Worse Than A Lie by Ben Crump – #BookReview #thrillersuspense #NetGalley

A Beau Lee Cooper Novel

Book Blurb:

It’s the night of November 4, 2008. America’s first Black president has just been elected. And fifty-three-year-old Hollis Montrose—a Black ex–police officer from the suburbs of Chicago—has become the latest victim of a brutal attack. As the result of a traffic stop gone wrong, Hollis is shot ten times in cold blood, by four white men who could have been his colleagues back in his police days.

Beau Lee Cooper was born serious, as if on an urgent mission with little time to waste. Raised in the tumultuous world of 1970s Texas, he always dreamed of becoming a lawyer and fighting for what’s right, ever since he was a little boy reading To Kill a Mockingbird. And now, ten years into running his own law firm with his best friend and partner in crime, Nelson “Nellie” Rivers, and his suave right-hand-man, Brent “Cape” Capers, he feels he’s finally making a difference. When Beau Lee learns about Hollis’s situation, he’s determined to help.

Miraculously, Hollis survives the encounter, but the Chicago police department has already spun the narrative in its favor, and Hollis is given a wrongful prison sentence with an unreasonable bail. What really happened that night the car was pulled over? Was it random or was Hollis targeted? Beau Lee knows he’s treading in dangerous waters, and finding evidence of the truth will be his biggest challenge yet, but with troubling powers at play, one innocent man’s life hangs in the balance.

His Review:

Being a police officer in Chicago has never been an easy or safe job. One would think being a security officer might be safer. Also, the pay for a policeman in Chicago wasn’t enough to properly care for a family. Hollis Montrose was a policeman supplementing his income with two other jobs, one as a security guard. It was late at night behind a Macy’s department store when he was pulled over by a fellow white police officer. Hollis was held face down on the pavement and his license was never checked.

It appears that Chicago police have never strayed far from the days of Al Capone. Shoot first and ask questions later. This was Hollis’s fate. Ten slugs were found in his body as he struggled to stay alive after being rushed to the hospital. This book shares the adjustment to life after the election of Barack Obama. The chapters are at times very gruesome but the end result is apparent. White officers had little regard for their African American fellow officers. The south was not dead in Chicago! 4 stars – CE Williams

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the opportunity to read and review this book. Any opinion expressed here is my own.

Rosepoint Publishing: Four Stars

Add to Goodreads

Book Details:

Genre: Black & African American Mystery, Thriller & Suspense Fiction, Legal Thrillers
Publisher: Bantam
ISBN-13: 978-0593875711‎
ASIN: B0FKG23528
Print Length: 368 pages
Publication Date: February 17, 2026
Source: Publisher and NetGalley

Title Link(s):

Amazon-US | Amazon-UK | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

The Author: Through a steadfast dedication to justice and service, renowned civil rights and personal injury attorney Ben Crump has established himself as one of the nation’s foremost lawyers and advocates for social justice. He has worked on some of the most high-profile cases in the U.S., representing the families of Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown, and Stephon Clark, among others. He has been nationally recognized as the 2014 NNPA Newsmaker of the Year, the National Trial Lawyers Top 100 Lawyers, and Ebony Magazine Power 100 Most Influential African Americans. In 2016, he was designated as an Honorary Fellow by the University of Pennsylvania College of Law. He is the founder and principal owner of Ben Crump Law.

Have a great day!

Rosepoint Reviews – December Recap – Welcome to January and a Brand New Year!

Rosepoint Reviews - December Recap

Are you one of those who make New Year’s Resolutions for the new year? And do you keep them more than a week or so? Yeah, me neither. I just don’t have the self-discipline anymore, but still, it’s a chance to start a new regime or practice and perhaps a positive change in your life. That’s the promise of a new year. Exciting, huh?

We in the upper Midwest are getting our share of snow—just not for Christmas—but we have a light layer of white out there now and the temps are up a bit. I can do that—it’s the ice that bothers me.

The CE and I attended another themed Bingo game (Christmas, of course) in December, and I attended the last cooking class at our incredible YMCA. After sixty years of cooking, you’d think I wouldn’t have anything left to learn. Not true. There is always something new to learn, and these classes leaned toward budget-friendly menus. Next February, there’ll be another geared toward persons with chronic conditions such as diabetes. Yeah, we’re at that age where that might be of benefit as well. We are still going to exercise classes three times a week which takes a large chunk of time, as well as using the “eGym.” Gees, the technology of those things!

Distraction after distraction, projects, cleaning, and cooking. Takes a toll on reading. Still, we reviewed a total of ten books in December. As always, the major source of our books is the library (audiobooks as well as ebooks). We also find books at NetGalley and enjoy author and publisher requests. The links on titles are to our reviews that include purchase information.

Rosepoint Reviews - December Recap

Ordinary Grace by William Kent Krueger (audiobook)
She’s Not Sorry by Mary Kubica (audiobook)
The Snow Lies Deep by Paula Munier
A Wolf Called Wander by Rosanne Parry (audiobook)
What Happened Next by Edwin Hill (CE review)
Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid (audiobook)
Final Approach by Lynette Eason (audiobook)
We Are All Guilty Here by Karin Slaughter
How to Age Disgracefully by Clare Pooley
Killing Me Softly by Sandie Jones

Favorite Book of the Month

You may have noticed in my recent post, Twelve Favorite Books of 2025, that I didn’t name December as I hadn’t reviewed it yet. I certainly enjoyed Paula Munier’s book, The Snow Lies Deep, but knew A Wolf Called Wander would gain the title.

Favorite for December – A Wolf Called Wander by Rosanne Parry

My Reading Challenges page…all caught up and once again crushed to see only two of four challenges completed, audiobooks and Goodreads. I’m definitely going to drop my goal for NetGalley next year and surprised we didn’t make Historical Fiction. I finished the Goodreads Challenge of 150 at 187 books. Will ratchet that up a bit also. I’ll post separately the Goodreads Challenges and books reviewed in the categories of Choice Awards this year.

Also, as you may have seen the Invitation paragraph in my Twelve Favorites post, I want to put together a page showing your favorite of the year. (Hint: I already disclosed mine.)

Can you do it?

Whittle your favorite books down from ten or twelve to one?

Your favorite book of 2025 — Thank you to my daughter, Shannon, and her work with chatGPT for the pic!

Send your title to me by January 20^th. I can’t wait to see your choice!

To all my dear readers, I do so appreciate your visits and comments and thank you for each and every one. I wish you a magical and healthy new year with family, food, and fun.

Happy New Year - 2026

Happy New Year – Have a Safe, Peaceful, and Healthy 2026

Happy New Year - 2026

To all my readers who celebrate New Years Day, January 1st, I wish you a magical and happy, healthy new year with family, food, and fun.

Killing Me Softly: A Novel by Sandie Jones #BookReview #TuesdayBookBlog

Killing Me Softly by Sandie Jones

Book Blurb:

What do you do when love turns deadly?

THE PERFECT COUPLE

Charlie and Freya used to be the picture-perfect couple. Happy and in love, Freya enjoyed a rewarding job heading up a charity’s fundraising efforts, and Charlie was fast becoming one-to-watch on the London culinary scene—if you couldn’t be them, you wanted to be with them.

A TERRIBLE TRAGEDY

They had it all . . . until one night a devastating accident tears their lives apart, and they’re awoken by police at their door, asking whether they are aware that their car had been involved in a hit and run.

A BITTER FEUD

Torn apart by accusations and guilt, the trust that Freya and Charlie once shared is shattered as they turn on each other, looking for someone to blame for the fallout. Told from both Freya and Charlie’s perspectives, a cat and mouse game ensues, both of them desperate to have someone to point the finger at. But is it more important to be right, or to win? Can Freya stay one step ahead of the man who knows her best? Or will Charlie’s stoic conviction to get what he wants be the death of her?

Sandie Jones’s next addictive novel is a wickedly twisty tale of obsession, and the deadly consequences of loving someone too much.

My Review:

Can you say, “unreliable narrator?”

Many threaded, POV flips back and forth between Charlie and Freya, neither of which are truly engaging characters and I flat didn’t like Freya. Actually, I found few characters in which I could engage and I’m still scratching my head over Nina.

A fragile marriage between two damaged individuals treading water. With what happens following a row at Charlie’s boss’s house, any life jackets holding them up begin to take on water. Neither is particularly trusting of the other and with good reason. Charlie has his secrets and Freya a chilling history.

I struggled with a good portion of the book, slow pace and chaotic. Flipping between POVs kept me trying to catch up and I’m no longer interested in going back to find the linking thread. The characters are toxic and the drama is over the top. It’s confusing and the big reveal is just overkill and eye-rolling. “It’s what?” “She’s what?” No. Just–no.

I know this author has a fan base and I appreciate that they may find this one of interest. My first experience, however, and I’m not sure I’ll be looking for another with this author very soon.

I received an invitation to read the Uncorrected Digital Galley from Angelica at Minotaur Books. Many thanks to her and NetGalley for providing me with the opportunity to read and review this book. The thoughts expressed here are my own.

Rosepoint Rating: Three Stars

Book Details:

Genre: Domestic Thrillers, Psychological Thrillers
Publisher: Minotaur Books
ISBN: 978-1250910080
ASIN: B0F5PDVKLN
Print Length: 320
Publication Date: March 31, 2026
Source: Publisher and NetGalley

Title Link(s):

Amazon-US | Amazon-UK | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

The Author: Welcome to my Amazon Author Page which I’m guessing you’ve stumbled upon in the search for your next thrilling read, and I hope you find something here that whets your appetite. My debut novel, The Other Woman, is a Reese Witherspoon Book Club Pick and a New York Times Bestseller. But I’ve got five other titles to choose from; each of them offering something a little different from the other – though with one thing in common; they’ll all have you questioning who you should trust and who’s taking you for a ride! From husbands to sisters, and work colleagues to mother-in-laws – you could be forgiven for thinking that they’re all perfectly ordinary people…..until something extra-ordinary happens!

My next novel, I Would Die For You, is a dual timeline suspense novel alternating between the present day in California and 1986 in London, back when I was a 16 year old, obsessed with Duran Duran. I truly believed Simon Le Bon was going to see me in the front row of a concert and instantly fall in love. Sadly it didn’t happen for me, but it does for Nicole, when the lead singer of Secret Oktober spots her and they embark on a clandestine affair. But where there’s cloak and daggers, there’ll invariably be blood – but whose will it be?

Pre-order now for delivery on publication day and click the ‘follow’ button for special deals. Catch me on Instagram @sandiejones_author and Facebook @realsandiejones for updates, recommendations and author chat.

Have a merry Tuesday!

Twelve Favorite Books of 2025 – #Favoritebooks #eBooks #Audiobooks

I’m still trying to find a way to streamline the process of picking out a favorite book of the year. It hasn’t worked this year either. This exercise takes just as long and is as exhausting as previous years.

The CE has relaxed a bit on his reading but he still had several that hit the top of the list. I listened to more audiobooks while struggling to get the ebooks read from a wide variety of genres from #cozyanimalmysteries to #historicalfiction. Still struggling with challenges, I managed only two of four this year. My December Recap will have details on the Challenges as well as Goodreads stats.

Links on titles are to my review, which will include source and purchase information.

Twelve Favorite Books of 2025

Jan –All We Thought We Knew by Michelle Shocklee – The writing style is gripping. There are twists. There are themes of the futility of war, the physiological and psychological damage to those involved and the resulting damage to the family unit as well as the community.

Feb – Guardian of the Crossroads by Melanie Forde – The author is a powerful storyteller. This is one of those stories that is laid out carefully, quietly, and then bestows a “wow” mystical factor at the end. Whether or not you believe in paranormal abilities, the narrative will leave you satisfied.

Mar – Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen – Yes, it’s frankly honest, can be cruel and disturbing. But the tale it tells is mesmerizing, page-turning, and tension-filled right up until the rewarding denouement.

Apr – Watchers by Dean Koontz – Yes, there is a lab dog but I don’t mean Labrador—I mean laboratory and Travis realizes this is not a dog he can return. Unfortunately, the same lab that spawned him also spawned his opposite.

May – Nightshade by Michael Connelly – The story has many twists and turns as everyone seems innocent but someone must have tried to destroy evidence. The author shares many interesting detective techniques and the storyline is intriguing and entertaining. (A CE review)

Jun –How to Hotwire an Airplane by Henry Rausch – The novel carries themes of compassion, courage, and redemption. A unique and emotional tale of liberation more than political commentary. The action-packed climax is satisfying and provides closure as well as food for thought.

Jul – Bits and Pieces by Whoopi Goldberg – Whether or not you’ve been a fan of Whoopi (nee Caryn Johnson), reading this book may enhance your respect or create a new fan.

Aug – Endurance by Alfred Lansing – Amazingly creative in discovering ways and means for their survival and one you shouldn’t miss. I particularly recommend the audiobook beautifully performed by the narrator.

Sept – The Tenth Trail Mark by Joe Looby – The 10^th Mountain Division was instrumental in winning the war in Europe. This book is an excellent review of the hardships faced and overcome by a very special group of American soldiers. (A CE review)

Oct – The Night Fire by Michael Connelly – Always complex, each installment brings a fresh storyline and keeps a strong pace that doesn’t lag in the middle. Strong characters are not above slightly bending rules when the case warrants, whether or not they’ll face consequences.

Nov – A Walk Among Heroes by James McDevitt – James McDevitt provides a very clear picture of the brotherhood of men in arms. It is a testament to those who have served and watched the sacrifice of someone who saves the life of a fellow soldier. (A CE review)

Dec – See Rosepoint Reviews – December Recap which will be posted on New Years Day to see the December winner!

Summary

I loved Water for Elephants and Whoopi’s memoir. The CE tends to generous star reviews and I provided three here, noting how glued he was to these selections, two of which are historical fiction. The third is a Michael Connelly novel and I listed one of his books as well, obviously a favorite author for us both. But for sheer edge-of-your-seat page-turning excitement, you’d be hard pressed to find one more so than Endurance. It left me breathless with a strong case of Book Hangover. I’m not sure what that says of my choice, as my favorite novel of 2024 was The Wager by David Grann, a remarkably similar historical sailing account, albeit a story taking place a couple centuries apart.

Alfred Lansing - author — Alfred Lansing – author

Simon Prebble - narrator — Simon Prebble – narrator

Favorite novel of 2025 – Endurance by Alfred Lansing, narrated by Simon Prebble. Born 1942 in Croydon, UK, Prebble is a British-American narrator. He received an Audie in 2010.

Invitation

I’m sure you read at least one of the above books, perhaps more? I’d love to see which of your 2025 books became your favorite of the year! Please send me your title and link by January 20 and I’ll create a post including your pick.

Have a good week!

We Are All Guilty Here by Karin Slaughter #BookReview #TuesdayBookBlog

A Chilling Psychological Thriller Where Secrets Lead to Deadly Consequences

A North Falls Thriller Book 1

Best Books of the Year 2025

Book Blurb:

An instant #1 New York Times bestseller!

The first thrilling mystery in the new North Falls series from Karin Slaughter, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Pretty Girls and the Will Trent Series.

Welcome to North Falls—a small town where everyone knows everyone. Or so they think.

Until the night of the fireworks. When two teenage girls vanish, and the town ignites.

For Officer Emmy Clifton, it’s personal. She turned away when her best friend’s daughter needed help—and now she must bring her home.

But as Emmy combs through the puzzle the girls left behind, she realizes she never really knew them. Nobody did.

Every teenage girl has secrets. But who would kill for them? And what else is the town hiding?

My Review:

Well, okay. More than read the blurb, I really should research my own reviews to see how much I enjoyed (or didn’t) the last book I read by this author, Pretty Girls.

I’ve no doubt Ms. Slaughter has a way with words; she can get downright poetic at times. Unfortunately, this is a book regarding two teens who go missing during fourth of July celebrations. Since I’m not a big fan of plots regarding missing kids and torture, I accept it’s a book I should not have requested nor attempted to read.

We Are All Guilty Here by Karin Slaughter — We Are All Guilty Here–UK cover

Ms. Slaughter has some heavy fingers when it comes to her writing style and length of narratives. This is Book 1 of a new series and introduces Officer Emmy Clifton who has a number of personal issues she’s grappling with. Her issues shut down a teen in trouble looking for a responsible, trustworthy adult. That’s a big mistake and leads to the entire plot while also setting up the development of a new protagonist.

The novel also introduces a number of support characters, some we get to know ad nauseum while others we can’t muster up any kind of engagement. I’m not sure I’m supposed to like the FBI gal—she being family and all—but I found Jude most interesting. Of course, there are the whispers of a romance dancing in and out of scenes.

The hook at the beginning provided initial engagement, but then came the long tedious investigation, often punctuated with interpersonal relationship drama. I thought too long in the tooth on the personal side, too short on the police procedural side, and it sagged for me quite a while before the last twist that may or may not come as a surprise. Well, not one surprise, perhaps a couple.

In the meantime, the graphic descriptions the girls suffered was too much, the chapters too long, the plot undergoes a distracting timeline change, the pacing slows, and it tends to repetition.

This is not a book for me, nor could I recommend.

Many thanks to our local library for providing me with the opportunity to read and review this book. The thoughts expressed here are my own.

Rosepoint Rating: Three Stars

Book Details:

Genre: Police Procedurals, Psychological Thrillers, Suspense Thrillers
Publisher: William Morrow
ISBN: 978-0063336803
ASIN: B0DN6K594T
Print Length: 448 pages
Publication Date: August 12, 2025
Source: Local Library

Title Link(s):

Amazon-US | Amazon-UK | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

The Author: Karin Slaughter is the author of more than twenty instant NEW YORK TIMES bestselling novels, including the Edgar–nominated COP TOWN and standalone novels THE GOOD DAUGHTER, PRETTY GIRLS, and GIRL, FORGOTTEN. She is published in 120 countries with more than 40 million copies sold across the globe. PIECES OF HER is a #1 Netflix original series starring Toni Collette. The Will Trent Series is on ABC (and streaming on Hulu in the U.S, and Disney+ internationally). THE GOOD DAUGHTER and FALSE WITNESS are in development for film/tv. Slaughter is the founder of the Save the Libraries project—a nonprofit organization established to support libraries and library programming. A native of Georgia, she lives in Atlanta.

http://www.karinslaughter.com

Facebook http://www.facebook.com/AuthorKarinSlaughter/

Instagram http://www.instagram.com/karinslaughterauthor/

Twitter @SlaughterKarin

https://linktr.ee/karinslaughter

Have a merry Tuesday!

Five Stars– Five Books – My Top Favorite Reads of the Last Five Years

Five Stars - Five Books - Favorite Reads

I should have been more attentive to our list of favorite books over the years and, unfortunately, wasn’t.

It seems, however, that you can pretty much track trends like you do poodle skirts or hairdos (or not), so thought I’d take a look back and see how the favorites have evolved.

These books cover a range of genres from contemporary fiction to historical fiction. (Pic link to my reviews.)

So, hmmm, interesting:

Have you noticed a trend in your reading choices? Not sure I see a pattern here, but I’d be willing to bet you read at least one of these! I haven’t looked at how my 2025 year shakes out yet—but that’s coming.

Coming Soon:
»My Reading Challenges for 2025
»Favorite Books of 2025
»Book Review – We Are All Guilty Here by Karin Slaughter

2025 V Williams

Christmas bough

What Happened Next by Edwin Hill #BookReview #mysteryromance

Book Blurb:

A young man investigating his father’s crimes is determined to uncover the truth in a gripping novel of suspense about family secrets, betrayal, and the weight of the past.

What do I remember about the murder on the lake?

Charlie Kilgore was too young to remember anything, really, about how events on the lake unfolded twenty-five years ago. He just knows what he’s been told: that his father stabbed a man to death, left Charlie’s mother critically wounded, and then disappeared, never to be seen again. Now Charlie believes there must be more to what happened.

Using the shards of the story he’s uncovered so far as the heart of a true crime podcast, Charlie returns to his hometown in the foothills of New Hampshire’s White Mountains. Old friends, family, authorities, and even collateral victims have moved on, and no one wants to dredge up what’s long forgotten. Except Charlie. He wants to know what could have transformed a quiet man into a monster. And what happened next.

But when Charlie starts asking questions of people with so much to hide, getting to the truth becomes dangerous. Because on this lake—in this family—the past isn’t dead and buried at all. In fact, it’s back with a vengeance.

His Review:

Charlie is nearly 14 years younger than his brother Reid when the first death occurs near their New Hampshire home. This book features a beautiful woman with a couple of would-be suitors and conflict at every turn. The local constabulary includes female detectives and many conflicts to investigate. At times it was difficult keeping the action continuous as I read.

I found the last number of chapters key to a clearer understanding of the entire story. Everyone seemed to have a grudge against the other people. Each person also seemed to have a few odd traits that made them float in and out like a lifeboat in a winter storm. This convoluted storyline had me guessing at times to understand who was harming who.

Because of this continuous intrigue conflict and character switching, I floundered at times to keep the storyline straight. The last ten chapters helped to pull it all together but I would have enjoyed a more contiguous construction. 4 stars – CE Williams

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the opportunity to read and review this book. Any opinion expressed here is my own.

Rosepoint Publishing: Four Stars

Book Details:

Genre: Mystery Romance, Psychological Thrillers
Publisher: Thomas & Mercer
ASIN: B0FCSPP3J8
Print Length: 292 pages
Publication Date: March 17, 2026
Source: Publisher and NetGalley

Title Link(s):

Amazon-US | Amazon-UK | Barnes & Noble

The Author: Edwin Hill’s critically-acclaimed crime novels include the standalone thrillers WHO TO BELIEVE and THE SECRETS WE SHARE, and three novels featuring Hester Thursby: WATCH HER, THE MISSING ONES, and LITTLE COMFORT. He has been nominated for Edgar and Agatha Awards, featured in Us Magazine, received starred reviews in Publishers Weekly, Kirkus Reviews, Booklist, and Library Journal, and was recognized as one of “Six Crime Writers to Watch” in Mystery Scene magazine. He lives in Roslindale, Massachusetts with his partner Michael and his favorite reviewer, their lab Edith Ann, who likes his first drafts enough to eat them.