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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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 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 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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Review: The Enigma Challenge: A Novel

The Enigma Challenge: A Novel by S.C. Godfrey
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Full Disclosure:  I received an Advanced Reader's Copy of The Enigma Challenge: A Novel by S.C. Godfrey from Viking Penguin via NetGalley.  This book is due to be published on August 11, 2026.

If you like puzzles, ciphers, or cryptograms, I strongly suggest reading The Enigma Challenge by S.C. Godfrey.  This story scratches the same itch as books like The Da Vinci Code or shows like the Amazing Race.  The title alone piqued my interest.  I was delighted to find that it was about a mysterious, global puzzle challenge that has a prize to die for.  My favorite part were the puzzles that S.C. Godfrey included and the explanations of how to solve the various types of ciphers.  Yes, I tried to figure the answers out myself before reading on.  I had trouble putting this one down because I couldn't wait to get to the next location, the next puzzle.  I'm also hoping there is a next book.

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Review: The Last Session

The Last Session by Julia Bartz
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Last Session by Julia Bartz was very unique and unexpected.  I thought this was going to be a mystery about a wellness cult, but it turned out to be a lot more than that.  It gets very trippy, delving into the interconnectedness of beings and reincarnation.  There were more twists than I anticipated.  Sometimes, I wasn't even sure what was "real" anymore.  If you are looking for something different and like culty things, you should get this book a go.

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Review: Follow Me

Follow Me by Elizabeth Rose Quinn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I wasn't sure how I would feel about Follow Me by Elizabeth Rose Quinn.  I am not a mom (to humans) or into influencers of any type.  Surprise!  I was sucked in from the very beginning and could barely put this book down.  The mom influencer retreat was giving culty vibes.  The main characters are twin sisters, Chiara and Adrienne.  Chiara is a mom of twins.  Adrienne is a single, party girl.  Drugs aside, my life is probably closer to Adrienne's, and I would also approach any coMOMunity with a heavy dose of skepticism.  When Chiara goes missing at the retreat, Adrienne tries to infiltrate the group to find out what happened.  By this point, I was fully invested.  Was this really a cult or just terrible stereotyping???  I admit that some parts felt a little campy, but I absolutely enjoyed them!

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Review: The God of the Woods

The God of the Woods by Liz Moore
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I have somewhat complicated feelings about The God of the Woods by Liz Moore.  I thought the writing was great.  I liked that there are two mystery separated by time told from various perspectives.  Siblings go missing years apart.  Several suspects but no good answers.  They come from a rich family who seem to be covering something up with their money and trying to focus blame on working class people.  It did feel a little too long and convoluted.  I started to confuse people at a certain point.  Some unnecessary plot points added to make figuring everything out more complex.  Still overall a good read.

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Review: The Library After Dark

The Library After Dark by Ande Pliego
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Full Disclosure: I received an Advanced Reader's Copy of The Library After Dark by Ande Pliego from Bantam via NetGalley.  This book will be published around May 5, 2026.

The Library After Dark by Ande Pliego is one of the best books I have read.  If you like Clue or locked room mysteries, you will absolutely want to read this book.  The setting is a spooky, haunted (?) library of death in New York City.  The Daedalus library has sent out invitations to a select few to attend an after hours tour and viewing of an upcoming exhibit.  The exhibit will showcase a supposedly cursed book that is the basis for many myths and fairy tales you might recognize.  Everyone is dying to read it!  Pliego tells the story in alternating character viewpoints as they tour the library and stories from the "cursed" book.  These stories are dark just as the unvarnished fairy tales were.  Putting all the pieces together was so much fun for me!  It was probably less fun for these poor characters.  

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