State of the Stack #161 (February 1, 2025)

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. Bonded in Death by J. D. Robb (January 29)
2. An Excellent Thing in a Woman by Allison Montclair (January 30)
3. Change of Heart by Dr. Cristina LePort (February 1)
4. Diviner's Bow by Sharon Lee & Steve Miller (March 29)
5. Emily Wilde's Compendium of Lost Stories by Heather Fawcett (February 4)
6. Get Lost with You by Sophie Sullivan (February 5)
7. The Queens of Crime by Marie Benedict (February 6)
8. No Comfort for the Dead by R. P. O'Donnell (February 8)
9. Cold as Hell by Kelley Armstrong (February 11)
10. Unhallowed Halls by Lili Wilkinson (February 12)
11. A Slash of Emerald by Patrice McDonough (February 18)
12. I Died for Beauty by Amanda Flower (February 19)

DNF

1.  

Read Previously, Posted This Month 

Dates indicate when the review was posted.

1. Shattering Dawn by Jayne Ann Krentz (January 1)
2. Schooled in Murder by Victoria Gilbert (January 2)
3. Track Her Down by Melinda Leigh (January 8)
4. The Incident of the Book in the Nighttime by Vicki Delany (January 9)
5. A Death in Diamonds by S J Bennett (January 14)
6. A Killer's Code by Isabella Maldonado (January 14)
7. Mask of the Deer Woman by Laurie L. Dove (January 15)
8. Star-Crossed Egg Tarts by Jennifer J. Chow (January 16)
9. Dead Money by Jakob Kerr (January 22)
10. Head Cases by John McMahon (January 23)

New This Month 

Date indicates when the book will be released.

1. White Queen by Juan Gomez-Jurado (March 11)
2. Code Word Romance by Callie Walker (March 18)
3. Breaking the Dark by Lisa Jewell (March 25)
4. A Proposal to Die For by Molly Harper (April 8)
5. A Lethal Engagement by April J. Skelly (April 22)
6. Bait and Swiss by Korina Moss (April 29)
7. Shot Through the Book by Eva Gates (May 6)
8. Parents Weekend by Alex Finlay (May 6)
9. The Fatal Scroll by Eric Siblin (May 6)
10. Archangel's Ascension by Nalini Singh (May 6)
11. No One Was Supposed to Die at This Wedding by Catherine Mack (May 13)
12. Doggone Bones by Carolyn Haines (May 27)
13. Hidden Nature by Nora Roberts (May 27)
14. He's to Die For by Erin Dunn (June 3)
15. A Botanist's Guide to Rituals and Revenge by Kate Khavari (June 10)
16. Believe Me Now by S. M. Govett (June 10)
17. The Secrets We Keep by Amy Lillard (June 24)
18. Look Before You Leap by Virginia Heath (June 24)
19. Death and the Librarian by Victoria Gilbert (July 8)
20. Fateless by Julie Kagawa (July 15)
21. Death of an Ex by Delia Pitts (July 15)
22. Roll for Romance by Lenora Woods (July 15)
23. The Last Wizard's Ball by Charlaine Harris (July 22)
24. Picking Up the Pieces by J. B. Abbott (August 12)
25. A Lethal Cocktail by Ciar Byrne (August 26)
26. A Murderous Business by Cathy Pegau (September 16)
27. Murder in Miniature by Katie Tietjen (September 23)

All TBR Review Books

March

• The Girl from Greenwich Street by Lauren Willig (March 4)
• Dead Man's List by Karen Rose (March 4)

• White King by Juan Gomez-Jurado (March 11)
• Kills Well With Others by Deanna Raybourn (March 11)
• The Four Queens of Crime by Rosanne Limoncelli (March 11)

• Code Word Romance by Carlie Walker (March 18)
• Twice As Dead by Harry Turtledove (March 18)
• The Library Game by Gigi Pandian (March 18)

• A Map to Paradise by Susan Meissner (March 18)
• Murder by Memory by Olivia Waits (March 18)
• The Summer Guests by Tess Gerritsen (March 18)

• The Lady Sparks a Flame by Elizabeth Everett (March 25)
• The Big Fix by Holly James (March 25)

April

• Dead Post Society by Diane Kelly (April 1)
• Written in Stone by Paige Shelton (April 1)
• A Drop of Corruption by Robert Jackson Bennett (April 1)

• A Proposal to Die For by Molly Harper (April 8)
• The Wind Weaver by Julie Johnson (April 8)

• Murder at Gulls Nest by Jess Kidd (April 8)
• One Death at a Time by Abbi Waxman (April 15)
• A Lethal Engagement by April J. Skelly (April 22)

• Blood on the Vine by J. T. Falco (April 22)
• Bait and Swiss by Korina Moss (April 29)

• Cold Burn by A. J. Landau (April 29)
• How to Seal Your Own Fate by Kristen Perrin (April 29)
• Such a Good Mom by Julia Spiro (April 29)

May

• Archangel's Ascension by Nalini Singh (May 6)
• Parents Weekend by Alex Finlay (May 6)
• The Fatal Scroll by Eric Siblin (May 6)

• Shot Through the Book by Eva Gates (May 6)
• No One Was Supposed to Die at the Wedding by Catherine Mack (May 13)
• Death in the Cards by Mia P. Manansala (May 13)

• The Language of the Birds by K. A.  Merson (May 13)
• Death at a Highland Wedding by Kelley Armstrong (May 20)
• Hidden Nature by Nora Roberts (May 27)

• Doggone Bones by Carolyn Haines (May 27)
• The Busybody Book Club by Freya Sampson (May 27)

June

• He's to Die For by Erin Dunn (June 3)
• Trixie Belden and the Red Trailer Mystery by Julie Campbell (June 3)
• Trixie Belden and the Secret of the Mansion by Julie Campbell (June 3)

• One Final Turn by Ashley Weaver (June 3)
• Believe Me Now by S. M. Govett (June 10)
• A Botanist's Guide to Rituals and Revenge by Kate Khavari (June 10)

• Grave Words by Gerri Lewis (June 10)
• The Secrets We Keep by Amy Lillard (June 24)
• Look Before You Leap by Virginia Heath (June 24)

July 

• Breaking the Dark by Lisa Jewell (July 2)
• The Myth Maker by Alie Dumas Heidt (July 8)

 

• Death and the Librarian by Victoria Gilbert (July 8)
• Roll for Romance by Lenora Woods (July 15)
• Death of an Ex by Delia Pitts (July 15)

• Fateless by Julie Kagawa (July 15)
• The Last Wizard's Ball by Charlaine Harris (July 22)

August

• Picking Up the Pieces by J. B. Abbott (August 12)
• A Lethal Cocktail by Ciar Byrne (August 26)

September

• A Murderous Business by Cathy Pegau (September 16)
• Murder in Miniature by Katie Tietjen (September 23)

ARC Review: Change of Heart by Cristina LePort, MD

Change of Heart
Author: Cristina LePort, MD
Series: Miner & Mulville (Book 2)
Publication: Bancroft Press (February 4, 2025)

Description: In the bustling heart of New York City, a young medical student’s life is tragically cut short, though her heart continues to beat, holding the promise of life for another. Detective Kirk Miner is called to the scene and quickly uncovers a chilling conspiracy involving organ donations and high-stakes crime. As the investigation unfolds, Miner realizes the case is far more complex and dangerous than it initially seemed.

Enter FBI Agent Jack Mulville, who steps in to supervise Special Agent Charlotte Bloom as they join forces with Miner. Together, they unravel a web of corruption, revealing that Amy Winter's death is connected to a ruthless organ trafficking ring.

Amy Winter, a promising pre-med student, is found dead under mysterious circumstances. Her death triggers an investigation that pulls Miner, Mulville, and Bloom into a labyrinth of deceit and desperation. As they dig deeper, they discover that Amy's heart is not just a donor's gift but a coveted prize in a deadly game controlled by criminals willing to kill to keep their secrets hidden.

The quest for justice takes Miner, Mulville, and Bloom through the shadowy underbelly of organ trafficking, revealing the lengths to which people will go to secure life-saving transplants. Amidst the danger, they face moral dilemmas and personal risks, pushing them to their limits as they strive to protect innocent lives and dismantle a powerful criminal network.

"Change of Heart" is a gripping medical thriller that intertwines the intricacies of modern medicine with the relentless pursuit of justice. Cristina LePort, M.D., masterfully combines her medical expertise with edge-of-your-seat storytelling, delivering a novel that will keep you turning pages long into the night.

Dr. LePort is an accomplished physician with a passion for weaving medical knowledge into thrilling narratives. Her extensive background in medicine lends authenticity and depth to her stories, making the Miner & Mulville series a unique blend of fact and fiction.

My Thoughts: This medical thriller was strong on medical information which isn't much of a surprise given that the author is a doctor. The central plot is that someone is killing people in order to get their organs for transplant. 

It starts with the death of a young medical student outside New York Medical Center which brings in former cop, current private investigator Kirk Miner who has a sort of specialty in medical crimes. But soon the FBI is involved including FBI Director Jack Mulville and is new protegee probationary agent Charlotte Bloom. 

Charlotte is willing to do anything to prove herself to her mentor and gain her place as a full-fledged FBI Agent. One of the things she is willing to do in ignore who own health until she has reached her goal. She has severe heart disease and is in need of a heart transplant herself. 

This case slots in nicely with her goals, but she soon finds herself more central than she had wished to be when it turns out that some of the crime exists because of her need for a heart.

The story began slowly for me, but once I got about 20% into it, it picked up the pace. That was the point that made me invested in the characters and eager to see how things would work out. While Charlotte's involvement stretched coincidence almost to the breaking point, I did ultimately enjoy the story. 

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