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.

Publishers & Authors

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.

General Inquiries

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

She sits in the dark—cold, alone, afraid—waiting.

He used to open the door. He would bring her food, yes, but it was that brief slice of light she craved most. A reminder that the outside world still existed, even if the girl she once was did not.

But then he stopped coming.

A few days passed. Then a few more. Hunger gnawed. Silence pressed in. And slowly, dread settled into certainty. He was never coming back.

So she remained there in the dark, chained to the wall, surrounded only by the others—the girls who came before her, the ones who never left.

Audrey never stopped searching for her ex–best friend, Janie. They were only teenagers when Janie vanished, but the shock of her disappearance sent ripples through every corner of Audrey’s adult life. When she’s not teaching at the local high school, Audrey volunteers with search-and-rescue teams—part devotion, part penance, as if finding someone else might somehow atone for not finding Janie.

But when a search for a runaway girl uncovers evidence of a possible kidnapping, long-buried secrets and old traumas begin to surface. Audrey is forced to finally reckon with the truth she’s avoided for years and to confront what really happened to Janie.

I didn’t need to read the synopsis to know I’d be picking up The Girls Before, the latest from Kate Alice Marshall. She became a must-read for me after What Lies in the Woods and A Killing Cold, so my expectations were high. Still, the premise of this standalone thriller immediately hooked me.

Marshall employs shifting perspectives between the trapped girl and the woman searching for answers, a structure that creates an early sense of urgency and dread. The opening is undeniably gripping. But as the story unfolds, that momentum begins to thin. There are the bones of a compelling thriller here, but elements like the folkloric legend and a romantic subplot pulled attention away from the central mystery.

By the time the major twist arrived, I’d already pieced it together and found myself more ready for the conclusion than surprised by it. Even so, Marshall’s ability to craft suspenseful scenarios and emotionally driven stakes remains as strong as ever. While this one didn’t resonate with me as much as her previous novels, it won’t stop me from eagerly picking up whatever she writes next.

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

(2026, 16)

Reviews

A growing library of books and the thoughts they inspired.

Browse the Library

Showing reviews Sort by:

No reviews match those filters.

A Book A Week by the Numbers

14 Years of A Book A Week

— Book Reviews

— Authors Reviewed

— Books Reviewed This Year

18 Comments

Comments

Samantha@WLABBFebruary 24, 2026 at 11:21 AM
This story would make me emotional. Glad to hear the author continues to wow you
Kimberly @ Caffeinated ReviewerFebruary 24, 2026 at 12:00 PM
Despite solving things on your own, this does sound like an author I need to try. I added What Lies in the Woods to my library que.
Lark@LarkWritesFebruary 24, 2026 at 5:27 PM
I did really like her book What Lies in the Woods, so I will definitely be checking this one out, too. Great review, Ethan. :D
Roberta R.February 25, 2026 at 11:17 AM
"By the time the major twist arrived, I’d already pieced it together and found myself more ready for the conclusion than surprised by it."
Uh. Not a good sign. I have to admit, I have only read her YA books - really enjoyed Rules for Vanishing, liked Our Last Echoes a bit less because it was confusing, gave 3.5 stars to The Narrow (ARC review). After that, I've been vary of picking up her adult books. Maybe this one is just a bump in the road, but after The Narrow, I got afraid she'd never be able to recapture the magic. I hope her books continue to be a hit for you, though this one didn't wow you.
Mary KirklandFebruary 25, 2026 at 3:29 PM
Reading the POV of the trapped woman would be very hard. Makes me wonder what happened to her.
Ashley SappFebruary 27, 2026 at 10:59 AM
This is an author I need to read. This sounds really compelling. It's too bad it didn't resonate as much as her other novels. Hopefully her next one will.
BlodeueddFebruary 28, 2026 at 3:03 AM
Omg so creepy. Hating that he is there, and then fearing when he does not come
Rachel @Waves of FictionMarch 1, 2026 at 4:07 PM
Like you, this wasn't my favorite of Marshall, but still a solid mystery!

A Book A Week

Reviews

Browse the Library

A Book A Week by the Numbers

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