Review: Identity Unknown

Identity Unknown by Patricia Cornwell
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Identity Unknown is the 28th book in the Kay Scarpetta series by Patricia Cornwell.  You could read this as a standalone, but it will have a few spoilers from earlier books.  You also wouldn't have quite the idea of how important one character is.  I won't say who because I don't want to spoil it for you.  If you read the series, all your favorite characters make an appearance.  This is a tough one though because the initial case involves suspected child abuse.  There is also a very emotional death.  Again, no spoilers, but it hits Kay hard.  I wasn't sure how it was going to all come together, but it did!  However, I don't think things are going to be quiet for long.

Bonus points for Merlin, a very smart kitty.

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Review: The Glass Box: The Shocking True Story of How CrossFit Broke the Rules, Made Millions, and Changed Fitness Forever

The Glass Box: The Shocking True Story of How CrossFit Broke the Rules, Made Millions, and Changed Fitness Forever by Calum Marsh
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Full Disclosure: I received an Advanced Reader's Copy of The Glass Box: The Shocking True Story of How CrossFit Broke the Rules, Made Millions, and Changed Fitness Forever by Calum Marsh from HarperOne via NetGalley.  This book will be published around October 27, 2026.

I'll admit I had some preconceived notions about the cult of CrossFit prior to reading The Glass Box: The Shocking True Story of How CrossFit Broke the Rules, Made Millions, and Changed Fitness Forever by Calum Marsh.  The first notion was that it is culty as the CrossFit adherents are pretty adamant that their way is the best way.  It looked tough.  It didn't always look safe.  This book didn't necessarily convince me I was wrong, but it did give me a much better appreciation of why people get so into CrossFit and how the diet and exercise CrossFit promotes does have science behind it and does produce results even if the execution is sometimes flawed.  I now realize how many of our current fitness trends have their roots in CrossFit.  If you are/were ever into CrossFit or CrossFit-curious or enjoy reading about fitness, you will want to read this book.  

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Review: A Parade of Horribles

A Parade of Horribles by Matt Dinniman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A Parade of Horribles is the eighth book in the Dungeon Crawler Carl series by Matt Dinniman.  You do need to read these books in order, but I guarantee it is worth the investment.  You will look at the number of pages and say NO WAY AM I READING 784 PAGES!  Then, you will start reading, finish, and be sad that there are not 784 more.  Seriously.  These books fly by so fast even when I force myself to put them down because I don't want to finish because I don't want to wait however long until the next one and I have to do things like sleep and eat.  

We are now at the 10th floor of the dungeon.  It is like the most twisted and deadly version of Mario Kart you can imagine.  If you survive, you get a brief respite to participate in a celebration on the extremely short 11th floor.  There is a parade!  Yay?  I remember making floats for parades when I was in high school.  Good luck, Donut!  Also not sure why everyone has an aversion to peach-flavored beer.  Of all the things to be tortured with, it doesn't sound that bad.

Bonus points for Penelope and all the other critters that make an appearance in this book. I don't think I could choose a biological mount because I would be too worried about their safety to race.  

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Review: The Silent Appeal

The Silent Appeal by Janice Hallett
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Full Disclosure: I received an Advanced Reader's Copy of The Silent Appeal by Janice Hallett from Atria Books via NetGalley.  This book will be published around August 2, 2026.

The Silent Appeal is the second book in The Appeal series by Janice Hallett.  There is also a Christmas story that features the same characters so really, three books? Doesn't really matter how many.  You will want to read them all.  I recommend reading in order too since there are references to the previous stories in this one.  Since they are mysteries, you probably want to reduce the number of potential spoilers.  Janice Hallett writes some of my favorite books.  They are mysteries with plenty of humor and interesting characters while also written in an epistolary way so you are getting multiple perspectives while having to piece together everything.  And because everyone has their own perspective, their conclusions may not be reliable.  I find it fun to draw up my own theories.  Because there are also multiple mysteries, we don't know which one we are actually trying to solve until almost the end.  Can't recommend this book enough!

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Review: The Porcelain Sisters

The Porcelain Sisters by Daryl Gregory
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Full Disclosure: I received an Advanced Reader's Copy of The Porcelain Sisters by Daryl Gregory from Tachyon Publications.  This book will be published around October 2026.

I haven't read everything Daryl Gregory has written (yet), but I have immensely enjoyed what I have read.  When the opportunity came up to read this new piece, I was very excited.  The Porcelain Sisters feels like it could be part of a bigger story.  When I read the acknowledgements, I learned that it really is.  Maybe there will be more adventures with these sisters.  Creepy dolls, French witches, a magical cat and crow, there is a lot packed into this story.  Isabel might take umbrage at my characterization of the dolls as creepy, but as someone who collected porcelain dolls for awhile (they are staring at me as I write this), I stand by my assessment. While this is horror, it is also quite funny.  I love Gregory's sense of humor and so many amazing pop cultural references for those of us of a certain age. 

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Review: House of Splinters

House of Splinters by Laura Purcell
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

House of Splinters by Laura Purcell is the prequel to The Silent Companions.  I would probably read The Silent Companions first so as not to spoil anything.  But if you like The Silent Companions, this is a great way to learn the history behind the story and how we got there.  It is dark and gothic.  Not as mysterious as The Silent Companions but definitely has a spooky vibe.

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Review: The Bachelorette Party

The Bachelorette Party by Camilla Sten
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Bachelorette Party by Camilla Sten is the first novel she has written in English on her own.  She usually writes in Swedish and then has a translator do the English version.  I never would have guessed.  That fun fact aside, The Bachelorette Party is a locked-room type of mystery except the room is an island.  There are also two bachelorette parties involved.  The first ends in an unsolved murder mystery that inspires a guest of the second to try to figure out whodunnit when she has an opportunity to go to the island under similar circumstances.  I have never done when of these types of bachelorette parties, but I do like a yoga retreat and going to an island for that sounds fun.  Getting murdered for doing either sounds less fun.  

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