Xepherus Reads

             Hello, Fellow Bookworms and Book Dragons,          The Last Party is book one in a new series by Clare Mackintosh, published in 2022 by Sourcebooks. In this twisty story of betrayal and murder, we are introduced to Welsh detective Fion Morgan.    When a body is found in a lake near Fion's house on New Year's Day, she is partnered with English detective Leo Brady to solve the case. But their complicated past together will either hinder or speed up the investigation. The victim is a wealthy developer, Rhys Lloyd. And he was surrounded by plenty of locals who would have loved to see him dead. With scandals, double-crosses, and a bitter wife, Lloyd had multiple targets on him.      As Fion and Leo close in on the killer, they may be the next victims if they are not careful.     The Last Party was a fast and suspenseful novel. Fion and her village of Cwn Coed were fun to lear...

  Hello, Fellow Bookworms and Book Dragons,          Beta Reader copies of my debut novel, Days to Die, are in the hands of reviewers. I am happy to report that the feedback has been positive and constructive.            My TBR has begun to take over a new shelf. And of course, I have been distracted by new releases. But now that my book is out there, I can catch up.     My June reading picks (subject to change, of course) are mostly carried over from May:  A Game of Lies by Clare Mackintosh (read by Chloe Angharad Davies) Bad Liar by Tami Hoag (read by Hilary Huber) Dead Draw   by Robert Dugoni (read by Emily Sutton-Smith) One Last Kill by Robert Dugoni (read by Emily Sutton-Smith) The Only One Left by Riley Sager (read by Christine Lakin and Dawn Harvey)     Let me know  what you are reading  in the comments below. Follow me on social media by visiting my  Linktree . I am...

   Hello, Fellow Bookworms and Book Dragons,            Full steam ahead! After nearly five years of writing in my spare time, my debut thriller is finally headed to Beta Readers. It is presented in three parts, each 100-200 pages long.       Part one is out there and being enjoyed so far. One reader already requested the second part.  Cover designed by Thomas Bahr II      Visit Bethlehem Heights, Connecticut, a city with secrets. One fiction author's move to true crime leads her to investigate the serial killer known as the Bethlehem Butcher.       In 1989, the future graduates of Marshelting High are terrorized by a deadly killer. One brave group of friends battles the odds as their classmates succumb to the Butcher.       What secrets will E.N. Daughtry reveal in 2019 before she is marked for death?       I am excited to finally release my novel to reader...

  Hello, Fellow Book Worms and Book Dragons,          It was a crazy April. Not only did I travel a lot, but I also found some great book deals . My TBR is a lot larger. I picked up some old library copies of some Star Wars novels and new books from my favorite authors..   I also finalized the first Beat Reader Copy for my debut novel. They are ready for my beta readers, with 2 more parts to come. It will be easier for readers to give feedback on my book in sections. Each section will be 150 to 200 pages.   During all this, I did not read any new books since I was busy preparing my novel for beta readers. I also began my second novel's outline and prologue.            I am looking forward to reading again. My May reading picks (subject to change, of course) are mostly carried over from April:  A Game of Lies by Clare Mackintosh (read by Chloe Angharad Davies) Bad Liar by Tami Hoag (read by Hilary Huber) One ...

    Hello, Fellow Book Worms and Book Dragons,          I admit I purchased more books in March than I read. But many of you most likely do the same thing. It's hard to say no when a good deal hits the bookstore . And March was filled with road trips to new bookstores. The air outside is Spring and nothing makes this book lover more happy than a widows-down car ride to a book sale.   But when I was reading, I was visiting one of my favorite authors and the start of her new detective series. I look forward to the next installment (review to come).   Here is my reading result for March: The Last Party by Clare Mackintosh (read by Chloe Angharad Davies)        My April reading picks (subject to change, of course) have a few thrillers and a childhood favorite: Bad Liar by Tami Hoag (read by Hilary Huber) The Butcher and the Wren by Alaina Urquhart (read by Sophie Amoss and Jo Knezevich) One Last Kill by Robert Dugoni...

  Hello, Fellow Book Worms and Book Dragons,    I hope you are getting some ideas for what you want to read in 2025 using this year's Reading Challenge!     It is time to share  my Reading Challenge picks. As always, my list may change depending on new releases. As I read my books, I will note them by highlighting them in bold. I will also add a link to any review I publish.    Book Challenge books read: (3/50)   Books Read Not in a Category: (01)   Total Books Read: (04)   Updated 03/31/2025  Xepherus Reads Challenge categories (in alphabetical order):                 A 2024 Goodreads Choice winner- You Like It Darker by Stephen King A banned book- Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult A biography of a musician- Gold Dust Woman: The Life of Stevie Nicks by Stephen Davis A book a film was based on- We Used to Live Here by Marcus Kliewer A book an Amazon Prime show was based on- Killi...