The Shape of Water

Title: The Shape of Water
Author: Andrea Camilleri
Published: May 31, 2005 by Penguin Books
Format: Hardcover, 218 Pages
Genre: Police Procedural
Series: Commissario Montalbano #1

Blurb: The Shape of Water is the first in Andrea Camilleri's wry, brilliantly compelling Sicilian crime series, featuring Inspector Montalbano.

The goats of Vigàta once grazed on the trash-strewn site still known as the Pasture. Now local enterprise of a different sort flourishes: drug dealers and prostitutes of every flavour. But their discreet trade is upset when two employees of the Splendour Refuse Collection Company discover the body of engineer Silvio Luparello, one of the local movers and shakers, apparently deceased in flagrante at the Pasture. The coroner's verdict is death from natural causes - refreshingly unusual for Sicily.

But Inspector Salvo Montalbano, as honest as he is streetwise and as scathing to fools and villains as he is compassionate to their victims, is not ready to close the case - even though he's being pressured by Vigàta's police chief, judge, and bishop.

Picking his way through a labyrinth of high-comedy corruption, delicious meals, vendetta firepower, and carefully planted false clues, Montalbano can be relied on, whatever the cost, to get to the heart of the matter.

My Opinion: I’d decided my poor, neglected shelf of older books deserved some attention, so I reached for The Shape of Water. In hindsight… I probably should’ve let that shelf continue gathering dust. I blame the cover entirely. That blue ocean? It whispered vacation promises it absolutely did not keep.

Published in 2005, the book shows its age in ways that aren’t charming. The language used to describe women made me wince more than once. And because it’s short, you’d think it would at least move briskly. It does not. This is the first in a 28 book series, and honestly, I cannot fathom how anyone made it to book two, let alone book twenty eight.

We follow Salvo Montalbano, Vigàta’s most respected detective, as he’s called in to investigate the death of a prominent citizen. On paper, that sounds promising. In practice, the story starts slow and then stays that way. There’s humor, some bumbling characters, a bit of moral corner cutting “for the greater good,” and flashes of personality that hint at why the series has fans. But for me, it all blended into a kind of monotone hum which was never a DNF, just relentlessly meh.

By the halfway point, I found myself more invested in the fact that I was clearing another long ignored book from my shelf than in the mystery itself. And that’s never a great sign.

Will I be continuing with the series? Absolutely not. But I will give myself credit for finally reading it and freeing up that little square of shelf space. Sometimes the victory is simply finishing the thing.

My Husband's Wife

Title: My Husband's Wife
Author: Alice Feeney
Published: January 20, 2026 by Flatiron Books: Pine & Cedar
Format: Hardcover, 310 Pages
Genre: Psychological Thriller

Blurb: Eden Fox, an artist on the brink of her big break, sets off for a run before her first exhibition. When she returns to the home she recently moved into—Spyglass, an enchanting old house in Hope Falls—nothing is as it should be. Her key doesn't fit. A woman, eerily similar to her, answers the door. And her husband insists that this stranger is his wife. One house. One husband. Two women. Someone is lying. Six months earlier, a reclusive Londoner named Birdy, reeling from a life-changing diagnosis, inherits Spyglass. This unexpected gift from a long-lost grandmother brings her to the pretty seaside village of Hope Falls. But then Birdy stumbles upon a shadowy London clinic that claims to be able to predict a person's date of death, including her own.

My Opinion: My Husband’s Wife was my first Alice Feeney, so I went in with that cautious curiosity you get when you’re testing out a new thriller author. Only a few pages, I told myself, to see if her style was for me. Famous last words. Within a handful of chapters, I thought I had a decent grasp on what was happening. By chapter twenty, I was staring at the page thinking: Nope. Absolutely not. None of this connects. I am lost in the best, most chaotic way.

This book is a fast, twisty, deceptively easy read. The kind that grabs hold of a brain like mine, the kind that loves lining up puzzle pieces and connecting dots. Except Feeney keeps snatching the pieces back and swapping them out when you’re not looking. A third of the way through, I realized I wasn’t just reading a psychological thriller; I was in the middle of a full blown narrative labyrinth. The beginning already had me pausing to think, to rearrange theories, to mutter “Wait, what?” under my breath—but by that point, I knew I was strapped in for a ride.

And the questions. Oh, the questions.

Who is really the wife?

Who is the artist?

Where does the daughter fit into all of this?

Why does every answer feel like it’s lying to me?

The husband, well, he’s a whole situation. His big revelation was another twist in a book already full of them. And just when you think you’ve found someone you can trust, the police officer starts acting suspicious, and the new detective feels like she’s hiding something too. It’s like Feeney looked at the concept of “reliable characters” and said, “Absolutely not.”

Then you reach the end; the reader is hit with one final tailspin. The kind that makes you sit there blinking at the wall, replaying the entire book in your head, trying to figure out what you missed and how she managed to outmaneuver you, yet again.

To say I loved every moment feels like an understatement. I picked this up intending to sample a few pages, maybe decide whether Alice Feeney was an author I’d continue with. Instead, I found myself glued to the book, thinking about it even when I wasn’t reading, trying to decode what she was really telling me. And when I finally finished, I realized I hadn’t written down half the thoughts I meant to, and all I could do was sit there, stunned, trying to process the beautiful chaos I’d just experienced.

If this is what Alice Feeney does, then yes, she’s absolutely for me.

The Antiquarian's Object of Desire

Title: The Antiquarian's Object of Desire
Author: India Holton
Published: April 21, 2026 by Berkley
Format: Kindle, Paperback 368 Pages
Genre: Fantasy
Series: Love's Academic (#3)

Blurb: Magical-antique experts Amelia Tarrant and Caleb Sterling have been best friends forever, although lately each has begun secretly wishing for more than friendship. But when rumors about their relationship spread, they're forced to fake being enemies to protect their reputations and keep their jobs.

The resulting arguments spark havoc across Oxford University, and when they cause an explosion while fighting over a magical antique, it’s the final straw for their exasperated faculty head. He dispatches them to a job in Cumbria where even they can’t get into trouble.

Which proves just how wrong one man can be. In a stormbound old manor house, Amelia and Caleb face magical mayhem and rampaging ghosts that make the previous havoc look mild in comparison. Most troublesome of all, though, is the secret of how they feel about each other. When it comes to tackling deadly antiques, hiding the truth in their hearts could destroy them for real.

My Opinion: From the very first chapter, this novel sets the stage for fun with laugh-out-loud moments, in addition to a few unexpectedly tender moments that catch you off guard. It’s part of the charm. Holton herself calls this book a “fantasy rom com” starring characters who have apparently been loitering in the back of her imagination for years. And honestly? You can feel that. These two have been patiently waiting to get onto the page.

At the center of the story is one of my favorite tropes: fake hating. Not enemies to lovers, not rivals; no, these are two best friends who have to pretend to despise each other for the sake of academic survival. Dr. Amelia Tarrant, antiquarian and Oxford history professor, is fighting to keep her job. Dr. Caleb Sterling, her equally brilliant counterpart, is fighting the urge to leap to her defense every time a roomful of men calls her a tyrant. (He would like to file a complaint with HR on her behalf, preferably while holding her hand.)

Unfortunately for them, the Oxford faculty has grown weary of their constant bickering- real or otherwise- and exiles them to a remote, crumbling manor house. This is where things get complicated. The house is full of magical antiquities that react to the pair’s… let’s call it “chemistry.” Ghosts rampage. Objects misbehave. Spoons develop opinions. And every time Amelia and Caleb try to maintain their façade of mutual disdain, the universe (and one very chaotic utensil) seems determined to expose the truth.

Holton blends magic into a historical setting with the same ease she blends humor with longing. One minute you’re laughing at a possessed household item; the next you’re swept up in Amelia’s fierce determination to protect what’s hers -- her career, her research, her sense of self. And layered over all of that is a mystery involving a thief, a college in peril, and the kind of banter that makes you want to highlight entire pages.

I adored the first book in this series (The Ornithologist’s Field Guide to Love). The second one (The Geographer’s Map to Romance) didn’t quite hit the same high for me. But this one? This one brings back the spark, the charm, and the irresistible pull of the first. Even though the books are technically part of a series, they read more like interconnected standalones with each adding its own flavor, its own magic, and its own beating heart.

The only sad part? This appears to be the final book in the series. And while the ending is satisfying, I’m still a little bereft knowing we won’t get another round of magical academia, misbehaving artifacts, and Holton’s signature blend of wit and whimsy.

Theo of Golden

Title: Theo of Golden
Author: Allen Levi
Published: October 3, 2025 by Atria Books
Format: Paperback, 387 Pages
Genre: Fiction

Blurb: One spring morning, a stranger arrives in the small southern city of Golden. No one knows where he has come from…or why.

His name is Theo. And he asks a lot more questions than he answers.

Theo visits the local coffeehouse, where ninety-two pencil portraits hang on the walls, portraits of the people of Golden done by a local artist. He begins purchasing them, one at a time, and putting them back in the hands of their “rightful owners.” With each exchange, a story is told, a friendship born, and a life altered.

A story of giving and receiving, of seeing and being seen, Theo of Golden is a beautifully crafted novel about the power of creative generosity, the importance of wonder to a purposeful life, and the invisible threads of kindness that bind us to one another.

My Opinion: I usually keep a wary distance from anything labeled a “must read.” It’s my reflexive flinch against books that feel forced by someone who doesn’t know me. But Theo of Golden didn’t come at me that way. It arrived at the right time, and before I realized it, I was completely folded into its world.

This book carries a quiet sweetness, the kind that doesn’t force itself on you, but slowly fills the room. Still, every few chapters I found myself pausing, not out of overwhelm exactly, but because the emotions asked to be held for a moment. There’s a tenderness in the way the stories loop back on themselves, each one brushing against another like a nod of recognition. Nothing is rushed. Nothing is forced. It’s simply people telling their human stories and Theo, a steady, patient man, making space for them to be heard.

Ellen is the one who will stay with me the longest. There’s something about her fragility, her exhaustion, that felt so real I had to set the book down when she was asked her favorite color. Such a small question, such a shattering answer. And Kendrick, dear Kendrick, who knows the ache of being unseen so intimately that he gently teaches someone else how to truly look at another person. His kindness is the sort that sneaks up on you and lays a lesson at your feet.

As for the ending, I lingered. I reread paragraphs. I pretended I wasn’t getting closer to goodbye. When it finally came, it was soft but heavy, like a sigh you’ve been holding for a long time. Many tears, too, because how could there not be?

Very few books manage to be both gentle and deeply affecting, but this one does. One day, when my heart feels a little stronger, I’ll return to Theo and the people of Golden. There’s a warmth there, a sense of belonging and quiet understanding, that feels like being welcomed back into a room where you were missed.

Tents, Trails & Turmoil

Title: Tents, Trails & Turmoil
Author: Tonya Kappes
Published: April 28, 2020, by Tonya Kappes Books
Format: Kindle, 216 Pages
Genre: Amateur Sleuth
Series: Camper & Criminals #11

Blurb: Mae West knows tourism and nothing stops tourists like a dead body found in the Daniel Boone National Park.

Unfortunately, Yaley Woodard, a local tour guide, is found dead at Happy Trails Campground. Mae is determined to put her amateur sleuth skills to investigate along with the help of the Laundry Club gals. But when Yaley's past ends up being tied to forest trails and local Joel Grassel, Mae realizes Yaley's death has caused much more turmoil than she'd originally thought - and the killer might want to close the tourism in the Daniel Boone National Park for good.

My Opinion: Yes, I’m still working my way through this series. At this point, it’s practically a ritual: road trip ahead, disappointing book behind me, or I just need a little pick me up? I reach for Mae West and the Happy Trails crew without hesitation. They’re my reset button.

This time around, Mae, owner of the Happy Trails RV park tucked inside Daniel Boone National Park, has stumbled across yet another body. At this stage, Normal, Kentucky, is giving serious Cabot Cove energy. How a town this small racks up this many murders is both perplexing and wildly entertaining. But listen, I’m not complaining. I signed up for some cozy chaos, and Tonya Kappes delivers.

Mae may technically be an amateur sleuth, but after eleven books, she’s more seasoned than the actual investigators. And that’s becoming a bit of a problem for her relationship with the local detective. Still, Mae is Mae. Her friends come first, her instincts are sharp, and if her boyfriend can’t handle that, well, he might need to take a long walk and think about his life choices.

This installment throws a whole buffet of “could be” suspects at the reader, slowly eliminating them through Mae’s trademark mix of intuition, persistence, and being one step ahead of the official investigation. And when a body literally floats up from the bottom of a barrel? Well, that’s one way to narrow the list.

But the final reveal, the who of the who done it, wasn’t on my bingo card. Once again, Mae gets a little too close to danger, and once again, I found myself rooting for her to keep her head in the game and think of a way out.

What keeps me coming back, though, isn’t just the mystery. It’s the Laundry Club Ladies, the friendships, the sense of community that wraps around these books like a warm, handmade quilt. I’m in no rush to finish the series, and honestly, it feels like Tonya Kappes enjoys writing these stories just as much as I enjoy reading them.

Red Verdict

Title: Red Verdict
Author: James B. Comey
Published: May 12, 2026, by The Mysterious Press
Format: Hardcover, 352 Pages
Genre: Thriller
Series: Nora Carleton #4

Blurb: Nora Carleton is hitting her stride as Deputy US Attorney for the Southern District of New York when a high-stakes counterintelligence case pulls her into a deadly game with global implications. A Russian-style hit on an executive at an American drone manufacturer sends a chilling message—but what exactly is it? Was the victim a Russian mole or just a convenient target?

Teaming up with her longtime friend, FBI Special Agent Benny Dugan, Nora launches a criminal investigation that takes them from New York to Las Vegas with the hopes of prosecuting the person responsible. But as they dig deeper into the tangled web of Russian intelligence and those who profit from its reach, Nora finds herself in the crosshairs of powerful forces determined to keep their secrets buried.

My Opinion: Somewhere between the acronyms, the spycraft, and the “I swear I’m not telling you anything classified” energy, James Comey seems to be flashing his past life like a badge he can’t quite tuck back into his pocket. The whole time I was reading, I kept getting the sense he wanted to ‘hint’ at something, just enough to make you wonder, without getting a reminder phone call from the feds. Maybe that’s just me, but this installment certainly felt different from the earlier books in the series.

Now, I adore Nora and her family. They’re the grounding force of the series. But Benny? Benny is why I keep returning. His dry humor, his loyalty, his no-nonsense approach to the world; he’s the one who carried this book for me. Every time he stepped onto the page, I perked up a little, hoping he’d inject some spark into the otherwise flat pacing.

And speaking of pacing with drones, Russians, espionage, poisonings, Comey really threw the whole espionage pantry at this one. On paper, it should have been a wild ride. In practice, though, the “thriller” part of this thriller never quite materialized. The story felt oddly linear, almost procedural, and the repetition kept dragging the momentum down. I kept waiting for a twist, a surprise, a sharp left turn. Instead, the plot just continued the same steady, predictable path. A few more offshoots or complications would’ve gone a long way toward keeping the duller stretches from feeling quite so dull.

In the end, it wasn’t a bad book, but it wasn’t the gripping, layered, tension-filled story I wanted from this series.

Anatomy of an Alibi

Title: Anatomy of an Alibi
Author: Ashley Elston
Published: January 13, 2026 by Pamela Dorman Books
Format: Hardcover, 340 Pages
Genre: Psychological Thriller

Blurb: Everyone at Chantilly’s Bar noticed out-of-towner Camille Bayliss. Red lips, designer heels, sipping a Negroni. But that woman wasn’t Camille Bayliss. It was Aubrey Price.

Camille Bayliss appears to have the picture-perfect life; she’s married to hotshot lawyer Ben and is the daughter of a wealthy Louisiana family. Only nothing is as it seems: Camille believes Ben has been hiding dirty secrets for years, but she can’t find proof because he tracks her every move.

Aubrey Price has been haunted by the terrible night that changed her life a decade ago, and she’s convinced Benjamin Bayliss knows something about it. Living in a house full of criminals, Aubrey understands there’s more than one way to get to the truth—and she may have found the best way in.

Aubrey and Camille hatch a plan. It sounds simple: For twelve hours, Aubrey will take Camille’s place. Camille will spy on Ben, and the two women will get the answers they desperately seek.

Except the next morning, Ben is found murdered. Both women need an airtight alibi, but only one of them has it. And one false step is all it takes for everything to come undone.

My Opinion: From the very first chapters of Anatomy of an Alibi, I fell into that rare reading zone where I’m completely locked in yet have absolutely no idea what’s actually happening. Ashley Elston has this unnerving level of control over her storytelling, where every scene feels crisp and clear in the moment, but the bigger picture keeps slipping through your fingers. It’s that confused, but in a way that feels intentional and kind of thrilling, sweet spot.

By the one third mark, the tension was already tightening. The lies were stacking. The ground was shifting. I kept thinking, Okay, now I’ve got it. Spoiler: I did not have it. This is the kind of psychological thriller that refuses to explain itself, and honestly, I didn’t want it to. Each chapter pulled me forward with that slightly unhinged “just one more” energy, even as I realized I was building a mental murder board that would need the string rearranged every few chapters.

Around the halfway point, I was convinced I finally understood where Elston was steering the story. I was very wrong. She is stingy with her clues; almost mischievously so. Just when you think you’ve cracked something, she tosses in a new character or a new angle, and suddenly you’re back at square one, staring at your imaginary red string like, Well, that was pointless.

There are a few slower stretches, but they feel less like lulls and more like the author giving you a tiny breather before the next narrative whiplash. You can sense she’s winding the spring tighter, letting you catch your breath before she yanks the rug again.

And then the ending; oh, the ending. Just when you think everything has finally been tied up, Elston looks you dead in the eye and says, “Not so fast.” There are still reveals waiting, still questions lingering, and you’re still not entirely sure she’s ready to let you go.

I loved this book. I had it all wrong. I had some of the people wrong. I had the final reveal wrong. And when an author can outmaneuver me that thoroughly, while keeping me entertained the entire time, they immediately earn a spot on my “watch for everything they write next” list.

The Diva Hosts a Murderer

Title: The Diva Hosts a Murderer
Author: Krista Davis
Published: May 26, 2026 by Kensington Cozies
Format: Kindle, 329 Pages
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Series: A Domestic Diva Mystery #19
Source: NetGalley and Kensington

Blurb: With a big crowd descending on her Northern Virginia home, it’s a good thing event planner Sophie Winston is an expert at entertaining. Whipping up patriotic pastries is as easy as pie for her, though meeting the man her widowed Aunt Melly just impulsively married in Las Vegas is a little more awkward. Especially when Melly’s longtime, now-heartbroken secret admirer is there too, which could lead to some fireworks.

But the house party really gets explosive when Sophie’s favorite tour guide falls victim to a killer—and evidence points to Sophie’s own father. Will DNA really incriminate her dad? And what’s the real story with her new uncle-by-marriage and the mysterious pal he’s brought along with him? Some of the secrets Sophie’s discovering are raising flags—and while the police department casts suspicion on her father, she has to declare her independence as a detective to find the real culprit, and serve justice along with her red, white, and blue cupcakes

My Opinion: There are only a handful of cozy mystery series that still hit the spot for me these days, and Krista Davis’s Domestic Diva books remain one of them. A big part of that is the setting. Old Town Alexandria has this irresistible, lived in charm with brick sidewalks, historic houses, and the hum of neighborhood life. And every time I open a new Diva book, I’m right back there. Yes, I’ve been. Yes, I felt the pull. And yes, I absolutely indulge in a little personal nostalgia every time Sophie Winston starts another adventure.

This time around, though, you might want to keep a mental murder board handy. Davis throws a lot of names, connections, and neighborly entanglements at the reader, and there were moments when I had to pause and mentally reshuffle who was related to whom, who belonged to which barbecue, brunch, or suspicious circumstance where bodies inconveniently appeared where they shouldn’t.

The pacing, however, wobbles a bit. There are stretches that feel longer than they need to be, with some repetition that had my attention drifting. Then the final clue dropped, and suddenly everything snapped back into place. I had that little “oh, okay, that does make sense” moment, even if the fallout is going to make things awkward on the cobbled streets of Old Town for a while.

But the ending, specifically the bit with Bernie, left me blinking at the page. I was reading an ARC, so maybe it’ll shift in the final version, but as written, it felt tacked on, almost like it wandered in from another storyline entirely. I said out loud, “What the heck, Krista,” which is not my usual reaction to this series.

Still, spending a weekend with these characters, nineteen books in, no less, is its own kind of comfort. I’m not tired of them. Not even close. I just wish this installment had a little more momentum in the middle to keep me fully locked in. Even so, Old Town worked its magic, the mystery eventually clicked, and I enjoyed being back in Sophie’s world, quirks, potlucks, recipes, and all.

Invasive Species

Title: Invasive Species
Author: Ellery Adams
Published: April 14, 2026 by Hanover Square Press
Format: Kindle, 327 Pages
Genre: Horror

Blurb: Something’s not right in Cold Harbor—more so than usual. While this sleepy small town has seen its fair share of monsters in cheating husbands and leering bosses, none are as hungry as Mrs. Smith. The mysterious resident has finally emerged from her crumbling mansion on the hill, mesmerizing the townspeople with her beauty. Her secret? Nine human sacrifices to feed her immortality.

Natalie Scott is more worried about Mrs. Smith blocking her first real estate sale—the one that will take her from stay-at-home mom to working woman extraordinaire. She's eager to prove herself in a world where the social mores of 1980s suburbia reign, where she's expected to keep a magazine-perfect home and raise beautiful children, all while sticking to her husband's budget. Natalie's two best friends are facing their own demons, and Mrs. Smith and her deep, dark woods are an easy scapegoat for everyone's problems.

But Natalie's twelve-year-old daughter, Jill, and her Icelandic housekeeper, Una, can sense something deeper at play. Armed with library books and a whole lot of grit, Jill and Una team up to save the town once and for all. But as the rest of Cold Harbor sinks into anger, fear, and jealousy, they’ll have to confront the What does it really mean to be a monster?

My Opinion: Invasive Species is not your usual Ellery Adams. I went in expecting her familiar cozy mystery warmth and instead found myself in something darker, creepier, and far more unsettling than I ever anticipated. Not in a bad way, just in a “wait, Ellery wrote this?” kind of way. If I had to label it, I’d call it Horror meets Women’s Fiction with a strong feminist undercurrent, but even that doesn’t quite capture the strange, slippery thing she’s doing here. It’s a mash up I haven’t seen before, and honestly, it grabbed me from page one.

Part of the surprise may come from the fact that she’s working with a new publisher for this occult leaning detour. It makes me wonder what else she has tucked up her sleeve for longtime readers who think they know her lane.

This book is peculiar in a “I can’t look away” sense. Yes, there’s creepy imagery (some of it very creepy), but Adams slips in humor, too, and even a bit of spice that will push the envelope for some readers. It’s a cocktail of eerie, funny, feminist, and occasionally eyebrow raising.

The reader is dropped into 1980s Cold Harbor, a polished town of affluence, golden children, a yacht club, and parents desperate to maintain the illusion of perfection while quietly cracking underneath it. Into this Stepford adjacent setting slithers Mrs. Smith, also known as the “Mother of Eels”, who hasn’t left her home in daylight for decades and who has decided it’s time to make her grand return. Unfortunately for the town, she requires nine human sacrifices, and nine year olds seem to be her preferred entrée.

Twelve year old Jill and her family’s Icelandic housekeeper, Una, are the only ones who recognize the danger for what it is. They realize this demon is targeting Jill’s friends, and the timing couldn’t be worse: a bar mitzvah on a boat, where all the children are conveniently gathered in one floating buffet. The Mother of Eels couldn’t have planned it better herself. But then again, she might have dropped a clue or two.

The ending is intense, the kind of sequence where you realize you’ve been holding your breath and your eyes refuse to blink. Not something to read right before bed unless you enjoy replaying nightmare fuel visuals in the dark.

Some readers have called this a “cozy horror” with feminist vibes, and while that’s not wrong, it still doesn’t fully capture the odd energy here. What I can say is this: you’ll keep turning pages, partly out of fascination and partly out of disbelief that Ellery Adams, queen of the cozy mystery, has delivered something this wild, this creepy, and this unexpectedly bold. Whether it works for everyone is another question, but it certainly shows a new, daring side of her.

If nothing else, Invasive Species proves that Adams can still surprise her readers… and maybe haunt them a little, too.