Jane and Dan at the End of the World by Colleen Oakley

April 10, 2025

Jane and Dan at the End of the World by Colleen Oakley

Dan scores a reservation at the exclusive La Fin du Monde restaurant and takes his wife Jane to celebrate their wedding anniversary. But his timing is off, since Jane has decided that she is going to ask for a divorce over dinner (also maybe not the best timing). Not to mention that climate change activists have chosen that night to bomb the restaurant.

Quirky and fun, with a long-term marriage that turns out to be a romance after all. Recommended for readers who enjoy off-beat fiction like Nothing to See Here or Zero Stars, Do Not Recommend.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an eARC for review. 

Dog Day Afternoon by David Rosenfelt

May 14, 2024

Dog Day Afternoon by David Rosenfelt

Lawyer Any Carpenter and his ex-cop wife Laurie Collins return with a new case. This time, Andy is defending a man wrongly accused of a mass shooting at a law firm. The more they dig, the more irregularities they uncover.

The latest entry in a very enjoyable mystery series does not disappoint. The mystery here involves the Dark Web, a complex conspiracy, and a mass shooting, all of which could be taken from a daily newscast. I love Andy's snarky sense of humor, the quirky supporting characters, and there are dogs - what more do you need?

Many thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for providing an eARC for review.

Paterson, New Jersey

The Heiress by Rachel Hawkins

October 23, 2023

The Heiress by Rachel Hawkins

When she was a toddler, Ruby McTavish went missing from a family picnic in the mountains near their North Carolina home. Missing for almost a year, there was always speculation whether the child who was returned to the family was really Ruby. Almost 70 years later, Ruby's adopted son gets an email telling him that it's time for a reckoning and he needs to come home.

Psychological suspense with multiple plot twists. Just when you think you know what's going on, there is a twist in the story. Also, all of the narrators are unreliable! I like this novel much more than the author's previous book The Villa. If you liked The Maid's Diary with its twisty plot, multiple narrators, and dual timeline, you'll enjoy Hawkins' upcoming book.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Edelweiss and the publisher for providing an eARC for review.

North Carolina mountains

Murder and Mamon by Mia P. Manansala

October 19, 2023

Murder and Mamon by Mia P. Manansala

Lila Macapagal and company are back for another cozy mystery set in Shady Palms, Illinois. Her three godmothers April, Mae, and June (aka the Calendar Crew) are opening a laundromat, which has started a war with the owner of the only other laundromat in the town. Just in time for their grand opening, April's niece Divina arrives from the Philippines, and the aunties figure they'll put her to work at the laundromat to keep her busy. But someone doesn't want them to open and vandalizes the laundromat, and the suspect list is long, since the aunties have offended most of the town residents at some point with their nosiness and gossip. Then disaster really strikes a few days later when Divina is found dead next to a washer.

The fourth adventure in the Tita Rosie's Kitchen cozy mystery series, complete with recipes. This entry is not as strong as some of the earlier books, with a lot of filler about food and meals. The romantic relationships are progressing slowly. There are recipes in the back for some of the yummy dishes. I worked for many years with Mia's mom, and I am so glad to see that Mia is fulfilling her dream of being a writer. 

Mamon cakes, a fluffy chiffon-y cake often made with coconut

The Break by Katherena Vermette

October 17, 2023

The Break by Katherena Vermette

In the middle of a snowy night, Stella McGregor witnesses a violent crime in the Break, an open field near her house. Stella is sure that a woman was being attacked by several people and calls the police. Although the police find a large quantity of blood in the snow, they doubt Stella's information, until two victims show up in the emergency room of the local hospital. While the family members want the police to find the perpetrators, they are reluctant to provide any information that might lead back to them.

This was one of my selections for Native American History month, something that I have been meaning to read for a while. Intense but extremely good. Violence against Native American women and girls often goes under-reported and unsolved. My only complaint with the story is that several of Stella's family members are critical of her because she didn't "do" anything to stop the crime or save the victim. Stella is a young mother home alone with two babies in the middle of the night - her husband is at work and there is deep snow outside. What was she supposed to do - leave her two children and run outside in her pajamas to confront the perpetrators? Other than that, it's great writing. Highly recommended for readers who enjoy serious literary fiction like Rene Denfeld's The Enchanted.

Northwoods by Amy Pease

October 7, 2023

Northwoods by Amy Pease

After serving in Afghanistan, Eli Woods suffers from PTSD and self-medicates with large amounts of alcohol. He has a job as a sheriff's deputy only because his mother is the town sheriff. When a teenaged boy is found dead and his friend is missing, Eli partners with an FBI agent and joins the search. But the more answers he gets, the more tangled the mystery becomes.

The whole story here swirls around addiction. Although this is a decent mystery, the author tried to cover too many big topics: PTSD, alcoholism, addiction, the opioid crisis, big pharma, white collar crime, family relationships. The narrative would have benefited from less description involving extraneous characters (is it really important that the wife of the guy who owns the fishing camp wears a ton of make-up and has her boobs practically hanging out of her top?). 

Set in the North Woods of Wisconsin, this really could have been set in any small vacation town. I know this area - we vacationed there several times when I was a kid, and later with my husband. "Resort" is something of a misnomer - the term resort makes me think of luxury linens, spa facilities, golf, and fine dining. The resorts in the North Woods are more like fishing camps. Nothing bad about that, we loved them as kids. I've never seen a country club in this area like the one described in the book, but I do know the gangster John Dillinger had a hideaway in Wisconsin called the Little Bohemia Lodge (it's still there today).

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an eARC for review.

North Woods fishing camp

What Happened to Ruthy Ramirez by Claire Jimenez

September 29, 2023

What Happened to Ruthy Ramirez by Claire Jimenez

On a cold autumn night, 13 year old Ruthy Ramirez goes missing on her way home from track practice. Twelve years later, her sisters Jessica and Nina are convinced that a woman on a trashy TV reality show is their missing sister. They set out to learn if this could possibly be Ruthy after all these years.

This is a debut novel about a Puerto Rican family living in Brooklyn, whose middle daughter Ruthy goes missing. Not a missing person story or a mystery as much as the story of the fallout for the women in Ruthy's family following her disappearance. There is humor as well as sorrow. We do find out what happened to Ruthy on the very last page. Some readers may be put off by the foul language, but it didn't bother me. One of my selections for Hispanic American Heritage month.

Three Puerto Rican sisters

The Accidental Medium by Tracy Whitwell

September 26, 2023

The Accidental Medium by Tracy Whitwell

Tanz is an out-of-work actress who takes a job at a crystal shop until her next role. She is interested in New Age stuff so the job appears to be a good fit. But she gets more than she expected when she starts hearing voices in her head and realizes that they are the voices of dead people.

This was a quick and overall fun read with good characters and entertaining dialogue. The issue I had with the book is that the mystery doesn't start until about 2/3 of the way through the story. I think it's going to disappoint readers who are expecting a standard mystery. First book in a planned cozy mystery series.

Many thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for providing an eARC for review.

Typical New Age metaphysical shop

The Maid's Diary by Loreth Anne White

August 30, 2023

The Maid's Diary by Loreth Anne White

Vancouver BC, Halloween night, 2019. A couple engaged in an illicit affair park in a secluded spot near the river to have sex, but they are interrupted when two other cars pull into the area. Two people get out of the cars and haul something out of the backseat of one car and throw it in the river. Then they push one of the cars into the river, get back in the second car, and drive away. Near midnight in a wealthy Vancouver neighborhood, an elderly woman calls 911 to say she heard a woman screaming in the house next door. When police arrive, the house looks like a bloodbath but there are a lot of unknowns: who is the victim? where are the homeowners? is the maid seen earlier in the day involved? who were the couple seen visiting around dinner time? was it accident, suicide, or murder?

Very good psychological fiction with an unreliable narrator and plenty of unlikeable characters. Kit Darling is a maid with a snooping problem that is going to land her in trouble one day, serious trouble. There are some really unexpected twists. You think you have the story figured out, but then something else happens to make you wonder what is really going on. Highly recommended if you want a story that will mess with your mind.

Vancouver BC

Tom Lake by Ann Patchett

August 22, 2023

Tom Lake by Ann Patchett

In a community theater production of Thornton Wilder's Our Town, Lara Kenison played the role of Emily when she was 16 years old. It becomes her defining role, and led her to a brief acting career that included commercials, a short-lived TV series, and a motion picture. While doing the part of Emily in summer stock in Tom Lake, Michigan, Lara met struggling actor Peter Duke, who would go on to become a famous movie star. Her adult daughters return to the family farm during the COVIC-19 lockdown and while they are picking cherries, the girls ask Lara to tell them about her acting career and her romance with Duke.

Multi-layered narrative that ponders the meaning of the past and how it shapes who we are. I usually run like crazy from books that are selected for one of those TV book clubs but I decided to give this one a try because I have read the author in the past. I loved the fact that Lara didn't regret or apologize for any of her choices. While Lara's story fascinates her children, it forces them to think about their parents' lives before they married and had children, and also about the direction of their own lives. I love Ann Patchett's writing, and while nothing can beat The Dutch House, Tom Lake is very good indeed. Highly recommended to anyone who enjoys literary fiction.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an eARC for review.

Cherry orchard in bloom in northern Michigan

Happiness Falls by Angie Kim

August 20, 2023

Happiness Falls by Angie Kim

Mia and her twin brother John live with their parents and their autistic brother Eugene in a suburb of Washington DC. Their father is a stay-at-home dad who provides much of Eugene's care. Even during the pandemic, he ensures that Eugene continues to receive the therapy he needs. One day, Dad takes Eugene to the local park for his therapy session but only one of them comes home.

Family drama with a twist of mystery. I thought this was going to be a missing person story, but it turned out to be a story about living with an autistic child. (I know you're not supposed to say this, but I don't like books with autistic characters.) The first half of the book held my interest but I found myself skimming the second half. It reminded me of something that would be a selection for Reese or Jenna's book club. If you like family dramas with lots of angst, this one is for you. If you're looking for a mystery or a missing person story, look elsewhere.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an eARC for review.

Assistive technology keyboard for autistic children

Where the Dead Sleep by Joshua Moehling

August 17, 2023

Where the Dead Sleep by Joshua Moehling

When a local man is found shot to death in his bed, acting sheriff Ben Packard finds himself with plenty of suspects, including the man's family, friends, and neighbors. At the top of the list are the man's wife and his ex-wife, sisters who hate each other. At the same time, Packard is trying to decide whether to run for election for sheriff.

Good police procedural, second in the series. Tight plotting, fast pace that will keep you turning the pages. I guessed at some but not all of the players. Packard is a multi-faceted detective: he's very good at his job, he has a three-legged rescue Corgi named Frank, he is renovating his house himself, and he knows how to cook a spatchcocked chicken, all qualities that I like in a man. He's gay, but that doesn't bother me. There is some sex, but it's low-key and not enough to make me jealous. Looking forward to the next book.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an eARC for review.

Minnesota lake

Thicker Than Water by Megan Collins

August 10, 2023

Thicker Than Water by Megan Collins

Julia and Sienna are best friends and business partners, as well as sisters-in-law. Julia is married to Sienna's brother Jason and the couple live with their son in Jason's childhood home. But when Jason's boss Gavin is found savagely murdered and evidence is found in Jason's car, he quickly becomes the main suspect.

Slow burning psychological suspense. Sienna see things in black and white: you're either her friend or her enemy. Julia knows that life has more shades of gray. I guessed the murderer early on but kept reading to find out the motive and the side plots. Would be a good choice for beach or vacation reading.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an eARC for review.

The Men Can't Be Saved by Ben Purkert

July 24, 2023

The Men Can't Be Saved by Ben Purkert

Seth is a junior copywriter at a large firm that specializes in branding - not logos or marketing campaigns, but brand identification (think "I'm lovin' it" or "The San Francisco Treat"). After writing a successful tag line for an obscure product, he considers himself to be a creative genius. But then an account executive that he disparaged leaves the firm, taking the company's most profitable account (that Seth also disparaged) with him. With over half of the firm' revenue gone, most of the staff is let go, including Seth. The only job he can find is as a barista, which he considers to be beneath him. With time on his hand, he is left to ponder his life: what does work do to us? who is he without his job? what does it mean to be a Jew? does he have a substance abuse problem or just an addictive personality?

What does work do to us, particularly to men? Seth is an anti-hero whose identity is tied to his job, and when he is let go from his job, he can't quite let go of it. Seth is also obsessed with other things: sex, drugs, his self-perceived brilliance. But he does become more self-aware by the end of the book, also more aware of those around him, able to see others' needs as well as his own. He is assisted in his growth journey by his friendship with an Orthodox rabbi as well as a co-worker. Humorous and a fast read. Reminded me somewhat of American Psycho, but without the violence and killing.

(I seem to be on a roll with books featuring Jewish characters - this is the third book in a row.)

Many thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for providing an eARC for review.

The Rachel Incident by Caroline O'Donoghue

July 6, 2023

The Rachel Incident by Caroline O'Donoghue

When she was a 20 year old university student, Rachel met the two most important men in her life, her BFF James and her English professor Dr. Byrne. Hoping to start a fling with Dr. Byrne, Rachel concocts a scheme to get Dr. Byrne to the bookstore where she works, with an eye toward some one-on-one time in the storeroom. But things backfire when she introduces him to her housemate James, and the two men are instantly attracted to each other.

Contemporary fiction set in 21st century Cork in Ireland. I forgot how awful being in your 20s could be: trying to find a job, convinced you're never going to find love, trying to save money so you can move to a decent apartment, avoiding your family while still needing them, convinced everyone else has it all sorted out. Funny and touching; I genuinely cared about the characters. Highly recommended and entertaining.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an eARC for review.

Cork, Ireland - quite a picturesque small city

The Whispers by Ashley Audrain

June 2, 2023

The Whispers by Ashley Audrain

Four couples in a suburban neighborhood. From the outside, their marriages appear solid. But then a child, a difficult child, falls from a window, causing a waterfall of secrets to come out.

I'm not a fan of domestic fiction, especially mommy fiction, and this one isn't even very suspenseful. First we had girl fiction; then we had woman fiction; now they have morphed into mommy fiction. Suburban housewives whose lives revolve around being mommies, while their husbands are having affairs, frequently with other mommies. The mommies look down on women who don't have children (kind of sick of this one - some of us didn't get a choice about having children). Way, WAY too many descriptions of miscarriage. Disappointing overall.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an eARC for review.

The Maltese Iguana by Tim Dorsey

May 30, 2023

The Maltese Iguana by Tim Dorsey

Serge A. Storms, serial killer and Florida-phile extreme, and his stoner pal Coleman are back for another adventure, this time weathering the Covid-19 pandemic at Pelican Bay Condos, their retiree condo complex in the Florida Keys. Serge on lockdown is a different type of adventure. Once they are fully vaccinated, Serge and Coleman arrange a bus tour (known as Underbelly Tours) around Florida attractions for their fellow condo dwellers. Meanwhile, the CIA is planning a clandestine operation in South America with some questionable outside contractors. 

This could have been called Spies Like Us, with everyone spying on everyone else and trying to figure out what they're doing. While there are amusing interludes, there's not as much action or adventure as previous Serge novels. Coleman does give a lecture on beginner's marijuana use that is worthy of a college instructor. The Serge novels are definitely Florida Weird, with computer hackers, big box store shopping, a showdown of Siri vs. Alexa, viral videos, pandemic hoarding, mistaken identity, and pop culture reference galore. One of the weaker entries in the series.

BTW, the Maltese iguana is a bong that one of Serge's neighbors bought at the local medial marijuana dispensary, which Serge comes to believe is cursed.

A Florida green iguana - I understand they're considered to be pests

Less is Lost by Andrew Sean Greer

May 14, 2023

Less is Lost by Andrew Sean Greer

Arthur Less returns for another entry in the continuing saga of his life. He and his partner Freddy Pelu are in a steady relationship, his novels are moderately successful, and overall, life is going well. But then the death of a former lover causes not only emotional blow but a financial crisis as well. Arthur is forced to find a way to pay the back rent on The Shack, their tiny but beloved San Francisco home. So while Freddy is away on a three month sabbatical in New England (where Arthur was supposed to join him), Arthur is instead racing around the southwest with an eccentric author trying to complete an interview for which he'll get paid, while also serving as a judge for a gay literary prize (also for money), accompanying an acting troupe performing a play adapted from one of his books (yes, and got paid for it), and returns to his Delaware home town for a speaking tour, all with somewhat disastrous results. And his long-estranged father decides to get in touch.

Light and entertaining. Even at the age of 50+, Arthur is sweet, hopeful and earnest. I actually think this sequel is better than the first book. Freddy is the narrator of the books and we learn more about his life. Arthur is constantly being confused with another writer by the same name, which makes for some entertaining confusion. One complaint is that the chapters are VERY long - I would have preferred breaking them up into shorter segments.

Rossina, the VW minibus that Arthur travels the South in

Pomegranate by Helen Elaine Lee

March 30, 2023

Pomegranate by Helen Elaine Lee

After four years of incarceration on a drug conviction, Ranita is about to be released. She longs to return to her two children, but release means leaving her partner Maxine behind. Once back in Boston, Ranita finds it increasingly difficult to avoid old habits and old companions. Ranita remembers her father giving her a pomegranate once. A pomegranate has chambers like a heart that are filled with beautiful jewel-like seed, full of juice that is sweet and tart at the same time, much like life.

Really slow moving story. I liked Ranita's visits with Drew but would have like to know more about why Geneva was the way she was, also about Maxine other than she is a militant black woman. I found the characters to be largely stereotypes. The characters and setting have been done before - nothing new here. Depressing.

Many thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for providing an eARC for review.

Homecoming by Kate Morton

March 18, 2023

Homecoming by Kate Morton

Outside a small town in southern Australia, a young family is found dead on Christmas Eve 1959, following a picnic lunch. There is no obvious cause of death. Worse yet, the youngest child is missing, apparently taken from her crib by wild dogs (dingoes). Sixty years later, a journalist returns to Sydney to look after her ailing grandmother who was injured in a fall, and learns more about her own family history than she ever expected.

I have read all of Morton's previous books and was happy to get an eARC of her latest. Like her earlier books, this is a story of family secrets and tangled relationships, set at a country house. It's a book-within-a-book, with dual timelines set in 1959 and 2018.  A true crime book is set within the framework of the 2018 storyline. I suspected the family secret about halfway through and I was right (I watch way too much true crime TV). Morton's tale will appeal to fans of Joshilyn Jackson, Diane Chamberlain and Ann Patchett.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an eARC for review.

Southern Australia