One Split Second

 

One Split Second by Robert Dugoni
9/15/26; 415 pages
Thomas & Mercer
Tracy Crosswhite #12 

One Split Second by Robert Dugoni is a very highly recommended investigative mystery that covers a current case that has ties back to a cold case from 45 years earlier. This is the twelfth novel in the excellent Detective Tracy Crosswhite series.

Sheriff Jenny Almond of Klickitat County, Washington receives a phone call from Anthony Alvarez, a Vietnam vet who suffers from PTSD, asking for her deceased father and former sheriff, Buzz. Even though Jenny lost her reelection after a dirty campaign by newly elected Travis Beaumont, she responds because she is still the sheriff for a few more weeks. When she gets to Alvarez's place the whole encounter ends with Alvarez shot twice, by Jenny and an unknown shooter. Beaumont charges Jenny with first-degree murder. Jenny calls Detective Tracy Crosswhite and her husband, attorney Dan O’Leary, who both rush to help. While Dan sets in to defend Jenny, Tracy begins to investigate.

Alternate chapters jump back to 1980 and the disappearance of fifteen-year-old babysitter Jacquelyn Parker, which seems to tie into the current case. Buzz Almond was the under sheriff at that time and investigated the case. Initially Alvarez was a person of interest, but it became clear he was framed. As Buzz's investigation in 1980 is followed, Tracy's current investigation uncovers connections back to that case that seem to point to evidence someone is trying to hide.

The writing is exceptional, the pace is fast, the plot is interesting, and the tension rises as the past may be the key to Jenny's defense. Alternating chapters between the kidnapping investigation from 1980 and current investigation and defense of Jenny works exceptionally well in the plot, helping to uncover the conspiracy while holding my complete attention throughout. The story in both timelines is compelling and intricate. The courtroom scenes are especially entertaining.

At this point if you have been following the series, Tracy and Dan are known characters and it is a pleasure to join them in another mystery. For those starting here, One Split Second can be enjoyed as a standalone novel. There is enough background information on the characters to easily jump into the investigation and mystery. The final denouement is very satisfying.

One Split Second is an excellent choice for those who enjoy cold cases solved along side current investigations. Robert Dugoni continues to be a reliable go-to author for me. Thanks to Thomas & Mercer for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

I'll Be Watching You

 

I'll Be Watching You By Allison Brennan
9/15/26; 384 pages
Hanover Square Press
Anelhart Investigations #3 

I'll Be Watching You By Allison Brennan is a very highly recommended investigative procedural and the third novel in the Angelhart Private Investigators series.  It was a pleasure to follow Margot and the Angelhart family in another investigation.

Private investigator Margo Angelhart has recently rejoined her family's PI business, but she is still determined to prove that her father Dr. Cooper Angelhart did not kill Dr. Devin Klein. When Liz Swanson, a nurse who worked with Dr. Cooper, has a patient's entire chart disappear, she mentions it to Georgia Rollins, who was a part of Margo's earlier investigation. Georgia encourages Liz to call Margo. The two agree to meet the next morning, but Liz and her husband are murdered right as they are leaving for the meeting. 

Margo visits her father in prison after this to see if he will tell her the truth now. He encourages her to talk to her mother, Ava. Then, without warning, Cooper is transferred  to a Federal Supermax prison in Colorado at 2 am. Finally, Ava tells the truth. Cooper confessed to the murder to protect his family. Apparently Dr. Devin Klein was murdered after he discovered falsified data from a drug trial, including patients who had their adverse reactions removed from their files. Cooper's family was directly threatened, so he confessed to the murder to protect them. Now the killer is back and the family's investigation to clear Cooper's name will make them all targets.

This is another well-written, compelling, complicated, and intricate investigation in a fast-paced plot. Margot and her whole family with Angelhart investigations work well together, logically follows clues while uncovering a deadly conspiracy. Those involved with the coverup seemingly will do anything, including murder, to keep the falsified data and adverse reactions secret. There are plenty of clues to follow and Margo and her family quickly realize that the danger to the whole family is exponentially growing with each new discovery.

At this point I'm well acquainted with all the characters. They are realistically portrayed as complicated individuals with strengths and some flaws. Margo is tenacious, intelligent, and very intuitive. She has plenty of discernment and can really read people and get them to open up to her when talking to them. Margo's relationship with Cal Rafferty, a DEA agent, is growing.

Even though this is the third book in the series enough background is provided that it can be enjoyed as a standalone novel, but those following the series will, perhaps, enjoy it more as they know the characters and the background information. As a family business, Angelhart Investigations consists of, in part, Margo, an experienced P.I., her brother Jack, a former police detective, her sister Tess, who excels at research, and her mother, Ava, a former county attorney and prosecutor.

I'll Be Watching You is an excellent choice for everyone who enjoys intricate investigations featuring a tenacious P.I. Thanks to Hanover Square Press for providing me with an advance reader's copy via Edelweiss. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

The Thoroughbreds

 

The Thoroughbreds by Elin Hilderbrand, Shelby Cunningham
9/15/26; 464 pages
Little, Brown and Company
The Academy #2 

The Thoroughbreds by Elin Hilderbrand and Shelby Cunningham is a recommended drama, for the right reader, and a sequel to The Academy.

School is back in session and the students from The Academy are arriving at Tiffin Academy, a boarding school, for their senior year. This year sees two new students are added to the senior class and two new staff members.  Expect plenty of teen drama, relationships, partying, treachery, and changing allegiances, etc. as the novel follows the school year and follows the school year month by month. Additionally, Head of School Audre Robinson has lost 7 million dollars. The beginning of the novel does recap what happened in the previous book.

The pace moves fast and the story lines provide constant drama, which does keep you reading to see what in the world will happen next. The opening of the novel provides the cast of characters to assist readers in knowing who's who. This should be appealing for those interested in a boarding school drama and all the inside scandals that entails. The brand name dropping always annoys me. Honestly, for me, this seemed to be more a new adult/YA novel and is full of teen angst and misbehavior with only a few more adult scenes in the mix. 

I would recommend that those interested in The Thoroughbreds read The Academy first. I didn't do this and felt the disconnect. It is well-written, but I don't think I was the right reader for this novel. It was just okay for me. 3 very generous stars acknowledging that I was not the intended audience for this novel and others will likely enjoy it much more. 

The Thoroughbreds is for those who enjoyed The Academy. Thanks to Little, Brown and Company for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

A Perfect Mother

 

A Perfect Mother by Miranda Smith
260 pages; 9/10/26
Bookouture 

A Perfect Mother by Miranda Smith is a highly recommended, soapy, domestic suspense novel following a social media mommy blogger.

Megan Thorne has made it. She has an impressive and profitable social media presence with her blog "The Years Are Short," and a best selling book. Her content features her and her adorable five year-old daughter, Stella, with her husband Ian preferring to stay in the background. She has two nannys/helpers, Sabrina and Tanner, and even a social media advisor, Eliza.

Imagine her shock when, during the media questions following her speaking at a conference, Sabrina stumbles into the room, blood on her face, and no Stella in sight. Apparently, while in the bathroom on the main floor of the conference center, Sabrina was injured and Stella was kidnapped. Katy Wang, head of security, looks at the cameras and they find the suspected perpetrator. Detective Olivia Ross is on the case with her team. Megan is left wondering how this can be happening to her.

There is plenty of tension and drama as the intricacies of the plot unfold. The narrative is presented from the point-of-view of Megan and the kidnapper in alternate chapters. As Megan is a self-absorbed, self-promoting lifestyle and mommy blogger, most readers should already be primed to have some dislike for her just on the amount of narcissism this requires. The kidnapper has her own agenda. There really isn't a lot of character development for anyone beyond the main characters, but don't expect any likable characters beyond Stella, Ian, and minor characters like Detective Ross. 

As some basic background information is released, some plot points are predictable early on in the narrative. However, since the page count is low, the pages will fly by. Set disbelief aside, stay hydrated, and enjoy the soap opera-like disaster about to implode. This could also be a cautionary tale to keep the photos of your children private, and regulate your online profile to a minimum, especially if you have some hefty secrets to hide. The over-the-top ending is really something spectacularly enjoyable.  

A Perfect Mother is a good choice for anyone looking for a short, fast-paced, entertaining soapy drama. Thanks to Bookouture for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

Board to Death

 

Board to Death by J.C. Eaton
8/18/26; 314 pages
Level Best Books
A Charcuterie Shop Mystery #5 

Board to Death by J.C. Eaton is a recommended cozy mystery, for the right reader, and the fifth book in the Charcuterie Shop Mysteries series. J.C. Eaton is the penname for Ann I. Goldfarb and James E. Clapp.

Katie Aubrey owns the Char-board, a charcuterie restaurant and sandwich shop in Cave Creek, Arizona. Katie also has a vintage-clothes-loving ghost, Edith Ellroy, living in her home and apparently Edith is in trouble with her Supervisor from the Netherworld Larkeshian Drimmelspout, Larken for short. Edith has missed her bi-annual performance review and Larken is looking for her. Edith, who seemingly follows Katie around everywhere is constantly interrupting and making snarky comments only Katie can hear. 

The busy week has even more complications when the Heavenly Holsteins Dairy Farm is sabotaged resulting in a whole lot of cows running loose and blocking roads. Katie and her employees Lilly-Ann, Javie, and Matt, already have several caterings, including preparing twenty custom charcuterie boards for an event at The Pinnacle, a prestigious five-star senior residence. Then, as the event is winding down, Katie and an employee discover the body of The Pinnacle's manager beneath a date palm. It was murder, and there is some evidence that connects it to Javier. Clearing his name is the impetus for Katie to start investigating the Pinnacle and its residents on her own.

Honestly, at the heart of this novel is a very good cozy mystery. Katie inserts herself into the investigation and looks for clues that will solve the whodunit. What sets it back and significantly lowered my rating is the gimmicky inclusion of the multiple ghostly annoyances, and their overly large and exaggerated role in the novel. The synopsis mentions Edith, but it didn't hint at the major role she plays in the plot. That Katie even replies to Edith, out loud, with others around, was exasperating and points to questionable mental health. Sure, I guess all the shenanigans add an element of humor to the plot, but what it takes away from the plot is credibility.

The novel can be read as a standalone novel, although reading the previous novel would provide more background information about the character. Intrigued by the charcuterie plot element, this was my sampling of the series and I'm going to bypass the previous novels in the series based on the plague of irritating ghosts. 2.5 rounded up when needed. It would be 4 but for the bothersome Edith and friends.

Board to Death will best be appreciated by those already following the series. Thanks to Level Best Books for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

The Christmas Killer

 

The Christmas Killer by Ross Greenwood
9/2/26: 330 pages
Boldwood Books
DI Barton #9 

The Christmas Killer by Ross Greenwood is a very highly recommended police procedural and the 9th book in the DI Barton Series. Expect a plethora of twists and surprises in this unpredictable plot.

Barton, who is on sabbatical, is out golfing with retired medical examiner Mortis, who subsequently invites Barton to join him at the scene of a mummified body he has been asked to examine. Immediately following this DC Superintendent Andrew Troughton calls Barton also inviting him to examine the same scene and asking him to return for two weeks to help the investigation as MIT is short staffed due to illness. The scene is brutal. The victim was taped to a chair, with his mouth taped shut, and left to die a slow, tortuous death. When another murder occurs closely resembling the first, the race is on to uncover the past secret that connects the two, and hopefully prevent any more from occurring. 

This is a very well-written, unpredictable procedural with an abundance of twists. The complicated investigation logically and intelligently follows all the clues. It held my complete attention throughout. The murder investigation serves to keep the tension high and accelerating throughout the novel as the team digs into the past to try and uncover the identity of the intelligent and cunning killer. Along with the murder investigation there is also an ongoing departmental internal investigation, so the tension is already high. Even the weather becomes an ominous atmospheric presence as winter storms arrive.

The narrative is mainly told through Barton's point-of-view, along with a few others, including the killer. For those following the series, these are all known characters and we have a history with them. Greenwood does include a cast of characters at the beginning of the novel to assist those new to DI Barton novels as well as anyone who needs a refresher course on the characters. The novel will be loved and welcomed by fans, however, it could also be enjoy as a standalone novel for new readers. 

The Christmas Killer is an excellent choice for anyone who enjoys complex procedurals along with readers following the beloved series. Thanks to Boldwood Books for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

Switzy

 

Switzy by Emma Cline
9/8/26; 352 pages
Random House 

Switzy by Emma Cline is an exceptional, very highly recommended literary novel following a man with Alzheimer’s disease on his final destination. This novel has been rightfully longlisted for the 2026 Booker Prize and will be on my list of best books of the year.

"Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light."

                                                        - Dylan Thomas 

The narrative follows the scattered, thoughts in the mind of David Hastings. He is in his 70's and has amyloid plaques in his brain, the primary markers of Alzheimer’s. David hears this as Amy Lloyd, and hates her. His former boss loaned him his private plane to fly to Switzerland for his assisted death. Traveling with David is his assistant, Cody, who has all the schedules and papers needed. "The boy" keeps track of David. In David's pocket is his notebook, with notes he can no longer read. The two will stopover in London to see David's daughter and meet an estranged friend in France. Then they will meet Anna Gould, called Ghoul by David, for his final destination.

Switzy is an incredible, masterful novel and the writing is absolutely perfect as it captures the interior dialogue in David's mind, as well as the situations he tries to traverse during his final trip. He mishears words, has bursts of anger, loses himself in past memories, can be suspicious of Cody, and forgets... Oh, how he forgets as his mind is unraveling, while at the same time he is trying to remember and unable to grasp what he once had. Is he likeable, no, not at all, nor is he relatable, but he is a sympathetic character because in the final sum of a man's life, death comes to all. 

Switzy is an excellent choice for everyone who appreciates literary novels covering hard topics. Thanks to Random House for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.