Not a Word by Linwood Barclay

 I've just added Linwood Barclay to my list of must-read authors. Not a Word is a family drama at its best, with interesting characters put into unusual situations. 

When Reece discovers what looks like a murder-suicide at the family home, with his father as the perpetrator, his world comes apart. He knew his parents' marriage was rocky, but this seems a bit extreme. Trying to shield his son from the horror, Reece begins to question the circumstances of the crime. And he's not the only one; the police have their doubts as well. With both digging into the family's past, secrets are uncovered, and relationships are strained in pursuit of the truth.

This is an excellent psychological thriller. I expected plot twists, but unlike some thrillers, these twists are believable. Told from multiple points of view and different timelines, this well-plotted story unfolds at a breakneck pace. Its plot is compelling and, while I wasn't sympathetic to all of the characters, I felt they were genuine. 

4/5 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 August 25, 2026.

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Crooks by Lou Berney

 I love the characters Lou Berney creates. They are always conflicted and put in challenging situations. The book Crooks is no different. This is a story about a crime family that spans four decades and very different life choices. 

Buddy and Lilian Mercurios are minor mob members who flee Las Vegas with their five children and hide out in Oklahoma City. Even when their disco club becomes a profitable business, Buddy and Lilian can't leave behind the con-artist ways that put them at odds with each other and their children.

Flash forward in time. The Mercurios children are adults and trying to make their own way. Some try to shed their crime family ways, while others embrace it. Each takes a different path, but is bound by blood and a shared past that shaped them. 

This is a generational story with richly drawn characters and focuses on how the five children cope with their past. All are influenced by their parents, even as they try to become individuals who strive for their own place in the world. It is interesting to see how each child turns out and in which direction they go. This is a family not soon forgotten. Beautifully written and fast-paced, the Mercurios family is memorable, and the book is hard to put down. 

5/5 stars.

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The Midnight Train by Matt Haig

 I enjoyed the other book in The Midnight World series, The Midnight Library, so I was looking forward to seeing what Matt Haig could do to top that book, and top it he did! I usually enjoy books where characters review their lives, and this book, although it reminded me of the Dickens book A Christmas Carol, is very good.

Eighty-one-year-old Wilbur Budd has led a long, eventful life. When he dies, he is transported to a train station with a ticket to board the Midnight Train. There he meets Agnes, a long-dead bookstore owner, who once helped a young Wilbur on his reading adventures. Now she is leading him on another adventure aboard the train--reviewing the important parts of his life. With few rules, the paramount one is not to interact with the memory; his goal is to reach eternity so he can be reunited with those he has loved. Sounds simple? Well, maybe not. Wilful Wilbur cannot leave well enough alone and attempts to change the events in his life.

This is a wonderful time-travel story about a stubborn Wilbur who hopes to change the past. Regrets? He has many. Forced to relive painful memories of events he hadn't come to terms with in life, Wilbur bucks Agnes and tries to focus on the magical time of his honeymoon in Venice. Venice is a pivotal point in his life where, if he could choose again, he would take another path. The Midnight Train is a reflective novel that encourages the reader to ponder their life choices. 

4.5/5 stars.

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That Night by Gillian McAllister

I've enjoyed Gillian McAllister's previous books, and this one sounded intriguing: a family thriller with murder and intrigue. Unfortunately, this book did not live up to her previous novels, and I found myself struggling to finish it.

Siblings Frannie, Joe, and Cathy are on vacation with their families at a villa they own in Italy when Frannie accidentally runs over a man, killing him. Panicked, she calls Joe and Cathy to help decide what to do. Fearing for Frannie's chances with the Italian police, the trio decides to bury the body and concoct a story to cover their tracks. They agree that the secret stays with them, and they unite in their bond to protect each other. However, when the police begin investigating, their implausible story begins to fall apart, as does their loyalty to each other.

Told from multiple points of view and different timelines, this is a study in family dynamics. It is fast-paced, but I found the characters unsympathetic and quickly began rooting for the police to arrest them all. I understood the tough position they were in, but the logic was hard to follow. There was no real suspense other than to find out which sibling would crack first. All in all, this book was a disappointment to me, given that this author is capable of so much more. 

2.5/5 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 August 18, 2026.

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Under the Falls by Richard Russo

I can always count on Richard Russo for a beautifully written, character-driven novel. He delivers, once again, with Under the Falls.

Tyler Sinclair fled the small town of Stone Mountain in upstate New York to make a career as a musician. He achieved success and now, eighteen years later, is returning to begin another tour with his small band. Not everyone is happy with his success or his return. His friend, Doc, who was paralyzed while playing with Tyler, secretly blames him for the accident. Tyler's other friend, Curt, now the chief of police, also harbors hard feelings over Tyler's disappearance all those years ago. When tragedy strikes after Tyler's concert, old feelings come to the surface, and Tyler is once again in the situation of trying to escape Stone Mountain.

Russo does an excellent job of portraying life in a small mountain town and the lives of those who stayed and adapted to the life. Tyler is a sympathetic character whose dreams of escape came true once, but can they come true again? Cast as an outsider, Tyler tries to renew his friendships while maintaining the distance he sought; he can't have it both ways, and his struggle to achieve a balance makes for an intriguing story. This is a novel peopled with flawed characters, dreamers, and lost souls that captivates the reader. 

4.5/5 stars.

Thank you, NetGalley and Knopf, for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. The publication date is August 11, 2026. 

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Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke

 I don't understand why this book is getting rave reviews. The New York Times calls it the "Best book of the year (so far)," which is what enticed me to read it. It's not a bad book, it's just not great, and it makes me wonder what other books the New York Times is reading.

Natalie has over 8 million Instagram followers who are enthralled by her living a throwback to a "traditional" lifestyle patterned after life in the 1800s. She, her husband, and numerous children live on a farm in Idaho and, as far as her followers know, she has eschewed modern conveniences. That's the first lie. She not only has the latest appliances, which her followers cannot see, but also has two nannies and a producer to help with her online content. 

Natalie's whole life is a lie until one morning, when she wakes up in an actual 1800s farmhouse with no electricity or running water. Her husband and children, while similar, are unfamiliar to her. The story then shifts to Natalie's attempts to flee her circumstances and, failing that, to accept her role as a traditional 1800s wife and mother and the hardships that entails. 

The story follows two timelines: one of her life in the 1800s and another explaining how she became a social media sensation. It leaves not only Natalie scratching her head about how she ended up in the past, but also the reader. No explanation is given for how her new circumstances occurred until the end. Additionally, Natalie is not a likable character, nor, for that matter, are any of the other characters: her children are whiny, and her marriage is a sham. 

There was enough story substance to keep me reading — mostly to find out how Natalie ended up where she did, even though I thought she deserved what she got. The writing and pacing are good, but there was no way to sugarcoat the vapid characters. 

3/5 stars.

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Maybe Tomorrow by Michael Wood

I admit it: I'm a Michael Wood fan — I love both his DCI Matilda Darke and Dr. Olivia Winter murder-mystery series. They feature strong women and are dark and gripping, with interesting plots. In this standalone, Wood outdoes himself in creating an atmospheric thriller filled with good and ruthless characters that examines a flawed justice system.

When Alice, a young woman with Down syndrome, is found raped and murdered in the woods after a violent storm, police are under intense pressure to find her killer. With no leads and no clues, they are stumped until they focus on Anthony, a man with learning disabilities, who was among the last to see her alive. When he confesses to the crime, the case is closed. But not everyone is convinced of Anthony's guilt--including his lawyer and two police officers. They are determined to prove his innocence, at great personal cost.

This is a compelling read that I couldn't put down. It shines an unkind light on the British penal and justice systems, both of which failed Anthony and Alice. It is fast-paced and suspenseful with excellent characters. If you have not yet discovered this author, this book is a good introduction to his dark world. 

4.5/5 stars.

Thank you, NetGalley and One More Chapter, for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. The publication date is July 31, 2026.

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