Author: Alex Michaelides

Publisher: Celadon Books

Release Date: May 4, 2021

A deeply troubling psychological thriller that will leave readers guessing until the very end.

After being found with her dead husband’s body, Alicia Berenson refuses to speak and is sent to a psych ward. The mystery of what happened and why has yet to be solved by any of her doctors or therapist until Theo Faber shows up and wants to work with Alicia. As Theo tries to uncover what happened to Alicia and how he can help her, the case gets even more and more complicated with each and every turn.

I have had this on my shelf for a long time and just now decided to pick it up and read it. Many good reviews saying this was a hit, but I had a hard time with it and felt it more of a lackluster read than a hit. There was a lot of back and forth in timelines and points of view which did help the pacing of the story. I tried to find a connection with the characters but struggled. I did connect with Alicia, but Theo wasn’t my jam. I did like the way it played out at the end, even though it left me with more questions than answers, the twists and turns were nice but also had a few eye roll moments. While this wasn’t my cup of tea I do feel like it will be enjoyed by many.

I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher.  The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

Author: Pip Drysdale

Publisher: Gallery Books

Release Date: December 3, 2024

A thriller with deep dark twists all the way to the last pages.

Zoe Ann Weiss was hoping to make it big as a writer after moving to Los Angeles. She meets an up and coming actor, Zach and the hit it off, or so she thought, when he ghosts her and then her debut novel doesn’t hit it big like she had hoped. She takes a job at a flower shop to make it until she can come up with her next book. It’s been three years since she last saw Zach when she runs into him again and they quickly start back up where they left off. He was the inspiration for her first novel, and she is hoping he can be her muse once more in order to help her writing career before it all falls apart. Before they can make it very far in their relationship photos get leaked and Zoe is faced with a stalker that has been harassing Zach. The stalked uses points from Zoe’s book to attack her and if she gets to the end of the book, it might be too late for her to have another chapter.

I had high hopes for The Close-Up, I really did, but it fell flat for me. The crass language was just there as more of a shock point, it wasn’t needed, made me frustrated to be honest. It didn’t do anything for the story other than take away my interest. The last 50-100 pages were well done with the tension and keeping me interested, other than that I really didn’t care about the characters or what was going to happen. Honestly, I don’t think I can recommend this one to many readers because it wasn’t done very well in my opinion.

I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher.  The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

Author: Amina Akhtar

Publisher: Mindy’s Book Studio

Release Date: February 1, 2024

Almost Surely Dead exceeded my expectations with a fun and thrilling read.

Dunia Ahmed has lived an ordinary life until it all changed and she finds herself in hiding and the center of a crime podcast. She has worked as a pharmacist in New York and trying to get over a failed engagement and then someone tries to kill her. From there, her life spirals into a crazy turn of events that will keep her running and those around her in danger.

I was intrigued by this one and when I picked it up, I wasn’t sure how it would end up but found myself pleasantly surprised by the twists and turns. The way the author played out the way Dunia found herself in danger and why was so well done, I found myself turning the pages faster and faster to see what was going to be the outcome. The different sections of interviews with those close to Dunia made the story much more interesting and entertaining. This was a full-on psychological thriller and readers that want a fun read that will keep them on the edge of their seat will not want to miss this one.

I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher.  The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

Author: Frieda McFadden

Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press

Release Date: December 5, 2023

Another fantastic thriller from Freida McFadden! Readers will fly through the pages.

Tricia and Ethan are enjoying the honeymoon phase of their marriage and looking for the house to grow old in. When the house that once belonged to Dr. Adrienne Hale comes up for sale, they take a look and end up trapped during a winter storm. The longer they are trapped in the house the stranger things become. Tricia finds tapes of sessions with Dr. Hale and starts to learn more about the disappearance of Dr. Hale. The storm rages on and with it the danger Tricia and Ethan find themselves in, not only from the storm but also within the house itself.

Each Freida McFadden I pick up makes me think there is no chance it will be better than the last and each time I am proven wrong. McFadden is a top-notch thriller writer that has put a smile on my face with each new book and the way she is able to pull off such great twists and turns.  The way she crafted the characters in this one and how it all tied back in the end was so beautifully done. Tricia and Ethan had me hooked from the first page and I flew through the pages so fast I couldn’t wait to see how it played out in the end. I can’t wait to see what she comes up with in the next book of hers I pick up. I would recommend this to readers that love a good psychological thriller.

Author: Freida McFadden

Series: The Housemaid #2

Publisher: Bookoture

Release Date: February 15, 2023

A fantastic follow up to one of the best thrillers I’ve read in a very long time.

Millie finds it hard to get a new job after what happened with her last and her past. When she can find an employer who doesn’t look into her past too much, she jumps at the chance. When the Garricks’ hire her to clean their expensive penthouse, she gets to work but quickly realizes things are not what they seem when she isn’t allowed in the guest bedroom and hears crying behind the closed door. When she does meet Mrs. Garrick, she knows that this job will be like the ones she has previously done that she uses a particular set of skills to help those in need.

The Housemaid hooked my from page one and when I saw there was a second book with Millie I decided I had to get my hands on it. Freida McFadden is becoming a new favorite thriller writer for me. The way she can craft a story with such twists and turns that kept surprising me was amazing. So many books I read now-a-days are predictable and somewhat boring, that was not the case with these books. I loved the suspense, twists and turns and all the surprises that kept me on the edge of my seat. This is the best kind of thriller book, so intense, engaging, and full of great writing. I did not connect with all the characters as well as I did with the first book but still loved Millie and her spunk. I recommend this book for readers that love suspense thrillers with a good psychological twist.

Author: Rebecca Hanover

Publisher: Lake Union Publishing

Release Date: October 24, 2023

An intense thriller that had very big twists and turns that I was not expecting.

Audrey Singer is the admissions director at a prestigious Manhattan private school and is gearing up for her busy season with applicants vying for the few open spots available. She and her husband Luke have their two kids at the school and look like the perfect family. This is something that Sarah Price is eager to attain when she sends in her application for her son to attend kindergarten there. Sarah, like Audrey, has her own dark secrets and the more she works her way into Audrey’s life the harder it is to keep those secrets hidden, and as they start to come to light, it changes everything.

Wow, not sure what else to say about this book but wow. The further I got into this one, the more I was surprised by the direction the story was headed. If I could have taken out a good quarter of the story that wasn’t my cup of tea, it would have been great. The beginning was a perfect set up and the ending was very well done; the rest wasn’t what I would have hoped for. I do think Rebecca Hanover is a good writer and did a good job with a lot of the story, I just wasn’t into the way the middle went. If you are a reader that enjoys mystery and suspense with good plot twists this will be one you don’t want to miss.

I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher.  The views and opinions expressed within are my own.