The French Illusion by John Grisham

Grisham deviates from the legal thriller genre and delves into international espionage to highlight actions the United States has taken in the fight against terrorism. The French Illusion lays bare some not-so-palatable methods employed by countries, including the United States, in the name of counterterrorism. At times, a disturbing read, it is both informative and frightening.

Paul and Chelsea Tanner are on their honeymoon in Paris when they are abducted and held for ransom. Their parents, who pay the ransom, are told not to contact the police or FBI, but when the kidnappers renege on their promises, all bets are off. The FBI, CIA, and French intelligence get involved. The agencies discover that this is not the first American honeymoon couple to be abducted in Paris; indeed, it has happened two previous times, with similar results. Seeking to find a common bond in the kidnappings, they find that the three men are former military personnel who were deployed when the US was seeking Al-Qaeda terrorists. The CIA decides to send a couple undercover to try and get some leads on the location of the abductees. Carefully chosen, the pair are CIA operative Rae Claire Russo and former JAG lawyer Stuart Nash, who hope to convince the kidnappers that they are the real deal.

This is a suspenseful novel that highlights the moral dilemma faced by countries dealing with terrorism: how to identify the terrorists and what methods are allowed during interrogation. How far is too far?  Grisham does a good job of describing the ordeal of the kidnap victims and the motive of the kidnapper, such that I was left pondering whose actions were more justified. There is an e-short, The Law Student, that is a prequel to this book. 

4/5 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 29, 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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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.

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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. 

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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.

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Three Reasons for Revenge by Dervla McTiernan

 This book is an excellent psychological thriller, a genre Dervla  McTiernan excels at. I've read four of her novels, and have never been disappointed. Her twisty plots and interesting characters make for good reading.

When Detective Sergeant Judith Lee is asked for by name for a sexual assault report involving a patient of psychologist, Robert Walker, she is reminded of a similar case from her past. Soon after reporting the assault, the purported victim, Alexis Turner, disappears. Judith begins investigating the claim and discovers that Walker's wife has received an anonymous package containing a video showing him in a sexual situation. Soon after, two other people received anonymous packages containing damning materials. When the cases turn deadly, Judith, thinking there is a connection to the missing Alexis Turner, focuses on finding Turner before she can strike again.

This is a dark, character-driven novel with an intricate plot that slowly reveals Alexis Turner's motive. That's not to say it's a slow-burn novel, quite the opposite; Three Reasons for Revenge is fast-paced and atmospheric. McTiernan usually sets her books in Ireland, so this switch to Australia was a surprise. I liked this new setting, and I can see where McTiernan could easily write another novel featuring Judith Lee. 

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 July 21, 2026.

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Kills Well with Others by Deanna Raybourn

In this second book in the Killers of a Certain Age  series, the four semi-retired assassins are back together and out to kill some bad guys. 

Billie, Mary Alice, Helen, and Natalie are called into service when an Eastern European gangster starts targeting Museum agents. Knowing they are on his list because of having killed his father years earlier, they decide to get him before he starts picking them off. In the process, they discover a mole in the Museum leaking information; they are now battling opponents on two fronts in their fight to stay alive.

I enjoyed this book with its shadowy killers matching wits with the four sixty-something assassins. The plot is unpredictable with twists I didn't see coming. Raybourn does an excellent job of exploring the personalities of the four women with humor and snappy dialogue. I highly recommend this series. 

4/5 stars.

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The Anniversary by Alex Finlay

 Alex Finlay has outdone himself in creating a twisty psychological thriller with two intriguing protagonists. I have read a number of his books over the years, and The Anniversary ranks right up there with his best.

On May 1, 1992, the lives of teens Jules and Quinn are forever changed. Although they only know each other in passing, the events in their small Nebraska town will draw them together. 

Jules is attacked but spared by a serial killer known as the May Day killer, who has been killing young women each May 1--May Day--for several years, leaving no clues to his identity. Traumatized by the attack but suffering survivor's guilt, Jules doesn't report the crime. 

Meanwhile, mild-mannered Quinn tries to break up a fight but only succeeds in nearly killing a person. While Quinn is in juvenile detention, his mother is brutally murdered. Her killer is caught, but Quinn is not convinced they have the right man, and he begins his own investigation into her murder. 

The story is told each May Day, year after year, as we follow the lives of Jules and Quinn and the paths they take. Both make some bad life choices, but they eventually come together to help each other in their quests for closure. I did figure out who the serial killer was before the big reveal, but there were enough plot twists and red herrings to keep me guessing about what would happen next. 

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 May 12. 2026.

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Revenge Prey by John Sandford

It's hard to believe this is the thirty-sixth book in Sandford's "Prey" series. I have been on board since the first book and have watched Lucas Davenport's character develop as he has changed law enforcement agencies and faced numerous villains over the years. Every book has been a welcome addition to the series, and Revenge Prey showcases renegade Davenport at his best.

A high-level Russian intelligence officer and his family have defected to the U.S. and are entering the U.S. Marshal Service's Witness Protection Program. Davenport and his partner, along with the FBI and a CIA operative, are tasked with helping the family settle in Minnesota. When an attempt is made on the man's life by an elite Russian hit team, Davenport and company must step up their protection and try to find out who is supplying the hit team with their information. With the story switching between the hit team and Davenport, the action is non-stop as both factions race against time to either save or kill the defector.

John Sandford can be relied upon for a good, heart-pounding thriller. Revenge Prey is no different. Although I wasn't as enamored with the plot as in his previous books, it was still a satisfying read. It was interesting to get the hit team's point of view, and I found it hard not to root for them. They were under pressure, and failure was not an option — not if they wanted to return to Russia. Once again, Lucas was defying authority, and by teaming with the shady CIA agent, they were an unstoppable pair. 

4/5 stars.

Thank you, NetGalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons, for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. The publication date is April 7, 2026.

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Nowhere Burning by Catronia Ward

 Catronia Ward is a wonderful storyteller. Her novels, always dark and suspenseful, are beautifully written and character-driven.

Fourteen-year-old Riley flees an abusive home situation with her seven-year-old brother, Oliver. With only cryptic directions to the children's shelter, Nowhere, high in the Colorado mountains, she and Oliver set out to find safety among the other runaways. Nowhere, once the home of a famous movie star, is now a burned-out ranch with only a barn for shelter. At first, Riley finds an answer to her problems, but as she digs deeper, she discovers the inhabitants aren't all they seem. She begins to question if she and Oliver are truly safe.

This novel is part psychological horror story and part suspenseful story about the ghostly remains of the Nowhere ranch and its former inhabitant. There are two timelines: the present with Riley and the past about the movie star. That wasn't clear at first, and was confusing until I figured it out. There are plot twists and unreliable narrators that kept me guessing. 

4/5 stars.

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The Keeper by Tana French

This elegantly written novel explores life in a small Irish town when tragedy strikes. In this final book in the Cal Hooper trilogy (The Searcher, The Hunter ), French does an excellent job of wrapping up the series. 

When Rachel Holohan's body is found in the river, the village of Ardnakelty questions what happened. Was she murdered or did she commit suicide? The village takes sides, and the rumors that spread threaten to ruin the life of Cal Hooper's fiancée, Lena. At the heart is a scheme by local developer Tommy Moynihan. His plan to build a factory could enhance the village's prosperity, but it could also forever change the way of life. Rachel, privy to the scheme's facts, was conflicted about the development and the extent of Monyihan's ambitions. As the mystery surrounding her death deepens, and the rumors get more far-reaching, old feuds and power dynamics are tested.

French's lyrical prose paints a vivid picture of what can happen when rumors tear apart a small village. Her depiction of the village, its inhabitants, and the reaction to a tragedy is spot-on. This novel is both suspenseful and engrossing. I have loved the character development that has unfolded over the three books. Cal, from an outsider to a village stalwart; Trey, from a semi-feral girl to a young woman with a bright future, are both indelibly printed on my memory. I will miss the residents of Ardnakelty, but I'm sure whatever direction French takes next, I'll be along for the ride. 

4.5/5 stars.

Thank you, NetGalley and Viking, for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. The publication date is March 31, 2026.

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Whidbey by T Kira Madden

 

This is a book whose characters and their lives will haunt you long after you've finished it. It comes with a warning; the subject matter is sexual abuse and its effects on the victims. At times disturbing, it also raises questions about our justice system and rehabilitation methods.

Birdie, sexually abused by Calvin at age nine, is fleeing the publicity of a recently published book about Calvin's victims. She heads to remote Whidbey Island, Washington, as far from her New York City home as she can get. On the ferry to the island, Birdie meets a man who offers to kill recently paroled Calvin, thus removing the threat and satisfying her need for revenge.

Calvin's mother, Mary-Beth, is a victim of circumstance. Shunned in the small community for proclaiming her son a victim of promiscuous girls, her mother's love blinds her to the truth. When Calvin is brutally murdered, Mary-Beth again becomes a victim, this time by what she sees as inaction on the part of the police to find the killer. 

Linzie, famous for her meltdown on a reality TV show, is another of Calvin's victims. She has just published a tell-all book about her and other victims' experiences. Her thinly disguised descriptions of other victims make them easy to identify, leading Birdie to go into hiding.

Told from multiple points of view, this is about how the trauma of a sexual assault can have life-changing repercussions. I considered not finishing this book because of how upset I got over what happened to Birdie and Linzie.  Although Madden deftly handles the description of the assaults both girls suffered, it was still depressing. But I read on because it's an important topic and one that needs exploring. I could have done without the explicit descriptions of Birdie and her partner's lovemaking. I'm not a prude, but it was just too much information. 

4/5 stars.

Thank you, NetGalley and Mariner Books, for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. The publication date is March 10, 2026.

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The Secret of Secrets by Dan Brown

 

The last Dan Brown book I read was The Da Vinci Code, and I enjoyed it. On a whim, I decided to read this latest book, number six in the series. I was pleasantly surprised to find it read as a standalone and was almost as good as I remembered The Da Vinci Code being.

Robert Langdon and his romantic partner, Katherine Solomon, are in Prague for a conference where Solomon is presenting a paper on the nature of human consciousness. Solomon is ready to submit her book on the same topic when her publishing house comes under attack, and all copies of her book are deleted. Simultaneously, Langdon finds the body of a prominent Czech scientist, who has been brutally murdered. Katherine disappears, and Langdon is on the run from the Czech police, who think he killed the scientist. The murder appears to be tied to Solomon's discoveries, and it's up to Langdon to find the link and the missing Katherine.

This is a well-researched book that lays out the theory of human consciousness in an understandable way. It explores the science and moral implications of this thought-provoking theory in a manner that captures the imagination. I especially enjoyed the moral implications of using the findings as a military weapon. Brown explores both the positive and negative aspects of this moral dilemma, but leaves it up to the reader to draw their own conclusions. The Secret of Secrets is a suspenseful, thought-provoking read. 

4.5/5 stars.

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When I Kill You by B.A. Paris

 

B.A. Paris, the queen of thrillers, is back with another suspenseful novel. When I Kill You is a disquieting look into the mind of two stalkers and their victims.

Twenty-two-year-old Elle Nugent witnesses a young woman getting into a car with a man Elle has just run into. When the woman is later found murdered, Elle, frustrated by the lack of progress by the police, begins to stalk the man--with devastating consequences.

Fourteen years later. Elle has changed her name to Nell Masters and is successfully running a nonprofit. When Nell begins to feel like she is being followed, the shoe is on the other foot. Fearing for her life from her stalker, Nell thinks her past has caught up to her and desperately tries to find out who her stalker is and why they are after her.

Initially told through the perspectives of Elle, Nell, and Nell's stalker, the book examines why Elle became a stalker. Later, when Nell is being stalked, the reader is taken into the mind of a terrified woman who no longer trusts those around her. This is a fast-paced book that is both eerie and frightening. Overall, I enjoyed this book, but Elle's incredibly poor decisions were so off-putting that I had no sympathy for her. I did figure out who Nell's stalker was early on, but it was interesting to watch how paranoid Nell became. 

3.5/5 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 February 17, 2026.

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Wolf Hour by Jo Nesbo

Jo Nesbo has taken a page from his excellent Harry Hole series to craft the character Bob Oz, a flawed detective with a drinking problem, in this stand-alone Nordic noir thriller. Set in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Nesbo shows he's just as good at writing a novel set in America as he is in his native Norway.

In 2022, Holger Rudi, an aspiring Norwegian crime writer, sets his eye on an old serial murder case that occurred in Minneapolis in 2016. His interest in the case is complicated and not without bias. He begins his research by visiting the old crime scenes and familiarizing himself with the city and the culture.

In 2016, a police homicide detective, Bob Oz, was the first on the scene of the attempted murder of a gun dealer. Oz learns that another tenant in the apartment building, Tomas Gomez, may be the gunman. Oz begins an unofficial investigation just as another shooting occurs, this time with deadly consequences, and Oz is sure it's Gomez behind the attacks. As Oz looks into Gomez's past, he discovers a tragic history and a man out for revenge. With Gomez seemingly always one step ahead, Oz must figure out who Gomez is going to target next if he has any hope of stopping him.

This is a suspenseful book with a serial killer that I found myself conflicted over. On the one hand, Gomez's tragic history cries out for justice that never came. On the other hand, vigilante justice is never the answer. With two strong characters in Oz and Gomez, Nesbo does a good job of making it hard for the reader to choose sides. The book is intricately plotted, with a dark twist that shocked me. Nesbo is a mesmerizing storyteller, and Wolf Hour is an excellent example of Nesbo at the height of his game. 

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 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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The Black Wolf by Louise Penny

This is the second book in the two-book "Wolf" series, The Grey Wolf being the first. This is a classic Louise Penny book — fast-paced and intriguing. The only problems were the many times I had to suspend disbelief and the confusing ending.

After having thwarted a domestic terrorist attack, Chief Inspector Armand Gamache is recovering at home in Three Pines. As he ponders a map and a notebook left behind from the attack, Gamache and agents Jean-Guy Beauvoir and Isabelle Lacoste are convinced a second, more deadly attack is coming. But what and where, or who is behind it, they don't know. What they do know is that people high up in the government and their own police force are involved. Trusting very few around them, they seek to uncover the plot and the person pulling the strings, whom they dub the Black Wolf. It's a race against time with a cunning enemy who always seems one step ahead of them.

I love Louise Penny's writing and the characters she creates. The Black Wolf is a ripped-from-the-headlines book with a plot that, while at times far-fetched, is just believable enough to make parts seem plausible. Where it fell apart for me was the confusing ending and the motive of the Black Wolf. I was left scratching my head. 

3/5 stars.

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My Darkest Prayer by S.A. Cosby

 

I loved S.A. Cosby's other four books, so I was looking forward to reading this, his debut novel. I'm happy this book wasn't my introduction to the author, or I probably wouldn't have picked up any of the others. It's good to know he has grown so much as a writer, and I look forward to more from him.

When a pastor is found dead, and law enforcement is calling it suicide, parishioners turn to Nathan Waymaker, a former sheriff's deputy who now works in his cousin's mortuary, to investigate. Scraping the surface of the man's life, Nate uncovers an unsavory character, who, though much loved by his parishioners, is corrupt and associated with gangsters. The more he digs, the more his own life is in danger. 

The story, while good, relies too much on stereotypes and gratuitous sex and violence. There were implausible situations, such as the admiration Nate received from a gangster and his almost superpowers in fights, whether fists or guns. There were a couple of good characters, but mostly they were unlikable--even his love interest came off as shallow. I'm chalking this up as an ambitious first effort that didn't quite do it for me. 

2.5/5 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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We Are All Guilty Here by Karin Slaughter

 I like Karin Slaughter's Will Trent series, and We Are All Guilty Here promises to be the start of another good series with complex characters and an interesting setting. 

North Falls is a small southern town where everyone knows each other and their secrets. The Clifton family, comprising both wealthy and less affluent members, is prominent. Sheriff Gerald Clifton and his daughter, Officer Emmy Clifton, are called when two teenage girls go missing at the Fourth of July celebrations. Emmy feels guilty for turning away one of the girls who seemed distressed. With the clock ticking and few clues, law enforcement combs the area looking for the girls. During their investigation into the girls' lives, they uncover disturbing information that points to a dangerous lifestyle and, perhaps, those willing to kill to keep their secrets. 

This is a dynamite start to a new series. Emmy is a strong woman competing in a male-dominated world, and whose personal life is a mess. Combine this with an intricate plot and fast-paced action, and you'll get a page-turner that begs for more books featuring the Clifton family. I can't wait for the next in the series. 

4.5/5 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 12, 2025.

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