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.

Sworn to Silence by Linda CastilloKate Burkholder #1

 

Title: Sworn to Silence

Series: ate Burkholder #1

Author: Linda Castillo

Some secrets are too terrible to reveal . . .Some crimes are too unspeakable to solve . . . In the sleepy rural town of Painters Mill, Ohio, the Amish and "English" residents have lived side by side for two centuries. But sixteen years ago, a series of brutal murders shattered the peaceful farming community. In the aftermath of the violence, the town was left with a sense of fragility, a loss of innocence. Kate Burkholder, a young Amish girl, survived the terror of the Slaughterhouse Killer but came away from its brutality with the realization that she no longer belonged with the Amish. Now, a wealth of experience later, Kate has been asked to return to Painters Mill as Chief of Police. Her Amish roots and big city law enforcement background make her the perfect candidate. She's certain she's come to terms with her past--until the first body is discovered in a snowy field. Kate vows to stop the killer before he strikes again. But to do so, she must betray both her family and her Amish past--and expose a dark secret that could destroy her.

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Quite an interesting plot!

Kate Burkholder is the Chief of Police in a small Ohio town where “English” and Amish communities coexist. Raised Amish, Kate left the community after a traumatic event prevented her from being baptized.

Years later, she returns when her mother falls ill and passes away. The town council offers her the role of Chief of Police, which she accepts. Kate is well-liked by the town and her coworkers, yet few know the dark secret she carries and has vowed never to reveal.

When a woman is found tortured, raped, and murdered in a manner eerily similar to killings from sixteen years ago, the town fears the serial killer has returned. Kate begins to suspect the same, leaving her unsettled.

John Tomasetti, an agent with the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI), is sent to assist Kate. He knows his bosses hope he’ll fail, giving them an excuse to fire him. After a difficult two years, helping Kate seems to help Tomasetti heal as well.

My friend Kim S. recommended this series. She’s reading the latest book, number 17, and loves it. I’m glad she told me about it because she was right—Kate and John are compelling characters with flaws and secrets that make them deeply human.

I plan to read the entire series, as I hear the books only get better.

Cliffhanger: No

4/5 Fangs

To Die For by David BaldacciThe 6:20 Man #3

 

Title: To Die For

Series: The 6:20 Man #3

Author: David Baldacci

Publisher: Grand Central Publishing

Release Date: November 12, 2024

From #1 New York Times bestselling author, David Baldacci, the 6:20 Man returns, this time sent to the Pacific Northwest to aid the FBI in a case that gets more complicated with the more questions Devine asks—and he’s about to come face-to-face with his nemesis, the girl on the train.

Travis Devine has become a pro at adapting to any situation to accomplish the mission set in front of him. Whether it’s a high-powered corporate setting or small-town community, Devine will become the man for the job. His time as an Army Ranger and on the financial battlefields of Wall Street gave him the skills he needed, and he’s put them to good use. But this time it’s not his skills that send him to Seattle to aid the FBI in escorting orphaned, twelve-year-old Betsy Odom to a meeting with her uncle, who’s under investigation for RICO charges. Instead, he’s hoping to lie low and keep off the radar of an enemy that he evaded on a train in Switzerland and who has been after him ever since—the girl on the train.

But as Devine gets to know Betsy, questions begin to arise around the death of her parents. Betsy is adamant that they had never used drugs, but the police in the small rural town where they died insist the Odoms died of an overdose. Devine starts digging for answers, and what he finds points to a conspiracy bigger than he could’ve ever imagined. The question is, how do Betsy, her uncle, and various government agencies all fit into it.

It might finally be time for Devine and the girl on the train to come face-to-face, and when that happens, Devine is going to find himself unsure of who are his allies and who are his enemies. And in some cases, they might well be both.

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The last installment (so far) in the 6:20 Man series.

Travis Devine, a former Army Ranger now working for the government in a special capacity, is sent to Seattle on a new mission: to protect and accompany twelve-year-old orphan Betsy Odom to visit her uncle, Danny Glass, who faces pending RICO charges from the FBI.

Travis quickly senses there’s more to the mission. Betsy’s parents didn’t use drugs, so why are their deaths classified as overdoses? And why does it seem someone is targeting Betsy? It will take all of Travis’s skills to uncover the truth while evading the mysterious “girl on the train” who is out to kill him.

To Die For delivers action, treachery, and suspense. Poor Travis—he had no idea whom to trust. Most readers will likely agree that the “girl on the train” steals the show, making everything far more gripping. I would like to see her again.

Cliffhanger: No

3.5/5 Fangs

Maid for Each Other by Lynn Painter

 

Title: Maid for Each Other 

Author: Lynn Painter

Publisher: Berkley Publishing Group

Release Date: July 17, 2025

A millionaire and a house cleaner are a match maid in heaven in this sparkling new romantic comedy by Lynn Painter, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Happily Never After.

As a professional cleaner, Abi Mariano never thought her apartment would have any sort of infestation, but because of a building-wide outbreak, she now needs somewhere to stay for a week. As a part-time student with two jobs, she doesn’t have many options. Then the solution presents itself: the owner of the penthouse she cleans is out of town for the week. She normally wouldn’t consider it, but he’s literally never around (she hasn’t even met him). It goes great…until one morning she finds two strangers in the kitchen. They’re the parents of the penthouse owner and they seem to think they’ve heard all about Abi—not as their son’s maid, but as his girlfriend.

Declan Powell has always put his career first, working his way up to become an executive at his company, but he still has his sights set on the next level. When his parents mention that they met his girlfriend, “Abby,” he all but chokes on his escargot. As wonderful as it sounds that she was just darling, he doesn’t actually have a girlfriend—he made her up to get everyone off his back. When Dex finds out who Abi really is, he makes her a proposition: pretend to date him, and he’ll provide everything she needs during their little arrangement. What harm would it do? It’s purely business, no pleasure…right?

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An enjoyable rom-com.

Abi Mariano must vacate her apartment while her building undergoes extermination. So, what does Abi do? She decides to stay in the penthouse of one of her cleaning clients, believing it’s safe since the owner is supposed to be away for a week. Unfortunately, the owner’s parents didn’t get the memo, and they find Abi there. To her surprise, they assume she’s their son’s girlfriend.

Declan Powell has invented a fake girlfriend named Abi to keep his parents and boss from prying into his personal life. With work as his priority, Declan has no time for love. When his parents mention meeting his “girlfriend,” he’s baffled. Soon, he uncovers the truth and proposes an arrangement that Abi can’t refuse. But what happens when their fake relationship starts to feel real? Can they make it genuine?

As a fan of Lynn Painter, I enjoyed reading about Abi and Declan. Declan was likable and down-to-earth, while Abi could be a bit overwhelming at times, but she still won me over.

I can't wait to see what this author brings to us next.

Cliffhanger: No

3.5/5 Fangs

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