The story follows Sydney and Curtis Lowe, a New York couple whose lives unravel after Curtis confesses to an affair.
Desperate to repair their fractured marriage, they move to a remote, crumbling 1963 hilltop villa in Costa Brava, Spain.
Their isolated fresh start takes a tense turn when an attractive pair of Australian travelers arrives at their doorstep after a van breakdown. Craving companionship and free renovation help, Sydney and Curtis invite them to stay.
However, as shifting loyalties and deep secrets emerge, it becomes clear the strangers’ arrival may not be accidental, and survival at the villa is no longer guaranteed
Facing eviction, the broke protagonist takes a waitressing job at an isolated mansion on Peyton’s Peak. The reader controls the narrative by choosing the character’s actions at various turning points.
The book features a distinct “choose-your-own-adventure” style, departing from her standard linear psychological thrillers. You can explore the various formats
Well known for dry, hot, sunny summers and cool, cloudy winters. The second mildest winter of any non-coastal city in Canada, after neighbouring Penticton.
We did a couple of days at beaches and the waterfront.
Spent even more time socializing over great food and drink.
Interesting premise. But not really a good fit for me.
Empire of Silence (2018) is first in the Sun Eater series.
The story is written as a first-person memoir told by Hadrian Marlowe, a man who is remembered by history both as a legendary hero who eradicated an alien threat and as a monster who destroyed a sun, killing billions of lives.
The Frame Narrative: An older, captive Hadrian looks back on his long life, attempting to explain the complex choices that led to his infamy.
The Flight: To avoid a grim future engineered by his tyrannical father, Hadrian flees his aristocratic noble house.
The Fall: Stranded penniless on a backwater world, he is forced to live in the slums and eventually fight for survival as a gladiator.
The Conflict: He becomes entangled in the political web of the Sollan Empire and the devastating, galaxy-wide war against the mysterious, predatory alien race known as the Cielcin
Thomas Perry (1947-2025) is one of my favourite writers.
I’m working backwards, reading more of his older books.
Pursuit (2021)is a standalone suspense novel that follows a high-stakes “cat-and-mouse” hunt across the United States between a relentless investigator and a professional hitman.
That aspect of the book was fantastic. Good guy and bad guy at the top of their games.
It got slow and dull when each had a problematic romantic relationship.
Plot Summary
The story begins with a brutal mass murder at a restaurant in Louisville, Kentucky, where thirteen people are found dead. When local police are unable to find a suspect or motive, forensics expert Daniel Milliken determines the crime was the work of a highly skilled professional.
Milliken connects the father of one victim with Roy Prescott, an enigmatic specialist known for finding people who don’t want to be found.
Prescott identifies his target as James Varney, a sociopathic hired gun who is as methodical and deadly as Prescott himself. To catch him, Prescott must goad Varney into believing he has to kill Prescott, turning the pursuit into a deadly game where only one can survive.
No fixed line by by Dana Stabenow is the 22nd book in the acclaimed Kate Shugak Investigation mystery series.
I really enjoyed the previous book, and might just have to continue with this series. This one is good, as well.
The Setting: It is New Year’s Eve, and an intense, weeks-long blizzard has entirely cut Alaska off from the rest of the world.
The Crash: A small plane crashes deep within the remote Quilak mountains.
The Discovery: Because official aviation investigators cannot reach the site, ex-State Trooper Jim Chopin handles the initial search. He uncovers the wreckage, a large stash of fentanyl pills, and a dead pilot who has a criminal past.
The Survivors: Two young, traumatized Spanish-speaking children are found alive at the scene, revealing a dark human trafficking plot.
The Subplot: Meanwhile, Aleut private investigator Kate Shugak faces an unwelcome shock when a deceased enemy names her the trustee of his multi-million dollar estate.
Original. Smart. Funny dialogue. I really liked this book.
Go Gentle is the 2026 novel by bestselling author Maria Semple.
The story follows Adora Hazzard, a 50-something divorced Stoic philosopher living a carefully curated, highly content life in Manhattan’s historic Ansonia building.
Her days are filled with raising her teenage daughter, tutoring the children of a billionaire family, and building a “coven” of close female friends.
Adora lives by the strict Stoic principle of wanting only what she already has—until a chance encounter with a handsome stranger at the ballet changes everything. Her orderly world is quickly upended and thrown into a chaotic, madcap international caper involving:
Black-market art deals and stolen statues
An explosion at the Louvre
Intrigue with a mysterious European art broker
A fast-paced, high-stakes trip to Paris
💡 Themes
Stoicism vs. Desire: The narrative comically tests the limits of ancient philosophy when confronted with real-world temptation and passion.
Mid-Life Transformation: It explores a woman’s journey of rediscovery, proving that life and romance do not end after divorce.
Quirky Female Solidarity: Adora’s “coven” of neighbors serves as a witty exploration of female friendship and community.
Several critics, including Ron Charles, described the book as a “kitchen junk-drawer of a novel,” arguing that blending a Stoic philosophy lesson, a romantic comedy, and a high-stakes art heist can feel incredibly jarring.
Fair criticism. It’s not a neat and tidy storyline. But I still recommend it.
Rick McCharles 