Categotry Archives: Thriller
S.T.A.G.S.
S.T.A.G.S.
Delacorte Press
January 30, 2018
Hardcover
304
Greer MacDonald has just started as a scholarship student at the exclusive St. Aidan the Great boarding school, known to its privileged pupils as STAGS. STAGS is a place where new things--and new people--are to be avoided. And in her first days there, Greer is ignored at best and mocked at worst by the school's most admired circle of friends, the Medievals.
So, naturally, Greer is taken by surprise when the Medievals send her an invitation to a sought-after weekend retreat at the private family estate of their unofficial leader, Henry de Warlencourt. It's billed as a weekend of "huntin' shootin' fishin'."
As the weekend begins to take shape, it becomes apparent that beyond the luxurious trappings, predators are lurking, and they're out for blood.
OPTIONED FOR FILM BY FOX 2000 AND CHERNIN ENTERTAINMENT--WITH HUNGER GAMES CO-WRITER TO ADAPT!
Review:
It took me about a third of the book to get into the story, but once I did, I found it to be quite a good thriller and a clever commentary on current events. It’s best read on a rainy night, which is what I did. Be prepared for some strange nightmares! I wish I could say more but anything other than what’s already in the blurb would be a spoiler.
This unbiased review is based upon a complimentary copy provided by the publisher.
Content Warning:
Language, Minor Sexual Situations, Violence, Animal Deaths
The Visitors
Fiction
Simon and Schuster
September 26, 2017
304
“Once you start Catherine Burns's dark, disturbing, and enthralling debut novel, it's hard to stop. The Visitors is bizarrely unsettling, yet compulsively readable.” —Iain Reid, internationally bestselling author of I’m Thinking of Ending Things With the smart suspense of Emma Donoghue’s Room and the atmospheric claustrophobia of Grey Gardens, Catherine Burns’s debut novel explores the complex truths we are able to keep hidden from ourselves and the twisted realities that can lurk beneath even the most serene of surfaces. Marion Zetland lives with her domineering older brother John in a crumbling mansion on the edge of a northern seaside resort. A timid spinster in her fifties who still sleeps with teddy bears, Marion does her best to live by John’s rules, even if it means turning a blind eye to the noises she hears coming from behind the cellar door...and turning a blind eye to the women’s laundry in the hamper that isn’t hers. For years, she’s buried the signs of John’s devastating secret into the deep recesses of her mind—until the day John is crippled by a heart attack, and Marion becomes the only one whose shoulders are fit to bear his secret. Forced to go down to the cellar and face what her brother has kept hidden, Marion discovers more about herself than she ever thought possible. As the truth is slowly unraveled, we finally begin to understand: maybe John isn’t the only one with a dark side....
Review:
Had I written this review as soon as I finished “The Visitors,” it would have been three stars. I’m glad I waited, because this is the sort of book that sticks with you and chills you to the bone whenever you think about it.
It isn’t fast-paced, and honestly some of the scariest moments come when you identify with the loneliness of Marion. Quite a bit of it is simply a slice of life type story with bits of the macabre tossed in. I really don’t want to spoil anything. If you are up for a slow-burn horror/ thriller, this is highly recommended.
Caution: There are some animal deaths, though none particularly graphic.
This unbiased review is based upon a complimentary copy provided by the publisher.
Before I Let Go
Young Adult Fiction
Sourcebooks Fire
January 23, 2018
368
From the author of the #1 New York Times bestseller This Is Where It Ends! Days before Corey is to return home to the snow and ice of Lost Creek, Alaska, to visit her best friend, Kyra dies. Corey is devastated—and confused. The entire Lost community speaks in hushed tones about the town's lost daughter, saying her death was meant to be. And they push Corey away like she's a stranger. Corey knows something is wrong. Lost is keeping secrets—chilling secrets. But piecing together the truth about what happened to her best friend may prove as difficult as lighting the sky in an Alaskan winter...
Review:
All three stars that I have given “Before I Let Go” are because of the beautiful writing. That being said, I didn’t like this book at all. The story sounds good in the blurb but fell flat all the way around for me. It did not help that I didn’t like any of the characters, so I wasn’t even invested in finding out what happened to them. It was a chore to read. “One of us. One of us. One of us,” ran through my mind the entire time. I know that Marieke Nijkamp is capable of much better storytelling and still look forward to her next book.
This unbiased review is based upon a complimentary copy provided by the publisher.
Content Warning:
Language, Minor Sexual Situations, Violence
The Hanging Girl
Hmh Books for Young Readers
October 3, 2017
320
Another unputdownable, twisty, cat-and-mouse thriller by the author of With Malice about a girl who claims to have a psychic vision that could help find a missing teenager.
Review:
“The Hanging Girl” is a good read for someone in the mood for a quick and fun young adult mystery. The plot is entertaining and would come in handy for someone needing a break during the holiday season by escaping for a while. The only problem I had with it is the main character, Skye. No matter how much her character’s deeper history was revealed I just could not bring myself to like her. Recommended for a light read!
This unbiased review is based upon a complimentary copy provided by the publisher.
Content Warning:
Language, Sexual Situations, Violence
Emma in the Night
Fiction
August 8, 2017
320
"Both twisted and twisty, this smart psychological thriller sets a new standard for unreliable narrators." –Booklist, Starred Review One night three years ago, the Tanner sisters disappeared: fifteen-year-old Cass and seventeen-year-old Emma. Three years later, Cass returns, without her sister Emma. Her story is one of kidnapping and betrayal, of a mysterious island where the two were held. But to forensic psychiatrist Dr. Abby Winter, something doesn't add up. Looking deep within this dysfunctional family Dr. Winter uncovers a life where boundaries were violated and a narcissistic parent held sway. And where one sister's return might just be the beginning of the crime.
Review:
“Emma in the Night” is a taut psychological thriller that kept me reading from start to finish without putting it down. Not only did I keep second-guessing my theories, I kept feeling ill-at-ease in my own home. It’s difficult to say much more than the book synopsis because to spoil it even a little would take away from the fun. If you like thriller mysteries, you will probably enjoy this.
This unbiased review is based upon a complimentary copy provided by the publisher.
Omega (Infinity Division, Book 2)
Infinity Division, Book 2
Young Adult Fiction
Entangled Teen
August 1, 2017
Paperback
320
One mistake can change everything. Ashlyn Calvert finds that out the hard way when a bad decision leads to the death of her best friend, Noah Anderson.
Only Noah isn’t really gone. Thanks to his parents’ company, the Infinity Division, there is a version of him skipping from one dimension to another, set on revenge for the death of his sister, Kori. When a chance encounter brings him face-to-face with Ash, he’s determined to resist the magnetic pull he’s felt for her time and time again. Because falling for Ash puts his mission in danger.
But there’s more going on in Ash’s alternate universe than either of them knows: a mysterious project called Omega. A conspiracy spanning multiple Earths and revolving around none other than Ash. Its creators would do anything to keep Omega secret…
Anything.
Review:
“Omega” is a fun follow-up to “Infinity.” It expands nicely upon the science fiction aspect and adds more depth to the original characters. It also introduced new characters and points-of-view that were entertaining and expanded the universe a great deal. If you enjoyed “Infinity”, then you are most likely going to love “Omega.”
This unbiased review is based upon a complimentary copy provided by the publisher.
Content Warning:
Language, Sexual Situations, Violence
Little Monsters
Young Adult Fiction
Delacorte Press
2017
336
When Kacey moves in with her estranged father and his new family, her new friend goes missing and Kacey finds herself at the center of the investigation.
Review:
“Little Monsters” is a young adult thriller that will satisfy both the ya audience and adult readers. The mystery is well-written and keeps the reader guessing throughout. Even when you think you know the bad guy, you keep second-guessing yourself. A very enjoyable read that I recommend to any fan of the mystery and thriller genres.
This unbiased review is based upon a complimentary copy provided by the publisher.
Content Warning:
Language, Sexual Situations, Violence
Secrets of Skin and Stone
Secrets of Skin and Stone
Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
May 17, 2017
Paperback
290
Something is wrong in Hidden Creek. The sleepy Alabama town is more haunted than any place fiend hunter Grisham Caso has ever seen. Unearthed graves, curse bags, and spilled blood all point to an evil that could destroy his gargoyle birthright. The town isn’t safe for anyone, and everyone says fiery Piper Devon knows why.
Piper wants to leave Hidden Creek behind. She’s had enough of secrets—they hide in the shadows of her room and tell her terrible things are coming. Too-charming city boy Grisham might be her only chance to save herself.
To survive, Piper and Grisham have to shed their secrets and depend only on each other. But what lurks in Hidden Creek still might take everything away from them, including each other.
Review:
“Secrets of Skin and Stone” was the perfect palate cleanser and fun read after a series of lackluster novels that almost sent me into a reading slump. I would describe it as a young adult “Southern Ghost Hunters.”
It’s a fun supernatural romance with witty dialogue and a plot that flows quickly. There are some scary parts, but they are evened out by the humor. It’s also original. I know they exist in literature, but a gargoyle shapeshifter has never come across my reading material before. One caveat: There is an animal death at the very beginning. If you can plow through that you’ll be ok. It isn’t gratuitous and pretty much fuels the rest of the plot.
I recommend “Secrets of Skin and Stone” for anyone looking for a fun supernatural read. I also really hope the author plans a sequel.
This unbiased review is based upon a complimentary copy provided by the publisher.
Content Warning:
Language, Sexual Situations, Violence, Animal Death
Denton Little’s Still Not Dead (Denton Little #2)
Denton Little's Still Not Dead
Denton Little, Book 2
Young Adult Fiction
Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers
February 7, 2017
352
"Denton and his quirky friends are laugh-out-loud funny, even as their riotous adventures raise deeper questions about science, government control, life, and death." -- SLJ You only live once--unless you're Denton Little! Denton Little lives in a world exactly like our own except that everyone knows the day on which they will die. The good news: Denton has lived through his deathdate. Yay! The bad news: He's being chased by the DIA (Death Investigation Agency), he can never see his family again, and he may now die anytime. Huh. Cheating death isn't quite as awesome as Denton would have thought. . . . Lance Rubin's debut novel, Denton Little's Deathdate, showed readers just how funny and poignant imminent death could be. Now in this sequel, he takes on the big questions about life. How do we cope, knowing we could die at any time? Would you save someone from dying even if they were a horrible person? Is it wrong to kiss the girl your best friend is crushing on if she's really into you instead? What if she's wearing bacon lip gloss? Praise for Denton Little's Deathdate: "Highly original, fantastically entertaining, and laugh-out-loud funny, Denton Little's Deathdate is a wild romp through a night like no other." --Jennifer E. Smith, author of The Geography of You and Me "Let's all pray the grim reaper is even half as witty (and wise) as the deadly talented Lance Rubin. Till then: skip this book at your own peril." --Tim Federle, author of Better Nate than Ever and The Great American Whatever "Rubin is really funny, but like John Green, he manages to be poignant. . . . In other words, it's a keeper." --Bustle
Review:
“Denton Little’s Still Not Dead” is a hilarious follow-up to last year’s “Denton Little’s Deathdate.” It features all of the fun of the original with a heaping dose of existentialism. This series is definitely for a certain set of readers. The science of the world is explained a little, but a suspension of disbelief is a requirement. It won’t make you smarter, but it will definitely make you laugh. Highly recommended for the weird readers among us (which includes yours truly).
This unbiased review is based upon a complimentary copy provided by the publisher.
Content Warning:
Language, Violence, Sexual Situations, Drug Use
One Was Lost
Young Adult Fiction
Sourcebooks Fire
October 1, 2016
352
Sera must find the truth—before a killer finds her. Murder, justice, revenge... So not a part of the plan when Sera set out on her senior trip. She figured a hike through the woods would be safe, uneventful. Damaged. Deceptive. Dangerous. Darling. These are the words scrawled on their wrists when they wake up in the middle of nowhere. Their supplies are destroyed. Half the group is gone. And they find four dolls acting out a murder—dolls dressed just like them. Suddenly it's clear; they're being hunted. And with the only nice word on her wrist, Sera falls under suspicion.
Review:
“One Was Lost” is a good book for those looking for a fast, creepy read.
The story begins immediately, without much explanation as to the backstory of the characters or the situation they’re in. All of that is explained over the course of the book. I would describe the plot as one of the current PG-13 horror movies out there. It isn’t something complex, but it delivers on the chills and jumps. The cover pretty much sums up the mood.
I recommend “One Was Lost” for those looking for a fun and fast read that may leave them afraid to turn off the lights.
This unbiased review is based upon a complimentary copy provided by the publisher.
Content Warning:
Language, Violence, Sexual Situations
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