Savvy Summers and the Sweet Potato Crimes

Author: Sandra Jackson-Opoku

Series: Savvy Summers #1

Publisher: Minotaur Books

Release Date: July 29, 2025

Many thanks to Minotaur Books for a complimentary arc of this title for review. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Review first published in Mystery & Suspense Magazine

 

A sparkling debut mystery set on the south side of Chicago, featuring the quick-witted, unforgettable Savvy Summers, proprietor of a soul food café.

Review:

SAVVY SUMMERS and the SWEET POTATO CRIMES is a well-crafted, cozy murder mystery with a unique, middle-aged protagonist whose talent for serving the best soul food and sweet potato pie has made her restaurant on Chicago's south side famous. Business is booming . . . until seventy-five-year-old Grandy Jaspers drops dead while sitting at table two eating Savvy's to-die-for sweet potato pie. While police rule the death as accidental, the bad press spreads like wildfire and just like that, the business is in trouble. With suspicions and rumors flying, Savvy decides to go uncover as an amateur sleuth and find out what really killed Grandy. She knows it wasn't her sweet potato pie. Joined by sidekick assistant manager Penny Lopes, Savvy cooks up a plan to clear her name and keep her restaurant afloat. 

Author Sandra Jackson-Opoku's debut novel is a cozy mystery with a ton of laughs, soul food, and murder all tossed in a pot and served up as a deliciously entertaining whodunnit that's highly entertaining. Savvy is a strong, spunky character that readers will identify with as is her quirky sidekick, Penny. They play off each other in a manner reminiscent of Lucy and Ethel of I Love Lucy fame which is hilarious. I enjoyed the introduction of a middle-aged main character with a sharp mind unafraid to stand up for herself. A large, convoluted cast of characters seem a bit confusing at first, but roles are soon claimed, and the story is off and running. A sea of red herrings threatens to spoil the stew, but Savvy Summers won't stop until she sifts through facades and unearths the truth. Afterall, her reputation as a chef and her famous sweet potato pie are at risk.

 SAVVY SUMMERS and the SWEET POTATO PIE is an entertaining cozy mystery with charismatic characters serving up a plate full of soul food. Armchair detectives will enjoy figuring out whodunnit while rolling on the floor in laughter. I'm looking forward to seeing what's next for Savvy and her crew.  Highly recommend to fans of cozy mysteries.

 Synopsis: 

When Savvy Summers first opened Essie's soul food café, she never expected her customer-favorite sweet potato pie to become the center of a murder investigation. But when Grandy Jaspers, the 75-year-old neighborhood womanizer, drops dead at table two, she suddenly has more to worry about than just maintaining Essie's reputation for the finest soul food in the Chicagoland area.

Even as the police deem Grandy’s death an accident, Savvy quickly finds herself—and her beloved café—in the middle of an entire city’s worth of bad press. Desperate to clear her name and keep her business afloat, Savvy and her snooping assistant manager, Penny Lopés, take it upon themselves to find who really killed Grandy.

But with a slimy investor harassing her to sell her name and business, customers avoiding her sweet potato pie like the plague, and her police sergeant ex-husband suddenly back in the picture, will Savvy be able to clear the café’s name and solve Grandy’s murder before it all falls apart?

After all, while Savvy always said her sweet potato pie was to die for, she never meant literally.

We Are All Guilty Here Review

Author: Karin Slaughter

Series: North Falls #1

Publisher: William Morrow

US Release Date: Aug. 12, 2025

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

First published in Mystery & Suspense Magazine

The gripping and exciting first book in a brand new crime thriller series from the No.1 Sunday Times bestselling author.

Review:

Author Karin Slaughter returns with a new crime thriller series set in a small town where everyone knows everyone, or do they? WE ARE ALL GUILTY HERE is a highly addictive, well-crafted suspense thriller that's impossible to put down, featuring flawed characters with a ton of baggage that bears a closer look. Slaughter draws readers in from page one and doesn't turn them loose until the final shocking revelation slaps them in the face. Take care of business and find some alone time before settling in with this masterpiece. 

 WE ARE ALL GUILTY HERE explores the many layers of life in a typical small town in the south. On the surface, everyone's life is an open book. No secrets, right? Peel back a layer or two and you'll find almost everyone has nasty little secrets, something they'd do anything to keep hidden. These dark secrets begin unraveling after two teenagers disappear on the night of the town's annual Fourth of July celebration. Police Officer Emmy Clifton and her father Chief Gerald Clifton are on the scene working the case from the start, and they follow the evidence eventually putting the bad guy in prison despite Emmy's lingering doubts. Over a decade later, another girl disappears under similar circumstances. Emmy is now Chief of Police and faced with the possibility they may have put the wrong guy away. To uncover the truth, Emmy and Jude Archer, a retired FBI agent and psychologist, work together in a race against time. It's soon clear the small-town neighbors Emmy thought she knew are hiding secrets that could destroy them if revealed. How far would they go to keep them hidden? With a few skeletons rattling around in her own closet, Emmy is forced to face her own demons and the complexity of relationships within her own family when her personal and professional lives clash.

Author Karin Slaughter slays it with this gripping, tension laden, tautly written thriller balancing smalltown dynamics with compelling, richly developed characterizations led by a flawed, yet likable protagonist burdened with guilt and regret. The dual timeline connects past crimes with the present setting a chilling tone of malice throughout. As the story unfolds, characters and readers are sent reeling with each shocking revelation until it becomes clear no one in North Falls is as blameless as they may seem . . . even Emmy.

We Are All Guilty Here is an emotional, gripping thriller that highlights how the past can dictate the path of the future while throwing open all the doors in a tightly knit town. As always, Slaughter excels at turning small-town settings into vivid, living elements that shape the story and drive the pace. Guilt, secrets, and family dynamics all collide and explode across the pages of this suspense thriller. No one does it better than Karin Slaughter. I can’t wait for the second book in this series. Highly recommended for readers who love a challenging whodunit and fans of mysteries and psychological thrillers.

Synopsis:

Welcome to North Falls—a small town where everyone knows everyone. Or so they think.

Until the night of the fireworks. When two teenage girls vanish, and the town ignites.

For Officer Emmy Clifton, it’s personal. She turned away when her best friend's daughter needed help—and now she must bring her home.

But as Emmy combs through the puzzle the girls left behind, she realizes she never really knew them. Nobody did.

Every teenage girl has secrets. But who would kill for them? And what else is the town hiding?

Roadtrip With A Rogue Review

Author: Kate Bateman

Series: Her Majesty's Rebels #3

Publisher: St. Martins Press

Release Day: July 29, 2025

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

Mistakenly holding up the coach of the man who broke her heart is bad enough, but having to endure his sinfully alluring company all the way to Scotland is Daisy Hamilton’s worst nightmare . . . and her most secret desire.

Review:

ROAD TRIP WITH A ROGUE is the third and final book in 

the Her Majesty's Rebels series featuring three women operating a private investigation firm, King & Co., in London. Daisy Hamilton embarks on a mission to stop a young heiress from eloping. Pretending to be a highwayman, Daisy holds up a coach only to find it's occupied by Lucien Vaughan, a Duke, war hero and a rogue--one who broke her heart five years ago. Daisy has no idea that the eloping groom is Lucien's nephew, and he's determined to thwart her plan and see the happy couple married. With that in mind, Lucien talks Daisy into joining forces with him to catch the couple. She has no idea he's carried a torch for her all these years and will use any means to get closer to her. As they embark on a dangerous journey, the biggest threat may be to their hearts.

Author Kate Bateman excels at crafting historical romance books featuring spicy chemistry, steamy banter, stubborn heroines and to die for bad boy heroes. Daisy and Lucien's story sizzles from cover to cover, but it's also filled with laughable scenes that make it a delight to read. While this is book three, it does standalone with sufficient background information; however, I highly recommend reading the first two books - partly for the character development that occurs, but mostly for the fun reading experience. ROAD TRIP WITH A ROGUE is everything I love about historical romance where the hero falls first, and the heroine refuses to see what's right in front of her eyes. Fans of historical romance and romcoms will adore this one!

Synopsis:

A midnight mishap.

Daisy Hamilton’s new mission for King & Co., London's premier private investigation firm, is simple: stop heiress Violetta Brand from eloping. But her case is derailed when she mistakenly holds up the carriage of Lucien Vaughan, Duke of Cranford—cynical war hero, infamous libertine, and the very man who broke her heart five years ago.

A reluctant road trip.

Lucien’s determined to see his lovestruck nephew married to Miss Brand, but the unexpected appearance of Daisy— the one woman he’s never been able to forget—could ruin his plans. As they follow the runaway couple together, Lucien decides that delaying the headstrong Daisy by any means possible—including seduction—will be his absolute pleasure . . . and hers.

A dangerous desire.

After Daisy’s reputation is threatened, Lucien makes a scandalous claim, but when an unexpected enemy threatens her life, he realizes she’s the only woman for him. Their past encounters have made Daisy almost as jaded about love as Lucien himself, and it’s going to take action, not words, to convince this knife-wielding hellion to risk her heart on him again...

The Blue Horse Review

Author: Bruce Borgos

Series: Porter Beck #3

Publisher: Minotaur Books

Release Day: July 8, 2025

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

Review first published in Mystery & Suspense Magazine

A controversial wild horse round-up in the high desert of Nevada results in two murders and too many suspects for Sheriff Porter Beck to deal with.

Review:

THE BLUE HORSE, the third installment in the Porter Beck series by Author Bruce Borgos, checks all the boxes when it comes to exciting, unputdownable suspense thrillers. It's a taut, fast paced, action packed story with dynamic characters involved in a race against time to stop the bad guys. Borgos's expertise at maintaining a high intensity level while weaving multiple plotlines involving prevalent issues is impressive and highly entertaining. I found it extremely hard to stop reading once I started this one and now find myself anxiously waiting for the next one.

Sheriff Porter Beck returns along with several series’ favorites, including his adopted sister Brinley and his love interest Detective Charlie Blue Horse, in THE BLUE HORSE. Beck and his deputy are observing a wild horse roundup herded by a helicopter from a cliff above a Nevada canyon when he witnesses the copter crashing. Arriving on scene, they quickly determined the crash was the result of the pilot being shot. The leader of an anti-roundup activist group protesting in the area becomes a suspect, but when another tragic death occurs, Beck, who isn't primary on the case, follows his gut instinct looking beyond the obvious for motive. As he and Charlie work the clues, a disturbing, emerging pattern leads them to take a closer look at a Canadian Lithium mining operation buying up land in the area. The stakes skyrocket for Beck when Brinley goes missing from a wilderness camp as he suspects her disappearance may be tied to the killings. Time is of an essence, and Beck will move heaven and earth to find Brinley. Will he be in time?

Wild Mustang Roundups are controversial with strong emotions and reasonings on both sides of the issue, and Author Bruce Borgos taps into those often heated, contrasting points of view in the fictional THE BLUE HORSE. I found it interesting that Borgos states that after his in-depth research into the pros and cons of both sides, he's landed firmly on one side, but he sincerely hopes his opinion doesn't show in his rendering of this story. In my opinion, it does not. Having wild horses roaming free on the Outer Banks in North Carolina where I live, I've witnessed their majestic, breathtaking beauty but like Borgos, I won't disclose my opinion here. I will say Borgos has done a magnificent job at weaving the pros and cons into a tension laden plot line that kept this reader on the edge of her seat from start to finish. A menacing tone drives a pace that increases chapter to chapter to the explosive climax. The author incorporates the trials and tribulations we all experienced within the confines of the Covid pandemic, adding additional complicacies to the storyline. Complex characters are well defined both professionally and personally. Beck's continuous battle and insecurities learning to maneuver life with Retinitis Pigmentosa, a disease that renders him with extremely limited night vision, with the aid of a devoted dog is a lesson in perseverance while learning to cope with a handicap. The author also shines a light on groups helping troubled teens cope with PTSD with Brinley's work (herself a victim of childhood abuse) through the wilderness group, especially one troubled teen, Rafa.

As the story unfolds, various plotlines begin connecting like pieces of a puzzle. The result is a highly entertaining suspense thriller with a lot of heart highlighting some controversial, real-life issues. Beck's wry sense of humor lends a bit of comic relief to an otherwise serious subject as does his budding romance with Charlie. While this book is part of a series, it can be read as a standalone as the talented author flawlessly incorporates needed backstory into the narrative; however, I suggest you treat yourself by diving into the previous books. THE BLUE HORSE is a tautly written, intense, must-read thriller that fans of suspense thrillers will enjoy.

Synopsis:

A helicopter driving a controversial round-up of wild horses suddenly crashes and the pilot is found to have been shot. Then the person coordinating the round-up for the Bureau of Land Management is savagely murdered, buried up to her neck and then trampled to death by the very same wild horses. And there's no lack of suspects—with the wild horse advocacy group having sworn to protect the horse At Any Cost! Now the state and federal agencies are showing up looking for answers or at least a scapegoat.

Sheriff Porter Beck has had better days.

Porter Beck's new girlfriend, Detective Charlie Blue Horse, arrives to help with the investigation, which leads them to Canadian Lithium mining operation near the round-up area that sets off Beck's mental alarm bells. Brinley, Beck's sister, is leading a group of troubled kids in a wilderness program, when one of them, Rafa, bolts one night. When Brinley catches up to him, they're just outside the mine—in the wrong place, at the wrong time.

With his personal life in turmoil, too many suspects and too many secrets, the feds pushing for a quick resolution, and his impetuous (if skilled) sister in the mix, one wrong step could be deadly for Porter Beck.

The Ghostwriter Review

Author: Julie Clark

Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark

Release Day: June 3, 2025

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

Review first published in Mystery & Suspense Magazine

Review:

THE GHOSTWRITER is a deeply moving, dysfunctional family drama that still lingers in my thoughts days after reading it. In several ways, it's a tragedy - the heartbreaking story of young lives cut short while others are ripped apart by a series of traumatic events that altered their futures forever. Author Julie Clark brilliantly captures the essence of each character, bringing their individual as well as collective stories to life while drawing readers into the fold. The result is a haunting, thought-provoking, mysterious drama that I read from cover to cover in one sitting.

Olivia Taylor aka Ghostwriter Olivia Dumont cut family ties years ago, leaving her last name and devastating family history buried in the small town where she grew up, along with the unwanted notoriety of being the only child of legendary horror author, Vincent Taylor, -- who’s even more famous as the prime suspect in the 1975 brutal, unsolved stabbing deaths of his siblings, Danny and Poppy. No one, including her agent and Tom, a man she hopes to build a life with, knows her real identity. Deep in debt and in danger of losing her home, Olivia has no choice but to accept when a request from Vincent asking her to collaborate with him as a ghostwriter on his final book arrives through her agent. Reluctantly, Olivia heads home only to discover her father is losing his memory and life to Lewy Body Dementia. It's soon clear through his raving hallucinations, faded memories, and short periods of lucidness that Vincent has a different story in mind for his daughter to write - he's ready to tell his story, his memoir, his version of the events that occurred that fateful night in 1975. In doing so, will Vincent reveal himself as a murderer . . . or identify someone else as the villain? Is her father manipulating her into one final treasure hunt through his cryptic notes like the games they played when she was a small child? Olivia knows it’s too late to turn back now, but in proceeding with her investigation, she’s forced to face a few hard truths of her own and decide if she, too, is ready to move out of the shadows, acknowledge her roots, and move forward with her life.

Like the expert she is, Author Julie Clark delivers a mesmerizing, gut wrenching mystery that resonates with regret, guilt, betrayal, and what "might have been". Seamlessly alternating past/present chapters evolve through multiple points of view from highly unreliable narrators. In the past, readers get a firsthand accounting of the chilling events as they occur through Vincent and Poppy's voice, old, grainy, silent film footage and Poppy’s diary. The present is told through Olivia's interviews with her father, his haphazard, puzzling notes and chaotic manuscript as well as her investigation and interviews with other people. An insane pace accentuates a dire tone of malice that increases page by page with every new twisted revelation until the shocking truth is revealed. Multilayered characterizations are expertly crafted, each packing a punch as the story unfolds through tautly interwoven plot and timelines. The strained father/daughter relationship dynamics are brilliantly explored with so many lost moments and missed opportunities lending an air of regret while increasing the tension. Clark's research on Lewy Body Dementia is obvious, and I appreciate her managing the topic with grace and compassion. My thoughts on who the murderer was shifted back and forth throughout this story and while I guessed part of the truth by the climax, the author still surprised me in the end.

THE GHOSTWRITER is a deeply immersive, hauntingly beautiful, not soon to be forgotten family drama. Author Julie Clark has firmly established herself as a must-read author in the mystery and suspense genre. The depth of emotion she evokes in characters and readers is nothing short of amazing. I can't wait to read what she writes next. Highly recommended to fans of twisted mysteries, family dramas, and suspense.

Synopsis:

Ghostwriter Olivia Dumont has spent her entire professional life hiding the fact that she is the only child of legendary horror author Vincent Taylor, famous not only for his novels but for being the prime suspect in the brutal slaying of his siblings. On the brink of financial ruin, Olivia reluctantly agrees to ghostwrite her father's last book, not realizing she will be forced to reckon with the ghosts that live at the centre of her family.

Parents Weekend Review

Author: Alex Finlay

Publisher: Minotaur Books

Release Day: May 6, 2025

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

Review first published in Mystery & Suspense Magazine

From the bestselling author of If Something Happens to Me, comes one of the year’s most anticipated thrillers. 

Told through multiple points of view in past and present—and marking the return of FBI Special Agent Sarah Keller from Every Last Fear and The Night Shift—Parents Weekend explores the weight of expectation, family dysfunction, and those exhilarating first days we all remember in the dorms when our friends become our family.

Review:

PARENTS WEEKEND is a fast-paced, propulsive suspense thriller that's impossible to put down. Author Alex Finlay explores the highs and lows of first-time college students and their parents, beginning with the thrill of students moving into dorms and making new friends and quickly morphing into every parent's worst nightmare - a missing child.

It’s Parents Weekend at the University of Santa Clara and the excitement, nervousness and lofty expectations of first-time college students and their parents is evident as they begin a new phase of their lives. Four families are meeting their kids, Libby, Stella, Felix, and Blane, for dinner and cocktails on the first night along with Tom whose parents aren't attending. The parents are enjoying drinks and small talk when it begins to dawn on them that not one of their kids have shown up. At first, there's little concern. After all, everyone recalls how it is being a college student, right? However, as time passes without a word and phones go unanswered, concern turns to fear and eventually panic. A call to police produces a quick response, search parties are formed, and FBI Agent Sarah Keller is brought in to assist. It doesn't take long for reporters to swarm in as rumors run rampant, spreading like flames through gathering crowds with whispers of another student who was found dead a few days prior. While it’s true that death was ruled accidental, it elevates the level of concern fueling a greater sense of urgency for the missing five. How could five students disappear without a trace?

Author Alex Finlay utilizes short, past/present chapters and multiple points of view to draw readers into this twisted, edge-of-your-seat thriller. As the story unfolds, secrets surface among both parents and teens. The drama builds when masks begin slipping among the vastly different group of anxiously waiting parents, allowing readers insight into the dynamics of each family. A large cast of support characters muddy the waters, giving readers a wide array of red herrings to sift through. As time passes with no word, a foreboding tone intensifies fueling the steadily increasing pace that eventually leads to an unpredictable, explosive climax. I loved the return of FBI Agent Sarah Keller of THE NIGHT SHIFT and EVERY LAST FEAR fame, two of my favorites by Finlay, and her presence serves as a steady force lending an air of authenticity to this story. PARENTS WEEKEND is a mesmerizing thriller that explores the dynamics of dysfunctional families and the emotional uncertainties experienced by parents and students leaving the nest for the first time. Highly recommended to fans of well-crafted suspense thrillers.

Synopsis:

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. Soon, the campus police call in reinforcements. Search parties are formed. Reporters swarm the small enclave. Rumors swirl and questions arise.

Libby, Blane, Mark, Felix, and Stella—The Five, as the podcasters, bloggers, and TikTok sleuths call them—come from five very different families. 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?

Told through multiple points of view in past and present—and marking the return of FBI Special Agent Sarah Keller from Every Last Fear and The Night Shift—Parents Weekend explores the weight of expectation, family dysfunction, and those exhilarating first days we all remember in the dorms when our friends become our family.

King of Ashes Review

Author: S.A. Cosby

Publisher: Flatiron Books

Release Day: June 10, 2025

Thanks to Flatiron Books for a complimentary arc of this title for review. Opinions expressed are my own.

Review first published in Mystery & Suspense Magazine

Award-winning, New York Times bestselling author S. A. Cosby returns with King of Ashes, a Godfather-inspired Southern crime epic and dazzling family drama.

 

Review:

Author S.A. Cosby’s KING OF ASHES is a bold, brutal, in your face Southern Noir family drama by that begs the question, "What would you do to protect your family?". Like Cosby's preceding books, this tension laden story is a gritty, raw, gut-wrenching masterpiece with blood, sweat, and tears permeating every page. Settle in your favorite corner before starting this highly addictive page burner. It's a wild ride!

Roman Carruthers, a financial guru, left his run-down hometown of Jefferson Run, Virginia, and the family Crematorium business he detested in the rearview five years ago, seeking the bright lights and opportunities of the big city. Over time, Roman built a reputable, profitable business as a respected expert managing clients’ money and making them wealthy. He's living the good life when a phone call informs him his father is comatose following a near fatal car crash, and he's needed back home. Roman has no choice but to swallow his dread and return to the place he fled to pay his dues with plans to make an appearance and then get back out as soon as possible. Unfortunately, Roman's plans change when he finds his sister, Neveah, exhausted and nearing the end of her rope as she single handedly works killer hours to keep the Crematorium running while keeping vigilance by her father's hospital bed and riding shotgun over younger brother, Dante, whose bad decisions put him in a dicey situation with local, lowlife criminals. Upon arrival, Roman analyzes the situation as he would any mathematical problem and proceeds with a plan to pay off Dante's debt; however, events backfire and quickly escalate out of control. He learns the hard way that Dante's careless actions have attracted criminal elements way beyond the local thugs. Someone with power is seeking retaliation against his family, leaving him to wonder if his father's car crash was a warning . . . not an accident. Now, everyone Roman cares about is in danger, and to Roman, family is everything. Money won't buy them off, but Roman knows how the game is played. Swallowing his pride and the bile rising in his throat, Roman crosses over to the dark side, selling his soul to the devil in a bargain that may forever bind him to the small town life he worked so hard to escape. While he doesn't like it, one lesson Roman learned from his father is that everything burns. And he's not above striking the match that'll burn this town down around them to save his family.

Cosby never lifts his foot off the gas in KING OF ASHES. From beginning to end, it's an action-packed, fast paced family drama with flawed, larger than life characters battling impossible odds in an age-old battle of good vs. evil, but in doing so, what do they become? What sets Cosby's characters apart is their strong family ties, hearts of a lion, keen sense of morality even as they're forced to cross lines in the name of old timey justice, and their ability to display vulnerability while stepping up as antiheroes all in the name of family. Fueled by an increasing tone of impending doom, nonstop action drives the maddening pace forward through flawlessly woven, twisted, multiple plot lines towards an explosive climax that left me breathless. Family skeletons along with all the dark family secrets escape to wreak havoc in this epic southern noir thriller. Who will remain standing when they sift through the ashes? Highly recommended to readers who enjoy fast-paced, graphic, family drama thrillers.

 

Synopsis:

When eldest son Roman Carruthers is summoned home after his father’s car accident, he finds his younger brother, Dante, in debt to dangerous criminals and his sister, Neveah, exhausted from holding the family—and the family business—together. Neveah and their father, who run the Carruthers Crematorium in the run-down central Virginia town of Jefferson Run, see death up close every day. But mortality draws even closer when it becomes clear that the crash that landed their father in a coma was no accident and Dante’s recklessness has placed them all in real danger.

Roman, a financial whiz with a head for numbers and a talent for making his clients rich, has some money to help buy his brother out of trouble. But in his work with wannabe tough guys, he’s forgotten that there are real gangsters out there. As his bargaining chips go up in smoke, Roman realizes that he has only one thing left to offer to save his himself, and his own particular set of skills.

Roman begins his work for the criminals while Neveah tries to uncover the long-ago mystery of what happened to their mother, who disappeared when they were teenagers. But Roman is far less of a pushover than the gangsters realize. He is willing to do anything to save his family. Anything.

Because everything burns.

Dogged Pursuit Review

Author: David Rosenfelt

Series: Andy Carpenter Prequel

Narrator: Grover Gardner

Publisher: Minotaur Books & MacMillan Audio

Release Day: July 1, 2025

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

First published in Mystery & Suspense Magazine

In Dogged Pursuit, David Rosenfelt takes readers back to the start of this beloved series as Andy Carpenter begins his career as a defense attorney in Paterson, New Jersey.

Review:

Author David Rosenfelt sweeps fans of the Andy Carpenter series away with a nostalgic journey back in time to the beginning of it all in DOGGED PURSUIT. Readers are introduced to a young Andy along with a few of the main characters that play significant roles in the many books that follow. Perhaps more importantly, we get our first look at Andy's beloved dog, Tara, and learn about the events that brought him to adopt her from the shelter. This prequel is the perfect entry point for first time readers and an absolute must read for longtime fans of the series.

Andy Carpenter is feeling a bit untethered as he and his wife Nicole are finagling their way through some marital issues that have her living at her parents' house while he roams around the empty rooms of their home. Andy has turned down yet another offer from Nicole's dad to come work for his firm - a move that would secure their financial future but contribute nothing to Andy's mental health and personal satisfaction. Since finishing law school, Andy has spent three years working as a prosecutor but has now chosen to switch sides by becoming a defense attorney to serve as a voice for the accused. All he needs now is a client. In Nicole's absence, Andy decides a small dog will make the perfect companion, so he heads to the local animal shelter where it's love at first sight when he spies Tara, a golden retriever, who is most definitely not a small dog. As it turns out, Tara has a little sidekick, Sonny, a beagle who belongs to a man arrested for a triple murder. Not having the heart to split the pair up, Andy seeks permission from the incarcerated man to take Sonny home and in doing so winds up taking the man on as his first client as a defense attorney. Frank Tierney stands accused of planting explosives under the car of his former boss thereby blowing him and his two passengers to smithereens. Tierney swears he's innocent, but the prosecutor’s unsurmountable evidence says otherwise. Andy needs to sift through an array of red herrings to unmask a murderer to prove his client's innocence. Things are about to get complicated...and dangerous for Andy and those he cares about.

DOGGED PURSUIT is a delight to read! Fans of the series are transported back to the beginning of it all to witness Andy’s first connection with several series' favorites like Laurie, the ex-cop investigator, Sam, the computer whiz, along with an "almost meet" with the enforcer, Marcus. And, of course, we meet a young, enthusiastic, gung-ho Andy as he hones his courtroom skills utilizing what later becomes his signature sharp wit and charming personality to irritate the judge, win over the jury and successfully wrap up his first case as a budding defense attorney . . . all while navigating his turbulent personal life with all the bumps and bruises of a young, floundering marriage. If this is your first Andy Carpenter book, this book serves as the meet-cute foundation for the rest of the series, and I promise you'll be hooked! If you're a longtime fan, what a gift!

Like all the rest of the books that follow, DOGGED PURSUIT is a highly entertaining, humorous whodunit rendered via complex characters, adorable dog scenes and an intriguing murder mystery. While it would be easy to label it as another lighthearted mystery, Rosenfelt's expertise at weaving weighty themes throughout a convoluted, twisted plotline while challenging readers and Andy to figure it out is evident. The end result is a page burner, often funny, always heart touching story that's impossible to put down. Narrator Grover Gardner delivers a star performance on audio. In my eyes, he IS Andy Carpenter! Highly recommended to fans of the series, first time readers and any reader who enjoys a good mystery with a healthy dose of laughter.

Synopsis:

Andy Carpenter has spent the three years since graduating law school working as a prosecutor in Paterson. But having seen how the system never looks out for the little guy, he leaves to start his own practice as a defense attorney. His office might be a little bit of a dump, but he's excited to make a change.

Andy goes to the shelter to adopt a dog, where he meets his beloved golden retriever, Tara, for the first time and feels an immediate connection. The shelter is crowded and Tara's been sharing space with a dog named Sunny; Andy hates to break them up and so asks to take Sunny, too, but since there's a pending criminal case involving the owner, he'll need to get written permission for temporary possession.

Andy discovers that Sunny's owner, Frank Tierney, has been arrested for the murder of his ex-boss. But he takes an immediate liking to Frank and his clear dedication to his dog, and ends up with his first case along with the two dogs.

The Debt Collector Review

Author: Steven Max Russo

Publisher: Steven Max Russo Books

Release Date: March 20, 2024

Review:

THE DEBT COLLECTOR by Author Steven Max Russo is an intriguing, character driven thriller with a protagonist readers won’t forget. Abigail Barnes is driving down the street in Hackensack, New Jersey, when a man (Hector) wearing nothing but boxers runs out of a store into the street waving a gun and carjacks her. Her reaction is anything but typical and sets the tone for the rest of this highly entertaining crime thriller.

Abigal aka Abby is a pretty, petite, angelic little blonde whose good looks are deceiving, often giving her the upper hand in her occupation of choice. Abby is a debt collector - not for legitimate companies, but rather for bookies and loan sharks looking to collect past due debts. Being a pretty, demure blonde, Abby often has to prove her worth by giving a demonstration of her skills. She easily handles gangsters triple her size, reducing them to a humiliated, whimpering pile of bloody limbs on the floor. Such a demo earns her a job collecting for Bennie, a lowlife bookie, with her new carjacker friend, Hector, by her side. Things are going great until a man she just collected from is found murdered, and she's the prime suspect. Things become even more complicated when the bookie she was working for also turns up dead. Abby can't go to the police because it seems she left her last gig under highly suspicious circumstances so what's a girl to do? Solve the crime, of course. Armed with her weapons of choice, a special set of brass knuckles, a gun, and a don't mess with me attitude, Abby begins her own investigation while avoiding the local thugs, mobsters, and the cops. Things are about to get western!

Author Steven Max Russo has crafted a complex crime thriller with unique, fun characters battling life and death situations. Abby is a refreshingly different, highly skilled protagonist with a lot of attitude and sass . . . and a heart of gold. Hector provides comic relief, lending a lighter air to some otherwise heavy scenes. The action moves along at an increasing pace through twists and turns as events escalate, only slowing down later in the story when the same scenes are delivered through three different points of view. After a few times, I found this repetitiveness to be slightly distracting; however, it didn't lessen my overall enjoyment of this story. The ending of THE DEBT COLLECTOR felt like the perfect setup for more episodes with Collector Abigail Barnes. Highly recommended to fans of crime fiction and suspense thrillers with a unique twist.

Synopsis:

Abigail Barnes is young, pretty and petite, but her looks and size can be deceiving. She's a tough as nails drifter who makes her living collecting outstanding debts for low-end bookies and loan sharks, Abigail arrives in Hackensack, NJ, from Baltimore, MD, and gets a job collecting for a small-time bookie, who winds up dead.

With a large Wall Street firm moving into town bringing jobs, prestige, and money, the press is soon up in arms about the killing. So the cops decide to put the squeeze on Ronnie “Slacks” Falcone, a mobster who heads organized crime in the Jersey City area, to help find the killer.

Soon Abigail finds herself being sought by a gang of hoodlums, the mob, and the police. She knows she can’t run and she won’t turn herself in because she has a past that could send her to jail. She has little choice but to try and find out who killed the bookie – without getting killed in the process.

Gabriela and His Grace Review

Author: Liana De la Rosa

Series: The Luna Sisters #3

Publisher: Berkley

Release Day: Aug. 26, 2025

Thanks to Berkley for a complimentary arc of this title for review. Opinions expressed are entirely my own.

#BerkleyPartners #Berkley #BerkleyBookstagram

A scandalous arrangement between a hellion heiress and destitute duke reveals truths that neither can outrun….

Review:

GABRIELA AND HIS GRACE is the third and final book in The Luna Sisters trilogy, and I think the author saved the best for last! This one has everything I love about historical romance - a sassy, independent heroine, a brooding rogue with a heart of gold, and the authentic history of the time period seamlessly woven throughout the story. Who can ask for anything more?

Gabriela Luna is a deviant, fiery, beautiful belle with a brain and a mind of her own who refuses to be manhandled into a marriage of convenience. Fleeing yet another scandalous, British fortune hunter seeking to trap her into marriage, she boards a ship back to her home in Mexico although she knows her father will not be happy to see her return unwed. As she boards the ship, she's dismayed to learn Sebastian Brooks, the Duke of Whitfield, is also traveling to Mexico to tour a silver mine he is investing in with her brother-in-law. Sebastian needs the income to reestablish his family's estate to its' former state. Gabriela and Sebastian have an antagonistic love/hate relationship and continuously trade barbs, matching wits as the tension between them sizzles. The red-hot passion explodes as they interact over the course of the ten-day journey and time spent in Mexico, leaving them both questioning their true feelings. And when Gabriela's father pushes her to choose one of the many suitors he's throwing her way, Sebastian steps up to her defense.

Author Liana De la Rosa renders a delightful, heartfelt story with a lot of snap, crackle and pop in GABRIELA AND HIS GRACE. The characters are so well developed and authentic that readers can't help but cheer them on. The setting and history of the 1860 political conflict between Mexico and Europe are flawlessly woven throughout adding to the tension but not taking over the storyline. While this is the third book in a series, everything you need to know to enjoy GABRIELA AND HIS GRACE  is within these pages. If you love a tantalizing historical romance with snarky banter, sizzling chemistry and passionate main characters, this one is for you! I'll be backing up to read the first two!

Synopsis:

As the youngest and most rebellious daughter of the overly protective Luna family, Gabriela Luna Valdés claws after her freedom in any way she can. This time, her hunger for adventure has led her aboard a windswept ship bearing for her homeland, away from a mob of fumbling British suitors. But Gabby can’t escape her father’s expectation that she settle down to find a proper husband—a compromise she’s unwilling to make.

For Sebastian Brooks, Duke of Whitfield, the trip to Mexico is his last chance. His last chance to rectify his family’s estate and refill their dwindling coffers. And his last chance to match wits with the sharp-tongued but deliciously tempting Gabriela.

When Gabby finds herself in need of a hasty escape, Sebastian agrees to assist her…but their close proximity sparks a red-hot passion that could ruin all their plans. With scandal looming, can Sebastian convince Gabby his regard is sincere or will she sail away with his heart?

The Seven O'Clock Club Blog Tour

Welcome to my stop on the blog tour for this fantastic title! I find it hard to believe THE SEVEN O'CLOCK CLUB is a debut novel!

Author: Amelia Ireland

Publisher: Berkley

Release Day: April 15, 2025

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

Four strangers are brought together to participate in an experimental treatment designed to heal broken hearts in this surprising and heartfelt debut novel from author Amelia Ireland.

Review: 

THE SEVEN O'CLOCK CLUB by Author Amelia Ireland is a mesmerizing, emotional story that takes a turn I had no idea was coming. I'm glad I went into this one virtually clueless, not knowing what to expect, as I think it enhanced the overall reading experience, and when the shocking turn occurred, I was already so deeply invested in these character's lives that I couldn't turn back even if I wanted to. Without giving anything away, I'll say I'm still not completely clear how I feel about the twist in this one - maybe because it was so unexpected to me - but I do know I was riveted in my seat from beginning to end and finished emotionally drained.

Four strangers respond to different ads seeking participants for a new, experimental grief counseling group set to meet once a week a seven o'clock in the evening. The four who show up couldn't be more different except for one thing . . . all four at struggling with moving on from a personal, devastating loss in their lives. Middle aged Victoria appears arrogant and indifferent, unkempt Freya is a shell of her former self, Mischa is young, innocent and anxious to please and then there's Callum, a bad boy rocker who plummeted from the top of the music world to hit rock bottom in a pool of alcohol, drugs and careless sex. None of the four wants to be there so why are they? What drove or persuaded these four individuals to get up off the floor and seek help? And who is Genevieve - the mysterious, secretive leader of the group? As this story unfolds, each individual's story is revealed - their grief, their shattered dreams, their personal disaster - as they slowly begin letting down their guard. As weeks go by and all four continue showing up, relationships form, and hearts begin healing. And yet, there's a growing unease that Geneviere is keeping something from them. And when she finally plays her trump card, total shock ensues for both characters and readers if they've gone into this book blind. That's all I can say about the plot line without spoilers. Read the book one page, once chapter at a time, and it'll consume you. I still can't stop thinking about it a week or so later. 

THE SEVEN O'CLOCK CLUB is an emotional rollercoaster that highlights grief, depression, healing, human connections, and forgiveness. Readers will find it easy to feel empathy for these characters as they are written with such expertise and depth, such emotion, that it almost feels like you're a part of the seven o'clock club too. I finished the book over a week ago and still find myself thinking about it. Highly recommended to fans of Literary Fiction and Magical Realism.

 

Synopsis:

In a perfectly ordinary building, four strangers who couldn't be more different meet for the first time. Their skepticism of this new kind of grief therapy—and the unnervingly perceptive group leader—means they're all wary, but as the weeks go by, they find themselves returning again and again, pulled to work toward healing, even if it means first facing the pain head-on.

A sharp-tongued lawyer who has no intention of letting down her walls, a fragile young woman looking for a place to belong, a musician at the top of his game who's one drink away from losing it all, and an interior designer facing the crumbling of her picture-perfect life—this unlikely group slowly opens up, not only to the possibility of a happier future but to friendship, change, and even romance.

When a shocking revelation reveals the real reason they were chosen for this group, it shakes the very foundation of what they thought they knew. What began as a journey designed to heal turns out to be a much greater test of friendship, strength, and love as they realize happiness is just outside the door...if they're brave enough to seek it.

The Tenant Review

Author: Freida McFadden

Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press

Release Day: May 6, 2025

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

Review first published in Mystery & Suspense Magazine

#1 New York Times bestselling author Freida McFadden knocks at your door with a gripping story of revenge, privilege, and secrets turned sour…

Review:

Author Freida McFadden returns with another tension laden thriller leaving readers scrambling to figure out who can be trusted once again. All the author's signature wicked plot twists are here up to and including the final last chapter shocker readers have come to expect. Fasten down the hatches before diving into THE TENANT. You won't be able to stop until the final page is read.

Blake Porter is a man on top of the world. He has it all - the perfect fiancé, a lovely brownstone in a desirable neighborhood and a lucrative job in marketing he loves. He's a man on the move upward to better things . . . until he's suddenly fired from his job with accusations of selling trade secrets to the competition. He's stunned and devastated that his boss won't listen to his protests of innocence. Blake knows he's innocent of the accusations, but he's forced to pack his things and get out. Before long, his savings run out, debt mounts, and he's in danger of losing their home. When his fiancé suggests they take in a tenant, he's hesitant but being between a rock and a hard place, he caves and agrees. After a line of misfit applicants, Whitney strolls into their lives with cash in hand, appearing to be the answer to their prayers. However, over the next few weeks, Blake's unease escalates as weird, disturbing things begin happening, testing his patience and shooting his stress level through the roof. Even his neighbors are acting differently towards him. What's happening to him? His fiancé doesn't notice anything wrong and is becoming close friends with Whitney. As events escalate, Blake realizes he made a fatal mistake allowing Whitney to move in. Who is this woman and why is she trying to destroy him? Or could it be his own guilty secret haunting him at night?

Author Freida McFadden's THE TENANT is an intriguing, taut thriller that touches on subjects of revenge, privilege, betrayal and dark secrets that come back to haunt you. As always, her characterizations are vivid and realistic. As in most of her books, emotional stress, paranoia and a fear of the unknown play a role in a character's unraveling. McFadden excels at keeping characters and readers on their toes, guessing and searching for answers to an intricately woven puzzle until the very end. The pace intensifies with the increasing downward spiral of Blake's psyche. I enjoyed the point of view of a well-crafted, male main character perfectly portrayed by Blake as a man clueless as to why his world is crashing down around him.

THE TENANT is one of the only books by this author that I've figured out before the final reveal. Maybe it's because I've read everything McFadden's written and have learned to read the clues a little better, but I saw the climax coming early on. However, it didn't lessen my enjoyment as I burned through pages to see what else would happen and how it would play out. While this isn't my favorite offering from this talented author, it's still a masterpiece in deception and betrayal. Highly recommended to fans of mysteries and thrillers.

Synopsis:

There’s no place like home…

Blake Porter is riding high, until he's not. Fired abruptly from his job as a VP of marketing and unable to make the mortgage payments on the new brownstone that he shares with his fiancee, he's desperate to make ends meet.

Enter Whitney. Beautiful, charming, down-to-earth, and looking for a room to rent. She's exactly what Blake's looking for. Or is she?

Because something isn't quite right. The neighbors start treating Blake differently. The smell of decay permeates his home, no matter how hard he scrubs. Strange noises jar him awake in the middle of the night. And soon Blake fears someone knows his darkest secrets...

Danger lives right at home, and by the time Blake realizes it, it'll be far too late. The trap is already set.

Hidden Nature Review

Author: Nora Roberts

Publisher: St. Martins Press & MacMillan Audio

Release Day: May 27, 2025

Many thanks to St. Martins Press for a complimentary arc of this title and to MacMillan Audio for the audiobook. Opinions expressed are my own.

Review first publisher in Mystery & Suspense Magazine

The #1 New York Times-bestselling author presents a new novel about an injured cop who must fight to bring down a pair of twisted killers…

Review:

HIDDEN NATURE by Author Nora Roberts is a tantalizing blend of mystery, suspense thriller and romance. Roberts once again delivers a heartfelt story with authentic, highly relatable characters, vivid settings and immersive plot lines. Once I settled in, I couldn't put this page turner down.

Natural Resources police officer Sloan Cooper walks into a convenience store and interrupts a robbery in progress. A quick on the trigger thief leaves her fighting for her life. With a long recovery ahead of her, Sloan returns to her parent's home in Heron's Rest, the small town where she grew up. While diligently working on her rehabilitation, Sloan's interest is piqued by a missing woman's case, and she decides to work the case on her personal time. A chilling pattern soon emerges - multiple people of all genders and ages spread across three states disappeared with their vehicles left abandoned suggesting the work of a serial killer. What is the common thread among these victims? How does the killer choose them? Sloan relies on her expertise, wits, and family ties to guide her as she stalks a killer unaware of how close they may be.

Meantime, Nash Littlefield moves to Heron’s Rest from New York, leaving behind an established career while cutting final ties with his estranged parents. Having purchased an old house in need of renovation, he begins work while deciding on his future path. When his younger brother, Theo, joins him also looking for a fresh start, they form The Fix-It Brothers, a handyman business. Soon, they have enough local clients in need of their services to keep them busy, and their skills bring them into contact with Sloane and her sister, Drea, through the Cooper family's rental business. Sparks flare between Drea and Theo, and Nash is intrigued with both Sloan and the case she's investigating and offers to lend her a hand with the investigation with the added benefit of spending more time with her. As the pair pursue a killer, Nash soon realizes the woman he is coming to care about will do whatever it takes to get justice for the victims . . . including putting her life at risk again.

Author Nora Roberts excels at rendering immersive small town, family-oriented stories that draw readers in with vivid prose, complex, relatable protagonists and just the right blend of romance and suspense. Her expert skills at world building and character development are evident in HIDDEN NATURE through her detailed descriptions of community life in a typical small town with a menage of colorful characters. As is often the case, the theme of family both born and found is woven throughout with examples of a close knit, supportive family in the Coopers who welcome Nash and Theo with open arms in contrast to their estranged birth family. The increasing tension drives the pace through thrilling twists as Sloan gets closer to unmasking a killer. I appreciate the author's diligence with details while taking time to develop both suspense and romance over the course of the book as it lends an authentic feeling to the unfolding events while affording the reader an opportunity to connect with each main character. Fans of romance suspense and mysteries will enjoy this latest offer from Author Nora Roberts. I highly recommend the audio book version narrated by January Lavoy as she renders an excellent performance lending a voice to these characters. 

Synopsis:

Natural Resources police officer, Sloan Cooper, and her partner had just taken down three men preying on hikers in the Western Maryland mountains. Driving back, she pulled in at a convenience store—and walked right into a robbery in progress. One gunshot from a jittery thief was about to change her world.

After being shocked back to life on the operating table, she has a long recovery ahead, so she moves back to her parents’ peaceful house in Heron’s Rest. As for the boyfriend who dumped her via text while she was in the hospital, good riddance.

She may be down, but she’s not out. So when a woman vanishes, leaving her car behind in a supermarket parking lot, Sloan searches online for similar cases. She finds them, spread across three states. Men and women, old and young—the missing seem to have nothing in common. And the abductions keep happening.

Luckily, the new man in her life shares her passion for solving this mystery. But it will take every ounce of endurance to get to the dark heart of this bizarre case—and she's willing to risk her life again if that's what it takes to stop the horror.