Trickster's Point by William Kent Krueger

 Krueger got back to focusing on Cork in this 12th book in the series. It was a good change from his last book, Northwest Angle, where the focus was on his family and their spirituality. While that book did advance the storyline, I didn't enjoy it very much.

Cork is bow hunting with his good friend, Jubal Little, who is a shoo-in to become the first Native American governor of  Minnesota, when Little takes an arrow to the heart. Knowing he is dying, he pleads with Cork to stay with him instead of going for help. Suspicion falls on Cork not just because he didn't go for help, but because the arrow was one of his. Knowing he is being framed, Cork must work to clear himself and find the person responsible for his friend's death.

This book offers a look into Cork's teenage years and the era in which he grew up. It also focuses on his budding relationship with a spiritual leader's niece. The suspense was non-stop, the plotting excellent, and the characters well-developed. 

4/5 stars.

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Welcome to Sperry Chalet by Beth Dunagan

I read this book in anticipation of my stay at this historic chalet in Glacier National Park. Not only did it give me the history of the chalet, it also gave me background on the chalet system and an interesting story about the family that has run the chalet since the 1950s. 

Beth was nine years old when she and her extended family, the Ludings, became the concessioners running Sperry Chalet, high in Glacier National Park's back country. This is her story of growing up at Sperry Chalet and her experiences there later in life. It offers an intimate behind-the-scenes look at the operation of Sperry Chalet, as well as a glimpse into what the children did with the freedom they were given. 

I enjoyed this book and its unique perspective on Sperry Chalet and how things have changed over the years. I just spent three nights there, and it was good to have the background knowledge this book provided. 

4/5 stars.

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The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin

 I read the 50th anniversary edition of this classic first-encounter science fiction novel. It has an introduction and an afterword by notable authors that added to my enjoyment.

Genly Ai is an emissary whose mission on the icy planet humans call Winter is to persuade the rulers to join Earth's alliance of planets. Being the lone ambassador, he is met with curiosity by the planet's inhabitants and is befriended by the king's right-hand man, Estraven. When Estraven falls out of favor and is sentenced to death, he flees to a neighboring country. Ai and Estraven are soon reunited and begin a perilous journey to freedom and, in Estraven's case, redemption.

I like first-contact stories, and this one is a winner. I particularly liked the description of the planet and the curious sexual fluidity of the natives. Despite having been published in 1969, it holds up well and is rich in atmosphere and insight. It took me a while to get used to the writing style, but once I did, I was caught up in the world and the characters. 

4.5/5 stars.

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Cold Earth by Ann Cleeves

 

This is the penultimate book in the Shetland Island series, and I'd be sorry to see it end if not for Cleeves continuing the saga of Jimmy Perez, but this time on the Orkney Islands (The Killing Stones, publishing September 30, 2025).

A funeral for an old friend of Jimmy Perez is interrupted when a landslide sweeps through the cemetery and destroys a house in its path. An unidentified woman's body is found in the debris of the house, and, upon investigation, Jimmy discovers the woman has been murdered. Chief Inspector Willow Reeves is called in to head the investigation, teaming with Jimmy and Sandy Wilson to find the woman's identity and who killed her. What they find are secrets not only from the woman's past, but also connections to prominent Shetland citizens and possible murder motives.

Once again, the setting for the book takes center stage. It's winter, the weather is cold and rainy, and with the shortened daylight hours, both contribute to a hostile atmosphere. This book is solidly plotted, and the developing relationship between Jimmy and Willow adds a hint of romance to the storyline. Although I did figure out who killed the woman, Cleeves hid the motives until the very last, which kept me second-guessing myself. 

4/5 stars.

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The Mysterious Case of the Missing Crime Writer by Ragnar Jonasson

 

I usually enjoy Ragnar Jonasson's books. He's dark, and his settings are atmospheric. I especially liked Reykjavik and Death at the Sanatorium, both of which had interesting characters and excellent plots. This book, which brings back a character from Death at the Sanatorium, billed as a standalone, ends so abruptly that I wondered if this isn't meant to be a series.

Helgi Reykdal is enjoying a break from his police duties among his beloved vintage crime novels when he is asked to look into the disappearance of popular crime writer Elin Jonsdottir. None of her friends or associates has heard from her, so Helgi has little to go on. On top of that, he is under pressure to find Elin before the press breaks the story. The more Helgi digs into Elin's life, the more secrets he uncovers, leading him to believe there are multiple reasons for her disappearance. 

The story shifts focus from Helgi's investigation, set in 2012,  to another disappearance, that of a police detective, years earlier, and the case of a bank robbery that she was investigating. Jonasson does a good job of weaving the subplots together, but the reader is left hanging about the solution of one of the storylines. Additionally, the ending was so abrupt that I wondered if some pages were left out. 

The pacing is good, and the plots are intriguing, so I was caught up in the book from the start. I wish it hadn't ended on a cliffhanger with an unresolved plot line. 

3/5 stars.

Thank you, NetGalley and Minotaur Books, for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. The publication date is September 9, 2025. 

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The Frozen People by Elly Griffiths

I was disappointed when Griffiths wrapped up her Ruth Galloway series, but after reading this start to a new series, I'm happy once again. I love time travel and detective books, and the combination makes me a happy camper. 

The cold case department, which employs Ali Dawson and a handful of specialists, has a secret to solving their cases that are so cold, they are frozen: they can time travel to collect evidence. It's still an experimental program when a member of parliament requests Ali to travel to 1850s London to clear the name of his grandfather, who may have killed a woman to gain entry into a secret group called The Collectors. This is farther back than the team has previously ventured, but Ali is excited at the prospect. 

Ali is not off to a promising start when she arrives to find a murdered woman. She then finds herself trapped in time, so she determines to solve the woman's murder. Meanwhile, in present-day London, Ali's son faces serious accusations, and the cold case team works to find a way to get Ali back. 

I enjoyed the premise of traveling back in time to research a cold case. I particularly enjoyed the historical sections of 1850s London, where Ali struggled to adapt to her new environment. With Griffiths' trademark humor, excellent characters, and intriguing plots, this series is off to a promising start. 

4.5/5 stars.

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Watching You by Helen Fields

 

One of the things I like about a Helen Fields novel is that no character is safe. She doesn't hesitate to kill off characters, even if they have played a significant role in a series. In this, her latest in the Connie Woolwine series, she has paired her with characters from her DI Callanach series, and it's anybody's guess which characters will survive.

With two of the lead detectives out of the picture, forensic profiler Connie Woolwine and her associate, Brodie Baarda, are called to Edinburgh to help with an investigation. As the body count mounts, Connie is convinced there is a serial killer on the loose. With little forensic evidence or a pattern to go on, she works with DS Lively to try to track down the killer. Lively is developing a relationship with surgeon Beth Waterfall, who is still recovering from the death of her daughter, and who may be the killer's next victim. It's up to Connie and her team to catch the killer before they strike again.

This book is quintessentially Helen Fields: dark and twisty, with every character in danger of being killed. Fields does an excellent job of keeping the tension going from beginning to end. This is a good test for Connie's skills and expertise in yet another gripping psychological thriller. 

4/5 stars.

Thank you, NetGalley and Avon, for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. The publication date is August 28, 2025.

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