The Daughter in Law-Boland-Psych Thriller-Available Now

I like a good psych thriller where there are multiple suspects for whatever trickery is going on. The Daughter-in-Law by Shalini Boland falls squarely in that category.

The story starts with a prologue (as these often do) and then jumps to the current time. This prologue is one of the ones that you know involves the main characters – you just don’t know who or why.

I thought the premise was good, maybe a bit unbelievable, but that’s the way psych thrillers go. In this case, the cleverness of the author is that the characters are written in a way that makes the reader unsure of who to trust.

For example, alternating points of view between Caroline and Lillian give us the plot and tell us the story. However, it is difficult to get a handle on both of them. Caroline is off on the wrong foot, and Lillian seems overbearing.

But are they actually in the positions they seem to be in?

I know that sounds convoluted, but (as always) I don’t want to give anything away.

After their roles are (somewhat) clear, a third perspective appears. At first, those brief chapters seem disjointed. But a little more information appears each time.

It’s up to the reader to put 2+2 together, and some readers may come up with 5. I did figure out one twist, but the author had a couple of others I did not guess. Some of my guesses were wrong. I appreciate a plot that makes me change my mind about the characters.

A psych thriller is difficult to write about because a small slip could ruin the experience for another reader. However, I will say that you can read this quickly. I read it in one sitting. It clipped along at a good pace, and I was never bored.

Shalini Boland has become a favorite psych thriller author, and The Daughter-in-Law is a perfect example of why I will continue to look forward to her novels.

Shalini Boland psych thriller author

The Nurse’s Secret-Lawler-Psych Thriller-Available Now

The Nurse’s Secret by Liz Lawler is a psych thriller that self-identifies as a police procedural. The result is….well, read on.

I thought the premise was good. I mean, a story should be good when it starts with a murder, right? And obviously, nurses are supposed to help people, so the title indicates that this may not be the case.   

The story unfolds from three points of view, Sarah, Nick, and Charlie. It’s an interesting choice because as a psych thriller, I would have thought more would have been from Sarah and another character’s point of view.

Nick and Charlie are both law enforcement, investigating the murder, so their perspectives are more similar to each other. And since they make up two-thirds of the story, I think that’s why I got a definite police procedural vibe.

That’s okay, but it wasn’t what I was expecting.

Additionally, there’s a history between two of the main characters (not saying who), so that complicates some of the aspects of the story.

There are also a lot of extraneous characters. Some of them, we get to know, and some are already out of the picture before the story even starts. In fact, everything is very character driven.

The Nurse's Secret blog tour psych thriller

This means there are a lot of balls to keep in the air, and a lot of connections to try to keep straight. Add this to the detailed police info, and it all of a sudden isn’t a page-turning psych thriller. It’s more, “I hope I can keep everything straight” and “Wait, who is that again?”

It also doesn’t help that the murderer is pretty obvious from early on. The reveals come fast and furious in the last 10-15% of the book, but by then so much has occurred, it’s almost a throwaway.

And that’s another thing: the pacing is uneven. There are long sections that seem to serve no purpose and then everything happens very quickly at the end. I like a bit more evenness in my stories.

If you’re looking for a traditional psych thriller, The Nurse’s Secret isn’t it. However, if you understand that there is mystery upon mystery, lots of focus on character and convoluted motives, along with a hefty focus on police work, then Liz Lawler has written the book for you.

I think I would have liked it more if I had known the latter.

The Girlfriend-Slater-Psych Thriller-Available Now

The Girlfriend by K.L. Slater is a psych thriller that is heavy on the psych – but almost as heavy on the thriller.

I knew it was going to be a different read when there was no prologue.

There’s almost always a prologue in psych thrillers.

Instead, this one uses the first few chapters of “real-time” action to set the stage for the events that follow.

I really like this approach. It felt more like watching the opening of a crime show with the whole set-up that occurs before the opening credits.

If you’re a careful reader, you may also notice that there are clues in these opening chapters that play a bigger part in the overall story. But they’re difficult to find.

Without giving anything away (read the blurb and the cover for an overview), let’s just say that not everything is as it seems. The characters you think you understand, you probably don’t.

And the motives you think you’ve figured out, you probably haven’t.

One thing that is done very well in this book is the “psych” part of psych thriller. There are layers upon layers of psychological warfare at play.  

There are also a lot of little clues and hints dropped along the way. Some are red herrings, and some are legit. It’s nearly impossible to tell which is which until you get to the end, though.

As the book reaches the climax, there are a few revelations that I did not see coming. Pretty sure if I went back in, there were hints that would have told me (like I already mentioned).

And about the climax and the end? Those felt rushed. The author had been very methodical to a point and then it all just…sort of went whoosh and it was over.

I am not so keen on that.

At any rate, The Girlfriend is an intriguing read. K.L. Slater has written another solid psych thriller.

The Good Wife-Kane-Psych Thriller-Available Now

Ellery Kane knows how to write a psych thriller that keeps the reader guessing, second-guessing, and then doubling back and guessing yet again. The Good Wife had me doing just that. Multiple times.

One thing I love about this author’s books is the pacing. The reader knows that the groundwork is being laid for future twists, so it’s comfortable to just float along and let the story be spun.

Not to say that there isn’t a lot of action in this book because there are several “can’t put it down” sections. I guess I’m trying to say that even in the “not-so-exciting” portions, I remained enthralled, wondering where the author would go next.

And it usually was not where I expected it to go.

The more I think about it, however, the more I see where it would be easy to slip up and give away the big secret, so I’m going to try hard NOT to do that.

The Good Wife psych thriller blog tour schedule
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I liked how the author left little clues along the way, but also kept revealing certain things that had nothing to do with the bigger reveal.

Or did they?

I guess the simplest way to put it is that the author built an intricate web of connections, lies, half-truths, and deceit. Really, nobody was safe from being caught in it.

I thought the use of the courtroom drama was effective and added another layer of character study to the plot. How far will a sconed woman go to defend her husband?

And how much do we ever really know about the people who are supposed to be the closest to us?

There was also a very quick, blink-and-you’ll-miss-it moment late in the book that mirrors the beginning. I caught it, but not sure others will. An extremely telling moment in retrospect.

Ellery Kane has written another compelling psych thriller. The Good Wife will keep you turning pages until the final reveal.

Her Last Lie-Sharp-Psych Thriller-Available Now

Her Last Lie by Kyla Sharp is a twisty psych thriller that has the reader guessing about what’s going on as much as the heroine.

The trope is familiar – an amnesia patient wakes up in the hospital and doesn’t remember anything but feels like something isn’t right.

(I just realized I made a joke in the previous paragraph. Sorry!)

The first half of the book sort of meandered. Naomi is an interesting character. It’s easy to feel sorry for her, but I didn’t exactly trust her for a lot of the book.

I think maybe that has to do with my general dislike of influencers and the focus on clicks and likes.

Because that does play a part in this story. It’s clever, and I’m sure it is a method of storytelling that will gain traction in the future. Some people live their lives online.

So, I guess, what better way to figure out your past than to look at your Instagram or TikTok – it’s all right there for you, right?

However, as Naomi wonders, is it all real? Or is it lies that make her look good?

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Honestly, I know this is supposed to be a psych thriller about a woman with amnesia who is threatened for some reason and her race to figure everything out to protect those she loves.

But I found myself musing more about how social media is not a good indicator of life. People only put the best things out there – whether it’s to brag or make themselves look better than they are.

Influencers peddle in unreality, often hiding “real life” from view. I think this contributes greatly to Naomi’s confusion.

The second half of the book has more action, but there are moments where one has to suspend disbelief. I think that’s okay in a psych thriller. It just has to stay reasonably plausible.

Anyway, I know my review meandered, but it’s not like I was going to tell you if she gets her memory back, or discovers what’s really going on in her life, right? I don’t do that.

For a psych thriller, Her Last Lie is a solid middle-ground story with some good moments. But what I liked most was Kyla Sharp’s thought-provoking perspective on social media.

The Nursery-Watson-Psych Thriller-Available Now

The Nursery by Sue Watson is a psych thriller that seems fairly simple on the surface, but there are actual currents of something darker underneath.

I love that in a book.

Emily and her daughter have settled down to a quiet life. We learn this after a prologue that shows everything leading up to their arrival in town was anything but calm.

After that intriguing prologue, the author wastes no time in showing the reader that the peaceful existence they’ve enjoyed is about to disappear. The first chapter definitely grabs the reader and makes it clear that nothing is as it actually seems.

A lot of the story is cat and mouse as Emily tries to simultaneously hide the truth about her past and keep her daughter (Sofia) safe from impending danger. When the two inevitably collide, the story really takes off.

There are a lot of red herrings, some legit clues that are easy to miss if you aren’t paying attention, and more than a few interesting twists.

Nothing that any of the characters did really jumped out at me as being abnormal – aside from the usual psych thriller drama stuff, of course.

And just when you think that all of the loose ends are tied up, the author still has one big surprise at the end.

Love it when an author does that.

Sue Watson has written a solid psych thriller in The Nursery, one that actually lives up to the “jaw-dropping twist” you so often see advertised.  

The M Word-Wharton-Women’s Fiction-Available Now

The M Word by Eileen Wharton is a women’s fiction novel that I think many readers will find relatable.

Roberta’s relationship with family members is prickly at best. We find out right away that her mother was not very affectionate (that’s an understatement). As a result, Roberta herself is not a fan of her kids or her ex-husband.

Add in that she’s menopausal and…yeah. You get the picture. Everything pretty much sucks.

I think the author set the tone right away when we get a peek at Roberta’s last conversation with her mom. There is no love lost. But is there a reason for it?

You can find out what kicks everything off by reading the blurb. But I thought it was great insight into why Roberta may be the way she is – and why she decides to make some changes in her life.  

The M Word blog tour schedule

There were times when I absolutely adored Roberta and was right there next to her. And there were times when she absolutely got on my nerves. I suppose in that regard, the author did a good job of making Roberta seem like a friend or someone that a reader might know.

Nobody likes someone all of the time.

I also enjoyed how the author uses the letters to both fill in the backstory, give insight, and allow Roberta to grow both in maturity (odd for a menopausal woman) and spiritually.

The hashtag subheadings were cute – and generally gave an idea of what to expect from the following section.

I can’t say that I loved the entire book. Roberta is grating at times, and there are sections that felt like they were filler to pad the page count.

But overall, The M Word was an interesting women’s fiction novel that kept me entertained (for the most part). Eileen Wharton has created a good story about one woman’s realization of her shortcomings and her journey through self-awareness to happiness.

The Wife Next Door-Halsall-Psych Thriller-Available Now

Let me catch my breath. The Wife Next Door by Rona Halsall is a psych thriller that kept me guessing the entire time.

That’s no lie. I was at about 80% of the book and still didn’t know where the author would take the story. It’s a difficult feat these days to keep me that engaged, but I honestly had no clue.

I mean, I had several theories, but just when I was certain I was right, the author would drop something that made me re-think my position.

Because of that, Jess (the main character) is inherently relatable. She lives in a pinball machine, with one thing after another pushing and spinning her around until she pretty much starts to even question her own sanity.

That’s not to say that she is a shrinking violet heroine who thinks she’s going nuts. But the author does a great job of crafting the events in Jess’s life in a way that makes her (and the reader) suspicious of everyone and everything.

It is very entertaining.

There are a few parts that I feel were a bit overdone. Ruby, for example, seems more like a plot point or caricature at times. And her part in the bigger scheme was….well, I was going to say something, but I just realized why the author wrote her the way she did.

So, scratch that – because now I realize that everything that happens in the book has a point. Whether it is an actual point, a red herring, a clue to something later…there is nothing that is unimportant in this story.

And when you think you know what is really going on, I guarantee you don’t. Trust me. You really don’t.

I’m going to stop there because I could dig myself a hole. But I loved how Jess finally figured everything out, and I loved this book. Rona Halsall has written an absolute stellar psych thriller in The Wife Next Door. It should vault to the top of your TBR list.

Twitter: @RonaHalsallAuth
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The Ex-Wives-Kernan-Psych Thriller-Available Now

The Ex-Wives by Jenna Kernan is a tale of two halves of a psych thriller.

Let me try to explain.

Elana is an interesting character. It’s obvious she is desperate by nature, which causes her to make some bad decisions. But she really has no idea how bad her choices are.

Until one day, she does. And she makes a decision to extricate herself from a dangerous situation. What follows for the first half of the book is a cat-and-mouse game of Elana trying to leave and her husband foiling every plan.

Does he do so knowingly, or is it coincidence and he’s just that controlling? You’ll have to decide for yourself.

The second half of the book ramps up the tension and the pace. The reader feels Elana’s urgency as the danger she is facing becomes more constant. In more than a few places, it appears that Elana will never escape.

I don’t want to give anything away (I say that a lot, I know), but the author does create a satisfying narrative that will keep the reader turning the pages, especially in the second half of the book.

I am not bothered by most things – I can remove myself from a fictional book and read “from a distance.” However, it should be mentioned that this psych thriller is heavy on the psych. And that comes in the form of extreme psychological abuse. There are also themes of spousal and child abuse.

Fair warning.

Ultimately, The Ex-Wives is a story about resilience and finding strength in the face of looming danger when the people you love most are threatened. Jenna Kernan has crafted a discomfiting tale.

Only Child-Kelleher-Psych Thriller-Available Now

Only Child by Casey Kelleher is a psych thriller that messes more with the mind of the reader than that of the characters.

You know that there is something else going on in the story, but you can’t quite put your finger on it.

Without giving away the plot, let me try to explain.

This may be short….

As with many a psych thriller, the prologue sets the tone as a young boy stumbles across a gruesome scene. The reader is to assume that is in the past.  

The action then moves to the present, and it unfolds from two perspectives. First, we meet Tessa, who obviously has some issues. But the reader only slowly finds out why and what the issues are.

Then we meet Sherrie, who is an overbearing, watchful mother to Kayla (and wife to Richard). Sherrie seems too perfect, and there is a good reason for that feeling.

The story is told from these two alternate points of view, but it is apparent early on how they dovetail. And at one point a third perspective is added…but is it the present, or is it revisiting the past?

And what does it all have to do with Tessa and Sherrie?

That’s about all that I can say without giving things away. I did guess at one of the twists, but the author does a great job of keeping everything hidden (and dropping clues) along the way. But some of them I missed, so when it got to the big reveal, I was largely surprised.

This book is enjoyable because it explored the depths of insanity, and how easy it is to misconstrue something. Especially when dealing with a psychopath.

And no, I’m not saying who the psychopath actually is in this case.

Casey Kelleher has another winning psych thriller in Only Child. Don’t miss it.

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