A Sociopath’s Guide to a Successful Marriage

 

She doesn’t want a divorce. She wants a better house, better schools and maybe one well-timed murder.

A Sociopath’s Guide to a Successful Marriage by MK Oliver is the kind of wickedly fun domestic thriller that sinks its hooks in from page one and never lets up. The story follows Lalla Rook. She’s a wife, mother, and unapologetic shark in a sea of guppies. She has zero interest in pretending to be warm or charming. She’s cold. She’s calculating. She’s efficient to the point of being terrifying. She’s an absolute delight to read.

Lalla’s needs in life are simple: a better house, a better neighborhood, a better school for her kids, and a marriage that runs the way she thinks it should. It’s just smart planning if a few people need a gentle shove, a strategic bribe, or a well-timed threat to make things happen. But her perfectly organized life implodes the moment a dead man appears in her living room, and again when the first husband she left for dead years ago suddenly reenters the picture. Lalla’s daily to-do lists turn into full-tilt survival mission.

The themes of ambition, control, reinvention, and the blurred moral lines people cross to build the life they think they deserve are packaged with such dry, sharp humor that you can’t help but root for Lalla even when she’s doing something profoundly questionable. Her wit is accidental, her loyalty is conditional, and her problem-solving is borderline criminal. Watching her bulldoze obstacles and bully her friends “for their own good” is half the fun. The other half is seeing how deep she’s willing to dig her heels in when her master plan is threatened.

The pacing hums along, but the real engine is Lalla herself and every scheme, mess, and item she triumphantly crosses off her to-do list. It’s smart, sly, darkly funny, and just plain entertaining.

I had a blast with this book. Now I want to see what other shenanigans Lalla gets up to next. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Huge thanks to Atria for the advance copy. A Sociopath’s Guide to a Successful Marriage hits shelves February 17. You’ll definitely want to meet Lalla.

QOTD: Would you rather read about a likable main character or an interesting one?

#upcomingthriller #darkhumorbooks

#unlikablefemaleleads #bookstagramreads #atriabooks

About the Author

M.K. Oliver is a former English teacher and headteacher originally from Liverpool. He long dreamed of becoming a writer and after many years of working in schools, he took the exciting decision to put down the whiteboard marker, take up the keyboard, and give it a go. He enjoyed writing courses at Curtis Brown, Faber & Faber, and the Royal Court Theatre and now lives with his family and talkative cat in North London.

Five for Friday: Five Audiobooks for Holiday Downtime

 

Happy Friday bookish friends!

December listening doesn’t need to be ambitious. These are audiobooks for wrapping gifts, walking the dog, hiding in the car for ten extra minutes, or just letting someone else do the storytelling while your brain rests.

If you’re looking for holiday romcom audiobooks, romantic comedy audiobooks, or simply cozy audiobooks to help you unwind during a busy season, I got you. These are all easy, low-stress listens that shine on audio. They’re perfect for holiday downtime when you want something comforting, fun, and effortless.

What’s your go-to comfort listen this time of year — audiobooks or music?

#audiobookrecommendations

#holidayaudiobooks

#cozylistens

#romcomaudiobooks

#bookstagrammystyle

Meet the Newmans

 

Thank you to Macmillan Audio for the early listening copy! Out Jan. 6. 

Set in the 1960s, right as the country is on the brink of major social change, Meet the Newmans pulls back the curtain on a wildly popular family sitcom and reveals the complicated lives behind the scenes. I grew up watching shows like the fictional one in this book, so the nostalgia was immediate, along with the sobering reminders of a time when women couldn’t access birth control on their own or even have a credit card in their own name.

Onscreen, the Newman family is perfection: Del works, Dinah is the ideal stay-at-home wife, and sons Guy and Shep charm America each week. Offscreen, everything is unraveling. Del is hiding serious financial trouble. Shep, a talented musician, is suffocating under his carefully managed image. Guy is in a secret relationship with Kelly, an up-and-coming actor and in an era when studios controlled everything, Guy’s refusal to sacrifice that relationship is quietly powerful. Kelly becomes a calm, grounding presence for Guy and for the entire family as they face Del’s sudden coma and the chaos surrounding the show.

At the center of it all is Dinah. Challenged by a young female reporter for reinforcing limiting stereotypes, she’s forced to reevaluate her role. When crisis hits, she steps up. Dinah secures a sponsor for the season finale, hires the reporter to help rewrite the script, and helps push both the show and her family into new territory. Guy finally directs the finale, Shep claims both love and his music, and Dinah emerges transformed.

Marin Ireland and Tim Campbell deliver excellent narration. A nostalgic, thoughtful story about identity, reinvention, and breaking free from the roles we’re handed. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Is there a TV show from your childhood that still feels nostalgic to you?

About the Author

Jennifer Niven is the #1 New York Times and internationally bestselling author of thirteen books, fiction and nonfiction, including the massive breakout All the Bright Places, which she also adapted for film. Her award-winning books have been translated into more than seventy-five languages and have sold upward of 3.5 million copies worldwide. Jennifer has loved television and film her whole life and has been lucky enough to develop projects with Netflix, Sony, ABC and Warner Bros. She divides her time between coastal Georgia and Los Angeles with her husband and literary cats.

The Proving Ground

 

Michael Connelly is, hands down, the best modern-day crime fiction writer in the business today. The Proving Ground proves exactly why. This legal thriller dives into a case tangled up in the unchecked power of AI and the responsibility tech giants owe to the people who trust their products. Connelly doesn’t preach. He lays out a razor-sharp story that makes you think while it keeps your pulse up.

Mickey and his ex-wife Maggie are pulled together in the aftermath of Los Angeles’ devastating wildfires, and Connelly uses the city as only he can. It’s a living, breathing force that shapes choices his characters make. The fires bond them at first, but the emotional fallout threatens to splinter them all over again after Maggie loses everything.

The pace never stalls. The courtroom scenes are dramatic. There are tons of twists to keep even seasoned Connelly readers on their toes. And longtime fans will love the return of Jack McEvoy, a familiar face who fits perfectly into the case.

Peter Giles delivers a standout performance. He captures the tension, emotional weight, and the sharp edges of Connelly’s writing without ever overdoing it. His narration adds depth to an already gripping story. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

QOTD: Are you more likely to pick up a book for the plot or the themes?

#theprovingground #michaelconnelly

#legalthriller #crimefiction

#mysterybooks #thrillerreads

#audiobookreview #audiobooklover

#audiobookstagram #bookstagram

#bookreview #losangelesfiction

#courtroomdrama

About the Author

Michael Connelly is the author of thirty-eight previous novels, including #1 New York Times bestsellers Desert Star, The Dark Hours, and The Law of Innocence. His books, which include the Harry Bosch series, the Lincoln Lawyer series, and the Renée Ballard series, have sold more than eighty million copies worldwide. Connelly is a former newspaper reporter who has won numerous awards for his journalism and his novels. He is the executive producer of three television series: Bosch, Bosch: Legacy, and The Lincoln Lawyer. He spends his time in California and Florida.

Imposter

 

Imposter by J.L. Ross is a twisty blend of murder mystery and psychological suspense that drops you straight into a tight-knit village in rural western Ireland. When forensic psychologist Dr. Alexander Gregory arrives to consult on a shocking local killing, he comes off a bit cool and distant at first, but the more time you spend with him, the more you see the deeply compassionate man beneath that polished, guarded exterior.

The real magic of the book is the atmospheric setting. I loved the misty forest and the quiet coastline. They gave off the cozy vibes, but there was a menacing undertone. I especially loved Maggie Byrne, the village’s warm, but no nonsense mayor whose kindness is the perfect counterbalance to Alex’s reserve. This little village was packed with suspects, and the police were shocked at the realization the killer is one of their own. Every time I thought I had the murderer pinned down, another curveball hit. Two of the twists genuinely blindsided me, which is saying something.

This is a smart, layered thriller with atmosphere for days and a main character worth rooting for. This looks to be the first book in a planned series. Thanks to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for the complimentary review copy. Imposter lands on February 3. If you love psychological thrillers that keep you guessing right up to the final pages, add this one to your list. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Do you enjoy mysteries set in small towns or villages?

#mysteryreads

#psychologicalthriller

#bookstagram #bookreview

#upcomingbooks

#newreleases #thrillerbooks

#mysterylovers #crimefiction

#irishsetting #smalltownmystery

#bookrecommendations

About the Author 

LJ Ross is an international bestselling author, best known for creating atmospheric mystery and thriller novels, including the DCI Ryan series of Northumbrian murder mysteries which have sold over 10 million copies worldwide. Louise was born in Northumberland, England. She studied undergraduate and postgraduate Law at King’s College, University of London and then abroad in Paris and Florence. She spent much of her working life in London, where she was a lawyer for a number of years until taking the decision to change career and pursue her dream to write. Now, she writes full-time and lives with her family Northumberland, where she enjoys reading all manner of books, travelling and spending time with family and friends.

Murder at Holly House

 

Set at Christmastime in 1952, Murder at Holly House drops us into the seemingly sleepy village of Elderby, where Inspector Frank Grasby has been quietly exiled after an earlier investigation went spectacularly sideways thanks to a mishap involving a stable full of very expensive thoroughbred horses and an irritated aristocrat. His new assignment should be harmless enough. Look into the theft of some farm equipment. Nothing to see here or so it seems.

That illusion doesn’t last long. When Grasby discovers a dead man stuffed into a chimney at the local manor house, the case turns sharply darker. As he digs deeper, it becomes clear that Elderby is brimming with secrets, half-truths, and residents who are very much not what they appear to be. What starts as a small village mystery escalates into something far more dangerous, with implications that may reach beyond Elderby and into matters of national security.

Grasby is a delight. He’s charming and smart. He has a wonderfully dry, wry British sense of humor. He’s the kind of detective you’re happy to spend time with, even as the stakes rise and the threats close in. The book balances classic whodunit vibes with post-war tension, exploring themes of class, secrecy, loyalty, and the lingering shadows of World War II.

Tom Turner’s narration is excellent. His performance brings Grasby’s personality to life and captures the shifting moods of the story, from cozy village scenes to moments of genuine menace. It’s an immersive listen and one I didn’t want to end.

This is a terrific choice for Agatha Christie fans, historical fiction readers, and anyone looking for an offbeat holiday mystery that’s cozy but not toothless. Many thanks to Sourcebooks Audio for the gifted audiobook. Murder at Holly House is available now and it’s well worth your time. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Happy Monday bookish pals! QOTD: Do you like your holiday reads cozy and classic, or dark with a little bite?

#audiobookreview #murderathollyhouse #historicalmystery

#cozymysteryvibes #britishmystery

#holidayreads #christmasmystery

#whodunit #bookstagrammystery

#audiobooklover #bookishescape

#wintersreads #readmoremysteries

About the Author

Denzil Meyrick was from Campbeltown on the Kintyre Peninsula in Argyll. After studying politics, he enjoyed a varied career as a police officer, distillery manager, a director of several companies, and an executive producer of a major TV adaptation of his books. Regarded as 'One of Scotland's finest writers' (SWH), he was the No.1 New York Times bestselling author of the DCI Daley series, and the Detective Frank Grasby mysteries, including the Waterstones Thriller of the Month pick, Murder at Holly House. Denzil died peacefully at his home beside Loch Lomond in Scotland, in February 2025.

Five for Friday: Mysteries You Can Read in a Weekend

 

Need a mystery you can inhale in a single weekend? 

If you love twisty plots, short chapters, and that addictive just one more feeling, this list is packed with stories that deliver. From backwoods family crime to psychological mind games along the Nile, these picks will keep you turning pages way past your bedtime.

Which one are you adding to your weekend stack?

Happy Friday bookish friends! 

QOTD: What’s the last mystery or thriller you absolutely devoured in one sitting?

#mysterybooks #thrillerreads #fastreads #weekendreading #bookrecs #readersofinstagram #crimefiction #psychologicalthriller #backlistbooks #retiredlibrarianreads #fiveforfriday