Tag Archives: thriller

THE BATTLE OF THE TWISTY TWISTING THRILLERS

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A couple of weeks ago I wrote about the “Battle of the Moriartys” and this time there are two thriller contenders. Which one was the winner? Read on…

Keep Them Close by David Ellis. This one kept me on my toes! I think David Ellis is one of the best thriller writers in the biz, with the nonstop revelations and twists, and this one didn’t disappoint. I’m not sure it’s quite up to the calibre of Look Closer, but I’ll still recommend it. My only minor complaint is that I couldn’t warm up to any of the characters—I admired them, yes (Allison was brilliant), but I wasn’t really rooting for anyone. I hear this is great in audio. Readers who liked The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides will find this as entertaining, and for more authors similar to Ellis, try books by Peter Swanson (The Kind Worth Killing is excellent) and Alice Feeney’s My Husband’s Wife.

The Unknown by Riley Sager. This author’s books always entice me, but I have a love/hate relationship, as he writes the kind of books I would dearly love to love, but there’s *always* something about the plot or a lack of attention to detail that irritates me, or maybe it’s the nonstop twists that are a few too many. However, I listened to the audiobook, which was very well narrated and, for the most part, kept me engaged. At first, I rated this a 4, then it dipped to a 3 halfway through (mainly because of practical matters that didn’t make sense) and rose back to 4.5 by the end, with its twisty twistiness. Don’t read this expecting in-depth character studies; the only character I could picture was Violet, obviously based on Meryl Streep, and even the narrator mimicked her voice.

I recommend this with reservations, as there are a few trigger warnings, but it was definitely suspenseful and perfect for readers who like a few paranormal experiences that may or may not be happening. Fans of Riley Sager may want to try books by Simone St. James, Ruth Ware, and Sarah Pinborough’s We Live Here Now.

Who was the victor? If Riley Sager had been a little better with his one-to-two-too-many implausible twists, it would have been a tie, so I’m giving this one to David Ellis, but both are worth reading if you need something compelling and fast.

CATCHING UP ON RECENT READS

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Fun City Heist by Micahel Kardos. I’ve enjoyed this author’s light thrillers, and I’m happy to report this was an extremely fun romp. It’s short, quick, and perfect for those who like a good heist thriller, such as Irwin Shaw’s Nightwork (an oldie, but it is great fun) and the movie Oceans 11. 4 stars

The Left and the Lucky by Willy Vlautin (Oregon author). Willy has once again written an amazing novel about misfits who face the bad odds life has dealt them. Taking place in Portland, this features a hardworking house painter who takes in a neighbor’s boy whose family life is in tatters. If you’ve read Vlautin, you will recognize his talent for tearing your heart apart and then mending it with jagged stitches, and this is no exception. Also, if you’ve read Vlautin, you will wonder about me calling it a “feel-good” story, but this one is – really! A friend compared it to books by Frederik Backman. To be published in mid-April 2026. 5 stars

The Lake Effect by Cynthia A’Aprix Sweeney. This author’s first book, The Nest, remains one of my favorite novels of family dynamics, and this compelling novel about two families torn apart by infidelity and divorce is also well done. This reminded me of Patrick Ryan’s Buckeye, only the pace was a little faster. Readers of Clare Leslie Hall’s Broken Country and Meg Wolitzer’s The Interestings will enjoy this. 5 stars.

Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke. There is already a lot of buzz about this offbeat novel about a “tradwife” influencer with multiple children living on a big farm (think Ballerina Farm — Google it if needed) and profiting from millions of followers for her depiction of a perfect life. At first, this seemed similar to Marlys Milhiser’s 48-year-old time-travel novel, The Mirror, but it is so much more than that. Definitely a mindbender, and nothing is what it seems. To be published April 7. I could be wrong (and yes, sometimes I am), but it could be big. 4.5 stars

FOUR THRILLERS: Worth Your Time? You Make the Call…

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I love a good psychological thriller and was in the mood for more, so I tried these new books, which ultimately left me a little disappointed, especially after reading two barnburners earlier this year (My Husband’s Wife and The One). My thoughts:

Anatomy of an Alibi by Ashley Elston. I loved her earlier book, First Lie Wins, and was eagerly awaiting her next book. However, it fell flat and was at times tedious, mainly because the timelines jumped around and I got confused about who was who. I skimmed to the end and wasn’t impressed with the ending either. As usual, your mileage may vary; some have loved it, while others felt the way I did.

The Storm by Rachel Hawkins. I enjoyed her earlier book, The Villa, a suspense novel set during the summer Mary Shelley wrote Frankenstein, so I was looking forward to this one. It started out well, with an appealing setting (a small Alabama beach-town hotel) prone to hurricanes and likable characters. It flipped around on the timeline, but it wasn’t confusing, and the finale was fine, not mindbending but it made sense. This would be a good book to read with sand between your toes.

It’s Not Her by Mary Kubica. I read so many good reviews of this, and despite the unappealing characters (especially the two teens), I raced through this. Unfortunately, when it was revealed who caused the murders, my heart sank. I don’t want to say more, but I have a problem with the ones who were responsible and that ruined the ending. I also didn’t care for the final final revelation. But that’s just me… (If you want more of an explanation, send me a message.)

A Box Full of Darkness by Simone St. James. I started this in audio, which was very well done with three separate narrators, but had to finish in book form as my audio loan ended, and that was OK (an occurrence that often happens). I enjoyed her earlier book, The Sun Down Motel, and found the spooky vibes right up my alley (chilling but not gruesome). This is the author’s latest book, and it has a strong premise: three adult siblings return to their childhood home after being summoned by the ghost of Ben, their younger brother, who disappeared when he was six. This had ghosts galore (real ones), and it rolled along fairly well, but the ending was rushed, with no real details about what happened in their childhood. I gave it 3 stars.