Goodreads

Release date: September 21, 2023

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Synopsis:

In California’s Silicon Valley, even a children’s playgroup can be a place for power-brokering, innovation, and cut-throat competition. In Oak Valley, a wealthy suburb of Silicon Valley, Alex Drake runs “the” playgroup in town. Even in a place where its seems like everyone has a multi-million dollar bank account or has a company that is about to go public, Alex appears to have it a delightful daughter, a handsome, adoring husband, model-like beauty, and the kind of obscene wealth that keeps her in the latest fashion, driving the newest car (electric, obviously!), and hosting playgroups where the wine flows and so does the gossip. When Alex invites new to the neighborhood Cleo Baird to join her tight-knit playgroup, Cleo can’t believe her luck and knows she has just the “in” she’s been hoping for. But it isn’t just luck. As the women grow closer and Alex shares more secrets, she doesn’t realize Cleo is keeping secrets of her own. It’s no coincidence that Cleo and her daughter moved to Oak Valley. Cleo came to town with a specific goal in to destroy Alex’s enviable and seemingly perfect life. Fans of Tarryn Fisher, Jeneva Rose, and Frieda McFadden will love this book about friendships, betrayal, and how nothing, and no one, are ever exactly as they seem.

Review:

I was easily caught up in the lives of a group of wealthy women who can only be described as frenemies and the comparison to authors like Freida McFadden and Tarryn Fisher are spot on. I love a revenge plot and this was a delicious slow burn unraveling that came together in the end in a satisfying manner. The twists were aplenty and the author had a sly way of revealing a game changing piece of information in the most subtle way. The characters range from totally unlikable to bearable but I get a kick out of loving to hate fictional people. If you enjoy rich women and their devious behavior, toxic friendships and a whole lot of soapy fun this was an entertaining ride!

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the author for my review copy.

Goodreads

Release date: November 14, 2023

Publisher: Thomas and Mercer

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Synopsis:

She’s a pariah with a killer past. Her bid to escape it is nothing short of terrifying in a heart-pounding novel of suspense by Washington Post and Wall Street Journal bestselling author Minka Kent.

Afton Teachout has been an outcast in her small town for twenty years—ever since she was accused of murdering her mother’s lover in a blackout fit of rage. That is, if one believes the malicious lies.

Living with her grandmother, working a hotel night shift, and relying on pills to get a day’s sleep, Afton is due a little luck. It comes in the form of an unexpected financial windfall. With her newfound wealth, Afton sets a secret plan in motion to help her only friend, Sydney, flee a toxic husband. But the best intentions soon spin out of control.

Afton is getting unsettling calls from a restricted number, and someone has been lingering outside her home. As Sydney’s troubled marriage comes into focus, so does Afton’s past. Her second chance—for herself and for Sydney—isn’t what she dreamed of at all. In fact, it’s becoming a nightmare.

Review:

I really loved the premise here and the prologue dives into the day that changed Afton’s life forever. It was chilling and puzzling because it lays the groundwork for a very solid mystery but it also leaves so many questions unanswered. This flips back and forth between Afton and Syndey each chapter and it also has a few chapters from the past that slowly provides insight into both women’s lives. The pacing here was fast and furious and I truly couldn’t put this down, I read it all in a day because I was desperate to know what was really going on. I found myself really sympathetic towards Afton but it was weird because I was never sure if she was trustworthy either. I liked that though because it kept me on my toes and is a main part of the reason why I finished so quickly. I don’t want to say much more but if you like friendship dramas, super fast paced and addictive stories and tricky plots try this.

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads

Release date: October 31, 2023

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Synopsis:

On the day author Mari Montgomery receives the email, she has little left to live for.

The message—simple yet utterly life-changing—offers a glimmer of hope to her dismal existence. It’s the opportunity of a lifetime, and if she takes it, it could change everything.

Mari’s immediate sense of unease is eclipsed only by her curiosity—elicited from the supposed fan on the other end of the email. Unsatisfied despite doing her due diligence, and with no way to discern the legitimacy of the sender, Mari takes a leap of faith and replies.

What harm could come from one innocent message?

Soon, as she comes face to face with her ‘number one fan,’ it’s all too clear things are not what they first appeared. Now trapped by a villain far more sinister than she could’ve crafted herself, the fate awaiting her is inspired by the darkest depths of the monsters in her own novels. 

In order to escape and survive, Mari must use the strength of the heroines she’s spent years writing about. But this villain has spent years inside her worlds, too. 

How will she defeat an evil who has learned from the best?

For fans of Misery, YOU, and Behind Closed Doors, million-copy bestselling author Kiersten Modglin brings us a haunting tale of obsession and survival in the form of a writer’s worst nightmare come to life.

Review:

The authors books are always one sitting, binge worthy reads for me but this one was on a whole new level of addictive for me. Everything about this was heightened, it was more intense, it was creepier, it was even faster paced than usual and it was everything I want in a thriller and more. Things went super dark and disturbing and at this time of year that’s exactly what I crave. Everything about this felt slightly unhinged and I mean that as a compliment. I never really knew what would happen next so it definitely kept me on my toes and made for such a suspenseful reading experience. The combination of emotional upheaval for Mari and a series of unexpected twists made this one such a solid read for me, if you like dark thrillers that give you the creeps this was so good!

Overall rating: 5/5

Thanks to the author for my copy.

Goodreads

Release date: October 10, 2023

Publisher: Canary Street Press

Genre: Contemporary Fiction

Synopsis:

Come home to Shelter Springs this Christmas, where hearts are warm and hopes are bright…

Growing up at the Shelter Inn hotel, Natalie Shepherd envied guests who could come and go as they pleased. So when it was time to finally leave for college and put the lush green mountains around Shelter Springs—along with the cloud of loss that seemed to follow her family—behind her, she swore she’d never come back. But now her sister McKenna needs a favor. On pregnancy bed rest at doctor’s orders, McKenna needs a helping hand with her two young daughters and someone to take over the inn during the hectic holiday season, and Nat can’t refuse. And just when things can’t get worse, she runs into her late brother’s best friend, Griffin Taylor…

Griff has mixed feelings about Natalie’s return. She’s just as beautiful and full of life as he remembered, but there’s a secret he’s carried for years about her brother—and the guilt is eating away at him. Still, Christmas in this small town is filled with treasured traditions and new adventures that hold the promise of something sweet and lasting. From matchmaking seniors to rambunctious nieces, it seems everyone is hoping Nat and Griff will put loss behind them and find a happy new beginning…

Review:

This was such an adorable read, from the minute I started it I was transported to Shelter Springs and I kind of never wanted to leave. Natalie is home to help her sister with her kids while she’s on bedrest and while she loves her family, she’s in town begrudgingly. Griffin was her brother’s best friend and when he tragically passed away they didn’t stay in touch. I enjoyed that while this was wholesome and sweet both Natalie and Griffin had some darkness in their pasts they had to overcome before they could find their way to each other. The senior residents of the Shelter Inn were a crack up and I loved the little community they forged together. Add inn Hazel and Nora, Natalie’s super cute nieces and this was beyond cozy and fun. If you want a feel good holiday read this is such a good choice.

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads

Release date: October 3, 2023

Publisher: MIRA

Genre: Contemporary Fiction

Synopsis:

Sunny, Arianna and Molly are three women having three very different but equally terrible Christmases. Sunny is a newlywed with two new stepkids who want nothing to do with her; Arianna is newly divorced, living with her mom again and hates sending her daughter off to spend the holiday with her dad; for Molly, nothing is new, but her job at the post office is getting very, very old—with all the customers worrying about getting their holiday packages off in time, she doesn’t have a moment to enjoy the season herself, much less spend time with her daughter and granddaughter.

The whole Christmas season has been a bust. All that work for just one day that went by so fast, and not at all how they’d planned. But Sunny and Arianna have a wild idea: What if they extended Christmas into January? February? Saint Patrick’s Day?

Love and joy and peace on earth, or at least with their families and neighbors–Christmas all year long. What could that look like? As these three determined women chase the perfect holiday through twelve months of cooking disasters, over-the-top festivity, and lots of laughter and tears, they’ll discover perfection is way overrated.

Review:

I’m not totally ready for holiday reads yet but I couldn’t pass up the chance to read Shelia Robert’s latest, her books are so cute and cozy and even though this was Christmassy, it could definitely be read and enjoyed at any time of the year. this follows three women, Sunny, Arianna and Molly over the course of a year. All three have awful holiday celebrations so they decide to have a do over and they celebrate once a month for a year. While this was sweet and heartfelt with plenty of lighthearted moments it was also realistic and showed the lows in the women’s lives as well. If you like stories about found family, spreading cheer all year long and a little bit of romance this one was really fun!

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads

Release date: October 24, 2023

Publisher: Lake Union

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Synopsis:

Audrey Singer revels in her position as the admissions director of an exclusive Manhattan private school. Parents cater to her whims and desires, desperate to give their children an edge. Audrey’s power is undeniable; privilege comes with the territory. Her perfect marriage completes the glossy picture of her life.

Until the arrival of the neurotic, vulnerable Sarah Price. Determined to get her son into the city’s most coveted kindergarten class, Sarah inserts herself into Audrey’s world, testing boundaries at every turn. For Sarah, everything Audrey has is a potential target: her job, her friends…even her marriage.

But what seems to be another ploy by an overachieving mother takes a dark and ominous turn. Sarah seems to be hiding secrets of her own. Are her designs on Audrey’s life purely about getting what she wants for her son?

Or is there something more sinister at play in this cutthroat game?

Review:

I didn’t really have any firm expectations about this one before I started it, I just knew I wanted something suspenseful and the whole private school admissions vibes sounded like an ideal fall read. It definitely delivered on both the suspense and the fall vibes but it also surprised me by how twisty and addicting it was.

You get dual perspectives, Audrey who is head of admissions at Easton and Sarah who is beyond desperate to secure a spot for her son in Easton’s next kindergarten class. Sarah’s desperation causes her to develop an unhealthy obsession with not only the school itself, but with Audrey too and nothing in Audrey’s life is off limits. That’s all I’ll say but I loved how the author explored obsession and how not only was this a tense ride, there was an emotional complexity to the characters that sucked me in. I loved the creeping sense of dread that intensified as the book progressed, I loved the NYC setting and I loved the explosive ending. Definitely recommended as a really great fall suspense read.

Overall rating: 5/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads

Release date: October 10, 2023

Publisher: Lake Union

Genre: Mystery

Synopsis:

Astrid Johansen swore she would never return to Heron Bay, Washington. In that idyllic coastal town, her little sister, Nina, drowned in a reflecting pool under Astrid’s watch seventeen years ago. Though guilt has kept her away, Astrid can’t ignore her aunt Maude’s urgent plea to come back. Maude claims to have found a letter that will change everything about the past.

When Astrid arrives in Heron Bay, she finds Maude unconscious, perhaps the victim of an attack. As Maude lingers in a coma, Astrid uncovers alarming evidence that Nina’s drowning that tragic night was no accident. But in a town rife with secrets, and in a family still fractured by grief, who knows the truth?

Astrid’s investigation leads her down a trail of dark memories, lies, and betrayals that will shatter her perception of everyone she thought she knew—even herself.

Review:

I know when I picked up one of the authors books I’m getting an engrossing and fast paced read that I can finish in just a few sittings and this one delivered on the expectation. As much as the pacing was swift I would say this was more of a quieter style mystery with lots of long buried family secrets and drama that entertained. Tragedy fractured Astrid’s family with the death of sister and things splintered as a result. I love when an old case comes back to life and the merging of what really happened the night Nina died and present circumstances was interesting and surprising. The author always manages to trick me in the most subtle way and she did it again here, definitely pick this one up if you’re looking for a quick and satisfying read.

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads

Release date: October 3, 2023

Publisher: Sourcebooks

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Synopsis:

For fans of Verity and A Flicker in the Dark, this is a twisted tale of murder, obsessive love, and the beastly urges that lie dormant within us all…even the God-fearing folk of Bottom Springs, Louisiana. In her small hometown, librarian Ruth Cornier has always felt like an outsider, even as her beloved father rains fire-and-brimstone warnings from the pulpit at Holy Fire Baptist. 

Unfortunately for Ruth, the only things the townspeople fear more than the God and the Devil are the myths that haunt the area, like the story of the Low Man, a vampiric figure said to steal into sinners’ bedrooms and kill them on moonless nights. When a skull is found deep in the swamp next to mysterious carved symbols, Bottom Springs is thrown into uproar—and Ruth realizes only she and Everett, an old friend with a dark past, have the power to comb the town’s secret underbelly in search of true evil.

A dark and powerful novel like fans have come to expect from Ashley Winstead, Midnight is the Darkest Hour is an examination of the ways we’ve come to expect love, religion, and stories to save us, the lengths we have to go to in order to take back power, and the monstrous work of being a girl in this world.

Review:

I have to start by saying that I think that having the right expectations are super important before you read this book. Yes, it’s a thriller but it’s also part dark love story at its core and the mystery itself is somewhat quieter with a sinister edge than a true fast paced and exciting thriller. I also think this will be a polarizing read for most, you’ll either really like the unique way the story unfolds or you’re hate it and I fell on the side of really liking it. There are quite a few triggers but there are content warnings at the beginning of the book and if you like The Last Housewife this one wasn’t quite as dark. It explores religion, small town small mindedness, child abuse and sexual abuse alongside this dark and unsettling mystery that is very haunting. I don’t want to really dive into the plot but if you like really different thrillers with a strong atmosphere and a truly WTF ending this was great.

Overall rating: 4.5/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads

Release date: October 3, 2023

Publisher: St. Martins

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Synopsis:

A young Harvard law student falls under the spell of a charismatic judge in this timely and thrilling novel about class, ambition, family and murder.

Madison Rivera lands the internship of a lifetime working for Judge Kathryn Conroy. But Madison has a secret that could destroy her career. Her troubled younger brother Danny has been arrested, and Conroy is the judge on his case. 

When Danny goes missing after accusing the judge of corruption, Madison’s quest for answers brings her deep into the judge’s glamorous world. Is Kathryn Conroy a mentor, a victim, or a criminal? Is she trying to help Madison or use her as a pawn? And why is somebody trying to kill her? 

As the two women circle each other in a dangerous cat-and-mouse game, will they save each other, or will betrayal leave one of them dead?

Review:

This one started a little bit slow for me but once it picked up I was all in. You get two viewpoints, Madison and Kathryn and i enjoyed both characters. There are quiet a few side characters as well and it was complex but once I figured out who was who and what their purpose in the story was I understood the need for so many different threads and angles. Some aspects of the fairly complicated plot seemed obvious but I didn’t have everything totally figured out. The suspense factor was high throughout the story and the tension only ramped up in the end, exactly what I like in a thriller. Overall a fun cat and mouse type of thriller that kept me engaged.

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.