Domestic Thriller Archives

August 27, 2021August 26, 2021

The Liar Next Door (Marsh)-BoT-Domestic Thriller-Available Now

Every once in a while, I read a book that pulls me in and keeps me interested from beginning to end, even as the author switches gears.

This is 100% one of those books.

Not only did the author switch gears, but she sent it into overdrive with a gonzo final third that had me gasping, saying “no WAY!” and wondering how it was all going to play out in the end.

If you’ve read my reviews, you know that I’m not one for hyperbole and I don’t often overdo my reactions.

But seriously, this one had me saying “WTH” more than a few times, and I couldn’t get enough of it.

Right up to the very last page.

Amazon: https://geni.us/B095PLZ3LJcover
Apple: http://ow.ly/4wKU50EVACt
Kobo: http://ow.ly/itdV50EVAAX
Google: http://ow.ly/qXSt50EVAEt

But even in the beginning, the author did a fantastic job of building the tension. The introduction of each of the women, Frankie, Celeste, and Saylor, was just enough to let the reader know that the “liar next door” could have actually been any one of them.

The perspective changes as chapters alternate between the three women, with some of Frankie’s past told in flashbacks. It all fits together quite seamlessly and creates a whole picture of the action, including motivations.

I liked how the author kept me guessing as to who each character might have been referring to at any given time. That definitely contributed to the shocking moments later in the book.

I really don’t want to give anything away, but I did like how the author ended it. There was no disappointment, and it was the perfect wrap-up for an absolutely insane and twisty plot.

Well-done on this one. Definitely one of the better ones I have read this year. It should absolutely be put on your TBR list immediately.

Facebook: NicolaMarshAuthor
Twitter: @NicolaMarsh
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Author Bio

USA TODAY bestseller and multi-award winner Nicola Marsh writes feel-good fiction…with a twist!

She has published 68 novels and sold over 8 million copies worldwide. She currently writes rural romance for Harper Collins Australia, emotional domestic suspense for Bookouture and contemporary romance for Harlequin Dare.

She’s also a Waldenbooks, Bookscan, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble bestseller, a RBY (Romantic Book of the Year) and National Readers’ Choice Award winner.

A physiotherapist for thirteen years, she now writes full time, raises two dashing young heroes, shares fine food with family and friends, and her favorite, curls up with a good book!

July 12, 2020July 12, 2020

Blog Tour (Review): The Last Wife by Karen Hamilton

I want to start this review with a disclaimer. I read this book when a LOT was going on around me. Some significant changes were occurring, and my time was split, so I was not able to dedicate extended periods of reading time to this book. I had to read it when I could catch a few minutes here and there. I think that had a significant bearing on why I struggled with this book.

I was intrigued by the set-up. Marie looks after her best friend Nina’s family in honor of Nina’s last wishes. But there’s more to it because Marie has always been jealous of Nina’s life. Is she altruistic, or does she have ulterior motives?

What she doesn’t know, but quickly finds out, is that Nina may have had ulterior motives of her own. She certainly kept a lot of secrets from Marie. As Marie uncovers hidden truths, little by little, her plan for the perfect life starts to fall apart.

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As I said, it’s a great premise. My problem was continuity. Again, it could be due to the timing and how I had to read the book. But I felt like it was disjointed, and things did not flow smoothly.

I also never got a good grasp on Marie. Frankly, I didn’t like her. I thought she was manipulative and an opportunist. Perhaps that was the point, to have an unlikeable main character, but as everything was from her perspective, it made it difficult to get behind her. I found myself rooting for other characters to realize her duplicity.

There were some twists and curves, and the book did pick up after a while. It turns out that everyone Marie comes in contact with has secrets of their own. Ultimately everything is out in the open, and (no spoiler) Marie gets the ending she pretty much deserves.

I wish that I had been able to devote more attention to the book because I think I would have appreciated it a lot more. As it was, it was just okay. But give it a try if you have the time to devote to reading it. You may have a completely different experience.

Author Bio:

**Social Links:** Author Website Twitter: @KJHAuthor Instagram: @karenhamiltonauthor
Facebook: @KarenHamiltonWriter Goodreads

Karen Hamilton spent her childhood in Angola, Zimbabwe, Belgium and Italy and worked as a flight attendant for many years. Karen is a recent graduate of the Faber Academy and, having now put down roots in Hampshire to raise her young family with her husband, she satisfies her wanderlust by exploring the world through her writing. She is also the author of the international bestseller The Perfect Girlfriend.

Thanks for stopping by my stop on the Harlequin Trade Publishing 2020 Mystery & Thriller Summer Blog Tour. Be sure to check back over the next couple of months for more reviews!

January 6, 2020January 6, 2020

Blog Tour w/ Review: The Good Mother by Cathryn Grant

I always like a good plot that sneaks up on me, and The Good Mother fits the bill perfectly. What seemed like a study of suburban women and the packs that they form descended into a taut domestic thriller that explores the long-lasting effects of trauma.

I thought that the author did an excellent job of using the three women (Amy, Rachel, and Charlotte) to progress the character study. Amy, as the go-getter/Alpha, was the “Type A” mom that is familiar to many. Rachel, her supposed best friend, wanted to appease and be included. And Charlotte was the “New Mom in Town” who didn’t fit the suburban mom role.

I could find myself (at least a little bit) in each of these women, and I think that is why I enjoyed the book so much. My “allegiance” to the individuals ebbed and flowed with the story, which kept it interesting. I have been the new mom in town (although not a brazen or “artsy” as Charlotte), so I could relate to what she felt as she tried to fit in.

I least identified with Amy. I understood her desire to be the perfect mom (what mom doesn’t?) and connected with her drive to make sure that her family had everything they needed. However, her desire was more of an obsession, which was ultimately guided by childhood trauma. Her progression was the most interesting but the least relatable to me.

Rachel was the character I truly understood. She wanted to belong to the group and went along with everything, even when she thought it was wrong or didn’t want to take part. One incident with Amy stands out, as Rachel participated even as she knew she shouldn’t. I saw it as a turning point for her, as she realized that things were changing quickly and out of her control.

After all of the events of the book, I could also relate to Rachel’s feeling of wanting everything to be the way it was before. Whenever there is a monumental change, there is almost always the desire to return to what was normal (even if it actually wasn’t). That came across loud and clear to me.

I did especially like the way Amy and Charlotte’s plot lines interwove and eventually collided. I thought it was smart of the author to build the suspense – I honestly was not sure which way that was all going to go, but it was extremely satisfying.

Each mother in this story thought that they were doing what they could to be a good mother, and it was fascinating to see each of the approaches. It was also interesting to see the pitfalls and failures of each woman and where their choices could have been better. I could argue that this could be used as a cautionary tale as well as an entertaining novel.

This book started a little slow, but the tension built fast, and the author kept the pace moving. I would definitely recommend this book.

About Cathryn Grant

Cathryn is the author of the Alexandra Mallory Psychological Suspense series, Psychological Thrillers, Suburban Noir novels, The Haunted Ship Trilogy, and the Madison Keith Ghost Story series. THE GOOD MOTHER will be her second novel published with Inkubator Books.

Cathryn’s fiction has appeared in Alfred Hitchcock and Ellery Queen Mystery Magazines, The Shroud Quarterly Journal, and The Best of Every Day Fiction. When she’s not writing, Cathryn reads fiction, eavesdrops, and tries to play golf without hitting her ball into the sand or the water. She lives on the Central California coast with her husband and two cats.