Tag: Murder Mystery

Waiting on Wednesday – Sons of the Reich by Simon Scarrow

On By The Unseen LibraryIn Historical Fiction, Murder Mystery, Waiting on Wednesday1 Comment

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.  In this week’s Waiting on Wednesday, I look ahead to 2027, with an outstanding upcoming murder mystery with a promising historical dark side, Sons of the Reich by Simon Scarrow.

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Readers of this blog will know that I am a massive fan of historical fiction author Simon Scarrow, whose various books set across multiple historical periods has produced some gripping and fantastic reads.  I am primarily a fan of his Eagles of the Empire series, the next book of which, The Sword of Rome, is set for release later this year.  However, while I wait for The Sword of Rome to come out, I thought I would look ahead and highlight the next Scarrow book coming out with Sons of the Reich, the fourth book in the author’s Criminal Inspector Schenke thriller series.

The Criminal Inspector Schenke series, also known as the Berlin Wartime series, are an addictive and captivating series that focus on dark murder investigations in Berlin during World War II.  Following protagonist CI Horst Schenke, a Kripo investigator and one of the few good cops left in the city, the series sees Horst investigate murders that occur against the backdrop of the war and the Nazi regime.  Inevitably, Schenke runs up against powerful Nazis and members of the SS as the crimes he investigates skirt the dark secrets of the Nazi government.  The first three books in this series, Blackout, Dead of Night and A Death in Berlin, were impressive reads that expertly combined compelling narratives with the ominous historical setting.  As such, I keep a close out for any additional books in the series, and it looks like we are going to be blessed with a new entry in the series in 2027 with Sons of the Reich.

Set for release in March 2027, Sons of the Reich sees Schenke once again in a dangerous and politically sensitive investigation, this time involving the Hitler Youth.  Featuring a very interesting story idea that will showcase murder and secrets at the heart of the Nazi movement, Sons of the Reich sounds like another complex and exciting read with a ton of potential.

Plot Synopsis:

May 1940. Nazi Party propaganda indicates that the war is nearly won, but disturbing news of casualties makes for a tense atmosphere in Berlin.

Violent crime is growing, with arrogant members of the Hitler Youth amongst the worst culprits. When a young man of the group is found brutally murdered, Criminal Inspector Schenke is called in. The crime has occurred outside his precinct, but the dead boy’s uncle is Gestapo, and SS Gruppenfuhrer Heydrich wants Schenke to investigate. Or, rather, to focus on one suspect to the exclusion of all others.

Schenke is determined to discover the truth rather than follow instructions from on high. Evidence seems too easily discovered, while the accounts shared by the victim’s fellow Hitler Youths are disturbingly similar in every detail. But if Schenke pushes his search for the truth too far, will his luck finally run out, as the might of a ruthless regime is turned against him?

I am very excited to dive into this new historic murder mystery, especially after how impressive and clever the previous three books in this series have been.  It sounds liked Scarrow has come up with a particularly intriguing scenario for Sons of the Reich that should produce an outstanding story, and I’m expecting both an impressive standalone mystery, as well as a continuation of some of the series ongoing storylines, such as the protagonist’s illicit relationship with a fugitive Jewish woman hiding in the city.  I am also quite intrigued see the author’s take on the Hitler Youth and their role in this stage of Berlin life, as well as the powers working behind them.  I have no doubt Scarrow will continue to explore and utilise the fascinating and sinister historical elements of this setting to his full extent, and I cannot wait to see how they continue to enhance the excellent crime fiction elements of the narrative.

Based on how much I have enjoyed the first three novels in this series, there is no way that I won’t be grabbing Sons of the Reich next year.  Simon Scarrow is such a good author, and I have really enjoyed this impressive World War II crime fiction series, especially as it allows him to explore wartime Berlin through the eyes of a conflicted protagonist.  I am very curious to see how this new story will unfold, and I have no doubt I am going to find it fascinating and compelling.  Due to all this, Sons of the Reich is one of my most anticipated historical fiction novels for next year, and I will dive into it the first chance I get.

Waiting on Wednesday – First Degree Murder by Jennifer Pearson

On By The Unseen LibraryIn Murder Mystery, Waiting on Wednesday, Young AdultLeave a comment

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 check out an intriguing murder mystery release coming out next year with First Degree Murder by Jennifer Pearson.

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2027 is shaping up to be an excellent year for sequels, with several impressive authors following up on amazing novels with compelling and intriguing continuations.  One of the ones that I am currently most excited for is First Degree Murder, a follow-up to one of the better mystery novels of 2027, Drop Dead Famous by Jennifer Pearson.

Drop Dead Famous was a captivating young adult murder mystery I was lucky enough to read earlier this year.  Following an amateur teenage sleuth who investigates the murder of her famous sister with the help of an obsessive fan girl, Drop Dead Famous featured a particularly strong mystery, with Pearson loading in a ton of twists and shocking reveals as the protagonist uncovered various secrets about her town and her damaged family.  I had an incredible time reading Drop Dead Famous, and I really cannot get over how clever the story got.

Due to how impressive I found Drop Dead Famous, I have been eagerly awaiting a potential sequel for a while now, and I was very happy to find out some details.  This sequel, First Degree Murder, is set for release in May 2027, and will once again bring back the entertaining protagonists for brand new mystery.  Based on how strong Pearson’s first excellent teen thriller was, I’m expecting great things from the sequel, which I imagine will be filled with even more twists and shocks.  As such, First Degree Murder is now one of the books I’m most looking forward to in 2027, and I cannot wait to get my hands on it.

Plot Synopsis:

THIS CAMPUS HAS SECRETS. AND ONE OF THEM KILLS.

Stevie Baker came to Wexford University hoping to leave the past behind. But when her friend Nate is found dead in his dorm room, Stevie is thrust into the middle of another murder investigation. And this time, the police are looking at her.

Determined to clear her name, Stevie and her best friend Colby start asking questions of their own. But the deeper they dig, the more dangerous the truth becomes. Because a killer is still out there.

The Doubles by Jacob K. Gallagher

On By The Unseen LibraryIn Australian, Fantasy, Murder MysteryLeave a comment

Publisher: Hachette Australia (Trade Paperback – 25 August 2026)

Series: Standalone/Book One

Length: 360 pages

My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

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Australian author Jacob K. Gallagher drops one of the more distinctive fantasy debuts of 2026 with The Doubles, a captivating and inventive urban fantasy novel that makes amazing use of its rural Australian setting.

Plot Synopsis:

‘I remembered a dream I had been having: a mountain, covered in trees, swelling up out of a plain like a tidal wave. But peering out from the underbrush was a row of eyeless faces looking past me out into the endless expanse I knew was at my back.’

On the Liverpool Plains, near the town of Werris Creek, the Veil that separates the mortal realm from the Outside is wearing thin. Children have been disappearing and turning up dead. Someone – or something – is responsible; taking them from their beds in the middle of the night and sending a message no one can understand.

That’s all Kring knows when she gets the case. That’s all she needs to know.

Kring is no stranger to magic and monsters – her job as an Envoy for the Higher Powers is to banish Trespassers from our world. But this mission will push her capabilities to the limit, and bring back memories of a past she’d rather leave forgotten. Together with Dries, a local officer of magical law enforcement, she finds herself in a race against time to stop a demon from killing again. And once the demon finds what it’s looking for, things will get a whole lot worse …

The Doubles was an exciting and impressive first novel from Jacob K. Gallagher, a fellow Canberran who has jumped onto the fantasy scene in a big way with a complex Australian fantasy story.  Featuring a great urban fantasy narrative loaded with cool details and a distinctive local Australian setting, The Doubles was an excellent read that hooked me extremely quickly.

I had an amazing time with the cool story that Gallagher came up with for The Doubles, that brought together classic urban fantasy elements with the always awesome Australian outback setting.  Following protagonist Kring, an Australian human magic user who works as a monster hunter (known as an Envoy), for the Higher Powers (angels).  After a series of mysterious disappearances of several children, Kring is sent to the small town of Werris Creek in rural New South Wales Australia to investigate the potential appearance of a Trespasser, an invading being from another reality.  Gallagher does an excellent job setting up a lot of these early story elements for The Doubles, including a concise introduction to the magic system and the overarching supernatural governance of this world.

This early worldbuilding is soon backed up by a compelling mystery, as you become invested in discovering what is targeting indigenous children in the area around Werris Creek and replacing them with magical duplicates.  Teaming up with local magical law enforcement agent Dries, Kring is forced into a complex investigation, as they look at impacted locals, legends and the sinister nearby mountain that appears to be at the centre of the mystery.  Gallagher provides some excellent and compelling story elements as The Doubles continues, with Kring and Dries forced to compete with multiple magical attacks as they attempt to uncover the being responsible and destroy them.  The author also throws in some interesting personal struggles, as Kring is forced to deal with social interactions after years of fighting monsters, while Dries attempts to get a more human reaction out of Kring.  Everything leads up to a massive final confrontation that nicely wraps up this specific story, while also hinting at larger issues to come if Gallagher chooses to continue this series.  An overall excellent Australian fantasy story that is guaranteed to hook you with its tense magical action and overarching mystery.

I had an excellent time reading The Doubles, which I felt was both a great Australian debut, and one of the more distinctive fantasy novels of 2026.  The quick paced story loaded with magical mayhem was very addictive right off the bat, and Gallagher produced a great urban fantasy narrative, with humans in the modern world dealing with hidden magic and monsters.  The story contained an impressive blend of world-building, character development and a complex magical mystery, which Gallagher did an excellent job of blending together into a tight, cohesive narrative.  The central mystery was of particular note, and I quite enjoyed seeing the powerful dive into the local culture to uncover clues.  The well-written character development was also quite impressive, and the main duo of the powerful yet impersonal Kring and the more human Dries played off each other extremely well, and it was great to see their clashing views of magic and the risks of the investigation.

While I enjoyed the mystery and character elements of The Doubles, I felt that the highlight was the compelling fantasy elements and the overarching setting of the story.  Gallagher made use of a fun blend of more traditional western fantasy inclusions, such as angels, monsters from another realm, and a system of world-spanning magic rules, which helped to create a fascinating urban fantasy framework for the plot.  These elements are very well introduced, and the reader soon gets their head around many of this universe’s particular rules.  I quite enjoyed the interchange between the angelic Higher Powers who create the rules of magic and the human operated Null Legion that enforce it, especially as it caused some friction for the protagonist, who serves as the angel’s human agent.  Gallagher also created some compelling additional mystery by hinting at secrets and a potential conspiracy behind the Higher Powers, and there were some interesting unanswered questions at the end of this book that will likely bring me back for a sequel.

One thing that made all these fantastic supernatural elements even cooler to me was the way in which Gallagher expertly brought it into an Australian setting by having the protagonists hunt for monsters out in some iconic rural bush territory.  As an avid fantasy reader who reads a lot of Australian fiction, I can tell you that there aren’t enough mainstream fantasy novels out there that feature Australia as a key setting.  Gallagher more than made up for the lack of competition, cleverly portraying some real-life Australian locations and setting them up as the scene of a magical investigation.  A lot of cool elements from this setting, including its local mythology, the Aboriginal history, the isolated nature of the towns and all its local flavour are worked into the plot in some fun ways.  The resulting contrast from the more traditional fantasy inclusions and the local Australian elements was very intriguing and helped The Doubles to stand out as a very special read.

Overall, I had an outstanding time reading The Doubles, which was ended up being an amazing urban fantasy debut.  Jacob Gallagher really wrote something impressive with his first book, and I loved the great magical mystery out in the Australian wilderness.  I really hope that Gallagher choses to write a sequel to The Doubles at some point, as this really was one of the better Australian-set fantasy novels I have had the pleasure of reading.

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The Detective Matthew Reilly

On By The Unseen LibraryIn Australian, Five-Star Books, Murder Mystery, Thriller, Throwback Thursday1 Comment

Publisher: Pan Macmillan Australia (Trade Paperback – 21 October 2025)

Series: Sam Speedman – Book One

Length: 383 pages

My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

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Prepare for one of the most over-the-top and highly impressive thrillers of recent years, with the brilliant and utterly addictive The Detective by Matthew Reilly.

Those who follow my blog will know that I tend to read a lot of Australian fiction, not only because I like to support local authors but because there are some cracking and captivating reads from my talented countryfolk.  Of the current crop of awesome Australian authors out there, few are more well known internationally than Matthew Reilly, a thriller writer with a raft of distinctive novels in his bibliography.  Known for books like his Shane Schofield and Jack West Jr series, as well as some of his outrageous standalone novels, Reilly has been a consistently entertaining author since the 1990s.  Despite this, I’ve only had the chance to read a couple of books from Reilly, including The Secret Runners of New York and Mr Einstein’s Secretary (one of my favourite books and pieces of Australian fiction of 2023), both of which were excellent in their own ways.  As such, I’ve tried to grab some more of his books, including his 2025 release, The Detective.  I only recently got the chance to read The Detective, and boy was I glad that I did.  The first book in Reilly’s new Sam Speedman series, The Detective was a highly addictive read with an exceedingly thrilling narrative behind it.

Plot Synopsis:

For 150 years, women have been going missing.

And all of the investigators who went in search of them – from 1877 to the present day – have disappeared, too.

Now Sam Speedman, a most unique private detective, is on the case.

Brilliant, direct and disarming, Sam is … different. He’s not your average private detective. But then again, this isn’t your average case.

For not even he will be prepared for what he will find.

Set in the darkest corners of the American South, tapping into hot-button issues that simmer beneath the surface of the modern United States, this is Matthew Reilly writing faster and bolder than ever before, bringing you a detective thriller like no other.

Well damn, now that was a crazy ass book!  While I knew I was likely going to enjoy The Detective, I was unprepared for just how over-the-top and entertaining it was going to be.  I honestly read this outstanding novel from Matthew Reilly in less than a day, it was damn addictive, especially when the full insanity of the plot emerged.  Due to just how fun and exciting The Detective was, I have to award this book a full five-stars, a rating it very much deserves.

I had an amazing time getting through The Detective’s narrative, primarily because Reilly came up with a powerful and detailed story that provides some intriguing mystery, heavy thrills and very over-the-top moments.  Reilly starts the narrative off strong, with an exciting introduction to the protagonist and main point-of-view character, Sam Speedman, the unlikely autistic private investigator.  While this opening sequence and early exploration of Reilly’s unique protagonist was great, it was the introduction of The Detective’s main case that personally drew me in, which starts when DNA test reveals that a dead newborn baby in the Louisiana swamp is the child of missing person Speedman has been hired to find.  To raise the stakes and interest, this disappearance is the latest in a long string of missing African American women dating back to the end of the Civil War.  Even more troubling, every previous detective who has investigated the case, including Speedman’s mentor, has either disappeared or turned up dead.

Despite this terrifying background, Speedman investigates and soon finds himself teaming up with an FBI agent also interested in the case.  Reilly does a lot of solid set-up in this first half of the book, and you are presented with some intriguing suspects, great supporting characters, and a real appreciation for the unique case and the way that the protagonist investigates.  The case goes in some interesting directions here, especially as Speedman finds an unlikely collection of clues and suspicions, before a seemingly early end to the investigation.  However, this is just a prelude to the rest of the plot, especially when Speedman quickly identifies a massive coverup surrounding the case.  Despite being offered everything he ever wanted, Speedman is unable to drop his investigation, which results in utter chaos and destruction being thrown at him and everyone he cares for.

While the first half of The Detective was very good and quickly draws you in, it was the brutal and insanely over-the-top second half of the book that makes this a truly memorable read.  Reilly throws everything that he can at his protagonist, as Speedman journeys through the deep south to find answers.  There are some great moments here, with plenty of action and clever investigating, all pulling together into a crazy result.  I don’t want to give too much away, but the hidden secrets behind the case are incredibly insane, while still cleverly fitting into the overarching narrative of The Detective.  Everything leads up to an explosive confrontation which delivers some very cathartic moments, as well as some memorable action sequences.  Reilly also throws in a great, if now depressingly unrealistic, solution to the giant odds the protagonists are facing, and watching their plan come together was really impressive.  An overall outstanding narrative, that you won’t be able to stop reading, even if you wanted to.

I had a lot of fun with Reilly’s style for The Detective, which was very easy to read and really highlighted the book’s fantastic action.  The author makes excellent use of the first-person perspective, which showcased the entertaining viewpoint of the primary perspective character.  Thanks to this, you get a great view of the investigation and the protagonist’s mind as he pulls the unique threads of the mystery together.  The mystery itself is quite well set up, and I appreciated the variety of clues and hints that Reilly introduces early in the book, even if you can’t imagine just where the author is going with them.  I will say that Reilly makes good use of the southern setting for the plot, with race, cultural heritage and other issues all working as motives or underlying factors.  These contemporary issues, as well as some key historical events, are cleverly referenced or alluded to (including quotes from real-life events or people), and while Reilly naturally takes everything several steps further than reality, it still makes you think.  I deeply enjoyed the narrative extremes that Reilly went to, which added a lot of entertainment to this book, and you must imagine that some of the world’s current craziness bled into Reilly’s mind as he wrote it.  I also have to highlight some of the cool diagrams and helpful alternate formatting that was added into the paperback version of The Detective, which helped order key parts of the plot and allowed even more insights into the protagonist’s mind.

I’ve already mentioned the unique protagonist of The Detective, Sam Speedman, a few times, and I want to again make it clear how interesting and fun he proved to be.  Introduced as a questionable investigative protagonist due to his lack of social skills and distinctive way of thinking, Speedman quickly grows on the reader thanks to his insights, down-to-earth view, and determination to do the right thing no matter what.  I liked how Reilly already had Speedman set up as a very competent figure right at the start of the book, and you are soon drawn into his personality, as well as the unlikely connections he already has.  The author also throws in some growth for Speedman in this book, with the protagonist becoming even more comfortable with other people while continuing to stick to his principles no matter the cost.  I really think that Reilly did a good job of providing a nuanced portrayal of an autistic central character, and I liked how Speedman’s eccentricities, such as his preferred restaurant and inherent caution, played into the plot in some natural ways.  Speedman proved to be one of the more memorable crime fiction protagonists in recent years, and I’m very curious to see what other adventures Reilly takes him on in the future.

Aside from Speedman, The Detective features an intriguing array of supporting characters, each of whom add their own spin on the plot.  Reilly has fun showcasing many of these great characters from Speedman’s perspective, and it was interesting to see his take on them.  I personally enjoyed secondary protagonist FBI agent Audrey Mills, who serves as a motivated support to Speedman, as well as a moving love interest once she realises who she is working with.  Other fun characters include Speedman’s eclectic contacts, such as an enterprising assistant, an exceedingly brave fellow investigator, and several Hooters waitresses who are some of the protagonist’s best friends.  Finally, we have the various antagonists of the story, who exist at near supervillain levels thanks to their audacious evil plans.  To avoid spoilers, I won’t say too much about these antagonists, except that they make for a terrifying opposition thanks to their reach and influences.  This fantastic and over-the-top group of characters all fit naturally into Reilly’s ambitious and ultra-entertaining narrative.

Thanks to its outrageous story, complex characters, and non-stop fun and excitement, The Detective proved to be an incredible read, and one that I still cannot stop thinking about.  Matthew Reilly really came up with something special with The Detective, and it was a crazy pleasure to read it.  I am now exceedingly excited for the soon to be released sequel, King’s Ransom, which I already know is going to be exceedingly awesome and crazy.

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Quick Review – On the Edge by Kate Horan

On By The Unseen LibraryIn Australian, Murder Mystery, Thriller1 Comment

Publisher: HQ (Trade Paperback – 1 January 2026)

Series: Standalone

Length: 372 pages

My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

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Get ready for one of the more compelling pieces of Australian crime fiction released earlier this year, the powerful and twisty On the Edge by Kate Horan.

Plot Synopsis:

Desperate people do desperate things…

Sixteen years ago, teenage Maddie Marshall’s body was found on a desolate beach near her hometown, Carrinya. Vibrant, feisty Maddie was the only daughter of a high-profile politician. The case was the talk of the town but was ultimately never solved.

Nel Foley, daughter of the town doctor and Maddie’s best friend, was the last known person to see her alive, and the Carrinya rumour mill was vicious. Nel fled the town and has never been back. Until now.

Now a 32-year-old city GP, Nel returns after her father’s sudden death, determined to get in and out as quickly as possible. Begrudgingly, she agrees to run his clinic for a few weeks, but during that time she meets local mum Sophie Warner and that changes everything.

Sophie’s husband Ryan, a prominent local real estate agent, was Maddie’s boyfriend and Nel is certain he played a role in her death. When Nel discovers that Ryan is not the loving husband and father that he seems, she decides she must prove what he did all those years ago. But as she starts to unravel the past, she discovers the truth is far more complex than she could have imagined.

A twisty, suspenseful mystery about the desperate things people do when they’re on the edge.

On the Edge was an excellent and intense read from rising Australian author Kate Horan, which was a great early highlight of the 2026 reading year.  The second book from Horan following her debut The Inheritance, On the Edge was an interesting take on the classic small-town Australian crime fiction novel, which took its mystery in some outstanding directions.

A lot of elements of On the Edge will be familiar to fans of Australian fiction, with a protagonist forced to return to their hometown after leaving years ago in the aftermath of a dark event, in this case the suspicious death of protagonist Nel’s best friend, Maddie.  Horan does an excellent job of introducing Nel and showcasing her trauma at returning, with some flashback sequences adding in some extra context.  Naturally, Nel takes the chance to start her own investigation into the historic crime thanks to new evidence recovered from her dead father’s files.

While there are some familiar story beats to On the Edge’s initial plot, Horan makes this format her own thanks to her use of the secondary protagonist Sophie.  The wife of Ryan, the obvious suspect to Maddie’s murder, Sophie spends most of the book dealing with Ryan’s domestic abuse, while also being haunted by the secrets from her past.  This provides a great alternate perspective to the narrative, which helps to make On the Edge really stand out, especially with some well-placed reveals.  Horan uses many of these story elements to drive up the book’s drama, with Nel forced to confront her family’s feelings and the scorn of the town, while Sophie works to escape her husband, and this personal struggle adds to the desperation to find the truth.

Everything perfectly leads up to the big finale for On the Edge, which I think was the strongest part of the entire book.  Horan came up with a very impressive twist around Sophie, which was honestly the narrative highlight of the entire story, and I was very impressed with how well the author set it up.  I did think that Horan perhaps went a twist too far after this big reveal, especially with the timing and location of the final revelation, but it was still an interesting inclusion that had the appropriate build behind it.  Horan wraps this up with some relatable happy endings, which was honestly needed after some of the darker elements of the book.

This was an impressive piece of Australian fiction from Horan, who produced a fantastic story of desperation, historical trauma and murder.  The use of the alternating perspectives from two women caught at opposing ends of the mystery was a true highlight, and I appreciated how effectively the author layered the clues to all the reviews in both their storylines.  Horan also expertly built up the alternating personal issues from both protagonists, and their struggles melded well with the overarching hunt for the truth.  On top of that, Horan also captured some of the true lows of family domestic violence in small-town Australia, which unsurprisingly is becoming a recurring theme in Australian crime fiction.  Throw in some great depictions of small-town Australia and the struggles associated with them, including a unique perspective from a local doctor, and this was a deeply compelling read that really highlighted Horan’s abilities as an author.

Overall, On the Edge was a great second novel from Kate Horan, and one that I’m glad I picked up.  Featuring a brilliant story loaded with impressive twists and turns, as well as some complex character-driven narratives, On the Edge was one of the stronger Australian set novels from the first half of 2026, and I look forward from reading more from Horan in the future.

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Waiting on Wednesday – Absolon Creed by R. S. Ford

On By The Unseen LibraryIn Fantasy, Murder Mystery, Waiting on WednesdayLeave a comment

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 week’s Waiting on Wednesday, I check out an awesome upcoming fantasy novel with Absolon Creed by R. S. Ford.

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I’m always in the mood for epic and dark fantasy reads and one of the more compelling sounding upcoming releases of 2026 is set to be released by R. S. Ford.  Ford is a veteran fantasy author who has previously written several intriguing series across the genres.  This includes his The Age of Uprising series (Engines of Empire), as well as some other excellent fantasy releases.  Readers may also be familiar with Ford’s contributions to the historical fiction genre under the alternate pen name of Richard Cullen, which includes his excellent Chronicles of the Black Lion series (Rebellion and Crusade).  I’ve had a great time with several of Ford’s previous novels; however, his next book has the potential to be his most exciting.

This new book is the fantastic sounding Absolon Creed, which is currently set for release in November 2026.  A grimdark fantasy novel with a compelling murder mystery centre, Absolon Creed sounds awesome, as it sets a monster-slaying knight on a quest to uncover a killer in city on the edge of ruin.  Everything about this novel, including its brutal setting, damaged protagonists and captivating plot, sounds incredible, and I have no doubt it is going to result in an outstanding read.  As such, I am extremely excited for Absolon Creed, and I have a feeling it is going to be a top fantasy novel of 2026.

Plot Synopsis:

A legendary soldier is the last line of defense between his city and monstrous chaos in this grimdark adventure from an unmissable voice in epic fantasy.

Bastion, the once-shining capital of Morrengard, teeters on the brink. Its grand spires are crumbling and its nobility fight over scraps, all while eldritch creatures stalk the streets. The only thing standing in the way of its utter destruction is the Order of Draken: a knightly order more brutal than the threats the city faces. And its most brutal champion… Absolon Creed.

When two nobles are found murdered in a manner most grotesque, suspicions arise about a traitor within the Order itself. Creed is tasked with investigating, and for his sins he is saddled with a partner: Guenivar Blackmere, a daughter of nobility and the Order’s newest, and most untested, initiate.

Together, they are plunged into Bastion’s fetid underbelly, where warlocks rub elbows with corrupt nobles and necromancers cavort with the dead. Guenivar must learn fast or perish under Creed’s cold tutelage. Her mentor is quick to anger, and about as friendly as a cornered wolf, but that is the only way to survive these unforgiving streets.

But as the investigation deepens, Guenivar discovers a secret about him that could shatter everything she believed about the order and its heroes. While Creed himself must defeat the ghosts he’s spent years trying to bury… before they bury Bastion itself.

Drop Dead Famous by Jennifer Pearson

On By The Unseen LibraryIn Murder Mystery, Thriller, Young Adult1 Comment

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

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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.

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Waiting on Wednesday – Choppy Water by Jack Heath

On By The Unseen LibraryIn Australian, Murder Mystery, Waiting on Wednesday1 Comment

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.  In this week’s Waiting on Wednesday, I highlight an incredible and unique upcoming murder mystery from one of my favourite Australian authors with Choppy Water by Jack Heath.

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There are a lot of talented and entertaining Australian authors writing outstanding novels these days, but one of my favourites due to his consistently clever and entertaining reads is the wonderful Jack Heath. Hailing from my home city of Canberra, Heath has been entertaining Australian readers for years with his interesting combination of complex works.  I am a massive fan of his amazing crime fiction novels, which includes his spectacularly over-the-top international Hangman series (including Hideout and Headcase).

Heath has also written some brilliant and twisted murder mysteries that make great use of an Australian setting.  This includes the impactful and addictive, Kill Your Brother (one of my favourite Australian novels of 2021), the outrageous and memorable Kill Your Husbands (one of my favourite Australian books of 2023), and the very relatable Kill Your Boss (one of my favourite Australian novels of 2025).  All these fantastic Australian novels from Heath are both clever and quite fun, and I really enjoy some the unique scenarios that the author comes up with.  Due to this, I’m always keeping an eye out for Heath’s next intriguing read, and it looks like he will be delivering something special for crime fiction fans later this year.

This next book from Heath is the standalone novel, Choppy Water, which will take the readers on an entertaining ride, while also diving into the familiar chaos of the Covid period from a very different perspective.  Set for release in November 2026, Choppy Water has a great plot behind it that is going to make for an outstanding read.

Plot Synopsis:

Death on the Nile meets Die Hard in this new ‘locked room’ mystery by the King of Twists, Jack Heath.

A woman’s body is found in a laundry cart aboard the Silver Lady cruise ship. Management says it was a freak accident and her death is quickly covered up, so as not to spoil the voyage for the passengers.

Cesar Cain doesn’t want to get involved. He boarded the Silver Lady to disappear. If the cops find him, he’s in a cell. If the Hell’s Hounds catch him, he’s in a grave.

But it’s March 2020, and the borders are slamming shut. Cesar soon discovers that the woman wasn’t the first victim – and with the ship suddenly quarantined and unable to dock anywhere, she won’t be the last …

I love this fun sounding plot for Choppy Water, which looks to combine Heath’s love of unique scenarios with some homages to classic whodunnit storytelling.  A reluctant protagonist investigating a murder aboard a quarantined cruise ship has a lot of potential, and it’s going to be very interesting to see how this entire plot comes together.  Based on my previous experiences with Jack Heath and his very entertaining reads, I foresee that Choppy Water will end up being one of the top Australian books of 2026 and I cannot wait to check it out.

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.