Can't Wait Wednesday/Waiting on Wednesday #574: Let Sleeping Gods Lie by Ben Schenkman

 

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event that had been hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine where we spotlighted upcoming releases we are eagerly anticipating. I'm now linking up with Can't Wait Wednesday hosted over at Wishful Endings.

From the publisher: If jumping off a building to save a raccoon doesn’t kill Corbin Pierce then his next altruistic impulses just might.

Pierce, ex-Ivy League community college adjunct and environmental activist, has his hands full keeping the local spirit-creatures out of the hands of poachers while teaching his students about history they shouldn’t repeat. As if he didn't already have enough on his plate, he and his new mentee-turned-apprentice discover the murder of a homeless man.

As one murder becomes two, Corbin suspects the involvement of The Hand, a secret cabal of high magicians. It won’t be his first conflict with them, but if he can’t find a way to stop them, it could well be the last.

Even worse, ancient spirits are waking to wreak havoc on the city as the bodies pile up. To end it all, Corbin must decide what he’s willing to sacrifice. If he doesn’t, the city and everyone he loves will be gone. Can Corbin take the final leap, knowing he might pay the ultimate price?

Let Sleeping Gods Lie by Ben Schenkman is expected out October 27th, 2025 from Caffeinated Terrier Press.

Why am I waiting on this book? I enjoy good urban fantasy. This sounds like an interesting story with a raccoon, a secret society, and ancient gods. Plus, it's a standalone. 

What book are you waiting on? Share it and a link in the comments so we can check it out and maybe add it to our ever growing To Be Read lists. Thanks for coming by. Happy Reading!

Book Review: Killer Tracks by Mary Keliikoa

 

Sheriff Jax Turner of Misty Pines is invited on a getaway by his ex-wife Abby who he is trying to reunite with. This means leaving his second in command, Rachel, in charge of the unit while he's gone. It's not her, but leaving at all that has him anxious. And when Abby requests that they leave their service revolvers behind for the weekend, he has his qualms.

When they arrive at the cabin, there are signs of a break-in.  And soon other events follow that have the hairs standing up on the back of his neck and his suspicions in overdrive. A death with the markings of a serial killer that he put away ratchets up the tension. Meanwhile, they are dealing with a similar death in town. Add in a mysterious young woman and a wildfire for a few more elements and you have the makings of a thrilling mystery.

My Thoughts: This is a good, solid mystery/thriller. The action, thrills, and mystery start early on. They grab you and take you on a ride as the tension only increases. Jax and Abby are in danger in one place. Rachel and his deputies are dealing with dangers back in town. 

The book is told from Jax's viewpoint and Rachel's. We get to know more about both characters. And we get to see them both wrestle with issues and grow as people and law officers.

There's an unexpected twist to the ending of the crime storyline that works quite well. There is a personal twist as well.

I did have a little trouble suspending disbelief that two officers of the law would go someplace isolated and not carry their service revolvers. The shotgun makes a nice compromise.

Overall, I gave this book 5 out of 5 stars. The thing with the guns was my only complaint. Otherwise the mystery/thriller was well executed. I would recommend it to people who have been reading the Misty Pines series as this is book 3. But, it can probably be read as a standalone as well. Things were explained well enough to enjoy the mystery. So, if you enjoy fast-paced, small town mysteries, this could be a good book for you. It's not quite a cozy because it's professionals doing the crime solving, but it still has a little of that vibe.

Killer Tracks by Mary Keliikoa was released September 30, 2025 from Level Best Books. I received a copy of the book from the publisher through NetGalley. This did not affect my review.

Can't Wait Wednesday/Waiting on Wednesday #573: Murder Mindfully by Karsten Dusse

 

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event that had been hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine where we spotlighted upcoming releases we are eagerly anticipating. I'm now linking up with Can't Wait Wednesday hosted over at Wishful Endings.

From the publisher: In this zen and zany crime debut, a shady lawyer transforms his life through mindfulness—and uses his newfound techniques to kill his way to the top. Original series now streaming on Netflix.

Criminal defense lawyer Björn Diemel has been given an ultimatum: repair his work-life balance, or his wife will leave him—and take their daughter.

He reluctantly starts a mindfulness course, and to his surprise, it’s a revelation. He becomes calmer, happier, and more focused as he starts to understand what’s really important in life. When his worst client, brutal kingpin Dragan Sergowicz, tries to interfere with his precious family time, Björn will stop at nothing—not even killing—to protect his peace.

Why am I waiting on this book? It sounds like a darkfully fun read. I could see where being in the moment for a murder and disposal of a body could make it unbearable. So, I'm curious how this is not the fact. And now of course, I'm curious about the Netflix series. I know there is one season available to watch. The book will be available April 14, 2026 from Soho Crime. 

What book are you waiting on? Share it and a link in the comments so we can check it out and maybe add it to our ever growing To Be Read lists. Thanks for coming by. Happy Reading!

Teaser Tuesday: Haunted Homecoming by Angie Fox

 

Welcome to Teaser Tuesday, the weekly Meme that wants you to add books to your TBR! You can also just share what you are currently reading. We make it very easy to play along. It's as easy as 1, 2, 3! Teaser Tuesday is hosted by Ambrosia at the Purple Booker.

1: Grab your current read. 2: Open to a random page. 3: Share two "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page.

BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! Share the title and author so that other people can add the book to their TBR lists if they like your teaser!

Heaven knew I’d been a handful for her at times. Like when I was out in the backyard sandbox as a child and thought I’d discovered dinosaur fossils. I’d proudly showed her my discovery, but it turned out my “rare artifacts” were just old dried-up cat droppings.

Fox, Angie. The Haunted Homecoming: A Paranormal Cozy Mystery Romance (Southern Ghost Hunter Mysteries Book 10) (pp. 17-18). Kindle Edition. 

You can follow the adventures of Verity and her ghostly co-resident Frankie in Sugarland, Tennessee in the Southern Ghost Hunter Series. There's usually plenty of humor and a good mystery. Ghost Frankie does not have the typical romantic relationship with Verity often found in similar mysteries. Instead they are reluctant partners in solving mysteries. Usually there is one mystery of the living and a related one of the dead. The books in the series are a fun read as is this one so far. If you enjoy humorous paranormal cozies you may want to give this series a try. Book one, Southern Spirits, is currently free on Kindle. I do not benefit from sharing this information with you. Happy Reading!

Book Review: Back in Black by Julie Mulhern

 

Back in Black by Julie Mulhern is the 18th book in the Country Club Murders series. Even so, she manages to make the plot interesting. Ellison, the main character, hosts a luncheon for a friend visiting from New York. Unfortunately, murder is dessert. Ellison is immediately and inevitably drawn into the investigation. There is a second plot involving theft and murder with friends as suspects. Ellison, being the kind hearted individual that she is, volunteers to help plan the funerals. And it all gives her quite the headache as she tries to avoid becoming the next funeral.

Both plots are ultimately entwined. There are mysteries and thrills as well as twists and red herrings. I have to say that I did not see the end coming. After 18 books, I think it's great that Julie Mulhern can still surprise readers. 

Honestly. while you could read this without reading the others, it would be a lot better if you have read other books in the series. The characters grow as the series goes on. The pacing and mysteries are deftly handled. It's hard to put down one of these stories. The Kindle version of the first book, The Deep End, is a reasonably priced $2.99 at present. I gain nothing by sharing that information with you. I would recommend this book to people who enjoy series and humorous cozies, especially those set in the 1970s. 

Can't Wait Wednesday/Waiting on Wednesday #572: Your Behavior Will Be Monitored by Justin Feinstein

 

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event that had been hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine where we spotlighted upcoming releases we are eagerly anticipating. I'm now linking up with Can't Wait Wednesday hosted over at Wishful Endings.

From the publisher:

In an all-too-plausible near future, emotionally intelligent AI square off against emotionally stunted humans. This addictively hilarious satire deals with vital issues of our time: sentience, purpose, life, death—and how to make a really good commercial. 

Megacorporation UniView is poised to cement their reputation as “the most trusted name in AI.” After pioneering self-driving and HR bots, UniView is now barreling toward an audacious new launch. That is, if they can pull it off in time.

Enter Noah. A down-and-out copywriter reeling from a midlife crisis, he isn’t the typical hire for a groundbreaking tech company full of brilliant engineers and run by a cutthroat CEO. But Lex, UniView’s Head of HR and one of their greatest successes, makes no mistakes—her algorithm ensures it.

UniView’s latest venture—a bot named Quinn that creates revolutionary personalized advertising—needs expert training. Noah needs to teach Quinn—who is a much better student than he ever could have hoped for—the finer points of consumer motivation and the art of writing a catchy tagline.

But when corporate competitors force UniView to accelerate their timeline to market, guardrails around the AI loosen just as Quinn is learning a bit too much.

Told entirely through questionably obtained company emails, chat messages, TED Talks, bot trainings, and more, Your Behavior Will Be Monitored is a hilarious science fictional romp through the promise and perils of an AI-driven future that we probably deserve.

Your Behavior Will Be Monitored by Justin Feinstein is expected out April 7, 2026 from Tachyon Publications.

Why am I waiting on this book? It's a timely topic. And it sounds like it will be a fun read. I'm interested in the format too. I'm wondering how the author presents the TED Talks. And I am wondering how far off the rails Quinn will go and what it will mean for humans.

What book are you waiting on? Share it and a link in the comments so we can check it out and maybe add it to our ever growing To Be Read lists. Thanks for coming by. Happy Reading!

Teaser Tuesday: Clan Rathskeller by Kevin Hearne

 

Welcome to Teaser Tuesday, the weekly Meme that wants you to add books to your TBR! You can also just share what you are currently reading. We make it very easy to play along. It's as easy as 1, 2, 3! Teaser Tuesday is hosted by Ambrosia at the Purple Booker.

1: Grab your current read. 2: Open to a random page. 3: Share two "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page.

BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! Share the title and author so that other people can add the book to their TBR lists if they like your teaser!

This excerpt is from a short story included in this edition of the book. The short story is called, "Clan Rathskeller." This is from the first page.

People shop at outdoor malls like Tempe Marketplace wearing nothing but a light sweater, and they utterly fail to slip on black ice or lose toes to frostbite, because those dangers don't exist in the desert. For similar reasons, they fail to get inhaled by ravenous yeti or snacked on by esurient cephalopods. One would think they'd also be safe from the attentions of sociopathic kobolds, but I discovered, to my chagrin on a Monday night, that this was not the case.

Hounded by Kevin Hearne is the first book in the Iron Druid Chronicles. It was published in May of 2011 by Del Rey.

What are you reading? Share a teaser or the title in the comments. Thanks for coming by and Happy Reading!