The Doll's House by Lisa Unger

Title: The Doll's House

Author: Lisa Unger

Publisher: Amazon Original Stories

Release Date: September 12, 2024

A widowed mother, ready to give love another chance, moves into her fiancé’s old family home with her teenage daughter. But as they try to build a future together, the past refuses to let go in this haunting short story from New York Times bestselling author Lisa Unger.

When Jules first meets the handsome artist Kirin, she’s still mourning her husband’s death, but a fairytale romance soon sweeps her off her feet. Now she and her daughter Scout are moving out of the city and into Kirin’s once-lonely mansion. He’s thoughtfully updated and adapted the home to match their personalities. But Scout is determined to keep her father’s memory alive by rejecting the new life her mother and Kirin have spun for her.

Scout’s sullenness begins to fade, though, when she finds a beautiful handmade doll in one of the many empty rooms in the house. Kirin says that the doll belonged to his late sister and he’d like Scout to have it. Scout’s hopeful for a connection over their shared grief, but as she grows more curious about Kirin’s sister, she can’t escape the feeling that a danger lurks in the house…and its gaze is fixed on her mother.

Amazon

A dark and captivating short story!

Jules is excited about moving into her fiance's mansion. After becoming a widow, she never expected to fall in love again. When she met Kirin, she was lonely, and her teenage daughter, Scout, was the only thing keeping her sane.

But Scout can’t forget her father. She misses him every day and wishes she could talk to him again. She’s not thrilled that her mother sold their apartment and that they’re now moving in with Kirin. Losing her father changed her world, and now she has to start over at a new school, too. She doesn’t dislike Kirin, exactly—they even have something in common: he’s lost someone as well.

Yet, as they approach Kirin’s home, a sense of dread spreads through Scout.

What dark mysteries are hidden within the house—and the doll she is given?

It was truly entertaining from beginning to end. The narrators did a fantastic job setting the perfect tone of suspense and foreboding.

My only complaint? I wish it had been longer!

Cliffhanger: No

4/5 Fangs

A complimentary copy was provided by Amazon Original Stories via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Lucas Davenport by John SandfordLucas Davenport #34, Letty Davenport #3

  

Title: Lucas Davenport 

Series: Prey

Author: John Sandford

Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons

Release Date: April 9, 2024

Lucas Davenport and his daughter, Letty, team up to track down a dangerous scientist whose latest project could endanger the entire world, in this latest thriller from #1 New York Times bestselling author John Sandford.

Gaia is dying.

That, at least, is what Dr. Lionel Scott believes. A renowned expert in tropical and infectious diseases, Scott has witnessed the devastating impact of illness and turmoil at critical scale. Society as it exists is untenable, and the direct link to Earth’s death spiral; population levels are out of control and people have allowed disarray and disorder to run rampant. While most are concerned about deadly disease, Scott knows that it is truly humanity itself that will destroy Gaia. It’s only by removing the threat then the planet can continue to prosper, and luckily, Scott is just the right man for the job…

When Scott then disappears without a trace, Letty Davenport is tasked with tracking down any and all leads. Scott’s connections to sensitive research into virus and pathogen spread has multiple national and international organizations on high alert, and his shockingly high clearance levels at various institutions, including the Los Alamos National Laboratory, make him the last person they’d like to go missing. As the web around Scott becomes more tangled, Letty calls in her father, Lucas, help her lead a group of specialists to find Scott as soon as possible. But as Letty and Lucas begin to uncover startling and disturbing connections between Scott and Gaia conspiracists, their worst fears are confirmed, and it quickly becomes a race to find him before the virus he created becomes the perfect weapon.

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Could happen!

Dr. Lionel Scott has a radical belief: Gaia, our planet, is dying, and the only way to save it is through a drastic reduction in the human population. His method? A deadly virus, spread rapidly among unsuspecting victims.

When Dr. Scott vanishes and the threat of a new epidemic looms large, Letty Davenport is tasked with finding him. It becomes clear that Scott is preparing to unleash the virus, prompting an urgent call for Lucas Davenport to join the manhunt. Time is of the essence, and the odds are stacked against humanity.

Can Letty and Lucas stop this madman in time?

"Toxic Prey" is packed with tension. The only thing missing that would have made it more compelling would have been the inclusion of Virgil Flowers in the investigation.

Lucas and Letty's relationship shines through, showcasing a strong bond and formidable teamwork. Bad guys should definitely beware!

Cliffhanger: No

4/5 Fangs

PS: I Hate You by Lauren Connolly

 

Title: PS: I Hate You

Author: Lauren Connolly

Publisher: Berkley

Release Date: December 3, 2024

Maddie Sanderson would be proud to honor her older brother’s dying wish, that she scatters his ashes over eight destinations that the adventurous 29-year-old never got to visit before he died from cancer. But in his will, Josh assigned her an impossible partner to help complete the mission—Dominic Perry. Seriously, if Maddie weren’t already at his funeral, she would have killed him for this.

Sure, Dom was Josh’s life-long best friend. He’s also the infuriating man who broke Maddie’s heart back when she was naïve enough to give it to him. But since Dom insists on following the rules and Josh didn’t leave much room for Maddie to argue the matter, they embark together on a farewell trip that spans thousands of miles, exploring new places and revisiting their complicated history along the way.

After a snowstorm leads to a shared bed, Maddie starts to wonder if her brother might be matchmaking from the grave. But when grief also reopens old wounds between them, Maddie will need more than Josh’s ghostly guidance to trust Dom again.

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Well, this one was a mix of hating it and liking it.

Maddie is in her twenties, a workaholic who hates nothing more than feeling abandoned. It seems this keeps happening to her. The latest person to leave her is her brother, who died of cancer when the book begins.

Maddie tries to avoid everyone and hides in a closet. She doesn't recognize anyone at the funeral. Also, she doesn’t have a good relationship with her mother or grandmother; both seem to despise her.

Josh, her brother, was the one person she could count on. What she wasn’t prepared for was him asking a favor from beyond the grave. He wants her and his best friend, Dominic Perry, to spread his ashes across eight different states he never got to visit. Maddie wishes she could say no because Dominic is the man who broke her heart, and she still harbors a lot of anger toward him.

What could go wrong?

Things I didn’t like:

Maddie was so immature at times (or most of the time), and it drove me insane! She was extremely rude and obnoxious for half the book—or more.

I didn’t like the way she treated her friends.

I hated how she behaved in state number seven.

The reason behind Dominic’s behavior when they were younger.

Things I liked:

The twins.

The descriptions of the views at the places they traveled to.

Maddie’s best friends.

In the end, I won’t say I loved the resolution of their troubles, but I liked it well enough.

Cliffhanger: No

3.5/5 Fangs

A complimentary copy was provided by Berkley via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Leave No Trace by Jo CallaghanKat and Lock #2

 

Title: Leave No Trace

Series: at and Lock #2

Author: Jo Callaghan

Publisher: Random House Trade Paperbacks

Release Date: January 7, 2025

From the bestselling author of In the Blink of an Eye comes a gripping thriller that pits algorithms versus experience, logic versus instinct, and one undetectable killer versus two extraordinary detectives.

When the body of a man is found crucified at the top of a hill in the British midlands, AIDE Lock—the world’s first AI Detective—and Detective Kat Frank are thrust into the spotlight as they are given their first live case. When a second body is found the police issue an extraordinary warning to local males aged between 30 and 40 years old:

• Avoid drinking in pubs

• If you must go to a pub, do not leave alone

• And definitely do not leave a pub with a stranger

With the national media and local men in an uproar, Kat and Lock have to combine their instincts and algorithms to catch the killer before they can strike again.

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Why can't AIDE Lock be real?

Detective Kat Frank and AIDE Lock are back together in Leave No Trace.

After solving a cold case, Detective Kat feels lonely. She recently became a widow, and with her beloved son now away at university, she’s alone in their house so close to the Christmas holiday. She knows work can keep her busy and help manage her blues. Needing something to pull her from her dark thoughts, she finds no better way than immersing herself in a new case. Her boss agrees and assigns her their first live case. Kat and Lock must work hard and fast to find the person who crucified a young man in the British Midlands before someone else becomes the next victim.

The first book in this series was unique, introducing the concept of AI assisting in case-solving. In this installment, we see Lock evolving through human interaction. He’s learning human behaviors and developing his own version of them. Kat, for her part, is beginning to appreciate areas where Lock is indispensable to investigations. For instance, the vast amount of data he can process in mere seconds helps prevent delays in a live case

The author does pose an interesting question: Is an experienced human better than a free-of-bias machine, or are they complementary?

I can't wait to see where Jo Callaghan takes this team next.

Cliffhanger: No

4/5 Fangs

A complimentary copy was provided by Random House Trade Paperbacks via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Judgment Prey by John SandfordLucas Davenport #33

  

Title: Judgment Prey

Series: Lucas Davenport #33 

Author: John Sandford

Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons

Release Date: October 3, 2023

Lucas Davenport and Virgil Flowers team up to crack an unsolvable case in this thrilling new novel by #1 New York Times bestselling author John Sandford.

Alex Sand was spending the evening at home playing basketball with his two young sons when all three were shot in cold blood. A wealthy federal judge, there’s no short list of people who could have a vendetta against Sands, but the gruesome murders, especially that of his children, turn their St. Paul community on its head. Sand was on the verge of a major donation to a local housing charity, Heart/Twin Cities, and with the money in limbo, eyes suddenly turn to his grieving widow, Margaret Cooper, to see what she might do with the money. Margaret, distraught over the death of her family, struggles to move forward, and can’t imagine how or why anyone would target her husband.

With public pressure mounting and both the local police force and FBI hitting dead end after dead end, Lucas Davenport and Virgil Flowers are called in to do what others could find answers. With each potential lead flawed, Davenport and Flowers are determined to chase every theory until they figure out who killed the Sands. But when they find themselves being stonewalled by the most unlikely of forces, the two wonder if perhaps each misdirection could lead them closer to the truth.

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One of my favorites in the series!

A federal judge and his two sons have been murdered in their home. Plenty of people might have had a motive to kill the judge, but why were the kids targeted? This is the mystery Lucas Davenport and Virgil Flowers must unravel.

This dynamic duo is fantastic! I love each of them in their own series, but together, they’re the best A-team. Their humor, contrasting personalities, and relentless focus on catching the culprit(s) make them standout characters I want to revisit every time John Sandford releases a new book featuring them.

As a devoted fan of Lucas and Virgil, I find this installment remarkable.

Cliffhanger: No

4/5 Fangs

Blind Spots by Thomas Mullen

 

Title: Blind Spots

Author: Thomas Mullen

Publisher: Minotaur Books

Release Date: April 4, 2023

A riveting crime novel with a speculative edge about the ways our perceptions of reality can be manipulated.

Seven years ago, everyone in the world went blind in a matter of months. Technology helped people adjust to the new normal, creating a device that approximates vision, downloading visual data directly to people’s brains. But what happens when someone finds a way to hack it and change what people see?

Homicide detective Mark Owens has been on the force since before The Blinding. When a scientist is murdered, and the only witness insists the killer was blacked out of her vision, Owens doesn’t believe her―until a similar murder happens in front of him. With suspects ranging from tech billionaires to anti-modernity cultists―and with the bodies piling up―Owens must conduct an investigation in which he can’t even trust his own eyes.

Thomas Mullen, the acclaimed author of Darktown and The Last Town on Earth , delivers an unputdownable crime novel about one man's search for truth in a world of surveillance and disinformation that’s all too recognizable.

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Interesting sci-fi!

In a dystopian world (which hopefully never happens), everyone is blind. Seven years ago, the world went from full vision to complete darkness.

Thankfully, technology stepped in to save the day. Scientists developed an implantable device called the vidder, which is placed in the right temple. This device provides the perception of sight by downloading images directly into the user’s brain. Most people who can afford it rely on it, but criminals are finding ways to exploit it, and some individuals refuse to have anything to do with it.

The story centers on Mark Owens, a detective still grappling with grief after losing his wife, an artist. He was part of the force both before and after The Blinding. He remembers the dark times (no pun intended) when maintaining order often had deadly consequences.

Now, Mark and his partner, Jimmy, are called to investigate a murder. The sole witness, a scientist, claims the killer somehow blacked himself out from her vidder completely. At first, Mark doesn’t believe her—but when he sees it happen for himself, he can no longer deny the terrifying truth.

Who is behind this—and why?

A great (and horrifying) premise for a novel. For someone who loves to read, this scenario is truly chilling. Blind Spots grabbed my attention from the very first page—I couldn’t wait for Mark to piece it all together and uncover who was corrupting the vidder.

Cliffhanger: No

4/5 Fangs

A complimentary copy was provided by Minotaur Books via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Haunted Ever After by Jen DeLucaBoneyard Key #1

 

Title: Haunted Ever Afte

Series: Boneyard Key

Author: Jen DeLuca

Publisher: Berkley

Release Date: August 13, 2024

It's love at first haunting in a seaside town that raises everyone’s spirits from USA Today bestselling author Jen DeLuca.

Small Florida coastal towns often find themselves scrambling for the tourism dollars that the Orlando theme parks leave behind. And within the town limits of Boneyard Key, the residents decided long ago to lean into its ghostliness. Nick Royer, owner of the Hallowed Grounds coffee shop, embraces the ghost tourism that keeps the local economy afloat, as well as his spectral roommate. At least he doesn’t have to run air-conditioning.

Cassie Rutherford possibly overreacted to all her friends getting married and having kids by leaving Orlando and buying a flipped historic cottage in Boneyard Key. Though there’s something unusual with her new home (her laptop won’t charge in any outlets, and the poetry magnets on her fridge definitely didn’t read “WRONG” and “MY HOUSE” when she put them up), she’s charmed by the colorful history surrounding her. And she's catching a certain vibe from the grumpy coffee shop owner whenever he slips her a free slice of banana bread along with her coffee order.

As Nick takes her on a ghost tour, sharing town gossip that tourists don't get to hear, and they spend nights side-by-side looking into the former owners of her haunted cottage, their connection solidifies into something very real and enticing. But Cassie's worried she’s in too deep with this whole (haunted) home ownership thing… and Nick's afraid to get too close in case Cassie gets scared away for good.

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A romance with a side of haunting!

Cassie Rutherford has left her home in Orlando and moved to Boneyard Key, a coastal town in Florida known for its ghost folklore. She scored a great deal on the historic Hawkins House—one thing the realtor conveniently forgot to mention? It’s haunted!

Cassie doesn’t believe in ghosts, but strange things keep happening—like her laptop refusing to stay charged. With no choice but to head to the nearest coffee shop, Hallowed Grounds, she finds herself frequenting the place. At first, she’s not too fond of the barista, Nick Royer, but the more they interact, the happier she is to see him. There’s just one little problem—Nick believes in ghosts… and he might be right after all!

Having enjoyed the Well Met series by Jen DeLuca, I couldn’t pass up Boneyard Key, and it didn’t disappoint. The town was picturesque, and both the main and secondary characters brought plenty of charm. A delightful romance with just the right touch of paranormal intrigue!

I can't wait to read the next one in this series!

Cliffhanger: No

4/5 Fangs

A complimentary copy was provided by Berkley via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.