King of Ashes by S.A. Cosby

 

I'm a fan of S.A. Cosby. His books are gritty, contain interesting characters, and have unique plots. This latest book is no different. 

Roman Carruthers has forged a successful career as a wealth manager in Atlanta, far from his roots in small-town Virginia. Still, when his father ends up in a coma after a car accident, he comes home to a less-than-ideal situation. His sister, Neveah, now runs the family's crematorium, and his younger brother, Dante, has become entangled with a group of deadly criminals. Roman immediately uses his financial acumen to try to free Dante from the gang's clutches, but the more he tries, the deeper he gets involved with the gang--endangering all of their lives.

This is a fast-paced story whose moral dilemmas fascinated me. It is a suspenseful crime thriller that captures the reader and poses the question of just how far one would go to protect loved ones. There is violence, but it is used effectively and adds to the story. I highly recommend this book and the author. 

4.5/5 stars.

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Raven Black by Ann Cleeves

When I heard that Ann Cleeves was bringing back her Jimmy Perez character in a new series set in the Orkney Islands, I decided to reread the Shetland Islands series featuring him. It's been years since I've read the books, and I wasn't surprised to find I couldn't remember much of this first book. It's like discovering an old friend. 

When the body of a teenager is found strangled, Shetland detective Jimmy Perez, with the help of his colleagues from the mainland, sets about to find the killer. The island residents are convinced that the culprit is Magnus Tait, a man of low intelligence who has had recent contact with the victim. Preliminary evidence also points toward him, but Perez is determined not to be seduced by the easy solution. Complicating things, the disappearance of a young girl eight years earlier also pointed to Tait, with the islanders anxious for their safety, pressure mounts on Perez and the investigation.

I loved this series the first time I read it, so I'm looking forward to rediscovering it. I like the characters and the setting, and the writing is excellent. Cleeves always has interesting plots, and I never figure out the ending. Her books are suspenseful page-turners that never fail to entertain--even on a second reading. 

4/5 stars.

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Northwest Angle by William Kent Krueger

 

I've been enjoying getting immersed in this excellently written series. All of the books have good plots with interesting characters, and enough suspense to keep me turning pages. I didn't love this book as much as the previous books, primarily because of the heavy-handed use of religion. I understand that the O'Connor's are a religious family, but the excessive praying and focus on beliefs in this book was too much.

Cork wanted a family vacation on the remote Lake of the Woods on the US/Canadian border. When a superstorm hits and splits up the family, each faces unexpected peril. Jenny discovers a baby and her murdered mother, then she and Cork must try to escape a killer hunting them. Then there is a doomsday cult that also wants the baby. Why are there so many after the baby? It's up to Cork to solve the murder and the mystery behind the baby.

Following the storylines of the different family members made for a disjointed read. Plus, the constant recounting of feeding and diapering the baby was tiresome. I was also disappointed in the ending. I enjoyed exploring the moral dilemma that Jenny and her family faced, and adding Henry Meloux to the mix is always a treat. 

3.5/5 stars.

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Orbital by Samantha Harvey

 A friend whose taste in books generally coincides with mine recommended "Orbital," so I thought I'd enjoy it. I saw it won the 2024 Booker Prize and, although I've been disappointed in Booker Prize-winning books before, I decided to give it a try. Were it not so short, I would have given up after about 50 pages. This book is not for everyone.

The book focuses on the lives of six astronauts aboard a space station for 24 hours and the 16 orbits they make around the Earth. There are side trips involving a typhoon that is developing, a family affected by it, as well as a space shot to the moon, all of which I found interesting. Mostly, it was a geography lesson as the space station orbited the Earth. 

I'm sorry to say I am not a fan of this book. I found myself skimming over the navel-gazing about the beauty of sunrises over different continents and the dreams the astronauts had. There were interesting parts, but they were few and far between. 

2.5/5 stars.

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Marble Hall Murders by Anthony Horowitz

 

I enjoy this series by Anthony Horowitz, as well as his Hawthorne & Horowitz series. Both have interesting plots and great characters. They are also intricately written and challenging murder mysteries.

Susan Ryeland is trying to rebuild her life in England after her relationship and her venture at a hotel on a Greek island failed. Now a freelance editor, she is tasked with editing a continuation novel in the Atticus Pund series by a struggling writer who happens to be the grandson of a famous author. Susan's past work on this detective series didn't end well and almost cost her her life, so she is less than thrilled with the job. Furthermore, the author, Eliot Crace, is portrayed as an arrogant jerk whose ties to his famous family serve as the inspiration for the current book. As more of Eliot's story is revealed, Susan questions the dividing line between fact and fiction.

This book-within-a-book story shifts between two timelines with characters whose names and situations are so similar that it gets confusing at times. I always had to remind myself who was who when the storyline switched. Despite this, I got caught up in the book and the two storylines. I don't know how Horowitz was able to keep both storylines straight, but he did a remarkable job. I don't know if this will be the last book featuring Susan and Atticus, but I hope not. 

4.5/5 stars.

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The Stolen Life of Colette Marceau by Kristin Harmel

 I enjoy historical fiction, especially when it features dual timelines that connect past and present. This book checked my boxes, but the story and the characters weren't engaging for me.

Colette Marceau was taught to be a thief at a young age. The women in her family believe they are descendants of Robin Hood, so they make a practice of stealing from those they deem unworthy and giving the proceeds to a good cause. Beginning in World War II in Paris, young Colette and her mother steal from Nazi sympathizers to support the resistance. Flash forward to 2018, and octogenarian Colette is still practicing her craft, but this time donating to charitable causes. There are subplots galore, among them the hunt for Colette's missing sister.

I liked the idea of the story, but the execution was questionable. There is the moral implication of vigilante justice, and the coincidences were hard to swallow. The writing and pacing are adequate, but I never felt attached to the characters, of which there are many. I finished the book, but it was a struggle. I understand the author has a following and specializes in historical fiction, but based on this book, I don't see the attraction. The book is well-researched, and I think many readers will enjoy the premise--it just wasn't for me. 

2/5 stars.

Thank you, NetGalley and Gallery Books, for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. The publication date is June 17, 2025.

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Murder Takes a Vacation by Laura Lippman

 

I've enjoyed Laura Lippman's Tess Monaghan series, so when I saw what sounded like a cozy mystery with one of her minor characters from that series, I was intrigued. In typical Lippman fashion, she has crafted a riveting story with interesting characters.

Sixty-eight-year-old Muriel Blossom, who has been a widow for ten years, finds a winning lottery ticket worth millions and decides to take a luxury boat cruise up the Seine. Not used to international travel or traveling in style, she is befriended by the attentive Allan Turner, who takes charge when Mrs. Blossom misses her flight from London to Paris. The attraction appears to be mutual, and the pair spends a romantic day in London before Allan puts Mrs. Blossom on the train to Paris. Once in Paris, Mrs. Blossom is soon visited by the police who tell her Allan has died from a fall from a Paris hotel room when he was supposed to be in London. When the mysterious Danny Johnson tries to strike up a relationship, Mrs. Blossom is suspicious and doesn't know whom to trust. Throw in a stolen art treasure and some misadventures, and Mrs. Blossom's life gets more complicated.

Mrs. Blossom is a wonderful character. Both naive and savvy at the same time, she is a strong woman who is trying to cast aside her comfortable life and spread her wings. I found the book a wonderfully written page-turner filled with wit and intrigue. The plot is clever and the characters engaging. 

4.5/5 stars.

Thank you, NetGalley and William Morrow, for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. The publication date is June 17, 2025.

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