Local Woman Missing (Kubica)-Blog Tour-Psychological Thriller-Available May 18

This book was all kinds of twisty, with time jumps, different points of view, and layers upon layers of occurrences.

In spite of all of that, it was incredibly easy to follow. I will say that it helped to read the chapter headings (I usually skip them for the most part) because it helped keep everything straight both for who was speaking and when.

In fact, it’s a little difficult to write this review, because there were some seemingly disparate parts to the story – at times it felt like there were two different plot lines going on at the same time.

It’s not a spoiler to state that it all becomes clearer the further into the book that you go. So, stick with it.

I actually found Leo to be the most interesting character. I liked how his story was presented, and I thought that in some ways, he was the most astute out of all of them.

I especially appreciated his view of memories, and how they can be skewed by other people’s recollections or become supplanted by other’s versions of them. We’ve had that conversation in my family quite often.

For example, every time we get together with family, different members add their own perspectives to the memories that we talk about. Those then become the full memories, even though they’re not entirely from one person.

Buy Links below Author Info

There were a few times that I thought the red herrings were a bit heavy handed and a few more that didn’t seem to fit. Or rather, they seemed to be completely separate from the main issues.

Things like Marty’s part in the whole thing and Leo’s childhood were interesting, but seemed thrown in to muddy the plot, not for any real points.

I also am unsure if the perpetrator was fully built to be plausible. I will say that it totally took me surprise, so maybe that is a good thing. It certainly made a few other choices of the author to become clearer.

If I’m talking in riddles, it’s because I don’t want to give the plot away. Missing persons are tricky, and when they show back up in one way or another, they can cause great turmoil.

How’s that for cryptic?

All in all, I would recommend this book. As I said, be sure to read the chapter headings so you can keep it all clear.

Facebook: MaryKubicaAuthor
Twitter: @MaryKubica 
Instagram: marykubica 

About the Author:Mary Kubica is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of six novels, including THE GOOD GIRL, PRETTY BABY, DON’T YOU CRY, EVERY LAST LIE, WHEN THE LIGHTS GO OUT, and THE OTHER MRS. A former high school history teacher, Mary holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, in History and American Literature. She lives outside of Chicago with her husband and two children. Her last novel THE OTHER MRS. was an instant New York Times bestseller; is coming soon to Netflix; was a LibraryReads pick for February 2020; praised by the New York Times; and highly recommended by Entertainment Weekly, People, The Week,Marie Claire, Bustle, HelloGiggles, Goodreads, PopSugar, BookRiot, HuffingtonPost, First for Women, Woman’s World, and more. Mary’s novels have been translated into over thirty languages and have sold over two million copies worldwide. She’s been described as “a helluva storyteller,” (Kirkus Reviews) and “a writer of vice-like control,” (Chicago Tribune), and her novels have been praised as “hypnotic” (People) and “thrilling and illuminating” (Los Angeles Times).  LOCAL WOMAN MISSING is her seventh novel.

Buy Links

AppleBooks: https://books.apple.com/us/book/local-woman-missing/id1524947457 

Google Play: https://www.google.com/books/edition/Local_Woman_Missing/sKazzQEACAAJ?hl=en 

The Liar’s Daughter (R. Halsall)-Books On Tour-Psychological Thriller-Available Now

I have come to realize that atmosphere plays a big part in my enjoyment of a book. This is the perfect example to explain.

The prologue sets a creepy tone as an ambulance arrives at a remote farm, only to find a woman who is severely injured. There’s howling wind and a sense of abandonment, but the ambulance attendants also hear creaking floors, and there are perceived glimpses of someone else in the house.

It was a truly eerie opening that gave me shivers. It also made me eager to see if the author continued that feeling through the story.

No spoiler alert – it’s there.

The story is told in three parts with Eva’s perspective first, then Nancy’s, then both of them wrap up to the end.

It’s an effective structure and allows the reader to have a clear understanding of the characters’ mindsets as the plot winds its way toward the conclusion.

There are twists and revelations that I don’t want to talk about because I don’t want to give anything away. But each of the main characters is fully fleshed out, and the author ensures that the reader feels and empathizes with them.

I didn’t relate to any of them, but that was okay because in this case I don’t think it was necessary to identify with a character or situation in order to enjoy the book.

Eva’s desire for the truth and Nancy’s perspective on past events are all just there for the reader’s enjoyment. No great messages or particularly deep thoughts. There’s a tendency to look too hard for that sometimes.

This was just plain good, moody plotting. I was so caught up in it that a few times there were loud noises around my house that made me jump.

I really don’t want to talk myself into a corner by discussing further plot points, but the author wraps everything up neatly and believably by the end of the book.

I’d definitely recommend this atmospheric, creepy psych thriller.

Author Bio:

Rona lives on the Isle of Man with her husband, two dogs and three guinea pigs. She has been a bookworm since she was a child and now she’s actually creating stories of her own, which still feels like a dream come true. 

She is an outdoorsy person and loves stomping up a mountain, walking the coastal paths and exploring the wonderful beaches on the Island while she’s plotting how to kill off her next victim. She also makes sure she deletes her Google history on a regular basis, because… well, you can’t be too careful when you spend your life researching new and ingenious ways for people to die.

She has three children and two step-children who are now grown up and leading varied and interesting lives, which provides plenty of ideas for new stories!

Only You-Blog Tour (Review)-Psychological Thriller-Available Now

I’ve been a fan of this author for a while, as you can tell from my past reviews (search this blog with the author’s name and you can see all of them). She usually has an interesting build-up and pretty decent suspense.

The latest release from her is no exception.

I’ll admit that it took me a little while to get into the book. I thought the first few chapters seemed scattered, and I was having a difficult time figuring out who the characters were, who was important, and how they all connected.

But by the time Hadley’s sister shows up (very early on) I had it all straightened out and had formed opinions about the various characters.

Kenny was creepy, Faith was beyond annoying (but obviously for a reason) and Deborah knew more than she was telling (or maybe even more than she thought she knew because of her condition).

But was any of it real, or were they all just artificial fronts? You’d have to read the book to find out.

It took me a couple of chapters, but I caught on to where the intermittent fairy tale chapters fit in pretty quickly. I originally had two guesses but discounted one almost immediately, so it was interesting to see how the author worked it all together.

There were a few moments that required the complete suspension of disbelief, parts that didn’t seem as well fleshed out. They didn’t detract from the overall story, but they were noticeable. And frankly, I didn’t care for the ending too much. But that could very well just be a personal thing.

Overall, I thought this was a good psych thriller with some unique aspects that wrapped up neatly.

About Cathryn Grant:

Cathryn Grant writes psychological thrillers, psychological suspense, and ghost stories. She’s the author of twenty-three novels.  

She’s loved crime fiction all her life and is endlessly fascinated by the twists and turns, and the dark corners of the human mind.  

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. 

Cathryn is the author of The Assistant, The Good Mother and many other psychological thrillers. Only You will be her sixth novel published with Inkubator Books.

The Influencer-Blog Tour (Review)-Psychological Thriller-Available Now

Karma.

That’s the word that kept repeating itself as I read this fine psychological thriller from one of my favorite authors.

The prologue gave me the first clue that we were going to be dealing with a very demented mind, but it took a while into the book to realize just how twisted the “speaker” was.

I thought the set up was very well-done and an excellent choice to base the story on. Honestly, I don’t think the plot would have worked any other way.

There are other reviews and blurbs where you can get a rehash of what happens. But I want to talk about something that really hit me while reading.

We now live in a world where reality is only what each individual makes of it. Let me see if I can explain.

Skye is a social media influencer. In real life, we already know that anyone with that title is paid to “like” or endorse products that they probably don’t even use on a regular basis.

So, right there, we know that she peddles a false reality to her millions of followers.

How fitting.

We also see how easily young people are swayed by these influencers. Nathan’s (and Sacha’s) absences leave Chloe and Isla at loose ends. Admittedly, the absences are caused for different reasons, but still, the gap is there.

The void is filled by people who peddle this false reality. Really, in my opinion, social media influencers are nothing more than modern day snake oil salesmen. They’re also narcissistic, some to a point of psychosis.

I think that’s part of what the author was getting at as this was clearly illustrated – at least to me.

Nathan gets it also. He is portrayed as decidedly old school and certainly uncool in his daughters’ eyes. But he is from a generation that understand substance over style and flash.

He sees the manipulation even before he is dragged into the middle of it.

There were some minor things that caught my eye. A few passages were repetitive (ie Nathan wanting to put his arms around Marie and hug her) Nathan’s conversation with a homeless person had promise but then was dropped. I expected more of that but understand why the author used the tactic.  

The ending felt rushed. There was fantastic build-up but then everything came to a head and was over very quickly. Although, this is when my brain really started yelling “karma!”

That being said, the final chapter was a great way to wrap everything up and was extremely illustrative of the manipulation that narcissists employ to keep people under their control. If it weren’t for the last chapter, I would have felt a bit of a let-down.

I definitely recommend this book for its commentary both on homelessness and social media influence.

And really, it’s a cautionary tale of both.  

Twitter: MirandaRijks 
Facebook: MirandaRijksAuthor/ 

About Miranda Rijks:

Miranda Rijks is a writer of psychological thrillers and suspense novels. She has an eclectic background ranging from law to running a garden centre. She’s been writing all of her life and has a Masters in writing. A couple of years ago she decided to ditch the business plans and press releases and now she’s living the dream, writing suspense novels full time. She lives in Sussex, England with her Dutch husband, musician daughter and black Labrador.

Miranda is the author of The Arrangement, Roses are Red and many other psychological thrillers. THE INFLUENCER will be her eleventh novel published with Inkubator Books.

My Little Girl-Books On Tour (Review)-Psychological Thriller-Available Now

This psych thriller had some good and bad points.

The good: some truly tense moments, great interspersed third-party perspectives, and a few unforeseen twists.

The bad: there were long passages where not a lot happened other than characters fretting about what was going on.

I suppose in hindsight, that’s not really a bad thing, but some of them seemed to be more inward based (ie a character worrying about something) and that did nothing to propel the plot.

I knew right from the start that something wasn’t right about the whole event that kicks off the book. I think that was the point.

The author did throw in enough red herrings that I found myself suspecting pretty much every character at one point or another. I like when an author can keep me guessing.

I thought that there was some unevenness with the way the story was told. For example, there were times that we got to see a text message that a character received and other times we were just told that one had been received.

I think it might have been more effective if every text message had been relayed in the same manner.

As far as the main characters, I felt most sympathetic towards Jill. She didn’t do a lot to help herself, but it seemed as if a lot of her actions were based in the grief of having lost her husband and being at loose ends.

I did think that a few of the things she did seemed out of character, even for what we knew of her, but given the ending, I understand why the author chose for them to happen.

I actually didn’t like Claire. I thought she was pretty self-centered. I mean, I know she was worried about her kid, but she really didn’t come across as if she would have been nice even before the events of the book.

And I certainly didn’t get the attraction of Ollie. Of the main characters, I think he was the least clear to me. This wasn’t great because apparently, he was quite the man (given how the book all wraps up).

I just didn’t see anything that showed me he was as amazing as he was made out to be.

All of that being said, the book did keep me guessing and the author smartly wrapped up all of the plot threads and red herrings in a believable manner. And there is a decent twist at the end. So, I would recommend this book.

Facebook: shaliniboland
Instagram: shaboland
Twitter: @ShaliniBoland

Author Bio:
Shalini lives in Dorset, England with her husband, two children and Jess their cheeky terrier cross. Before kids, she was signed to Universal Music Publishing as a singer songwriter, but now she spends her days writing suspense thrillers (in between school runs and hanging out endless baskets of laundry).

No Place Like Home-Blog Tour (Review)-Psychological Thriller-Available Now

This was a challenging read for me. On the one hand there was a lot of spooky build up, but it started so slowly that I almost gave up on it.

I guess the first thing that I can say is to stick with it, because it does eventually start to all make sense and ended up being a suspenseful psych thriller.

Let’s get the so-so out of the way (because none of it was actually bad). There is a lot of set-up in the first few chapters, and it took me quite a while to start putting the pieces together.

In addition to the family moving to a new area, there seemed to be tension between various family members. This was another thing that was not totally clear to me at the onset but made more sense further on in the book.

In a way, that was really the only challenge – getting through the set-up to where everything took off and it became more interesting.

Because it did get very interesting.

There are enough reviews out there that detail the things that happen to the family – even the blurb tells you some of them.

I’m just here to say that the author does a very good job of building the tension as these “tricks” get more sinister and Bram tries to keep his family together even as he realizes there are things he doesn’t know.

When this started to happen, I almost felt claustrophobic because I knew that the terror was building but couldn’t figure out where it was all going to break.

It ended up with a few surprises, and I’m glad I stuck with it.

About Jane Renshaw:

As a child, Jane spent a lot of time in elaborate Lego worlds populated by tiny plastic animals and people. Crime levels were high, especially after the Dragon brothers set themselves up as vets and started murdering the animals in their ‘care’. (They got away with it by propping the victims up with Plasticine and pretending they were still alive…)

As an adult, she is still playing in imaginary worlds and putting her characters through hell – but now she can call it ‘writing’ and convince herself that she is doing something sensible. In real life, she has a PhD in genetics and copy-edits scientific and medical journals.
Jane is the author of Watch Over Me. NO PLACE LIKE HOME will be her third novel published with Inkubator Books.

I Am Here to Kill You-Blog Tour (Review)-Psychological Thriller-Available Now

Every once in a while, I come across a book that doesn’t just keep me guessing but makes me wonder what the hell is going on – not figuring it all out until the closing pages.

This is one of those books.

Full disclosure, I had a hard time getting through the beginning because after a bang-up opener (almost literally), the author immediately switches gears to introducing multiple characters.

The chapters themselves were not confusing as the perspective jumped between them. But it all seemed disjointed, and I kept wondering what they had to do with each other and how it all tied to the opening chapter.

I’m glad I stuck with it though, because at about 40% I started to see the connections. At that point, I realized how clever the author had been at the beginning, slowly revealing bits and pieces that seemed innocuous but were actually quite telling.

Well done on that.

At halfway through, everything started to become clear – to paraphrase one of the characters, the pieces started to fall into place.

From there to the end, it became quite a page-turner, as the motivations of certain characters became clearer, and events occurred that shined even more light on how everything was connected.

I did think that there were a few times that the author went a bit heavy on the “men are horrible” theme. I get why it was important to the plot, but a few times I felt “enough already.”

However, I also thought that the way one character manipulated others was masterful. The reader got a little bit of insight that the characters didn’t, which added to the mystery of motivation.

This quite the psych thriller with twists and connections you absolutely won’t see coming. Take everything in at the beginning and you’ll truly enjoy the latter half of the book much more.

About Chris Westlake: After completing a Creative Writing course in 2010, Chris Westlake’s short story, Welsh Lessons, was awarded 1st place in the Global Short Story Award (not bad for the first writing competition he had entered). He followed this up with 1st place in the Stringybark Erotic Fiction Award and 2nd place in the HASSRA Literary Award.

Chris has written three novels. 30 DAYS IN JUNE is his first crime thriller. He is currently writing his second thriller, on schedule to be completed in 2020. He is determined to write many, many more – his main regret is that he didn’t start writing earlier.

Chris considers himself to be a developing author. He is always looking to improve, to make his next novel even better than the last. He is continuously experimenting with different styles, different genres.

My Husband’s Girlfriend-Books On Tour (Review)-Psychological Thriller-Available Now

This psych thriller had a few things going for it, but at times it almost seemed like there were two books in one.

The main thrust of the book was about Sarah and her son Ollie. Her ex, Steve, has a new girlfriend, Laura, who takes an inordinate interest in Ollie. Sarah may also have a new love interest in Joe, who has baggage of his own.

Does Laura have a past? Is she just crazy? Is there something else in play? Does Steve know everything or is she hiding things? What about Joe’s ex?

As there are more strange incidents, Sarah starts to question everything about Laura, but always with Ollie’s safety in mind.

That makes up the heart of the story, but in the middle of all of that Laura’s mom shows up. It’s pretty apparent (and not a spoiler) to say that all is not right between Laura and her mom.

But who is telling the truth?

For the most part, everything worked well together, and I was very invested in finding out where the twists were going to head next.

Each time Sarah had a new question, and she asked Steve or Laura about it, I felt her frustration when she wasn’t taken seriously and even blown off. It was hard to tell if she was being gaslighted or not. I liked that uncertainty.

What was less successful for me was the conflict between Laura and her mother. While it did keep me guessing I thought that it could have used a bit more depth and explanation. The resolution did not seem complete to me and the explanation fell short.

I felt the same about Joe’s baggage. I don’t want to say more about it, because there were a few good twists there as well, but it also suffered from lack of depth. There wasn’t enough info for me to believe all that went on.

In spite of these two things, I still thought the book was very good and it kept me engaged until the very last pages. I would certainly recommend it.

P.S. This book had a title change from The Whisper (which I thought was a pivotal aspect and it fit) to the current title. I’ll admit I’m a bit confused about it, because it seems to put the focus on a totally different aspect of the book.

I dunno…maybe I’m missing something there. Not a big deal, just thought I’d mention it.

Author Bio:

Bestselling Author, Sheryl Browne, writes taut, twisty psychological thriller. A member of the Crime Writers’ Association, Sheryl has several books published and two short stories in Birmingham City University anthologies where she completed her MA in Creative Writing. Sheryl has also obtained a Certificate of Achievement in Forensic Science and – according to readers – she makes an excellent psychopath. Sheryl’s latest psychological thriller MY HUSBAND’S GIRLFRIEND comes to you from BOOKOUTURE. Her previous works include the DI Matthew Adams Crime Thriller series, along with contemporary fiction novels, The Rest of My Life and Learning to Love.

Somebody Out There-Blog Tour (Review)-Psychological Thriller-Available Now

What could have been a run-of-the-mill psych thriller is elevated by atmosphere.

I know that sounds a little convoluted, but in the case of this book, I truly felt that the location played a huge part in making this a better than average story.

It was easy to be sympathetic to the family at the center of this story. Anybody who has ever moved knows how difficult it can be to adjust to a new location.

When you move from the city to the countryside, it becomes even more difficult. There’s a different attitude, different way of thinking, and (often) the locals have a commonly-held opinion about “city people.”

(I’ve been on both ends of this stick, so it all seemed familiar).

Fortunately, I’ve never had someone actively try to terrorize me or my family as happens to Ben and Deborah.

I thought the author did a great job of weaving the story so that it was never quite clear if there was a personal vendetta (due to Deborah’s job) or if it was a crazy townsperson.

Some of the tactics made me cringe, as I could imagine the horror that they would produce in real life. I’m not going to give details, because they could be considered spoilers. But the tactics do get VERY personal.

As I mentioned at the beginning, the location adds to the atmosphere. It’s not that they’re totally remote because they’re close to town but going from a city to that can be jarring and put someone on the defensive.

I also think that with the Irish countryside there’s an added level of remoteness. That could be my memory of a visit decades ago, but with the history and mysticism that are connected to the land, there’s an additional level of eeriness.

The book was a page-turner and the whole plot wraps up satisfyingly. I know this review seems vague, but I really can’t share what the family goes through and how they deal with it without giving stuff away.

And I hate doing that. So, I’m just going to say that this is a good psych thriller that plays up atmosphere in a most effective way.

About Kevin Lynch:

Kevin is a Guidance Counselor by day and a thriller author during his off hours. He puts an original slant on some common experiences and creates engaging stories with a personal twist. Kevin lives in Ireland with three great kids and a wife who makes him laugh, which is really all he could ask for. 

Invisible Victim-Cover Reveal-Psychological Thriller-Coming Soon!

Ready for a good psych thriller? Take a look at this brief excerpt:

‘Let me out! Please!’ I shouted, banging on the door. How had I got here? What day was it? I couldn’t remember anything. But I knew I had become the fifth woman to be abducted.

As my eyes adjust to the darkness, I’m filled with dread. Everything looks just like the others described: a small hole in the door, a mattress and a narrow window allowing only a small chink of light. The jewellery given to me by my loving husband has gone and I’m in someone else’s clothes.

Just days before, I had interviewed the third victim for the local paper. She couldn’t stop shaking. Her story was the same as those before her: an ordinary woman, locked away for ten days then released with no explanation, and nothing – nothing she could think of – to link her to the others. Throughout the ordeal, her abductor stayed eerily silent.

I tell myself I’ll be safe in ten days. But I can’t help thinking of the fourth victim who is still missing. And then I hear the voice coming through the door. “You said everything would be fine. But it wasn’t was it?” It is then that I realise. If I am to make it out alive, I need to revisit a dark secret of my own that I have spent a lifetime trying to forget.

An absolutely unputdownable psychological thriller with a truly brilliant twist, perfect for fans of Teresa Driscoll, T.M. Logan and C.L. Taylor.

Catch your attention? Then how about the cover?

I’ll certainly have this one on my TBR when it releases on June 28th!

AUTHOR INFO:

My novels take you to the heart of the crime. I write police procedurals, psychological suspense and crime dramas – fiction with a punch. Shortlisted for the prestigious CWA (Crime Writer’s Association) Dagger in Library Award, my inspiration comes from authors such as Martina Cole, Lisa Jewell, Mandasue Heller and Clare Mackintosh.

To date, I’ve sold 1.6 million books. All fifteen of my crime novels have been bestsellers, each one climbing into the Kindle UK top 10 and I’ve had several number ones. I’ve also had numerous Kindle All-star awards, for best read author and best titles.

I live in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, with my husband and terrier, Dexter (named after the TV serial killer) and make liberal use of my hometown as a backdrop for some of my books. You can find out more at my website www.melsherratt.co.uk or I’m on Twitter at @writermels

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