Author: Christina McDonald

Sister Dear by Hannah Mary McKinnon My rating: 5 of 5 stars As layered as puff pastry, and just as delightful, Sister Dear is an altogether unpredictable and surprising read. What begins as a slow-burn exploration of love, loss and grief shifts about midway through into a dark and twisted tale of secrets and revenge.…

The House on the Lake by Nuala Ellwood My rating: 4 of 5 stars Gorgeously atmospheric and claustrophobic, this twisty thriller is about how far you should go to fight for your rights. The writing was sharp and vivid, many scenes feeling almost haunted and other-worldly, with scenes really coming to life in my imagination.…

You Should Have Known by Jean Hanff Korelitz My rating: 4 of 5 stars A slow-burn, character-driven thriller that takes a fresh look at infidelity. Grace is a scornful, judgemental woman who looks down at other women who don’t see when they’re being cheated on. But when her own life falls apart and her world…

Thought I Knew You by Kate Moretti My rating: 5 of 5 stars Utterly compelling, lyrically beautiful and sharply insightful, Thought I Knew You packs a powerful emotional punch. The story follows Claire, who’s husband doesn’t return home from a business trip. Desperate to find him, she enlists the help of her best friend Drew…

The Better Sister by Alafair Burke A well-written, engrossing, complex family drama with a murdered husband, a courtroom drama and an intriguing who-dunnit at its heart. The story focuses more on the characters and includes a lot of courtroom scenes towards the middle, which means it isn’t as fast-paced as some prefer, but the ending…

You Can’t Catch Me by Catherine McKenzie My rating: 5 of 5 stars A fun, twisty story about a former cult member who falls victim to identity theft after making a career-ending mistake. Dazzling, intriguing, and just good old-fashioned fun! This wildly entertaining thriller is chock full of impressive twists and a plot you’ll get…

Sister by Rosamund Lupton My rating: 5 of 5 stars A harrowing, sometimes quite sad, crime novel that is impeccably written. This is not a twisty, fly-through-the pages read, but a slow-burning, character-driven suspense with a pervading sense of menace and a disquieting sense of unease that builds to a thrilling end. The story follows…

This is How I Lied by Heather Gudenkauf My rating: 5 of 5 stars A twisty, evocative tale of the danger of secrets and the power the past has to lead us down deliciously dangerous paths. Immersive and richly atmospheric, This Is How I Lied intertwines page-turning suspense with characters that creep into your very…

Before I Let You Go by Kelly Rimmer My rating: 5 of 5 stars Oh wow, this book…! Touching, emotional, moving. It affected me very deeply and I thought about the themes long after I’d finished reading the book. Just a note of warning: Before I Let You Go is a very heavy book with…

The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult A story of forgiveness, love, and the Holocaust, The Storyteller is in no way a light read, but delves into complicated, heavy territory through the lense of a lonely, troubled woman, asking if you do a bad thing, can you ever make it right? Sage is hiding within the safety…