Review: The Game Is Murder

The Game Is Murder by Hazell Ward
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Game is Murder by Hazell Ward is like going to a murder mystery party in book form.  It is quite trippy though!  I thought this book was a lot of fun as it points out many of the mystery novel tropes.  It also plays with reality, and you aren't quite sure what is going on.  There are definitely red herrings.     Everything you need to solve the mystery is in the book.  However what is really going on might remain a mystery!

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Review: Platform Decay

Platform Decay by Martha Wells
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Platform Decay is the eighth book in The Murderbot Diaries series by Martha Wells.  I recommend reading all of the books because they are fairly short, and it will give you a good sense of who the characters are in this one.  You could read this as a standalone, but I think you would wonder why you should care about some people.  

As always, Murderbot is hilarious and deadly.  I like the addition of having Murderbot check in their emotions periodically.  I was often, "same Murderbot same."  I love seeing the growth in Murderbot's character.  Also, how often can you read a book that is essentially a sci-fi thriller with incredible violence and belly laugh at the same time?

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Review: The Rose Field

The Rose Field by Philip Pullman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Rose Field is the third book in The Book of Dust series by Philip Pullman. I wouldn't read this as a standalone, and I wouldn't read it if you haven't read His Dark Materials. This book builds on the foundations of those other books and includes references you won't get if you aren't familiar with the universe. As always, the writing and the philosophy are super compelling. Pullman's books make you think. They are epic and sweeping. Without spoiling anything, I was relieved at the end. Lyra and Pan grow through their adventures, but they had to make big sacrifices to get there.

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Review: The Unveiling

The Unveiling by Quan Barry
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Unveiling by Quan Barry is a tough read in a good way. The Antarctic setting was really engrossing. I have only flown over the continent. It would be a dream to get to actually be on the ground there but maybe not with this particular group of tourists. The brutal animal violence was really hard for me to read. I can deal with violence against people but animals nope. If you are white, also be prepared to confront yourself on issues of race. This is not for the weak.

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Review: Mystery Play

Mystery Play by Elizabeth Kostova
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Full Disclosure: I received an Advanced Reader's Copy of Mystery Play by Elizabeth Kostova from Ballantine Books via NetGalley.  This book will be published around October 13, 2026.

Mystery Play by Elizabeth Kostova is the sequel to The Historian.  I really loved The Historian, so I was super excited to get a copy of Mystery Play.  You can read this as a standalone.  There are some references to things that happened in The Historian, but it won't affect your ability to enjoy this book if you haven't read that one.  Like The Historian, this book is a bit of a time investment.  There is a lot packed in here covering a giant span of time.  At the same time, it is engrossing, and I found that I wasn't ready to finish it when I did.  I am still thinking about it 10 days later and how I wish there was more.  I am doing my best not to give anything away.  There is a lot of time spent in the theatre, especially on Shakespeare.  There are journal entries for those of us who like a story told in various formats and/or points of view.  There are mysterious deaths and some very cool libraries.  Would it be too much to ask for a third book?

Bonus points for loyal canine companions who deserve our undying commitment.  

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Review: Automatic Noodle

Automatic Noodle by Annalee Newitz
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Don't read Automatic Noodle by Annalee Newitz on an empty stomach!  I was immediately craving Chinese hand-pulled noodles and had to make some to get through the book.  Spoiler alert:  There are noodles in the book.  This is a sweet book about robots who just want to do what they love.  It isn't hard to draw the comparisons to the current situation with immigrants in America, documented or not.  The bigger lesson, in my opinion, is how much are lives are driven by algorithms and how easy it is for someone with an agenda to influence our "reality."  Still, this book left me with a warm heart and a strong noodle craving.


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Review: The Unknown

The Unknown by Riley Sager
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I received an Advanced Reader's Copy of The Unknown by Riley Sager from Penguin Random House.  According to the note with the book, it should be published today, August 4, 2026!

The Unknown by Riley Sager might be my favorite book by him so far.  The story is told through two points of view, one being a journal written by a woman who disappeared and the other by an actress rehearsing at the same location for a film based on that journal.  It just happens that the return to the island seems to be causing the mysterious disappearances to happen all over again.  Is the island haunted?  Just when you think you know all the answers, there are a few more surprises!  I actually would love to see this movie!

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Review: Winterset Hollow: A Novel

Winterset Hollow: A Novel by Jonathan Edward Durham
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Full Disclosure: I received an Advanced Reader's Copy of Winterset Hollow: A Novel by Jonathan Edward Durham from Union Square & Co via NetGalley.  This edition will be published around October 6, 2026.  

I've been following Jonathan Edward Durham online for awhile because I think his posts are hilarious and often align with exactly what I am thinking.  It is kind of scary.  When I found out he wrote a book, I had to read it.  I felt like I won the lottery when I was picked to receive an ARC of it!  It is essentially two books in one.  There is Winterset Hollow, the children's book that is told part by part interspersed with the story of a group of fans taking a trip to the island where the author lived to pay homage to their favorite book.  What they come to discover is you should never meet your heroes and that fairy tales often have gruesome origins if they are sugar-coated for modern children's consumption.  Reading this is like going to Disneyland only to discover Stephen King designed the whole place, and you can't leave.  As dark and horrific as it might be, I still cried in parts.  Hit me right in the feels!  My edition had the whole Winterset Hollow story at the end if you wanted to read it from start to finish instead of broken up over the course of the book.  It is quite a beautiful story with a dark underbelly.

Bonus points for some fantastic animals and an amazing cover!

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Review: Play Nice

Play Nice by Rachel Harrison
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Play Nice by Rachel Harrison is the first of her books that I had a little trouble getting into.  I didn't really like the three sisters.  I'm not really into fashion even though I am sitting here in an Eileen Fisher dress writing this review.  I kept telling myself to give it a chance because it has a purple house on the cover.  I REALLY love purple.  Plus, I have really liked Harrison's other books.  Then the youngest sister, Clio, finds a copy of the book their mother wrote about the maybe haunted house they lived in when they were younger, and I was hooked.  I like a book within a book!  I like it even better when someone has made notes in the book that I can read to give me information about what was really going on.  Harrison and I share a similar sense of humor and seem to be into the same pop culture stuff because I appreciate so many of the references!  If you like haunted house books and family drama, this will be right up your alley.

Bonus points for Taylor Swift lyrics hiding in plain sight.  

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Review: The Examiner

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

I have been hunting for a copy of The Examiner by Janice Hallett for quite a while and finally found a library that had a copy!  I was beginning to think it didn't actually exist or was maybe only available outside the U.S.  I'm so glad I got to read it.  Like all of the Hallett mysteries I have read, this one is told in an epistolary fashion using a variety of media and view points.  I love it when a story comes in all shapes and forms.  Who would think that a master's program in art would have so much intrigue!  But also, just when you think you know what happened, there is another surprise that you didn't expect.  If you like a good mystery with a sense of humor and not too much graphic detail, you will want to check this or any other Janice Hallett novel out!

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Review: Fourteen Days: An Unauthorized Gathering

Fourteen Days: An Unauthorized Gathering by Margaret Atwood
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Fourteen Days is an unusual collection of short stories by 36 authors edited by Margaret Atwood and Douglas Preston.  Douglas Preston provided the overall narration with contributions of so many great diverse authors across all genres.  I liked that you don't know who wrote what unless you skip to the very end and look.  I didn't.  I was so excited to read this.  It is set in New York City at the start of the COVID pandemic which is shortly before I moved there.  That made it all the more meaningful to me.  My building residents did not gather though.  We didn't exchange stories.  The setting did bring up a lot of feelings for me.  My mom died from COVID in a nursing home and having a main character with a father in a nursing home during that period really got to me.  And while the stories are the meat of the book, there are also some mysterious things happening in the building that hint at something bigger going on. 

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Review: Fancy Dogs

Fancy Dogs by Tini Malina
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Full Disclosure: I received an Advanced Reader's Copy of Fancy Dogs by Tini Malina from NorthSouth Books via NetGalley.  This book will be published around October 6, 2026.

Fancy Dogs by Tini Malina is considered a children's book but is delightful for anyone who loves dogs.  I enjoyed it so much I recently read it to another friend while we were on the phone together.  That friend is also not a child, and we had quite a good time with hit.  Whether you know a child who likes dogs or just anyone who does, this is a nice uplifting gift.  

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Review: Three Bags Full

Three Bags Full by Leonie Swann
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Three Bags Full is the first book in the Sheep Detective Story series by Leonie Swann.  They did just make it into a movie (which I haven't watched).  You can read this as a standalone.

When their shepherd is murdered, his flock takes it upon themselves to solve the mystery because they feel they owe it to him for being good to them.  Also, they are a little afraid of ending up on the butcher's block if they don't.  They can tell that not everyone has their best interests at heart.  The sheep are fun and interesting characters.  We get to delve into their inner lives and back stories.  They all bring something to the table to help solve the mystery.  While it is mostly funny, it was also sad.  Whether people believe it or not, animals do grieve.  There were some very touching moments.

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Review: Letters from an Imaginary Country

Letters from an Imaginary Country by Theodora Goss
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Letters from an Imaginary Country is a collection of short stories by Theodora Goss.  I was already a fan of Goss, but this is also a great introduction to her work for those that might not be familiar.  She tends to look at "monsters" through a different lens.  I also like that she explores language, especially Hungarian which is so unique.  If you like the L. Frank Baum books, vampires, Mary Shelley, or sometimes feel like an alien in your own culture/country, I highly recommend reading this book.  

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Review: The Rabbit Back Literature Society

The Rabbit Back Literature Society by Pasi Ilmari Jääskeläinen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Rabbit Back Literature Society by Pasi Ilmari Jääskeläinen is possibly the first book I've read by a Finnish writer.  It was translated into English by Lola Rogers.  I was drawn into this mysterious secret society of famous Finnish writers who all come from this small town of Rabbit Back.  How is it possible for one place to generate nine incredible authors across a variety of genres?  That they are cultivated by a mysterious woman who may or may not be real or a witch or something from a C.S. Lewis story makes it even crazier.  There are several mysteries going on and the answers are revealed as the various authors spill their stories or some story.  Maybe not a story?  Maybe the truth?  You'll have to decide whether you believe them.  While there are fairy-tale elements, this is an adult novel.  There are graphic discussions of people's bodies and sex.  It was very frank which you don't see frequently.  

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Review: Penny: A Graphic Memoir

Penny: A Graphic Memoir by Karl Stevens
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

If you like cats in the least bit, you will want to read Penny: A Graphic Memoir by Karl Stevens.  The illustrations are great, but Stevens really gets at the inner life of Penny.  If you have or have had a cat, you have probably wondered what they were thinking.  Cats are often enigmatic.  This is a fun exploration of the cat mind.  

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Review: The Devil's Bible: A Cotton Malone Novel

The Devil's Bible: A Cotton Malone Novel by Steve Berry
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Devil's Bible is the 20th book in the Cotton Malone series by Steve Berry.  I wouldn't start here unless you want some serious spoilers.  Fans of the series will recognize flashbacks to previous books. 

The Devil's Bible or the Codex Gigas is an actual manuscript from Bohemia that has quite an interesting story of its own.  While it is the title of this book, I didn't find it played as much of a role as I anticipated.  Or at least, it wasn't as prominent in the story.  There was much more about the Swedish royal family or this fictional version of it and spycraft.  Without giving anything away, this book also changes the course of the series whether you were ready for it or not.  It was a gut punch for me, but I respect Steve Berry and trust he has a plan!  

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Review: The Mystic and the Missing Girl: A Mystery

The Mystic and the Missing Girl: A Mystery by Vikki VanSickle
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Full Disclosure: I received an Advanced Reader's Copy of The Mystic and the Missing Girl: A Mystery by Vikki VanSickle from Minotaur Books via NetGalley.  This book will be published around September 8, 2026.

The Mystic and the Missing Girl: A Mystery by Vikki VanSickle is sort of cozy mystery adjacent.  When Drew moves back to her home town to take over the shop her aunt left her, she gets involved in solving a cold case that her aunt had also tried to solve using her mystical gifts.  I share Drew's love of whipped cream-topped beverages and tarot cards.  I enjoyed the witchy elements of the story and the shop.  It seemed like a cool place. Fun characters and perfect small-town drama. There are some hot guys, but this isn't really a romance-type of book.  I felt it had the potential for a sequel or a series.  

Bonus points for having a shop cat!

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Review: The Secret Dinner

The Secret Dinner by Raphael Montes
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Full Disclosure: I received an Advanced Reader's Copy of The Secret Dinner by Raphael Montes from Celadon Books via NetGalley.  This book will be published in English around August 18, 2026.

The Secret Dinner by Raphael Montes is dark.  It was described as a mystery/thriller, but it is more horror in my opinion.  There was definitely dark humor in it as well.  Four childhood friends trying to make it in the big city find themselves struggling to pay rent and resort to some pretty extreme measures to get the money so they won't be evicted.  Throwing a pop-up dinner when one of them is a chef isn't a bad idea.  But even that doesn't go as anticipated.  You will need a strong stomach to get through this menu.  Don't say I didn't warn you!  

P.S.  Have never been more grateful to be a vegetarian!

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Review: The Art of Confidence

The Art of Confidence by Wendy Lee
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Wendy Lee is related to a friend of mine, so I was gifted a copy of The Art of Confidence when it first came out.  Now that I've finished it, I am sorry I didn't read it sooner.  I was hesitant in case I didn't like it.  As it turns out, it is quite good!  The focus on art in general was fascinating.  The inclusion of Chinese art history and culture were a wonderful surprise.  It took me back to studying art in Hangzhou.  And yes, you do basically just copy the masters.  The story follows several characters as their lives intersect.  There are mysteries and misunderstandings.  Some of the men are loathsome but not all male artists are letches apparently.  If you like art, give this a read.

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