Kaua’i Storm

Author: Tori Eldridge

Series: Ranger Makalani Pahukula Mystery #1

Publisher: Thomas & Mercer

Release Date: May 20, 2025

A story of family, action and mystery all rolled into one.

It’s been ten years of working as a national park ranger in Oregon and now Makalani Pahukula heads back to Kaua’I to celebrate her grandmother’s birthday. It’s not easy to fit back in with family when she has been gone for a decade and Makalani comes back to find her family is not so close and two of her cousins have gone missing. Makalani uses all her skills to help despite her family not as open to her helping as she would have hoped for.

This story had a bit of a slow start but ended up being one I really enjoyed. If it keeps at this pace this could be a mystery series that ends up with a very long shelf life. The scenery was breathtaking as you would expect with the tropical atmosphere and family history there. That was just one of the many things the story had working for it. The characters were well written, but I would like to see a little better development for them as the story progresses in the next addition. If you are a fan of mysteries set in a fun tropical location with great twists and turns, this will be a great addition to your home library.

I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

Lone Wolf

Author: Gregg Hurwitz

Series: Orphan X #9

Publisher: Minotaur

Release Date: February 13, 2024

The next installment in the Orphan X series is a not to be missed thriller!

Evan Smoak was once known as Orphan X and worked as a black ops agent for the government. When he had enough, he left the program and set out on his own to help those who needed him and his special set of skills. His latest mission finds him helping a little girl who has lost her dog. This is not the usual mission Evan agrees to go on but helping this girl turns into one of the biggest jobs he has ever had to tackle. Set out to find an assassin known as the Wolf, who is hunting Evan, might just be more than he can survive.

The Orphan X series is a great read for readers that are fans of The Grey Man, Bourne Society and other types of books and movies. They are all full of action, suspense and Evan getting out of impossible scenarios. In Lone Wolf, I enjoyed Evan having to slow things down a little to help the girl find her dog and the way that lead into a much bigger and harder problems for him to solve. There was still plenty of interaction between him and Joey, which is always a fun dynamic for the story. There was also more twists and surprises in this one than some of the previous installments. Overall this is a great addition to the series that fans of Hurwitz will not want to miss.

I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

Drop Dead Sisters

Author: Amelia Diane Coombs

Series: The Finch Sisters #1

Publisher: Mindy’s Book Studio

Release Date: November 1, 2024

An intriguing story that is a start to a new series full of unforgettable characters, crazy wit and a tight storyline.

Remi Finch and her sisters haven’t gotten along in years, in fact, they haven’t spent much time in the same room to avoid conflict. All of that is going to come to an end when their parents plan a family reunion trip. Remi is hesitant but willing to reconnect, but as they get together trouble erupts with a dead body at the campsite for the family. With the mystery of the dead body, the sisters quickly bond and try to solve what has happened.

Drop Dead Sisters is a very unique and fun story with lots of tension between the sisters causing the story to flow quickly and keep my attention. These sisters have a dynamic that many will be able to relate to as they read through the pages. There were moments throughout where the main character seemed to slow the progress of the story that had me skipping a few pages to get to the good moments. Once past these slow moments, the story did flow quickly and had me very interested in what was going to happen. This is the first in a new series and with more to come I am interested in what other situations the sisters might find themselves in. Readers that enjoy a different kind of mystery will enjoy this one.

I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

The Burning of Rosemont Abbey

Author: Naomi Stephens

Publisher: Bethany House

Release Date: October 15, 2024

A historical romance that will leave readers wanting more from this fun and endearing read.

In the mid 1950’s at the ruins of Rosemont Abbey, Paul Everly is accused of arson, being the town troublemaker makes him an easy target. Paul is nowhere to be found though and his twin sister Louisa is left to prove his innocence. Being a twin has given her unique abilities, like the connection she has with her brother and feeling it deep inside when he died before the Abby was set on fire. Knowing he couldn’t have had anything to do with the fire and proving it are two different things.

While this one was a fun and entertaining read, I found a lot of coincidence moments that were hard to overlook. I did enjoy the story and the mystery within the pages and the tension is what kept me turning the pages. While this is more romantic suspense than mystery, there is enough mystery to keep my attention. The small-town atmosphere of the story was just what it needed and it made what the characters were going through seem right for them most of the time. There were plenty of predictable moments that I wish wouldn’t have been there but overall, it was an enjoyable story for readers that steer towards historical romance.

I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

Specters in the Glass House

Author: Jaime Jo Wright

Publisher: Bethany House

Release Date: October 1, 2024

Jaime Jo Wright is back with her best yet! She continues to fascinate me with her ability to craft the most amazing and touching stories.

After both of her parents pass away, Marian Arnold returns to her childhood home and her mother’s butterfly house. In 1921, prohibition shut down her family’s brewing empire and left Marian with very little. Shortly after she returns home, Marian starts having nightmares and wonders if she is going crazy as dead butterflies appear along with a dead body in the butterfly house. Marian finds solace in her childhood friend Felix who is also dealing with ghosts from his past. Together they must work past the ghosts and butterflies to find a future.

In the present-day timeline, Remy Shaw is a researcher coming to help an elderly biographer looking into the murders and mystery behind Marian Arnold and all that happened at the manor. One of Marian’s decedents shows up at the manor wanting to make sure the story is told correctly. But mystery and danger haven’t strayed far from the manor and yet another generation might be in for more than can take.

Jaime Jo Wright gets better with each novel and this newest one is no exception. I have loved all of her books but this one was by far the best. When you think of butterflies, the next step is not serial killers and ghosts. The dual timeline is something Wright has just about perfected after so many books and she does it better than almost anyone else. It doesn’t matter if it is the past or present timeline, I found myself connected with the characters and the storyline. Usually, a story with a historical timeline is not my “cup of tea” but when Wright is creating the story I know I’m going to connect with the story and characters. If I can connect with characters, then I am hooked into the story till the end. This is the kind of story that is perfect timing coming out right around Halloween. I would recommend this story to readers that love a little spooky with their romantic suspense but also just a fantastic story with great characters.

I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

A Game Most Foul

Author: Alison Gervais

Publisher: Blink

Release Date: June 18, 2024

Aww, this one was such a fun read! I loved the entire story and think mystery lovers will as well!

Jules Montgomery is having a dream come true by attending the Ashford College writing seminar in London. After she arrives, she finds her aunt who she is staying with. Her dream turns out to be a little scary when she must learn to navigate a new city and is dealing with recent hearing loss that she would prefer to keep secret from her new classmates. Now that she is at the seminar, she can’t think of a single thing to write about. When the class is out and about on a field trip one of the students goes missing and Jules along with her new friends, Percy and Suruthi have a new mystery to solve. Along with searching for their missing classmate, they are trying to figure out their odd Professor Watson and a strange man who keeps coming to her aunt’s antique shop who goes by the name Sherlock Holmes. With more than one mystery afoot and time running out, the new friends will have to work fast to solve this case that spans more than a century.

I love picking up a clean, fun young adult book that I can confidently pass down to my kids without worrying about any of the content. Alison Gervais has done a fantastic job with A Game Most Foul, a fun mystery with lots of twists and turns and great inclusive characters. The way she included the hearing loss Jules deals with and her hearing aid will be a great thing for readers dealing with that or similar issues to see a character in a fun book learning to deal with that. The mystery with Sherlock and Watson was so fun and well played out. This book had a great mystery to it and it was all clean without language, sex or dark violence and gore that was so fun to read and refreshing. I would recommend this book to young readers that want a mystery and parents wanting a good clean book for them to enjoy.

Death at Morning House

Author: Maureen Johnson

Publisher: Harper Teen

Release Date: August 6, 2024

A fun mystery with back and forth from the past to the present that will leave readers on the edge of their seats.

Marlowe Wexler has had one thing after another go wrong and after a horrible first date where she almost burns down a house. She then sets off for a new summer job at Morning House. Morning House is a mansion built on an island back in the 1920s but was quickly abandoned after the death of several family members. The house is being opened for one summer for fans of the story of what happened in the house. Shortly after Marlowe arrives, another mystery starts to unravel, and Marlowe finds herself at the center of this mystery and the danger included.

Death at Morning House is another great mystery by Maureen Johnson. I have enjoyed all of the books by Johnson, but I can’t give this one as high of a rating for one personal picky reason. I am not a fan of books that have LGTBQ type themes that are marketed to kids or in the YA section. Write that in adult books all you want, but when it is marketed to kids, I am not so much a fan. The story itself was really good and I enjoyed the mystery aspect of it along with the back and forth between the past and present. Johnson is very good at the sleuthing type genre and I knew that would make this story really good, which it did, I wasn’t sure how it was all going to turn out until the very end. I love it when writers are able to make a story twisty like that and keep me guessing. I do think fans of mysteries will enjoy this one for sure.

I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

The Crown Conspiracy

Author: Connie Mann

Series: Speranza Team #1

Publisher: Tyndale House

Release Date: June 4, 2024

A fun and dynamic read full of action, suspense and high-stakes until the very end.

Sophie Williams is a top-of-the-line art thief and forger who has worked for years to get stolen art back into the hands of those it belongs. Her best friend owns an art gallery in Germany and when a long-lost painting of the royals shows up at her door, Sophie ends up in the spotlight, the last thing she wants. The painting brings up all kinds of questions that lead to one of the biggest mysteries that they can hopefully solve together, before it is too late.

The Crown Conspiracy is a new, fun and clean thriller that will leave mystery lovers turning the pages at record speed to figure out the mysteries throughout. I loved the way that this book was clean, thrilling and so different than most I have read recently. The storyline was fun, the mystery hooked me and the characters had me invested in their outcome, a perfect combination for a winning read. Sophie was a fun character, but for me, I was more invested in her friend and all that she was going through. I know this one shows as the beginning of a new series and I can’t wait to see what comes next. This book is great for those that love adventure, action, and art.

I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

That’s Not My Name

Author: Megan Lally

Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire

Release Date: December 26, 2023

Not at all what I expected in the very best way. A fun mystery with just the right twists and turns.

When a teen wakes up on the side of the road with no memory of who she is or how she got there, a passing officer finds her and takes her to the station where a man shows up and says she is his daughter. He has documentation and everything, he tells the officer her name is Mary and wants to take her home. A few hours away, Drew is searching for his missing girlfriend, Lola; she left in the night and no one has seen her sense. Drew has been the prime suspect and finding her is the only way of proving his innocence. When he gets a tip about this girl possibly being Lola, he feels it is his only choice; little does he know they are both about to end up in more danger they could have imagined.

I picked up That’s Not My Name on a whim and have left it on the shelf for a long time. Now that I picked it up and read it, I am kicking myself for waiting so long. This was a fun, faced-paced thriller with the perfect twists and turns all the way throughout the story. I loved the way it played out with the back and forth between Mary and Drew. There is a little bit of language which I don’t like in a young adult novel but for a more mature readers it isn’t a problem. The story flows at a fast pace and is a great fun read for anyone who loves suspense and mystery.

The Wayward Prince

Author: Leonard Goldberg

Series: Daughter of Sherlock Holmes #7

Publisher: Minotaur

Release Date: July 11, 2023

As always, Joanna Watson dives into another great mystery!

In the midst of the Great War, Prince Harry, the more troublesome prince of the crown, is kidnapped while riding in Hyde Park. Thought to be the work of German agents, the Watson trio are brought into help Scotland Yard investigate the matter, but quietly as word does not need to spread that Germany has successfully infiltrated the royal family. But of course, things are not always what they seem, and Joanna remains at the top of her game, but this could be her last mystery if not careful.

I always look forward to the next mystery in this series, just to see if I can solve it before Joanna. As usual, I did not, but I still had a blast trying. The way Goldberg writes keep readers intrigued through the full story and with ties back to several of the original Sherlock Holmes novels, its easy to see why. I read through these books every year and am looking forward to adding this one to my shelf. Another great installment of the Daughter of Sherlock Holmes.

I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.