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The Marriage Retreat by Laura Elliot
The Marriage Retreat is a story about grief, pain, and a tangled web of deceit. I usually love a domestic thriller especially from Bookouture, but this failed to hit the mark for me. I had a few problems with it mainly the believability of the story. Now, as a reader I know that you need to suspend a fair bit of disbelief in reading, but I did feel that certain aspects just weren’t the actions of a rational human even during the fog of grief. The story follows Lorraine and Victor, the owners of the well renowned marriage retreat, Serenity Falls. It’s a roaring success with only a few failures…
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None of This is True by Lisa Jewell
None of This is True is a twisty tale that moves along at breakneck speed. Absolutely binge worthy! Lisa Jewell is the queen of domestic thrillers! Lisa Jewell’s None of This is True was an epic clusterfuck. Although I haven’t read any of her other books, this one captivated me. It was a wild ride, full of plot twists and turns. There’s something about the author’s writing that makes you incredulous about their skill that you can’t help but listen. You’ve got snacks, blankets, and wine, so snuggle up and read one of the best thrillers of the year. I am addicted to reading psychological thrillers. These suspenseful stories delve…
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Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn
Okay, so I really don’t understand Gillian Flynn’s hype train. I stayed away from Gone Girl because of the hype. Sharp Objects missed the mark. The narrative, the characterisation, the connotations. I just disliked the writing style. There’s something about the writing that doesn’t click for me. I appreciate the talent of the author, but it wasn’t something I’d scream about. Oh man, so many things failed to hit the mark in Sharp Objects. The connection between self-harming and being a promiscuous loner, both bothered me. It just seemed disrespectful to me. Her mental illness seemed to be the primary focus of the story right away, it shouldn’t of…
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The Collector by Anne Mette Hancock
The Collector is typical of the Nordic noir genre – chilling, intelligent and wholly captivating. Perfect dialogue, haunting imagery, and difficult topics. A mysterious blurb. It ticks all the crime junky boxes. It makes my heartbeat and my nerves jangle. The cover makes me imagine scenes from some of my favourite scandi dramas. All of this combines to make The Collector a must-read for anyone who loves a good mystery. It will keep you guessing until the very end. Plus, the writing is sharp and engaging. One sentence is all it took to fall into the pages of the story. The characters are so down to earth, so relatable, people…
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Daphne by Josh Malerman
Daphne hits you hard and fast right from the beginning. Put on your Nikes and get ready for the most exciting run of your life! The start of the story is a bit slow, and I felt that it was let down slightly by the pace. I had heard so many great things about Malerman’s work and I wanted to give it the best chance. Midway through it really started gaining momentum and I was all in. the seatbelt was engaged, and I braced my hands on the dashboard, expecting to get my head caved in at any moment. Kit Lamb and her friends are having a sleepover, and what’s…
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Death of a Bookseller by Alice Slater
Death of a Bookseller is something new. It has a killer premise. The story was impactful with a deep plot that evokes emotion on every page. Slater constantly stokes the flames of mystery. Well, wasn’t this one an anvil to the head? I love a fantastic crime story and Death of a Bookseller didn’t disappoint. The aura of obsession, jealousy and pain are never far from the pages. It’s like a shadow, preparing to swallow you whole, consume you as you consume it. A full circle of darkness. Okay, So Roach (real name Brogan), works in Spines, a bookstore in Walthamstow. The images my mind conjured up is nothing short…
