Lisa McCoy's 3 favorite reads in 2025

A brutal murder.A town desperate to forget.A detective who refuses to walk away.When a young woman is found strangled near the abandoned power station, there are no witnesses, no suspects, and far too many secrets.The leaders of Sinister Falls want the case buried—but Detective Harlie Whitlock knows a cover-up when she sees one. As she digs deeper, she uncovers more than just a killer. She’s exposing a web of lies, corruption, and betrayal that snakes through the highest levels of the town.Someone is hiding the truth.Someone is watching her every move.And as the body count rises, Harlie must risk everything… show more.

The Cat Who Saved Books is a heart-warming story about finding courage, caring for others - and the tremendous power of books.

Grandpa used to say it all the time: 'books have tremendous power'. But what is that power really?

Natsuki Books was a tiny second-hand bookshop on the edge of town. Inside, towering shelves reached the ceiling, every one crammed full of wonderful books. Rintaro Natsuki loved this space that his grandfather had created. He spent many happy hours there, reading whatever he liked. It was the perfect refuge for a boy who tended to be something of a… show more.

Being a freelancer is never easy—especially in this intergalactic economy. Captain Zip Turbine usually has a sarcastic quip ready, but work has been rough, and the pay has been worse. After a string of bad jobs leaves her and her trusted companion Tom, a 5-foot-tall talking shrimp, nearly broke, any offer that keeps the ship flying looks good, even if that offer comes from the shadowy, ultra-rich, Manchester Corporation.

Zip and Tom find themselves in an employment situation more akin to extortion. Worse, the job comes with two mandatory and potentially murderous shipmates. Now saddled with their untrustworthy companions, Zip… show more.