The Black Orchid Review

Author Loreth Anne White

Publisher: Montlake

Release Day: Sept. 1, 2026

 

Special thanks to the author for a complimentary arc of this title for review. Opinions expressed are my own.

Scroll down to Meet the Author!

A propulsive true crime-inspired thriller of masks, murder, and long-awaited justice by Washington Post bestselling author Loreth Anne White.

Review:

Author Loreth Anne White's The Black Orchid is an immersive, highly atmospheric, intricately plotted prime example of what White does best which is turning worldwide tragic events into incredible fictional works of art - mysteries that are so well written readers are left wondering where the facts end and the fiction begins. The Black Orchid emanates true crime vibes in a locked room style mystery/thriller playing out on the stunning Aegean Sea. Nine diverse guests board the Black Orchid luxury ship, each concealing their own dark past and personal, secret agenda behind a mask of deceit and lies. Readers know from the start that this trip is a disaster waiting to happen, and the clock begins ticking and suspense building the moment the scheming players are introduced. Mysterious Poppy Buchanan, a key piece of the puzzle, is on the guest list as the personal assistant to Lillith McGregor, an intriguing, wealthy elderly woman whose health is failing. Poppy's goal is to secure her future by hopefully being included in Lillith's Last Will & Testament. She can make it happen if no one uncovers the truth buried deep in her own dark past. Among other guests are an Ex-FBI Profiler who suspects a serial killer is on board, his daughter and intelligent, ambitious grandson Carter who wants to follow in his grandpa's footsteps. As a boy, Carter often appears "invisible" to guests while everything he observes or overhears is documented in his journal of "suspicious happenings". Lillith’s disinherited stepson and manipulative fiancée, a businessman harboring a dangerous past, an infatuated young worker and the mysterious, conniving man pulling her heartstrings are part of the smorgasbord of misfits aboard - all with hidden agendas, running cons and plotting final reckonings. The stage is set; the players are all there. Who will survive in the end?

The magnificent Aegean Sea setting lends a mysterious, almost mystic air with hints of Greek mythology and a siren's song woven throughout a story that overflows with family secrets, revenge, deception, and an overbearing sense of dread. The Black Orchid unfolds via a few points of view including Poppy and Carter's with his journal and a True Crime Podcast which is the perfect vessel for building suspense while funneling readers’ information. Short chapters titled as a countdown to the imminent, disastrous catastrophe that no one except readers know is coming drive home the sense of urgency felt by every greedy, devious soul aboard.

The Black Orchid is a heart racing, haunting, multi-layered mystery thriller that is nigh impossible to put down once you start reading. Armchair detective readers will be challenged by this mystery while sifting through a large cast of motivated, masked red herrings who are unaware their time is about to run out. Remember the Titanic?? The fact that this book is based off a true-life disaster is simply mind blowing and by the end of the final shocking reveal, this reader was happy to have survived! The Black Orchid is a stunning example of Author Loreth Anne White's undeniable talent and ability to turn real events into masterfully crafted fictional stories. Highly recommended to fans of mystery (think Agatha Christie), locked room style thrillers, and true crime stories and podcasts.

Synopsis:

By invitation only, nine elite guests board the luxurious Black Orchid for its maiden voyage through the mythic Aegean Sea. Not all of them will survive.

Poppy Buchanan, personal assistant to legendary war photographer Lillith McGregor, sees the cruise as her chance at a better life—if she can edge her way into Lillith’s will. But their exclusive company includes Lillith’s disinherited stepson and his ruthlessly ambitious fiancée, a silent Israeli businessman with a dangerous past, a charming Dutch antiquities dealer with an agenda of his own, and a retired FBI profiler hunting a serial killer he believes is aboard. Each passenger is a piece in a deadly puzzle decades in the making.

Within three days, their paths will collide during a catastrophic storm. Long-buried secrets surface. Masks fall away. And the ensuing revelations trigger a chain of events that leads to one of the most devastating maritime disasters in recent history. But the sinking of the Black Orchid is no accident—it’s a reckoning.

Meet the Author:

Loreth Anne White is an Amazon Charts, Washington Post and Bild bestselling author of thrillers, mysteries, and suspense.

With over 4 million books sold around the world in more than 20 languages, she is a Canadian Crime Writer winner, ITW Thriller Awards nominee, a three-time RITA finalist, an overall Daphne du Maurier Award winner, Arthur Ellis finalist, and winner of multiple other industry awards.

A recovering journalist who has worked in both South Africa and Canada, she now resides in the Pacific Northwest, dividing time between Vancouver Island, a ski resort in the Coast Mountains, and a rustic lakeside cabin in the Cariboo.

When she’s not writing or dreaming up plots, you will find her on the lakes, in the ocean, or on the trails where she tries—unsuccessfully—to avoid bears.

For more information on her books please visit her website at lorethannewhite.com

Or connect with her on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LorethBeswet...

Or via Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lorethannew...

The Secrets We Hide Review

Author Karin Slaughter

Series: North Falls #2

Publisher: William Morrow

Release Date: Aug. 11, 2026

Special thanks to the publisher for a complimentary arc of this title for review. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.

The next thrilling mystery in the new North Falls series from Karin Slaughter, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Pretty Girls and the Will Trent Series.

Review:

Author Karin Slaughter slips back into North Falls with The Secrets We Hide, another intense, heart stopping crime thriller that grabs readers by the throat and refuses to let go until every last dirty, dark secret is finally revealed. Set in surburban Georgia, Slaughter rips apart the myth of "perfect" small towns, exposing the ugly underbelly often lying beneath the facade of pretty little houses in perfect little neighborhoods with their ideal little families hidden inside. It's in one of these homes that Sheriff Emmy Clifton accompanied by her long-estranged sister, ex-federal agent Jude Archer, discovers the bloody body of Allison Vickrey lying in her kitchen. Even more disturbing, her young daughter is also found bloody and clinging to life upstairs. Who would do such a thing? It's soon clear that the who and why that seem so obvious to many may not be factual, and it's up to Emmy to uncover the ugly truth at any cost. With Jude by her side offering tactical advice much as her father did before, she begins interviewing locals. The truth that's eventually exposed is dark and shocking, striking fear in the hearts of locals. Is there a killer, a monster, living among them? Before it's all said and done, a generation of ugly secrets will be exposed. No one is safe, not even Emmy. 

One of my favorite things about a series is reconnecting with characters, book after book. Seeing the growth, the connections, the repercussions as truths are revealed. The fragile relationships, the emotional turmoil, the guilt and regret. The battle to overcome controversy, to prove yourself, to take charge of what's rightfully yours. It's all there in The Secrets We Hide, and no one does it better than Karin Slaughter. Time and again, just when you think you've figured it out, the shocking climax blows you away. You don't know, not even close. That's the magic of Karin Slaughter.

The Secrets We Hide is an emotionally charged, gripping masterpiece - a minefield of deception, lies and dirty secrets waiting to explode. I'm ecstatic to hear the author is working on book three! Highly recommended to fans of psychological thrillers, mysteries, and suspense. 

Synopsis:

Welcome to North Falls. A small town where everyone knows everyone. But nobody knows the truth.

1601 Iris Drive looks like any other house on the quiet, residential street. But rumors are rampant about the Vickery family, and what goes on behind closed doors.

When gunshots ring out, Sheriff Emmy Clifton and her sister, ex-federal agent Jude Archer, discover a devastating crime scene. Allison Vickery has been murdered in her own kitchen, and her teenage daughter is bleeding upstairs, left for dead.

Everyone thinks they know what happened. But secrets are buried everywhere in this small town.

And it’s up to Emmy Clifton to uncover the truth…

The Shippers Audiobook Review

Author: Katherine Center

Narrator: Patti Murin

Publisher: MacMillan Audio

Special thanks to St. Martin's Press & MacMillan Audio for a complimentary arc of this title for review. Opinions expressed are my own.

One of the hottest, fastest-rising rom-com stars delivers her latest swoon-worthy novel about a destination wedding on a cruise ship.

Review:

The Shippers is a delightful, often hilarious, always heartfelt romcom featuring two childhood best friends who reunite on a cruise ship and share in a goal to get JoJo romanced by a fellow childhood friend/crush on the cruise. At least that's the goal of JoJo. Cooper's motives are questionable. Did I mention that only six weeks prior JoJo fake fainted to get out of her own wedding and escaped with Cooper? Yes, the girl has commitment issues, and strong, steady, faithful Cooper is just the man to help her move on if he can convince her to see what's right in front of her. The story that unfolds is sweet, touching, chaotic, and funny while brimming over with a large dose of miscommunication. All it would take is one honest conversation between JoJo and Cooper to clear things up, but it doesn't happen until the end. And that's okay because the journey getting there is worth the ride.

I listened to the audiobook of The Shippers and highly recommend it. Narrator Patti Murin does an awesome job bringing the personalities of each character to life and distinguishing between each of them. Her performance is flawless, upbeat, and reflective of the personalities of both main characters taking this story to another level.

The Shippers is highly entertaining, funny and heart touching. The secondary plotline involving JoJo's parents added debt and emotional turmoil. The chemistry between the main characters is intense as it evolves throughout the story. I enjoyed the note by the author talking about romance and happy ever after's. Highly recommended to fans of fake dating and friends-to-lovers romance with a heavy side of humor.

Synopsis:

After a whole lifetime of being bad at love, JoJo Burton decides to solve her intimacy issues once and for all at her sister’s destination wedding on a cruise ship. With the help of a little pop psychology, she diagnoses herself with a fixation on the neighborhood guy who was her her first crush and first kiss (and who just happens to be a newly-divorced wedding guest ), and she decides to woo him during the cruise for some long-delayed closure. Only problem is, her sister’s a little busy being a bride at the moment—so JoJo ropes in her childhood bestie, Cooper Watts, to be her wing man. Cooper: who RSVPed no, but then showed up, anyway. Cooper: who left town without a word four years earlier and moved to London. Cooper: who was, if she’s honest, the worst heartbreak of JoJo’s life. It’s bliss for her to see him again, and it’s agony, too—and the more they team up for Project Conquest, the more she obsesses over questions she can’t bring herself to ask.

Shipboard antics ensue in this witty, heart-tugging, childhood-friends-to-lovers romance—as JoJo and Cooper fake flirt, slow dance, share a cabin, sing duets, treat sunburns, get jealous, rescue each other over and over, and finally, at last, figure it all out in the most blissful, swoony, romantic way.

No one does summer romance quite like Katherine Center. THE SHIPPERS will take readers on the cruise of a lifetime in a story awash with romantic longing, top-notch banter, long-held secrets . . . and true love rediscovered.

Summer's Never Over Blog Tour Review

Author: Darby Bozeman

Publisher: Berkley

Release Date: June 9, 2026

Many thanks to Berkley Publishing for a complimentary arc of this title for review. Opinions expressed are my own.

In this addictive dual-timeline debut novel, a woman confronts her past at the remote Southern summer camp where the tragic death of her fellow counselor may not have been an accident after all.

Review:

It's been five years since Greer fled her family's highly rated summer camp in Georgia following the tragic death of her friend and co-counselor, Steph, in a fire. At the death of her own mother, the camp matriarch, Greer is forced to return to lay her mother to rest and handle her affairs. Old memories and ghosts of years past haunt her as she gets reacquainted with former camp counselors and attendees. It doesn't take long for the past to cast a long shadow over the camp raising questions and accusations about what really happened the night Steph died. Was it a tragic accident . . . or something more sinister?  It appears Greer will have to either keep the lid on long-buried family secrets or face the truth. 

Summer's Never Over is an addictive, highly atmospheric thriller that's sure to be THE book to read in the summer of 2026, The story unfolds via Greer's point of view in a dual timeline at a remote camp setting with a multitude of suspense and red herrings. A dark, ominous tone drives the story forward through a twisted plot line that includes rumors of a mysterious phantom haunting the woods. While I guessed correctly on a couple of twists, it did not lessen my enjoyment as the tension ramps up chapter by chapter. Author Darby Bozman's outstanding debut novel is one I highly recommended to readers who enjoy books with a camp style mystery and setting and those who enjoy suspense thrillers.

Synopsis: 

Five years ago, Greer left her family’s summer camp in the mountains of Georgia and vowed she’d never return. An idyllic season had turned into a nightmare after a mysterious Phantom began stalking the camp—and ended with Greer’s friend and fellow counselor dead. Losing Steph shattered everything, and Greer’s been fleeing from the grief ever since. 

But then Greer’s mother dies, and Greer finds herself back at Dread’s Cove, surrounded by the people she was closest to that intense summer. Two ex-boyfriends—one a childhood sweetheart, the other the guy she's never gotten over—and old friends. Including Margo, Steph's best friend.

Greer and Margo didn’t leave things on the best of terms. But now, Margo needs her. Margo never believed that Steph’s death in that horrific fire was an accident—and she’s on the trail of an explosive secret Steph took to her grave.

Greer has to make a keep the Cove’s secrets and her own or finally face the truth about that summer.

Meet the Author:

Darby Bozeman is a Portland, Oregon native who moved to Georgia for grad school a decade ago and thinks she can now officially call herself Southern. When she’s not reading or writing, she loves acting in community theater, discussing pop culture, and going out to buy coffee even when she could very much make it at home. She lives in Knoxville with her husband, Bryan, and their cat, Claude. Find her at @darbyboze and darbybozeman.com.

Beneath A Broken Sky Review

Author: Joshua Moehling

Series: Ben Packard #4

Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press

Release Day: May 26, 2026

Special thanks to Poisoned Pen Press for a complimentary arc of this title for review.

Opinions expressed are my own.

From award-nominated and USA Today bestselling author Joshua Moehling comes a tense, atmospheric thriller about one detective's search for a mysterious killer in the chaos following a deadly storm…

Review:  

Detective Ben Packard is navigating life as a gay man in small town Sandy Lake, Minnesota, having moved there following the death of his partner, Marcus. After devastating tornadoes rip through town, nefarious storm chasers descend upon the town with trees to cut, roofs to repair, and yards to clean up. Tempers smolder as the brutal summer heat blankets the explosive atmosphere already dense from the smoke from brush fires. And now, a woman who recently confronted the school board about the bullying of her gay son is found dead from the hands of an intruder. Suddenly, the facade of a serene, safe small-town cracks, torn apart and divided by whispers, finger pointing and the emergence of dark secrets. As Ben begins a murder investigation, a ghost from his past appears hurling accusations and stirring up old memories he thought he'd buried.

 Author Joshua Moehing has raised the bar on the Ben Packard series with Beneath A Broken Sky. He systematically rips apart the idealistic guise of a safe, peaceful town where everyone is welcome, safe, and treated equally. The murder is especially disturbing to Ben as it hits close to home with homophonic undertones nourished by an undercurrent of malevolence, social bias, bigotry and abuse. The symbolism between the devastation of storm damaged property, destruction of the perfect smalltown persona, and the collision of Ben's personal and professional life both past and present are masterfully delivered by the author. I love getting additional insight into Ben's personal life, having the band aid ripped off and watching as he maneuvers his new circumstances with events occurring that are beyond his control.

 Beneath A Broken Sky is a highly atmospheric, tension laden, tautly written thriller that I could not put down - my favorite of the series! While this book can most certainly be read as a standalone, the background and character development that begins in book one and continues throughout enhances the enjoyment of reading subsequent books including this one. Highly recommended to fans of tense psychological thrillers with an imperfect yet moral hero with a lot of heart.

Synopsis:

Detective Ben Packard has put down roots in the small town of Sandy Lake. A difficult thing to do; it's a hot, miserable summer, and a tornado has swept through causing irreparable damage. Trees are felled, homes destroyed, and people are desperate. Worse, the storm has also blown in a group of storm chasers with something to hide.

Then a woman is killed in her home. The mother of a gay boy and unpopular among the locals for the hell she recently raised at school when the administration refused to punish a group of students who were bullying her son, there's almost too many suspects to count. 

But to Packard, the case hits close to home. And when someone from his past shows up on his doorstep out of the blue, he realizes he'll have to confront the reality of navigating life as a gay man in a small town bent on tradition, no matter the cost.

The heat suffocates. The violence simmers. Before the summer is out, someone else will die.

The Final Target Review

Author: Nora Roberts

Publisher: St. Martins' Press

Release Date: May 26, 2026

Special thanks to St. Martins' Press for a complimentary arc of this title for review. Opinions expressed are my own.

A young author becomes the object of a fan’s desire―and rage―in the gripping new thriller by the #1 New York Times-bestselling author of Hidden Nature.

Review:

Introvert Arden Moxie is a newly published author at her first book signing when she answers questions and signs a copy of her book for Dustin, an oddly disturbing fan who claims to be an aspiring writer. While her inner alarm bells are pinging, Arden tolerates his personal questions in an effort to remain cordial until he begins showing up at each of her book signings in different cities dominating her time and invading her space. When Arden revokes his advances, a fan's obsession turns into a dangerous, terrifying stalking. A tragic event sends Dustin to prison and Arden fleeing to a small town in Oregon near family where she meets an ex-LAPD detective with his own issues. A friendship and budding romance evolve slowly as Arden reclaims her confidence and life while Dustin, playing the part of a model prisoner, passes his days in prison in a silent rage scheming about all the ways he'll make her pay. That day will come sooner than Arden thinks.

The Final Target by Author Nora Roberts is a well-written blend of suspense and romance with familiar themes of found family, resilience, triumph over evil, and nature vs. nurture often found in Roberts' books. In classic Roberts' style, character relationships are developed slowly with a multitude of day-to-day scenes in the life of small-town people that I find endearing. While the story is told primarily from Arden's point of view, the suspense is heightened by including the villain's point of view giving readers insight into the depraved, delusional workings of a psychopath's mind and the dwindling timeline Arden is unaware of.  

Once again, Author Nora Roberts has gifted readers a highly emotional, spellbinding, tautly written story of perseverance and hope in the face of danger. A story rich in place with a character who digs deep to overcome tragedy, find her inner strength and take charge of her own destiny. Highly recommend The Final Target to fans of Romance Suspense. 

Synopsis:

He showed up at Arden Bowie’s debut author appearance with a copy of her novel and an eager smile. He showered her with compliments and got her autograph. Then he came to her next event. And the one after that.

Dustin was just an aspiring writer who wanted advice, Arden reassured herself. But after giving in to one of his incessant invitations and chatting with him over coffee, she discovered that ignoring her inner alarm bell had been a terrible mistake…

An introvert at heart, Arden had long craved solitude―but now, after a harrowing assault, she finds herself hiding behind locked doors and startling at every sound. And her relief at his imprisonment is tempered by anxiety when Dustin’s wealthy mother helps to get him a paltry five-year sentence at a psychiatric facility.

Arden decides to write a new story for herself, moving to a tiny Oregon town and befriending Gideon, an ex-LAPD detective. But while she learns to thrive, Dustin remains his delusional, twisted self, as fixated as ever and now seething with anger. He still believes Arden's purpose on earth is to serve and please him. And his job is to protect her. But who will protect her from him?

First-Time Callers Review

 

Publisher: Berkley Romance

Narration by E.J. Bingham and Hathaway Lee

A hopeless romantic meets a jaded radio host in this cozy, Sleepless in Seattle-inspired love story from beloved author B.K. Borison.

Review:

As the host of a late-night romance radio call-in show, it's Aiden Valentine's job to give advice on matters of the heart but lately he's having a hard time fulfilling his duties. In fact, Aiden has become downright cynical and vocal about not believing in "love" and the radio stations ratings are spiraling downwards. Until a smart twelve-year-old girl named Maya Stone calls into the show requesting help in the romance department for her single mom. Lucie catches Maya on the phone with a stranger, takes the phone from her demanding the identity of the possible pervert soliciting her child, and ends up talking to Aiden live on-air about her lack of a love life. One call leads to another until Lucie agrees to co-host the show with Aiden in a quest to find her perfect "love" match. Listeners are fascinated by Lucie and the on-air chemistry sizzling between her and Aiden and rating soar. 

First-Time Caller reminds me of Sleepless In Seattle in the best of ways. Both characters are lovable yet in denial over what's right in front of their faces. As the on-air search to find a suitable partner for Lucie plays out, the heartstrings drawing Aiden and Lucie together grow stronger. Readers know from the start that they're perfect for one another, but they have to get there in their own time. First-Time Caller is an endearing, romantic and sometimes hilarious romance story. Narration by E.J. Bingham and Hathaway Lee is pure perfection, bringing both characters to life with banter, wit, and heartwarming vibes. I felt like I was actually listening to the late-night radio show! Highly recommend to fans of contemporary romance.

Synopsis:

Aiden Valentine has a secret: he's fallen out of love with love. And as the host of Baltimore's romance hotline, that's a bit of a problem. But when a young girl calls in to the station asking for dating advice for her mom, the interview goes viral, thrusting Aiden and Heartstrings into the limelight.

Lucie Stone thought she was doing just fine. She has a good job; an incredible family; and a smart, slightly devious kid. But when all of Baltimore is suddenly scrutinizing her love life—or lack thereof—she begins to question if she's as happy as she thought. Maybe a little more romance wouldn't be such a bad thing.

Everyone wants Lucie to find her happy ending... even the handsome, temperamental man calling the shots. But when sparks start to fly behind the scenes, Lucie must make the final call between the radio-sponsored happily ever after or the man in the headphones next to her.

A hopeless romantic meets a jaded radio host in this cozy, Sleepless in Seattle-inspired love story from beloved author B.K. Borison.