GOD’S COUNTRY

4.5 stars out of 5

While I’ve read only five books in this wonderful series (this is the 22^nd), they’re quite enough to make me a huge fan of the main character, Cork O’Connor of Tamarack County, Minnesota (and, of course, of the author). I’ve watched as Cork has lost one wife and has another wonderful one; his daughter, Jenny, and her husband, Daniel, have a son, nicknamed Waaboo. These and other familiar characters play minor roles in this book, though – it’s Cork himself who for the most part takes center stage from start to finish.

Some family members, including young Waaboo, are visionaries (some might say prophets); they “see” things others do not, often that foretell the future. As this one begins, in fact, Waaboo tells of a dream he had in which a wolf was eating his grandpa’s heart. Needless to say, he – and Cork – are a bit on edge as to the meaning of the dream.

Cork, a former policeman and now a private investigator and owner of burger joint Sam’s Place, is now 60 years old with a few indications that his heart may not be in peak condition. Still, he’s planning a trip to the Boundary Waters, an extremely remote area; it’s near Memorial Day, when Cork’s family gets together to visit the graves of relatives.

Early on, though Cork learns of potential trouble ahead; local guide Cordell Bishop was hired by “three city folks,” as his wife called them; they insisted on Cordell and no one else, making her suspicious of them all. As Cork and his crew canoe into the wilderness, they notice signs that Cordell and his party already have come through. The thing is, they left obvious signs – like trash – something a fierce defender of the wilderness like Cordell would never tolerate. Even more telling is what might be human blood. Cork’s wife Rainy insisted that he bring a SAT phone along – no service in the middle of nowhere, after all – and a call back to the police chief confirms that Cordell’s companions are, shall we say, less than honorable – perhaps even associated with a local murder a few years back.

Cork, needless to say, is concerned for his friend; but he’s even more concerned for the family he’s brought along. He plans to send his crew back, but first he’ll call all this in to the proper authorities. Except an “oops” moment happens, and communication is cut off. But Cork knows his guide friend is in deep trouble, so he vows to find them and insists the others return home.

From then on, it’s a dangerous game of hide-and-seek as Cork puts his considerable tracking skills to work in hopes will save his friend – all the while pondering the meaning of his grandson’s disturbing dream. It’s survival of the fittest at its best, and another solid entry into one of my all-time favorite series. Many thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for letting me in on the game by way of a pre-release copy.

God’s Country by William Kent Krueger (Atria Books, August 2026); 256 pp.

THE WOMEN IN WHITE

4 stars out of 5

I’ve enjoyed other books by this talented author, so I dived into this one with positive expectations. And in part, I suppose, because my undergrad degree is in psychology – a subject I can’t get enough of – it held my attention throughout just because it’s a central theme. It begins as Riley Bell, who is so poor she sleeps in her car, applies for the job as caretaker of 81-year-old Betty Sadler. Not only does Riley feel that somehow she’s being watched, she has to wonder why, after seeing a stack of applications from others she’s pretty sure are more qualified than she is, she’s immediately offered the job.

And on the surface, it looks relatively easy; though in a wheelchair, Betty is personable, mentally “with it” and, in fact, capable of taking care of most of what health-care pros call ADLs – activities of daily living. So why on earth does she need full-time care? But Riley clearly needs a place to stay, and the comfortable room Betty is offering is calling her name.

But Betty, Riley soon learns, is no shrinking violet. Her mind is sharp as a tack, even though she claims to have not been any further from her house than the front porch in decades – which, when Riley checks, her neighbors confirm. But why? She lost her husband, who worked in the secretive Duke University Parapsychology Lab as an assistant to the acclaimed Dr. Trimble, years earlier, so it’s likely she’s lonely. But they were hermits long before that; were they in hiding, and if so, from what, or who and why?

Riley learns Betty was one of four young girls who were part of a ground-breaking experiment in parapsychology at the Trimble Institute within the lab. Betty, it seems now wants to find the other “girls” and needs help from someone she can trust – and Riley, whom Betty believes has at least a touch of psychic ability – is the person she’s chosen to take on that job. Sounds like a relatively easy job, but the more Riley investigates, the more complex – and disturbing – are her discoveries. The truth, it seems, may not set anyone free.

The story moves back and forth in time to fill in the blanks on what really happened, but I can’t go into more detail without spoiling it for others. All told, it’s an engrossing story with a bit of a surprise ending – well worth reading. I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to do just that by way of a pre-release review copy.

The Women in White by Sarah Pekkanen (St. Martin’s Press, August 2026); 304 pp.

DECEPTIONS

5 stars out of 5

With full knowledge that I sound like a broken record, I’ll again say I’m SO not a fan of short stories and will pass on them every time. Except, that is, when they’re written by a long-time favorite author; when that happens, I cannot NOT read them – and such is the case here. It doesn’t hurt, of course, that at least a couple of the stories here feature characters from series that made the author a favorite of mine in the first place, like Lincoln Rhyme and "Tracker" Colter Shaw.

There’s no way to review each and every story without giving away too much, of course (although I’ll mention there’s an interesting “connection” with a twist at the end the last one), so I’ll just offer up brief descriptions, to-wit:

Forgotten: (Colter Shaw): The father of a teenage boy convicted of killing a drug dealer offers missing-persons-finder Colter Shaw $2,600 to find proof his son is innocent.

Hard to Get: Analyst Dr. Albert Lessing, an analyst for a clandestine CIA agency, is asked to infiltrate another country and get himself recruited as a U.S. spy (with no official protection from the United States).

The Writers’ Conference: Jim Handle, a detective in the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Department, has been assigned to head up security at the local convention center – a place often considered a top terrorist target. This assignment sounds easy peasy – all the convention presenters and attendees are crime writers. Five of them are competing for the “Tombstone Award,” with the winner to be announced at a banquet. What could possibly go wrong?

An Acceptable Sacrifice: Trying to “take out” a bad guy who wants to “take out” a busload of tourists isn’t a bad thing. But what if the people planning to take him out have the wrong bad guy? This one’s a real zinger.

The Adventures of the Laughing Fisherman: Book character lover Paul Winslow is back with his former therapist because he’s lost his interest in Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes books. When the therapist suggests he put his powers of deduction to work in a real job, he decides he’ll try to deduce the identity of the “Upper East Side Slasher,” who’s killed at least three so far.

Where the Evidence Lies: Forensic analyst Lincoln Rhyme and his partner, Amelia Sachs, are in Miami for his forensic lecture when a plane crashes at Eastern Dade Airport there. A prominent businessman killed in the crash had some notable enemies, as did the pilot. Sabotage is suspected, but can Lincoln and Amelia prove it?

A Woman of Mystery: A killer is on a rampage, and he (or she) is now in Milan with his fifth victim lined up. All Detective Inspector Rinaldo Tosca knows at this point is that the “Sunday Killer” strikes on the last day of the week (or first, if you’re part of the roughly 55% of the world’s population that begin their week on Sunday, according to Timeandate.com). Tosca is at a loss for clues, until a woman comes to the office to say she has information – including the name of the next victim.

The Bookkeeper: Colter Shaw is trying to intercept a killer in the library of the New School for Social Thought in Greenwich Village when he finds a break-in, but no dead body – just a stolen laptop. The killer, Shaw says, is a hitman nicknamed “The Bookkeeper” paid to eliminate people who are opposed to democracy. Clues point in the direction of Russia, but real evidence is hard to pin down.

The Deadliest Sense: The final story returns to Lincoln Rhyme and Amelia Sachs, who are trying to find a prolific killer who’s got an impeccable record for leaving no clues – no motive, no connections, no possible means of identification. As usual, Lincoln does what he does best – focus on the evidence. Even if they don’t solve this one, though, there’s another case on tap.

And that’s it. All very interesting, and I could have read the entire book in one day if life hadn’t intervened and I hadn’t answered a phone call from a friend I haven’t heard from in years. Anyway, it’s a fun read, and I heartily thank the publisher, by way of NetGalley, for allowing me to sample it in the form of a pre-release copy. Go read it for yourself – you won’t be sorry!

Deceptions by Jeffery Deaver (G.P. Putnam’s Sons, August 2026); 304 pp.

THE WEDDING WEEK

4.5 stars out of 5

I’ve been a reasonably prolific reviewer of pre-release books (ARCs) through NetGalley for some time now, and it’s always a thrill to have one of my requests approved by publishers. Even more thrilling is getting an email from a publishing house agent offering me a book without my having to ask for it. With one caveat: most of the time, those are written by authors I’ve never heard of. Sometimes, the description is enough for me to decline the offer; other times – as was the case with this one – the book sounds intriguing, but my concern that it might be a big waste of my time lingers.

Well, I’m delighted to report that it turned out to be a winner in my book, despite not being too sure when I started to read. Admittedly, I’m not at all familiar with much of anything related to South Asian or Middle Eastern culture except maybe some of the food (and even that when it’s been “Americanized”), so I sort of felt out of my element from the beginning. Names? Wrote ‘em down so I’d remember who’s who just because most of my friends have names like Jim or Mary, not Hena or Reza or Nasir. But curiosity I have plenty of; I love learning about other cultures and customs. It just takes a little longer to adjust to the unfamiliar. A for-instance? This story focuses on a “desi” wedding. Say what? As confirmed on more than one online source, a desi wedding is a traditional South Asian wedding (including Pakistani, as are the families here). Such events are elaborate, with dancing, singing, choreographed performances, henna paintings, cultural clothing and yes, vows, taking place over multiple days.

This story begins as Hena Mirza, who’s in California, gets a call from her younger sister Lulu, who’s 21 and getting married. The event will be held at Lulu’s luxurious resort in the Everglades – a place Hena left in a rush a few years back in the midst of a similar wedding of her own that went sideways before any vows were spoken. Her intended, Nasir, suddenly disappeared – never to be seen since. Worse, Hena became a suspect in that disappearance, with some relatives (especially on his side) believing she somehow did him in. And since Lulu is marrying Khaled, who is close friends with Nasir’s parents, who are among those believers  – and Nasir’s sister Irum is Lulu’s maid of honor - they’re all expected to be at the wedding as well.

It’s all sounds like a recipe for another disaster at best, so Hena isn’t expecting ooey-gooey wedding cake and roses and hesitates to go. But it’s her sister, after all, and their mother, Ammi, has Stage 4 lung cancer, so it may be the last time they will see her alive. Reluctantly, Hena agrees to give it a go.

Sure enough, she gets the expected responses from relatives on both sides, but for the most part she’s able to handle them. And when on the first day she meets handsome hunk and groomsman Reza, she begins to think she’ll make it through all eight days of elaborate, themed and highly choreographed celebrations.

Well, think again. At almost every turn, she encounters something unexpected – some that actually are life-threatening. As the story moves along, chapters flash to years-earlier experiences of various characters, all building up to the realization of what really happened to Hena’s fiancé and prompted her to flee the Sunshine State. Needless to say, I can’t relate any of that without spoiling things for other readers, but suffice it to say it’s an interesting journey with a few surprises at the end. All told, it’s an enjoyable adventure that’s a bit off the beaten path, and I’m appreciative of the offer of a pre-release copy to read and review (by way of NetGalley). Well done, definitely recommended.

The Wedding Week by Aishia Saeed (Bantam, July 2026); 352 pp.

DELUSIONAL

4 stars out of 5

I read most of the books in this series for quite some time (this is the 18^th), but somewhere around a decade ago I gave up. Truth? At that point, NYPD detective Michael Bennett was a widower with 10 adopted kids. He and his uber-competent nanny, Mary Catherine, were fighting the urge to get it on, hesitating mostly for religious (Catholic) reasons. And at that point not-so-religious me had enough of the “will they or won’t they” nonsense  got turned off.

Still, I loved the stories, so when I had the opportunity to request a pre-release copy from NetGalley, I went for it. And now that Michael and Mary Catherine are legally wed (and I assume blissfully so, since she’s pregnant with their first child), and from my perspective, all’s right with the world once again.

This one begins as Michael and his partner, Rob Trilling, are at the scene of a bombing. It’s the second such event recently – the other involving the death of a fellow police officer - so concern is high that a serial bomber may be on the loose similar to the real-life Ted Kacznski (a.k.a. Unibomber of the 1990s). The only real clues are that the bomber apparently had two missing fingers and the recent theft of explosives at a New Jersey arsenal.

As the investigation gets under way, partner Rob has to deal with a potentially serious family matter; his brother, who owns a car dealership in Bozeman, Montana, is facing threats because he refuses to sell the property to a developer who won’t take no for an answer. Michael tells Rob to go West; when that situation takes a turn for the worse, Michael heads that direction as well to lend a helping hand.

Essentially, the story moves between the two cases, with suspension building over which will result in the greatest tragedy. The Montana developer, it seems, will stop at nothing even murder - to get what he wants; the bomb crew, who will stop at nothing to make the world a better place (not even mass murder). Caught in between are two partners who are doing their best to make sure none of those murders actually happen – especially their own.

All told, it’s another riveting adventure and one that held my attention throughout. Many thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to get in on the action once again by way of a pre-release copy. Good job!

Patterson and James O. Born (Little, Brown & Co., August 2026); 368 pp.

THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING

4 stars out of 5

Call me crazy, but I have zero problem with stories about characters who have psychic powers. But females with no common sense? Gimme a break. I was pretty much okay till about the 75% mark of this one; but at that point, the main character turned into one of those ditzy females who, while being chased by a monster wielding a carving knife, runs into the dark woods instead of the well-lit police station that’s half a block away. Spare me!

Ah, but other than that, Mrs. Lincoln, how did you enjoy the play? Honestly, quite a lot. From start to finish, minus that annoying tidbit, I looked forward to my usual mid-evening reading session of at least an hour so I could find out how it ends as quickly as possible.

The story begins as Julia Pritzker, a U.S. transplant now living in Tuscany with her husband Gianluca Moretti  and their three-year-old daughter Leni. Julia, who is prone to “premonitions,” misses her best U.S. friend Courtney but hasn’t been in contact for at least a couple of years. Sort of on a whim, she places a call to her, only to get hit with a vision that something is about to go wrong. That hunch turned out to be deadly; Courtney answers the phone just as she’s entering her beloved grandmother Kay’s house to find she’s just been murdered. Needless to say, Courtney is in shock, and no surprise that she asks Julia to drop everything and come to her side. Julia’s husband isn’t thrilled that she’s leaving, but he also claims to understand her need to help her friend. He’s concerned, though, because history has shown when the two get together, they tend to get involved in things that can take a dark turn (apparently, there’s a previous book with both characters, which I haven’t read, but no matter because this one stands on its own quite well).

Of course, Julia’s plan to comfort Courtney and return home like the next day doesn’t come to fruition, much to the consternation of Julia’s husband and daughter, who believe their needs should come before those of a friend who hasn’t been in the picture for years (need I mention I totally agree)? But then it comes to light that Courtney’s aunt likely was killed because she’d found a “treasure” for her collection just the day before her death – and that might be a huge clue to why she was murdered. Not long thereafter, unsympathetic police pay a visit to Kay’s funeral – and (another surprise), arrest Courtney for her aunt’s murder. At that point, Julia reasons she can’t leave until she gets to the bottom of things.

Doing so takes some strange twists and turns, including a couple more inexplicable murders, war reenactment encampments and hints of domestic terrorists. None of those details, of course, will I provide – those are for other readers to learn for themselves. Overall, this is an entertaining, engaging book (as are the others I’ve read by this talented author), and I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review a pre-release copy.

This Changes Everything by Lisa Scottoline (Grand Central Publishing, July 2026); 400 pp.

MAJESTIC HILLS

4 stars out of 5

I enjoyed this book, but it’s far more of a relationship/social inequality story than the mystery or nail-biting adventure that I expected based on the description. The story revolves around married couple Langdon and Josephine Blaque (oddly appropriate since they’re Black); she’s a hot-shot partner in a downtown Chicago law firm and he’s a new physician who longs to leave their mid-town high-rise condo in favor of the way more laid-back rural area so he can come home from work to peace and tranquility. Getting her to switch gears, though, has been a hard sell.

Then he finds Majestic Hills, a relatively new, custom-designed remote suburban community, and falls in love. Alas, his wife isn’t feeling that love at all; it takes quite a bit of convincing on Langdon’s part – and a compromise to give it a year before deciding to return to the city or not (he, of course, prays it will be the latter). They sublet their condo and, albeit with more than a little reluctance on her part, off they go.

Needless to say, it wouldn’t be much of a story if everything went smoothly (or, conversely, so badly that even Langdon is ready to return home). To be sure, the new place has benefits; the house itself – and all those surrounding it – is quite nice, and the neighbors (mostly white) seem far more friendly and welcoming than Josephine expected. But all too soon, things begin to unravel; what is touted as an idyllic community begins to fall apart. Prime among the revelations is the discovery of a secluded community of near-destitute people – mostly Black – upon whom Majestic Hills developers and community leaders turn a blind eye. But thanks to recent events, awareness of that neglected section of town, so to speak, is turning neighbor against neighbor and exposing the undercurrent of racism.

The rest of the story follows what happens, and it’s not pretty. Details, I’m afraid, are not for me to provide, nor will I reveal how it ends (though I will say I was a little disappointed, but mostly because I felt most sorry for a couple of characters who don’t even play a role in the story but who drew the short end of the stick through no fault of their own). Anyway, it’s a well-written tale, and I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for offering me a pre-release copy to read and review.

Majestic Hills by Dawn Turner (Scribner, August 2026); 336 pp.

KILLER VIBES

4 stars out of 5

I admit it. A “debut” novel – even if that means the first in what’s hoped to be a series – makes me nervous. I guess that, at my advanced age, I’ve read too many that just, well, to put it as nicely as possible, fell flatter than a fritter. And I admit, I was a bit edgy going into this one.

Happily, I needn’t have been worried here. I not only enjoyed reading it, but I’ve found another series to look forward to. The main character, Peter Theodore Key, is interesting, intriguing and a guy whose invitation to join him for a beer and conversation at a local pub I’d accept in a heartbeat. He’s a half-hearted Texas-based private eye who enjoys smoking a joint or two now and again, and when it comes to sex, he’s a switch-hitter (though he seems to have more of an affinity for the guys).

Quite unexpectedly, an estate attorney shows up one day to inform him that his recently-deceased Uncle Forrest – whom he barely knew – has left him a house in Austin that’s worth millions. But the millions are elusive because his uncle’s debts are equally substantial; on the positive side, although the house itself can at best be described as a total mess, everybody and his or her brother and sister seem to want to buy it (and incessantly insist that he sell). Problem is, the more information Peter gathers, the more he’s unwilling to part with the property. That’s especially true when he learns that his late uncle – clearly a hoarder – may have a stash of cash that he really, really could use. Problem is, some unsavory characters – including his late uncle’s own son – would love to get their hands on it as well.

Along the way he meets quite a few interesting characters – including his uncle’s estate lawyer and a seasoned private detective who will play a significant role in Peter’s future. Coming from a much older generation, I can’t quite get into his man-bun thing, especially when it seems to need readjusting every half hour or so (but hey, maybe they all do – what does an old lady like me know)? Other than that, though, he’s an intriguing character I look forward to reading about again in the next installment. Meantime, I heartily thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for letting me in on the action by way of a pre-release copy. Well done!

Killer Vibes by Jack Friday (Minotaur Books, July 2026); 352 pp.

THE COUNTRY ROAD MURDERS

5 stars out of 5

Once in a while, you run across a book that is so good you not only don’t want to put it down, but you can't even fathom starting to read another one – and it happened for me with this one. It pulled from me just about every emotion, from an occasional chuckle to actual tears in my eyes (and it takes an act of Congress to make me cry). It started off interesting but a little slow, perhaps, but then the story (and impeccable writing thereof) kicked in, and I was totally engrossed the rest of the way. Without doubt, this one of the best books I’ve ever read.

The story’s narrator is Silas Tucker, a superstar football player at a rather backwoods school where his father was principal. A decade earlier, the elder Tucker was murdered, the killer still unknown; he never lived to see his son get drafted by an NFL team after a stellar college career. But as they say, man makes plans and God laughs; suddenly, Silas’s life as he knew it is gone – maybe forever – and he returns home to try and build a new life.

His little town of Cross Rivers, North Carolina, though, has longstanding issues – most notably that even the local leaders are terrified by the so-called “Southern Mafia,” consisting primarily of members of the particularly nasty Crockett family. The town also is known far and wide because in the short span of a few months, five young girls from the community have gone missing (and another one goes down even as Silas drives back home).

Silas relies on a couple of his besties from years past, including Taylor McCarter Webb (nee McCarter; she’s now married to a local police officer who is another of Silas’s best friends. Silas tools around doing farm work, and then the father of one of the missing girls asks him to help find her. Though reluctant, he decides to pitch in.

It’s here that the action really picks up, and it’s where mine in the form of a review shuts down; there’s nothing more I can say without revealing too much (and it’s way, way too good to not let other readers experience it for themselves). The story is suspenseful, emotional and absolutely riveting, right down to the final page. A stellar effort for sure, and I offer a big THANK YOU to the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review a pre-release copy. Now please – pre-order a copy (or reserve one at your library) and read it for yourself – you’ll see!

The Country Road Murders by James Patterson and Mike Lupica (Little, Brown and Co., July 2026); 416 pp.

THE QUIET KILL

4 stars out of 5 

This is described as a standalone thriller, but it seems to me to have all the makings for the start of a series. That would make me happy because I found the main character, police detective Jamie Day, to be quite interesting. To be sure, I enjoyed this one, although I’d describe it as gritty and sexually explicit.

The year is 1987, and the “star” of the show, Jamie Day, is a police detective who’s just come to West End London Central Police from a relatively quiet seaside town. Not only must he learn to navigate a huge city with which he’s unfamiliar, his first day on the job, the 22-year-old runs smack dab into a dead body – one that’s been chopped up in pieces, no less. Worse, more dead bodies turn up in relatively short order – a clear sign a serial killer is having a gay old time.

Readers follow Jamie as he finds housing, works on not getting lost in and around the city and on the developing relationships with department co-workers (some decent, others a bit shaky, at least at the start). In between those chapters are those that focus on the victims and the killer, so readers know what’s going down long before Jamie and his team get a clue.

Things work out in the end in a way that, as I mentioned before, hints at more to come – so I’ll be watching to see if that happens. Meantime, I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to get in at the beginning by way of a pre-release copy. Thoroughly enjoyable!

The Quiet Kill by Robert Bryndza (Raven Street Publishing, July 2026); 390 pp.

THE DELIVERY

5 stars out of 5

Leave it to the author of my favorite Orphan X series to put what two-thirds of the world is freaked out over into a thoroughly engaging story (a quick-to-read novella, actually). My overall reaction? Delicious!

The short length makes it hard to review without revealing too much, but the story focuses on Rebecca and Mark Higgins, who are trying their best to keep their heads above water (both mentally and financially) while caring for their special-needs daughter Maddy. Then Mark gets an offer they can’t refuse: access to their very own live-in “experience facilitator,” an artificial intelligence creation that will cater to their every need, no questions asked.

Admittedly, they’re skeptical, but the thought of easing their stress at no cost to them was just too appealing. When the box containing said “facilitator,” they put him in the nursery – now vacant following Becca’s recent miscarriage. When it emerges, it looks human (well, sort of); 7-year-old Maddy gets the naming honors, choosing “Mr. Man.” Immediately, he warms to his tasks – with Mark and Becca believing all the while that, as they were promised, they’ll always be in charge.

Things go rather well for a while, but suddenly, they don’t. And that’s where my review ends and my worst concern about the dangers that lurk amid the mushrooming use of AI (which I largely support, BTW) begin. Some of you oldies but still goodies are familiar with GIGO. If you aren’t, go look it up. Meantime, this is a truly engaging novella for which I thank the publisher, via NetGalley. Don’t miss this one!

The Delivery by Gregg Hurwitz (Thomas & Mercer, July 2026) 225 pp.

DEAD MEN DON’T PLAY FETCH

5 stars out of 5

This has been a go-to series for me for some time now – the stories are always well-written, entertaining and a bit lighthearted even though the legal situations can get pretty complex and the investigations downright dangerous. And this, the 33^rd installment, doesn’t disappoint.

Trying-to-retire defense attorney Andy Carpenter fights to say no when old friend Lou Campanelli, who runs a rehab center in Paterson, New Jersey, calls to ask a favor. That’s because Andy knows it’s likely to drag him back to a courtroom – and he’d much rather keep his eyes on the Tara Foundation, a dog rescue operation, and/or play with the three beloved pooches that share his home in addition to his wife Laurie Collins.

Alas, that’s not to be. Lou is insistent that Jason Maddox, who was at the shelter when he heard a noise outside, went out and found a man who had been murdered, didn’t do the dirty deed. Fairly strong evidence says otherwise, though, and Jason desperately needs a defense attorney. Reluctantly, Andy and his team, which includes Laurie as chief investigator, set out to at the very least convince the jury there’s reasonable doubt and get a not guilty verdict.

While his team does a whiz-bang job of investigating, Andy shines in the courtroom. This time, he’s up against old and extremely competent prosecutor Dylan Campbell, who, as usual, doesn’t make things easy for Andy. The details of both the investigation and the trial, of course, won’t be forthcoming in this review – no way I’ll take away the fun for other readers. I certainly will, however, recommend this book (and the entire series) highly and thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to once again enjoy a pre-release copy. Loved it!

Dead Men Don’t Play Fetch by David Rosenfelt (Minotaur Books, July 2026); 288 pp.

BIRDS OF PREY

5 stars out of 5

I suspect the last time I read a short story I was still in high school. Now I’m an octogenarian who typically reads 100-plus books a year. Does that give you some idea how much I do not love to read short stories? I’m exaggerating a bit, of course, but you get the point.

Sometimes, though, you’ve just got to make an exception – and this wonderful collection of thriller stories, all with the theme of birds of prey, is one of those times. It began as a challenge from one of my favorite authors (Harlen Coben), who invited to other thriller writers to write them. I have no idea how many he pitched the idea to, but 11 agreed. Learning that proceeds from book sales benefits the International Thriller Writers group was an incentive for me to overlook length, as were the names of favorite writers who took up the challenge and the opportunity to sample works by other authors with whom I’m not very familiar or haven’t read at all.

Did I love every story? Some were stellar efforts and a couple were less than, shall we say, thrilling, but none was a complete turn-off. Now that I’ve finished, though, it’s impossible to review any of them; it’s tough to describe what happens in a short story without revealing way too much of the story. What I shall do, however, is list the authors and their bird of choice and leave it up to others to decide whether to snag the book for themselves. As a side personal note, if you ever see me listening to an audiobook you know I’m ready for the undertaker, but I think in this case it might be interesting since I believe the narrations are by the authors themselves (some, I’ve heard, complete with sound effects).

Whatever version you prefer though, I encourage you to give this one a go; it takes no time at all to read and is, pardon the expression, quite a hoot. Amid my thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me the pleasure of reading a pre-release copy, here’s the cast of characters and their birds:

Tess Gerretsen: Seagull

C.J. Box: Peregrine Falcon

Kathy Reichs: Owl

Ace Atkins: Buzzard

Heather Graham: California Condor

S.A. Cosby: Owl

Hank Phillippi Ryan: Falcon

Robert Dugoni: Falcon

Allison Brennan: Bald Eagle

Gregg Hurwitz: Vampire Finch

Kelley Armstrong: Northern Goshawk

Birds of Prey edited by Harlan Coben & C.J. Box (The Mysterious Press, June 2026); 320 pp.

STORM TIDE

5 stars out of 5

So far, I’ve read five books in this wonderful series – this is the 16^th – and I’m thrilled to get my eyes on it. Five books ago, it became an annual favorite - reminiscent of author C.J. Box’s also-wonderful Joe Pickett series. No surprise, then, when this one didn’t disappoint – like the others, it just made me want to read the next one even more.

The main character Mike Bowditch, a game warden in Maine (one of few states I’d consider moving to if I ever left my home in the Midwest), got into some trouble in the last book that resulted in a demotion from his relatively new job as a warden investigator – a hoped -for reinstatement is in the works. Now, he’s pounding the beat as a “regular” game warden, where ostensibly he can’t get himself in quite as much trouble. That’s fine with his wife, Stacey, an EMT who is getting close to delivering more than aid to injured people; she’s pregnant with their first child. The plan is for home delivery, at the nearby home of her parents (her father is a retired game warden and her mother a former nurse, plus they’ll have an experienced doula).

What’s that old saying, something like “the best-laid plans?” In this case, it’s more like which of those plans will go to you-know-where in a handbasket first. Since Stacey’s delivery is a few months away, in this case the issues start with Mike, who encounters a gruesome scene when a man and wife die in a horrific home fire. Standing nearby is a woman holding a baby, who claims the infant was handed to her by a strange man. While home fires aren’t necessarily arson, this one is suspect because most of the area residents believe the dead man murdered his own son even though he was never charged. Perhaps, then, someone was looking for his or own concept of justice.

Around the same time comes another tragedy: the body of Axl Deming, also suspected of a gruesome crime, is found, let’s say, not in one piece near a railroad track. Mike goes to that scene as well, where his suspicions that the two events are somehow connected take hold. And amid all this, he gets a call that suggests someone may be stalking him personally. But he’s on limited duty (though still being paid), so what can he do? But Mike is Mike, and loyal readers will know he’ll find some way to get to the truth.

The path, as usual, is fraught with danger not only to Mike, but to Stacey and others he loves including his scary wolf-dog, Shadow. But also as usual, it’s a well-written, entertaining journey – with a somewhat unexpected ending. I’m ready for the next installment already, as usual, and I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to tag along with Mike on this one by way of a pre-release copy.

Storm Tide by Paul Doiron (Minotaur Books, June 2026); 352 pp.

THE BUTLER

5 stars out of 5

I’ve read nothing to suggest this is the first book in a new series, but after reading it, I’ve got my fingers crossed. The ending, too, is suggestive of things that may come, so that gives me hope as well. The star of the show, a professional butler named Baxter, is an intriguing character I truly want to read more about.

Baxter, who uses no first name, had a quarter of a century’s highly successful experience in the industry, but his most recent gig ended in a bit of a disaster. He found work at an agency, and he’s just been hired to cater to guests at Villa Serenite in southern France, not far from the Cannes Film Festival. The host for the week is wealthy Alec Prescott, and guests include his current much-younger love interest Kaitlin as well as his ex-wife Sylvie (now that’s a recipe for disaster if ever I read one). Curiously, at least to Baxter, is that his employer, a Russian lady, asks him to see what he can find out about Alec’s finances – something foreign to him, a man who prides himself on never snooping while butlering (hmmm, is that a word)? But he’s curious; whatever is she hoping he’ll find?

Guests also include Alec’s grown son, Carter, and his current squeeze Jade. The son is, for the most part, being financially supported by his father – a rather tenuous situation given his father’s irascible temperament. Carter is accompanied by gorgeous young thing Jade, who he introduces to his father for the first time (or, as Baxter suspects, perhaps not).

Put all these and a couple of other guests with interesting backgrounds, and readers quickly suspect all will not exactly go well. And for sure they don’t – starting with bickering and nitpicking and ending with murder. Who gets bumped off, how, why and who did it I’ll of course not reveal, but suffice it to say it’s quite a romp to learn the answers. Amid all of it, Baxter manages to do his job in fine fettle with a smile and a “Certainly, Madam” coming from his lips. He’s a pro, no doubt about it, but he’s also pretty darned good at figuring out a mystery. It’s why I’m eager to see him again – and why I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to sample what I hope is the first installment by way of a pre-release copy. Loved it!

The Butler by Clare Mackintosh (Podium Publishing, June 2026); 201 pp.

THE FAMILY SECRET

5 stars out of 5

I’ve read and thoroughly enjoyed several books in this series, but apparently I’ve missed a very important recent installment – I got the shock of my life when I learned in this, the 16th book, that Detective Lottie Parker of Ragmullin, Ireland, and her significant other, police partner and Detective Mark Boyd, have parted ways personally. No, no – that can’t be, I said to myself. But alas, it’s true – and I can't say I'm happy about it.

But life goes on for both, and somehow they’re still not only on speaking, but decent working terms now. That’s good, because their next case looks to be a doozy. The day after a backyard birthday party to honor their young daughter, parents Caroline and Cameron Healy and their daughter Freya are found dead in the house; at first blush, it appears the father killed his wife and daughter and then took his own life. Lottie and Boyd, though, are not so sure, especially given the clothing the female victims were wearing. They look into the somewhat off-kilter relationship between the Healys and neighbors Thomas and Sadie Clark (their daughter Lily is Freya’s best friend who nearly stayed the night but instead got dragged home by her parents).

That lead turns nearly impossible to follow up, though, when both Sadie and Lily go missing. Still other clues, like backyard party suppliers being asked to return to “check” the equipment, pop up, confusing the issue even more. Then, Lottie’s daughter Chloe, who’s in training to be a police garda like her mom and Boyd (for the record, the latter’s helping Chloe in that direction is the main reason Lottie and Boyd broke up), finds a clue from long ago that may just be what they need to solve the case. Getting that information to her mother, though, hits an unexpected and shocking roadblock that made my jaw drop (and no doubt will be visited again in the next book in the series. Especially in this case, I can hardly wait to see if a certain someone gets a well-deserved comeuppance. Meantime, I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to enjoy this one by way of a pre-release review copy. Good job once again!

The Family Secret by Patricia Gibney (Bookouture, May 2026).

 

The Family Secret by Patricia Gibney (Bookouture, May 2026); ?? pp.

A RIVER RED WITH BLOOD

5 stars out of 5

There’s always a touch of the netherworld in this series, but this time, it’s more of a smack in the face. Who are Charlie Parker and his friends Louis and Angel? How are they able to see and speak with his dead daughter Jennifer, and what is she trying to tell them?

I won’t say I’m any closer to the answers to these questions after reading this, the 23^rd book in the series, but I sure did have a great time traveling through it. The story begins when Charlie, a private investigator, is asked by the attorney for Ward Vose, who’s in jail, to look into the death of Ward’s son Scott Theriault. The body of the young man, who’d been put by his parents in a school for incorrigible youth, was found near Maine’s Kennebec River. His death was determined to be an accident that happened when he ran away from the school (not for the first time). His father, though, is convinced the boy was murdered and wants Charlie to prove it. Concurrently, 19-year old Mallory Norton went missing – and by some accounts, she and Scott may have been an “item.”

A second storyline kicks in as a small group of grown men gather every three years to participate in what they call the Game – a sort of cat-and-mouse affair with serious consequences for person chosen to be the rodent. But the Game has strict rules, and it appears at least one member of the group has stepped out of line – a transgression that must be dealt with.

Of course, early on I suspected there may be some kind of connection between the young man and woman and the Game players, but if so, what is it? And over the course of the book, I learn whether or not that’s true. And no, I can’t share the details; that’s for other readers to learn just as I did. I will say it’s quite an adventure – one that, like previous books, ends with almost as many questions as answers. Overall, it’s another winner in my book – and I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for providing another wild ride by way of a pre-release copy. Well done once again!

A River Red With Blood by John Connolly (Atria/Emily Bestler Books, June 2026); 416 pp.

MURDER BY DESIGN

5 stars out of 5

Now that I’ve chuckled my way through this book, I’m really hoping it’s the first of a series. Both characters – former LAPD detective Edison Bixby turned insurance fraud investigator and his sidekick and story narrator Wally Nash – are nothing short of a hoot. UPDATE: Just as I was starting to write this review, my hopes were confirmed by way of a Facebook post by the author saying he’s in Singapore researching the next book. Hallelujah!

Bixby, you see, was a top-notch detective, at least until he got shot in the face. While it didn’t kill him, it did kill his ability to control what comes out of his mouth; and his often rude utterings don’t tend to sit well with other people around him. He’s managed to turn his experiences into a big payday and is a multi-millionaire and really doesn’t need to work, but he’s so good at being a detective that he willingly works for the insurance company. Still, that unruly mouth needs tempering; so it is that he needs an “assistant” to smooth things over when he crosses the verbal line of social acceptability (which is rather often).

Such assistants have come and gone, but the most recent is Wally Nash, a character actor wannabe who’s looking for that big break while landing a few similar jobs in B-level (or lower) commercials. Nash isn’t quite sure how or if he’ll be able to handle Bixby’s quirkiness, but he’s willing to try – and as narrator of this story, he lays out all his experiences for readers in often hilarious detail.

The duo start with a couple “warm-up” cases in which Nash marvels at Bixby’s amazing ability to solve cases in a short time by seeing details others miss – thus solidifying his belief that he’s the right person to partner with Bixby (well, that and a few perks offered by filthy-rich Bixby). That leads to one of their biggest cases; determining whether a woman’s death in an under-construction shopping mall was an accident or something more sinister. Bixby, you see, is a proponent of the theory that architectural design is, well, kind of alive; done wrong (or correctly, depending on who did the designing and why) can be a killer. Whoa – was that what happened here?

How all that turns out is a journey filled with chuckles, at least for me (yes, I’ve got a rather quirky sense of humor) – and both Bixby and Nash complement each other perfectly in that department. This also is where I call it quits for this review – the details are not for me to reveal. All I’ll do is repeat what I said at the beginning: when the next book in this series is available, I’ll try my darndest to be the first one in line. Oh, and I’ll say a ton of thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for giving me a few hours of delight by way of a pre-release copy.

Murder by Design by Lee Goldberg (Thomas & Mercer, June 2026); 239 pp.

WHERE THE WATER MEETS THE SKY

4 stars out of 5

I enjoyed this book – no doubt about it – but my feelings are mixed. The writing is almost exquisite – no doubt about that, either – but I spent way too much time, well, yawning. Simply put, no matter how important descriptions of scenery and events are to the story – and they certainly are – I’m used to mysteries and thrillers with nonstop action, and that doesn’t happen here.

As a child, Abby was found running from her farmhouse on Michigan’s Upper Peninsula – a home consumed by flames. She’s picked up by a couple who know her, and she’s sent to live with relatives because her mother perished in the fire. All Abby can remember is that when she was found, she had a book of matches in her hand with a few missing.

Haunted by that memory and desperately seeking the truth (especially about that book of matches), Abby returns to her roots a decade later, in part to put her keen interest in the great outdoors to use helping her uncle, who has a grant to map and study trees and forests in a nearby area. Shortly after she returns, her best friend Brew invites her to a party and she meets an intriguing girl named Seda, whose behavior seems to range from confused to mental illness. Abby makes it her life’s work to protect Seda, keeping her fed and housed in an abandoned cabin, well away from all her friends and worrying when she disappears from time to time – and their encounters are written about in great detail.

As a reader, I, too, wondered about those matches and who really set the fire. I also wondered why, given Seda’s behavior, Abby would even want to be around her (I’d have given her the boot at her first transgression). The rest of the story leads up to learning the truth about both, mostly filled with descriptions of scenery, events and memories from an angst-filled Abby. As I said earlier, the writing is wonderful, the story itself seems to go nowhere fast, though resolution to the matches issue and Seda’s strangeness are a bit of a surprise (one totally satisfying and the other crossing a bit over the line of credibility). But overall, I must say that while it’s not an edge-of-seat chiller thriller (perhaps best read by a cozy fire with a glass of wine nearby), I definitely recommend the book and thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read a pre-release copy.

Where the Water Meets the Sky by Diane Les Becquets (Simon & Schuster, May 2026); 320 pp.

TOM CLANCY RULES OF ENGAGEMENT

5 stars out of 5

Ever since The Hunt for Red October, I’ve been a fan of Tom Clancy books. Honestly, a couple of installments into the series, it became a bit of a chore to wade through Stephen King-length novels, so I skipped a few. Then when Clancy died in 2013, I was hesitant to try a “substitute” author just because, well, it wasn’t the original guy.

In more recent years – prompted, I admit, by shorter book lengths – I returned to the series and, happily, fell in love all over again. And as expected, this one did not disappoint – starting with the U.S. Secretary of Commerce, who was killed in a plane crash in Turkey under suspicious circumstances. He was returning home from a conference with a few other passengers, but it turns out one of them was a spy who’d become a U.S. asset and was being extracted by the CIA.

U.S. President Jack Ryan mourns the death of his good friend, but he’s also determined to find out what really happened and why. His daughter Katie, an accomplished Navy lieutenant commander, gets the call to head to Turkey and take a look. As she and her team begin to investigate, they learn something quite strange: although the plane’s manifest lists 16 passengers, only 15 bodies have been found. So what in the world happened to the other one?

As usual, there’s a secondary plot – this one involving a former Russian bigwig close to the Russian president who for all intents and purposes has retired. Problem is, what he’s doing now somehow seems to be more of a threat to the free world than what he did for his old boss. But what is it, exactly, and is the guy really retired or working clandestinely with his former boss?

As things progress, the action gets hot and heavy, involving the usual cast of characters that readers have come to know and love; heck, even Katie’s brother Kyle, a top programmer at a secret U.S. agency, is called in to contribute his special expertise. And for those who might be wary of being confused, the author serves up the background required to ensure that the story stands alone.

It’s no spoiler to say the super-capable Ryan family and the loyal government officers save the day in the end – with no shortage of pats on the back all-around (well, maybe not for public consumption). The devil, of course, is in the details, which other readers will just have to learn for themselves. It short, it’s another edge-of-your-seat adventure, and I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for sharing it with me by way of a pre-release copy. Excellent!

Tom Clancy Rules of Engagement by Ward Larsen (G.P. Putnam’s Sons, May 2026); 448 pp.

IRONWOOD

5 stars out of 5

I first met Detective Sergeant Stilwell – first name not revealed – in “Ironwood,” the first of what is now a series of two books. Despite my misgivings about that lack of name (hmmm, what is he hiding?), I took a liking to him; so when I got the chance to read the follow-up, courtesy of a pre-release review copy from NetGalley, I didn’t hesitate. That proved to be a sound decision, and now I’m looking forward to reading the next installment.

“Stil,” as he’s known, lives and works on Catalina Island; banished there by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department after irritating the powers-that-be to the point that they sent him to a place where all the department “misfits” go. Most of the time, that keeps Stil out of their hair, other times, like now, the two locations get a bit tangled up. As the story begins, Stil and his troops are watching a suspicious plane land on a remote island airstrip. As a duffel bag of drugs is dropped as expected and Stil’s team advances, but then everything falls apart. The drop-off guy runs and disappears into the mountains, shots are fired from somewhere and someone catches a deadly bullet.

Despite being told by his superiors he’s off the case, Stil keeps up the investigation without their knowledge. As he digs around in his own turf, he finds a backpack still in evidence that hasn’t been claimed. Curious, he learns it belongs to a woman who went missing on the island four years ago while hiking. Not surprising in and of itself, but the backpack was recovered just two months earlier. More curiosity leads him off the island to the LAPD’s Open-Unsolved Unit and (surprise!) a character familiar from another series by this author, Detective Rene Ballard. Turns out they’re something of a match made in heaven; it’s a team I hope we’ll see again soon.

The rest of the book focuses on that investigation, but Stil being Stil, he can’t back off that runway shooting case despite warnings from his superiors. Both cases get resolved, but it is the latter that brings serious ramifications for Stil and hints at the direction of the next book in the series. Can we see it soon, please? Meantime, I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to immerse myself in another enjoyable mystery by way of a pre-release copy. Another one well done!

Ironwood by Michael Connelly (Little, Brown and Co., May 2026); 336 pp.

THE ANNIVERSARY

5 stars out of 5

At its heart, this book has a familiar theme: two young people from entirely different lifestyles – one from the “wrong side of the tracks” and the other the quintessential prom queen. Though their lives took very different paths, both are searching for answers. Quinn Riley is trying to find out who murdered his mother years earlier. Jules Delaney is trying to learn the identity of the community’s “May Day” serial killer (so dubbed because he does his dirty deeds on May 1) and why he captured her long ago but ultimately let her live. Their stories parallel each other, complete with flashbacks, until (as readers will suspect) they come together and the two learn they have much more in common than they ever thought.

On that date back in 1992 when both were in high school Quinn’s attempt to break up a fight went awry, resulting in his being arrested and sent to prison. That same night, Jules’ situation took an awful turn as well when she was attacked by the person she assumed was the May Day killer. She was physically assaulted and released, but her attacker warned her not to speak of the incident if she wanted to keep her family safe – even though she never saw the man’s face. The two knew each other, but their lives didn’t often intersect because they came from such different backgrounds.

Years later, Quinn is released from jail hoping to dig up evidence about his mother’s unexplained death years ago, but with few other options for survival, heads for the Army recruiting office. After that, he returns home to become a private investigator – still with an eye on finding who killed his mother. Jules, meanwhile, has been sashaying her way up the runway to become a top model – one still haunted by the awful memories of that May 1 encounter. Finally, an FBI agent finds Jules and convinces her to open up about what happened to her; to her surprise, other survivors have been found as well.

The story follows a decade in their lives as both try to grapple with the awful events of their younger years, with chapters revealing how the past impacts the present, the progress of their investigations and, ultimately, how each is resolved. Overall, it’s quite an adventure – one that certainly kept me turning pages as fast as I could all the way to the end. Definitely worth reading, as are all the books I’ve read by this talented author, and I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review a pre-release copy. Well done!

The Anniversary by Alex Finlay (Minotaur Books, May 2026); 336 pp.

JUDGE STONE

5 stars out of 5

Within minutes of starting to read this book, I wasn’t sure I wanted to keep going. Within a few minutes more, though, I knew I wouldn’t want to stop till I got to the end.

Let me explain. This story takes place in the Deep South – super small town Union Springs, Alabama, in fact. Mary Stone, a Black judge – elected by voters – presides over the local county court, and there’s a trial with more than a hint of To Kill a Mockingbird flavor. Bottom line, then, is that it’s almost a given that the defendant won’t be the only victim in this case. Add the fact that it relates to a woman’s right to control her own body (Alabama, the story notes, has the “toughest abortion law in the country”), and I know from the outset that my own emotions will run strong.

No time is wasted triggering them as 13-year-old Nova Jones is brought to the local doctor’s office during off hours by her school nurse. The girl is pregnant, in pain and showing other symptoms of severe distress that could threaten her life. She begs both women to not tell her mother, who would be, let’s say, less than sympathetic. The doctor, Bria Gaines, sees no other choice than to perform a medical abortion – but given the legal consequences, no one is supposed to know about it.

But luck isn’t in Nova or Bria’s corner; soon thereafter, the first-year teenager develops serious complications from the procedure – not uncommon in girls that young – sending her to the hospital, where doctors learn she’d had an abortion and are obligated to pass that information on to the proper authorities.

Well, surprise – the case lands in front of Judge Stone, who’s got a reputation for following the law, fairness and not putting up with BS from attorneys on either side. For reasons readers will learn, though, this trial will test those qualities to their limits (and then some) as well as turn the whole town on its head and put lives at stake. In short, it’s a don’t-miss story, and I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read a pre-release copy. Outstanding!

Judge Stone by Viola Davis and James Patterson (Little, Brown and Co., March 2026); 425 pp.

RED VERDICT

4 stars out of 5

Ever since I started my working life 60-plus years ago as a legal secretary (for a whopping $250 a month), I’ve had a keen interest in the law. Never wanted to be a lawyer, mind you – it was the research side that called out to me. That career never happened, but even after many years as a print journalist, legal matters (and of course, books that included courtroom strategies), have remained a priority. What I’m saying is that it’s really hard for me to get bogged down in trial goings-on, but I felt that way a couple of times in this story (apparently the judge in the depicted trial did as well, admonishing attorneys for both sides to get a move on more than once). Mind you, that didn’t much dampen my personal enthusiasm for the book – I’m simply pointing out that this series entry is a bit more technical than its predecessors.

This is the fourth book featuring Nora Carleton, assistant district attorney for the Southern District of New York; I’ve now read – and recommended – all three. Every one has been an interesting, intriguing story (and, of course, scratched my legal itch).

As it opens, a frequent diner at a New York restaurant is fatally stricken during his meal. An astute hospital doctor suspects he was done in by a hard-to-detect nerve agent popular with Russian assassins. Not long after, other diners succumb to the same thing; quick action saves their lives and confirms the suspicion that the original victim had, in fact, been targeted. Nora and her long-time FBI Special Agent Benny Dugan (the latter married to Nora’s mother) begin an investigation, only to learn somebody messed up big-time; the dead guy isn’t the one they were supposed to eliminate.

Still more investigation points to someone close to the victim as being the intended target, and meetings with other agencies that have enough acronyms to make your head swim determine that the real target – and perhaps the victim himself – are Russian spies and that something went wrong. That, in turn, prompts visits to a private residence in Las Vegas reminiscent of a Jeffrey Epstein getaway (complete with young victims and links to at least one highly placed Washington, D.C., government official – who, understandably, will do what he can to make sure the public doesn’t start demanding to see files).

Finally, there’s that detailed trial – interesting in and of itself. But that’s not all Nora has on her plate; In the midst of everything job-related, she must deal with her beloved daughter, Sophie, who lives with her father during the week and is going through some issues of her own. None of the details are mine to share, of course, but I can say there’s never a dull moment (well, except when the trial attorneys get a little carried away). Everything gets resolved at the end, though, making for an entertaining and fast-paced adventure. My thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to get my latest legal “fix” by way of a pre-release copy. Well done once again!

Red Verdict by James Comey (The Mysterious Press, May 2026); 352 pp.