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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

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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.

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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.

Leslie Wolfe author
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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.

J.T. Ellison thriller author
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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.

Buy link: https://geni.us/B0BGXYL3BZsocial

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!

Freida McFadden psych thriller author
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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.

Kylie Scott rom com author
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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.

The Suspect thriller blog tour schedule
Buy Link(s):
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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.

Kathryn Croft thriller author
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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.

The Soulmate psych thriller cover

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.

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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.

The In-Laws psych thriller cover

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.

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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.

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