star thriller. I wanted claustrophobic. I wanted creepy. I wanted to be checking the locks on my doors while I listened.

Instead, I mostly wanted Amy to stop whining and follow instructions.

I'm Not Here to Hunt Rabbits by Josh Kendall

There was a reed. There were hyenas. There was blood on a tray table. There was also me, completely lost.

I really wanted to like I'm Not Here to Hunt Rabbits. The premise sounded intriguing, and the synopsis promised an atmospheric, intricate thriller. Unfortunately, this was one of those books where I kept waiting for everything to click into place. It never did.

Lachlan Smith is a former soldier who served in Afghanistan. Things went badly, and his lover and trainer, Helen, was killed. Still grieving her loss, Smith is sent to Ethiopia to protect a wealthy family engaged in criminal activities. From there, the story eventually takes him into a world involving an Ethiopian man, a reed, hyenas, and a whole lot of mystery. And this is where I got completely lost.

Actually, I was lost from the start.

Smith's relationship with Helen and his grief over her death are woven throughout the novel, but I never really understood what she had been training him for or how all the pieces of that history connected to what was happening in Ethiopia. There were also recurring references to blood on the tray table during his flight. I kept waiting for that detail to become meaningful, but by the end, I still wasn't sure what I was supposed to take from it.

I also couldn't connect with any of the characters. I didn't particularly love or care about any of them, and that made it even harder for me to stay emotionally invested in the story. I wanted to understand Smith and what was driving him, especially given everything he had experienced, but I never felt like I really got there.

The one thing I can say in the book's favor is that it is atmospheric. I can see why the synopsis describes it as intricate, and I can see how readers who enjoy literary thrillers filled with ambiguity, symbolism, and unanswered questions might appreciate what Josh Kendall is doing here. There is clearly a lot going on beneath the surface.

Unfortunately, I spent most of my time trying to figure out what was happening on the surface.

Instead of feeling suspense or excitement, I felt confused. Then I felt frustrated because I was still confused. I kept thinking, Okay, surely this is where it all comes together. And it never did. The atmosphere that may work beautifully for some readers left me feeling like I was wandering around in the dark without a flashlight.

I finished the book because quitting felt like losing. That's pretty much my definition of a two-star read: I finished it, but only because I had already invested the time and wasn't ready to admit defeat. I kept hoping the final pieces would fall into place and that I would finally understand what I had been reading. They didn't.

This may simply be a case of the book not being the right fit for me. If you enjoy atmospheric, complex thrillers where you are expected to piece together symbolism and meaning and sit comfortably with ambiguity, I'm Not Here to Hunt Rabbits may work much better for you than it did for me. If you're looking for a thriller that keeps you turning pages because you need to know what happens next, however, this one may be a tougher sell.

Content warnings include war violence and death, along with some disturbing material involving hyenas.

For me, I'm Not Here to Hunt Rabbits was ultimately more confusing than thrilling. And that's not something I say often about a book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

 

Thoughts and Prayers by Robert Miner

How else could the story end but with a bullet? 

Wow. This is one of those books that is going to stay with me for a long time.

I received an advance copy of Thoughts and Prayers from NetGalley and Simon & Schuster. This is Robert Miner's debut novel, but you would never know it from the writing. In my opinion, he writes with the confidence and skill of someone who has been doing this for years. The subject is one that Americans have very strong opinions about: our obsession with guns.

On one side is Monica, a billionaire who buys a gun manufacturer, takes care of the employees, and then shuts the company down. Bye-bye. On the other is Brittany, the ruthless owner of a gun manufacturing company who is determined to become president of the United States and is willing to do whatever it takes to get there. Caught between them is Clyde, whose middle-school daughter was murdered in a school shooting with a gun manufactured by Brittany's company.

What makes this story so compelling is that these aren't just fictional issues. We all have opinions about guns, gun ownership, gun violence, and what should be done about them. Miner takes those very real divisions and brings them to a head through three very different characters.

I liked Monica. She isn't perfect, and she makes mistakes, but she's trying to use her considerable power and resources to make a difference. I also felt tremendously sorry for Clyde. As a parent, there is something almost unbearable about the idea of losing your child, and Miner doesn't shy away from that grief.

Brittany, on the other hand, was a character I loved to hate. She seemed to have very little empathy for anyone who stood between her and her goal, and her hunger for power was deeply disturbing. Patrick didn't fare much better with me. He was less frightening than Brittany and more frustrating. He knew he didn't agree with what she was doing, but continually went along with it anyway.

The characters are exceptionally well written. Miner doesn't give us easy heroes or villains, and he doesn't provide a neat solution to the problem. Instead, he explores what happens when everyone is convinced they are right and nobody is willing to compromise. And perhaps that's the point. How do we solve a problem when we're unwilling to listen to anyone on the other side?

Even the title is perfect. Thoughts and prayers has become a familiar response after someone is killed by gun violence. But what good are thoughts and prayers if nothing changes afterward? The title carries a lot of weight by the time you reach the end of the book.

I also appreciated the pacing. The chapters are relatively short, the story moves quickly, and although the narrative shifts between several points of view, there aren't so many characters that it becomes confusing.

My only real criticism is that Monica's sexual relationship with her attorney didn't feel necessary to the story. Their lifelong friendship already established how close they were, and I didn't think the relationship added much beyond that.

This is a difficult subject, and Thoughts and Prayers doesn't pretend there are easy answers. Instead, Robert Miner forces us to look at the issue from multiple perspectives and think about what our inability, or even our unwillingness, to compromise is costing us.

I loved this book. More importantly, I'm still thinking about it.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. I look forward to seeing more by Robert Miner in the future! 

 

The Pilot's Daughter by Audrey Cole

When the pilots die after a hijacking, the only person left with flying experience is the woman who's terrified of flying.

The Pilot's Daughter grabbed me with its premise. I needed something for my commute, and it fit the bill perfectly.

Cora is traveling to Samoa to honor the work of her late husband, a pilot who was killed in a helicopter crash. Since his death, she's developed a fear of flying. Unfortunately for her, this particular flight is hijacked.

As if that isn't bad enough, Cora and the homicide detective sitting beside her, Kyle, manage to stop the hijackers, but not before both the pilot and co-pilot are killed. Suddenly, the passengers' survival depends on the one person who never wanted to be on a plane again.

That's an excellent setup, and Audrey Cole keeps the tension high from beginning to end. Between the hijacking, the aircraft riddled with bullet holes, and the race to get everyone safely on the ground, there wasn't much downtime. It made for a very entertaining audiobook.

My biggest complaint was Cora herself. I completely understood her fear. Losing her husband in an aviation accident gives her every reason to panic. But there were several moments when her  crying, pleading, and insisting she couldn't do anything without Kyle became frustrating. I wanted her to get a backbone, for heaven's sake. Fear is believable; helplessness gets old fast.

Kyle was a solid counterpart. As a homicide detective, he brought a calm, steady presence that balanced Cora's panic, and the romantic element didn't overshadow the life-or-death situation unfolding around them.

Overall, this was an entertaining romantic suspense novel with a unique premise, plenty of action, and enough tension to keep me invested. While Cora occasionally tested my patience, the story itself kept me listening all the way to the end.

Obsession by Debra Webb (Faces of Evil #1)

A profiler haunted by one mistake. A killer who hasn't forgotten. Sleep? Optional.

Obsession falls into the "I dare you to put it down" category. I lost that dare. I finished it in the wee hours of the morning, and that pretty much tells you what you need to know.

Special Agent Jess Harris was once one of the FBI's top profilers, but one devastating mistake derailed her career. Back in her Alabama hometown, she's helping investigate a string of missing girls while trying to figure out what comes next for her professionally. As if that isn't enough, the serial killer connected to her career-ending failure hasn't forgotten her, now stalking Jess from the shadows. And that, folks, is really creepy.

The mystery hooked me almost immediately, but it was Jess who kept me invested. She's intelligent and highly skilled, knowledgeable and stubborn, yet she's constantly questioning herself because of her past. Instead of feeling like the all-knowing profiler who always has the answers, she feels human. Every decision carries the weight of wondering if she'll make another mistake, and that vulnerability made her easy to root for.

Then there's Police Chief Dan Burnett.

Jess and Dan have a romantic history, making this a romantic suspense novel, but thankfully the romance never overshadows the investigation. Dan was actually my favorite character. He's protective without becoming controlling, supportive without trying to sideline Jess, and Debra Webb strikes that balance beautifully. Their relationship adds another layer of tension without slowing down the story or turning it into something overly sentimental or sweaty. And we all know how I feel about those sweaty scenes.

The suspense never lets up. Between the missing girls investigation and the ever-present threat of the serial killer watching Jess, I kept telling myself, "Just one more chapter." Clearly, that strategy failed.

My only complaint was the ending. It ends on a cliffhanger that left me equal parts frustrated and eager to start the next book. Fortunately, the main investigation reaches a satisfying conclusion, but the larger story is just getting started. If you're someone who dislikes cliffhangers, you'll definitely want to have the next book ready.

Content Warnings include violence against women, kidnapping, murder, and disturbing scenes involving a corpse.

If you enjoy fast-paced romantic suspense with a flawed but capable heroine, a respectful romantic lead, and enough twists to keep you reading long past your bedtime, Obsession is an easy recommendation.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go see if my library has Impulse.

A Beautiful Couple by Leslie Wolfe

Never underestimate a woman who's finally had enough.

Amanda wants one thing: a divorce. Her controlling, misogynistic husband, Paul, has made it clear he has no intention of letting her go or of losing custody of their son. After a business event ends with Paul insisting on driving home drunk, a tragic accident changes everything. Instead of finally finding her freedom, Amanda becomes even more entangled in Paul's web of manipulation, forcing her to make impossible choices as the walls begin to close in.

Leslie Wolfe does an excellent job building tension from the very beginning. While the hit-and-run sets the plot in motion, the real suspense comes from Amanda's marriage. Paul is the kind of villain you love to hate. He treats Amanda with contempt, believes he should always get his way, and uses manipulation and control to keep Amanda trapped. I spent most of the book hoping she would finally find a way to escape...or that her father would do Paul in. I read a lot of murder thrillers, after all.

I'll admit Amanda frustrated me at first. I questioned some of her decisions and found myself wondering why she didn't simply do what I thought was the obvious, right thing. As the story unfolded, though, I began to understand just how trapped she really was. By the end, I wasn't questioning her anymore.

Amanda's father was one of my favorite supporting characters. I actually wished he had a larger role because I enjoyed every scene he appeared in. Looking back, though, I think Wolfe used him exactly as much as the story needed, making every appearance count.

The pacing kept me engaged throughout, even if it never reached the point where I couldn't stop reading. And then came the ending. I never saw it coming. It completely blindsided me. Some women are very smart...be afraid. Be very afraid.

This lands squarely in my four-star category: a solid thriller that kept me invested from beginning to end, even if it didn't completely steal my sleep. If you enjoy psychological suspense, toxic relationship dynamics, and endings that leave you staring at the last page for a minute, this is well worth picking up. Fans of Freida McFadden, in particular, should add this one to their TBR. I'm already recommending it to my friends.

Content warnings: domestic abuse, emotional abuse and coercive control, violence against women, sexual assault, murder, drunk driving, and a fatal hit-and-run.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for providing me with an advance review copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Redemption by David Baldacci (Amos Decker #5)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Fallen by David Baldacci (Amos Decker #4)

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

Amos Decker just can't catch a break.

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

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

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

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

Clear Water by Gabrielle Lucille Fuentes

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Cold Wind by CJ Box (Joe Pickett #11)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Fix by David Baldacci (Amos Decker #3)

 Another audiobook that wouldn't stay in the car.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman

 I did this backwards.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Fortunately, it's a pleasant journey.

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

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

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

 Very well written; just not for me.

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

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

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

Night School by Lee Child (Jack Reacher #21)

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

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

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

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

The problem is nobody knows:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Northern Lights by Nora Roberts

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

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

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

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

Now that's how you get my attention.

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

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

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

The House Beyond the Dunes by Mary Burton

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Oh.

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

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

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

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

Nope.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Hot Girl Murder Club by Ashley Winstead

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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