King Sorrow by Joe Hill

I've liked Joe Hill's previous novels and short stories, but with his latest novel, King Sorrow, I've been converted to a full-on fan. This book, an epic tale of greed, ambition, and friendship, is his best yet. 

Arthur, Colin, Allie, Van, Donna, and Gwen are college friends who enjoy experimenting with the occult. When Arthur is blackmailed into stealing rare books from the college library, they band together to summon a dragon, King Sorrow from the Long Dark. Little do they realize that their seemingly innocent act will have grave consequences, as they find themselves in a lifelong pact with the dragon--they must choose a sacrifice every year or one of them will be the next victim. This burden weighs heavily on their shoulders. 

Spanning decades, the book follows the friends as they mature and go their separate ways. Bound by the pact with King Sorrow, they face a never-ending commitment to finding a yearly sacrifice, often with innocent individuals as collateral damage. Arthur explores ways to end the Faustian agreement, but not all his friends are willing to relinquish their power. As the rift among the friends deepens, they each face a moral dilemma that strains their relationships, inviting the reader to empathize with their predicament. If you enjoy horror stories with great characters facing morally dubious situations, I recommend this book. 

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 October 21, 2025.

For more information: 

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

The Impossible Fortune by Richard Osman

 

Richard Osman returns to his Thursday Murder Club after his last book, We Solve Murders, began another series. This is the fifth TMC book in this series, and it brings back all of the old characters in a plot that's as twisty as ever, full of the red herrings that mystery novel readers love. 

Joyce is in her element when her daughter, Joanna, gets married to Paul, a man she barely knows. Elizabeth, still grieving, meets the best man, Nick, who asks for her help. It seems someone is out to kill him, having planted a bomb in his car. When Nick disappears, Elizabeth, Joyce, Ron, and Ibrahim turn to his business partner and discover that the pair is worth a fortune in Bitcoin, a fortune worth killing for. 

There are subplots involving Ron and Ibrahim that are every bit as intriguing as the search for Nick and the Bitcoin fortune; all plots are well-constructed and satisfactorily tied up. I love the relationships, especially with the minor characters; they enhance the story and add depth to the storyline. 

5/5 stars.

For more information: 

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

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.

For more information: 

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Excession by Iain M. Banks

It's a revelation that I hadn't come across Iain M. Banks sooner. My introduction to his work was a serendipitous encounter with an astronomer during a trip to Norway. It seems he's a bigger name in Europe. Nevertheless, I'm overjoyed to have discovered his imaginative and beautifully written series, except for the book Inversions, which I didn't quite finish.

When a mysterious artifact, known to the Minds as an Excession, is discovered, it sparks intense speculation about its purpose and capabilities. Genar-Hofoen, a diplomat from the Culture's Special Circumstances, is dispatched to investigate. His mission takes a series of unexpected turns when he encounters the aggressive race known as the Affront and, later, a former love. Meanwhile, the Minds' insatiable curiosity leads them to overlook caution, triggering a war between the Culture and the Affront. It's up to the distracted Genar-Hofoen to resolve the conflict and solve the mystery of the Excession.

I love this series! Banks is a creative writer whose sense of humor and storytelling ability make the characters and environments come to life. It's an ambitious series that Banks executes with a deft hand. 

5/5 stars.

For more information:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

The Killing Stones by Ann Cleeves

This is the start of a new series featuring returning characters, Jimmy Perez, and his partner, Willow Reeves, from the Shetland Island series. The pair have moved to Scotland's Orkney Islands, and have a growing family.

It's almost Christmas when Jimmy's long-time friend, Archie Stout, goes missing on the Orkney Island of Westray, and Jimmy finds his body. It is obvious that it was a premeditated murder, and with the weather holding back the help from Scotland's mainland, it's up to Jimmy and Willow to solve the murder. As they dig deeper into Archie's life, they find multiple suspects and one apparent motive. Following the leads, Jimmy and Willow narrow the suspect pool and close in on who they think murdered Archie.

Switching action between Jimmy and Willow, Cleeves does an excellent job of weaving suspects and motives together into a gripping novel. Once again, Cleeves makes the dramatic setting a feature that is every bit as interesting as the plot. I've never been disappointed by an Ann Cleeves novel. Her characters are always interesting, and her love for Scotland and its inhabitants is apparent. Her writing and pacing are second to none. 

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 September 30, 2025.

For more information: 

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

The Loney Man by Ann Cleeves

 

This short story is an introduction to the new Jimmy Perez and Willow Reeves series set in the Orkney Islands. 

Willow and Jimmy are renting a cottage from elderly farmer Davie Tait. When a woman named Gloria arrives on the scene, Willow becomes suspicious of the relationship. Is Gloria a gold digger? Willow, protective of Davie, looks into the situation.

I liked this transition into the new series. It updated the timeline and defined the relationship between Jimmy and Willow. This eBook story is available for free. 

4.5/5 stars.

For more information: 

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Wild Fire by Ann Cleeves

 

This is the last book in the Shetland Island series, but not the last of the characters Jimmy Perez and Willow Reeves. Cleeves brings them back in the book The Killing Stones, this time set in the Orkney Islands. 

When the body of a nanny is found hanging in Helena and Daniel Fleming's barn, it is apparent that she had been murdered. Suspicion immediately falls on Daniel, who, rumor has it, was having an affair with her. Jimmy calls for help in the investigation from Inverness, and his boss and occasional lover, DCI Willow Reeves, arrives with the crime scene team. As Jimmy and Willow begin looking into the nanny, they uncover secrets in her past that may have contributed to her murder. The case, along with Jimmy's and Willow's complicated relationship, is intertwined, and both seem insolvable.

The storyline and complex plot immediately drew me in. I feared for the budding relationship between Jimmy and Willow as they struggled to define what that relationship would be. This, combined with the murder investigation, provided an interesting read. I'm happy to know that Jimmy and Willow will continue to work together, albeit on a different set of islands. 

4.5/5 stars.

For more information: 

Amazon | Barnes & Noble