Sequel's Book Nook

Anyone who knows me has heard me rave—probably more than once—about Don't Let the Forest In . It was hands-down the best book I read in 2024, so when I had the opportunity to get my hands on C.G. Drews’ newest novel Hazelthorn before release, I was over the moon. And let me tell you—I was not disappointed in the least. From the very first page, Drews wraps you in a chilling, lyrical embrace. The writing is once again gorgeously atmospheric, each sentence steeped in tension and dark beauty. Evander’s life at the Hazelthorn estate is as claustrophobic as it is mesmerizing, bound by strict rules meant to keep him safe—or so he’s been told. But when Byron Lennox-Hall dies and Evander inherits the sprawling, vine-choked grounds, the thin line between safety and danger frays fast. The mystery is riveting: a possible murder, an uneasy alliance with Laurie—the boy who once tried to kill Evander—and a garden that feels terrifyingly alive. The creeping botanical body horror is vivid and...

  The Grave Artist , the second installment in the Carmen Sanchez and Jake Heron series, delivers a suspenseful and chilling continuation of the duo’s fight against cunning serial killers. This time, the story centers around the Honeymoon Killer, a macabre predator who targets perfect couples, turning their deaths into a disturbing work of art while relishing the grief of the survivors. From the very beginning, this book grabbed my attention more effectively than the first in the series. The characters—Carmen Sanchez, the disciplined Homeland Security agent, and her unpredictable partner, Jake Heron—feel more natural and engaging from the outset. Their dynamic drives the story, making their investigations into the mysterious deaths both compelling and tense. The plot unfolds with a blend of meticulous suspense and relentless pacing. Each revelation about the Honeymoon Killer ratchets up the tension, keeping readers on edge as Carmen and Jake struggle to anticipate his next move...

  Fatal Intrusion opens with a chilling premise: a string of murders sweeping across Southern California, connected in ways that baffle law enforcement. At the heart of the story is Homeland Security agent Carmen Sanchez, a disciplined and determined investigator, who finds her world shaken when her sister becomes a target. To navigate the twisted path of the elusive killer known only as “Spider,” she reluctantly teams up with Professor Jake Heron, a brilliant but unconventional private security expert with a knack for bending the rules. At first, I struggled to fully connect with the story. The opening chapters felt a bit slow, and the character introductions came across as somewhat awkward. Carmen and Jake’s personalities didn’t immediately mesh, making their interactions feel stilted. However, once the plot gained momentum, the narrative became a relentless, edge-of-your-seat thriller. The pacing picks up, the tension ratchets higher, and the partnership between Sanchez and H...

From the author of Theme Music , An Evil Premise offers an intriguing blend of possession, madness, and meta-fiction. The premise hooked me immediately: when Jewel’s famous sister falls into a coma after a bizarre accident, she discovers her sister’s unfinished, deeply unsettling manuscript—and decides to finish it herself. But as she writes, reality and fiction blur, her body betrays her with a strange rash, and the manuscript itself seems to be… writing back. The plot had all the elements I love—creeping dread, psychological tension, and a story-within-a-story that promised to twist in unexpected ways. I even really enjoyed the characters. However, I ultimately had to set this one aside before finishing. The writing style was heavy with metaphors—so much so that it often felt like each paragraph was competing to see how many could be crammed in. For me, this overshadowed the tension and pacing, making it difficult to stay immersed in the story. That said, taste in prose is subjectiv...

 A moon rock missing for thirty years… five buckets of blood-soaked sand discovered in a remote New Mexico canyon… a scientist whose ambition knows no bounds… a monk on a mission to redeem the world… and a shadowy agency with deadly intentions. Tyrannosaur Canyon weaves these elements together into a thrilling narrative centered around one of the greatest scientific mysteries of all time: what cosmic firebolt shattered the Earth eons ago, now hiding in that desolate southwestern cleft? I was first introduced to Douglas Preston’s writing with Relic (co-written with Lincoln Child), and I was hooked immediately. It had been too many years since I last read one of their works, so returning to Preston with this novel was a real treat. This book is an excellent choice for readers who enjoy suspense with a touch of mystery. The storytelling is sharp, the pace engaging, and the premise—combining science, history, and danger—is utterly compelling. Tyrannosaur Canyon reminds readers why...

Having finally picked up Ring , the first novel in Koji Suzuki’s iconic trilogy, I found myself pleasantly surprised. First published in 1991, the story is a Japanese mystery-horror set in modern-day Japan and introduces a chilling tale that is much more intricate than the film adaptations might suggest. I had previously seen both the Japanese movie and the American remake years ago, and found both versions to be fairly formulaic. Reading the novel was a completely different experience—more nuanced, suspenseful, and unsettling. The way the plot unfolds, with its investigative tension and psychological horror, drew me in and kept me hooked until the very last page. Although I’ve tabled the sequels, Spiral and Loop , for now, finishing Ring has definitely sparked my interest to continue the series. It has also made me curious to revisit the movies and compare how they diverge from the original story. Overall, Ring is a compelling and memorable read, and I’d recommend it to anyone i...