Inside Man by John McMahon

The Patterns and Recognition team (PAR or “Head Cases” according to their colleagues) has another mystery on their hands. When their informant winds up murdered, the team has to find a replacement in order to make their case. The only problem is that digging into their now deceased informant’s murder, they not only uncover a possible terrorist plot and serial killer but a whole lot of “what the hell”!?!

Inside Man is 386 pages long and took me three days to read!

I feel like second books in series are always a coin toss but Inside Man did not disappoint. I truly didn’t want to put it down so I’m giving it a 4.5 out of 5! McMahon has done an incredible job of making these unique characters both lovable and feel real. I’m impatiently waiting for book 3 because I love this team and their strange chemistry so much!

Thank you, Minotaur Books, for sending me this copy!

Here’s to the adventure of finding a novel novel!

Lacey

Godfall by Van Jensen

Having, what appears to be, a giant corpse of a three mile long alien land in your back yard wouldn’t be ideal in the best of circumstances, let alone if you’re a small town with little to no infrastructure. But that’s where sheriff David Blunt finds himself. Now that people from all over the world have found theirselves making a home in Little Springs, the sheriff and his one deputy must make do with the resources they have until the next census. Being a small town sheriff meant that Blunt was used to small problems but when multiple VERY suspicious murders take place it becomes clear that his small view must change if he hopes to solve these strange cases and save the town he loves so much.

Godfall is 374 pages long and took me four days to read!

This story appealed to me so much when I first read the pitch. How could someone skip this book!? Well I’m here to tell you that you shouldn’t. This book is a wild ride and I loved every minute of it. I’m giving it a 4 out of 5! I’m hoping that this will be a series because I need more of this weird and sorta spooky new world!

Thank you, Grand Central Publishing, for sending me this copy!

Here’s to the adventure of finding a novel novel!

Lacey

The Widow by John Grisham

Moose may not be a lawyer but he knows a great book when he sees one!

Being a small town lawyer is pretty much what you’d expect, dealing with small town problems. Simon Latch, as a small town lawyer, is barely scraping by on his meager salary, a divorce on the horizon and his gambling habit that he can “quit any time”. When 82 year old Eleanor walks into his life unexpectedly needing a new will, Simon finally sees an opportunity to get himself above the waves of debt. Settings himself up for success while trying to do right by Eleanor, he finds himself in a legal battle of his own, fighting a murder charge.

The Widow is 404 pages long and took me four days to read.

While a little slow moving to start, I found myself hooked on the fate of Simon Latch. I’m giving it a 4.5 out of 5 stars! I’ve found myself thinking of these characters several days after reading which tells me that it’s going to be awhile before this story lets me go. Reading a great Grisham is truly an experience and I’m so grateful to have recieved this advance copy as I’m such a big fan of his.

Thank you to my friends at Doubleday for sending me this copy and the hat! Moose won’t be the only one wearing it! ❤️

Here’s to the adventure of finding a novel novel!

Lacey

No Body No Crime by Tess Sharpe

After waking up in a plane crash, Mel can only be sure of one thing, this is all Chloe’s fault. Chloe has been getting Mel into all sorts of danger from the moment they first truly spoke, but, all that matters to Mel is that they never stop speaking again. Tracking down your first love through the wilderness after they ran away six years ago may seem like a strange way to reconnect, but Mel’s PI license says differently. Mel’s been paid by Chloe’s parents to bring her home and if they happen to admit that their love story isn’t over, so be it! While Chloe seems to be nothing but danger, she knows that Mel is the one she had to push away to keep safe. After all, she has men crashing planes to try and finally get rid of her!

No Body No Crime is 286 pages long and took me two days to read.

I really really liked this book. I’m giving it a 4 out of 5! It’s action packed, funny, nerve wracking, and heart warming all in one. This is a great read if you enjoy adventure and mystery with some love sprinkled in!

Thank you, MCD Books, for sending me this copy!

Here’s to the adventure of finding a novel novel!

Lacey

The Felons’ Ball by Polly Stewart

Natalie knows her family has secrets. The run of the mill stuff like a history of bootlegging, secret affairs, maybe some money laundering but didn’t think murder was an option. When her much older secret boyfriend, Ben, winds up dead at her father’s annual birthday bash dubbed “The Felons’ Ball”, Natalie can’t seem to wrap her head around someone she knows being taken away in such a terrible way. But does Natalie’s own past come into play in Ben’s death? Or could it be something he was hiding from her in his business with his best friend, the OG “Felon” himself, her very own father?

The Felons’ Ball is 222 pages long and took me four days to read.

This book is chock full of surprises. I really enjoyed this read and am giving it a 4 out of 5! I wanted to strangle Natalie about a million times but I’m viewing her in the light of her and her family being generally unlikable. I’ll be thinking about this one for quite a while and recommend it if you’re in for a dramatic read!

Thank you to my friends at Harper Collins, for sending me this copy!

Here’s to the adventure of finding a novel novel!

Lacey

9 Years!!

I can’t believe it’s been 9 years since I started reviewing books on LaceyDoesLit.com! According to my calculations, I’ve read approximately 635 books during this time which averages to 70.55 books a year! 📚 I have around 2,180 followers across social media and while that may not seem like much to some, I’m really proud of my little impact! I want to thank all of the incredible publishers that have sent me their books to review, the book friends I’ve made along the way, my family and friends for supporting me but most importantly I want to thank the authors. You have such an important job and in doing it, you make people feel more than you could ever know. I’ve been to other cities, countries, worlds, times and dimensions I never would have traveled to otherwise and I’m forever grateful for the words you’ve given me that I’ll carry with me until the end. Thank you!
🖤🖤🖤

The Ten Worst People in New York by Matt Plass

The Ten Worst People in New York is a list like no other. Calling out the ten “worst” people by vote is brutal without the impending doom facing those who were named. The first person to go from the list was a fluke, they obviously couldn’t take the pressure. But then more start to perish and it becomes clear that there is more to this list than your average 2025 trolling.

The Ten Worst People in New York is 305 pages long and took me two days to read.

I’m giving this book a 3.5 out of 5! I really enjoyed the premise and the enjoyed how the book wrapped up. I also really enjoyed how the book took place all over the city, it made it feel as face paced as the city itself!

Thank you, Crooked Lane Books, for sending me this copy!

Here’s to the adventure of finding a novel novel!

Lacey

Fifty Fifty, The Devil’s Advocate and Witness 8 by Steve Cavanagh

It’s not often that you read a book and think “wow, I have to read everything this person has written”… Well, that’s where I’ve found myself with Steve Cavanagh! After reading Witness 8 earlier this year, I realized how much I’ve been missing out. While reading each of these books I had to sit down with my husband and talk through them because each story was one wild ride after another.

Witness 8 is 403 pages long and took me four days to read. I’m giving Witness 8 a 4 out of 5 stars. This heart-pounding thriller about a maybe not-so-great babysitter framing her boss for murder is spectacular. I truly didn’t expect several of the twists and those I saw coming were delivered with such expertise that I felt giddy reading them.

The Devil’s Advocate is 422 pages long and took me three days to read. I’m giving The Devil’s Advocate a 5 out of 5. I cannot say enough about this book. A district attorney that is a serial killer by ensuring those he prosecutes gets the death penalty whether they are innocent or not? Say no more. It is heartbreaking, dark, timely and top notch writing. I read that it was compared to John Grisham which I don’t take lightly but, damn, it’s earned that comp. Please read this book!

Fifty Fifty is 373 pages long and took me three days to read. I’m giving Fifty Fifty 4.5 out of 5 stars. Two sisters pointing fingers at each other for the murder of their father wouldn’t seem like much if it weren’t for the point of view of the guilty sister who is a serial killer. Wow, this book had so much action considering it was primarily a court room thriller.

In summary, Steve Cavanagh is the man and his series with Eddie Flynn as the main character need to be read by all who love a legal thriller and don’t mind the tough stuff.

Thank you so much, Atria Books, you’ve given me a new favorite author!

Here’s to the adventure of finding a novel novel!

Lacey