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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The Lake Escape by Jamie Day

 

I liked Day's two previous books, The Block Party and One Big Happy Family, and was looking forward to this book. Unfortunately, it didn't measure up to her earlier books. While good, it didn't have the "oh, wow!" ending of the other two.

The cabins at a Vermont lake have been in their families for generations, so when Erika, Julia, and David get together with their families for a two-week vacation, they are expecting fun and relaxation. But when David's girlfriend goes missing, it brings up similar disappearances of two women from the lake fifteen years apart. Add in the strained relations in Julia's marriage, and the tension created by David having renovated his home, which now blocks the views of the other homes and the lake, and not all is idyllic. 

The book started slowly, and as more characters and subplots were introduced, it became increasingly confusing. I think the last straw for me was when mobsters were added--the mob in Vermont? Really? None of the characters were particularly likable, and each had their own agenda. I do give credit for Day not taking the obvious path to an ending, however. For once, a character faced a moral dilemma and did the right thing. I admit that I was sucked into the story, and couldn't put it down, despite the gripes mentioned above. 

3/5 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 July 15, 2025.

For more information: 

Amazon | Barnes & Noble