Author: Christina McDonald

Girl One by Sara Flannery Murphy My rating: 5 of 5 stars Gripping and utterly captivating, this sci-fi-thriller blend is a powerful and lyrical acclamation of love, sisterhood, feminism and empowerment. Girl One follows Josie Morrow, one of nine “Miracle Babies” conceived without male DNA (parthenogenesis). After a suspicious fire destroys the commune she was…

Cross Her Heart by Melinda Leigh A clever combination of police procedural and romantic suspense, Cross Her Heart is a thriller with heart. Skilfully exploring the line between love and hate, the story follows Bree, a kickass homicide detective with a tragic past of her own. Bree has tucked away that tragic past until the…

The Family Plot by Megan Collins My rating: 5 of 5 stars A dysfunctional, true-crime obsessed family, a long-missing brother, a serial killer, and a secluded island mansion filled with murder memorabilia: how could it get any better? Megan Collin shines in this absorbingly atmospheric tale filled with a magnificent sense of macabre. After a…

Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie Finally, I’ve read this book! I found it quite complicated and a little difficult to follow, but a compelling ending. I can see the appeal. I think. View all my reviews

Win by Harlan Coben Skilfully crafted and intricately plotted, Win shows Harlen Coben at the top of his game. We take a deep dive into a character who is probably a psychopath, definitely shady, yet still pretty likeable. This complex, action-packed nail-biter is a massively entertaining read! We have a murdered recluse. A stolen painting.…

A Stranger at the Door by Jason Pinter My rating: 5 of 5 stars Smart and cleverly plotted, this fast-paced crime mystery is compelling with tons of emotion and a protagonist bent on justice. Beneath the layers of plot are characters so well written I felt I actually knew them. Suspenseful, funny, tense and gripping,…

The Perfect Family by Robyn Harding My rating: 5 of 5 stars Unsettling and darkly sublime, Robyn Harding deftly explores twisted family dynamics and devastating secrets in suburbia in this stunning novel that will shock readers by the final page. The Perfect Family explores a perfect family’s perfect façade, and how even perfect lies can…

You Will Remember Me by Hannah Mary McKinnon My rating: 5 of 5 stars Magnificently malevolent and darkly diabolical, what begins as a case of amnesia quickly turns into a riveting, sinister ride. Every twist, every layer skilfully unravels to an explosive conclusion that will have you gasping out loud. You Will Remember Me is…

Girls with Bright Futures by Tracy Dobmeier My rating: 5 of 5 stars Wickedly paced and devilishly clever, Girls with Bright Futures is a serious case of moms behaving badly, perfectly showcasing the dark side of ambition in the cut-throat world of elite college admissions. With a ripped-from-the-headlines feel a la Felicity Huffman, we get…

Her Last Holiday by C.L. Taylor An interesting, slow paced mystery with a lot of drama. I loved the premise of a sister looking into what happened to her sister. With a cast of several excellent suspects at the retreat, I was entertained, even if I did guess the twist. A light beach read. View…

The Dry by Jane Harper My rating: 3 of 5 stars An atmospheric slow-burn whodunit, I enjoyed The Dry. Part police procedural and part murder mystery, the question of whether Luke murdered his family kept me glued to the page, but the real strength of the story comes in the descriptions of the drought. Setting…

The Perfect Guests by Emma Rous My rating: 5 of 5 stars A richly atmospheric time-slip mystery with the pulse of a thriller, The Perfect Guests is deliciously evocative and absolutely spellbinding. Set up like a game of Clue, the story alternates between two narratives, one in the past, the other in the present, each…