Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave by Elle Cosimano

From New York Times bestseller and Edgar-Award nominee Elle Cosimano, comes Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave—the hugely anticipated next installment in the fan-favorite Finlay Donovan series.

Finlay Donovan may have skeletons in her closet . . . but at least there's not a body in her backyard.

Finlay Donovan and her nanny/partner-in-crime, Vero, have not always gotten along with Finlay’s elderly neighbor, Mrs. Haggerty, the community busybody and president of the neighborhood watch. But when a dead body is discovered in her backyard, Mrs. Haggerty needs their help. At first a suspect, Mrs. Haggerty is cleared by the police, but her house remains an active crime scene. She has nowhere to go . . . except Finlay’s house, right across the street.

Finlay and Vero have no interest in getting involved in another murder case—or sacrificing either of their bedrooms. After all, they’ve dealt with enough murders over the last four months to last a lifetime and they both would much rather share their beds with someone else.

Audiobook, 10 hours, 18 minutes

Expected publication March 4, 2025

 by Macmillan Audio

4/5 stars

Book 5 in the Finlay Donovan Series continues as has her earlier ones, right where the previous book left off.  Her neighbor, Mrs. Haggerty has been arrested after a body was found buried in her backyard. She is the neighborhood busy body, watcher of all that is going on and quite cranky. But when she turns to Finlay for help, how could Finlay say no. Well she tired will little success.

This book had a different feel than the previous ones in this series. The previous ones sometimes had a outrageous convoluted feel with too much suspending of belief while at the same time still being entertaining. With Digs Her Own Grave, it is a story that had relevant and poignant themes while still being mysterious and humorous.

I was given the audio, which is how I have read the other books.  The reader is Angela Dawe who again delivered an awesome performance. She brings the book and characters to life. If you haven’t read any of the series, I highly suggest you start at the beginning otherwise nothing really is going to make sense. 

Digs Her Own Grave shows a side of Mrs. Haggerty that no one expects.

My thanks to Macmillan Audio for an advanced copy in exchange for a honest review.

No Fixed Address by Susin Nielsen

A middle-grade story about family, friendship, and growing up when you're one step away from homelessness.

Twelve-and-three-quarter-year-old Felix Knutsson has a knack for trivia. His favorite game show is Who What Where When; he even named his gerbil after the host. Felix's mom, Astrid, is loving but can't seem to hold on to a job. So when they get evicted from their latest shabby apartment, they have to move into a van. Astrid swears him to secrecy. He can't tell anyone about their living arrangement, not even Dylan and Winnie, his best friends at his new school. If he does, she warns him, he'll be taken away from her and put in foster care.

As their circumstances go from bad to worse, Felix gets a chance to audition for a junior edition of Who What Where When, and he's determined to earn a spot on the show. Winning the cash prize could make everything okay again. But things don't turn out the way he expects. . . .

Hardcover, 288 pages

Published September 11, 2018

 by Tundra Books

4.5/5 stars

This is my first time reading, Canadian author Susan Nelson, I will definitely be back for more. No Fixed Address is a heartwarming story about 12 year-old Felix and his mother, they suddenly find themselves homeless or almost since they are living in a van.

I really like Felix, he is smart, caring, kinda quirky while dealing alot with a lot of stuff that he shouldn’t be. His mother tries, she’s a complicated character and though I felt her love for her son she just has issues.

No Fixed Address pulls at the heart strings as it deals with the stigma attached to poverty and homelessness, while being a strong story involving friendship, family, and hope. The author’s writing style made this for an addicting read that only took me a couple days to finish. It is a great book to open up discussions while also showing a good side of human nature.

This book was part of my 2025 reading off my shelf challenge and is booked #8.

Nobody's Fool by Harlan Coben

A year after the devastating events that took place in Fool Me Once, Harlan Coben’s bestselling thriller and #1 Netflix series, a secret from former Detective Sami Kierce's college days comes back to haunt him. Present day is hard enough for the disgraced Kierce, but his past isn’t through with him yet…

MALAGA – 2000
Sami Kierce, a young man backpacking in Spain with friends, wakes up one morning. He is covered in blood. There’s a knife in his hand. Beside him, the body of a woman. Anna. Dead. He doesn’t know what happened. He begins to scream.

NEW YORK CITY – 2025
Kierce, now a disgraced detective, is teaching night classes when he recognizes a familiar face in the crowd. Anna. It’s unmistakably her. As soon as Kierce makes eye contact with her, she runs. For Kierce there is no choice. He knows he must find this woman and solve the impossible mystery that has haunted his every waking moment since that day.

His investigation will bring him face-to-face with his past. Soon he discovers that some secrets should stay buried . . .

Kindle Edition, 352 pages

Expected publication March 25, 2025

 by Grand Central Publishing

4/5 stars

Book 2 in the Detective Sammi Kierce Series takes place over two timelines. One being 2000 in Malaga  and the other current day in New York City. First introduced to Sammi in Fool Me Once where he had a low profile, here he takes centre stage as his past comes back to haunt him. 

What follows is in engaging story that came with the usual Harlan Cohen style in terms of red herrings, twists, unreliable characters and an interesting plot. Though it did take me a little bit to get captivated with the story once I did I was thoroughly entertained as I tried to decipher the clues and figure out what was actually taking place. There were many layers that wove together to an ending I really didn't see coming - that's why Harlan Coben is one of my auto-read author, he keeps me guessing.

My thanks to Grand Central Publishing for a digital arc in exchange for a honest review.  You can find Nobody’s Fool on sale March 25

Ferris by Kate DiCamillo

The beloved author of Because of Winn-Dixie has outdone herself with a hilarious and achingly real love story about a girl, a ghost, a grandmother, and growing up.

It’s the summer before fifth grade, and for Ferris Wilkey, it is a summer of sheer pandemonium: Her little sister, Pinky, has vowed to become an outlaw. Uncle Ted has left Aunt Shirley and, to Ferris’s mother’s chagrin, is holed up in the Wilkey basement to paint a history of the world. And Charisse, Ferris’s grandmother, has started seeing a ghost at the threshold of her room, which seems like an alarming omen given that she is also feeling unwell. But the ghost is not there to usher Charisse to the Great Beyond. Rather, she has other plans—wild, impractical, illuminating plans. How can Ferris satisfy a specter with Pinky terrorizing the town, Uncle Ted sending Ferris to spy on her aunt, and her father battling an invasion of raccoons?

As Charisse likes to say, “Every good story is a love story,” and Kate DiCamillo has written one for the ages: emotionally resonant and healing, showing the two-time Newbery Medalist at her most playful, universal, and profound.

Hardcover, 226 pages

Published March 5, 2024

 by Candlewick Press

5/5 stars

This is one of the reasons why Kate DiCamillo is one of my favourite MG authors. Sadly, it’s been a while since I have read any of her books, but I was instantly reminded when I dove in and found myself falling in love with her writing again.

Ferris just finished fourth grade. She lives with her grandmother, her parents, her uncle Ted has moved into the basement and apparently there is a ghost roaming the house . Well, not really it roaming seems to have built a connection with the grandmother. Plus, there is her little sister Pinky who is quite the handful, she packs a punch with her antics and confidence, though that confidence isn’t always directed in the right places.

Not only was it the writing that I enjoyed but the story. This book made me smile, laugh out loud with its zany characters, witty banter but ultimately it pulls at your heart string when you really get to the zest of the story. I loved Ferris and I would love to see another book with this family again, I miss them already.

This book was part of my 2025 reading off my shelf challenge.

Finlay Donovan Rolls the Dice by Elle Cosimano

Finlay Donovan and her nanny/partner-in-crime Vero are in sore need of a girls’ weekend away. They plan a trip to Atlantic City, but odds are―seeing as it’s actually a cover story to negotiate a deal with a dangerous loan shark, save Vero’s childhood crush Javi, and hunt down a stolen car―it won’t be all fun and games. When Finlay’s ex-husband Steven and her mother insist on tagging along too, Finlay and Vero suddenly have a few too many meddlesome passengers along for the ride.

Within hours of arriving in their seedy casino hotel, it becomes clear their rescue mission is going to be a bust. Javi’s kidnapper, Marco, refuses to negotiate, demanding payment in full in exchange for Javi’s life. But that’s not all―he insists on knowing the whereabouts of his missing nephew, Ike, who mysteriously disappeared. Unable to confess what really happened to Ike, Finlay and Vero are forced to come up with a new plan: sleuth out the location of Javi and the Aston Martin, then steal them both back.

But when they sneak into the loan shark’s suite to search for clues, they find more than they bargained for―Marco's already dead. They don’t have a clue who murdered him, only that they themselves have a very convincing motive. Then four members of the police department unexpectedly show up in town, also looking for Ike―and after Finlay's night with hot cop Nick at the police academy, he’s a little too eager to keep her close to his side.

If Finlay can juggle a jealous ex-husband, two precocious kids, her mother’s marital issues, a decomposing loan shark, and find Vero’s missing boyfriend, she might get out of Atlantic City in one piece. But will she fold under the pressure and come clean about the things she’s done, or be forced to double down?

Audiobook, 9 hours, 5 minutes

Published March 5, 2024

 by Macmillan Audio

3.5/5 stars

This is Book 4 in Finlay Donovan Series, right now I am in the middle of book 5, which releases in March and just realized that I have not done my review for Rolls the Dice. The thing is I listened to this book way back in July and I still remember it. I remember my drive home from north as I listened, shaking my head and thinking oh my what do we have here?

I can honestly say this was an entertaining listen.  It seems as the series progresses it gets a little more outrageous and far-fetched.  And that's not always a bad thing. That being said, it was funny and mysterious all at the same time. If I had to suspend my belief in book 3 at the Police Academy, Roll the Dice takes it up a whole other level. If something is gonna go wrong, then it’s gonna go wrong a hundred fold. And it wasn’t just a case of Finley and her sidekick Vero, but the rest of the family gets involved also.

What has been consistent throughout all her books is a mystery, the mob, Finley‘s new boyfriend who happens to be the police detective, her ex-husband, her kids, her sister, and a very strong case of suspending one’s belief. The star of the show... Kevin Bacon. 

Not much more I can say other than you have to read this series in order. And I highly recommend the audiobook as the narrator does an amazing job.

My copy of the audiobook was obtained through my local library via CloudLibrary

The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch

They say that the Thorn of Camorr can beat anyone in a fight. They say he steals from the rich and gives to the poor. They say he's part man, part myth, and mostly street-corner rumor. And they are wrong on every count.

Only averagely tall, slender, and god-awful with a sword, Locke Lamora is the fabled Thorn, and the greatest weapons at his disposal are his wit and cunning. He steals from the rich - they're the only ones worth stealing from - but the poor can go steal for themselves. What Locke cons, wheedles and tricks into his possession is strictly for him and his band of fellow con-artists and thieves: the Gentleman Bastards.

Together their domain is the city of Camorr. Built of Elderglass by a race no-one remembers, it's a city of shifting revels, filthy canals, baroque palaces and crowded cemeteries. Home to Dons, merchants, soldiers, beggars, cripples, and feral children. And to Capa Barsavi, the criminal mastermind who runs the city.

But there are whispers of a challenge to the Capa's power. A challenge from a man no one has ever seen, a man no blade can touch. The Grey King is coming.

A man would be well advised not to be caught between Capa Barsavi and The Grey King. Even such a master of the sword as the Thorn of Camorr. As for Locke Lamora ...

Paperback, 530 pages

Published February 1, 2007

 by Gollancz

4.5/5 stars

This book has been languishing on my shelf forever. Finally back in November it was our pic for our family book club. This group reads at a slow pace, but once I got hooked I had the last half finished in a matter of days.

Somewhat of a Robin Hood type story except they only steal are from the rich. Locke Lamora has his gang with him known as The Gentleman Bastard. What a twisted conniving and interesting bunch.

First introduced to Locke when he was a child, an orphan as are all of his gang members, the story weaves back-and-forth to current and his growing up years. Seeing the trouble he got into makes sense of how his adult years are what they are. There is a lot to take in at the beginning, between the world building and characters. The story, at the beginning jumps around a lot but once they start to weave together everything makes sense.  I think I read the last 40% in two days, that is saying something because this book is over 500 pages long.

I was kept guessing a lot and had to trust the author as he twisted and turned the story into an outcome that I did not see coming. This is the first book in a trilogy and I look forward to continuing this series. And did I mention that this is Scott Lynch‘s debut, I’d say he is off to a great start.

This book was part of my 2025 reading off my shelf challenge and is booked # 4.

The Cross by Steve Cavanagh

An exclusive race against time ebook short thriller.

Eddie Flynn, con-man turned criminal lawyer, has an impossible choice.

He has damning evidence against a corrupt NYPD detective who stands accused of killing a suspect.

But if he uses this evidence in court, both he and his client - the dead man's widow - will be in mortal danger.

Should he risk their lives to win the case? Or keep quiet and let a murderer go free.

KOBO Edition, 173 pages

Published December 17, 2015

 by Headline

4/5 stars

This is book .5 in the Eddie Flynn Series. Whether you need to read this before book 1, I am not sure because I have not read the first book yet. But I did read book 8, Witness 8, which comes out the end of this month, it has me wanting to start the series from the beginning.

Eddie Flynn is a former con-man turned criminal lawyer with his current case set against a corrupt NYPD detective. Within the 173 pages there is a lot of action going on here. As I have come to expect from Witness 8 I knew I had to pay attention to all the characters, drama, and little things that Eddy does because everything means something and at the end all will be revealed.

I like the conclusion and though I want to say things wrap up neat and tidy, when you’re dealing with corrupt police, other bad guys, it’s not always neat and tidy if you know what I mean.

I look forward to spending 2025 getting caught up on this series especially since I’ve heard that book 9 is in the works.

My copy was purchased via KOBO for 99cents.

Storm Child by Ele Fountain

An exciting, thought-provoking novel about parental unemployment and facing your problems, from the prize-winning author of Boy 87 and Fake

Maya's life is about to be upended. After her dad's fishing boat is ravaged by a relentless storm, Maya's parents make the decision to start over-by moving to a tropical island. But making a change doesn't always make a difference.

Far from her friends and her quiet seaside home where she spent all her time surfing, Maya is swept away by a storm much larger than herself. As Maya begins to realise that paradise is not always what it seems, can she bring her family back home again?

Kindle Edition, 205 pages

Published February 11, 2025 

by Pushkin Children's Books

3/5 stars

This was a relatively short novel coming in at 205 pages, it was also my first time reading this author.

An interesting story that had a lot of potential. It deals with serious subject matter in terms of financial problems within the home and a rash decision to relocate. For Maya, it’s a big change being separated from her friends, surfing and the only place she called home.

I am going to go against the general flow in my feelings for this book. Aside from the fact that I struggled with the formatting of my digital arc, but I don’t feel that I can blame that for how disjointed I felt the story was at times. I hope the final copy corrects the run-on of conversations in the same paragraph that left me confused as to who was talking. 

However, within the story I was left wondering where it actually took place.  I don't think I've every encountered a story, that wasn't fantasy and not know the location.  It felt weird and actually took away from the story.  Someone mentioned a jumper versus a jacket once, so I can assume it’s either Australia or England.  Then the move 1000's of miles away to paradise, again location, location, location.   It would’ve been nice to know where paradise was especially when there is talk of the sea, the waves and global changes. 

The story itself was missing something more.  Lots going on in terms of the move, loneliness, financial hardship, starting over, learning the lay of this new island (paradise), new jobs, lack of jobs, being secluded and more. All in 205 pages.

 On the plus side, it does open up for discussion our responsibility to clean up after ourselves.

My thanks to Pushkin Children's Books for a digital arc in exchange for a honest review.

The Snowbirds by Christina Clancy

Kim and Grant are at a turning point. A couple for thirty years, their "separate but together" partnership is running up against the realities of late middle Grant’s mother has died, the college where he taught philosophy was shuttered, and their twin girls are grown and gone. Escaping the bitter cold of a Midwestern winter for the hot desert sun of Palm Springs seems as good a solution as any to the more intractable problems they face.

When they arrive at Le Desert, a quirky condo community where everyone knows everyone’s business, Kim immediately embraces the opportunity to make new friends and explore a more adventurous side of her personality. Meanwhile, Grant struggles to find his footing in this unfamiliar landscape, leaving Kim to wonder if their relationship can survive the snowbird season. But when Grant goes missing on a hike in the Palm Springs mountains, Kim is forced to consider two terrifying either Grant is truly lost, or this time he’s really left her.

Is it ever too late to become the person we wanted to be—and is there still time to change into someone better? The exhilarating, but often confusing transitions of midlife are pitched against the promise and glamour of Palm Springs in this tender, honest story of what it takes to commit to someone for a lifetime. With compassion and humor, Clancy explores the redemptive power of finding ourselves, and of being found.

Kindle Edition, 295 pages

Expected publication February 4, 2025

 by St. Martin's Press

3/5 stars

I have mixed feelings about this book. When I started reading the e-book I really struggled and wanted to give up but then, McMillan Audio very graciously gave me the audio book and I went from there. This wasn’t a 'I can’t wait to sit down and read this' type of book. So I continued with Kim and Grant's story by listening to it.  

This story starts with the disappearance of Grant after what was supposed to be a day trip of hiking in the mountains. But Kim is giving off vibes as to whether he is truly lost or something else has happened. The book goes back-and-forth in time to a year previous and present day, with time reflected on the early years of their relationship. Now Kim's initial thoughts into his disappearance begin to make sense. It was an interesting story that showed their developing relationship, struggles and hidden feelings.

For me this just felt flat, I had a hard time feeling any emotion towards Kim, Grant and their story. Which, of course, makes it hard to have an invested interest.  Those are my feelings, but others seem to have loved it so it could just be a situation here.

The Snowbirds releases today. My thanks to St Martin’s Press for a digital arc in exchange for a honest review.

The Perfect Rom-Com: A Romance Novel for Book Lovers by Melissa Ferguson

She's written dozens of smash hit romance novels. Too bad no one knows it.

Aspiring author Bryony Page attends her first writers conference bursting with optimism and ready to sell her manuscript with long-shot dreams of raising awareness for The Bridge, her grandmother's financially struggling organization where she teaches ESL full-time. But after a disastrous pitch session, she stumbles into correcting another author's work in a last-ditch attempt to make a good impression with the agent. And she, as it turns out, is spot on.

No one is more surprised than Bryony when the agent offers her the opportunity to be a ghostwriter for Amelia Benedict, popular rom-com novelist. Bryony agrees on one she'll write books for this vain, demanding woman just as long as Jack Sterling, literary agent of the legendary Foundry Literary Agency, works to sell her own book too.

What nobody predicted, however, was that Bryony's books would turn Amelia Benedict into the Amelia Benedict, household name and bestselling author with millions of copies sold around the world.

And just like that, the Foundry Agency can't let her go.

But on a personal note, Jack is realizing he can't either.

Don't miss the delightful romantic comedy, The Perfect Rom-Com by Melissa Ferguson, a story of two seemingly mismatched hearts brought together by fate, proving that sometimes, the perfect love story is hidden in the pages of a well-loved book.

Kindle Edition, 304 pages

Expected publication February 11, 2025

by Thomas Nelson

4/5

Sometimes after some heavy books, you need something light, laugh out loud funny, and a cute story. Which is exactly what I got with The Perfect Rom-Com. I was sucked in with the opening chapter as Bryony attends her first writing conference. Struggling and nervous she prepares for her pitch sessions. As one who has been to a number of conferences I totally felt for her.

While trying to save her grandmother‘s school for ESL Bryony walks away from said conference with an opportunity that just might save it, even if her manuscript is door stopper in size. While there were times, I found the story dragged a little in terms of the plot I was thoroughly entertained with the witty banter, a look into the publishing world along with some characters that I liked. Well, until there was one that I didn’t.

A lot of the story took place in Bryony’s mind which was fine for me as it made me root for her and understand her way of thinking. She has had an interesting life and always puts others before herself, so it was nice to see her transformation throughout. Jack is her agent who is somewhat mysterious, well charming at the same time. Yes there is romance but this is more about Bryony's journey as she endeavors to follow her dreams.

You can find The Perfect Rom-Com on your book shelves on February 11. My thanks to Thomas Nelson for a digital arc in exchange for a honest review.