Book Reviews Archives

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?

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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.

February 23, 2023February 8, 2023

It’s One of Us-Ellison-Thriller-Available Now

One of the things I like to do with a book – especially a thriller – is figure out where the title fits into the story, and I love when I realize that it could apply in multiple ways. It’s One of Us by J.T. Ellison is an exemplary case of that.

I’ll admit right off the bat I had a little bit of trouble with the first part. I understand that Olivia is devastated by the personal event. But her introspection and internal narration are extensive.

Glad I did stick with it, though, because after the first few chapters, the plot really takes off, and I found myself completely drawn into the story.

There are several questions posed in this book (think, can you return to who you once were, and how long should a couple hang on to false hope), but I think the main one is nature vs. nurture.

Fitting when IVF is the main driver of the plot. And no, that’s not a spoiler. The author has a personal investment in this aspect, which lends credence and a level of seriousness to the arc.

Come to think of it, I’m pretty sure that Olivia probably has a lot of the author’s emotions and thoughts. That’s understandable.

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At any rate, the other parts of the story are what I personally found more compelling. Park is a narcissistic jerk. Scarlett is too precocious for her own good. Darby seems to be at a loss a lot of the time. But that last one is understandable too.

There are some plot points that I think are either weak. Darby’s support group is more of an afterthought, as is Scarlett’s “Halves” group. Neither one of those gets a satisfying conclusion.

And I reread the passages involving Annie Cottrell three times – still not sure exactly what happened to her. I mean, I know from the end how the person was involved – but not what caused it initially. And yeah, that’s a little cagey, so there’s no spoiler.

I also think that Lauren and Perry got the shaft. They were an afterthought in the bigger scheme of things. In fact, at one point, I thought Lauren might have had a bigger role in the thriller aspect of Annie’s situation. That would have been a cool twist and an additional facet of nature or nurture.

For the record, given my family history and experience with adoption, I find nurture to be more prevalent, but nature does have its role as well.

At any rate, It’s One of Us is a solid thriller. J.T. Ellison remains one of my one-click authors. Don’t miss this one.

February 20, 2023February 13, 2023

The Housemaid’s Secret-McFadden-Psych Thriller-Available Now

I was absolutely blown away by The Housemaid. So, I was super excited to see The Housemaid’s Secret by Freida McFadden. A sequel to one of my favorite psych thriller novels of 2022?

YES PLEASE!

I am also extremely happy to say that it does not disappoint. It’s just as good as the first book featuring Millie as the housemaid.

The author brilliantly plots the story so that you don’t have to have read the first book to enjoy this one. But you will be missing out if you don’t grab it.

You’ll get more insight into Millie, which I think adds to the story. You’ll also be able to catch sly references to the original. One of them – regarding teeth – made me literally laugh out loud. IYKYK

As to The Housemaid’s Secret, Millie has left her past behind her, but has her past left her? Are some things just innate? It’s a thought-provoking question that the author explores with a deft touch.

I love how the author sets up her plots (at least in these two stories). Part I is from Millie’s perspective; Part II is from another character (no spoiler), giving more background. Part III brings the two together in what can only be described as a shocking and highly satisfying climax and resolution.

I don’t want to give anything away. As I often mention, some books should just be read without anybody else’s opinions coloring them.

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Even if you pay careful attention to every detail (which you should because there are many hints), you’ll probably find yourself second-guessing what you think you know throughout the entire book.

For example, the prologue features an unknown person. I changed my mind at least four times about who the person was and who the person was afraid of. It was like a strange sort of mix and match in my mind.

That’s a complex way to say that the author’s writing is so good that you will keep guessing right to the very last page. The plot is extremely tight. It’s really everything you could want in a psych thriller.

If I keep going, I will give something away. Suffice it to say that The Housemaid’s Secret is already my favorite book of 2023. It’s going to be tough for any other one to beat it.

Unless it’s maybe another one from Freida McFadden!

February 18, 2023February 21, 2023

End of Story-Scott-Rom Com-Available Now

End of Story by Kylie Scott is the perfect kind of rom com where the reader knows the inevitable for the characters. The fun is watching them figure it all out. It’s not deep. It doesn’t require heavy thinking or figuring things out. It just is…and it’s lots of fun.

Sometimes characters in a rom com are unrelatable due to age. It is a talent of this author that I didn’t feel that disconnect. (Even though the characters’ ages are much younger than mine).

For example, Lars is the perfect kind of hero. Good work ethic, a strong personality, and is just an all-around great guy. My favorite part was when he stood behind Susie (both literally and figuratively) and said that he was the man who had her back.

Definitely swoon-worthy.

Then there is Susie, who is a little bit of a hot mess. But he embraced every part of her, which totally fit an “opposites attract” portion of the plot.

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If I had to complain about anything, I would say that I wish the catalyst for their relationship arc got more attention. It felt like that would figure more heavily, but then they got away from it, and it was almost forgotten.

I suppose that is the point of the entire book. Is fate pre-ordained, finite, and unmoving? Or do we control our own fates as we grapple with our pasts to create our futures? That might be a little deep for a rom com, but the sentiment is there.

A side note, I loved the scene where Aaron’s thread is resolved (no spoiler). It’s funny because I had just watched “The Wedding Singer” prior to finishing this book. I totally saw Aaron as Glen (Julia’s smarmy fiancé). The whole scene was easy for me to picture.

Oh, and if you’ve read the book also, you’ll know the point of the cat. Or at least you should know. It’s pretty obvious and ties back to that catalyst (no pun intended) I mentioned earlier.

End of Story provided the perfect antidote to the multiple psych thrillers I have read lately. Kylie Scott has written a charming rom com, and I can’t wait to read more from her.

February 8, 2023January 16, 2023

The Suspect-Croft-Thriller-Available Now

The Suspect by Kathryn Croft is a thriller that does just enough to make it a page-turner. I read it in one sitting.

Jess was only two when her mother Lori was killed, and Jess has spent her entire life believing one person was responsible.

However, when that person shows up years later professing their innocence, Jess has questions. This sets her off on a mission to uncover the truth.

I liked Jess. I could understand both her desire and reluctance to learn the truth. Her actions and reactions felt realistic, and I could see myself making some of the same decisions that she did.

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I also liked the way the plot unfolded. Interspersing Lori’s experiences leading up to her death gave insight into her frame of mind, which gave the reader an interesting perspective to bring into the current timeline with Jess.

Even the secondary characters served their purposes, especially in Lori’s case. Her family…well, they must be experienced to be believed.

While I thought that the truth was obvious, I was surprised to learn that I was only partially correct. The author did just enough to keep me guessing throughout, changing my mind about the guilty party numerous times.

And even when you think you’ve figured everything out and the author has wrapped everything up – there’s still another twist to come.

I really enjoyed The Suspect and will be eagerly waiting for the next thriller from Kathryn Croft.

January 29, 2023January 29, 2023

The Soulmate-Hepworth-Psych Thriller-Coming Soon

Sally Hepworth has written a heckuva psych thriller with The Soulmate. Just when you think you know what is going on, you most definitely don’t.

Pippa and her husband, Gabe, own a house by a popular cliff. Unfortunately, it is popular for people who want to jump off of it. The setting is almost as important as the characters.

The story unfolds from two perspectives, Pippa’s and Amanda’s. The latter’s chapters are…unique. I’m not going to give away why, but it is one of the more clever plot threads I’ve read in recent memory.

The action jumps between Pippa and Amanda (and “now” and “then” for each of them), but it is never confusing. In fact, the author does a great job of keeping the action moving even though it is not linear.

This is partly helped by how each character often drops a hint at the end of the preceding chapter before the action shifts to another time period.

I also liked that it was ambiguous about who the soulmate was to whom. Each woman had their own opinion on the matter, and each believes in their version of love and commitment. But it turns out only one of them is correct.

Without giving anything away, the author also tackled a very sensitive subject (mental health) with respect. And it weaves into the plot in important ways that are slowly revealed over the course of the book.

I was up late reading The Soulmate. It is the kind of psych thriller that you can lose yourself in. Sally Hepworth continues to write books that I can’t wait to read.

This review was written based on a digital copy of the book from St. Martin’s Press.

NOTE: This book releases on April 4, 2023.

For more reviews like this, please visit Fireflies and Free Kicks.

January 26, 2023January 24, 2023

The In-Laws-Wolfe-Psych Thriller-Available Now

The In-Laws by Laura Wolfe is a psych thriller that feels like two stories mashed into one at times.

I think part of the reason for that is the title. There are also some plot points that feel inconsistent. But more on those later.

The initial premise is good. Two people getting married, their parents didn’t get along at an initial meeting, so they’re trying a team-building trip to break the ice.

Camping would not be my first choice for this, but it turns out that Abigail has reasons for pushing the method.

I liked most of the camping/wilderness survival plot points in the book. I thought the author did a good job with them and created enough distrust among the characters that the reader felt naturally suspicious as well.

Some of the interactions, however, did not seem realistic. It was like the author was trying too hard to make a character unlikeable. At one point, I even thought, “Really? Who actually talks that way?”

I suppose it was a way to build the “psych” part of the psych thriller (like, could someone really be that awful?), and I suppose in the bigger picture, it serves as background for later events.

Because it turns out that everyone on this trip has secrets. Some are worse than others, but nobody is unscathed. The way that the secrets are revealed mostly works. I definitely did not guess all of the twists and secrets that were hidden throughout.

However, there are also points that felt less like red herrings and more like forgotten moments. For example, the author has the in-laws, Darla and Kenny, exchanging looks quite often. Unless I missed it entirely, it was never clear what those glances meant.

I mean, there were hints, and I think I figured it out, but it wasn’t as clear as it could have been.

The pacing was also a bit lopsided. Nearly three-quarters of the book leads up to a certain event, and then the last 25% is reveal after reveal. Some of it has been hinted at, and some of it feels like it is on fast-forward.

Also: the title. That first 75% allows for the title to make sense. But that last quarter pretty much has nothing to do with the title. They are still characters, but not the focus that the title would suggest.

At any rate, Laura Wolfe has definitely written a page-turning psych thriller in The In-Laws. I’ll certainly be looking for her next one.

January 22, 2023January 22, 2023

A Mother Would Know-Garza-Psych Thriller-Available Now

A Mother Would Know by Amber Garza is a slow-burn psych thriller with many moving parts that keep the reader guessing until the final pages.

Valerie is a broken person-fame is gone, she’s alone in an old Victorian house that may or may not be haunted, and she’s got personal ghosts of her own.

Her kids, Kendra and Hudson, are products of her life. Each one is a piece of work in their own way. But which one is worse, and who is responsible for all the bad events in their lives?

There’s a whole lot to unpack character-wise. The psych thriller comes partly as usual (who is doing what and why), but the psych part is especially prevalent.

Is it fair to blame one person’s choices for a lifetime of misery? At what point does personal responsibility play a part? And should a mother always be able to figure out her kids and know exactly what they are feeling or doing?

The author works hard to keep the mystery throughout the plot. Two particular events are the focus of the story, and the reader gets the truth of them in bits and pieces.

A Mother Would Know psych thriller cover

I liked the reflection on how Valerie’s life choices have made an impact on her kids. Additionally, the “who is responsible” was well done. I had theories that changed numerous times throughout the book.

And just when you think the author has wrapped things up satisfactorily and you are vindicated in your guesses…you’re probably wrong.

A Mother Would Know is a definite page-turner of a psych thriller. And I will continue to look for books from Amber Garza.

This review was written based on a digital copy of the book from MIRA. For more reviews like this, please browse this page.

January 20, 2023January 20, 2023

The Personal Assistant-Belle-Psych Thriller-Available Now

I had high hopes for The Personal Assistant by Kimberly Belle. It seemed like a psych thriller that would be right up my alley. For the most part, I was right.

I’m not a social media person – it is more of a necessary evil these days. The bare minimum is used, and even that is very grudgingly.

I say that to point out why I had a difficult time relating to Alex. I get that social media influencers are a thing, but I just don’t GET them – if that makes sense. However, it is necessary for Alex to be “out there” for the rest of the plot to work.

The story is relayed from three points of view: Alex, AC, and Patrick (Alex’s husband). Through each of them, we get a plot that is carefully planned and mostly suspenseful.
I have a love/hate relationship with books like this. The love is because they keep me guessing, changing my mind about my predictions, and can usually surprise me at least once. But I hate them because they are so very difficult to write reviews on.

This is the type of book where one slip in a review could ruin an entire plot thread. But trying to hide it by being cagey gives the impression that it was too confusing to understand. And I’m making this review confusing by writing it this way.

I really enjoyed 75% of the book. I had inklings about some things early on, but I wasn’t certain about them until the actual reveal. In that regard, the author really put the psych in a psych thriller.

That being said, I thought the last quarter of the book felt rushed and disconnected from the rest. I get that the author wanted to shock the reader, but too much seemed to come out of left field, and there were several questions left unanswered.

For example, the background of the culprit and how they were able to get away with everything they did is never sufficiently explained, nor is there much background to support it. The reader is just supposed to go with it. Not a fan of that, mostly because the rest of it is so darn good.

I’m rounding up my review to four stars simply because ¾ of The Personal Assistant was everything I could want in a psych thriller. Kimberly Belle is an author I will continue to look for.

This review was written based on a digital copy of the book from Park Row. For more reviews like this, please browse this site.

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January 18, 2023January 18, 2023

The Lie in Our Marriage-Weatherley-Psych Thriller-Available Now

The Lie in Our Marriage by Anna-Lou Weatherley

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Lie in Our Marriage is book number six in the Detective Dan Riley series. But (as with previous books) Anna Lou Weatherley strikes a great balance between psych thriller and crime thriller.

You can get the gist of the story from the blurb. What I like most about the author’s way of writing is that there is a clear delineation between the psych thriller and crime procedural chapters, but they weave together for a cohesive story. The transitions between the two are seamless.

I thought this plot, in particular, was engaging. The author manages to make the characters relatable to multiple ages. Older readers will relate to Maggie and her perspectives on marriage and middle age. Younger readers will embrace the social media/influencer aspect that her daughter Remy lives for. Again – great balance here.

One of the most striking things about the plot is the choice that Maggie forces herself to make. It is every married woman’s nightmare, and what she contemplates is almost unfathomable. But in the context of the story, her choices make sense, and one can understand them.

I also thought the crime procedural parts of the story were well-done. They were not too technical, but just enough to understand what was happening. And I appreciate how each of the characters in that thread is an individual. They’re not just faceless “law enforcement.”

I did guess part of the “reveal” fairly early, but the author threw in enough red herrings that I second-guessed myself a few times. I didn’t know I had guessed correctly until the actual climax.

If one wants to deep-dive into a pleasure read, I think readers could also take a lesson in trust and reliability from Len and Maggie’s situation. That’s all I am going to say about that.

I really enjoyed The Lie in Our Marriage. Anna Lou Weatherley has definitely found a winning formula between psych thriller and crime procedural, and I’ll be looking for the next Dan Riley book.

This review was written based on a digital copy of the book from Bookouture. For more reviews, please browse this site.