This blog post starts with a plea to elected officials to STOP using rhetoric that in any way supports political violence across party lines. We are not enemies, so it’s time to stop acting like we are.
My second plea is to the media to STOP using words like adversary, revenge, anger, retaliation, and payback. That only normalizes the idea that we are all enemies, pitted against each other in some social war.
Granted, things are far from great in our country, and there are fringe groups that would like to see us in an actual battle for control of government and society, but there are millions of us who want no part of any kind of battle.
Okay. Now that I have that off my chest, here are a couple of quick book reviews.
First up is Thornbird by E. Kennedy. Her first foray into the YA market. It’s from Delacorte Press and will release June 30, 2026.
YA novels are some of my favorites and Thornbird has just been added to my list of top books in that genre.
It’s a terrific thriller with moments of intense suspense and a few well-placed surprises. One that I didn’t see coming at all. The characters are well developed and complex, with nobody being the one wearing the proverbial white hat. There are shades of gray in all of the people, which makes the story more realistic.
The story centers on Ryan Shipley, AKA Ryan Thorn, a high school senior who is trying to avoid association with her father, a serial killer on death row in Tennessee. She is living with relatives and juggles the difficulty of lying to people, even her cousins, who don’t know exactly who she is. As the school year progresses that deception becomes harder and harder to pull off.
The famous quote by Sir Walter Scott from his 1808 poem Marmion, “Oh, what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive” is apropos for her difficult situation. As the story unfolds and the challenges increase, that ramps up the tension.
Thornbird is a satisfying thriller for readers who enjoy a complicated plot, flawed characters, and a narrative style that keeps one wanting to read just one more page before turning off the light.
About the Author
E. Kennedy is a true crime enthusiast and devoted bookworm. When she’s not plotting twisty thrillers, you’ll find her deep in a true crime rabbit hole. She lives in Toronto.
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Coming May 26 from Poisoned Pen Press is Beneath a Broken Sky by USA Today bestselling author Joshua Moehling.
Detective Ben Packard, a newcomer to Sandy Lake, Minnesota, endures a miserable summer following a storm that swept through the county, felling trees and destroying homes. Between the aftermath of the storm, as well as smoke from fires in Canada, people are miserable and on edge.
Then a woman who made several enemies while trying to defend her gay son who was bullied at school is killed. There seems to be no limit to the suspects, and when the killer was revealed it was a satisfying surprise.
Not having read previous books in the Ben Packard series, I wasn’t aware of some of his personal story from previous , but enough information is dropped in this book that I felt like I got to know enough. And I will go back and read the other books, that’s how much I liked Ben.
In addition to this being a taut, atmospheric thriller, it’s one with fascinating characters who are well-developed. I especially like the fact that Ben’s homosexuality is not an issue with his co-workers and others in the small town. He is a well-respected deputy in the Sheriff Department.
When the reader meets Easton, Ben’s special friend who’s a cop in Minneapolis, the bond between them is very evident. There are very few scenes of sexual intimacy, and those scenes are handled in a way I wish all intimate scenes would be shown in novels. As with any romantic liaison between two people of any sexual orientation, more can be conveyed about the relationships with romantic scenes and not graphic sex scenes.
Beneath a Broken Sky is a terrific story that fans of a multi-layered mystery with lots of surprises are sure to enjoy.
About the Author
Joshua Moehling is the USA Today bestselling author of the Ben Packard series. The first book, AND THERE HE KEPT HER, was a Barnes & Noble monthly Mystery/Thriller pick and a finalist for the Lambda Literary Award for Best LGBTQ+ Mystery. His second novel, WHERE THE DEAD SLEEP, was described as “a well-paced whodunit” and “devastating” by The New York Times. Joshua lives in Minneapolis.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARCs of these two books.
That’s all from me for now, folks. Heading toward Mother’s Day weekend, so I wish all the Moms out there a wonderful day of celebrating. Be safe. Be happy. Be Kind.
