Three Girls Gone - Carolyn Arnold

 Three Girls Gone - Carolyn Arnold

Pub. Date: Aug. 27, 2025

She read

A young girl is missing. When her body, dressed in a ballerina tutu, is discovered in a local park, Prince William County (VA) Detective Amanda Steele and her partner, Trent, are on the case. They uncover a connection with a twelve-year-old case in which another child was taken and murdered. When a third girl goes missing, Amanda and Trent race against time to try to save her.

Yet another of Arnold’s fast-paced, suspenseful police procedurals, this is the fourteenth in the series, although it would work as a stand-alone.  Carolyn Arnold is one of my go-to authors and never disappoints. Once again, I devoured this book in a day as I couldn’t put it down. Arnold knows how to capture and maintain readers' interest and keep them briskly turning the pages. I enjoy the repeating characters, especially Amanda, who, despite an earlier tragedy in her life, is a strong, capable, independent, and empathetic woman, and her complicated relationship with Trent is always interesting. 

If you are a fan of police procedurals, and well written, suspenseful stories with compelling character development, I highly recommend this series. 

Thanks to #NetGalley and @Bookouture for the DRC.

*****

Forget Me Not - Stacy Willingham

 Forget Me Not - Stacy Willingham

Pub. Date: Aug. 26

She read

Claire’s sister, Natalie, disappeared twenty-two years ago just after her eighteenth birthday. An older man whom Natalie was supposedly seeing was arrested and convicted of her murder, though a body was never found. Claire couldn’t wait to escape her stifling small southern town and headed to New York City as soon as she could, where she became a journalist. Now out of a job, her father calls her home, concerned about her mother, who was divorced from him but had been involved in an accident.

After one day home, Claire escapes and impulsively takes a job at a vineyard where Natalie once worked. When she discovers a hidden diary, secrets are uncovered; will one of them lead to finally finding out what happened to her sister? Danger lurks as she begins to unravel the truth. 

This is the third thriller I’ve read and enjoyed by this author. While the pacing slows down a bit in the middle, there are twists and turns in this dark story that will keep readers constantly on edge. Some of the twists are predictable, while others are unexpected and will keep you guessing. The book is atmospheric, with Willingham painting a vivid picture of the sultry South Carolina summer—hot, humid, odiferous, and filled with biting creatures. I thought Claire a bit reckless at times, and some of her decisions weren’t the best, which was annoying to me.

Willingham uses an interesting technique in this book. As Claire reads the journal she finds, each entry becomes a new chapter in the book, told as a third-person narrative rather than a first-person account.

Thanks to #NetGalley and @StMartinsPress @minotaur_Books for the DRC.

****

Backstage: Stories of a Writing Life

 Backstage: Stories of a Writing Life - Donna Leon

Pub. Date: Aug. 26, 2025

She read

I’m a huge fan of Donna Leon’s Guido Brunetti mystery series set in Venice. I’ve read and loved all 30+ installments. I also enjoyed her 2023 memoir, Wandering Through Life.

While Backstage includes some stories from her life, many of her observations and thoughts in these essays are more esoteric, delving into the writing process and the structure of opera. The reader learns about her favorite authors and what makes their books so special.

What I enjoyed most were more tales of her life as a teacher in pre-revolutionary Iran, her life in Venice, and, in particular, her personal note to the fictional Brunetti and an encounter with Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Just as a tourist may wander through Venice, this book meanders back and forth from one topic to another. It is almost as if the reader has stopped for a cup of coffee or glass of wine and conversation with Ms. Leon.

This nonfiction work may not be for everyone, but fans of Donna Leon and her Brunetti will enjoy it, as will readers interested in the writing process and opera buffs.

Thanks to #NetGalley and @GroveAtlantic for the DRC.

****

Smuggler's Cove - Fern Michaels

 Smuggler's Cover - Fern  Michaels

Pub. Date: Aug. 26, 2025

This is the premiere of Fern Michaels’ new Twin Lights series. The privileged lives of Madison and Lincoln Taylor are upended when they are in college; their father is arrested for fraud and the family loses everything. Now adults living in New York with successful careers, they inherit a derelict marina along the Navesink River in New Jersey from their estranged uncle. When their desire to sell it quickly is thwarted by the discovery of a dead body floating under a dock as well as some legal issues, they decide to renovate and operate it as a business. Will this lead to new adventures and rewards for them?

Although this is labeled as a thriller, I believe it is more women’s fiction with some romance and a mystery. I thoroughly enjoyed reading the background history of these two characters. Fern Michaels is a skilled storyteller, and I couldn’t put the book down. Despite the siblings’ hardships, this was a heartwarming story.

This is the first book by this author that I’ve read, and I was initially unsure if her writing style would resonate with me. However, this was a great introduction to the series, and I cannot wait for the next installment.

Now’s your chance to get in on the ground floor of what appears to be a charming new series. 

Thanks to #NetGalley and @KensingtonBooks for the DRC.

*****

Something to Look Forward To - Fannie Flagg

Something to Look Forward to - Fannie Flagg

Pub. Date: Aug. 19, 2025

she read

These thirty short stories, almost vignettes, offer insightful observations of American life as it unfolds. Many of the stories are interconnected, and all are written with Fannie Flagg’s signature blend of insight, pathos, and humor. I particularly enjoyed the clever twists in many of the stories and the colorful and endearing characters.

This book is a delightful read that serves as a refreshing palate cleanser. It evokes a sense of humanity that I believe we all desperately need right now. While it’s possible that you won’t love every story, I highly recommend this fast-paced read.

Thanks to #NetGalley and @RandomHouse for the DRC.

*****

 

Dark in Death - J.D. Robb

 Dark in Death - J.D. Robb

She read

This is #46 of 70+ in the Lieutenant Eve Dallas (AKA In Death) series. A woman is stabbed with an ice pick while watching Psycho in a theater. As Eve begins her investigation, a mystery writer comes forward and says the murder appears to be a recreation of one she wrote in one of her books. Eve delves into the mystery series and discovers an earlier homicide also seems to have been influenced by this author’s writing. Eve, her wealthy husband, and her colleagues race against time to decipher the clues and save the next victim based on the books. 

 I have wanted to try a book by prolific writer J.D. Robb (Nora Roberts) for a while. My bad is that I didn’t realize this is set in the future in the 21st century. Despite not being a fan of futuristic themes, I enjoyed this book and coming to it in the middle of the series was not a problem. The clever plot held my attention and I liked the bits of humor throughout. While I could have done without the romantic scenes between Eve and her husband, overall this was an entertaining, suspenseful read. 

Thanks to #NetGalley and @StMartinsPress for a reader’s copy.

****

The Story That Wouldn't Die - Christina Estes

 The Story That Wouldn't Die - Christina Estes

Pub. Date: Aug. 19, 2025

She Read

Jolene Garcia, a TV reporter determined to make a name for herself in the Phoenix market, often finds herself one step behind JJ, the golden reporter from a rival station.  When a local business owner dies in an accident, she is convinced this was no accident. After all, he was contesting the legitimacy of the bid process used by the city. Even though her boss and the local police tell her to drop it, she doggedly pursues her intuition, hoping to expose corruption at City Hall and maybe even win a second Emmy along the way.

This is the second in a series, but it does work as a standalone. In this story, Jolene’s chaos and blind determination despite the possible consequences grated on me a bit. But she is kind-hearted, and I give her credit for having made something of herself despite her horrendous early history. 

There are colorful characters here, and the mystery will keep readers guessing. Author Estes is an award-winning reporter and demonstrates that she knows her way around this sometimes toxic field. It is interesting to learn the pressure that TV and other journalists are under in this social media-crazy world.

Those who enjoy a lighter mystery written with pathos and humor will enjoy this read. 

Thanks to #NetGalley and @StMartinsPress @minotaur_Books for the DRC.

****