I can’t remember where I found this mystery, but I was looking for something to get me out of a book slump, and while the first half flowed pretty well, the twists in the second half really just didn’t land for me. So, not the book for me, but might be for you!
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What I liked:
– Audiobook narration is fantastic
– Descriptive imagery & narration that gives a tense sense of foreboding
– The idea of a mystery unfolding in a picturesque mountain cabin setting
– Some unexpected twists at the end
What I didn’t like:
– I couldn’t connect to the characters on this one and found nearly all of them to pretty unlikable, making it hard for me to get connected to the story. This could also have heavily impacted my thoughts on pacing and distinctiveness below
– Please keep in mind I like very fast-paced books, but this one felt too slow for me. Especially in the first half.
– I didn’t really feel like this one had that memorable spike that’ll keep me thinking about it. I almost felt like I’d read this story (or more likely, one that was very similar) before.
So, yeah, unfortunately, I don’t think this one wasn’t really for me, but if you’re looking for a tense, wintry thriller, this book may be for you! Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the audiobook!
⭐⭐⭐½
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What I liked:
The MCs were likable
The premise was interesting
What I disliked:
The pacing just felt a little too slow for me
I didn’t feel like we got as much closure as I wanted
I feel like the big twist was too heavily foreshadowed
Recommended for anyone looking with a YA thriller with an interesting premise.
⭐⭐⭐ ½
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So this one was a quick-paced crime novel with an element of mystery. From the blurb and the title, I was honestly expecting more of a thriller centered around discovering the Nagy’s son’s fate, but it actually took a different path from the first chapter.
This book really encompasses two intertwining stories unfolding in parallel – one of the events leading up to the fire and one of the events that unfold after as the characters involved piece together the story from different angles. It’s interesting because we almost get a spiral effect as we drill down from a big picture of the events to a more personal level with the myriad of characters involved. The writing and story were both easy to follow and held my attention, and I was definitely invested in the characters throughout.
Recommended for those looking for a broad-scoped crime novel with likable characters and a satisfying conclusion. Thanks to the author for the advance copy! What Happened to the Boy? is out today (🎉 And yes, I’m also really proud that I posted this review on time. 🎉) and you can grab it here!
⭐⭐⭐⭐
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This is my second Lisa Jewell book, and it gave me a very similar feeling to the first one. (The Night She Disappeared.) Although it held my attention, I couldn’t quite connect with the characters and didn’t find the (not-so-happy) ending to be as satisfying as I would’ve hoped. However, if you like unreliable main characters and a domestic mystery that runs a bit on the grittier side, check this one out!
⭐⭐⭐½
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Got the NetGalley audiobook widget for this one in my email and decided I was totally in the mood for a thriller. Totally turned out to be an excellent choice, because I really enjoyed this one. Loved the evocative writing, the twisting of several different mysteries, and the seamless blending of science and paranormal. I really enjoyed Vivi Buchet’s character and complexities as well as her back and forth with Jesse Sharp in a very subtly changing relationship (even though I thought the shift at the end was a little abrupt or sudden.) The only thing that I didn’t like was Vivi’s weird relationship with Mike and her sister. I didn’t feel like it added a whole lot to the story and it just seemed uncomfortable and odd. Luckily, it was one minor element, with so much good to balance it out. I was totally drawn in to the whole story, and found the ending extremely satisfying. Would totally read the sequel if there ever was one. Thanks to NetGalley & the publisher for the free copy! (Which reminds me, the narration was excellent. Definitely one of my favorite narrators.)
⭐⭐⭐⭐¾
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I was definitely in the mood for a dark thriller, when Netgalley sent me an email with this audiobook ARC. What Lies in the Woods follows Naomi when she returns to her childhood town where she was the victim of an attempted murder that put a serial killer behind bars.
The tension and dark atmosphere is thick right from the beginning and definitely drew me in with the obvious mysteries lurking in Naomi’s story. However, I didn’t really find Naomi to be a compelling character – she’s super self-destructive and honestly just frustrating sometimes – and I had trouble to connecting to her. Mostly I got annoyed when she kept actually saying out loud “I know I should go to the police BUT…” or “I know I should do the logical thing BUT…”
However, I found the mysteries here to be really satisfying, and there were definitely some twists and turns along the way that I didn’t expect (and some I did). I wish the ending had been a touch more uplifting and less open-ended, but overall I enjoyed the read (and the narration was fantastic) and would recommend to those looking for a dark thriller with few gratifying surprises.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC! What Lies in the Woods comes out today!
⭐⭐⭐⭐
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So Netgalley dropped two thrillers in my inbox on the same happy day, and while I was certainly in the mood for a thriller, this wasn’t my favorite of the two. All the Dangerous Things follows a sleep-deprived mother a year after her son has gone missing as she (understandably) is still obsessing over the very-cold case. The narrative is also interspliced with relevant scenes from Isabelle’s childhood as well as how she and her estranged husband first came together.
First, I found this novel to be rather slow (though disclaimer: I prefer a breakneck pace, so please keep that in mind). With no leads and not a whole lot of urgency, I found the tension hard to feel for most of this book. Not to mention, Isabelle is NOT a good person, so I found her hard to relate to as a character. Even as the story took some interesting twists and turns, I feel like she had a very detached reaction to them. While the books ends on a nice up-note, it still felt like some very messy things were put away a little too cleanly, and I wish we’d gotten some more depth from the supporting characters.
However, if you like psychological thrillers that take their time, this book is well-written and well-narrated with plenty of dark atmosphere and a karmic ending. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC! All the Dangerous Things comes out today!
⭐⭐⭐½
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Beneath her Skin by C.S. Porter follows Kes Morris, a hardened homicide detective called to a small seaside town to investigate a disturbing murder. This a fast-paced murder mystery that hits all the right beats. It’s a gripping story, tugging you along as the time clicks down on the clock with an underlying sense of creepiness laced in with every scene.
Kes’s take on getting into the killer’s head is really interesting, and the intensity increases right up to a satisfyingly finale. Although the murders are definitely disturbing, I wouldn’t classify them as exceedingly gory or gritty, which is about right on my level. The descriptions, setting, and atmosphere of a small town living in the shadow of killer were vivid and drew me right in to the scenes. While I couldn’t predict the plot twists, they felt really natural and were well-executed. . Kes is a smart and no-nonsense character, but I wish I’d gotten to see a little more of the side characters.
Overall, this was a quick read that I definitely enjoyed, and would totally recommend to crime thriller fans! (Content Warning: Child Abuse.) Thanks so much to the publisher for the free review copy.
⭐⭐⭐⭐1⁄2
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Okay, you got me. I was totally prepared for a twist, but I still didn’t guess it! Love it when that happens. Still, this book leaves a strange aftertaste. The premise follows a couple with a strained relationship that’s won a free vacation in a creepy, restored chapel in the Scottish highlands and are using the getaway to try to put their relationship back together before it ends in divorce.
Meanwhile, we get their history through a series of letters written on every anniversary. We also get the POV of a third player at work here, who has unknown intentions for the couple.
It is really hard to review this one without giving anything away, but suffice to say, all the characters have secrets, and at the end, I’m pretty sure I don’t like any of them. 😂 Still, I enjoyed the ride, and would recommend to anyone looking for a fast-paced suspense. However, I will say, if you already know the twist, I don’t think it would be nearly as fun.
⭐⭐⭐⭐1⁄4
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Hayley Reese Chow 