No More Grumpy Bookseller

Short Fiction Friday: A Feast of Putrid Delights by Valentina Rojas

2026-04-03T00:00:00.041-06:00

I was in search of last minute greeting cards and gifts when I wandered into my local B&N. Lo and behold, local author Valentia Rojas was there signing copies of A Feast of Putrid Delights.

Now I had attended Ghoulish Book Fest last year and there were a handful of early copies of this one but I held off. So of course I had to buy it and get Valentina to sign it!

Chef Antonia survived the attack on a local nightclub but she didn't come out unscathed. She hasn't been able to sleep ever since. Her insomnia has left her off kilter, at the very least, and dangerously overtired, at its worst.

When she's given a new street drug called Cloud, she experiences her first night of uninterrupted sleep. In fact, it's more than one night. She sleeps through multiple days.

But the drug isn't really a cure for the insomnia. And the problems it creates aren't the solution Antonia needs. Not that she'd ever be convinced otherwise. In fact, when she's able to get her hands on it and sleep, she feels it unlock something inside her creatively.

So anyone who knows me knows I'm a foodie who also suffers chronic insomnia. When I say I felt this book, I mean that I felt it!

Sometimes it's hard for me to put myself in someone else's shoes and truly understand the lengths they're willing to go to. But not here. I've experienced multiple nights of sleeplessness. Nights when you end up calculating how much sleep you can get if you can just fall asleep now...or now...or now. (Fortunately ambien and edibles help me!)

A Feast of Putrid Delights is a tight, short novella clocking in at just over 100 pages making it perfect for a one sitting read. Just, maybe, skip the snacks with this one!

A note if you're local to the Denver area. I didn't ask and so I don't have confirmation but the nightclub attack, while sadly too similar to other attacks of its kind, may potentially have roots or inspiration in one that happened in Denver not so long ago.

Consider buying a copy from your favorite indie via Bookshop.org.

Darkrooms by Rebecca Hannigan

2026-04-02T00:00:00.002-06:00

My son has started taking a "ninja warrior" type class. As much as I try to read manuscripts for edits while I'm waiting, I find it's very hard to turn my editing brain on. And so I often turn to audiobooks!

Roisin O'Halloran went missing decades ago. Her best friend left town shortly thereafter and Roisin's sister has always wondered if she told the truth about what happened that day. The body was never found.

All grown up, Roisin's sister, Deedee is a cop with a growing drinking problem. She should be happy. She has the man she's always dreamed of, she has a good job...but the mystery surrounding her sister's fate still haunts her.

Caitlin, on the other hand, has become a criminal. Petty crimes, mostly. Opportunities to pretend to be someone else seem to be the bigger appeal. But when her mother dies, she's forced to return to the home she left so long ago.

As the two women are thrown together once again, they clash on every level. They each harbor animosity for various reasons. They're each suspicious of one another. And rightly so, because they're each hiding their own secrets.

And yet, if either of them are to move forward, they'll have to work together to reveal the truth behind the events of so many years ago.

If you enjoy reads with complex, bordering on unlikable characters, Darkrooms is great!

This is another that I alternated between audio and physical. Clare Harte does a wonderful job as the narrator, so I highly recommend the audio if that's your preferred format!

This is a book about a cold case, a current case, and highly damaged people looking for connection and closure.

I'm a sucker for a good cold case. I'm also a sucker for a book that leans into local legend and folklore. This is a little lighter in that regard, very much along the lines of the Australian Netflix show Playing Gracie Darling.

I also have no issue with unlikable characters. In fact, when an author is able to create those characters, as Hannigan does here, while also building enough of their story to make the reader understand WHY they are the way they are, I appreciate it even more.

Consider buying a copy from your favorite indie via Bookshop.org!

(I received this book as an ARC with no promise or guarantee of a review, good or bad. This review is solely my opinion.)

Innamorata by Eva Reid

2026-04-01T00:00:00.003-06:00

Hiya! Long time, no blog! I have been reading LOTS of client projects, all of which I want to share as they're getting closer to release.

Last week we traveled for spring break and my sister's wedding and I decided to bring this big honking chonker with me.

In a land once beset by ghoulish creatures, a soldier from another land arrived and vanquished the enemy. He then crowned himself king and ensured that no knowledge of resurrecting these entities would ever remain. Further to that, the bodies of the dead are ritualistically disposed of in a manner to support this.

Through all of this Agnes and her cousin, Marozia, have been trained as heirs to the house of teeth. Agnes has been taught the secret ways and prepared to do everything possible to bring back the old ways. Aiding in this effort is the beautiful Marozia, who is to be married off to the king's only heir thereby distracting him and giving Agnes access to the stronghold where they suspect secret knowledge might be held.

But nothing goes according to plan.

This is the first in a grim dark duology with wonderful world building and lush writing. It's not for everyone--in fact, it's definitely a better fit for fans of darker fiction.

I would be remiss by not mentioning that it was the discourse that surrounded this book that forced my hand. I had seen an ARC and assumed it would be too romance-y for my own taste. Which is a shame because there are likely other books being marketed at the romantasy fan base that would likely appeal to me as well.

But that's beside the point. In this particular case, clearly the book's marketing just didn't quite hit the right readers.

This isn't a romance! Yes, there is a romance subplot. I have thoughts about it! I'll have to see how it all plays out in book two, though.

For now, I want to point out that:

1. Yes, this is a dark read. There's abuse, there's cannibalism, there's worse. I don't think that any of it is particularly unnecessary to the overall plot but if you're a cozy romantasy fan, this isn't the book for you.

2. It's the first in a duology and the end is very cliffhanger-y! You will not get a resolution from just the one.

3. BUT the story that Innamorata sets up for the second book is a DOOZY! Whoooo buddy!

Honestly, if you're a fan of Game of Thrones, this is probably a better fit for you than some of the recent lighter fantasy.

The world building is great. The writing is affecting! There were times when I did feel that the story could have been tightened up or simplified to get to the point. But again, I'll grant leeway in assuming it's setting up threads that will play out in book two.

If you're wondering—I left my copy behind for my sister, this weekend's bride, to read. So yeah, I'd recommend it and I absolutely will be waiting with bated breath for the second installment. In the meantime, I have some Ava Reid backlist to tide me over!

Side note: I did listen to quite a bit of this one on audio. It's narrated by Moniqua Plante, who does a truly fantastic job!

Order a copy from your favorite indie via Bookshop.org!

(I received this book as an ARC with no promise or guarantee of a review, good or bad. This review is solely my opinion.)

The Nancys and the Case of the Missing Necklace by R.W.R McDonald

2025-11-27T00:00:00.002-07:00

Happy Turkey Day! Today I'm a stop on the Random Things Tour for R.W.R. McDonald's The Nancys and the Case of the Missing Necklace.

Tippy's mom has won tickets to a cruise, leaving the eleven-year-old under the charge of her Uncle Pike and his boyfriend Devon.

On the same day her mom leaves, Tippy's friend/boyfriend ends up in the hospital, comatose after falling from a bridge. But what was he doing there? And what did his last message to Tippy and their friend Sam mean?

But in the wake of what seems like an accident, one of Tippy's own teachers is murdered: the body discovered without its head. A lifelong lover of Nancy Drew, something passed down from Uncle Pike himself, Tippy decides it's time to do some investigating of her own. But being a real life Nancy Drew is far more dangerous than it seems in the books!

R.W.R. McDonald has created a nostalgic and fun cozy-ish mystery perfect for anyone who ever adored Nancy Drew themselves!

The Nancys and the Case of the Missing Necklace is a quirky mystery set in a quirky town with a truly quirky cast of characters. It's also the first in a series.

This was a delight to read! Heart warming and enough of that cozy feel perfect for sitting inside snuggled in blankets with a warm cup of of tea. But there's a bit of a mean and gritty edge to it as well. Just enough to satisfy my own usual craving for darker reads.

This one is out from the good folks at Orenda now in the UK and will be out in the States in the new year.

Huge thanks to Random Things for having me on the tour!

The Winter Job by Antti Tuomainen

2025-10-29T00:00:00.001-06:00

Happy Wednesday! The week is halfway over. Today I'm a stop on the Random Things tour for Antti Tuomainen's latest, The Winter Job.

All Ilmari Nieminen wants to to buy his daughter a piano for Christmas. With six days to go, his wages as a postal worker in 1982 Helsinki aren't near enough to make the purchase. So he takes a small, last-minute gig, requiring him to take time off from his job, transporting an antique couch across Finland.

But Ilmari isn't the only one with eyes on this job or this couch. He's being tracked by a Saab and a Lada and the people inside each have their own agendas.

Ilmari's own vehicle has issues from the start and a fortuitous stop to tackle some repairs not only helps him elude his followers (unbeknownst to him) but also puts him in the path of a friend from long ago who joins him on his journey.

Antti is known for his humor and heart. There's a reason Steve Carrell is attached to an adaptation of his work Rabbit Factory.

The Winter Job continues that tradition in what is essentially a buddy road trip crime novel.

Poor Ilmari is so bright eyed and full of hope. The reader wants him to succeed because his motivations are pure: to please his daughter in the wake of his divorce. But he has no money. It's all going to child support and rent. Which is why the job of transporting a couch is impossible to resist.

But this isn't an ordinary job from the start. The antique dealer responsible for passing over the couch (and securing the van Ilmari will be using) is only out for himself and tries to trick Ilmari. And the job only fell into Ilmari's lap because the first guy got sick. Ilmari has no idea what is so special about this couch. He has no idea he's being tracked. And he has no idea the lengths the others will go to in order to take it all for themselves.

Meanwhile, he's thrown into a confrontation with an old friend that's been years in the making as the two men travel cross country. Needless to say, in Tuomainen style, hijinks ensue well beyond just faulty windshield wipers and crazy old aunts.

This is a perfect addition to Tuomainen's growing list of titles. A great starting place for readers who are new to his work as well.

(This would be a great holiday crime movie, to anyone out there with the power to make it happen!)

Huge thanks to Random Things and Orenda for having me on the tour today!

Snowblind by Ragnar Jonasson Anniversary Edition

2025-10-24T00:00:00.003-06:00

Today I'm a stop on the Random Things tour for the 10th anniversary edition of Ragnar Jonasson's Snowblind!

Ari Thorne is fresh out of the academy when he's sent to the isolated town of Siglufjörður. It means leaving his girlfriend behind in Reykjavik. It also means settling into a village that has just one point of entry: a tunnel. And in storms and bad weather, even that is cut off. A call about an intruder leads Ari into a web of intertwined cases that illustrate just how much can be hiding even in the most idyllic situations.

But first, readers are treated to Fadeout. See, Snowblind isn't Ari's introduction. Fadeout finds the theology student searching for his missing father!

It's amazing to me that Snowblind has been out for over a decade now (ten years in English). It kicked off the Nordic Noir sub genre, as it is today.

And sure, it wasn't the first to be translated to English. It wasn't THE FIRST of the subgenre. But it absolutely can be argued as one of the first that really got international readers to pay attention.

And Snowblind boasts some of the best hallmarks of Nordic Noir: a small, isolated village; insular culture; a whodunit where anyone could be the killer; and a detective new on the job looking for respite in a small town and getting anything but that!

I actually came to the Dark Iceland series after Hidden Iceland trilogy (now adapted for tv). I've been a fan of the author's work ever since. And in truth, the subgenre has got me through 2020 when I had such a hard time concentrating on reading.

If you've never read Jonasson, this is your chance! Find out what all the fuss is about (trust me, you'll love it!).

Huge thanks to Orenda and Random Things for having me on the tour!

Darker Days by Thomas Old Heuvelt

2025-10-23T00:00:00.003-06:00

Good morning! Today I'm a stop on the Random Things tour for Thomas Old Heuvelt's Darker Days!

Bird Street might seem like the perfect neighborhood. The kids are talented--prodigies event, the families seem perfect...but all is not as it seems on this idyllic street. See the residents made a deal. A deal that requires a death. A deal that turns their lives into nightmares every November. A deal that begs the question, is it worth it?

Ha! So first off, I love Thomas Old Heuvelt. His ability to dig into the meat of human fears, human feelings as a whole, is something that sticks with me every time I read his work.

Second, I don't trust anyone on Bird Street! At least not the adults.

It's a street made up of just five houses. Five families. And the kids are affected the most by the deal these families have made. Because in November they go feral. I don't have a better way to describe it. We know from the start that the kids go on lockdown after Halloween. We know at least one has been hospitalized in recent years. And we know that this behavior is not the norm for these kids.

We also know they're aware of it and they're exceptionally privileged the rest of the year!

It's not giving too much away to say this is a play on Faust. It's in the description. And yet it's not limited to just one person. It's the whole street. Five households colluding to manipulate fate or whatever may be in order to prosper and get their way. At the risk of everyone around them. See, I don't trust them! Because people willing to make deals with the devil...well, you'll find out what kind of people they are when you read.

I loved Darker Days. It's told in part from the kids' perspectives, which gives it a shadow of coming-of-age feel, something I very much appreciate. And it balances out the adults' perspectives as well, giving the reader a chance to see who's really getting the short end of the stick.

I don't want to spoil it in any way though. If you like horror about the human condition you should definitely pick this one up. And if this is your introduction to Thomas Old Heuvelt then congrats! You have a fun ride ahead of you!

Huge thanks to Random Things and PRH UK for having me on the tour!

Darker Days is out now in the UK and will be out shortly in the US.

Lay Your Armour Down by Michael Farris Smith

2025-07-22T00:00:00.049-06:00

Ah! Two posts in a row! Today I'm part of the Random Things tour for Michael Farris Smith's latest, Lay Your Armour Down.

Keal and Burden have been hired for a job. Sent to a church in a small Mississippi town and told to pick up something—they'd know it when they saw it.

Cara calls this small town home, for now. She's taken it upon herself to check in regularly on her elderly neighbor. But today the woman is worse: raccoons in her kitchen, scratched up feet and legs, and rolls of cash from who knows where. And this is how she crosses paths with Keal and Burden.

With a quiet young girl in tow, the three adults come together in a way only chance or fate can manipulate.

I've a confession: I haven't read Michael Farris Smith before. But this one was included in the Pandi pack (a subscription box from Pandi Press), so I jumped at the chance to be on the tour.

The writing really is trimmed of all unnecessary aspects. It's tight and spare but conveys so much both in the words and between the lines. It's an artful approach, similar to watching a quiet film where the actors convey much of the story through purposeful looks and expression. Lay Your Armour Down is that, in prose.

Three people at very different stages of their lives but all rudderless and looking for...something. Keal is drawn into the job by Burdean, who's hired by a sinister and nameless man. Details are scarce, making the scene they arrive to even more shocking.

It's clear throughout that these characters are brought together by a seemingly random series of events. Right place—or wrong place, etc. And while the reader may quickly have theories about where the story is headed, I promise it's not so straightforward.

I quite enjoyed this pared down but densely told story. It might seem simple, but what the author has accomplished in getting a story like this across with probably half the number of words any other author would use is a sign of true talent! Desperation and loneliness bleed through the pages along with an underlying sense of hope. Of relying on life or fate or what have you to get you where you need to be when you need to be there. This is Southern gothic of the highest order and I'm doing my best not to include spoilers :)

If you're looking for a thought provoking read perfect for sipping iced tea and rocking on your porch, this is it!

Lay Your Armour Down is out now in both the UK and the US!

Home Before Dark by Eva Björg Ægisdóttir

2025-07-21T00:00:00.060-06:00

Good morning, readers! Today I'm a stop on the Random Things tour for Eva Björg Ægisdóttir's latest, Home Before Dark.

1966: Marsi's sister, Stina, goes missing on her way home from a friend's house. With no leads and just bloody clothes left behind, the case goes cold. But Marsi has a secret she doesn't dare tell anyone. Marsi had a penpal. A friend she'd written letters back and forth with, pretending to be her older more popular sister. And on the night of the disappearance, Marsi was supposed to meet her penpal at the very spot where her sister vanished.

1977: Marsi has received another letter. Now, details she'd missed a decade ago are starting to reveal themselves and the mystery of her sister's disappearance might finally be solved. If Marsi survives.

Eva Björg Ægisdóttir has done it again! Vivid characters and a strong sense of place are hallmarks of her work. This time, she gives us a story set in 60s and 70s Iceland: no cell phones, no cloud, no streaming services. Just a small town and the secrets and mysteries that have plagued it for a decade.

Marsi is the quiet younger sister. She envies Stina, which is why when she signs up for a penpal she decides to assume certain aspects of her sister's life as her own. To seem more interesting and exciting. But she doesn't know what's actually going on in Stina's life.

Relationships between sisters, families, friends, and even close knit neighbors all play a part in this psychological suspense as the story moves back and forth from 66-67 to 77. And as Marsi learns more about her sister--more than she was able to see as a child--the story becomes more clear to the reader as well.

Yet another masterfully written tale that pulls the reader in from the start! If you haven't yet read the Forbidden Iceland series, this is a good place to start since it's a standalone. I promise you'll love it; and then you'll have the series itself to dive into!

Home Before Dark is out now in the UK and will be out in the US in November.

The Woman in Suite 11 by Ruth Ware

2025-07-18T00:00:00.001-06:00

Happy Friday! Today I'm a stop on the Random Things blog tour for Ruth Ware's latest, The Woman in Suite 11.

It's been ten years since the events on the Aurora (The Woman in Cabin 10) and Lo Blackwood has been on pretty permanent hiatus as a travel writer. Which is why it's such a huge deal to be invited to the opening of a new high-end boutique hotel in Switzerland.

Lo's husband is all for her attending. In fact, he suggests she take the trip and add on a visit to her mom in the UK. Lo hasn't been home to see her mom for ages. And she's never taken any kind of trip away from her husband and her kids.

When she arrives at the airport, her flight has been upgraded to first class. The hotel itself is luxe! And while Lo was surprised to be invited--surprised she was on anyone's radar as a travel writer these days--she's even more shocked to find that some of her fellow travelers from the Aurora have been invited as well!

Before she knows it, Lo has been sucked into yet another conspiracy. And she's the prime suspect!

It was great fun to return to Lo in this latest from Ware. The Woman in Cabin 10 is one of my favorites of hers, in no small part because it takes place on a cruise ship.

This time, we're on dry land but visiting an elite hotel in the the Alps. And Lo is at a place in her life I'm sure many have found themselves in over the past few years: trying to find herself again in the early years of parenthood and post 2020.

And her industry has suffered more than most considering the state of journalism! Even after writing a bestselling book about her experiences on the Aurora, taking time off to have two kids has pretty much taken her name out of the travel writing game.

And for just a little bit, being back is exactly what Lo wants. But just a little bit.

Michelin starred food, special foraging outings, and five-star accommodations are just the start. The hotel is the latest in a long line of projects helmed by one of the biggest names in business. Or rather, his son. And if Lo can score an interview with the magnate himself, it would mean a big payday (enough to cover her flight, anyway) and a byline. But as it turns out, not everything is as it seems in this picture perfect resort.

The Woman in Suite 11 is a perfect summer read! It's out now from Simon and Schuster in the UK and from their Gallery imprint in the US. Order a copy today from your favorite bookstore via Bookshop.org!

Every Dead Thing by John Connolly

2025-07-09T12:22:00.001-06:00

How's it going readers? I just had a birthday. And yet another reminder that my memory is kind of shot lately! How? I read the same book twice in a row. Why? Well it all started with the Talking Scared podcast (a personal favorite that you should definitely check out) and Angela Slatter. See Neil (Talking Scared) and Angela love John Connolly. I mean LOVE! Neil did an ep recently with John and has talked frequently about his fondness for the series. He's currently doing a retrospective/full read through of the Dark Tower series with authors Nat Cassidy and Chris Panatier BUT apparently had planned to do the same with the Charlie Parker series—with Angela!

Now the podcast ep with Connolly promised to be as spoiler free as possible given there are something like 20 books in the series so far. And since I listed on a weekend and had already read the first in the series, Every Dead Thing (in 2009), I thought I'd just check it out on audio. Lo and behold there was a version narrated by Titus Welliver. So I dove in. Without first realizing it was an abridged version.

A highly abridged version. We're talking 5 hours when the fully unabridged is like 15! But I thought, no big deal. It's a reread!

Wrong! I remembered absolutely nothing about the book. So what I thought would be a nice refresher was simply a reminder that my brain is apparently at full capacity with 80's and 90's song lyrics and quickly going out of date pop culture references.

So I undertook reading/listening to the whole thing again.

Y'all I want to reiterate HOW BAD my memory is. I posted about Every Dead Thing back in 2009 when I originally read it! From that original post:

In the first of the series, Every Dead Thing, Charlie has been out of commission for a while thanks to the murder of his wife and daughter. At the time, he was a police officer with a heavy drinking problem. Now, he's retired and working the private sector. In the first half of the book, Parker has been hired to track down a missing woman. He traces her to a small town in Virginia where she grew up. It just so happens, that when the woman was much younger, her own sister was abducted and killed, along with several other children. Parker's nosing about in the long ago crime has riled up quite a few townsfolk who would like nothing more than for him to leave, by force if necessary. Parker solves his case and returns to NYC where he is contacted by someone claiming to be behind the murder of his family. This leads Parker to New Orleans where, with the help of an odd pairing of pals, he attempts to finally track down the man responsible for taking away everything he ever loved.

Every Dead Thing reads, in some ways, like two novellas brought together to form the beginnings of a series. Not at all a bad thing, and definitely something that makes this book stand out. It's not many authors who start fresh with a new story in the middle of a book. Although, in many other ways, it's not at all a new story. Parker is plagued by the murder of his wife and daughter throughout the entire first half of the novel. Connolly's brutal tale is not for the faint-hearted; it's truly a shocking and suspenseful thriller. Every Dead Thing was a Shamus winner in 2000 for Best First PI Novel.

Y'all! Over half of this book takes place in Louisiana. Where I am from! And I didn't even remember that!

Props to Connolly for doing his research, though. The Louisiana stuff is good. He definitely put a lot of care into researching that considering he's Irish writing a series based in the US. And Charlie even has gumbo twice in one day! (My one note is that the character using chorizo should have been using andouille but that likely could have been an editorial mistake as much as anything. The pronunciations in the audio were amusing to say the least.)

Now I would rag on Neil and Angela except it's not their fault I have no self control. I will stress, though, that I am hugely grateful that the audio books are available on Hoopla as I try to stick to client projects during the week. Audiobooks are my gardening, driving, getting outside, and general break taking treat.

And since I'm 15% into book 3 I guess I'm making this my summer of Connolly (I think I mentioned online I always thought I'd binge Michael Connelly's early books first since I've read roughly from the halfway point forward—and today is the launch of the Ballard show!) but Connolly seems to be the one this summer!

Every Dead Thing is readily available in print and audio (abridged and unabridged in the case of the latter). Order a copy today from your favorite bookstore via Bookshop.org! (And if you order this week you get free shipping for anti-prime!)

Kill Them With Kindness by Will Carver

2025-06-09T00:00:00.026-06:00

Hi, all! (School is out and I'm not sure what day it is anymore!) Today I'm excited to be part of the Random Things blog tour for Will Carver's latest, Kill Them With Kindness out this month from Orenda!

What if it were possible to infect society with empathy? Dr. Haruto Ikeda thinks he can. And he thinks this will solve all of the world's problems. It will make people care.

But as with all best intentions...

Whoa! This was a really tough one for me right now! I mean, I'm pretty sure we all have some form of PTSD from 2020.

In Carver's nightmarish thriller, this is all taking place alongside the Covid pandemic. There's a cabal, there's a conspiracy, and the crazy thing is that the further along I got into the book I had a harder time picking out the fiction.

And the book begins with the "Dignity Pills"—this book is scary and prescient and triggering. It's watching a train wreck as it happens. Who got infected and did what and why. And since we start at the end we never have a minute to hope things will turn out.

And this is not a bad review. Carver has done an amazing job of leaving at least this reader incredibly unsettled. As a seasoned dark fiction and horror fan that doesn't happen often. Everything that happens in this is book is exactly how I imagine something like this would happen.

This book is just frighteningly real! It's Contagion behind the scenes. It's like Silent Night without the party. Honestly, I don't know what to say about this book. It freaked me the heck out!

I enjoyed it in the same way that I enjoy Black Mirror.

The Burial Witch by Cari Thomas

2025-06-06T00:00:00.026-06:00

TGIF, everyone! Today I'm excited to be part of the Random Things tour for Cari Thomas's The Burial Witch, a novella set in the Threadneedle world (The Language of Magic series).

Miranda has always fought to be the best. It's what's expected in her family. And yet, compared to her brother and sister, she feels like she's falling short.

While researching a family history project she finds a suitcase she believes belonged to her maternal grandmother. They don't talk about that side of the family history much. She knows they emigrated from Nigeria to the UK. But their African history has always been a sensitive point for her mother.

Inside the suitcase, Miranda finds a box that can't be opened. And it eats away at her. She starts having nightmares and becomes convinced this is a test from God. Raised an evangelical Christian, Miranda has always been strong in her faith and active in her church. But this box has raised questions she's not sure she really wants the answers to.

The Burial Witch is a fun addition to the Threadneedle world. Very witchy and mysterious. I loved the Yoruba and Vodun angle. I especially loved the way Thomas explores faith and practice beyond Christianity.

I should note too, this isn't a religious read by any means. It's witches. Witchy, witchy, witches! Miranda's family and their history and choices are a key part of the story, including raising said family within a Christian religion.

This fits nicely in my latest reading trends to be honest. Beyond How to Kill a Witch, I've also been spending ample time in Angela Slatter's Verity Fassbinder and Sourdough worlds. I also think we're seeing a strong return to witches lately, which isn't unexpected all things considered.

The Burial Witch is out now in the UK and will be available in the States later this summer. This is the second of four companion novellas to the Language of Magic series.

How to Kill a Witch: A Guide for the Patriarchy by Claire Mitchell KC and Zoe Venditozzi

2025-05-27T00:00:00.001-06:00

Happy Tuesday, all! I hope you're faring better than I. I am ill. I'll survive!

Today I am absolutely thrilled to be part of the Random Things blog tour for How to Kill a Witch by Claire Mitchell KC and Zoe Venditozzi.

Holy freaking hell! This was a book I was incredibly intrigued by and it came through in spades and beyond!

So, and some of this is new to me because I came to the book FIRST: on International Women's Day 2020, Claire Mitchell KC and Zoe Venditozzi started a podcast called Witches of Scotland. The point of the podcast was not only to highlight the women accused of and persecuted for the crime of witchcraft in Scotland but also three additional major goals:

A pardon for those accused of witchcraft in Scotland

An apology for those accused of witchcraft in Scotland

And a national monument

And the podcast is still going today.

But now they've come together to write a book that's a narrative history of the 16th—18th century Witches' Act in Scotland. They look at what drove the act as well as those accused, and parallel this history with today's events.

Now, (in case you're unfamiliar but also a little context on the book) I say narrative history because a. it reads like a narrative rather than an academic text (yay for accessibility) but also because the authors have taken some creative license with those featured. For people like Elspeth Reoch, Janet Wishart, even King James's Lawyer, there are pieces imagining their own insights. As the authors state, there is a lack of documentation in many of these cases so this gives them a chance to breathe life into some of the accused, giving them voice and a chance to "share" their experiences.

And it really is a fascinating history. I'd not actually realized how different it is from the American history of our own witch trials, which are heavily covered and documented. Scotland's own piece of this history is MASSIVE by comparison in terms of the number of victims. And it's disturbing too.

But the book does have a hint of humor to it. (It has to, how else are we to cope?!) Chapters include: "How to Believe in Magic," "How to Start a Witch-Hunt," "How to Accuse a Witch," and "How to Accuse a Modern-Day Witch," amongst others.

I'm sure most of us women do know very well how the witch hunts came about. Cross the wrong man or the wrong person in power and that's it. It's something that, if I ponder on it too long, makes me so angry because it still happens today.

This is a book that speaks to me so much at the moment. The authors have an interesting observation in the beginning of the book about their own theories as to why so many women are fascinated by true crime, which aligns exactly with my own theories in that regard (forewarned is forearmed and all). And I've long recognized that I would definitely have been accused of witchcraft had I been around at the time. (Not kidding, a friend of mine commented on my "if looks could kill" face in high school—I absolutely would've rubbed someone the wrong way and found my way to a pyre.)

And honestly, the entire premise of the podcast and the book is so necessary and so timely! I am at a period in my life (perimenopause) where I have so many thoughts and so much anger about the treatment of women on so many different fronts.

And clearly the authors share a lot of those sentiments. Literally. They share them throughout the book and in footnotes!

This is an excellent addition to women's history in general and a truly fabulous read for anyone who has ever had an interest in the witch trials—any witch trials.

How to Kill a Witch: A Guide for the Patriarchy is out now in the UK and due out this fall on the States.

(Be sure to visit their website, learn more, join the clan! I WANT one of those tartans!)

The Goal of the Blog

2025-04-10T00:00:00.001-06:00

I sometimes get annoyed at folks who feel they need to offer explanations. But it's 2025 and social media and everything else are virtual shitshows. So what do I want to do here?

I want to talk about books and other things that I enjoy and that provide me distraction in difficult times.

Books (and movies and food) are escapism for me. And I binge read. To the point that I can fully disconnect from "reality" as much as possible.

But books tackle reality in so many ways! Genre fiction is political and timely and focuses on important topics even when it's hidden under layers of zombies and werewolves and radioactive bugs and everything else.

There's no avoiding it.

And even if you're reading the most ridiculous fluffy read of all time, I guarantee something will draw to mind the shitty reality facing us all.

So yeah, I read for escapism. I read to disassociate. But I recognize that most authors, especially the ones I am drawn to, are using their platforms for social commentary, whether it be subtle or not.

So what do I want to do? I just want to share books I enjoy. It's been this way since I was a bookseller. Though I realized too that not everyone wanted the books I was drawn to.

It's a special skill: being able to recommend appropriate books to readers who may not share your particular taste. And there's common ground, almost every time.

But this is my blog. And I'm not interested in shit talking books that don't work for me. I'm interested in connecting readers to books they will enjoy. I'm interested in sharing things I'm excited about. I'm interested in helping people like me find the books that will get them through whatever they're going through.

(As an agent, I do represent some of the authors whose books I'll showcase. I will note at the top of the review if the author is a client.)

So as this rocky road of life goes on, I am looking to revitalize the blog and get back to posting semi-regularly (in addition to tour posts). And if you've been hanging around, thanks for sticking with me. If you're new, welcome!

Son by Johana Gustawsson & Thomas Enger

2025-03-12T00:00:00.015-06:00

Happy Wednesday, everyone! Today I'm thrilled to be part of the Random Things tour for the kick off to a new series co authored by Johana Gustawsson and Thomas Enger! Son is the first in the Kari Voss series and it's a banger!

Seven years ago Kari Voss's son went missing. She'd already tragically lost her husband but with the help of her father, she and her young son were getting by. And it was a great day. A pool party to celebrate Vetle's birthday. After, he asked to go to a friend's house where Kari is all to aware they'll be playing video games she doesn't allow in her own home. But when Vetle doesn't return home on time and she finds out the friend walked him halfway and had been home for some time, Kari knows the worst has happened.

As an expert in body language, Kari has consulted for the police many times. But her son's case remains unsolved. And now, two of his friends have been murdered.

Hedda and Eva, two of the "fantastic four" that made up Vetle's friend group all those years ago, were hosting a Halloween party at Eva's family cabin in Son. But when the caterer arrives, he discovers the two girls have been killed. As unimaginable as it is, Kari's own father is certain the crime has some connection to Vetle's disappearance. And when the last member of the four is accused of the murder, Kari knows she has to get involved.

What a pairing! Johana Gustawsson, author of, amongst others, Yule Island, and Thomas Enger, half of the writing team that brought us the Blix and Ramm series (again, amongst others) work together seemingly seamlessly to bring us a killer new series to sink our teeth into.

Kari is a fabulous new lead to follow. And while she is billed as the main character, the authors have definitely put ample care and time into fleshing out a cast of supporting characters to help her along including Kari's father, now retired, and Ramona Norum, who helped with her own son's investigation and is Chief Constable by the time the girls' killing occurs.

As a fan of both authors' previous work and a huge fan of Orenda, Nordic Noir ,and crime fiction in general, I was sold immediately. And they come through in spades! If you're not familiar with them, let Son be your introduction!

Son is out now in the UK and will be available in the States in August! Order it, preorder it, add it to your TBR! This is a must read of 2025!

Small Fires by Ronnie Turner

2025-02-18T00:00:00.001-07:00

Everyone knows about the Pedley sisters. Lily and Della, the sisters who killed their parents. Without enough proof, they were never officially convicted. Which is why they're free to roam, making their way to an unnamed island with a small village of superstitious people called the Folk.

From the time of their arrival, things are off kilter on the island. The Folk are drawn to one of the sisters in particular, because she is like them. They tell the stories of their beliefs and their history. Stories that are more than they seem at the surface. And the sisters find something of a home there. Until people begin to die.

Ah! Ronnie Turner's latest is an odd fable/fairy tale for adults. It's a story about sisters and trauma, about stories and the lessons hidden between the lines.

Tonally, this is all gothic. But it has aspects of folk horror, mystery, and—given the stories within the story—even fantasy.

The Folk speak of devils. One devil, the Warden, the one they are devoted to in the hopes that he will be merciful when they die, lives under the land. And this devil rules their lives.

When sisters Della and Lily arrive on the island it's the time of the Harvest. Three people die annually to appease the devil. And if he is displeased...well, worse than that will come.

Della and Lily don't exactly fit in. They don't not fit in either. It's an island of misfits of a sort. But the girls are indeed very different. And everyone thinks they know the story.

But in Small Fires the story is never quite what you think it is.

Small Fires is absolutely excellent. It's perfect for fans of Catriona Ward and Angela Slatter. And it's a perfect introduction to Turner and her work. Honestly, I can't wait to see what she'll do next!

Small Fires is out soon in the UK and will be available this summer in the States from Orenda. US readers can preorder a copy from Bookshop now.

At the Bottom of the Garden by Camilla Bruce

2025-01-30T00:00:00.004-07:00

Good morning, everyone! Today I'm a stop on the Random Things blog tour for Camilla Bruce's latest, At the Bottom of the Garden.

Clara never wanted children. And she's never even met her half-brother's two daughters. But then their parents die on K2, it turns out that Clara is the girls' only living relative. Not that she's all that interested in them. Rather, the stipend of their fortune that was to be allocated to their education and care. After all, she herself had not inherited anything from her own mother. It all went to her brother. And she has big plans that may finally be realized.

Lily and Violet aren't thrilled about the situation either. It's just until Lily is of age and they can live on their own. Until then, they need Clara. Lily can see when someone is lying. And Aunt Clara is surrounded by a lying lime green.

Violet has her own ability. She can see the dead. All of the animals preserved throughout Aunt Clara's house. An old lady lives in the dining room. And a scary man lives at the bottom of the garden.

Ha! With three narrators, readers get treated to a full story from the start, even if certain things are only hinted at in the beginning.

Clara is no good. She tries to pawn the girls off immediately and only changes her mind when she realizes she can get money out of taking them on. And thus her scheme begins.

But Violet and Iris aren't fools. And Violet especially is suspicious of Clara from the first meeting.

This is 100% witchy gothic fiction that could easily be set in Victorian England. And yet, it's set in the 70s! Which I think is a fabulous twist! I'm a sucker for a 70's setting anyway but when you throw gothic tropes in the mix, I love it even more!

Camilla Bruce is a jack of all trades as far as I'm concerned. Her range of subjects and settings is wide and new to her readers will love kicking off their reading with this latest! I absolutely love Violet and Iris and Violet's unique abilities in particular.

At the Bottom of the Garden is out now! Quick shout out for the audio narrated by Suzanne Barbetta, Brittany Pressley, and Cassandra Morris—it's fabulous!

Into Thin Air by Ørjan Karlsson

2025-01-21T00:00:00.001-07:00

It feels like Monday but it's really Tuesday, everyone! And today I'm a stop on the Random Things tour for Ørjan Karlsson's debut, Into Thin Air, the first in the new Jakob Weber series!

Things can be fairly quiet in Bodø and when teenager Iselin Hanssen disappears, the obvious suspect is her boyfriend, Casper. Open and shut.

Except that it's not. Another woman goes missing soon after and Jakob Weber, Chief Investigator, notes the similarities not only to Iselin's case but to a string of older ones as well.

Ooh I do love a new Scandi Crime/Nordic Noir series! The setting alone makes the sub-genre appealing to me as they usually become a character unto themselves. Into Thin Air is no exception as Bodø and other surrounding areas play such a huge role in the plot. (Not just as places where the bodies are found.)

Jakob is a great main character. An officer in a small region where he started on as a temporary position. He's a widower with a Jack Russell Terrier as his companion.

I also love, love, love when cold cases are part of the plot! There's something so appealing about the potential for justice to play out years down the line, when everyone else has given up.

This was perfect timing for the read as well, considering we've been hit by winter weather. I hate winter, so cozying up inside with a good book is usually my preferred way to spend the time. Even better that the weather isn't as inclement as the setting's norm!

This is another fantastic release from Orenda! And another series I'll be keeping my eye on!

Into Thin Air is out now in the UK from Orenda books and will be out in the US in June. Huge thanks to Random Things Tours for asking me to participate!

The Axeman's Carnival by Catherine Chidgey

2025-01-17T00:00:00.001-07:00

Happy Friday, everyone! Today I'm a stop on the Random Things tour for Catherine Chidgey's The Axeman's Carnival.

Tama is just a chick when Marnie rescues him. She sang to him. She kept him warm in a box. A magpie, fallen from the nest. A magpie that lives and witnesses Marnie's marriage and life. A magpie who is the narrator of our story.

But Tama isn't just the narrator. He's also the star. A bit. A bird that learns to speak. Marnie and Rob profit off of it and for a while, Rob is split: one person behind closed doors, who yells and leaves marks on Marnie. Another person when the world is watching.

At times funny and at times sorrowful, The Axeman's Carnival is a a unique story with a beloved bird that carries us through.

Tama reminds me a bit of the narrator in Kira Jane Buxton's Hollow Kingdom and Feral Creatures. But where those are set during a zombie apocalypse, Chidgey's novel is set on a modern-day farm. No zombies, but there is a monster. And Tama is a fun character: one who struggles considering he doesn't fit with the other magpies anymore. His father warns him. His sister warns him. But Marnie has become a surrogate mother in the absence of his own.

And Rob doesn't like it. Even when they begin to profit off of Tama, Rob still doesn't like it.

They say dogs are man's best friend. Here it's a magpie and he's woman's best friend!

This is a book that first crossed my reading path this fall. People were raving about it and I knew I had to get my hands on a copy. They weren't wrong! Chidgey, a New Zealander, is an award winning author in her home country. I'm so glad that her work is being spread through the wider world!

Huge thanks to Random Things Tours for inviting me to take part!

The Axeman's Carnival is now available in the UK and the US. Order a copy from Bookshop.org and support your favorite indie bookstore!

What I Ate in One Year [and other related thoughts] by Stanley Tucci

2024-11-15T00:00:00.001-07:00

I mentioned I've been listening to a lot of audiobooks of late and Stanley Tucci's latest was a given for that medium considering he reads it himself!

Beginning in Jan of 2023 (when he was filming Conclave based on the book by Robert Harris) Tucci journals what and where he ate and who he dined with throughout the year. A lot of it is his own home cooking. A lot of it is in Italy, a place Tucci clearly adores.

Tucci is a foodie with a fabulous palate. And a wonderful way with words as well. This book should come with a warning: keep snacks and pasta on hand while reading!

Tucci, who lives in London, travels to NYC, Los Angeles, Italy, the Alps, Bristol, and numerous other places while promoting various projects and charities as well as family vacations.

It's a fun read (listen) because it shows that Tucci, yes and actor of high renown, is still just a normal guy. A normal guy who has faced challenges, deals with parenting, fears for his own parents, and loves food and friends with a passion anyone can relate to.

Sure his dinner parties are fancier (he likes to dress for dinner too) but his meals sound amazing (must get his cookbooks) and some recipes are included. I've already made his gin Paloma and have been gathering ingredients for some of his other others. I've also been eating melon and prosciutto, always a fave of mine, but mentioned in the book enough that I couldn't resist snacking on it too!

This isn''t the first of Tucci's memoirs. It's a great follow up to his last one, Taste, which I also thoroughly enjoyed.

Now excuse me, I've got to go read Conclave and watch some Stanley Tucci films while I eat spaghetti!

Order a copy from Bookshop.org.

The Victim by Jørn Lier Horst & Thomas Enger

2024-11-13T00:00:00.057-07:00

Happy Wednesday, readers! Today I'm a stop on the Random Things Tour for the latest Blix and Ramm thriller, The Victim.

Former investigator Alexander Blix has been released from jail after being acquitted for killing the man who murdered his daughter. And yet, the release and acquittal have done nothing to address his own personal guilt.

Needless to say he's no longer welcome at his old job with the police. Which doesn't keep someone from reaching out to confess about one of Blix's old cases.

Meanwhile, Emma Ramm has left journalism as well. But when the stepdaughter of a man accused of murder reaches out for Emma's help, she's intrigued. The case is a high profile one in part because no body has been discovered.

Oh, how I adore this series! Hørst and Enger work so well together and have created main characters you root for no matter what. I'd follow them through any story and wait anxiously for each new installment. They've never let me down with their excellent plots and breakneck pacing!

Alexander Blix and Emma Ramm have a long history, one that is touched on in each book but really hits harder if you've read the series in order.

I kind of hate seeing both of them beaten down, but it's this that makes them stand out. They're more real than the unbeatable, untouchable jaded police and PIs in so many thrillers. They've suffered great loss and they find solace in their friendship with one another.

Plus they're both damn good investigators.

The Blix and Ramm series isn't quite as dark as Lars Kepler, but if you're a fan of those, you're going to love Hørst and Enger. And it's perfect timing since it's officially #NordicNoirNovember!

The Victim is out now in the UK from Orenda. And for US readers, it'll be out in spring.

The Blacktongue Thief by Christopher Buehlman

2024-11-11T00:00:00.026-07:00

Kinch Na Shannack is blessed with luck and the ability to read anything. The former is what got him into his current predicament.

An attempted robbery leads to Kinch being hired by the Takers Guild to head to the heart of a battlefield for reasons they haven't revealed. In exchange, Kinch's debt to the guild will be erased. Which would be great as the tattoo on his face allows for slapping and ends with Kinch buying a drink for the aggressor. It's a whole thing.

Kinch is to follow a warrior and survivor of the goblin wars, Galva, to Hrava, which has just been decimated by giants. Along the way the two meet a variety of characters, become entangled in seemingly endless messes, and exchange favors that all play a role in their final mission.

Kinch Na Shannack is your new favorite antihero!

Kinch is a thief, but an amiable one (at least for the reader), who turns out to be a hero at heart. There's a bit of will he/won't he throughout in terms of the different paths and decisions Kinch is forced to make.

Galva is awesome and thorough her we get quite a bit of history and world building.

This is a world that's suffered huge losses since their war with the goblins. And since men went off to fight in the early wars, heavy losses meant only women were left for the later campaigns. Galva is a soldier and survivor of the Daughters' War (which is the focus of the prequel book of the same name that came out this spring from Tor).

Holy bejeezus! People told me this one was good but shame on them for not telling me just HOW FREAKING GOOD! (I kid. Shame on me for taking so long to read it!)

I've been doing so many audiobooks lately and this is one that I highly, highly recommend in audio. Seriously, if you're inclined to audio AT ALL, listen to it rather than read the physical. Buehlman himself reads (and sings) and it is an absolute pleasure to hear! (Added bonus of getting to hear actual pronunciations.)

This audio is over twelve hours. Twelve hours, my friends! It's a good thing I started it on the weekend because I literally did NOTHING that couldn't be accompanied by an audiobook in my ears, listening as straight through as was possible! It's so good!

Order a copy from Bookshop.org.

Yule Island by Johana Gustawsson--Paperback

2024-11-07T00:00:00.005-07:00

Good morning, readers! Today I'm a stop on the Random Things tour for Johana Gustawsson's paperback release of Yule Island! (This is a repost from the hardcover release.)

Emma Lindahl is a young and ambitious art expert recently hired on at Von Dardel's, a small but prestigious auction and appraisal house. Through this new position, she's been assigned a fabulous opportunity: cataloging and assessing the Gussman collection at their remote home on Storholmen island.

But the Gussmans are strange. Her hours are severely limited, her access is confined to specific rooms, and her interaction with the family is all but nonexistent.

Then there's the island history itself and the fact that a girl was found murdered on the grounds less than a decade before.

Emma tries not to let all of this get to her, but when another body is found nearby, it becomes clear there's something very wrong on Storholmen.

Yule Island is so much creepy fun!

A manor house with dark secrets, a remote island with very small community, and the most fabulous dark Scandinavian lore! Plus, Gustawsson pulls off some truly amazing twists!

The story alternates POVs between Emma; Karl, a local cop; and Viktoria, an employee at the manor.

Emma is hesitant about her job. And with good reason. The Gussmans are an off-putting family who almost seem to resent her for being there to do the job they hired her for. It's a strange environment, to say the least.

Karl worked the still open nine-year-old murder case and it haunts him to this day. When another body is found, he's called in even though his own wife has recently gone missing. And yet, the work keeps him busy, keeps him away from their home and their memories, and maybe even gives him a chance at the personal redemption he needs in the wake of the earlier unsolved crime.

Viktoria has always worked in high-end resort hotels, but the opportunity for a live-in position with the Gussmans offers both her and her daughter a chance to escape her overbearing and emotionally abusive husband. But that doesn't keep him from turning up asking for money occasionally. She gives us a fly-on-the-wall view of the residents of the manor, which becomes increasingly strange and fascinating for the reader!

As I mentioned, Gustawsson has some excellent twists in this book. Some are the kind a savvy reader may see coming while others are a complete surprise. Either way, they make for an intense read.

And then there's the lore I mentioned. As a whole the book is a wonderful read, but this piece makes it such a stand out. I know next to nothing about Yule lore (the celebration that predates Christmas) and honestly just eat up things like this, begging for more!

Gustawsson hooked me with her previous release, The Bleeding, and as a result Yule Island was already in my must read list and I have to say it did not disappoint!

Yule Island is out in paperback now!

Talking to Strangers by Fiona Barton

2024-08-27T00:00:00.003-06:00

Elise King is back in this second book set in Ebbing.

Elise is officially back at work, investigating the murder of Karen Simmons, a local woman killed on Valentine's Day. As it turns out, the list of suspects isn't a short one. Simmons was active on dating apps and the assumption is that one of those dates is the killer.

Meanwhile, reporter Kiki Nunn is certain this story can make her career. Her involvement in the investigation complicates things for Elise and puts Kiki directly in the killer's sights.

This was a great follow up to Local Gone Missing. In fact, I think I liked this one even more with the addition of Kiki. Though I did want more of Elise's nosy parker neighbor :)

As with Local Gone Missing, Talking to Strangers alternates POVs and introduces some additional Ebbing residents. It can work as a standalone or an intro to the series but you'd be missing out on the already explored layers of Ebbing.

I again had the chance to listen to this one on audio and enjoyed it very much. Gabrielle Glaister and Jayne Entwistle return alongside Steve West. Fabulous jobs all around to the narrators!

Barton's pacing is fabulous here. The chapters are short in the "just one more chapter" vein. I binged this one!

I absolutely recommend this series to fans of small town thrillers. Barton's Ebbing is full of quirky residents who continue to become embroiled in drama and CRIME!

Order a copy from Bookshop.org!