Category: Book reviews

The Second Life of Nick Mason by Steve Hamilton My rating: 4 of 5 stars An enjoyable ‘guy’ book with mobsters and good and bad cops, lots of shooting and car chases, etc. The story is well done and fast-paced with a great hook – a criminal who gets out of maximum security prison early…

Someone Knows by Lisa Scottoline A family drama that revolves around a prank gone wrong and is told vividly and confidently by multiple POVs. The first part of the story is building up to what went wrong, while the last part is exploring the incident and the fallout over the years. Lots of interesting themes…

The Sanatorium by Sarah Pearse My rating: 5 of 5 stars A chilling, exquisitely written locked-room mystery. Detective Elin is on leave after a traumatic incident when she accepts an invitation from her estranged brother to celebrate his engagement at a luxury hotel in the Swiss Alps. But shortly after she arrives, an avalanche cuts…

Her Perfect Life by Hank Phillippi Ryan My rating: 5 of 5 stars Her Perfect Life is a stunning, wonderfully tense thriller about deceit, grief, fame and perfection, and the secrets we carry beneath our skin. Written with gracefully exact language and tugging on every heart string, the page-turning plot is flawlessly woven with beautifully-drawn…

Kill All Your Darlings by David Bell My rating: 5 of 5 stars Mystery, murder and plagiarism set in the realm of academia, Kill All Your Darlings is diabolically twisty with an absolutely ingenious plot. A tortured English professor who can’t write. A tragic backstory. A stolen manuscript. This is suspense writing at its finest.…

Nanny Needed by Georgina Cross My rating: 5 of 5 stars Deliciously creepy and absolutely riveting, Nanny Needed is a gripping thriller about what happens when one woman’s dream job turns into her waking nightmare. Full of dark secrets and surprising twists, nothing is as it seems amidst these pages. Watch out…this one will take…

His & Hers by Alice Feeney A dark and twisty tale switching between Anna (Hers), Jack (His), and the killer’s POV, so we never know who exactly to trust. Intricately plotted and incredibly fun, the story is filled with lies, revenge, and nasty secrets. Okay, some of the twists, especially the last one, were just…

We Are All the Same in the Dark by Julia Heaberlin My rating: 5 of 5 stars Lyrically beautiful and emotionally astute, We Are All The Same In The Dark is raw, stunning, and darkly twisted. Rather than being a frenetic page turner, it is one of those books you want to sip rather than…

Before She Disappeared by Lisa Gardner Another fantastic story by Lisa Gardner! It’s a bit of a slow burn at first, but we get such a deep inside look at Frankie, it’s completely worth it. Frankie is realistic, flawed, and deeply layered. She’s a recovering alcoholic, a loner, a survivor, and with no people of…

Her Last Breath by Hilary Davidson My rating: 5 of 5 stars A fast-paced, expertly plotted mystery about the depths of the secrets we keep hidden from ourselves—and those we love. Thoughtfully plotted and skilfully told, I really enjoyed and empathized with the flawed characters, especially Theo. Addictive and emotional. View all my reviews

For Your Own Good by Samantha Downing Menacing and at times ominous, with a legit insane protagonist and lots of dark, dark humor, For Your Good is exactly on brand for Downing. A who-dun-it where you are deep inside the mind of the worst sorts of people, but you never feel like it’s so serious…

The Couple At No. 9 by Claire Douglas A fun and claustrophobic summer read, The Couple at No 9 is everything you want in a thriller: a murder to solve, a clever plot, compelling characters. The slow-burn tension ratchets tighter and tighter until you’re suddenly flying toward the gasp-worthy end. Irresistibly tense, utterly unforgettable and…