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.

PARTY OF LIARS

4 stars out of 5

Make no mistake: Throughout the entirety of this book, I really did hang on every word - even staying up extra late to make it to what was an exciting twist of events. That said, by somewhere around the 70% mark, I was so tired of the back-and-forth chapters that offered perspectives of the main characters that I violated my normal bedtime to read so it would be over almost more than because I wanted to learn the "truth." That writing technique is popular and certainly can be effective, but for me, at least, it also gets very old very fast.

The gist of the whole thing is this: Ethan and his third wife, Dani, are living in an expensive, eye-popping historic home, the entire back of which is a glass sheet that overlooks a steep ravine (think of your doll house as a kid that had no back on it so the contents can be seen and played with). They have an infant daughter, Charlotte, and an Irish nanny named Orlaith, the latter because Dani seems to be mentally unstable - perhaps a bit beyond postpartum depression. Ethan is a psychiatrist with partner Curtis, a childhood friend (kind of surprising that everyone refers to him as "Mr." and not "Dr." - hmmm, is that some kind of clue)?

Ethan's second ex-wife, Kim, is a disgraced veterinarian and mostly functioning alcoholic; together, they had daughter Sophie, who lives with mom and is very popular and drop-dead gorgeous. It's her Sweet Sixteen party at her dad and stepmom's big house that's the focus of the story; besides all three parents, Sophie's long-time best friend, mousey Mikayla, will be there with countless others, some of whom actually wish Sophie well. Not a single character, in fact, is without flaw - apparently, no one nice lives in Comal County, Texas.

And oh, did I mention that the house is rumored to be haunted?

As you might expect - well, I did, anyway - things go horribly wrong at the party almost immediately. Readers don't know exactly what happened, or to whom, though - the purpose of those character perspective switchbacks is to provide hints and clues that will keep us guessing right up to the end. Trust me, it's a doozy - I just wish it had happened a little sooner. But all told, it's a terrific read, and I definitely recommend it. Thanks go to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review a pre-release copy.

Party of Liars by Kelsey Cox (Minotaur Books, July 2025); 325 pp.

DEEP TIDE

4 stars out of 5

A couple of years ago, I read the first of this "Texas Murder Files" series, but somehow I missed the next two. Only one character - actually one I didn't much care for - is in this one, at least as far as my memory (and a peek at my review of that one) goes. I must say, though, that I was far happier to see that, insofar as a good story goes, the tide has turned for the better. While it comes off a little closer to a cozy mystery than I expected, I enjoyed it and yes, look forward to reading more about the main characters.

They would be Leyla Breda, who owns and operates two deli/catering firms in seaside Lost Beach, Texas, and FBI agent Sean Moran, who's in town from his D.C. base on an undercover assignment. Needless to say, romantic sparks fly despite the objections of her police-force brothers - but so does the action, which begins with Leyla's discovery of the body of one of her employees out behind her main shop. There's no immediately identifiable motive, and thus no discernible path to the killer.

Much of the story that follows centers on Sean's and Leyla's reasons for not getting together which which, truth be told, got really old really fast (one of the reasons the aforementioned cozies drive me nuts). The investigation, though, provides a welcome relief from the romantic waffling, and most readers no doubt will soon suspect the case Sean is working on and the woman's murder might be in some way connected (whether or not they are, of course, I won't tell). As the end nears, the action heats up, with at least one character's life on the line. All told, it's definitely worth reading, and I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review a pre-release copy. Good job!

Deep Tide by Laura Griffin (Berkley Publishing Group, April 2023); 352 pp. 

THE INVESTIGATOR

5 stars out of 5

As a longtime reader of this author's series featuring U.S. Marshals Service officer Lucas Davenport, I'm familiar with his adopted daughter Letty, who comes from a troubled background (to say the least) but has thrived under the care of Lucas and his physician wife, Weather. Now, she's 24, a college graduate and off on her own working in a ho-hum job for a U.S. Senator. When he learns of her unrest, he gives her an assignment of looking into the theft of oil from several Texas companies. The amount of oil missing and how much money the thefts amount to - chickenfeed in the overall scheme of oil industry profits - aren't of serious interest, but the senator is curious about where the profits are going and wants to make sure it's not to a right-wing militia group.

In part because Letty is still green around the ears when it comes to investigative skills, she's teamed with John Kaiser, a Department of Homeland Security investigator. At first, she's not delighted with that and neither is he, but they manage to put those feelings aside and, ultimately, develop real respect for each other (if it matters, he won me over as well). The thinking is that a woman who runs a far-right website and a male accomplice may be behind the thefts; when Letty and John head for Texas and find a couple of dead bodies clearly related to the two suspects, it moves into the sure-thing department and the chase is on. 

But exactly who they're chasing and what they're planning to do isn't quite so clear; all Letty and John know for sure is that many lives could be in the balance if they can't figure it out in time. Readers, of course, come along for the ride as chapters shift from the perspectives of the heroes and villains before reaching an explosive conclusion. From this reader's perspective, it was a heck of a journey - during which Letty earned her investigator stripes and made a believer out of me. Already, I'm looking forward to her next adventure. Meantime, thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review a pre-release copy of this one. Well done!

The Investigator by John Sandford (G.P. Putnam's Sons, April 2022); 400 pp.

THE HUNTING WIVES

3 stars out of 5

Okay, what are the chances that five conniving, sex-obsessed and downright demented women would end up in the same dinky Texas town? Not great - and therein lies the first hint that this story won't ring any credibility bells (and sorry, Texas - I know there's nothing dinky in the Lone Star State). But in another way, I'm glad it happened; I'd hate to spoil five different towns with these lunatics.

The worst of the lot is Sophie O'Neill, who with her perfect husband and perfect son moved from bustling Chicago to Mapleton, Texas. There, she finds peace - for maybe a New York minute. Bored out of her mind, she gets a glimpse of the second worst of the lot, Margot Banks - a richer-than-God socialite who hates her equally rich husband and loves the secret cadre of "girls" who meet regularly to target shoot and drink their way into oblivion. It's heavy on the latter; I'll wager that none of these women could pass a sobriety check at any point in the story. It's their other activities, though, that tend to be problematic.

For her part, no matter how much she tells herself she shouldn't go with the flow, Sophie just can't seem to say no. Maybe it's the thrill of the chase, or maybe she's just a nut case; but in any event she's so infatuated with Margot that she allows herself to be swept up in everything the woman suggests. Screw up her own marriage? A real possibility - but she'll chance it and go along just this once. And another once. And another - until a murder happens and Sophie finds herself in a mess that, of course, is not of her own making (she really, really didn't realize what was going on and she really, really wanted to stop, don't you know)?

Those who enjoy their stories on the salacious side should love this book; it's got just about every combination possible among humans, some in fairly explicit detail (to those who aren't into that kind of thing, consider this a warning). The whodunit ending is a slight surprise, but then long before that I'd pretty much had my fill and was hoping they'd all get bumped off or put in jail. Bottom line? Not my cup of tea, although technically it's well written and the plot is well thought out. Still, thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review a pre-release copy.

The Hunting Wives by May Cobb (Berkley, May 2021); 368 pp.

HIDDEN

 4 stars out of 5

Lotsa lust, not much trust. That pretty much sums

up the relationship between investigative reporter Bailey Rhoads and Austin Police Detective Jacob Merritt. Both are working on the same murder case and are infatuated with each other, but each refuses to share new information with the other. 

The two meet after a woman is found murdered on a hiking trail; the initial assumption is that it was a mugging gone very wrong. But Bailey, who's being pressured to come up with a lead story for her newspaper, suspects the woman may not be who she appears to be, while Jacob learns a few details on his own. Chapters switch between their points of view and follow their budding romance that's filled with tension because neither is free to reveal much of anything case-related to the other (for the most part, rightly so; cops shouldn't talk about ongoing cases and good journalists don't reveal sources). But as a journalist myself, I'm not altogether sure why she refused to share at least a few of her other findings - it's not as if Jacob would be writing a story or running to another reporter to give something away - but I guess it makes the story more interesting.

Somewhat oddly, Bailey seems to make more progress toward solving the crime than Jacob, a professional cop. Her dogged persistence leads her to a huge technology company which, she learns, is working on a project that's paying huge dividends but definitely skirting the boundaries of ethics, if not the law. Finally, their investigations begin to merge - and leads them to conclude that another woman's  life is in immediate danger. But can they find her before the would-be killer does? Read it and see. This is the first in the "Texas Murder Files" series, and I'm definitely looking forward to reading about the couple's next joint adventure. Meantime, thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review a pre-release copy.

Hidden by Laura Griffin (Berkley, August 2020); 349 pp.

CROWDED IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE

4 stars out of 5


This highly entertaining book, written by the veterinarian owner of a multi-species practice in tiny Lamesa, Texas, roped me in right from the start. What's not to love about a Papaw who calls his grandson (the author) Turdhead?

The rest of the book, a compilation of the author's experiences at his veterinary practice, never loses that initial entertainment factor. A few stories are poignant, and a few are laugh-out-loud funny. Take, for instance, the unsuspecting Beagle who fell asleep on his back in the yard on a very sunny day and sunburned body parts that normally live in the shadows. I mean, goodness, gracious....

Because this is far from my usual reading genre of mysteries and thrillers, a bit of an explanation is in order. First, I spent all my formative years on a small farm (riding a school bus on dirt roads, 4-H, and all else that goes along with country life). Second, my husband and I often watch the reality TV shows featuring usually quirky veterinarians. 

And last, but hardly least, one of our good friends is a vet in rural Hillsboro, Ohio, and he, too, penned an amusing book about his experiences (No Dogs in Heaven? Scenes from the Life of a Country Veterinarian by Dr. Robert T. Sharp, 2005). So when I was offered the opportunity to read an advance copy in exchange for a review, saying yes was a no-brainer.

Just for the record, this is not the book's first printing; the first, published in 2014, is said to have ranked as high as No. 5 on the Amazon Best Selling Humor List. Now that I've finished it, that comes as no surprise; if you're an animal lover - or just someone who enjoys "down home" reminiscing about real situations and real people - I'm sure you'll find it well worth reading. I know I did.

I must say, though, that in spots the book leans toward being a little too "folksy." Yes, I get that this is West Texas farm country; my point is that occasional corn-pone words like "fella" just stuck out like a prolapse amid the author's otherwise very articulate descriptions. Then too, like one of those angry bovines, the stories jump all over the pen, so a little more order (chronological, perhaps?) might be, well, in order. But lest there be any misunderstanding, I reiterate my opinion that this is a very enjoyable book. Try it - I think you'll like it too! 

Crowded in the Middle of Nowhere: Tales of Humor and Healing from Rural America by Dr. Bo Brock (Greenleaf Book Group Press 2016); 206 pp.

THE LAST MILE

5 stars out of 5


It's for sure no one will ever accuse me of being a compliant little wifey-poo. Still, more often than not when I've got my nose in my Kindle and my husband pops up with, "Honey, do we have more of yesterday's chocolate pudding?" my response is something like,  "Let me finish this chapter and I'll go check."

But when my nose is in a book like this one, my mouth sings a different tune: "I can't see in the fridge from my chair, babe. If you find some, how about bringing me a bowl while you're up?"

Oh, yeah - this book is that good.

Actually, it's the second in the author's new series that debuted last year featuring Amos Decker, whose promising NFL football career was derailed by a serious head injury during his first game for the Cleveland Browns ("my" team, BTW). As a result, he not only is able to remember every single detail of every single minute of every single day (a rare condition called hyperthymesia), but he associates many of them with vivid colors (an even more rare synesthia). That first book, Memory Man, was quite good, but this one jumped to the top of my enjoyment meter from the get-go. For the record, it stands on its own just fine, but  I suggest starting at the beginning (as I do with any series).

Football, in fact, that is the reason Decker, just picked to be on an FBI special task force, wants to take on a particular case. Melvin Mars, who's been in prison for 20 years after being convicted of murdering his parents, is set to be executed in a few hours. At the eleventh hour, another death-row prisoner confesses to the killing, and Mars gets a reprieve from walking "the last mile" to the chamber. Mars once beat the shoulder pads off of Decker when the latter was playing for The Ohio State University Buckeyes (go Bucks!) Not only that, but Decker's own family was murdered, and years after that, a suspect confessed. The similarities are impossible for Decker to overlook (well, let's be honest - given his condition, it's impossible for Decker to overlook much of anything), and he convinces the reluctant head of the FBI team to take on Mars's case.

The stakes for getting to the truth are high; in one outcome, an innocent man could be executed. In another, a murderer could be set free. The trail begins, of course, with attempts to learn whether the prisoner's last-ditch confession is true and why he waited so long to make it. That's not an easy task since he's dead (choosing to go out, for some inexplicable reason, via the electric chair rather than the now-standard lethal injection). But guided by Decker's unfailing recollections and ability to not only find puzzle pieces but pull them together, team members uncover clues and follow where they lead. When one teamster suddenly disappears - presumed to have been kidnapped - things really start to heat up.

There's no shortage of action and twists (and I'm patting myself on the back for figuring out one of the biggest ones). But the big attraction for me, without question, is Decker himself. I seriously doubt I'd like him much if I met him in person - for openers, his conditions have left him rather devoid of emotions - but watching [reading] how his mind works is absolutely fascinating to me. If I'm forced to say something on the negative side, I'll admit the plot (and outcome) smack a little bit of coming up with an ending and making the details fit after the fact. But hey: As stand-up accordion-toting comedian Judy Tenuta is fond of saying, "It could happen!"

All I know is it sure worked for me. Kudos (and more, please)!

The Last Mile by David Baldacci (Grand Central Publishing, April 2016); 432 pp.