My Review with Spoilers for Nothing Ever Happens Here discusses that this book felt very different from the author’s prior books. What is this big change and will you like it? This post contains Spoilers and then Ending Explained for Nothing Ever Happens Here, plus a helpful character list. I’m here to break it all down for you, so let’s discuss it!
Jen’s Quick Take on Nothing Ever Happens Here
- I’ve read and reviewed two books by Seraphina Nova Glass, The Vanishing Hour and The Vacancy in Room 10. I also included On a Quiet Street on my list of Neighborhood Thrillers.
- Glass’s prior books have fallen more in the suspense lane, which I’ll discuss more below. But Nothing Ever Happens Here is a bit more of an amateur detective story with some comic elements mixed in.
- I enjoyed this and I’m putting it on my list of Books Like Only Murders in the Building. If that is your thing OR you love this popular series, this could be a great pick for you.
- Nothing Ever Happens Here releases February 11, 2025 by Grayson House Books. Thanks to the publisher for my advance copy for review.
Review With Spoilers for Nothing Ever Happens Here
Nothing Ever Happens Here starts with a shocking act of violence at the Firefly Cafe in the small town of Rivers Crossing, Minnesota.
To me, this felt in line with Seraphina Nova Glass’s other books, which ranged from upscale neighborhood suspense (On a Quiet Street) to a dark suspense story about revenge (The Vanishing Hour) to a slow burn thriller set in a motel (The Vacancy in Room 10.)
Glass’s books typically feature a somewhat confined setting, multiple points of view, and a dark, creepy tone.
Until this book.
Nothing Ever Happens Here felt more like The Thursday Murder Club
- the elderly residents of the Oleander Terrace retirement community play a major role in the book
- the book has a darkly comic tone that felt a little different than Glass’s other books
Character List for Nothing Ever Happens Here
POV characters
- Shelby Dawson : married to Clay. Two daughters, Poppy and June. Works at the Oleander Terrace Home.
- Mackenzie “Mack” Connelly: married to Leo. One college age daughter, Rowan. Runs the Firefly Cafe.
Secondary Characters
- Detective Riley: main police officer in town; formerly engaged to Shelby.
- Evan Carmichael: new security guard at Oleander Terrace. Former cop who was shot and retired. Took Shelby to prom.
- Lou and Linda Curran and their son Billy Curran: own the Angry Trout, the bar
- Heather: twenty-something who works at the Oleander
- Miles Kessler: Leo’s business partner
Residents of Oleander Terrace:
- Florence: wants to start a True Crime podcast
- Winnie: convinced that her husband, Otis, was murdered in the hospital
- Millie: super cranky
- Bernie: a little depressed
- Herb: loves cigars
- Mort: has a podcast, Mort’s Literary Musings
- Otis: Winnie’s late husband and a former business partner of Leo. He died recently and Florence suspects he was murdered.
Nothing Ever Happens Here: Spoilers and The Ending Explained
To protect readers who HATE being spoiled you will need to log in with your email or social media account. By doing so, you will be added to my email list and receive awesome weekly updates about new books! For more information on why I protect my spoilers, please read this post! If you are having any issues PLEASE leave a comment as I want to help!
I have this one listed as a maybe on my TBR, so I’m not going to read the spoilers, lol.
Also, hi!!! It’s been so long! I hope you’re doing well, and I’m glad to see you’re still blogging.
Ha – come back and we will discuss when you’re finished. So glad to hear from you. I’m doing great and glad you are still reviewing too. So many people quit 🙁