Book Reviews
I typically post between two and three book reviews a week. Please refer to my review policy if you’d like to submit a book for consideration. I invite you to subscribe to my newsletter to get a summary of my reviews once a month.
Book Review: The Merry Widow Murders by Melodie Campbell
I’m not sure what it says about me when I proclaim cozy mysteries as one of my favourite genres to read. Apparently I love murder, but only when it happens to the bad guys. And I love it even more when a kind, unlikely community member is the one who investigates and...
Book Review: I Only Read Murder by Ian Ferguson & Will Ferguson
I’ve read a few Will Ferguson books in my day, as he’s a beloved local Calgary author who has won many awards for his writing – impressively, in very different genres and categories. In this first of a promised series, Will Ferguson has teamed up with his brother Ian...
Book Review: Pebble & Dove by Amy Jones
Although I stay mostly off social media these days, I dip into Twitter every now and then, which piqued my interest in the new release from Canadian author Amy Jones. Pebble & Dove is her latest novel, which is a lighthearted take on family politics and the bonds...
Book Review: Quietly Hostile by Samantha Irby
Quickly becoming one of my 'must read everything authors', Samantha Irby has released a new book of essays just in time for the start of my summer reading. Quietly Hostile looks like her other books; a bright cover with a random animal on the front, and it reads...
Book Review: Coq by Ali Bryan
Before you begin to wonder if I've taken a sharp turn in my reading interests, let me assure you this title is a reference to the city the characters travel to: Paris. The use of 'rooster' itself isn't that obvious in Coq by Ali Bryan, instead it's an invitation to...
Book Review: Mad Honey by Katie Welch
It's hard to define Mad Honey by Katie Welch in terms of genre; we begin with a literary novel steeped in family history and resentment, slowly move into the territory of a mystery, and end up in the world of a thriller. Despite these leaps, the plotting is well done...
Book Review: Bad Cree by Jessica Johns
I've got some promising horror books on my shelf at the moment, so I thought I'd clear some of them away before spooky season in the Fall brings even more my way. Bad Cree by Jessica Johns was a big spring book here in Canada; everyone was talking about it, and I was...
Book Review: The Boy and the Mountain by Torbjørn Ekelund
In honour of Father's Day this month, I'm reading and reviewing books that feature father figures for my upcoming radio segment. The Boy and the Mountain; A Father, His Son, and a Journey of Discovery by Torbjørn Ekelund and translated by Becky L. Crook fit the bill...
Book Review: Radio Jet Lag by Gregor Craigie
I've been chatting about books on CBC Calgary's afternoon drive home show for about 10 years now, so I've gotten a clear glimpse behind the curtain of live radio. That being said, there's A TON I don't know about this industry, and the inner workings on the morning...
Book Review: What Strange Paradise by Omar El Akkad
I purchased What Strange Paradise a few years ago, shortly after Omar El Akkad won the Giller Prize for writing it back in 2021. When he wrote it, he likely didn't assume many readers would already be familiar with the book The Boy on the Beach by Tima Kurdi, the...
Book Review: Night Watch, The Vet Suite by Gillian Wigmore
When this book arrived on my doorstep for review, I remember getting excited about its unique premise; Night Watch: The Vet Suite by Gillian Wigmore is a collection of 3 novellas all about rural veterinarians. I promptly forgot about it for 2 years, but finally picked...
Book Review: The Nigerwife by Vanessa Walters
A recent post by my blogging bud Melanie over at GTL about the now-famous thriller novel Gone Girl reminded me of the the far-reaching impact that book had on the publishing industry, which is an affect that is still obvious today. The Nigerwife by Vanessa Walters is...