2026 releases

Review: Greedy by Callie Kazumi

~ megs14malloy

GreedyGreedy by Callie Kazumi
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Greedy follows Edward Cook, a British-expat, living in Japan with his wife and young daughter. Ed is in serious debt due to his secret gambling addiction and finds himself without a job, leaving him with no way to pay back the dangerous individuals he owes.

It doesn’t take long for desperation to set in. Ed needs to make a move to increase his cash flow, and quickly. His life, and the lives of his family, depend on it.

It’s when he is at rock bottom that he stumbles upon an unusual help wanted ad: Chef wanted! Private chef needed for a high-profile businesswoman. One million yen per day.

What desperate man wouldn’t apply for this job? Sure, Ed’s no Michelin star chef, but he did spend time as a line cook once. That’s pretty much the same thing, right?

To his surprise and delight, after his interview, Ed is offered the job, which he of course accepts. Leaving his wife and daughter behind in Tokyo, he travels to the mountains to the lavish estate of his new employer, Hazeline Yamamoto, an eccentric and reclusive ex-socialite, where he will be staying during his work weeks.

Ed finds himself thrust into Hazeline’s mysterious world; secretive, extravagant and lush. As chef, Ed has a lot of interactions with Hazeline’s other household staff, and learns a lot of what is expected of him in his new role through them.

As I know you’re all guessing, something isn’t quite right at Hazeline’s estate. Ed hears strange noises and is plagued by unsettling dreams. He also sees Hazeline and others behaving oddly, as well as her frequent guests, whose behavior leaves a lot to be desired.

We follow along with Ed as he tries to navigate this new world. He just wants to pay off his debt. He just wants to do right by his wife and daughter, but will he succeed, or has he gotten in over his head?

Heck yeah, this was good. Intriguing and slightly-gruesome, I was pulled into the story very quickly. I think Kazumi did a great job of setting it up. It doesn’t take too long to get to the heart of the story, but she provided enough groundwork to make you feel settled and invested.

Ed’s story was captivating, the secrets he had been keeping from his family that propelled him into this ominous new career path, it was so well-imagined.

I also loved the way the tension increased as the story progressed, as more and more is revealed to Ed; his revelations were my revelations. I truly felt like I was on this journey with him. The atmosphere as well, I could feel it, it got under my skin. The mysterious benefactor, her odd and exuberant guests, it kept me intrigued throughout.

I do think some aspects were predictable, but just because they were to me, doesn’t mean they were to Ed. To watch Ed as reality slowly dawned on him, the horror and revulsion he felt, it was compelling.

And the ending, ohhhh my. I won’t forget this one.

Thank you to the publisher, Bantam, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I would recommend this to Horror Readers, or fans of Dark Fiction in general. I can’t wait for more from this author!!

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Review: Adrift by Will Dean

~ megs14malloy

AdriftAdrift by Will Dean
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Adrift follows the tumultuous lives of a family living aboard a cramped houseboat in a desolate canal. Drew and Peggy, husband and wife, were both aspiring writers. Drew even had a glimpse of some early success, but since has struggled, working blue collar jobs and barely making ends meet.

Peggy is the glue that holds the family together. She’s a loving mother to their 14-year old son, Sam, and she spends some time, when she’s not cooking and cleaning for her family, volunteering at a local library. Secretly, she’s also been continuing to write.

The story follows the family through their day-to-day and it is bleak, my friends. I’m talking non-stop hardship, dissension and isolation. Though it initially reads like a straight Literary Fiction/Family Drama, it does take a sharp turn in the second half.

Admittedly, this is a very difficult read. The drama is powerful and painful. In fact, I had to put it down for a couple of days just to get a break from it more than once. Around 30%, I wondered, why am I reading this, it’s depressing AF, but I couldn’t give it up.

Something was holding me there with these characters.

But as challenging as it was to get through, I also think it’s an important read. Dean did an incredible job with these characters and their toxic dynamic. It felt incredibly realistic, which is sad to say due to the content.

I was fully immersed and it was pretty painful, not gonna lie, but I walk away so impressed with the quality of this storytelling and what Dean was able to achieve here.

I think if you’re in the right headspace going into this, and you are aware that it’s going to be a challenge, that you could walk away appreciating it as I did. It gets intense, almost claustrophobic feeling and I started to feel as desperate as the characters, but the payoff was worth it.

Thank you to the publisher, Atria, for providing me with a copy to read and review. This novel felt like a gut-punch. Dean should be proud.

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Review: When I Kill You by B.A. Paris

~ megs14malloy

When I Kill YouWhen I Kill You by B.A. Paris
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

**3.5-stars rounded up**

A fun and fast-paced Popcorn Thriller from one of my go-to Thriller authors, B.A. Paris. Paris never fails to pull me in and keep me guessing throughout her stories.

In this novel, the Reader follows Nell Masters, but it seems that the Reader isn’t the only person following dear Nell. Nell has a stalker. She knows it. She can feel them watching her. Work, home and everywhere in between. There’s nowhere she feels safe.

Nell thinks the stalker may be tied to her dramatic past. Fourteen years ago, Nell was actually Elle Nugent. She witnessed a young coed getting into a car, and shortly thereafter the young woman’s dead body was found.

Elle became obsessed with finding the girl’s killer. She was right there, she saw her just before she was murdered. She saw the car she got into. Elle’s digging leads her to suspect a man named Brett Parker and her suspicions push her down a very dangerous path.

Unfortunately, Elle’s obsession ended in disaster, and now she feels those past actions are coming back to haunt her. Has someone from that dark past figured out her new identity and tracked her down? Is someone out for revenge?

I didn’t even read the synopsis for this prior to picking it up. I see B.A. Paris’s name on the cover and I’m going to read it. There’s no question about it.

The story is told via Nell/Elle’s perspective, both past and present, and weaves together how her past choices have shaped her into the individual she is today. The audiobook, narrated by Georgia Maguire, was very convincing. It felt like I was truly listening to Nell tell her story.

There were also snippets from what appears to be some sort of journal. These added a nice mixed media feel to the overall narrative. These snippets are mysterious, perhaps written by the stalker?

I liked following along as the truth of this story unfolded. Because of her past, Nell had a hard time trusting other people, but at the point we meet her, she has created a small circle of friends and even has a promising love interest.

As the story progresses, Nell becomes more and more paranoid that someone is onto her and that someone wants her to pay for her past. I enjoyed how the intensity continued to build throughout and I thought the conclusion was satisfying.

Thank you to the publisher, Macmillan Audio and St. Martin’s Press, for providing me with copies to read and review. This was so entertaining and I recommend it to anyone who enjoys an OTT-fast and fun Thriller.

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Review: You Did Nothing Wrong by C.G. Drews

~ megs14malloy

You Did Nothing WrongYou Did Nothing Wrong by C.G. Drews
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

**2.5-stars rounded up**

Greetings from Outlier Island!!

I’m surprised to find myself here again and certainly surprised that it’s with a C.G. Drews novel. I anticipated loving this, but sadly, I really did not. I’m struggling to keep my feelings for the MC apart from my overall feelings for the story, but it’s a challenge, since she’s such a pivotal piece.

Additionally, I did find a lot about the plot predictable, and super annoying to read. I had almost a constant feeling of distaste in my mouth, which sadly for me, overshadowed the rest of the story.

There’s no denying Drews skills as a writer, and my opinion on this one book by no means changes the fact that I’m going to pick up everything Drews releases. I really enjoyed both Don’t Let the Forest In and Hazelthorn.

The deeply complex relationships and stunning writing in both of those novels are to be admired, but here, I just didn’t feel that same pull, intrigue or raw ache for any of the characters and their journeys. I hate Elodie, the MC in this book, and never felt even one ounce of sympathy for her, which I think I was supposed to.

I’m not going to go into any of the details of this book, as I do feel it’s just best to dive into it. Further, there are so many glowing reviews of it, that I feel you would be best served going to read those to see others thoughts. I’m clearly in the minority opinion, so don’t let my experience keep you from picking this one up.

Even though the content wasn’t to my tastes, I would recommend the audiobook format though. The narration by Saskia Maarleveld was so, so good. It fit Elodie to a tee, and I did find myself not able to look away; like a train wreck.

It’s also fast-paced, and whether you enjoy it or not, it’s a memorable experience. I remember so many details of this book, and will moving forward. There’s something to be said for that. Drews has created a story that is sure to evoke a lot of emotions in the Readers, that’s for sure.

Thank you to the publisher, Macmillan Audio and St. Martins Press, for providing me with copies to read and review.

Drews’ creativity cannot be denied and I’m already looking forward to their next release. I have a feeling, this will be a one-off for me when it comes to this author.

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Review: My Husband’s Wife by Alice Feeney

~ megs14malloy

My Husband's WifeMy Husband’s Wife by Alice Feeney
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

After a rejuvenating run, Eden Fox, an up-and-coming artist, returns to her recently-acquired home, a beautiful property known as Spyglass, only to be faced with a locked door and a key that no longer fits the lock.

Saying she’s confused is putting it mildly, but the confusion turns to fear after she knocks, and a woman who could pass for her twin answers the door. Her husband appears as well, but instead of clearing things up, he acts like he doesn’t know her, and claims the other woman is his wife.

We also follow a woman named Birdy, whose long-lost grandmother was once the proud owner of Spyglass. Birdy’s perspective is quite different for Eden’s, and involves her discovery of a shadowy London clinic that claims to be able to predict a person’s death date.

As you can imagine, both of these perspectives are intriguing in their own right. As you go back and forth between the two women, and others, pieces begin slotting into place and you’re left pondering, how are they connected?

Secrets, mystery, deception and obsession, this story has it all. Grab your popcorn and buckle up, because it’s a wild ride. The perfect read if you need a distraction from the world. I read this in a day after a terrible winter storm had knocked out our power for days.

Luckily, I had this downloaded and it definitely saved my mood from getting too low. I listened to it all at once, while I cleaned and tidied as much as I could, and I was absolutely swept up into the story.

The audiobook is fantastic, with multiple narrators and occasional sound effects, this production succeeded in bringing the drama and action of this story to life. It felt like a cinematic event versus a book. I highly recommend the audio format for those who enjoy audiobooks.

I consider Alice Feeney to be the Queen of Twists, and this novel did nothing but solidify that belief. My Husband’s Wife was so crazy and outrageously fun. All of the unpredictable drama, the turns, the sly shifts in perspective bringing continuous new insights, I loved it all.

Thank you to the publisher, Macmillan Audio, for providing me with a copy to read and review. As always, Feeney is an absolute delight to read. I’m looking forward to whatever she writes next!!

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Review: Warning Signs by Tracy Sierra

~ megs14malloy

Warning SignsWarning Signs by Tracy Sierra
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Tracy Sierra impressed me with her debut novel, Nightwatching, when I read it back in 2024. It was disturbing in such a realistic way, and played off one of my own personal fears, which is being in my house as an intruder breaks in to cause harm.

That horrifying scenario is something I think about a lot actually, I write whilst being home alone for the weekend.

Warning Signs is Sierra’s Sophmore novel and follows 12-year old Zach as he joins his Dad, somewhat reluctantly, on a father-son ski weekend. Before you jump to conclusions and think, how nice, a Dad who wants to spend time with his son, I’ll just let you know, that’s not the case here.

Bram, Zach’s Dad, has his own strong motives for this trip and it has nothing to do with father-son bonding time. Bram’s business is currently in financial distress, and the weekend was planned as a way to woo potential investors.

Bram and Zach are being joined by some rich men, and their sons, in the hopes that Bram will be able to make some deals on the mountain. Because nothing says, let’s spend some money like apres ski drinks.

As you would expect in a Winter Thriller, things begin to go wrong with the group pretty quickly. There’s tensions among the adults and Zach feels like something scary is watching their cabin from the woods.

As the dangers escalate Zach’s unsure who to trust, but he’s sure thankful that he was trained in outdoor survival by his Mom. He might need to utilize all of that valuable knowledge in order to make it off this mountain alive.

While this may have started out feeling like a standard Winter Thriller, a ski weekend gone bad, it took a sharp turn in a direction I wasn’t expecting. Sierra knows how to get a Reader’s pulse racing and I was gripped until the end.

The initial sections of this doesn’t have the same intensity as Nightwatching, which got cooking right from the start, but this story definitely gets there as the story progresses. I wouldn’t necessarily say it’s a slow build, but it does take some time to really get humming.

I wasn’t sure either how I would feel about following the perspective of a 12-year old boy in this type of story, but it really worked. I feel like his perspective was the best way to convey the level of danger and I did grow attached to him. I was on the edge of my seat on his behalf.

At times it felt hopeless, and it definitely made me anxious, but in a good way. I flew through the second half and ended up enjoying the heck out of it. I would recommend this to anyone who loves an intense Winter Thriller, or anyone who had fun with Sierra’s previous book.

Thank you to Pamela Dorman Books for providing me with a copy to read and review. There’s no denying that Tracy Sierra is such a talented writer. I’m really looking forward to whatever she releases next!

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Review: Operation Bounce House by Matt Dinniman

~ megs14malloy

Operation Bounce HouseOperation Bounce House by Matt Dinniman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Dungeon Crawler Carl has legitimately taken the world by storm, but guess what? Matt Dinniman has lots of other tricks up his talented-sleeves, and he proves that with Operation Bounce House.

This story follows a group of colonists on New Sonora, set in deep space, who suddenly find their home planet being used by Earthlings as a sort of playing field for their VR gaming.

Earth citizens can pay to create their own personal war machines that then get sent to the distant planet via the newly opened transfer gate. They can then use those machines to attack the alien population, all Earth descendants, mind you, in a sort of war simulation game.

The game is called Operation Bounce House.

Our protagonist is Oliver Lewis, and we follow him, his sister, Lulu, and their best friends and loved ones as this assault on their lives and land begins, and we continue to follow them throughout, to the bitter end.

I found this incredibly interesting from the start. As we meet all the characters on New Sonora and learn about their daily lives and struggles, it was incredibly well-developed.

Oliver and Lulu had a family robot Roger, who turned out to be one of my favorite characters in the story. He added humor and was continuously teaching and guiding the humans surrounding him. He also had been on the colony planet since its inception, so was able to recollect the full history of the settlement easily.

I really grew to love the full cast of characters over the course of the story. As you go along with their struggles with them, which is literally a fight for their survival, you can’t help but get emotionally invested in their outcome.

They were all distinctive, with unique attributes and personalities. I felt like I was there with them. That’s how real Dinniman made this little group of colonists.

I appreciated so much the themes Dinniman explored in this, but because of the heavier subject matter, it does have a more serious feel than DCC.

For example, the idea of the ‘other’. The people on Earth viewed the residents of New Sonora as the other; almost subhuman. Therefore, it gave them leeway to do as they pleased in the game.

It made me think of a lot of different things going on in our world, not just now, but really over all time. A sort of us versus them mentality, and how humans can sort of block entire groups off as not being like them and therefore undeserving of the same rights and care.

I like how Dinniman formatted this story as it demonstrates this whole scenario from the ‘others’ perspective. I feel like Dinniman gets pretty thoughtful in this one in that regard whilst also keeping to his basic fun-filled, humorous style.

There’s actually so much to unpack here. My brain is reeling from this ride. It really pulls you in. You feel like you’re a part of this world on the brink of disaster.

I just really appreciated all the important topics Dinniman included without making the narrative feel preachy, or thrusting his own agenda down the Readers throats. He’s laying out a scenario and allowing the Reader to do some free-thinking, which I just love!

I’ll admit it was heavier than I was expecting, as far as tone, but I did appreciate the direction he went with it and would recommend it to anyone and everyone.

Thank you to the publisher, Ace, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I love Dinniman’s creativity and writing style. I knew that from reading DCC, but this solidifies that assessment.

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Review: Monster in the Moonlight (Monster Hunter #4) by Annelise Ryan

~ megs14malloy

Monster in the Moonlight (Monster Hunter, #4)Monster in the Moonlight by Annelise Ryan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Monster in the Moonlight is another fantastic installment in Annelise Ryan’s Monster Hunter series. This is the 4th-book and I’ve enjoyed them all. Unsurprising, since they combine 2 of my favorite things: spooky vibes and cozy mysteries.

These books follow Morgan Carter, a cryptozoologist and specialty bookstore owner, who along with her lovable dog, Newt, investigates cases that may be linked to potential cryptid activity. Each installment features Morgan in different places, investigating creatures from lore.

In this story, Morgan gets consulted after a dead body is discovered on Bray Road in Wisconsin. The brutal killing sparks rumors that the Beast of Bray Road, a werewolf-like creature thought to inhabit the area, has returned.

It’s clear the woman has been mutilated by some type of large animal, and the locals are convinced it’s the Beast. A local policeman is actually the one to contact Morgan, through a mutual friend, for help, hoping she’ll be able to disprove the Beast’s existence.

As Morgan starts her investigation, it soon becomes clear this is a much larger case, with a much larger web than initially anticipated. Per usual, she soon finds herself in danger and racing against the clock to get to the bottom of what’s happening on Bray Road.

I’m not going to deny these books are a little silly, but Ryan nevertheless makes them super-duper fun, and that’s what I’m looking for in a Cozy series.

I’ve grown attached to Morgan and Newt, so I’m hoping for more installments to the series. There’s plenty more cryptids to explore, after all.

Morgan is a great leading lady. She’s smart and daring, never afraid to put herself out there in order to succeed at her investigations. She’s also a great Dog Mom, always considering Newt’s needs at all times. I never have to worry about him while reading, which is a great comfort to me.

This was another solid mystery too. I was captivated about what was going on. Morgan is like a dog with a bone once she gets a lead, and I knew she wasn’t going to leave this town without answers.

I would recommend this series to any Cozy Mystery fans, but particularly those looking for something a little different in their Cozy. It’s one-of-a-kind.

Thank you to the publisher, Berkley, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I’ll be anxiously awaiting news as to whether or not there are going to be more books in the Monster Hunter series!!

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Review: The Darkness Greeted Her by Christina Ferko

~ megs14malloy

The Darkness Greeted HerThe Darkness Greeted Her by Christina Ferko
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The Darkness Greeted her is a YA Horror novel tackling themes such as sapphic relationships, mental health struggles, overcoming trauma, and features a dark atmosphere.

In this story, our MC is Penny, who has a traumatic past, mostly surrounding her abusive father, that she’s trying to overcome. She also struggles with Harm OCD, so she enlists in a therapy camp to try to face her issues head on, and get control of her life back.

Camp Whitewood is very small, I think there were maybe 8 girls total. I don’t remember specifically, but it was a smaller group, which gave it a more intimate feel.

Even though we follow Penny mainly, Ferko did provide different sections for the other girls, where we are shown the parts of their pasts that may have contributed to them entering Camp Whitewood. And though everyone had very different experiences, you could tell that their trauma was something that they could relate and bond over.

The interesting and horrible part of the camp is that their traumas seem to suddenly take form in the shape of a Shadow Man, a monster who brings their deepest fears to life. The visions involved in this are truly horrific for the girls, and also confusing.

As their hallucinations escalate and girls begin to turn up dead, Penny must team up with whoever is left to get to the truth behind the Shadow Man, and try to defeat him before he’s able to conquer the rest of them.

I liked this. It’s a heavy story and does involve a lot of depictions of traumatic situations happening on page; check for trigger warnings if that concerns you. I enjoyed the idea of this Shadow Man entity bringing their darkest nightmares to life for these recovering girls to try to defeat.

The action bits, particularly towards the end, were quite chaotic and I did find it slightly difficult to visualize and track. Additionally, I didn’t necessarily find any of the characters, besides Penny, that memorable. They were pretty much interchangeable to me, but I did appreciate the difficult topics the author was addressing.

I think in the YA space this would be a good introduction to this style of Horror for a lot of younger readers. For me, this really didn’t do anything new or exciting, therefore I’m not sure how memorable it will be long term.

However, I do appreciate the author’s efforts and vision. I know so many Readers are going to be able to connect to the girls’ experiences in this book, and that’s super important as well. I’m glad I checked it out.

Thank you to the publisher, Sourcebooks Fire, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I’d be happy to pick up more from this author in the future.

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Review: Everyone in This Bank is a Thief (Ernest Cunningham #3) by Benjamin Stevenson

~ megs14malloy

Everyone in This Bank Is a Thief: A NovelEveryone in This Bank Is a Thief: A Novel by Benjamin Stevenson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

**4.5-stars**

💙💛💙💛💙💛💙💛💙💛💙

Everyone in This Bank is a Thief is a fabulously-fun installment to the Ernest Cunningham series. It successfully channels all the quirky meta-vibes that Readers, including myself, have been enjoying in the previous books.

This is the 3rd-novel in the series, and there’s also a fun novella set around the Christmas holiday. At this point, our protagonist, Ernest, is a successful crime writer who’s honed his craft frequently via hands-on experience.

The mystery in this story takes Ernest in a new direction though, when the bank he’s at for a loan meeting, gets held-up and the people inside suddenly find themselves taken hostage, including Ernest and Juliette.

As the event starts to unfold, Ernest begins to notice unusual things about the robber and the situation in general. It seems there’s more than money at stake. What is he really after, and what is the actual aim of this heist?

As Ernest gets to know everyone in the bank, and as he starts to put the various puzzle pieces together, even the hostages become his suspects.

I’ve enjoyed following Ernest’s character arc over the course of these novels. He’s very much evolved and I feel like this story was a perfect glimpse into the life he’s living now. It’s such a change from when we met him in the 1st-book.

I liked that Stevenson went in a different direction with the plot of this story as well. It’s not just another murder mystery. The bank setting and the cast of unknown characters added a fun new direction for the series.

I listened to the audiobooks for all of the novels and the narration by Barton Welch is absolutely fantastic. He is Ernest Cunningham to me. I cannot recommend the audio versions enough, if you have them available to you.

I read this in a day. It was so quick and easy to get through. There were a ton of twists and unexpected turns, I had no clue where this was really going. It was such a fun ride.

I’d love to get a physical copy of this one for my collection, as this is the rare mystery I would love to read again and annotate. There were so many interesting clues along the way that I’d love to analyze more closely.

At this point, it’s fair to say Benjamin Stevenson has found a fan in me for life. I’m not sure what the long-term plans are for this series, but I’m certainly hoping for more installments. There’s so much more fun to be had!

Thank you to the publisher, Mariner Books and Harper Audio, for providing me with copies to read and review. This series brings me such joy and I can’t recommend it enough!

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