Category: Book news

‘Ironwood’ Review: Detective Stilwell and Renée Ballard Team Up in Catalina

‘Ironwood’ is the second book in Michael Connelly’s Catalina series featuring Detective Stilwell. Photo: Barnes & Noble

Book Review: Ironwood: A Catalina Novel
Author: Michael Connelly
Format: Audiobook
Previous Book In Series: Nightshade

The Story

Detective Sergeant Stilwell knows that his posting on Catalina Island is no paradise, but to most residents, it seems blissfully separated by twenty-two miles of ocean from the troubles of Los Angeles County. But now, a threat is coming to his safe haven. (Barnes & Noble, 2026)

It begins with Stilwell and his deputies watching a plane land in the middle of the night at the Airport in the Sky, a remote airstrip in the mountains. The operation starts going sideways the moment a duffel bag of drugs is dropped and the deputies move in. Stilwell chases the fleeing pickup man into the mountainside brush, but shots are fired on the runway and the plane flies off.

Because of the internal inquiry that follows, Stilwell is benched until he is cleared of responsibility for the failed operation. Determined to find out who brought deadly violence to his island, he begins a secret investigation into the drug deal gone wrong.

To fill his time while under orders to remain in the sheriff’s substation, he begins organizing the lost-and-found bin. He uncovers a valuable, unclaimed backpack and traces it to a woman who disappeared while hiking on the island four years ago. Why was the pack only recently turned in? This discovery sparks an off-the-books investigation that bridges the mainland and the island, drawing in LAPD Open-Unsolved Unit Detective Renée Ballard.

Stilwell and Ballard work the case from both sides of the channel, soon realizing they are on the trail of a criminal who enjoys taunting the authorities. Frustrated at being shut out of an investigation on his own island, Stilwell risks his already shaky standing in the department to pursue a case whose reach is far wider than he ever imagined.

Review

With the second book in the Catalina series, Michael Connelly takes readers away from the familiar streets of Los Angeles and drops them straight onto Catalina Island. In Ironwood, paradise proves to be far more dangerous than it appears.

Detective Sergeant Stilwell is experienced, stubborn, and deeply committed to protecting the island he calls home. His persistence is inspiring, and his willingness to risk his career when he knows something isn’t right makes him a compelling protagonist.

Connelly excels at exploring the illusion of safety. Catalina may be separated from the mainland, but distance cannot keep violence, corruption, or greed at bay. The underlying themes – loyalty, justice, corruption, and the blurry line between following the rules and doing what is right-elevate the story’s suspense.

The introduction of Renée Ballard adds another strong dimension to the narrative. Stilwell is a principled, island-bound lawman fighting to protect his jurisdiction, while Ballard brings the perspective of an experienced mainland cold-case detective. As they unravel the trail left by a cruel criminal, Connelly blends local island logistics with procedural grit.

Overall, Ironwood is a suspenseful, atmospheric mystery packed with complex characters and tight twists. Connelly demonstrates once again why he remains a master of procedural thrillers and cross-jurisdictional dynamics. Rich with realistic detective work, Ironwood is a stellar addition to his universe and a must-read for fans of crime fiction.

“It was as if he liked dropping these hints. That he gets off on it. It’s the I’m-smarter-than-you complex. Most serials have it. It’s the fulfillment of hiding in plain sight.”

Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

About the Author

Michael Connelly is the author of forty-one previous novels, including New York Times bestsellers The Proving Ground, Nightshade, and The Waiting. His books. which feature the Harry Bosch, Lincoln Lawyer, Renée Ballard, and Catalina series, have sold more than 92 million copies worldwide. A former newspaper reporter and award-winning journalist, Connelly is also the executive producer of four hit television series: Bosch, Bosch: Legacy, The Lincoln Lawyer, and Ballard.

‘Rewriting the Rules’ by Ron Sosa – A Guide to Neuroinclusive Leadership

‘Rewriting the Rules’ is the new human-centered workplace book by Ron Sosa. Photo: Barnes & Noble

Book Spotlight: Rewriting the Rules: A Leadership Model for a Neuroinclusive, Human-Centered Workplace

By Ron Sosa

About the Book

Rewriting the Rules: A Leadership Model for a Neuroinclusive, Human-Centered Workplace is a timely and transformative guide for leaders ready to break free from performative leadership and build workplaces that truly work for everyone. (Barnes & Noble, 2026)

For decades, Ronald Sosa excelled in veterinary leadership, constantly striving to meet invisible standards of professionalism. Behind the success, though, was exhaustion, masking, and self-doubt, until late-life diagnoses of ADHD and autism revealed that the problem wasn’t him. It was the system.

Blending personal narrative with practical frameworks, Sosa exposes how traditional leadership models reward charisma over competence, conformity over creativity, and performance over presence. He then introduces his revolutionary four-part model—Reflect, Implement, Sustain, and Elevate (R.I.S.E.)—to help leaders rebuild from the inside out.

Through this model, readers will learn how to:

  • Lead without masks or burnout by grounding leadership in emotional regulation and authentic connection.
  • Build neuroinclusive workplaces that honor difference as a source of strength, not struggle.
  • Redefine professionalism to center humanity, sustainability, and real impact.
  • Shift from performative leadership to purpose-driven, people-centered growth.

“This isn’t another book about managing neurodivergent employees. It’s leadership through neurodiversity.”

Written with honesty, humor, and empathy, Rewriting the Rules invites all leaders, whether neurotypical, neurodivergent, or simply human, to reimagine what leadership looks like when we stop pretending and start connecting.

If you’ve ever felt “too much,” “not enough,” or out of place in your own leadership journey, this book offers not just understanding, but transformation. Whether you’re a CEO, HR leader, team manager, or emerging professional, you’ll walk away with the clarity, confidence, and courage to lead without performing, and to build a workplace where everyone belongs.

About the Author

Ron Sosa is a neurodivergent life and leadership coach, consultant, and international speaker. Ron’s career has taken him from starting out as a client service representative to practice manager to minority business partner, through collaborations with Dr. Andy Roark and the Uncharted Veterinary Conference, and now into his current role as founder of Syn-APT Neuroinclusive Leadership & Coaching. Ron leads with a passion for systems-thinking, radical empathy, and inclusive design. (Amazon, 2026)

Diagnosed with ADHD and autism as an adult, Ron brings a deep personal understanding of what it means to lead while unmasking. He founded Syn-APT to transform workplaces into environments where neurodivergent professionals can thrive without compromising who they are. Ron is a Jay Shetty-certified life coach and an unapologetic believer in the power of storytelling, community, and inner work. His leadership philosophy is grounded in curiosity, compassion, courage, and a belief that the best leaders don’t seek to control people, but to co-create systems where everyone can lead.

Dean Koontz’ ‘The City’ Review: A Coming-of-Age Thriller

‘The City’ by Dean Koontz is a poignant combination of music and mystery.

Book Review: The City by Dean Koontz

Synopsis

The City centers around Jonah Kirk, a young piano prodigy whose extraordinary musical talent allows him to recognize the hidden pulse of the metropolis surrounding him. Joined by his brilliant best friend, Malcolm, Jonah embarks on a journey that balances the sheer wonder of creation against profound mortal danger.

His remarkable family, tested by the extremes of evil and bound by the depths of love, is on a collision course with a band of killers about to unleash anarchy. Along the way, he finds two unlikely allies: Mr. Yoshioka, an everyday hero strengthened by his past, and Miss Pearl, a woman of mystery who holds the key to the future.

These are the people of The City—a place where enchantment and malice interweave, courage and honor are found in the most unexpected quarters, and the way forward lies buried deep inside the heart. Their unforgettable story is a riveting, soul-stirring saga that speaks to everyone.

Review

Dean Koontz’s The City is a captivating blend of suspense, fantasy, music, and coming-of-age drama. Some books simply tell a good story, while others take you somewhere and make you feel as though you’ve become part of the characters’ lives. The City is that kind of book.

Jonah is an engaging protagonist because despite his extraordinary musical talent, he’s not invincible. He still feels like a kid trying to understand the complicated world of adults. His friendship with Malcolm and his sister Amalia provide emotional depth and demonstrate the importance of loyalty and companionship.

The narrative is told through Jonah’s first-person point of view as he reflects on his experiences as a young boy and how they shaped his future. The prose is haunting and poetic:

“But fear can lead people to do things they would never contemplate in placid times. Fear can blind us, but so can anger.”

Family is another powerful part the novel. Jonah’s multi-generational family faces unimaginable danger, but their love for one another becomes a primary source of strength. That devotion is put to the ultimate test and the senseless cruelty of Fiona Cassidy and her conspirators contrasts sharply with Jonah’s warmth.

The mysterious Miss Pearl, who moves in and out of Jonah’s life, remains an enigmatic figure. Her knowledge and insights suggest a larger destiny awaiting Jonah, while the city itself functions as a living character, brilliantly illuminated by light and dark magic, where fate, music, and moral choices intersect.

The novel explores timeless themes:

  • Good versus evil and moral choice
  • Courage, sacrifice, and enduring friendship
  • The power of love and discovering your true purpose

The way music is woven into the story stands out in particular; it represents creativity, beauty, and the ability of the human spirit to rise above darkness.

Koontz combines suspense with heart. It’s mysterious, sometimes frightening, but also surprisingly tender. Ultimately, it’s a story about finding courage within yourself and discovering that even in the darkest circumstances, love and hope can still light the way.

Final Thoughts

Overall, The City is a supernatural thriller about growing up, discovering one’s purpose, and finding strength through love and courage. It suggests that the way forward through hardship lies buried deep within the human heart. Readers who appreciate a mix of mystery, suspense, and literary fiction will find it both entertaining and deeply heartwarming.

“Outside the wind blew cold and the sun shone bright. On that bustling street, among those many big trucks and busy people, with the city all around for miles and miles, I felt terribly small, and worse than small. Suddenly I felt alone.”

Rating: 4 out of 5.

About The Author

Dean Koontz is an American author of suspense thriller that frequently incorporate elements of horror, fantasy, science fiction, mystery, and satire. Many of his books have appeared on The New York Times Best Seller list, with fourteen hardcovers and sixteen paperbacks reaching the number-one position. He has published over 105 novels and a number of novellas and collections of short stories, and has sold over 500 million copies of his work. He has been acknowledged as “America’s most popular suspense novelist” by Rolling Stone and as one of today’s most celebrated and successful writers.

‘Bootstrapped Startup Funding Playbook’: How to Build a Tech Company Without VC

‘Bootstrapped Startup Funding Playbook’ is the new book by Muema Lombe. Photo: Amazon

Book Spotlight: Bootstrapped Startup Funding Playbook 10+ Proven Methods, Real Case Studies, and Step-by-Step Action Plans to Launch and Grow a Profitable Tech Company Without Venture Capital By Muema Lombe

What if you could build a serious tech company, generating millions in revenue and life-changing outcomes, without begging investors, burning out, or gambling your future on a single funding round?

Bootstrapped Startup Funding Playbook is a practical, founder-friendly guide to building and scaling a tech startup without relying on venture capital. Instead of theory, it gives you real methods, real examples, and a step-by-step roadmap drawn from how iconic companies actually did it. (Amazon, 2026)

10 Concrete Bootstrapping Methods Inside

Each chapter is built around real companies and decisions, not vague platitudes, so you see exactly how founders used these methods in the wild, what worked, what nearly killed them, and what you can copy (or avoid):

  • Customer-Funded Growth: Reinvesting revenue to scale organically.
  • Consulting-Funded Product: Using service work to bankroll product development.
  • Freemium & Product-Led Growth: Driving acquisition directly through the product.
  • Friends & Family Capital (Done Right): Raising early funds without destroying relationships.
  • Customer Prepayments & Annual Contracts: Securing upfront cash flow before building.
  • Personal Credit & Small Loans: Managing calculated debt responsibly.
  • Side Jobs & Part-Time Entrepreneurship: Derisking the launch phase while keeping a paycheck.
  • Startup Grants: Accessing non-dilutive capital like NSF/SBIR.
  • Lean Operations & Extreme Cost Discipline: Maximizing runway with minimal burn.
  • Crowdfunding & Pre-Order Campaigns: Validating demand before production.

No hype. No “just work harder” nonsense. Just honest trade-offs, battle-tested strategies, and an operating manual you can implement while holding down a job, supporting a family, or running an existing business.

What You’ll Learn

  • 10 Major Bootstrapping Strategies: Clear frameworks on when each approach actually makes sense.
  • Layered Funding Models: How to combine methods, like side jobs, consulting, customer prepayments, and lean ops, into a coherent, low-risk plan.
  • Origin Case Studies: How iconic companies quietly bootstrapped their earliest, riskiest phases before raising rounds or exiting for billions.
  • Risk Mitigation: Practical ways to manage personal risk, protect relationships, and avoid common financial traps.
  • The 30/60/90-Day Execution Plan: A step-by-step roadmap to get from zero to paying users and your first taste of customer-funded growth.

Who Should Read This Book?

  • SaaS & Dev-Tools Founders: Build software on your own terms without VC dependency.
  • Solo Founders & Indie Hackers: Follow a structured, serious path to profitability.
  • Agency Owners & Consultants: Productize your service and spin out scalable software.
  • Deep-Tech & Hardware Founders: Secure non-dilutive, customer-driven funding routes.
  • Undecided Entrepreneurs: Get a clear, nuanced answer when weighing “bootstrap vs. raise.”

About the Author

Muema Lombe is a tech founder and bootstrapping expert who has helped multiple startups launch and scale without traditional venture capital. Through real-world experience and in-depth research, Muema created this practical playbook so other founders can build serious companies on their own terms.

‘A Journey of Insights’ Review: Key Leadership Lessons from Former USC Dean James G. Ellis

‘A Journey of Insights’ is the new book by James G. Ellis. Photo: Simon & Schuster

Book Review: A Journey of Insights: Lessons in Leadership and Legacy

By James G. Ellis

Synopsis

A Journey of Insights draws upon the lessons James G. Ellis learned while a teacher and dean of USC’s Marshall School of Business, as well as those he absorbed during his preceding years at Harvard Business School and in executive leadership. In plotting a roadmap for a successful business life, his stories show illustratively how business schools and their students can prosper. At the core of his message is a central theme: listening to the voices around you throughout life is the key to success. In essence, ears can speak louder than voices. (Simon & Schuster, 2026)

Contents

  • Chapter 1: A Dean’s Story: The Cold Car Hood
  • Chapter 2: Finding Your Wave
  • Chapter 3: The Bill Gates Conundrum: Is Business Education Worth It?
  • Chapter 4: Relationships and Mentors: The Power of Connection
  • Chapter 5: Plotting Your Own Map: Know Thyself
  • Chapter 6: Preparation and Perseverance
  • Chapter 7: Don’t Sell Sales Short
  • Chapter 8: Risk Management and Disappointment
  • Chapter 9: The Fifth Decade: Giving Back

Review

What if one of the most important skills for success isn’t knowing what to say, but knowing when to listen? That simple idea is at the heart of this collection of lessons drawn from a lifetime in business, education, and leadership. Ellis doesn’t offer a rigid formula for success; instead, he shares stories and observations that encourage readers to think differently about their careers and lives.

He weaves in personal stories from people he met along the way and the takeaways from those encounters. For example, Matthew Guglielmo, who started out as a furniture buyer with a Philadelphia department store chain, taught him how to prepare for negotiations by knowing what you want and how to ask for it. Simply put, if you don’t ask for something, you won’t get it.

Of all the notable people he met throughout his life, the one who stands out most is Senator John F. Kennedy, whom Ellis accidentally bumped into at the San Francisco airport in 1959 when he was just 12 years old. That day, he learned the importance of taking responsibility for your actions and the power of a sincere apology. It became a guiding principle for his life: we can learn life lessons, big and small, from everyone around us.

Key topics explored in the book:

  • Leadership & Mentorship
  • Relationships & Connection
  • Preparation & Perseverance
  • Risk-taking & Overcoming Disappointment
  • The Art of Sales
  • The Importance of Giving Back

Each chapter concludes with reflection questions, allowing readers to apply these concepts directly to their own personal and professional journeys.

Ellis repeatedly returns to the value of learning from those around us. Sometimes the best advice isn’t delivered in a formal lecture or board meeting, it comes from simply paying attention. The book serves as a great reminder that success is rarely achieved alone: listening, staying curious, recognizing opportunities, and learning from both successes and failures shape a much richer journey.

Key Chapter Highlights

  • Chapter 5: Focuses on the integrity of your word. Ellis learned that protecting your reputation matters throughout your entire life. He also stresses putting yourself in the shoes of those who work around you, recommending that early-career professionals learn a business from the ground up to truly understand every role.
  • Chapter 8: Highlights the necessity of risk-taking and personal accountability. Ellis urges readers to own their actions while giving full credit to others for their accomplishments.

“Sometimes you must take risks to take care of those around you. In doing so, stay humble, as you are one of many.”

Ellis also challenges readers to consider whether traditional business education truly prepares people for the realities of leadership and life. Avoiding generic corporate jargon, he uses a smooth blend of practical business wisdom and personal reflection to deliver his message.

Overall, A Journey of Insights is a thoughtful, engaging reflection on what it takes to build a successful career and a meaningful life. Recommended for students, entrepreneurs, business professionals, and anyone seeking practical wisdom. It’s never too late to learn something new—and if you’re willing to listen, this book has plenty to say.

“Preparation is what gets you ready to do a great job. Perseverance is what you need to see a job through to completion… Each time you leave an achievable goal unachieved, it becomes easier to give up the next time you’re faced with a challenge.”

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Get your copy of A Journey of Insights today!

About the Author

James G. Ellis served as dean of the Marshall School of Business at the University of Southern California from April 2007 until June 2019, overseeing the education and well-being of over 5,700 graduate and undergraduate students. He held a full-time tenured appointment as Professor of Marketing starting in 1997, retiring in July 2021.

Holding an MBA from Harvard Business School and a BBA from the University of New Mexico, Ellis held leadership roles across the corporate world, including President/CEO of Porsche Design and CEO of Port O’Call Pasadena, along with ownership in six other companies. He began his career with Broadway Department Stores in Los Angeles.

** Thank you to Fauzia Burke and FSB Associates for the gifted ARC for review consideration. I haven’t been compensated for this review and all views and opinions expressed are my own.

‘Valet’ by J.P. Lacrampe: The Whimsical Robot Novel You Didn’t Know You Needed

‘Valet’ is the new novel by J.P. Lacrampe. Photo: Simon & Schuster

Book Spotlight: Valet: A Novel

By J.P. Lacrampe

Synopsis

Cy wants nothing more than to be useful, raise his utility score, and receive the next update for his operating system. But that’s easier said than done when he’s tasked with helping his owner’s thirty-five-year-old son “get out of his funk.” (Simon & Schuster, 2026)

Grayson is nothing like his go-getter, CEO sister Charlotte. He didn’t inherit the family robotics company when their dad passed last year, he doesn’t have a master’s degree, and he just can’t seem to figure out the San Francisco dating scene. He’d rather eat synthesized mozzarella sticks and make pottery at his studio, Kilning Time.

When Grayson learns of Charlotte’s plan to sell the company to a tech conglomerate, he panics. It’s not just the family business at stake, it’s all the technology—like Cy—their dad invented over the years. So he does what anyone would do: he steals the flash drive with his father’s most important work stored on it and plans a corporate takeover. If only he knew what that meant.

To make matters worse:

  • A fellow VALET deserts his owner and asks Cy to help him hightail it out of town.
  • Grayson’s first real date—and her dog—keep showing up at inopportune times.
  • The behemoth tech company wants this deal closed yesterday.

Grayson, Cy, and their trusty golden retriever, Sasha III, must go on the lam until they figure out exactly what to do, and whom to trust.

A hilarious, madcap adventure that is as tender as it is insightful, Valet asks not just what it means to be human, but what it means to be family.

Read This If You Love:

  • Vibe: A whimsically speculative ode to Wodehouse’s Jeeves and Wooster.
  • For Fans Of: Kevin Wilson (Nothing to See Here) and Andrew Sean Greer (Less).
  • Core Tropes: A helper robot, his thirty-five-year-old ward, and a madcap adventure to save the fate of a family empire.

“Valet is a hilarious and bracing examination of the near future, where Cy, a techbot servant, must navigate the complexities of humans to maintain his utility score. What makes this such a winning and openhearted novel is that J.P. Lacrampe goes beyond the initial premise by looking at the universal anxiety of family, of being tied to people with whom you will rise and fall, either toward a new update or into obsolescence.” — Kevin Wilson, New York Times bestselling author of Nothing to See Here and Run for the Hills

About the Author

J.P. Lacrampe received his MFA in creative writing from Saint Mary’s College. His short fiction has been published by Glimmer Train, McSweeney’s, Instant City, and in Howl: A Collection of the Best Contemporary Dog Wit. He is a teaching professor at Santa Clara University, where he teaches courses in composition, fiction, and screenwriting.

‘The Amityville Horror’ Book Review: Classic True Crime Horror

‘The Amityville Horror’ by Jay Anson. Photo: Barnes & Noble

📚 Book Review: The Amityville Horror by Jay Anson

Synopsis

In December 1975, the Lutz family moved into their new home in suburban Long Island. George and Kathleen Lutz knew that one year earlier, Ronald DeFeo had murdered his family in the house, but the property, complete with a boathouse and swimming pool, and the price were too good to pass up.

Twenty-eight days later, the entire Lutz family fled in terror.

Review

The Amityville Horror remains one of the most chilling entries in paranormal literature, chronicling the 28 days George and Kathleen Lutz spent in their dream home. The narrative blurs the line between documentary reporting and visceral horror and the idea that an ordinary suburban house could conceal something horrifying gives the story much of its power.

Character Dynamics

  • George Lutz: Positioned as the pragmatic patriarch, George’s descent from a stable family man to an uncharacteristic, brooding recluse forms the novel’s emotional core. His gradual personality shift highlights the insidious influence of the house.
  • Kathleen Lutz: Serving as the perceptive counterweight, Kathy’s emotional anguish and instinct to protect her three children anchor the story’s human stakes amid chaotic spectral events.
  • Father Mancuso: The troubled priest introduces a theological dimension, acting as a spiritual guide whose physical illness reinforces the dark forces at play.

Anson’s background in documentary writing shapes the book’s character dynamics. Rather than making them over-the-top heroes, George and Kathleen are portrayed as grounded, everyday parents unraveling under inexplicable stress. Their vulnerability makes the escalation, from strange odors and cold spots to severe levitation and demonic infestation, profoundly unsettling. Whether readers accept the events as supernatural or approach them skeptically, the characters create a strong emotional center for the story.

Core Themes

  • The Violation of Domestic Sanctuary: The narrative weaponizes the American Dream, transforming a dream suburban home into a site of claustrophobic dread.
  • Economic Vulnerability: The financial pressure of buying a bargain home amplifies the family’s stress, blending real-world anxieties with the supernatural.
  • Good vs. Evil: A traditional moral conflict underpins the story, questioning whether human faith can withstand an ancient, malicious presence.

Enduring Appeal

Decades after publication, the book retains its hold on readers by capitalizing on journalistic realism and the simple, terrifying prompt: “Based on a true story.” Anson’s clinical, day-by-day structure creates an immersive documentarian tone that keeps true-crime and horror enthusiasts fascinated by its eerie legacy.

Book vs. 1979 Movie Adaptation

While Jay Anson’s 1977 book and Stuart Rosenberg’s 1979 film adaptation share the same core narrative, the Lutz family fleeing their home after 28 days of supernatural terror, the two versions diverge significantly in their storytelling approach, character execution, and thematic emphasis.

FeatureJay Anson’s Book (1977)1979 Film Adaptation
Narrative ToneClinical, investigative, and documentary-style; presents events as a straightforward log of facts.Dramatic, cinematic, and melodramatic; relies on visceral jump scares and atmosphere.
George Lutz’ ArcPortrayed as a fatigued, cold-sensitive man suffering mood swings and physical decline.Features a full transformation into a threatening, axe-wielding figure resembling Ronald DeFeo Jr.
Religious SubplotFather Mancuso suffers from afar after being instructed by the house to “get out.”Expanded into a theatrical battle between Father Delaney (Rod Steiger) and systemic church bureaucracy.
Supernatural ElementsRelies heavily on lingering dread, foul odors, subtle physical coldness, and eerie sounds.Features overt physical manifestations, such as black ooze from toilets and red-eyed demonic pig projections.

Key Plot Differences

The book operates like an eerie non-fiction diary, emphasizing small, increasing stresses, financial burdens, broken locks, and bad weather that wears down the family piece by piece. The film dramatizes these events, escalating George’s hostility much faster and turning his obsession with chopping firewood into an explicit signal of imminent physical danger toward his family. Additionally, the movie gives Father Delaney (renamed from Mancuso) a much larger on screen presence, including scenes where he loses his sight and sanity while attempting to warn the family.

Thematic Shifts

  • Journalistic Realism vs. Cinematic Spectacle: The novel’s power comes from its plain, “true story” journalistic layout. The film abandons this understated documentarian tone in favor of traditional Hollywood tropes, utilizing Lalo Schifrin’s Oscar-nominated score and visual horror cues to drive the narrative.
  • Domestic Ruin vs. Economic Anxiety: While the book focuses heavily on spiritual violation, it’s mostly seen as an exercise in financial anxiety. The movie leans heavily into the terror of the American Dream turning into a financial trap, highlighting unpaid bills, lost money down the drain, and a house that destroys the family’s equity along with their sanity.

Final Book Verdict

I hadn’t read the book previously and opted for the audiobook instead. To my surprise, it’s not as scary as I thought going in, though it does have its occasional jump scares. The final chapters, where the family prepares to leave while the house refuses to let them go, deliver some intense action. The overall day-by-day tone that breaks down the Lutz’ experience in the house is intriguing, and fans of real-crime stories will definitely find it an interesting read.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

“When he flicked the first holy water and uttered the words that accompany the gesture, Father Mancuso heard a masculine voice say with terrible clarity: ‘Get out!’”

Audiobook cover. Photo: Barnes & Noble

Why Modern Economic Policy Failed: James K. Galbraith’s ‘The Power to Destroy’

‘In The Power to Destroy,’ James K. Galbraith explains how yesterday’s economic tools don’t work today. Photo: University of Chicago Press

📚 Book Spotlight: The Power to Destroy: How Bad Economics Drove America’s Decline

Author: James K. Galbraith

Release Date: September 23, 2026 (Available for pre-order)

The Dissonance of Modern Economics

Acclaimed economist James K. Galbraith sounds an urgent alarm on how conventional economic ideas and policies have failed to adapt to the most daunting challenges of our geopolitical moment. (University of Chicago Press, 2026)

Amid a mounting sense of American decline, everyday citizens live with a strange contradiction: traditional economists keep announcing that everything is fundamentally fine. They point to steady growth, low unemployment, relatively stable prices, and high stock markets, asking: what’s there to worry about?

Synopsis

The Power to Destroy shows that this dissonance reflects a failure of the discipline to evolve. Galbraith’s incisive history of 21st-century economic policy centers on a fundamental flaw: today’s experts are still deploying tools from yesterday’s wars.

Relying on obsolete ideas, outdated measures, and crude indicators like standard output and price indexes—many honed a century ago for a vastly different social landscape—offers little hope in the face of today’s existential threats.

Galbraith argues that these conventional policies are accelerating the decline of the US economy. Key policy shortcomings include:

  • Mismanaged Inflation: Weak responses to the post-pandemic inflation of 2021–2022.
  • Geopolitical Miscalculations: Flawed strategies regarding the sanctions war against Russia and the economic rise of China.
  • Stagnant Revival: Half-hearted and ineffective attempts at domestic industrial policy.
  • Unaddressed Crises: Inadequate preparation for climate change and the impending demographic crisis.

All of these failures root back to a flawed body of economic thought sustained for ideological rather than practical reasons. As Galbraith makes plain, while market systems have their virtues, government policies are what make functioning markets possible in the first place. Sticking with outdated theories brings the power to destroy, making new, realistic ideas an urgent necessity for survival in an emerging multipolar world.

About the Author

James K. Galbraith holds the Lloyd M. Bentsen, Jr. Chair in Government/Business Relations at the LBJ School of Public Affairs, The University of Texas at Austin.

His previous books include:

  • Entropy Economics: The Living Basis of Value and Production (with Jing Chen)
  • Inequality: What Everyone Needs to Know
  • Welcome to the Poisoned Chalice: The Destruction of Greece and the Future of Europe
1790173434

  days

  hours  minutes  seconds

until

‘The Power to Destroy’ release date

Leaving Washington: Why Jen Thompson Walked Away from Political Power in ‘Wild Pivot’

‘Wild Pivot’ by Jen Thompson is an impactful memoir about choosing truth over approval. Photo: Barnes & Noble.

Book Review: Wild Pivot: Notes from a Political Life Rewritten by Jen Thompson

Release Date: September 22, 2026 | Status: Available for Pre-Order

As a successful and prominent young Republican strategist, Jen Thompson possessed the power and prestige she had always strived for, yet it was built on an underlying current of personal disconnect. Her inner voice warned that she was living someone else’s definition of a meaningful life. It took a near-fatal car accident on a high-profile Senate campaign trail to shatter her trajectory, forcing her to question the identity she had built and the loyalty that kept her tied to it.

Told through short, engaging vignettes, this memoir traces Thompson’s journey from political ambition to profound personal transformation.

The Plot: From Capitol Hill to Down Under

The narrative opens on February 14, 2023. Jen is attending an outdoor screening of Breakfast at Tiffany’s at the Royal Botanical Gardens in Sydney, Australia, reflecting on a tumultuous year. She has been sued and slandered on the front pages of newspapers, cheated on, lied to, and nearly killed in a car crash.

After running a successful political campaign to elect Congressman Jim Talent to the U.S. Senate representing Missouri, she put as much distance as possible between herself and Washington by escaping to Australia. There, she finally felt free. Turning down numerous high-level job offers, her Republican peers thought she was crazy. What she couldn’t tell them was that her core political views had fundamentally shifted. The people she once worked alongside were now dominating the headlines, and new acquaintances in Australia were stunned to learn about her past.

From there, Thompson shares her life story:

  • Childhood Foundations: Growing up in a Christian Scientist family and facing her father’s demand at age 11 to lay out a twenty-year career plan.
  • The DC Pressure Cooker: Recounting the brutal stress of her years as a political strategist and how those struggles opened her eyes to a world she had never envisioned.
  • A New Path: Committing to living a life of truth and personal freedom, regardless of the cost.

Table of Contents

Part I: Wired

  • Chapter 1: Time Bomb: Five. Four. Three. Two. One. Boom
  • Chapter 2: Becoming Wired
  • Chapter 3: The Monster Unleashed
  • Chapter 4: Truths
  • Chapter 5: Gravity
  • Chapter 6: Becoming Unwired
  • Chapter 7: After the Caribbean
  • Chapter 8: Chasing the Boar Part I
  • Chapter 9: Chasing the Boar Part II
  • Chapter 10: Healing
  • Chapter 11: Last Two Months of the Campaign
  • Chapter 12: The Election

Part II: Rewired

  • Chapter 13: Alternative Endings
  • Chapter 14: White Privilege
  • Chapter 15: Consequences
  • Chapter 16: Love

Book Review

Jen Thompson delivers a candid look at the high-stakes world of American politics and the terrifying cost of living an inauthentic life. In walking away from her career, Thompson illustrates that genuine evolution—aside from being uncomfortable—can often be isolating. Yet, her journey toward healing proves that dismantling an old life is a necessary step toward true freedom. Especially memorable is her willingness to examine her past without protecting her ego.

Chapter Highlights

  • Chapter 2: Thompson recounts the happiest day of her life: her first day working for Congressman Jim Talent on Capitol Hill. She describes growing increasingly driven, working over 80 hours a week through holidays. Yet, when left alone, she became consumed by a fear of failure:

“My fears grew into a raging monster that roared with an unstoppable push to succeed.”

  • Chapter 6: The turning point arrives with a horrific car accident on her way to Springfield. Though the vehicle was left unrecognizable, she survived—and in the quiet shock of the aftermath, clarity struck:

“That very moment is suspended in time as the one when my life began to change.”

Core Themes & Final Verdict

The vignettes move with unflinching honesty and sharp wit through a non-linear format. Central to the narrative is an exploration of blind loyalty and the seductive, destructive desire to belong. Her story also examines the themes of identity, transform tion, and liberation and the uncomfortable process of confronting the beliefs that once defined us. Thompson examines how institutional validation can quiet our intuition, compelling us to trade internal truth for external applause.

Overall, Wild Pivot is a compelling memoir about what happens when success no longer feels like success. It’s a story about choosing truth over approval and discovering that sometimes the most courageous pivot is the one that leads back to yourself. It stands as a powerful testament to the courage required to rewrite your story—no matter the price. Readers who enjoy insightful, deeply human memoirs will find this one hard to put down.

“In the stillness, it occurs to me that meaning can only come by way of wholeness, and wholeness, it must be said, does not come easily.”

Rating: 4 out of 5.

About the Author

Jen Thompson is a former high-powered Republican strategist and congressional lawyer who famously walked away from Washington at the peak of her career. She managed the nationally watched 2002 campaign that tipped the divided U.S. Senate back to Republican control, overcoming a massive deficit by orchestrating high-profile events with the President of the United States. Alongside her political work, she served as a lawyer-lobbyist at top international law firms and spent eight years as a chief political commentator for NBC and ABC news affiliates in Richmond, Virginia.

** Thank you to Fauzia Burke and FSB Associates for the gifted ARC for review consideration. I haven’t been compensated for this review and all views and opinions expressed are my own.

Book Review: ‘Mexican Gothic’ by Silvia Moreno-Garcia – 1950s Gothic Horror

‘Mexican Gothic’ by Silvia Moreno-Garcia. Photo: Barnes & Noble

Book Review: Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

Synopsis

Set in 1950s Mexico, the novel follows Noemí Taboada, a glamorous socialite whose life mostly consists of high-society parties and leisure. That changes overnight when her father summons her to his office after receiving a frantic, disturbing letter from Noemí’s newly-wed cousin, Catalina. Begging for someone to save her from a “mysterious doom,” Catalina writes about hearing voices in the walls and seems consumed by paranoia. (Barnes & Noble, 2026)

Striking a deal with her father, investigate Catalina’s situation in exchange for his blessing to attend college for anthropology, Noemí strikes out for High Place, a isolated mansion tucked away in the Mexican countryside.

Noemí is an unlikely rescuer. Her chic gowns and perfect red lipstick are better suited for cocktail lounges than amateur sleuthing. However, beneath her polished exterior lies a sharp mind and an indomitable will. She isn’t easily intimidated:

  • Not of Virgil: Catalina’s new husband, a handsome Englishman who is as menacing as he is alluring.
  • Not of Howard: The family’s ancient patriarch, who harbors a bizarre, unsettling fascination with Noemí.
  • Not of High Place itself: Even as the decaying mansion invades her dreams with visions of blood and doom.

Her sole ally in this inhospitable home is Francis, the family’s youngest son. Shy and gentle, Francis wants to help Noemí, but he may also be guarding dark secrets about his family’s past. Behind High Place’s walls lie stories of violence, madness, and a faded silver mining empire built on exploitation. What begins as a family rescue mission quickly devolves into a desperate fight to escape a terrifying, addictive nightmare.

Review

Mexican Gothic brilliantly reinvents classic Gothic horror by fusing familiar tropes, such as dilapidated mansions, tyrannical patriarchs, and psychological dread, with a rich, atmospheric 1950s Mexican backdrop. As Noemí steps into High Place, she enters a living nightmare built on physical isolation and lingering colonial rot.

High Place itself functions as its own character. Its decaying walls and disturbing dreamscapes create an oppressive, suffocating sense of dread. Moreno-Garcia seamlessly weaves traditional horror elements with Mexican history and sharp social commentary.

The narrative unfolds at a steady, deliberate pace, escalating the tension with every chapter and every deeply unsettling secret Noemí unearths. The author balances this high tension with beautifully poetic prose:

“Everything in High Place was gnarled and begrimed, but he’d been able to grow bright and mindful, like an odd plant that is carried onto the wrong flower bed.”

Character Dynamics

  • Noemí Taboada: Far from a helpless damsel in distress, Noemí’s party-girl facade conceals a fierce intellect and resilience. Her absolute refusal to break or submit to High Place makes her an incredible protagonist.
  • Francis Doyle: Soft-spoken and gentle, Francis offers a stark contrast to his sinister family. His inner conflict between familial loyalty and moral action makes him Noemí’s only true ally.
  • Howard Doyle: The ancient patriarch embodies predatory control, obsessively driven by ideas of genetic purity and bodily exploitation.

Core Themes

  • Colonialism & Exploitation: The Doyle family’s faded mining empire reveals how foreign powers drain local resources and labor, framing historical exploitation as a literal, invasive threat to the body.
  • Autonomy vs. Control: Patriarchal domination and eugenics clash directly with Noemí’s fiercely guarded independence.

A Note on the Audiobook:

While the story itself was deeply entertaining, I found the audiobook narration disappointing. The delivery felt robotic and AI-like, complete with awkward pauses and mispronunciations of Spanish names. I only kept listening because I was so hooked on finding out how the plot ended.

Final Verdict

Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia is a haunting, visually atmospheric tale where the greatest horrors stem not just from supernatural forces, but from human greed and tyranny. It proves that gothic horror can be both frightening and deeply thought-provoking. Readers who enjoy atmospheric mysteries, strong female leads, and dark family secrets should immediately add this to their reading list.

“She had experience dealing with irritating men. They did not fluster her. She had learned, by navigating cocktail parties and meals at restaurants, that showing any kind of reaction to their crude remarks emboldened them.”

Rating: 4 out of 5.

About the Author

Silvia Moreno-Garcia is a Mexican-Canadian novelist, short story writer, editor, and publisher. She is the author of The Bewitching, Mexican Gothic, Gods of Jade and Shadow, and many other acclaimed books. Her work has earned her the Locus, British Fantasy, and World Fantasy awards. She holds an MA in Science and Technology Studies from the University of British Columbia.