Top Ten Tuesday – Books I Want to Read Before the End of 2026

On November 10, 2026 By The Unseen LibraryIn List3 Comments

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly task that currently resides at The Artsy Reader Girl and features bloggers sharing lists on various book topics. For this latest Top Ten Tuesday the official topic involved listing book characters they wish were real people. However, I am going to do something a little different and instead I am going to list the top ten novels I want to read before the end of 2026.

We are once again nearing the end of another interesting and chaotic year, with only around 50 days left in it. While I am rather keen to see what’s going to happen in 2027, I am very mindful of the big pile of novels from this year currently sitting on my table (and a couple of bookshelves, and several parts of the floor). So, with that in mind, I thought I would pull together a list to inspire me to read these books and knock them out before this year comes to an end.

For this list I have had a look through my many book piles and reading lists to work out which novels I really need to read before the year ends. To focus this on the books that are cluttering up my house or my audiobook storage, I decided to exclude novels that I do not currently have copies of (such The Sword of Rome by Simon Scarrow) or books featured in my latest Book Haul post (I need a chance to actually read them). Using these parameters, I was able to come up with a list of 10 books (with some honourable mentions), that I would really like to read before the year ends. This list includes an interesting range of novels, including some big 2026 releases and some other novels that came in under the radar. All 10 sound like outstanding reads and I desperately hope I have time to read them all.

Honourable Mentions:

Full Circle by Chris Hammer

A cool standalone novel from a major Australian crime fiction author, whose books I always accidently avoid reading.

The Dungeon Book by Gareth Hanrahan

An entertaining fantasy novel that has been on my radar for a while.

The Cruise by Naïma Brown

A very interesting nautical revenge thriller with a fun plot behind it.

Eight Tastes of Treachery by Ryan Rose

The sequel to the excellent 2025 debut, Seven Recipes for Revolution, Eight Tastes of Treachery sounds like an amazing follow-up and I’m keen to continue the series.

Top Ten List:

Star Wars: Edge of the Abyss by Rebecca Roanhorse

The first book on this list is the Star Wars novel, Edge of the Abyss. The second book in the Reign of the Empire series, Edge of the Abyss serves as a sequel to The Mask of Fear and will continue to focus on tyrannical rule of the Empire. I have had the audiobook version of Edge of the Abyss loaded up on my phone for a while, and it is a key book I want to check out before the end of the year. I honestly might even start trying to listen to it next, especially as this book has an exciting and interesting plot, as well as a new author helming the second entry with the talented Rebecca Roanhorse.

First Mage on the Moon by Cameron Johnston

After having a blast with some of his other outstanding standalone fantasy novels, such as The Maleficent Nine and The Last Shield, I am keen to check out Cameron Johnston’s 2026 release, First Mage on the Moon. Featuring a fantastic plot about a group of wizards trying to secretly produce a magical rocket that can go to the moon, First Mage on the Moon sounds like an incredible read, and its one I’m very confident I am going to love. I’ve currently got First Mage on the Moon on audiobook, but I might also seek out a paperback copy going forward in case that gives me more opportunity to read this book before the end of 2026.

One of Us is Guilty by Steve Cavanagh

A key crime fiction novel I still need to read this year is the legal thriller One of Us is Guilty by Steve Cavanagh. The latest book in the author’s Eddie Flynn series, One of Us is Guilty will see the protagonist attempt to unravel another complex case, this time involving a seemingly perfect married couple accused of murder. Sure to be a gripping read that I will power through very quickly, I’m hoping to check this novel out soon as I know I’ll have a lot of fun with it.

The Malevolent Nine by Sebastien de Castell

One of the more entertaining novels I need to read before the end of 2026 is The Malevolent Nine by Sebastien de Castell. The third and final book in the author’s Malevolent series (which previously featured The Malevolent Seven and The Malevolent Eight), The Malevolent Nine will see nine highly damaged mages make one final attempt to save their world from the combined forces of heaven and hell, in what is sure to be a particularly crazy adventure. I have no doubt this will be a bonkers read, and I will love every second of it.

Blindside by Michael Mammay

I still haven’t had the chance to read the latest Planetside book by Michael Mammay yet, with the 2026 novel Blindside. The fifth book in this fantastic science fiction thriller series that follows a retired military officer who finds himself drawn into various conspiracies involving giant space corporations, Blindside sounds like another awesome read with an interesting new plot focus. I have had an incredible time with this series so far and I really need to check Blindside out soon, especially as Mammay already has a sixth book in the series planned for next year.

Upon the Forge of Battle by Anthony Ryan

I’m surprised that I haven’t already read the latest fantasy novel from Anthony Ryan, Upon the Forge of Battle. The third and final book in Ryan’s Age of Wrath series, Upon the Forge of Battle will conclude the outstanding Viking-themed story already featured in A Tide of Black Steel and Born of an Iron Storm. I’m very excited to see how this series comes to an end, and I’m hoping to check out Upon the Forge of Battle very soon (assuming I don’t get distracted by Ryan’s other 2026 release, Reapers).

SHOT by Shelley Burr

Another book I’m hoping to read very soon is the Australian thriller SHOT. Written by rising Australian crime fiction author Shelley Burr, SHOT will see a controversial true crime reporter try to find a different suspect in a notorious case where only one person could have possibly been the killer. I’ve had an outstanding time reading Burr’s previous novels and I’m very keen to see how her latest mystery unfolds, especially as this one has a very compelling plot idea behind it.

City of Others by Jared Poon

The next entry on this list is a book that I have been meaning to read since it came out in January, City of Others. The debut novel of Jared Poon, City of Others is an awesome sounding urban fantasy that I have been excited about since I first read its plot. Set in Singapore, City of Others promises to be an exciting book and I’m very keen to get through in 2026.

Duel of Beasts by Boyd and Beth Morrison

One of the main historical fiction novels of the year I still need to read is Duel of Beasts by the fantastic writing team of siblings Boyd and Beth Morrison. The fourth book in the author’s Tales of the Lawless Land series, Duel of Beasts will once again follow the married protagonists of the series as they travel around medieval Europe getting into trouble. This time set in Spain, Duel of Beasts will see the protagonists get dragged into a bitter dispute that forces them to contend with a dangerous enemy, wielding a menagerie of deadly animals as a weapon. I love the sound of Duel of Beast’s awesome plot, and I have no doubt it will be just as epic as the rest of the series.

Outlaw by Jim Butcher

The final book I need to read before the end of 2026 is the novella Outlaw by Jim Butcher. A fun side addition to Jim Butcher’s long-running Dresden Files series, Outlaw has been on my audiobook list for a while, and I just need to make a little time to check it out. Considering its length, I should be able to knock this one off quickly, and I look forward to seeing how it comes together. A very worthy, if shorter, final entry for this list.

That’s the end of this week’s Top Ten list. I am happy with how this list turned out as I am extremely keen to read every one of the novels listed above. All of them have an amazing amount of potential and I think several could end up being some of my favourite books of 2026. Make sure to check back in a few weeks to see if I have managed to get around to reading any of them yet. In the meantime, let me know which books you really want to read before the end of 2026 and best of luck getting through them.

Waiting on Wednesday – Hunger by Joe Hill

On November 6, 2026 By The Unseen LibraryIn Historical Fiction, Horror, Waiting on Wednesday2 Comments

Welcome to my weekly segment, Waiting on Wednesday, where I look at upcoming books that I am planning to order and review in the next few months and which I think I will really enjoy. Stay tuned to see reviews of these books when I get a copy of them. In this latest post, I highlight a very awesome upcoming book that I feel has the potential to be one of the best horror books of 2027 with Hunger by Joe Hill.

Last year I had the very great pleasure of reading my first novel from horror icon Joe Hill, King Sorrow. A particularly impressive novel, King Sorrow followed several damaged figures who accidently sold their souls by summoning an ancient dragon, and who had to spend the rest of their lives dealing with the consequences. I really enjoyed King Sorrow which ended up being one of my favourite books of 2025, as well as one of my overall favourite horror novels.

Due to how much fun I had reading King Sorrow, I have been meaning to check out more of Joe Hill’s stuff, although I haven’t had the chance to dive back into some of his older works. I am however, planning to make time for his next epic read, especially as this upcoming novel, Hunger, sounds like a particularly awesome read. Set for release in June, Hunger has a fantastically twisted tale of ghosts, war and sacrifice, which should turn into something very special.

Plot Synopsis:

They’re starving in Boston.

It’s the winter of 1776, and the besieged city is running perilously low on supplies. First the American rebels penned in the British soldiers, then frostbite sank its teeth into the city, and now a ravenous ghost has come to feed on the trapped and desperate colonists who remain loyal to the Crown.

Morale is low enough among the besieged British troops without a fiend tempting men with a sumptuous feast of roast meat, pastries, puddings, and pies. It’s a spread many would sell their souls for…which is exactly the deal on offer.

As the ghoul’s withered victims pile up, and panic spreads, British General Howe takes action: he orders Captain Amos Crowe to expel the wraith by any means necessary.

It is an impossible order. But it’s far from the only impossibility in Crowe’s horrifying New World. For the dead have been speaking to him ever since he was injured at the Battle of Bunker Hill. And now, he must track down a witch hidden deep behind enemy lines, a woman who, it’s rumored, holds the key to defeating the evil spirit.

Dodging rebels determined to murder him, battling savagery both human and supernatural, how can one broken man possibly survive—and what will remain of him if he does?

While I was always going to be interested in the new Joe Hill book, I must admit that a historical horror novel set during the American Revolution has a particular appeal to it that has gotten me quite excited. I love the idea of Hunger focussing on a ghost haunting the starving British in Boston, and watching one of their damaged officers trying to survive its influence and find a way to banish it has the makings of a great story.

Based on the above description, it sounds like Hunger will feature a mixture of supernatural and more human evils, which should result in an impressive novel, especially as Hill has previously shown great aptitude at using the unnatural to reinforce just how sinister humans already are. I cannot wait to explore the various horrors that the protagonist is forced to endure on his quest, and I am sure it is going to be brutal on so many levels. As a history fiction fan, I’m also very interested in seeing how Hill goes utilising the siege of Boston as a backdrop for his story, and I have a feeling I’m going to love the author’s more horror-filtered lens on history.

Overall, I think that Hunger is going to be a particularly impressive novel for 2027, and it’s one I will no doubt have an absolute blast with. I’m already a big fan of Joe Hill’s writing, and the above plot sounds so damn cool with ghosts, witches and bloodthirsty Americans infesting a key historical siege. I truly believe that Hunger is going to be one of the best things I read next year, and I am so damn excited to read it.

WWW Wednesday – 4 November 2026

On November 5, 2026 By The Unseen LibraryIn WWW WednesdayLeave a comment

WWW Wednesday is a weekly post hosted by Taking on a World of Words, where bloggers share the books that they’ve recently finished, what they are currently reading and what books they are planning to read next. Essentially you have to answer three questions (the Three Ws):

What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?

So, let’s get to it.

What are you currently reading:

Other Worlds Than These by Stephen King and Peter Straub (Trade Paperback)

I started reading the cool new novel Other Worlds Than These. The third book in The Talisman trilogy by Stephen King and the late Peter Straub, Other Worlds Than These follows the trilogy’s aging protagonist as he embarks on another major quest to save two separate worlds. I’ve only made a little progress on this massive novel so far, but I am already quite intrigued to see where this novel is going. I’m hoping to finish off Other Worlds Than These this week, although I’ve got about 800 pages still to go.

Warhammer 40,000: Cold Covenant by Peter Fehervari (Audiobook)

I didn’t get as much audiobook listening time this week as I’d hoped so I’m still listening to the excellent Warhammer 40,000 novel, Cold Covenant by Peter Fehervari. Part of Fehervari’s loosely connected Dark Coil series, Cold Covenant is a darker Warhammer 40,000 novel that follows several damaged characters as they navigate a vicious world falling into chaos. I’ve made a bit of progress on Cold Covenant this week and I’m very intrigued by its unique story and take on the Warhammer universe. Definitely one of the more complex Warhammer books of the year, I’m very intrigued to see how this dark read comes to an end.

What did you recently finish reading?

Adam & Eve by Jeffrey Archer (Hardcover)

I had a bittersweet time reading the fantastic novel Adam & Eve, this week. The last novel from the recently deceased Jeffrey Archer, Adam & Eve is a sprawling historical epic primarily set between World War I and II. I had an excellent time with this book, which had a powerful and addictive story behind it.

The French Illusion by John Grisham (Trade Paperback)

I also enjoyed the new John Grisham novel The French Illusion this week. A compelling thriller that follows the aftermath of a shocking kidnapping in Paris, The French Illusion was an extremely awesome novel that was very easy to power through.

What do you think you’ll read next?

SHOT by Shelley Burr

If I manage to finish off the giant Stephen King I’m currently reading, then I think I’ll check out some cool Australian crime fiction next with SHOT by Shelley Burr. A very compelling sounding novel that sees a damaged reporter try to solve a seemingly impossible double murder, SHOT has a lot of potential. I love the sound of this book, and I look forward to unravelling the awesome new mystery from Burr.

That’s it for this week; check back in next Wednesday to see what progress I’ve made on my reading and what books I’ll be looking at next.

Top Ten Tuesday – One-Word Reviews for the Last Ten Books I Read

On November 3, 2026November 3, 2026 By The Unseen LibraryIn ListLeave a comment

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly challenge that currently resides at The Artsy Reader Girl and features bloggers sharing lists on various book topics. For this week’s Top Ten Tuesday, participants are tasked with reviewing the last ten books they have read with only a single word.

I must admit that this list turned out to be a bit of a challenge for me, as I’m not exactly known for doing short reviews. Regular readers of this blog will know that I tend to post excessively long reviews of books, especially if it proved to be particularly good. As such, I struggled a little to use only a single word to describe some of the recent books I have enjoyed, as I really don’t think that I’m doing them justice. Still, I gave it a good go, and I’m happy that the below descriptions of the last ten books I have had the pleasure of finishing are very fitting and will hopefully encourage people to check them out.

Top Ten List:

The French Illusion by John Grisham

Thrilling

Warhammer 40,000: Bjorn the Fell-Handed by Justin D. Hill

Epic

We Are For The Dark by Gretchen McNeil

Demonic

The Only Way Out Is Up by Django Wexler

Robots!!!

He Who Fights With Monsters – Hero by Travis Deverell

Irresistible

Serenity Falls by C. J. Tudor

Spooky

Hard Town by Adam Plantinga

Cathartic

Warhammer 40,000: Voice of Command by Richard Swan

Intense

He Who Fights With Monsters – Adventurer by Travis Deverell

Exhilarating

138 Main Street by Gavin Bell

Memorable

That’s the end of my latest Top Ten list. While I’m still not entirely sure a single word review was enough, I think this list turned out pretty well, and I enjoyed the unique takes I had on this interesting range of great novels. I hope people end up checking out some of these above books for themselves, as each of them were quite exciting and impressive in their own ways. Let me know what recent books you’ve recently finished off in the comments below, and if you can do so in one word, that would be very cool.

King’s Ransom by Matthew Reilly

On November 1, 2026 By The Unseen LibraryIn Australian, Five-Star Books, ThrillerLeave a comment

Publisher: Pan Macmillan Australia (Trade Paperback – 29 September 2026)

Series: Sam Speedman – Book Two

Length: 496 pages

My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Prepare for one of the more insane and compelling thrillers of 2026, as Matthrew Reilly brings all the chaos he can in King’s Ransom, an incredible novel I had a ton of fun with.

Earlier this year I finally got the chance to read the 2025 novel from iconic Australian author Matthew Reilly, The Detective. The first book in Reilly’s new Sam Speedman series, The Detective was a particularly addictive novel that saw an unusual private investigator, Sam Speedman, as he becomes involved in a shocking case going back over a century, involving missing persons, dead detectives and modern-day slavery. Thanks to its excessive narrative, amazing humour and enjoyable main protagonist, I found The Detective to be a particularly addictive read that ended up getting a full five-star rating from me. I really cannot emphasise how much I loved The Detective, and I was immediately keen to continue the series. Luckily, I’d timed my reading of The Detective so that I only had a little bit to wait for the sequel Reilly released this year, King’s Ransom. Bringing back Speedman for another complex case, King’s Ransom was an intriguing sequel with a suitable crazy plot.

Plot Synopsis:

Five innocent hostages. Five private investigators. A fiendish ransom game. Has Detective Sam Speedman met his match? A fast and deadly Matthew Reilly thriller.

A DARING ABDUCTION

The richest man in the world has been kidnapped. Along with four of his children.

THE DEADLY CHALLENGE

The kidnapper’s demand: the five best private detectives in America must come to the missing tech billionaire’s penthouse in New York City by noon and engage in a deadly series of riddles and ransoms to find and rescue them.

THE FIFTH DETECTIVE

Among the five investigators brought to New York is Sam Speedman.

Skinny, bespectacled and brilliant, Sam is different to most other detectives.

But as the situation escalates and the bodies mount, Sam is going to discover that appearances can be deceiving and that maybe some villains are best left alone…

Now this was an awesome sequel! King’s Ransom was an extremely fun thriller as Matthew Reilly presents a layered and impressive story, loaded with over-the-top antagonists, crazy moments and multiple clever twists. I ended up powering through this fantastic book in very short order, and I was immensely entertained the entire way through. Due to how damn addictive this was, I have to give King’s Ransom a full five stars, and this was probably one of my favourite thriller releases of 2026.

I was uncertain how Reilly was going to top The Detective in this sequel, but the author did not disappoint as he produced another suitably outrageous story that drags you in with its big moments and intense reveals. Set a year after the events of The Detective, King’s Ransom follows a now famous Sam Speedman, who is woken up at night by the FBI and urgently flown to New York City with his team. A mysterious figure has kidnapped the world’s richest man, Aristotle King, and his five children from their luxury penthouse, and is now demanding the attendance of the five best private detectives in the country. The author does a great job immediately setting the scene for this intriguing scenario while also provide a succinct and effective reintroduction to the protagonist and several other returning supporting characters.

Once everything is set up, Reilly dives right into the action as the kidnapper starts challenging the detectives with a series of riddles that reveal the location of the hostages, each of whom are in some sort of peril. While the protagonists initially prove successful at solving the clues and saving the victims, things quickly get out of hand, with various traps, attacks and ploys stacking up the body count around the survivors. This extended sequence of riddles and traps takes up most of the first half of King’s Ransom, and Reilly keeps raising the stakes and throwing in more carnage as the book continues. There are also some excellent clues and hints throw into this first half of the book, which the author comes back to later, and I really appreciate these inclusions in hindsight. This entire sequence leads up to a big confrontation, which appears to resolve the entire case suspiciously early, with the supposed masterminds caught or killed, while Speedman finds himself rocked by a personal tragedy.

While this first part of the book is extremely exciting and draws you in with its big moments, the second half of the book is where the truly impressive narrative work is contained. Despite being distracted by personal issues, Speedman finds himself drawn back into the case, especially when he discovers various inconsistencies in the official narrative. Resolving to investigate the full circumstances of the kidnapping, Speedman soon finds himself being opposed by the FBI (including his girlfriend’s ex-husband) and other people invested in the case. Worse, he soon encounters an antagonist with an unparalleled mind for planning and evil. This results in some fantastic discoveries, as well as an excellent cat-and-mouse storyline, as Speedman attempts to uncover the truth while being hunted by everyone. The big twist about some of the responsible parties is clever, even though some of the revealed individuals are a little obvious, and the sheer range of insanity and action around this part of the story keeps you highly engaged as you eagerly wait to see what happens next. Following a final excellent public reveal and confrontation Reilly ends the story on a fun note, with everyone getting what they deserve one way or another, with chilling hints at further insanity to come thrown in. A wonderfully addictive story that lived up to all my expectations.

This was another well-written and easy-to-read thriller from Reilly, who sets an impressive and crazy story around his unique protagonist. Serving as an excellent sequel to The Detective, King’s Ransom features an effective move away from its original southern setting, and instead masterfully utilises New York City as an outstanding background. King’s Ransom works well as a both a follow-up and a standalone read, especially as Reilly effectively recaps relevant moments from the first book. The author again makes great use of the first-person perspective in this novel, allowing you to see the entire case through the entertaining eyes of his protagonist. This allows you to get not only the benefit of the humorous observations of the protagonist but a great firsthand look at the unique case, including all its exciting twists and reveals. It also works to build up tension, especially when things get particularly personal and the protagonist finds himself dropped into several desperate corners.

All this draws you into the very intense story, and I loved just how outrageous and over-the-top the story turned out to be. While some moments are possibly a little too crazy, it all fits the tone of this series perfectly, and all thriller fans are guaranteed to have an outstanding time getting into it. I also must highlight the various drawings that were featured in the novel, especially as they provide an interesting way at looking at the unique clues and scenarios of the book. The diagrams showing how some of the book’s death traps were set up, as well as how Speedman attempted to counter them, were particularly awesome, and I loved how well they supplemented Reilly’s descriptive style and helped the reader envision the crazy situation even more. The author did another amazing job of writing King’s Ransom, and I cannot emphasise how well Reilly’s writing style helped to showcase his latest outrageous plot.

The final thing I want to highlight about King’s Ransom was the outstanding and distinctive characters featured within it. This includes Reilly’s unique new protagonist, Sam Speedman, a brilliant private investigator with a severe lack of normal social skills. Reilly does an amazing job showcasing Speedman’s unique thoughts, which are usually both fun and insightful and make him a very well-written autistic character. Despite the character’s established lack of social skills, he spends much of this book making unlikely connections, with many of his detective peers, and others, quickly realising his investigative prowess. I appreciated how Reilly did a good job showcasing Speedman’s character growth since the first book, especially his new confidence after getting a girlfriend and making new friends, and Speedman remains a particularly entertaining and relatable protagonist to follow.

Without going into too much detail about the rest of the characters in this book, especially as it could result in some spoilers, I will say the supporting cast for King’s Ransom was particularly good. Not only do you get some fantastic returns from The Detective but there are some great new characters introduced in this book. For example, the four other detectives summoned to the scene alongside Speedman are a wonderful eclectic mixture, while the kidnapping victim, Aristotle King, provided a fun look at the dark lives of the uber wealthy. All these characters, and more, added a lot to the plot, and I appreciated how well Reilly dove into their personalities and motivations of everyone involved in the case, especially as it provided hints about how involved they truly were. I will say that the best new characters ended up being the eventually revealed main antagonist of the story, who Reilly builds up as a particularly diabolical supervillain. Serving as a dark shadow to Speedman, this new antagonist really grabs your attention when they are showcased in their full evil glory. I really appreciated that Reilly introduced a worthy nemesis for Speedman in this second book, and readers will appreciate the resulting battle of wits, which goes so damn crazy.

Matthew Reilly continues to wildly entertain with his latest brilliant thriller. King’s Ransom was a deeply exciting and awesome read that I honestly couldn’t get enough of. An outstanding second Sam Speedman book, King’s Ransom was a ton of fun, and I honestly couldn’t get away from its insanely inventive and captivating plot. A highly recommended read, especially for those who love intense and over-the-top plots, I really enjoyed King’s Ransom, and I cannot wait to see what Reilly writes next.

Hard Town by Adam Plantinga

On November 1, 2026 By The Unseen LibraryIn Thriller, Throwback Thursday1 Comment

Publisher: Grand Central Publishing (Paperback – 8 April 2025)

Series: Kurt Argento – Book Two

Length: 307 pages

My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Rising thriller author Adam Plantinga follows up his excellent first novel with the intense and highly addictive sequel, Hard Town, and outstanding book I read so damn quickly.

Readers of this blog may remember that at the start of 2025 I had the great pleasure of reading a particularly epic thriller novel, The Ascent. The debut novel from new author Adam Plantinga, The Ascent was a fantastic novel that followed a former cop, Kurt Argento, who finds himself stuck in the middle of a brutal prison riot, which forces him to fight through several levels of a deadly killers and criminals. I had an amazing time with The Ascent (it was one of my favourite debuts of 2024), and I have been keen to read more from Plantinga for a while, especially as he intended to write more about his original protagonist. After highlighting it as a cool upcoming novel early last year, I finally got a chance to read Hard Town and I’m glad I did.

Plot Synopsis:

When a plea for help sends retired Detroit cop Kurt Argento to the small desert town of Fenton, Arizona things immediately don’t appear to be as they seem, and he finds himself unravelling secrets that want to stay hidden and questioning his own moral compass.

After having survived a deadly prison break, ex-Detroit cop Kurt Argento is ready for some quiet. Still working through his grief over the passing of his wife, Argento finds himself house-sitting for a friend with his loyal companion, Hudson, a Chow Chow-Shepard mix. It’s a simple life, picking up odd jobs here and there, but it’s one that Argento is content to live.

Then Kristin Reed shows up with her young son, Ethan, and begs Argento to help find her missing husband… and Argento tells her he’d just be in the way. He’s no investigator, not anymore. He’s a handyman who fixes fences. But he’s not one to ignore his gut feeling when something is wrong. After an attempt to talk with Kristin more in the next town over, just to find her and her son missing as well, Argento starts to notice that Fenton, Arizona is more than meets the eye.

First there’s the large, overly equipped public safety team complete with specialized tactics and sophisticated weaponry. Then there’s the unusual financial boosting of failing small businesses by the U.S. government. And finally, there’s one man with no name who seems to have control over this town in an unprecedented way.

Argento finds himself unravelling not just the truth behind the disappearance of a family, but a conspiracy that’s taken a whole town to cover up. But Fenton, Arizona is going to push him further than he’s ever had to go. And along the way, he may just lose a part of himself as well. Because justice isn’t as black and white as Argento would like to believe.

Hard Town was a great second novel from Plantinga, who follows up his debut with a highly compelling sequel I had an outstanding time with. Loaded with striking action, an excellent over-the-top story and a gritty protagonist, Hard Town was an amazing novel that is worth checking out.

Plantinga pulls together an excellent plot for Hard Town, which I felt served as an excellent continuation of the protagonist’s personal journey, while also working well as a standalone story with its own distinctive plot. Reintroducing protagonist Kurt Argento as a battered survivor with some infamy behind him after the events of The Ascent, Hard Town sees him get dragged back into trouble when a desperate woman begs him to investigate the disappearance of her husband from the town of Fenton, Arizona. Despite his misgivings, Argento eventually agrees to help, only to discover that the woman and her young son have gone missing. Searching for answers in Fenton, he discovers a surprisingly well-equipped police force of former soldiers, while a mysterious genius is holding court in town. Plantinga sets up this unusual scene extremely well in the first third of Hard Town, and you soon become quite engrossed in uncovering the full mystery, especially as things are just about to kick off in all the wrong ways.

It’s around this point that the entire tone of Hard Town changes dramatically, and Argento finds himself caught up in a deadly battle for survival. After an intense extended sequence, you follow Argento as he attempts to uncover the true secrets of Fenton while also searching for his own brand of justice. This involves an interesting investigation arc, followed up by a dangerous plan to gain allies and resources. Plantinga perfectly paces out the second half of Hard Town, drawing you into Argento’s plans before hitting you with the big confrontation. This final part of Hard Town is extremely brutal, with multiple deadly fights and encounters. Plantinga throws in a couple of good twists here, as well as a lot of over-the-top deaths, and you will find yourself extremely hooked. Everything wraps up in a satisfying, dark ending, with the protagonist resolving the story at a cost, and thriller fans will come away happy with how Hard Town turned out. I personally loved this well-planned out and compelling narrative, and I ended up powering through the entirety of Hard Town in only a couple of days.

You can see that Plantinga has improved as an author since his first book, as he has done a good job moving the plot away from the prison setting of the first book into a sprawling adventure throughout Arizona. Hard Town initially had a bit of a slower pace to it, which I felt helped to build tension and allowed for a stronger, more character-focused read. The use of an underlying mystery to drive the initial plot and increase tension and interest was a great choice by Plantinga, and it allowed the author to take his time to set up the story. Once things do kick off, Plantinga does not hold back, bringing in a series of intense confrontations and over-the-top moments to raise the stakes and sate the action fans. Plantinga makes sure there is a gritty realism to all the action, as Plantinga provides detailed depictions of event, amping up the impact of events. I also quite enjoyed the multiple realistic depictions of police techniques and procedure, as Plantinga pulls from his own extensive personal knowledge of law enforcement to enhance his story. All this results in a powerful tone for Hard Town, which intensifies the action and the fantastic focus on the characters.

While there is a lot of carnage in this thriller, Hard Town isn’t all action, as Plantinga adds some nuance to the plot, especially around protagonist Kurt Agento’s motivations and the morality of the antagonists. Argento, who the author expertly reintroduces in this sequel, continues to develop from the angry figure we were introduced to at the start of The Ascent. Now somewhat calmer, Argento is forced back into the life of violence when pushed in the most dramatic of ways, although Plantinga continues to portray him as having a little more restraint, while also moralising a little more over his actions and desire for revenge. The author works in some interesting flaws and personal concerns for the protagonist to deal with. Despite certain moral quandaries Plantinga includes in the plot, there is not a moment that you aren’t on the side of the protagonist as he seeks justice, especially after a certain scene. The clever and usually over-the-top ways that Argento attempted to resolve the situations he found himself in also draws the reader to his side, and there were some very memorable moments in this plot as Argento attempted to get justice.

While most of the book’s focus was on Argento as protagonist, Plantinga does include some interesting supporting characters, especially in the book’s antagonists. These antagonists are a group of mysterious soldiers who have taken over policing in the small town of Fenton as part of a larger mission. Employed to ruthlessly defend their objective and keep the town in order, these characters do some terrible things and there are some true monsters amongst them. However, Plantinga includes a couple of conflicted figures in their midst, and their varied morality becomes an interesting plot point, especially when Argento seeks his revenge. The objective of these soldiers and their government agent handler adds in some interesting moral conflicts to the plot, especially as they try to balance the need for dark actions with the overall objective of the mission they believe in. I enjoyed how Plantinga balanced these morally grey characters by also including a completely irredeemable character as Hard Town’s main antagonist. The sinister mastermind behind the whole operation in Fenton, this initially unnamed antagonist was delightfully over-the-top, and Plantinga had fun writing in his sense of superiority and evil nature. If anything, the author made him too outrageously evil, as this character came across as a parody of an arrogant intellectual, but I still had fun seeing this antagonist in action, especially when confronted by the more serious Argento. All these characters add a lot to Hard Town’s story, and I felt that Plantinga’s character work was a lot more impactful in this sequel.

Adam Plantinga showcases his improvement as a writer in this excellent second novel, Hard Town. An amazing and nuanced thriller novel that balances an emotionally charged plot with some outstanding action, Hard Town was a highly addictive read that I found near impossible to put down. I really had an amazing time with this sequel, and I look forward to reading more from Plantinga going forward, especially as the third book in this series, Dark Country, just came out.

WWW Wednesday – 28 October 2026

On October 29, 2026 By The Unseen LibraryIn WWW WednesdayLeave a comment

WWW Wednesday is a weekly post hosted by Taking on a World of Words, where bloggers share the books that they’ve recently finished, what they are currently reading and what books they are planning to read next. Essentially you have to answer three questions (the Three Ws):

What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?

So, let’s get to it.

What are you currently reading:

We Are For The Dark by Gretchen McNeil (ebook)

I haven’t had as much reading time as I would have liked this week, but I’m still making some good progress with the cool horror thriller We Are For The Dark by Gretchen McNeil. Following a priest and a cop as they attempt to investigate unusual events at an isolated island, We Are For The Dark is an intriguing and dark read that I’m really enjoying. I’m hoping to finish off We Are For The Dark this week and I’m very curious to see how this story unfolds.

Warhammer 40,000: Cold Covenant by Peter Fehervari (Audiobook)

I was still in a Warhammer 40,000 mood this week, so I started listening to the recently released Cold Covenant by Peter Fehervari. Part of Fehervari’s loosely connected Dark Coil series, Cold Covenant is a darker Warhammer 40,000 novel that follows several damaged characters as they navigate a vicious world falling into chaos. I’m currently a couple of hours into the audiobook version of Cold Covenant and I’m very intrigued by its unique story and take on the Warhammer universe. I’m not sure if I’m going to get through Cold Covenant in the next week, but I’m going to give it a try.

What did you recently finish reading?

Warhammer 40,000: Bjorn: The Fell-Handed by Justin D. Hill (Audiobook)

I managed to knock off the excellent Warhammer 40,000 novel Bjorn: The Fell-Handed by Justin D. Hill this week. An epic and striking Warhammer novel, Bjorn: The Fell-Handed comes highly recommended, especially on audiobook, and I’m hoping to get a review up for it soon.

What do you think you’ll read next?

Adam & Eve by Jeffrey Archer

The next book that I’m hoping to dive into is the last novel from the recently deceased Jeffrey Archer, Adam & Eve. A sprawling historical epic primarily set between World War I and II, Adam & Eve sounds like an amazing novel and I’m curious to explore Archer’s last literary adventure

The French Illusion by John Grisham

I’m also hoping to read the new John Grisham novel The French Illusion this week. A compelling thriller set in Paris and following a young lawyer brought in to resolve a kidnapping, The French Illusion sounds extremely interesting and I’m looking forward to reading it.

That’s it for this week; check back in next Wednesday to see what progress I’ve made on my reading and what books I’ll be looking at next.

Waiting on Wednesday – Dead Man’s Journey by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child

On October 28, 2026 By The Unseen LibraryIn Thriller, Waiting on WednesdayLeave a comment

Welcome to my weekly segment, Waiting on Wednesday, where I look at upcoming books that I am planning to order and review in the next few months and which I think I will really enjoy. Stay tuned to see reviews of these books when I get a copy of them. For this week’s Waiting on Wednesday, I highlight a particularly distinctive upcoming thriller with Dead Man’s Journey, the next entertaining release from the legendary duo of Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child.

In recent years I have been becoming a fan of two of the more outrageous thriller writers out there, Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child. Well established authors who have written some fantastic and memorable novels on their own, such as Preston’s awesome novel Extinction, the two authors are probably best known for their collaborative work together. Since their first book in 1995, Preston and Child have written an impressive number of unique crime fiction reads, often featuring supernatural or science fiction twists. There work has so far featured several awesome standalone novels, as well as a few long-running series, including the Gideon Crews books, and their iconic, long-running Agent Pendergast series, and there are some gripping reads there.

However, the series I want to focus on in this post is Preston and Child’s Nora Kelly series. The series follows archaeologist Nora Kelly, who was introduced in the 1999 standalone novel Thunderhead, before appearing in several Agent Pendergast books. Nora later got her own series in 2019, which focuses on her assisting a local FBI agent, Corrie Swanson, in investigating various crimes with a historical or archaeological base to it. I have so far had the pleasure of reading the 2025 entry in the series, Badlands, which saw the protagonists try to uncover dark secrets behind several unusual deaths associated with a lost Native American tribe. Filled with twists, over-the-top moments, and a certain unexplained ending, Badlands was pretty damn fun, and I have been keen to read more in the Nora Kelly series ever since.

As such, I was quite excited when I saw that Preston and Child’s next novel was going to be another Nora Kelly novel, with Dead Man’s Journey. Set for release in January 2027, Dead Man’s Journey will feature another compelling and creepy murder, when historical bodies related to witches and the Spanish Inquisition are uncovered, alongside a more recent murder victim. I am already extremely intrigued by this cool mystery, and I have a feeling that this is going to be a particularly compelling and eventually insane read. Dead Man’s Journey is definitely a book I will be checking out next year and I cannot wait to see how it turns out.

Plot Synopsis:

Archaeologist Nora Kelly and FBI Special Agent Corrie Swanson team up against supernatural foes once more in this exciting thriller from New York Times bestselling authors Preston and Child.

On a construction site in the foothills of Santa Fe, New Mexico, workers have uncovered a row of ancient skeletons buried upside down. It is revealed that this was the work of the Spanish Inquisition, who in 1676 condemned six women as witches and executed them, burying them head downwards to speed their way to hell.

Nora Kelly soon makes a further shocking discovery – a fresh inverted burial in the same place… and only two months old. As more murders and bizarre burials start mounting up, Nora and FBI Special Agent Corrie Swanson find themselves in pursuit of a mass killer who possesses a terrifying, ancient power defying human understanding.

Top Ten Tuesday – My Favourite Horror Novels (Halloween 2026)

On October 27, 2026 By The Unseen LibraryIn Horror, List3 Comments

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme that currently resides at The Artsy Reader Girl and features bloggers sharing lists on various book topics. In this latest edition of Top Ten Tuesday, readers get a Halloween Freebie, meaning that they can list whatever topic they want, although a horror or Halloween them is encouraged. So, with that in mind, I thought I would take this opportunity to update some previous lists where I highlighted my favourite horror novels.

Back in 2020 for Halloween, I came up with a list where I looked at my top ten favourite horror novels. While horror is not my absolute favourite genre, I ended up producing a rather interesting list with some unique entries that I was very happy with. I must admit that many of my entries are hybrid books which combine horror elements with other genres I prefer to read, however, I think they make for good Halloween fare. This list got a bit of interest, and I decided I would make a bit of effort to come back to update this list every Halloween, especially if I had some new horror novels to add to it. I produced some interesting updates to this list in 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024, and I have once again decided to come back to it again this year, especially as I have had the opportunity to check out some excellent and intense horror reads.

To sort out this update, I took a critical look at the previous version of the list and made some hard decisions about whether any of the horror novels I read in the last year might fit in better. I ended up making a few changes and while I was sad to see some of the previously featured novels removed, I honestly felt that the new entries are better overall horror novels. This resulted in a fun new version of this list, and I am pretty happy with how it turned out.

Honourable Mentions:

The Anomaly by Michael Rutger

My first honourable mention is The Anomaly, an excellent horror novel from 2018 which follows an unfortunate film crew after they get trapped in a series of ancient caves and are forced to face the terrible horrors waiting for them inside. Highly recommended, especially in its audiobook format that deeply enhances the claustrophobic nature of the story.

Star Wars: Death Troopers by Joe Schreiber

The next honourable mention is Star Wars: Death Troopers by Joe Schreiber. Part of the Star Wars Legends canon, Death Troopers sees an Imperial prison ship encountering an abandoned Star Destroyer filled with a zombified crew. Watching a bunch of iconic Star Wars characters attempt to escape from zombies is really cool, and Schreiber comes up with a number of gruesome scenes that will definitely stick in your mind.

Warhammer 40,000: The Bookkeeper’s Skull by Justin D. Hill

Readers of this blog will know I’m a big fan of all things Warhammer, and that includes the intriguing Warhammer Horror range. I’ve only read a couple of these so far, but my favourite is The Bookkeeper’s Skull by Justin D. Hill. A haunting and brilliant tale that makes full use of the grim Warhammer 40,000 setting, The Bookkeeper’s Skull was an amazing read, and I look forward to exploring more Warhammer Horror books in the future.

Ink by Jonathan Maberry

I had to feature one of Maberry’s best pure horror reads, Ink in the honourable mentions. While most of the other Maberry novels with horror elements focus either on zombies or Lovecraftian monsters, Ink features a particularly horrendous tale of a depraved being who steals a person’s tattoos and the precious memories associated with them. Set in one of Maberry’s most iconic locations, Ink had a very disturbing narrative, and I deeply appreciated this unique book.

Top Ten Tuesday:

Into the Drowning Deep by Mira Grant

I think it says a lot about my horror choices that the first book on my list is about killer mermaids. Into the Drowning Deep by Mira Grant is exceptional book that actually turns a mermaid attack into a pretty terrifying experience. Grant did an amazing job with this book and Into the Drowning Deep will keep you both wildly entertained, and scared to go into the water.

Patient Zero by Jonathan Maberry

I had a ton of awesome Jonathan Maberry novels that I could have featured on this list, but the obvious choice was the fantastically dark thriller Patient Zero. An epic book that features an elite counterterrorist unit as they attempt to stop terrorists spreading a deadly zombie virus across America, Patient Zero was the first book in a brilliant science fiction thriller series, all of which have a great horror edge to them. I have a lot of love for the thriller aspects of Patient Zero, however, the highlights of this book are the gruesome and terrifying zombie sequences, which sees the protagonists get overwhelmed by hordes of the infected. This results in some truly impressive horror scenes, and I had to include this book on my list as a result.

Holly by Stephen King

One of my favourite books from horror icon Stephen King, Holly, is primarily a thriller that sees the titular protagonist investigate a missing persons case. However, there are some devastatingly insidious and horrifying elements loaded into the story, especially with how exceptionally evil the excellent antagonists were. I found myself shuddering multiple times throughout the course of Holly and if that doesn’t make it a horror book, I don’t know what will. This was easily one of the best books and audiobooks of 2023, and I had to feature it on this list as a result.

The Dark by Jeremy Robinson

I had to add this brilliant and compelling horror/science fiction read onto this list. The Dark is one of the best novels I have read from author Jeremy Robinson that focuses on an apparent demonic invasion of Earth. Filled with gore, monsters and body mutations, The Dark gets pretty gruesome and scary in places, which blends perfectly with the intense action and Robinson’s quirky humour. An outstanding read, this fantastic horror novel comes highly recommended and was one of my top novels and audiobooks of 2021.

The Gathering by C. J. Tudor

Next on this list is the impressive and memorable novel The Gathering by C. J. Tudor. A complex murder mystery set in a remote Alaskan town, The Gathering follows a vampyr expert as they attempt to determine whether a teenage was killed by members of the local vampyr colony, or other outside forces. Cleverly introducing a vampire focused alternate history and using it as a basis for a tense and fascinating mystery, The Gathering was an exceptional read that perfectly utilised its horror elements to enhance the entire thrilling narrative. One of the best novels of 2024.

King Sorrow by Joe Hill

I think it’s fair to say that one family has a monopoly on horror fiction, as in addition to Stephen King I also included the only book I have so far read from Joe Hill on this list with King Sorrow. A particularly compelling novel, King Sorrow follows a group of friends who accidently summon an ancient dragon, who returns each year bringing fear and devastation. Blending an elaborate, character driven paranormal thriller with some outstanding moments of horror and terror, King Sorrow was a brilliant read that ended up being one of my top books of 2025. An outstanding novel that presents a whole new feeling of horror, I look forward to reading more from Hill in the future, and I have a feeling his upcoming novel, The Hunger, is going to appear on this list next year.

World War Z by Max Brooks

One of the more unique zombie books out there, World War Z recounts the history a devastating, world-wide zombie apocalypse and the various people it impacts. Told through a brilliant chronicle method where multiple interesting characters recount their distinctive personal stories, you get an impressive, multifaceted narrative that covers the beginning, middle and end of the zombie wars. Epic in its scope and filled with some great stories and characters, it honestly does not take long to get extremely addicted to World War Z, especially on audiobook which features an extremely stacked cast. While the focus is more on exploring the impacts a zombie apocalypse would have on the world, World War Z does have some pretty creepy moment. The darker tales of underwater zombies, massacres of modern armies, and the mental turmoil suffered by zombie survivors, are excellent horror material that makes this an easy book to include here. An epic and outstanding book that lived up to all the hype surrounding it.

The Feeding by Anthony Ryan

Another new edition to this list is the compelling vampire novel, The Feeding by impressive fantasy author Anthony Ryan. Set in a post-apocalyptic wasteland dominated by various breeds of vampires, The Feeding sees the protagonist attempt to cross the wilds between towns to find vital supplies, only to encounter death and hidden horrors. I really enjoyed this awesome novel, which showcased the horror of feral vampires while also presenting a distinctive and intriguing setting as the backdrop. A great read and a very worthy new addition to this list.

Devolution by Max Brooks

In addition to World War Z, Max Brooks also gets featured on this list for the brilliant novel Devolution. Expertly making use of a whole new horror monster when he explores the fate of an isolated community who are attacked by a tribe of sasquatches, Brooks really turns these creatures into a frightening and deadly force of nature, and readers are in for an exciting and well-written tale of survival and brutality.

The Outsider by Stephen King

The final book I want to highlight is the incredible Stephen King book, The Outsider. An extremely tense and disturbing thriller, The Outsider features a captivating narrative that sees local town hero charged with the gruesome murder of a child, with ironclad evidence indicating that he did it. However, the suspect continues to plead his innocence and has an impossibly perfect alibi for the time of the murder. While primarily a thriller, there is some brilliant personal horror as you witness a potentially innocent man and town hero so thoroughly painted as a monster before your eyes. King pivots to more supernatural horror elements as the book progresses, which fits perfectly with the dark narrative already ongoing, and the result is an exceptional book that proves deeply disturbing on multiple levels. An incredible read and a worthy final entry on this list.

That’s the end of this latest Top Ten Tuesday list. I think that the new horror novels were great additions to the list, and I think this new version of the list turned out really well. Each of the above novels, both new inclusions and existing ones, are outstanding reads that come highly recommended to all horror fans. I look forward to seeing how this list evolves once again this time next year, especially as I am sure some spinetingling horror books are likely to come out in the next 12 months.

Book Haul – 26 October 2026

On October 26, 2026 By The Unseen LibraryIn Book HaulLeave a comment

I’ve had an excellent couple of weeks for books, as I was lucky enough to receive some incredible and amazing new novels from publishers and Netgalley, plus a few purchases of my own. These novels include some truly awesome new releases, including books that have the potential to be some of my top reads of the year. I cannot wait to dive into them, and I so excited to see how they all turn out.

The Hollow by Michael Connelly

The first recent acquisition I want to highlight is the epic new novel from Michael Connelly, The Hollow. Once again focusing on Connelly’s iconic protagonist Harry Bosch, The Hollow will see Bosch attempt to investigate a murder from his childhood in an intriguing cold-case investigation. The Hollow sounds pretty damn interesting and I cannot wait to dive into it.

The French Illusion by John Grisham

The year wouldn’t be complete without the new novel from legendary author John Grisham, The French Connection. This time following a young lawyer involved in an unusual kidnapping in Paris, The French Connection has the feel of a unique spy thriller from Grisham and I’m very curious to see how it unfolds.

He Who Fights With Monsters – Hero by Travis Deverell

After having such an awesome time with the first two books in Travis Deverell’s He Who Fights With Monsters series (Outworlder and Adventurer), I was extremely eager to continue exploring the series, so I went out and grabbed a copy of the third book Hero, and I may have already read it. Once again following the series’ interdimensional protagonist as he adventures through a cool fantasy world, Hero was an extremely impressive entry in the series, with some major and impactful moments. I’m hoping to get a review of Hero up soon, and I can confirm that it’s a highly recommended book that I’m really glad I grabbed.

The Wolves of War by John Gwynne

One of the more impressive books I recently received was the awesome fantasy novel, The Wolves of Winter by John Gwynne. Another Viking inspired fantasy novel from Gwynne, The Wolves of Winter sets up a cool new series filled with magic, monsters and war. I cannot wait to dive into this novel, and I already know I’m going to love it.

Other Worlds Than These by Stephen King and Peter Straub

I recently received a copy of the massive novel, Other Worlds Than These. The third and final Talisman book from the team of Stephen King and Peter Straub, Other Worlds Than These brings back the series protagonist, now a retired cop who must once again deal with evils of two worlds. Sure to be an epic and powerful read, I’ve very excited to try out Other Worlds Than These.

The Unknown by Riley Sager

I finally got my hands on the intriguing horror thriller, The Unknown by Riley Sager. A fantastic sounding novel about a film crew attempting make a film about an infamous mystery on an isolated island which inevitably results in weird events, The Unknown has been on my radar for a while and I’m very keen to check it out.

Penitent by A. W. Hammond

An intriguing new thriller from Australian author A. W. Hammond, Penitent sees a priest forced to confront a violent killer and decide whether to keep silent or violate the rules of confession. This sounds like an amazing novel and I’m curious to see how it unfolds.

The Crack by Michelle Stephens

The 2027 novels are already starting to appear, including the Australian crime fiction novel The Crack by Michelle Stephens. Set in a coastal town, The Crack sees a troubled protagonist attempt to avenge the unsolved death of her sister before her own crimes are exposed. I’m already intrigued by this upcoming book, and I look forward to diving into it in the new year.

Hero Adjacent by Alexis Veenendaal

The final book I want to highlight in this Book Haul post is the fun sounding 2027 fantasy novel Hero Adjacent by Alexis Veenendaal. An entertaining take on the classic hero’s journey narrative, Hero Adjacent sees a very unlikely group of budget adventurers band together to save the day. This sounds like quite the entertaining novel and I’m sure I’m going to have a wonderful time with this upcoming debut.

Well, that’s the end of this latest Book Haul post. As you can see I have quite a bit of reading to do at the moment thanks to all these awesome books that have come in. Let me know which of the above you are most interested in and make sure to check back in a few weeks to see my reviews of them.