Category: Book reviews

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 My rating: 5 of 5 stars Another slam dunk by Lisa Gardner! Before She Disappeared is intoxicatingly original, intelligent, and completely gripping. Full of dark secrets and surprising twists, and with a story narrated by Frankie, a complex, realistic, flawed, and deeply layered character. She’s a recovering alcoholic, a…

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 My rating: 5 of 5 stars A delightfully twisty and wickedly fun thriller that takes a fresh spin to privileged academia. I love every Samantha Downing novel, and For Your Own Good is no exception. It’s fun, dark, and beguiling. Teddy Crutcher is our protagonist and he’s as…

The Couple at No. 9 by Claire Douglas My rating: 5 of 5 stars 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 tension ratchets tighter and tighter until you’re suddenly flying toward the gasp-worthy end.…

Hostage by Clare Mackintosh My rating: 5 of 5 stars Phenomenal! This explosive locked-room thriller has everything a reader could want in this genre: murder, mystery, morally grey areas, and a very empathetic heroine. Mina is a mother first, but when someone presents her with an anonymous note while on her most recent flight, she’s…

I Don’t Forgive You by Aggie Blum Thompson My rating: 5 of 5 stars Allie, her husband and their young son have recently moved to an affluent neighborhood in DC. While meeting the new neighbors, Allie is assaulted in the bathroom. When her attacker is later found dead, Allie immediately becomes a suspect in the…