March 2023

March 22, 2023March 14, 2023

The Slumber Party-Hollinger-Psych Thriller-Available Now

The Slumber Party by Shannon Hollinger is the type of psych thriller that you expect to be one thing but instead goes in a totally unexpected direction.

I loved 95% of it! (I’ll get to that 5% in a bit).

I really liked how the author set everything up. We know that there are/were four close friends. And we also know that something happened during their senior year that split them apart.

We also know that the main character, Liz, has been expecting another shoe to drop for a long time – all going back to whatever happened during their senior year.

What follows from the setup is a twisty tale of love, friendship, teenage hormones and angst, and a look at how the evilest people can be the best at hiding it.

(For what it’s worth if you need a trigger warning, there are predatory and grooming themes in this story).

The Slumber Party psych thriller blog tour — **Buy Link:** https://geni.us/B0BNLF5YQ8social

The writing is extremely atmospheric, as the author paints vivid pictures with detail of surroundings and interactions. By the way, mood plays a big part in the story.

This review is a little difficult to write because there are a LOT of twists, and it would be easy to accidentally let something slip if I talk too much about the plot. Suffice it to say that it is a page-turner that kept me intrigued.

I did guess at one big twist fairly early on, but there were still several that the author had hidden, which I appreciate. As I said, I really enjoyed most of it.

The 5% that I didn’t get – Francine. I understand part of her role in everything, but there are a few things that did not seem complete. Maybe it just went by me, but I definitely feel like I missed something.

No matter, though, because The Slumber Party is still an excellent psych thriller that I can highly recommend. And I will look forward to the next book from Shannon Hollinger.

Shannon Hollinger The Slumber Party author

March 21, 2023March 11, 2023

Second Wives-Baldwin-Psych Thriller-Available Now

I was intrigued by the blurb for Second Wives, a new psych thriller by Carey Baldwin. While there is a lot going on in this story, I mostly enjoyed it.

As with many a psych thriller, there is a prologue that gets the readers’ curiosity going. I do like it when it isn’t clear as to whether the prologue is in the past or something that will happen in the course of the story.

I’m not going to tell you which one it is in this case.

The setup itself is different. It makes for a lot of awkwardness among characters which naturally feeds the psych part of the psych thriller. Who is authentic? Who is putting up a front? Which character is lying…or are several hiding secrets?

While it makes for many of those types of questions, it also makes it difficult to know who is trustworthy in their narration.

Second Wives psych thriller blog tour — KINDLE UNLIMITED: https://geni.us/B0BSNR84JHsocial

For example, Charity seems too good to be true. And her inner monologues prove that she usually has an ulterior motive for being as nice as she is. Her competition with Brigid is understandable, but it clouds the waters.

Their character development is interesting. as it becomes clear that the two women have more in common than it would appear.

One thing I did struggle with is the sheer number of events that occurred throughout the plot. I get that it is a psych thriller, so the author needs to keep the reader on their toes. It feels like not enough is done to lay the groundwork for the ultimate reveal.

Yes, there are definitely some jaw-drop moments, and the author did surprise more than a few times. But I feel like there are not enough “connect the dots” moments – almost like the author had so many ideas but not a clear path to integrating all of them.

And I did not like the epilogue at all. That felt forced. However, I did enjoy Second Wives. Carey Baldwin certainly kept me guessing, and I suppose that’s what I ultimately want out of a psych thriller.

March 19, 2023March 19, 2023

One Last Secret-Parks-Thriller-Available Now

One Last Secret by Adele Parks

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

One Last Secret by Adele Parks took me on quite a ride. I didn’t know what to expect at any given time, and I like that in a thriller. In fact, I usually don’t like super-gonzo twists, but in this case, the ones that occurred were just plausible enough to keep them from being too over-the-top. Dora was an interesting character, hardened by life but still caring enough to help a friend out – at her own peril. The author carefully chooses when to reveal another piece of Dora’s puzzle so that it coincides with what is occurring in the present narrative.

I didn’t really guess any of the twists (except for what was going on at the chateau – and even then, I was only partially right). The last third of the book – where everything starts to come together – was definitely a roller coaster. I didn’t know what to expect at any given point, and (as I mentioned) the twists were just believable enough to be entertaining. I would definitely recommend One Last Secret and will continue to look for more from Adele Parks. This review was written based on a digital copy of the book from MIRA. For more reviews, please visit Fireflies and Free Kicks Fiction Reviews

March 13, 2023March 13, 2023

Gone Tonight-Pekkanen-Thriller-Coming in August

When I started reading Gone Tonight, the new thriller by Sarah Pekkanen, I thought that the story was going to be completely different than what it actually turned out to be.

I assumed it was going to be a mother/daughter story detailing a mother’s declining health. Maybe some psychological twists along the way.

What it was instead was a story of resilience, deceit, and a little bit of farfetched mayhem.

All of it made for a good story that kept me guessing.

I particularly liked how the author took the reader along with Catherine through her journey with her mom, Ruth. Then there is a transition before focusing more on Ruth’s point of view.

The switch is gradual, so it is not jarring. In fact, I really didn’t even register it until I began writing this review. It was sly and very effective.

Gone Tonight Sarah Pekkanen thriller book cover

I don’t want to give plot points away. There are enough subtle twists (along with bigger ones) that can easily be identified. And that would ruin the carefully planned surprises.

The way Ruth’s story unfolds was realistic. If someone has a deep, dark secret hidden for many years, it isn’t easy to reveal it. The way the reader learns Ruth’s history leads to the gut-wrenching impact of a formative event.

This reveal is written in a way that totally takes the reader by surprise, both in its intensity and ferocity. It also lays a foundation for why Ruth does not want her secret to be known. Even by her own daughter. Because, reasons.

While there were some moments that required a suspension of disbelief, I thought that it all wrapped up neatly. Well, not exactly. Because the author wisely leaves both Ruth and Catherine’s futures open to interpretation.

And that’s life. Even if one problem is resolved, that doesn’t mean life is smooth sailing. In fact, there may be more questions that arise.

That’s all I’m going to say about that (before I DO start to give things away).

Sarah Pekkanen is one of my favorite authors. Gone Tonight is the kind of thriller that keeps me coming back for more of her work.

March 8, 2023March 4, 2023

The Surgeon-Wolfe-Psych Thriller-Available Now

I love a cinematic psych thriller – one that I can picture as a tv episode or movie – and The Surgeon by Leslie Wolfe fits the bill perfectly!

I was drawn in from the beginning and stayed up late (really late), turning pages to find out how everything in the intricate plot fit together.

And while I did guess a couple of connections early on, I didn’t catch a big one. Overall, it didn’t matter, though, because even though I was right, I still didn’t know how it all related.

Without giving anything away, motives play a big part in the plot. But if you think you know what a character’s motive is, you probably are wrong. The author does a great job of giving the reader enough to form opinions but withholds little bits that ultimately lead to the truth.

Did I mention I love that?

**Buy link(s)**
Amazon: https://geni.us/B0BRSZDSR7social
Audible: UK: http://ow.ly/oubi50N4s1r
US: http://ow.ly/UcO450N4s1q
Listen here: http://ow.ly/qaOR50N4s1p

The setup, a heart surgeon with a secret and an ambitious ASA with an axe to grind, was also intriguing. I kept picturing an episode of “The Wire” or “Law & Order.”,

The main characters, Anne and Paula, were clear and fully realized. I got a feeling for both of them through their actions and words.

If I had to pick at anything, it would be Anne’s obsession over what happened during the operation. I can understand that a good surgeon would want to know exactly why something occurred, but it became a bit repetitive.

Also, I don’t think Derreck was as fleshed out as the women. We know about his ambition because we are told about it, but I didn’t see it from him. He seems to be more of a pawn in the story instead of an equal character. Maybe that is the point.

The Surgeon had everything I enjoy in a psych thriller: compelling main characters, hidden agendas, long-held secrets, and surprise twists. Leslie Wolfe has been added to my one-click author list.