Browse to find your next great novel! This list includes all reviews from newest to oldest . . . books and coffee: fuel for the mind and soul.
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How To Get Away With Murder
Read more: How To Get Away With MurderMy rating: 3.5/5 stars. How To Get Away With Murder is an impressive debut from Rebecca Philipson, built around a clever and compelling premise that offers a fresh spin on the detective genre. I’ve always liked a book-within-a-book structure, and this novel makes effective use of that device. I’ll also say upfront that didn’t see…
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Everyone In This Bank Is A Thief
Read more: Everyone In This Bank Is A ThiefMy rating: 4/5 stars. Everyone In This Bank Is A Thief by Benjamin Stevenson is a clever, witty, and wildly entertaining thriller. As the fourth installment in the Ernest Cunningham series, it delivers the same chaotic antics that made the earlier books so much fun to read.
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I Have Some Questions For You
Read more: I Have Some Questions For YouMy rating: 3/5 stars. I Have Some Questions For You by Rebecca Makkai is a character-forward literary novel, and one I really wanted to love. Makkai’s writing is excellent, and I was immediately drawn in by her narrative style. It’s clear throughout the novel that she’s trying to say something meaningful: offering a critique of…
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Penance
Read more: PenanceMy rating: 4.5/5 stars. Penance by Eliza Clark is a brilliantly written, addictive work of crime fiction with a dark and unsettling core. Clark packs an extraordinary amount into the novel without ever making it feel dense or overloaded. Beneath the gripping, expertly told story lies a sharp critique of true-crime obsession, toxic internet culture,…
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Pretty Things
Read more: Pretty ThingsMy rating: 4/5 stars. Pretty Things by Janelle Brown is a psychological drama built around a clever con-game cat-and-mouse story. While it’s often marketed as a thriller, I found it to be more of a slow-burn, character-forward psychological duel. It’s a sharp character study built around deception, power, and shifting identities, and I was never…
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When I Kill You
Read more: When I Kill YouMy rating: 3/5 stars. When I Kill You by B.A. Paris is a quick, entertaining read that’s perfect for an afternoon escape. At just over 300 pages, it’s easy to finish in one sitting, and the straightforward writing and simple plot make it ideal for travel or a relaxed day at your favorite coffee shop.…
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I’m Traveling Alone
Read more: I’m Traveling AloneMy rating: 4/5 stars. I’m Traveling Alone by Samuel Bjørk has been sitting on my TBR shelf for ages, and I’m glad I finally picked it up over the weekend. This dark, atmospheric Nordic Noir police procedural hooked me right from the start. Set in Norway, the story follows members of a special police unit…
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Long Bright River
Read more: Long Bright RiverMy rating: 4/5 stars. Long Bright River by Liz Moore is a character-driven, emotional crime thriller that transcends its genre label. While it’s framed as a mystery, at its core is a story about family, sisterhood, and the ties that bind and break communities. Moore crafts a dark, gritty, and deeply believable portrait of Philadelphia’s…
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NOS4A2
Read more: NOS4A2My rating: 5/5 stars. NOS4A2 by Joe Hill is a dark, immersive novel that sits squarely in the realms of horror and dark fantasy. This was my first Joe Hill book, and although I don’t often read these genres, I found it almost impossible to put down. I had originally planned to reread Stephen King’s…
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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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Wolf Hour
Read more: Wolf HourMy rating: 4/5 stars. Wolf Hour is a solid, hard-hitting police procedural and crime thriller from Jo Nesbø. Best known for his Harry Hole series (which I’ve read in full), Nesbø crafts a twisty tale as only he can, and I was eager to dive into this standalone thriller over the weekend. His signature taut,…
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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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Inside Man – PAR Unit #2
Read more: Inside Man – PAR Unit #2My rating: 4/5 stars. Inside Man by John McMahon is the second installment in the PAR series, following Head Cases. I read the first book last year and was immediately drawn in by McMahon’s sharp writing and the incredibly likable FBI team at its core. Naturally, I couldn’t help but compare Inside Man to its…
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Served Him Right
Read more: Served Him RightMy rating: 4/5 stars. Served Him Right is a dynamic, women-centered psychological thriller that hooked me from the first page. This was my first time reading Unger, and I was immediately drawn in by her smooth, engaging writing style. For me, strong storytelling and well-built characters always come first, and I was pleased to find…
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Two Kinds Of Stranger (Eddie Flynn #9)
Read more: Two Kinds Of Stranger (Eddie Flynn #9)My rating: 4/5 stars. Steve Cavanagh returns with the latest Eddie Flynn legal thriller, Two Kinds of Stranger. I’ve read most of this series, and Cavanagh never disappoints. This installment was an absolute blast: fast-paced, entertaining, packed with twists and turns. I’ve really grown attached to Flynn and his crew – Kate Brooks, Bloch, Gabriel…
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The Cabin (William Wisting #13, Cold Cases #2)
Read more: The Cabin (William Wisting #13, Cold Cases #2)My rating: 4/5 stars. The Cabin by Jørn Lier Horst is an excellent Nordic Noir crime fiction novel – a measured, character-driven police procedural rather than a twisted, action-heavy thriller. It’s the thirteenth installment in the much-loved Wisting series, and the second in the Cold Case Quartet, a four-book subseries focused entirely on long-unsolved cases.…
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Nightwatching
Read more: NightwatchingMy rating: 3/5 stars. Nightwatching is Tracy Sierra’s debut thriller, and it kicks off with a chilling premise. From the first page, the tension is palpable – you could cut it with a knife. A mother, snowed in with her two children during a blizzard, hears footsteps on the stairs. After countless sleepless nights, she…
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The Collective
Read more: The CollectiveMy rating: 3.5/5 stars. The Collective by Alison Gaylin is a fast-paced, highly entertaining psychological thriller. While it doesn’t deliver on character depth or believability, it more than compensates with pure, page-turning fun.
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Caller Unknown
Read more: Caller UnknownMy rating: 3/5 stars. Caller Unknown by Gillian McAllister is a psychological thriller with a promising setup but, for me, a frustrating execution. I really enjoyed McAllister’s Wrong Place Wrong Time and Famous Last Words, so I was excited to pick up this advanced copy. She usually delivers creative, fast-paced thrillers with protagonists I can…
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Eye For An Eye
Read more: Eye For An EyeMy rating: 4.5/5 stars. Eye For An Eye by M. J. Arlidge is a dark, thought-provoking standalone thriller from the author best known for the Helen Grace police procedurals. I’ve read most of that series, so I was eager to see what Arlidge would do outside of it, and this one definitely didn’t disappoint.
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The Katharina Code (William Wisting #12, Cold Cases #1)
Read more: The Katharina Code (William Wisting #12, Cold Cases #1)My rating: 4/5 stars. The Katharina Code by Jørn Lier Horst is an excellent Nordic Noir crime fiction novel – a measured, character-driven police procedural rather than a twist-laden, action-heavy thriller. It’s the twelfth installment in the much-loved Wisting series, and also the first in the Cold Case Quartet, a four-book subseries focused entirely on…
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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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The Crow Girl
Read more: The Crow GirlMy rating: 5/5 stars. The Crow Girl is a dark and disturbing Nordic Noir crime fiction/psychological thriller novel by Erik Axl Sund, the pen name of Swedish author duo Jerker Eriksson and Hakan Axlander Sundquist. Originally published in Sweden as a trilogy (The Crow Girl in 2010, Hunger Fire in 2011, and Pythia’s Instructions in…
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The Family Experiment
Read more: The Family ExperimentMy rating: 4/5 stars. The Family Experiment is another fast-paced, thought-provoking thriller from John Marrs that blends speculative fiction with his signature twisty plotting. Set in the same near-future universe as The One and The Passengers, this story explores the dark edges of technological advancement, where AI appears to be improving lives, but beneath the…
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The Death Watcher – Robert Hunter Series #13
Read more: The Death Watcher – Robert Hunter Series #13My rating: 4/5 stars. The Death Watcher by Chris Carter marks the 13th entry in the Robert Hunter series, and once again, Carter proves he’s a master of dark, graphic, and psychologically intense serial killer thrillers. I tend to reach for these books when I want something chilling yet oddly comforting thanks to Carter’s reliably…
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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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The 7 1/2 Deaths Of Evelyn Hardcastle
Read more: The 7 1/2 Deaths Of Evelyn HardcastleMy rating: 4/5 stars. The 7 1/2 Deaths Of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton is a mind-blowing and complex mystery with an intriguing sci-fi twist. After thoroughly enjoying The Last Murder at the End of the World, I’m glad I was finally able to dive into Turton’s debut novel, and what a ride it was!…
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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 Cracked Mirror
Read more: The Cracked MirrorMy rating: 5/5 stars. The Cracked Mirror by Chris Brookmyre is a delightful blend of cozy mystery and action thriller, and I absolutely loved it! Brookmyre’s sharp wit and clever storytelling were completely addictive, and I breezed through this hefty novel in just two days. In the hands of a less capable writer, this multi-layered…
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The Puppet Master – Major Crimes Series #3
Read more: The Puppet Master – Major Crimes Series #3My rating: 3.5/5 stars. The Puppet Master by Sam Holland is the third installment in the Major Crimes series. While I was captivated by The Echo Man and thoroughly enjoyed The Twenty, this entry didn’t quite deliver the same level of thrills or intricate police procedural elements I’ve come to expect. It felt more like…
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The Twenty – Major Crimes Series #2
Read more: The Twenty – Major Crimes Series #2My rating: 4/5 stars. Sam Holland’s The Twenty, is the second book in the Major Crimes series, and delivers a dark, gripping police procedural that kept me hooked from start to finish. While it doesn’t quite reach the heights of her debut, The Echo Man, it’s still a thoroughly entertaining serial killer thriller and a…
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An Honest Man
Read more: An Honest ManMy rating: 4/5 stars. An Honest Man is an excellent suspense novel by Michael Koryta. While I wouldn’t consider it a thriller, the storyline has everything I look for in crime fiction: a gripping story, depth that doesn’t drag down the pace, and a sense of place so vivid it almost feels like you’re there.…
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The Swimmer
Read more: The SwimmerMy rating: 3/5 stars. Loreth Anne White’s The Swimmer is a psychological thriller that, while entertaining, didn’t quite hit the mark for me. My favorite novel by White remains The Patient’s Secret, and I’ve yet to find another work of hers that matches its depth of character and story development.
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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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Leave No Trace – Kat & Lock #2
Read more: Leave No Trace – Kat & Lock #2My rating: 4/5 stars. Leave No Trace by Jo Callaghan Jo Callaghan is the second book in the Kat & Lock series, and after thoroughly enjoying the first novel, I was excited to dive into this one over the weekend. In this latest installment, DCS Kat Frank and AIDE (Artificially Intelligent Detective Entity) Lock are…
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Gone Too Far – Devlin & Falco #2
Read more: Gone Too Far – Devlin & Falco #2My rating: 4/5 stars. Gone Too Far is another twisty, fast-paced crime thriller by Debra Webb. While it may not be a gritty, hard-hitting portrayal of crime, I thoroughly enjoyed reading the various threads of three intense storylines come together by the end of the novel. Kudos to Webb for her creativity and skill in…
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Trust No One – Devlin & Falco #1
Read more: Trust No One – Devlin & Falco #1My rating: 4/5 stars. Trust No One by Debra Webb is a fun, entertaining crime thriller and one I thoroughly enjoyed reading. As a fan of police procedurals, I was eager to dive into this new series, and it did not disappoint. In Trust No One (and trust me, you definitely can’t trust anyone in…
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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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Shadowheart – UNSUB #3
Read more: Shadowheart – UNSUB #3My rating: 4/5 stars. Shadowheart, the fourth installment in the UNSUB series, delivers another gripping police procedural from Meg Gardiner. One of the things I love about Gardiner’s writing is that every word matters—there’s no fluff, no unnecessary tangents, just a sharp, dark, well-crafted story. Her style is gritty, smart, and packed with meticulously researched…
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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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The Lies I Tell
Read more: The Lies I TellMy rating: 4/5 stars. The Lies I Tell is a twisty, fast-paced thriller that kept me hooked from start to finish. If you’ve read The Last Flight, you know Clark has a knack for writing strong, complex female protagonists – flawed yet fierce, intelligent, and determined no matter what life throws at them. This novel…
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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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The Last Flight
Read more: The Last FlightMy rating: 5/5 stars. The Last Flight by Julie Clark is more than a mystery or thriller. The narrative is an emotional, thought provoking, and moving story that blends suspense with powerful women’s fiction. What really made this one stand out for me was the way Clark brought the characters to life. They are believable…
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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 Mountain King – Asker Series #1
Read more: The Mountain King – Asker Series #1My rating: 4/5 stars. The Mountain King by Anders de la Motte is a Nordic Noir crime novel and the first book in the Asker series. This was my first time reading de la Motte, and I’m already excited for the next installment coming later this year. The story is expertly crafted – there’s a…
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The Plot
Read more: The PlotMy rating: 3/5 stars. The Plot by Jean Hanff Korelitz is a psychological thriller with a clever setup. When I heard it had a story-within-a-story framework, I was immediately intrigued. I’d seen so many great reviews and was excited to dive in over the weekend. While the concept is fascinating, I found the first part…
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The Dark Corners Of The Night – UNSUB #2
Read more: The Dark Corners Of The Night – UNSUB #2My rating: 5/5 stars. The Dark Corners Of The Night is the third installment in the UNSUB series and another top-notch police procedural crime fiction novel by Meg Gardiner. She’s a brilliant writer, and this one is easily my favorite in the series so far. Gardiner’s writing is sharp, gritty, and smart, and the police…
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Night Will Find You
Read more: Night Will Find YouMy rating: 4/5 stars. Night Will Find You is the second Julia Heaberlin novel I’ve read, and I’m officially hooked on her dark, complex, and emotional storytelling. She has an incredible way of creating flawed, deeply human characters that linger in my mind long after I’ve finished the book. This one’s another slow-burn suspense that…
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We Are All The Same In The Dark
Read more: We Are All The Same In The DarkMy rating: 4.5/5 stars. We Are All The Same In The Dark by Julia Heaberlin is an unforgettable crime fiction novel that completely pulled me in. It’s a chilling, slow-burn mystery centered around three women – one who’s been missing for a decade, one who’s found on the side of the road, mute, and surrounded…
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Into The Black Nowhere – UNSUB #2
Read more: Into The Black Nowhere – UNSUB #2My rating: 4/5 stars. Into The Black Nowhere is the second installment in the UNSUB series and another top-notch police procedural crime fiction novel by Meg Gardiner. Gardiner’s writing is sharp, intelligent, and full of detail—I’ve definitely become a big fan! This one had a different structure and intensity compared to UNSUB, but that’s not…
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Under The Storm – Hallandssviten #1
Read more: Under The Storm – Hallandssviten #1My rating: 4/5 stars. Under The Storm by Christoffer Carlsson is the first installment in this Nordic Noir, crime fiction series. It’s the first novel I’ve read by Carlsson and definitely won’t be my last. This story is exceptionally well-written and complex, and I was quickly drawn into its brooding, melancholic atmosphere. It captures everything…
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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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UNSUB
Read more: UNSUBMy rating: 4.5/5 stars. UNSUB by Meg Gardiner is a gripping, smartly written, and atmospheric police procedural that drew me in from the start. It’s gritty, dark, and packed with tension, keeping the action nonstop from beginning to end. Gardiner’s writing is sharp and to the point, there’s no wasted words, just pure adrenaline. While…
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Cat and Mouse
Read more: Cat and MouseMy rating: 4/5 stars. Cat and Mouse by MJ Arlidge is the 11th novel in the Helen Grace series. Dark, brutal, and packed with tension, Arlidge has delivered another well-written and thrilling police procedural. Helen Grace remains one of the most compelling investigators in crime fiction, and I was eager to dive into this installment.…
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Redemption
Read more: RedemptionMy rating: 4/5 stars. Redemption by Jack Jordan is an emotional rollercoaster of a crime thriller, packed with nonstop action from start to finish. It’s a moving story that begins with loss, grief, and retribution but gradually shifts into one of resilience and redemption. I’ll admit, I had mixed feelings about it at first, but…
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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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In The Blink Of An Eye
Read more: In The Blink Of An EyeMy rating: 4.5/5 stars. In The Blink Of An Eye is an exciting, brilliantly written, and thought-provoking debut crime fiction novel by Jo Callaghan. The plot is intricate and layered, with deeply emotional and well-crafted characters. Callaghan’s expertise in AI shines throughout, adding authenticity and a fresh perspective to the story. While the central investigation…
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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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What Happened To Nina?
Read more: What Happened To Nina?My rating: 4.5/5 stars. What Happened To Nina? by Dervla McTiernan is a gripping thriller that I found almost impossible to put down. It immediately grabbed my attention, and I cleared my calendar for the day so I could read it in one sitting. This isn’t your typical whodunit thriller or police procedural. Rather, it’s…
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Long Time Gone
Read more: Long Time GoneMy rating: 3/5 stars. Long Time Gone by Charlie Donlea is a mystery thriller that immediately captured my attention. The premise is compelling, blending forensic pathology, familial genealogy, a missing child, and a likable protagonist, setting the stage for a promising start. While the novel is a fast-paced read, I felt the storyline and characters…
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Ten Seconds – Ben Harper #3
Read more: Ten Seconds – Ben Harper #3My rating: 4/5 stars. Ten Seconds by Robert Gold is the 3rd installment in the Ben Harper series, and though it’s my first time diving into this series, I found it easy to enjoy as a standalone. The opening chapters skillfully introduce the characters and weave together multiple subplots that later intertwine to form the…
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Everyone In My Family Has Killed Someone
Read more: Everyone In My Family Has Killed SomeoneMy rating: 4.5/5 stars. Everyone In My Family Has Killed Someone is a suspense thriller by Benjamin Stevenson. Wow! I chose this book based on the title, and I was surprised in all of the best ways. The narrative is clever, witty, engaging, and incredibly entertaining.
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The Innocent One
Read more: The Innocent OneMy rating: 3/5 stars. The Innocent One is a crime/suspense novel by Lisa Ballantyne. I was surprised to learn that it is a sequel to The Guilty One, Ballantyne’s debut novel published in 2012. The two books are interconnected, and Ballantyne skillfully provides sufficient backstory from the first book, making The Innocent One easy to…
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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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The Mysterious Case Of The Alperton Angels
Read more: The Mysterious Case Of The Alperton AngelsMy rating: 5/5 stars. The Mysterious Case Of The Alperton Angels by Janice Hallett is a gripping crime fiction suspense novel that took me by surprise in all the best ways. With its intricate plot, complex layers, multiple timelines, and a cast of compelling characters, it presents a tantalizing puzzle waiting to be unraveled. Hallett…
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The Unquiet Bones
Read more: The Unquiet BonesMy rating: 3/5 stars. The Unquiet Bones is a crime fiction/mystery novel by Loreth Anne White. The true highlight of the story lies in its intricate forensic anthropology details, centered around the discovery of a body during the excavation of a site in a small community near Vancouver, British Columbia. From the moment the body…
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The Patient’s Secret
Read more: The Patient’s SecretMy rating: 4.5/5 stars. The Patient’s Secret by Loreth Anne White is a crime fiction/psychological thriller inspired by a shocking true crime that occurred in a quiet neighborhood in the Canadian prairies. Skillfully written, this chilling novel captivates from the very first page and maintains its intensity throughout. White expertly crafts an intricate web of…
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Two Nights In Lisbon
Read more: Two Nights In LisbonMy rating: 4/5 stars. Two Nights In Lisbon by Chris Pavone is a smart, rollercoaster ride of a thriller that held my attention from start to finish. Pavone excels in character development, and while I had my suspicions about the direction of the story, a few twists near the end genuinely surprised me. The Lisbon…
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Close to Death – Hawthorne & Horowitz #5
Read more: Close to Death – Hawthorne & Horowitz #5My rating: 3.5/5 stars. Close to Death is the fifth installment in the Hawthorne & Horowitz series by Anthony Horowitz. Since I haven’t read the earlier books, my review focuses on this novel as a standalone. Horowitz has been on my list of authors to read for a while, and I was eager to dive…
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Shadow Sands – Kate Marshall Series #2
Read more: Shadow Sands – Kate Marshall Series #2My rating: 3/5 stars. Shadow Sands by Robert Bryndza is the 2nd installment in the Kate Marshall series. It’s a decent thriller and a good choice if you’re in the mood for a serial killer story that’s less graphic than many popular series. While Bryndza’s writing is strong, I find it hard to rate this…
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Genesis – Robert Hunter Series #12
Read more: Genesis – Robert Hunter Series #12My rating: 3.5/5 stars. Genesis by Chris Carter is the 12th installment in the Robert Hunter series. I reach for these novels when I’m in the mood for a dark, intense, and graphically detailed serial killer story—one that’s oddly comforting thanks to Carter’s distinctive style. While the narrative structure tends to follow a familiar pattern,…
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Who To Believe
Read more: Who To BelieveMy rating: 3.5/5 stars. Who To Believe is an entertaining and fun psychological thriller. At just 320 pages, it’s a quick and engrossing read that’s easy to finish in one sitting. The story unfolds through multiple points of view, including a unique perspective from a dog in the final chapter. But who among them is…
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Chain-Gang All-Stars
Read more: Chain-Gang All-StarsMy rating: 3.5/5 stars. Chain-Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah is a dystopian science fiction novel, one of my favorite genres. After reading the synopsis, I was eager to dive into the author’s imaginative world. The story begins with a bang—dark, gritty, and immediately captivating. Adjei-Brenyah clearly has a powerful message, using fiction as a…
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The Last Murder At The End Of The World
Read more: The Last Murder At The End Of The WorldMy rating: 4/5 stars. The Last Murder At The End Of The World is the first book I’ve read by Stuart Turton. This novel blends post-apocalyptic science fiction with a crime thriller – a cross-genre mix I absolutely love – and after reading the synopsis, I couldn’t wait to dive in. The story is a…
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A Cold Trail – Tracy Crosswhite Series #7
Read more: A Cold Trail – Tracy Crosswhite Series #7My rating: 4.5/5 stars: A Cold Trail by Robert Dugoni is the 7th installment in the Tracy Crosswhite series and once again, I find myself eagerly diving in! I seem to say this with every Dugoni book I read, but it’s true — he consistently delivers a smart, well-crafted, and utterly engrossing novel. Over time,…
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This Is Why We Lied- Will Trent Series #12
Read more: This Is Why We Lied- Will Trent Series #12My rating: 4.5/5 stars. This Is Why We Lied is the 12th installment in the Will Trent series from Karin Slaughter. Reading it was a bittersweet experience—I was thrilled to immerse myself in another story, yet a bit wistful knowing it’s the latest novel in the series. Give me a story set in a remote…
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After That Night – Will Trent Series #11
Read more: After That Night – Will Trent Series #11My rating: 4/5 stars. After That Night is the 11th installment in the Will Trent series from Karin Slaughter. Slaughter is undeniably a fantastic storyteller and her novels are intense, dark, and gripping. While this wasn’t my favorite in the series, it’s still a hard-hitting police procedural and advances the overarching character backstories. It took…
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A Steep Price – Tracy Crosswhite Series #6
Read more: A Steep Price – Tracy Crosswhite Series #6My rating: 4/5 stars. A Steep Price by Robert Dugoni is the sixth installment in the Tracy Crosswhite series. Once again, Dugoni delivers an engaging, well-written and meticulously plotted police procedural novel. This series has always been a favorite of mine, largely due to its realistic character development and layered storylines. Dugoni is an expert…
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The Silent Wife – Will Trent Series #10
Read more: The Silent Wife – Will Trent Series #10My rating: 4/5 stars. The Silent Wife is the 10th installment in the Will Trent series and is yet another impressive addition. Over the years, I’ve followed the series, and each new book feels like reconnecting with old friends, uncovering more about their lives. Although I haven’t read the Grant County series, I found it…
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The Last House on Needless Street
Read more: The Last House on Needless StreetMy rating: 4.5/5 stars. The Last House On Needless Street, a chilling psychological thriller by Catriona Ward, is a uniquely strange, gripping, and engrossing read. Early on, I developed a theory about where it was going—soon to realize I only had part of the picture. I’ll refrain from sharing too much of the plot since…
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The Best Lies
Read more: The Best LiesMy rating: 4/5 stars.The Best Lies by David Ellis is an engaging and entertaining psychological thriller. If you enjoy stories about spies, undercover agents, corporate espionage, national security, the black market, and characters with questionable ethics yet unwavering loyalty, this twist-filled novel will be right up your alley. Though the plot has its imperfections, it…
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Lies He Told Me
Read more: Lies He Told MeMy rating: 4/5 stars. Lies He Told Me is a psychological thriller by David Ellis and James Patterson. I haven’t read many of Patterson’s books, but Ellis is on my list of must-read authors. I was excited to dive into this book over the weekend and it absolutely did not disappoint. Ellis and Patterson are…
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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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The Return Of Ellie Black
Read more: The Return Of Ellie BlackMy rating: 3.5/5 stars. The Return Of Ellie Black by Emiko Jean is a blend of police procedural and psychological thriller. This character-driven story explores themes of exploitation and victimization of women. Although the plot didn’t align entirely with my expectations based on the synopsis, it was a compelling read and Jean’s writing is straightforward…
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Nuclear War
Read more: Nuclear WarMy rating: 5/5 stars. Nuclear War is absolutely terrifying! Jacobsen makes it clear—there’s no such thing as a limited or winnable nuclear war. Just one misunderstanding, one malfunction, one madman, or one mistake could trigger the end. While I’m glad I read it, this is a story that will haunt me for a long time.
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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,…
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Written in Blood
Read more: Written in BloodMy rating: 4/5 stars. Written In Blood by Chris Carter by Chris Carter is a dark, intense, and heart-pounding thriller that delivers a frantic adrenaline rush from start to finish. I was hooked from the beginning, drawn into a story centered on what initially seems to be a mentally unstable serial killer—someone who has operated…
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Chasing the Boogeyman
Read more: Chasing the BoogeymanMy rating: 3/5 stars. Chasing the Boogeyman by Richard Chizmar is is labeled as a horror crime thriller, but to me, it feels more like a memoir blended with a fictional serial killer narrative. The novel’s structure is intriguing, resembling a true crime book, yet framed as a horror novel, I felt like I was…
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Look Closer
Read more: Look CloserMy rating: 4/5 stars. The psychological thriller, Look Closer, is the first book I’ve read by David Ellis. It was a wickedly entertaining read! The story is packed with unreliable, scheming, and backstabbing characters, all caught in a web of deceit. Ellis’s sharp writing and cleverly executed twists, paired with scandalous moments, made for an…
Mugs & Manuscripts 