Thank you so much to Tessa Wegert and Severn House for my copy of The Coldest Case! It’s about winter on a the small island of Running Pine near in thThank you so much to Tessa Wegert and Severn House for my copy of The Coldest Case! It’s about winter on a the small island of Running Pine near in the Thousand Islands. Six people live there all year round, while two newcomers start to make their home there while running a popular social media account. When one of the influencers goes missing, everyone fears the worst. The clock is counting down and his partner will only talk to one person, Shana.
Thoughts: I love the Shana Merchant series! I loved her so much in this book, it felt like after the last book she was back to her feisty self. I thought this was a great way to balance the past with Bram and the current locked room mystery. The setting was so chilling and eerie and I loved it. I thought the characters were interesting and felt like a mini cult.
It was a bummer that I guessed both of the main twists, one just 80 pages in. I always think it’s a me problem, since I read so many thrillers it is truly hard to catch me off guard. I thought this story had good character development for Shana and I liked seeing her relationships grow and deepen. I can’t wait for the next book in the series! 4-stars! ...more
Thank you so much to Atria Books and Jacqueline Bublitz for my copy of this book. It was about Ruth-Ann, a women who can’t stay away from true crime. Thank you so much to Atria Books and Jacqueline Bublitz for my copy of this book. It was about Ruth-Ann, a women who can’t stay away from true crime. She is currently an amateur detective and bartender, but nineteen years ago her childhood friend was murdered by a serial killer. She has been tormented by the case ever sense, and when another girl goes missing from the same town, she thinks maybe Oswald didn’t act alone and had a partner in crime.
What follows is Ruth’s hunt for a killer, and her infestation around the world to find three very specific women. But she’s not alone. Ruth has always been able to see the dead, and is hoping to get help from the women who Oswald murdered to avenge them.
Thoughts: This premise was so unique and interesting and I liked it a lot. The story started off with a bang and Bublitz’s writing is so propulsive and drew me in from the very beginning. It was a slow burn that pulled me into the mystery and had me asking what was really going on. There were a few things I loved, and a few things that left me wanting more.
I think the ending was a bit confusing, but the story had some solid pillars that kept me interested and engaged. Ruth’s journey around the world was interesting, and the idea of killers having protégées and mentees was something I hadn’t thought much about. I felt there were a few too many connections than there should have been, but it was an engaging story that I couldn’t put down. 4-stars! ...more
Thank you so much to Grady Hendrix and Berkley Publishing for my copy of this book. It was about Fern, a fifteen year old girl who is unceremoniously Thank you so much to Grady Hendrix and Berkley Publishing for my copy of this book. It was about Fern, a fifteen year old girl who is unceremoniously dropped off at a home for unwed mothers where they are expected to work for room and board until they give birth. She makes friends with the other girls sharing her journey, and tries to make it through her days being controlled by Miss Wellwood. Then Fern meets a librarian who gives her a book on witchcraft, and she realizes she may have more access to power than she thought. But Fern is about to find out that actions have consequences, and sometimes you can’t escape your fate.
Thoughts: Grady Hendrix is one of my favorite authors but this was one of his slowest books. Nothing much happened, and it felt more like a commentary on the politics in the 1970s than a thriller or horror book. I will say this book was very realistic about the time and it made me so thankful to be a woman now. Women were treated terribly and this book put a spotlight on the horrible conditions women had to have children in, and the way the history of witches plays into men’s fear of women.
This book was a slow burn for sure, and I actually think this book was mislabeled, because though there were horrifying elements, especially the birth scene, it read like historical fiction. I wish there were more of a mystery to this book, or an element of surprise, instead of the book essentially telling the story. It was a good book for what it was, but my expectations were much different and ultimately that made it a letdown for me. 3.5 stars. ...more
Thank you so much to Random House for Young Readers and Alexa Donne for my copy of this book. The premise was so amazing! There are 8 students from WaThank you so much to Random House for Young Readers and Alexa Donne for my copy of this book. The premise was so amazing! There are 8 students from Warner Prep headed for a remote ski cabin for senior excursion. It is supposed to be the trip of their life, but it ends up being a digital detox in an isolated cabin in Colorado. To make matters worse, their classmates start dropping dead, and it seems like they were all brought on this trip for a reason. A blizzard cuts the group off from the outside world, and now the group is trying to survive the night.
Thoughts: The premise of this book is so fun! It was such a fun read and I loved the isolated setting. It felt like a YA And Then There Were None where the characters were all unlikable and had a reason to be there. It was hard to root for any of them, and I found myself not caring what happened to them in the end. It was a classic locked room mystery mixed with a survival story, and I could see it being a fun movie or TV show. The ending was implausible and a bit overdone, but it fit perfectly for a YA story. 3.5 stars! ...more
Thank you so much to Flatiron Books and Jason Rukulak for my copy of this book. It was about Frank, a man who is surprised to hear his only daughter MThank you so much to Flatiron Books and Jason Rukulak for my copy of this book. It was about Frank, a man who is surprised to hear his only daughter Maggie is getting married. She calls him out of the blue after a three year estrangement, and invites him to her wedding. Frank jumps at the chance to make things right, but is surprised to hear that Maggie isn’t marrying just anyone. She is marrying Aidan Gardner, the son of a famous tech billionaire, on a private and luxurious estate. Even though he feels out of place, Frank wants to focus on patching things with Maggie.
Things start to crumble when Maggie has no time for him, Aiden is never around, and then the local’s true feelings about the Gardners start to come out. It seems like the family is involved in a lot more than technology, and Frank wants to get to the bottom of it before it is too late and his daughter is lost forever.
Thoughts: The synopsis really does not describe what this story is truly about, and it was fun to discover the story has many more layers than I thought. I love Rukulak’s writing and enjoyed his last book Hidden Pictures. This story was much less creepy, but had a lot of depth that was so much fun to follow. I loved the setting and the idea of the super rich lifestyle.
I wouldn’t necessarily say this was a thriller, because there weren’t any reveals or twists, which would have added to the book for me. I did love the characters and how much each character added to the story. Be aware there are far too many spiders in this book for my comfort! 4-stars! ...more
Thank you so much to Random House and Valerie Bauerlein for my copy of this unbelievable true crime story. This case is so sad and duplicitous and leaThank you so much to Random House and Valerie Bauerlein for my copy of this unbelievable true crime story. This case is so sad and duplicitous and learning the details was intriguing. It was about Alex Murdaugh and his family and their ties to the law, crime, and his community. He murdered his son and wife and thought he could get away with it. He swindled his clients out of millions of dollars and took advantage of people who trusted him.
This book looks at his ancestors who were also involved with various crimes. While they were mostly lawyers involved in local politics, they also tried to cover up murder and thievery. The author unwinds the roots of Alex’s downfall and why he decided to kill his family. This book is full of wonderful storytelling and accurate research, and is a journey through Alex’s life how he ended up in prison for life. 4.5 stars ...more
Thank you so much to Berkley Publishing for my copy of this book! It’s about Karen, a woman who is murdered on Valentine’s Day. Detective Elise King sThank you so much to Berkley Publishing for my copy of this book! It’s about Karen, a woman who is murdered on Valentine’s Day. Detective Elise King starts to look into her online dating history to see if it had anything to do with the murder. Reporter Kiki Nunn also decides to look into the murder by going undercover in the online dating world to see if she can find anything shady. Finally, Annie is a woman whose son was murdered years before. This new murder is brining up her past in more ways than one, and she starts to regress back to the dark place she thought she left behind.
Thoughts: This was my first Fiona Barton book and I LOVED IT! She is a fantastic writer and did a great job blending multiple storylines together. The characters were fun and interesting to read about. This book was on the longer side but I flew through it because of the way Barton kept hooking me in.
This is the second book in a series, but you don’t have to read the first one to know what is going on. I loved that this book was about women taking back power and being strong on their own. While part of the ending was obvious, the other part was a huge surprise! If you haven’t read her before, I definitely recommend pick this book up! 4.5 stars! ...more
Thank you so much to Rachel Harrison and Berkley Publishing for the perfect spooky season book. You know it’s fall when Rachel Harrison comes out withThank you so much to Rachel Harrison and Berkley Publishing for the perfect spooky season book. You know it’s fall when Rachel Harrison comes out with a new book, and this one was perfect for the season! This book was about Sloan, a woman who is just getting by in life. She is in a predictable and loveless marriage, celebrating her birthday with a friend by going on a girls weekend. When she meets up with her troublemaker friend Naomi, she knows things are going to get wild.
Naomi plans a wild night out, and the friends end up meeting some mysterious strangers. Then things take a turn that completely changes the course of their lives. The friends are now dealing with eternal ramifications of their choices, and all the complicated thoughts and feelings that come with eternal life.
Thoughts: Another fun book, this one about vampires! This was a book about feminism and bloodlust, the perfect combination. This book was a quick and fun read, and gave off Thelma and Louise vibes. I loved the group that the girls met and all of their fun personalities, regardless of the kind of pointless romance thrown in.
This book was about finding happiness and making decisions for ourselves. It is about doing things as a woman and not depending on a man to live our lives. It had such a wonderful female friendship, full of heart, humor, and a bit of horror. 4-stars! ...more
Thank you to Stephanie Wrobel and Berkley Publishing for my copy of this book! It was about a group of friends all meeting for a reunion weekend at a Thank you to Stephanie Wrobel and Berkley Publishing for my copy of this book! It was about a group of friends all meeting for a reunion weekend at a hotel that one of them recently opened. Alfred is the founder, owner, and manager of the Hitchcock hotel, a victorian mansion dedicated to Alfred Hitchcock himself. There are movie props, constant movie showings, and even an aviary full of crows.
To celebrate the first anniversary of the hotel, Alfred invites his former friends from Film Club for a reunion. Even though he hasn’t spoken tot hem in sixteen years, he knows they will come. How could they not after what the did to him? And Alfred isn’t one to forgive or forget. The weekend will end as any good Hickcock film does, with a dead body.
Thoughts: The premise of this book was so much fun. I’m not a huge Hitchcock fan,but I loved all the references and the idea of this hotel. Alfred is horrible, as well as all the other characters actually were. It’s hard to root for any of them, especially once you learn about each of their pasts. They are all so self-righteous, and there are no characters you want to escape unscathed.
The concept and plot of this book are amazing, however the story was very underwhelming. I wanted her to go much darker, but it was all very Scooby Doo and surface level. The reveal was so obvious and there were far too many things that just seemed to fall into place. 3-stars for this one. ...more
Thank you to Atria Books and Jessa Maxwell for my copy of I Need You to Read This. It was such an interesting story about a famous newspaper advice coThank you to Atria Books and Jessa Maxwell for my copy of I Need You to Read This. It was such an interesting story about a famous newspaper advice column, Dear Constance. When the writer is murdered, people are shocked and confused. Alex Marks decides to apply for the job on a whim, and she is thrilled to get the job. But as soon as she starts, she gets stranger letters in the mail and begins to feel unsafe. Alex starts to look into the murder of her predecessor and questions why she would be a target. Is someone from her new job involved? Or is it someone from her past, which is beginning to resurface.
Thoughts: The premise of this story was so much fun. I thought this book would be an amazing thriller, but it felt flat to me. The main character was boring and I thought there was a lot more the author could have done with her character. She added other one dimensional characters which was a bummer and it seemed like each person only had a single personality trait.
The reveal was fairly obvious, and lacked a thrilling element that made me care about Alex and the other characters. The chapters in the past were also transparent, and I wish the author would have committed to the darkness of this storyline, instead of keeping it at a surface level. 3-stars for this one. ...more
Thank you to Berkley Publishing and May Cobb for my copy of this book. It’s about Cassidy, a woman who moves to LA to recover from heartbreak. When a Thank you to Berkley Publishing and May Cobb for my copy of this book. It’s about Cassidy, a woman who moves to LA to recover from heartbreak. When a friend finds her a job as a personal assistant to a famous couple, Cassidy is thrilled. Marisol and Nate seem like the perfect couple, and all Cassidy has to do a run errands and help out, and in return she has access to luxury. But as she gets to know the couple, Cassidy’s attraction to Nate grows. And it seems like he has the same feelings as she does. Marisol and Nate are constantly fighting, and and soon Cassidy realizes she has been hired for a totally different reason than she originally thought.
Thoughts: This was such a fun and dramatic story. It was so juicy and just a lot of fun. I think this is more of a popcorn thriller, as I was able to consume it quickly. I didn’t enjoy any of the characters at all, but they were they type I loved to hate. It had a lot of dialogue and each character had their own flaws and quirks. I thought there was a good twist, and this was a fun beach read, perfect to take on any vacation. ...more
Thank you so much to Josh Winning and Putnam for my copy of this book. This was a fun summer camp thriller about people who need to escape the public Thank you so much to Josh Winning and Putnam for my copy of this book. This was a fun summer camp thriller about people who need to escape the public eye and detach from their social media. Camp Castaway is where Willow goes to recover from a bad tweet and getting canceled. She meets other people who need to leave behind their mistakes and fade into oblivion, but no technology means no way to call for help. When a woman comes screaming out of Willow’s wardrobe, she is spooked. Then one of the campers go missing, and campers start to literally lose their heads.
Thoughts: This was a super fun and campy thriller/horror book. I love the way Josh Winning writes and this book was extra fun on audio because of Willow’s internal voice. I love a killer at a summer camp, and read this book quickly. The short chapters made it so easy to consume, and it was cheesy and over the top in the best way. Yes, you have to suspend belief. Yes, it was a little too much, but I still loved it. 4.5 stars! ...more
Thank you so much to Del Rey and Josh Malerman for this chilling horror book. It was about Bela, a girl who loves her family more than anything. She lThank you so much to Del Rey and Josh Malerman for this chilling horror book. It was about Bela, a girl who loves her family more than anything. She loves her Mommy, Daddo, Grandma, and even Other Mommy, a tall hairy creature that lives in her closet and asks her every day “Can I go inside your heart?” Terrifying things start happening around around the house, and Other Mommy is getting tired of asking the same question over and over.
Bela realizes that Other Mommy is going to make her pay, and only the bonds of her family can keep her safe. But there are cracks in her family she never knew about, and as secrets start to unravel, Bela has to decide if she wants to give Other Mommy an answer or run for her life.
Thoughts: This book was SO CREEPY! I loved that it was from Bela’s perspective, and Malerman did such a good job of writing from her point of view. This story is so great because of what it doesn’t say. It leaves the horror up to the reader’s imagination, and you feel that something is waiting for you in the dark. You can feel the build of dread as this family tries to do everything they can to escape Other Mommy.
The story was about childhood trauma and family dynamics and innocence. Malerman explores the way our childhood affects our adult lives, and the things we carry with us. I thought the juxtaposition of Bela with the party her family throws and all the guests was especially well done. I couldn’t put it down for a minute and I want to go back and read some of Josh Malerman’s past books! 5-stars! ...more
Thank you so much to Emma Bamford, Netgalley, and Gallery Books for my copy of this book. It was about Maddy, a ghost writer who is commissioned to wrThank you so much to Emma Bamford, Netgalley, and Gallery Books for my copy of this book. It was about Maddy, a ghost writer who is commissioned to write a memoir for a famous plastic surgeon, Angela. She travels to her home in the remote Scottish highlands, and is asked to stay there while writing to be fully immersed. She is sharing the estate with Angela's partner Scott, and finds herself drawn to him.
Strange things start going on, including strangers lurking outside, handprints on the windows, and Scott's mood swings. When she returns to London to start promoting the book, she finds out that Scott jumped to his death, and Maddy thinks things are much more dark and complicated than she originally thought.
Thoughts: I am so sad that this was a DNF for me. It was just such a slow story that I couldn't get into it. I got around 40% of the way into this story and still felt that nothing was happening. I think I'll try to come back to it in the future, but I'm putting it down for now. ...more
I’m sorry WHAT. This book was literally nothing like I thought it would be, in the very best way. Thank you so much to Catherine Steadman and Random HI’m sorry WHAT. This book was literally nothing like I thought it would be, in the very best way. Thank you so much to Catherine Steadman and Random House for my copy of this book. It was about Nina, a woman who has just lost her father. Still grieving, she finds out that she has inherited a house in the British Virgin Islands that she had no idea existed. Nina has so many questions about how her father had money for this property and what the purpose of it really was.
Then there's Maria, a nanny to the super rich. She takes a job that will have a huge payout, but the family never shows. Maria starts to enjoy herself, waiting for the family and enjoying their beautiful house. There is just one rule- don’t go into the basement. But why? And how long can she really stay away?
Thoughts: This book is nothing like I could have ever imagined. The story was so fast paced and I couldn’t put it down. Nina was a strong character, and I really liked Maria as well. The premise was a true mystery, and I had no idea where the story was going. I can’t honestly say much without spoiling it, but this book was WILD. It almost had an element of horror to it, besides being a unique thriller.
If you enjoyed her book The Family Game, you will love this book as well. The ending was a bit far fetched, and there were some things just happened to work out, but it was such a fun read. If you liked the movie The Game, this book is perfect for you. 4.5 stars! ...more
Thank you to Random House and Lauren Ling Brown for this debut. It was about Maya, a girl head back to her alma mater to see her sister graduate. But Thank you to Random House and Lauren Ling Brown for this debut. It was about Maya, a girl head back to her alma mater to see her sister graduate. But when Naomi turns up dead, the weekend becomes something Maya could have never imagined. Maya knows there is more to the story, especially after she finds out Naomi was in a secret society that Maya warned her against joining. The more she uncovers, the more Maya realizes that Naomi was digging up the past and secrets that went along with it. After all, Naomi wasn’t the first girl found dead at Princeton.
Thoughts: This book had the perfect setting. I love an academic thriller, and the setting of Princeton and the eating clubs and secret societies was a great backdrop for this story. I liked the contrasting characters of Maya and Naomi with the rich and privileged students who attended Princeton with them. I thought there were some good points about race and culture and belonging.
I think that some of the chapters ended at really weird points that didn’t make much sense. The story was a bit far fetched and I found there to be some loose ends that were never tied up. This was wonderful for a debut, and I think the author will be one to watch. 4 stars for this interesting story! ...more
Thank you so much to Charlie Donlea and Kensington Books of my copy of Long Time Gone. This book is about Sloan, a woman in her first year of a patholThank you so much to Charlie Donlea and Kensington Books of my copy of Long Time Gone. This book is about Sloan, a woman in her first year of a pathology residency on genealogy. As part of her residency, she submits her DNA to a site and finds out she is actually Baby Charlotte, a baby that disappeared along with her parents almost 30 years ago. Sloan decides she needs to go back to the place she was born and meet her relatives, while at the same time, work with the Sheriff to find out what happened to her birth parents. Sloan begins to find out that many other suspicious things happened back in July 1995, and they may all be connected.
Thoughts: I love the way that Charlie Donlea writes. This story had an amazing plot and I loved the way the genealogy part of Sloan’s job tied into the plot. The idea of someone finding out they are actually a missing child is intriguing, and adding in the powerful family was a great background. I also love that Donlea brought in characters from some of his other books.
The pace wasn’t always fast, and I found myself getting bogged down by the pathology scenes at times. I felt the reveal was a bit much, but still enjoyed the plot and the path the book took. I think this book will be a fan favorite, and if you like Donlea’s past books, you will love this one! 4 stars ...more
Thank you so much to Saga Press and Stephan Graham Jones for this wonderful book! It was about Tolly Driver, a boy living in Lamesa Texas in 1989. He Thank you so much to Saga Press and Stephan Graham Jones for this wonderful book! It was about Tolly Driver, a boy living in Lamesa Texas in 1989. He is a normal kid full of hopes and dreams and friendships, and also happens to be cursed with bloodlust for revenge. After something happens at a party, Tolly is infected with the need to become a slasher and right how he was wronged. His normal life is about to be turned upside down, and he isn’t sure if he can stop it.
Thoughts: This book was about being an outsider. I loved that the perspective is from the mind of a killer, who also has humanity and is trying to figure out who and what he is. I loved the way this book is written, almost like a letter or confession to whoever finds it. The story pays homage to the horror genre, and uses emotion and humanity to create a nostalgic and heartwarming story about a teenager murdering his classmates. You know, tale as old as time.
Jones is a phenomenal writer and I could see how much of himself he poured into Tolly as a character. His relationship with Amber and the way she kept him anchored to humanity was beautiful, and I thought lots of themes were explored well. The way the book talks about being an outsider, dealing with tragedy, and the nuance of friendship, all while delivering the shock and gore of a horror novel. 4.5 stars! ...more
Thank you so much to Paul Tremblay and William Morrow for my copy of this book. It was about a film that never came out, due to the curse surrounding Thank you so much to Paul Tremblay and William Morrow for my copy of this book. It was about a film that never came out, due to the curse surrounding the movie and multiple deaths associated with the film. Only three scenes were ever released and only one star remains- The Thin Kid. Nevertheless, the movie has a cult following and is being rebooted. The Thin Kid is asked to collaborate with the director to make sure the reboot is as close to the original as it could be, but being back on a set is brining back memories of things that happened in the past. As he starts to remember the strange events of the past, they begin to blur with the present and the future of the film.
Thoughts: THIS BOOK WAS DISTURBING. Like, super disturbing. It was nothing like I thought it would be, and firmly in the horror category. I thought it would be similar to Burn the Negative by Josh Winning, but it was a time warp that jumped around to different parts of the Thin Kid’s life. I get what the author was trying to do, but there were so many things that left me bothered. Where did the mask come from? What was the whole point of the teens doing everything to the Thin Kid? What were any of the character’s motivations?
The author wanted to look at the monster’s in us, and who people really are inside. I thought the script mixed in with the chapters was a great way to break up the story. While the dread did build during the story, it was slow going. I wished that the curse would have been in the story more, as well as an explanation about the four main characters and more about who they were. 3-stars for this one. ...more
Thank you so much to Dutton and Riley Sager for my copy of Middle of the Night. Riley is one of my favorite authors, so I was beyond excited to get myThank you so much to Dutton and Riley Sager for my copy of Middle of the Night. Riley is one of my favorite authors, so I was beyond excited to get my hands on this one. It’s about Ethan and his best friend Billy, and the summer Billy is taken from a tent in Ethan’s backyard in the middle of the night. The tent is cut open and no one hears from Billy again. Now years later, Ethan is back in his parents house after his life is turned upside down. Ethan has both terrifying dreams of the night Billy disappeared, as well as insomnia, and now signs of Billy’s presence start showing up in Ethan’s backyard. Is this just a joke? Or has Billy somehow returned to Hemlock circle?
Thoughts: This book was much anticipated and the cover grabbed my attention right away. I love the idea of someone going missing in the middle of the night, and all the mystery surrounding it. I loved the setting of the mysterious institute that may or may not be a cult. It’s more of a mystery than thriller, and the multiple perspectives make for a slow burn.
Unfortunately this book wasn’t my favorite of Sager’s. First of all, it was repetitive and a bit boring. Ethan didn’t have much of a personality, and the way his insomnia is described is confusing. The supernatural elements were not interesting and felt obvious on where they were going. All the reveals were predictable, and there were too many thrown in. Lots of things didn’t make sense (they didn’t search the grounds? He just happened to call when the police found something?). It seemed like a lot of ideas were thrown together to make a book that felt disjointed and predictable. Sadly, 3 stars for this one. ...more
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