Evil in the Family by Michael Wood

Forensic Psychologist Dr. Olivia Winter is back in this third book in the series (The Mind of a Murderer; The Devil's Code) with more emotional baggage than would fit in a steamer trunk. The daughter, who was almost a victim of her serial killer father, Olivia, has, understandably, unresolved issues. She is obsessed with serial killers, making the study of them her life's work. This latest killer's crimes are so heinous that Olivia is forced to come to terms with her demons.

A family is slain, and their bodies are posed in a macabre tableau that tests DI Foley's resolve. For the first time, Dr. Olivia Winter is called in to help with an active crime and must work the case and see the bodies at the scene. Unnerved, Olivia struggles to help the police capture a killer who leaves no DNA or reason for the killings. When another family is killed, the police, with no leads, must rely on Olivia's psychological analysis to point them in the right direction. Nothing ties the killings together, and a frustrated Foley is under pressure to find the killer.

Michael Wood is the master of the dark, psychological thriller. Between this and his DI Matilda Darke series, Wood's flawed, yet strong female protagonists, ring true. In this book, Olivia is pushed to the limits, and while I felt she was a bit whiny at times, she pulled through and finally admitted she may need psychological help herself. I enjoyed this book. Olivia is growing as a character, interestingly, and the plot was riveting. Although I didn't buy into the red herring that was floated, I did question who the killer might be — it kept me guessing. 

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 March 31, 2026. 

For more information: 

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Nowhere Burning by Catronia Ward

 Catronia Ward is a wonderful storyteller. Her novels, always dark and suspenseful, are beautifully written and character-driven.

Fourteen-year-old Riley flees an abusive home situation with her seven-year-old brother, Oliver. With only cryptic directions to the children's shelter, Nowhere, high in the Colorado mountains, she and Oliver set out to find safety among the other runaways. Nowhere, once the home of a famous movie star, is now a burned-out ranch with only a barn for shelter. At first, Riley finds an answer to her problems, but as she digs deeper, she discovers the inhabitants aren't all they seem. She begins to question if she and Oliver are truly safe.

This novel is part psychological horror story and part suspenseful story about the ghostly remains of the Nowhere ranch and its former inhabitant. There are two timelines: the present with Riley and the past about the movie star. That wasn't clear at first, and was confusing until I figured it out. There are plot twists and unreliable narrators that kept me guessing. 

4/5 stars.

For more information: 

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

The Devil's Code by Michael Wood

Forensic psychologist and serial-killer researcher Dr. Olivia Winter was introduced in The Mind of a Murderer . The survivor of a serial killer--her own father--Winter has dedicated her life to finding out what makes killers tick. 

Isaac McFadden is on his way to dispose of a dismembered body when a routine traffic stop catches him. He is uncooperative and is quickly convicted of the killing. Then, McFadden's notebook is found, containing a code indicating he may have killed multiple times. Unable to crack the code, the police turn to Olivia to try to get McFadden to open up about the killings and to help in solving the code. Olivia's noted professional reputation and her personal history have drawn unwanted attention and distracted her from her investigation. This, combined with a manipulative McFadden, makes Olivia's task all the more difficult.

I am a fan of Wood's DCI Matilda Darke series, and this series is proving equally enjoyable. As with all of his books, this is a dark and chilling read. It is also suspenseful with good twists and excellent characters. I highly recommend this book and author. 

4/5 stars.

For more information: 

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Lords of Uncreation by Adrian Tchaikovsky

This last book in The Final Architecture trilogy (Shards of Earth , Eyes of the Void) finds the crew of the Vulture God scattered and fighting their own wars.

Previously, Idris discovered that a higher intelligence was directing the Architects to destroy planets. He now uncovers more information about the Presence that is enslaving the Architects and finds out their ultimate goal: to destroy all humanity. Tasked with trying to communicate with the Presence, Idris and the other Intermediaries must try to reason with an all-powerful entity. 

Meanwhile, tensions between the Magda and the Parenthi are escalating, and political intrigue is mounting among the various governing bodies. 

This is a satisfying conclusion to the series. Tchaikovsky’s world-building and his depiction of the vastness of the universe are excellent. Although there were many storylines, it wasn't hard to follow them and the various characters. I thought the pacing was good, but lagged when the spotlight was on Idris and his exploration of subspace and his search for the Presence. 

4.5/5 stars.

For more information: 

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

The Keeper by Tana French

This elegantly written novel explores life in a small Irish town when tragedy strikes. In this final book in the Cal Hooper trilogy (The Searcher, The Hunter ), French does an excellent job of wrapping up the series. 

When Rachel Holohan's body is found in the river, the village of Ardnakelty questions what happened. Was she murdered or did she commit suicide? The village takes sides, and the rumors that spread threaten to ruin the life of Cal Hooper's fiancée, Lena. At the heart is a scheme by local developer Tommy Moynihan. His plan to build a factory could enhance the village's prosperity, but it could also forever change the way of life. Rachel, privy to the scheme's facts, was conflicted about the development and the extent of Monyihan's ambitions. As the mystery surrounding her death deepens, and the rumors get more far-reaching, old feuds and power dynamics are tested.

French's lyrical prose paints a vivid picture of what can happen when rumors tear apart a small village. Her depiction of the village, its inhabitants, and the reaction to a tragedy is spot-on. This novel is both suspenseful and engrossing. I have loved the character development that has unfolded over the three books. Cal, from an outsider to a village stalwart; Trey, from a semi-feral girl to a young woman with a bright future, are both indelibly printed on my memory. I will miss the residents of Ardnakelty, but I'm sure whatever direction French takes next, I'll be along for the ride. 

4.5/5 stars.

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

 For more information: 

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Eyes of the Void by Adrian Tchaikovsky

 In this second book of The Final Architecture trilogy (Shards of Earth), Tchaikovsky picks up right where Shards of Earth left off. Both books have interesting characters and compelling storylines.

The Architects have returned after eighty years, following an uneasy, peaceful reprieve for the planets that house the humans and aliens who inhabit them. An Architect is attacking Arc Pallator, a Hegemonic world that contains a vast collection of Originators artifacts. The crew of the Vulture God is on the planet when the attack begins, and Idris is kidnapped once again. This time, his kidnappers want him to use his Intermediary skills to unlock the mystery of unspace and help find the origins of the Architects.

Tchaikovsky does an excellent job of world-building and creating alien cultures. In this fast-paced novel, he advances the main storyline of the series — finding ways to defeat the Architects — and moves into a more cerebral context, exploring the creation of unspace. There is still plenty of action, however, to satisfy even the most ardent space opera lovers. This is a wonderful series, and I'll be sad when it wraps up. 

4.5/5 stars.

For more information: 

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Whidbey by T Kira Madden

 

This is a book whose characters and their lives will haunt you long after you've finished it. It comes with a warning; the subject matter is sexual abuse and its effects on the victims. At times disturbing, it also raises questions about our justice system and rehabilitation methods.

Birdie, sexually abused by Calvin at age nine, is fleeing the publicity of a recently published book about Calvin's victims. She heads to remote Whidbey Island, Washington, as far from her New York City home as she can get. On the ferry to the island, Birdie meets a man who offers to kill recently paroled Calvin, thus removing the threat and satisfying her need for revenge.

Calvin's mother, Mary-Beth, is a victim of circumstance. Shunned in the small community for proclaiming her son a victim of promiscuous girls, her mother's love blinds her to the truth. When Calvin is brutally murdered, Mary-Beth again becomes a victim, this time by what she sees as inaction on the part of the police to find the killer. 

Linzie, famous for her meltdown on a reality TV show, is another of Calvin's victims. She has just published a tell-all book about her and other victims' experiences. Her thinly disguised descriptions of other victims make them easy to identify, leading Birdie to go into hiding.

Told from multiple points of view, this is about how the trauma of a sexual assault can have life-changing repercussions. I considered not finishing this book because of how upset I got over what happened to Birdie and Linzie.  Although Madden deftly handles the description of the assaults both girls suffered, it was still depressing. But I read on because it's an important topic and one that needs exploring. I could have done without the explicit descriptions of Birdie and her partner's lovemaking. I'm not a prude, but it was just too much information. 

4/5 stars.

Thank you, NetGalley and Mariner Books, for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. The publication date is March 10, 2026.

For more information: 

Amazon | Barnes & Noble