Friday Reads 5.29.25

Ailurophiles and Anechoics Unite

Hallo, and happy Friday! It’s good to see you. I hope your week has been uneventful and fruitful. Mine’s been quiet and full of words. Making real progress on the new book, finally. So many starts and stops in the first half of a story as the foundation is laid. I am very much ready for the second half of this book to start. It always goes 10x faster than the beginning. As I mentioned in my Notes this week, finishing is vital, and I am eager to be a month hence, when I will (hopefully) be closer to typing ‘The End’.

But for the moment, I’m shifting gears. I’ve started counting down to the release of LAST SEEN (OMG 63 days 😱.) Since August 1 will be here in the blink of an eye, it’s time to start prepping. PA Paige has some amazing ideas for our socials, and publicist extraordinaire Rachel has been working hard in the background to get the tour and all the necessary coverage set up. I’ve already taped a few podcast interviews, and today, I am officially beginning the requisite essays and interviews. They are diverse, wide-ranging, and should be a lot of fun.

It’s a somewhat surreal moment, really. I must step out of the make-believe world I am currently creating and cast my mind back a year to the writing of LAST SEEN and the make-believe world that I’ve already made. I have to remember the inspirations, the ideas, the aches and pains and joys of writing the book. Fortunately, I have a comprehensive record of the entire process in the 22 Steps series. Still, it’s vital to remember the little things, such as putting together a Pinterest mood board to establish the aesthetic and convey the proper sense of claustrophobia and fear that surrounded the creation of this story. And realizing when I deleted Instagram from my phone at the beginning of the year, I deleted the two VERY cool reels I’d made based on my dark forest screensaver. Oops.

Also, a poignant anniversary is coming in fast and hard. June 7 will be exactly two years since I wrote the proposal for LAST SEEN. It feels like yesterday. That was sweet Jameson’s last night on this earth, and I cling to the knowledge that she gave me this story. The original title was "Her Last Night,” and while I initially resisted changing it, I’m glad I did now, as it allows me to separate the marketing of the book from the sorrow of her passing.

You will be shocked to hear there is a cat in LAST SEEN. His name is Ailuros—inventive, I know (the word Ailuros is Greek for cat)—and he is a spoiled, chonky Siamese with a heart of gold. I loved writing him into the story. My very first cat was a very vocal Siamese named Jezebel. I got her a few days before my fifth birthday, and she lived to the ripe old age of 23. She saw me through every life event from kindergarten to marriage. It’s incredible, really, to be blessed with such longevity. She was an adorable soul. And the first of our J cats… I can’t think of her without thinking of Jasmine, Jemima, Jiblet, and Jade. And of course, Jameson and Jordan. All very good girls, much loved.

There is also an anechoic chamber in this book. If you’re not familiar…consider the utter dislocation brought about by the absence of all sensory input. For writers, to make a story come alive, you must ground the reader in all five senses. An anechoic chamber removes them from your surroundings. Imagine how fun the research was for this! I am compiling a bibliography of all the books and articles I read for research on LAST SEEN, and I will include some articles on these terrifying creations.

Onward!

SILVER ELITE by Dani Francis was great. It’s been compared to Divergent and The Hunger Games, and while it’s not quite as philosophically complex as those stories, it was a compelling and quick read that I heartily enjoyed. I’m anxious for the next book in the series to drop.

Next up is the wonderful Alex Finlay’s PARENTS WEEKEND. I absolutely love his books, and I can’t wait to spend MY weekend with his story. Great premise, too.

I also have a gorgeous copy of THE ONES WE LOVE by Anna Snoekstra. If you haven’t read her before, I highly recommend her work. Very cool. It’s interesting how memory is a big component to suspense these days. I’m playing with it myself.

Have I recommended JULIE CHAN IS DEAD to you yet? I read it as a galley, and it’s now available. A searing satire, a clever mystery, and a completely over-the-top ending make it a total hoot of a book. Liann Zhang has a huge future ahead.

The Dark Academia collection, IN THESE HALLOWED HALLS, is on sale this week. If you’ve not read it, it’s chock-full of excellent stories. I am reading Olivie Blake’s story first since I am now a superfan after reading THE ATLAS SIX. THE ATLAS PARADOX is on my TBR too…

I’m really looking forward to Taylor Jenkins Reid’s new book, ATMOSPHERE, which comes out Tuesday. I think we all need more books about female astronauts. Granted, the one I wrote with Catherine features an astronaut who is a wee bit bonkers, but it was a lot of fun to research and write. Space is the ultimate anechoic chamber… but of course we can’t experience it fully without imploding…

We’re also going to start watching the TV show based on Alafair Burke’s THE BETTER SISTER. So cool to see that book make it to the small screen.

In Jayne news, I’m very grateful for all the love on THE SCROLLS OF TIME release last week! The first reviews have started coming in, and they’re very positive. It seems I did my job, making sure the series goes out with a bang. I would be remiss not to mention the entire series is on sale for .99 this week!

Also, on Tuesday, you will be able to purchase/download my short story LOUCHE 49. It was first published in the INFINITY anthology from Suspense Magazine. It will be available in Kindle Unlimited for the first 90 days, and then I’ll make it available widely. I love this story of a French spy’s demise and her daughter’s quest to find the truth. It was inspired by the French noir film Elevator to the Gallows.

That’s it from me this week. What are you up to, and reading, this weekend? Any great recommendations for us?

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