A Book A Week

There’s nothing more certain in the horror genre than a sequel following a smash hit. Adam Cesare’s 2020 novel Clown in a Cornfield was precisely that—a slasher steeped in tradition but energized by a sharp commentary on political polarization and generational conflict. It ended with a satisfying conclusion that could easily stand on its own. But when has that ever stopped a sequel? So, with a mix of anticipation and trepidation, I dove into Clown in a Cornfield 2: Frendo Lives.

A year ago, Quinn was just trying to survive her senior year after moving to the small town of Kettle Springs. What she didn’t expect was a group of unhinged adults donning clown masks and launching a murderous crusade against the youth they blamed for their town’s decline. Quinn made it out—barely—and now she’s starting over in college, trying to move past the trauma and look toward the future.

But trauma doesn’t vanish with a change of scenery. Even hundreds of miles from Kettle Springs, Quinn can’t escape the past. She’s become a target for online conspiracy theorists who insist the massacre never happened. The facts are undeniable, but in the age of disinformation, facts don’t always win. And when a clown attacks Quinn at a college party, she realizes the nightmare isn’t over. The only way to end it is to return to where it all started. To the cornfields. To the truth. Because when reality gets drowned out by lies, people don’t just get confused—they get killed.

Sequels rarely live up to their predecessors, and Clown in a Cornfield 2: Frendo Lives is no exception. What felt sharp and timely in the original now comes across as obligatory. The characters are thinner, the horror less inventive, and the political commentary that once gave the story its bite now feels more heavy-handed than insightful. Adam Cesare still delivers a brisk, bingeable read, but it largely rehashes familiar ground. It’s a decent thriller, and perhaps even more enjoyable for those who haven’t read the first, but for fans returning to the franchise, it’s hard to ignore the lessened impact of this story. Like many horror series before it, this one seems to be falling into the trap of diminishing returns. Still, a final twist offers a flicker of intrigue for what might come next. I’ll be reading, but I’m tempering my expectations.

For more information, visit the author's website, Amazon, and Goodreads. 

(2025, 32)

The sheer volume of WWII fiction lining bookstore shelves often leaves me hesitant to dive in. For every standout that offers a fresh perspective, there seem to be dozens more that simply reiterate the familiar beats of the war. So when I picked up bestselling author David Baldacci’s latest novel, Strangers in Time, I was curious to see if the acclaimed crime writer could bring something new to such a well-worn genre. It also marked my first time reading Baldacci, so I wasn’t exactly sure what to expect. What I found surprised me. Rather than a bombastic retelling of battlefield horrors, Strangers in Time is a quietly powerful, nuanced exploration of how ordinary people survived amidst the emotional and physical wreckage left by the war.

At just fourteen, Charlie Matters has already endured more heartbreak than any young boy should. Orphaned and aimless, he survives by skipping school and stealing whatever he can. He dreams of one day joining the war effort, but for now, he’s still too young. His path crosses with fifteen-year-old Molly Wakefield, who recently returned to a bomb-ravaged London after five years of being evacuated in the countryside. She, too, is alone—both of her parents are missing—and she and Charlie find comfort in their shared grief.

The two form an unlikely bond with Ignatius Oliver, a widowed bookshop owner who recognizes something of his own sorrow in the children. But each member of this makeshift family carries secrets and danger. Charlie’s thefts have put him in the crosshairs of the law, someone has been shadowing Molly, and Ignatius is haunted by a devastating truth his late wife took to her grave. As bombs fall and war tears through the city, Charlie, Molly, and Ignatius discover that trust, even in the most fragile form, might be the only thing that can keep them alive.

David Baldacci has built a career on novels filled with crime, espionage, and thrills. While Strangers in Time includes moments of all three, it’s the deeply human characters and their emotional journeys that make this novel stand out. The story is dense, occasionally feeling overstuffed and slowed by its own pacing, but the characters rise above, grounding the narrative in genuine emotion and reminding us of the personal cost of war. It’s a quietly powerful read that ultimately hits the right notes, setting it apart from the many WWII novels lining bookstore shelves. As my introduction to Baldacci’s work, Strangers in Time left me eager to explore more of what he has to offer.

For more information, visit the author's website, Amazon, and Goodreads. 

(2025, 31)

Ethan Harris has a bona fide hit with The Murder Show. After years of bouncing between writing gigs, he’s finally struck gold, creating a series that blends the addictiveness of a network procedural with the depth of prestige drama. Now, with three successful seasons under his belt as showrunner, Ethan is eager to dive into season four. There’s just one problem: Hollywood is in the middle of a writers' strike, and the network has rejected his latest pitch.

Running low on inspiration—and desperate to impress the execs—Ethan returns to the last place he ever expected to find a story. Ethan goes back home.

Back in Minnesota, he reconnects with his former classmate Ro, who is now a local cop. She’s recently uncovered new evidence related to the unsolved hit-and-run that killed their friend Ricky the summer after high school. Ro believes revisiting Ricky’s case could not only help bring the killer to justice but also provide Ethan with the kind of gripping story that The Murder Show is known for. If he writes the murder into the show, the national attention might shake loose long-buried secrets.

But the deeper Ethan and Ro dig, the clearer it becomes that someone will do anything to keep the truth buried — even if it means silencing them for good.

I was completely enamored by the blend of compelling cold case mystery and behind-the-scenes drama in Matt Goldman's The Murder Show. Much like the fictional series at its center, the novel skillfully fuses elements of procedural crime with rich character development, making for a story that immediately hooked me. There’s thrills, romance, humor—basically everything I look for in a great crime read. Sure, some of the plot beats feel a bit familiar, but honestly, that’s part of the charm. The Murder Show is a fast, fun, and satisfying mystery that delivers on all fronts. 

For more information, visit the author's website, Amazon, and Goodreads. 

(2025, 30)

Rock climbing is no small feat. It demands athleticism, skill, and unwavering focus. Finn knows this well. An experienced climber, she respects the risks that come with the sport she loves. As she prepares for her latest ascent into the Australian wilderness, Finn isn’t just checking the strength of her ropes and gear—she’s also bracing herself for a different kind of challenge.

For years, Finn and her best friend Daphne were inseparable, bonded by a heartbreaking connection. Both lost their sisters to suicide. That shared grief became the foundation of a deep friendship. Time marches on, though, and now Finn is in a new chapter of her life, building a relationship with her girlfriend, Magdu.

Hoping to bridge the gap between past and present, Finn invites both women on a celebratory climb. She’s triple-checked the gear and done her best to prepare emotionally. But nothing could prepare her for what happens next.

As the book’s title ominously suggests, Magdu's rope snaps. In an instant, a joyful adventure turns into a nightmare. Stunned and grieving, Finn must reckon with the possibility that this wasn’t just a tragic accident. As doubts creep in and secrets rise to the surface, she’s forced to question everything she thought she knew about the people she loves, the life she’s built, and what really happened on that cliff.

Girl Falling sees Hayley Scrivenor explore the fragile threads of friendship, family, and the trust we place in those closest to us. The tragic accident that opens the novel is merely the spark for a series of thrilling and deeply emotional revelations. Scrivenor masterfully weaves between past and present, giving readers glimpses into Finn’s relationships with both Daphne and Magdu, even as we watch her navigate the grief and uncertainty that follows Magdu’s death. This dual timeline adds a richness that pushes the story beyond a typical mystery.

There’s also a powerful commentary on the relationship between Finn and Magdu, particularly in the way Magdu’s parents struggle to accept their daughter’s sexuality. Scrivenor touches on this with nuance, offering an important reminder that LGBTQ+ rights aren’t just about love or marriage. They’re about the right to grieve, to be acknowledged, and to be treated with dignity in every corner of life.

Ultimately, Girl Falling delivers a suspenseful mystery with real emotional heft. While the twist at the end didn’t entirely land for me, it didn’t take away from the novel’s overall impact. It’s a solid, thoughtful read that I thoroughly enjoyed. 

For more information, visit the author's website, Amazon, and Goodreads. 

(2025, 29)

What’s in a name? In today’s divided world, even the act of choosing what to call someone can spark controversy. Pronouns, preferred names, who we love—everything’s a battlefield. For the protagonist of Make Sure You Die Screaming, the idea of choosing a name feels impossible. Recently, out as nonbinary, they haven’t quite settled on what they want to be called. But to be fair, they’ve had other things on their mind. 

Their cushy corporate job exploded in spectacular fashion. Their relationship ended in violence. And the head injury from that breakup? It might’ve left them with brain damage—or at least, that’s the story they’re telling themself. Now, they’re spiraling, numbing the pain with an epic bender, and waiting for rock bottom to show up.

Then comes a phone call from their mom with news that their ultra-conservative, conspiracy-loving MAGA dad has gone missing. Just the news to push them over the edge. Still, ever the loyal—well, something (son? daughter? honestly, even they’re not sure)—they pack up, leave Chicago behind, and head to Arkansas to figure out what happened. Yes, the car is stolen. Yes, their partner in this misadventure is a self-described “garbage goth” best friend with a mess of her own. But together, they hit the road chasing a mystery—and maybe a little clarity—through a country as fractured and bizarre as their own sense of self.

If ever there were a book tailor-made for this moment, Make Sure You Die Screaming by Zee Carlstrom would be it. Carlstrom writes with a unique blend of urgency and humor, holding up an unflinching mirror to our world and daring us to look. The result is electric. At times, it's chaotic, yes, but no more chaotic than the headlines we’re bombarded with daily. No topic is off-limits. Gender expression, family, grief, capitalism, romance, and friendship all find their place on this wild, cathartic road trip. The journey becomes authentically messy, filled with sharp commentary, biting comedy, and surprising tenderness. Make Sure You Die Screaming is bold, brash, and pulsing with life. It's a fearless, unforgettable read.

For more information, visit the author's website, Amazon, and Goodreads. 

(2024, 28)

I can recall the days of the internet's infancy, the sheer excitement at the possibilities it would bring to our world mixed with the skepticism that it would deliver on all that it promised. Hefty encyclopedias had long been our gateway to knowledge, but the internet threatened to upend that entirely. Even with its screeching dial-up tones, sluggish speeds, and frequent outages, it changed the world in ways we never could have anticipated. Now, with Wi-Fi considered a basic necessity and AI poised to disrupt our lives once again, we are still grappling with the consequences of our hyper-connected existence.

Our dependence on technology is becoming more prevalent each day, but are we actually more connected to each other? In his newest novel, Twist, author Colum McCann grapples with this question, forcing us to contemplate the fractures that have formed in our increasingly interconnected lives. 

"Mine has been a lifetime of dropped connections."

At 47, Irish writer Anthony Fennell fears his life has plateaued. His novels saw modest success, his plays fared only slightly better, and his personal life is in shambles. Divorced, estranged from his teenage son, and drowning in self-doubt (and whiskey), he’s desperate for a break.

Most of the internet’s data travels through fiber optic cables lying deep beneath the ocean. Cables that, from time to time, snap. And when they do, someone has to fix them. Out of the blue, a magazine editor offers Anthony an assignment to cover the dangerous work of repairing these underwater lifelines. He’s less intrigued by the technicalities of the cables themselves and more by the deeper story they symbolize. He plans to tell a tale of connection, resilience, and restoration.

Joining a deep-sea repair crew led by the enigmatic John Conway, an expert free diver/engineer, Anthony embarks on a journey unlike any other. Isolated at sea with a diverse crew and miles of ocean in every direction, he finds himself drawn into their mission to reconnect the world. But as the cables pulse with the world’s conversations, they also carry news that will change the course of the journey and Anthony's life forever. 

Twist is a fitting title for a novel that seeks to encapsulate the vastness of humanity within a relatively self-contained narrative. Colum McCann’s latest book explores the enormity of the world. There are the sprawling oceans, the cables running beneath them, and the intricate web of connectivity they sustain. Yet, at its core, this is a quietly intimate story.

Anthony is a man searching for purpose, and in John Conway, he encounters someone who, at least on the surface, seems to have found his. Conway is singularly skilled, excelling in his dangerous yet crucial work. But his past remains elusive. Even when Anthony meets Conway’s lover and learns more about his personal life, he is left with more questions than answers. The journey toward meaning is anything but straightforward.

As the novel twists through revelations and unexpected turns, certainty remains just out of reach. Twist becomes a meditation on connection. McCann urges us to seek it not just through technology but in the real world through conversations, experiences, and acts of love. While at times challenging and even frustrating, it is ultimately a novel that compels us to reflect on the bonds we have forged in our own lives and the path we traverse in finding our own sense of being. 

For more information, visit the author's website, Amazon, and Goodreads. 

(2025, 27)