Review: Written in Stone by Paige Shelton

Written in Stone (Scottish Bookshop Mysteries, #10)

by Paige Shelton

Release Date: April 1st, 2025

2025 Minotaur Books

Ebook ARC; 304 Pages

ISBN: 978-125033

ASIN: B0D1P392DF

Audiobook: B0F1Z6NL51

Genre: Fiction / Cozy / Mystery

Source: Review copy from publisher

 

3 / 5 Stars

 

Summary

When Delaney wins a special Hidden Door Festival invitation to artist Ryory Bennigan's studio, she isn’t sure quite what to expect. What she finds is an elusive fellow obsessed with the Picts. She also meets a visiting paleontologist, Dr. Adam Pace, from the University of Kansas attempting to sell an artifact that might just explain what the Picts' language really sounded like. Or at least that’s what he claimed the artifact was for. Before the deal can close and Ryory can get a closer look at it, Dr. Pace is found dead. With the police dragging their feet in the investigation, Delaney takes it upon herself to dig into Dr. Pace's past. Could his past have come back to bite him in Edinburgh? 

 

My Thoughts

Written in Stone is the tenth book in the Scottish Bookshop Mystery series, and while I enjoyed it quite a bit and thought the archaeological descriptions were quite interesting, I was a bit disappointed in the actual mystery as I thought the motive was somewhat ambiguous and unclear.  

Being the tenth book in the series, I don’t find the character development to be necessary regarding our main characters, but it is always a treat to visit with Delaney and company at the bookstore. I also really liked the introduction of Ryory Bennigan in this book and found him to be quite intriguing. I would have liked to have learned more about him and hope he appears in future books.  Ryory’s fascination with the Picts, a people about whom we currently know little about, added a little mystery as well as some fascinating archaeological discussions to this book. Considering he was covered in blue tattoos and had red hair, how he managed to stay reclusive and hidden is beyond me.

This story includes a lot of descriptions about architecture, local history, and archaeology that, as a history lover, I found absolutely fascinating. Because of the focus on this however, I did find the mystery was a bit lacking and the motive was somewhat murky. I realized at the end of the book I couldn’t quite pin down the actual motive, besides the obvious one, as the author jumped from one to another without fully developing one of them.  As a result, the book ending more abruptly than normal and I was left feeling like something was missing even though the book was finished.  

Verdict
Written in Stone was fun and interesting, but I do think this was the weakest book of the series so far. While the characters were fun and interesting, and I truly enjoyed the archaeological and history descriptions, the mystery was slow and fairly predictable. I liked the uniqueness of the plot, it’s just the execution that was somewhat lacking for me. While this book could be read as a standalone, if you like reading about Edinburgh, then you will enjoy the previous books in this series.

Review: Lovely Dark and Deep by Elisa A. Bonnin

Lovely Dark and Deep

by Elisa A. Bonnin

Release Date: March 25, 2025

2025 Felwel & Friends

Ebook ARC; 400 Pages

ISBN: 978-1250888570

ASIN: B0CVVT4JMD

Audiobook: B0DZKZBR1X

Genre: Fiction / YA / Fantasy / Dark Academia

Source: Review copy from publisher

 

4 / 5 Stars

 

Summary

Ellery West has always been home for Faith. After an international move and a childhood spent adjusting to a new culture and a new language, the acclaimed school for magic feels like the only place she can be herself. That is, until Faith and another student walk into the forest, and only Faith walks out.

Marked with the red stripe across her uniform that designates all students deemed too dangerous to attend regular classes, Faith becomes a social pariah, an exile of Ellery West. Except terrifying things are still happening to students, and the dark magic that was unleashed in the forest still seems to be at work. To stop it, Faith and the other Red Stripes will have to work together, risking expulsion from the magical world altogether.

 

My Thoughts

Lovely Dark And Deep is a dark academia novel, and I will admit I went into it with some trepidation as lately, I have found them to be fairly formulaic and predictable. However, I still love this type of novel and I am really glad I gave it a shot because I really enjoyed it. Yes, the exile and magic were fairly standard stuff, but for me, it was the relationships and the way the main character developed and evolved that I found intriguing and really made this book enjoyable for me.

 

Faith's journey is one that I resonated with as she grappled with trust issues, relationship problems, and always feeling like an outside, even with her own family. Upon returning to school as a senior, she is marked with the dreaded red stripe and has to deal with the whispers and suspicions as to what really happened in the forest the year before. What stood out for me within this fantasy story however, was the way the author developed the relationships Faith has with the other red stripe students.  I thought they were quite well written and a lot of the scenes were very emotional and raw. One of the students is autistic and nonverbal and I absolutely loved her character; in fact, some of my favourite scenes involved her as they were so raw and vulnerable.  I don't want to say any more about this character though, as I don't want to spoil anything and take away the emotional impact. The other characters were just as interesting and distinct and I enjoyed them all.  

The story moved along rather quickly and I had a hard time putting down this book. The author did a great job mixing the fantasy/story line with the character development, with neither one overshadowing the other. The magic system was interesting and I liked how the author touched upon how difficult it would be for these students to grow up in the mundane world, how easily misunderstood they would be, which is some of the basis of Faith's difficulties with her family.  We actually didn't get to see a lot of the classes, which suited me quite well, as that was not the focus of the story. And happily, while romance plays a small part of the story, it is only in the background and is included only as part of being a normal teenager. There were many themes worthy of discussion running through this story including found family, secrets, relationships, trust, faith, loyalty, betrayal, friendship, and a big one, misunderstanding.

 

Verdict

Lovely Dark and Deep was an enjoyable YA novel, one that I practically devoured in one sitting. This one didn't necessarily focus on academia life itself, but went deeper into the intricacies and complexities of it without going too deep, something that I appreciated. But the real highlight for me was definitely the character development and the relationships between the characters.  For those readers interested in a coming-of-age gothic fantasy that focuses just as much on cultural and personal differences as well as the dark academia, then this book might be for you.

Review: Deadstream by Mar Romasco-Moore

Deadstream

by Mar Romasco-Moore

Release Date: April 1st, 2025

2025 Viking Books for Young Readers

Softcover ARC; 320 Pages

ISBN: 978-0593691885

ASIN: B0D8KFHC4F

Audiobook: B0D8MQGJBP

Genre: Fiction / YA / Horror / Supernatural

Source: Review copy from publisher

 

3.5 / 5 Stars

 

Summary

After surviving a car accident that claimed the life of her best friend, Teresa is now terrified to leave the safety of her bedroom. But one night, the safe world Teresa created starts to break down. A shadowy figure appears in the background of her favorite streamer's video, and his behavior mysteriously changes over the next few days before he dies in front of thousands of viewers. Teresa finds herself at the center of a life-and-death investigation as the world tries to figure out what or who this figure could be . . . especially as it begins appearing in the other people's streams, compelling them to "open the door" and let it in—including Teresa’s own. In order to save herself and the rest of the internet from this relentless entity, Teresa must venture outside of the mental and physical walls she’s created. But will she be able to conquer her fears before anyone else loses their life?

 

My Thoughts

Deadstream was a modern ghost story that used technology as a medium to produce some frights. It also dealt with mental illness, suicidal thoughts, panic disorder, family dynamics, and in a loose way, explored the dangers of the internet and the dark net in our society. After a car accident, the MC suffers from panic disorder and has difficulty leaving the comfort of her room so she turned to social media and other online platforms to make connections with other people. When she streams a live video of something terrifying, she doesn't know what to think so she asks the community their thoughts, something that propels her own account to explode, leaving her susceptible to everything that entails in the online world.

 

I thought the book was fun and interesting, and I really loved the format. While I am not really all that familiar with the gaming side of things, I have seen enough when my son is online to understand Twitch and ARGs, etc..., so I liked how the author really highlighted the messaging and comments that would be made in such a scenario.  The story flipped from what was happening in Teresa's world to the online world, a flip that was easy to follow. Personally, I liked the formatting and though it was well done.

 

I think there are very few people who don't have social media platforms anymore, so this one certainly made me think about a lot of things.  While not overt, the theme of technology in our lives and how much we rely on it is subtly explored as well as the abuse.  Personally, I don't think the consequences of the technology was explored enough; I know it will be here to stay, but we really need to understand how much of our privacy is undermined by the technology and how much we are willing to put up with before we say, enough!  While the story was fairly predictable, and I don't necessarily think the horror went deep enough for what was occurring, it was still riveting. And when I say the horror didn't go far enough, I am not only talking about actual horror elements, although it was those too, but the effects of people who obsess about their stats and their numbers and will do anything to improve them.

 

I did think the mental health aspect was well done, and I appreciated the glimpse into anxiety/panic disorder/trauma that was explored in this book. While I don't think it is quite that easy to do the things that Teresa did, the author did write them well and with compassion.  I would have liked to have seen a bit more character development, not just from Teresa, but from some of the secondary characters as well as more in-depth formation on the relationships that are developed online.

 

Verdict

Deadstream definitely made me think about the technology that I use in my life as well as the friendships I have made online. The author highlighted how important these online platforms are for people who suffer from trauma and panic disorders, but at the same time, was warning about the consequences, so it begs the questions, How much time should we spend on our technology? How real is the online world? How do we learn to teach young people how to be critical thinkers when it comes to technology? While we know technology is here to stay, we do need to stay in touch with those around us and live in the real world. Lots to ponder, that's for sure. And while I don't think it went far enough and the character development was a bit lacking, I would recommend this book for anyone interested in a technological horror novel.

 

Review: Silent as the Grave by Rhys Bowen & Clare Broyles

Silent as the Grave (Molly Murphy Mysteries, #21)

by Rhys Bowen & Clare Broyles

Release Date: March 11, 2025

2025 Minotaur 

Ebook ARC; 336 Pages

ISBN: 978-1250890818

ASIN: B0D1P9HP38

Audiobook: B0DN8N9C8N

Genre: Fiction / Historical / Mystery

Source: Review copy from publisher

 

4 / 5 Stars

 

Summary

With a newborn and two children, Molly Murphy Sullivan is tackling motherhood. Her dear friend and writer, Ryan O’Hara, is shooting a movie, one of the first to involve a real plot and actors. When one of the actresses is fired, Molly’s adopted daughter, Bridie, is called to replace her in the scene. Turns out she’s a natural and is asked to star in the rest of the film. 

The movie industry is still experimenting with ways to get the best shot. But soon, their special effects start to malfunction. After a few mishaps where no one is hurt, the special effects turn deadly. With rumors of a feud between studios, Molly believes these malfunctions are sabotage. 

 

My Thoughts

Silent as the Grave combined factual information on the early movie industry in New York with a mystery, and this worked very well. Fresh off reading the non-ficton book Daughter of Daring, a book about one of the first stuntwomen in Hollywood, I was thrilled to read more about the early movie days, this time on the opposite side of the US. There was a lot of discussion on women’s roles in the industry as well as themes involving money, technology, theft, secrecy, loyalty, and friendship.

Being the 21st book in the series, character development for Molly is not necessarily needed, but I did enjoy reading about her struggles with a daughter who is a bit difficult and demanding. When I say I enjoyed it, I mean I completely sympathized with her as I have a daughter who was like that as an infant so I completely understood when she was frazzled. What I particularly enjoyed was the development of her adopted daughter Bridie as she is now 14 years old and starting to really come into her own.  I love how she changes her mind about things every two minutes as this really reflects the young girl she is, trying to act grown-up one  minute, but behaving immaturely the next. I also loved the inclusion of historical figures Mary Pickford at the beginning of her career and Thomas Edison, who was known to be quite difficult to work with and was one of the reasons why so many directors left NY for Hollywood.

The plot includes a lot of information about the early days of the film industry, something that I enjoyed tremendously, but I did find the overall mystery to be somewhat predictable even if I enjoyed it. The themes of friendship, loyalty, family, and trust as well as the beginnings of a monopoly on a fledgling movie industry added depth to the story. However, the overall pacing to the story was still somewhat slow and did get bogged down in details at times, sometimes to the point where I wondered where the author was going with the information.  

Verdict

Silent as the Grave was an interesting and entertaining entry into this long-running series. While the pacing was a bit slower than usual, the early days of the movie industry and its stars was something a bit different than the usual story and I enjoyed it quite a bit.  There were lots of twists and turns, although if you are familiar with the books you may be able to pick them out, but the author has this way of making scenes emotional so you don’t really care if you figured things out. And while this is a long-running series, you could jump into this book and understand what is happening without having read the previous books.

 

Review: A Killing Cold by Kate Alice Marshall

A Killing Cold

by Kate Alice Marshall

Release Date: February 4, 2025

2025 Flatiron Books

Ebook ARC: 291 Pages

ISBN: 978-1250343055

ASIN: B0D12QMD6L

Audiobook: B0D481YRV6

Genre: Fiction / Suspense

Source: Review copy from publisher

 

2.5 / 5 Stars

 

Summary
When Theodora Scott met Connor—wealthy, charming, and a member of the powerful Dalton family—she fell in love in an instant. Six months later, he’s brought her to Idlewood, his family’s isolated winter retreat, to win over his skeptical relatives.

Theo has tried to ignore the threatening messages on her phone, but she can’t ignore the footprints in the snow outside the cabin window or the strange sense of familiarity she has about this place. Then, in a disused cabin, Theo finds something impossible: a photo of herself as a child. A photo taken at Idlewood.

 

 

My Thoughts

A Killing Cold had some interesting ideas, but honestly, I felt as if the author was trying way too hard to create this suspense and atmosphere through the cold and the snow, but lost focus on the plot and character development to the point that I started to lose interest about half way through the story.  

 

Let me just say that none of the characters were loveable, which is not always an issue for me.  I don't have to necessarily like the characters, but they have to have good motivations for what they do. And to be fair, a couple of them did have interesting backgrounds. But the focus on the family toxicity rather than the reasons for that toxicity was one of the weaknesses for me. Secrets and everything are good if they make sense within the context of a character's motivations, but with a huge attempt at trying to be clever and introduce this major plot twist, a lot of these motivations and interesting character developments got lost in the background. And I just couldn't connect with the MC; again, I don't have to like her, which I didn't, but understanding her motivations and believing in her relationships is important, something that I just couldn't do.  Perhaps the author's attempt to create this unreliable narrator just made a character with whom I couldn't relate.

 

The plot has one of those irresistible settings that I love: isolated mansions, snow, cold, forest, twisted characters, messed-up family dynamics, and mysteries, lots of mysteries. So, what happened? Too many tropes, too many cliches, all jumbled together into a mish-mash of a story that just didn't work for me. Theo was such a boring character and I couldn't for the life of me figure out what Theo and Connor saw in each other. And while I love messed-up family dynamics because...well, why not, this just didn't work. And I think it was simply because the author tried too hard to make the reader think one thing and then switch to another thing. This made character development unreliable and nauseating to follow.  And when you  have a sorry that is similar to so many other stories out there, it has to be believable and it has to have some good character development along with a believable ending. This was not that book.

 

Verdict

A Killing Cold was full of coincidences that triggered bigger events.  So, when you go down the road of coincidences, it really needs to be plausible to be believable, and unfortunately, this didn't work for me. It's not to say that there are not moments that are good, as there definitely were, so I see a lot of potential in this author's work.  However, when you have a bland MC whose memory suddenly starts coming back after twenty years of nothing, a family that's quite toxic, and events that make your mind spin but more in an eye-rolling kind of way, you realize how overblown and repetitive some of the things that happened were. Would I read another book by this author? Yes, I would as there were definitely some things that were done well and I loved the atmospheric descriptions.

 

Review: Murder by Memory by Olivia Waite

Murder by Memory (Dorothy Gentleman, #1)

by Olivia Waite

Release Date: March 18, 2025

2025 Tordotcom

Ebook ARC; 112 Pages

ISBN: 978-1250342249

ASIN: B0D1PKWVDR

Audiobook: B0D3QV2DY7

Genre: Fiction / Science-Fiction / Mystery

Source: Review copy from publisher

 

3 / 5 Stars

 

Summary

Welcome to the HMS Fairweather, Her Majesty’s most luxurious interstellar passenger liner! Room and board are included, new bodies are graciously provided upon request, and should you desire a rest between lifetimes, your mind shall be most carefully preserved in glass in the Library, shielded from every danger.

Near the topmost deck of an interstellar generation ship, Dorothy Gentleman wakes up in a body that isn’t hers—just as someone else is found murdered. As one of the ship’s detectives, Dorothy usually delights in unraveling the schemes on board the Fairweather, but when she finds that someone is not only killing bodies but purposefully deleting minds from the Library, she realizes something even more sinister is afoot.

 

My Thoughts

Murder by Memory is the first book in a science-fiction cozy mystery series, and I thought the premise was rather intriguing. I love science-fiction and there are not a lot of books that focus on murder mysteries in this genre, so this one sounded like something that would be right up my alley. While I was interested in the thought of going to a new planet and was fascinated by the ideas presented in this book, I was not really impressed with the overall story.

 

Personally, the concept of waking up on a ship and having no idea where one is or what is happening is what drew me to this book.  However, this was not the case with this story as the protagonist knew exactly what was going on, knew exactly who she was, knew exactly the problem, and the info-dump continued on. I would have liked to have learned this information as the story progressed as it would have been more interesting.  What it did was lower the overall mystery and suspense for me. And to be honest, this info-dump did not do character development any favours either. Because the MC knew exactly what was going on, I wasn't able to be in her head very much, nor was I confused as to what was happening because the MC knew what was happening the entire time.  It would have been more mysterious if the MC didn't understand what was happening and had to investigate.  Unfortunately, the MC felt quite one-dimensional; I would have liked more development, more quirks, more something to make her more appealing.

 

The mystery itself was sort of secondary to what was happening to the MC so I didn't find it that compelling. To be honest, it was kind of predictable.  There were a lot of very fascinating ideas and thoughts presented in this book, but the length of the book didn't allow for the exploration of those ideas. I know it's the first book of a series, but there also has to be some meat in the original story as well. You can't just present ideas and not develop them at all. 

 

Verdict

Murder by Memory presented some really cool ideas about the concepts of life and death, but didn't really have an opportunity to develop those ideas due to the length of the book.  While I know there will be other books in this series, I do feel like there has to be some substance in the first book as well, but to be honest, there was a lot of information dumping rather than allowing the MC to lead the reader into discovering it with the MC, not my favourite form of storytelling. And while I did find the mystery predictable and easy to solve, there was enough in this book to make me curious about the second book when it is released.

 

Review: Rose of Jericho by Alex Grecian

Rose of Jericho

by Alex Grecian

Release Date: March 11, 2025

2025 Tor Nightfire

Ebook ARC; 352 Pages

ISBN: 978-1250874719

ASIN: B0D1PHGH25

Audiobook: B0D49Z62S6

Genre: Fiction / Horror / Historical

Source: Review copy from publisher

 

2.25/5 Stars

 

Summary

Not all is as it seems in the small village of Ascension, Massachusetts. A mother wasting away from cancer is suddenly up and about. A boy trampled by a milk cart walks away from the accident. A hanged man can still speak, broken neck and all.The dead are not dying.When Rabbit and Sadie Grace accompany their friend Rose to Ascension to help take care of her ailing cousin, they immediately notice that their new house, Bethany Hall, is occupied by dozens of ghosts. And there’s something in the attic that neither want to investigate.New England in the 1880s is notoriously unwelcoming to the weird, and the villagers are wary of their visitors. As the three women attempt to find out what’s happening in the town, they must be careful not to be found out. But a much larger—and dangerous—force is galloping straight for them…

 

My Thoughts

Rose of Jericho is the sequel to Red Rabbit, and I really do feel that having read the first book helped me understand the characters and their connections in this book as it was definitely not explained at all.  Personally, I loved the premise of this book, thought it had a very strong start, but the execution of the second half of the book fell off sharply for me and left me struggling with the thought of actually finishing the book.  I thought the author didn't quite take it up to the level that it could have been with regards to the horror in the second half and I wasn't overly impressed with the character development.

 

The plot actually starts off rather strong, and I was invested in the first half of the book. The atmospheric writing was compelling and I was intrigued by the ideas that were presented; the running theme about what would happen if people simply did not die because Death himself was destroyed. Some interesting characters were introduced and I was interested in their stories and what would happen to them. However, about halfway through, the plot became more meandering than interesting and I started to lose interest as the plot became more disjointed. I think this was largely due to the fact there were no clear protagonists in this story, and while this can work, it needs to be done deftly, which did not happen in this book. I also think the horror element was softened when it should have ratcheted; people were starting to panic at what was happening and I think there would have been more dire consequences than presented in this book. 

 

There were definitely some interesting characters in this book, but the author did not make use of them to exploit the horror that was happening. What we got were situations that were more eyebrow raising than plot points, and although I waited patiently for everything to tie in together, this definitely did not happen. Some of the things simply did not make sense and the ending was anti-climatic as a result. And as I previously mentioned, the horror element was under-utilised and could have been amplified to show how terrified people were over what was happening, and to show the consequences of what being dead actually meant. There were some examples of that in the book, but I think the author could have gone a bit further so while the situation is horrific, this didn't make me turn the pages quickly or flinch in horror like some novels do.

 

Verdict

Rose of Jericho is very atmospheric and I thought the author did a great job with the descriptions of the time period. I was intrigued over the first half of the book, but was quickly lost by the meandering and disjointed plot in the second half of the book and thought the character development was lacking quite a bit. And while there were definitely some horrific moments, I don't think the author went far enough with the horror. However, if you like supernatural novels about Death and the consequences that exist when Death is no longer around, then this might be for you. I also recommend picking up his 'Scotland Yard Murder Squad' novels if you like murder mysteries.

Review: Daughter of Daring by Mallory O'Meara

Daughter of Daring: The Trick-Riding, Train-Leaping, Road-Racing Life of Helen Gibson, Hollywood's First Stuntwoman

by Mallory O'Meara

Release Date: February 18, 2025

2025 Hanover Square Press

Ebook ARC; 384 Pages

ISBN: 978-1335007933

ASIN: B0CFYF4B8Q

Audiobook: B0CMDZBRH6

Genre: Non-Fiction / History / Biography

Source: Review copy from publisher

 

4 / 5 Stars

 

Summary

Helen Gibson was willing to do anything to give audiences a thrill. Advertised as “The Most Daring Actress in Pictures,” Helen emerged in the early days of the twentieth-century silent film scene as a rodeo rider, producer, performer and stunt double for iconic stars of the era. Her exploits were as dangerous as they were glamorous, featured in hundreds of films and serials—yet her legacy was quickly overshadowed by the increasingly hypermasculine and male-dominated evolution of action films in the decades that would follow her.

In this fast-paced and feminist biography, award-winning author Mallory O'Meara presents Helen’s life and career in exhilarating detail, including:

• Helen’s rise to fame in The Hazards of Helen, the longest-running serial in history

• How Helen became the first-ever stuntwoman in American film

• The pivotal and overlooked role of Helen’s contemporaries—including female directors, stars and stuntwomen who shaped the making of narrative film.

 

My Thoughts

Daughter of Daring is actually more than just a biography of Helen Gibson, but is an exploration of Hollywood and Los Angeles during the time period when Helen rose to prominence as a film star and a stuntwoman.  I appreciated learning about the development of the various Hollywood studios as well as learning more about the other women involved in the early days of the business.  It definitely enhanced the experienced and made the story that much richer as it gave you a good grasp of the situation at the time and what it would have been like for Helen to persevere during this time period.

 

First of all, this is an exploration of women in film and in particular, as stuntwomen, before the golden era of Hollywood in the 1930s.  It highlights the diversity of women working in the industry and how many were responsible for producing and developing film ideas and story lines, involving themselves as directors, producers, writers, screenwriters, film stars, stuntwomen, etc... It also highlights how the industry slowly became more male-dominated and pushed many of these women out of the industry throughout the years, highlighting the lack of involvement of women even in today's era. I thought we had become more progressive during the years, but this quickly taught me otherwise and I have realized we have such a long way to go. And the fact that it was often other women groups who were integral in the causation of a more male-dominated industry just drives me insane. I know that it happened, but reading about it just sets my teeth on edge, to know that women would create groups to censor other women, and to stop progression over the years because they held with old-fashioned ideas and thought progression was bad for people.  The censorship rules were absolutely crazy, but I'm not surprised. What surprised me more is how long it took for them to be created. And how much the public is manipulated by these films.  And I found absolutely fascinating the types of films that were made in the early days as I had no idea; everything dealing from infidelity to abortion to women's suffrage to abuse to LBGTQ as well as the serials which were so popular and exciting.

 

Helen Gibson became a star in the midst of all of this and her story is fascinating as it follows both her rise and her downfall as the more male-dominated society came into power later in her career. As a star horse rider, she was athletic and was able to do stunts that few women could do at the time and became popular because of this. She put herself in danger quite a few times as some of the stunts she did were done without safety harnesses or crash mats. Her career had its ups and downs and I was fascinated by what happened to her (some of it her fault, some of it due to the increasing male-dominated industry), but the author exposed the behind-the-scenes of this time period in such a way that was utterly fascinating.   

Verdict

Daughter of Daring was a compelling narrative that I had difficulty putting down. I definitely appreciated Helen's narrative being women amidst the information given about the time period, but to be honest, I really enjoyed learning about the time period and the film industry itself as I found it fascinating. The author is a filmmaker and understands the frustrations of being a woman in the industry so I found her candour to be refreshing.  I definitely appreciated her writing about this time period though, and the forgotten women of the industry who were integral to its current success. 

 

Review: Head Cases by John McMahon

Head Cases (PAR Unit, Book #1)

by John McMahon

Release Date: February 28, 2025

2025 Minotaur Books

Ebook ARC; 352 Pages

ISBN: 978-1250348296

ASIN: B0D1PK6HYP

Audiobook: B0DDZB1NPR

Genre: Fiction / Murder / Suspense

Source: Review copy from publisher

 

3.75 / 5 Stars

 

Summary

FBI Agent Gardner Camden is an analytical genius with an affinity for puzzles. He also has a blind spot on the human side of investigations, a blindness that sometimes even includes people in his own life, like his beloved seven-year-old daughter Camila. Gardner and his squad of brilliant yet quirky agents make up the Patterns and Recognition (PAR) unit, the FBI’s hidden edge, brought in for cases that no one else can solve.

When DNA links a murder victim to a serial killer long presumed dead, the team springs into action. A second victim establishes a pattern, and the murderer begins leaving a trail of clues and riddles especially for Gardner. And while the PAR team is usually relegated to working cold cases from behind a desk, the investigation puts them on the road and into the public eye, following in the footsteps of a killer.

My Thoughts

Head Cases is the first book in a new series, and it certainly began with an interesting scenario. I found the intricacy of the case intriguing and as a result, was glued to the pages and was quite fascinated by the team's investigation. Because this is the first book in a new series, there is a certain amount of time taken to introduce the characters and develop their unique personalities, something I appreciated. But while the case was definitely interesting, it did fall back and make use of some tropes I was hoping would be avoided. 

 

I really enjoyed the main character quite a bit. Gardner Camden is on the spectrum and I appreciated the author's research into this character's development; he was such a fascinating person to follow. Quite brilliant, but struggling with personal relationships, it was fascinating to see how his mind grasped concepts with which the rest of his team struggled, but completely missed nuances relating to social relationships.  The rest of the characters complemented each other very well and I really enjoyed learning about their unique quirks and talents. While this book focused more on Camden's relationships, I am guessing future books will reveal more about the other characters and I can't wait as the glimpses we got were fascinating. All of them are there for something they did in the past and the author gave us just enough to tantalize. 

 

The plot certainly began and ended with quite a bang, but the middle did slow down quite a bit.  I didn't mind too much as I really enjoy investigations and love learning about the political machinations of organizations the author wants to include in their books.  The themes of family, loyalty, secrets, and betrayal all found their place within the story line.  I also didn't mind that the focus was more on Gardner Camden than on the others as I feel the author will expand on the characters in future books.  However, I did wish the overall conclusion was a bit different than what it was as it was predictable and a bit tropey. I also didn't feel like the author took it as far 'into the dark side' as the subject merited.  It felt like the author was afraid to go too dark and the brevity sometimes felt off as a result.

 

Verdict

Head Cases was an intriguing first entry into a new series and I enjoyed the character development quite a bit. And while the plot was interesting and definitely had its high moments, especially the first thirty percent and the last twenty percent, overall I did find it somewhat predictable when the final outcome was revealed. I was really hoping it would have gone in a different direction. However, I did enjoy it and I will be looking out the second book when it is released.

 

Review: Danger Close by Cameron Curtis

Danger Close (Breed Thriller, #1)

by Cameron Curtis

Release Date: February 7, 2021 (Part of boxed set released February 23, 2025)

2025 Inkubator Books

Ebook Edition; 294 Pages 

ASBN: 979-8703664940

ASIN: B0DWFWZQFB

Audiobook: B09NCB5YBG

Genre: Fiction / Thriller

Source: Review copy from publisher 

 

4 / 5 Stars

 

Summary

Ex-Delta Force sniper Breed has spent most of his life at war and now he’s trying to make some time for peace. But when a veteran from his old unit is murdered in El Paso, Breed feels duty-bound to bring the killer to justice. A feeling that only grows stronger when his friend’s widow and son are also murdered.

As he uses all his specialist skills to uncover the truth, Breed finds himself working with some unlikely allies - a devious CIA operative, and a determined Latina reporter. Together, they uncover a conspiracy to launch a massive attack on US soil.

The terrorists are confident – they have powerful friends in the Mexican cartels and US law enforcement. But they have reckoned without one thing—Breed. 

 

My Thoughts

Danger Close is the first book in the Breed Thriller books and they really hit the ground running.  I thoroughly enjoy this book and liked the fact the story was a nice blend of action and plot whereby the action didn't really override the plot.  Sometimes the story can be so full of twists and turns and action that character development as well as plot development is left by the curbside, but I didn't feel this in this book.

 

Set in Texas and Juarez, the descriptions of the places made me feel like I was right there. With Juarez ripped apart by the drug cartels and Texas dealing with the fallout, it was the perfect setting for a crime dealing with sex traffiking as well as guns and drugs traffiking.  The action scenes are quite good and while this is not quite the death culling that I have read in some books, the casualties were still high. However, my heart nearly broke when Breed learns the personal story of one of the sex traffikers who escaped her situation and the horrible treatment she received. I mean, we are talking about children being kidnapped and forced into this situation.  While not as graphic as some I have read, sometimes leaving it to the imagination can be worse as my imagination can think up all sorts of horrible things without having the descriptions. The sense of danger hanging over Breeds' head the entire time was so visceral, I kept waiting for the metaphorical axe to fall every chapter.  I have to also say, the plot of this book actually made me cold considering how realistic it is in today's world. 

 

Breed is a great main character and I enjoyed learning about him throughout the book.  While the story is quite heavy on the action side, it does allow time for some character development and gives you some sense of Breeds's character.  While they are only glimpses, it has made me curious to learn more about him and what drove him to the Special Forces as well as what drives him now. I love the camaraderie that exists between Breed and his fellow ex-soldiers, and I understood the anger in him when one of them was shot down in cold blood.  I felt like the relationships were real.

 

Verdict

Danger Close was a really good first book in the Breed Thriller series. There are some trigger warnings to this book as it does contain discussions around sex traffiking, sexual abuse (towards minors as well), drugs, gun traffiking, and general violence and upheaval. It also contains themes about family, loyalty, friendship, secrets, trust, and betrayal.  Quite a bit to pack into a shorter book, but it works quite well. There were some twists and turns that I did not expect which is why I read the whole thing in one night as I couldn't put it down. Looking forward to the next book. 

 

 

Review: Lowfield by Mark Sampson

Lowfield

by Mark Sampson

Release Date: April 15, 2025

2025 Now or Never Publishing Company

Softcover ARC; 347 Pages

ISBN: 978-1989689813

ASIN: 1989689817

Genre: Fiction / Horror

Source: Review copy from publisher

 

3.5 / 5 Stars

 

Summary

Riley Fuller, a police officer sidelined by the devastating loss of three colleagues in a tragic shooting, seeks solace in rural Prince Edward Island as he lays claim to his family's ancestral property—an ancient, dilapidated house known locally as Applegarth. Eager for a fresh start and relief from his traumatic past, Riley's hopes are soon dashed as he uncovers the dark secrets hidden within the very walls of the Victorian-era mansion. Soon, he realizes that Applegarth is merely a harbinger of something far more sinister—a malevolent force lurking within the nearby abandoned village of Lowfield, its ominous presence intricately entwined with the rich history of PEI itself.

 

 

 

My Thoughts

Lowfield is a slow-burn horror that I found intriguing due to its mix of cosmic horror with the history and geography of Prince Edward Island, a beautiful province in Canada.  It also delves into toxic masculinity and the consequences of that abuse of power during a time when social media was non-existent, but people wanted a voice to express their concerns as to what was happening, especially women. During a time when abortion was still banned on the island, and the politics surrounded the building of the bridge to the mainland, this was an interesting mix of politics, history, and survival.

 

The book focuses on Riley, a disgraced RCMP officer from Moncton, who discovers he has inherited an old home and property on PEI. The character is not especially likable, but I was drawn to him because of this factor, and also due to the fact he was an unreliable narrator. Riley continuously has thoughts about younger women, and while this may be off-putting, it is connected to the house and the story and is supposed to make you uncomfortable.  I did like how the author showed Riley's confusion and disgust as he was going through his visions and his dreams as it did make him, while not exactly relatable, but more real.  I did feel that the character development on a whole however, was inconsistent, and the secondary characters were very much one-dimensional. I don't know if this was done on purpose to try to throw off the reader, but I would have been a lot more invested in the characters if I had actually been able to develop more of a link with them and knew them a bit better. I don't have to like them, but I do have to empathize with them.

 

The plot itself is very much a slow-burn one for two-thirds of the book, something that didn't bother me too much.  I don't necessarily need my horror books to have these crazy twists and turns, but there was definitely enough to keep me interested and engaged despite the slower development. A lot happened during the last third of the book and I did need time to digest the information when I was finished. I will be hones though, I did have a suspicious as to what part of the ending would be and I was right.  

 

The themes of toxic masculinity and sexual abuse do dominate the narrative. Multiple generations of abuse is discussed and the effects this has on the current generation, something I thought was well done in this book. It doesn't give solutions, just highlights the issues and the consequences, but makes you think of the impact on families. Is it uncomfortable? Absolutely, but it should be. 

 

Verdict

Lowfield definitely had interesting moments and I enjoyed it overall. I loved the setting and thought the descriptions were beautifully done. However, there were things that were inconsistent plot-wise, and I really wished some of the characters had been developed a bit more to make the story that much richer. I definitely like this author's writing style and look forward to reading more of his work. And while I try not to give away spoilers in my reviews, I would definitely check the trigger warnings for this book, especially for sexual themes. 

 

Review: A Web of Obsidian by Lydia M. Hawke

A Web of Obsidian (The Obsidian Sisterhood, #1)

by Lydia M. Hawke

Release Date: February 25, 2025

2025 Michem Publishing

Ebook ARC; 231 Pages

ISBN: 978-1989457276

ASIN: B0D2SGJQZJ

Audiobook: B0DV679DV2

Genre: Fiction / Urban Paranormal

Source: Review copy from publisher

 

4.5 / 5 Stars

 

Summary

At 69 years old and with two martial arts black belts to her name, Sister Monica Barrett has never been one to back down from a fight. But the one that just landed on the ragged front lawn of the women’s shelter she runs may be more than she’s equipped to handle.

This attacker has powers—he moves with uncanny speed, strikes with brutal accuracy, and isn’t after the woman at all. Instead, he wants what she has: a flat, black stone with a spider’s web embedded in it.

The instant Monica touches the stone, her world is turned upside down. 

 

My Thoughts

A Web of Obsidian is the first book in a new series by this author and I loved it from the get-go. It was action-packed, funny, and touching, all at the same time. And while I love fast-moving books, I did think the story moved along too quickly and didn't give enough time to really develop the characters. 

 

Sister Monica Barrett is the MC in this book and as an older woman, I could completely relate to what she is going through.  Fairly active myself, I love that she is strong, but also vulnerable in ways that only people who have reached a certain age can fully understand.  That being said however, her courage and internal strength are still strong and I loved how she defended and protected those under her.  She was fierce, but also vulnerable at the same time because she needed to protect those she loved and would do anything for them.  I also liked the fact that she didn't do stupid stuff like some of the characters do in some of the books I have recently read, and this has nothing to do with age, but with common sense. Even in the midst of rage and in the midst of serious stuff, Monica still kept her wits about her.

 

What drew me to this book was the setting, Ontario.  Being from the area, I was very familiar with Toronto and Kingston and could easily picture the settings in my head. The scene regarding Highway 401 was particularly vivid in my head having driven that highway multiple times so I knew how desperate she had to have been to even attempt that crossing. The plot did move along rather quickly, perhaps too quickly as it didn't give the reader a chance to breathe, nor did it give the author time to really develop any of the characters except for Monica. I know there are going to be more books in the series, but I do get invested in the secondary characters as much as the MC and I feel it is important to put effort into developing them as well.  There is also a LOT going on in this book, some of which is obscure and hidden. That's okay as I love secrets and look forward to finding out more about the sisterhood and what is actually happening in future books.  And Monica's fight scenes were a lot of fun and I was right there rooting for her every punch and kick.  

Verdict

A Web of Obsidian was a lot of fun and I was thrilled at the age of the MC as I hate to admit I am closer to her age than the twenty year olds I usually read about.  I love a kick-ass heroine, but one who is also vulnerable and cares deeply for others.  The plot moved along rather quickly, and although there are still a lot of secrets to discover, there was definitely closure in the first book so you were not left feeling disappointed.  I am looking forward to reading the next book in this series.  And if you get a chance, pick up this author's The Crone Wars series, you won't be disappointed.

 

Review: A Killer's Code by Isabella Maldonado

A Killer's Code (Daniela Vega, #3)

by Isabella Maldonado

Release Date: January 21, 2025

2025 Thomas & Mercer

Ebook ARC; 344 Pages

ISBN: 978-1662515842

ASIN: B0CYHLLXP5

Audiobook: B0DGB1X7PS

Genre: Fiction / Mystery / Suspense

Source: Review copy from publisher

 

4 / 5 Stars

 

Summary

A dead man’s riddles—and secrets—thrust an FBI codebreaker into a deadly cross-country race for justice.

 

During a recent undercover sting gone bad, hit man Gustavo Toro died in the arms of FBI Special Agent Daniela “Dani” Vega. But Toro had secrets he refused to take to the grave.

In the event of his death, Toro left behind a video that promises to expose a mysterious mastermind who has been operating with impunity for decades. But there’s a catch. Dani’s team must follow Toro’s cryptic clues on a cross-country hunt for justice, and piecing together his past is more twisted than Dani could have imagined.

 

My Thoughts

A Killer's Code was a fast-paced thriller, and at its heart, had a trope that I absolutely love, riddles and codes. It may be a throwback to my childhood, but I love it when a killer/killers send police/Jason Bourne/whoever on a hunt through clues they left behind or set up to perplex those doing the hunt.  This one had a nice mix of clues and situations that kept me turning the pages.

 

The continuing character development of Dani and Steve was quite enjoyable and I'm glad the author focused more on developing the MC's instead of focusing so much on the plot.  Dani is as badass as ever, but she definitely showed signs of vulnerability, something I really enjoyed as it showed a softer side to her character, especially when it came to her younger brother and the storyline that is beginning to develop with regards to him.  I also enjoyed the way the author is developing the relationship between Steve and Dani. I am curious to see what it will take to break down the walls both of them have built up through their experiences in the military. 

 

The plot itself moved rather quickly, and you just have a minute to catch your breath before something else happens. Because I read the previous entries in the series, I am familiar with the pacing of these novels, but it does make it difficult to put them down.  Dani and her team are following clues that pretty much lead them around the country, but at the same time, are trying to beat someone else who is also searching for the same thing.  There were some twists and turns that caught me off guard or came out of nowhere and it's one of the reasons I enjoy this series so much.  Plus, they are believable twists and turns, not just thrown in because an author thinks they don't have enough red herrings.  

 

Verdict

A Killer's Code was fast-paced and there was a solid mix between character and plot development, something that was a bit lacking in previous installments. The various story lines wove together quite nicely, and I liked the fact that everything comes together in the end, even if the end isn't quite what you would expect.  If I had any complains, it was about the clues. Even though I found them clever and interesting, there was still a part of me that was skeptical at how easily the team discovered them and deciphered them. However, the team dynamics and banter is one of the reasons why I keep coming back to these books, and I had a hard time putting this book down. Looking forward to the next one. 

 

Review: Rebellious Grace by Jeri Westerson

Rebellious Grace (A King's Fool Mystery, #3)

by Jeri Westerson

Release Date: January 7, 2025

2025 Severn House

Ebook ARC; 224 Pages

ISBN: 978-1448314751

ASIN: B0D9M93LWY

Genre: Fiction / Historical / Mystery

Source: Review copy from publisher

 

3. 75 / 5 Stars

 

Summary

1536, London. The gruesome murder of a servant in the king's palace, his throat savagely cut, has brought fear to the court of Henry VIII. When the man's body is then dug up from the churchyard and disembowelled two weeks later, Will Somers, the king's jester, is horrified. What terrible mischief is now afoot under the king's roof?

With Henry VIII distracted by The Pilgrimage of Grace, the religious revolt led by Robert Aske in protest at the king turning his back on the Catholic faith, Will becomes reluctant inquisitor once again. As he attempts to unmask a murderous knave, Will uncovers a chilling link between one of Queen Jane Seymour's precious jewels, the rebellion and the dead man. Is a shocking act of treachery behind a grotesque killing?

 

My Thoughts 

Rebellious Grace is the third entry in A King's Fool Mystery series, a mystery series that revolves around the little-known life of the king's fool, Will Somers.  I enjoy how the author fleshes out the character to fit into King Henry VIII's world, and as someone who had entry into the king's personal chambers, gives the reader insight into how the world worked during this tumultuous time period. 

 

Will himself is an interesting character and I enjoy the precariousness of his position as he balances keeping the court entertained with the seriousness of some of his jests, jests thrown to enlighten people as to what is actually happening and to give warnings. The relationship between Will and another member of the court ramps up, and Will struggles between being faithful to his wife and his longings and desires.  I liked the high emphasis on the relationship between Will and his wife, and the difficulties they have trying to navigate court life as well as their personal relationship. Because I am so familiar with the time period, I had no problem distinguishing between real historical figures and imagined ones, and I like how the author incorporates what is known about their lives into the story. It does make for fascinating reading and I was impressed with the historical detail and amount of research that is included in such a short book.

 

The plot itself focused on the Pilgrimage of Grace, led by Robert Aske, an event that took place over Christmas 1536, in the aftermath of Anne Boleyn's execution. With the intention of reconciling the Catholic Church, the members are convinced they are acting in both the king's and God's interests, but King Henry struggles with what to do as to question the Church is to question him.  And while the events of the Pilgrimage played more of a background role, it did have a profound effect on the mystery and who was involved in the actual murder Will was investigating.  Because this was set during the Christmas season, this allowed the author to portray the characters within many festive moments and includes a lot of great descriptions of what court life was like during this time period.  Will's task to solve the murder was made especially difficult as there were so many additional people at court. But he was one of the few people who could enter pretty much any room in the palace, and investigate quietly, putting himself at risk.

 

Verdict

Rebellious Grace had a believable mystery at its core, reflecting the trauma the execution of Anne Boleyn had on the court as well as the Pilgrimage of Grace. Because of these events, members of the court were trying to figure out the new shift in power and new alliances so I really enjoyed the underlying tension that lay beneath the entire book.  The character of Will Somers gives the reader a perspective that is quite fascinating; one as an observer who attends all the events, but will never be allowed to participate, and the other, as an outsider who sees all and knows quite a bit. And although the mystery never plays the central role in the story, it does rear its ugly head through Will's investigations as well as through his relationships with others in the court. 

 

Review: One by One by Lauren Street

One by One (The Bishop Smoky Mountain Thrillers, #10)

by Lauren Street

Release Date: January 7, 2025

2025 Sterling & Stone

Ebook ARC; 315 Pages

ISBN: 978-1629554266

ASIN: B0DNTZV4Y5

Genre: Fiction / Mystery

Source: Review copy from publisher

 

3 / 5 Stars

 

Summary

Rileigh Bishop and Mitch have faced their share of dangers, but nothing could prepare them for the horrors lurking in Shagbark Manor. Sixteen-year-old Hillary Scofield warned of blood-soaked visions, floating violins, and a body surrounded in a puddle of blood. Then she disappeared without a trace.

Determined to find the girl, Rileigh digs into the manor’s grim history, uncovering the chilling tale of Crawford Tillman – a man who returned home nearly a century ago to find his family murdered by an axe-wielding killer. Now, a new killer appears to be imitating the murders, starting with Hillary.

 

My Thoughts

One by One is the next book in the Bishop Smoky Mountain Thrillers and I have to admire how the author can keep writing taught mysteries book after book.  While this one has the appearance of a paranormal aspect, the actual truth is far different and I appreciate how perspective can play a huge role in witness accounts and how difficult it is for a police detective to separate fact from fiction.

The plot wove around the disappearance of a sixteen-year-old girl, but the reader did get to meet her in the first quarter of the book and learn some of her fears. I found this approach more in style of horror novels although this was definitely not a horror novel in the slightest. I did find that approach to be helpful once Mitch and Rileigh started digging into her disappearance as you already knew some of the backstory, but not enough to give anything away.  The manor is actually run by the great-granddaughter of the man who originally built the home, but who was at the center of grisly family murder that has pretty much remained unsolved all these years.  The plot moved along rather quickly and involved multiple POV, but they were clear and easy to follow.  I did have a problem with sentence structure, punctuation and grammar to the point where it actually jolted me out of the story a couple of times. As a proofreader, I tend to let certain mistakes slide, but when actual names of characters are wrong multiple times, it gets harder not to get annoyed.  And I did take a look at a published copy compared to my ARC to see if the mistakes were fixed and they were not.  I only mention this when it is definitely an issue.

 

The author does assume that you have prior knowledge of the relationship between Rileigh and Mitch when reading this book, but I don't think that is actually a big problem.  Personally, I felt like the character development was not a priority in this book and while that may be fine for the main characters whom we have met multiple times, it didn't help with the secondary characters we met for the first time in this book. To be honest, most just kind of faded to the background as the story went on, and while I liked the ending, I did feel like it was incomplete as it focused more on foreshadowing for the next book and what was going to happen to Rileigh rather than concluding the present book.  

 

Verdict

One by One had some great moments, and I definitely enjoyed the overall story even though I did find some of it predictable.  I liked how the author wove the paranormal aspect into the story, but it wasn't what people would expect.  I did think the plot overshadowed character development in this book which affected the ending and left some questions for the reader.  Overall, a decent entry in the series.