25 Alive

 25 Alive (Women's Murder Club) - James Patterson and Maxine Paetro

Pub. Date: April 28,  2025

She read

The Women’s Murder Club is back in action when Lindsay Boxer’s former partner, mentor and friend Warren Jacobi is murdered and she heads the investigation. Meanwhile, Yuki is in danger prosecuting a cartel family member for murder which Joe, Lindsay’s FBI husband, gets involved with.

This is the twenty fifth in this best selling mystery series. I have read most of them, although I missed the last few. It was nice being reacquainted with these characters, whom I enjoy.

Trust Patterson and this series to deliver a fast paced, suspenseful story with twists, red herrings, and colorful characters. Fans of this series will welcome this addition. Anyone new to The Women’s Murder Club will have no difficulty catching up with the characters and their professional and personal relationships. This may be my first beach read recommendation of the year!

*****

Thanks to #NetGalley and @LittleBrown for the DRC.

Nightshade - Michael Connelly

 Nightshade - Michael Connelly

Pub. Date: May 20, 2025

She read

trouble. The latest one is stubborn, hard nosed, but very capable  Detective Stilwell. While building a relationship with a local woman, he is faced with solving two crimes; the beheading of a protected buffalo and the body of a young woman found trapped under the sea. While investigating, he crosses some lines and is also forced to work with an old nemesis. 

I have enjoyed Michael Connelly’s books for more years than I care to count so am thrilled that he is introducing a new character in this, his fortieth novel. Connelly writes consistently captivating stories; this is a solid addition to his body of work.

Well plotted, with memorable characters, Nightshade is an engrossing read. I always appreciate the bits of humor Connelly injects into his books. If you are a fan of this author, you will welcome this new character and setting. If he is new to you, be sure to get in on the ground floor of this first of a series.

Thanks to #NetGalley and @LittleBrown for the DRC.

*****

The Doorman - Chris Pavone

 The Doorman - Chris Pavone

She and he read

Pub. Date: May 20, 2025

As readers can easily find an online synopsis of this book, I am not going to summarize it other than to say it is the story of a doorman at an exclusive upper Manhattan apartment building and some of its inhabitants set in the social and political sphere of contemporary times. I don’t like to compare one book to another, but, for me, it is this generation’s Bonfire of the Vanities.

Well plotted and suspenseful, Pavone’s characterizations are masterful. He captures the pulse of New York City, along with the nuances and issues reflective of our societal and political culture. Here is social class, fiscal struggling and striving, racism, prejudice, blowback from so called woke values and initiatives. There are sharp, attuned, sometimes poignant observations of life. I did not want to put this book down and flew through it. Oh, and, yes, it is also a thriller.

Thanks to #NetGalley and @fsgBooks for the DRC.

*****

Hidden Angels - Carolyn Arnold

 Hidden Angels - Carolyn Arnold

Pub. Date: Feb. 20, 2025

She read 

SO HAPPY TO BE ON THE BOOK TOUR!

When Cameron Cofell takes a local priest hostage, a stray bullet exposes human remains in the wall of a church. Cameron believes the priest is responsible for covering up the abuse he received at the hands of his now deceased parents.The human remains are those of a teenage girl who was abducted more than thirty years ago. Detective Amanda Steele and partner Trent Stenson investigate this heartbreaking case which uncovers long hidden secrets and puts another life in danger. 

This is yet another of Arnold’s fast paced, suspenseful police procedurals.She is one of my go to authors and does not disappoint. She 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 female. Yes, she has her flaws and one of them may be caring too much. 

This is the thirteenth in the Prince William County (VA) Detective Amanda Steele series. Although I have read many of them, I think this would work as a standalone. 

If you are a fan of police procedurals, and well written, flowing stories with good character development, do check out this series.  

Thanks to #NetGalley and @Bookouture for the DRC.

*****

My Friends - Fredrik Backman

My Friends - Fredrik Backman

Pub. Date: May 20, 2025

She and he read

What can I say about a Fredrik Backman novel that hasn’t already been said? I have loved every one of his that I have read. 

I am not going to attempt to give a short synopsis of this book. You can read on online blurb about it in many places.

This beautifully written book is amusing, poignant, heartbreaking, heartwarming. It is about friendship, the joy and pain of friendships and growing up, found family, the nature of art, art as salvation. Backman’s character development is at his best here. There are so many memorable observations and compelling lines….if you are an underliner, you will be kept very busy noting outstanding parts. 

Take your time reading and savoring this story and all it says about life. BTW, healso read this and said it was the best book he had ever  read. 

My DRC was provided by #NetGalley and @AtriaBooks in exchange for an honest review.

******

Class Clown - Dave Barry

 Class Clown - Dave Barry

Pub. Date: May 13, 2025

She Read

This is self proclaimed "wiseass" Dave Barry’s memoir. For those not fortunate to be familiar with some of his work, this Pulitzer Prize winner is most known for his syndicated newspaper humor columns through the years. Growing up in the 50s and 60s, he recounts memories of those times, his family, his early career, his foray into following politics as a journalist, being involved in the film industry, a member of a rock band, and other experiences. And, yes, he was voted “class clown” in high school.

Reading this, I was laughing out loud by page 2. It is entertaining, witty, intelligent, irreverent, poignant as he shares his autobiography sprinkled with snippets from his columns. Boomers will particularly enjoy his reminiscences through the years and his take on the aging process. 

 In these dark days, we all need something light and humorous to raise our spirits. I particularly liked his reassuring message to readers at the end of the book. It is worth reading for that alone….

*****

Thanks to #NetGalley and @SimonBooks for the DRC

Husband Missing - Lisa Regan

 Husband Missing - Lisa Regan

Pub. Date: March 19, 2025

She read

Josie Quinn has a significant early history which, in this case, comes back to haunt her as her beloved husband, Noah has been abducted.Josie returns home from the scene of a murder to find her house in disarray, blood splatter, and Noah missing. All hands are on deck as the frantic search for him is underway. 

This is another page turner from Lisa Regan.Well written, there is suspense, twists, horror, poignancy. There are some brutal truths here about abuse and its generational effects. In this book, readers learn more details about Josie’s background and it delves a bit more into her psyche as she tries to cope with the devastation of Noah’s disappearance, what may become of him, and the fact that she is not supposed to be involved in investigating this case. 

I enjoyed seeing the bond grow closer between Josie and her birth family as their protective instincts are displayed.I do like how throughout the series, Regan’s characters show growth and change with time and experience. I like Josie; she is a strong, capable, intelligent, though vulnerable young woman. A new character, Turner, was introduced a few books back who has been aptly nicknamed Douchebag by her. I was glad to see that he is finally starting to show some sparks of humanity!

Counting the hours since Noah’s abduction is a good technique that added to the suspense of the story. I also picked up on the hint Regan dropped that foreshadowed the cliff hanger ending….see if you do too. I do hope we find out soon the connection between Turner and Trinity, Josie’s sister, as she certainly seems to be a “Turner Whisperer.

This is the twenty second in the series.  Although I think I have read all of them, this would work as a standalone as the author does an excellent job of filling in Josie’s background.However, I think it might be helpful to have some familiarity with the characters by having read some of the previous installments.

If you like well written police procedurals/thrillers, and are not familiar with this series, I highly recommend it. I can’t wait for #23.

Thanks to #NetGalley and @Bookouture for the DRC.

*****