Month: December 2025

Thank you, NetGalley, for this book.

I read Boys in the Valley back when the Books of Horror Facebook group voted it as the best horror book of all time. While I disagree with that sentiment, it was still a great book. So Fracassi has been on my radar for a while, so I was excited to dig into another of his.

Tyson Parks is a former horror best-selling writer, but his books haven’t sold well. His agent is frustrated with his current manuscript, but Tyson is tapped out. The writer’s block is in full force. For his birthday, his girlfriend buys him an amazing desk; however, we soon learn the desk is imbued with evil power.

The desk begins to take over Tyson’s writing. His fingers bleed, his joints ache, he forgets to eat. He loses himself while writing. But what he writes is the best thing he’s ever created. But as the desk gains more control, Tyson’s loved ones become increasingly more concerned. This book was great. Definitely creepy and shows what lengths some people will go to for success.

Thank you, NetGalley, for this book.

I loved The Writing Retreat and even gave it five stars. So when I got this one from NetGalley, I was so excited to read it. However, this book was so bad. I gave it a generous two stars, honestly.

The convoluted plot includes a stay at a mental hospital, a trip to the desert to a cult, an orgy, reincarnation, and a cave. All of these things are happening to Thea and a famous child actress, Catherine. Obsessed with Catherine’s most popular movie, Stargirl, the cult believes they are reincarnated people embodied in the film.

Do you see what I’m getting at here? Just absolute nonsense. Do not bother with this book. Such a waste of time.

Thank you, NetGalley, for this book.

Blake Crouch really can do no wrong, in my book. I’ve read and loved Recursion, Abandon, Dark Matter, and the Wayward Pines trilogy. All but Abandon deal with heavy scientific themes, which Crouch explains excellently.

Logan Ramsay’s DNA has been upgraded in a freak accident; however, the story behind how it happened and what this means for Logan is the crux of the novel. He is on the run, his family thinks he’s dead, and he has to figure out how to stop an impending genome war.

I’m not a science person at all, but I never struggle to understand his books. His books are funny and clever, creative and tense. I definitely recommend this one.

Thank you, NetGalley, for this book.

I loved Darling Rose Gold and was excited to read another from this author. I had no idea what to expect, since DRG isn’t really a thriller, but this book was pretty good.

Alfred owns a Hitchcock-themed hotel and has invited his five college friends to stay for a weekend getaway. They are unaware that Alfred is up to nefarious deeds. He has great plans for revenge.

As the story progresses, we learn that the six friends had a major falling-out in their senior year of college, with Alfred bearing the brunt of the trauma. Alfred has an idea of who he most wants to suffer. But halfway through the book, the plot is turned upside down.

This book was a lot of fun. I’m not a big Hitchcock fan, but that didn’t lessen my enjoyment of the book. It was still a great thriller.