The Bane Witch by Ava Morgyn

 I love a good story about witches, my favorite being A Discovery of Witches. This is a different take on witches and their powers, and I got sucked into the story from the first page.

Piers is trying to escape an abusive marriage by faking her death and making it look like her husband murdered her. She has made her way to an elderly aunt's home in a remote village in New York, where she learns her high tolerance for poisonous plants is not only a family trait but a weapon used by the female members of her family. Calling themselves Bane Witches, they use their poisonous powers to kill men who prey on women and children. As a new member, Piers must prove herself worthy or face death at the hands of the Bane Witches. As the body count rises, Piers finds herself not only the focus of her witch sisters but also the local sheriff. When a predator gets Piers in his sight, she faces her biggest challenge--kill or be killed.

This is a cautionary tale about strong women who possess the power to eliminate evil men. Piers faces a moral dilemma and must come to terms with dishing out justice outside the law. The reader is carried along on Piers's journey of discovering and then honing her powers, all while she is under a possible death sentence herself. Hers is a tightrope balancing act with deadly consequences. I sometimes had to suspend disbelief, but overall, this is a satisfying read. 

4/5 stars.

Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin's Griffin, for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. The publication date is March 18, 2025.

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Famous Last Words by Gillian McAllister

I enjoyed McAllister's "Wrong Place Wrong Time. " It had an original premise and good plot twists that kept me guessing. I wasn't sure she could top that, but while "Famous Last Words" isn't anything like "Wrong Place Wrong Time," it is equally as entertaining.

Camilla returns to work after a lengthy maternity leave when breaking news of a hostage situation captures her attention. She is astonished to find that her husband, Luke, is involved--not as a hostage, but as a gunman. How could this be? The hostage negotiator, Niall, calls Cam to help diffuse the situation, but before she can get involved, the situation escalates, and Cam's life is forever changed. Cam's quest for answers takes her on a perilous journey where every decision she makes has unintended consequences.

This psychological thriller explores the moral dilemmas the characters face and tests the marriage bonds. Told mainly from Cam's and Niall's points of view, it is a situational study of marriage, love, and personal and professional relationships. It made me wonder what I would do in similar circumstances. It is a quick read with twists and "oh, wow!" moments that kept me turning pages. 

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 February 25, 2025.

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Blood Ties by Jo Nesbo

 The Opgard brothers are back just as rascally and conniving as they were in THE KINGDOM. This book is just as dark and twisty as THE KINGDOM and equally good.

Things are going well for Carl and Roy. Carl's spa/hotel is doing so well that he is considering expanding, and Roy plans to build a giant amusement park if he can get a loan. Roy's love life is also looking up with the reappearance of Natalie, a woman he protected from her abusive father when she was a girl. Only a few things complicate their world: a possible bypass around the town threatening their livelihood and the local sheriff taking an interest in some mysterious deaths from their pasts. As usual, it's Roy who deals with the problems. His plan to bribe the engineering company into saying the bypass is not feasible goes awry, and he may have met his match in the dogged sheriff who is determined to arrest Roy for murder. In this entertaining read, it's fun to watch Carl and Roy work to save their lifestyles while escaping murder and fraud convictions.

Jo Nesbo has done it again. In this intricately plotted and fast-paced book, he takes the reader on a rollercoaster ride with two wily characters who, against all logic, the reader roots for to get away with murder! It looks at brotherly bonds between individuals whose moral compasses are skewed and the lengths they will go to to achieve their goals. That Nesbo makes these characters appealing speaks volumes about his storytelling ability. 

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 February 11, 2025.

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Double Barrel Bluff by Lou Berney

 World-class storyteller Lou Berney is back with another book with quirky characters, an engaging plot, and nonstop action. Although his NOVEMBER ROAD is my favorite Berney book so far, DOUBLE BARREL BLUFF comes in a close second.

Former organized crime member Shake Bouchon and his wife Gina are living quietly in the midwest when Dikran, a thug from the crime family they once belonged to, tracks them down. It seems Lexy, the mob boss, is missing, and not trusting anyone in the mob, Dikran strong-arms Shake into going to Cambodia to help him find her. Once there, they quickly discover that Lexy is being held for ransom by a couple of men who are unaware of who Lexy is--they think she's a wealthy tourist just ripe for plucking. Amid ransom negotiations, two more members of the crime family show up, but it's unclear if they are there to help free Lexy or have ulterior motives.

I loved the characters. The relationships between Shake, Dikran, and the two kidnappers could not be better. Add a new-age hippy and an angry wife to the mix, and the plot gets more interesting. This is an excellent, action-packed story written with wit and cringe-worthy situations. 

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 November 5, 2024.

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Beyond Reasonable Doubt by Robert Dugoni

 

I'm a sucker for a good courtroom drama, and this book, Beyond Reasonable Doubt, is a winner. It's the second book featuring lawyer Keera Duggan, and it's every bit as good as the first one, Her Deadly Game.

Her father pressures Keera at their family law firm into taking the case of Jenna Bernstein, a woman accused of murdering her former business partner and lover. Keera has known Jenna since childhood and considers her to be a controlling sociopath incapable of telling the truth. Trouble seems to follow Jenna. Once a billionaire and CEO of a startup company, all came crashing down when, five years earlier, she was accused of murdering one of her employees. Keera's father successfully defended Jenna then; now it's Keera's turn. But Keera has her doubts. Can she get past her feelings toward Jenna and be the lawyer Jenna needs?

This is an excellently plotted book. In addition to Keera's moral dilemma, there's the question of Jenna's innocence. Did Jenna get away with murder once and possibly a second time? Jenna is not likable, and I was almost rooting against Keera winning the case. Watching Keera's strategy change as more information came to light was fun, as was her battle of wits with Jenna. Although this is the second book in the series, it can be read as a standalone. 

5/5 stars.

Thank you, NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer, for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. The publication date is October 22, 2024.

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Kill Sequence by Steve Griffiths

 

I'm always in the mood for a good techno-thriller, and Kill Sequence is good. It's got great characters and an engaging plot that sucked me right in.

Shawn is a grieving widower holed up in his remote English farm when a stranger at his door tells him someone is coming to kill him. Upon questioning, the stranger, a dandy replete with a posh accent, pinstriped suit, and umbrella, impresses upon Shawn the need to act quickly or be killed. The stranger, Michael, wasn't lying. Not a killer himself, Shawn confronts his "fight or flight" instincts and goes on the offense when a man with a gun shows up on his doorstep.

Thus begins what is a rollicking good story, as Shawn is both the hunter and the hunted in this fast-paced thriller. Shawn is a sympathetic character who is caught up in international intrigue as he tries to find out what happened when his wife was murdered. Although the plot revolves around advanced computer technology and programming, one doesn't have to be a computer guru to enjoy the story. Shawn and Michael make a good team, and Griffiths leaves the door open for future books pairing these two. 

4/5 stars.

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Death at the Sign of the Rook by Kate Atkinson

I thought Kate Atkinson retired her Jackson Brodie character, so I was delighted to see this book featuring him. He's older, more tired, and funnier than ever.

Business isn't booming at Jackson Brodie's detective agency, so he readily takes the assignment to find a stolen painting. It isn't long before he finds two other art thefts and an elusive woman who may be behind them. One of the thefts, at Burton Makepeace manor house, whose owners have been selling off valuables and now are hosting murder mystery weekends to keep up with repairs, has also caught the attention of the police. Much to her chagrin, Brodie tries to partner with Detective Constable Reggie Chase- an uneasy partnership, but one proving fruitful. When a snowstorm isolates many of the characters at Burton Makepeace, can murder be far behind?

I love Atkinson's humor. The back-and-forth between Brodie and Reggie is laugh-out-loud funny. The characters and situations are similar to an Agatha Christie book, only humorously written. Atkinson is at the top of her game with this book. 

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 3, 2024.

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House of Bone and Rain by Gabino Iglesias

 I love Gabino Iglesias's book The Devil Takes You Home. It is eerie and spellbinding, and this book is equally spellbinding and suspenseful, with interesting characters.

Gabe, Bimbo, Xavier, and Tavo are friends with tighter bonds than most blood brothers. Their pact of defending each other goes back to their childhoods in Puerto Rico and still holds today: mess with one, and you mess with all four. When the island's leading drug dealer kills Bimbo's mother, they vow to get revenge for her. They quickly realize they are in over their heads when they discover the drug kingpin's allies are not of this world and are not easily killed. Can their determination overcome evil spirits as well as their human enemies?

This interweaving of myths and legends provides an intriguing plot that is the basis of the dangers the friends face. As the four face formidable obstacles in their quest for vengeance, the reader watches as each character transitions into manhood. A story of love, revenge, and loyalty, this powerful book tests the bonds of loyalty and reality. 

4/5 stars.

Thank you, NetGalley and Mulholland Books, for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. The publication date is August 6, 2024.

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One Big Happy Family by Jamie Day

 I enjoyed Jamie Day's previous book, The Block Party, so I was happy when I got an advance copy of One Big Happy Family to review. While this book is also good, I didn't care for it as much as The Block Party. The characters, while good, aren't as interesting, and the plot is not quite as engaging.

On the eve of a hurricane hitting the isolated Precipice Hotel in Maine, the three Bishop sisters, Faith, Iris, and Vicki, gather for the reading of their recently deceased father's will. A shared secret from their past binds the sisters together, but is that enough to overcome how their father divided up his six-million-dollar estate? Watching the events play out is the hotel maid, Charley, who quickly becomes embroiled in the sister's turmoil. As the hurricane increases in intensity, cutting the sisters, their families, and Charley off from the outside world, emotions run high when a death occurs. Someone among them is a murderer, but who and why are questions that arise?

I liked Day's sometimes snarky humor and the plotting of the book. The pacing is good, and some twists surprised me, but the isolated characters with a killer in their midst have been overly done. This is a thriller with interesting characters, i.e., a boy who only speaks in rhyme and a big-hearted maid who carries the world's weight on her shoulders, but the sisters themselves aren't very likable. Overall, this is a fast read that satisfies. 

4/5 stars.

Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. The publication date is July 16, 2024.

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The Bang-Bang Sisters by Rio Youers

 I discovered Rio Youers a few years ago with his rollicking good book Lola on Fire. His follow-up novel, No Second Chances, was even better, but this, The Bang-Bang Sisters, is the icing on the cake.

Jessie, Brea, and Flo are sisters—Jessie and Brea by blood—but blood is only part of the bond. Together, they are a rock band touring clubs and dive bars across the country, but that's just a sideline; they are also vigilantes seeking justice where the courts have failed. Working with grey-hat hackers, the three women mete out their brand of justice. All is going smoothly until they get a tip that a serial killer known as "the wren" has been found in Reedsville, Alabama. Unable to pass up the opportunity to put paid to this killer, the women head to Reedsville and into the arms of wealthy mobster Chance Kotter, who has a personal interest in seeing them dead. Pitting sister against sister in a deadly game where only one sister will survive tests their love for each other.

This story is a roller coaster ride from start to finish. It is action-packed with memorable characters—good and evil—and twists I didn't see coming. It is intricately plotted and perfectly executed. It is a story about vengeance and the strength of love, and as the body count rises, it becomes a satisfying read that left me wanting more of the sisters. 

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 July 16, 2024.

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The Mind of a Murderer by Michael Wood

 I think Michael Wood is the master of psychological thrillers. His DI Matilda Darke series is excellent, and this start of a new series promises to be just as good.

Olivia Winter is not a profiler; she is a world-famous forensic psychologist who studies serial killers. The twist is that her father is a convicted serial killer who killed her mother and sister and attempted to kill nine-year-old Olivia before he was captured. Now he is in a London hospital after heart surgery, and he wants to see Olivia--this is just when a new killer is stalking women using a similar killing method as her father. Is there a connection? When the killer strikes close to home, Olivia agrees to help the police investigation despite dredging up painful memories and putting her own life in danger.

I found Olivia to be an engaging character with a strong personality despite her emotional baggage. The story is dark and twisty, just the way I like them. I'm looking forward to this new series. 

4.5/5 stars.

Thank you, NetGalley and One More Chapter, for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. The publication date is March 28, 2024.

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What Happened to Nina? by Dervla McTiernan

Apparently, this book's plot was inspired by the Gabby Petito and Brian Laundrie case. Still, the author does an excellent job of expanding and developing the fictionalized main characters and digging into what the parents went through.

Simon and Nina, together since high school, decide to go climbing at Simon's family home outside Stowe, Vermont, during a college break. Unfortunately, only Simon returns home, and the hunt is on to find out what happened to Nina. Simon's account of the events has holes in it, and Nina's parents enlist the help of the Vermont state police to find her. Meanwhile, Simon's parents, knowing Simon will be the prime suspect, hire a firm to focus on Nina and discredit Nina's family on social media. What follows is a story of what desperate parents will do to find/protect their children.

I thoroughly enjoyed McTiernan's book, "The Murder Rule," so I eagerly anticipated this book. Both are psychological thrillers that deal with family, especially between parents and their children and while both are good, "What Happened to Nina?" didn't quite measure up. The pacing and story are good and kept me turning pages, but this book fell apart at the end. The ending felt rushed, and some storylines weren't adequately addressed to my liking. Overall, it's a good, engaging read. 

3.5/5 stars.

Thank you, NetGalley and William Morrow, for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review. The publication date is March 26, 2024.

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The Collector by Daniel Silva

 

One of the things I like best about Silva's Gabriel Allon series is that they are always relevant. This book deals with the war in Ukraine and Russia's aggression. While that may seem like a downer, Silva's blend of fact and fiction is so good and plausible I had a hard time distinguishing between them.

Retired from the Israeli spy game and now restoring paintings full-time in Venice, Allon is approached by the head of Rome's Art Squad when a murder victim is found in his villa on the Amalfi Coast, and a long-lost van Gogh is also there. What's missing is another stolen painting, this one by Vermeer, and Gabriel is asked to track it down. How does he end up involved in the Russian/Ukrainian war? Well, that's at the heart of the novel, and even with side trips to Denmark and Finland,  it all ties together.

I always learn something from a Daniel Silva book--mostly art-related--but his focus on current world events is always enlightening. I do like the main character with his struggle to lead a quiet life after the everyday violence he seemed to face when he was an Israeli spy. No matter how hard he tries, he always gets pulled back into the game. Although the books are somewhat formulaic, they are always action-packed and entertaining. This latest book in the series is no exception. 4 Stars.

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The Man Who Died Twice by Richard Osman

 

I wasn't sure Richard Osman could top The Thursday Murder Club, but this second book in the series is just as good.

Elizabeth, Joyce, Ibrahim, and Ron are back together, with detectives Chris and Donna playing supporting roles in the Thursday Murder Club's newest adventure. Elizabeth's ex-husband shows up at the retirement village, hiding from the men from whom he stole 20 million pounds of diamonds. He is tracked down, and an attempt is made on his life, so he must find another place to hide while Elizabeth and the TMC try to figure out who is behind the attempts on his life.

Like the first book in the series, this is a fast-paced story with twists, turns, and multiple subplots--it is also highly entertaining. To my great satisfaction, Elizabeth's mysterious past and the other  character's lives are fleshed out more, helping the reader to get a better understanding of their motives. All-in-all, this is a wonderful addition to the series and I'm looking forward to the third book, The Bullet That Missed. 5/5 stars.

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The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman

 

I'm a bit late to The Thursday Murder Club  fan base but I have arrived! I thoroughly enjoyed this book and can't wait to start the second one in the series.

In the retirement community of Coopers Chase, residents Elizabeth, Joyce, Ron, and Ibrahim have formed a murder club in which they review old unsolved murders from files supplied by a former police detective. When an actual murder occurs close to them, they put aside the cold cases and focus their various skills on solving this much more interesting case. Their involvement often treads on the toes of the two lead detectives working the case, Chris and Donna, but they form an uneasy alliance that seems to produce results. When another murder occurs, the club and the detectives work to see if the two are connected and how. With multiple suspects and a time span going back years, the game is afoot.

This is a highly entertaining book with a complex plot and charming characters. There are red herrings galore and enough misdirections that kept me guessing who the murderer(s) could be. This is the start of what promises to be an excellent series and I'm on board for it.

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