Tag: Thriller

Caller Unknown by Gillian McAllister

by Bookworm&TheatreMouse

When Gillian McAllister has a new book out, you know you need to read it. And that was exactly the case when ‘Caller Unknown’ was released in April (I appreciate I am behind on the reviewing front).

I found ‘Caller Unknown’ an interesting read, as it was a thriller, as you would expect from Gillian McAllister, but it was also a fascinating study of relationships. And I think that was more of a focus of the story than the thrills. This is a story about the relationship between a mother and a daughter, and how they handle probably one of the things many of us would fear the most: being kidnapped – in a place you have no local knowledge of or any connection to. And, when each other is the only people you know, and when you are one person down, that isolation and loneliness becomes even worse. I was drawn to how the mother’s love led her to a series of actions, and the team that she and her daughter have to become through the shared traumatic experience.

It is, as I always say, hard to say much about a book that I do not want to spoil for others. But, if you are a fan of Gillian McAllister, you will be a fan of this book. You will be drawn into the story, you will be keen to know what is going to happen next, but this is certainly a little more than just a thriller – this seems more character led than action led. Which possibly led me to read it in a slightly different way than I would a usual, clearly defined thriller.

Although, it has certainly left me dreading those unknown number calls a little more than I did before…

The Chemist by A. A. Dhand

by Bookworm&TheatreMouse

Have you ever read a book that you can immediately see as a film? ‘The Chemist’ by A. A Dhand is just one of those books. And, to me, that is a very well-written book, as you can feel like you are really involved in what is going on.

Now, this book is possibly not for the faint-hearted; as you know, I do not read blurbs, so everything about this book’s story was a surprise to me. And it needs to stay like that in my post, too, but I will say that it tackles some really tough topics, such as drug abuse, human trafficking, grief, loss and living in some of the toughest conditions imaginable, under the control of some really terrible people.

This is not a light-hearted story, and there are some really harrowing moments, but there is also some light in the dark, as you learn what people are willing to do to help those who are truly in need (even if you are not always in agreement with what they may do – but desperate times must lead to some really desperate measures).

I absolutely loved this book, which seems a strange thing to say about quite a tough thriller, but it was a brilliant read. And it is a fantastic buddy read. It is a book that the characters you love, you really love, and the characters you hate, you really hate, and you just have to know what is going to happen next.

Idris Kahn is the Chemist, who looks after the local community, most commonly handing out methadone to those who need it. Then, one night, as he attempts to help someone he loves, his life is turned upside down as he ends up stuck between two rival gangs and some of the most dangerous men in Leeds. And, from that moment, you never quite know what is going to happen next. But what you do know is that you hope that Idris and those he loves will be OK.

This book was so incredible that I am already excited for the publication of the next story, ‘The Kingpin’, because I just have to know what is going to happen to Idris Kahn next. A. A. Dhand has definitely become an autobuy author for me, and I am really looking forward to what stories he will be bringing us in the future.

It’s Not What You Think by Clare Mackintosh

by Bookworm&TheatreMouse

Audiobooks are not always easy to review as I find that, as much as I know what is going on, my attention can sometimes wander. However, that was not the case with ‘It’s Not What You Think’, which I chose as it is by Clare Mackintosh, who I know writes books that will not disappoint (and a friend had told me that they had read their physical copy in a day).

This book is a brilliant crime/thriller and the narrators of the audiobook are excellent. At no point did I lose focus as I listened to this book, as I just had to know where the story was going. What appears to start as a ‘simple’ case of murder, becomes something so much more complex. The secrets just keep revealing themselves, making each of our key characters question everything they know – and making you realise that maybe you never really know someone. And it is never a good idea to jump to conclusions…

Clare Mackintosh always manages to not only create brilliant strong female lead characters, but she manages to use details in her story from the current world we are living in, that then really drag you into a story, and possibly play on some of our biggest fears.

I have tp admit that I did work out one of the twists, but it did not take away from the story in any way. In fact, it really emphasised the idea that maybe you never really know someone, however close to them you may be – even if it is the closest you can be.

It is quite hard to write about this book without spoilers, but I am absolutely adamant that I am not giving anything away. Other than that, if you have been a fan of the other books that Clare Mackintosh has written, then you will almost certainly be a fan of this one. I pretty much binged this, as much as you can an audiobook during a busy day-to-day life, and I am still thinking about it now, and have already recommended it to so many people I know who love a good crime/thriller – audiobook or physical reads.

Welcome to the Family by Kate Gray

by Bookworm&TheatreMouse

What is it about Italy that seems to make it the perfect setting for any book? This time, summer in Tuscany is the setting for a rather tense family-centred thriller by Kate Gray, and it is a book that I absolutley loved; in fact, it is safe to say that I could not put this book down. And, before I go any further, I need to say a massive thank you to Mountain Lion Press for sending me this proof copy because it is one of my most anticipated reads of the year. Kate Gray is an auto-buy author for me to this has been an extra special treat.

One hot summer, Rosie is invited to stay with her boyfriend’s family in their home in Tuscany. What should be a summer of rest and relaxation, turns into a summer of mystery and secrets. Is Theo’s family as picture-perfect as the setting would suggest? And why do all the locals seem to give them a wide berth, and treat them with suspicion?

As the hot summer days pass, more secrets seem to come to the surface. The historic murder of a British schoolgirl seems to be taking centre stage again, especially as another young local woman goes missing. Do the family know what happened to her? Or, are they just the victims of circumstances as the outsiders in the town?

Spoiler-free, this book is a brilliant read. It was a great bit of escapism during these rather cold and stormy days we have been having.

I enjoyed that the story is told from a number of different points of view. This adds to the mystery and tension as you are considering who is the unreliable narrator, or how different characters view moments in the tale. It really has you playing armchair detective.

I think the biggest endorsement I can give this book is that it kept me up past my bedtime. I had to keep reading as I reached the conclusion of the book to find out exactly what was going to happen, and if justice was going to be served.

So, publishing in April, I would absolutely be adding this to your wishlist, because it is a thrilling read in a stunning setting.

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).