symmetrical bookstacking;

jackie. 31. she/her. voracious reader & consistently cannot be let loose where books can be purchased. goodreads librarian.

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What Moves the Dead - REVIEW

★★★★★

Note: I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in return for an honest review.

In this retelling of Edgar Allan Poe’s short story “The Fall of the House of Usher”, Alex Easton receives word that their childhood friend Madeline Usher has fallen ill — is probably dying — and her brother Roderick is not faring much better. Easton goes to the Usher home in the countryside of Ruravia, thinking that they will be able to help; when they arrive, Easton comes face to face with dark, still waters, a crumbling manse, and fungi that creep not only through the countryside and the home but perhaps through the local wildlife as well. Easton teams up with an English mycologist and American doctor to get to the bottom of the mystery, but there is a creeping evil that is affecting the Ushers, and Easton and their companions may not make it out unscathed…

I was really excited to read this one because I love T. Kingfisher’s horror stories (THE TWISTED ONES and THE HOLLOW PLACES), and I am pleased to say that WHAT MOVES THE DEAD does not disappoint. In fact, my only complaint was that it was so short, much like Poe’s original “The Fall of the House of Usher” story. However, unlike Poe’s story, Kingfisher gives the reader more answers as to what unnatural (or natural) horror is affecting the Ushers, ultimately making the story even more scary and thrilling. The atmosphere was ominous and close, at times oppressive, making for a compelling story that I could barely put down. This was a fascinating, complex retelling that is entirely worthy of the legacy it follows.

I would also like to note that any readers should ensure to read the author’s note at the end of the book, as Kingfisher addresses their motivations in writing this story and any comparisons to another recent gothic horror book with fungi at its center. Both authors do extraordinary, scary work with the natural world and comparisons between the two books are obvious and welcome, but should not take the form of criticism.

And may I just say as well, the cover for this one is grotesque and beautiful and absolutely perfect for the story within. Bravo.

What Moves The Dead will be released on July 12, 2022.

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I Kissed Shara Wheeler - REVIEW

★★★★

Note: I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in return for an honest review.

Four years ago, Chloe Green’s moms uprooted her from her life in Southern California and moved to a small, conservative Bible belt town in Alabama. It hasn’t been an easy adjustment, but Chloe has made a life for herself and obtained a found family group of queer friends. One of the staples of her life is her charged academic rivalry with it girl Shara Wheeler. Everyone thinks Shara’s so perfect, but Chloe is determined to not only outsmart her, but expose her. However, the night of prom, Shara kisses Chloe and then disappears, leaving behind only a scavenger hunt of clues on monogrammed stationary. Chloe and the two other people Shara kissed (Smith, her quarterback boyfriend, and Rory, misfit neighbor) begin the search for Shara, trying to get to the bottom of why she disappeared. Their unlikely trio quickly become friends, and the search for Shara becomes something more - and Chloe begins to realize that not only may she be more, too, but so may Shara.

I had a lot of fun reading this one. I’m not the target audience for YA these days, but this book was still an absolute gem to read and one that I would recommend to any age group. The writing is self aware and witty, extremely readable and engaging, and the characters complex, warm, and compelling. Not to mention queer - there’s so many queer characters in this one, with very little angst attached to their identities. While the LGBT characters were often at different stages of their queer journey, there was a hopefulness and warmth that made McQuiston’s queer positivity leap off the page. I would read so many more books about the side characters in I KISSED SHARA WHEELER. I love them all so much.

Oddly, the thing that didn’t work for me on this one was the romance between Shara and Chloe. For about 75% of the book, I didn’t really care for either one of them, and in fact found them to be selfish and mean and manipulative. The last 25% of the book made me feel okay about them, but it was a really strange feeling when I’ve always loved all the characters that Casey McQuiston has written, especially in ONE LAST STOP. I will say that characters, much like people, are not always likable or kind or nice, and that’s okay. There’s even a brief conversation about this subject in the book, which made me feel 1) a bit vindicated and 2) more generous toward Shara and Chloe especially as people. Ultimately they are strong personalities, and incredibly nuanced characters that made for a very engrossing book.

I Kissed Shara Wheeler was released on May 3, 2022.

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The Brightest Star in Paris - REVIEW

★★★★

Note: I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in return for an honest review.

Amelie St. James is the prima ballerina of the Paris Opera, and she’s spent the last 7 years crafting an image and reputation, along with her prestige as a ballerina, so she can secure a future for her little sister. But when her first love reappears, and the ghosts of her past come back to haunt her, all her hard-fought safety is threatened. Dr. Benedict Moore has never forgotten Amelie, and when he returns to Paris to recruit new scientists, he hopes that he may reunite with her. When he discovers she’s in trouble, he’s eager to help, and they pretend to be courting so they can spend time together unquestioned. However, reigniting old feelings can be dangerous, and it isn’t clear if their hearts will remain unbroken…

I admit that it did take me a while to get through because of some mental health issues I was going through, but that is entirely on me and not on the book. I loved Biller’s first book, THE WIDOW OF ROSE HOUSE, and I was anticipating this follow up greatly. I’m happy to say I was not disappointed. This book was about grief and trauma and building trust and vulnerability in the wake of both those things, and it was such a delight. It was, in a way, exactly what I needed. I related to both Amelie and Benedict in equal measure, and loved their friendship and their romantic relationship. I really appreciated that they were friends first, above all else.

The paranormal aspect of the book was mysterious and fun and compelling, but didn’t overshadow the developing relationship and character growth for Benedict and Amelie. Everything worked so well in this book, and I’m so grateful to Diana Biller for always writing such lovely, nuanced characters and stories.

The Moores were an absolute gem as always - they’re so warm and vibrant and kind and supportive. I really could read 10 more books about them and probably even more beyond that. They’re one of those families in books that you wish you could be a part of. It’s probably easy to be overwhelmed by them but they’re just so lovely that it’s just as easy to forgive them anything.

The Brightest Star in Paris was released on October 12, 2021.

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The Perfect Crimes of Marian Hayes - REVIEW

★★★★★

Note: I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in return for an honest review.

Marian has just shot her husband, the Duke of Clare, and naturally her life has become slightly more complicated - of course, the only sensible option is to kidnap the man who was blackmailing her as she goes on the run until she can determine if the duke will live and, in turn, if she will be suspected. Naturally, Rob (who’s rather terrible at blackmail, actually) is perfectly fine with this, which complicates things even further. As they flee across the country—stopping to pick pockets, drink to excess, and rescue invalid cats—they discover more true joy and peace than either has felt in ages. But when the truth of Rob’s past catches up to him, they must decide if they are willing to reshape their lives in order to forge a future together.

What an utterly unexpected delight this book was. Not that I doubted I would enjoy it - Cat Sebastian’s books are always an automatic purchase for me, even without knowing what the book is about, and I always love the books themselves. But The Perfect Crimes of Marian Hayes — in particular Marian herself — was so lovely and affirming and made me feel seen in ways I actually never thought I’d experience. But, more on that in a bit.

This book is honestly the equivalent of “be gay, do crimes” and “eat the rich” with a grumpy/sunshine romance and I love that for the author and for the reader. It was so much fun! I loved every minute of the adventure and crimes portion, but also the absolutely wonderful and nuanced characters and their development, and then the found family and the romance between Rob and Marian. The romance was very much about being seen and loving people for who they are and understanding them and what they need to feel safe and cared for, and showing one’s love with quiet deeds rather than just with grand words.

Another not small thing that I loved about this book was that there weren’t exceptionally high risks of trauma or unhappiness for the characters, and while there was some angst, it wasn’t enduring or deeply unhappy to read. I knew the characters were safe with the author, and honestly as my heart really can’t take too much unhappiness these days, this book was so lovely and filled me with joy since I didn’t have to be too anxious about what would happen to Rob and Marian (and the rest of their queer found family.)

And oh, how I loved Marian Hayes. A queer woman with a traumatic past, who feels things deeply but seems to find warm and overt displays of emotion and affection somewhat maudlin, who has a keen sense of right and wrong but more importantly justice, at turns acerbic and grumpy, and who is entirely unexpected? I love her. I also loved that her happy ending was being with someone she trusted and with whom she felt safe, and who didn’t mind at all that she didn’t enjoy penetrative sex or even always want to have sex at all. I want that for myself someday, and thank Cat Sebastian for giving me that unexpected joy of seeing my greatest hope live out on the page.

There are definitely hints of more books to come and I really hope that Cat Sebastian does write more, because I find myself desperately hopeful to see more of these characters that I care for so much.

The Perfect Crimes of Marian Hayes was released on June 7, 2022.

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Lucky Girl, How I Became A Horror Writer: A Krampus Story - REVIEW

★★★1/2

Note: I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in return for an honest review.

Ro, a struggling writer, knows all too well the pain and solitude that holiday festivities can awaken. When she meets four people at the local diner—all of them strangers and as lonely as Ro is—she invites them to an impromptu Christmas dinner. And when that party seems in danger of an early end, she suggests they each tell a ghost story. One that’s seasonally appropriate. But Ro will come to learn that the horrors hidden in a Christmas tale—or one’s past—can never be tamed once unleashed.

I had a fun time reading this novella - horror around the holidays is one of my niche interests, and I can always do with more Black Christmas. I admit that I don’t know too much about krampus, but I was intrigued by the idea of telling ghost stories around the holidays and the horrors that are imagined become all too real. M. Rickert crafts a great atmosphere and throws in several red herrings; I thought I knew several times where the story was headed and it turns out I didn’t at all. Would recommend this one to any who enjoy a healthy mixture of horror in their yuletide.

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The Children On The Hill - REVIEW

★★★★

Note: I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in return for an honest review.

In 2019, Lizzy Shelley is a monster hunter, investigating everything from local legends to cryptids. She has a popular blog and podcast, and has even appeared on television, hunting for the truth. When a girl disappears, another in a long string going back decades, Lizzy travels to Vermont, determined to find the missing girl and the monster…Once as close to Lizzy as a sister. In 1978, Violet Hildreth is living with her brother, Eric, and her grandmother in rural Vermont. Gran is a renowned and brilliant psychiatrist working at the Hillside Inn, a mysterious and secretive mental health facility. Gran brings home a young girl named Iris, mute and bearing strange scars. Violet is compelled to get the girl to speak, but little does she know that the more Iris finds her voice, the more Violet herself will come closer to a devastating truth.

The Children On The Hill was an immersive read with a gripping mystery, and at its core was a nuanced meditation on family and the monsters we create, both visible and unseen. While I admit that I suspected the twist for much of the book, it didn’t take away from my enjoyment of actually reading the story, which was engaging and compelling. I had a lot of fun reading this one, and once I got far enough in, I could hardly bear to put the book down, due to the urge to know what was going to happen next. The very ending had me react in the same way that The Witch had me react when I saw it for the first time - “good for her.” However, I won’t spoil…but I was pretty satisfied with the ending overall, although I wish we had got more from it - it felt like we as the readers are given a span of 1-2 relatively short chapters to come to terms with the resolution of the story, which had such promise. I would read a sequel to this one just to get more detail.

The Children On The Hill will be released April 26, 2022.

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The Cold Vanish - REVIEW

★★★★

Note: I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in return for an honest review.

The Cold Vanish was such an engrossing and eye-opening read. I was expecting something else from the book, though I don’t know what - perhaps something more like reading an episode of Unsolved Mysteries, something more sensationalized, but I am so glad the book was different than my expectations for it. Billman crafts a compassionate but fact based narrative, focusing heavily on missing person Jacob Gray but interspersing the chapters with other missing people from public lands and national parks. It was at turns hopeful and heartbreaking, but overall terrific. I was also very impressed with Billman for not just writing the story but actually doing the work of searching for missing people himself. I had never thought too closely about missing people and search and rescue protocols, thankfully I suppose, so it was fascinating as well as frustrating to read about where these procedures fall short and leave the families of missing people behind. My heart goes out to these families and I’m immeasurably grateful for the people that help, and even those like the author for writing about this issue.

The Cold Vanish was released on July 7, 2020.

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Murder Most Fair - REVIEW

★★★★

Note: I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in return for an honest review. This latest adventure takes Verity and her husband Sidney to Verity’s family manse in the countryside of England. The visit is hard on Verity as she has purposefully not returned home because she cannot bear to face the death of her brother Rob. Joining the Kents is Verity’s German aunt, Tante Ilse, and her maid, Fraulein Bauer. The Germans receive a chilly welcome in the countryside of England, as its citizens are still reeling from World War I and blaming all Germans for their suffering. The chill welcome escalates into something more when Fraulein Bauer is murdered, and although Verity is struggling with her grief, she throws herself into the mystery, hoping to get to the truth before Bauer’s killer claims another victim. Overall, I really enjoyed this one. There wasn’t as much “action” as in previous Verity Kent mysteries, which definitely took some getting used to, but I was really pleased that author Anna Lee Huber dedicated so much of the book to character nuance and development. Murder Most Fair is definitely a book that examines more of the inner world of our characters and their interrelationships, exploring the nature of grief, the ties between family, and how the war affected different people in different ways. It definitely gave me a lot to think about, and it was quite engrossing, seeing the way each character dealt with things. I admit that at turns Verity was quite exasperating, and I understood her family being cross with her for not seeing them for 5 years. However, this didn’t take away from my enjoyment of the book. I loved seeing the relationship between Verity and her family members. I’m glad it looks like we will be seeing more of Grace and Tim, and I hope Freddy as well. Reuniting Verity with her family gives her more nuance, and shows more of her faults, which makes her a richer character. This added depth to the heroine really makes for compelling reading and I hope we see more of this in future books. Murder Most Fair was released on August 31, 2021.

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The Dead and the Dark - REVIEW

★★★★

Note: I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in return for an honest review.

Something is wrong in Snakebite, Oregon, and Logan and her two fathers set out to get to the bottom of it, but Logan has no idea how personal the dark side of Snakebite can get. Her dads are the hosts of a paranormal tv show, and Logan has often either been left behind or left alone while they focused on filming. When kids start disappearing in Snakebite, Logan teams up with the girlfriend of one of the missing, Ashley, to do some detective work of their own. The truth is out there, but at what cost?

I had no idea that the relationship between Logan and her dads would be my absolute favorite thing about the book, and yet it was. Brandon especially was so interesting and heartbreaking.

This book is quite literally about queer girls and ghosts, and how the shadows we carry can hurt as well as save us. The mystery is engrossing, the setting compelling and tangibly alive, and the characters a delight. I will admit that the only thing that didn’t quite land for me was the romance between Logan and Ashley just because it didn’t seem that they interacted all that much to form such a profound relationship, but I still enjoyed it. Honestly it was just so nice to read a story about queer girls, being one myself. This book hit so many of my favorite things that it was easy to enjoy it and have fun.

The Dead and the Dark was released on August 3, 2021.

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The Queer Principles of Kit Webb - REVIEW

★★★★

Note: I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in return for an honest review.

This novel follows Percy, only son and heir to the Duke of Clare - or so he thought until recently, when a blackmailer requested to be paid off or they would reveal to society the scandalous hidden marriage of Percy’s father to another woman before Percy’s mother…a woman who bore a son. After investigation, Percy has found that what the blackmailer claims is true, and to protect his legacy as well as that of his friend Marian and her daughter, Eliza, he is now plotting to steal something from the Duke that could secure their financial future… but to do this, Percy will need instruction, so he turns to Kit Webb. Kit is a former highwayman turned coffee shop owner following a heist gone wrong that left him disabled. While Kit likes his new life, he hasn’t settled in yet, and he’s actually quite bored, so Percy’s proposition is perfect, although Kit is loathe to admit it (at first). This is what Kit is familiar with, and he doesn’t anticipate any problems while he is training Percy for this last job - although there are difficulties aplenty, chief among which is that Percy and Kit want each other badly. 

The thing about Cat Sebastian is that she’s completely lovely and her books are just as much a delight. She has been on my auto-buy list for several years now, since I read “The Soldier’s Scoundrel” not too long after its release in 2016. I don’t even have to know what the book is about; in fact, I’ve auto-bought Sebastian releases numerous times without even reading a synopsis because she’s just that great. The Queer Principles of Kit Webb is yet another amazing book in an excellent line of amazing books, with hopefully many more on the way.

This book does so much right! My two favorite things: found family and queer love. I adored the found family aspect, a staple of Sebastian’s work at this point, and yet never boring or predictable. This is something that is so huge in queer communities due to actual families not being accepting, and finding families who love and support you always (even when they think you’re being an idiot, looking at you Betty) is so important and meaningful.

Obviously the relationship between Kit and Percy is absolutely delicious because to me it felt very full of mutual pining and slow burn, so when they finally got together it was amazing. But, I also love that these two men were so different not just in terms of their class standing but what they thought about as important and what meant something to them, that they were able to grow with each other and see things from each other’s point of view. Sebastian seamlessly integrates politics into the personal, something that can be very difficult and that I do not always see done well (for an example of done very well, see KJ Charles.)

Although I started to suspect some things that will for sure be very important in the next book of this series, that did not take away from my enjoyment of the book at all. In fact, the mystery was far less important to me than the characters and their happiness and wellbeing, so if you think you know where the book is going - keep reading. You won’t regret it.

The Queer Principles of Kit Webb was released on June 8, 2021.

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Wreathing Havoc - REVIEW

★★★★★

Note: I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in return for an honest review.

Lilly Jayne typically spends the harvest season baking festive pies and crafting colorful wreaths to enter in the library's annual fundraising contest. But this year, autumn opens on a somber note when beloved local theater owner, Leon Tompkin, dies unexpectedly. His memorial sets the scene for a mini reunion of The Goosebush Players' best and brightest alumni, including Hollywood star, Jeremy Nolan...until someone plucks Jeremy from the spotlight, permanently. When dedicated theater volunteer Scooter McGee falls under suspicion, Lilly and the Garden Squad must spring into action. They quickly discover a cornucopia of potential suspects in Jeremy's murder. Was it an embittered ex...or a jilted lover? A rival thespian...or an overly ambitious artist? Lilly rakes through the piles of clues, but if she doesn't uncover the real killer soon, more than autumn leaves will be dropping in Goosebush...

There was a lot of moving parts with Wreathing Havoc, which to me made it all the more interesting. The theater production - the wreaths - the garden sculptures - the treacherous waters of people who have a long history together - the changing and deepening dynamics of the Garden Squad themselves. I loved how Julia Henry tied everything together. Henry weaves a tight narrative and an engrossing mystery, one where you may think you know the culprit, or why they did what they did, but you truly have no idea what Henry will do next. It makes for such a lovely mystery and reading experience.

Something that I have said before about this series and no doubt will say again is that every time I read a Garden Squad mystery, I feel like I am returning to a group of dear friends. I truly like all of the characters, and am invested in their health, well-being, and happiness. I love their bond, I love how supportive and kind and generous they are with one another, and I love how they are understanding of each other’s flaws and still care for each other regardless. They take care of each other, and to my mind are truly the definition of a found family. These are the kinds of relationships we as readers should all wish for and work toward.

As always, I cannot wait until the Garden Squad’s next adventure to see where it takes them.

Wreathing Havoc will be released on September 28, 2021.

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The Maidens - REVIEW

★★★★★

Note: I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in return for an honest review.

Mariana Andros is a group psychotherapist in London, reeling after the death of her beloved husband, Sebastian. As Mariana is grieving, her niece Zoe unexpectedly calls her from university in Cambridge, and requests that Mariana turn on the news: a young woman has been murdered, and Zoe fears that it’s her friend Tara. Mariana goes at once to Cambridge to be there for Zoe, and while there she becomes aware of a secret society known as The Maidens: a group of beautiful, gifted students…under the influence of the charismatic Professor Edward Fosca. Mariana becomes convinced that Fosca is the murderer, and when more young girls die, Mariana will stop at nothing to get to the truth, even as it puts her own life at risk.

The Maidens was so, so good y’all. There’s so much to enjoy - the tense atmosphere, the idyllic British university setting, the murder mystery, the characters and how fascinating they all are - even the minor ones, the dual threads of antiquity and psychotherapy that weave through the novel, the fact that this is one of those mystery/thriller where you truly suspect everyone (and I mean everyone!)… I can’t say enough good things about this book.

Michaelides crafts an incredibly tense mystery with enough red herrings and false leads that the reader is thoroughly engrossed. I know I was - The Maidens is utterly captivating, and explores the darkest reaches of academia, love, desire, death and rebirth, obsession, and the self. The threads of antiquity throughout the book give it a timeless quality, showing that humans have struggled with the same since the time of Euripedes and Aristotle. Truly fascinating stuff that will give any reader much to think on long after the book has been finished.

Finally, two things as an aside: 1) I was someone who deeply imprinted on The Secret History by Donna Tartt, and The Maidens is a very delightful echo and steeped with dark academia and antiquity. 2) Readers who loved The Silent Patient will love this one, if not just for Michaelides being amazing, then for the fact that The Maidens takes place in the same universe and we even see some characters returning.

The Maidens will be released on June 15, 2021.

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The Drowning Kind - REVIEW

★★★★★

Note: I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in return for an honest review.

Social worker Jackie (“Jax”) has spent years putting boundaries between herself and her sister Lexie (“Lex”) as a result of Lex’s mental illness, even going so far as to move to Tacoma, Washington when her sister has stayed in Brandenburg, Vermont. Dealing with Lex can be exhausting, especially when she is in the grips of a manic episode - so when Lex calls Jax more than 10 times in one day, Jax ignores the calls and asks their Aunt Diane to check on Lex. Hours later, Jax gets the call that Lex is dead, drowned in the dark, deep black waters of the pool on the grounds of the family house, Sparrow Crest. 

Jax travels back to Brandenburg to take care of arrangements for her sister, where she discovers that in the last few months and weeks of Lex’s life, she had become fixated on the springs that feed the pool on the grounds of Sparrow Crest, and the history of their family. As Jax works to get to the bottom of what Lex was so close to discovering, Jax herself begins to suspect that the springs may be a miracle - or a curse…One that is tied into the very origins of her family, and one that Jax herself may not be able to escape from.

The Drowning Kind was truly a fantastic book - I devoured it in a day, after going through reading slumps for most of the pandemic. I could barely put it down. It did have a surprisingly dark subject matter at times, which I wasn’t really expecting when I started the book, but I didn’t find it jarring and if anything it made the read more atmospheric. I admit that it made me think, too, about my own personal life and boundaries, as Jax struggled with her own.

And what atmosphere! McMahon’s prose is absolutely engrossing; you can truly lose yourself in the setting - smell the sulphur of the springs, see and feel the water on the tile floor, hear Lex and Jax tapping on the walls between bedrooms. The Drowning Kind is so unsettling and it asks the reader what they would be willing to sacrifice for what they desire most - something not entirely comfortable, taking you to more dark places, but inside of yourself instead of the novel.

I can’t say enough good things about this book, honestly, it was truly a gripping, fun read and exactly what I needed (and it’s not just because the main character and I share a name!)

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Best Laid Plans - REVIEW

★★★★★

Note: I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in return for an honest review.

Charlie Matheson has spent most of his life caring for other people, and ignoring his own needs. He barely knows what he wants for himself, but when Rye Janssen comes to Garnet Run after inheriting a ramshackle house from his grandfather, Charlie wants. At first all he wants is to help Rye, since the other man clearly has no idea what he’s doing when it comes to construction and demo-ing his late grandfather’s house…But the more Charlie gets to know Rye, the more Charlie wants…until all he wants is Rye. And Rye, who isn’t used to someone looking after him so well, finds that he no longer wants to do things on his own; the life he’s making in Garnet Run looks so much better with Charlie in it.

Much like Better Than People, Best Laid Plans really brings the cozy joy. I absolutely loved Charlie - it is impossible to know Charlie and not love him, I’m sure - and I really enjoyed his relationship with Rye, from the very beginning when it was clumsy attempts at helping and glares from Rye. I also have a bone to pick with Roan Parrish because how dare they make me feel so Seen with Charlie and his hesitation when it comes to physical intimacy. I thought Roan had me with Simon and his anxiety in Better Than People, but this was even more close to home. We as readers to get to see enough of Simon and Jack to feel satisfied, but I really loved Rye and Charlie. I especially loved how their relationship developed and how kind they are to each other, and supportive, and willing to talk things through even when they are uncomfortable.

A standout character to me was Marie, Charlie’s coworker at the hardware store. I was so intrigued by her and I hope we see more of her in Garnet Run. Of course, I will show up no matter whose story in Garnet Run is being told - these books truly bring me joy and I look forward to any visit to our small town in Wyoming.

Best Laid Plans will be released on February 23, 2021.

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Killer Triggers - REVIEW

★★★★

Note: I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in return for an honest review.

Well, well, well… Killer Triggers was an intensely readable book, both compelling and entertaining. The content of the book, of course, is interesting for anyone who finds themselves fascinated by true crime, police procedurals, and yes, of course - Joe Kenda’s show Homicide Hunter on ID. In Killer Triggers, Kenda covers 10 or so primary cases from his career in law enforcement and what drove those killers, as well as how they were caught. It is, in retrospect, much like Homicide Hunter - one of the best things about this book is how Kenda truly writes like he talks, so it’s very much a situation where you feel that you can hear him recounting these stories to you. The chapters feel very much like a conversation between Kenda and the reader, or at least story time. It’s fun, and engrossing, and truly a great read for any existing fan but also anyone new to Kenda. Something I also enjoyed, and found deeply touching, was the last section of the book in which Kenda details how his life has changed since he started Homicide Hunter and touches on mental health and the sometimes devastating effects of working hand in hand with death. It's genuinely nice to see him acknowledge this, of course, especially when he admits that he suffered dearly as a result of his work, taking his cases home so to speak and encountering things that would never leave him. However, it was also comforting to read that he is happy, and doing well, and that he wishes the reader well, too. We need more kindness and understanding like that these days. Joe Kenda is truly one of a kind.

Killer Triggers will be released March 9, 2021.

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The Fighting Bunch - REVIEW

★★★★

Note: I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in return for an honest review.

“The Fighting Bunch” is a compelling yet little known piece of history, regarding an armed rebellion that took place in Athens, Tennessee in 1946. Local politics had become so corrupt that it affected every level of government, disenfranchising local voters and all but stripping them of civil rights. Demobilized GIs returning from the battlefields of World War II took a stand, making their own local political party and ultimately resorting to armed resistance to defend democracy at home just as they had done abroad. DeRose has written a fabulously well-researched book here, fascinating and in depth without being dry, as sometimes occurs with history. Unprecedented access to first hand sources makes “The Fighting Bunch” really stand out. What I found so compelling about this book was not just that what DeRose outlined really took place - I had never thought something like this would happen on American soil - but that it is so timely with the current political climate in America. We deal today with voter suppression, disenfranchisement, and corruption; the legitimacy of elections are being called into question, the prevailing political party will stop at nothing to hold onto their power…It’s all too real, and truly I think we all as citizens of this nation could take a few tips from the GIs in Athens, Tennessee in terms of defending not only our rights but those of our neighbors.

A fascinating book I would recommend to any interested in domestic political history.

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The Hollow Places - REVIEW

★★★★★

Note: I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in return for an honest review.

Kara has just gone through a divorce and doesn’t want to return to live with her mother, so when her eccentric Uncle Earl offers her a room in the Wonder Museum, where she can work in lieu of paying rent, Kara jumps at the chance. The Wonder Museum is filled with clutter and cryptozoology and all manner of outlandish things, so when a package arrives with a strange carving, Kara and her uncle think nothing of it. However, when a hole into an alternate world opens on the second floor, the familiarity of the museum changes, and Kara is thrust into a world of cosmic horror that not only places in her danger but fills her with a sense of dread…one that will never go away.

I really liked The Twisted Ones and thought that The Hollow Places would be a nice spooky read for October but I wasn’t expecting it to be actually scary. It filled me with a dread that felt so real and tangible, and that genuinely made me want to go checking my house for holes in the walls (and I may yet still do this.) It reminded me of Lovecraft and Blackwood, otherworldly but still somehow so close to our own that it makes you question everything. This book was an intense joy to read, a book that I could hardly put down (and I have not had the mental space to read a lot lately, so this tells you a lot!)

I truly hope that Kingfisher writes more horror novels because The Hollow Places was absolutely fantastic.