Tag: John Grisham

Top Ten Tuesday – One-Word Reviews for the Last Ten Books I Read

On By The Unseen LibraryIn ListLeave a comment

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly challenge that currently resides at The Artsy Reader Girl and features bloggers sharing lists on various book topics.  For this week’s Top Ten Tuesday, participants are tasked with reviewing the last ten books they have read with only a single word.

I must admit that this list turned out to be a bit of a challenge for me, as I’m not exactly known for doing short reviews.  Regular readers of this blog will know that I tend to post excessively long reviews of books, especially if it proved to be particularly good.  As such, I struggled a little to use only a single word to describe some of the recent books I have enjoyed, as I really don’t think that I’m doing them justice.  Still, I gave it a good go, and I’m happy that the below descriptions of the last ten books I have had the pleasure of finishing are very fitting and will hopefully encourage people to check them out.

Top Ten List:

The French Illusion by John Grisham

Thrilling

Amazon

 

Warhammer 40,000: Bjorn the Fell-Handed by Justin D. Hill

Epic

Amazon

 

We Are For The Dark by Gretchen McNeil

Demonic

Amazon

 

The Only Way Out Is Up by Django Wexler

Robots!!!

Amazon

 

He Who Fights With Monsters – Hero by Travis Deverell

Irresistible

Amazon

 

Serenity Falls by C. J. Tudor

Spooky

Amazon

 

Hard Town by Adam Plantinga

Cathartic

Amazon

 

Warhammer 40,000: Voice of Command by Richard Swan

Intense

Amazon

 

He Who Fights With Monsters – Adventurer by Travis Deverell

Exhilarating

Amazon

 

138 Main Street by Gavin Bell

Memorable

Amazon

 

That’s the end of my latest Top Ten list.  While I’m still not entirely sure a single word review was enough, I think this list turned out pretty well, and I enjoyed the unique takes I had on this interesting range of great novels.  I hope people end up checking out some of these above books for themselves, as each of them were quite exciting and impressive in their own ways.  Let me know what recent books you’ve recently finished off in the comments below, and if you can do so in one word, that would be very cool.

WWW Wednesday – 28 October 2026

On By The Unseen LibraryIn WWW WednesdayLeave a comment

WWW Wednesday is a weekly post hosted by Taking on a World of Words, where bloggers share the books that they’ve recently finished, what they are currently reading and what books they are planning to read next. Essentially you have to answer three questions (the Three Ws):

What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?

So, let’s get to it.

What are you currently reading:

We Are For The Dark by Gretchen McNeil (ebook)

I haven’t had as much reading time as I would have liked this week, but I’m still making some good progress with the cool horror thriller We Are For The Dark by Gretchen McNeil. Following a priest and a cop as they attempt to investigate unusual events at an isolated island, We Are For The Dark is an intriguing and dark read that I’m really enjoying.  I’m hoping to finish off We Are For The Dark this week and I’m very curious to see how this story unfolds.

Amazon

 

Warhammer 40,000: Cold Covenant by Peter Fehervari (Audiobook)

I was still in a Warhammer 40,000 mood this week, so I started listening to the recently released Cold Covenant by Peter Fehervari.  Part of Fehervari’s loosely connected Dark Coil series, Cold Covenant is a darker Warhammer 40,000 novel that follows several damaged characters as they navigate a vicious world falling into chaos. I’m currently a couple of hours into the audiobook version of Cold Covenant and I’m very intrigued by its unique story and take on the Warhammer universe. I’m not sure if I’m going to get through Cold Covenant in the next week, but I’m going to give it a try.

Amazon

What did you recently finish reading?

Warhammer 40,000: Bjorn: The Fell-Handed by Justin D. Hill (Audiobook)

I managed to knock off the excellent Warhammer 40,000 novel Bjorn: The Fell-Handed by Justin D. Hill this week. An epic and striking Warhammer novel, Bjorn: The Fell-Handed comes highly recommended, especially on audiobook, and I’m hoping to get a review up for it soon.

Amazon

What do you think you’ll read next?

Adam & Eve by Jeffrey Archer

The next book that I’m hoping to dive into is the last novel from the recently deceased Jeffrey Archer, Adam & Eve. A sprawling historical epic primarily set between World War I and II, Adam & Eve sounds like an amazing novel and I’m curious to explore Archer’s last literary adventure

Amazon

 

The French Illusion by John Grisham

I’m also hoping to read the new John Grisham novel The French Illusion this week. A compelling thriller set in Paris and following a young lawyer brought in to resolve a kidnapping, The French Illusion sounds extremely interesting and I’m looking forward to reading it.

Amazon

 

That’s it for this week; check back in next Wednesday to see what progress I’ve made on my reading and what books I’ll be looking at next.

Book Haul – 26 October 2026

On By The Unseen LibraryIn Book HaulLeave a comment

I’ve had an excellent couple of weeks for books, as I was lucky enough to receive some incredible and amazing new novels from publishers and Netgalley, plus a few purchases of my own.  These novels include some truly awesome new releases, including books that have the potential to be some of my top reads of the year.  I cannot wait to dive into them, and I so excited to see how they all turn out.

The Hollow by Michael Connelly

The first recent acquisition I want to highlight is the epic new novel from Michael Connelly, The Hollow.  Once again focusing on Connelly’s iconic protagonist Harry Bosch, The Hollow will see Bosch attempt to investigate a murder from his childhood in an intriguing cold-case investigation.  The Hollow sounds pretty damn interesting and I cannot wait to dive into it.

Amazon

 

The French Illusion by John Grisham

The year wouldn’t be complete without the new novel from legendary author John Grisham, The French Connection. This time following a young lawyer involved in an unusual kidnapping in Paris, The French Connection has the feel of a unique spy thriller from Grisham and I’m very curious to see how it unfolds.

Amazon

 

He Who Fights With Monsters – Hero by Travis Deverell

After having such an awesome time with the first two books in Travis Deverell’s He Who Fights With Monsters series (Outworlder and Adventurer), I was extremely eager to continue exploring the series, so I went out and grabbed a copy of the third book Hero, and I may have already read it.  Once again following the series’ interdimensional protagonist as he adventures through a cool fantasy world, Hero was an extremely impressive entry in the series, with some major and impactful moments. I’m hoping to get a review of Hero up soon, and I can confirm that it’s a highly recommended book that I’m really glad I grabbed.

Amazon

 

The Wolves of War by John Gwynne

One of the more impressive books I recently received was the awesome fantasy novel, The Wolves of Winter by John Gwynne.  Another Viking inspired fantasy novel from Gwynne, The Wolves of Winter sets up a cool new series filled with magic, monsters and war.  I cannot wait to dive into this novel, and I already know I’m going to love it.

Amazon

 

Other Worlds Than These by Stephen King and Peter Straub

I recently received a copy of the massive novel, Other Worlds Than These.  The third and final Talisman book from the team of Stephen King and Peter Straub, Other Worlds Than These brings back the series protagonist, now a retired cop who must once again deal with evils of two worlds.  Sure to be an epic and powerful read, I’ve very excited to try out Other Worlds Than These.

Amazon

 

The Unknown by Riley Sager

I finally got my hands on the intriguing horror thriller, The Unknown by Riley Sager. A fantastic sounding novel about a film crew attempting make a film about an infamous mystery on an isolated island which inevitably results in weird events, The Unknown has been on my radar for a while and I’m very keen to check it out.

Amazon

 

Penitent by A. W. Hammond

An intriguing new thriller from Australian author A. W. Hammond, Penitent sees a priest forced to confront a violent killer and decide whether to keep silent or violate the rules of confession. This sounds like an amazing novel and I’m curious to see how it unfolds.

Amazon

 

The Crack by Michelle Stephens

The 2027 novels are already starting to appear, including the Australian crime fiction novel The Crack by Michelle Stephens. Set in a coastal town, The Crack sees a troubled protagonist attempt to avenge the unsolved death of her sister before her own crimes are exposed. I’m already intrigued by this upcoming book, and I look forward to diving into it in the new year.

Amazon

 

Hero Adjacent by Alexis Veenendaal

The final book I want to highlight in this Book Haul post is the fun sounding 2027 fantasy novel Hero Adjacent by Alexis Veenendaal. An entertaining take on the classic hero’s journey narrative, Hero Adjacent sees a very unlikely group of budget adventurers band together to save the day. This sounds like quite the entertaining novel and I’m sure I’m going to have a wonderful time with this upcoming debut.

Amazon

 

Well, that’s the end of this latest Book Haul post.  As you can see I have quite a bit of reading to do at the moment thanks to all these awesome books that have come in.  Let me know which of the above you are most interested in and make sure to check back in a few weeks to see my reviews of them.

Top Ten Tuesday – Most Anticipated Books Releasing During the Second Half of 2026 (Mystery, Thriller and Historical Fiction)

On By The Unseen LibraryIn Historical Fiction, List, Murder Mystery, Thriller1 Comment

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.

Amazon

 

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.

Amazon

 

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.

Amazon

 

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.

Amazon

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.

Amazon

 

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.

Amazon

 

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.

Amazon

 

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.

Amazon

 

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.

Amazon

 

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.

Amazon

 

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.

Amazon

 

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.

Amazon

 

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.

Amazon

 

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.

Amazon

 

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.

The Widow by John Grisham

On By The Unseen LibraryIn ThrillerLeave a comment

Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton (Trade Paperback – 21 October 2025)

Series: Standalone

Length: 404 pages

My Rating: 4.75 out of 5 stars

Amazon

Iconic author John Grisham continues to shine as one of the leading authors of the legal thriller genre with his outstanding new novel, The Widow, a clever, character-driven book that relentlessly drags you in.

Most people will be very familiar with author John Grisham, considering he has been presenting awesome novels filled with complex legal cases since 1989, many of which have been turned into films or television series.  I started reading Grisham in the last few years, having been lucky enough to receive copies of some of his latest novels, including The Judge’s List, The Boys from Biloxi, Sparring Partners, The Exchange and Camino Ghosts.  All these novels proved to be a lot of fun, and I enjoyed the interesting collection of stories and sub-genres that Grisham would explore in these books.  As such, I was very keen to read Grisham’s new novel, The Widow, especially as it had an exciting and compelling plot behind it.

Plot Synopsis:

She needs a lawyer. He needs a payday.

Simon Latch is a small-town lawyer struggling with debt, gambling issues and an impending divorce. But when Eleanor Barnett, an 85-year-old widow, visits his office to secure a new will, it seems his luck has finally changed: she claims she’s sitting on a $20 million fortune and no one else knows about it.

She could be the ticket to his fortune.

Once he’s hooked the richest client of his career, Simon works quietly to keep her wealth under the radar, even from his own assistant. But there are complications: other lawyers are circling his client like vultures.

But when she is hospitalised after a car accident, Eleanor’s story begins to crack. Simon realises that nothing is as it seems. And as events spiral out of control, he finds himself on trial for a crime he swears he didn’t commit: murder.

The Widow was a very interesting and captivating novel from Grisham that combined a distinctive story of a down on his luck protagonist, with a complex mixture of murder and thrilling legal elements.  A very clever read that I had an excellent time getting through, The Widow is Grisham at his best and proved to be a particularly engaging read.

Grisham relies on a well-crafted character-driven narrative for The Widow, which gradually draws the reader in until they are unable to put the book down.  Starting off with a deliberate, slower pace, the early parts of The Widow are primarily focused on introducing and showcasing the life of protagonist Simon Latch, as well as the various people in his orbit.  A lawyer with a stalled career, gambling issues, and a failing marriage, Simon is eager for fresh opportunities, which seems to walk in the door in the form of elderly widow Eleanor Barnett, who requires a new will.  Unable to resist the allure of Eleanor’s reputed fortune, Simon secretly takes her on as a client, hoping to manipulate her into signing a favourable will that he can later abuse for his own financial gain.  Forced to remain in Eleanor’s orbit for his scheme, Simon begins to learn more about his unusual client, who seems to bring trouble down on all around her.  At the same time, Simon keeps making all the wrong decisions in the other areas of his life, which results in him becoming increasingly desperate for a payday.  Grisham does an outstanding job of building up the extensive background of the characters and their motivations in the first half of The Widow, and the elaborate picture of greed, secrets and self-destructive behaviour allows for a very impressive second half of the book.

Deftly amping up the pace in the second half of The Widow, things change quite dramatically when Eleanor passes suddenly, and Simon is free to enact his plan.  However, before he can go through with it, Simon is charged with Eleanor’s murder and soon finds himself a pariah in his own town.  With the evidence stacked against him, the protagonist finds himself embroiled in an elaborate court battle as he tries to prove his innocence.  Expertly building on all the events and interactions in the first half of The Widow, Grisham sets up an impressive and very realistic series of court sequences, all while the Simon’s life falls even further apart around him.  There is a brilliant sense of desperation and despair in this second half of the book, and you really get drawn into the thrilling legal battles, which are laced with beautiful uncertainty, as you are unsure if the protagonist is truly innocent and where the story is going to go next.  I personally was enthralled with this second half of The Widow and powered through it extremely quickly, as I was keen to see how the court case ended and the reveals about who was responsible for Eleanor’s death.

While I loved all the key legal battles, and the extensive court case that takes up a good chunk of the second half of the book, I must admit that I was a little disappointed with how The Widow ended.  This was because the final 50 pages contained a rushed, and slightly unlikely, investigation arc that looks to uncover the truth of how the titular widow died.  While there are some excellent elements to these final pages, the revealed truth about Eleanor’s death comes a little out of nowhere and derailed the careful nature of the rest of the plot.  While there are some hints about who or what was responsible earlier in the book, I think that Grisham erred with this ending, and a different reveal more connected to the main plot would have been better.  Still, it was a mostly satisfying conclusion to book’s overall narrative, and readers will be happy where some of the main cast, especially the protagonist, finish up.

I really enjoyed how Grisham wrote The Widow, as the author effortlessly pulled together a complex story of the legal system told primarily through the eyes of an ethically dubious lawyer.  Featuring elements reminiscent of the author’s other small-town legal thrillers, particularly those set in Clanton, this was an amazing character-focused book.  Grisham does an excellent job of effectively introducing the protagonist, Simon Latch, and viewing his descent from respected lawyer to suspected killer thanks to his own greedy actions.  Thanks to Grisham’s clever examination of all the events of the protagonist’s life, you feel very sympathetic towards Simon, even if he continuously makes things worse for himself.  The somewhat simplistic dishonestly of Simon is well matched by some of the more devious or naturally deceitful characters in The Widow, including the elderly Eleanor Barnett, who suddenly becomes the most important person in Simon’s life.  Old, crotchety and stubborn, Grisham paints a great layer of uncertainty around Eleanor, which ensures the reader is never quite sure whether she is genuinely rich, or pulling some sort of elaborate con on Simon and the other lawyers in his town.  The eventual reveal of this truth is extremely fun, and thanks to the way the two characters are entangled at the end of Eleanor’s life, it helps produce a fantastic murder trial that you can really sink your teeth into.

The resulting criminal defence case was the true highlight of The Widow, and Grisham was in his wheelhouse writing not only the trial but the more mundane legal elements of the protagonist’s practice, which proves to be a key part of the plot.  I deeply appreciated how well the court case played out in the second half of The Widow, which cleverly revisits the events of the first half of the book to examine the protagonist’s guilt.  It soon becomes clear that Grisham did an amazing job hiding a lot of hints and relevant details in the early parts of the plot, and the way these elements come to be used later in was extremely clever.  While I still have my doubts about the novel final reveal, the rest of the book has an excellent flow to it, and I really appreciate how Grisham upped the pace in the second half of the book with a truly gripping court battle.  Throw in an excellent depiction of small-town life and the Virginia legal system, thanks to the portray of fictional town of Braxton and this ended up being a very compelling novel I honestly couldn’t put down.

John Grisham continues to highlight why he is one of the very best writers of legal thriller fiction with The Widow.  A complex and powerful novel, with a compelling protagonist focus, The Widow was a brilliant read, and I loved how wrapped up I got in the book’s outstanding mystery and the various secrets and legal battles surrounding it.  While there are some stumbles towards the conclusion, The Widow was an overall incredible read that is going to appeal to all Grisham fans and those who love a good legal thriller.  I look forward to diving into whatever Grisham writes next.

Amazon

Book Haul – 28 October 2025

On By The Unseen LibraryIn Book HaulLeave a comment

I’ve had an excellent couple of weeks for books, as I was lucky enough to receive some incredible and amazing new novels from publishers and Netgalley.  These novels include some truly awesome new releases, including books that have the potential to be some of my top reads of the year.  I cannot wait to dive into them, and I so excited to see how they all turn out.

The Strength of the Few by James Islington

The first book I want to highlight in this Book Haul post is the epic fantasy novel, The Strength of the Few by James Islington.  The much-anticipated sequel to Islington’s deeply impressive The Will of the Many, The Strength of the Few will see the protagonist continue his attempt to take down an evil empire from within, while at the same time alternate versions of himself traverse other universes.  I have a lot of hope for The Strength of the Few, especially after The Will of the Many ended up being one of my favourite books, audiobooks and Australian novels of 2023, and I am deeply excited to see how this awesome novel turns out.

Amazon

 

The Proving Ground by Michael Connelly

I was also extremely happy to recently receive a copy of the new Lincoln Lawyer book from Michael Connelly, The Proving Ground.  Bringing together two of Connelly’s iconic protagonists, The Proving Ground will focus on a complex legal case, as Mickey Haller takes on a major AI company in court.  I cannot wait to check this book out, and I have no doubt that The Proving Ground will end up being one of the more compelling novels of 2025.

Amazon

 

The Widow by John Grisham

Another great legal thriller I recently received was the new novel from the legendary John Grisham, The Widow.  Following a troubled lawyer who finds himself in deep trouble after a mysterious widow walks through his door, The Widow was an outstanding novel with a very clever plot behind it. I’ve actually already read The Widow, and it proved to be a pretty amazing book that I am hoping to review soon.

Amazon

 

Kill Your Boss by Jack Heath

One of my favourite Australian authors, Jack Heath, returns with his new outrageous novel, Kill Your Boss.  The fun follow-up from the author’s previous novels, Kill Your Brother and Kill Your Husbands, Kill Your Boss will see Heath take on the classic locked-room murder mystery scenario, as his protagonist attempts to find out who killed the hated boss of a local library. Kill Your Boss sounds very entertaining and I cannot wait to see how this outstanding novel unfolds.

Amazon

 

Dark Desert Road by Tim Ayliffe

Another awesome Australian crime fiction read I recently received was Dark Desert Road from the always impressive Tim Ayliffe.  An intriguing novel that will dive into the darker fringes of Australian rural society, Dark Desert Road is an excellent upcoming book set for release in early 2026. I was very happy to get a copy of Dark Desert Road from Netgalley last night, especially as I only just did a Waiting on Wednesday post about it, and I cannot wait to dive into Ayliffe’s new exciting crime fiction read.

 

Gone Before Goodbye by Harlan Coben and Reese Witherspoon

After already wowing me earlier this year with his fantastic novel, Nobody’s Fool, Harlan Coben is back with another excellent thriller.  This time teaming up with acclaimed actress Reese Witherspoon, the two have written the intriguing novel, Gone Before Goodbye, which will follow an army combat surgeon, who finds herself in major trouble when a mysterious client disappears on her watch. I am really curious to see how this novel turns out, and I am hoping to read Gone Before Goodbye very soon.

Amazon

 

Dawn of the Firebird by Sarah Mughal Rana

The final book I recently received that I want to highlight on this post is the upcoming fantasy epic, Dawn of the Firebird.  The debut novel from Sarah Mughal Rana, Dawn of the Firebird will follow a complex protagonist as she attempts to find both vengeance and her place in a deadly world of war, magic and treachery. Dawn of the Firebird sounds quite spectacular, and I am really excited to dive into this cool book from an exciting, first-time author.

Amazon

 

Well, that’s the end of this latest Book Haul post.  As you can see I have quite a bit of reading to do at the moment thanks to all these awesome books that have come in.  Let me know which of the above you are most interested in and make sure to check back in a few weeks to see my reviews of them.

WWW Wednesday – 22 October 2025

On By The Unseen LibraryIn WWW WednesdayLeave a comment

WWW Wednesday is a weekly post hosted by Taking on a World of Words, where bloggers share the books that they’ve recently finished, what they are currently reading and what books they are planning to read next. Essentially you have to answer three questions (the Three Ws):

What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?

So, let’s get to it.

What are you currently reading:

High Rise by Gabriel Bergmoser (Trade Paperback)

I’ve started reading the awesome Australian thriller High Rise by Gabriel Bergmoser.  A fast-paced thrill ride that sees a former cop forced to fight his way through an apartment block filled with gangsters and hitman trying to claim a bounty on his head, High Rise is proving to be a lot of fun and I’m hoping to power through it this weekend.

Amazon

 

Warhammer 40,000: The Remnant Blade by Mike Vincent (Audiobook)

I also started the outstanding Warhammer 40,000 novel, The Remnant Blade by Mike Vincent this week. An excellent debut novel that follows the infamous Night Lords as they deal with brutal treachery and infighting amongst a fractious alliance of Chaos Space Marines, The Remnant Blade is proving to be extremely impressive, and I can’t wait to see how this excellent audiobook comes together.

Amazon

What did you recently finish reading?

The Widow by John Grisham (Trade Paperback)

I managed to finish off the new John Grisham novel, The Widow this week.  An enticing legal thriller from the always reliable Grisham, The Widow was an outstanding read and I’m hoping to write something about it soon.

Amazon

 

Warhammer 40,000: Final Deployment by R. S. Wilt (Audiobook)

I also powered through the cool Warhammer 40,000 audiobook Final Deployment.  The debut novel of author R. S. Wilt, Final Deployment was an intense and bloody ride that I couldn’t get enough of. 

Amazon

What do you think you’ll read next?

The Pilgrim’s Revenge by Scott Mariani

The next book that I’m hoping to read is the intriguing historical thriller, The Pilgrim’s Revenge. An awesome 2025 release from thriller author Scott Mariani, The Pilgrim’s Revenge sounds particularly epic, and I’ve been hoping to read it for a while, especially as Mariani has a sequel coming out very soon.

Amazon

 

That’s it for this week; check back in next Wednesday to see what progress I’ve made on my reading and what books I’ll be looking at next.

WWW Wednesday – 8 October 2025

On By The Unseen LibraryIn WWW Wednesday2 Comments

WWW Wednesday is a weekly post hosted by Taking on a World of Words, where bloggers share the books that they’ve recently finished, what they are currently reading and what books they are planning to read next. Essentially you have to answer three questions (the Three Ws):

What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?

So, let’s get to it.

What are you currently reading:

The Widow by John Grisham (Trade Paperback)

I recently started reading the new John Grisham novel, The Widow.  An enticing legal thriller from the always reliable Grisham, The Widow follows a small-town lawyer who finds himself in big trouble when he attempts to defraud a rich, elderly widow.  I’ve made a bit of progress on The Widow so far, and I’m enjoying its intriguing narrative so far, especially as Grisham is setting up a slow-burn scenario to trap his protagonist.  I’m hoping to knock this novel off in the next few days and I cannot wait to see how The Widow unfolds. 

Amazon

 

Warhammer 40,000: Final Deployment by R. S. Wilt (Audiobook)

I also started to listen to the cool Warhammer 40,000 audiobook Final Deployment this week.  The debut novel of author R. S. Wilt, Final Deployment follows a small squad of elite human soldiers as they attempt to destroy the dark heart of a brutal civil war. I’ve so far gotten through a couple of hours of Final Deployment, and it is proving to be an excellent and exciting read, that will no doubt take its damaged protagonists on an intense and bloody ride. 

Amazon

What did you recently finish reading?

The Impossible Fortune by Richard Osman (Audiobook)

I managed to finish off the new Richard Osman novel, The Impossible Fortune this week. The fifth Thursday Murder Club novel, The Impossible Fortune was another excellent entry in this amazing series, that blends a complex mystery with classic British charm.

Amazon

What do you think you’ll read next?

The Pilgrim’s Revenge by Scott Mariani

The next book that I’m hoping to read is the intriguing historical thriller, The Pilgrim’s Revenge. An awesome 2025 release from thriller author Scott Mariani, The Pilgrim’s Revenge sounds particularly epic, and I’ve been hoping to read it for a while, especially as Mariani has a sequel coming out very soon.

Amazon

 

That’s it for this week; check back in next Wednesday to see what progress I’ve made on my reading and what books I’ll be looking at next.

WWW Wednesday – 1 October 2025

On By The Unseen LibraryIn WWW WednesdayLeave a comment

WWW Wednesday is a weekly post hosted by Taking on a World of Words, where bloggers share the books that they’ve recently finished, what they are currently reading and what books they are planning to read next. Essentially you have to answer three questions (the Three Ws):

What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?

So, let’s get to it.

What are you currently reading:

The Impossible Fortune by Richard Osman (Audiobook)

I started listening to the new Richard Osman novel, The Impossible Fortune this week. The fifth Thursday Murder Club novel, The Impossible Fortune is another excellent entry in this amazing series, that blends a complex mystery with classic British charm.  I have made a fair bit of progress with The Impossible Fortune this week, and this amazing novel is really quite enjoyable, especially on audiobook.

Amazon

What did you recently finish reading?

The Secret of Secrets by Dan Brown (Hardcover)

I finally finished off the new Dan Brown novel, The Secret of Secrets this week. Bringing back Brown’s iconic protagonist on another history-laden mystery, The Secret of Secrets was a very compelling read with an interesting story behind it. 

Amazon

 

Artifact by Jeremy Robinson (Audiobook)

I also powered through the new audiobook from Jeremy Robinson, Artifact. A standalone science fiction novel with a notable horror vibe, Artifact was a very entertaining listen, especially with the always awesome R. C. Bray narrating. Review to follow soon.

Amazon

 

Everyone in this Bank is a Thief by Benjamin Stevenson (Trade Paperback)

I had a lot of fun quickly getting through the amazing Australian murder mystery, Everyone in this Bank is a Thief by Benjamin Stevenson this week.  A hilarious and extremely clever read from one of Australia’s best authors, this was such an epic read, and I really enjoyed how its complex mystery came together.

Amazon

What do you think you’ll read next?

The Widow by John Grisham

The next book I am hoping to read is the new John Grisham novel, The Widow.  An enticing legal thriller from the always reliable Grisham, The Widow will see a small-town lawyer find himself in some big trouble when he attempts to defraud a rich, elderly widow.  I love the sound of this amazing book, and I know I’m going to have an outstanding time getting through The Widow this week. 

Amazon

 

That’s it for this week; check back in next Wednesday to see what progress I’ve made on my reading and what books I’ll be looking at next.

Top Ten Tuesday – Books on my Spring 2025 To Be Read (TBR) List

On By The Unseen LibraryIn List1 Comment

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme that currently resides at The Artsy Reader Girl and features bloggers sharing lists on various book topics.  The official Top Ten Tuesday topic for this week featured books with occupations in the title, which I actually completed last week, so instead I’m instead going to use this post to look at some upcoming books. This is because today is the first Tuesday of Spring 2025 and I thought this would be a good opportunity to do my quarterly post about the best upcoming books I am looking forward to reading in Spring (Autumn/Fall for folks in the Northern Hemisphere). This is a regular post I do at the start of each season, and I always love to highlight some of the most impressive sounding novels coming out in the next three months.

For this list, I have come up with ten books coming out between 1 September 2025 and 30 November 2025 that I am most excited for. There are quite a few amazing novels set for release in the next few months, so it took me a while to finalise my final top ten list, including my usual honourable mentions section. I have primarily used the Australian publication dates to reflect when I will be able to get these awesome novels, and these might be somewhat different to the rest of the world. I have previously discussed a number of these books before in prior Waiting on Wednesday articles, and I think all of them will turn out to be incredible reads. I am extremely excited for these next three months and I feel that quite a few of these upcoming reads have the potential to be some of my favourite books of 2025.

Honourable Mentions:

The Secret of Secrets by Dan Brown by 9 September 2025

A deeply exciting thriller from the legendary Dan Brown that will once again present a compelling mystery from history.

Amazon

 

The Widow by John Grisham – 21 October 2025

An intriguing new legal thriller from the always impressive John Grisham.

Amazon

 

King Sorrow by Joe Hill – 21 October 2025

The highly inventive Joe Hill will present a compelling new horror thriller with King Sorrow, an epic novel that sees a group of friends experience the downside of summoning a vengeful dragon.

Amazon

 

Kill Your Boss by Jack Heath – 4 November 2025

One of top Australian releases of 2025, Kill Your Boss will follow Jack Heath’s previous outstanding novels, Kill Your Brother and Kill Your Husbands.

Top Ten List:

Circle of Days by Ken Follett – 23 September 2025

The first book I want to highlight on this list is the upcoming historical fiction novel from Ken Follett, Circle of Days.  A historical epic set around the construction of Stonehenge, Circle of Days will follow several complex characters as they live their lives in the shadow of an iconic construction.  I have no doubt that Circle of Days will be one of the top historical fiction releases of 2025 and this is an excellent novel to start this list on.

Amazon

 

The Impossible Fortune by Richard Osman – 25 September 2025

Few Spring releases have me as excited as The Impossible Fortune by Richard Osman.  The fifth book in the incredible Thursday Murder Club series by Osman, The Impossible Fortune will follow on from outstanding novels like The Thursday Murder Club (one of my favourite books, debuts and audiobooks of 2020), The Man Who Died Twice (one of my favourite books and audiobooks of 2021), The Bullet That Missed (one of my favourite books and audiobooks of 2022) and The Last Devil to Die (one of my favourite books and audiobooks of 2023).  Featuring a cool new case, The Impossible Fortune sounds like another entertaining entry in the series, and I cannot wait to see how the characters are going after the deep tragedy of The Last Devil to Die.  This will likely top all my end of 2025 best-of lists, and I cannot wait to check it out.

Amazon

 

Everyone in this Bank is a Thief by Benjamin Stevenson – 30 September 2025

One of the more entertaining novels coming out in the second half of 2025 is going to be the brilliant Australian thriller Everyone in this Bank is a Thief by Benjamin Stevenson. The fourth book in the Ernest Cunningham series (Everyone in My Family has Killed Someone, Everyone on this Train is a Suspect, and Everyone this Christmas has a Secret), Everyone in this Bank is a Thief will once again place Stevenson’s insightful and unlucky protagonist at the site of another crime as he is forced to investigate a murder while trapped as a hostage in a bank robbery. Blending classic murder mystery elements with a fun heist narrative, Everyone in this Bank is a Thief is going to be a hilarious read, and I cannot wait to check it out.

Amazon

 

Cold War by Jonathan Maberry – 14 October 2025

After already impressing with Burn to Shine, Maberry still has his second novel of 2025 coming out with Cold War.  A follow-up to his 2024 dark science fiction novel, NecroTek, Cold War will see a group of human scientists, soldiers and pilots trapped on the other side of the universe using death-powered alien mechs to fight against ancient cosmic horrors.  Sure to be another complex and chilling novel, Cold War has a ton of potential and will likely be a top book of the year.

Amazon

 

The Proving Ground by Michael Connelly – 21 October 2025

The always reliable master of crime fiction, Michael Connelly, has another awesome book coming out in 2025 with The Proving Ground. The next book in the author’s incredible Lincoln Lawyer series (which has previously featured books like The Law of Innocence and Resurrection Walk), The Proving Ground will team Mickey Haller with another Connelly protagonist, Jack McEvoy (the protagonist of books like Fair Warning), as he takes on a sinister AI company. Likely to combine great legal elements with a complex thriller narrative, I have a feeling this is going to be one of Connelly’s more captivating books, and I am very excited to get my hands on it.

Amazon

 

Tyrant of Rome by Simon Scarrow – 6 November 2025

For some additional historical fiction awesomeness in 2025, we still have the new Eagles of the Empire novel from Simon Scarrow, Tyrant of Rome. Scarrow’s second book in 2025 after A Death in Berlin, Tyrant of Rome will follow on from the previous Eagles of the Empire novel, Revenge of Rome, as the protagonists return to Rome after ending Boudica’s rebellion. This time series protagonists Cato and Macro are dragged back into the excesses of Nero when they are chosen to take control of law and order throughout the city to keep the depraved emperor in power. I love this interesting change of direction away from the brutal war stories of the last few books and it is going to be fun to dive into over-the-top Roman politics.

Amazon

 

The Blackfire Blade by James Logan – 11 November 2025

Last year I had the very great pleasure of reading the outstanding fantasy debut, The Silverblood Promise by James Logan. An elaborate and compelling fantasy adventure that saw a young man travel to an unfamiliar city to uncover his father’s killer, The Silverblood Promise was an amazing read that blended inventive worldbuilding with a great conspiracy storyline. I had a ton of fun with this first book from Logan, and I have been eager to get my hands on the sequel for a while now. Luckily, I only have to wait a few more months as Logan’s second book, The Blackfire Blade, is one of the big fantasy releases of the second half of the year. Continuing to follow the protagonist’s quest to find clues related to his father’s murder, The Blackfire Blade takes the reader to another elaborate fantasy city and forces the characters to uncover the new setting’s dark secrets. I have no doubt this is going to be an impressive book, and I cannot wait to see how Logan continues his amazing series.

Amazon

 

The Strength of the Few by James Islington – 11 November 2025

Probably the most anticipated book for fantasy fans coming out in the second half of 2025 is the elaborate and intriguing novel, The Strength of the Few by James Islington. The sequel to Islington’s highly acclaimed The Will of the Many, The Strength of the Few, will continue to follow Islington’s compelling protagonist as he attempts to undermine the empire that destroyed his family, while uncovering the hidden secrets from the past. However, this book looks set to be even more complex as different versions of the protagonist are split across three separate realities, each of whom must face its own troubles and adventures. I am extremely intrigued to see how this split narrative is going to work out but based on how damn exceptional The Will of the Many was, I have very little doubt this is going to be a particularly epic novel.

Amazon

 

Our Lady of Blades by Sebastien de Castell – 11 November 2025

One of the more impressive fantasy novels coming out later this year is the very cool novel, Our Lady of Blades. The next book in Sebastien de Castell’s The Court of Shadows series, Our Lady of Blades will be another standalone novel in the author’s Greatcoat universe, that will build on the previous, loosely-connected novels Crucible of Chaos and Play of Shadows. Our Lady of Blades will explore a new location in this universe and will feature a The Count of Monte Cristo inspired plot, as a mysterious masked duellist returns to a corrupt city to get justice and restore her family through any means necessary, all while the big conspiracy of the series continues to unfold. Based on how exceptional the last two books in this series have been, I feel that Our Lady of Blades is going to be a top book of 2025, and it is one I am especially keen for, especially after having a blast with de Castells other release for the year, The Malevolent Eight.

Amazon

 

Star Wars: Master of Evil by Adam Christopher – 11 November 2025

The final book that I want to highlight on this list is the impressive and character-focussed Star Wars tie-in novel, Master of Evil by Adam Christopher. Set to follow Darth Vader during his early days as a Sith Lord, Master of Evil will provide some complex insights into this iconic villain’s mind as he attempts to uncover the true dark side of the Force. With a very intriguing and lore-heavy plot idea, and an even more awesome cover, Master of Evil has certainly caught my attention, and I cannot wait to see Adam Christopher’s take on this legendary Star Wars character.

Amazon

 

Well, that is the end of my Top Ten list. I think it turned out pretty well and it does a good job of capturing all my most anticipated books for the next three months. There are some really impressive books coming out in this part of 2025, and I cannot wait to read each of them soon. Let me know which of the above you are most excited for and stay tuned for reviews of them in the next few months. In the meantime, it looks like I have quite a bit of reading to do in the near future.