AMERICAN DIRT by Jeanine Cummins

American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins is a book that leaves you torn. One part of me found it gripping and hard to put down; the other part felt disturbed, sad, and deeply upset by it. That mixed reaction seems pretty common, and it makes the novel especially rich for discussion.

What the Story Does Well American Dirt follows Lydia, a bookstore owner in Acapulco, and her young son Luca after a cartel attack destroys their family. Forced to flee north, they join the dangerous stream of migrants heading toward the U.S. border. The pacing is propulsive—thriller-like in its urgency—while the mother-son bond gives the story real emotional weight. The journey itself feels relentless and visceral, and Cummins keeps the stakes high even as the material gets heavier.

The title works on several levels at once. “American dirt” points to the physical soil migrants risk everything to reach, the arbitrary line of the border (the dirt is the same on both sides), the gritty realities of the journey, and the complicated, imperfect America waiting on the other side. It’s deliberately ambiguous and rewards conversation about what the phrase comes to mean by the end.

The Parts That Hit Hardest The violence is graphic and unrelenting from the opening pages. The emotional toll—grief, constant fear, the particular dangers faced by women and girls—builds until the book can feel punishing as well as compelling. A lot of readers finish it (or set it aside) feeling drained.

One of the most unsettling threads is Lydia’s relationship with Javier, the cartel leader who becomes her friend before she learns who he really is. Even after she discovers his identity, she struggles to fully reject the cultured, literary man she thought she knew. That cognitive dissonance—holding onto the charming version of him while knowing he’s capable of extreme violence—feels protective and, in retrospect, almost unbearable. When the full consequences of his actions arrive, the earlier attachment makes the betrayal and loss even more devastating. It raises hard questions about denial, charm, shared interests, and how ordinary people can misread danger when it comes wrapped in personal connection.

American Dirt isn’t a comfortable read, and it isn’t meant to be. It’s emotionally charged and frequently upsetting, yet it tends to stick with people long after they finish.

Rating: 3.5 / 5 ⭐ Mixed feelings — gripping but heavy. Worth talking about with friends who don’t mind heavy books—especially if you want to dig into migration, moral gray areas, how people rationalize danger, and stories that linger.

THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING by Lisa Scottoline

Lisa Scottoline has done it again with This Changes Everything—the sequel to last year’s psychological thriller The Unraveling of Julia. Five years after the murder of her first husband, Mike, the discovery of her biological parents, and the inheritance of a crumbling villa in Tuscany, Julia is living a new life: married to Gianluca and mother to three-year-old Leni. That hard-won peace shatters when her psychic abilities flare during a phone call with her lifelong friend Courtney back in the States. In that moment, Courtney discovers her grandmother has been murdered.

Julia flies home to support Courtney, testing the new life she has built in Italy. Torn between loyalty to her best friend and devotion to her family, she faces difficult choices. Skeptical of the local police’s ability—or willingness—to solve the crime, she and Courtney launch their own investigation, aided by several of the victim’s friends.

I’m not usually a fan of supernatural thrillers, so I was glad Scottoline kept Julia’s psychic powers to a minimum. They serve the story without taking it over. The friendship between Julia and Courtney feels genuine and lived-in, and the tension between Julia’s Italian life and her loyalty to Courtney gives the book real emotional weight.

The pacing is tight, the small-town secrets are well-handled, and the ending was a complete surprise—I didn’t see it coming.

Rating:  4.5/5 stars ⭐

Highly recommended if you enjoyed The Unraveling of Julia or just want a smart, twisty thriller with heart.

KILLERS OF A CERTAIN AGE by Deanna Raybourn

 I just finished Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn, and it’s a fun, fast-paced thriller with dark humor that fits perfectly with the mysteries and thrillers that are so popular lately.

The story follows four women in their early sixties who’ve spent forty years as elite assassins for a secretive organization. Their retirement cruise turns into a hit job from their own employer, forcing them to rely on their experience, wits, and the way people constantly underestimate them to survive. 

The narrative alternates between the present-day chase and flashbacks to their earlier missions, which nicely builds the characters and their deep friendships.

What stood out most for me were the sharp banter, strong sisterhood, and how they weaponize their “invisibility” at this age. It feels empowering without being preachy, and the action stays entertaining rather than overly grim. It gave me similar vibes to The Thursday Murder Club—clever older characters who are far sharper than anyone expects—but with more edge and professional assassins.

I flew through it and am already starting the sequel. If you enjoy lighthearted thrillers (yes, it’s possible!), I’d recommend this for your next pick. An excellent book-club choice that should spark great discussion about loyalty, aging, and friendship under pressure.

Rating: 3.5 / 5 ⭐

The MARLOW MURDER CLUB by Robert Thorogood

The Marlow Murder Club is a charming British cozy mystery that I initially picked up after mixing it up with another popular "Murder Club" series. Both feature elderly amateur detectives and a lighthearted tone, but Thorogood’s book stands out with its own delightful flavor.

Set in the picturesque riverside town of Marlow, the story follows three very different women who band together to solve a series of murders. At the heart is Judith Potts—a sharp-witted, independent 77-year-old crossword setter (and former archaeologist) who lives alone in a faded riverside mansion. After witnessing a brutal killing while swimming in the Thames one evening, Judith finds the police skeptical of her account. Undeterred, she teams up with Suzie, a no-nonsense dog walker, and Becks, the prim and proper wife of the local vicar. Together, they form the Marlow Murder Club.

What begins as one suspicious death quickly escalates into multiple murders, complete with red herrings, small-town secrets, and a clever (if twisty) resolution involving a "murder pact." Thorogood keeps the violence mostly off-page, focusing instead on the women’s budding friendship, witty banter, and resourceful sleuthing.

I found it a genuinely fun, witty page-turner—cozy in the best sense, with strong female friendships, gentle humor, and plenty of Marlow’s small-town charm. The characters complement each other beautifully: Judith’s intellect and eccentricity drive the investigation, while Suzie and Becks add warmth, practicality, and unexpected depth. It’s lighter on procedural detail than some mysteries, which makes it an easy, escapist read.

If you enjoy The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman, you’ll likely love this (and its sequels). It has that same comforting blend of humor, heart, and clever plotting, though The Marlow Murder Club leans even more into feel-good sisterhood and riverside English village vibes. There’s also a TV adaptation worth checking out if you enjoy the book.

Rating: 4/5 ⭐

Perfect for fans of gentle crime-solving without heavy violence or grimness. Highly recommended as a light, satisfying mystery—ideal for a weekend read or cozy armchair escape.

YELLOWFACE by R. F. Kuang

Yellowface by R.F. Kuang – A sharp, addictive satire that’s hard to put down.

R.F. Kuang (known for The Poppy War and Babel) tries something new with Yellowface: a contemporary thriller set in the competitive world of book publishing. It follows two writers whose lives collide after a tragedy. What starts as a shady decision quickly turns into a tense story about ambition, jealousy, identity, and who gets to tell which stories.

Kuang’s best move is the main character’s voice. The first-person narration feels real, unreliable, and surprisingly relatable in its pettiness and excuses. You get pulled into her head as she justifies worse and worse choices, which makes it a real page-turner. The book takes sharp shots at the publishing industry—hype, diversity marketing, social media drama, and cancel culture—without sounding preachy. It cleverly explores cultural appropriation, the business side of stories, and the resentments that build up among writers.

It feels very current and makes you think, especially if you’ve followed book-world controversies. At the same time, it works great as a fast-paced thriller with dark humor and plenty of uncomfortable moments.

A couple of small criticisms: Some readers might find the main character too unlikeable, and a few themes feel a bit heavy-handed. The book doesn’t give you easy heroes or a neat ending, which adds to its impact but might leave some wanting more satisfaction.

Who should read it? Fans of smart, uneasy stories like Gone Girl or The Secret History, or anyone curious about what really goes on in publishing. It’s a quick, engaging read that sticks with you.

Content notes: death, racism, cultural appropriation, cyberbullying, and moral gray areas.

Overall, highly recommended. Kuang shows she can write just about anything. If you haven’t tried her other books, this might be the easiest place to start.

Rating: 4/5⭐

THE UNRAVELING OF JULIA by Lisa Scottoline

When I picked up The Unraveling of Julia by Lisa Scottoline, I expected a straight psychological thriller. What I got was something more atmospheric and genre-blending: a young widow grappling with profound grief, a mysterious Tuscan inheritance, adoption secrets, and a healthy serving of the paranormal.

Julia Pritzker is still reeling from her husband’s brutal murder in a Philadelphia mugging when she receives shocking news—she’s inherited a crumbling villa and vineyard in Italy from a complete stranger, Emilia Rossi. As Julia travels to Tuscany to sort out the estate, she’s plagued by disturbing dreams, eerie feelings of being watched, ghostly apparitions, and visions that blur the line between hallucination and something more. Throw in a real estate conspiracy, hidden rooms, family mysteries, and possible blood ties to her benefactor, and the stage is set for a twisty, transportive read. 

What Worked for Me

The emotional core and human mystery are the book’s greatest strengths. Julia’s grief feels authentic and raw, and the adoption/inheritance storyline hooked me immediately. The Italian setting is vividly drawn (food, landscapes, culture), providing a welcome escape while the suspense builds. Once the real threats—stalking, drugging, and a dangerous conspiracy—kick in, the thriller aspects deliver solid tension and satisfying revelations. The later sections tie up the human plotlines effectively, and I appreciated how Scottoline explores themes of fate, intuition, family, and empowerment.

A key turning point for me was the revelation around the drugging, which offered a rational explanation for some of the early “supernatural” sightings and hallucinations. From there, the story felt more grounded as a suspense novel, with Julia’s emerging psychic abilities adding an interesting (if unconventional) layer rather than pure creepiness.

What Didn’t Work as Well

I’ll be honest: the supernatural/paranormal elements were a mixed bag and nearly sent the book to my DNF pile early on. If you’re not a fan of ghosts, apparitions slipping through walls, blue auras, or spiritual interventions, they can feel jarring in what starts as a psychological thriller. While some of it serves the plot (guiding discoveries and protection), it occasionally pulled me out of the story. I preferred the subtler psychic intuition over the more overt gothic moments.

Final Thoughts

The Unraveling of Julia is bold and ambitious—Scottoline ventures into new territory with spiritual thriller vibes while keeping her signature character-driven suspense. It’s not a pure legal thriller like some of her earlier work, but if you can embrace (or tolerate) the paranormal alongside strong themes of grief, identity, and female resilience, there’s a lot to enjoy. By the end, the human drama and resolutions won me over enough to round up to 3.5 stars.

Would I recommend it? Yes, with caveats. Skip it if heavy supernatural elements are a hard no. Otherwise, it’s an atmospheric, twisty ride perfect for fans of authors like Ruth Ware or those who enjoy a touch of the mystical in their thrillers.

Have you read it? What did you think of the balance between the mystery and the spiritual aspects?

Rating:  (3.5/5) ⭐

THE DESK FROM HOBOKEN: A GENEALOGY MYSTERY by ML Condike

 

In The Desk from Hoboken, forensic genealogist RaeJean is trying to rebuild her life after a devastating personal tragedy. Hoping for a gentle re-entry into work, she takes over a seemingly straightforward case: confirming the identity of 180-year-old human remains discovered on a Connecticut college campus. The bones are believed to belong to Mary Rogers—a woman whose mysterious 1841 death has never been solved and who is widely thought to have inspired Edgar Allan Poe's The Mystery of Marie Rogêt. 

What starts as a quiet historical verification quickly spirals into something far more dangerous. A mysterious client, reluctant relatives more interested in burying secrets than laying the past to rest, and the previous genealogist's abrupt disappearance (along with all of her research) pull RaeJean deeper into the mystery. As blackmail, bribery, kidnapping, and murder enter the picture, RaeJean must rely on modern forensic DNA analysis, meticulous historical research, and perhaps a touch of otherworldly guidance from a beautiful antique desk with ties to Hoboken. 

ML Condike's debut novel (the first in the A Genealogy Mystery series) cleverly blends fact and fiction. The real-life Mary Rogers case provides a rich historical backbone, while the contemporary investigation highlights the fascinating—and surprisingly suspenseful—world of forensic genealogy. I particularly enjoyed how the story weaves together cutting-edge science, old records, and family dynamics across generations. The antique desk adds an intriguing, almost supernatural layer that elevates the narrative beyond a standard procedural.

Strengths:

• Strong, relatable protagonist in RaeJean, who balances grief with determination.
• Well-researched blend of history, genealogy, and mystery.
• Pacing that builds tensions effectively, with plenty of twists to keep pages turning.

If you enjoy historical mysteries with a modern twist, strong female leads, and stories that connect past secrets to present-day danger (think a genealogical DaVinci Code lite with heart), The Desk from Hoboken is a compelling read. It's atmospheric, informative, and entertaining—perfect for fans of forensic thrillers or anyone who's ever fallen down a family tree rabbit hole.

Rating: 4.5 / 5⭐