99. Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Q Sutanto (Mystery, AW).

When a terrible man in found dead in her tea shop, Vera is determined to find the killer,  unfortunately she grows quite attached to her suspects.

CW: murder, emotional abuse, ref. to violence.

100. The Long Call by Ann Cleeves (WM MC, Mystery, English gay police detective)

Really enjoyed this new series. Engrossing mystery, dangerous conspiracy and fascinating backstory

CWs: murder, homophobia, ableism references to SA, IPV, estrangement past trauma: death of child

101. The Heron’s Cry by Ann Cleeves ( Mystery, WM MC, serial killer & suicides)

A series of murders, shards of glass, fractured families, guilt, art & the conflicts and intersections of small communities.  Great 2nd book. Love the 2ndary POVs.

CWs: murder, suicide, depression

102. The Raging Storm by Ann Cleeves (WM Gay MC, UK set Mystery, No.3, audio ARC, out Sept.5, 23)

In a claustrophobic & superstitious village, Venn & his team try to sort face from fiction after a famed sailor is found murdered off the coast.

CWs: murder, sexism, ill child.

103. The Crow Trap by Ann Cleeves (Mystery WW, UK set, Vera 1)

This is such a contrast to Venn books in structure and style.  Told in multiple POVs & parts with Vera in very late.

CW: suicide, mental illness, child death, foster care, neglect, murder, adultery, homophobia.

104. Mysterious Abduction by Rita Herron (RS,WM/WWHQN Intrigue, child abduction, depression)

Bonkers on how much happens in the 2nd to last chapter & covered in the 6 weeks later last chapter!

CWs: kidnapping, death of parent, stalker, arson, depression, infertility, adultery

105. Desperate Measures by Brenda Jackson ( BM/BW,  RS, playboy/doctor).

They keep having hot encounters at weddings but he hesitates to invite her to a notorious weeklong fling trip…he wants to keep her.

CWs: guns, violence, abduction attempt. Past trauma: parental deaths.

106. Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn (Thriller/heisty, 60+ assassins). When their retirement cruise turns into kill zone, they need to figure who is gunning for them & take them down! 4 women against the agency that turned on them.  CW: murder, violence, sexism.

107. There Should have Been Eight by Nalini Singh (Modern Gothic Thriller, MC is AW, Dark, Out 11/21/23)

Friends reunited 9 years after their beloved friend’s death, a chance to ask questions or take revenge.

CW: murders, ableism, mental illness, MC is going blind).

108. The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna (AW/WM, UK set, Cozy Fantasy Rom)  Fantastic, funny, surprising & tender book. Great found family, confronting traumas & looking for a way to make things better (CW: toxic childhoods, abandonment, loneliness).

109. Pack of Lies by Charlie Adhara (WM/WM PNR/RS).  Julien is trying to come to terms with his brother’s death by retracing his last adventure & he stumbles on to secrets he didn’t expect to be real! 💕💕💕

CWs: murder, grief, gaslighting, PT: toxic relationships, imprisonment.

110. Role Playing by Cathy Yardley (AW/WM, Demi/Bi MC, Contemporary Rom, 48+ yrs MCs). Loved the pairing of  snarly but caring heroine & the big strong softie hero & how both blossom around each other.

CWs: homophobia, toxic parents,  toxic exes, elder care.

111. Claws and Contrivances  by Stephanie Burgis (WW/WM, SFR).  When two abused dragons appear in the crumbling manor she shares with her distant relatives,  Rose leaps into action to protect them, ensnaring visiting scholar Sir Aubrey in the process.

Cw: animal abuse, coercion

112. How to Save an Undead Life by Hailey Edwards (UF, WW MC, Savannah-set) After 5 yrs of torturous false imprisonment Grier is thrust into necro high society with everyone after control her unexpected powers.  Who can she really trust?

CWs: murder, violence, PTSD, kidnapping

113. How to Claim an Undead Soul by Hailey Edwards ( UF, WW Mc, Bk 2).

Edwards is great at complicating relationships & turning things in unexpected ways.  New threats, some very close! And ouch the ending. CWs: Murder, betrayals, violence, mention of DV, abandonment, PSTD.

114. How to Break an Undead Heart by Hailey Edwards ( UF, WW MC, bk 4)   Oof I had to read this one from back to front, the foreshadowing was too intense about how everything would break.

CWs: murder, xenophobia, secrets, betrayal, violence, stalking, toxic families

115. How to dance an Undead Watlz by Hailey Edwards (UF with Rom Elements, WM/WW bk4)

Love seeing Grier start to figure out what makes her happy, and forming new bonds.

CWs: murder, betrayal, secrets, stalking, toxic families

116.  How to Live an Undead Lie by Hailey Edwards ( UF with Rom Elements, WM/WW, Bk5)

This totally read like a final book including a damn big boss battle but it wasn’t?? Still big things happened including 💕💕💕

CWs: murder, betrayal, secrets, stalking, toxic exes.

117. How to Wake an Undead City by Hailey Edwards (UF with Rom elements, WW/WM, bk6)

A lot a lot of plot happened in this book and uff not all if it worked for me but I was still rooting for the MCs at yet end.

CWs: murder, betrayal, secrets, pregnancy, trauma