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The Stanton Falls Mysteries – Dead Reckoning
Dead Reckoning follows a tight-knit group of Stanton Falls detectives and their families as they head out on what should have been a relaxing Mediterranean cruise. Instead, the trip unravels into a tangled mess of missing passengers, eerie shipboard mysteries, emotional tension, and danger that creeps up on them when they least expect it. The story shifts between calm family moments, unsettling turns, and sharp revelations. It keeps the focus on relationships and teamwork while pushing the characters into situations that test them in new ways.
While reading, I kept feeling this warm mix of comfort and suspense. The writing leans heavily into character bonds, and I liked that a lot. There is a genuine sense of history between them, and the quieter scenes made the high-stress moments hit harder. At times, the dialogue felt a little straightforward, but the emotional weight underneath kept me hooked. I appreciated how the author balanced cozy slice-of-life beats with creeping dread. It created this enjoyable tension that made me want to keep turning pages.
Some ideas in the book surprised me in a good way. The ship’s strange happenings, the shifting cabin numbers, the subtle horror beneath the surface, all of it gave the mystery a fresh vibe. I loved that the story didn’t try to outsmart the reader with cheap tricks. It felt honest. There were moments when the pacing slowed, and I caught myself wishing for quicker movement, but the payoff eventually landed with enough emotional punch to make up for it. By the end, I felt oddly proud of the characters for what they’d pushed through.
I’d recommend Dead Reckoning to readers who enjoy character-driven mysteries with a touch of creepiness and a whole lot of heart. It’s great for anyone who wants a story that mixes friendships, family, and danger in a setting that feels fun at first and unsettling once things start going wrong. If you like mysteries that make you care about the people as much as the puzzle, this book will be right up your alley.
Pages: 187
The Story That Wanted To Be Told
Morgan’s Landing follows a local police detective from a small Maryland town who is investigating the disappearance of a fourteen-year-old girl from the town’s wealthiest family and digging up buried secrets in the process. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
It began with the idea that even in a small town full of friendly neighbors, people would rush to judgment and start blaming each other if a young girl disappeared. I’ve always enjoyed police procedurals and had written one, Guilty Knowledge, with an urban setting, but I thought it might be interesting to trace the actions of a small town detective investigating within his own community.
It seemed like you took your time in building the characters and the story to great emotional effect. How did you manage the pacing of the story while keeping readers engaged?
I don’t think I managed the pacing so much as I let it flow naturally. I told the story that wanted to be told in the way the characters would let me tell it. I think being engaged in the story myself is the best way to encourage readers to stay with me on the journey.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
I was more interested in how a small town detective would go about investigating a case than in what the solution would turn out to be. The dynamics of a family in which the members seem to be at odds and each has his or her own version of the story also intrigued me.
Is this the first book in the series? If so, when is the next book coming out, and what can your fans expect in the next story?
While it isn’t impossible for Detective Jim Brady to have another case in the future, Morgan’s Landing was never intended to be part of a series. I feel as if I’m done with these characters—or they’re done with me—but I never know when something may spark the next story, and if it turns out to fit into the world of Morgan’s Landing, so be it!
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Detective Jim Brady, married and the father of two, has been on the Morgan’s Landing police force for twelve years. He identifies a few suspects in the girl’s disappearance—Is it the fired school janitor, a paroled sex offender, Julie’s computer teacher…or his own teenage son? Jim can’t believe his son could be involved, but his wife is convinced the boy is hiding something.
He needs to find Julie before the worst happens—and keep the peace at home.
Inheriting Karma
I went into Inheriting Karma expecting a mystery, maybe some crime or supernatural twist, but this book was something else entirely. It’s mysterious, sure, but not in the usual “whodunit” way. It’s like stepping into someone’s mind after everything has fallen apart. The story is fragmented, poetic, and even a little trippy. It talks about guilt, fate, and what happens when your past won’t stop chasing you. It’s weird, dark, and hypnotic in a way that’s hard to explain and hard to look away from.
It wasn’t easy to follow. The writing feels like a code at times, like the story wants you to dig through the mess to find the meaning. But there’s something addictive about that. The mood is heavy, almost haunting, and I found myself flipping back pages trying to piece together what was real and what was just in the narrator’s head. It’s got that eerie, unsettled vibe that keeps you tense even though you don’t know why.
If you’re the kind of mystery reader who likes neat clues and clean endings, this might throw you off. But if you enjoy stories that play with your head, that make you question what’s happening, this book has that in spades. It’s like a psychological puzzle wrapped in poetry. I wouldn’t call it a traditional thriller, but it definitely gave me chills.
I’d recommend Inheriting Karma to readers who like their mysteries a little offbeat. Fans of surreal or psychological thrillers where the real tension comes from the mind, not the crime. It’s strange, but it’s the kind of strange that sticks with you.
Pages: 328 | ASIN : B0FM6TTGJG
Morgan’s Landing
Linda Griffin’s Morgan’s Landing opens in a small Maryland peninsula town that feels both timeless and uneasy. The story begins with the sudden disappearance of Julie Morgan, one of two identical twin sisters from the town’s wealthiest family. As local police officer Jim Brady leads the investigation, the community’s calm surface ripples with suspicion, guilt, and buried secrets. What starts as a missing-person case grows into a layered exploration of fear, family, and moral grayness. Griffin draws readers into a slow, tense mystery that feels grounded in place and character, not just plot. Every chapter pulls back another curtain, revealing a town that’s anything but sleepy.
I found myself deeply drawn into Griffin’s writing. Her style is clean but textured, the kind that lets scenes breathe. The dialogue feels lived in, and the pacing has a natural rhythm, never rushed. What impressed me most was how she handles emotion. It’s never melodramatic and always relatable. Jim Brady, the detective at the heart of the story, feels real. He’s tired, decent, sometimes unsure, and completely believable. I could feel the weight of the case pressing on him, the strain of being both a cop and a father. Griffin doesn’t write heroes; she writes people. And that, for me, made the story hit harder. The setting itself feels like a character, the fog, the quiet streets, the water’s edge, all of it whispers the kind of secrets small towns keep.
The book’s emotional pull goes beyond the mystery. I kept thinking about the way Griffin looks at truth and guilt. Her characters live in moral gray zones, where even good intentions can twist into harm. At times, I felt frustrated, even angry, at how ordinary cruelty hides behind politeness and routine. But that’s the point. Griffin wants us to sit in that discomfort, to see how easy it is to miss what’s right in front of us. The writing feels empathetic, especially toward the young characters caught in situations they can’t control. I found myself caring about them in a way I didn’t expect.
By the final pages, I wasn’t just thinking about the mystery anymore. I was thinking about how fear changes people, how love and shame can live side by side. I’d recommend Morgan’s Landing to anyone who likes small-town mysteries with heart, readers who appreciate stories about people rather than just plot twists. It’s perfect for those who enjoy Tana French’s slow-burn style or Louise Penny’s quiet intensity.
Pages: 104 | ASIN : B0DZY1YR6V
The Magician’s Wife
Lora Jones’s The Magician’s Wife is a taut and layered mystery that begins with a dazzling stage illusion and ends in something far darker and stranger. The story follows Clare Deyes, a small-town journalist who gets pulled into the disappearance of Angel Devereaux, a magician’s glamorous assistant who vanishes during a live TV performance. What starts as curiosity turns into obsession, dragging Clare into the world of illusionists, deception, and secrets that twist tighter with every chapter. Jones builds a world that feels both familiar and dreamlike, where each reveal feels earned yet surprising.
I loved how Jones wrote with restraint but always hinted at chaos beneath the surface. The pacing was clever, slow and careful when it needed to be, then suddenly sharp and breathless. Clare’s voice felt authentic, flawed, a little sarcastic, and completely human. I could feel her frustration and fear as her investigation blurred the line between truth and illusion. Some parts made me laugh in disbelief, others made me uneasy in that delicious, can’t-put-it-down way. The writing itself was crisp and vivid, not fancy or distant, and it carried emotion without ever trying too hard.
What surprised me most was how emotional the story became. It wasn’t just about a missing woman or a trick gone wrong; it was about grief, guilt, and the lengths people go to hide from themselves. I found myself caring deeply for Clare, even when she made bad choices. The book made me think about how truth can be an illusion too, how easily we buy into the stories we’re told. There were moments that genuinely chilled me, not because of ghosts or gore, but because of how real the manipulation felt. Jones doesn’t just write about magic; she writes about the hunger for belief.
I’d recommend The Magician’s Wife to anyone who enjoys mysteries with heart, readers who like their thrillers smart but not pretentious, and anyone who appreciates a story that keeps you guessing long after the last page. It’s for people who love a bit of strangeness mixed with grit. It’s clever, haunting, and unexpectedly moving.
Pages: 382 | ASIN : B0FV92H5RQ
Sweet Secrets on Mackinac Island
Sweet Secrets on Mackinac Island follows Lucy Winters, a freshly unemployed marketing executive who suddenly inherits her great-aunt’s fudge shop on Mackinac Island. What begins as a reluctant trip to tie up family business quickly spirals into an unplanned adventure. Lucy finds herself thrust into a world of quirky locals, nosy shop owners, stubborn employees, and even a judgmental cat named Felix, all while trying to learn the alchemy of fudge-making. At its core, the book blends romance, comedy, and personal reinvention against the backdrop of a magical, car-free island brimming with old-world charm.
I found myself both charmed and amused. The writing is playful without being shallow, full of little asides and sharp observations that made me laugh. Lucy’s voice felt real, not polished to perfection, which made her stumbles all the more relatable. At times, I rolled my eyes at her self-deprecating inner monologues, but I couldn’t help rooting for her. The island setting was described vividly. And the supporting characters, from Elspeth the cardigan-clad dictator of the “Fudgeamentals” to Mia with her theatrical flair, were eccentric in the best way. They gave the story texture and heart.
A few scenes stretched on longer than I thought they needed to, and sometimes the humor leaned a bit heavy on quips. But even when the story felt predictable, I didn’t mind. It was like watching a cozy rom-com. The journey is the fun. What surprised me most was how the book balanced lighthearted romance with more personal themes. Losing a job, being betrayed by a friend, trying to reinvent yourself. Those resonated with me. I caught myself nodding in recognition when Lucy questioned whether she was capable of change, because who hasn’t had that exact doubt?
Sweet Secrets on Mackinac Island is the kind of book I’d hand to a friend looking for comfort. It’s funny, a little ridiculous at times, and brimming with warmth. If you enjoy Hallmark-style stories, small-town charm, and heroines who learn to let go of their rigid plans, you’ll love this. It’s perfect for a summer read, ideally with something sweet within reach.
Pages: 306 | ASIN : B0F5NCZXTQ
The Dog Ladies
Julie Titterington’s The Dog Ladies is a genre-bending story that blends cozy mystery, small-town gossip, and quirky dark humor into a wild narrative full of twists and unexpected heart. The book follows a group of people—eccentric, nosy, and fiercely loyal—who orbit around a central murder mystery while diving into everything from call transcripts to livestreams, etiquette lessons, soap operas, and the existential dread of insomnia. It’s structured with sharp shifts in tone and form, creating a layered and chaotic tapestry of voices, moments, and digressions that somehow all loop back into the odd little universe of these unforgettable dog-loving people.
Reading this book was like falling down a rabbit hole laced with sarcasm and sentiment. Titterington’s writing is whip-smart, often hilarious, and occasionally moving in a way that catches you off guard. One moment I’d be laughing at a bizarre conversation between characters I wasn’t sure I trusted, and the next, I’d feel a sudden emotional punch, like I’d just been reminded of the ache of growing old or losing a friend. The experimental structure, scenes flip between transcripts, interviews, and dialogue-driven chaos, can be disorienting, but it adds to the charm. This book doesn’t spoon-feed you. You piece it together like you’re one of the nosy ladies yourself, eavesdropping and speculating.
Sometimes the plot meanders. Characters talk over each other. There’s a lot of inside-joke energy that made me feel like I missed a memo. But somewhere along the way, I realized that was the point. The Dog Ladies isn’t about clean resolutions or linear storytelling. It’s about the mess of community, the kind that gossips and schemes and watches out for each other, even when it’s wildly dysfunctional. It’s an ode to oddballs, to late-night phone calls, to memories that come back in snippets and smells and weird phrases.
I’d recommend The Dog Ladies to readers who enjoy voice-driven stories, especially fans of authors like Maria Semple, Shirley Jackson (on a whimsy bender), or even absurdist podcasts. It’s not for everyone, but if you’re the kind of reader who likes a challenge, laughs at dry wit, and doesn’t mind feeling a little lost now and then, this book will win you over. It’s a messy, funny, bittersweet ride—and I’m glad I stuck around until the end.
Pages: 403 | ASIN: B0F4L66CV5
86 The Chef
Adam K. Watson’s 86 The Chef is a razor-sharp and soul-searching novel that follows Trey Chapman, a celebrity chef whose once-brilliant culinary empire is now cracking under the weight of ambition, exhaustion, and emotional disconnection. The book paints a vivid picture of the entire Chapman family, all tangled up in the food world. From Trey’s aging critic brother Jackson to the elusive fixer Joey, each with their own dreams, demons, and disappointments. Through a swirling cast of chefs, critics, smugglers, and hustlers, the story unpacks the tension between art and commerce, legacy and identity, all wrapped in the steamy and cutthroat chaos of the restaurant scene.
I loved how real this story felt. The writing is cinematic, funny, and biting. There’s this effortless flow to Watson’s sentences, some clipped, others lush, that mimics the chaos of a kitchen and the pacing of an exhausted heart. The characters are layered and messy, especially Trey, who is both brilliant and broken. Watching him claw his way through ego, fatigue, and physical pain was gut-wrenching but deeply compelling. I could feel the weight of his fame pulling him apart. And yet, the story never becomes a pity parade. It’s sharp, darkly funny, and full of those little observations that make you pause, laugh, or wince.
What really hooked me wasn’t the food, the fame, or the drama, it was the grief. Not loud, tear-soaked grief, but the quiet, creeping kind that sneaks in when success costs you yourself. Trey is a man haunted by what he’s lost, time, purpose, connection, and that quiet sadness echoes through every chapter. Watson’s ability to explore that without spelling it out or dragging it into melodrama is fantastic. The supporting characters, like Jackson and Erica, aren’t just props, they have their own bruises, their own bitterness, and it makes the world feel lived-in and raw. The whole book is a balancing act between fire and finesse, and it sticks the landing.
I’d recommend 86 The Chef to anyone who loves stories about ambition and the emotional collateral it leaves behind. Foodies will be thrilled by the behind-the-scenes grit of the industry, but it’s not just for chefs or food lovers. It’s for anyone who’s chased a dream and realized too late they were running from something else. This is a book about burnout, brilliance, and the blurry line between building an empire and losing your soul.
Pages: 285 | ASIN : B0F549F1RN
LITERARY TITAN 