Tuesday, August 05, 2025

Dwelling by Emily Hunt Kivel

 

A lot of fun elements, but they didn't cohere well.


Review copy provided by publisher.

Monday, July 28, 2025

The Slip by Lucas Schaefer

 

Books set in Austin are always fun

 But this was also confusing.

Saturday, July 19, 2025

Thursday, July 17, 2025

A Sorceress Comes to Call by T. Kingfisher

 

OK, I guess. I think fantasy just isn't my thing.

Tuesday, July 15, 2025

The Unraveling of Julia by Lisa Scottoline

 

I was really worried that this was going to be lame -- but it wrapped up well.


Review copy provided by publisher.

You're Safe Here by Leslie Stephens

 

meh

Saturday, July 12, 2025

History Lessons by Zoe Wallbrook

 

A perfect blend of mystery, social commentary, and light humor. Recommended.


Review copy provided by publisher.

We Are the Brennans by Tracey Lange

 

Solid.

Vera, or Faith by Gary Shteyngart

 

Decent, but not spectacular, and I find myself irritated at the praise that the author gets for this level of writing.

Run for the Hills by Kevin Wilson

 

Decent.

Saturday, July 05, 2025

Written Out by Howard Mittelmark

 

Quite fun.

Veronica Ruiz Breaks the Bank by Elle Cosimano

 

I've been a little worried that this series was fading in quality, but this throwback short story was great fun.


Review copy provided by publisher.

Best of all Worlds by Kenneth Oppel

 

OK, I guess.

Eat a Peach by David Chang


 Very interesting.

Beach Hut 512 by Dorothy Koomson

 

I guess there is a market for what I have come to think of as "the implausible mystery," but it isn't me.


Review copy provided by publisher.

What Was She Thinking? by Zoe Heller

 

Very nice.

Tuesday, July 01, 2025

The Namaste Club by Asha Elias

 

OK, trying to describe this without spoilers: I was initially rolling my eyes a bit at the characterization, but the nice twist at the end redeemed the book in my eyes.


Review copy provided by publisher.

Runner 13 by Amy McCulloch

 

The setting -- an ultra marathon in the desert -- was quite promising. But the plot suffered from something that a lot of mysteries suffer from: just way too many coincidences and unnecessary drama.


Review copy provided by publisher.

Friday, June 27, 2025

The Relentless Moon by Mary Robinette Kowal

 

Solid. However, the narrator's voice and volume for the news articles is a crime against humanity.

Tuesday, June 24, 2025

El Dorado Drive by Megan Abbott


 The disadvantage of reading a lot is that a lot of plots begin to seem overdone. But this was different, interesting and clever.


Review copy provided by publisher.

Friday, June 20, 2025

Far and Away by Amy Poeppel


 This was SO much fun. I read so much that so many books seem derivative, but plot and characterization were both fresh.

Tuesday, June 17, 2025

The Poppy Fields by Nikki Erlick

 

I thought I was going to love this because I really liked The Measure, but this one missed the mark. 


Review copy provided by publisher.

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