Short Xennial Scooby-Doo Type Tale. This is one of those books that is great for an early-year release (and end of January certainly qualifies, in my mind), because it is a 200 page very quick read. Easy win to get moving on your reading goals for the year, even if those goals measure in the single digits or low double digits.
It is also a very fun tale squarely aimed at Xennials (those of us born between 1977 ish and 1984 ish) now solidly in their 40s who grew up with several great renditions of Scooby-Doo cartoons, as this is very much effectively an adult version of a Scooby-Doo mystery. Minus the van and the dog, and adding a bit more of a Scream/ I Know What You Did Last Summer vibe. Again, pretty *squarely* targeting a specific population… but this is also a fun enough book that more general audiences will likely enjoy it nearly as much, *perhaps* even more.
Now, there *is* a scene or two of jalapeno or so spiciness, so those that prefer their tales no more spicy than a warm glass of milk… you do you. That scene is only just the one scene really, and actually adds far more depth to the story overall than similar scenes in romance novels, so I thought it actually worked rather well in this particular tale.
Overall just some fun “turn your brain off and enjoy the ride” (oh, wait. maybe a little *too* meta there in the review, considering the last paragraph 😉 ) type of tale that again, is a very quick read great for jumpstarting whatever annual reading goals you may have for yourself – if you have any at all. Or maybe you just need some pure escapism generally. This tale will work perfectly in that regard too.
Very much recommended.
This review of The Swamps by Seraphina Nova Glass was originally written on December 14, 2025.