The Whistler Blog Tour

 Welcome to the blog tour for The Whistler

by Author Nick Medina!

Publisher: Berkley
Release Date: Sept. 16, 2025
Genres: Horror, Indigenous, Mystery, Thriller, Adult Fiction

Read my full review in Mystery & Suspense Magazine. 

Readers: Please note trigger warnings

 A young man is haunted by a mythological specter bent on stealing everything he loves in this unsettling horror from the author of Indian Burial Ground and Sisters of the Lost Nation.

"Told through the lens of a chilling Native superstition, Medina’s third novel, THE WHISTLER (Berkley Hardcover; on sale September 16, 2025) is an unsettling tour de force about the cost of not heeding warnings and what it means to confront the past and chase the things that haunt us. The story follows a young man grappling with his new life with quadriplegia while being haunted by a mythological specter bent on stealing everything he loves."

Review:

Nick Medina returns with another haunting novel steeped in Native superstitions and legends. The Whistler dives deep into the terrifying consequences of ignoring age-old warnings. The prologue sets the tone with full-force supernatural horror — a grisly tale illustrating the disastrous results of breaking the taboo against whistling at night, which summons evil spirits who can control your life. From there, the main story follows twenty-four-year-old Henry, a man haunted by a mythological presence that is methodically stripping away everything he loves. Dark, intense, and chilling, The Whistler had me looking over my shoulder and jumping at every strange sound. And while I don’t consider myself superstitious, I can say with certainty: I will never whistle at night again.

The novel unfolds in a past/present structure through Henry’s point of view. Readers see him at the height of his happiness, on the cusp of achieving his dreams; we then witness the tragic accident that changed his life forever, confining him to a wheelchair, and his struggle to adapt to this new reality. The timeline shifts — from the horrifying prologue set in the infamous Cadow house, where young Jacqueline’s careless whistle unleashed something monstrous, to Henry’s current struggles, and then back again — may feel disorienting at first. But as connections between the legend of the Cadow house and Henry’s fate emerge, the pieces begin to lock into place. Medina uses superstition and myth not just as atmosphere, but as the framework for the story itself.

To avoid spoilers, I’ll just say that Medina has crafted an emotional, tightly woven tale blending Native lore with a compelling plot and unforgettable, three-dimensional characters. His skill lies in making legends feel alive — not just terrifying, but deeply personal to those caught in their grip.

Readers of Medina’s Indian Burial Ground will find an added layer of richness here. While The Whistler focuses on different characters and mysteries, it picks up threads from that novel — including the fate of Roddy — making it feel like a loose sequel. That said, prior knowledge isn’t required; this book stands firmly on its own.

The Whistler is unsettling and atmospheric, exploring themes of fate, acceptance, reckoning with the past, and the devastating price of ignoring warnings. Medina handles Henry’s life as a paraplegic with nuance, portraying both the physical and emotional toll on him and his family. Once again, he shines in weaving Native legends with the modern struggles of Indigenous communities living on reservations. That said, I found this book leaned more heavily into outright horror than Medina’s earlier work. The abundance of shocking, gory detail sometimes overshadowed the cultural elements I hoped would take center stage. But horror fans who crave visceral scares and don’t mind blood-soaked imagery will find this utterly engrossing. Ultimately, The Whistler is a dark, gripping tale that fuses legend, fear, and tragedy into a story you won’t soon forget. Highly recommended for fans of horror and supernatural thrillers.

About the Book

For fear of summoning spirits, Native superstition says you should never, ever whistle at night.

 

Twenty-four year old Henry Hotard was on the verge of getting everything he’d ever wanted, on the cusp of fame for his eerie ghost-hunting videos and building a life with his girlfriend, Jade. Then a terrible accident brings his upwards trajectory to a screeching halt. Now, he’s learning to navigate life in a wheelchair, back on the reservation where he grew up, and relying on his grandparents’ care while he recovers.

 

And he’s being haunted.

 

As the specter haunting him creeps closer each night, Henry battles to find a way to endure his new reality and excise the horror stalking him. But to expel the spirit, Henry will have to confront a past even more horrifying. Riddled with fear and guilt, Henry will have to relive the events that led to his injury. It all started when he whistled at night…

 

About the Author

Nick Medina is a member of the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana, and he drew on personal and family experiences, along with research into the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) epidemic, as inspiration for his debut novel, Sisters of the Lost Nation. He has degrees in organizational and multicultural communication and has worked as a college instructor. He also enjoys playing guitar, listening to classic rock, and exploring haunted cemeteries and all sorts of spooky stuff.

The Witches Orchard Review

Author: Archer Sullivan

Narrator: Emily Pike Steward

Publisher: Minotaur Books & MacMillan Audio

Release Date: Aug. 12, 2025

Special thanks to Minotaur Books & MacMillan Audio for complimentary arcs of this title for review. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

Review first published in Mystery & Suspense Magazine

A ninth generation Appalachian herself, Archer Sullivan brings the mountains of North Carolina to life in The Witch’s Orchard , a wonderfully atmospheric novel that introduces private investigator Annie Gore.

Review:

Author Archer Sullivan’s debut novel, The Witch’s Orchard, is a highly atmospheric, bewitching novel rich in the cultural traditions and folklore passed down through generations in the small, off-the-beaten-path towns deep in the Appalachian Mountains of North Carolina. Within a few pages, I was mesmerized by the picturesque narrative, with visions of early misty mornings, the sun peeking over majestic mountaintops, foggy holler bottoms, and old apple orchards with the cry of crows echoing throughout the mountains. Sullivan awakens readers’ five senses in this gripping, melodic, heartfelt mystery, with authentic scenes and characters that make The Witch’s Orchard not only impossible to put down but also unforgettable.

Former Air Force investigator Annie Gore accepts a plea to investigate the decade-old disappearance of three young girls in a small Appalachian town much like the one she escaped by joining the Air Force after graduating from high school. Annie, now working as a private investigator, is hired by Max, the brother of one of the missing girls, to find out what happened to his sister. In each kidnapping case, a young girl vanished into thin air, with an old apple-head doll left at the scene. When Annie arrives in the small, tight-knit town, the feeling of déjà vu is overwhelming—the town’s resemblance to the one she fled is undeniable. She knows how guarded mountain people can be—wary of strangers and fiercely protective of their privacy. Her job won’t be easy, and as she feared, Annie’s attempts to question locals stir up a hornet’s nest. Soon, accusations and gossip—fed by mountain superstitions and folktales—intertwine with personal recollections and conflicting versions of what may have happened to the girls, including the chilling rumor that they were taken by the “Witch of Quartz Creek.”

When another young girl suddenly disappears, the town shatters under the weight of fear, accusations, and finger-pointing. Annie must find the girls and uncover the truth behind these strange occurrences before another child is taken. Of one thing she is certain: this small Appalachian town is hiding ugly secrets, and someone is desperate to keep them buried. Driven by her own need to know—and haunted by the deafening cries of the crows—Annie’s search unearths decades-old secrets as the past threatens to repeat itself. Time is running out.

Debut author Archer Sullivan has crafted a chilling, culturally rich, immersive mystery that will have readers burning the midnight oil. The tone she maintains throughout is electric, alive with malice and a creeping sense of unease that builds page by page until the frenzied climax. The characters are authentic and well-developed, with deep, believable connections to the land, and Annie Gore is a protagonist I hope readers will see more of in the future. Sullivan brilliantly weaves the folklore and superstitions of the region into the plot in a way that engages the senses without overwhelming the central mystery—no doubt drawing on her own ninth-generation Appalachian heritage.

The Witch’s Orchard is an intense, emotionally charged, beautifully written mystery with heart. It’s a story of mountain lore, dark secrets, resilience, hope, and letting go. I highly recommend the audiobook, narrated by Emily Pike Stewart, whose performance brings the heart of these people and this region to life. Fans of thrillers and atmospheric mysteries will devour this one! 

Synopsis:

Former Air Force Special Investigator Annie Gore joined the military right after high school to escape the fraught home life of her childhood. Now, she’s getting by as a private investigator and her latest case takes her to an Appalachian holler not unlike the one where she grew up.

Ten years ago, three little girls went missing from their tiny mountain town. While one was returned, the others were never seen again. After all this time without answers, the brother of one of the girls wants to hire an outsider, and he wants Annie. While she may not be from his town, she gets mountain towns. Mountain people. Driving back into the hills for a case this old—it might be a fool’s errand. But Annie needs to put money in the bank and she can’t turn down a case. Not even one that dredges up her own painful past.

In the shadow of the Blue Ridge, Annie begins to track the truth, navigating a decade’s worth of secrets, folklore of witches and crows, and a whole town that prefers to forget. But while the case may have been buried, echoes of the past linger. And Annie’s arrival stirs someone into action.

Forget Me Not Review

Author: Stacy Willingham

Narrators: Karissa Vacker, Helen Laser

Publisher: Minotaur Books & MacMillan Audio

Release Date: Aug. 26, 2025

Special thanks to Minotaur Books & MacMillan Audio for complimentary arcs of this title for review. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Review first published in Mystery & Suspense Magazine

A pulse-pounding new Southern thriller from the author of the runaway bestseller A Flicker in the Dark.

Review:

Author Stacy Willingham taps into the atmospheric, evocative landscape of the old south in Forget Me Not, enticing readers in with the sweet scent of honeysuckle and muscadines drifting on the breeze clashing with the pungent smell of stagnant water in and around the salt marshes. The author's masterful ability to draw readers in with vivid, lyrical prose is evident in this haunting family drama in which a young woman finally returns home searching for answers she may not be ready to accept. Prepare to lose yourself in the pages of this mystery as a woman's soul and heartbreaking life's story is laid bare through her own painful words scribbled in a long-lost diary. A story that may hold the key to several mysterious disappearances.

Packing the burden of her past, Claire Campbell left her childhood home in the rearview decades ago. Despondent after the mysterious disappearance of her older sister and her parents' divorce, Claire escaped her traumatic past by moving to New York and launching a career as an investigative journalist, although she's currently unemployed and unfettered. A surprising phone call from her father concerning her mother forces Claire to return home to face the ghosts and guilt that have haunted her for decades. When an unexpected opportunity for seasonal work at Galloway Farms arises, Claire jumps at it with the recollection that her sister, Natalie, spent most of her time at the vineyard prior to her disappearance. Claire's desperation to retrace her sister's final footsteps drives her to take a closer look at the strange residents at Galloway's Farms. Shortly after arriving, Claire discovers an old diary written by the elderly vineyard's mistress hidden in her cabin, and she can't resist reading it. The emotional anguish and revelations that pour out of the diary stun Claire, confirming her suspicions that all is not right at this strange, creepy vineyard. Are the answers to what happened to her sister buried here? Claire's gut is telling her to run, but she can't leave without the answers she needs . . . even though remaining puts her own life in danger.

Forget Me Not is everything I love about a good mystery - sensuous, vibrant setting, tense, intertwined plot lines, authentic well-developed characters, and a mystery that chills you to the bone as you burn through pages seeking answers. Willingham does a brilliant job rendering the story through dual timelines - one from a frantic Claire in the present and the other from the past communicated through the pages of a young girl's diary. The tension driven pace is perfect, fed by a chilling undertone lurking on each page sounding warning bells with each chapter and revelation. A few different players, red herrings, are offered up for readers' consideration, and I was never quite sure who the real villain was until the shocking reveal.

Author Stacy Willingham's Forget Me Not just may be her best thriller yet! Days after finishing it, I can't get it out of my mind. Hauntingly beautiful and yet at the same time, dark and creepy, this is a story of family and souls lost and found, secrets that destroy, truths that kill. I highly recommend the audio version of this book as Narrators Karissa Vacker and Helen Laser deliver flawless performances escalating the chilling, urgent sense of malice prevalent throughout this story. Highly recommended to fans of mysteries and suspense thrillers.

Synopsis:

Twenty-two years ago, Claire Campbell’s older sister, Natalie, disappeared shortly after her eighteenth birthday. Days later, her blood was found in a car, a man was arrested, and the case was swiftly closed. In the decades since, Claire has attempted to forget her traumatic past by moving to the city and climbing the ranks as an investigative journalist... until an unexpected call from her father forces her to come back home and face it all anew.

With the entire summer now looming ahead—a summer spent with nothing to do in her childhood home, with her estranged mother—Claire decides on a whim to accept a seasonal job at Galloway Farm, a muscadine vineyard in coastal South Carolina less than an hour away from where she grew up. At first glance, Galloway is an idyllic escape for Claire. A scenic retreat full of slow-paced nostalgia, as well as a place where her sister seemed truly happy in that last summer before she vanished, it feels like the perfect plan to pass the time. However, as soon as Claire starts to settle in, she stumbles across an old diary written by one of the vineyard's owners, and what at first seems like a story of young rebellion and love turns into something much more sinister as it begins to describe details of various unsolved crimes. As the days stretch on, Claire finds herself becoming more and more secluded as she starts to obsess over the diary's contents… as well as the lingering feeling that her own sister's disappearance may be somehow tied to it all.

Galloway was supposed to be a place to help her move forward, but instead, Claire quickly finds herself immersed in her own dark and dangerous past.

Gabriela and His Grace Blog Tour!

Welcome to my stop on the blog tour! Check out my review, read the synopsis, an excerpt and meet the author below. This one is a pure delight to read! Don't miss it!!

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?

About the Author

Liana De la Rosa is a historical romance author who writes diverse characters in the Regency and Victorian periods. Liana has an English degree from the University of Arizona, and in her past life she owned a mystery shopping company and sold pecans for a large farm. When she’s not writing, Liana is listening to true crime podcasts and pretending she’s a domestic goddess while she wrangles her spirited brood of children with her patient husband in Arizona. Learn more online at lianadelarosa.com.

Author photo courtesy of Berkley Romance 2022

GABRIELA AND HIS GRACE Excerpt:

To set the scene: Gabriela is preparing to embark on the journey from England to Mexico

when her brother-in-law, Gideon, reveals that she will be accompanied on the journey by

none other than Sebastian Brooks, Duke of Whitfield—and the bane of Gabby’s existence.

"I can't believe you changed your mind about me leaving, Gideon. I thought I was going

to have to resort to bribery . . ." Gabby narrowed her eyes. "Or maybe even battery, to

convince you to let me return home."

Gideon didn't smile-he saved all of his smiles for Ana María and Estella-but there was a

spark in his dark eyes that Gabby had long recognized as amusement. "Let's just say that

once I learned you wouldn't be traveling alone, my concerns over your safety lifted a

tad."

"I've always appreciated your concern," she allowed, "but I'm certain Señorita Moreno

and I will be perfectly fine."

Her brother-in-law's lips twisted in a manner Gabby had never seen before, and she

frowned. "What?"

With quick movements, Gideon scooped Estella from her arms and propped her against

his chest. Gabby didn't miss Ana María's quiet laugh. "As much as I'm sure you and Miss

Moreno are capable of caring for yourselves, there will be another on the ship to provide

your assistance should you need it," Gideon said.

Jerking her chin back, Gabby looked from Gideon to her sister, whose attention was

focused on her daughter. Ana María refused to meet Gabby's eyes. When she turned his

way, Tío Arturo was studying the ship's masts. Lady Yardley, however, stared back at her

with a broad smile. Dread dropped in Gabby's stomach like a rock.

"Who?" she demanded, spinning about in a whirl of skirts, her eyes darting about the

busy docks. A name flashed in her mind and she drew up short, her breath catching.

Surely not. Of all the people who would be traveling to Altamira, it couldn't be him.

Gritting her teeth so tightly her jaw ached, she pivoted, following the direction Gideon

searched. It was then that the crowd shifted and her gaze collided with a familiar pair of

blue eyes and her skin flushed so hot, Gabby was certain she would combust. Without a

thought, she stomped her foot and shrieked, "Ay, no!"

XXX

Sebastian Brooks, the eleventh duke of Whitfield, knew better than to expect an effusive

. . . or even a cordial greeting from the likes of Miss Gabriela Luna. But he certainly

hadn’t expected her to exclaim so loudly she’d frightened several of the sailors working

on the gangplank.

Sighing, Sebastian plucked his spectacles from his face and massaged the bridge of his

nose. The voyage to Altamira was scheduled for twelve to fourteen days, and then the

carriage ride to Dawson's home would take five to six days. Surely he could survive three

weeks in Miss Luna's company.

Even across the sixty or so feet between them, Sebastian could see the disbelief and

frustration sparking in her greenish-brown eyes.

"And here I thought you were a rake about town, Your Grace." Brodie, his valet, stopped

next to him, his head cocked to the side. "But that lass appears angry enough to bite

through steel."

Sebastian snorted as he slid on his spectacles. Brodie had worked for him for nigh on a

decade, and he was used to his easy manners and glib tongue. He continued to employ

the man despite his propensity for bringing Sebastian down a peg because, frankly, no

one dressed Sebastian quite like the burly Scotsman. He should have foreseen Brodie's

delight at Miss Luna's fiery disdain for him.

Three weeks, he reminded himself. Just three weeks, and he would be in Mexico with his

old friend, Sirius Dawson, touring the silver mine that had single-handedly brought the

Whitfield dukedom out of arrears.

Excerpted from Gabriela and His Grace by Liana De la Rosa Copyright © 2025 by Liana De la Rosa. Excerpted by permission of Berkley. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.

Framed In Death Review

Author: J.D. Robb

Series: In Death #61

Publisher: St. Martins Press

Release Date: Sept. 2, 2025

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

Review first published in Mystery & Suspense Magazine

Death imitates art in the brand-new crime thriller starring homicide cop Eve Dallas from the #1 New York Times-bestselling author J.D. Robb.

Review:

Devoted fans of J.D. Robb’s In Death series are always thrilled when the talented author releases another book in the long-running series. While there are a mind-boggling sixty previous books, Robb’s expertise in the art of storytelling keeps each one fresh, exciting, and highly entertaining. The author turns her attention to the world of art and all it encompasses in Framed in Death (In Death #61)—a world of incredible art galleries, famous artists and works of art, collectors, and, unfortunately, mediocre wannabe artists. It’s a world where careers and fortunes are earned, and dreams and hearts may be broken. Once again, Robb has crafted a well-plotted, intriguing murder mystery with a delectable smorgasbord of investigative police work, in-depth characterizations, and immersive settings, with a healthy side of romance. Settle in for an entertaining evening of reading with the knowledge that J.D. Robb never disappoints.

In Manhattan resides an artist, a painter, a narcissist who fancies himself deserving of adoration and accolades among the art community, as well as a prominent ranking among the greatest artists of all time. Living lavishly off family wealth and trust funds, he’s unencumbered by mundane everyday tasks such as earning a living. With a mother who has always fed his inflated ego and warped sense of entitlement by repeatedly telling him how great his work is, he’s sorely disappointed when others fail to acknowledge his talent. As rejections from art galleries and collectors stoke his rage, he fumes over what he sees as imbeciles’ inability to recognize him as one of the greats and decides he’ll show the world just how brilliant he is by recreating some of the world’s most famous paintings. Soon the entire city will be talking about his work.

In the wee hours of the morning, Lt. Eve Dallas is called to a bizarre, staged murder scene to find a victim dressed like the woman in Vermeer’s painting Girl with a Pearl Earring. Dallas knows she’ll need all hands on deck, including billionaire husband and civilian consultant Roarke, after a second staged murder victim is discovered. The hunt is on for a serial killer dubbed “The Artist.”

Framed in Death is a futuristic police procedural set in New York City in September of 2061. Don’t worry if futuristic stories aren’t your thing—the science-fiction elements take a backseat to the murder investigation. In fact, many of the futuristic aspects in these books are already a reality, or close to becoming one, in our world today. The story is narrated from the point of view of Eve Dallas as she methodically conducts her investigation, with a few scenes from the killer’s perspective. The villain’s identity is revealed to readers early on, and while some armchair detectives may find that a bit disappointing, it allows readers to witness firsthand the rapid deterioration of the killer’s mental faculties as he spirals out of control. As always, Eve’s mind is a fascinating place to be when she’s actively pursuing a killer, following clues until one by one they snap into place. One of the most compelling recurring scenes in every In Death book comes near the end, when Eve gets the suspect in the interrogation room and rips him or her to pieces like a dog with a bone.

Author J.D. Robb is a gifted storyteller with the ability to capture readers’ attention on page one and hold them mesmerized until the final page. Her talent for descriptive, lyrical prose transports readers from their homes into fictional scenes via sight, sound, smell, and touch. As Eve and company unravel clues and get closer to unmasking a killer, the tone and pace increase until all the pieces are in place. Themes of friendship, trust, justice, and nature versus nurture are present, as they are in many of Robb’s books. This reader found the mother’s role as an enabler and fixer for her son disturbing yet all too familiar in today’s society. Fans of the In Death series will rejoice at the stellar performances of many recurring characters in this one, as the gang’s all here with Eve and Roarke taking center stage. As she often does, Robb lightens heavy themes with snarky humor and delightful family/friend scenes courtesy of series regulars like Peabody and Mavis. Framed in Death is another excellent addition to this complex series that I hope never ends. Highly recommended to fans of the series and to readers who appreciate a beautifully written, intriguing murder mystery.

Synopsis:

Manhattan is filled with galleries and deep-pocketed collectors who can make an artist's career with a wave of a hand. But one man toils in obscurity, his brilliance unrecognized while lesser talents bask in the glory he believes should be his. Come tomorrow, he vows, the city will be buzzing about his work.

Indeed, before dawn, Lt. Eve Dallas is speeding toward the home of the two gallery owners whose doorway has been turned into a horrifying crime scene overnight. A lifeless young woman has been elaborately costumed and precisely posed to resemble the model of a long-ago Dutch master, and Dallas plunges into her investigation.

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?