The nitty-gritty: Unsettling and eerie, Chris Panatier’s latest is a skillfully written story that delves into the horrors of psychiatric care gone wrong. “Charlotte lurks at the edge of my thoughts, pulling strings in the shadows of my psyche. She is my creation, not the other way around. I say it aloud when I’m alone. […]
The nitty-gritty: Police procedural meets vampires in this exciting horror thriller, another winner from C.J. Tudor. C.J. Tudor never disappoints, and her latest is a great combination of murder mystery, thriller and thoughtful examination of racial prejudice, all set in a remote town in Alaska during one of the darkest times of winter. In Tudor’s […]
The nitty-gritty: Jade Daniel’s story comes to an end in this emotional and bloody series finale. “There’s final girls everywhere, aren’t there? I used to think they were the rarest breed, the finest vintage. But everyone who’s got something to fight for, they’ll fight for it, never mind if it’s a fight they should win. […]
The nitty-gritty: A (mostly) gentle character study about a motley crew of hotel staff and patrons, Floating Hotel is light on plot but succeeds with its lively characters and emotional connections. Floating Hotel is a delightful found family, slice-of-life story revolving around a group of people aboard the Grand Abeona Hotel, a spaceship that ping-pongs […]
The nitty-gritty: Diavola has it all: a creepy, haunted villa, an uncomfortable, dysfunctional family gathering, an ominous Italian setting, and even some jump scares. Come for the well executed folk horror ambiance, stay for the unforgettable characters. “And yet there was something idiosyncratic about Villa Taccola. The whole house suggested pentimenti, original brushstrokes covered over […]
The nitty-gritty: A fast-paced series opener with a great hook, Three Kinds of Lucky excels with fascinating world-building and a lovable heroine. Have I ever read a Kim Harrison book before? I’m not sure, but I’m so glad I read Three Kinds of Lucky, which is such a fun opening book in her new series. […]
The nitty-gritty: Kimberly Lemming’s series opener is silly, spicy and doesn’t take itself too seriously. “It was funny—a few weeks ago, being so close to not one, but ten orcs would have absolutely terrified me. Yet here I was, showing my new friends Isaak and Baraku how to create the perfect dry rub for roasted […]
The nitty-gritty: Harrowing and addictive, A Haunting in the Arctic is a frozen, Gothic treat for horror lovers who appreciate a well told tale. “In the mirror opposite, she could see it—her foot was no longer human, but the fin of a cetacean, dark and slick as ink, bringing fresh revulsion every time she looked […]
The nitty-gritty: Cynthia Pelayo’s latest love letter to historical Chicago is infused with ghosts, fairy tales and an intriguing mystery, perfect for genre fans who love surprises. Forgotten Sisters was such a unique reading experience, and I’m so glad I’ve finally read a book by Cynthia Pelayo. This is a weird, spooky ghost story with […]
The nitty-gritty: A woman is thrust into a disturbing mystery when she loses all her memories, in this solid but sometimes confusing debut. “My name is Iris and I am thirty-five years old. My husband is called Marcus. I was born in Suffolk, England. I work at the London Research Institute. It is Wednesday, the […]