Thursday, October 15, 2026

Beth is Dead

Ms. Bernet is a genius. 

I've never been able to finish the book Little Women. I always get to the part where Amy and Laurie get together and can't get past it. I've seen the films so I know how the story ends. 

This was such a fun twist on well known characters. Absolutley brilliant. As was the choice to tell it from all the sisters' persepctives in the present and the past, and use a different voice actor for each of the sisters. Marvelous. 

Everyone has a motive, and as the story progresses, it slowly becomes clear who the culprit is. I figured it out in a specific scene before the reveal, and far later than I should've. 

Do you like twisted mysteries using classic characters? Which classic would you like to see turned into a mystery next?



Beth March’s sisters will stop at nothing to track down her killer—until they begin to suspect each other—in this “brilliantly snappy…electrifying” (Publishers Weekly, starred review) debut thriller that’s also a bold, contemporary reimagining of the beloved classic Little Women.

When Beth March is found dead in the woods on New Year’s Day, her sisters vow to uncover her murderer.

Suspects abound. There’s the neighbor who has feelings for not one but two of the girls. Meg’s manipulative best friend. Amy’s flirtatious mentor. And Beth’s lionhearted first love. But it doesn’t take the surviving sisters much digging to uncover motives each one of the March girls had for doing the unthinkable.

Jo, an aspiring author with a huge following on social media, would do anything to hook readers. Would she kill her sister for the story? Amy dreams of studying art in Europe, but she’ll need money from her aunt—money that’s always been earmarked for Beth. And Meg wouldn’t dream of hurting her sister…but her boyfriend might have, and she’ll protect him at all costs.

Despite the growing suspicion within the family, it’s hard to know for sure if the crime was committed by someone close to home. After all, the March sisters were dragged into the spotlight months ago when their father published a controversial bestseller about his own daughters. Beth could have been killed by anyone.

Beth’s perspective told in flashback unfolds next to Meg, Jo, and Amy’s increasingly fraught investigation as the tragedy threatens to rip the Marches apart.

Thursday, October 8, 2026

A Cute Little Murder

Ms. Harper weaves quite mystery. 

There's more than one murder to solve on this solitary island in a fading hotel, and all for the sake of money. 
I felt quite a bit of sympathy for our heroine and the way she's chosen to live her life. 
All of the characters are complex, excpet maybe the game designers...
It's always a fun game to see if the reader can figure out "whodunnit" before the reveal. 
This story took lots of expected and unexpected turns. 
You'll cheer for Lainey the whole time and hope for Harley's comeuppance. 

Excellent narration. 

When did you figure out who the real culprit was and how?



She used to be the sidekick. Now she might be the only one who can survive.

As teens, Harlow Drake and Lainey Piper built an online fandom solving small-town crimes. Harlow was the star, Lainey the behind-the-scenes genius (and often, Harlow’s scapegoat). Years later, Harlow’s hosting a hit true crime tv show. Lainey? She’s working in forensics. Well, forensic accounting . . . from home. In pajamas. With her cat.

But when Harlow faces significant backlash over fumbling a case, she needs a quick win—like a special investigation into the decades-old disappearance of a starlet from a once-glamorous, now decrepit island hotel. The catch? It’s bankrolled by Deke and Bryce of DBag Games, who are looking to shed their “frat bro” reputations. As long-time fans, they have one requirement for their funding: Lainey has to play the sidekick again.

Lainey is wary, but the offer is a lifeline in a sea of unpaid student loans. After reaching the Crossings Hotel, she realizes she’s not content to be Harlow’s helper anymore. As the cold case heats up, a crew member falls over dead, presenting Harlow and Lainey with a more modern mystery: what secrets does this hotel hide within its walls?

With sabotage, hidden staircases, and a killer in their midst, Lainey steps into the spotlight and takes charge of the investigation. It’s up to her to crack the case—as long as she can stay alive.

Thursday, October 1, 2026

Southern Souls

This is my first read by the author, and it was well done from start to finish. 

This book spans centuries and takes place in one location, the plantation. The author did a clear job of getting the historical facts and culture correct to build a tragic tale over time. 

You'll be rooting for Jamie from page one. And by the end, you may have some questions about who the real villain is in the story. As events unfold, each character gains sympathy for their situation. 

Enjoyed the romantic thread, though this is a little spicier than my normal read, but it wasn't graphic and intimate scenese were carefully handled. 

Excellent narration by Ms. McCauley, shifting through accents and characters while maintaining emotional grip on the story without being intrusice. Brilliant. 

An excellent read for the Halloween season. 

Do you believe places can by haunted?


AMAZON


Seeking a fresh start, Jamie, a newly widowed mother of two, moves her family from a busy metropolis to a small Southern town. Their temporary accommodation is a colonial mansion in the heart of the Lowcountry. Formerly a rice plantation, this home is now a den of suspended souls, the darkest of which resides in the attic.

Through her work in a medical office, Jamie meets Derek, a handsome, hard-bodied local farmer. As their attraction grows, the paranormal activity in the house unfolds. She hears voices and sees figures in the shadows. Worst of all, her innocent, young son has become fast friends with the damned soul in the attic.

With the aid of a local psychic-and with Derek at her side-Jamie is determined to eradicate the evil from the property as the spectral grasp on her son tightens. This malevolent spirit has crossed time and space, causing the disappearance of children from the plantation for over two hundred years, and now has its claws in her family. Will she be able to defeat the sinister pull of this poltergeist?

Derek may be Jamie's second chance at love ... if they can make it out alive.