RaveLibrary JournalWinstead’s latest suspense is a story that needs to be told—about misogyny, sexual violence, and human trafficking, and how innocent trust can lead to abusive seduction...This explosive cautionary tale of a \'podcast meets sex cult meets murder\' will captivate fans of twisted psychological suspense.
Amanda Pellegrino
PositiveLibrary JournalReaders will cheer Pellegrino’s shattering of the glass ceiling in this fast-paced, millennial-centric, you-go-girl novel about workplace empowerment.
Nicci French
RaveLibrary JournalFans of psychological thrillers with seemingly vulnerable but empowered women who take drastic action to save their families will love this nerve-jangling story.
Nikki May
RaveLibrary JournalMay seamlessly weaves love, betrayal, self-reflection, and Nigerian food, clothing, and customs into this fast-paced debut ... Fans of domestic suspense will revel in this tale of friendship, family, and forgiveness, set in the cultural milieu of Lagos.
Wanda M. Morris
PositiveLibrary JournalIn her debut thriller, corporate attorney Morris deftly combines a creepy Nazi-esque sect with a murderous plot and rounds out the intrigue with a striking commentary on racism, sexual assault, and misogyny.
L. R. Dorn
RaveLibrary JournalThe novel is written in a docuseries format, jumping from testimony to inner thoughts to documentary statements of various participants in a fast-paced narrative. For fans of true crime and podcasts such as Serial, this riveting mock podcast docudrama ratchets up the suspense as readers glimpse every angle of the story from a 360–degree view.
Peter Swanson
PositiveLibrary Journal... a good match with Lucy Foley’s psychological wedding thriller, The Guest List. Readers will bask in the creepiness of being stranded on a remote island, considering how far some might go to punish those who break sacred promises.
Judithe Little
RaveThe Washington Independent Review of BooksIn [The Chanel Sisters], Little takes us into a fictionalized world of the real-life Gabrielle and Antoinette Chanel as they struggle to survive a distressing childhood, find their independence, and eventually build their eponymous brand ... Building on the bare-bones scaffolding of what is known about Antoinette, Little crafts an intimate tale chronicling the sisters’ unorthodox journey from rags to riches ... In this inspiring novel, Judithe Little brings the private history of Antoinette and Coco Chanel to life ...
Nadine Matheson
RaveWashington Independent Review of BooksHenley is a compelling protagonist, gritty yet refreshingly vulnerable ... Throughout this addictive story, author Matheson brings focus to the reality of \'the less dead,\' victims from communities of color or other marginalized groups whose cases aren’t vigorously pursued ... a riveting, deliciously creepy police procedural that not only entertains but conveys a message of equity and change. And from start to finish, Nadine Matheson paints a vivid portrait of London’s seamy side, showing readers \'every nook and cranny of the Deptford area and…all the secrets that the river can spit out.\'
Jenny Lecoat
PositiveThe Washington Independent Review of BooksLecoat skillfully weaves the hardship of war, the power of resistance, and the strength of forbidden love into an intimate story of survival ... The desperation of living under occupation oozes from the book’s pages ... Ultimately, along with offering the expected drama of a WWII novel, The Girl from the Channel Islands, in its depiction of Germans fighting for the Nazis despite their own moral qualms, poses a provocative question to readers: What ethical boundaries would you cross in the name of survival and staying true to yourself?
Brandon Hobson
RaveThe Washington Independent Review of BooksSpirituality is woven into the story like a soft thread of silk, binding the everyday lives of the characters with otherworldly warnings and messages of strength. Just as The Removed is rich in Cherokee folklore and culture, it also reflects the historical suffering of Native American communities and the modern-day strife they yet endure ... This gut-wrenching tale of broken hearts and shattered dreams spotlights the devastation caused by ongoing racism in our country, while also providing a ray of hope on the distant horizon.
Alice Henderson
PositiveLibrary JournalFans of ecological fiction will enjoy the juxtaposition of the natural environment with the best and worst of human nature in this exciting backwoods thriller.
Luke Arnold
RaveLibrary JournalArnold’s universe has everything, including the angst of being human. The perfect story for adult fantasy fans—a tough PI and a murder mystery wrapped around the mysticism of Hogwarts, sprinkled with faerie dust.
Christina Baker Kline
RaveThe Washington Independent Review of Books... poignantly explores the issues of social identity, fate, loyalty, and survival during a time in history when women were \'less than,\' and Anglo society believed itself entitled to decimate indigenous tribes living on confiscated land. From the squalid straw floors and suffering of Newgate, to a ship’s dark and foul hold, to a penal colony in Hobart Town, readers follow these brave women on their journey of survival through inexplicable sorrow, hardship, and loss. ... Although the novel chronicles fictional journeys a century past, the author’s commentary on social justice applies today. A masterpiece of historical reckoning, this heartrending story will stay with readers long after they turn the last page.
Susan Allott
PositiveThe Washington Independent Review of BooksTold in poignant vignettes alternating between 1967 and 1997, The Silence takes readers into the middle of two families struggling to survive their mistakes and longings, while also educating readers about Australia’s immoral mission to integrate Aboriginal children into “prosperous and moral” Anglo society ... compels readers to consider what it takes for family members to forgive each other, and whether an entire group of people can pardon a nation for stealing their future.
Shilpi Somaya Gowda
PositiveWashington Independent Review of BooksThis introspective story challenges readers to consider how a tragedy involving one member forever changes the whole family ... Thought-provoking to the core, The Shape of Family is both a warning about how our lives can change in an instant and a testament to the strength we must summon to keep a family whole.
Michael Hughes
PositiveThe Washington Independent Review of BooksWritten in sometimes-difficult-to-understand regional vernacular, the novel nonetheless thrusts readers into the Irish countryside and the conflict that ravaged it. We can almost imagine eating potato soup with the men of a PIRA squad around a worn wooden table as they strategize about their next moves ... As in The Iliad, this story teaches that leaders must respect their men, and men, ultimately, must forgive each other for the sake of the common good.
J.P. Delaney
RaveLibrary Journal... thrusts readers into Abbie’s new world and the cultish dynamic of her husband’s cutting-edge company, Scott Robotics. What is Tim willing to do to make sure he has the perfect wife? ... Psychological thriller enthusiasts will love being floored by page five and blown away by page 91. Discovering the identity of the unknown narrator amid the shocking conclusion is like stepping on a land mine. Readers will crave answers to the questions: Is there such a thing as a perfect person, and how far will science go to achieve one?
Deb Spera
PositiveLibrary JournalLovers of historical Southern fiction and gritty female characters will feel as if they are living in the desperation of these families, then rallying behind these courageous women as they fight for justice.
Jon Land
RaveWashington Independent Review of BooksThe only thing that can top a bigger-than-life hero is a bigger-than-life heroine. And we have her in Caitlin Strong ... And, this time, the mission is personal ... This south-of-the-border Da Vinci Code-style thriller with action on every page will have you trying to unravel the mystery of the boxes and the link between Christianity and the brutality of a Mexican drug queen.
Miriam Toews
PositiveWashington Independent Review of Books\"Author Miriam Toews’ unique narrative takes readers through the thought processes of these women, who will not be coerced into feigning forgiveness for the sins against their families. Instead, they consider both the physical and spiritual consequences of their options as the clock ticks down to the men’s return, reaching a courageous decision that will change their lives forever.\
Stephen Giles
RaveWashington Independent Review of BooksA lonely 9-year-old boy. A stern housekeeper. A missing mother. An almost-empty English mansion. These are the underpinnings that gently crescendo to a stunning climax in this tale of a mind’s imbalance. But whose? ... This clever psychological thriller reads like a quiet introspection into the vivid imagination of a young boy. Is he going mad? Or does Ruth expertly skew the facts to make it seem that way? Tension builds as small details are revealed one by one, the story slowly building to a surprise ending that will leave readers saying, \'Wow, I didn’t see that coming!\'
Jussi Adler-Olsen, Trans. by Steve Schein
PositiveLibrary JournalCongress is shut down. Undocumented immigrants are deported, borders are closed, and the press is censored. Opponents disappear. White House employee Dorothy \'Doggie\' Rogers and press secretary Wesley Barefoot must work with their old friends from the PR campaign—Sheriff T. Perkins, charismatic Rosalie Lee, and NBC journalist John Bugatti—to convince Americans that the new order is the product of a treacherous coup ... this nightmarish portrait reveals how easily democracy can slide into autocracy, scaring the apathy out of readers.
Tsitsi Dangarembga
PositiveWashington Independent Review of BooksUniquely choosing to write in second person, author Tsitsi Dangarembga (Nervous Conditions and The Book of Not) tells the story of Tambu Sigauke, a woman desperately seeking prosperity ... This Mournable Body is a tale of desperation and hopelessness which filled me with a hollow sadness, a book that made me stop and consciously appreciate living in a country that offers security, education, and the never-ending hope for a better life.
Linwood Barclay
RaveLibrary JournalTwo murders, one witness, a brutal assault, and a possessed vintage typewriter. Barclay (No Time for Goodbye) expertly weaves these details into a tantalizing psychological thriller ... At what point does a person know for sure they\'ve lost their mind? ... Prepare to be blindsided by an ending you didn\'t see coming. Barclay\'s nerve-wracking tale will have readers scared to close their eyes at night.
Michael Chabon
PositiveWashington Independent Review of Books...artfully written and witty ... Chronicling poignant moments into seven vignettes, he shares important lessons learned about fatherhood ... Children require time and attention and work. And they should come before anything else, including writing. But as Chabon skillfully articulates, they are worth it.
Shoba Narayan
PositiveThe Washington Independent Review of BooksAfter living in a posh area of New York City, they [Shoba Narayan and her husband] make the adventurous decision to return to their native India, giving their children the opportunity to learn more about Indian culture and to grow up knowing their Indian relatives ... Narayan soon embarks on an unexpected journey into the world of cows ... Although for modern Hindus the holiness of the cow poses a contradiction of both acknowledgment and embarrassment, Narayan nevertheless welcomes her journey to better understand and appreciate the many roles that cows play in modern India ... In The Milk Lady of Bangalore, Narayan artfully chronicles her adventures into the world of bovine divinity and shares what she’s learned about how cows are woven into the fabric of Hindu culture. This book will teach readers everything they’ve ever wanted to know about the importance of cows in Indian society.