Backfire by Catherine Coulter

I picked up Backfire because I needed a book set (at least partially) in Montana for my 50 States Challenge. Catherine Coulter’s FBI series has been a reliable go-to for me, so this felt like a solid bet. Bonus: I didn’t have to slog through chapters of setup. The book opens with attempted murder—because of course it does—and I was in. If the judge hadn’t turned at just the right moment, well, let’s just say it would’ve been a very short story.

One of the things I enjoyed most was that there were two crimes running side by side. At first, you think you’re following a straightforward “find the would-be assassin” plotline, but then surprise! There’s a twist (actually, several), and I especially loved that Sue turned out to be Xu. Double identities, dual cases, and criminals who apparently hold team meetings? Yes, please.

Savich and Sherlock were their usual FBI power couple selves—professional, sharp, and thankfully not tangled up in any unnecessary steamy scenes. (Appreciate you, Catherine Coulter.) I also found myself hoping we’ll see more of Harry and Eve. They’ve got spin-off potential written all over them. And Emma? The 11-year-old piano prodigy? Adorable. But it was Sean, the 5-year-old with three girlfriends and a financial plan to support them all, who completely stole the show. I hope he gets his own series by middle school.

The pacing felt just right—not too slow, not breakneck—and while it wasn’t the twistiest story I’ve read, the ending packed a satisfying punch. I had completely forgotten how things started out on the East Coast by the time we hit the big reveal on the West Coast. It all came full circle in a way that made me go, “Ohhhhhh.” Always a good sign.

Even if you haven’t read the rest of the series, you can definitely dive into this one without feeling lost. Longtime fans will appreciate the familiar characters, but new readers won’t feel like they’re missing half the story. And if you just need a solid crime thriller to check off the Montana box on your reading challenge? This one’s got you covered.

Linda 'Ma' Mosher 1943 - 2025

The memories come flooding back in waves, drowning me in a tide of emotion.

I was in 9th grade, following Steven around like a bunny, and there was Ma, shaking her head and saying, “Why do the smart girls always fall for the bad boys?”

In 10th grade, she taught us how to research—and gave me a failing grade on a paper. It forced my parents to let me go to the library, and in that way, she opened up a whole new world to me, far beyond the constraints of the religion I was being raised in.

In my senior year, I remember her piling eight of us kids into her Ford Escort to take us to see A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

She always seemed to just know. When I was 16, graduating from high school and dreading the future my parents had planned for me, she signed my yearbook, “Don’t ever take the easy way out.”

She was always there for me—especially when my brother couldn’t be.
My brother and I were both so… broken.

When my son was two and I had to have surgery on a Workers’ Comp injury—with no income coming in—she filled my refrigerator. When my son was seven, she realized I hadn’t bought clothes for myself in years. Things were getting threadbare, and she helped me get a few things so I didn’t look quite so ragamuffin at work.

She taught me how to write.
How to read with feeling.
How to survive when I knew that leaving my family was the only way I could truly live.

She healed my heart more times than I can count. Even knowing there would be scars, she gave me reasons to keep going.

I once told her I could never repay everything she’d done for me.
She said I could—by paying it forward. That’s what she wanted.

When I finally went back to school and earned my Master’s in Education, I don’t think anyone was prouder than she was. And when I joined Mensa? She made me see that the only one who ever doubted my intelligence was me.

She gave me parenting advice.
Life advice.
She was more of a mother to me than my own.

She never yelled, never demeaned, never overly criticized. She appealed to my intellect. She taught me that it’s not just okay—it’s essential—to think for myself, to question everything, and to never settle for less when I’m capable of more.

She loved my son.
From the time he could talk, he always called her “Mommy’s Teacher.”
She used to joke about it:
“When I die, they’re going to ask him, ‘Who passed away?’ and he’s going to say, ‘Mommy’s Teacher.’
And they’ll ask, ‘What was her name?’
And he’ll look at them like they’re crazy and say, ‘Mommy’s Teacher!’”

She passed away today, and there’s a gaping hole where my heart should be.
I know I’ll have to stop crying eventually.
But not today.
And probably not tomorrow.

Linda “Ma” Mosher, you are loved more than you ever knew.
To some, you were just their English teacher.
To me, you were who I wanted to be when I grew up.

The stars will shine brighter now that you’re among them.

7th Heaven by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro

I was in the mood for a little murder and mayhem (as one is, from time to time), and 7th Heaven was next up in the Women’s Murder Club series—so it was an easy choice. Right from page one, the book delivers: a home invasion, a murder, and arson all rolled into one. I didn’t even have time to catch my breath, which, honestly, was exactly what I needed.

There are two major cases in this book. One involves a series of arson murders, and the other a missing teenager with a court trial that had me rolling my eyes. While I appreciated the twist—a whole trial for someone who turns out to be not dead—my jaw hit the floor in disbelief. I didn’t see it coming, but I also didn’t totally buy it. No body, no DNA, no murder weapon… and yet they pushed forward with a murder charge? I don’t know which DA office that came from, but they’ve got some explaining to do.

The arson case, on the other hand, was gripping. Creepy, senseless, and devastating—classic Patterson villains at work. And once again, Lindsay holds everything together. She’s my favorite for a reason: smart, flawed, doing an impossible job in a world that doesn’t make it easy. She’s strong and human, and if she were really human, I would admire the heck out of her.

Patterson’s signature short chapters and quick pace kept things moving. I love how the story shifts perspectives without ever feeling disjointed. He doesn’t jump between ten different timelines or go so far back into a character’s childhood that I forget why we’re here in the first place. It’s clean, fast storytelling that I can count on when I need a good jolt of suspense.

That said, while I enjoyed 7th Heaven and tore through it pretty quickly, it’s not one I’d re-read. It gets a solid 4 out of 5 from me. If you’re new to the Women’s Murder Club series, though, maybe start a little earlier—this one hits better when you already know the crew.

The Boyfriend by Freida McFadden

 

The latest pick for my book club (The Mani-Scripts—we bonded over manicures and manic reading habits), The Boyfriend by Freida McFadden was an absolute win. I’ve read The Teacher, so I already knew McFadden could spin a thriller like nobody’s business, but this one had me second-guessing myself all the way to 2 a.m.

What I love about McFadden is that she doesn’t throw in fifty characters and expect me to keep track of them like some twisted literary Sudoku. She keeps the cast manageable—and just shady enough to make everyone seem guilty.

Sydney, our main character, is single and bravely online dating, which is kind of like volunteering to get food poisoning repeatedly but with more ghosting and awkward coffee. She meets Tom, who’s either a sweetheart with a childhood crush or a future Netflix documentary subject. I wasn’t sure. Then we’ve got Slug, Tom’s creepy-crawly-loving friend. If someone’s stalking you and keeps a pet cockroach, you’re allowed to suspect them. I don’t make the rules.

Daisy and Allison? Classic frenemies with secrets. Gretchen, the other girlfriend-turned-bestie? Shady with a capital S. And then there’s Randy the Super, who might be a peeping Tom, actual Tom, or Slug in disguise. Jake, Sydney’s ex-boyfriend detective, rounds out the cast with a broody side order of regret.

I suspected every single one of them at some point. Freida McFadden played me like a fiddle, and I loved every twisty second. I had no idea where it was going, but I absolutely needed to find out—even if it meant losing sleep.

Highly recommend to psychological thriller lovers who like their stories fast, twisty, and filled with red herrings. This one gets a solid 5 out of 5 from me.

Her Last Breath by Linda Castillo (Burkholder #5)

Her Last Breath by Linda Castillo had me hooked from the first chapter—and by the time I got to the end, my jaw was practically on the floor. You’d think after a few of these Kate Burkholder books, I’d start catching on, but nope. This one snuck up on me with a twist I absolutely did not see coming. Not even a hint of suspicion.

It starts with what looks like a tragic hit-and-run involving an Amish family, but (as usual) there’s more going on under the surface. Kate dives into the investigation, and things get darker, twistier, and a little more personal. I couldn’t flip the pages fast enough.

Linda Castillo delivers again—great pacing, compelling characters, and an ending that made me sit there blinking like what just happened?!

The Becoming by Nora Patterson (Dragon Heart Legacy #2)

It wasn't as light on the sweaty romance as the first one, but I made it through. Romantic Fantasy isn’t usually my jam, but it’s June, I’m a teacher, and my brain has officially filed for summer break. In other words: bring on the elves.

The plot was fine, if a bit stretched—I honestly think she could’ve wrapped it all up in this book instead of dragging it into a third. But I’ve come this far, so I’ll finish the series. Eventually. Preferably with snacks and air conditioning.

The Perfect Marriage by Jeneva Rose

This book was everywhere. I can’t even count how many people told me I “had” to read it. When that many people agree on a book, it either means it’s truly great… or the result of an elaborate group hoax. I’m happy to report it’s the former. The hype? Totally justified.

From the jump, I thought Sarah was just a high-powered defense attorney doing what she had to do to make it in a male-dominated world. Meanwhile, Adam? Let’s just say he needed to quit whining, stop playing tortured writer, and maybe remember the whole don’t cheat on your wife part of his marriage vows.

I didn’t really root for either of them. I just wanted to know who the biggest liar was. Sarah’s a lawyer, so naturally I didn’t trust her (I’ve seen enough true crime docs to know better), and Adam was… well, let’s just say not exactly husband-of-the-year material.

The dual POV kept the pacing snappy and the suspense dialed up to full. I read it in one sitting, stopping only for caffeine and the occasional bathroom break. Every time Adam made a move, I was just waiting for him to mess it up. Again.

There were clues, misleads, and enough sketchy side characters to keep me guessing, but that last chapter blew my mind. I never saw it coming. You could’ve knocked me over with a feather. Even the Sheriff, who I knew was somehow going to turn out shady, surprised me in the end.

The courtroom scenes were tight and well-written—no “Objection!” drama like on TV, but the legal tension added a nice edge and a real-time crunch that made it impossible for me to put down.

Let’s be clear: there is no such thing as The Perfect Marriage, and this book proves it in spades. Misleading title? Absolutely. But that’s part of the fun.

If you love psychological thrillers with twists that punch you in the gut, this is one you need to read. Trust the hype. Just don’t trust any of the characters.

Fearless Fourteen - Janet Evanovich

Years ago, I used to hang out with my friend Rick, and weird things always happened. One time we were at some restaurant on Route 5 (don’t ask me where—I wasn’t driving), and a Christmas wreath jumped off the wall and landed right in my dinner. No warning. Just—plop. Stuff like that happened to us all the time.

That’s exactly what reading Fearless Fourteen felt like. Stephanie Plum is basically the book version of that chaos. She's not graceful, she's not coordinated, but she’s got heart—and a knack for getting into trouble for what feels like good reasons at the time. Whether she’s hauling in skips, dodging explosions, or juggling two very different men, Stephanie somehow always manages to land on her feet (usually while something’s on fire nearby).

This one was light on the romance, which I appreciated—because I’m not a fan of pages and pages of steamy scenes. What it was heavy on? Laughs. Real, full-body, ugly-laughing laughs. Grandma Mazur is in fine form, Mooner is out there living his best cosmic life, and the whole gang is back with their usual blend of disaster and loyalty.

Honestly, I need to read more Evanovich—especially this time of year, when the end-of-school madness sets in, the kids go full gremlin, and I start to remember why teachers drink.

Highly recommended if your life needs a little laughter and a lot of lightly criminal mischief.

Jack in a Box by Diane Capri

I’m sticking with it—but barely. Jack in a Box is another short installment in the Hunt for Reacher series, and while it hints that we’re inching closer to finally seeing Reacher himself—or at least finding out why anyone’s so desperate for a file on him—we’re still not there yet. Truth be told, I’m not crazy about this series. The premise has potential, but the execution never quite lands for me. That said, I’ve only got two more to go. At this point, it’s less about enjoyment and more about finishing what I started.

Holy Ghost by John Sandford

Sometimes, you pick up a book because it calls to you. Other times, you pick one because it begins with the right letter. Holy Ghost by John Sandford was an “H” book for my Alphabet Challenge, but it turned out to be a solid win all around.

This was my first Virgil Flowers book (I think)—though not my first Sandford. I think I’ve met one of his other main characters before, but can’t quite place which. Either way, Holy Ghost worked perfectly as a standalone. No need for homework or flipping back to earlier books in the series.

It’s casual, funny, and just suspenseful enough to keep me interested without demanding my full mental energy during the end-of-school chaos. It reads like regular people—quirky, nosy, slightly chaotic—are solving crimes, not some elite squad with cop jargon that sounds like they’re speaking in acronyms and Morse code. That’s a big part of the charm.

The story starts with a hoax (a Virgin Mary sighting with a bad Spanish recording), and slowly builds into a genuine murder mystery that takes its time pulling you in. Sandford keeps things moving by introducing new characters as Virgil Flowers settles into the town, poking around, asking questions, and navigating the bizarre charm of small-town life.

The town is a total highlight. The restaurant serves inedible food, so the convenient store sells potpies and offers the use of a community microwave. It's run by two guys who somehow end up being crucial to solving the case. Try pulling that off in downtown Chicago.

Character-wise, Skinner stood out for me—a whip-smart kid who goes to school when he feels like it and is always quietly calculating. Loved him. The whole cast is a quirky grab bag of people you could absolutely imagine meeting at the local diner or sitting next to at a town meeting about potholes.

By the end, Sandford ties everything up with a neat little bow. No loose ends, no confusing twists left unexplained—just a solid finish that made me want to grab the next Virgil Flowers book.

If you like crime fiction that doesn’t take itself too seriously but still delivers a smart mystery, this one’s for you. It’s light enough to pick up and put down, but engaging enough that you’ll want to keep turning pages. Bonus: no gritty cop drama or heavy procedural stuff to wade through. Just a good story with good characters—and a potpie plot-let.