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 Serial Killer. Show all posts

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...

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The Butcher by Jennifer Hillier

Friday, September 5, 2025

The Butcher by Jennifer Hillier

How long do you give a book to win you over? For me, it’s usually within the first 50 pages. I can tell pretty quickly if I’m going to conne...

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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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I Was a Teenage Slasher by Stephen Graham Jones

Monday, September 9, 2024

I Was a Teenage Slasher by Stephen Graham Jones

September has arrived, bringing a slight chill to the air. Though the season is slowly changing here in South Texas, at least the temperatur...

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Last Call by Elon Green

Friday, November 17, 2023

Last Call by Elon Green

Over the past few months, I've plunged deeply into the realm of true crime literature. Something about how these books capture real-life...

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End of Watch by Stephen King

Friday, September 29, 2023

End of Watch by Stephen King

“End of watch is what they call it, but Hodges himself has found it impossible to give up watching" I'm an avid reader, so it's...

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Triple Cross by James Patterson

Monday, August 21, 2023

Triple Cross by James Patterson

As an avid reader devouring at least one book every week, striking a balance between my towering TBR list and ongoing series can be quite th...

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Roses Are Red by James Patterson

Tuesday, February 14, 2023

Roses Are Red by James Patterson

Reading a book each week leaves little time for me to circle back and reread a book that I previously enjoyed. There have been a few humorou...

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Shadow Prey by John Sandford

Tuesday, December 20, 2022

Shadow Prey by John Sandford

What's the longest-running series that you read? In the crime fiction genre, establishing a well-received character and spawning a serie...

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Find You in the Dark by Nathan Ripley

Tuesday, June 19, 2018

Find You in the Dark by Nathan Ripley

Martin Reese is harboring a secret that threatens to completely alter his life as he knows it. He knows that his unique hobby is unconventio...

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The Night Season by Chelsea Cain

Wednesday, August 30, 2017

The Night Season by Chelsea Cain

A couple years before I began my blog, I became enamored with Chelsea Cain's Archie Sheridan and Gretchen Lowell series.  In Gretchen Lo...

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The Killing Lessons by Saul Black

Saturday, January 9, 2016

The Killing Lessons by Saul Black

"The world was a wonderful place. Full of nightmares" Detective Valerie Hart is no stranger to the nightmares that fill the worl...

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Dexter Is Dead by Jeff Lindsay

Tuesday, July 7, 2015

Dexter Is Dead by Jeff Lindsay

Jeff Lindsay's novels featuring serial killer Dexter Morgan have not only become a bestselling book series, but they have also spawned...

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Dexter's Final Cut by Jeff Lindsay

Wednesday, June 17, 2015

Dexter's Final Cut by Jeff Lindsay

Dexter Morgan likes his privacy. He shares his life with his wife and three children, but they only know Dexter the father and husband. Hi...

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Alex Cross, Run by James Patterson

Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Alex Cross, Run by James Patterson

James Patterson is known as much for his fast paced, escapist thrillers as he is for his prolific output and controversial use of co-autho...

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Private by James Patterson

Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Private by James Patterson

I'll admit it, sometimes I just feel like reading a quick, entertaining, James Patterson novel. With a really crazy schedule that bare...

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Heat Lightning by John Sandford

Saturday, February 2, 2013

Heat Lightning by John Sandford

Someone is killing Vietnam War Veterans. Each time, the deceased man is left at a veteran's memorial with a lemon in his mouth. After ...

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Fatal Decree by H. Terrell Griffin

Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Fatal Decree by H. Terrell Griffin

Last year, I stumbled upon the Matt Royal series by author H. Terrell Griffin. The novels follow Matt Royal, a middle-aged lawyer who, fed...

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Double Dexter by Jeff Lindsay

Monday, May 14, 2012

Double Dexter by Jeff Lindsay

There is really only one rule that all criminals must follow: Don't Get Caught!. In the latest Dexter novel by author Jeff Lindsay, De...

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