In God’s Country, William Kent Krueger delivers a gripping, atmospheric mystery in the 21st Cork O’Connor novel. Set in the Boundary Waters, this suspenseful installment forces Cork to confront a terrifying vision of his own death while facing questions of family, courage, mortality, and moral choice. Perfect for fans of crime fiction, mystery, suspense, and richly drawn characters, God’s Country is a powerful 5-star read for longtime Cork O’Connor fans and new readers alike.
In Brighter Than Before, Courtney Walsh delivers a warm, funny summer rom-com filled with witty banter, a memorable meet-cute, and heartfelt second chances. Claire’s fresh start in Chicago brings humor, awkward moments, emotional healing, and a lovable community of characters readers will want to root for. Perfect for fans of contemporary romance, book club reads, and feel-good fiction, this 5-star romance is a charming reminder that new beginnings can lead to something brighter than before.
Kelsey Cox’s Pretty Dead Things is a suspenseful, atmospheric thriller set in small-town Texas, where beauty pageant traditions, long-buried secrets, and generational trauma collide. Following multiple generations of women navigating friendship, betrayal, family wounds, and the social pressures of pageant life, this emotionally grounded mystery builds from a slow start into a gripping, unforgettable read. Cox handles difficult topics like bullying, substance abuse, mental illness, physical violence, and allusions to sexual assault with compassion and care. With a vivid winter-storm setting, realistic characters, and a mystery that keeps readers guessing until the final pages, Pretty Dead Things is a strong follow-up to Party of Liars and a must-read for fans of atmospheric mysteries and small-town suspense.
June was such a strong reading month—9 books, all 4 stars or higher, with action fiction clearly leading the way. My two 5-star standouts were Hidden in Plain View, a fascinating look at quilt symbolism and history, and Backtrack by Marc Cameron, a gripping thriller with excellent character development. The list also includes 4 pre-release titles, full reviews, preorder links, and one more review still to come. If you love thrillers, upcoming releases, and standout monthly recaps, this one is worth a look. Which title would you pick up first? #bookish #RWL2026 #ThrillerReads
Book review of Both Can Be True by Jessica Guerrieri, a thoughtful mystery about addiction, family trauma, mental health, sisterhood, and the complicated search for healing after a disappearance shakes a small community.
Marc Cameron’s Backtrack delivers a tense, fast-moving return to U.S. Marshal Arliss Cutter’s world. Blending a present-day manhunt with a historical fugitive chase, the novel deepens Cutter family history while offering the realistic law enforcement detail, rugged Alaskan atmosphere, and high-stakes suspense Cameron fans expect. I give it 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for readers who enjoy action-packed mysteries, police procedurals, and authors such as Michael Connelly, Brad Thor, and John Sandford. Content includes on-page violence, death, gun violence, physical assault, and violence against women.
The Prodigal Daughter by Isabella Valeri is a suspenseful, gothic-tinged novel about family control, old-money power, and buried secrets. This review highlights the book’s atmospheric writing, emotional tension, and compelling exploration of duty versus self-determination. As the second installment in the Letters from the Dead series, it blends mystery, romance, and dynastic intrigue for readers who enjoy dark family dramas and young women resisting the roles imposed on them.
Satans Diary by Nicholas Ponticello is a 5-star fantasy novel that reimagines Lucifer’s fall with dark humor, rich worldbuilding, and emotional depth. This review highlights the book’s inventive take on biblical mythology, its nuanced exploration of mental health, and its compelling, humanized portrayal of Lucifer. Ideal for readers who enjoy mythic retellings, immortal characters, and thought-provoking fantasy, Satans Diary stands out as an original and engaging 2025 release.
May proved to be an exceptional reading month, delivering five five-star books and an especially strong lineup of fantasy titles. From magical realism to bold, inventive worldbuilding, each selection offered something memorable, with Satan’s Diary ultimately emerging as the standout for its originality and unexpected depth. Looking ahead, June shifts toward adventure-driven reads—blending quest narratives, action-packed favorites, and intentional reflection in honor of Juneteenth, with a continued focus on meaningful, thought-provoking storytelling.
The Sisters and the Sword is a dark, feminist-leaning Arthurian retelling that shifts the spotlight to Morgan and Morgause, giving new weight to the family tensions behind Camelot’s fall. While some uneven pacing and abrupt timeline jumps kept it from fully landing for me, readers who enjoy morally complex characters and mythic fantasy with a darker edge may want to pick it up.
