Excession by Iain M. Banks

It's a revelation that I hadn't come across Iain M. Banks sooner. My introduction to his work was a serendipitous encounter with an astronomer during a trip to Norway. It seems he's a bigger name in Europe. Nevertheless, I'm overjoyed to have discovered his imaginative and beautifully written series, except for the book Inversions, which I didn't quite finish.

When a mysterious artifact, known to the Minds as an Excession, is discovered, it sparks intense speculation about its purpose and capabilities. Genar-Hofoen, a diplomat from the Culture's Special Circumstances, is dispatched to investigate. His mission takes a series of unexpected turns when he encounters the aggressive race known as the Affront and, later, a former love. Meanwhile, the Minds' insatiable curiosity leads them to overlook caution, triggering a war between the Culture and the Affront. It's up to the distracted Genar-Hofoen to resolve the conflict and solve the mystery of the Excession.

I love this series! Banks is a creative writer whose sense of humor and storytelling ability make the characters and environments come to life. It's an ambitious series that Banks executes with a deft hand. 

5/5 stars.

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The Killing Stones by Ann Cleeves

This is the start of a new series featuring returning characters, Jimmy Perez, and his partner, Willow Reeves, from the Shetland Island series. The pair have moved to Scotland's Orkney Islands, and have a growing family.

It's almost Christmas when Jimmy's long-time friend, Archie Stout, goes missing on the Orkney Island of Westray, and Jimmy finds his body. It is obvious that it was a premeditated murder, and with the weather holding back the help from Scotland's mainland, it's up to Jimmy and Willow to solve the murder. As they dig deeper into Archie's life, they find multiple suspects and one apparent motive. Following the leads, Jimmy and Willow narrow the suspect pool and close in on who they think murdered Archie.

Switching action between Jimmy and Willow, Cleeves does an excellent job of weaving suspects and motives together into a gripping novel. Once again, Cleeves makes the dramatic setting a feature that is every bit as interesting as the plot. I've never been disappointed by an Ann Cleeves novel. Her characters are always interesting, and her love for Scotland and its inhabitants is apparent. Her writing and pacing are second to none. 

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 September 30, 2025.

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The Loney Man by Ann Cleeves

 

This short story is an introduction to the new Jimmy Perez and Willow Reeves series set in the Orkney Islands. 

Willow and Jimmy are renting a cottage from elderly farmer Davie Tait. When a woman named Gloria arrives on the scene, Willow becomes suspicious of the relationship. Is Gloria a gold digger? Willow, protective of Davie, looks into the situation.

I liked this transition into the new series. It updated the timeline and defined the relationship between Jimmy and Willow. This eBook story is available for free. 

4.5/5 stars.

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Wild Fire by Ann Cleeves

 

This is the last book in the Shetland Island series, but not the last of the characters Jimmy Perez and Willow Reeves. Cleeves brings them back in the book The Killing Stones, this time set in the Orkney Islands. 

When the body of a nanny is found hanging in Helena and Daniel Fleming's barn, it is apparent that she had been murdered. Suspicion immediately falls on Daniel, who, rumor has it, was having an affair with her. Jimmy calls for help in the investigation from Inverness, and his boss and occasional lover, DCI Willow Reeves, arrives with the crime scene team. As Jimmy and Willow begin looking into the nanny, they uncover secrets in her past that may have contributed to her murder. The case, along with Jimmy's and Willow's complicated relationship, is intertwined, and both seem insolvable.

The storyline and complex plot immediately drew me in. I feared for the budding relationship between Jimmy and Willow as they struggled to define what that relationship would be. This, combined with the murder investigation, provided an interesting read. I'm happy to know that Jimmy and Willow will continue to work together, albeit on a different set of islands. 

4.5/5 stars.

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No Rest for the Wicked by Rachel Louise Adams

 

This is a promising debut novel by Rachel Louise Adams. It has an interesting premise and a couple of quirky characters--including the main protagonist. 

Dolores Hawthorne left her hometown of Little Horton, Wisconsin, almost twenty years ago and has been estranged from her family. When the FBI calls to inform her that her father is missing, she hurries back to see what she can do to help. She arrives just before Halloween, a holiday the town is famous for, its celebrations as well as tragedy. What's going to happen this year? A celebration, or another tragedy?

Even though I figured out who the murderer was early on, there was still a twist that surprised me. This is a well-crafted book, with the tension mounting with each body that is discovered. I liked the characters and the setting. The build-up to Halloween made me wonder what else could happen. 

3.5/5 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 September 16, 2025.

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Trickster's Point by William Kent Krueger

 Krueger got back to focusing on Cork in this 12th book in the series. It was a good change from his last book, Northwest Angle, where the focus was on his family and their spirituality. While that book did advance the storyline, I didn't enjoy it very much.

Cork is bow hunting with his good friend, Jubal Little, who is a shoo-in to become the first Native American governor of  Minnesota, when Little takes an arrow to the heart. Knowing he is dying, he pleads with Cork to stay with him instead of going for help. Suspicion falls on Cork not just because he didn't go for help, but because the arrow was one of his. Knowing he is being framed, Cork must work to clear himself and find the person responsible for his friend's death.

This book offers a look into Cork's teenage years and the era in which he grew up. It also focuses on his budding relationship with a spiritual leader's niece. The suspense was non-stop, the plotting excellent, and the characters well-developed. 

4/5 stars.

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Welcome to Sperry Chalet by Beth Dunagan

I read this book in anticipation of my stay at this historic chalet in Glacier National Park. Not only did it give me the history of the chalet, it also gave me background on the chalet system and an interesting story about the family that has run the chalet since the 1950s. 

Beth was nine years old when she and her extended family, the Ludings, became the concessioners running Sperry Chalet, high in Glacier National Park's back country. This is her story of growing up at Sperry Chalet and her experiences there later in life. It offers an intimate behind-the-scenes look at the operation of Sperry Chalet, as well as a glimpse into what the children did with the freedom they were given. 

I enjoyed this book and its unique perspective on Sperry Chalet and how things have changed over the years. I just spent three nights there, and it was good to have the background knowledge this book provided. 

4/5 stars.

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The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin

 I read the 50th anniversary edition of this classic first-encounter science fiction novel. It has an introduction and an afterword by notable authors that added to my enjoyment.

Genly Ai is an emissary whose mission on the icy planet humans call Winter is to persuade the rulers to join Earth's alliance of planets. Being the lone ambassador, he is met with curiosity by the planet's inhabitants and is befriended by the king's right-hand man, Estraven. When Estraven falls out of favor and is sentenced to death, he flees to a neighboring country. Ai and Estraven are soon reunited and begin a perilous journey to freedom and, in Estraven's case, redemption.

I like first-contact stories, and this one is a winner. I particularly liked the description of the planet and the curious sexual fluidity of the natives. Despite having been published in 1969, it holds up well and is rich in atmosphere and insight. It took me a while to get used to the writing style, but once I did, I was caught up in the world and the characters. 

4.5/5 stars.

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