Have you ever noticed how the good things start with the letter S? Sex, scuba diving, sleep, single malt and Saturdays. This blog is all about the good things in life, of course. As a writer, however, I blog mostly about books.noreply@blogger.com (Yvonne Eve Walus)Tue, 26 May 2026 23:59:31 +1200Blogger http://www.blogger.com850125http://yewalus.blogspot.com/en-usnomurder,mystery,,book,,novel,,reviewBook reviews by an author, a mathematician, a mother, a wife, a poet, a scuba diver and a single malt whisky loverBook reviews by an author, a mathematician, a mother, a wife, a poet, a scuba diver and a single malt whisky lovernoreply@blogger.comhttp://yewalus.blogspot.com/2026/04/the-killer-question-by-janice-hallett.htmlbook reviewJanice Hallettmurder mysterynoreply@blogger.com (Yvonne Eve)Sun, 12 Apr 2026 13:08:00 +1200tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17137846.post-5091284622616811177Janice Hallett is a dare-devil. And a clever cookie.Who else writes an entire murder mystery using only texts, emails, transcripts, and still makes it this gripping? It shouldn’t work as well as it does... and it really, really does.The setup is deceptively cosy. Sue and Mal Eastwood retire early and take over a rural pub, The Case is Altered, and bring it back to life with a weekly pub quiz. You0http://yewalus.blogspot.com/2026/04/its-not-what-you-think.htmlbook reviewClare Mackintoshthrillernoreply@blogger.com (Yvonne Eve)Fri, 10 Apr 2026 21:18:00 +1200tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17137846.post-6254770341454185257"It's Not What You Think" by Clare Mackintosh is an excellent book. I couldn’t put it down. It's he kind of book where you tell yourself one more chapter and suddenly it’s well past midnight. I went in expecting a fairly straightforward psychological thriller. Instead, I got something a bit sharper, a bit more self-aware. The story keeps nudging you into forming opinions. About what’s happening, 0http://yewalus.blogspot.com/2026/03/inside-man-by-john-mcmahon.htmlbook reviewJohn McMahonthrillerthriller reviewnoreply@blogger.com (Yvonne Eve)Fri, 6 Mar 2026 11:28:00 +1300tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17137846.post-2405242060220887301This sequel brings back Gardner Camden and the PAR team with the same clever energy that made the first thriller so compelling. The mystery unfolds on two fronts (a militia investigation and a chilling series of buried victims) and the tension builds steadily without losing the human side of the story. It’s a smart, absorbing novel that reminds you that puzzles aren’t just about clues. 0http://yewalus.blogspot.com/2025/12/we-solve-murders-by-richard-osman.htmlbook reviewRichard Osmanthrillernoreply@blogger.com (Yvonne Eve)Wed, 31 Dec 2025 13:15:00 +1300tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17137846.post-3544531631190769763I read "We Solve Murders" in less than 24 hours (while on Christmas break) and I absolutely loved it. Loved the characters, loved the pace, even loved the crazy improbable plot.This makes me wonder why I couldn't get into the authors pervious books in the The Thursday Murder Club series. I'll try them again, and if it's still a no, I'll try the TV adaptation. I do remember getting lost early0http://yewalus.blogspot.com/2025/09/missing-sister-by-joshilyn-jackson.htmlbook reviewcharacter-driven thrillerJoshilyn Jacksonnoreply@blogger.com (Yvonne Eve)Sun, 28 Sep 2025 13:29:00 +1300tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17137846.post-7605073881271574959This author never disappoints. Now that I've finished racing through "Missing Sister", I can't decide what I value most: the quirky characters, the plot, or the unique way Ms Jackson wields language to craft prose that is both natural and a Fabergé egg (for those who've read the book, yes, the metaphor is intentional). As always with Ms Jackson's books, it's difficult to put it firmly in a 0http://yewalus.blogspot.com/2025/09/kiss-her-goodbye-frankie-elkin-novel-by.htmlbook reviewFrankie ElkinLisa Gardnerthrillernoreply@blogger.com (Yvonne Eve)Sun, 28 Sep 2025 13:27:00 +1300tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17137846.post-2761103267443168197I just finished Lisa Gardner's Kiss Her Goodbye and I’m still turning it over in my mind. From the very first chapter, I was pulled into Frankie Elkin’s world again. This time, she’s searching for an Afghan woman who has disappeared and left behind her young child. It’s a story full of heartbreak, courage, and resilience, and it feels incredibly timely. What I love about Frankie is how 0http://yewalus.blogspot.com/2025/07/lighting-torch-for-wrong-girl.htmlauthor interview with Yvonne Eve Walusdomestic thrillerInternational Thriller WritersThe Wrong Girlnoreply@blogger.com (Yvonne Eve)Wed, 30 Jul 2025 09:59:00 +1200tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17137846.post-7884106157564007088Fresh off the press, recorded this morning. I'm talking about what inspired me to write "The Wrong Girl". Click here to watch.BUY LINK for all you amazing people.(ebook available now)0http://yewalus.blogspot.com/2025/07/the-wrong-girl-ai-promo-jopurney.htmlAI videoAI-generated promoThe Wrong GirlYvonne Walusnoreply@blogger.com (Yvonne Eve)Tue, 29 Jul 2025 16:52:00 +1200tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17137846.post-6359195706657750105So in the previous post I blogged about my AI-generated promo videos. Here is my favourite blooper:Did you catch it? It's in the text. It's supposed to read: "The Wong Girl gripped the judges from the opening line. With strong and realistic characterisation, descriptions that bring the story to life and a plot which grips the reader, it is clear this book will be one which will have wide appeal. 0http://yewalus.blogspot.com/2025/07/the-wrong-girl-promo-goes-ai-my.htmlAIAI videoAI-generated promoThe Wrong GirlveoYvonne Walusnoreply@blogger.com (Yvonne Eve)Tue, 29 Jul 2025 16:45:00 +1200tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17137846.post-8091230050413864575The first time I tried to use AI in a promotional video for "The Wrong Girl" was back in the Dark Ages of 2024. The software was free and it didn't listen to my prompts. The family had a good time when they discovered my attempts on YouTube.Fast forward a year, and here I am again. "The Wrong Girl" is being republished by She Rises, and I'm coercing Flow to create cool veo clips of a few scenes 0http://yewalus.blogspot.com/2025/07/the-wrong-girl-by-yvonne-walus.htmldomestic thrillerYvonne Walusnoreply@blogger.com (Yvonne Eve)Tue, 29 Jul 2025 16:25:00 +1200tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17137846.post-654134917672854432229 July 2025 (USA time) marks the rebirth of my thriller, "The Wrong Girl". I'm grateful to Sands Press for publishing it last year, and to She Rises for breathing new life into it.This is what the judge of Novel London Literary Competition had to say about the book: "The Wong Girl gripped the judges from the opening line. With strong and realistic characterisation, descriptions that bring the 0http://yewalus.blogspot.com/2025/07/tomorrow-and-tomorrow-and-tomorrow-by.htmlbook reviewGabrielle Zevinnoreply@blogger.com (Yvonne Eve)Fri, 18 Jul 2025 09:41:00 +1200tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17137846.post-8289849033500355913"Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow" by Gabrielle Zevin is unlike any other book I've read. It's not SF, although I'm confident most SF readers will love it. And speaking of love, it's not a romance but it is about love. And friendship. And building computer games.It reads easy but it makes you think deep.My kind of book.I recommend!0http://yewalus.blogspot.com/2025/05/sunrise-on-reaping-by-suzanne-collins.htmlbook reviewSuzanne Collinsthe hunger gamesnoreply@blogger.com (Yvonne Eve)Sat, 24 May 2025 14:26:00 +1200tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17137846.post-1504356243682016601I’ll admit that I was a slow uptaker when it came to The Hunger Games. I held off for a long time because, honestly, I didn’t want to read about kids killing kids. And I definitely didn’t want my own pre-teens getting swept up in that world, especially with all the peer pressure at the time to jump on the bandwagon. But once I did finally get into the series, Suzanne Collins totally won me over. 0http://yewalus.blogspot.com/2025/05/nobodys-fool-by-harlan-coben.htmldomestic thrillerHarlan Cobenreviewnoreply@blogger.com (Yvonne Eve)Fri, 23 May 2025 13:20:00 +1200tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17137846.post-8093668301759843108This one had me hooked from the first page. Harlan Coben is the king of twisty thrillers, and Nobody’s Fool totally delivered. The setup? Wild. Sami Kierce wakes up in Spain next to his dead girlfriend, covered in blood, holding the knife—then runs. Fast forward 22 years, and he's now a PI and a new dad, trying to live a quiet life… until he sees her again. Alive. Cue the obsession, the 0http://yewalus.blogspot.com/2025/05/why-i-loved-borrowed-life-of-frederick.htmlAnna Johnstonaustralian fictionbook reviewnoreply@blogger.com (Yvonne Eve)Fri, 23 May 2025 12:55:00 +1200tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17137846.post-1228554150489431925This book completely stole my heart. It’s about Fred, an 82-year-old who’s broke, alone, and out of options—until a random mix-up lands him in a nursing home under someone else’s name. I know, it sounds like the start of a wild caper, but it’s actually this warm, funny, quietly powerful story about second chances and chosen family. Fred is just lovely—kind, thoughtful, a little lost—and watching 0http://yewalus.blogspot.com/2025/05/listen-for-lie-by-amy-tintera.htmlAmy Tinterabook reviewthrillernoreply@blogger.com (Yvonne Eve)Wed, 14 May 2025 15:05:00 +1200tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17137846.post-6811916119967326228I chose to read "Listen for the lie by Amy Tintera" because it's a Reece Witherspook pick. Here are some of the reasons I liked it:Darkly funny, twisty, and fast-pacedLucy’s inner voice is hilarious and sharply self-awareBlends traditional mystery with podcast transcript segmentsStrong female protagonistBlurb: Lucy can’t remember what happened the night her best friend Savvy was murdered—but 0http://yewalus.blogspot.com/2025/02/head-cases-by-john-mcmahon.htmlbook reviewJohn McMahonthrillernoreply@blogger.com (Yvonne Eve)Sat, 22 Feb 2025 19:14:00 +1300tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17137846.post-4544130422508675337I found myself a new favourite author! John McMahon's writing is as minimalistic as it is compelling. I love the protagonist in "Head Cases" and I'm so glad he's going to feature in another book. Hope this is the beginning of a long and successful series. Move over Jack Reacher and Win Horne Lockwood III, there's a new hero in town.Blurb:Gardner Camden is a walking analytical brain with an 0http://yewalus.blogspot.com/2025/02/the-impossible-thing-by-belinda-bauer.htmlBelinda Bauerbook reviewthrillernoreply@blogger.com (Yvonne Eve)Sun, 9 Feb 2025 16:00:00 +1300tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17137846.post-2678524813038486284"The Impossible Thing" by Belinda Bauer - oh, what a book! Beautifully told, it's one of those gems that slowly tightens its grip on you and then refuses to let go.From the windswept cliffs of Yorkshire in 1926 to a Welsh village a century later, this novel brings mystery and adventure. The premise (a missing, impossibly rare egg) had me hooked, googling guillemots, images of their eggs, and 0http://yewalus.blogspot.com/2025/02/the-housemaid-book-series-by-freida.htmlbook reviewdomestic suspenseFreida McFaddenthrillernoreply@blogger.com (Yvonne Eve)Sun, 9 Feb 2025 15:39:00 +1300tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17137846.post-4091845857338350716"The Housemaid" Series by Freida McFadden - how do I describe it? Original in concept (the protagonist is a loveable convicted killer), fast-paced, impossible to put down - and yet I'd call it a light read, in the most positive sense of the word.You'll fall in love with Millie Calloway (the convicted killer) and you'll fall in love with the author's style of writing. I've read the three 0http://yewalus.blogspot.com/2024/11/in-too-deep-reacher-novel.htmlbook reviewjack reacherlee childthrillernoreply@blogger.com (Yvonne Eve)Sat, 16 Nov 2024 16:30:00 +1300tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17137846.post-1911377408891083696"In too deep" by Lee Child (in name) and Andrew Child (actually) is Book 29 in the Jack Reacher series. The premise is awesome, the book good overall, though it's not in my top ten Reachers. Newbies, don't start with this one - try "Tripwire", "The Hard Way", "Without Fail", or "61 Hours" instead. Fans, the book will definitely scratch the itch, but then you'll probably want to reread "One 0http://yewalus.blogspot.com/2024/11/no-one-will-know-by-rose-carlyle.htmlbook reviewnew zealand authorsRose Carlylethrillernoreply@blogger.com (Yvonne Eve)Sat, 16 Nov 2024 16:18:00 +1300tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17137846.post-6164671373344668571"No one will know" by Rose Carlyle is one hell of a ride. I read it in a weekend, enjoying every twist and turn. It ticks all the boxes: a young woman in trouble? Check. An obscenely rich family? Check. An exotic island setting? Check, check, and check.Blurb:Eve Sylvester thinks she’s landed the best possible gig—working for a rich couple on a beautiful island. But the job seems too good to be 0http://yewalus.blogspot.com/2024/11/the-night-she-fell-by-eileen-merriman.htmlbook reviewEileen Merrimanew zealand authorsnew zealand settingthrilernoreply@blogger.com (Yvonne Eve)Sat, 16 Nov 2024 16:10:00 +1300tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17137846.post-7817237549303659153There's much to like about "The Night She Fell", a thriller by by Eileen Merriman: the New Zealand setting, the authentic dialogue, the fact pace, the twists. I read it in a day and am looking forward to discovering more fiction by this talented writer.Blurb:‘When I last saw Ashleigh, she was lying in a pool of blood . . . Her eyes were open, staring sightlessly into the sky. I’d like to 0http://yewalus.blogspot.com/2024/09/first-lie-wins-by-ashley-elston.htmlbook reviewsmysteryshley Elstonthrillernoreply@blogger.com (Yvonne Eve)Sun, 29 Sep 2024 10:07:00 +1300tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17137846.post-1108433415781524444"First Lie Wins" by Ashley Elston is a treat for anyone who likes a good mystery and loveable female confidence tricksters (female conmen just didn't sound right). I loved the narrator's voice, the twists and turns the plot took, and the absolutely perfect ending. Also, this is one of Reese's Book Club Picks! Can't wait for this author's new novel coming out in 2025!Blurb:Evie Porter has 0http://yewalus.blogspot.com/2024/09/here-one-moment-by-liane-moriarty.htmlbook reviewliane moriartynoreply@blogger.com (Yvonne Eve)Sun, 22 Sep 2024 14:10:00 +1200tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17137846.post-3529375725261520492Wow. Here One Moment by Liane Moriarty is one of the best books I read this year. In the top two for sure, maybe the top one? If I wrote this book, I'd be so proud.As always with this author's books, you will fall in love with the characters. There are a lot of characters in Here One Moment, and you'll want to be friends with every single one of them.The premise is fascinating (a person0http://yewalus.blogspot.com/2024/09/snow-crash-by-neal-stephenson.htmlbook reviewcyberbunkNeal Stephensonnoreply@blogger.com (Yvonne Eve)Sun, 22 Sep 2024 13:10:00 +1200tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17137846.post-8093806769568024595How to describe Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson? Kind of like Ready Player One, but imagined 30 years earlier.Dense in detail. Intense. If Terry Pratchett wrote cyberpunk instead of fantasy, but not as laughing-out-loud. Just as an example, his main character is called Hiro Protagonist. I mean, how brilliant is that?This book is like a wild mix of Hunter S. Thompson, Philip K. 0http://yewalus.blogspot.com/2024/09/magpie-murders-by-anthony-horowitz.htmlAnthony Horowitzbook reviewmurder mysterynoreply@blogger.com (Yvonne Eve)Sun, 22 Sep 2024 12:44:00 +1200tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17137846.post-777036231255626872Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz features two intertwined plots: one is the mystery novel about a German detective Atticus Pünd, authored by the fictional writer Alan Conway; and the other follows publishing editor Susan Ryeland as she searches for the missing final chapter of Conway's novel while also investigating Conway's death.If you haven't read and internalised many, many Agatha0