Day: August 6, 2022

I have read several psych thriller novels by Miranda Rijks and I am pleased to say that The Insomniac ranks up as one of her best.

I’ll be honest upfront; I’m going to have to be cagey in this review because there are a few twists that I definitely don’t want to give away. So, forgive that if it gets a little convoluted.

The premise is straightforward. Daisy suffers from insomnia. It’s so bad that she can’t concentrate and is in danger of losing her job. Then the opportunity to participate in a new treatment at a boutique spa presents itself.

And that’s where the psych thriller part kicks in.

While everything appears normal on the surface, the reader soon learns that Amity – the owner of the spa retreat – is not all that she seems. And that can mean trouble for Daisy.

But why? What is causing Daisy’s insomnia? Who is Amity really? And what’s the deal with the prologue?

Obviously, all of those questions are answered as the plot rolls along.

There are times when the psych thriller aspect is strong, especially when the author starts weaving in a few chapters from Amity’s perspective. The reader slowly learns some things…but not all.

The author ratchets up the tension through the middle of the book. There are some “locked room” qualities (in some cases literally) that add to the uncertainty that Daisy has. The reader shares those doubts.

I’d say the last third of the book is where all the really interesting stuff happens. I did correctly guess Amity’s motivation. But the author still has plenty of twists in store. In fact, some of it kind of came out of nowhere, which borders on the “suspension of disbelief.”

Fortunately, the author also walks a fine enough line that it remains a credible psych thriller. However, I will say that both the climax and the ending are very abrupt. It is almost like the author spent so much time building the tension that she had to hurry to wrap it up.

I wish there had been more build-up and the end plot line had started a bit earlier.

That being said, The Insomniac is a solid psych thriller. If you are looking for another from Miranda Rijks, I highly recommend The Influencer.  

Author Bio 

Miranda Rijks is a writer of psychological thrillers and suspense novels. She has an eclectic background ranging from law to running a garden centre. She’s been writing all of her life and has a Masters in writing. A couple of years ago she decided to ditch the business plans and press releases and now she’s living the dream, writing suspense novels full time. She lives in Sussex, England with her Dutch husband, musician daughter and black Labrador.