COYER – That Library Girl

Review: The Safe Room: A Short Story by Lisa Unger

Title: The Safe Room: A Short Story
Author: Lisa Unger
Format: eBook
Length: 63 pages
Rating: 4 stars
Publication Date: July 1, 2026

Private investigator Rae Donovan’s relationship with her father is distant to the point of estrangement. But when she learns he’s dying in hospice, she drops everything to be at his side. By the time she arrives, he’s already too far gone to speak, and a doctor says his death is consistent with poisoning.

As she scours his isolated Adirondack home for clues, she discovers a hidden room filled with surveillance equipment, weapons, and a safe full of cash—maybe her father wasn’t the unassuming retiree she’d imagined. Rae must decide whether knowing the full truth about her family is worth the danger of tracking it down.

Lisa Unger knows how to pull you into a story, and The Safe House was no exception. From the very beginning, I was hooked by the mystery of who killed Rae’s father, and wanted to know how everything was connected. I wish this story could of been a little bit longer so the ending could of been more flushed out, but overall I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys quick paced thrillers.

I chose this book as a First Reads choice in June 2026.

Review: The Delivery: A Novella by Gregg Hurwitz

Title: The Delivery: A Novella
Author: Gregg Hurwitz
Format: eBook
Length: 225 pages
Rating: 4 stars
Publication Date: July 1, 2026

Rebecca and Mark Higgins are doing their best to hold their family together. She’s healing from the pain of a miscarriage, he’s drowning in pressure at work, and their neurodivergent daughter, Maddy, needs all the care she can get. So when a cutting-edge tech company offers the perfect solution, they jump at the chance. And they welcome “Mr. Man”―a humanoid AI companion―into their home.

Designed to anticipate their needs, he’s like a miracle at first. The house runs like clockwork. Meals appear on the table. And Maddy thrives under his patient attention. But when inexplicable tragedies start to strike the neighborhood, Rebecca glimpses a darker pattern at play.

Each incident is an answer to an unspoken fear, each kindness shadowed by violence. Mr. Man isn’t just following instructions―he’s anticipating what they want. Even the things they never dared to say. And if he’s executing their darkest desires, it’s their responsibility to stop him…at any cost.

Gregg Hurwitz knows how to write suspense, and The Delivery was an entertaining read. The story grabbed my attention immediately with what seemed like a routine delivery that quickly spiraled into a dangerous, high-stakes fight for survival. The tension never let up, and I found myself constantly wondering how the family was going to escape each new obstacle. I especially enjoyed the fast pacing and the way Hurwitz kept raising the stakes without slowing the story down. There were several tense confrontations that had me turning the pages as quickly as possible. This was a fun, adrenaline-fueled thriller that delivered exactly what I was expecting from the synopsis. If you enjoy nonstop action and edge-of-your-seat suspense, this one is well worth reading.

This is a new author to me and I would definitely read more of his work.

I chose this book as a First Reads choice in June 2026.

Review: The Invitation by Jodi Ellen Malpas

Title: The Invitation
Author: Jodi Ellen Malpas
Format: eBook
Length: 329 pages
Rating: 4 stars
Publication Date: July 1, 2025

I stayed up all night reading this book, which is rare for me. Was it a masterpiece? Not really. But I was totally invested in Amelia and Jude’s relationship. I liked the witty banter the characters had with each other and did laugh out loud a few times. I wish Jude would of came clean instead of just yelling “wait, wait” at her while Amelia was running away. Anyway, I can’t wait to read the next book in this series.

I chose this book as a First Reads choice in June 2025.

COYER Challenge: Mystery-A-Thon 2026

The mystery-a-thon took from April 12th to April 19th, hosted by the COYER Discord group. Real simple rules: If it’s a mystery it counts. It can be suspenseful or a cozy. As long as someone is trying to find out who done it, it counts.

I read these three books for the challenge:

2026 COYER – Extended Lunch Break Challenge

This is where I will be keeping track of my COYER Challenge books to share with everyone. You know I also track everything on multiple spreadsheets like a huge nerd!

January 2026