Review - The Housewife

Title:  The Housewife

Author:  Natalie Barelli           

Publisher:  Poisoned Pen Press

Genre:   Psychological Thriller

Format:  Kindle ARC

No. of Pages:   368

Date of Publication:   June 30, 2026

My Rating:   4 Stars

DESCRIPTION:

From bestselling indie thriller writer Natalie Barelli comes a new deliciously dark novel about a woman who married the man of her dreams, only for him to become her worst nightmare.

Jodie always dreamed of being a housewife. And after a whirlwind romance, she marries renowned psychologist Dr. Roy Davies and moves into his perfect Beverly Hills home. But the fairy tale fades fast. Roy is distant, his friends view her as a gold-digger, and the house still reveres his late wife, Deborah, whose presence still looms over everyone and everything.

When Jodie learns Deborah became a recluse before death, she begins to suspect Roy was behind it. And the deeper she digs, the darker Roy's past appears―obsessive, controlling, unfaithful. Increasingly convinced he had something to do with Deborah's death, Jodie knows she should go to the police, but that would require revealing her own secret. A secret that could destroy her.

But Jodie won't be silenced. Because the truth about Roy is worse than she imagined―and now, trapped in a house built on lies, she must find a way out before she becomes the next perfect wife to vanish.

MY THOUGHTS:

Jodie enters a marriage that may initially remind readers of Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier. But keep reading, because Natalie Barelli’s story soon proves to be something entirely different. From the beginning, Jodie is more than a little unsettled by the fact that her new husband, Roy, is still deeply in love with his deceased wife, Deborah, a woman whose death was ruled a suicide.

But as the story unfolds, it becomes clear that there is something much more sinister beneath the surface. Jodie becomes convinced that Roy was responsible for Deborah’s death, and she is determined to uncover the truth. She will go to extraordinary lengths to prove that her husband is a killer.

With secrets, suspicion, and an increasingly disturbing plot, The Housewife kept me questioning just who could be trusted. What begins as an uncomfortable marriage quickly turns into a dark and twisty psychological thriller that kept me guessing about what was really happening behind closed doors.

Many thanks to Poisoned Pen Press and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

SERIES REVIEW - National Forest K-9

The National Forest K-9 series by Kathleen Donnelly is about Maya Thompson. Maya is a former Marine and is now a K-9 Officer for the Forest Service in Colorado. Her loyal partner is her Malinois K-9 partner. She slowly builds a meaningful relationship with Josh Colten, a sheriff’s deputy who becomes both her partner in investigations and someone she can’t quite keep at a distance. Their connection grows naturally over the series, adding a steady romantic thread to all the suspense.

Just as important is Maya’s bond with her grandfather, Wayne Thompson, Pops. He and Nana raised her, and Pops is one of the few people who truly knows her, understands her, and has always been in her corner. That family connection grounds her in a way nothing else can.

What makes this series work so well is the mix of high-stakes suspense, loyal K-9 teamwork, strong relationships, and real emotional growth. Maya is tough and capable, but she’s also carrying a lot of pain and learning how to trust again. Between Juniper, Josh, and her family, the emotional side of her life is just as compelling as the investigations she’s solving.

Title:  Chasing Justice

Author:   Kathleen Donnelly

Series:   National Forest K-9 #1

Publisher:  Carina Press

Genre:   Romantic Suspense

Format:  Audiobook

Narrator:  Patricia Santomasso

Length:  9 hrs 34 mins

No. of Pages:   351

Date of Publication:   May 24, 2022

My Rating: 4 Stars

DESCRIPTION:

She thought she’d never trust again…

After losing her military K-9, former marine Maya Thompson swears she’ll never work with dogs again. But when she returns home to Colorado and accepts a job with US Forest Service law enforcement, fate brings K-9 Juniper into her life just as another tragedy unfolds.

Juniper, a beautiful two-year-old Malinois, isn’t the only new addition to Maya’s life. Josh Colten, the local deputy sheriff, insists on helping with her new case. Handsome and mysterious, he’s all anyone in town can talk about, but Maya can’t let herself like him, let alone trust him.

When Maya’s grandfather goes missing amid a growing drug war, Maya must put her faith in Josh, and her own battered instincts, to find him. But there's a web of secrets tying her grandfather to the tragedy that brought Juniper into her life—secrets someone would kill to keep hidden.

MY THOUGHTS:

Maya Thompson is a former Marine who once had a trusty K-9 partner by her side. Tragically, her partner was killed in action, and now that Maya has been honorably discharged, she accepts a job with the U.S. Forest Service. She hopes this new position will give her a fresh start, but that hope is shattered when her lifelong best friend is killed on the job. He leaves behind his K-9 partner, Juniper, a gorgeous two-year-old Malinois.

When Maya is asked to take Juniper on as her new K-9 partner, it is the last thing she wants. She is still grieving the loss of her own partner, and being around Juniper only reminds her of what she has lost. To make matters worse, Maya’s life is already a mess. She is struggling with PTSD and has been using alcohol to dull the emotions she doesn’t know how to handle.

Maya is assigned a difficult case, and Deputy Sheriff Josh Colten steps in to help. Not only must Maya learn to work with a dog who brings back painful memories, but now she has to depend on a new human partner as well. And things become even more complicated when she realizes she is attracted to Josh.

The first book in Kathleen Donnelly’s National Forest K-9 series is packed with suspense, danger, action, and plenty of drama. The pacing is excellent, keeping the story moving while allowing readers to really get to know Maya, Josh, and Maya’s beloved grandfather, Pops. There is also a dangerous drug war unfolding, and when Pops suddenly goes missing, Maya has even more on her already overflowing plate.

I really enjoyed this book and the way Maya’s journey unfolds. Her grief, PTSD, and struggles with alcohol make her a complicated and vulnerable heroine, while Juniper slowly becomes much more than just a working partner. There is not a lot of romance in this book - or, for that matter, in the series - but I appreciated seeing the very beginning of something special developing between Maya and Josh. Their relationship has plenty of room to grow as the series continues, and I was eager to see where it would lead.

With its strong K-9 element, compelling characters, nonstop danger, and an emotional story of healing and second chances, Chasing Justice is an exciting beginning to the National Forest K-9 series. I was definitely ready to follow Maya, Juniper, and Josh into the next book!

.  

Title:  Hunting the Truth

Author:   Kathleen Donnelly

Series:   National Forest K-9 #2

Publisher:  Carina Press

Genre:   Romantic Suspense

Format:  Audiobook

Narrator:  Hayli Henderson 

Length:  9 hrs 29 mins

No. of Pages:   324

Date of Publication:   September 26, 2023

My Rating: 4 Stars

DESCRIPTION:

“Hide, Maya. Don’t let the bad people find you.”

Those are the last words Forest Service law enforcement officer and K-9 handler Maya Thompson ever heard her mother say.

Returning to the Colorado mountains, ex-soldier Maya is no longer a scared little girl. She’s here to investigate her mother’s cold case, but fear creeps in when it comes to her personal life—things are getting serious with sheriff deputy Josh Colten.

After new DNA evidence surfaces, both her beloved grandfather and Josh warn her away from the case, suspecting that she could be the next victim. But Maya doesn’t listen.

Instead, Maya and her K-9 partner, Juniper, track a suspect deep into the forest and directly into grave danger…

MY THOUGHTS:

In this second installment of Kathleen Donnelly’s National Forest K-9 series, we learn even more about Maya Thompson, a Forest Service officer whose loyal K-9 partner, Juniper, is a beautiful Malinois. We also learn more about the tragedy Maya experienced as a child and the reasons her grandparents stepped in to raise her. As Maya’s story continues to unfold, so does her relationship with Deputy Sheriff Josh Colton, which has definitely grown since the first book.

This time, Maya begins investigating the murder of her mother, a cold case that has remained unsolved for decades. What starts as a search for answers soon becomes a dangerous journey into the forest, where Maya slowly begins to unravel the mystery surrounding her mother’s death. Having Juniper by her side proves to be more important than ever as Maya ventures deeper into the wilderness and closer to the truth.

I really enjoyed getting to know Maya better in this book and seeing more of the experiences that shaped the woman she has become. The mystery surrounding her mother’s murder adds an especially personal element to the story, making the danger feel even more immediate. And, of course, having Juniper right there beside her makes this another engaging K-9 suspense story.

The second book builds nicely on the foundation of the first, giving us more of Maya’s history, more of Juniper, and more of the relationship developing between Maya and Josh. With suspense, danger, family secrets, and a cold case that refuses to stay buried, this was another enjoyable addition to the National Forest K-9 series.

Title:  Killer Secrets

Author:   Kathleen Donnelly

Series:   National Forest K-9 #3

Publisher:  Carina Press

Genre:   Romantic Suspense

Format:  Audiobook

Narrator:  Hayli Henderson 

Length:  9 hrs 16 mins

No. of Pages:   368

Date of Publication:   March 26, 2024

My Rating: 4 Stars

DESCRIPTION:

A small town’s deadly past is exposed in the newest installment of the suspenseful National Forest K-9 series by Kathleen Donnelly.

Until an avalanche ripped down a mountainside, exposing a serial killer’s dumping grounds, Antler Valley, Colorado was a quiet town. Now Forest Service officer Maya Thompson and her beautiful K-9, Juniper, must catch the murderer before they become the next targets.

With the neighboring town’s new overconfident sheriff deterring the entire investigation, a murderer on the loose and heartthrob deputy Josh Colton racing through her mind, Maya is at a crossroads. Josh is ready to go all in, but Maya has one foot out the door. As she lets her guard down, she needs to accept that she’s falling deeply in love with him, no matter how risky it may be. 

When evidence from the Antler Valley victims links the murders to deaths in other ski towns, secrets long buried are unearthed. Maya and Juniper must run toward an answer, though finding it might lead them directly into a fatal trap…

MY THOUGHTS:

It takes an avalanche to ultimately unearth a body, and that discovery leads Forest Officer Maya Thompson to something much more frightening: there is a serial killer at large. In this third installment of Kathleen Donnelly’s National Forest K-9 series, Maya once again finds herself facing danger, but this time the case becomes especially personal.

As she investigates, Maya uncovers corruption within a police force in a neighboring town while also learning more about her own troubled past. Secrets begin coming to light, and some of those revelations could have devastating consequences.

I really enjoyed the way this story combines the suspense of the investigation with the personal struggles Maya is facing. With a serial killer on the loose, her growing relationship with Josh, a sheriff’s deputy, corruption being uncovered, and an aspect of Maya’s own past coming into focus, there is plenty to keep the pages turning. With danger around every corner and Maya determined to uncover the truth, this was another exciting installment in the National Forest K-9 series.

Title:   Buried Lies

Author:   Kathleen Donnelly

Series:   National Forest K-9 #4

Publisher:  Carina Press

Genre:   Romantic Suspense

Format:  Audiobook

Narrator:  Hayli Henderson 

Length:  9 hrs 46 mins

No. of Pages:   363

Date of Publication:   January 27, 2026

My Rating: 4 Stars

DESCRIPTION:

When the man she loves is framed for murder, Maya Thompson and her K-9 will follow every trail to track the real killer down, in the fourth book in Kathleen Donnelly’s National Forest K-9 series. 

U.S. Forest Service law enforcement officer Maya Thompson and her K-9, Juniper, are both ready for a break. Ever since moving to Colorado, it’s been one investigation after another. Murder, arson, kidnapping…they’ve handled it all. Now that her boyfriend, Undersheriff Josh Colton, is coming home, Maya is looking forward to spending some quality time together.

Until she and Juniper find the body of a woman in a pile of forest debris meant to burn, that is. Then Maya’s just looking forward to having Josh’s help in solving the crime.

But when the victim turns out to be Josh’s volatile ex-fiancée, and all signs point to Josh as the main suspect, Maya and Juniper must dig into Josh’s past to uncover the truth…before the killer, fixated on revenge, finds them.

For fans of... K-9 detectives Romantic suspense Ex-military heroines  Small town romance Police procedurals

MY THOUGHTS:

This fourth book in Kathleen Donnelly’s National Forest K-9 series continues the drama surrounding Josh Colton, Forest K-9 Officer Maya Thompson’s boyfriend and a sheriff’s deputy. When Josh’s ex is found murdered, the situation quickly becomes even more complicated when evidence points toward Josh. Someone is deliberately trying to frame him for a murder he didn’t commit, and Maya refuses to sit back and watch the man she loves be blamed for something he didn’t do.

Determined to prove Josh’s innocence, Maya once again puts herself in harm’s way. Thankfully, her loyal K-9 partner, Juniper, is right there beside her, ready to provide whatever backup Maya needs. Together, they face danger as Maya works to uncover the truth and clear Josh’s name.

This installment continues the ongoing story of Maya and Josh, so I highly recommend reading the National Forest K-9 series in order. There is quite a bit of relationship history and continuing drama that makes reading the books in sequence much more rewarding.

With danger, murder, an attempt to frame Josh, and Maya’s determination to protect the man she loves, this was another suspenseful addition to a series I’ve really been enjoying. And, of course, having Juniper by Maya’s side makes every adventure even better!

Title: Deadly Revenge

Author:  Kathleen Donnelly

Series:   National Forest K-9 #5

Publisher:  Carina Press

Genre:   Inspirational Romantic Suspense

Format:  ALC

Narrator:  Hayli Henderson

Length:  10 hrs 16 mins 

No. of Pages:   381

Date of Publication:   July 28, 2026

My Rating: 4 Stars 

DESCRIPTION:

Where there’s smoke, there’s fire… 

Danger—and revenge—threaten the forest in the fifth book in Kathleen Donnelly’s thrilling search and rescue National Forest K-9 series.  

There’s nothing more terrifying than a trail of smoke over a summer-dry national forest—at least, that’s what Forest Service law enforcement officer Maya Thompson thinks when she and her boyfriend, sheriff’s deputy Josh Colten, spot the first signs of a fire over the Colorado mountains. 
 
But when she learns that a teen girl has been kidnapped and taken deep into the wilderness, a new fear grips If she and her K-9 partner, Juniper, can’t reach them fast enough, the fire might not just destroy her beloved forest—it might be the end to an innocent girl’s life. 
 
An innocent girl who is tied to Maya in ways she never could have imagined. And in ways that will upend everything she’s always believed about her family…and the dark past that haunts her. 

MY THOUGHTS:

Forest K-9 Officer Maya Thompson has a lot on her plate. Not only is there a teen named Hope missing, she is trying to stay ahead of a spreading forest fire while she searches for the teen. Previously, Maya had gotten a dirty cop off of the street  Her name is Abigail and she has escaped prison. Abigail has a sole purpose and that is to reign revenge on Maya. As Maya soon learns, it is Abigail who has abducted Hope. 

Meanwhile, Maya is not just at a crossroads in her relationship with Undersheriff Josh Colton, Maya is seeking to cement other family relationships. Just as she’s fully come to terms with who her father is, he makes a surprise move that she wasn’t quite ready for.

This thrilling installment in the National Forest K-9 series is rich with action, drama, and excellent pacing. This book, along with the previous two, Killer Secrets and Buried Lies, has been wonderfully narrated by Hayli Henderson. She brings a lot to a wonderfully written series and has been a pleasure to listen to.

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

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Award-winning author Kathleen Donnelly is a K-9 handler for a private narcotics dog detection company. She enjoys using her K-9 experience to craft realism into her fictional stories. Kathleen lives near the Colorado foothills with her husband and her four-legged co-workers. Visit Kathleen on her website at www.kathleendonnelly.com, on Facebook at facebook.com/AuthorKathleenDonnelly, follow her on Twitter @KatK9writer or find her on Instagram @authorkathleendonnelly.

Web | Twitter

BLOG TOUR - The Campervan Detectives

DESCRIPTION:

Fearless, feisty and at the wheel of her bright orange campervan, newly-single Sadie is about to enter a new era… as a detective?!

It’s never too late for a second chance, and when Sadie Sutton’s marriage implodes spectacularly, she jumps into her vintage VW campervan and heads for the twisty cobbled streets and sea views of her childhood in the little seaside town of Winching. But her fresh start comes to an abrupt stop when she trips over a dead body, turning an ordinary walk with her faithful dog Sam Spade into a murder investigation!

Having failed to stop a balaclava-wearing suspect disappearing from the scene into the night, Sadie can’t help but take matters into her own hands. The victim, retired headmistress Charlotte Woolf, was well known around Winching for her sharp tongue – rumours suggest she was particularly disliked by her own husband! But he swears he doesn’t even like killing snails by mistake…

With the enthusiastic help of three women at the campsite who have all embraced Van Life, Sadie starts sleuthing. Who was sending Charlotte anonymous bunches of flowers that had her rattled? Do the members of the local sea swimming club hold a vital clue? Sadie and her friends are on the right track… until their prime suspect ends up dead in his garden shed!

Can Sadie get to the root of the problem and stop the killer before the next person is buried? Or will her fresh new chapter end with her driving her campervan back the way she came?

First in a brilliant new series from bestselling author Maeve Haran, this warm, witty and absolutely unputdownable cosy crime novel is perfect for fans of Agatha Christie, The Thursday Murder Club and Robert Thorogood.

BUY LINKS

• Amazon: https://geni.us/B0H1M3Q7NYsocial
• 
  

Title:  The Campervan Detectives

Author: Maeve Haran

Series:   The Campervan Detective Mystery, Book 1

Publisher:  Bookouture

Genre:   Cozy Mystery

Format:  ALC

Narrator:   Fenella Fudge

Length:   7 hrs 42 mins

No. of Pages:   273

Date of Publication:   July 28, 2026

My Rating:   4 Stars

MY THOUGHTS:

How many of us would relish the chance to completely reinvent ourselves after enduring a challenging life experience? Well, that’s precisely what Sadie Sutton did. Her marriage ended, and she found herself navigating midlife as a newly single woman. Rather than wallow, she decided to embrace a lifestyle she’d only ever dreamed of — she acquired a vintage orange Volkswagen camper van, determined to turn it into her home and set off on a journey of exploration.

When Sadie decided to return to a small seaside village that held fond memories for her, it turned into far more than a cozy homecoming. Her old life was behind her, and the people there knew. But did the new Sadie ever imagine she’d become a woman who stumbles upon a corpse who simply can’t walk away from the mystery? Teaming up with a few fellow van-life women she meets along the way, Sadie and her new friends eagerly don their amateur sleuth hats.

And honestly, that’s exactly what makes this book so much fun! Living vicariously through Sadie, there is something so satisfying about watching her rebuild her life on her own terms, only to find herself thrown headfirst into a murder investigation with an unlikely crew of campervan-dwelling friends by her side. It’s warm, it’s witty, and it’s got just the right amount of intrigue to keep you turning pages. If you love a cozy mystery with heart, humor, and a heroine who refuses to be underestimated, The Campervan Detectives is an absolute treat! 

This was exceptionally enjoyable as an audiobook and I hope I can continue upcoming books in this series in the same manner.

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/

Review - The Cloak and Dagger Club

Title:  The Cloak and Dagger Club

Author:  Jackie McMahon

Series:   Cloak and Dagger Club Mystery #1

Publisher:  Berkley

Genre:   Cozy Mystery

Format:  Kindle ARC

No. of Pages:   368

Date of Publication:   July 14, 2026

My Rating:   4 Stars

DESCRIPTION:

Inspired by Agatha Christie's real-life Detection Club, a murder among a group of golden age mystery writers meets a second chance romance in this debut novel from author Jackie McMahon.

London, 1930. Lucy Hubbard is on the cusp of achieving her dreams. With her first mystery novel debuting with strong sales and glowing reviews, she's been invited by Horace Hazelmoor, the king of crime fiction, to join his elite group of writers—the Cloak and Dagger Club.

Thrilled at the opportunity, Lucy finds herself swept up into Horace's glamorous world at the Ritz hotel. She's even willing to put up with the inconvenient presence of her former fiancé, Frank Murray, the club's rising star who is on track to eclipse Horace as Britain's most popular crime writer.

But when Horace is found with a knife in his back, Frank is the police's prime suspect. Despite their complicated history, Lucy knows he's not capable of murder. With suspects galore and the danger rising, these two mystery writers must race to solve the crime—and fight their lingering feelings for each other—before the murderer strikes again.

Link to shop the series

MY THOUGHTS:

The Cloak and Dagger Club is the debut novel of Jackie McMahon, and this historical cozy mystery, with a bit of romance thrown in, proves to be quite an enjoyable read. The Golden Age setting is charming, taking place in 1930s London. Lucy Hubbard is now a best-selling author with her very first book — perhaps this is why she’s been invited to join the Cloak and Dagger Club, a group of authors who critique one another’s work.

Having recently ended her engagement to fellow club member Frank Murray, a little professional jealousy comes through. Frank looks as if he just might become Britain’s most popular crime writer. However, the club’s organizer, Horace Hazelmoor, Frank’s nemesis, is found murdered. With a very limited pool of just six suspects, who among them not only wanted Horace dead, but actually went through with it?

With Frank at the top of the suspect list, Lucy is certain of his innocence, so the two pair up hoping to solve the murder. Meanwhile, given their history, it soon becomes clear that their feelings for one another haven’t gone away.

This first book in a new series shows wonderful promise. Easily comparable to the style of Agatha Christie, Jackie McMahon brings the mystery while adding in humor and romance. A good modern-day comparison would be the delightful Veronica Speedwell series by Deanna Raybourn. So prepare to be entertained, and join the other readers already waiting in queue for the next installment.

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

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Jackie McMahon writes murder mysteries with history, twists, and perhaps a romance (or two). She currently resides in Florida with her two cats, and in her free time, she enjoys reading, traveling, and sharing obscure historical facts she has recently learned. You can find her on Instagram and YouTube at @jackiereadsandwrites.

Web