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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Last One Out by Jane Harper

 

I can always count on Jane Harper for an atmospheric, beautifully written story. This book is no exception. I will be friends with Ro, Griff, and the inhabitants of Carralon Ridge for the foreseeable future. This was a sad book, however, with the main theme being death: the death of a town, a marriage, and a son who disappeared five years ago and is presumed dead. There are very few uplifting moments in the book, but it's worth reading if only for the elegant writing.

Ro has returned to Carralon Ridge, New South Wales, a once-bustling town slowly being consumed by a coal-mining company. It is the fifth anniversary of her son Sam's disappearance, and she, her family, and the remaining inhabitants are gathering for a memorial. The grief over their son's disappearance drove a spike through their marriage, but she, her husband, Griff, and their daughter, Della, still come together each year to try to piece together what happened to Sam; this year is no different. 

Sam was working on an oral history of the town when he disappeared on his twenty-first birthday. All that remained in his abandoned rental car were the notes of his interviews. Ro has pored over the notes searching for a clue, but like the police, she has found nothing. Whatever secret Sam may have uncovered has disappeared with him.

This novel explores what keeps some residents of Carralon Ridge there, even though they know they will eventually have to leave. The overarching theme of death drags the story down at times, but there is also hope. Hope for a marriage, hope for finding Sam, and hope for new lives for the remaining residents. It is a slowly developing story that, at times, I wish would move along more quickly, but it's well worth the wait. The characters' desperation and the town's impending doom create palpable tension, making this a memorable read. 

4/5 stars.

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Theo of Golden by Allen Levi

 I am usually wary of highly praised books. I have found that I'm more selective in my praise than many readers, so I was pleased to see that I agree with the majority of readers who thought this was an especially good book. 

When a mysterious elderly gentleman appears in the city of Golden, going only by the name of Theo, people are curious about him. Then he begins acquiring portraits of the locals for sale in a coffee shop and giving them to the people depicted. His goal is to buy the nearly 100 portraits on display and reunite them with their subjects in exchange for getting to know them. Along the way, Theo becomes acquainted with the artist and several interesting and sometimes quirky individuals. Theo remains an enigma to the residents of Golden, but he is seen as harmless, if a bit eccentric. With only one exception, the subjects welcome Theo's generosity and accept him into their community.

The writing and the stories of the people of Golden captured me from page one. The reader is just as uninformed as the residents about Theo's motives, but the journey of discovery is well worth the effort. This is Allen Levi's debut novel, and I foresee a long and successful career. I look forward to his next book. 

4.5/5 stars.

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The Hardest, Longest Race by Eric Moskowitz

 

I'm a fan of Erik Larson and his historical nonfiction books. When I read about this book, The Hardest, Longest Race, it sounded like a project Larson might tackle--a 1909 ocean-to-ocean automobile race. Although Eric Moskowitz was unknown to me, I was interested in the premise and decided to give this book a try; I'm glad I did. Moskowitz does an excellent job of recounting the race and writes it in such an engaging manner that I was hooked.

In 1909, with interest in automobiles burgeoning, millionaire Robert Guggenheim rallied support for a New York-to-Seattle automobile race to showcase the current crop of automobiles. Guggenheim envisioned an international race with numerous entries, and even though there were over 250 automobile manufacturers in the US alone, only five cars entered the race, and two of those were Fords. 

In the era before our highway system, when there were no road signs, no maps, and very poor roads, completing this race would have been a challenge. While trying to cross prairies, rivers, lakes, and mountain ranges, the competitors were bound by rules governing vehicle maintenance but not by rules governing gamesmanship. Henry Ford was determined that his two Model Ts would finish first and second. Utilizing his network of dealerships, he attempted to give his cars every advantage and put roadblocks in competitors' way when necessary. 

Moskowitz brings to life the people and the almost impossible conditions the competitors faced. It also showcases Henry Ford's ambitions and the extent to which he would go to achieve his goals. It is a compelling, if cautionary, story, full of suspense. I liked the conversational writing style and the extensive background material that highlights both the history of the cars and the people associated with them. It is an engrossing read from ocean to ocean. 

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 June 2, 2026.

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