Miss Wolcott's Ghost by Louise Penny

Once again, the focus of this 21st novel in the Chief Inspector Gamache series is on the village of Three Pines, which must make it the murder capital of the world. Although it is an idyllic setting and a place I would love to live in, it seems to have a high crime rate.

When Armand Gamache's phone rings in the wee hours of the morning and he receives a cryptic message about a dead body in Lost Nation, Gamache, instantly awake, begins to trace the call, only to find it supposedly originated in his home village of Three Pines. Finding that not to be the case, his next task is to locate Lost Nation. 

Through investigative work by his team, Lost Nation is found and, indeed, they find a long-dead body. In their efforts to identify the body, they discover a link to a presumed-extinct plant called Miss Wolcott's Ghost, an old shipwreck, and the missing papers of an amateur Victorian botanist. What ties them together is the challenge the team faces.

First, let me say that this book can be read as a standalone. There are few references to the earlier books, but for a good perspective, I recommend reading at least the two prior books. 

As usual, Penny's plot is compelling reading. She does an excellent job of tying together the various subplots and, although the pacing slows with repeated dream sequences, it is an engrossing story. I love the main characters and their interaction in Three Pines. Were it not for the unnecessary dream sequences and a plot summation near the end, this would have been a 5-star read for me. 

4/5 stars.

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The Heights by Ian Rankin

I've been an Ian Rankin fan since discovering his John Rebus series many years ago. Along the way, he has written several standalone books, all equally satisfying. This book, however, didn't grab me. Between too many unlikable characters and slow pacing, I had a hard time getting into it.

The Heights is a luxurious apartment complex in the heart of London. It caters to the ultra-wealthy, offering amenities to satisfy their every need. Its tenants, a mixed bag, range from a pop star to a gangster's wife, but when the night concierge is killed after a party hosted by the gangster's wife, the tenants are subject to a police investigation, led by DS Gillian Gish. Their valued privacy is invaded, and their lives are upended as Gish and her team begin to pry into each tenant's movements. As the investigation deepens and secrets are revealed, Gish finds multiple suspects among the tenants. 

It was hard for me to keep track of the many characters; none of them was likable, and most had motives to kill the concierge. It took a while for the pace to pick up, and by then I was having trouble caring who the killer was. I'm a mood reader, and perhaps I was yearning for a different read, because this book didn't hold my attention. There were enough red herrings that I was surprised when the killer was revealed. Overall, this is a good crime novel, but not what I was expecting. 

3/5 stars.

Thank you, NetGalley and Cardinal, for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. The publication date is November 3, 2026.

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Where There's Smoke by Rachel Louise Adams

This is the second book in the Coldren County series, No Rest for the Wicked  being the first. This book didn't grab me from the first chapter the way the previous book did, but it is a good addition to the series. This book contains a warranted trigger warning. Set in a slaughterhouse, it is rather gruesome in parts.

Newly divorced, Dolores Hawthorne returns to a different town in Coldren County, Wisconsin, taking a job as a medical examiner and changing her last name to Diaz—a new start at putting the events of the previous Halloween in the past. When the body of a prominent businessman and philanthropist, Benedict Marcy, is found in his family-owned slaughterhouse, Dolores and the FBI begin investigating. They quickly find that Marcy and his family have some dark secrets that someone is willing to kill to keep buried. 

Many storylines from the previous book are carried over; for this reason, I recommend reading the books in order. The author fleshes out the characters and provides background on Coldren County, which causes parts of the story to drag. It is told from the points of view of Dolores and the newly minted FBI agent Kate Butcher, offering interesting insights into the investigation. What I didn't care for was one of the storylines from the first book that was neither germane nor resolved. There is also a hinted-at love interest involving a character I don't care for. I will give the series another go to see if the author resolves some of the issues. 

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 October 6, 2026.

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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. 

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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.

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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. 

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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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How to Cheat Your own Death by Kristen Perrin

 

I recently finished the third book in the Castle Knoll Files series (following How to Solve Your Own Murder  and How to Seal Your Own Fate). In this installment, Annie Adams returns to solve a new mystery using her Great Aunt Frances’s diaries.

The story follows dual timelines. In 1968, Frances begins university in London and joins a new social circle, including socialite Vera Huntington, until a murder disrupts her life. In the present day, Annie is in London helping her mother, Laura, prepare for an art exhibition. When Laura’s assistant is murdered in the same manner as the 1968 victim, Annie must find the killer to protect her mother.

I enjoyed the first book but missed the second; however, I would recommend reading them in order, as this third book contains spoilers for the previous titles. The dual timelines effectively connect the two murders, leading the reader through a twisty path with a compelling cast of characters. Overall, it is a cleverly plotted, fast-paced mystery. 

4/5 stars.

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

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The Marco Effect by Jussi Adler-Olsen

 This fifth book in the Department Q series finds Carl Morck and his team at odds with management. The longtime department head has retired, and Morck's nemesis has been put in charge, complicating all their lives.

Sifting through the cold case files the Department Q team is in charge of solving, they settle on a missing banker who, after briefly visiting Africa on business, was never seen again. Switch to Marco, a fifteen-year-old who is trying to get away from his Uncle Zola, the leader of their gypsy clan, who uses the children to rob and beg. When Marco discovers a body while trying to escape the clan, Zola is out to silence him. Marco comes to the attention of the Department Q team, as well as the dead body, and a possible connection to an embezzlement case. With Marco, the missing piece to the case they are trying to solve, it's a race to see who can find Marco first. 

Marco is a wonderful character. Facing a moral dilemma with his life of crime, he chooses to try to escape and fulfill his dreams of a meaningful life. The odds are stacked against him, but his determination and street smarts are in his favor. Filled with dark humor and impossible situations, this book is hard to put down. I enjoyed the twists and the challenge of anticipating how Morck, Rose, and Assad would outsmart Zola. 

4/5 stars.

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The Final Problem by Arturo Perez-Reverte

 If you're a fan of Sherlock Holmes and the Golden Age of movies, you'll love this book. With a nod to Agatha Christie and her locked-room mysteries, this book has it all.

In June 1960, a storm stranded an eclectic group of travelers on a remote Greek island. When one of them is found dead in a locked boat house, an apparent suicide victim, the remaining members turn to Ormand "Hopalong" Basil, a fading actor best known for his portrayal of Sherlock Holmes, to look into the death. With a Spanish dime-novel writer, Paco Foxa, as his Watson, Basil quickly determines that the woman was murdered. After a second body is discovered, the surviving members begin pressuring Basil for answers. Basil and Foxa realize that the killer is taunting them and their amateur crime-solving abilities. Relying on the Sherlock Holmes books and their own deductive reasoning, the pair begin to unwind the murders. 

Both main characters have encyclopedic knowledge of the Sherlock Holmes stories and frequently quote them to each other. This can be tedious at times, but it fits the novel's theme. I enjoyed the transition from Basil as a has-been actor to a crime solver. From his initial bumbling attempts, he becomes a formidable detective. With its fast pace and red herrings, Perez-Reverte does an excellent job of keeping the reader on their toes. 

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 February 10, 2026.

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Impostor by LJ Ross

This is the first book in a series featuring psychologist Dr. Alexander Gregory. The series has done well in Great Britain and is now being published in the US. Based on this book, it's a promising psychological thriller series.

Dr. Alex Gregory, a former criminal profiler, is a psychologist at a mental health prison. Cathy, one of his patients who was convicted of killing two of her three children, is an interesting person who is in denial of her role in her children's deaths. She's intelligent and manipulative, and a challenge for Gregory. 

Meanwhile, a brutal murder occurs in a small Irish village, and the mayor appeals to Gregory to help. With no forensic evidence, the police rely on Gregory for help in finding the killer. Initially distrustful of Gregory, especially when he contradicts their theories, they soon realize that they are facing a perpetrator who is likely to kill again.

I found this to be a fast-paced thriller with multiple twists and red herrings. Both cases that Gregory is focusing on are intriguing. Cathy, especially, is a puzzle. The writing is good, the characters well-developed. In this book, Gregory is torn between his patients and his desire to return to criminal profiling. He is a conflicted but well-intentioned character. I look forward to the next book to see what path he takes. 

4.5/5 stars. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press, for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. The publication date is February 3, 2026.

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The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon

The Frozen River is one of the best books I've read in 2025. Based on an actual person, this historical fiction novel is beautifully written and expertly plotted. This is the first book I've read by Ariel Lawhon, and I'm excited to read more of her work.

Set during the winter of 1789, the Kennebec River in Maine freezes, and travelers on the river discover a body in the ice. Midwife Martha Ballard is asked to examine the body and determines he was murdered, but a new doctor in town disputes her cause of death. It is his opinion that he died of natural causes, so Martha decides to defend her conclusion by finding the murderer. Also called into question is Martha's defense of a woman who claimed to have been raped by the murder victim and another prominent man. With her reputation at stake, Martha battles patriarchy and societal norms to ensure the truth comes out.

Lawhon does an excellent job of transporting readers to the period, revealing the roles of women in society and the discrimination they faced. Beautifully crafted with an engaging storyline, The Frozen River deftly handles the emotions of the rape victim and Martha's role in the small town. I highly recommend this book. 

5/5 stars. 

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A Slowly Dying Cause by Elizabeth George

 It's been quite a while since I delved into an Inspector Lynley book, but this one, set in the familiar landscapes of Cornwall, felt like a warm reunion. The setting, so reminiscent of my own experiences there, brought back a flood of fond memories. A Slowly Dying Cause felt like an old friend, welcoming me back with open arms.

When Michael Lobb is found murdered in his workshop by an agent of a mining company intent on acquiring his land, suspicion initially falls on the agent. Pressure is on Inspector Barbara Hannaford to solve the murder, so when a company employee appears to confess, Hannaford thinks the case is solved--but she isn't convinced the case is airtight. When Inspector Thomas Lynley, in Cornwall, attending to estate business, offers to take a look, Hannaford eagerly takes him up on the offer. Sergeant Barbara Havers is also in Cornwall with Lynley, but she is re-investigating the case on behalf of the accused's family. At first, Lynley and Havers appear to be at cross-purposes, but they soon join forces to solve the murder. 

At 650 pages, it seemed like George was ranging far afield with so many subplots. That proved not to be the case, however, by the time she wrapped up the storylines. The book's pacing was steady, keeping me engaged throughout. This book is well-plotted with interesting characters and situations. I was disappointed by the lack of repercussions for a couple of the characters, but overall, this was a satisfying read. 

4.5/5 stars.

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The Absent One by Jussi Adler-Olsen

 I am rereading this series because I started it so long ago and lost track of it around book three. I know I liked the characters and premise, but I wish I'd remembered more about this particular book. Had I remembered the graphic rape depiction and the animal cruelty, I would have skipped it. As it was, I was too invested in the book when those events occurred to stop.

The file of a 20-year-old murder of a brother and sister mysteriously appears on Carl Morck's desk. What's odd is that the case was apparently solved, and the confessed murderer is behind bars. When Morck and his assistant, Assad, try to find out who added the file to their stack of cold cases, their superiors tell them to drop it. That is the wrong thing to tell Morck. As Morck and Assad begin investigating, they find the key to the murders is a homeless woman, Kimmie, hiding from a group of influential individuals. Twenty years ago, Kimmie and the men formed a gang while in school and preyed on helpless individuals. With their past about to be exposed, the three men also begin looking for Kimmie--to silence her permanently. Now the race is on to find the elusive Kimmie. 

Aside from the two issues mentioned above, I liked the book. Admittedly, it is dark, and the deeds done by Kimmie and the men were disturbing, but I found myself caught up in the search for Kimmie and her ability to hide in plain sight. Despite what she did in the past, the current-day Kimmie is a sympathetic character who is damaged. The three men are pure evil, and I rooted for Kimmie to exact her revenge. The book's pacing is well-balanced, keeping the reader engaged throughout. 

3/5 stars.

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Eva's Eye by Karin Fossum

Author Karin Fossum came highly recommended by two of my bookish friends, whose recommendations I take seriously. Also, my recent trip to Norway has piqued my interest in Scandinavian authors, Norwegians in particular. I like to read a series in order, so even though this book is quite old, I decided to give it a try.

Eva Magnus is a struggling artist and single parent who is living hand-to-mouth. When she and her daughter discover a man's body in a river, instead of reporting it to the police, she keeps it a secret. The body is later found and identified as a brewery worker, missing for over six months, with a wife and small child. Inspector Sejer begins investigating and notices that at the time the man went missing, a prostitute was found murdered. Sejer senses a connection, and oddly enough, he finds Eva linked to both people. Now it's up to him to prove her guilt or innocence. 

I enjoyed how Fossum made clear who the killer was, then went back in time to show what led up to both killings. Eva is a sympathetic character, and the moral and financial dilemmas she faces made me root for her. I also liked Sejer and how he went about solving both murders. Overall, I liked the book, and I am willing to try the next book in the series. 

4/5 stars. 

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The Widow by John Grisham

 

Whenever I delve into a John Grisham novel, I'm immersing myself in the world of a master storyteller. His characters, like Simon Latch, are not just figments of imagination but individuals whose struggles and triumphs resonate with our own. Grisham's unique blend of legal intricacies and human drama, as showcased in The Widow, sets him apart as a compelling storyteller in the legal thriller genre. The characters are so relatable that you can't help but feel connected to their struggles.

When Simon Latch, a struggling small-town lawyer in Virginia, meets Eleanor Barnett, an apparently wealthy widow who needs a will, he thinks his money problems are solved. But as Eleanor's reluctance to disclose details of her wealth and her insistence on keeping the will secret, especially from her two greedy stepsons, the plot thickens, leaving us on the edge of our seats. A car accident leaves Eleanor hospitalized and Simon in charge of her medical decisions. The next thing he knows, Simon is on trial with a focus on his choices, a journey that will keep you guessing until the very end. With the prospect of spending the rest of his life in prison, based on circumstantial evidence, it's up to Simon to find a killer. 

The suspense is palpable, and the twists and turns will keep you hooked until the final page. The courtroom drama is spot-on, and the hunt for the killer is suspenseful. I loved the characters, and the serpentine trail to find the killer makes this a top-notch who-dun-it. 

4.5/5 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 October 21, 2025.

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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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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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