It’s been a busy month of post-op rehab and getting back to work, but I’ve got some books you should check out. Even a cheeky romance, which isn’t really my vibe, but I was pleasantly surprised by.

Spies, Lies, and Alibis by Natalie Walters is the kind of romantic suspense that grabs your attention with a wink, a secret, and a very inconvenient reunion, then refuses to let go.

Cybil Langford is polished, clever, and far more dangerous than people realise. Behind her perfectly professional exterior, she is quietly gathering intel on a criminal network, which already makes her an incredibly fun heroine to follow. She is smart, composed under pressure, and just bold enough to make every scene feel like something could go brilliantly right or spectacularly wrong.

Then Ben Bradley enters the picture, and oh, the tension gets deliciously complicated.

Ben is deep undercover for the FBI, living a carefully constructed lie as he works his way into the world of wealthy criminals and dirty money. He has a mission, a cover, and no room for distractions, which is naturally the exact moment his first love walks back into his life. Because apparently crime bosses, classified intel, and international danger were not stressful enough.

The chemistry between Cybil and Ben is one of the best parts of the story. Their shared history adds warmth, humour, and a lovely emotional spark to all the suspense. There is something so satisfying about two people who once knew each other in a completely different season of life suddenly being forced to trust each other in a world where trust could get them killed. Their banter, old feelings, and mutual frustration give the story a playful edge, while the danger around them keeps the stakes high.

Natalie Walters balances action, romance, secrets, and emotional tension with her usual page-turning style. The undercover elements are exciting, the criminal threat feels serious, and the romance has that irresistible “we really should not be falling for each other right now” energy. It is fast-paced without losing heart, suspenseful without becoming too heavy, and romantic without slowing down the plot.

What makes this book especially enjoyable is the push and pull between truth and deception. Cybil and Ben are both hiding things for good reasons, but every lie adds pressure. Every conversation has another layer. Every moment together risks exposing more than just their covers. It makes the story feel sharp, fun, and full of momentum.

Spies, Lies, and Alibis is a fantastic pick for readers who love romantic suspense with clever undercover work, second-chance chemistry, dangerous secrets, and just the right amount of humour. It is charming, tense, heartfelt, and wonderfully entertaining from start to finish.

A thrilling, flirty, high-stakes ride.

The First Widows by S.E. Reed is a deliciously dark domestic thriller with secrets tucked into every corner, the kind of book that makes you side-eye friendships, journals, and probably paint-and-sip classes too.

The story begins with Sophia and Rebecca, two women who seem to need each other in very different ways. Sophia is wealthy, lonely, and far from home. Rebecca is a struggling nurse and mother who is barely keeping everything together. Their friendship feels like a lifeline at first — one woman finding belonging, the other finding support. It has all the ingredients of an emotional, healing connection.

And then the secrets start breathing.

What makes this book so gripping is how quickly that comforting sense of friendship begins to tilt into something uneasy. Sophia reading Rebecca’s journal is such a brilliant spark for the suspense because it feels intimate, wrong, and completely impossible to look away from. The more Sophia discovers, the more the story tightens its grip, turning curiosity into fear and trust into a dangerous guessing game.

S.E. Reed does a fantastic job of creating that “something is very, very off here” atmosphere. The tension builds in a way that feels sneaky rather than loud, which is perfect for a domestic thriller. It is not just about what happens, but about what is being hidden, who is performing, and how far someone might go when family, survival, and secrets are on the line.

Sophia and Rebecca are fascinating because neither woman feels simple. They are layered, flawed, and unpredictable, which makes their bond so compelling. One minute you feel sympathy, the next you are questioning motives, and then suddenly you realise you have been pulled into a psychological maze with no clean exits. Honestly, the emotional messiness is half the fun.

The First Widows is a sharp, twisty, addictive read for anyone who loves domestic suspense, morally complicated women, hidden journals, unsettling friendships, and stories where trust is the most dangerous thing in the room.

Dark, tense, clever, and wonderfully bingeable — this is the kind of thriller that makes “just one more chapter” a very risky promise.

The Trial of Dr Crippen: A Drop of Poison by Matt Richards is a gripping and atmospheric true crime audiobook that brings one of the twentieth century’s most infamous murder trials vividly back to life.

Centred on the 1910 trial of Dr Hawley Harvey Crippen, who was accused and convicted of murdering his wife, Belle Elmore, this production does far more than simply retell a famous crime. Instead, it places the listener directly inside the courtroom, where evidence, testimony, doubt, and public fascination all collide. That focus on the trial itself is what makes the audiobook so compelling. It feels less like a summary of a historical case and more like witnessing the drama unfold in real time.

The use of original Old Bailey trial transcripts gives the production a strong sense of authenticity. The exchanges between prosecution and defence feel sharp, tense, and revealing, especially as the case moves through the forensic evidence, the details of Crippen’s marriage, and the arguments that shaped his fate. At times, it is easy to forget you are listening to an audiobook rather than sitting in the gallery of an Edwardian courtroom.

What makes the Crippen case especially fascinating is the lingering uncertainty around it. Was Dr Crippen truly guilty, or was he wrongly convicted in a case shaped by media frenzy, limited forensic science, and public appetite for scandal? That question gives the audiobook an extra layer of tension. Even knowing the historical outcome, the listener is invited to consider the evidence, the courtroom strategy, and the possibility that justice may not have been as clear-cut as the headlines suggested.

The wider historical context is also excellent. The case involved a dramatic transatlantic pursuit, the early use of wireless telegraphy, sensational journalism, and even public attention from figures such as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Together, these details create a vivid portrait of a moment when crime, celebrity, science, and the press became inseparable.

At just 90 minutes, The Trial of Dr Crippen is concise, polished, and highly engaging. Its radio-play style makes it accessible and immersive, while its courtroom focus gives it real substance for true crime listeners who enjoy legal drama as much as mystery.

A fascinating, well-crafted listen; authentic, thought-provoking, and ideal for anyone interested in historic true crime, courtroom drama, and cases where the verdict still leaves room for doubt.

Handle with Care by Marybeth Mayhew Whalen is a moving, thoughtful, and surprisingly hopeful women’s fiction novel about ordinary people caught in an extraordinary moment.

The story begins with a simple, almost everyday scene: three women walk into a small-town post office. But what follows is anything but ordinary. When a domestic dispute escalates into a tense crisis, the post office becomes a place where fear, secrets, regret, courage, and unexpected connection all rise to the surface.

What makes this novel so compelling is the way Whalen gives each woman her own emotional weight. These are not just strangers trapped together; they are women standing at turning points in their lives. One is searching for direction, one is struggling with the ache of letting go, and one is carrying a secret that could change everything. Each has something she hoped to send out into the world, and each is quietly carrying far more than anyone around her realises.

Despite the high-stakes setup, Handle with Care is not only about crisis. It is about the surprising tenderness that can appear in difficult moments. As the hours pass, the women begin to see one another clearly, forming a bond that feels believable, emotional, and deeply human. Their connection is the heart of the book, and it is beautifully handled.

The negotiator’s perspective adds another strong layer to the story. Her role outside the post office brings tension and urgency, but also emotional depth, as she is forced to face her own struggles while trying to keep everyone safe. This gives the novel a wider sense of compassion, reminding us that nearly everyone is carrying something unseen.

Marybeth Mayhew Whalen balances suspense, heart, humour, and reflection with real warmth. The story has enough tension to keep the pages turning, but it also offers comfort, insight, and hope. It is the kind of book that makes you think about chance encounters, the hidden burdens people carry, and how even brief connections can alter the course of a life.

Heartfelt, layered, and uplifting, Handle with Care is a beautiful reminder that even in frightening moments, hope can still find a way in.

Picky by Julie T. Kinn is tender, funny, wonderfully odd, and full of heart; the kind of book that takes anxiety, family baggage, fear, food, and growing up, tosses them into one very chaotic life buffet, and somehow makes the whole thing feel both hilarious and deeply moving.

Zillah is twenty-three and stuck in almost every possible way. She lives with her quirky mother, eats only a tiny rotation of “safe” foods, and is dating a man whose beliefs about sharks are memorable, to say the least. She wants independence, but wanting it and actually stepping into it are two very different things, especially when her home life is built on routines, worry, and a lot of emotional duct tape.

What makes Zillah such a lovable character is that she is trying. Not always gracefully. Not always wisely. Sometimes in ways that cause accidental injuries and deeply questionable decisions. But she is trying, and that makes her journey both funny and incredibly relatable. Her secret eavesdropping on her neighbour’s exposure therapy is such a brilliant setup, because it is equal parts awkward, bold, misguided, and weirdly brave.

The humour in Picky is warm and offbeat, never mean-spirited. Julie T. Kinn finds comedy in uncomfortable moments while still treating Zillah’s fears and struggles with care. The result is a story that feels light on its feet but emotionally honest underneath. It has that delightful “oh no, what is she doing now?” energy, while still exploring bigger questions about identity, family, truth, and what it takes to build a life that actually belongs to you.

Zillah’s relationship with her mother is especially compelling. It is loving, complicated, messy, and full of unspoken history. As Zillah begins to test her limits and question the stories she grew up believing, the book becomes about much more than picky eating or fear. It becomes a story about choosing yourself without losing compassion for the people who shaped you.

Picky is a charming, nervy, optimistic read for anyone who enjoys quirky coming-of-age stories, complicated mother-daughter dynamics, emotional growth, and heroines who are messy in the most human way.

Funny, heartfelt, and unexpectedly empowering, Picky is a beautiful reminder that bravery does not always look dramatic. Sometimes it looks like trying one new thing, asking one hard question, or finally realising you do not have to keep eating the life you were served.