The Caretaker, Marcus Kliewer’s follow up to his debut, We Used to Live Here, is perhaps one of the most highly anticipated horror books of 2026. Of course I grabbed it as soon as I could! And I was not disappointed. Young Macy is struggling financially to support herself and her younger sister. Macy is … Continue reading Review: The Caretaker, by Marcus Kliewer (Atria Books)
Review: She Waits Where Shadows Gather, by Michelle Tang (Poisoned Pen Press)
I really love it when I read a book that has very little fanfare, and it blows me away. This was definitely the case with Michelle Tang’s debut novel, She Waits Where Shadows Gather. Avery and Carlos’s marriage is on the rocks. Avery badly wants a child, whereas narcissistic Carlos cannot deal with having to … Continue reading Review: She Waits Where Shadows Gather, by Michelle Tang (Poisoned Pen Press)
Review: Rabbit Test, by Samantha Mills (Tachyon)
Pretty much every story in Rabbit Test and Other Stories punched me in the feels. In the first part of each story, I was getting the lay of the land, following the path so expertly laid out by Mills. I trusted this writer to lead me, as a reader. And by the end of each … Continue reading Review: Rabbit Test, by Samantha Mills (Tachyon)
Review: The Haunted Houses She Calls Her Own, by Gwendolyn Kiste (RDS Publishing)
It has been so amazing to see Gwendolyn Kiste’s career accelerate over the last few years. My first encounter with her work was her debut collection, And Her Smile Will Untether the Universe, which contains one of my all-time favorite stories, The Man in the Ambry. Her novels are also great, but especially The Haunting … Continue reading Review: The Haunted Houses She Calls Her Own, by Gwendolyn Kiste (RDS Publishing)
Review: Odessa, by Gabrielle Sher (Little, Brown & Company)
Gabrielle Sher has planted her weird fiction flag firmly in the ground, with her folklore-rich debut, Odessa. I had no idea what this book was about before I read it, and I recommend other readers go in with minimal knowledge. There are so many surprises in the narrative; I found myself yelling “oh no!” to … Continue reading Review: Odessa, by Gabrielle Sher (Little, Brown & Company)
Review: The Penguin Book of the International Short Story
The Penguin Book of the International Short Story is a dream tome for anyone who loves short stories, or translated fiction, or both! This anthology contains over 30 “international” stories (in this sense, international means non-US), translated to English from Persian, Swedish, Spanish, Polish, Korean, Chinese; the list goes on. Rabid Alameddine and John Freeman … Continue reading Review: The Penguin Book of the International Short Story
Review: Wolf Worm, by T. Kingfisher (Tor Nightfire)
It’s only early April and this is the second T. Kingfisher book I’ve read this year. It’s always a good time to be a T. Kingfisher fan. Wolf Worm is especially gruesome, and if you have a fear of bugs and creepy crawly things, you should absolutely give this one a miss. Sonia Wilson is … Continue reading Review: Wolf Worm, by T. Kingfisher (Tor Nightfire)
Review: The Only One Who Knows, by Lisa M. Matlin (Ballentine)
Lisa M. Matlin’s previous novel, The Stranger Upstairs, is one of my favorite books of the last few years. I can’t even remember all the details of the plot (which is more the fault of my poor memory than any flaw in Matlin’s writing); I just remember Matlin’s incredibly entertaining writing style, and the many … Continue reading Review: The Only One Who Knows, by Lisa M. Matlin (Ballentine)
Review: Nowhere Burning, by Catriona Ward (Tor Nightfire)
I am a Catriona Ward loyalist; I will read anything she writes without question or spoilers. All of her work is amazing, but I think Nowhere Burning is the best thing she has written to date. In my opinion, it is best to experience this novel with absolutely no knowledge of the plot. Nowhere Burning … Continue reading Review: Nowhere Burning, by Catriona Ward (Tor Nightfire)
My Week in Reading, February 27th, 2026
I am lucky enough to be reading an advance copy of Solace House, the new novel from Will Maclean (co-writer of Broken Veil, one of my favorite podcasts). It’s about a group of British students who spend their summer break clearing out some old, abandoned properties. I’m about halfway through, and it is incredibly tense. … Continue reading My Week in Reading, February 27th, 2026
California Reading 