Skip to content
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
Christina McDonald
  • About
  • Books
    • The Stranger At Black Lake: A Jess Lambert Prequel Novella
    • What Lies In Darkness
    • These Still Black Waters
    • Do No Harm
    • Behind Every Lie
    • The Night Olivia Fell
  • Book club
    • Author’s Corner
    • Book Reviews
    • Newsletters
    • Blog
  • Events
  • Contact

Category: Book reviews

Book reviews

Welcome to my little book nook, where I keep my book reviews. I only review books that I rate 4* or 5*, because why would I waste time on books I don’t enjoy? Besides, my mama taught me, ‘If you can’t say something nice, don’t say nothin’ at all’.

Book reviews

The Last Thing to Burn by Will Dean

by Christina McDonald May 11, 2025 0 comments

The Last Thing to Burn by Will Dean My rating: 5 of 5 stars On the surface this is another abduction, misogynistic, control-over-women story, but once you get into the meat of it, it’s actually about human trafficking and what that can look like. After a slow-burn start, I was completely invested and utterly sucked…

Morearrow_forward
Book reviews

Anna O by Matthew Blake

by Christina McDonald May 11, 2025 0 comments

Anna O by Matthew Blake My rating: 5 of 5 stars An ingenious, wildly original thriller with carefully crafted characters and a number of jaw-dropping twists, I loved every second of this book. The book is set around Anna Ogilvy, who was found asleep in the cabin of an exclusive outdoor activity retreat next to…

Morearrow_forward
Book reviews

The Hitchhikers by Chevy Stevens

by Christina McDonald May 11, 2025 0 comments

The Hitchhikers by Chevy Stevens My rating: 4 of 5 stars Set in 1976, Tom and Alice are taking an RV trip across Canada to try to save their marriage after they’re hit with a personal trauma. But when they pick up a young couple hitchhiking, things quickly spiral out of control and they are…

Morearrow_forward
Book reviews

One Dark Night by Hannah Richell

by Christina McDonald May 11, 2025 0 comments

One Dark Night by Hannah Richell My rating: 4 of 5 stars Clever, sinister and juicy, this atmospheric crime novel is set at Halloween when a local teenager dies after a party in the forest. The school’s counsellor, the local detective, and their daughter, who was attending the party, all play pivotal roles in a…

Morearrow_forward
Book reviews

Famous Last Words by Gillian McAllister

by Christina McDonald April 8, 2025 0 comments

Famous Last Words by Gillian McAllister My rating: 5 of 5 stars On the longest day of the year, Cam finds out there’s a hostage situation developing in London. And her husband is the gunman. What follows is hands down one of the best thrillers I’ve read in years. The story of a crime, a…

Morearrow_forward
Book reviews

The Reappearance of Rachel Price by Holly Jackson

by Christina McDonald April 8, 2025 0 comments

The Reappearance of Rachel Price by Holly Jackson My rating: 5 of 5 stars A fun, easy read that’s utterly captivating with all the things you look for in the genre, suspense, secrets and lots of twists. No one is who you think they’re going to be. The writing is crisp, the pacing fast, and…

Morearrow_forward
Book reviews

Our Last Wild Days by Anna Bailey

by Christina McDonald March 19, 2025 0 comments

Our Last Wild Days by Anna Bailey My rating: 4 of 5 stars An atmospheric Southern Gothic thriller about a small town with big secrets set in an alligator-infested bayou. We follow a young reporter looking to find out how her estranged friend really died. Brooding, dark and beautifully described, the story is a slower-burner,…

Morearrow_forward
Book reviews

One of the Girls by Lucy Clarke

by Christina McDonald March 10, 2025 0 comments

One of the Girls by Lucy Clarke My rating: 5 of 5 stars Vivid and evocatively writing, gorgeously drawn characters, and incredibly suspenseful throughout, you’ll love every minute of this thriller. An exotic Greek island, secrets at every turn and bitchy backstabbing from all six women, what’s not to love? All of the characters were…

Morearrow_forward
Book reviews

The Spider by Lars Kepler

by Christina McDonald March 10, 2025 0 comments

The Spider: Joona Linna Series: #9 by Lars Kepler My rating: 4 of 5 stars A creepy, vividly written thriller. Lots of gore and gruesome details, but absolutely captivating. I didn’t realize it was the 9th in the series and I think that might have made a difference to how well I knew or understood…

Morearrow_forward
Book reviews

The Last One at the Wedding Jason Rekulak

by Christina McDonald March 1, 2025 0 comments

The Last One at the Wedding by Jason Rekulak My rating: 5 of 5 stars I’ve been in a bit of a reading slump lately, but holy wow, did this one yank me right out of it! I love a good wedding thriller, but this one was a cut above the rest. A unique storyline,…

Morearrow_forward
Book reviews

Strange Sally Diamond by Liz Nugent

by Christina McDonald December 28, 2024 0 comments

Strange Sally Diamond by Liz Nugent My rating: 4 of 5 stars Sally Diamond is an odd person with a troubled past that even she doesn’t quite understand. And when her father dies, she is left alone to navigate the world all alone. The story switches timelines and POVs, each equally intriguing, as Sally embarks…

Morearrow_forward
Book reviews

The Love of My Afterlife by Kirsty Greenwood

by Christina McDonald December 27, 2024 0 comments

The Love of My Afterlife by Kirsty Greenwood My rating: 5 of 5 stars A fun and spellbinding romance. Not my typical read, but it kept me engaged and I really enjoyed it! View all my reviews

Morearrow_forward

Posts navigation

1 2 … 39

About Christina

christina mcdonald
Christina McDonald is the USA Today bestselling author of the Jess Lambert series, Do No Harm, Behind Every Lie and The Night Olivia Fell (Simon & Schuster/Gallery Books), which has been optioned for television by a major Hollywood studio.

Books

the stranger at black lake


what lies in darkness


these still black waters


do no harm


do no harm


do no harm

Follow

This site is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.
Christina McDonald
© 2025 Christina McDonald
  • Privacy policy
  • Terms of service