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Corey in Los Angeles #2
Take Hart: A Thriller
Between her LAPD consulting gig, fledgling indie news blog, and postpartum panic disorder, former TV journalist Corey Tracey-Lieberman is barely keeping it together. Then a mother named Sonja Hart vanishes in her Highland Park neighborhood, and the case is all but ignored. Sparked by maternal fury, Corey’s investigative instincts come roaring back to life.
To see the truth clearly, Corey must stop taking the meds that keep her anxiety at bay. Forced to confront her own failing marriage, she struggles with her growing feelings for her crime-fighting partner. Strapping her fourteen-month-old son to her chest, she follows a trail that leads from a suspicious house fire to the furtive activities of new neighbors.
The more she digs, the more she uncovers about the secret toll of gentrification—and the closer she comes to the verge of a breakdown. And the horror dawns that the killer she’s been chasing has been watching her all along…
To see the truth clearly, Corey must stop taking the meds that keep her anxiety at bay. Forced to confront her own failing marriage, she struggles with her growing feelings for her crime-fighting partner. Strapping her fourteen-month-old son to her chest, she follows a trail that leads from a suspicious house fire to the furtive activities of new neighbors.
The more she digs, the more she uncovers about the secret toll of gentrification—and the closer she comes to the verge of a breakdown. And the horror dawns that the killer she’s been chasing has been watching her all along…
301 pages, Paperback
Published August 4, 2026
About the author
Jaime Parker Stickle
3 books42 followersJaime Parker Stickle is an actor and writer and holds an MFA in creative writing from the University of California, Riverside. She is the creator and co-host of the hilarious and poignant podcast, Make That Paper, and is also the creator and host of the new storytelling series “Okay, You Guys…” in Los Angeles. Her published work can be seen in the 2018 and 2019 Adelaide Literary Anthology among other places. She has worked as the managing editor for the literary journal The Coachella Review and is currently co-editor of the literary journal – GXRL. She is the recipient of a Virginia G. Piper Desert Nights Rising Stars Fellowship.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
August 5, 2026
When One Woman Refuses to Let Another Woman Disappear
Jaime Parker Stickle’s Take Hart is the second installment in the Corey in Los Angeles series, following Vicious Cycle. While returning readers will enjoy spending more time with Corey Tracy Lieberman, this mystery stands well on its own, providing enough context that new readers can jump in without feeling lost.
Corey Tracy Lieberman is a former television journalist whose investigative instincts never really switched off. While navigating life as a new mother, teaching spin classes part-time, consulting with the LAPD, and managing a separation from her husband, Corey becomes determined to uncover the truth behind the disappearance of a woman named Sonja Hart.
What impressed me most about this novel wasn’t just the mystery itself—it was watching Corey juggle an almost impossible number of responsibilities. Alongside the investigation, she struggles with postpartum anxiety, unsettling behavior from her neighbors, and the emotional weight of caring for an infant. As the leads surrounding Sonja multiply, Corey repeatedly uses her journalism background to infiltrate gyms, college classes, and other settings by convincingly adopting different identities to gather information. Those scenes showcased both her resourcefulness and her determination.
I found myself simultaneously admiring Corey and questioning the expectations placed on her. Caring for a baby is a full-time job on its own, yet Corey is somehow balancing work, an investigation, a complicated personal life, growing feelings for Detective Chris, and the challenges of postpartum anxiety. I genuinely hope new mothers don’t read this and think this level of productivity is something they should aspire to. Instead, I appreciated that the novel ultimately highlights the cost of trying to carry too much and the unrealistic standards society often places on women. It also raises an important question: if Corey hadn’t decided that Sonja’s disappearance mattered, who would have kept looking for her?
Sarah Naughton’s narration elevates the audiobook even further. She effortlessly brings a large cast of characters to life, giving each a distinct voice while capturing Corey’s determination, vulnerability, and moments of self-doubt. It’s another excellent performance that makes it easy to stay immersed in both the emotional and investigative sides of the story.
Take Hart blends domestic life, psychological struggles, and investigative suspense into a mystery led by a protagonist who refuses to look away when everyone else has moved on. It offers an engaging mystery while also exploring the invisible pressures many women face, making it about much more than simply solving a missing-person case.
Thank you to NetGalley and Brilliance Publishing for providing an advanced listener copy in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
Jaime Parker Stickle’s Take Hart is the second installment in the Corey in Los Angeles series, following Vicious Cycle. While returning readers will enjoy spending more time with Corey Tracy Lieberman, this mystery stands well on its own, providing enough context that new readers can jump in without feeling lost.
Corey Tracy Lieberman is a former television journalist whose investigative instincts never really switched off. While navigating life as a new mother, teaching spin classes part-time, consulting with the LAPD, and managing a separation from her husband, Corey becomes determined to uncover the truth behind the disappearance of a woman named Sonja Hart.
What impressed me most about this novel wasn’t just the mystery itself—it was watching Corey juggle an almost impossible number of responsibilities. Alongside the investigation, she struggles with postpartum anxiety, unsettling behavior from her neighbors, and the emotional weight of caring for an infant. As the leads surrounding Sonja multiply, Corey repeatedly uses her journalism background to infiltrate gyms, college classes, and other settings by convincingly adopting different identities to gather information. Those scenes showcased both her resourcefulness and her determination.
I found myself simultaneously admiring Corey and questioning the expectations placed on her. Caring for a baby is a full-time job on its own, yet Corey is somehow balancing work, an investigation, a complicated personal life, growing feelings for Detective Chris, and the challenges of postpartum anxiety. I genuinely hope new mothers don’t read this and think this level of productivity is something they should aspire to. Instead, I appreciated that the novel ultimately highlights the cost of trying to carry too much and the unrealistic standards society often places on women. It also raises an important question: if Corey hadn’t decided that Sonja’s disappearance mattered, who would have kept looking for her?
Sarah Naughton’s narration elevates the audiobook even further. She effortlessly brings a large cast of characters to life, giving each a distinct voice while capturing Corey’s determination, vulnerability, and moments of self-doubt. It’s another excellent performance that makes it easy to stay immersed in both the emotional and investigative sides of the story.
Take Hart blends domestic life, psychological struggles, and investigative suspense into a mystery led by a protagonist who refuses to look away when everyone else has moved on. It offers an engaging mystery while also exploring the invisible pressures many women face, making it about much more than simply solving a missing-person case.
Thank you to NetGalley and Brilliance Publishing for providing an advanced listener copy in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
August 11, 2026
Thank you Jaime Parker Stickle and NetGalley for the advanced audiobook of this novel.
3.75 Stars
I liked this second installment of Corey's story about the same amount as I did the first one.
Corey's character development is strong and she is dealing with postpartum and the fog of medication as she is trying to assist in solving a crime. This time she is working from a more professional capacity, which I enjoyed more. I also like the author brought more back story to other reoccurring characters that I missed in the first one.
I would definitely read more from this series because I feel some sense of bond with Corey for some reason.
Good read.
3.75 Stars
I liked this second installment of Corey's story about the same amount as I did the first one.
Corey's character development is strong and she is dealing with postpartum and the fog of medication as she is trying to assist in solving a crime. This time she is working from a more professional capacity, which I enjoyed more. I also like the author brought more back story to other reoccurring characters that I missed in the first one.
I would definitely read more from this series because I feel some sense of bond with Corey for some reason.
Good read.
July 25, 2026
I hate to say it, but this one didn’t hit the sweet spot for me. I do commend the author for writing about the very important mental health struggle of postpartum panic disorder. However, that is what overshadowed the whodunnit mystery. Her struggle and the medications for it.
Paxil is mentioned 45 times. I didn’t even bother to check on klonopin references. But I do know she’d take one if the paxil wouldn’t calm the anxiety.
The investigative journalist would appear and we’re starting to get back to the mystery of finding out who killed a missing woman, and then we’re back to having an episode and needing more meds.
I really wanted more. More depth and purposeful sleuthing around to solve a mystery.
Thanks to Thomas and Mercer for the opportunity read and review.
Paxil is mentioned 45 times. I didn’t even bother to check on klonopin references. But I do know she’d take one if the paxil wouldn’t calm the anxiety.
The investigative journalist would appear and we’re starting to get back to the mystery of finding out who killed a missing woman, and then we’re back to having an episode and needing more meds.
I really wanted more. More depth and purposeful sleuthing around to solve a mystery.
Thanks to Thomas and Mercer for the opportunity read and review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
"Motherhood. Corporate Greed. An Unflinching Noir."
Stickle crafts a lean, cinematic mystery that challenges how we view maternal duty and community displacement. If you loved Vicious Cycle, this evolution will leave you breathless.
Intro
In Take Hart by Jaime Parker Stickle, the author delivers a searing, atmospheric work of gentrification noir that strips away the romanticism of early motherhood to expose the raw mechanics of psychological survival. Set against the sun-bleached, anxious landscape of a rapidly changing Los Angeles, this sophomore installment operates as a lean, hyper-vigilant procedural fueled by cinematic urgency and sharp sociopolitical critique.
Following the harrowing events of Vicious Cycle, this second entry cements Corey Tracey-Lieberman as a brilliantly fractured protagonist whose unmedicated postpartum reality transforms her hyper-vigilance into her sharpest—and most dangerous—investigative tool.
The Hook
A visceral exploration of systemic erasure, where the chemical suppression of maternal trauma becomes the only barrier between an amateur investigator and a calculating predator operating in plain sight.
Elevator Pitch
In the shadow of a rapidly gentrifying Highland Park, former TV journalist Corey Tracey-Lieberman is anchoring her fractured reality with prescription pills to combat severe postpartum panic disorder. When her neighbor, Sonja Hart, vanishes into thin air without a trace or an LAPD response, Corey makes a high-stakes calculation: she halts her medication to reclaim her razor-sharp investigative instincts. With her fifteen-month-old son strapped physically to her chest, Corey steps into a labyrinth of suspicious real estate developments and neighborhood secrets. As her marriage deteriorates and professional boundaries dissolve, her hyper-vigilance uncovers a terrifying truth: the architect of the displacement is tracking her every move.
Setting
~Time & Place: Present-day Highland Park, Los Angeles. A neighborhood trapped in the friction of commercial capitalism and historic preservation.
~Atmosphere: Claustrophobic, feverish, and socially fractured. The heat of Southern California mimics the sweltering, unmedicated panic of early motherhood.
The Vibe
Urban neo-noir intersecting with intimate psychological domesticity.
Genre
Gentrification Noir / Psychological Procedural / Feminist Noir Thriller / Amateur Sleuths / Domestic Thriller
Themes
~The Weaponization of Urban Space: How corporate real estate developments exploit human vulnerabilities, treating marginalized communities and missing persons as mere obstacles to capital accumulation.
~The Pathology of Maternal Duty: The devastating trade-off between psychological self-preservation and the visceral instinct to protect or seek justice for another mother.
Standout Character
~Corey Tracey-Lieberman: A brilliantly flawed protagonist whose primary investigative tool is also her undoing. Her hyper-fixation is driven not by heroic altruism, but by a raw, unmedicated postpartum reality that leaves her exposed to external threats.
Author Writing Standout
Jaime Parker Stickle leverages her film and television background to construct a masterclass in narrative ruthlessness. Her prose operates with a cinematic economy, bypassing traditional filler to build tension through structural pacing and sensory escalation. Stickle treats Corey’s unmedicated anxiety not as a narrative gimmick, but as a formal constraint. The prose tightens or fractures depending on Corey’s psychological state, utilizing short, sharp sentences during panic-induced sequences to simulate hyperventilation on the page.
Takeaway
Society frequently pathologizes maternal anxiety while remaining willfully blind to the corporate, systemic violence that genuinely threatens communities.
Title Significance
~Literal: The direct directive to find and investigate the sudden disappearance of neighbor Sonja Hart.
~Metaphorical: A command to Corey—and the reader—to summon raw emotional endurance (to take heart) and look directly at systemic decay without blinking, even when survival requires narrative ruthlessness.
Metaphor
The fifteen-month-old child strapped to Corey’s chest serves as the novel's mechanical and structural metaphor. The infant is both a physical anchor to the material world and a constant, literal weight that limits her speed, alters her center of gravity, and increases her stakes during dangerous confrontations.
Why You Should Read
This is a sophisticated option for readers who demand crime fiction with sociopolitical teeth. Stickle rejects the clean resolutions of traditional procedurals, opting instead to dissect the psychological toll of municipal indifference and modern motherhood.
My Thoughts
"A masterclass in urban anxiety and narrative ruthlessness."
In Take Hart, Jaime Parker Stickle turns Highland Park into a brilliant canvas for gentrification noir. A missing mother case meets the raw, unmedicated reality of postpartum panic. This isn't your average procedural—it has sociopolitical teeth.
Reading Take Hart after Vicious Cycle felt like watching a brilliant filmmaker tighten their focus. I tore through the 301 pages in a single, breathless sitting, captivated by how accurately Stickle captures the dizzying reality of early motherhood without romanticizing it. The decision to have Corey drop her medication forces the reader into an uncomfortably intimate proximity with her psyche.
Be sure and read the first book in the series to learn the background! Vicious Cycle: Read my review
Verdict Rating: 5 / 5 Stars
"A brutally sharp, unflinching noir that exposes the dark underbelly of neighborhood displacement through the lens of unmedicated maternal hyper-vigilance."
Audio 🎧Standout
The audiobook production of Take Hart succeeds entirely due to the sophisticated vocal mechanics of narrator Sarah Naughton, (a favorite) who also voiced Vicious Cycle. Naughton displays absolute command over tonal pacing, subtly raising her pitch and accelerating her delivery during Corey’s unmedicated anxiety spirals to mimic a rising heart rate. Her transitions between internal monologue and dialogue are clinically precise, shifting effortlessly from the breathy, internal exhaustion of a postpartum mother to the hardened, professional cadences of Corey’s investigative voice.
Special thanks to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for an advanced reading copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollions | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 5 Stars
Pub Date: Aug 4, 2026
August Newsletter
August 2026 Must-Read Books
Recs or Read Alikes
While the "Corey in Los Angeles series" (Vicious Cycle & Take Hart) is similar to Stephanie Plum (Janet Evanovich) and Finlay Donovan (Elle Cosimano), with wit, sluething, and female leads which lean heavily into over-the-top, breathless capers; Corey is a former TV journalist and indie news blogger consulting with the LAPD. Corey’s narrative leans a bit harder into the raw, radical honesty of postpartum anxiety and local L.A. gentrification issues.
~The Deep, Deep Snow by Brian Freeman: Mirrors Stickle's execution by utilizing a deeply localized community mystery to expose the internal psychology and personal traumas of a relentless female investigator.
~Long Bright River by Liz Moore: Features a female beat cop navigating a hyper-localized crisis, where her investigative drive is deeply personal while balancing single motherhood and systemic institutional indifference.
~Baltimore Blues by Laura Lippman: Follows a former journalist turned investigator, serving as an elite comparison for its deep-rooted focus on urban geography, political deception, and real estate exploitation.
Stickle crafts a lean, cinematic mystery that challenges how we view maternal duty and community displacement. If you loved Vicious Cycle, this evolution will leave you breathless.
Intro
In Take Hart by Jaime Parker Stickle, the author delivers a searing, atmospheric work of gentrification noir that strips away the romanticism of early motherhood to expose the raw mechanics of psychological survival. Set against the sun-bleached, anxious landscape of a rapidly changing Los Angeles, this sophomore installment operates as a lean, hyper-vigilant procedural fueled by cinematic urgency and sharp sociopolitical critique.
Following the harrowing events of Vicious Cycle, this second entry cements Corey Tracey-Lieberman as a brilliantly fractured protagonist whose unmedicated postpartum reality transforms her hyper-vigilance into her sharpest—and most dangerous—investigative tool.
The Hook
A visceral exploration of systemic erasure, where the chemical suppression of maternal trauma becomes the only barrier between an amateur investigator and a calculating predator operating in plain sight.
Elevator Pitch
In the shadow of a rapidly gentrifying Highland Park, former TV journalist Corey Tracey-Lieberman is anchoring her fractured reality with prescription pills to combat severe postpartum panic disorder. When her neighbor, Sonja Hart, vanishes into thin air without a trace or an LAPD response, Corey makes a high-stakes calculation: she halts her medication to reclaim her razor-sharp investigative instincts. With her fifteen-month-old son strapped physically to her chest, Corey steps into a labyrinth of suspicious real estate developments and neighborhood secrets. As her marriage deteriorates and professional boundaries dissolve, her hyper-vigilance uncovers a terrifying truth: the architect of the displacement is tracking her every move.
Setting
~Time & Place: Present-day Highland Park, Los Angeles. A neighborhood trapped in the friction of commercial capitalism and historic preservation.
~Atmosphere: Claustrophobic, feverish, and socially fractured. The heat of Southern California mimics the sweltering, unmedicated panic of early motherhood.
The Vibe
Urban neo-noir intersecting with intimate psychological domesticity.
Genre
Gentrification Noir / Psychological Procedural / Feminist Noir Thriller / Amateur Sleuths / Domestic Thriller
Themes
~The Weaponization of Urban Space: How corporate real estate developments exploit human vulnerabilities, treating marginalized communities and missing persons as mere obstacles to capital accumulation.
~The Pathology of Maternal Duty: The devastating trade-off between psychological self-preservation and the visceral instinct to protect or seek justice for another mother.
Standout Character
~Corey Tracey-Lieberman: A brilliantly flawed protagonist whose primary investigative tool is also her undoing. Her hyper-fixation is driven not by heroic altruism, but by a raw, unmedicated postpartum reality that leaves her exposed to external threats.
Author Writing Standout
Jaime Parker Stickle leverages her film and television background to construct a masterclass in narrative ruthlessness. Her prose operates with a cinematic economy, bypassing traditional filler to build tension through structural pacing and sensory escalation. Stickle treats Corey’s unmedicated anxiety not as a narrative gimmick, but as a formal constraint. The prose tightens or fractures depending on Corey’s psychological state, utilizing short, sharp sentences during panic-induced sequences to simulate hyperventilation on the page.
Takeaway
Society frequently pathologizes maternal anxiety while remaining willfully blind to the corporate, systemic violence that genuinely threatens communities.
Title Significance
~Literal: The direct directive to find and investigate the sudden disappearance of neighbor Sonja Hart.
~Metaphorical: A command to Corey—and the reader—to summon raw emotional endurance (to take heart) and look directly at systemic decay without blinking, even when survival requires narrative ruthlessness.
Metaphor
The fifteen-month-old child strapped to Corey’s chest serves as the novel's mechanical and structural metaphor. The infant is both a physical anchor to the material world and a constant, literal weight that limits her speed, alters her center of gravity, and increases her stakes during dangerous confrontations.
Why You Should Read
This is a sophisticated option for readers who demand crime fiction with sociopolitical teeth. Stickle rejects the clean resolutions of traditional procedurals, opting instead to dissect the psychological toll of municipal indifference and modern motherhood.
My Thoughts
"A masterclass in urban anxiety and narrative ruthlessness."
In Take Hart, Jaime Parker Stickle turns Highland Park into a brilliant canvas for gentrification noir. A missing mother case meets the raw, unmedicated reality of postpartum panic. This isn't your average procedural—it has sociopolitical teeth.
Reading Take Hart after Vicious Cycle felt like watching a brilliant filmmaker tighten their focus. I tore through the 301 pages in a single, breathless sitting, captivated by how accurately Stickle captures the dizzying reality of early motherhood without romanticizing it. The decision to have Corey drop her medication forces the reader into an uncomfortably intimate proximity with her psyche.
Be sure and read the first book in the series to learn the background! Vicious Cycle: Read my review
Verdict Rating: 5 / 5 Stars
"A brutally sharp, unflinching noir that exposes the dark underbelly of neighborhood displacement through the lens of unmedicated maternal hyper-vigilance."
Audio 🎧Standout
The audiobook production of Take Hart succeeds entirely due to the sophisticated vocal mechanics of narrator Sarah Naughton, (a favorite) who also voiced Vicious Cycle. Naughton displays absolute command over tonal pacing, subtly raising her pitch and accelerating her delivery during Corey’s unmedicated anxiety spirals to mimic a rising heart rate. Her transitions between internal monologue and dialogue are clinically precise, shifting effortlessly from the breathy, internal exhaustion of a postpartum mother to the hardened, professional cadences of Corey’s investigative voice.
Special thanks to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for an advanced reading copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollions | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 5 Stars
Pub Date: Aug 4, 2026
August Newsletter
August 2026 Must-Read Books
Recs or Read Alikes
While the "Corey in Los Angeles series" (Vicious Cycle & Take Hart) is similar to Stephanie Plum (Janet Evanovich) and Finlay Donovan (Elle Cosimano), with wit, sluething, and female leads which lean heavily into over-the-top, breathless capers; Corey is a former TV journalist and indie news blogger consulting with the LAPD. Corey’s narrative leans a bit harder into the raw, radical honesty of postpartum anxiety and local L.A. gentrification issues.
~The Deep, Deep Snow by Brian Freeman: Mirrors Stickle's execution by utilizing a deeply localized community mystery to expose the internal psychology and personal traumas of a relentless female investigator.
~Long Bright River by Liz Moore: Features a female beat cop navigating a hyper-localized crisis, where her investigative drive is deeply personal while balancing single motherhood and systemic institutional indifference.
~Baltimore Blues by Laura Lippman: Follows a former journalist turned investigator, serving as an elite comparison for its deep-rooted focus on urban geography, political deception, and real estate exploitation.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
If you’ve read the first book, you’ll definitely want to dive into the second to uncover what Corey is up to next!
Corey Tracey-Lieberman, dealing with postpartum panic disorder, navigates her job with the LAPD and her indie news blog. When local mother Sonja Hart goes missing, Corey stops her anxiety medication to investigate, straining her marriage and deepening her partnership with a colleague. As she links a house fire to gentrification, Corey nears a breaking point, realizing the killer has been watching her closely.
As we continue following her investigative journey, we meet her baby, Jacob, who’s a bit older now. With the arrival of this new character, the narrative shifts, and the dynamics of Corey’s days change quite a bit. While she remains the spirited Corey we adore, becoming a mom brings about some inevitable changes. She grapples with her mental health more than before but is actively seeking the help she needs. Meanwhile, her situation with Evan becomes increasingly complicated, with hints of someone else entering the mix. Talk about a tangled web!
Corey’s quest to find the missing mom, Sonja Hart, leads her to uncover unsettling details that the police have overlooked. Just when things seem manageable, some mysterious newcomers settle across the street, causing everything to unravel.
This installment takes on a more serious tone, delving into relatable issues that first-time moms face. If you have any triggers, make sure to check the warnings, so you’re not caught off guard and tempted to toss this book across the room. Yet, it aligns perfectly with what I expected: a fun, carefree character navigating the challenges of motherhood while growing up and taking on more responsibilities. The author does a commendable job of weaving this transition into the story while keeping it enjoyable and upbeat.
I loved the first book, and I found this one just as captivating. The character evolution feels realistic. After all, taking care of another human being necessitates change. This aspect adds a refreshing touch as nothing remains the same. The transition flows smoothly, and I’m excited to see Corey take on the mystery of Ben's disappearance!
This read is perfect for fans of Stephanie Plum or Finlay Donovan’s shenanigans, particularly those who appreciate deeper character development over time. It’s also ideal for anyone looking to unwind, close the door, and enjoy solving a murder mystery alongside Corey and Jacob. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to investigate what’s happened to my peculiar neighbor, who has been MIA lately! But I’ve noticed a curious stray kitten hanging around! Ha!
Thank you, Thomas&Mercer and NetGalley, for the DRC copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Corey Tracey-Lieberman, dealing with postpartum panic disorder, navigates her job with the LAPD and her indie news blog. When local mother Sonja Hart goes missing, Corey stops her anxiety medication to investigate, straining her marriage and deepening her partnership with a colleague. As she links a house fire to gentrification, Corey nears a breaking point, realizing the killer has been watching her closely.
As we continue following her investigative journey, we meet her baby, Jacob, who’s a bit older now. With the arrival of this new character, the narrative shifts, and the dynamics of Corey’s days change quite a bit. While she remains the spirited Corey we adore, becoming a mom brings about some inevitable changes. She grapples with her mental health more than before but is actively seeking the help she needs. Meanwhile, her situation with Evan becomes increasingly complicated, with hints of someone else entering the mix. Talk about a tangled web!
Corey’s quest to find the missing mom, Sonja Hart, leads her to uncover unsettling details that the police have overlooked. Just when things seem manageable, some mysterious newcomers settle across the street, causing everything to unravel.
This installment takes on a more serious tone, delving into relatable issues that first-time moms face. If you have any triggers, make sure to check the warnings, so you’re not caught off guard and tempted to toss this book across the room. Yet, it aligns perfectly with what I expected: a fun, carefree character navigating the challenges of motherhood while growing up and taking on more responsibilities. The author does a commendable job of weaving this transition into the story while keeping it enjoyable and upbeat.
I loved the first book, and I found this one just as captivating. The character evolution feels realistic. After all, taking care of another human being necessitates change. This aspect adds a refreshing touch as nothing remains the same. The transition flows smoothly, and I’m excited to see Corey take on the mystery of Ben's disappearance!
This read is perfect for fans of Stephanie Plum or Finlay Donovan’s shenanigans, particularly those who appreciate deeper character development over time. It’s also ideal for anyone looking to unwind, close the door, and enjoy solving a murder mystery alongside Corey and Jacob. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to investigate what’s happened to my peculiar neighbor, who has been MIA lately! But I’ve noticed a curious stray kitten hanging around! Ha!
Thank you, Thomas&Mercer and NetGalley, for the DRC copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Going into Take Hart without reading Vicious Cycle felt a little like walking into season two of a prestige drama because someone on TikTok posted a hot clip and convinced you to start there. Everybody has history. Everybody has baggage. Evan walks into a room and the narrative immediately acts like I should have a reaction. Meanwhile I'm sitting there like, "Should I already hate this man?" Because if that's the assignment, I can catch up.
Corey Tracey-Lieberman is trying to investigate the disappearance of Sonja Hart while managing postpartum panic disorder, a failing marriage, a toddler, an indie news blog, and an LAPD consulting gig. At a certain point I stopped thinking of this as a thriller and started thinking of it as an endurance sport.
The thing I liked most about this book is that Corey feels like an actual person instead of a thriller protagonist assembled in a lab. She's exhausted. She's anxious. She's making questionable choices. She's carrying around enough stress to power a small city. Every time she strapped that baby on and headed off to investigate something potentially dangerous, I felt like I was watching a very specific form of motherhood that can only be described as, "I guess we're both doing this now."
The mystery is solid, but the real hook is watching Corey bulldoze through every warning sign God and man put in her path. Missing mother? She's on it. Weird neighbors? She's on it. Suspicious fire? She's already halfway down the rabbit hole. Meanwhile her personal life is standing in the corner waving both arms trying to get her attention and she's basically like, "I'll process that trauma after I solve this crime."
The neighborhood stuff was actually some of the strongest material for me. The story digs into gentrification in a way that feels angry and personal rather than lecture-y. There's this underlying frustration about which stories get ignored and which people get forgotten, and that gave the mystery more weight than just another missing person case.
That said, I never fully connected to the mystery itself the way I wanted to. I kept caring more about Corey than I did about finding answers. Which sounds like a compliment, and it kind of is, but it also meant there were stretches where the investigation lost momentum because I was busy staring at the giant emotional dumpster fire that was her life.
And listen. Evan. I have not read book one, so maybe there are layers here I am missing, but every time that man appeared I got the same feeling I get when a character in a horror movie says, "Don't worry, I'll be right back." Maybe he's trying his best. Maybe he's complicated. Maybe I simply met him at the wrong point in his journey. All I know is that I spent a lot of this book wanting to sit Corey down with a large iced coffee and ask several follow-up questions.
What surprised me most was how honest the book is about motherhood. Not the Instagram version where everybody's wearing matching linen outfits in a sunlit kitchen. The version where you're terrified, overwhelmed, questioning yourself constantly, and still expected to function. The mystery worked for me. The emotional stuff worked even better.
In the end, this landed at three stars for me. I liked spending time with Corey. I admired her. I worried about her. Occasionally I wanted to gently confiscate her car keys and make her take a nap. The mystery kept me turning pages, but Corey was the reason I stayed.
Whodunity Award: For Making Me Distrust Every Neighbor, Every Husband, and Any House With Curtains That Stay Closed During the Day
And thank you to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for the ARC. Nothing says self-care quite like spending a week stress-reading about a woman unraveling while I ignored my own responsibilities with absolute confidence.
Corey Tracey-Lieberman is trying to investigate the disappearance of Sonja Hart while managing postpartum panic disorder, a failing marriage, a toddler, an indie news blog, and an LAPD consulting gig. At a certain point I stopped thinking of this as a thriller and started thinking of it as an endurance sport.
The thing I liked most about this book is that Corey feels like an actual person instead of a thriller protagonist assembled in a lab. She's exhausted. She's anxious. She's making questionable choices. She's carrying around enough stress to power a small city. Every time she strapped that baby on and headed off to investigate something potentially dangerous, I felt like I was watching a very specific form of motherhood that can only be described as, "I guess we're both doing this now."
The mystery is solid, but the real hook is watching Corey bulldoze through every warning sign God and man put in her path. Missing mother? She's on it. Weird neighbors? She's on it. Suspicious fire? She's already halfway down the rabbit hole. Meanwhile her personal life is standing in the corner waving both arms trying to get her attention and she's basically like, "I'll process that trauma after I solve this crime."
The neighborhood stuff was actually some of the strongest material for me. The story digs into gentrification in a way that feels angry and personal rather than lecture-y. There's this underlying frustration about which stories get ignored and which people get forgotten, and that gave the mystery more weight than just another missing person case.
That said, I never fully connected to the mystery itself the way I wanted to. I kept caring more about Corey than I did about finding answers. Which sounds like a compliment, and it kind of is, but it also meant there were stretches where the investigation lost momentum because I was busy staring at the giant emotional dumpster fire that was her life.
And listen. Evan. I have not read book one, so maybe there are layers here I am missing, but every time that man appeared I got the same feeling I get when a character in a horror movie says, "Don't worry, I'll be right back." Maybe he's trying his best. Maybe he's complicated. Maybe I simply met him at the wrong point in his journey. All I know is that I spent a lot of this book wanting to sit Corey down with a large iced coffee and ask several follow-up questions.
What surprised me most was how honest the book is about motherhood. Not the Instagram version where everybody's wearing matching linen outfits in a sunlit kitchen. The version where you're terrified, overwhelmed, questioning yourself constantly, and still expected to function. The mystery worked for me. The emotional stuff worked even better.
In the end, this landed at three stars for me. I liked spending time with Corey. I admired her. I worried about her. Occasionally I wanted to gently confiscate her car keys and make her take a nap. The mystery kept me turning pages, but Corey was the reason I stayed.
Whodunity Award: For Making Me Distrust Every Neighbor, Every Husband, and Any House With Curtains That Stay Closed During the Day
And thank you to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for the ARC. Nothing says self-care quite like spending a week stress-reading about a woman unraveling while I ignored my own responsibilities with absolute confidence.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Take Hart by Jaime Parker Stickle (Aug. 2026) [reading in July]
Corey in Los Angeles #2
10h 44m narrated by Sarah Naughton, 297 pages
ALC courtesy of Brilliance Publishing, Brilliance Audio, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
Genre: Mystery Thriller
Movie Rating Equivalent: R for adult content
Rating: ⭐️⭐️¾🤱😰🚴♀️🔎
Featuring: Trigger Warnings - Violence Against Women, Mental Health, Thoughts of Self-Harm; Courage, Community, Rebuilding After Loss, Marital Issues, Marital Separation, Former Reporter, Investigator, Motherhood, LAPD - Los Angeles Police Department, Consultant, Los Angeles, California; Psychiatrist, Psychiatric Drugs, Anxiety, OCD - Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Intrusive Thoughts, Panic Attacks, Fitness Center, Recap of Book 1, Cold Cases, Spin Class, Breastfeeding, Highland Park, House Fires, Gentrification, Racism, Postpartum Panic Disorder, Neighbors, Triangle, Spanish, Sex, Missing Person, Lying, Detectives, Investigation, Avoidance, Drama
Live Status Updates: 📱19% 8h 26m left [Chapter] 9 So far this is far better than the previous book and Corey is still a mess but much softer. The investigation is still fuzzy, I know there is a missing person, but it wasn't clear on why we care or how she got on our radar.
Final Thoughts: Take Heart is the sequel to Vicious Cycle. While it features a softer version of Corey with a more defined role in the investigation, it still suffers from a lot of the same nuisances as the first book. The writing is definitely better, and her character has improved a little—mostly because nobody gave me those "donkey" (🫏) vibes this time around, which is why I’d say she is softer.
Corey is still dealing with anxiety and panic attacks, but it is incredibly frustrating that the author completely fails to address her severe separation anxiety when it comes to her baby. She hasn't let up on it at all in this installment. She spends so much time talking about her medication, baby vomit, nursing, and diaper changes that this story reads much more like domestic fiction than a mystery or thriller.
I was not invested in her romance with Chris at all. I didn't like them in Book 1, and I definitely wasn't rooting for them here. She comes off as a selfish protagonist who wants to have her cake and eat it too. That is fine—it makes her human—but it just didn't make for an entertaining read. On top of her anxiety and OCD, she is also trying to navigate a divorce from her husband without actually asking for one (though I totally saw that coming from the first book).
Once again, I had a hard time following her train of thought when it came to solving this case. It seemed like everything was just dropped into her lap, and she completely ignored the obvious, just like she did in the last book.
I ultimately was not impressed. However, if you have Kindle Unlimited, you might want to give this series a listen because you might love it, especially if you are specifically looking to read about a protagonist dealing with mental illness.
Recommend to others: Not likely, but you never know—this might be exactly what someone is looking for, and in that case, I'll keep it in my back pocket.
Corey in Los Angeles
1. Vicious Cycle (2025)
2. Take Hart (2026)
Songs for the Soundtrack: "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" by Jane Taylor
Books and Authors Mentioned: Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney, The Pout-Pout Fish by Deborah Diesen and illustrated by Dan Hanna;
Corey in Los Angeles #2
10h 44m narrated by Sarah Naughton, 297 pages
ALC courtesy of Brilliance Publishing, Brilliance Audio, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
Genre: Mystery Thriller
Movie Rating Equivalent: R for adult content
Rating: ⭐️⭐️¾🤱😰🚴♀️🔎
Featuring: Trigger Warnings - Violence Against Women, Mental Health, Thoughts of Self-Harm; Courage, Community, Rebuilding After Loss, Marital Issues, Marital Separation, Former Reporter, Investigator, Motherhood, LAPD - Los Angeles Police Department, Consultant, Los Angeles, California; Psychiatrist, Psychiatric Drugs, Anxiety, OCD - Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Intrusive Thoughts, Panic Attacks, Fitness Center, Recap of Book 1, Cold Cases, Spin Class, Breastfeeding, Highland Park, House Fires, Gentrification, Racism, Postpartum Panic Disorder, Neighbors, Triangle, Spanish, Sex, Missing Person, Lying, Detectives, Investigation, Avoidance, Drama
Live Status Updates: 📱19% 8h 26m left [Chapter] 9 So far this is far better than the previous book and Corey is still a mess but much softer. The investigation is still fuzzy, I know there is a missing person, but it wasn't clear on why we care or how she got on our radar.
Final Thoughts: Take Heart is the sequel to Vicious Cycle. While it features a softer version of Corey with a more defined role in the investigation, it still suffers from a lot of the same nuisances as the first book. The writing is definitely better, and her character has improved a little—mostly because nobody gave me those "donkey" (🫏) vibes this time around, which is why I’d say she is softer.
Corey is still dealing with anxiety and panic attacks, but it is incredibly frustrating that the author completely fails to address her severe separation anxiety when it comes to her baby. She hasn't let up on it at all in this installment. She spends so much time talking about her medication, baby vomit, nursing, and diaper changes that this story reads much more like domestic fiction than a mystery or thriller.
I was not invested in her romance with Chris at all. I didn't like them in Book 1, and I definitely wasn't rooting for them here. She comes off as a selfish protagonist who wants to have her cake and eat it too. That is fine—it makes her human—but it just didn't make for an entertaining read. On top of her anxiety and OCD, she is also trying to navigate a divorce from her husband without actually asking for one (though I totally saw that coming from the first book).
Once again, I had a hard time following her train of thought when it came to solving this case. It seemed like everything was just dropped into her lap, and she completely ignored the obvious, just like she did in the last book.
I ultimately was not impressed. However, if you have Kindle Unlimited, you might want to give this series a listen because you might love it, especially if you are specifically looking to read about a protagonist dealing with mental illness.
Recommend to others: Not likely, but you never know—this might be exactly what someone is looking for, and in that case, I'll keep it in my back pocket.
Corey in Los Angeles
1. Vicious Cycle (2025)
2. Take Hart (2026)
Songs for the Soundtrack: "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" by Jane Taylor
Books and Authors Mentioned: Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney, The Pout-Pout Fish by Deborah Diesen and illustrated by Dan Hanna;
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
While I did enjoy this book, it wasn't what I was expecting.
The cover gives the impression it was a light hearted and humours mystery, instead it covers a much more serious subject. It's a mothers struggle to cope with every day life, work as a fitness instructor and a second job as a reporter looking for a missing woman all while coping with postpartum depression, a baby learning to walk and sort out her feeling for a husband that she never really loved. With so much going on I did feel like the mystery got a little bit lost, especially as you can add getting use to strange neighbours to the list and a returning husband. Don't get me wrong she did take the investigation seriously, it just had to fit in between nap times, diaper changes and medications. Wow there was a lot going on.
I had no clue with the mystery who was responsible and was surprised with the ending. The story is set up to continue on in the next book and it will be interesting to see where the author takes it.
Corey loves her baby and being separated from him even for a few hours is enough to send her into a panic attack. So trying to return to work is hard but as a spin instructor taking your baby to work is easy, it's the second job that proves harder. A missing woman that the police don't think is missing and the gossips think has had a psychotic break. Corey and the woman's son think differently and she is on really trouble. Can Corey and her partner find her in time? With a house fire and the homeless complicating things Corey will need to get her emotions and thoughts under control if she wants to help.
I liked the narrator. She helped portray the plight of the characters and made the struggles, and emotions believable.
I was given this free review copy audio book at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
The cover gives the impression it was a light hearted and humours mystery, instead it covers a much more serious subject. It's a mothers struggle to cope with every day life, work as a fitness instructor and a second job as a reporter looking for a missing woman all while coping with postpartum depression, a baby learning to walk and sort out her feeling for a husband that she never really loved. With so much going on I did feel like the mystery got a little bit lost, especially as you can add getting use to strange neighbours to the list and a returning husband. Don't get me wrong she did take the investigation seriously, it just had to fit in between nap times, diaper changes and medications. Wow there was a lot going on.
I had no clue with the mystery who was responsible and was surprised with the ending. The story is set up to continue on in the next book and it will be interesting to see where the author takes it.
Corey loves her baby and being separated from him even for a few hours is enough to send her into a panic attack. So trying to return to work is hard but as a spin instructor taking your baby to work is easy, it's the second job that proves harder. A missing woman that the police don't think is missing and the gossips think has had a psychotic break. Corey and the woman's son think differently and she is on really trouble. Can Corey and her partner find her in time? With a house fire and the homeless complicating things Corey will need to get her emotions and thoughts under control if she wants to help.
I liked the narrator. She helped portray the plight of the characters and made the struggles, and emotions believable.
I was given this free review copy audio book at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
July 30, 2026
I jumped into Take Hart without reading the first book in the Corey in Los Angeles series, and I’m happy to report that I never felt lost. If you’re wondering whether you need to read book one first, I’d say no. That said, this one absolutely is not a standalone because it ends on a cliffhanger.
One thing this book did exceptionally well was making me despise Evan. The whole, “I’m going to record you next time so you can hear yourself,” line made my skin crawl. That’s manipulation, plain and simple, and combined with his habit of calling every woman “crazy,” he was incredibly easy to hate. Even the neighbor insisting on calling the FMC “Mrs. Evan” gave me serious The Handmaid’s Tale vibes. The casual misogyny from so many of the men in this book was infuriating, which I assume was the point, but wow.
I also really liked the line, “We don’t work in happy endings.” It felt like a fitting summary of investigative work and set the tone well.
My biggest issue was the ending. It’s not just that it’s a cliffhanger. The storyline that was wrapped up felt surprisingly anticlimactic, while the threads left unresolved ended up being the ones I actually cared about most. Instead of feeling eager for the next book, I mostly felt frustrated.
Overall, it kept me reading, and I’ll probably continue the series to see how everything plays out, but I wish this installment had delivered a more satisfying payoff.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ALC!
One thing this book did exceptionally well was making me despise Evan. The whole, “I’m going to record you next time so you can hear yourself,” line made my skin crawl. That’s manipulation, plain and simple, and combined with his habit of calling every woman “crazy,” he was incredibly easy to hate. Even the neighbor insisting on calling the FMC “Mrs. Evan” gave me serious The Handmaid’s Tale vibes. The casual misogyny from so many of the men in this book was infuriating, which I assume was the point, but wow.
I also really liked the line, “We don’t work in happy endings.” It felt like a fitting summary of investigative work and set the tone well.
My biggest issue was the ending. It’s not just that it’s a cliffhanger. The storyline that was wrapped up felt surprisingly anticlimactic, while the threads left unresolved ended up being the ones I actually cared about most. Instead of feeling eager for the next book, I mostly felt frustrated.
Overall, it kept me reading, and I’ll probably continue the series to see how everything plays out, but I wish this installment had delivered a more satisfying payoff.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ALC!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was my first book by Jaime Parker Stickle, and it definitely won't be my last.
I went into this one expecting a solid thriller, but what really stood out to me was the main character. Corey isn't your typical fearless investigator—she's navigating postpartum panic disorder, taking medication for her mental health, trying to be a mom, and still refusing to let a missing woman's case be forgotten. I appreciated that the story didn't shy away from showing those struggles, and it made Corey feel like a real, layered person instead of a perfect heroine.
The mystery kept me engaged, and I enjoyed following Corey as she uncovered one piece of the puzzle after another. There were several moments where the tension really picked up, especially as it became clear that someone was paying much closer attention to her than she realized.
I also really enjoyed Sarah Naughton's narration. She brought the emotion, anxiety, and determination in Corey's character to life, making it easy to stay invested throughout the audiobook.
If you're looking for a thriller that's more character-driven than nonstop action, with themes of motherhood, mental health, and investigative journalism woven into the mystery, this is one worth checking out.
3.5 rounded to 4
I went into this one expecting a solid thriller, but what really stood out to me was the main character. Corey isn't your typical fearless investigator—she's navigating postpartum panic disorder, taking medication for her mental health, trying to be a mom, and still refusing to let a missing woman's case be forgotten. I appreciated that the story didn't shy away from showing those struggles, and it made Corey feel like a real, layered person instead of a perfect heroine.
The mystery kept me engaged, and I enjoyed following Corey as she uncovered one piece of the puzzle after another. There were several moments where the tension really picked up, especially as it became clear that someone was paying much closer attention to her than she realized.
I also really enjoyed Sarah Naughton's narration. She brought the emotion, anxiety, and determination in Corey's character to life, making it easy to stay invested throughout the audiobook.
If you're looking for a thriller that's more character-driven than nonstop action, with themes of motherhood, mental health, and investigative journalism woven into the mystery, this is one worth checking out.
3.5 rounded to 4
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Corey Tracey-Lieberman is dealing with alot. She is taking medication for her postpartum panic disorder, her marriage is crumbling and she has developed feelings for Chris, a former colleague when she was an investigative journalist. A local mom, Sonja Hart, goes missing in Corey's Highland Park neighborhood. Corey's journalistic senses come to the surface, fueled by the fact that Sonja's plight is ignored. Corey, taking now fourteen month old Jacob with her, begins to investigate.
The author brings postpartum panic disorder to the forefront. Corey stops taking her medication while she pursues the missing Sonja. At times it felt that this was more about Corey and less about the actual mystery. As far as the mystery goes. I was invested, a mysterious house fire, strange new neighbors across the street.
This is a character driven book. The struggles Corey has are very real and I find that the author takes great care in describing what Corey is going through. I hope we get a third book to see how Corey progresses.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Thomas & Mercer for an ARC. The opinions in this review are my own.
The author brings postpartum panic disorder to the forefront. Corey stops taking her medication while she pursues the missing Sonja. At times it felt that this was more about Corey and less about the actual mystery. As far as the mystery goes. I was invested, a mysterious house fire, strange new neighbors across the street.
This is a character driven book. The struggles Corey has are very real and I find that the author takes great care in describing what Corey is going through. I hope we get a third book to see how Corey progresses.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Thomas & Mercer for an ARC. The opinions in this review are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Corey Tracy Liberman is a former TV journalist who is helping the LA police with a years old cold case from her neighborhood. She is also a full-time mom with post-partum anxiety and a marriage on the rocks. She takes her son along with her when she is interviewing people and trying to solve the missing persons case she is currently tasked with and stumbles into another missing woman who lives in her neighborhood. I do feel like I may have liked this book better if I had read the first in the series and was not aware of this when I received the galley. However, my problems with this book was not with the story iteself, however, the amount of times Paxil and klonopin were mentioned. It was a little overkill for my liking and I feel like the sentiments would have been made even if the meds had not been mentioned as often.
I do like reading about Corey's empathy towards others and and how she advocates for her son and his wellbeing. I am going to go back and read the first book in this series and hope there is another one to follow.
Thank you to NetGalley and Jaime Parker Stickle and the publisher, Thomas & Mercer for this ARC.
I do like reading about Corey's empathy towards others and and how she advocates for her son and his wellbeing. I am going to go back and read the first book in this series and hope there is another one to follow.
Thank you to NetGalley and Jaime Parker Stickle and the publisher, Thomas & Mercer for this ARC.
August 9, 2026
Just like the first in the series, this one had me hooked. Corey is not an easy character to follow. She's struggling a lot with motherhood and marriage, and mental health, and she doesn't use humor to gloss over her flaws. She can be extraordinary judgmental to others and isn't fully self-aware enough to understand how off-putting that can be. But it's also why she feels very human. Even though she's not an easy character to follow, her story somehow is, and I've really come to appreciate Jaime Parker Stickle's writing style. I fell back into the story with ease and kept wanting to dip back into it whenever I had a free moment. I'm very curious to see where the next installment will take Corey next. And the audiobook was fantastic! The narrator really does a good job with it.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Take Hart is another engaging installment in the Corey Tracey series. When Corey's neighbor disappears, she uncovers secrets hidden within her Highland Park community while navigating her own struggles with postpartum depression, motherhood, and a failing marriage.
I was hooked from the start and enjoyed the strong character development, steady pacing, and realistic police procedural. The thoughtful exploration of mental health added emotional depth, while the vivid Los Angeles setting made the story even more immersive.
A compelling, character-driven mystery that crime thriller fans won't want to miss.
Take Hart is another engaging installment in the Corey Tracey series. When Corey's neighbor disappears, she uncovers secrets hidden within her Highland Park community while navigating her own struggles with postpartum depression, motherhood, and a failing marriage.
I was hooked from the start and enjoyed the strong character development, steady pacing, and realistic police procedural. The thoughtful exploration of mental health added emotional depth, while the vivid Los Angeles setting made the story even more immersive.
A compelling, character-driven mystery that crime thriller fans won't want to miss.
August 7, 2026
I enjoyed the first book in this series (Vicious Cycle), but I enjoyed book #2 even more. I don't read a lot of thrillers, but the main character in this series, Corey, really draws me in and takes thriller to a new and more contemporary level. Corey is messy and relatable--she's a new mom experiencing postpartum OCD and navigating a troubled marriage. But at the same time, she's the badass I wish I could be, which is a big reason I read any novel--to experience life in someone else's shoes. I can't help but root for her. I really feel like the author ratcheted everything up in this book #2--the tension, the stakes, and the heart. The ending was satisfying, but it left me excited for book #3, which I hope is on the way soon.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Having not read the first book in this series, I wasn’t sure what I would find. Corey is dealing with postpartum panic attacks while trying to doing her job of finding missing persons. She is on the track of a lady who has been reported as missing by her son when her neighbor also goes missing. This is a thriller that will keep you on your toes all the way through as you hunt with Corey for her neighbor.
Thank you Thomas & Mercer (publisher), Jaime Parker Stickle (author) for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.”
Thank you Thomas & Mercer (publisher), Jaime Parker Stickle (author) for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.”
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
This was such a fun thriller. Corey Tracey-Lieberman is a hot mess. Dealing with some postpartum issues, trying to come off some depression medications and dealing with a missing person case, she somehow manages to keep herself together. When a local woman goes missing, Corey digs into the gritty aspects of Los Angeles, including arson and homelessness, while juggling motherhood, her job as a spin instructor, and her mental health. This was an excellent story, great characters, lots of heart and very satisfying.
SARAH NAUGHTON WAS EXCELLENT
SARAH NAUGHTON WAS EXCELLENT
August 5, 2026
Having read them back-to-back, I find that the series picked up more in the second one and I enjoyed it more, possibly because it wasn’t about baby poop and all the pills Corey had to keep popping. Corey, herself, has more credibility in this one, so her snooping is allowed, since she is working with the police and reporting again. The mystery was fast-paced and kept me invested, as did her new neighbors, and this was one mystery where I was sad at the final reveal. Looking forward to where this series goes next.
Thank you to NetGalley and Brilliance Publishing for the review copy.
Thank you to NetGalley and Brilliance Publishing for the review copy.
August 21, 2026
Corey is a new mum, former TV journalist, LAPD consultant, and the only person still looking for missing woman Sonja Hart.
She straps the baby on and heads straight into danger while her marriage falls apart around her. Anxious, overwhelmed, and completely impossible to look away from she feels real in a way most thriller protagonists don’t.
The mystery is solid but Corey is the reason you stay. Ends on a cliffhanger which makes me look forward to book 3
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC
She straps the baby on and heads straight into danger while her marriage falls apart around her. Anxious, overwhelmed, and completely impossible to look away from she feels real in a way most thriller protagonists don’t.
The mystery is solid but Corey is the reason you stay. Ends on a cliffhanger which makes me look forward to book 3
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The second book in the Corey in LA series is a procedural thriller with action and heart. Not having read the first book, I felt this could be read as a stand alone.
Former TV reporter Corey Tracey-Lieberman is searching for her neighbor, Sonja Hart. She’s still subject to postpartum depression after the birth of her 15-month old son, Jacob. She’s now working PT for the LA police and as a spin instructor. She’s also experiencing the dissolution of her marriage and maybe having feelings for Chris, a former TV colleague she works with on cases. Corey knows something is wrong with Sonja’s disappearance such that she takes herself off her medication and pursues an investigation finding out that there are secrets in the Highland Park neighborhood where she lives.
This is linear story with fine pacing and great character development. I appreciated the mental health aspects of Corey’s character. Though never having experienced postpartum depression, I do know how frightening it can be to be a first time mother. I think it was good to have this showcased in the book and show how a character dealt with it.
This was a fun read. I was hooked from the first sentence. I think lovers of realistic crime procedural novels should like this one.
My thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for granting me access to this ARC.
.
Former TV reporter Corey Tracey-Lieberman is searching for her neighbor, Sonja Hart. She’s still subject to postpartum depression after the birth of her 15-month old son, Jacob. She’s now working PT for the LA police and as a spin instructor. She’s also experiencing the dissolution of her marriage and maybe having feelings for Chris, a former TV colleague she works with on cases. Corey knows something is wrong with Sonja’s disappearance such that she takes herself off her medication and pursues an investigation finding out that there are secrets in the Highland Park neighborhood where she lives.
This is linear story with fine pacing and great character development. I appreciated the mental health aspects of Corey’s character. Though never having experienced postpartum depression, I do know how frightening it can be to be a first time mother. I think it was good to have this showcased in the book and show how a character dealt with it.
This was a fun read. I was hooked from the first sentence. I think lovers of realistic crime procedural novels should like this one.
My thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for granting me access to this ARC.
.
August 17, 2026
Thank you for the advanced copy.
I have not read Stickle's other novels, but I really Corey Hart. She is caring, persistent and is a character that you are rooting for. There are many topics and issues going on in this novel (mental health, motherhood, coparenting, romance,etc) that sometimes took away from the overall mystery. I am not thrilled with how the mystery was solved but I will read the next book in the series.
I have not read Stickle's other novels, but I really Corey Hart. She is caring, persistent and is a character that you are rooting for. There are many topics and issues going on in this novel (mental health, motherhood, coparenting, romance,etc) that sometimes took away from the overall mystery. I am not thrilled with how the mystery was solved but I will read the next book in the series.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Corey is such a relatable character. I can’t help but love her. Stickle does such a great job portraying postpartum anxiety, and Corey’s character development is chef’s kiss. I’m hoping for a 3rd book.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
August 24, 2026
I liked listening to this & Corey's battle with postpartum panic disorder. I resonated with her being a mum of twins & just the unfortunate situations you have to constantly deal with when you have a baby in your care. I do wish it leant more into that aspect but all in all enjoyed the investigative side of it and the new romance while her marriage is ending & the anxiety over it all.
August 22, 2026
Corey Tracey-Lieberman is a former television journalist who can’t seem to let the investigation part of her life go. When a mother named Sonja Hart disappears from her Highland Park neighborhood, Corey starts investigating with her fourteen-month-old son in tow. Meanwhile, Corey stops taking her anxiety meds for postpartum panic disorder to help her see the picture more clearly. The more Corey digs, the more secrets she uncovers.
This was my second book by Jaime Parker Stickle. I really enjoyed the character development of Corey in Stickle’s first installment in the series. This one did the same. I admire the way Stickle explores post-partum panic disorder. Unfortunately, I think I enjoyed the character of Corey more than the mystery that unfolded in this one. I found myself caring more about Corey than the investigation. Overall, I did enjoy this one. I would give it 3 out of 5 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley, Brilliance Audio, and Thomas & Mercer for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
This was my second book by Jaime Parker Stickle. I really enjoyed the character development of Corey in Stickle’s first installment in the series. This one did the same. I admire the way Stickle explores post-partum panic disorder. Unfortunately, I think I enjoyed the character of Corey more than the mystery that unfolded in this one. I found myself caring more about Corey than the investigation. Overall, I did enjoy this one. I would give it 3 out of 5 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley, Brilliance Audio, and Thomas & Mercer for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
April 5, 2026
Corey has a lot going on here, new baby, a strained relationship, her own mental health, and on top of that she can’t let go of a missing woman’s case that no one else seems too concerned about. That tension between everything in her personal life and her need to keep digging is what really drives the story.
She’s still a really strong character, imperfect, overwhelmed, but determined—and that’s what kept me invested. I like that the book doesn’t shy away from how messy things feel for her at times.
The central mystery is interesting, especially as it starts to open up into something a bit wider within the community. It definitely kept me reading, even if it didn’t fully hook me throughout.
It does feel quite slow in the middle, and at times the focus on her personal life takes over a bit, which means the investigation loses some of its momentum.
That said, it’s still a solid read. More character-driven than your typical thriller, and worth sticking with, even if it didn’t completely land for me.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
She’s still a really strong character, imperfect, overwhelmed, but determined—and that’s what kept me invested. I like that the book doesn’t shy away from how messy things feel for her at times.
The central mystery is interesting, especially as it starts to open up into something a bit wider within the community. It definitely kept me reading, even if it didn’t fully hook me throughout.
It does feel quite slow in the middle, and at times the focus on her personal life takes over a bit, which means the investigation loses some of its momentum.
That said, it’s still a solid read. More character-driven than your typical thriller, and worth sticking with, even if it didn’t completely land for me.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
May 7, 2026
I really wanted to like this more. I think I misunderstood what kind of book it was going to be and that is on me. I thought it was going to be a funny zany murder mystery like a Finlay Donovan. The cover certainly implies that. It’s not. Not one bit. This character is quite dark. She is struggling and bless her heart but it just felt tedious. Between the endless diaper changes, kid smoothie packs, and side effects of medication and discussion of medication, I’d had enough. The mystery was not tight enough to get me past that dreariness. I realize these are real issues and extremely hard to manage and I pray for anyone in real life who is coping with them. Was the author just trying to make a statement? For me, this character just didn’t work. I did not read the first book and that could be why I found this book challenging. This is book two in the series.
Thank you to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for the eARC for review. This book comes out in August.
Thank you to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for the eARC for review. This book comes out in August.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I loved this book even more than the first! The intrigue surrounding Evan and the neighbors was impossible to put down, and Evan came across as far more manipulative here compared to how supportive he seemed in the first book. The detailed portrayal of the NELA area made the story feel incredibly real—like I could run into Corey at a local coffee shop. I also appreciated how Corey investigates stories others dismiss as unimportant, and I loved the way she used the YouTube video to involve the community in finding answers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thanks to Thomas & Mercer and Netgalley for this eARC.
I am conflicted regarding my feelings about this book, I enjoyed the mystery storyline and the protagonist's background and her work finding missing persons.
However, what I found fault with is that the protagonist is a woman dealing with mental illness who refuses to leave her emotionally abusive spouse - she fears if she stands up to him he will take her son away from her. Ultimately, the protagonist never really develops or grows as a person, other than switching her meds which dull her mental acuity.
That said, I enjoyed the story, and it's a well written, entertaining read. I just kept waiting for the protagonist to regain dignity, to wrestle it back for herself from a bad situation and grow as a person - and that never really happened.
I am conflicted regarding my feelings about this book, I enjoyed the mystery storyline and the protagonist's background and her work finding missing persons.
However, what I found fault with is that the protagonist is a woman dealing with mental illness who refuses to leave her emotionally abusive spouse - she fears if she stands up to him he will take her son away from her. Ultimately, the protagonist never really develops or grows as a person, other than switching her meds which dull her mental acuity.
That said, I enjoyed the story, and it's a well written, entertaining read. I just kept waiting for the protagonist to regain dignity, to wrestle it back for herself from a bad situation and grow as a person - and that never really happened.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The plot of this book isn't anything special, but it's the characters that hooked me. Corey's depiction as a toddler's mother still dealing with postpartum panic disorder and working through her job investigating cases felt so raw and honest to me. I don't relate to her in any personal capacity, yet here I could find myself agreeing to how she thought and felt- the mundanities in her life, and her situation. Seeing the circumstances in her marriage, her neighborhood, and her tackling motherhood was interesting. I was captivated by the author's writing and how real she made the emotions feel and bought Corey to life. I haven't read the previous book, but given the segue into the sequel it gives, I don't think I can resist grabbing it when it's out.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I loved this book more than the first!
The intrigue with Evan & the neighbors was like an itch you can't scratch. Evan definitely comes across as a manipulative person in this one -vs the first book where he seems to be supportive.
The real-life attention to detail of the NELA area made it feel as if I could run into Corey at the local coffee shop.
I appreciate that Corey looks into the stories that get dismissed as inconsequential & love that she tapped into the YouTube video to get answers from the community.
Do we have to wait another year for the next in the series?
The intrigue with Evan & the neighbors was like an itch you can't scratch. Evan definitely comes across as a manipulative person in this one -vs the first book where he seems to be supportive.
The real-life attention to detail of the NELA area made it feel as if I could run into Corey at the local coffee shop.
I appreciate that Corey looks into the stories that get dismissed as inconsequential & love that she tapped into the YouTube video to get answers from the community.
Do we have to wait another year for the next in the series?
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