Death Rocks by LJ Ross

January 13, 2026 By Leave a Comment


Death Rocks by LJ Ross
Publisher: Dark Skies Publishing
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Fern

THERE’S NO SUCH THING AS A COINCIDENCE…

When the body of a talented photographer is found on the rocks beneath the ruins of Dunstanburgh Castle, DCI Ryan and his team of detectives immediately suspect the worst. But, since none of their potential suspects seems to have a motive, the case runs cold.

Then, when another body is found dead on a lonely stretch of road near Hadrian’s Wall and their only suspect has an airtight alibi, the team are faced with another crime without a perpetrator.

With the number of unexplained deaths in the area increasing rapidly and only a series of coincidences to work from, Ryan and his team must find the invisible link between them to crack the case—before it’s too late.

Can Ryan solve his most dangerous case yet?

DCI Ryan and his team are called into what could be a suspicious death – but equally might just be a tragic accident – on Death Rocks. With no clear motive and no real suspects, the case quickly goes cold on the team. But when another potentially suspicious but possibly accidental death turns up DCI Ryan and his team know something just be going on – but can they work out what it is?

I’ve been enjoying this long running series and found this book to be an interesting and strongly written addition. While the team has been together for years and have a great cohesion to them, I feel that there’s enough progress – and a new team member joining the group – that this would be a perfect book to introduce oneself to the series.

I also felt the murder mystery was a delightful breath of fresh air. With no clear motive or suspects – and even a question over whether this is actually murder at all – I found the police procedural aspect to the book really well written, and it also felt fresh and interesting to me.

There is some friction between some of the team initially, and while I feel bad for Jack, sometimes I also feel he can be a real idiot. I was pleased, though, this tension and conflict was resolved fairly quickly but also realistically. Readers should be aware that this book has quite a twist and a character death at the end. Plus, while a lot of the plot is wrapped up there isn’t a complete conclusion of everything – a few aspects are left for resolution hopefully in the next book.

Readers who enjoy a well-paced and excellently written British police procedural should find this is a very good book – and possibly the opening to a whole new series.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews Tagged With: , , , ,

The Stars Must Wait by Carmelo Rafalà

January 12, 2026 By Leave a Comment


The Stars Must Wait by Carmelo Rafalà
Publisher: Guardbridge Books, Scotland
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Historical, Contemporary
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Carmelo Rafalà writes stories that are profound, surprising, and beautifully realised. He imagines fantastic worlds and protagonists of immense complexity, subtlety and depth. His stories do not give easy answers, but stimulate and absorb the reader.
In this collection of science fiction and fantasy stories you will find:

A zealous convert, a woman of rumour and myth, and a dangerous pilgrimage across pirate filled seas.
A warrior travels to a far land to mourn and put his violent past behind him, but strange gods of an even stranger people intrude.
Abandoned in the Ozarks, sisters face a malevolent presence reaching out from the darkness.
Two friends struggle with their strained relationship, but reconciliation may literally require other realities. These are stories of identity and belonging, and our deep-seated desire to control our own narratives.

Everyone deserves to tell their own tales.

Lord Banning had spent nearly his entire adulthood in battle, and now that he was growing older it was time for him to reflect on his choices in “Heart of the City, Heart of the Sea.” The character development in this piece was what drew me so deeply into it. Some of Lord Banning’s decisions were difficult to understand until I got to know him better and discovered a few of the secrets surrounding his life. I only wish I could know what happened to him next.

I did struggle to connect to with some of the short stories in this collection due to some confusion I had about their world and character building. “The Clarity of Ice” was one such example of this. Performing what were essentially farming and terraforming duties while in outer space was a unique way to introduce Karlyn to the audience, but I struggled to understand what motivated her to choose this career and what she hoped to gain from it. I also had some trouble understanding the project she was working on, especially when she made references to possibly bio-engineering humans to better suit certain environments. Had this scene and similar ones in other tales been given more detailed explanations, I would have happily chosen a higher rating as I thought Mr. Rafalà had a vivid imagination and a fresh take on some common tropes in this genre.

My favorite instalment was “Slipping Sideways” which explored Džemo and Leo’s grief after the death of their friend Rachel. The science fiction spin to such a common but heartbreaking part of life made me smile. I’ve often wished for the same solution that these characters talked about as they mourned her passing, and I thought the ending fit the themes beautifully. This was a short piece which only made it all that more powerful.

The Stars Must Wait was memorable.

Filed Under: Reviews, Science Fiction/Fantasy Tagged With: , , , , ,

The Wild Dogs of Kumamoto by Luc Jorgart

January 8, 2026 By Leave a Comment


The Wild Dogs of Kumamoto by Luc Jorgart
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Young Adult (14 – 18 y.o.), Contemporary
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by: Astilbe

The Wild Dogs of Kumamoto is a gritty, emotionally intense coming-of-age novel that follows Ryuji Nagata, a rebellious teen from the quiet Iki Island, who is uprooted from his home and sent to a boarding school in Kumamoto City. Behind his tough exterior lies a troubled soul; haunted by family trauma, bullying, and a desire for freedom. His father is in prison for vehicular manslaughter, and his mother remains emotionally distant.

At school, Ryuji is quickly targeted by a group of bullies who physically and emotionally torment him. Even attempts to seek help from teachers fail him. His only escape becomes a cabaret bar, Club Avon, where he finds an unlikely guardian in Nana Hirose, the sharp-witted and compassionate bar owner who sees through his pain. But true change doesn’t come until he crosses paths with a member of the Kumamoto Wild Dogs, a feared bosozoku gang.

Change is always possible.

The realistic dialogue made me feel as though I were eavesdropping onto the characters’ conversations. This is something I always appreciate as well-written dialogue can be a great way to get to know the characters on a deeper level. For example, Ryuji wasn’t something who liked talking about his feelings very often, and it showed in his brief responses to many of the questions he was asked. I also thought the conversations with this characters’ mom and grandparents were well worth paying close attention to given how important they were for what happened later on in the storyline.

It would have been helpful to have more plot development in this book. Ryuji grew and changed as a person, but there wasn’t as much time spent exploring the catalysts for his growth as I would have preferred to see. This made it tricky for me to remain invested in his life as I didn’t have a lot of context to help explain why these changes were happening or what the protagonist thought of them.

My favorite portion was the ending due to some intriguing plot twists involving the main character’s future that happened in those last few chapters. While I can’t go into detail into where life would lead him to next, the author’s willingness to take risks here was easy to take note of and is something I think should applauded. There is definitely something to be said for storytellers who remain playful and creative while they’re writing.

The Wild Dogs of Kumamoto was thought provoking.

Filed Under: Reviews, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , ,

Murder At Work by Faith Martin

January 7, 2026 By Leave a Comment


Murder At Work by Faith Martin
Publisher: Joffe Books
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Fern

Looking for a brilliant bestselling murder mystery with a feisty female detective?

Meet DI HILLARY GREENE, a policewoman struggling to save her career and catch criminals.

Hillary will retire in a few weeks. But can her boss get Hillary to change her mind by putting her on a murder investigation?

The victim is found dead with his head bashed in with a piece of wood. Michael Ivers was a gambler and a notorious womaniser. He had few friends and there is a long list of people who might have wanted him dead.

Hillary wants to solve her final case as a police officer and she has just days left to find out who killed him. To add to her problems, her old enemy, ex-Sergeant Frank Ross is back on the scene and is a prime suspect.

This is a crime mystery full of well-observed characters, which will have you gripped from start to the absolutely thrilling conclusion.

DI Hillary Greene is almost at the end of her two month’s notice. Determined to retire from her beloved job and leave on her own terms – and with her dignity and reputation intact – she is systemically wrapping everything up to leave in the best possible way. With two weeks left, however, a new murder case is dropped on her plate, and despite her initial instinct to turn it away she soon finds herself drawn in despite her best intentions. Can Hillary fix these last few problems?

I have been thoroughly enjoying this series and was quite pleased with this addition. Over the last few books a series of events have been culminating and in this book a lot of that longer-running story arc comes to a fairly dramatic conclusion. I feel the author did a really good job both explaining and summarizing the events without it feeling like an info dump or catch up for the reader, so I do think that readers who pick this book up having never read any of the previous books should catch on quite easily to what’s happening. I admit that since I’ve been along for the whole ride I had quite a strong emotional connection to Hillary, her team and the series of these events in general.

While a lot is obviously happening around Hillary and her life, I did not feel this detracted from this books murder plot and the author is to be commended for this good balance. The murder and the plot revolving around that had a good pace and I don’t feel it was left to drag or languish beside all the personal drama and that sub-plot. These two items both moved along well and while they were not linked I feel they each were given plenty of time to shine without overshadowing the other.

Readers who enjoy a good British Police procedural mystery should find this is a good read. I personally also enjoy that quite a strong cast of secondary characters – both from Hillary’s past and present – have a good showing and for me this gave the book some good depth and heart. I really enjoyed this book and am very eager for the next in line to see where these events and Hillary’s decisions lead her.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews Tagged With: , , , ,

Beth is Dead by Katie Bernet

January 6, 2026 By Leave a Comment


Beth is Dead by Katie Bernet
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Genre: Contemporary, Romance, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

When Beth March is found dead in the woods on New Year’s Day, her sisters vow to uncover her murderer.

Suspects abound. There’s the neighbor who has feelings for not one but two of the girls. Meg’s manipulative best friend. Amy’s flirtatious mentor. And Beth’s lionhearted first love. But it doesn’t take the surviving sisters much digging to uncover motives each one of the March girls had for doing the unthinkable.

Jo, an aspiring author with a huge following on social media, would do anything to hook readers. Would she kill her sister for the story? Amy dreams of studying art in Europe, but she’ll need money from her aunt—money that’s always been earmarked for Beth. And Meg wouldn’t dream of hurting her sister…but her boyfriend might have, and she’ll protect him at all costs.

Despite the growing suspicion within the family, it’s hard to know for sure if the crime was committed by someone close to home. After all, the March sisters were dragged into the spotlight months ago when their father published a controversial bestseller about his own daughters. Beth could have been killed by anyone.

Beth’s perspective told in flashback unfolds next to Meg, Jo, and Amy’s increasingly fraught investigation as the tragedy threatens to rip the Marches apart.

I’ve read the book Little Women more times that I’d like to admit. I know these characters. Katie Bernet does an admirable job in bringing the March sisters into the twenty-first century. The writing is fast-paced and kept me involved with the story. I needed to know what would happen and how it happened. I wasn’t able to figure out the ending, which is great. I like to be kept guessing.

The reader is introduced to the March sister, Amy, Jo, Meg and the perished Beth. Each girl’s personality shines through and they have been written in a thoroughly modern way. I liked the updates. That said, some who haven’t read the original book might not get the references to the Louisa May Alcott original, might get a little lost in the sauce. If one knows the source material, then this is a fun, twisted retelling. If one doesn’t, it can be a little confusing. There are a lot of characters to keep straight, which might be a challenge for some readers. While many readers may not mind the present first person telling of the story, it took me out just a bit. None of this is to say this isn’t a good book. It is.

If you’re looking for a novel with characters that seem familiar (or if you’ve read the original, are familiar) with plot twists you won’t see coming, then this is the book for you. This book kept me guessing. I suggest you find a copy and get to reading!

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , , ,

MOVIE REVIEW: Twelve Dates ‘Til Christmas by Directed by Emer Conroy, Megan K. Fox

January 5, 2026 By Leave a Comment


Twelve Dates ‘Til Christmas by Directed by Emer Conroy, Megan K. Fox
Writers: Jenni Bayliss, Erin Rodman, Davah Avena, Zac Hug, Lynn Sternberger
Starring: Mae Whitman, Julian Morris, Toby Sandeman
Distributed by: Hallmark Studios
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Rating: 4 Stars (8 Stars on IMDB)
Reviewed by Dicentra

Kate, a textile pattern designer, cares for her separated father Mac in Blexford, England. Laura introduces her to The 12 Dates of Christmas, a matchmaking program that rekindles her life and leads her to new adventures.

Twelve Dates ‘Til Christmas, the new Hallmark mini series starring Mae Whitman, Julian Morris, and Toby Sandeman, was a chaotic yet fun movie for rom-com fans approaching the Christmas holidays. An entirely different format than Hallmark’s more stereotypical films, I enjoyed the novelty of the format as well as the relationships that are carried through multiple episodes.

Kate’s (Mae Whitman) a textile designer who hasn’t gone on a date in a while and spends her time taking care of her father. Wanting her friend to be less lonely and find some magic in the season, Laura (Lucy Eaton) signs Kate up for the “Twelve Dates of Christmas”. Lots of shenanigans ensue, from Christmas rage rooms, escape rooms, and even coordinating crazy hats. The organizer of the event, Drew (Eimear Morissey), was quite fun and did an excellent job in her role as “Christmas cupid”.

While some of the date partners were not particularly memorable (as one might expect from a show that is set to feature 12 dates), I appreciated how they helped move Kate towards her happily ever after. Said happily ever after is definitely predictable, but it makes it no less heartwarming. Don’t want to say too much about Richard (Tobey Sandeman) and Callum’s (Julian Morris) characters, as that very much spoils how things end up. While Kate’s relationships are the focus, it was also nice to see so many other characters in the mini series get their happily ever after too. The storyline between Kate’s dad Mac (Nathaniel Parker) and Evelyn (Jane Seymour) was quite funny, and to see Delilah (Mary McDonnell) running around and meddling towards the end of things was both entertaining and cringe-inducing (I felt for Mac during the book club scene). Make sure you catch the Independence Day actor reunion though!

Overall, this was a great mini-series and I’m so glad I took the time to watch it. Highly recommend this series to those who enjoy rom-coms with guaranteed happily ever afters and large ensemble casts of actors. As a note for book lovers, this is based on the novel of the same name by Jenny Bayliss.

Filed Under: Miscellaneous Musings, Movie Review, Television Show Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Go See America – 118 of the USA’s Greatest Hits (According to a Guy Who Visited Them All) by Matt Tory

December 31, 2025 By Leave a Comment


Go See America – 118 of the USA’s Greatest Hits (According to a Guy Who Visited Them All) by Matt Tory
Publisher: good.clean.fun.
Genre: Non-Fiction, Contemporary, Historical
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Want to explore America’s most wonderful, wild, and delightfully weird places — without nodding off halfway through a guidebook?
This is not your average travel book.

In Go See America, Matt Tory takes you on a humorous, heartfelt tour of 118 unforgettable places across the USA — according to a guy who went to them all. It’s part guidebook, part road trip diary, and entirely a celebration of what makes America… well, America.

Whether you love adventure, history, scenic views, or just a good laugh, Go See America isn’t just another bucket list: it’s an invitation to rediscover and fall in love with the country you thought you already knew – one memorable stop at a time.

Inside, you’ll find:
National parks, quirky attractions, scenic drives, and small-town surprises
A mix of must-see wonders and overlooked gems across the country
A not-too-serious guide that feels more like exploring alongside a good friend
Photos of every location
Insider tips and personal stories that both celebrate and lovingly roast America’s greatest hits
It’s the perfect blend of inspiration and levity – whether you’re planning your next trip or just dreaming from the couch. Go See America isn’t about checking off boxes; it’s about embracing the wonder, charm, and occasional absurdity of this big, bizarre, beautiful country.

Get inspired. Get going. Go See America.

Everyone deserves a memorable vacation.

Mr. Tory had a tongue-in-cheek sense of humor that I thought paired well with his experiences visiting so many different portions of the United States. It was especially interesting to hear his thoughts on the destinations he included that tend to be more well-known among tourists and, in a few cases, might even be described as tourist traps. As someone whose travel tastes seem to overlap his quite a bit, it was amusing to read between the lines there about both the benefits and drawbacks of visiting those places.

I must admit to wishing that this had included more museums and notable historical places. There were some examples of this, especially later on as the author moved closer to the east coast, but I thought there was room here to talk about even more fantastic places that fit these descriptions as I know there many of them in the United States. Maybe we’ll be lucky enough to get a sequel to this guide someday that dives even deeper into the history of and various cultures that make up this country.

Other than that, I appreciated the fact that these 118 recommendations spanned such a wide range of options. Everything from restaurants to glaciers to hiking trails were included which meant that this book can be used by people from all age groups and levels of fitness. Obviously, more research would be needed in some cases to figure out accessibility for readers who, for example, use a wheelchair, have a guide dog, or have other special needs, but this seemed like it was a great starting space to compiling a list of exciting spots to visit that would fit all sorts of different types of folks.

Go See America – 118 of the USA’s Greatest Hits (According to a Guy Who Visited Them All) was delightful and made me want to plan a road trip.

Filed Under: Non-Fiction, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , ,

Love Like Blood by Mark Billingham

December 30, 2025 By Leave a Comment


Love Like Blood by Mark Billingham
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Fern

In Love Like Blood, DI Tom Thorne, “the next superstar detective,” teams up with perfectionist DI Nicola Tanner, the protagonist of Billingham’s acclaimed stand-alone thriller Die of Shame (Lee Child).

When her domestic partner Susan is brutally murdered, Nicola Tanner is convinced that she was the intended target. The murderer’s motive is likely connected to her recent work on a string of cold case honor killings. Despite being placed on leave, Tanner insists on pursuing justice for Susan—and she turns to fellow DI Tom Thorne for help.

Agreeing to take the case, Thorne quickly finds that working in such controversial territory among London’s Hindu, Muslim, and Sikh communities can be dangerous in more ways than one. But when a young Bangladeshi couple goes missing, Tanner and Thorne must put everything on the line to investigate a case that is anything but cold.

DI Tom Thorne is reluctantly drawn in by a fellow officer to what appears to be a series of contracted honour killings. The link is tenuous, but Nicola Tanner is convinced and – always one to play by the rules – her conviction sways Thorne. Tanner is up front by the reasons for her tenacity, but when another pair of young lovers go “missing” Thorne has to admit there seems to be something to Tanners theory. Can they work out what’s really happening?

While I absolutely have been enjoying this series I admit I find most of the books varying degrees of uncomfortable. The author has an amazing knack of taking difficult – if not taboo – circumstances and cantering his plot lines around it. I found this book – based around a pair of killers who hire themselves out to perform honour killings for families refusing to get their hands dirty – to be equal parts discomfortable and an excellently writer murder mystery.

Readers who enjoy a grittier – or even noir – style of British police procedural should definitely find this book appeals to them. I can also recommend the rest of the series as being along a similar line.

This is well into the DI Thorne series this book can absolutely be read and enjoyed as a standalone. Readers shouldn’t worry about not having read previous books, this one stands well by itself. Found it to be an excellent – if slightly uncomfortable- read and worth the emotional investment.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews Tagged With: , , , ,

The Talisker Dead by JM Dalgliesh

December 19, 2025 By Leave a Comment


The Talisker Dead by JM Dalgliesh
Publisher: Hamilton Press
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Fern

Digging up the past… is enough to kill you…
When a teenage islander goes missing on Burns Night, D.I. Duncan McAdam takes a strong interest despite the apparent lack of concern shown by the boy’s father. When a woman’s body is soon discovered in Talisker Bay, with a single stab wound to the chest, Duncan and his team realise they have a killer on the island.

A brutal winter storm is battering the island, and it soon becomes a race against time to find the missing boy. Is he hiding or is someone keeping him from coming home? As the team delve deeper into the lives of the teenager and the deceased, they come to the conclusion that nothing is quite what it seems and more than one person has a vested interest in concealing the truth.

A closely guarded secret, lying in a shallow grave for years, is under threat of being revealed and no one seems willing to face up to their past… least of all, Duncan McAdam himself. Duncan has a decision to make, one that will impact not only his life but the lives of those he cares about the most. Does he have the courage to follow his instincts? And just who is he acting in the interests of… the people he loves… or purely for himself?

A teenager goes missing on Burns Night, and although some of the lad’s family aren’t too concerned, DI McAdam still takes a strong interest in the case. Soon afterwards, a woman’s body is discovered, and even though Duncan and his team can’t see how the two incidents can be connected, there’s no denying that there’s now a killer on the island somewhere.

This is the third book in JM Dalgliesh’s mystery series based on the Isle of Skye. While still feeling very much like a British Police Procedural style of murder/mystery to me I must admit I really enjoy the remote, island community feel these stories bring. I feel somehow the author really manages to balance just right the isolated small town feel with enough personalities and links to still keep things interesting and keep me as a reader guessing. And I’ll admit that while I certainly managed to work out a few aspects of the plot, there were still a number of items I hadn’t guessed, and some of the characters still managed to surprise me too.

Readers looking for an action-orientated or fast paced story might not find this book quite fits their needs, but the characters are delightfully complicated and realistic, and the situations are relatable and believable. I also thought the murder mystery was interesting and also layered enough to keep my attention throughout the story.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews Tagged With: , , , ,

One Killer Night by Trilina Pucci

December 17, 2025 By Leave a Comment


One Killer Night by Trilina Pucci
Publisher: Montlake
Genre: Contemporary, Horror, Erotic Romance, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

Love is patient.

Love is kind.

Love will stab you from behind.

It’s Halloween night, and out-of-work writer Goldie Monroe’s trip to the drugstore scares up more than the fake blood she’s looking for. It leads to the man of her naughtiest dreams. And in spite of her costume, sparks fly from the moment they meet.

Noah Adler, aspiring sneaker designer, is impossibly gorgeous—like a tatted-up version of Goldie’s favorite blue-eyed vampire. He’s there for candy, but it’s Goldie he can’t resist. When she invites him to her sister’s F/X company bash, he’s all in without a second thought.

The pair’s flirty connection heats up fast, carrying them to electrifying new heights. But after Goldie discovers Noah is hiding a dark secret, it all starts to crumble. Looking for answers about her own past awakens new dangers, and when Goldie and Noah land at a slasher camp for adults, a deadly tragedy threatens to repeat itself. If they can survive this one killer night, they can definitely slay a happily ever after.

A meet-cute that goes a little sideways, but could be the best thing to happen? There’s that and more in One Killer Night.

Trilina Pucci has written a hot book with twists and turns. It’s a quicker read because of the humor. The characters are interesting and it’s easy to root for them, even if the reader isn’t always sure of their intentions, but isn’t that the mark of a good mystery or horror book? This one sure kept me on my toes. Goldie and Noah are fascinating, but can they be trusted? I had to keep reading to find out.

The one thing that was a bit of a distraction for me was how this book felt like an adult retelling of the 80s teen slasher films. Yes, it was a good read, but it was almost too throwback and took me out of the story at times. That’s not to say all readers will feel the way I did. Most will like this story, plus Goldie and Noah do have off the charts chemistry.

If you like slasher films in book form, like mysteries that need to be unraveled and want something that’s a little throwback, then this might be the book for you. Check it out.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews, Romance Tagged With: , , , , , ,
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