The Anniversary by Alex Finlay

 Alex Finlay has outdone himself in creating a twisty psychological thriller with two intriguing protagonists. I have read a number of his books over the years, and The Anniversary ranks right up there with his best.

On May 1, 1992, the lives of teens Jules and Quinn are forever changed. Although they only know each other in passing, the events in their small Nebraska town will draw them together. 

Jules is attacked but spared by a serial killer known as the May Day killer, who has been killing young women each May 1--May Day--for several years, leaving no clues to his identity. Traumatized by the attack but suffering survivor's guilt, Jules doesn't report the crime. 

Meanwhile, mild-mannered Quinn tries to break up a fight but only succeeds in nearly killing a person. While Quinn is in juvenile detention, his mother is brutally murdered. Her killer is caught, but Quinn is not convinced they have the right man, and he begins his own investigation into her murder. 

The story is told each May Day, year after year, as we follow the lives of Jules and Quinn and the paths they take. Both make some bad life choices, but they eventually come together to help each other in their quests for closure. I did figure out who the serial killer was before the big reveal, but there were enough plot twists and red herrings to keep me guessing about what would happen next. 

4.5/5 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 May 12. 2026.

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How to Cheat Your own Death by Kristen Perrin

 

I recently finished the third book in the Castle Knoll Files series (following How to Solve Your Own Murder  and How to Seal Your Own Fate). In this installment, Annie Adams returns to solve a new mystery using her Great Aunt Frances’s diaries.

The story follows dual timelines. In 1968, Frances begins university in London and joins a new social circle, including socialite Vera Huntington, until a murder disrupts her life. In the present day, Annie is in London helping her mother, Laura, prepare for an art exhibition. When Laura’s assistant is murdered in the same manner as the 1968 victim, Annie must find the killer to protect her mother.

I enjoyed the first book but missed the second; however, I would recommend reading them in order, as this third book contains spoilers for the previous titles. The dual timelines effectively connect the two murders, leading the reader through a twisty path with a compelling cast of characters. Overall, it is a cleverly plotted, fast-paced mystery. 

4/5 stars.

Thank you, NetGalley and Dutton, for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. The publication date is April 28, 2026.

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The Marco Effect by Jussi Adler-Olsen

 This fifth book in the Department Q series finds Carl Morck and his team at odds with management. The longtime department head has retired, and Morck's nemesis has been put in charge, complicating all their lives.

Sifting through the cold case files the Department Q team is in charge of solving, they settle on a missing banker who, after briefly visiting Africa on business, was never seen again. Switch to Marco, a fifteen-year-old who is trying to get away from his Uncle Zola, the leader of their gypsy clan, who uses the children to rob and beg. When Marco discovers a body while trying to escape the clan, Zola is out to silence him. Marco comes to the attention of the Department Q team, as well as the dead body, and a possible connection to an embezzlement case. With Marco, the missing piece to the case they are trying to solve, it's a race to see who can find Marco first. 

Marco is a wonderful character. Facing a moral dilemma with his life of crime, he chooses to try to escape and fulfill his dreams of a meaningful life. The odds are stacked against him, but his determination and street smarts are in his favor. Filled with dark humor and impossible situations, this book is hard to put down. I enjoyed the twists and the challenge of anticipating how Morck, Rose, and Assad would outsmart Zola. 

4/5 stars.

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Wolf Worm by T. Kingfisher

 I usually like T. Kingfisher's books, especially the ones that are take-offs on fairy tales (A Sorceress Comes to Call, Thornhedge), but this book, not so much. It is a dark horror story that is downright creepy — as in creepy, crawly bugs.

Sonia Wilson is a scientific illustrator who worked with her father until his death. It's 1899, and there aren't many prospects for women, especially with Sonia's talent. Unhappy as a teacher, she is in luck when a scientist offers her a position illustrating his forthcoming book on insects. When she arrives at his manor house, she finds that the scientist, Dr. Matthias Halder, is not very personable, and the locals and Halder's staff are keeping secrets about her predecessor and a mysterious building in the woods. What is more upsetting is Sonia's suspicions about how Halder is conducting his research. Are his scientific principles warped and methods unlawful? A determined Sonia is willing to put herself in danger to find the answers to her questions.

I admit that I skimmed some of the more graphic descriptions of the effects of the parasitic insects on both animals and humans. While the writing and pacing are good, the subject matter is off-putting. If you are squeamish,  this is probably not a good read for you. 

3.5/5 stars.

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Mad Mabel by Sally Hepworth

This latest book from Sally Hepworth is similar to her book Darling Girls: it is poignant, with a character one roots for as she faces many obstacles in life. It is a psychological thriller with a murder thrown in for good measure.

Mabel Waller grew up an outsider, tagged with the nickname "Mad Mabel" from an early age. Death seemed to follow Mabel. Indeed, she was Australia's youngest convicted murderer. Now, eighty-one years old, Mabel has lived quietly, using the name Elsie Fitzpatrick, to try to outrun her past. All is well until Mabel discovers a dead neighbor, whose death isn't clear-cut. As the police begin investigating, Mabel's past comes to light, reviving interest in her. If that isn't enough, Mabel must also contend with the precocious seven-year-old Persephone, who is determined to befriend the cranky older woman. Fiercely independent, Mabel thinks her only friend is Daphne, a friend since kindergarten. Little does she know that her neighbors have her back when the press and police come calling.

Told between Mabel's past and Elsie's present, the story reveals secrets in both. The reader is left wondering until the end who Mabel murdered, with various candidates proposed and discarded. Mabel is a sympathetic character who was treated cruelly as a child and has difficulty accepting kindness as an adult. An unrelenting Persephone cracks her grumpy veneer, finally allowing Mabel to accept others' help. It was fun watching this closed-off woman begin to blossom, even at the age of eighty-one. 

4.5/5 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 April 21, 2026.

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Revenge Prey by John Sandford

It's hard to believe this is the thirty-sixth book in Sandford's "Prey" series. I have been on board since the first book and have watched Lucas Davenport's character develop as he has changed law enforcement agencies and faced numerous villains over the years. Every book has been a welcome addition to the series, and Revenge Prey showcases renegade Davenport at his best.

A high-level Russian intelligence officer and his family have defected to the U.S. and are entering the U.S. Marshal Service's Witness Protection Program. Davenport and his partner, along with the FBI and a CIA operative, are tasked with helping the family settle in Minnesota. When an attempt is made on the man's life by an elite Russian hit team, Davenport and company must step up their protection and try to find out who is supplying the hit team with their information. With the story switching between the hit team and Davenport, the action is non-stop as both factions race against time to either save or kill the defector.

John Sandford can be relied upon for a good, heart-pounding thriller. Revenge Prey is no different. Although I wasn't as enamored with the plot as in his previous books, it was still a satisfying read. It was interesting to get the hit team's point of view, and I found it hard not to root for them. They were under pressure, and failure was not an option — not if they wanted to return to Russia. Once again, Lucas was defying authority, and by teaming with the shady CIA agent, they were an unstoppable pair. 

4/5 stars.

Thank you, NetGalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons, for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. The publication date is April 7, 2026.

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The Night Ends with Fire by K. X. Song

I initially picked up this book because it sounded interesting, and I admit the cover attracted my attention. It is tagged as Science Fiction and Fantasy, both genres I enjoy, but it failed to mention it is also a romance, a genre I avoid at all costs. When I first started reading the book, I thought the writing style and characters were more in line with a Young Adult audience than with the Adult Fiction book it was billed as. It took me two tries before I was engaged enough in the plot to finish the book, but finish it I did! What finally drew me in was the exploration of myths and Meilin's use of her spirit powers. I found both good examples of the Fantasy genre.

Eighteen-year-old Meilin's life is rapidly going downhill. Living with an opium-addicted, abusive father, she is destined to marry an equally abusive husband. When war breaks out in the Three Kingdoms, Meilin sees her chance to escape by posing as a male and joining the army. She pulls it off and quickly makes friends through hard work and bravery in battle. She has also caught the eye of Sky, one of the warlords' sons. Although Sky doesn't suspect Meilin's duplicity, Meilin has feelings for him that are unbecoming of a soldier. What Meilin also discovers is that the necklace she just inherited from her mother has special powers that grant her access to the spirit realm, and a sea dragon spirit who guides her. Unfortunately, her powers are seen as black magic and punishable by death. With her secrets mounting, Meilin is torn between her deepening feelings for Sky and using her powers to help win the war. 

This is a fast-paced book that follows Meilin as she overcomes one obstacle after another — either through sheer determination or by using her magical powers. This is an action-driven story that spends little time developing the characters. I did get used to the writing style and skimmed the parts dealing with Meilin's feelings for Sky. For me, an annoying part was the use of names. Both Chinese and English names were used haphazardly. For every "Zilong", there was a "Sparrow." The author should have decided which to use and stuck with that. I know my reading taste is selective, and this review will be an outlier, but I can't give this book more than three stars. 

3/5 stars.

Thank you, NetGalley and Ace, for a review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. This book was published on July 2, 2024. 

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