Review: The One and Only Vivian Stone by Melissa O'Connor

The One and Only Vivian Stone

by Melissa O'Connor

Release Date: July 22, 2025

2025 Gallery Books

Ebook ARC; 368 Pages

ISBN; 978-1668074831

ASIN: B0DHV4MQJS

Audiobook: B0DYQDZGXD

Genre: Fiction / Historical 

Source: Review copy from publisher

 

4 / 5 Stars

 

Summary

After her grandmother’s death, thirty-something Margot DuBois prepares to sell the house quickly so she can go back to her predictable life in Santa Barbara. But while cleaning out the attic, she comes across eight unlabeled cassette tapes. Unable to use the damaged tape player, she calls in a favor from Leo—her first love and first epic heartbreak—and they strike a deal: he’ll fix the player if he can hear what’s on the tapes. When they manage to listen, the two are shocked to hear the voice of comedic legend Vivian Stone. Why did she record these tapes and how did Margot’s grandmother get them?

Between listening to Vivian recount everything from her forbidden love for Hollywood’s leading actor, to working under a misogynistic exec, to her chemistry with her costar-turned-husband on TV, Margot and Leo fall down a memory lane of their own. Margot is inspired by Vivian’s tenacity and courage to keep fighting for the life she wants, but everything changes when Vivian reveals a secret from her past in this moving exploration of how it’s never too late to start over. 

 

My Thoughts

The One and Only Vivian Stone is one of those books that surprised me by the emotional impact it had on me while I was reading. I wasn't expecting to become as involved in Vivian's life as I did and I really rooted for her as her story unfolded. I'm still not a fan of the dual-timelines and I personally did not like Margot's story in the present, but I thoroughly enjoyed Vivian's story and wanted to know more after the tapes concluded.  

 

The strength of this book for me was definitely Vivian's character development. She went from a naive ingenue to someone who realized her worth in comedic acting, but needed to learn her strengths and weaknesses as she took on more demanding acting roles. I loved how she really wanted to be a dramatic actress and went through the withdrawal of realizing she just wasn't capable of pulling off roles like that only to realize her worth as a comedic actress and how those roles were just as important. 

 

Vivian was a remarkably complex person who struggled with the ambitious side to her personality with the woman who wanted love and a family. Like I've mentioned, she was ambitious and strong-willed, but she was also vulnerable and quite loyal to her friends and family. I don't even think I realized how skillfully the author created a more polished mature version of Vivian as she became successful in Hollywood from the naive woman in her earlier years.  I was also impressed with the way Vivian's romantic relationships were developed as we saw one that was more shallow in nature and one that was more in-depth. Both relationships were well-done and I appreciated how a person can love two people in a different way, one from a place of healing and one from a place of friendship.  When one became toxic, it was still done with respect and understanding, coming from a traumatic place in Vivian's past. 

 

I wasn't overly impressed with Margot's character arc, but it could simply be there was not enough time given to her to really develop her character the way Vivian's was developed. I just did not emphasize with her situation and I found her defensive all of the time.  

 

The plot wound itself around the characters and their development, but it was quite deceptive in nature. It dealt with a lot of serious themes such as sexual harassment in Hollywood, the misogyny that existed, and the control over actors' lives. The meticulous research that went into this book highlighted the difficulty of actors when they were bound to contracts with studios and literally had no personal rights and were told who to date and if they could even have children. It even delves into the topic of the drug abuse and how the actors were forced to take uppers/downers, diet pills, etc...Women's lack of control as well as lack of contribution to screen writing and directing was also a big theme running through the book. 

 

Verdict

The One and Only Vivian Stone was a very surprising and fascinating book. I think the author tried to honour the glamour of Hollywood, but also wanted to highlight the difficulties of being a star during the 1950s and how much the glamour actually hid. Actors didn't have freedom to do their own thing and were always afraid of losing their contracts, and the complexities of navigating the harassment during this time period for women were done delicately, but didn't downplay the seriousness of what was happening.  I did think the end of the story was a bit disappointing however, and didn't quite fit with the rest of the story. I also thought Margot's story felt more like something the author threw in as a way to tell Vivian's story; therefore, I do feel like this book didn't really need the dual timeline. 

 

Review: The House at Devil's Neck by Tom Mead

The House at Devil's Neck (A Spector Locked-Room Mystery, #4)

by Tom Mead

Release Date: July 15, 2025

2025 Mysterious Press

Ebook ARC; 320 Pages

ISBN: 978-1613166505

ASIN: B0DL3N8PFL

Audiobook: B0FFWXJN4C

Genre: Fiction / Historical / Mystery

Source: Review copy from publisher

 

3 / 5 Stars

 

Summary

An apparent suicide in a London townhouse uncannily mirrors a similar incident from twenty-five years ago, prompting Scotland Yard's George Flint to delve deep into the past in search of the solution to a long-forgotten mystery.

Meanwhile, Joseph Spector travels with a coach party through the rainy English countryside to visit an allegedly haunted house on a lonely island called Devil’s Neck. The house, first built by a notorious alchemist and occultist, was later used as a field hospital in the First World War before falling into disrepair. The visitors hold a seance to conjure the spirit of a long-dead soldier. But when a storm floods the narrow causeway connecting Devil’s Neck to the mainland, they find themselves stranded in the haunted house. Before long, the guests begin to die one by one, and it seems that the only possible culprit is the phantom soldier.

 

My Thoughts

The House at Devil's Neck naturally caught my attention as it's a locked-room mystery at an atmospheric home with a history of hauntings and other to-dos. We've also go all of the usual things happening with secrets, mysterious connections between characters, seances, haunting, more secrets, locked-room mysteries, bad weather, and a house with atmosphere. What could you not love about it?

 

Well, as it turns out, a plot that becomes too convoluted can actually make you roll your eyes and rethink how much you are enjoying a book. To be fair, I really enjoyed the first half of the book and enjoyed trying to keep up with twists and turns as they occurred. For someone who has read a lot of these things, there were some things that I just expected to happen, and they did, but those things didn't lower my pleasure when the characters discovered these things. It's hard to explain without actually giving away important plot points to the story, so I'll just say that some of the plot points were actually predictable, expected, but didn't remove you from the story. However, when things get too complicated to try to throw off a reader, then you have a problem. And it's too bad as most of the story was interesting. However, when things just start getting too fanciful for me, I start rolling my eyes, and this is what happened. Too many ridiculous explanations for x, y, and z. 

 

Spector is definitely an intriguing character though, and I really enjoyed how he picked apart the theories the others had regarding the murders.  Because the author tries really hard to capture the atmosphere of an Agatha Christie novel, something that is definitely not easy to do, I do have to commend him for reminding me of those novels quite often. And I like the fact the author states that the reader has all the facts they need to solve the puzzle on their own if they can. And I did, even if I didn't quite have all the facts down pat. So that was fun. The other characters were unique in their own ways and I enjoyed their quirks and foibles very much. 

 

Verdict

The House at Devil's Neck was really enjoyable for the first half of the book, but sabotaged itself in the second half by becoming too convoluted with some ridiculous explanations. And I love convoluted story lines. The quirky characters were fun and I enjoyed how they interacted with each other and how they all eventually interconnected. I did think the ending was a bit unsatisfying, but overall I enjoyed this book.  

 

Review: How They Were Taken by Carolyn Ridder Aspenson

How They Were Taken (Jenna Wyatt, #1)

by Carolyn Ridder Aspenson

Release Date: July 8, 2025

2025 Severn River Publishing

Ebook ARC; 292 Pages

ISBN: 978-1648756320

ASIN: B0DFHNFGDH

Audiobook:  B0FCGCQ4C1

Genre: Fiction / Mystery

Source: Review copy from publisher

 

4 / 5 Stars

 

Summary

Jenna Wyatt thought she'd left her demons behind when she traded her GBI badge for a private detective's license. But when a desperate mother's plea echoes the unsolved mystery of Jenna's own missing sister, she's pulled into a labyrinth of deceit spanning decades.

Reluctantly partnering with Jack Parks, a magnetic ex-NCIS investigator, Jenna probes into Atlanta's underbelly, uncovering a chilling pattern of abductions and murders. As they peel back layers of lies, Jenna and Jack find themselves trapped in a deadly game where every revelation brings them closer to danger—and to the ghosts Jenna has spent a lifetime trying to outrun.

With lives hanging in the balance, Jenna must confront her darkest fears and how much is she willing to sacrifice for the truth?

 

My Thoughts

How They Were Taken is the first book in a planned series featuring ex-GBI Jenna Wyatt. The reasons she left the force and turned to private investigation were interesting and definitely kept me intrigued throughout the book.  And while I found the plot to be fascinating, it was really Jenna's trauma that was the highlight of the book as the author wrote about it so well and how it affected her throughout her life. But not only throughout the years, but how it was also shaping her thoughts and decisions today, including her relationships and how she formed bonds with people. 

 

Jenna was a complicated person who definitely had a lot of character development throughout the book. She could be annoying at times as she often made decisions based on emotions rather than on hard core facts, but the author didn't excuse her behaviour nor her poor choices and blame them on the trauma, she just highlighted how the trauma could make a person make choices that are not always solid ones.  Jenna definitely had to suck it up a few times and apologize which is something I liked. What I also really liked about this book was how the author didn't make Jenna out to be a superhero, running all over town looking up leads on only 3 hours of sleep in 72 hours. Okay, I am exaggerating, but not by much. Jenna was often exhausted, dealing with the emotional complications of the case, and I really liked that about her. It made her feel approachable and I could empathize with her situation.

 

The plot itself was also rather good. Dealing with the kidnapping of her younger sister all those years ago, investigating the kidnapping of another young girl was bringing back all of those emotions and feelings all over again. The plot did move along quickly and the twists and turns kept you guessing as to who was the culprit. 

 

Verdict

How They Were Taken was quite good, and if you are a fan of main characters who are suffering from traumatic events, then this one is for you. The plot moved along quickly and the author was rather adept at intertwining the story and the character development. While this book focused more on Jenna's story, I am looking forward to learning more about the other characters in future books. I did feel that the ending was rushed however, something that left me feeling a bit disappointed considering the high level of tension in the rest of the book. I am looking forward to reading the following books in this series when they is released in November 2025 and April 2026. 

Review: Not Quite Dead Yet by Holly Jackson

Not Quite Dead Yet

by Holly Jackson

Release Date: July 22, 2025

2025 Bantam

Softcover ARC; 400 Pages

ISBN: 978-0593977057

ASIN: B0DJQBXWTS

Audiobook: B0DK4B42SM

Genre: Fiction / Mystery

Source: Review copy from publisher

 

4 / 5 Stars

 

Summary

In seven days Jet Mason will be dead.

Jet is the daughter of one of the wealthiest families in Woodstock, Vermont. Twenty-seven years old, she’s still waiting for her life to begin. I’ll do it later, she always says. She has time.

Until Halloween night, when Jet is violently attacked by an unseen intruder. She suffers a catastrophic head injury. The doctor is certain that within a week, the injury will trigger a deadly aneurysm.

Jet has never thought of herself as having enemies. But now she looks at everyone in a new light: her family, her former best friend turned sister-in-law, her ex-boyfriend. She has at most seven days, and as her condition deteriorates she has only her childhood friend Billy for help. But nevertheless, she’s absolutely determined to finally finish something: Jet is going to solve her own murder.

 

My Thoughts

Not Quite Dead Yet definitely had an interesting premise, and one of the things I liked about this book was Jet and everything she was going through with her head injury and the trauma of having to make life-altering decisions after her attack. While the mystery was interesting, it was Jet's character development and how she reacted to what was happening to her that was the driving force of this book for me.

 

So, let's talk about Jet. When Jet wakes up in the hospital after surviving the attack, she has to deal with the pressure from her family regarding BIG decisions and this is one of the first times she actually stands her ground and makes a BIG decision that is for herself and not for her family, and definitely not to please her mother whom she has been trying to please for years due to another traumatic even in their life. Her character development during those seven days was phenomenal and I enjoyed every step as she realized what was actually important to her and the destructive path she had been on for long.  The injury made her take chances she would not normally have taken, both with the investigation and with her personal relationships, and I have to say I was drawn more to those relationships than to the mystery. And I could definitely relation to her constant sass and sarcasm!!

 

When you look closely, the plot itself was fairly standard and predictable, nothing that really hasn't been done before. But when you combine that with everything that Jet was going through and what the family had to be dealing with as they dealt with Jet's attack, the tension definitely ratcheted up a notch as you knew there wasn't that much time left to figure out what was happening. And as Jet was investigating, the inclusion of her growing symptoms just made the tension that much stronger as you worried about the when and where and how it was finally going to happen. I enjoyed seeing the childhood relationship Jet had with Billy intertwine around the mystery and grow into something more adult as they both realized they needed to mature in order to appreciate the other. However, there was one aspect to the mystery that was not quite fully explained, something that did bother me and it lingered after I finished the book. While the book focused on Jet's injury, it was also a murder-mystery and you can't leave threads hanging as readers will notice.

 

Verdict

Not Quite Dead Yet was an enjoyable read and I definitely thought Jet's character development was a highlight of this book as well as the relationship between Jet and Billy. However, it was a mystery as well and although interesting, it was predictable and not everything was tied up in the end. But, as someone who did not finish one of this author's other series, I am happy that I enjoyed this so much. Highly recommend. 

 

 

Review: Beach Reads and Deadly Deeds by Allison Brennan

Beach Reads and Deadly Deeds

by Allison Brennan

Release Date: June 17, 2025

2025 MIRA

Ebook ARC; 390 Pages

ISBN: 978-0778387251

ASIN:  ‎ B0DFGM1CPX

Audiobook: B0DLHKFS45

Genre: Fiction / Mystery / Romance

Source: Review copy from publisher

 

2 / 5 Stars

 

Summary

Mia Crawford is responsible to a fault. Between her high-demand job and taking care of her grandmother and her cats, she has little time for anything else. What time she does have, she pours into reading. Mysteries, romances, thrillers…books filled with women who are far more impulsive than she would ever dream of being. Now, forced into taking a long-overdue vacation, she finds herself on a luxurious private island where she just might have a chance to reinvent herself—for a little while, anyway. She can explore the island. Flirt shamelessly with a cute bartender. Have a vacation fling. Live like a heroine in one of her favorite novels.
 

But when gossipy notes written in the margins of an old book turn out to be clues to the disappearance of another guest, Mia finds herself diving headfirst into a dangerous adventure. With everyone at the resort hiding secrets of their own, she’ll have to solve this real-life mystery before she becomes the next target. 

 

My Thoughts

Beach Reads and Deadly Deeds had a lot of potential, and I really enjoyed the setting as it made me want to hop on a plane and head somewhere warm and tropical, but honestly, what ruined this book for me was the heroine. She was insufferable. For a book that was supposed to empower women, she had probably the worst personality for this as all she did was compare herself to other women and constantly critique and criticize and put them all down. And I mean EVERYONE. And the number of times she refers to herself by name, just give it a rest already. 

 

So, let's start with Miss Mia Crawford. From the first page we meet this woman, I couldn't stand her. We see her on a ferry heading to tropical paradise and all we hear are her criticisms with regards to other women. I almost DNF this book within the first two chapters because of her attitude, and honestly, I should have.  And unfortunately, she didn't grow on me like other characters have because she didn't actually develop and change throughout the book. When the big 'reveal' happened, and only anyone blind couldn't see that one coming, she acted like a petulant child, had a big fit, and went running. I would have dumped her sorry ass in the sea at that point.  

 

What did keep me reading were the other characters as I found them so much more likable than Mia. They were such an eclectic group with such interesting backgrounds, I really wished the author had focused more on their stories.  

 

This author is quite well know for her mysteries and I really love her Costa & Quinn mystery series, so it's no surprise the actual mystery was actually intriguing and was the most interesting part of this book. The mystery did have its twists and turns and I did rather enjoy it which is what kept me going. But, I just couldn't get past Mia and her attitude, something that threw me out of the story quite a bit.  It's unfortunate as the other guests do a lot of shady things and the tension was quite high when it came to the mystery elements, so it's too bad Mia's obnoxious attitude destroyed all of that for me. And don't even get me started on the 'romance'. I just can't go there.  Ugh!

 

Verdict

Beach Reads and Deadly Deeds had a lot of potential, but the main character and her obnoxious attitude was such a huge flaw that it ruined a lot of the story for me.  I did think the mystery was intriguing and I absolutely loved the setting as it reminded me of my own beach trips, but Mia's snobbishness and her way of making everything about her destroyed so much of the story.  Luckily, I have read enough of this author's work to know how good her thrillers can be, so I think I will stick with those in the future. 

Review: The Secrets of Thorndale Manor by Syrie James

The Secrets of Thorndale Manor (The Audacious Sisterhood of Smoke & Fire, Book 2)

by Syrie James 

Release Date: June 28, 2025

2025 Independently Published 

Ebook ARC; 382 Pages

ISBN: 979- 8288628207

ASIN: B0DWHMYCVY

Genre: Fiction / Mystery / Historical

Source: Review copy from publisher

 

4 / 5 Stars

 

Summary

When Athena Taylor opens the Darkmoor Bridge School for Girls at the grand and storied Thorndale Manor, she hopes for a new beginning. But the estate’s dark past quickly resurfaces when a maid is found dead under suspicious circumstances—and whispers stir of a murder committed nine years earlier, a crime for which Ian Vernon’s sister was convicted.

Athena believes the two cases are connected. Ian Vernon, Thorndale’s brooding former heir, insists she’s wrong—and warns her to leave the past buried. But Athena is as fearless as she is determined, and her investigation brings her into close quarters with the man who should be her adversary… yet soon proves to be something much more.

As secrets unravel and a killer grows desperate, Athena finds herself in terrifying danger, caught between the pursuit of justice and a powerful attraction that threatens to derail everything.

 

My Thoughts

The Secrets of Thorndale Manor is the second book in this series, and I very much enjoyed the continuing story of the Taylor sisters. The book has a great gothic vibe to it, something that drew me to it in the first place, set on an estate with abundant mysteries and secrets from the past, and also comes with former brooding owner who naturally takes center stage in Athena's life.  The current mystery connects with the older one in an intriguing manner, and the twists and turns were quite interesting. 

 

Athena and Selena have opened up a school for girls, but naturally things are difficult from the beginning due to the rumours surrounding the estate from it past history as well as the currently murder being investigated. The focus on this book is Athena and I quite enjoyed getting to know her better. Athena is a determined and relentless woman who decides to take matters into her own hands when the current investigation starts affecting enrollment at her school.  And while she could be a bit reckless at times and perhaps a bit too bold, I liked her character. However, being bold and asking too many questions also landed her in a heap of trouble.  But, the situations were believable, not contrived just to push along the story, something that I liked. 

 

The secondary characters, including Selena, were quite diverse and many had secrets of their own of which only some have come to light in this book so I am looking forward to the next book to see what is revealed. This doesn't affect this story in any way however, just makes you understand the depth to a village and how much a little one can hide.  The closed door romance between Athena and Ian was delightful and didn't impact the overall story at all. Sometimes the romance can overpower the mystery, but I thought the author did a great job balancing the two, keeping the tension of the mystery going even with the little personal touches and day-to-day goings on. I did figure out the culprit very early on in the story, but still enjoyed the way the author tried to confuse the reader through the twists and turns. The plot moved rather quickly and the overall setting was quite atmospheric with hints of ghosts and other happenings all leading to a very satisfying conclusion.

 

Verdict

The Secrets of Thorndale Manor was a delight to read and I enjoyed it quite a bit. The plot moved rather quickly and I enjoyed the way the author incorporated the gothic tones into the story which added to the tension and the atmosphere.  You don't have to have read the first book in the series to enjoy this one, but it does add to the sister dynamic if you do. I am definitely looking forward to Selena's story in the next book.  

 

 

 

Review: One Final Turn by Ashley Weaver

One Final Turn (Electra McDonnell, #5)

by Ashley Weaver

Release Date: June 3, 2025

2025 Minotaur Books

Ebook Edition; 304 Pages

ISBN: 978-1250350930

ASIN: B0D82XB6PF

Audiobook: B0DT7JX6LP

Genre: Fiction / Historical / Mystery

Source: Review copy from publisher

 

2.75 / 5 Stars

 

Summary

Ellie McDonnell is about to embark on her most perilous mission go to Lisbon, Portugal to save her beloved cousin Toby who has reportedly escaped from a German prisoner of war camp. Toby has been missing since the Battle of Dunkirk and Ellie had all but lost hope in ever seeing him again until Major Ramsey, the British military intelligence officer she had been working closely with over the past few months, shared the news he’d intercepted.

Nothing will stop Ellie from finding her cousin, not even the awkward experience of having to travel to an unknown country with Ramsey after he’d dismissed her for being untrustworthy just as she’d realized she had fallen in love with him. Under the supervision of Captain Archie Blandings, a charming intelligence officer based in Lisbon, Ellie meets with undercover operatives to track down where Toby might be hiding from the Nazis and whether they are too late to safely recover him, all the while fighting her feelings for Ramsey and the incessant burden of war looming around her at every turn.

 

My Thoughts

One Final Turn is the final book in the Electra McDonnell mystery books and is one that I was really looking forward to reading. Unfortunately, it was the weakest book in the series for me, and aside from some really nice sight-seeing while they were in Lisbon, there was little to no mystery all wrapped up in the ongoing relationship issues she had with Ramsey.  

 

So, let's start with Electra. I may be against consensus here, but I actually thought she was in the wrong with the way she behaved in the previous book and needed to take responsibility for her actions. I was hoping for a more mature Electra, one that would realize she put people in danger, one that would understand she was fired due to her own actions.  But, no. I think the author wants us to feel sorry for Electra, to feel bad for how she was treated and I just can't do that. They are in the middle of a war and people's lives hang in the balance through choices made by others and it is hard to just let that go. Personally, I am pro-Ramsey all the way and would have just walked away as well.  When they do get together in Lisbon, Electra acts all indignant and hurt around Ramsey, very rarely acknowledging her role in what happened. And even with all that happens next, she never really acknowledges her part in what happened. 

 

The plot itself was rather weak, but then most of it seemed to revolved around Electra's issues with Ramsey anyways. I got tired of the repetitiveness and the sight-seeing and wanted to see some action. It was why they were there after all. But nope, it just kept going and going. And when something did happen, the plot holes were a mile wide. And don't even get me started on the whole relationship contrivance thing with regards to marriage and Archie and Ramsey.  And in the end, when things finally started moving, it all was rather too pat, but I did get closure in the end even if it didn't get there smoothly or elegantly.

 

Verdict

One Final Turn was not my favourite book in the series as I had issues with the lack of character development as well as plot development.  There were just too many coincidences used as plot devices for my liking, and I was really starting to dislike Electra as she was getting on my nerves with her immaturity. Overall, this book leans way too much into the romance which seriously affects the mystery and the tension. And while a lot of things wrap up nicely, it was due to contrivance and not good plot flow that it happened, something of which I am not a fan. And an aside, the big mystery to her past had only a brief mention, something in which I was disappointed as I was waiting four books to find out what happened. 

 

Review: Parents Weekend by Alex Finlay

Parents Weekend

by Alex Finlay

Release Date: May 6, 2025

2025 Minotaur Books

Ebook & Audiobook Editions; 312 Pages

ISBN: 978-1250360724

ASIN: B0DBVV6PMG

Audiobook: B0DFQLZKMF

Genre: Fiction / Suspense

Source: Review copy from publisher

 

2 / 5 Stars

 

Summary

In the glow of their children’s exciting first year of college at a small private school in Northern California, five families plan on a night of dinner and cocktails for the opening festivities of Parents Weekend. As the parents stay out way past their bedtimes, their kids—five residents of Campisi Hall—never show up at dinner.

At first, everyone thinks that they’re just being college students, irresponsibly forgetting about the gathering or skipping out to go to a party. But as the hours click by and another night falls with not so much as a text from the students, panic ensues. What led them out on that fateful night? Could it be the sins of their mothers and fathers come to cause them peril or a threat to the friend group from within?

 

My Thoughts

Parents Weekend had a very interesting premise, and as a mom to two children who graduated from university last year, this book caught my attention as there are so many things that can go wrong on campus and it's really hard not to worry about your kids when they are away at school.  But while the premise was interesting, the delivery left something to be desired, and if I had not actually been listening to this book, I would have DNF it for sure.

 

First of all, I could not name one character from this story if my life depended on it without reading the blurb and it's only been about a month since I read it. It's not really the amount of characters that was the issue, it was the amount of POV that was the issue as it meant that none of the characters got any real development as the story just jumped around from chapter to chapter and I stopped caring about what happened to who about halfway through the book.  If the book had just focused on maybe two of them, like one parent and one child, that would have made a lot more sense. 

 

Sadly, the plot itself didn't hold up to the interesting premise. Because while we know that college students have secrets, and the author was trying to portray that concept through this book, secrets that the parents know nothing about, it just didn't work. The plot had so many plot holes that I just stopped paying attention to what was really going on trying to get through it as fast as possible.  While this could have been a great exploration of secrets and the consequences of those secrets, or how kids grow up and develop lives separately from their parents, instead it was a convoluted mess.  Honestly, the parents were worse than the kids. And while I would normally find all of that fascinating, the approach in the book left me feeling distant from any of the characters, and the lack of any thematic development left me wanting to just roll my eyes at the antics of everyone involved. 

 

Verdict

Parents Weekend was just not one of my favourite books by this author. I think fewer POV would have been a lot better for this type of story and would have improved the character development.  I also think it would have helped keep up the tension that is needed for such a book. The premise of the book is great, and I did enjoy the author's thoughts and comments at the end, but overall, a lack of depth with regards to the plot and issues with character development left me disappointed. Not one of his better ones, for sure.  

 

Review: The Witch Roads by Kate Elliott

The Witch Roads (The Witch Roads, #1)

by Kate Elliott

Release Date: June 10, 2025

2025 Tor Books

Harcover Edition & Kindle ARC; 448 Pages

ISBN: 978-1250338617

ASIN: B0DDJCP62D

Audiobook: B0FC6QQTFS

Genre: Fiction / Fantasy

Source: Review copy from publisher

 

4 / 5 Stars

 

Summary

When an arrogant prince (and his equally arrogant entourage) gets stuck in Orledder Halt as part of brutal political intrigue, competent and sunny deputy courier Elen―once a child slave meant to shield noblemen from the poisonous Pall―is assigned to guide him through the hills to reach his destination.

When she warns him not to enter the haunted Spires, the prince doesn’t heed her advice, and the man who emerges from the towers isn’t the same man who entered.

The journey that follows is fraught with danger. Can a group taught to ignore and despise the lower classes survive with a mere deputy courier as their guide?

 

My Thoughts

The Witch Roads was a pleasant surprise, and I really enjoyed this book. Yes, it was slow at times. Yes, there were some issues with character development and plot. But honestly, not of that mattered as it was compulsively readable and I couldn't put it down. There was just something about the characters and the story that I found fascinating, and to be honest, it reminded of some of the old school fantasies I read a long time ago. In fact, once I finished I went diving into my shelves and pulled out my Steven Brust, David Gemmell, and Anne McCaffrey books because it gave me a yearning to read those again.  

 

To be fair, Kate Elliott has always been a hit or miss author for me so I wasn't sure what to expect going into this book. And I am having a hard time articulating exactly why I was so invested in this book.  The plot moves along rather slowly, revealed through the characters actions and dialogues, something I really enjoyed as I am not a fan of just being shown or told what is happening, but prefer to figure things out through action and dialogue. There are definitely big secrets and big things going on, only some of which was revealed in this book and I was drawn to the mystery for sure.  And when there are ancient civilizations beings mentioned of which the current population has little knowledge, I am drawn into the story as I wonder how this will play into the story and what delicious mysteries will be revealed.  When I finished the book and looked back to what I learned, I realized how masterfully I was played and how much skill it takes to write the story in such a way to reveal a lot of information without you really knowing it, if that make sense.  It's honestly like peeling back layers of an onion and revealing layer by layer, only we are not yet at the middle of the onion. 

 

The story is told through Elen's eyes, the main character, and although she develops quite nicely as a character, there is still so much to her we don't know as the story progresses. She is plucky, is a survivor, is deeply loyal to those in her circle, and has knowledge about the world that is beyond what someone who does what she does should have. She is an enigma for sure. But I can't help but enjoy her development and her storyline.  The secondary characters are fascinating as well, and I certainly enjoyed Elen's interactions with them as that is how we learn what is going as well as the big secrets.   

 

So, why the deep dive into Anne McCaffrey's books after finishing this one? The land is slowly being destroyed by something called Spore and The Witch Roads were created by powerful beings to help protect future citizens from these dangerous spores. This is mentioned right at the beginning of the book so I am not giving away any information from the story. The whole empire is developed around protecting the empire and the people and it's very rigidly controlled with imperial factions and everything you would think of in such a world. There are ancient ruins, discussions about old civilizations, talk about different types of peoples, all of which creates a mystery that just draws you in. All of which reminds me of the Dragonriders of Pern, so there we are. 

 

Verdict

The Witch Roads was an enthralling read and I enjoyed it immensely. Yes, there were some issues with plot development and at times, it could be slow. I also felt like there was a barrier to getting to know Elen and while I empathized with her situation, I didn't feel like I really knew her all that well.  That being said though, there was something about this story that caught my attention and I couldn't put it down. I am definitely looking forward to the sequel when it releases in November. 

 

Review: Runner 13 by Amy McCulloch

Runner 13

by Amy McCulloch

Release Date: July 1st, 2025

2025 Doubleday

Softcover ARC; 336 Pages

ISBN: 978-0593687031

ASIN:  ‎ B0DJCPKZDY

Audiobook: B0DNM2RH23

Genre: Fiction / Mystery

Source: Review copy from publisher

 

3.75 / 5 Stars

 

Summary

It’s the ultimate test of two-hundred-and-fifty miles in the brutal heat of the Sahara, with only the supplies you can carry on your back.

Adri is ready. Returning to ultra-running in the wake of a scandal, she needs to prove to herself – and her young son – that she’s a winner.

When a fellow runner is badly injured, Adri knows something isn’t right. Yet in a race this extreme, even a dead body can be explained away.

But there’s a killer stalking the hot sand. And the problem with running faster than everyone else, is that you’re miles ahead of anyone who can save you... 

 

My Thoughts

Runner 13 intrigued me because as a long-time runner I was always fascinated by the ultra-marathon distances and even thought about training and trying one, although I would have started with a 50-mile, and not even thought about a 250-mile one.  The author definitely understood runners and their determination to finish at all costs, the mental toughness running requires, as well as the pain and fatigue one experiences during a race. And to throw a murder into this mix was fascinating. 

 

The author's knowledge about running and ultra-running is definitely one of the strengths of this book. She definitely managed to captured the mental tenacity of the athlete who runs these races, the raw pain as well as the obsession that goes along with running. Although I no long run, there isn't a day that goes by that I don't think about and wish I could just throw on my shoes and go out. And there were days when I hated running, something the author managed to capture as well. How you can love and hate something so much, yet it grips you until it's all you can think about, everywhere you go all you think about is running in the hills, the trails, the mountains, etc... Honestly, the author captures the spirit of the endurance athlete quite uncannily well.  I felt like I was with Adrienne while she was running, feeling her pain, knowing what it feels like to hit that 'pain cave' and just push through it.  However, even if you never ran a day in your life, the descriptions are so visceral that even non-runners would be able to capture the feelings in this book.

 

The runners are isolated in a very hostile environment, the Sahara desert, with a twist the elites expected but hoped wouldn't come.  And while I enjoyed the chase through the desert, I did feel like this was the weakest part of the book even if I enjoyed how it was done, if that makes sense. The author was able to make you feel the physical pain and fear of the race as well the fear of having someone chase you while you are racing with the intent to do you harm, and this definitely upped the tension of the book.  And while I suspected who the actual culprit was very early on in the book, I did enjoy the twists and turns that led to the discovery of who it was.  So, were there sections where I rolled my eyes and just had to accept those coincidences? Yes, definitely, which is why I gave it the rating I did.  There were many themes running through this book that are worthy of further discussion: murder, suicide, obsession, injuries, drug use, ultra-running, mental health, sexual assault, and increasing support for women runners. 

 

Verdict

Runner 13 was fast, fun, and for a long-time runner, quite interesting. There were times when I was shaking my head, wondering what would entice even ultra-runners to want to run in that heat, but knowing how we are always looking for challenges, I can see how enticing it would be.  I actually became quite invested in the race itself and the descriptions of the fortitude the athletes needed to get through such a grueling event. But while I loved the descriptions of the race and the grueling physical and mental aspects of it, I did find that the story was sometimes repetitive, perhaps due to the multiple POV, and it was easy to figure out the big 'twist'.  Other than that, this was a fascinating look at ultra-running.