The Book of Cold Cases by Simone St. James (★★★☆☆)
Audiobook • Hoopla • Thriller • 2022
Short synopsis: Decades after the infamous Lady Killer Murders, true crime blogger Shea Collins is drawn into the mystery when she interviews Beth Greer—the eccentric woman once accused of the killings—inside her eerie mansion.
Going into this book, I knew Simone St. James was known for her ghost stories—or perhaps more accurately, thrillers with a ghostly element. That’s certainly true in this book, which had a ghostly companion, which I honestly found made it harder for me to get into the plot. Do I believe in ghosts? Not really. While I find real-life ghost stories fascinating (I love taking ghost tours when I travel), I don’t tend to enjoy them as much in fiction for some reason. I didn’t find the plot especially twisted or surprising, and something that happened near the end just didn’t quite work for me. Overall, it felt a bit convoluted. If you love ghost stories, you might like this one, but it didn’t totally work for me.
Every Last One by Anna Quindlan (★★★★★)
Print • Library • Contemporary Fiction • 2010
Short synopsis: When a shocking act of violence shatters her carefully built family life, Mary Beth Latham must confront tragedy while holding her loved ones together. Every Last One is a powerful story of grief, resilience, and the fierce, sustaining force of a mother’s love.
When I mentioned I was reading this book, my comment section lit up! Everyone warned me that it was devastating and impossible to forget. Eeks! I forged on, even though I didn’t know if I was in the mood for heartbreak. It’s difficult to talk about this novel without giving too much away, but the element of surprise is essential; it drives home just how abruptly tragedy can upend your world and force you to reconsider the life you thought you were living. This isn’t an easy read, but I am glad I finally plucked it off my TBR list—it’s a story that will stay with me for a long time.
11/22/63 by Stephen King (★★★☆☆)
E-Book • Owned (Amazon) • Fiction • 2011
Short synopsis: When a small-town teacher discovers a portal to the past, he’s drawn into a high-stakes mission to stop the JFK assassination. As he builds a new life in the late 1950s, love and history collide—forcing him to reckon with the true cost of changing time.
It’s done! I finished 11/22/63! One of my goals this year was to read four books over 500 pages, and this was the biggest of the bunch. My Kindle edition clocked in at 1,100 pages (though I’m pretty sure the print version is closer to 800–900 pages). Lisa suggested we buddy read it, and omg, I am so glad we did! I honestly don’t think I would’ve finished without our regular check-ins—most of which involved me complaining about how bored I was. Where was the action? The suspense?
For me, the action finally got good around page 800, which is simply far too long to wait. My main takeaways: (a) there is absolutely no reason this book needed to be this long—edit yourself, S.K.!; (b) what was that ending, and what was the point of any of it?; and (c) the love story was my favorite part and completely melted my heart.
I’m still scratching my head over why this one is so beloved (on Goodreads, it has a 4.35 rating with over 644,000 reviews). It was fine, but not the masterpiece I was expecting.
What are you reading?
EVERY LAST ONE. I’m so glad you liked it. It’s seriously one of the books that has stayed with me for years. There are so many elements that I loved- the main character’s relationship with her mother, for example. And there are lines from the book that are etched in my brain forever- “I realized my mother was the perfect person to tell me this news.” I just… it’s so, so good.
i also don’t like a ghost element in my books. I did like 11/22/63 more than you did, but I get what you’re saying about it!
I can see why everyone had something to say about Every Last One. It was really heartbreaking but also so touching. I need to read more Anna Quindlen because I adored her writing style!
Every Last One was soooo good! That’s a book that has really stuck with me. It was so devastating! I kind of want to re-read it but also don’t because it is so sad!!
Ugh. 11/22/63. I am glad we read it, but also gave it 3 stars. It was at least twice as long as it needed to be. I’m glad we could text each other while reading it! I guess SK can just do what he wants w/ no editing since he’s such a beloved author. But the book would have been so much better with some editing! I don’t understand why it has such a high rating! I do want to watch the miniseries on netflix, though!
I am stumped as to why 11/22/63 has such a high rating. It was way too long and the ending made me angry. WHAT WAS THE POINT?!?!?! Argh. At least we were in the trenches together!
Oof, you probably read Every Last One before you had kids? I feel like it may be too devastating from the perspective of a mother now! But I’m here for all your feelings if you choose to reread it!
I don’t know if I’m up for that Quindlen book. Maybe in another lifetime?
I found 11/22/63 quite thought provoking and kept pestering my husband with questions while I was reading it. However, I find most of King’s writing to be a bit too much. I can see why his editors just leave him alone, though, because he sells so well.
In his writing memoir, On Writing, there’s this line:
King writes: The adverb is not your friend (page 124). He also writes: Is this a case of “Do as I say, not as I do?” The reader has a perfect right to ask the question, and I have a duty to provide an honest answer. Yes. It is. (page 127)
LOLOLOL. Even he admits he needs an editor.
Ha! At least he acknowledges it. I remember the adverb line from that book and it’s something I think about all the time when I’m writing.
Oh gosh, I will have to pick up Every Last One when I am in the mood!
Stephany! Congratulations! YOU FINISHED 11/22/63!!!!! Your review doesn’t make me want to pick it back up. Maybe if I start at page 800? LOL.
I am reading Blue Sisters. Almost done!
Every Last One is devastating but worth it!
I am SO GLAD to be done with 11/22/63. I still don’t get why it’s so popular, but to each their own!
These days my reading is shit. I am struggling through a 111 page book since the beginning of December. Sigh. Let’s hope I have more brain space in 2026 for books. And a better hand in picking them.
Congrats on reading four 500* novels. I only managed two. And one I started in July 2024. Don’t ask.
I’m sorry you’ve had such a rough end to the year. Here’s to a much better 2026!