Fireflies & Free Kicks Fiction Reviews

The Party by Triona Walsh is a decent psych thriller that mostly delivers. I know that sounds wishy-washy (and I’ll explain why) – but I did enjoy it.

Lizzie is fresh out of rehab when her mother, Claire, picks her up and surprises her with what is essentially a whole new life. There is a lot of mistrust between the two and for good reason. Suffice it to say that the mistrust causes a lot of issues throughout the plot.

The whole family (Claire, Lizzie, and Lizzie’s brother, Liam) join together for a “special weekend” at a remote manor house to celebrate Claire’s new life. Little do they know what they’re getting into.

There are a lot of secrets among all the characters. Some of them are more interesting than others. Some of them work better than others in the overall plot. And some of them seem superfluous.

Some parts of the story drag a bit, and times when it seems like the author could have made the plot tighter. Also, a few places where disbelief needs to be suspended. But I think that’s okay in a psych thriller

However, there is enough “right” about the overall plot that it does keep a reader engaged.

At one point, I got a distinct “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels” vibe that carried through, which helped my enjoyment level. I love that movie. I’m not going to say anymore because I will definitely verge into Spoiler Land.

The actual party in the title takes up very little space in the overall plot, so it seems like a strange title. But that’s a bit nitpicky.

A good psych thriller needs to keep a reader entertained enough to care about what happens to the characters, and The Party did that for me. I’ll be looking for the next book from Triona Walsh.

What happens when a vacation friend shows up as The Mother at Number 5? This new psych thriller by Jill Childs explores female friendships and family secrets.

Of course, nothing is as it actually seems.

Ros is on vacation with her family when she meets Lotte. The two strike up a friendship (as sometimes happens on vacation). Ros figures she’ll never see Lotte again.

Until Lotte shows up outside their children’s school (no, that’s not a spoiler).

A cat-and-mouse game follows, with Ros feeling like something isn’t quite right. Why is Lotte there? Did Ros miss something during their initial meeting? Does Lotte have a connection to the area that she neglected to mention?

Answers to all of these questions (and many more) appear via chapters told from either Ros or Lotte’s points of view. Lotte’s pop up intermittently here and there. But it’s always clear who the reader is following.

The author does a really good job of keeping the reader guessing right along with Ros. So much so that when the reveals start to occur and secrets come to light, the reader is probably as shocked as Ros.

I will say that I didn’t think the kids factored heavily into the story – that they were more vehicles for Lotte and Ros to meet. But I was wrong about that. So (fair warning/no spoiler) pay attention to the kids.

The biggest twists at the end are also well done. One, I had kind of guessed at, but another one completely took me by surprise. The author played another kind of close-to-the-chest for much of the story, so the revelation was shocking.

The Mother at Number 5 is an excellent beach read. It’s a solid psych thriller (be careful of who you talk to while on vacation!), and I look forward to the next book from Jill Childs.  

I thought I was going to be confused by The Homemaker, a new psych thriller from Shari J. Ryan.

Many books in this genre have a prologue that fits into the story at some point. But this one has both a preface and a prologue. And it is impossible to tell if they’re from the same point of view or even in the same time period.

The story that follows unfolds from multiple points of view in multiple time frames. We have Jenna or Ginger now and Jenna or Ginger last year – and there’s no pattern to which one is carrying the story. It’s not an equal back and forth.

In spite of that, the action is very clear, and I actually was NOT confused at any point. The author does a masterful job of keeping all of the balls in the air and the plot flowing in a way that holds the reader’s interest.

Jenna and her husband Oliver move into a house across the street from Ginger and her neighbor Peyton. Is there history between the characters? Is it just neighborhood drama? Or is there something deeper and darker going on?

I’m not going to say, but again – the plotting is just perfect.

One thing that stood out is Jenna’s early chapters. The descriptions and details are harrowing and allow the reader to fully understand Jenna’s mindset, especially when contrasted to the year before. Ginger is a little bit harder to get a grasp of, but there’s a reason for that.

And then there’s Peyton. It’s interesting to note that as central as she is, she doesn’t get a say in the story. Again, adds to the mystery. But she is important.

I liked how everything built to the climax, and the reader got to experience it simultaneously with Jenna and Ginger, not really knowing more than they did. And what a climax it is. There are a few jaw-dropping twists at the end, too.

The Homemaker is a solid psych thriller, and I look forward to the next book from Shari J. Ryan.

The Good Doctor by Jessica Payne has everything a person could want in a psych thriller.

Compelling characters? Check.

Realistic plot? Check.

Twists and turns? Definitely check.

Jaw-dropping surprise(s)? Check, check, CHECK.

I think one of the reasons I liked this book had to do with the setting. So many psych thrillers are domestic or center around family. This one is largely set with doctors in a hospital (the title is a clue).

Chloe and her fiancé, Elton, are starting a new life in Portland. She’s got a new job, they have a great house, and everything is supposed to be great.

Until she realizes that her ex-husband, Jameson, is her new co-worker. And boy, do they have a history.

What follows is a solid story where the reader gets the background between Chloe and Jameson, as well as how they deal with their current situation.

The psych thriller aspect centers around the very sensitive subject of “right-to-die” and doctor assistance. So, be forewarned that there are parts that are a little difficult to read.

I really liked how twisty this book was. Jameson and Chloe have their own issues, but they try to find a balance, even though they also find that maybe their split was in error.

I’m not going to give anything else away. But the last third of the book? Hold on to your seats because the author pulls out all the stops. And when you think you have it figured out, you don’t.

The Good Doctor reminded me a little of the TV show Scrubs – if that show had been a psych thriller with some literal killer twists. Jessica Payne has written an excellent story, and I can’t wait for the next one.

Every so often, I come across a psych thriller that is so gonzo that I close my Kindle and think, “What the heck did I just read?” My Husband’s House by Sheryl Browne is that type of book.

I’ve come to the conclusion that a good psych thriller must have a prologue that pulls the reader in. It also needs to keep them guessing about where that prologue lies within the plot. Is it the past or yet to come? I’ve said it before, but it makes for a more engaged reading experience.

Naomi and her husband, Ben, move into an old house. Shortly, Naomi strikes up a friendship with the next-door neighbor, Sara. Naomi is a bit on the superstitious side, so there are a few things that make her uneasy, but she chalks that up to being 6 months pregnant.

However, things soon start to spiral: Ben undergoes a complete personality change, Sara gets touchy around Ben, Sara’s boyfriend Paul starts acting cagey…it’s all a lot for a pregnant woman to take in.

And then things turn deadly.

I thought this psych thriller was a good page-turner. I was never sure where the author was going next. There were a lot of twists and turns, and some worked better than others.

There was a slight “suspension of disbelief” needed for parts of the book. I can’t really elaborate without giving away major plot points. But one of the biggest ones served to illustrate just how damaged a person can become from a childhood event.

Speaking of children, for the most part, they were more entertaining than kids usually are in a book. I think the author could have done a little bit more in character development with all of the characters because some of the relationships seemed to come out of left field. But I like where she left it with Naomi and her kids – especially Liam.

My Husband’s House (bad title, it gives away a major plot point) actually did have me staying up late at night to finish. I had to know how everything would turn out. Give Sheryl Browne credit for that because not every psych thriller keeps me that entertained. Looking forward to her next one.

The Last Holiday by Amy Sheppard is the type of psych thriller that has a lot going on. It’s up to the reader to sort out what is important and what isn’t.

The base of the plot is good. A group of friends gathers together for the last holiday together. Do they know it’s the last one? Have they had others? That’s a little murky (more on that later).

The dynamic of the group is interesting. We get that they go back years and that they’ve maintained ties over time. But there’s been a rift lately for some reason.

I think that is the one thing that drags the story down. It didn’t feel like they had really been all that close in recent years, so the whole holiday thing felt…forced.

Maybe that was the point?

At any rate, once the author introduces everyone (via chapters from different POVs), it soon becomes apparent that this once-tight group has a LOT of secrets that they’ve all been hiding from each other. So, when a major event happens, it’s not a surprise that everyone starts looking at each other sideways.

I thought the character dynamics were okay. Some of the relationships were a bit difficult to grasp, but as secrets were revealed, it became obvious why those were tenuous.

I didn’t quite get the point of the relationship the DI had with the group. It felt superfluous. However, she had a part in a couple of good twists, so I guess she was useful.

Overall, The Last Holiday had me turning pages to find the next revealed secret (and, of course, to solve the “whodunit”). I’ll definitely be looking for the next psych thriller from Amy Sheppard.

As I read My Word Against His by Lauren North, I was never quite sure where the author was going. That’s a good thing in a psych thriller.

Celia is the main character, and we get most of the plot from her perspective. This makes for interesting reading because it is difficult to get a bead on her.

Is she trustworthy? Stable? Insane? Lying?

My opinion of her changed quite often, which made for dynamic reading.

I like how the author broke the story into different parts, each with varying points of view – but with Celia as the constant. It was a unique method of storytelling, and it worked.

While the first part is taut with anticipation, the conflict between Celia and Sam continues even as the reader gets events from other people’s points of view. It sounds a bit convoluted, but in reading the story – it isn’t. It all makes sense.

I had a feeling about Celia’s “memories” and how they influence her current situation. But the author left just enough false clues to make me question whether or not I was right (I was).

But even with that, there were times when I couldn’t tell who was lying and who wasn’t. These parts were especially “psych thriller” on the reader as much as the characters.

There are a few things that didn’t quite fit (to me). Sam’s story seems like more a vehicle (pun intended) than anything with substance. I kept waiting for a twist there. And I wish that Henry’s story was a little bit more fleshed out – maybe a few more scenes from his perspective.

However, the twists at the end are really good and lay to rest any doubt as to how Celia’s attitude and actions have influenced her family over the years.

My Word Against His is a solid psych thriller, and I look forward to reading more from Lauren North.

I enjoyed The Babysitter’s Secret, the latest psych thriller from Casey Kelleher. It contains enough action to keep it interesting – and to keep me guessing.

Part of that is the way it’s written. The story unfolds from different points of view. A majority of the book goes back and forth between Emily and Sasha. Cecelia does have a perspective in later chapters.

It all works well for a holistic view of events. Especially as it is unclear exactly how Emily and Sasha’s stories relate to each other.

When that connection starts to become apparent, the plot really thickens (as they say).   

The author leaves tantalizing clues along the way. Some are fairly obvious. Some are blink-and-you’ll-miss-it (only to be clear later).

I will say that I didn’t guess most of the secrets. One big one I figured out fairly early on. However, I wasn’t sure how the author would use it in the plot.

And let’s talk about that twisty, turny plot. The author definitely keeps the reader guessing. There are enough parallels between past and present stories to keep the reader off-balance. I was never quite sure what is reality and what is imagined.

Because there is an element of trauma in the characters’ actions. Yes, that’s plural. How each one handles it is more alike than you will initially believe.

And just when you think that you understand everyone’s motivations, the author still saves a couple of big twists right for the very end. As I’ve mentioned before, I like to try to “outguess” the author.

In this case, I have notes that range from “Called it!” to “Maybe not…” to “Oh, whoa!” to “Nope, wrong.” I do love an author who can take me through that range.

The Babysitter’s Secret does take a bit of time to really get going, but the early chapters are vital to what comes later. So, stick with it, and you’ll find that Casey Kelleher has written one heckuva psych thriller!