Girl Who Reads

A Christmas Legacy by Kimberly Thomas ~ a Review

2026-11-09T06:30:00.000-05:00

by Susan Roberts

When Sylvie Alcott returns to Skaneateles after twelve years away, she plans to settle her mother’s estate and leave. But Delia Alcott had one last twist waiting: Sylvie will inherit The Sugarplum House only if she reopens it for the town’s beloved Christmas Legacy Walk—in just three weeks.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

November 2026; Indie; ebook (302 pages); Christmas

Sylvie left home twelve years ago and only came home after her mother died. She and her sister, Nancy, had a rocky relationship from the day she returned, mostly because Nancy had no idea why she’d left and never returned home during the ensuing years. The only reason she came home now is that her mother left her their family home – the Sugarplum House – and her plan was to take care of the paperwork, sell the house, and leave. But her mother had put a caveat in her will – Sylvie will only inherit the house if she opens it for the yearly Christmas Legacy Walk. If she chooses not to participate, the house will be left for the historical society.

Is it possible to even try to open the house for the town event? The house needs a lot of work before it can be approved for use, and they only have three weeks! When all of the townspeople band together to help, Sylvie realizes that she may be able to have the house pass the building codes in a mere 21 days. But the big questions remain – will she decide to stay after Christmas, will she be able to repair her relationship with her sister, and how will the two sisters react when they learn their mother’s long-kept secrets and the real reason that she wanted Sugarplum House to stay open?

This story is full of love and friendship and Christmas joy. It’s a reminder of the importance of friends and family in our lives not only during the Christmas season but all year long.

NOTE: A Christmas Legacy is book six in the Yuletide Creek Series and can be read as a standalone with no confusion. The other books in the series are:

The Christmas House

A Christmas Gift

A Christmas Wish

(See my review for books 1 – 3)

Saving Stone Hall

Letters in the Snow

(See my review for books 4 – 5)

Buy A Christmas Legacy at Amazon

Susan Roberts grew up in Michigan but loves the laid-back life at her home in the Piedmont area of North Carolina where she is three hours from the beach to the east and the mountains in the west. She reads almost anything but her favorite genres are Southern Fiction and Historical Fiction.

Enjoyed this post? Never miss out on future posts by following us. Get even more book news in your inbox, sign up for our newsletter today! Or Follow Girl Who Reads with Bloglovin. Girl Who Reads is an Amazon advertising affiliate; a small commission is earned when purchases are made at Amazon using any Amazon links on this site. Thank you for supporting Girl Who Reads.

You, Me & the Conspiracy by Emma Barry ~ a Review

2026-11-08T06:30:00.000-05:00

by MK French

Tenure-track history professor Jessica Wilson needs something new to publish, and discovers a coded message written by one of the founding fathers that can change understanding of American history if she can prove it’s real. Jess tracks down Harvard PhD student turned adjunct professor Calloway Morgan. He left grad school when researching a shadowy revolutionary organization, so he might have been onto something. The two begin to work together, but the clandestine fraternity still exists and is ready to kill. Jess and Cal’s attraction grows as they go on the run, trying to avoid being the conspiracy’s latest victims.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

November 2026; Atria Books; 978-1668229118
audio, ebook, print (352 pages); rom-com

If you're a fan of the movie National Treasure, pick up this book. The coded message is a cipher, asking to move an item; on its back are two words in Latin that happen to be the name of an organization that opposed George Washington. Cal is sure there was a conspiracy to stage a coup against Washington, and the organization that staged it succeeded in making him a puppet president. He was essentially drummed out of academia for it, and it's that same publish-or-perish world that Jess works in. He warns her away, but her search for truth matches his own. It means working with a conspiracy theorist, hiding out, and tracking down members of the group to try to prove that it exists and that their academic careers weren't tanked for nothing.

The conspiracy is a fun nod to Revolutionary War history buffs; hiding keeps Jess and Cal in close quarters. The initial attraction to each other grows, and they fit in more ways than just their mutual love of early American history and revealing the truth. They talk about their innermost thoughts and fears, and truly understand and trust each other. It's a good romance alongside the cinematic scenes, and I had a hard time putting the book down.

Buy You, Me & the Conspiracy at Amazon

Born and raised in New York City, M.K. French started writing stories when very young, dreaming of different worlds and places to visit. She always had an interest in folklore, fairy tales, and the macabre, which has definitely influenced her work. She currently lives in the Midwest with her husband, three young children, and a golden retriever.

The Key to a Killer by Olivia Blacke ~ a Review

2026-11-07T06:30:00.000-05:00

by Donna Huber

A woman and her ghost roommate investigate their most personal case.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

October 2026; Minotaur Books; 978-1250336736
audio, ebook, print (368 pages); paranormal cozy mystery

The Key to a Killer is book 3 in the Ruby and Cordelia mystery series. I haven't read the previous books in the series, though I have read Olivia Blacke's Record Shop mystery series and enjoyed it.

I don't read a lot of paranormal cozy mystery books, and when I do, they usually have a witch as the main character. I thought a ghost story would be good for a Halloween read.

If you have been reading this series, this is probably the book you have been waiting for, as it deals with Cordelia's death. If you are like me and haven't read the series, you won't have any problems starting with this book.

There is a lot of recap at the start of the book. Maybe too much, as it was really slow and it was hard to get into the story. I thought about setting it aside a time or two. There is a lot of talking to the reader and telling the reader. There is also a lot of repetitiveness. The story probably could have been much shorter if we weren't constantly reminded of inconsequential things. I mean, every time she is near an electronic device, we are reminded that she has to be careful or it will be fried.

I'm not sure I like Cordelia. At times she was likable, but other times not so much. I liked it when she was being friends with Ruby, but I would dislike her when she talked about how Ruby wouldn't survive without her. Perhaps it is because she had to take care of her brother so much when she was a teenager, and she feels like she has to take care of, or protect, someone. Maybe it will be something she unpacks in later books. She does show growth in the book, like when she realizes she shouldn't be messing with someone just for the fun of it.

If paranormal cozy mysteries are your thing, then you should definitely check out this series. I'm not sure if I will read any more books in the series, though.

Buy The Key to a Killer at Amazon

Donna Huber is an avid reader and natural encourager. She is the founder of Girl Who Reads and the author of the how-to marketing book Secrets to a Successful Blog Tour.

Queen of the Spirit Woods by Sharon Choe ~ a Review

2026-11-06T06:30:00.000-05:00

by MK French

Mirae faked her way into a job as a royal kitchen maid to send money to her family. It's a hard job, especially after there was an assassination attempt against the king. She gets in the way of the prickly crown prince's investigation, and a chance encounter with a witch in the spirit woods leaves her the vessel for ten thousand spirits and deities. Her power spills out into the palace kitchens, where the kindly nobleman Wonshik helps her. This puts Mirae in the crosshairs of a power struggle between Wonshik's best friend, Prince Jae, and the queen. With the help of a fellow kitchen maid and a ghost, Mirae must help find the traitor within the palace before the looming threat from an empire threatens to overwhelm them all.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

November 2026; Atheneum Books; 979-8347106462
audio, ebook, print (352 pages); YA fantasy

Queen of the Spirit Woods involves Korean folklore within a web of political scheming and forbidden love. It's loosely inspired by the Japanese colonization of Korea.

Mirae is not skilled at culinary arts, but plans to send her wages home to help her father and sister. She meets the son of the chief advisor en route to the capital, and accidentally meets the crown prince when she spills broth on him. From there, Mirae is caught up trying to perform her Kitch duties with her newfound friend and meet the demands of the spirits that want to possess her or have her leave offerings.

The spirit world is seen as superstition and getting in the way of modernization of the kingdom, with practitioners executed if caught. With assassination attempts against the king and then the crown prince, tensions run high, and it's difficult to tell who to trust, especially with everyone holding multiple secrets.

Mirae doesn't understand court politics, which gets her into trouble as often as it gets her out of it. Seen as a shaman and not a host for spirits left homeless by the spirit woods getting burned down, she's caught between the old world and the new. Others around her have conflicting loyalties as well.

The spirit lore is fascinating, and the confines of the palace are as suffocating for us as they are for the prince and courtiers.

The story is told between Mirae's POV and that of the Crown Prince, giving us clues to the traitor's identity before the dramatic reveal at the end. It's a terrible trap, and the characters are caught within it despite efforts to prevent it. The ending fits well, and there are enough loose ends that I hope to see a sequel in the future.

Buy Queen of the Spirit Woods at Amazon

Born and raised in New York City, M.K. French started writing stories when very young, dreaming of different worlds and places to visit. She always had an interest in folklore, fairy tales, and the macabre, which has definitely influenced her work. She currently lives in the Midwest with her husband, three young children, and a golden retriever.

The Hot Chocolate Hotel by Donna Ashcroft ~ a Review

2026-11-05T06:30:00.000-05:00

by Donna Huber

Lacey Dupont is usually out Christmas shopping in London, but this December, her heart is in shreds over her cheating ex and she's driving to the Scottish village of Honey Haven to get as far away from him as possible.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free audiobook was provided for an honest review.

November 2026; Bolinda Audio; 9781038067135
audio (8h 38m), ebook, print; holiday romance

The Hot Chocolate Hotel is the second book in a standalone seasonal(?) romance series by Donna Ashcroft. I haven't read the first book, but that's okay. The only thing they have in common is that they are both set in the same small town in Scotland.

I don't read a lot of romance novels, but I'm a sucker for holiday romances. After looking through the holiday books on my list this year, I realized it was mostly mysteries. So when The Hot Chocolate Hotel was offered as an audiobook, I didn't pass it up.

It is a cute holiday romance with a bit of steam.

At first, I thought it was going to be an enemies-to-lovers plotline, but I thought Scott was too nice a guy for that trope to work. And I was right, as it quickly switched to a fake dating/engagement scenario, which worked well with the characters.

I liked the characters a lot. Well, not Lacey's parents, but we aren't supposed to like them. But it was more than that, though. I felt like they were caricatures. Their demand that Lacey marry the man of their choosing because of what he had done for the company was just too over-the-top for 2026. Perhaps, marrying out of a sense of duty is still a real thing in England, but to my American ears, it sounded outdated.

I enjoyed the narrator; Rose Riley did a great job. The voices she gave everyone were unique and definitely fit the character.

At a little over 8.5 hours, this is the perfect book to listen to while decking the halls or wrapping presents and then relaxing with a cup of hot chocolate while you admire your holiday handiwork.

Buy The Hot Chocolate Hotel at Amazon

Donna Huber is an avid reader and natural encourager. She is the founder of Girl Who Reads and the author of the how-to marketing book Secrets to a Successful Blog Tour.

Drown the Bones by Alexandra Kennington ~ a Review

2026-11-04T06:30:00.000-05:00

by MK French

Merridan doesn't mind being the younger twin, and knows her brother Von will one day make a great king. She spends her time in devotion to the Goddess, using her magic to send spirits to the underworld. When Von is murdered, she is convinced the rival kingdom had done it, since they revere a different Goddess and dabble in necromancy. Merridan does a forbidden ritual to speak to her brother’s ghost, but raises their crown prince Phoenix Darragon, who had been murdered the same night as Von. The prince makes Merridan a deal: if she takes his spirit to be resurrected, he will help her find her brother’s killer. Uncovering the truth about Von's killer means learning about Phoenix's secrets and raises the possibility of war between their kingdoms. Now she must decide whether finding the truth is worth its cost if it means her relationship with the Goddess is changed forever.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

November 2026; Berkley XO; 979-8217240104
audio, ebook, print (432 pages); fantasy

The twin kingdoms of Roth and Nova are inverses of each other: Rothians serve the Goddess and use magic to send souls to the afterlife, and Novians speak with the dead or raise them. The two have an uneasy truce that can easily turn to war, and the Goddess has ordered Rothians to annihilate the Novians if war breaks out again. Von's death is that catalyst, and the Goddess doesn't want to have the murder investigated. Instead, the war is justice for the murder. This doesn't sit well with Merridan; she's used to being second best, but not dismissed and put down by those she cares about. Her piety means nothing now, and she can't let her brother’s death go unavenged.

Of course there's more to the murder, or the fact that Phoenix died the same night. Their people can speak with the dead and resurrect bodies in certain situations. Von had seen his killer, so it's important to speak with his spirit. Spending time with Phoenix, meeting the Novians and seeing their small kingdom for herself puts a lot of what she knew into question. The difference in scripture and history adds to her doubts, and the question of justice vs. mercy is a weighty one for adults to answer, let alone eighteen-year-old teenagers trying to solve a murder mystery. The closeness with Phoenix also adds an enemies-to-lovers dynamic to the story, and the need for a happily ever after. Magic doesn't solve everything in this world, but the characters all try to improve what they can to protect those they love.

Buy Drown the Bones at Amazon

Born and raised in New York City, M.K. French started writing stories when very young, dreaming of different worlds and places to visit. She always had an interest in folklore, fairy tales, and the macabre, which has definitely influenced her work. She currently lives in the Midwest with her husband, three young children, and a golden retriever.

2 Paranormal Romance Novels For You

2026-11-03T06:30:00.000-05:00

by MK French

In case you didn't get your fill of paranormal romance last month, I'm back with two more for reading pleasure. The first one is a typical paranormal romance, but the second is a little different. Pick either one or both, and you won't be disappointed.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. Free books were provided for an honest review.

To Vex and To Hex by Neena Noon

November 2026; St. Martin's Griffin; 978-1250430717
audio, ebook, print (320 pages); paranormal romance

Lucy is a witch working at Crawley Books, and feels that its owner, Charles, is like family. Unfortunately, his useless and nonmagical grandson Grayson hangs around the store despite her efforts to hex him into leaving. Grayson wants to repair his relationship with his grandfather, no matter what Lucy does. The two both have responsibilities at the bookstore, and may have even more in common.

While we get a lot of info outright told to us in chapter one before Lucy meets Grayson, we see for ourselves why Charles is so important to her. Both of her parents are magical, but will only use their magic for practical purposes like putting away dishes or pushing in chairs so they don't have to do it manually. They're neuroscientists, and spend all of their time doing research at the hospital, and see her job as a bookstore clerk as beneath her skill and dignity. There is little the trio is able to talk about, yet Charles values Lucy's help, has a cute nickname for her, and makes her and her emotions welcome in his shop and his life for years. She is unfortunately not related by blood, so his estranged grandson was contacted by the hospital when he fell and broke his hip, requiring surgical repair.

What follows is schoolyard antics between them, using magic or nonmagical means to irritate each other. There's physical attraction between them, and the occasional glimpses of the person they are underneath to cement that. There's still the emotional whiplash of running hot and cold with each other, and dealing with their fears of rejection. We see what's truly important to them, and how they connect in spite of those fears. It's a fun story with a happily ever after.

Buy To Vex and To Hex at Amazon

Love Me Like A Rock Song by Shelly Jay Shore

August 2026; Dell; 979-8217301034
audio, ebook, print (368 pages); paranormal romance

Delilah Cohen’s famous fiancée leaves her at the altar right before Delilah is supposed to start recording her first solo album. Now she can't use her love songs or the honeymoon road trip. She turns it into a search for inspiration. She doesn’t expect to fall for Emmett, the mysterious passenger who is actually a golem on their final task. Delilah sees their attraction as a rebound fling with an expiration date, and a relationship with her is the one choice Emmett’s made on their own. Is love worth more than recording an album?

Delilah is a little self-destructive at times, but genuinely wasn't looking where she was going when Emmett yanks her out of the way of a truck in Brooklyn. At first, they present as a religious Jewish man, but during the road trip celebrating and exploring all things queer, they identify as they/them and become more genderfluid once they understand what that means. We know Emmett is a golem, but Delilah thinks they were very sheltered within a deeply religious environment. She's not wrong, exactly, and the two share stories and go on an emotional journey together. Delilah feels pressure to record a breakthrough album of new songs to prove she's not relying on her famous ex's connections alone. Of course, that kills the muse and her joy in music, making it a harder task.

The book is not just a love story but a journey to explore the self and self-worth. Emmett, as a golem, isn't human and is bound by their creator's wishes, and Delilah is so sure she's a consolation prize in life. She must gradually learn that happiness is attainable and doesn't have to be the sharp and heavy feeling of mania. Emmett gets to discover who they are, if not a protector. Together they bring out the best in each other, and we yearn for the happily ever after that they deserve together.

Buy Love Me Like a Rock Song at Amazon

Born and raised in New York City, M.K. French started writing stories when very young, dreaming of different worlds and places to visit. She always had an interest in folklore, fairy tales, and the macabre, which has definitely influenced her work. She currently lives in the Midwest with her husband, three young children, and a golden retriever.

October Mini-Review Round Up

2026-11-02T06:30:00.000-05:00

by Donna Huber

In addition to all the books I receive for review each month, I also read books for 2 book clubs. Since I don't get as many audiobooks for review as I can listen to in a month, I use my library, and recently I tried Chirp. These titles are usually a bit older, so if you don't want to buy new releases or be on a long waitlist at a library, you can try these.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site.

Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane

The Story: Summer, 1954. U.S. Marshal Teddy Daniels has come to Shutter Island, home of Ashecliffe Hospital for the criminally insane. Along with his partner, Chuck Aule, he sets out to find an escaped patient, a murderess named Rachel Solando, as a hurricane bears down upon them. But nothing at Ashecliffe Hospital is what it seems.

My Thoughts: This was the book for my September mystery book club meeting; unfortunately, it came a few weeks too late. The movie that is based on this book shows up randomly as a recommended watch, but I have always that it looked too scary to watch. Having read the book, I still don't want to watch the movie because it could be scary in an atmospheric way. The book isn't horror in a scary, gory monsters way, but it is in a 1950s mental institution way.

Buy Shutter Island at Amazon

Red Rising by Pierce Brown

The Story: Darrow is a Red, a member of the lowest caste in the color-coded society of the future. Like his fellow Reds, he works all day, believing that he and his people are making the surface of Mars livable for future generations. Yet he spends his life willingly, knowing that his blood and sweat will one day result in a better world for his children. But Darrow and his kind have been betrayed.

My Thoughts: My post-apocalyptic book club is reading this in December, and I'm leading the discussion. I put in my hold for the audiobook really early because the waitlist is crazy at Libby. I also put the ebook on hold and a hold on a print copy at the library. In the meantime, I thought maybe I should check Palace, which is a digital book app through my library. It isn't really user-friendly, but the waitlist was way shorter for both the audiobook and ebook. (I'm still 22nd on the Libby list.) The print hold came first, but I only got about 30 pages into it when my hold at Palace came in for the audiobook. I still had trouble getting into the book. It was just too much like other young adult dystopian novels, and I kept waiting for something original to happen, and it never did.

Buy Red Rising at Amazon

The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson

The Story: Four seekers have come to the ugly, abandoned old mansion: Dr. Montague, an occult scholar looking for solid evidence of the psychic phenomenon called haunting; Theodora, his lovely and lighthearted assistant; Eleanor, a lonely, homeless girl well acquainted with poltergeists; and Luke, the adventurous future heir of Hill House. At first, their stay seems destined to be merely a spooky encounter with inexplicable noises and self-closing doors, but Hill House is gathering its powers and will soon choose one of them to make its own.

My Thoughts: This book is on the list for the Goodreads Challenge Spine-Tinglers bookmark, and I thought I should listen to something spooky for Halloween. Shirley Jackson writes gothic horror, but I don't think her stories are overly scary (I've read The Lottery and We Have Always Lived in the Castle). They are usually atmospherically creepy, and this one was no exception. It was published in 1959, so it is a little dated, but it is what you would expect from ghost hunters in the 1950s.

Buy The Haunting of Hill House at Amazon

Skeptic in Salem: An Episode of Murder by Fiona Grace

The Story: When Mia Bold, 30, learns that the pharmaceutical company she works for only cares about money, she quits on the spot, walking away from a high-powered career. Worse, her long-time boyfriend, instead of proposing as she expected, decides to break up with her.

My Thoughts: On Friday, Chirp offers a handful of audiobooks for free. Since I was looking for something to listen to for Halloween, I picked up this book. It is a cute cozy mystery. Mia has been recording podcasts debunking paranormal activity. After she quits her lab job, she is offered a job as the skeptic scientist co-host on a new podcast. For their first episode, they are investigating a haunting in Salem. I would continue with this series when I want a fluffy read.

Buy Skeptic in Salem at Amazon

Donna Huber is an avid reader and natural encourager. She is the founder of Girl Who Reads and the author of the how-to marketing book Secrets to a Successful Blog Tour.

5 Thrillers for Your Fall Reading List

2026-11-01T06:30:00.000-05:00

by MK French

The nights are getting longer and colder... A great time to curl up with a cozy blanket and a heart-pounding thriller. There are a few different subgenres featured and you can start reading 3 of them now and will want to pre-order the other two.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. Free books were provided for an honest review.

The Whitechapel Full Moon Society by Elizabeth DeLozier

August 2026; Dutton; 979-8217045259
audio, ebook, print (368 pages); historical thriller

In Victorian London, Caroline Foster is hired on as a maid in the building her brother disappeared from. In exchange for room and board, Caroline must follow three orders: don’t ask personal questions, stay out of the iron-barred room on the second floor, and remain in her bedroom from sunup to sundown on the full moon. She soon discovers that the previous maid was an early victim of Jack the Ripper. Her brother left behind no answers, only more questions, and Caroline begins to suspect her hosts might be hiding something. As more bodies turn up with a connection to the Society, Caroline fears she stumbled into something much larger than she can handle.

Caroline is smart enough to give a different last name at the boarding house and make up a story about how she knows Charlie. She puts all her efforts into being a kitchen maid, cooking and cleaning, running errands, and snooping into belongings. She knows her brother had been at the boarding house and overhears conversations that bring up her brother’s name. She still can't find definite proof, but the odd dinner parties at the house seem to coincide with the full moon and some of Jack the Ripper's grisly murders. She doubts that the police will help, especially when the Metropolitan Police Chief is one of them who attended the parties.

The story is engaging and kept me hooked as Caroline tried to search through the house and figure out what happened to her brother. There are other tantalizing bits aside from that; her brother had to be presumed dead by their father, Jack the Ripper is out there, and she must lock herself in her room during the parties on the full moon. We, of course, think the worst of the house and the timing of things, and the finale neatly explains everything. We understand the importance of the house, the family tree, what happened to Charlie, and who Jack the Ripper is. I enjoyed this story and its reinterpretation of history.

Buy The Whitechapel Full Moon Society at Amazon

You Know Why by J.T. Ellison

August 2026; Thomas & Mercer; 978-1662535918
audio, ebook, print (479 pages); conspiracy thriller

Photographer Brooklyn Locke is going to Italy with her husband Trey and their two children for the holidays. Trey vanishes en route, and Brooklyn enlists the help of a stranger on the flight to help her find him. But Eden Barrow claims to be the sister of Trey's first wife, and ten years ago he had been the main suspect in her murder. As Brooklyn tries to reconcile this information, she's injured and must rely on Eden's help even though she doubts Eden's motives and Trey's past. Brooklyn has her own history that she'd rather forget, and must wonder if this situation is a trap.

The story sucked me in right away. Trey was acting oddly about the flight getting rerouted through Atlanta, and then Eden recognized him on the flight. He disappeared, and then it was rapidly one disaster after another. Brooklyn was hit by a car when running out of the meeting where Eden and a detective outlined Trey's past. Multiple agencies are pulled in to look for him, and we have multiple POV chapters from different characters telling us everything as it develops.

Each chapter pulls us forward, eager to see how the story develops. Multiple threads point to Trey, though it's unclear if he’s directly involved or being manipulated at first. That drama keeps us glued, and other cliffhanger chapter endings amp up the tension. The more we learn, the more questions we have. It all comes together at the end, with additional explanations for everything that happened in the book. Masterfully done and riveting with every page.

Buy You Know Why at Amazon

Second Nature by Joyce Carol Oates

September 2026; Hard Case Crime; 978-1835415467
ebook, print (640 pages); thriller

Joyce Carol Oates had written suspense novels under the pen name Rosamond Smith, and the Hard Case series has collected two novels and two short stories in this volume.

Double Delight: a suburban husband is obsessed with a beautiful stranger. Terence lives in an affluent neighborhood, has a son in college, a moody teenage daughter, and a preteen daughter in the early stages of an eating disorder. His wife puts him down, and his in-laws expect him to be properly grateful that they helped financially in the early days of his marriage. He's deeply unfulfilled, though he doesn't recognize it, when he's summoned for jury duty. He meets with the victim in the battery case and is drawn into her family life. Neither side of his life is going particularly well.

I found it very hard to like Terence. He had so much of his life handed to him from the start, which might be why he didn't appreciate the better aspects of it. The obsession he develops is uncomfortable to read, and I found it hard to sympathize with him. We're essentially watching someone implode, and for the longest time the suspense is waiting for both halves of his life to collide in an awful way. The ending isn't quite what we expect for his marriage or his life, but it works out better than I thought it would.

Nemesis: a professor preys on a vulnerable student. We thankfully don't see the actual assault, though we hear about it with the student telling his advisor and school provost about the event right after it happened. The provost isn't surprised, given past harassment complaints. When things shift at the Conservatory, the student becomes a suspect.

At first I wasn't sure why our POV was from a different professor in the program, but it eventually became obvious. Maggie isn't involved directly, but we see how the crimes affected her and the community. It also means we learn of details as she does, and are left wondering what actually happened. It's not exactly a cozy mystery, given the harrowing experience Brendan had and the finale when Maggie figured it out, but she does some sleuthing herself in the second half,

Short stories "A Girl Worth Twenty Million" and "First Death" match the themes of the two novels. The obsession makes little sense on the surface, but stems from an underlying unrest. If only they can have this one person who is just out of reach, then they'll be happy. It doesn't work out that way, and the characters don't always learn from their mistakes.

The novels were written in the manner of 1960's and 1970's style thriller novels, so it's less about intense action like modern ones but a slow descent into behavior that should get them arrested. Nods to AIDS and the lack of cell phones or modern devices place the stories firmly in the 1980's, allowing for gaps in time, communication, and receiving help. The novel Nemesis specifically has dates in 1988. I liked that novel the best, I think, because I was more attached to Maggie. I didn't particularly like the main characters in the short stories or Terence, though their obsessive nature was still compelling. It was more like watching train wrecks in slow motion, and certainly fits the Hard Case vibes.

Buy Second Nature at Amazon

Basilisk by Matt Wixey

November 2026; Titan Books; 978-1803367354
ebook, print (560 pages); horror thriller

Alex Webster is an ethical hacker. She and colleague Jay Morton stumble across a mysterious game created by someone only known as The Helmsman, and are instantly hooked. They try to solve puzzles to uncover The Helmsman's manifesto, then are pursued by a sinister group known as XXX XXXXXXX XXXXXX. The group wants to stop them from uncovering the Basilisk, a cognitive weapon that makes anyone who understands it lose their mind. When Jay disappears, Alex must figure out what happened, escape the stalkers, and solve The Helmsman’s final puzzle.

This book is perfect for fans of twisty tales like House of Leaves or Rabbits; we eventually have a foreword that presents the novel as a document the author received and submitted for publication, just like House of Leaves. We also have footnotes to the main text, explaining concepts. It's less of the annotator's story like on House of Leaves, but still gives a story within a story framework, and also serves to explain concepts for readers unfamiliar with computer jargon or hacking. While it makes the story feel dense and slow to read, the pages turn quicker than you think they will.

Alex starts off in a security company as a tester, and an odd breach is the invitation to the game. She and her boss try to crack the computing puzzles, and each win gives them a chapter of the Helmsman's manifesto, which involves hacking knowledge, philosophy, and the threat of using computers and sounds to affect human behavior. She writes all of this down after Jay disappears and she works for a school, but can't let it go no matter how often people tell her that Jay is dead and she should stop. The obsession with the truth puts her at risk, and even then she doesn't stop writing her story or getting followed by the creepy people trying to stop the Helmsman.

Even the comments from the agent annotating the story have a sense that terrible things are about to happen as we go, and the very end of the story is full of questions and an eerie closing that implies we're heading to the same ending Jay and Alex had. Reality bends a bit at the end, making us question what is real and what isn't, which is the best part about books like this. I haven't looked up the articles or video links in the book, but I suspect they'll enhance the book experience if I go back to do so.

Buy Basilisk at Amazon

Before I Disappear by Cate Quinn

November 2026; Sourcebooks Landmark; 978-1464293405
audio, ebook, print (400 pages); thriller

Criminologist April Anderson has a new name and ID, and no memory of why she left her life in New York to enter witness protection. She is under protection and has a fiancé trying to track her down. She's trying to unlock her missing memories, but there's a side of herself she doesn't like, and those memories might lead to her death.

April had the mafia as a particular focus of her prior research and teaching at NYU, which eventually comes back to her. She remembers details of her childhood traumas and has little emotional experience to go along with factual memories of her aunt or fiancé. He put a tracking device in her bag early on, allowing him to find her when she relocated from the hospital. He doesn't trust police and doesn't think she should either, and he had some red-flag behavior. Unfortunately, so do some of the police administrators who are hoping she'll regain her memory to testify in two weeks. There were signs of injuries before the attack that landed her in the hospital with a brain injury, and between her erratic memories and emotions, she's not sure exactly what happened.

We're drawn into the story right away, trying to find out what happened to her. So many people seem to have ulterior motives, heightening the tension along with the ticking clock counting down to the trial. The fragments of memories and hallucinations further confuse her, and we suspect that a lot of nasty things went down before the story started. The truth of that is tantalizing as we progress, and like every good thriller, each reveal recontextualizes what came before. We're shocked right along with April, wondering how reliable she really is. The final third has rapid-fire reveals and a dramatic sequence until we get to the finale. It's a compelling story, and I wasn't able to put the book down.

Buy Before I Disappear at Amazon

Born and raised in New York City, M.K. French started writing stories when very young, dreaming of different worlds and places to visit. She always had an interest in folklore, fairy tales, and the macabre, which has definitely influenced her work. She currently lives in the Midwest with her husband, three young children, and a golden retriever.

Books I Had Hoped to Read This Month

2026-10-31T06:30:00.000-04:00

by Donna Huber

Even though I read 13 books (isn't that a great Halloweenish number), I still left books in my TBR pile. A few of them are Christmas books that I plan to read now that Halloween is over and I can start binging holiday fiction. Are there any books you hoped to have read this month and didn't get to?

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. Free books were provided for an honest review.

The Memory of Borrowed Books by Meg Anderson

The Story: A librarian discovers a hidden room of unfinished memories—and must find the one that can save her beloved library from closing forever.

Why I wanted to read it: Though I have slowed down, I'm still on a kick of reading books with library or books or bookstore in the title.

Buy The Memory of Borrowed Books at Amazon

Murder on 34th Street by Mariah Fredericks

The Story: A fictional murder mystery at the iconic Macy's parade leading up to the holidays in historic New York City.

Why I want to read it: I love the movie Miracle on 34th Street (the 1947 black and white version with Maureen O'Hara), so naturally I had to pick up this book. Holiday fiction often tends to lean heavily towards romance so this will be a palate cleanser while letting me to keep up with my binge-reading.

Buy Murder on 34th Street at Amazon

Home for the Homicides by Elle Cosimano and Hannah Morrissey

The Story: When Special Agents Holly Frost and Mark Shepherd report to the idyllic town of Christmas to investigate a very less than idyllic murder, they’re in for more than the average whodunnit.

Why I want to read it: I'm starting to think I might have more murder mysteries than romance on my holiday reading list this year, which is just fine with me. It sounds like a cute read.

Buy Home for the Homicides at Amazon

A Date with Santa by Debbie Macomber

The Story: Romance blooms when an unlikely couple plans to surprise a child in need of some Christmas magic

Why I want to read it: I love Debbie Macomber's Christmas books. They are a must-read for me every holiday season.

Buy A Date with Santa at Amazon

The Best Christmas Ever by Sarah Morgan

The Story: This year, nothing about Christmas is going according to the plan in this feel-good novel full of friendship, love, and festive chaos!

Why I want to read it: I've read a few of Sarah Morgan's Christmas books and they are fun reads.

Buy The Best Christmas Ever at Amazon

Find Me Nowhere by Andrew Klavan

The Story: Retired assassin Cameron Winter is drawn back in for one last job.

Why I want to read it: I love thrillers, and I haven't read many lately, so I'm hoping to change that with this book. This is book 6, and I haven't read any of the previous books. Funnily enough, the first book in the series is a Christmas book.

Buy Find Me Nowhere at Amazon

Joy to the Bones by Carolyn Haines

The Story: Sassy Southern private investigator Sarah Booth Delaney is up against her biggest―and most personal―mystery yet.

Why I want to read it: I've been kind of hit-or-miss with keeping up with this series but this is the final book so I wanted to make sure I read it. Then I will probably go back and try to pick up the ones I missed.

Buy Joy to the Bones at Amazon

Did you read any of these books this month?

Donna Huber is an avid reader and natural encourager. She is the founder of Girl Who Reads and the author of the how-to marketing book Secrets to a Successful Blog Tour.