It started with a New Year's resolution:
1 book a week, 52 books in a year.
I kept reading, and it grew into something much more.

Back in 2011, I was an avid reader who had somehow lost my way with reading. Between working and being a full-time student, reading for pleasure had slowly fallen by the wayside.

I wanted to change that. So I gave myself a New Year's resolution to read one book every week for a year. I started A Book A Week on January 1, 2012 as a way to hold myself accountable and share what I was reading along the way.

I didn't quite reach my goal that first year, but I kept reading. I kept reviewing. And all these years later, I'm still here, looking forward to whatever book comes next. Some years I crush my goals, some years I don't, but my love for a good book has never wavered.

Reader. Blogger.
Book lover.

I'm a lifelong reader with a particular soft spot for mysteries and thrillers. I've always loved the genre, and I credit those stories—the twists, suspense, and need to know what happens next—with keeping me a reader as an adult. My reading has taken me in all kinds of directions since then, but I'll always come back to a good mystery.

I love creepy horror novels. A fascinating work of nonfiction can completely pull me in, too. And I've found plenty of favorites in science fiction, literary fiction, romance, and other genres I might never have picked up when I first started the blog. That's part of the fun. I never quite know what kind of story is going to grab me next.

When I'm not reading or writing reviews, you'll usually find me at home with my husband and our pets. I'm a classically trained musician and composer, an enthusiastic home cook, and a backyard gardener. There's usually a trip to look forward to or some new project that has caught my interest, too.

At the end of the day, I just really love books. There's nothing quite like discovering a story I can't put down or finding an author I can't wait to read again. Even when a book doesn't quite work for me, I still enjoy thinking about why and putting those thoughts into words. That's what keeps me reading, reviewing, and sharing it all here on A Book A Week.

Honest reviews, always.

Some of the books I review are ones I've purchased myself. Others are provided by publishers or authors in exchange for an honest review. Either way, what I write here is always what I really think.

Not every book is going to work for every reader, and that's part of the fun of talking about books. I'll tell you what worked for me, what didn't, and hopefully give you enough to decide whether a book might be right for you.

Good, bad, or somewhere in between, you'll always get my honest take.

Let's Connect

I'm always happy to hear from readers, publishers, authors, and fellow book lovers.

Review Copies

I'm always open to considering books for review. I read across a pretty wide range of genres, though mysteries and thrillers tend to be particular favorites. If you'd like me to consider a book, send along a little information about it and why you think it might be a good fit for A Book A Week.

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Review requests, interviews, features, or something else you have in mind? Send me a note. I'm always happy to hear about new books and opportunities that might be a good fit for the blog.

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Have a question, a recommendation, or just want to talk books? Those messages are welcome, too.

Martha has always believed she’s cursed when it comes to love. Every relationship has ended in disaster, leaving the quiet librarian to embrace a solitary life with nothing but her beloved books for company. But then she met Alan. He was older, yes, but he was kind, devoted, and truly seemed to love her. Before long, they were married, and for the first time, Martha thought her luck had finally changed.

Yet, even in marriage, loneliness lingers. As a traveling salesman, Alan spends most of his time on the road, peddling teacher-themed tchotchkes at education conventions. A year into their relationship, Martha realizes she barely knows the man she married. Then she finds blood on the collar of one of his shirts. Her unease grows as she digs deeper, uncovering a series of murdered women, each killed in a city that coincides with Alan’s travels.

Could her husband be a serial killer, or is it all a terrible coincidence? Unsure of what to believe, Martha reaches out to an old graduate school friend, Lily Kintner. Lily has a knack for handling dangerous men. Eager to uncover the truth, Lily agrees to investigate Alan. What she discovers is far more twisted and sinister than they ever imagined.

In A Talent for Murder, Peter Swanson once again proves his knack for crafting gripping, twist-filled thrillers. Having long admired his stand-alone novels, I grabbed this one when I spotted it at my local library. It wasn’t until I was well into the story that I realized it’s actually the third book in a series that began with The Kind Worth Killing. Fortunately, A Talent for Murder works just fine on its own.

Swanson wastes no time pulling readers in, opening with a tragic perspective from one of the victims. The story was heading toward a fairly predictable conclusion until Swanson flipped the script entirely. The twist caught me completely off guard, shifting the novel’s trajectory to make the final act even more intense and satisfying than I had expected. Fast-paced and full of surprises, A Talent for Murder is a sharp, exhilarating mystery that proves Swanson is writing at the top of his game.

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

(2025, 21)

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22 Comments

Comments

Lark@LarkWritesMarch 14, 2025 at 10:04 AM
I've read a few of his books that I really enjoyed. And I love when an author is able to flip the script and completely surprise you while still writing a satisfying ending. This sounds like a fun twisty thriller, and one I want to read! :D
KarenMarch 14, 2025 at 12:33 PM
As you may know, I'm not a thriller reader but this does sound very good.
Mary KirklandMarch 14, 2025 at 1:07 PM
Finally finding love and then suspecting your new husband is a serial killer? Oh I feel bad for that woman. This sounds really good.
Kimberly @ Caffeinated ReviewerMarch 14, 2025 at 3:05 PM
I think I need to try this title and author. It sounds perfectly chilling!
Rachel @Waves of FictionMarch 14, 2025 at 7:03 PM
Oh, this sounds so good and I like that you don't have to read the previous two books to enjoy this one. I'll add it to my TBR!
Samantha@WLABBMarch 15, 2025 at 12:58 PM
That has to be a nightmare to think your husband is a serial killer! It's interesting that the author wrote from one of the victim's POVs.
Roberta R.March 16, 2025 at 9:39 AM
"The story was heading toward a fairly predictable conclusion until Swanson flipped the script entirely."
Don't you just love it when it happens? and in a way that makes sense, I guess, not for shock value only?
Ashley SappMarch 16, 2025 at 11:06 AM
This sounds like a great, twisty thriller. I love when a book can surprise me and completely flip the script.
Sarah @ All The Book Blog Names Are TakenMarch 17, 2025 at 1:27 PM
I can't remember off the top of my head if I have read anything by him. But his name sounds familiar. If this does okay as a stand-alone like you said, I think I will see if our library has it!
BlodeueddMarch 18, 2025 at 4:04 PM
fast paced and full of surprises sure sounds good to me
KarenMarch 20, 2025 at 12:48 PM
Love a good twist! What makes it a series? It sounds like totally different characters/story.

A Book A Week

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About Me

It started with a New Year's resolution:
1 book a week, 52 books in a year.
I kept reading, and it grew into something much more.

Reader. Blogger.
Book lover.

Honest reviews, always.

Contact