book series

Review: Cold Burn (National Parks Thriller #2) by A.J. Landau, Jon Land & Jeff Ayers

~ megs14malloy

Cold Burn (National Parks Thriller #2)Cold Burn by A.J. Landau
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Cold Burn is the 2nd-book in the National Parks Thriller series by A.J. Landau, which is actually a pseudonym for the writing duo of Jon Land and Jeff Ayers.

I didn’t read the 1st-book in the series, Leave No Trace, but as with many Adult Mystery series, they can be read in any order. I certainly didn’t feel lost jumping into this one as I did without that background of book 1.

This book includes scenes at Glacier Bay National Park in Alaska, as well as Florida’s Everglades National Park. The thing connecting the two, a deadly prehistoric microbe that not only killed off the wooly mammoth, but more recently, a USGS survey team that kicks our action off.

With powerful people battling for the lethal microbe, to use for their own gain, it’s up to NPS Special Agent Michael Walker and FBI Special Investigator Gina Delgado to exterminate the threat the microbe poses to the world.

In the beginning, Cold Burn felt refreshing. I don’t tend to pick up a lot of Action Thrillers, but unfortunately it was unable to ever fully capture my attention.

There are a lot of moving parts to this story. I liked how we were getting action in both Alaska and Florida. Unfortunately, because there was so much going on, and because I wasn’t fully hooked in, I feel like I wasn’t paying close enough attention to grasp all of the connections.

I can appreciate that this is a good book, particularly for Readers who love an intense Action Thriller with political intrigue and shady dealings. I just wasn’t that person at the time that I read this.

I might still read the 1st-book in the series, because it was alluded to a few times in this story, and the case they were investigating in that one did sound very interesting. Also, I have recently seen a 3rd-book announced, which is set at Hawaii’s Volcanoes National Park that sounds like it could be a good one too.

Needless to say, even though this one didn’t blow me out of the water, I still enjoyed it enough that I’m willing to continue on with the rest of the books in the series.

Thank you to the publisher, Minotaur Books, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I know many Readers will love this series, and I’m not willing to give up on it yet. It’s got a great concept and compelling main characters. I feel like the more I read, the more attached I’ll become.

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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 Cornish Christmas Pantomime Murder (Nosey Parker #9) by Fiona Leitch

~ megs14malloy

The Cornish Christmas Pantomime Murder (A Nosey Parker Cozy Mystery, #9)The Cornish Christmas Pantomime Murder by Fiona Leitch
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

**4.5-stars**

❤️💚🤍❤️💚🤍❤️💚🤍❤️💚🤍❤️💚🤍

The Cornish Christmas Pantomime Murder is the 9th-book in the Nosey Parker Mystery series by Fiona Leitch. This is my favorite currently-running Cozy series. I absolutely adore it and look forward to each new installment.

For someone who tends to shy away from commitment, to be here at book #9, already anxiously anticipating the next, is definitely saying something.

These books follow Jodie Parker, who resigned from the Metropolitan Police in London after a close call and returned to her native village of Penstowan, in Cornwall, with her daughter, Daisy, to live a simpler life.

Even though she now runs her own successful catering company, old habits are hard to break and Jodie has helped the local police with some challenging cases. It’s through this that she first met her beau, DCI Nathan Winters. Her Pomeranian, Germaine, rounds out their crew.

This mystery, set around the Christmas holiday, begins at the local theater where the amateur dramatics group, the Penstowan Players, are putting on their annual pantomime. Both Jodie’s daughter, Daisy, and her mother, Shirley, are taking part.

Jodie got away with not participating by agreeing to cater the Opening Night Party. Unfortunately, before the party can even get started, in fact, barely halfway through the show, a cast member’s murdered body is found in the wings.

The show cannot go on. The police swiftly take control of the scene and an investigation begins. And just because she’s not formally with the police anymore, doesn’t mean Jodie’s not going to be asking some questions as well.

This was another fabulous installment. I love this series so, so much. Settling in with each consecutive book feels like reuniting with old friends.

This cast of characters fills my heart to the brim and then some. I love their cheeky humor and the mysteries are always engaging. Jodie and her family are such a focal point in the stories, and I appreciate so much how Leitch has portrayed their relationships.

This one kicks off very quickly, which gave plenty of time for the investigative portions, which is something I tend to look for in my Cozies. Other things I frequently look for that Leitch excels at are the humor and the small village vibes.

I also liked the number of different suspects we had in this mystery, as well as their varied potential motives. It made it a fun and engaging mystery to try to solve.

Finally, I love that this series doesn’t take itself too seriously, but it’s still incredibly well-written, paced and plotted. Fiona Leitch is a true gem in the Cozy space.

I’m really hoping for more; meaning, I hope it never ends!

Thank you to the publisher, One More Chapter, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I will patiently be awaiting news on Book #10!!!

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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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Review: All My Bones (An Old Juniper Bookshop Mystery #2) by P.J. Nelson

~ megs14malloy

All My Bones (An Old Juniper Bookshop Mystery, #2)All My Bones by P.J. Nelson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

All My Bones is the 2nd-book in P.J. Nelson’s An Old Juniper Bookshop Mystery series. I enjoyed the 1st-book, Booked For Murder, when I read it in December of 2024.

I adore Cozy Mysteries, and loving finding new series to follow along with as they’re released. In these books, the small town and bookshop vibes definitely deliver the type of cozy vibes I’m generally looking for.

In this series, we’re following Madeline Brimley, who has returned to her hometown of Enigma, Georgia, after the passing of her Aunt Rose, as she’s inherited Rose’s property, including the Old Juniper Bookshop.

An actress by trade, Madeline initially has mixed feelings about going back to the small town. Leaving the theater circuit in Atlanta behind is though, but she decides to give it a shot nevertheless.

We saw a lot of development of her character in that 1st-book, and that trend continues here. She’s now well-established back in Enigma, having made friends and other connections. She seems comfortable in her new life, and it makes me happy to see it.

The mystery in this installment centers around a body Madeline discovers while trying to plant azaleas in the garden in front of the shop. Her friend, Gloria, the local episcopal priest, is with her at the time of the morbid discovery, and soon becomes the prime suspect.

Madeline knows that Gloria wouldn’t hurt a fly, and certainly isn’t responsible for this body buried in the garden, but now she needs to prove it.

I’m so happy I continued on with this series. After the 1st-one, even though I enjoyed it a lot, I was on the fence as to whether I would pursue any follow-up books.

When I was offered access to this one a little early though, I found that I did really want to continue on. This was such a strong installment too. I really hope we get more Old Juniper Bookshop Mystery stories, because I’m having a lot of fun with this cast of characters.

Madeline has grown so much, and I love how grounded she feels now in her new life in Enigma. She’s making good friends, and I feel like she is a valued member of their community. The bookshop caters to the local college crowd, and I also enjoy those vibes.

I appreciated how quickly Nelson kicked off the mystery in this one. It all happens so quickly at the beginning, the discovery of the body, which allows plenty of time for the subsequent investigation.

It was fun going along with Madeline as she tried to work out the whodunit, in order to save Gloria from going down for the crime. I feel like her close relationship with Gloria definitely upped the stakes for her, and gave the plot an additional sense of urgency.

I would recommend this series to Cozy Mystery Readers, particularly if you enjoy ones centering around bookstores, or libraries. Additionally, I would recommend the audio format if you have access to it. The narration perfectly matches Madeline’s character and I love it!

Thank you to the publisher, Minotaur Books and Dreamscape Media, for providing me with copies to read and review. If a 3rd-book releases, which I’m really hoping for, I’ll be the first in line to read it!

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Review: What Stalks the Deep (Sworn Soldier #3) by T. Kingfisher

~ megs14malloy

What Stalks the Deep (Sworn Soldier, #3)What Stalks the Deep by T. Kingfisher
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

**3.5-stars rounded up**

What Stalks the Deep is the 3rd-installment in the Sworn Soldier series by one of my favorite authors, T. Kingfisher.

I adore this series and have a soft spot in my heart for its protagonist, Alex Easton.

Kingfisher has yet again infused Alex Easton with the perfect amount of humor and frankness. Getting a story from Alex’s perspective, is like sitting with a friend while they tell you horrifying tales from their most recent vacation.

In this book, we follow along with Alex as they travel to the United States, and to West Virginia specifically, to visit a coal mine with a little something extra going on.

Alex has zero desire to make this trip to a purportedly haunted coal mine, but they feel compelled after they’ve been asked by their old friend Dr. James Denton. Denton’s cousin, Oscar, went missing while exploring the abandoned mine and he’s desperate to find him.

This was another very fun installment for this series. It really switched it up as far as the setting, and the type of mystery we were investigating.

I loved that it was set in West Virginia and that Kingfisher even included the journey there, because that journey helped pull me in even more to the story and got me fully invested.

The abandoned coal mine was definitely creepy for me, as caves or mines are one of my personal fears. They simultaneously fascinate me and terrify me.

I’m a bit claustrophobic, so even reading of these types of situations can get my pulse racing. Exploring it along with Alex though did make it feel a bit more safe, and fun.

Unfortunately, the way the truth of what was happening was delivered is sort of a pet peevey thing for me. I didn’t like it. I can’t really describe what I mean without spoilers, but it’s a kind of trope I just don’t care for, and I was a bit disappointed to find it here.

However, with this being said, this is 100% personal taste, and there were many other aspects of this story for me to enjoy. While the explanation and concluding bits weren’t my favorite as far as this series goes, it’s still a great read and I would recommend it to Horror Readers.

I’d also recommend the audiobooks for the entire series, should you have them available to you. They’re all narrated by Avi Roque, who has become Alex Easton to me. I love, love, love the way they deliver these stories, it’s just the perfect cadence and tone to bring them to life.

I’m still not sure how many books are planned for this series. This might even have been the last one, but I certainly hope it wasn’t. With this type of story, the possibilities are absolutely endless for the things that Alex could explore, and I’d be down for every one.

Thank you to the publisher, Tor Nightfire and Macmillan Audio, for providing me with copies to read and review. These punchy Horror Novellas are not to be missed!

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Review: Spark of the Everflame (Kindred’s Curse #1) by Penn Cole

~ megs14malloy

Spark of the Everflame (Kindred's Curse, #1)Spark of the Everflame by Penn Cole
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Spark of the Everflame is the 1st-book in the Kindred’s Curse series by Penn Cole, and I feel like I’m the last person in our world to read it. I’ve been missing out.

This novel follows Diem Bellator, whose mother, a well-known healer, has gone missing. Diem, already primed to step into her mother’s footsteps, ends up taking over some of her healer responsibilities, which includes entrance to the royal palace to aide some of the descended.

The descendeds are the upper echelon citizens of this world. They’re actual descendants of the Gods and Diem, and the rest of her mortal peers, are basically treated like disposable garbage by these upper classes.

Her entrance into the palace opens up Diem’s eyes to a whole new world and perspective that she’s never considered before. She’s also constantly watched by the dying King’s handsome nephew, Luther.

Diem feels torn, with a mortal alliance recruiting her to their ranks, and with her new found friendships without the descended class, she just wants to do the right thing. She wants to protect her family, and life in general.

Why did I wait so long to read this!? My best friend read it years ago and raved about. I kept meaning to pick it up, but just didn’t. Admittedly, it’s a little outside my comfort zone, but I am so happy I finally picked it up.

I was completely invested, and the ending!?

I didn’t see where this was going at all. I don’t know if it’s because I’m not a well-versed Romantasy Reader, or what, but I was not expecting the path that it seems Diem’s character is about to take.

I knew nothing about this going in, but I think I may have enjoyed it all the more because of that. I think Cole did a fantastic job of laying out the structure and politics of this whole world. There was a lot to learn, but it didn’t feel info-dumpy. It all felt very natural.

I’m so excited to continue on with this series and find out what’s going to happen for all of these great characters. I appreciated the slow burn of the Romance and the fact that right now there just seems to be a lot of pining, and will they/won’t they energy.


It surprised me how invested I got in this story. I’m super excited to continue on with the series, and am hoping to do so as soon as possible.

Thank you to the publisher, Atria Books, for providing me a copy to read and review. I’m so sorry it took me so long to get to this one. Nevertheless, it was worth the wait; so good!

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Review: Other People’s Houses (DC Morgan #3) by Clare Mackintosh

~ megs14malloy

Other People's Houses: A Novel (DC Morgan, Book 3)Other People’s Houses: A Novel by Clare Mackintosh
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Other People’s Houses is the 3rd-installment in the DC Morgan series by Clare Mackintosh. This is a Police Procedural Mystery series starring one of my current favorite detectives, DC Ffion Morgan.

I have really enjoyed the previous novels, and this latest in the series didn’t disappoint for a moment. I loved being back with Ffion and tackling another head-scratching case.

The mystery revolves around a luxurious, exclusive community known as The Hill. It’s the type of neighborhood many would desire to live in for it’s comfort and safety.

It seems that The Hill is now a target though, as some of the homes have been burglarized. DS Leo Brady, who Readers will recall from the previous books, believes that the criminal is looking for something in particular.

At the same time all of this has started to go down, across the lake from The Hill, DC Morgan is called to investigate after an estate agent’s lifeless body is recovered from the water. It’s clear she died under nefarious circumstances, but the whodunit and why are unclear.

As the two cases collide, Ffion and Leo end up digging deep into the lives of people who would prefer to keep their secrets just that, but it’s hard to solve the cases without the info. Therefore, against The Hill resident’s wishes, individual comforts will finally need to be sacrificed.

How is it all connected, and will our detective duo be able to find the culprit before anyone else loses any property, or worse, their life?

As with the other installments in this series, I flew through this and was completely engaged the whole time. As mentioned above, I do love Ffion and the backstory that Mackintosh has created for her.

I also enjoy her relationship with Leo and the strength of their partnership. They work very well together and it’s always fun seeing them be collaborative with their investigations. Ffion’s rescue dog, Dave, is back again as well and plays a big role in this story.

This mystery had a lot of moving parts, and I found it all very intriguing. The Hill was a fun backdrop for the investigation, as both Leo and Ffion were very much outsiders from that world. It was filled with juicy drama that I was eating up.

We also had some more forward progress in Ffion’s personal life, which I’m fully invested in at this point. I feel like I’ve really come to care for her as a character and I definitely want her to find happiness and fulfillment outside of her job.

I’m not sure how long this series is slated to be, but it seems like we’ll at least be getting a 4th-book. I’m certainly hoping so. There are so many great aspects to these books, and the combination of them all together, the fantastic characters, beautiful setting and always intriguing mysteries, sets this series apart for me.

I would definitely recommend this to any Reader who enjoys a Police Procedural Mystery. The audiobooks are also fantastic, and if you have access to them, are a great option for taking in this series.

Thank you to the publisher, Sourcebooks Landmark and Highbridge Audio, for providing me with copies to read and review. I love this series and hope it continues on for a long, long time. I’ll be ready for every one!

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Review: The Story That Wouldn’t Die (Jolene Garcia #2) by Christina Estes

~ megs14malloy

The Story That Wouldn't Die: A Mystery (Jolene Garcia Mysteries Book 2)The Story That Wouldn’t Die: A Mystery by Christina Estes
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

The Story That Wouldn’t Die is the 2nd-book in the Jolene Garcia Mystery series. I actually didn’t realize this was the 2nd-book when I accepted it from the publisher, though that didn’t really affect my experience.

I think had I picked up the 1st-book though, I probably wouldn’t have picked this one up.

I’ll be frank, this Mystery wasn’t to my tastes. I thought I was picking up a Cozy, but it definitely wasn’t that. I’m not quite sure how to explain it, but it the entire thing felt so forced. There was nothing cozy about it, IMO, and it was hardly mysterious.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t the opposite, hard-edged, or compelling, either. I actually didn’t care for the MC, so that certainly didn’t help matters. I’m glad I gave it a shot, but I will not be continuing with the series.

I generally like mysteries that involve journalists, but this didn’t end up scratching that itch. The writing felt more like the author had bullet pointed issues she wanted to include, got all those in and then tried to build a mystery around it.

It just didn’t work and it wasn’t an enjoyable experience. The audiobook narration by Devon Sorvari was solid though, and that definitely helped me to push through and complete it. Otherwise, I’m not sure I would have.

Thank you to the publisher, Dreamscape Media and Minotaur Books, for providing me with a copy to read and review. Even though this didn’t work for me, doesn’t mean it won’t work for you.

If the synopsis and mystery presented sounds interesting to you, go ahead and give it a go. You may end up loving it!

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Review: Blood Like Ours (The Blood Trilogy #2) by Stuart Neville

~ megs14malloy

Blood Like Ours (Blood Trilogy #2)Blood Like Ours by Stuart Neville
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

**4.5-stars**

Blood Like Ours is the 2nd-book in the Blood Trilogy by Stuart Neville. The 1st-book, Blood Like Mine, took me completely by surprise when I read it last year.

Initially, I thought that one was a standalone, so I was super excited when I discovered it was actually slated to be a trilogy. Since that time, I’ve been anxiously awaiting this installment and it didn’t disappoint.

These books are a stellar blend of Horror with Crime Fiction. It’s got such a tone to it. Dark, intense, and oh yeah, there’s a lot of blood involved.

Coffin Moon, which was a fairly-hyped Horror release this year, would be a fairly good comp in my opinion. So, if you enjoyed that one and are looking for more in a similar vein, you should check this series out.

Vein…did you see what I did there??

In this installment, we continue to follow Rebecca and her daughter, Monica, who she calls Moonflower. We also continue to follow FBI Agents, specifically, Special Agent Sarah McGrath, who’s very familiar with their case.

The cat-and-mouse dynamics from the 1st-book carry over here, but we also get a new perspective, an young Irish immigrant, who ends up with a shocking connection to Monica and Rebecca.

I love how this book continues to build out this world and cast of characters involved in this story. When it all started, it felt quite insular, with Rebecca and Monica feeling like islands unto themselves. As the story has progressed though, we discover just how many players are actually involved in this whole thing.

It’s intriguing as heck. The way Neville moves all these pieces around, it feels like you’re witnessing a first class chess match with a bunch of blood splatter.

This ending too, OMG!!!

There’s so much more to explore and I can’t wait to discover where the 3rd-book is going to lead us. One of my favorite aspects of this one was the new perspective, Emma, and all the insights she brought to the historical side of this story.

I don’t want to say too much, because the synopsis keeps it vague. I will say as a sequel, it’s completely successful at continuing the original story, whilst also bringing in a lot of new information and truly expanding the stakes, as well as the intrigue.

Thank you to the publisher, Recorded Books, for providing me with a copy to read and review. Book 3 cannot come fast enough. I can’t wait!!

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