Everyone in This Bank is a Thief - Benjamin Stevenson

 "I’ve spent the last few years solving murders. But a bank heist is a new one, even for me. I’ve never been a hostage before. The doors are chained shut. No one in or out. Which means that when someone in the bank is murdered, everyone is a suspect. 

The Bank Robber. The Manager. The Security Guard. The Kid. The Film Producer. The Priest. The Receptionist. The Patient. The Caregiver. Me. 

Turns out, more than one person planned to rob the bank today. You can steal more from a bank than just money."

 What Worked For Me:

This is the fourth installment in the Ernest Cunningham series and it was a great entry.  If you liked any of the previous books in this series and Stevenson's style of storytelling where Ernest speaks directly to the reader, then you'll like this one too.  I had a brief thought, before starting this read, that maybe the 'gimmick' of Ernest would start to get old going on 4 books.  However, Stevenson did a really great job of using the heist setting to give a twist on the standard mystery format we've grown to love watching Ernest follow.  It really walked that fine line of being familiar and hit every part of what I've come to expect from an Ernest Cunningham mystery but also new enough to not feel stale or overly formulaic. 

The cast of characters in this are absolutely fantastic and I think we get a really good feel for everyone since they are trapped in such close quarters.  Similar to the 2nd book in the series where they were all stuck on a train together, the tight location helps amplify interpersonal tensions and really adds another level of intrigue.  The variety of characters also helped the mystery investigation because they all came from such different backgrounds and just happened to be in the bank at the right (or wrong) time. 

 The mystery investigation, as usual with these Cunningham mysteries, was great.  I never actually sit down with pen and paper and try to solve the mystery first, but I did try to pay more attention and pause every so often to try and remember some of the different clues or conversations.  There was one reveal where I immediately had the though of "oh, that must mean XYZ" and in the next sentence Ernest calls out that theory and immediately dismisses it which I chuckled at.  I loved the actual reveal and how, once again, more things were connected than I was expecting which is always great in these mysteries.

What Didn't Work for Me: 

 There's one specific plot point of the book that I didn't quite buy, even though we get some on-page explanation of why that character made the choice they did.  But it just felt a little too 'out-there' of a choice to make.  I had a hard time suspending my disbelief for a moment but ended up just shrugging and continuing reading.  It sort of felt like Stevenson wrote himself into a bit of a corner and this was the least-worst option of how to fix it.  It didn't bother me enough to stop reading and I think the downstream impact of the decision was handled well but it still took me out of the book for a bit.

 Overall, this was another great entry in the series and I'll continue to read as many of these as Stevenson would like to write. 

Thanks to NetGalley and Mariner Books for the ARC.  Publication date was March 17, 2026 

Romance Wrap-up February 2026

 Maybe This Once - Sophie Sullivan

I really enjoyed this read and I loved being back with these characters.  I was a little hesitant going into this read because I really don't enjoy romances that focus around a fame element or famous people and our FMC is wrapped up in that world (although she doesn't particularly want to be). I found that the fame aspect is sort of on the edge of the story enough that it didn't really bother me.  And big points to Sullivan for not taking the 'easy' route when it came to the conflict in the relationship.  I thought for sure when a certain plot point came up that it would be the central conflict but we ended up going in a different direction.  I did find the sort of push/pull dynamic between our MCs a little tiring after a while but I did think it was believable for their characters since they had both been hurt in past relationships so they would be a little extra cautious this time around.  The chemistry between our two MCs was very well developed and you could really feel the tension when they were still fighting their feelings. I loved that we got to see the conclusion of some plot points with our side characters as well as the main couples from the previous 2 books in the series. 

Thanks to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for the ARC.  Publication date was February 10, 2026. 

Tropes: Small Town, Cost of Fame, Love after Divorce, Complicated Family

Series: Rock Bottom Love #3

 

Most Likely to Doubt Love - Mary Waterford

 

 I absolutely adored this book and wasn't expecting to love it as much as I did.  This book had the perfect balance between cute contemporary romance while also handling some quite serious topics with care. Our FMC has quite a lot of childhood trauma which led to self harm and while I have not, personally, dealt with that, it felt like there was a lot of space in the book for our FMC to navigate and be supported by friends and our MMC. The kids in the book were adorable and I liked that they had their own mini-plot line going on that was resolved by the end of the read instead of just being used as plot pawns for our main couple. I really enjoyed the slow-ish burn between our MCs where there was a little bit of insecurity on both of their parts but once they finally went all in, they were in it together for the long haul. 

Tropes: Single Dad, Neighbors, Grumpy/Sunshine, Trauma Healing

Series: The Yearbook #3

 

Feast - Hannah Murray

 Murray has done it again - this was a super fun and a little unhinged of a read and I loved it.  Our MCs do not know who the other one is until the day their parents are getting married and by then they have had one heck of a one night (and next day) stand with no names. Once they are back from the wedding trip, they choose to keep going as a sort of friends with benefits situation.  I really liked the bit of character development we got with our MMC because in previous books, he comes off a bit emotionally closed off.  Our FMC was super fun, confident, and met MMC's energy and vibe every step of the way.  I do wish the timeline wasn't quite so short between them getting together and their family finding out.  I really wanted more emotional development from both characters as maybe they moved from FwB to actual dating first and then telling the family.  

Tropes: ONS to Lovers, Step Siblings, Kinky

Series: FILTH #3

Kissed and Missed - Cleo White

 Similar to the first book in the series, we jump into this read when the MCs already have feelings for each other but aren't acting on it.  I did like the amount of flashbacks we got to see the build up of the relationship given the age gap and situation with the ex-girlfriend. I did find our MMC to be a bit unhinged in the way he 100% went all in on the relationship, despite his best efforts to try and be reasonable and not overwhelm our FMC. I did find our MMC to be surprisingly romantic for a business man and I really loved seeing that softer side to his character. Despite the flashbacks, I do wish we got a little more on-page time to see our MCs interacting and seeing those feelings blossom because as much as I enjoy an age gap romance, I do find ones where the age gap is this significant a bit of a hard sell. This is a novella length read at 160 pages, so I knew I was probably not going to get the amount of character development I usually like and I was ok with it. I loved getting to see the couple from the first book as well as some beginnings of the couple of the third book.  

Tropes: Age Gap, Ex GF's Dad, Billionaire

Series: Daddy Issues #2

Swipe Right on Fate - Roxie Ray

 Roxie Ray is quickly becoming my go-to for softer, cute, but still hot paranormal romances because the books seem to hit that sweet spot for me.  I absolutely adored this book where our two paranormal outcasts accidentally find each other on a human dating site. Our MCs were instantly kindred spirits and I loved their dynamic together.  I enjoyed the amount of character development we get as well as their growth in regards to finding a way to help other outcasts find friends and other connections. Ray gives us enough background on the paranormal world and societies in this book that I never had a question and any time I did have a question start bubbling up, it would get addressed on page. 

Tropes: Paranormal, Wolf Shifter x Vampire, Found Family

Standalone

 A Reckless Indulgence - Aveda Vice

I didn't know going into this read that I wanted a queer, dragon pirate vs siren, enemies to lovers romance but I loved it.  We get dual timelines alternating throughout the book where we see our MCs in current time as well as the first time they met. I loved the world that Vice built and I found the world building to be incredibly thoughtful.  These two have absolute combustible chemistry and I loved watching them heat up until they boiled over.  I was expecting more exhibitionism and performances out of them given the plot mechanic that got our MCs together on the boat, but I loved that the scenes we got with them were more emotional instead of performative.  Great character development and exploration. I was absolutely cheering from the sidelines for every step forward they took in their relationship.  

Thanks to the author for the ARC.  Publication date was January 9, 2026. 

Tropes: Fantasy, Queer, Enemies to Lovers, Sex Worker MC

Series: Tides of Pleasure #1

 

 

Silver Secrets - Tilly H Colson 

 This book is going squarely in the 'it was fine, but not what I wanted' category.  I was in the mood to read some romantic suspense starring a big, competent, alpha dude (I was in the middle of a Reacher re-watch and wanted something with that vibe).  The same time, I saw a video with a snippet of one of the scenes and it sounded exactly what I was looking for.  Unfortunately, this read was a lot more emotional and heartfelt than I was expecting or looking for. I really enjoyed the set up and first part of the book until our MCs got together and started sharing their histories and trauma.  And I know that sounds awful of me to say, but I just wasn't looking for a book with that sort of emotional depth.  I think it was well done and I'm sure if I was in a different mood for that type of book, I would have really enjoyed it. However, it did overall kill the vibe I was looking for and I ended up finishing the book to figure out the answer to the mystery instead of watching our MCs get together. 

Tropes: Romantic Suspense, Serial Killer, Love After Loss

Series: Silver Springs #2

How to Killa Guy in Ten Dates - Shailee Thompson

"When Jamie Prescott and her best friend Laurie attend a speed-dating event, Jamie expects to meet a roster of mediocre men and indulge in some street food afterwards. She doesn’t expect one of her dates to have his throat slit at their table during a blackout. When the lights come back on and there are more bodies on the floor, it becomes clear that speed dating can be a very dangerous pastime.

Armed with makeshift weapons and Jamie’s extensive knowledge of what NOT to do in a horror movie, the remaining speed daters try to find an exit while the killer adds to their body count. As the night progresses and Jamie comes face-to-mask with the murderer, she begins to suspect he is committing the slayings to woo one of the daters and turn her into his real-life Final Girl. But Jamie has a different love story in mind, and as she fights for her life, she can’t help but find herself ensconced in a love triangle with two of the other speed-daters. Will she survive the bloodshed to find her happily ever after? Or does this machete-wielding psychopath have another Final Girl in mind?"
 

What Worked for Me:

 This is pretty much my perfect slasher read.  I love the amount of character development we get before the bodies start dropping so that all of the characters are more than just a name. Once the bodies start dropping, they keep dropping and I loved the creativity of the kills. This was a single POV read which really opened up the whole cast of characters to potentially be the killer.  The ending reveal was very well done and was probably the most cinematic section of the whole read - I could 100% see this being played out on the big screen. 

I think the tone of this read could be hit or miss for readers, but I loved it.  Jamie doesn't speak directly to the reader, but she has the sort of encyclopedic knowledge of slashers and thus the 'rules' for how to survive one.  At times, it felt like she was so close to breaking the fourth wall, but then something would happen or another character would interrupt her. I enjoyed that some of the characters were more skeptical and could be used as stand-ins for more skeptical readers.

I don't entirely agree in marketing this book as a horror romance, and I think doing so is a slight disservice.  As an avid romance and murder-book reader, I absolutely adore the 'two sides of the same coin' dialogue where the same plot could be read in two very different ways, just depending on the framing.  That being said, this did not read like a horror romance to me.  It read much more as a straight forward slasher with a heavy romantic subplot which I think is much more successful.  I really enjoyed the way Thompson intertwined the genre expectations of both, but if any reader is coming to this for a romance plot against a horror backdrop, I would say you may be disappointed. Does it hit the beats for both a slasher and romance - sure. But the slasher is much more of the focus and the romance elements do feel like they are off to the side a lot of the time until it is convenient for the slasher plot for the characters to have a little break. 

What Didn't Work for Me:

I think Thompson did as good a job as she could with describing the location and movement of all the characters - but there were so many hallways that I had a hard time picturing where our characters were (dead and alive). Now, there is a map in the front of the book but I read the ebook so it wasn't quick to flip back and forth.  Now, I don't feel like I was completely lost and Thompson did a good job so I could follow the events and knew the general locations of things, but I think if I had an easier time checking the map, it would have been a bit more fun and interactive of a read. 

Overall, this was a really fun read and I loved the tone and characters.  We get plenty of body drops and some good moments of tension and suspicion.  

 Thanks to NetGalley and Gallery Books for the ARC.  Publication date was February 3, 2026. 

 

Cross Your Heart and Hope He Dies - Jenny Elder Moke

 "Juliette Winters is used to taking care of business alone. She has no time for petty things like romance, friendships, or emotional commitments. Love is for people who believe in reality TV dating and holding hands in public. She's too busy dominating the publishing world by single-handedly saving her company from financial ruin with the book deal of the century.

Business magnate Warren Ellingham has guaranteed Juliette exclusive rights to his explosive memoir that promises to expose the secrets of his ultra-exclusive country club, Pacific Pines. But when Warren drops dead of an apparent heart attack and the memoir is stolen, Juliette suspects that someone was willing to resort to murder to keep their secrets from being exposed.

Enlisting the help of Charlie Hawkins, a doctor with a heart of gold and abs of steel, Juliette dives into the glamorous and messy world of Pacific Pines Country Club. As the investigation heats up, so does the tension between Juliette and Charlie. But Juliette can't afford any distractions because the bodies keep dropping, and Juliette is tee-d up to take the blame. If she doesn't uncover Warren's killer soon, the thing that was supposed to secure her future might just be the thing that ends it."

 What Worked for Me:

The first book in the series was marketed as a hybrid romance/mystery and in my review, my main gripe was that I felt like it was just okay at both of those genres but would have been stronger if it had picked a lane.  This book read much more as a cozy mystery with a romance sub-plot and I think it was more successful because of those choices.  

 The investigation elements were really well done and I enjoyed how many different twists and turns we went down.  I loved the inclusion of a good ol' fashioned murder board to make sure motives and alibis were all accounted for.  I also found Juliette to be the right mix of competency so we were rooting for her but she still felt like a normal person getting caught up in some murder.  

 I enjoyed Juliette as a character overall and thought her background and childhood really came through her personality as an adult.  I very much enjoyed seeing her interact with her friends who, at times, needed to force their love upon her.  I think some readers might find her a bit abrasive, but I think we see through that tough facade pretty early on in the book.

What Didn't Work for Me: 

 I wanted more stakes to solving this mystery.  We are told that there will be consequences to these events but it felt like Juliette was the only one who was concerned about those consequences.  Of course, this pushed her to continue her own investigation and to push the police further.  But since it was just her that seemed to be worried, it make the stakes feel smaller and like maybe she was overreacting.  

Overall, this was a fun read.  I enjoyed that it was more of a true cozy mystery rather than trying to be half mystery/half romance like book 1 in the series.  A lot of fun investigation threads and locations for the reader to follow.  

 Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC.  Publication date was January 20, 2026

Romance Wrap-up January 2026

The Cuddle Clause - Roxie Ray 

This was such a cute and fun read. I absolutely loved our MCs and how they fit together. Ray does a great job of really capturing that awkward new roommate time where you are learning about each other's quirks and living pattern.  When it came to the wolf shifter stuff, this almost felt like book 2 in a series because it seemed like the reader should already be in the loop.  We did have our FMC to act as sort of a reader stand-in for things to be explained to, so that was nice. The miscommunication/no-communication trope got a little old for me by the end, but the way the ending wrapped everything up so nicely really helped bring everything together.

Tropes: Roommates, Paranormal (Wolf Shifter), Fake Dating

Standalone 

And Now, Back to You - B.K. Borison

B.K. Borison is an insta-read/insta-buy author for me and I was thrilled that this read stood up to my high expectations.  I loved both of our MCs and how their quirks worked together so well.  It was like I could feel the chemistry crackling off the page even when they were just lightly flirting.  I really enjoyed that we got to see them as coworkers and the snowed-in trope at the same time since they are weather reporters - it was such a fun element and one that I never thought about before. We also get a great supporting cast and I loved that both MCs had different family structures that were present on page and informed their decisions. It all felt very realistic and helped ground the story.

Tropes: Coworkers, Opposites Attract, Only One Bed, Snowed In Together

 

Series: Heartstrings #2

Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Romance for the ARC.  Expected publication date is February 24, 2026.

Dom-Com - Adriana Anders

While I'm no stranger to kinky/BDSM romances I think Anders does a great job of introducing the topics/nuances to readers who might not be as versed in those topics.  In this case, our FMC is visiting a kink club for the first time so the reader gets to learn along side our FMC. I really loved how our MCs had that sort of instant connection and meshing of their likes/dislikes that really made their relationship feel inevitable. I loved the banter and flirting during the work day together and how that ignited the spark that both of them were trying to ignore. I did feel like our MMC was a little less developed than our FMC and that led to him feeling stiff and flat in a way that made the third act of this read a little choppy. I wanted more of a gradual realization of his feelings and instead it felt more like he just flipped a switch during the third act breakup but we didn't really get to see that growth. 

Tropes: BDSM, Co-Workers, 

Standalone 

 

Thanks to NetGalley and Forever Publishing for the ARC.  Publication date was January 27, 2026 

Mountain Daddy - S.J. Tilly

I've said it before - age gap romances can be a bit of a hit or miss for me - but this one was a big hit. I think Tilly does a fantastic job of really showing us the connection between these characters and how they work together despite their age difference.  I really loved how we got to see our MCs interact before they realized who the other was.  This, again, helped lay the foundation for their relationship and got it out of the (for me) creepy zone of dad's friend lusting after his daughter. I know some readers love that sort of melodrama or angst but that's not my thing. I also really liked the sort of rom-com elements when they kept trying to find time to spend together and would end up running into someone or having their plans interrupted at the last minute. 

Tropes: Age Gap, Dad's Best Friend, One Night Stand, Small Town, Forbidden

Series: Mountain Men #2

Wish I May - Hannah Murray

This was a really fun read and I'm excited to read on in the series.  After reading this, I was surprised at how long it actually was (308 pages) because it read much more like a novella. We are sort of thrown into the story after our 3 MCs have already met and, we are told, have been interacting here and there before the big renovation project gets underway.  I wanted to see more of the build up and more of those first interactions instead of being basically told where we were starting off.  I think Murray does a great job of balancing the 3 POVs and I really enjoyed seeing how all of the different characters really felt about the flirting (and then more) that was going on. Once our three got together, it was a lot of fun as well and I think the discussions around the reality of being in a poly relationship were handled in a realistic way without taking me out of the book.

Tropes: MMF, polyamorous, small town

 

Series: Three Wishes #1

Thanks to the author for the ARC.  Publication date was January 20, 2026. 

Ranger - Onley James

Another great read in this series.  We got to see our MCs interact in the previous book a little, so we had some ground work already laid for the reader.  I really liked that James didn't take the more obvious plot route by having our MCs start engaging in a BDSM/sex only relationship and then develop feelings from there.  Instead, we see them develop their relationship from the ground up and work through their own personal hang-ups first. And as usual, we get to see some of the characters from the previous books/series and have a good ol' fashioned murder party by the end.

Tropes: MM, BDSM, Age Gap, Boss/Employee

 

Series: Jericho's Boys #4

 

 

 Vows We Never Made - Nicole Snow

 

 I was in the mood for a marriage of convenience book and this sounded exactly like what I wanted.  Unfortunately, it didn't quite work for me mostly due to how absolutely miserable I found our MMC to be.  I love a tortured, reformed, bad boy as much as the next reader but there was something about him that I just wanted our FMC to leave him so he could just be alone in his misery.  Even the adorable dog in the story couldn't redeem him (in a way, I found he was nicer to the dog than our FMC). I really liked the set up and the first half of the book but every time he started to show that he was changing, he would backslide so far that I really wanted him to not get any more second chances.  By the end, I was expecting a big grovel scene, but we don't really even get that.  I could see glimpses of redeemable qualities throughout the book, but they never felt like they were building up to anything substantial. I absolutely love Snow's romantic suspense books and I think she writes great over-protective, alphahole type characters but maybe her more contemporary works aren't for me.

Tropes: Marriage of Convenience, Enemies to Lovers, 

 

Series: The Blackthorn Inheritance #1

Latte Darling - S.J. Tilly

 

As mentioned above, I can be picky about my age gap romances, but Tilly really seems to write exactly what I like and this was no exception. We get to have the little bit of angst from our MMC being the dad of our FMC's date, but without the overly dramatic fallout of if it was an ex-boyfriend. Another aspect of Tilly's books that I often really love is the sort of instant acceptance that this is their person - not exactly in an insta-love sort of way, but in a quieter 'yep, he/she is the one for me' kind of way.  This was probably the most fun and fluffy age gap romance I've read in a while.  

Tropes: Age Gap, Grumpy/Sunshine

 Series: Darling #2

We Were Never Friends - Kaira Rouda

 "Meet the sorority sisters of Theta Gamma

Roxy Callahan Gentry, the ruthless former sorority president and current hostess who has painstakingly choreographed every detail of this weekend—even matching the cocktails to her couture—to prove that she remains their undisputed queen Amelia Dell, the widow drenched in old money and alcohol, with her big pot-stirring spoon and uninvited boy-toy in tow. Jamie Vale, the double-legacy pledge, straight-A student with no sparkle, now a top cardiologist with a picture-perfect family—and a well-guarded bad habit. Beth Harrison, the scholarship student who never quite fit in and was only admitted because her best friend Sunny insisted that the two were a package deal. Sunny Spencer, the carefree and beloved friend to all, or so it seemed—until she wasn't. They've been summoned to Roxy's luxurious Palm Springs vacation home to celebrate the engagement of her son to Beth's daughter. But the refurbished 1920s estate is eerily reminiscent of the hotel where tragedy struck during Spring Break twenty-five years ago. Long-simmering tensions and shocking secrets begin bubbling to the surface like bodies—because while the weekend was supposed to be about celebrating the future, it's not so easy to bury the past…"

What Worked for Me:

The frenemies vibes were fantastic and I loved that this was multi-POV so we got to see how the different characters really felt about each other - both in the past and the current day. There is some great moments of tension where characters have to choose if they want to confront someone or stay quiet and keep the peace. There are so many  'unspoken' moments where the characters allude to something or make a small comment that doesn't mean much unless you are in the know. 

The isolated setting really helped ramp up the tension combined with the fact that it brought back memories for all of our characters. I really think Rouda captured the desert's dangerous beauty perfectly and then when the danger starts ramping up in the third act, we really see the desert come to life.  Snowy settings seem to be the go-to for isolating characters, but I really enjoyed seeing that dynamic but in a warmer setting.

What Didn't Work for Me: 

My biggest gripe with the story is a little hard to explain without spoilers, but there is an alternate universe where this book is much more of a psychological thriller that I think I would have enjoyed more. This could have been achieved by leaving some details about what happened in the past more vague - then the parts of the story that were related to those past details would be a little more up to interpretation and maybe we could have seen different ideas of what happened in the past from the different POVs.  As it currently reads, anytime there was even a hint of something mysterious in regards to past evens, all of the characters pretty much immediately dismiss it as being impossible because the events of the past aren't in question - all the characters know the final outcome.  

This might fall under a 'me' problem, but I didn't really understand the pull to get together after so many years of being apart.  It didn't really seem like the sorority sisters stayed in touch very much, if at all, but they still all showed up.  I think the character motivation was a little underdeveloped for my taste because as the narrative progressed, I just kept thinking "why did they show up at all?" I liked the frenemies vibes, but I think they could have been even more pronounced if we had an idea of how involved they all were in each others lives still. I wasn't in a sorority, so maybe I'm just not fully understanding the dynamic at play here.

Overall, this was a fine read.  It didn't have as much tension or psychological elements as I was expecting, but I still enjoyed the frenemies aspect.  

Thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC.  Expected publication date is February 3, 2026. 

The Storm - Rachel Hawkins

 

 

"St. Medard’s Bay, Alabama is famous for three things: the deadly hurricanes that regularly sweep into town, the Rosalie Inn, a century-old hotel that’s survived every one of those storms, and Lo Bailey, the local girl infamously accused of the murder of her lover, political scion Landon Fitzroy, during Hurricane Marie in 1984.

When Geneva Corliss, the current owner of the Rosalie Inn, hears a writer is coming to town to research the crime that put St. Medard’s Bay on the map, she’s less interested in solving a whodunnit than in how a successful true crime book might help the struggling inn’s bottom line. But to her surprise, August Fletcher doesn’t come to St. Medard’s Bay alone. With him is none other than Lo Bailey herself. Lo says she’s returned to her hometown to clear her name once and for all, but the closer Geneva gets to both Lo and August, the more she wonders if Lo is actually back to settle old scores.

As the summer heats up and another monster storm begins twisting its way towards St. Medard’s Bay, Geneva learns that some people can be just as destructive—and as deadly—as any hurricane, and that the truth of what happened to Landon Fitzroy may not be the only secret Lo is keeping…"

What Worked for Me:

I loved the dual timeline and how it was used to fill the reader in on details so we could better understand the gravity of the situation and what happened back then. I also found the story in both timelines to be equally interesting so I didn't mind when we moved between the past and present. 

The setting was impeccable and used to the full advantage of the plot. I loved the drama of the impending storm along with the history of the town and how many storms it had survived in the past.  There was an appropriate reverence for the power of the weather that really came through.  Despite reading this in January in Pennsylvania, I could really feel the sticky heat and humidity coming off the pages. 

Despite my feelings below in regards to the stakes of the book, I did feel like the reveals were really well done and intriguing.  There were a few reveals that got an audible gasp out of me when I read them, which doesn't often happen. 

What Didn't Work For Me:

I didn't quite get enough 'so what' for my liking.  I wanted there to be more at stake for our characters or for the town.  As it stands now, it felt more like small town gossip that didn't have any real impact.  I think if there was some sort of bigger threat looming - maybe the case being reopened, maybe a big anniversary coming up, maybe the people who live there protesting and could become violent. I think the True Crime aspect was really under-utilized and could have been an easy way to get some extra weight and depth to the story. 

 Because of the lack of stakes, it almost didn't feel like a mystery book at all - like the characters weren't actively trying to solve the mystery of what happened all those years ago.  It felt more like I was along for the ride and the book was more just showing me scenes from these character's lives rather than me watching the characters trying to work toward a goal.  I kept reading because I wanted to know what happened in the past but it would have been nice to have some characters along for the ride with me on that journey. 

Overall, I enjoyed this read - I wish there were more obvious stakes and drama but I loved the dual timeline, setting, and reveals. 

Thanks to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for the ARC.  Publication date was January 6, 2026.