A Dead Draw by Robert Dugoni

 I am a fan of Robert Dugoni. I have followed his Tracy Crosswhite series from the beginning and like his standalone novels. I was set to enjoy another good Crosswhite book, but this one let me down. It did deliver Dugoni's brand of murdering psychopath, but it also delved too much into material already covered in previous books.

Tracy thinks she has an air-tight case against killer Erik Schmidt, but when a technicality throws the case out, she is determined to uncover new evidence against him. Schmidt is equally determined to seek revenge against Tracy for a wrong he is convinced she committed. Concerned for her family's safety, they flee Seattle for the remote town of Cedar Grove, where she and her husband grew up. Tracy's hope of escaping Schmidt is short-lived, and she prepares for the showdown with him while fighting the ghosts from her past.

This is a gripping and fast-paced psychological thriller. Where it fell short for me was the rehashing of storylines covered in previous books and the depth to which guns and shooting competitions played a role. I am not a gun enthusiast, so my take may be biased. Dugoni did a good job weaving Tracy's need to improve her gun skills into the plot, but I didn't need that much information. 

3.5/5 stars.

Thank you, NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer, for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. The publication date is May 27, 2025.

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Consider Phlebas by Iain M. Banks

I love space operas and discovering new science fiction authors. Consider Phlebas checks both boxes. It has interesting characters, alien cultures, and a seemingly impossible mission—all things I like in a science fiction book.

Hoza is a Changer whose ability to shift his features has allowed him to assume the identity of a pirate captain. He is allied with the Idirans in their war with the Culture and is tasked with finding a missing Mind owned by the Culture. With his rag-tag crew and a captured Culture agent, he sets off to a long-dead world where the Mind is hiding. Hoza goes against the odds to find the Mind and finds himself in a race that puts his and his crew's lives in danger.

This fast-paced, imaginative, and engrossing story was published in 1988. It has stood the test of time and delivers a satisfying look at two cultures at war with plausible situations. I just discovered this author and this series, although I was sad to learn he has since died. However, he has left a catalog of books, and I look forward to reading them all. 

4/5 stars.

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Phantom Fleet by Alexander Rose

 

What an informative and entertaining book! It read more like a thriller than a military naval history book. The depth of the research gave insight into the men and the mission to capture a German U-boat. It brought to life the efforts of the U.S. intelligence officers, their superiors, and their British and German counterparts as they played a cat-and-mouse game.
 
Beginning in 1942, with German U-boats off the eastern coast of the United States disrupting supply shipments, to the capturing of a U-boat in 1944, this story unfolds from the perspective of the U.S. and German naval officers. Along the way, the book recounts the critical work done by the British to crack the German Enigma encrypting device and how the U.S. used the information to hunt down the elusive U-boats and break the back of the German Navy.

I liked how Rose got into the personalities of the men involved, making it an intimate read with a depth not otherwise achievable. Owing to his conversational writing, the book is a captivating account of a single incident during World War II, highlighting its relationship to the war effort. I don't usually read World War II-era books, but I'm glad I made an exception for this book. 

5/5 stars.

Thank you, NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company, 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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Red Knife by William Kent Krueger

 The more I read this series, the more I like it. The book Red Knife continues to develop Cork O'Connor, his relationships with his family and community, his tightrope walk with the Ojibwe tribe, and his place with his mixed-blood heritage.

Some young Ojibwe men have formed a group known as the Red Boyz, whose stated goal is to take pride in their culture. However, they are suspected of supplying drugs on the reservation and causing the death of the daughter of a prominent white businessman, who vows revenge. When the head of the Red Boyz and his wife are murdered, all fingers point to the businessman. Now it's the Red Boyz who vow revenge. It falls to Cork, now a private investigator, to work both sides to figure out who is behind the deaths before a race war erupts.

I liked the insight into Ojibwe culture and Cork's ability to fit into the white and red communities. Krueger does an excellent job of tying the story's multiple plotlines together. What I didn't care for was the last chapter. I didn't feel it tied into the delicate balance of race relations that was the book's central theme. 

4/5 stars.

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Fever Beach by Carl Hiaasen

 

I know Carl Hiaasen is a best-selling author with a big following, but this is the first book of his that I've read. If his other books are as good as Fever Beach, I'll read many more. Filled with quirky characters and outlandish situations, this book sucked me into the world of white power, crooked politicians, and those fighting back.

Dale Figgo was washed out of the Proud Boys after his foolish actions on January 6, 2021, which made him a laughingstock in the white power movement. Determined to start his own white power group, he recruits other like-minded individuals in Florida. Wealthy right-wig philanthropists Claude and Electra Mink finance Figgo's group's first mission: helping reelect corrupt Congressman Clure Boyette. The group is infiltrated by Twilly Spree, a man who, comfortably well-off, makes it his mission to right wrongs and stop corruption. Twilly is aided by Figgo's roommate, Viva Morales, who works for the Minks. Together, the pair attempt to "monkey wrench" the plans of the white power group, the congressman, and the wealthy couple. What transpires is a romp through today's political climate with almost every stereotype represented.

I loved the humor, the writing, and especially the characters. The issues at the novel's heart are serious, but Hiaasen's light touch makes them palatable. This is a satirical look at many of today's problems, told with wit and a magnifying glass. It is both funny and thought-provoking. 

4/5 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 May 13, 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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