Brimstone Hollow - Archer Sullivan

 Brimstone Hollow - Archer Sullivan

Pub. Date: Aug. 11, 2026

He and She read

Air Force veteran turned private investigator Annie Gore is approached by a young woman seeking her help in investigating the death of her estranged father, a snake-handling minister in Appalachia. The woman is suspicious because after he was bitten by one of his snakes, he was buried within 24 hours without an autopsy or embalming. As she delves deeper into the investigation, Annie uncovers a web of shady characters, secrets, drug dealing, and murder.

Following Archer Sullivan’s powerful debut of PI Annie Gore in The Witch’s Orchard, I eagerly anticipated the second installment and was not disappointed. Well written, this is a captivating, atmospheric novel.

I can still smell the obnoxious sulphuric fumes from the “Hell hole”. Archer Sullivan captures well the fears, beliefs, and lives of small-town Appalachia, leaving the reader with a vivid sense of the region. The narrative is filled with questions, twists, and turns, and I couldn’t help but be drawn into Annie’s quest for the truth. I also thoroughly enjoyed the portrayal of southern fried food.

Annie is a great character, with her mountain and military background. She makes up for her short stature with her relentless pursuit of the truth. Unsettling dreams haunt her. I can’t wait to read the next in this series to learn more of Annie’s life and the secrets that lie beneath the surface of the mountains.

Thanks to @NetGalley and @StMartinsPress for the DRC.

****

Under the Falls - Richard Russo

 Under the Falls - Richard Russo

Pub. Date: Aug. 11,  2026

She read

Tyler left Stone Mountain eighteen years ago without saying goodbye to family or friends. Now a successful rock musician, he reluctantly returns home for a benefit concert for his childhood friend “Doc”, who was left paralyzed after a reckless diving accident. Doc warns Tyler that not everyone will welcome him back as they resent his success and his apparent forgetting of his roots. As memories flood back and old friends reconnect, lives are forever changed.

I looked forward to a new book from Richard Russo, but was sadly disappointed. The beginning drew me in, but as the narrative proceeded, it grew tedious and I just wanted it to end.

The writing IS wonderful, with vivid descriptions and poignant observations and Russo once again paints a memorable picture of forgotten rust belt towns.  However, the characters and the trajectory of the story failed to resonate with me, and I lost patience with it.

It’s worth noting that this book started as a plot for a TV series, and I can certainly see it being adapted into a show based on the current state of television. However, as a standalone novel, it left me wanting. Perhaps my expectations were simply too high.

Thanks to @NetGalley and @aaknopf for the DRC.

***

The Castle in the Glen - Rhys Bowen

 The Castle in the Glen - Rhys Bowen

Pub. Date: Aug. 4, 2026

She read

In 19964, Emma Callander, the author of one marginally successful book,  has emigrated from Australia to London but is contemplating returning home. That plan is disrupted when a best selling author, Iris Blackburn (think Agatha Christie), reaches out to her to help compete her latest and final book which Iris is unable to do due to the beginnings of dementia. Emma is dispatched to the Isle of Skye to conduct research for the book. There, she uncovers a decades-old, true story that forms the basis of the book. This discovery puts her life in danger.

This is a twisty, suspenseful story with a bit of romance as well. An intriguing and clever plot, skilled writing, vividly descriptive scenery and engaging characters make this a compelling read. Bowen employs a technique of a book within a book to move this fast paced narrative along. I enjoyed learning a bit about the Isle of Skye as well as the rich Scottish culture.  

Thanks to @NetGalley and @AmazonPublishing #LakeUnionPublishing for the DRC.  

****

The Amateur - Chris Bohjalian

 The Amateur - Chris Bohjalian

Pub. Date: Aug. 4, 2026

She read

This is a fictional memoir written by a now successful author, Mira,  who was once an up and coming golfer. At the age of 18, in 1978, she hit a practice ball that went through the safety net and killed a caddy. Her life was already in turmoil as she had been the lover of a married man more than twice her age since she was 15. Initially the death is pegged as an accident but then information services that suggests someone may be culpable. Both events haunt and influence Mira through her lifetime.

I found the story disturbing, but  couldn’t put it down. This fast-paced narrative delves into the culture of the 1970s, exploring the lifestyle of the wealthy versus the poor, and the predatory behavior of older men who prey on young girls. This multilayered narrative is a mystery, a legal thriller, a historical perspective, a psychological and sociological study that is intriguing and thought provoking.

There are trigger warnings here including drugs, alcohol, suicide, infidelity, predatory behavior.  After all, it was the 1970s!

Thanks to @NetGalley and @DoubleDayBooks for the DRC.

****

****

The Women in White - Sarah Pekkanen

 The Women in White  - Sarah Pekkanen

Pub. Date: Aug. 4, 2026

She read

Riley Bell, seeking to reinvent herself after her divorce due to her husband’s gambling debts, takes a job as a caregiver for an octogenarian named Betty. Upon arriving at Betty’s home, Riley is surprised to find that the house is stuck in the 1960s, with outdated décor and no modern amenities. Through a dual timeline, the reader learns that Betty was one of four young women in 1964 subjected to questionable research practices by a professor investigating paranormal phenomena. As Betty reaches out from her insulating time bubble home to try to find her former friends, both she and Riley uncover an unspeakable secret that puts their lives in danger. 

I recall learning about the parapsychology experiments at Duke University during my Psych 101 course. While these date back to the 1930s, this story reflects a twisted, unethical continuation of that inquiry. It is an unsettling and compelling tale. Well written, I did find some of the plot to be a bit unbelievable. While I am not sure I liked the turn the book took toward the end, Pekannen’s strong writing style prevented it from overshadowing the overall narrative.

At the beginning of each chapter, Pekannen cited phenomena that really did take place in history.  This technique helped give an authentic flavor to the narrative.

Thanks to @NetGalley and @StMartinsPress for the DRC.

****

The Subtle Pleasures of Indiscretion - Alexander McCall Smith

 The Subtle Pleasures of Indiscretion - Alexander McCall Smith

Isabel Dalhousie, a philosopher and editor of the journal “Review of Applied Ethics,” is a rather privileged woman. She enjoys a loving husband, two small children, and full-time help. However, like many women, she feels the pressure of being overextended with her responsibilities. Isabel is known for offering help to others which sometimes can be overwhelming.

In this installment, Isabel encounters a former high school acquaintance seeking advice about a family secret that is about to be revealed. A member of her editorial board informs her that another member cheated during college and he intends to make that transgression public. Additionally, there appears to be a woman scheming to get closer to Isabel’s husband.

This is the 16th book in the Isabel Dalhousie series. You do not need to have read the prior works to enjoy Isabel’s wisdom and kindness. Visiting with her is always a delightful and soothing experience. McCall Smith creates wonderful characters, and the story is filled with poignant observations and enjoyable humor. These novels may not be action-packed, but they offer profound wisdom from a philosophical and practical perspective.  

Thanks to @NetGalley and @aaknopf for the DRC.

*****

This Changes Everything - Lisa Scottoline

 This Changes Everything - Lisa Scottoline

Pub. Date: July 14, 2026

She Read

Julia, who has inherited a villa in Tuscany and resides there with her husband and three-year-old daughter, is on the phone with her best friend, Courtney, back in the United States. Courtney is about to enter her grandmother’s house in rural Pennsylvania when Julia has a frightening premonition and warns Courtney not to go in. She does, and is in time to see someone fleeing from the house who has just killed her grandmother. 

Julia flies to Courtney’s side to provide support and assistance. As they investigate the murder, they discover dark secrets hidden within the town. Soon Courtney is in trouble, there are more deaths, and Julia’s continued intuition puts her in danger as she uncovers a sinister plot and races against time to thwart it. 

I’ve been a fan of Lisa Scottoline’s writing for many years and have read most if not all of her books. This was not one of my favorites as I don’t usually choose books that involve the paranormal or having to suspend belief for some of the action. That said, I enjoyed the repeating characters and was especially happy  to see Bennie resurface…it’s been a long time. Well written, the plot and twists kept me engrossed, although I do admit to skimming over some of the pages. 

Thanks to @NetGalley and @GrandCentralPub for the DRC.

****