A Box Full of Darkness by Simone St. JamesFell, New York

Title: A Box Full of Darkness

Series: Fell, New York

Author: Simone St. James 

Publisher: Berkley

Release Date: January 20, 2026

Siblings return to the house they fled eighteen years before, called back by the ghost of their long-missing brother and his haunting request to come home.

Strange things happen in Fell, New York: A mysterious drowning at the town’s roadside motel. The unexplained death of a young girl whose body is left by the railroad tracks. For Violet, Vail, and Dodie Esmie the final straw was their little brother's shocking disappearance, which started as a normal game of hide-and-seek.

As their parents grew increasingly distant, the sisters were each haunted by visions and frightening events, leading them to leave town and never look back. Violet still sees dead people—spirits who remind her of Sister, the menacing presence that terrorized her for years. Now after nearly two decades it’s time for a homecoming—because Ben is back, and he’s ready to lead them to the answers they’ve longed for and long feared.

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A ghost story.

It's the 1980s, and the ghost of their brother, Ben, is calling the Esmie siblings—Violet, Vail, and Doddie—back to their childhood home in the town of Fell, New York.

Ben was six when he disappeared during a game of hide-and-seek. He was never found by the police, and each of the siblings blames themselves for his disappearance. In almost two decades, none of them has set foot in the house. They all ran away as soon as they could from a place that reminded them of their pain and the terrifying moments they survived as children.

As adults, they return together to finally uncover what truly happened to Ben.

A Box Full of Darkness is a gothic novel by Simone St. James, set in the same world as The Sun Down Motel. Between the suspense, the atmospheric setting, and the spooky factor, I had to listen to it during the day.

The novel was entertaining, but I didn’t love it as much as I loved The Sun Down Motel. Will I read the next book set in Fell? Yep, I would.

Kudos to narrators Saskia Maarveled, Ari Fliakos, and Anna Caputo for scaring me!

Cliffhanger: No

3.5/5 Fangs

A complimentary copy was provided by Berkley via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Mad Mabel by Sally Hepworth

Title: Mad Mabel

Author: Sally Hepworth

Publisher: St. Martin's Press

Release Date: April 21, 2026

From Sally Hepworth, the New York Times bestselling author of The Soulmate and The Good Sister, comes a twist-filled, darkly funny mystery about the two kinds of people no one ever expects to be murderers: little girls and old ladies.

Meet Mad Mabel.

Elsie Mabel Fitzpatrick is eighty-one years old. She's lived on her idyllic street, Kenny Lane, for sixty years--longer than anyone else. Aside from being a curmudgeon who minds everyone else's business, few would suspect that Elsie has a past that she has worked exceedingly hard at concealing. Because when it comes to murder, no one ever suspects little girls or old ladies. And Elsie Mabel Fitzpatrick, once a little girl and now an old lady, has a strange history of people in her life coming to a foul end.

When a new little girl (talkative, curious, nosy) moves into the neighborhood and stops at nothing to befriend Elsie, her carefully-constructed life threatens to come crashing down as the secrets in Elsie's past start coming to light. Who was "Mad Mabel" fifty years ago? Who is Elsie Fitzpatrick today? And if the past has a habit of repeating itself, who has the most to lose?

Told with Sally Hepworth's twists, humor, charm, and heart, MAD MABEL is novel that weaves past and present together--through the power of justice and redemption, and all the way to its stunning conclusion.

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Another success in my book!

Elsie Mabel Fitzpatrick is eighty-one years old when her past comes back to haunt her.

Elsie was minding her own business when the girl next door tried to strike up a conversation with her. The young girl, Persephone, needs to complete a homework assignment that involves talking to an older person, and Elsie fits the bill. At the same time, it turns out that Elsie’s neighbor hasn’t been seen for a while, and packages are piling up at his front door. Elsie decides to investigate and finds his dead body. Soon, the cops are swarming the scene.

Was it foul play? Was he murdered? And who is Mad Mabel?

We learn from Elsie that, as a child, her mother owned a large property that her father fell in love with. They got married and had Mabel. But Mabel’s life was never easy. Her parents lacked warmth toward her, and her life only became more difficult from there.

Quite an interesting novel with a memorable main character. It’s painful at times, and I won’t lie—some tears might have come out at the end.

I’m a fan of Sally Hepworth. I can’t wait to see what she comes up with next.

Cliffhanger: No

4/5 Fangs

A complimentary copy was provided by St. Martin's Press via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Half City by Kate GoldenHarker Academy #1

 

Title: Half City

Series: Harker Academy #1

Author: Kate Golden

Publisher: Ace

Release Date: February 17, 2026

Welcome to Harker Academy for Deviant Defense. Keep your daggers sharp, and your wits even sharper.

Viv Abbot is an average twenty-one-year-old girl. She lives in an expensive city where the rent is too high, works long hours at a thankless job, and is dating a guy she doesn’t even like in the hopes of winning her prickly mother’s approval.

She just also happens to be a demon hunter.

Ever since her father's murder, she's been forced to hunt deviants alone, meaning everyone, including her family, sees her as an outsider. . . . Until the day she crosses paths with a dangerously alluring demon, Reid Graveheart. The reformed deviant tells her of a school for people just like her: Harker Academy for Deviant Defense. If she enrolls, she'll learn to hone her craft, work with other hunters, and never be alone again.

But Viv has a deadly secret. One that not even her new friends at Harker can know about. Not when the school might hold the answers to untangling the mystery surrounding Viv's father’s death. When strange occurrences begin to plague the students, Viv will have to figure out who she can trust, and fast. All while trying to ace her classes, not fall for a demon, and make it through her first year at Harker in one piece. How hard could that be?

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Since her father’s murder, Viv Abbot has been hunting deviants alone for over a decade in the streets of Astera. Then, at twenty-one, she learns she can join the Harker Academy for Deviant Defense. She is told about the school by a reformed deviant named Reid Graveheart.

Viv’s first instinct is to kill Reid, but as the weeks of defense training with him go by and she sees him in action, she begins to see a different side of him. Yes, he has taken many souls in his life, but at least he is now helping hunters become better at killing the truly evil ones.

When one of her classmates goes missing, Viv begins investigating with the help of her new friends. They are told that the girl quit school overnight, but that doesn’t add up—she loved being there. Was she taken for nefarious purposes, and if so, what is the endgame? Viv doesn’t know who is behind the strange things happening at the academy, but she knows it can’t be good.

A strong first installment with a solid plot, interesting world-building, and engaging characters. The ending leaves you with so many questions about what is really happening. I really liked the secondary characters—Elliot, Sophie, and Penny all stand out as trustworthy and memorable.

There’s also romance in the air. There’s the tension between Viv and Reid, but I’m also intrigued by the owner of the club. I wonder if something will come of that.

The second book is coming out in October, and I'm excited to read it.

Cliffhanger: No

4/5 Fangs

A complimentary copy was provided by Ace via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

And Now, Back to You by B.K. BorisonHeartstrings #2

 

Title: And Now, Back to You

Series: Heartstrings #2

Author: B.K. Borison

Publisher: Berkley Publishing Group 

Release Date: February 24, 2026 

Two competing meteorologists are forced to find common ground in this opposites attract, When Harry Met Sally inspired romance, from New York Times bestselling author B.K. Borison.

Jackson Clark and Delilah Stewart have had their fair share of run-ins over the years, often ending in disaster. While Jackson thrives on routine and organization from the comfort of his radio booth, Delilah loves the spontaneity and adventure out in the field. When they’re partnered against their will to cover the snowstorm of the century, they find themselves scrambling to figure out how to work together.

Eager to be taken seriously as a journalist, Delilah offers Jackson a deal. If he can help her ace this assignment, she’ll help him rediscover his long-lost fun side. With an undiscovered chemistry burning beneath their clashes, the unlikely partnership quickly tumbles into an easy and surprising friendship.

But when other feelings start to enter the equation, can Jackson and Delilah withstand the storm? Or does what happens in the mountains, stay in the mountains?

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This was a cute opposites-attract trope romance.

Delilah Stewart is a meteorologist at the local TV station. She does funny pieces—sometimes wearing a turtle costume—but she always has a smile on her face. She loves her grandfather, who raised her after her mother decided that playing an instrument in Europe was more important than being a mother. Unfortunately, her grandfather has dementia, and watching her do her weather segments is what keeps him from forgetting her, since he always tunes in to the weather on TV.

Jackson Clark is a meteorologist too, but for the local radio station. He’s all about organization, schedules, and calendars. He also took on the responsibility of raising his twin sisters at a young age. His mother was always on the go and never really cared for him when he was a kid, so he knew he had to step up to prevent that uncertainty from happening to his sisters. Lately, their mother has been trying to reach out to get more involved in the girls’ lives, but Jackson isn’t sure he wants that to happen.

Then Jackson and Delilah are sent to cover the snowstorm of the decade, and they’ll have to share more than the spotlight. At first, they’re not sure they can survive it when they’re so different, but as they get to know each other, they start caring about what the other one wants and realize the other person isn’t what they thought.

And Now, Back to You was a cute romance. It was easy to like both main characters. They were both products of their upbringings, but they showed resilience instead of bitterness.

Bonus points to B.K. Borison for showing us that the characters from the first book were still happily in love.

Would I read the next novel? Of course—I can't wait.

Cliffhanger: No

4/5 Fangs

A complimentary copy was provided by Berkley Publishing Group via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Blade by Wendy Walker

 

Title: Blade 

Author: Wendy Walker

Publisher: Thomas & Mercer

Release Date: February 1, 2026

From USA Today bestselling author—and former competitive skater—Wendy Walker comes a chilling psychological thriller set in the cutthroat world of elite figure skating.

Ana Robbins was an Olympic star in the making—until tragedy forced her to leave that world behind. At the age of sixteen, she gave up her dream and never looked back. Fourteen years later, she’s a successful defense attorney, revered for her work with minors. But when her former coach turns up dead, Ana lands right back where it all began, and abruptly The Palace, a world-renowned skating facility nestled high in the mountains of Colorado.

Ana returns to The Palace to defend the young skater accused of the brutal crime—Grace Montgomery. Despite her claims of innocence, all evidence points squarely at Grace’s guilt, and she’s days away from facing charges of first-degree murder.

But Ana’s investigation dredges up childhood memories of her own, triggering the fear that permeates this place where she once lived and trained far from home as an “Orphan.” With a blizzard raging outside, and time running out for Grace, Ana is determined to uncover the truth—even if it means exposing her own secrets that she buried here long ago.

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Ana Robins is a successful defense attorney who specializes in defending minors. She is driven to help children who have endured terrible trauma because she knows it all too well from her own experience. When she was just thirteen, her parents sent her to “The Palace,” a world-renowned skating facility in Colorado, to train under Coach Dawn Sumner. There, she met three other girls: Kayla, Indy, and Jolene. Since none of their parents were present, the four of them were called “the Orphans.” All four suffered at the hands of the coaches, the psychiatrist, and the mothers of the other skaters who lived nearby.

Over a decade later, Ana is called back to The Palace when Jolene’s daughter, Grace Montgomery, is suspected of killing the assistant coach, Emile. Returning to that place causes all of Ana’s buried memories to resurface. So many secrets are about to come out—including the ones only Ana knows.

The novel uses a Now and Then timeline, although it felt like most of the book took place in the “Then” timeline, which made parts of it feel somewhat immature. Furthermore, the denouement felt unsatisfactory to this reader. I don’t know… it wasn’t my favorite by this author. So many bad people were able to get away with terrible things for far too long, with very few consequences.

Cliffhanger: No

3.5/5 Fangs

A complimentary copy was provided by Thomas & Mercer via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Dear Debbie by Freida McFadden

 

Title: Dear Debbie 

Author: Freida McFadden

Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press

Release Date: January 27, 2026

A brand new twisted thriller that will have you cheering "good for her!" from the #1 New York Times bestselling and global sensation Freida McFadden, author of The Housemaid!

Sometimes, enough is enough…

Debbie Mullen is losing it. For years, she has compiled all of her best advice into her column, Dear Debbie, where the wives of New England come for sympathy and neighborly advice. Through her work, Debbie has heard from countless women who are ignored, belittled, or even abused by their husbands. And Debbie does her best to guide them in the right direction.

Or at least, she did.

These days, Debbie’s life seems to be spiraling out of control. She just lost her job. Something strange is happening with her teenage daughters. And her husband is keeping secrets, according to the tracking app she installed on his phone. Now, Debbie’s done being the bigger person. She’s done being reasonable and practical. It’s time to take her own advice.

And now it’s time for payback against all the people in her life who deserve it the most.

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Excellent. A 5 for me!

Debbie Mullen is having a bad day. A magazine was supposed to photograph her beautiful garden, but a neighbor decided to steal her spotlight. Both of her daughters are hiding things from her, and she knows she has to protect them. In addition, she’s sure her husband is keeping secrets from her. Lastly, her boss is calling her into the office, and she’s not sure what he wants to discuss.

Debbie, who has a high IQ and once attended MIT but never graduated, is unraveling—and anyone who gets in her way will feel her wrath.

My favorite book by Freida McFadden is Brain Damage, but Dear Debbie is a very close second. I love Debbie Mullen. She was fantastic—absolutely stellar in her sense of justice. I loved everything about this book, and I can recommend it to anyone looking for a thriller that will be hard to forget. Also, if you’ve never read Brain Damage, I strongly recommend you fix that.

Cliffhanger: No

5/5 Fangs

The Quiet Neighbor by J.D. Barker

 

Title: The Quiet Neighbor 

Author: J.D. Barker

Publisher: Hampton Creek Press

Release Date: January 27, 2026

A heart-stopping tale of family secrets, buried trauma, and the lengths a mother will go to save her child, even when that child might not want to be saved.

Cynthia Burrows thought she’d built the perfect life—successful law career, loving husband, beautiful daughter. But when eighteen-year-old Tori vanishes without a trace, Cynthia’s carefully constructed world begins to crumble.

The school says Tori was excused by family. Security footage shows her leaving with an older man. And the boy she was supposed to date? His name sends chills down Cynthia’s spine—Alexander Beaufort.

That’s impossible. Alexander Beaufort is the serial killer who destroyed Cynthia’s childhood, murdered her best friend, and forced her into witness protection twenty years ago. He’s supposed to be locked away forever.

But someone is playing a deadly game, leaving clues that drag Cynthia back to her darkest memories. With only three days to find her daughter, she must confront the monster from her past and the shocking secrets Tori has been hiding.

In this quiet suburban neighborhood, everyone has something to conceal. And some neighbors are more dangerous than others.

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Don’t read the blurb!

I’m so happy I didn’t—otherwise I would have known too much going into this novel.

We get two timelines and the mysterious voice of a “Journal.”

In “Then,” there are Samantha and Vicky—two teenage girls from different sides of the tracks. We know something terrible happens to one of them, but we don’t know what or by whom.

In “Now,” there is Cynthia Burrows, happily married to David, with an eighteen-year-old daughter, Tori. Everything seems fine until Cynthia discovers that Tori never went to school and no one has seen her. Cynthia starts freaking out. She knows horrible things can happen to young women. Her fear is confirmed when she receives a phone call from the person holding Tori: she has three days to figure out where her daughter is before Tori is killed.

As a fan of J.D. Barker, I couldn’t pass this one up. From the beginning of The Quiet Neighbor, I was hooked. Cynthia was desperate to find her daughter and wouldn’t stop at anything. She was in full mama-bear mode, which I can appreciate. I guessed most of the plot, but I was still entertained. A few things bothered me—like Cynthia not discussing things with David from the moment she knew Tori was missing, or the way she disregards the police and their investigation. She went wherever she wanted, which in real life wouldn’t have happened. Despite this, I was all in until the last page.

Cliffhanger: No

3.5/5 Fangs

A complimentary copy was provided by Hampton Creek Press via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.