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 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 do this thing where I really enjoy a book, vow to read the sequel, and then somehow wait years before I actually get around to it. It's not intentional, of course. There are simply more books out there than I'll ever have time to read, and I can't help getting distracted by whatever shiny new release catches my eye that week. The downside is that I often forget about, or straight-up ignore, a series that I'd probably really enjoy.

So when I read Peter Swanson's excellent The Kind Worth Killing last week, I was determined not to let its sequel fall by the wayside. I'm happy to report that I stuck to my guns and read The Kind Worth Saving over the weekend.

Henry Kimball is a former cop turned private investigator. You'll have to read the previous book to find out exactly why he left the police force, but suffice it to say, he's landed on his feet. When Joan walks into his office, though, Henry is immediately transported even further into his past, back to the days before he was a police officer, when he taught high school English. Joan was one of his students, and the two lived through a tragedy in his classroom that ultimately drove Henry from teaching for good. Seeing her again brings memories of that day rushing back.

Joan has come to Henry for help proving that her husband is cheating on her. It should be a fairly straightforward case of uncovering infidelity, but things quickly take a much darker turn. For the second time in their lives, Henry and Joan's paths cross only for tragedy to follow. Suddenly, the past seems to be repeating itself, and Henry realizes that finding the truth about what's happening now may require him to revisit one of the worst days of his life.

I'm really glad I didn't wait to read this one. The Kind Worth Saving sees Peter Swanson expand upon the story and characters he introduced in the first book without simply retreading the same ground. Henry was mostly on the sidelines in The Kind Worth Killing, so I enjoyed seeing his character fleshed out and given a much more prominent role here. Swanson once again employs shifting perspectives and flashbacks to gradually reveal the full picture of this cat-and-mouse thriller. While I didn't find that approach as effective here as in the first book, I still had a ton of fun watching everything come together.

Lily Kintner takes more of a backseat, especially early on, but I was okay with that. This is ultimately Henry's story, and seeing how his path intertwines with Lily's across both novels makes the two books feel like parts of a larger whole. I've already read the third book in the series, so for now, my time with Henry and Lily has come to an end. I'm not quite ready to say goodbye to them, though. Peter Swanson, consider this my official request for another!

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

(2026, 64)

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Comments

Lark@LarkWritesAugust 17, 2026 at 4:03 PM
Yay for reading the sequel while you still remember the first book! I get distracted by new books, too, and often never get around to reading the sequel or next book in the series...even when I really want to. And I hate when I wait so long to read it that I can't remember the first one. ;D Too many books, not enough time to read them all!
Kimberly @ Caffeinated ReviewerAugust 18, 2026 at 10:09 AM
Glad you enjoyed it!
Mary KirklandAugust 18, 2026 at 5:35 PM
Sounds like this series is really good so far.
Samantha@WLABBAugust 19, 2026 at 2:13 PM
Ha! Guilty as charged. I saw this sequel all over this week that I BOUGHT years ago and still haven't read. Good for you making this happen and enjoying it.
Ashley SappAugust 20, 2026 at 10:41 AM
I do the same thing with sequels. I always mean to read them, but I get distracted by new books. I'm glad you enjoyed this one!
Roberta R.August 21, 2026 at 9:09 AM
Books that tie in with a past tragedy/pivotal event are such a treat.
BlodeueddAugust 24, 2026 at 3:27 PM
I like that cover, very eerie

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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