Jo and MacAdams Shine in Brandy Schillace’s Clever New Mystery

‘The Dead Come to Stay’ is the new murder mystery novel by Brandy Schillace. Photo: Barnes & Noble

**Book Review: The Dead Come to Stay by Brandy Schillace**

Part of Paste Creative Book Tours

An amateur autistic sleuth. A wry English detective. A murder case that thrusts them both into the wealthy world of the rare artifacts trade.

Book Synopsis

Following the death of her mother, Jo Jones leaves the big city for the quiet hills of North Yorkshire after inheriting her family’s estate, Ardemore. She’s hoping for a fresh start, but until her freelance editing career takes off, she needs another source of income.

The property includes the manor (in desperate need of work), a smaller attached cottage (slightly more livable), and expansive gardens. Jo decides to renovate the cottage’s attic and rent it out for extra money.

While exploring the estate, Jo uncovers traces of ancestors she never knew existed—including a mysterious woman in a half-destroyed painting—and suspects her late Uncle Aiden’s belongings may hold answers to her family’s cryptic history.

Her quiet plans change when local detective James MacAdams discovers a body in the nearby woods—one with unexpected ties to Jo. The investigation draws them into the wealthiest corners of Yorkshire: luxury hotels, elite country clubs, and opulent estates.

But beneath the surface lies a darker truth: local teens, many of them refugees, are disappearing, and the case seems linked to a shady architectural firm—one that also employed the murder victim. This path leads Jo and MacAdams deep into the dangerous world of rare artifacts and antique trading.

Review

Brandy Schillace’s The Dead Come to Stay is a clever, atmospheric mystery that pairs an unlikely duo—Jo, a brilliant amateur sleuth, and MacAdams, a dry-witted detective—in a gripping tale of murder, rare artifacts, and buried secrets.

The narrative unfolds through dual points of view (Jo and MacAdams) and they intersect during the murder investigation. Jo is a refreshing protagonist: insightful, observant, and neurodivergent in ways that give her a unique investigative edge. Her dynamic with MacAdams—built on subtle humor, mutual respect, and occasional exasperation—adds warmth to the suspense. Schillace skillfully balances character development with a tightly woven plot, making it easy to invest in both the mystery and the partnership.

Jo’s exploration of her family’s past adds emotional depth, while the artifact-trading subplot offers moral complexity and high stakes. The tension in the murder investigation escalates with every revelation, and just when you think you’ve reached the solution, another twist emerges. With language that is easy to understand and follow, the action flows seamlessly through the pages until the satisfactory ending.

The Dead Come to Stay is as intellectually sharp as it is entertaining. Rich with themes of identity, family, friendship, and justice, it’s a compelling choice for fans of unconventional detectives and smart, layered storytelling. It is recommended for fans of cozy mystery novels such as those by Agatha Christie, Richard Osman (The Thursday Murder Club), and Joanne Fluke (Hannah Swensen series).

*Thank you to Stephanie Caruso from Paste Creative Book Tours for the gifted ARC. I have not been compensated for this review and all views and opinions expressed are my own.

Author Brandy Schillace. Photo: Brandy Schillace

Cyberpunk Noir at Its Best: A Review of ‘Two Truths and a Lie’

‘Two Truths and a Lie’ by Cory O’Brien. Photo: Barnes & Noble

Orr Vue is an aging combat-drone veteran who lives in a mostly underwater near-future Los Angeles, where information is the most valuable currency. He makes a living as a Fact Checker for InfoDrip and sells snippets of information on the side. As he’s going through data files, he finds one about Thomas Mahoney, CEO of InfoDrip, who has been found dead. He needs the money, so he’s willing to sell it but must find a broker willing to buy the Rumor off of him. The police show up at his place and want to question him but he is able to evade them.

Everyone has implants on their brains that allow them to chat with other people. When he gets a chat request from Auggie Wolf, an old boyfriend who has been arrested for murder and needs him to bail him out, he can’t help but get involved. He goes to the police station and talks to Detective Mar Coldwin who tells him that Auggie is the prime subject because he has no alibi, he was in the area at the time of the murder, and he knew Thomas Mahoney personally.

Now that he is officially investigating Mahoney’s death, Orr takes his illegal horde of drones out of retirement alongside his busted knees. He has to deal with the militarized police, a family of megarich corporate heirs, a clan of emancipated AIs, and a cult. Staying alive is just the tip of the iceberg, and with every clue he collects, he comes to realize that this is not just any murder, but a conspiracy that threatens Auggie’s very existence. In a world where memories can be bought and sold, can you honestly know who anyone is—or what you yourself are capable of?

Cory O’Brien’s “Two Truths and a Lie” is a thrilling exploration of a drowned Los Angeles where memories are commodities and identity is as fluid as the floodwaters. In this richly imagined blend of noir and cyberpunk, O’Brien introduces readers to Orr Vue, an unforgettable investigator—gritty, sharp-witted, and haunted by a past that he barely remembers. The story unfolds with the sharp pacing of a classic detective tale, but with a futuristic twist: memories can be edited, stolen, or sold, making truth a slippery concept. After Orr takes a taxi, he tips the driver with a memory: “….I tipped him the memory of a good breakfast for his trouble.”

More than a mystery novel, it’s also an insightful view into the human condition. Amidst the high-tech corruption and existential questions, O’Brien gives us a human story about trust, trauma, and the lengths we go to protect what matters. The narration is in the first person point of view through Orr’s perspective and it’s divided into Submissions instead of chapters. It’s a submission to a checker to verify the facts and contains his memories and everything else he remembers about the case.

The writing is smart, cinematic, and layered with moments of dark humor and poignant introspection. “She sat in an ornately carved dining chair with her fists balled tightly on the tabletop, unwilling to allow even the dead skin cells from her palms to escape her grasp.” Each twist challenges not only the characters’ sense of self but also the reader’s understanding of reality. It explores the themes of identity, love, redemption, and justice.

Overall, “Two Truths and a Lie” is an action filled mystery and a philosophical exploration of identity in a world where even your own memories might lie to you. It’s a must-read for fans of noir, cyberpunk, and thought-provoking speculative fiction and those who appreciate the works of Raymond Chandler.

“I was furious at Auggie. For leaving all those years ago, for asking me to kill him now, for even being here, in this place, where he had no business sacrificing his beautiful mind. I didn’t hate him, but I hated how he made me feel, and that was enough.”

*The author of this blog received a copy for an honest review. The views and opinions expressed here belong solely to her.

‘Two Truths and a Lie’: The Mind-Bending New Science Fiction Novel by Cory O’Brien

‘Two Truths and a Lie’ will be out on March 4, 2025. Photo: Barnes & Noble

Science fiction books captivate readers by offering thrilling escapes into worlds of limitless possibilities. They ignite imaginations with futuristic technologies, interstellar voyages, and encounters with alien civilizations.Beyond mere escapism, sci-fi often serves as a mirror to our own society, exploring complex themes like technological advancement, social justice, and the human condition. Readers are drawn to the genre’s ability to pose “what if” questions, prompting reflection on our present and potential futures. From dystopian warnings to utopian dreams, science fiction offers a unique lens through which to examine humanity’s place in the cosmos. Its enduring appeal lies in its power to both entertain and provoke thought.

Coming out next month is the new cyber punk science fiction novel by beloved internet humorist Cory O’Brien.

Cory O’Brien is the author of “Zeus Grants Stupid Wishes” and “George Washington Is Cash Money.” He has written for numerous award-winning video games, including Monster Prom and Holovista, and designed multiple tabletop games, including Inhuman Conditions and Hand to Hand Wombat. His new novel “Two Truths and a Lie” introduces an unforgettable investigator to the drowned streets of L.A. in a hugely imaginative and heartfelt blend of noir and cyberpunk. It will be released on March 4, 2025 and is available for pre-order. (Penguin Random House, 2025)

“Two Truths and a Lie” – In a mostly underwater near-future Los Angeles, aging combat-drone veteran Orr Vue now lives a simple and small life, trading snippets of what’s become the most valuable currency: information. So when the cops show up at his door looking for data on a murder he’s not even aware has happened, things get interesting for the first time in 25 years.

At first, Orr is happy to exchange whatever he knows about the demise of InfoDrip’s top exec to buy booze and pay rent on his memory storage, but that plan goes to hell when Orr’s old boyfriend, Auggie Wolf, shows up as the number one suspect. Forced to stretch his atrophied spy skills and take his illegal horde of drones out of retirement alongside his busted knees, Orr finds himself in the crosshairs of the militarized police, a family of megarich corporate heirs, a clan of emancipated AIs, and a cult. Barely avoiding getting killed with every clue he collects, Orr realizes he’s uncovered not just a murder, but a conspiracy that threatens Auggie’s very existence. Ahh, the things we do for love…

But in a world where memories can be bought and sold, how can you truly know who anyone is—or what you yourself are capable of? Fast paced, funny, and shockingly romantic, “Two Truths and a Lie” is Raymond Chandler reinvented for the 22nd century.

EARLY GLOWING REVIEWS

“O’Brien’s (George Washington Is Cash Money) fiction debut is a highly intriguing vision of the near future that examines the role of memory in a functional aspect, which also underscores the utility of forgetting: Funes the Memorious by Jorge Luis Borges meets Total Recall by Philip K. Dick, with a wry narration that balances the grim reality.”- Library Journal’s December Debut of the Month Pick & Starred Review

“A stunning achievement, Two Truths and a Lie is many things at once: a hilarious satire, a gripping thriller, a meditation on memory and identity, and a love story that will have you wiping tears from your eyes, all set in a carnivalesque future where the darkest dreams of capitalism have come true. Like other great comic novelists—Thomas Pynchon, Rachel Yoder, Charles Yu—Cory O’Brien balances humor and pathos to marvelous effect, a literary magician who can do almost anything on the page.” – Scott Guild, author of ‘Plastic’

CORY O’BRIEN AUTHOR TOUR

Tuesday, March 4 – 7p.m. PT:
Mysterious Galaxy | San Diego, CA
In-Person Solo Author Event, followed by Audience Q&A and Book Signing
Address: Mysterious Galaxy Bookstore | 3555 Rosecrans St | Suite 107 | San Diego, CA 92110

Wednesday, March 5 – 4p.m. ET:
WORD | Brooklyn, NY
In-Person Stock Signing
Address: WORD | 126 Franklin St | Brooklyn, NY 11222

Wednesday, March 5 – 7p.m. ET:
POWERHOUSE Arena | Brooklyn, NY
In-Person In Conversation with Mattie Lubchansky, followed by Audience Q&A and Book Signing
Address: POWERHOUSE Arena | 28 Adams St | Brooklyn, NY 11201

Thursday, March 6 – 6:30p.m. ET:
Literati Bookstore | Ann Arbor, MI
In-Person Solo Author Event, followed by Audience Q&A and Book Signing
Address: Literati Bookstore | 124 E Washington St | Ann Arbor, MI 48104

Friday, March 7 – 6:30p.m. CT:
The Book Cellar | Chicago, IL
In-Person Solo Author Event, followed by Audience Q&A and Book Signing
Address: The Book Cellar | 4736 N Lincoln Ave | Chicago, IL 60625

Sunday, March 9 – 4p.m. CT:
Bucket O’ Blood Books and Records | Chicago, IL
In-Person Solo Author Event, followed by Audience Q&A and Book Signing
Address: Bucket O’ Blood Books and Records | 3182 N Elston Ave | Chicago, IL 60618

Wednesday, March 12 – Time TK:
Union League Club of Chicago | Chicago, IL
In-Person Solo Author Event, followed by Audience Q&A and Book Signing
Address: Union League Club of Chicago | 65 W. Jackson Blvd. | Chicago, IL 60604

Saturday, March 15 – 1p.m. CT:
Highland Park Public Library Author Fest X Secret World Books | Highland Park, IL
In-Person Author Fest Event Participation
Address: Highland Park Public Library | 494 Laurel Avenue | Highland Park, IL 60035

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Ruthless Pursuits and Twists: What Makes ‘Neon Prey’ a Captivating Thriller

‘Neon Prey’ by John Sandford. Photo: Barnes & Noble.

John Sandford is the pseudonym of John Roswell Camp, an American author and journalist. Camp is the author of more than fifty-four published novels, all of which have appeared, in one format or another, on the New York Times best-seller lists, many debuting at #1. In addition to the Prey, Virgil Flowers, and Letty Davenport novels, all part of the Prey universe, he is also the co-author of three young-adult books in the Singular Menace series, written with Michele Cook, and co-author of the science-fiction thriller “Saturn Run” with Ctein.

“Neon Prey” is the 29th novel in the Prey series. Clayton Deese is a small-time criminal, muscle for hire when his loan shark boss needs to teach someone a lesson. Now, seven months after a job that went south landed him in jail, Deese has skipped out on bail, and the U.S. Marshals come looking for him. They don’t care about a low-level guy–it’s his boss they want–but Deese might be their best chance to bring down the whole operation.

When they track him to his rural Louisiana cabin, they find a jungle full of graves behind a dirt trail. Now Lucas Davenport is on the trail of a serial killer who has been operating for years without notice. The killer is ruthless, and–as Davenport will come to find–full of surprises. (Barnes & Noble, 2025)

Review:
“Neon Prey” is a gripping thriller that has Lucas Davenport, now a US Marshal, pursuing a cunning serial killer with a long history of eluding capture. The story begins with the discovery of a gruesome crime scene and quickly spirals into a tense, high-stakes hunt for a killer whose motives and methods remain elusive. Davenport, always a sharp and resourceful investigator, follows a trail that stretches across states, using his expertise and determination to connect dots that others have missed. Together with two of his most trusted agents, Rae Givens and Bob Matees, as well as the FBI Agent in charge Tremanty, they are hot on Deese’s trail, who is now part of a home invasion burglary ring.

Sandford’s writing is fast-paced and immersive, drawing readers into the intense atmosphere of the investigation. With highly descriptive language, the fights scenes come to life: “Paine rolled up on his side, not screaming but choking and in pain, and with Deese’s pant leg now up, Paine, with no other weapon, bit him on the calf, like a feral tomcat, wrenching his head from side to side as his teeth sank in.”

The detailed character development is impressive—especially of Davenport, who continues to evolve throughout the series. He’s a man of deep intellect, but also someone who struggles with personal demons and moral ambiguities, making him a complex and compelling protagonist. Deese, the antagonist, is equally well-written, with a chilling presence that makes every encounter feel high-stakes.

This suspenseful crime thriller is filled with twists and turns as the hunt for a sadistic killer takes Davenport to the neon lights of Las Vegas. It explores the themes of good vs evil, revenge, death, and friendship and while it does have its dark moments, the satisfactory conclusion is worth the ride.

Overall, with its intricate plot and twists and turns, as well as Sandford’s sharp, engaging prose, “Neon Prey” is a standout in the crime genre. Though it’s a stand alone novel, it continues Lucas Davenport’s journey as a US Marshal. It’s a thrilling, intelligent read that will satisfy both long-time fans of the series and newcomers alike.

“He slipped the tan ski mask out of his pocket, pulled it over his head, turned towards the door and knocked, raising the cane, ready to kick it open. Like many perfect plans, his didn’t go quite right.”

‘Change of Heart’: Cristina LePort Blends Medicine and Mystery in Her Latest Thriller

Cristina LePort’s new medical thriller ‘Change of Heart’ will be released in February. Photo: Barnes & Noble

Medical thrillers blend the high-stakes tension of thrillers with the intrigue of medical science. These novels often involve intense situations, such as dangerous viruses, unethical experiments, or life-and-death medical dilemmas, creating a gripping sense of urgency. The appeal lies in the combination of suspense, intellectual challenge, and emotional investment. Readers are drawn to the complex characters—doctors, patients, and scientists—navigating moral gray areas, and the fast-paced plots keep them on the edge of their seat. Additionally, the real-world connections to medical advancements or crises make the stories feel both thrilling and plausibly terrifying, heightening their impact.

These are some of my favorite novels to read and Robin Cook’s were some of the first ones I picked up. Since then, there’s been Michael Palmer, Patricia Cornwell, Kathy Reichs, and Tess Gerritsen. A couple of years ago, I read Cristina LePort’s debut novel “Dissection” and was thrilled to have another such author on my must-read list. Her next one, “Change of Heart,” comes out in February and takes readers into the shadowy underbelly of organ trafficking, revealing the lengths to which people will go to secure life-saving transplants. So if you’re a fan of gripping medical thrillers, I wholeheartedly recommend her novels. “Change of Heart” will be released on February 4 and is available now for pre-order on Barnes & Noble.

Cristina LePort, MD is a renowned cardiologist and a respected author, known for her compelling medical thrillers that explore the high stakes of medical crises and moral conflicts. Born in Bologna, Italy, she new resides in Southern California and combines her medical expertise with her narrative prowess to create stories that are informative and engaging. (Meryl Moss Media Group, 2024)

“Change of Heart” – In the bustling heart of New York City, a young medical student’s life is tragically cut short, though her heart continues to beat, holding the promise of life for another. Detective Kirk Miner is called to the scene and quickly uncovers a chilling conspiracy involving organ donations and high-stakes crime. As the investigation unfolds, Miner realizes the case is far more complex and dangerous than it initially seemed.

Enter FBI Agent Jack Mulville, who steps in to supervise Special Agent Charlotte Bloom as they join forces with Miner. Together, they unravel a web of corruption, revealing that Amy Winter’s death is connected to a ruthless organ trafficking ring. Amy Winter, a promising pre-med student, is found dead under mysterious circumstances. Her death triggers an investigation that pulls Miner, Mulville, and Bloom into a labyrinth of deceit and desperation. As they dig deeper, they discover that Amy’s heart is not just a donor’s gift but a coveted prize in a deadly game controlled by criminals willing to kill to keep their secrets hidden. Amidst the danger, they face moral dilemmas and personal risks, pushing them to their limits as they strive to protect innocent lives and dismantle a powerful criminal network.

“Change of Heart” is a gripping medical thriller that intertwines the intricacies of modern medicine with the relentless pursuit of justice. Cristina LePort, M.D., masterfully combines her medical expertise with edge-of-your-seat storytelling, delivering a novel that will keep you turning pages long into the night. Dr. LePort is an accomplished physician with a passion for weaving medical knowledge into thrilling narratives. Her extensive background in medicine lends authenticity and depth to her stories, making the Miner & Mulville series a unique blend of fact and fiction.

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