A Book A Week

Lisa Jewell's novels are the literary equivalent of quicksand. You step in intending to read a chapter or two, and suddenly it's midnight, you're waist-deep in the story, and every attempt to stop reading only pulls you in further. So when her latest novel, It Could Have Been Her, was announced, it immediately shot to the top of my TBR pile. Thankfully, her publisher provided me with a copy, and I'm happy to report that it's another addictive thriller from an author who seems incapable of writing anything less than a compelling page-turner.

Jane Trevally lives a quiet life. Divorced, with her children grown and gone, she spends her days rattling around the decaying family home in the countryside. One afternoon, while out walking her dogs, she comes across a small white terrier wandering alone on the trail. Jane recognizes the dog immediately. It belongs to a teenage girl who has been renting a room on a neighboring property. The dog is there. The girl is not.

By the time the teenager is officially reported missing, Jane finds herself saddled with a dog she neither wanted nor has room for. Fortunately, the animal's registration records point her toward its owner, and Jane reluctantly agrees to make the trip to London to return it.

The journey leads her to Thornwood, a crumbling house tucked away in the deepest corners of Hampstead. The moment Jane lays eyes on it, she's overcome with a mixture of fear and recognition.

She's been here before.

Twenty-five years ago, Jane narrowly escaped a deeply unsettling encounter at Thornwood and never expected to see it again. The man who answers the door is not the man she remembers, but he's evasive and claims to know nothing about the missing girl. Jane returns the dog anyway, relieved to put both Thornwood and its memories behind her once and for all.

Then, just as she's about to leave, Jane catches sight of a haunted-looking woman through one of the house's windows.

In that moment, she realizes her connection to Thornwood isn't over. The house sits at the center of two mysteries: the disappearance of the teenage girl and the events that drove Jane from this place twenty-five years ago. To solve one, she may finally have to confront the other.

It Could Have Been Her begins as a seemingly straightforward missing-person case. Jane is the sort of woman who prefers not to make waves, content to keep her head down and avoid stepping on anyone's toes. But lurking beneath that quiet exterior is a restless desire for purpose, a sense that there must be something more waiting for her in the years ahead.

As Jane digs deeper and Lisa Jewell widens the lens to include other perspectives, the true nature of the story slowly reveals itself. And what a story it is. What starts as a simple missing-person case soon spirals into something far stranger and more twisted than I ever expected.

Seriously, this thing goes to some dark, twisted, deeply unsettling places, and I was completely riveted by every new revelation. In the hands of another author, the sheer number of secrets and escalating twists could easily become too much. But Jewell has a remarkable ability to balance the increasingly outrageous developments with quieter character moments that keep everything grounded. No matter how wild things get, the story's emotional core remains believable.

The result is another compulsively readable page-turner that I struggled to put down. Sure, the ending wasn't quite as explosive as I expected, but it still brought the story to a satisfying conclusion. Once again, Jewell reminded me why she's become one of my automatic-read authors. By the final pages, I was sinking deeper and deeper into the mystery, desperate to uncover the truth and powerless to stop turning the pages.

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

(2026, 49)

The blistering heat of a Texas summer is officially upon us, and the only way I’ve learned to cope, short of staying inside, is to escape to the lake cabin. That’s precisely what I did this weekend, and it was a much-needed relief. Of course, no summer getaway is complete without a page-turning read, and I had the perfect book waiting to be devoured.

I first discovered Freida McFadden’s addictive writing late last year. Her blockbuster novel The Housemaid was everything I look for in a popcorn thriller, and its sequel delivered even more jaw-dropping twists. I’d been sitting on the third book in the series, The Housemaid Is Watching, for a while now, and this lake trip felt like the perfect moment to dive in.

Millie’s life is now much different from when we last saw her. In fact, she’s more reminiscent of the women she used to clean for than the maid she once was. She’s no longer scrubbing toilets. She’s earned her degree, works as a hospital social worker, and is now married to Enzo, the charming Italian landscaper who’s stood by her through more than one dark chapter. They have two kids, Ada and Nico, and are finally moving out of their cramped Bronx apartment into a bigger home on Long Island. It’s a stretch financially, but Millie is determined to make it work.

But trouble has a way of finding Millie, and this new neighborhood is no exception. Their next-door neighbor, Mrs. Lowell, is all smiles and fake sweetness, the kind of woman who can't stop bragging about her bigger house, her maid, her booming real estate career, and her child-free lifestyle. Millie doesn’t trust her for a second. Especially when Mrs. Lowell takes a little too much interest in Enzo. Still, Millie is trying to fit in, even if it means enduring fake friendships. So she accepts an invitation to dinner at the Lowells’. But the second the door opens and she sees their maid—expressionless, silent, eerie—Millie gets chills.

Then there’s the house across the street. Someone seems to be watching them. Flickers in the window. Unsettling stares. Enzo starts acting strange, claiming he’s trying to build his landscaping business and needs Mrs. Lowell’s help to network. But Millie isn’t convinced. And when she finally meets the reclusive woman who lives across the street, she’s greeted with a chilling warning: don’t trust the neighbors. Millie thought a fresh start would finally free her from the darkness that had haunted her past, but this new neighborhood might hold the darkest chapter yet.

With The Housemaid Is Watching, Freida McFadden proves once again why she’s the queen of the psychological thriller. This third installment isn’t just a retread of what’s come before. McFadden evolves her characters, places them in new and perilous situations, and manages to thrill in completely original ways. While returning readers will appreciate the callbacks and nuance, newcomers can jump in here without feeling lost. The story stands on its own, and the continuity mostly serves to reward longtime fans.

As with the previous books, I couldn’t put this one down. I read it in a single sitting, and I suspect you will too. McFadden writes with urgency. Her short chapters keep the pages flying, and she expertly drops breadcrumbs that pull you along until the very last twist. Every time I thought I had it figured out, she flipped the script. This is exactly the kind of addictive summer read I crave: fast, fun, and full of surprises.

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

(2025, 51)

After devouring Freida McFadden's breakout thriller The Housemaid in a single sitting last month, I knew it wouldn’t be long before I dove into another one of her works. Surprisingly, I discovered The Housemaid had a sequel and even a third installment featuring the same character. Naturally, The Housemaid’s Secret became my next pick. I brought it along on a tropical vacation, and true to McFadden’s reputation, I was instantly hooked. Packed with the shocking twists and breakneck pacing I’ve come to expect from her, I tore through it in just one day.

Finding a job has always been an uphill battle for Millie. With a criminal record hanging over her, most employers hesitate to give her a chance. But after the chaotic events of her last job, the struggle has only gotten worse. Seriously, if you’ve read The Housemaid, you’ll understand why Millie isn’t exactly an employer’s dream candidate. Truthfully, even Millie might think twice about hiring herself. But hey, a girl’s got to eat. Determined to turn her life around, Millie is dating a wonderful guy with a great career who seems head over heels for her. She’s also enrolled in college, inching closer to her dream of becoming a social worker. Things are far from perfect, but she’s trying.

When she’s abruptly fired from her current position, Millie is desperate for a new job. That’s when Douglas Garrick comes to her rescue with an incredible offer. He needs a housekeeper and cook for his luxurious penthouse at the top of a Manhattan high-rise and is willing to pay handsomely for the right person. The salary is so enticing that Millie is willing to ignore a few odd details—like the fact that she’s never met Mrs. Garrick, or that the woman apparently lives locked away in the guest room, completely out of sight. Millie agrees to leave the mysterious wife undisturbed, but things turn chilling when she hears crying behind the door. Spotting bloodstains on Mrs. Garrick’s laundry pushes Millie’s curiosity over the edge. When she finally knocks, and the door opens, she's unprepared for what she finds on the other side. 

The Housemaid's Secret proves that Freida McFadden knows how to keep readers hooked. It delivers all the suspense and shocking twists that made the first novel such a compulsive read while steering Millie’s character in an intriguing new direction. I initially worried this sequel might recycle the same plot beats, but I was pleasantly surprised by how McFadden chose to develop Millie. She feels more in control of her life, even if that control requires carefully hiding her troubled past from those around her.

While some plot elements struck familiar chords—Millie stepping into a new job full of glaring red flags—McFadden skillfully played with that familiarity to subvert my expectations. The result is another wildly over-the-top, twist-filled thriller that kept me tearing through pages late into the night. The Housemaid's Secret cements McFadden as a master of addictive storytelling, and I’m already looking forward to what surprises the next book will bring.

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

(2025, 6)

What’s the last book you couldn’t put down? I get through my TBR pile steadily, squeezing in pages whenever possible and ending each day with reading before bed. Still, nothing beats the excitement of discovering a true page-turner—one of those books that demands you keep reading no matter the hour. That’s exactly how I felt with Freida McFadden’s breakout thriller, The Housemaid. I picked it up late one afternoon and found myself utterly hooked, staying up well past my usual bedtime to finish it in the early morning hours.

Millie is no stranger to hard times. After spending a decade in prison, she’s struggling to rebuild her life. With nothing but her beat-up car to live in, some secondhand clothes, and a few slices of bologna to her name, Millie is desperate for a fresh start. But finding work is nearly impossible with a criminal record hanging over her. Even the most menial jobs seem out of reach. Just as she’s about to lose hope, Millie stumbles across a job listing for a live-in maid. Could this finally be her chance to turn her life around?

The Winchester mansion is a vision of perfection, a far cry from the life Millie knows. Nina Winchester, the elegant lady of the house, is flawlessly put together as she welcomes Millie into her pristine home. On the surface, Nina seems to have it all: a luxurious lifestyle, a beautiful daughter, and a handsome, hardworking husband. The interview goes surprisingly well, and Millie is shocked to find herself not only hired but also with a new place to live. Yes, things are finally looking up. 

From the start, though, Millie senses something isn’t quite right. While the Winchester home is opulent in every way, Millie’s attic room is small and bare, with a door that can only be locked from the outside. Nina brushes off her concerns, explaining that the room is usually used for storage. Still, the oddities pile up. Most alarming is Nina herself, whose demeanor shifts unpredictably—one moment lavishing Millie with praise for her work, the next berating her for following Nina’s own instructions. It quickly becomes clear that the Winchester home harbors secrets, and Millie is about to be wrapped up in them. 

The Housemaid delivers everything I look for in a popcorn thriller. It grabs you from the first page and doesn’t let go until the last. While the premise will feel familiar to anyone who reads domestic thrillers, Freida McFadden’s execution sets it apart. The story is sprinkled with red flags and eerie clues, keeping the reader on edge as Millie ignores the warning signs in her desperation for stability. The twists come fast and furious, ramping up the tension with every chapter.

Yes, the plot leans into the outrageous at times, and some scenes—especially those involving domestic violence—are difficult to stomach. But the book’s short chapters and breakneck pace kept me compulsively turning the pages. While somewhat predictable, the conclusion ties everything together in a deliciously satisfying way. Freida McFadden has crafted a bona fide page-turner in The Housemaid, and I was more than happy to lose sleep devouring it in one sitting.

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

(2024, 92)

With the holiday weekend behind us, summer reading has officially arrived. I enjoyed kicking off my summer reading with John Grisham's latest book, Camino Ghosts. I was first introduced to Grisham's gripping legal thrillers in high school, and his work played a significant role in my journey to becoming a lifelong reader. Knowing how much his books mean to me, his publisher graciously gave me a copy of his new release, just in time for Memorial Day weekend. This is the third installment in his series that began with Camino Island, and it's the best one yet.

Our return to Camino Island, a quaint vacation town off the Florida coast, brings us back to many familiar faces. Bruce Cable, the charismatic bookstore owner, confidant to the island's many resident authors, and occasional dealer in rare and illicit books, is delighted to welcome his protege Mercer Mann back to the island. Fresh off the success of her last novel, a literary sensation, Mercer is now struggling to find inspiration for her next work. Ever the helpful mentor, Bruce reveals that he has the perfect subject for Mercer's new book—the intriguing story of 80-year-old Lovely Jackson.

Years ago, Lovely self-published an account of her life and the unsettling history of the nearby Dark Isle. Her ancestors were brought to the area on ships traveling from Africa. Enslaved and with little hope for the future, a heavy storm forever changed their fate. Their ship capsized, and Lovely's family members washed ashore on Dark Isle. Though the island was inhospitable, it offered the enslaved people something previously unimaginable—freedom. Together, they created a sanctuary, colonizing the island and turning it into a safe haven to be passed down through generations. Lovely is the last of her lineage, claiming the now-deserted island as her own. She has returned over the years to tend to the graves of her ancestors and maintains that the island is cursed, deterring any unwelcome visitors from setting foot on its shores.

Mercer is intrigued by Lovely's story. Although she hasn't written nonfiction before, this could be the tale that reignites her passion for writing. As she begins the preliminary work of transforming Lovely's story into a full-fledged book, a new complication arises. Hurricane Leo, which wreaked havoc on Camino Island and Dark Isle a few years ago, paved the way for a controversial development plan. A large company has laid claim to the abandoned Dark Isle, intending to build residential properties, shopping centers, and a massive casino.

Determined to protect her ancestral homelands from corporate greed, Lovely takes the company to court. The battle won't be easy. There are no paper records of the island ever being inhabited, but Lovely is resolute in her fight. With the help of Mercer, Bruce, and some of Camino Island's best legal minds, she'll stop at nothing to defend her land, history, and story.

Of the three books in the Camino Island series, Camino Ghosts feels the most quintessentially John Grisham. Returning to his roots, Grisham creates the kind of compelling courtroom drama that only he can masterfully tell. His best works have always combined an intriguing plot, complex yet relatable characters, and a fast-paced writing style, and that's precisely what makes this latest novel such a joy to read. In Lovely Jackson, Grisham crafts a character whose personal history underscores the injustices of American history. This sets the stage for a classic David versus Goliath battle, pitting legal conventions against true justice.

I was completely captivated by this story, breezing through its pages over the course of the long holiday weekend. Grisham's ability to weave a tale that is both engaging and thought-provoking shines through, making it impossible to put down. The novel built to an emotionally satisfying climax, leaving me with a few tears streaming down my cheeks. It's a testament to Grisham's enduring ability to entertain and move his readers with stories that are both timely and timeless. Camino Ghosts is easily the best book in the series so far and is the perfect way to kick off the summer reading season.

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

(2024, 42)

How well do we really know the people we love? Despite our efforts to connect and understand them, there are always layers of their lives that remain hidden from us. I often ponder this when reflecting on my great-grandparents, whom I was fortunate to know for much of my life. Despite spending considerable time with them and hearing their stories, I only scratched the surface of who they truly were. It's a poignant reminder of the inherent mystery within our closest relationships. This theme sets the groundwork for  Jeneva Rose's latest thriller, Home is Where the Bodies Are. Despite hearing much acclaim for Rose's work, I hadn't yet had the opportunity to delve into her books. Through her publisher's kindness in providing me a copy of her newest release, I finally read her work. 

"The moments that change us always feel recent because we carry them with us whether we want to or not."

The narrative delves into the lives of three siblings, each navigating their own journey. Their family dynamics were forever altered by their father's disappearance years ago, leaving a void that they coped with in divergent ways. Beth, the eldest, remained at home, tending to their ailing mother. Nicole, the middle child, grappled with drug addiction, drifting in and out of their lives amidst her struggles. Meanwhile, the youngest, Michael, pursued success elsewhere, distancing himself from their Wisconsin roots. The imminent passing of their mother prompts their reunion, with Beth being the sole witness to her final moments. Their mother divulges a long-held secret in a cryptic revelation, cautioning Beth against trust. Now faced with a dilemma, Beth must decide whether to disclose this revelation to her siblings or conceal it.

The three siblings soon face another revelation as they sort through their parent's belongings. They chance upon a cache of home videos, prompting a nostalgic journey through their past. Their trip down memory lane takes a chilling turn when they stumble upon a VHS tape documenting a forgotten night from 1999. On-screen, their father emerges, blood-stained. The tape documents another grim discovery and a pact between their parents to conceal it. Before more answers can be revealed, the footage abruptly ends. Confronted with this unsettling revelation, Beth, Nicole, and Michael are compelled to confront the buried secrets of their family's history. Will they choose to unearth the truth or let the past fade into obscurity along with their mother's passing?

In Home is Where the Bodies Are, Jeneva Rose explores the intriguing concept of mysteries lurking within familial bonds, crafting a suspenseful narrative rife with hidden family secrets that will keep readers on the edge of their seats. Through deft shifts in perspective between the three siblings and flashbacks from their late mother, Rose intricately weaves a web of deceit and revelation, laying the groundwork for a captivating tale. Immersed in the mystery, I found myself eagerly flipping through the pages, eager to uncover the next twist. A mystery's potency often hinges on the strength of its characters, and Rose excels in this aspect. She provides nuanced development for each protagonist. By allotting chapters to each sibling's viewpoint, she gives readers insight into their motivations and aspirations, enhancing our understanding of their roles within the narrative. The culmination of events leads to a shocking yet gratifying twist, providing a deeply satisfying conclusion. Home is Where the Bodies Are is a riveting, fast-paced thriller that showcases Jeneva Rose's compelling storytelling.

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

(2024, 33)