This was the perfect time of year for this book. It had cozy mystery vibes, but also had strong Halloween themes. The town descriptions and set up were done really well and created a really good background for the story. I enjoyed the characters and the family dynamics in this book, but the plot was way too slow paced for me.

Delores Hawthorne left her hometown in Wisconsin years ago, cutting all ties with family and friends. But after 20 years, she's drawn back. Her father is missing under odd circumstances. Her memories of events on a Halloween night years and years ago are vague and disjointed. Now her father is gone, her family's reaction to her homecoming is cold, and something tells her that there is much more to that night and its aftermath than she remembers......

Wow! I loved this book! The story reveals the intricacies of an odd Halloween obsessed town, the difficulties in a blended family, and the one event that tore apart Delores' life when she was a teenager.

This is Rachel Louise Adams' debut novel. I will definitely be reading more by this author! The suspense built steadily....revelations coming out bit by but....until the ending just exploded on the page.

I listened to the audio book version of this story, narrated by Jeremy Carlisle Parker (Macmillan Audio, 12 hrs 4 minutes) and had an ebook review copy as well (St Martins Press).

Awesome book for spooky reading season! And the cover art is amazing! I can't wait to find out what this new author comes out with next!

**I read a review copy of this book from St Martins Press and a review audio book from Macmillan Audio. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

Thank you to Minotaur Books for sending me an ARC of No Rest for the Wicked in exchange for my honest review.

Wow. I was excited to read a spooky Halloween type book this fall and I was really blown away by how deep and dark this book got. If you were expecting a silly whodunnit murder mystery, brace yourself because there is so much more to this story and plot.

Delores hasn’t set foot in her hometown in 18 years and now being back is bringing up memories she long buried and forgot about. Faces and voices of the past haunt her as she tries to help the FBI uncover who would have kidnapped her former Senator father in the days leading up to the town’s favourite holiday, Halloween.

Many trigger warnings in this one so please take care of yourself before diving in if needed.

***** SPOILER ALERTS ****

I knew it was Teddy as soon as it was mentioned that the boys looked alike but Junior coming back to town was NOT on my radar at all. What a wild ride. I feel like Kate Butcher could have played a larger role if she would have just let herself feel a bit more kindness, but I also get where she was coming from in feeling like an outsider her whole life. The cat rescue makes up for her prickly attitude.

I would love to peek at what happens to Paul and Delores in the future. If they start to work more closely together. I don’t think much surprises Delores but the way that Paul played into his charm and swagger without that being his true identity really seem to shock her. I want there to be more about them in case Rachel is looking for sequel advice 😉

No Rest for the Wicked is an interesting combo of family drama, murder mystery, grief/trauma exploration, and police procedural. While the twists were all pretty easy to see coming, I still enjoyed the ride of this story. The strength in my opinion is in the characters who feel flawed and fleshed out. I enjoyed Dolores as a main character. Her story arc felt complete by the end.

I’d recommend to mystery/thriller fans!

Thank you Netgalley and Minotaur Books for the chance to read No rest for the wicked by Rachel Louise Adams. Like other reviewers, I immediately fell in love with the cover, and with it set in a small town that's known for its ghoulish history during the week of Halloween I had to read it! Warning, the cover is misleading...cats are not the main focus of the book. That being said, after a slow start, I couldn't put this down, and loved it! While it isn't horrific or scary, it is definitely a perfect read for the fall season, I totally recommend this debut novel, and I am looking forward to the author's novel!!!

This book pulled me in right away & kept me there. I almost read it in one sitting. Delores is a forensic pathologist, recently split from her husband & hasn’t been to her hometown in eighteen years. Little Horton is a small town, obsessed with Halloween, even though terrible things always seem to happen on that day. Delores is called back after her former senator father goes missing. Then the bodies start piling up. I really enjoyed the gothic overtones. Delores is a troubled & sad heroine, she is well constructed and easy to root for. As the revelations occurred I was definitely invested. This book really exhibits how misunderstandings & incorrect memories can derail so many lives.

The cover & blurb of the book were somewhat misleading so I think readers will be surprised at the story they get. But for me that was a positive. I went in with expectations & instead I got a book I enjoyed more than I thought I would based on those expectations.

🎃

Read if you like:
* From Hell by Cameron Chaney
* The Heiress by Rachel Hawkins
* V.C. Andrews

Delores left her Halloween obsessed hometown two decades ago so it stirs up a lot of drama, questions, and memories when she returns. She’s now a forensic pathologist and has to put her expertise to use when a politician goes missing and it opens up an entire investigation.

I really enjoyed this book about 60% of the time. The characters were great, the plot was interesting, and the last 20% had me flying from page to page! I struggled with the pacing in the first half of the book and was getting frustrated with each chapter ending on a huge question or twist but not actually leading to answers until the end. It took me a little bit to get invested since we didn’t know exactly what the issue was until further into the book but once that piece came together, it was so good! I wish we’d found out more a bit earlier so I could have felt invested sooner but the way it played out made me like the book overall regardless. Super fun and twisty!

Thank you so much to Netgalley, Rachel Louise Adams, and St Martin’s Press for providing this free E-ARC, this publishes on September 16th. This is my honest review!

When Dolores gets a call that her father is missing, she returns to the hometown she left nearly twenty-five years prior for the first time. The last words from her father are in the form of a letter: Trust no one. The answers she is seeking require Dolores to face her past. Can she figure out what her past has to do with her father's disappearance?

Thrillers are not my favorite genre, but this one had too many compelling elements, especially after I read an excerpt. This is exactly the kind of thriller I do enjoy: the characters kept me guessing, although I was able to figure it out just before the characters did, which kept me engaged.

The characters are well-written and well-rounded. Their actions match their complexities and the issues each of them had.


Thank you to Net Galley, St. Martin's Press, and Minotaur Press for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

"No Rest For The Wicked" by Rachel Louise Adams is an absolute thrill in the murder mystery genre. Set in a small, atmospheric town, the novel’s rich tapestry of intrigue and suspense kept me hooked from the first page to the last.

Told through multiple narrators across past and present timelines, the story unfolds with a brilliant complexity that never feels overwhelming. Each character is meticulously crafted, offering unique perspectives that deepen the mystery and add layers of emotional resonance. The transitions between timelines are seamless, enhancing the suspense and keeping me eager to uncover the next clue.

The plot is nothing short of thrilling, packed with unexpected twists and turns that had me guessing until the very end. Adams’s ability to maintain tension while developing compelling character arcs is truly impressive. The small-town setting adds an extra layer of intrigue, where secrets lurk behind every familiar face.

If you’re a fan of murder mysteries with excellent character development, an engaging narrative structure, and an exciting, well-paced plot, "No Rest For The Wicked" is a must-read. Rachel Louise Adams has crafted a gripping tale that I’ll be recommending to everyone I know.

Don't let the cover throw you off, the cats are misleading. I thought this would be more of a supernatural, Halloween story, but this was a completely incredible thriller!
This is Rachel Louise Adam's debut book, and it was incredible! It felt like the work of a seasoned author. I loved all the twists and parts at play throughout. I really thought I had it figured out at different points and I was always wrong!
While there are cats in the book, they are not the focal point of the story. No Rest For The Wicked comes out September 16th! Be sure to check it out!

I absolutely loved this book. It had me guessing up until the end. The story of Dolores was heartbreaking, it made me angry at times but it made for a great story. I really wasn't expecting who it was, but I was so happy with the plot twists and turns! The Hawthorne family has too many secrets buried and I loved reading every little bit of it.

Would 100% recommend to anyone who loves a spooky murder mystery type book.

This was a debut novel? What a great Debut! I thought the author did a great job of depicting the small town feel of this book. Rachel Louise Adams did an amazing job creating a small tight atmosphere where the tension is high and the town is dark and eerie. I loved the creepy Halloween obsessed town that had cats running around. Now don't let the cats fool you... they aren't as sweet as they look on the cover.

If you want a book that is packed full of lies and hidden secrets this is a great one. The plot unfolds as you read, and the twist are very well written in.

The audiobook was narrated by Jeremy Carlisle Parker who did a great job with the different characters. I was on my toes listening to this book and shocked with each twist. Well done.

Thank you NetGalley for this Advance Copy in exchange for an honest review.

The ending of this novel is worth every slow breath through the beginning.

Dolores, Doll, Hawthorne/Diaz is a force to be reckoned with. One of the top forensic doctors in the country. Happily ensconced in her world in Los Angeles. A world that is about to be shaken up when she is called home to Little Horton, Wisconsin. Why? Her father is missing.

Little Horton, also knows as Little Halloween, is on the map for all the wrong reasons. Halloween is an eventful day in the town’s history. Mass shootings. Fires. Murder. Most towns would shy away from the drama, but Little Horton leaned in. Now it has an amazing annual festival on Halloween.

Just before this Halloween, however, Dolores is called home. Her father is missing. Once the pride of his life, Dolores has no choice but to head home. A home she hasn’t seen in years. A home that she never expected to revisit. So she goes. Reluctantly, but it’s her duty to be there. While she gets a chilly welcome from her stepmother and half-siblings, it’s her father that she came home for.

Something isn’t right. Her father, former town mayor and Senator, left her a note, asking her to remember him as she loved him. There are secrets and surprises in store. Her ex-boyfriend is now mayor. Her skills as a forensic doctor are in need by the FBI. There’s a lot to digest here. Dolores is trying. Trying to fit in with her estranged step-mother, half-brother and half-sister. Trying not to stand out, even though the whole town is chattering about her return. Trying to help the FBI figure out this mess.

It’s a tangled web that needs untangling. Dolores is the key, but will she be able to survive the murder spree and figure out who is after both her family and her ex-boyfriend’s? Or will she run again, back to Los Angeles, where she can pretend that Little Horton never existed?

Such a twisty, tangly mess of lies and deception. I’m not sure how Rachel Adams kept it straight to even write this novel. There are so many characters and back stories for these people. Was Dolores’s last Halloween in Little Horton really what she thinks it was? Is her father missing or gone forever? Who is committing these horrible crimes? And why does Kate Butcher hate her so severely?

It’s a wonderful mess of a story that comes together at the end. And if you’re like me and struggle through the beginning, trust me, it’s worth it in the end. I’m sure you’ll never see what’s coming.

Definitely recommend.



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I love a town that is obsessed with Halloween. That one night a year they live for. Striving to outdo each year bigger and better than the last. Little Horton, Wisconsin is one of these towns. The only time the tourists come streaming in is on Halloween. It is not just the townwide party or the creeptastic decorations. It is link to the violent deaths that occur on this day. They even have a song that they sing as children about each of these horrifying tragedies. This coming Halloween is shaping up to be a doozy. With the Senator disappearing from his office. All that is left is a trail of blood and a note to his estranged daughter he has not seen in twenty years.

From the outside it looked like Dolores Hawthorne had it all when she was growing up. A father who doted on her. Money was never an issue, and everyone loved her. Dolores has been struggling to put the past behind her all these years. One day she up and left Little Horton and never returned. Never spoke to her father, her stepbrother or sister, since. She completely cut ties. When she receives a phone call that her father is missing, and the FBI wants her to come home to answer some questions. It obviously leaves her shaken. As she steps through her family's front door, the mask that she has worn for the past twenty years slips and she remembers how much she loves her little brother. Regrets not meeting her sister. Her stepmother is still demanding as ever. As the days march closer to Halloween, her father is still not found. There are bodies piling up. Two of the richest families who helped found this town seem to be at odds with one another. Who is behind all this madness?

I loved the atmospheric setting of Little Horton. The characters make you want to know what happened in the past. My eyes flew across the pages, needing to know who was going to be found murdered next and how they are all connected. This is a fantastic Spooky Season read. Be sure to add it to your pile. Thank you to Rachel Louise Adams and Minotaur Books for my gifted copy.

I loved this twist-filled and suspenseful read! I really enjoyed the final reveal of the answers to the two central mysteries of the story. There was a fair amount of misdirection which kept things interesting. This book was impossible to put down!

I was really excited about this book based on the synopsis, but it wasn’t for me. It felt like it took too long to get going and really dragged on. I also felt that at times it was confusing with a lack of context rather than just mysterious. Additionally, I found the characters to be too unlikable which left me feeling detached from the story.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. ✍🏻

Thank you so much NetGalley for allowing me to read this arc! I am not gonna lie looks can be deceiving and I requested this because of the cover looked really good and made me think witchy vibes not at all!! I read this book of four star I thought it was a really good book. I went in completely blind and I’m not mad. Absolutely, you should add this to your spooky/Halloween reads for this year!!

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: Sept. 16, 2025
Dolores Hawthorne left her hometown of Little Horton, Wisconsin more than twenty years ago and is now a forensic pathologist in California. Although she vowed never to return, she receives a call one night from an FBI agent – her beloved father, the former mayor of Little Horton, has gone missing. When Dolores returns, she is given the icy greeting she expects from her stepmother and half-siblings, but what Dolores doesn’t expect is for two other men in Little Horton to be murdered within days of each other. In order to find her father, and uncover the murderer, Dolores must face the shadows and demons of her past, before more people are killed.
“No Rest for the Wicked” is a dynamite debut for the spooky season. Rachel Louise Adams delivers a haunting tale of murder and mayhem, set in the backdrop of the unofficial “Halloween town” of Wisconsin. Narrated by Dolores, as well as several other prominent characters, readers are immediately pulled in to the page-turning, goosebump-inducing plot.
Dolores has her reasons for avoiding her beloved father and her hometown, but readers don’t find out her secrets right away. Adams reveals the truth in increments, yet I was able to connect to Dolores immediately and my empathy for her only grew as her history was revealed. The characters in “Wicked” are complex, presenting as one thing on the surface but who are, in fact, quite different deep down, yet all are likable in their own ways.
The murders, and the disappearance of Dolores’ father, are the biggest components, of course, and Adams builds tension with well-developed twists and turns. Trying to guess the outcome was so much fun, especially with the small-town Halloween vibes that Little Horton gave off. Some of the ending I was able to speculate but others were completely unexpected, making “Wicked” one-hundred percent enjoyable.
I wasn’t sure what to expect with “Wicked”, but the premise of Adams’ novel pulled me in (and I’m always game to read a spooky novel in the fall) and I am so glad I did. I hope Adams stays in this genre, as I am always looking for new horror authors to enjoy and Adams seems to be just what I’m looking for!

My thanks to Net Galley and St Martin's Minotaur for allowing me this arc to review.

Where is Senator Alexander Hawthorne? That is the heart of this story when his daughter, Dolores is called back to the town she fled 18 years ago to help find him. You see Dolores is a forensic pathologist and another murder occurs, plus bones found of a missing girl from the past tie into her father's disappearance and she is asked to exam the bodies

I liked this. Good story telling. Told in past and present pov.

There is nothing better than Halloween in a small midwestern town! This book had me turning pages and wanting to finish it. There were twists that I didn’t see coming and it was great! This book is eerie and spooky and I loved it. Can’t wait to see what else the author writes.