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Such Sheltered Lives by Alyssa B. Sheinmel [Book Review]

Posted on May 31, 2026May 31, 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: Such Sheltered Lives

Author: Alyssa B. Sheinmel

Publisher: Atria Books

Publish Date: January 20, 2026

Genre: Psychological Thriller

Series: N/A

My Rating: 3/5

Such Sheltered Lives by Alyssa B. Sheinmel

BOOK BLURB

Rush’s Recovery promises its wealthy guests the utmost discretion. But when a body is discovered, how long can the center’s secrets stay buried?

Tucked among the pristine beaches and lavish manors of the Hamptons sits Rush’s Recovery, a rehabilitation center where ultra-high net worth clients can seek treatment away from prying eyes and paparazzi. The center’s latest guests have just arrived: Lord Edward of Essex, a British aristocrat fighting his black-sheep status and a painful addiction; Amelia Blue Harris, the daughter of a ’90s rock legend struggling with an eating disorder; and Florence Bloom, a pop star trying to lay low after her latest tabloid scandal. Each has been promised the highest standard of care, from daily therapy and a live-in chef to acupuncture sessions and a personal care manager, available 24/7. Just so long as they stay in their private cottages and never interact with the center’s other guests.

But these three self-destructive B-listers have no intention of playing by the rules. No amount of cold plunges and talk-therapy can prevent Florence’s illicit flirtation with a staff member, or keep Amelia Blue and Lord Edward from sneaking out to wander the snow-covered grounds at night. Celebrities check in to Rush’s Recovery to protect their privacy, but the darkest secrets may lie in the center’s own history—and not every guest will be checking out alive.

MY REVIEW

A recovery center that promises discretion for their wealthy patients. Unfortunately, the patients don’t always behave themselves, and they’re not the only ones with secrets.

Such Sheltered Lives is a slow-burning psychological thriller. Flawed characters in an atmospheric setting.

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

A Grim Reaper’s Guide to Cheating Death by Maxie Dara [Book Review]

Posted on May 31, 2026May 31, 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 Grim Reaper’s Guide to Cheating Death

Author: Maxie Dara

Publisher: Berkley

Publish Date: December 2, 2025

Genre: Paranormal Mystery

Series: S.C.Y.T.H.E Mystery #2

My Rating: 3/5

A Grim Reaper's Guide to Cheating Death by Maxie Dara

BOOK BLURB

Nora Bird works for S.C.Y.T.H.E., which might seem odd for someone as terrified of death as she is. But ever since her parents died in an accident when she was six, she’s been obsessed with avoiding risk, and what better place to learn how to cheat death than the company that employs the nation’s grim reapers?

The work enables Nora to learn all about the myriad ways you can kick the bucket, which is comforting…until one day, a file crosses her desk with a name she recognizes. Her twin brother’s.

The twins haven’t spoken in six months, but Charlie is all Nora has left. Completely against her cautious nature, Nora steals the file and flees, racing to her brother’s house. She begs him to trust her that his death is imminent, and they hit the road (with his parrot, Jessica, who has plenty to say) in an attempt to evade both death and S.C.Y.T.H.E., whose sole mission of collecting souls has been disrupted by Charlie’s continued existence.

Alas, every time Nora saves him, a new cause of death appears in his file. Someone is determined to take Charlie out, and Nora will have to use everything she’s ever learned about death to discover the culprit.

MY REVIEW

Nora is a modern day grim reaper working for S.C.Y.T.H.E. (Secure Collection, Yielding, and Transportation of Human Essences). When her twin brother’s file crosses her desk, she takes off to try and save him.

A Grim Reaper’s Guide to Cheating Death is the second book in the S.C.Y.T.H.E. mystery series. Quirky characters and a fun story. Witty, lighthearted, and an enjoyable addition to the series.

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

Books in the S.C.Y.T.H.E Mystery Series

A Grim Reaper’s Guide to Catching a Killer
A Grim Reaper’s Guide to Cheating Death
A Grim Reaper’s Guide to Living Twice

The Botanist’s Assistant by Peggy Townsend [Book Review]

Posted on May 31, 2026May 31, 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 Botanist’s Assistant

Author: Peggy Townsend

Publisher: Berkley

Publish Date: November 18, 2025

Genre: Amateur Sleuth

Series: N/A

My Rating: 3/5

The Botanist's Assistant by Peggy Townsend

BOOK BLURB

Plenty of people consider Margaret Finch odd. Six-feet-tall and big-boned, she lives alone in a small cabin in the woods, drives a 20-year-old truck, and schedules her life so precisely you can tell the time and day of the week by the chore she is doing and what she is wearing. But the same attributes that cause her to be labeled eccentric—an obsessive attention to detail and the ability to organize almost anything—make her invaluable in her job as Research Assistant II to a talented and charismatic botanist.

It’s those very same qualities, however, that also turn Margaret into a target after a surprising death shakes the small university where she works. Even as authorities claim the death appears to be from natural causes, Margaret fears it might be something more: a murder born of jealousy and dark secrets. With the aid of a newly hired and enigmatic night custodian, Margaret finds herself thrust into the role of detective, forcing her to consider that she may not be able to find the killer before the killer finds her.

MY REVIEW

Margaret’s obsession to detail is what makes her so good as a botanist’s assistant. That attention to detail is what has Margaret believing that a professor’s death is murder.

The Botanist’s Assistant is an engaging mystery. A well-paced plot and quirky characters make this a delightful read.

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

Haven’t Killed in Years by Amy K. Green [Book Review]

Posted on May 31, 2026May 31, 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: Haven’t Killed in Years

Author: Amy K. Green

Publisher: Berkley

Publish Date: November 18, 2025

Genre: Mystery Thriller

Series: N/A

My Rating: 3/5

BOOK BLURB

Marin Haggerty, the daughter of a notorious serial killer, was only a child when they arrested her father. Ripped from her home and given a new identity, Marin disappeared.

Twenty years later, Gwen Tanner keeps everyone at a distance, preferring to satirize the world around her than participate in it. It’s for her safety—and theirs. But when someone starts sending body parts to her front door, the message is clear: I Know Who You Are.

To preserve her secrets, Gwen must hunt down the killer, a journey which immerses her in the twisted world of true crime fandom and makes her confront her past once and for all. Maybe she is capable of deep, human connections, but she’s not the only one keeping secrets. Will opening herself up to others help her find the killer, or remind her why it was necessary she hide her true self in the first place?

The apple never falls too far, after all.

MY REVIEW

Gwen is the daughter of a serial killer. She has kept her life private, but now finds herself being the target of some gruesome gifts. When body parts start arriving at her front door, she knows someone has found out her true identity. Gwen must face her past to find who is after her.

Haven’t Killed in Years is a dark thriller. Witty and twisted, this mystery kept me turning the pages.

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

Made You Look by Tanya Grant [Book Review]

Posted on May 31, 2026May 31, 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: Made You Look

Author: Tanya Grant

Publisher: Berkley

Publish Date: November 18, 2025

Genre: Mystery Thriller

Series: N/A

My Rating: 3/5

BOOK BLURB

Sydney Kent is the ultimate It Girl. You want her effortless style, her charisma, her hair. You want to be her; you want to be with her.

But the trouble with a star is that everyone else looks dull in comparison.

Despite Caitlyn’s social media cunning, it’s impossible for her to step out from Sydney’s shadow. Even Lucy, Sydney’s best friend since before her fame, can’t escape her role as full-time photographer to the influencer.

When the women are invited to post content for a secluded new retreat in the Catskills, alongside Sydney’s boyfriend Jeff, stylist Nash, and manager Brent, the weekend feels like it will be a fresh start. But an unexpected snowstorm traps the group together with no cell service, no Wi-Fi, and no way out.

Then a killer strikes, and the dream trip becomes a nightmare. Secrets, lies, and scandals are forced to the surface, and the friends can’t help but suspect the murderer might be among them. Worse, the killing has only just begun.

But where there’s danger, there’s juicy, jaw-dropping, name-making content to be created. You know you want to look.

MY REVIEW

A group of influencers travel to a retreat in the Catskills. A snowstorm traps them in the remote location, with no food, staff, or internet service. When one of the group is killed, the others find themselves trapped with a murderer.

Made You Look is an entertaining thriller with unlikable characters. This debut novel is an easy read good for the beach.

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

Two Kinds of Stranger by Steve Cavanagh [Book Review]

Posted on May 31, 2026May 31, 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: Two Kinds of Stranger

Author: Steve Cavanagh

Publisher: Atria Books

Publish Date: March 24, 2026

Genre: Legal Thriller

Series: Eddie Flynn #9

My Rating: 3/5

BOOK BLURB

One offers a helping hand. The other is your worst nightmare…

Social media influencer, Elly Parker, had the perfect life, that is until she discovered her husband had been having an affair with her best friend.

But as hurt, betrayed, unmoored as Elly is, she has made it her mission to help others in need. Even strangers.

When Elly meets a man on the steps to the subway platform, crutches in one hand and a yellow suitcase by his feet, she can’t help but feel sorry for him.

Just as he planned.

This small act of kindness sets off a change of events more terrifying than anything she ever could imagine.

To survive, Elly will need to convince the world what happened to her was real. She needs a lawyer who can bend the rules to find the truth. Eddie Flynn and his team must find the stranger with the yellow suitcase. But little do they know this cunning killer is a master manipulator and is always one step ahead.

MY REVIEW

Two Kinds of Stranger is the ninth book in the Eddie Flynn series. Eddie is a defense attorney who takes on tough cases.

In Two Kinds of Stranger, Eddie defends a social media influencer accused of killing her husband and best friend. The influencer, known for her Good Samaritan acts, helped the wrong person, and became a prime suspect. Meanwhile, the reader gets a glimpse into what really happened, and how the killer keeps slipping through the cracks.

Eddie works the case to clear his client, but he also has a lot of other excitement going on in his life. Fast-paced and entertaining. This legal thriller keeps the reader wanting more.

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

Books in the Eddie Flynn series

The Defense
The Plea
The Liar
Th1rt3en
Fifty-Fifty
The Devil’s Advocate
The Accomplice
Witness 8
Two Kinds of Stranger
One of Us Is Guilty

Innocence Road by Laura Griffin [Book Review]

Posted on May 31, 2026May 31, 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: Innocence Road

Author: Laura Griffin

Publisher: Berkley

Publish Date: November 11, 2025

Genre: Police Procedural

Series: N/A

My Rating: 4/5

BOOK BLURB

Leanne Everhart knows women have something to fear in her artsy hometown, especially so if they’re not rich, white locals. Returning to town after her father’s death, she sees the ugliest sides of an area that draws people for its severe, untamed natural landscape.

While her department faces mounting backlash over a recent wrongful conviction in the long-ago murder case of a popular local teenager—which is now unsolved—Leanne is called to a fresh crime scene at the edge of the desert. A nameless woman was found murdered, with no clues as to her identity. As Leanne digs into the crime scene evidence, she grows convinced this latest murder case is linked with the local teenager’s murder. And to multiple cold cases, all unnamed female victims, that have all been shelved by her department without leads.

Now, with conflicted loyalties and without allies, Leanne must hunt down a serial killer, one who’s been preying on local women for two decades, growing bolder and more ruthless with every strike.

MY REVIEW

Leanne, a detective, returns to her hometown of Marfa, Texas, and discovers that a killer is living among them. Years earlier a teen girl was killed, and the man convicted was innocent. Now, a recent murder has Leanne looking into the cold case.

Innocence Road is an intriguing mystery with an interesting protagonist. Leanne is smart, and doesn’t back away from a challenge. A well-paced and gripping mystery that keeps the reader wanting to know more. A good read for fans of police procedural with strong female leads.

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

Revenge, Served Royal by Celeste Connally [Book Review]

Posted on May 31, 2026May 31, 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: Revenge, Served Royal

Author: Celeste Connally

Publisher: Minotaur Books

Publish Date: November 11, 2025

Genre: Mystery Thriller

Series: Lady Petra Inquires #3

My Rating: 3/5

Revenge, Served Royal by Celeste Connally

BOOK BLURB

September, 1815. Autumn is in the air as Lady Petra Forsyth and some of the most illustrious members of the ton descend upon Windsor Castle for a week of royal celebrations, with the highlight being Queen Charlotte’s inaugural patisserie contest for the best bakers employed by England’s finest houses. Not only is Lady Petra’s own cook one of the contestants, but Her Majesty has requested that Petra herself serve as one of the judges.

Petra’s happiness at tasting delicious cakes and biscuits only increases at finding her beloved Aunt Ophelia in attendance at Windsor, as well as Sir Rufus Pomeroy. As England’s most famous former royal chef-turned-cookbook author, Sir Rufus is slated to present his best recipes to the Queen during the festivities, with Petra being granted an early viewing in the royal library.

Yet upon arrival, Petra instead encounters a frantic housemaid pointing to a body of one of Her Majesty’s guests—and to the valet still tugging at the silk ribbon used to strangle the victim. What’s more, the valet turns out to be Oliver Beecham, the ne’er-do-well brother of Petra’s own lady’s maid, Annie. But as Oliver is hauled away to the dungeons, he protests his innocence, claiming the late guest argued with several aristocrats, including the Prince Regent and Petra’s Aunt Ophelia, and boasted about hiding a potentially scandalous document within the vastness of Windsor Castle.

When some poisoned tea meant for Petra is consumed by one of her fellow judges, it’s clear the real killer is still walking the castle’s halls. Indeed, in order to prove the innocence of Annie’s brother and find the incriminating document, Petra will need to act like a lady, eat like a chef, and think like one of Her Majesty’s best spies before a murderer can turn the celebrations from sweet to royally deadly.

MY REVIEW

Lady Petra is looking forward to the queen’s patisserie contest for the best bakers. Petra will be serving as a judge, one of the contestants is her own cook, and Petra is happy to see some familiar faces in attendance. Unfortunately, Petra arrives when another guest has just been killed. It does not take long to discover that someone wants Petra to stay away from investigating the murder.

Revenge, Served Royal is the third book in the Lady Petra Inquires series. Petra is a smart, strong protagonist. The cast of characters is interesting. and the setting is lovely. This is an entertaining addition to a charming series.

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

Books in the Lady Petra Inquires Series

Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Lord
All’s Fair in Love and Treachery
Revenge, Served Royal
Murder of a Merry Gentleman

The Gallery Assistant by Kate Belli [Book Review]

Posted on May 31, 2026May 31, 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 Gallery Assistant

Author: Kate Belli

Publisher: Atria/Emily Bestler Books

Publish Date: October 14, 2025

Genre: Mystery Thriller

Series: na

My Rating: 3/5

BOOK BLURB

November 2001: Chloe Harlow wakes up late, with hazy memories of the party the night before but no recollection of how she got back to her Brooklyn apartment. Ever since the terrifying and catastrophic terrorist attack, it seems she has been on a collision course with destruction.

When she finally arrives at the exclusive Upper East Side art gallery where she works, she is immediately called into her boss’s office. A pair of NYPD detectives greet her, also very curious to know how her evening ended…because the host of the party, a rising painter and the gallery’s newest artist, is dead.

Navigating both the sophisticated high-stakes art world and her personal life in burgeoning Williamsburg, Chloe struggles to piece together a complete picture of that lost night. As she digs deeper, inconsistencies emerge between what she remembers and what people tell her actually happened, and more questions are raised. Everything begins to feel like a conspiracy and maybe it is. Because Chloe is the only one who glimpses the secrets the murdered artist left behind, and the closer she gets to the truth…the more deadly it becomes.

MY REVIEW

The Gallery Assistant is about a young woman caught up in a murder. Chloe works as an art gallery assistant, and wakes up one morning with a foggy memory of the night before. Turns out, the gallery’s newest artist was killed, and Chloe was the last one to see her alive.

The Gallery Assistant is set in 2001, in a post 9/11 New York City. Chloe survived the attack, but suffers from PTSD. She’s also an alcoholic with low self-esteem, making her an unreliable narrator. Suspicious characters and a complex plot make for an intriguing thriller.

Slow burning and atmospheric, The Gallery Assistant is a character driven mystery. Recommended to fans of the art world and slow paced mysteries.

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

The Hitchhikers by Chevy Stevens [Book Review]

Posted on December 31, 2025December 31, 2025 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 Hitchhikers

Author: Chevy Stevens

Publisher: St. Martin’s Press

Publish Date: October 7, 2025

Genre: Mystery Thriller

Series: na

My Rating: 3/5

BOOK BLURB

It’s the summer of 1976. Alice and Tom set out on the remote Canadian highways in their new RV, hoping to heal after a devastating tragedy.

They’ve planned the trip perfectly, every detail accounted for. Then they meet two young hitchhikers and offer them a ride. But Simon and Jenny aren’t what they seem. They’ve left a trail of blood, destruction, and madness behind them.

Now Alice and Tom are prisoners in a deadly game with nowhere to turn. As the tension builds, the lines blur, and the question becomes:

In whose heart does evil truly lie? What secrets are Jenny and Simon hiding? And who will live another day?

MY REVIEW

Alice and Tom are on a road trip across Canada. Along the way, they pick up two hitchhikers, Jenny and Simon. The hitchhikers are not as innocent as they pretend to be, and the other couple is trapped as tensions rise.

The Hitchhikers is set in the 1970s, creating a nostalgic atmopshere. The story is told through dual points of view and timelines. The POVs are from Alice and Jenny, adding backstory for both couples.

The Hitchihikers is a character-driven thriller. Slow-burning, dark, and intense.

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

Rumoured by Kelly and Kristina Mancaruso [Book Review]

Posted on November 15, 2025November 15, 2025 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: Rumoured

Author: Kelly and Kristina Mancaruso

Publisher: Head of Zeus — an Aries Book

Publish Date: October 7, 2025

Genre: Mystery Thriller

Series: na

My Rating: 3/5

Rumoured by Kelly and Kristina Mancaruso

BOOK BLURB

Harlow Hayes: the innocent pop star – or a heartless murderer? It’s time to find out…

I’m a global sensation adored by millions, and my star only seems to keep rising.

My fans say I speak directly to them through my music, that I know who they are. How else could I write such visceral, personal lyrics? They love me, and I love them right back.

Then, at the height of my fame, I was arrested on suspicion of murder.

The world thinks they know who I am.

But they have no idea.

MY REVIEW

Rumoured is about a pop star accused of murder. It is told mostly from Naomi’s point of view. Naomi is a journalist for a celebrity magazine. Harlow is the accused popstar, and we do get her point of view later in the novel.

The pacing of Rumoured starts slow, but it ramps up later in the book. A suspenseful and twisted mystery of lies, secrets, obsession, and revenge.

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

All This Could Be Yours by Hank Phillippi Ryan [Book Review]

Posted on November 15, 2025November 15, 2025 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: All This Could Be Yours

Author: Hank Phillippi Ryan

Publisher: Minotaur Books

Publish Date: September 9, 2025

Genre: Mystery Thriller

Series: na

My Rating: 3/5

All This Could Be Yours by Hank Phillippi Ryan

BOOK BLURB

Debut sensation Tessa Calloway is on a whirlwind book tour for her instant bestseller, All This Could Be Yours. In a different city every night, Tessa receives standing ovations from adoring fans while her husband Henry and their two children cheer her on from their brand-new dream house.

But there’s a chilling problem with Tessa’s triumphant book tour―she soon discovers she is being stalked by someone who’s obsessed not only with sabotaging her career, but also with destroying her perfect family back home.

Tessa fears the fallout from an impossible decision she once made―what felt like a genuine deal with the devil―appears to be coming due. And she’s realizing that every high-stakes bargain comes with a high-stakes price. If Tessa can’t untangle who’s threatening to expose her darkest secrets, she’ll lose her career, her family―and possibly her life.

MY REVIEW

Tessa is a debut author is on a book tour for her bestselling novel. During the tour, she realizes someone wants to sabotage her career, family, and life.

All This Could Be Yours is told from Tessa’s point of view. She goes on a book tour, leaving her husband and children at home in their new house. Everything seems to be going well for Tessa, until someone starts stalking her. She starts to worry that the current events are connected to something in her past.

All This Could Be Yours is a suspenseful mystery. This is a character driven novel that relies heavily on the inner dialogue of the main character.

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

Books by Hank Phillippi Ryan:

Trust Me
The Murder List
The First to Lie
Her Perfect Life
The House Guest
One Wrong Word
All This Could Be Yours