Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai’s Dust Child is a beautifully written, deeply moving novel about the Vietnam War’s lasting impact. Through the intertwined stories of an Amerasian man searching for his birth parents, a war veteran haunted by his past, and two Vietnamese sisters struggling to survive, Quế Mai delivers an unforgettable exploration of identity, guilt, and healing. Shifting between past and present, the novel weaves multiple perspectives with grace. Phong, abandoned because of his mixed heritage, yearns for answers. Dan, a former American pilot, returns to Vietnam carrying secrets and regret. Trang and Quỳnh, two young women in 1969 Saigon, make heartbreaking choices to escape poverty. Their journeys converge in […]
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A Tale of Resilience and Betrayal in 19th-Century China
1800s China. Tightly bound feet, or “golden lilies, are the mark of an honorable woman, eclipsing beauty, a rich dowry, and even bloodline in the marriage stakes. When her mother sells Little Flower into slavery as a maidservant—a muizai—to Linjing, a daughter of the prominent Fong family, she clings to the hope that one day her golden lilies will lead her out of slavery. Not only does Little Flower have bound feet, uncommon for a muizai, but she is extraordinarily gifted at embroidery, a skill associated with the highest class of a lady. Resentful of her talents, Linjing does everything in her power to thwart Little Flower’s escape. But when […]
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A Small-Town Mystery with Northwoods Charm but Missing Depth
Murder shakes the quiet Wisconsin Northwoods in Wolf Hollow, the first book in Victoria Houston’s new series featuring police chief Lewellyn “Lew” Ferris. With a sheriff’s race underway, Lew juggles multiple cases—some of which hit too close to home. When local landowner Grace McDonough’s son, Noah, is accused of a sex crime, Lew makes the arrest. But when her own brother, Pete, turns up dead, things take a darker turn. Then Grace is found dead in her submerged car, and Noah is soon murdered as well. As Lew digs deeper, she uncovers a web of secrets surrounding a controversial mining deal and a conspiracy that could cost her everything. Houston […]
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The Grey Wolf: A Disappointing Chapter in the Gamache Saga
Louise Penny’s The Grey Wolf is the 19th installment in her Chief Inspector Armand Gamache series. While Penny’s skill in crafting atmospheric settings and delving into moral complexities is evident, this novel fails to live up to the standards of her earlier work. The story kicks off with Gamache enjoying a quiet morning in Three Pines, only to have it interrupted by a series of strange events—a cryptic note, a break-in, and a trail of clues tied to a plot to poison Québec’s water supply. The stakes are high, taking Gamache and his team from Three Pines to monasteries, the Vatican, and beyond. While this epic scope adds intrigue, it […]
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Holmes is Missing: A Modern Spin on a Classic Kidnapping Mystery
James Patterson and Brian Sitts team up again to deliver an intense and twisty mystery in Holmes Is Missing. This installment follows the elite detective trio of Holmes, Marple, and Poe—except this time, Holmes has vanished, leaving his partners to tackle one of their toughest cases yet: the abduction of six newborns from a private New York hospital. Marple’s sharp instincts and Poe’s grit shine as they unravel secrets that span continents. Along the way, they uncover startling truths about the case—and about Holmes himself. Patterson and Sitts balance fast-paced action with character depth, giving readers a closer look at the trio’s complex pasts. The case is intense and chilling, […]
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Finding Peace in the Storm: Max Lucado’s Guide to Overcoming Anxiety
Max Lucado’s Anxious for Nothing: Finding Calm in a Chaotic World is a life-changing book for anyone struggling with anxiety. As someone who has battled generalized anxiety disorder for nearly 20 years, I found this book to be a godsend. Lucado’s words offer understanding, comfort, and hope, especially for Christians who often feel guilty for their anxiety, believing their lack of peace reflects a lack of faith. Lucado compassionately addresses this guilt and reframes it through the lens of Scripture, particularly Philippians 4:6-7: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which […]
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A Sweeping Journey from Glasgow to Seattle
I picked up A Wild and Heavenly Place because I love historical fiction, though romance isn’t my usual genre. I’m glad I gave it a try. The story follows Hailey MacIntyre and Samuel Fiddes from the slums of Glasgow to the untamed frontier of Seattle. Their connection happens fast, and they can’t seem to stay apart, no matter how life tries to separate them. I traveled to Scotland twice, so the descriptions of Glasgow felt familiar. Still, I wanted more sensory detail. I longed for deeper sights and sounds that would pull me further into the streets and shipyards. That said, the scenes in Seattle offered a window into the […]
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And So I Roar is a Masterpiece
Abi Daré returns with a breathtaking sequel to The Girl with the Louding Voice, delivering a powerful and poignant story that cements her place as a master storyteller. And So I Roar reunites us with Adunni, whose determination remains as inspiring as ever. This time, Daré weaves a gripping tale of secrets, courage, and the resilience of women facing extraordinary challenges. Adunni’s dream of education seems within reach until a knock at the door sends her and her guardian, Tia, spiraling into a web of danger and tough choices. The author’s alternating narration brilliantly juxtaposes Adunni’s raw, vibrant voice with Tia’s urbane perspective. Together, they unravel long-buried secrets while confronting […]
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Secrets, Subplots, and Strange Skies: Cornwell’s Latest Scarpetta Mystery
3.5 stars for the eBook, 5 stars for the narration. Identity Unknown takes Dr. Kay Scarpetta into two chilling cases: the suspicious death of 7-year-old Luna Briley and the bizarre murder of Nobel-winning physicist Sal Giordano, who was once Scarpetta’s lover. The story begins with intrigue, from a tragic child abuse case to a haunting murder scene in an abandoned theme park, complete with crop circles and eerie clues. The forensic details are sharp, but the novel feels overloaded. With countless subplots and references to past events, I struggled to keep track. This isn’t a standalone—new readers will probably feel left out. The UFO angle was weird, though it ironically […]
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Turow’s Latest Legal Thriller Delivers Tension and Insight
Scott Turow proves once again why he’s the king of the legal thriller with Presumed Guilty. This book pulled me in from the first page and didn’t let go. Rusty Sabich, now retired, finds himself back in the courtroom defending his fiancée’s son, Aaron, against a murder charge. The stakes couldn’t be higher, and the tension is palpable as Turow expertly navigates themes of racial bias, small-town dynamics, and the complexities of the justice system. The courtroom drama is riveting—Turow obviously has courtroom experience, but he also has a delightful sense of humor. Rusty’s internal conflict adds emotional depth, and the layered characters make them authentic and relatable. Aaron’s struggles […]
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