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    A Calamity of Souls by David Baldacci

    Publication Date April 16, 2024 I’ve never been a huge David Baldacci fan, although I have enjoyed all of his books I’ve read, particularly the King and Maxwell series. Legal thrillers are among my favorite genres, so I was particularly interested in Baldacci’s Calamity of Souls, provided to me by Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley …

    What Happened to Nina? By Dervla McTiernan

    Published March, 2024 I don’t recall reading anything by Dervla McTiernan, but I will probably check out some of her other books after spending much of the past couple of days engrossed in her novel What Happened to Nina? – which grabbed me from the start. Thanks to William Morrow and NetGalley, I received a …

    Kill For Me Kill For You by Steve Cavanagh

    Publication Date March 19, 2024 Although I recognize some of the titles attributed to Steve Cavanagh (Thirteen, The Defense), I can’t recall reading any…but when I read that Kill For Me, Kill For You would be great for fans of Silent Patient or Gone Girl, I thought I’d give it a try (loved Gone Girl, …

    THE PRINCESS OF LAS VEGAS by Chris Bohjalian

    Publication Date March 24, 2024 Last year, I read and reviewed Chris Bohjalian’s  The Lioness, and gave it four stars. In 2021, reviewing Hour of The Witch, I wrote “I admit it: I have been a big fan of Chris Bohjalian, ever since I read Midwives several years ago. I consider Mr. Bohjalian one of …

    Listen For the Lie by Amy Tintera

    Publication Date March 5, 2024 Reviewing Listen For the Lie by Amy Tintera will be a challenge to do without spoilers sneaking in…but I try to NEVER spoil the surprise in any book, so here goes. The female protagonist is a young woman named Lucy, who is living in LA after growing up in a …

    Long Haul by Frank Figliuzzi

    Frank Figliuzzi was a special agent for the FBI for twenty-five years, so he knows his stuff and is in a great position to tell the story of the “Highway Serial Killings Initiative.” This special unit was formed to work on solving the Murders taking place across the country for many years. How many victims? …

    The #1 Lawyer by James Patterson

    If asked whether I was a fan of James Patterson’s books, my first response would be “no.” I,  was happy to give his #1 Lawyer a try, especially since it was offered to me in exchange for my honest review. (Thank you Little Brown and NetGalley!) No Alex Cross this time…instead it is Stafford Lee …

    The Summer We Started Over by Nancy Thayer

    Publication Date April 23, 2024 Years ago, when I was fumbling my way through a divorce, a new marriage, family (siblings) issues, and moving to a new place, I stumbled onto a book by Nancy Thayer and found it somehow soothing. It had a happy ending, and it just felt like everyone in the story …

    Come And Get It by Kiley Reid

    Publication Date January 30, 2024 In 2019, I read and reviewed Kiley Reid’s debut novel, Such A Fun Age, so I was pleased to receive a copy of her second novel, Come And Get It (thanks to Penguin Group Putnam and NetGalley) in exchange for my honest review. I found Such a Fun Age to …

    Southern Man by Greg Iles

    Publication Date May 28, 2024 I’m a retired librarian, and I read a LOT of books. Over the years,  two of my favorite genres seem to have been “Southern Gothic “and “Mystery/thriller” and finding authors who combine the two is AWESOME. Greg Iles has been a favorite, and while I haven’t totally loved every single …

    CollegeGirl, Missing by Shawn Cohen

    Publication Date May 28, 2024 I’m a big fan of well-done true crime. I also read WAY too much not-so-well-done true crime, and I occasionally get very curious about stories where someone just VANISHES off the face of the earth. (Bryce Laspisa or Patti Adkins come to mind). I had heard of the disappearance of …

    Toxic Prey by John Sandford

    Publication Date April 9, 2024 Over the years, I have read MANY books by John Sandford, and have reviewed at least a dozen, with several being part of the Prey series. In 2019, writing about John Sandford’s Neon Prey, I wrote “There aren’t many authors whose latest book I eagerly await, and who maintain a …

    Westport by James Comey

    Publication Date May 21, 2024 Some time ago, I read James Comey’s novel Central Park West, I found it to be “a fast-paced plot including lots of juicy tales of corruption, and terrific legal storytelling. There are also a couple of unexpected twists, and an ending I didn’t see coming…Four stars, almost five.” The protagonist, …

    I Will Ruin You by Linwood Barclay

    I always enjoy Linwood Barclay’s books. They are reliably good and I count on spending time with each new one ASAP so I was happy to receive a copy of I Will Ruin You from Willia)m Morrow and NetGalley in exchange for this review.  The protagonist, Richard Boyle, is a high school English teacher. (Right …

    Somehow by Anne Lamott

    Anne Lamott has always amazed me with her willingness to bare her soul and just pour her heart out to her readers. Years ago (the 80s, maybe?) she used to come to our local bookstore (Capitola Book Cafe) and do readings. Those events were magic! And I have such great memories of her fiction (especially …

    After Annie by Anna Quindlen

    A quote about the latest Anna Quindlen novel, After Annie, says “A new Anna Quindlen novel is always cause for celebration,” and if I were asked whether I enjoy reading her novels, I would say “yes,” but then if asked to name my favorite, I’d be…stumped. Can’t think of any titles, in fact! But after …

    A Murder in Hollywood by Casey Sherman

    Publication Date February 13, 2024 Although I was only ten years old at the time of the crime, I vividly remember the shocking death of Lana Turner’s boyfriend, Johnny Stompanato, and how Lana’s daughter Cheryl Crane was charged with the murder. Casey Sherman’s book A Murder in Hollywood is subtitled “the untold story of Tinseltown’s …

    Radiant Heat by Sarah-Jane Collins

    Publication Date January 23, 2024 Over the past several years, I have enjoyed several books by Australian author Jane Harper, and she has become one of my favorite authors. The Dry, Force of Nature, and The Lost Man (all of which featured Federal Investigator Aaron Falk) were all five-star reads…and while I admit to being “an easy grader,” …

    The Amish Wife by Gregg Olsen

    Published January 1, 2024 When I read Gregg Olsen’s  novel The Hive, I said “I’m not sure whether Gregg Olsen is inconsistent, or I am, but it sort of seems like I don’t know what to expect when I pick up one of his books. There have been some excellent ones in the true crime …

    The Women by Kristin Hannah

    Publication Date February 6, 2024 I’ve been an off and on fan of Kristin Hannah’s books, but was particularly interested in The Women when I read that the story began in Southern California in the mid-1960’s, then moved to Vietnam.  I graduated from San Clemente High School in 1965 and then got married in ’68, …