Without a Clue by Melissa Ferguson

Without a Clue by Melissa Ferguson is an absolute delight — a clever, charming, and thoroughly entertaining read that blends mystery, romance, and comedy into one irresistible adventure. With its glamorous cruise-ship setting, a cast full of larger-than-life authors, and a heroine you cannot help but root for, this novel feels like the perfect escape.

What makes this story shine is its fun balance of genres. It delivers the classic appeal of a whodunit, but wraps it in the sparkle of a romantic comedy, creating a book that feels both suspenseful and light-hearted. The premise alone is fantastic: a luxury book cruise, seven famous authors, mounting tension, and then a murder at sea. It is dramatic, stylish, and packed with the kind of chaos that keeps the pages turning.

Penelope Mae Dupont sounds like a standout heroine. Her calm, capable nature makes her easy to admire, and her journey from staying behind the scenes to stepping into the action gives the story an extra layer of heart. Pairing her with Nash, the rugged and appealing Western author, adds a warm romantic thread that seems to complement the mystery beautifully.

The novel also appears to embrace exactly the kind of playful energy readers want from this kind of story — sharp banter, eccentric personalities, suspicious secrets, and plenty of twists and red herrings. It sounds like the sort of book that keeps you guessing while also making you smile.

Overall, Without a Clue seems like a witty, feel-good rom-com mystery with plenty of charm and personality. For readers who love a dash of murder with their romance and humour, Melissa Ferguson delivers a story that sounds fresh, engaging, and wildly fun.

Thirteen Perfect Fugitives: The True Story of the Mob, Murder, and the World’s Largest Art Heist by Geoffrey Kelly

Thirteen Perfect Fugitives is a gripping and deeply compelling true-crime account that brings one of the most fascinating unsolved art heists in history vividly to life. Geoffrey Kelly offers readers far more than a recap of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum robbery; he delivers an insider’s perspective shaped by the discipline, detail, and persistence of an FBI investigator who worked the case himself.

What makes this book especially powerful is its authority. Kelly writes with the credibility of someone who understands not just the crime, but the painstaking process of building an investigation piece by piece. That gives the book a level of depth and authenticity that sets it apart from more sensationalised true-crime titles. The result is a narrative that feels both meticulous and intensely readable.

The case itself is almost unbelievable: two men disguised as police officers, a museum left vulnerable in the early hours of the morning, and thirteen priceless works vanishing in one of the boldest thefts ever committed. Kelly captures the scale, audacity, and cultural loss of the crime in a way that makes its impact feel immediate. The theft of masterpieces including a Vermeer and Rembrandt’s only known seascape gives the story enormous weight, and the estimated value only adds to the sense of astonishment.

What is particularly impressive is how the book appears to balance investigative rigour with narrative momentum. Rather than feeling dry or overly procedural, it draws the reader into the mystery, the underworld connections, and the unanswered questions that have kept this case alive for decades. Kelly’s insights and theories add another layer of intrigue, giving readers the sense that they are being guided through the evidence by someone uniquely qualified to interpret it.

Overall, Thirteen Perfect Fugitives is an engrossing, intelligent, and expertly informed account of a legendary crime.

Something Bad Happened Here: A Horrifying Haunted House Novella by Zoe Rosi

Something Bad Happened Here had an intriguing premise, but unfortunately it did not deliver the haunted-house atmosphere or narrative payoff I was hoping for. The setup suggests an unsettling, eerie story filled with dread and mystery, yet in practice the novel feels slow, underdeveloped, and strangely flat for much of its runtime.

One of the biggest issues is pacing. For most of the book, very little seems to happen, which makes it difficult to stay fully engaged. A slow-burn horror story can be incredibly effective when it steadily builds tension and unease, but here the suspense never fully takes hold. Instead of feeling immersed in a creeping sense of fear, I found myself waiting for the story to finally come alive.

The atmosphere also felt weaker than expected. Haunted house fiction depends so much on mood, tension, and a lingering sense of menace, but this book never quite creates that eerie edge. The premise of a house with a dark and violent history had plenty of potential, yet the execution lacked the intensity needed to make it memorable or genuinely unsettling.

The ending was perhaps the most disappointing part. After such a drawn-out build-up, the book ends so abruptly that it feels unfinished, with little real resolution. Rather than leaving me haunted or thoughtfully unsettled, it left me frustrated. A strong horror novella needs a conclusion that either shocks, satisfies, or at least feels earned, and this one felt too sudden and underdeveloped to have much impact.

Overall, I finished Something Bad Happened Here, but it was a struggle. While the concept had promise, the weak atmosphere, minimal momentum, and abrupt ending made it a disappointing read.