Category: Book reviews

The Death of Mrs. Westaway by Ruth Ware A twisty, atmospheric thriller with a killer premise, this one also has something of a Dickensian vibe about it, with it’s over-the-top money collector and it’s chilling, Gothic house. There’s a lot of stammering and waffling by our protagonist (and why is her throat always “stiff”?), and…

The Soulmate by Sally Hepworth My rating: 5 of 5 stars Sally Hepworth’s best book yet! Everything about it was pitch perfect, from the structure to the plotting to the characterisation and the atmosphere. Wonderfully twisty, pacey and unique, The Soulmate is the perfect suspense/thriller. Gabe and Pippa Gerard have moved into their dream house,…

The Things We Do to Our Friends by Heather Darwent A story of heading off to college and trying to fit in with the ‘popular’ crowd, and the things that can go wrong. The book had promise and was well written, but unfortunately I found it so tedious and such a slog to get through…

Stillhouse Lake by Rachel Caine My rating: 5 of 5 stars Wow! The opening scene had me utterly hooked! Intense, chilling, suspenseful, engrossing, Stillhouse Lake is the most intense thriller I’ve read in quite a while. With a knockout premise about a woman who has no idea she’s married to a serial killer and what…

When She Returned by Lucinda Berry Eleven years ago, Kate disappears from a Target parking lot. Her daughter and husband move on, with the husband eventually remarrying. Except then Kate returns. But as the family unravels, shocking revelations show that Kate isn’t exactly who she said she was, and her return is more sinister than…

The Prisoner by B.A. Paris My rating: 4 of 5 stars A quick, easy read with a unique hook and some breathtaking suspense, especially in those early chapters. The story starts with a bang when Amelie is kidnapped and held in a completely pitch-black room. The storytelling in these chapters is impressively rich and descriptive,…

The Girls Who Disappeared by Claire Douglas My rating: 5 of 5 stars A haunting thriller with a gripping hook – twenty years ago four girls drove home after a night out and got in a car crash. But when all the dust settled, only one girl remained. Where are the other three girls? I…

Last One Alive by Amber Cowie My rating: 5 of 5 stars A riveting, irresistible locked-room mystery reminiscent of Agatha Christie, Last One Alive is endlessly entertaining and fiendishly clever. Jam-packed with tension and suffused with dread, you won’t be able to put this one down! Amber Cowie is a wonderful talent in the mystery/thriller…

Upgrade by Blake Crouch My rating: 5 of 5 stars What would happen if your DNA was hacked? This is the question Upgrade explores in this mind-bending, fresh and sharp story. The perfect blend of upmarket sci-fi and gripping thriller, I was excited to read Upgrade after reading and absolutely loving Dark Matter. And this…

Two Nights in Lisbon by Chris Pavone My rating: 5 of 5 stars Loved this darkly elegant international thriller! With breathtaking suspense, a tightly woven plot and beautifully nuanced characters, this expertly crafted story is full of surprises from start to finish. When a woman wakes in a foreign city and her husband is nowhere…

Watch Out for Her by Samantha M. Bailey My rating: 5 of 5 stars A compulsive and riveting exploration of trust, obsession and voyeurism, Samantha Bailey knocks it out of the park with this intricately plotted domestic thriller. With dark secrets and surprising twists, this one’s sure to be a new favorite! The story alternates…

Stay Awake by Megan Goldin My rating: 5 of 5 stars Wow! A mind-bending, heart-stopping thriller told in a cinematic style, Stay Awake will make you forget everything until you’ve reached its gasp-worthy conclusion. Ingenious, intriguing and intoxicating, this stylish thriller is a fresh take of an amnesiac’s experience, expertly pulling you in as she…