Originally published in the Canberra Weekly on 25 June 2026.
Make sure to check out my extended reviews of The Yacht and Drop Dead Famous.
Category: Thriller
Drop Dead Famous by Jennifer Pearson
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children’s Uk (ebook – 16 June 2026)
Series: Standalone/Book One
Length: 432 pages
My Rating: 4.75 out of 5 stars
Prepare for a particularly addictive and elaborate young adult thriller with Drop Dead Famous by Jennifer Pearson. The debut young adult thriller for Jennifer Pearson (who previously authored several middle grade novels as Jenny Pearson), Drop Dead Famous was an incredible novel with some fantastic twists and turns.
Plot Synopsis:
When global singing sensation Blair Baker rises on a platform high above the stage for the opening number of her triumphant hometown concert, the crowd erupts in applause. But their joy quickly turns to horror when they realize Blair is dead. The shocking revelation that music’s brightest star has been murdered rocks the world. But for her younger sister, Stevie, the tragedy is more than a headline – it’s personal.
Determined to uncover the truth, Stevie dives headfirst into the shadows of her sister’s glittering life.
What begins as a search for answers turns into a dangerous journey through the toxic underbelly of fame, where betrayal, manipulation, and obsession thrive. Yet, as Stevie peels back the layers of who her sister really was, she begins to uncover dark secrets closer to home – secrets that someone is desperate to keep buried…
Wow, what an awesome read. I must admit I wasn’t expecting one of the strongest and most compelling and complex crime fiction reads of the year when I first picked up Drop Dead Famous. However, this cool teen thriller quickly drew me in with its elaborate mystery, fun characters and multiple powerful twists. This was honestly one of the stronger debuts of 2026, and I came away really impressed with Pearson’s ability to craft an emotionally charged mystery.
Pearson crafts together an outstanding narrative for Drop Dead Famous that immediately throws you into the action and keeps you hooked to the end. It starts off with an introduction to the protagonist, Stevie Baker, her dysfunctional family and her small town as they arrive at the concert for Stevie’s world-famous sister, Blair Baker. Things quickly take a dark turn when Blair is found murdered on stage, turning Stevie’s life upside down again. With no faith in the town’s police force, especially after they failed to solve two other major recent cases, Stevie decides to investigate herself. Pearson provides a very strong introduction to her narrative in these opening chapters of Drop Dead Famous, and not only do you get some intense looks at the protagonist’s personal and family drama, much of which has major impacts on the case, but Pearson also throws in a lot of early clues and hints that are well utilised later in the story.
After this introduction, Pearson turns Drop Dead Famous into a compelling small-town, odd-couple investigation when Stevie is convinced to form an unlikely team with Colby Green, the self-declared biggest fan of her sister. This results in a large and unique investigation, with the two girls working as an effective investigative unit, looking at Blair’s former relationships, stalker fans, shady business manager, and trying to uncover other dark secrets. At the same time, Blair finds herself being threatened by several people seemingly wanting to shut down her investigation, while other dark secrets from closer to home start to impact the case. This includes long-hidden mistakes from the town’s last two major crimes, the murder of a young boy and the disappearance of Stevie’s niece, all of which are cleverly connected to the current murder of Blair.
All this excellent buildup from Pearson leads to one of the best final thirds of a mystery novel I’ve seen this year, as the author cleverly ties together all the varied clues and theories into a brilliant conclusion. Despite how good I usually am at predicting twists in mystery novels, I honestly did not see most of the big reveals from Drop Dead Famous coming, which added a lot to the book’s impact. I was really impressed with how Pearson effectively tied in the town’s previous cases and the protagonist’s family secrets, as well as various other hints and clues sprinkled throughout the plot, into the concluding surprises, and it helped to make the culprit’s identity that much more personal and powerful. I honestly couldn’t stop reading Drop Dead Famous in this final stretch, and readers are guaranteed to come away very satisfied by this conclusion, especially when every single secret is out in the light.
I felt that Pearson did an amazing job with her first thriller as Drop Dead Famous has a lot of compelling elements to it that make it quite addictive and compelling. I’ve already mentioned the brilliant mystery and investigate core of Drop Dead Famous, but I really need to emphasise its complexity. Pearson builds in so many different layers to the case, with various clues or key details loaded throughout the book all the way back to page one. The way in which Pearson kept track of these details and brought them together in the end in a way that was both shocking to the reader, but also still easy to follow, was so damn impressive, and ensure that the mystery element was a major highlight for me. However, there was so much more to this book as Pearson ensured that the novel was also a deeply personal, character-driven read with some real heart and laughs.
Much of the lighter side of the lighter side of Drop Dead Famous is due to the central character interactions between the main protagonists Stevie Barker and Colby Green. Stevie’s darker narrative about family tragedy and using amateur criminal investigation as a crutch to deal with trauma is emotionally buoyed by her new friendship with the ultimate fan girl, Colby, who proves to be a surprisingly effective investigative partner. The interactions between Stevie and Colby brought in much of the book’s humour, with their unusual methods, disregard for the rules and strong odd-couple partnership providing a lot of excellent entertainment. These fun character interactions melded surprisingly well with the more serious parts of the book, and it honestly increased the pace and allowed for a more overall entertaining read.
I also felt that Drop Dead Famous was a very enjoyable young adult thriller, as Pearson made it very appealing to a very wide audience. Marketed as a young adult fiction novel, Pearson sets up a lighter, teen-focused read through the interactions and relationships of the protagonists, which includes fun banter, focus on teenage problems, and some light-hearted teen romances. This allows a teenage audience to connect to the story, and I think younger readers will appreciate that Pearson didn’t talk down to them, and instead provided some nuanced looks at family drama, modern trends, the downsides of celebrity and other adult themes. The overarching intense and layered mystery ensures that older crime fiction readers will also get quite a lot out of this book, while the young adult audience will really get to sink their teeth into a truly amazing murder mystery. As such, I think that there will be quite a large audience for Drop Dead Famous, and I would have loved to read a book like this when I was younger.
Thanks to its fantastic mystery, entertaining characters and brilliant storytelling, Drop Dead Famous proved to be an exceptional read that I honestly cannot stop thinking about. Jennifer Pearson did such an incredible job with this debut, and this was easily one of the better young adult thrillers I have had the pleasure of reading. A highly recommended book for both young adult and general crime fiction readers, I had an amazing time with Drop Dead Famous, and I will be grabbing a copy of the promised sequel when it comes out.
The Bone Docs by Matthew Scura
Publisher: Federal Pen Publishing (ebook – 1 June 2026)
Series: Standalone
Length: 388 pages
My Rating: 4.25 out of 5 stars
In the mood for something exciting, funny and just a little insane? Then look no further than the fantastic thriller novel The Bone Docs. The latest novel from Matthew Scura, an author with an interesting bibliography of fun sounding books, The Bone Docs was an awesome read with a memorable premise behind it.
Plot Synopsis:
When Flight 82 goes down over the Atlantic, forty doctors survive the crash. Unfortunately, they’re all chiropractors and dentists.
Stranded on an uncharted island with no rescue in sight, the survivors face a brutal reality: dwindling rations, no clear leader, and an alarming surplus of essential oils. The bigger problem? The chiropractors and dentists already despise each other. Pediatric dentist Rebecca Riley is too deep in medication withdrawal to keep the peace. Reluctantly famous chiropractor Carlton Berger never wanted to lead anyone anywhere, let alone across a tropical island at spearpoint.
As factions form and tempers flare, the castaways learn that surviving the crash was the easy part. The hard part is surviving one another. But when one castaway decides the island can’t support forty doctors, the feud turns deadly.
The Bone Docs is a satirical survival novel about the only medical professionals you don’t need in a crisis—and what happens when the bedside manner runs out.
With a hilarious background plot idea, The Bone Docs was a highly entertaining novel that quickly draws you in with its survival plot and satirical take on dentists and chiropractors. Scura clearly had a lot of fun pulling this novel together, and I had an amazing time reading The Bone Docs, which I mostly powered through in a single night.
I really enjoyed The Bone Docs story, which was thrilling and hilarious in equal measure. Employing a dual narrator system, Scura quickly introduces reader to the novel’s protagonists, famous chiropractor Carlton Berger and dentist Rebecca Riley. Boarding a plane filled only with dentists and chiropractors on their way to Calcium Con in London, the two protagonists find themselves amongst the few survivors of a dramatic plane crash that leaves them stranded in the middle of the ocean. With no rescue in sight, the remaining survivors wash up on a desert island and must find a way to survive. Scura does a lot of excellent work early in The Bone Docs, with an effective introduction to several of the main characters, as well as the overarching premise that two competing groups of calcium-focused medical professionals can’t stand each other.
The book soon turns into a more classic survival novel, with the characters working to find food, water and other resources on their new island home. While this is going on, Scura cleverly builds the simmering tension between the two medical tribes, which eventually boils over in some dramatic ways. The resulting insanity that follows makes for a tense and exciting final third for The Bone Docs, which I frankly couldn’t put down. Thanks to a particularly despicable villain, you find yourself highly invested in the protagonists surviving and getting justice, and the carnage that follows as chiropractors and dentists go to war was simultaneously dark and entertaining. Scura really lays in some over-the-top moments with this book, and the big confrontations and plot resolutions were quite enjoyable. Finishing with an interesting, if overly telegraphed, final twist, The Bone Docs ends on a great note, and readers will come away from this novel highly satisfied and entertained.
Unsurprisingly considering the underlying story idea, I found The Bone Docs to be a very over-the-top and intentionally silly book which is very easy to fall in love with. Working as both an intense thriller and an amusing satire of survival stories, The Bone Docs was a very intriguing mash-up of genres, but it’s one that I think worked very well. The main basis of the story, a complex island survival thriller, allows for a fast-paced narrative that initially draws you in with the protagonists’ attempt to survive the island and then becomes even more compelling with its dramatic turns, brutal deaths and dark conflicts. There is a very realistic human edge to this part of the story, with the characters getting drawn into conflict by selfish desires, with a slimy and manipulative villain takes control amongst a scared population. Scura further enhances this by showcasing the story through the eyes of two relatable flawed protagonists, whose own internal struggles allow them the strength to survive and fight back.
While Scura could have had a serviceable novel just by focusing on the fight for survival, what makes The Bone Docs stand out is its inherent comedic charm, with all the characters being either dentists or chiropractors. The majority of these ‘doctors’ the most outrageous and hilarious version of the professions Scura could envision, which results in some hilarious characterisations. The chiropractors are all unnaturally straight-backed, physically capable, essential oil addicts who believe that anything can be cured by a spinal adjustment. The dentists, on the other hand, are generally shown to be over-paid, arrogant whiners who look down on the chiropractors as phony doctors. The resulting personality clashes between the two groups of bone specialists are amazing, and I love how Scura turns their initial professional rivalry into a full-blown war with very little effort. Some of the jokes that Scura throws into the book about both professions are really entertaining (the obligatory lion hunting reference from a dentist had me cackling), and this ends up being a loving send-up of both professions. Throw in some other over-the-top moments played for comedic effect (such as the method in which the main antagonist is killed), and this was a very effective comedic novel that perfectly plays off the more serious thriller aspects of the plot to create an overall entertaining and gripping read.
I ended up really enjoying Scura’s comedic inclusions and the more serious thriller narrative of The Bone Docs, and I think the result was a very solid and captivating novel that I honestly couldn’t put down. Thanks to how effectively The Bone Docs kept me reading it for several hours straight, I must give this book a high rating, and I was honestly very entertained the entire way through. A fantastic standalone novel, The Bone Docs was one of the more unique reads of 2026, and it’s one I would recommend, especially if you want some thrilling, satirical fun.
The Yacht by Kayte Nunn
Publisher: Harper Collins (Trade Paperback – 26 May 2026)
Series: Standalone
Length: 336 pages
My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Australian author Kayte Nunn presents a captivating tale of family drama, classism, intrigue and revenge, all aboard a luxurious mega-yacht, with her wonderful new novel, The Yacht.
Plot Synopsis:
A man on the edge.
A woman hell-bent on revenge.
A cheating husband.
A desperate wife.
A property empire on the brink of collapse.
A family at loggerheads.
A predator hiding in plain sight.
Who will sink and who will swim?
Three generations of a billionaire family are taking their new superyacht on its maiden voyage. But when the yacht sinks, each of them has a different part to play, in this addictive, twist-filled thriller.
Kayte Nunn is a veteran author who has written several intriguing novels in recent years across the genres. Her more recent work has seen her dive into crime fiction waters, which includes her 2025 release, The Palazzo, and her new book, The Yacht. The Yacht, which was the first of Nunn’s books I’ve had the chance to read, was an excellent and entertaining thriller that sees dramatic revenge thrown against the inhabitants of luxury yacht.
I really enjoyed the compelling plot that Nunn threw together for The Yacht, which follows several complex characters on an interconnected and intense tale. This includes various members of the infamous Thyssen family, who have arrived at their father’s new luxury superyacht Ambition as it sails off the coast of Spain. Each member of this family has their own drama, including a dislike of the family’s greedy lifestyle, a cheating husband, and fear of the family’s controlling patriarch. In addition, you also follow Piper, the Ambition’s new deckhand, who has her own agenda. Thanks to some hints of the future, it becomes clear that you are following these characters, as well as a police detective from the port the yacht is moored at, as they head towards the Ambition’s destruction and are witnessing the events that caused it.
Nunn does an excellent job setting up the story for The Yacht and you are quickly caught up in personal storylines of the various protagonists. Nunn blends these multiple character-driven narratives together into a captivating, combined narrative, and the overlapping drama and multiple secrets really intensify each protagonist’s concerns, as well as the growing apprehension of events to come. Nunn also gradually reveals multiple additional secrets, such as hidden criminal activities aboard the Ambition and Piper’s true motivations, while even more threats lurk in the shadows. All this leads up to the big final sequence, where the long-awaited shipwreck occurs, and every character is thrown into turmoil. You’ll honestly power through the last third of the book as you try to determine who is going to survive and who will get justice, and you’ll mostly come away satisfied with the well-orchestrated conclusion.
I felt The Yacht was a well-written standalone thriller which made perfect use of its larger-than-life characters and fantastic class-focused drama. Nunn was clearly aiming for a mixture of Below Decks and Succession in this novel, and I think for the most part she succeeded. The dysfunction dynamics of the various Thyssen family members played off against Piper’s outsider view of events extremely well, and I loved the alternating drama. The resulting storylines around each character were personal and powerful, while the differing view of other perspective protagonists added some interesting insights that readers will lap up. While Nunn could have probably left this book as a pure drama tale, playing off the dysfunction of the main family, the inclusion of more traditional thriller elements resulted in a fast-paced read with some real stakes, especially with Piper’s plot of getting justice and revenge and the hidden exploits of other key characters. Further tension was added by some interesting in-universe social media messages at the end of several chapters, as well as one set of perspective chapters set in the future, which hints at coming calamity and help to set up expectations for the reader. Nunn ensured the final reveals and the big conclusion of The Yacht mostly lived up to the hype, although these final chapters did feel a little rushed. There was also something a little unsatisfying with some characters’ fates, but this didn’t take me out of the story too much.
Overall, The Yacht was an impressive and addictive read and it was one I was glad I got the chance to check out. Kayte Nunn created an excellent standalone for this book that combines some class-focused drama with an intense thriller plot. The Yacht ended up being a great read that will appeal to wide range of readers, and I’ll be curious to read more from Nunn in the future.
How to Kill a Guy in Ten Dates by Shailee Thompson
Publisher: Simon & Schuster (ebook – 3 February 2026)
Series: Standalone
Length: 378 pages
My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Australian author Shailee Thompson presents one of the more distinctive and entertaining debuts of 2026, with the addictive horror romance hybrid novel, How to Kill a Guy in Ten Dates.
Plot Synopsis:
A hilarious, swoony and downright terrifying horror romance in which a cinephile gets caught in the middle of a murder spree at a speed-dating event and must use her encyclopedic knowledge of the rom-com and horror genres to make it as a real-life Final Girl.
When cinephile Jamie Prescott attends a speed-dating event, she expects to meet some mediocre men and have a laugh – she doesn’t expect one of her dates to have his throat slit at her table during a blackout. When the lights come back on, there are more bodies on the floor and the doors are locked.
Armed with makeshift weapons and her extensive knowledge of what not to do in a slasher, Jamie must figure out how to make it out of the building alive. But as the night progresses, she begins to suspect the killer is committing the slayings to woo one of the daters. Whatever happened to roses and perfume?
And why can’t Jamie stay focused on the important thing here, which is obviously not getting murdered, instead of being distracted by a few hot guys? Especially if one of those hot guys happens to be the bad guy…
Oops.
Laugh-out-loud funny and hide-under-your-bed scary, How to Kill a Guy in Ten Dates puts the killer in killer love story.
I’m always on the lookout for unique and out-there crime fiction reads, and with its slasher parody narrative How to Kill a Guy in Ten Dates had everything I look for in a novel. Combining a thrilling narrative with some amusing takes on two very different genres, How to Kill a Guy in Ten Dates was an excellent first novel from Thompson that is guaranteed to hook you like a serial killer.
Thompson provides a very fast-paced narrative for How to Kill a Guy in Ten Dates, which works to bring you in quickly and allow you to enjoy the fun of her entertaining story. This book nearly immediately drags you into the action after an effective introduction to the protagonist and point-of-view character, Jamie, before providing readers with an extended speed-dating sequence. This sequence is fun on several levels, as it not only provides details about much of the supporting cast, including early hints and red herrings, but it also introduces some of the potential romance options for the protagonist. After a sudden yet brutal series of killings, the protagonist and several other speed daters are trapped in the venue, desperately trying to find a way out. Thompson builds up some excellent tension in this first half of the novel, especially with the labyrinthine setting and the clashing personalities, even before the masked killer makes their first official appearance.
Despite the protagonist following certain rules to survive a horror film, the group starts to get separated and hunted by the killer, who is given the moniker Heart Eyes. However, things only get worse when Jamie begins to understand that Heart Eyes is killing to specifically woo her as a messed-up courting ritual. This amplifies up the plot, with Jamie both attempting to sacrifice herself while also getting closer to some of the men she is trapped with in some entertaining, if a little inappropriate, romance sequences. In typical slasher fashion, the supporting cast of the novel are slowly whittled down, with revelations muddying who is responsible for the crime. All of this leads up to the big final confrontation, where Jamie attempts to become the final girl anyway that she can. Without giving too much away, I think the lead-up and execution of the big finale was done well, as Thompson provides a great deal of desperation and intensity, although the result is never in doubt. I will say that I figured out the big twists and identity of the killer early on, although much of this was because of the various film homages I was familiar with. Still, readers come away from this story very satisfied, and it was the thrilling, campy narrative you expect it to be going in.
How to Kill a Guy in Ten Dates is an exciting and tense read that cleverly brings two very different genres together. Filled with a range of big personalities, the story is well told from protagonist Jamie Prescott’s perspective, and I loved the intrigue, terror and mistrust that emerges as the plot continues. Thanks to the protagonist’s joint love of romcoms and horror films, as well as the presence of several suspiciously perfect men, How to Kill a Guy in Ten Dates quickly starts to feel like a fun mixture of the two genres. Thompson uses this genre mixture to great effect to increase both the entertainment value and the intensity of the plot, especially when it becomes clear that the killer is attempting to romance Jamie from afar. The resulting carnage is very over the top, which becomes even creepier once you realise how everyone is dying due to a killer’s twisted sense of love. Of the two genres, I think that the slasher elements of the book were stronger, and I really must highlight the claustrophobic setting, the various hidden clues about events to come, as well as the growing guilt and fear of the characters. The romcom elements of How to Kill a Guy in Ten Dates were also pretty good, if a little forced at times, but it did help to lighten the plot. The result was quite gripping, and I felt that this was a book that will appeal to fans of both genres, as well as anyone looking for something entertaining and unique.
One of the very fun highlights of How to Kill a Guy in Ten Dates was the references that Thompson made to classic and iconic horror and romcom films throughout the book. Much of this was in character, with the cinephile protagonist talking about her favourite films and revisiting famous slasher movies to predict how the killer will attack them next. It was very entertaining to see a character with some meta-knowledge of horror tropes try to survive their own slasher experience, although it was frustrating to watch all the characters ignore or forget the very simple rules the character (and the author) brings up multiple times. Still, that gave How to Kill a Guy in Ten Dates a bit more of an authentic horror flair, and readers can have a good think about how they would act in a slasher film if they knew all the potential survival rules.
In addition to the references the protagonist deliberately makes there are also a lot more subtle homages that Thompson slides into the book, including in her character’s names. For example, the protagonist is named for two classic final girls, while another character was named for two major horror directors. The author loaded in a lot of other quotes and homages throughout the book, and while I’m personally not a mega fan of either genre, I felt I got most of these references. This allows fans of both genres, and films in general, to have a lot of fun as they try to pick out the easter eggs. Indeed, those readers with an in-depth knowledge of one of these genres can also unlock a teaser about how the plot unfolds if you really dive into the meta-inclusions, and I personally still got a chuckle about how Thompson did this. It was a shame that Thompson named her killer Heart Eyes, as it kept making me think of the 2025 film of the same name, which had some similar story beats. I’m not sure if this was a deep cut from Thompson or an unavoidable coincidence, but you couldn’t help but make some comparisons. However, this didn’t take away from my enjoyment of the novel, and I felt that overall the references in How to Kill a Guy in Ten Dates were never too overwhelming, and even someone who has never watched a film can still appreciate the story without getting lost or confused. A very fun inclusion to an exciting and entertaining read.
Shailee Thompson bursts into the fiction scene with the bloody and highly compelling debut, How to Kill a Guy in Ten Dates, which ended up being a very fun read. Fast-paced, exciting and featuring some great movie references, How to Kill a Guy in Ten Dates was an outstanding novel, and I’ll be very curious to see what this Australian author writes next.
Waiting on Wednesday – Settle Down by Jeremy Robinson
Welcome to my weekly segment, Waiting on Wednesday, where I look at upcoming books that I am planning to order and review in the next few months and which I think I will really enjoy. Stay tuned to see reviews of these books when I get a copy of them. For this latest Waiting on Wednesday, I highlight one of the more awesome sounding science fiction novels coming out in the second half of 2026 with Settle Down by Jeremy Robinson.
2026 has proven to be a particularly impressive year for author Jeremy Robinson, whose unique and over-the-top science fiction novels always entertain with they great mixture of action, horror and intriguing science fiction elements. I’ve already had an exceptional time with Robinson’s first 2026 release, 30Seven, which ended up being one of my favourite books and audiobooks from the first half of the year. However, we still have so much more to get through, as not only do I still have to read the recently released novel Parallax, but Robinson also has the fantastic upcoming book Settle Down coming out.
Of the two, Settle Down has definitely caught my attention more, and it is one of my most anticipated releases coming out in the second half of 2026. Set for release in late August 2026, Settle Down has an outstanding sounding plot idea behind it, which looks set to present a unique turn on a classic alien invasion story.
Plot Synopsis:
When Clayton survives a plane crash, he figures the worst is over―but he’s wrong―in this sci-fi genre mashup from the author of the Infinite Timeline series.
Stranded on a thirty-acre island with a handful of art students, a grieving widow, and a growing pile of corpses, Prof. Clayton Reed is forced into a role he never wanted: leader. Food is scarce. Water is scarcer. And trust? Practically extinct. When one of the survivors kills in self-defence, the fragile alliance fractures and a subset of the group flees in a dinghy to take its chances in shark-infested waters, leaving Clayton and six others behind.
But soon the night sky turns blue. Strange lights pulse across the horizon and strings of star-like objects pass by overhead. Something big is happening to the rest of the world, and the professor and his companions are sure it isn’t normal.
Rescued by a drifting luxury yacht loaded with food, weapons, and a fortune in cocaine, the survivors trade one nightmare for another. Earth is under attack, massive beams of light shooting down from space to the surface. As they sail toward home, not knowing whether it still exists, one thing becomes clear: Those looking at Earth with hungry eyes have noticed them . . .
New York Times–bestselling author Jeremy Robinson delivers a razor-sharp, character-driven survival thriller meets postapocalyptic alien invasion story that flips the genre upside down, inside out, and back again.
Wow, now that is a very awesome plot. I have to admit at the start of 2026 I never imagined that one of my most anticipated upcoming reads would be a science fiction thriller following plane-crash survivors on a desert island who are forced to contend with an alien invasion, although I should have known that Robinson would have come up with something this fantastically crazy. This entire book sounds so damn good, and Settle Down is exactly the sort of over-the-top read that I know I love on so many levels. I am excited to see how this excellent narrative unfolds, and you have to imagine it’s going to feature a lot of deaths, moving character interactions, and so many moments of insane action and intense science fiction horror.
Based on how much I have enjoyed some of Jeremy Robinson’s previous wacky adventure novels (such as The Dark, Mind Bullet, Artifact and Point Nemo), I already know that Settle Down is going to be an exceptional and highly addictive read, and I am so excited to check it out. While I was likely to read Settle Down based on my fandom of Robinson, the above synopsis is one of the most intriguing novel plots I have ever seen, and I love every single part of it. I have no doubt that this will be a true highlight of the second half of 2026, and I fully intend to listen to Settle Down on audiobook, especially with one of my favourite narrators, R. C. Bray, bringing all the insanity to life.
30Seven by Jeremy Robinson
Publisher: Podium Audio (Audiobook – 20 January 2026)
Series: Standalone
Length: 11 hours and 51 minutes
My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Jeremy Robinson presents one of the most awesome and unique science fiction reads of early 2026 with the impressive and over-the-top novel, 30Seven, a clever alien abduction novel with some daringly dark horror elements behind it.
Jeremy Robinson is an outstanding author who has a fantastic career writing clever, fun, and occasionally terrifying thrillers that often feature intriguing science fiction elements. Best known for his Antarktos Saga, Chess Team and Nemesis Saga series, Robinson has written a staggering amount of fiction over the years, including additional cool series and standalone reads. I got into Robinson’s work a few years ago when I read a few books from his addictive interconnected Infinite Timeline series, including Tribe, The Dark and Mind Bullet (the latter two of which were amongst my favourite books and audiobooks of 2021). I have also started getting into Robinson’s standalone novels, including Point Nemo (one of my favourite audiobooks of 2024), and Artifact (one of my favourite books and audiobooks of 2025). As such, I was very excited to read some more books from Robinson in 2026 novel, including the awesome sounding 30Seven, which was one of my most anticipated releases for the first half of the year.
Plot Synopsis:
Twenty-eight people are abducted from a lakeside beach-and a killer is among them-in this twisty UFO horror novel from the bestselling author of The Others.
After a year of torment following the loss of his wife, Isabella, to a serial killer with an artistic flair, Marcus Lockwood retreats with his son, Elias, to Moose Hollow-a secluded campground in backwoods Maine-in search of healing. There, a close-knit band of lifelong campers immerses them in a warm, nostalgic experience filled with fishing, canoeing, crackling barbecues, and a taste of normalcy.
When whispers of eerie UFO sightings ignite a vigil on the beach, Marcus and Elias eagerly join the hunt for the inexplicable. But when the sky erupts in otherworldly light, they’ll get much more than they bargained for. A mysterious craft descends, and in one surreal moment, the group is abducted and transported into the unknown. Amid the chaos and disorientation, a gut-wrenching discovery terrifies Marcus:
One of them is Isabella’s killer.
Jeremey Robinson hits it out of the park again with this outstanding standalone science fiction thriller. 30Seven was a complex and addictive novel, that cleverly twisted the classic narrative of alien abductions into a brutal and manic thriller. A highly addictive novel I couldn’t get enough of, 30Seven gets a very easy five-star rating from me, especially as I’ve still got some of the reveals and revelations stuck in my head.
I loved the dark and very clever story that Robison featured in 30Seven, which I frankly think was one of the strongest the narratives that I have so far seen from this author. A slick, character driven novel, the book quickly introduces you to the main point-of-view protagonist, Marcus Lockwood, a highly damaged figure who has journeyed to the remote Moose Hollow campgrounds with his son, Elias. However, despite the serene setting, nothing is quite what it seems, especially with strange alien sightings and evidence that Marcus and Elias were lured to the camp by the serial killer responsible for destroying their family. Robinson does an interesting job of setting up a lot of key elements in the first part of 30Seven, especially as you are introduced to the key cast of fellow campers, as well as some early information about potential alien encounters.
While this first part of the book moves quickly and effectively draws the reader in, Robinson makes sure to kick the narrative up a notch with the sudden abduction of the entire protagonist group by a UFO, a moment that changes 30Seven’s entire status quo. Not only do the characters now have to deal with terror caused by interacting with telepathic aliens but the abduction awakens the serial killer, who begins a murderous reign of terror aboard the ship. What follows is a horrifying jaunt as Marcus tries to find and protect his son amid disastrous alien first contact, while a deranged killer stalks around them, butchering and artistically posing multiple victims.
The entire second half of 30Seven is so damn good, and I loved just how dark things ended up getting, with so many gruesome horrors. The clash of fascinating alien interactions against human insanity makes for an intense and fast-paced story, and you race towards the end eager to see who the killer is. Everything leads up to a fantastic final confrontation, where all the author’s twists come to light. While I saw part of the big reveal coming, the full extent of it was very impressive, and it makes you rethink everything that took place earlier in the novel. Readers will come away very satisfied, if a little disturbed, and Robinson does an amazing job wrapping up the entire story and ensuring this was a tight and captivating read.
30Seven ended up being a spectacular novel, and I really enjoyed the unique feel that this book had. Featuring an alien abduction narrative that devolves into a horror-laden slasher novel, Robinson perfectly emulating both genres to pull together an intense read. The resulting story is unique, and Robinson expertly tells it through a primary first-person perspective which allows readers to have a front-row view of 30Seven’s crazy carnage. I loved how the book got darker the further you went along, with Robinson moving the story further into the horror genre, especially when it comes to having the bodies displayed as artworks (a certain moving art exhibit was particularly disturbing). This really ups the tension of the plot, and you are constantly on edge all the way through the final clever reveals. Throw in some interesting thoughts about the potential for alien life, the influence they’ve had on humanity, as well as some interesting concerns about the rise of AI, and this ended up being a very clever and well-written novel.
Robinson always excels at creating likeable figures for his readers to follow, and 30Seven was no exception, featuring an interesting collection of major characters. Unsurprisingly most of the focus goes to main protagonist, Marcus Lockwood, who serves as the novel’s primary point-of-view character. A clever and relatable father, who has been severely traumatised by the recent murder of his wife, Marcus serves as a great heart to the story, especially as he encounters the horrors of Moose Hollow. I felt that Robinson did a good job at painting Marcus as an excellent everyman hero, with some very understandable reaction to events going on around him. In addition, the first-person perspective allows Robinson to really get stuck into Marcus’s trauma, allowing for an authentic and powerful look at a grieving father’s fear, attempts to protect his child, and establish a new connection. All this allows for a fantastic emotional ride, which enhances 30Seven’s main narrative, while pushing the plot in some interesting directions.
In addition to Marcus, 30Seven features a great collection of supporting characters who help or develop the protagonist’s journey in some compelling manners. Most of these supporting characters are fellow campers at Moose Hollow, whose connection to the camp and previous alien encounters provide some interesting side-plots and hints at what is to come. I don’t want to go into too much detail about these supporting characters, especially as it could spoil who is and who isn’t the antagonistic serial killer. However, I will say that each of these supporting characters are well utilised, even if they have an untimely and brutal death.
The one character I do want to go into a little more detail about is the serial killer antagonist of the story. A sinister shadow for some of the early parts of the book, this serial killer awakens when the first alien abduction occurs, and you start seeing parts of the novel from their perspective. These additional perspective shots are some of the best parts of 30Seven, primarily because the killer talks to an unseen watcher that also acts as a proxy for the reader themselves. The resulting sarcastic commentary from the killer as he haunts the ship and the protagonists is so damn brilliant and adds a dark bit of humour to the story. There are also some extremely clever moments as the killer seems to taunt the reader with his words, while also providing hints about who he really is. The final reveal about the figure behind this narration is impressive, especially as it twists the hints around, while the killer mocks readers who guessed wrong (or even partially right). I laughed so damn hard at some of the jokes Robinson loaded into the killer’s chapters (especially those that seem personally aimed at cynical readers like me), and these sections were some of my favourites in the book, especially when they attacked my preconceived notions of how the plot should unfold. Honestly all the characters in 30Seven were great, and I really appreciated the amazing depth, complexity and humour they added to the plot.
As has been habit with all the previous Jeremy Robinson novels I have enjoyed, I ended up grabbing the audiobook version of 30Seven. This format always works extremely well to enhance Robinson’s outstanding and crazy narratives, and 30Seven is no exception to this, as I quickly powered through its near 12-hour long runtime. A lot of this is down to the exceptional narration of Scott Brick, who proves to be an interesting replacement to Robinson’s usual audiobook collaborator R. C. Bray. Brick, whose work on the Orphan X by Gregg Hurwitz and Cotton Malone by Steve Berry audiobooks I’ve previously enjoyed, is a very talented narrator who brings his substantial experience with voicing thriller novels to this complicated read in all the best ways.
Despite this being Brick’s first time narrating one of Robinson’s novels, I felt that Brick did an outstanding job adapting to the author’s style. Not only does he have a little more energy in his voice when reading out the over-the-top science fiction action, but he also perfectly expresses Robinson’s excellent humour. I also really liked the fantastic voices that Brick pulled together for the extended cast of 30Seven. While a couple of voices were similar to tones Brick used in previous audiobooks, most of the cast sounds unique, and you’re able to easily distinguish between the characters. I especially loved the old, wise voice he gives to Emmett, the camp caretaker, while the over-worldly voices of several alien characters were well done. However, it is the sinister and delightfully malicious tone that Brick utilises in the various interludes where the serial killer is seemingly talking to the reader that was the true highlight of this audiobook’s narration. The sarcastic and mocking voice that comes out here was just perfect, and I loved how it helped increase the threat this mysterious figure had. All this results in an exceptional audiobook, which does an incredible job showcasing Robinson’s compelling story.
The brilliant and dark mind of Jeremy Robinson was once again on full display with his new novel, 30Seven. A wonderfully twisted science fiction novel that sets a serial killer loose on a spaceship with dark results, 30Seven was an outstanding standalone novel I couldn’t get enough of. Clever, shocking and highly addictive, 30Seven was an incredible novel and it was one of my top books so far this year. I will definitely be reading more Robinson in 2026, and I cannot wait to try out either the recently released Parallax or the upcoming novel Settle Down when I get a chance.
Top Ten Tuesday – Most Anticipated Books Releasing During the Second Half of 2026 (Mystery, Thriller and Historical Fiction)
Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme that currently resides at The Artsy Reader Girl and features bloggers sharing lists on various book topics. In this list, I continue to examine my most anticipated releases for the second half of 2026. While my other list of the night looked at the best upcoming fantasy and science fiction novels, this list will look at the crime fiction, thrillers, and historical fiction novels that I am most excited for in the next six months.
Just like with my previous article about upcoming fantasy and science fiction books, this was a bit of a difficult list to pull together. Even after I excluded fantasy and science fiction novels from it, there were still a ton of great books I could feature, and I had a hard time deciding what to cut. I was eventually able to whittle it down to a top ten list (with an honourable mentions section), and I am pretty happy with how it turned out. Just like with my fantasy and science fiction list, the following list does a great job of highlighting what books I am most excited for in the second half of the year, so let us see what makes the cut.
Honourable Mentions:
The Unknown by Riley Sager – 4 August 2026
An intriguing and spooky thriller from the always impressive Riley Sager.
King’s Ransom by Matthew Reilly – 29 September 2026
A new book from one of Australia’s best-known authors, Matthew Reilly, King’s Ransom sounds like a fantastic novel with a layered detective plot behind it. I’m very keen to read this book, although I’m leaving it as an honourable mention for now as I still need to read the initial book in this series, The Detective.
The French Illusion by John Grisham – 29 September 2026
Another intriguing and intense legal thriller from the legendary John Grisham, this time involving a kidnapping in Paris and the lawyer sent in to help.
Choppy Water by Jack Heath – 3 November 2026
A fun upcoming novel from one of my favourite Australian authors, Jack Heath. Choppy Water (no cover yet) has a very entertaining plot about a murder on a cruise ship, that I know I’m going to love.
Top Ten Tuesday:
One of Us is Guilty by Steve Cavanagh – 28 July 2026
The legal shenanigans of Steve Cavanagh’s Eddie Flynn series look set to continue with the awesome sounding new book, One of Us Is Guilty. In this latest book, conman turned lawyer Eddie Flynn needs to figure out which member of a rich and supposedly perfect couple committed a brutal murder and which one is innocent. I love the sound of this cool new plot from Cavanagh, and I can’t wait to see the author’s next batch of crazy legal antics unfold.
Duel of Beasts by Boyd and Beth Morrison – 30 July 2026
The amazing author duo of Boyd and Beth Morrison look set to continue their exciting historical adventures with the upcoming fourth Tales of the Lawless Land novel, Duel of Beasts. Bringing back wandering knight Gerard Fox and his wife Willa as they journey across Europe, Duel of Beasts sees the two protagonists venture through medieval Spain to protect a recently widowed noblewoman from a vengeful relative. However, their latest adventure pits them against a menagerie of deadly beasts that are unleashed to hunt them throughout the countryside. This new book sounds just as fun and over-the-top as the previous Tales of the Lawless Land entries, and I have a feeling this one is going to be particularly entertaining.
Bad Neighbours by Joanna Jenkins – 4 August 2026
The next book I am excited to check out is Bad Neighbours by Australian author Joanna Jenkins. The author’s third book, Bad Neighbours will follow on from the excellent How to Kill a Client and The Bluff and sees Jenkin’s lawyer protagonist investigate the murder of a vagrant at her seemingly perfect new apartment building. Based on how impressive Jenkin’s last two novels have been, I strongly believe that Bad Neighbours will be one of the stronger Australian crime fiction novels of 2026, and I cannot wait to dive into it.
The Killer’s Mark by M. W. Craven – 11 August 2026
Highly entertaining escapes are sure to occur in the upcoming thriller novel, The Killer’s Mark by M. W. Craven. The next entry in the over-the-top Washington Poe series, The Killer’s Mark will see Craven’s extremely amusing protagonists start their own private detective agency and get drawn into a sinister case filled with dark secrets and conspiracies. I have had such an incredible time reading Craven’s last two books (especially his ultra-twisty novel The Mercy Chair), and I cannot wait to see what intriguing and unusual investigation the author has cooked up for The Killer’s Mark.
We Chase Shadows by Richard Osman – 15 September 2026
Richard Osman continues his crime fiction domination in 2026 with his next novel, We Chase Shadows. The sequel to his outstanding novel, We Solve Murders (one of my favourite books and audiobooks of 2024), We Chase Shadows brings back the incredible cast of his previous novel and sets them on another globe-trotting investigation. Set to feature another hilarious and deeply clever mystery with some fantastic characters, We Chase Shadows is going to be amazing and will probably be one of my favourite books of the year.
Serenity Falls by C. J. Tudor – 15 September 2026
One of the more unusual and potentially scary novels I am looking forward to in the second half of 2026, is the upcoming horror thriller from C. J. Tudor, Serenity Falls. Following a father and daughter who move to the idyllic town of Serenity Falls, this novel looks set to quickly go off the rails, with mysterious deaths and other dark secrets haunting the new inhabitants. Tudor has produced some incredible reads in the past, including her 2024 novel The Gathering, and I’m so excited to see what her next shocking book is going to contain. I did wonder if I should include Serenity Falls on my fantasy and science fiction list, but I have a feeling readers won’t truly know the cause of the dark events in this novel until the very end. As such, I’m leaving Serenity Falls as an entry on this list, and I know I’m going to love it no matter what.
Adam & Eve by Jeffrey Archer – 6 October 2026
After years of producing heartwarming and entertaining reads, the iconic Jeffrey Archer will finish off his literary career with his final novel, Adam & Eve. A historical epic, Adam & Eve will follow an unlikely couple and their journey towards World War II, with their forbidden relationship impacting the course of the war. Likely filled with compelling historical detail and fantastic character-driven drama, Adam & Eve should be an outstanding final outing from Archer, and I look forward to seeing the entire story unfold.
Shot by Shelley Burr – 27 October 2026
After finishing off her debut PI Lane Holland series (featuring Wake, Ripper and Vanish), Australian author Shelley Burr has another outstanding upcoming mystery that I’m very excited for, Shot. Set to follow a damaged true-crime vlogger as she attempts to solve a particularly infamous double murder, Shot sounds like an incredible read, and I’m already quite curious about its mystery.
The Hollow by Michael Connelly – 3 November 2026
Easily one of the books that I am most excited to check out in the second half of 2026 is the new Michael Connelly, The Hollow. Once again focussing on Connelly’s most iconic protagonist, Harry Bosch, The Hollow will see an older Bosch attempt to investigate a historic murder that has haunted him since he was a child. Thanks to its deeply personal and intense plot, The Hollow has a ton of potential, especially considering Connelly’s recent track record, and I have no doubt this is going to be one of the top books of the year.
The Sword of Rome by Simon Scarrow – 5 November 2026
The final book I want to highlight on this list is the upcoming 25th entry in the epic Eagles of the Empire series by Simon Scarrow, The Sword of Rome. Following on from the political upheaval of Tyrant of Rome, The Sword of Rome will see the protagonists engage in another deadly mission as they travel to the edges of the Roman Empire to fight back an invading army. However, this mission could have grave consequences from the protagonists, as they must content with dangerous Roman politics and gamble with the lives of their families held hostage back in Rome. The Sword of Rome sounds like it is going to be a particularly awesome entry in one of my favourite series, and I cannot wait to see how it comes together.
Well, that’s the end of my second list. As you can see, there are some outstanding mysteries, thrillers and historical fiction novels coming out in the next six months which should prove to be amazing reads. Combine that with the fantasy and science fiction releases from my previous list and I know that I am going to have an incredible time in the second half of 2026. While I am waiting to get my hands on these books, why not let me know if any of the above interest you and let me know what your most anticipated releases for the next six months are in the comments below.
Star Trek: Red Shirts by Christopher Cantwell and Megan Levens
Publisher: IDW Publishing (Paperback – 12 May 2026)
Series: Star Trek: Red Shirts (2025) – Volume One
Writer: Christopher Cantwell
Artist: Megan Levens
Colourist: Charlie Kirchoff
Letterer: Jodie Troutman
Length: 128 pages
My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Prepare to see the gritty underside of Starfleet security in the brutal and twisted Star Trek comic, Red Shirts, a fantastic limited miniseries set during the period of Star Trek: The Original Series. (Not to be confused with Red Shirts by John Scalzi.)
Over the last few years there has been a great resurgence of Star Trek comics, with several intriguing series dropping as part of the franchise’s collaboration with IDW comics. I’ve had fun with a couple of these comics, including the highly amusing Star Trek: Lower Decks series, and I’ve been keen for more. That’s why I was very happy when I got a copy of Red Shirts, a standalone series written by Christopher Cantwell and featuring art from Megan Levens and her team. Both Cantwell and Levens are veterans of Star Trek comic, with Levens lending her art to several interesting series, while Cantwell wrote the Defiant series. Their resulting five-issue collaboration for Red Shirts was a fantastic read, with a complex and brutal story behind it.
In space, few organisations are as infamous or undervalued as the red shirts, the humble members of Starfleet Security, who serve as the first line of defence for Starfleet and the Federation as they constantly seek the expand the final frontier. However, in a galaxy filled with hostile alien empires, rampaging monsters, unknown diseases and other destructive horrors, being a red shirt can seem like a curse. However, when Starfleet discovers that an isolated antenna array on Arkonia 89 is being hacked by unknown enemy operatives in a major espionage breach, they call in Starfleet Security to investigate.
Determined to catch the spies, Starfleet sends in a skilled squad of some of their most experienced red shirts. Led by Lt. Midge DeMatrio and assisted by the longest-service security officer in Starfleet, Lt. Webster Cromarty, the team of officers lay a trap on Arkonia 89, waiting for their target. However, it soon becomes clear that this is not the simple mission that Starfleet promised. Even venturing to Arkonia 89 is a deadly task, between the rough landing, the impassable terrain and the deadly local wildlife. Worse, the officers find themselves unprepared for the enemies decloaking above them.
Caught between two deadly hostile forces with different designs on Arkonia 89, the quickly dwindling members of the operation soon find their backs against the wall as they attempt to keep vital intelligence out of the wrong hands. But can these dedicated officers survive against the odds and uphold the honour and security of Starfleet, especially when their own service has seemingly dismissed them for dead?
What an awesome and intense limited series! Red Shirts was something very special, as this limited series cleverly explored the often-overlooked Starfleet red shirts, while presenting its own brutal and complex tale. A particularly dark and compelling Star Trek comic, Red Shirts was an outstanding read that I’m glad I got the chance to check out.
Cantwell came up with an excellent narrative for this limited series, which quickly throws its reader into the action, while presenting a dark story around sacrifice, duty and betrayal. Starting with some very brutal depictions of life (and death) as a Starfleet security officer, you are soon introduced to the scenario of espionage from unknown figures occurring on an isolated planet. With a coarse veteran officer coordinating efforts from on planet, a small team of skilled red shirts converge on Arkonia 89, attempting to lure the enemy spies with valuable classified intelligence. Thanks to some early over-the-top moments, this proved to be a strong introduction to the main story by Cantwell, especially as he sets up several key character arcs, and provides some clever hints about upcoming twists. The comic is soon engulfed in pure carnage, as the security officer’s mission quickly goes haywire. This includes some early and sudden deaths, which help to highlight just how violent this comic is going to be, although even with them I was still surprised by how bad things were going to get.
The plot keeps consistently going downhill for the protagonists as the comic continues, as the titular red shirts do what red shirts do best. Thanks to a combination of enemy agents, local monsters and unexpected arrivals, the remaining security officers are forced to go to desperate lengths to achieve their mission. There are some great sequences in this part of the comic, with intense writing working well with the powerful artwork, and you soon get unwisely attached to the protagonists and their typical Star Trek resourcefulness. Things come to a dramatic head in the last two issues of the series, with sacrifices, additional tragic deaths, and big reveals all reaching a crescendo. Without going into too much detail, there is a wonderfully set up couple of twists, which make great use of background information that had been provided for much of the comic. While I saw the main twist partially coming, the way in which Cantwell implemented it, as well as the full implications it has on the previous scenes, was brilliant. The author hits all your emotional buttons with this fantastic conclusion, including with a fun final nostalgia inducing scene, and you come away from this comic wondering what happened next, and appreciating just how sinister a Star Trek story can truly be.
There is a lot to love about Red Shirts, which has a little something for everyone interested in checking it out. General comic fans will really enjoy the compelling, twist-laded story and the harsh background aesthetics of this gritty comic, with only some very general Star Trek knowledge needed to follow the plot. At the same time, established Star Trek fans will really appreciate Cantwell’s darker take on the franchise, which makes good use of some obscure bits of lore. While in some ways this comic is an over-the-top parody of the classic expendable red shirts trope, Cantwell has written a very serious narrative around it that tries to tell the story from the security officers’ perspective. As such there are some compelling insights into how the red shirts feel about their roles in Starfleet, why they joined a service with such a cursed reputation, and their opinions on the other colour-coded groups of Starfleet officers. I felt the underlying resentment and mistrust that many of the red shirts felt towards Starfleet for constantly putting them in deadly situations and lying to them was particularly striking, and it became a recurring theme with some major implications on the plot. While those Star Trek fans who prefer the lighter feel of The Original Series may not appreciate how grim and bloody things get in this comic, I personally really enjoyed the shocking nature of Red Shirts, which Cantwell expertly channels to make his narrative more impactful and thought-provoking.
I also liked the characters contained within Red Shirts, as Cantwell introduces 12 distinctive Starfleet security officers to serve as the main cast, a diverse group of officers that cover the full range of the security officer spectrum, with raw recruits, dedicated heroes, alien exchange candidates, and living legends within the service, including two of the longest-serving members who have actually survived past the age of 30. Cantwell does a good job of quickly introducing the key characters amongst them, especially with a nifty dramatis personae up front that provides some key details for the reader. While a couple of these characters do get lost in the shuffle of the bigger cast, the reader quickly picks up who the key members are, with some distinctive protagonists gaining a lot of attention early on.
While these protagonists are very intriguing, readers should keep in mind that these are Star Trek red shirts in The Original Series period, so you know going in that the survival rate isn’t going to be high. To avoid spoilers, I’m not going to go into details about these characters and their fates, although readers are encouraged not to get too attached. I was a little surprised about which cast members Cantwell took all the way to the end, although one was less surprising in hindsight. There are some clever twists loaded in amongst the cast, especially for one figure, and I love how well the author set that up. Throw in some excellent examples of some iconic Star Trek races, as well as an antagonist who mega fans of the classic Star Trek shows will be familiar with, and this was a very interesting comic cast. I came away from Red Shirts very impressed with the excellent character arcs Cantwell was able to fit into this limited series, and while brief, you got the most out of these red shirts while you could.
One of the last things I’m going to highlight about Red Shirts was the excellent artwork from Megan Levens, with support from colourist Charlie Kirchoff and letterer Jodie Troutman. This team did an amazing job capturing Cantwell’s intense story with their artwork, and you are thrown headfirst into the intense tale. Starting with some distinctive character artwork around the main cast, including a particularly striking opening panel with one of the key characters, Levens soon develops the settings of Red Shirts, both on the planet and the out in space. The artist’s depictions of the nighttime forests that the protagonists are fighting through works as a perfect backdrop for some of the early carnage, and these are soon supplemented by shots of space, as well as the interior and exteriors of ships, including several classic vessel types. All these settings, as well as the characters within them, are very well drawn, and I appreciate how Levens presented classic Star Trek designs, with some dark and necessarily brutal flair.
The highlight of the artistic work in Red Shirts are the many great and emotional action sequences that Levens draws, especially as that captures the shocking true nature of the comic. There are many great examples of this throughout Red Shirts, although some of the early sequences, including a full-page spread of security officers getting slaughtered, are particularly striking, and allow readers to visualise some of the chaos to come. The main action sequences, located in the centre of the volume, are quite awesome, with the lethal battle in the shadowy forest well highlighted by weapons blasts and big explosions. Levens really doesn’t hold back when it comes to showcasing the bloody damage being done to the various protagonists, and this is not a comic for those looking for a light-hearted Star Trek adventure (although the cover should really give that away). The artists also do a great job capturing the emotional range of many of the characters featured throughout Red Shirts, especially as they hit their darkest moments. The frank desperation of many of the characters as they fight for survival is very evident in the artwork, as are the looks of sadness or resignation that many of the protagonists wear towards the end. I felt that this more shocking style and far more adult content combined well with some of the iconic Star Trek visuals, ships and character models, and it helped to enhance and intensify the already quite intense story that Cantwell pulled together.
Overall, Red Shirts was a gripping and powerful Star Trek limited series that I had an amazing time getting through. With an impressive and clever story from Christopher Cantwell, and some excellent art from Megan Levens, Red Shirts really went to the dark side of the Star Trek universe, and I loved every second of it. A brilliant and bloody take on the classic Star Trek red shirts that comes very highly recommended.
Waiting on Wednesday – Serenity Falls by C. J. Tudor
Welcome to my weekly segment, Waiting on Wednesday, where I look at upcoming books that I am planning to order and review in the next few months and which I think I will really enjoy. Stay tuned to see reviews of these books when I get a copy of them. This week I’m doing several Waiting on Wednesday posts, and the final upcoming book I want to highlight is the excellent and sure-to-be spooky thriller, Serenity Falls by C. J. Tudor
C. J. Tudor is a talented and highly inventive author who has been releasing some intriguing reads over the last couple of years. Starting with her 2018 debut, The Chalk Man, Tudor has consistently produced some compelling books with clever horror or psychological thriller elements. Her other books include The Hiding Place (also titled The Taking of Annie Thorne), The Other People, The Burning Girls and The Drift.
I personally became a fan of Tudor when I read her latest book, The Gathering, an intriguing murder mystery with a great vampiric twist behind it. The Gathering proved to be quite an exceptional read, and it ended up being one of my favourite books of 2024. After this great first experience from Tudor, I am extremely keen to read from her, and it looks like I’m going to get the chance later this year. That’s because Tudor’s next novel Serenity Falls, is coming out in September 2026.
Set to feature a unique horror plot, Serenity Falls will follow a small family who travel to the titular town in the United States. Unsurprisingly, Serenity Falls is far from the safe and happy town everyone believes it to be, and it looks like Tudor has come up with a compelling and freaky array discoveries to push her protagonists over the edge. I’m personally very curious to see where this unique story goes, and I have a feeling that Tudor has cooked up something quite disturbing and addictive in this upcoming novel. As such, I have very high hopes for Serenity Falls, and I have a feeling it is going to be one of the very best books of 2026.
Plot Synopsis:
Welcome to Serenity Falls – the most idyllic, and safest, town in the US – a place to grow up, grow your family and grow old together. For Dan and his daughter, Sadie, it’s the perfect relocation option. A fresh start, thousands of miles from their troubled past in the UK.
But their idyll is shattered when they find a dead body in the swimming pool of their new house – a house Dan’s late mother kept secret from him all his life.
It’s just the start of a series of disturbing discoveries. Abandoned houses where people have seemingly just upped and left. The strange woman Sadie sees around town putting up ‘missing’ posters for a child who drowned almost thirty years ago. An ice cream van that drives around at night making sure residents are asleep…
As plans gear up to celebrate Serenity Falls’ fiftieth anniversary, something is stirring beneath the surface of the blissful façade. Is Serenity Falls really the perfect town or is it founded on something far darker? And is someone so desperate to keep its secrets that they’d resort to anything to preserve them?
Welcome to Serenity Falls.
Once you’re here, you’re here to stay.