Book Review - Devolution by Max Brooks

Title: Devolution
Author: Max Brooks
Genre: Horror
Published: 2020
 
Description: As the ash and chaos from Mount Rainier’s eruption swirled and finale settled, the story of the Greenloop massacre passed unnoticed, unexamined… until now.
 
But the journals of resident Kat Holland receovered from the town’s bloody wreckage, captures a tale too harrowing to be forgotten.
 
Kate’s is a tale of unexpected strength and resilience, of humanity’s defiance in the face of a terrible predator’s gaze, and inevitably, of savagery ad death. Yet it is also far more than that. Because if what Kate Holland saw was real, then we must accept the impossible. We must accept that the creature known as Bigfoot walks among us and that it is a beast of terrible strength and ferocity.

Review: Following the iconic “World War Z” (which I have not read), Max Brooks returns with “Devolution”. This time he swaps the zombies for a legend that’s just as terrifying: Bigfoot. Brooks opts for a pseudo-documentary style, which creates a realistic and oppressive atmosphere. Although the book is definitely worth reading, it also has a few drawbacks that prevent it from being quite a masterpiece.
 
The story follows the residents of Greenloop, a state-of-the-art, eco-friendly, and completely self-sufficient residential community in the forests of Washington State. When the nearby Mount Rainier erupts, the high-tech village becomes completely cut off from the outside worlds. The residents, accustomed to luxury and technology, are completely unprepared for the approaching winter. Their situation deteriorates dramatically when a hungry, aggressive tribe of Bigfoot-like creatures is driven from their habitat by the natural disaster and chooses Greenloop as their new hunting ground. What follows is a bloody struggle for survival, told largely through the recovered diary of resident Kate Holland.
 
Brooks excels at slowly building tension. The transition from a naïve, ecological utopia to a brutal struggle for survival is fascinating and psychologically well-developed. The details about how the creatures hunt and communicate feel scientifically grounded and terrifyingly realistic. The final third of the book is a nail-biting page-turner that you won’t be able to put down.
 
The biggest problem is the pace in the first half. Brooks spends a great deal of time on interviews, background information, and character development. Although this contributes to world-building, it simply takes too long before anything interesting happens. You really have to push through and eventually will see it’s worth your time.
 
“Devolution” is a strong, clever horror story with a fantastic climax. It is very violent, trigger warnings for violence and gore. But importunely the story takes a little too long to get going.
 
Rating: 3,5/ 5

Book Review - Serial Killer Support Group by Saratoga Schaefer

Title: Serial Killer Support Group
Author: Saratoga Schaefer
Genre: Thriller/ Horror
Published: 2025
 
Description: When Cyra Griffin’s younger sister is murdered by a serial killer, Cyra knows better than to expect justice from the hands of the police department. With the investigation already dying its own slow death, Cyra follows the blood trail and finds her own way forward.
 
Using insider information Cyra infiltrates a support group for serial killers by pretending to be one herself in the hopes of finding the person who ended her sister’s life. Proving herself to them comes at a cost, but it’s one Cyra is willing to pay in the name of revenge.
Unfortunately, the dangerous men in the group aren’t the only obstacles in Cyra’s path for vengeance, and the further Cyra descends into the deadly world of serial killers, the harder it becomes to hold on to her own humanity.

Review: For fans of pitch-black humor and unconventional thrillers, Saratoga Schaefer’s debut is an absolute must-read. “Serial Killer Support Group” thoroughly shakes up the classic thriller genre with a daring, feminist, and slightly bizarre premise. The result is and addictive game of cat and mouse that constantly keeps the reader guessing.
 
When Cyra Griffin’s younger sister is brutally murdered by a serial killer and the police quickly let the investigation fizzle out. Cyra refuses to accept this and decides to take matters into her own hands. Through an insider in the police force, she discovers the existence of a top-secret support group in the city: a support group for serial killers. Driven by revenge, Cyra manages to infiltrate the group and pretends to be a cold-blooded killer herself. Her goal is simple: to unmask her sister’s killer.
 
This book is a delightfully crazy ride that entertains from the very first page. Schaefer has a sharp, witty writing style that allows her to effortlessly combine the gruesome subject matter with a healthy dose of irony and dark humor. Cyra is a fantastic, unconventional protagonist; she is determined, physically strong, and morally flexible enough to fully draw you into her mission.
 
The build-up tension is very well-executed. The constant threat that Cyra will be exposed among the group of trained psychopaths creates a continuous, underlying sense of unease. As the story approaches its climax, the author also treats you to a number of sharp, unexpected plot twists.
 
The various killers in the groups all have fascinating, twisted backstories. I would have liked a bit more depth and interaction among them during the group sessions.
 
“Serial Killer Support Group” is a refreshing, thrilling and delightfully macabre debut that’s perfect for fans of “Dexter”. This is the second book I read by Saratoga Schaefer and I really love her work so far. An author to keep a close eye on.
 
Rating: 4/ 5

Movie Review - The Whisper Man

Director: James Ashcroft
Genre: Thriller/ Crime
Runtime: 111 minutes
Year: 2026
Starring: Adam Scott, Michelle Monaghan, Robert De Niro, Hamish Linklater, Michael Keaton,
 
Description: A grieving father (Adam Scott) and his young son relocate to the quiet town of Featherbank, which was terrorized by a serial killer known as The Whisper Man 15 years earlier, while rumors circulate that Whisper man worked with an accomplice.
 
Review: With “The Whisper Man”, director James Ashcroft and his cast aim to create a chilling psychological thriller. The film succeeds in evoking an oppressive and gloomy atmosphere from the very first moment. Unfortunately, the production fails to sustain this carefully built tension until the end. The result is an entertaining but ultimately predictable thriller that ends up falling somewhere in the middle of the pack.

After the sudden death of his wife, Tom decides to move with his young son Jake to the quiet town of Featherbank. They hope to make a fresh start there. However, for decades the town has been haunted by the shadow of a notorious serial  killer known as The Whisper Man. When another boy goes missing and Jake begins to hear strange voices by his bedroom window, it becomes painfully clear that the danger is far from over. Tom must do everything in his power to protect his son from an elusive evil.

“The Whisper man” excels in cinematography and atmosphere; the somber visuals and ominous soundtrack immediately get under your skin. A definite highlights is Michael Keaton’s strong, albeit small, role. He commands attention in every scene and brings much-needed depth to the story. Michaelle Monaghan is also very solid as detective Amanda Beck.

For the seasoned thriller fan, the plot is too predictable, which allowed me to correctly predict the culprit’s identity very early on in the story. This takes the edge off the final and makes the climax rather clichéd. It’s an atmospheric, easy-to-watch film, with a great performance by Michael Keaton, but without any real surprises. I still enjoyed it and would recommend it though.

Rating: 3,5/ 5

Book Review - Look What you Made Me Do by John Lanchester

Title: Look What You Made Me Do
Author: John Lanchester
Genre: Fiction/ Thriller
Published: 2026
 
Description: What if the year’s most talked about TV show was all about your marriage?
 
Kate, thirty years into her marriage, has a seemingly idyllc metropolitan, North London life. Phoebe, a young screenwriter, is the creator of the year’s hit TV show, Cheating.
 
When Kate’s world takes a darker turn, she thinks she sees details and intimacies in the the show that only she and her husband Jack could possibly have known. But who has betrayed who? Who gets to tell whose story?
 
Review: With “Look What You Made Me Do”, author John Lanchester attempts to craft a razor-sharp, contemporary psychological thriller. In this book he exposes the tension between generations and the dark side of the media world. Although the premise sounds promising and intriguing, the execution falls painfully short.
 
The story follows Kate, who shared a seemingly perfect marriage with her husband Jack for thirty years. And there’s Phoebe, a young screenwriter whose new series “Cheating” becomes a massive hit. The two woman’s world’s collide head-on when Kate watches the series. To her utter horror, she recognizes intimate details, secrets, and even the specific private language of her own marriage in the dialogue on screen. A dark and vicious battle ensues, filled with resentment, accusations, and acts of revenge, centered on the question: who stole whose story, and what is the ultimate price of this betrayal?
 
Although the premise of a stolen married life in a TV series has the potential to be a successful thriller, “Look What You Made Me Do” disappoints on nearly every front. Lanchester chooses to tell the story from the perspective of the two women, but barely manages to give them an authentic or believable voice. The characters remain stuck in shallow stereotypes: the bitter, privileged Kate versus the cynical, harried Phoebe. As a result, the intergenerational friction feels more like a rehash of clichés than a sharp social critique.
 
The biggest problem, however, is the plot structure. A good thriller relies on carefully built tension, but Lanchester opts for a series of implausible coincidences and far-fetched plot twists to drive the story forward. The pace if initially far too slow, after which the book suddenly derails in the second half into an over-the-top revenge comedy that completely undoes the carefully crafted psychological tension. The climax and the motives behind the betrayal feel contrived and fall apart at the seams. Lanchester occasionally writes quite entertaining and satirical passages about the London elite, but as a thriller, the books lacks any sense of logic, surprise or genuine psychological depth. The result is an unsatisfying whole.
 
Rating: 1,5/ 5

Movie Review - Toy Story 5

Director: McKenna Harris, Andrew Stanton
Genre: Animation/ Family/ Drama
Runtime: 102 minutes
Year: 2026
Starring: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack, Conan O’Brien, Greta Lee, Bonnie Hunt, Wallace Shawn, Kristen Schaal, Ernie Hudson, John Ratzenberger
 
Description: Woody (Tom Hanks), Buzz (Tim Allen), Jessie (Joan Cusack) and the rest of the gang’s jobs are challenged when they’re introduced to electronics, a new threat to playtime.
 
Review: When Pixar announced that a fifth “Toy Story” film was in the works, the film world reacted with a healthy dose of skepticism. After the emotional and perfect farewell in the third installment, and the surprisingly strong epilogue in the fourth, it really seemed like the series had run its course. With “Toy Story 5”, however, directors Andrew Stanton and McKenna Harris prove the opposite. The film manages to tackle relevant, modern themes without losing the nostalgic spirit of the franchise.

In “Toy Story 5”, Bonnie struggles with a universal modern problem: the allure of the digital screen. Woody, Buzz, and the rest of the gang are pushed into the background by tablets, smartphones, and high-tech VR headsets. When Bonnie’s favorite new gadget becomes infected with a malicious computer virus, her digital world is in danger of crashing. To save their child’s memories and happiness, the toys must literally travel into the digital world. There, they face an army of forgotten tech-toys and a glitchy, manipulative AI villain.

The greatest compliment “Toy Story 5” deserves is how cleverly it handles the concept of toys in today’s world. While the earlier films revolved around growing up and letting go, this installment tackles the struggle between tangible nostalgia and the all-powerful screen time. The transition to the digital world within the film brings a fresh dynamic. Pixar uses this scenario to showcase breathtaking animation techniques. The contrast between the warm, tactile textures of the classic toys and the neon-lit, sometimes eerily perfect digital environment are visually masterful.

As always, the humor is multi-layered. There are quick, physical jokes for younger viewers and sharp, satirical jabs at tech culture for adults. The introduction of outdated video game consoles and crashed software avatars, provides some hilarious moments. I especially loved Smarty Pants, voiced by Conan O’Brien. The reunion between Woody and Buzz remains the emotional anchor of the film.

“Toy Story 5” isn’t just another cash-grab, but a loving and much-needed reflection of what play means today.

Rating: 4/ 5

Book Review - The Night We Met by Abby Jimenez

Title: The Night We Met (Say You’ll Remember Me #2)
Author: Abby Jimenez
Genre: Romance/ Contemporary
Published: 2026
 
Description: In everyone’s life, there’s a split-second decision that can change everything…
 
For Larissa, it came when choosing which guy to ride home with after a concert. That night, she had no idea she’d met the perfect man. She and Chris are great together, co-parenting a slightly unhinged rescue Yorkie, sharing their favorite books, and judging bread (pumpernickel for the win!). For the first time amid all her side hustles to scrape by, thigs finally feel easy.
 
But Chris isn’t the one who drove Larissa home all those months ago, Chris is her boyfriend’s best friend. All Chris wants is for Larissa to be happy. Standing by on the sidelines is slowly killing him, but making a move would destroy someone else. And he’s just not that guy.

Review: When it comes to Abby Jimenez romance novels, I am a romance girlie. Because all books I have read by her were wins. “The Night We Met” got mixed reviews, so I went in with the possibility of me not liking it as much. But Jimenez did not disappoint. She proves once again that she is the queen of contemporary romance, striking a perfect balance between deep tragedy and sparkling humor.
 
The story revolves around a split-second decision that changes a whole life. After a concerts, Larissa has to choose who she’ll ride home with. She ends up in the car with Mike and eventually they start a relationship. Months later, however, it turns out that Mike’s best friend Chris, is her true soulmate. While Larissa makes ends meet with countless part-time jobs, she and Chris develop a deep friendship. They share favorite books, bake bread, and raise a quirky, rescued Yorkshire Terrier together. The chemistry between them is undeniable, but Chris refuses to betray his best friend. What follows is a heart-wrenching struggle between loyalty and true love.
 
The character development in this book is truly impeccable. The characters feel lifelike, with their traumas, financial stress, and moral dilemmas. In addition, the interactions and humor between Chris and Larissa are razor-sharp, witty, and written and written with a wonderfully authentic flow. The underlying tension and longing create a compelling slow-burn, and I prefer a slow-burn when it comes to love stories.
 
What really elevates this book is that Jimenez doesn’t shy away from heavy topics like loyalty, substance addiction, and deep friendship. This is a beautiful, painful, yet hopeful stoy about the impact of timing and fate. It lingers in your mind long after you’ve closed the last page.
 
Rating: 5/ 5

Book Review - Carrie Soto is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Title: Carrie Soto
Author: Taylor Jenkins Reid
Genre: Historical fiction/ fiction
Published: 2022
 
Description: Carrie Soto is fierce, and her determination to win at any cost has not made her popular.
 
By the time Carrie retires from tennis, she is the best played the world has ever seen. She has shattered every record and claimed twenty Grand Slam titles. And if you ask her, she is entitled to every one. She sacrificed nearly everything to become the best, with her father as her coach.
 
But six years after her retirement, Carrie finds herself sitting in the stands of the 1994 US Open, watching her record be taken from her by a brutal, stunning, British player named Nicki Chan.
 
At thirty-seven years old, Carrie makes the monumental decision to come out of retirement and be coached by her father for one last year in an attempt to reclaim her record. Even is the sports media says that they never liked the ‘Battle-axe’ anyway. Even if her body doesn’t move as fast as it did. And even if it means swallowing her pride to train with a man she once almost opened her heart to: Bowe Huntley. Like her, he has something to prove before he gives up the game forever.
 
In spite of it all: Carrie Soto is back, for one epic final season.
 
Review: With “Carrie Soto is Back”, Taylor Jenkins Reid once again demonstrate her talent for creating complex, fallible, and utterly fascinating characters. After exploring Hollywood and the world of rock ‘n roll, Reid now delves into the cutthroat world of professional tennis. The result is a nail-biting, emotional and razor-sharp drama about ambition, growing older, and the price of success.
 
The story follows Carrie Soto, the most successful female tennis player of all time. She is fiery, ruthless, and known as “The Battle Axe”. By the time she retires from tennis, she has broken every record and holds no fewer than twenty Grand Slam titles. Six years later, in 1994, Carrie is sitting in the stands at the U.S. open. She watches as the young, talented Nicki Chan ties her record. Carrie is now 37 years old, and her body is no longer what it used to be. Still, she makes a radical decision: she’ll come out of retirement to defend her record. Together with her father and lifelong coach, Javier, she embarks on a grueling year of training. She must not only battle younger opponents and a skeptical media, but also her own physical limits and demons from the past.
 
Carrie is the typical anti-hero you will love. She is not likeable in the traditional sense of the word. She’s arrogant, selfish, and obsessed with winning. That’s precisely what makes her so formidable. Reid compels the reader to respect a woman who refuses to apologize for her ambition.
 
The relationship between Carrie and Javier is the beating heart of the book. Their bond is complex, loving, and at time heartbreaking. Javier reminds Carrie there’s more to life than just winning.
 
This book will sweep you away. I used to watch a lot of tennis, but if you have no affinity with tennis at all, this might not interest you. But the way Reid describes the matches with such intense dynamic, even someone who is not into tennis could enjoy it.
 
The only reason why I’m not giving it a 5-star rating is that the match rhythm halfway through the story lead to a slide sense of repetition.
 
“Carrie Soto is Back” is a triumph. It’s a powerful statement about how society treats ambitious women and a beautiful story about growing up, letting go, and the meaning of greatness. An absolute must-read.   
Rating: 4,5/ 5