A Happy Marriage by A.R. Torre

 

Title: A Happy Marriage

Author: A.R. Torre

Publisher: Thomas & Mercer

Release Date: June 24, 2025

What holds a strong and loving marriage together? Lies and secrets in a novel of twisting psychological suspense by a New York Times bestselling author.

Los Angeles homicide detective Dinah Marino may have a complicated relationship with her family, but her psychiatrist husband, Joe, makes her feel safe, secure, and happy. She couldn’t want for a more loving or trusting man. But throughout their ten-year marriage, she’s been keeping a secret from him—a secret she’d take to the grave.

Dr. Joe Marino loves his wife more than anything in this world, but there are things he’s learned to keep close to the chest. When a missing woman tied to his wife’s latest case is admitted to his hospital, doctor-patient confidentiality lands their marriage on some new and uneven ground.

As Dinah digs deeper into her case, tension works its way inside their picture-perfect home. Now the carefully constructed lies between them don’t just simply threaten the delicate balance of their marriage—they could kill.

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What an over-the-top plot!

Dinah Marino is an LAPD homicide detective leading a new case: a woman has been found dead, and her daughter, Jessica, is missing. Ever since her partner died, Dinah has worked alone—until the department saddles her with rookie Freddie Hodgkins. She is not thrilled.

Dinah’s husband is Dr. Joe Marino, a respected psychiatrist who teaches and runs his own private clinic. On the surface, Dinah and Joe have the perfect marriage—ten years of absolute bliss. The catch? Dinah is hiding an enormous secret, and she knows their relationship only works because of total trust. So what happens when Joe realizes something is off? And how does the current missing-person/murder case collide with that secret?

I have to say—this dysfunctional marriage was wildly entertaining. Their crazy, addictive dynamic had me hooked. I only wish it hadn’t spiraled quite so far out of control. I finished the book with a bunch of unanswered questions.

As an Alessandra Torre fan, I’ll read anything she writes.

Cliffhanger: No

3/5 Fangs

The Last Party by Clare MackintoshDC Morgan #1

 

Title: The Last Party 

Series: DC Morgan #1

Author: Clare Mackintosh

Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark

Release Date: November 8, 2022

At midnight, one of them is dead. By morning, all of them are suspects.

It's a party to end all parties, but not everyone is here to celebrate.

On New Year’s Eve, Rhys Lloyd has a house full of guests. His vacation homes on Mirror Lake are a success, and he’s generously invited the village to drink champagne with their wealthy new neighbors.

But by midnight, Rhys will be floating dead in the freezing waters of the lake.

On New Year’s Day, Ffion Morgan has a village full of suspects. The tiny community is her home, so the suspects are her neighbors, friends and family—and Ffion has her own secrets to protect.

With a lie uncovered at every turn, soon the question isn’t who wanted Rhys dead…but who finally killed him.

In a village with this many secrets, murder is just the beginning.

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A killer party!

On New Year’s Eve, local celebrity and opera singer Rhys Lloyd throws the party of the year at his luxury development, The Shore. He invites the wealthy new residents—along with a handful of locals.

On New Year’s Day, Rhys is found floating dead in the icy waters of Mirror Lake.

Who killed him—and why?

The investigation falls to DCI Ffion Morgan (North Wales Police) and DC Leo Brady (Cheshire Constabulary, England side). The border runs straight through the lake, so the two forces must work together.

The more we learn about Rhys, the real question becomes: why wasn’t he killed sooner—and who didn’t want him dead?

The Last Party is quite atmospheric, with Mirror Lake at the heart of everything. Rhys was a truly awful human being, so his murder came as no surprise at all.

The only downside was the sheer number of characters—it got a bit overwhelming at times. That said, I absolutely loved both leads, Ffion and Leo. Knowing this is the start of a series, I’m already looking forward to reading the next installment.

Cliffhanger: No

3/5 Fangs

Pray for Silence by Linda CastilloKate Burkholder #2

 

Title: Pray for Silence

Series:  Kate Burkholder #2

Author: Linda Castillo

Publisher: Minotaur Books

Release Date: June 22, 2010

The Plank family moved from Lancaster, Pennsylvania, to join the small Amish community of Painters Mill less than a year ago and seemed the model of the Plain Life—until on a cold October night, the entire family of seven was found slaughtered on their farm. Police Chief Kate Burkholder and her small force have few clues, no motive, and no suspect. Formerly Amish herself, Kate is no stranger to the secrets the Amish keep from the English—and each other—but this crime is horribly out of the ordinary.

State agent John Tomasetti arrives on the scene to assist. He and Kate worked together on a previous case during which they began a volatile relationship. They soon realize the disturbing details of this case will test their emotional limits and force them to face demons from their own troubled pasts—and for Kate, a personal connection that is particularly hard to bear.

When she discovers a diary that belonged to one of the teenaged daughters, Kate is shocked to learn the girl kept some very dark secrets and may have been living a lurid double life. Who is the charismatic stranger who stole the young Amish girl’s heart? Could the brother—a man with a violent past, rejected and shunned by his family and the Amish community, have come to seek out revenge? As Kate’s outrage grows so does her resolve to find the killer and bring him to justice—even if it means putting herself in the line of fire.

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I flew through this novel. I mostly listened to the audio version, and the narrator was phenomenal.

Once again, we’re back in the small town of Painters Mill, Ohio, where the Amish and the “English” coexist—though not always in harmony.

Chief of Police Kate Burkholder is called to investigate the horrific slaughter of the Plank family: parents and all the children, including a tiny baby.

Who could commit such an evil act?

Kate and her small department won’t rest until they find the answer. She’s joined again by state agent John Tomasetti. Their relationship began in the first book, but neither is any good at talking about feelings or what they actually want from each other.

Fair warning: this installment is very descriptive about the murders. If graphic details bother you, you might want to skip it—though the series is so good that I’d hate for you to miss out.

I’m completely invested in Kate. I love that she’s flawed and makes mistakes. John Tomasetti is another beautifully damaged, highly likable character. I really hope he stays for the long haul.

Cliffhanger: No

4/5 Fangs

The Family Experiment by John MarrsDark Future #5

 

Title: The Family Experiment

Series: Dark Future #5

Author: John Marrs

Publisher:  Harlequin Trade Publishing | Hanover Square Press

Release Date: May 9, 2024

From the acclaimed author of The One and The Marriage Act, The Family Experiment is a dark and brilliant speculative thriller about families: real and virtual.

Some families are virtually perfect…

The world's population is soaring, creating overcrowded cities and an economic crisis. And in the UK, the breaking point has arrived. A growing number of people can no longer afford to start families, let alone raise them.

But for those desperate to experience parenthood, there is an alternative. For a monthly subscription fee, clients can create a virtual child from scratch who they can access via the metaverse and a VR headset. To launch this new initiative, the company behind Virtual Children has created a reality TV show called The Substitute. It will follow ten couples as they raise a Virtual Child from birth to the age of eighteen but in a condensed nine-month time period. The prize: the right to keep their virtual child, or risk it all for the chance of a real baby…

Set in the same universe as John Marrs's bestselling novel The One and The Marriage Act, The Family Experiment is a dark and twisted thriller about the ultimate Tamagotchi—a virtual baby.

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The Family Experiment by John Marrs is the latest book in the Dark Future series.

As its title suggests, this novel centers on a groundbreaking experiment: five couples and a single man become the “parents” of virtual babies. Over the next nine months, the virtual children grow from newborns to age eighteen. The parents access their “babies” through the metaverse and VR headsets. The prize? The winners can keep their virtual child or claim enough money to start a real family.

The couples and the young man all harbor secrets, which readers uncover gradually. Some are revealed from the start, while most emerge during the show, leading to eliminations one by one until the grand finale.

Unexpected, interesting, and thought-provoking, The Family Experiment held my attention the entire time. The one challenge was keeping track of so many characters at once. The audiobook and its narrators helped immensely.

Overall, it was a good addition to this sci-fi-dystopian world!

Cliffhanger: No

4/5 Fangs

A complimentary copy was provided by  Harlequin Trade Publishing | Hanover Square Press via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Too Old for This by Samantha Downing

Title: Too Old for This

Author: Samantha Downing

Publisher: Berkley Publishing Group

Release Date: August 12, 2025

A retired serial killer’s quiet life is upended by an unexpected visitor. To protect her secret, there’s only one option left—what’s another murder? From bestselling author Samantha Downing.

Lottie Jones thought her crimes were behind her.

Decades earlier, she changed her identity and tucked herself away in a small town. Her most exciting nights are the weekly bingo games at the local church and gossiping with her friends.

When investigative journalist Plum Dixon shows up on her doorstep asking questions about Lottie’s past and specifically her involvement with numerous unsolved cases, well, Lottie just can’t have that.

But getting away with murder is hard enough when you’re young. And when Lottie receives another annoying knock on the door, she realizes this crime might just be the death of her…

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As a fan of Samantha Downing's books, I couldn't skip this one.

Lottie Jones is a retired serial killer. She committed numerous murders in Spokane, but with no evidence to convict her, she changed her name and relocated to a small town in Oregon.

For years, she has lived a quiet life, attending church on Sundays and playing weekly bingo, where she rarely wins. Her tranquil existence is disrupted when investigative reporter Plum Dixon knocks on her door. Lottie, who dislikes surprises and uninvited guests, is displeased but conceals her irritation. She offers Plum tea and cookies while contemplating her murder. Unfortunately, one death may not resolve Lottie’s problems when another unexpected visitor arrives.

Too Old for This was exactly what I needed. Lottie is a witty, smart, resourceful, and devious character who continually amazed me throughout the book.

I’m not sure what it says about me that I root for a serial killer in some fictional stories, particularly those like Dexter. Without delving too deeply into self-analysis, I can say that Lottie Jones joins my list of characters I hope survive and evade capture.

Cliffhanger: No

4.5/5 Fangs

A complimentary copy was provided by Berkley Publishing Group via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Joy Moody Is Out of Time by Kerryn Mayne

 

Title: Joy Moody Is Out of Time

Author: Kerryn Mayne

Publisher: St. Martin's Press

Release Date: August 19, 2025

From the author of the beloved novel Lenny Marks Gets Away With Murder comes another quirky and irresistible new crime novel

Strange things are happening behind the bright pink facade of Bayside’s premier laundromat, Joyful Suds; home to Joy Moody and her twin daughters.

For much of their lives, Joy has been lying to Cassie and Andie. What started as a colorful tale to explain how the twins came to live with her grew over the years and was always something she meant to set straight. Joy really did think she had more time. Worse still, Joy is struggling to define the truth from the lies.

The girls have long believed they are vital to the future and must stay hidden to stay safe. Joy has told them that their impending 21st birthday is significant; they will step into their roles as daughters of the future revolution and life as they know it will change. Joy was right - everything will change, just not in the way the expected. On Andie and Cassie’s birthday, Joy Moody is found dead and her girls face a world they are not prepared for without their mother. Joy Moody is out of time… in more ways than one.

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What a unique plot!

Cassie and Andie are twins, soon turning twenty-one when the book begins. They are the daughters of Joy Moody, owner of Joyful Suds Laundromat. For most of their lives, their mother has told them they are from the future and, upon turning twenty-one, will travel back to 2050. As daughters of the future revolution, both are instrumental in the fight for humanity’s survival.

Only one problem: it’s all a fabrication. They are ordinary girls Joy raised on her own, with minimal contact with the outside world. They don’t own a TV or smartphone and only know what Joy allows them to know, making it hard to question any of it.

Then, on the day they’re supposed to travel to the future, they don’t go anywhere—and Joy dies. Was it a natural death, or was she murdered?

Joy Moody Is Out of Time offers a compelling mystery, an intriguing premise, and memorable characters. I enjoyed it.

Cliffhanger: No

3.5/5 Fangs

A complimentary copy was provided by St. Martin's Press via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Hitchhikers by Chevy Stevens

Title: The Hitchhikers

Author: Chevy Stevens

Publisher: Macmillan Audio

Release Date: October 7, 2025

The open road beckons.A chance for them to reconnect.

Then they make a fatal mistake.

It’s the summer of 1976 and Alice and Tom set out on the remote Canadian highways in their new RV, hoping to heal their broken hearts after a devastating tragedy.

They’ve planned the trip perfectly, taken care of every detail. Then they meet two young hitchhikers down on their luck and offer them a ride. But Simon and Jenny aren’t what they seem. They’ve left a trail of blood, destruction, and madness behind them.

Now Alice and Tom are trapped, prisoners in a deadly game, with nowhere to turn. As the tension builds, the lines blur, and the question becomes, In whose heart does evil truly lie? What secrets are Jenny and Simon hiding? And who will live another day?

A chilling, twist-laden ride to the final page, THE HITCHHIKERS is that rare novel that will break your heart as well as hold you in suspense. The author of the classic thrillers STILL MISSING and THOSE GIRLS has delivered her next breathtaking novel.

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A nightmare vacation!

In 1976, after a personal tragedy, Alice and Tom embark on a vacation in Canada with their new RV, hoping for healing and reconnection. Their trip turns terrifying after they pick up two hitchhikers, Ocean and Blue, whose real names are Jenny and Simon.

Initially, Alice and Tom are kind to the young pair, but their goodwill falters when Alice discovers their names in a local newspaper. The police are searching for them in connection with the brutal murder of Jenny’s mother and her husband. Alice and Tom try to leave them behind, but they are overpowered by Simon, who is unstable and prone to violence.

Can Alice and Tom survive?

The Hitchhikers contains significant violence, which made it challenging to read. Still, it was easy to empathize with each character in this tragic situation. My favorite character was Alice—her endurance through such horrific circumstances was, to say the least, remarkable.

I did the audio version and I thought the narration by Lindsey Dorcus and Moniqua Plante was spot on.

Cliffhanger: No

3.5/5 Fangs

A complimentary copy was provided by Macmillan Audio via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.