If you will be looking for spooky books for the Halloween season this year then this book should definitely be on your list.

This was such a good book. I loved the story and the writing so much. The characters were great and the story flowed smoothly. Will definitely read more books by this author in the future.

I typically stick to fantasy and romance, so I wasn’t sure what to expect with my first mystery—but I seriously could not put this book down. Every time I thought I had it all figured out, I realized I knew nothing. And honestly, that’s what made it so much fun. The story kept me on my toes from start to finish.

Doloras was such a brilliantly written character. Her emotions felt raw and real, and since she didn’t have all the answers either, it was easy to feel just as lost as she did. The cast of characters was so distinct, each personality adding something unique to the story. And the eerie, haunting atmosphere? Perfection. I already know I’ll be rereading this around Halloween.

I’m still in shock that this was Rachel Louise Adams’s debut. The moment I finished, I immediately went to buy her other books—because I need more!

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the ARC—my thoughts are entirely my own.

This was SO good. It kept my attention the entire time and I even put down other books to focus on this one. My jaw dropped to the floor several times towards the end, I didn’t see any of it coming. This is one of the top crime/murder novels I have read.

This book was amazing. It drew me in word after word, page after page. The main character Dolores was so strong and had so many layers. The villain was so unexpected that I gasped audibly when I learned who it was. This was an excellent thriller and mystery novel. You really fell in love with the love story that was in the book and by the end I was rooting for Jacob and Dolores. Read this book if you love mystery and suspense.

An interesting who done it thriller, it kept my interest throughout the book. I have a love/ hate feeling for the characters mostly love four, hated the rest (they deserve the hate). It’s like an R rated Halloween Town minus the actual supernatural creatures, the real monster is people. I
The only problem I had was the ending dragged a bit too much.

I ate this book up. It's a perfect spooky season read!

What really sold me over were all the Halloween puns (they're aren't cringe or overused), and the main setting of the story, Little Horton, is a small town that's Halloween obsessed, and to add a cherry on top, has a violent history -- Think Salem. Dolores Hawthorn has made her way back to the town in the wake of her father's disappearance. Throughout the story, we find out about the falling out of the two richest families in Little Horton and the history of why Dolores stayed away for 18 years.

This is a perfect vibey read for Halloween this year and had a fun time reading it. I usually don't like books with a mystery but this one had enough elements to it that made me have a good time reading.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC for an honest review!

It's been twenty years since Dolores has been in her hometown, the Halloween obsessed Little Horton in Wisconsin, after she ran away at 18 for a different life in Los Angeles.

Now working as a forensic pathologist, she is abruptly summoned to return to Wisconsin by the FBI who want her to be interviewed as her father, a former mayor turned US Senator, has ostensibly been kidnapped and foul play is suspected. Now Delores must face the family she hasn't spoken to in 20 years and the town she tried to forget. And all is not well in Little Horton, and even with the Hawthorns themselves, but Delores is determined to find her father and untangle the web that lies before her.

That this is a debut shows such talent and future success for Rachel Louise Adams. The story is a taut thriller with so many twists and turns and an array of intriguing, well defined characters. I absolutely devoured this book, enjoying the surprises around every corner. No Rest for the Wicked is the definition of unputdownable. 5 well deserved stars.

I received this advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review and feedback.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Oh my goodness, I have officially found my favorite mystery read of 2025 so far! No Rest for the Wicked by Rachel Louise Adams reminded me why I love mystery books so much!

In No Rest for the Wicked, we follow the story of forensic pathologist Dolores Hawthorne, who returns back to her hometown, famous for its Halloweens celebrations, after leaving eighteen years ago. Dolores would never have returned if it hadn’t been for discovering that her father, the town’s mayor, has gone missing along with other characters being murdered once she returns!

Although a town famous for its Halloween celebrations sounds like an amazing time to anyone else, for Dolores, it reminds her of the traumatic events she experienced, which led to her leaving! Also, the town has a history of brutal deaths on the holiday—talk about spooky! Even though she wants nothing to do with her past, her past may provide answers to her father’s disappearance!

The twists and reveals in this book felt like a roller coaster that I gladly hopped on! One thing I love about mystery books is the ability to get shocked, especially because one of my favorite things to do is to guess the plot. So when I happen to get shocked, the book is an immediate YES from me! I loved it so much, and the writing is perfect for Rachel Louise Adams’ debut novel! I know this book is going to be a hit!

Thank you so much to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for providing me with an early copy to review!

This was a very cute book. I have never read anything from her, but I’m going to read more from her.

I really enjoyed this book! It was super engaging. It had Halloween vibes without being a full blown Halloween book. There was murder, mystery, feuding families, family secrets, and everyone has baggage lol.

The story follows Dolores, a forensic pathologist, who returns home to the Halloween obsessed small town of Little Horton after being gone for 18 years. Her father, the former Mayor and US Senator, was violently kidnapped from his home. While there, she is faced with the trauma and guilt of her past.

I like that we get a few other character povs. In addition to the main story, there are a few sub plots taking place and I thought they all came together really well. No loose ends or plot holes. Past colliding with present. The Halloween component was cool. Not overpowering. There were shocking twists as well! Overall, great book! Thoroughly enjoyed it.

Thank you

I was so sucked into the mystery of this story that I ended up finishing the book in a matter of hours in a single day. The twists and turns kept me hooked the whole way through. A great read for fans of tense mystery.

I am not usually a thriller enjoyer but I enjoyed this one quite a bit. Everyone had a secret and they all wove together very well. Loved the small town vibes and the Halloween vibes.

One of the novel’s strongest aspects is its well-developed characters. FMC is not only intelligent and resourceful but also deeply human, making their struggles and triumphs all the more engaging. The antagonist is equally compelling, adding layers of psychological depth to the story.

I’m a sucker for anything with cats, and this cover? Say no more.

At first, I thought I was settling in for a cozy mystery set in a Halloween-loving town. Instead, I got small-town secrets, a high body count, and puzzles that fit together perfectly by the end.

Thank you to Netgalley for my arc!

This book takes place in the fictional town of Little Horton, or Little H as they refer to it. A town that seems very much like Salem. Known as Halloween town with a violent history, lots of tourists who show up each fall. The author plays up the spooky/Halloween things which I LOVE and it doesn't feel overdone. IE, one of the local cops name is Officer Butcher. A local doctor who isn't known to have the softest hand or the greatest bedside manner is nicknamed The Ripper etc...

Naturally, everything falls apart days before Halloween. As small, towns go, there are two well known families with lots of ,money between them that everybody knows and loves. The Hawthornes (another Salem nod - Nathaniel Hawthorne is from there) & the Alexanders.

Dolores Hawthorne is called back to her hometown of Little Horton, which she'd left behind 18 years ago, because her father has gone missing. That night fractured her family, we learn why in pieces, flashbacks, throughout the story.

2003 was a rough year for Little Horton where a handful of events - missing teenager, an assault, and so much more all occurred, Everyone seems to have a lot of trauma from that time and has buried things down deep, this novel unravels it all to explain what happened. Are the events from then connected to the events now? Is his disappearance related to his political career? Or has he just run off for his own reasons?

I definitely recommend this book, it will be such a perfect read this spooky season!

This book is giving all the Halloween vibes, which I LOVE. The mystery keeps hold of you until the end and Dolores was an enjoyable narrator. I look forward to reading more of Rachel’s books in the future!

Very enjoyable read. Lots of twists and turns, with characters you can feel for. Would consider it a leisurely read, not something I sped read through but definitely kept me reeled in.
Gotta love a strong FMC with a backbone!

Thank you to the author and publisher for an ARC copy


Trust no one. The high speed roller coaster this book takes you on is no joke. You think you have an idea of what’s happening? Here’s another turn. I did have an idea of what the motive was behind the killing in this Little Halloween Town but I did not have the right culprit. This book was written magnificently and I hope Dolores is a character in a future novel!

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Rachel Louise Adams makes an unforgettable debut with “No Rest for the Wicked,” a gripping thriller filled with family secrets, political intrigue, and a chilling mystery that keeps you on edge. Set in the Halloween-obsessed town of Little Horton, Wisconsin—famous for both its festivities and its violent history—the book follows forensic pathologist Dolores Hawthorne as she is forced to confront the past she fled decades ago.

When Dolores’s father, a former mayor turned U.S. Senator, goes missing under suspicious circumstances, she returns home for the first time in nearly twenty years. But she’s not just facing a missing person case—she’s also stepping back into a fractured family and a town filled with people who remember her as the girl who disappeared. With childhood friends holding grudges, a resentful stepmother, and half-siblings who barely know her, Dolores is met with a chilling welcome. And as the FBI, led by Agent Wyatt, begins investigating, it becomes clear that her father’s disappearance is linked to another tragedy from Dolores’s past: the vanishing of her childhood friend years ago.

Told through multiple perspectives—including Dolores, Wyatt, a local police officer, and another FBI agent—the book expertly unravels a layered mystery, keeping you guessing with every twist and turn. Adams’s writing shines in her ability to weave together the past and present, with flashbacks revealing the traumatic events that led Dolores to leave Little Horton in the first place. Her complex character development adds emotional depth, particularly as Dolores struggles to stop running from her past and finally face the truth.

The pacing is tight, the suspense is relentless, and the twists are unexpected, making for an exhilarating read. The book’s ending ties up the loose ends satisfyingly, though I did wish for just a bit more closure with certain characters like Wyatt and Teddy. The political undertones and the town’s eerie Halloween backdrop add an extra layer of intrigue, making “No Rest for the Wicked” not just a thriller, but a deeply atmospheric and emotionally resonant novel as well as a commentary on the rich and powerful who believe they can get away with anything.

Rachel Louise Adams proves she is a master of suspense with this debut. For fans of psychological thrillers and crime fiction with a strong emotional core, “No Rest for the Wicked” is a must-read. And with such a compelling protagonist, one can only hope that this won’t be the last we see of Dolores Hawthorne.