A Book A Week

I can recall the days of the internet's infancy, the sheer excitement at the possibilities it would bring to our world mixed with the skepticism that it would deliver on all that it promised. Hefty encyclopedias had long been our gateway to knowledge, but the internet threatened to upend that entirely. Even with its screeching dial-up tones, sluggish speeds, and frequent outages, it changed the world in ways we never could have anticipated. Now, with Wi-Fi considered a basic necessity and AI poised to disrupt our lives once again, we are still grappling with the consequences of our hyper-connected existence.

Our dependence on technology is becoming more prevalent each day, but are we actually more connected to each other? In his newest novel, Twist, author Colum McCann grapples with this question, forcing us to contemplate the fractures that have formed in our increasingly interconnected lives. 

"Mine has been a lifetime of dropped connections."

At 47, Irish writer Anthony Fennell fears his life has plateaued. His novels saw modest success, his plays fared only slightly better, and his personal life is in shambles. Divorced, estranged from his teenage son, and drowning in self-doubt (and whiskey), he’s desperate for a break.

Most of the internet’s data travels through fiber optic cables lying deep beneath the ocean. Cables that, from time to time, snap. And when they do, someone has to fix them. Out of the blue, a magazine editor offers Anthony an assignment to cover the dangerous work of repairing these underwater lifelines. He’s less intrigued by the technicalities of the cables themselves and more by the deeper story they symbolize. He plans to tell a tale of connection, resilience, and restoration.

Joining a deep-sea repair crew led by the enigmatic John Conway, an expert free diver/engineer, Anthony embarks on a journey unlike any other. Isolated at sea with a diverse crew and miles of ocean in every direction, he finds himself drawn into their mission to reconnect the world. But as the cables pulse with the world’s conversations, they also carry news that will change the course of the journey and Anthony's life forever. 

Twist is a fitting title for a novel that seeks to encapsulate the vastness of humanity within a relatively self-contained narrative. Colum McCann’s latest book explores the enormity of the world. There are the sprawling oceans, the cables running beneath them, and the intricate web of connectivity they sustain. Yet, at its core, this is a quietly intimate story.

Anthony is a man searching for purpose, and in John Conway, he encounters someone who, at least on the surface, seems to have found his. Conway is singularly skilled, excelling in his dangerous yet crucial work. But his past remains elusive. Even when Anthony meets Conway’s lover and learns more about his personal life, he is left with more questions than answers. The journey toward meaning is anything but straightforward.

As the novel twists through revelations and unexpected turns, certainty remains just out of reach. Twist becomes a meditation on connection. McCann urges us to seek it not just through technology but in the real world through conversations, experiences, and acts of love. While at times challenging and even frustrating, it is ultimately a novel that compels us to reflect on the bonds we have forged in our own lives and the path we traverse in finding our own sense of being. 

For more information, visit the author's website, Amazon, and Goodreads. 

(2025, 27)

I've been a devoted fan of John Sandford's crime novels ever since I first discovered his Virgil Flowers series in college. Sandford’s signature blend of sharp humor and breakneck plotting instantly hooked me, making Flowers one of my favorite protagonists in the genre. Back then, he was releasing a Virgil Flowers novel annually, alongside a new installment in his more famous, and arguably more popular, Prey series, featuring Lucas Davenport.

In recent years, as Sandford continues writing into his 80s, he’s shifted to a single yearly release that brings both heroes together in the same book. After taking a break from this approach last year, Lethal Prey marks the return of Davenport and Flowers as a duo, so I was eager to get my hands on it. Fortunately, Sandford’s publisher sent me a copy, meaning I didn’t have to wait long to dive in.

In an age obsessed with internet sleuthing and true crime, Lara Grandfelt is wagering $5 million that someone can finally solve her twin sister Doris’s decades-old murder. Brutally stabbed over 20 years ago, Doris’s body was found in a dense thicket at the edge of an urban park, but her killer was never caught. Now, facing her own mortality after a cancer diagnosis, Lara is determined to uncover the truth, offering a fortune to anyone who can bring the murderer to justice.

Lara knows the flood of online sleuths chasing her $5 million reward will need oversight. Enter Lucas Davenport and Virgil Flowers, reluctantly called in to verify leads as a favor to a politician Lara generously supports. Skeptical of crowdsourced crime-solving, they dismiss the frenzy as internet noise. That is until a blogger uncovers the murder weapon. As real clues emerge, so does a chilling truth: the killer is watching, adapting, and staying one step ahead. With every new revelation broadcast online, Lucas and Virgil must race to solve the case before the killer claims more victims—including themselves.

I've come to take great comfort in the familiarity of John Sandford's writing, and Lethal Prey, the 35th installment in his longest-running series, delivers plenty of what I love. Once again, Sandford pairs his best characters to solve a decades-old case, using his signature approach—giving readers insight into the killer’s perspective while letting his heroes race to uncover the truth. It’s a formula he’s mastered and one I always enjoy.

That said, this installment didn’t hit quite as hard as previous ones. The sharp, witty banter between Davenport and Flowers felt sparser, and the investigation's momentum stalled in places. But what really lessened the impact for me was the abrupt ending. The story simply stopped, leaving a major cliffhanger rather than a satisfying resolution. Even so, I’ll be first in line for the next book. Sandford has a proven track record in crime fiction, and a few missteps won’t keep me from diving into whatever he writes next.

For more information, visit the author's website, Amazon, and Goodreads. 

(2025, 26)

One of the most common icebreakers I’ve encountered is the dreaded question: If you could have dinner with any person, dead or alive, who would it be? No matter how many times it’s been asked, I always freeze, struggling to come up with an answer. But perhaps the more interesting follow-up question is: What would you hope to learn from them? That shifts the conversation from a surface-level fantasy to something deeper, exploring the lessons we can take from history and those who lived through it.

In Harriet Tubman: Live in Concert, Bob the Drag Queen takes that idea and runs with it, crafting a reality where historical figures miraculously return to life, confront the modern world, and force us to reexamine the past. It’s a bold, imaginative debut that turns a familiar hypothetical into a thought-provoking and wildly entertaining read.

No one can explain how or why it happened, but everyone agrees—it’s a miracle. Long-dead historical figures have inexplicably returned, alive and well, picking up where they left off while adapting to the modern world. 

"It's been a very strange news cycle since The Return. Cleopatra is now an Instagram model, Rockefeller is having public battles of wealth display with Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos, and everyone is waiting on pins and needles to see if Jesus will return. I'm not betting on it."

For Darnell, a once-successful record producer whose best days are behind him, the phenomenon takes an even stranger turn—one of these legendary figures not only knows who he is but wants to work with him.

When you think of Harriet Tubman, you likely picture the fearless abolitionist who risked her life to lead hundreds to freedom through the Underground Railroad. But now that she’s back, Harriet quickly realizes that while progress has been made, the fight for freedom and equality is far from over. The journey to the Promised Land must continue, and she’s determined to tell her story in a way that resonates with this new generation. The best way to do that? A hip-hop album.

If that sounds crazy, just ask Alexander Hamilton.

Harriet enlists Darnell to help her bring her vision to life—producing an album and a concert that could change the world. Along the way, he might just rediscover his own purpose, too.

Bob the Drag Queen is a comedian, reality TV star, drag performer—and now, he can add author to that list. Harriet Tubman: Live in Concert is one of the most imaginative, original, and provocative novels I’ve read this year. His distinctive voice leaps off the page, infusing this speculative historical fiction with sharp humor and insightful commentary.

Bob fully embraces the what-if of it all, crafting a fish-out-of-water scenario that places Harriet Tubman in the modern world, balancing levity with moments of deep reflection. While some passages lean a bit repetitive, his undeniable charisma and clear perspective keep the story moving, smoothing over any technical hiccups.

By bringing Tubman into the present, Bob draws a compelling parallel between the abolitionist movement of her time and the ongoing fight for LGBTQ+ rights. The struggle for equality is never-ending, but it’s one worth continuing. This novel serves as a powerful reminder that, no matter our race, gender, or sexual orientation, we all deserve to live fully, freely, and without fear. As Harriet herself puts it: “The biggest struggle in earning your freedom is feeling like you deserve it."

For more information, visit the author's website, Amazon, and Goodreads. 

(2025, 25)

I first discovered Hannah Morrissey’s writing through her fantastic debut, Hello, Transcriber, where she introduced the bleak and crime-ridden town of Black Harbor, Wisconsin. Her atmospheric prose, combined with a gripping murder mystery, made the novel a standout. I quickly devoured her next two books set in Black Harbor, each featuring new characters and mysteries while remaining interconnected through their shared setting.

So when Morrissey’s publisher offered me a chance to review The Unlucky Ones, the fourth book in the Black Harbor series, I jumped at it. Learning that this novel would revisit the main character from her debut only heightened my excitement. 

She wouldn't have believed you if you had told Hazel she’d return to Black Harbor. She was more than happy to leave the town and everything it represented behind. Black Harbor had given her nothing but misery: an emotionally and physically abusive ex-husband, a toxic workplace romance, and a job that entangled her in a murder investigation that nearly cost her life. She escaped, and she never looked back. But now, against all odds, she’s back, and the darkness she left behind threatens to consume her once again.

With the Fourth of July approaching, tensions in Black Harbor are rising. A deadly new drug is flooding the streets, the summer heat is suffocating, and, of course, there’s been another murder. Sergeant Nikolai Kole has seen plenty of crime scenes, but this one is different. A body, wrapped in garbage bags and doused in bleach, lies in the back of a clubhouse. The victim? Tommy Greenlee—Hazel’s ex-husband.

Hazel and Kole, former lovers with a complicated history, must work together to uncover the truth. They both want justice, even if neither of them particularly cares for Tommy. But can they trust each other? They once used each other for their own ends, and their reunion threatens to dredge up old wounds. As the chaos in Black Harbor escalates, Hazel and Kole strike an uneasy truce. To solve this murder, they’ll have to navigate the city’s darkest secrets and confront their own secrets along the way.

There’s something liberating about hitting the open road, leaving behind schedules and responsibilities, if only for a little while. Just you, your thoughts, and the miles stretching ahead. Of course, reality has its limits—gas, speed limits, food, and sleep all play a role—but for a brief moment, a road trip can feel like the perfect escape from life’s burdens.

For Livia and her friends, that escape is precisely what they need. Reeling from the discovery of her husband’s affair, Livia is desperate to get away, and her friends are more than willing to help her forget her troubles for a few days. Their trip through the Cascade foothills of Central Oregon starts as a simple getaway, but a reckless tow truck driver tailing them turns their carefree ride into something far more unsettling.

Hoping to lose him, they veer onto County Road 95, an unremarkable backroad with a chilling local reputation. Known as The Devil’s Driveway, the 15-mile stretch quickly turns their road trip into a nightmare. What starts as a detour soon becomes a desperate fight for survival, pushing the four women to the edge of their sanity. And with every twist and turn, something even more terrifying waits ahead.

I was immediately drawn to the concept of a haunted highway and gladly accepted the audiobook version of White Line Fever from K.C. Jones’ publisher. Kate Hanford’s expert narration added a chilling urgency to the story, keeping me hooked and looking for any excuse to keep listening. Jones gradually unveils the full scope of the horror his characters face, starting with eerie instances of lost time, dissociation, and hallucinations before escalating into true, unrelenting terror.

Throughout the novel, Jones weaves in flashbacks to Livia’s past, adding depth to her character. While I appreciated these insights, they occasionally disrupted the pacing, and I often found myself more eager to return to the escalating tension on the road. Still, White Line Fever hurtles toward a harrowing climax that delivers thrills and meaningful character growth. A solid horror thriller, it’s an especially gripping listen.

For more information, visit the author's website, Amazon, and Goodreads. 

(2025, 23)

Some are born with the gift. Others have it thrust upon them. Olivia never expected to possess it at all. The ability to commune with the dead had always belonged to her sister, Naiche. But when Naiche died under mysterious circumstances, that gift transferred to Olivia, a final, unasked-for inheritance that changed her life forever.

Olivia has fully embraced her abilities, becoming a sought-after paranormal investigator. But the loss of Naiche still leaves an ache she can’t shake. When she’s called to investigate unsettling occurrences at the historic Brown Palace Hotel in Denver, she assumes it will be just another routine haunting. But this case is anything but ordinary. Every few years, a woman is found dead in room 904, no matter which room she initially checked into.

As Olivia delves into the chilling pattern of deaths, the past and present begin to blur. Her investigation pulls her into the orbit of a mysterious cult, a relentless journalist, betrayals from those she trusts, and shocking secrets about Naiche’s hidden life. What started as a ghost hunt quickly becomes something far more dangerous and personal.

In The Haunting of Room 904, Erika T. Wurth weaves a deeply personal tale of family, grief, and cultural identity within the framework of a gripping paranormal thriller. From the start, the eerie atmosphere sets the stage, evoking the unsettling tension of The Conjuring films. While the supernatural elements are undeniably chilling—delivering plenty of moments to send shivers down your spine—it’s the richly drawn, diverse cast that makes this novel stand out.

Wurth seamlessly integrates Indigenous history, particularly the lasting impact of the Sand Creek Massacre, alongside nuanced representations of LGBTQ+ and Jewish identities. These layers of cultural and historical depth unfold organically, adding weight and resonance beyond the scares. Through the terror, Wurth challenges readers to reflect on identity, politics, and belonging. The pacing isn’t always even, but the novel remains compelling and thought-provoking—a haunting on multiple levels.

For more information, visit the author's website, Amazon, and Goodreads. 

(2025, 22)