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.

A Time of Witches by Madeline Martin

Two women, bound by blood and betrayal, must break silence across centuries—or be silenced forever.

Lilith Legare’s life is unraveling. Since her mother’s death, strange things have been happening - plants turn toward her touch, animals linger in her path, and the birthmark on her arm has started tingling. Worse still is her recurring nightmare of being burned alive at the stake.

Her search for answers brings her from Savannah to England, to the decaying Brackenmere Manor where the past blurs with the present. There, Lilith discovers a legacy she never asked for and along with it, the threat of peril. History must be rewritten, or she too will die.

In 1645 Suffolk, Sybil Brantham stands accused as a witch. An educated, wealthy widow, she is branded a threat by men who fear her independence. As arrests begin and suspicion abounds, Sybil must protect her younger sister, even as betrayal takes root within her household.

Across centuries, Lilith and Sybil are bound by blood and by danger. To save themselves, and each other, they must confront the silence that has stolen women’s power for generations—and dare to claim their voices before it’s too late.

Kobo Edition, 380 pages

Expected publication September 1, 2026 

by Hanover Square Press

3.5/5 stars

Madeline Martin steps away from her usual World War II historical fiction with A Time of Witches,  trading the battlefields of the war for the witch hunts of 1645 in Suffolk, England. It is a big departure and for the most part it works.

The story moves between present day Lilith Legare and Sybil Brantham in the 1600s, two women connected across centuries by legacy neither of them chose. I enjoyed the present day storyline and how the links between Lilith and Sybil slowly came together. 

That said, something felt like it was missing for me, though I cannot quite put my finger on what.  Maybe I wanted more time with Sybil before her arrest. We meet her already caught up in accusation and suspicion, and I would have liked the chance to know her as a person first - an educated widow living her life before everything changes for her. That groundwork felt a little thin.

Still, this was an enjoyable read overall. Martin clearly did her research into the witch hunts and the atmosphere she builds is good throughout. 

My thanks to Hanover Press for a digital ARc in exchange for a honest review.

The Double Life of Eve Sinclair by C.C. Humphreys

The Alice Network meets The Nightingale in this romantic and suspenseful novel about a female spy who must push herself to her very limits to save herself and everything she holds dear.

It’s 1939, and Stockholm is a sea of spies. Yet Eve Sinclair couldn’t care less. Nineteen years old, beautiful, born in Montreal into privilege and educated to do little more than make a good marriage, she appears to have succeeded when she weds handsome diplomat Richard Spence and follows him to Stockholm. But, like so much in this city, Eve will discover that her marriage is not what it seems. Raised to expect only one life, she soon finds herself thrust into another one entirely—dark, corrupt and very, very dangerous.

If Eve is going to survive her newly perilous life in a world at war, she must learn certain skills—and swiftly. Discovering a core of steel buried deep within her, she will forge that steel into a career . . . as a spy. Her talents, and her need to fight evil, will take her from luxurious Sweden to the foulest tenements of Lisbon, onto the highlands of Scotland and finally to a bridge in Norway, a detonator and an inconceivable choice.

The Double Life of Eve Sinclair is much more than a war story; it’s a tale of love, passion, grit and the resilience of the human spirit. And it’s the story of one woman who discovers she has more strength than she ever could have imagined.

Paperback, 400 pages

Published June 2, 2026 

by Doubleday Canada

4/5 stars

I had the privilege of attending an author talk when this book was released,  C.C. Humphreys spoke about his own personal connection to this story. His father was from England and his mother was a spy during the war. Knowing that going in made reading this all the more interesting, there is something different about experiencing a book when you know it is rooted in the author's own family history.

Set in 1939, the story follows Eve Sinclair, a young Montreal socialite who marries a handsome diplomat and moves to Stockholm, only to discover her marriage is not what it appears to be. Raised to expect one kind of life, she is thrust into another entirely, one that pulls her into the dangerous world of espionage during the Second World War. Watching her transformation and all the obstacles she endured gave rise to how much strength she didn't realize she had.  

World War II fiction set in Stockholm is well off the beaten path, and it was refreshing to get a view of the war from that side of things. So much WWII historical fiction covers familiar ground, France, Britain, Germany, so setting the story in neutral Sweden gave a different perspective on how the war touched even those countries trying to stay out of it.

This book was part of  my 2026 Reading Off My Shelf Challenge #28

The Faraway Inn by Sarah Beth Durst

When sixteen-year-old Calisa arrives at her great-aunt’s bed-and-breakfast for the summer, she’s shocked to find it run down rather than cosy. Grumpy and eccentric, Auntie Zee is determined to keep anyone from messing with her beloved inn . . . even though she clearly needs the help.

To convince her great-aunt to keep her around, Calisa sets to work fixing up the inn, enlisting extra help from the groundkeeper’s (handsome) son. But the longer she stays, the surer she is that there’s something strange about the B and B―and its residents. Something almost . . . otherworldly.

The inn is hiding a magical secret―but secrets are like doors. Once Calisa opens this one, she won’t be able to go back . . .

Hardcover, 373 pages

Published April 9, 2026

 by First Ink

4/5 stars

Sarah Beth Durst is one of my auto read authors, so I went into this one with high expectations, once again she delivered a cozy, charming read. Along with a cozy and charming cover.

The story follows sixteen year old Calisa, who after a devastating heartbreak, arrives at her great aunt's rundown inn in Vermont for the summer, only to be told she is not welcome and should leave. Rather than turning back, Calisa sets out to win her great aunt over, what starts as that uphill battle quickly turns into something more. The Inn itself reveals it is hiding a magical secret of its own.

Calisa is a persitant character, pushing for what she wants and she does not want to go home.  I found her to appear much older then her 16 years. Between her mannerisms, the way she carries her heartbreak and the fact that she travels to her great aunt's inn entirely on her own, she read more like a young adult navigating real independence than a typical sixteen year old.  But aside from that I found this to be a unique story with great characters and again great storytelling.  Is there a sequel?  I sure hope so.

This book was part of the 2026 Reading Off My Shelf Challenge, #27

The Ghost Road by Charis Cotter

Ghosts, a family curse, buried secrets -- and two girls who have to figure it all out. 

For the first time, Ruth is heading to Newfoundland to stay with family she's never met instead of spending the summer traveling with her dad. When she arrives, she finds Newfoundland is very different from her life in Toronto--people there are much more friendly, but also superstitious, believing in ghosts and The Sight and family curses. Ruth's cousin Ruby is also staying for the summer, and the two discover they have a lot in common: they both lost their moms when they were two years old, they're the same age and they even like the same food. But while Ruby believes in spirits and fairies, Ruth believes in science and cold, hard facts.

When they find ominous information on some tombstones in the local cemetery, Ruth and Ruby start investigating their family's past and discover that twin girls are born in every generation, and every set of twins dies young, leaving their children without mothers. What's more, one of the twins always has The Sight and can see the Ghost Road that leads to the mysterious lost settlement of Slippers Cove. What happened there? What does it have to do with their family? And who is the ghostly presence that keeps visiting Ruth late at night?

The answers lie somewhere along the Ghost Road . . . if they can only find it.

Hardcover, 368 pages

Published September 4, 2018 

by Tundra Books

3.5/5 stars

I love a Canadian setting, add in some ghosty vibes and I'm there.  This is my first time reading anything by Charis Cotter.

The Ghost Road follows Ruth and her cousin Ruby, two girls who have never met and now they are spending the summer together for the first time. They could not be more different in personality, which makes for an interesting dynamic as they're thrown together and slowly uncover a family history neither of them expected. Set in 1978, this is a time period I don't see very often in middle grade fiction.

For a middle grade book there is a surprising amount of depth here. Cotter weaves in generations of family history, centering on the fact that twin girls are born in every generation and the story unpacks what that has meant for the women who came before Ruth and Ruby. I will admit there were moments I felt a bit lost trying to keep track of all the names and how everyone was connected across generations. It took some concentration to keep it all straight.

I don't want to give away too much of the plot, but this was a fun read overall. Two cousins with opposite personalities, a rich family mystery and a setting steeped in Newfoundland history and folklore made for an engaging and entertaining story. 

This book was part of my 2026 Reading Off My Shelf Challenge, #29

Life's Too Short by Abby Jimenez

When Vanessa Price quit her job to pursue her dream of traveling the globe, she wasn't expecting to gain millions of YouTube followers who shared her joy of seizing every moment. For her, living each day to its fullest isn't just a motto. Her mother and sister never saw the age of 30, and Vanessa doesn't want to take anything for granted.

But after her half sister suddenly leaves Vanessa in custody of her baby daughter, life goes from "daily adventure" to "next-level bad" (now with bonus baby vomit in hair). The last person Vanessa expects to show up offering help is the hot lawyer next door, Adrian Copeland. After all, she barely knows him. No one warned her that he was the Secret Baby Tamer or that she'd be spending a whole lot of time with him and his geriatric Chihuahua.

Now she's feeling things she's vowed not to feel. Because the only thing worse than falling for Adrian is finding a little hope for a future she may never see.

Paperback, 384 pages

Published April 6, 2021

 by Forever

4/5 stars

This is the third book in Abby Jimenez's trilogy, The Friend's Zone, my favourite of the three. I came to this one as a hybrid read - splitting my time between the book and the audiobook - a great way to read.

The first 2 books leaned heavily on miscommunication, a trope that is not my favourite.  One discussion would have cleared everything up.  This being the author's debut series, I felt she was finding her groove in those earlier titles. Most readers absolutely loved them and I get it, but they just weren't quite there for me.

This one, though? Different story entirely. Life is Too Short has many layers, which is exactly what I look for. Like her previous books, Jimenez tackles a serious theme, but this time around the story felt less repetitive and had a much better flow. The dual POVs gave real depth to both main characters - I genuinely felt like I got to know them better, which made all the difference.

Add in witty banter, a baby and a gloriously ugly dog and you have a book that balances heart and humour beautifully.

Abby Jimenez has become an auto-read author for me. It's like she gets better with each release.  

This book was #14 in my 2026 Reading Off My Shelf Challenge.