Death Row by Freida McFadden

With all hope of an appeal fading away, the fate of a condemned murderess takes a shocking turn in a breathtaking short story.

Talia Kemper is on death row for murdering her husband. She had an alibi and no known motive, yet Talia’s unwavering protestations of innocence have always been ignored. Then one day in the visiting area, she sees a recognizable stranger she’s certain is her husband. It turns out the man she’s been convicted of killing may not be dead after all. But as the days tick away toward Talia’s execution, what will it take for her to be believed?

Freida McFadden’s Death Row is part of Alibis, a collection of stories about lies, truth, and deception. It’s just a matter of what you can get away with. They can be read or listened to in one sitting.

Kindle Edition, 74 pages

Published June 1, 2025

 by Amazon Original Stories

2/5 stars

Freida McFadden is an author I've been wanting to read in what seems like forever.  So why not start with a short story.  Death Row was part of Amazon 1st Reads for the month of May - yea I'm a little behind.

Death Row is a fast paced story that had me captivated. The story builds tension as it travels back and forth in time with an intriguing setup. However, the ending left me feeling confused and unsatisfied. It lacked the clarity or twist I was hoping for, which took away from the overall impact. A decent read, but as far as short stories go this one would have worked better if it was longer and the author could really expand on the premise. 

My thanks to Amazon 1st Reads for a kindle edition in exchange for a honest review.

The Fall Risk by Abby Jimenez

Two good neighbors make the best of a bad Valentine’s Day in a funny and improbably romantic short story by the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Just for the Summer.

It’s Valentine’s Day weekend, and Charlotte and Seth are not looking for romance. Armed with emotional-support bear spray, Charlotte is in self-imposed isolation and on guard from men. Having a stalker can do that to a person’s nerves. Just across the hall and giving off woodsy vibes is Seth, a recently divorced arborist. As in today recently. Heights, he’s fine with. Trust? Not so much. But when disaster traps them one flight up and no way down, an outrageously precarious predicament forces a tree-loving guy and a rattled girl next door to embrace their captivity. Soon their defenses are breaking away. Considering how close they both are to the edge, Charlotte and Seth could be in danger of falling—in love.

Kindle Edition, 82 pages 

Expected publication March 1, 2025 

by Amazon Original Stories

4/5 stars

The thing with any Abby Jimenez short story is that, though they are short and sweet, I would love this to be a full length novel.  But given that she has a new release next month this is a great teaser.  Not that the new book involves the same characters, its her writing and unique/fun stories that we get.

The Fall Risk actually does start with a bang or at least things that go bump in the night (or early morning).  What followed were 2 characters with trust/love issues that are forced to spend time together and develop a nice little friendship.  Kinda weird how it happened, but whatever this was a fun rom/com with great banter, strong subject matter and a couple zany friends that added that extra spark.

As with typical Jimenez fashion there is always a critter that tries to steal the show, in this case its Swim Shady.

I received a digital copy free via the Amazon First Reads program in exchange for a honest review.

The Answer Is No by Fredrik Backman

In a hilarious short story from New York Times bestselling author Fredrik Backman, the absurdities of modern life cause one man’s solitary world to spin suddenly, and comically, out of control.

Lucas knows the perfect night entails just three things: video games, wine, and pad thai. Peanuts are a must! Other people? Not so much. Why complicate things when he’s happy alone?

Then one day the apartment board, a vexing trio of authority, rings his doorbell. And Lucas’s solitude takes a startling hike. They demand to see his frying pan. Someone left one next to the recycling room overnight, and instead of removing the errant object, as Lucas suggests, they insist on finding the guilty party. But their plan backfires. Colossally.

Told in Fredrik Backman’s singular witty style with sharply drawn characters and relatable antics, The Answer Is No is a laugh-out-loud portrait of a man struggling to keep to himself in a world that won’t leave him alone.

Kindle Edition, 68 pages 

Published December 1, 2024

 by Amazon Original Stories

4/5 stars

Fredrik Backman is one of my auto-read-authors, this was a bonus since it's been awhile since he has published something new.  Available both on Kindle and Audio. 

This was a fun short story (novella?)  It was quirky and a quick read.  Lucas just wants to be left alone but there are people that don't agree with him.  The story very much had that Backman vibe with some great banter, silly scenario and a plot that was out there.  All coming together nicely at the end.

My thanks to Amazon First Reads for a digital copy in exchange for a honest review.

A Very Bad Thing by J.T. Ellison

From New York Times bestselling author J.T. Ellison comes a taut thriller about one author at the pinnacle of her career, whose past threatens to destroy everything she has—and everyone she knows.

A great writer knows when to deliver a juicy plot twist. But for one author, the biggest twist of all is her own murder.

With a number of hit titles and a highly anticipated movie tie-in, celebrated novelist Columbia Jones is at the top of her game. Fans around the world adore her. But on the final night of her latest book tour, one face in the crowd makes the author collapse. And by the next morning, she’s lying dead in a pool of blood.

Columbia’s death shocks the world and leaves Darian, her daughter and publicist, reeling. The police have nothing to go on—at first. But then details emerge, pointing to the author’s illicit past. Turns out many people had motive to kill Columbia. And with a hungry reporter and frustrated cop on the trail, her secrets won’t stay buried long. But how many lives will they shatter as the truth comes out?

Kindle Edition, 446 pages

Published November 1, 2024

 by Thomas & Mercer

3.5/5 stars

I know there is a lot of controversy these days about prologues. For me I enjoy them, it is a great spot for the author to grab my attention and invest my interest in their story. And I wish that was the case here with A Very Bad Thing, the prologue was just too long and repetitive, which was not a great first impression.

A Very Bad Thing is the story of an author who is found dead at the conclusion of a month-long book tour. I am all things bookish when it comes to reading, so I was looking forward to this, especially after reading some of the rave reviews. This is a hard review for me to write as I have mixed feelings. 

So lets just make a list

Pros - abundance of red herrings that kept me guessing

         - a story within a story

         - short chapters, that go by fast (don't let the 446 page count intimate you)

Cons - the slow pace

         - the number of characters, thankfully the chapters heading told which POV was being told
          - didn't feel some of the deaths were necessary

          - the ending was okay, though a certain aspect is something that I expected.

All in all an ok read that just fell flat for me, it didn't have the suspense unputdownable feel that I love in this genre.  This is my first time reading this author, I will give him another try.

My digital copy was obtained through Amazon First Reads (October).