Three Reasons for Revenge by Dervla McTiernan

 This book is an excellent psychological thriller, a genre Dervla  McTiernan excels at. I've read four of her novels, and have never been disappointed. Her twisty plots and interesting characters make for good reading.

When Detective Sergeant Judith Lee is asked for by name for a sexual assault report involving a patient of psychologist, Robert Walker, she is reminded of a similar case from her past. Soon after reporting the assault, the purported victim, Alexis Turner, disappears. Judith begins investigating the claim and discovers that Walker's wife has received an anonymous package containing a video showing him in a sexual situation. Soon after, two other people received anonymous packages containing damning materials. When the cases turn deadly, Judith, thinking there is a connection to the missing Alexis Turner, focuses on finding Turner before she can strike again.

This is a dark, character-driven novel with an intricate plot that slowly reveals Alexis Turner's motive. That's not to say it's a slow-burn novel, quite the opposite; Three Reasons for Revenge is fast-paced and atmospheric. McTiernan usually sets her books in Ireland, so this switch to Australia was a surprise. I liked this new setting, and I can see where McTiernan could easily write another novel featuring Judith Lee. 

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 July 21, 2026.

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The Quiet Kill by Robert Bryndza

I can always count on Robert Bryndza to dish up a tasty murder mystery. Between his Detective Erika Foster and his P.I. Kate Marshall series, Bryndza delivers intricate plots and interesting characters. This new series, featuring Detective Jamie Day, promises to be another great crime series.

It's 1987, and Detective Constable Jamie Day has just transferred to London's Metropolitan Police from a sleepy seaside town. Before he gets a chance to unpack, he is first on the scene at the site of a dismembered young man. Soon, another young victim is found similarly dismembered, and the hunt begins for a serial killer. Still adjusting to his new surroundings and colleagues, Jamie is caught up in what turns out to be a high-profile case. A misstep causes problems and draws the attention of his commanding officer — something he didn't need. 

Told through the eyes of both the killer and Jamie, The Quiet Kill is a dark, spellbinding novel that is suspenseful and addictive. Jamie is an appealing character, the writing is excellent, and the pace spot-on. I look forward to following Jamie's career as he grows and develops as a detective. 

4.5/5 stars.

Thank you, NetGalley and Raven Street Publishing, for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. The publication date is July 7, 2026.

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Country People by Daniel Mason

 

Daniel Mason has once again created wonderful characters who come to life as we watch them grow and adapt to a new environment. Mason's last book, North Woods, was one of my favorites in 2025, and this one will rank up there among my favorites in 2026.

Miles, his wife Kate, and their two children relocate from an urban California city to a small college town in rural Vermont when Kate gets a one-year visiting professorship. Miles, a bit of a dreamer, is a stay-at-home dad, ostensibly working on his PhD dissertation. At age forty-five, after eleven different dissertation topic attempts, he is now drawn to Russian folktales as a sure-fire topic. Alas, he is soon diverted from his task by a group of local characters who convince him that the earth is hollow and that there is a cave leading to an underground world — if only they could find it. Miles soon comes to believe there may be some truth to the local legend and enthusiastically joins the hunt for it.

As the months pass and the seasons change, the family gradually settles into their new life, trying to shed their urban ways and become Country People. 

This is a study in family dynamics and the lengths people will go to "fit in." I loved the Hollow Earth characters, who are so dedicated to their mission that they don't see its absurdity. Miles is a big-hearted character who tilts at windmills. Although North Woods is still my favorite Daniel Mason book, this, in its own quirky way, is also very good. 

4/5 stars.

Thank you, NetGalley and Random House, for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. The publication date is July 7, 2026.

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Everything Was Beautiful and Nothing Hurt by Ben Reeves

 What a wonderful book! Ben Reeves does a good job of imagining how the specter of Death would operate in today's world. 

Travis is a tall, scruffy-looking individual with holes in his socks. He is also Death. His job is to comfort the dying without interfering with how or when they will die. We first meet Travis when he ushers out a young man killed in a car crash. Many years and many deaths later, Travis is living next door to that man's sister, Dalia, her precocious eight-year-old daughter, Layla, and Dalia's infant daughter. A cat has also adopted him. Although he doesn't intend to get close to the family, Layla draws him in, and he becomes an integral part of Dalia's life. This relationship changes Travis in unexpected ways — he is no longer just an usher into death but a participant in the feelings of those around him. 

Told with insight into the final moments of dying, this book, while sad at times, is more about appreciating life and how one person dealt with grief. The relationship between Travis and Dalia is interesting: both help each other grow, and Dalia helps Travis become more invested in the lives of the people he takes. It is beautifully written, the characters are sympathetic, and Travis's relationship to the dying is affecting. I highly recommend this book, not just for those who have experienced the loss of a loved one, but for those looking for an unforgettable, uplifting novel. 

4.5/5 stars.

Thank you, NetGalley and Avid Reader Press, for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. The publication date is July 7, 2026.

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A Deadly Episode by Anthony Horowitz

I enjoy both this series and Anthony Horowitz's other series, which features Susan Ryland. I can count on both series to provide an entertaining read with interesting characters. While this book does provide interesting characters, it wasn't as entertaining as the previous books in the series.

The character Anthony Horowitz, who chronicles former DI Hawthorne's investigations, is pleased when his first book, The Word is Murder, is going to be made into a motion picture. He's a little miffed when he wasn't asked to write the screenplay, and has his doubts when the current screenwriter, an eco-warrior, inserts her agenda into the script. 

All of that aside, Horowitz and Hawthorne are on set when the star of the picture, David Caine, is murdered. When Hawthorne begins his own investigation, he uncovers secrets involving several cast and crew members and numerous suspects; it turns out that Caine was not a nice guy. Given so many motives, the problem now is to sift through them to find the murderer.

Anthony Horowitz has written many screenplays, and he draws on his experience for this book. Unfortunately, the world of filmmaking didn't grab my interest. I was more involved when the story switched to long-ago crimes set in the village where Hawthorne grew up. These occurrences were not only more interesting, but they also revealed some of Hawthorne's backstory. Overall, I did enjoy this book and recommend it to those who love a good murder mystery. 

3.5/5 stars. 

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Murder at the Spirit Lounge by Jess Kidd

 

In this second book in the Nora Breen Investigates series (the first being Murder at the Gulls Nest,) Kidd brings back former nun Nora Breen, who draws on her experience from reading murder mysteries to help solve crimes.

When medium Dolores Chimes is murdered during a seance, the attendees, including DI Rideout, fear for their lives--with good reason. As the six sitters begin to die off under suspicious circumstances, Nora begins to help Rideout in his investigations. Fearing that Rideout will fall victim to the killer, Nora is especially motivated to find the murderer. As the small English seaside village of Gore-on-Sea is once again in the serial killer spotlight, Nora and Rideout combine forces to discover the killer's identity. 

Set in the 1950s, when life seemed simpler, this series captures the post-war era before technology took off. The characters are quirky, the setting is idyllic, and the plot is intriguing. I enjoy the relationship between Rideout and Nora as they wrestle with their attraction to each other while the urgent business of finding a murderer presses. I've enjoyed all of Jess Kidd's novels, but this series is especially good. Following Nora as she transitions from her years as a nun to a functioning member of society is interesting; the murder mysteries are the icing on the cake. 

4/5 stars.

Thank you, NetGalley and Atria Books, for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. The publication date is June 16, 2026.

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The Probability of Murder by J. D. Barker

 J. D. Barker's book, The Probability of Murder, is an excellent murder mystery with a few challenging math puzzles thrown in for good measure. It reminds me of Dan Brown's book, The Da Vinci Code, on steroids.

When Princeton police detectives Vaughn Ryan and Darnell Sacker are called to investigate a death in an old barn, they find ten bodies and a puzzling math-based clue. Stumped, they contacted noted Princeton mathematician Dr. Ivy Reeves to help make sense of the crime scene. When the killer strikes again, and it becomes apparent that Ivy may become a target, the detectives must unravel Ivy's past to find the links to the current murders.

I admit to being a self-proclaimed math nerd and enjoying the explanations of the math games the killer was using. Barker does a good job of explaining the concepts in easy-to-understand language so readers with a limited math background can enjoy this thriller even if they dislike math. The match is not the central theme, either. This book is a good, fast-paced murder mystery with twists and red herrings that will keep the reader guessing. 

4/5 stars.

Thank you, NetGalley and Hampton Creek Press, for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. The publication date is June 2, 2026.

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