The storyline is unique and original. The mystery is really entertaining. I liked the pacing. There's no actual chapters which I didn't mind but if it's something that you are very particular about that might bother you. Overall, I enjoyed this and would recommend it. Special Thank You to Joshua Corin, Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for allowing me to read a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

Assume Nothing is an engaging story about a very well known detective (Adrian Lescher), a prolific thriller writer (Carissa), and a teenager (Kat) who had her mother killed (and her father condemned for it). Kat lives with her aunt and uncle in Boston and all her communication with her father ended when she left California, she'll only know that her father wrote her letters after he passes away in prison and they'll only add to her loneliness and need to understand whar happened. She's also a huge fan of Carissa's thrillers which are based upon Adrian Lescher's cases and their paths will once again cross. Kat will get to know the detective and his quirks in depth and her life will be turned upside down until she's able to devise a plan and reach vengeance for her parents' death. Captivating, well-written, it keeps on building tension and mystery till the end.
I thank the author, his publisher, and NetGalley for this ARC.

If you grew up in the '90s, you can probably still hear the sounds of AOL dial-up internet and remember an embarrassing chatroom username or two. Those elements give Joshua Corin's Assume Nothing, a fun murder-mystery novel, its unique flavor.

Full review at Eulalie Magazine: https://eulaliemagazine.com/2024/12/assume-nothing-is-a-quirky-thriller-with-90s-nostalgia-book-review/

This was a quick read with some crazy plot twists. Kat was only 6 when her father was convicted of murdering her mother, the crime solved by the dazzling detective Alik Lisser. Since then, she has devoured mystery novels to cope with the loss of both parents - especially those written by an author styled after Agatha Christie - who writes about the cases Lisser solves. When Kat has the chance to meet the detective 10 years after her mother’s murder, she is awed. When she gets the chance for a friendship with him? She is in thrall. However, not everything is as it seems in this novel and Corin absolutely keeps you on your toes until the very end.

Kat, fifteen, develops an unlikely relationship with a famous detective Alik Lisser. She's a little obsessed with him for a few reasons. He is the model for a fictional detective from one of her favorite mystery writers. Oh yeah and he's the one who solved her mother's murder when Kat was six years old.

This story is kind of a Kat and mouse (ha ha), almost a cozy but not quite, could be considered YA (it's told from Kat's perspective and her thoughts are, well, those of a fifteen year old). It's a fun read that is all over the place with nutty twists and turns. Were there plot holes? Big ones. Did I stay glued to the story? Certainly.

My thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the digital ARC.

Assume Nothing by Joshua Corin is an intriguing and compelling mystery.
I really enjoyed reading this story. I was compelled to race through it and truly enjoyed it.
I love the writing style of Joshua Corin and found his storyline easy to follow.

We start in the past. In 1985 six year old Kat McCann's mother was murdered. The crime was subsequently solved by the famous Austrian detective Alik Lisser. Sadly it was Kat's father who turned out to be the perpetrator. She was sent to live with her Aunt. Back in the present, 10 years later, Kat Is still obsessed with Lisser. This has been facilitated by the fact that Lisser and the crimes he solved were incorporated into a series of detective novels penned by the successful author Carissa Miller.
Kat finds a kindred spirit in University student Dev and together they attend a lecture talk given by the man himself - Alik Lisser - who they are both fortunate to meet afterwards. But Kat fails to ask the questions she has been wanting to ask him. In the cold light of day she kicks herself for not asking and fears she has missed her only chance. Until she receives a phone call from him with a rather strange but intriguing offer... But... will she like what she finds out or will she regret not letting sleeping dogs lie?
Firstly, this book has no chapters. There are obvious breaks so it's easy to find somewhere to be able to put it down etc, but I can understand that some people might not warm to a book with no usual chapter structure so I wanted to forewarn you.
The story starts off well enough. I can understand Kat being mature beyond her years due to what has gone before in her life, and from where they met, I can also understand her" relationship" with Dev. As I can also with her obsession with Lesser, her mother's death and her father's guilt. Although I thought this was an adult book, something in the way it was written, coupled with the main protagonist's age, leads me to wonder whether it should (also) be YA, looking again, it appears to have a foot in both camps; and I would probably agree.
The story is compelling, intriguing and held my attention may all the way through. spitting me out at the end, pretty satisfied. Characters are believable and all play their parts well.
Pacing is also on the whole good, although it does slow down a tad in places.
All in all a good solid read which I enjoyed. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

Arc provided by Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer. This did not influence my review.

This short novel follows the story of Kat, a young teenager living with her aunt, who is obsessed with mystery novels by a mysterious author called Carissa Miller. What makes her special from all her author fan club chat site friends is that a character from the novels was inspired by her. In fact, Carissa Miller had written a murder mystery inspired by the murder of her mother- and her father who was convicted of that crime.

She becomes particularly close to a university student named Dev from the chat site and one day, when the chance to meet the real life detective who inspired Carissa Miller (and solved the murder of Kat’s mother) is given to her, she takes it. They go together to meet Alik Lisser and listen to his talk on criminology at Harvard. Kat however had other motivations than just fangirling over the real life detective.

In reality, the discovery of the murderer did not liberate Kat from guilt or stop her from wondering. After her father refused to admit he killed her mother, Kat has been wondering if the police got it all wrong. Her chance to ask Alik Lisser this question never comes, however, as her anxiety makes her unable to muster up the courage to go and talk to him.

But God is on her side as later on Alik Lisser calls her and a chance of a lifetime is given to her.

Now onto some technicalities for the mystery aspect. I think it was very obvious (for me I suppose because I read so much I noticed a lot of foreshadowing) which is why I didn’t rate this any higher. Obviously, I think I understand this is YA and Kat is a child so it would not be as logical as if she was an adult. But some of the actions were unrealistic to a massive degree. Also, the novel is written from a first person point of view with no real chapters. There are cuts but they are not proper ones. This was quite annoying because there was no organic place I could stop reading. However, this book is so short I finished it in one setting. If this was any longer then it would be a bigger problem.

The mystery itself was original and different from normal mysteries I have read and I enjoyed all the world building with the novels mentioned. Kat talks like she is a big fan of a series. In fact, she kind of talks like how I used to talk about Agatha Christie when I was younger. This is what makes the novel interesting. Kat is a booknerd at her core and her analysis of moments based on books is interesting.

However, as Kat learns from Alik himself, assume nothing.

When I first agreed to review Assume Nothing by Joshua Corin I did not realize it was considered young adult. I don't read a lot of YA because it often is too simplistic for me to really enjoy. This one, however, was fantastic. I would not have thought it to be YA from reading it. It was definitely a quick easy read, that kept me wanting to know what happens next. It was set in the 90s which I loved!

It is an intricate web of a mystery that asks what would you do if everything you thought you knew was a lie? Kat McCann's mother was murdered when she was just six years old. Famous Austrian detective Alik Lisser was the man who solved her mother's murder and ultimately identified her father as the murderer. As she grows up she is introduced to the novels of Carissa Miller, who writes mystery novels based on the many cases Alik Lisser has solved. It just so happens that Miller had written a novel based on the murder case of Kat's mother. Kat struggles to define what she actually remembers about the murder from the details of the case in the novel.

Kat is part of an online fan club that idolizes Carissa Miller and Adrian Lescher (Alik Lisser's detective alias). When the opportunity to meet Alik Lisser arises, Kat sets out to attend a lecture he's giving on criminology at Harvard. Kat hopes to talk to Lisser to gain insight into the murder of her mother and how he determined her father was guilty. Little does she know that not only will she get the answers she seeks but will find herself with more questions. One's that will challenge her perception of her favorite novels, author, and character. She will once again find herself in the middle of a murder mystery, that only she can solve. And in so doing may just re-solve the murder of her mother.

Some of the plot was a little hard to believe, like Kat getting invited to England by her favorite detective to unlock the secrets surrounding her mother's murder. Like Kat being the only one who can bring about the demise of a serial killer. However, it definitely encompasses the vibe of Nancy Drew and Sherlock Holmes, which I'm here for. I also would have loved a more neatly tied up conclusion, but the semi-cliffhanger was also well executed. It leaves room for additional novels but also provides enough of a conclusion on its own. I just wanted more time with the characters!

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a physical copy of the book, along with the eARC in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts are my own!

Kat McCann was six years old when renowned Austrian detective Alik Lisser solved her mother’s murder. And unfortunately proved Kat’s father as the culprit.

A decade later Kat is still obsessed with the heroic criminologist. She’s also addicted to the bestselling novels inspired by Alik’s ingenious deductions—penned by the grande dame of whodunits, who’s a bit of a mystery herself. Kat has devoured them all. Even the one based on her father’s crime.

When Kat and Alik fatefully cross paths again, a friendship evolves, and Alik is delighted to share the secrets of his success with such an eager and clever girl by inviting Kat to solve a murder of her very own. One that challenges everything Kat believes about the detective, an elusive author, and Kat’s notorious past.

Now, as fact and fiction and truth and deception collide, it’s all Kat can do to survive the shocking twist ending to her own life story.

A perfect read for a dreary day. Loved the plot and the characters. Will recommend to others.

I think this is marketed as an adult fiction mystery but they way it's written does feel more YA. That the protagonist in a teenage girl, and we read her narrative voice, only further solidifies that feel to the story.

The concept is interesting. Blending meta-fiction, mystery, thriller, and suspense into a tale of revenge and the exposing of a serial killer. There's a lot in the concept that appeal to this reader. Where this stumbles is the age of the protagonist, and her inconsistency in her state of mind, does not match what feels needed to survive this story. There's a lot of shock value in this book - and it's all aimed at the protagonist who, when me meet her, is in a fragile state of mind. I find it difficult to accept she suddenly found the strength to face all those challenges. It is one of those books where you just need to accept whatever happens and not question it too closely.

Where the book shines is in the depiction of Alik. He's written well and is convincing, eve a little ghoulish, which I think only made him more engaging in the story. His appearances, his dialogue, his interactions with the protagonist, where the highlights for me in the book. I also enjoyed that this is not written in the present day, so there was a bit of nostalgia during the read, especially with the whole waiting for somebody to free up the phone line so characters could dial online. Thankfully, those days are long over!

The following roundup was published or updated in several Alabama, Mississippi and Georgia newspapers and magazines in November and December 2024. The review for this book will be updated upon publication date.

Booking a full year of reading

Review by Tom Mayer

If only us readers could just spend our days … reading. What would a year look like? Here, the editors of Home for the Holidays present their yearlong list of books, culled from the past 12 months of reading and reviewing. A few of the titles you’ll immediately recognize, and you’ll likely have more than few in your own library. But just in case you missed a title or two, we’re showcasing the whole year’s worth of books that we’ve read and reviewed, month by month.

Except for the first title, the list is simply a list. To find the reviews of many of these titles, visit our newspaper parent, The (Athens) News Courier at enewscourier.com — with a slight caveat. Our newspaper webmasters are currently working overtime to improve our content management system, the foundation of any website, and while many of our archives are now found there, it may be a few weeks before everything is fully re-uploaded — including the most recent editions of Limestone Life and Home for the Holidays. For now, though, enjoy our literary stroll through 2024.

And about that first title: Not every college professor can make statistical analysis approachable, let along interesting to their students and the general population, but Athens State University emeritus professor of psychology Mark Durm is not every college professor. After spending nearly five decades teaching thousands of students, the “ol’ psychology professor” decided that he’d best get around to writing the one book out of his nearly 100 published pieces that’s he always wanted to write. Call it a legacy piece, but what it really is is a “best of” Durm’s peer-reviewed, book reviews, non-peer reviewed and magazine articles from his 47 years in higher education.

The result is “Professional Publications of an Ol’ Psychology Professor” (Dorrance) with full previously published articles ranging from studies on the effects of glasses on a child’s self-esteem to his ever-popular parapsychology pieces, Durm presents his internationally recognized efforts with a twist.

“It’s a different kind of book because it doesn’t talk about the research, it presents the research,” the professor says from his second-career office at Durm Properties in Athens, about a half-mile from where he first presented that research in person. “I’ve spent hours on all of these articles, especially in the peer-reviewed journal articles.”

And so, articles on divorce, sex, religion and other topics now populate the pages of Durm’s most recent book in an effort to both continue his teaching and satisfy what has been a lifelong wonderment.

“You know, most people don’t understand statistics, so it’s all in there,” Durm said. “What I’m trying to do is a more critical approach to ‘just don’t believe everything you’re told.’ … It’s things that were in my life that I wanted to see if they were so, by using a psychological analysis.”

And like any good professor, Durm didn’t do that research on his own — or take all of the credit. Among the co-authors of many of his articles in the book were students — many of who he’s lost touch with, but all of whom who he credits by name in his acknowledgements and for each of who, if they look up their ol’ mentor, he has a signed book ready to hand over. For the rest of us, you can find the book at any online bookseller — just as you can with the remainder of our list, presented by the month in which the book was published, read and reviewed.

JANUARY

Unbound (Blackstone) by Christy Healy NG/F

The Devil’s Daughter by Gordon Greisman NG/ARC

FEBRUARY

Almost Surely Dead (Mindy’s Book Studio) by Amina Akhtar NG

The Chaos Agent (Gray Man 13) (Berkley) by Mark Greaney NG

The Lady in Glass and Other Stories (Ace) by Anne Bishop ARC

A Haunting in the Arctic (Berkley paperback) by C.J. Cooke NG

Ghost Island (Berkley) by Max Seeck

MARCH

Hello, Alabama (Arcadia) by Martha Day Zschock

The Unquiet Bones (Montlake) by Loreth Anne White

I am Rome: A novel of Julius Caesar (Ballantine Books by Santiago PosteguilloMarch 5: Murder Road (Berkley) by Simone St. James

The Luminous Life of Lucy Landry (Holiday House) by Anna Rose Johnson

Ferris (Candlewick) by Kate DiCamillo

After Annie (Random House, Feb. 27) by Anna Quindlen

Crocodile Tears Didn't Cause the Flood (Montag Press) by Bradley Sides The #1 Lawyer (Little, Brown and Company) by James Patterson, Nancy Allen

Lilith (Blackstone) by Eric Rickstad

Life: My Story Through History (Harper One) by Pope Francis

APRIL

Matterhorn (Thomas & Mercer) by Christopher Reich

Friends in Napa (Mindy’s Book Studio) by Sheila Yasmin Marikar

City in Ruins (William Morrow) by Don Winslow

The House on Biscayne Bay (Berkley) by Chanel Cleeton

Two Friends, One Dog, and a Very Unusual Week (Peachtree) by Sarah L. Thomson

For Worse (Blackstone) by L.K. Bowen

A Killing on the Hill (Thomas & Mercer) by Robert Dugoini

The Clock Struck Murder (Poisoned Pen Press) by Betty Webb

The Book That Broke the World (Ace) by Mark Lawrence

The Forgetters (Heyday Books) by Greg Sarris

Lost to Dune Road (Thomas & Mercer) by Kara Thomas

Warrior on the Mound (Holiday House/Peachtree) by Sandra Headed

Pictures of Time (Silver Street Media) by David AlexanderBare Knuckle (Blackstone Publishing) by Stayton Bonner

Murder on Demand (Blackstone Publishing) by Al Roker

Home is Where the Bodies Are (Blackstone) by Jeneva Rose

MAY

Matterhorn by Christopher Reich

The Hunter's Daughter (Berkley) by Nicola Solvinic

The House That Horror Built (Berkley) by Christina Henry

In our stars (Berkley) by Jack Campbell

Freeset (book 2) (Blackstone) by Sarina Dahlan

Southern Man (William Morrow) by Greg Iles

Camino Ghosts (Doubleday) by John Grisham

JUNE

Specter of Betrayal by Rick DeStefanis

Lake County (Thomas & Mercer) by Lori Roy

Serendipity (Dutton) by Becky Chalsen

Shelterwood (Ballantine) by Lisa Wingate

The (Mostly) True Story of Cleopatra’s Needle (Holiday House) by Dan Gutman

Jackpot (Penguin) by Elysa Friedland

The Helper (Blackstone) by M.M. Dewil

Winter Lost (Ace) by Patricia Briggs

Shadow Heart (Blackstone) by Meg Gardiner

Lake Country (Thomas & Mercer) by Lori Roy

The Out-of-Town Lawyer (Blackstone) by Robert Rotten

Love Letter to a Serial Killer (Berkley) by Tasha Coryell

Sentinel Berkley) by Mark Greaney

JULY

Three Kings: Race, Class, and the Barrier-Breaking Rivals Who Redefined Sports and Launched the Modern Olympic Age (Blackstone) by Todd Balf

The Night Ends with Fire (Berkley) by K.X. Song

Echo Road (Montlake) by Melinda Leigh

It’s Elementary (Berkley) by Elise Bryant

You Shouldn’t Be Here (Thomas & Mercer) by Lauren Thoman

Back In Black (Blackstone) edited by Don Bruns

The Recruiter (Blackstone) by Gregg Podolski

AUGUST

You Shouldn’t Be Here (Thomas & Mercer) by Lauren Thoman ARC

Not What She Seems (Thomas & Mercer) by Yasmin Angoe NG

Fatal Intrusion by Jeff Deaver/Isabella Maldonado

Death at Morning House (HARPERTeen) by Maureen Johnson

Fire and Bones (Scribner) by Kathy Reichs

Some Nightmares Are Real (University of Alabama Press) by Kelly Kazoo

The Brothers Kenny (Blackstone) by Adam Mitzner

Blind to Midnight (Blackstone) by Reed Farrel Coleman

The Wayside (Blackstone) by Carolina Wolff

Enemy of the State (Blackstone) by Robert Smartwood

You Will Never Be Me (Berkley) by Jesse Q. Sutanto

On Settler Colonialism: Ideology, Violence, and Justice (W.W. Norton) by Adam Kirsch

We Love the Nightlife (Berkley) by Rachel Koller Croft

Talking To Strangers (Berkley) by Fiona Barton

An Honorable Assassin (Blackstone) by Steve Hamilton possible interview see email

Dungeon Crawler Carl (1 of 6 but see next two months) (Ace) by Matt Dinniman

SEPTEMBER

Fatal Intrusion (Thomas & Mercer) by Jeffrey Deaver and Isabella Maldonado

When They Last Saw Her (Penguin) by Marcie Rendon

American Ghoul (Blackstone) by Michelle McGill-Vargas

First Do No Harm (Blackstone) by Steve Hamilton

A Quiet Life: A Novel (Arcade) by William Cooper and Michael McKinley

One More From the Top (Mariner) by Emily Layden

No Address (Forefront Books) by Ken Abraham.

Tiger’s Tale (Blackstone) by Colleen Houck

An Academy for Liars (Ace) by Alexis Henderson

Rewitched (Berkley) by Lucy Jane Wood

Gaslight (Blackstone) by Sara Shepard and Miles Joris-Peyrafitte

Counting Miracles (Random House) by Nicholas Sparks

The Village Library Demon-Hunting Society (Ace) by C.M. Waggoner

The Hitchcock Hotel (Berkley) by Stephanie Wrobel

In the Garden of Monsters by Crystal King

Carl’s Doomsday Scenario (2 of 6 see next month also) (Ace) by Matt Dinniman

OCTOBER

The Hushed (Blackstone) by K.R. Blair NG

A Grim Reaper’s Guide to Catching a Killer (Berkley) by Maxie Dara

On Settler Colonialism: Ideology, Violence, and Justice (Norton) by WSJ Weekend review editor Adam Kirsch

Framed (Doubleday) by John Grisham and Jim McCloskey

This Cursed House (Penguin) by Del Sandeen

The Puzzle Box (Random House) by Danielle Trussoni

Two Good Men (Blackstone) by S.E. Redfearn

Dark Space (Blackstone) by Rob Hart and Alex Segura

This Cursed House (Berkley’s open submission)by Del Sandeen

Vindicating Trump (Regnery) by Dinesh D’Souza

The Book of Witching (Berkley) by C.J. Cooke

The World Walk (Skyhorse) by Tom Turcich

The Waiting Game by Michael Connelly  ARC, possible interview see email

Beyond Reasonable Doubt (Thomas & Mercer) by Robert Dugoni

Dungeon Anarchist’s Cookbook (3 of 6, with bonus material) (Ace) by Matt Dinniman

Frozen Lives (Blackstone) by Jennifer Graeser Fronbush NG

Vincent, Starry Starry Night (Meteor 17 Books) intro by Don McLean

Paris in Winter: An Illustrated Memoir (PowerHouse Books) by David Coggins

NOVEMBER

The Waiting (Little, Brown) by Michael Connelly

The Teller of Small Fortunes (Penguin) by Julie Long

Shadow Lab (Blackstone) by Brendan Deneen

Trial by Ambush (Thomas & Mercer) by Marcia Clark

Devil Take It (Heresy Press) by Daniel Debs Nossiter

SerVant of Earth (Ace) by Sarah Hawley

All the other me (Blackstone) by Jody Holford

The Perfect Marriage (Blackstone reissue re-edit) by Jenny Rose

DECEMBER

Trial By Ambush (Thomas & Mercer) by Marcia Clark

The Close-Up (Gallery Books) by Pip Drysdale

The Silent Watcher (Thomas & Mercer) by Victor Methos

Leviathan (Lividian Trade HC) by Robert McCammon

The Silent Watcher (Thomas & Mercer) by Victor Method

Assume Nothing (Thomas & Mercer) by Joshua Corin

One example link:
https://enewscourier.com/2024/11/29/in-review-booking-a-full-year-of-reading/

BOOK REVIEW
Assume Nothing: A Thriller


Genre: Fiction, Thriller
Year Released: 2024
Pages: 283, Kindle Edition
Writer(s): Joshua Corin
Where To Read: available December 10, 2024; pre-order your copy here: www.amazon.com

RAVING REVIEW: Set against the grainy, dial-up world of the early internet, ASSUME NOTHING is a gripping narrative that ushers us into the life of Katherine (Kat) McCann, a character who navigates the murky waters of her mysterious past. Now sixteen, she is shrouded by the dark legacy of her mother's unsolved murder—a case that wrongly implicated her father. In the backdrop of the 90s, Katherine, or Kat as friends call her, is not just a character in this world but a young woman embarking on a quest to sift through the digital and all too real echoes of her past.

Kat's journey from online forums to the physical world underlines her story. Her rendezvous with Dev, another fanatic of the mystery genre, transitions from text exchanges to an alliance that propels her into confronting her darkest family legends. Through her interaction with Dev, Kat reveals her deep connection to Carissa Miller's novels—tales penned under the inspiration of detective Alik Lisser, whose real-life sleuthing once implicated her father.

Living under the oppressive roof of her aunt and an authoritarian uncle, Kat's life mirrors the confinements of a noir thriller, complete with shadows and whispers. However, it is within these confines that her resolve to uncover the truth about her mother's death is forged. This resolve is tested and tempered at a crucial lecture at Harvard, where she meets with Lisser. This pivotal moment not only shakes her perceptions but stirs doubts long buried.

The plot thickens as Lisser, touched by the shadows of familiarity in Kat's dilemma, extends an invitation to England, promising to unveil the obscured truths of her past. This trip is not just a journey across continents but a deeper dive into the enigmatic history of Kat's life, blurring the lines between reality and memories, truth and deception.

Author Joshua Corin's portrayal of Kat as a protagonist is profound and almost cinematic. His narrative technique, employing a first-person viewpoint, allows readers to step directly into Kat's shoes, making her psychological and emotional journey our own. The textual rendering of her story is as much about discovering the truth as it is about Kat discovering herself.

The setting of the novel plays a crucial role in framing the narrative. The budding days of the internet, complete with the nostalgic sounds of dial-up connections and the thoughts of AOL chatrooms, not only anchor the story in a specific era but also highlight Kat's innovative approach to bridging the gaps in her life. These settings are integral to exploring the story, reflecting the isolation and connectivity that define Kat's quest.

Corin's narrative style is rich in atmospheric detail, painting each scene from the oppressive confines of Kat's home to the mysterious and almost ethereal aura surrounding Lisser. The genuine dialogue enhances the realism of the interactions and deepens the character development, making the relationships within the story more relatable and the narrative more engaging.

Exploring themes of truth versus perception and the intricate dance between fact and fiction, ASSUME NOTHING is a psychological exploration as much as a thriller. Kat's transformation from an observer to a participant in her story serves as a symbolic call to arms for all readers to question their perceptions of reality.

ASSUME NOTHING is a compelling mix of psychological intrigue and a coming-of-age tale. Corin weaves a story that invites readers to traverse the complex corridors of Kat's past as she seeks answers and autonomy. With some structural choices that defy conventional norms, the novel’s strength lies in its dynamic lead, immersive settings, and the profound exploration of significant, universal themes.

Please visit https://linktr.ee/overlyhonestr for more reviews.

You can follow me on Letterboxd, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube. My social media accounts can also be found on most platforms by searching Overly Honest Reviews.

I’m always happy to hear from my readers; please say hi or send me any questions about movies.

[photo courtesy of THOMAS & MERCER]

“‘Want to see the novel I’m in?’ I asked Dev, and he said yes, though I bet now he wishes he said no. ”
Here are reasons to read the Thriller book:

Mystery Fan - Kat is a huge fan of a mystery author, as well as the real live detective the main character is based on, Alik Lisser
Lecture - So she attends a guest lecture by him at the encouragement of her friend Dev
Invitation - After meeting Alik, he invites Kat and her aunt to stay with him in England for the holidays
Dark past - Oh, did I forget to mention Alik was the detective on the case where Kat’s Dad allegedly killed her mom a long time ago?
This book is filled with some pretty dark backstory. High school Kat hanging out with college Dev, while they are only a few years apart is still slightly weird. But the whole story of this detective and Kat’s family life is so very suspenseful. There is a fairly big twist that is revealed pretty early on, but that’s not the real mystery to this story. This is more about the danger that Kat finds herself in now and how she tries to get people to believe her. It was hard to read, but only because of the anxiousness I felt for her in this situation. Very successful thriller you should check out.

📚 PRE-PUBLICATION BOOK REVIEW 📚

Assume Nothing By Joshua Corin
Publication Date: December 10, 2024
Publisher: Thomas & Mercer

📚MY RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

📚MY REVIEW:

Assume Nothing was a really fun thriller with whodunnit murder mysteries that really held my attention and kept me excitedly anticipating how everything would be solved. I loved the way this book evoked the vibes of classic mysteries, but also brought a different twist in the way the mysteries unfolded.

Set in the 1990s, this story is told from the teenage POV of Kat, whose father was convicted of murdering her mother in 1985 after the crime was solved by an Austrian detective, Alik Lisser. To detach from her grief, Kat discovers the thrill of reading murder mysteries, particularly enjoying books written by the mysterious Carissa Miller, who fictionalized Kat's mother's murder in one of her books. Miller's stories also fictionalized many other murder mysteries solved by Lisser. When Kat has an opportunity to reconnect with Lisser, she is relieved that she could finally have answers to her questions about what REALLY happened to her mother that night...And this was where the story really got good for me.

AOL chat rooms. Pagers. Digital cameras. Burned CDs.The nostalgia in this 1990s mystery thriller brought me back to a simpler time before the advent of social media and the internet. It was so much fun to watch 'armchair detecting' happen before Reddit rabbit holes and cold case websites were available -- and to remember that thrill of logging into the chat room and holding your breath as you waited to see who might be available to chat.

This book required me to suspend a lot of disbelief, as the teenage main character got involved in a lot of situations that seemed pretty implausible for a teenager. However, I had to remember back to life before the internet and social media, when finding information and researching topics required a lot more creativity and legwork than just typing something into a Google search bar. In my opinion, some of the characters' stories seemed to just end and lack a satisfying conclusion. I finished the book and was like, "but, what about this, and what happened with that...??" While this book was labeled as a YA thriller, it didn't necessarily feel that way to me. Sure, there were parts of the story about Kat's high school experiences, but it added depth to Kat's character and didn't come across as young adultish or out-of-place in the story.

Overall, this was a great read, with a fantastic whodunnit mystery and 1990s nostalgia! If you enjoy classic mysteries and nostalgic vibes, you'll love this book! Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for this advanced e-book in exchange for my honest review. (And it's still available as a Read Now if you have NetGalley!)

#AssumeNothing #JoshuaCorin #Thomas&Mercer #amazonpublishing #NetGalley #NetGalleyReviews #ARC #thrillerlover #thrilleraddict #mysteries #youngadultreads #whodunnitmystery #bookreviews #bookrecs #bookrecommendations

With a ‘90s vibe, eccentric characters, and one doozy of a twist, Assume Nothing was the definition of a quick, easy read. Let me, however, start at the beginning… Ostensibly geared for adults, this original plot came across more as a YA mystery to my thriller loving eye. Nevertheless, the compelling storyline and dynamite character arc meant for an intriguing read from the slow burn start to the well-plotted somewhat cliffhanger end. All told, I did enjoy this one—even if there were quite a few issues for me.

My biggest pet peeves with this serial killer yarn, however, were mostly due to the inconsistencies of the writing. From long run-on sentences and lack of chapters to the unnecessary descriptions, I found myself skimming altogether more than I liked. And while I loved the interplay between the two central characters, the entire premise required quite the suspension of all disbelief. The biggest issue for me, though was with Kat. At times wholly immature, the idea that she could ever enact what occurred in the plot verged into absurd.

Despite all of the above, though, I did race through this book in just a matter of hours. Coming in at just under 290 pages, the nostalgic time period, even pace, and fun mixed media format meant for a mostly rollicking good time. After all, if you also came of age in the ‘90s, you’re going to love those AOL IMs. All in all, I did mostly enjoy this one from the character you’ll love to hate to the metafiction feel despite its apparent flaws. Just be prepared for a YA mystery and not a fast-paced thriller meant for adults. As long as you do, this mental game of chess might entertain you as well. Rating of 3 stars.

Thank you to Joshua Corin, Thomas & Mercer, and NetGalley for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.

Assume Nothing by Joshua Corin is a highly recommended mystery. Although this is written as a thriller for adult readers it is a perfectly acceptable YA novel.

Sixteen-year-old Kat McCann is an avid reader and loves the books written by mystery writer Carissa Miller. It's 1995 and she is active in a chat group for Miller's fans, which is where she met 19-year-old Dev. After they become friends, Kat shares her secret with him. When Kat was six years old renowned Austrian detective Alik Lisser solved her mother’s 1985 murder and Miller wrote a novel about the case. Many of her novels were based on the cases solved by criminologist Alik Lisser, however, she changes the name to detective Adrian Lescher in the books.

When Dev and Kat learn that Lisser will be giving a talk nearby they both attend. Lisser notices Kat, remembers who she is, and contacts her, inviting her and her aunt to visit him in England. Once there, Kat, who wanted to know the truth behind her mother's murder, has many of her beliefs challenged.

This is an intriguing, compelling mystery with an even paced plot that picks up toward the end. All of the twists along the way are interesting and they will hold your attention in this quick read. It can also feel a bit nostalgic with some of the chat group texts included in the story. Readers will have to set some disbelief aside. The biggest drawback to the narrative is the lack of chapters.

Kat is the narrator, which lends the YA feel to the whole novel. She is a wonderful, fully realized book-smart teen who loves reading mysteries. Her youth provides an enthusiasm and courageousness to the plot that is not entirely based on experience, but she has also had to deal with some real difficulties in life, including the death of her parents and an abusive uncle. Lisser is a creepy, know-it-all who is intensely unlikable. Pedro and Dev are nice supporting characters.

All in all, Assume Nothing is a fun, engaging mystery with a teen protagonist. Thanks to Thomas & Mercer for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

The review will be published on Edelweiss, Barnes & Noble and Amazon.

Great premise with so much potential, unfortunately it devolves into a confusing mess that is impossible to follow.

Thomas & Mercer provided an early galley for review.

I was not familiar with Corin's earlier work in young adult novels and Marvel Comics, but this sounded like an interesting mystery set in a familiar decade. That tone is set right out of the gate when the characters are interacting via an AOL chat room. That certainly takes me back.

However, there were several minuses for me as well. First, there is no real "chapter" structure; the book instead relies on pause breaks throughout which makes it difficult for highly organized folks like me to keep track easily of where they are. Second, I did not connect with the narrative voice; Kat is a high school teen and therefore tells her story in a similar fashion. While this style would most definitely appeal to young adult readers, as an elderly reader I found it a bit unappealing at times. Lastly, it felt unnatural for Kat's friend Dev to say f'ing all the time rather than just swear with the actual word. A college student in the 90's most certainly would have sworn. This seems like the author trying to give the character an edge but avoid offending the reader with constant use of a word that would give a film an R-rating very quickly.

About a third of the way in, the plot takes a huge turn. I can see it being concerning for some readers (I certainly found it to be). To see a path forward from that point, I had to suspend belief and rely on the fact that the narrator is still an inexperienced child. My concern, though, was that Kat would end up being much more than her sixteen years would imply impossible in order to get past these circumstances. Again, it had that YA book feel where characters like this are often found. Despite all the things I did not like about it, I still finished the novel anyway with my concern being very much validated in the end.

The storyline, the characters and the descriptive writing of the different locations and scenes throughout this book was great. However, the dialogue was a bit too YA/Teen for my liking. I found this really hard to finish reading (I got about half way, got bored, left it for 2 months, then got back to it). I would only recommend this book to young teenagers, not young adults.