Review - Untouchable

Untouchable

by Jeffery Deaver

PublisherAmazon Original Stories

GenreMystery & Thrillers

FormatKindle ARC

Pages137

Pub. DateFebruary 17, 2026

Rating⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

DESCRIPTION

For Special Agent Constant Marlowe, a quiet college town hides a nest of malice and revenge in this twisty novella by New York Times bestselling author Jeffery Deaver.

Special Agent Constant Marlowe is passing through the charming college town of Prescott, Illinois, when a chance encounter with a terrified student stops her in her tracks. Kathleen Delaine thought she was doing the right thing when she demanded an inquiry into traumatic brain injuries among the university’s football team. But after a manosphere shock jock picks up the story on his radio show and makes it personal, the online uproar bleeds into the real world. As Constant works to identify which of the host’s fanboys is threatening Kathleen, she discovers that behind the bullying campaign lies a vast and deadly conspiracy.

Link to purchase the book

MY THOUGHTS

Untouchable is the exciting third installment in the Constant Marlow series by Jeffery Deaver. This novella has Constant on the watch for Kathleen Delaine  Kathleen is a university student who notices a clear connection between football players and traumatic brain injuries. She wants answers and she wants the players protected. Instead, she runs head into something I’d never heard of before - that of a manosphere shock jock. 

With a radio host highlighting Kathleen’s concerns, he also makes her a target. Now Kathleen is fighting against a concerted effort to silence her. As Constant is traveling through the small university town, she learns of Kathleen’s plight, and works to find out who is after her - even though a deadly conspiracy is at play. 

This may be only a novella, but it certainly isn’t lacking the trademark fast-paced thrillers that Deaver has offered his readers. The danger is real. The excitement is nonstop, and this story also reveals real concerns for the protection against TBIs is contact sports.

Many thanks to Amazon Original Stories and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jeffery Deaver is an international number-one bestselling author. His novels have appeared on bestseller lists around the world. His books are sold in 150 countries and translated into twenty-five languages. He has served two terms as president of Mystery Writers of America, and was recently named a Grand Master of MWA, whose ranks include Agatha Christie, Ellery Queen, Mary Higgins Clark and Walter Mosely.

The author of 48 novels, 100 short stories and a nonfiction law book, and a lyricist of a country-western album, he’s received or been shortlisted for dozens of awards.

Deaver has been honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Bouchercon World Mystery Convention, the Strand Magazine’s Lifetime Achievement Award and the Raymond Chandler Lifetime Achievement Award in Italy. He has also been awarded or shortlisted for scores of award from around the world.

His book A Maiden’s Grave was made into an HBO movie starring James Garner and Marlee Matlin and titled Dead Silence. His novel The Bone Collector was a feature release from Universal Pictures, starring Denzel Washington and Angelina Jolie. Lifetime aired an adaptation of his The Devil’s Teardrop. NBC television recently aired the nine-episode prime-time series, Lincoln Rhyme: Hunt for the Bone Collector. CBS TV is airing Tracker, a prime-time series based on his novel The Never Game, featuring his character Colter Shaw.

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BLOG TOUR - A Wedding Date with Death

A Wedding Date With Death

by Maeve Haran

SeriesA Campervan Detective Agency Mystery, Book 2

PublisherBookouture

GenreCozy Mystery

FormatKindle ARC

Pages####

Pub. Date[PUB DATE]

Rating⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

DESCRIPTION

Something old, something new, something borrowed… someone dead?! 

When Sadie Sutton swapped four walls for the four wheels of her trusty orange VW campervan, she didn’t realise that it would come with a new career as a super sleuth! But when a wedding at local beauty spot Winching Priory Hotel is halted because the father of the groom has been found fatally poisoned, Sadie drops everything to take on her next case!

As the wedding grinds to a halt, Sadie soon learns that the victim, gifted local artist Benedict Lawrence, also had a talent for making enemies, from the snooty hotel owners to his long-suffering ex-wife. With an ever-growing list of possible suspects, Sadie is stumped. Until she finds a crumpled, threatening note sent to Benedict hours before he died.

The note leads Sadie deep into Benedict’s past, to a secret love affair, a bitter feud and a long-buried grudge. And when she finds a faded newspaper article about him and his artist friends in their youth, she’s stunned at who else she recognises in the photo…

With secrets and lies at every turn, Sadie knows no guests are safe. Can she crack the case before the nearly wed become newly dead?

This warm, witty and utterly addictive cosy crime novel from bestselling author Maeve Haran is perfect for fans of Agatha Christie, The Thursday Murder Club and Robert Thorogood.

BUY LINK:

• Amazon: https://geni.us/B0H1VTPZ8Jsocial

“It was certainly a strange wedding, from the disinterested bride, famous father-in-law and even more famous wedding organiser.”

MY THOUGHTS

I enjoyed the first book in this series, The Campervan Detectives, and I am glad for book two because our Vintage Vanettes are back! Sadie Dutton along with her dog, Sam Spade (could you think of a better name?), is back as our main protagonist and amateur sleuth. Perhaps solving murders wasn’t exactly what Sadie had in mind when she decided to travel while living in her vintage VW campervan, but that is exactly what happens yet again.

Sadie and a few of her traveling friends - Amanda, Rose, and Tina - have a place to park their vans at the beautiful Winching Priory Hotel after what was supposed to be an invitation to a wedding turns into a distress call. Sadie’s friend, who invited her to the wedding, is worried because the groom’s father has received a threatening letter.

Sadie and her friends arrive at the hotel and its elaborate grounds, where they soon discover that the groom’s father is a famous man, although he is certainly not well liked. Sadie decides to take a walk around the extensive grounds, but she makes a shocking discovery: a dead body. It is the groom’s father, and it quickly becomes clear that someone connected to the family or the wedding party may have had something to do with his death.

As Sadie begins asking questions, she once again finds herself drawn into an investigation that puts her amateur sleuthing skills to the test. With a colorful cast of characters, a beautiful setting, and plenty of twists and suspicious behavior, there is no shortage of possibilities when it comes to figuring out who is responsible.

I really enjoyed returning to this series and spending time with Sadie, Sam Spade, and the Vintage Vanettes. There is something especially appealing about a group of friends traveling around in their campervans and somehow managing to find themselves in the middle of a murder investigation. A Wedding Date with Death is a fun, lighthearted cozy mystery with an engaging cast of characters, and I am already looking forward to seeing where Sadie and her friends - and their vans - utake us next.

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Maeve Haran is an Oxford law graduate who had a successful career in television before writing her worldwide bestseller  Having It All , which was translated into twenty-six languages. She has written twenty contemporary novels, two historical novels, and a work of non-fiction in praise of life’s small pleasures. She has three grown up children and four grandchildren. She lives mainly in North London but escapes when she can to a much-loved cottage in the beautiful Cuckmere Valley near the sea in East Sussex. Her hobby is ignoring age and having a good time!

Mailing List: https://bookouture.com/subscribe/maeve-haran

Website: https://maeve-haran.co.uk/

Robin Loves Reading

AUDIOBOOK REVIEW - Missing in New Mexico

  

Missing in New Mexico 

by Kathleen Tailer

PublisherHarlequin Audio

GenreInspirational Romantic Suspense 

FormatAudio ALC

NarratorCaroline Cole

Length5 hrs 49 mins

Pages272

Pub. DateSeptember 29, 2026

Rating⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

DESCRIPTION

Cracking a cold case

has this lawman under fire…

Sheriff Joaquin Fuentes stumbles upon a desert car crash in New Mexico, rescuing Luann St. John from the smoking wreckage—but this was no accident. Someone sabotaged her vehicle to stop her from uncovering the truth about a twenty-year-old plane crash tied to her father’s disappearance and diamond smuggling accusations. As danger closes in, Joaquin is determined to protect Luann, even as they’re hunted at every turn. With secrets unraveling and a killer lurking, the truth could clear her father’s name—or drag Joaquin and Luann into a deadly grave.

Link to purchase the book

MY THOUGHTS

Luann St. John is an English professor who has traveled to New Mexico in search of answers about her father. Twenty years earlier, her father died in a fiery plane crash. But there is much more to the story. Before the crash, he was facing charges for stealing a bevy of valuable diamonds. Luann wants answers. She wants to clear her father’s name and, more importantly, find out whether the plane crash that took his life was truly an accident.

Luann quickly finds herself in danger. Her car crashes, and she is lucky to survive. Sheriff Joaquin Fuentes is called to the scene, and it soon becomes clear that what happened to Luann was no accident. The danger is directly connected to the reason she came to New Mexico in the first place.

Luann has apparently stirred up a hornet’s nest, and someone definitely wants her stopped - even if it means killing her. Joaquin decides to become Luann’s personal protector while also helping her uncover the truth about her father. As they dig deeper into the past, the danger surrounding Luann only increases, and the two realize they may be dealing with someone who will do anything to keep the truth buried. 

This book was equally balanced when it came to mystery, suspense and romance. It was enjoyable to watch Luann and Joaquin work together as they worked the difficult puzzle of piecing together what happened twenty years ago. I listened to this as an audiobook, and it was very nicely narrated. The narration fit the story well and made it easy to become immersed in Luann’s search for answers. Overall, Missing in New Mexico was an enjoyable Christian romantic suspense with an intriguing mystery, plenty of danger, and characters I enjoyed getting to know.

Many thanks to Harlequin Audio for this ARC. This is my honest opinion.

Robin Loves Reading

AUDIOBOOK REVIEW - Witness Safeguard Mission

 

Witness Safeguard Mission

by Carol J. Post

SeriesCanine Defense #4

PublisherHarlequin Audio

GenreInspirational Romantic Suspense

FormatALC

NarratorEmma Lysy

Length6 hrs 10 mins

Pages206

Pub. DateSeptember 29, 2026

Rating[★★★★☆]

DESCRIPTION

A family in a killer’s crosshairs.

A K-9 determined to defend.

When Nicole Woodard and her young sister witness their father’s murder by an unknown assailant, Nicole knows they’re next on the killer’s hit list. Now they must rely on Officer Braydon Feldman and his K-9 partner, Caesar, for protection. The killer will stop at nothing to silence the sisters and keep the crime hidden. But what could their father have been involved in that got him killed? With attacks coming from all sides and dangerous family secrets being exposed, can Braydon and Nicole stay alive long enough to uncover the truth before the killer strikes again?

Link to purchase the book

MY THOUGHTS

Nicole Woodard is desperate to keep her seven-year-old sister Maddie safe after they witness their father’s murder. What started out as a walk ends up being a run for their wives. Office Braydon Feldman and his K-9 Caesar are soon responsible for Nicole and Maddie’s safety. Now, whoever it is that killed their father now has their sight set on the two sisters. 

This Christian-themed thriller is a fast-paced and well-delivered story that keeps you on the edge of your seat with suspense, danger, and romance. 

Many thanks to Harlequin Audio and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Carol J. Post is a New York Times bestselling author of fun and fast-paced Christian romance and Christian romantic suspense stories. Her books have won several awards and been nominated for two RITA® awards and an RT Reviewers’ Choice Best Book Award. She is also a popular speaker, presenting workshops on a variety of craft topics. 

Carol especially enjoys research trips, which usually involve camping, with some hiking, kayaking and bonfires thrown in when possible. She also loves playing the piano and writing songs with her musical husband. Her two grown daughters and grandkids live too far away for her liking, so she now pours all that nurturing into taking care of two sassy cats—Ziggy and Ziva—who also love camping and are known to occasionally take over her blog with their “It’s Zaturday!” posts.

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Robin Loves Reading

AUDIOBOOK REVIEW - I Think I Was Murdererd

  

I Think I Was Murdered

by Colleen Coble; Rick Acker

PublisherThomas Nelson

GenreMystery & Thrillers

FormatAudio ALC

NarratorKaren Peakes

Length 9 hrs 46 mins

Pages352

Pub. DateNovember 11, 2026

Rating⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

DESCRIPTION

A grieving young widow. The AI program that allows her to continue to "talk" to him. And a message she never expected: "I think I was murdered."

Just a year ago, Katrina Berg was at the pinnacle of her career. She was a rising star in the AI chatbot start-up everyone was talking about, married with an adoring husband, and had more money than she knew how to spend. Then her world combusted. Her husband, Jason, was killed in a fiery car crash. Her CEO was indicted and, as the company's legal counsel, Katrina faces tough questions as the Feds take over and lock her out of her office. The final blow is the passing of her beloved grandmother.

Her most prized possession is the beta prototype for a new, ultra-sophisticated chatbot loaded onto her phone. The contents of Jason's email, social media backups, pictures, and every bit of data she could find were loaded into the bot, and Katrina has "talked" to him every day for the past six months. She has been amazed at how well it works. Even the syntax and words the bot uses sound like Jason. Sometimes, she imagines he isn't really dead and is right there beside her. She knows it's slowing her grief recovery, but she can't stop pretending.

On a particularly bad day, she taps out: Tell me something I don't know. The cursor blinks for several moments and seems frozen before the reply flashes quickly onto the screen: I think I was murdered.

Distraught, Katrina returns to her cozy Norwegian-flavored hometown in the northern California redwoods and enlists the help of Seb Wallace, local restaurateur and longtime acquaintance, to try to parse out the truth of what really happened. They must navigate the complicated paths of grief, family dynamics, and second chances, as well as the complex questions of how much control technology has. And staying alive long enough to do that is far more difficult than either of them dreamed.

I Think I Was Murdered:

Features a unique look at grief through the lens of technology

Deals with current topics and themes

Will appeal to fans of Ruth Ware, Laura Griffin, Laura Dave, and Sarah Pearse

Includes Discussion Questions

Link to purchase the book

MY THOUGHTS

Katrina Berg’s life was going well until a year ago when she lost her husband, Jason, and became a widow. Tragically, an FBI raid occurred while Katrina was serving as legal counsel, and she also lost her beloved grandmother. Despite these devastating events, Katrina finds solace in a sophisticated chatbot installed on her phone. This chatbot allows her to communicate with Jason whenever she desires, and the conversations feel incredibly real, providing her with much comfort.

However, “Jason” communicates with her, revealing a shocking revelation: “I believe I was murdered.” This news is overwhelming, and as Katrina decides to return to her cozy hometown in North Haven, California, to attend her grandmother’s funeral, she really uses this time to rely heavily on the conversations with Jason. Initially, she anticipates a brief stay to attend the funeral, but her life takes an unexpected turn when she learns that she has inherited her grandmother’s restaurant. This unexpected inheritance shifts Katrina’s focus, leaving her grappling with the question of whether Jason was murdered and contemplating her next steps regarding the restaurant.

The most pressing matter is the murder mystery. Katrina believes Jason’s words conveyed through the chatbot, so she, along with the help of an old school friend, Seb Wallace, sets out to investigate the truth. Throughout the book, the reliability of the AI that Katrina relies on is questioned, and the shifting dynamics within her family begin to impact her.

Ultimately, the book raises the intriguing question of whether technology has become so advanced that it invades our lives while simultaneously rejuvenating us. Interestingly, this book was published two years ago, and the relevance of this question has only grown more pressing in today’s world. As a fan of Colleen Coble and Rick Acker’s writing, I eagerly requested this book as an audiobook as soon as it became available. Despite not reading the blurb beforehand, I thoroughly enjoyed listening to Karen Peakes’ narration, as she brought the book to life, even at the expense of some speculative elements.

Many thanks to Thomas Nelson and to NetGalley for this ARC for review.  This is my honest opinion.

Reviewer’s Note: this book was originally published two years ago before the use of generative AI became as prevalent as it is now.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Best-selling romantic suspense author Colleen Coble’s novels have won or finaled in awards ranging from the Best Books of Indiana, the ACFW Carol Award, the Romance Writers of America RITA, the Holt Medallion, the Daphne du Maurier, National Readers’ Choice, and the Booksellers Best. She has nearly 4 million books in print and writes romantic mysteries because she loves to see justice prevail. Colleen is CEO of American Christian Fiction Writers. She lives with her husband Dave in Indiana. Visit her website at www.colleencoble.com.

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Rick Acker writes high-octane suspense novels during breaks from his “real job” as a Supervising Deputy Attorney General in the California Department of Justice, which provides inspiration for his acclaimed legal thrillers. 

Rick has also teamed with award-winning romantic suspense author Colleen Coble to pen bestsellers such as I Think I Was Murdered and their Tupelo Grove series. Library Journal praises their “dynamic author partnership,” and predicts they “will continue to produce hits.” 

When Rick isn't writing or lawyering, you can usually find him with his wife Anette exploring in the hills east of San Francisco, watching a good movie together, or, of course, reading. You can visit him on the web at www.rickacker.com.

Robin Loves Reading

Review - It’s Not What You Think

 

It’s Not What You Think

by Clare Mackintosh

PublisherSourcebooks Landmark

GenreMystery & Thrillers

FormatKindle ARC

Pages416

Pub. DateSeptember 22, 2026

Rating🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

DESCRIPTION

He has a secret. She knows he's lying…

YOU THINK YOU KNOW THE PEOPLE YOU LOVE

Nadeeka is certain Jamie is having an affair. She knows the tell-tale signs. She's been here before.

YOU THINK YOU KNOW WHO YOU CAN TRUST

When Jamie claims to be at work late, she knows he's lying. He's with another woman, and she's determined to catch him in the act.

YOU THINK YOU KNOW HOW THE STORY ENDS

But when Nadeeka arrives home to confront him, Jamie can't explain himself. The house has become a crime scene…Jamie is dead.

*First published March 26, 2026

Link to purchase the book

MY THOUGHTS

Well, the title of this book really says it all! It couldn’t be more appropriate because just when I thought I understood what was happening, Clare Mackintosh reminded me that I probably didn’t!

Nadeeka, a divorced mother of two, is convinced that her partner, Jamie, is having an affair. After the disastrous end of her previous marriage, she can’t believe she trusted another man. Determined to catch Jamie in the act, she instead discovers a horrifying truth: Jamie is dead, and her home has become a crime scene.

Clare Mackintosh skillfully sets the tone of this book, initially making it seem as though we are heading into a domestic psychological thriller involving infedelity. However, the story takes a much darker turn as the focus shifts to finding Jamie’s murderer. Also woven into the story are secrets, deception and people who aren’t necessarily who they appear to be. 

The book is brilliant because it delves into Nadeeka’s devastation over losing Jamie while also introducing another important storyline involving the police handling the case - DCI Lauren Caldwell and her partner and fiancé, Fraser Hogan. Both become key figures in the investigation and, consequently, in the story itself.

The story unfolds through multiple perspectives, including Nadeeka, Lauren, Fraser, and even some scenes from Jamie’s point of view. While the suspected affair isn’t the central plot, Jamie’s murder certainly is. But is it? What is the underlying scenario that has set everything in motion?

Readers are presented with a murder mystery that feels like a complex jigsaw puzzle, with seemingly impossible pieces. Just when you think you have one piece figured out, another piece changes the picture.

This book has a truly significant twist. Of course, as readers, we want to know who killed Jamie, but what we eventually discover is that this murder has a much deeper theme and backstory - one that gradually comes to the forefront as the story unfolds. I really enjoyed the way Mackintosh allowed that information to develop rather than giving everything away at once.

This is my first book by Clare Mackintosh, and I can confidently say that it won’t be my last. It’s Not What You Think is a captivating read filled with unexpected twists and turns. The book delves into darker themes, seamlessly transitioning into a sensitive subject that is woven into the plot. I had preconceived notions about the story, but Mackintosh’s writing kept me on my toes and surprised me at every turn. 

Many thanks to Sourcebook Landmark and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Clare Mackintosh is a former police officer and a bestselling crime author. Her books have sold more than three million copies, been optioned for television and translated into 40 languages. She appears regularly at literary festivals and bookshop events across the UK and beyond.

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