Category: Thriller

Book Review: Sisters Before Misters by Amelia Diane Coombs

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️/5

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The Finch sisters are back in the second installment of this delightfully chaotic series, Sisters Before Misters.

Maeve has officially had enough murder and mayhem to last a lifetime, so when a call from Eliana pulls the sisters right back into another crime scene, she is less than thrilled. She’s also horrified that somehow poor Leo gets dragged back into the chaos too.

Eliana’s estranged husband Chad has gone missing, and the state of his condo points toward a very messy ending. Unfortunately for Eliana, the evidence also seems to point directly at her. Honestly? Even Maeve and Aunt Lindy aren’t entirely convinced she didn’t do it considering Chad has been dragging out their divorce for ages.

But the deeper Remi digs into Chad’s disappearance, the more tangled everything becomes. One of my favorite parts of this series continues to be Remi’s anxious overthinking brain trying to piece together the mystery in real time. It feels relatable, funny, and surprisingly heartfelt all at once.
I also really love that the sisters are still figuring each other out. Their relationship continues to evolve naturally and watching them slowly learn how to trust and support one another remains the heart of the series for me.

And that ending twist? Absolutely delightful.

This series continues to balance humor, family chaos, mystery, and heart so well. If you enjoy series like Finlay Donovan, Stephanie Plum, Sunshine Vickram, or generally love humorous mysteries with quirky characters and messy family dynamics, you’ll absolutely want to pick this one up.
While this could technically be read as a standalone, I’d definitely recommend starting with book one first so you can fully appreciate the sister dynamics and character growth throughout the series.

I was, however, highly disappointed that there were no magic mushrooms in this book this time around.

On sale now, you can grab your copy here.

And make sure you check out the book that started it all, Drop Dead Sisters.

Book Review: This Weekend Doesn’t End Well For Anyone by Catherine Mack

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️/5

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Bestselling novelist Eleanor Dash is expecting a lot of things when she agrees to attend a murder mystery writers conference in the Bahamas. What she isn’t expecting is a dead body in her hotel room.

But honestly… at this point, she probably should.

Once again, what seems like a coincidence quickly starts to feel like something more intentional. Is someone actually targeting Eleanor? Or could it be someone close to her? Connor, Oliver, Harper—and yes, even stalker Karen—are all back in the mix, which makes the suspect pool both familiar and chaotic.

We also get a return of several characters from earlier books, with ongoing storylines tied to past events. This one really builds on the previous books, so I wouldn’t recommend reading it as a standalone. You’ll get a lot more out of it if you’ve read the first two.

Without giving too much away, things escalate quickly. There’s a storm warning, the island is evacuated, and our group decides to stay behind after signing away any liability. So now we have a full-on closed-circle mystery, but instead of a single house or mansion, it’s an entire island.

And yes… the bodies do start piling up.

As the group gets smaller, the tension ramps up, and the suspect list becomes more focused. There’s also someone from a previous book who returns with unfinished business, which adds another layer to the mystery and raises the stakes.

I listened to this one on audio and would absolutely recommend that format. The narration works especially well with the author’s style, particularly with the footnotes and moments that break the fourth wall. That kind of storytelling can feel forced if it’s not done well, but here it’s clever and intentional.

This is another twisty, fun installment in the series. It definitely feels like a nod to Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None, which is one of my favorites. You can really see that influence in the isolated setting and the steadily shrinking cast.

Overall, I love this series for its mix of humor, chaos, and mystery. It doesn’t take itself too seriously, but still delivers a satisfying twist at the end. This book also ties back nicely to earlier storylines and expands the world in a meaningful way.

If you’re a fan of the Finlay Donovan series or other lighter, character-driven mysteries, this is definitely worth picking up.

On sale now, you can grab your copy here.

Check out the other titles in The Vacation Mysteries Series:

Book One: Every Time I Go on Vacation, Someone Dies

Book Two: No One Was Supposed to Die at This Wedding

Thank you to Catherine Mack, Macmillan Audio, St. Martin’s Press | Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the ALC & ARC copy of this book. 

Book Review: Drop Dead Sisters by Amelia Diane Coons

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️/5

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What do you get when you throw together three sisters who can barely tolerate each other, parents who are perpetually stoned and desperately trying to force family bonding, a handful of kooky side characters, and a dead body?

Pure chaos.

Oh, and add in a hunky park ranger and a nosy detective, and you’ve got Drop Dead Sisters.

What really made this work for me was the family dynamic. I found pieces of myself in all three sisters in different ways: Remy’s people-pleasing tendencies, Eliana’s need to force everything into “fine,” and Maeve’s inability to return a text message to save her life.

I loved watching the sisters slowly reconnect and grow together throughout the story, especially seeing Remy learn to love her family for exactly who they are instead of who she wishes they’d be.

This was funny, heartfelt, weird in the best way, and such an entertaining read. I absolutely cannot wait to dive into book two. If you love Finley Donovan, Stephanie Plum or Riley Thorn, you’ll love the Finch Sisters.

Also… as a Phan, I loved the subtle Phish reference. I won’t spoil it, but definitely keep your eyes peeled 👀

On sale now, you can grab your copy here.

Book Review: A Murder Most Camp by Nicolas Didomizio

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️/5

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OMG. This book! Love, love, love.

Not only is it set in an area that is literally in my back yard, (I went to Lake George almost every summer growing up and still go as an adult), but my current city even gets a shout out! A Murder Most Camp has all the makings of a classic whodunit. It’s packed with campy clichés, millennial pop culture references, and just the right amount of sass and snark. The Clueless references are great.

Mikey Hartford IV is a spoiled playboy who loves yachts, good food, and a good time. When he makes one too many reckless decisions—this time trying to buy his best friend Jamie’s affection, his father finally steps in and changes the terms of his trust. Now, in order to receive his full inheritance, Mikey has to prove he can actually do something good for the world.

Enter his step-grandmother Sierra, who is a few years younger than him, (married to his 80-year-old grandfather) and tasked with turning Mikey into a decent human. Her solution? Send him to Camp Lore, her former summer camp in upstate New York, where he’ll work as the oldest and least-qualified staff member alongside his twelve-year-old aunt, Annabelle.

And let’s just say… Mikey is wildly unprepared.

The camp itself is clearly struggling, the facilities are double accommodations (cue Mikey’s oh the horror face!), and instead of embracing summer camp activities, the kids assigned to Mikey’s “special activities committee” have zero interest in traditional camp fun. Instead, they become obsessed with a local legend tied to an abandoned cabin on the property and decide they’re going to solve a possible murder. Mikey convinces them to turn their summer project into a documentary about the mysterious disappearance, all while dreaming of his own fame surely to come from a true crime documentary.

From there, things spiral quickly, and nothing is quite what it seems.

I won’t spoil anything, but if you love a twisty mystery with an ending that completely sneaks up on you, this one is absolutely for you! I did not see it coming until it basically smacked me in the face.

There’s also a touch of romance, with the very hunky lifeguard Jackson, who is surprisingly into Mikey… despite Mikey doing everything in his power to come across as a complete jerk. Oh, any maybe he’s a murderer?

The characters really shine here. Even the side characters, like Raymond and Mikey’s dad, had me laughing. The writing is sharp, quick, and incredibly engaging. And I especially loved Mikey’s character arc. He doesn’t completely change who he is, but he grows in a way that feels realistic. Still very much himself, just… slightly less of a disaster.

One of my favorite dynamics was between Mikey and Annabelle. He thinks everyone else is helping her come out of her shell, but it’s really him who starts that process. There’s a really sweet moment where he offers to pretend he’s her uncle to make her feel more comfortable about their unconventional family situation, and it just worked so well.

All in all, this was an absolute delight. I binge-read it and could not put it down. If you’re a fan of Finlay Donovan, The Guncle or Stephanie Plum, you’ll love this book. This is my first book by the author but won’t be my last.

On sale now, you can grab your copy here!

Thank you to Nicolas Didomizio, Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for providing an advance copy in exchange for an honest review. As always, I encourage you to read this for yourself and form your own opinion.

Book Review Jurassic Park: How the Novel Differs from the Movie

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️/5

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I’m honestly not sure how I’ve gone this long without reading Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton. The original film has always been one of my favorites, and like many readers, I usually prefer the book to the movie adaptation. What made this experience unique is that I watched the movie countless times before ever picking up the novel.

Reading Jurassic Park after seeing the film is fascinating because, while the core premise remains the same. A group of experts visiting a revolutionary dinosaur theme park that descends into chaos…the tone and execution are dramatically different.

Jurassic Park Book vs Movie: The Biggest Differences

Michael Crichton’s novel is far darker than Steven Spielberg’s film. The book reads like a scientific techno-thriller, with a strong focus on chaos theory, corporate greed, and the dangers of unchecked ambition. The movie, while suspenseful, leans more heavily into wonder and spectacle.

John Hammond is one of the most striking differences between the book and the film. In the novel, he is driven by profit and ego, dismissive of safety concerns and ultimately responsible for the disaster. In the movie, he is portrayed as a well-meaning visionary who genuinely believes he has created something extraordinary.

The children’s roles are also reversed. In the novel, Tim is the older sibling and the dinosaur enthusiast, while Lex is younger and far more immature. The film changes their ages and gives Lex the memorable computer expertise that restores the park’s systems.

The dinosaurs themselves are more dangerous in the book. Attacks are more frequent, the velociraptors are far more central to the plot, and the infamous T. rex river raft sequence adds an entirely new level of tension. Even the ending differs significantly, with the novel delivering a much darker resolution.

Why the Jurassic Park Novel Feels More Intense

What surprised me most was how grounded and detailed the science feels in the book. Crichton doesn’t shy away from genetics, systems theory, or the philosophical implications of resurrecting extinct species. The scientific explanations add to the suspense rather than slowing it down.

The novel also explores Hammond’s past projects and motivations more deeply, making the creation of Jurassic Park feel less like a dream and more like a calculated business venture.

I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Scott Brick, and his performance heightened the tension and seriousness of the story beautifully.

Final Thoughts on Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton

Both the book and the movie are iconic, but they offer very different experiences. The film balances danger with awe and adventure. The novel is a cautionary thriller about human hubris and the illusion of control.

If you’ve only seen the movie, the book is absolutely worth reading. It’s darker, more complex, and more unsettling than I expected, and it solidified its place as a landmark science fiction novel.

I cannot wait to read The Lost World next. Or maybe it’s a re-read…

Grab your copy of Jurassic Park and The Lost World

Book Review: Inside Man by John McMahon

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️/5

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Inside Man was one of my most anticipated reads of 2026, and it absolutely delivered! I love a good police procedural, but sometimes it’s hard to find one that genuinely feels fresh. John McMahon accomplishes that by pairing a complex, layered mystery with a uniquely constructed investigative team.

FBI agent Gardner Camden leads the Bureau’s secretive Patterns and Recognition (PAR) unit, a group of brilliant but unconventional agents brought together after career-defining moments (and not always in the way you think…) in other departments. Camden, an analytical genius who sees the world in patterns, thrives in high-level problem solving but struggles with the politics that often accompany leadership.

In this installment, the PAR team is tasked with two seemingly unrelated investigations. One involves a militia group stockpiling weapons and a murdered confidential informant. The other centers on a series of murdered women buried in north Florida. When evidence links both cases to the same unidentified man caught on camera, the scope of the investigation expands into something far more dangerous.

McMahon’s pacing is one of the novel’s greatest strengths. The story moves quickly, yet the layered plotting never becomes confusing. Each twist feels intentional, and the connections unfold in a way that rewards careful reading without overwhelming the audience.

Watching Camden’s analytical mind work through the evidence remains one of the most compelling elements of the series. His growth in this book adds additional depth. With the departure of the team’s former leader, he is forced to step fully into a leadership role while navigating internal FBI pressures. Leadership and diplomacy are not natural strengths for him, and that tension adds a realistic complexity to his character. The emotional weight of his mother’s coma further humanizes him and raises the personal stakes.

The PAR team continues to evolve as well. Their dynamic feels sharper and more cohesive, and the subtle development of Camden’s relationship with Cassie adds a welcome emotional thread without distracting from the central mystery.

Fast-paced, intelligent, and tightly constructed, Inside Man is a strong continuation of the series. Readers who enjoy puzzle-driven crime fiction and character-focused procedurals will find much to appreciate here. I’m already looking forward to the next installment.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press | Minotaur Books and John McMahon for a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. As always, I encourage you to read and form your own opinion.

Inside Man is out now! You can grab your copy here. You can also grab your copy of the first book in the PAR series, Head Cases, which you should absolutely read before Inside Man. You’ll thank me later.

Book Review: It’s Not Her by Mary Kubica

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️/5

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Well, my friends, it’s been a minute since I dove into a truly twisty domestic thriller, and I could not have picked a better one to jump back in with.

I’m a huge fan of Mary Kubica, so I was already excited going in. But this one? She absolutely knocked it out of the park.

I pride myself on trying to figure out the twist or the villain before the big reveal. With this one, I was kind of right… kind of wrong… and also completely blindsided. Which, honestly, is exactly what I want from a thriller.

As always, I’ll keep this spoiler-free. But if you want to go in completely blind like I did, I highly recommend it.

The story is told through multiple points of view and shifts between past and present. Courtney Gray is vacationing at a secluded lake resort with her husband Elliott, their daughter Cass, her brother and sister-in-law, and their kids. What should be a peaceful family getaway turns into a nightmare when Courtney discovers her brother and sister-in-law dead in their lakeside cottage.

Her niece Reese is missing. Her nephew Wyatt is found upstairs asleep and unharmed.

From there, everything unravels.

The small resort town is full of secrets. Elliott had been out fishing that day and some of his details feel… murky. Reese’s disappearance raises unsettling questions. And then there’s the lingering shadow of another girl who went missing years ago. Some people say she looks like Reese. Others say the only similarity is that they were both young and pretty.

Courtney starts suspecting everyone — including her own husband. The paranoia builds fast. Every character seems to be hiding something. And just when you think you’ve got a handle on where it’s going, Kubica shifts the ground under your feet.

This was a riveting domestic thriller that I genuinely could not put down. It was twisty, tense, and unsettling without being overly graphic or terrifying. I was constantly tempted to flip to the end just to see how it all played out.

Mary Kubica does what she does best here: layered characters, slow-burn suspense, and a final stretch that makes you question everything you thought you knew.

If you love closed-setting thrillers, messy family dynamics, and stories where everyone is a little suspicious, this one absolutely delivers.

On sale now, you can grab your copy here.

Huge thank you to the publisher Harlequin Trade Publishing | Park Row, NetGalley, and Mary Kubica for the advanced reader copy.

Book Review: The Invisible Woman by James Patterson & Susan DiLallo

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️/5

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I don’t think James Patterson could write something I wouldn’t enjoy, and his newest collab The Invisible Woman definitely didn’t disappoint. It has everything I love in one of his books: short, punchy chapters that keep you turning the pages, memorable characters, and that addictive pacing that pulls you in from the first page to the last.

Elinor’s career at the FBI ended badly—she took the fall for someone else’s mistake. Now she’s middle-aged and, for all intents and purposes, invisible. Turns out that’s exactly what the FBI needs. The catch? She’s undercover as a nanny for a wealthy family with ties to a drug cartel. And no one knows she’s there, except for the jerk who wrecked her career and her best friend (you know, just in case someone has to ID the body).

Watching Elinor handle a baby, a moody teenager, and two unruly dogs while undercover made for the perfect read. She’s sharp, relatable, and honestly, just really fun to root for.

I really hope this is the start of a new series because Elinor is amazing.

The Invisible Woman by James Patterson and Susan DiLallo comes out January 5th, but you can preorder your copy here!

Huge thanks to James Patterson, Susan DiLallo, Little, Brown and Company, and NetGalley for the ARC!

Book Review: Malibu Burning by Lee Goldberg

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️/5

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If you love morally complex characters, smart heist plots, and high-stakes action, Malibu Burning is your next must-read. The first installment in Lee Goldberg’s new Sharpe & Walker series blends crime fiction, firefighting drama, and an undercurrent of redemption into a tightly woven, page-turning thriller.

Told through dual timelines and perspectives, Malibu Burning introduces two compelling leads: Danny Cole, a former convict and skilled con artist with a surprising moral code, and Andrew Walker, a former U.S. Marshal turned arson investigator. At first, their stories seem disconnected — one plotting a heist in the chaos of a wildfire, the other chasing suspicious fires across California. But as the flames spread, their paths collide in a way that’s both explosive and unexpectedly emotional.

This was my first solo Lee Goldberg novel (though I’ve read and enjoyed his collaborations with Janet Evanovich), and fans of the Fox and O’Hare series will definitely feel at home here. There’s the same slick pacing, clever plotting, and banter-driven dialogue, but Malibu Burning adds a darker, more grounded edge that really works in its favor.

One of the most fascinating aspects of the book is its focus on California’s inmate firefighter program — a system that feels ripe for both praise and critique, and Goldberg handles it with a mix of realism and empathy. It gives the story an extra layer of tension and makes Danny’s motivations feel all the more believable. He’s a morally gray antihero you can’t help but root for, especially as his plans veer from revenge into something far more complicated.

The stakes are high — wildfires rage, a cartel closes in, and the line between right and wrong blurs as the story builds to a cinematic climax. But what elevates this book beyond a typical thriller is its heart. Amid the crime and chaos, there are genuine moments of sacrifice, redemption, and even a spark of hope.

Whether you’re here for the action, the character dynamics, or the Robin Hood-style justice, Malibu Burning delivers. It’s smart, fast, and fiery in all the best ways — and it sets up the Sharpe & Walker series with serious momentum.

The Malibu Burning is out now! You can grab your copy here. The whole series is available on KU for both ebook AND audio!

Click the links below for the rest of the Sharpe & Walker Series

Ashes Never Lie

Hidden in Smoke

Book Review: The Dirty Tricks Department: Stanley Lovell, the OSS, and the Masterminds of World War II Secret Warfare by John Lisle

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️/5

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If you’ve ever wondered how the CIA came to be, John Lisle’s The Dirty Tricks Department: Stanley Lovell, the OSS, and the Masterminds of World War II Secret Warfare is a must-read. Lisle takes readers deep into the world of the Office of Strategic Services (OSS), the wartime precursor to the CIA, and introduces us to Stanley Lovell — a brilliant scientist turned unlikely spymaster.

What makes this book so compelling is how it balances solid historical research with a fast-paced, engaging narrative. Lisle doesn’t just recount events; he pulls us right into the secret labs and field missions where some of the wildest ideas in warfare were dreamed up. From the infamous “bat bomb” project to experiments with glowing foxes designed to spook enemy soldiers, the inventions Lovell’s team produced range from ingenious to downright bizarre. And yet, Lisle weaves these stories so smoothly into the larger history of WWII intelligence that the book never feels like it’s bogging down in trivia — instead, it stays sharp, entertaining, and even a little shocking at times.

What stood out most to me was how the book traces the OSS’s influence on the birth of the CIA. By spotlighting Lovell’s work, Lisle shows not only the creativity behind these “dirty tricks,” but also the ethical questions that haunted those who created them. It’s a reminder that intelligence work has always existed in a gray zone between necessity and morality.

In short, The Dirty Tricks Department is both informative and wildly entertaining. It’s history written with the pace of a spy thriller — the kind of book that makes you keep turning pages (or in my case, keep listening) long past when you meant to stop. If you’re fascinated by espionage, World War II history, or the origins of modern intelligence, this is a five-star read that belongs on your list.

Thank you so much to the author, John Lisle, Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC copy of this book. 

The The Dirty Tricks Department: Stanley Lovell, the OSS, and the Masterminds of World War II Secret Warfare is out now! You can grab your copy here.