GETTING YOUR SPOOK ON: Ghostly Novels

Posted on November 5, 2026 by novelrambles

There’s nothing I love more (except perhaps an extremely juicy celebrity tell-all) than a good ghost story. Fortunately, I read a few good novels featuring paranormal activities in October, and as usual, I’m here to share.

Broken Girls by Simone St. James. This is a super blend of paranormal, suspense, and relationships among friends and family. If you are worried about how scary it is, it isn’t high-level gruesome horror, just spooky at times and very suspenseful. I enjoyed this author’s A Box Full of Darkness and The Sun Down Motel, and Broken Girls is my favorite so far. This is excellent in audio format. Readers who enjoy the paranormal aspects of Riley Sager and Wendy Webb will enjoy this author. This is also a good author for readers of Shari Lapena and Mary Kubica.

Ask for Andrea by Noelle Ihli. This paranormal suspense thriller had everything I don’t like in my books: a creepy serial killer who preys on young women, confusing dual timelines, and high intensity, so I skipped it when it first came out a couple of years ago. Then, I was looking for books with “helpful” ghosts for a Taylor Swift “Patient Zero” video book recommendation list and decided to try it, and, boy, howdy, it roped me in hard, and I could not put it down. There are no big twists, just a compelling story of three women who were murdered and remained on Earth as ghosts, trying to keep a killer from murdering other young women. The ending was perfect and even a bit moving. Fans of Freida McFadden will eat this up, and it’s also great for fans of Shari Lapena, Mary Kubica, Alice Feeney, Jeneva Rose, and Riley Sager.

House Haunters by K. C. Jones. Frank, a ghost whisperer, and his Corgi dog, Fish Stick, ferret out ghosts during home inspections. Readers usually expect ghosts and evil spirits in creaky manors and abandoned asylums, but not in upscale condos in downtown Vancouver, Washington! This was great fun, with a few good jump scares that gave me nightmares after I stayed up too late reading. The ending was a bit abrupt, but I think a sequel could be in order. This is perfect for fans of Grady Hendrix, Rachel Harrison, and Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s Mexican Gothic.

FALL MYSTERIES

Posted on October 17, 2026 by novelrambles

Janet Evanovich – Split Second: 32 Switcheroo (published November 10). For years, I enjoyed the Stephanie Plum series, but it became repetitive, so I put it aside. A couple of years ago, I picked them back up when she finally decided between Ranger and Joe, and I have thoroughly enjoyed the last three books. This book takes place after she marries ******** (purposely vague to avoid spoilers), and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Stephanie is her usual smart-yet-klutzy bounty hunter, blowing up every car she drives; Grandma Mazur is still hilarious, attending every funeral “showing” she can find; and Lula is, as usual, annoying, always wanting to stop for doughnuts and fried chicken. These are best in audio, and it may give you a few giggles.[My only issue with these is that Stephanie’s mother is well on her way to becoming an alcoholic, which isn’t funny.]

J. A. Jance – The Taken Ones. This is the 27th book in the JP Beaumont (“Beau”) series (November release), and I honestly don’t know how Jance keeps these fresh and continues to develop the characters into such likeable people who, using their crackerjack investigative skills, solve the mysteries. In this book, Beau travels to Alaska to help a friend introduced in an earlier book, but enough of the story is set in Washington to keep you updated on his whip-smart wife, Mel, and other friends and family. Some of the investigative parts require a suspension of disbelief, but overall it was a good ride, and I can’t wait for the next book.

Peter Swanson – Do You See What I See? A short, compelling mystery that uses the age-old “country-house locked-room mystery” storyline. This was twisty, and I enjoyed it as much as Swanson’s previous novella, The Christmas Guest. Pick this up if you need something quick for the holidays.

THE BATTLE OF THE TWISTY TWISTING THRILLERS

Posted on September 16, 2026 by novelrambles

A couple of weeks ago I wrote about the “Battle of the Moriartys” and this time there are two thriller contenders. Which one was the winner? Read on…

Keep Them Close by David Ellis. This one kept me on my toes! I think David Ellis is one of the best thriller writers in the biz, with the nonstop revelations and twists, and this one didn’t disappoint. I’m not sure it’s quite up to the calibre of Look Closer, but I’ll still recommend it. My only minor complaint is that I couldn’t warm up to any of the characters—I admired them, yes (Allison was brilliant), but I wasn’t really rooting for anyone. I hear this is great in audio. Readers who liked The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides will find this as entertaining, and for more authors similar to Ellis, try books by Peter Swanson (The Kind Worth Killing is excellent) and Alice Feeney’s My Husband’s Wife.

The Unknown by Riley Sager. This author’s books always entice me, but I have a love/hate relationship, as he writes the kind of books I would dearly love to love, but there’s *always* something about the plot or a lack of attention to detail that irritates me, or maybe it’s the nonstop twists that are a few too many. However, I listened to the audiobook, which was very well narrated and, for the most part, kept me engaged. At first, I rated this a 4, then it dipped to a 3 halfway through (mainly because of practical matters that didn’t make sense) and rose back to 4.5 by the end, with its twisty twistiness. Don’t read this expecting in-depth character studies; the only character I could picture was Violet, obviously based on Meryl Streep, and even the narrator mimicked her voice.

I recommend this with reservations, as there are a few trigger warnings, but it was definitely suspenseful and perfect for readers who like a few paranormal experiences that may or may not be happening. Fans of Riley Sager may want to try books by Simone St. James, Ruth Ware, and Sarah Pinborough’s We Live Here Now.

Who was the victor? If Riley Sager had been a little better with his one-to-two-too-many implausible twists, it would have been a tie, so I’m giving this one to David Ellis, but both are worth reading if you need something compelling and fast.

THE BATTLE OF THE MORIARTYS: Whose Book Was Better?

Posted on August 29, 2026 by novelrambles

This week I read two novels by authors with the same last name, Moriarty, one from Australia and the other from the US. One I had looked forward to for months, and the other was a last-minute decision, as I had heard it was good. So who won? Read on…

Big Little Truths by Liane Moriarty. Twelve years ago, I was engrossed in the previous book in this series, Big Little Lies, which became a huge bestseller and TV series. I was thrilled to hear she had written a sequel with the same characters in the same Australian beach town setting, only taking place ten years later, with the kids now teenagers and all that entails, including angst and ‘tude. And it was fine. I think I would have enjoyed it more because, even though the author has reassured readers that it wasn’t necessary to reread the previous book, I wished I had (something that I abhor doing), because it took a good third of the book to figure out who was who and what had happened. Once I settled in, it became compelling, with a gut-punch ending.

Sunlight Finds You by Laura Moriarty. Now this one, this one is special. There was something about this book that clutched at my heart and never let go. We meet Nora as a teen when she falls in love with Leonard, and follow the choices they make as they navigate adulthood, exploring forbidden love amid the shame and impossible choices women faced in the 1950s. The emotional roller coaster kept me reading, and yes, I went through a few tissues. I don’t want to say more about the plot as it would be a spoiler, but I did love the book references, and it was no surprise that Nora became a librarian. The writing and the way the plot unspooled reminded me of the novels by Janelle Brown and Cynthia Sweeney, and maybe even of The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks, although it’s much more complex than that. And this one could be a little controversial, but I think readers who loved The Women by Kristin Hannah may find a similar epic reading experience.

So if you can’t tell, Laura Moriarty was the clear winner although both are worth reading.

WRITE ME A LETTER: My Obsession with Paper, Notebooks, and Pens (Part One)

Posted on August 25, 2026 by novelrambles

When I decided to write this blog, I planned to focus on the lost art of letter writing and on how a book sparked a correspondence with a long-distance friend. Then I started remembering other aspects of writing, and more and more recollections surfaced, so this may be a two-part topic.

My love of paper, pens, and writing started waaaay back when I was learning to read and write my name. My first act of writing is forever held in perpetuity in the Betty Crocker Cookbook on my shelves. I had nothing else to write on, so I chose my mother’s cookbook to practice my name.

One of my memories of grade school days was the excitement of visiting the grade school in August to find out what we needed for school supplies. Who else can remember running up to the front doors to read the posted list of requirements for each grade? What I remember most was the disappointment when I didn’t qualify for anything higher than the 8-count box of Crayola Crayons, let alone the 64-count (although I doubt the 64-count was ever a requirement).

Checking out the recommended notebook paper from the grade school lists was another item that incited a frisson of excitement, especially when I no longer had to use the fat pencils and cheap brown tablets. In the fourth grade, my classmate, Linda Fredrickson, had the best 3-ring binder paper; it was college-ruled (not sanctioned by the supplies list!) and high-quality, which meant writing on it was smooth as silk. I loved that paper and have spent my life trying to locate a comparable product. But then, a few years ago, while perusing Walgreens’ stationery section, the angels sang when I discovered “stone paper” notebooks. I have multiple copies and use them for my Books of Books notebooks (they are the dark green notebooks in the blog photo); a highlight of finishing a book is using a favorite pen to note the title in my Oxford stone paper notebook.

(A side note: Linda became a good friend in junior high, but I’m sorry to say she led me down the road to near ruin by encouraging me to sneak out in the middle of the night and roam the streets of Cottage Grove. We had some, well, interesting adventures. She (and Cher) was the inspiration for my bangs during that time.)

“I Love the Smell of Ditto Paper in the Morning!”

No doubt there are many of my blog readers who have a pleasant memory of the freshly minted ditto/mimeograph papers passed out by the teacher. Who could resist smashing the paper onto our faces and inhaling that intoxicating chemical (surely carcinogenic) scent? I swear, if someone would develop it into a candle scent, it would be a bestseller. Am I right?

My next post will talk about my pen obsession and how I relearned the art of exchanging real letters.

So, what is your favorite memory of grade school supplies, and do you have a favorite notebook paper?

BACK IN THE SUMMER OF ’69: Feelin’ Groovy

Posted on July 24, 2026 by novelrambles

Lost in the Summer of ’69 by Eliza Knight

Well, that was a nostalgic blast from the past! This chronicles a grandmother, her daughter, and granddaughter reconnecting through a cross-the-U.S. road trip to music festivals (including Woodstock) set in 1969, and even though there were times when the travel details seemed quite unrealistic, it is still the feel-good story of the summer. The author incorporated much of the music culture of the time, which brought back tons of memories, including when I was introduced to the music of Led Zeppelin, Creedence Clearwater Revival, and others who burst onto the scene during that time.

Readers of Daisy Jones and the Six will enjoy this along with other books set in the late 1960s, including Elin Hilderbrand’s Summer of ’69 and Jane Green’s Sister Stardust.

My Own Summer of ’69 Experience

I was 16 years old and had what I still think of as the best summer of my youth (the other fab summer happened a year later, when I had a brief romance with a drummer in Minnesota, but that’s a story for another time). Before I had to toil in the beanfields in order to make money for school clothes, I had time to spend at the local lake with my friends and maybe read a few books. Then I met a cute red-headed boy who was travelling with friends in a yellow VW bus from California and introduced me to the wonders of Led Zeppelin music (among—ahem—other things), and I had the time of my life. Even though it’s been 57 years, hearing the guitar introduction of Babe I’m Gonna Leave You takes me right back to those days on the lake shore with the VW bus’s door opening, blasting the Led Zeppelin 8-track tape.

Literary Fiction for Book Groups: Whistler and Shampoo Effect

Posted on July 17, 2026 by novelrambles

Whistler by Ann Patchett: Ann Patchett is a beautiful writer who creates characters we come to love. For the most part, this was quietly compelling and powerful in its portrayal of relationships and themes. While I liked both Daphne and her former stepfather, Eddie, their current relationship was a little unsettling at times. Although I have thoughts about why, I won’t say, because it would be a spoiler. This story will make you think about relationships that, while brief, made an impact on your life.

Shampoo Effect by Jennie Jackson: This is a sudsy, soap-opera-ish story about a tight-knit group of spoiled, entitled 30-something friends in a Massachusetts coastal town. When Caroline, a new girlfriend of one of the male friends, arrives to live in a cottage for a fellowship, the situation quickly lathers into a tangled mess of relationships and secrets. It comes to a head when Caroline writes a thinly disguised short story published in a national magazine.

This was a fast-paced read that infuriated me with its snobby, sometimes mean-spirited characters, and even though I didn’t end up loving them, I at least understood their situation. It reminded me a bit of books by Elin Hilderbrand (mainly because of the beach setting), without the ritzy setting, and it’s also good for fans of Cynthia Sweeney, Sarah Damoff, and Catherine Newman.

Interesting note that I wish I had known before I started the story. The town and its famous resident author are based on the author John Updike, who published the novel “Couples,” a thinly disguised exposé of the town.

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BEACH THRILLER by Jamie Day

Posted on July 14, 2026 by novelrambles

This was fine. The setting of a coastal small town was very well done, the characters were appealing (even the obnoxious realtor grew on me), and the story, with a gothic tone, was suspenseful. However, the last fourth grew so complicated that I had a hard time keeping up, and some parts had a few holes. Read this if you like domestic thrillers by Mary Kubica, Lisa Jewell, Shari Lapena, and Rachel Hawkins.

I gave it a 3.5 rating, with a bump up to 4 as an homage to Michael Palmer. Who? Back in the 1980s/90s, I read all of Michael Palmer’s medical thrillers, and later discovered his son, Daniel Palmer, had continued writing thrillers, so I read a few of them, too, although he hasn’t quite inherited his father’s talent. Later on, Daniel Palmer became DJ Palmer and eventually adopted the name Jamie Day, switching to domestic thrillers. The more you know…

SINGLE GIRLS by John Searles + Homage to Cosmopolitan

Posted on July 1, 2026 by novelrambles

Today’s blog background is pink in honor of the July 7 publication of Single Girls by John Searles.

John Searles appeared at the Salem Public Library in 2014 to promote Help for the Haunted, and we discovered that not only is he a talented author, he’s also a super nice guy.

His next book is a novel about Helen Gurley Brown, the editor who took Cosmopolitan magazine to new heights of popularity by understanding her target audience and pushing the boundaries of what was acceptable to print in the 1960s. Single Girls traces her early life, where she started her career as an advocate for the sex lives of single women by publishing Sex and the Single Girl in 1962. It continues with how she transformed a failing magazine into Cosmopolitan, a magazine many have known and loved over the years. John Searles knew and worked with HGB for 25 years and is more than qualified to write this fascinating tribute to her journey of becoming a powerful woman.

As a young teen in the mid-1960s, I was a little “young” to appreciate this magazine (but I do remember the cover with the crochet bikini), and since I married on my 20th birthday, I never felt like I was the intended demographic for the articles, but I went on to avidly read it whenever I went to the hair salon. Does anyone remember when the covers with the scandalous article titles were censored at the supermarket checkout line by placing metal shields over the bottom 2/3 of the magazine?

And, if you were around in 1972, who can forget the iconic poster of Burt Reynolds as the Cosmopolitan centerfold, wearing nothing but a smile, a lot of body hair, and a droopy cigar?

Even if you have never opened an issue of Cosmopolitan and know nothing about HGB, I highly recommend John’s book. It is chock-full of memorable and compelling characters (not the least is HGB’s famous movie director husband), a trip back in a time machine that looks at the culture of the 1960s, and a charming, funny, and sassy novel about an amazing woman.

[I don’t often recommend this, but read the “Afterword” before the book; it will give you a better idea of why the author is qualified to write it, along with some notes on structure.]

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