The First Time I Saw Him by Laura Dave

 In this sequel to The Last Thing He Told Me, Dave delves into the background and motivations behind Owen's sudden disappearance in the first book. There were some loose ends at the end of that book, and this sequel, while not tying them up in a neat bow, did offer some explanations.

It has been five years since Hannah's husband, Owen, went into hiding. Hannah and her stepdaughter, Bailey, have relocated to Southern California when a disguised Owen briefly appears to warn Hannah that they are again in danger. Knowing this day would come, Hannah is prepared and immediately gathers up Bailey and begins their escape. At the same time, Bailey's grandfather, a former lawyer and secret-keeper for a group known as the organization, dies. News of his death devastates them both, and Hannah can't shake the feeling that the threat to their lives and his death are connected. Hannah's goal is to keep Bailey safe and to reunite with Owen by whatever means necessary.

Although engaging, the flashbacks, mainly dealing with the grandfather, made for choppy reading. That, plus the improbability of Hannah's escape plan, made me suspend disbelief at times. The main themes of friendship bonds and forgiveness drove the story. I was expecting a thriller similar to the first book, but this was more background material for that book. Dave did a good job of detailing the relationship between the crime boss and the grandfather, which was pertinent to the plot. Still, despite her efforts, neither character came across as particularly likable, and neither of their past actions seemed forgivable. 

3/5 stars.

Thank you, NetGalley and Scribner, for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. The publication date is January 6, 2026.

For more information: 

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

The Black Wolf by Louise Penny

This is the second book in the two-book "Wolf" series, The Grey Wolf being the first. This is a classic Louise Penny book — fast-paced and intriguing. The only problems were the many times I had to suspend disbelief and the confusing ending.

After having thwarted a domestic terrorist attack, Chief Inspector Armand Gamache is recovering at home in Three Pines. As he ponders a map and a notebook left behind from the attack, Gamache and agents Jean-Guy Beauvoir and Isabelle Lacoste are convinced a second, more deadly attack is coming. But what and where, or who is behind it, they don't know. What they do know is that people high up in the government and their own police force are involved. Trusting very few around them, they seek to uncover the plot and the person pulling the strings, whom they dub the Black Wolf. It's a race against time with a cunning enemy who always seems one step ahead of them.

I love Louise Penny's writing and the characters she creates. The Black Wolf is a ripped-from-the-headlines book with a plot that, while at times far-fetched, is just believable enough to make parts seem plausible. Where it fell apart for me was the confusing ending and the motive of the Black Wolf. I was left scratching my head. 

3/5 stars.

For more information:  

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Matter by Iain M. Banks

 Iain M. Banks was a master at world-building. He died all too soon, but his books, a legacy that is seeing new life in the US, are amazing in their scope and vision.

When Prince Ferbin sees his father murdered by his right-hand man after suffering an injury in battle, he knows his own life and that of his younger brother are in danger. Thinking of his sister, Djan Seriy Anaplian, who left their planet years ago and became a Culture Special Circumstances agent, Ferbin and his servant flee their home planet in search of her. Meanwhile, Djan Seriy has heard of her father's death and the supposed death of Ferbin, and begins making her way home. The youngest prince, Oramen, who is under the protection of the man who killed his father until he comes of age, has no idea that the man is plotting his death. Now it's up to Ferbin and Djan Seriy to try and save him.

This is the seventh book in the nine-book Culture series and is, by far, one of the most complex stories in the series. I loved the settings and the numerous characters that made this such a great read. With his signature humor, descriptive prowess, and spot-on dialogue, this book captures Ferbin's world and the role Culture plays in the universe, transporting the reader altogether. All of the books in this series are different, but this novel's world-building is exceptional. 

5/5 stars.

For more information: 

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Dark Sisters by Kristi DeMeester

 I like historical fiction where the characters are related and the time frame spans centuries. Dark Sisters has that, with a touch of horror thrown in. 

It's 1750, and Anne and her daughter escape ahead of the hangman when they are deemed to be witches. They find an ancient tree in the forest and, joined by others who don't believe them to be witches, build a settlement near it. Anne unwittingly unleashes a power in the tree that is both good and evil.

Anne's descendant, Mary, is caught in a marriage in the 1950s that is smothering her. When she meets Sharon, a single career woman, she is torn between her love for her daughter and her desire to be with Sharon. 

In 2007, Mary's granddaughter, Camilla, is also caught in a stifling situation. The daughter of a strict preacher, she is at odds with the community and her role in it because of her rebellious nature. Camilla is also drawn to the tree, but what she sees both horrifies and fascinates her. She is determined to find the true nature of the tree and its ancient power.

I associate witch trials with New England, so I was confused to find that this takes place near Atlanta, Georgia. Once I figured out that the women were, indeed, related, and the locale, the story picked up. It was also confusing as to the nature of the tree: how could it be both good and evil? What the tree drove some women to do was truly horrifying. The theme of women realizing their power was central to each character in their time period. With one exception, it painted men as overbearing and power-hungry. I've never been a fan of male bashing, so although the men's need to control the women was a propelling force behind the narrative, I was put off by it. Overall, this is a compelling, dark read. 

3/5 stars.

Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. The publication date is December 9, 2025.

For more information: 

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman

Initially published in 1997, this book was translated into English in 2019, and I stumbled across it earlier this year. Although it's a short book, it packs a lot into its 160+ pages. 

Forty women are held captive in a cage underground. Their living conditions are spartan, and the rules, enforced by guards with whips, are draconian. Years pass, and nothing breaks up the monotony except the delivery of their two meals a day. Then, while being served dinner, a siren sounds and the guards, leaving the serving hatch open, take off. Initially fearful of their freedom, the women, led by a young girl, escape their cage and begin a journey to find civilization and answers as to why they were confined. As they struggle to survive in a desolate world that bears no resemblance to Earth, they learn to rely on each other and form a microsociety.

Despite their depressing conditions and uncertain future, the women form bonds and develop deep relationships to carry them through. They fight to maintain their humanity in a hostile environment that could just as easily break them. I found this to be a haunting book and, at the same time, a tribute to the human spirit and the importance of friendships. 

4/5 stars.

For more information: 

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Cape Fever by Nadia Davids

This is a beautifully written and well-crafted novel about the balance of power between an employer and her servant in a racially and religiously divided colonial colony just after World War I. It is a poignant story with nuanced characters and an intricate plot.

After a bad situation as a household maid, Soraya thinks she has found the right fit with Mrs. Hattingh, a stern but seemingly kind widow. What she finds is not just a house badly in need of repair, but spirits only she can see. While waiting for her son to visit, Mrs. Hattingh takes an interest in Soraya's life, and, thinking Soraya is illiterate, offers to write letters to Soraya's fiancé. The weekly letter writing becomes a ritual, and although Soraya is skeptical that Mrs. Hattingh is accurately writing what she dictates, she trusts her--something she later regrets. As the women's lives become more intertwined and Mrs. Hattingh's hold on Soraya deepens, Soraya desperately seeks to escape her clutches, only to find she has few options.

This is a poignant, psychologically suspenseful story with two strong characters at cross-purposes, each trying to gain the upper hand over the other. The gothic elements and the atmospheric setting enrich the book. The themes of love and grief for both characters unite them and, at the same time, widen the gap. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. 

5/5 stars.

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

For more information:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Snake-Eater by T. Kingfisher

 

I love the worlds T. Kingfisher creates. I especially liked A Sorceress Comes to Call with its dark take on a fairy tale. With Snake-Eater, Kingfisher again dabbles in dark fantasy with a touch of horror, resulting in an enthralling read. 

Selena seems to be trapped in psychologically abusive relationships, first with her mother, who has just died, and now with her current partner. Her only hope is an aunt she hasn't seen in years. Together with her dog, Copper, and the last of her money, Selena arrives in Quartz Creek only to find her aunt has died. As her aunt's last living relative, Selena claims the aunt's house and, vowing to stay only until she can earn enough money to leave, she and Copper settle in. She soon befriends her neighbor, Grandma Billy, and the local priest, Father Aguirre, both of whom teach Selena in the ways of the desert. What she learns is that there is a flimsy curtain between her and the spirit world inhabited by desert gods, chief among them is Snake-Eater, a malevolent god invited into this world by her late aunt. Fearing her life is in danger from Snake-Eater, Selena turns to her new friends for help expelling him from her house. The result is a battle between gods and humans whose outcome is not assured. 

This is an engaging story with wonderful characters. The writing and pacing are spot-on, and the spirits who inhabit Selena's world are, except Snake-Eater, ones I'd like to have around my house. The desert setting makes what happens believable. Kingfisher is an excellent storyteller, and this well-written book is one of her best yet. 

5/5 stars.

Thank you, NetGalley and 47North, for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. The publication date is December 1, 2025.

For more information: 

Amazon | Barnes & Noble