One Good Eye by Kevin Wade

Started: 10/3/2026

Finished: 10/5/2026

Year: 2026

Pages: 231

Genre: mystery

Grade: B-

Reason for reading: library book, continuing with series

Type: hardcover

Blurb (from Amazon): "As a hurricane makes landfall on Long Island’s Gold Coast, Police Chief Jeep Mullane responds to a plea for help at the estate of his longtime friend Jenny Racine, who has been violently assaulted in a home invasion. Jenny was the girl next door growing up, is now a rich and famous entrepreneur, and has always been a compelling, infuriating, and magnetic presence in his life.

"Though Jenny is adamant she wants no investigation of the incident, Jeep sets off on a lonely and dangerous path to find out who attacked her. As he makes alarming discoveries, he must pry open the secrets of Jenny’s ex-military ex-husband, a fugitive police captain, officious federal agents, steely blue-blooded women, and two local biker gangs, casting aside his protocol as a police chief to challenge the criminals himself."

Opinion: Interesting mix of two different mysteries going on-one based on childhood, one based on current day.

Cold Burn by A. J. Landau

Started: 9/26/2026

Finished: 10/3/2026

Year: 2025

Pages: 317

Genre: Mystery/thriller

Grade: B+

Reason for reading: library book, continuing with series

Type: hardcover

Blurb (from Amazon): "National Park Service investigator Michael Walker is battling smugglers stealing priceless artifacts when he’s dispatched to Glacier Bay National Park in Alaska, where, in the first stage of a potential global disaster, a team of scientists has gone missing.

"Meanwhile, in Florida’s Everglades National Park, FBI special investigator Gina Delgado traces the murder of an environmental science intern back to another U.S. Geological Survey team’s ongoing experiments that are decimating the fragile ecosystem. That is before she’s dispatched to the scene of a sunken U.S. nuclear submarine, the entire crew of which has inexplicably been killed.

"The connection between these disparate investigations lies in a deadly prehistoric organism, frozen for thousands of years in the ice until global warming brings it back to life in what could mean the death of all life on Earth. An organism that a rogue billionaire sees as the ultimate fuel source and a Russian strongman views as the ultimate weapon that can shift the global balance of power forever. Against that backdrop, Walker and Delgado find themselves desperately doing battle across multiple fronts against an ancient, unstoppable enemy."

Opinion: 2 of the farthest away National Parks, affected by the same thing....add in climate change, greedy Americans and some Russians.

Brain Damage by Freida McFadden

Started: 9/19/2026

Finished: 9/26/2026

Year: 2016

Pages: 360

Genre: mystery/thriller

Grade: B

Reason for reading: library book

Type: paperback

Blurb (from Amazon): "Dr. Charly McKenna had the perfect life: a thriving dermatology practice, a luxury apartment overlooking Central Park, and a handsome husband who adored her.

"Until the night a bullet tore through her skull… and stole everything.

"Now Charly wakes in a rehabilitation hospital unable to walk, speak, or remember her own name. All she knows is that someone tried to kill her―and they may still be out there. As fragments of memory surface, so do unsettling questions about the people around her, including the attentive man who keeps appearing at her bedside.

"The truth of what happened that night lives somewhere inside her brain. And as Charly pieces together the jagged edges of her past, she begins to realize the most terrifying possibility: the person who wants her dead might be the one she once trusted most."

Opinion: Definitely a decent thriller with a heartwarming ending. Things people do.

Gingerdead Man by Maya Corrigan

Started: 9/13/2026

Finished: 9/19/2026

Year: 2020

Pages: 268

Genre: cozy mystery

Grade: B

Reason for reading: continuing the series, library book

Typer: paperback

Blurb (from Amazon): "This holiday season Bayport, Maryland, is a dead ringer for Victorian London. Val and her grandfather are taking part in the Dickens of a Holiday festival. Val is hosting a private tea party serving the festival's costumed volunteers, who range from Dickens divas like Madame Defarge and Miss Havisham to Ebenezer Scrooge and old St. Nick himself.

"But one costumed reveler may have gotten the holidays mixed up. The winner of the creepiest outfit, robed in black with a gift bag covering the head—okay, Ghost of Christmas Present, Val gets it—hands out gingerbread men with white icing skeleton bones. This year's sour Santa has none of the big fellow's mirth but plenty of his appetite, and it's no secret Santa loves cookies. But when the man in red turns blue, Val and Granddad have a cookie-cutter killer to catch before the New Year . . ."

Opinion: A decent mystery where connections are not obvious. The relationship between Val and Baum is blah.

The Dead Take the A Train by Cassandra Khaw and Richard Kadrey

Started: 9/13/2026

Finished: DNF

Year: 2023

Pages: 390

Genre: horror

Grade: F

Reason for reading: library book

Type: hardcover

Blurb (from Amazon): "Julie is a coked-up, burnt-out thirty-year-old whose only retirement plan is dying early. She’s been trying to establish herself in the NYC magic scene, and she’ll work the most gruesome gigs, exorcize the nastiest demons, and make deals with the cruelest gods to claw her way to the top. But nothing can prepare her for the toughest job yet: when her best friend, Sarah, shows up at her door in need of help. Keeping Sarah safe becomes top priority.

"Julie is desperate for a quick fix to break the dead-end grind and save her friend. But her power grab sets off a deadly chain of events that puts Sarah – and the entire world - directly in the path of annihilation."

Opinion: Just yeah no. Not a fan of Julie's character. Her job is rather interesting but not enough to keep me reading.

Death Row by Freida McFadden

Started: 9/13/2026

Finished: 9/13/2026

Year: 2026

Pages: 73

Genre: novella, literature

Grade: 

Reason for reading: library book

Type: paperback

Blurb (from Amazon): "Death is coming for her… unless she finds the truth first.

"Talia Kemper is on death row for murdering her husband. She had an alibi and no known motive, yet Talia's unwavering protestations of innocence have always been ignored.

"Then one day in the visiting area, she sees a man she's certain is her husband. The person she's been convicted of killing may not be dead after all.

"But as the days tick away toward Talia's execution, what will it take for her to be believed?"

Opinion: Interesting how two very different concepts become one...then you realize that they could very well be the same type of concept.

Caught Bread Handed by Ellie Alexander

S

tarted: 9/6/2026

Finished: 9/12/2026

Year: 2016

Pages: 288

Genre: cozy mystery

Grade: B

Reason for reading: library book, continuing with series

Type: paperback

Blurb (from Amazon): "Jules Capshaw is still chewing over her husband Carlos’s return to Ashland, Oregon. Could there be too many cooks in the kitchen? Whatever is stirring between those two will have to wait. Despite the Oregon Shakespeare Festival being dark for the winter, the bakeshop is bustling, the dough is rolling, and there’s no rest for the weary…especially when murder is thrown into the mix.

"When Mindy Nolan, the owner of a new restaurant in town, turns up dead, the batter at hand thickens. Jules knows that there was bad blood between Mindy and others in town, and tracking down the killer could prove to be an unwelcome treat. And to top it all off, there’s Carlos, who is pleading―with those delicious dark eyes and sexy Spanish accent―for Jules to take him back. Is home where the heart is or will she make a fresh start…and risk getting burned?"

Opinion: A decent murder mystery which was told in the beginning if you paid attention. The outside story of Jules, Carlos, Thomas doesn't quite take away from the mystery but it's getting close.

Tusk Love by Thea Guanzon

Started: 9/6/2026

Finished: DNF

Year: 2025

Pages: 288

Genre: fantasty

Grade: D

Reason for reading: fan of Critical Role, library book

Type: hardcover

Blurb (from Amazon): "As the daughter of an ambitious merchant, Guinevere’s path has been predetermined: marry into a noble house of the Dwendalian Empire, raise her family’s station, and live quietly as a lordling’s obedient wife. But Guinevere longs for a life unbounded by expectations, for freedom and passion and adventure.

"Those distant dreams become a sudden reality when her caravan is beset by bandits, leaving her guards slain and Guinevere stranded alone on the dangerous Amber Road. Her only chance of survival is to travel alongside Oskar, the aloof half-orc who saved her during the attack.

"Unlike Guinevere, Oskar’s path is not so set in stone. With his mother dead and his apprenticeship abandoned, all that’s left is a long, lonely walk to a land he’s never seen to find family he’s never met. The last thing he needs is a spoiled waif like Guinevere slowing him down—even if the spark between them sizzles with promise.

"Despite his cold exterior, Oskar is brave and thoughtful and unlike anyone Guinevere has ever met. And while Guinevere may be sheltered, she brings out a softness in him that he has never dared to feel before. As the flames of their passion grow, they realize that soon they’ll need to choose between their expected destinations or their blossoming romance."

Opinion: The writing was fine. I didn't care about the main characters...or the fantasy world even though I have enjoyed the Critical Role campaigns that were held in the same world.

Dogs, Boys, and Other Things I've Cried About by Isabel Klee

Started: 9/4/2026

Finished: 9/6/2026

Year: 2026

Pages: 274

Genre: Memoir/biography

Grade: B-

Reason for reading: library book

Blurb (from Amazon): "A Jersey girl by birth, Isabel Klee had always wanted to live in New York City. At age 20, she got her chance, ditching her college upstate and moving into a grungy basement apartment in Manhattan. Dog-obsessed since childhood, her first post-grad job was becoming an assistant to a dog photographer, and something clicked into place: a career focused on helping dogs was the new dream

"Isabel quickly found a passion for rehabilitating rescue dogs and helping them get adopted. At the same time, she was caught up in a whirlwind of friendships, parties, fickle boyfriends and grand romances, which she recounts in honest, tender, and sometimes devastating chapters about the search for love and belonging.

"Isabel’s first true love, though, was Simon, a fluffy puppy who’d been saved from the meat trade. As the highs and lows of her twenties hit Isabel in wave after wave, it was Simon who kept her grounded. Together, Isabel and Simon created a community of dog-lovers and a tight-knit group of friends pursuing their dreams

"In this honest and moving memoir, Isabel weaves together the stories of her foster dogs—and the challenges she helped them overcome—with tales of complicated relationships, hard decisions, and great loves in New York City, all leading to a happy ending not only for the rescue pups, but for Isabel herself."

Opinion: I follow Isabel on IG and of course had heard about her memoir. I'm a lover of pups, like she and was interested in her backstory. Simon has unfortunately passed but he was a great helper to Isabel and all the fosters that she brought in when he was alive.

Backtrack by Marc Cameron

Started: August 23, 2026

Finished: September 3, 2026

Year: 2026

Pages: 354

Genre: mystery

Grade: C

Reason for reading: library book, continuing with series

Type: hardcover

Blurb (from Amazon): "1977. D Wayne Cutter is a former U.S. Army Green Beret, part-time horseshoer, and a full-time Texas deputy sheriff with a second grandchild on the way when a quiet Sunday morning ends in murder and a manhunt. The theft of five million dollars in diamonds from an armored truck leaves two guards dead, one outlaw tracked down and taken out by Cutter, and another, Ricky Lee Pink—two-hundred-forty pounds of teenage rage—sentenced to life. The diamonds were never recovered. And Pinky never forgot that heist gone violently wrong.

"2026. Following in the righteous footsteps of his late grandfather, Deputy U.S. Marshal Arliss Cutter gets word that Pinky has been granted release. Nursing a grudge for decades, Pinky vows to avenge the murder of his criminal mentor and find the whereabouts of the stolen gems that he believes is a buried Cutter family secret. Boarding an Alaskan cruise ship, and joined by two miscreant cellmates and his penpal girlfriend, Pinky aims for Anchorge—home to his ultimate target: everyone Arliss holds near and dear. Arliss must move fast because Pinky has the edge. And he has the mind to make the last living Cutter pay."

Opinion: There seems to be a lot of misconnects for me-why would they connect Cutter with the diamonds? Why the introduction of Russians at the end? Still lots of good action.

Tantrum by Rachel Eve Moulton

Started: 8/23/2026

Finished: DNF

Year: 2025

Pages: 176

Genre: "horror"

Grade: F

Reason for reading: library book

Type: hardcover

Blurb (from Amazon): "Thea’s third pregnancy was her easiest. She wasn’t consumed with anxiety about the baby. She wasn’t convinced it was going to be born green, or have a third eye, or have tentacles sprouting from its torso. Thea was fine. Her baby would be fine.

"But when the nurses handed Lucia to her, Thea just knew. Her baby girl was a monster. Not only was Lucia born with a full set of teeth and a devilish glint in her eye, but she’s always hungry. Indiscriminately so. One day Lucia pointed at her baby brother, looked Thea dead in the eye and said, “I eat.”

"Thea doesn’t know whether to be terrified or proud of her rapacious baby girl. And as Lucia starts growing faster and talking more, dark memories bubble to the surface--flashes from Thea’s childhood that won’t release their hooks from her heart. Lucia wants to eat the world. Thea might just let her."

Opinion: A lot of eye rolling. A lot of ridiculousness. Not scary, Not horror....just annoying.

Point of Origin by Patricia Cornwell

Started: 8/16/2026

Finished: 8/23/2026

Year: 1998

Pages: 272

Genre: mystery/thriller

Grade: B

Reason for reading: library book, continuing with series

Type: hardcover

Blurb (from Amazon): "The devastating fire tore through the horse farm, destroying everything it touched. Picking through the wreckage, Dr. Kay Scarpetta uncovers human remains—the work of an audacious and wily killer who uses fire to mask his brutal murders. And when Scarpetta learns that her old nemesis, Carrie Grethen, has escaped from a hospital for the criminally insane and is somehow involved, the investigation becomes personal. Tragedy strikes close to home. And Scarpetta must match Grethen’s every move with one of her own to douse the inferno of evil that threatens everyone around her. . . ."

Opinion: Tragedy. Makes the TV series a little wrong. Good mystery

Gingerbread Cookie Murder by Joanne Fluke, Laura Levine, Leslie Meier

Started: August 13, 2026

Finished: August 16, 2026

Year: 2010

Pages: 359

Genre: cozy mystery

Grade: C

Reason for reading: library book, continuing with Fluke series

Type: hardcover

Blurb (from Amazon): ""Gingerbread Cookie Murder" By Joanne Fluke

"When Hannah Swensen finds her neighbor Ernie Kusak with his head bashed in and sprawled on the floor of his condo next to an upended box of Hannah's Gingerbread Cookies, she discovers a flurry of murder suspects that's as long as her holiday shopping list.

"The Dangers Of Gingerbread Cookies" By Laura Levine

"Jaine Austen has been enlisted to help with her parents' retirement community's play The Gingerbread Cookie That Saved Christmas. Playboy Dr. Preston McCay is playing the role of the gingerbread cookie when he "accidentally" falls to his death during the final act. Now Jaine must figure out if one of the doctor's jealous lovers was capable of murder.

"Gingerbread Cookies And Gunshots" By Leslie Meier

"When Lucy Stone discovers the body of Rick Juergens, whose five-year-old son Nemo disappeared, she senses foul play. Crumbs from a gingerbread cookie Lucy gave to Nemo are found in the back seat of Rick's car. With the hours quickly ticking till Christmas, Lucy races against the clock to find a killer before he strikes again."

Opinion: Some of these were more enjoyable than others. All were fairly predictable but stil a decent read.

Night Shift by Stephen King

Started: 8/10/2026

Finished: 8/10/2026

Year: 1978

Pages: 344

Genre: short stories

Grade: C

Reason for reading: library book

Type: hardcover

Blurb (from Amazon): "Night Shift is Stephen King's first collection of short stories--a perfect showcase of just how far King's dark imagination can go. Here we see mutated rats gone bad ("Graveyard Shift"); a cataclysmic virus that threatens humanity ("Night Surf," the basis for The Stand); a possessed, evil lawnmower ("The Lawnmower Man"); unsettling children from the heartland ("Children of the Corn"); a smoker who will try anything to stop ("Quitters, Inc."); a reclusive alcoholic who begins a gruesome transformation ("Gray Matter"); and many more. This is Stephen King at his horrifying best."

Opinion: As with any collection, some stores grabbed me, others did not-some I didn't finish because they didn't grab me.

Dungeons and Danger by Elizabeth Penney

Started: 8/9/2026

Finished: 8/10/2026

Year: 2026

Pages: 282

Genre: cozy mystery

Grade: B

Reason for reading: library book, continuing series

Type: paperback

Blurb (from Amazon): "As Halloween approaches, Ravensea Castle is bustling with excitement as Nora Asquith welcomes the fall season guests to her family's newly converted bed and breakfast. A historian studying the movements of the Vikings has traced their exploits to Ravensea. A certain Viking woman, known as the Red Maiden, landed here and the historian believes she buried a treasure hoard before the castle was built. He is hopeful he can find the hoard now. Nora can't help but wonder if the enigmatic castle ghost she's always referred to as the woman in red could be this very Viking?

"Meanwhile, a team of four ghost hunters is coming to stay at Ravensea for the filming of Britain's Got Ghosts. Former students of the historian, the group arrives with their own rivalries and baggage. They try to see who can make the most paranormal contacts and end up getting more than they bargained for.

"When the historian is murdered during a Viking festival on castle grounds and his notes go missing, Nora can't help but wonder if the treasure was why he was killed . . . and could it be connected to the visiting ghost hunters? Additional "accidents" befalling the hunters raise the stakes as Nora races to find the killer―and the treasure―before another death occurs."

Opinion: A fun mystery wrapped with Viking lore and ghost hunting.

Leave No Trace by A. J. Landau

Started: 8/1/2026

Finished: 8/8/2026

Year: 2024

Pages: 341

Genre: mystery, thriller

Grade: B

Reason for reading: library book

Type: hardcover

Blurb (from Amazon): "In a daring, brutal act of terrorism, an explosion rocks and topples the Statue of Liberty. Special Agent Michael Walker of the National Park Service is awakened by his boss with that news and sent to New York as the agent-in-charge. Not long after he lands, he learns two things - one that Gina Delgado of the FBI has been placed in charge of the investigation as the lead of the Joint Terrorism Task Force and two, that threats of a second terrorism attack are already being called into the media. While barred from the meetings of the Joint Task Force for his lack of security clearance, Walker finds a young boy among the survivors with a critical piece of information - a video linking the attackers to the assault.

"As a radical domestic terrorist group, led by a shadowy figure known only as Jeremiah, threatens further attacks against America's cultural symbols, powerful forces within the government are misleading the investigation to further their own radical agenda."

Opinion: Each chapter begins with a fact about where that particular chapter takes place-I liked learning the little facts. Decent suspenseful mystery.

The Shining by Stephen King

Started: 7/20/2026

Finished: 7/30/2026

Year: 1977

Pages: 659

Genre: horror/suspense

Grade; B+

Reason for reading: library book

Type: paperback

Blurb (from Amazon): "Jack Torrance’s new job at the Overlook Hotel is the perfect chance for a fresh start. As the off-season caretaker at the atmospheric old hotel, he’ll have plenty of time to spend reconnecting with his family and working on his writing. But as the harsh winter weather sets in, the idyllic location feels ever more remote . . . and more sinister. And the only one to notice the strange and terrible forces gathering around the Overlook is Danny Torrance, a uniquely gifted five-year-old."

Opinion: The movie captures most of what is in here and adds a couple of elements that are not. Suspenseful. Fun read.

Outfoxed by David Rosenfelt

Started 7/16/2026

Finished: 7/18/2026

Year: 2016

Pages: 326

Genre: mystery

Grade: B

Reason for reading: TBR pile, continuing with series

Type: hardcover

Blurb (from Amazon): "Defense lawyer Andy Carpenter spends as much time as he can working on his true passion, the Tara Foundation, the dog rescue organization he runs. Lately, Andy has been especially involved in a county prison program where inmates help train dogs the Tara Foundation has rescued to make them more adoptable, benefiting both the dogs and the prisoners. One of the prisoners Andy has been working with is Brian Atkins, who has 18 months left on a 5-year term for fraud. Brian has been helping to train Boomer, an adorable fox terrier the Tara Foundation rescued from a neglectful owner. Brian and Boomer are clearly a terrific match. In fact, Andy hopes that Brian will adopt Boomer himself, once his sentence is up. But one day, Andy arrives at the prison to discover that Brian has used Boomer to make an ingenious escape, and man and dog are both in the wind. The next day, the man on whose testimony Brian was convicted is found murdered. Brian is caught and arrested for the crime, though he forcefully protests his innocence. Suddenly, Andy finds himself with a new client in Brian and a new dog in Boomer. And as he starts to dig deeper into the murder and the events leading up to it, Andy realizes he might be putting them all in far more danger than anyone had realized."

Opinion: A decent murder mystery. A big lingering situation is resolved...or is it? Wondering what the next book will bring to Andy and his family. 

Crypt Suzette by Maya Corrigan

Started 7/12/2026

Finished: 7/16/2026

Year: 2019

Pages: 288

Genre: cozy mystery

Grade: B+

Reason for reading: library book, continuing with series

Type: paperback

Blurb (from Amazon): "Suzette Cripps has been occupying a spare bedroom at Val’s granddad’s house while she takes classes in this Maryland Eastern Shore town—but she’s always seemed a little secretive and fearful, and any talk about her past is a closed book.

"After winning the costume contest at the Halloween-themed bookstore party, Suzette is mowed down by a hit-and-run driver—and Val and her grandfather start to wonder whether it was really an accident or if someone was after Suzette. Granddad is a little distracted by his new enterprise as a ghost-buster, but as Val talks to Suzette’s coworkers and fellow creative writing students, she grows more convinced that the dead woman’s demons weren’t imaginary—and that she needs to rip the mask off a killer …"

Opinion: Plenty of suspects. Interesting murder victim and reasoning for murder.

No Way to Treat a Child by Naomi Schaefer Riley

Started: 7/12/2026

Finished: DNF

Year: 2021

Pages: 205

Genre: non fiction-foster care system/child welfare

Grade: F

Reason for reading: won it through Goodreads.com giveaway

Type: hardcover

Blurb (from Amazon): "Kids in danger are treated instrumentally to promote the rehabilitation of their parents, the welfare of their communities, and the social justice of their race and tribe—all with the inevitable result that their most precious developmental years are lost in bureaucratic and judicial red tape. It is time to stop letting efforts to fix the child welfare system get derailed by activists who are concerned with race-matching, blood ties, and the abstract demands of social justice, and start asking the most important question: Where are the emotionally and financially stable, loving, and permanent homes where these kids can thrive?"

Opinion: The author is a journalist-never actually worked in the child welfare system. I have worked in it and yes it is FAR from perfect but how about you actually work it and come up with something better?

On Thin Icing by Ellie Alexander

Started: 7/10/2026

Finished: 7/12/2026

Year: 2016

Pages: 270

Genre: cozy mystery

Grade: B

Reason for reading: library book, continuing with series

Type: paperback

Blurb (from Amazon): "It's the dead of winter in the sleepy town of Ashland, which means no tourists-and fewer customers-for Jules Capshaw and her bakery. But when she's asked to cater an off-season retreat for the directors of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, business starts heating up...until Jules finds a dead body in the freezer.

"Someone at the retreat has apparently iced the bartender, a well-known flirt with a legendary temper-that is, before a killer beat him to the punch. Then, from out of nowhere, Jules's own ex-husband shows up at the shop-and soon becomes a suspect. With accusations piling up higher than the snow-and thicker than a chocolate mousse cake-Jules has to think outside the (recipe) box to find the real culprit...and make sure he gets his just desserts."

Opinion: Interesting off the main stage mystery. Not sure if I'm liking Carlos showing up.

Murder at an Irish Wedding by Carlene O'Connor

Started: 7/10/2026

Finished: DNF

Year: 2017

Pages 308

Genre: mystery

Grade: F

Reason for reading: library book, continuing series

Type: hardcover

Blurb (from Amazon): "Any wedding is a big deal in the small village of Kilbane—even more so when the bride is a famous fashion model. It’s also good for business. Not only has customer traffic picked up at Naomi’s Bistro, Siobhán O’Sullivan and her five siblings have a full plate catering for thet hree-day affair. And Siobhán’s own beau, local garda Macdara Flannery, gladly steps in as best man after the groom’s first choice makes a drunken arse out of himself,

"Even if he hadn’t been disinvited to the wedding, the original best man wouldn’t have been able to show. He’s been found murdered in the woods, casting a pall over the nuptials. And when a second member of the wedding party is poisoned by a champagne flute engraved with Macdara’s name, the garda goes from being best man to prime suspect.

"With a killer at large and a string of robberies plaguing Kilbane, Siobhán feels more than a little protective of her village. She vows to clear Macdara’s name, but the suspect list is as long as the guest list. Like the bride walking down the aisle, Siobhán needs to watch her step. For as she gets closer to unveiling the truth, the murderer is planning a very chilly reception for her . . ."

Opinion: Not sure why I borrowed this one considering I really didn't like the first one...didn't last long reading it. Not worth my time when I have so many other books to read

Carl's Doomsday Scenario by Matt Dinniman

Started: July 3, 2026

Finished: July 10, 2026

Year: 2021

Pages: 351

Genre: fantasy

Grade: B

Reason for reading: library book, continuing with series

Type: hardcover

Blurb (from Amazon): "“Greetings, Crawlers! The training levels have concluded. Now the games may truly begin.”

"The aliens have come, and they’ve transformed Earth into a multilevel, video game–like dungeon. It’s the newest season of the galaxy’s most watched game show, Dungeon Crawler World. Now on the third floor, Carl and Donut have to fight harder than ever. They’ve already proven that a Coast Guard vet and once-and-forever feline royalty are an almost unstoppable team. Their ratings are off the charts. Viewers can’t get enough. But the dungeon gets more dangerous each day, and now there’s a whole new problem to deal with: Quests.

"They call it the Over City. A sprawling, once-thriving metropolis devastated by a mysterious calamity. But these streets are far from abandoned. An undead circus trawls the ruins. Murdered women rain from the sky. An ancient spell is finally ready to reveal its dark purpose. Can Carl and Donut solve the mystery in time?

"And can Carl finally find some pants?"

Opinion: Not as good as the first book-too much outside the dungeon interference. Stil and entertaining read.

The Bachman Books by Stephen King

Started: 6/20/2026

Finished: 7/3/2026

Year: 1982

Pages: 692

Genre: short stories

Grade: C

Reason for reading: library book

Type: hardcover

Blurb (from Amazon): "collection of four of Stephen King's earliest novels: "Rage", "The Long Walk", "Roadwork", and "The Running Man"."

Opinion: As with any short story collection, some I liked more than others. Overall, King has some issues ;)

The Pirate King by Sean Kingsley and Rex Cowan

Started: 6/16/2026

Finished: DNF

Year: 2024

Pages: 213

Genre: pirate history

Grade: D

Reason for reading: library book

Type: hard cover

Blurb (from Amazon): "Henry Avery of Devon pillaged a fortune from a Mughal ship off the coast of India and then vanished into thin air—and into legend. More ballads, plays, biographies and books were written about Avery’s adventures than any other pirate. His contemporaries crowned him "the pirate king" for pulling off the richest heist in pirate history and escaping with his head intact (unlike Blackbeard and his infamous Flying Gang). Avery was now the most wanted criminal on earth. To the authorities, Avery was the enemy of all mankind. To the people he was a hero. Rumors swirled about his disappearance. The only certainty is that Henry Avery became a ghost.

"What happened to the notorious Avery has been pirate history’s most baffling cold case for centuries. Now, in a remote archive, a coded letter written by "Avery the Pirate" himself, years after he disappeared, reveals a stunning truth. He was a pirate that came in from the cold . . ."

Opinion: I just ended up not being interested so I stopped. It wasn't poorly written and the overall topic wasn't not interesting.

Unnatural Exposure by Patricia Cornwell

Started: 6/11/2026

Finished: 6/14/2026

Year: 1997

Pages: 338

Genre: Mystery/thriller

Grade: B

Reason for reading: library book, continuing with series

Type: Hardcover

Blurb (from Amazon): "Returning home from Ireland, where she had been called in to examine the remains of a murder victim whose body was marked by the signature of a cunning serial killer, medical examiner Kay Scarpetta is shocked when another body turns up, this time in a Virginia landfill."

Opinion: Interesting plot...ending was too solved and came out of nowhere.

Pirate's Love by David M. Carner

Started: 6/7/2026

Finished: 6/10/2026

Year: 2026

Pages: 341

Genre: pirates, romance, thriller

Grade: B

Reason for reading: birthday present from my friend

Type: hardcover

Blurb (from Amazon): "When Anne Kingsley is taken—again—Captain Aaden Crowe is thrust back into a relentless fight against time, power, and the ghosts of his past. What begins as a desperate rescue quickly spirals into something far more dangerous, as enemies close in from all sides and old alliances begin to fracture.

"But this time, the stakes are higher.

"A powerful Spanish prince has entered the game—one with ambition far beyond a single capture—and a weapon capable of reshaping the balance of power across the seas. As Aaden races to find Anne, betrayal cuts deeper than ever before, forcing him to question not only who he can trust… but how far he’s willing to go.

"Across storm-torn waters and into the heart of enemy territory, Aaden and his crew must face impossible odds, devastating loss, and a truth neither of them can escape."

Opinion: I had read the first book with these characters years ago and one character has always lingered in my head. It is helpful to read the first book but there is enough information throughout the book that gives readers the background of these characters. Lots of suspenseful action. Felt a little like bits of The Princess Bride in parts. Definitely an enjoyable read.

Johnny Careless by Kevin Wade

Started: 6/1/2026

Finished: 6/6/2026

Year: 2024

Pages: 228

Genre: mystery

Grade: B-

Reason for reading: library book

Type: hardcover

Blurb (from Amazon): "Police Chief Jeep Mullane has been bounced back home to Long Island’s North Shore by a heartbreaking case that both earned him his NYPD detective’s shield and burned him out of the Job. Now heading up a small local police department, he finds himself navigating the same geography he did growing up there as the son of an NYPD cop. Jeep is a “have-not” among the glittering “haves,” a sharp-witted, down-to-earth man in a territory defined and ruled by multigenerational wealth and power and the daunting tribal codes and customs that come with it.

"When the corpse of Jeep’s childhood friend Johnny Chambliss―born into privilege and known as “Johnny Careless” for his reckless, golden-boy antics―surfaces in the Bayville waters, past collides with present, and Jeep is pulled into a treacherous web. He is challenged by Johnny’s wealthy and secretive family and his beautiful, enigmatic ex-wife as he untangles a knotted mystery fraught with theft, corrupt local moguls, and decades-old secrets, all while grappling with his own deep-seated grief for his lost pal."

Opinion: Not a fan of the whole going back and forth in time with almost each chapter but the overall story was good.

Apple Turnover Murder by Joanne Fluke

Started:  5/30/2026

Finished: 5/31/2026

Year: 2010

Pages: 290

Genre: cozy mystery

Grade: B

Reason for reading: library book, continuing with series

Type: hardcover

Blurb (from Amazon): "Early summer brings plenty of work for Hannah, even before Mayor Bascomb's wife drops by The Cookie Jar to place an order for eleven-hundred cookies. Stephanie Bascomb is organizing an elaborate three-day event to support local charities, and though it's a worthy cause, Hannah almost flips when her business partner, Lisa, suggests setting up an apple turnover stand. Hannah's never made a turnover—but pushover that she is, she places her faith in Lisa's mother-in-law's recipe and agrees to be a magician's assistant in the fundraiser's talent show . . .

"Hannah has to admit that stepping out of her comfort zone has been fun as well as profitable. The only snag is the show's host, community college professor Bradford Ramsey. Hannah and her younger sister Michelle each had unfortunate romantic relationships with Ramsey, and when he comes sniffing around between acts, Hannah tells him off. But when the curtain doesn't go up, she discovers Ramsey backstage—dead as a doornail with a turnover in his hand. To protect her reputation and Michelle's, Hannah must get to the bottom of the professor's bitter end—and track down a killer who's flakier than puff pastry—and far more dangerous . . ."

Opinion: Decent whodunit-didn't fully figure it out until the end. Interesting ending

'Salem's Lot by Stephen King

Started: 5/23/2026

Finished: 5/30/2026

Year: 1975

Pages: 451

Genre: horror-vampire

Grade: B

Reason for reading: reading his books in order, library book

Type: hardcover

Blurb (from Amazon): "When two young boys venture into the woods, and only one returns alive, Mears begins to realize that something sinister is at work. In fact, his hometown is under siege from forces of darkness far beyond his imagination. And only he, with a small group of allies, can hope to contain the evil that is growing within the borders of this small New England town."

Opinion: I don't recall seeing any of the TV mini series or movies or even reading this in the past. Reminded me of It-small Maine town being haunted by something unnatural. Decent read. 

S'mores Murders by Maya Corrigan

Started: 5/17/2026

Finished: 5/22/2026

Year: 2018

Pages: 267

Genre: Cozy mystery

Grade: B

Reason for reading: library book, continuing with series

Type: paperback

Blurb (from Amazon): "Since catering themed events is a good way to make extra cash, Val agrees to board the Titanic—or at least cater a re-creation of the doomed journey on a yacht. The owner of the yacht, who collects memorabilia related to the disaster, wants Val to serve the last meal the Titanic passengers ate . . . while his guests play a murder-mystery game. But it is the final feast for one passenger who disappears from the ship. And that’s only the tip of the iceberg.

"Now Val has to reel in a killer before s’more murders go down . . ."

Opinion: Interesting combination of a 30 year old mystery, Titantic and current day.

A Batter of Life and Death by Ellie Alexander

Started: 5/12/2026

Finished: 5/17/2026

Year: 2015

Pages: 269

Genre: cozy mystery

Grade: B

Reason for reading: library book, continuing with series

Type: paperback

Blurb (from Amazon): "It's autumn in Ashland, Oregon-'tis the season for a spiced hot apple cider with a serving (or two) of Torte's famous peach cobbler. It's also the perfect time for Jules Capshaw to promote her family's beloved bake shop by competing in The Pastry Channel's reality show, Take the Cake. The prize is $25,000. But as Jules quickly learns, some people would kill for that kind of dough. Literally.

"Then, just as Jules dusts off her Bavarian Chocolate Cake recipe and cinches up her apron, the corpse of a fellow contestant is discovered-death by buttercream. What began as a fun, tasteful televised adventure has morphed into something of a true-crime detective show for Jules and everybody else on set. Who could have killed Chef Marco, and why? Can Jules sift out the killer before someone else gets burned?"

Opinion: Good mysterythat had just enough suspects to not be easily solved.

Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman

Started: 5/6/2026

Finished: 5/12/2026

Year: 2020

Pages: 447

Genre: Fantasy/Adventure

Grade: B

Reason for reading: library book

Type: hardcover

Blurb (from Amazon): "You know what’s worse than breaking up with your girlfriend? Being stuck with her prize-winning show cat. And you know what’s worse than that? An alien invasion, the destruction of all man-made structures on Earth, and the systematic exploitation of all the survivors for a sadistic intergalactic game show. That’s what.

"Join Coast Guard vet Carl and his ex-girlfriend’s cat, Princess Donut, as they try to survive the end of the world—or just get to the next level—in a video game–like, trap-filled fantasy dungeon. A dungeon that’s actually the set of a reality television show with countless viewers across the galaxy. Exploding goblins. Magical potions. Deadly, drug-dealing llamas. This ain’t your ordinary game show."

Opinion: Fans of D&D should enjoy this-or at least can relate when playing a low level character trying to go through a DMs adventure.

The Tell-Tale Tarte by Maya Corrigan

Started: 5/3/2026

Finished: 5/6/2026

Year: 2017

Pages: 301

Genre: cozy mystery

Grade: B-

Reason for reading: library book, continuing with series

Type: paperback

Blurb (from Amazon): "The last thing Val needs in her life is an unsolved murder, especially when the victim, an actor famed for impersonating Edgar Allan Poe, happens to be dressed exactly like her Granddad. To keep an eye on Granddad, whose latest job takes him to the home of Rick Usher, a local author inspired by Poe, Val gets herself hired as a cook in Rick’s House of Usher. When she discovers the actor wasn’t the only one doing an impersonation, separating the innocent from the murderous becomes a real-life horror story. But Val must decipher a killer’s M.O. sooner rather than later . . . or she can forget about finding poetic justice."

Opinion: Not as enjoyable as others in the series but still a decent mystery overall. 

Carrie by Stephen King

Started: 4/30/2026

Finished: 5/3/2026

Year: 1974

Pages: 290

Genre: horror/thriller

Grade: B

Reason for reading: library book, reading King's books in order of published

Type: paperback

Blurb (from Amazon): "Unpopular at school and subjected to her mother's religious fanaticism at home, Carrie White does not have it easy. But while she may be picked on by her classmates, she has a gift she's kept secret since she was a little girl: she can move things with her mind. Doors lock. Candles fall. Her ability has been both a power and a problem. And when she finds herself the recipient of a sudden act of kindness, Carrie feels like she's finally been given a chance to be normal. She hopes that the nightmare of her classmates' vicious taunts is over . . . but an unexpected and cruel prank turns her gift into a weapon of horror so destructive that the town may never recover."

Opinion: I had seen the movie years ago but never read the book. From what I remembered, the movie followed the book. Don't ever piss off the quiet, strange kid in school

Cause of Death by Patricia Cornwell

Started: 4/26/2026

Finished: 4/29/2026

Year: 1996

Pages: 340

Genre: mystery/thriller

Grade: B

Reason for reading: library book, continuing series

Type: hardcover

Blurb (from Amazon): "On New Year’s Eve, the last day of Virginia’s bloodiest year since the Civil War, Dr. Kay Scarpetta plunges into the murky depths of the Elizabeth River to recover the very human remains of Ted Eddings, an investigative reporter. Was Eddings probing the Inactive Shipyard for a story, or simply diving for sunken trinkets? And why did Scarpetta receive a phone call from someone reporting the death before the police were notified?

"With the advent of a second murder—this one closer to home—the case envelops Scarpetta, her niece Lucy, and police captain Pete Marino in a world where both cutting-edge technology and old-fashioned detective work are critical offensive weapons. Together they follow the trail of death to a well of violence as dark and forbidding as the water that swirled over Ted Eddings."

Opinion: Thriller at the very end. Interesting case overall

Everyone in this Bank is a Thief by Benjamin Stevenson

Started: 4/22/2026

Finished: 4/26/2026

Year: 2025

Pages: 355

Genre: mystery

Grade: B-

Reason for reading: library book, continuing with the series

Type: hardcover

Blurb (from Amazon): "Ten heists. Ten suspects. A murder mystery only Ernest Cunningham can solve in this delightfully clever and twisty new novel in Benjamin Stevenson’s bestselling series—perfect for fans of Richard Osman and Anthony Horowitz.

"I’ve spent the last few years solving murders. But a bank heist is a new one, even for me. I’ve never been a hostage before.

"The doors are chained shut. No one in or out. Which means that when someone in the bank is murdered, everyone is a suspect.

"THE BANK ROBBER

"THE MANAGER

"THE SECURITY GUARD

"THE KID

"THE FILM PRODUCER

"THE PRIEST

"THE RECEPTIONIST

"THE PATIENT

"THE CAREGIVER

"ME

"Turns out, more than one person planned to rob the bank today. You can steal more from a bank than just money.

"Who is stealing what? Are they willing to kill for it? And can I solve the crime before the police kick down the door and rescue us?"

Opinion: This fits along with the rest of the books in the series. Little twists and turns.

Certain Prey by John Sandford

Started: 4/15/2026

Finised: 4/21/2026

Year: 1999

Pages: 375

Genre: mystery

Grade: B

Reason for reading: TBR pile, continuing with series

Type: paperback

Blurb (from Amazon): "Clara Rinker is twenty-eight, beautiful, charmingly southern—and the best hit woman in the business. She just goes about her business, collects her money, and goes home. Her latest hit sounds simple: a defense attorney wants a rival eliminated. No problem—until a witness survives. Clara usually knows how to deal with loose ends: cut them off, one by one, until they're all gone. This time, there’s one loose end that’s hard to shake.

"Lucas Davenport has no idea of the toll this case is about to take on him. Clara knows his weak spots. She knows how to penetrate them, and how to use them. And when a woman like Clara has the advantage, no one is safe."

Opinion: Very cat and mouse type of plot. No real mystery since readers know who has done what. More about how they are tracked down.