Goodreads

Release date: February 25, 2025

Publisher: Minotaur

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Synopsis:

Newly minted child psychologist Mina has little experience. In a field where the first people called are experts, she’s been unable to get her feet wet. Instead she aimlessly spends her days stuck in the stifling heat wave sweeping across Britain, and anxiously contemplating her upcoming marriage to careful, precise researcher Oscar. The only reprieve from her small, close world is attending the local bereavement group to mourn her brother’s death from years ago. That is, until she meets journalist Sam Hunter at the grief group one day. And he has a proposition for her.

Alice Webber is a thirteen-year-old girl who claims a witch is haunting her. Living with her family in their crowded home in the remote village of Banathel, Alice’s symptoms are increasingly disturbing, and money is tight. Taking this job will give Mina some experience; Sam will get the scoop of a lifetime; and Alice will get better, Mina is sure of it.

But instead of improving, Alice’s behavior becomes increasingly inexplicable and intense. The town of Banathel has a deep history of superstition and witchcraft. They believe there is evil in the world. They believe there are ways of…dealing with it. And they don’t expect outsiders to understand.

Review:

This was an odd one for me, there were parts I really liked and others that just didn’t work for me at all. Initially I was intrigued, it was a unique premise with fantastic creepy and unsettling vibes and I wasn’t sure what would happen next. I couldn’t figure out if it was supposed to be horror or not, and I’m still not quite sure honestly. Where it lost me is there were so so many unanswered questions in the end leaving giant plot holes that were never explained. There were just too many things that either didn’t make sense or were entirely implausible for me to overlook so unfortunately this was a total miss for me.

Overall rating: 3/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads

Release date: February 11, 2025

Publisher: Graydon House

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Synopsis:

Nothing ever happens in small towns…

When Shelby Dawson survives a harrowing attack that should have left her dead, she tries to move past it—for herself, and for her family. Fifteen months later, with the help of her best friend, Mackenzie, she finally feels safe again in the snowy Minnesota town she calls home. But when an anonymous note appears on her windshield bearing the same threats her attacker made, Shelby realizes that her nightmare has only just begun.

As new evidence surfaces, and a group of well-meaning senior citizens accidentally makes the case go viral online, the situation quickly goes from bad to worse. And with suspicious accidents targeting those closest to her happening all over town, Shelby can’t shake the feeling that she’s being watched. Fighting to stay one step ahead of disaster, she finds herself asking the question on everyone’s lips: Who attacked her that night?

But Shelby isn’t the only one with questions. Mackenzie’s husband, Leo, vanished without a trace on that terrible night, and over a year later, no one knows why. Until a deep dive into his finances reveals a history of debts, mismanaged funds, and hidden accounts—one of which is still active. Their suspicion that Leo is still alive only complicates things further, though, and when another person connected to Shelby goes missing, she’s caught in a race against time before her attacker becomes a killer.

Review:

I always enjoy the authors books and while this wasn’t my favorite from her, it was still a pretty solid read for me. I think it was a bit of a departure from the authors previous books so maybe that’s why I didn’t connect to it as much, but I appreciate that she did something a little different than usual. There’s a lot of characters to keep track of here, you have the main ones, Shelby and Mack and then the random residents in the small town, and my favorites, the seniors who all live together in a care home. I loved them all, especially Florence and her meddling ways and their podcast was hilarious! As much as I enjoyed that plot line I think it made things feel a little silly at times, especially next to such brutal crimes being committed. The central mystery was compelling though and I was definitely invested in Mack and Shelby’s lives and situations and I didn’t quite predict how things would play out. If you like thrillers with a side of humor try this, it was a pretty fun ride.

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads

Release date: January 28, 2025

Publisher: Dutton

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Synopsis:

An equal parts murder mystery and suspense novel delving into the mind of a serial manipulator who brings together a brother and sister looking to avenge the death of their mother and take back their sizeable inheritance

Hazel and Kagan Bailey aren’t on the best of terms when they’re informed of their mother’s untimely death under mysterious circumstances. When they reach out to their stepfather, a man they both aren’t fans of, they’re struck by his overwrought performance of grief. It’s obvious he’s putting on an act. To make matters worse he refuses to let the siblings get in touch with their mother’s lawyer to see about the family money Hazel and Kagan desperately need. Hazel is drowning in debt after being financially cut off, and Kagan never quite got his life together—his expensive habit isn’t much help.

The police seem to be more interested in interrogating the siblings instead of taking a closer look at their stepfather, whose airtight alibi has completely shielded him from further suspicion. Frustrated and increasingly headed toward financial ruin, the siblings take things into their own hands by tracking down their stepfather’s daughter, who he claimed died tragically years ago.

Ava, their stepsister, is unlike anyone they’ve ever met: an effortlessly gorgeous cyber genius with the psychological scars of being raised by an unrepentant conman. Both siblings are smitten and a tug-of-war over Ava’s affection ensues as the trio track down the man the siblings know as Perry. 
Trust Issues is a wonderfully complex suspense novel that will keep readers on their toes as the story unfolds in delightfully surprising ways.

Review:

This was another solid read from an author duo that I’ve enjoyed in the past. I liked the premise and how you never really knew who was trustworthy and since pretty much all of the characters are unlikable it’s easy to side eye them all. While there were some small surprises along the way the ending was really great for me and pretty unexpected. If you like con stories, domestic suspense, unlikable characters and vengeance thrillers try this!

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads

Release date: January 7, 2025

Publisher: Atria

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Synopsis:

From the author of The Reunion, a cozy rom-com about a writer who decamps to a Vermont lodge for work but finds herself distracted by the charming ski instructor next door.

Alix Morgan just got her big break as the ghostwriter of a memoir by Sebastian Green, a former member of the boy band True North. And when he offers her a penthouse at a luxurious resort in Vermont, she jumps at the chance to work far away from her noisy, cramped apartment.

Her career as an entertainment journalist has been building toward this dream job—after all, she used to cover True North and was one of the last people to interview former front man Jett Beckett before he disappeared. As she combs through her client’s voice memos, the specter of the missing lead singer remains, and fans are desperate to know the full story.

But Alix also has time for some fun at this glamorous resort, where she begins ski lessons with a handsome instructor named Tyler. As Alix and Tyler fall in love on the slopes, Alix’s work takes a complicated turn—and the mystery of True North’s downfall may be hers to solve.

Review:

This had the best cozy vibes and would be perfect to curl up with this winter! The lodge where Alix is staying sounds absolutely gorgeous and even though I have no desire to ski I would love to stay there just for the food and the ice skating. Alix and Tyler’s developing relationship was so charming and sweet, the little dates he planned for them were beyond adorable. While I adored them there were some truly awful secondary characters that never redeemed themselves fully for me. This was light and fluffy, very Hallmark movie style problems but overall really cute, despite the little twist being really obvious.

Overall rating: 3.5/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads

Release date: January 14, 2025

Publisher: Thomas & Mercer

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Synopsis:

In this haunting story that spans three decades, a young gymnast escapes a kidnapping. Years later, she’s forced to face the past when her own daughter disappears.

Cora Valentine has her whole life—and a shot at the Olympics—ahead of her. But when she’s kidnapped on Halloween, her name is splashed across headlines not as an athlete but as a victim. Not even her safe return changes that, especially since no one is caught for the crime.

Hounded by the public, Cora’s time as a missing girl and member of the Magnificent Eight has its consequences. Years later, when Cora has her own daughter, she’s determined to leave the past behind for a better life. Her daughter will never face those fears. And Cora will never face them again.

But four years later, on Halloween, the past comes knocking.

Now, Cora’s daughter is gone, and to get her back, Cora must take someone else’s child.

Clearly, whoever took her all those years ago isn’t done with her yet…but as long as they have her daughter, Cora’s not done with them either.

Review:

This was SO intense and exactly what I mean when I say I want a thriller that hooks me right from the start and never lets up. It’s dual timelines, one in present day as Cora searches for her daughter and another in the past when she was kidnapped as a young teenager. Who knew gymnastics and tense thrillers went so well together but when I tell you this combo had me in a chokehold, it was insane. It was very fast paced, one of those head spinning type of reads and even if things were over the top and I had to suspend disbelief I didn’t care, I was hooked! This was unhinged and so addictive and was almost a five star read for me but I guessed a big twist so I’m knocking a half star off. Still definitely worth a read, especially if you want a one sitting thrill ride.

Overall rating: 4.5/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads

Release date: January 7, 2025

Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire

Genre: YA Thriller

Synopsis:

To Brooke, image is everything. She works hard to maintain perfect grades, perfect looks, a perfect life—especially after “the incident” that threatened it all. Getting into her dream university puts her that much closer to a fresh start. How can she say no to celebrating with all her classmates?

Hanging out with her crush by the bonfire is the perfect end to the night. Except it isn’t the end. An old truck starts aggressively tailing Brooke and her best friend on the isolated road toward home. Someone thinks they know the truth about “the incident,” and they won’t stop until it’s all out in the open. This terrifying drive is about to bring out Brooke’s worst fears…if she survives it.

Review:

There was a lot I liked about this one, it was fast paced and exciting and the tension kept mounting throughout the book. It’s also fairly short so between that and the pacing I flew through this. It flips between past and present with short chapters that kept me turning the pages and I was always desperate to get back to whatever timeline I wasn’t currently reading because most ended on a mini cliffhanger. It was also a bit outlandish and ridiculous with truly unlikable characters but I don’t always mind reading about awful people. If you don’t mind some silly plot points and terrible characters but do enjoy heart pounding and intense action try this.

Overall rating: 3.5/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads

Release date: January 7, 2025

Publisher: Dreamscape

Genre: Romantic Suspense

Narrators: Andi Arndt & Sebastian York

Synopsis:

Sometimes the last thing you expect is exactly what you need, the final missing piece. And sometimes it comes in the form of a towering, broody sheriff, determined to get in your way at every step.  

Ridley Sawyer knows what it’s like to miss someone, to feel like a piece of her vanished—because it happened to her the night her twin sister disappeared.  

Now, Ridley channels that loss into hope, traveling the country covering cold cases for her true crime podcast. She might not have found justice for her sister but that doesn’t stop her from finding it for others.  

Until Sheriff Colter Brooks gets in her way.  

Colt knows what it’s like to have reporters descend on his town in the wake of a tragedy, and he’s not about to let a fiery podcaster stir up trouble. It doesn’t matter that her haunting blue eyes tell him there’s more to Ridley’s story or that he can’t stop imagining what it would be like to touch her.  

But when Ridley’s cold case turns hot and she’s thrust into the crosshairs, Colt has no choice but to step in. Suddenly, Ridley’s living at his house, drinking his whiskey, and stealing his dog’s affections. But she’s also proving that she’s so much more than his first impression.

And as they get closer to the truth, the game they’ve been playing might just turn deadly… 

Review:

The Queen of romantic suspense is back with a standalone that I hope turns into a series because I loved these characters and their town! Ridley is a true crime podcaster and her driving force is the disappearance of her twin sister so there’s a deep emotional connection for her and you can feel that energy throughout the book. Colt is the grumpy yet soft and squishy inside sheriff in Shady Cove and while these two have a rough start when they first meet, they actually have so much in common and they heal each other in a beautiful way. The author always surprises me with her twists but this one was next level and shocked me so well! Andi Arndt was one of the very first narrators that made me fall in love with audiobooks and she remains a legend, her emotional performance here was everything. No one plays a grisly grump better than Sebastian York so if you like audiobooks definitely try that format for this gem. If you like true crime, suspense, enemies to lovers, small town and grump and sunshine this was excellent!

Overall rating: 5/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads

Release date: January 14, 2025

Publisher: Putnam

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Synopsis:

The caretaker at an isolated mountain hotel finds herself fighting for her life—and sanity—in this twisty, addictive thriller.

Kerry’s life is in shambles: Her husband has left her, her drinking habit has officially become a problem, and though the deadline for her big book deal—the one that was supposed to change everything—is looming, she can’t write a word. When she sees an ad for a caretaker position at a revitalized roadside motel in the Catskills, she jumps at the chance. It’s the perfect getaway to finish her book and start fresh. 

But as she hunkers down in a blizzard, she spots something through the window: a pale arm peeking out from a heap of snow. Trapped in the mountains and alone with a dead, frozen body, Kerry must keep her head and make it out before the killer comes for her too. But is the deadly game of cat-and-mouse all in her mind? The body count begs to differ . . .

Review:

If you like to read seasonally and don’t mind another thriller about an alcoholic woman with memory issues this was pretty fun. I loved the locked room style setting at a motel during a snowstorm, especially as Kerry is caretaking and she’s the only one staying there. The creepy vibes were definitely apparent and it doesn’t take long to get to the action either. The main question of whodunnit was fairly easy for me to predict BUT there were several smaller twists along the way that I didn’t catch. I know I can count on the author when I want a fast paced and binge worthy thriller and she delivered for me once again!

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads

Release date: January 14, 2025

Publisher: Simon and Schuster

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Synopsis:

A propulsive page-turning thriller following the hit reality TV show Garden State Goddesses where secrets are uncovered, intense rivalries surface, and a startling murder propels a producer on a riveting quest for the truth.

One of Huzzah’s most popular shows, Garden State Goddesses, was in need of a refresh. Largely centering on the Sicilian American Fontana family of Shady Pond, New Jersey, showrunner Eden Bennett found a solution that helped her both personally and she introduced lovable bachelor Leo Fontana to her estranged cousin Hope—a blonde beauty and aspiring singer. After a whirlwind romance, they begin the new season with Leo and Hope’s wedding, but not everyone is happy, least of all Hope’s new sister-in-law Carmela, who finds Hope’s lack of family, friends, pop cultural knowledge, and social media presence deeply suspicious. Nevertheless, Hope is joining Carmela, and their other sister-in-law Valeria, a lovable ditz too dependent on cutting Carmela, and wealthy grand dame Birdie St. Clair as a new lead on Garden State Goddesses. Hope quickly bonds with castmate Renée, a down-to-earth single mom whose daughter Ruby aspires to be the next Ariana Grande.

When one of the goddesses collapses while filming at the Broke Not Broken gala at Birdie’s manor, there will be a reality reckoning. Eden will be forced to confront the ways she is emotional manipulation, coercion, and dropping her naïve cousin in this mess while also using her skills as a producer to seek out the truth—uncovering that many of the Fontanas have rivalries and grievances that go back decades, some with serious legal, financial, physical, and romantic consequences.

Review:

I am a day one Housewives fan, I never miss an episode and am obsessed with just about every franchise, so the minute I heard about this one I knew I had to read it! I expected it to be dramatic, over the top, glamorous and juicy and it was but it was also silly, shallow and not thrilling at all. Sadly, it’s a very middle of the road read for me and it didn’t quite live up to my expectations. I did enjoy how this felt almost exactly like watching an episode of RHONJ down to the confessionals. I also loved all the nods to the franchise, lots of Easter Eggs that were fun! I didn’t expect to be bored and unfortunately I was and I also didn’t expect the mystery aspect to be so lackluster but it was. The characters had no depth either which sounds like it could’ve worked here but it fell flat. Overall a miss for me and I’m truly bummed about it.

Overall rating: 2.5/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

Goodreads

Release date: January 14, 2025

Publisher: Atria

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Synopsis:

She has his dead wife’s heart; the one she wants is his. The author of The Family Plot brings her signature prose to a twisty novel about a heart transplant patient who becomes romantically obsessed with her donor’s husband.

Rosie Lachlan wants nothing more than to find The One.

A year after she was dumped in her wedding dress, she’s working at her parents’ bridal salon, anxious for a happy ending that can’t come soon enough. After receiving a life-saving heart transplant, Rosie knows her health is precious and precarious. She suspects her heart donor is Daphne Thorne, the wife of local celebrity author Morgan Thorne, who she begins messaging via an anonymous service called DonorConnect, ostensibly to learn more about Daphne. But Rosie has a secret: She’s convinced that now that she has his wife’s heart, she and Morgan are meant to be together.

As she and Morgan correspond, the pretense of avoiding personal details soon disappears, even if Rosie’s keeping some cards close to her chest. But as she digs deeper into Morgan’s previous marriage, she discovers disturbing rumors about the man she’s falling for. Could Morgan have had something to do with his late wife’s death? And can Rosie’s heart sustain another break—or is she next?

Review:

What great concept, that tagline about having his dead wife’s heart was enough to grab my attention and what follows was even better than that somehow. It immediately hooked me as Rosie starts emailing with Morgan, it was like a train wreck I couldn’t look away from. Rosie comes off as slightly unhinged immediately but you can’t help but feel for her, she had a heart transplant AND was dumped in her wedding dress so I just went with her crazy. Plus, an unhinged character is always an interesting character to me and Rosie was downright fascinating. I don’t wanna say too much more about the plot because there were some seriously delicious and wild turns here but if you like sound of this try it because I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.