Getting Away with Murder by Shari Lapena

She loves her husband.
But she might love their house more.

Jill and Ted adore their New York brownstone the way others adore their children. They have carefully, expensively, made every inch of it their own. It reflects who they are, their status and tastes. With the grand mahogany staircase and state-of-the-art kitchen, it is the stuff of glossy magazines and real-estate dreams. It is their sanctuary.

So when Ted’s inheritance runs out and he makes a bad investment, they panic. How can they protect their beloved home and enviable lifestyle?

The answer is obvious. Or at least, it is obvious to Jill and Ted. The death of one wealthy family member could solve all their problems. Together, they will get away with murder.

As long as they trust each other.

And as long as there are no surprises . . .

Paperback, 368 pages

Published July 28, 2026

 by Doubleday Canada

4/5 stars

Shari Lapena is an auto-read for me, a Canadian author, I always love seeing her name pop up with something new. 

Getting Away with Murder follows Jill and Ted, a couple whose devotion to their perfectly styled New York brownstone runs a little too deep. When financial problems can no longer be hidden Ted and Jill need a plan for a big influx of cash, that's how obsessed they are with this brownstone.  The steps they take are chilling and what sounds like a good, if not great plan doesn't always go as planned.

What makes this one work is that Lapena doesn't play coy about who's behind the scheme. Instead of building toward a whodunnit, she flips the formula and lets us watch Jill and Ted plan and execute their plot in real time, which somehow makes it more unsettling, not less. Watching two people talk themselves into justifying something so awful and then having to trust each other completely to pull it off, adds a different kind of tension than her usual mystery setup.

This was a twisty story with some genuinely unlikeable characters, but that's part of what made it work. Neither Jill nor Ted is particularly sympathetic and I found myself rooting against them just as much as I was watching to see how far they'd go. I felt like a deer in headlights the whole way through- I struggled to put it down.

Though a reverse of Lapena's usual writing style, this was equalling captivating with its unique story and characters that lack feeling.  

This book was part of my 2026 Reading Off My Shelf Challenge, #32

Stay Buried by Jennifer McMahon

From bestselling author of Children on the Hill comes a queer folk horror in which a woman must confront decades of secrecy and superstition to learn the truth about her mother’s death.

Some towns stay isolated for a reason.

1919: Frankie O’Massey has always been the black sheep of isolated Boone’s Ferry, Vermont. Her uncle, Dr. Thomas Endicott, has been training her in the science of medicine, something the townspeople are wary of. When a mysterious illness strikes the town, and the community suspects supernatural forces, the two desperately search for a logical explanation. Patient zero seems to be the town’s knackerman—a recluse who collects dead and dying farm animals to make use of their parts.

2016: Siblings Ashley and Malcolm lost their mother two years ago. When their grandmother dies, they inherit a property in Boone’s Ferry—a place they’ve heard of but their grandmother has always refused to talk about—and embark on a trip to their ancestral home. The idyllic town is full of autumnal décor, picturesque farmland, and small-town charm. But some of the townspeople aren’t very welcoming—and they have some unsettling traditions, like leaving offerings to a vengeful spirit four times a year.

Kobo Edition, 400 pages

Audiobook, 13 hours, 11 minutes

Published August 11, 2026

 by Gallery Books

3/5 stars

I was lucky enough to grab this one through CloudLibrary the day it was released. Jennifer McMahon is an author I keep coming back to, I like the way she always weaves in that slight supernatural, almost ghostly undercurrent to her stories. It's become something of a signature for her and Stay Buried is no exception.

This story moves between two timelines. In 1919, taking place in the isolated town of Boone's Ferry, Vermont. Frankie O'Massey works alongside her uncle, a doctor, as a mysterious illness sweeps through the town. One the townspeople are quick to blame on supernatural forces rather than anything medical. 

Nearly a century later, in 2016, siblings Ashley and Malcolm inherit a property in that same town after their grandmother's death, a place she'd always refused to talk about. What starts as a quaint, fall visit quickly reveals unsettling traditions the locals have kept alive for generations.

My feelings on this one are mixed.  The opening chapters hooked me right away, it had that creepy, small-town atmosphere vibe.  But the supernatural element itself felt different from what I've come to expect from McMahon, and the book grew repetitive in parts as it went on. There were a few twists and spooky moments but by the end I was left wanting more closure than I got, with some questions still unanswered.

Not my favorite Jennifer McMahon read, but not a read that will stop me reading more of her books.  

My copy was obtain through my local library (cloudlibrary) and the audio through Spodify.

The House with No Keys by Lindsay Currie

This the to The Mystery of Locked Rooms follows the famous Deltas as they race to complete the most challenging escape room they've ever faced...and confront their fears in order to save their friendship.

It's been just over a year since Sarah, Hannah, and West made it through the epic funhouse that changed their lives forever. Since then, the three best friends have been working for Mr. William Taters, the owner of that very funhouse, renamed The Delta Game, and completing every challenging escape room they can.

But then a strange invitation shows up from the ominous and cryptic owner of a new funhouse—The Mystery Mansion.

The Mystery Mansion claims to be the biggest and best escape house ever, and it's opening just miles away from The Delta Game. The mysterious owner has invited the trio to come test it on opening day, offering a ten-thousand-dollar prize if they successfully escape. The prize is exciting, but the three friends don't want to be a walking advertisement for a competitor to their beloved The Delta Game.

But maybe the only way to keep their funhouse in business is to accept the invite, escape the mansion in record time, and show just how boring and easy it is by comparison. The trio arrive on opening day, armed with their "fortune favors the bold" attitude. 

Unfortunately, their plan quickly goes awry. Secrets threaten their friend group, nothing in the house is as it seems, and this time, not everyone is playing fair…

Kindle edition, 250 pages

Published September 30, 2025 

by Sourcebooks Young Readers

3/5 stars

I'll admit up front, this one's been sitting in my queue for a while. It published back in September 2025, and I'm just now getting to it, so consider this fashionably late. Sometimes the back-list wins.

It's been just over a year since Sarah, West and Hannah escaped the funhouse that changed their lives in book one, The Mystery of Locked Rooms. Since then, the trio has been working for William Taters, owner of that same fun house, now branded as The Delta Game.  They tackle every escape room challenge they can find. 

In this sequel, a mysterious invitation pulls them into testing a brand-new escape house nearby, one that claims to be the biggest and best in the business.

This time around, we get a lot more insight into West and Hannah, to what's  actually going on in their lives and why the cash prize for beating this new escape house matters so much to them. Without giving too much away, it adds a layer beyond "can they solve the puzzles."

Overall, The House with No Keys is a solid follow-up that gives its sequel the room to breathe rather than just retreading the first book's formula.  It's a quick read, but not a shallow one, and it left me curious about where the Deltas go next.

My thank you to Sourcebooks Kids for a digital arc in exchange for a honest review.

The Crossover by Kwame Alexander

"With a bolt of lightning on my kicks . . .The court is SIZZLING. My sweat is DRIZZLING. Stop all that quivering. Cuz tonight I’m delivering," 

announces dread-locked, 12-year old Josh Bell. 

He and his twin brother Jordan are awesome on the court. But Josh has more than basketball in his blood, he's got mad beats, too, that tell his family's story in verse, in this fast and furious middle grade novel of family and brotherhood from Kwame Alexander

Josh and Jordan must come to grips with growing up on and off the court to realize breaking the rules comes at a terrible price, as their story's heart-stopping climax proves a game-changer for the entire family.

Hardcover, 240 pages

Published March 18, 2014

 by Clarion Books

5/5 stars

I don't reach for verse novels very often, the ones I have read, I have enjoyed.  Such is the case with The Crossover. 

Kwame Alexander tells the story of 12-year-old Josh Bell, aka "Filthy McNasty" to his teammates and his twin brother Jordan. Two basketball phenoms following in the footsteps of their former-pro-player father. On the surface it's a sports story, full of rhythm and swagger on the court. But underneath it's really about family, sibling rivalry with first crushes pulling the twins in different directions. Add in a father whose health is quietly unraveling in the background and you've got a powerful story packed in.

It did't take long to get drawn into this story and I can see why it was the John Newbery Medal winner for 2015.  The short, punchy lines still produced depth and emotions as the story progressed. It's a fast read on paper, but it doesn't feel slight, there's real weight packed into those verses.

It's easy to see why this one took the 2015 Newbery Medal. It's the kind of book that works for reluctant readers and poetry lovers alike and it earns every bit of its reputation as a modern classic in middle-grade fiction.

This book is part of my 2026 Reading Off My Shelf Challenge - #31

Plot Twist: Life, Craft, and the Messy First Draft: A Memoir on Writing by Harlan Coben

Bestselling author Harlan Coben offers a look behind the curtain at his own writing process in an inspiring, candid memoir filled with indispensable insights and techniques.

 With 100 million books in print world-wide and over a dozen blockbuster television and film adapations of his work, Harlan Coben has much to teach us about the creative process. Part deeply personal memoir, part masterclass in storytelling, Plot Twist is a refreshingly honest look at the life of a writer whose stories have thrilled us for decades.

Plumbing memories from his suburban childhood and his early years trying to break into publishing, Coben tells his own story for the first time, revealing the real-world inspirations for some of his most beloved characters as well as the innovative plots that drive his propulsive novels. 

Filled with useful tips and techniques on the creative process, Coben does away with the traditional "categories" of writing—characters, plot, setting, etc—and looks at the process holistically. Plot Twist is a masterclass on the act of being a writer, and everything that comes with it: the self‑doubt, the hubris, the contradictions, the passion and dedication. 

At the end of the day, his calculus is a simple one: “If it helps me produce pages, good. If it doesn’t, bad.” This book will help every aspiring writer produce pages. Honest, funny, insightful, and at times deeply moving, this is both a captivating memoir and an essential guide for anyone looking to master the art of storytelling from one of our most beloved authors.

Kindle Edition,312 pages

Published September 8, 2026 

by Grand Central Publishing

4.5/5 stars

I have been a fan of Harlan Coben ever since reading The Boy From the Woods, and have slowly been making my way through both his current releases and his backlist ever since. So getting a look behind the curtain at how he actually writes felt like a real treat.

This is part memoir and part masterclass on writing, and Coben blends the two seamlessly. He talks about his life, how he got started, and where his ideas actually come from, offering real insight into a career that has spanned decades and dozens of bestsellers. There was something genuinely relatable about reading his reflections on certain books, recognizing titles I had already read and getting the backstory behind them added a whole other layer to the experience.

He does away with the idea that there is one correct way to write a book. He rejects the traditional categories some writers try to follow - characters first, then plot, then setting, and instead shows that the process can be messy, nonlinear and different for everyone.

It was such an enjoyable read from start to finish, full of ideas, honest reflection, and a genuine sense of what it takes to build a writing life. This is a book I can absolutely see myself purchasing and reading again.

Whether you are an aspiring writer or simply a longtime fan of Coben's novels, this memoir is entertaining.

My thanks to Grand Central Publishing for a digital arc (via Netgalley) in exchange for a honest review.

Spotlight: Falling for Peachtree Bluff by Kristy Woodson Harvey

Welcome to Peachtree a sweet, cozy small town where family is everything. 

The “go-to for elevated beach reads,”

Kristy Woodson Harvey, returns just in time for pumpkin spice season.

Kindle Edition, 320 pages

Expected publication September 15, 2026 

by Gallery Books

The air is crisper, the water is calmer, but, when it comes to the Murphy family, nothing is ever quite as simple as it seems.

Youngest sister Emerson is busy planning her dream wedding to Kyle. But her difficulty expanding her family is overshadowing her joy. Pregnant middle sister Sloane and her husband Adam’s dream house has turned into a nightmare. Everything is over time, over budget, and Sloane is over it. Eldest sister Caroline, as always, is there to swoop in and get her sisters’ lives under control. Until her focus is more than a little shifted by Emerson’s hunky costar who manages to sweep her right off her feet—just as her not-quite-ex-husband decides it’s high time he begged Caroline for a second chance.

Matriarch Ansley and her new husband Jack have finally hit their stride. But when a scandal that would affect every single Peachtree Bluff citizen comes to light—and it seems like Jack just might be at the center of it—Ansley questions whether he is actually the man she thought he was.

Through it all, these women must rely on their powerful family bonds, and the quirky characters and small-town charm of the place that, no matter what, always calls them home.

Spotlight: The Lost Perfumes of Paris by Christine Wells

Set against the backdrop of mid-century Parisian glamour and the timeless art of perfumery, a captivating tale of resilience, love, and the intoxicating pursuit of passion.

Paperback, 368 pages

Expected publication September 8, 2026

 by William Morrow

Élodie Limeaux's beloved mother, Aurore, was the most legendary perfumer in France before World War II, renowned for the exquisite fragrances she created for the family company, the House of Limeaux. Now in her twenties, Élodie longs to join the family business. Her father, however, has refused to let her follow in her late mother's footsteps and Élodie has had to fight to become a mere lab assistant at Limeaux. But Élodie plans to enter the Essence of Paris contest run by the French Perfume Institute, hoping that a win will secure investment from Swiss banker Monsieur Caspari, who is looking to launch a new scent for women—and possibly to buy the House of Limeaux. Impressed with Élodie's drive and talent, Caspari agrees to back her, provided that she collaborates with his son, Marcelo. Élodie is forced to agree, although Marcelo strikes her as a wealthy dilettante—albeit an extremely charming one.

When they join forces, though, Élodie is surprised to discover Marcelo's passion for perfume is genuine, his obsession as deep as hers. With Marcelo by her side, Élodie battles family betrayals and corporate sabotage, searching for that elusive essence of Paris that will launch her career...and possibly the love of a lifetime.

Spotlight: Mother Daughter Sister Stranger by Hank Phillippi Ryan

What if your own family history turns out to be a terrifying lie?

Every family has its story, and this one’s deadly.

Two sisters. One secret.

And a race against time to find the explosive truth in this twisty and captivating thriller by USA Today bestselling author Hank Phillippi Ryan.

 

Hardcover, 352 pages

Expected publication September 1, 2026

by Minotaur Books

The sole survivors of the fiery plane crash that killed their parents, Eliza Ramsey and her sister Bea share an unbreakable bond. But now, on the eleventh anniversary of the tragedy, Bea fails to retrieve her pre-teen daughter from a sleepover at Eliza’s.

Eliza knows her sister would never leave her precious Piper behind, and fears the worst. But did Bea plan her own disappearance?

The Ramsey’s lives have already crashed and burned once. Now, Eliza discovers she's the only one who can protect her niece from the horrifying legacy of her family’s sinister history. Together, the two must prevent their lives from going up in flames once again.

A missing mother. Her frightened daughter. And a sister on a desperate search for a happy ending. But someone knows the deadly key to their shared past, and won’t stop until they’ve written a devastating final chapter. Mother, daughter, sister—stranger.