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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Johnny Careless by Kevin Wade

 

I wasn't sure what to expect of this book. Initially, it seemed like a crime noir book with quirky characters, but it became a good police procedural with quirky characters.

Jeep Mullane has switched from being a New York City cop to the police chief of a wealthy community where he had grown up, far from the "haves" who populate the community. When the body of his wealthy friend, Johnny Chambliss, aka Johnny Careless, because of his "care less" attitude, is found, Jeep suspects foul play. Because of his connection, the case is taken away, and he is forced to concentrate on a gang stealing high-end vehicles. Not to be deterred, he keeps tabs on the investigation and often steps on the toes of the officer in charge. When the cause of Johnny's death comes back as undetermined, Jeep decides it is up to him to figure out what happened to Johnny.

Written with a touch of humor, this is a fast-moving story with great characters. Johnny's mysterious death and secret past add to a mix of loose ends Jeep is determined to tie up. Overall, it's a good story but failed to capture my attention fully. I'm a mood reader, so maybe I wasn't in the right frame of mind. 

3.5/5 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 January 28, 2025.

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Presumed Guilty by Scott Turow

 

Scott Turow is one of my go-to authors for a good legal thriller. In this third book featuring Rusty Sabich, Turow does an excellent job entertaining and educating about the legal system.

First introduced in "Presumed Innocent," Rusty is now 77, retired, and engaged to Bea, a white woman with an adopted Black son, Aaron. Aaron has had run-ins with the law and is now on probation under the supervision of Rusty and Bea. Aaron goes on a camping trip with his troubled girlfriend, Mae, to work on their relationship; Aaron returns without Mae. When Mae is later found dead, Aaron is charged with first-degree murder. and at Bea's request, Rusty agrees to represent him at trial. With the evidence stacked against Aaron, Rusty must use his legal experience to see that Aaron gets a fair trial.

Although it is a long book, more than 500 pages, it is a quick read. The story is compelling, fast-paced, and excellently written. The moral dilemmas facing Rusty and the legal minefield he had to negotiate make for an excellent legal thriller. I highly recommend this book if you enjoy courtroom drama with interesting characters. 

4.5 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 January 14, 2025.

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Mercy Falls by William Kent Krueger

This fifth Cork O'Connor book is another action-packed police procedural whose action takes off immediately and never stops.

Cork and a deputy are on what is thought to be a domestic disturbance call on the Ojibwa reservation when a sniper ambushes them, wounding the deputy and leaving Cork with the disturbing knowledge that he was the target. Just as the search for the sniper begins, the gruesome murder of a Chicago businessman occurs, and Cork has his hands full. The businessman's wealthy family inserts their investigator into the investigation, and ties between the family and Cork's wife, Jo, are revealed. With two seemingly unrelated investigations, Cork and his team see disturbing connections that require them to negotiate the political and emotional threads in the cases carefully.

Although I did figure out who was behind the sniper ambush and the murder, Krueger did a good job weaving together the details into a complex mystery. I always enjoy Cork's interactions with the Ojibwa band and their culture—they are both enlightening and entertaining. As always, the writing and characters are excellent. 

4.5/5 stars. 

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Grimm Up North by David J. Gatward

 I enjoy police procedurals, especially those set in Great Britain. This book ticks both boxes and is a promising start to a series.

DCI Harry Grimm has been seconded from a bustling city to a remote village in the Yorkshire Dales after he almost botched an investigation because of a personal obsession with finding his missing father. Once there, he is disappointed to see that the most significant crime is sheep rustling. When a local teen goes missing, he suspects human trafficking, and his interest is piqued. When a murder occurs, Harry understands terrible things can happen in even the most idyllic surroundings.

I like the setting, the author's description of the countryside, and the peculiarities of the locals. The book moved along, and I liked Harry the more I got to know him. He is a protagonist with a dark past that haunts him. It is a good mix of interesting characters and an unusual setting. 

3.5/5 stars.

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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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You Like It Darker: Stories by Stephen King

This book should teach us that one should never anticipate a book based on its title. Because the title is YOU LIKE IT DARKER, I expected these stories to be vintage Stephen King, dark, and, perhaps, creepy. Nope. With a couple of exceptions, there wasn't even much paranormal. Not that anything by King is disappointing; it's just not what I was expecting. Another thing is that the title says "Stories"--not "short stories"--because at least one was more novella length. Live and learn.

I enjoyed all of the stories in this collection, some more than others. My favorites, "Two Talented Bastids" and "The Answer Man," were storytelling at its finest. All had interesting characters, and "Rattlesnakes" used characters from King's oldie but goodie CUJO.

I discovered Stephen King early in his career and have been a constant reader ever since. I'm not a fan of story collections—I prefer one long story—something I can get immersed in—but this is a good one as a collection goes. 

4/5 stars.

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