DRB Reviews...The Intern by Michele Campbell

Rating: 5/5 "Thrilling"

After finishing Dissection of a Murder I was addicted to legal thrillers so I dove into The Intern. I have had this book since it was chosen as a Book of the Month for September in 2023. It has long been waiting on my TBR to be read and loved, so I finally decided to dig in and I adored it! As soon as I finished, I ordered It's Always the Husband, another book by Campbell, as well as a series of two legal thrillers by John Grisham for the cottage this summer. Yup, I am addicted to legal thrillers right now, and this one was thrilling!

A young Harvard law student, Madison, falls under the spell of a charismatic judge, and lands the internship of a lifetime working for her. But things start spiralling when her brother is framed in a drug bust and sent to prison without proper legal council. Madison discovers that the judge in her brothers shady case is Judge Kathryn Conroy, and this has her questioning if the Judge herself is also corrupt.  

This legal thriller was so exciting, I couldn't put it down. The only thing that interrupted my reading was work and family life. Everything came together in the end, and no spoilers here, but the ending was perfect and left me feeling so satisfied. I really did love this book and highly recommend it.

www.dawnrodger.ca

#michelecampbell
#theintern
#bookofthemonth
#drbreviews
#dawnrodger

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DRB Reviews...Caller Unknown by Gillian McAllister

Rating: 3.5/5 Stars "Nail-biting"

​Caller Unknown is a high-stakes thriller about a mother, Simone, who travels from England to a Texas cabin to visit her teenage daughter, Lucy. The next morning, Lucy is kidnapped. A mysterious caller demands a ransom but issues an impossible directive: do not call the police, or Lucy will die. This was such a hook for me and I couldn't wait to dive in. After-all, a mother will do anything for her daughter. There is such a special bond between mother and daughter, especially a daughter who is an only child. 

Unfortunately, the book had moments where it fizzed out for me. I mean I love McAllister's books, they are instant must reads whenever a new release hits the stands. I am an avid follower on all McAllister's socials. But Caller Unknown was not one of my favourite books. It was nail-biting yes, but I found the character introspection to be too much, and it got in the way of the flow of the story for me. I almost felt like the hypophora was to fill in words rather than to deepen the plot. Sadly, Simone's internal conflict and rhetorical questions got in my way of enjoying the book. I also did not love Simone; she maddened me with her choices, as I felt she lost her personal integrity in them. However, kudos to McAllister, as this kept me turning pages just to see what she would do next. 

I did pre-order a physical copy of the book to read and was so excited when it was finally delivered in the mail. But due to my busy schedule, I found I didn't have a lot of time to sit and read it. So I downloaded it on Spotify and listened to the book in the car on the way to and from work. It definitely helped to pass the time and I LOVED the narrator; her is voice so calm yet articulate.

Overall, not my favourite new release of 2026, but I am still glad I read it. And I remain a loyal McAllister fan!

www.dawnrodger.ca

#gillianmccallister
#callerunknown
#newreleases
#drbreviews
​#booktok

DRB Reviews...Dissection of a Murder by Jo Murray

Rating: 6/5 Stars "Riveting" & "Gripping"

Honestly, this is my favourite book of 2026! I haven't read anything like this since my teenage years when I read the legal thrillers The Firm and The Pelican Brief by John Grisham. I have never really came across another legal thriller that really gripped me...The Lincoln Lawyer came close. 

What makes this legal thriller stand out from the rest is the main character is a female criminal barrister (or "lawyer" as we say here in North America)...working in a very high paced, male dominated profession.  I love the feminist perspective. What makes this book so riveting is the depth Murray paints into the legal world. Murray went to law school and was a criminal barrister so the legal detail in this story really enriches the plot. 

The main character Leila is a young criminal defence lawyer who is unexpectedly assigned to defend a man accused of murdering a respected high court judge. The prosecutor of the case is her "pupilmaster" and husband. The story unfolds in delicious courtroom drama and is filled with psychological suspense, twisted truths and deception. It becomes clear that everyone involved is hiding something and the courtroom is full of liars. 

I was glued to this book and read it because I loved it, not because I had to read it to review it. I devoured every last word. No spoilers here but the ending will blow you away! Jo Murray knocked this book out of the park. I nominate it for Book of the Year for 2026!

www.dawnrodger.ca
#jomurraybooks
#dissectionofamurder
#drbreviews
#bookofthemonth
​#newreleases

DRB Reviews...A Flicker in the Dark by Stacy Willingham

Rating: 5/5 Stars "Unsettling"

Firstly, I never finished my Alphabet Book Challenge from 2025, so I decided I would just keep pushing on into the new year. Just because I didn't finish it, doesn't mean I should consider myself a failure and just give up...so, this is F!

I bought this book in kindle, audio book and hard copy because I loved it that much, and wanted versatility to read it that suited my lifestyle. I listened to it while walking, I read my kindle late into the night, and I clutched the hard-copy close to me while on breaks at work. I LOVED this book. I think mainly because I simply love a creepy serial killer story.

Chloe Davis is a psychologist whose life begins to unravel twenty years after her father was convicted as a serial killer. When teenage girls start going missing again, mirroring the past, a traumatized  Chloe doubts her own sanity while investigating a potential copycat killer. It is as gripping as it sounds. I began questioning everyone to be the copycat killer. It wasn't until Chloe met with her uncommunicative mom that things started to come together for me. 

I have had this book on my TBR list for a very long time, and it did not disappoint; I am so glad I read it. It is not the "Book of the Year" for me but it is definitely a favourite. (And...I absolutely love the cover!)

www.dawnrodger.ca

#aflickerinthedark
#stacywillingham
#dawnrodger
#drbreviews
​#newbookreview
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DRB Reviews...YesterYear by Caro Claire Burke

Rating: 3/5 Stars "Bewildering"

I have to start by saying first that this book had me so perplexed; the entire time reading it I was so confused. This thriller is completely not what I expected and side swept me from left field. YesterYear is about a woman named Natalie who is an influencer with millions of followers. She pretends to live an idyllic farm life with her beloved husband and children...living a proper Christian life. But suddenly she wakes up in 1855 and is forced to live a harsh life, all the while remembers what a life with technology and comfort is all about.  This book is a psychological horror that blends with time-travel. It highlights the many terrible things that exist with social media and gender inequality. 

I have to say that I hated the main character but loved her at the same time. I was rooting for her, until I wasn't. I hated the story-line so much that I was consumed with it and had to finish, had to keep turning the pages, had to get to the end to understand what was going on. I had come up with some solutions, but nothing I guessed became true. I didn't understand what I was reading until the very end when it all came together. What a ride! 

I didn't love this book, but I am still very happy that I did read it. I chose it as my April read for Book of the Month and have zero regrets. It is not a feel good story. However, I found Natalie's experience to have some sad human truths that were somewhat relatable; connections to the darker sides to life. 

Overall, I rated it 3 stars...not my favourite read of the year...but definitely a book that I won't stop thinking about soon.

www.dawnrodger.ca

#yesteryear
#caroclaireburke
#drbreviews
#bookofthemonth
#newbookreview

DRB Reviews...Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Rating: 5 Stars "Exhilarating"

I read this book in less than 36 hours, absolutely devoured it. I am a classical trained musician and after reading this book, I wish I chose to be a rock star instead! What a ride. Being a musician, I have no idea how I missed reading this book when it came out in 2019. Unfortunately, I was born when the band was just coming into popularity, so I missed the craze! However, we still have their incredible album Aurora to listen to; I currently have it on loop. 

The book is written in a series of interviews (from the band members and other people closely tied to the band) to create a story line of the band from inception to it's final break down. It centres on the intense and forbidden relationship of the lead singer Billy Dunne and the iconic Daisy Jones. The novel explores fame, addiction, love and the deep truth of how music is used for emotional expression. 

This book breathed...the accounts of the band members experiences were raw, real and registered with me. It was relatable to the true pains and roller coaster ride of life. I loved the documentary-style of Reid's writing. It is truly no wonder why this book was The Book of the Month's 2019 Book of the Year. 

This is a read that is so worth your time, wherever you can find a copy, I highly recommend to spend some time with this band!

www.dawnrodger.ca
#daisyjonesandthesix
#dawnrodger
#bookofthemonth
#taylorjenkinsreidbooks
#drbreviews
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DRB Reviews...Molka by Monika Kim

Rating: 5 Stars "Raw"

Warning: this book contains scenes of sexual abuse

This is the most gripping, raw and candid book I have read in a very long time. Kim depicted the world of voyeurism so well it hit hard. As a survivor myself, the male characters in this book were so true to many I have known; I have first hand experience witnessing real-life attitudes of these kind of men. Molka is not a book for the faint heart.

Molka is a dark thriller about a woman whose life unravels after a leaked intimate video, while a voyeuristic IT worker secretly spies on women at her office. It explores trauma, female rage, and hidden camera culture in Korea. As we know hidden cameras are not just a Korean problem. "This book is not just about voyeurism, however; it explores power dynamics, exploitation, and the sexualizing of women and girls, as well as how technology can magnify harms and blur our understandings of privacy and consent."

With all this being said above, this book was written for survivors. Kim in her Author's note states this: "...[this] story should not make you lose hope. Molka is about the resilience of women, about how we resist and reclaim our dignity, and perhaps more importantly about female solidarity. Even in these troubling times, we have each other. And that means we always have hope."

As a trauma survivor myself, I saw many of my own terrible experiences mirrored in this story. But I am relieved to witness the strength of Kim to expose these issues. I love a good revenge story and this has got to be one of the best revenge stories I have read in a very long time.  Thank you Kim for writing a story of such truth and standing up for what is wrong and what needs to be changed.

www.dawnrodger.ca
#MeToo
#molka
#monikakim
#bookofthemonth
​#dawnrodger

DRB Reviews...This Story Might Save Your Life by Tiffany Crum

Rating: 5/5 Stars "Incredible"
TSMSYL is a story about a mysterious disappearance of a famous podcast host, Joy, and her husband. Benny, her best friend, is left terrifyingly worried of Joy's whereabouts, trying to piece together clues she left behind. Upon discovering her memoir, he begins to see that her disappearance may be a result of something far more sinister then he could ever have imagined. But as he gets closer to answers, Benny becomes the prime suspect in the now turned murder investigation. Gripping!

This was my March pick from Book of the Month. I thought it looked interesting, and truthfully chose it for the colourful cover...but wasn't sure if it would be a book I would like. I took a risk nonetheless and was so shockingly surprised. I completely fell in love with this popcorn style read. I could not put it down. I was invested and fell head over heals for both Joy and Benny. Their friendship reminded me so much of a fun-loving Friends cast reincarnated in LA.

This is Crum's debut novel, and it doesn't disappoint. I loved the unique story line. Crum's character development is so good that I fell in love with the characters; they felt like real genuine people. The investigation will not disappoint, Crum kept me guessing until the very end. Kudos Crum...what a novel!

www.dawnrodger.ca
#bookofthemonth
#tiffanycrum
#TSMSYL
#newbookreview
​#dawnrodger

DRB Reviews...ODD Girl Out by Laura James

Rating: 4/5 Stars "Enlightening" 

ODD Girl Out is a book about a young woman's exploration of her ASD identification and learning to navigate her life with her newly found diagnosis. It is an enlightening read, seeing the world through an autistic lens.

So many girls are missed diagnosed at an early age, and it isn't until much later in adult life that women are properly diagnosed with ASD. Celebrating Autism Awareness Month, I have been listening to James' book on Audible while driving. I enjoy listening to non-fiction books, I find it calming. But, more importantly, I find it educating. 

I found James account to be honest and I value you that. It is important to learn how neurodivergent people view the world, and to learning about coping strategies to live in a neurotypical world. James covers topics such as masking, conforming, emotional de-regulation and melt downs, as well as finally learning self-acceptance. I adored the black-and-white view, it is how my daughter sees the world...no grey. I loved the "cut to the chase" attitude and appreciated the truth telling; it was brilliant. 

I am an educator and a mother of an Autistic daughter, (as reffered to above) therefore I found this personal account to be uplifting, helping me to understand ASD better. ODD Girl Out helped me to become more compassionate. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants a better understanding of the Autistic Spectrum. 

www.dawnrodger.ca
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#autismawareness
#oddgirlout
#laurajames
#dawnroger
#newblogpost
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DRB Reviews...Where the Wildflowers Grow by Terah Shelton Harris

Rating: 6/5 Stars "Heartbreakingly Beautiful"  Favourite read of 2026 thus far! 

Set in the American South, Leigh survived a terrible bus crash when she was being moved from one prison to the next. She was the only survivor, and chose to walk away and start over.  

This book is about survival, redemption, finding family and true love and the lasting impacts of trauma and healing.  I found myself in the pages of this beautiful story...I cried, gasped and swooned with every page turned.  This book was set in Alabama on a breathtaking flower farm. I can't honestly imagine a better place to heal and find oneself. Nature played a huge role in this story, and the connection we all have to the earth. 

Coming face to face with ones trauma and past is not easy. But "where flowers bloom, so does hope." The author's note touched me so deeply and it was the most beautiful way too start this story. "Where the Wildflowers Grow is dedicated to survivors...The ones who have taken a slap from life and kept on going."  This was so true to my own experiences in life, and I found myself deeply buried amongst the pages. This book is "an examination of grief, the discomfort, the confusion, the sorrow that [doesn't] fit neatly into a box." 

I was so deeply moved by this story. I could experience it through all my senses: touch, sight, smell, taste...and heard the whisper of this message in my soul..."[I] have the ability to shape [my] own [life], to mold [my] own [destiny] from the clay of [my] own experiences."

THIS BOOK IS BREATHTAKING! It is a must read...I promise it will sweep you off your feet, and hit you in all the right places. Perhaps, it just might help you heal.

www.dawnrodger.ca
#wherethewildflowersgrow
#terahsheltonharris
#bookstagrammer
#booktok
​#dawnrodger