The Night Hunter
by Natalie Moss
Great suspense (5/24/2026)
The Night Hunter is a wonderful murder mystery set in a reserve close to Kruger National Park in South Africa, truly one of my favorite places. I read it in one sitting as it kept me in suspense. Danielle and Grace are two sisters who lived part time in a private house on the reserve growing up though their lives have taken them in different directions. Their mother was a guide, researcher and head of a foundation dedicated to the preservation of wildlife, especially rhinos. After their mother's death, they return to settle her affairs with the help of Dani's boyfriend, her best friend, a friend of Graces and their guide who is a childhood friend. Within the first three days, two people are murdered, their car ends up in a ditch, and another is killed by a buffalo. They end up having to walk to their mother's house through the dangers of wild animals and the danger of someone trying to kill them. There are two twists that keep the suspense going and keep the reader guessing. The only reason I have given the book 4 stars instead of 5 is that everyone has so many secrets and suspicions especially Danielle, that it borders on the ridiculous. If only everyone had just talked to each other people would not have died. But a good read nonetheless.
Summer of Love
by Kerri Maher
Summer of Love (4/16/2026)
The term summer of love has been used to describe the 1960s. A time of free love, free drugs, and free booze. This book has some of that, yes, but it's really a story about women; mothers, sister, daughters, and friends. There are men but they exist on the periphery as absent fathers and doomed relationships. Joan is the matriarch, the head of Hartley vineyards. Her daughter, Miranda follows in her footsteps and takes over the running of the vineyard. Her sister, Winnie, is the opposite, the true daughter of the summer of love. She's a classic hippie and immerses herself in drugs and alcohol and sex just to feel alive. Dawn is Miranda's daughter, an artist who struggles with her own addictions. When Dawn and her friend, Amelia, discover a popular young adult book series, the comparisons to Hartley vineyard cannot be ignored. They set out on a quest to find the author and in doing so find themselves. This in turn helps all the female relationships to heal. I figured out the twist fairly early on but it didn't interfere with my enjoyment of the book. I think any woman fighting an addiction, whether it's drugs, alcohol or a toxic relationship will find Dawn and Winnie's journey to free themselves to be interesting and inspirational. An added bonus to this book is discovering things I didn't know about wines!
An Infinite Love Story
by Chanel Cleeton
So So Love Story (3/29/2026)
So having recently read Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid I was ready for another space/astronaut love story. Unfortunately, this book doesn't quite cut it although I know it's difficult to find a place next to a favored book. Ms. Cleeton does a very good job with the space and astronaut part of her story especially setting it against the space race with Russia, the rush to reach the moon and the fear of the Cuban Missile Crises. I thought she was very compassionate in describing the difficult life of space wives and the bias of the early space program against women as astronauts. I do think the love story between Vivian and Joe fell short. Joe is a charismatic, confident, fighter pilot with a life long desire to become an astronaut. He is willing to put his life on the line for what he wants and doesn't have to sacrifice anything for his dreams. Vivian is a journalist who has had to fight for what she wants, desires a quiet life and has no desire to constantly move houses after having had to do that as a child. She's the opposite of Joe; she isn't even sure she believes in the Space Program believing the millions are better spent domestically. Even after they are married she constantly reminds him that she wishes he were something else, like a boring dentist, and even tries to get him to abandon his idea of becoming an astronaut. She ultimately gives up everything she is and believes in to be a hated space wife. I understand it was not uncommon for women to give up their dreams for their husbands in the 1960's but her dislike of her life and her unhappiness with her husband didn't seem like an infinite love story to me until he died. I also didn't care for the time travel/wormhole part of the story. The note from the author said that she believed that great loves could be lived over and over yet she ultimately gives no explanation for the odd occurrences and basically just lets them drop. I recommend this book to anyone that wants to relive a bit of the space race but don't look for a great love story.
Summer's Never Over
by Darby Bozeman
Scary good (3/26/2026)
There's nothing like a good summer camp mystery to create a distraction against the world these days. This is a good one. It has all of the elements; female counselors who get close and jealous, the good looking water instructor, the ghost stories, the camper that doesn't want to be there and all of the secrets that everyone keeps hidden. Greer Olsen grows up at Dreads Cove, an infamous summer camp in Georgia. She is still dealing with the aftermath of a fire at the camp that took the life of her friend five years after the fact. She has moved away but has to return after the death of her mother. And all the players left from that final year are all gathered for the memorial and the reopening of the camp. As she tries to figure out what actually happened that year, the twists and turns keep coming.
The Insomniacs
by Allison Winn Scotch
A Miss for Me (3/18/2026)
Three people, insomniacs for different reasons meet on line and decide to meet in person at a diner where they meet Betty, the waitress, who works the graveyard shift, Sybil is a forty six year old woman facing divorce from her roving husband. Zeke is an all star pitcher rehabbing from a horrific injury. Julian is a former FBI agent haunted by an unsolved case. When Julian dies and Betty disappears Zeke and Sybil are determined to find out what happened. Unfortunately the book just falls flat for me. Except for Betty the characters are unlikeable. Sybil is a nosy busybody, Zeke is a whiner, and Julian is just confusing. Sybil and Zeke's relationship doesn't make sense to me; it's too unrealistic. It also was a little suspect that within a week of meeting each other they were all so embroiled in each others lives that it became all consuming. The best part of this book is Betty's storyline and her escape from her father's oppression. But, in the end, even that fell flat
The Jellyfish Problem
by Tessa Yang
Loved this Book (2/25/2026)
Every once in a while a book comes along that restores my hope and heals my heart especially at a time in our country that feels so hopeless. Theo of Golden was one and The Jellyfish Problem is another. It's the story of a giant jellyfish. Kind of. It's definitely a story of people and a community that is struggling to survive an untenable situation. Jo Ness is a scientist who studies jellyfish. In fact she's obsessed with them. But she has also recently lost her best friend and has been overcome with grief, self blame, and a new terror of the waters she loves. When a long lost friend sends her a video of what looks like a giant jellyfish she runs to help even though she really believes it's a hoax. She also wants to reconnect with this friend that she loves and regrets losing. What she finds on Shattering Island leaves her stunned and eager to help while doubting her ability to do so. The story is one of overcoming grief and self doubt, relying on a community of people for strength when the preference is to go things alone and finally finding joy and love and self renewal after loss. The book is also dispersed with lots of wonderful information about jellyfish and I really learned a lot. I was on an international flight home that suffered a great many glitches and snags and a mad dash through an airport to make a connection that left me in tears. I read this book and it truly uplifted my spirit. I recommend it to everyone
Fireflies in Winter
by Eleanor Shearer
Oh, this book (1/24/2026)
This is the story of Cora and Agnes. Cora is a free black woman part of a group called the Maroon who travel to Nova Scotia to escape the war and oppression in Jamaica. Agnes is also a free black woman though at first her path to freedom is unclear. Although they live different lives, Cora in a home, in a community and Agnes living alone in the forest, they find each other. As a result, they find love, a love that survives tragedy and prejudice. Reading this book ran the gamut of emotions for me. Despair at the cruelty of men, both black and white. Frustration at choices made. Sadness at a needless death. Happiness at the kindness of one man who could walk away. Hope and love for these two women who fight against all odds to be together and the odds are truly great. It’s an amazing story and one I won’t soon forget
The Midnight Taxi
by Yosha Gunasekera
Fun murder mystery (11/22/2025)
Siri is a taxi driver in NYC. It's not exactly how she wanted to spend her late twenties but sometimes life gets in the way. She makes her job easier by listening to true crime podcasts and imagining her parallel life as a lawyer. Then one night a man is murdered in her cab and she becomes the prime suspect. With the help of her best friend and a public defender she has just met she embarks on the journey to clear her name. It's a fun, easy book, with a twist at the end I never saw coming when I thought I had it all figured out. I did have some problems with her depictions of police officers and the judicial system but I also don't have brown skin so I have to take a step back. I did enjoy the authors obvious love of the city she lives in. Overall, it is a fun book to read
Beast of the North Woods: Monster Hunter Mysteries #3
by Annelise Ryan
Kind of ridiculous (10/20/2025)
The premise of this book was so good. Morgan Carter, a self proclaimed cryptozoologist is asked by her employee, Rita, to help her nephew with a murder charge. Her nephew, Andy claims the alleged murder is a Hodag, a mythical creature created many years ago as a hoax. Despite her skepticism, Morgan decides to help which ends up getting her into a mess of trouble. The book started out really well with a host of sketchy characters. But it eventually morphed into the ridiculous and the sideline into art theft was totally unnecessary. I understand this was actually a book in a series. I won’t be reading more. Luckily the book is an easy read so I didn’t have to spend much time on it.
When We Were Brilliant
by Lynn Cullen
A story of two remarkable women. (10/18/2025)
I was 8 years old when Marilyn Monroe died so she was never really a part of my culture. But I've seen her movies and read the rumors about her and her many lovers. She was truly bigger than life but being big just makes the crash to earth much harder. I love Ms. Cullen's portrayal of her; a shy, insecure, dirty girl as she called herself. She really was just Norma Jeane not the bombshell, slut, killer of marriages that the press and public made her out to be. The only other book that I've read that claimed to be about Marilyn was Blonde by Joyce Carol Oates. It didn't paint a pretty picture. I didn't know anything about Eve Arnold, although I am going to look her up to read more about her. I truly felt while reading this book that it was the real Eve writing it. The writing was that brilliant and convincing. I am glad these two women were able to find each other and to know that Marilyn was able to find a true friend among all the wolves. Anyone obsessed with or in love with Marilyn Monroe should definitely read this book,
When They Burned the Butterfly
by Wen-yi Lee
A seesaw of emotions (9/9/2025)
It's 1972 and Singapore has been a nation for 7 years. Inside, Chinatown is at war. A multitude of gangs with strong gods, vie for power using magic derived from their tattoos. Adeline is a 16 year old girl, somewhat of an outcast who can produce fire from her fingertips, a practice her mother has forbidden. She arrives home one day to find their home burned down and her mother dead with a red butterfly burned into her chest. She finds a girl who also has fire and discovers that her mom was the head of a gang of girls called the Red Butterflies, she was Madam Butterfly. What follows is a race to avenge her mother's death and ultimately avenge the death of girls misused and mutilated by other gangs. It's a story of heartache, death, revenge, pain but also a story of love and redemption. I don't usually read books of fantasy and magic but it's a powerful story. While reading it's essential to keep a pen and paper handy as the gangs and gang member names can be difficult and confusing to keep track of.
Next Time Will Be Our Turn
by Jesse Q. Sutanto
Hesrtbreaking (8/23/2025)
Lizzy thinks she's the black sheep of her family. Her Chinese-Indonesian family is loud, flashy outgoing. Lizzy is quiet and reserved; she also holds a very big secret. One New Years celebration her grandmother, Nainai walks in with another woman on her arm and gives her a passionate kiss. Lizzy, like the rest of her family, is shocked and outraged but she is also very confused. Her Nainai, recognizes this and proceeds to tell her about her life and the love of her life, a woman named Ellery. It's a heart wrenching story of love and betrayal and life changing decisions. My heart broke over and over for Magnolia, Nainai to Izzy, and the struggles of women trying to live a life of their choosing while oppressed by a patriarchal society. In the telling of her story, she allows Izzy to accept who she is and who she can love. I loved the book except for two things; I didn't understand the need for the big age difference between Magnolia and Ellery. It didn't seem that likely to me. Also, I would have liked to hear more of Izzy's story. Otherwise it's a wonderful story of love and love lost
The Vanishing Place
by Zoë Rankin
Amazing (6/4/2025)
Wow, what a book. The story begins with Effie watching as her mother dies from childbirth. As her father becomes more and more distant Effie is left trying to raise her baby brother along with her other siblings. Fast forward to Effie living a life as an adult far away from New Zealand and her difficult childhood. But another child wanders out of the bush in New Zealand and Effie is called back to try and discover how this child might tie into her past and to finally discover what became of her father and siblings. The ending is powerful and unexpected. I truly went through the gamut of emotions with this book.
The Girls of Good Fortune: A Novel
by Kristina McMorris
A bit disappointing (4/15/2025)
I was eager to read this book, both because I enjoyed Sold on a Monday and because of the book blurb description of a tale of a woman, Celia, shanghaied. I was disappointed as the description doesn’t accurately portray what the book is about or maybe I just assumed it was something else. The book is essentially two stories; before and after Celia is kidnapped. Before, Celia, a half Chinese woman who passes as Caucasian, is working as a housekeeper for the Mayor of Portland. She falls for the Mayor’s son, becomes pregnant and is sent to be a housekeeper in a brothel. Her life is difficult but tolerable until she becomes obsessed with the trial of men accused of killing Chinese workers.
As her father has also died in a similar massacre, she is determined to see justice done. This leads to her kidnapping. Unfortunately the second half of the book dissolves into a somewhat ridiculous series of adventures and misadventures until the ending which was slightly less ridiculous. The redeeming quality of this book is the impeccable research into the oppression and hatred of Chinese immigrants and the mass killings of Chinese workers. I believe Ms. McMorris did her research a disservice with her story. The epilogue is excellent, the rest, disappointing .
L.A. Women
by Ella Berman
Unlikeable LA Women (3/1/2025)
Lane and Gala have a love/hate relationship. Lane Warren, raised in an unhappy household, becomes the next literary sensation. She lives her best life, great husband, beautiful twin girls but she finds it impossible to escape her old life and impossible to accept love from everyone who loves her (I mean, get some therapy, Lane!) Gala Margolis, a child loved, famous for not being famous and a free spirit whose life swirls around sex, booze, and drugs. That is, until she falls in love with a self destructive rock star. Lane encourages Gala to become a writer but when Gala decides not to publically acknowledge Lane's help in kickstarting her career Lane decides to derail her career. That action sets in motion a devastating tragedy that upends all of their lives. Gala disappears and Lane struggles to find out what has happened as her own life falls apart. Both of these women are so unlikeable that I hated to watch as their lives unraveled but at the same time I couldn't look away. A great ending redeems them both but it was almost too late.
The Jackal's Mistress: A Novel
by Chris Bohjalian
Bohjalian at his best (2/5/2025)
I have a complicated relationship with Bohjalians books. To me, they are either very good like Hour of the Witch or meh, like the Princess of Las Vegas. So I went into this book with caution but with hope. I’m glad to say I was pleasantly surprised.
Kudos to Bohjalian for always doing impeccable research. During the Civil War, Libby, after a short marriage, is left by herself with only her niece and her two freed slaves when her husband heads off to fight for the rebels. A Union soldier who is gravely injured enters their lives.
Despite their distrust of the Northerner, they do everything in their power to save him at the risk of their own lives. The book does head to the cliched as Libby and Jonathan, the jackal, do fall in love as Libby comes to grip with the realization that her husband is most likely dead. But the ending is a surprise and not cliched in the least. Based on a true story, I think this is one of Chris Bohjalians best.
The Pecan Children
by Quinn Connor
Unexpectedly good (5/3/2024)
My first reaction to this book was one of disappointment. It appeared to be just another family drama. Twin sisters not getting along, one moved to the big city, one stays on the farm. They resolve their differences plus rekindle romances with their first loves. Meh. But then, strange things happen; feral children, people who don’t age, fires that appear and then disappear, mysterious shadows, a boogeyman. It’s all difficult to comprehend. The author does a good job of pulling it all together although there are a few loose ends that don’t make sense. I was pulling hard for those twins in the end. The story is mostly fantasy, with a little magic and a lot of love
A Great Country: A Novel
by Shilpi Somaya Gowda
A Great Country? (3/17/2024)
Ashok and Priya Shah leave their home in India, where the written caste system is oppressive and restrictive and move to America, the land of dreams and supposedly a great country. They work hard and after 20:years are able to move into a gated, elite community. All is well until their young son is arrested and spends many hours in the custody of the police. For the first time they experience police brutality, racial profiling and discrimination against their brown skin. They are crushed because they thought they were safe from those things. They weren’t Muslim or Black. They quickly realized that there is an unspoken caste system in this country, that they were the lowest but they didn’t belong with the elite either. Though the outcome is positive it leaves them wondering if they can ever recover. I think the author covers the subject well but the title bothers me. Is it supposed to be sarcastic? Because the country the author paints is far from great. We as Americans have the potential to do better, I hope that we can
The Funeral Cryer: A Novel
by Wenyan Lu
Disappointing (2/1/2024)
I was really looking forward to reading this book. I know nothing about the profession of Funeral Cryer and I was hoping to learn more. I was so disappointed. The entire book is the funeral cryer (the reader never learns her name) musing and whining about her job, her life, her horrid husband and his possible affair and her fantasies about another man over and over. The dialogue is stiff and unnatural and the writing is jarring. I enjoyed reading about when she would perform at a funeral but those passages were few and far between. I wanted to root for the funeral cryer because her life seemed so dismal but I couldn’t find the energy. I really would not recommend this book to anyone.
The House on Biscayne Bay
by Chanel Cleeton
A Historical Mystery (12/15/2023)
This is a book about a house. It’s a house that becomes the obsession and eventual demise of two men, one at the end of WWI and another at the start of WWII. It’s the scene of two, or is it three, murders involving the wives of these two men. It’s a house despised not only by these two wives but also the locals who believe it’s cursed and haunted. It’s a good, not great, murder mystery with an interesting twist at the end that makes it worth reading
Power Reviewer
