Author: megs14malloy

Review: Serial Killer Games by Kate Posey

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Serial Killer GamesSerial Killer Games by Kate Posey
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Debut novel!? Are you kidding me, Kate Posey!?

I am in love with this novel. It felt completely unique, heartfelt and macabre, all at the same time, and happened to be a sensational fit for my tastes.

I went through every emotion over the course of this story, predicting I would cry, and I certainly did. I mean, just a little, but still, that’s a big deal for me.

This story follows Dolores dela Cruz and Jake Ripper, who meet in a fairly common place, the office. Jake is there as a temp, but makes an impression on Dolores, in that she thinks he’s sus as heck.

With his odd behavior and distrustful good looks, she’s pretty sure he’s a serial killer. In a way, she has a right to be suspicious, because Jake has definitely taken a special interest in her. Her F-all-the-way off, combative attitude is incredibly intriguing for Jake.

When their mutual interest in one another blossoms into a dark flirtation, both parties are left with a lot of questions. Is this love, or something much more sinister?

For the first 40% of this novel, I had no clue where it was going. I wasn’t sure how much was going to be Romance, how much Mystery, or Thriller. I know now, and there’s no way I’m spoiling it for you.

I feel like this is so smartly-constructed. It snuck up on me, completely capturing my heart and attention. For me, Posey took this in an unexpected direction, and I appreciated all the different levels she delivered with this narrative.

I know this won’t be for every oen. Marketed as Romance, I feel like there’s an expectation recently for A LOT of steam and this doesn’t have it. There’s a little, but not to the level many might desire. I think that lack may make certain Readers walk away feeling unfulfilled.

For my personal tastes, and maybe you’re the same, that actually works in its favor. There’s so much more time for character development. I much prefer pining, ‘will they won’t they’, and slow burn vibes of characters actually living life, and getting to know each other in a real way.

Unpopular opinion, I know.

I also feel this was the perfect fit for me in regards to the macabre nature of these MCs. I got them. The way their minds work. It’s no secret, Horror is my favorite genre. I could see my own inner dialogue displayed in both MC’s perspectives. It was so fun and refreshing to see.

I wouldn’t call this a Dark Romance though, because it’s really not. It’s not psychopaths pushing limits, it’s two people struggling to be seen and understood in a world that doesn’t necessarily make it easy for them to fit.

I would highly recommend this to Readers like me; who prefer Dark Fiction, but like to add in a Romance, or Contemporary story, every once in while, maybe to feel something different, or to switch things up.

Overall, I really enjoyed how the author developed this story with such care. You think you are getting one thing, and then as it evolves, it’s just so compelling.

It’s also much, much deeper than I anticipated, but not in an irritating, ooey-gooey way that generally annoys the piss out of me. It was just so enjoyable.

I felt like I was actually in it with these characters. I felt everything they were feeling, for better or worse, and the plot was just enthralling to me.

Thank you so much to the publisher, Berkley, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I cannot wait to read more from Kate Posey.

I feel like we’re gonna have a long and beautiful friendship.

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Review: The Long Walk by Stephen King, (pseudonym) Richard Bachman

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The Long WalkThe Long Walk by Richard Bachman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Long Walk is a Dystopian novel by Stephen King, originally published in December of 1978, under his pseudonym, Richard Bachman.

Eventually, it was included in the bind-up of The Bachman Books, along with Rage, Roadwork and The Running Man.

I read this book as a Tween, but have not visited it since. Recently, I have begun reading King’s works from the beginning, in the order they were originally published according to his website.

This project will mostly be rereads for me, but I NEVER get tired of revisiting King’s stories. I feel like each time I read them, depending on where I am in my life, it becomes a whole new experience. Also, the more versed you are in the Kingverse, the more connections you begin to see.

In this story we are following 16-year old, Maine native, Ray Garraty, who has been chosen to participate in the annual Long Walk, along with 99-other teen boys.

The boys start the Walk in Northern Maine, and must maintain a steady pace of 4-mph, or risk being eliminated, not just from the Walk, but from life. They are walking straight through, no rest stops, no pee breaks, no sleep, until only one remains; the winner.

The winner is awarded the big prize, said to be anything he wants for the rest of his life. In this dystopian world, that’s a hell of a good offer, one these boys are willing to risk their lives to attain.

This quick little story sure manages to pack a punch. The commentary and character work are a masterclass in how to pull your audience in and make them feel invested. Even though it was only Garraty’s perspective that we were given, I felt such empathy for so many of these characters.

The Long Walk feels like a precursor to more recent stories, such as The Hunger Games, inspiring many other works of fiction. I actually discovered after I started my reread there’s going to be an adaptation released later this year.

I’m very excited, though nervous, to check that out.

I loved how this slowly developed and the psychological depths it went into. These waters run dark and deep. I was eating it up. I’m so glad I finally reread this one.

I would recommend this to anyone who hasn’t read it yet, or to anyone who enjoys a Dystopian story. This is gripping and powerful; a timeless tale of human endurance.

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Review: Horror for Weenies: Everything You Need to Know About the Movies You’re Too Scared to Watch by Emily C. Hughes

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Horror for Weenies: Everything You Need to Know about the Films You're Too Scared to WatchHorror for Weenies: Everything You Need to Know about the Films You’re Too Scared to Watch by Emily C. Hughes
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was a ton of fun. I highly recommend it for anyone interested in the Horror genre. Whether you’re a long-time fan, or someone just dipping your toes into the Horror pool, there’s so much to learn and enjoy here.

It does spoil every movie it discusses by telling you exactly what happens, but that’s the point. The premise behind the book is that it’s written for people who are too scared to watch Horror movies, but don’t want to miss out on all the great cultural significance happening in those works.

I had watched all the movies discussed, so it wasn’t an issue for me, but I felt it was worth mentioning. Also, I feel like it’s formatted in such a way that if it gets to a movie you don’t want spoiled for you, you can easily skip that chapter and return to it after you’ve watched.

Horror is my favorite genre and I do enjoy checking out nonfiction on the topic of its creation, history and nuances. I appreciated the humor the author had with this. It made it so engaging and quick to get through.

I also loved how each chapter covered an influential movie, and at the end of that chapter, the author would give a few book recs for people who either enjoyed the movie, or enjoy the types of themes and tropes explored within the movie.

Overall, this is a great reference guide and resource for people who want to know more about the complex and oft misunderstood genre of Horror.

Thank you to the publisher, Tantor Audio, for providing me a copy to read and review. The audio narration was fantastic and made me feel like I was sitting with narrator having a chat. A fun way to pass the weekend for Horror junkies!

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Review: Nestlings by Nat Cassidy

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NestlingsNestlings by Nat Cassidy
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Recently, life hasn’t been easy on Ana and Reid. A complicated birth with their first child, a daughter, Charlie, left Ana paralyzed, bitter and struggling to adjust.

When their number gets pulled in a housing lottery, and they have the opportunity to move into the Deptford, a prestigious, historic NYC-apartment building, they can hardly believe their luck. This could be their fresh start.

A chance to start anew, and with a fabulous address to boot.

Despite some reservations, they decide to accept the apartment and put their best efforts into their new beginning. Soon after they move in though, we all know where this is going, strange things start happening.

They notice peculiar behavior with some residents and staff, as well as some mysterious little bite marks on Charlie. Well, I say they, but it truth, it’s mostly Ana picking up on all the oddities. She’s housebound after all, while Reid still gets to go to work and leave the building regularly.

Ana’s unease grows as the days go by, and the tension in their marriage increases. Is Ana just being paranoid, or is something really go on there?

Reid has his own relationship with the building and its residents, and he’s not sure he’s buying what Ana is selling. Will the building be the downfall of their relationship? And who is paying attention to Charlie?

Though I didn’t connect with this one quite in the same way that I did When the Wolf Comes Home, I was still invested and curious to see how far Cassidy was going to take the unsettling apartment building trope.

Spoiler Alert: All the way!

I loved that part of the story. The creepy atmosphere was on point. I also like the claustrophobic feel of being in Ana’s perspective, though that was the only thing I enjoyed about her perspective. Sorry.

Personally, for almost the entire story, I wished we were just getting Reid’s perspective, along with the various Interludes, because I found Ana to be so incredibly grating. Every time I was in her perspective, I just wanted to be out of it.

With this being said, in the Author’s Note at the end, Cassidy did provide an explanation for the purpose behind some personality choices. I’m glad he covered that, and I respect his decision to write it that way, though not gonna lie, it did sort of deplete my enjoyment level a bit.

Overall, small nit-picks aside, this is another GREAT story from Cassidy. The Publisher’s comp to Rosemary’s Baby meets Salem’s Lot is apt, though the Rosemary’s Baby inspiration felt the heavier of the two for me. Highly recommend for fans of that story, or stories like that.

Also, I definitely recommend the audiobook, which was fabulously narrated and succeeded in pulling me in and engaging me with the story from the start.

Thank you to the publisher, Tor Nightfire and Macmillan Audio, for providing me with copies to read and review.

Even though it’s taken me years to get to it, it was worth the wait. I’m excited to continue reading Cassidy’s work. He’s incredibly-talented, never failing to create well-developed characters, unsettling atmosphere and a compelling, fast-moving plot.

This novel is a great example of all of those things!

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Review: We Live Here Now by Sarah Pinborough

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We Live Here Now: A NovelWe Live Here Now: A Novel by Sarah Pinborough
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

**4.5-stars**

After a cliffwalk accident puts her in a coma and almost kills her, Emily, is ready for the new start her husband, Freddie, suggests. The couple move from London to a beautiful Dartmoor country house called Larkin Lodge.

Set in a remote area, by the stark natural presence of the Moors, this property is steeped in gothic vibes. Emily, still recovering both mentally and physically from her accident, is intrigued, and a little frightened by the imposing home.

As they settle in, Freddie is away from home for the majority of the week, still working in London. He’s put in for a transfer, but it hasn’t happened yet, so it’s back-and-forth for him until that becomes official.

This leaves Emily alone, with a lot of time on her hands, and she begins to notice things: creaking floorboards, books falling from the shelves, and what she can only determine is a mysterious presence in the 3rd-floor bedroom.

Unfortunately, these disturbing occurrences only seem to happen when Emily is alone. When she tells her husband about her fears, he blames them all on her accident. Claiming she is just experiencing post-sepsis hallucinations.

Emily doesn’t know what to think. She knows that’s a potential symptom for people recovering from sepsis, but the feelings never leave her. It feels so real and scary in the moment. She begins to resent Freddie for not listening to her and brushing off her concerns.

Meanwhile, Emily is more determined than ever to get to the truth behind Larkin Lodge. She can feel that something terrible has happened there, that something is off, but what?

I had so much fun with this book. I know it won’t necessarily be for everyone, but for me, it was excellent entertainment. I was in this with Emily and everything that was happening to her at Larkin Lodge. I also liked to get ticked at Freddie right along with her. It was like we were friends.

This story is mainly told through Emily and Freddie’s perspectives, but there are also a few other narrative inclusions which I really enjoyed.

Incidentally, the audiobook does feature dual narration and I highly recommend that format. The narrators absolutely hooked me into the story. They were so believable as Emily and Freddie. It was almost like I could feel the tension growing between them.

I loved the atmosphere and that we were really dealing with a pretty morally grey cast of characters; my fave. I also loved the dynamics explored within Emily and Freddie’s marriage, as well as within their friend group.

There were scenes, as Emily is first experiencing odd things at the house, that gave me chills. I loved the clues she ended up following in order to figure out what was going on.

I also feel like it was a really cool concept going on and I loved the conclusion. It left me with that evil grin on my face that I love to have at the end of a story like this. I feel this was well-executed by Pinborough.

Was it perfect? No, but it didn’t need to be. It was so fun and engaging. I was sucked completely in and finished it in a 24-hour period; during the work week! That’s no small feat.

Thank you so much to the publisher, Macmillan Audio, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I’m so glad I picked this up and look forward to more from Pinborough!

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Review: The Night Birds by Christopher Golden

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The Night BirdsThe Night Birds by Christopher Golden
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Dark, creepy and hella atmospheric, The Night Birds is a wildly-entertaining ride of nail-biting intensity. Christopher Golden does this type of Folk Horror so well, IMO.

Maybe you’re like me, and though you appreciate the majesty and beauty of birds, they also creep you the heck out? If so, you should read this. Picturing myself in the shoes of some of these characters gave me absolute chills.

This story is set in Galvaston, Texas, and mainly revolves around a group of characters researching the Christabel, a 19th century freighter that lies half-sunken in waters shadowed by eerie mangroves and other wildlife.

With a vicious storm bearing down, most of the small crew abandon the Christabel, choosing to stay on dry land while they wait it out. Charlie Book, their leader, however, chooses to stay on board as usual. The ship has weathered many storms. It’s not going anywhere.

When he arrives on the docks after dinner, preparing to head back out to the Christabel, he’s shocked by the sudden appearance of his ex-girlfriend, Ruby. She’s begging him for help and protection, and she’s not alone.

With her is a mysterious woman, Mae, as well as an infant. They’re bedraggled and clearly on the run, but from what?

Even though he has big reservations about the situation, Book can’t refuse Ruby. If she’s in danger, he wants to help. Thus, he shuttles them all out to the Christabel.

Meanwhile, with the coming storm, something else seems to be coming, lurking in the dark and stormy night. Using shadows as cover and hiding a ravenous evil.

As forces close in on the Christabel, Book’s team senses that something is amiss and they try desperately to get back to the ship to help their friend. Little do they know, the storm is the least of their problems now.

I became invested in this story so quickly. I love Christopher Golden in general, and feel really comfortable with his writing style. It has such a classic Horror feel for me, and I love how he takes care to set a scene and pulls the Reader into his character’s lives.

He creates characters you want to succeed; to be okay, to live. I was rooting for Book and Ruby, as well as the side characters, Luisa, Gerald and Alan, the entire way through.

This would honestly make a great movie; good versus evil battling it out amongst the mangroves. I was on the edge of my seat and horrified as it unfolded. It was non-stop punches the entire second-half.

Some of it did get a little difficult to track as the action and intensity built up, but that could just be because of the speed at which I was reading it. I was so desperate to find out how this was going to conclude, I was flying through.

This is a witchy story, which is alluded to in the synopsis, as well as mentioned in the genre tags, but I just want to be clear, this is dark stuff; ancient stuff. The imagery involved, it’s heavy and excellent to read if you love Horror.

Overall, I had a great time with this. It’s so fun and addictive. I couldn’t put it down. I loved the atmosphere and characters, as well as the horror imagery throughout.

Thank you to the publisher, St. Martin’s Press, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I cannot wait to see what Golden releases next!!!

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Review: The Devil’s Advocate (Eddie Flynn #6) by Steve Cavanagh

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The Devil's Advocate (Eddie Flynn, #6)The Devil’s Advocate by Steve Cavanagh
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

**3.5-stars rounded up **

The Devil’s Advocate is the 6th-installment to Steve Cavanagh’s Eddie Flynn series, and it’s the 3rd-book that I’ve read in the series thus far. I’m having a lot of fun. They keep me so engaged and guessing like nothing else.

This series does indeed follow Eddie Flynn, a criminal defense attorney, as well as his team, as they investigate, work and defend various cases in and around New York City. Or at least, that’s what I thought, until this case…

In this book, Eddie actually gets called away from the city in order to work a death penalty case in a small town in rural Alabama. As you can imagine, this is quite a culture shift for our city boy, Eddie.

Andy Dubois is facing death, accused of killing a young lady that he worked with at a diner. Eddie believes Andy is innocent and that he’s being railroaded by the local DA, Randal Korn, a man known for counting his death penalty convictions like notches in his belt.

From the moment they arrive in town, Eddie and his teammate, Harry, are met with cold shoulders, and various obstacles making them aware that their presence in town is not welcomed. Nevertheless, they push on.

A man’s life is on the line and it’s gonna take a lot more than what these locals are dishing out to scare Eddie away. In just a week, Eddie and his team need to overcome this corrupt system and find the real killer before time runs out for Andy.

The Devil’s Advocate is another really fun case with Eddie and his dynamic team. I enjoyed how this one gets Eddie out of his comfort zone in NYC and into the deep South.

This one didn’t feel as psychological as the other 2-books I’ve read in the series. It focuses more on small town corruption and flaws within the criminal justice system in general, but I thought it was a nice change of pace.

There was also a lot more involvement with officials from the Federal system, which was interesting. I feel like I’ve seen a whole new side of Bloch, one of Eddie’s valuable teammates. She’s one of my favorites, so it was nice to see her built out a little more.

This is the kind of case that will absolutely get your blood boiling. It actually had me on the edge of my seat too, because it felt very dangerous for Eddie and his team. You never want to be an outsider in a situation like this.

I feel like Cavanagh did a great job of building that intensity and making it feel believable. Sadly, corruption isn’t just in fiction, and numerous lives have been affected by it in cases much like this.

I particularly enjoy the courtroom elements, but honestly, they’re all just so compelling. They’re fast-paced, easy to read and wicked entertaining. As you can tell, I’m really looking forward to picking up the rest of the books.

Thank you so much to the publisher, Atria, for introducing me to the Eddie Flynn series and providing me with copies to read and review. I highly recommend these books for people who love intense Legal Thrillers!

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Review: The Third Rule of Time Travel by Philip Fracassi

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The Third Rule of Time TravelThe Third Rule of Time Travel by Philip Fracassi
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Rule One: Travel can only occur to a point within your lifetime.
Rule Two: You can only travel for ninety seconds.
Rule Three: You can only observe.
The rules cannot be broken.

The Third Rule of Time Travel follows Beth Darlow, a scientist, who along with her husband, Colson, developed a machine that would allow a user’s consciousness to travel back through time to relive random moments in their lives.

It’s a stunning scientific breakthrough, yet it does have some limitations, and potential hazards. It also may not be quite as dialed in as they originally think.

After Colson is tragically killed, Beth is left to pick up the pieces of her shattered life and to continue their work alone. She’s aware of the machine’s kinks, and she wants to be sure they get them worked out safely.

She’s poured her heart and soul into this project, and handles it with great care. When she starts getting pushed by the big boss though, Beth needs to take some risks in order to please the powers that be. She’s not fully comfortable with the things they’re asking of her, but she feels she has to proceed nonetheless.

That’s when Beth begins to notice unsettling shifts in her reality. Perhaps they didn’t have the full understanding on this technology like they thought they did?

This is such an interesting concept, unsurprisingly, executed so well, with great writing from Fracassi. I actually wish it would have been longer so all the topics could have been expanded upon even further.

This is only the 2nd-novel I’ve read from Fracassi, the 1st being Boys in the Valley, which was my favorite book of 2023. I was so surprised how wildly-different these two books are, but what they share is Fracassi’s smooth, accessible writing style.

I think it is so impressive when an author can jump around amongst different genres, and still deliver in such a believable way. I gotta give him props for that.

But, yeah, this had such a fun set-up. It was compelling from the start, easily drawing me into Beth’s world and current circumstances with her work.

I enjoy following characters who are scientists, so this one definitely scratched that itch. I like how much mystery there was surrounding what had happened to Beth’s husband, as well as the shady feel of the company she works for.

After Beth starts to push the tech and notice glitches, I like how she questioned all of their research and prior beliefs. She didn’t double-down on anything, she wasn’t arrogant in her stance. She was a woman seeking the truth, and I found that very compelling.

Towards the end it did get crazy. I mean the concepts we’re dealing with, they’re not easy to conceptualize always, and I did have fun trying to track everything happening to Beth.

It did give it a bit of a fever-dream feel, but not in an overwhelming way, so I was fine with that. I actually feel like this is one of those books where I could possibly enjoy it even more upon reread.

I would recommend this to any Sci-Fi fans, particularly if you enjoy stories that play with time and what we understand about temporal space.

Thank you to the publisher, Orbit, for providing me with a copy to read and review. This was a very enjoyable read!

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Review: When the Wolf Comes Home by Nat Cassidy

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When the Wolf Comes HomeWhen the Wolf Comes Home by Nat Cassidy
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

After Jess, a struggling actress, wraps up her diner shift early, she returns home and discovers a disheveled little boy hiding in the bushes outside of her apartment.

She gently coaxes the boy out, and using her distinctive humor, gets him to trust her enough to tell her he’s in serious danger, and now, she probably is too. That’s when the stuff hits the fan and all heck breaks loose in the form of the boy’s viciously-violent father.

Jess has no choice but to run with the boy in tow, but is anywhere going to be safe from the one hunting them, who seems to have preternatural skills?

Initially, Jess believes she knows the precariousness of their situation, but it gets way more perilous and downright crazy than she could have ever predicted.

Wow, wow, wow; that was my initial reaction upon finishing When the Wolf Comes Home. I hadn’t looked at any reviews prior, so I wasn’t sure how others were receiving it, but I immediately knew it was a top contender for my favorite book of 2025.

I cried actual grown-ass lady tears for the last 1/2-hour of the audiobook, which is fabulously-narrated. There were minutes, legit continuous minutes, towards the end where I had full body chills after a big reveal, when I realized what had actually happened.

This was the first time I’ve read from Nat Cassidy, and I’ll be honest, this wasn’t what I anticipated. He incorporates much more dark humor than I expected, and I was living for it.

I thought I was getting one type of story when I picked this up, but it went in a wildly different direction and I loved the creepy-creativity behind that turn. The thought of these events actually happening IRL, like what would you do!?

In spite of the gruesome nature of this story, I still managed to connect to it in a deeply-emotional way. It took me by surprise. I felt so many different things, for example, a protective love for Jess and the kiddo.

Why did you do this to me Cassidy? I don’t like to feel things!

((j/k: I love it))

Please be sure to read the Afterward from the author if you pick this one up. It’s beautifully done, straight from the heart and I feel like it gave me an even deeper understanding and appreciation of what he achieved with this story.

Thank you to the publisher, Tor Nightfire and Macmillan Audio, for providing me with copies to read and review. I loved this so much and am looking forward to going back and reading Cassidy’s entire backlist now.

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Review: Fifty Fifty (Eddie Flynn #5) by Steve Cavanagh

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Fifty Fifty (Eddie Flynn, #5)Fifty Fifty by Steve Cavanagh
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

**4.5-stars**

Fifty Fifty is the 5th-installment to Steve Cavanagh’s Eddie Flynn series, but it’s only the 2nd-book that I’ve read in the series thus far.

Take it from me, I say this with confidence, it doesn’t matter where you start with this series, as long as you start it.

If you aren’t familiar with the series, as I wasn’t, it does indeed follow Eddie Flynn, a criminal defense attorney, as well as his team, as they investigate, work and defend various cases in and around New York City.

This starts off with such a bang, and it never let go of me. A complete mindf#*k, if you will. The opening scene features a 9-1-1 call that introduces us to the gruesome crime that is going to pull Eddie into a case for the record books.

Two sisters, Alexandra and Sofia, one of them brutally murdered their father, but which one?

Eddie thinks he knows who the guilty party is, and he only chooses to defend innocent people. Thus, he chooses to defend the girl he thinks deserves to be free, but is he right?

Fifty Fifty was such an incredibly fun ride. This case is hella dark and twisted, the two sisters pitted against one another, it was so intense. I couldn’t put it down.

My head was spinning the whole way through. I flipped back and forth between the two sister suspects so many times, trying to figure out who the killer was. It was completely engaging and wickedly compelling.

I love the way Cavanagh provided clues along the way that could’ve arguably fit either girl. It was a mental workout trying to figure it out, and I love a good workout.

I’m so happy to have discovered this series in 2025. These gorgeous new covers being released by Atria are the perfect reason to snatch them all up for my bookshelves. I’m looking forward to reading the rest.

Thank you to the publisher, Atria, for providing me with a copy to read and review. If you enjoy fast-paced, high-stakes, twisty Legal Thrillers, I highly recommend the Eddie Flynn series!!!

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