Thriller Archives

March 19, 2023March 19, 2023

One Last Secret-Parks-Thriller-Available Now

One Last Secret by Adele Parks

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

One Last Secret by Adele Parks took me on quite a ride. I didn’t know what to expect at any given time, and I like that in a thriller. In fact, I usually don’t like super-gonzo twists, but in this case, the ones that occurred were just plausible enough to keep them from being too over-the-top. Dora was an interesting character, hardened by life but still caring enough to help a friend out – at her own peril. The author carefully chooses when to reveal another piece of Dora’s puzzle so that it coincides with what is occurring in the present narrative.

I didn’t really guess any of the twists (except for what was going on at the chateau – and even then, I was only partially right). The last third of the book – where everything starts to come together – was definitely a roller coaster. I didn’t know what to expect at any given point, and (as I mentioned) the twists were just believable enough to be entertaining. I would definitely recommend One Last Secret and will continue to look for more from Adele Parks. This review was written based on a digital copy of the book from MIRA. For more reviews, please visit Fireflies and Free Kicks Fiction Reviews

March 13, 2023March 13, 2023

Gone Tonight-Pekkanen-Thriller-Coming in August

When I started reading Gone Tonight, the new thriller by Sarah Pekkanen, I thought that the story was going to be completely different than what it actually turned out to be.

I assumed it was going to be a mother/daughter story detailing a mother’s declining health. Maybe some psychological twists along the way.

What it was instead was a story of resilience, deceit, and a little bit of farfetched mayhem.

All of it made for a good story that kept me guessing.

I particularly liked how the author took the reader along with Catherine through her journey with her mom, Ruth. Then there is a transition before focusing more on Ruth’s point of view.

The switch is gradual, so it is not jarring. In fact, I really didn’t even register it until I began writing this review. It was sly and very effective.

Gone Tonight Sarah Pekkanen thriller book cover

I don’t want to give plot points away. There are enough subtle twists (along with bigger ones) that can easily be identified. And that would ruin the carefully planned surprises.

The way Ruth’s story unfolds was realistic. If someone has a deep, dark secret hidden for many years, it isn’t easy to reveal it. The way the reader learns Ruth’s history leads to the gut-wrenching impact of a formative event.

This reveal is written in a way that totally takes the reader by surprise, both in its intensity and ferocity. It also lays a foundation for why Ruth does not want her secret to be known. Even by her own daughter. Because, reasons.

While there were some moments that required a suspension of disbelief, I thought that it all wrapped up neatly. Well, not exactly. Because the author wisely leaves both Ruth and Catherine’s futures open to interpretation.

And that’s life. Even if one problem is resolved, that doesn’t mean life is smooth sailing. In fact, there may be more questions that arise.

That’s all I’m going to say about that (before I DO start to give things away).

Sarah Pekkanen is one of my favorite authors. Gone Tonight is the kind of thriller that keeps me coming back for more of her work.

February 23, 2023February 8, 2023

It’s One of Us-Ellison-Thriller-Available Now

One of the things I like to do with a book – especially a thriller – is figure out where the title fits into the story, and I love when I realize that it could apply in multiple ways. It’s One of Us by J.T. Ellison is an exemplary case of that.

I’ll admit right off the bat I had a little bit of trouble with the first part. I understand that Olivia is devastated by the personal event. But her introspection and internal narration are extensive.

Glad I did stick with it, though, because after the first few chapters, the plot really takes off, and I found myself completely drawn into the story.

There are several questions posed in this book (think, can you return to who you once were, and how long should a couple hang on to false hope), but I think the main one is nature vs. nurture.

Fitting when IVF is the main driver of the plot. And no, that’s not a spoiler. The author has a personal investment in this aspect, which lends credence and a level of seriousness to the arc.

Come to think of it, I’m pretty sure that Olivia probably has a lot of the author’s emotions and thoughts. That’s understandable.

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At any rate, the other parts of the story are what I personally found more compelling. Park is a narcissistic jerk. Scarlett is too precocious for her own good. Darby seems to be at a loss a lot of the time. But that last one is understandable too.

There are some plot points that I think are either weak. Darby’s support group is more of an afterthought, as is Scarlett’s “Halves” group. Neither one of those gets a satisfying conclusion.

And I reread the passages involving Annie Cottrell three times – still not sure exactly what happened to her. I mean, I know from the end how the person was involved – but not what caused it initially. And yeah, that’s a little cagey, so there’s no spoiler.

I also think that Lauren and Perry got the shaft. They were an afterthought in the bigger scheme of things. In fact, at one point, I thought Lauren might have had a bigger role in the thriller aspect of Annie’s situation. That would have been a cool twist and an additional facet of nature or nurture.

For the record, given my family history and experience with adoption, I find nurture to be more prevalent, but nature does have its role as well.

At any rate, It’s One of Us is a solid thriller. J.T. Ellison remains one of my one-click authors. Don’t miss this one.

February 8, 2023January 16, 2023

The Suspect-Croft-Thriller-Available Now

The Suspect by Kathryn Croft is a thriller that does just enough to make it a page-turner. I read it in one sitting.

Jess was only two when her mother Lori was killed, and Jess has spent her entire life believing one person was responsible.

However, when that person shows up years later professing their innocence, Jess has questions. This sets her off on a mission to uncover the truth.

I liked Jess. I could understand both her desire and reluctance to learn the truth. Her actions and reactions felt realistic, and I could see myself making some of the same decisions that she did.

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I also liked the way the plot unfolded. Interspersing Lori’s experiences leading up to her death gave insight into her frame of mind, which gave the reader an interesting perspective to bring into the current timeline with Jess.

Even the secondary characters served their purposes, especially in Lori’s case. Her family…well, they must be experienced to be believed.

While I thought that the truth was obvious, I was surprised to learn that I was only partially correct. The author did just enough to keep me guessing throughout, changing my mind about the guilty party numerous times.

And even when you think you’ve figured everything out and the author has wrapped everything up – there’s still another twist to come.

I really enjoyed The Suspect and will be eagerly waiting for the next thriller from Kathryn Croft.

January 12, 2023January 12, 2023

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.

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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.

December 18, 2022December 4, 2022

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.

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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.

December 10, 2022December 10, 2022

Behind Closed Doors-Wyer-Thriller-Available Now

Just when I think that Carol Wyer has created the ultimate mystery/thriller novel, she outdoes herself. As much as I love her other series, I think Behind Closed Doors may be my new favorite.

I don’t know if it’s because it’s a stand-alone or just because she’s that good. At any rate, I’ll put it out right here that this should 100% be on your TBR list.

You can read the blurb for the basics. Stacey survived a horrific experience when she was younger and has long since buried the memories of that time. However, when her ex shows up and says his daughter Lyra (Stacey’s ex-stepdaughter) is missing, events are too similar for Stacey to ignore.

Is the person responsible for Stacey’s horror the same person who took Lyra? Is it a copycat? Or is the truth more nefarious?

Yeah, right, like I’m going to give ANY of that away!

One area where this author really excels is in making the reader feel like they’re a part of the action. She really grabs you, reels you in, and keeps you on the hook as she keeps you running along with the characters.

She also treats her secondary characters with as much respect as her lead characters. Every one of them has their part to play. Nobody is superfluous. It just adds to the realism of her stories.

In this case, I loved the secondary characters almost more than the leads. Stacey knows a lot of people, some legit and some seriously shady, and I was thoroughly entertained seeing how each of them helped her along the way.

My challenge with these reviews is that I want to talk about the plot, but I don’t want to give away any of the several excellent moments in the story. I’ve said it in my reviews of her books before, but they’re just so smooth.

There are no last-minute revelations that come out of nowhere. Anything that happens has had ample groundwork laid for it. It’s totally on the reader if they don’t follow that path to the conclusion.

And hang on to your seat because there are revelations right up to the very last page.

I know this is supposed to be a stand-alone, but I’d love to see Stacey again.

Anyway, I can’t say enough good things about Behind Closed Doors. From the cover to the opening to the very last pages, Carol Wyer has created one humdinger of a mystery thriller.

December 6, 2022December 6, 2022

The Opportunist-Friedman-Thriller-Available Now

I can’t quite define The Opportunist by Elyse Friedman. I suppose it is part thriller, part family drama? But I’m not sure that accurately describes it.

Alana is pretty much estranged from her extremely wealthy family for reasons unknown until later in the book. And then more reasons appear even later in the plot. But more on that…later.

Her brothers worry about their place in the inheritance line when their father takes up with his much younger nurse. They ask for Alana’s help in breaking up the relationship in the most drastic way. “Messy family dynamics” doesn’t even begin to describe it.

I think that is one of the things that I didn’t get about the book – a lot of things seemed like they were overreactions to the actual situation. The family thrived on drama. I suppose there was a good reason, as we find out via flashbacks.

Turns out the family has always been a mess with a dark side.

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The chapters aren’t set up with titles so that the reader knows when they are and who is “remembering.” So, you kind of have to pay close attention to that.

Additionally, there are characters and situations that seem thrown in just because…with no real follow-through. And some things come out of nowhere.

For example, Alana’s daughter’s condition isn’t entirely necessary in the bigger scheme of things (unless I missed something somewhere). Stephen comes and goes for one thing. Gertrud also is a mystery, especially given the events at the end.

And don’t get me started on the “twist” about Ed. That felt extremely gratuitous like the author needed to have something contemporary to draw it all together. Oh, and Alana’s sister Lillian as well.

Frankly, the whole middle was muddled to me, like the author had a lot they wanted to put in but didn’t exactly know how to fit it all? And I guessed a major twist about halfway through. Although, to be fair, it was so messy that I wasn’t sure if I was right or not.

What’s funny, though, is that once I accepted that mess, I started looking at everything through a different lens, wondering if I was right and how the author was going to resolve it all.

Turns out that any one of the characters could have been the opportunist. And I liked the book better afterward than I did while I was reading it. Elyse Friedman has written an odd thriller that I would still recommend.

November 4, 2022October 30, 2022

The App-James-Horror-Thriller-Available Now

Plain ol’ horror is not usually my thing, but when I saw the description for The App by Stuart James, I knew I had to give it a try.

I am so glad I did. It was the perfect choice for the time of year. (This review is being written the weekend of Halloween).

Not only is it a solid horror/thriller, but it is also a searing commentary on social media and how careless people have become.

That said, it’s not preachy. The message is clear in the actions and reactions of the characters.

The setup is simple. People get a message from a friend, stating that if they want to win some money, they just have to click a link, download an app, and follow the instructions.

Sounds easy enough.

But you know from the genre that there is going to be so much more to it.

I don’t want to give anything away – look at the blurb for more info.

And while the horror aspects will satisfy any lover of the genre, I found myself more pulled in by the thriller aspect. Especially when it comes to the focus on social media.

I should probably throw in here that I currently work with people in cybersecurity. As such, my days are often spent finding the latest threats and summarizing them for shareholders and customers.

One of the most common threads of every data breach and cyberattack is human error. And that usually translates into “someone clicked a link that they shouldn’t have,” often from a text message or email.

So, when I saw that was the method for The App, I was intrigued…to say the least. Let it be a lesson to NEVER CLICK A LINK!!!

Anyway, the writing was sharp, the story was plotted well, and the action was consistent. My only complaint involves the backstory of the madman behind the misery of the app.

I thought it was plausible and quite detailed. However, it took me a while to figure out how it was fitting into the overall story. That’s a minor gripe, but still.

I don’t know that I’m a convert to the horror genre, but I definitely will be looking for the next book by Stuart James.

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July 10, 2022July 13, 2022

Out of Her Depth-Barber-Thriller-Available Now

Out of Her Depth by Lizzy Barber is a thriller that slow-burns its way through the plot. It recounts past events at a pace that builds dread to the point where I almost wanted to cover my eyes and read through my fingers because I couldn’t bear to see what was going to happen next.

Yes, it really was that good.

The reader knows from the start that there was a tragic accident that set Rachel’s life on a course of self-destruction. Rachel herself tells us that in the beginning. But the author wisely builds the backstory before getting to the actual event.

I don’t think I’ve ever waited so long for the payoff. I mean, once a certain character was introduced, I had a feeling I knew what the event was. But I still had to wait until almost the very end for confirmation.

THAT is the way to keep a reader hooked.

The chapters are set up in a fairly uniform manner, alternating consistently between then (the buildup to the event) and now (how Rachel is dealing with everything in the present).

No spoiler alert: Rachel is not dealing well at all.

One of the things that I liked most about this book is that it was difficult to tell if Rachel was reliable or not. She was certainly in awe of the situation that she found herself in. But was she to blame for the events, or was she used?

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That question comes up more often than you think, especially as Diana’s true attitudes come to light.

It really is a case study of how manipulation can occur on many different levels.

However, it also made it difficult to see who the true villain was in the story. Diana because of her machinations? Rachel for allowing herself to repeatedly fall into traps? Sebastian because of his general cluelessness and willingness to be a pawn?

They all have equal parts – although given the way the story ends (and no, you will NOT see it coming) I would say that Diana knew what she was doing even way back in the past. She just didn’t care.

Rachel truly was out of her depth all along; she just didn’t know how much until it was too late.

As I mentioned at the outset, this is a slow burn, so there are times when it might feel like it is dragging but trust me – those parts are important. Reading between the lines should be your mantra for this thriller.