Midnight and Blue by Ian Rankin

 Following on his last book, A Heart Full of Headstones, Rebus is now in prison, convicted of killing Big Ger Cafferty. When a fellow inmate is murdered in a locked cell, Rebus begins his own investigation into the killing.

Meanwhile, a teen goes missing, and Siobhan Clark, who leads the investigation, runs afoul of her nemesis, Malcolm Fox. Fox, investigating an organized crime angle, links the case to the prison murder and puts Rebus's life in jeopardy.

I can't believe how long this series has gone on. Rebus has aged and transformed himself along the way, and even though he is now retired, he still finds himself at the heart of investigations. I miss the old, boozing, corner-cutting Rebus, but this incarnation is just as fascinating. This is a high-quality series with excellent characters and interesting plots. I'll keep reading as long as Rankin keeps writing. 

4.5/5 stars.

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My Friends by Fredrik Backman

Fredrik Backman is an accomplished storyteller whose characters leap off the page and become stuck in the reader's brain, never to leave. Such is the case with Louisa, Ted, Ali, Joar, and the artist, outcasts whose friendship binds them together.

When eighteen-year-old aspiring artist Louisa sees an exhibition containing her favorite painting by the artist C. Jat being held, she sneaks in, only to be chased into an alley by security guards. There, she collides with an apparent homeless man, and together, they spray-paint a wall with their art. Only then does she realize that the man is her idol, C. Jat. This is the start of a cross-country journey with the artist's friend Ted and her quest to find the meaning of the painting.

Told from the present day and twenty-five years earlier through the trials of a group of fourteen-year-old friends, the story of the painting and the friendships depicted in it emerges. Louisa, now serendipitously the owner of the painting, feels burdened by the enormity of the painting's value and its historic beginnings. Her life is now intertwined with those of the artist and his friends.

This story is about love, trust, and the powerful bonds of friendship. Told with wit and compassion, the novel is heartwarming and sometimes gut-wrenching but never dull. I read the book in record time, unable to part with the characters and their lives. It was only toward the end that I slowed down, not wanting the book to end. This is another out-of-the-park homerun from Backman. 

5/5 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 May 6, 2025.

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The Pretender by Jo Harkin

The Pretender is an imaginative historical fiction novel based on a little-known historical footnote. Set in the 1400s at the rise of the Tudors, it follows the life of a man claiming to be a Plantagenet heir to the throne. Beautifully written and packed with information about this period in English history, The Pretender is a must-read for historical fiction lovers.

John Collan is plucked from his life on the family farm by a mysterious stranger who claims he is Edward, Earl of Warwick, who was switched at birth with a peasant to protect him from Richard III, who has a propensity for killing his nephews. It was time to begin his education and secure his right to the throne from the usurper, Henry VII. Needing to keep his existence quiet until it is time to overthrow Henry, John is moved to Oxford, assumes the name Lambert Simons, and begins his tutelage. He eventually lands in Ireland, where the Earl of Kildare is heading the rebellion against Henry. Here, Edward, as he is now known, falls in love with the Earl's daughter Joan, a relationship that will haunt him for the rest of his life. Edward now thinks fate controls his destiny.

This captivating story is packed with historical facts and an intimate look at life in the 1400s. At first, I was rooting for John/Lambert/Edward, but as his life choices became increasingly vengeful, I fell out of love with the character. I highly recommend this book. 

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 April 22, 2025.

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Murder at the Gulls Nest by Jess Kidd

 I've been a fan of Jess Kidd since her debut novel, Himself. Each book since then has been a gem, so I was excited to get the opportunity to get an advance copy of this new cozy mystery series; she didn't disappoint.

Set in the mid-50s, Norah Breen has forsaken her vows as a nun and has traveled to a small seaside town in search of another former nun, Frieda. Fast friends from when they were nuns, Frieda disappeared from the Gulls Nest hotel. Soon after Norah's arrival, a guest dies, and although Norah suspects foul play, the local police disagree. Armed with the knowledge gained from reading detective novels, Norah also begins her investigation into the death and the other guests with secrets they would prefer not to reveal. As the body count rises, Norah is convinced there is a murderer among them, and it's up to her to uncover the culprit.

I loved the characters in this book. From the feral child to the aloof hotel owner and her surly cook, all were interesting and wouldn't pass the smell test for being the murderer. Norah's relationship with DI Rideout looks to be an interesting storyline in future books in the series. The pacing is excellent, with good twists and red herrings. 

4.5/5 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 April 8, 2025.

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The God of the Woods by Liz Moore

I was excited to get this book from my library as I had read so many excellent reviews about it. I admit I liked it, but it didn't live up to its hype for me.

Set mostly in 1975, the story begins with a missing camper at a summer camp, primarily for teens from wealthy families. The camp is part of the Van Laar compound, and the missing camper is the family's daughter, Barbara. As the search begins, law enforcement is called in, and they soon find a case similar to another missing person case they investigated: fourteen years earlier, Barbara's brother went missing; his body never to be found. The more they investigate, the more secrets they uncover. Just what is the Van Laar family hiding?

This book started with a bang. The story grabbed me, and the narrative, from multiple points of view and timelines, was engrossing. Unfortunately, about halfway through, it started to wander, and at almost 500 pages, it seemed like the author was never going to clarify what happened to both Van Laar children. I wasn't sure if this was a murder mystery or just a well-written family saga. The characters and setting were good; I just got lost at times. 

3.5/5 stars. 

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A Drop of Corruption by Robert Jackson Bennett

One of my favorite detective duos is back to solve another seemingly unsolvable case. In this second book of the Shadow of the Leviathan series—The Tainted Cup is the first—the pair must once again use their logic and insights to solve a crime and walk a delicate political tightrope.

Ana Dolabra and her assistant, Din Kol, are tasked with solving a locked-room disappearance of a Treasury officer in Yarrowdale. They quickly discover that the man has been murdered with body parts showing up far from the crime scene. In tracing the victim's last activities, they realize they are up against a killer skilled at deception and whose ultimate goal may be destroying a controversial facility, known as the Shroud. With the body count rising, the pair is in a race to outwit the killer, save the facility, and ease political tensions.

This is an imaginative book featuring eccentric characters in a fantasy world that comes to life. I love the combination of fantasy and a murder mystery; it works for me. There are twists and red herrings galore, but Ana and Din cannot be denied. Just how the murder is solved and the killer uncovered makes for an entertaining read. 

5/5 stars.

Thank you, NetGalley and Del Rey, for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. The publication date is April 1, 2025.

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James by Percival Everett

 

This book lives up to the rave reviews and awards it won. It is a fantastic read that spotlights a secondary character from an American classic and makes him multidimensional with an interesting story. I recommend adding this book to any educational curriculum that includes Twain's The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn to get the complete story.

The enslaved Jim hears he is to be sold to a man in New Orleans, separating him from his wife and daughter, hides on a nearby island to give himself time to figure out what to do next. Here he encounters the boy Huck Finn who, trying to escape his abusive father, has faked his death. Afraid he'll be suspected of killing Huck, the two team up and set out on a raft on the Mississippi River. Here is where Twain's and Everett's books go hand-in-glove to tell what happened to both characters on that trip.

This is a beautifully written and thought-provoking read. Everett does an expert job of taking a dark part of history and using it to focus on its effect on two individuals on different sides of the color line. Many of the encounters between Jim and members of the white race are horrifying, and although I'd like to think this type of racism is in our past, I sadly do not feel this is true. 

5/5 stars. 

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Witness 8 by Steve Cavanagh

 

This is the eighth book featuring former conman Eddie Flynn, turned defense attorney, and the first book in the series I’ve read. I found that it didn’t matter that I hadn’t read the previous books; the author did such a good job of giving each character’s backstory that I found the premise of a con artist becoming a lawyer intriguing since many lawyers are portrayed as shifty characters.

Ruby’s early childhood was one of wealth and privilege until her abusive father gambled away most of their money and then disappeared. Now, Ruby earns a living working for the people she grew up with, barely making ends meet as she cares for her dying mother. When Ruby witnesses a wealthy socialite’s murder, her first thoughts aren’t of reporting it to the police but how she can make some money. 

Doctor Joe Johnson is charged with the murder, and the evidence is damning: the murder weapon is found in his home with his DNA on it. Knowing that he faces an uphill battle, Eddie Flynn agrees to represent Joe. However, proving Joe’s innocence isn’t Eddie’s most significant problem because he’s crossed the wrong person, and now there is a hitman after him. 

I liked Eddie and enjoyed how he outsmarted a mob boss and a prosecuting attorney while staying one step ahead of a hitman. There are good supporting characters, and I even rooted for Ruby toward the end despite her manipulative nature. The pacing is good, and there were enough twists to keep me guessing. 

3.5/5 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 March 25, 2025.

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