Reading Room - The 23rd Midnight

My book review on The 23rd Midnight for Still Moments Magazine.

The 23rd Midnight

James Patterson

May 2023 

Detective Lindsay Boxer put serial killer Evan Burke in jail.

Reporter Cindy Thomas wrote a book that put him on the bestseller list. 

An obsessed maniac has turned Burke’s true-crime story into a playbook. And is embellishing it with gruesome touches all his own. Now Lindsay’s tracking an elusive suspect, and the entire Murder Club is facing destruction. 

Between The Pages 

23rd Midnight is a fast paced, compelling addition to the Women’s Murder Club series. The story grabs your attention from the first chapter and doesn’t let go. Patterson and Paetro deliver a tense, emotionally charged plot as Lindsay confronts a chilling copycat who’s using Evan Burke’s crimes as a blueprint for new horrors. Maxine Paetro’s contribution continues to elevate the series. 

The stakes rise sharply when reporter Cindy becomes the target of a dangerous stalker and ultimately goes missing, pulling the entire Murder Club into a desperate search. This installment stands out for the way it deepens the emotional connection among the characters, highlighting how personal the danger feels when one of their own is at risk. A gripping read that blends suspense, heart, and intense storytelling. 

Rating: 5 Stars

Reading Room - 22 Seconds

My book review on 22 Seconds for Still Moments Magazine.

22 Seconds

James Patterson 

May 2022 

SFPD Sergeant Lindsay Boxer has guns on her mind and only twenty-two seconds until she loses her badge—or her life. 

There’s buzz of a last-ditch shipment of drugs and weapons crossing the Mexican border ahead of new restrictive gun laws. Before Lindsay can act, her top informant tips her to a case that hits disturbingly close to home. 

Former cops. Professional hits. All with the same warning scrawled on their bodies: You talk, you die. 

Now it’s Lindsay’s turn to choose. 

Between The Pages 

22 Seconds by James Patterson delivers exactly what fans of the Women’s Murder Club series crave: a high stakes thriller that refuses to let go. The storyline is fast paced and engaging, showcasing Patterson’s trademark ability to hook a reader from page one and hold their attention through every twist. Joe’s expanded presence added welcome texture. The novel’s pace is relentless, its twists well timed, and its characters as engaging as ever. Another strong, entertaining entry in a long running series that continues to deliver. 

Rating: 5 Stars

Bookstore Adventure

On Sunday, my daughter and I went on a adventure to a new bookstore. We'd heard about Fluffy Cat Books, but hadn't stopped in. I'm so glad we did! What a charming bookstore.

Filled with mostly used books, but all in such great condition they look new. Each shelf has a different theme from fantasy, romance, YA, children's books, biographies and so much more.

My daughter picked up the first two fantasy books in a series by Hannah Witten. I grabbed The Bright Spot by Jill Shalvis. I haven't read any of her books before but the back cover blurb sounded interesting with some drama mixed with romance. However, once I got home and browsed the first couple of pages, I discovered this is book five in the Sunrise Cove series. It states the books can be read in any order, but I'm a reader that likes to start a series at the beginning. I think I might have picked up the first book and put it back on the shelf (slaps hand to forehead). So, book five has been put on my shelf until I find the first four...which means another trip to a bookstore. :-)

Reading Room - 21st Birthday

My book review on 21st Birthday posted on Still Moments Magazine.

21St Birthday

James Patterson 

May 2021 

When young wife and mother Tara Burke goes missing with her baby girl, all eyes are on her husband, Lucas. He paints her not as a missing person but a wayward wife—until a gruesome piece of evidence turns the investigation criminal. 

While Chronicle reporter Cindy Thomas pursues the story and M.E. Claire Washburn harbors theories that run counter to the SFPD’s, ADA Yuki Castellano sizes Lucas up as a textbook domestic offender ... who suddenly puts forward an unexpected suspect.

If what Lucas tells law enforcement has even a grain of truth, there isn't a woman in the state of California who's safe from the reach of an unspeakable threat.

Between The Pages 

This latest addition to the Women’s Murder Club series marked a strong return to what originally made this series so compelling. 21st Birthday breaks the pattern of recent, more predictable installments that felt somewhat repetitive. The story delivered a compelling mystery, a tighter plot, and meaningful character development. The investigation offered enough twists to stay engaged without feeling forced, making it an enjoyable and satisfying read from start to finish. 

Rating: 5 Stars

Why Firefly Lane stole my heart.

I've been meaning to write this post about Firefly Lane after watching the series last month, but daily life and writing took over. 

If you're looking for something to watch, here's my recommendation...

I didn’t read the book, Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah, but the Netflix series completely swept me away. It’s easily one of the best shows I’ve watched in a long time. The cast is nothing short of magnificent. Every character feels lived in, layered, and unforgettable. 

The story follows two best friends from their teenage years all the way into their forties, weaving through three different decades. The episodes flip between past and present, so you really have to stay with the storyline, but that’s part of what makes it so compelling. You’re constantly piecing together who they were, who they became, and how their choices shaped their lives. 

What struck me most is the emotional range. One moment you’re laughing out loud, the next you’re hit with something heartfelt, and then suddenly you’re wiping away a tear. It’s rare for a series to balance humor, nostalgia, and raw emotion so beautifully. 

I can’t brag enough about this show. If you’re looking for a series that pulls you in, keeps you invested, and leaves you thinking about the characters long after the credits roll, I highly recommend Firefly Lane.

Reading Room - 2025 A Year in Review

My Goodreads Year in Books has been calculated. I read some great books in 2025 and some not so great. My reading preference is leaning more toward mystery - I do enjoy a good mystery story with a slice of romance mixed in.

This year, Still Moments Magazine didn't do a award event for each genre due to one book in some genres and other genre categories had too many to select a favorite. So, we did a Best of 2025. 

Here are the results from the magazine's (and mine) top picks for 2025...

I chose three series as my top favorites...

Hawaiian Reunion by Anna J. Stewart and Three Springs Texas by Cari Lynn Webb. As well, James Patterson's Women's Murder Club series has become a must read.

My other top reads were: The Passenger by Joie Lesin, A Cowboy Worth Waiting For by Melinda Curtis, The Whisper of a Kiss by Kathy Otten, Red Shadows at Saugatuck by Randy Overbeck, Love and the Divorce Lawyer by Barbara Newhart, Red in the Snow by J.S. Marlo, and Tell Me Lies by Jennifer Crusie.

I read a lot more great books but those were my top ten favorites.

Here's looking forward to more great reads in 2026.