2021 Book Reviews

A dual-timeline novel connecting a modern woman to her ancestor who survived the devastating Johnstown Flood of 1889.

A successful news anchor faces unexpected challenges when a daughter she never knew existed appears in her perfectly ordered life.

A collection of three thrilling novellas about the dangerous secrets that can hide behind the most ordinary suburban facades. Your neighbors might not be who they seem.

Detective Lindsay Boxer and the Women's Murder Club investigate a serial killer targeting the homeless in San Francisco while Lindsay's personal life takes an unexpected turn.

CIA agent Emily Hudson and journalist Joel Lashley must work together to stop a criminal mastermind who has been holding Emily captive and plans to unleash chaos on an international scale.

In a seemingly perfect society without pain, suffering, or conflict, twelve-year-old Jonas is selected to inherit the position of Receiver of Memory and discovers the dark truth behind his community's utopia.

A modern retelling of Anna Karenina set among the elite teenagers of New York and Greenwich. Anna K has the perfect life until she meets Alexia Vronsky and everything changes.

A lyrical masterpiece following Macon "Milkman" Dead III as he journeys from Michigan to the South to uncover his family history, discovering the power of heritage and the meaning of flight.

A romantic comedy where two competitors on a wedding-themed reality show go from rivals to something more. Luna and Alec clash on every decision, but sparks fly both on and off camera.

The explosive finale of The Hunger Games trilogy. Katniss Everdeen becomes the symbol of rebellion as she leads the fight against the Capitol, facing impossible choices and devastating losses.

Melinda Leigh's romantic suspense featuring retired homicide detective Bree Taggert investigating her sister's murder while protecting her orphaned niece and nephew. Small-town setting, family stakes, and budding romance create engaging thriller. First in Bree Taggert series.

Tatiana de Rosnay's haunting dual-timeline novel about Sarah, a Jewish girl hiding her brother during the 1942 Vel d'Hiv roundup in Paris, and Julia, an American journalist in 2002 uncovering her family's connection to Sarah's story. A powerful exploration of complicity, memory, and the lasting echoes of historical atrocity.

Iris Johansen's Kendra Michaels thriller about reopening a cold case when new evidence suggests the convicted killer was innocent. Kendra must use her unique observational skills to find the real murderer before he strikes again. Solid series entry with cold-case twist.

Gregg Olsen's devastating true crime account of the Knotek sisters and their mother's horrifying abuse and murders. Difficult but important reading about survival, sisterhood, and finally breaking silence. Expertly researched and sensitively handled despite disturbing content.

Iris Johansen's Kendra Michaels thriller about a killer targeting people connected to Kendra's past. Personal stakes elevate the formula as Kendra must protect those she cares about while using her unique skills to stop the murderer before someone she loves dies.

Iris Johansen's Kendra Michaels thriller about a serial killer targeting performers. Kendra must use her unique skills—heightened from years of blindness—to protect potential victims and stop the murderer. Solid series entry with entertainment value and musical setting.

Mollie Player's memoir-meets-guide about her family's experiment living with minimal possessions for a year. Personal narrative about discovering what's truly essential through radical decluttering. Engaging storytelling but limited practical application.

Chloe White's minimalism guide about simplifying life to achieve more with fewer possessions and commitments. Practical advice on decluttering, time management, and intentional living. Familiar minimalism territory without much innovation.

Iris Johansen's Kendra Michaels thriller about hunting a serial killer targeting the blind. Kendra must use her unique perspective—having been blind herself—to understand the killer's mind and stop the murders. Personal stakes elevate familiar thriller formula.

Dean Koontz's mind-bending Nameless novella about a killer who seems to know the future. Nameless must stop this impossible threat while questioning the nature of time and fate. Cerebral, dark, and philosophically ambitious thriller.

Dean Koontz's chilling Nameless novella about a killer using venomous snakes to murder victims. Nameless must stop this serpentine threat while exploring questions about cold-blooded evil. Dark, creepy, and philosophically engaging thriller.

Dean Koontz's intense Nameless novella about a killer who drowns victims in blood. Nameless must stop this horrific murderer while confronting questions about vengeance and justice. Dark, visceral, and philosophically rich thriller.

Dean Koontz's darkly compelling Nameless novella about a woman who murders her husbands. Nameless must stop her before she kills again, while grappling with questions about predatory human nature. Tense, psychological, and disturbingly effective thriller.

Dean Koontz's chilling Nameless novella about a photographer who stages elaborate death scenes. When Nameless investigates, he uncovers disturbing artistic obsession and confronts questions about evil's nature. Dark, atmospheric, and philosophically engaging thriller.

Dean Koontz's Nameless novella about the enigmatic vigilante confronting a murderous arsonist with supernatural abilities. Dark, tense, and philosophically rich—Koontz at his pulp-literary best in compact form. Part of the addictive Nameless series.

Iris Johansen's Kendra Michaels novella featuring the blind-turned-sighted detective tracking a serial killer targeting hikers. Fast-paced thriller showcasing Kendra's heightened observational skills in compact format. Quick, entertaining series addition.

Iris Johansen's Eve Duncan thriller featuring forensic sculptor investigating a killer using hypnosis to control victims. When Eve herself becomes a target, she must trust a mysterious man with psychic abilities. Fast-paced suspense with paranormal elements and series character development.

The stunning conclusion to Stieg Larsson's Millennium trilogy. Lisbeth Salander fights for her freedom in court while Mikael Blomkvist exposes the government conspiracy that destroyed her childhood. Legal thriller meets investigative journalism as the series builds to a satisfying, cathartic conclusion.

The explosive second Millennium novel finds Lisbeth Salander framed for triple murder and on the run, while Mikael Blomkvist races to prove her innocence. As he investigates, he uncovers sex trafficking conspiracy and Lisbeth's devastating past. Dark, propulsive, and impossible to put down.

Stieg Larsson's international phenomenon about journalist Mikael Blomkvist and hacker Lisbeth Salander investigating a forty-year-old disappearance from a wealthy Swedish family. Dark, compelling, and unforgettable—a mystery that explores violence against women, corruption, and justice with fierce intelligence and addictive plotting.

Cara Reinard's gripping psychological thriller about Sarah Ellsworth, whose privileged life in an elite Pennsylvania town unravels when her son is involved in a tragic accident. Family secrets, wealth, and the lengths a mother will go to protect her child collide in this tense domestic suspense.