Wolvers
by Taylor Brown
A complex tale: save or eliminate wolves? (4/5/2026)
Wolf One-Eleven knows she’s being tracked by men who want to kill her. Her name comes from the governmental body seeking to protect wolves. However, some people want to eliminate wolves. Trace Temple has a bone to pick: his family lost their ranch —directly or indirectly, depending on how you look at it —because of wolves.
Two other men figure prominently in “Wolvers.” Both want to eliminate the wolf and possibly one another. They hike around the Gila Mountains in the American Southwest, carrying sophisticated weaponry. These mountains are almost like a character themselves. They significantly influence the action due to the danger they pose to those who travel through them.
“Wolvers” is an exciting story and I had no idea how it would end. Would One-Eleven and her pups survive the relentless attacks on their lives? Would Trace and the other wolvers survive?
I wanted to read “Wolvers” because I enjoyed Brown’s “Rednecks” so much. The latter described the 1920-1921 West Virginia Mine Wars, which in part caught my interest because this was the largest armed conflict on American soil since the Civil War.
The Insomniacs
by Allison Winn Scotch
Insomnia has never been so exciting (4/1/2026)
Everyone has secrets. Allison Winn Scotch has written a captivating story about four insomniac New Yorkers who are holding on to some doozies. Betty, the young waitress at the diner: it's clear she never quite answers personal questions. Julian, the 60-year-old widower, doesn't want the other insomniacs to know exactly what he's up to. Sybil (the cheated-on wife and mother) and Zeke (the wounded professional baseball player) round out the quartet, and it seemed that Scotch lets readers know a bit more about those two.
The longer the insomniacs meet, the fonder they grow of one another. That doesn't necessarily mean they share their secrets.
Then tragedy strikes. Cross-country travel ensues to initiate a rescue effort. Have some of the insomniacs broken the law? Who knows? All bets are off until the very end, which is just the way I'd hoped it would be.
I recommend "The Insomniacs." I would compare it to "The Thursday Murder Club" and other stories where characters develop family ties with former strangers.
Feast
by Catherine Kurtz
A Gifted Young Woman With Many Trials (3/27/2026)
"Feast" is the story of a very resilient 19th-century girl who grows up to be a very resilient young woman. Minha has a special gift: she has a remarkable sense of smell and can identify a seemingly endless number of things.
Unwanted by her mother, and deserted by her father, Minha grew up in her grandparents' home. Her grandfather's loving care and attention changed the trajectory of her life.
Reading "Feast" was like reading a fairy tale. Minha's gift seemed magical, although I don't think it was meant to be so. The story was, in turns, charming, tragic, exasperating, and lovely.
I read it quickly because it was so hard to put down. The story was so unusual that I had no idea what would happen next.
Thank you to BookBrowse for the advance reader copy.
Thistlemarsh
by Moorea Corrigan
When the faeries come to visit (2/1/2026)
I don't usually read about faeries, but "Thistlemarsh" sounded like a good change of pace book.
I enjoyed it. It's the World War I era. Mouse Dunne, a young English woman, has been nursing in France following the death of one brother and the development of shell shock in the other.
The faeries have already been gone from England for about 100 years. Or maybe they just wanted people to think they were gone.
Mouse's uncle has died, and Mouse has inherited the family home– such as it is. The bequest comes with a caveat. She must repair the house in one month's time. This would be impossible for mere mortals. So guess who pops up? And he has home repair skills!
Mouse has lots of common sense. Sometimes, at crucial moments, she ignores it. Of course, it wouldn't be much of a story if she didn't.
"Thistlemarsh" was appealing and maddening. I liked Mouse. She did the best she could, considering all the pressure she was under.
Thank you to BookBrowse and Netgalley for the advance reader copy.
The Midnight Taxi
by Yosha Gunasekera
A Woman Falsely Accused (11/27/2025)
Siriwathi Perera is a taxi driver with a penchant for true crime podcasts. Unfortunately for her, a true crime occurs in the back seat of her taxi. She was just taking a man to the Air France terminal at JFK airport. Her fare was murdered at some point during the trip, but Siri didn't see or hear a thing.
The police believe that she must have killed him. Off she goes to jail. But, wait! Siri has
the business card of a fellow Sri Lankan attorney in her pocket. Will a good attorney be enough to free Siri?
"The Midnight Taxi" is an enthralling murder mystery. First, there's the tragedy itself: who stabbed the fare? Second, another tragedy: an innocent woman being falsely accused.
I thought "The Midnight Taxi" was well-written– a real page turner. Siri and her lawyer look for clues and try to find the actual culprit. The characters seem like real people. Siri has known tragedy in her life, and I was rooting for her and her lawyer.
I recommend "The Midnight Taxi" if you're in the mood for a tricky mystery with characters you'd probably like to meet. Personally, I hope it becomes a series.
Thank you to BookBrowse and NetGalley for the advance reader copy of this book. This is my honest review.
The Wilderness: A Novel
by Angela Flournoy
A Faithful Friend is a Sturdy Shelter (9/30/2025)
I was looking forward to reading "The Wilderness" by Angela Flournoy after I really enjoyed her first novel, "The Turner House." This book tells the story of January, Monique, Nakia, and sisters Desiree and Danielle, and their friendships with one another.
The characters seemed so sad so much of the time.. Some had troubled childhoods; another had an unexpected pregnancy. Most of the relationships showed the ebb and flow that would be expected from friendships spanning many years. That made them relatable and realistic.
I found it difficult to follow along and would have benefited from making my own table of contents. Each chapter head consists of a year. The chapters do go backward and forward in time.
"The Wilderness" was well-written and conveyed the women's rich lives and complex interactions.
Thank you to BookBrowse for the copy of "The Wilderness."
The Botanist's Assistant
by Peggy Townsend
Margaret Bird Persists Despite Disparagement (6/30/2025)
Margaret Finch, the botanist's assistant, knows she is "different." She's precise, she's intelligent, and she's tall. Margaret knows that other employees at the university call her "Big Bird" behind her back.
Her boss, Dr. Deaver, treats her respectfully. In return, Margaret thinks he is one of the greatest scientists and researchers ever. She does her best work for him.
Tragedy strikes. Margaret has one opinion and her superiors and the campus police have another. Although she sometimes uses unconventional methods, Margaret is determined to find out the truth behind what has happened to her boss.
I enjoyed this book so much. Margaret was so likeable and she so frequently shared tidbits of scientific knowledge with the reader. "The Botanist's Assistant" was educational and informative as well as compelling.
I recommend "The Botanist's Assistant" by Peggy Townsend. I hope Margaret will have her own series!
Thank you to BookBrowse and NetGalley for the advance reader copy. This is my honest review.
Fagin the Thief: A Novel
by Allison Epstein
The Making of Fagin the Thief (12/16/2024)
Allison Epstein has done a wonderful job fleshing out the character of "Oliver Twist('s)" Jacob Fagin. If you enjoy books like Sarah Miller's "Marmee" or modern retellings or additions to the Jane Austen stories, "Fagin the Thief" may fill several happy hours of reading.
Epstein begins her imagining of Fagin when he is six years old. She skips around throughout the book but each chapter head includes the date, so it is easy to follow the plot.
Along with Fagin, the author also expands on the lives of Dodger, Nancy, Oliver Twist, and Bill Sikes, as well as Sike's dog, Bullseye. The story moves quickly. It is so well-written that I really did feel as if I was reading a part of Dickens I'd never found before.
"Fagin the Thief" was a joy to read and I highly recommend it.
The Seven O'Clock Club
by Amelia Ireland
The Weight of Grief (11/4/2024)
If you're looking for a book with car chases, explosions, and double agents, you're not looking for "The Seven O'Clock Club." If you'd feel at home with a book about four strangers who have each endured a tragedy from which they can't seem to heal, Amelia Ireland has written the perfect story for you.
Genevieve is a therapist who has developed a technique to help people get back to wholeness and functioning. Freya, Mischa, Victoria, and Callum are the suffering souls invited to join this group. If they accept, they commit to at least four sessions.
It isn't easy. At the first meeting, Genevieve asks everyone to recount a happy experience from their childhood. It's heart-wrenching how difficult this is for some.
Then the twist comes-- one of the biggest I've encountered in a novel. The conclusions I'd reached no longer made sense. The story became all the more compelling and I read chapter after chapter to learn what might happen to these characters.
"The Seven O'Clock Club" is Amelia Ireland's first novel. It is so well written that the characters seem to jump off the page. I strongly recommend it.
Thank you to BookBrowse for allowing me to read this book. This is my honest review.
We'll Prescribe You a Cat
by Syou Ishida
A reminder that the human-animal bond is precious (5/30/2024)
Trouble at work? Difficult child? Nakagyo Kokoro Clinic for the Soul might have just what you need: a cat to take home for two weeks.
"We'll Prescribe You a Cat" is a charming set of vignettes about people who end up at a difficult-to-find clinic and find themselves carrying home a four-legged prescription. Imagine their surprise! When difficulties begin to resolve, the "patients" are even more incredulous.
The clinic itself is surrounded by mystery. Things are not necessarily as they seem.
This is a sweet story that tugs at the heartstrings. I hope Ishida will write a sequel.
Rednecks: A Novel
by Taylor Brown
A tragic slice of history (5/12/2024)
Taylor Brown has written a compelling historical novel about the Battle of Blair Mountain, West Virginia. Although the largest battle on US soil since the Civil War, it's probably fair to say that many outside the region are not familiar with it.
The pivotal character in the book is Dr. Domit (Dr. Moo) Muhanna, a Lebanese man who came to Kentucky to go to medical school and who stayed to care for mine workers and all who needed his care. He is based upon the author's great-grandfather, who also came from Lebanon to attend medical school in Kentucky.
The year was 1920, and joining the union warranted harsh treatment -- often at gunpoint--in the minds of the coal bosses. If a man joined the union, he and his family lost their company housing and, near Blair Mountain, were moved to a tent city at the top of the hill. Contrast that to the mansions enjoyed by the mine executives.
Much of the book deals with the battle between the bosses' hired enforcers and the miners who just wanted to feed their families and house them decently. Some had just returned from fighting in World War I, and employed strategies they had learned there. Still, the Battle of Blair Mountain sounds as if it was an excruciating fight, with victory never assured for one side over the other.
The action moves quickly. Not only was the book hard to put down, it was hard to stop thinking about when I wasn't reading. I recommend "Rednecks." Taylor Brown brings history to life. I was also impressed by the book's bibliography.
The Funeral Cryer: A Novel
by Wenyan Lu
She tolerates her circumstances (2/5/2024)
I was first drawn to "The Funeral Cryer" by the title. I've been interested in the use of the "sin-eater" in Appalachian culture and wondered if the Chinese figure might be at all similar.
Wenyan Lu's "The Funeral Cryer" is the moving story of a woman who supports herself and her husband by singing and crying at funerals. The writing is spare but evocative and describes a bleak existence in a village in China. I didn't notice any dates in the book, but the nameless main character does use bus and taxi transportation when she goes to a neighboring city, as well as getting a ride on a moped.
Not only is the main character nameless; all the characters are nameless. Her husband is the husband. Her adult daughter is the daughter. A local married woman who associates with a number of men is called Hotpot.
Since some call the main character "Big Sister," I will as well. Big Sister's husband was fired from a job and has many excuses as to why he cannot get another job. She dutifully supports them both and tolerates being called stupid and ugly by her unemployed husband. He is quick to take the money she earns though!
Funeral cryers are thought to be cursed and to carry death around with them. The only person who treats Big Sister like a worthwhile person is the barber.
And that is the heart of the story. I recommend "The Funeral Cryer."
Thank you to BookBrowse and to NetGalley for the review copy of this book.
Wild and Distant Seas: A Novel
by Tara Karr Roberts
The Women of Moby Dick, and their white whales (10/17/2023)
"Wild and Distant Seas" is the story of four generations of women who have some involvement with the men in "Moby Dick." Added to that is the fact that each woman has a specific magical talent. One can see your recent thoughts and another can make you forget something, for example.
I enjoyed "Wild and Distant Seas," and would recommend it, especially if you like "Marmee," "March," and other works that expand a character's life beyond what appears in the original work. This book reminds me of the best of the "fan fiction" stories based on the Jane Austen novels.
Each woman in "Wild and Distant Seas" tells her story in a different section of the book.
Tara Karr Roberts has taken an appealing idea for a story and made it work to perfection. I highly recommend "Wild and Distant Seas" and look forward to reading other books by this author. Thank you to Book Browse for the advance reader copy.
The Quiet Tenant: A Novel
by Clémence Michallon
A Serial Killer Lives in Plain Sight (6/25/2023)
It is the stuff of nightmares. Clemence Michallon begins her debut thriller by describing the life of a woman who has been held captive by a man-- a man who is liked by everyone in his "other" life.
He tells the woman her name will be "Rachel." He mistreats her in about every way imaginable.
The Quiet Tenant tells the story of the horrors this young woman endures and what she comes to know about other women in this man's other life.
I read The Quiet Tenant in one day. I will look forward to future books from this author. This one was amazing.
King of the Armadillos
by Wendy Chin-Tanner
King of the Armadillos (5/21/2023)
What a wonderful story about such a devastating event! In "King of the Armadillos," 15-year-old Victor Chin has just been diagnosed with Hansen's disease (formerly known as leprosy). He must go to live at the government facility in Carville, LA, for treatment and stay until he is declared cured. Victor learns that some of the patients never leave.
The author's father was a patient at Carville and Wendy Chin-Tanner has drawn on his experiences in writing this book. Set in the 1950s, the characters seem like real people, and the situations that occur between Victor's fellow teenage patients ring true. This painful disease is the villain in "King of the Armadillos." I rooted for all the patients and admired the dedication of the healthcare staff and the school teachers.
I highly recommend this book and think it would be popular with book clubs. Older teens might enjoy it as well.
Mrs. Plansky's Revenge
by Spencer Quinn
Don't Mess With Mrs. Plansky! (3/31/2023)
I've read several of Spencer Quinn's Chet and Bernie series and have enjoyed them, in large part due to Chet's (the dog) narration of the story. So when I saw that Quinn had written Mrs. Plansky's Revenge, I requested the ARC from Book Browse.
Mrs. Plansky is a business-savvy 71-year-old widow with a lot of spunk. She and her husband made a lot of money with an invention they developed. Sadly, all of that is threatened due to her falling for a phone scam. Here's where the spunk comes in: Mrs. Plansky decides to remedy her situation. What she comes up with forms the groundwork for an exciting story.
Mrs. Plansky is a wonderful character and I think it would be great if she had her own series. If you're in the mood for a grandma-in-jeopardy story, this just might be the book for you.
Some of It Was Real
by Nan Fischer
Sylvie is a medium: yes or no? (2/28/2022)
Whether or not you believe in psychics or mediums, "Some of It Was Real" is an entertaining book. Sylvie, the psychic/medium, gets a visit from Thomas, a journalist who wants to expose her as a fraud.
Sylvie is an orphan who remembers none of her life before her adoptive parents. Thomas grew up with his mother following a car crash that killed his father and brother. From his preparation for his article about her, he also knows more about Sylvie's past than she does.
Sylvie doubts herself. She doesn't know how much of her success is due to the research she does about her subjects before each show and how much has its origin in her unusual abilities. She has given remarkably accurate predictions at times-- without any preparation.
Thomas wants to dislike Sylvie. Sylvie doesn't want to lose her livelihood. Both become convinced that Sylvie needs to learn what happened in her forgotten first six years of life.
Nan Fischer tells the story from both Sylvie's and Thomas's viewpoints, alternating chapters to do so.
Fischer lets the reader make up his/her mind about mediums and psychics. The rest of the main characters' stories may be at least equally important anyway.
The Paris Bookseller
by Kerri Maher
Much information that was new to me (10/26/2021)
The good news is that I did finish the book. The other news is that the first chapter was so full of long, adjective-peppered sentences that I initially despaired of doing so.
Fortunately, the storytelling improved. I was totally unfamiliar with the life of Sylvia Beach and her contribution to the publication of James Joyce's Ulysses. I am glad to have learned about this episode in literary history.
