In 2024, there was a fascinating story in the New Yorker that told the story of London teenager Zac Brettler’s fatal plunge off the balcony of a tall building in London. His parents were mystified, as he had not been suicidal…but upon exploring his life and activities in depth, they learned he’d been posing as …
Publication Date April 7, 2026 I’ve been reading and enjoying (often LOVING) books by John Sandford for many, many years. TBH, Sandford is one of my favorite authors…and when I get a new book from one of my favorite authors, I tend to just dive in and start reading without spending much time thinking about the …
Publication Date March 9, 2026 Last year, I read and reviewed two titles by “James Patterson and…” I wondered if Patterson might be like author Robert B. Parker, who has “written” at least thirty books after his death…tons of items come out with the famous person’s name on them, but who REALLY wrote them? The …
Publication Date March 3, 2026 Robyn Harding is one of those authors whose books kind of grab me…and I love it! In 2017, her book The Party got 5 stars from me “for the combination of domestic suburban drama, moral dilemma, suburban skewering, and all-around good story.” Then, in 2021, I gave four stars to …
Publication Date February 24, 2026 I generally am a fan of Anna Q, so I was happy when my book club chose it for a future discussion, and grateful that I had a review copy of More Than Enough thanks to Random House and NetGalley. But wait, did I say “book club”??? The story here …
Publication Date February 24, 2026 I admit to being sort of a true crime fan…ok, more than sort of, but perhaps I am just old and out of touch…or not the demographic for whom things like this are created. But I confess I have been totally unaware of BMF – both the organized crime group …
Publication Date January 20, 2026 Having recently watched and enjoyed The Night Agent on Netflix, which is based on a book by Matthew Quirk, I was pleased to receive a copy of his latest book, The Method, from William Morrow and NetGalley in exchange for this honest review. This time, the protagonist is an actress …
Publication Date February 10, 2026 Dr. Hyman is well-known for his medical advice, nutritional information, and (perhaps most of all) his sales ability. Sort of reminds me of Dr. Gundry — not sure whether his advice is good, but damn, can that man SELL. Apparently this is a re-release of an earlier publication. Still lots …
Published January, 2026 About three years ago, I read and reviewed Ashley Elston’s First Lie Wins (****) and enjoyed it, and although I really don’t recall specifics, I remember it well enough to recommend it to people who, like me, enjoy escapist fiction in the crime/thriller category. So I was pleased to receive a copy …
Published January 5, 2026 James Grippando’s series featuring Miami criminal defense attorney Jack Swytek is a reliably enjoyable source of reading material for fans of legal thrillers (which I am!). In The Right To Remain, the latest — the TWENTIETH in the series (!), Grippando’s skill comes through and I definitely recommend this one for …
Publication Date January 27, 2026 I am certain I have read at least one book by Thrity Umrigar, but can’t remember a THING about it…which won’t be the case with her latest, Missing Sam, which I just read (thanks to Algonquin Books and NetGalley for providing a copy in exchange for this honest review). The …
Publication Date When I read and reviewed Tana French’s standalone novel The Witch Elm in 2018, I noted that I would have enjoyed seeing more of the Dublin Murder Squad characters (Antoinette Conway, Stephen Moran, and others), but that I had enjoyed getting to know a “whole new cast of characters.” Her next book was …
Publication Date February 3, 2026 I recently saw a promotional flyer for an event at local (wonderful) independent bookstore. Bookshop Santa Cruz “… welcomes award-winning investigative journalist Scott Eden for a discussion with Steve Palopoli about A Killing in Cannabis: A True Story of Love, Murder, and California Weed.” Great timing! Thanks to Spiegel & …
Originally published March, 2019. (Reissued) Legal thrillers are among my favorite genres, and William Bernhardt has been a reliable source of entertainment for years. He has both standalone and series offerings, with his series featuring Ben Kincaid and Daniel Pike among the most popular. I was happy to receive a copy of The Last Chance …
Publication Date December 30, 2025 (just in time for New Years’ Resolutions?) As someone who has had an up-and-down journey with my weight over the years, I am generally curious about the latest/greatest/whatever guaranteed way to lose weight…and have known several people who have been or are taking one of the GLP-1 products (Wegovy, Mounjaro, …
Publication Date February 10, 2026 Several years ago, when I received a copy of James Lee Burke’s book The New Iberia Blues, I noted that James Lee Burke’s series featuring Detective Dave Robicheaux was then at more than twenty titles, and since Burke has long been one of my husband’s all-time favorite authors and Robicheaux …
Every few years we are treated to a new movie or series (generally on PBS) by Ken Burns, focusing on a single time or “thing” – The Civil War, Baseball, The Civil War, to name a few. Now the topic is The American Revolution, with a six part, twelve hour series coming out in November, …
Publication Date November 11, 2025 Again, a new standalone thriller from Philip Margolin? Yes, Please! Since 1993, when my sister recommended one of his books, I have been a fan of Philip Margolin, and since then have enjoyed nearly all of his 20+ books. Legal thrillers are among my favorite genres, and he is often …
Publication Date November 11, 2025 Have I really been a fan of T. Jefferson Parker for FORTY years? Wow. A couple of years ago, when I reviewed his book A Thousand Steps, I wrote: “When I first read T. Jefferson Parker’s Laguna Heat back in 1985, I had recently moved to Santa Cruz and was …
Fans of LeCarre, Graham Greene, etc will love the latest from William Boyd! Thanks to Grove Atlantic and NetGalley, I am the happy recipient of an advance copy of The Predicament in exchange for this honest review. The story is set in 1963. In Guatemala, a CIA agent named Frank Sartorious is working as turmoil …