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Christina McDonald
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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 Younger Woman by Cate Ray

by Christina McDonald June 13, 2025 0 comments

The Younger Woman by Cate Ray My rating: 5 of 5 stars Absolutely loved this book! A fascinating insight into the deterioration of a marriage and what happens when love turns to hate. Vivid, with exquisite prose and wonderfully drawn characters, The Younger Woman is breathtaking and wildly original. An eerie, elegant thriller. View all…

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Book reviews

The Sun Down Motel by Simone St. James

by Christina McDonald June 2, 2025 0 comments

The Sun Down Motel by Simone St. James My rating: 5 of 5 stars Dark, creepy, atmospheric and stunning. I loved this haunting story about a woman who decides to find out what happened to her aunt who went missing years before. With dual timelines – the aunt and the niece – an intriguing plot…

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Book reviews

The Collective by Alison Gaylin

by Christina McDonald June 2, 2025 0 comments

The Collective by Alison Gaylin My rating: 5 of 5 stars A wonderfully surprising and twisty revenge thriller I couldn’t put down! We follow Camille, whose daughter was killed at a frat party five years ago. The man responsible still lives his privileged life, and she’s had no justice for her daughter’s loss. Obsessed with…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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,…

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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…

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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…

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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

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Christina McDonald
© 2025 Christina McDonald
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