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The Housewife by Natalie Barelli [Book Review]

Posted on August 8, 2026August 8, 2026 by Darinda

This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. For more info, read my Disclosure Policy.

BOOK INFO

Title: The Housewife

Author: Natalie Barelli

Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press

Publish Date: June 30, 2026

Genre: Domestic Suspense

Series: NA

My Rating: 3/5

BOOK BLURB

Jodie always dreamed of being a housewife. And after a whirlwind romance, she marries renowned psychologist Dr. Roy Davies and moves into his perfect Beverly Hills home. But the fairy tale fades fast. Roy is distant, his friends view her as a gold-digger, and the house still reveres his late wife, Deborah, whose presence still looms over everyone and everything.

When Jodie learns Deborah became a recluse before death, she begins to suspect Roy was behind it. And the deeper she digs, the darker Roy’s past appears―obsessive, controlling, unfaithful. Increasingly convinced he had something to do with Deborah’s death, Jodie knows she should go to the police, but that would require revealing her own secret. A secret that could destroy her.

But Jodie won’t be silenced. Because the truth about Roy is worse than she imagined―and now, trapped in a house built on lies, she must find a way out before she becomes the next perfect wife to vanish.

MY REVIEW

Jodie is an excellent housewife. Unfortunately, Jodie suspects her husband may have killed his first wife.

The Housewife is told from Jodie’s point of view. Jodie loves cooking and cleaning. She’s also socially anxious, and has secrets of her own. She suspects her husband was involved in his first wife’s death, and she tries to learn everything she can about the wife and their marriage.

I enjoyed the first half of the book more than the second half. Overall, an entertaining domestic thriller. Dark humor and a twisted story.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

Somebody Worth Killing by Jessica Payne [Book Review]

Posted on August 2, 2026August 2, 2026 by Darinda

This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. For more info, read my Disclosure Policy.

BOOK INFO

Title: Somebody Worth Killing

Author: Jessica Payne

Publisher: Berkley

Publish Date: June 16, 2026

Genre: Mystery Thriller

Series: NA

My Rating: 4/5

BOOK BLURB

Nadia Davis is living the dream as a successful working mom with a career she loves, two adorable little girls, and a devoted husband who has no idea that she’s secretly a hired assassin and psychopath who kills certified bad guys. So when Nadia finds out she’s been “mommy tracked” by her assassin’s agency and is no longer getting the bigger, more exciting jobs, she demands an important mark…somebody worth killing.

But it turns out that big kill is the last person she expects—her husband. How is the sweet, kind, teller-of-dad jokes she’s promised her life to an evil villain who needs exterminating? Has their whole life together been a lie? Now Nadia must choose between the two things she loves most in life, the career that keeps her sane or the family she thought she knew.

MY REVIEW

Nadia is a wife, mother, and professional assassin. When she finds out she has been “mommy tracked” at work, she demands a bigger target for her next job. Unfortunately, her next target ends up being her husband.

Somebody Worth Killing is a fun thriller. Nadia is an intriguing character, facing challenges in her personal and work lives. Sure, she’s an assassin, but she has always requested the targets be truly bad people. When her latest assignment ends up being her husband, she can’t see how he could be a villain.

Somebody Worth Killing is a gripping read. Fans of anti-heroine thrillers will enjoy this one.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Forty-Year Grudge by Liza Tully [Book Review]

Posted on August 2, 2026August 2, 2026 by Darinda

This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. For more info, read my Disclosure Policy.

BOOK INFO

Title: The Forty-Year Grudge

Author: Liza Tully

Publisher: Berkley

Publish Date: June 9, 2026

Genre: Private Detective

Series: Merritt & Blunt Mysteries #2

My Rating: 3/5

BOOK BLURB

It’s been four decades since the women of Sigma Delta Tau were last together. The passing years, growing families, and maturing careers may have strained the bonds of sisterhood, but now a reunion at the Western ranch of one member offers an opportunity to renew acquaintances…and at least one long-standing grudge.

Still, this weekend is supposed to be a pleasant diversion for former sorority member and current private investigator Aubrey Merritt. She’s come to New Mexico to reconnect with old friends and she’s brought along her personal assistant, Olivia Blunt—an aspiring detective who is learning more about packing bags on this trip than about solving crimes.

The shocking murder of a sorority sister changes everything. With the local police overmatched, all eyes turn to Merritt and Blunt to crack the case. With a surprising abundance of suspects, it’s going to take both of them to cut through the knot of old hurts and current grievances to find the killer.

MY REVIEW

The Forty-Year Grudge is the second book in the Merritt & Blunt Mysteries series. Aubrey Merritt is a private investigator. Olivia Blunt is her assistant and aspiring detective. While The Forty-Year Grudge can be read as a standalone novel, I recommend starting with the first book, The World’s Greatest Detective and Her Just Okay Assistant.

In The Forty-Year Grudge, Merritt travels to New Mexico and reconnects with her former sorority sisters. Blunt comes along on the trip to help. When one of the sorority sisters is murdered, Merritt and Blunt work to solve the case.

This is a cozy mystery with dry humor. Interesting characters and a fun mystery.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Summer’s Never Over by Darby Bozeman [Book Review]

Posted on August 2, 2026August 2, 2026 by Darinda

This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. For more info, read my Disclosure Policy.

BOOK INFO

Title: Summer’s Never Over

Author: Darby Bozeman

Publisher: Berkley

Publish Date: June 9, 2026

Genre: Mystery Thriller

Series: NA

My Rating: 3/5

BOOK BLURB

Five years ago, Greer left her family’s summer camp in the mountains of Georgia and vowed she’d never return. An idyllic season had turned into a nightmare after a mysterious Phantom began stalking the camp—and ended with Greer’s friend and fellow counselor dead. Losing Steph shattered everything, and Greer’s been fleeing from the grief ever since.

But then Greer’s mother dies, and Greer finds herself back at Dread’s Cove, surrounded by the people she was closest to that intense summer. Two ex-boyfriends—one a childhood sweetheart, the other the guy she’s never gotten over—and old friends. Including Margo, Steph’s best friend.

Greer and Margo didn’t leave things on the best of terms. But now, Margo needs her. Margo never believed that Steph’s death in that horrific fire was an accident—and she’s on the trail of an explosive secret Steph took to her grave.

Greer has to make a choice: keep the Cove’s secrets and her own, or finally face the truth about that summer.

MY REVIEW

A woman, Greer, returns to her family’s summer camp after five years away. The last summer she was there was tragic, there was a mysterious stalker and a friend died in a fire. Current day, her mother has passed away, and Greer returns to the camp she swore to never visit again.

Summer’s Never Over is an atmospheric thriller. The story has plenty of secrets and drama. The characters were mostly unlikable, and kind of annoying. The characters are in their mid-twenties, but this reads a lot like a YA thriller.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Beach Thriller by Jamie Day [Book Review]

Posted on August 2, 2026August 2, 2026 by Darinda

This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. For more info, read my Disclosure Policy.

BOOK INFO

Title: Beach Thriller

Author: Jamie Day

Publisher: St. Martin’s Press

Publish Date: June 9, 2026

Genre: Mystery Thriller

Series: NA

My Rating: 3/5

BOOK BLURB

Holly Sinclair, a struggling author, is dead broke. After being evicted from her New York apartment, she returns to her family’s dilapidated beach house in coastal New England with one urgent goal: write a book that sells. Fast.

Reinventing herself won’t be easy, but the old seaside town offers a few unexpected allies. Gail, a driven local Realtor, introduces her to a charming handyman who can help her get back on her feet. Serena, the town psychic, offers encouragement and an unsettling warning about danger ahead. And Jade, a teen runaway, is hiding out in Holly’s attic and desperately needs a safe place to land.

Holly takes Jade in, and soon the girl finds work with the powerful Carmichael family. Their dynasty has faded, but their connection to Holly’s past is darker than she wants to remember. Their secrets could put both women at risk.

Not everyone is glad to see Holly return. Someone in town is watching her every move. The Watcher knows something Holly doesn’t. The past may be a foggy echo, but it’s close enough to come rushing in with the tide.

MY REVIEW

A woman returns to her family’s dilapidated beach house to write a book and find answers from the past.

Beach Thriller is a mystery that slowly reveals its secrets. The story is told through the alternating points of view of Holly, Jade, and The Watcher. Holly has returned home to write a book and investigate her sister’s death from years earlier. Jade is a runaway teen staying with Holly and working for a wealthy family in town. The Watcher is not happy with Holly’s return.

Beach Thriller has engaging characters and a tense plot. Recommended for readers who enjoy atmospheric thrillers.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Valley of the Moms by Hannah Selinger [Book Review]

Posted on August 2, 2026August 2, 2026 by Darinda

This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. For more info, read my Disclosure Policy.

BOOK INFO

Title: Valley of the Moms

Author: Hannah Selinger

Publisher: Little, Brown and Company

Publish Date: June 2, 2026

Genre: Domestic Suspense

Series: NA

My Rating: 2/5

BOOK BLURB

Hamilton, Massachusetts is one of those suburban towns that appears untouched by the outside world where stay-at-home moms wear 2ct diamond studs to the playground, where a million-dollar property is “affordable,” and where the Parent Teacher Organization is a hotbed of controversy. Sure, some people struggle to make ends meet, but residents would say discussing such ugly matters is impolite. Hamilton has been like this forever, and everyone likes it that way. Or: almost everyone.

It’s not that Anna Plummer doesn’t like Hamilton, but she never thought she’d be married with two young kids, comfortable, complacent…and growing more bored by the minute. So, when she realizes her second grader won’t be able to attend the “Ziti with Your Sweetie” school dance because she didn’t pay for a “Premium” membership, she snaps. She sends an email to the terrifying president of the PTO—and all hell breaks loose.

One year later, Anna is found dead in the frozen Ipswich River. Left to pick up the pieces, her husband, Denny, is shaken to his core. He’s no expert, but he’s seen enough Dateline to know that the police think he’s the main suspect. If they aren’t going to get justice for Anna, he will. Told through the alternating perspectives of Anna and Denny exactly one year apart, and with a shocking concluding twist, Valley of the Moms is a gripping look at the underpinnings of grief, the social structures of wealth, and the secrets people keep—even among friends and loved ones.

MY REVIEW

A woman decides to run for the PTO (Parent Teacher Organization) board when her daughter doesn’t get to attend a school dance. A year later, she is found murdered.

Valley of the Moms sounds interesting with a murder mystery, evil PTO, and small town atmosphere. I usually enjoy rich people behaving badly books, but this one didn’t work for me. Silly plot and a disappointing ending.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Final Chapter by C.B. Everett [Book Review]

Posted on July 31, 2026August 2, 2026 by Darinda

This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. For more info, read my Disclosure Policy.

BOOK INFO

Title: The Final Chapter

Author: C.B. Everett

Publisher: Atria Books

Publish Date: June 2, 2026

Genre: Psychological Thriller

Series: NA

My Rating: 3/5

BOOK BLURB

Ten years ago, a bestselling, critically acclaimed literary author disappeared without a trace…and without a final novel. In recent days, that missing manuscript has surfaced, but strangely enough, it’s not another genius work of literary fiction, but an espionage novel full of all-too-stereotypical spycraft and James Bond-like twists.

His former publisher has asked the author’s best friend—and fellow author named C.B. Everett—to annotate the novel with details from real life to give the strange novel context within his larger oeuvre. But as C.B. reads, he finds the espionage thriller is filled with references to events and people who feel a little too familiar, and soon he’s wondering if the novel might in fact be a key to his missing friend’s disappearance. There’s text and subtext aplenty, and C.B. is determined to learn once and for all what happened to his friend through solving the mystery woven into the pages. But the final chapter may hold secrets darker and more threatening than anyone anticipated.

MY REVIEW

An author missing for ten years has his last manuscript suddenly surface. It is a spy novel. The publisher asks the author’s best friend, C.B. Everett, to annotate the novel. As C.B. reads, he believes the novel may lead to discovering what happened to his friend.

The Final Chapter is a unique novel – a book within a book. The novel starts slow, but gets more engaging. A creative and clever mystery. Goods for readers who enjoy metafiction.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

Marion by Leah Rowan [Book Review]

Posted on July 31, 2026August 2, 2026 by Darinda

This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. For more info, read my Disclosure Policy.

BOOK INFO

Title: Marion

Author: Leah Rowan

Publisher: St. Martin’s Press

Publish Date: June 2, 2026

Genre: Mystery Thriller

Series: NA

My Rating: 4/5

BOOK BLURB

Marion is in deep. She’s stolen money from the Manhattan ad agency where she works in a desperate bid to help her sister escape an abusive marriage, but the bus breaks down before she can make it to Saratoga Springs. It’s late at night, and the only place with vacancies is an old set of cabins on the outskirts of town. She pays for a room in cash, and ends up chatting with Norm, the young innkeeper who’s handsome, charming and a touch hung-up on his elderly mother. Back in her room, she steps into the shower, scrubbing off the late-summer heat, when the curtain is pulled back…

Norm Billings is there with a knife. He raises his arm to strike, but before he does, Marion knees him in the balls, grabs the knife, and stabs the life out of him. Now, she’s covered in blood, and she’s a woman on the run—not just a thief, but a killer, too. Where will she go? How will she save both herself and her sister? And what mysteries will she uncover as she does?

MY REVIEW

Marion stole money from her boss. She is headed to help her sister, when the only place with an available room is an old motel on the outskirts of town. She chats with the owner, Norm, and retires to her room. While in the shower, the shower curtain is pulled back and Norm is standing there with a knife. She fights back.

Marion is an intriguing take on Alfred Hitchock’s Psycho. If Marion fought back, what may have happened. Strong female characters and a gripping story.

Marion is a fast-paced and intense thriller. Fans of the Hitchcock film will likely enjoy this modern reimagining.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Safari Murder Party by Rachel Moore [Book Review]

Posted on July 31, 2026August 2, 2026 by Darinda

This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. For more info, read my Disclosure Policy.

BOOK INFO

Title: Safari Murder Party

Author: Rachel Moore

Publisher: Berkley

Publish Date: May 19, 2026

Genre: Mystery Thriller

Series: NA

My Rating: 3/5

BOOK BLURB

Fletcher Spence is dying for a promotion. And her colleagues are more than happy to oblige.

After three years working seventy-hour weeks as assistant to the most terrifying CEO in the magazine world, Fletcher finally finagled a spot on Cartwright Media’s annual corporate retreat—a famously luxurious week on the Cartwrights’ private island, where promotions are handed out like party favors. And her plan to snag her dream job as a travel magazine photographer was going great…until her boss’s dramatic death reveals his last will and testament: Whoever survives the week will inherit the company.

So now she’s stuck on her billionaire boss’s safari park island, surrounded by wild animals and on the run from coworkers who’ve swapped coffee cups for machetes and briefcases for hunting rifles.

To Fletcher’s dismay, her only ally might be her boss’s insufferably gorgeous son, Waylon Cartwright. Despite their hostile history, Fletcher is at least 80 percent sure he won’t try to kill her this week. Plus, his experience on the island might come in handy while they fend off lions and tigers and…marketing executives? Oh my.

While Fletcher battles her own ambitions and her unexpected attraction to Waylon, her power-hungry, bloodthirsty colleagues will do anything to stop them from escaping with their lives. Everyone knows the media industry is cutthroat, but in this safari party, it’s never been more true.

MY REVIEW

Fletcher wants a promotion. When her boss dies, her and her coworkers are stuck on his private island. During the reading of his will, it is stated that whoever survives the week on the island will inherit his company. Now, not only does Fletcher have to deal with the wildlife, but also the coworkers willing to kill to get ahead.

Safari Murder Party is a wild ride. Quirky characters and an intriguing setting. A bit of a locked room mystery and survival story. Also, an enemies to lovers romance.

Dark comedy, mystery, and romance combine for an entertaining read. Safari Murder Party is good for readers who enjoy a little crazy in their thrillers.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Rachel West and the Fallen Starlet by Emma Mills [Book Review]

Posted on July 31, 2026August 2, 2026 by Darinda

This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. For more info, read my Disclosure Policy.

BOOK INFO

Title: Rachel West and the Fallen Starlet

Author: Emma Mills

Publisher: Berkley

Publish Date: May 19, 2026

Genre: Amateur Investigators

Series: NA

My Rating: 3/5

Rachel West and the Fallen Starlet by Emma Mills

BOOK BLURB

Baby doll top, gladiator sandals, and fully loaded iPod at the ready: it’s 2008 in Los Angeles, and Rachel West is a little less starry-eyed than your average ingenue. Copyediting a celeb gossip rag isn’t the glossy entertainment journalism Rachel thought she would be doing but hey, it pays the bills. Some of them, anyway.

Rachel’s life changes overnight after meeting Molly Byrne, a former child star and current tabloid fave for her drunken escapades and rotating cast of boyfriends, and what begins as a chance encounter in a nightclub bathroom quickly grows into a genuine friendship.

When Molly is found dead, Hollywood accepts her death as an overdose. But Rachel knows for a fact her friend was clean—and she’s not alone in her suspicions that Molly was murdered.

With the help of a ragtag group of residents from her apartment building, a friendly paparazzo, and a handsome detective, Rachel must solve the mystery of Molly’s death before she’s written off for good.

MY REVIEW

An aspiring journalist looks into the death of a celebrity, who happened to be her friend.

Rachel West and the Fallen Starlet is a charming mystery. Quirky characters and an entertaining plot. The story takes place in Los Angeles in 2008, making the setting a little nostalgic.

Rachel West and the Fallen Starlet is humorous and fun. A good read for fans of light cozy mysteries.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Anniversary by Alex Finlay [Book Review]

Posted on July 31, 2026August 2, 2026 by Darinda

This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. For more info, read my Disclosure Policy.

BOOK INFO

Title: The Anniversary

Author: Alex Finlay

Publisher: Minotaur Books

Publish Date: May 12, 2026

Genre: Mystery Thriller

Series: NA

My Rating: 4/5

BOOK BLURB

On May 1, 1992, Jules Delaney and Quinn Riley hardly know each other.

Jules is high school queen bee in a small Midwestern town when she survives a brutal attack by the elusive May Day Killer—a predator who strikes every May 1st and then vanishes without a trace. Quinn, a boy from the wrong side of the tracks, is arrested the same night after trying to break up a fight and nearly killing someone.

By morning, their lives are forever connected.

A year later, Jules is haunted by trauma and guilt, tormented by one question: Why was she spared? Quinn is newly released from juvenile detention and returns home to devastating news—the unsolved murder of his mother.

Over the next decade, their lives are revisited on a single day each year: May 1st.

As the years pass, secrets surface, lies unravel, and the paths of Jules and Quinn draw closer together. Two mysteries edge toward the truth—what really happened the night Jules was attacked, and who murdered Quinn’s mother? All the while, the May Day Killer is still out there.

And the clock is racing toward another anniversary.

MY REVIEW

Every May 1, a serial killer targets small Midwest towns. On May 1, 1992, Jules survives the May Day Killer and Quinn accidently kills someone while breaking up a fight. A year later, Jules questions why she was spared and Quinn is released from juvenile detention and learns his mother has been killed. Over the next decade, the paths of Jules and Quinn intertwine as secrets are revealed.

The Anniversary is a gripping mystery. The story covers over a decade of time, but is written in a way that flows easily. Jules struggles with survivor’s guilt. Quinn struggles with putting the pieces of his life back together.

The Anniversary is dark and gritty. Recommended to fans of fast-paced thrillers.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

A Zoom with a View by Jess Cannon [Book Review]

Posted on July 31, 2026August 2, 2026 by Darinda

This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. For more info, read my Disclosure Policy.

BOOK INFO

Title: A Zoom with a View

Author: Jess Cannon

Publisher: Dutton

Publish Date: May 5, 2026

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Series: NA

My Rating: 3/5

BOOK BLURB

Leo can’t believe she’s back in Blue Oak. Her small, quirky Texas hometown feels suffocating after trying to make it big as an English professor in New York—especially due to her strained relationship with her overly hair-sprayed mother, Karina. But with Leo’s career in academia in shambles, at least she’s able to work as a photographer for her godmother’s real estate business. And her best friend, Emily, is around to help her navigate through the mess—and maybe force her to reconnect with her old high school boyfriend, Mack.

But while at work, Leo makes a grisly discovery at one of her godmother’s properties: the dead body of rival real estate agent and social media influencer Chaz. Even worse, Leo and Emily have been secretly running a snarky Reddit page making fun of Chaz’s cringe-inducing advice and duck-faced selfies. When someone she loves is accused of the murder, Leo finds herself flung headfirst into a dangerous investigation, teaming up with a local detective who is a lot more attractive than she remembered when they were both teenagers. Meanwhile, Karina has been acting stranger and stranger, as if all her hair hides a big secret….

MY REVIEW

A woman returns to her small hometown in Texas. Her career as an English professor hit a snag, and she takes a job as as a real estate photographer for her godmother. When she arrives at a property to photogragh it, she finds a former high school classmate dead.

A Zoom with a View is a lighthearted mystery. Quirky characters and a charming setting.

Good for fans of cozy mysteries with a diverse cast of characters. A Zoom with a View has some loose ends, so maybe there will be more with these characters.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.