3.5 stars For 11 years, her twin sister Caitlin’s disappearance has haunted Serena Warren. The discovery of Caitlin’s bones in an untouched 18th-century church vault thrusts Serena into a tangled web of family secrets, historical mysteries, and a relic with otherworldly power. Add in the Wars of the Roses, the Princes in the Tower, and a dash of paranormal intrigue, and you’ve got Nicola Cornick’s The Last Daughter of York. This dual-timeline novel spans centuries, weaving the stories of Serena in the present and Anne Lovell in the 15th century. Francis and Anne’s tale of loyalty and loss during the fall of Richard III is rich with drama, but Serena’s […]
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A Gripping Mystery in the Heart of the Northwoods
Figure Eight hooked me from the start with its vivid portrayal of small-town life and a haunting mystery set in Wisconsin’s Northwoods. John Cabrelli, a former cop grappling with the loss of his career, inherits his uncle’s cabin and stumbles into a tangled web of secrets. As he digs deeper into his uncle’s suspicious death, Cabrelli faces danger and uncovers truths that could change everything about the place he once called home. Jeff Nania’s background as a law enforcement officer and conservationist shines through. The details about the land and the characters’ interactions with their environment feel authentic. The town’s culture—the festivals, quirky personalities, and close-knit community—reminded me of my […]
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Beyond the Headlines Review
Beyond the Headlines takes readers into the fast-paced world of investigative journalism, following veteran reporter Clare Carlson as she tackles the murder case of billionaire Charles Hollister. The story’s premise is captivating, weaving together themes of celebrity, domestic abuse, and a decades-old mystery tied to the Vietnam War. The author’s newsroom expertise is evident, providing an authentic glimpse into the relentless pressures of breaking news. The novel kicks off with an emotional jailhouse interview with Laurie Bateman, a former supermodel and actress accused of killing her husband. As Clare digs deeper, the case becomes more tangled, spanning multiple murders and unsettling family secrets. While the plot promises suspense, the execution […]
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A Heart-Pounding Wilderness Thriller
Allen Eskens delivers another standout suspense novel with Forsaken Country, an intense, heartbreaking story set against the wild beauty of Minnesota’s Boundary Waters Canoe Area. This latest installment in the Max Rupert series works seamlessly as a standalone, blending emotional depth with pulse-pounding action. Max Rupert, a former homicide detective, has retreated into isolation after the tragic loss of his wife. But his friend Lyle breaks through his solitude when he begs for help. Lyle’s daughter Sandy and grandson Pip have vanished, and the local authorities refuse to investigate. Max reluctantly agrees to dig deeper, uncovering a dangerous trail that leads to Sandy’s ex-husband Reed. Eskens crafts a riveting cat-and-mouse […]
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Here One Moment Keeps You Guessing
Imagine you are sitting on an airplane minding your own business when a sweet little old lady comes up and tells you when and how you are going to kick the bucket. Is she a crackpot or let her prognostication change everything? That’s the unique premise of Liane Moriarty’s brilliantly constructed recent novel, Here One Moment. Set aboard a delayed flight from Hobart to Sydney, Australia, this inventive tale introduces a vivid cast of characters: a newlywed couple still glowing from their vows, a tired mom wrangling two kids, a pregnant woman, and a brooding hipster. No one notices the unassuming elderly woman in the aisle seat. Dubbed “The Death […]
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Target Acquired: High-Stakes Suspense with Heart
Lynette Eason delivers another pulse-pounding thriller with Target Acquired. This second installment in the Lake City Heroes series seamlessly blends intense action, buried family secrets, and a touch of romance, making it a standout read for fans of clean suspense. Kenzie King has fought hard to earn her place as a tactical medic on the all-male SWAT team, but proving herself isn’t easy. With rumors swirling that her position came from connections, not skill, she’s determined to show she belongs. When team members become targets of a deadly assailant and Kenzie herself receives threats, the stakes skyrocket. SWAT leader Cole Garrison has his own struggles—balancing his growing feelings for Kenzie […]
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Stormy Setting, Shallow Story: The Unwedding by Ally Condie
Ally Condie’s adult debut, The Unwedding, sets a classic locked-room mystery against the picturesque backdrop of Big Sur. Ellery Wainwright, recently divorced and alone, goes to the luxurious Resort at Broken Point for what would have been her 20th wedding anniversary. Instead of peace, she finds chaos: she finds the groom at a wedding held there dead in the pool, and a sudden storm traps the guests with no hope of rescue. As bodies pile up, Ellery and two other guests, Ravi and Nina, step into the unlikely roles of amateur detectives. While the setup is promising, the execution falls flat. The characters, including Ellery, don’t leave a lasting impact, […]
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A Slow-Burn Tale with Sparks of Suspense: A Review of Johnston’s Latest
Johnston’s latest literary suspense novel paints a vivid picture of a small Wisconsin town haunted by the mysterious disappearance of three boys in the 1970s. The story centers on Sean Courtland, a drifter who ends up working for Marion Devereaux, a man shrouded in suspicion. Alongside Sean is Dan Young, another wanderer with his own secrets, and Denise Givens, a local waitress whose life becomes entwined with Sean’s after a bar altercation. Detective Corrine Viegas, determined to uncover long-buried truths, watches as these lives intersect and set off a chain of events leading to devastating consequences. While the premise holds promise, the execution is slow. The first half drags with […]
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Espionage Meets Art: Gabriel Allon Returns in Portrait of an Unknown Woman
Daniel Silva’s 22nd Gabriel Allon installment returns the legendary spy to his original passion: art restoration. Now retired, Allon’s peaceful life in Venice with his wife and children gets upended when he’s drawn into the high-stakes world of art forgery. His old friend Julian Isherwood faces ruin over a dubious Van Dyck painting, pushing Allon back into the game. What follows is a skillful blend of art and espionage as Allon crafts forgeries of his own to ensnare a shadowy forgery syndicate and its financial backer. Silva’s sharp storytelling and insight into the art world shine, giving readers an inside look at the craft and deception of forgery. The plot […]
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A Haunting Mix of Mystery and Heritage
In Spirit Crossing, the 20th installment of William Kent Krueger’s Cork O’Connor series, the story dives into themes of Native trauma, family bonds, and the environmental impact of Big Oil. When a politician’s daughter vanishes in Minnesota, sparking a huge search, Cork’s grandson finds the grave of an unidentified Ojibwe woman. This discovery sets off an intense investigation led by Cork and the Iron Lake Ojibwe Tribal Police, revealing a tangled web of connections and dangers, including a link to the missing girl. Krueger skillfully intertwines real social issues with a compelling mystery, navigating the complexities of Indigenous rights and human trafficking with sensitivity and insight. The story treads into […]
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