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Spotlight Review: HER ONE REGRET by Donna Freitas

November 4, 2025

From the publisher:

From the author of the book club favorite The Nine Lives of Rose Napolitano comes a riveting feminist thriller that tackles an unspeakable taboo: regretting motherhood.

When successful Rhode Island real estate agent Lucy Mendoza vanishes, leaving her baby behind in a grocery store parking lot, the news quickly makes national headlines. Lucy’s best friend, Michelle, is devastated, and terrified that Lucy’s life is at stake. But she knows something that could complicate the police investigation. Lucy had confessed something unspeakable: She regretted becoming a mother so much that she’d fantasized about faking her own kidnapping. If the police and media were to find out, Lucy would become a monster in public opinion. Michelle is sure Lucy would never abandon her daughter. But could she be wrong? Could Lucy have been so desperate she chose to escape her life?

Bestselling author Donna Freitas has drawn from ground-breaking research to bring readers this unforgettable novel. Her One Regret is at once a pulse-pounding feminist thriller, a moving depiction of the realities of motherhood, and a rich exploration of a subject our culture and society have rendered nearly verboten—the possibility that for some women, motherhood is an unfixable mistake.
https://amzn.to/3YbzdVn

Freitas (The Nine Lives of Rose Napolitano) pens both a gripping mystery and a provocative social commentary that is an emotional rollercoaster of a read. When Lucy Mendoza vanishes from a supermarket parking lot, leaving her infant daughter behind, her husband becomes the prime suspect. Despite Lucy’s hints about escape, her best friend Michelle knows something darker is at play. As the investigation unfolds, secrets surface and public opinion turns vicious, casting Lucy as a mother who abandoned her child. Lucy becomes a monster in the media—a woman who dared to regret motherhood. What begins as a missing person case becomes a searing examination of maternal ambivalence, female friendship, and society’s ruthless judgment of women who don’t conform to the motherhood myth that all women long to be mothers. The story exposes the impossible standards placed on mothers and the taboo reality that some women struggle with maternal feelings they are not supposed to have. The book’s most poignant moment may be Freitas’s final note, where she explains her personal struggle with this issue and how she was too afraid to tell this story – until now.

VERDICT Sure to appeal to book groups, this emotionally charged feminist thriller holds up a mirror reflecting the impossible expectations placed on women, inspiring a necessary conversation about choice and regret.

©Library Journal, 2025

11/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

HER ONE REGRET by Donna Freitas. Soho Crime (November 4, 2025). ISBN: 978-1641296380. 384p.

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Spotlight Review: THE BLONDE WHO CAME IN FROM THE COLD by Ally Carter

September 16, 2025

The Blonde Identity Series, Book 2

From the publisher:

A Second-Chance Adventure Rom-Com about Rival Spies, Thrilling Secrets, and a Mission of Survival

An action-packed, second-chance rom-com about two rival spies who must join forces in order to stay alive, from New York Times bestselling author Ally Carter.

Ten years ago, they joined the CIA.

Six years ago, he left the game.

Five years ago, they fell in love.

One year ago, she ran out into the cold with absolutely no intention of ever coming back.

And two minutes ago, they woke up, bloody and bruised and handcuffed together in the dark.

They don’t know where they are. They don’t know how they got there. And they have absolutely no idea who is after them or what this nameless, faceless villain wants.

The only thing that’s clear is that, after ten years of covers and chemistry, secrets and lies, these two rival spies have been sucked into their greatest mission yet, and now they’re going to have to team up to stay alive. (If they don’t kill each other first.)

“Carter’s follow-up to The Blonde Identity is a thrilling and amusing romance featuring finely drawn characters and a twisty, page-turning story. Readers will be on the edge of their seats, unable to put this book down until they discover what happens to Alex and Michael, in spydom and in love.” — Library Journal

“Bestseller Carter combines suspense, sizzle, and snark in this delightful standalone sequel to The Blonde Identity. . . With snappy dialogue, slow-burning romantic tension, and some exciting twists, this makes for an entertaining diversion.” — Publishers Weekly

https://amzn.to/4m2f90Q

I loved The Blonde Identity, so I was eager for the sequel—but unfortunately, it just didn’t recapture the magic. The biggest issue was the fragmented storytelling: short chapters of 3–5 pages that constantly jump between the present day and events from one to ten years previously. The frequent shifts in time and location made the plot hard to follow, and with so much of the book focused on backstory, the tension and stakes didn’t kick in until the final pages.

That said, the premise is instantly gripping: two rival spies—Alex Sterling and Michael “King” Kingsley III—wake up bloodied, bruised, and handcuffed together in the dark, with no memory of how they got there. Unlike the first book’s memory-loss device, this setup forces a long-overdue confrontation between characters who’ve been avoiding each other for a year, creating fresh emotional stakes.

Alex Sterling is a standout lead, written with depth and vulnerability beneath her sharp exterior. Her relationship with her sister Zoe and her guilt over past choices add emotional weight, making her journey from guarded to open-hearted feel earned. King, too, is more than a brooding archetype. His photographic memory is both a gift and a burden, and Carter thoughtfully explores how someone who remembers everything grapples with forgiveness. His purchase of a Scottish castle—and the reasons behind it—adds surprising emotional nuance.

The supporting cast, especially Zoe and the enigmatic Merritt, enriches the world without distracting from the central romance. Each character feels purposeful and real. The banter between Alex and King is sharp but never forced, advancing both plot and emotional tension. A late twist involving a double agent delivers genuine shock, with clues cleverly planted throughout. The reveal feels earned and consistent with the characters’ motivations.

Still, some plot elements stretch believability—especially the handcuff scenario, which requires a generous suspension of disbelief. Fortunately, the romantic arc holds up thanks to the characters’ well-established history. Their five-year separation introduces real obstacles that can’t be resolved with a simple heart-to-heart. Both have evolved, making their reunion feel like a new relationship built on old foundations.

The physical chemistry is palpable but never overshadows emotional growth. Intimate scenes serve the story, revealing new layers to their dynamic. While the book struggles with pacing and underdeveloped villains, it ultimately delivers smart, funny romantic suspense with characters worth investing in. Carter has built a series with real potential, and this installment—despite its flaws—feels complete and satisfying.

9/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

THE BLONDE WHO CAME IN FROM THE COLD by Ally Carter. Avon. (August 5, 2025). ISBN: 978-0063386976. 336p.

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Spotlight Review: MURDER TAKES A VACATION by Laura Lippman

June 17, 2025

From the publisher:

A Riveting Mystery of Deception, Art Theft, and Unexpected Romance on a Parisian Cruise―Perfect for Summer Reading

Highly acclaimed New York Times bestselling author Laura Lippman returns with an irresistible mystery featuring Muriel Blossom, a former private investigator and middle-aged widow whose vacation on a Parisian river cruise turns into a deadly international mystery…that only she can solve.

Mrs. Blossom has a knack for blending into the background, which was an asset during her days assisting private investigator Tess Monaghan. But when she finds a winning lottery ticket in a parking lot, everything changes. She is determined to see the world that she sometimes feels is passing her by.

When Mrs. Blossom booked her cruise through France on the MS Solitaire, she did not expect to meet Allan on her transatlantic flight. He is the first man who’s sparked something inside her since her beloved husband passed.

She also didn’t expect Allan to be found, dead, twenty-four hours later in Paris, a city he wasn’t supposed to be in.

Now Mrs. Blossom doesn’t know who to trust on board the ship, especially when a mystifying man, Danny, keeps popping up around every corner, always present when things go awry. He is convinced that Allan was transporting a stolen piece of art, and Mrs. Blossom knows more than she lets on, regarding both the artifact and Allan’s death.

Mrs. Blossom’s questions only increase as the cruise sails down the Seine. Why does it feel like she is being followed? Who was Allan, and why was he killed? Most alarmingly, why do these mysterious men keep flirting with her?

A New York Times “Best Beach Reads of Summer”

One of Washington Post’s “Best Mysteries to Read This Summer”

One of Boston Globe‘s “Books to Add to Your Summer Reading List”

“Witty and propulsive. Lippman’s fans will feel like they hit the jackpot with this warm and cozy romp.” — Library Journal (starred review)

“Lippman triumphs with this charming mystery…. By the time the clever conclusion rolls around, readers will be sad to see this trip come to an end.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“A rollicking adventure of the highest order.” — New York Times

“Energetically entertaining…. Lippman manages to combine a light amateur sleuth story with a harder-edged thriller, combining both types of mysteries, which seldom intersect, into a cohesive, solid plot.” — South Florida Sun Sentinel
https://amzn.to/3SH5DnA

Mrs. Blossom, a widow in her sixties, relocates to Phoenix to help care for her grandchildren. But her plans are upended when her son-in-law announces that the family is moving to Japan—and there won’t be room for her. With no reason to stay, she returns to her hometown of Baltimore. A former private investigator who conducted surveillance work for renowned detective Tess Monaghan—star of Lippman’s popular mystery series, who makes a few cameos here—Mrs. Blossom’s unassuming appearance as an overweight woman in her sixties made her practically invisible during investigations.

Her life takes an unexpected turn when she discovers a winning lottery ticket in a parking lot. After being told there’s no process for returning found tickets, she suddenly finds herself with more money than she’ll ever need and no family obligations. She decides to fulfill a lifelong dream: her first trip to Europe, booking a week in Paris followed by a river cruise with her oldest friend.

Mrs. Blossom is surprised when her economy seat gets upgraded to business class. Allan, a fellow passenger who overhears her confusion about the upgrade, takes her under his wing. He arranges for them to sit together and offers her a sleep aid for the overseas flight. When she awakens, she’s missed her connecting flight from London to Paris.

Allan convinces her to take the train instead, and they spend a delightful day exploring London together. Once in Paris, she meets Danny, a charming young man who claims to be a stylist and persuades her to go shopping. Their day together is pleasant enough, but things take a dark turn when Allan turns up dead—not in London where he claimed to have business meetings, but in Paris. The French police question Mrs. Blossom, and she discovers that Danny isn’t the stylist he pretended to be.

Her hotel room is thoroughly ransacked with no attempt at concealment, leaving Mrs. Blossom bewildered about what’s happening and why she’s involved. Danny continues appearing wherever she goes, even showing up on her river cruise. While he seems helpful, his constant presence raises questions about his trustworthiness. When her cabin is searched, the pieces begin falling into place as Allan’s death becomes entangled with insurance fraud and a missing bird statue, with a clever nod to The Maltese Falcon.

Through determination and her rusty detective skills, Mrs. Blossom ultimately unravels the mystery. This fast-paced story delivers an entertaining adventure with Mrs. Blossom as a thoroughly likable protagonist, plenty of plot twists, and a satisfying conclusion.

6/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

MURDER TAKES A VACATION by Laura Lippman. William Morrow (June 17, 2025). ISBN: 978-0062998101. 272p.

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Spotlight Review: NIGHTSHADE by Michael Connelly

May 20, 2025

From the publisher:

Introducing Detective Stilwell: a cop relentlessly following his mission in the seemingly idyllic setting of Catalina Island.

Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Detective Stilwell has been “exiled” to a low-key post policing rustic Catalina Island, after department politics drove him off a homicide desk on the mainland. But while following up the usual drunk-and-disorderlies and petty thefts that come with his new territory, Detective Stilwell gets a report of a body found weighed down at the bottom of the harbor—a Jane Doe identifiable at first only by a streak of purple dye in her hair. At the same time, a report of poaching on a protected reserve turns into a case fraught with violence and danger as Stilwell digs into the shady past of an island bigwig.

Crossing all lines of protocol and jurisdiction, Stilwell doggedly works both cases. Though hampered by an old beef with an ex-colleague determined to thwart him at every turn, he is convinced he is the only one who can bring justice to the woman known as “Nightshade.” Soon, his investigation uncovers closely guarded secrets and a dark heart to the serene island that was meant to be his escape from the evils of the big city.

Propulsive and atmospheric, Nightshade launches a brand new character into the Connelly universe, and proves without question that Michael Connelly is “the undisputed master of the modern crime novel” (Real Book Spy).

“Connelly’s compulsively readable, best-selling crime fiction is propelled by justice-seekers committed to their calling, no matter the risks…With an intriguingly low-key but skilled and principled hero, his significant other, a pesky if useful reporter, a conniving mayor, and a crime boss known as Baby Head, Nightshade is a gripping and promising start to crime virtuoso Connelly’s new series.”―Booklist (starred review)

“In this winning series launch, L.A. noir maestro Connelly proves small-town policing can be just as high stakes as crime solving in the big city . . . The claustrophobic setting and layered plotting evoke the crime novels of John D. MacDonald, and Stilwell makes for an intriguing hero, with enough biographical gaps for Connelly to sketch him in further in subsequent installments. The author’s fans will be thrilled to find him working in a new register.” ―Publishers Weekly

“Idyllic Catalina Island turns out to be just as crime infested as the rest of Los Angeles County in the latest series launch by the creator of Harry Bosch, Renée Ballard, and the Lincoln Lawyer . . . Connelly handles his hero’s obligatory romance with assistant harbormaster Tash Dano and his increasingly wary alliance with assistant D.A. Monika Juarez with equal professionalism, and if the wrap-up leaves some loose ends dangling, well, that’s what franchises are for.”―Kirkus Reviews
https://amzn.to/3F8rjpo

This is Michael Connelly’s first new series since introducing Renée Ballard, but at least in this debut installment, there’s no crossover with Mickey Haller, Harry Bosch, or Ballard herself. So, if you haven’t read those series yet (and seriously, why not?), you can jump in here with a clean slate. That said, the story is set on Catalina Island, just off Los Angeles, and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s department does play a role—so who knows where Connelly might take things next? Either way, this is a gripping, compulsively readable book and a stellar launch to what promises to be a terrific series.

Our protagonist, Detective Sergeant Stilwell, commands the local police substation on Catalina, a refuge for misfit officers who’ve been banished from the mainland after various career mishaps. Stilwell himself landed there after a homicide investigation went sideways—partly due to fellow detective Ahearn, who cut corners rather than doing the work. While Ahearn got a slap on the wrist, Stilwell got exiled. But as it turns out, the island suits him just fine.

Stilwell is also navigating a new relationship with Tasha, the island’s harbormaster. His deputies are mostly inept, providing rare moments of lightness in an otherwise tense environment. The story opens with a bizarre crime: one of the island’s protected animals, a buffalo, has been decapitated. But what seems like an odd local incident soon snowballs into something much more serious.

There’s also a high-stakes theft at the exclusive Black Marlin Yacht Club, whose membership is limited to 100 original families and their heirs—openings occur only when a member dies without descendants. The club makes rare honorary exceptions for the judge who visits the island weekly and the mayor. When the club’s manager reports that the priceless black jade marlin statue, a fixture in the lobby for over a century, has vanished, Stilwell learns that the front entrance—where the statue sat—is rarely used. Members typically dock their yachts and enter from the water side. With no security system or cameras inside the club, Stilwell must rely on footage from the harbormaster’s cameras that point to the dock.

But the stakes escalate dramatically when a body in a bag is discovered submerged beneath a boat, tied to an anchor. LAPD Homicide steps in, and Stilwell is initially content to hand over the case—until he learns that Ahearn, his nemesis, is leading the investigation. Ordered to cooperate, Stilwell and Ahearn are forced into an uneasy alliance. Distrust simmers between them, and when Ahearn once again takes the path of least resistance, jumping to an easy conclusion without doing the legwork, Stilwell defies orders, digging deeper on his own. Eventually, he manages to convince his superiors that the case is far more complex than it seems.

Connelly layers the story with enough red herrings and misdirection to keep you hooked from start to finish. I found the new characters engaging, and I’m excited to see how they develop as the series continues. As far as I’m concerned, Connelly remains the king of crime fiction, the unparalleled master of the police procedural, and the virtuoso of Los Angeles noir. Don’t miss it.

5/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

NIGHTSHADE by Michael Connelly. Little, Brown and Company (May 20, 2025). ISBN: 978-1250329813. 352p.

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PARENTS WEEKEND by Alex Finlay

May 9, 2025

From the publisher:

From the bestselling author of If Something Happens to Me, comes one of the year’s most anticipated thrillers.

In the glow of their children’s exciting first year of college at a small private school in Northern California, five families gather over dinner and cocktails for the opening festivities of Parents Weekend. As the parents stay out way past their bedtimes, their kids―five residents of Campisi Hall―never show up to dinner.

At first, everyone thinks they’re just being college students, irresponsibly forgetting about the gathering or skipping out to go to a party. But as the hours tick by and another night falls with not so much as a text from the students, panic ensues. Soon the campus police call in reinforcements. Search parties are formed. Reporters swarm the small enclave. Rumors swirl and questions arise.

Libby, Blane, Mark, Felix, and Stella―The Five, as the podcasters, bloggers, and TikTok sleuths soon call them―come from very different families. What drew them out on that fateful night? Could it be the sins of their mothers and fathers come to cause them peril―or a threat to the friend group from within?

Told from each family’s point of view―and marking the return of FBI Special Agent Sarah Keller from Every Last Fear and The Night Shift―Parents Weekend explores the weight of expectation, family dysfunction, and those exhilarating first days in the dorms when friends become family.

“From one of the genre’s best . . . Finlay has a gift for intertwining many storylines and characters in a cohesive, compelling way. The tropes used here don’t feel stale, and plenty of surprises and red herrings will keep readers interested. Fans won’t want to miss Finlay’s latest.”―Booklist

“Finlay writes . . . with red herrings galore, and he caps the proceedings with a particularly shocking conclusion.”―Publishers Weekly

A Barnes & Noble’s “Most Anticipated Mysteries & Thrillers”
A LibraryReads Hall of Fame Selection for May 2025 ― Best Books Voted by Librarians
A Goodreads’ Readers’ “Most Popular Books Published in May 2025”

https://amzn.to/3RQiYtl

The title is what drew my attention here, but it’s the story that kept it. One of the worst weekends of my life was a parents’ weekend at college, for very different reasons than those in this story. Plus, I work at a small, private university and experience parents’ weekend every year from the staff side of things. Thankfully, nothing like this ever happened where I work!

The student body here is a mixture, like most campuses, of the haves and have-nots. One of the parents is a highly placed federal government employee who has Secret Service protection, while at the other end of the spectrum is the college president’s admin, whose son attends on a full scholarship. Another set of parents are staying at a five-star resort some distance from the school as they are too snobby to stay at the local hotel, so it’s a real mix. Most of the students live in the dorms, but one student lives in a fraternity house. These parents are thrust together because their kids are in the same capstone program at school.

The first nightmare is that a student goes missing a few days before the weekend, and is found accidentally drowned in a cave off the shore. That is horrible enough, but when the parents all meet up for the first night dinner, none of their kids show up. The parents spend some time getting to know one another and musing about their missing kids, chalking it up to kids being kids, and figure they probably went to a party instead of the parental dinner. But when no one can get hold of their kids, no texts, no phone calls, nothing, they start to worry a bit. By the next day, there’s still no word and no sign of them anywhere, and panic starts to set in.

FBI Agent Sarah Keller (Every Last Fear and The Night Shift) has asked for a hardship transfer as her father-in-law isn’t doing well and needs help. Her husband, a stay-at-home dad, and their kids have moved in with him, and her first assignment is at the university. Being new to the area, she doesn’t know anyone, even in her new department, but she is happy to work with the head of security at the university. He is professional and seems to have a real handle on things, as he was a former law enforcement officer. The story moves quickly, and I liked that we get different points of view. The local police are also involved, and as the days go by, the tension really ratchets up.

There are plenty of twists and turns here, and I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. I don’t want to give anything away, but I will say that the ending was a shocker and very well done. This was a suspenseful page-turner, and I highly recommend it!

5/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

PARENTS WEEKEND by Alex Finlay. Minotaur Books (May 6, 2025). ISBN: 978-1250360724. 320p.

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Spotlight Review: KILLS WELL WITH OTHERS by Deanna Raybourn

March 18, 2025

Killers of a Certain Age, Book 2

From the publisher:

“Much like fine wine, battle-hardened assassins grow better with age.”—#1 New York Times bestselling author Lisa Gardner

Four women assassins, senior in status—and in age—sharpen their knives for another bloody good adventure in this riotous follow-up to the New York Times bestselling sensation Killers of a Certain Age.

After more than a year of laying low, Billie, Helen, Mary Alice, and Natalie are called back into action. They have enjoyed their time off, but the lack of excitement is starting to chafe: a professional killer can only take so many watercolor classes and yoga sessions without itching to strangle someone…literally. When they receive a summons from the head of the elite assassin organization known as the Museum, they are ready tackle the greatest challenge of their careers.

Someone on the inside has compiled a list of important kills committed by Museum agents, connected to a single, shadowy figure, an Eastern European gangster with an iron fist, some serious criminal ambition, and a tendency to kill first and ask questions later. This new nemesis is murdering agents who got in the way of their power hungry plans and the aging quartet of killers is next.

Together the foursome embark on a wild ride across the globe on the double mission of rooting out the Museum’s mole and hunting down the gangster who seems to know their next move before they make it. Their enemy is unlike any they’ve faced before, and it will take all their killer experience to get out of this mission alive.

“The Golden Girls of murder are back—bickering Natalie and Mary Alice, classy Helen, and, of course, ruthless Billie . . . In between the action scenes, they also snipe at each other in a way only lifelong friends can while also admitting their fears, such as pursuing relationships as a widow or the looming guilt of a mission gone wrong. Fans of the first book will be eager to return to this gang of kick-butt ladies.” —Booklist

“Fans of Killers of a Certain Age will enjoy the return of the four senior assassins whose escapades from the past and present are intermixed in a fast-paced, humorous adventure. The books stand out for their wit and unlikely friendships.”—Library Journal

“Four talented assassins combine their skills in order to survive what they’d expected to be a peaceful retirement . . . Delighted to be back at their old job despite their bickering and squabbling, they relive past cases as they travel to several unsavory European and Egyptian spots . . . and end up involved in an art theft case that dates back to the Third Reich. A nonstop-action thriller that’s often disconcertingly funny in posing moral questions about the murder of horrible people.”—Kirkus Reviews

https://amzn.to/4g6jk8H

I was excited to dive into the second installment of Deanna Raybourn’s Killers of a Certain Age series. This thriller is the perfect blend of friendship, humor, tension, risk, and nonstop action. The story follows Billie, Mary Alice, Helen, and Natalie, retired assassins who are pulled back into their former careers by the Museum’s new director, Naomi Ndiaye. The Museum is the name of this shadow international spy agency. A mole has leaked critical information, and the quartet must stop a killer targeting Museum employees linked to an Eastern European gangster. Former Nazis make an appearance as art theft is still a leftover issue from World War II that the Museum is keenly focused on, much like the Monuments Men.

The novel, largely told from Billie’s perspective, includes flashbacks to their past missions. Raybourn skillfully crafts dynamic, relatable characters with complex backgrounds. While there isn’t quite as much humor as was in the first book, the narrative remains captivating with its global settings, engaging characters, and unpredictable twists. The story explores themes beyond assassination, focusing on friendship, age, trust, and ethics, which add a lot of depth to the story.

Overall, Kills Well with Others is a compelling, fast-paced thriller that combines mature characters with plenty of action and humor. If you enjoy unique series with strong characters, this is definitely worth reading. I loved it.

3/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

KILLS WELL WITH OTHERS by Deanna Raybourn. Berkley (March 4, 2025). ISBN: 978-0593638514. 368p.

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KILLERS OF A CERTAIN AGE by Deanna Raybourn

January 24, 2025

Book 1

From the publisher:

Older women often feel invisible, but sometimes that’s their secret weapon. They’ve spent their lives as the deadliest assassins in a clandestine international organization, but now that they’re sixty years old, four women friends can’t just retire—it’s kill or be killed in this action-packed thriller by New York Times bestselling and Edgar Award–nominated author Deanna Raybourn.

Billie, Mary Alice, Helen, and Natalie have worked for the Museum, an elite network of assassins, for forty years. Now their talents are considered old-school and no one appreciates what they have to offer in an age that relies more on technology than people skills.

When the foursome is sent on an all-expenses paid vacation to mark their retirement, they are targeted by one of their own. Only the Board, the top-level members of the Museum, can order the termination of field agents, and the women realize they’ve been marked for death.

Now to get out alive they have to turn against their own organization, relying on experience and each other to get the job done, knowing that working together is the secret to their survival. They’re about to teach the Board what it really means to be a woman—and a killer—of a certain age.

https://amzn.to/4g6jk8H

Being that I am a woman of a certain age, I was intrigued by the premise of this book, and it did not disappoint. Billie, Mary Alice, Helen, and Natalie have been friends and co-workers for forty years. Now that they are sixty, it is time to retire. From being assassins.

They worked for an extra-governmental agency called the Museum. It was founded after World War II in order to hunt down and kill all the Nazis that had escaped Germany after the war. They were also involved in finding all the art stolen by the Nazis, and returning it to the proper owners. In other words, killing for good, not evil. Over the years their targets expanded beyond Nazis to drug traffickers, human traffickers, the occasional dictator, etc. And these women were excellent at their job.

To celebrate their retirement, they take a cruise together, but they spot a former co-worker. Since he hasn’t contacted them, they immediately get suspicious. Two of them search his room and find a briefcase with a bomb in it, set to detonate in a few hours. They realize that they are the targets and need to figure out who is responsible for making that decision, and why. The rest of the book is in pursuit of that end, and it is a lot of fun getting there! There is plenty of tension and some surprises, some laughs and some tender moments. All in all, it was a fun, satisfying read and I am looking forward to the next book in the series, Kills Well with Others, which comes out March 4. Pre-order now!

1/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

KILLERS OF A CERTAIN AGE by Deanna Raybourn. Berkley; Reprint edition (August 15, 2023). ISBN: 978-0593200704. 368p.

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MY DARLING BOY by Helen Cooper

December 6, 2024

From the publisher:

What if mother doesn’t know best…?

In a close-knit English village, Chrissy and Alice were once best friends. So were their sons, Leo and Robbie. Until the night Leo killed Robbie with a single, devastating punch. Now Leo has gone to prison, Chrissy has lost her pub, and Alice has been pouring her anger into a twisted project . . .

As Leo’s parole date approaches, the villagers are incensed and fearful about the prospect of his return. But when Chrissy arrives to collect Leo from prison, he isn’t there. The staff tell her he has already been released, but nobody knows where he’s gone.

As the village closes ranks, Chrissy realizes her former friends are suspects in her son’s disappearance, not the least of which is still-bitter Alice. Is Leo being punished for what happened that terrible night? Or do the answers lie further back, in a dark past none of them wants to revisit?
https://amzn.to/3MhVbzM

Helen Cooper’s latest thriller after The Couple in the Photo gets off to a slow start. Alice and Chrissy have been best friends for years, and their sons are also best friends. Chrissy’s son, Leo, and Alice’s son, Robbie, play music together in the pub that Chrissy owns until the fateful night when they get into a fight. In a freak accident, Leo punches Robbie, landing a blow that kills him. Convicted of manslaughter, Leo goes to prison while everyone in this small English village shuns Chrissy. As Leo’s release date approaches, a woman moves to town and befriends Alice, but even Alice doesn’t know why. Feeling very much alone, Chrissy, a widow, is counting down the days until Leo will be released from prison, but when she goes to pick him up, she learns he left earlier, and no one knows where he is. Told in turn by the various characters, their disparate viewpoints offer tantalizing misdirection. Eventually, secrets start to come out, further complicating these relationships and turning the story of Leo gone missing into something much darker.

Verdict: Readers who like the slow burn of a mystery will enjoy this atmospheric novel. Recommend to fans of Tana French or Kate Morton.

12/2024 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

MY DARLING BOY by Helen Cooper. G.P. Putnam’s Sons (December 3, 2024). ISBN: 978-0593719930. 352p.

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Spotlight Review: IN TOO DEEP by Lee Child & Andrew Child

October 22, 2024

Jack Reacher, Book 29

From the Publisher:

The gripping new Jack Reacher thriller from the #1 New York Times bestselling authors Lee Child and Andrew Child

Reacher had no idea where he was. No idea how he had gotten there. But someone must have brought him. And shackled him. And whoever had done those things was going to rue the day. That was for damn sure.

Jack Reacher wakes up alone, in the dark, handcuffed to a makeshift bed. His right arm has suffered some major damage. His few possessions are gone. He has no memory of getting there.

The last thing Reacher can recall is the car he hitched a ride in getting run off the road. The driver was killed.

His captors assume Reacher was the driver’s accomplice and patch up his wounds as they plan to make him talk.

A plan that will backfire spectacularly . . .

“This 29th installment of the Jack Reacher series is the first one primarily written by Andrew Child, Lee’s brother. The plot is structured like a game of three-card monte; Reacher knows he can’t trust anyone, but he can’t figure out which player is the mastermind. It’s entertaining enough, but the story feels basic compared to Reacher’s previous complex and complicated adventures. A series downshifts to simpler and less thrilling storytelling.” —Kirkus Reviews

“The twenty-ninth Jack Reacher novel (and the fifth to be credited to Lee and his brother Andrew) has perhaps the most kick-ass opening of all the Reachers . . . Explosively violent and written in the familiar unadorned prose that drives the reader through the story, the book is sure to appeal to the Reacher series’ many fans.”–Booklist

“Lee Child hands the Jack Reacher franchise over to his brother, Andrew, with this solid series entry . . . Though the plot is too busy by half, Reacher fans old and new will be perfectly satisfied by the familiar bone-crunching and world-saving in this fast-paced adventure. The series is in good hands.”–Publishers Weekly

https://amzn.to/3UhHmWd

The good news is that I was drawn into the story on page one. The bad news is that if you aren’t familiar with this series, you may not be. There is an excerpt on the Amazon page of the beginning of the book so take a look!

I loved the Lee Child series; it was a must read for me. A never miss. But when Lee decided to step back, he asked his brother, then known as Andrew Grant, to take over the series. Why not keep it in the family, a much better alternative than what Lee originally wanted, which was to kill off Jack Reacher (I’m not pulling this out of thin air; I’ve met Lee on several occasions and he talked about this more than once at conferences.) But I didn’t love the first book of the collaboration, and I hated the one that followed. I stopped reading. Then the last book, The Secret, got great reviews, so I tried again, and I loved it. This time I’m squarely back into “eh” territory.

The usual Reacher components are here; his unfailing sense of right and wrong and his determination on the side of right, no matter what. A rogue female law enforcement officer, who he sleeps with. Lots of fighting, occasional torture, the usual brutality and violence. But the ending felt forced and abrupt, and even worse, I’m not sure I bought it.

Then there are the little things, like Reacher with amnesia, which I just found odd. The fact he never changes his clothes in this book, despite discussing his unusual predilection for not owning anything besides the clothes on his back, a weapon when needed, and his trusty toothbrush. His FBI friend, who keeps saying don’t call me again but keeps answering every call. Too many bad guys which meant not enough character development. I didn’t really get any sense of who these people were besides the obvious interest of all bad guys, money.

I didn’t love this book, and I wanted to. I even put it down about a third of the way in for a day, then went back to it. I’m not sorry I finished it, but I expected more. Lee’s name is still on these books, but he has said that Andrew is writing on his own now. I believe they kick around the plot, but Andrew is doing the heavy lifting here. I will undoubtedly read the next book, but if I don’t feel it is a big improvement, I may give up one of my favorite series again. Only time will tell – so many books, so little time!

10/2024 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

IN TOO DEEP by Lee Child & Andrew Child. Delacorte Press (October 22, 2024). ISBN:‎ 978-0593725801. 336p.

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Spotlight Review: THE WAITING by Michael Connelly

October 15, 2024

A Renée Ballard and Harry Bosch Novel, Book 6

From the Publisher:

LAPD Detective Renée Ballard tracks a serial rapist whose trail has gone cold, and enlists a new volunteer to the Open-Unsolved Unit: Patrol Officer Maddie Bosch, Harry’s daughter.

Renée Ballard and the LAPD’s Open-Unsolved Unit get a hot shot DNA connection between a recently arrested man and a serial rapist and murderer who went quiet twenty years ago. The arrested man is only twenty-four, so the genetic link must be familial: His father was the Pillowcase Rapist, responsible for a five-year reign of terror in the city of angels. But when Ballard and her team move in on their suspect, they encounter a baffling web of secrets and legal hurdles.

Meanwhile, Ballard’s badge, gun, and ID are stolen—a theft she can’t report without giving her enemies in the department ammunition to end her career as a detective. She works the burglary alone, but her mission draws her into unexpected danger. With no choice but to go outside the department for help, she knocks on the door of Harry Bosch.

At the same time, Ballard takes on a new volunteer to the cold case unit: Bosch’s daughter Maddie, now a patrol officer. But Maddie has an ulterior motive for getting access to the city’s library of lost souls—a case that may be the most iconic in the city’s history. Complex, satisfying, and full of dexterous twists, The Waiting demonstrates once more that “you can’t do better than Michael Connelly” (Forbes).

“Unputdownable . . . White-hot suspense guaranteed to please his fans. This ranks with Connelly’s best.”―Publishers Weekly (starred)

“A Hawaiian coda provides the best news of all: This distinguished series has plenty of miles to go. Aloha, and hooray.”―Kirkus Reviews

“Connelly’s name on the cover guarantees a great read; his latest is no exception. The story follows the cases methodically and realistically, and the characters continue to grow. With a TV series on Amazon Prime coming soon starring Maggie Q as Renée Ballard, this novel will generate more interest than usual.” ―Library Journal (starred)

https://amzn.to/4eUnYqw

Let me start by saying this: Michael Connelly has never phoned it in, or slacked or in any way. Every one of his books is carefully researched and written with the sort of sensibility we expect from Connelly, yet he never panders. If you haven’t read Connelly, you are in for a treat. If you have, this book is everything you would expect; totally engrossing and fast-paced, with twists and red herrings laid out much like the freeways in Los Angeles with its extensive network of interconnected highways, until the supremely satisfying ending.

While Harry Bosch has his name on the front cover, he has but a few pivotal scenes. On the other hand, his daughter, Maddie, is more prominent. Maddie has a significant lead on the infamous Black Dahlia murder, which was never solved. She takes what she knows to Renée Ballard, head of the Open-Unsolved unit in the Los Angeles Police Department, and asks to volunteer for the unit. But because she is already a cop, the union insists she must be paid and cannot work as a volunteer. Luckily, Ballard has a grant with enough discretionary money to pay Maddie, plus she welcomes having another badge in the unit. But politics rears its ugly head when the District Attorney won’t close the Black Dahlia case.

The squad has been working on an old serial rapist case as well, and they get a jolt when a DNA match comes up – not for the perpetrator, but for a family member, almost certainly his son. They follow every lead which takes some interesting turns along the way.

Ballard is also working on another case, but she is keeping it to herself and Harry Bosch. Ballard is a surfer; that’s where she finds peace in her life. But after a morning ride, she gets back to her car to find her badge, gun, wallet, etc have been stolen. The thief was kind enough to leave her hide-a-key on the seat so she could at least get herself to work. But she is afraid if she reports her badge and gun have been stolen, her job will be in jeopardy. So she investigates on her own, eventually with a little help from Harry.

All these cases keep the pages turning, and these characters bring life to the investigations. I don’t read many mysteries or thrillers these days; I prefer to escape into the silliness of romcoms and the happy endings of romance. That said, there are a couple of authors I won’t miss, and Connelly leads the list. This is another excellent read from one of my favorite authors.

10/2024 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch

THE WAITING by Michael Connelly. Little, Brown and Company (October 15, 2024). ISBN:‎ 978-0316563796. 416p.