Another year, another list of mostly thrillers. Here’s what I’m reading in 2022:
Synopsis: Peyote works in Hell in the deals department–making deals with humans to sell their soul for earthly desires and if he signs one more from his lineage (the Harrisons), he gets a second chance on Earth. But the Harrison family is complicated and has secrets and a past that has entangled them in grief.
Review: This one was a little bit outside my typical thriller comfort zone. The story premise was interesting but there was a lot of head hopping and a lot of different back stories, one of which I still can’t really figure out. It had a lot of promise but was somehow hard to pick up and read. Every chapter was a different character and on top of that, you might be in that character’s past or present. So there was just a lot going on to fully enjoy it.
Synopsis: A missing girl. A man who lives in a boarded up house at the end of the street with his cat. A new neighbor who moves in that thinks the two are connected.
Review: For some reason I keep convincing myself that I like Stephen King and the genre he’s in. Stephen King has a blurb on this one and it compelled me to pick it up (the last time that happens I swear). This book is incredibly unique. For the first half of it, you’re trying to figure out what it is that you’re actually reading. And when you do start to figure it out, it still doesn’t make sense. I can see the argument for brilliance and intricacy, and covering a topic that is hard to do. But again, maybe this just isn’t my genre, but I was left with just as much confusion at the end as I had at the beginning.
Synopsis: Daisy Darker is a modern retelling of ‘And Then There Were None’ by Agatha Christie. Daisy Darker is invited to her nana’s house to celebrate her 80th birthday, along with the rest of her dysfunctional family. The house is located on a tidal island so that when the tide comes in, no one can leave. The family, who tolerates each other at best, learns of nana’s will just before midnight. When the clock strikes 12, nana is found dead below a poem exposing the Darker family secrets. One by one, the Darker family members are killed until the very last secret is exposed.
Review: I think I would have rated this one a little bit higher if it weren’t for the many flashbacks into their childhood. There were a lot of scenes that were just recaps of them growing up that explain their distaste for each other as adults and ultimately what leads to their secrets. But those parts were a bit slow. The twist at the end was not as satisfying as I hoped but it was an interesting rendition of the original story.
Synopsis: Meg Williams is a con artist who has used many different names across many different cities. But now she’s back where she grew up, using her real name.
Kat has been waiting for Meg to return for a very long time so she can expose who she is and retaliate for Meg ruining her life all those years ago. But as the two grow closer, Kat begins to doubt who Meg’s next target is and why she’s returned.
Review: In general, this was a slower read with not much build up. I also wouldn’t classify this as a thriller, but more of a revenge story. The ending was not what I expected and it was a satisfying closure. Worth the read, but not a book that I couldn’t put down.
Synopsis: Casey Fletcher is an actress seeking a quiet retreat from the spotlight after having a rough time in the press. Her family home on the lake is one of only a few others. When Tom and Katherine Royce (a tech guy and super model) move in across the lake, Casey spends her time watching them through their glass windows. When Katherine disappears, Casey begins searching for answers and starts to uncover secrets surrounding the lake.
Review: I love Riley Sager, but this one was a stretch. The writing is solid like usual, but the storyline had some elements that actually take this book from thriller to another genre (I won’t say so I don’t ruin it). The twist in the middle made me flip back in the book because I wasn’t sure I had read it right ha. It’s shocking and takes the story on a whole new path. If you’ve read his other books, it is not what you will expect.
Synopsis: This is a dark reimagining of Peter Pan (18+). Every year, the Darling women disappear on their 18th birthday only to return broken. Winnie Darling is about to turn 18 and is about to be taken by Peter Pan, aka the Never King. But what does he want? And why do all the women in her family return in various states of brokenness?
Review: Where do I start with this one lol. This is not my typical read but it was brought up by a friend who knew people who had read it and when I read the synopsis, I had to pick it up. It’s a creative retelling where Pan is the bad guy. The storyline is very interesting, but just know that this is an 18+ book for being spicy. The thing is, is that it’s not really a romance novel, it’s a ‘Winnie will get with anyone who moves’ novel. I feel like the storyline has so much promise but I personally would have rather there be one love interest or a love triangle rather than….every man who exists. haha
Synopsis: Amaya is surprisingly invited to her ex-best friend’s wedding in Sri Lanka. She hasn’t spoken to Kaavi in years but when Amaya finds out the groom is her ex-boyfriend, she decides to fly back home to Sri Lanka with the intention of stopping the wedding. But during the wedding festivities, Kaavi goes missing–and everyone thinks Amaya had something to do with it.
Review: This book is like a Crazy Rich Asians thriller based in Sri Lanka. The author gives such good insight on Sri Lankan society and it’s woven into the story flawlessly. The main character is psychotic and it’s interesting going through her thoughts. I didn’t expect the ending and everything about this was great.
Synopsis: A successful, young romance novelist finds out she has 3 months left to live, but she has one more story she needs to tell. Since she’s short on time with her health dwindling, she reaches out to a rival novelist to assist her in telling this final story. This last book will be the truth–about everything that happened the day her world was torn apart.
Review: Helena is a unique character albeit negative and grumpy, BUT she does have her moments. (Unlikeable characters need to have some redeeming qualities in my opinion, so you can feel some sort of remorse and understanding). The writing was good and grabbed my attention right away. The characters were interesting and so was the story–definitely a quick read!
Synopsis: A woman wakes up in Lisbon to find her new husband gone, with no trace of where he went. By mid morning, she involves the police. By mid afternoon, she receives a ransom note–for €3 million. With her husband’s life at stake and the police’s constant questions about how well she knows her husband, she reluctantly decides to contact the one person from her past who can help her. But that person is also responsible for ruining her life.
Review: I bought this book right before my trip to Lisbon so I really wanted to love it. Usually, if a book catches my attention, I’ll finish it within 3 days. This book took me a month. I absolutely hated the main character. She has a grudge against the world and no redeeming qualities. Her past was confusing, her decisions baseless–all which contributed to a muddled plot and questionable behavior. I also thought it was a bit predictable with no hard twists or surprises so I just sort of sludged through it. The cliffhangers were also a little juvenile in my opinion–the author would just stop, almost in the middle of the sentence. Cliffhangers are usually a scene that is cut mid-moment, but these seemed odd and forced.
Synopsis: Billy Dunne and his band, The Six, are finding their feet as musicians and climbing the charts of Rock and Roll in the 70s. Daisy is a talented singer/song writer destined for stardom with a bold personality, a bold look and a raging drug problem. When the pair meet and sing together, it’s electric. They can’t stand each other but they’re drawn to each other, and Billy knows he needs Daisy in his band to rise to the top.
Review: This book has consistently gotten really good reviews and for whatever reason, I wasn’t excited to start reading it. It sat on my bedside table for probably 6 months when I finally got around to it and it is SO. GOOD. The writing, the format, the chemistry of the characters…and don’t ask me why I THOUGHT THIS BOOK WAS REAL. As in, I thought it was a real band from the 70s and I even tried to google pictures of the band. Which attests to the writing because I really thought it was real, transcribed (but edited) interviews. And…I didn’t find out it was fictional until 30 pages from the end.
I only have one, small criticism about it. This was the most popular rock n’ roll band in the country. It’s drugs, sex and rock n’ roll. Except that everyone was in loving, committed relationships. And that to me was unrealistic. Besides the drug usage, the band seemed a little too straight and narrow, and I just felt like everyone’s lives should have been messier for that time period. Especially when you’re rich, good-looking and in a rock band. But…it’s a great story and it’s a great book.
Synopsis: Celebrities and the uber elite are all vying to be members of the Home Group–glamorous clubs that are located around the globe–and the newest club, Island Home, is rumored to be the best of them all. It’s a home away from home where celebrities can party away from the eyes of paparazzi and stay on property for their luxe amenities. The launch of Island Home commences, but emotions are on edge. Everyone has secrets they’re keeping and not everyone will live when those secrets start to spill.
Review: In terms of writing, this book was well done. I think the character’s were captured accurately and it gave a (probably) pretty accurate portrayal of life of the rich and the famous. There were also a few cliff hangers that made me want to skip ahead to check what happens. However, this book shows the negative sides of the rich and the famous…and the characters aren’t likable. No one really has any redeeming qualities and it’s a little weird reading when everyone is pretty awful. But…still an interesting read with lots of details and woven story lines.
Synopsis: Jess heads to Paris to visit her brother Ben, but when she arrives, he’s nowhere to be found, even though he was expecting her. His apartment is nice, too nice. And the residents are acting suspicious. The more she starts to dig into her brother’s disappearance, the more she begins to think everyone around her has something to hide.
Review: It started out good–a mysterious high-end apartment complex filled with mysterious characters. The setting was interesting, but the relationships were a little strange to me. Each time a ‘twist’ came around, I wasn’t that surprised. It had a lot of promise but I didn’t find myself wanting to sit down and read and almost a little indifferent about finishing it. But the story still has intrigue and the ending is unexpected.
Synopsis: Lowen is a broke, struggling writer who gets offered to write the remaining books in a popular book series written by a woman named Verity who has been injured in a serious car accident. She’s hired by Verity’s handsome husband, Jeremy who invites Lowen to stay at their house so she can go through all of Verity’s notes. But instead, she finds an unfinished autobiography from Verity, spilling the secrets she hoped would never see the light of day. When Lowen starts to fall for Jeremy, she realizes that showing him the manuscript would set him free from the woman who seems to be watching from her wheelchair behind glazed eyes.
Review: This book is a quick read because you won’t want to put it down. There are moments of suspense and romance all while trying to figure out what happened and what will happen. I also love books where all the characters are a little psychopathic. A great read. Definitely pick this one up.
Synopsis: Claire Lake was rocked by the murders of ‘the Lady Killer’ where two men were seemingly shot at random. Twenty-three year old, Beth Greer, was arrested then acquitted for the murders and made quite the interesting suspect: beautiful, strange and very rich. Forty years later, Beth is approached by Shea, a young receptionist and true crime blogger, who asks for an interview. Beth surprisingly agrees and Shea finds herself at the house of one of the most notorious alleged murderers from her town. But why her? And why now? And what actually happened all those years ago?
Review: I loved the storyline in this and I love a sassy old woman. The characters had a lot of depth and complexity to their emotions and way of thinking. They both had ‘issues’ or things that deeply impacted who they are, and sometimes that can create an unlikable character, but I thought they were described in relatable, justifiable ways. I thought their relationship was great–complicated, just like the two of them.
Synopsis: Nell Young grew up in a family of esteemed cartographers, so when her father dies under suspicious circumstances, she’s surprised to find out his prized possession was a cheap, road side map. But people seem to want this map and will do anything they can to find it. When Nell starts looking into the map, she discovers why it’s so wanted and the secrets that it has been hiding.
Review: I love anything to do with maps and books so I was curious about this one. The story is unique and definitely interesting but the writing seemed a bit juvenile. There are fantasy elements involved which is fine, but it just didn’t grab me like I hoped it would. I wasn’t in love with the characters, though they were fine, and everything was just sort of…ok.
Synopsis: Jason Dessen is a college professor who leads a normal life with his wife and son until one night he’s kidnapped and injected with an unknown substance. When he wakes up in a laboratory, he’s still Jason Dessen, just living in a world that isn’t his, with a life that isn’t the one he knows. (I could say more but I don’t want to. Just pick this book up and read it.)
Review: I feel like I’m a bit of a tough critic. I grew up with a library in my home, my parents owned a bookstore for awhile, I graduated in English with an emphasis in creative writing and even took a novel writing course. I love stories and always have, so I can usually find something that doesn’t hit the 5 star mark with me, whether it’s character flaws, plot holes or bad writing. THIS BOOK surprised me. It was clever, propelling, had solid writing, and just overall a great read. And I don’t ever even read sci fi. But when a friend told me she read it within a day, I knew I had to read it. It’s an interesting story covering a complicated topic that the author explains so easily. Definitely a must-read.
Synopsis: Selena has a secret–her husband is having an affair with the nanny. She’s only just found out and hasn’t told anyone, until she meets a stranger, Martha, on the train. Martha also has a secret–she’s having an affair with her married boss. The two woman share a brief but intimate connection where they both spill their secrets, thinking they are safe on strangers’ ears. When Selena’s nanny goes missing and she starts receiving text messages from Martha, she starts to question who this woman really is and what else does Martha know about her?
Review: Interesting plot. Someone’s life is unraveling and there’s a stranger in the mix. But it didn’t quite keep me guessing, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. We had two different timelines and I felt as if we were kind of finding out the relationships in the story before the characters were. I also felt a little bit like the character’s motives switched and that sort of made the conflict feel a little off. I also don’t love head hopping in POVs, especially when you get thrown into a POV of a child. I did like how the author captured the complicated feelings of Martha and loved how the ending tied in.
Synopsis: Elin, an ex detective, heads to the newly renovated Hotel Le Sommet in the Alps for a weekend engagement celebration for her estranged brother. But something isn’t quite right about this hotel and its history as a sanatorium. When her brother’s fiancé disappears and a bad snowstorm has them stranded in the mountains, Elin starts to pick apart the hotel’s history and her brother’s questionable past. Tensions rise when a body is found and with the storm keeping them stranded, they aren’t sure they’ll make it out alive.
Review: This book had all the elements of a great thriller, however, the story had some plot holes and explanations that weren’t entirely satisfying. The setting and setup is good but the execution was lacking. I also found myself figuring out parts of the story before the characters and it felt like the characters were trying to catch up to things you already knew. Besides the unanswered questions and motives that were lacking, the biggest part that made me literally say “what??” out loud was the ending. There’s an added epilogue that makes absolutely ZERO sense. It’s almost like a desperate attempt at a last minute plot twist but it really confused me. I even tried to google an explanation but only found forums of equally confused people.
It’s still an interesting read. Like I said, the setting and set up is interesting enough to pull you through. But once you start dissecting it, that’s where it loses some stars.
Synopsis: 6 new friends venture to Meroe Island, a deserted island with a creepy and gruesome history. They’re enjoying their time in paradise when a stranger arrives, putting them all on edge. When one person goes missing and one person ends up dead, questions arise about just how well they know their new friends. But everyone has secrets and they might not make it off this island.
Review: I loved this book–a beautiful deserted island is always a good setting to me because you never know what you’ll find. The exploring aspect alone can throw in unexpected twists and turns but then when you are traveling with people you don’t know too well (which I have), you start to wonder about them and if they are who they say they are. I thought the author painted a great picture of the destination. I did have some questions by the end and I wasn’t in love with how it ended. But the story was great overall and since it involved travel, it made it even better! Would definitely add to your TBR list.
Synopsis: For Pippa’s final project of high school, she decides to cover a murder that happened in her hometown 5 years ago–when Andie Bell was killed by her boyfriend, Sal Singh and then killed himself. But the problem is…Pip doesn’t think he did it. When Pip starts digging into the events of that night, she realizes that she might actually be right and that the people in her town are hiding a lot of secrets.
Review: First off, I’d say this book is geared a little bit towards a younger audience simply because the main character is in high school. And the murder that she is trying to solve is of two people who were also in high school at the time. However, it doesn’t read super juvenile or anything and there are several serious topics involved. It sort of reminded me of Pretty Little Liars (though I only watched the show) except that the main character is a ‘good girl’.
The story itself was well written and I loved how the character of Pip didn’t know who she was and the ending wasn’t some cheesy, ‘now I know’. Her character was believable and I thought there were a lot of sweet moments. The story had a lot of twists but nothing was so out of reach. I thought the author did a great job of set ups and pay offs. If you don’t mind the high school setting, this is a fun mystery to read.
Synopsis: Travis Wren is hired by a family to find their daughter, Maggie, who has been missing for 5 years. When he’s led to the place she was last seen, Travis mysteriously disappears too. A few years later, Theo, a member of a secluded community known as Pastoral, stumbles upon the abandoned truck that Travis left behind. The community stays well within the boundaries for fear of an outside disease known as the ‘rot’, but Theo’s discovery makes him question the outside world and the disease that keeps them in. He keeps the secret from his wife and her sister but discovers they are all keeping secrets from each other. Secrets that tell a dark story of their community.
Review: This is not my typical book, but the storyline intrigued me. I read a few other reviews and someone said the writing was ‘flowery’ and I feel like that depicts it pretty well. While the writing was good, there were quite a lot of ‘flowery’ descriptions in the form of similes and metaphors. Another review said that they didn’t understand the title of the book. I didn’t think about it until reading that review but I agree with that statement as well ha.
The story was interesting and definitely pulled me into it–reading the 2nd half in a single morning. I do think that the story set up is more interesting than what actually ends up happening. The threat in the story is a little hard to believe and the ending was not as satisfying as I hoped. Definitely a unique read and while it wasn’t my favorite, still worth reading.
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