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Iris Gardner Mystery #1
It Runs in the Family
Seeing the future is a questionable gift. Seeing your own murder? That’s a problem.
Iris Gardner has been dealing with psychic visions her whole life—a “gift” from the father she never met and a burden her chaotic Texas family loves to exploit. Working the graveyard shift at a Stop-n-Go in Chaffney, Texas, helps keep her away from most of the drama.
Until she sees herself dead.
When a dangerous stranger walks into her store, he triggers a vision of her own murder while her cousin Selena pleads for Iris’ life. But when the Iris tries to warn Selena, she discovers the
Selena is missing.
Iris has changed the future before, but she's never had to prevent her own murder. With a family who treats her visions like a party trick, rumors of a cartel moving into town, and a man who’s a little too interested in her, Iris must figure out who wants her dead—and why—before her vision becomes reality.
Because in her family, trouble doesn't just run in their blood. It runs them down.
Iris Gardner has been dealing with psychic visions her whole life—a “gift” from the father she never met and a burden her chaotic Texas family loves to exploit. Working the graveyard shift at a Stop-n-Go in Chaffney, Texas, helps keep her away from most of the drama.
Until she sees herself dead.
When a dangerous stranger walks into her store, he triggers a vision of her own murder while her cousin Selena pleads for Iris’ life. But when the Iris tries to warn Selena, she discovers the
Selena is missing.
Iris has changed the future before, but she's never had to prevent her own murder. With a family who treats her visions like a party trick, rumors of a cartel moving into town, and a man who’s a little too interested in her, Iris must figure out who wants her dead—and why—before her vision becomes reality.
Because in her family, trouble doesn't just run in their blood. It runs them down.
425 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 26, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 280 reviews
September 18, 2026
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝘂𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗺𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝘄𝗮𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗺. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗮𝘀. 😂
I really liked the premise of Iris being able to foresee the future, and the dysfunctional family initially gave this so much potential. There are interesting backstories and plenty of characters, but the mystery was ultimately a little too basic for me.
My bigger problem was the dialogue. The romance was cringe, yes, but so was a lot of the family banter. It often felt very young and unrealistic, and it increasingly pulled me out of the story.
I can absolutely see this working for readers who enjoy light, quirky paranormal mysteries with family drama and romance. It just wasn't quite my kind of mystery.
Thank you to Denise Grover Swank, DGS Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. All opinions are my own.
I really liked the premise of Iris being able to foresee the future, and the dysfunctional family initially gave this so much potential. There are interesting backstories and plenty of characters, but the mystery was ultimately a little too basic for me.
My bigger problem was the dialogue. The romance was cringe, yes, but so was a lot of the family banter. It often felt very young and unrealistic, and it increasingly pulled me out of the story.
I can absolutely see this working for readers who enjoy light, quirky paranormal mysteries with family drama and romance. It just wasn't quite my kind of mystery.
Thank you to Denise Grover Swank, DGS Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. All opinions are my own.
October 8, 2026
I received this book as an audio ARC from NetGalley. Thank you to all involved.
I rated this book 3/5 stars
The audio portion of this book was really well done by Piper Goodeve. I think it was clear and done well. I’ve listened to other books narrated by her and i enjoy her voice.
Things I liked about this book:
🖥️ Iris was a funny character who I enjoyed hearing about. I liked her big crazy family and Boone.
🖥️ her physic abilities were interesting and added a fun element to everything
I liked this book but I wouldn’t say it was super mysterious. It was light and an easy listen. I will check out the next book.
I rated this book 3/5 stars
The audio portion of this book was really well done by Piper Goodeve. I think it was clear and done well. I’ve listened to other books narrated by her and i enjoy her voice.
Things I liked about this book:
🖥️ Iris was a funny character who I enjoyed hearing about. I liked her big crazy family and Boone.
🖥️ her physic abilities were interesting and added a fun element to everything
I liked this book but I wouldn’t say it was super mysterious. It was light and an easy listen. I will check out the next book.
September 27, 2026
Thank you to Hambright for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.
It’s an interesting premise, a cousin goes missing after the main character has a vision of herself being killed by a stranger. Unfortunately, the visions are the biggest mystery in this, and they aren’t helpful enough to keep the premise from spiraling out in so many directions that I struggled to follow them. The rest is weird family dynamics, poor southerner jabs, chasing down random leads at discount stores (how many times are we going to hear about cheap friendship bracelets???) and trying to track down a bad guy that I honestly didn’t understand how he came into play with anyone. Then there’s some weirdness with the MMC and his motives. Overall, it felt disjointed and I was struggling to connect with the characters.
It’s an interesting premise, a cousin goes missing after the main character has a vision of herself being killed by a stranger. Unfortunately, the visions are the biggest mystery in this, and they aren’t helpful enough to keep the premise from spiraling out in so many directions that I struggled to follow them. The rest is weird family dynamics, poor southerner jabs, chasing down random leads at discount stores (how many times are we going to hear about cheap friendship bracelets???) and trying to track down a bad guy that I honestly didn’t understand how he came into play with anyone. Then there’s some weirdness with the MMC and his motives. Overall, it felt disjointed and I was struggling to connect with the characters.
September 27, 2026
Iris Gardner is used to inconvenient visions, but seeing her own murder is a whole new level of trouble. When her cousin Selena goes missing, Iris has to figure out what happened to her—and whether she can change the future before the stranger from her vision pulls the trigger. I loved Iris’s unusual ability, and that ticking clock made the stakes feel high from the start.
This is such a fun, quirky mystery. Iris is an amateur sleuth, and the small-town setting and chaotic family gave me some cozy-adjacent feelings, but there’s more grit and mess here than I’d expect from a traditional cozy. Between the missing cousin, family secrets, and people who may know more than they’re saying, the mystery kept me on my toes. The family drama was a big part of the appeal for me, too.
I listened to the audiobook narrated by Piper Goodeve, who was new to me and absolutely wonderful. Her performance was engaging, she handled the emotional moments beautifully, and she made it easy to get swept up in Iris’s increasingly wild situation. If you like mysteries with an unconventional heroine, family chaos, and a little extra edge, this one is worth picking up.
Perfect for readers who love:
* Amateur sleuths with unusual abilities
* A mystery with a ticking clock
* Chaotic families and small-town secrets
* Quirky mysteries with a grittier edge
* High stakes and plenty of bad decisions
* Visions, premonitions, and uncertain futures
* Engaging audiobook narration
* Finlay Donovan, Riley Thorn, or Stephanie Plum-style energy
This is such a fun, quirky mystery. Iris is an amateur sleuth, and the small-town setting and chaotic family gave me some cozy-adjacent feelings, but there’s more grit and mess here than I’d expect from a traditional cozy. Between the missing cousin, family secrets, and people who may know more than they’re saying, the mystery kept me on my toes. The family drama was a big part of the appeal for me, too.
I listened to the audiobook narrated by Piper Goodeve, who was new to me and absolutely wonderful. Her performance was engaging, she handled the emotional moments beautifully, and she made it easy to get swept up in Iris’s increasingly wild situation. If you like mysteries with an unconventional heroine, family chaos, and a little extra edge, this one is worth picking up.
Perfect for readers who love:
* Amateur sleuths with unusual abilities
* A mystery with a ticking clock
* Chaotic families and small-town secrets
* Quirky mysteries with a grittier edge
* High stakes and plenty of bad decisions
* Visions, premonitions, and uncertain futures
* Engaging audiobook narration
* Finlay Donovan, Riley Thorn, or Stephanie Plum-style energy
October 4, 2026
Fun, easy, vision driven murder mystery
But the murder hasn't happened yet
And you're the one murdered.
Add a hot mystery man
Lots of cousins and family dynamics
Audio and ebook. 🎧📖
Definitely recommend audio
But the murder hasn't happened yet
And you're the one murdered.
Add a hot mystery man
Lots of cousins and family dynamics
Audio and ebook. 🎧📖
Definitely recommend audio
October 16, 2026
Light romantic farce trying to pass as a domestic thriller.
Iris Gardner, who possesses the ability to have psychic visions of the future, foresees her own murder while working a late-night shift at the local convenience store. The vision involves her missing cousin, Selena, and Iris decides she must locate her to stop this vision from coming true. Along the way there's an insta romance with a sexy stranger and a crazy large cast of eccentric and loser characters who are her extended family. Except for one cousin, Garrett, who is a sheriff's deputy, and a granny who tends to favor her, Iris is entangled in some dubious relationships and her life sounds like the pits.
I thought I'd like this and that it would be funny. Instead it was just endless inane dialogue that never advanced the plot and that, if eliminated, could have shortened the book by at least half. It was not humorous and Iris seemed like such a flake despite repeated insistence that she was the reliable one in the family. The banal description of events never raised the bar to any kind of suspense and I just could not care about any of this cast of characters. It was so full of predictable small town tropes. The pacing drags through repeated family drama and questionable decisions Iris makes that ended up making the whole story feel like it was never going to be over. I don't see any reason to continue this series as I barely made it to the end of this. I don't like anything about Iris, her family, their drama, or her future. It seemed like it wanted to be a sort of Stephanie Plum knockoff.
I was able to listen to the audio book while also following along in the e-book ARC, both provided by the publishers. The narrator, Piper Goodeve, did a decent job but it was hard to distinguish between the characters as her voice never changed much in tone or pitch even when she was doing the male voices.
Iris Gardner, who possesses the ability to have psychic visions of the future, foresees her own murder while working a late-night shift at the local convenience store. The vision involves her missing cousin, Selena, and Iris decides she must locate her to stop this vision from coming true. Along the way there's an insta romance with a sexy stranger and a crazy large cast of eccentric and loser characters who are her extended family. Except for one cousin, Garrett, who is a sheriff's deputy, and a granny who tends to favor her, Iris is entangled in some dubious relationships and her life sounds like the pits.
I thought I'd like this and that it would be funny. Instead it was just endless inane dialogue that never advanced the plot and that, if eliminated, could have shortened the book by at least half. It was not humorous and Iris seemed like such a flake despite repeated insistence that she was the reliable one in the family. The banal description of events never raised the bar to any kind of suspense and I just could not care about any of this cast of characters. It was so full of predictable small town tropes. The pacing drags through repeated family drama and questionable decisions Iris makes that ended up making the whole story feel like it was never going to be over. I don't see any reason to continue this series as I barely made it to the end of this. I don't like anything about Iris, her family, their drama, or her future. It seemed like it wanted to be a sort of Stephanie Plum knockoff.
I was able to listen to the audio book while also following along in the e-book ARC, both provided by the publishers. The narrator, Piper Goodeve, did a decent job but it was hard to distinguish between the characters as her voice never changed much in tone or pitch even when she was doing the male voices.
October 3, 2026
Book Title: It Runs in the Family (Iris Gardner Mystery Book 1)
Author: Denise Grover Swank
Publisher: DGS
Out Now? Y
Dates Listened: September 30, 2026 – October 2, 2026
🗣️ 𝚀𝚞𝚒𝚌𝚔(𝚒𝚜𝚑) 𝚃𝚊𝚔𝚎: I love finding new-to-me authors, and I’m very glad I came across Denise Grover Swank! This indie author published both the book and audiobook for It Runs in the Family, and I am highly impressed with both. This was such a fun storyline, and I loved the concept that Iris has psychic visions. Now, it isn’t all fun and games, and there is definitely plenty of tension, not to mention that having a vision of your own murder is not fun. This story evolved in ways I wasn’t expecting, and was not only cleverly plotted, but surprising and funny as well. There is a touch of a romantic storyline, but it's more about the mystery than anything else, plus Iris’s quirky family. A great start to a new series, and I can’t wait for book two!
🎧 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘈𝘶𝘥𝘪𝘰𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬: I will preface this portion of my review by saying the audio is a must-listen, and I fully recommend doing this as an ear read as opposed to an eyeball read. Piper Goodeve did such a fantastic job bringing this book to life, and she cracked me up with her different character voices. You could tell she put her all into her performance, and I better have her as the narrator for all future books, or I am filing a complaint. 🙃😜
𝙱𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: ⭐⭐⭐⭐💫
𝙰𝚞𝚍𝚒𝚘𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
𝙼𝚢 𝚂𝚙𝚒𝚌𝚎 𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: 🚫
I received a complimentary listening copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Author: Denise Grover Swank
Publisher: DGS
Out Now? Y
Dates Listened: September 30, 2026 – October 2, 2026
🗣️ 𝚀𝚞𝚒𝚌𝚔(𝚒𝚜𝚑) 𝚃𝚊𝚔𝚎: I love finding new-to-me authors, and I’m very glad I came across Denise Grover Swank! This indie author published both the book and audiobook for It Runs in the Family, and I am highly impressed with both. This was such a fun storyline, and I loved the concept that Iris has psychic visions. Now, it isn’t all fun and games, and there is definitely plenty of tension, not to mention that having a vision of your own murder is not fun. This story evolved in ways I wasn’t expecting, and was not only cleverly plotted, but surprising and funny as well. There is a touch of a romantic storyline, but it's more about the mystery than anything else, plus Iris’s quirky family. A great start to a new series, and I can’t wait for book two!
🎧 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘈𝘶𝘥𝘪𝘰𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬: I will preface this portion of my review by saying the audio is a must-listen, and I fully recommend doing this as an ear read as opposed to an eyeball read. Piper Goodeve did such a fantastic job bringing this book to life, and she cracked me up with her different character voices. You could tell she put her all into her performance, and I better have her as the narrator for all future books, or I am filing a complaint. 🙃😜
𝙱𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: ⭐⭐⭐⭐💫
𝙰𝚞𝚍𝚒𝚘𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
𝙼𝚢 𝚂𝚙𝚒𝚌𝚎 𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: 🚫
I received a complimentary listening copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
“It runs in the family” is a romantic thriller about Iris Gardner, a small town resident with about a hundred cousins that has visions where she can predict the future.
One night while working at the gas station, a man with a dangerous aura walks in and she gets hit with a sudden violent vision where he murders her while her closest cousin begs him not to.
The first thing that made me want to Dnf the book was the sentence where iris introduces us to Selena, her missing cousin that’s featured in the vision, she says:
“Something happened to her in Highschool. I thing she was sexually assaulted, it made her close off for years and when she emerged from her cocoon she started going out with the most dangerous men out there”
As an SA survivor, this line is unfortunately 100% projects victim blaming which is something we deal with in real life, I don’t need that from a protagonist I’m supposed to like.
But funnily enough, the thing that made me ditch this book at the end was insta love.
After fun out she’s going to be murdered, iris goes to her “most responsible” cousin who’s a deputy chief and tells him about it, he freaks out, and the two of them decide to be responsible or whatever.
But when she gets fired from her job, he insists she’ll go party with her other cousins (there’re too many of them) and she goes to a club, meets a random stranger and immediately says: omg he’s so handsome he does something special to me and even though I don’t usually do this I will kiss him right now.
I don’t really know how to end this review so I’ll just say: while the premise was interesting, the contents of the book really annoyed me and the author tried WAYYY too hard with some of the tropes.
Thank you NetGalley and DGS publishing for the alc
One night while working at the gas station, a man with a dangerous aura walks in and she gets hit with a sudden violent vision where he murders her while her closest cousin begs him not to.
The first thing that made me want to Dnf the book was the sentence where iris introduces us to Selena, her missing cousin that’s featured in the vision, she says:
“Something happened to her in Highschool. I thing she was sexually assaulted, it made her close off for years and when she emerged from her cocoon she started going out with the most dangerous men out there”
As an SA survivor, this line is unfortunately 100% projects victim blaming which is something we deal with in real life, I don’t need that from a protagonist I’m supposed to like.
But funnily enough, the thing that made me ditch this book at the end was insta love.
After fun out she’s going to be murdered, iris goes to her “most responsible” cousin who’s a deputy chief and tells him about it, he freaks out, and the two of them decide to be responsible or whatever.
But when she gets fired from her job, he insists she’ll go party with her other cousins (there’re too many of them) and she goes to a club, meets a random stranger and immediately says: omg he’s so handsome he does something special to me and even though I don’t usually do this I will kiss him right now.
I don’t really know how to end this review so I’ll just say: while the premise was interesting, the contents of the book really annoyed me and the author tried WAYYY too hard with some of the tropes.
Thank you NetGalley and DGS publishing for the alc
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I absolutely loved this audiobook!! I was a little skeptical about the mystery aspect of the book at first, but the fact that Iris gets visions and receives a vision of her OWN murder really got me interested in the book. I mean, she basically has to solve her own murder before it happens!! And try to save her cousin (out of the very many in a very big family). Moreover, the side characters really made the story for me! Her family and the townspeople were so much fun to read about.
I loved the quiet romance between Iris and Boone too. She’s such a strong FMC with major disbelief in men (as she should), but even I couldn’t help but falling for Boone and his sweet actions!
I liked the ending of the book but there definitely wasn’t enough closure so I’m hoping that more will happen in the series. I’m excited to see where this is going to end up!
I loved the quiet romance between Iris and Boone too. She’s such a strong FMC with major disbelief in men (as she should), but even I couldn’t help but falling for Boone and his sweet actions!
I liked the ending of the book but there definitely wasn’t enough closure so I’m hoping that more will happen in the series. I’m excited to see where this is going to end up!
October 20, 2026
This was a fun mystery, one that doesn't take itself too seriously and there is absolutely a place for this type of book. People who want to feel a little thrill but still be able to sleep at night, this one is for you. Iris's physic powers don't follow the conventional "rules" that are often touted, so her being able to force them or ask questions seemed like cheating, but I guess when you are making up powers you can make up your own rules too.
Boone was a fun character, but the insta-love and trying too hard to be mean from Iris was too much, it was very juvenile.
A fun start to a series, I would keep reading and see how these powers develop and see what Iris decides to do with her life
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and DGS Publishing for my copy of this book.
Boone was a fun character, but the insta-love and trying too hard to be mean from Iris was too much, it was very juvenile.
A fun start to a series, I would keep reading and see how these powers develop and see what Iris decides to do with her life
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and DGS Publishing for my copy of this book.
September 30, 2026
𝓡𝓪𝓽𝓲𝓷𝓰 4/5⭐️
It Runs in the Family by Denise Grover Swank
Iris Gardner Mystery #1
I had a really good time with this one. I did a mix of both the ebook and the audio. The narration was so good and I loved following along with the ebook.
Thank you to the author and Hambright PR for the ALC and eARC of this book.
I loved Iris!!! She loves her family and even though they fight, family comes first! Loved the supernatural twists! I am a sucker for anything with vision. Medium was one of my favorite shows and this really gave me that vibe! The mystery around Boone was also really fun. I can’t wait to see what is next in Boone’s story!
It Runs in the Family by Denise Grover Swank
Iris Gardner Mystery #1
I had a really good time with this one. I did a mix of both the ebook and the audio. The narration was so good and I loved following along with the ebook.
Thank you to the author and Hambright PR for the ALC and eARC of this book.
I loved Iris!!! She loves her family and even though they fight, family comes first! Loved the supernatural twists! I am a sucker for anything with vision. Medium was one of my favorite shows and this really gave me that vibe! The mystery around Boone was also really fun. I can’t wait to see what is next in Boone’s story!
October 2, 2026
Omg what a fun ass book! This was my first by Denise Grover Swank and certainly won’t be my last! It Runs in the Family had me on the edge of my seat the whole time and the messy family dynamic had me CACKLING. Especially Trinity with her 6 kids all named after Twilight characters 💀 I love books that have characters who see visions while trying to change the fate that’s in store. It’s one of my favorite tropes! Piper Goodeve was such a perfect choice for narrating this story and she fit our FMC Iris so well! I’m so excited for the next book and will be counting down the days!
Thank you so much Hambright for the gifted alc of It Runs in the Family!!
Thank you so much Hambright for the gifted alc of It Runs in the Family!!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Iris was gifted with psychic visions, but the problem is that she saw herself being murdered by a dangerous stranger who walked into the Stop-n-Go where she works. Her cousin Selena was also in the vision, begging for Iris to be spared. Soon after, Iris finds out Selena is missing.
Now, Iris not only needs to find Selena but also change her future before her vision becomes reality. She enlists help from her favorite cousin, Garrett, who also happens to be a sheriff.
I have always loved books with family bonds. Iris's family is clearly dysfunctional, but I really enjoyed the hilarious family dynamic. Garrett and Iris have an almost sibling-like bond, and he immediately goes into protector mode when he finds out she's in danger.
Boone was also such a fun addition to the story. He suggested teaming up, and I loved the playful banter between them as they tried to figure out the mystery.
Overall, "It Runs In The Family" is a playful, fun mystery that will keep you interested the whole time! I did an immersion reading, which I highly recommend. It was easy to follow along, and Piper Goodeve did such a fantastic job bringing the characters to life!
Now, Iris not only needs to find Selena but also change her future before her vision becomes reality. She enlists help from her favorite cousin, Garrett, who also happens to be a sheriff.
I have always loved books with family bonds. Iris's family is clearly dysfunctional, but I really enjoyed the hilarious family dynamic. Garrett and Iris have an almost sibling-like bond, and he immediately goes into protector mode when he finds out she's in danger.
Boone was also such a fun addition to the story. He suggested teaming up, and I loved the playful banter between them as they tried to figure out the mystery.
Overall, "It Runs In The Family" is a playful, fun mystery that will keep you interested the whole time! I did an immersion reading, which I highly recommend. It was easy to follow along, and Piper Goodeve did such a fantastic job bringing the characters to life!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Fantastic! I loved everything about this: Iris, her family, the small-town setting, the mystery that had me reading well into the night. The writing and humor grabbed me from the very beginning, and I couldn’t put this one down. Iris’ visions are intriguing and they make for a perfect segue into the mystery of her own potential murder. Her family is hilarious, though, as with most families, some are more tolerable than others. Her banter with Boone was fun but he hasn’t quite grown on me quite yet. Otherwise, this was great and I can’t wait to read more in the series.
Thank you to NetGalley and DGS Publishing for the review copies.
Thank you to NetGalley and DGS Publishing for the review copies.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
📖 It Runs in the Family
✍️ Denise Grover Swank
📚 Iris Gardner Mystery #1
🎙️ Piper Goodeve
🗓️ September 29, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️
With a family like hers...
Iris is the 2nd most responsible cousin in her family, and when one of those cousins goes missing and Iris has a vision of her own impending demise, she teams up with Boone (aka Boner thank to 2 of her cousins) to track her down.
There's a little romance, a lot of amateur sleuthing, plenty of family to drive you crazy, and Iris's visions adding another layer to the mystery. I really enjoyed the family dynamics and all the different personalities that came along with them.
Piper Goodeve's narration was really good! She captured Iris perfectly and did a great job bringing the rest of her colorful family to life. This was an easy, entertaining audiobook to get lost in.
If you're looking for an open-and-shut case that wraps up nicely by the time you turn the final page, this isn't that. There are definitely questions left unanswered and storylines still unfolding. But it is the first in a series... and there's more than enough here to make me want to come back for book two.
✍️ Denise Grover Swank
📚 Iris Gardner Mystery #1
🎙️ Piper Goodeve
🗓️ September 29, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️
With a family like hers...
Iris is the 2nd most responsible cousin in her family, and when one of those cousins goes missing and Iris has a vision of her own impending demise, she teams up with Boone (aka Boner thank to 2 of her cousins) to track her down.
There's a little romance, a lot of amateur sleuthing, plenty of family to drive you crazy, and Iris's visions adding another layer to the mystery. I really enjoyed the family dynamics and all the different personalities that came along with them.
Piper Goodeve's narration was really good! She captured Iris perfectly and did a great job bringing the rest of her colorful family to life. This was an easy, entertaining audiobook to get lost in.
If you're looking for an open-and-shut case that wraps up nicely by the time you turn the final page, this isn't that. There are definitely questions left unanswered and storylines still unfolding. But it is the first in a series... and there's more than enough here to make me want to come back for book two.
October 4, 2026
Family is forever. So are bad decisions.
It’s hard to categorize this book. It’s part murder mystery, part small town shenanigans, and part family chaos - and add in some visions for paranormal twist! I did an immersive read for this book, and I really enjoyed the audio as much as I did physically reading the book.
I didn’t expect to laugh as much as I did. The family shenanigans in this book were so funny - they are unhinged and chaotic. I also really enjoyed the overall mystery as we followed Iris as she tried to connect her visions to her missing cousin.
Her gift adds a really interesting twist to the story and I was really rooting for her! If love you mysteries and banter and messy families, I think you will really enjoy this book!
✨ What To Expect:
🕵🏻♀️ Amateur Sleuth
🔮 She Sees Visions / Paranormal Vibes
Small Town Mystery
🎭 Hidden Identity
👀 Reluctant Allies
🔥 Chaotic Family
😂 Allllllll the Banter
It’s hard to categorize this book. It’s part murder mystery, part small town shenanigans, and part family chaos - and add in some visions for paranormal twist! I did an immersive read for this book, and I really enjoyed the audio as much as I did physically reading the book.
I didn’t expect to laugh as much as I did. The family shenanigans in this book were so funny - they are unhinged and chaotic. I also really enjoyed the overall mystery as we followed Iris as she tried to connect her visions to her missing cousin.
Her gift adds a really interesting twist to the story and I was really rooting for her! If love you mysteries and banter and messy families, I think you will really enjoy this book!
✨ What To Expect:
🕵🏻♀️ Amateur Sleuth
🔮 She Sees Visions / Paranormal Vibes
Small Town Mystery
🎭 Hidden Identity
👀 Reluctant Allies
🔥 Chaotic Family
😂 Allllllll the Banter
October 25, 2026
This wasn’t a book I’d normally pick up….the blurb intrigued me….I know, I don’t normally read a books blurb but I did this time….something about it said it would be a fun read….Iris was a hoot….I was right there with her trying to change things to see what would happen
The family drama was relatable….as an only child myself having cousins that are more like siblings was definitely relatable….
I just wanted to dive deeper into her visions….Im ready for book two to see if Boone makes a repeat appearance & find out what happens next with Iris…does she ever find out what’s going on with Selena??? & how does Boones brother fit in??? & who exactly is Boone??? So many questions but I need to know
The family drama was relatable….as an only child myself having cousins that are more like siblings was definitely relatable….
I just wanted to dive deeper into her visions….Im ready for book two to see if Boone makes a repeat appearance & find out what happens next with Iris…does she ever find out what’s going on with Selena??? & how does Boones brother fit in??? & who exactly is Boone??? So many questions but I need to know
October 3, 2026
Thanks to NetGalley for an earlier copy of this book.
I was soooo excited to read that book. The description sounded like everything I like in books was in this one. It’s a thriller where a girl - Iris sees her own death and she tries to change her prophecy. Sounds interesting? Yeah I know!! For me the problem is that this book is only good at telling us how the situation looks but cannot show us - that made me feel bored. I didn’t have many feelings about this book. Like something is missing and I don’t know what.
I was soooo excited to read that book. The description sounded like everything I like in books was in this one. It’s a thriller where a girl - Iris sees her own death and she tries to change her prophecy. Sounds interesting? Yeah I know!! For me the problem is that this book is only good at telling us how the situation looks but cannot show us - that made me feel bored. I didn’t have many feelings about this book. Like something is missing and I don’t know what.
October 21, 2026
You know how some author’s “voice” or writing style just resonates and no matter what the book, you just thoroughly enjoy the ride? Well, Denise Grove Swank is one of those authors for me. Even though this book was surprisingly loose in the storyline and seemed all over the place with a plethora of silly, unrelated side-winds (the five million cousin drama, anyone?), and an oddly simple mystery, I still enjoyed the pure pleasure of reading in the author’s world again.
September 30, 2026
Thank you Hambright for the advanced listening copy for my honest opinion
Give the story a 3.75 rounded up for Good reads.
First off the narrator Piper Goodeve did a fantastic job with all the different characters in this story line
It was a so to speak cozy mystery, huge family , and a touch of magic realism. I look forward to more from this author
Give the story a 3.75 rounded up for Good reads.
First off the narrator Piper Goodeve did a fantastic job with all the different characters in this story line
It was a so to speak cozy mystery, huge family , and a touch of magic realism. I look forward to more from this author
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Oh my gosh I am in love with this book!!!!I always love some paranormal mixed with mystery. And this one delivered! I just loved the characters and I need book two like asap! this built up such a great mystery and then that ending im shocked!!!!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
If you are fan of Finlay Donovan series this new series will be right up your alley. Iris has a special skill, she had visions. Imagine when her most current vision is herself dying, she tries to figure out who and why she is being killed.
In addition to solving this mystery, her visions includes her cousin Selene, who is mixing with the wrong crowd.
I love Iris' extended family and all the chaos they brought to the story. The addition of Boone added an interesting dynamic. Is she suppose to trust this stranger that she has an attraction to.
This was a fun kick off to the series and I am curious to see where Iris & Boone's relationship will go and what other visions she sees.
Piper Goodeve did a great job with narration and bringing the visions to life.
Thank you @hambright_pr for the audiobook.
In addition to solving this mystery, her visions includes her cousin Selene, who is mixing with the wrong crowd.
I love Iris' extended family and all the chaos they brought to the story. The addition of Boone added an interesting dynamic. Is she suppose to trust this stranger that she has an attraction to.
This was a fun kick off to the series and I am curious to see where Iris & Boone's relationship will go and what other visions she sees.
Piper Goodeve did a great job with narration and bringing the visions to life.
Thank you @hambright_pr for the audiobook.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I had been a fan of Denise Grover Swank since I read my first book by her in 2015. I will read everything she writes!
When I heard she was starting an Iris Gardner series I did a happy dance and when I received an early copy I squealed with excitement.
From the opening line I was sucked in to Iris’s world. Iris is a strong and savvy character who is struggling with finding her way in adulthood. Working at a convenience store she encounters a strange man who triggers an ominous vision. This puts Iris on alert and leads to a sequence of events that send Iris on a quest for answers.
Complicating her life is the large amount of cousins who keep her on her toes, and not all of them will come to her aid.
I enjoyed the family dinner scenes and the interactions with her cousins Ava and Mary Ellen. I chuckled so many times as I was reading. I also enjoyed the interactions with Boone, a stranger she encounters and ends up begrudgingly working with as she tries to uncover answers.
Filled with action, suspense and undeniable chemistry, I binged this book in one afternoon. Highly recommend, especially for fans of Denise’s Rose Gardner series.
UPDATE:
I also listened to the audio of this book and I found the book even more intriguing the second time.
The narrator did a great job pulling the reader into the story of these characters.
When I heard she was starting an Iris Gardner series I did a happy dance and when I received an early copy I squealed with excitement.
From the opening line I was sucked in to Iris’s world. Iris is a strong and savvy character who is struggling with finding her way in adulthood. Working at a convenience store she encounters a strange man who triggers an ominous vision. This puts Iris on alert and leads to a sequence of events that send Iris on a quest for answers.
Complicating her life is the large amount of cousins who keep her on her toes, and not all of them will come to her aid.
I enjoyed the family dinner scenes and the interactions with her cousins Ava and Mary Ellen. I chuckled so many times as I was reading. I also enjoyed the interactions with Boone, a stranger she encounters and ends up begrudgingly working with as she tries to uncover answers.
Filled with action, suspense and undeniable chemistry, I binged this book in one afternoon. Highly recommend, especially for fans of Denise’s Rose Gardner series.
UPDATE:
I also listened to the audio of this book and I found the book even more intriguing the second time.
The narrator did a great job pulling the reader into the story of these characters.
October 8, 2026
What do you mean I have to WAIT to find out what happens next?! 😩 Because excuse me, that ending?! This book really said, “Here are a million questions, a whole lot of feelings, and absolutely no answers for you just yet.” Talk about a cliffhanger! I was hooked from the very beginning, and now I need book two immediately.
One of my favorite things about this book was Iris. There was something about her that felt so incredibly real and relatable to me. Growing up in a small town with limited opportunities, surrounded by a huge family, can make you feel like your world has already been mapped out for you. And Iris’s story hit close to home in a way I wasn’t expecting. A large family with a billion cousins? Check. Being raised by grandparents? Check. Growing up in a place where your options feel limited? Also check. Thankfully, my story ended with a full ride to college, but I could still see pieces of my own experiences reflected in hers. That personal connection made it so much easier to root for her, and I found myself genuinely invested in where her story would take her.
Then there’s the psychic element, which I thought was such an interesting addition to the story. The idea of being able to foresee your own death before it happens is fascinating, but also terrifying when you really stop to think about it. Knowing that something is coming doesn’t necessarily mean you can change it, and that uncertainty adds such an intriguing layer of tension to the story. I loved how this supernatural premise gave the mystery another dimension and left me wondering how much the characters really understood about what was happening to them. It’s the kind of concept that immediately grabs your attention and makes you want to keep turning pages to uncover more.
And then we have BOONE. 👀
Okay, I’ll admit that I was a little nervous about the chemistry between Boone and Iris at first. Their banter felt a bit choppy in the beginning, and I wasn’t entirely sure how I felt about them as a pair. But somewhere along the way, they completely won me over. By the end, I was eating up their interactions and wanting more every time they shared a scene. Their moments together became some of my absolute favorites, and I loved watching their dynamic develop. Sometimes a couple sneaks up on you, and suddenly you’re far more invested in them than you expected to be. That was definitely the case here!
Another thing I appreciated was how much depth Denise Grover Swank gave the supporting characters. Iris’s family wasn’t just a collection of names in the background; getting to know her cousins added so much to the story. Everyone brought their own personality, relationships, and questions to the table, which made the family dynamics feel layered and believable. I especially loved Garrett. Although he often came across as a concerned and helpful cousin, I couldn’t quite decide whether he was simply looking out for Iris or if he knew more than he was letting on. There were moments when I found myself side-eyeing him and wondering whether he had something to do with certain events. Was I being suspicious for no reason? Was he hiding something? I NEED TO KNOW. 😂 I love when a book makes me question everyone’s motives, and this one definitely had me doing that.
What really worked for me was the combination of relatable characters, family secrets, supernatural intrigue, and romantic tension. There’s so much happening beneath the surface, and I loved that I wasn’t just invested in one aspect of the story. I wanted answers about the psychic abilities. I wanted to understand what was going on with the family. I wanted more Iris and Boone. And, of course, I wanted to know who I should and shouldn’t trust. The more invested I became in the characters, the more desperate I was to figure everything out.
Honestly, this is one of those books that makes me wish I could sit down with the author over coffee and ask approximately five hundred questions. I want to talk about the characters, the decisions they make, the secrets hiding in plain sight, and that ENDING. I have theories, I have suspicions, and I am fully prepared to be proven wrong about all of them.
Final thoughts: It Runs in the Family hooked me early, gave me a protagonist I could genuinely connect with, surprised me with a supernatural premise I wanted to explore further, and delivered a romance that grew on me until I was completely invested. The family dynamics added another layer of depth, and the mystery kept me questioning what I thought I knew. My only real complaint is that I now have to wait to find out what happens next!
Denise Grover Swank, respectfully, how am I supposed to move on from that cliffhanger?
Rating: 4.5/5 stars. ⭐⭐⭐⭐½
I loved this one, and I cannot wait to dive into book two. If the next installment gives me answers, more Iris and Boone, and even more family secrets, I will be one very happy reader. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a sequel to get my hands on. Immediately.
One of my favorite things about this book was Iris. There was something about her that felt so incredibly real and relatable to me. Growing up in a small town with limited opportunities, surrounded by a huge family, can make you feel like your world has already been mapped out for you. And Iris’s story hit close to home in a way I wasn’t expecting. A large family with a billion cousins? Check. Being raised by grandparents? Check. Growing up in a place where your options feel limited? Also check. Thankfully, my story ended with a full ride to college, but I could still see pieces of my own experiences reflected in hers. That personal connection made it so much easier to root for her, and I found myself genuinely invested in where her story would take her.
Then there’s the psychic element, which I thought was such an interesting addition to the story. The idea of being able to foresee your own death before it happens is fascinating, but also terrifying when you really stop to think about it. Knowing that something is coming doesn’t necessarily mean you can change it, and that uncertainty adds such an intriguing layer of tension to the story. I loved how this supernatural premise gave the mystery another dimension and left me wondering how much the characters really understood about what was happening to them. It’s the kind of concept that immediately grabs your attention and makes you want to keep turning pages to uncover more.
And then we have BOONE. 👀
Okay, I’ll admit that I was a little nervous about the chemistry between Boone and Iris at first. Their banter felt a bit choppy in the beginning, and I wasn’t entirely sure how I felt about them as a pair. But somewhere along the way, they completely won me over. By the end, I was eating up their interactions and wanting more every time they shared a scene. Their moments together became some of my absolute favorites, and I loved watching their dynamic develop. Sometimes a couple sneaks up on you, and suddenly you’re far more invested in them than you expected to be. That was definitely the case here!
Another thing I appreciated was how much depth Denise Grover Swank gave the supporting characters. Iris’s family wasn’t just a collection of names in the background; getting to know her cousins added so much to the story. Everyone brought their own personality, relationships, and questions to the table, which made the family dynamics feel layered and believable. I especially loved Garrett. Although he often came across as a concerned and helpful cousin, I couldn’t quite decide whether he was simply looking out for Iris or if he knew more than he was letting on. There were moments when I found myself side-eyeing him and wondering whether he had something to do with certain events. Was I being suspicious for no reason? Was he hiding something? I NEED TO KNOW. 😂 I love when a book makes me question everyone’s motives, and this one definitely had me doing that.
What really worked for me was the combination of relatable characters, family secrets, supernatural intrigue, and romantic tension. There’s so much happening beneath the surface, and I loved that I wasn’t just invested in one aspect of the story. I wanted answers about the psychic abilities. I wanted to understand what was going on with the family. I wanted more Iris and Boone. And, of course, I wanted to know who I should and shouldn’t trust. The more invested I became in the characters, the more desperate I was to figure everything out.
Honestly, this is one of those books that makes me wish I could sit down with the author over coffee and ask approximately five hundred questions. I want to talk about the characters, the decisions they make, the secrets hiding in plain sight, and that ENDING. I have theories, I have suspicions, and I am fully prepared to be proven wrong about all of them.
Final thoughts: It Runs in the Family hooked me early, gave me a protagonist I could genuinely connect with, surprised me with a supernatural premise I wanted to explore further, and delivered a romance that grew on me until I was completely invested. The family dynamics added another layer of depth, and the mystery kept me questioning what I thought I knew. My only real complaint is that I now have to wait to find out what happens next!
Denise Grover Swank, respectfully, how am I supposed to move on from that cliffhanger?
Rating: 4.5/5 stars. ⭐⭐⭐⭐½
I loved this one, and I cannot wait to dive into book two. If the next installment gives me answers, more Iris and Boone, and even more family secrets, I will be one very happy reader. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a sequel to get my hands on. Immediately.
October 1, 2026
2.5 is a bit harsh but it is what it is 😔
Such an interesting premise, so badly wasted.
Come on, she has a vision of her own murder? That could be such a good thriller filled with suspense and mystery, add the guy to the mix and there could be also tension and chemistry.
Sadly there was none. No mystery, no suspense, no tension.
I think it all comes down to writing which was 100% telling, no showing. The initial idea might be there but it lacked proper thought out process, laying out the whole plot.
Iris has a hundred and one cousins, most of them are absolutely horrible and I was questioning WHY is she even living in the place. She has traumatic past (no father, a mother that should not be a mother in the first place) but this part of the plot was underdeveloped.
Iris is supposed to be the smart one but some (most?) of her actions are really questionable. At some point I just kept asking “whyyy?”
Like:
-girl, why are you so trusting when it comes to Boone
-girl, why are you keeping this info from Garret (the only good one of her cousins)
-girl, why are you going there alone
-girl, what are you even doing?…
The writing was very basic which is not a wrong thing but at times it was just TOO basic, and my main criticism it was 100% telling, 0% showing.
The plot was not sticking together.
How it all wrapped out? I didn’t DNF cause I wanted to find out how it will end but it was extremely underwhelming. Like go, give us nothing.
Thank you Hambright PR and DGS publishing for ALC+eARC. Sadly this book didn’t work for me.
Tropes used in marketing:
TROPES ✨
🕵🏻♀️ Amateur Sleuth
🔮 She Sees Visions
Small Town Mystery
🫣 Hidden Identity
🤝 Reluctant Allies
🧑🧑🧒🧒 Chaotic Family
I won’t be following this series but I’m not writing the author off completely. Before trying her other books I do need to do a proper research and read various reviews cause I don’t want to waste my time again.
Couple words on the audio:
12h11min
Narrated by Piper Goodeve
When it comes to audio performance, I don’t have much to say other than it was good. It wasn’t anything spectacular but it was simply good. 4 out of 5 for the narration only, but sadly it’s the book itself I had issues with.
Such an interesting premise, so badly wasted.
Come on, she has a vision of her own murder? That could be such a good thriller filled with suspense and mystery, add the guy to the mix and there could be also tension and chemistry.
Sadly there was none. No mystery, no suspense, no tension.
I think it all comes down to writing which was 100% telling, no showing. The initial idea might be there but it lacked proper thought out process, laying out the whole plot.
Iris has a hundred and one cousins, most of them are absolutely horrible and I was questioning WHY is she even living in the place. She has traumatic past (no father, a mother that should not be a mother in the first place) but this part of the plot was underdeveloped.
Iris is supposed to be the smart one but some (most?) of her actions are really questionable. At some point I just kept asking “whyyy?”
Like:
-girl, why are you so trusting when it comes to Boone
-girl, why are you keeping this info from Garret (the only good one of her cousins)
-girl, why are you going there alone
-girl, what are you even doing?…
The writing was very basic which is not a wrong thing but at times it was just TOO basic, and my main criticism it was 100% telling, 0% showing.
The plot was not sticking together.
How it all wrapped out? I didn’t DNF cause I wanted to find out how it will end but it was extremely underwhelming. Like go, give us nothing.
Thank you Hambright PR and DGS publishing for ALC+eARC. Sadly this book didn’t work for me.
Tropes used in marketing:
TROPES ✨
🕵🏻♀️ Amateur Sleuth
🔮 She Sees Visions
Small Town Mystery
🫣 Hidden Identity
🤝 Reluctant Allies
🧑🧑🧒🧒 Chaotic Family
I won’t be following this series but I’m not writing the author off completely. Before trying her other books I do need to do a proper research and read various reviews cause I don’t want to waste my time again.
Couple words on the audio:
12h11min
Narrated by Piper Goodeve
When it comes to audio performance, I don’t have much to say other than it was good. It wasn’t anything spectacular but it was simply good. 4 out of 5 for the narration only, but sadly it’s the book itself I had issues with.
September 23, 2026
𝘐𝘵 𝘳𝘶𝘯𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘺 𝘉𝘺: 𝘋𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘴𝘦 𝘎𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘚𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘬
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Format: ALC 🎧
Pub Date: September 29th, 2026
12 Hours 11 minutes
This was an incredibly fun book with such a quirky, unique storyline! I love a good mystery but giving it a comedic twist made it so much better!
𝘉𝘭𝘶𝘳𝘣: Iris Gardner’s visions have always been more annoying than useful—until she sees her own murder, with her missing cousin Selena screaming beside her. Now, with a suspiciously charming stranger, a meddling family, and a murderer closing in, Iris has to change the future before her worst vision becomes reality.
The FMC, Iris was such a fun character to read and also crazy! Because who else would put themselves directly into the path of their death.. after seeing a vision of them dying? Only Iris I swear 😅 Even with having a (mostly) shitty family she still risks it all to save not only herself, but her cousin Selena as well. And let me tell you.. the family.. let’s just say I would need either a big bottle of liquor or a lobotomy to hang with this group.
The mystery aspect of this was fun and fast paced. You definitely feel like an amateur detective trying to solve the case. Iris might be a gas station worker but I think she was a detective in her past life. I loved the little added romance thrown in with Boone. They made quite the crime solving pair! The whodunnit wasn’t some jaw dropping moment or anything but there are little twists throughout and at the end that kind of make you gasp and leave you shocked.
Overall this was just a really quick but seriously funny read! I’ll definitely be in the look out for book ✌🏼
𝘙𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘪𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦:
🕵🏼♀️ Amateur sleuth
🔮 She sees visions
Small town mystery
🫣 Hidden identity
🧑🧑🧒🧒 Chaotic family
Thank you so much to Hambright Pr for my ALC in exchange and for my opinion! All thoughts are my own.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Format: ALC 🎧
Pub Date: September 29th, 2026
12 Hours 11 minutes
This was an incredibly fun book with such a quirky, unique storyline! I love a good mystery but giving it a comedic twist made it so much better!
𝘉𝘭𝘶𝘳𝘣: Iris Gardner’s visions have always been more annoying than useful—until she sees her own murder, with her missing cousin Selena screaming beside her. Now, with a suspiciously charming stranger, a meddling family, and a murderer closing in, Iris has to change the future before her worst vision becomes reality.
The FMC, Iris was such a fun character to read and also crazy! Because who else would put themselves directly into the path of their death.. after seeing a vision of them dying? Only Iris I swear 😅 Even with having a (mostly) shitty family she still risks it all to save not only herself, but her cousin Selena as well. And let me tell you.. the family.. let’s just say I would need either a big bottle of liquor or a lobotomy to hang with this group.
The mystery aspect of this was fun and fast paced. You definitely feel like an amateur detective trying to solve the case. Iris might be a gas station worker but I think she was a detective in her past life. I loved the little added romance thrown in with Boone. They made quite the crime solving pair! The whodunnit wasn’t some jaw dropping moment or anything but there are little twists throughout and at the end that kind of make you gasp and leave you shocked.
Overall this was just a really quick but seriously funny read! I’ll definitely be in the look out for book ✌🏼
𝘙𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘪𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦:
🕵🏼♀️ Amateur sleuth
🔮 She sees visions
Small town mystery
🫣 Hidden identity
🧑🧑🧒🧒 Chaotic family
Thank you so much to Hambright Pr for my ALC in exchange and for my opinion! All thoughts are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Imagine having a psychic vision of your own violent death? Iris Gardner has had visions for most of her life and her family often takes advantage of her for them. She’s part of a huge, chaotic family with more cousins that one can count. Each family member is quirky and intriguing. Iris is 26 and lives in Chaffney, Texas. She works at a dead-end job as a cashier on the night shift at Stop-n-Go. Her grandmother thinks she is wasting her potential there, but Iris has made her world small and doesn’t know how to change it.
One night, she is chilled when a dangerous looking stranger enters the store and she sees the vision of her death with this man pulling the trigger of the gun. At the same time, her beloved cousin Selena is missing, and she starts searching for her. As she learns more about the trouble Selena is, Iris puts herself in danger. Even her favorite cousin Garrett, a deputy sheriff, can’t protect her. Iris meets handsome stranger Boone at the bar while looking for Selena, and they are instantly attracted to one another. Soon, Boone and Iris join forces in the search for Selena. Boone has many secrets and he may not be what he claims to be.
The story gets more and more suspenseful as the pages unfolded. I literally could not put it down! This is really more of a mystery thriller with light romance. It is book one in the series, and I am excited to read the next book to see what happens. I hope Boone appears in the next book as well. I immersed myself in both the e-book and audio. Narrator Piper Goodeve did a great job bringing all the characters to life.
One night, she is chilled when a dangerous looking stranger enters the store and she sees the vision of her death with this man pulling the trigger of the gun. At the same time, her beloved cousin Selena is missing, and she starts searching for her. As she learns more about the trouble Selena is, Iris puts herself in danger. Even her favorite cousin Garrett, a deputy sheriff, can’t protect her. Iris meets handsome stranger Boone at the bar while looking for Selena, and they are instantly attracted to one another. Soon, Boone and Iris join forces in the search for Selena. Boone has many secrets and he may not be what he claims to be.
The story gets more and more suspenseful as the pages unfolded. I literally could not put it down! This is really more of a mystery thriller with light romance. It is book one in the series, and I am excited to read the next book to see what happens. I hope Boone appears in the next book as well. I immersed myself in both the e-book and audio. Narrator Piper Goodeve did a great job bringing all the characters to life.
October 9, 2026
Iris Gardner lives in a small Texas town full of her extended family with her grandmother as the matriarch and holding a family meal every week. Her mother left a long time ago and she never met her father. His genes managed to gift her with the psychic visions. When a creepy man walks into her work one night and she sees herself dead while one of her cousins is begging for her life. She tries to warn Selena, the cousin, but no one seems to be able to find her. Iris has changed the future before so she's determined to figure out a way to stop this one. Unfortunately, asking around seems to just make her more of a target.
As a fan of the Rose Gardner books, I was excited to get introduced to her sister (and hopefully they meet...). The first thing that threw me off was that the book starts off just like the first Rose book - I had to make sure I'd been sent the correct book (of course I preordered). There are a lot of similarities between Rose's and Iris' stories. It makes sense for them to have the same abilities and it even makes sense for that to get them involved on both sides of the law. There are a lot of Rose books so I may be seeing a lot of similarities that are spread through a ton of books. A major difference was how many people Iris has in her life, which really makes for a lot more characters to be involved early on and a lot more back and forth. There is an older character that I really, really liked and hope we get to see more of in the future.
As a fan of the Rose Gardner books, I was excited to get introduced to her sister (and hopefully they meet...). The first thing that threw me off was that the book starts off just like the first Rose book - I had to make sure I'd been sent the correct book (of course I preordered). There are a lot of similarities between Rose's and Iris' stories. It makes sense for them to have the same abilities and it even makes sense for that to get them involved on both sides of the law. There are a lot of Rose books so I may be seeing a lot of similarities that are spread through a ton of books. A major difference was how many people Iris has in her life, which really makes for a lot more characters to be involved early on and a lot more back and forth. There is an older character that I really, really liked and hope we get to see more of in the future.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
It Runs in the Family | Denise Grover Swank
Of course, being one of my favourite authors, I went into this with high expectations… and then proceeded to read the entire thing in under 24 hours. 😂 It absolutely did not disappoint!
I loved getting to know Iris properly. She’s funny, relatable and surrounded by the kind of chaotic family that makes you want to keep turning the pages just to see what they’ll do next. There are some brilliant new characters too, and I really hope we get to see more of them as the series continues.
The mystery surrounding Selena had me hooked. There’s plenty happening, lots of questions to unravel, and that fast-paced feeling I always love in Denise’s books — once I started, I genuinely didn't want to put it down.
Without giving anything away, there were definitely moments where I felt frustrated on Iris’s behalf. She has so much loyalty towards the people she loves, and I wasn't convinced that loyalty was always returned when she needed it. 👀
🔍 Mystery & murder
🔮 Visions
👨👩👧👦 Family chaos
😂 Humour
🤫 Secrets
❤️ Loyalty
🕵️ Amateur investigating
💥 Plenty of trouble
Fast-paced, funny, mysterious and ridiculously easy to devour. Denise Grover Swank has once again reminded me exactly why she's one of my favourite authors.
And yes… under 24 hours. That probably says everything. 😂
Of course, being one of my favourite authors, I went into this with high expectations… and then proceeded to read the entire thing in under 24 hours. 😂 It absolutely did not disappoint!
I loved getting to know Iris properly. She’s funny, relatable and surrounded by the kind of chaotic family that makes you want to keep turning the pages just to see what they’ll do next. There are some brilliant new characters too, and I really hope we get to see more of them as the series continues.
The mystery surrounding Selena had me hooked. There’s plenty happening, lots of questions to unravel, and that fast-paced feeling I always love in Denise’s books — once I started, I genuinely didn't want to put it down.
Without giving anything away, there were definitely moments where I felt frustrated on Iris’s behalf. She has so much loyalty towards the people she loves, and I wasn't convinced that loyalty was always returned when she needed it. 👀
🔍 Mystery & murder
🔮 Visions
👨👩👧👦 Family chaos
😂 Humour
🤫 Secrets
❤️ Loyalty
🕵️ Amateur investigating
💥 Plenty of trouble
Fast-paced, funny, mysterious and ridiculously easy to devour. Denise Grover Swank has once again reminded me exactly why she's one of my favourite authors.
And yes… under 24 hours. That probably says everything. 😂
October 1, 2026
🫣 It Runs in the Family 🫣
((Spoiler-Free ARC/ ALC Review))
Title- It Runs in the Family
Author-Denise Grover Swank
Genre- Humorous Mystery, Romantic Suspense
Series- Iris Gardner Mystery Book 1
Trope City-
🔮 Family Secrets
🔮 She has Visions
🔮 Amateur Sleuth
🔮 Small Town
🔮 Family Dysfunction
Picture this… no literally- picture your own murder, your estranged cousin being there and specific location of the crime. What would you do?! Iris (FMC) has been seeing visions her whole life. Gift or a curse? In this case, it could save her life. The Gardner family in Texas is a true dose of whiplash. This big, dysfunctional family has no qualms about exploiting Iris and her gift for their gain. All except her cousin, Officer Garrett. When Iris sees a vision of her own murder, she slips right in to sleuth mode. Her estranged cousin has gotten tangled up in some pretty shady dealings and she’s present in the vision. To Iris, that only solidifies the validity of her vision. Boone (MMC) comes out of left field. Can he be trusted? Is he exploiting Iris? Can Iris figure everything out before her own shooting?!
I can tell I’m going to love this series! Thank you Hambright PR for sharing this one with me! 🫶🏻🔮
((Spoiler-Free ARC/ ALC Review))
Title- It Runs in the Family
Author-Denise Grover Swank
Genre- Humorous Mystery, Romantic Suspense
Series- Iris Gardner Mystery Book 1
Trope City-
🔮 Family Secrets
🔮 She has Visions
🔮 Amateur Sleuth
🔮 Small Town
🔮 Family Dysfunction
Picture this… no literally- picture your own murder, your estranged cousin being there and specific location of the crime. What would you do?! Iris (FMC) has been seeing visions her whole life. Gift or a curse? In this case, it could save her life. The Gardner family in Texas is a true dose of whiplash. This big, dysfunctional family has no qualms about exploiting Iris and her gift for their gain. All except her cousin, Officer Garrett. When Iris sees a vision of her own murder, she slips right in to sleuth mode. Her estranged cousin has gotten tangled up in some pretty shady dealings and she’s present in the vision. To Iris, that only solidifies the validity of her vision. Boone (MMC) comes out of left field. Can he be trusted? Is he exploiting Iris? Can Iris figure everything out before her own shooting?!
I can tell I’m going to love this series! Thank you Hambright PR for sharing this one with me! 🫶🏻🔮
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