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Book Review: The Terminal List

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The Terminal List
by Jack Carr
Read by Ray Porter

My rating: 2 / 5
Genre: Political/military thriller

James Reece, a Navy SEAL lieutenant commander, is on his last combat deployment when most of his team is killed in an ambush. Upon his return home, his wife and daughter are killed in a presumed home invasion. As Reece starts to follow clues, he uncovers a conspiracy that involves a lot of people and reaches into the highest levels of government.

I knew this was a revenge story going in, so I knew it wouldn’t likely be my favorite story ever. I came for Ray Porter, because as much as I love Project Hail Mary, listening to it over and over simply because Ray Porter is an outstanding narrator is a bit implausible. I’ll have to get my fix elsewhere, though, because I will definitely not be continuing this series. The narrator is the only reason I even managed to finish the book.

The main reason I disliked this book (but not the only reason, more on that later) is the sheer brutality of the revenge killings. It starts somewhat basic, maybe even cliche, but man does it go downhill quickly from there. In the book’s foreword, the Carr explains that he hoped the audience would connect with, like, and forgive James Reece. And I guess some people are able to, but if he really wanted that, maybe he shouldn’t have had his protagonist take such pleasure in some of the terrible, ridiculous ways that he tortured and killed people.

If this were the only thing about the book that bothered me, I still wouldn’t be continuing the series, but I would have rated it higher. However, Carr’s tendency to give a several-paragraph backstory to every single character when they’re first introduced or their point of view is shown made the book a bit tedious for me. I don’t need to know why conspiracy participant/victim #4 got into the public relations business or what his wife thinks about his job (just for example). Does Carr somehow think it’s better for the reader to get to know the guy that’s about to be brutally murdered? Or does he just want to pad the book?

Beyond all of that, there’s little mystery or suspense here. The conspiracy, its participants, plans to try and stop Reece, and the motivations behind it all are fed to us along the way. There is one attempt at a twist near the end of the book, which I’ll admit I didn’t specifically guess in advance. Still, it didn’t make me feel anything other than apathy, because I was already so numbed to the lack of thrills and abundance of gratuitous violence and gore in this book. I’m sure it’s clear that I don’t recommend this book to anyone, but it does have a high average rating. If you’re interested in the story and don’t mind what bothered me, please check out other reviews at the link below.

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Book Review: Never Fade

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Never Fade
The Darkest Minds #2
by Alexandra Bracken

My rating: 4.5 / 5
Genre: YA dystopian

Spoiler notice: The following review will contain some spoilers for the previous book in the series, The Darkest Minds.

Ruby isn’t happy to be a tool of the Children’s League, though she has to admit that the training they’ve given her has been useful. When she learns about some vital information that needs to be recovered, she embarks on a mission for the League with ulterior motives. Her quest will take her across dangerous lands, into the paths of villains of all different flavors, and, ultimately, back home again.

Given the way the previous book ended, I wasn’t sure how this one was going to go or how much I would enjoy it. But I was just as engaged as I was with the first book, maybe even more so. Through 500 pages, I was caught up, surprised by revelations or small surprises, and hard-pressed to put the book down, especially in the last 1/4 or so. There are some new characters introduced here that I ended up loving, some returning characters that had new and different roles in this book, and then there’s Ruby herself. She could easily have become a character that annoyed me, continually beating herself up for the way she’s evolving, but it never got to a point of bothering me.

This is the kind of book where I find myself uncertain about who to trust, and I’m not even sure if it’s intentional or if I just wasn’t following certain aspects of the story. I also found a particular plot point (which would be a spoiler to mention) pretty unbelievable, as it relates to the previous book in the series. Overall, though, none of this was enough to make me want to lower the star rating by more than half, and I’m really looking forward to reading the final book in the trilogy.

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Book Review: Scythe

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Scythe
Arc of a Scythe #1
by Neal Shusterman

My rating: 5 / 5
Genre: YA dystopian

When mankind discovers the secret to immortality, it might seem like utopia—no more disease, war, or corruption. Most of the world is now governed by a neutral AI cloud called the Thunderhead, and peace reigns. Though natural death may be a thing of the past, a global group of people called scythes are tasked with keeping the population from growing to an unsustainable level. Two teens, Citra and Rowan, are tapped to be scythe apprentices and learn the craft of killing. This is a task that neither of them wants, which is what makes them the perfect candidates.

Even though I’m giving this book a 5-star rating, I want to start this review with a couple of things that I didn’t like about it. I am not a big fan of violence and killing, especially when it is presented as a good thing, as it is here. Yes, it’s way more complicated than “killing is good/necessary,” but some of the people that we are rooting for become completely desensitized to the horror of murder, and I feel that consuming a lot of fiction like this can potentially do the same to the reader. The second thing is the way the author so cavalierly disregards God. Of course a book where immortality is the basis of the worldbuilding is going to eschew the reality of the Creator God, but it felt a little more intentional and biased in this book, which rubbed me the wrong way. None of the things I said here affected my rating, though, or kept me from enjoying the book.

And I did enjoy it, as much as you can enjoy a book like this. I think it was Scythe Faraday, even before I had any idea who he would become to the story, that drew me in right away. Rowan and Citra as co-apprentices are good foils for each other, which makes the dynamic between the three the heart of the story. There are a couple of other characters that I really liked as well, one of which surprised me and would be a spoiler to name.

The book kept me guessing—just when I think I’ve settled into a routine with Scythe Faraday, Citra, and Rowan, everything changes. And then changes again. When I think I know what is going to happen with someone, that person surprises me. And one of my favorite things about the story is that, even though it’s dystopian and there are terrible things happening, there’s a lot of hope, too. At the end of the book, I was excited to read more and hopeful for what’s to come. This book was recommended to me by my 16-year-old daughter, and I feel comfortable recommending it to teens and adults alike.

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Book Review: Mandie and the Charleston Phantom

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Mandie and the Charleston Phantom
Mandie #7
by Lois Gladys Leppard

My rating: 3 / 5
Genre: Children’s Christian historical fiction

I read a lot of this series when I was a kid/pre-teen, and I read some of them to my now-teen daughter when she was younger. Nostalgia definitely affects my reviews for this series, and I’m okay with that.

Most of my issues with the previous books in the series have to do with Mandie’s attitude or actions and sketchy theology (there was a bit of that here too). This time, my biggest issue is just the super weak plot. It’s obvious the entire time who’s behind the “ghost,” and the reasoning for it ends up being so flimsy, it’s easier to believe that the culprit only agreed with the suggested reason because it was at least a little better than just the real motive—plain mean-heartedness. There’s also too much focus on boys liking Mandie, thinking she’s pretty, even wanting to marry her someday, for a book about a 12-year-old girl. I’m sure I thought it was sweet or even romantic when I was a pre-teen, but it could definitely have at least been toned down. While I think these books can still be good for younger people to read, especially if you’re looking for something with Christian content, I strongly recommend discussing what’s good and bad in them with your kid(s) after they read it.

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Book Review: Flop Dead Gorgeous

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Flop Dead Gorgeous
Andy Carpenter #27
by David Rosenfelt
read by Grover Gardner

My rating: 5 / 5
Genre: Mystery

Though semi-retired defense attorney Andy Carpenter dated famous actress Jenny Nichols in high school, his real connection to her is from her adopting a miniature French poodle from Andy’s dog rescue foundation. Still, when she’s accused of murdering her co-star after an encounter at dinner the night before, Andy is less reluctant to take her case than he usually is.

This book brings a whole new angle to the series, and I really enjoyed it. Twists and turns, running gags, and Andy’s signature snarky humor made this a fun, engaging book. The K-Team gets a lot of use in this book, and I have to admit that, though I like them, I much prefer them on the sidelines than starring in their own series. For a series like this that is so formulaic, deviations in the formula are usually very welcome, and this definitely has one that just added to my enjoyment of the book and the series as a whole. Grover Gardner is wonderful as narrator, and if it’s not clear, I recommend this book (especially the audio) for fans of mystery, crime fiction, and courtroom dramas, as well as the books that precede it in the series.

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Book Review: Boy-Crazy Stacey

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Boy-Crazy Stacey
The Baby-Sitters Club #8
by Ann M. Martin

My rating: 2 / 5
Genre: Children’s classic

I am so disappointed in this book. Stacey has been tasked with helping babysit a large group of kids when the family goes on vacation. She ends up spending the entire time distracted by a guy she has a crush on, leaving the other babysitter to do all of the work. Yes, she apologizes in the end, but only because she spots the guy making out with another girl. Mary Anne, the other babysitter on the trip, lets her off really easily, and then Stacey proceeds to find another guy to crush on and spend time with. She doesn’t act as badly that time, but mostly due to different circumstances, not because she’s really learned her lesson.

It reminded me so much of when I was younger—my family used to go on camping trips every summer, and my oldest sister would basically end up with a “boyfriend” at every campground. It’s entirely possible that younger me was a little jealous of her, but I also remember knowing that the whole thing was weird, ridiculous, and pointless—they’d never see each other again after everyone went home anyway! And let’s not forget that these girls are only 13 years old (my sister was older than that), which is way too young for this storyline anyway. On top of all of that, Stacey is very proud of her skimpy (make that “very skimpy”) bikini. That is just too much!

Now let’s address for a moment the tendency of publishing companies to “update” and re-release some of these older books. I don’t know why kids can’t just read about the actual time the book was written in, but whatever. The issue, though, is that until I realize I’m reading an updated version, I’m just confused, like when cell phones are mentioned in a book originally published in the 1980s. And more specifically in this book, apparently the guy that Stacey crushes on (who does flirt with her as well) is college age in the original version! So when they re-released it, they made him 15. But she and Mary Anne still talk a lot about how he’s too old for her (2 years isn’t remotely enough to be worth all that discussion), and he still checks out a college-age girl himself, so…frankly, they didn’t do very well with the updating.

This was my least favorite book in the series so far and in general is just not a book I’d recommend for kids.

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Book Review: Out of Darkness

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Out of Darkness
The Lightseeker Series #1
by Daniel J. Atkins

My rating: 4 / 5
Genre: Middle grade Christian fantasy

When your entire civilization is underground, sources of light are important. Many of the inhabitants of the underground world are stone hunters, digging for increasingly more rare glowstones, which provide a safer, more efficient means of light than fire does. Fin and Sky, both 12-year-old stone hunters, begin to hear more and more about forgotten, forbidden mysteries and are compelled to seek the answers and the light. This leads them on a wild and dangerous adventure as they unravel the truth that some people want to stay hidden.

I think Fin is meant to be the main character in this book, but Sky really drives the plot. She’s the one who first has a reason to go on this adventure, and though Fin is not exactly dragged along reluctantly, his motivations aren’t as clear. Fin, though, is the one who is more dynamic in this book, growing up a bit throughout the journey. I really like the Christian allegory that’s present in this book; it’s not exactly subtle, but it’s also not over-the-top or preachy. I found myself looking forward to the next way that the “All Mighty” would clearly work in the story. In a book like this meant for older kids and young teens, a clear hand of guidance is a good way to introduce them to the very real, but not always so easily discerned, providence that God can provide in real life. I feel the need to mention that Fin and Sky do defy adults and authorities a bit, since I know parents can be bothered by that, especially if there are no consequences, but my hope is that as Fin and Sky come to learn more about the All Mighty and the light they’re seeking, maybe their actions will be less questionable. And this can be something for parents to discuss with younger readers.

The author’s writing style is…”unusual” is the best way I can think to describe it. He tends to pause the story to share background info with the reader in a very conversational tone. I never had an issue with this, but I wonder if some others might. (I don’t think the target audience would be bothered by it at all.) At least one of these interjections even provides a little humor. There are a few things that did bother me a little, though, like the confusion I had about the fact that the powers that be claim that people have just always lived underground, yet comparisons are often made to “normal” life (like underground goats have larger eyes than normal goats, and it’s mentioned at least once that undergrounders have adapted to living underground). For people who don’t really know their history or origins, it’s strange that they seem to know plenty about how life above ground might be different. I also wish that the author had interjected one less giant snake encounter, maybe including a different peril; it was just a little repetitive after a bit. That being said, the world that the author has set up is rich and intriguing and makes me want to know more about what happens to Fin and Sky.

When I read a self-published book, it is my intention not to let things that a professional editor would help with affect my view too much. I’m not saying that there is no burden of responsibility here, but it’s harder for self-published authors. So while it did not affect my rating, I will at least mention that there are several issues throughout the text—mostly comma errors and formatting issues that I couldn’t help but be distracted by. (This might be as much because I’m self-published myself and have spent a lot of time looking for and correcting formatting issues in my own books before publishing them, so most others may not notice those at all.)

This was an overall fun read. I really think that things that made me stop and scratch my head would not be noticed at all by younger readers. It’s easy for me to recommend this for kids around age 10 and up, anyone that enjoys an adventure with a positive message or fantasy with a Christian worldview. I could also easily see it being a book that parents read with/to kids even younger than that.

I received a copy of this book for free from the author in exchange for an honest review.

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Book Review: Dead Men Don’t Play Fetch

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Dead Men Don’t Play Fetch
Andy Carpenter #33
by David Rosenfelt
read by Grover Gardner

My rating: 4.5 / 5
Genre: Mystery

Though Andy Carpenter dreams of one day removing the “semi” from his semi-retirement from his defense attorney career, he’s not as reluctant as usual to take on a new client when the favor is asked by a man that runs a rehab center and is viewed by all who know him as a lifesaver.

Rosenfelt hasn’t lost his touch 33 books into the series, as Andy is in prime sarcastic, mocking form in this story, and I loved every moment of it. Most of Andy’s team is as enjoyable as I’ve come to expect, though some are absent/extra quiet in this particular book. Since the team is a large part of what makes this series so fun, I’m starting to realize that Andy’s current 2nd-chair lawyer, Eddie Dowd, has almost no purpose. Andy’s always had an underling lawyer on this team who always had his own quirks, and when Hike left and Eddie joined up, I think that spot on the team mostly died. Not a big deal, just an observation I made.

My main gripe with the book, which is not uncommon for me as I listen to this series, is that I lost track of who some of the characters were. When the main culprit was revealed, my mind was completely blank on who that even was for a while, which is obviously not a moment you want that to happen. I don’t know if it would have been better if I’d been reading, rather than listening (and if so, that probably just means that my mind wandered, as it sometimes does when I’m listening to audiobooks, at just the right moments for this person to leave that blank spot). Still, the book was a lot of fun to listen to, and Grover Gardner continues to portray Andy perfectly. If it’s not clear, I recommend this book (especially the audio) for fans of mystery, crime fiction, and courtroom dramas, as well as the books that precede it in the series.

Thank you to Netgalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Macmillan Audio for providing me a copy of this book to review.
Publication date: July 7, 2026

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Book Review: Mandie and the Medicine Man

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Mandie and the Medicine Man
Mandie #6
by Lois Gladys Leppard

My rating: 3.5 / 5
Genre: Children’s Christian historical fiction

I read a lot of this series when I was a kid/pre-teen, and I read some of them to my now-teen daughter when she was younger. Nostalgia definitely affects my reviews for this series, and I’m okay with that.

This book felt a like a rehash of book #2, Mandie and the Cherokee Legend, in several ways. Mandie and friends traipse around the Cherokee lands, some of the kids end up tied up by bad people, and Tsa’ni is a jerk. That last one is particularly odd, considering how he was suddenly kinder at the end of book #2. He actually has some POV scenes in this book, though, which I think could have been really good, if the author had delved just a little more into the reasonings behind his choices, rather than him just thinking about how he’d pretend to do nice things but not do them or lie about whatever he was asked but not ever really explaining his justifications for these things other than him not liking white people. Though I suppose that’s about as complicated as anything ever gets in this series meant for 9-12-year-old kids. Overall, though, this book is a decent one for the series. I didn’t care for Mandie’s continued disrespect for her mom, which she gets away with again and is probably something that kids who read the book should be made aware of as something they should not do. So while I think these books can still be good for younger people to read, especially if you’re looking for something with Christian content, I strongly recommend discussing what’s good and bad in them with your kid(s) after they read it.

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Book Review: The Rags of Time

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The Rags of Time
DC Smith #6
by Peter Grainger
read by Gildart Jackson

My rating: 3.5 / 5
Genre: Detective procedural, mystery

When DC Smith joins an investigation already underway, he approaches the case in a different way than the other investigators. This leads to him questioning the path the investigation is taking, suspects who are arrested, and avenues he feels are being ignored.

These books have always been pretty laid back, which also describes DC most of the time. Somehow this one seems even more so, with DC kind of wandering his way through the investigation, almost seemingly at random, yet there always ends up being a method to his randomness. Sometimes he reminds me a bit of Hercule Poirot in that regard. Unfortunately, because I was too busy to write a review until over 3 after I finished the book, I’m having a difficult time remembering much in the way of details or even how I felt about the book while I was reading it. I know I enjoyed Gildart Jackson’s narration, because I always do. And I do remember finding the metal-detectorist and badger-digging aspects of the book really interesting, though also quite horrible in the latter case, when I looked up what badger-digging even was. I think that this book wasn’t as good as the previous several installments overall, though. Still a good series, and I look forward to continuing it and also recommend the book/series for fans of procedural crime dramas, especially with a seasoned detective and set in a small-town area of England. Though it’s not strictly necessary to start at the beginning of the series, there are more references to past events and characters than I normally see in series like this, so keep that in mind.

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