Ask for Andrea

 

Author: Noelle Ihli

Narrator: Allison Delaney

Publisher: Simon Maverick 

Year: 2025

This book is wild and not exactly what I anticipated. I try to only know the bare bones about a book before diving in. I really didn’t expect the main characters to be ghosts (or maybe spirits) of three girls murdered by a serial killer. But somehow author Noelle W. Ihli makes it work. 

I was glad this wasn’t like a jump scare ghost story where the ghosts could really manipulate the investigation. They quickly realized they had very limited abilities and power as spirits. I also thought Allison Delaney did a great job narrating the audiobook. If you’re looking for a quick, entertaining, and different take on the serial killer troupe, give this book a try. Shoutout to @andrea.c.loweryreads for putting this book on my radar! 

Do you like when a mystery or thriller wanders into supernatural territory?

#crimefiction #mysterybooks #thrillerbooks #bibliofile #reader #readinglife #alwaysreading #booksbooksbooks #bookish #bookrecomendation #bookworm 

#booklover #bookstagram #librarybook #lovemylibrary

#audiobook #audiobookstagram #audiobookreview #askforandrea #backlistbook 

About the Author

Noelle W. Ihli is a thriller-suspense author. She lives in Idaho with her husband, two sons, and two cats. When she’s not plotting her next thriller, she’s scaring herself with true-crime documentaries or going for a trail ride in the foothills (with her trusty pepper spray).

The Safari

 

Author: Jaclyn Goldis

Narrators: full cast

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio

Publication date: May 20, 2025

Out tomorrow May 20th! Thank you Simon & Schuster Audio for the advanced listener copy. I appreciate it! 

The rich family of luxury fashion brand gathers at their Safari retreat to celebrate a wedding. The family’s matriarch is set to marry a much younger man when she is killed the night before the nuptials.  Here’s the summary from the publisher: 

Odelia Babel, CEO of a sustainable fashion empire, is about to marry for the second time—to a man twenty-five years her junior. Asher Bach is the thirty-something designer of Odelia’s luxury clothing line, the darling of every high-fashion journalist, and madly in love with Odelia.

Eager to celebrate her nuptials with her nearest and dearest, Odelia invites her adult children, her daughter-in-law, her grandchild, and her best friend/assistant to an all-expenses-paid luxury safari at Leopard Sands in South Africa, the Babel family’s favorite vacation spot. In its soil, they have deep roots—and even deeper secrets.

It seems like the perfect trip, but not everyone is thrilled for the happy couple. Amid game drives in the bush and bonfires beneath the desert stars, tensions among the family threaten to boil over. And then, the morning after a big fight with her son Sam—and hours before the wedding—Odelia is found murdered. Sam is immediately the prime suspect, but he claims he has an ironclad alibi—he was with his twin sister, Bailey. Only Bailey is nowhere to be found…

As the heat roils, desperate poachers and ferocious animals lurk, and dark motives fester, it becomes clear that whoever killed Odelia isn’t quite finished yet, and the rest of the Babel family is their prey.

This is all about the family drama! A controlling mother. Resentment for her much younger fiancé. Disagreements about the direction the family company should go. Long buried secrets, lies, and revenge. There was enough drama to keep me distracted from figuring out whodunnit until the very end. The story is told from multiple POV and I was really glad the audiobook has a very talented full cast of narrators. This really helped me keep track of the different characters. 

This was an entertaining listen for me. I liked the exotic location and that it featured a safari. Definitely pick this one up if you love mysteries with a ton of family angst and melodrama. 

What’s your most recommended book so far this year? 

#crimefiction #mysterybooks #thrillerbooks #bibliofile #reader #readinglife #alwaysreading #booksbooksbooks #lgbtqfiction #bookrecomendation #bookworm 

#booklover #bookstagram #audiobook #audiobookstagram #audiobookreview #thesafari #simonaudio #jaclyngoldis 

About the Author

Jaclyn Goldis is a graduate of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, and NYU School of Law. She practiced estate planning law at a large Chicago firm for seven years before leaving her job to travel the world and write novels. After culling her possessions into only what would fit in a backpack, she traveled for over a year until settling in Tel Aviv, where she can often be found writing from cafés near the beach. She is the author of The Chateau, The Main Character, and The Safari.

Kills Well with Others

Author: Deanna Raybourn

Publisher: Berkley

Year: 2025

 

Happy #thrillerthursday! My favorite senior lady assassins are back for more adventure, mayhem, and murder in Kills Well with Others. It’s the sequel to Deanna Raybourn’s best seller Killers of a Certain Age. This time around, the ladies get word that there’s a mole inside the secret organization they work for leaked sensitive information to a vicious gangster looking for revenge. This sends Billie, Mary Alice, Helen, and Natalie across the globe to root out the mole and stop the gangster before they become the next targets. 

This is such a fun series! Being a woman of a certain age myself, I love that these mature protagonists are still kicking butt and being badass assassins. I love the mix of action and humor within this fast paced story. There’s also an emotional element as they face the changes and challenges of aging. All in all, a fun romp of a read. This can be read as a standalone, but I suggest reading the  previous first book just to get the whole backstory.  

What have you been watching lately?I need some recommendations for shows or movies. I’m watching Your Friends and Neighbors. I’m enjoying it. 

#crimefiction #mysterybooks #thrillerbooks #bibliofile #reader #readinglife #alwaysreading #booksbooksbooks #bookish #bookrecomendation #bookworm #booklover #bookstagram #librarybook #lovemylibrary #killswellwithothers #deannaraynourn #berkley #thrillerthursday 

About the Author

Deanna Raybourn is the New York Times bestselling and Edgar® Award–nominated author of the Veronica Speedwell Mysteries, the Lady Julia Grey series, and several stand-alone novels, including Killers of a Certain Age. She lives in Virginia with her family.

Johnny Careless

 

Author: Kevin Wade

Narrator: John Pirhalla

Publisher: Macmillan Audio

Year: 2025

Jeep Mullane is back on his home turf. He’s now chief of police for the small town where he grew up. He’s navigating petty small town politics and trying to break up a ring of car thieves. Then Johnny, his best friend growing up, is found dead and it looks like murder. Johnny was from a wealthy family and an investigation will churn up old family secrets. Jeep’s past has crashed head on into his present leaving him with more questions than answers.

This is an impressive crime fiction debut from author Kevin Wade. This one is layered story and has an intricate plot. The timeline shifts from present to past. The flashback chapters show Jeep and Johnny as teens and young adults. These chapters gave me more a sense of Johnny’s personality and his family drama. Wade does a fantastic job of keeping the story tight and moving. The listening time for the audiobook is just over 7 hours. John Pirhalla’s narration is top notch. His performance conveys Jeep’s emotions at losing his best friend and the tension of the investigation. I highly recommend this smart and engrossing thriller. Hope to see more crime fiction from Wade. 

Do you need the ending of a story to neatly wrapped up and have all questions are answered? 

#crimefiction #mysterybooks #thrillerbooks #reader #bookrecomendation #booklover #bookstagram#librarybook #lovemylibrary #audiobook #audiobookstagram #audiobookreview #johnnycareless #kevinwade #debutnovel #2025debut #macmillanaudio  #thrillerthursday

About the Author

Kevin Wade is a playwright, screenwriter, and television writer and producer whose credits include the stage plays Key Exchange, Mr. & Mrs, and Cruise Control, and the screenplays for Working Girl (seven Academy Award nominations), True Colors, Mr. Baseball, Junior, Meet Joe Black, and Maid in Manhattan. For television, he created the ABC television drama Cashmere Mafia. In 2010 he joined the rookie CBS drama Blue Bloods as a writer, and since 2011 he has served as its showrunner, executive producer, and backseat driver. Wade was nominated for an Edgar Award for best episodic teleplay for the episode entitled “My Aim Is True.”

Beach Reads and Deadly Deeds

 

Author: Allison Brennan

Publisher: Harlequin Trade Publishing 

Publication date: June 17, 2025

It’s just about time to get read for summer beach reads and I have one you need to put at the top of your list. Thank you Harlequin Trade Publishing and NetGalley for the e-arc! 

Beach Reads and Deadly Deeds by Allison Brennan is a fun and entertaining romantic thriller. Mia is a book loving financial planner who’s on a vacation at an exclusive resort on a private island. Mia finds a book that belonged to a guest who recently went missing from the resort. When the missing woman’s body is discovered, Mia is sure the woman was murdered. While Mia searches for answers, she’s also on the lookout for some fun and finds it in the form of a very handsome and hot bartender. As Mia’s romance heats up, so does the danger. It seems everyone at the resort has secrets and Mia just might be the next target. 

This is an easy breezy read perfect for reading during a day at the pool, on the beach, or in your backyard. Mia is a likable and smart main character. The pacing of the story is steady and there’s lots of tension - both spicy and suspenseful. There’s plenty of suspects because it seems like almost everyone at the resort has secrets and there’s plenty of red herrings. Overall this makes for an entertaining romp of a mystery with some spicy scenes for extra fun. It’s out June 17 so preorder or add it to your tbr now. 

What’s the last book you preordered? 

#beachrradsanddeadlydeeds #allisonbrennan #hiveinfluencer #mysterybooks #romanticthriller #thrillerbooks #crimefiction #mysteryandthrillers #bookstagram #publishingsoon #booknerd 

About the Author

Allison Brennan is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling and award winning author of more than forty thrillers and numerous short stories. She was nominated for Best Paperback Original Thriller by International Thriller Writers, had multiple nominations and two Daphne du Maurier Awards, and is a five-time RITA finalist for Best Romantic Suspense. Allison believes life is too short to be bored, so she had five kids and writes three books a year. Originally from northern California, in 2019 she and her husband relocated to Arizona where they enjoy baseball Spring Training, hiking, and spending time with their kids, grandson, and assorted pets.

The Untended

 

Thank you She Writes Press for the gifted copy for Booksparks Summer Reading Challenge. 

Casch Abbey is a single mom of two young children. She works hard at her waitressing job. She’s tough. She dreams of becoming a nurse and buying a house. 

Casch’s life changes when an accident leaves her with a broken foot. Unable to work, the pain meds prescribed for her injury quickly become her only solace. As Casch spirals into addiction, her life unravels in ways she never imagined. 

This is a gritty story that’s all too familiar to so many people. The Untended is a moving debut novel. The writing is raw and powerful. It pulled me right into Casch’s world. This is a gut wrenching story and I was rooting for Casch the whole time. This is a story of love, heartache, and perseverance that will stay with me for a long time. 

The Untended is out today. Pick this one up if you’re looking for an unflinching and compelling novel. 

Are you picking up any new releases today? 

#theuntended #metteakramer #shewritespress #src2025 #booksparks #debutnovel #2025debut #contemporaryfiction #realisticfiction  #womensfiction #addiction #bookstagram #reader 

About the Author

Mattea Kramer is a writer and researcher who has been published in The Nationand has appeared on MSNBC. She lives in Amherst, Massachusetts.

The Last Dragon on Mars

 

Author: Scott Reintgen

Narrator: Landon Woodson

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio

Year: 2024

A space adventure featuring dragons? Yes, please! Space is filled with dragons. Every planet, moon, and star has one- except Mars. Mars’s dragon was killed long ago when mankind tried to make Mars habitable, and the planet has been dying since then. 

Lunar Jones is a Martian- born and raised on the red planet. He and his friends eke out a living finding scrap metal left over from a long ago war. While out scrapping, Lunar escapes a deadly storm by going underground and discovers a secret that will change not only his life, but also all of Mars. Swipe for the full synopsis. 

I really enjoyed this book. I loved Lunar Jones. He’s thoughtful, kind, brave, and loyal. I loved Dread and how he and Lunar bonded together. The pace moves along at a good clip which is so important to hold the attention of young readers. This is a great mix of fantasy and science fiction and it really works well. Even though this is a middle grade book, older teen readers can certainly enjoy it.

Landon Woodson does an excellent job with the narration. There are a lot of characters, but I had no trouble keeping track of who was who thanks to Woodson’s talents. 

This is great mix of action, adventure, and humor will appeal to readers of all ages. Shoutout to @ohiobookgirl for putting this book on my radar! 

How does your week look? 

#thelastdragononmars #scottreintgen #simonaudio #sciencefiction #fantasybooks #dragonsinspace #middlegradebooks #audiobook #audiobooklover #audiobookstagram #librarybooks #lovemylibrary 

About the Author

Scott Reintgen is a former public school teacher from North Carolina. When he’s not writing, he uses his imagination to entertain his wife, Katie, and their three children. Scott is the New York Times bestselling author of the Waxways series, the Nyxia trilogy, the Dragonships series, and the Celia Cleary series for younger readers.