Fresh Reads, Honest reviews, Educator-approved
Get ready for a “heady” and serpentine mystery with the K Team! In Good Dog, Bad Cop, Corey Douglas and his K-9 partner Simon Garfunkel take on a cold case to clear a mentor’s name. This 4-star procedural is witty, complex, and skillfully woven. While the human characters take center stage, the canine hero Simon Garfunkel is the true star of this Paterson, NJ investigation. Perfect for fans of complex puzzles.
In The Scammer, Tiffany D. Jackson delivers a chilling look at psychological manipulation on a college campus. When an ex-convict brother moves into a freshman dorm at a D.C. HBCU, the “American Dream” turns into a web of secrets and missing persons. Sharp, suspenseful, and deeply relevant, this “New Adult” thriller explores the dangerous price of being a “good friend” and the resilience required to break free from a predator’s control.
A Long Stretch of Bad Days is a gritty exploration of classism and buried small-town secrets. When a “good girl” podcaster teams up with a “bad reputation” classmate to solve a cold-case murder for school credit, they uncover more than they bargained for. While the pacing is slow, Mindy McGinnis delivers a timely look at how intergenerational trauma and natural disasters shape a community’s narrative. Perfect for fans of true-crime podcasts.
The Last Resort is a fantastic middle-grade mystery where twelve-year-old Lila discovers her Grandpa Clem’s creepy Victorian Inn is actually a portal for ghosts. While trying to stop being “dramatic,” Lila must solve her grandfather’s murder and battle evil spirits.
A bold and intense sequel that deepens the political landscape of Iron Widow’s world. Fans of intricate sci fi will appreciate Zetian’s struggle with power and revolution.