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In Her Defense by Philippa Malicka [Book Review]

Posted on July 5, 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: In Her Defense

Author: Philippa Malicka

Publisher: Scribner

Publish Date: February 3, 2026

Genre: Legal Thriller

Series: NA

My Rating: 3/5

BOOK BLURB

The whole country has been riveted by the trial: beloved TV star and national treasure Anna Finbow has accused therapist Jean Guest of brainwashing her daughter Mary for nefarious purposes. Jean counters that Mary’s trauma is from her upbringing and her tumultuous time studying at a prestigious art school in Rome: and Jerry is the only one who can heal her. But as the trial unfolds, it’s Augusta “Gus” Bird, Anna’s former employee—an insignificant bystander, a nobody—who holds the key to unraveling the tangled web of lies and deceit.

What really happened to Mary in Rome? And if her memories can’t be trusted, how will they ever uncover the truth behind her estrangement? Only Anne knows. But will she tell her tale?

MY REVIEW

A woman sues her daughter’s therapist. She claims the therapist brainwashed her daughter for financial gain. The therapist blames a traumatic upbringing, and claims only her help can heal the daughter.

In Her Defense is a character driven novel. A slow-burning and complex story of how memory and influence can shape people.

I was expecting more of a legal thriller with this one, but it was still an enjoyable read.

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

Such a Perfect Family by Nalini Singh [Book Review]

Posted on July 5, 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: Such a Perfect Family

Author: Nalini Singh

Publisher: Berkley

Publish Date: January 27, 2026

Genre: Mystery Thriller

Series: NA

My Rating: 3/5

BOOK BLURB

A woman buried.
A woman broken.
A woman crashed.
A woman burned.
And the man who knew them all.

Love at first sight, a whirlwind Vegas wedding, a fairy-tale romance.

For forty-three days, Tavish Advani has been the happiest man in the world—until his new life turns to ash, his wealthy in-laws’ house going up in a fiery explosion. His badly injured wife lies in a coma, her family all but annihilated.

Tavish thought he’d left the sins of his Los Angeles life behind, but it’s not so easy to leave behind an investigation into the deaths of several high-profile women—all of whom he’d professed to love. Tragedy and death follow him no matter where he goes . . . but this time, he knows he’s innocent.

Desperately trying to clear his name as the authorities zero in, Tavish begins his own investigation into the fire—and learns that his wife’s picture-perfect family may have been nothing but a meticulously constructed mirage. The truth is much darker than anything Tavish could’ve imagined. . . .

MY REVIEW

After a whirlwind romance, a man learns his new family is not as perfect as they seem. Although, he has his secrets too.

Such a Perfect Family is told from Tavish’s point of view. He comes home to find his wife stabbed and the house on fire. Not only was his wife in the house, but also his wife’s parents and her sister. Tavish is immediately a suspect, and he does have a questionable past.

Twists and turns, plus several questionable characters, kept this read interesting.

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

A Box Full of Dreams by Simone St. James [Book Review]

Posted on July 5, 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 Box Full of Dreams

Author: Simone St. James

Publisher: Berkley

Publish Date: January 20, 2026

Genre: Paranormal Mystery

Series: NA

My Rating: 3/5

A Box Full of Darkness by Simone St. James

BOOK BLURB

Strange things happen in Fell, New York. A mysterious drowning at the town’s roadside motel. The unexplained death of a young girl whose body is left by the railroad tracks. For the Esmie siblings—Violet, Vail, and Dodie—the final straw was the shocking disappearance of their little brother. It started as a normal game of hide-and-seek. The three closed their eyes and counted to ten while Ben went to hide. But this time, they never found their brother—he was gone and the ongoing search efforts turned up no clues.

As their parents grew increasingly distant, Violet, Vail, and Dodie were each haunted by visions and frightening events that made them leave town and never look back. Violet still sees dead people—spirits who remind her of Sister, the menacing presence that terrorized her for years.

And now after two decades running from their past, it’s time for a homecoming. Because Ben is back, and he’s ready to lead them to the answers they’ve longed for and long feared. If the ghosts of Fell don’t get to them first.

MY REVIEW

Three siblings return home after being summoned by the ghost of their brother, who went missing 15 years earlier.

A Box Full of Dreams is told from the three returning siblings points of view. Violet, the oldest, sees ghosts. Vail, the middle child, believes he is targeted by aliens. Dodie, the youngest, has a recurring nightmare. Their brother went missing as a child, and the mystery was never solved. The siblings have had traumatic lives, and return home looking for answers.

Family drama and paranormal mystery. A Box Full of Dreams is slow-burning and atmospheric.

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

Books by Simone St. James:

The Haunting of Maddy Clare
An Inquiry Into Love and Death
Silence for the Dead
The Other Side of Midnight
Lost Among the Living
The Broken Girls
The Sun Down Motel
The Book of Cold Cases
Murder Road
A Box Full of Dreams

Wildwood by Amy Pease [Book Review]

Posted on July 5, 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: Wildwood

Author: Amy Pease

Publisher: Atria/Emily Bestler Books

Publish Date: January 6, 2026

Genre: Police Procedural

Series: Northwoods #2

My Rating: 3/5

BOOK BLURB

Deputy Sheriff Eli North has spent the last year getting his life back together. He hasn’t touched a drop of alcohol, he’s working through his PTSD from his military deployment, and he’s repairing his most important relationships. When an undercover informant disappears and all signs point to murder, Eli must expose the dark underbelly of his idyllic Wisconsin small town while safeguarding his newfound stability.

Then, with the unexpected arrival of FBI Agent Alyssa Mason, Eli and his mother, the sheriff, are pulled deeper into a violent criminal network built on the backs of the lost and forgotten.

As the case deepens, loyalties fracture and the line between justice and survival begins to blur. In a town where everyone has something to hide, exposing the truth may cost them everything.

MY REVIEW

Deputy Sheriff Eli North’s latest case involves a missing informant who is presumed dead.

Wildwood is the second book in the Northwoods series. While Wildwood can be read as a standalone novel, I recommend reading the first book in the series, Northwoods, to better understand the characters.

Wildwood is told using dual points of view and timelines – present and past. The present is told from Eli’s POV, and follows the investigation. Eli is flawed and has his struggles, but he’s a strong investigator. Also working on the case are Marge and Alyssa. Marge is the sheriff and Eli’s mother. Alyssa, an FBI agent, is a good addition to the team. The past POV is from Trinity, the victim.

The characters are complex and interesting. The mystery is gripping. Wildwood is a suspenseful read for fans of police procedurals.

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

Books in the Northwoods Series

Northwoods
Wildwood

The Invisible Woman by James Patterson and Susan DiLallo [Book Review]

Posted on July 5, 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 Invisible Woman

Author: James Patterson and Susan DiLallo

Publisher: Little, Brown and Company

Publish Date: January 5, 2026

Genre: Mystery Thriller

Series: N/A

My Rating: 3/5

The Invisible Woman by James Patterson and Susan DiLallo

BOOK BLURB

No one sees her, but she sees everything. Elinor Gilbert was once a young woman with a thriving career at the FBI.

Now decades past solving crimes with the bureau, she is personally and professionally forgettable.

Which is exactly what her former FBI boss needs. He disguises Elinor as a middle-aged nanny, and casts her as an agent on the inside of his investigation into a New York art dealer suspected of ties to organized crime. But as Elinor pushes toward the truth, her superpower—anonymity—morphs into a fatal flaw.

The more the invisible woman integrates into her “host” family, the more dangerously memorable she becomes.

MY REVIEW

A retired FBI agent goes undercover as a nanny. She lost her job when she was made the scapegoat by her boss. Now, that boss is asking her to go undercover, and promising her pension and benefits reinstated if she does it.

The Invisble Woman is a light mystery. The retired agent, Elinor, has no experience working with kids. She accepts the job offer anyway, and now she’s dealing with a baby and a teenager. Plus, for her disguise, she has to wear a fat suit.

Fun characters and an entertaining story. The Invisible Woman is a fast-paced and humorous read.

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

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

Posted on May 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: 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, 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 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, 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 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, 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: 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, 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: 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, 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: 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, 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: 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.