Review: The Fever of the World

The Fever of the World by Phil Rickman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Fever of the World is the 15th book in the Merrily Watkins series by Phil Rickman. I would not start the series with this book even though you probably could. Mainly, the characters have really evolved over the course of the series and you would be missing out on how important those changes are to where we are today. But also, you would be doing yourself a disservice not to read all the books. I was drawn in by the idea of a female minister who specializes in deliverance (aka exorcisms). The other characters are equally interesting. The writing is beautiful, a bit gothic, a bit haunting, a bit folksy. They are the perfect books to read in fall and winter. It's a whole vibe. There is just one more book in the series, and I will be saving it for a special moment because I don't want to say goodbye just yet.

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Review: The Lover

The Lover by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Lover is a short story by Silvia Moreno-Garcia. It is part of the Amazon Original Stories series and perfect for spooky season! This is definitely giving dark fairytale vibes. Easy to read in one sitting. You aren't quite sure where it is going, but you want to find out! I put off reading this for a long time because I thought it might be too "romantic" for me. Despite the title, it was not!

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Review: Warm Bodies

Warm Bodies by John Marrs
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Warm Bodies is a novella by John Marrs. It is part of the Amazon Original Stories series. Even at a little over 100 pages, you can easily get through this in a sitting. The writing moves at a fast clip and uses some epistolary devices to alternate between viewpoints. Moral of the story: Mind your own business. Oh, and even if you don't like your neighbors, don't be actively mean to them unless you really know they are up to no good.

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Review: The Galaxy Game

The Galaxy Game by Karen Lord
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I might be wrong because I haven't read it in a long time, but The Galaxy Game by Karen Lord seems to take place in the same world as The Best of All Possible Worlds. I loved that book and was excited to read something in the same universe. I feel like I should have read this closer to when I read that or reread it first because the details of the cultures were hazy. This is still a great book and my version included two short stories also set in this world. Given what is happening in the US today, it felt more poignant. If you like well-done world building, this is a book for you!

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Review: Exit Party

Exit Party by Emily St. John Mandel
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Exit Party by Emily St. John Mandel i so well-written that I read more of it than I expected too. Eventually, I just really didn't like the characters enough and skipped to the end to find out what happened. It is a cool concept and well done. It just wasn't for me at this time.

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Review: Obstetrix

Obstetrix by Naomi Kritzer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Obstetrix by Naomi Kritzer is a novella-length page turner! A radical religious group goes to extreme lengths to get care for their community, especially the population of pregnant women. The story is told from the point of view of the OB/GYN forced to help them. It's very tense. I also appreciated having a menopausal main character who is dealing with hot flashes in a crisis situation. Been there, done that, have the soaked nightgown. Very relatable! I won't give any more away but to say that if you like a thriller with religious cults, you should read this.

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Review: Paradox Inc.

Paradox Inc. by Forrest Brazeal
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Full Disclosure: I received an Advanced Reader's Copy of Paradox Inc. by Forrest Brazeal from Ballantine Books via NetGalley. This book will be published January 5, 2027.

I wasn't sure what I would get when I agreed to read Paradox Inc. by Forrest Brazeal. First books can be a crap shoot. In this case, it was a good bet. First, there is a tiny flamingo on the cover. You have my attention. Next, this is written in an epistolary fashion. That is by far my favorite style of writing. I can't read my email inbox with any joy but give me a book written in any combination of emails, letters, news articles, blog posts, journal entries (you get the idea) and I will not be able to put it down. Then, tell me a story of how Tech Bros are going to ruin time travel for everyone. Make it a super dark story that is also absolutely hilarious so that I am not sure how to describe it to you without saying you will be thoroughly disturbed and also laugh out loud. Because while this is fiction, I feel like it could be true in the not-so-distant future. I also believe that Tech Bros will figure out a way to make it terrible just like they have done with the Internet and AI. Yes, I have strong opinions. Finally, I had to look up where Forrest Brazeal is from/lives. Not in a creepy stalker way, but as someone who grew up smack dab between Joliet and Kankakee, IL, I was momentarily unsettled when those places were mentioned. That doesn't happen often. Now that I live not too far from Madison, the mention of it as well made me wonder if my reading of this book was more than coincidental. Not to get all woo-woo, but it is a book about time travel. Highly recommend!

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Review: Everything Happens So Much: A Novel

Everything Happens So Much: A Novel by Andrew H. Murray
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Full Disclosure: I received an Advanced Reader's Copy of Everything Happens So Much: A Novel by Andrew H. Murray from Little, Brown and Company via NetGalley.  This book will be published around November 10, 2026.

Everything Happens So Much: A Novel by Andrew H. Murray is quite fun.  It takes place in a world that feels familiar but is definitely not ours.  In it, people have the opportunity to experience one of their many parallel lives in 15 minute increments by taking a potion, like a 5 hour energy drink, but not.  You can already see how this could become addictive.  The thing is, that isn't even the craziest part of this story.  I think it is best read if you don't know much more than that, but it is a real RIDE.  I felt like I was running through the book to find out how it ended.  I also laughed a lot because there are things included that are truly hilarious and also tip the cap to readers.  Read it for the fun of it.

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Review: 26 Beauties

26 Beauties by James Patterson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

26 Beauties is the 26th book in the Women's Murder Club series by James Patterson.  You could read this as a standalone.  I enjoy this series and think each book is a fast read, so it is worth it to start at the beginning in my opinion if you haven't read any others.  I read this series for the characters.  I am invested in what happens to each of them.  This time we are dealing with human trafficking.  I don't know if people realize how prevalent it can be in the U.S.  or how easy it is for any young person to get caught up in it, especially in a world where so many young people dream of being influencers.  While low income or unhoused youth might be easy targets, they aren't the only ones.  It is an eye-opening case.

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Review: Sharp Force

Sharp Force by Patricia Cornwell
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Sharp Force is the 29th book in the Kay Scarpetta series by Patricia Cornwell.  You don't necessarily have to read the whole series to understand this book. It could be read as a stand-alone, but I probably wouldn't start the series here.  It has all of your favorite characters if you are a series regular.  There are some dynamics playing out that you may not totally understand if you have never read the books before.  The case is interesting with its use of advanced technology to stalk victims.  It is crime of the future that is totally possible now.  The resolution was not my favorite, BUT I would still read it because I always want to know more about Kay and her crew.

Bonus points for Merlin, one super smart kitty.  I also love how much Kay cares about him even though he isn't her cat.  I would be the exact same way.  

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Review: The Ending Writes Itself

The Ending Writes Itself by Evelyn Clarke
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Ending Writes Itself by Evelyn Clarke is perfect for lovers of Clue and/or stuck-on-an-island mysteries.  In this case, writers from a variety of genres are invited to the private island of a famous mystery/thriller author for a writer's retreat.  This could be the break they are looking for!  It is a mystery, so it is not a spoiler to say that someone dies.  Can they figure out whodunnit?  

I found this delightful even with the murder.  I enjoyed leaning into the tropes and stereotypes of literary genres.  Of course the romance writer would wear shades of red and pink!  There are plenty of clever surprises.  I hope we see more from Evelyn Clarke.

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Review: Agnes Aubert's Mystical Cat Shelter

Agnes Aubert's Mystical Cat Shelter by Heather Fawcett
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I have a confession.  I turned down an advanced copy of Agnes Aubert's Mystical Cat Shelter by Heather Fawcett because I thought it would be too romantic for me.  It was being billed as romantasy, and even with the fantastic cover and the lure of cats, I just felt I wouldn't like it.  But, this book did not give up on my.  It kept showing up everywhere.  It was recommended to me repeatedly.  Finally, I decided to put it on hold at the library and let fate decide when/if I should read it.  Well, it came off hold so fast, fate was sending an unmistakable signal.  I now regret turning down the ARC.  There is romance, but I feel in love with the dedication to cat rescue.  The cat shelter isn't a throwaway concept.  It is actually important to the story!  I'm sorry for misjudging you.  If you are passionate about cat rescue and don't mind a little romance, check this out!

Bonus points for so many cats who aren't forgotten throughout the story.  

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Review: Wordhunter

Wordhunter by Stella Sands
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Wordhunter is the first book in the Wordhunter Mystery series by Stella Sands.  You will want to start reading here.  

Wordhunter is a very clever concept, profiling criminals based on their writing.  I'm a little surprised we don't hear more about this with all the CSIs and forensic crime shows and podcasts.  It is a very compelling idea.  As much as I never liked diagramming sentences, I loved the inclusion of the main character's habit of sentence diagrams.  I could see where it could be soothing like how some people enjoy sudoku or how I feel about jigsaw puzzles.  The crime under investigation is quite disturbing and toss in a creepy professor who is just the absolute worst, this book is not for the sensitive.  

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Review: Questland

Questland by Carrie Vaughn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Questland by Carrie Vaughn is like a dream come true.  If I were offered the chance to go to a theme park based on fantasy literature and gaming, I would not hesitate to say yes.  Actually, why doesn't this exist yet?  I guess they sort of tried it with Star Wars, and I still regret I didn't get to go before it shut down.  I need this to be a real thing.  Sorry, I am digressing from the book.  Our geeky main character is hired to go take back said theme park from the developers who  went rogue.  She is given a small team of mercenaries (my term) who actually do have combat skills but not really gaming skills to assist her in this mission.  I loved all the references.  I thought this book was a lot of fun even though there were some sad parts.  

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Review: Yesteryear

Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I usually shy away from books marketed as "book club picks." I find I don't always like those books, or I need to wait until all the hype has faded long away before I can pick it up. However, the premise of Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke was really too enticing to pass up. I'm about as far away from being a trad wife as you can get and still have a uterus. I'm even exhausted just thinking about the time they invest to live their lives. Still, I find the idea fascinating. I thought the idea of suddenly waking up in the 1800s was clever. The back and forth in timelines reveals clues of what was really going on behind the curated online content. Nothing is ever as perfect as it seems. You probably won't see the ending coming though. It gets wild!

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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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