The book started off suspenseful and had my full attention. I liked the idea of the oldies group getting involved with small town sleuthing and being introduced to podcasting. Those characters were fun! But there were just a lot of characters throughout the story and it was hard to keep track of them all and their storylines. It also got a bit stagnant as it progressed. The ending picked up some but there really weren’t any shocking twists.

Thank you NetGalley, Harlequin Audio and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the ALC and ARC.

⭐️⭐️Review⭐️⭐️
📖 Title: Nothing Ever Happens Here
🧍‍♀️Author: Seraphina Nova Glass

About?
Long-time friends Shelby and Mackenzie live in cold, snow-filled Minnesota. Shelby is viciously attacked inside Mackenzie’s coffee shop late one night and no one knows who did it or why. Shelby wants to just move on, but the other strange part is the same night, Mackenzie’s husband Leo, goes missing - vanishes into thin air.

The fun component of this book is Oleander’s, a senior living run by Shelby. There is a small group of seniors that get together and create a podcast that ends up going viral to bring attention to the case. Between Florence, Herb, and Mort - there is an endless supply of entertainment as they work together to solve the crime over podcast.

Makes you feel?

This was a fun thriller. The small town vibes did something for me personally as I live in a small town and know how everyone knows everyone and families grown up together. The group of senior citizens are absolutely hysterical and add such a fun element to the story.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you so much to @Netgally & @seraphinanovaglass & @harpercollinsca for an advanced digital and physical copy in exchange for an honest review.

Master storyteller Seraphina Nova Glass returns following The Vacancy in Room 10 (top books of 2024) with her latest twisty whodunit thriller, NOTHING EVER HAPPENS HERE. The novel is filled with quirky characters, witty senior sleuths, a mystery, a podcast, and a spine-chilling atmospheric snowy winter Minnesota setting, all woven into an engaging plot that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

About...

Shelby Dawson, a resilient survivor, is on the path to recovery after a traumatic, violent attack over a year ago at a coffee shop, where she was left for dead.

The same night, her best friend, Mack's husband Leo, goes missing. Are the two connected?

Shelby tries to move on and then begins to receive sinister messages on her car, cryptic notes that suggest her attacker is still out there, taunting her and threatening her safety.

Meanwhile, she works at a senior assisted housing (The Oleander), and they begin working together to solve the mystery. These tenacious, funny seniors soon go viral with a podcast, which becomes a crucial tool in their investigation.

A missing husband and a potential killer on the loose. What is happening in this small Northern Minnesota town, and how do the pieces connect?

My thoughts...

NOTHING EVER HAPPENS HERE is captivating, unpredictable, intense suspense with a cozy feel, mystery, and memorable, fun senior sleuths.

I laughed as I recently moved to an independent senior living facility on Oleander Street (Greenlawn Manor). I love stories that involve seniors as they are resourceful with active minds, and this twist adds to the narrative.

While this book is a little different than her last, Glass is a pro, and I enjoy how she blends dark, twisty psychological thrillers with fun and well-developed cozy characters with humor and wit.

The charming cast of seniors, particularly Florence, injects delightful humor into the story, making it a truly entertaining read. The narrative is action-packed, with a chilling small-town atmosphere, and filled with twists, misdirection, and clever surprises.

Recs...

The thriller is for fans of the author and those who enjoy small-town stories and cozy mysteries with humor and memorable senior sleuths.

I look forward to listening to the audiobook version narrated by Brittany Pressley, Stacey Glemboski, and Petrea Burchard.

Thanks to Graydon House and NetGalley for sharing a digital reviewer copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.

Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 4.5 Stars
Pub Date: Feb 11, 2025
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Not For Everyone. Read It Anyway. This is one of those tales that with its focus on a distinct type of character - namely, elderly residents of a care home - and with its use of multiple perspectives to tell its tale won't be something everyone likes. Well, not everyone likes [insert your personal favorite book here], so read this one anyway and maybe see some things from perspectives you might never have considered before. To me, Glass creates her characters well - yes, they are all old and have some stereotypical elder shenanigans, but they're also all truly complex characters with their own secrets and motivations and connections, and this winds up working well to drive the narrative, particularly as we get deeper into the overall story here.

Ultimately a satisfying thriller that sits comfortably within its genre as far as overall story goes, and with the particular characters employed helps it to stand out a bit from the literal millions of other books within this general space. If you enjoy thrillers at all, this is absolutely one you should check out. And even if you don't generally enjoy thrillers, this is still an interesting one to try out to see if you may be more open to the genre than you thought.

Very much recommended.

This was such a FUN thriller! Not sure I have ever described a thriller that way but throw in a group of nosy-wannabe detective senior citizens and fun is what you have. I ate this book up in less than a day!

Nothing Ever Happens Here was a fast and fun thriller. The start of the book really kicks things off with all the suspense to lay the foundation to the story. The rest of the book is spent wondering what happened that night and why as told from various POVs. The best part were the sleuthing senior citizens and their podcast. It's always hilarious when grumpy old people are in a story. They provided a comedic break between the more serious scenes in the book. If you're looking for a quick read, check out this thriller!

Many thanks to NetGalley, Harlequin Publishing Graydon House, Harlequin Audio for gifting me both a digital and audio ARC of the latest thriller by Serephina Nova Glass. All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4 stars!

Nothing ever happens in a small Minnesota town - until it does. After surviving an attack where the perpetrator was never found, Shelby Dawson has tried to move on. But an anonymous note on her windshield with the same words that her attacker used, Shelby is terrified. Meanwhile, a group of senior citizens in the home that Shelby manages decides to investigate on their own. Shelby's friend, Mackenzie, is also reeling because her husband disappeared the night Shelby was attacked and hasn't been seen since.

Told from multiple POV, this is a fun thriller. You may have to suspend reality a bit, but it's worth it! I loved the group of senior citizens - from the one who has a not-so-secret podcast to their banding together to investigate the crimes around them. They added humor and personality to this mystery, for sure. There are quite a few characters and the plot is a bit on the slower side, but I was anxious to see how it would all play out. Plus, the Minnesota weather and small town feel made this an atmospheric read. I thought the cast narration was spot on, and I quickly switched to listening to the audio.

3.5⭐️

Major thanks to NetGalley, Harlequin Audio & Harlequin Trade Publishing for the advanced copies of this new thriller - releasing TOMORROW!!!!

I am a big Serpahina Nova Glass fan. I recommend her quite regularly, so I was beyond ecstatic to get early copies of her newest novel. I would say this one is quite like her others - full of characters, crazy plot twists & lots of adrenaline rushes!

My only downfall with this one is that I felt like there were just a few too many characters and there were a couple points where I found myself a little confused on who I was getting at the time. I think maybe had I solely read this versus doing the hybrid visual and audio, it may have worked better.

Even still I think this wrapped up nicely and I will continue to recommend Glass's work to my fellow thriller lovers!

Seraphina Nova Glass never disappoints. She's become one of my must-read authors. In Nothing Ever Happens Here, she uses one of my favorite plots, a small town where everyone knows everyone, and there is a killer on the loose. While not a true locked-room mystery, there are only so many players. When everyone is hiding something, they're all a suspect at one time or another, but what made this book stand out for me is the residents of the Oleander. I wish they were part of a series, because they're hilarious, and they had me looking forward to their snarky dialogue and whatever they would be up to next. I loved this book, and I'm already excited for her next.

I absolutely loved this small-town thriller! There was so much going on with a lot of characters, but the author made it easy to keep up with everything. Action packed from the very start! I listened to the audio while reading the ebook at the same time. If I were to have to choose one method or the other, I think I would choose the audio because the narrator did such a good job!

Thank you to NetGalley, Seraphina Nova Glass, Harlequin Trade Publishing and Harlequin Audio for an advanced readers copy and an advanced listeners copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was my first Seraphina Nova Glass novel, and I really enjoyed it! Also—what a cool name for an author. LOL.

Shelby has spent over a year trying to move on from a brutal attack, but just when she starts to feel safe again, a chilling note appears—echoing the exact words her attacker once said. Suddenly, her peaceful small-town life is turned upside down as new evidence emerges, old secrets resurface, and people close to her start disappearing. And just to make things even more chaotic, a well-meaning but nosy group of senior citizens takes it upon themselves to investigate—accidentally turning the case into an online sensation.

The real stars of this book? The fearless and hilarious senior sleuths, led by the unforgettable Florence. Their amateur detective work brings both heart and humor to the story, balancing out the intense suspense. Shelby’s friendship with Mackenzie also feels authentic, adding emotional depth to the mystery.

Glass keeps the twists coming, expertly weaving misdirection and surprises that will keep you guessing until the very end. The mix of small-town unease, unexpected alliances, and high-stakes danger makes this a fast-paced, unputdownable thriller.

If you love mysteries with gripping suspense, quirky characters, and a plot full of surprises, this book is definitely worth the read!

A woman is attacked in a small Minnesota town with no resolution, and a year later begins receiving anonymous threats. With the help of the residents of the senior community where she works, she tries to piece together who could be targeting her and why.

I liked this one! I liked it more than The Vacancy In Room 10 because of the levity the senior citizens added with their sleuthing antics. This was a fun winter mystery with a lot of descriptions of snow, ice, and cold.

Thank you to NetGalley and Graydon House Books for the free digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!

This one was very hyped up on Instagram, so I was excited to finally get to it. And I really enjoyed most of it. But the end was so out of left field and goofy, I immediately rolled my eyes and it ruined it for me.

Fifteen months after surviving a brutal attack, Shelby is finally starting to feel safe again in her quiet Minnesota town until an anonymous note appears, echoing the same chilling threats from that night. In a place where everyone knows everyone, paranoia spreads as new evidence emerges and suspicious accidents begin targeting those closest to her. Meanwhile, her best friend Mack is searching for answers about her missing husband, Leo, whose financial secrets suggest he may not be gone after all.

Told through multiple POVs, Nothing Ever Happens Here weaves a well plotted thriller of obsession and manipulation, featuring a cast of unique and eccentric characters. While I enjoyed the layered suspense and twists, there were a lot of characters to keep track of, which made things a bit overwhelming at times. Plus, the lack of action from law enforcement throughout the book was frustrating. Still, the small town setting and compelling mystery kept me hooked. I’d rate this one 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4!

Shelby and Mack are best friends living in a small town. One night when one of Shelby’s daughters leaves her favorite stuff toy in Mack’s cafe Shelby runs in real quick to get it only to find a masked man looking through papers. Shelby is attacked and left for dead but survives, only to be haunted by the experience. The same night Mack’s husband disappears, leaving in his absence mounds of debt and missing money. Years later both women try to move on but can they when the man who’s responsible is still out there.

This book was so incredibly engaging I stayed up late just to finish it. The writing was so well done and kept me on the edge of my seat. I loved the different point of views and the characters of the assisted living residents that helped to “solve” the crime was a very nice part of the story. The story had a great ending that felt like it was a great way to tie up the loose ends.

Thank you to Netgalley and to the publishers for allowing me to read this advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

This story told in multi-POV format, opens in a small town in Minnesota with a chilling attack on Shelby, occurring on the same night that her best friend Mackenzie's husband goes missing. As Shelby tries to piece her life back together, she receives an ominous message that frightens her. The suspense builds as time runs out to protect Shelby and her loved ones. Unexpectedly, a group of octogenarians who have recently started a podcast come to her aid.

I have read a few of this author's books and enjoy her ability to create interesting characters with a strong sense of community. This time, alongside the compelling female leads Shelby and Mackenzie ("Mack"), we meet a group of older residents living in a senior citizen facility. They become amateur detectives through their brand new podcast. I particularly loved the humor they brought, especially the characters Herb and Florence. They provided heartwarming moments and comic relief that balanced the story's darker elements and ultimately stole the show.

Although this was a quick read, the pacing slowed a bit in the middle after a riveting start. However, it picks up again, and the suspense intensifies in the second half. I did guess who the culprit was early on, but this did not lessen my enjoyment as some surprises still awaited me. And, I appreciated the clever twists and shocking ending. Fans of domestic thrillers and suspense will want to check this out!

Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing, Graydon House, and Netgalley for the gifted ARC

Out of everything I've read from Seraphina Nova Glass, this was the hardest book to get through. It's not because of the chapters told from different characters' POVs; I enjoy books that give more than one perspective as the story goes along, I also felt for both Shelby and Mack throughout the story. The author also kept the true culprit's identity so well hidden that I had no clue who it could be (besides who it couldn't be) up until the final chapters. It was the fact that the pacing of the book was just too slow a burn for me. Other than that, if you enjoy murder mysteries where the culprit is impossible to guess, then this one is for you!

Nothing Ever Happens Here by Seraphina Nova Glass
✨ Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
💃🏼 Vibes: Reimagining Grumpy Old Men as a thriller.
📕 If you like ______, you’ll like this: Cozier thrillers; atmospheric reads
📖/🎧 Read Type: ARC (thank you to @netgalley, Seraphina Nova Glass, and Harlequin Trade Publishing!)

In a quiet Minnesota town, Shelby survives a mysterious, unsolved brutal attack. Fifteen months later, she receives a threatening note, signaling her nightmare isn't over. Her best friend, Mack, searches for her missing husband, uncovering financial secrets linking him to Shelby's attack. Independently, they investigate, as does a group of seniors at the group home Shelby manages. Their combined efforts reveal a sinister truth hidden beneath the town's tranquil surface.

Nothing Ever Happens Here was a super fun read that I devoured in two sittings. (This isn’t surprising because I love Seraphina Nova Glass’s writing style—On a Quiet Street was one of my favorite books in 2023.) The pacing was great and the mystery surrounding Shelby's attack and Mack's husband was extremely compelling. That said, some parts were a reach. If I had to name names, it was largely the group of senior citizens running a true crime podcast and being the key to solving the mystery that took me out of it. Further, I LOVE small town settings; it’s also my origin story. But because of that, I’m keenly aware that there’s no way Mack’s husband could have gotten away with several years of gambling and swindling without it being big news in every checkout line. Still, if you're able to suspend your disbelief and are looking for a page-turner that'll keep you guessing, this is it!

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Solid mystery thriller with a cozy type touch.

In a small Minnesota town two best friends are reeling from events that took place over a year ago. Shelby interrupted what might have been a burglary inside her friend’s cafe and was left to die. Suffering some frostbite amputations and trying to get herself back into a good place mentally, she’s shaken when a threatening note appears on the windshield of her car. Is he back? Meanwhile, Mack, the best friend, is broken and haunted because her husband, Leo, vanished the same night of Shelby’s attack. Bad things start happening to Shelby and the seniors at the rest home she manages rally around but no one knows who is responsible.

I liked the setting and the characters, especially the seniors. What a hoot. They interjected some fun moments and snarky humor into the story making the situation seem less ominous even though some seriously nasty stuff, including murder, was going on. I really liked those interactions. The story was a bit predictable and it was easy to guess who the bad guy was despite the red herrings and the dangled hints. The narrative shifted in point of view and the pace was fast.

I was able to listen to the audiobook while also following along in the e-book ARC, both provided by the publishers. The 3 female narrators did a nice job voicing their character parts with the appropriate dramatic flair and this enhanced my enjoyment of the book.

I recently started reading Seraphina Nova Glass, due to her popularity on bookstagram, and this is my first time reading one of her books pre-publication. I switched back and forth between my ebook and audio copies (thanks to @netgalley and @htp_hive for copies both in exchange for my honest opinion!), and finished reading it during my flight to DC yesterday morning. I love a short, direct morning flight, and I love how easy it is to get into the city after landing at DCA.
Nothing Ever Happens Here may be the title of this one, but there is a LOT that happens in this book! It started with a crazy hostage-type situation, and it was hard for me to put it down after that. The book takes place in small town Minnesota, which isn’t your typical contemporary book setting.
There are great side characters in this book, in particular some old-folk home residents who take it upon themselves to try to solve the mystery. I could see these characters getting along well with the characters in How to Age Disgracefully by Clare Pooley, as there is similar humor involved here.
I’m having trouble giving much of a summary for this book without giving away key parts of the mystery, so I’ll just say if you enjoy books set in small towns where the adage “nothing ever happens here” is NOT true, this book may be up your alley. I thought the audiobook was done well, and I recommend both forms of this one. It will be available on Tuesday, and I’m excited to add the author to my list of auto-read authors. If you haven’t checked out her blacklist, I recommend On a Quiet Street and The Vanishing Hour, but I’m still working my way through some of her previous releases.