Split Second: Thirty Two Switcheroo - Janet Evanovich

 Split Second: Thirty Two Switcheroo - Janet Evanovich

Pub. Date: Nov. 10, 2026

She Read

 

As the title indicates, this is number 32 in the adventures of hapless recovery agent, Stephanie Plum of Trenton, NJ. In the last installment, she made the snap decision to get married.  Can that marriage possibly last?

Whatever you think can go wrong in Stephanie’s pursuits, does, and things you can’t even imagine go awry.  All of the familiar characters are here; Lula, Connie, hunky Ranger, Morelli, Rex the hamster and my favorite, Grandma Mazur, along with Evil Eye Grandma Bella.

As usual, Stephanie is on the trail of a few different bail jumpers, some very dangerous. Someone is also on her trail, sending her threatening messages, along with a menagerie of critters. She takes a short break from her recovery cases to help out Ranger protecting a young girl who has been threatened with kidnapping.

While the Stephanie Plum novels can be over-the-top, I genuinely enjoy them. The absurd situations and vibrant characters are all highly entertaining.  Perhaps it's the Jersey setting/jokes/lifestyle that resonate with me as I am a Jersey girl at heart.  

This series is just plain fun and provides quick and amusing reads.  I often find myself more interested in the characters than the plot. However, this particular plot involves a bit more adventure than the usual antics. Of course, cars are also destroyed…I think I lost count of how many.

Although I have read all but one of the books in the series, this can be read as a standalone. However, it would be so much more fun to go back and read some of the earlier installments to gain a deeper appreciation of these classic characters.  

Thanks to @NetGalley and @AtriaBooks for the DRC.

****

Rapid and Fatal - Patricia Cornwell

 Rapid and Fatal - Patricia Cornwell

Pub. Date: Jan. 19, 2026

She read

A billionaire couple is found dead in their home, allegedly from yellow jacket stings to which they were highly allergic. Forensic Examiner Kay Scarpetta suspects all is not what it seems and when she links their deaths to another one in her morgue, she discovers they are the victims of an international serial killer who leaves almost no trace. 

Although this is the 30th in the series featuring Dr.Kay Scarpetta and supporting characters, it would work as a standalone. It is fast paced, engrossing, and highly readable. I enjoy Scarpetta’s character, as well as the surrounding individuals in her life, except perhaps for her sister, who can be a bit overbearing. I always find the forensic information and latest technology presented in these narratives to be both interesting and well-explained.

Fans of the Scarpetta series will welcome this new addition. Others new to it are in for an intriguing story. 

Thanks to @NetGalley and @ScribnerBooks for the DRC.

****

Bad Honeymoon - Jessie Garcia

 Bad Honeymoon - Jessie Garcia

Pub. Date: Jan. 19, 2027

She read

Becca, a TV reporter in Minnesota, flies to Florida, enticed by a story that is sure to bring high ratings—a honeymoon gone wrong as recounted by the newlywed, Eve. After meeting with Eve initially, the woman ghosts Becca, and the reporter returns home disgraced. 

When a body is found on the beach Becca just visited, and all the evidence points to her, she is arrested. With her personal and professional reputation on the line and her own marriage in trouble, she and those close to her struggle to find out the truth.

While I’m not typically a fan of a wrongly accused plotline, I couldn’t resist this story after reading two other books by this author that I enjoyed. Admittedly, the story did make me cringe a bit, not due to the writing itself, but rather because of my own biases.

This is an entertaining, engrossing read. There are twists, turns, and a significant clue along the way. Told from multiple POVs, I enjoyed seeing the story unfold from the different characters’ perspectives. 

Bad Honeymoon would make a fun, easy read for vacation, a day at the beach, or just a lazy day at home.

Thanks to @NetGalley and @StMartinsPress for the DRC.

****

The Parkwood Murders - Chris Chibnall

 The Parkwood Murders - Chris Chibnall

Pub. Date: Dec. 1, 2026

She read

A dead body is found at Parkwood Holiday Village, a self-contained resort in the woods. It is up to Detective Nicola Bridge and her team to investigate. Money for resources is tight, police staffing is slim, time is a pressure as the guests want to leave, and there is no shortage of suspects. The case becomes more complicated when it is discovered that the body of a young woman disappeared from the resort five years ago. 

With an intriguing plot, this is an engrossing, fast-paced, entertaining read. A solid character-based police procedural, there are twists, turns, and red herrings.  Secrets and lies among the suspects will keep the reader guessing as to the culprit.

 I like Nicola, a capable individual dealing with personal issues while doing her best at her job. I also like Harry, her younger, less experienced partner who proves to be adept and the very quirky Mel.  

Written by the creator of Broadchurch, this is only the second in the series. It can be read as a standalone. 

Thanks to @NetGalley and @Vikingbooks for the DRC. 

****

The Inflammation Reset: The 28-Day Plan to Reduce Pain, Restore Energy, and Reverse Hidden Inflammation The Reset Series, Book 1 by Ron Yaffe

 The Inflammation Reset: The 28-Day Plan to Reduce Pain, Restore Energy, and Reverse Hidden Inflammation

The Reset Series, Book 1

by Ron Yaffe

Fatigued?  Achy? Brain fog? Weight you can’t lose? The culprit may be inflammation….inflammation that has been building up in the body for years. Inflammation caused by poor diet, stress, toxins, inadequate sleep. The author, a naturopath and functional medicine practitioner, explores the specifics that cause this inflammation and proposes a 28 day plant to reverse it. 

There are specific, realistic recommendations for reversing this trend.  I found the discussion of and plan for diet and exercise particularly instructive, as were the suggestions for specific blood tests to request from your physician.  Now, if only there were some magic to help improve poor sleep. 

Thanks to @NetGalley and @victoryeditingngc for the DRC.

*****

Buddhist Practices for Calming Anxiety and Regulating Your Nervous System - Tim Desmond

 Buddhist Practices for Calming Anxiety and Regulating Your Nervous System

 Tim Desmond

Pub. Date: Jan. 12, 2027

This is a valuable introduction to some of the fundamental principles of Buddhism, particularly their relevance to managing anxiety. The concise chapters provide insights into understanding anxiety and practical techniques for dealing with it. 

What struck me while reading this was the overlap between some of the thoughts and practices proposed and the methods employed in cognitive psychology.  I intend to reread this book multiple times to fully grasp the processes and their practical applications. 

Thanks to @Netgally and @w.w.Norton for the DRC.

****

Arendal - Karl Ove Knausgård

 Arendal - Karl Ove Knausgård

Told over a 4-day weekend, the narrative begins on a frigid night in 1976. While on the way home to his wife and two children from a business trip, Syvert’s car breaks down in Arendal. Arendal is a place where he used to summer as a child, where he still has some acquaintances, and where his mother now lives. Forced to spend the night there, his time is filled with memories, thoughts, and fleeting encounters with people known and unknown to him. Overriding all is his mourning for the love of his life from whom he walked away. Is reclaiming that love possible? 

This is the fifth installment in the Morning Star series.  Although it has been recommended to read the entire series in order, I found this standalone novel to be a satisfying read on its own.

Introspective and somewhat morose, Syvert seems to be on a downward spiral of cigarettes, alcohol, memories, and an overwhelming sense of longing and trying to find his place in the world.  His thoughts may haunt the reader for a while after the story concludes. The narrative is a bit mystical with episodes of premonitions and déjà vu. The author skillfully creates an atmospheric and evocative environment, painting a vivid picture of biting cold and relentless weather conditions. 

Thanks to @NetGalley and @PenguinPress for the DRC.

****