FURY IN DEATH

5 stars out of 5

It doesn’t seem possible that there have been 62 previous books in this series, though I know I’ve read my share. Set in the fairly near future, they’re guaranteed to be both intriguing and fun – and I can’t ignore the fact that police lieutenant Eve Dallas’s hunky husband, filthy rich Irish rogue turned police consultant Roarke, has long held a near-the-top spot on my all-time list of male book heroes (if anyone cares, No. 1 is fine art restorer and former Israeli spy Gabriel Allon, a best-selling series by Daniel Silva). 

This latest installment of this series carries on the tradition in fine fettle, starting with the death of a man who apparently fell accidentally, followed closely by the death of Lawrence Chu, a wealthy executive who’s been beaten so badly he’s nearly unrecognizable in his ultra-secure building. Someone must have had super-human strength plus more than a little fury (a nod to the title) – an emotion Eve knows all too well given her background - but how in the world did he or she get into the building to do the deed?

When still another body turns up beaten to an unrecognizable pulp, Eve learns they were both from the same company. And what’s that old chestnut – always follow the money? Connections begin to form with help from trusty Roarke, whose company is a rival with the one that employed the two dead men. The rest of the story basically follows the investigation led by Eve with help from Roarke and her coworkers (a favorite of mine is Dr. Charlotte Mira) - with a bit of diversion by way of an upcoming bash hosted by good friends. As always, it was tough to put it down, though I won’t call it the most edge-of-seat book in the series I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading. Love it, though, and I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review a pre-release copy.

Fury in Death by J.D. Robb (St. Martin’s Press, September 2026); 368 pp.

RANSOM

4 stars out of 5

As far as I know, I’ve read all 25 in this series that preceded this one, though I can’t be positive because I’ve only recorded the 13 most recent in my book blog. That track record does give some idea of how invested I am in the series; still another one is that the main man, now former Israeli intelligence officer and art restoration expert Gabriel Allon, has held the No. 1 spot on my list of Top 10 All-Time Favorite book heroes ever since I started it.

He’s still there for sure, but I do have to say this isn’t close to my favorite book in the series. Somehow, it just feels, well, lackluster; Gabriel just seems to want to be anywhere except in the middle of another mess that’s really not near or dear to his heart (though readers will find he’s still got enough energy to get in the occasional political jab we all know will be in the book somewhere).

Actually, I don’t blame him a bit; he is retired, after all – living with his beautiful wife Chiara and their twin son and daughter and working for Chiara’s very successful Venice-based art restoration company. And obviously, he’s getting a bit long in the tooth, shall we say, at least when it comes to getting involved with life-threatening activities that used to be his norm. And of course, there are those kids…

This time out, the family is enjoying summer holidays at their home in Cornwall, where Gabriel has just acquired a new sailboat and is about to begin restoring a painting by Bernardo Bellotto. All that is going along swimmingly until he’s asked for help by rich-as-sin businessman Edward Knight, whose wife Alice has gone missing since her recent annual getaway with some female friends on the Ibiza coast of Spain. He begs Gabriel to go to Ibiza, where Alice was last seen with her group of friends.

Reluctantly, Gabriel and Cornwall Police detective Timothy Peel head there to meet with local police, who take them to the place where Alice’s car was found at the bottom of a ravine. It’s a strange scene with no blood, so the suspicion is that she’s been kidnapped, but there’s been no ransom demand – until suddenly there is. Speaking with the kidnappers, Gabriel puts his best negotiating skills to the test, whittling the original amount down to something a low-end billionaire can afford.

And it’s here I’ll stop, except to say of course there’s many a slip – and a twist – between cup and lip. The rest of the book focuses on efforts to determine if Alice is really alive and, if so, get the money to the kidnappers and Alice back to her husband. There’s a bit of intrigue, a bit of suspense and a surprise or two, but I never worried that Gabriel might not make it home to his wife and kids as I’ve done in most of the other books (well, there was that one incident…) Still, it’s well-written and held my attention – it just isn’t at the top of my favorites of the series.

Ransom by Daniel Silva (Harper, July 2025); 416 pp.

THE CHASE

5 stars out of 5

I was a fan of legendary steeplechase jockey turned horse racing focused author Dick Francis for many, many years, and since his death, I’ve continued that enthusiasm for books written by his son Felix. This one, I’m happy to say, continues that tradition of excellence in fine fettle – another good one in the books, so to speak.

One thing, however, left me wondering if I’d missed something. The description on Goodreads, where I always post my reviews, says the book features investigator Sid Halley (e.g., “Sid Halley is back to investigate”) – a familiar character. But for the life of me, I don’t recall ever even reading his name on any of the pages here. Oh well, no matter. If I somehow skipped over those mentions, so be it – honestly, in the end I didn’t miss him a whit.

The story finds Westminster art gallery owner Fabian Tulley in a bit of a bind; he’s just sold a painting by Alfred Munnings, and now the police are at his door because he’s been accused of fraud; the buyer, it seems, claims the painting is a copy and insists Fabian was well aware of it. Problem is, Fabian is certain he sold an original, authentic work – but especially since the police have confiscated the painting, how on earth will he prove its provenance? And if he doesn’t, it’s likely his entire business – already in a somewhat difficult financial state – would cease to exist (in fact, several seem to have already flown the customer coop).

As if that weren’t enough, Fabian’s landlord has issued him an eviction notice, claiming he now needs the building for a different type of development. To help with that, Fabian “hires” a retired barrister who agrees to a big discount on a painting he wants in exchange for helping Fabian get to the truth behind his lease (not knowing, of course, exactly where that will lead).

The buyer of the suspected fake Munning is billionaire Jack Lofthouse from Yorkshire, who subsequently filed a lawsuit against Tulley. But the question is, why would he want to discredit Fabian? Getting to the truth requires Fabian and a couple of friends to venture to (surprise!) the racetrack at Cheltenham, where he’s also a frequent vendor. There, he encounters even more serious attacks – one that ends with the ruin of several of the paintings he was displaying for sale there, thus adding to his financial woes and hopes for the future.

Needless to say, either the fraud or the eviction could cost Fabian his livelihood at the very least – so he’s eager to get both issues resolved. The eviction is mostly up to his attorney, but unless he gets to the bottom of the fraud accusation and puts it to rest, he won’t be able to afford his lease anyway, making that issue moot. So off he goes to get to the bottom of things, with a little help from some friends and employees. Details, of course, I cannot reveal, but suffice it to say it’s nonstop action right up to the end (which I also won’t reveal). Getting there, though, is exciting and fun, and I heartily thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for letting me in on the adventure by way of a pre-release copy. Another one well done!

The Chase by Felix Francis (Crooked Lane Books, September 2026); 304 pp.

TOM CLANCY PRESSURE DEPTH

5 stars out of 5

I suppose it sounds strange to give a book a 5-star rating when there were chunks of it I totally skimmed, but let me explain. Once when I visited a top-of-the-water submarine in downtown Cleveland and had the chance to venture down the tube that led to the guts of the beast, I took one look and ran the other way. Yep, I’m definitely on the claustrophobic side, so being seriously enclosed like that, even if it’s not under water, is pretty terrifying. Well, guess what this book is all about?

Mind you, I wasn’t too fearful that the hero of the story, Jack Ryan Jr., son of U.S. President Jack Ryan (he of The Hunt for Red October, an all-time favorite book), would meet a watery, highly pressurized demise. But over the series, I’ve come to know and love several of his friends and cohorts at Hendley Associates, where he fills roles on both the “legitimate” and clandestine sides of the company, so I was worried about them. And as can be deduced by my earlier comments, I can’t think of a worse way to go than on the sea floor mere feet from the Mariana Trench – the deepest oceanic trench on Earth.

This time out, Jack – whose fiancé and co-worker Lisanne Robertson are no longer an item – is planning a dive with co-worker Doug Park to inspect a sunken ship in the Philippine Sea near Guam thought to be carrying illicit and potentially dangerous cargo. Meantime, on another ship, captain Carla Bennett has spotted an object dangerously near the Mariana Trench that shouldn’t be there – it appears to be about the length of a submarine and has a corroded hull. More importantly, perhaps, is that it has a logo that looks suspiciously Russian. So what is it and how did it get where it is now? Further research finds it just may be one thought to have been surreptitiously placed by the Russians long ago for nefarious purposes. To get to the truth, Jack and his dive team will need to sink to all new levels. Problem is, someone else is determined to get there before they do and stop them from learning the truth.

For sure, it’s a mission fraught with danger - the details of which, of course, will be revealed as the story unfolds (I’m certainly not doing to be a wet blanket and spill the beans). I will say, though, that I learned way more than I ever wanted to about deep sea diving (a lot of it so technical it went way over my head, actually). And if I weren’t already certain I’d never want any part of deep sea diving, trust me, I’d be convinced after finishing the book. Parts, in fact, I had to skim over or else face having nightmares for weeks to come.

All that said, though, it’s a riveting, well-written story – and I’m already looking forward to the next adventure (though I’m hoping most of it will take place on dry land). Meantime, I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review a pre-release copy of this one.

Tom Clancy Pressure Depth by Jack Stewart (G.P. Putnam’s Sons, September 2026); 416 pp.

NOT A WORD

4.5 stars out of 5

I’m a big fan of this author, loving every single book of his I’ve read so far. And with all its twists and turns, this one certainly didn’t disappoint.

It begins as Reece Chartwell comes to visit his parents, Brent and Catherine, in their home near Toronto. He’s greeted by a sight no son could ever envision, much less accept: His parents in bed, both shot to death - with blood everywhere. That’s not something a son ever gets over, even with help from his wife Diana and son Gage.

There’s a police investigation, of course, and the initial ruling is that it’s a murder-suicide; his father shot his mother, then himself. Except, that is, till Reece gets a text from his mother indicating she’s nowhere near dead, and further investigation finds that the woman with whom his father was in bed is a different woman – one unknown to Reece and his drug-addicted brother, Holden. Complicating matters even more is that while his mother agrees to meet with Reece, she doesn’t actually show up – and can’t be found anywhere. So did she walk in to find a strange woman in her husband’s bed and kill them both?

Such is the primary suspicion in the mind of detective Janice McCabe, who manages at least to find the name of the murdered woman. Everything else is a huge mystery that includes the possibility that one or both of the victims was the target of the real killer. But who might that be, and what was the motive?

Some evidence leads Reece to believe it might have something to do with the Big Pharma company for which his father worked – a company that could be hiding Big Secrets that someone still there doesn’t want to go public. But really – would anyone still there still be worried enough about something like that to commit murder?

Those questions, and many more, get answered as the story moves along, and of course you’ll get Not Another Word from me about all that. What I will say is that this is another winner in my book, and I heartily thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to get a sneak peek by way of a pre-release copy. Go get one for yourself – you won’t be sorry.

Not a Word by Linwood Barclay (William Morrow, August 2026); 320 pp.

THE SHADOW FRIENDS

5 stars out of 5

This book brings together former CIA agents Maggie Bird, Ingrid  Slocum, Ben Diamond and Declan Rose – all over the age of 60 – who live in small-town Purity, Maine, in the shadows of their former lives. It’s the third in a series (of which I read and loved the second and vowed to not miss any more). New readers won’t have trouble following the story, but I always advise starting at the beginning with any series if possible (and this one’s definitely worth doing exactly that).

Although all the members of the so-called Martini Club are quite happy to be living their lives without worrying who’s just around the corner waiting to kill them, their past has a tendency to slip into the present when they least expect it. This time, Ingrid is the lead organizer at a local conference at which a speaker mentions a facility in Russia where live smallpox virus is stored; releasing it would result in a high mortality rate. Surprisingly, Rodrigo Estrada appears on the scene – a former agency cohort with whom Ingrid once had a “thing.” He and Ingrid stay for a few drinks after the conference to discuss old times and beg Ingrid to join forces with him in his private security company. She’s reluctant – in part knowing her husband Lloyd, a former agency analyst, would not be pleased to know her life would once again be in danger.

But when a server at the conference suddenly turns up dead, Ingrid – with input from former flame Rodrigo – realizes there’s a possible connection between the woman’s death and Ingrid’s nearly losing her own nearly 30 years ago. With that knowledge, and Ingrid’s desire to get to the truth, the thrill of the chase apparently overcomes Ingrid’s devotion to making Lloyd feel secure, and she suddenly disappears. Lloyd, of course, is shattered – never having fully believed a woman like Ingrid could possibly be attracted to a sort of computer nerd like him (and besides, she went off with the still-handsome hunk with whom she once was seriously connected.

Lloyd and Maggie are just as determined to do their best to keep Ingrid safe, so they start doing some serious digging of their own by putting their investigative skills to work once again. The details of from what happens from that point forward, of course, are not mine to reveal – but I assure you it’s quite an exciting, action-packed adventure filled with unexpected twists and an ending that suggests another installment will be forthcoming (soon, I hope)? Meantime, thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read the latest in this series by a long-favorite author. Well done!

The Shadow Friends by Tess Gerritsen (Thomas & Mercer, August 2026); 293 pp.

GOOD GIRLS DIE BORED

4 stars out of 5

Juno Hardwick is a difficult character to love (heck, make that a hard one to just like). She’s a hard-nosed military veteran who’s seen – and probably participated in – it all. Now, she’s working as a sort of bouncer in a Southern California bikini bar, often getting herself in trouble for bouncing the customers she’s charged with bouncing off the wall a little too hard. She’s trying to save up enough money to get out on her own, but that’s not likely to happen anytime soon. Meanwhile, she’s also the caretaker for her tech-savvy sister Cassie, whose bipolar disorder gives her far more bad days than good.

In the midst of a rather nasty encounter with a suspicious character, she runs into Min-jung Eckland, a good friend she met during their combat years. Min now operates her own boutique security firm with another of her friends, Gabe Haddad. But she’s in this bar, at this time, to hire Juno to help protect Maelle Ruiz, a so-called investigative journalist – and a person Juno detests based on past interactions. The woman will need protection, Min says, for a three-day convention-style event.

Security in a situation like that wouldn’t be easy under any circumstances, but the fact that Gabe and Min are fighting and the business is in danger of shutting down adds even more unwanted details to the job, at least as far as Juno is concerned. An even more unwelcome detail is that Juno also is expected to partner up with another security guard named Ethan, a guy with whom Juno once had a relationship that didn’t exactly end well.

The story follows the team’s efforts to protect a journalist who’s burned more than one bridge during her career – all the while dealing with security leaks that increasingly seem to be coming from inside their circle of co-workers, family and friends. No one, it seems, can be fully trusted, but who, really, is the culprit and what, exactly, is he or she trying to accomplish? More to the point, who are they really after? Clearly, Juno must find the answers to those questions soon – or she may not live to get them at all.

Overall, the story held my attention and captured my interest, though as I hinted early on, the main character – and for that matter, most of the others – aren’t very likable. It’s a good bet for a summer beach read (or maybe a winter-by-the-fireplace), and I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to get to know a new-to-me author.

Good Girls Die Bored by Elizabeth Little (Bantam, August 2026); 448 pp.

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.