Can't Wait Wednesday/Waiting on Wednesday #584:Gabby Greene Knows Whodunit by Sam Tschida

 

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 fast-paced and deliciously witty spy romcom, a single mom finds herself on a mission with the CIA as they attempt to uncover a cult—perfect for fans of Finlay Donovan Is Killing It.

Gabby Greene: Secret agent. Mother of two. Figuring it out as she goes along.

After her divorce, Gabby never expected that she’d be this close to having it all. Spying with a hot handler who’s an expert in after-hours under-the-covers work was not on her current bingo card. But balancing romance, espionage, and school lunches is a job for a magician, not a secret agent. Gabby will just have to keep dreamy Markus at arm's-length . . .

Easier said than done. Her next mission, should she choose to accept it: Pretend to be Markus’s fiancée so they can infiltrate a Power Couples Retreat to see whether the group is selling national security secrets (in addition to questionable beauty products).

To avert a national crisis, Gabby and Markus will need to look like they’re in love, planning their wedding—and enjoying the honeymoon cottage. Faking a relationship with the perfect man without actually falling for him? Piece of calorie-free cake, right?

Gabby Greene Knows Whodunit by Sam Tschida is expected out January 20, 2026 from a division of Grand Central Publishing named Forever.

Why am I waiting on this book? The blurb says it's perfect for fans of Finlay Donovan Is Killing It. The Finlay Donovan series is fun to read. I'm up for an interesting, fun read involving espionage and a little romance.

What book are you waiting on? Leave a note about it in the comments so we can check it out and maybe add it to our ever growing TBR lists. Happy Reading!

Can't Wait Wednesday/Waiting on Wednesday #582: A Neighbor's Guide to Murder by Louise Candlish

 

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: From internationally bestselling author Louise Candlish, a witty psychological thriller where an older woman's suspicions about her charming new neighbor ignite a deadly spiral in their luxury apartment building

In Columbia Mansions, secrets don’t stay behind closed doors for long…
 
It's rare for a room to open up in London’s storied Columbia Mansions, and lonely Gwen is thrilled when an unexpected new subletter, Pixie, turns out to be a friendly breath of fresh air to its stuffy halls. Their unlikely cross-generational bond soon becomes the bright spot in Gwen’s quiet life.

But Gwen can’t help noticing cracks beneath Pixie's cheerful surface—especially when it comes to her questionable financial arrangement with her live-in landlord, Alec. As suspicions mount, Gwen’s protective instincts go into overdrive, triggering a dangerous chain of events no one is prepared for.

The last thing Columbia Mansions wants is a scandal on its hands...

Let alone a murder.

A Neighbor's Guide to Murder by Louise Candlish is expected out July 7, 2026 from Grand Central Publishing.

Why am I waiting on this book? It reminds me a little of Only Murders in the Building, but with fewer investigating characters. You've got a cross-generational friendship bond and a strong possibility of a murder. I like that the investigator is an older woman. And I am wondering about the dangerous chain of events that is triggered and no one is prepared for. It sounds like it will be an interesting novel.

What book are you waiting on? Share it 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: The Last Kingdom by Steve Berry

 

From the publisher: 

King Ludwig II of Bavaria was an enigmatic figure who was deposed in 1886, mysteriously drowning three days later.  Eccentric to the point of madness, history tells us that in the years before he died Ludwig engaged in a worldwide search for a new kingdom, one separate, apart, and in lieu of Bavaria.  A place he could retreat into and rule as he wished.  But a question remains:  did he succeed? 

Enter Cotton Malone.  After many months, Malone’s protégé, Luke Daniels, has managed to infiltrate a renegade group intent on winning Bavarian independence from Germany.  Daniels has also managed to gain the trust of the prince of Bavaria, a frustrated second son intent on eliminating his brother, the duke, and restoring the Wittelsbach monarchy, only now with him as king.  Everything hinges on a 19th century deed which proves that Ludwig’s long-rumored search bore fruit--legal title to lands that Germany, China, and the United States all now want, only for vastly different reasons.  

In a race across Bavaria for clues hidden in Ludwig’s three fairytale castles--Neuschwanstein, Linderhof and Herrenchiemsee--Malone and Daniels battle an ever-growing list of deadly adversaries, all intent on finding the last kingdom.

The Last Kingdom by Steve Berry was published February 21st, 2023 by Grand Central Publishing.

My Thoughts:

The premise was interesting and creative regarding the missing land deed. And the book accurately portrayed which groups would be interested in it. One group did surprise me, but the reasoning and reality for its involvement made perfect sense. There was a lot of history and a touch of current events. Action packed, the plot generally moved forward at a brisk pace.

For me this was a 4.5 star read which I rounded up to 5 stars. The number of characters involved in the intricate plot had my head spinning a little at times. I almost felt as if I should take notes to follow who was doing what aligned with which group on the surface and in reality. The afterword is interesting and detailed. If you enjoy reading where ideas come from and what's real and what's not, it is not to be missed.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. This did not affect my opinion of the book.

Book Review: The Omega Factor by Steve Berry

 

From the publisher:

The Ghent Altarpiece is the most violated work of art in the world. Thirteen times it has been vandalized, dismantled, or stolen. Why? What secrets does it hold?  
 
Enter UNESCO investigator, Nicholas Lee, who works for the United Nations’ Cultural Liaison and Investigative Office (CLIO). Nick’s job is to protect the world’s cultural artifacts—anything and everything from countless lesser-known objects to national treasures. 

When Nick travels to Belgium for a visit with a woman from his past, he unwittingly stumbles on the trail of a legendary panel from the Ghent Altarpiece, stolen in 1934 under cover of night and never seen since. Soon Nick is plunged into a bitter conflict, one that has been simmering for nearly two thousand years. On one side is the Maidens of Saint-Michael, les Vautours—the Vultures—a secret order of nuns and the guardians of a great truth. Pitted against them is the Vatican, which has wanted for centuries to both find and possess what the nuns guard. Because of Nick the maidens have finally been exposed, their secret placed in dire jeopardy—a vulnerability that the Vatican swiftly moves to exploit utilizing an ambitious cardinal and a corrupt archbishop, both with agendas of their own.  

From the tranquil canals of Ghent, to the towering bastions of Carcassonne, and finally into an ancient abbey high in the French Pyrenees, Nick Lee must confront a modern-day religious crusade intent on eliminating a shocking truth from humanity’s past. Success or failure—life and death—all turn on the Omega Factor.

My thoughts: 

This standalone novel is worth a read. The characters are interesting. I like that the main male character was reluctant to use guns which would have been an easy out in many situations. And both Nick and Kelsey come across as being of good character - responsible, loyal, caring and more. On the other hand, it never seizes to amaze me the evil people will perpetrate in the name of religion. 

The novel has plenty of action. It's fast paced generally speaking with occasional lulls that explain why some of what is happening is happening.

I think the basis for the novel is creative. I like the way the author blends fiction and history. In the author's note, he explains how much is history and which parts are fiction. It makes for an interesting read.

I gave this book 4 out of 5 stars. It's really good. I'd recommend it to people who enjoy some truth mixed with their fiction. And I would recommend it to people who enjoy adventure books. The book is currently available.

I received a copy of the book from the publisher through NetGalley. This did not affect my review.

Teaser Tuesday: The Omega Factor by Steve Berry

 

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by The Purplebooker.

Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read

• Open to a random page

• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (Make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

• Share the title and author so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Thankfully, only a precious few in the world knew the true significance of the Just Judges panel. Most of those were members of her order. Others lay within the Vatican. Two diametrically opposed sides. At war with each other for centuries. A conflict that had remained dormant for the better part of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. But that had not always been the case. (24% on my Kindle)

The Omega Factor by Steve Berry was published June 7th, 2022 by Grand Central Publishing.

Would you keep reading? What's your teaser this week? Share it or a link in the comments. Are you enjoying your book? Let us know! Happy Reading!