Tag: Books On Tour

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!

The Woman in Carriage 3 by Alison James is the type of psych thriller that makes the reader think it is going in a certain direction. But then ends up going in a completely different one.

And that’s a good thing.

Hattie is an interesting “heroine.” There’s no other word for her – she’s an absolute mess. She drinks too much, has one-night stands, and can’t hold a job. Someone to really root for, right?

Due to an unfortunate circumstance during a commute, there is a delay on the train she travels on. So, she joins a small group of other commuters to pass the time.

Little does she know that this innocent meeting will lead to all kinds of excitement, both good and bad. And it is anything but innocent.

What follows is very reminiscent of “The Talented Mr. Ripley” – but not exactly. There’s subterfuge, deceit, uncertainty, heroism…and a lot of secrets.

The author does a fantastic job of keeping the reader guessing as to who knows what and when. How everything is tied together also remains unclear. There are more than a few twists and surprises along the way as well.

I was actually drawn in by Hattie’s mess because I was rooting for her to find some kind of footing. But because of that, I was skeptical of just about everything that happened to her. It kept me involved.

There are moments of “Wow, that’s a lot.” But that is okay, too, because it kept the plot moving at a good pace. There are also a couple of red herrings that don’t exactly land. And one character virtually disappears with a lame excuse.

But again, it’s all okay because the overall plot is engaging.

The Woman in Carriage 3 does not require a lot of concentration. The author does a good job of keeping things fairly simple but interesting. Alison James has written a good page-turning psych thriller, and I look forward to other books from her.

The Bedroom Window by K.L. Slater starts with a prologue that raises several questions and keeps the reader in suspense, wondering how that scene fits into the rest of the psych thriller plot.

I love it when a book does that. It gives the story an air of mystery.

Lottie and Neil hope for a fresh start after a few turbulent years, and they think Neil’s new job is just the kick they need to renew their family dynamic. Why is it so important? Because reasons.

However, shortly after arriving at Seaspray House and their new cottage, Lottie begins to sense that there’s something not quite right about Neil’s new employers. Ted and Neeta are well-known in the town, but they’re also something of a mystery.

Do they have an ulterior motive for hiring Neil? What is he hiding? For that matter, what is Lottie hiding? Heck, what are Ted and Neeta hiding? Everybody has secrets in this book.

The author did a great job of leaving little hints and clues along the way, along with some good cliffhanging chapter endings. The action unfolds mostly from Lottie’s point of view, but Neil does have a few chapters.

There are also chapters from Lottie’s past scattered throughout. All of it works together to whet the reader’s appetite for solving the “mystery” surrounding the characters.

I will say that once the revelations start, they come pretty fast. Not all of them hit as completely plausible, but that’s okay because they are entertaining. Who minds a little suspended disbelief in a psych thriller anyway?

And as for that prologue? The author wisely saves that for one of the biggest twists of all.

The Bedroom Window starts a bit slow as the groundwork is laid, but the twists and revelations make it worthwhile. K.L. Slater has written another solid psych thriller.

I’m a big fan of Victoria Jenkins, so of course I was happy to see her new psych thriller Happily Married available to read.

I don’t mind saying, though, that throughout the first part, I kept thinking that it didn’t feel like her usual stuff. It felt more…I don’t know….”mean” than her usual stuff. Like true evil instead of messing with someone’s head.

But even in those early chapters, I couldn’t help but look for the twist. I knew it had to be there, because I didn’t think she would go too far from her winning style. At one point, I thought I had it figured out but thought it couldn’t possibly be the case.

I was half right.

At any rate, by the time you finish with part one, you’ll be questioning everything you thought you knew to that point. So when you start part two, it’s almost like reading a new book.

Which is kinda cool.

The rest of the story – after that first big revelation – unwinds in a fashion more typical of the author. But with an added level of that particular secret.

(Obviously trying NOT to give anything away).

In retrospect, the whole book is very typical Victoria Jenkins, with other secrets and ulterior motives of the characters. And, as usual, the end drops revelations that show the reader an…alternate perspective (shall we say) of earlier events.

I love this author’s books. I know if I’m in the mood for a psych thriller, I’ll find a good one by Victoria Jenkins. Happily Married is a perfect example.

Every so often I come across a sleeper of a psych thriller – one that feels like it will be run-of-the-mill…before it absolutely punches me in the face with twists and unexpected turns. The Woman at Number 6 by Matthew Farrell fits this description perfectly.

I will admit, it took me a bit to get into the swing of this one. It was difficult for me to grasp who I could trust and what was really going on. However, that changed with one event.

Then it was off to the races!

Honestly, the plot of this book is an absolute roller coaster. There is the slow climb where the groundwork is laid for what is to come. It makes the reader even a little impatient because you just hope that the rest is exciting.

Once you reach the tip-top – right before swooping into the heart of the story – there’s anticipation. Because there is a moment where the reader truly does not know which way the author is going to go.

And then…..

It is all dips and twists and turns as events fall into place creating an amazing page-turner of a psych thriller, right up until the climax.

But even then, there are still a few tricks up the author’s sleeve – and I mean to the very last words.

Tracy was a mysterious character. We learn that she has a haunted past. That comes out in short snippets. I liked this approach because it wasn’t the usual “Then and Now” that is common in psych thrillers.

Not that there’s anything wrong with them. But these were treated more like her memories, which made it feel more organic.

I also liked how I really had no idea who to trust throughout the entire plot. Is Missy in cahoots with Tracy, or does she have an ulterior motive? Is Malcolm as bad as we think? What is the connection to Dr. Davi? And where does Kat really figure into all of it?

I’m. Not. Telling.

But hang onto your seats, because the author answers all of these questions in a truly spectacular fashion.

Can you tell that I loved this book? Well, I did. The Woman at Number 6 is absolutely everything a reader could ask for in a psych thriller – and then some. I can’t wait to see what Matthew Farrell comes up with next!

The Birthday Reunion by Claire Seeber is a psych thriller that is mostly good but ends up collapsing under So. Much. Going. On.

The premise is great – three long-time friends receive invitations for what they think is a birthday reunion of the fourth friend. Mysteries abound. Nothing is as it seems.

Are the people really who they say they are? Who is hiding what? How many secrets can the author cram into a short getaway?

The author attempts to answer all of these questions, sometimes successfully – but sometimes creating more questions in the process.

Overall, I felt a lack of focus in the book. It started straightforward enough, and there was plenty of material that could have gone along with a simple getaway turned…odd.

But the author veers into past traumas, old relationships, convoluted connections, and other gimmicks meant to cause mystery and fear (among the characters). It really just created confusion for the reader.

For example, when the three friends first arrive for the “reunion,” there is a delay in getting to their destination. The groundwork that goes into creating their initial overnight stay is essentially a waste. It could have been built out much more satisfactorily.

The same could be said for the actual “reunion.” Instead of focusing on the friends, the author throws a bunch more characters in. Again, I suppose it is to create mystery and distrust, but it muddies the waters. And there were more than a few consistencies.

By the time the event from the prologue actually occurs, it is almost an afterthought. Frankly, so is the resolution. I felt like it was “blink and you’ll miss it. In fact, I had to read the last few chapters twice to figure out who actually was responsible for all of it.

In spite of all of this, I still liked The Birthday Reunion. It certainly kept me guessing. I’ll look for the next psych thriller from Claire Seeber.