Tag: Thriller

REVIEW – Anyone by Charles Soule

Aimeeeliz

Be anyone with Anyone. Sounds kind of neat, right? NOPE. I’m glad this is purely fiction and this technology doesn’t exist.

This book is incredible – it moves at a breakneck pace and never slows down. The reader is treated to two timelines – present day, and 25 years into the future.

The story is visceral. It’s gory and gritty. I exclaimed “omg!” and “holy sh*t!” out loud a few times while reading. The stakes are incredibly high, and I was shocked by quite a few plot points throughout the book.

All in all, an insane entry into the sci-fi thriller genre – amazing for those who are looking for something dark and uncomfortable, but maybe not so great for the faint of heart.

Thank you Harper Perennial for sending me an ARC of this book!

REVIEW – Before She Knew Him by Peter Swanson

Aimeeeliz

This is the definition of a fun, popcorn thriller. It’s a quick read with a good twist (one that’s hinted at throughout but I could see how some readers could be fooled!)

It’s dark, but I thought it was going to be much deeper and less cinematic than it ended up being (this isn’t a negative, I was just surprised at how fast-paced the story was, and that it didn’t involve too much investigative work).

REVIEW – Eventide by Mae Clair

Aimeeeliz

Eventide starts off super creepy and then somewhat plateaus for a bit – with bursts of horrifying and gruesome action in some spots.

Third in a series, Eventide does reference some earlier events which I assume took place in the other books, but this doesn’t negatively affect the reading experience. You could easily read this book without having read the others.

The book includes dual timelines which are interesting at first, but the older timeline lost my attention a bit in the middle. The pay off is decent though, and there are some great reveals if you don’t figure them out first (but realizing what’s coming doesn’t ruin the overall story!)

Thank you Kensington Books for the digital review copy.

REVIEW – Saint X by Alexis Schaitkin

Aimeeeliz

This book has so many layers – it starts off as an almost external examination of the relationship between sisters. There are surface observations of different families enjoying their vacations in paradise.

Then Alison disappears. And her body is discovered a few days later. The narrative shifts into a heartbreaking exploration of a family’s terror and grief. Most importantly, grief from the perspective of a little girl.

We move quickly into the (near) present. Little sister Claire is how an adult, but her sister’s mysterious death shapes her entire life. As she uncovers more details about her older sister, she also learns more about herself.

This does slow down a bit towards the middle and, at times, Claire is a very unlikable character, but the story is unique and compelling and complex. This will likely be a very popular pick for book clubs in 2020!

Thank you Celadon for providing me with a copy of this book.

REVIEW – Elevator Pitch by Linwood Barclay

Aimeeeliz

Elevator Pitch is a solid suspenseful story about elevator rides gone wrong in NYC. Barclay does a great job of setting the scene and making you feel safe until, suddenly, you’re not.

The story is fast paced and, honestly, a little fun. The premise is horrifying but the execution is very reminiscent of a good summer blockbuster.

I’ve never been afraid of elevators, but I might opt to take the stairs from now on.

Thank you William Morrow for providing me with a copy of this book!

REVIEW – The Chestnut Man by Soren Sveistrup

Aimeeeliz

If this book isn’t on your radar, it needs to be. From the absolutely brutal beginning to the chilling last chapter, The Chestnut Man holds on and does not let go.

The investigative part of the story is compelling, and keeps you guessing until all of the answers are revealed.

The story explores the worst of humanity, the depths of grief (and the different ways people cope), and the ripple effect that lies and secrets can have.

This book is DARK. It’s incredibly gruesome and can be jarring at times. It is not for the faint of heart. There is also a deep sadness that runs underneath the story (there’s a reveal that’s an absolute gut punch).

Although the book clocks in at just over 500 pages, it’s a relatively quick read with short chapters.

REVIEW – The Whisper Man by Alex North

Aimeeeliz

The Whisper Man is chilling, but it’s also very sad.

A good examination of father-son relationships and forgiveness, The Whisper Man offers up a slower-burning story that picks up speed towards the end. The last chapter is probably the most impactful and terrifying.

It’s a solid thriller with some interesting twists and an overwhelming sense of dread.

Thank you Celadon for the ARC!

REVIEW – The Butterfly Garden by Dot Hutchison

Aimeeeliz

“Some people stay broken. Some pick up the pieces and put them back together with all the sharp edges showing.”

I read this over the course of one afternoon and would recommend that other readers try to do the same. It’s a short book and although a lot happens in the story, it really only takes place over the course of two days.

It reads like an episode of Criminal Minds – it’s a disturbing page turner but isn’t really a “thriller” as it is a novel about a horrific crime, survival and resilience.

REVIEW – Lock Every Door by Riley Sager

Aimeeeliz

“This place isn’t kind to gentle souls. It chews them up and spits them out.”

If you haven’t read any of his books yet, you need to know that Riley Sager is basically the new king of the fun, twisty, popcorn thriller.

Lock Every Door is no exception. I would put it more firmly into the mystery bucket (except in the last 80 pages where it flips to a major horror movie vibe with some Twilight Zone-ish elements).

The cast of characters almost reminds me of an Agatha Christie novel. Everyone is unique and everyone is…a little off. I had fun trying to figure out what was going on (I was right about some things and pretty wrong about some others!)