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.

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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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I’ve been a voracious reader of crime fiction for as long as I can remember. No other genre hooks me quite like the slow unraveling of a mystery, and I always find myself coming back to it after wandering into other types of books. That was the case with Joe R. Lansdale’s latest novel, Hatchet Girls. His publisher kindly sent me a copy of the fourteenth installment featuring his crime-solving duo Hap and Leonard. Though I hadn’t read any of the previous books in the series, I decided to dive in. Coming off a nonfiction read, I was eager for something that felt a bit more familiar.

Hap and Leonard have their hands full on the domestic front, happy to let their private investigation work sit on the back burner for a while. Hap and Brett are busy making their new home perfect, settling into cohabitation with all the mess and joy that comes with it. Meanwhile, Leonard is caught up in the whirlwind of wedding planning with his fiancée, Pookie. There’s a guest list to finalize and a venue to secure, but mostly Leonard is just thrilled at the thought of marrying the love of his life. Both men are content, happy even, but if history has taught them anything, it’s that peace never lasts long.

Sure enough, chaos comes calling, literally, in the form of a panicked young woman and a pig strung out on meth. Hap and Leonard rush in, only to discover the hog is the least of their problems. Their caller is tangled up with a crew of hatchet-wielding women, all sworn to a vengeful leader with big plans for blood-soaked retribution. What starts as a bizarre errand spirals into a helter-skelter showdown, forcing Hap and Leonard to set aside their home lives and square off against lunacy in its purest, most violent form.

The term hard-boiled gets tossed around a lot in crime fiction, but it feels tailor-made for Hatchet Girls. Joe R. Lansdale blends pulpy wit with bursts of violence to craft a story that’s both timeless and timely. Hap and Leonard are throwback detectives at heart—unafraid to bend the rules if that’s what it takes to set things right—and following them is pure fun. Even without any background in the series, I slipped easily into Lansdale’s world, rooting for his mismatched heroes while marveling at the sheer lunacy of their enemies. The result is a brisk, wildly entertaining read that scratched my itch for a true hard-boiled crime novel.

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

(2025, 69)

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25 Comments

Comments

Mary KirklandSeptember 1, 2025 at 2:08 PM
This sounds all kinds of entertaining.
Roberta R.September 1, 2025 at 2:34 PM
"Joe R. Lansdale blends pulpy wit with bursts of violence to craft a story that’s both timeless and timely."
As usual, you're the master of words 🙇‍♀️.

I'm more of a cozy mystery fan, I'll admit. Which is fun because on the other hand, I read all these blood-filled books LOL. Anyhow, it's good to know that one can slip into this world even without having read the previous installments.
AnonymousSeptember 1, 2025 at 3:14 PM
Hap and Leonard have an unrivaled match for getting into and out of trouble.
Molly | Transatlantic NotesSeptember 2, 2025 at 5:52 AM
I typically really enjoy this genre, and this title really does seem to be one to read and enjoy. I am intrigued by it, and will have to add this to my list of books to get!
Lux G.September 2, 2025 at 11:36 AM
Ooh. I do love a good crime mystery thriller! I'll add this to my list.
Rachel @Waves of FictionSeptember 2, 2025 at 12:19 PM
The villains do sound crazy! Nice to know you can jump in and enjoy this as a standalone. You know I love crime procedurals, too! I'll check this one out.
CindySeptember 2, 2025 at 2:49 PM
I do enjoy suspense novels as well. As a mood reader though, recently I have just been going toward lighter stuff. I am currently reading one called Cold Dead Night and it is good. It's been hard to put down. Great review, and I love that it is a series you could pick up without feeling like you have missed something.
Lark@LarkWritesSeptember 2, 2025 at 4:28 PM
Nice to know that you could dive into this one without having read any of the others and still enjoy it. Those two many characters sound great. And what a crazy scenario. I'm putting this one on my list. :D
Kimberly @ Caffeinated ReviewerSeptember 2, 2025 at 6:35 PM
Now this I know I would enjoy. Great review Ethan!
BlodeueddSeptember 4, 2025 at 3:19 PM
Pulpy wit and violence, that is quite something
Samantha@WLABBSeptember 4, 2025 at 5:16 PM
I am impressed with how many long running series you read. You are a dedicated reader. A pig strung out on meth <-- crazy!
ElunedHermitCrabSeptember 4, 2025 at 8:29 PM
Love hearing that you could jump right into this one without reading the previous installments! That's one of the things that intimidates me about some of these big crime thriller series: I don't know if I can jump in. And I don't know if it is worth investing in 14-something books just to get to the one that has a premise I'm interested in, you know?

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.

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