These three books are very different, but all worth a read (or listen). Thanks to Netgalley for the review copies.

Food to Die For: Over 50 Recipes and Stories from America’s Most Legendary Haunted Places by Amy Bruni.

Food to Die For is a wonderfully original blend of paranormal history, culinary curiosity, and atmospheric storytelling. Amy Bruni brings her trademark warmth and enthusiasm to some of America’s most legendary haunted locations, sharing fascinating stories about eerie hotels, historic homes, abandoned hospitals, prisons, pubs, and ghost towns.

The audiobook is engaging and entertaining, especially for listeners who enjoy ghost stories grounded in real history. Bruni’s narration makes each location feel vivid, while the mixture of vintage photographs, local legends, and recipes connected to the people or places adds an imaginative twist to the traditional haunted-history format. From Lizzie Borden’s meatloaf to Alcatraz sugar cookies and Southern fried chicken inspired by the Missouri State Penitentiary, the recipes are unusual, memorable, and often delightfully spooky.

Fun, informative, and charmingly creepy, Food to Die For is an excellent choice for paranormal enthusiasts, history lovers, adventurous cooks, and anyone looking for a distinctive entertaining theme. It brings haunted places to life through their stories, traditions, and flavours, creating a listening experience that is both deliciously sinister and surprisingly comforting.

The Room in the Ground: A Thriller by John Ajvide Lindqvist

The Room in the Ground is a dark, absorbing thriller that combines intricate crime plotting with complex relationships and deeply guarded secrets. John Ajvide Lindqvist creates an uneasy, claustrophobic atmosphere from the outset, gradually drawing the listener into the hidden corners of Kim Ribbing’s life.

Kim is a particularly compelling character. His intelligence and formidable hacking skills are balanced by his isolation, vulnerability, and mysterious past. His evolving relationship with crime writer Julia Malmros adds emotional depth to the story, while their connection remains every bit as tense and unpredictable as the investigations they undertake together.

The introduction of fourteen-year-old Astrid raises the stakes further. Her shared history with Julia and Kim gives the story a powerful emotional core, and their attempt to help Kim confront his past creates a strong sense of loyalty, danger, and urgency.

Julia’s detective ex-husband, Jonny, is another effective source of tension. His suspicion of Kim, combined with his personal resentment, ensures that the pressure continues to build as the new investigation begins pointing towards the secrets hidden in Kim’s basement.

Atmospheric, intelligent, and filled with morally complicated characters, The Room in the Ground is an excellent listen for fans of psychological thrillers and Scandinavian crime fiction. The mystery unfolds at a measured but gripping pace, with enough emotional complexity and unsettling revelations to keep listeners invested until the end.

The Anti-Marriage Pact: A Novel by Lindsay MacMillan

The Anti-Marriage Pact is a sharp, funny, and thoughtful novel about friendship, identity, and the complicated expectations surrounding love and adulthood. Lindsay MacMillan explores modern feminism with warmth and honesty, creating a story that feels both entertaining and emotionally relevant.

At the centre of the novel is EJ, whose commitment to independence has been shaped by the pact she made with her three closest friends. Their determination to reject marriage and motherhood gives them a shared sense of purpose, but the story becomes especially compelling when their once-unshakeable beliefs begin to change. As each friend starts making different choices, the novel thoughtfully examines what happens when personal growth challenges the rules that once held a friendship together.

EJ is a relatable and engaging protagonist. Her confidence, creativity, and strong opinions make her easy to root for, while her uncertainty gives the story real emotional depth. Chris, the practical tax accountant who enters her life, is an appealing contrast to her carefully constructed worldview. Their developing connection is witty, tender, and filled with the kind of tension that makes a romantic storyline difficult to put down.

What makes the novel stand out is its refusal to offer simplistic answers. It does not suggest that independence and commitment are opposites, nor does it dismiss the importance of female friendship. Instead, it explores the courage required to question long-held beliefs and make choices based on genuine desire rather than fear, loyalty, or social pressure.

Engaging, intelligent, and often very funny, The Anti-Marriage Pact is an excellent audiobook for listeners who enjoy contemporary fiction with strong friendships, romantic tension, and meaningful observations about living life on your own terms.