About Me

The story behind A Book A Week, and the reader behind the reviews.

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.

Line drawing portrait of Ethan

Hi, I'm Ethan

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.

Loose hand-drawn fountain pen illustration

Review Disclaimer

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.

Contact

Have a question about the blog, a book you think I should read, or just want to say hello? I'd love to hear from you.

Drop me a note using the form below.

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.

Find Me Elsewhere

Send a Message

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Showing posts with label Murder Mystery. Show all posts

Do You See What I See? by Peter Swanson

Tuesday, October 6, 2026

Do You See What I See? by Peter Swanson

No need to adjust your screens. Yes, it's still October. And yes, this is a review of a Christmas book. I know what you're thinking....

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My Sister Is Going to Kill Me by Nina Simon

Wednesday, September 2, 2026

My Sister Is Going to Kill Me by Nina Simon

How close are you with your siblings? I'm lucky to have a great relationship with both my younger brothers, but with all three of us liv...

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The Kind Worth Killing by Peter Swanson

Wednesday, August 5, 2026

The Kind Worth Killing by Peter Swanson

It starts with a chance encounter at an airport bar. Ted spots the stunning Lily sitting alone, nursing a martini, and strikes up a conversa...

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Dissection of a Murder by Jo Murray

Wednesday, July 1, 2026

Dissection of a Murder by Jo Murray

Have you ever found yourself in a situation you felt completely unprepared to face? That's exactly how Leila feels when she's assign...

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The Fair Weather Friend by Jessie Garcia

Friday, April 3, 2026

The Fair Weather Friend by Jessie Garcia

There’s no denying that the landscape of local news has shifted dramatically in recent decades. I remember my parents watching the evening b...

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Postmortem by Patricia Cornwell

Monday, March 23, 2026

Postmortem by Patricia Cornwell

There are a handful of authors I credit with hooking me on reading, and Patricia Cornwell is definitely one of them. I still remember picki...

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Head Cases by John McMahon

Friday, December 19, 2025

Head Cases by John McMahon

I’m a sucker for a good murder mystery. There’s something about the thrill of peeling back the layers of a well-crafted whodunit that grips ...

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Return of the Spider by James Patterson

Monday, November 17, 2025

Return of the Spider by James Patterson

There’s a certain sense of nostalgia I get every time I pick up a new Alex Cross book. I was first introduced to James Patterson’s bestselli...

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False Witness by Phillip Margolin

Tuesday, November 11, 2025

False Witness by Phillip Margolin

I was first introduced to Phillip Margolin’s legal thrillers with last year’s An Insignificant Case . That novel—about an unlikely duo, a qu...

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The Widow by John Grisham

Monday, October 27, 2025

The Widow by John Grisham

When I was a young reader in high school, struggling to slog through my required literature (looking at you, The Canterbury Tales ), my mom ...

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Murder Takes a Vacation by Laura Lippman

Tuesday, June 17, 2025

Murder Takes a Vacation by Laura Lippman

I’ve always been fascinated by what inspires an author to write a book. Think about it—authors have to come up with an idea compelling enoug...

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He's To Die For by Erin Dunn

Friday, June 6, 2025

He's To Die For by Erin Dunn

Happy Pride Month! While I try to read books that feature diverse stories year-round, having dedicated celebratory months is a great remind...

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The Murder Show by Matt Goldman

Friday, April 18, 2025

The Murder Show by Matt Goldman

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 s...

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Lethal Prey by John Sandford

Monday, March 31, 2025

Lethal Prey by John Sandford

I've been a devoted fan of John Sandford's crime novels ever since I first discovered his Virgil Flowers series in college. Sandfor...

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The Unlucky Ones by Hannah Morrissey

Wednesday, March 26, 2025

The Unlucky Ones by Hannah Morrissey

I first discovered Hannah Morrissey’s writing through her fantastic debut, Hello, Transcriber , where she introduced the bleak and crime-rid...

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A Talent for Murder by Peter Swanson

Friday, March 14, 2025

A Talent for Murder by Peter Swanson

Martha has always believed she’s cursed when it comes to love. Every relationship has ended in disaster, leaving the quiet librarian to embr...

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The Butcher and the Wren by Alaina Urquhart

Friday, January 10, 2025

The Butcher and the Wren by Alaina Urquhart

New Orleans, a city brimming with life, culture, and music, is overshadowed by a wave of dread. The Butcher—a sadistic serial killer—has mad...

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The House of Cross by James Patterson

Saturday, January 4, 2025

The House of Cross by James Patterson

As we enter 2025, with a promising lineup of exciting new book releases on the horizon, I’m kicking off my reading year with a title from la...

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Deadly Animals by Marie Tierney

Monday, November 18, 2024

Deadly Animals by Marie Tierney

Childhood is a time of self-discovery, a phase of learning who we are, what we love, and how we fit into the vast world. It’s often marked b...

Read the review →
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