The Dying Light by Ann Cleeves

Ann Cleeves is the master of the police procedural. Her two other detective series are Vera Stanhope and Shetland, both of which are atmospheric and feature interesting characters and settings. With this, her fourth book in the Two Rivers series featuring the uptight Detective Matthew Venn, Cleeves again creates a suspenseful novel with an intriguing plot.

Lottie and Hannah are celebrating the end of their school exams at Hannah's family holiday home in Devon. Lottie, whose snarky social media posts about a local music festival riles the locals, is found dead, and few mourn her. When another body is found, Detective Matthew Venn is called in. Pressure mounts to find the killer when Hannah's father, a powerful political figure, brings attention to the case. Thinking that the reason for the deaths is buried in the past, Venn and his detectives face obstacles at every turn from both the local community and Lottie and Hannah's families. Some secrets are meant to be kept secret.

The character Matthew Venn is a polar opposite of Cleeves' other detectives. He is quiet and still battles demons from his childhood. It took me a while to warm up to him, but with each successive novel, Cleeves reveals another layer, making Venn more relatable. In this book, Venn also addresses personal issues involving his husband that leave him vulnerable. The book is wonderfully written, with a complex storyline that draws the reader in. The characters are nuanced and the plot well crafted. 

4.5/5 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 29, 2026.

For more information:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

The Hanging Girl by Jussi Adler-Olsen

In this sixth book in the Department Q series, Carl Mork and his team tackle their most perplexing case to date. 

When a detective working on a cold case contacts Carl about taking it over, Carl ignores his plea, only to find that he later committed suicide and left a challenge for the Department Q team: solve the murder of a seventeen-year-old girl. 

The case takes them to a small Danish island in pursuit of a cult leader whose current name is eluding them. Working on old information, the team begins sifting through the past, only to find there may be newer killings connected to the man. Putting their own lives in danger, the team races to discover the identity of the killer.

This is a good psychological thriller that combines dark humor and a seemingly unsolvable murder. In separate timelines, it follows the presumed killer as the deaths mount, and Carl, Rose, and Assad as they try to untangle the web of lies and deceptions from the past and present. At times, I wanted to shake Carl and company up and tell them to look in a different direction for the killer. The relationship between Carl and Assad deepens as they get closer to the killer and put themselves at risk. Overall, this is a good addition to the series. 

4/5 stars. 

For more information: 

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Die Famous by Michael Koryta

 

Stephen King thinks Die Famous is the best gangster novel he has ever read. I agree; it's the best one I've read as well, and that's saying a lot. This book is both a family drama and a suspenseful, engrossing crime novel. 

It's the late 1930s, and Edward "Nickel" Terhune, a member of the notorious Brady Gang, is being hunted by both the FBI and his former lover, Savannah Cody. Savannah wants to kill him, and Hoover wants to send him to the electric chair; neither is what Eddie prefers. 

Savannah, her father, Wendell, a former railroad detective, and Alford, Eddie and Savannah's love child, are determined to find Eddie before the FBI does. Following clues left in his cell before the Brady Gang broke him out of a county jail and disappeared, Savannah and company embark on a multi-state journey that ends in a remote area of Maine where they suspect Eddie is holed up. Eddie, torn between his loyalty to the Brady Gang and his dream to lead a quiet life with his family, must choose his destiny.

This is an emotionally charged novel that is a study of a man trying to outrun his past. Told in parts by Savannah, Nickel, and Alford, the story draws the reader in and carries them along on the ride. Despite his gang association, I rooted for Nickel to elude Hoover and be the Eddie his family was determined to save. Poignant and atmospheric, this is a wonderful character study with a moral dilemma that is tough to solve. 

5/5 stars.

Thank you, NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company, for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. The publication date is September 22, 2026.

For more information: 

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

The Puppet Show by M. W. Craven

I've discovered a new police procedural series to follow. In this first book featuring Detective Washington Poe, M. W. Craven does an excellent job of laying the groundwork for future books; I'm hooked.

Detective Washington Poe has been suspended following less-than-professional actions that resulted in a death. But when three men are ritually burned alive in England's Lake District, and Poe's name is carved into the latest victim, indicating Poe may be the next victim, he is reinstated to work on the case. 

Paired with civilian analyst Tilly Bradshaw, a genius who lacks social skills, Poe and Bradshaw begin tracking down a killer who leaves no forensic evidence. Their only lead is the killer's connection to Poe's past and the secrets it holds. With the body count rising and the pressure to find the killer mounting, Poe and Bradshaw must walk a political tightrope to find the killer.

This is a dark but compelling read. Craven has created two characters who complement each other and make the read more interesting. He does a good job of fleshing out Poe and Bradshaw and their strengths and weaknesses. This is a pair that will be fun to follow. 

4.5/5 stars.

For more information: 

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

The Things We Never Say by Elizabeth Strout

 

I am a fan of Elizabeth Strout. Not only does she create memorable characters, but her knowledge of human behavior with its many quirks always makes for a beautifully crafted story. This book is no exception.

Artie Dam is an outwardly stable high school history teacher, but the inner turmoil he is experiencing, specifically whether he wants to go on living, makes for a highly conflicted person. Hiding his inner feelings from his wife and adult son, Artie is caught up in the 2024 presidential election, which compounds his feeling of doom. Serendipitously, he is almost drowned in a boating accident that makes him appreciate life and those around him with renewed vigor. As for the presidential election, he still has his misgivings.

This is an empathetic look at how isolated a person can become even surrounded by family and friends. In Artie, a seemingly normal person, Strout has created a tool for self-examination and takes a magnifying glass to society as a whole. What the reader finds can be both uncomfortable and illuminating. The politics are left-leaning, but do not dominate the storyline; instead, it looks at where we were as a country and the power of the presidency. An entertaining and highly satisfying book. 

5/5 stars.

For more information: 

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy

 

Two friends, whose literary taste I trust, recommended this author. What a find! I loved this book so much that I have placed holds on two more of hers at my library. 

Dominic Salt and his three children are the remaining caretakers on tiny Shearwater Island near Antarctica. It is home to a lighthouse, a large seal population, and one of the world's largest seed banks. Unfortunately, rising tides and severe storms are eroding the island, and it is up to the Salt family to save what seeds they can in anticipation of their own evacuation. 

After an especially severe storm, they find a woman, barely clinging to life, washed ashore. The woman, Rowan, is less than forthcoming about her reason for coming to the island, and Dominic and his children, wary of her, have their own secrets to keep. Trust is slow to come, and when Rowan begins exploring the former research station and questioning what happened to the researchers and who sabotaged the radios, the tension rises. Faced with a pending evacuation, Rowan and the Salt family set aside their misgivings and band together to salvage what they can from the seed bank before time and the elements destroy what remains.

This is a beautifully written novel that is about love, self-preservation, and tough choices. In the bleak island landscape, McConaghy creates a world that is both dangerous and starkly beautiful. The dilemmas facing Rowan and the Salt family members are juxtaposed with the island's impending destruction and the need to save themselves and the seeds. All lead to a tense and suspenseful story. 

5/5 stars.

For more information: 

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Agrippa by Robert Harris

 

I have read Robert Harris's books Conclave and Pompeii and found both to be riveting. In the novel Agrippa, Harris again writes about a period in ancient Italy that is both illuminating and gripping. Focusing on a shadowy figure who was instrumental in turning Rome into a dictatorship, Harris brings the period and the people to life.

Agrippa, a young commoner, stands up to the bullies picking on Octavius, a grandnephew of Julius Caesar.  His actions catch the eye of both Octavius and Caesar, and he is eventually lifted out of his humble beginnings to become a major player on the world stage. Together, Octavius and Agrippa are a formidable pair whose successes are intertwined. It is hard to imagine the success of one without the other. 

The novel follows the pair from their boyhood encounter to a parting of the ways that only death can cause. The pair play off of each other's strengths to alter the course of history. This historical novel is full of political intrigue, highlighting the course of history through the battles won and the expansion of the Roman Empire. It is fast-paced and reads like a beautifully written historical thriller. 

5/5 stars.

Thank you, NetGalley and Doubleday, for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. The publication date is September 1, 2026.

For more information: 

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Paper Ghosts by Sarah Addison Allen

 

Paper Ghosts has just the right combination of magical realism and plausibility to draw the reader in and prompt them to ponder what reality is for the Wester women. Do they see ghosts, or do they have overly active imaginations?

It's 1976, and young Willamena Wester, a popular high school senior, has her future set. While her friends are considering marriage or college, Wills is determined to stay at her ancestral home with her grandmother and carry on the family tradition of being a know-all in a small North Carolina town. Some townspeople call the Wester women witches; others say they use information to their advantage. Either way, the women of Wester House are both revered and feared. All is going according to plan until Wills meets a charismatic musician who charms her and makes her see another possible future. Fate has a heavy hand on the Wester women, however, and Wills' future is unexpectedly sealed.

Fast forward to the present: Bailey Wester is returning to Wester House and to her grandmother, Willamena, under less than ideal circumstances. Bailey's troubled past is again coming to the forefront and threatening to overshadow Bailey and those around her. Trying to make peace with her grandmother while rectifying past wrongs consumes her.

I found the premise interesting and the characters intriguing. Wills and Bailey are at odds because of their similar natures, which makes the reader wish they would overcome their differences and be honest with each other. Wills withholds family secrets from Bailey that would help Bailey understand herself and erase some of the guilt she feels about her past. Theirs is a complicated relationship full of heartbreak and miscues. The writing is excellent and the story compelling.

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 September 1, 2026.

For more information: 

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

The Intrigue by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

 

Silvia Moreno-Garcia can be counted on to write a moody, noir book that is both rich in characters and has an attention-grabbing plot. Her books Mexican Gothic and The Bewitching are two of my favorites. The Intrigue, while not containing that magical realism touch, looks into the heart of a grifter and makes one root for him to get his big payoff.

Ulises, an aging con artist, needs to make a quick exit from 1940s Mexico City. Usually preying on lonely women through letters, he decides to take the next step and meet Perla, his intended target. Moving into the boardinghouse she runs in Veracruz, Ulises goes to work charming her. Perla isn't a pushover, however, and her niece, Ines, sees through Ulises' scheme and demands to be let in on the scam. As things get more complicated, Ulises begins to question his decisions and wonders if involving himself in Perla's life was a good idea. Seeing no way out, Ulises is caught between Perla and Ines, with few options.

This is a beautifully written and imaginative story. The three main characters are, at times, both sympathetic and conniving. They are well matched in terms of what they want and their determination to get it. Their deceptions--to themselves and to others--make for a good tale. 

4/5 stars.

For more information: 

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Not a Word by Linwood Barclay

 I've just added Linwood Barclay to my list of must-read authors. Not a Word is a family drama at its best, with interesting characters put into unusual situations. 

When Reece discovers what looks like a murder-suicide at the family home, with his father as the perpetrator, his world comes apart. He knew his parents' marriage was rocky, but this seems a bit extreme. Trying to shield his son from the horror, Reece begins to question the circumstances of the crime. And he's not the only one; the police have their doubts as well. With both digging into the family's past, secrets are uncovered, and relationships are strained in pursuit of the truth.

This is an excellent psychological thriller. I expected plot twists, but unlike some thrillers, these twists are believable. Told from multiple points of view and different timelines, this well-plotted story unfolds at a breakneck pace. Its plot is compelling and, while I wasn't sympathetic to all of the characters, I felt they were genuine. 

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 August 25, 2026.

For more information: 

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Crooks by Lou Berney

 I love the characters Lou Berney creates. They are always conflicted and put in challenging situations. The book Crooks is no different. This is a story about a crime family that spans four decades and very different life choices. 

Buddy and Lilian Mercurios are minor mob members who flee Las Vegas with their five children and hide out in Oklahoma City. Even when their disco club becomes a profitable business, Buddy and Lilian can't leave behind the con-artist ways that put them at odds with each other and their children.

Flash forward in time. The Mercurios children are adults and trying to make their own way. Some try to shed their crime family ways, while others embrace it. Each takes a different path, but is bound by blood and a shared past that shaped them. 

This is a generational story with richly drawn characters and focuses on how the five children cope with their past. All are influenced by their parents, even as they try to become individuals who strive for their own place in the world. It is interesting to see how each child turns out and in which direction they go. This is a family not soon forgotten. Beautifully written and fast-paced, the Mercurios family is memorable, and the book is hard to put down. 

5/5 stars.

For more information: 

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

The Midnight Train by Matt Haig

 I enjoyed the other book in The Midnight World series, The Midnight Library, so I was looking forward to seeing what Matt Haig could do to top that book, and top it he did! I usually enjoy books where characters review their lives, and this book, although it reminded me of the Dickens book A Christmas Carol, is very good.

Eighty-one-year-old Wilbur Budd has led a long, eventful life. When he dies, he is transported to a train station with a ticket to board the Midnight Train. There he meets Agnes, a long-dead bookstore owner, who once helped a young Wilbur on his reading adventures. Now she is leading him on another adventure aboard the train--reviewing the important parts of his life. With few rules, the paramount one is not to interact with the memory; his goal is to reach eternity so he can be reunited with those he has loved. Sounds simple? Well, maybe not. Wilful Wilbur cannot leave well enough alone and attempts to change the events in his life.

This is a wonderful time-travel story about a stubborn Wilbur who hopes to change the past. Regrets? He has many. Forced to relive painful memories of events he hadn't come to terms with in life, Wilbur bucks Agnes and tries to focus on the magical time of his honeymoon in Venice. Venice is a pivotal point in his life where, if he could choose again, he would take another path. The Midnight Train is a reflective novel that encourages the reader to ponder their life choices. 

4.5/5 stars.

For more information: 

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

That Night by Gillian McAllister

I've enjoyed Gillian McAllister's previous books, and this one sounded intriguing: a family thriller with murder and intrigue. Unfortunately, this book did not live up to her previous novels, and I found myself struggling to finish it.

Siblings Frannie, Joe, and Cathy are on vacation with their families at a villa they own in Italy when Frannie accidentally runs over a man, killing him. Panicked, she calls Joe and Cathy to help decide what to do. Fearing for Frannie's chances with the Italian police, the trio decides to bury the body and concoct a story to cover their tracks. They agree that the secret stays with them, and they unite in their bond to protect each other. However, when the police begin investigating, their implausible story begins to fall apart, as does their loyalty to each other.

Told from multiple points of view and different timelines, this is a study in family dynamics. It is fast-paced, but I found the characters unsympathetic and quickly began rooting for the police to arrest them all. I understood the tough position they were in, but the logic was hard to follow. There was no real suspense other than to find out which sibling would crack first. All in all, this book was a disappointment to me, given that this author is capable of so much more. 

2.5/5 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 August 18, 2026.

For more information: 

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Under the Falls by Richard Russo

I can always count on Richard Russo for a beautifully written, character-driven novel. He delivers, once again, with Under the Falls.

Tyler Sinclair fled the small town of Stone Mountain in upstate New York to make a career as a musician. He achieved success and now, eighteen years later, is returning to begin another tour with his small band. Not everyone is happy with his success or his return. His friend, Doc, who was paralyzed while playing with Tyler, secretly blames him for the accident. Tyler's other friend, Curt, now the chief of police, also harbors hard feelings over Tyler's disappearance all those years ago. When tragedy strikes after Tyler's concert, old feelings come to the surface, and Tyler is once again in the situation of trying to escape Stone Mountain.

Russo does an excellent job of portraying life in a small mountain town and the lives of those who stayed and adapted to the life. Tyler is a sympathetic character whose dreams of escape came true once, but can they come true again? Cast as an outsider, Tyler tries to renew his friendships while maintaining the distance he sought; he can't have it both ways, and his struggle to achieve a balance makes for an intriguing story. This is a novel peopled with flawed characters, dreamers, and lost souls that captivates the reader. 

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 August 11, 2026. 

For more information:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke

 I don't understand why this book is getting rave reviews. The New York Times calls it the "Best book of the year (so far)," which is what enticed me to read it. It's not a bad book, it's just not great, and it makes me wonder what other books the New York Times is reading.

Natalie has over 8 million Instagram followers who are enthralled by her living a throwback to a "traditional" lifestyle patterned after life in the 1800s. She, her husband, and numerous children live on a farm in Idaho and, as far as her followers know, she has eschewed modern conveniences. That's the first lie. She not only has the latest appliances, which her followers cannot see, but also has two nannies and a producer to help with her online content. 

Natalie's whole life is a lie until one morning, when she wakes up in an actual 1800s farmhouse with no electricity or running water. Her husband and children, while similar, are unfamiliar to her. The story then shifts to Natalie's attempts to flee her circumstances and, failing that, to accept her role as a traditional 1800s wife and mother and the hardships that entails. 

The story follows two timelines: one of her life in the 1800s and another explaining how she became a social media sensation. It leaves not only Natalie scratching her head about how she ended up in the past, but also the reader. No explanation is given for how her new circumstances occurred until the end. Additionally, Natalie is not a likable character, nor, for that matter, are any of the other characters: her children are whiny, and her marriage is a sham. 

There was enough story substance to keep me reading — mostly to find out how Natalie ended up where she did, even though I thought she deserved what she got. The writing and pacing are good, but there was no way to sugarcoat the vapid characters. 

3/5 stars.

For more information: 

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Maybe Tomorrow by Michael Wood

I admit it: I'm a Michael Wood fan — I love both his DCI Matilda Darke and Dr. Olivia Winter murder-mystery series. They feature strong women and are dark and gripping, with interesting plots. In this standalone, Wood outdoes himself in creating an atmospheric thriller filled with good and ruthless characters that examines a flawed justice system.

When Alice, a young woman with Down syndrome, is found raped and murdered in the woods after a violent storm, police are under intense pressure to find her killer. With no leads and no clues, they are stumped until they focus on Anthony, a man with learning disabilities, who was among the last to see her alive. When he confesses to the crime, the case is closed. But not everyone is convinced of Anthony's guilt--including his lawyer and two police officers. They are determined to prove his innocence, at great personal cost.

This is a compelling read that I couldn't put down. It shines an unkind light on the British penal and justice systems, both of which failed Anthony and Alice. It is fast-paced and suspenseful with excellent characters. If you have not yet discovered this author, this book is a good introduction to his dark world. 

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 July 31, 2026.

For more information: 

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Whistler by Ann Patchett

Ann Patchett always does a good job of creating memorable characters and interesting situations. In Whistler, she also pulled off the feat of making the story memorable. I won't forget Daphne, Jonathan, and Eddie any time soon.

It's been over 40 years since Daphne has seen her former stepfather, Eddie, but when she and her husband, Jonathan, encounter him in a museum, the past falls away as they become reacquainted. Eddie was in Daphne's life for a little more than a year, but it was a memorable one: an instant bonding and an accident that tore them apart. Now they have a second chance, and they both intend to make up for lost years.

This is a moving story about choices made and the unforeseen situations that sever relationships. It is full of hope as Daphne begins to overcome the past and integrate Eddie into her life. There are flashbacks to the accident that changed both of their lives. Beautifully written, Whistler is a book I couldn't put down. 

5/5 stars.

For more information: 

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

A Trade of Blood by Robert Jackson Bennett

In this, the third of his books in the Shadow of the Leviathan series (The Tainted Cup and A Drop of Corruption being the first and second), Robert Jackson Bennett serves up his best Ana and Din mystery yet.

Detectives Ana Dolabra and Dinios Kol are called to investigate the grisly death of a young woman in a small farming Empire canton. What should be an open-and-shut-case, with the accused covered in the victim's blood, turns into a bigger mystery when Ana discovers a clue that may prove the accused, scion to a powerful family, is innocent. That clue leads to a wider case of greed, power, and perhaps murder among two ruling families. It's up to Ana and Din to uncover the family secrets and reveal the motives behind the killings.

I love these two characters and the world in which they reside. With each book, the author reveals more about the special bond between Ana and Din and how their abilities complement each other. In this book, the two are even more dependent on each other and their special skills in their quest to resolve the mysteries behind the murders. The plot is ingenious, and the way Ana and Din uncover who and what are behind the deaths makes for a page-turning read. I highly recommend this fantasy-mystery series. 

5/5 stars.

Thank you, NetGalley and Del Ray, for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. The publication date is August 4, 2026. 

For more information: 

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Buyer Beware by Catherine Ryan Howard

 

Catherine Ryan Howard already has a following, with one of her earlier books, 56 Days, being adapted by Prime Video. Buyer Beware is the first book from a major publishing house so that it will give her broader exposure. I'm sure her fan base will increase because of this book.

The story is told by Ellie, Hannah, and Erin, spanning three timelines. It begins in the present with Ellie moving into a house in Dundrum, Ireland. She has secrets she wishes to withhold from her neighbors, including her true name. When someone breaks into her house and vandalizes it, Ellie must find out who is targeting her and why. Hannah is a successful businesswoman whose life changed when she, unwittingly, had an affair with a married man. Erin has put her own dreams aside when she married a man who can't hold a job. How these three women are tied together, and their connection to the house, forms the basis of the novel.

I couldn't put this book down at first because I was trying to figure out what was going on. Later, I had a hard time staying connected to it because I kept waiting for something creepy to happen in the house — it didn't. It wasn't until the rushed, final chapter that the secrets of the house were revealed, and by then, I'd lost interest. I liked how the author explored the lives of Hannah and Erin through earlier timelines; each revelation was a surprise. I think many will enjoy this thriller more than I did, and I think the author will gain fans as a result. I plan to read Howard's 56 Days because this book piqued my interest. 

3/5 stars.

Thank you, NetGalley and Simon & Schuster, for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. The publication date is July 28, 2026.

For more information: 

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

The Hydrogen Sonata by Iain M. Banks

 

In this final book in the Culture series, Banks explores the beginning of the Culture alliance and the ending of the Glitz civilization. It's too bad the author died shortly after this book's publication, because I believe there are stories to tell.

The Glitz civilization helped found Culture and has now decided to Sublime, the final level of existence. Before this happens, Vyr Cossant is tasked with finding Ngaroe QiRia, a semi-mythical man who claimed to be there when the Culture began. Only he may know if the Book of Truth, the Glitz spiritual guide, is based on fact, the outcome of which may affect the Glitz decision to Sublime. Racing against the countdown to Sublime, Cossant's life is endangered by those who do not want the truth to be uncovered.

This book has too many subplots to outline, and as is his style, Banks jumps into the story, leaving the reader to catch up and connect the dots. There is tension in Cossant's quest to recover QiRia's memories and solve the mystery of the Book of Truth. Banks does seem a bit obsessed with aliens' sexual activities, creating a character whose enhanced body is built for multiple orgasms. Overall, this is another excellent addition to the Culture series. Banks was an amazing storyteller who created worlds and civilizations that captured the imagination; he died too young. 

4/5 stars.

For more information: 

Amazon | Barnes & Noble