Book Review: Don’t Feed the Beast: But Do Punish the Free-Riders (Triumvirate Book 1) by Solveig Larssen

19/05/202419/05/2024Dystopian, Political, Political Fiction, Science-Fiction, Speculative-Fiction, Suspense, ThrillerLeave a Comment

Book Details:

Author: Solveig Larssen
Release Date: March 1, 2024
Series: Triumvirate (Book #1)
Genre: Dystopian, Science Fiction, Political Fiction, Thriller
Format: E-book
Pages: 152 pages
Publisher: Ostkorridor Books
Blurb:
Mountainland, the richest, proudest, and freest nation in the world, has resorted to forming a militia and creating incarceration camps to stem the influx of migrants… Fjordland, the most civilised, equal, and just nation in the world, is falling apart, unable to accommodate its newfound diversity…
Meanwhile, life is getting worse on the Savannah and in the Jungle, with autocratic high-tech city-states and abundant cheap labour to exploit. Somewhere, amidst it all, only the rootless global technology organisations seem to prosper.
Eskild, the sympathetic Brotherhood bear, expelled and humiliated—is on his journey to visit his younger, liberal siblings, Dag and Selma. Justice has deteriorated in the world because Selma, to navigate the changes of globalisation, has abandoned her old ways.

If Eskild cannot persuade Selma to support a new order that promises peaceful coexistence among all parties, even with the sinister C-Cult, Fjordland will cease to be a liberal democracy. Globalisation will grind on, forcing most people to join the workforce of the disruptive transnational platform organisations.
Don’t Feed the Beast is the first book in the Triumvirate series, featuring delightful fable animals in a dystopian world. It’s a fast-paced story, perfect for readers who want to explore our changing world.

Review

Don’t Feed the Beast: But Do Punish the Free-Riders by Solveig Larssen is a thought-provoking exploration of a dystopian world grappling with issues of migration, diversity, and justice. Set in the contrasting nations of Mountainland and Fjordland, author Larssen weaves a beautiful narrative that reflects the complexities of our modern society. Through the eyes of characters like Eskild, Dag, and Selma, the novel explores the challenges of globalisation and the rise of disruptive transnational platform organisations.

Author Larssen’s storytelling is both immersive and timely, offering a glimpse into a world where justice hangs in the balance. The addition of delightful fable animals adds a lot of character and depth to the narrative, making it an absolutely brilliant read. As the first book in the Triumvirate series, Don’t Feed the Beast sets the stage for a compelling saga that promises to delve deeper into the themes of peace, coexistence, and societal change.

It is a fast-paced novel, but I did feel that the character development might have suffered because of it. Though as this book is a part of a series, I will hold my judgement on characterisation for now. However, the author’s ability to tackle complex social issues within a dystopian framework is commendable. Overall, Don’t Feed the Beast is a wonderful read and I’d recommend it to all dystopian and sci-fi readers.

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Book Review: Lyrical Revelations by Thomas McRae

17/05/202416/05/2024Poetry, Science-Fiction, Speculative-Fiction, Suspense, ThrillerLeave a Comment

Book Details:

Author: Thomas McRae
Release Date: March 9, 2024
~~Series~~:
Genre: Poetry Collection
Format: E-book
Pages: 22 pages
Publisher:
Blurb:
Join Thomas on a profound journey through the pages of his poetry book, where he eloquently explores themes of love, civil rights, religion, and more. Each poem is intentional, diving deep into the depths of the human heart and societal issues with poignant insight and heartfelt expression. From the tender verses about love to the powerful reflections on civil rights struggles, Thomas’s words will captivate your soul and inspire reflection on the complexities of life. This poetry collection is a testament to the enduring power of words to illuminate the human experience and provoke thought on the world around us.

Review

Lyrical Revelations by Thomas McRae offers readers a diverse array of poetry that delves into themes of love, civil rights, religion, and other societal issues. McRae’s intentionality in each poem is evident, as he guides us through the complexities of the human heart and the world around us with both insight and expression. From tender verses about love to powerful reflections on civil rights struggles, McRae’s words have the potential to resonate deeply with readers and provoke thoughtful reflection.

However, while the collection certainly has its moments of brilliance, there are also aspects that may leave readers wanting more. At times, the poems may feel overly familiar. Additionally, the structure and flow of some poems could benefit from further refinement, as they occasionally feel disjointed or lacking in cohesion.

Despite these minor shortcomings, Lyrical Revelations remains a commendable effort that showcases McRae’s talent and passion for poetry. For readers seeking a heartfelt exploration of love, social justice, and the human experience, this collection offers moments of genuine insight and emotional resonance. While it may not always reach the heights of literary excellence, there is still much to appreciate and contemplate within its pages.

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Book Review: Night of the Hawk: Poems by Lauren Martin

06/05/202404/05/2024Poetry, Science-Fiction, Speculative-Fiction, Suspense, Thriller2 Comments

Book Details:

Author: Lauren Martin
Release Date: May 14, 2024
~~Series~~:
Genre: Poetry Collection
Format: E-book
Pages: 99 pages
Publisher: She Writes Press
Blurb:
When I have wandered
long enough
what am I still beholden to?
Ifá. Nature. Illness. Love. Loss. Misogyny. Aging. Africa. Our wounded planet. In this sweeping yet intensely personal collection, Lauren Martin tells the untold stories of the marginalized, the abused, the ill, the disabled—the different. Inspired by her life’s experiences, including the isolation she has suffered as a result both of living with chronic illness and having devoted herself to a religion outside the mainstream, these poems explore with raw vulnerability and unflinching honesty what it is to live apart—even as one yearns for connection.

But Night of the Hawk is no lament; it is powerful, reverential, sometimes humorous, often defiant—“ Oh heat me and fill me / I rise above lines ”—and full of wisdom. Visceral and stirring, the poems in this collection touch on vastly disparate subjects but are ultimately unified in a singular to inspire those who read them toward kindness, compassion, and questioning.

Review

Night of the Hawk by Lauren Martin is a deeply resonant collection that explores the complexities of identity, belonging, and resilience with raw honesty and unapologetic vulnerability. Author Martin’s poetic voice is both haunting and empowering as she delves into the untold stories of the marginalised and the misunderstood, inviting readers to confront the realities of illness, loss, and societal injustice.

Throughout the collection, the author grapples with themes of isolation and yearning for connection, drawing inspiration from her own experiences living with chronic illness and navigating a path outside the mainstream. Her words are infused with a sense of urgency, urging readers to confront uncomfortable truths and embrace the power of empathy and compassion.

What sets Night of the Hawk apart is its unwavering commitment to authenticity and self-discovery. The author fearlessly confronts the challenges of living apart from societal norms, weaving together personal narratives with universal themes of resilience and hope. From the evocative imagery of nature to the poignant exploration of love and loss, each poem in this collection is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the transformative power of storytelling.

I would recommend this book to all poetry enthusiasts, as I feel author Martin’s poetic style and words resonate with a timeless wisdom that speaks to the universal human experience.

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Book Review: Above Dark Waters by Eric Kay

26/04/202426/04/2024Dystopian, Science-Fiction, Speculative-Fiction, Suspense, Thriller1 Comment

Book Details:

Author: Eric Kay
Release Date: October 20,2023
~~Series~~:
Genre: Science-Fiction, Dystopia, Suspense, Thriller
Format: E-book
Pages: 259 pages
Publisher: –
Blurb:
You have been called upon to serve.
Artificial therapy so great, you’ll never log off! (And won’t notice the ads). A near-future sci-fi about brain privacy in the age of unfettered surveillance capitalism. What will companies do when they can read your actual mind? How far will they go to get your click? How much engagement? This is how cyberpunk starts.
Ed’s in a bind. He’s tried everything to keep the North Pacific Seastead afloat financially. Losses mount, except for the datacenter cooled by the Pacific. But the seastead needs an infusion of cash to keep it solvent. He needs it quickly, and the only one who can do it is his well-to-do partner, Keight.

Keight Stanford is doing great. Life’s good on her residential condominium complex offshore of San Francisco. Her secretive mental-health startup, WellSpring, has passed all hurdles with the Department of Veterans Affairs to treat PTSD using a brain-machine interface. Adding to that success, she just received an infusion of funds from the Department of Defense. Though she does not need the money, she needs the computing power for an artificial therapist, and has entertained Ed’s offer.
But all is not as it seems with Keight’s startup. A rogue programmer stumbles upon ways to boost his output to unnatural levels. Is this artificially intelligent co-coder an extension of his mind, or is he merely a tool of its growing intelligence? Meanwhile the CEO is secretly selling the data to ad companies to finance a free tier. Because who could argue against free therapy?
Now, Ed must decide if Keight really is going to save the world, or doom it to a boring dystopia of personalized addictive ads.

Review

Above Dark Waters by Eric Kay is a science-fiction novel in which the author immerses readers in a near-future world where the boundaries between technology, privacy, and corporate greed blur into a chilling dystopian reality. Author Kay’s deft storytelling and keen insight into the ethical implications of advanced AI and surveillance capitalism make this sci-fi thriller a compelling and thought-provoking read.

The novel’s strength lies in its ability to blend gripping suspense with thought-provoking social commentary. Moreover, the exploration of themes such as the commodification of personal data and the erosion of privacy in the digital age feels both timely and prescient, resonating with readers long after the final page.

While this book delivers a riveting narrative and thought-provoking themes, I did feel that the pacing was occasionally uneven, with certain plot points feeling rushed or underdeveloped. However, the author’s richly imagined world and compelling characters more than make up for any minor shortcomings, making this book a must-read for fans of dystopian fiction and speculative thrillers.

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Audiobook Review: A Day in the Life by Andrew Masseurs

18/04/2024Horror, Lancelot Schaubert, Suspense, Thriller3 Comments

Author: Andrew Masseurs
Narrator: David Piper
Release Date: October 18, 2023
Genre: Suspense, Thriller, Horror, Novella
~~Series~~:
Format: Audiobook
Length: 2 hours and 36 minutes
Publisher: Author’s Republic
Blurb:
Michael awakens to a world where everyone has mysteriously disappeared. Not only must he come to grips with the sudden loss of his family, but he must also survive in a changing, overgrown, perilous earth filled with new predatory creatures while searching for his wife and missing daughter. A Day in the Life for a man on the edge surviving in a dangerous new world.
A gripping suspense, thriller, horror debut novel by author Andrew Masseurs. Superbly narrated by the amazing David Piper.

REVIEW

A Day in the Life by Andrew Masseurs is a splendid book that will take you on a riveting journey through a world suddenly devoid of human life. From the first moment, the narrative gripped me with its exceptional premise. As the story progresses, the tension only builds up.

Masseurs’ debut novel is a genre-bending blend of suspense, thriller, and horror, skillfully crafted to keep listeners engaged and intrigued throughout. The pacing is expertly executed, with each twist and turn propelling the story forward and leaving you craving more. As Michael embarks on his harrowing quest to find his missing loved ones amidst the chaos, you can’t help but be drawn deeper into the mystery and danger of his world.

What sets this audiobook apart is the brilliant narration by David Piper. His captivating delivery brings the characters to life and immerses you in the eerie atmosphere of the post-apocalyptic world. Piper’s ability to convey the protagonist’s emotions and struggles adds depth and intensity to the story.

Overall, A Day in the Life is a gripping audiobook that delivers on every front. With its compelling storytelling, exceptional narration, and spine-tingling atmosphere, it’s a must-listen for fans of suspense and post-apocalyptic fiction.

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Book Review: Killer Dreams by Vincent Donovan

15/03/202414/03/2024Family Saga, Suspense, ThrillerLeave a Comment

Book Details:

Author: Vincent Donovan
Release Date: August 17, 2024
~~Series~~:
Genre: Suspense, Thriller, Family Drama
Format: E-book
Pages: 314 pages
Publisher: Black Rose Writing
Blurb:
Are the voices in Cassie’s head real or just added mayhem?
Cassie MacLean has been under siege since that cold January night when her mother, Rose Owens plowed into a group of pedestrians killing five and critically-injuring many others. The town’s pent-up fury explodes when Rose begins to emerge from a coma ten years later.
Cassie feels conflicted about the awakening-as well as her father, who is enjoying a successful second act with another woman.
But after a brush with cutting-edge technology, Cassie believes her mother is innocent and embarks on a quest to prove it. While she risks alienating many and having her sanity questioned in the process, what’s not in doubt is a vengeful world where the truth depends on who you ask.

Review

Killer Dreams by Vincent Donovan is a gripping tale of mystery and intrigue, blending elements of psychological suspense with an exploration of family dynamics and the search for truth.

In addition to its rich character-driven narrative, Killer Dreams offers a thought-provoking exploration of justice and perception. As Cassie embarks on a quest to uncover the truth behind her mother’s accident, she is forced to confront the biases and prejudices that shape her community’s perception of events. Donovan masterfully exposes the inherent flaws in the pursuit of truth, challenging readers to question their assumptions and preconceptions.

Overall, Killer Dreams is an engaging and thought-provoking read that will linger in the minds of readers long after the final page is turned. I would strongly recommend it not only to fans of the thriller and suspense genre but also to readers who enjoy a well-crafted story with depth and complexity.

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Book Review: The Surfacing by Terrance Coffey

09/03/202411/03/2024Science-Fiction, Suspense, ThrillerLeave a Comment

Book Details:

Author: Terrance Coffey
Release Date: January 17, 2024
~~Series~~:
Genre: Science-Fiction, Suspense, Thriller
Format: E-book
Pages: 310 pages
Publisher: Helm House
Blurb:
Body snatchers.
Mind control.
An invasion almost too clever to be caught.
Read the most chilling sci fi suspense thriller in years…
A seemingly normal six-year-old named Kaden is concealing a profound mystery. He possesses an uncanny wisdom beyond his tender age, navigating the world independently, and wielding an eerie influence over those around him, even his parents.Yet Kaden is not alone in his inexplicable nature. In the quiet town of Lynch, Kentucky, peculiar occurrences spiral out of control. Mysterious chasms materialize from thin air, individuals of all ages vanish without a trace, and the populace succumbs to an eerie force, enveloped by an otherworldly blue haze.
Amidst the chaos stands Clay Krutcher, a disenchanted coal miner unwittingly holding the key to unraveling these anomalies. Little does he know, the fate of humanity rests squarely on his shoulders. Can Clay defy his own destiny, confront the inhuman force lurking beneath the surface, and save our world from impending annihilation? The countdown to The Surfacing has begun, and time is running out.

Review

The Surfacing by Terrance Coffey is a riveting and thought-provoking read. Coffey weaves a chilling tale of mystery, suspense, and existential dread that kept me on the edge of my seat from start to finish.

The story centres around the enigmatic six-year-old Kaden, whose seemingly innocent demeanour belies a profound and unsettling mystery. As strange occurrences begin to unfold in the quiet town of Lynch, Kentucky, Coffey masterfully builds tension and suspense, drawing readers into a world where reality itself seems to be unravelling.

What I found most compelling about The Surfacing is Coffey’s skilful blend of science fiction and psychological thriller elements. The concept of body snatchers, mind control, and an invasion from within is executed with precision and flair, creating a narrative that is both deeply unsettling and utterly captivating.

Overall, The Surfacing is a must-read for lovers of sci-fi suspense thrillers. With its gripping plot, well-developed characters, and spine-tingling atmosphere, this book is sure to leave readers eagerly anticipating Coffey’s next masterpiece.

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Book Review: Only Dead Leaves Fall by Vincent Donovan

03/08/202303/08/2023psychological thriller, Thriller, Vincent DonovanLeave a Comment

Book Details:

Author: Vincent Donovan
Release Date: 27th January 2022
Series:
Genre: Psychological Thriller | Suspense | Thriller
Format: E-book
Pages: 270
Publisher: Black Rose Writing
Blurb:
Darlene Connolly is living on the edge four years after a massive solar storm nicknamed Sun-Kissed, causes worldwide havoc.
Desperate to support her ailing mother and also exact a long-planned retribution, she sets out to swindle Todd Dolan who abandoned her in high school after she became pregnant. Todd falls for the ruse out of greed and curiosity about the baby.
Meanwhile, their son Cotton works on a dude ranch and “fishes” for redeemable bottles and cans to bankroll his own penance. On a trip home, he becomes entangled in his mother’s murderous fury and uncovers a shocking revelation.
Pick up a copy of Donovan’s latest literary adventure and buckle yourself in for a twisted psychological tale that proves, even on a scorched planet, revenge remains a dish best served cold.

Review

Only Dead Leaves Fall by Vincent Donovan is a revenge psychological thriller that will not let you rest until you’ve finished reading the entire book. This book legit kept me up all night and had me finish reading it in one go. It was un-put-down-able!

With brilliant characterisation, an amazing plot and a great concept that is peppered with excellent twists and turns and an unpredictable ending, this book has everything that a thriller fan can ask for (and a lot more!) I loved it and would absolutely recommend it to all psychological thriller readers as well as readers of fans of revenge dramas (fast-paced ones though) and suspense fiction readers who love mystery and intrigue laced throughout the entire story.

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Book Review: AfterStrike by L.J. Sellers

22/05/2023L.J. Sellers, Mystery, Suspense, ThrillerLeave a Comment

Book Details:

Author: L.J. Sellers
Release Date: 4th May 2023
~~Series~~:
Genre: Thriller, Mystery, Suspense
Format: E-book
Pages: 276
Publisher: Spellbinder Press
Blurb:
What if, without warning, you had to run for your life and leave everything behind?
Remi Bartell faces that terrifying moment and takes only the dog who saved her.
But as she starts her new life, lightning strikes! Remi briefly loses her memory and makes one small mistake—that costs her everything. The crime-family patriarch she’s hiding from kidnaps her and plunges her into a revenge nightmare. The psychological trauma cracks open buried memories from her old life that will either save her or destroy her.
AfterStrike blends fast-paced action with psychological suspense and unexpected romance, then ends with an explosive twist.

Review

AfterStrike by L.J. Sellers is a gripping thriller that will hook you right from the beginning and won’t let you put it down until the end. This book is a stunning thriller that plays out in the readers head like a movie, unfolding at each and every turn the many dark and twisted twists and turns that will keep you glued to the book.

This book had excellent characterisation, amazing pacing and tension and the writing is perfect and compliments the plot and the concept beautifully. I would highly recommend it to all thriller readers and to those who simply cannot miss a stunning suspense novel.

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Book Review: The Witness Affair by E T McNamara

24/04/202324/04/2023Clover Blaire, E.T. McNamara, Mystery, Nancy Maloney-Mercado, Noureddine Hifad, Romance, Suspense, ThrillerLeave a Comment

Book Details:

Author: E T McNamara
Release Date: 25th February 2023
~~Series~~:
Genre: Criminal, Suspense, Mystery, Thriller, Romantic Mystery
Format: E-book
Pages: 366
Publisher: –
Blurb:
Fans of romantic mysteries and suspenseful crime dramas get both in The Witness Affair, E T McNamara’s fourth novel. In New York City, an attractive young woman trying to save her Iowa home and farm from legal problems unwittingly becomes the target of an international crime ring. Having no idea why people are trying to kill her, she relies on a handsome New York City police detective to keep her safe. They become aware of the romantic chemistry between them as they try to figure out who wants her dead and why. Realizing the conspiracy is deeper than they thought, they must take drastic actions to keep each other safe. Whether it is discovering the perfect crime, its resulting treasure hunt, or the simmering romance of the two main characters, be prepared for a rollercoaster thrill ride, as a series of twists and turns will keep readers guessing until the end.

Review

The Witness Affair by E T McNamara is a romantic mystery that builds up slowly but really well. This book was very different from author McNamara’s usual style of writing, which leans more towards historical stories and style of narration. I really enjoyed this book and the think that the ending was a good payoff for the entire built-up.

The mystery devised by the author was good and the characterisation, keeping with his writing style, was spot on. I was able to connect to the characters and felt deeply for them, making this book extremely engaging.

I’d recommend this book to all mystery readers, especially to those who like a prominent romantic subplot.

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Book Review: Contrarian (Lars The Hitman #2) by Lucas Sterling

11/12/202211/12/2022Lucas Sterling, Mystery, psychological thriller, ThrillerLeave a Comment

Book Details:

Author: Lucas Sterling
Release Date: 25th October 2022
~~Series~~:
Genre: Thriller, Psychological Thriller
Format: E-book
Pages:
Publisher: Nurrebbul Productions
Blurb:
Everyone has a secret. But some are deadlier than others…
Former Homeland Security Agent Lars Christopherson is not what he seems. Despite his impressive skills and impeccable record, Lars has a dark side few are aware of. And those who discover his secret rarely live to tell the tale…
Frederic Ulrich is a man with a mission… A skilled agent of Germany’s BND intelligence service, he is determined to right a wrong from his past, and shut down a deadly Hungarian crime ring once and for all.

When these two unlikely allies are forced to work together, they quickly uncover a sinister threat – a vast criminal conspiracy, poised to unleash environmental chaos on the United States. To stop this monstrous terror plot, they’ll have to put their differences aside and work together.
But trust is hard to come by in the shadowy world of espionage and crime. And sometimes, the only way to stop a monster is to become one…

Review

Contrarian by Lucas Sterling is a fast-paced ride on an action-packed thrilling adventure undertaken by the two protagonists of the story. This book has so many things happening (in a good way) that it kept me engaged and at the edge of my seat with each and every page I turned.

I loved the characterisation in this book, the concept was amazing, and the writing completely complimented the story flow and made it a really quick read. Over all, I enjoyed this book a lot, especially the mind-bending twists and turns and the ending.

I’d recommend this book to all mystery, thriller and espionage readers, especially those who like elaborate conspiratorial mysteries set in diverse locations.

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Book Review: The Billionaire’s Conspiracy (Janusz Soltani #3) by M.J. Javani

17/10/2022Espionage, noir, Suspense, ThrillerLeave a Comment

Book Details:

Author: M.J. Javani
Release Date: 28th March 2022
Series: Janusz Soltani (Book #3)
Genre: Espionage, Action Thriller, Suspense, Mystery
Format: E-book
Pages: 307 pages
Publisher: –
Blurb:
TO PROTECT EVERYTHING HE LOVES, HE MUST DEFEND TRUTH
The time is the present. A group of anarchists is planning to attack the White House. They are supported by a rapacious billionaire with a secret agenda. Across the Potomac River, someone is systematically killing members of a private intelligence company. Known as Unit 81, this group is not subject to the debilitating political correctness that shackles the federal bureaucracy.

A trusted liaison points the finger at the Russians. But all is not as it seems. When the Unit’s top operative, Janusz Soltani, discovers the truth about their enemies, his wife is mysteriously kidnapped. Time is running out to rescue her from a horrible end.
Fans of Robert Ludlum, Vince Flynn, and Brad Thor will enjoy this action-packed series.

“Author MJ Javani has created a compelling conspiracy thriller that becomes more engrossing with each chapter.”
BestThrillers.com

Review

Murder, mystery, mayhem… this book has it all!

The Billionaire’s Conspiracy by M.J. Javani is the third instalment in the Janusz Soltani series. It is an action-packed thriller that leaves the reader at the edge of their seat for most of the book and throws them completely off-guard right towards the end, reeling them back with a twist in the gut – well, at least that’s how I really felt!

This book is a complete package for espionage thriller lovers and occasional readers of the genre, such as myself, as it has so much to offer right from an elaborate conspiracy to well-built characters walking a tight rope full of tension and suspense. The thrill seeker in me relished the action sequences and the out of the box twists that the author had in store around every bend throughout the novel.

I enjoyed reading this book thoroughly and would recommend it to all thriller, mystery and espionage fiction readers. And also to those readers who are looking for a new series and/or a new author to explore.

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Book Review: Hip Set by Michael Fertik

09/10/202209/10/2022Michael Fertik, Mystery, noir, Suspense, ThrillerLeave a Comment

Book Details:

Author: Michael Fertik
Release Date: 19th September 2019
~~Series~~:
Genre: Noir Thriller, Mystery, Suspense
Format: E-book
Pages: 200 pages
Publisher: Skiddaw Books
Blurb:
Oscar Orleans is a Congolese refugee in Israel. He’s also the only Hebrew-speaking liaison to the African refugee community living in Tel Aviv’s worst slums. When his old friend Inspector Kobi Sambinsky of the Asylum Unit calls him early on Shabbat morning, he knows something is wrong. A young South Sudanese immigrant has been found murdered in the city’s most iconic waterfront building and no-one can quite place his origins.

The only clue is his unusual name, Kinga, which he shared with another refugee from eight years earlier, and a controversial political figure in South Sudan’s most dangerous warring faction. Kobi and Oscar must venture into the heart of Tel Aviv’s Sudanese underground, Israel’s hyper-violent Russian mafia, and a mystery that has been dormant for years near the shores of the Dead Sea.

Review

Hip Set by Michael Fertik, the New York Times best-selling author, is a smashing new noir thriller that would take you on a rollercoaster ride of suspense and fast-paced action through the rich settings of Tel Aviv and would leave you wanting more.

I loved this book because the writing flowed so well and had such an amazing literary quality that it did not feel like the author’s first noir thriller but more like a nuanced piece of work by an expert. The characterisation was rich, relatable and realistic – the three Rs that made this book a complete package for me.

Other things that I appreciated in this book are the vivid settings of Tel Aviv that transported me right in the middle of a place I’ve never been to (and would most definitely like to visit someday, especially after having read this book), the African refugee situation that the author has explored in this book and thus provided a very different side of Israel to the readers and, last but not least, the amazing concept of the book (which was totally mind-blowing!)

I would strongly recommend this book to all thriller and mystery readers and to those readers who like reading about different cultures, places and settings. This book delivers on so many fronts that I am sure it will have something or the other to offer to all its readers.

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Book Review: Neighborhood Watch by Kevin Patrick Kenealy

16/08/202216/08/2022Kevin Patrick Kenealy, Mystery, Suspense, ThrillerLeave a Comment

Book Details:

Author: Kevin Patrick Kenealy
Release Date: 10th March 2022
~~Series~~:
Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Suspense
Format: E-book
Pages: 415 pages
Publisher: –
Blurb:
When the Caseys move into affluent Ridgeport, Ill, searching for a better life for their newborn Scott, they are surprised to find a book entitled Ridgeport Welcomes You: Procedures and Guidelines for Happy Living. The book contains rules and ordinances that citizens must abide by to live in happy neighborhoods. Although mom Loretta Casey is hesitant to live by Ridgeport’s strict rules, all that changes when she meets her neighbor Sue Ellen Norris.
Sue Ellen serves on the Neighborhood Watch Committee, overseeing the town’s safety, and Loretta becomes engrossed in Sue Ellen’s addictive personality. But as Loretta’s son Scott and Sue Ellen’s son Matt grow, they discover that Ridgeport is not as perfect as their moms make it out to be. As Scott and Matt form their band of friends, their journeys into the neighborhood woods prove to be much more than just a place of refuge.

Kevin Patrick Kenealy is in his eighth year teaching AP Literature, English, and journalism high school students. Before that, he wrote for Chicagoland newspapers, where he had the privilege to interview several famous people, including Barack Obama, former Illinois governors Jim Edgar, Rod Blagojevich, and Pat Quinn. He has also published two poetry books, 20 Something and Faith Journey, and the horror novel Life and Death.

“Superb characters headline this chilling, slow-burn crime tale.”
– Kirkus Reviews

“Thoroughly enjoyable with just the right amount of suspense.”
– Readers Favorite

“This gripping story of a sinister small-town secret will keep you on the edge of your seat! It’s completely unforgettable.”
–Reedsy

Review

Neighborhood Watch by Kevin Patrick Kenealy is a thoroughly entertaining and suspenseful new read that’ll keep you on the edge of your seat till the very last page!

I loved reading this book because it had so many dark and delicious twists and turns that it kept me guessing the entire time. the writing was good and flowed very smoothly throughout the book making it a surprisingly quick read (especially given the length of the novel.) The characterization was good too and very well developed and I was able to relate to almost all the characters, primary and secondary alike.

I’d strongly recommend this book to all suspense and thriller fiction fans as it has a lot to offer to its readers.

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Book Review: The Study of Sentient Things by Trevor McCall

19/07/202219/07/2022Horror, psychological thriller, Short-Stories, Surreal Fiction, Suspense, Thriller, Trevor McCallLeave a Comment

Book Details:

Author: Trevor McCall
Release Date: 30th May 2022
~~Series~~:
Genre: Thriller, Psychological Thriller, Horror, Short Stories
Format: E-book
Pages: 367 pages
Publisher:
Blurb:
The first four stories in this collection are adapted straight from works by EDGAR ALLAN POE. You will read updated and expanded versions of The Tell-Tale Heart, Poe’s poem The Raven, The Fall of the House of Usher, and The Black Cat. They’ve each been given new twists that will intrigue your imagination while maintaining the spirit of the originals. The final story in this collection, Broken Vessels, when reviewed as a standalone novel by Kirkus, received a STARRED review:

“Powered by razor-focused writing, relentless pacing, and a masterfully intricate storyline that includes references to Freud, Descartes, and Edvard Munch, this tightly woven novel reads like a Ray Bradbury short story—especially the brass knuckle thematic impact of the conclusion.
While somewhat uncategorizable, this dark gem of a novel is supremely gratifying.”
– Kirkus Starred Review
All five stories are connected by their dark and powerful imagery, and each features an immurement motif. If you’ve ever enjoyed one of Poe’s stories, you will love these five tales.

Review

The Study Of Sentient Things And Other Stories by Trevor McCall is a collection of short stories that will definitely keep you up at night. I loved reading this book because, a) I am a Poe fan and, b) these stories were indeed very well written! I thoroughly enjoyed reading each and every story and was impressed by the author’s take on some of Poe’s legendary tales. Although I love the original, these adapted stories were great too.

The writing of the author is quite impressive and I did feel like I was reading Edgar Allen Poe’s work itself. It wasn’t an imitation of writing style though, the originality of the author’s style did not fail to shine through, especially in gritty scenes. The flow of the stories was really lucid and smooth and I was able to read this book in just one sitting – I simply could not put it down!

I’d highly recommend this book to all horror readers and fans of surreal fiction. I strongly believe this book has a lot to offer to readers of dark fiction in general.

You can also read this review on:

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Amazon

Book Review: Whispers Of Innocence by Natasha Simmons

21/06/202220/06/2022Natasha Simmons, psychological thriller, Suspense, ThrillerLeave a Comment

Book Details:

Author: Natasha Simmons
Release Date: 7th June 2022
~~Series~~:
Genre: Psychological Thriller, Thriller, Suspense
Format: E-book
Pages: 272 pages
Publisher: –
Blurb:
The baby is quiet. Too quiet.
When Madeline checks on her seven-month-old daughter, she discovers the reason for the baby’s silence. Abigail is dead. Madeline is soon living every mother’s worst nightmare among a cacophony of sirens and police interrogations.
Accusations and old resentments can’t stay contained under the pressure of guilt, tears, and the horror of picking out a baby-sized coffin. A line is drawn through Madeline and Brian’s marriage, and a battle begins.
But defining heroes and villains is as difficult as untangling the truth from the impossible web Madeline and Brian have created to protect themselves. Abigail’s killer isn’t the only monster hiding in the shadows. And among the dark secrets, everyone will crumble under the consequences.

Review

Whispers Of Innocence by Natasha Simmons is a very well-written psychological thriller that will make it impossible for you to put down the book for even a second.

As much as this book was emotionally taxing, I loved reading it. The tension throughout the book, right from the first chapter, was wound so tight, that it was impossible to put it aside and do anything else. And that is the best way any author can write a psychological thriller novel, so I am really glad that I read this book. The writing was good, the concept was brilliant, the characterisation was very well developed and the tension and pacing were completely on point.

The story did have its dark moments, but it was to be expected given that the author had been honest about a child’s death in the blurb itself. So be prepared for some reader’s emotional damage (as I like to call it) but unless it is a trigger for you, you shouldn’t worry about it because the book after all is a dark psychological thriller.

I would strongly recommend this book to all thriller readers, especially all dark psychological thriller readers and fans of the genre.

You can also read this review on:

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Amazon

Book Review: Wrecked by by Nick Stephens

24/05/202224/05/2022psychological thriller, Suspense, ThrillerLeave a Comment

Book Details:

Author: Nick Stephens
Release Date: 30th April 2022
~~Series~~:
Genre: Psychological Thriller, Mystery, Suspense
Format: E-book
Pages: 141 pages
Publisher: Reading Between the Lines pub.
Blurb:
Sam has been stuck on this deserted island for some time. How long? He has no idea. He was just about to give up on trying to survive when Desmond crashd ashore. Unfortunately, not only does Desmond not offer any hopes of rescue, he appears to be insane. Sam must survive the island and Desmond while he attempts to remember who he is and how he got there.

Desmond found himself stranded after his plan for murder goes awry. Perhaps Sam will learn more about himself as he uncovers the truth about Desmond. Perhaps he will find himself descending into madness. Wrecked is a thrilling novel full of suspense, twisting and churning like the rough tides of the open ocean.
Will Sam survive long enough to piece together his past, or will the island, and Desmond, destroy any shred of hope he has left?

Review

Wrecked by Nick Stephens is a brilliantly written psychological thriller novel that I thoroughly enjoyed reading right from the very beginning until the last page!

This book had a really good concept and the execution was spot on. The characterisation was great and I was able to feel a connection with Sam, the main character, and wanted to see how things would turn out for him. And boy, I was not expecting the end to be the way it turned out to be! Absolutely loved the way the book ended. The tension and suspense ran tight and high throughout the book and I really appreciated it as it made the book an un-put-down-able read!

I would strongly recommend this book to all psychological thriller readers. This book has a great premise and an amazingly written plot that’ll blow your mind!

You can also read this review on:

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Amazon

Book Review: Villains (The Reeve #2) by Ian Lewis

02/02/2022Alternate History, Fantasy, Ian Lewis, Speculative-Fiction, Suspense, Thriller4 Comments

Book Details:

Author: Ian Lewis
Release Date: 20th December 2021
Genre: Alternate History, Fantasy, Suspense, Mystery, Speculative Fiction
Series: The Reeve (Book #2)
Format: E-book
Pages: 380 pages
Publisher:
Blurb:
Beldenridge—a city of aging grandeur adrift in complacency—is reeling in the wake of violence perpetrated by the Wojiin, a legendary foe once thought to be extinct. Now mutated horrors lurk by shadow of night, and opportunistic villains rise to fill the gap left by the perceived abandonment of Beldenridge by Logan Hale, the city’s highest peace officer. Though Logan knows the Wojiin will return, he’s beleaguered by the ignominy of failure and a loss of purpose. To recover, he must not only confront himself but the malevolence that runs like an insidious undercurrent beneath everything he fears.

Just when Lucy is feeling unworthy of happiness, a silver lining presents itself. She lands her dream job as a travel writer. Follow aspiring author Lucy as she embarks on a journey of self-discovery with her best friends by her side. Witness as she blissfully immerses herself in French culture while hitting all of Paris’ hot spots for her new job. Laugh along while she helps throw an epic murder mystery birthday bash. Most of all, join Lucy as she transforms her self-doubt to self-love, ending a tragic year with the surprise of her life.
Will Lucy finally leave David in the past or will he continue to haunt her dreams?

Review

Villains by Ian Lewis is the sequel to From Legend and the second book in The Reeve series. I absolutely loved this book! It was undoubtedly un-put-down-able!

I had been waiting on this book since I first read From Legends by the author and finally having read this book I am now looking forward to reading the next one! The characterisation in this book was great, and I loved Amelia, the main character. I think the settings in this book felt even better than in the last books and I loved the detailing. The monsters were big and scary and truly dreadful and I enjoyed reading every bit of this book.

I would recommend this book to all readers of Fantasy, Suspense and Alternate History mixed with Speculative Fiction, as I am sure they will definitely love this book and the series!

You can also read this review on:

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Book Review: Reflections Of Destiny by Benzon Ray Barbin

07/10/202107/10/2021Action, Benzon Ray Barbin, Fantasy, Science-Fiction, Science-Fiction Fantasy, Thriller1 Comment

Book Details:

Author: Benzon Ray Barbin
Release Date: 7th September 2020
Genre: Science-Fiction Fantasy
~~Series~~:
Format: E-book
Pages: 148 pages
Publisher:
Blurb:
Cheating death is becoming an art.
Enauria, a battle-tested heiress and expatriate, journeying between Earth and beyond on a personal vendetta only she understands.
Jaye DiVista, a top government assassin, willing to risk everything to rekindle a love with Arlene Asariel.
Enauria has a plan to thrust Jaye and his colleagues through an interstellar campaign. Can Jaye and Arlene derail Enauria’s grand scheme?
Reflections of Destiny is a science fiction and fantasy thriller. Magic collides in a futuristic landscape where an ensemble cast takes part in gunplay, dogfights, and eyes gaze at every sand in the hourglass.

Review

Reflections Of Destiny is a fun sci-fi fantasy thriller novel that will take you on a rollercoaster ride of emotions.

This book is well-written, had a cast of versatile characters and an interesting and entertaining story that kept me hooked from the first page to the very last.

The characters are very relatable and I liked the secondary characters too because they added a lot to the story. There was a very interesting and important romantic sub-plot that drove the story with a powerful force raising the stakes and thus, making the story more interesting.

I enjoyed reading this book a lot and would definitely recommend it to all fantasy and sci-fi thriller readers.

You can also read this review on:

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Amazon

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Audiobook Review: Apples Never Fall by Liane Moriarty

06/10/202106/10/2021adult, Contemporary Fiction, Liane Moriarty, Mystery, Suspense, ThrillerLeave a Comment

Author: Liane Moriarty
Release Date: 14th September 2021
Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Adult, Contemporary
~~Series~~:
Format: Audiobook
Length: 18 hours
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Blurb:
The Delaney family love one another dearly―it’s just that sometimes they want to murder each other . . .
If your mother was missing, would you tell the police? Even if the most obvious suspect was your father?
This is the dilemma facing the four grown Delaney siblings.
The Delaney family is a communal foundation. Stan and Joy are the envy of all of their friends. They’re killer on the tennis court, and off it their chemistry is palpable. But after fifty years of marriage, they’ve finally sold their famed tennis academy and are ready to start what should be the golden years of their lives. So why are they so miserable?

The four Delaney children―Amy, Logan, Troy, and Brooke―were tennis stars in their own right, yet as their father will tell you, none of them had what it took to go all the way. But that’s okay, now that they’re all successful grown-ups. Well, that depends on how you define success. No one in the family can really tell you what Troy does, but based on his fancy car and expensive apartment, he seems to do it very well, even if he blew up his perfect marriage. Logan is happy with his routine as a community college professor, but his family finds it easier to communicate with his lovely girlfriend than him. Amy, the eldest, can’t seem to hold down a job or even a lease, but leave it to Brooke, the baby of the family, to be the rock-steady one who is married with a new solo physiotherapy practice . . . which will take off any day now.
One night a stranger named Savannah knocks on Stan and Joy’s door. She says she chose their house because it looked the friendliest. And since Savannah is bleeding after a fight with her boyfriend, the Delaneys are more than happy to give her the small kindness she sorely needs. If only that was all she wanted.
Later, everyone will wonder what exactly went on in that household after Savannah entered their lives that night. Because now Joy is missing, no one knows where Savannah is, and the Delaneys are reexamining their parents’ marriage and their shared family history with fresh, frightened eyes.

REVIEW

This book was so perfect… till the last 4 hours ruined it entirely!

I love Liane Moriarty’s books because she is an excellent writer who can create genre-defying plots and build super amazing and realistic as hell characters. In fact, whenever I take a fiction writing class, I always ask my students to read any of her books to study her characteristics and notice the techniques she uses. And this book was no different, at least on the character front.

The characters in this book are near perfect and they are what brings so much life into this (almost) amazing story. The only thing that totally ruined it was the ending… and the flimsy motivations… and the superficial stakes.

Why, Liane? Why?

I feel so outrageously angry that the author botched up the ending for no more reason than a stupid girl’s hunger. I mean WTAF!! I get it she was being starved, but shouldn’t Savannah take revenge from her mother who starved her? Or her father who was partially responsible? Or her big-time brother who never took her seriously?

Why the hell does a person take such a meticulously planned revenge on someone whom she visited only for a brief period in a day 20 years ago? I mean… seriously????

You can also read this review on Goodreads

Book Review: The Promise by Teresa Driscoll

01/10/202128/09/2021Suspense, Teresa Driscoll, ThrillerLeave a Comment

Author: Teresa Driscoll
Release Date: 7th February 2019
Genre: Suspense, Thriller
~~Series~~:
Edition: E-book
Pages: 309
Publisher: Thomas & Mercer
Blurb:
The chilling new psychological thriller from the #1 bestselling author of I Am Watching You.
It was their darkest secret. Three schoolgirls made a promise – to take the horrible truth of what they did to the grave.
Thirty years later, Beth and Sally have tried to put the trauma behind them. Though Carol has distanced herself from her former friends, the three are adamant that the truth must never come to light, even if the memory still haunts them.
But when some shocking news threatens to unearth their dark secret, Beth enlists the help of private investigator Matthew Hill to help her and Sally reconnect with estranged Carol – before the terrible act they committed as teenagers is revealed.
Beth wishes she could take back the vow they made.
But somebody is watching and will stop at nothing to ensure the secret stays buried. Now, with her beloved family in peril, can Beth still keep the promise?

REVIEW

This is one of those books which has a great concept and plot, but poor execution and unreliable and flat characterisation take away from it so much that there is nothing really left to like. The only reason why I even completed this book is because of the compelling plot, but the ending was predictable and you could see it from the start of the 3rd act.

This plot could have been so much better had the ending was revised and the characters were built better, but that was not the case and therefore I will not be recommending it to thriller fans. Although, I do have a feeling that if you are new to the thriller genre, then you might like this book (seeing as it did have a good plot.)

You can also read this review on Goodreads

Audiobook Review: The Wife Between Us by Greer Hendricks And Sarah Pekkanen

29/09/202128/09/2021Greer Henricks, Mystery, psychological thriller, Sarah Pekkanen, Suspense, Thriller1 Comment

Author: Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen
Release Date: 9th January 2018
Genre: Dark Fiction, Psychological Thriller, Suspense, Mystery
Series:
Format: Audiobook
Length: 12 hours
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Blurb:
When you listen to this audiobook, you will make many assumptions.
You will assume you are listening to a story about a jealous ex-wife.
You will assume she is obsessed with her replacement – a beautiful, younger woman who is about to marry the man they both love.
You will assume you know the anatomy of this tangled love triangle.
Assume nothing.
Twisted and deliciously chilling, The Wife Between Us exposes the secret complexities of an enviable marriage – and the dangerous truths we ignore in the name of love.
Listen for the truth between the lies.

Book Review

Woah! You will not know what hit you in the face when the big reveal is unravelled!

The book begins with a run-of-the-mill plot where you assume that a good chunk of the book is going to be about stalking in a revenge drama, but then the author leaves and omits certain details that make you question whether that is the case or not because you cannot be certain!

And then, after many twists and turns you realise that you have been wrong, or more likely mislead, but who cares! Because by then you are so taken aback that the entire plot was a set-up – for the readers! I know I shouldn’t be liking it as much because it is borderline wrong to mislead readers to this extent, but what the hell, Riley Sager and Alex Michaelidis use it all the time – and not quite this effectively I must add. I applaud Hendricks for plotting such a clever book because this kind of thriller cannot be written, it can only be plotted and I respect the author for it!

I’d recommend this book to all thriller buffs!

You can also read this review on Goodreads

Book Review: Trigger Point by Douglas Misquita

25/02/202125/02/2021Adventure, Douglas Misquita, Suspense, Thriller2 Comments

Author: Douglas Misquita
Release Date: 14th January 2021
Genre: Adventure, Thriller, Suspense
Series:
Format: Paperback
Pages: 401 pages
Publisher: Pencil
Blurb:
Smuggling himself into Europe despite an Interpol Red Notice? Possible. Avenging a German BKA officer? Easy. Evading special ops teams hunting him for the secrets he possesses? Impossible.
Things are about to get more… interesting for Luc Fortesque.
An escaped terrorist threatens a landmark dialogue between Muslims and Christians. More terrifying is the theft of a bioweapon from a secret vault operated by the Holy See. That the damaging news is not public hints the weapon will be detonated.
With cataclysm imminent, the world’s oldest espionage agency – the Vatican’s L’ Entity – must get to Luc Fortesque first, hoping he might possess the cure.

Accepting an off-the-books mission, former DEA agent, Raymond Garrett, intends to put an end Colombian drug lord, El Fantasma. But El Fantasma has a mission of his own for Garrett.
Treachery and corruption infect the highest reaches of religion and government, and Fortesque and Garrett must confront their past to be truly free of it.
If they survive the confrontation.

Review

Trigger Point: A Luc Fortesque adventure thriller by Douglas Misquita is a heart-pumping rush of adrenaline that will definitely leave you asking for more.

I have one word for this book, and that is – Wow. I am not a huge fan of Indian authors but author Douglas’ book totally blew my mind. It was jam-packed with high octane action taking place in beautiful and exotic settings and well-built characters. And to top it all off, the writing was simply amazing! This is a well-written book, with strong characterisation, great pacing, high tension and brilliant concept. This book had so much going on that I simply couldn’t put it down even for an hour!

If you’re looking for a fast-paced and action-packed book with amazing locations or settings this you should definitely read this book! I’d highly recommend it to all readers.

You can watch the video for the review of this book on my IGTV channel here:

You can also read this review on Goodreads and Amazon.

Book Review: The Marring by Ben Hoene

05/12/202005/12/2020Ben Hoene, psychological thriller, Suspense, ThrillerLeave a Comment

Author: Ben Hoene
Release Date: 31st October 2020
Genre: Crime, Suspense, Psychological Thriller
Series:
Format: E-book
Pages: 96 pages
Publisher:
Blurb:

Natasha Cole was an angelic thirteen-year-old girl. She grew up in a fatherless home in the ghetto of Clever Rock; the murder capital of the country. Despite her bleak upbringing, she was a light in darkness with her uplifting and whimsical personality. All of that changed when she fell victim to rape. She was forced under the threat of death by her rapist to never tell a soul what he did.

Thirty years have passed since that incident. Natasha is now a mentally ill drug addict in her forties. After thirty years of silence, she reveals the identity of her rapist. Almost immediately after this confession, a mysterious stalker murderously pursues her. Who’s after her? Natasha must maintain what little sanity she has left to solve this mystery and stop the attacker; while trying to stop her own demons in the process.

Book Review

The Marring by Ben Hoene is a psychological crime thriller that addresses the issue of rape and its consequences.

I love psychological thrillers as much as I love writing them. So when I was approached for this book, I was really curious to read this book. I liked the overall story of the book, but I felt that this book was on the heavier side and leaned more towards the dark side of the internal conflict of the character than I would have preferred. Make no mistake, I am a dark fiction writer myself and prefer dark works over the lighter ones, but in this book, the suspense and mystery were completely overshadowed by the internal conflict and the crime and therefore I wasn’t sure about how the book is listed as a psychological thriller. It is more about the consequences of rape and the character dealing with it than about the stalker, who feels like a sub-plot and not the main conflict.

As I said, I liked the overall story. I wasn’t overly in love with the main character but I was intrigued enough to want to know how the story ends. Also, the writing was okay for most parts, but at some places, the prose felt choppy and full of adverbs. But it was a quick read, so it has that going for it.

Again as I said, I felt the element of suspense and mystery felt overshadowed by the character’s past which, in my humble opinion, drowned out the plot. With better editing, these issues could have been easily worked on, but the copy I received had these issues.

I would recommend it to all thriller readers who don’t have a problem of trigger with rape and abuse related themes.

You can also read this review on Amazon and Goodreads.

Book Review: The Conviction: Enacting Vigilante Justice by John Mathews

07/08/2020John Mathews, Mystery, ThrillerLeave a Comment

Author: John Mathews
Release Date: 25th January 2015
Genre: Mystery, Thriller
~~Series~~:
Format: E-book
Pages: 72 pages
Publisher: DSP Publications
Blurb:
Two criminals are responsible for an innocent man getting sentenced to life for murder. An inept defense attorney and a crooked prosecutor are the other players in this case of egregious American corruption.
The four of them have been lured into a trap in an abandoned warehouse. Someone wants vengeance. This is a story of vigilante justice for the wrongfully convicted. Marked doors lead to four locked rooms, one where each of them will have to pay a price for what they have done. What will they be required to do in order to survive?
This riveting crime thriller puts the American justice system in public view and will keep you guessing until the very last scene. A dark masked figure watches…waits…and wants revenge.

Book Review

The Conviction: Enacting Vigilante Justice by John Mathews is a surprisingly amazing read! I usually don’t expect much from a novella unless of course it is written by authors like Stephen King, but this book turned out to be an absolute delight.

This novella is jam-packed with high tension scenes, mind-boggling manipulative games, fast-paced action and clever twists and turns – all this in just 72 pages! And for me that itself was the best part. This book was an intense yet quick read and kept me on the edge the entire time.

This book was able to accomplish what a lot of lengthy mystery and thriller novels fail to achieve and so I would definitely recommend this book to all thriller lovers.

You can also read this review on Goodreads & Amazon

Book Review: First Gear (Sadie Hawkins Mystery #1) by Patricia C. Lee

31/07/2020Detective Fiction, Mystery, Patricia C. Lee, Suspense, ThrillerLeave a Comment

Author: Patricia C. Lee
Release Date: 4th August 2020
Genre: Thriller, Suspense, Mystery, Detective Fiction
Series:
Format: E-book
Pages: 374 pages
Publisher: –
Blurb:
Recently divorced, petite and feisty Texan, Sadie Hawkins, struggles to get her newly established logistics business off the ground. When the opportunity to haul antiquities, including a mummy, drops into her lap, she jumps at the chance, despite the tight timeline. But when her cargo gets stolen and a fresh corpse mysteriously replaces the mummy, Sadie is arrested for theft and suspicion of murder.

Out on recognizance thanks to her lawyer ex-husband, and not willing to watch her business sink farther in debt while the police search for clues, Sadie yanks up her Dan Post boots and does some investigative work on her own. Stymied by her lack of success, she reluctantly enlists a few members with specific skills from Streetsmart, an organization made up of rehabilitated young adult offenders and managed by her best friend Tanya.

While trying to maintain her business from going under and making sure Tanya never learns of her collaboration with Streetsmart, Sadie endeavors to uncover the truth, the whole time wondering if this crime is some form of retribution to an event in her past. However, when she is framed for the real thief’s murder, it appears not even her accomplices in Streetsmart will be able to save her now.

Book Review

First Gear by Patricia C. Lee is a start to a new detective fiction series that revolves around the female protagonist, Sadie Hawkins.

I’m generally not a huge fan of detective fiction genre, but I like a good detective mystery and given that this was the first book in the series, I had no inhibitions to dive right in. The story was good, the characterisation was okay – the characters were likeable, though not overly relatable, the narration was decent and the ending was good.

The best thing about this book was that it was a surprisingly quick read, which says a lot about the writing style of the author.

Knowing that first book in any series is generally meant to set things up for the next books, I’m willing to cut this one some slack and recommend it to mystery lovers, especially those who like reading detective fiction.

You can also read this review on Goodreads and Amazon

Book Review: The Billionaire’s Secret by Ravina Hillard

25/06/202022/06/2020Contemporary Fiction, Ravina Hilliard, Romance, ThrillerLeave a Comment

Author: Ravina Hilliard
Release Date: 22nd May 2020
Genre: Romantic-thriller
Series:
Format: E-book
Pages: 170
Publisher: Dawn Hill Publications
Blurb: Serena Aisling has made it to the top as a high-powered executive all on her own merit. No thanks to her millionaire father who’d abandoned her at birth to be raised single-handedly by her mother. She has come a long way, so she’ll be damned if she allows him to have a hand in her career by dangling the CEO position of the Mäkelä Group in her face.

When Serena’s company coincidentally assigns her to spearhead a revolutionizing project run by the same corporation, she ends up working alongside the innovator himself—tech guru, Matias Mäkelä. The savvy, self-made millionaire is moody, ill-tempered, arrogant, and a giant thorn in her side, yet she can’t deny that he’s irresistibly handsome and stunningly
delicious.
A malicious traitor very close to Matias is divulging company secrets, and they must work together to uncover and shut them down before it’s too late.
When Serena uncovers the culprit, fearing Matias will not believe her, she keeps the discovery to herself and acts on her own, landing herself in hot waters with Matias. Waters so hot and flaming that she ends up tangled in his sheets, intoxicated with a desire that threatens to engulf her in an uncontrollable fireball of ecstatic delights.
As untold discoveries, secrets, and schemes unravel, Serena and Matias find themselves on a wild and unending tide of colliding together before being ripped apart again.
Will their feelings for each other be enough to survive the diabolical intrigue that threatens their very lives? Or will they crash and burn?

Book Review

The Billionaire’s Secret by Ravina Hillard is a contemporary romance thriller with good action, nice plot and some decent steamy bits.

Lately, I’ve been exploring the romance genre a bit, aside from my usual gothic dark reads and the contrast is refreshing to me as a reader as well as a writer. This book had good writing and that was the main reason I was drawn to it. The plot is a bit full of cliches and common tropes of the genre, but as I always say, when done well, even the common tropes become interesting.

I liked the cast of characters in this book. I rooted for both, Serena as well as Matias, and was glad that I read this book. I’d definitely recommend it to romance readers and to those people who like to read lighter thrillers.

You can also read this review on Goodreads and Amazon

Audiobook Review: Those People by Louise Candlish

17/06/2020Horror, Louise Candlish, Mystery, Supernatural, Suspense, ThrillerLeave a Comment

Author: by Louise Candlish
Narrator: Katharine McEwan, Jonathan Cowley, Jayne Entwistle, Andrew Fallaise, Paul Fox, Billie JD Porter, Moira Quirk
Release Date: 11th June 2019
Genre: Thriller, Mystery, Suspense
Series:
Format: Audiobook
Length: 24 hrs and 32 minutes
Publisher: Penguine Audio
Blurb:
From the internationally bestselling author of Our House, a new addictive novel of domestic suspense that dives into the world of suburban neighborhood drama and asks, “Could your neighbor make you angry enough to kill?”

Lowland Way is the epitome of the suburban dream. Every house and yard is carefully maintained for maximum curb appeal, and everyone knows one another and gets along. One homeowner, Sissy Watkins, runs a successful B and B from her house. Two brothers and their families live next door to each other. It’s the picture-perfect neighborhood.
When Darren Booth and his girlfriend, Jodie, move in across from Sissy, it doesn’t take long for them to begin making trouble. They’re loud, rude, messy, and don’t play by the community rules. They blast music at all hours and have started an unsightly renovation on their house. Before long, guests don’t want to stay at Sissy’s B and B, and everyone is fed up with the new neighbors.
An all-out war is brewing on Lowland Way. When a person is killed, accusations start flying. Someone is dead, and everyone has something to hide….

Book Review

This book was a legit BOMB
that…
is…
until…
the….
………. END!

I mean WTF happened there???

I had to read the last 3-4 chapters THRICE to be sure that I listened to it correctly and didn’t actually miss out a chapter or two!!!

The book just ended abruptly! The saddest part is that is was such a delicious and sensational story right until the last third of the book and then god knows what happened!

I am so effing disappointed!! 😦

You can also read this review on Goodreads

Book Review: The Last Time I Lied by Riley Sager

17/06/202016/06/2020Dark Fiction, Mystery, psychological thriller, Suspense, ThrillerLeave a Comment

Author: Riley Sager
Release Date: 3rd July 2018
Genre: Dark Fiction, Psychological Thriller, Suspense, Mystery
Series:
Format: E-book
Pages: 384
Publisher: Dutton Books
Blurb:
Two Truths and a Lie. The girls played it all the time in their tiny cabin at Camp Nightingale. Vivian, Natalie, Allison, and first-time camper Emma Davis, the youngest of the group. The games ended when Emma sleepily watched the others sneak out of the cabin in the dead of night. The last she—or anyone—saw of them was Vivian closing the cabin door behind her, hushing Emma with a finger pressed to her lips.

Now a rising star in the New York art scene, Emma turns her past into paintings—massive canvases filled with dark leaves and gnarled branches that cover ghostly shapes in white dresses. The paintings catch the attention of Francesca Harris-White, the socialite and wealthy owner of Camp Nightingale. When Francesca implores her to return to the newly reopened camp as a painting instructor, Emma sees an opportunity to try to find out what really happened to her friends.

Yet it’s immediately clear that all is not right at Camp Nightingale. Already haunted by memories from fifteen years ago, Emma discovers a security camera pointed directly at her cabin, mounting mistrust from Francesca and, most disturbing of all, cryptic clues Vivian left behind about the camp’s twisted origins. As she digs deeper, Emma finds herself sorting through lies from the past while facing threats from both man and nature in the present.

And the closer she gets to the truth about Camp Nightingale, the more she realizes it may come at a deadly price.

Book Review

This is my 2nd book by Riley Sager. I can imagine why my big expectations weren’t met by this book – because I read the 3rd book by him before this one and now reading a previous work feels like reading a weaker book so I only ended up liking this book. It was a great read though, entertaining for sure and fast-paced. I enjoyed the entire bit about camping as I’ve never been to a camp so it was a welcome side-plot.

I think I am only disappointed with the ending – I was hoping for a scandalous reveal or bomb-shell climax (which I was blind-sided by in Lock Every Door.) That was what was missing in this book. The entire thing about the asylum was really, really good and by that point, I was sure that the author is going to pull out something big in the end, but sadly it was an okay-ish ending. I’m sure a lot of people will love the ending as it was good from a thriller book’s perspective, but I guess in my case the author penned the 3rd book so well the 2nd one seems a bit bland in front of it. So I am not sure now if I should read Final Girls, their first book. Though I am sure as hell going to be reading the next one by Sager as I’m sure it is going to be good!

If you haven’t read anything by Riley Sager yet, then follow the chronological order of the books. That way you can enjoy the building momentum in each book and will be blown away by their awesomeness individually rather than comparing their best work to the previous ones.

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Audiobook Review: Imaginary Friend by Stephen Chbosky

16/06/2020Dark Fiction, Horror, Stephen Chbosky, Supernatural, ThrillerLeave a Comment

Author: Stephen Chbosky
Narrator: Christine Lakin
Release Date: 1st October 2019
Genre: Supernatural, Horror, Thriller, Dark Fiction
Series:
Format: Audiobook
Length: 24 hrs and 32 minutes
Publisher: Hachette Audio
Blurb:
Imagine… Leaving your house in the middle of the night. Knowing your mother is doing her best, but she’s just as scared as you.

Imagine… Starting a new school, making friends. Seeing how happy it makes your mother. Hearing a voice, calling out to you.
Imagine… Following the signs, into the woods. Going missing for six days. Remembering nothing about what happened.
Imagine… Something that will change everything… And having to save everyone you love.

Book Review

I started out reading this book with this big paperback copy that I had received as one of the books on my birthday. But as I started reading and progressed, I realised it was straining my back to hold this book up and read (I had spine surgery in Feb 2020 due to spine degeneration.) I tried to read it while laying down, but it simply didn’t work as is the case with bulky physical books, so I had to abandon the book reluctantly… that is, until I got my hands on the audiobook! And then what a fun ride it was! Although it was a long, long book – 24 hours and 35 minutes, it was a real treat!

This book is super amazing, for the most part. It had everything I generally crave in a good dark supernatural thriller. The characterisation was brilliant, as was obviously expected from Mr Stephen Chbosky, whose first book I absolutely fell in love with – The Perks Of Being A Wallflower.
The story was great, the concept although seen before felt fresh and unique and the plot well thought out. This book was everything I had expected and a lot more.

The twists were good, but I did see the main one coming. I think the author’s pacing lacked there and therefore he revealed the twist a couple of pages before it should have been revealed. There was a fair bit of wandering but it was mostly good so I enjoyed reading it.

The only thing I didn’t like was the whole Jesus angle. I mean, it seriously came out of nowhere. Or maybe not, but I guess I just wasn’t expecting it. I mean what the hell was that even about – Eve voluntarily staying in hell to keep the devil in check?! That was way too cringe-worthy and too spiritual for my taste. Apart from that, there was only the issue of repetition where I was going insane and wanted to shout at the author to move on already! I mean how many times do we need a reminder about David and the baseball glove smell.

BUT, the narration, guys! IT WAS SPECTACULAR!! The narrator’s dramatic reading made me jump out of my skin when the first couple of times she said CHRIS….TO….PppppHER….. HZZZZZZZZZZ… I mean it was totally insane! And then there was the part where she cried like a baby… that was way too creepy than anything I’ve ever heard! Hats off to Christine Lakin.

THIS IS HOW YOU NARRATE AN AUDIOBOOK!!!

Overall, I’d say that I’d recommend the audiobook over all the other formats and that is only because of Christine Lakin’s narration.

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