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Book Review

Village in the Dark by Iris Yamashita [Book Review]

Book Review

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BOOK INFO

Title: Village in the Dark

Author: Iris Yamashita

Publisher:  Berkley

Publish Date: February 13, 2024

Genre: Police Procedural

Series: Cara Kennedy #2

My Rating: 4/5

Village in the Dark by Iris Yamashita

BOOK BLURB

On a frigid February day, Anchorage Detective Cara Kennedy stands by the graves of her husband and son, watching as their caskets are raised from the earth. It feels sacrilegious, but she has no choice. Aaron and Dylan disappeared on a hike a year ago, their bones eventually found and buried. But shocking clues have emerged that foul play was involved, potentially connecting them to a string of other deaths and disappearances. 

Somehow tied to the mystery is Mia Upash, who grew up in an isolated village called Unity, a community of women and children in hiding from abusive men. Mia never imagined the trouble she would find herself in when she left home to live in Man’s World. Although she remains haunted by the tragedy of what happened to the man and the boy in the woods, she has her own reasons for keeping quiet.

Aided by police officer Joe Barkowski and other residents of Point Mettier, Cara’s investigation will lead them on a dangerous path that puts their lives and the lives of everyone around them in mortal jeopardy.


Village in the Dark by Iris Yamashita

MY REVIEW

Cara thought her husband and son’s deaths were an accident, but it now seems they may have been murdered. Cara is a detective, and her latest investigation may be putting her in danger.

Village in the Dark is the second book in the Cara Kennedy series. While Village in the Dark can be read as a standalone novel, I recommend reading City Under One Roof first. Cara is smart, determined, and haunted by her past.

An atmospheric and suspenseful mystery. Recommended for fans of mysteries and Alaskan settings.

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

Books by Cara Kennedy series:
  1. City Under One Roof
  2. Village in the Dark
Book Review

The Search Party by Hannah Richell [Book Review]

Book Review

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BOOK INFO

Title: The Search Party

Author: Hannah Richell

Publisher:  Atria Books

Publish Date: January 16, 2024

Genre: Mystery Thriller

Series: na

My Rating: 3/5

The Search Party by Hannah Richell

BOOK BLURB

A spellbinding locked-room mystery about a glamping trip gone horribly wrong when a powerful storm leaves the participants stranded and forced to confront long-held secrets and a shocking disappearance.

Max and Annie Kingsley have left the London rat race with their twelve-year-old son to set up a glamping site in the wilds of Cornwall. Eager for a dry run ahead of their opening, they invite three old university friends and their families for a long-needed reunion. But the festivities soon go awry as tensions arise between the children (and subsequently their parents), explosive secrets come to light, and a sudden storm moves in, cutting them off from help as one in the group disappears.

Moving between the police investigation, a hospital room, and the catastrophic weekend, The Search Party is a propulsive and twisty destination thriller about the tenuous bonds of friendship and the lengths parents will go to protect their children—perfect for fans of Ruth Ware and Lucy Foley.


The Search Party by Hannah Richell

MY REVIEW

A glamping trip with old college friends does not go as planned. Not only are there issues between the adults, but not all of the children get along either. With a storm heading their way, and one of the group missing, tensions arise and secrets are revealed.

The Search Party is told using multiple points of view and alternating timelines. There are a lot of characters, but it wasn’t hard to follow.

The Search Party is a slow-burning mystery. Drama and suspense combine to make for an entertaining read.

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

Book Review

Northwoods by Amy Pease [Book Review]

Book Review

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BOOK INFO

Title: Northwoods

Author: Amy Pease

Publisher:  Atria/Emily Bestler Books

Publish Date: January 9, 2024

Genre: Police Procedural

Series: na

My Rating: 4/5

Northwoods by Amy Pease

BOOK BLURB

Eli North is not okay.

His drinking is getting worse by the day, his emotional wounds after a deployment to Afghanistan are as raw as ever, his marriage and career are over, and the only job he can hold down is with the local sheriff’s department. And that’s only because the sheriff is his mother—and she’s overwhelmed with small town Shaky Lake’s dwindling budget and the fallout from the opioid epidemic. The Northwoods of Wisconsin may be a vacationer’s paradise, but amidst the fishing trips and campfires and Paul Bunyan festivals, something sinister is taking shape.

When the body of a teenage boy is found in the lake, it sets in motion an investigation that leads Eli to a wealthy enclave with a violent past, a pharmaceutical salesman, and a missing teenage girl. Soon, Eli and his mother, along with a young FBI agent, are on the hunt for more than just a killer.

If Eli solves the case, could he finally get the shot at redemption he so desperately needs? Or will answers to this dark case elude him and continue to bring destruction to the Northwoods?


Northwoods by Amy Pease

MY REVIEW

Eli is a deputy called to a scene where a teen boy is dead. This investigation leads to looking for a missing teen girl. With the small town setting and limited police resources, the case becomes more complex.

The characters in Northwoods have depth and flaws. Eli is a veteran suffering from PTSD, and using alcohol as a coping mechanism. Despite his struggles, he maintains strong investigative skills. The mystery is intriguing and gritty.

Northwoods is a thrilling debut novel. Complex characters in a multilayered mystery.

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

Books in the Northwoods Series

  1. Northwoods
  2. Wildwood
Book Review

Broadcast Blues by R.G. Belsky [Book Review]

Book Review

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BOOK INFO

Title: Broadcast Blues

Author: R.G. Belsky

Publisher: Oceanview Publishing

Publish Date: January 2, 2024

Genre: Amateur Investigator

Series: Clare Carlson #6

My Rating: 3/5

Broadcast Blues by R.G. Belsky

BOOK BLURB

New York City has no shortage of crime, making for a busy schedule for TV newswoman Clare Carlson. But not all crimes are created equal, and when an explosive planted in a car detonates and kills a woman, Clare knows it’ll be a huge story for her.

But it’s not only about the story—Clare also wants justice for the victim, Wendy Kyle. Wendy had sparked controversy as an NYPD officer, ultimately getting kicked off the force after making sexual harassment allegations and getting into a physical altercation with her boss. Then, she started a private investigations business, catering to women who suspected their husbands of cheating. Undoubtedly, Wendy had angered many people with her work, so the list of her suspected murderers is seemingly endless.

Despite the daunting investigation, Clare dives in headfirst. As she digs deeper, she attracts the attention of many rich and powerful people who will stop at nothing to keep her from breaking the truth about the death of Wendy Kyle—and exposing their personal secrets that Wendy took to her grave.


Broadcast Blues by R.G. Belsky

MY REVIEW

Broadcast Blues is the sixth book in the Clare Carlson series by R.G. Belsky. Clare is a journalist who has worked on several high profile investigations. In Broadcast Blues, Clare covers the death of a former police officer turned private investigator.

Clare is an intelligent, yet flawed character. She makes some questionable decisions, but does have good investigative skills and the determination to find truth.

This is an enjoyable series with interesting mysteries. Broadcast Blues can be read as a stand-alone, but I recommend reading the earlier books too.

Broadcast Blues is a complex and intriguing mystery. Recommended for readers who enjoy mysteries from a journalists point of view.

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

Books in the Clare Carlson series:
  1. Yesterday’s News
  2. Below the Fold
  3. The Last Scoop
  4. Beyond the Headlines
  5. It’s News to Me
  6. Broadcast Blues
Book Review

There Should Have Been Eight by Nalini Singh [Book Review]

Book Review

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BOOK INFO

Title: There Should Have Been Eight

Author: Nalini Singh

Publisher: Berkley

Publish Date: November 21, 2023

Genre: Mystery Thriller

Series: na

My Rating: 3/5

There Should Have Been Eight by Nalini Singh

BOOK BLURB

Seven friends.
One last weekend.
A mansion half in ruins.
No room for lies.
Someone is going to confess.
Because there should have been eight. . . .

They met when they were teenagers. Now they’re adults, and time has been kind to some and unkind to others—none more so than to Bea, the one they lost nine long years ago.

They’ve gathered to reminisce at Bea’s family’s estate, a once-glorious mansion straight out of a gothic novel. Best friends, old flames, secret enemies, and new lovers are all under one roof. But when the weather turns and they’re snowed in at the edge of eternity, there’s nowhere left to hide from their shared history.

As the walls close in, the pretense of normality gives way to long-buried grief, bitterness, and rage. Underneath it all, there’s the nagging feeling that Bea’s shocking death wasn’t what it was claimed to be. And before the weekend is through, the truth will be unleashed—no matter the cost. . . .


There Should've Been Eight by Nalini Singh

MY REVIEW

Seven friends gather at the family estate of Bea, a member of the friend group who died nine years earlier. Bea’s sister owns the estate, and has invited the group to reminisce.

There Should Have Been Eight is told through Luna’s point of view. She was close friends with Bea, and never forgave Bea’s sister for the way she handled Bea’s death. It’s been years, and Luna wants answers about Bea’s death. Past and present come together as secrets and lies are revealed.

There Should Have Been Eight is an atmospheric and tense thriller. Unreliable characters in an intriguing story.

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

Book Review

Good Girls Don’t Die by Christina Henry [Book Review]

Book Review

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BOOK INFO

Title: Good Girls Don’t Die

Author: Christina Henry

Publisher: Berkley

Publish Date: November 14, 2023

Genre: Mystery Thriller

Series: na

My Rating: 3/5

Good Girls Don't Die by Christina Henry

BOOK BLURB

Celia wakes up in a house that’s supposed to be hers. There’s a little girl who claims to be her daughter and a man who claims to be her husband, but Celia knows this family—and this life—is not hers…

Allie is supposed to be on a fun weekend trip—but then her friend’s boyfriend unexpectedly invites the group to a remote cabin in the woods. No one else believes Allie, but she is sure that something about this trip is very, very wrong…

Maggie just wants to be home with her daughter, but she’s in a dangerous situation and she doesn’t know who put her there or why. She’ll have to fight with everything she has to survive…

Three women. Three stories. Only one way out. This captivating novel will keep readers guessing until the very end.


Good Girls Don't Die by Christina Henry

MY REVIEW

Three stories of women with individual frightening experiences that eventually interconnect into one disturbing experience.

Good Girls Don’t Die has four parts – one for each of the three women, and the final part, where the stories come together. I enjoyed the individual parts more than the final part. While I found the ending to be a bit of a disappointment, I still was entertained by the book.

A fast-paced and suspenseful thriller. Recommended for fans of mixed genres and strong female leads.

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

Book Review

The Strangers Upstairs by Lisa M. Matlin [Book Review]

Book Review

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BOOK INFO

Title: The Strangers Upstairs

Author: Lisa M. Matlin

Publisher: Bantam

Publish Date: September 12, 2023

Genre: Mystery Thriller

Series: na

My Rating: 3/5

The Stranger Upstairs by Lisa M. Matlin

BOOK BLURB

A therapist and self-help writer with all the answers, Sarah Slade has just bought a gorgeous Victorian in the community of her dreams. Turns out, you can get a killer deal on a house where someone was murdered. Plus, renovating Black Wood House makes for great blog content and a decent distraction from her failing marriage. Good thing nobody knows that her past is just as filthy as the bloodstain on her bedroom floor.

But the renovations are fast becoming a nightmare. Sarah imagined custom avocado wallpaper, massive profits, and an appreciative husband who wants to share her bed again. Instead, the neighbors hate her guts and her husband still sleeps on the couch. And though the builders attempt to cover up Black Wood’s horrifying past, a series of bizarre accidents, threatening notes, and unexplained footsteps in the attic only confirms for Sarah what the rest of the town already knew: Something is very wrong in that house.

With every passing moment, Sarah’s life spirals further out of control—and with it, her sense of reality. But as she peels back the curling wallpaper and discovers the house’s secrets, she realizes that the deadly legacy of Black Wood House has only just begun.


The Stranger Upstairs by Lisa M. Matlin

MY REVIEW

A successful influencer moves into a “murder house” to fix it up and blog about it. She’s hoping the new house and remodel will also help improve her marriage. Unfortunately, things do not go as she had hoped.

The Stranger Upstairs is a story with secrets and drama. Shifting timelines are used, though I found it to be somewhat disjointed. This is a slow burning novel that picks up during the second half.

An atmospheric, creepy, and dark thriller. The Stranger Upstairs is an enjoyable debut novel. Good for readers who enjoy dark thrillers with unlikable and unreliable narrators.

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

Best Mysteries & Thriller of 2023

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Below are the best mysteries and thrillers that I read in 2023. These were gripping, suspenseful, and clever mysteries. Hope you enjoy them as much as I did!

The Maid's Diary by Loreth Anne White
None of This Is True by Lisa Jewell
Don't Let Her Stay by Nicola Sanders
Lovely Girls by Margot Hunt
What Lies in the Woods by Kate Alice Marshall
One of the Boys by Jayne Cowie
The Intern by Michele Campbell
Beneath the Surface by Kaira Rouda
You Shouldn’t Have Come Here by Jeneva Rose
I Have Some Questions for You Rebecca Makkai

My Top Ten Mysteries & Thrillers for 2023
  1. The Maid’s Diary by Loreth Anne White
  2. None of This Is True by Lisa Jewell
  3. Don’t Let Her Stay by Nicola Sanders
  4. Lovely Girls by Margot Hunt
  5. What Lies in the Woods by Kate Alice Marshall
  6. One of the Boys by Jayne Cowie
  7. The Intern by Michele Campbell
  8. Beneath the Surface by Kaira Rouda
  9. You Shouldn’t Have Come Here by Jeneva Rose
  10. I Have Some Questions for You by Rebecca Makkai
Book Review

Sniffing Out Murder by Kallie E. Benjamin [Book Review]

Book Review

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BOOK INFO

Title: Sniffing Out Murder

Author: Kallie E. Benjamin

Publisher: Berkley

Publish Date: December 5, 2023

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Series: Bailey the Bloodhound Mystery #1

My Rating: 3/5

Sniffing Out Murder by Kallie E. Benjamin

BOOK BLURB

When a murder unleashes a widespread investigation through Crosbyville, children’s book author Pris and her trusty bloodhound, Bailey, must sniff out the truth before the whole town goes to the dogs.

After deciding that life as a teacher wasn’t right for her, Priscilla found inspiration for her first children’s book in her three-year-old bloodhound’s nose for truth, and so The Adventures of Bailey the Bloodhound was born. After the book’s massively pawsitive response led Pris to move back to her hometown of Crosbyville, Indiana, to continue the series, she’s surprised by how things have changed in the town, but even more so how they haven’t.

Pris is frustrated to discover that newly elected school board trustee Whitney Kelley—a former high school mean girl—is intent on making Crosbyville more competitive by eliminating “frivolous spending” on the arts and social programs, including Pris and Bailey’s beloved pet-assisted reading program. A minor altercation between them isn’t anything unusual, but after Bailey sniffs out Whitney’s body in a bed of begonias, locals start hounding Pris and Bailey as suspects for the crime.

With Bailey’s sharp senses and Pris’s hometown know-how, can they prove to the community that they’re all barking up the wrong tree?


Sniffing Out Murder by Kallie E. Benjamin

MY REVIEW

Sniffing Out Murder is the first book in the Bailey the Bloodhound mystery series. Pris, a children’s book author, and her dog, Bailey, help solve a murder. Pris and the deceased did not get along, so Pris is a suspect, but there is a long list of suspects.

A diverse group of characters in a quaint, small town. This is a delightful new cozy mystery series. Recommended for fans of cozies that have dogs as a main character.

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

Books in the Bailey the Bloodhound mystery series:
  1. Sniffing Out Murder
Book Review

Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Lord by Celeste Connally [Book Review]

Book Review

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BOOK INFO

Title: Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Lord

Author: Celeste Connally

Publisher: Minotaur Books

Publish Date: November 14, 2023

Genre: Historical Mystery

Series: Lady Petra Inquires #1

My Rating: 3/5

Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Lord by Celeste Connally

BOOK BLURB

London, 1815. Lady Petra Forsyth, daughter of the Earl of Holbrook, has made a shocking proclamation. After losing her beloved fiancé in an accident three years earlier, she announces in front of London’s loosest lips that she will never marry. A woman of independent means―and rather independent ways―Petra sees no reason to cede her wealth and freedom to any man now that the love of her life is gone. Instead, she plans to continue enjoying the best of society without any expectations.

But when ballroom gossip suggests that a longtime friend has died of a fit due to her “melancholia” while in the care of a questionable physician, Petra vows to use her status to dig deeper―uncovering a private asylum where men pay to have their wives and daughters locked away, or worse. Just as Petra has reason to believe her friend is alive, a shocking murder proves more danger is afoot than she thought. And the more determined Lady Petra becomes in uncovering the truth, the more her own headstrong actions and desire for independence are used against her, putting her own freedom―and possibly her life―in jeopardy.


Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Lord by Celeste Connally

MY REVIEW

Lady Petra vows to never marry after her fiancé dies. She uses her title to enjoy the best of society. When she hears a friend has died, she decides to look into the mysterious death.

Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Lord is the first 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 was a great start to a new 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:
  1. Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Lord
  2. All’s Fair in Love and Treachery
  3. Revenge, Served Royal
  4. Murder of a Merry Gentleman
Book Review

Perfect Shot by Steve Urszenyi [Book Review]

Book Review

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BOOK INFO

Title: Perfect Shot

Author: Steve Urszenyi

Publisher: Minotaur Books

Publish Date: November 14, 2023

Genre: Mystery Thriller

Series: Special Agent Alexandra Martel #1

My Rating: 3/5

Perfect Shot by Steve Urszenyi

BOOK BLURB

Special Agent Alexandra Martel has put her days on the battlefield behind her. Charming and disarming, relentless and lethal, she earned a reputation as one of the most renowned and decorated Army snipers in the service before stepping away. But when Alex, now an FBI special agent on loan to Interpol, learns that an old friend, an MI5 officer, has been killed under mysterious circumstances, she’s pulled back into the dangerous world she left behind: a world where some people fear her, some want to recruit her, and everyone seems to want her dead.

Following a trail of clues left behind by the dead woman, Alex pieces together a terrifying conspiracy that only escalates when a nuclear warhead goes missing. Dodging death at every turn, she reluctantly joins forces with a CIA officer, but he has plans of his own for her―and will stop at nothing to achieve them.

Chasing the truth through the streets of London and bustling Turkish markets to the underbelly of Paris, Alex is unrelenting in her pursuit of justice. But as the clock ticks down and the world edges closer to doom, she must fall back on her Special Ops skills to stop the unthinkable. She thought her life as a sniper was over―but with stakes this high, she must use whatever means necessary to render the world safe.


Perfect Shot by Steve Urszenyi

MY REVIEW

When Alex learns a friend has been killed, she’s pulled back into the dangerous world of espionage.

Perfect Shot is the first book in the Special Agent Alexandra Martel series. Alex is charming, lethal, a sniper, and a special agent with the FBI.

This book is action packed, and takes place all over the world. A fast-paced read recommended for fans of spy thrillers with female protagonists.

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

Books in the Special Agent Alexandra Martel series:
  1. Perfect Shot
  2. Out in the Cold
Book Review

The Beautiful and the Wild by Peggy Townsend [Book Review]

Book Review

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 Beautiful and the Wild

Author: Peggy Townsend

Publisher: Berkley

Publish Date: November 7, 2023

Genre: Mystery Thriller

Series: na

My Rating: 3/5

The Beautiful and the Wild by Peggy Townsend

BOOK BLURB

The dangers of Alaska aren’t limited to storms, starvation, and grizzly bears. Sometimes the most dangerous thing is the person you love.

It’s summer in Alaska and the light surrounding the shipping-container-turned-storage shed where Liv Russo is being held prisoner is fuzzy and gray. Around her is thick forest and jagged mountains. In front of her, across a clearing, is a low-slung cabin with a single window that spills a wash of yellow light onto bare ground. Illuminated in that light is the father of her child, a man she once loved. A man who is now her jailor. Liv vows to do anything to escape.  

Carrying her own secrets and a fierce need to protect her young son, Liv must navigate a new world where extreme weather, starvation, and dangerous wildlife are not the only threats she faces. With winter’s arrival imminent, she knows she must reckon with her past and the choices that brought her to the unforgiving Alaskan landscape if she is ever going to make it out alive.


The Beautiful and the Wild by Peggy Townsend

MY REVIEW

Liv travels to Alaska to locate the man she once loved. When she arrives, she realizes he is not letting her leave. To protect herself and her son, she must survive the dangers of an Alaskan winter.

The Beautiful and the Wild is told from Liv’s point of view. She is a strong, yet flawed protagonist. She makes for a character that is easy to root for her.

An intriguing story with an interesting cast of characters. Recommended for fans of mysteries with harsh environments and strong female leads.

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