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Montecito
“A gripping crime drama … an engrossing story … a marvelously entertaining suspense tale. OUR VERDICT: GET IT."
– Kirkus Reviews (Critical Recommendation)
“Anyone interested in a compelling character-driven mystery will devour this story. It’s unlike any crime novel I’ve read before but is no less gripping for it.”
– Independent Book Review (Starred Review)
Montecito: Where having it all sometimes means having the most to hide.
For a smart guy, Hollis Crawford has certainly fouled things up. He planted his family in California’s wealthiest town, backed his wife’s transition from high-powered public relations partner to non-profit volunteer, and then got fired—not once, not twice, but three times. Now, with his savings drained and his prospects dwindling, Hollis is desperate for one last chance to keep his family afloat.
Which is why the mysterious Wimby family—Montecito’s latest imported millionaires—seem heaven sent. Towering Cyrus Wimby commands a sprawling mansion, a winery, and a stunning wife as pedigreed as his stable of horses—a life of wealth and privilege. But Cyrus has his eyes on a bigger prize. To get it, he will need help. The help of someone hungry. Someone desperate. Someone like Hollis.
It’s a chance for Hollis to save his career, his marriage, and his family. All he has to do is say yes …
– Kirkus Reviews (Critical Recommendation)
“Anyone interested in a compelling character-driven mystery will devour this story. It’s unlike any crime novel I’ve read before but is no less gripping for it.”
– Independent Book Review (Starred Review)
Montecito: Where having it all sometimes means having the most to hide.
For a smart guy, Hollis Crawford has certainly fouled things up. He planted his family in California’s wealthiest town, backed his wife’s transition from high-powered public relations partner to non-profit volunteer, and then got fired—not once, not twice, but three times. Now, with his savings drained and his prospects dwindling, Hollis is desperate for one last chance to keep his family afloat.
Which is why the mysterious Wimby family—Montecito’s latest imported millionaires—seem heaven sent. Towering Cyrus Wimby commands a sprawling mansion, a winery, and a stunning wife as pedigreed as his stable of horses—a life of wealth and privilege. But Cyrus has his eyes on a bigger prize. To get it, he will need help. The help of someone hungry. Someone desperate. Someone like Hollis.
It’s a chance for Hollis to save his career, his marriage, and his family. All he has to do is say yes …
326 pages, Paperback
Published June 30, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews
September 7, 2026
When a book reads like a gossip story, say less. You got me.
Montecito gives you cringe, drama, plot twists, FBI-worthy problems, family drama, ethical dilemmas, community pressure, and career chaos. Basically, it gives you plenty to talk about.
Meet Hollis, a smart, brutally honest, no-BS kind of guy whose refusal to play the corporate game leaves him unemployed. Unfortunately for him, unemployment doesn't exactly align with having a family, responsibilities, and goals. Enter Cyrus, whom Hollis meets at a school function on the very same day he loses his job. Coincidence? Maybe. But that chance encounter is about to change his life.
Watching Hollis navigate his new reality was one of my favorite parts of the book. There were moments when I wanted to scream, moments when I appreciated the irony, and plenty of moments when I wanted to sit him down and say, Hoolis, please stop and think for five minutes before you do this.
Eventually, Hollis finds himself in the role of CEO of Cyrus's company. And that's when the question becomes much bigger than whether he can succeed: What exactly did he sign up for, and what will it cost him?
The book has the energy of a really good gossip story, except the gossip comes with financial crimes, scams, and consequences. If you enjoy stories involving Ponzi schemes, financial deception, and watching seemingly smart people get pulled deeper into situations they probably should have questioned, this one should be on your list.
And if you have any connection to or familiarity with Montecito or Santa Barbara, you'll probably have even more fun with it. The local references and appearances from recognizable names, including Prince Harry and Oprah, add another layer of entertainment.
What makes scam stories so fascinating is the psychology behind them. There's always that sense of urgency, the promise that you have to make a decision now, and the belief that somehow you're getting in before everyone else. This book captures that dynamic while giving you plenty of reasons to yell at the characters from the safety of your couch.
A highly entertaining read for anyone who enjoys financial scams, messy people, questionable decisions, and the kind of story that makes you grateful you're only reading about the chaos.
Thank you, NetGalley, Michael Cox, and Inveniam Viam Press for the ARC. All comments and opinions are my own.
Montecito gives you cringe, drama, plot twists, FBI-worthy problems, family drama, ethical dilemmas, community pressure, and career chaos. Basically, it gives you plenty to talk about.
Meet Hollis, a smart, brutally honest, no-BS kind of guy whose refusal to play the corporate game leaves him unemployed. Unfortunately for him, unemployment doesn't exactly align with having a family, responsibilities, and goals. Enter Cyrus, whom Hollis meets at a school function on the very same day he loses his job. Coincidence? Maybe. But that chance encounter is about to change his life.
Watching Hollis navigate his new reality was one of my favorite parts of the book. There were moments when I wanted to scream, moments when I appreciated the irony, and plenty of moments when I wanted to sit him down and say, Hoolis, please stop and think for five minutes before you do this.
Eventually, Hollis finds himself in the role of CEO of Cyrus's company. And that's when the question becomes much bigger than whether he can succeed: What exactly did he sign up for, and what will it cost him?
The book has the energy of a really good gossip story, except the gossip comes with financial crimes, scams, and consequences. If you enjoy stories involving Ponzi schemes, financial deception, and watching seemingly smart people get pulled deeper into situations they probably should have questioned, this one should be on your list.
And if you have any connection to or familiarity with Montecito or Santa Barbara, you'll probably have even more fun with it. The local references and appearances from recognizable names, including Prince Harry and Oprah, add another layer of entertainment.
What makes scam stories so fascinating is the psychology behind them. There's always that sense of urgency, the promise that you have to make a decision now, and the belief that somehow you're getting in before everyone else. This book captures that dynamic while giving you plenty of reasons to yell at the characters from the safety of your couch.
A highly entertaining read for anyone who enjoys financial scams, messy people, questionable decisions, and the kind of story that makes you grateful you're only reading about the chaos.
Thank you, NetGalley, Michael Cox, and Inveniam Viam Press for the ARC. All comments and opinions are my own.
August 18, 2026
It’s almost impossible to believe Montecito by Michael Cox is a debut novel. It’s just one eyelash short of perfect, or, it may be perfect from cover-to-cover. To say I loved it is an understatement. I could barely put it down to sleep.
Hollis Crawford and his wife, Cricket think they’ve taken a big step forward in life when they move into the lavish enclave of Montecito, California, the most expensive neighborhood in the US. Granted, their house isn’t as big and sprawling as many of the others, and finances mean they have to live “on the wrong side of the tracks,” i.e., not quite neighbors of Harry and Meghan or Oprah yet…but the Crawfords are in Montecito, and that, alone, is enough to make them ecstatic.
The offices where Hollis works in IT are the highest paying and the most luxurious, which means Cricket can finally quit her hectic job in public relations and donate her skills to the community, instead, and their children, seven-year-old twins, Jack and Isabel, can get a fantastic education at Montecito Union Elementary. However, Hollis and Cricket find that their plan to live a life of luxury contains one huge fly in the ointment…and that’s Hollis, himself. After losing his third job in seven years, the Crawfords have to face the fact that Hollis has a difficult time remaining employed.
Even though the Crawfords don’t live in Montecito’s most luxurious mansion, any home in this ultra-expensive enclave is going to require a huge amount of money to maintain, not to mention the twins’ schooling, everyday expenses, and the pressure to maintain an opulent lifestyle on a daily basis. Poor Hollis, and to Cox’s credit, we do feel bad for him despite his shortcomings and his bumbles, as we watch him sink deeper into depression and desperation day-by-day. Enter Cyrus Wimby and his wife, Genevieve: mysterious, enigmatic, and charming.
Cyrus towers above everyone else in Montecito. He’s amassed, not millions, but billions. His mansion is opulent in every way, he and Genevieve have their own personal winery, Entre Nous, (a luxurious tasting is to be held when the Wimbys return from their vacation in Fiji), as well as a stable of the finest horses to be found, well, anywhere. After Cyrus’s business partner dies in a “surfing accident,” Cyrus hires Hollis to take over as CEO of ExOh Holdings, Cyrus’s newest trading venture. It’s a spectacular job offer, far more than Hollis could ever have expected, and of course, desperate not to disappoint his family yet again, he gratefully accepts. At this point, I was reminded of a line uttered by the uneducated and perpetually unemployed Elroy “Lucky” Kleinschmidt, a character featured in an animated TV show for adults, King of the Hill: “The world is cruel to shiny things.” And cruel it is to the Crawford family and their glittering new lifestyle…again.
When tech savvy Hollis, who possesses sophisticated hacking skills, discovers a cache of remote token fobs, he comes to the sinking, sickening realization that all is not as it seems in Cyrus Wimby’s world, and Hollis, himself, has gotten involved in something he may not be able to get out of unscathed. Or out of at all.
So, is Montecito a tech thriller, a character study, a family drama, or something else? I think it’s all those things and more, but rather than losing focus as one might expect, the fact that the book embraces several genres is all to the good. What it’s not is a dark comedy or a satire, which is what I thought it would be, but that’s fine. I love the book just as it is.
Cox writes assured, confident prose one usually only sees in novelists who are writing their third, fourth, or even their tenth book. It’s far better prose than some writers ever achieve. Nothing is overwritten. Nothing is confusing. The pacing is perfect. It avoids the debut novelist’s trap of the sentimental ending. The stakes are about as high as they get. The characters, especially the characters of Hollis and Cricket, are multi-layered and believable. It’s easy to root for the Crawford family, even though Hollis is extraordinarily prone to job loss. Hollis is very aware of his faults and his failures, and that self-awareness makes him endearing rather than infuriating. I found it very easy to root for him.
If I have even one quibble about this book, it’s that I couldn’t quite believe a secret Key Lime pie recipe was going to work out as well as Hollis and Cricket seem to think it will. But that’s just me. You might feel entirely different, so don’t let that put you off reading this book. In fact, don’t let anything put you off reading it. It’s just fantastic. I’m planning on reading Cox’s next novel the day it’s released. This is an author whose future can reach the stratosphere, and I’m really hoping it does.
5/5
Recommended: Yes, most enthusiastically, yes.
Hollis Crawford and his wife, Cricket think they’ve taken a big step forward in life when they move into the lavish enclave of Montecito, California, the most expensive neighborhood in the US. Granted, their house isn’t as big and sprawling as many of the others, and finances mean they have to live “on the wrong side of the tracks,” i.e., not quite neighbors of Harry and Meghan or Oprah yet…but the Crawfords are in Montecito, and that, alone, is enough to make them ecstatic.
The offices where Hollis works in IT are the highest paying and the most luxurious, which means Cricket can finally quit her hectic job in public relations and donate her skills to the community, instead, and their children, seven-year-old twins, Jack and Isabel, can get a fantastic education at Montecito Union Elementary. However, Hollis and Cricket find that their plan to live a life of luxury contains one huge fly in the ointment…and that’s Hollis, himself. After losing his third job in seven years, the Crawfords have to face the fact that Hollis has a difficult time remaining employed.
Even though the Crawfords don’t live in Montecito’s most luxurious mansion, any home in this ultra-expensive enclave is going to require a huge amount of money to maintain, not to mention the twins’ schooling, everyday expenses, and the pressure to maintain an opulent lifestyle on a daily basis. Poor Hollis, and to Cox’s credit, we do feel bad for him despite his shortcomings and his bumbles, as we watch him sink deeper into depression and desperation day-by-day. Enter Cyrus Wimby and his wife, Genevieve: mysterious, enigmatic, and charming.
Cyrus towers above everyone else in Montecito. He’s amassed, not millions, but billions. His mansion is opulent in every way, he and Genevieve have their own personal winery, Entre Nous, (a luxurious tasting is to be held when the Wimbys return from their vacation in Fiji), as well as a stable of the finest horses to be found, well, anywhere. After Cyrus’s business partner dies in a “surfing accident,” Cyrus hires Hollis to take over as CEO of ExOh Holdings, Cyrus’s newest trading venture. It’s a spectacular job offer, far more than Hollis could ever have expected, and of course, desperate not to disappoint his family yet again, he gratefully accepts. At this point, I was reminded of a line uttered by the uneducated and perpetually unemployed Elroy “Lucky” Kleinschmidt, a character featured in an animated TV show for adults, King of the Hill: “The world is cruel to shiny things.” And cruel it is to the Crawford family and their glittering new lifestyle…again.
When tech savvy Hollis, who possesses sophisticated hacking skills, discovers a cache of remote token fobs, he comes to the sinking, sickening realization that all is not as it seems in Cyrus Wimby’s world, and Hollis, himself, has gotten involved in something he may not be able to get out of unscathed. Or out of at all.
So, is Montecito a tech thriller, a character study, a family drama, or something else? I think it’s all those things and more, but rather than losing focus as one might expect, the fact that the book embraces several genres is all to the good. What it’s not is a dark comedy or a satire, which is what I thought it would be, but that’s fine. I love the book just as it is.
Cox writes assured, confident prose one usually only sees in novelists who are writing their third, fourth, or even their tenth book. It’s far better prose than some writers ever achieve. Nothing is overwritten. Nothing is confusing. The pacing is perfect. It avoids the debut novelist’s trap of the sentimental ending. The stakes are about as high as they get. The characters, especially the characters of Hollis and Cricket, are multi-layered and believable. It’s easy to root for the Crawford family, even though Hollis is extraordinarily prone to job loss. Hollis is very aware of his faults and his failures, and that self-awareness makes him endearing rather than infuriating. I found it very easy to root for him.
If I have even one quibble about this book, it’s that I couldn’t quite believe a secret Key Lime pie recipe was going to work out as well as Hollis and Cricket seem to think it will. But that’s just me. You might feel entirely different, so don’t let that put you off reading this book. In fact, don’t let anything put you off reading it. It’s just fantastic. I’m planning on reading Cox’s next novel the day it’s released. This is an author whose future can reach the stratosphere, and I’m really hoping it does.
5/5
Recommended: Yes, most enthusiastically, yes.
July 5, 2026
I received this book as a good reads giveaway. This author was new to me and I was most impressed that the author not only took the time to sign my copy but also include a hand written note thanking the reader. This really showed how much love and care went into making sure each copy felt special and personal.
The story begins with a very complex main character who you struggle to decide if you are rooting for or are rather annoyed by. I enjoyed that he was written to be rather unlikable but you couldn’t help but hope the best for him.
Even though the plot feels pretty predictable in the beginning, it has such a great pace and introduction of characters that I stayed curious throughout. The plot continues to pull enough surprises that I ripped through this on vacation and couldn’t put it down! The promised twists at the end absolutely delivered!
My favorite part is he set this up for a continuation. I look forward to seeing what happens next!
The story begins with a very complex main character who you struggle to decide if you are rooting for or are rather annoyed by. I enjoyed that he was written to be rather unlikable but you couldn’t help but hope the best for him.
Even though the plot feels pretty predictable in the beginning, it has such a great pace and introduction of characters that I stayed curious throughout. The plot continues to pull enough surprises that I ripped through this on vacation and couldn’t put it down! The promised twists at the end absolutely delivered!
My favorite part is he set this up for a continuation. I look forward to seeing what happens next!
May 8, 2026
NetGalley early ARC. A solid 3.5⭐️ rounded up for such a unique and compelling debut. The author does a great job immersing the reader in the world of the novel, especially through the vivid sense of place. Having visited Santa Barbara and heading back again next week, I especially loved how grounded and locally descriptive the setting felt.
The relationship-building was strong, and the emotional dynamics kept me invested throughout. There were definitely moments where I found myself thinking, “Hollis, you are smarter than this — why are you signing these papers?!” And from the very beginning, Vlad felt like one giant red flag.
Knowing the story was inspired by a real-life experience made it all the more unsettling and compelling. A strong debut with an atmospheric setting and enough tension to keep me turning the pages.
The relationship-building was strong, and the emotional dynamics kept me invested throughout. There were definitely moments where I found myself thinking, “Hollis, you are smarter than this — why are you signing these papers?!” And from the very beginning, Vlad felt like one giant red flag.
Knowing the story was inspired by a real-life experience made it all the more unsettling and compelling. A strong debut with an atmospheric setting and enough tension to keep me turning the pages.
September 13, 2026
What a fantastic ride of a novel! From the beginning to the end, I was on the edge of my seat, wondering how everything was going to pan out. The twist at the end was also a genuine surprise.
This is such a refreshing, smart take on a thriller. I highly recommend it!
Thank you to NetGalley and the author for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
This is such a refreshing, smart take on a thriller. I highly recommend it!
Thank you to NetGalley and the author for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
July 1, 2026
My favorite book of the year. The book grabbed my attention from the first chapter. This fast moving novel was compelling, had great characters I was rooting for, and had me gasping out loud at the twists and turn. I enjoyed the setting, it’s almost as if the town of Montecito was a character in the novel. It’s fun to feel like you’re getting an inside peak into the lifestyle of the rich and poorly behaved. “Montecito”has made me a fan of this author, what a home run of a debut novel. I will read any book this author writes.
September 16, 2026
Fantastic read! Great characters and the plot moved quickly. I couldn’t put it down. First thing I did when I finished was check for other books by this author. This the debut?! Never would have guessed it. Praying for the next one (to be continued…I hope!).
July 13, 2026
Mysterious investors? Unsavory foreign characters? Forensic accounting via hacking?
Right up my alley. There was a short portion of the book where I wasn't sure if it was for me, but I was quickly proven wrong. Once the story grows legs and starts running, it doesn't stop. I'm shocked by how few people have read this and I hope that more people will soon read this as well. What a great debut from this new author.
Right up my alley. There was a short portion of the book where I wasn't sure if it was for me, but I was quickly proven wrong. Once the story grows legs and starts running, it doesn't stop. I'm shocked by how few people have read this and I hope that more people will soon read this as well. What a great debut from this new author.
June 24, 2026
This is really good! It’s an entertaining, engaging thriller that grabbed my attention from the very first chapter.
Hollis is exactly the kind of protagonist you want to root for. He’s brilliant, devoted to his wife and children, and somehow gifted at getting himself fired from one job after another. When he accepts the position of CEO for Cyrus Wimby’s new company, every instinct tells him something isn’t right. And in Hollis’s case, it’s not just a figure of speech, his gut is literally warning him that something is off.
After tragedy strikes his family, Hollis becomes determined to uncover the truth behind Cyrus’s company, no matter how dangerous the answers may be. What follows is a mix of suspense, mystery, and high stakes tension that kept me eagerly turning pages.
The setting is also a standout. With its laid back surfer vibe, and sprawling multimillion dollar estates, Montecito California feels like a character in its own right. The contrast between the idyllic lifestyle and the darker undercurrents is both alluring and unsettling.
Fast paced, intriguing, and filled with mounting suspense, this was a thoroughly enjoyable read that kept me invested until the very end.
Thank you NetGalley and Inveniam Viam Press for this eARC
Hollis is exactly the kind of protagonist you want to root for. He’s brilliant, devoted to his wife and children, and somehow gifted at getting himself fired from one job after another. When he accepts the position of CEO for Cyrus Wimby’s new company, every instinct tells him something isn’t right. And in Hollis’s case, it’s not just a figure of speech, his gut is literally warning him that something is off.
After tragedy strikes his family, Hollis becomes determined to uncover the truth behind Cyrus’s company, no matter how dangerous the answers may be. What follows is a mix of suspense, mystery, and high stakes tension that kept me eagerly turning pages.
The setting is also a standout. With its laid back surfer vibe, and sprawling multimillion dollar estates, Montecito California feels like a character in its own right. The contrast between the idyllic lifestyle and the darker undercurrents is both alluring and unsettling.
Fast paced, intriguing, and filled with mounting suspense, this was a thoroughly enjoyable read that kept me invested until the very end.
Thank you NetGalley and Inveniam Viam Press for this eARC
August 16, 2026
Solid 4.6 for me- loved the unraveling of the story - and the ending!!!!! I recommend.
September 25, 2026
A crime drama that has you captivated from the start. It is a page turner and has lots of twist and turns. You fill like your right there with the characters. At times I laughed out loud and it was hard to put down. If you enjoy thrillers with true-crime it’s the book for you.
September 24, 2026
Loved this book! Really engaging thriller, but also very funny, smart, and character-driven. In other words, the best kind of book. I live in Montecito, thought it would be fun to read a book that took place locally and had low expectations, but then stayed up late reading it! I am so curious about how much this reflects the real-life story that inspired it and hoping some parts were not reality. Michael, please write more books!
October 16, 2026
Imagine being broke and desperately trying to support your family in one of California’s wealthiest zip codes. So desperate that you choose to overlook all the MASSIVE RED FLAGS.
📍 Montecito, California
Seriously! Watching Hollis rationalize increasingly sketchy situations is like watching someone walk cheerfully toward a cliff with their eyes closed!!! But the pay promises to cover private school tuition, his kids are riding horses with mini-oligarchs, and yeah, we’ve established that he’s broke, so... I mean, he’s a BRILLIANT computer programmer but his EQ is below sea level. It’s so infuriating and OMG I couldn’t put the book down!!!
The red flags are pretty obvious early on, so the real story is about WHEN Hollis is finally going to realize how deep in trouble he actually is, and WHAT he’s going to do to get out of it.
Cox’s writing is super accessible, and the Wall Street and finance jargon is easy to understand without pulling you out of the story. It builds gradually and once the pacing picks up, it really takes off!
I also really appreciate the dyslexia rep. Hollis’s son is dyslexic, and watching him go from denial to ultimately accepting it and teaming up with his wife to support their kid feels honest and real.
My one complaint is that this book made me crave key lime pie!
I highly recommend this book! It’s funny and satisfying. I love the Crawford family and the glimpses into the lifestyle of Montecito’s wealthiest. You’ll love this if you enjoy high-society drama or if you’ve been wanting to try a financial thriller.
Thank you so much Michael @emteasea for the lovely handwritten note. I may or may not have been flaunting it to everyone I know 😂💙
So if a charming billionaire offers you a sketchy job to wipe out all your financial problems, do NOT look the other way! READ THIS BOOK AND LEARN. But if a billionaire offers you million $$$ to break up with their kid… maybe take the money? 😂
📍 Montecito, California
Seriously! Watching Hollis rationalize increasingly sketchy situations is like watching someone walk cheerfully toward a cliff with their eyes closed!!! But the pay promises to cover private school tuition, his kids are riding horses with mini-oligarchs, and yeah, we’ve established that he’s broke, so... I mean, he’s a BRILLIANT computer programmer but his EQ is below sea level. It’s so infuriating and OMG I couldn’t put the book down!!!
The red flags are pretty obvious early on, so the real story is about WHEN Hollis is finally going to realize how deep in trouble he actually is, and WHAT he’s going to do to get out of it.
Cox’s writing is super accessible, and the Wall Street and finance jargon is easy to understand without pulling you out of the story. It builds gradually and once the pacing picks up, it really takes off!
I also really appreciate the dyslexia rep. Hollis’s son is dyslexic, and watching him go from denial to ultimately accepting it and teaming up with his wife to support their kid feels honest and real.
My one complaint is that this book made me crave key lime pie!
I highly recommend this book! It’s funny and satisfying. I love the Crawford family and the glimpses into the lifestyle of Montecito’s wealthiest. You’ll love this if you enjoy high-society drama or if you’ve been wanting to try a financial thriller.
Thank you so much Michael @emteasea for the lovely handwritten note. I may or may not have been flaunting it to everyone I know 😂💙
So if a charming billionaire offers you a sketchy job to wipe out all your financial problems, do NOT look the other way! READ THIS BOOK AND LEARN. But if a billionaire offers you million $$$ to break up with their kid… maybe take the money? 😂
August 10, 2026
This book took me on a surprisingly wild ride and wow did I enjoy it! Pick this up if you enjoy any of the following:
💫 crime fiction
💫 financial crime
💫 hacking
💫 complex main character
💫 twists and surprises
💫 guessing what comes next (sometimes correctly, sometimes not)
💫 discovering a new under-the-radar author before they become super popular
Hollis Crawford is married with two kids struggling to keep up in the ultra-affluent community of Montecito, California. He's just lost his job, the third in a row, because he couldn't keep his mouth shut in his signature "living in the fog" possibly neurodivergent way. Enter Cyrus Wimby, an entrepreneur who needs a CEO as soon as possible. What ensues is a gripping, suspenseful, intriguing story that will have you turning the pages and putting off your responsibilities.
What I need to know is when the next book will be coming out!
💫 crime fiction
💫 financial crime
💫 hacking
💫 complex main character
💫 twists and surprises
💫 guessing what comes next (sometimes correctly, sometimes not)
💫 discovering a new under-the-radar author before they become super popular
Hollis Crawford is married with two kids struggling to keep up in the ultra-affluent community of Montecito, California. He's just lost his job, the third in a row, because he couldn't keep his mouth shut in his signature "living in the fog" possibly neurodivergent way. Enter Cyrus Wimby, an entrepreneur who needs a CEO as soon as possible. What ensues is a gripping, suspenseful, intriguing story that will have you turning the pages and putting off your responsibilities.
What I need to know is when the next book will be coming out!
August 16, 2026
Very good thriller! I could barely stop listening (narrator is really good too). The story had it all. Mystery, navigating relationships - with partner and with kids, Impact of innocent simple decisions of life (randomness), twists and turns. I enjoyed it!
August 19, 2026
Michael Cox’s Montecito is a well written, entertaining read that explores the darker side of wealthy communities and the appropriate balance between trust and doubt. Hollis is a lovable character, despite his flaws, that I found myself rooting for throughout the book.
October 24, 2026
Ethical struggles with Hollis are very intriguing. Devotion to family inspiring, and adept skill in searching illegal financial crime makes it a total package of must read! Enjoyed totally!!! Montecito, buy it! Berta Nanceu
June 25, 2026
Once this book got going I could not put it down. I felt like I needed as many antacids as Hollis! Pick this up for a good read and cannot wait to see if there is more in store for him.
July 7, 2026
Fast paced, short chapters. (Took a while to read bc of life.) Good tale of mayhem, a little predictable and a little twisty.
August 29, 2026
Maybe a 4.5 because it took me about 100 pages to get really invested. I thought the main character was an idiot for the first half of the book. Clearly his new boss and new family friend was dirty but it took him a little bit to "get it." Midway through the story, I literally could not put it down. Great story, great characters and I am hoping for book 2 with the same family.
New author for me and read about him. He is from TN and graduated from Alabama and had been trying to get published for 11 years. Check him out and read his book! Really enjoyed it.
New author for me and read about him. He is from TN and graduated from Alabama and had been trying to get published for 11 years. Check him out and read his book! Really enjoyed it.
September 2, 2026
Very good! The character development and story line made for a quick easy read.
Looking forward to more books by Michael Cox.
Looking forward to more books by Michael Cox.
September 7, 2026
Super entertaining — a good escape without being the classic beach read rom com & alt. subject matter.
October 3, 2026
I was considering not finishing this book at the beginning. It seemed like the author was trying to do too many clever things with language. It seemed to settle after a bit and I got drawn into the story. I picked this book since it’s set near my home and that part delivered on recognizable places and names. It was an engaging story.
September 2, 2026
Fun book with a great setting. Kind of reminds me of My Friends and Neighbors.
October 2, 2026
4.5 stars. Excellent book. Great mystery. Loved the audio version. Jamie Renell narrates and does a great job. Laughed out loud at times.
August 5, 2026
Two stars for the key lime pie. It sounded delicious.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Many thanks to NetGalley and Inveniam Viam Press for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
4.25-4.5⭐
I loved this book! I truly feel like I've found a buried treasure in this debut financial thriller, recommended by Kirkus. Montecito takes us to the central coastal California paradise where everyone is rich, everyone is beautiful, and where Hollis Crawford, a smart man and loving husband and father can't seem to keep his mouth shut and keep a job.
When what seems like the opportunity of a lifetime falls randomly in Hollis' life by way of the wildly rich and glamorous Cyrus Whimby, he jumps on it. It's not long though before it becomes evident that something is rotten in Denmark (or in this case, Montecito). Hollis is no fool, and his gut is literally screaming at him that he needs to abort mission, but in his desperation to support his family and be the husband and father he wants to be, he convinces himself he's being paranoid and stays put. But things continue to unravel quickly.
This book is smart and fast paced. Cox worked on Wall Street for years and actually lives in Montecito, so he knows of what he speaks, and that's very evident. In the acknowledgements, he reveals that this book was based on a real case he found himself involved in, which makes it even better. There are some twists at the end, both of which I saw coming, but this didn't take away from my enjoyment. They both tracked with the story and weren't silly.
I also really, really loved Hollis and his family. Even though he makes foolish choices, Hollis is very self aware and taking an honest look at some things he needs to work on. It's also a wonderful depiction of marriage, which I certainly don't expect to find in a book like this. Hollis doesn't just love his wife, he admires her, and it comes across as so genuine. It just added to my enjoyment of the entire story and made me even more invested in how this would all work out. It's also a fascinating examination of how even the most successful and brilliant people can be manipulated by a con with the right amount of ego/greed, and charisma. I thought often of Bernie Madoff and Elizabeth Holmes.
I highly recommend this book! It's a perfect summer read, but great any time of year. Great work, Mr. Cox! I hope we hear more from you in short order.
4.25-4.5⭐
I loved this book! I truly feel like I've found a buried treasure in this debut financial thriller, recommended by Kirkus. Montecito takes us to the central coastal California paradise where everyone is rich, everyone is beautiful, and where Hollis Crawford, a smart man and loving husband and father can't seem to keep his mouth shut and keep a job.
When what seems like the opportunity of a lifetime falls randomly in Hollis' life by way of the wildly rich and glamorous Cyrus Whimby, he jumps on it. It's not long though before it becomes evident that something is rotten in Denmark (or in this case, Montecito). Hollis is no fool, and his gut is literally screaming at him that he needs to abort mission, but in his desperation to support his family and be the husband and father he wants to be, he convinces himself he's being paranoid and stays put. But things continue to unravel quickly.
This book is smart and fast paced. Cox worked on Wall Street for years and actually lives in Montecito, so he knows of what he speaks, and that's very evident. In the acknowledgements, he reveals that this book was based on a real case he found himself involved in, which makes it even better. There are some twists at the end, both of which I saw coming, but this didn't take away from my enjoyment. They both tracked with the story and weren't silly.
I also really, really loved Hollis and his family. Even though he makes foolish choices, Hollis is very self aware and taking an honest look at some things he needs to work on. It's also a wonderful depiction of marriage, which I certainly don't expect to find in a book like this. Hollis doesn't just love his wife, he admires her, and it comes across as so genuine. It just added to my enjoyment of the entire story and made me even more invested in how this would all work out. It's also a fascinating examination of how even the most successful and brilliant people can be manipulated by a con with the right amount of ego/greed, and charisma. I thought often of Bernie Madoff and Elizabeth Holmes.
I highly recommend this book! It's a perfect summer read, but great any time of year. Great work, Mr. Cox! I hope we hear more from you in short order.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A true five star read!
Knowing this was inspired by a true story made it all the more compelling. Hollis Crawford - if you don't know someone just like him, you are likely just like him yourself. Intelligent but invisible, reticent and yet argumentative; he describes his likely neurodivergence as 'the fog'. I can honestly relate to Hollis in many ways. Self-deprecating and really quite funny, and a truly loving family man who just wants to make his family proud. After losing three jobs he feels quite helpless and lost and that's when he literally stumbles into the world of Cyrus Wimby.
Cyrus is like the sun and everyone else oribits around him. Physically commanding and attractive and with a golden tongue, he lures people to his snake-pit in the sun of Montecito. The enclave of paradise for those that can afford it. With platitudes and promises he builds up our friend Hollis to feel like he just might be able to come through with earning the pride of his family after all. A job offer that seems to good to be true leads Hollis to the gateway of greed, fraud and corruption. But Cyrus only ever wanted Hollis as a figure head, someone to sign signatures and dance to the beat of his drum.
It doesn't take long for Hollis to start to suspect something isn't right, but he feels like he just can't take another punch to the gut, so tries to stay positive and trust Cyrus. This is where the reader starts yelling at the book - "Hollis ffs", "You have to do something NOW Hollis", "Don't sign it Hollis, DO NOT SIGN IT"...
And then as things continue to spiral and get dangerous, you sit on the edge of your seat just waiting and WHAT AN ENDING!
I highly recommend this book for the beautiful writing, the fully-fleshed out characters, the perfectly described setting and a truly gripping literary crime/mystery. I can't wait for Michael Cox's next book!
Much thanks to NetGalley and Inveniam Press for the ARC.
Knowing this was inspired by a true story made it all the more compelling. Hollis Crawford - if you don't know someone just like him, you are likely just like him yourself. Intelligent but invisible, reticent and yet argumentative; he describes his likely neurodivergence as 'the fog'. I can honestly relate to Hollis in many ways. Self-deprecating and really quite funny, and a truly loving family man who just wants to make his family proud. After losing three jobs he feels quite helpless and lost and that's when he literally stumbles into the world of Cyrus Wimby.
Cyrus is like the sun and everyone else oribits around him. Physically commanding and attractive and with a golden tongue, he lures people to his snake-pit in the sun of Montecito. The enclave of paradise for those that can afford it. With platitudes and promises he builds up our friend Hollis to feel like he just might be able to come through with earning the pride of his family after all. A job offer that seems to good to be true leads Hollis to the gateway of greed, fraud and corruption. But Cyrus only ever wanted Hollis as a figure head, someone to sign signatures and dance to the beat of his drum.
It doesn't take long for Hollis to start to suspect something isn't right, but he feels like he just can't take another punch to the gut, so tries to stay positive and trust Cyrus. This is where the reader starts yelling at the book - "Hollis ffs", "You have to do something NOW Hollis", "Don't sign it Hollis, DO NOT SIGN IT"...
And then as things continue to spiral and get dangerous, you sit on the edge of your seat just waiting and WHAT AN ENDING!
I highly recommend this book for the beautiful writing, the fully-fleshed out characters, the perfectly described setting and a truly gripping literary crime/mystery. I can't wait for Michael Cox's next book!
Much thanks to NetGalley and Inveniam Press for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This is one of those books where you’re not just reading… you’re actively talking to the main character the entire time.
Like, Hollis… what are you doing??
Set in Montecito, everything looks polished, wealthy, and put together—but underneath it’s all pressure, appearances, and people trying to hold onto a lifestyle they can’t afford to lose. That tension is there from the very beginning.
Hollis is hanging on by a thread—lost jobs, money slipping, trying to keep his family in a life that clearly isn’t sustainable anymore. And when Cyrus Wimby steps in with what looks like a solution, you already know… this is not going to end well.
And Hollis knows it too.
That’s what got me.
He knows something isn’t right, and he still keeps saying yes. Every time you think, okay this is where he’s going to stop, he doesn’t. It’s that slow spiral where you’re literally reading like:
“Just walk away. Please just walk away.”
But he doesn’t—and you can’t look away either.
Cyrus brings that quiet, controlled kind of tension. He never fully shows his hand, and that uneasiness carries through the entire book. This isn’t a twist-every-five-pages thriller—it’s more about watching how far someone will go when they feel like they have no other choice.
The pacing builds steadily, and the pressure just keeps stacking. It’s less about shock value and more about that constant feeling that everything is about to fall apart.
And the ending? It delivers.
For me, this was such a bingeable read because I needed to see how it was all going to play out—even while being completely frustrated with Hollis the whole time.
4 stars — if you like character-driven thrillers where you’re yelling at the main character but still can’t stop reading, this one hits.
Like, Hollis… what are you doing??
Set in Montecito, everything looks polished, wealthy, and put together—but underneath it’s all pressure, appearances, and people trying to hold onto a lifestyle they can’t afford to lose. That tension is there from the very beginning.
Hollis is hanging on by a thread—lost jobs, money slipping, trying to keep his family in a life that clearly isn’t sustainable anymore. And when Cyrus Wimby steps in with what looks like a solution, you already know… this is not going to end well.
And Hollis knows it too.
That’s what got me.
He knows something isn’t right, and he still keeps saying yes. Every time you think, okay this is where he’s going to stop, he doesn’t. It’s that slow spiral where you’re literally reading like:
“Just walk away. Please just walk away.”
But he doesn’t—and you can’t look away either.
Cyrus brings that quiet, controlled kind of tension. He never fully shows his hand, and that uneasiness carries through the entire book. This isn’t a twist-every-five-pages thriller—it’s more about watching how far someone will go when they feel like they have no other choice.
The pacing builds steadily, and the pressure just keeps stacking. It’s less about shock value and more about that constant feeling that everything is about to fall apart.
And the ending? It delivers.
For me, this was such a bingeable read because I needed to see how it was all going to play out—even while being completely frustrated with Hollis the whole time.
4 stars — if you like character-driven thrillers where you’re yelling at the main character but still can’t stop reading, this one hits.
July 20, 2026
Montecito is a wealthy town in California. Hollis and his family can barely afford to live there when he loses his job. While floundering for another job, he stumbles (literally) into Cyrus Wimby—an impressive man in looks and accolades. Hollis is given a hail mary at Cyrus’s new business and jumps in as CEO of a trading company.
Unfortunately for Hollis and his family, everything is not as it seems with Cyrus, his family, or his company.
Hollis was a super fun character—goofy, with realistic flaws and focused skills. His voice reminds me a bit of a John Grisham character—self-deprecating and highly sarcastic. (His “Gar-office” never ceased to make me laugh.) Hollis is set up so perfectly that when everything in his job starts going haywire, you believe why he won’t tell someone. I kept wanting to shake him into telling anyone, even his wife, about all the discrepancies he was finding, and yet, I also totally understood why he held out.
I listened to the audiobook on Audible, and the production was amazing! The narrator, Jamie Renell, kept the pace going, had great voices and accents for the characters, and matched my idea of Hollis perfectly. I am very opinionated about audiobooks, but this one has made a top spot on my audiobook list. It was a stellar performance of a great story.
I highly recommend this book and am thinking about recommending it to my local book club. Even though I finished it a few days ago, it’s been living on in my head—a sign of a really good book.
Check out my full review on Substack:
https://open.substack.com/pub/elizabe...
Unfortunately for Hollis and his family, everything is not as it seems with Cyrus, his family, or his company.
Hollis was a super fun character—goofy, with realistic flaws and focused skills. His voice reminds me a bit of a John Grisham character—self-deprecating and highly sarcastic. (His “Gar-office” never ceased to make me laugh.) Hollis is set up so perfectly that when everything in his job starts going haywire, you believe why he won’t tell someone. I kept wanting to shake him into telling anyone, even his wife, about all the discrepancies he was finding, and yet, I also totally understood why he held out.
I listened to the audiobook on Audible, and the production was amazing! The narrator, Jamie Renell, kept the pace going, had great voices and accents for the characters, and matched my idea of Hollis perfectly. I am very opinionated about audiobooks, but this one has made a top spot on my audiobook list. It was a stellar performance of a great story.
I highly recommend this book and am thinking about recommending it to my local book club. Even though I finished it a few days ago, it’s been living on in my head—a sign of a really good book.
Check out my full review on Substack:
https://open.substack.com/pub/elizabe...
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