Vermilion Drift by William Kent Krueger

I was wondering how Krueger would adjust his characters after what happened in the last book, "Heaven's Keep." I never should have doubted him.

An abandoned mine near Aurora is being considered as a site for the storage of nuclear waste, which provokes the locals. Cork is wearing two hats: security consultant to the storage project and private investigator for the mine owner, who has hired Cork to find his missing wife. While inspecting the mine, a secret room is found that contains the remains of six murder victims, one of whom is the missing wife. The remaining victims are fifty years old and from a period when Cork's father was sheriff. In his investigation of the older victims, Cork revisits his father's actions, some of which are suspect. 

William Kent Krueger has done an excellent job of delving into Cork's past while he is still recovering from a recent tragedy. He deftly intertwines the present and past to tell a compelling story of love and the repercussions of moral decision-making made under extenuating circumstances. It's an intricate and suspenseful story that examines the evil that humans are capable of and how to combat it. 

5/5 stars.

For more information:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

The River is Waiting by Wally Lamb

This is the first book I've read by this author, and I chose it mainly because his books have gotten great reviews. Based on this book, I doubt I'll read another of his books. I found the trauma drama too much, and the main character unlikable.

Corby Ledbetter is having a bad year. He lost his job, became a stay-at-home dad, and turned to drink. When he thought things couldn't get any worse, a tragedy occurred, he was sent to prison, and his life was forever changed.

I struggled to finish this book. It was depressing, and the political and social commentary, while contributing to the story, could have made the same point without the navel-gazing.. There were valid points, especially about our judicial and prison systems, but a good editor could have made this a much more interesting book. Corby himself seemed to miss the point about what he needed to do to turn his life around, and that is what turned me off on the character. This review will likely be an outlier, and I encourage readers to consult multiple reviews before deciding whether to read this book. 

2/5 stars.

Thank you, NetGalley and S&S/Marysue Rucci Books, for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. The publication date is June 10, 2025.

For more information:

Amazon  | Barnes & Noble

Use of Weapons by Iain M. Banks

Banks continues to impress me with his intricate plots and interesting characters. In this, the third book in the Culture series, he transforms a character who would typically be a villain into one I rooted for. 

Cheradenine Zakalwe is a fixer for the Culture's Special Circumstances operations. He makes sure the wishes of the Culture are carried out by whatever means necessary. Zakalwe's contact, Diziet Sma, assigns the situations that need fixing, and occasionally cajoles Zakalwe into taking assignments he's not too thrilled about. 

Alternating between events in Zakalwe's past and his current assignment, Banks develops a complex character who is both ruthless and sympathetic. Excellently written and fast paced, "Use of Weapons" is an excellent addition to the series. Unlike many series that continue characters from book to book, Banks's books bounce around in time, and each book, although building on the reader's knowledge of the Culture, focuses on different characters. I find this format satisfying. 

4.5/5 stars. 

For more information: 

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Death at the White Hart by Chris Chibnall

 I like police procedurals, and this one was good. The pacing was a bit slow, but the story was interesting.

In a small town in Devon, the man who ran the White Hart pub is murdered, and his body is graphically displayed in the middle of a road. Detective Sargent Nicola Bridge, recently returned to the area, and Detective Constable Harry Ward are assigned to the case. They discover that similar murders occurred many years ago, and wonder if there is a link. As they investigate, they begin uncovering secrets that many wish to stay hidden. What was once an idyllic village is now a place where neighbors point the finger at neighbors, and speculation runs rampant.

The beginning grabbed my attention with the description of the victim, but the pace slowed, and I skimmed over the character's navel-gazing. I didn't find Nicola engaging, and often felt sorry for the way she treated Harry.  The writing is good, but I figured out who the murderer was well before the reveal. 

3.5/5 stars.

Thank you, NetGalley and Pamela Dorman Books, for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. The publication date is June 10, 2025.

For more information:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

The Third Rule of Time Travel by Philip Fracassi

 

Time travel is one of my favorite genres. Done well, it captures the imagination and can be thought-provoking. Based on the description of this book, I had high hopes. Unfortunately, it was light on time travel and heavy on Beth's tumultuous life, which wasn't all that interesting.

Beth and her husband, Colson, were developing a time travel machine when they sold their work to a corporation to allow them the funding and facilities necessary to continue. Colson then dies in a car crash, and Beth is left to continue their work and raise their daughter. When the company's CEO begins pushing Beth to accelerate the amount of time travel, Beth starts to notice anomalies in her current circumstances. Alarmed, Beth tries to figure out what is happening with the machine, only to face pushback from the CEO. Feeling isolated and realizing she cannot trust those around her, Beth struggles to find answers, fighting for her career and her daughter.

The book started interestingly, but quickly became bogged down in Beth and her struggles. Additionally, Beth is not the most sympathetic character, and I skimmed long passages of introspection and soul-searching. Again, the premise is good, but the execution is flawed. 

3/5 stars.

For more information:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Chasing Shadows by Robert Bryndza

 

I love Robert Bryndza's books. The Kate Marshall and Erika Foster series have interesting characters and always intriguing plots that keep me turning pages. This latest Erika Foster book is no exception.

What starts as a routine investigation into a dead body leads Erika to the past that continues to haunt her: the death of her husband and colleagues ten years ago on what was supposed to have been a routine drug bust. The perpetrators were never caught, but now, Erika comes face-to-face with one of the suspected killers. He has a different identity, but Erika knows it's him--only to be told to stop pursuing that case angle. Frustrated and forced to take leave, Erika returns to the scene of the drug bust and begins digging. What she finds is damning information about the bust and links to the current case.

I liked that Bryndza went back to Erika's past so she could try to solve the case that has haunted her. This cleverly plotted story ties Erika's past and present lives in ways that enrich the character and help resolve her demons. The writing is top-notch, and the breakneck pacing makes for an excellent page-turner. 

5/5 stars.

Thank you, NetGalley and Raven Street Publishing, for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. The publication date is June 5, 2025.

For more information:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Heaven's Keep by William Kent Krueger

Just when I thought this series could not get better,  I read the next book, immersing myself more in the characters and Native American culture.

When a small plane carrying Cork's wife and tribal members goes down in the Wyoming wilderness, Cork joins the search effort. Blame focuses on the pilot, who had been drinking heavily the night before the flight. Later, the pilot's wife approaches Cork, asking him to look into the allegations, and Cork returns to Wyoming to find the truth. What Cork finds is a web of lies and perhaps misdeeds done by the Northern Arapaho tribe, and, hope against hope, his wife is still alive.

This intricately plotted novel grabbed my heart at the possible death of Cork's wife. I couldn't believe Krueger would kill off a major character, so I hoped, along with Cork, for a miracle. Krueger again exceeded my expectations in this ninth book in the twenty-one-book series. The story is riveting, and the location shift from Minnesota to Wyoming is a welcome change. 

5/5 stars.

For more information:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble