Tag: Thriller

Such Charming Liars by Karen M McManus

by Bookworm&TheatreMouse

Although I am not the target audience for Karen M. McManus’ YA thriller fiction, I always find myself purchasing each one. They are also very satisfying on the shelf next to each other, and the latest, ‘Such Charming Liars’, is a rather wonderful shade of purple on the shelf.

In ‘Such Charming Liars’, we meet Kat and Liam, who are step-siblings who appear to be reunited by chance as Kat’s mum, Jamie, is sent to carry out a mission for her ’employer’, Gem. They find themselves on the rather impressive Sutherland estate. Neither of them is there for totally honest reasons; however, things take a turn that neither of them could have predicted.

As we all know, this site needs to be spoiler-free, which is never easy when I am trying to share thoughts about titles such as this one. However, what I can say is that returning to a Karen M. McManus novel in autumn is like returning to an old friend. They are quite a comfort read, despite being a YA thriller. They are always full of great characters, and strong female characters, which I think is something that is important for YA novels in the modern age. Alongside this, she is a pro at planting red herrings that can send you off on the wrong path, only for you to suddenly be thrown onto a different path altogether. Alongside this, the final quarter of this book comes at quite a pace, with a twist that I did not see coming as it hit. Which, surely, is always a sign of a good read?

So, if you are looking for a thriller that is great escapism for these autumn evenings, then Karen M. McManus is always a good idea. And if you have a YA reader in your life, maybe this is a set of books you can introduce them to.

Sixteen Horses by Greg Buchanan

by Bookworm&TheatreMouse

No surprise, ‘Sixteen Horses’ has been sitting on the tbr pile for quite some time. I spotted it ages ago, and as we know I do not read blurbs, but the cover appeared to absolutely be something I would read and I had seen some great reviews of it too on Bookstagram. So, when I spotted a copy in my favourite second-hand bookshop, I picked it up – it just now happens to have been ages ago.

‘Sixteen Horses’ is a great thriller – the heads of sixteen horses are found buried on some farmland. There appears to be absolutely no reason for it, and what happened to the corpses. This gives Detective Alec Nichols, supported by Dr Copper Allen (forensic veterinarian), quite a case to investigate, and it will be no surprise that there is so much about this quiet seaside town that is quite as it seems. Of course, if you want to know what specifically, you are going to have to read the book, as this is a spoiler-free zone.

This story was absolutely gripping, I devoured the book in two days as I just had to know what was going to happen and why there were sixteen horses. The writing was brilliant, which created excellent storytelling, and the characters were complex. I really liked the character of Dr Cooper Allen; not only was she a strong female character, but a forensic veterenarian was a fascinating job role to be involved in an investigation. I have to be honest, that I absolutely would not have solved this mystery and that always makes it a great thriller/crime story in my opinion. I would be interested to know if anyone else had read it and had worked it out?

So, as usual, it has to be short and sweet because it is a thriller post, but it does mean that I am definitely going to be searching out ‘Consumed’ by Greg Buchanan, as I need to know what Dr Cooper Alled does next and how/if she has moved on from the events of ‘Sixteen Horses’.

Dead Lions by Mick Herron

by Bookworm&TheatreMouse

‘Slow Horses’ was a top read of mine in January 2024 (as it turns out – I was sure it was so much more recent than that; where does all the time go?), so I knew that I would carry on with the series. So, as I completed a bank holiday readathon with the lovely bookish community, I thought it was about time that I picked this one up.

Spy fiction has never, traditionally, been a genre that I would turn to. However, Mick Herron’s Slough House books have started to change my opinion. And, let’s be honest, I am not sure there is a character quite like Jackson Lamb out there. You know you should be disgusted by some of his personality traits, but there is no denying that he is an intelligent man and loyal to those who show loyalty to him.

When Jackson Lamb hears of the death of a former colleague, which, to all intents and purposes, appears to be completely innocent, he decides that he is going to investigate. A hunch that others are not sure about, but it certainly leads to something – otherwise, well, we would not have a book.

And, of course, there is something very strange when the powers that be decide that they would like to use some of Jackson Lamb’s ‘slow horses’ to help out with the visit of some Russian visitors – giving us even more action.

I think what really works with Mick Herron’s writing and storytelling is that he creates characters that you can see really existing in that world, without it becoming too much. And the stories make sense in the world that we live in, and keep moving without any ridiculous or fantastical ideas – and with a little touch of humour as we go.

In good news, I have also found out that, as a family, we have all the books, so I can keep reading them and following Jackson Lamb and his team, maybe not waiting as long this time.

Witness 8 by Steve Cavanagh

by Bookworm&TheatreMouse

Steve Cavanagh never disappoints, and I was recently lucky enough to hear him speak (again) about his latest book (on the tbr pile), which encouraged me to pick up another that I had on the pile first. I am not sure why, as I do not really read them in order.

‘Witness 8’ is a brilliant pacy thriller, with Eddie Flynn being his best self as always. Eddie Flynn is brought in to defend a man who appears to be being framed for the murder of a neighbour. Eddie is convinced of his innocence, so him and his team need to find out who really commited the murder and why this man is being framed. Alongside this, there is a bounty on Eddie Flynn’s head. So, as you can imagine, there are all sorts of thrills along the way as we hope our man Eddie manages to not only save his client but also himself.

Steve Cavanagh just creates the most brilliant characters, heroes and villains alike. They are all so fascinating – especially the villains. You know they are bad, bad people, but somehow Cavanagh’s writing and character creation has you feeling sympathy for some of them, what has really brought them to this point? And, although Mr Christmas may not be a character I had much sympathy for, I did find him very entertaining.

So, it is safe to say that Steve Cavanagh is still cemented in place as one of my favourite authors and, as we enter the ‘-ber’ months, it means it is surely time to spend more time with Eddie Flynn and his team.

Geneva by Richard Armitage

by Bookworm&TheatreMouse

Let’s be honest, a lot of us are a little suspicious when we see a celebrity name on a book. It may not stop us reading them but it may mean we have a different mindset when we start reading, potentially. I was probably the same when I picked up Geneva by Richard Armitage and in doing so discovered that it was a very enjoyable thriller.

This is a thriller that I can see being on the big screen. It has everything that you look for in a traditional thriller and it is brought bang up to date. The usual issue, writing a post that does not contain a spoiler. However, I suppose it is OK to say that this is a thriller that involves pharmacetucal companies, lies, deceit and characters who are possibly never who they seem to be.

The story is told from multiple viewpoints and that certainly kept me reading as you experience what the characters are experiencing, and that adds to the thrill as you may know something that they don’t know. You find yourself hoping that they uncover it soon, otherwise you know what the consequences may be.

The title ‘Geneva’ is very apt as the place is almost a character in this book. You would not have some of the thrills you have without the atmospheric setting of the story. The darkness, the snow and the moutains bring as much of a thrill to the tale as the action does.

In the acknowledgments Richard Armitage thanks Harlan Coben for encouraging him to write this story – and I think we should all be grateful to Harlan Coben for that as it has brought us a thriller with a little of a feel of the stories of the adventure thrillers of the golden age (a real Paul Temple feel), but it is bang up to date. And that vibe and style to the story really added to the enjoyment of the book for me.

However, I think I have to be honest that, since I found out that Richard Armitage and Nicola Walker read the audiobook, that is exactly who the two central characters were in my head when I was reading it. And that is no bad thing – and, I guess, perfect for a possible TV or film adaptation…

The New Neighbours by Claire Douglas

by Bookworm&TheatreMouse

I was very happy that a new book by Claire Douglas was out for us to read this summer season. I was even happier because it still had front doors on the cover – I am actually obsessed with these covers to Clare Douglas’ books and I think if they ever stop being front doors, I may be inconsolable. But I digress, let’s talk about this book (with some difficulty, as it is a thriller – haha).

‘The New Neighbours’ had been picked for the IRL book club and, although I had been unable to attend the last one, I am over the moon that this is what they picked. I started it Sunday afternoon and I had finished it by Monday evening. It had me reading past my bedtime, as well as reading when I should probably have been doing other things. I had some train journeys and it came with me on them because I just had to keep reading it (trains had become Kindle zones because it is just easier – as much as I am still rather anti-Kindle, I am not anti-being able to have multiple books with me on any form of public transport).

This was such a fantastic thriller. And, I will be honest, I did not see where it was going, although in hindsight there were plenty of clues, but I was just so absorbed in the escapism of the story, I do not think my brain was in gear to try and solve it.

Lena meets her new neighbours, Marielle and Henry, who seem charming and just the sort of couple you would like living next door. However, as you would suspect, they are not all they seem to be and Lena ends up with a whole list of suspicions and worries about the new neighbours. This leads us into a pacy thriller where nothing is ever quite as it seems and the ending: ‘oh my’ – I love a slightly creepy ending.

I am afraid that is all I can give you about the story with my no-spoiler policy. However, I can say that this is a well-written page-turner that I am pretty sure will be loved by anyone who enjoys a thriller, but especially by those who love Claire Douglas’ books. I think it could possibly be one of my favourites of her novels.

So, in simple terms: thriller fans, this is the book for you.

Not Quite Dead Yet by Holly Jackson

by Bookworm&TheatreMouse

Although the good old British public transport system conspired against me and prevented me from being able to attend a recent Holly Jackson event, it did not prevent me from getting my copy of her new book, ‘Not Quite Dead Yet’. Holly Jackson is an autobuy author for me, and as we all know, I do not read blurb, so I had all I knew about this story from the title (very apt) and the cover, but that was enough for me.

I absolutely devoured this book from the moment I picked it up. Holly Jackson writes some really incredible crime/thriller books, and this one did not disappoint. For a first adult fiction book, it was brilliant and did not lose any of the great storytelling that Holly Jackson has given us in YA fiction. It is not a spoiler that this book is about Jet Mason having seven days to solve her own murder (which adds a whole other level of peril to the usual peril you find in these books), and that is exactly what she aims to do.

Jet is a great strong female lead character, who does not let anyone else try to decide her destiny for her, as all she wants is to ensure that the person responsible for her murder is brought to justice. As she does this, it opens a Pandora’s Box of secret and lies about her family and the town she has grown up in. That is about as much as I can give you, as this is a spoiler-free blog. But you will want to read it to find out exactly what it is Jet uncovers as she searches for her murderer.

What I will say about this book is that I am not sure all the secrets were a complete surprise. I was suspicious of one character fairly early on, however, not quite for the right reason. And I love that about a whodunnit: you can make your predictions, you can follow the clues, and you can make your decisions, which may not always be right, but it does all make you reflect on how you got there.

In my humble opinion, Holly Jackson has made the transition from YA to adult fiction successfully, and hopefully this has brought her books to a whole new audience. Although, to be honest, I think many of us adults had read the YA too, but there may be some of you out there who haven’t, so can I suggest you read ‘Not Quite Dead Yet’, because it is definitely worth it.

The Psychopath Next Door by Mark Edwards

by Bookworm&TheatreMouse

I kicked off my Summer Holiday Reading by picking up ‘The Psychopath Next Door’ by Mark Edwards. I was lucky enough to hear Mark speak and interview Jo Callaghan at a bookish event and it was at this same event that I picked up his book. I am ashamed to say that before then he had not come up on my bookish radar, but I am glad he did that day, because this book was an absolutely brillliant thriller.

I consumed this book in three days, I could not put it down. It sucked you in from page one. Thrillers are always a tough one to write reviews about, as you know I do everything to keep it as spoiler-free as possible. I mean, that title makes it fairly clear what the book is probably about, so that is not a real spoiler, but how that situation came about and how it impacts the Dove family is quite the ride.

It is a rather dark tale as we find how Fiona Smith has found herself living nextdoor to the Dove family and how she becomes part of their lives. But there are some wonderful twists along the way and I could not move until I finished the final few chapters of the book, as I had to know what was going to happen and how this book would be drawn to a close. It is a brilliantly constructed tale from start to finish – full of drama, suspense and thrills. The dark characters are really rather complex, and add the the chills as you read the book. And it is interesting how ordinary the other characters seem to be, and make you realise how much in a family and friendship group we probably accept so much at face value, and sometimes wisdom does not come with age and we should sometimes have more faith in the young.

I am not sure why I am always drawn to thrillers at this time of year – but what this has done has secured Mark Edwards as another author (and the list keeps growing) that I am keen to read the backlist of. And I am excited that he has a new book out this very summer, which, of course, is on the wishlist.

The Vacation by John Marrs

by Bookworm&TheatreMouse

Within a short period of time, I seem to have gone from never having read a John Marrs book, to knowing that he is a reliable choice when you need a great book to read. ‘The Vacation’ was chosen as a informal buddy read with one of my booksta buddies and it was a great choice. Which, to be honest, was no surprise.

‘The Vacation’ is set around one slightly questionable hostel in Venice Beach, and the people who choose to stay there or have found themselves working there. We find out what has brought them there, as well as following the exploits whilst they are there. And there is quite a colourful collection of characters – with some rather dark secrets or troubled pasts – and more in common than they realise. As well as the meaning of ‘vacation’ for each of our different characters.

This, of course, was a page-turner, as you would expect from the pen of John Marrs. As I was reading this, I just had to know what was going to happen next. Especially as each ‘part’ ended on quite a revelation.

John Marrs always knows how to create some really rather dark characters. As well as creating some thought-provoking moments, especially around people doing the wrong thing but for some ‘right’ reasons. Or people trying to save themselves from situations that are unpleasant or dangerous – does that make some actions ‘understandable’?

Also, he draws so well on the topics that raise a lot of questions in out current time. In this book there is a discussion about the price of fame and those that find themselves in the spotlight, and the exploitation in that industry. There are some other ideas too, but this is one that really struck me, as it is something that is around us all the time in popular culture and media.

So, if you are a John Marrs fan, you will absolutely enjoy this book – and it has just proved that I need to keep working my way through John Marrs’ backlist, because I am fairly certain none of them will disappoint.

Our Little Cruelties by Liz Nugent

by Bookworm&TheatreMouse

As I have mentioned before, I love the fact that I have a backlist from Liz Nugent to enjoy. My latest choice was ‘Our Little Cruelties’ – which has another stunning cover.

‘Our Little Cruelties’ tells us about three brothers, William, Brian and Luke Drumm. Each is a very different character, despite the same shared experiences as children, or so they think. But, as we read the story, we see how their experiences were not as similar as they may have seemed. Each brother had a very different relationship with their mother, especially Luke – and does that shape the man that he becomes? In fact, as the story is told, we realise how toxic the relationship between the brothers is, and maybe how similar they are and the ‘little cruelties’ they demonstrate towards each other. How will their relationship end?

Something that Liz Nugent is amazing at is writing male relationships and characters. And, often, they are not very pleasant people, and expose the worst characteristics in human beings – but this makes the books thought-provoking and very readable.

I have to be honest: this is not my favourite of her books so far. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed reading it and had to know where the story is going, as anything that opens with a funeral leaves you needing to know how we got to that point. However, as this story was told in different parts, from the viewpoint of each brother as we move to the moment that got us to the funeral, it made it slightly repetitive at moments. Of course, this is so we can see how they interpreted events, or how various events played out for them, but for me it just felt at times that we were not finding out anything new (especially as William was such a wonderfully dislikeable character).

Yet, please do not take this as you should not pick this book up, as each of us has a different reading experience, and ultimately if, like me, you are a fan of the books of Liz Nugent, then you will want to have read this book.