Category: Thriller

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Fiction Thriller

The Playground, Michelle Frances

In an attempt to escape her old life, Nancy and her ten year old daughter Lara move to Ripton. A beautiful, quiet village in the Derbyshire countryside- perfect for a fresh start.

Everything seems like it’ll be perfect, Nancy now lives closer to her best friend Beth who is an incredible source of support, the fresh countryside air is better for Lara’s asthma than the city polluted air they lived amongst before, and the new house is what one could only dream of.

However, when Lara starts her new school, Nancy quickly finds that beneath the quaint village atmosphere is a minefield of playground politics and if you think the children are bad at school, the mothers are another level!

I absolutely love books by Michelle Frances and so was thrilled when I got the chance to read The Playground. I really enjoyed the setting – as I remember my own mum complaining about ‘playground politics’ and it is an area I haven’t seen crop up in many other thrillers. Whilst it may appear a bit of a mundane setting- it is so relatable to many and was intriguing to see how something which appears so pedantic can become so nasty and vicious.

The book is written in really short chapters. This worked incredibly well as it gave the story a fast and sharp pace which are key for a thriller, and it also meant I could not stop turning the pages – ”Just one more chapter- they’re short!’ I also liked the added addition of the WhatsApp group messages, which helped amplify the story.

There are lots of characters in the book and at first I feared I would not be able to keep up. However, the characters and their stories all intertwine and the character development is spot on. There are some you grow to love, some you hate, and some you feel sorry for- they are all incredibly realistic.

Overall, a very absorbing read, I could not put it down- 5 stars.

Thank you NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. The Playground is out now!

Categories
Fiction Thriller

The Doctor, Annie Payne

Ready for a clean break, Dr Alison Wilson has moved from London to a small seaside town to take up a new a post as Medical Director at failing hospital, St Margaret’s.

With a higher-than-average fatality rate Alison is tasked to turn things around – a challenge she is keen to get her teeth into- but the odds are not in her favour and some of those factors are far darker than she could have even possibly imagined.

The Doctor is a fast-paced medical thriller. The hospital setting made it different to many other thrillers I have read before, and it was evident the author knew what she was talking about (having worked in the NHS herself) and therefore the details were spot on.  I found the start slightly slow but once the suspense started building, I couldn’t get through the pages fast enough as I was so eager to find out who was behind everything.

Th characters in the book were very well developed–from the main protagonist herself right to the extras in the story- I could imagine each and everyone of them and emphasise with the emotions they were feeling.

One thing I found confusing was that the narrative of the suspect was added at the end of some chapters and there was a lack of differentiation which meant I sometimes had to go back and re-read it in the correct context. This may be clearer in a printed version but on Kindle it was just a new paragraph in the same font.

Overall four stars. A great medical mystery.

With thanks to NetGalley and Avon for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. The Doctor is out on Thursday 25th May 2023.

Categories
Fiction Thriller

Little Ghosts, Gregg Dunnett

One moment Rachel’s daughter Layla was waiting in line at the beach for an ice cream, the next she was gone.

It’s two years on and still no one has been charged with Layla’s murder. The police have searched tirelessly but have found nothing.

Understandably Layla’s younger brother Gale is struggling. He’s secretive and keeps staring past his mother at something he can’t see. And then one day he tells Rachel, ‘I know who killed Layla’, ‘she told me.’

Will the family finally get justice?

Having never read anything by Gregg Dunnett before, I started reading this book with no expectations and was surprisingly very quickly gripped. This is not just your average psychological murder mystery; the supernatural element makes it refreshingly different from anything I have read before and yet is small enough to make the story authentic.

The twists in this book make it a thrilling read. Without giving away any spoilers- there is one particular twist in part 2 which I never saw coming in a million years and from here on I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough to find out what happens.

I thought the portrayal of grief and the aftermath of what had happened was well executed- the differing opinions between parents on where to go next, the pressure on different relationships and the mollycoddling of their only living child- really emphasised how trauma and grief causes a tidal wave through every aspect of a family and their life. The relationship between the two siblings was also beautifully depicted and added even more emotion to such a sad storyline.

Overall an emotional rollercoaster of a read; an exhilarating thriller with a supernatural twist. Five stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Little Ghosts is published tomorrow!

Categories
Fiction Thriller

The Bride To Be, Daniel Hurst

Kate is getting married and whilst it should be an exciting time she is having some serious doubts about her finance Mark and the way he  psychologically mistreats her.

Whilst shopping for her wedding dress, Kate spots a ridiculously happy couple- she wonders why her and Mark are not just like them and becomes infatuated by them.

However, as Kate’s obsession leads to her finding out more and more about this couple- are they really as perfect as they seem? Or will she uncover some deep dark secrets?

As a crime fiction thriller lover who is also a bride to be in less than 8 weeks there was no way I was passing up a chance to read The Bride To Be. I’ve not read a crime fiction thriller which surrounds a wedding before so I have to say  so it was great to read a book with this premise.

The  short chapters written by the author really gave the book a nice fast paced which meant I couldn’t stop turning the pages and got through it very quickly.

I wasn’t a lover of the characters- their actions weren’t always believable but then again neither was the storyline, despite this I enjoyed the overall plot of the story and the suspense maintained throughout the book. 

Overall, four stars! If you liked the ‘Girl on the Train’ then you are sure to enjoy this as I could definitely draw upon some similarities.

Thank you NetGalley and Inkubator Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. The Bride To Be is out on the 7th May 2023.

Categories
Fiction Thriller

Murder in the Family, Cara Hunter

In December 2003, Luke Ryder was found dead in the garden of his family home in London, leaving behind his wealthy older widow and three stepchildren. No one was charged.

It’s now twenty years later and the case is being re-examined by a team of experts as part of a true crime series- but do those involved in the show know more than they are letting on or does the truth lie closer to home?

Murder in the Family is Cara Hunter’s first standalone novel and seeing as I absolutely love the DI Fawley series, I was excited to read this thriller.

The book is written in a script format, which I found off-putting initially, however I soon got used to it and by the time I finished I appreciated it for being different. You experience the story as a viewer would with each chapter marking an episode of the series and ending with reviews, emails, messages, and online discussions (the latter was impossible to read on Kindle format), all of which added depth to the story.

Whilst the format was different and felt modern one drawback was that it was very difficult to warm to the characters. This is because whereas in usual novels you would experience individual thoughts/emotions, the lack of narrative didn’t allow for this. As a result, I didn’t particularly think a lot of the characters- however I liked the way they all fitted into the story and thought the plot was well thought out.

As for the statement in the blurb of the book ‘the truth will blow your mind’, unfortunately I wasn’t left feeling that way. There was something at the beginning which already narrowed down my suspects so already that took many of them out of the equation. I felt like the clues were there- however on the cover of the book it does say ‘Can you solve the case before they do?’ so perhaps that was the intentions of the author for us to work it out as opposed to being shocked at the end?

Overall, whilst I enjoyed the different format of the book and the fact the mixed media made it feel modern- in terms of thrillers I have read this was very mediocre hence why I am giving it three stars.

Many thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Murder in the Family will be published on the 20th July 2023.

Categories
Fiction Thriller

Stay Buried, Kate Webb

Detective Matt Lockyer receives a call from Hedy Lambert- a woman he put inside for murder fourteen years ago. She informs him that the man she was originally accused of killing has turned up alive and well and begs him to reopen her case. Lockyer had been the one who secured Hedy’s conviction, but he never truly wanted to believe she was guilty. This new information makes him question whether he got the outcome right -is he being manipulated or was he responsible for jailing an innocent woman?

Stay Buried is a slow burning mystery which had me hooked right to the very end. There were several layers to uncover, and around half way through the momentum really steps up as we have a number of suspects lined up with potential motives. I couldn’t stop switching from one to the other and enjoyed that we kept on uncovering new things throughout.

I thought the characterisation was spot on in this book. They were all very well thought out and even some of the most annoying characters you felt sorry for, as the author told us enough about their history for us to develop an understanding of them. I have read some people thought the main protagonist was ‘boring’, but you can feel the weight he is carrying. The grief, the guilt, the responsibility; you could truly emphasise with his pain.

Themes in the book include inequalities, injustice, loyalty, grief, and one which particularly resonated with me and was delivered well was the subject of sibling loss. This related to many of the characters in the book and Kate Webb did it sensitively and realistically!

Overall, a fantastic book for thriller lovers. Pleased it is the first in the series and we will be seeing more of Detective Matt Lockyer!

Categories
Fiction Thriller

My Husband’s Killer, Laura Marshall

Liz, her husband Andrew, and their friends spend the weekend at the Amalfi Coast. By the end of the weekend Andrew is dead.

On the day of the funeral Liz discovers Andrew was having an affair, but the only suspects are the women they went on holiday with, Liz’s closest friends.

As more and more secrets begin to unravel, the question begs, was Andrew’s death really an accident?

My Husband’s Killer is fast-paced psychological thriller which is full of twists and turns. The plot is gripping and the author has a way of writing which keeps you hooked right through to the end. As soon as I saw that this book was written by Laura Marshall, I had no doubt that I would love it and I can confirm that theory was tested and proven once again.

In terms of characters, what I particularly loved about them was the fact that they had known each other a long time (since university). I felt that this added so much depth to each of them. Despite them not all being likeable it was interesting to uncover so many layers which had built up over the years and made them appear very credible.

Themes in the book included but were not limited to, friendship, love, power, class, widowhood, and grief. Some of the grief related quotes in the book really touched me and felt very authentic. It was only at the end of the book that I realised Laura Marshall herself was widowed young and she admitted to reflecting on some of her own experiences in the book. This came through sincerely.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. When I thought I had uncovered all the secrets there was more to uncover, when I thought I understood the twist it twisted again. My Husband’s Killer is a truly compelling read.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Little Brown Book UK for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. My Husband’s Killer is out on the 29th November 2022

Categories
Fiction Thriller

The Engagement, Nasheema Lennon

Victoria’s best friend Gwen is getting married, and whilst everyone seems to love the handsome and rich Michael something doesn’t sit quite right for Victoria. Not only does Michael remind her of someone she would rather forget but she is also sure he is hiding something.

As the countdown to the wedding is on, Victoria is determined to save her best friend from making a mistake, but first Victoria needs to discover what is Michael hiding?

The Engagement is Nasheema Lennon’s debut novel and what a fantastic debut it is. I was hooked and could not get through it fast enough. This was aided by the short chapters which meant I kept saying to myself ‘just one more’, as well as the fact that there was no unnecessary detail in the book- it was rapid and there was always something happening.

My only critique is there were a few leads which I would have loved to have known more about (for example, Victoria’s past) as well as characters who I felt were undeveloped and I was left questioning how they fitted into the story. However, this is just a minor critique and I still thoroughly enjoyed reading this book.

Overall, a solid four stars. This book is everything you want from a thriller- fast-paced, full of twists and turns and unpredictable.

The Engagement will be published on the 27th October. Many thanks to NetGalley & HarperNorth for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Categories
Fiction Thriller

My Darling Daughter, JP Delaney

Susie Jukes receives a message out of the blue on social media. The message is from Anna, the girl she gave up for adoption fifteen years ago.

Susie is living a very different life now to what she was living in the past. She is happily married to her husband Gabe and when Anna describes her uncomfortable home life with her adoptive parents, Susie welcomes her into her life with open arms. 

All appears perfect but is Anna covering up secrets? And does Susie have some of her own?

I have read and enjoyed books by J.P Delaney before so I was very excited to start reading this one. Told from the perspectives of three main characters, Susie, Gabe and Sky, My Darling Daughter is a fast-paced psychological thriller which will leave you on the edge of your seat.

The characters are fully dimensional and very well developed. We see them as they are now, discover about their pasts and experience every emotion with them as this journey takes them as a family on an emotional rollercoaster. They all come across as very real and complex humans. None of them are black and white which makes them easy to emphasise with and ultimately champion them.

Each chapter is short which I loved as it contributed to the fast pace of the book and made it easy to read- it was an incredibly difficult book to put down as I kept telling myself ‘just one more chapter’. 

The main theme of the book is adoption. You can tell the author did a lot of research as he really shined a light on the complexities of adoption and fostering. It was interesting to hear the perspectives of different people who have experienced the system – not only Susie, Gabe and Anna but also Anna’s adopted parents, Gabe’s friend who fosters – and understand this topic from a range of views. The detail of adoption added to the authenticity of the book. Other themes in the book include socialisation and the importance of the role of family, the #metoo movement and forgiveness and second chances.

Overall, a strong 5 stars J.P Delaney does a fantastic job of conveying difficult and traumatising topics with the upmost respect and yet tells them an exhilarating way. Many thanks to NetGalley and Quercus Books for giving allowing me to read an ARC. My Darling Daughter will be published on the 15th September 2022.

Categories
Fiction Thriller

Blood Sugar, Sascha Rothchild

When Ruby was five, she saw a boy from school drowning in the ocean. He had been making her older sister’s life hell and instead of calling for help, Ruby held his ankle down until he drowned. She waited for the guilt to kick in, but it never did.

And then she finds herself in a similar situation again. And again.

Fast forward twenty-five years and Ruby is on trial for the murder. She is shown four photos, each person deceased, and each one Ruby was in proximity of at the time of death. She is responsible for three deaths but not four… but it may be the crime she didn’t commit which will end her freedom.


Blood Sugar is an incredibly fast-paced and addictive read centred around the main protagonist Ruby. She is an animal lover, psychologist and very loyal to her family, friends, and patients and yet she has murdered three people. I have never found a murderer so likeable which shows just how well Sascha Rothchild developed her- whilst a very complex character she is completely endearing and a true reflection that life and people are not always black and white.

I found this book very different to others I read. I enjoyed the killer was female, I liked that she wasn’t who you would generally perceive as a murderer and found it interesting that the book was written from the killer’s perspective as opposed to a detective’s which is often the case in many novels of this genre.

Themes in the book include but are not limited to psychology, family, loyalty, friendships, diabetes, and death. Some of my favourite parts of the book included the references to psychology and the way we (as a society) are afraid to talk about death. 

Overall, an outstandingly fast paced dark thriller with well thought out and likeable characters. Five stars.
P.S they say never to judge a book by its cover, but just wow! Both cover and title drew me.