Tag: Thriller

My Husband’s Wife by Alice Feeney

by Bookworm&TheatreMouse

It was an absolute treat that ‘My Husband’s Wife’ arrived as a gift from a friend for Galentine’s Day. I am a little late to the Alice Feeney party, only having read ‘Beautiful Ugly’ before this, but I am definitely now a fan and, again, so happy that I have a backlist of books that I can go back to and read. Especially as a thriller is one of my go-to genres when I am looking for a read.

‘My Husband’s Wife’ is an excellent twisty thriller, which is just what I want from a thriller. There is even a moment of slight confusion created as you read it, which is fine as that adds to the thrill of this book. And the incredible amount of secrets each character is carrying around with them really does make you wonder if you ever really do know anyone at all. Alice Feeney is skilled at creating a group of completely unrelated characters and linking them together in some of the most fascinating ways. I did not expect the connections made in this book, they were fantastic.

It is so hard to write about thrillers, and hats off to anyone who can do it well. I will say that this was a page-turner (cliche, I know) but that is what I want from a thriller. And it really must be, as I even took it on a train journey with me (rather than my commute Kindle) as I had to know what was going to happen next and where this twisted tale was going.

So, I think it is safe to say that I will be seeking out other books by Alice Feeney. ‘His&Hers’ may have to go to the top of the list as, thanks to a recent adaptation, it is getting a lot of attention, and maybe I should jump on that bandwagon.

All Her Fault by Andrea Mara

by Bookworm&TheatreMouse

One author that I can always rely on is Andrea Mara, and that was true again with ‘All Her Fault’. I have not seen the TV adaptation but the book does not disappoint at all. In fact, I think the very ending is one of my favourites in a crime/thriller book that I have read in quite some time.

So, I have my usual issue because it is a thriller, so I do not want to give too much away. However, this is a very well-constructed thriller that will keep you reading. Andrea Mara always manages to find some of our greatest fears, or what we can imagine may be someone’s deepest fear (in this case, the disappearance of a child, which is not a spoiler) and weave it into a narrative that is complex, thrilling and twisty. I could not have predicted any of the twists that happened in this one, and, although there was one reveal at one point that seems a little too obvious, you absolutely did not want to believe that it was true.

But now, I must stop as I do not want to give anything away about this book. And if you have seen the TV adaptation, I reckon you should still read the book as Andrea Mara is an excellent writer. It has secured her as an author that I will always turn to if I need a book that will keep me hooked, and possibly a little bit scared. I am also pleased that I still have some of Andrea Mara’s books to read, especially as this is a backlist title that has gained some attention thanks to the TV series, which means that even more readers may be drawn to her books and find a new favourite author. So, I guess watching the show first for some readers is not always a bad thing, but I am glad I have read the book first and may one day see the TV adaptation.

The Guilty Couple by C. L. Taylor

by Bookworm&TheatreMouse

Trying to clear that tbr pile is going too slowly, but it is going. And, the latest choice off that pile was ‘The Guilty Couple’ by C. L. Taylor. I needed something of a palate cleanser, and this was just that. I hope nobody takes that as any kind of slight, as it is not intended as one, it just means a book that did not need a lot of concentration or focus, but that would have me hooked from the moment I started reading. Often, thrillers are just the book I need, or crime fiction – I find them pacy and that, for me, allows me to reset for other reads.

‘The Guilty Couple’ was a book that I received as part of a ‘Wordy and Wild’ box last year, so it was time I read it. Liv has spent time inside for planning a hit on her husband, apparently with the support of her lover, Jack. She has always denied the charge, and is convinced her husband set her up. But now she is out and wants to get her life back on track and her daughter back in her life. Of course, it is not going to be quite as simple as it sounds, and it is not long before Liv is drawn into deceit and plotting as she tries to prove her husband’s part in framing her, with a little help from her friends.

This is told from multiple viewpoints so we are let into all sorts of secrets as we follow Liv’s story. However, there is still quite a twist at the end. I am not sure it was a complete surprise but it was a good one and it did make reading the book worth it.

This book does exactly what you need a thriller of its kind to do. It keeps you reading, and you do find yourself keen to find out what happens next. I am not sure it is full of likeable characters, but you do root for Liv because her husband is largely rather unpleasant, it seems. I did stay up past my bedtime to finish it, as once I hit the twist I need to have the full story. I can confirm it appropriately cleansed my palate before I continued to tackle the ever growing (still) tbr pile.

The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware

by Bookworm&TheatreMouse

I may be removed from the bookworm community for saying this, but I am going to say it, I think for one of the first times ever – the film was better! I am so sorry, I know this is a crime in the book-loving world because we should say ‘the book was better’, however, hear me out – this is a film that is pretty loyal to the book, but there is just something a little more satisfying with the film.

Ruth Ware knows how to write a solid thriller, and often in a range of different settings too. Which always makes picking her books up worth a go. ‘The Woman in Cabin 10’ is a great premise for a book: a trip on a luxury yacht should be something that is exciting and a thrilling experience, but not a chilling one. In the middle of the night, it appears the woman in cabin 10 disappears, however nobody seems to believe Lo Blacklock when she tries to find out what has happened. And we all know that a great trope of a thriller is the isolated destination with no escape, and that all other characters in the story appear to have no idea about what is going on…

So, obviously, I keep it spoiler-free, especially with a thriller. However, let’s look at what made me make such a shocking statement at the start of my review. It was simply this: as loyal an adaptation this appeared to be to me, the pace of the film just helped it out a little. I found in the book, my mind was wandering slightly after the very pacy start and just before the conclusion. Obviously not enough to make me not read the book, but just enough to lead me to consider the similar moments in the film. Also, and I know I am not alone in this as this was a buddy read, I think the ending was better in the film. Yes, I have just said it; it feels like I may be sharing an unpopular opinion, but the ending in the book felt rushed, and I realised that I was not entirely sure how we had suddenly got to the end – in the film there was a little more clarity.

I am willing to admit that I saw the film first, so that was my first impression of this story. Yet, I did enjoy seeing where the book met the film, and it did make me think about this book a little more as I considered why some of the changes may have been made.

So, will I read the next one? Probably! Because, let’s be honest, I am interested to see what ‘The Woman in Suite 11’ is all about, especially as I do not read blurbs, so it will all be a surprise.

The Christmas Magpie by Mark Edwards

by Bookworm&TheatreMouse

As I have mentioned before, Mark Edwards was an author that I only discovered in April this year, but I have already read three books by him, and I will absolutely be reading more.

I love a Christmas book – but a Christmas crime book is even better. So, when I spotted that this was coming out, I knew I had to read it. Now, I do have to confess that I have not read the other ‘Magpie’ books, but they are definitely on the wishlist, and this did not stop me from enjoying this one.

But that age-old issue of not spoiling a thriller is with me again. I am not sure why I do this to myself; I should really have come up with a way round it by now.

A young couple move into a new house, in a rather-too-perfect housing estate. They get a rather warm welcome from the neighbours, however this welcome gradually takes a sinister turn. ‘Secret Santa’ is not the jolly old soul you would hope for…

There are just so many wonderful elements in this book that make it such a readable thriller. But something that Mark Edwards is brilliant at is creating his cast of characters. This neighbourhood was just full of characters that you can imagine finding in lots of suburban neighbourhoods.

If you want a dose of Christmas crime then this book is definitely worth picking up – just do not expect it to be cosy.

Nightwatching by Tracy Sierra

by Bookworm&TheatreMouse

Sometimes you read a thriller that really hits the spot, and this is one. ‘Nightwatching’ was recommended by Jennie Godfrey at this year’s The Book Taster Live Event, and I knew it was a book that I had to read.

We all know how hard it is to review a thriller, as there is absolutely no way that you can give spoilers, especially to one as good as this. But, I am going to do my best.

A family are isolated in their home in New England by bad weather, when they are convinced that there is someone in the house watching them. As our unnamed central character does everything she thinks she needs to do to protect her family, there seems to be very little support from those around her. Nobody seems to quite believe her as they should, and for me that was an interesting point along the way. But that is about all I can say as you really need to read this book to understand what a wonderful thriller it is.

It uses a lot of wonderful techniques to build the tension, such as using names very little, which supports in building tension. There are some paragraphs that flash back, but this is done to show how our central character is thinking as she tries to unravel what appears to be happening to her and family. And it really does lead the reader down one path, then another – and has you unsure who you can trust as a reader.

I would genuinely have so much more to say about this book – but I want people to read it, because it seems to have gone slightly under the radar and it deserves its time in the spotlight. It would be an incredible read for a book club as there is so much to unpick.

I am also pretty sure you will find it hard to believe that this is a debut novel – I can’t wait to see what else Tracy Sierra will write (I have done a little research and it looks like we will be lucky with another book in 2026).

Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney

by Bookworm&TheatreMouse

I have decided that before I read a book, try to avoid finding out who reads the audiobook. Just before I started ‘Beautiful Ugly’ by Alice Feeney, I discovered that it is narrated by Richard Armitage and Tuppence Middleton, which meant for the duration of reading the book Grady became Richard Armitage in my head – but I guess there are worse problems as a reader.

I thoroughly enjoyed this thriller, as it had one of my favourite elements to a thrilling read – an isolated island to create a locked-room thriller. As usual (do tell me if I am repetitive) this is difficult as I do not spoil thrillers. However, I will say that Grady’s wife Abby disappears and, as a way to deal with this, and hopefully inspire him to write another book, his agent Kitty sends him to an isolated Scottish island. And, surprisingly, it is not all it seems – and is even more isolated than Grady was expecting.

There is a wonderful twist in this book – which I had to pause and think about – as it was just a genius moment. It has certainly cemented Alice Feeney as an author that I will keep an eye out for (and, of course, go back and read previous titles) because the twist was a moment I admired greatly.

So, if you want a thriller that will keep you turning those pages, this is definitely one that is worth a go.

Two Kinds of Stranger by Steve Cavanagh

by Bookworm&TheatreMouse

Which book got me to my reading goal for 2025?

‘Two Kinds of Stranger’ by Steve Cavanagh was the book that helped me hit 90 books in 2025. And what a book to hit the goal with. Steve Cavanagh is one of my go-to authors when I want a great read, especially in my crime-thriller era, and ‘Two Kinds of Stranger’ did not disappoint.

This is a book with our favourite lawyer, Eddie Flynn, the man who always fights for those who seem to be without hope – and who always seems to tackle the most villainous of criminals. And I think our villian in this novel is one of the best he has a created, a real psychopath. Someone who really gave me chills each time we read about his antics.

Elly appears to have it all, when we meet her at the start of the story, and she shares it all on social media, as an influencer who has found fame for her random acts of kindness. However, little does she know the thing that has made her ‘famous’ becomes the thing that makes her infamous. Her RAOK and desire to help others lands her at the centre of a murder enquiry, which means she has to turn to Eddie Flynn and his team for help.

As I say every time, I am sure you are getting bored by it, but there are no spoilers here. But I will say that I absolutely loved this book; I love how Eddie and his team work to fight for justice, even if sometimes it is not in the most conventional manner, you know it will always make for a good read.

And if you are sitting there thinking, I have never read an Eddie Flynn, do I need to start from the beginning, the answer is absolutely not. One of the beauties of these books is that they are part of a series, but you can read them as standalone stories as well – I have read them in whichever order I have managed to pick them up and it has worked out fine.

So, if you are looking for a great crime thriller or just fancy trying something new, then let me recommend the books of Steve Cavanagh – but especially ‘Two Kinds of Stranger’.

The Wasp Trap by Mark Edwards

by Bookworm&TheatreMouse

This year, I discovered the books of Mark Edwards. After attending an event where he interviewed Jo Callaghan, I read ‘The Psychopath Next Door‘ and loved it, so I knew I had to give his new book ‘The Wasp Trap’ a go. I was inspired to pick it up this month because I had spotted a few others reading it and loving it, so I knew it was time.

Spoiler alert, I loved it. In fact, as I was reading it, I could see it as a TV drama. There was so much going on, and so many fascinating characters, I absolutely could not put it down. It is perfect reading for these darks months, as it is a real page-turner of a thriller – it is like Traitors, but far more sinister.

This book has some of the best ingredients of a thriller. A locked room (well a locked house), a set of characters who do not seem to make a whole lot of sense together, but have a shared and complex past and more than one mystery going on. I really enjoyed that we moved between the present and the past as the story unfolded and, of course, how nothing was quite how it seemed. There were twists and turns a plenty, and a good build-up of paranoia for some of our characters, which probably throws the reader off the scent of the real revelation.

I stayed up past my bedtime to finish this book, so to me that is always the best recommendation you can give about a book, as it means it is one that really grips you. I was desperate to know what the solution was going to be to the tale and it did not disappoint.

So, if you are looking for a gripping thriller, for yourself or as you are doing your Christmas shopping (because, let’s be honest, it is that time of year), then this is a book that you need to add to the list. Although there is also a Christmas book from Mark Edwards this year – ‘The Christmas Magpie’ – which I have to admit is on my reading list for the December months, because I just know it is going to a great read.

To Love A Liar by L.V. Matthews

by Bookworm&TheatreMouse

As we have clearly spotted, I love a thriller or crime story. So, when ‘The Book Taster’ picked ‘To Love A Liar’ by L.V. Matthews, I knew I was likely to be thrown into a book I would love. And…I was.

This is a brilliant thriller which reveals surprise after surprise and, just as you think you have got to grips with the story, another curve-ball comes out of nowhere and smacks you in the face. To the point that I had to message a friend and ensure that I had correctly understood the series of events. This is not a criticism of the narrative but, in fact, praise of it, because it was just a rollercoaster of a read.

I am honestly stumped in how to review this book, as the joy for me was that I actually did not know anything about this novel, which meant that every single moment was a surprise – and I think that is how it should be read. In fact, I am hoping that my words will just make you pick it up without the blurb, so you can simply experience the joy of reading this book.

There was also the clever use of mixed media to tell the story. There was the use of social media posts to add to the story, and I think this was a very clever way to additionally engage readers with the narrative. But it also shows how the way that news and information is shared has changed so much – how quickly fake or false ideas can spread, and how much people are willing to have an opinion when they think they can hide behind a screen. I think this also causes the reader to reflect on the significance of this to the story, and how the narrative can be changed.

This is a book that I will be recommending to anyone who is listening – especially those readers I know who are fans of the thriller and crime novels – the twistier the better.