Raven Black by Ann Cleeves

When I heard that Ann Cleeves was bringing back her Jimmy Perez character in a new series set in the Orkney Islands, I decided to reread the Shetland Islands series featuring him. It's been years since I've read the books, and I wasn't surprised to find I couldn't remember much of this first book. It's like discovering an old friend. 

When the body of a teenager is found strangled, Shetland detective Jimmy Perez, with the help of his colleagues from the mainland, sets about to find the killer. The island residents are convinced that the culprit is Magnus Tait, a man of low intelligence who has had recent contact with the victim. Preliminary evidence also points toward him, but Perez is determined not to be seduced by the easy solution. Complicating things, the disappearance of a young girl eight years earlier also pointed to Tait, with the islanders anxious for their safety, pressure mounts on Perez and the investigation.

I loved this series the first time I read it, so I'm looking forward to rediscovering it. I like the characters and the setting, and the writing is excellent. Cleeves always has interesting plots, and I never figure out the ending. Her books are suspenseful page-turners that never fail to entertain--even on a second reading. 

4/5 stars.

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Whistle by Linwood Barclay

I expect an excellently plotted suspense thriller from Linwood Barclay, so I was pleasantly surprised to see he has switched genres. This latest book is a paranormal horror story with all the tension and pacing one gets with a good thriller. 

Annie's life is in freefall. First, her husband is killed in a hit-and-run accident, and then a young reader of her popular children's book series tragically dies. Seeking solace, she and her young son Charlie move from New York City to a small town in upstate New York. All seems fine until Charlie discovers a model train set in a shed. Mysterious events begin, and their retreat no longer looks so idyllic. 

Two months after September 11, 2001, a new store opened on Main Street in the small town of Lucknow, Vermont. Run by an eccentric man known as Edwin Choo, the store offers model train sets that appeal to young and old alike. When people and pets begin disappearing, police chief Harry Cook notices a pattern related to Mr. Choo. Could he be more than he appears?

Switching back and forth in time between Annie and Harry, Barclay expertly leads the reader through a maze of paranormal circumstances that tie the two storylines together. Whistle is a dark and creepy read with interesting characters and plot twists. I hope Mr. Barclay continues to explore this new, darker side. 

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 May 20, 2025.

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The Man Made of Smoke by Alex North

 

Alex North never fails to deliver a tense, dark mystery, and The Man Made of Smoke is one of his best yet. Its signature, intricate plotline is an introspective look into the mind of a serial killer and his victims.

Dan Garvie returns to his childhood home on a small island when his father disappears under mysterious circumstances. He finds that his father had been researching a cold case involving a serial who abducted young boys, a case that touched Dan's and several other lives. When some of those on the periphery of the case are murdered or missing, Dan's investigation puts his own life in danger.

This is a well-written novel full of suspense and intrigue. It is fast-paced and packed with interesting characters and a purely evil antagonist. Told with flashbacks and multiple points of view, North does an excellent job of revealing the connections between the past and present and the delicate relationship between father and son. I was hooked from the beginning and captivated by this atmospheric psychological thriller. 

5/5 stars.

Thank you, NetGalley and Celadon Books, for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. The publication date is May 13, 2025.

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Parents Weekend by Alex Finlay

 

I liked Alex Finlay's other books, but this one was a bit of a letdown. Although it had a good plot and was engaging, I found it lacking in character development, and, at times, the student's motives were suspect.

It's Parents Weekend at a small, exclusive college in Northern California. The parents of five students have traveled to attend a dinner and celebrate their children's accomplishments. The students, all planning to participate in the dinner, never show. As the hours pass and the students, all of whom have turned off their phones, remain missing, the police and an FBI agent are called in. The Five, as referred to in the media, are in peril, and time is running out.

I expected and got a suspenseful psychological thriller. There were twists and red herrings galore, and although I did figure out who was behind the students' disappearance, the story was a good rollercoaster ride. What was never satisfactorily explained to me was why the students went to the initial location where authorities lost track of them. Maybe I missed something, but their destination didn't make sense. Additionally, the ending felt a bit rushed. Despite these two distractions, I liked the book. 

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 May 6, 2025.

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The Sequel by Jean Hanff Korelitz

 I enjoyed The Plot and its peek into the world of writing, agents, and publishers. Its surprise ending was haunting. When I saw the author had written another book with many of the same characters, I was elated: maybe she would explore what motivated Anna to do what she did. My prayers were answered. This book focuses on Jake's widow, Anna, who has much to account for.

It's two years after bestselling author Jake Finch Bonner's death, and his widow, Anna Williams-Bonner, lives off his royalties while she decides what to do with her life. Anna writes a book at a writer's retreat, drawing on Jake's death for inspiration. The book becomes a bestseller, and the spotlight is now on her. With the notoriety comes scrutiny of her life, and someone out there knows too much. Anna receives an excerpt from a novel written by a person who is long dead, which could upset the success Anna now enjoys. Needing to know who the anonymous person is, Anna begins digging into Jake's past to see if she can find and neutralize the threat.

As I watched Anna wreak destruction in her quest to preserve her identity, I wondered how I could be rooting for her—yet I did. Korelitz does an excellent job of portraying cold-blooded Anna as a victim. The book starts slowly, but once Anna goes on the offensive, it picks up, and the suspense is palpable. I recommend reading The Plot before attempting this second book in the series; both are worthwhile. 

4/5 stars.

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The Last Ranger by Peter Heller

 I always enjoy Peter Heller's books. I've read almost all of them, and each has been engaging. Nature plays a big part in his stories, usually along the man versus nature line, and The Last Ranger is no exception.

Ren Hopper is an enforcement ranger in Yellowstone National Park. The highlight of his days usually involves unsnarling traffic jams and trying to keep stupid people from being killed or maimed by wildlife. He enjoys flyfishing in remote parts of the Park on his days off. On one such day, Ren encounters a suspected poacher chasing a bear with his dog. Ren can't prove the poaching or that he meant to kill the bear, but the man is on his radar. When a wildlife biologist studying the wolves in Yellowstone almost dies after being caught in a poacher's trap, Ren begins a full-scale investigation of the man. What he uncovers is both larger in scale and more organized than he thought.

Heller does an excellent job of exploring wolves' ecological impact and the challenges they face, both in nature and in man's presence. He highlights what a treasure our national parks are and how they are also in peril.

This is a wonderfully written novel with well-developed characters and realistic situations. It is suspenseful and well-plotted. Having been lucky enough to grow up near Yellowstone, this book tugged at my heartstrings. I loved the setting and the various storylines. 

5/5 stars.

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Nobody's Fool by Harlan Coben

 I discovered Harlan Coben when I saw some of his books adapted into movies on Netflix. I loved what I saw and decided to try his books. This is the third book I've read, and I can safely say I've become a fan. This is the second book featuring Sami Kierce, Fool Me Once is the first. This book is classic Coben, fast-moving and twisty.

A young Sami Kierce is backpacking with friends in Europe when he becomes enamored with Anna, a woman he meets in Spain. Their brief affair ends when Sami wakes up one morning and discovers Anna dead and his hands covered in blood. A panicked Sami flees the scene.

Flash forward twenty-two years. Sami is now married with a newborn son, working as an investigator for a law firm and teaching night classes. When a woman briefly appears in his classroom, Sami is sure that the woman is Anna. Sami follows her and discovers her name is Victoria, and she is a member of the wealthy Belmond family. Victoria has a mysterious past, and as Sami begins digging, he uncovers secrets the family would rather not have revealed. Determined to solve the Anna/Victoria mystery, Sami soon endangers his own life and that of his wife and child.

This is an excellently plotted thriller with twists I did not see coming. The characters are interesting, and the mystery surrounding Anna and Victoria is compelling. Although one does not need to read Fool Me Once to enjoy this book, I recommend it. Not only is it a good book, but it contributes to Sami's backstory. 

5/5 stars.

Thank you, NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing, for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. The publication date is March 25, 2025.

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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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Copper River by William Kent Krueger

 

This sixth book in the series continues the story that began in book five, "Mercy Falls."  Krueger deftly weaves the old and new storylines into an intense tale of murder and intrigue.

With a bounty on his head and a bullet in his leg, Cork is hiding out in the small Michigan town of Bodine with his cousin, Jewell, and her fourteen-year-old son, Ren. Ren and two friends, Charlie and Stash, find the body of a teenage girl, endangering their lives and threatening to expose Cork's hideout. They discover the girl is only the latest victim of men preying on runaway teens who now have Charlie in their sights.

I liked how Krueger intertwined the two plotlines—Cork's run for his life and the danger the teens are in—to form a unique story that is both dark and compelling. As I continue to read this long-running series, I highly anticipate each installment as Krueger continues to flesh out characters and build atmospheric locations. 

4/5 stars.

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We Are Watching by Alison Gaylin

I usually like psychological thrillers because they are dark and suspenseful. We Are Watching is both dark and suspenseful, and this, combined with an interesting plotline, hooked me.

Justin and Meg are taking their daughter, Lily, to college when they are involved in a bizarre accident that kills Justin. Meg and Lily pick up the pieces and try to move forward when a woman enters Meg's bookstore and, after behaving peculiarly, tells Meg "they" are watching. More strangers begin to threaten Meg and Lily and video their encounters. It turns out there is a cult of conspiracy theorists who believe Meg and her rock musician father have predicted the apocalypse and the end is coming. Not knowing who to trust, Meg, Lily, and Meg's father battle for their lives only days before the prophesized apocalypse as the cult becomes bolder.

I liked this book's odd storyline; it was dark and all too plausible. The writing is good, and the pacing kept me wanting to read more. I'm surprised I haven't run across this award-winning author before now. She is on my radar now and I look forward to reading more of her books. 

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 January 28, 2025.

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The Lost House by Melissa Larsen

 I love murder mysteries set in Iceland. They are usually dark and atmospheric, and I love that in a book. THE LOST HOUSE is both of those things and does a good job of capturing life in a small Icelandic village. Even though Melissa Larsen doesn't live in Iceland, she does an excellent job of taking the reader there.

Forty years ago, the unsolved murder of a woman and her infant daughter in a small town in Iceland cast suspicion on the woman's husband. Although there was no proof, he was ostracized by the town and their belief of his guilt was cemented when he fled the country with his young son. Now, his granddaughter, Agnes, has joined a true-crime podcaster, Nora, in investigating the crime. Agnes hopes to clear her grandfather, while Nora wants a good story.

Coinciding with Agnes’s and Nora's arrival, a local girl, Asa, goes missing. Agnes and Nora get caught up in the search for Asa, and in doing so, they find that many of the people surrounding Asa have ties to that long-ago murder. By digging into what happened to Asa, Agnes and Nora uncover secrets that may help solve that old murder.

This is a slow-burn story rich in atmosphere and characters. I liked both Agnes and Nora, and their relationship was interesting, although I often couldn't believe Nora's patience as there were times I wanted to wring Agnes's neck. The pacing at the beginning was slow, but the story was interesting enough that I kept reading, and I'm glad I did. The ending was worth it. 

3.5 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 January 14, 2025.

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The Business Trip by Jessie Garcia

I like to read a book by an unknown author, and even more so when it is a debut novel. This book, Jessie Garcia's debut, sounded promising with its intriguing plot. Unfortunately, it fell short on the delivery.

Jasmine and Stephanie meet on a long flight. Jasmine is fleeing an abusive relationship, and Stephanie is going to yet another conference for her television newsroom. Although they are far apart on the socioeconomic ladder, they find common ground. A few days after the flight, they both disappear after apparently meeting the same man. Both are in contact with friends and business associates through texts, but as the texts become more alarming, the fate of the two women comes into question. Who is this mystery man, and what has happened to the two women?

Told from multiple POVs and numerous text messages, it is quickly apparent that everything is not as it should be. The reader is led down a winding path of clues as more is revealed about the two women and the mystery man. I was sucked into the story at the beginning as I tried to figure out what was happening. The suspense is good, but I had a problem accepting the twists as the story became more complex, and it became harder to suspend disbelief. Overall, this is a good first effort, but a bit hard to swallow at times. 

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 January 14, 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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Boundary Waters by William Kent Krueger

 

I'm doing it! I am finally accomplishing what I promised myself I'd do many years ago when I first discovered William Kent Krueger: I'm making progress reading his Cork O'Connor series. I just finished this fantastic second book, and book three is in the queue.

Trying to get her life in order, country music star Shiloh finds herself stranded in a remote cabin in Minnesota's Boundary Waters wilderness area when her friend Wendell Two Knives fails to return to guide her out. What she doesn't know is that men have killed Wendell and are now out to find and kill her as well. But why?

Meanwhile, her father has engaged Cork O'Connor to help him find her. They join a search party comprised of two FBI agents, Wendell's nephew, Stormy, and led by Stormy's ten-year-old nephew, Louis.

As both factions search for Shiloh, she attempts to escape the wilderness area, armed with only a crudely drawn map Wendell left for her. With winter setting in, Shiloh is now in a race against time while trying to evade those who want her dead.

I love Krueger's writing. His Cork O'Connor books expertly capture the wilds of Northern Minnesota and the people who live there. As with his standalone books, this series has memorable characters and excellent plots. The Native Americans who populate this book series add richness to the stories with explanations of their ancient and modern culture. All of these elements combine to form an engaging, entertaining story. 

5/5 stars.

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Silent Victim by Michael Wood

 I love this murder mystery series. Michael Wood does an excellent job of bringing the characters to life with dark, twisty plots that grip the reader. Each book builds on previous events and characters, so I feel like I'm with old friends each time I pick up a new book.

Matilda was brought back after her team was disbanded, and she was made redundant in a scandal-laden case involving child abuse. This time, she is after a serial killer who rapes and kills his victims. One victim survived, however, but she had life-changing injuries and can no longer speak. It is now up to Matilda and her team to hunt a killer who leaves no trace evidence. Leads are sparse, and political pressure is high to catch the killer before he strikes again.

This fast-paced police procedural has Matilda stumped with no clues to the killer's identity; she and her team grasp at straws. It's interesting to see how the meager clues eventually identify the killer and the lengths Matilda goes to capture him. I'm looking forward to book #11 in the series. 

5/5 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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Eruption by Michael Crichton and James Patterson

 I still have all of Michael Crichton's previous books on my bookshelf, so I was excited when I saw a new book coming out based on an unpublished manuscript. I'm thankful I checked this book out of my library instead of purchasing it. Although promising, it doesn't measure up to his other books.

It's April 2025, and Dr. John "Mac" MacGregor, chief vulcanologist at the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, and his team are preparing for a massive Mauna Loa eruption. The one bright spot is that the lava flow isn't projected to endanger any towns; only an Army facility is in its path. When Mac finds out that the facility contains hazardous materials so deadly it could kill off all humankind, plans suddenly shift. Less than a week before the eruption, Mac, his team, and other interested parties are in a race to devise a plan to divert the lava flow, which has been unsuccessfully tried before. Can Mac be the first to succeed? With the existence of humankind at stake, failure is not an option.

I could see Crichton's hand in this book, but its touch was too light. I respect the effort to complete the manuscript with noted author James Patterson, but Patterson didn't pull it off. Some characters are stereotypes, and their fate is a foregone conclusion. Note to self: if I am ever around an active volcano, do not be the photographer; it never ends well. 

2.5/5 stars.

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The Queen City Detective Agency by Snowden Wright

 

Set in the still racially charged 1980s Mississippi, this book follows a Black private investigator and her white partner as they get embroiled in a tricky case involving murder, potential suicide, and the shadowy Dixie Mafia. It's an excellent Southern crime novel.

After Dixie Mafia member Lewis "Turnip" Coogan falls or jumps to his death from the roof of the Meridian, Mississippi courthouse, Clementine Baldwin and partner Dixon Hicks are hired by Coogan's widow, who is convinced he was murdered, to find his killer. Turnip was accused of killing prominent real estate developer Randall Hubbard. Still, as Clem and Dixon begin digging into Turnip's death, they begin to untangle a web of shady characters, all of whom could be involved with the deaths. It falls to Clem and Dixon to follow the strands of the web to uncover the truth.

This is an atmospheric book with interesting characters and a complex plot. It illuminates what it means to be Black in the South, including the subtle and not-so-subtle digs and racist attitudes. Clem is a strong character who deftly tap dances her way through the societal layers and political intrigue to solve the deaths of the two men. Written with wit and compassion, it takes a magnifying glass to the 1980s South. 

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 13, 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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