Dollycas’s Best Reads of 2025
2025 was a wonderful year of reading for me!
So many 4 and 5-star reviews with only a few that didn’t hit the mark.
The books in this post were my favorites.
I would have rated them more than 5 stars.
I notice that 2 of these books “blew me away” 😆
No Roast for the Weary (A Coffeehouse Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
21st in Series
Setting – New York
Publisher : Berkley (April 1, 2025)
Hardcover : 368 pages
ISBN-10 : 0593642287
ISBN-13 : 978-0593642283
Digital ASIN : B0D8KDMP6S
When the Village Blend opens a Writer’s Block Lounge, a cold case crime turns up the heat on Clare and her crew in this gripping new entry in the beloved Coffeehouse Mystery series from New York Times bestselling author Cleo Coyle.
As much as master roaster Clare Cosi adores coffee, the landmark shop she manages won’t survive if she doesn’t sell enough of it. So when the Village Blend’s customer traffic grinds to a halt, she turns to her staff for creative ideas, and the Writer’s Block Lounge is born.
Madame, the eccentric octogenarian owner of the shop, is upset by this news. Years ago, a group of accomplished writers used the shop’s second-floor lounge to inspire each other, but the group disbanded when something dark occurred. Though that history is shrouded in mystery, Clare presses forward…
Soon the Village Blend tables are filled with aspiring novelists, playwrights, and poets, all happy to be coaxed, cajoled, and caffeinated by her coffeehouse crew. Clare admires the stamina of these scribes, many of them toiling at night jobs—driving taxis, tending bar, ushering for Broadway—while penning projects during the day.
Then one of their fictions turns fatal when a shocking secret leads to a deadly end. Unless Clare can untangle this mystery, uncover the truth, and stop a desperate killer, she fears more of these weary writers may be marked for eternal rest. ~ Includes a knockout menu of recipes.
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Village Blend has hit a rough patch. The customers are not pouring in for their coffee fix as much as they had before the pandemic. There are some real slumps in the day. So, master roaster and manager Clare Cozi pulls her great team of employees together to brainstorm some new ideas to get people in the coffeehouse and drinking their fine brews. Soon they land on the idea of the Writer’s Block Lounge with many thoughts on how to make it a success.
Strangely, Madame, the owner of Village Blend, has reservations about the plan. She explains this is not a new idea. Years ago, talented authors would gather in the lounge on the second floor and help to inspire and motivate each other, but the group fell apart when something terrible happened. Without a lot of details, Claire decides to give the Writer’s Block Lounge a try, and it is a rousing success, much better than she hoped. The second floor overflows with writers working on their craft.
An attack behind the coffeehouse sets off a series of shocking events. Clare needs to remain ultra-caffeinated as she tries to figure out if what is happening now is connected to the happenings in the past while trying to roast the person responsible. She also needs to find out what in the heck Matt’s up to. She knows it can’t be anything good.
The cast of characters Ms. Coyle has created for this series is fantastic. Clare Cosi and her staff are family; she values their opinions, and they take care of each other and truly care about their customers. In this story, Esther forms a unique and genuine bond with an older customer, whom they know as Mr. Scrib. When he has a medical emergency and is later attacked, it is “all hands on deck,” but with Esther in the lead to help her new friend. She takes on a huge obligation in the process.
I truly enjoy how the relationship between Clare and her fiancé, Lieutenant Mike Quinn, has progressed. They have built a high level of trust. They have great discussions, and their daily banter is priceless. They make a wonderful couple and team when things get complicated.
Madame, Blanche Dreyfus Allegro DuBois, Matt’s mother and Clare’s mentor, and owner of the Village Blend, is the connection to Writer’s Block Lounge of yesteryear. Clare wants to find out everything she can about the group, and she needs Madame to open some doors for her. The very active octogenarian is always on the go, and I find it delightful and inspiring. She also has a very interesting new man in her life. He had some great ideas for Clare about the business and the writer’s lounge.
Matt drove me a little crazy in this story. The wild wanderer made some curious moves, but you’ll have to read the story to learn more.
Ms. Coyle has wrapped her wonderful characters into a complex mystery with an abundance of moving parts. Linking the past to the present added many layers to what started as a single case of assault. A sign hung at the coffeeshop sent the entire story into motion. Missing manuscripts, a notebook full of codes, scary chases, a hit and run, secrets, lies, loaded gummies, an unusual pet, and I can’t forget murder had Clare, Esther, Nancy, Tucker, and Dante chasing clues around the city in search of the truth. Twists, turns, red herrings, and more had the pages flying. I loved following along, but the reveal was a total OMG! moment.
I have never traveled to the Big Apple, so I always enjoy the New York City details as the characters travel around the city. The Grand Maison hotel, the skyscrapers of the Financial District, the Theater District, and more, the taxi rides pointing out the sights really added to the story.
Cleo Coyle never disappoints. The husband and wife writing duo hit it way out of the park with No Roast for the Weary. They seem to top themselves with each new installment. This book receives my highest rating – A Trip to Paradise. I escaped right into the story and enjoyed every minute. Easily one of the best books I have read this year. Run, don’t walk to get your copy today!
Perfect Storm: A Mystery (Alaska Wild)
Mystery/Suspense
6th in Series
Setting – Alaska
Publisher : Minotaur Books (December 3, 2024)
Hardcover : 256 pages
ISBN-10 : 1250910463
ISBN-13 : 978-1250910462
Kindle ASIN : B0CQHLNGP8
The next installment in Paige Shelton’s Alaska Wild series, a gripping, atmospheric, traditional mystery series with a great wilderness hook.
Beth Rivers needs to disappear. Her one-time kidnapper, Travis, is on his way to her town in Alaska, and she’s losing time to get out quickly.
The perfect spot for Beth and her boyfriend, Tex, to hide, presents itself in a camp in the woods, away from Benedict. But when their trip takes them by Blue Mine, a small community that has seen tragedy over the last couple months, plans get diverted. Beth and Tex bring the widow of a recently murdered man back to Benedict, for Police Chief Gril to investigate, only to find that nothing is quite what it seems.
When the woman vanishes, Beth must be on the alert for further danger. Who knows what further unwelcome disappearances–or appearances–might be lurking in the unforgiving Alaska storms.
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Beth Rivers came to Benedict Alaska to hide from her kidnapper, Travis Walker. She had made friends and felt more at ease because the man had been captured. But during a recent transfer, he escaped and has made it known he is after Beth again. Her new friends have vowed to keep her safe. They come up with a plan to get her out of town. She and her boyfriend, Tex are going on a hike and will find the perfect place to set up camp until Travis is recaptured.
That plan is upended when Tex and Beth get near the tiny community of Blue Mine. They meet a woman heading to Benedict with her husband’s dead body atop a horse. After visiting the people at Blue Mine they learn of some strange happenings and other suspicious deaths. They agree to get her and the body back to Police Chief Gril so he can launch a full investigation.
Back in town, Beth is again on high alert but some of her protectors are on the way to Blue Mine. The widow disappears when a secret is revealed so others are searching to find her. With a limited number of people to keep her safe, they stay hyperaware because you never know who or what may be out in the Alaskan wilderness, especially during the unrelenting storms.
There are several reasons that this is one of my favorite series.
First, the characters in this series are unique and continue to grow in realistic ways. Beth gets more confident in every installment and every chapter. She and Viola are now true friends, both learning from each other. Viola is one tough lady but you have to be in the wilds of Alaska. Beth and Tex have a relationship that is in no way conventional but it works for them. Gril’s job is to keep everybody safe and he goes to all ends to do that. Beth’s safety is a priority for him. Orin is concerned about Beth’s safety as well. He has an actual fortress for her to stay in but she is too stubborn to take him up on his offer. Park Ranger Donner and Beth’s dad Eddy are also part of the team involved in Beth’s safety. The people who live in Benedict Alaska are strong and unshakeable. Ms. Shelton’s words bring these wonderful people to life. I could get dropped in Benedict today and pick out each one of them just from her words. I can’t forget Gus, he is such a smart and loyal dog.
Her descriptive details also set each scene vividly. The torrential rainstorms of course, but also the beauty of the entire area. The area around Blue Mine is so aptly described, as is an abandoned mine. The town of Benedict, Viola’s boardinghouse, Orin’s fortress, the mercantile, the bar, the post office, the trail to the library, and Beth’s old hunting shed. – everything is brilliantly described.
Ms. Shelton takes us to this amazing place and wraps her characters in a suspenseful mystery that is impossible to put down. With dead bodies, Bigfoot sightings, and a felon on the loose after one of their own, readers are pulled in and are allowed to travel along with Beth and her friends as they try to make sense of what is happening around them and if and how kidnapper Travis Walker is involved. Will they be able to find him before he finds Beth? The pages on my Paperwhite were flying and there truly were times I was at the edge of my seat.
Perfect Storm is a compelling, complex mystery plotted with such precision that it is absolutely a must-read. Full of suspense and drama with twists and turns, Ms. Shelton continues to impress me with every chapter. This series would make an excellent movie or short drama series. Someone call Netflix! You shouldn’t be surprised when I say this book deserves more than 5 stars. I am very intrigued about Beth’s next adventure.
Chocolate Can Be Deadly (Cupcake Catering Mystery Series)
Cozy Mystery
7th in Series
Setting – California
Publisher : Cinnamon & Sugar Press (January 28, 2025)
Print length : 284 pages
ASIN : B0CZRM17YF
Catering a post-Valentine’s Day Death by Chocolate dessert party should have been a delicious way to wrap up a week of romantic festivities. But when the new fiancé of the hostess is found dead during the event, clutching one of Emory’s chocolate cupcakes and a heart-shaped box of chocolates close by, the guests and the police put her at the top of their suspect list. With her cupcake catering business melting away as word spreads about the poisoning, Emory, and her octogenarian pal, Tillie, will need to pry into the sticky, dark secrets of the attendees. Will they uncover who’s been hiding a rotten center, or will the killer stir up danger and frost Emory for good?
Includes chocolate recipes!
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Emory reluctantly agrees to cater a post-Valentine’s Day Death by Chocolate dessert party but there was nothing romantic about the event. Hostess Frances Allain was a mean witch who had a beef with Tillie that she took out on Emory. Emory keeps her cool right up until Frances’s new fiancé dies with a “half-eaten mudslide cupcake” near “his outstretched hand” and Frances accuses her of murdering the man.
Word gets out about the death and order after order is canceled. With her business in peril, Emory and her friend and mentor Tillie are putting their sleuthing skills to the test and doling out cupcakes to open doors to get the information they need to frost the real killer. Will they reveal the killer? Or will the killer catch them? Has Emory baked her last cupcake? Will Tillie have any more Sunday dinners?
The core characters in this series have a strong family bond. Some are actual family but others have been adopted into the fold. They have fun together, have family dinners, support each other through the good and stressful times, and solve murders together. Genuine, meaningful, and heartwarming relationships, they are a delightful group.
The mystery of the poison cupcakes hit Emory hard. How did someone do it with her right there? Why is this new detective so sure she did it? Why isn’t he investigating anyone else? Thankfully she has Detective Gabe O’Neill in her corner, but she can’t just sit on her hands and lose her business. Tillie jumps right in to help. She has the contacts and the net worth that gets them into places and meetings with people that a cupcake baker can’t. Usually, they have Tillie’s driver on hand if things get dicey. He is devoted to Tillie and will do anything she asks, even acting as a server for a post-Valentine’s Day Death by Chocolate dessert party. He has keen observation skills and can blend in if necessary. I enjoy the three of them working together. I follow along closely, clue after clue, and a red herring or two. As for me, I had an inkling of who the killer could be but was surprised when a connection and motive were revealed. The showdown was quick and exciting.
With a cupcake baker as our protagonist, you know there will be a lot of talk about cupcakes, and some other food too, but mostly cupcakes. I made sure to have some on hand because as this is the 7th book in the series I knew what to expect. No boozy mudslide ones though, but there is a recipe for them at the end of the book which I will be trying out soon. There are several other recipes too, some gluten-free and vegan.
Chocolate Can Be Deadly puts forth a puzzling whodunit for Ms. Davis’s wonderful characters and her readers. I anxiously await each new book in this series and then I devour it all in one sitting with at least 2 cupcakes. This author keeps topping herself with engaging characters and well-plotted and well-written mysteries. Each new book becomes my new favorite. I loved the ending. The entire series is fantastic and I recommend them all. Like others in this series, I want to give it more than 5 stars.
Exposing Lethal Secrets
Inspirational Romantic Suspense
3rd in Series
Setting – California desert and Florida forest
Publisher : Love Inspired Suspense
Publication date : July 1, 2025
Print length : 208 pages
ISBN-10 : 1335980687
ISBN-13 : 978-1335980687
Digital ASIN : B0DFQCVR9L
Audiobook ASIN B0DK44F6MS
This bodyguard and his K-9
will do anything to uncover the truth.Stumbling upon a burning car and rescuing an injured woman wasn’t on bodyguard Caleb Miller’s vacation itinerary—nor were the gunmen who open fire on them. But Olivia Delaney has no memory of who she is or how she got there, only that she is under threat. Vowing to protect the woman in danger, Caleb and his K-9 go on the run with Olivia. As they work to stay a step ahead of her pursuers, they must untangle her past together…before her family’s deadly schemes bury them both.
From Love Inspired Suspense: Courage. Danger. Faith.
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Olivia Delaney came to California following her father’s death and stayed, taking an entry-level position in the family business, now being run by her half-brother. She soon noticed some irregularities and worked to find the proof. She intended to turn her evidence over to the authorities, but before she could, she was involved in a terrible accident and lost her memory.
Caleb Miller and his K-9, Ranger, were on vacation in the California desert after working on a harrowing case for Jameson Investigations, when he noticed “a plume of smoke… intruding on the wispy clouds dotting the cerulean sky”. Following the smoke, he finds a car on fire and an injured woman. He does call his boss for help, but before it arrives, two gunmen find them and open fire.
This sets off a chase across the country as Caleb tries to keep them alive, as Olivia tries to remember what got her into this mess in the first place.
Ms. Alexander’s characters literally hit the ground running, and they take us with them on a wild journey at high speed. From the desert of California to the swamps of Florida, this story is full of action and suspense.
It took Olivia a little time to trust Caleb, and he doubted her memory issues once or twice, but they quickly learned that they needed to lean on each other to survive and get someplace safe. The romance building between them was sweet, with more important emphasis on their safety. I appreciated how the author wove faith throughout the story naturally. Olivia was living a nightmare even before she lost her memory, but she leaned on her faith and became more and more courageous with each roadblock they encountered. Caleb was a hero and a caring, patient man with a great sense of humor. Amid scary situations and several injuries, they would take a beat, plan, and follow through. I was immediately invested in both Caleb’s and Olivia’s lives. And Ranger was a lovable, amazing, well-trained canine who wormed his way right into my heart.
Exposing Lethal Secrets is a thriller that you need to plan for before you start reading. It is a book that is impossible to put down. Courage. Danger. Faith. This story is action-packed, filled with suspense, a side of romance, a touch of humor, and inspiring messages of faith. I was up late thinking… just one more chapter… just one more chapter until I reached the final page. As the title states, the secrets are lethal. Add to that, the betrayal is real. I wanted to see justice. I wanted to see Olivia safe and happy. And I was going to sleep until my wants were fulfilled. Ms. Alexander blew me away with this one. For all those reasons, you will find Exposing Lethal Secrets on my best reads of 2025.
Guess Again
Psychological Suspense Thriller
Setting – Wisconsin
Publisher : Kensington
Publication date : July 29, 2025
Print length : 352 pages
Hardcover
ISBN-10 : 1496753968
ISBN-13 : 978-1496753960
Kindle
ISBN-13 : 978-1496753984
ASIN : B0DLR44W2B
Silence of the Lambs meets Cruel Summer in GUESS AGAIN, as #1 internationally bestselling author Charlie Donlea dives into the long shadow of trauma on a small town, hybristophilia and the allure of evil, and the toll the truth can take on those who hunt for it…
A missing girl: 17-year-old Callie Jones was the all-American sweetheart of her small Wisconsin community. No one could have guessed that one summer night at her friends’ lake party would be the last time anyone would see her. A highly publicized search followed, but her body was never found. Callie’s case went cold.
A former renegade cop: 10 years ago, Ethan Hall was the detective assigned to Callie’s case. When all leads slipped through his fingers and the trail went cold, Ethan’s guilt led him to leave law enforcement and the trauma of the child crime unit. But now, when Ethan’s former partner requests his help on the 10th anniversary of Callie’s disappearance, Ethan reluctantly agrees to be brought back into the fold.
A twisted killer: Serial killer Francis Bernard was sentenced to life behind bars—but he has no plans to stay locked up in his tiny cell. When cop Ethan Hall turns to him for information on Callie’s case, Francis sees his chance. Twisting him into his psychological web, Ethan thinks he’s safe with Francis locked up, but little does Ethan know, Francis has hands on the outside. And she’s willing to die for him.
A woman with a dangerous obsession: Eugenia Morgan is lucky, she knows some people spend a lifetime trying to find their soulmate, but she’s already got hers. She just has to break him out of prison first…
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Ten years ago, 17-year-old Callie Jones went missing, shocking the small town of Cherryview, Wisconsin, to its core. Ethan Hall and Pete Kramer were the DCI investigators assigned to the case. The state senator’s daughter was last seen at a party on the lake, and even with an intensive search, she was never found, and the case went cold. The case was so heartbreaking and challenging for Ethan that he left law enforcement and returned to school to become an ER doctor, where he felt he could save more lives.
Now, the state senator is the Governor of Wisconsin, there’s a new crew of law enforcement officials, and Pete has been haunted by the case that eluded them; his health is also failing, and now he has requested they take one more look at Callie’s case, and he wants Ethan’s help.
Serial killer Francis Bernard is serving a life sentence at a high-security prison. He claims to have information about Cassie’s disappearance, with hopes to parlay it into better terms for his incarceration. Ethan has a history with the man, but doesn’t know the powder keg he is about to open to get that information.
Mr. Donlea packs punch after punch into the pages of Guess Again and makes this book impossible to put down.
Living in “Prison City,” Wisconsin, I was excited to see places I know within the story. Some of the landmarks and lakes appear to be fictionalized, but feel true to the area. The author knows how to set a scene and make the reader feel like they are right in the room.
Told from several points of view in short, titled chapters, the story unfolds quickly, changing back and forth in time, traveling around the state, without much time to take a breath. With twist after twist, Guess Again is the perfect title. While the entire book is intense, Part VII, Loose Ends, is particularly terrifying and thrilling. Ethan, thinking he is making the right move, turns out to be totally wrong. Edge-of-my-seat chaos had me holding my breath.
Ethan is a true good guy, so it is easy to root for him. His girlfriend, Detective Maddie Jacobson, is twisted up in the case from the start, truly even before it begins, frighteningly and heartbreakingly. Their relationship was tested; it had to be strong to survive, and many would have caved under the turmoil and the pressure. The evidence revealed at the end was mind-blowing for Ethan, and he needed some time, but the final chapters are complete with a cliffhanger, leaving the option wide open to visiting these characters again.
I have Mr. Donlea to thank for my latest book hangover, because I stayed up way too late to finish this gripping suspense thriller. Then I couldn’t get to sleep replaying the story in my head and my imagination working overtime. It’s very easy to say this is one of the best books I have read this year. Guess Again will have everyone second- and third-guessing again and again and hanging on tight to see what happens next.
Mrs. Christie at the Mystery Guild Library (Mrs. Christie Series)
Mystery
1st in Series
Setting – Greenwich Village in New York City (primarily near Washington Square)
Publisher : Berkley
Publication date : August 26, 2025
Print length : 368 pages
ISBN-10 : 0593818814
ISBN-13 : 978-0593818817
Digital ISBN-13 : 978-0593818831
ASIN : B0DP3R1Q9G
Audiobook ASIN B0DPJK5BPS
Book conservator Tory Van Dyne and a woman claiming to be Agatha Christie on holiday from the Great Beyond join forces to catch a killer in this spirited mystery from Amanda Chapman.
Tory Van Dyne is the most down-to-earth member of a decidedly eccentric old-money New York family. For one thing, as book conservator at Manhattan’s Mystery Guild Library, she actually has a job. Plus, she’s left up-town society behind for a quiet life downtown. So she’s not thrilled when she discovers a woman in the library’s Christie Room who calmly introduces herself as Agatha Christie, politely requests a cocktail, and announces she’s there to help solve a murder— that has not yet happened.
But as soon as Tory determines that this is just a fairly nutty Christie fangirl, her socialite/actress cousin Nicola gets caught up in the suspicious death of her less-than-lovable talent agent. Nic, as always, looks to Tory for help. Tory, in turn, looks to Mrs. Christie. The woman, whoever or whatever she is, clearly knows her stuff when it comes to crime.
Aided by an unlikely band of fellow sleuths —including a snarky librarian, an eleven-year-old computer whiz, and an NYPD detective with terrible taste in suits—Tory and the woman claiming to be her very much deceased literary idol begin to unravel the twists and turns of a murderer’s devious mind. Because, in the immortal words of Miss Jane Marple, “murder is never simple.”
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Tory Van Dyne is a book conservator at Manhattan’s Mystery Guild Library, who, thanks to her old-money New York family, lives in an apartment above the library and its wonderful Christie Room. A room that is not only an architectural replica of Christie’s Greenway library, including reproductions of the “wonderfully eclectic furnishings,” but filled with copies of over 4000 volumes that also fill the Greenway shelves. It is there that Tory finds a woman who claims to be Agatha Christie herself. She asks for a cocktail, and then explains she is there to solve a murder. A murder that has no victim or suspects because it hasn’t happened – yet!
Not sure how to handle her guest, Tory sets out to appease the woman, and then her cousin Nicola, an actress, finds herself embroiled in the investigation of the untimely death of her agent, Howard Calhoun. Mrs. Christie is delighted to help Nicola and Tory uncover the truth. Soon, the three are joined by the Guild’s head librarian, Adrian Gooding, Mairead Butler, a tech-savvy 11-year-old with a cute little Yorkie named Tony (yes, just like Agatha had), and a handsome NYPD detective who needs to find a good tailor, Sebastian Mendez-Cruz, all eager to help solve the case before the body count rises.
The first thing I noticed about this book is that the author, Amanda Chapman, has to be a huge Agatha Christie fan who put in the time to do a lot of research to bring her vision of “What if someone recreated Agatha Christie’s personal library” in New York City and explored the interesting things that could happen there. She hit it out of the park!
Seriously, Agatha, also known as Mrs. Mallowan, on a little vacay just shows up, how would you react? I would be just like Tory and “tread carefully”. Tory hits all the right notes: cautious, friendly, confused, gentle. The woman’s hand was warm; she was drinking cocktails, and she knew all the history. I loved it. The supporting cast is crazy, but it works. An 11-year-old fits right in. The good detective is taken in by Mrs. Mallowan’s charm, knowledge, and the way she works through a set of clues. Librarian Adrian, like Tory, has a lot of questions about the woman, but it also taken in by her and what she offers to the group. All the characters are curious, making them engaging and compelling. I also found the Van Dyne family to be very eccentric and set in their ways. Those weekly mandatory dinners were trying at best, painful at worst.
I loved the setting of the four-story Greek revival townhouse by the park with its library and special rooms: The Agatha Christie Room, the Dashiell Hammett Room, the Edgar Award Winners Room, and the Golden Age Room, on the first two floors, and Tory’s apartment filling the upper two floors. The author’s descriptive details brought the building to life, especially The Christie Room. I felt like I was dropped into an armchair right next to the bar cart with a special classic cocktail in my hand. I could even smell the old books.
There are many moving parts to this mystery, which involves Nicola, two of her friends, and people in their show business world. It was complicated by moving timelines, twisty motives, and unpredictable turns. I enjoyed how they met often in the Christie room to compare notes. Mrs. Christie’s unique mindset, memories, and ability to see things from many different angles helped to move the case forward. Everyone had things to contribute and theories to work through. Mairead flipped open her laptop to take notes and research items on the fly, but had some great ideas, too. I had so much fun just following along with it all that my personal quest to solve the mystery was left at the wayside. I escaped deep into this one and was totally entertained.
The quotes at the start of each chapter were a nice touch.
“I admit,” I said, “that a second murder often cheers things up.” ~Arthur Hastings, The ABC Murders
Mrs. Christie at the Mystery Guild Library has set this series off to a fantastic start. Ms. Chapman put in the time and energy to give her readers a contemporary mystery with a classic feel, and is a wonderful tribute to the Queen of Crime. She hits the tone perfectly, adds touches of humor and romance while weaving in Christie history in all the right places. I stayed up late reading this one. I am beyond excited to see where she takes this series. I am adding Mrs. Christie at the Mystery Guild Library to my Best Reads of 2025. A must-read for mystery lovers and fans of Dame Agatha.
Vice and Virtue (A Layla Virtue Mystery)
Traditional Mystery
Publisher : Kensington (April 29, 2025)
Hardcover : 320 pages
ISBN-10 : 1496748557
ISBN-13 : 978-1496748553
Kindle ASIN : B0D1QY86NV
Audio CD ASIN: B0F47NM155
Audiobook ASIN B0DVMFPGMH
Layla Virtue, a blue-haired, 30-something recovering alcoholic and former cop is trying to reinvent herself as a musician—between AA meetings, dodging eccentric neighbors at her trailer park, and reconnecting with her mysterious dad—in this unforgettable new mystery brimming with hilarity and heart for readers of Margot Douaihy, Jane Pek, and Darynda Jones.
Layla is taking her new life one day at a time from the Lake Pinecrest Trailer Park she now calls home. Being alone is how she likes it. Simple. Uncomplicated. Though try telling that to the group of local ladies who are in relentless pursuit of Layla as their new BFF, determined to make her join them for coffee and donuts.
Meanwhile, since her first career ended in a literal explosion, Layla’s trying to eke out a living as a rock musician. It’s not easy competing against garage bands who work for tacos and create their music on a computer, while all she has is an electric guitar and leather-ish pants. But Layla isn’t in a position to turn down any gig. Which is why she’s at an 8-year-old’s birthday party, watching as Chuckles the Clown takes a bow under the balloon animals. No one expects it will be his last . . .
Who would want to kill a clown—and why? Layla and her unshakable posse are suddenly embroiled in the seedy underbelly of the upper-class world of second wives and trust fund kids, determined to uncover what magnetic hold a pudgy, balding clown had over women who seem to have everything they could ever want. Then again, Layla knows full well that people are rarely quite what they seem—herself included . . .
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Layla Virtue now calls the Lake Pinecrest Trailer Park home. The 30-something blue-haired former cop is trying to hold on to her sobriety as she tries to make a living as a musician. So, she is playing at dive bars, open mic nights, and kids’ birthday parties, hoping to get her big break. She also attends AA meetings and is doing all she can to avoid interacting with her neighbors.
When a clown dies at one of the kids’ parties right in front of her eyes, her life under the radar explodes. Soon, a group of women from the AA meetings are determined to become friends, and a new neighbor has caught her interest. The women are on board to help her delve into the lives of the upper-class wives, some of whom had romantic relationships with the most undesirable Chuckles the Clown, to try to see who took him down as he made his final balloon animal, and why.
Libby Klein’s fabulous sense of humor shines from the very first line and is on display until the very last line. In between, there is a heck of a story.
Layla Virtue had a devastating event in her past, which led her to make some drastic changes. Ms. Klein reveals what that event was slowly, which draws the reader in magnificently, wanting to learn the backstory of our flawed protagonist. We also meet Layla’s dad, a famous rocker from back in the day, who was touring until shortly before he arrived for his visit. Trying to keep his identity a secret led to some truly hilarious moments. Layla has a new canine neighbor who spends more time with her than he does with his hunky owner. We also meet Layla’s other neighbors, members of her AA group, and mothers of the children at the kids’ birthday parties. All were cleverly crafted with depth and their own battles, flaws, and responsibilities.
The author has wrapped her characters in an incredible story with a tough-to-solve mystery. There are so many people who could have wanted Chuck McCracken, aka Chuckles the Clown, dead. Being a former cop, Layla knows the ins and outs of an investigation. Asking the right questions, following the clues, circling back to ask more questions, staying ready for the twists and turns. Having new friends to help her was an added plus. I had a great time following them step by step until the sting when all was revealed.
In addition to the mystery, we delve into Layla’s father’s life and the hole in Layla’s life while he was off touring. It tugged on my heartstrings as they came back together, and how he showed his love for her. It was always the right way, but his heart was in the right place. He does bring a lot of humor to the story, but he also brought tears to my eyes.
This story is filled with multiple themes: friendship, aging, PTSD, dementia, fraud, gambling, and murder. These tough topics are wonderfully entwined in a book filled with heart and humor.
Vice and Virtue has set this series off to a fantastic start. It was impossible to put down. Funny, smart, heartwarming, and entertaining. I loved every minute of it. I am over the moon excited for this series to continue. I enjoyed it so much, I am giving it my A Trip to Paradise rating, and it will hold a place on my Best Reads of 2025 list.
Nobody’s Fool (Detective Sami Kierce)
Suspense/Thriller
2nd in Series
Setting – New York – Spain
Publisher : Grand Central Publishing (March 25, 2025)
Hardcover : 352 pages
ISBN-10 : 1538756358
ISBN-13 : 978-1538756355
Kindle ASIN : B0CW1CYLGN
Audiobook ASIN B0DHDDS3PT
A year after the devastating events that took place in Harlan Coben’s bestselling thriller and #1 Netflix series Fool Me Once, a secret from former Detective Sami Kierce’s college days comes back to haunt him.
MALAGA – 2000
Sami Kierce, a young man backpacking in Spain with friends, wakes up one morning to discover he’s covered in blood. There’s a knife in his hand. Beside him, the body of a woman. Anna. Dead. He doesn’t know what happened. He begins to scream.NEW YORK CITY – 2025
Kierce, now a disgraced detective, is teaching night classes when he recognizes a familiar face in the crowd. Anna. It’s unmistakably her. As soon as Kierce makes eye contact with her, she runs. For Kierce there is no choice. He must find this woman and solve the impossible mystery that has haunted his every waking moment since that day.His investigation will bring him face-to-face with his past. Soon, he discovers that some secrets should stay buried . . .
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Former Detective Sami Kierce is now teaching night classes. It is there that his past from 25 years ago hits him right in the face. A woman he was afraid he killed just walked into his class. He met Anna while he was backpacking in Spain with friends in 2000. His friends moved on and he stayed with her until he woke up one morning with a knife in his hand, covered in blood, and Anna dead.
The woman runs from his classroom as soon as he sees her. That moment in Malaga is heavily etched in his memory. Could Anna truly be alive? Is he hallucinating? What really happened that night? He can’t let it go. He has to find her. But he may regret tracking her down. Should the past remain in the past? Could it be dangerous? Will someone else die? Could Sami be killed? Is he putting his wife and young son in jeopardy?
Fool Me Once was released on March 22, 2016. It quickly became a favorite Coben thriller. While I remembered much about the story, I was thrilled that Netflix adapted it and released it in an 8-episode limited series last year which I binge-watched a few weeks ago. This not only made the story fresh in my mind, but it also put faces on Sami and the characters who join Sami Kierce in Nobody’s Fool.
Sami went through a lot in Fool Me Once, he is no longer a detective but works as a private investigator and teaches a night class in criminology with some very interesting students. He is still in contact with his ex-partner Marty and is married to Molly with an infant son named Henry. Life wasn’t great but they were getting by when his past walks back in his life. Molly and Henry are good for Sami, they keep him grounded as chaos starts to surround him. Their love is palpable and Molly is a treasure. Sami is a smart man with a good heart and when he starts something he intends to finish it, no matter where the clues lead. All the characters in this story are complex and well-crafted. Their interactions feel true and I enjoy the humor and sarcasm I have come to expect in Mr. Coben’s stories.
Mr. Coben never disappoints. Nobody’s Fool is full of plotlines twisted together with tons of action and suspense. Kierce has his class working a cold case after the guilty party was released from prison on a technicality. They have also convinced him to let them help with the Anna matter. As much as you try to figure out where the author is taking his characters and us readers, my advice is to just hold on and enjoy the ride because there are twists upon twists, turns upon turns, surprises, and edge-of-your-seat moments that only Harlan Coben can provide. I have to say the unexpected ending threw me for a loop. I had to pick my jaw up off the floor. Wow! Just WOW! Then stay tuned for the cliffhanger.
Nobody’s Fool is a fast-paced suspense thriller that blew me away. Another extraordinary story from Mr. Harlan Coben. I hope NetFlix picks this one up too. I already felt like I was watching all the drama, tension, and suspense unfold before my eyes so I would love to see what they would do with it. I also hope we don’t have to wait another 10 years for another Detective Sami Kierce book because I am very intrigued to see where life takes him next.
Look for Nobody’s Fool on my Best Reads of 2025.
Missing at Christmas (Love Inspired Suspense)
Inspirational Romantic Suspense
Christian Mystery & Suspense
Setting – Montana
Publisher : Love Inspired Suspense
Print length : 208 pages
Paperback
ISBN-10 : 1335957367
ISBN-13 : 978-1335957368
Digital
ISBN-13 : 978-0369772435
ASIN : B0DWN1VWZC
A dangerous family legacy.
A race to save a baby in jeopardy.When journalist Lexi McKenna receives a desperate call for help, she rushes to her sister’s home, only to find her sister dead and one of her twin nieces missing. With her past mafia ties resurfacing, Lexi must go on the run with agent Noah Thompson to protect herself from her father’s enemies. Although Lexi is the daughter of the mob boss who murdered Noah’s brother, Noah will do anything to take down her family—even work with her. As danger looms from all sides, they must find the abducted baby and dismantle a criminal empire before Lexi and her nieces end up as collateral damage.
From Love Inspired Suspense: Courage. Danger. Faith.
Dollycas’s Thoughts
The Jameson Investigations Series continues with Missing at Christmas. Several years ago, Lexi and her sister Gia walked out of their father’s home and left him and his crime family behind. They changed their names, moved around, “bouncing from place to place”, but her sister made a huge error, and by the time Gia calls Lexi, it is too late. She arrived at her sister’s and found her shot dead, and one of her twins missing. She has no idea who she can trust and who will help her find her other niece.
Enter Noah Thompson, an agent with Jameson Investigations. He convinces her to go on the run with him to keep her and her niece, Alyssa, safe while looking for her niece, Avery. He vows to protect her, but he has his own motives for wanting to work with her. Her father murdered his brother, and he will do anything to take that crime family down.
It will take courage and faith to face the danger in front of them as they try to find the infant that was abducted and to make the Cipriana crime family pay.
Hold on tight! This story has a rapid pace that doesn’t let up until we reach the final pages.
Lexi McKenna is on an emotional rollercoaster as Noah rushes to get her and her baby niece, Alyssa, to safety after a coldhearted meeting with her father, where gunshots rang out as she was leaving. She thinks she knows a safe haven, but it could also be a trap. Noah, a former NYPD officer, is a man on a mission, really two. One to get revenge for his brother’s death, and two to protect a woman he just met and her niece. Both, he is already developing feelings for. Throw in a good Montana snowstorm, and you have all the makings of an excellent romantic suspense novel.
Lexi is a fighter. She spent years protecting her sister all on her own, so it is hard for her to trust anyone. It’s not just Noah she needs to trust, either; it’s his boss, Zac Jameson, and his team. Mason, Chase, Caleb, Olivia, K9 Agent, Ranger, and Angela, who are all on board to help her. It’s overwhelming and true to real life; she struggled. Noah walked the fine line between being an agent and his personal feelings. We have met the team members in previous books, but you do not need to read other books in the series to escape into this one. I enjoy that they remain active and relevant as the series continues.
The weather played a huge part in this book; sometimes they had to hunker down and wait, and these characters, good guys and bad guys, are not patient. Ms. Alexander brings all the elements to life, making the reader feel they are part of the scene. You can feel the bitter cold and be blinded by the wind and snow. We can also feel the tension soaring in our bones, making this book impossible to put down.
All the books in the series have a strong faith theme, and the characters share a common bond. They have been through a lot in their lives and have leaned on God to get them through it. They share their traumatic events and see that they can lean on each other as well.
What I have found reading this series by Deena Alexander is that you need to plan before you begin reading, because once you start, you will not stop. Each chapter leads seamlessly into the next and the next until you find you have moved yourself to the very edge of your seat as you enter the final chapter. You will be able to finally take a breath when you reach the Epilogue, where any remaining questions are answered, and realize you can’t wait for the next book in the Jameson Investigations Series.
Courage. Danger. Faith. Deena Alexander delivers it all in this thrilling and chilly Inspirational Romantic Suspense novel. Tightly plotted and so well written, light romance, some humor, and inspiring messages of faith run through a story filled with non-stop action, drama, and suspense. Just like Exposing Lethal Secrets, which I read and reviewed in July, this one will have a place among my Best Reads of 2025. It is a must-read for fans of this genre.
Murder in Manhattan
Historical Mystery
Setting – New York
Publisher : Forever
Publication date : December 9, 2025 – Today
Print length : 352 pages
Paperback
ISBN-10 : 1538773562
ISBN-13 : 978-1538773567
Kindle
ISBN-13 : 978-1538773574
ASIN : B0F3VFFN45
Audiobook
ASIN B0F4G5YXMM
Inspired by one of the first real-life female columnists at the New Yorker, this enticing historical mystery follows Freddie Archer as she solves crimes while reporting on the glamorous world of the rich and famous in 1920s Manhattan.
This writer just found her next scoop . . . and it’s deadly.
New York, 1925 – Freddie Archer frequents speakeasies and wild parties and the newest restaurants with her friends Dorothy Parker and Tallulah Bankhead. And the best part is that it’s all in a day’s work. Freddie loves her job writing the nightlife column for Gotham Magazine.
But Freddie’s latest piece just won her a bit more attention than she bargained for—from the police. A man mentioned in her column has been murdered. And Freddie is asked to keep an eye out for his fashionable female dinner companion. She’s told in no uncertain terms to stay out of the case herself.
So naturally, Freddie throws herself into an investigation that takes her from the elegant stores that line Fifth Avenue to the tenements south of Houston Street. Now between sipping gin rickeys with Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald and casting Broadway shows with Groucho Marx, she’s dodging bullets and dating a potentially dangerous bootlegger.
Freddie wanted adventure and excitement. But will she survive it?
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Freddie Archer writes a nightlife column for Gotham Magazine in New York, 1925, which means hitting all the hottest restaurants, speakeasies, and wild parties. What makes the job grand is taking her friends, Tallulah Bankhead and Dorothy Parker, along. Murder had never been one of the perks, but when a man mentioned in her column was killed, Detective Sullivan arrived at her office and asked for her help. Freddie had seen the man with a “pretty in a kittenish way” woman, and now the detective needs her to alert him if she sees her again, but not to approach the woman.
Freddie, with her inquisitive reporter nature, decides to go all in on the investigation. Wouldn’t it be the bees’ knees if she could catch the killer? She is soon sipping gin rickeys with Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald and asking Groucho Marx for favors. She is drawn to a man who could be trouble. And when the bullets start flying, she picks up some personal protection.
New York can always be interesting and exciting, but now for Freddie, it can be downright dangerous. Will she catch the killer and live to write about it? Or has she submitted her last story?
As a fan of Julie Mulhern Country Club Murders and the Poppy Fields Adventures, I had to read this book! Fans will immediately recognize Mulhern’s unique writing style as she introduces her characters and sets up a wonderful mystery.
Freddie Archer is a fantastic protagonist. She is fun, fearless, and free to follow the clues wherever they lead. Ms. Mulhern has surrounded Freddie with real 1920s celebrities like Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald. She is also great friends with Tallulah Bankhead and Dorothy Parker. As soon as Dorothy Parker was mentioned, it harkened my back to J.J. Murphy’s
I loved that we are treated to Freddie composing her columns while she ventures out by herself or with others.
“A night in the city holds untold delights – the jazz band at the Cotton Club, the breeze off the Hudson at a rooftop party . . . The darkness also holds staggering risks. If one is caught in a dangerous situation . . . a bootlegger turf war . . . one should look for a sturdy table under which to hide.”
The Roaring ’20s were quite a wild time, especially for women like Freddie. I enjoyed the author’s detailed descriptions that brought each character to life, along with the New York nightlife and the seedier parts of the city. All the glitz and glamour of Manhattan played side by side with the corruption of bootlegging. The banter between the characters was marvelous and funny in all the right places. You can tell the author heavily researched the time period. From the food to the fashion to the feminism, Mulhern is exceptional.
As the bodies start to pile up, Freddie is surrounded by mobsters and bootleggers, and elite celebs as she tries to know who she can trust to help her get to the truth. With a variety of twists and turns, Freddie finds herself in dangerous situations, but she never gives up. She even comes up with a plan, but can she convince the cops that it will work?
Escape into Prohibition-era New York and be prepared to fall hard for Freddie Archer! Murder in Manhattan is a fast-paced, sockdolager mystery with strong female characters. Mulhern is a great storyteller who can combine thriller elements with humor and a touch of romance, treating readers to a story you will want to share with everyone you know. I loved everything about this story. Oh, please, please, please, tell me this book is the start of a series! I need more Freddie Archer. You will find this book on my Best Reads List for 2025.
A Poetic Pox: A Lady Librarian Mystery
Historical Cozy Mystery
3rd in Series
Setting – 1786, England
Publisher: Dreamscape First
Audible.com Release Date: July 22, 2025
Listening Length: 8 hours and 18 minutes
Author: Samantha Larsen
Narrator: Marni Penning
ASIN: B0FBBG4GZC
1786, England
It is the twelve days of Christmas, and Mrs. Tiffany Lathrop is happily juggling her duties as a new mother and a librarian to Catharine, the Duchess of Beaufort. Her employer receives a mysterious letter from an old paramour, the Marquess of Harwood, who is the biological father of Catharine’s son. He promises to leave his estate and fortune to Beau if he can see the boy before he dies.
Her elder son, Thomas Montague, has a terrible cold, so Catharine asks Tiffany to accompany her and Beau. When they arrive at the dilapidated abbey, they discover a dead body—only it isn’t the marquess, but his valet! Lord Harwood is alive, but unconscious with suspicious-looking pox marks on his hands. Tiffany wonders if the marquess is really dying, or if it is all poetic revenge? Especially when she discovers the secrets that haunt Rosedean Abbey.
Between breastfeeding and dirty diapers, Tiffany must discover who killed the valet and attempted to murder the marquess before anyone else dies.
©2025 Samantha Larsen (P)2025 Dreamscape First
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Mrs. Timothy Lathrop is loving life this holiday season with her husband, Samir, their adopted son, Nat, and their new daughter, Priya, while continuing to be Catharine, the Duchess of Beaufort’s librarian. She and Catharine have also become very close friends.
Catharine has received a letter from the Marquess of Harwood. It’s been a well-kept secret that the Marquess is the biological father of her son, Beau. In the letter, he has pledged to leave his entire estate to Beau, but she must bring the boy to Rosedean Abbey so they can meet before he dies. Because Catharine’s oldest son, Thomas, is under the weather, she requests that Tiffany travel with her and Beau to the abbey. Tiffany has no desire to leave her family, but agrees, stating that Priya will also be making the trip, and hopes they will return home in time for their 12th night celebration.
After their long excursion, they are not welcomed with open arms at the abbey. The abbey has been severely neglected, and a thick coat of dust covers the top of everything. When they demand to see the Marquess, they are shocked to find a dead body. The deceased was not the Marquess but his valet. They find Lord Harwood near death, unconscious, with strange-looking wounds/pox marks covering his hands.
What has been happening at Rosedean Abbey? Could the Marquess have set up a ruse to win over the Duchess of Beaufort? Or was someone truly trying to kill Lord Harwood? And why?
It isn’t long before Tiffany is uncovering secrets while seeing to her young daughter’s needs. Can she piece together all the clues to get to the truth and get back to the rest of her family and their plans? Or will she be another victim of the madness at Rosedean Abbey?
A Poetic Pox, what a perfect title.
The story takes these dynamic characters on the road with some creative storytelling put into effect when they arrive at Rosedean Abbey. Tiffany Lathrop is a strong woman, but knows her place. She had to use her strength to help Catharine, who became a mere shell of herself when they arrived. It was clear how close these women had become and the trust that they had built. Tiffany was uncomfortable taking the lead, but there was something fishy going on at the abbey, and she needed a plan to keep the people she cared for dearly safe. Beau is one smart little boy, knowing his own title carried power even at his young age. He was ready to help his mother and Tiffany any way he could. When the truth of his parentage was revealed, he had many questions but was excited about all it could mean. Ms. Larsen’s characters continue to evolve in all the right ways. I have been a fan of Tiffany since book 1, A Novel Disguise. She was a woman then who had to think on her feet to protect herself. Now, she is surrounded by people whom she will always protect.
Lord Harwood was an intriguing man with an interesting past. We soon see how that past affects his present and future. Actions he had not even considered were now vital. According to the Author’s Note in the book, three out of every ten people who contracted smallpox died. While inoculations were available, many chose not to be inoculated or didn’t have access. It was a complicated time in the world and a stirring theme for this story. Ms. Larsen took the disease head-on, describing the types of pox and the disfiguration, scarring, and death caused during the outbreak. She also explains treatments and potential cures at the time. The story is made more powerful in the face of the horrific suffering felt personally.
The author has plotted out an incredibly complex mystery. The staff at the abbey was a curious, somewhat sinister set who were all keeping secrets. Tiffany was dogged in her pursuit of the truth. She multitasked her sleuthing with her mothering like a pro. Her visit to the local rector and review of the church records were quite revealing about the time of the epidemic. It also opened the door for more suspects and motives. Some unexpected twists and turns kept everyone, including me, on my toes. Catherine became more like her demanding self after some revelations, fully on board to unwind all the deception in her midst, knowing there were still more secrets to be uncovered. Each woman has their own strengths and weaknesses, but together they make an excellent team. I was delighted to tag along on this shocking adventure right up to the surprising ending.
A marvelous cast of characters and a fantastic mystery allowed me to totally escape into A Poetic Pox. I am amazed by how much happened in a short span of days. I just know it was an impossible book to put down. It was darker than the first books in the series, and the setting at the abbey gave it a real Gothic feel. Audio books are not my thing, so I was grateful to receive a digital copy. I was so moved reading the words, I can only imagine the feelings evoked by hearing them read aloud.
I am thrilled to say A Poetic Pox will hold a place on my Best Reads of 2025 list. I hope it is released soon in other formats so that everyone can enjoy this outstanding story. Until then, if you haven’t read A Novel Disguise and Once Upon a Murder, you have time to get to know Tiffany’s story from the start. If you are an audio fan, you are all set.
What were your favorite books this year?
Please share them in the comment section below so we can all see them and add them to our wish lists!
Books are arriving for 2026, and my January calendar is already packed.
I am excited about new series starting, new books in established series, new authors, and new-to-me authors, and I am curious to see what my favorites have up their sleeves for their characters.
I hope you will continue to visit Escape With Dollycas for Book Reviews, Book Tours, Book Recommendations & Giveaways too!
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No Roast for the Weary sounds delightful!