The Infested

Title: The Infested

Author: Renee Lake

Rating: 3.75/5

Info: 265 pages, first published by  Victory Editing 06/23/2026

Genre: Horror, YA

The Infested is a story about Desdemona and her family set in a 1900 alternate-history U.S.A. The first few paragraphs give the specifics of the danger zone that stretches across the middle of the country. This area is already inhospitable because of the land itself, but it is also home to creatures, ghosts, monsters, demons, spirits. Whatever you want to call them, they are not friends to regular human beings.

Desdemona lives with her family on their homestead, Ash Hollow, in Nebraska. Ash Hollow is protected by magic wards and they do their best to provide travelers with a safe place to rest and fix up their wagons. The story begins with Desdemona and her siblings dealing with a death and some new guests while their father is away guiding a caravan through the Infested. 

The story splits between the siblings at home and the first-person POV of their father as he travels with the caravan. I found the father’s chapters more exciting than the siblings’ storyline, although I was interested in both. The world building was probably my favorite part and I would love to spend more time in it. 

The Ash Hollow drama didn’t hold my attention quite as well as it probably should have, but I don’t really fault the author for that. A lot of it revolves around YA relationship drama, and that just isn’t my favorite thing to read. I was much more drawn into the father’s storyline, especially the challenges that he was facing. That’s a personal taste thing more than an actual criticism of the writing.

There are some good twists and turns, along with some truly creepy scenes, and enough action for me to speed through the book. My favorite parts were all the ones that involved people dealing with the Infested land. I especially loved seeing the creatures that live there. Some of them are wonderfully unsettling. 

A much bigger story is taking place that this book is just a part of. It definitely feels like the beginning of a series. If it doesn’t get follow-up books, that would be a shame. Fortunately, the story wraps up nicely while leaving enough for me to want more. 

I’d recommend this to anyone interested in YA horror or spooky books in general, especially if you like the idea of mixing horror with westward expansion.

A big thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing for providing this ARC.

Hail Holy Queens

 Title: Hail Holy Queens

Author: Chris McGinley

Rating: 3.5/5

Info:  228 pages, first published by Fringe Press 07/28/2026

Genre: Historical Fiction, Horror, Mystery

A big thank you to NetGalley and Fringe Press for providing me with this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Hail Holy Queens is a journal-style story written by Henrietta, who addresses the reader throughout her tale. Henrietta finds herself at a convent as part of her doctor and husband’s treatment plan for her behavioral problems, with her writing dark tales as the biggest problem. At the beginning of her stay, she keeps to herself, writing away in her cell and participating in convent life as little as possible. On the eve of her release, a snowstorm hits, and with it comes evil creatures and the Long Nun to guide the convent in a holy war.

What follows is a wild tale of battle nuns, wolf monsters, sisterly bonding, and a lot of blood and violence. Did I mention the blood? It's a crazy fun ride with some minor issues. 

This first issue is definitely a me thing. This is a Catholic convent filled with nuns, so there are a lot of references to rituals, rites, and articles of clothing I had to look up just to understand the story. As a newcomer telling her story to readers who may or may not know what these things are, I think Henrietta should have explained these better. 

Henrietta sounded a bit too modern at times when talking to the reader. The Long Nun did as well, but it felt different when she did. I got the feeling that she might have been an angel in disguise or something along those lines, so her speech didn’t bother me. Henrietta, on the other hand, was supposed to be a society woman, and her wording sometimes felt more modern than the late 1800s. 

Lastly, when the nuns went on the hunt for the devil/demon (?) monsters, the story became a bit repetitive. This isn’t a long book so I feel like it shouldn’t have felt like it was dragging. But it did. Maybe the repetition was intentional, mimicking the nuns’ daily rituals? If so, I missed that. 

Still, it was an interesting tale that danced the line of classic pulp horror and modern-day horror. 

I’d recommend this to anyone looking for a short, Catholic-themed pulp horror story. 

The Sticklepath Phantom

Title: The Sticklepath Phantom

Author: Ali Simpson

Rating:4/5

Info: 272 pages, first pub by Troubador 06/28/2026

Genre: Mystery, Fiction

Set in England during the autumn of 1931, twins Kitty and Nora Markham have another mystery on their hands. Their new friend, Lady Evelyn Underhaye, is linked to a series of murders that mimic different ghost stories from her ghost tour. The twins rush to figure out who is behind it, and why, before they strike again.

This was a fun, quick read. Kitty, Nora, and the rest of their household are all fun characters. I enjoyed seeing two women who were feminine and capable. They didn’t sit around and wait for the men to figure things out. They were alongside the police, helping solve the case every step of the way. When they had to sit something out, it was because they weren’t police officers, not because they were women. While I’m not sure how historically accurate the portrayal was, it was fun nevertheless.

There were some twists I didn’t see coming, but they never felt like they came out of nowhere, which I always appreciate. I did raise an eyebrow at the motivation of the killer. Other than that, it was a fast, fun mystery that I’d happily recommend to mystery fans.

A big thank you to NetGalley and Troubador for providing me with this ARC.

The Curse of the Saltmarsh Girl

Title: The Curse of the Saltmarsh Girl

Author: Clare Marchant

Rating:3/5

Info: 296 pages, first pub by Boldwood Books 08/07/2026

Genre: Historical Fiction

Two different time periods, two different women, the same spooky place. The story follows Margery, a young woman in 1665 searching for her missing mother, and Angel, a woman in the present day grappling with the mystery of her birth family. Margery’s mother headed to the village of Saltmarsh to visit her eldest daughter and never returned. Angel heads to Saltmarsh to stay with her brother after learning she might have finally found her biological family. While Margery searches the village, a mysterious illness sweeps through the town, killing everyone it touches. Angel has some big decisions to make quickly as the woman who may be her biological mother is dying.

I enjoy historical fiction in general. I especially enjoyed Margery’s storyline. The villagers of Saltmarsh are either hostile or dismissive of her search. People are getting sick and dying, and they blame Margery for bringing the illness to their village. A demon dog, ghosts floating around in the marsh, what isn’t to love?

For me, Angel’s storyline didn’t work. Angel dealing with finding her birth family, learning why she was abandoned, and navigating the emotions that came with it was interesting. However, her attempts to solve the mystery of Saltmarsh were less exciting. She discovers mysterious markings in the church and tries to figure out what they mean. The problem was that I already knew who wrote them and what they meant because I was also following Margery’s story. So, Angel’s mystery didn’t really do anything for me. There was creepy stuff happening in the marsh, sure, but I was not invested in her uncovering the mystery.

Now, a moment about the setting, which is where I think the novel really shines. I love love love the setting of Saltmarsh. It is isolated, filled with creepy fog, surrounded by ghostly ruins of a village abandoned during the Black Plague, and threatened by the ever-present possibility of flooding. Yes, yes, and yes. This setting checked every box for me. I think as far as setting goes, Marchant hit a home run with this one.

The reason I am rating this 3 out of 5 stars is that I could have done without Angel’s storyline. I found myself rushing to get through her chapters to get back to Margery and would have preferred this to be a full Margery story instead of the dual-protagonist structure.

Overall, this is a book that fans of female-focused historical fiction will probably enjoy.

A big thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for providing me this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

A Ghostwriter’s Guide to Murder

 

Title: A Ghostwriter’s Guide to Murder

Author: Melinda Mullet

Rating:4/5

Info: 320 pages, first pub by Crooked Lane Books 07/29/2025

Genre: Mystery &Thrillers

 

Mystery writer Maeve Gardner lives aboard a houseboat with her lovable dog, the Captain. He is a good boy with a nose for trouble and a hankering for snackies. When Maeve’s ex-boyfriend turns up dead in the canal where her home is docked, she suddenly finds herself at the center of a mystery of her own.  With Maeve as their prime suspect the police have little interest in pursuing other leads. That leaves Maeve and her eclectic band of besties to figure out the truth and clear her name.

This was a fun book with all the ingredients for a light summer read. The houseboat setting adds some quirky charm. Maeve’s circle of friends-Paul the friendly pub owner, India her best friend and floating bookstore proprietor, the Wicca couple next-door, and her hacker neighbor Ash-pack the story with personality. The mystery is paced just right for a quick vacation read or weekend escape.

While the book didn’t break new ground for me in terms of plot or mystery structure it was still enjoyable and entertaining. I recommend this to readers who appreciate mysteries with a charming setting and lovable cast.

A big thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for providing me the ARC.

The Bloodless Queen

Title: The Bloodless Queen
Author: Joshua Phillip Johnson
Rating: 4/5
Info: 464 pages, first pub DAW books 07/08/2025
Genre: General Fiction (Adult), Sci Fi & Fantasy

In 1987, I was seven years old, eating burritos and rocking out to the movie The Chipmunk Adventure. In Joshua Phillip Johnson’s alternate history, 1987 played out very differently. In this world, people who died on the autumn equinox didn’t stay dead. Instead, they became fae—inhuman and dangerous beings who maim and kill anyone standing between them and the protected areas of the world known as Harbors.

The story is set in the present day and follows Evangeline and Calidore, a married couple who serve as fencers in the Midwest Harbor. Fencers are essentially government-sanctioned superheroes, granted unique powers through prime number tattoos that mysteriously appear on their skin. The smaller the prime number, the greater the power. Evangeline and Calidore juggle the looming threat of the equinox with the recent death of Cal’s father, the challenges of raising their nearly seven-year-old daughter Winnie, the rise of a cult-like, Fae-worshiping religion called the Church of Always Giving, and the politics of defending a world that doesn’t fully understand the danger they face. Public opinion is shifting, with many believing fencer funding could be better spent elsewhere.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Bloodless Queen. The fencer powers were original and memorable—not your standard superhero fare. I also appreciated the alternate history elements, particularly the excerpts from in-world history books. Instead of skipping over them like I sometimes do in other books, I found myself looking forward to each excerpt.

The narrative is told in third person but focuses primarily on Evangeline and Calidore. I liked both characters, though I especially connected with Calidore—probably because I’m a book nerd too. Their love and devotion to each other and their daughter was touching, even if it occasionally felt a little over the top. The pacing started off slow for me, but once the story picked up, I was hooked. By the time the climax arrived, I found myself missing the earlier, quieter moments I initially thought were too slow.

I would recommend this book to fans of fantasy. While there are sci-fi elements, the story leans more into the fantasy genre. Be aware that grief and death are central themes. Calidore’s struggle with his father’s death is a key emotional thread, and the Church of Always Giving glorifies death and suicide. The fae are terrifying, and those who die on the equinox become one of them. This book doesn’t shy away from emotional weight, so go in prepared.

One last (mild) spoiler: the dog lives.

Many thanks to NetGalley and DAW Books for the ARC. This review reflects my honest opinion.

Believe Me Now

 Title: Believe Me Now
Author: S.M. Govett
Rating: 4.5/5
Info: 320 pages, first pub Crooked Lane Books 06/10/2025
Genre: General Fiction (Adult), Mystery & Thrillers


Believe Me Now follows two women: Natalie Campbell and Helen Stratton. Natalie lives with severe PTSD after being sexually assaulted by her boss. Helen is a police investigator trying to uncover what happened to her sister Alice, who disappeared as a teenager.

Natalie begins experiencing episodes of lost time. She relies heavily on her husband, Ryan, and daily routines she has in place for herself. Although her life isn’t perfect, it feels manageable until Ryan is accused of raping a coworker. Not long after, Natalie starts receiving threatening letters at home. Although the letters are anonymous, she recognizes the style and believes they are from her former boss’s wife, the same woman who once blamed Natalie for ruining her life.

Meanwhile, Helen is trying to navigate a complicated work environment. Her boss is someone she recently ended an affair with, which her coworkers probably all know about. To add further complications, she is assigned a new, eager-to-please partner who can’t wait to prove himself. 

Believe Me Now is perfectly placed in the mystery and thriller genres and delivers on both. The plot is filled with twists and turns, and I was eager to see how Natalie and Helen’s stories would eventually connect. Even with multiple threads and voices in play, I never felt confused. Govett gives each woman a distinct voice, making it easy to follow both perspectives.

I found it to be a quick read, mostly because I was so invested in the outcome. I think it deserves a second read to fully catch all the subtle clues and hints woven throughout the story.

What stood out most to me was how well the female characters were written and how thoughtfully the author portrayed the challenges women face, especially in relation to the men around them. Helen constantly has to fight to be taken seriously. Natalie, in contrast, is babied by her husband. Both women are much stronger than the men in their lives give them credit for.

The male characters are also compelling in their differences. Ryan is meant to be seen as a supportive husband, at least through Natalie’s eyes, but I disliked him from the beginning. On the other hand, Helen’s new partner was likable right away, even if she was slow to trust him. Helen’s boss immediately rubbed me the wrong way. I’m tempted to reread the book and look more closely at the parallels between Ryan and Helen’s boss, as they seem to represent a quiet form of control disguised as caring.
 

Overall, Believe Me Now is a solid and engaging read that balances emotional depth with high-stakes suspense. I‘d recommend it to anyone looking for a mystery that keeps your heart racing and pages turning.

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.