The nitty-gritty: Mystery meets mind-bending supernatural terror in Dead First, a unique tale of revenge, redemption and murder. “Sometimes, people leave part of themselves in a horrible place, creating an eternal scar.” Dead First surprised me in just about every possible way. This is a gritty, violent and emotional story that mostly leans into mystery/detective […]
The nitty-gritty: Mystery, romance and quirky characters make this a must read for readers who love their stories chock full of humor and hijinks. Once in a while I step outside my usual genres and try something different, and the end of the year/holiday season seemed like the perfect time for that. Definitely Maybe Not […]
The nitty-gritty: The characters steal the show in this fun, fast-paced YA supernatural mystery, a great blend of humor, romance and creepy intrigue. Susan Dennard is one author I will break my “no YA” rule for, and I’m very happy I had the chance to read The Executioners Three, which appears to be a standalone […]
The nitty-gritty: Family secrets, unreliable narrators and a tell-all memoir make up the bones of this twisty, deliciously entertaining tale. I’m happy to say that The Dead Husband Cookbook hit many of the same highs for me as Danielle Valentine’s Delicate Condition, a book I absolutely loved. In her latest, the author has taken two […]
The nitty-gritty: A twisty take on the haunted house trope, We Live Here Now oozes creepy atmosphere and suspense. “There are no ghosts at Larkin Lodge.” Sarah Pinborough’s latest is a haunted house thriller with a twist, and I had a bunch of fun with it. While some of the haunted house elements are ones […]
The nitty-gritty: A most unusual haunted house story, The Staircase in the Woods is an unhinged, psychological mystery that explores personal terrors and complicated friendships. “We’re all just empty houses waiting for this monster to move in and take us over.” Chuck Wendig’s latest is a creepy, unsettling haunted house/possession story with multifaceted characters and […]
The nitty-gritty: The detective story meets the gritty streets of Los Angeles in this thrilling, fast-paced and laugh-out-loud story. I had a lot of fun with the last Nick Kolakowski book I read (Absolute Unit), so I wasn’t surprised that Where the Bones Lie was a blast to read as well. PI/crime/detective novels aren’t my […]
The nitty-gritty: A thoroughly entertaining—if not perfect—Alice Feeney thriller, full of her trademark twists and quirky characters. Alice Feeney has written another twisty story with unreliable characters and a very cool set-up, and although it’s not my favorite of her books, it was a lot of fun. We follow writer Grady Green, who, when the […]
The nitty-gritty: Mystery and horror combine with gothic literary elements in this excellent, atmospheric tale. If you haven’t discovered Christa Carmen yet, now’s your chance. In Beneath the Poet’s House, Carmen sets her literary, gothic mystery in Providence, Rhode Island and centers it around 19th century poet Sarah Helen Whitman’s famous house at 88 Benefit […]
The nitty-gritty: A creepy, tension-filled story that will keep readers turning the pages, Snow Drowned was a pleasant surprise. I’ve been lucky with YA books lately, and I’m happy to report that Snow Drowned is yet another one I can recommend (with a few caveats). Jennifer D. Lyle knows how to create tension, and I […]