ARC Review: Antihero by Gregg Hurwitz

Antihero
Author: Gregg Hurwitz
Series: Orphan X (Book 11)
Publication: Minotaur Books (February 10, 2026)

Description: In the next book in this New York Times best-selling series, Evan Smoak takes on his most complex mission yet―one where he not only has to protect but also avenge, and find a way to balance vengeance with mercy.

Once a black ops assassin for the government known as Orphan X, Evan Smoak broke with the program and went deep underground, using his operational rules and skills to help the truly desperate with nowhere else to turn.

When Luke Devine, one of the most powerful men in the world, has a psychological crisis, Evan flies to the East Coast to help him. While there, he learns of a young woman who was kidnapped off the New York City subway, clearly in danger and in need of aid. With no name and few clues, Evan and his team track down the missing woman, who was assaulted and abandoned. Evan offers his help―and sets out finding the young men responsible. But the woman insists that Evan abandon his usual methods―no vengeance and, in particular, no killing. Which will prove no easy feat given the mounting incoming threats from all sides. In a mission that takes Evan from coast to coast, from the poorest corners of society to the richest, Orphan X must figure out a way to protect the innocent, avenge the victimized, and balance justice with a measure of mercy.

My Thoughts: This is the eleventh book in the Orphan X series. Evan finds himself involved in the case of a young woman grabbed from the subway, raped and taped for international consumption. After he locates her, he offers his help. But the young woman has some demands. She demands that he not kill the perpetrators of her abuse. This is counter to Evan's usual way of dealing with problems. 

However, he and his colleagues begin the hunt for the perpetrators using all of his resources and many of the people he has met on earlier adventures. Along the way he deals with his own attitudes and relationships. 

I enjoyed this story despite the fact that I haven't read any of the earlier adventures except the first. The writing style took a little time for me to get into the rhythm of the story. I would imagine that people who were caught up on the series would see lots of nuances that I missed and would recognize characters as they appeared. 

I received this one in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley. You can buy your copy here.

ARC Review: Enola Holmes and the Clanging Coffin by Nancy Springer

Enola Holmes and the Clanging Coffin
Author: Nancy Springer
Series: The New Adventures of Enola Holmes (Book 4)
Publication: Wednesday Books (February 10. 2026)

Description: Enola Holmes―international bestselling and Netflix streaming sensation―returns when the rescue of a young woman sends her into battle with her brother Sherlock against his most deadly, implacable enemy - Professor Moriarty.

In February 1891, London, Enola Holmes―the much younger sister of Sherlock and Mycroft Holmes―is attending a burial when she hears the faint sound of a handbell in the graveyard. It is not in Enola’s nature to ignore such oddities, no matter the occasion and when she investigates further, as is the Holmes' family instinct, she discovers something absolutely chilling. The ringing bell is attached to the tombstone erected over a recent gravesite and someone, buried within, is pulling the string to ring the alarm.

Galvanized into action, Enola and her companions swiftly and successfully unearth the coffin within, freeing a still-living young woman, one Trevina Trairom. Enola, by predilection and by trade a Scientific Perditorian, a finder of lost things, finds herself comforting and protecting this young girl. The girl herself is a mystery – she remembers very little, including her identity, and has no idea who has buried her alive, much less why. While protecting this mysterious girl from an enigmatic enemy, she discovers that Sherlock is engaged in a related mystery. Enola joins Sherlock in his battle against the scourge of London, the Napoleon of Crime himself, Professor Moriarty. Facing her most brutal foe ever, determined to protect and unravel the secrets surrounding the mysterious Trevina, Enola takes her place more fully than ever as a proud member of the Holmes family.

My Thoughts: Enola Holmes, the much younger sister of Mycroft and Sherlock, begins her next mystery in a graveyard. She's there to bury her landlady when she hears a ringing bell and discovers that the occupant of the grave is not dead. Enola discovers a young woman whose name is Trevina. 

Trevina doesn't remember much more than her name at first leaving Enola to determine who she is and who buried her alive. Enola's investigations lead her into one of Sherlock's most difficult cases when she learns that her young rescue is the niece of the dreaded Professor Robert Moriarty. 

Enola finds herself up against Moriarty's very dangerous henchmen as she tries to solve her mystery. I enjoyed the Victorian setting and Victorian attitudes in this engaging historical mystery. I liked Enola's first person account of her investigation and adventures. 

I received this one in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley. You can buy your copy here.

ARC Review: Maybe This Once by Sophie Sullivan

Maybe This Once
Author: Sophie Sullivan
Series: Rock Bottom Love (Book 3)
Publication: St. Martin's Griffin (February 10, 2026)

Description: From the “queen of sweet romance” (Falon Ballard) Sophie Sullivan, comes a small-town, opposites-attract romance about two people who end up with more feelings than they bargained for after pursuing a summer fling.

Tired of living in the shadow of her famous parents, Charlotte Ashford gladly left behind a life of glitz and glamour to pursue her true passion: becoming a counselor. However, when a viral video upends Charlie’s plans, she wonders if the real key to discovering herself is through her late father.

Grayson Keller has finally settled in one place, surrounded by family, and secure in his business. By his third summer as owner, Get Lost Lodge is thriving. Whatever happens, Grayson is perfectly content with his quiet life and careful heart. That is, until he meets Charlie, whom he can’t seem to get out of his head.

On the surface, Charlie and Grayson have nothing in common, but they can’t fight their attraction to each other. They’ve both been hurt before, and they’re not looking for anything serious. The solution is easy: they’ll date, have some fun, and walk away unscathed. Right? Or, maybe this once, they can see past the hurt to what, or who, is on the other side waiting for them.

My Thoughts: Charlotte Ashford is on the run from scandal and winds up with her great uncle in Northern Michigan. She's lost her dream job as a play therapist before it has even begun. Grayson Keller has built a new life for himself as the owner of Get Lost Lodge after a bitter divorce. Neither is looking for a new relationship. 

Charlie and Gray's romance is a slow building one. Neither is eager for more heartbreak in their lives. And Charlie is only in the area for a while. She's taken a job as a college professor while she finds out what she wants for the rest of her life. 

This is the third book in a series and the characters from the first two books have major roles in this one. Their romances are sort of settled with marriages coming soon. There is a strong bond between Gray and his brother and sister. They are a welcoming blended family who have taken Charlie's great-uncle in as a family member and are welcoming to Charlie too. 

But Charlie's troubles seem to be following her to the Get Lost Lodge when an ex-boyfriend who wants to use her celebrity to advance his own career and a producer who wants to center a reality TV show around either Charlie and her ex or Get Lost Lodge arrive to plead their cases. 

This was an engaging story about two people who have been battered by events in their lives but who are willing to take another chance at love and the lives they want to have. I enjoyed the characters and the setting. 

I received this one in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley. You can buy your copy here.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? (February 2, 2026)

It's Monday, What Are You Reading? is now hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date.

It’s Monday!  What Are You Reading is where we gather to share what we have read this past week and what we plan to read this week.  It is a great way to network with other bloggers, see some wonderful blogs, and put new titles on your reading list.

Want to See What I Added to My Stack? links to Stacking the Shelves hosted by Marlene at Reading Reality.

Other Than Reading...

This was a nice quiet end of January week. The temperatures which had been very cold moderated late in the week when we actually had a high temperature of 9 degrees on the 30th. Low temperatures were all below zero with Tuesday's -20 being the lowest. 

This week is supposed to be warmer. It's 17 with light snow right now on Sunday morning. The coming week's forecast shows only one low temperature below zero with the highs ranging from 17 to 33. There isn't any significant snow in the forecast. In fact, the days are supposed to be sunny or partly sunny which will be good for making solar power if today's snow doesn't cover too many of the solar panels. 

I have a friend coming to visit late in the week. She'll be here from Thursday evening until Sunday afternoon. I'm looking forward to seeing her since it has been a while. Keeping up on Facebook is nice, but a real face-to-face visit is better. 

My plan this week is to concentrate on review copies. I would like to finish the February releases before my friend arrives. This should be doable since I'm caught up on the Liaden Universe read along for a while. I'm finding reading the books in the order they were written to be a little jarring. When I read the series which I do pretty often, I always choose to read the books according to internal chronology and usually, if I skip around, I read according to story arcs within the series. Next in line for the read along is Balance of Trade which is the first Jethri book. I may skip that one since I reread the Jethri arc last August. 

Tomorrow is a double points day at Amazon. I have two books on my "Books I'm Waiting For" list that I plan to purchase. I also have enough points to get a $3 discount on one of them. And then there is the Gift Card burning a hole in my pocket. The rest of that list hasn't been published yet. Most of them are auto-buys that I don't want to forget about like the latest J. D. Robb or the latest Kendra Elliot. 

January Report

I read 40 books in January. Twenty-eight of the books were mine. Twelve were review copies. I listened to 24 audiobooks over the course of 302 hours in January. Most of the audiobooks were among the 21 rereads in January. I also read seven books from my TBR mountain. 

I added 35 books to my collection in January. Twenty-six of them were review copies. I also added three Kindle copies and 5 Kindle/Audible Add-Ons copies. Since I have a Gift Card from Christmas, I didn't pay for any of the Kindle copies. I did pay for the Audible Add-Ons, but the highest priced one was $5.60. I spent somewhere around $27 for all five. That might be a low spending record for me.

Only 5 of my new additions are on my TBR mountain and all of them are on my reading calendar. I may not be lowering TBR mountain very much, but I am keeping up with 2026 purchases. TBR mountain totals 2689 on this First of February. 

I published my State of the Stack post today. I read twelve review books but added 26 to my collection. I have 53 unread review copies with release dates from late February to mid-August. Another publisher has been added to those who offer me review copies. Besides Crooked Lane, St. Martin's, and Berkley, Atria now seems to have me on its radar. 

Read Last Week

• First Sign of Danger by Kelley Armstrong (Review, February 17) -- Latest in the Haven's Rock series has Casey and Eric dealing with a variety of problematic neighbors. My review will be posted on February 11. 
• When All the Girls Have Gone by Jayne Ann Krentz (Audiobook, Mine since December 3, 2025) -- First in the Sons of Anson Salinas romantic suspense trilogy. My review will be posted on February 24.
• Plan B by Sharon Lee & Steve Miller (Audiobook Reread)

• Local Custom by Sharon Lee & Steve Miller (Audiobook Reread)
• Murder Will Out by Jennifer K. Breedlove (Review, February 17) -- Debut mystery with ghosts. Enjoyable characters and interesting setting. My review will be posted on February 12.
• Scout's Progress by Sharon Lee & Steve Miller (Audiobook Reread)

• I Dare by Sharon Lee & Steve Miller (Audiobook Reread)
• The Edge by Dick Francis (Kindle, mine since January 1, 2026) -- A classic Dick Francis about an investigator for the Jockey Club and a transcontinental Canadian train trip. My review will be posted on February 13.
• Beast Business by Ilona Andrews (Kindle, mine since January 30, 2026) -- Hidden Legacy 6.5 contains novellas and short stories. Most of them feature Arabella who is the youngest Baylor daughter. 

Currently

• Kindred in Death by J. D. Robb (Audiobook Reread)
• The Whisking Hour by Ellie Alexander (Review, February 24)

Next Week

• Buried in Shamrocks by Lisa Q. Mathews (February 24)
• The Wolves Are Watching by Victoria Houston (February 24)
• The Curious Case of the Poisoned Professor by Lucy Connelly (February 24)

• How to Get Away with Murder by Rebecca Philipson (February 24)
• The Ghost Women by Jennifer Murphy (February 24)
• A Ghastly Catastrophe by Deanna Raybourn (March 3)

Reviews Posted

• Hidden Talents by Jayne Ann Krentz (Audiobook)
• Lost & Found by Jayne Ann Krentz (Audiobook)
• Terns of Endearment by Donna Andrews (Audiobook)

• Stolen in Death by J. D. Robb (Review copy)
• Books & Bewitchment by Isla Jewell (Review copy)
• The Crime at Black Dudley by Margery Allingham (Audiobook)

Want to See What I Added to My Stack Last Week?

Review:

• The Pie & Mash Detective Agency by J. D. Brinkworth (March 10)
• Blood Trail by Matt Query & Harrison Query (April 7)

• Wildflower by Becky Jenkinson (June 16)
• Killer Vibes by Jack Friday (July 14)
• The Lightning Girl by Sam Ripley (July 14)

• Buyer Beware by Catherine Ryan Howard (July 28)
• Pride Comes Before a Fall by Virginia Heath (July 28)

Bought:

• Untouchable by Jayne Ann Krentz (Audiobook Add-On, $5.45)
• Beast Business by Ilona Andrew (Kindle, Gift Card)

What was your week like?

State of the Stack #173 (February 1, 2026)

This is my monthly post which details progress made on review books. I want to thank the authors and publishers who have contributed their books. 

Read This Month 

Dates indicate the date the review was/will be posted.

1. A Field Guide to Murder by Michelle L. Cullen (January 20)
2. Tell-Tale Treats by Jennifer J. Chow (January 21)
3. Such a Perfect Family by Nalini Singh (January 22)
4. Stolen in Death by J. D. Robb (January 27)
5. Books & Bewitchment by Isla Jewell (January 28)
6. Maybe This Once by Sophie Sullivan (February 3)
7. Enola Holmes and the Clanging Coffin by Nancy Springer (February 3)
8. Antihero by Gregg Hurwitz (February 4)
9. The Midnight Taxi by Yoshi Gunasekera (February 5)
10. Half City by Kate Golden (February 10)
11. First Sign of Danger by Kelley Armstrong (February 11)
12. Murder Will Out by Jennifer K. Breedlove (February 12)

DNF

1. Strange Animals by Jarod K. Anderson (February 10)

Read Previously, Posted This Month 

Dates indicate when the review was posted.

1. The Shop on Hidden Lane by Jayne Ann Krentz (December 30)
2. Wildwood by Amy Pease (December 31)
3. The Storm by Rachel Hawkins (January 1)
4. Axe and Grind by Taylor Hutton (January 1)
5. Wreck Your Heart by Lori Rader-Day (January 3)
6. A Deadly Clue by Victoria Gilbert (January 6)
7. The Lust Crusade by Jo Segura (January 6)
8. The Bookbinder's Secret by A. D. Bell (January 7)
9. Detour by Jeff Rake & Rob Hart (January 8)
10. Inside Man by John McMahon (January 8)

New This Month 

Date indicates when the book will be released.

1. A Lie for a Lie by Ren DeStefano (March 10)
2. The Pie & Mash Detective Agency by J. D. Brinkworth (March 10)
3. Missing by E. A. Jackson (March 17)
4. The Antique Hunter's Murder at the Castle by C. L. Miller (March 17)
5. The Barn Identity by Diane Kelly (March 31)
6. Family Lies by Karen Rose (March 31)
7. Blood Trail by Matt Query & Harrison Query (April 7)
8. How to Cheat Your Own Death by Kristen Perrin (April 28)
9. Mrs. Mebel Goes Back to the Chopping Block by Jessie Q. Sutanto (April 28)
10. Zoom with a View by Jess Cannon (May 5)
11. The Anniversary by Alex Finlay (May 12)
12. The Final Target by Nora Roberts (May 26)
13. The Last Time We Saw Her by Jaclyn Goldis (June 16)
14. Wildflower by Becky Jenkinson (June 16)
15. A Pair of Aces by Marie Benedict & Victoria Christopher (June 23)
16. Whisper Creek by Allison Brennan (June 23)
17. The Neighbors Are Watching by Aggie Blum Thompson (June 30)
18. Dead Men Don't Play Fetch by David Rosenfelt (July 7)
19. The Inn at the Foot of Mount Vengeance by Chiara Bullen (July 7)
20. Killer Vibes by Jack Friday (July 14)
21. The Lightning Girl by Sam Ripley (July 14)
22. Fossil Feud by Maggie North (July 28)
23. Buyer Beware by Catherine Ryan Howard (July 28)
24. Pride Comes Before a Fall by Virginia Heath (July 28)
25. Brimstone Hollow by Archer Sullivan (August 11)
26. For Services Rendered by Will Thomas (August 18)

All TBR Review Books

February

• The Whisking Hour by Ellie Alexander (February 24)
• The Ghost Women by Jennifer Murphy (February 24)
• How to Get Away with Murder by Rebecca Philipson (February 24)

• The Curious Case of the Poisoned Professor by Lucy Connelly (February 24)
• The Wolves Are Watching by Victoria Houston (February 24)
• Buried in Shamrocks by Lisa Q. Mathews (February 24)

March

• A Ghastly Catastrophe by Deanna Raybourn (March 3)
• The Pie & Mash Detective Agency by J. D. Brinkworth (March 10)
• A Lie for a Lie by Ren DeStefano (March 10)

• Magic & Mischief at the Wayside Hotel by Elizabeth Everett (March 10)
• Spellbound by Murder by Stacie Ramey (March 10)
• The Antique Hunter's Murder at the Castle by C. L. Miller (March 17)

• Missing by E. A. Jackson (March 17)
• The Somewhat Wicked Witch of Brigandale by C. M. Waggoner (March 17)
• Stakeouts and Strollers by Rob Phillips (March 17)

• You Did Nothing Wrong by CG Drews (March 17)
• The Survivor by Andrew Reid (March 24)
• Daughter of Egypt by Marie Benedict (March 24)

• Family Lies by Karen Rose (March 31)
• The Barn Identity by Diane Kelly (March 31)
• The Faraway Inn by Sarah Beth Durst (March 31)

April

• Blood Trail by Matt Query & Harrison Query (April 7)
• The Escape Game by Marissa Meyer (April 7)
• The Book Witch by Meg Shaffer (April 7)

• Cat on a Hot Tin Woof by Spencer Quinn (April 14)
• The Lost Book of Elizabeth Barton by Jennifer N. Brown (April 14)
• Liar's Creek by Matt Goldman (April 21)

• Thistlemarsh by Moorea Corrigan (April 21)
• Ms. Mebel Goes Back to the Chopping Block by Jesse Q. Sutanto (April 28)
• How to Cheat Your Own Death by Kristen Perrin (April 28)

May

• A Zoom with a View by Jess Cannon (May 5)
• The Anniversary by Alex Finlay (May 12)

• The Cupid Dilemma by April Asher (May 12)
• An Ordinary Sort of Evil by Kelley Armstrong (May 19)
• The Final Target by Nora Roberts (May 26)

• Ode to the Bones by Carolyn Haines (May 26)
• Storm Warning by James Byrne (May 26)

June

• Beach Thriller by Jamie Day (June 9)
• Wildflower by Becky Jenkinson (June 16)

• The Last Time We Saw Her by Jaclyn Goldis (June 16)
• Whisper Creek by Allison Brennan (June 23)
• A Pair of Aces by Marie Benedict & Victoria Christopher Murray (June 23)

• The Neighbors Are Watching by Aggie Blum Thompson (June 30)
• Storm Tide by Paul Doiron (June 30)

July

• The Inn at the Foot of Mount Vengeance by Chiara Bullen (July 7)
• Dead Men Don't Play Fetch by David Rosenfelt (July 7)

• The Lightning Girl by Sam Ripley (July 14)
• Killer Vibes by Jack Friday (July 14)
• Pride Comes Before a Fall by Virginia Heath (July 28)

• Buyer Beware by Catherine Ryan Howard (July 28)
• Fossil Feud by Maggie North (July 28)

August

• Brimstone Hollow by Archer Sullivan (August 11)
• For Services Rendered by Will Thomas (August 18)

Audiobook Review: The Crime at Black Dudley by Margery Allingham

The Crime at Black Dudley
Author: Margery Allingham

Narrator: Paul Panting
Series: Albert Campion (Book 1)
Publication: SNR Audio (February 27, 2025)
Length: 7 hours and 38 minutes

Description: First published in 1929, now public domain in the US and Canada. A house party is under way at the remote Black Dudley, and among the guests are some very shady characters. As they merrily recreate the ritual of the Black Dudley Dagger, Colonel Coombe dies. Pathologist George Abbershaw suspects foul play, and when a vital item is mislaid, a gang of crooks hold the guests hostage. Will they escape the house – what did happen to the Colonel – and just who is the mysterious Mr Campion?

My Thoughts: This classic mystery introduces Allingham's major character Albert Campion. Although he isn't the main character in the country house mystery, his presence is felt.

A group of people have been invited to a country house named Black Dudley for a weekend. The viewpoint character is George Abbershaw who is a pathologist who has sometimes worked with the police. He is there mainly because a young woman he is pursuing is also invited to the party. 

When a parlor game involving the historic Black Dudley Dagger ends with the death of the host of the weekend, Abbershaw finds himself trying to solve the mystery. Things get even more complicated when he and some of the other guests realize that a number of the guests are criminals. They find themselves held hostage by the criminals until a missing item is returned to them.

Abbershaw had found the missing papers and burned them for some mysterious reason making the return impossible. The criminals aren't willing to believe that the papers are gone and threaten the guests. 

I found this an interesting story but with some problems. First of all, there was such a large cast of characters that I couldn't keep the villains and victims clear in my mind. Second, some things happened that didn't really make sense like Abbershaw burning the papers for no apparent reason. 

I did enjoy Campion's appearances and his character which reminded me of the character of the Scarlet Pimpernel though set in modern times. I also had some problems with the racial prejudice running rampant through the story which automatically classified the Germans as villains. I could set that aside considering that the book was published in 1929, but I still found it jarring. 

I was intrigued enough by Albert Campion that I'll be looking for more books in the series. 

I bought the Kindle copy January 18, 2025, and the audiobook December 24, 2025. You can buy your copy here.

Friday Memes: The Crime at Black Dudley by Margery Allingham

 Happy Friday!

Book Beginnings is hosted by Gillion at Rose City Reader. She asks that the first sentence is posted along with the author and title of the book and the reader's initial thoughts on the sentence, the book, or anything else it inspires. 

Carrie at Reading Is My Superpower.org also provides a linky for sharing first lines and connecting with others. This meme asks that the chosen books be PG or marked as Mature if they are not. 

Beginning:

The view from the narrow window was dreary and inexpressible lonely.

Friday 56:

'How thrilling!' she said. 'It sounds just like a play! I've got just the right costume too, haven't I? I shall break into song at any moment. What is it?'

This week I am spotlighting a classic mystery. The Crime at Black Dudley is the first in the Albert Campion mysteries by Margery Allingham. Here is the description from Amazon:

First published in 1929, now public domain in the US and Canada. A house party is under way at the remote Black Dudley, and among the guests are some very shady characters. As they merrily recreate the ritual of the Black Dudley Dagger, Colonel Coombe dies. Pathologist George Abbershaw suspects foul play, and when a vital item is mislaid, a gang of crooks hold the guests hostage. Will they escape the house – what did happen to the Colonel – and just who is the mysterious Mr Campion?