Review: This Inevitable Ruin

This Inevitable Ruin by Matt Dinniman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Full Disclosure:  I received an Advanced Reader's Copy of This Inevitable Ruin by Matt Dinniman from Ace via NetGalley.  This book is available now.

I had a real dilemma around This Inevitable Ruin, the seventh book in the Dungeon Crawler Carl series, by Matt Dinniman.  I just finished the sixth book, and I know the eighth book is maybe not even a twinkle in Matt's eye yet.  I was going to hold out.  I was going to read a 900 page book before I even picked this up.  I started that book, but this book was calling to me.  I resisted for almost a full 24 hours.  Then a friend sent a couple of paragraphs of this book.  I broke.  I ditched the other book and picked this one up.  I read and read and read until it was finished.  That took about 48 hours.  I don't regret it, but I am worried I have become a little too obsessed with these books.  If you haven't started reading them, you should start with book one.  You have plenty of time to get through all of them before book eight comes out even if you pace yourself better than I did.  

If you have been reading the series, I don't know how you haven't already started this one.  We are at the dreaded ninth floor, Faction Wars!  There will be blood.  But hey, they have permission to actually kill those horrible people who think this is all fun and games so there's that.  This book is intense. I laughed a lot and cheered, but I also cried a few times.  While I read it in a marathon session, I don't recommend that.  Take breaks.  Stay hydrated.  Eat something.  This is war.

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Review: Red Flags: Bridget Jones meets Black Mirror

Red Flags: Bridget Jones meets Black Mirror by J.E. Rowney
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Full Disclosure: I received an Advanced Reader's Copy of Red Flags by J.E. Rowney from Books Go Social via NetGalley.  This book is already available.  

Red Flags by J.E. Rowney hooked me with the tagline, Bridget Jones meets Black Mirror.  Yes, please!  However, if you are looking for a humorous rom-com, this is probably more Black Mirror than Bridget Jones.  If you have ever had to navigate the horrors of dating in the digital age, you will find this book relatable.  Those of us who have used dating apps know it can be soul-crushing.  I am not going to spoil anything in this story, but I think it is very possible that some apps already are on board with the premise of this book.  It almost makes too much sense.  It also makes me feel vindicated for unmatching with any guy who wants to endlessly text instead of meeting in person.  Red flag!  I could very much related to maintaining friendships at a distance as all of my friends are somewhere else in the world.  I appreciate their presence in my life even if we can't meet up in person.

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Review: The Eye of the Bedlam Bride

The Eye of the Bedlam Bride by Matt Dinniman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Eye of the Bedlam Bride is the sixth book in the Dungeon Crawler Carl series by Matt Dinniman.  There is a recap at the beginning of the book in case it has been awhile, and you need a refresher.  I still don't recommend picking up the series from here.  This is a series best read from start to finish in order.  

We have reached the eighth floor!  We've lost friends and made new ones.  As we are reminded, it will get worse before it gets better.  In that spirit, we now battle using card decks!  If you know what that even means, you have reached peak gaming nerd.  It is fine for fun, but you have to use a lot of strategy to be really good at it.  It is a matter of building a good deck, playing your cards right, and a little bit of luck.  Things are getting very intense.  Sacrifices are made.  I felt compelled to start the seventh book not long after finishing this one, and yet, I am afraid of what is to come.

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Review: Night of the Mannequins

Night of the Mannequins by Stephen Graham Jones
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I listened to the audiobook version of Night of the Mannequins written by Stephen Graham Jones and narrated by Gary Tiedemann.  I wouldn't normally listen to something like this, but it was the only version my library had, and it is fairly short.  I listened to the whole thing in one day.  

As you would expect, it is extremely well written.  It was not what I was expecting for a story though at all.  I thought there would be a lot of creepy mannequins.  There is just one.  So as not to spoil it.  I will also say there is a prank.  There is blood.  If you like slasher films, you might enjoy this book.  

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Review: 25 Alive

25 Alive by James Patterson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

25 Alive is the 25th book in the Women's Murder Club series by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro.  You probably could start here, but you would be missing a lot of backstory.  These books go by fast, so it might be worth going back to the start if you have never read one.  If you have read them before, you could pick up here without a real problem.  

Let's just get it out of the way.  This is a sad one.  I was maybe a third of the way in when I thought this might be the last book.  And, it might be.  It is the first time that I think the ending wasn't wholly satisfactory.  That doesn't diminish the book.  Life doesn't always give us happy endings, and books shouldn't have to either.  If anything, this book left me a little nervous and anxious about the future of the Women's Murder Club. 

Bonus points for a very good dog.  I think I struggled the most with that part of the storyline.  I almost didn't finish!

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Review: Guilty by Definition

Guilty by Definition by Susie Dent
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Full Disclosure: I received an Advanced Reader's Copy of Guilty by Definition by Susie Dent from Sourcebooks Landmark via NetGalley.  This book will be published around September 30, 2025.  

Word Nerds Alert! Guilty by Definition by Susie Dent is the perfect book to read if you like a mystery and really love language.  Each chapter starts with a unique, uncommon word and its definition.  Since the story follows lexicographers at a dictionary company, the word fun doesn't end there.  They are drawn into solving a mysterious disappearance through a series of notes that also involve wordplay.  The notes are included so you can try to solve them as well.  There is also quite a bit of Shakespeare in here if that tickles your fancy.  

Bonus points for making sure the cats are all taken care of no matter what happened!

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Review: The Butcher's Masquerade

The Butcher's Masquerade by Matt Dinniman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Full Disclosure:  I received an Advanced Reader's Copy of The Butcher's Masquerade by Matt Dinniman from Ace via NetGalley.  This book has already been published.

The Butcher's Masquerade is the fifth book in the Dungeon Crawler Carl series by Matt Dinniman.  In case you haven't read my other reviews of this series, do not start with this book.  Start with book one and read in order.  You will thank me for it.  

The name of this book conjured memories of the Red Wedding. #IYKYK  That may draw some people in and make others run away screaming.  If you ran, come back.  You will not want to miss this party. As funny as this series is, I also cried.  It got me right in the feels.  Darn you, Matt!  GRRM taught us not to get too attached to any character but sometimes you can't help yourself.  There are also some really big surprises in here that you won't want to miss! 

Bonus points for Samantha, who unexpectedly became one of my favorite characters.  I even know the friend I would have play her if we were LARPing this.   

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Review: Cat

Cat by Rebecca van Laer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Full Disclosure:  I received an Advanced Reader's Copy of Cat by Rebecca van Laer from Bloomsbury Academic via NetGalley.  It will be published around October 2, 2025.

Cat by Rebecca van Laer is a standalone book in the Object Lessons series.  Each book in that series focuses on one topic.  Cat is about (surprise!) cats.  More specifically, it is the story of Toby and Gus.  Rebecca shares her experience with cats, these two in particular, and how they have shaped her life experience.  While I loved almost all of the stories, there were a few that I found difficult to read.  If you are very sensitive to animal pain/suffering/cruelty, you will want to approach with caution.  The good thing is it is fairly easy to just skip the uncomfortable bits.  I understand it can be difficult to tell the story of cats without mentioning how they have often been villainized and paid the price for it.  Caveat aside, this is a sweet book for the cat lover.  

Bonus points for including photos of the cats in the book.  

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Review: If You Tame Me

If You Tame Me by Kathie Giorgio
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

If You Tame Me by Kathie Giorgio drew me in with the promise of an iguana.  It is right there on the cover!  That's all I needed.  I like animals.  I like all animals.  I have considered having an iguana, some other lizard, or an amphibian.  They are interesting.  I have always been afraid I would not be able to keep them alive.   Then along comes Audrey who convinced me that a middle-aged, single woman living in Wisconsin can have an iguana.  There are also parakeets in this book.  I love birds and have had parakeets.  They are a joy.  Maybe I will also get parakeets again. I digress.  There is more to this story than the animals.  Audrey is facing a lot of the issues that women of an age living in today's world are facing.  She has younger friends who don't see these issues the same way she does and is trying to understand them.  Been there.  There were a few things that I thought Audrey was maybe a little too sheltered or naive about or maybe that was just a reason to explain these things for an audience who might not be hip to what single life is currently like.  There is some romance in this book.  If you are not a big romance person (I am definitely not), you can still enjoy this.  

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Review: Romeo and/or Juliet: A Chooseable-Path Adventure

Romeo and/or Juliet: A Chooseable-Path Adventure by Ryan North
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

You've never read Shakespeare like this before!  Romeo and/or Juliet: A Chooseable-Path Adventure by Ryan North is a chance to read the Bard in a whole new way.  Choose to be Romeo or Juliet and see where life takes you.  You might be surprised where you end up.  Minor spoiler: I read as Juliet and ended up a spinster.  It felt a little too much like my real life.  The great part is if you don't like your ending, you can read it again...and again...and again.  Really, you get a lot of readings out of this book.  Well worth whatever you spend. Unless you spend a hundred plus dollars.  Then you should rethink your life choices.

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Review: The Appeal

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

The Appeal by Janice Hallett has you reading a case with some law students to see if there is any basis for an appeal.  You don't know who is in jail or who even died.  You learn everything as they are fed documents to read and form their theories.  I didn't always agree with what they thought about evidence which was an interesting exercise in itself.  Three people can look at something and interpret it in three different ways.  How does that affect a legal system? This case happens to involve a group of community theater people.  How good is their acting? Good enough to get away with murder?

Janice Hallett writes some of my very favorite mystery books.  I like them so much because they are written in an unconventional epistolary fashion that parcels out clues via a variety of narrators and formats.  There is also a good bit of humor involved.  So while there is murder, it isn't a gruesome read for those that might be squeamish.  

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Review: Shards of Honour

Shards of Honour by Lois McMaster Bujold
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Shards of Honour is the first book in the Vorkosigan Saga by Lois McMaster Bujold.  I was recommended this series as something I might like based on many of the other authors I read.  Should you start here?  That's up to you.  The series is not necessarily written in read order.  Lots of people suggest starting with The Warrior's Apprentice instead and coming back to this later as a sort of a prequel to that.  The author actually includes a whole section on the recommended reading order.  You may want to do some research on your own before you decide where to start.  Wherever you start, the writing is great.  I can see why this was recommended to me.  The characters are interesting and engaging.  This book has a bit of romance, whereas other books in the series are more adventure-focused.  I'm looking forward to reading more.

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Review: The Gate of the Feral Gods

The Gate of the Feral Gods by Matt Dinniman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Full Disclosure:  I received an Advanced Reader's Copy of The Gate of the Feral Gods by Matt Dinniman from Ace via NetGalley.

The Gate of the Feral Gods is the fourth book in the Dungeon Crawler Carl series by Matt Dinniman.  You will want to start with book one because the books build on one another.  Think of it like playing a video game.  You don't want to skip a level, or you may be unprepared for what comes next.  

To avoid spoilers, I will just say we've made it to the fifth floor of the dungeon. Who's we?  Read the book.  It is not getting any easier.  If you and your friends aren't in the same party, you might not see them again.  Keep your friends close, right?  Then again, that's not necessarily going to help you out here when you need to conquer several different areas in a very short time.  Oh, and each area is dominated by an element to make it just that much harder.  We also get the cutest quest ever!  Say thank you to the AI.

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Review: You Are the Detective: The Creeping Hand Murder

You Are the Detective: The Creeping Hand Murder by Maureen Johnson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Full Disclosure: I received an Advance Reader's Copy of You Are the Detective: The Creeping Hand Murder by Maureen Johnson and Jay Cooper from Ten Speed Press via NetGalley.

You Are the Detective: The Creeping Hand Murder by Maureen Johnson and Jay Cooper is absolutely fantastic.  It reminds me of these books I used to get from the library when I was very young.  They were typed on onion paper and included actual "evidence" in envelopes.  You had to solve the mystery and the solution was sealed at the end.  I loved those books, and I love this book!  It is very similar except instead of tangible evidence, you have photos (illustrations) of everything.  You have all the information to solve the crime told through case notes and police statements.  The solution is available once you are ready to see it.  It was so fun!  I read it in one day.  I hope to see more of these.

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