Dissection of a Murder by Jo Murray

Dissection of a Murder  My Rating: 3.5

When Leila Reynolds is handed her first murder case, she’s shocked by the victim: a well-known and highly respected judge whose death has sent shockwaves through the legal community. She’s also incredulous—she’s nowhere near experienced enough to handle such a high-profile case. But the defendant is insistent: he wants Leila, and only Leila, to represent him.

Except he’s refusing to talk.

And if that wasn’t complicated enough, Leila soon learns that the prosecutor she’ll be facing is the most ruthless one she’s ever known: her husband.

It’s an impossible situation, yet Leila is determined to sway the jury—until she’s blindsided by a shadowy figure from her past. Suddenly, she’s fighting not only for her client and her marriage, but to keep her own secrets buried. And if she has to rewrite the rules to win, so be it.

With unlikable characters and unreliable narrators, Dissection of a Murder leaves you questioning what exactly you just witnessed—and whether the truth was ever really there to uncover in the first place.

This wasn’t bad, but it just didn’t quite work for me. I seem to be in the minority, though, so if it sounds intriguing to you, check it out. Just don’t read any spoilers before you do!

Good People by Patmeena Sabit

Good People My Rating: 4.4

The Sharaf family is the picture of success—prosperous, wealthy, and admired. They arrived in America as refugees with nothing but the clothes on their backs, and through years of hard work built an enviable life in an exclusive neighborhood, with their children attending prestigious schools. Zorah, the eldest daughter, is especially cherished by her father.

When an unthinkable tragedy strikes, the family's carefully crafted image begins to unravel. Rumors spread that behind closed doors, the Sharafs' seemingly perfect life was anything but. Did they truly achieve the American dream, or was their reputation built on a carefully maintained façade?

Good People is told in the style of a true crime documentary, with friends, family members, and others recounting events through a series of interviews. It's a unique storytelling approach that kept me turning the pages, although I felt there wasn't quite enough substance to fully support the format.

I'm very familiar with Afghan culture and grew up in a different but somewhat similar environment, so that aspect of the story wasn't especially new to me. Readers who aren't familiar with the culture will likely find those elements much more compelling. What the book captured exceptionally well was how quickly gossip and the media can convict people without evidence, and how eager communities can be to speculate and judge. Ironically, that constant uncertainty was what kept me reading to the end. Shout-out to shoegaljeana on Instagram for putting this on my radar. 

The General's Daughter by Nelson DeMille

The General's Daughter My Rating: 4.4

When a respected career military officer is found raped and murdered, the investigation quickly uncovers evidence that points to a scandal reaching the highest levels of the military. The lead investigator is less than thrilled to discover he'll be working alongside a woman with whom he shared a turbulent romance years earlier. As they dig deeper, they realize the victim—the military's "golden girl"—had connections to several powerful people, any one of whom may have wanted her dead.

We listened to this audiobook during our commute between our two homes, and it kept us both entertained and guessing until the end. We really enjoy Nelson DeMille's writing, and now we're thinking about watching the movie starring John Travolta to see how it compares.

The Lost Man by Jane Harper

The Lost Man My Rating: 4.4

Set in the brutal, isolated Australian outback, the story begins when two brothers discover the body of their middle brother near a lonely stockman’s grave. The circumstances make no sense. He should never have been where he was found. As the family searches for answers, old resentments, buried secrets, and emotional wounds begin to surface.

The Australian setting plays a huge role in the story. The endless heat, the isolation, and the unforgiving landscape create a quiet intensity that stays with you the entire time. It feels immersive without being overly descriptive or heavy.

This is not a fast-paced thriller filled with nonstop action. It is thoughtful, layered, and emotionally intelligent. The mystery matters, but so do the complicated relationships, the weight of family history, and the loneliness that can exist even among people who know each other well.

If you enjoy mysteries that are atmospheric, character-driven, and genuinely absorbing, The Lost Man is absolutely worth adding to your list. I enjoyed the audio with the Australian accents.

The Ghostwriter by Julia Clark

The Ghostwriter My Rating: 4.6

Olivia is in elementary school when a classmate taunts her with, “your dad is a murderer!” She denies it, but the looks on her classmates’ faces tell her they know something she doesn’t.

Years later, Olivia has built a career as a ghostwriter, quietly shaping other people’s stories. On the brink of financial ruin, she’s offered the most personal project of all—her estranged father Vincent’s final book. But it isn’t another horror novel he wants her to write. After fifty years of silence, Vincent is ready to reveal what really happened that night in 1975.

This was an engaging gripping mystery intertwined with family drama and well developed characters. The pages flew by as everything gradually unfolded. Thoroughly enjoyable and I will read more by this author. 

WARNING: Sensitive material

Find You First by Linwood Barclay

Find You First My Rating: 4.6

Tech millionaire Miles Cookson has more money than he can ever spend, and everything he could dream of—except time. He has recently been diagnosed with a terminal illness, and there is a fifty percent chance that it can be passed on to the next generation. Two decades ago, a young, struggling Miles was a sperm donor. Somewhere out there, he has kids—nine of them. And they might be about to inherit both the good and the bad from him—maybe his fortune, or maybe something much worse.

When Miles eventually connects with one of his kids, their excitement at finding each other is overshadowed by a series of mysterious and terrifying events. One by one, Miles’s other potential heirs are vanishing—every trace of them wiped, like they never existed at all.

Who is the vicious killer—another heir methodically erasing rivals? Or is something even more sinister going on? It’s a deadly race against time . . .

I was pleasantly surprised by how engaging this book turned out to be. One thing that really stood out was the character development — each character felt distinct and real enough to keep me invested in the story, even as the plot took some pretty wild turns.

Admittedly, there were moments where the story seemed to “jump the shark” a bit — twists and developments that stretched believability. But even so, it was undeniably entertaining, and the fast pace helped smooth over some of those more unbelievable elements.

Overall, Found You First delivered an enjoyable reading experience. It’s a solid choice if you’re in the mood for a suspenseful thriller that balances a compelling premise with characters you’ll actually care about, even if it occasionally veers into the implausible.

Hidden Pictures by Jason Rekulak

My Rating: 3.0

A wildly inventive spin on the supernatural thriller, about a woman working as a nanny for a young boy with strange and disturbing secrets.

Mallory Quinn is fresh out of rehab when she takes a job as a babysitter for Ted and Caroline Maxwell. She is to look after their five-year-old son, Teddy.

Mallory immediately loves it. She has her own living space, goes out for nightly runs, and has the stability she craves. And she sincerely bonds with Teddy, a sweet, shy boy who is never without his sketchbook and pencil. His drawings are the usual fare: trees, rabbits, balloons. But one day, he draws something different: a man in a forest, dragging a woman’s lifeless body.

Then, Teddy’s artwork becomes increasingly sinister, and his stick figures quickly evolve into lifelike sketches well beyond the ability of any five-year-old. Mallory begins to wonder if these are glimpses of a long-unsolved murder, perhaps relayed by a supernatural force.

Knowing just how crazy it all sounds, Mallory nevertheless sets out to decipher the images and save Teddy before it’s too late.

I enjoyed this light mystery/thriller book until about one hour was left in the book. As with all of these types of books, it required the reader to suspend reality and just go with it. I did until the last hour when it did a serious left turn that was a bait and switch and left me with a bad taste in my mouth. I put it on double speed to finish it but was glad when it was over.

The River We Remember by William Kent Krueger

My Rating: 4.3

The body of wealthy landowner Jimmy Quinn is found floating in the Alabaster River, dead from a shotgun blast. The investigation falls to Sheriff Brody Dern, a highly decorated war hero who still carries the physical and emotional scars from his military service. Even before Dern has the results of the autopsy, vicious rumors begin to circulate that the killer must be Noah Bluestone, a Native American WWII veteran who has recently returned to Jewel with a Japanese wife. As suspicions and accusations mount and the town teeters on the edge of more violence, Dern struggles not only to find the truth of Quinn’s murder but also put to rest the demons from his own past.

As always, WKK delivers a good mystery combined with characters that you fall in love with. He creates a wholesome small town that I want to move to....well, other than the murder! 

What Happened to Nina?: A Novel by Dervla McTiernan

My Rating: 4.4

Nina and Simon are the perfect couple. Young, fun and deeply in love. Until they leave for a weekend at his family’s cabin in Vermont, and only Simon comes home. Simon’s explanation about what happened in their last hours together doesn’t add up. Nina’s parents push the police for answers, and Simon’s parents rush to protect him. They hire expensive lawyers and a PR firm that quickly ramps up a vicious, nothing-is-off-limits media campaign...  

This was the equivalent of watching an unsolved mystery on 20/20 or 48 hours. It kept me engrossed from the beginning despite knowing who did it. The media campaign was excrutiating, as were the press. I loved the ending.

Thanks to my book twin on Instagram #shoegaljeana for this recommendation ♥

The Wife, The Maid and The Mistress by Ariel Lawhon

My Rating: 3.6

It's 1930 and Judge Joseph Crater steps into a New York City cab and is never heard from again. Behind this great man are three women, each with her own tale to tell: Stella, his fashionable wife, the picture of propriety; Maria, their steadfast maid, indebted to the judge; and Ritzi, his showgirl mistress, willing to seize any chance to break out of the chorus line. This mystery takes us into the smoky jazz clubs, the seedy backstage dressing rooms, and the shadowy streets beneath the Art Deco skyline.

I didn't care abuot any of the characters (some were less likable than others) but I did like the ending. I have loved many or Ariel Lawhon's books and will continue to read others by her. I appreciated that this was based on the true story and she created an interesting explanation for what could have happened.

Gone Tonight by Sarah Pekkanen

 My Rating: 4.6

Catherine Sterling thinks she knows her mother. Ruth Sterling is quiet, hardworking, and lives for her daughter. All her life, it's been just the two of them against the world. But now, Catherine is ready to spread her wings, move from home, and begin a new career. And Ruth Sterling will do anything to prevent that from happening.

Ruth Sterling thinks she knows her daughter. Catherine would never rebel, would never question anything about her mother's past or background. But when Ruth's desperate quest to keep her daughter by her side begins to reveal cracks in Ruth's carefully-constructed world, both mother and daughter begin a dance of deception.

This story is told in alternating chapters from the point of view of Ruth and her daughter Catherine. We get somewhat of a dual timeline with Ruth writing about the past in her journal. I enjoyed how this was laid out as well as that the chapters were short and easy to digest. So many secrets! Pekkanen tells a great mystery/thriller. It is told through flashbacks of Ruth's life and the present day where Catherine starts to unravel the truth - and this causes Catherine to question everything she thought she knew about her mother.

Dear Child by Romy Hausmann

 

My Rating: 4.7

A woman held captive finally escapes and wakes up in the hospital. She says her name is Lena. Lena, who disappeared without a trace 14 years prior. She fits the profile. She has the distinctive scar. But her family swears that she isn’t their Lena.

I am a huge fan of books translated from other languages. Combine this with a great narrator on the audio version and it is a definite win. I had only some very minor pieces figured out and there were some definite 'reveals' that I had no clue about. Well done! Great thriller/mystery.

The Guest List by Lucy Foley

My Rating: 4.8

On an island off the coast of Ireland, guests gather to celebrate two people joining their lives together as one. The groom: handsome and charming, a rising television star. The bride: smart and ambitious, a magazine publisher. It’s a wedding for a magazine, or for a celebrity: the designer dress, the remote location, the luxe party favors, the boutique whiskey. The cell phone service may be spotty and the waves may be rough, but every detail has been expertly planned and will be expertly executed. But perfection is for plans, and people are all too human. As the champagne is popped and the festivities begin, resentments and petty jealousies begin to mingle with the reminiscences and well wishes. The groomsmen begin the drinking game from their school days. The bridesmaid not-so-accidentally ruins her dress. The bride’s oldest (male) friend gives an uncomfortably caring toast. And then someone turns up dead.

This definitely invoked feelings of Agatha Christie - LOVED it! I always enjoy multiple point of views and this one had each character coming to life. The 'reveals' kept me on my toes throughout the book.  A great murder mystery.

Blood Hollow by William Kent Krueger (Cork O'Connor Series #4)

 My Rating: 4.6

When the body of a beautiful high school student is discovered on a hillside four months after her disappearance on New Year’s Eve, all evidence points to her boyfriend, local bad boy Solemn Winter Moon. Despite Solemn’s self-incriminating decision to go into hiding, Cork O’Connor isn’t about to hang the crime on a kid he’s convinced is innocent. In an uphill battle to clear Solemn’s name, Cork encounters no shortage of adversity. Some—like bigotry and bureaucracy—he knows all too well. What Cork isn’t prepared for is the emergence of a long-held resentment from his own childhood. And when Solemn reappears, claiming to have seen a vision of Jesus Christ in Blood Hollow, the mystery becomes thornier than Cork could ever have anticipated. And that's when the miracles start happening.

I love WKK's writing and especially the character of Cork. He has such a good heart and, despite the grizzly crimes, he gives the books such a wholesome feel. Definitely will be reading the rest in this series.

When Ghosts Come Home by Wiley Cash

 My Rating: 4.6

When a low flying plane awakens Sheriff Winston Barnes in the middle of the night, he knows something isn't right. He goes to the nearby airfield on the coast of North Carolina where the crashed plane has the body of a local man lying beside it. Everyone is a suspect, including the dead man.

Cash captures the Southern charm and tension of a small town along with the flaws of all the characters. This has the feel of classic murder/mystery genre. I really liked how Cash did the ending through the flash forward.

Purgatory Ridge (Cork O'Connor Mystery Series #3) by William Kent Krueger

My Rating: 4.6

When an explosion kills the night watchman at wealthy industrialist Karl Lindstrom’s nearby lumber mill, it’s obvious where suspicion will fall. Former sheriff Cork O’Connor agrees to help investigate, but he has mixed feelings about the case. For one thing, he is part Anishinaabe. For another, his wife, a lawyer, represents the tribe.

It is nice that Cork is back with his family. Really enjoy WKK's writing and will continue reading this series.

Iron Lake Book #1 by William Kent Krueger

 My Rating: 4.9

Cork is part Irish and part Anishinaabe Indian. He is also the former sheriff of Aurora Minnesota. His marriage and his career are in shambles. When the town's judge is brutally murdered, and a young Eagle Scout is reported missing, Cork takes on a mind-jolting case of conspiracy, corruption, and scandal.

I fell in love with Cork as a boy in the prequel Book #0 Lightning Strike. When I picked up this book, the first in the series, it was an adjustment to Cork not only being an adult, but to him having a less than idyllic life. I quickly feel in love with Cork, Aurora and all of the characters in this book. So well told and I will continue this series. 

Friends Like These by Kimberly McCreight

 My Rating: 4.4

Five friends go the Catskills. They have been friends since college, back before what happened to Alice all those years ago. They are a complicated group with so many personalities, secrets and history (dysfunction).

Lots of "who dunnits" but, I figured out the 'who' about 2/3 of the way in. I didn't get all the 'why' or other details till the end. This was a fast paced light, easy thriller. 

Lightning Strike (Cork O'Connor #0) by William Kent Krueger

 My Rating: 4.9

Set in 1963 in Aurora Minnesota, a small town alongside the shores of Minnesota’s Iron Lake. Cork O’Connor is 12-years-old, and stumbles upon the body of a man he revered hanging from a tree in an abandoned logging camp. It is the first in a series of events that will cause him to question everything he took for granted about his hometown, his family, and himself. 

Cork’s father, Liam O’Connor, is Aurora’s sheriff, and it is his job to confirm that the man’s death was the result of suicide, as all the evidence suggests. In the shadow of his father’s official investigation, Cork begins to look for answers on his own. 

Together, father and son face the ultimate test of choosing between what their heads tell them is true and what their hearts know is right. 

As always, William Kent Krueger writes with masterful story telling and captures so much heart - of a young man, the town and the Indian people. Amazingly well done. Even though this prequel was written later, I decided to start the series with this book. So good and I can't wait to immerse myself in the rest of this series. 

A Necessary Evil by Abir Mukherjee Book #2

 My Rating: 4.9

In this sequel, Captain Sam Wydnham and Sergeant Banerjee of the Calcutta Police Force investigate the dramatic assassination of a Maharajah's son.

I am really enjoying this series. The writing is fabulous and I love that "India" is a character of it's own. As much as this is a detective novel, it also has me chuckling at several points. Very well done and I can't wait to read the next book in this series.