How many dead bodies need to pile up before someone isn’t an “innocent bystander” anymore?
This is the question Emily finds herself asking when she exHow many dead bodies need to pile up before someone isn’t an “innocent bystander” anymore?
This is the question Emily finds herself asking when she experiences the same terrifying situation two years in a row. Thank you to Random House and Andrea Bartz for my ARC of this book that comes out on July 13, 2021.
A year ago in Cambodia, Emily experienced the terror of being assaulted, put to a stop just in time by her best friend Kristen, who silenced her attacker forever. A year later, Emily is beginning to heal from the trauma and decides to brave another trip with Kristen to Chile. But when she walks in on Kristen, terrified and confused, standing over another dead body, she starts to wonder if they attract bad attention, or if there is something more going on.
Emily heads home to Wisconsin to try to put the pieces of her life back together and have time away from Kristen. She has a job she loves and the beginning of a new relationship, so there is hope to move past her trauma. But then Kristen shows up unannounced, and throws Emily into a tailspin, forced to be reminded of the things they went through. And the worst part is, Kristen is acting like nothing even happened.
This book gave off Amanda Knox vibes and mixed it with an obsessive female friendship. It was intriguing from the start and had Andrea Bartz’ signature theme of female empowerment. Women traveling alone, women surviving trauma, and women dealing with boundaries in their lives. The tension and fear of the story is filled with underlying themes that I enjoyed reading about.
You never quite know who to trust in this story, which makes it all the better. Bartz developed the characters a lot in a short amount of time and it helped me connect with the story. The topic of mental health and therapy comes up often and is an important component added to this story. Was the story believable? No. But it was almost like a guilty pleasure, so addicting that you can’t turn away. I recommend this book to those who like the single white female vibe or those who find it creepy to travel alone. 3.5- stars!
The Wives was nothing like I expected. I didn’t know much about it, but in the start of the book, I didn’t know it would be about a polygamist family The Wives was nothing like I expected. I didn’t know much about it, but in the start of the book, I didn’t know it would be about a polygamist family with some big problems. The book is about Thursday, a woman who has to share her husband with two other women (she calls them Monday and Tuesday). She agreed to be a part-time wife, but now is wanting to know about the other wives and their connection to her husband. She accidentally finds the name and address of one of the other wives one day, and it starts her down a dark path that can only lead to trouble.
There are so many twists in this book that I didn’t know where it was going. It starts off a little slow but soon has lots of interesting details that keep you guessing until the end. I loved that I couldn’t guess the ending and how action-packed the second half of the book was! Tarryn Fisher is a great writer and had me on the edge of my seat the entire time.
What I didn’t like was that it seemed like the ending was rushed. Everything happened quickly in the last two chapters and even though I was surprised by the ending, I didn’t necessarily like it. I felt that it was too last minute, but I still enjoyed the book! I also felt that it started off a little slow and was difficult to get into in the beginning.
Regardless, I read this book in a few hours! I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a good domestic thriller. 4-stars! ...more
WOW! Little Secrets was everything I wanted in a book and nothing like I expected. Thank you so much to Minotaur books for this advanced review copy! WOW! Little Secrets was everything I wanted in a book and nothing like I expected. Thank you so much to Minotaur books for this advanced review copy! I just finished minutes ago and my heart is still pounding!
This book explores the grief and pain of a mother losing her child. The emotions were real and hard to jump right into at first. For me, this book started off slow, but I could not be happier that I stuck it out because what was lying beneath was pure mastery. I loved the characters in this book and how dynamic they were. The way Hillier wrote from different perspectives captured the mood of the book really well.
I liked the multiple plot points that weaved together to make an interesting and addictive story. I really loved the last ¼ of the book and was truly shocked by the ending! A book rarely catches me off guard these days and this one definitely did. If you’re looking for a dark and twisted psychological thriller, this one is perfect! 5 stars from me! ...more
I loved this book! Even though technically it was a YA book, it read like a mystery and was not immature or dramatic. The author did an amazing job ofI loved this book! Even though technically it was a YA book, it read like a mystery and was not immature or dramatic. The author did an amazing job of making this book fitting for all age groups and did something really cool with the formatting. The book was about a girl doing her senior project, and the book included maps, journal entries, and other mixed media that made it a really fun read!
I loved the plot and found it complex and full of likable characters. I loved Pippa, the main character, and found her interesting and engaging. I was hooked from the very beginning and pulled further and further down the rabbit hole the further I got into this book. I think the author did a great job of weaving many unique characters together and I felt like I connected with each and every one of them.
This was a great mystery and a fun story to follow. I was able to guess part of the ending from clues along the way but was still surprised by some of it. Even though the book was a bit longer, I read it quickly and enjoyed the journey. 4.5 stars from me! I am so happy this was a Book of the Month option! ...more
This book has gotten a lot of hype and I can see why. It is a very unique and surprising story like none I’ve read before. I thought the plot was geniThis book has gotten a lot of hype and I can see why. It is a very unique and surprising story like none I’ve read before. I thought the plot was genius and I could not put this book down. This is my second Peter Swanson book and I am a fan!
Thoughts: I loved the premise of this book. The idea of two people meeting and planning a murder was very strangers on a train. I thought the characters in this book were masterfully done and I was intrigued by each and every one. I loved the way the story connected to other stories in the past, and the way that the Lucy chapters went back through her life.
SPOILER: I CAN’T BELIEVE PETER JUST GOT MURDERED LIKE THAT. I was like, is he coming back? Is he really dead? Isn’t he a main character?! But that’s when I realize he actually wasn't, and Lucy was.
Of course all the connections felt a little fantastic and unbelievable, but that was part of the fun. There were a few times I thought to myself that no one could get away with this, but it’s a book so anything can happen. I did like the ending a lot, because not only is it satisfying but it is ambiguous. There could easily be a follow up book which would make me so happy. I loved this book, the writing, and the story it told. 5-stars! ...more
What a twisted ride it’s been. My Lovely Wife was a book that I went into completely blind, and I’m happy that I did. In my opinion, it was similar toWhat a twisted ride it’s been. My Lovely Wife was a book that I went into completely blind, and I’m happy that I did. In my opinion, it was similar to the movie Mr. and Mrs. Smith in the sense that the book revolved around a couple who killed people.
From the beginning, I was just staring at the book like what is this? I liked the way it started off with a bang, letting you know the couple did indeed kill people while maintaining a lovely suburban household. The book remained fast-paced and had many aspects that you don’t find in your everyday thriller. I liked the premise of the book a lot and the story kept me wondering where it was going and how it would turn out.
I really enjoyed the alter-ego, Tobias, and thought it was an interesting character/storyline. What I didn’t like about the book was that it was really difficult for me to get into. Even though it started off well, I didn’t personally connect with the characters until about ⅓ of the way in. I also felt that it was predictable in a way. When the main character isn’t asking any questions about his wife and didn’t know anything about what she was doing, it wasn’t a huge surprise that he was “tricked” by her. I guessed the main twist halfway through, but it could be because I read so many thrillers!
In the end, I would give this book 3.5 stars because it truly was original. Samantha Downing is a fantastic writer and I can’t wait to read her next book. ...more
Wowowowow. Riley Sager is a literary mastermind and I don’t even know where to start. I got Lock Every Door as my Book of the Month and decided I shouWowowowow. Riley Sager is a literary mastermind and I don’t even know where to start. I got Lock Every Door as my Book of the Month and decided I should start it. It not only met my expectations as a Sager book but far surpassed them. I read Final Girls a few weeks ago and loved it, but I think I liked Lock Every Door even more.
Sager layers the plot so even when you think you know what's going on next, you have no idea. Lock Every Door is about an apartment sitter, Jules, who finds a situation that is too good to be true. She is offered a job that makes 12K for just three months. All she has to do is make an apartment seem occupied. But not everything is as it seems. The apartment, The Bartholomew, has lots of strict rules and strange residents.
After a fellow apartment sitter, Ingrid disappears, Jules looks into The Bartholomew’s past and finds strange things. Then, she starts to realize Ingrid isn’t the first person who has disappeared in The Bartholomew, and there is something much more sinister going on. The story flashes forward to the present when Jules is in the hospital, and to the past to what landed her there.
There are so many different factors that contribute to making this story amazing, but no matter what way you look at it, it’s a 5-star read! I can’t wait for Sager’s next book! Riley Sager ...more
What a perfect premise. Eight Perfect Murders is the quintessential murder mystery and I loved it! It was about a bookstore owner who wrote a blog posWhat a perfect premise. Eight Perfect Murders is the quintessential murder mystery and I loved it! It was about a bookstore owner who wrote a blog post about the eight most perfect murders of all time. When the FBI comes to his door, he realizes someone has been recreating his murders and might be trying to frame him in the process. What a twisted and amazing story.
I loved the premise so much! IT gave me all types of vibes and the frat that the list was based on famous murders in books (and one screenplay) was fantastic. I loved all the book references and every aspect of the plot. I enjoyed the fast-paced story and, most of all, I loved the unreliable narrator! The narrator speaks directly to the reader in the book and it is done BRILLIANTLY. I enjoyed where the story took me and I thought the ending was perfect.
This book will sweep you off your feet and take you on an exciting journey that you won’t be expecting. I related with the narrator, loved the characters, and enjoyed the story a lot. 5 mysterious stars from me! ...more
So I started a thriller book club (Thrillers by the Book Club on Facebook) and this was our first month’s pick! It also happened to be a Book of the MSo I started a thriller book club (Thrillers by the Book Club on Facebook) and this was our first month’s pick! It also happened to be a Book of the Month pick so it worked out great for everyone. I didn’t really read the review before, but word of mouth told me that it was a book about a cult mystery.
As a lifelong true crime fan, I’ve always been interested in cults and so I was very excited for this book. I will say this isn’t really a thriller, but more like a slow-burn mystery. The story jumps from the past to the current time, and you learn a lot about Libby and her past.
Libby just had her birthday and found out she inherited a mansion that belonged to her parents. She starts to learn about who her parents were and the story behind the old house and everything that went on there. 25 years previous, a room full of dead cult members were found, with the family’s children nowhere to be seen. Libby was left in a crib alone, while everyone was dead around her.
Libby begins to meet people who help her learn more about herself and her past. There are two other points of view that give background detail, but there really aren’t many thriller aspects to this story. It’s more of a family drama and there isn’t a huge twist or reveal at the end. There are definitely some trigger warnings though: sexual abuse, child abuse, animal abuse, rape, and termination of pregnancy.
I did like this book and loved the premise. It was written to lead you from place to place and Lisa Jewell is a fantastic writer. I want to read some of Jewell’s other books to see if there is more of a connection for me, but it was definitely a good first book club pick! ...more
WHAT A JOURNEY! I went into this book completely blind to what it was about and I was shocked but how much I truly loved it. Thank you so much to BallWHAT A JOURNEY! I went into this book completely blind to what it was about and I was shocked but how much I truly loved it. Thank you so much to Ballantine/Random House for sending me a finished copy of this book!
Thoughts: This plot was fantastic and not as predictable as I originally thought. Even from the beginning I thought I knew where this book was going, but I had no idea. I loved the different characters in this story and how the chapters switched between Robin, Mary, and Leslie. They were all interesting and they each had a story to tell. I liked that there were secrets that were just below the surface, leading you deeper into the story.
I enjoyed the writing style and so the book flew by for me! It was more of a slow burn which worked well with this story. The authors note at the end was also very important, because there are tough themes in this book like suicide and postpartum depression that are written well but also realistically. I loved this book and give it 4.5 stars! ...more
This book was a great distraction that I read in a day! I loved the duel story-lines and the way the two stories fit together. I immediately got The LThis book was a great distraction that I read in a day! I loved the duel story-lines and the way the two stories fit together. I immediately got The Last Mrs Parrish vibes and now I can see I was spot on. This book is about a woman whose husband left her for another woman. She is having a hard time wrapping her head around it- all she knows is that she has to stop the upcoming wedding.
What I liked about this book was that it was fast-paced. I was immersed in the story from the beginning and liked all the detail the authors put into it. I could picture everything happening in the story and I was invested in both story lines. I also liked the way there were some unique plot points that aren’t in every thriller. I read a lot of thrillers so sometimes it can be easy to tell each twist of the story. The Wife Between Us truly caught me off guard a few times and gave me chills!
I also liked the characters in this story and felt that they were well-written and I could relate with them. I didn’t like the predictability of this story and how I knew where it was going after the first half of the book. Regardless, there were still so many surprising moments and I really enjoyed the journey. I’m happy I chose this for my book club monthly pick! 4-stars from me. ...more
Chelsea | thrillerbookbabe
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