Book Review: Wolf Hour by Jo Nesbo

Title: Wolf Hour
Author: Jo Nesbo
Pages: ~400
Release Date: Feb 2026 (some International editions might have been released sooner - original Norwegian title was first released Jan 2025)
Publisher: Knopf

Find it at: Amazon

Book Blurb

Minneapolis, Minnesota, 2016. When a small-time criminal and gun dealer is shot down in the street, all signs point to Tomas Gomez, a quiet man with a mysterious past—and deep connections to a notorious gang—who has seemingly vanished into thin air. Other murders soon follow, and it appears Gomez is only getting started. Meanwhile, Bob Oz, a down-and-out suspended police officer with a dubious past of his own, becomes fascinated by the case: he is obsessed with the notion of hunting down a serial killer who only he can understand, a killer with a story as tragic as his own.

Minneapolis, Minnesota, 2022. An enigmatic Norwegian man with ties to Minneapolis—a self-described crime writer—has traveled to the United States to research the Gomez case, in the hopes of writing a book about it. But as his investigation progresses, the writer’s seemingly neutral position reveals itself to be more complicated than the reader is initially led to believe.

My Thoughts!

I’m glad I read this book—and this is not something I say lightly in this case because I took forever to actually start it, and then almost skipped it after a few pages. The story and writing style felt so different from my usual fast-paced picks that I wasn’t sure I’d get into it. BUT it was absolutely worth pushing through those initial reservations because it ended up hooking me completely and stayed on my mind long after I finished it.

The story revolves around a murder investigation in a quiet setting, where multiple characters—each with their own pasts, motivations, and emotional baggage—become connected in unexpected ways. Bob Oz is a detective with his own set of issues - a failing marriage, personal tragedy, drinking problem - all things that have affected his stellar reputation at work. When he gets a call for a possible homicide investigation, we are immediately provided with a glimpse of his crass, straightforward attitude and natural penchant for looking beyond the obvious. He's not a very likeable character from the start, but he grew on me. As the case unfolds, we slowly start to see how deeply intertwined everyone’s lives are, and how past decisions ripple into the present in ways no one can escape.

The major themes in the book relate to how our past shapes the future, grief, loss, the interconnectedness of things, moral ambiguity, gun violence, 

The writing quality is top notch—very sophisticated and honestly just flawless. I don’t even know what else to say. It’s what you’d expect given Jo Nesbo's reputation, but since this is my first book by him, I was genuinely impressed. There’s a level of depth and precision in the writing that really elevates the whole reading experience.

The plot is intricate and intriguing—it feels complicated at first, but when you step back, it’s actually quite simple at its core. What makes it stand out is how deeply it hits emotionally. This isn’t just another revenge story or a fast-paced whodunnit. It goes beyond that. The police investigation angle gave me slight Lee Child vibes initially, but that’s where the similarities end. What really stood out to me was how clearly we see the emotional layers of the characters. You’re not just following events—you’re feeling them. The story keeps reinforcing those emotions in different, very realistic ways, which made it surprisingly relatable.

There are multiple POVs, which I’ll admit was a bit confusing at the beginning—especially since they’re sometimes separated by just a paragraph break rather than full chapters. I also have a bit of beef with the "past and present" POVs which, in my opinion, didn't create much interest and added unnecessary complexity - until the end I couldn't figure out who was narrating the present version (and maybe I'm still wrong, lol). 

Now the mystery!! I did have my suspicions about a certain character, but what actually ended up happening was completely unexpected. That twist added so much to the overall “wow” factor for me and really elevated my perception of the book. There's one thing to read a book with a mind-boggling mystery, and another to have that PLUS emotional depth in the story. It was just "holistic". Bob Oz is a name I will remember long after having finished the story (as long as my memory can serve me, that is.) What I do know is I will 100% recommend Wolf Hour if you're looking for a police/detective mystery with high quality writing and broad, interconnected themes.

Book Review: Not Quite Dead Yet by Holly Jackson

Finally! I had begun to think my thriller era had started to feel a bit dull and repetitive. This book proved me wrong and reminded me why I love reading so much!! It was such a refreshing change from the usual writing styles, and SO engaging—I literally carried it everywhere just to sneak in a few pages whenever I could. Let’s dig into the deets:

Author: Holly Jackson (author of A Good Girl's Guide to Murder)
Pages: ~400
Release date: July 17, 2025
Publisher: Bantam
Buy it on Amazon here

Book Blurb

In seven days Jet Mason will be dead.

Jet is the daughter of one of the wealthiest families in Woodstock, Vermont. Twenty-seven years old, she’s still waiting for her life to begin. She’ll do it later, she always says. She has time.

Until, on the night of Halloween, Jet is violently attacked by an unseen intruder.

She suffers a catastrophic brain injury. The doctor is certain that within a week, she’ll suffer a deadly aneurysm.

Jet never thought of herself as having enemies. But now she looks at everyone in a new light: her family, her ex-best friend turned sister-in-law, her former boyfriend.

She only has seven days, and as her condition deteriorates she has only her childhood friend Billy for help. But nevertheless, she’s absolutely determined to finally finish something:

Jet is going to solve her own murder.

My Thoughts

I had high expectations going into this—especially since it won the Goodreads Choice Awards 2025 (and let’s be honest, readers are rarely wrong). At the start, I was a little sceptical—it felt like it might be overhyped—but about a third of the way in, I was completely hooked.

For one, we know almost nothing about Jet and her family at the beginning, and that curiosity builds so well as the story unfolds. Even when I thought I had figured out the “killer,” I still had no clue why Jet was targeted until much later. Kudos to Holly Jackson for her highly engaging and immersive writing style. It’s not overly complex—no jumping timelines or multiple POVs—but it never feels dull.

Jet’s voice (her internal monologue) is written in a very specific way that makes it feel raw, immediate, and oddly relatable. The mystery itself is also really well done—characters are introduced gradually, connections are there to be made, but nothing is too obvious. It genuinely felt like I was on this journey with Jet and Billy, trying to solve her own “murder” alongside them.

And that premise? So unique. A victim solving her own crime while dealing with grief, loss, and the looming reality of her own death - it sounds heavy (and it is), but it’s handled in a way that keeps you completely invested.

I also really appreciated the emotional depth of the story. Yes, it’s a mystery, but it’s also about Jet’s life - her relationships, her regrets, her fears, her ambitions. Knowing she has only days left adds this layer of urgency and reflection that makes everything hit harder. The book feels whole in that sense - it’s not just about solving a crime, it’s about everything that comes with it.

I do give this book a very high rating of 4.5/5 stars, but it did have some aspects I did not enjoy a lot. Jet, for one, is endearing but also not super likeable. I felt bad about the way she treated others sometimes, especially dismissing her mother's (valid, imo) feelings and seemed quite selfish to me. It became annoying at a point where I felt tired of her acting that way. Granted, she gets a pass because she was going to die, but still. And oh, poor sweet Billy! Probably the most likeable character here - I love how his story was depicted and I did feel bad for him throughout.

The ending was satisfying (though a little emotional, as expected), and overall well-executed. There were a few loose ends I wish had been tied up more neatly, but nothing that ruined the experience for me—which is saying a lot because I can be picky with thrillers.

Would I recommend this? 100% yes. Whether you’re a thriller regular or just getting into the genre, this one is such an engaging, emotional, and genuinely enjoyable ride!

Book Review: To All the Men I've Killed Before by Katy Brent

Author: Katy Brent

Publisher: HarperCollins

Pages: 384

Release Date: Aug 2026

Find it at: Amazon

Book Blurb

If a man hurt your best friend – like, really hurt her – what would you do?

1. Key his car?
2. Broadcast what a scumbag he is to everyone in his life?
3. Hunt him down and chop him into little pieces?

If you picked number 3, I think we could be friends. Because that is exactly what I intend to do.

I’ve tracked this lowlife to LA and brought my little sister Antoinette along for the ride. It’s like a girls’ trip, only with more knives.

It won’t be the first time I’ve killed for revenge. But it will be the sweetest.

My Thoughts!

First, thank you HarperCollins Canada and NetGalley for an advance review copy of this book!

I went into To All the Men I’ve Killed Before expecting something a little different—in a good way. The premise is bold: a revenge-driven female serial killer, a girls’ trip to LA, and a mission to take down a man who’s hurt someone close to her. It sounded like it could be dark, funny, maybe even a little “chick-lit but make it unhinged.”

The story follows Kitty Collins (our resident killer) as she tracks down a man who’s seriously harmed her best friend. She heads to LA—with her younger sister Antoinette in tow—for what is essentially a revenge mission disguised as a chaotic girls’ trip. And this isn’t Kitty’s first time doing this either, which kind of sets the tone for the whole book. This book is in fact the third in the Kitty Collins’ series, but even though I read this one without reading the previous two, I didn’t feel like I missed out on anything. It flows well.

To give credit where it’s due: this book is very readable. The writing flows easily, it’s fast-paced, and I flew through it because it genuinely kept me hooked. There’s also a strong sense of voice—Kitty is bold, unapologetic, and very much committed to her own version of justice. Antoinette, meanwhile, brings a more chaotic energy, especially as she starts getting a little too comfortable with the whole killing thing. The sister dynamic was actually one of the more interesting parts of the story.

But… the story itself (anddd maybe execution) didn’t quite sit well with me.

I struggled with how over-the-top and unrealistic a lot of it felt. There were quite a few plot holes, things that just… happened without explanation, and very little sense of consequence for actions that should have had major fallout. The characters also didn’t always behave in ways that felt believable, which made it harder to stay fully invested. I mean, I can believe the killers are obviously OK with killing people, but when you add at least 5-6 more characters that become aware of the fact AND they are OK with it - that frustrated me no end! If that’s the reality of this world, I would like to go live on Mars.

And then there’s the tone around revenge. I understand what the book is tapping into—frustration, anger, the whole “men getting what they deserve” angle. That part is real. But the way the story leans into violence as not just justified, but enjoyable, didn’t sit right with me. The moral line felt blurred in a way that wasn’t thought-provoking so much as… uncomfortable.

I get that this isn’t meant to be a serious, grounded thriller, and maybe that’s the point. It’s exaggerated, a bit chaotic, and probably meant to be taken with a pinch (or handful) of salt. And for the right reader, that might be exactly what makes it fun. For me, though, while I appreciated the original concept and the addictive writing style, the execution and tone just didn’t fully work.

Overall, an easy and compelling read with a standout premise—but definitely one that will depend heavily on your taste.

Book Review: Boring Asian Female by Canwen Xu

Title: Boring Asian Female

Author: Canwen Xu

Pages: 261
Published: Apr 2026 (Releasing 28 Apr 2026)
Publisher: HarperCollins Canada

My Rating: 3.5/5

Find it at: Amazon

First, a shout out to HarperCollins for providing me with an advance review copy through Netgalley for this review! I feel so much in my element when I’m able to do this!! 

Boring Asian Female caught my immediate attention with its fun title and cover design. Reading the blurb made me even more intrigued and I knew this would be something I want to read - and I am glad I did! While there was a layer of mystery in the story, it was mostly the story of an immigrant Asian girl obsessed with proving herself by getting through to Harvard Law. Yes, it does feel like a cliche but that’s the whole point - the expectations set upon some people, directly or indirectly through society, and how it influences the trajectory of their entire existence. 

Blurb

Thank you for your interest in our school, but we regret to inform you that…” You’re not special. You’re too average. You’re too boring. 

Elizabeth Zhang is well aware of her place in the world. She’s in the tenth percentile for likability, the seventieth percentile for attractiveness, and the ninety-ninth percentile for academics. While she’s never been the most beautiful or the most liked, she knows she has the intelligence and ambition to achieve her greatest dream: Harvard Law School.

But when Harvard rejects Elizabeth for not standing out enough—which she knows means she's just another boring Asian female—her carefully constructed life falls apart. What shocks her even more is that Laura Kim, a classmate at Columbia, got in. Elizabeth can’t figure out how this could have happened. Why was Laura accepted? What makes her so interesting?

At first, she follows Laura because she’s curious to see what made her stand out to Harvard. What does Laura order for lunch? Where does Laura shop? What are Laura’s hobbies? But no matter how hard she tries, Elizabeth just can’t understand what makes Laura so special.

The only thing she does understand is that Laura has taken her spot. A spot that, after all her hard work, she feels she deserves more. A spot that she’ll simply have to take back.

Layered and subversive, Boring Asian Female reveals how societal expectations and personal pressure can unlock the darkest parts of a person and exposes how far one young woman is willing to go to fulfil her deepest ambition.

My Thoughts

I definitely enjoyed reading this book, though not due to my usual reasons. I appreciate the depth of the plot after finishing the book more than what I had imagined reading the blurb - Asian culture is known for their deep focus on academic excellence and Elizabeth is no exception. Her family moved to the US for a better future, but after dissatisfaction with their mediocre job and low prospects, her father returns to his home country and Elizabeth stays on with her mother in a small town in South Dakota. But Elizabeth has dreams - dreams that involve New York and securing a fancy and comfortable life for herself. She is determined to become a lawyer. The book follows her story as she studies at Columbia and spends lots of time preparing for Harvard Law, but she gets a letter of rejection. 

The story takes us through the following days, weeks and months as Elizabeth slowly starts to spiral trying to understand the reason for her rejection, and obsessed with her classmate Laura who was accepted. She goes on to behave in questionable ways, making assumptions, and engaging in stalker-like behaviours bordering on illegality, until the characters reach a breaking point and Elizabeth is officially diagnosed as someone going through mental distress and requiring help. The ending was satisfying but not 100%. However, considering the circumstances, I suppose there was no other way it could go! 

I like the concept and the message the story is trying to bring forward- it was especially eye-opening to see things from Elizabeth’s point of view. A third party observer would always be more judgmental and critical (and for some actions, rightly so), but the point of the story is to get inside the head of someone who’s spiralling and see things from their perspective. What they feel, understand, perceive and how it defines their sense of self. It is relatable as most of us go through university with certain degree of hopes for our futures and expectations around the same. The story gives a satirical angle to elite institutions and high-achieving kids whose identity weighs heavily around merit and certain definitions of success.

The writing itself is fast-paced, well-written, although a bit boring especially in the first half. I think it could be due to lack of POVs or shifts in timeline. We are completely in Elizabeth’s head all the time and it felt like a change was needed here and there to break up the monotony. There were also parts that felt rushed or unexplained, and the mystery itself was lacking - even though the point of the story was something else, I felt some mystery could have been added as separate layers rather than having a singular narrative stating facts as and when they happen. 

The story also explores friendships and their importance in one’s life. How these relationships can help ground someone going through mental distress and help them feel hopeful about themselves. I liked Elizabeth and Eunjin’s friendship as well as characterization. Each had their own set of positives and flaws and the story brought that out well. It made me feel lots of empathy while simultaneously feeling annoyed with the characters. 

Is this a book I would read again? Possibly not, but mostly because the story is unique and kind of not easy to forget. 

Would I recommend others to read this? Absolutely! If not for the writing, I’d recommend reading it for the story and the themes. 

Book Review: The Intruder by Freida McFadden

Author: Freida McFadden (author of The Housemaid series among others)

Pages: 279

Published: Oct 2025

My Rating: 3.5/5

Buy it at Amazon here

Blurb

Who knows what the storm will blow in…

Casey's cabin in the wilderness is not built for a hurricane. Her roof shakes, the lights flicker, and the tree outside her front door sways ominously in the wind. But she's a lot more worried about the girl she discovers lurking outside her kitchen window.

She’s young. She’s alone. And she’s covered in blood.

The girl won't explain where she came from or loosen her grip on the knife in her right hand. And when Casey makes a disturbing discovery in the middle of the night, things take a turn for the worse.

The girl has a dark secret. One she’ll kill to keep. And if Casey gets too close to the truth, she may not live to see the morning.

In this taut, deadly tale of survival and desperation, #1 New York Times bestselling author Freida McFadden explores how far one girl will go to save herself.

My Thoughts 

This was a tricky one. After all the hype for Freida, I guess it can add pressure and make someone have high expectations from all their works! I say tricky because while I loved reading this story, it also didn’t make me go “oooohhh wow”. I’m thinking I probably won’t have a lot to share on this one but you never know with me. Let’s dig in! 

Writing: Very good! The language is clear, easy to read, easy to relate and get inside characters’ heads, clever choice of tone for different characters, and you are never bored. So that’s a big plus and the biggest reason this story feels elevated. 

Another thing I noticed is also a bit of flatness - while there are character POV switches, it doesn’t get confusing (although I realized why towards the end of the book). Usually with multiple timelines and POVs thrillers tend to make me go back and forth between the pages (no thanks to my postpartum brain), but this one was “easy” enough! A characteristic of this author’s writing style is the unreliable narration which always makes me wonder what in the world is happening and whether I should believe anything at face value or not.

Plot and storyline: The story follows present-day Casey, and the young girl she finds outside her cabin covered in blood, along with her closest neighbour Lee. Equally significant, if not more, is the story of young Ella along with her family and friends. Closer towards the end things start to reveal themselves, some expected but some shocking. I admit, the twist WAS surprising and changed everything as we had learned to understand, and it did surprise me, but it was also the only “thrilling” thing that happened. The rest of the story and events are engaging and keep you hooked, but for a thriller it reads at a steady pace and is overall “soft”. It’s not super complex, but packed with tension and can get addictive! 

Themes: The book explores sensitive themes - childhood abuse, power and control, in a multi-layered fashion. Things are not exactly “shocking” but definitely disturbing. We never know who is in control, really, or how power dynamics may shift quickly. It also explores paranoia, impact of past events on your future, trust (you never know who’s on your side or why). 

Overall, the plot made sense, kept me engaged and kept wanting to know more, so it is a book I would recommend (along with some trigger warnings), to anyone looking for a hooking, thrilling mystery. This book did not put me off Freida McFadden, so I’m on the lookout for her next one!