Book Review: None of This is True by Lisa Jewell

Title: None of This is True

Author: Lisa Jewell

Series/Standalone: Standalone

Genre: Adult Fiction, Thriller, Mystery

Pages: 390

Publisher: Atria Books

Year Published: 2023

Format: Audiobook

"Celebrating her forty-fifth birthday at her local pub, popular podcaster Alix Summers crosses paths with an unassuming woman called Josie Fair. Josie, it turns out, is also celebrating her forty-fifth birthday. They are, in fact, birthday twins. 

A few days later, Alix and Josie bump into each other again, this time outside Alix's children's school. Josie has been listening to Alix's podcast and thinks she might be an interesting subject for her series. She is, she tells Alix, on the cusp of great changes in her life.

Josie's life appears to be strange and complicated, and although Alix finds her unsettling, she can't resist the temptation to keep making the podcast. Slowly, she starts to realise that Josie has been hiding some very dark secrets, and before she knows it, Josie has inveigled her way into Alix's life- and into her home.

But, as quickly as she arrived, Josie disappears. Only then does Alix discover that Josie has left a terrible and terrifying legacy in her wake, and that Alix has become the subject of her own true crime podcast, with her life and her family's lives under mortal threat.

Who is Josie Fair? And what has she done?"

My Rating: 5/5

It's been a long time since I finished an audiobook so quickly. I often listen to audiobooks when I'm driving or doing chores, but I was finding more chores to do to keep reading this book. The twists, the turns, the podcast elements. The time jumps, different perspectives. All of it was doing exactly what I wanted. I loved this. I cannot recommend the audiobook enough.

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: Flawless by Sara Shephard

Title: Flawless

Author: Sara Shepard

Series/Standalone: Pretty Little Liars Series (Book #2)

Genre: Young Adult, Thriller, TV tie-in

Pages: 330

Publisher: HarperCollins

Year Published: 2007

Format: Audiobook (Own it)

"In the exclusive town of Rosewood, Pennsylvania, where the sweetest smiles hide the darkest secrets, four pretty little liars- Spencer, Aria, Emily and Hanna- have been very bad girls...

Spencer stole her sister's boyfriend. Aria is brokenhearted over her English teacher. Emily likes her new friend Maya... as much more than a friend. And Hanna's obsession with looking flawless is literally making her sick. But the most horrible secret of all is something so scandalous it could destroy their perfect little lives.

And someone named "A" is threatening to do just that.

At first they thought A was Alison, their friend who vanished three years ago... but then Alison turned up dead. So could A be Melissa, Spencer's ultracomptetive sister? Or Maya, who wants Emily all to herself? What about Toby, the mysterious guy who left town right after Alison went missing?

One thing's for certain: A's got the dirt to bury them all alive, and with every crumpled note, wicked IM, and vindictive text message A sends, the girls get a little closer to losing it all."

My Rating: 3/5

This series is so wild. Definitely a symbol of the time. It is entertaining, but it's not something I think that I'll remember long-term. I've enjoyed listening to the audiobook, and I can't wait to see more. I'm curious where the author takes us, and how the different factors will come to play.

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: The Outliers by Kimberly McCreight

Title: The Outliers

Author: Kimberly McCreight

Series/Standalone: The Outliers Series

Genre: Young Adult, Mystery, Thriller 

Pages: 336

Publisher: HarperCollins

Year Published: 2016

Format: Hardcover (Own It)

"It all starts with a text: Please, Wylie, I need your help.

Wylie hasn't heard from Cassie in over a week, not since their last fight. But that doesn't matter. Cassie's in trouble, so Wylie  decides to do what she has done so many times before: save her best friend from herself.

This time it's different, though. Instead of telling Wylie where she is, Cassie sends cryptic clues. And instead of having Wylie come by herself, Jasper shows up saying Cassie sent him to help. Trusting the guy who sent Cassie off the rails doesn't feel right, but Wylie has no choice: she has to ignore her gut instinct and go with him.

But figuring out where Cassie is goes from difficult to dangerous, fast. As Wylie and Jasper heard farther and farther north into the dense woods of Maine. Wylie struggles to control her growing sense that something is really wrong. What isn't Cassie telling them? And could finding her be only the beginning?"

My Rating: 2/5

I knew nothing about this book going in (a trend, I know) and it was odd. THe beginning I was hooked, the middle I was a little bored, and the end I was just left wondering what the hell I had read. Not necessarily in a good way. I think that this book in many ways reminded me of Maximum Ride mixed with mystery and a tinge of thriller. Needless to say, not for me and I won't be continuing with the series. 

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: The Only Survivors by Megan Miranda

Title: The Only Survivors

Author: Megan Miranda

Series/Standalone: Standalone

Genre: Thriller, Mystery, Adult Fiction

Pages: 339

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Year Published: 2023

Format: Audiobook

"A decade ago, two vans filled with high school seniors on a school service trip crashed into a Tennesse ravine- a tragedy that claimed the lives of multiple classmates and teachers. The nine students who managed to escape the river that night were irrevocably changed. A year later, after one of the survivors dies by suicide on the anniversary of the crash, the rest of them make a pact: to come together each year to commemorate that terrible night.

To keep one another safe.

To hold one another accountable.

Or both.

Their annual meeting place, a house on the Outer Banks, has long been a refuge. But by the tenth anniversary, Cassidy Bent has worked to distance herself from the tragedy and from the other survivors. She's changed her mobile number. She's blocked the others' email addresses. This year, she is determined to finally break ties once and for all. But on the day of the reunion, she receives a text with an obituary attached: another survivor is gone. Now they are seven- and Cassidy finds herself hurling back toward the group, wild with grief- and suspicion.

Almost immediately, something feels off this year. Cassidy is the first to notice when Amaya, the annual organizer, slips away, overwhelmed. This wouldn't raise alarm except for the impending storm. Suddenly, they're facing the threat of closed roads and surging waters... again. Then Amaya stops responding to her phone. After all they've been through, she wouldn't willfully make them worry. Would she?

And- as they promised long ago- each survivor will do whatever he or she can do to save one another. Won't they?"

My Rating: 5/5

Right after I thought to myself that maybe this author's writing wasn't for me, I picked up this one and I LOVE it! Megan Miranda's ability to write a creepy and unsettling environment is really unmatched by any other author I've read in this genre. It's always the part that ties me in. And this one had the twists and turns to match! It kept me on my toes, it made sense by the end but the differing p.o.v.s, the plot and just the building sense of unease that is worked on throughout the books is what made it a five star for me! Would highly recommend!

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: The Last Housewife by Ashley Winstead

Title: The Last Housewife

Author: Ashley Winstead

Series/Standalone: Standalone

Genre: Thriller, Mystery, Fiction, Adult

Pages: 385

Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark

Year Published: 2022

Format: Audiobook (Own Paperback Copy)

"From the author of the acclaimed In My Dreams I Hold a Knife comes a pitch-black thriller about a woman determined to destroy a powerful cult and avenge the deaths of the women taken in by it, no matter the cost.

While in college in upstate New York, Shay Evans and her best friends met a captivating man who seduced them with a web of lies about the way the world works, bringing them under his thrall. By senior year, Shay and her friend Laurel were the only ones who managed to escape. Now, eight years later, Shay's built a new life in a tiny Texas suburb. But when she hears the horrifying news of Laurel's death- delivered, of all ways, by her favorite true-crime podcast crusader- she begins to suspect that the past she ]thought she buried is still very much alive, and the predators more dangerous than ever.

Recruiting the help of the podcast host, Shay goes back to the place she vowed never to return to in search of answers. As she follows the threads of her friend's life, she's pulled into a dark, seductive world, where wealth and privilege shield brutal philosophies that feel all too familiar. When Shay's obsession with uncovering the truth becomes also consuming she can no longer separate her desire for justice from darker desires newly reawakened, she must confront the depths of her own complicity and conditioning. But in a world built for men to rule it- both inside the cult and outside of it- is justice even possible, and if so, how far will Shay go to get it?"

My Rating: 5/5

This was such a great audiobook! I would highly recommend the audiobook if you're interested in the content matter as it helps the podcast feel alive. This book contained a lot of subject matter that I find interesting. Interesting in the way i find true crime interesting. I know that it's probably not a healthy thing to be curious about but it's just one of those things for me. I am always curious about how cults start, how they end up where they do and what makes people start them or even join them along the way. This delivered on the mystery aspect of these ideas and the use of a podcast to link it together was perfect! I would highly recommend it!

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: Daisy Darker by Alice Feeney

Title: Daisy Darker

Author: Alice Feeney

Series/Standalone: Standalone

Genre: Thriller, Adult, Fiction

Pages: 338

Publisher: Flatiron Books

Year Published: 2022

Format: Audiobook

"After years of avoiding each other, Daisy Darker's entire family is assembling for Nana's 80th birthday party in Nana's crumbling gothic house on a tiny tidal island. Finally back together one last time, when the tide comes in, they will be cut off from the rest of the world for eight hours.

The family arrives, each of them harbouring secrets. Then at the stroke of midnight, as a storm rages, Nana is found dead. And an hour later, the next family member follows....

Trapped on an island where someone is killing them one by one, the Darkers must reckon with their present mystery as well as their past secrets, before the tide comes in and all is revealed."

My Rating: 4.5/5

I was thoroughly impressed with this thriller. I think if you haven't read many classic thrillers/mysteries this is a great read, but if you've read what it is based on it may hinder your enjoyment. The twists and turns were impressive, it was unsettling in the best possible way and the pacing was excellent. Did I see through some of the twists and turns? Yes but honestly, not as many as I thought I did and it kept me guessing until the end. I would highly recommend and will be picking up more work from the author.

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: They Never Learn by Layne Fargo

Title: They Never Learn

Author: Layne Fargo

Series/Standalone: Standalone

Genre: Thriller, Adult Fiction

Pages: 378

Publisher: Scout Press

Year Published: 2020

Format: Audiobook

"Scarlett Clark is an exceptional English professor. But she's even better at getting away with murder.

Every year, she searches for the worst man at Gorman University and plots his well-deserved demise. Thanks to her meticulous planning, she's avoided drawing attention to herself- but as she's preparing for her biggest kill yet, the school starts probing into the growing body count on campus. Determined to keep her enemies close, Scarlett insinuates herself into the investigation and charms the woman in charge, Dr. Mina Pierce. Everything's going according to her master plan- until she loses control with her latest victim, putting her secret life at risk of exposure.

Meanwhile, Gorman student Carly Schiller is just trying to survive her freshman year. Finally free of her emotionally abusive father, all Carly wants is to focus on her studies and fade into the background. Her new roommate has other ideas. Allison Hadley is cool and confident- everything Carly wishes she could be- and the two girls quickly form an intense friendship. So when Allison is sexually assaulted at a party. Carly becomes obsessed with making the attacker pay... and turning her fantasies about revenge into a reality."

My Rating: 4.75/5

I really enjoyed this book. It gave Dexter vibes but as a woman vigilante, I was into it. I liked the concept. The writing was unsettling and the audiobook was well narrated. The characters were dynamic, and the subject matter that surrounds rape culture was unfortunately too familiar but when written out in this way it's enough to make you flinch back with disgust at what people are willing to brush under the rug. What didn't line up for me in some senses was logic. The end felt a bit rushed for me but overall I appreciated the story.  I hope to read more from the author and I would strongly recommend it.

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: The Girl from Widow Hills by Megan Miranda

Title: The Girl from Widow Hills

Author: Megan Miranda

Series/Standalone: Standalone

Genre: Thriller, Fiction, Adult

Pages: 325

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Year Published: 2020

Format: Audiobook

"Everyone knows the story of 'the girl from Widow Hills.'

Arden Maynor was just a child when she was swept away while sleepwalking during a terrifying rainstorm and went missing for days. Strangers and friends, neighbors and rescue workers, set up search parties and held vigils, praying for her safe return. Against all odds, she was found, alive, clinging to a storm drain. The girl from Widow Hills was a living miracle. Arden's mother wrote a book. Fame followed. Fans and fan letters, creeps and stalkers. And every year, the anniversary. It all became too much. As soon as she was old enough, Arden changed her name and disappeared from the public eye. 

Now a young woman living hundreds of miles away, Arden goes by Olivia. She's managed to stay off the radar for the last few years. But with the twentieth anniversary of her rescue approaching, the media will inevitably renew its interest in Arden. Where is she now? Soon Olivia feels like she's being watched and begins sleepwalking again, like she did long ago, even walking outside her home. Until late one night she jolts awake in her yard. At her feet is the corpse of a man she knows- from her previous life, as Arden Maynor.

And now, the girl from Widow Hills is about to become the center of the story, once again, in the propulsive page-turner from suspense master Megan Miranda."

My Rating: 4/5

This had such an excellent atmosphere and that's what I'm finding as I read more and more of Megan Miranda's work. Her atmosphere is fantastic, the feelings of being spooked, unsure and frightened live on throughout the story. I would definitely recommend it for that reason. The characters were fine. The ending was excellent. I would strongly recommend this one out of the other books by the author I've read. Fun, exciting and the audiobook gave me spooky fall vibes. 

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: The Family Remains by Lisa Jewell

Title: The Family Remains

Author: Lisa Jewell

Series/Standalone: The Family Upstairs Duology (Book #2)

Genre: Thriller, Adult Fiction

Pages: 452

Publisher: Atria

Year Published: 2022 

Format: Audiobook

"Early one morning on the shore of the Thames, DCI Samuel Owusu is called to the scene of a gruesome discovery. When Owusu sends the evidence for examination, she learns the bones are connected to a cold case that left three people dead on the kitchen floor in a Chelsea mansion thirty years ago.

Rachel Rimmer has also received a shock- new that her husband, Michael, has been found dead in the cellar of his house in France. All signs point to an intruder, and the French police need her to come urgently to answer questions about Michael and his past that she very much doesn't want to answer.

After fleeing London thirty years ago in the wake of a horrific tragedy, Lucy Lamb is finally coming home. While she settles in with her children and is just about to purchase their first-ever house, her brother takes off to find the boy from their shared past whose memory haunts their present. 

As they all race to discover answers to these convoluted mysteries, they will come to find that they're connected in ways they could have never imagined."

My Rating: 2.5/5

This was fine, it was enjoyable. It was fast-paced. Was it necessary? I'm not sure about that. I think that the first book could have been a standalone and I wouldn't have been mad about that. I will read more from the author. It is very much a fun traditional thriller. 

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: Stay Awake by Megan Goldin

Title: Stay Awake

Author: Megan Goldin

Series/Standalone: Standalone

Genre: Adult Fiction, Thriller

Pages: 352

Publisher: St. Martin's Press

Year Published: 2022

Format: Audiobook

"Liv Reese wakes up in the back of a taxi with no idea where she is or how she got there. When she's dropped off at the door of her brownstone, a stranger answers- a stranger who now lives in her apartment and forces her out in the cold. She reaches for her phone to call for help, only to discover it's missing, and in its place is a bloodstained knife. That's when she sees that her hands are covered in black pen, scribbled messages like graffiti on her skin: STAY AWAKE.

Two years ago,  Liv was living with her best friend, dating a new man, and thriving as a successful writer for a trendy magazine. Now, she's lost and disoriented in a New York City that looks nothing like what she remembers. Catching a glimpse of the local news, she's horrified to see reports of a crime scene where the victim's blood has been used to scrawl a message across a window, the same message that's inked on her hands. What did she do last night?? And why does she remember nothing from the past two years? Liv finds herself on the run for a crime she doesn't remember nothing from the past two years? Liv finds herself on the run for a crime she doesn't remember committing as she tries to piece together the fragments of her life. But there's someone who does know exactly what she did, and they'll be anything to make her forget- permanently."

My Rating: 1.5/5

I had previously read a book by the author and really enjoyed it. So picking up this I thought I would also enjoy it, but it read like a basic cop show. While I was curious where it was going, i was hoping for a wild twist, but it went in a way where I shrugged and just said it made sense. Finishing the book I don't know if I felt anything profound. It was fine, but I wanted so much more. I would give this author one more shot. 

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: The Good Girl by Mary Kubica

Title: The Good Girl

Author: Mary Kubica

Series/Standalone: Standalone

Genre: Thriller, Adult Fiction

Pages: 352

Publisher: MIRA

Year Published: 2014

Format: Audiobook 

"I've been following her for the past few days. I know where she buys her groceries, where she works. I don't know the color of her eyes or what they look like when she's scared. But I will. 

One night, Mia Dennett enters a bar to meet her on-again, off-again boyfriend. But when he doesn't show, she unwisely leaves with an enigmatic stranger. At first Colin Thatcher seems like a safe one-night stand. But following Colin home will turn out to be the worst mistake of Mia's life.

When Colin decides to hide Mia in a secluded cabin in rural Minnesota instead of delivering her to his employers, Mia's mother, Eve, and detective Gabe Hoffman will stop at nothing to find them. But no one could have predicted the emotional entanglements that eventually cause this family's world to shatter."

My Rating: 2/5

I have read quite a few books from Mary Kubica at this point and they either really hit for me or miss. This one was a miss. It wasn't what I wanted to read about, but I also think that this might be her debut. So it makes sense that her work has grown from here. I plan on continuing to read her work, mostly on audio. Her audiobooks are some of my favorite to listen to.

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: Pretty Little Liars by Sara Shepard

Title: Pretty Little Liars

Author: Sara Shepard

Series/Standalone: Pretty Little Liars Series (Book #1)

Genre: Young Adult, Thriller, Mystery

Pages: 286

Publisher: HarperTeen

Year Published: 2006

Format: Paperback Copy

First Line: "Imagine it's a couple of years ago, the summer between seventh and eighth grade."

"EVERYONE HAS SOMETHING TO HIDE- ESPECIALLY HIGH SCHOOL JUNIORS SPENCER, ARIA, EMILY AND HANNA

Spencer covets her sister's boyfriend. Aria's fantasizing about her English teacher. Emily's crushing on the new girl at school. Hanna uses some ugly tricks to stay beautiful. But they've all kept an even bigger secret since their friend Alison vanished.

How do I know? Because I know everything about the bad girls they were, the naughty girls they are, and the dirty secrets they've kept. And guess what? I'm telling."

My Rating: 3/5

Before anyone asks, no I have never watched the show, so I don't know anything about this series and that's how I plan on keeping it as long as I'm reading this brain candy book. This book is deeply problematic, very early 2000s, and over the top. I flew through it because of the content, but I acknowledge that it isn't the best thing I've ever read. It's fun, and addicting. If you like rich people drama but want it crossed with an ABC and CW style show level of drama I would recommend it. Also, does anyone know how closely the TV show follows the books?

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell

Title: The Family Upstairs

Author: Lisa Jewell

Series/Standalone: The Family Upstairs Duology (Book #1)

Genre: Thriller, Adult Fiction, Mystery

Pages: 340

Publisher: Audiobook

Year Published: 2019

Format: Audiobook

"Soon after her twenty-fifth birthday, Libby Jones returns home from work to find the letter she's been waiting for her entire life. She rips it open with one driving thought: I am finally going to know who I am.

She soon learns not only the identity of her birth parents, but also that she is the sole inheritor of their abandoned mansion on the banks of the Thames in London's fashionable Chelsea neighborhood, worth millions. Everything in Libby's life is about to change. But what she can't possibly know is that others have been waiting for this day as well- and she is on a collision course to meet them.

Twenty-five years ago, police were called to 16 Cheyne Walk with reports of a baby crying. When they arrived, they found a healthy ten-month-old happily cooing in her crib in the bedroom. Downstairs in the kitchen lay three dead bodies, all dressed in black, next to a hastily scrawled note. And the four other children reported to live at Cheyne Walk were gone. 

The can't-look-away story of three entangled families living in a house with the darkest of secrets."

My Rating: 4.5/5

This was so close to a five stars for me. I always enjoy reading a book that has a culty style setting. It's something that I find very interesting to read about. The author does a wonderful job of writing an atmospheric telling of both the past and the present. I enjoyed the different p.o.v.s but I thought that the ending wrapped up a little too neatly for a thriller/mystery. I do plan on reading the second book, but I'm not sure how the author is going to draw out the thrilling aspect even more.

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: Emma in the Night by Wendy Walker

Title: Emma in the Night

Author: Wendy Walker

Series/Standalone: Standalone

Genre: Thriller, Adult Fiction

Pages: 308

Publisher: St. Martin's Press

Year Published: 2017

Format: Paperback Copy (Own It)

First Line: "We believe what we want to believe."

"From the bestselling author of All is Not Forgotten comes a thriller about two missing sisters, a twisted family, and what happens when one girl comes back....

One night three years ago, the Tanner sisters disappeared: fifteen-year-old Cass and seventeen-year-old Emma. Three years later, Cass returns, without her sister Emma. her story is one of kidnapping and betrayal, of a mysterious island where the two were held. But to forensic psychiatrist Dr. Abby Winter, something doesn't add up. looking deep within this dysfunctional family Dr. Winter uncovers a life where boundaries were violated and a narcissistic parent held sway. And where one sister's return might be the beginning of the crime."

My Rating: 2/5

I have had this book on my TBR for so long that I think I imagined that I knew what this was about. So it's not the book's fault that it didn't follow the plot I thought it would This is very much a domestic thriller. I think that the use of dual P.O.Vs helped to build the anticipation, but it did go in the direction I thought it might be going. There were a few surprises along the way, but not enough to shock me the way I thought it would. I would recommend if you're into domestic thrillers and psycho thrillers. 

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: Rock Paper Scissors by Alice Feeney

Title: Rock Paper Scissors

Author: Alice Feeney

Series/Standalone: Standalone

Genre: Adult Fiction, Thriller

Pages: 294

Publisher: Flatiron Books

Year Published:2021

Format: Audiobook

"Think you know the person you married? Think again?

Things have been wrong with Mr. and Mrs. Wright for a long time. When Adam and Amelia win a weekend away in Scotland, it might be just what their marriage needs. Self-confessed workaholic and screenwriter Adam Wright has lived with face blindness his whole life. He can't recognize friends or family, or even his own wife.

Every anniversary the couple exchange traditional gifts- paper, cotton, pottery, tin and each year Adam's wife writes him a letter that she never lets him read. Until now. They both know this weekend will make or break their marriage, but they didn't randomly win this trip. One of them is lying, and someone doesn't want them to live happily ever after.

Ten years of marriage. Ten years of secrets and an anniversary they will never forget."

My Rating: 4/5

This wasn't what I thought it was going to be at all but I'm kind of glad for that. I ended up listening to the audiobook in one sitting (road trip anyone?) and it kept me hooked. I didn't feel the need to skip off it, but when we did get to the end I did kind of feel let down. There were still bits and pieces that surprised me and the atmosphere was excellently written. The atmosphere felt very similar to the shining to me so if that's something that interests you I would recommend it. I do hope to read more from the author, any recommendations of what to pick up next?

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: The Other Mrs. by Mary Kubica

Title: The Other Mrs.

Author: Mary Kubica

Series/Standalone: Standalone

Genre: Thriller, Adult Fiction

Pages: 416

Publisher: HarperCollins

Year Published: 2020

Format: Audiobook

"Sadie and Will Foust have only just moved their family from bustling Chicago to small-town Maine when their neighbour, Morgan Baines, is found dead in her home. The murder rocks their tiny coastal island, but no one is more shaken than Sadie, who is terrified by the thought of a killer in her very own backyard.

But it's not just Morgan's death that has Sadie on edge. It's their eerie old home, with its decrepit decor and creepy attic, which they inherited from Will's sister after she died unexpectedly. It's Will's disturbed teenage niece Imogen, with her dark and threatening presence. And it' the troubling past that continues to wear at the seams of their family.

As the eyes of suspicion turn toward the new family in town, Sadie is drawn deeper into the mystery of Morgan's death. But Sadie must be careful, for the more she discovers about Mrs. Baines, the more she begins to realize just how much she has to lose if the truth ever comes to light."

My Rating: 5/5

This thriller had me gawking by the end of the story. The way the author writes such a creepy and uncomfortable atmosphere is perfection. The audiobook kept me on my toes and kept me wanting more. Throughout the story, I did fall for different twists and turns and when we got to the end I was impressed by the author's ability to leave breadcrumbs throughout. I would recommend reading more by the author and I plan to read as much of her backlist as I can get my hands on.

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: Local Woman Missing by Mary Kubica

Title: Local Woman Missing

Author: Mary Kubica

Series/Standalone: Standalone

Genre: Thriller, Suspense, Adult Fiction

Pages: 378

Publisher: Harlequin 

Year Published: 2021

Format: Audiobook

"People don't just disappear without a trace....

Shelby Tebow is the first to go missing. Not long after, Meredith Dickey and her six-year-old daughter, Delilah, vanish just blocks away from where Shelby was last seen, striking fear into their once-peaceful community. Are these incidents connected? After an elusive search that yields more questions than answers, the case eventually goes cold.

Now, 11 years later, Delilah shockingly returns. Everyone wants to know what happened to her, but no one is prepared to what they'll find...

In this smart and chilling thriller, master of suspense and New York Times best-selling author Mary Kubica takes domestic secrets to a whole new level, showing that some people will stop at nothing to keep the truth buried."

My Rating: 5/5

It's been a while since I read a thriller that kept me at the edge of my seat and threw me in the deep end. I loved the way that this book was written. Just when I thought I knew where the plot was going something would be thrown in that would change the direction. I loved being shocked and surprised throughout. The atmosphere kept me on my toes and the time jumps kept the suspense alive.  I think the audiobook is a great way to read this book and I will be picking up more books by the author ASAP. 

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: I'm the Girl by Courtney Summers

Title: I'm The Girl

Author: Courtney Summers

Series/Standalone: Standalone

Genre: Young Adult, Thriller, Hard Hitting

Pages: 344

Publisher: Wednesday Books

Year Published: 2022

Format: Audiobook

"The new groundbreaking queer thriller from New York Times bestselling and Edgar-award Winning author Courtney Summers.

When sixteen-year-old Georgia Avis discovers the dead body of thirteen-year-old Ashley James, she teams up with Ashley's older sister, Nora, to find and bring the killer to justice before he strikes again. But their investigation throws Georgia into a world of unimaginable privilege and wealth, without conscience or consequence, and as Ashley's killer closes in, Georgia will discover when money, power and beauty rule, it might not be a matter of who is guilty- but who is guiltiest.

A spiritual successor to the 2018 breakout hit, Sadie, I'm the Girl is a masterfully written, bold and unflinching account of how one young woman feels in her body as she struggles to navigate a deadly and predatory power structure while asking readers one question: if this is the way the world is, do you accept it?"

My Rating: 4.5/5

This book came out at a key time. I've read a few works from the author and she challenges our society to explain why we seem so alright with atrocity after atrocity. This book contains a ton of trigger warnings so I would recommend that you look into those before picking it up. But this book reflects current events uncomfortably. Throughout the story, I couldn't help but feel disgusted with the way this mimics the world girls and women live in. I couldn't help but want the characters to scream out for help, but I realize that this is the reality for victims, people surrounding them see where the road is leading and either can't or won't help them. It was a great read, in the worst way. 

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: The Disappearing Act by Catherine Steadman

Title: The Disappearing Act

Author: Catherine Steadman

Series/Standalone: Standalone

Genre: Adult Fiction, Thriller

Pages: 320

Publisher: Ballantine Books

Year Published: 2021

Format: Audiobook

"A woman has gone missing

But did she ever really exist?

Mia Eliot has travelled from London to LA for pilot season. This is her big chance to make it as an actor in Hollywood, and she is ready to do whatever it takes. At an audition she meets Emily, and what starts as a simple favour takes a dark turn when Emily goes missing and Mia is the last person to see her.

Then a woman turns up, claiming to be Emily, but she is nothing like Mia remembers. Why would someone pretend to be Emily? Starting to question her own sanity, she goes on a desperate and dangerous search for answers, knowing something is very, very wrong.

In an industry where everything is about creating illusions, how do you know what is real? And how much would you risk to find out?"

My Rating: 3/5

This was a fun thriller. I liked the idea of having a disappearance in the middle of Hollywood where nothing is as it seems. In a city with just a ton of people trying to make it and people who are desperate it does add to the creepy factor. I did love the different layers of media placed throughout. Enjoyable but overall I don't think that this will remain in my memory.

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: The Children on the Hill by Jennifer McMahon

Title: The Children on the Hill

Author: Jennifer McMahon

Series/Standalone: Standalone

Genre: Horror, Thriller, Adult

Pages: 338

Publisher: Gallery/Scout Press

Year Published: 2022

Format: Audiobook

"A genre-defying new novel, inspired by Mary Shelley's masterpiece Frankenstein, which brilliantly explores the eerie mysteries of childhood and the evils perpetrated by the monster among us.

1978: at her renowned treatment center in picturesque Vermont, the brilliant psychiatrist, Dr. Helen Hildreth, is acclaimed for her compassionate work with the mentally ill. But when she's home with her cherished grandchildren, Vi and Eric, she's just Gran- teaching them how to take care of their pets, preparing them home-cooked meals, providing them with care and attention and love.

Then one day Gran brings home a child to stay with the family. Iris- silent, hollow-eyed, skittish, and feral- does not behave like a normal girl.

Still, Violet is thrilled to have a new playmate. She and Eric invite Iris to join their Monster Club, where they catalogue all kinds of monsters and dream up ways to defeat them. Before long, iris begins to come out of her shell. She and Vi and Eric do everything together: ride their bicycles, go to the drive-in, meet at their clubhouse in secret to hunt monsters. Because, as Vi explains, monsters are everywhere.

2019: Lizzy Shelley, the host of the popular podcast Monsters Among Us, is traveling to Vermont, where a young girl has been abducted, and a monster sighting has the town in an uproar. She's determined to hunt it down, because Lizzy knows better than anyone that monsters are real- and one of them is her very own sister.

The Children on the Hill takes us on a breathless journey to fave the primal fears that lurk within us all."

My Rating: 4.5/5

This was such a great read, it wasn't too scary but also was thrilling and hard to put down. I loved the dual timelines and seeing where the story was taking us. The idea that it all takes place around a psychiatric ward in the 70s speaks so directly to the horror community and this storyline is gonna stick with me. These characters were so unique to other characters I've read and I can't wait to read more work from the author.

Thanks for reading,

Sidny