Mystery/Detective Fiction/Crime Fiction/Thriller

I’m a few weeks behind on this, but that “To Write About” stack is still calling. Time for me to do a few more of these—emphasizing pithiness, not thoroughness.

Rabbit Cake

by Annie Hartnett, read by Katie Schorr

DETAILS:
Publisher: Blackstone Publishing
Publication Date: March 7, 2017
Format: Unabridged Audiobook
Length: 7 hrs., 7 min. 
Read Date: March 9-13, 2026

This is told from the point-of-view of a very bright 10-12 year-old girl (named Elvis) grieving the recent death of her mother. She has an older sister who is having some pretty severe mental health challenges (likely inherited from the mother)—and it’s unclear about Elvis’s mental health, too.

This covers roughly a year in the life of the family—dad and the two daughters trying to deal with it (our protagonist has an internal calendar in her head for when she’ll be done grieving). There’s some mild comedy, some strong emotional moments–all learned.

I think I came into it expecting something different than what it was. I thought it was…fine? A little better than fine—I enjoyed it, and assume many people will click with it better than me.

The Cyclist

by Tim Sullivan, read by John Heffernan

DETAILS:
Series: The DS Cross Mysteries, #2
Publisher: W. F. Howes Ltd
Publication Date: November 4, 2021
Format: Unabridged Audiobook
Length: 7 hrs., 26 min.
Read Date: March 13-16, 2026

I think I read this too close to the previous one—it seemed to hit a lot of the same notes for the same reason. I get that we’re not going to see a lot of growth in DS Cross. That’s just not him. But it feels like the characters around him should be learning from their time with him—and how does his father not know how to introduce changes to him at this point in life?

The mystery felt a little more convoluted than complex—but the solution was pretty satisfying (although I was faster by a few chapters than our DS), as was the reveal.

Wholly satisfying and entertaining—just not quite what I was expecting. I’m hoping with a little more distance that the third mystery won’t be overshadowed by The Dentist the way this was.

Blind Date with a Werewolf

by Patricia Briggs, read by Holter Graham

DETAILS:
Series: Alpha and Omega
Publisher: Penguin Random House Audio Publishing Group
Publication Date: October 21, 2025
Format: Unabridged Audiobook
Length: 8 hrs., 5 min. 
Read Date: March 17-18, 2026

I’ve read one (maybe two) of these stories in various anthologies before—they’re all fine. Asil is a fun character to read, but I don’t know that he’s enough to sustain my attention for that long. Well, maybe if there was a novel-length plot—but this series of stories gets pretty redundant quickly. I think the gimmick turned me off a bit, too.

The characters that Asil interacts with are amusing enough, I suppose. Asil seems better as a supporting/secondary character. There’s some nice character growth for him, and I’m curious to see what that looks like in Briggs’ future works.

The Spellshop

by Sarah Beth Durst, read by Caitlin Davies

DETAILS:
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Publication Date: July 9, 2024
Format: Unabridged Audiobook
Length: 12 hrs., 29 min. 
Read Date: March 18, 2026

You’ve got a librarian—with a sentient talking fern—who is chased from the Capitol city during a coup. She returns to the home her parents abandoned when she was a child and sets up a jam shop/black market potions shop. Adventure and found-family ensue.

Okay, this is technically (according to some, anyway) a romance. And I know some of my readers will be scared away by this. It’s pretty tame on that front—and I just don’t mean it’s PG. I mean, the love story is pretty tame and mixes in pretty well with everything else that one could be forgiven for not thinking of it as a Romance. Like I do.

I had a blast with it, and am looking forward to getting my paws on Durst’s follow-up.

Nav’Aria: The Marked Heir

by K.J. Backer

DETAILS:
Series: Nav'Aria, #1
Publication Date: January 18, 2019
Format: Paperback
Length: 390 pg.
Read Date: March 26-31, 2026

This is a fun, sort of porthole fantasy—Darion has been sent by his parents to Earth with some caretakers. He doesn’t know he’s from this different world—he just thought his parents had weird hobbies for him—martial arts, a lot of time in the forest, hunting, and so on.

There’s very little new or unexpected to this story—it doesn’t matter, it’s done well and is entertaining. It’s a very comfortable read in that sense. You’ve got a noble king and queen, a jealous upstart relative, loyal countrymen, oppressed citizenry…yada yada. We’ve all read it, we all like it (otherwise we’d find another genre). It’s in the telling, and some of the small touches. Backer shines there.

For example: The relation between dragons and unicorns—which we’re going to explore more in volume two—is pretty interesting. And unicorns at the top of the power structure? That’s cool.

And we’re not talking plush unicorns with rainbows and flowers. We’re talking big, strong animals who know that pointy thing can be used for. They have other cool magic abilities, too. Really, the unicorns alone are worth reading this.

My concern is that Darion seems to be shedding his Earth-ness for Nav’Arian as fast as Peter Pevensie did when he went back to Narnia in Prince Caspian, I’d like to see that hanging on a little longer. Otherwise, instead of Earth, he might as well have been sent to live in a hovel in a small town to hide. I’m back for more soon.

This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase from any of them, I will get a small commission at no additional cost to you. As always, opinions are my own.

20 Books of Summer 2026: Commence

By HCNewton

On June 1, 2026

In Books, Currently Reading, Fantasy, Fiction, General Fiction/Literature, Mystery/Detective Fiction/Crime Fiction/Thriller, News/Misc., Non-Fiction, Science Fiction, Steampunk, Urban Fantasy

Annabel from AnnaBookBel carries on the work started by Cathy of 746 Books . You can read her kick-off post here.

Initially, I was going to use this as time to catch up on my “Read Everything I Buy in 2026 in 2026” goal, but then I remembered things like my book clubs and NetGalley. So I had to accept some setbacks there. I’ve got an ambitious, but easily achievable list.

I’ve frequently used the unofficial US Dates for Summer—Memorial Day to Labor Day, but Memorial Day has already passed. So, I’ll go along with the “official” June 1-August 31.

There’s still time to join in the fun—if you’re into this kind of thing. (there are 10 and 15 book versions, too)

This summer, my 20 are going to be:

1. The Devils by Joe Abercrombie
2. Trade of Blood by Robert Jackson Bennett
3. Eyes of Empire by JCM Berne
4. Cold Iron Task by James Butcher
5. Eaters of the Dead by Michael Crichton
6. Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman
7. Detained: A boy’s journal of survival and resilience by D. Esperanza and Gerardo Iván Morales
8. What’s Next: A Backstage Pass to The West Wing, Its Cast and Crew, and Its Enduring Legacy of Service by Melissa Fitzgerald and Mary McCormack
9. Killer Vibes by Jack Friday
10. Manitou by Glen Gabel

11. Wool by Hugh Howey
12. Eternal Blades by Vlad V. Imakaev
13. First Mage on the Moon by Cameron Johnston
14. Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin
15. The Shadow Carver by Nadine Matheson
16. Squeaky Clean by Callum McSorley
17. Dial A for Aunties by Jesse Q. Sutanto
18. Crownfall by Michael Vadney
19. We Be Dragons by Michael Weitz
20. Everybody Wants to Rule the World Except Me by Django Wexler

(subject to change, as is allowed, but I’m going to resist the impulse to tweak as much as I can).

What do you think of this list? Any warnings—or anything you think I should be really excited about?

20 Books of Summer '26 Chart

51% by Matt Witten: The SF-ish Mystery I Wish I Could Get Everyone to Read

By HCNewton

On May 15, 2026

In Fiction, Mystery/Detective Fiction/Crime Fiction/Thriller, Science Fiction

51%

by Matt Witten

DETAILS:
Publisher: Level Best Books
Publication Date: April 28, 2026
Format: eARC
Length: 370 pg.
Read Date: May 4-5, 2026

What’s 51% About?

NYPD, Inc. detective Juke O’Keefe is assigned the case of a woman who was the victim of a murder and left in the street. He wants to find the killer. His partner, a crime marketing consultant, Haylee Navarro, isn’t so sure it’s the right case to take. If for no other reason, she doesn’t think they’ll be able to get much money for the investigation, and given the state of the victim, there are probably not many people who will care that much about finding the killer. Particularly when they find a chip embedded in her, signifying that she’s 51% owned by the syndicates.

If almost every word in that paragraph seems wrong, that just means you’re paying attention. Also, welcome to the dystopia depicted in this book.

Juke’s investigation (because Haylee’s just not that convincing compared to the uncompromising standards he holds himself to) brings the pair into contact with the upper echelons of NYC’s economy, to the poorest corners, working against an AI, and even across the path of a resistance movement on the verge of a significant move.

The Worldbuilding

It’s just exquisite. You could easily just read this for the worldbuilding alone, paying no attention to the plot or characters (outside of how both reveal the world). I remember early cyberpunk being defined as being fifteen minutes in the future—assuming I remember that correctly, Witten has set this novel 7 minutes into the future.

Gen Delta’s sensibilities rule (informally) societal mores, almost(?) everything that is government-provided for us has been privatized, and corporate syndicates “own” percentages of people indebted to them. If you need medical care, go to college, etc. you need to take out a loan which represents a certain percentage of you. If you’re a police officer wanting to investigate a crime, you essentially need to crowd-fund the money necessary for forensics and the investigation. So each detective is partnered not with another detective, but a PR agent who will shoot and promote videos about your case to capture the attention and emotions of viewers to raise that money.

Witten does a great job of explaining this process better than I just did in a non-infodump way.

From the slang to the tech to the finances and beyond—this world feels real, lived in, like a nigh-inevitiable future we’re heading toward.

Why did I pick this up? Why did I keep reading?

When Witten sent me the description, I was hooked. Particularly in his hands—I just didn’t see how it couldn’t be good.

I kept reading because the execution lived up to the premise—the worldbuilding was great, and the story was just as good. You read just a little bit of this, and you’re going to need to keep going.

What does this book tell us about humanity?

I’m not sure that I have a good answer to this. There’s a lot of ugliness in the book—both corporately and individually. But the one thing that came up time and time again is people realizing how they’ve messed up (in big and small ways), and resolving to try to make a difference to make things better for others. Some do this in little ways—just feeding neighborhood cats. Others put their future at risk to protect an innocent person from wrongful arrest. Things like that. There’s just enough of that to keep you from utter despair as you walk through this world.

Or maybe the message is that Canada is the place to go in North America—as it has been for decades.

So, what did I think about 51%?

At its core, 51% is a murder mystery—yes, there’s a lot of futurism noise, political and social commentary, and the rest. But Juke’s hunt for a killer, the red herrings, the leads that don’t work out, and the race against other factors to make sure the right person is arrested—that’s the focus. And, as Jacked and Killer Story have capably demonstrated that Witten knows his way around a crime thriller.

I think the characters—even those on the side of the syndicates that own people—are well-written and complex (although there are some that are little more than stereotypes, but they’re well executed representatives of the type, so it’s hard to complain about them). There are no wholly straightforward motives; everyone has some shading about them.

The reveal of the murderer was well done, and the way the storylines are resolved is very satisfying.

I had a real blast with this one. I really relished the experience of being in the world and watching Juke’s crusade and Haylee getting pulled along in his wake (but also really not doing that). 51% is the kind of book that makes me wish I had a bigger audience so I could tell more people about it. Go read this thing, you’ll be glad you did.

Disclaimer: I received this eARC from the author in exchange for this post, which contains my honest opinion—which worked out well for both of us, I think.

This post contains an affiliate link. If you purchase from it, I will get a small commission at no additional cost to you. As always, the opinions expressed are my own.
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A Violent Masterpiece by Jordan Harper: This Place is a Crime.

By HCNewton

On May 6, 2026

In Fiction, Mystery/Detective Fiction/Crime Fiction/Thriller

I don’t know what I was thinking requesting this from NetGalley. I have the hardest time writing about Harper’s books. I only managed to get one word posted about his last one—and that’s not enough for NetGalley. So, yeah, this took several days longer than it should’ve. But I can almost live with this.

A Violent Masterpiece

by Jordan Harper

DETAILS:
Publisher: Mulholland Books
Publication Date: April 28, 2026
Format: eARC
Length:TEXT
Read Date: April 27, 2026

The Sequel-ness of the Book

This is a follow-up to 2023’s Everybody Knows, but I really wouldn’t say this is a sequel. It’s more of a shared universe kind of thing. The Venn Diagram of the two novels does have some overlap in terms of characters, locations, corporate entities, and events. But the two novels are entirely self-contained and you don’t need to read Everybody Knows to fully appreciate A Violent Masterpiece.

That said—if you read Everybody Knows and want to know what happens in those situations (or at least many of them) six months down the road—you’ll be satisfied. But honestly, that was such a perfect way to end a novel, if you don’t want to step back in—you’re good.

Similarly, if you read A Violent Masterpiece and think “I’d like to know a little bit about how things got to this point,” Everybody Knows, exists. But you have everything you need in these pages.

Now, with that out of the way…

What’s A Violent Masterpiece About?

Take some characters:

The first is Jake Deal. He livestreams crime scenes, tours of historic L.A. crimes, and more. He used to work for a TMZ-like media company, and he still has the skills to get the dirt on people. He’s given an opportunity to make some good money if he uses those skills on a few targets.

A homeless woman, dealing with some dubious legal charges, who is trapped in an uncaring (at best) system.

A serial killer, the L.A. Ripper, killing women throughout the city. The LAPD isn’t prepared to call the killings related, but the rumor mill and the Internet are more than prepared to.

A former TV star/producer who is (very credibly) accused of any number of sex crimes, who is prepared to start naming names of accomplices and others who are just as guilty (if not more so). If he’s going down, he’s not going down alone.

Kara Delgado, a former barista, who was sucked in by the glamor and glitz—and generous salary—to work for a private concierge company. In that role she’ll procure just about anything someone who has the money wants. She’s not sure that that “just about anything” covers anymore, and is starting to have some doubts about the whole thing (but can she walk away?)

Jake’s former boss at the not-TMZ company. She used to work with the producer. She’s involved with some of the same people that use Kara’s company, too. She finds herself entangled in the legal and financial fallout of the producer’s fall into ignominy.

A defense lawyer—think Mickey Haller in the opening pages of The Lincoln Lawyer (before he starts to make a name for himself and some bigger money). Doug Gibson thinks of himself as the knife you bring to a gunfight—and while he may not win, the prosecution’s case will not walk away unscarred.

Throw these characters, a couple of corporations, other entities and far, far more money than a mortal and comprehend and mix them into the heat of L.A.—with all its lights, parties, action, would-be stars, hangers-on, drugs, wealth, and violence. They’re all on courses that will collide—the questions are, who will survive, what will be made known, will anyone I didn’t just name care, and will anything change?

Why did I pick this up? Why did I keep reading?

Jordan Harper. ‘Nuff said.

What does this book tell us about humanity?

There are no guys with white hats running to the rescue. The one character here who is tempted in their better moments to regard themselves that way isn’t really—and when pushed just right, falls apart and casts off his morality.

But for many of the characters—our three primary and at least one other (that I will remain vague on), there can come a breaking point. A point where they cannot keep going down whatever destructive/self-destructive, amoral path they’re on and they are and they have to depart from that path and try to balance the scales, make amends, mitigate the evil they see (and may have participated in). They’re relatable, they’re believable—they’re broken and trying to make their way in the world to find a little peace for themselves, and maybe some others, too. They’re not trying to fix every injustice, right every wrong—just maybe not let things get worse in their immediate circle.

Alternatively, I’d like to say that Harper shows how even at their worst, there are glimmers of hope of some people—there are some “villains” that aren’t all bad, there’s a streak of goodness in them, some kindness—even a part of them that regrets the evil they do and they want to turn from it—and just might. I’d like to say that, but no. There are some truly vile, corrupt, and evil people—alone or in concert with others—that are wholly despicable.

That’s fitting for a noir novel. It also seems pretty realistic.

So, what did I think about A Violent Masterpiece?

So yeah, things sound pretty bleak after that last sentence. But here’s the difference between reality—in all of it’s banality, evil, and bleakness—and a Harper novel. Harper’s voice, style, characterization, and dialogue are just beautiful. You can get lost in that, revel in it, enough that you can set aside the depravity from time to time and just focus on that.

I think the pacing of this book is a little faster, a little smoother, than Harper’s previous novels. I’d even say that the primary characters are 1-3% more likable. Although, even as I say that, I want to note that every one of Harper’s novels feel so different from each other that it’s hard to say something like that with any degree of confidence. Even the two that are most related.

This is a book that’s going to haunt me. Probably not to the point that Everybody Knows did, just due to the nature of the last couple of chapters of each.

Political commentary, social commentary, cultural commentary—even pop culture commentary. There’s little that Harper doesn’t put in his sights. And he nails it at every turn.

From the first chapter, it was clear that this was going to be a rollicking read. I found myself in a situation with nothing to do but read for a couple of hours and was able to read the first half of this in one sitting. And despite the situation being resolved, I thought about sticking it out longer so I could finish, no matter what side of midnight it was. It was good to get a breather to mull on the book some—but boy howdy, it’d have been satisfying to gulp it in one.

This is a harrowing look at L.A. and the industries the run it (and the money and depravity they allow to flourish). But it’s not just about L.A.—as the novel reminds us, L.A. is America. Everything that happens in this novel happens all around the country on different scales. We’re swimming in it, it’s just a matter of if we want to see it. Harper holds the mirror up to L.A., to the U.S.A., and to ourselves. The challenge is not to avert our eyes.

This is just a brilliant read.

Disclaimer: I received this eARC from Little, Brown and Company via NetGalley in exchange for this post, which contains my honest opinion—thanks to both for this.

This post contains an affiliate link. If you purchase from it, I will get a small commission at no additional cost to you. As always, the opinions expressed are my own.
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Enemy of My Enemy (Audiobook) by Alex Segura, read by Michael David Axtell: A Lot of Devils in Hell’s Kitchen

By HCNewton

On April 16, 2026

In Audiobook, Comics, Fiction, Mystery/Detective Fiction/Crime Fiction/Thriller

Enemy of My Enemy

by Alex Segura, read by Michael David Axtell

DETAILS:
Series: Marvel Crime, #2
Publisher: Audible Studios
Publication Date: March 24, 2026
Format: Unabridged Audiobook
Length: 8 hrs., 28 min.
Read Date: April 8-13, 2026

What’s Enemy of My Enemy About?

I don’t need a lot of words to describe this—Wilson Fisk, the Kingpin of Crime, is dead. Shot in his own home, and all the evidence points to Frank Castle as the shooter. Well, most of the evidence, anyway. Castle even lets himself be arrested without incident and seems ready to take the fall. Matt Murdock knows the facts don’t match up (for one, a police officer was also killed in Fisk’s office and Matt knows the Punisher wouldn’t do that), and can’t let him get railroaded. So he basically forces Castle to accept his representation.

It’s up to Matt Murdock and Daredevil to make sure Castle goes free and that the right killer is identified.

This was cleverly released shortly after the launch of Daredevil: Born Again season 2, but it’s not that much of a tie-in to the television series. This is the comic book version of Daredevil and the rest. It’s a minor point, but it does explain things like why we get someone so cartoonish* as Hammerhead and why certain characters are dead/alive.

* This is not a criticism, but a description. I enjoy the character.

Why did I pick this up? Why did I keep reading?

I picked this up because I like the idea of this Marvel Crime series, the strength of the Jessica Jones novel, and Segura’s reputation.

I kept at it because this is a smart mystery/legal thriller with some great comic book action. There are plenty of twists, some good curve-balls, and more uses of the word “internecine” than I typically see in a book.

How was the Narration?

There’s only one other voice I’d like to hear as Matt Murdock/Daredevil than Michael David Axtell, but I think it was good for them not to cast Charlie Cox. This was just great—he handled every character in a way that fit perfectly. I was as entertained by his performance as I was the by text.

Really well done.

So, what did I think about Enemy of My Enemy?

I had a lot of fun with this one—for everything I just said in that last paragraph.

Segura nailed every character—well, I’m not sure about [surprise name withheld] because I haven’t read much about them, but given the way he dealt with everyone else, I figure he did right by them. And the cast of characters is large. Segura dove deeply into Marvel’s Hell’s Kitchen here.

Also, he wasn’t shy about killing off characters. It’s clearly outside the Marvel canon.

There’s not much else to say—it’s a solid thriller, a captivating superhero story, and you won’t see what’s coming. Enemy of My Enemy is a heckuva ride that I easily recommend to fans of any of the characters I mentioned.

This post contains an affiliate link. If you purchase from it, I will get a small commission at no additional cost to you. As always, the opinions expressed are my own.
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PUB DAY REPOST: Cat on a Hot Tin Woof by Spencer Quinn: Chet Searches for an Influencer Cat

By HCNewton

On April 14, 2026

In Chet and Bernie, Dogs, Fiction, Mystery/Detective Fiction/Crime Fiction/Thriller, Spencer Quinn

This was supposed to go up yesterday…but apparently, the key is to press the “Schedule” button. Just a friendly tip from you to me.

Cat on a Hot Tin Woof

by Spencer Quinn

DETAILS:
Series: Chet and Bernie, #16
Publisher: Minotaur Books
Publication Date: April 14, 2026
Format: eARC
Length: 320 pg.
Read Date: April 1-6, 2026

Before I get into things…that title is great (not that Quinn’s a stranger to good titles). I want to believe he wrote that title down some time ago and spent a couple of years thinking of a story to go with it.

What’s Cat on a Hot Tin Woof About?

One of the best things about the Chet and Bernie books is the wide diversity in cases they investigate—sure, the Little Detective Agency specializes in missing persons cases—but they do it all. Well, almost all. The clients they have this time are something that Bernie isn’t really ready for—and Chet would’ve been happier if they’d never run into them.

It’s a mother-daughter pair—the daughter had accidentally launched herself (well, her cat) to Internet fame and a very respectable income for a high schooler (well, more than respectable). Her mother is her business manager. Their problem? Miss Kitty is missing. Their sponsors are coming in soon to sign a new deal, and her audience is clamoring for fresh content. So the clock is ticking.

Bernie understands very little of this, but signs on—and quickly learns that despite what his clients believed—the cat didn’t slip out of the house somehow. She’s been stolen.

Naturally, it doesn’t stop with a stolen cat—more crimes turn up, as does an element of danger.

Bernie’s ex-wife, Leda, has some drama of her own, for him to deal with, too. But Bernie’s focus is on the case (although he takes time out for a fun scene to help Leda)

Why did I pick this up? Why did I keep reading?

That’s simple—while Quinn isn’t a stranger to less-impressive books, he’s incapable of writing an un-entertaining one—particularly with this series. And it’s been a while since he stumbled anyway.

Why did I keep at it? There is simply something infectious about Chet’s voice—as much as you want to figure out what happened—who kidnapped the cat and why, will they figure out the other mysteries along the way, will Bernie lose a lot of money doing something foolish, etc.—you want to stay in Chet’s head for longer than it’ll take to finish the book. This book is a textbook example of that.

What does this book tell us about humanity?

There’s a good deal here about the human propensity for making mistakes you’d regret later—if not sooner.

There’s a lot about good parenting and inadequate parenting/parents. There are a couple of good parents in this book (one came so late in the book, you’d almost despair of seeing another one ever again), and several inadequate ones. Most of those didn’t realize they were—but boy howdy, they should’ve.

What this book tells us most about humanity—and this is largely true for every Chet and Bernie book is the importance of a connection between a human and an animal. Even if it’s just a connection for a short-time. We’ve got cats, a pig, and a couple of dogs. The cats enrich (literally, in at least one case) the lives of those they stay with. Chet gets to comfort people going through rough times and gets to support Bernie. The pig? Well, it’s there. The cats and the dogs are just wonderful and will make you want your own (assuming you don’t already).

So, what did I think about Cat on a Hot Tin Woof?

It’s a Chet and Bernie book—of course, I had a good time.

I’d have liked a little more clarity on a point or two about the conclusion. But when your narrator is delightfully unreliable, that’s hard. I think about these cases in a way Chet wouldn’t bother with, so unless Bernie muses about some of the action, there’s just no way that we get the answers I want.

But you have to expect that going in, so it really doesn’t matter.

It’s been a minute since “old man Heydrich” was brought up (and I’m more than okay with that), and I think his replacement could be fun. We get some good Charlie and Leda stuff. Weatherly could’ve been in it more (but was used well). The client herself is the kind that you hope Quinn finds a way to bring back (as he does with another client here), and…well, it’s all just good.

It’s a fun mystery that will keep you smiling throughout—even when Chet solves the mystery (and doesn’t realize it)—maybe it’d be better to say that the reader solves it through Chet’s eyes—and you’re just sitting there waiting for Bernie to catch up. That’s frequently a frustrating experience when I’m that far ahead of the protagonist in a book—but here, it’s just fun.

If you’ve never met our intrepid pair of P.I.s, this would be a perfect book to jump into the series with—honestly, any of them would work, but you might as well start with this one. If you’ve been around the duo before, this is as good as you remember. Either way—check out Cat on a Hot Tin Woof.

Disclaimer: I received this eARC from St. Martin’s Press via NetGalley in exchange for this post, which contains my honest opinion—thanks to both for this.

This post contains an affiliate link. If you purchase from it, I will get a small commission at no additional cost to you. As always, the opinions expressed are my own.
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Quick-Take Catchups: The Leftovers from February

By HCNewton

On April 9, 2026

In Audiobook, Fantasy, Fiction, General Fiction/Literature, Mystery/Detective Fiction/Crime Fiction/Thriller, Non-Fiction, Science Fiction, Urban Fantasy

In an effort to keep my “To Write About” pile from getting out of control, I’ve set a requirement to myself to write a catch-up post at the end of the following month (e.g., At the end of February, write about January books; at the end of June, write about the May books I haven’t gotten to yet; etc.). As always, the point of these quick-takes is to emphasize pithiness, not thoroughness.

Robert B. Parker’s Big Shot

by Christopher Farnsworth

DETAILS:
Series: Jesse Stone, #23
Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons 
Publication Date: February 10, 2026 
Format: Hardcover
Length: 320 pg. 
Read Date: February 19-20, 2026

This was a perfectly decent Jesse Stone adventure. Jesse’s fate never felt like it was really in danger—but that’s okay, it’s about the struggle, the journey, right?

I’m a little disheartened by the way that Farnsworth is dealing with Lundquist. I know he’s not Healey—and I’m glad for it, I don’t want Farnsworth or anyone else turning him into a version of him. But the version of him being all by the book and cold here, really doesn’t match with the willing-to-be-maverick we met in Pale Kings and Princes, and I don’t think we’ve been given reason for that change (and I want to say this isn’t the first time I’ve been troubled by his characterization).

I really didn’t like Molly’s depiction for good chunks of the book—Farnsworth had a plan for her, and I liked most of what she did—I just think there was a better way to set up her investigative arc. (it’s hard to talk about vaguely). I think Farnsworth is really finding difficulty with her as she grows as a police officer—I think Lupica, did, too. Hopefully he figures it out soon (I should note, I like the way he’s dealing with Suit in the same situation).

Anyway, it’s not a stellar installment in the long-running series—but it did its job well.
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Fairest Hunter

by M. K. Felix

DETAILS:
Series: The Favored's Curse, #1
Publication Date: January 9, 2026 
Format: e-Book 
Length: 351 pg. 
Read Date: February 25-26, 2026

A little heavy on the romance for my taste—but that’s what it’s marketed as, so I lived with it. I’ll note it’s pure and chaste romance, with no need for doors to be closed (well, at least the primary romance…the door might be firmly shut on another).

So it’s a gender-swapped Robin Hood—who also happens to be the King’s Huntsman. So, instead of taking the (male) Snow White figure and leaving him with some dwarves, he’s left with six merry men. These men rob from the rich, give to the poor, while looking for an opportunity to take out the Evil King (who turns out to be using a bespelled mirror to work his magic).

It’s a fun story, just deep enough to justify—fast acting enough that you don’t care. I quite enjoyed it and am looking forward to reading further in the series.
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Separation of Church and Hate: A Sane Person’s Guide to Taking Back the Bible from Fundamentalists, Fascists, and Flock-Fleecing Frauds

by John Fugelsang

DETAILS:
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio  
Publication Date: September 09, 2025  
Format: Unabridged Audiobook
Length: 9 hrs., 24 min. 
Read Date: January 30-February 2, 2026

Okay, I’d played with doing a full post on this one, interacting with all the issues I had—but I didn’t take notes or anything as I was listening. So, I’ll try this.

First—I have a lot of sympathy toward the Fugelsang’s goals and aims. Not to the same extent as he does—but still, I lean in very similar directions and/or share concerns.

Second—this book is a mess. There’s a good deal of re-hashing of Liberal* Theology that has been answered no later than the 1920s and 30s. There’s as much special pleading and Scripture twisting in these pages as he accuses those he takes issue with of doing. His notion of the purpose of Christianity, its content, and its focus—are completely wrong and foreign to the Bible itself. (as is the case for many of his targets).

I’m glad I read it because it scratched an itch in curiosity, but…that’s the only good thing I can say about the experience.

* There’s a distinction between Liberal Theology and Liberal Politics. While the Venn diagram has some overlap (a lot of overlap for Fugelsang), they shouldn’t be confused.
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All Accounts Settled

by Drew Hayes, read by Kirby Heyborne

DETAILS:
Series: Fred, The Vampire Accountant, $9
Publisher: Tantor Media, Inc 
Publication Date: January 13, 2026 
Format: Unabridged Audiobook
Length: 11 hrs., 44 min. 
Read Date: February 25-27, 2026

Fred’s adventures bow out the same way they entered the scene—mildly amusing, full of kindness and hope, generosity of spirit, and community. There’s almost no suspense—which is fine, this series didn’t depend on that.

It’s just Fred facing overwhelming odds, coming up with a clever solution or two, relying on his friends (and them relying on him, too). He found a new level to his magic—which was pretty cool, I’ve gotta say. And scored some major victories. The last chapter (or was it an epilogue?) ties up a lot of loose ends and provides a glimpse into Fred’s future.

Heyborne’s narration was as good as ever.

This was a fitting and entertaining ending to this series. Glad I was along for the ride.

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Every Day I Read: 53 Ways to Get Closer to Books

by Hwang Bo-reum, translated by Shanna Tan, read by Rosa Escoda

DETAILS:
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing 
Publication Date: December 2, 2025  
Format: Unabridged Audiobook 
Length: 3 hrs., 49 min.
Read Date: February 23-24, 2026

This was a perfectly pleasant book. And that’s about all I have to say—there was nothing that made me think—wow! She gets it. Nothing where I thought—I’ve been trying to find the words to express that as a reader. Just a vague pleasantness—that maybe went on too long. Maybe 25-40 ways, max, would’ve worked better.

There seemed to be an expectation that the reader would be familiar with her other work(s) anytime she referenced them—and if you weren’t (or even aware of their existence), it was hard to connect with what she was saying. I can both understand that given the nature of this book she didn’t have time (or possibly the need) to add context, explain the gist of whatever she was referencing. But…it left me cold.

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Hidden in Smoke

by Lee Goldberg

DETAILS:
Series: Sharpe & Walker, 3
Publisher: Thomas & Mercer
Publication Date: April 22, 2025 
Format: e-Book 
Length: 300 pg. 
Read Date: February 5-6, 2026

I feel like I should have a lot to say about this book—but I don’t. Goldberg delivers what we expect from him—a fast and fun story, some good twists, some great lines—and the return of a few characters I didn’t expect to see again.

There’s part of me that wonders about the scope of all the fires in this series—but, we’ve all seen what happens to California all too often lately. It’s sadly realistic.

I really enjoy these characters, and can’t imagine that ending. I just hope that I can find something to say about the next book (which I can’t wait for).

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A Particularly Nasty Case

by Adam Kay, read by Andrew Serkis

DETAILS:
Publisher: Hachette Audio 
Publication Date: September 16, 2025 
Format: Unabridged Audiobook
Length: 10 hrs., 9 min.   
Read Date: February 2-5, 2026

This was…a mess. There’s just no character that I could enjoy spending much time with. The characters’ motivations seem inconsistent and capricious. The comedy (or what I think was comedy) didn’t work, the mystery was pretty weak, and the book seemed more interested in the chaos surrounding the murder than anything else.

Take the murder out, tell some other kind of story, and it probably would’ve worked better. And still wouldn’t have been for me—but I wouldn’t have complained about it.

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The Fact Checker

by Austin Kelley, Jacques Roy

DETAILS:
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio 
Publication Date: April 15, 2025 
Format: Unabridged Audiobook
Length: 7 hrs., 1 min.   
Read Date:

If the destination was satisfying, I think I could’ve put up with the journey. If the journey was a bit more interesting/engaging, I could’ve put up with the destination.

But a miss on both, just made this a waste of potential. I liked the premise, there were some good moments, I liked the writing—it just seemed wasted.

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City of Others

by Jared Poon, read by David Lee Huynh

DETAILS:
Series:  The DEUS Files, #1
Publisher: Hachette Audio 
Publication Date: January 13, 2026 
Format: Unabridged Audiobook 
Length: 9 hrs., 16 min.  
Read Date:

This is the first installment in what could become a favorite UF series. Think about the Folly (from The Rivers of London)* filled with humanoid characters from McGuire’s InCryptid series. But set in Singapore. our under-funded and overworked team deal with the supernatural side of Singapore—without letting the non-supernatural set know what they’re up to.

As things are wont to do—something goes wrong, in a very significant way—and the entire city (at least) is soon at risk.

Poon writes with a lighter touch, but he’s not afraid to let things get serious. There are some great emotional moments, and some great mystical/magical scene, too.

* It might be more accurate to describe it as Strout’s Department of Extraordinary Affairs than the Folly—but the Folly is better known.

This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase from any of them, I will get a small commission at no additional cost to you. As always, opinions are my own.

Cat on a Hot Tin Woof by Spencer Quinn: Chet Searches for an Influencer Cat

By HCNewton

On April 8, 2026

In Chet and Bernie, Dogs, Fiction, Mystery/Detective Fiction/Crime Fiction/Thriller, Spencer Quinn

This was supposed to go up yesterday…but apparently, the key is to press the “Schedule” button. Just a friendly tip from you to me.

Cat on a Hot Tin Woof

by Spencer Quinn

DETAILS:
Series: Chet and Bernie, #16
Publisher: Minotaur Books
Publication Date: April 14, 2026
Format: eARC
Length: 320 pg.
Read Date: April 1-6, 2026

Before I get into things…that title is great (not that Quinn’s a stranger to good titles). I want to believe he wrote that title down some time ago and spent a couple of years thinking of a story to go with it.

What’s Cat on a Hot Tin Woof About?

One of the best things about the Chet and Bernie books is the wide diversity in cases they investigate—sure, the Little Detective Agency specializes in missing persons cases—but they do it all. Well, almost all. The clients they have this time are something that Bernie isn’t really ready for—and Chet would’ve been happier if they’d never run into them.

It’s a mother-daughter pair—the daughter had accidentally launched herself (well, her cat) to Internet fame and a very respectable income for a high schooler (well, more than respectable). Her mother is her business manager. Their problem? Miss Kitty is missing. Their sponsors are coming in soon to sign a new deal, and her audience is clamoring for fresh content. So the clock is ticking.

Bernie understands very little of this, but signs on—and quickly learns that despite what his clients believed—the cat didn’t slip out of the house somehow. She’s been stolen.

Naturally, it doesn’t stop with a stolen cat—more crimes turn up, as does an element of danger.

Bernie’s ex-wife, Leda, has some drama of her own, for him to deal with, too. But Bernie’s focus is on the case (although he takes time out for a fun scene to help Leda)

Why did I pick this up? Why did I keep reading?

That’s simple—while Quinn isn’t a stranger to less-impressive books, he’s incapable of writing an un-entertaining one—particularly with this series. And it’s been a while since he stumbled anyway.

Why did I keep at it? There is simply something infectious about Chet’s voice—as much as you want to figure out what happened—who kidnapped the cat and why, will they figure out the other mysteries along the way, will Bernie lose a lot of money doing something foolish, etc.—you want to stay in Chet’s head for longer than it’ll take to finish the book. This book is a textbook example of that.

What does this book tell us about humanity?

There’s a good deal here about the human propensity for making mistakes you’d regret later—if not sooner.

There’s a lot about good parenting and inadequate parenting/parents. There are a couple of good parents in this book (one came so late in the book, you’d almost despair of seeing another one ever again), and several inadequate ones. Most of those didn’t realize they were—but boy howdy, they should’ve.

What this book tells us most about humanity—and this is largely true for every Chet and Bernie book is the importance of a connection between a human and an animal. Even if it’s just a connection for a short-time. We’ve got cats, a pig, and a couple of dogs. The cats enrich (literally, in at least one case) the lives of those they stay with. Chet gets to comfort people going through rough times and gets to support Bernie. The pig? Well, it’s there. The cats and the dogs are just wonderful and will make you want your own (assuming you don’t already).

So, what did I think about Cat on a Hot Tin Woof?

It’s a Chet and Bernie book—of course, I had a good time.

I’d have liked a little more clarity on a point or two about the conclusion. But when your narrator is delightfully unreliable, that’s hard. I think about these cases in a way Chet wouldn’t bother with, so unless Bernie muses about some of the action, there’s just no way that we get the answers I want.

But you have to expect that going in, so it really doesn’t matter.

It’s been a minute since “old man Heydrich” was brought up (and I’m more than okay with that), and I think his replacement could be fun. We get some good Charlie and Leda stuff. Weatherly could’ve been in it more (but was used well). The client herself is the kind that you hope Quinn finds a way to bring back (as he does with another client here), and…well, it’s all just good.

It’s a fun mystery that will keep you smiling throughout—even when Chet solves the mystery (and doesn’t realize it)—maybe it’d be better to say that the reader solves it through Chet’s eyes—and you’re just sitting there waiting for Bernie to catch up. That’s frequently a frustrating experience when I’m that far ahead of the protagonist in a book—but here, it’s just fun.

If you’ve never met our intrepid pair of P.I.s, this would be a perfect book to jump into the series with—honestly, any of them would work, but you might as well start with this one. If you’ve been around the duo before, this is as good as you remember. Either way—check out Cat on a Hot Tin Woof.

Disclaimer: I received this eARC from St. Martin’s Press via NetGalley in exchange for this post, which contains my honest opinion—thanks to both for this.

This post contains an affiliate link. If you purchase from it, I will get a small commission at no additional cost to you. As always, the opinions expressed are my own.
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Murder by Memory by Olivia Waite: A Cozy Murder Mystery in Spaaaaaaaaace.

By HCNewton

On April 3, 2026

In Fiction, Mystery/Detective Fiction/Crime Fiction/Thriller, Science Fiction

Murder by Memory

by Olivia Waite

DETAILS:
Series: Dorothy Gentleman, #1
Publisher: Tordotcom
Publication Date: March 18, 2025
Format: Hardcover
Length: 100 pg.
Read Date: March 26, 2026

What’s Murder by Memory About?

Dorothy Gentleman is a ship’s detective on a ship called Fairweather on a centuries-long voyage. After one of her lives ended, Dorothy asked not to be put into a new body, but for her data/personality to stay “on the shelf” for a bit. But she finds herself awakened in someone else’s body.

A security protocol revived her and put her in the nearest body in order to investigate a murder.

Dorothy sets out on a series of conversations/interviews over several cups of tea, to not only find out who the murderer was (that was actually pretty easy), but why the murder happened (that’s the tricky bit in this case).

Why did I pick this up? Why did I keep reading?

I grabbed this from the library because I saw something about the sequel, Nobody’s Baby, and that sounded great. But I have developed an allergy to reading series out of order.

I kept at it because of the narrator’s voice, I was curious about the world, and it moved so fast that I really didn’t have a chance to think about dropping it (I wouldn’t have, I should stress, but I didn’t have the time).

What does this book tell us about humanity?

There’s a good deal to question about if who a person is can be reduced to software that can be uploaded and downloaded. This book isn’t the place for that—but I can’t help thinking of other books that made me ask the same question. This is sort of the sanitized version of Altered Carbon in that way—you just have to accept it unquestionably, or the book doesn’t work.

There’s a lot about grief, loss, inevitability of aging, and what betrayal and (a twisted version?) of love can drive a person to, here as well. But again, it feels like trying to dig deeper than this novella invites you to in order to ask this. It really just seems like it wants you to kick back and enjoy the ride uncritically. Just to have some fun.

And that’s 100% okay. It’s even welcome. It just makes finding something to write about difficult, you know?

So, what did I think about Murder by Memory?

The balance between worldbuilding, character, and the mystery seems off. Worldbuilding and explaining that world takes an inordinate amount of space. However…that’s not true; it’s key for this particular mystery to have the worldbuilding (the tech, the social structure, and behavior of the ship) explained.

I do think that the characters get swallowed up a bit in everything, and could be better fleshed out. The mystery itself was…fine, but your investment in the investigation hinges on learning about the ship and the technology behind the transfer of consciousness from one body to another.

That was enough for me—and enough for me to suggest that you give this a shot—but I hope for better in the next book.

This post contains an affiliate link. If you purchase from it, I will get a small commission at no additional cost to you. As always, the opinions expressed are my own.
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PUB DAY REPOST: Stakeouts and Strollers by Rob Phillips: Girl Dad, P.I.

By HCNewton

On March 17, 2026

In Fiction, Mystery/Detective Fiction/Crime Fiction/Thriller

Stakeouts and Strollers

by Rob Phillips

DETAILS:
Publisher: Minotaur Books
Publication Date: March 17, 2026
Format: eARC
Length: 336 pg.
Read Date: March 2-6, 2026

What’s Stakeouts and Strollers About?

Charlie Shaw, a former investigative reporter, is now a rookie P.I. His boss has him working low-risk cases as he learns the job—and because he’s a new dad. Charlie is besotted with his little girl, Callie. So much so that he does things like wear down his phone battery enough watching her on the monitor so he doesn’t have enough power to take the photos he needs to document his target’s affair.

Soon after, he’s back on the case and tracks the woman to the home of the man she’s having an affair with. Beyond getting the photos he needs to satisfy the client, two significant things happen.

First, he runs into a teenage girl who is seemingly trying to follow the same person. Secondly, he witnesses the man his target was seeing get beaten by a large man and acts to help him.

My summary is getting convoluted—that’s on me, not Phillips. Charlie tracks down the girl—Friday Finley—who didn’t turn out to have anything to do with anyone that was at the scene he met her at. She’s actually trying to track down her father, who ghosted her and her mother years ago, and is now seemingly tied to some criminals working out of a dive bar.

Charlie’s between jobs, thanks to getting the incriminating photos, so he can help Friday track down her dad. This is where things get complicated and dangerous.

Why did I pick this up? Why did I keep reading?

The cover and title caught my eye, and the premise sold me.

I kept reading because Phillips’ text is smooth and engaging, and Charlie is one of those narrators that you can’t help but like immediately, so you want to see how things turn out for him. And I can’t imagine how a reader can’t want to know what happens next for Friday once they’ve met her.

Basically, everything about the book made me want to keep going.

What does this book tell us about humanity?

The big through-line with this book is family. Sometimes we’re talking about found families, but most of this is blood family.

Some of the families are dysfunctional, some are loving and supportive, some are still figuring themselves out, some are falling apart—but this novel is just littered with families. It’s the key to practically every motivation, decision, and goal for these characters.

Family is something many of us take for granted, at least one we can undervalue, given whatever day/stage of life we’re in. But seeing these characters do all these various and sundry things because of family rings so true. When X is doing Y for reason Z, it’s easy to dismiss Z as folly or greed. But as soon as it becomes “for reason Z and family,” both the character X and the action Y become relatable, understandable, and possibly even sympathetic.

This is on just about every page of this novel, and more than any other reason, it’s what grounds this work and draws you in.

So, what did I think about Stakeouts and Strollers?

This is just fun—Charlie’s got all the makings of a decent fictional PI, but Callie is a big distraction for him. Which makes you like him all the more—he’s such a girl dad. When it comes to Friday, he assumes a role between paternal and big brother.

A book that starts with a P.I.’s phone battery dying because he’s watching his daughter starts off with a certain tone—mildly comedic and light. Sure, there are legitimately tense and violent scenes (nothing that couldn’t show up on Prime Time TV), but the book retains that lightness. It’s practically wholesome—particularly any scene that features Charlie’s family.

The investigation itself is full of a bunch of great turns. And Charlie’s investigative chops are pretty evident.

I don’t know if this is the beginning of a series or just a fun one-off. Either way, it’s a satisfying time, and I recommend you pick it up. I’d enjoy watching little Callie grow while her dad tackles more cases. But if this is it, I can imagine that happening anyway. I expect I won’t be alone in hoping we get to see the family again.

Disclaimer: I received this eARC from St. Martin’s Press & Minotaur Books via NetGalley in exchange for this post which contains my honest opinion—thanks to both for this.

This post contains an affiliate link. If you purchase from it, I will get a small commission at no additional cost to you. As always, the opinions expressed are my own.
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Category: Mystery/Detective Fiction/Crime Fiction/Thriller Page 1 of 153

What do you think of this list? Any warnings—or anything you think I should be really excited about?

What’s 51% About?

The Worldbuilding

Why did I pick this up? Why did I keep reading?

What does this book tell us about humanity?

So, what did I think about 51%?

The Sequel-ness of the Book

What’s A Violent Masterpiece About?

Why did I pick this up? Why did I keep reading?

What does this book tell us about humanity?

So, what did I think about A Violent Masterpiece?

What’s Enemy of My Enemy About?

Why did I pick this up? Why did I keep reading?

How was the Narration?

So, what did I think about Enemy of My Enemy?

What’s Cat on a Hot Tin Woof About?

Why did I pick this up? Why did I keep reading?

What does this book tell us about humanity?

So, what did I think about Cat on a Hot Tin Woof?

What’s Cat on a Hot Tin Woof About?

Why did I pick this up? Why did I keep reading?

What does this book tell us about humanity?

So, what did I think about Cat on a Hot Tin Woof?

What’s Murder by Memory About?

Why did I pick this up? Why did I keep reading?

What does this book tell us about humanity?

So, what did I think about Murder by Memory?

What’s Stakeouts and Strollers About?

Why did I pick this up? Why did I keep reading?

What does this book tell us about humanity?

So, what did I think about Stakeouts and Strollers?