Genre: Mystery/Historical Fiction

This mystery is set in 1910 where a Viscount of an expansive estate believes that Halley’s Comet is going to obliviate life as they know it. So, he has his staff work tirelessly to seal up Tithe Hall in order to try and protect them from the tidal waves he believes are coming to destroy earth. As luck would have it, an underbutler, Stephen Pike, arrives the very day these preparations are taking place having been recommended by a family member. He does have a record and he is very concerned they will turn him away and he desperately needs work. However, the butler is very overwhelmed and decides to tell the Viscount that he requested an additional staff member in order to help seal up the Hall. After sealing up everyone in their rooms, Stephen is sent to check on Miss Decima, the prickly elderly family member who constantly terrorizes the staff. It is Stephen’s job to make sure she stays sealed in her room for the night, but Decima has other plans and they end up going outside to watch the comet. The next morning, Stephen notices that there is blood coming from underneath the study where the Viscount was sealed up alone. He rushes to get help and by the time they break open the door they find the Viscount murdered in a grisly manner. Since he is new and has been to prison (for a crime he was innocent of) all eyes turn to him, but Decima knows he was with her and could not have committed the murder. Plus, it seems impossible anyone could have gotten in and out of the room with it being sealed from the inside. Decima and Stephen vow to prove his innocence before he goes down yet again for a crime he didn’t commit. Can they find the real culprit(s)? More importantly, can they figure out how it is possible for someone to get murdered inside a locked room?

This fun mystery has a Gosford Park/Downton Abbey feel as the reader is introduced to the staff and their very particular jobs and rules they must follow. The pace of the story is not overwhelming, but does not lag behind either as Stephen and Decima strive to find clues that will not only exonerate him, but also let them know if the rest of them are in danger with a killer nearby. The dynamics of the manor are very interesting as every servant has a place and no one is supposed to mess with that. The family members staying at the house all have their own agendas for going along with the hysteria over Halley’s Comet, but are those agendas enough to kill for? Fans of British type mysteries will enjoy this title.

Genre: Mystery

In this sequel to The Last Thing He Told Me, Hannah and Bailey have now been without Owen for five years. Bailey has graduated from college and has begun her first full time job. Hannah is still working on her art and even having shows, which is when she first suspects she sees Owen. Hannah knows that Owen showing back up is probably not a good thing and learns that Bailey’s grandfather, Nicholas, has just died and that puts them both in jeopardy as he had worked out a deal to keep them both safe from the mob he works for. So, they both use their planned escape contingencies to go on the run and find out if there is a way for all of them (including Owen) to stay safe under the new regime controlling the mob. Can they reunite with Owen? Will they ever be able to live without looking over their shoulders? Will they ever know once and for all whether or not the mob was behind Bailey’s mother’s death?

Fans of the first novel will love that this one picks up right where the old one left off. Bailey and Hannah have gotten close to Nicholas despite his dealings with the mob that created this entire mess. The story also helps them find answers that were never given in the first book. The relationship of Hannah and Bailey is also fun for the reader to see because they have been through so much together with the loss of Owen. The story is very fast paced and action packed as they try to find answers and get their lives back. Fans who thought their journey had ended will be pleasantly surprised by this very exciting second installment.

Genre: Mystery/Suspense

A series of bad events lead army surgeon Maggie McCabe to lose her license, including her husband getting killed in the field and her coping with alcohol. She also recently lost her mother, who was a well known and respected surgeon in her own right. Now, she is struggling to help her sister pay the mortgage so that they don’t lose their childhood home. When an old friend offers her a job opportunity that seems too good to be true, Maggie can’t help but feel intrigued by the opportunity to perform surgery again. Once she is whisked away to an unknown location, however, things begin to seem very sketchy. She does perform the two surgeries for her clients, however, but is shocked when one patient disappears and the other appears to have a connection to her late husband. As she begins to fear for her safety she knows she must flee before it is too late. Can she survive this ordeal now that they no longer need her? Can she find out who is behind this secret operation? Is there a connection to her late husband? Is she being paranoid after her years of combat work?

Fans of Harlan Coben will enjoy this title as it keeps readers interested from the beginning. It is easy to sympathize with Maggie since she has been through so much and it feels like nothing will ever lighten up for her. Many people in her situation would find themselves saying yes to this proposal only to find themselves in this very scary situation where there is no way out. There are many side characters who are all written in a way that make it difficult to ascertain who is trustworthy and who is not. Maggie is definitely a character that could potentially come back in a future adventure since her story is long from resolved. Fans will be pleased with the ending and will undoubtedly want to see more from this character.

Genre: Fantasy

Mallory and her sister have been trying their best to survive after their mother’s death, but unfortunately the magical gifts they inherited from her aren’t as lucrative as hers were. Mallory has the ability to see ghosts and her sister doesn’t even like talking about her gift, so they make due giving fake seances and tarot readings, and giving tours of the Saphir House to gullible tourists who are willing to buy anything. That is until Mallory gets caught by some police and must flee before getting arrested for fraud. Unbeknownst to her, one of the guests at her last house tour is actually the rightful heir to the Saphir Houses and lands and he ends up claiming she had permission to sneak onto his property to give these tours. In exchange, he wants Mallory and her sister to accompany him back to the country house in order to expel the ghost of Count Bastien, his murderous ancestor who supposedly murdered three of his wives before being killed himself. Since the ghost’s return, the ghost has been causing a lot of trouble which has led the house and vineyard to fall into disrepair as no one will work there. Mallory knows she needs to get out of the city before the police come looking for her again, but doesn’t believe she has the ability to banish a ghost. Meanwhile, she has become aware of some supernatural hunters who might be able to help for a price. Shortly after arriving at the country estate there is another brutal murder and she can’t help but feel like she knows exactly who the culprit is and it is not a ghost. Can she manage to help the current Count Bastien without revealing she is not as magical as her mother was? Will it be helpful that she can actually talk to the ghosts of the three wives that were murdered in the House Saphir houses that led to so many legends and myths to be spread about the family? Can they possibly break the curse that is holding the murdered ghosts in these ancestral houses? Will they be able to stop the murderer before more attacks occur?

This is another great story by Marissa Meyer. The retelling of Bluebeard is exciting, dramatic, and has many plot twists and turns that will keep readers intrigued. The characters are all really engaging too, especially the ghost Mallory meets at the House Saphir in town. The ending is full of surprises, but all the details make sense and feel satisfying. Readers of Meyer’s other series will enjoy this one as well. Recommended for fantasy readers.

Genre: Mystery/Suspense

In this sequel to The Woman in Cabin 10, Lo Blacklock is now married with two young kids and trying to get back into her career after taking some time during covid to raise her kids. The world has changed a bit and she’s struggling to find her way back into journalism when she is suddenly invited to an opening of a luxury Swiss Hotel. As much as she does not want to leave her kids for that long, it would give her a chance to stop by England and visit her mom as well. Plus, it’s a great way to start working in the travel industry again. When she arrives the hotel is grander than she even imagined, but on her first night she is startled to see a brand new mascara in her makeup bag that is the same one she borrowed from the mysterious “woman in cabin 10” in the last novel. Then, she comes across a note asking her to come to suite 11 right away. Even though it is late she decides to go anyway and meets a woman who claims she is being held against her will by the very millionaire who owns the hotel and needs Lo’s help to escape. Lo has a family now and does not want to put herself in peril, but she also knows she can’t let this woman suffer when there is something she could have done about it. Meanwhile, she desperately wants to interview that millionaire in the hopes of getting a story published. Is the woman who she says she is? Is her situation really as dire as she claims? Will the plan for Lo to help her work or will it leave Lo in a world of trouble?

This follow-up is fast paced and exciting in a new location. Lo’s new status as a wife and mother does change her priorities, but she’s still the same reporter at heart who does want to help people in need. The location sounds amazing and is a nice juxtaposition for all the shady people who are there enjoying it. There are many twists and turns as well as many people around Lo (both new faces and familiar ones) that she must decide who she can trust in order to get out of this safely. Fans who enjoyed the first one will definitely want to see what Lo Blacklock is up to now.

Genre: Suspense/Mystery

Connie has risen to fame through her mother’s vlogs and the family has enjoyed the spoils of their internet fame, but it has come at a price. Connie has started feeling like someone is watching her after some unusual online comments and a few local girls who resemble her start dying. Despite her growing uneasiness her mother and sister, Isla, refuse to stop posting all of the details of their daily lives for fear of losing this lucrative career. When her mom and sister leave for a long college scouting trip, Connie is nervous to stay in their sprawling home despite the state of the art security system and police chief looking in on her from time to time. Connie does have a few good friends who are always there when she needs them, but she knows someone has been on her property and possibly in her house, which makes her terrified to be on her own but no one seems to take her worries seriously and she begins to wonder if it is, in fact, all in her head. Is Connie safe in her own home? Did they invite trouble by putting their lives on the internet for all to see?

Fans of suspense/mystery stories like April Henry will like this author and this title. The premise is intriguing in the age of people posting far too many personal details online, but the pieces don’t always fit together satisfactorily. The reader can definitely feel Connie’s growing anxiety and frustration that no one is really taking her feelings seriously, but it is hard to determine at first if someone is in fact trying to get her or if she has just become overly worried after some not so nice comments she saw online. The ultimate resolution seems a bit rushed and some fans will not find it satisfying, but it is still a great pick for reluctant readers who love a fast paced, exciting story.

Genre: Romance

In this prequel to the Inheritance Games, readers get to see when Toby and Avery’s mom, Hannah, met and what their relationship was like. It begins with Toby coming to the Hawthorne home with a few friends and engaging Hannah’s sister, Kaylie, at a local bar. Hannah immediately got a strange vibe from her first impression of these college boys and advised her sister to stay away, but Kaylie was a free spirit and found her way back to them. Unfortunately, tragedy struck when there was an explosion at the Hawethorne property and the only known survivor was Toby, who was plucked out of the water by a local fisherman. Since Hannah was training to be a nurse, he summoned her to help save Toby’s life because Hannah’s family would definitely be out for revenge if they knew where Toby was. Therefore, the story follows both Toby and Hannah’s perspectives on what happened when Hannah came to tend to Toby’s wounds. Hannah is very hurt and angry about what happened to her sister, but she knows her vocation is to help those who need it. Meanwhile, Toby is despondent and just wants to be left to die. Eventually they begin to form a friendship and possibly more…?

Fans of the Inheritance Games will greatly appreciate this story as it clarifies how Toby knew Avery’s mom and what exactly happened that led to a lot of the drama that happens for the descendants in the other books. It helps to put faces to the characters mentioned in the original series and introduces them to the reader in a new and more meaningful way. The format of the book is interesting with each viewpoint told from either side of the book. The story also helps to put a more personal, loving spin on a story that often focuses solely on competition and games. Recommended for fans of the series and fans of romance novels.

Genre: Realistic Fiction

In this companion to We Were Liars, Matilda discovers the father she has never known, renowned artist Kingsley Cello, has asked to meet her after all this time and invites her to his reclusive home by the sea. Her mother has always been a bit flaky and after moving to be with yet another new love interest, Matilda actually opts to stay with the previous love interest to finish high school. Besides, Saar Adler, the most recent boyfriend, has always been more of a parent to her than either of her real parents. Saar is concerned about Matilda traveling so far to meet someone who has wanted nothing to do with her until this point. Her mother also advises against meeting Kingsley but says if he offers her a painting she should take it and sell it.

When Matilda arrives at the airport she quickly realizes that the directions she has been given are very confusing and she has trouble finding a cab willing to take her. Upon arrival she meets her half brother she has never known, Meer, who welcomes her with open arms. A former child star, Brock, and a wild card Tatum also live with Kingsley and his mom in their beachside house, which appears to be crumbling around them. Kingsley is not there to greet Matilda, however, and they all tell her that he is a free spirit and often leaves with no notice of when he will return. They lock up her electronics without her permission and declare it is a screen free home. As much as Matilda does not feel comfortable or included, she is determined to make the best of this since she has traveled so far. As she gets to know the inhabits of this house it becomes clear that there are a lot of unsaid things between the inhabitants and she starts to suspect they are not telling her the truth about where Kingsley is.

This story takes place right after the events of We Were Liars, which is located on an island across the water from where Kingsley’s house is. Everyone is pretty shaken up by what happened on the Sinclair island, but all for different reasons. In this story, everyone does appear to be lying about a lot of things and it starts to become hazy why Matilda was invited here at all if everyone was just going to lie to her about everything. The characters do become more distinguishable as the story plays out and the final resolution will help everything come together. Lockhart has a way of creating unusual settings with unique characters that readers get pulled into and want to know more about.

Genre: Futuristic Fiction

In a post-apocalyptic Seattle, Fox and her sister, Rabbit, are trying to survive on the outskirts of the domed city. Everyone in the domed city has access to food and healthcare, in addition to protection from the volatile weather and deadly disease that is spreading from across the country. It’s hard to get inside, however, and Fox has tried to join a group working to get health supplies for those outside the dome. When her and Rabbit are sent on a mission to feign a medical issue in order to gain access to medicine they are required to provide a blood sample to get into the facility. Shortly afterward, Rabbit is whisked away by a select group of doctors and Fox is left to complete the mission. She gets back to the rally point before the storm hits, but Rabbit is nowhere to be found. After many hours, Fox realizes that something has happened and Rabbit is likely in trouble. Then, she sees Rabbit’s face on the tv as the new face of the upcoming vaccine that will supposedly save them all from a deadly spreading disease, but something feels off to Fox and she vows to get inside the dome to rescue her sister. The only way she can do that is by joining the trials to become a soldier. It is very grueling work, but she is determined to succeed and when she arrives at the trials she sees two of her friends have joined her as well. Can they all make it through the trials to become soldiers? Will they be able to find and (possibly) rescue Rabbit? Who is controlling all of the stringent government rules that leave many people without necessities? Do they know who is all on their side? What are they doing with Rabbit?

Fans of futuristic stories such as The Testing and Divergent will enjoy this title. The setting is unique, but described well so it’s easy to understand. The trials are exciting and dangerous and the longer they are there, the more they begin learning about what is going on inside the domes. There is still a lot they don’t know, however, and each time they try to find out more they are putting themselves in danger. There are several big twists in the story, but the last part is especially dramatic in more than one way. Fans will be clamoring for more in this exciting setting.

Genre: Fantasy

Alissa Paine lives in a world where it is illegal to be a wielder of magic and wholeborns (nonmagic people) actually hunt wielders. Alissa herself is secretly a wielder and has been protected by her noble father’s title and connections all these years. The Prince has taken an interest in Alissa, but she knows if he ever found out her power it would end badly for her so she is reluctant to join in the social season where the Prince is meant to find his Princess. However, when Alissa is kidnapped by wielders she finds herself thrust into the politics of her country and realizes she cannot hide forever. She finds herself at court torn between two different men, one the Prince and leader of the wholeborn cause and a foreign dignitary who is also a wielder. Can she find a way to help the wielders of her country without condeming herself? Can she find the man she can truly be herself with? Will she ever know who at court she can actually trust and who is just waiting to betray her?

This fantasy version of The Selection will delight fantasy readers until the end. Alissa is a strong, sympathetic character who is often put into terrible situations that seem impossible to get out of yet somehow she usually finds a way. She is not afraid to challenge the status quo, but sometimes her actions can have dire consequences. The supporting characters are all mysterious and intriguing in a way that helps the story develop and build to the exciting reveal of the climax. The reveal in the end will surprise even the most avid fantasy reader. There are still many adventures ahead for Alissa and readers will be waiting for the next installment. Recommended for fantasy and romance readers.