To All the Men I've Killed Before

To All the Men I’ve Killed Before by Katy Brent

Reviewed by Ephantus Gold

“We’re here for revenge. And the revenge I have in mind isn’t going to be sweet. It will be brutal.”

This phrase in “To All the Men I’ve Killed Before” by Katy Brent, introduces the reader to a story heavily driven by the desire for retribution, by characters who do not forgive easily – in fact, who do not forgive at all. The phrase further primes the reader for a journey that will keep them on the edge, turning pages, while remaining conflicted about the character’s central morals.  Purchase Here.

Kitty Collins, a thirty-year-old serial killer who kills only the “worst men who absolutely deserve it,” and her twenty-year-old half-sister Antoinette, arrive in Los Angeles to find and kill Aidan Ward, a British therapist who beat Kitty’s friend Tor almost to death, before fleeing to LA. Tor barely survived and was left with a swollen face, a closed eye underneath a couple of bruises, and a lingering trauma that makes her unable to sleep. But as Kitty and Antoinette settle in and search online for Aidan, Antoinette comes across information regarding a serial killer right at the heart of Los Angeles who is brutally murdering women who are found sexualizing themselves, women who, according to Kitty, are only exercising agency over their own bodies. Antoinette wants Kitty to hunt down the Los Angeles serial killer as well, especially because the police have not so far acknowledged his presence, even as the number of those slain continues to rise.

The story also captures the interruption of the sisters’ evening meal at a restaurant in West Hollywood by an A-lister movie star who wants them to join him for a “little party” in his room that night. Kitty recognizes him, remembering that several women have previously sued him for sexual misconduct, although the cases were dropped for lack of evidence. After dismissing him, Antoinette hisses across the table that they should kill him, too. But Kitty doesn’t realize the weight of Antoinette’s words until the following day, when she finds her resting her feet on the dismembered naked torso of a man right there at the center of their room.

This story involves two protagonists whose discovery that they share a parent felt, to me as the reader, like a nuclear bomb of a plot point. This was made worse, especially by my discovery that one of them had committed an unforgivable act against the other’s family, raising the question in me of whether she was justified or merely monstrous.  Kitty – the main protagonist’s repetition that she had killed a lot of people, most especially primed me for a journey that initially felt wrong, but gradually emerged as more complicated than I thought, a journey that made me question what I thought about right and wrong. But what made the story deeply engaging was the half-sister’s involvement as Kitty’s “an assassin-admin assistant.” Her entrance pointed to a coordinated, systematic operation that was ideologically driven by individuals who saw themselves as avengers for women wronged by men.

Brent used humor that made the dark violence not just palatable, but engaging and almost enjoyable. For instance, she told of a jaw that hung out like a scream mask, a massacred movie star who looked like a sad, aging pirate – specifically like Captain Hook but in need of a midlife health check, and a lip-less, dead individual who the main protagonist thought was looking at her. This humor allowed me to break the tension, made the protagonists more relatable, and, at times, made me question my moral responses. “To All the Men I’ve Killed Before” by Katy Brent is a book I would recommend to readers who enjoy dark, morally complex thrillers served with a side of sarcasm and humor, as well as to readers who enjoy books about complex family dynamics. Kitty and Antoinette are exactly the kind of characters these readers will enjoy, even though they know they probably shouldn’t.

 

 

Looked Down Upon

Looked Down Upon: The Exiled Kin by Jordan Lopez

Reviewed by Lily Andrews

“Looked Down Upon: The Exiled Kin” by Jordan Lopez follows sixteen-year-old Lucas “Luke” Ramirez, who lives in an old, small cottage at the heart of Blackroot town, Tennessee, together with his thirty-seven-year-old mother, who is a nurse, and his seventy-two-year-old grandmother. He has autism, a condition that makes it extremely difficult for him to make friends or cope with change. His grandmother, on the other hand, is fighting liver cancer as well as COPD, an illness that affects her lungs, requiring her to rely on an oxygen tank for breathing. Luke grows up knowing that his father, a successful mechanic, died in a car accident when Luke was three. He was told his father wasn’t big on taking pictures, which is why there are no photos of him in their house.  Purchase Here.

Luke starts his sophomore year at Princeton County High School and almost immediately notices Natalie Brown, a new student. He keeps to himself, but with Brown, he feels different. They meet over lunch. But some bullies, led by Rob, interrupt their warm conversation, creating a scene by mocking Luke’s condition and leaving him deeply shattered. He imagines having beautiful times with Brown. But we know that underneath all that lies a chilling, recurrent nightmare that involves a masked haunter who lunges at him in his sleep, sometimes mocking his worth and reminding him that he doesn’t deserve to be loved.

Luke’s story explores, among other themes, identity and self-acceptance. This theme ideally forms the backbone of the story. Self-acceptance, especially, emerges as an often painful struggle, worsened by constant reminders that you are different; this often leads the victim to hide their authentic self, even as they believe they are broken or that a large part of them is out of sync with the world.

“Looked Down Upon:  The Exiled Kin” is a story where the hero spirals, cries, withdraws, and tries to fight back, showing us how deeply he is hurting. His struggles pull us right into his world, a world where systems meant to protect him often fail, and where survival seems like a daily battle for someone like him.  By writing Luke’s story, two-time published author and autistic self-advocate who was often misunderstood in his tender years by many of his peers and teachers, Jordan Lopez manages to show us that autism doesn’t place any limit on an individual’s purpose. His writing style keeps emotions close to the surface, so you don’t struggle to feel the story as it happens. The mystery of the masked haunter is one of his most compelling creations and a major source of psychological unease that keeps you guessing and turning pages as you wonder what that creepy figure is all about.

“Looked Down Upon: The Exiled Kin” is without a doubt a story that anyone who has ever felt like an outsider will resonate with. It is a book that offers insight into what it is like to raise or support an autistic child. It makes you understand autism easily, and on the other side, the impact of bullying and how it can shape a child’s self-worth. This makes it a great read for parents, teachers, and caregivers. Readers who love stories about courage and justice shouldn’t miss it either.

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Deadly Dilemma

Deadly Dilemma: Suicide, Faith, and the Search for Identity and Purpose by Anthony Gurley

Reviewed by Christine Kinori

It takes a lot of courage to write a deeply personal memoir about the darkest moments of your life. Anthony Gurley’s Deadly Dilemma: Suicide, Faith, and the Search for Identity and Purpose is an incredibly raw and intimate memoir that does not shy away from a struggle most people are constantly battling.  Purchase Here.

The book opens with a profoundly poignant suicide letter that Anthony never sent. In that moment, he had decided to end it all. However, he chose not to act on his plans but rather to examine his entire life with unfiltered honesty.

What follows is a gripping memoir that emotionally dives into his poverty-ridden childhood in a North Carolina housing project. His first brush with abandonment which came when his father left, followed by academic failures and years spent navigating the complexities of faith, marriage, and career.

From the start, Gurley approaches this memoir with a radical vulnerability that will surprise you. As one reads through the chapters, the book starts to feel like a late-night conversation where there is room to safely discuss traumas—a safe space of sorts.

The balanced retrospective, as Anthony exposes every emotional and traumatic wound, feels authentic. Thanks to this, even the dark themes of the book don’t feel completely overwhelming or hopeless.  Instead, we get a sense of hope as the book becomes an impactful testament to his daily mental health struggles and his endurance through faith—a reminder that we can weather life’s worst storms and that sometimes our greatest victories are silent but powerful.

Don’t get us wrong, this is a heavy book to read. The raw confrontation with psychological, intergenerational trauma and the weight of silenced depression in this book is not easy to read. However, by grounding the book in reality, the intentional pacing keeps the heavy themes from dragging the reader down.  Nonetheless, this is one reason to read the book. Uniquely, it provides a realistic blueprint for others walking through the dark.

The book also does a perfect job of destigmatizing faith and mental health. It bridges the gap that many who have deep faith while struggling with severe mental crises refuse to talk about. Anthony shows that these are not mutually exclusive realities and there is no shame in openly talking about it.  For so long, religious communities have wrongfully treated mental crises as a spiritual failure. It is about time someone tears down this dangerous narrative to the ground. The agonizing guilt these narratives perpetuate has only made matters worse.

Anthony stresses that fighting clinical depression doesn’t diminish one’s faith. He reframes mental health as a medical reality that requires real, professional care alongside spiritual support.

Anthony’s story also proves that there really is light at the end of the tunnel. Of course, mental health is a daily struggle, but the little triumphs that come along the way help people build meaningful lives.

At the end of the day, life is a choice; one can choose to stay and anchor oneself to things that help make one better. It can be family, friends, faith, or a hobby. Whatever it is, as long as there is hope. For Anthony, his two biggest grounding anchors are his 50-year marriage and 30-year career.

Deadly Dilemma is a necessary, life-saving read for anyone navigating the quiet intersections of depression, identity crises, and faith. It is unflinching and strips away the taboo surrounding the intersection of faith and mental health.

Anthony’s story is not only beautiful because of his unabashed authenticity and honesty. It is a life-affirming reminder that even when plans change, we can discover new purposes in life. It is a celebration of a man who bravely fights and learns to tame the internal dragons in his mind.

My Inner Child Wants to Kill

My Inner Child Wants to Kill by Karsten Dusse

Reviewed by Ephantus Gold

I read My Inner Child Wants To Kill not too long ago, and it’s one of those books where the title makes you think it’s going to be wacky, but it actually ends up being a lot heavier than you expect. Björn is a lawyer who’s been trying to keep himself together with concentration because his wife basically told him he was slipping. And it helped him calm down a bit, but you can tell it didn’t fix whatever was beneath the surface. It just made the noise quieter.  Purchase Here.

The book starts with him deciding not to kill this gangster, Boris, even though he has every reason to. And the way it’s written, it doesn’t feel like some big moral moment. It feels like he’s just worn out. That kind of sets the tone for everything else. Most of the story comes out in therapy sessions, and the way he talks about these completely wild events, with a calm, almost flat tone, is weirdly funny and unsettling. Even a family trip goes off the rails in a way that made me stop and think, “Okay, this is not normal vacation chaos.”

The whole inner‑child thing becomes a lot more literal than I expected. It’s not just a metaphor he’s supposed to think about — it’s something he actually has to face, and once he does, you start to see how much of his adult behavior is tied to stuff he never dealt with as a kid. The book doesn’t sugarcoat any of that. It’s not the usual “heal your inner child, and everything magically improves” message. It’s more like: here’s the stuff you’ve been dragging around for years, and here’s what happens when you finally stop pretending it’s not there.

As it goes on, you see how much of him was shaped by old wounds and beliefs he didn’t even realize he had. And the book doesn’t pretend that self‑awareness automatically makes someone better. Sometimes it just makes you more aware of the chaos you already have. I actually liked that honesty, even though it’s not exactly comforting.

If you enjoy psychological stories or narratives that challenge the usual self-help tropes, this book stands out. Its dark humor and unsettling moments force you to confront just how chaotic inner struggles can be, which is at the heart of its message. It’ll leave you thinking long after you finish.

 

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You'll Be Sorry

You’ll Be Sorry by Lisa Gardner

Reviewed by Ephantus Gold

“You’ll Be Sorry” by Lisa Gardner starts by following Dog, a stray who never had a family until he meets Dave Dixon, his wife Janet, and their four kids. In their home, Dog finally finds love and quickly becomes part of the family. But one stormy night, everyone except Dog vanishes, leaving only bloody footprints behind. Thirty years later, a young couple from Boston buys the Dixons’ old house, surprising the locals who wonder why anyone would want to live where such a terrible crime happened. The new owners, Theo and Raquel, know the Dixons’ story and can’t understand why no one ever figured out what really happened.  Purchase Here.

One of the most memorable scenes is when a mysterious four-legged visitor shows up on their porch. “No collar – No tags.” They let him in, and soon he runs to a certain spot and digs something up. By now, readers know who this dog is and feel he has returned to deal with something that still haunts the place.

The story flows smoothly from one scene to the next.  The pacing feels right, so it’s easy to follow, and it still keeps the mystery going. I liked how Dog adds warmth to the story, even when he comes back years later. I often tried to guess what would happen, but the twists kept surprising me.

The story kept me interested with its clues, misdirection, rising tension, and flashbacks. The flashbacks made it feel as if something dark were still lurking beneath the surface. “You’ll Be Sorry” really shows how skilled the author is at turning crime and suspense into a gripping story. I enjoyed the steady plot, strong characters, and the exciting ending, and now I want to read more from this author.

Homes

Homes: A Novel by Hayden Thompson

Reviewed by Lily Andrews

“Homes” by Hayden Thompson is the story of a man who wants to be a good father, but life keeps throwing him curveballs. We follow him into new countries and new ways of living, even as he constantly adjusts and tries to find that sweet spot where everything clicks.  Purchase Here.

Dr. George Harrington, a single father who lives with his twelve-year-old son in Auvers-sur-Oise, Paris, understands that a single life is all we get, and that it is not something to be wasted on routine or the safe and familiar path. We meet him in the story’s first chapter just after he has received official documents for a new job in Asia, an international post that gives him a chance to make a difference in the developing world. He has spent many years standing shoulder to shoulder with the best and the brightest. But currently, what he craves is not human accolades, titles or applause, but relevance, a change of scenery and a renewed sense of purpose.

Their arrival in Farnamlan, Asia, however, is not the warm embrace George pictured. The airport and the traffic are chaotic, and the heat levels are nothing like the mild French mornings they had left behind. Soon, doubts and self-blame start to kick in, leaving him second-guessing his timing and reason for moving. But unknown to him, Farnamlan is already weaving a different story, one that will soon test him in ways he never expected.

Readers will agree that George is a character who spends more time in airports than most people spend in their kitchens. He unpacks and repacks through tearful goodbyes, and then does it all over again. Most times, in later chapters, he travels alone, sits on benches, sips coffee in quiet cafés with nothing but his thoughts and the world passing by. As a travel enthusiast myself, I couldn’t help but feel like his sense of solitude was more like the “ultimate” luxury than about loneliness. He is mostly alone yet never lonely. And in a world that keeps telling us we need to be with someone to be happy, his case is the perfect image of having myself as my own “enough” companion.

“Homes” is not a loud book, yet it is profoundly gripping. Its emotional weight doesn’t come from what happens externally in the protagonist’s life but in what happens inside of him. The book’s pauses, silences, quiet reflections, and moments that naturally seem insignificant gave me the space to feel, reflect, and connect with his emotional journey. Although the book mentions medicines, diseases, and public health work, it made clear that its focus was not medical content but George himself — what drove him as a single, aging individual and professional.  Medicine serves the story, not the other way, and because of that, I never felt lost. This is a book that will be enjoyed by anyone who believes that home is not a place on a map but rather a feeling in their heart.

 

So You Want To Be A Dinosaur Hunter

So You Want To Be A Dinosaur Hunter (Paleontologist) by Linda Soules

Reviewed by Diana Coyle

Are you interested in hunting for dinosaurs and making a new discovery? In “So You Want To Be A Dinosaur Hunter (Paleontologist) by Linda Soules readers learn just what it takes to become a paleontologist. This nonfiction career guide is the perfect book for any reader to see exactly what a paleontologist does and just how intricate their job truly is in discovering not only dinosaurs, but other things like shark teeth, or even fossilized plants. Do you have a sense of wanting to discover something no one else has before? Then this job might be the perfect fit for you!  Purchase Here.

In yet another wonderful book by Linda Soules, she meticulously shared details with her readers on just what it takes to become a paleontologist. As an adult, I must admit, when I hear the term paleontologist, I associate it with dinosaurs only. Was I so wrong in that assumption! I walked away learning that paleontologists discover so much more than just dinosaur bones. They study fossilized plants, ancient pollen, prehistoric shark teeth, insects, and even footprints left in the mud that turned into stone. Their job is more well-rounded than I give them credit for. Just the thought of discovering something that is a million years old gave me the excitement to start paying more attention to the ground that I walk on. You never know what you might find if you pay close attention to your surroundings.

This is just another well-written and wonderfully laid out book for children to learn from if they are interested in becoming a paleontologist. This is one of over 190+ nonfiction career books that Linda Soules has devoted her time and research to writing for children. I must admit, I wish there was such a wonderful series of career books back when I was a child. She has covered so many varying field choices that children are lucky to have such valuable information right at the palm of their hands. Plus, in each book, the author adds sections of Fun Facts, Glossary of Terms, and a plentiful section entitled Want To Learn More in which she lists books to read, websites to visit, things to do to prepare you for that specific career, and even organizations you should familiarize yourself with to gather more information if you truly want to be a paleontologist.

The illustrations provided by Linda Soules were also carefully chosen and perfectly tell the story to readers in picture format. The pictures are just as detailed as the storyline itself. As an adult, I found myself stopping to take in the illustrations just as much as I did the written text.

Linda Soules is an award-winning author of the So You Want To Be…series of career-exploring books. This is a continually growing series aimed at informing children of the various careers that might be available to them as they get older.

Overall, “So You Want To Be A Dinosaur Hunter (Paleontologist) is another one of the fabulous additions to the career series for children. The research she has done on this topic shines throughout the pages, and I’m sure it will spark many children into considering if they want to be a paleontologist. This series is one for your child’s at-home library and would be a wonderful addition to school and public libraries. I highly recommend it!

 

So You Want To Be A Zookeeper

So You Want To Be A Zookeeper by Linda Soules

Reviewed by Diana Coyle

A zookeeper isn’t just someone who wants to play with animals. It’s a job of protecting those animals which is thoroughly explained in “So You Want To Be A Zookeeper” by Linda Soules. As the zookeeper devotes their time, knowledge, and energy into taking care of a wild animal, a strong bond of trust and respect forms between the animal and keeper. A bond that is truly unique and special between the two. In this nonfiction children’s career book, young readers will learn about some of the pros and cons of becoming a zookeeper. Do you have the desire to become a devoted zookeeper?  Purchase Here.

This is another book in this delightful series, So You Want To Be…,and this one is special to me as an adult. I have a deep love for domestic and wild animals, and I was fascinated with all the amazing facts and informational tidbits Soules provided in yet another educational book children can use as a future career reference guide. I was learning right along with the young readers just how detailed a zookeeper’s job really is and how dedicated they must be to keep the zoo animals healthy and happy throughout their lifetimes. One fact that truly left an impression on me was the idea that a zookeeper’s ultimate achievement is to love and care for each individual animal to help them not become extinct in the world.

The detailed and interesting facts the author provided her readers with showed just how much time and research she had put into each book in this series so far. Children will easily walk away learning new facts, like I did, of things they didn’t know prior to reading this informative book.

The illustrations were plentiful throughout this book and fit perfectly telling the story in picture format. Each one was vibrant in color and eye-catching to the readers. You can’t help but stop to take in the complete scope of each illustration provided because it perfectly enhances the story the author has written.

Linda Soules is an award-winning author of the So You Want To Be…series of career exploring books. This is a continually growing series aimed at informing children of the various careers that might be available to them as they get older.

Overall, “So You Want To Be A Zookeeper” by Linda Soules is another career informing book that I think children will love. The information provided is meticulously detailed, allowing readers the full scope of what it takes to be a dedicated zookeeper. The illustrations are gorgeous in design and perfectly fit the written words provided. This is another winner in my eyes, and I feel readers will love it just as much as I did. I eagerly can’t wait to read more books in this educational and fun children’s series!

So You Want To Be a Marine Biologist

So You Want To Be A Marine Biologist by Linda Soules

Reviewed by Diana Coyle

In this illustrated nonfiction children’s career guide, “So You Want To Be A Marine Biologist” by Linda Soules, readers are taken on an amazing adventure learning the intricacies of what it’s like to become a marine biologist. Children and adults alike will learn many interesting facts, not only about the marine environment, but also exactly what it takes to become a marine biologist.  Purchase Here.

The first thing that truly stuck out to me was how Linda Soules jam-packed this children’s book with so many interesting facts that readers of any age will walk away with knowledge they didn’t have before reading it. As an adult, I learned that the ocean covers more than seventy percent of our planet. That percentage made me stop for a moment to take it in. I truly never put this kind of intense thought into such a dynamic piece of information. Plus, another truly interesting fact I learned is that the ocean environment produces more than half the oxygen we breathe. If these two pieces of information don’t intrigue you, how about another fact that eighty percent of the ocean hasn’t even been explored yet? Those facts would make any reader in awe of just how significant our ocean is in our day-to-day environment.

Another thing I never put much thought to was how involved a marine biologist’s job truly is. They don’t just study the ocean and its inhabitants; they must devote their lives to learning about and supporting such an integral living environment for generations to come. Soules provided detailed information that will allow children to truly see just how involved the life of a marine biologist is in sustaining not only every human being, but also all the ocean’s inhabitants that we depend on for our lives. This informative book will delight readers of all ages because there is so much information for every reader to learn from.

The illustrations were AI-generated by Soules, and she fully disclosed that she worked diligently on trying to make these generated images as unique and specific as possible to help guide her readers along a marine biologist’s journey. The colors and detailed illustrations were treasures provided throughout this nonfiction guide.

Linda Soules is an award-winning author of the So You Want To Be…series, which is a children’s nonfiction series of career-exploring books. This series is continually growing to help inform children of various careers that will be available to them as they get older. This series has won many awards and continues to grow in popularity as each new book is added.

Overall, “So You Want To Be A Marine Biologist” by Linda Soules is one nonfiction career book that will entertain readers of various ages. The information is intriguing to learn, the illustrations are spot-on to the data being offered throughout, and the additional bonuses of Fun Facts, Glossary of Terms, and the Want To Learn More sections perfectly complement the entire guide offered. It comes highly recommended!

 

Our Marriage is Murder

Our Marriage is Murder by Carol Goodman

Reviewed by Ephantus Gold

“Our Marriage Is Murder” by Carol Goodman is a gripping mystery that positions itself in a world where fiction and reality are blurred by a very thin line, one that, if crossed, carries devastating consequences. The book follows award-winning novelists Fred and Thea Morgan-Lane, who have been married for twenty years. They are flying to Italy for this year’s MurderCon, where they have been nominated for the prestigious Poirot Prize for Best Mystery Series. Morgan-Lane, the narrator, reveals that Fred sees her as a pushover, whereas she is the one who has always greased the wheels behind the scenes to get what they need from their publishing company. She also discloses that they are still together, not because they are in love, but because their brand as a writing couple has been quite profitable.  Purchase Here.

Morgan-Lane is exhausted and wants out, not just from the hollow shell of her marriage but from the series the two have written. She has spent months planning her exit, and has a termination clause that prevents Fred from continuing the series without her approval. But what she doesn’t know is that someone close to her has been planning a betrayal of their own. You sense early that she is headed towards a devastating twist, one that could end her life, in a world where any ally could be the enemy, and for that matter, an enemy who might ensure that the series is not hers at all to end.

Morgan-Lane is a charming character who wins the reader’s heart, especially after she finally resolves to reclaim her life from a marriage she claims she betrayed long ago, when she turned it into a business rather than prioritizing love. It’s undeniable that she has been running from herself all along. But it’s not her “victim-hood” that really makes her compelling; rather, it’s her complicity. She is self-aware, which makes her all the more compelling. Yet the most interesting part of her story is a game she invented with her husband that later serves as the mechanism for a real murder. The game was their private joke and a shared language. Here, you realize that the killer might then be someone who has been watching them long enough to know their secrets.

Morgan‑Lane’s story isn’t a quick happening. It feels more like watching two people drift apart because they stopped saying the things that mattered. You start noticing the little things that were not taken care of. After a while, their marriage comes across like something they’re doing as a routine rather than actually living. As the connection between her and Fred thins out, you can still feel her trying to hang on. It makes you wonder whether Fred is really the problem, or if she’s been avoiding the truth that’s been sitting right in front of her. The reader will soon start to feel her confusion and her hope, and you stay with her as she finally stops dodging what she’s known deep down all along.