I enjoyed that the moss was sort of a character throughout the book. Also, that the split timeline of modern and ancient made half the story into historical fiction. My main gripe was that the ending felt anticlimactic and added way too many characters that didn’t seem to add much to the story. If you liked Shutter by Ramona Emerson, you might like this murder mystery.

Thanks to Bloomsbury Publishing and Libro.fm for the ALC.

Had no idea what to expect, as I hadn’t heard of this book growing up in Florida. After opening my bookshop in New Mexico, many customers recommended it, so I decided to stock and read it. I’m surprised at how interesting this book was, thematically, literarily, and culturally. I’m new to reading magical realism in general, but I find it very accessible. Glad I picked this one up.

I enjoyed the vibe of this book more than the actual story. I never read The Virgin Suicides, so I can’t compare them, but if this was inspired by that, then maybe I’ll check it out. This is a slow-burn mystery that has some vivid set pieces and eerie moments populated by forgettable characters. 3.5 stars.

Thanks to Macmillan Audio, Henry Holt & Company, and Libro.fm for the ALC.

I really liked this book. The author shares many stories about his adventures around the world, and it allows the reader to feel like they are adventuring alongside him. He also organizes the information and chapters in a very logical way that teaches the reader about how bats evolved, use their senses, and their role in the ecosystem. The segment about echolocation and bats’ perception blew my mind. The author also addresses some common misconceptions.

Thanks to Macmillan Audio, St. Martin’s Press, and Libro.fm for the ALC.

Instant classic. It’s rare for me to read a newly released book and get the feeling that I’m experiencing an iconic moment unfolding. The feeling of reading “King Sorrow” by Joe Hill right now must be what it was like to read “IT” or “The Shining” by King upon release.

The premise is that a group of college students get bullied, blackmailed, and terrorized by some thugs into stealing rare books from the university library to sell them for getaway cash. When things reach a boiling point, they decide to steal the most valuable book, which is a book of spells. The main characters (Arthur, Gwen, Colin, Donna, Donavan, and Ali) get high and use the haunted book to call forth a demonic, paranormal dragon to get rid of their enemies. The catch? They now belong to King Sorrow and if they don’t give him a name to torment every year before Easter, he can consume one of them. Chaos ensues.

I couldn’t give it 5 stars because I’m feeling too nit-picky right now. The beginning was tough because the main characters talked like pubescent teens, which was disorienting because it clashed with them being in college. It wasn’t a deal breaker and once the story got past that stage, it was better. The airplane scene was too long (but memorable), the mom’s revenge felt anticlimactic (although pivotal), and there wasn’t a ton of closure. But the book was long, so I appreciated the wrap up.

Things I liked: significant plot twists, the escalating tension and destruction, the pacing with the annual sacrifice kept things interesting, and the magical, supernatural, and fantastical elements were clever. This book has ghosts, trolls, dragons, magic-imbued items, and more. It explores many themes like good vs bad, greed, dominance, lust, and unbridled hatred.

I didn’t care for the constant drug use and vulgar language, but it’s not out of place. The characters are messed up people making realistic messed up choices. It’s also strange when real events get co-opted into fictional plot points. Not sure how I feel about that.

Anyway, bravo, Joe Hill. An epic concept brilliantly executed. I recommend to anyone who likes dragons and horror with teeth.

Thanks to Libro.fm and William Morrow for the ALC.

A super fast read, this mystery novel has so much to offer. My first Preston & Child book, and I didn’t know what to expect. What’s apparent is Preston’s passion for history and archaeology. The book takes some compelling liberties with the Donner Party, which culminates in a reveal that felt a little… Hollywood. I can’t explain without spoilers but the twist was kind of cringey, except not in a way that ruined the book. Just overdone, I think. But everything else about this book was fun and interesting. Definitely excited to check out more of this series.

This was a quick and entertaining listen. It felt like an extended podcast summarizing high-profile historic killers. I suppose that’s also the downside of the book, it didn’t really have much analysis by the author. It felt too safe and journalistic, constrained by politics that aren’t overtly stated but implied. The shift to targeted policing in Florida at the end was kind of jarring. I can see what the intent was, that how we treat people can lead to certain outcomes, but that’s what the reader has to intuit instead of a compelling argument by the author. Overall, liked but didn’t love.

Thanks Recorded Books and Libro.fm for the ALC.

The dialogue alone in this book is utterly convincing. I’m so impressed and blown away. And the title finally makes sense now that I’ve read the book.

This was my first Baldacci book. The prose is pretty standard, an easy read. The side characters are morally grey (except the MC), and it took me a minute to orient myself to what type of story this was going to be. It’s definitely a thriller, but not yet an action thriller (I’ll explain the ‘not yet’ momentarily).

The basic plot synopsis is that Walter Nash, a top exec at a financial firm (I think), gets approached by the FBI to spy on the company to help with their investigation into some shady business practices. The catch? The other informants have all ended up dead or missing. He has to make a choice: help the FBI and uproot his family’s lives (witness protection) or not help them with no real downside (his rationale, not mine). As one can guess, it reaches a point where the choice gets made for him.

At first, the plot could have gone in a thousand directions, which kept me guessing. But by the midway point, it narrows drastically into the path I probably least expected. Avoiding spoilers, I got Jack Reacher or John Wick action-thriller vibes. But here’s where the ‘not yet’ comes in and partially why I couldn’t give it 5 stars: it’s mostly a setup for the next book. I personally don’t like this format. I prefer Jack Carr’s James Reece novels, which are self-contained with climactic endings and clear themes. But I understand that is mostly preference.

I could probably talk myself into giving it a 3.5, but I did enjoy my time reading it, so a 4 it is. If you like semi-twisty, dark, TV-style thrillers with complex characters, you’ll probably enjoy this. I will definitely need to read the next one in early 2026.

(I forgot to say that I had a theory early on that Nash knew more than what was shown on the page but that went out the door at the midway point. I mention this more as an assessment of Baldacci’s style and had no idea how trustworthy the narrator would be. From what I can tell, what you see is what you get. Likely no trickery or whiplash ahead.)

Thanks to Hachette Audio and Libro.fm for the ALC.