Goodreads

Release date: August 15, 2023

Publisher: Minotaur

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Synopsis:

From the New York Times bestselling author of the Reese’s Book Club Pick The Other Woman comes The Trade Off , an electrifying new novel of suspense that begs the Would you tell a story, if you knew it was a lie? Or tell the truth and sleep at night?

For Stella, deputy editor of The Globe , the choice has always been clear. It doesn’t matter how low she has to stoop―getting the best story is what she’s built her reputation on.

For Jess, The Globe ’s rookie reporter, the story stops when the truth does. But she knows that the dirty tricks of the tabloids will be hard to overturn.

And when a celebrity is hounded by The Globe and pays the ultimate price, Jess wonders just how much Stella and the paper are responsible.

Determined to show the world what the tabloid is capable of, Jess will do whatever it takes to uncover the truth, but she needs to watch her back, because someone else is prepared to kill to bury it.

RISK or REWARD. JUSTICE or REVENGE. INNOCENCE or GUILT.

Review:

In my review of the authors last book I said maybe it was time for me to move on but dammit, I can’t seem to quit her! This one was better for me than some of her previous books, which is great because I have been super disappointed in the past. This one also had a totally different vibe to it than some of her other books, it starts off pretty slow and then about halfway things pick up but I wouldn’t classify it as a true thriller. Maybe more of a suspense with a few thriller type scenes. The dark side of the media and the tactics they take to get a story, even if most of it is fabricated was interesting so there was definitely parts I enjoyed I just wanted to be a little more entertained in the end.

Overall rating: 3.5/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads

Release date: August 8, 2023

Publisher: Atria

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Synopsis:

When Caz steps onboard the exclusive cruise liner RMS Atlantica, it’s the start of a vacation of a lifetime with her new love, Pete. On their first night they explore the ship, eat, dance, make friends, but when Caz wakes the next morning, Pete is missing.

And when she walks out into the corridor, all the cabin doors are open. To her horror, she soon realizes that the ship is completely empty. No passengers, no crew, nobody but her. The Atlantica is steaming into the mid-Atlantic and Caz is the only person on board. But that’s just the beginning of the terrifying journey she finds herself trapped on in this white-knuckled mystery.

Review:

I really liked the premise here, I can’t even imagine waking up alone on a cruise ship and I was so curious about what direction the author would take here. How did an entire ship full of passengers vanish into thin air? I had zero idea where this was going and as thing started to be revealed I was skeptical. You have to be able to suspend all disbelief here to even begin to enjoy this because there are a lot of things that happen that will make you go, umm no that doesn’t even make sense. But I went along with it for the most part and I would say I mostly enjoyed the ride. It did feel a bit drawn out and long winded at points for me, I think it could’ve been a little shorter and the ending did throw me for a loop. Not sure if I loved the clever last chapter or not but it made me think. This definitely won’t be for everyone, I can see it being very divisive but that’s always kind of fun for me to see different perspectives. I can’t really say anything else without verging into spoiler territory but this one was definitely unique.

Overall rating: 3.25/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads

Release date: August 29, 2023

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Publisher: Blackstone

Synopsis:

The Girl on the Train meets the world of social media in this psychological thriller about influencer culture, parasocial relationships, and the secrets we keep from those we love most.

Molly Sullivan is used to sharing intimate details of her life with millions of followers. A thirty-one-year-old single mom, she has built a career out of fearless posts about parenthood and dating. But when Molly shares a photo of her new fiancé, Scott, she is shocked by his negative reaction. For the sake of their relationship, Molly agrees to remove the post and keep Scott and his ten-year-old daughter out of her social media spotlight.

But it’s too late, someone has already recognized him. Liv Barrett is certain Scott’s the man who killed her sister and disappeared with her infant niece nine years ago. The police don’t believe her, so Liv takes matters into her own hands. Driving cross-country to Colorado, Liv uses Molly’s social media posts to orchestrate “accidental” meetings, slowly gaining her trust. Meanwhile, newlywed Molly begins to unpack boxes in her new home and discovers her husband has been lying about his past.

While Molly and Liv uncover secrets that have been buried deep for almost a decade, they have no idea that someone else saw the photo of Scott–someone who poses a threat more dangerous than either of them can imagine. Someone who is watching them from the shadows.

Review:

I know some people are getting sick of social media influencers as characters in books but I eat that shit up. I love seeing everything from the darker side of SM to how huge influencers run their accounts and create their content so that aspect was what first drew me to this one. I also immediately liked the cat and mouse vibes and for about the first half I thought it was going to be an enjoyable, albeit predictable read and then things shifted and I was fully invested. This was addictive and gripping with a fast pace and a mixed media approach that I really liked. Every chapter starts with either a quote or tweet or comment from Molly and then there are snippets from a Reddit snark forum that just rags on her really showing just how nasty the internet can be. I think people who enjoy a lighter style of thriller will enjoy this, perfect for a summer binge read.

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads

Release date: August 8, 2023

Publisher: MIRA

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Synopsis:

In this chilling new novel, a woman discovers that her estranged daughter is missing, but no one believes her, until she meets a man claiming to be her daughter’s fiancé. 

Tatum hasn’t seen her daughter, Adrienne, in years, not since Tatum’s husband—the pastor in their small California town—all but disowned her. When she finally gathers the courage to secretly reconnect with Adrienne, Tatum’s thrilled she’s even willing to talk to her. But then—Adrienne disappears.

Tatum tries desperately to get the police or her husband to take her daughter’s disappearance seriously, but no one will listen, until a mysterious man shows up claiming to be Adrienne’s fiancé. It’s a relief to finally have someone who believes her, someone who’s trying as hard as she is to find out where Adrienne is. But can she trust that this stranger is who he says he is? And can she find her daughter before it’s too late?

Review:

This is exactly the fun type of popcorn thriller I enjoy, especially in a thriller. It read really fast, it has multiple POVs, and it has a compelling plot that definitely had me dying to know what happened to Adrienne. Did she flee on her own as it wouldn’t be the first time she flaked? Or was something more sinister at play? So many questions and the path to get to the answers was pretty twisty and fun. Some things will be obvious to avid thriller fans but there is one component that completely caught me off guard in the best way. As much as I would say this is a popcorn thriller there was church trauma explored and the way both Tatum and Adrienne were controlled by Pastor Shane was chilling. The last bit was really tense and creepy with everything coming together in a pretty satisfying way.

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads

Release date: August 22, 2023

Publisher: William Morrow

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Synopsis:

After that night, nothing was ever the same again

Fifteen years ago, Sara Linton’s life changed forever when a celebratory night out ended in a violent attack that tore her world apart. Since then, Sara has remade her life. A successful doctor, engaged to a man she loves, she has finally managed to leave the past behind her.

Until one evening, on call in the ER, everything changes. Sara battles to save a broken young woman who’s been brutally attacked. But as the investigation progresses, led by GBI Special Agent Will Trent, it becomes clear that Dani Cooper’s assault is uncannily linked to Sara’s. 

And it seems the past isn’t going to stay buried forever.

Review:

Getting a new Karin Slaughter book every year is always super exciting for me but getting a new Will Trent book makes it all the better. This series is hands down one of the best crime fiction series around and every time a new book is released they get better. A question I always get when a new book in this series is released is can it be read on its own? Yes, technically you can because the author does an excellent job of providing any pertinent background information but the series as a whole is so incredibly good I always say read the whole thing if you have time.

If you’ve read the author before you know she is unflinchingly dark in the stories she writes and this was particularly harrowing as it deals with brutal instances of sexual assault. It’s definitely difficult to read about at times but at the same time I couldn’t stop reading because the writing is so damn good. As disturbing as certain scenes are to read I always feel like her books are such important reads as she gives a voice to voiceless women and she does so with a particular brand of care and consideration. Her writing is so bold that it’s not the type of book you finish and forget about. I finished yesterday and still cannot get the characters out of my head. Speaking of the characters it was so amazing to be back in this world and see what Will, Sara, Faith and Amanda were up to. I have such a strong attachment to this group of people and it’s always a treat to check in with them. If you like your thrillers dark this one is a must read, so well written, so disturbing and so gripping. Highly recommended.

Overall rating: 5/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads

Release date: July 11, 2023

Publisher: Berkley

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Synopsis:

She’s back in her affluent hometown for the first time in years and determined to unravel the secrets of her mother’s death hidden in the unpublished memoir she left behind…even if it kills her…

After her troublemaker mother’s mysterious death, Kira fled her wealthy Texas town and never looked back. Now, decades later, Kira is invited to an old frenemy’s vow renewal party. Though she is reluctant to go, there are things calling her back . . . like chilled wine and days spent by the pool . . . like her sexy childhood crush, Jack. But, more importantly, it’s the urgent texts from her grandmother who says she has something to give Kira. Something about her mother’s death, something that looks an awful lot like murder.

When her grandmother gives Kira a memoir that her mother had been working on before she died, she is pulled into the past and all of the sizzling secrets that come along with it. With few allies left in her gossipy, country club town, Kira turns to Jack for help. As she gets closer to what–and who–might have brought about her mother’s end, it becomes clear that someone wants the past to stay buried.

And Kira might be next.

Review:

I love the authors brand of writing catty Texas women with a side of scandal and drama and the fact that Kira was trying to get to the bottom of her mothers death years ago is like cat nip for me, I’m a sucker for a cold case being resurrected. Not gonna lie, Kira was kind of annoying but that didn’t stop me from enjoying the story. When she gets the memoir that her mother was writing and doesn’t immediately read the entire thing in one sitting I was like umm no mam that would never happen. BUT I get it was written that way to build suspense and tension so I just went with it even though no one would ever really do that. It truly made me binge read this because I wanted to know what the memoir revealed so well played May, well played. 😉 Overall this was a fun and juicy summer read with a few surprises along the way.

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads

Release date: August 1, 2023

Publisher: Blackstone

Genre: Thriller/Mystery

Synopsis:

From award-winning, internationally bestselling crime writer Catherine Ryan Howard comes The Trap: an unsettling mystery inspired by a series of still-unsolved disappearances in Ireland in the 90s, wherein one young woman risks everything to catch a faceless killer.

One year ago, Lucy’s sister, Nicki, left to meet friends at a pub in Dublin and never came home. The third Irish woman to vanish inexplicably in as many years, the agony of not knowing what happened that night has turned Lucy’s life into a waking nightmare. So, she’s going to take matters into her own hands.

Angela works as a civilian paper-pusher in the Missing Persons Unit, but wants nothing more than to be a fully-fledged member of An Garda Síochána, the Irish police force. With the official investigation into the missing women stalled, she begins pulling on a thread that could break the case wide open—and destroy her chances of ever joining the force.

A nameless man drives through the night, his latest victim in the back seat. He’s going to tell her everything, from the beginning. And soon, she’ll realize: what you don’t know can hurt you …

Review:

I’m a huge fan of the author and always look forward to reading her new releases, she has a great style and her books are always pacey and exciting for me to read. This one is set in the same world as The Nothing Man (which I think is her best book) and there are some super fun Easter Eggs for that and her other titles here that were clever. This is told via multiple POVs including that of the man who is abducting the women and of course his chapters were my favorites. You also hear from Lucy, whose sister is missing as well as Angela, who works for the Missing Persons unit and all of these perspectives made things move along swiftly. There were some really great and super surprising twists that I didn’t see coming and I was holding my breath at the end. As strong as this one was for me I was hoping for a more solid ending but overall this was great.

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads

Release date: July 4, 2023

Publisher: Harper

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Synopsis:

Defending an accused rapist, a high-powered lawyer learns firsthand the terrible truth about her client . . . a discovery that propels her on a quest for justice and revenge in this addictively readable thriller from the author of The Cage.

Kelly McCann is a fighter. She’s fought to build a successful legal career, fought for the special needs of her family, and tirelessly fought for her clients. Her specialty is defending men accused of sex crimes–falsely accused, she always maintains. Her detractors call her a traitor to her gender, but she doesn’t care. Badass and brilliant, Kelly simply loves to win, and as the story opens, she’s done it again, securing an acquittal for a renowned scientist accused of sexually assaulting his female employees.

But the thrill of her victory is short-lived. That very night she, too, falls victim of a brutal sexual assault. And almost as horrific as the attack is the fact that she can’t tell anyone it happened–not without destroying her career in the process.

Kelly has never backed down from a fight and she’s not about to start pulling her punches now. Joining forces with her rapist’s other victims, the shrewd lawyer plans to turn the tables on him. It’s not only about justice–these wronged women are out for revenge.

But someone, it seems, is out for them, and one by one, they find themselves facing even greater danger.

Review:

This was a powerful read in many ways and I can definitely see where the author was going but in the end I wanted more. It’s a pretty slow burn and given that it took a long time to get to the point it ended up being pretty predictable for me. Since it deals with sexual assault victims it’s very heavy and I think a faster pace may have helped more for me because since it was on the slower side it felt like I was living in a dark place alongside the characters almost too long. I had similar feelings with the authors last book so maybe it’s just that her style doesn’t quite work for me as well as I hope it will. Overall not a bad read though, very important and interesting topics covered just needed some more action. Definitely more of a lower suspense feel than a true mystery or thriller for me.

Overall rating: 3.5/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads

Release date: August 8, 2023

Publisher: Atria

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Synopsis:

Celebrating her forty-fifth birthday at her local pub, popular podcaster Alix Summers crosses paths with an unassuming woman called Josie Fair. Josie, it turns out, is also celebrating her forty-fifth birthday. They are, in fact, birthday twins.

A few days later, Alix and Josie bump into each other again, this time outside Alix’s children’s school. Josie has been listening to Alix’s podcasts and thinks she might be an interesting subject for her series. She is, she tells Alix, on the cusp of great changes in her life.

Josie’s life appears to be strange and complicated, and although Alix finds her unsettling, she can’t quite resist the temptation to keep making the podcast. Slowly she starts to realise that Josie has been hiding some very dark secrets, and before she knows it, Josie has inveigled her way into Alix’s life—and into her home.

But, as quickly as she arrived, Josie disappears. Only then does Alix discover that Josie has left a terrible and terrifying legacy in her wake, and that Alix has become the subject of her own true crime podcast, with her life and her family’s lives under mortal threat.

Who is Josie Fair? And what has she done?

Review:

Every time I read a Lisa Jewel book I feel like I’ve been hypnotized and spellbound by an author who is a master at her craft. I always think I don’t like slow burn suspense until I read one her books and then think, ok wait I actually do like it if it’s done as well as she does it. Not an easy feat but she’s so damn brilliant at writing books about everyday type of characters the end up in odd situations. There was a quiet sense of being unsettled the entire time I was reading this, waiting for the other shoe to drop and when it did drop things got really, really good. You hear from both Josie and Alix and there are also occasional excerpts from a Netflix documentary that left me totally dying to know where this twisted tale was headed. If you like dark thriller with well executed twists, fascinating characters and plenty of suspense and dread this was so good.

Overall rating: 5/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.