The Katharina Code (William Wisting #12) by Jørn Lier Horst

Description from Goodreads:

"Twenty-four years ago Katharina Haugen went missing.

All she left behind was her husband Martin and a mysterious string of numbers scribbled on a piece of paper.

Every year on October 9th Chief Inspector William Wisting takes out the files to the case he was never able to solve. Stares at the code he was never able to crack. And visits the husband he was never able to help.

But now Martin Haugen is missing too.

As Wisting prepares to investigate another missing person's case he's visited by a detective from Oslo. Adrian Stiller is convinced Martin's involved in another disappearance of a young woman and asks Wisting to close the net around Martin.

But is Wisting playing cat and mouse with a dangerous killer or a grief-stricken husband who cannot lay the past to rest?"

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A bit of a slow burner

I’ve had this one sitting on the dusty virtual shelf of my Kindle since 2018, so it was definitely time to finally see what the fuss was about! This was actually my first time reading anything by Jørn Lier Horst and while I can see why he’s a big name in Scandi noir, I’m left feeling a little bit middle of the road about it all. 

The story follows William Wisting as he revisits a cold case from twenty-four years ago involving a woman named Katharina who went missing, leaving behind a mysterious code. I really liked the premise and Wisting himself is a refreshing character - he’s a decent, stable man without the usual messy personal life or dark secrets you often get with fictional detectives. The procedural side of things felt very authentic too, which makes sense given the author’s background as a police officer.

However, I did struggle a bit with the pacing. It felt quite slow to get going and there were times when the level of detail about Norwegian street names or every single mundane door knock felt a bit like a slog. It’s definitely more of a "thinking person's" mystery than a fast-paced thriller. While the atmosphere was spot on, the "code" itself didn't feel as central to the solution as I'd hoped and the ending didn't quite have the emotional punch I was looking for.

It's a solid, well-written police procedural that kept me curious enough to finish, but it didn't completely blow me away. If you enjoy a very methodical, slow-burning mystery, you’ll likely enjoy this more than I did.

Many thanks to the author, Penguin UK - Michael Joseph and NetGalley for enabling me to read and, eventually, share my thoughts of this book.

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The Death of Mrs Westaway by Ruth Ware

Description from Goodreads:

"On a day that begins like any other, Hal receives a mysterious letter bequeathing her a substantial inheritance. She realizes very quickly that the letter was sent to the wrong person—but also that the cold-reading skills she’s honed as a tarot card reader might help her claim the money.

Soon, Hal finds herself at the funeral of the deceased…where it dawns on her that there is something very, very wrong about this strange situation and the inheritance at the center of it."

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I finally got around to picking up The Death of Mrs Westaway by Ruth Ware after it spent years buried on my to-be-read pile. It feels like I am slowly conquering the mountain of books I have ignored for far too long and this was a great one to finally tick off the list as it was a really atmospheric read.

The story follows Hal who is a tarot reader struggling to make ends meet when she receives a mysterious letter claiming she has inherited a substantial estate from her grandmother. Hal knows it must be a mistake but she decides to use her skills to try and claim the money anyway. It’s a great setup and it quickly turns into a classic gothic mystery when she arrives at the creepy and dilapidated Trepassen House for the funeral.

What I really enjoyed about this one was the sense of dread and the setting. The house itself feels like a character and it’s full of secrets and cold rooms which kept the tension high. It definitely has a slow burn feel to it and while some parts felt a little drawn out I found the mystery behind the Westaway family quite compelling. The details about tarot reading were an interesting touch and added a bit of a different flavour to the usual thriller format.

Overall it’s a very well written and moody mystery that kept me guessing until the final reveal. Even though it took me a long time to get around to it I’m glad I did as it’s a solid read if you like a story with a lot of atmosphere and family secrets.

Many thanks to the author, Random House UK, Vintage and NetGalley for the chance to read and share my thoughts on this one.

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Adrift by Will Dean

🔥🔥🔥 Due out 19 February 2026 🔥🔥🔥

Description from Goodreads:

"Three of them adrift on the narrowboat.

Mother, son, and wickedness.

Peggy Jenkins and her teenage son, Samson, live on a remote stretch of canal in the Midlands. She is a writer and he is a schoolboy. Together, they battle against the hardness and manipulation of the man they live with. To the outside world he is a husband and father. To them, he is a captor.

Their lives are tightly controlled; if any perceived threat appears, their mooring is moved further down the canal, further away from civilisation. Until the day when the power suddenly shifts, and nothing can be the same again."

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One of the most claustrophobic and tense books I've read in a long time

I've been a huge fan of Will Dean for a while now, having previously read The Chamber, First Born and the absolutely harrowing The Last Thing To Burn. He really is the master when it comes to building a thick atmosphere and that slow, creeping sense of dread that just gets under your skin. Adrift is no exception and it honestly had me on pins almost as much as Peggy was.

The story follows Peggy and her son Samson as they find themselves in an unthinkable situation. What makes this book so powerful is how Dean handles the emotional weight of their journey. I found the scenes involving the horrendous bullying Samson faces at school particularly tough to get through. They're genuinely heartbreaking and felt very real, which only added to the protective instinct you feel for them as a reader.

It isn't an easy read by any means, but it's incredibly well written. The way the tension ramps up is just brilliant and I couldn't put it down even when things got really dark. If you've read his previous work you'll know he doesn't pull any punches, and this definitely feels like another masterclass in suspense. It's a gripping, emotional rollercoaster that stayed with me long after I finished the last page.

Thanks to the author, Hodder & Stoughton and NetGalley for enabling me to read this difficult but powerful book.

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A Sociopath's Guide to a Successful Marriage by M.K. Oliver

🔥🔥🔥 Due out 12 February 2026 🔥🔥🔥

Description from Goodreads:

"Meet Lalla Rook. Lalla has a lot on her She needs to guarantee her husband makes partner, secure her dream house in Hampstead, and get her daughter into a prestigious prep school. And on the afternoon she stabs a stranger seven times after he breaks into her living room, she has a four-year-old’s birthday party to host.

With an unambitious partner, two demanding children, and a barely adequate large house in a nice (if not quite fashionable) part of town, Lalla’s life isn’t quite perfect yet. And she can’t pretend she hasn’t missed the adrenaline rush that comes with transgressing. Besides, as a wife and mother, she’s already an expert multi-tasker. So, disposing of a body, framing a friend, and being the world’s best mother can easily be managed alongside the usual domestic minutiae.

It’s just that her husband Stephen seems distracted, her daughter’s drowning of the class hamster is affecting her academic future, and then there is the unexpected intruder. Who is this man and what does he want from her? Because Lalla has a past she’d rather keep hidden—and the sudden appearance of the police means that avoiding them will be yet another task to cross off her to-do list.

Funny, calculating, hypercompetent, and ambitious, Lalla is your next favorite antiheroine. Just don’t mention it to her mother-in-law."

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Wickedly dark but a bit too far-fetched

I’ve just finished reading A Sociopath’s Guide to a Successful Marriage and it’s certainly unlike anything else I’ve picked up lately. The story follows Lalla Rook - a woman juggling domestic stresses like school applications with the slightly more pressing issue of a dead body in her living room.

The writing is sharp and the author does a great job of capturing a detached tone that fits someone like Lalla perfectly. It’s got a bitingly satirical edge that pokes fun at middle-class pretensions which I found quite clever.

However-I have to admit I really struggled with Lalla as a protagonist. I know she’s meant to be a sociopath but I found it hard to get behind her or really care about what happened. Everything felt a little too unbelievable at times and the sheer level of absurdity meant I couldn't quite fully lose myself in the story.

It’s a unique idea but it just missed the mark of being a 5-star read because of how difficult I found the main character. It's still a solid thriller if you're looking for something uniquely twisted though!

Thanks to the author, HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts of this book.

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So, I Met This Guy ... by Alexandra Potter [Audiobook]

🎙🎙🎙 Narrated by Shelley Conn🎙🎙🎙

🔥🔥🔥 Out on 29 January 2026 🔥🔥🔥

Description from Goodreads:

"So, I Met This Guy . . .

Well, isn’t that how every love story starts? But what we don’t know is, how will it end?

For Maggie, she certainly didn’t expect it to involve discovering the supposed love-of-her-life stole her life-savings, along with her home, heart and self-esteem.

So, when she meets Flick, a young reporter, who realises this story could be the big break she’s been looking for, they set off together to catch him as he goes on the run across Europe. After all, she’s got nothing left to lose, right?

But as the pair embark on the road trip of their lives, unexpected twists, hidden secrets and hard truths are revealed. And as an unlikely friendship begins to blossom, they realise it’s not just about finding the guy, it’s about finding themselves."

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The perfect summer listen despite it being the end of January!

I’ve just finished listening to this one and it was honestly the perfect summer listen - even if I am sitting here at the end of January! If you’re looking for a story that’ll make you laugh out loud while you’re lounging by the pool or sitting on a beach, this is definitely it. I can just picture people sitting there with huge smiles on their faces, probably getting a few funny looks for giggling to themselves as they follow Maggie and Flick across Europe.

The story kicks off when Maggie discovers the man she thought was the love of her life has actually done a runner with her life savings leaving her without her home and living in a caravan in a field. She ends up teaming up with Flick, a young reporter who's looking for her own big break, and they head off on a wild chase to track him down. I really loved the dynamic between them - it’s such a heartwarming friendship that blossoms as they travel through some gorgeous locations.

I listened to the audiobook version and Shelley Conn was a fantastic choice for the narrator. She really brought the characters to life and her timing was spot on. It made the whole experience even more enjoyable and kept me hooked from start to finish. It’s the kind of performance that makes the miles fly by if you're listening while travelling.

It’s a really lovely, light-hearted read that doesn't take itself too seriously while still making you root for Maggie to get her life back. While there were a few moments that felt a bit predictable, it didn't take away from the overall fun of the road trip. It’s a solid, feel-good tale that's perfect for a bit of escapism when the weather outside is anything but summery.

A big thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for enabling me to listen and share my thoughts.

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