Posts

Posted on

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.


View all my reviews

Posted on

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.

Posted on

All the Dangerous Things-Willingham-Thriller-Available Now

All the Dangerous Things by Stacy Willingham

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

If you ever want to know what a person goes through when their child disappears, read All the Dangerous Things by Stacy Willingham. Through Isabelle, the main character and sole POV, we get extensive detail about the sleeplessness, the doubt, the worry, the suspicion…everything you could imagine, and probably some emotions you would never think of.
Unfortunately, that’s where the book gets bogged down. There is SO much emphasis on Isabelle’s emotions and thoughts that any forward action is often hampered or lost. Not to sound mean, but it sometimes felt like the author was being paid by the word because it was all extremely verbose.
The plot itself is decent, and the childhood memories that start to surface as Isabelle works her way through life (while trying to find out what happened to her son) cast enough doubt on the situation to make the reader wonder whether or not Isabelle is a reliable narrator.
Despite this, the culprit seemed obvious to me early on. I did like how it all resolved itself, however. I did enjoy the realizations that Isabelle came to and the actions she took in the end. For me, the book was okay but might have been better with maybe a thousand fewer words and some tighter plotting. 2.5 rounded up to 3 due to the culprit receiving just desserts.

Thank you to Minotaur Books for a digital copy of this book. For more reviews, please browse this site!
View all my reviews

Posted on

Just the Nicest Couple-Kubica-Thriller-Available Now

Just the Nicest Couple by Mary Kubica

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


I wanted to like Just the Nicest Couple by Mary Kubica, but while there were a few good points, I was largely disappointed. The premise was good, but the execution felt like it was lacking. I think the biggest sticking point for me was that Christian had a prominent voice, but he was actually a passive character in the bigger scheme of things. That left too much room for his internal monologues, which essentially stopped any action. There were also parts where the writing felt very elementary like this was an early novel from the author that is now seeing the light of day due to her success. Regardless, while this book was not for me, others may have a different experience. I will continue to look for new releases from her, as everyone can have an off time at any point. This review was written based on a digital copy of the book from Harlequin Trade Publishing/ Park Row.



View all my reviews

Posted on

Best Friends Forever-Hollinger-Thriller-Available Now

Best Friends Forever by Shannon Hollinger is a thriller that mostly delivers on its promises. There are definitely requisite thrills, more than one mystery, and a couple of decent twists thrown in.

In short, there is a lot going on – sometimes too much. But we’ll get to that.

Kate has to return home to help care for an ailing mother and mute sister. She had left her hometown abruptly a decade earlier because of a chilling event. Being home again opens up all kinds of cans of worms.

Additionally, almost as soon as she arrives home, there is another incident that raises even more questions and leaves Kate wondering if her memories of the event are accurate or not. Having “the old gang” around adds to the questions.

So goes the premise of this thriller.

Best Friends Forever thriller blog tour schedule
Buy Link(s):
https://geni.us/B0BJ334Q98social
Audible:
UK: http://ow.ly/FZ4b50M95GZ
US:http://ow.ly/NlnL50M95H1

There is a lot to like about Best Friends Forever. The reader can appreciate Kate’s reluctance to be home again given the circumstances but also sympathize with her desire to find out what really happened on that night so many years prior.

I liked the mystery aspects of this thriller. In fact, the plot, in general, was really good. The author dropped enough red herrings and legit clues to keep me guessing.

There are several subplots that may or may not (no spoilers here) have bearing on the overall arc. Those were also mostly handled well.

And once the story reaches a climax, there is surprise after surprise. A few I guessed, but I was not entirely accurate on a couple of main ones until the moment of reveal.

I think the only thing keeping this from being a five-star thriller is that the middle drags…a lot.

Kate tends to dither. I get that it is her character and her unsettled nature at being back home. But there is a large chunk of the story where nothing really impels the plot forward.

A few of the subplots seem to be thrown in as twists that aren’t really needed. There isn’t enough character development for them to really matter (if that makes sense).

However, despite all of that, Best Friends Forever is still a good, page-turning thriller. I will be looking for future books from Shannon Hollinger.

Shannon Hollinger thriller author
Posted on

The Engagement-Hayes-Psych Thriller-Available Now

The Engagement by Samantha Hayes

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


By far, one of the best psych thrillers I have read in recent memory, and I have read some good ones. Everything from the characters to the plot to the twists is top-notch. Told in “then” and “now” chapters from multiple character POVs, the plot never really lags. The story centers on an extremely sensitive topic (no spoilers), and it is obvious that the author did her homework. The loss, helplessness, and resignation are all clear in the characters. It was a page-turner to figure out how the past and present would eventually collide (and boy, did it). I guessed a few of the twists but not the entirety of the biggest one. Definitely recommend this one! This review was written based on a digital copy of the book from Bookouture.

View all my reviews

Posted on

The Narrator-Slater-Psych Thriller-Available Now

K.L. Slater is fast becoming another favorite author when I need a psych thriller fix. The Narrator is definitely one of her best.

There are just enough questions thrown out about each of the characters that the reader is as off-balance as the main character.

Additionally, the author is clever in setting this story in the book world because it instantly adds relatability and awareness to situations.

Even the final, last gasp, jaw-dropping surprise is entirely plausible.

I guess, in some ways, that makes The Narrator a unique psych thriller. It is one of the few times I can remember thinking, “I could absolutely see this happening in real life.”

Obviously, I’m not going to give any plot points away. But again, the author is smart in the storytelling. The action unfolds from multiple perspectives in multiple time frames. And it is never confusing at all.

Amazon:   https://geni.us/B0BLCN1CF4social

In fact, I think it was one of the most seamless books I’ve read recently. Everything flowed smoothly. I particularly liked that there were a couple of characters who popped up occasionally who may or may not have anything to do with the overall plot.  (I’m not telling).

But it was effective storytelling because they did just enough to throw suspicion on themselves.

If I had to nitpick, the only thing that didn’t exactly fit for me was the thread about Eve’s father. I get it in the overall plot picture, but it seemed forced to me, while everything else seemed natural.

Regardless, The Narrator is still a fantastic psych thriller. I didn’t guess the big reveal until literally the last moment. For that reason alone, it earns high marks – but everything else is pretty darn good too!

K.L. Slater psych thriller author
Posted on

The Stay-at-Home Mother-Trope-Psych Thriller-Available Now

Nicole Trope has become one of my favorite psych thriller authors, and The Stay-at-Home Mother is the perfect example of why she is so good.

In a nutshell, whatever story she is telling is really only partial. It’s enough on its own, but if you’ve read her books, you know there is always another shoe to drop somewhere along the way (usually toward the end).


In this case, Gabby is the stay-at-home mother in question. She has an online following that commiserates with her over her troubles with her teenage son.

When Andrea (very pregnant), her husband Terry, and their 3-year-old son Jack move in across the street, Gabby can’t help but offer assistance to a frazzled Andrea. And Andrea is all too willing to rely on this virtual stranger who seems like the perfect lifeline.

However, if something seems too good to be true, it probably is…not true.

The Stay-at-Home Mother psych thriller blog tour schedule
Buy link: https://geni.us/B0BHDLL537cover

Not only does Andrea have pregnancy fog, but her husband’s “issue” rears its ugly head at the same time as everything else comes to a climax. It’s really a perfect storm of distraction.

I don’t want to give anything away because, like any good psych thriller, the fun is in realizing what is actually occurring without any spoilers to wreck the enjoyment of the plot.

But I will say that even if you think you have it all figured out (which I did a few times) – there is still more that you will not guess.

And that is why The Stay-at-Home Mother is a quintessential psych thriller. Nicole Trope has cemented herself as an absolute go-to for a jaw-dropping read.

Nicole Trope psych thriller author
Posted on

A Small Affair-Collins-Thriller-Available Now

A Small Affair by Flora Collins is one of the more unique books I’ve read this year. I have a hard time defining it. Mystery? Thriller? Mystery Thriller? All of the above?

The reader knows from the beginning that something happened to Vera that turned her world upside down and inside out.

However, the exact details of that are revealed slowly throughout the entire book. There are answers right away, but don’t mistake that for knowing everything about what happened.

You don’t.

The author saves some info until literally the very last pages.

Vera is a tough character to like. I wanted to feel sorry for her because of “the event” and how it affected her. But in the flashbacks to her life pre-event, she is not a very likable person.

I think this conundrum made the book more interesting. It kept me actively disliking the person but rooting for her because of the situation.

Buy Links:
Bookshop.org Barnes & Noble IndieBound  Books A Million  Amazon

There are parts that appear to be uneven. But that is only a superficial way of looking at the plot. In reality, the author paints the story in layers.

No, strike that. The author makes a collage of the events, with some characters more prominent than others. Just like Vera does.

I just now put that together.

That being said, there are layers to the onion when it comes to the plot. For example, it might seem like a departure for the author to flashback to Odilie’s past – but there’s a reason for that.

Just like there’s a reason for detailing Odilie and Tom’s relationship.

Honestly, it’s all just very twisted.

I did think that the end was a little bit disappointing. It seemed to wrap up too neatly after the mess that was Vera’s life leading up to then.

But it turns out that what she had was anything but a small affair. And Flora Collins keeps the mystery going to the end.

Flora Collins thriller author
Posted on

The Concierge-Rijks-Psych Thriller-Available Now

I’m a fan of Miranda Rijks, and I think she is a solid choice if you want to read a psych thriller. The Concierge is her latest, and it’s pretty darn good.

First, I will say that the book didn’t start – or even continue – the way I thought it would. I was expecting a story more along the lines of one of my favorites of hers, The Influencer.

In some ways, it was better (but I still hold The Influencer as a standard).

Simone wants to find out the truth behind a tragedy involving her sister. What she uncovers is twisted beyond what she could have ever thought.

I liked that Simone wasn’t a perfect character. She had no problems lying and obfuscating to get the information that she wanted. She was also a doer; she didn’t sit around and dither.

Goldie and Braun were an interesting pair. On the one hand, they seem to be a cool couple with the movie production company. But there were times that I didn’t feel like that was fully realized.

I think in some ways, it seemed to be more of a plot contrivance. And that itself sounds odd because, really, everything is a plot contrivance, right?

The author did do a good job with Rose, Goldie and Braun’s daughter. It felt like she was the most developed and real character.

I will say that there is nothing simple about this plot. What one might think is a straightforward “why did this happen” is anything but. There are plenty of twists and side stories that almost complicate things too much.

But it stops just short of being totally unbelievable. So, kudos to the author for knowing when enough complications are simply…enough.

Oh, and the totally meta movie that Ally was working on? Loved that little tidbit.  

All in all, Miranda Rijks has written another solid psych thriller, and I’ll continue to look forward to her books!

close

Enjoy this blog? Please spread the word :)