Spasm - Robin Cook

 Spasm - Robin Cook

Pub. Date: Dec. 9, 2025

She read

Laurie Montgomery and Jack Stapleton are forensic pathologists in New York City. They are invited by a medical school friend of Jacks to the town of Essex Falls in upstate New York to assist in an autopsy on an unusual case. This natural paradise in the Adirondacks has been blighted by the demise of a major shoe factory that was once the main employer and benefactor of the town. With little work available, the population is depressed, and there is a right-wing militia that has formed. 

The local militia has invited four members of a European militia to come and train them. There is something suspect about this group, including their place of origin, their commitment to the task, and the amount of time they are spending purportedly building and maintaining a home brewery. The questionable death of a member of the Essex Falls militia and mysterious cases of early-onset Alzheimer’s-like dementia among the residents pose dangerous quandaries for Jack.

This is the 15th installment in this series. I have read only one other.  Spasm would work as a stand-alone.  It is another fast-paced, engrossing medical mystery by best-selling author Robin Cook, who has been writing such tales since 1977. This story is particularly relevant for our economic, social, and political times and is very scary.  The protagonists are likable and well-developed characters, and the theme alarmingly prescient. 

Thanks to #NetGalley and @PutnamBooks for the DRC.

****

Watch Us Fall - Christina Kovac

 Watch Us Fall - Christina Kovac

Pub. Date: Dec. 2, 2025

She read

Four friends from college who refer to themselves as “The Sweeties” share a beloved, somewhat decrepit house in Georgetown. Three of them are from wealthy families, but Lucy is not and, unbeknownst to the others, created a fictional background for herself. She is closest to Addie, who has just broken up with Josh, a rising star in the world of media and son of a former candidate for President. When Josh goes missing, the girls band together to try to discover what happened to him. The question is, can they trust each other? 

This psychological thriller is a study in grief, obsession, and self-delusion. There are twists, turns, and red herrings in the narrative. Atmospheric, the description of the snowstorm had me reaching for a warm blanket! The fast-paced writing is totally engrossing.  I didn’t want to put the book down, reading late into the night to finish it.

Thanks to @NetGalley and @SimonBooks for the DRC.  

****

Silent Bones - Val McDermid

 Silent Bones - Val McDermid

Pub. Date: Dec. 2, 2025

DCI Karen Pirie, Chief of Police Scotland’s Historic Cases Unit, and her team are confronted with two chilling cold cases. A mudslide triggered by torrential rains uncovers the skeletal remains of an investigative journalist, long presumed to have murdered his fiancée and vanished. It transpires that he was murdered shortly after his fiancée, and the search intensifies to uncover the motive behind their deaths, which may have been related to one of his ongoing investigations.

When the brother of a man who supposedly died in an accidental fall turns up with evidence that it might not have been an accident after all, the team has its second case to investigate. 

Val McDermid is one of my go-to authors. This is the eighth in her Karen Pirie series; it is the fifth that I have read. It would work as a stand-alone.

McDermid’s signature style is evident in this cleverly plotted, engrossing, and fast-paced read, filled with secrets, twists, and turns. I enjoyed learning a bit about Scottish politics and some of the procedures that are unique to their justice system. 

I enjoy the main character, Pirie. She is portrayed as strong, intelligent, empathetic, and vulnerable. In her quest for truth and justice for victims’ families, she often makes no friends. DS Jason Murray, affectionately known as “The Mint”, is endearing.  DS Daisy can be both earnest and flippant. 

These complex cases lead to a thought-provoking ending that raises questions about the reality of seeking justice in the world of cold cases. 

Thanks to @NetGalley and @GroveAtlantic @AtlanticCrime for the DRC.

*****

Gull and Bones - Sally Goldenbaum

 Gull and Bones - Sally Goldenbaum

Pub. Date: Nov. 25, 2025

She read

In the charming town of Sea Harbor, the popular resident Angus McPherron is about to turn 100, and the Seaside Knitters are planning a grand celebration. When Angus is discovered dead before the big day, the town is in mourning. The situation takes a darker turn when his close friend, Father Northcutt, is found bludgeoned unconscious in Angus’ cottage. Further investigation reveals that Angus had been poisoned, leaving the town in shock and disbelief.

Who would have done that to Angus? Could it be the enigmatic Annie who suddenly appeared in town, took a liking to Angus, and enjoyed brewing him special tea?  Or is there another culprit lurking in the shadows?

This is the eighth in the Seaside Knitters series. It is the first I have read. Although it did work as a standalone, I think it would have helped to have read some prior installments to provide more familiarity with the characters.

There are a lot of characters to keep track of in this book. There is also a lot of chitchat among them that seems to go on and on, and I think sometimes my eyes glazed over reading it. The emphasis in the book is more on the interaction among the townspeople than the actual mystery. 

Readers who like cozy small-town tales will enjoy this. For others, it may not be quite your cup of tea, which, yes, is a reference to the story!!!!!

There is a knitting pattern and a recipe included at the end of the book for readers’ further entertainment and perhaps inspiration.

Thanks to @Netgalley and @kensingtonBooks and #KensingtonCozies for the DRC.

***

Her Buried Past - Carolyn Arnold

 Her Buried Past - Carolyn Arnold

Her Buried Past - Carolyn Arnold

Pub. Date: Oct. 16, 2025

Detective Madison Knight has returned from her honeymoon to a new boss and a chilling case. Sidney Callahan, a past life therapist, has been brutally murdered in her remote home. Sidney was not just a therapist; she also ran retreats and was about to release a book featuring some of her historic cases. Could the murderer be someone close to Sidney, a disgruntled client, or someone unwilling to have their past life exposed?  Madison and her partner, Terry, find themselves in danger as they investigate the case.

This is the fourteenth installment in the Madison Knight series; it can be read as a standalone. I love Carolyn Arnold’s police procedurals and although Madison is not the most likable character, I understand her. She  sometimes comes off as curt and abrasive because she is so focused. She can be impetuous and tenacious.  Despite those flaws,  she is good at her job and has a strong sense of responsibility and justice. Fortunately,  Terry tempers that impetuousness when necessary.

Cleverly plotted, this is another addictive read by Arnold. She always pulls in her readers’ attention and doesn’t let go. There are twists, turns, and revelations in this suspenseful story. Flashbacks move the plot along, while smooth writing keep the pace flowing. 

If unfamiliar with Arnold’s writing, fans of police procedurals, crime novels, mysteries should check out this series as well as some of her others. 

Thanks to #NetGalley and #HibbertandStiles for the DRC.

****

At Midnight Comes the Cry - Julia Spencer-Fleming

 At Midnight Comes the Cry - Julia Spencer-Fleming

Pub. Date: Nov. 18, 2025

She read

Millers Kill Reverend Clare Ferguson and husband Russ Van Alstyne, recently retired as police chief,  and both military veterans, attend a Christmas parade when a white supremacist participant and others’ response to him escalates into a fight that Russ breaks up. Clare reaches out to the man’s wife, and the couple soon find themselves in danger as they investigate a local militia. 

This is the tenth in a series;  I have read only one prior installment. This would work as a stand alone. 

The writing is well-crafted, and the story engaging. Spencer-Fleming effectively captures the essence of small-town upstate New York. In referring to the supporting characters, the author frequently alternates between using their first and last names; initially, I had to pay close attention to distinguish who was who. When the manhunt moves outdoors and the militia is being tracked, there is a lot of run on detail and I found myself skimming a bit. 

Despite these minor issues, the topic of the story is important and timely. It’s also a bit frightening because it reflects reality.

Thanks to @NetGalley and  @StMartinsPress @Minotaur_Books for the DRC.

****

Evil Bones - Kathy Reichs

 Evil Bones - Kathy Reichs

Pub. Date: Nov. 18, 2025

She read

Forensic anthropologist Temperance Brennan encounters pure evil when someone begins freakishly decorating and tacking up small dead animals in Charlotte, North Carolina. After the most recent display includes a dog, Temperance correctly anticipates that the culprit will start using human victims. Putting herself in danger, she works with detective “Skinny” Slidell to stop this horrifying criminal before there are more casualties.

This is the 24th installment in Kathy Reichs’ Temperance Brennan series.  While I’ve read most, if not all, of them, I believe this book could stand alone as Reichs does provide background information on recurring characters.

Reading another “Bones” novel is like visiting with an old friend.  A highly intelligent one who is prone to placing herself in perilous situations.

Be forewarned that there are grisly, sometimes graphically descriptive and disturbing passages in this narrative, as well as animal cruelty. 

I enjoy  Reichs’ writing. It is intelligent, and she has a knack for using words effectively. Tempe’s witty observations infuse the story with a dark sense of humor.  I always gain new insights from the “Bones” novels, whether it’s in the realm of forensic pathology or related to the plot. Reichs is a master at building suspense at the end of each chapter with tantalizing teasers that compel the reader to eagerly turn the page.

This is a fast-paced, engrossing read. While it does conclude abruptly, all the necessary explanations are provided in the final chapter. 

Thanks to #NetGalley and @ScribnerBooks for the DRC.

****