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

Your information will only be used to respond to your message.

Showing posts with label Mystery. Show all posts

They Say a Girl Died Here by Sarah Pinborough

Monday, August 31, 2026

They Say a Girl Died Here by Sarah Pinborough

Is that a chill in the air, or is it just wishful thinking? Reality check: it's still the end of August, and I live in Texas, but I'...

Read the review →
Heart of Glass by Jennifer Hillier

Friday, August 28, 2026

Heart of Glass by Jennifer Hillier

My first introduction to Jennifer Hillier came last year when a coworker recommended I read her novel The Butcher . That twisted take on a s...

Read the review →
Under the Falls by Richard Russo

Friday, August 21, 2026

Under the Falls by Richard Russo

Richard Russo is one of those authors I've somehow managed to go all these years without reading. Of course, I knew the name. You don...

Read the review →
The Kind Worth Saving by Peter Swanson

Monday, August 17, 2026

The Kind Worth Saving by Peter Swanson

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'...

Read the review →
Brimstone Hollow by Archer Sullivan

Friday, August 14, 2026

Brimstone Hollow by Archer Sullivan

In her debut novel, The Witch's Orchard , Archer Sullivan introduced readers to private detective Annie Gore. The story pulled Annie bac...

Read the review →
Carry Me to My Grave by Christopher Golden

Monday, July 27, 2026

Carry Me to My Grave by Christopher Golden

There's probably very little we wouldn't do for our family. For Malcolm, that means keeping watch beside his dying mother's bed ...

Read the review →
The Girls Trip by Ally Condie

Monday, July 20, 2026

The Girls Trip by Ally Condie

There's nothing better than a summer vacation. Okay, hold on. If I'm being honest, the season matters a lot less than the fact that ...

Read the review →
The Break-Up Retreat by Camilla Sten

Monday, July 6, 2026

The Break-Up Retreat by Camilla Sten

It's the height of summer here in South Texas, but that doesn't mean I'm staying indoors. In fact, I spent much of the holiday w...

Read the review →
Man of My Dreams by Olivia Worley

Friday, June 26, 2026

Man of My Dreams by Olivia Worley

Ivy Harcourt is riding high on the success of her debut romance novel. A reimagining of Wuthering Heights with a much happier ending, the b...

Read the review →
It Could Have Been Her by Lisa Jewell

Monday, June 22, 2026

It Could Have Been Her by Lisa Jewell

Lisa Jewell 's novels are the literary equivalent of quicksand. You step in intending to read a chapter or two, and suddenly it's mi...

Read the review →
Heather by Caitlin Mullen

Tuesday, June 9, 2026

Heather by Caitlin Mullen

I love it when an author can transport you to a specific place and time. That's exactly what Caitlin Mullen accomplished with her debut...

Read the review →
Go Gentle by Maria Semple

Friday, May 8, 2026

Go Gentle by Maria Semple

Adora Hazzard has life figured out. Or at least, she believes she does. A philosopher and devoted follower of Stoicism, Adora has built her ...

Read the review →
Cross & Sampson by James Patterson and Brian Sitts

Monday, February 9, 2026

Cross & Sampson by James Patterson and Brian Sitts

The Alex Cross series has been a mainstay on my reading list ever since I first picked up Mary, Mary as a high school student. For the bett...

Read the review →
Wreck Your Heart by Lori Rader-Day

Friday, January 9, 2026

Wreck Your Heart by Lori Rader-Day

All good country songs are tinged with a bit of heartache, and Dahlia “Doll” Devine has lived through enough pain to write a thousand of the...

Read the review →
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...

Read the review →
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...

Read the review →
Sharp Force by Patricia Cornwell

Monday, October 13, 2025

Sharp Force by Patricia Cornwell

For 35 years, Patricia Cornwell has thrilled, educated, and horrified readers with her bestselling series featuring forensic pathologist Kay...

Read the review →
Universal Harvester by John Darnielle

Saturday, October 4, 2025

Universal Harvester by John Darnielle

It’s the 1990s, and video rental stores are king. In a small Iowa town, the mom-and-pop Video Hut holds its own against the threat of a shin...

Read the review →
What We Can Know by Ian McEwan

Tuesday, September 30, 2025

What We Can Know by Ian McEwan

What can we know? The answer depends, of course, on what it means to truly know something. History’s greatest thinkers have wrestled with t...

Read the review →
Daisy Darker by Alice Feeney

Monday, September 22, 2025

Daisy Darker by Alice Feeney

As the month winds down, I wrapped up another pick from my mystery/thriller book club, Alice Feeney’s 2022 novel Daisy Darker . This group h...

Read the review →
Powered by Blogger.