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Empty Boxes by Robin Acton

Empty Boxes by Robin Acton delivers a tightly paced mystery rooted in the grit and shadows of Pittsburgh’s underbelly. When crime reporter Rita Locke begins investigating the murder of a funeral director, she doesn’t expect to find empty coffins—or uncover a far-reaching conspiracy that stretches far beyond western Pennsylvania. What starts as a local crime quickly expands into an international web of danger, deception, and medical intrigue that leads her all the way to a Caribbean offshore school…and eventually into a box of her own, fighting for breath and answers. This was my first Robin Acton novel, and I genuinely enjoyed it. The mystery is easy to follow without ever feeling simplistic, and the plot moves at a satisfying pace that keeps you turning pages. Rita Locke is a grounded, engaging protagonist—persistent enough to keep digging, flawed enough to feel real, and interesting enough to carry the story from Pittsburgh to the Caribbean and back again. The supporting cha...

Evil Bones by Kathy Reichs

Kathy Reichs returns with another sharp, unsettling thriller in Evil Bones , bringing forensic anthropologist Temperance Brennan into one of her darkest investigations yet. What begins with a series of bizarrely mutilated small animals around Charlotte quickly spirals into something far more sinister. When the cruelty escalates to a family pet—and then to a human victim—Tempe realizes she’s dealing with a perpetrator whose fascination with violence is evolving in deeply disturbing ways. Alongside the ever-grizzled and reliably entertaining Skinny Slidell, Tempe dives into a case marked by carefully staged scenes, psychological manipulation, and a chilling escalation that hits closer to home than she ever expected. The tension ramps up steadily as people she cares about disappear, forcing Tempe into a terrifying game with a killer obsessed with the nature of “pure evil.” It’s been a while since I’ve picked up a Kathy Reichs novel, but Evil Bones reminded me exactly why her books...

Nash Falls by David Baldacci

Nash Falls introduces readers to Nash — a man who seemingly has it all. Intelligent, disciplined, and successful, he’s climbed to the top of Sybaritic Investments through sheer determination. With a wife, daughter, and a stable, comfortable life, Nash appears to be living the dream. But that illusion shatters after his estranged father’s funeral, when the FBI shows up in the middle of the night with an impossible request: infiltrate his own company to expose a massive money-laundering scheme tied to Victoria Steers, a ruthless criminal mastermind the Bureau has been chasing for years. Reluctantly pulled into a web of deceit, Nash is forced to risk everything — his career, his family, and even his moral compass — to bring Steers down. But when she uncovers his secret, the hunter becomes the hunted, and Nash must transform into someone he never imagined himself capable of being just to survive. This was my first David Baldacci book, even though he’s been on my “recommended by ...

The Haunting of Emily Grace by Elena Taylor

The Haunting of Emily Grace marks Elena Taylor’s foray into eerie suspense with a story that blends grief, isolation, and a touch of the supernatural. Emily Grace, the protagonist, is grappling with immense loss—her home, career, and social connections gone—when she takes a job at a remote mansion on a secluded island. The mansion’s owner is eccentric, the locals whisper about a curse, and the environment is as unforgiving as it is mysterious. Taylor crafts a story with a solid premise: a grieving woman attempting to rebuild her life in a setting that is as haunting emotionally as it is physically. The mansion itself becomes a character, its secrets and spectral hints weaving a palpable tension throughout the narrative. Accidents, whispers, and unexplained footsteps keep both Emily and the reader on edge, and the subplot involving a potential romance adds a subtle human element to the suspense. While the story delivers a satisfying mystery, some elements lean toward predictabi...

The Resurrectionist by Kathleen S. Allen

Kathleen S. Allen’s The Resurrectionist is a gothic blend of science, obsession, and horror that draws readers into the shadowy underworld of Victorian medical ambition. Described as “a gothic tale of medical mystery and sinister suspense,” it delivers on atmosphere while playing with themes of power, corruption, and the dangerous pursuit of recognition. The story follows seventeen-year-old Dilly Rothbart, who discovers her late father’s hidden journal containing instructions to bring the dead back to life. Determined to prove herself as more than just a grieving daughter, Dilly dives headfirst into a grisly world of grave robbing, corpse-stealing, and unethical science. As her obsession grows, so does the danger—to herself, her relationships, and ultimately, her humanity. I found this to be a fun and gripping read, one that held my attention from beginning to end. In fact, it was the fastest I’ve read a book in quite some time. While the story is somewhat predictable (the desc...

Hazelthorn by CG Drews

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...