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Broken Country
Read more: Broken CountryMy rating: 4/5 stars. Broken Country is an absorbing, character-driven story from Clare Leslie Hall. Part love story, part mystery, and part intimate character study, the novel is anchored by Hall’s elegant, emotional writing. She creates a vivid sense of place, and I could easily picture the farm, the small town, and the people who…
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The Final Vow – Washington Poe #7
Read more: The Final Vow – Washington Poe #7My rating: 3.5/5 stars. The Final Vow is the seventh installment in M.W. Craven’s Washington Poe series, and having read every book so far, I was genuinely excited to reunite with some of my favorite fictional characters. The relationship between Washington Poe and Tilly Bradshaw remains the heart of the series. Their banter is consistently…
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King Sorrow
Read more: King SorrowMy rating: 5/5 stars. King Sorrow by Joe Hill is a dark, immersive novel that sits firmly at the crossroads of horror and dark fantasy. This is an epic novel, and I deliberately saved this book for my winter holiday break so I could sink into long, uninterrupted stretches of reading. Yes, it’s long, but…
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The Midnight King
Read more: The Midnight KingMy rating: 3.5/5 stars. The Midnight King by Tariq Ashkanani is a dark and unsettling serial killer thriller with a unique twist on the genre. Rather than focusing on the gruesome details of murder, Ashkanani dives deep into the psychological fallout by exploring the lingering effects of trauma and the slow, inevitable descent into madness.…
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To Love A Liar
Read more: To Love A LiarMy rating: 5/5 stars. To Love A Liar by L. V. Matthews is a terrific thriller that’s hard to pin down to just one genre. It’s part psychological thriller, part crime story, part love story, with a touch of police procedural thrown in. Matthews blends these elements seamlessly, creating a layered and emotionally charged read…
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It Should Have Been You
Read more: It Should Have Been YouMy rating: 3.75/5 stars. It Should Have Been You by Andrea Mara is a fun, fast-paced psychological thriller that’s tailor-made for an afternoon binge read. With snappy chapters and a relentless pace, it delivers just enough twists that kept me hooked from start to finish. Beneath the high drama lies an all-too-recognizable premise: one tiny…
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The Wasp Trap
Read more: The Wasp TrapMy rating: 3/5 stars. The Wasp Trap is a snappy, character-driven psychological thriller from Mark Edwards that makes for a entertaining afternoon read. With its short chapters and fast pace, this one reads more like domestic suspense than a dark, gritty thriller, which was exactly what I was in the mood for.
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The Day I Lost You
Read more: The Day I Lost YouMy rating: 3/5 stars. The Day I Lost You is a psychological thriller by Ruth Mancini. Right from the start, I was pulled in, curious about who was telling the truth, who was hiding something, and what exactly was going on. It had all the ingredients for a twisty, binge-worthy read. Unfortunately, after the first…
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Watching You
Read more: Watching YouMy rating: 5/5 stars. Watching You is another gripping addition to Helen Fields’ impressive catalogue of crime fiction. Part of the Connie Woolwine series, this novel pulled me in from page one and didn’t let go. As a longtime fan of Fields and someone who’s read most of her backlist, I was excited to dive…
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Human Remains – Kat & Lock #3
Read more: Human Remains – Kat & Lock #3My rating: 5/5 stars. Human Remains by Jo Callaghan, is the third installment in the exceptional Kat & Lock series. This gripping crime procedural goes far beyond the typical whodunit, tackling themes of grief, loyalty, the double-edged sword of social media, and the exciting and unnerving potential of AI. Callaghan skillfully weaves these elements together,…
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The Countdown Killer – Major Crimes Series #4
Read more: The Countdown Killer – Major Crimes Series #4My rating: 4/5 stars. The Countdown Killer by Sam Holland is the fourth book in the Major Crimes Series, and an impressive, engrossing addition that showcases Holland’s exceptional skill for gripping and dark storytelling. While this installment can be read as a standalone, I strongly recommend starting with The Echo Man (the first in the…
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King Of Ashes
Read more: King Of AshesMy rating: 4/5 stars. S.A. Cosby is back with King of Ashes, a standalone southern noir crime thriller that’s equal parts gritty and lyrical. This compelling story dives deep into morality, family, and the dark underbelly of Jefferson Run, a small southern town overrun by violence and drug-related gangs. I’ll read anything Cosby writes. His…
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Our Last Resort
Read more: Our Last ResortMy rating: 3/5 stars. Our Last Resort has an intriguing premise; unfortunately, it left me wanting more, especially when it came to the cult storyline. As a drama with a touch of suspense, it had moments of potential but ultimately fell short of delivering the depth and emotion I had hoped for. For me, it…
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The Death Of Us
Read more: The Death Of UsMy rating: 4/5 stars. The Death Of Us is a gripping novel by Abigail Dean. This story burrowed into my mind and refused to let go. In this slow-burn narrative, Dean carefully unveils the main characters’ world, drawing us into their pain, their passion, and the haunting consequences of a life-shattering event. It’s raw, traumatic,…
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We Are All Guilty Here – North Falls #1
Read more: We Are All Guilty Here – North Falls #1My rating: 5/5 stars. We Are All Guilty Here is the first novel in the new North Falls series by Karin Slaughter. Slaughter’s writing is precise and deliberate, and every word is chosen with care to drive the narrative forward. As a longtime fan of her work, I was thrilled to dive into this new…
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Dead Money
Read more: Dead MoneyMy rating: 4/5 stars. Dead Money by Jakob Kerr is an absolute rollercoaster of a crime thriller, and I was hooked from page one. Honestly, it’s hard to believe this is Kerr’s debut. The story is twisty and full of unexpected turns that kept me flipping pages late into the night. At the center of…
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The Ghostwriter
Read more: The GhostwriterMy rating: 5/5 stars. The Ghostwriter by Julie Clark is an emotional, character-driven mystery that lingers long after you turn the last page. Clark’s storytelling shines, bringing deeply human characters to life in a haunting and twisty tale. This book isn’t just about the mystery. It weaves in a powerful, dysfunctional family drama that adds…
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Guess Again
Read more: Guess AgainMy rating: 4/5 stars. Guess Again by Charlie Donlea is a wild, twisty ride from start to finish! With a large cast of characters and plenty of misdirection, it delivers all the suspense and intrigue you’d expect from Donlea. While it’s not a traditional, true-to-life police procedural, it’s a well-crafted, highly entertaining read that’s packed…
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You Killed Me First
Read more: You Killed Me FirstMy rating: 5/5 stars. You Killed Me First is a psychological thriller by John Marrs that immediately caught my attention with its intriguing title and striking cover. After reading the blurb, I knew I had to dive in over the weekend. And wow, this was one of those “just one more chapter” reads that kept…
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The Glass Man – Asker Series #2
Read more: The Glass Man – Asker Series #2My rating: 5/5 stars. The Glass Man by Anders de la Motte is the second installment in the Asker series and a gripping Nordic Noir crime novel. After finishing The Mountain King, I couldn’t wait to dive into this one and it definitely didn’t disappoint. This narrative weaves together two compelling storylines, and de la…
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Spider To The Fly
Read more: Spider To The FlyMy rating: 3.5/5 stars. Spider To The Fly is a psychological thriller by J. H. Markert that immediately caught my attention with its intriguing title and striking cover. After reading the blurb, I couldn’t wait to dive in over the weekend. I’m a sucker for stories featuring amateur sleuths and true crime authors, and this…
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The Cul-de-sac
Read more: The Cul-de-sacMy rating: 2.5/5 stars. The Cul-de-sac was my first read by Christopher Null, and the premise of this domestic suspense novel immediately grabbed my attention. I was excited to dive in and discover a new author. While the story kept my interest, and I loved the dark, claustrophobic atmosphere, it didn’t completely hit the mark…
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The Writer
Read more: The WriterMy rating: 4/5 stars. The Writer by James Patterson and JD Barker is a fast-paced, twisty crime thriller that keeps the tension high from start to finish. This was my first Patterson novel, but since I’m a big fan of JD Barker’s 4MK series, I couldn’t wait to see how this collaboration compared. While it…
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Presumed Guilty
Read more: Presumed GuiltyMy rating: 5/5 stars. Presumed Guilty by Scott Turow is a brilliant legal thriller that really showcases his talent for the genre. The story is layered, immersive, and feels incredibly real. The plot is so well put together, the characters are compelling, and there’s a strong sense of authenticity throughout. I was completely drawn into…
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Head Cases – PAR Unit #1
Read more: Head Cases – PAR Unit #1My rating: 4/5 stars. Head Cases by John McMahon is a smart, gripping crime thriller that pulled me in from the first chapter. It’s a perfect mix of character study and police procedural, with nonstop tension that kept me hooked. I enjoy discovering new authors, and what really sets this book apart is the quirky…
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Nine Minutes Eleven Seconds
Read more: Nine Minutes Eleven SecondsMy rating: 3/5 stars. Nine Minutes Eleven Seconds is a fun debut thriller from author L. V. Pederson. At just 330 pages, it’s a fast-paced, action-packed read that’s easy to finish in one or two sittings. While I had to suspend disbelief throughout most of the story, Pederson skillfully incorporates secrets, deception, and relentless action…
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A Dead Draw – Tracy Crosswhite Series #11
Read more: A Dead Draw – Tracy Crosswhite Series #11My rating: 4/5 stars: A Dead Draw by Robert Dugoni is the 11th installment in the Tracy Crosswhite series. The expected publish date is April 2025. As with every Dugoni book I read, I’m continually impressed by his ability to craft smart, well-written, and thoroughly engaging stories. This installment, however, takes a slightly different approach,…
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Blood Ties – The Kingdom Series #2
Read more: Blood Ties – The Kingdom Series #2My rating: 3.75/5 stars. Blood Ties by author Jo Nesbø is a Nordic Noir thriller and the second installment in The Kingdom series. The story revolves around themes of loyalty, deception, and violence, following two brothers as they struggle to maintain control over their small town while a dark past threatens to dismantle everything they’ve…
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This Book Will Bury Me
Read more: This Book Will Bury MeMy rating: 4.5/5 stars. This Book Will Bury Me by Ashley Winstead is an incredible, multi-layered story about a young woman who becomes entangled in true crime after the loss of her father. Following his death, Jane joins a true crime community and finds herself deeply involved in several cases. As her small group of…
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Famous Last Words
Read more: Famous Last WordsMy rating: 4/5 stars. Famous Last Words by Gillian McAllister is an intriguing and engaging psychological thriller. Though it may not be the best I’ve read, it’s certainly entertaining and earns a solid four-star rating. This novel blends elements of a domestic thriller with touches of police procedural, and the storyline delivers the expected tension,…
Mugs & Manuscripts 