A Book A Week

Like clockwork, each summer Riley Sager releases a new standalone thriller. While he’s made his name with horror-tinged novels like Lock Every Door and Home Before Dark, he’s never been afraid to push into new territory. This year’s release, With a Vengeance, may be his boldest departure yet. Instead of haunted apartments or eerie estates, Sager gives us a classic locked-room mystery in the style of Agatha Christie, set in the 1950s, aboard a train hurtling down the tracks, where a murder leaves every passenger a suspect. It’s a familiar setup, but one I couldn’t wait to see Sager twist into something of his own.

Anna Matheson has been seeking justice for her family ever since six individuals destroyed their lives back in 1942. Justice, of course, is never easily won. For twelve years, Anna has been carefully plotting her revenge, and tonight her plan finally comes into motion. She’s lured those responsible onto a luxury train bound from Philadelphia to Chicago, an overnight journey with no escape. Once trapped together, she believes they’ll have no choice but to confess, and when the train pulls into the station, the authorities will be waiting.

But the best-laid plans rarely hold. A murder aboard the train threatens to derail everything. Someone else is on board, and they're pursuing their own brand of revenge. The first victim is only the beginning. Suddenly, Anna finds herself in an unthinkable position protecting the very people she despises, all while racing to unmask a killer. After all, she can’t have her vengeance if her enemies die before they confess.

With a Vengeance feels like the most straightforward mystery Riley Sager has ever written, and I’m not entirely sure how I feel about that. I’ve come to expect original plots from him, filled with wild twists and at least a touch of the spooky or supernatural. While there are some clever reveals here, much of the story feels a bit too familiar. I also never fully connected with Anna as a main character. With nearly everyone else on the train painted as awful people, it was tough to root for anyone.

Maybe I’m being too picky. I do admire that Sager refuses to repeat himself, and with that approach, it makes sense that I’ll enjoy some of his books more than others. Taken on its own, With a Vengeance is a respectful homage to a bygone era of mystery writing. It didn’t thrill me in the same way some of his other novels have, but it’s still a perfectly fine, classic-feeling whodunit.

For more information, visit the author's website, Amazon, and Goodreads. 

(2025, 71)

How long do you give a book to win you over? For me, it’s usually within the first 50 pages. I can tell pretty quickly if I’m going to connect with a story, and if not, I’d rather move on. There are too many great books waiting to be read to waste time on something that doesn’t click. When I picked up Jennifer Hillier’s The Butcher, though, I didn’t need 50 pages. A coworker had recommended it, warning that it was dark, twisted, and impossible to put down. By the end of the first chapter, I knew exactly what they meant. I was hooked, and I tore through the rest of the novel in a single breathless rush.

The Beacon Hill Butcher terrorized Seattle for years, abducting and murdering young women with his signature brutality. That reign of terror ended in 1985, when Rufus Wedge—the alleged Butcher—was gunned down by police officer Edward Shank. Overnight, Shank became a hometown hero, celebrated for his bravery and eventually rising to the role of police chief before retiring decades later.

But that was a lifetime ago. Now in his eighties, widowed and slowing down, Edward is ready for one last transition. He's moving into a retirement community and passing his longtime home to his grandson, Matt. Matt Shank has gained local fame as the chef behind a fleet of popular food trucks and a hot new restaurant. Raised by his grandparents, he’s eager to settle back into the house that shaped him. But when backyard renovations uncover a buried, locked crate, Matt pries it open and finds a secret so dark it threatens to unravel not just his family’s legacy, but his entire life.

Jennifer Hillier wastes no time dragging readers into the twisted world of The Butcher. The very first chapter ends with a staggering revelation that reshapes everything you think this story will be. From there, the tension comes from watching the other characters circle around a secret we already know and wondering how long it will take before it all comes bubbling up to the surface.

Hillier doesn’t pull punches when it comes to grotesque violence or the disturbing realities of sexual assault. But she balances the horror with sharp pacing, ratcheting up suspense through a steady stream of reveals and flashbacks. Even though I guessed the final twist long before it landed, I still enjoyed watching it play out. The Butcher is a grim, twisted, and highly original thriller that kept me hooked straight through to the last page.

For more information, visit the author's website, Amazon, and Goodreads. 

(2025, 70)

Before succumbing to cancer in 2008, author Michael Crichton built a career on blending cutting-edge science with page-turning thrillers. It's a recipe that produced hit after hit. Many of his bestsellers, including Jurassic Park and its sequel The Lost World, went on to become blockbuster films. Crichton often grappled with the moral tension between scientific advancement and its potential cost to humanity, so it’s fitting that his work continues to spark conversation even after his death. The latest posthumous release comes in collaboration with James Patterson, the world’s bestselling author, who completed Crichton’s unfinished manuscript for Eruption. The result is a novel that feels true to both authors’ sensibilities.

It’s no secret that Hawaii’s islands are the remnants of volcanic eruptions. As director of the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, John “Mac” MacGregor has dedicated his life to studying and learning from volcanoes. So when he hears a deep rumbling and feels the beach tremble, he knows exactly what it means. The long-dormant volcano on Hawaii’s Big Island has roared back to life. And this time, its impact will be felt far beyond the shoreline.

Mac springs into action as rivers of fire race toward towns, threatening to wipe entire communities off the map. The eruption is unlike anything scientists have ever recorded. It's violent, unpredictable, and catastrophic, but that’s only the beginning. Beneath the island lies a deadly secret, buried for decades under the guise of national security. The molten earth threatens to expose it for all to see. Mac and his team find themselves caught in a desperate race against nature, politics, and human folly. The fate of humanity hangs in the balance.

Eruption is exactly what I’ve come to expect from a Michael Crichton and James Patterson novel. Their styles blend seamlessly—Crichton’s compelling scientific setup and speculative edge merging with Patterson’s breakneck pacing and punchy short chapters—to create a story that hooks from the very first page. Is it the best novel I’ve ever read? No. It plays out like an old-school action movie, and many of the beats feel familiar. But the formula works for a reason, and it works here. Eruption delivers classic action-thriller excitement, grounded just enough in science to make even its wildest moments believable. It’s fast, fun, and exactly the kind of escapist page-turner I look for in a summer read.

For more information, visit Crichton's website, Patterson's website, Amazon, and Goodreads.

(2025, 66)

Sarah Pekkanen has carved out quite the niche for herself, reliably releasing a new standalone popcorn thriller each August. I first discovered her writing through the twisty novels she co-authored with Greer Hendricks and have since enjoyed her solo efforts like Gone Tonight and House of Glass. So when her publisher offered me an early copy of her latest, The Locked Ward, I didn’t hesitate to dive in. Could it deliver the same high-stakes suspense I've come to expect from her?

Imagine going thirty years without knowing you had a twin. That’s the shocking reality Amanda (Mandy) faces when she discovers her biological sister was secretly adopted by another family shortly after birth. Even more shocking? Her twin is Georgia Cartwright, the adopted daughter of a wealthy southern family, now infamous for committing the so-called “Crime of the Decade." She's accused of murdering her adoptive sister, the Cartwrights’ only biological child. Georgia now sits catatonic in a locked psychiatric ward, awaiting trial.

Despite her doubts, Mandy visits the ward. She doesn't expect to get much from Georgia, but to her surprise, her sister manages to whisper a chilling plea, “I didn’t do it. You’ve got to get me out of here.” Mandy doesn’t trust her, but she also can’t abandon someone who shares her face to a place that feels more cursed than clinical. As she digs deeper, Mandy is left with more questions than answers. Is Georgia truly innocent, or is she drawing upon her sister's goodwill to lead her down a path of betrayal?

Every thriller requires a bit of suspension of disbelief. It comes with the territory, and the best authors make you forget the logic gaps and just enjoy the ride. Sarah Pekkanen is usually one of those authors for me. Unfortunately, that isn't the case with The Locked Ward. The setup is undeniably compelling. There's a long-lost twin, a murder accusation, and a psychiatric ward shrouded in mystery. I was hooked from the start. But as the story unfolded, it veered too far into implausibility. Georgia is supposedly locked away in a catatonic state, yet she somehow manages to communicate clearly with both her lawyers and Mandy. Even if she’s faking it (spoiler: she is), it’s hard to believe the entire facility would fall for the act. That disconnect pulled me out of the story more than once.

There are still moments of gripping tension, particularly in the scenes set within the ward, but the story spends far too little time there. Instead, it leans heavily on family drama and twisty reveals that don’t quite stick the landing. For the first time, I found myself underwhelmed by a Sarah Pekkanen novel. That said, her strong track record still has me looking forward to her next release. Just enter The Locked Ward with your expectations in check and a healthy willingness to suspend your disbelief.

For more information, visit the author's website, Amazon, and Goodreads. 

(2025, 62)

From the outside, Sarah and Adam appear to have a perfect marriage. She’s a high-powered attorney in D.C. with an unbroken winning streak. He’s a published novelist working on his next book from their quiet lake house. Together, they look like a golden couple. But appearances can be deceiving.

Behind closed doors, Adam is unraveling. He's grown resentful of Sarah’s meteoric rise and bitter over his own creative failures. While she racks up victories in court, he sinks deeper into self-pity and distraction… including an affair with Kelly Summers, the wife of an abusive cop. Just as Adam prepares to leave Sarah and start over with Kelly, everything falls apart. Kelly’s body is found at the lake house, where Adam last saw her, and he’s arrested for her murder.

Despite the betrayal, Sarah agrees to represent him in court. She took a vow after all. She knows Adam is a liar. She knows he’s a cheater. But is he capable of murder?

The Perfect Marriage by Jeneva Rose has been on my TBR list for years, and I finally picked it up thanks to it being my book club’s July selection. I can’t believe I waited this long! Rose delivers a fast-paced psychological thriller full of shifting perspectives, layered motivations, and a twist I truly didn’t see coming. Sure, some suspension of disbelief is required—par for the course in this genre—but I devoured it in one sitting and had a blast. Now I’m itching to dive into the sequel that dropped earlier this year. If you're looking for a thriller that's easy to binge and packed with surprises, this one absolutely delivers.

For more information, visit the author's website, Amazon, and Goodreads. 

(2025, 61)

We’re taught to fear what waits in the dark. We flip on porch lights, clutch our keys a little tighter in empty parking lots, and leave a lamp glowing when we go out, anything to suggest there’s life inside. Logically, we know the dark isn’t dangerous in itself. But try convincing your brain of that. It’s a fear born early. We plug in nightlights, teach kids to be wary of what hides in the shadows, and for every false alarm, there’s just enough truth to keep the fear alive.

It’s in that charged space between logic and imagination that Daphne Woolsoncroft sets the stage for Night Watcher. She conjures a killer who moves within those shadows, lurking just out of sight, ready to strike. The result is a chilling, pulse-pounding read that plays perfectly on our most primal fears.

Nola has never escaped the shadow of that night. As a child, she came face-to-face with one of the most infamous serial killers to ever haunt the Pacific Northwest. Her babysitter, Mia, was murdered downstairs, while Nola was inexplicably spared. The killer wore a white stitched mask, and that image burned into her memory. Dubbed The Hiding Man, he vanished into the darkness and was never caught. For years, Nola lived with the fear he might return.

Now an adult, Nola has made a name for herself as the host of Night Watch, a late-night call-in radio show that delves into unsolved mysteries and conspiracy theories. She tells herself she’s moved on, but the security cameras dotting her property suggest otherwise. The feeling of being watched has never quite left, and lately, it’s grown stronger. When a disturbing call comes in during a live show, from a woman whispering about an intruder in her home, Nola’s blood runs cold. The voice on the other end describes a man wearing a white stitched mask. After all these years, The Hiding Man is back. And this time, he's coming for her.

Night Watcher sees Daphne Woolsoncroft prey on our fear of darkness and the unknown in the best, most skin-crawling way possible. I was immediately creeped out by The Hiding Man, and Woolsoncroft expertly threads that fear through a tense, fast-paced narrative. Shifting perspectives offer a layered look at the hunt—or lack thereof, depending on the POV—for the killer. Inspired by the unsolved murder of her own aunt, Woolsoncroft channels real grief and paranoia into the novel, and it shows.

Even when the pacing slowed briefly, I was too hooked to care. Everything builds toward a pulse-pounding conclusion that left my heart racing more than any thriller I’ve read this year. Night Watcher is a winner. It's smart, scary, and downright impossible to put down.

For more information, visit Amazon and Goodreads. 

(2025, 60)

What would you do if your entire world crumbled around you?

Adele never expected her husband to vanish without a word. Only after he disappeared did she learn the truth. He’d been embezzling from his company and was now a fugitive, leaving Adele behind with two kids, no money, and a mountain of questions. With Violet and Blake depending on her, Adele did what any mother would—she kept going. She began posting about her life online, sharing fitness tips, budget-friendly recipes, and her experiences as a single mother. Slowly, she built a following. It wasn’t enough to pay the bills yet, but with a bit of luck, maybe it could be.

That’s how she ends up on Falco Island, one of several influencers invited to compete in a high-stakes game of hide and seek hosted by Maverick Dillan, a social media mogul known for his flashy contests, huge payouts, and questionable ethics. The prize money could change everything for Adele and her kids, but she’s unaware of the dark rumors swirling around Maverick’s last event, the one where a contestant vanished without a trace. What begins as a quirky competition for fame and fortune quickly spirals into something far more dangerous. And as Adele soon learns, not everyone came to the island to play fair.

I first encountered Lisa Unger’s writing through her holiday-themed novella Christmas Presents, a story that showcased her knack for clever plots, affable characters, and tantalizing twists. With Close Your Eyes and Count to Ten, Unger cranks that formula up to eleven. Adele is the emotional anchor of the story, but Unger enriches the narrative by alternating perspectives—jumping between Adele, her two children, Maverick, and his business partner and lover. The result is a propulsive, layered thriller where we see motivations and revelations unfold in real time, often before the characters themselves do.

Though I spotted a few twists ahead of time, Unger still surprised me with the direction she took things. The thrills come fast, but they’re grounded in emotional nuance—especially around themes of parenthood, identity, and navigating a life shaped by social media. It’s a summer read that packs a punch. Close Your Eyes and Count to 10 is entertaining, fast-paced, and full of unexpected heart. It's a rollicking good time.

For more information, visit the author's website, Amazon, and Goodreads. 

(2025, 58)

Summer is in full swing, and no summer day is complete without spending some time by your favorite body of water and reading a good book. Oceans, rivers, lakes, pools—whatever you choose, there's nothing better than a peaceful setting where the only thing you have to do is turn the next page. Jaime Day has built a career writing domestic thrillers that blend humor and relatability with darker twists and turns. It's a formula that has already supported two books and is also the foundation of his newest novel, The Lake Escape. After having enjoyed the over-the-top approach to their last book, One Big Happy Family, I happily accepted a copy of this latest from the publisher.

Every summer, Julia, David, and Erika return to their Vermont lake homes. It was once the backdrop of sun-soaked childhood memories, but now it’s a place of aging bodies, restless teenagers, and marriages stuck on autopilot. This year, things feel different. David shows up with a much-younger girlfriend, a perfectly polished nanny, and a smug attitude about his newly renovated lake house—a house that now blocks the lake view his friends once cherished. And then the girlfriend vanishes. At first, there are only whispers of suspicion, but it’s not long before paranoia sets in. The lake already has a shadowed past—two young women went missing there three decades ago—and the weight of those unresolved tragedies lingers just below the surface. As secrets unravel and loyalties are tested, Julia and Erika are forced to question how well they ever knew David... or each other.

The Lake Escape is another twisty, sun-drenched thriller from Jaime Day, filled with juicy drama, tangled secrets, and a rotating cast of unreliable characters. Like their previous book, it doesn't aim for subtlety or deep character exploration. Instead, it leans hard into thriller tropes and soapy reveals. And honestly? That’s part of the fun. It’s the kind of book you fly through in a couple of sittings, pulled along by the suspense, the messiness, and the summer setting. It may not linger long after you’ve finished, but while you’re in it, it delivers exactly what you came for. It's a fast, fun escape.

For more information, visit Amazon and Goodreads. 

(2025, 57)

I first discovered Lisa Scottoline’s writing with her 2019 novel Someone Knows, a suburban thriller rich with emotion and deeply drawn characters. I remember enjoying it, but for whatever reason, I never picked up another of her books—until now. When her publisher graciously shared a copy of her latest, The Unraveling of Julia, I jumped at the chance to dive back in. Based on my prior experience, I expected another grounded character study woven into a twisty thriller. What I got instead was something altogether different.

If anyone had reason to believe in curses, it’s Julia. Her life has been one tragedy after another—first the loss of her adoptive parents, then the violent murder of her husband, which she witnessed in horror. Since that terrible day, Julia has blamed herself. After all, her horoscope practically foretold his death. If she’d only paid attention, maybe she could have prevented it. Instead, she let fate take its course, and now she’s trapped in what feels like a cursed life.

But everything changes when a mysterious letter arrives. Julia has been named the sole heir to a villa and vineyard in Tuscany, left to her by a woman she’s never heard of, Emilia Rossi. Having never searched for her birth parents, Julia wonders if Rossi could be a relative. With nothing tying her down, she heads to Italy in search of answers.

In Tuscany, Julia finds more than just a crumbling villa. She uncovers eerie parallels between herself, the reclusive Emilia Rossi, and a legendary Renaissance duchess obsessed with astrology. As unsettling events unfold and danger creeps closer, Julia must confront the truth about her identity and whether fate is guiding her... or hunting her.

I went into The Unraveling of Julia expecting a grounded, character-driven thriller. What I got instead was a wild ride of shifting fortunes, psychological suspense, and over-the-top twists. That’s not a complaint. It just wasn’t what I expected. Scottoline clearly has fun with this story, unraveling her heroine both mentally and literally in ways that blur the line between the supernatural and the real. Not every plot thread lands, but that didn’t stop me from racing through the pages. There’s something refreshing about a book that doesn’t take itself too seriously. It’s different, yes, but it’s also a whole lot of fun.

For more information, visit the author's website, Amazon, and Goodreads. 

(2025, 56)

Summer is in full swing, and this is the time of year when I find myself craving fast-paced page-turners—books that hook me from the very first page and don’t let go. While my definition of a perfect summer read has evolved over the years, sharp, punchy thrillers remain my seasonal go-to. Enter Girl in the Creek, the latest novel by Wendy N. Wagner. A horror-tinged mystery with an arresting cover that instantly caught my eye, it had a premise I couldn’t resist. The moment I read the synopsis, I knew I had to dive in.

Erin Harper has arrived in Faraday, Oregon, under false pretenses. She’s pitched a travel piece to a magazine, claiming the small mountain town is the next must-see vacation destination. In truth, Faraday is anything but. Nestled in the shadow of Mt. Hood, it's a fading community anchored by a decaying hotel overtaken by fungus and rot, a far cry from the charming getaway it once was. Erin’s real reason for coming is personal. Her brother disappeared here, and she’s determined to find out what happened.

Erin's brother isn't the first person to vanish. People go missing here. Always in the woods. Always without a trace. Erin thinks she might finally get answers when another young woman vanishes and later turns up dead in a creek. But the relief is short-lived. The girl disappears again—this time from the morgue—and her fingerprints resurface days later at a violent crime scene. Is it a serial killer? A town-wide cover-up? Or is something darker taking root in the forest itself—something ancient, infectious, and impossible to contain? Erin’s running out of time. If she doesn’t solve the mystery soon, she may become the next to disappear.

Girl in the Creek sees Wendy N. Wagner blend classic mystery elements with eco/body horror in an atmospheric page-turner that hooked me from the start. There’s something irresistible about a quiet small town hiding secrets, and Wagner taps into that unease with sharp prose and a breakneck pace. The story unfolds through alternating perspectives, keeping the tension high throughout.

The cast is fairly large, but the real focus is on Erin, whose character is the most fully developed. The others serve more as background players, which isn’t necessarily a flaw, but it does mean the emotional stakes stay closely tied to Erin's journey. One of the most imaginative points of view comes from a mysterious entity Wagner calls 'The Strangeness'—a force that’s as eerie as it is original. I’d love to say more, but to do so would spoil the fun. Suffice it to say, Girl in the Creek is a quick, creepy, and satisfying summer read that kept me glued to every page.

For more information, visit the author's website, Amazon, and Goodreads. 

(2025, 55)

There's something wrong with Iðunn. At least, that’s what she thinks. How else can she explain the way she sleeps soundly every night, only to wake up exhausted, her body sore, aching, as if she’d spent hours working out? She would never. So, once again, Iðunn drags herself to another doctor’s appointment, desperate for answers, terrified of what those answers might be. ALS? That’s her guess. God, how awful. But at least it would be something.

Instead, the doctor finds nothing out of the ordinary. Her bloodwork looks fine. Her reflexes are fine. Everything is fine. She’s sent home with a prescription for sleeping pills and the usual suggestions to eat better, exercise more, and reduce stress.

Iðunn isn’t convinced. She’s seen plenty of doctors, and none of them have been able to give her a proper diagnosis. Still, she decides to humor this one and buys a smartwatch to start tracking her health. One night, she forgets to take it off before bed. The next morning, she checks it on a whim, and her stomach drops.

Thousands of steps. Walked in the middle of the night.

Sleepwalking? Maybe. But it’s rare in adults, especially without a history. Usually, it’s connected to something... worse. Iðunn doesn’t want to go there. Not yet. But the strange nightly journeys continue. The steps always seem to center around a single location somewhere near the harbor. She avoids it by day, too afraid to confront whatever might be waiting for her there.

And then come the injuries. Deep aches. Strange bruises. And one morning, something even worse.

Blood.
On her skin.
Not hers.

Something is happening.
And Iðunn is running out of time to figure out what it is.

A co-worker recently recommended I check out The Night Guest by Hildur Knútsdóttir, and after reading the blurb, I couldn’t wait to dive in. At under 200 pages, it’s a quick read, but don’t let that fool you. This book packs a serious punch.

Told entirely from Iðunn’s perspective, the story begins with what seems like run-of-the-mill hypochondria. But as the strange occurrences mount, it becomes clear that something far more unsettling is going on. We only know what Iðunn knows, and that isn’t much. Her fear and paranoia creep in slowly, then crash over you with every page. Knútsdóttir writes with urgency and precision, making it nearly impossible to put the book down. I read it in a single sitting, desperate to see how it would all play out.

My only complaint is with the ending. After such tightly wound tension and eerie buildup, the final pages lean more toward ambiguity than resolution. Because we only see through Iðunn’s limited lens, there’s not quite enough context to fully understand what’s really happening. It’s a bit of a letdown after such an intense lead-up.

Still, The Night Guest is a suspenseful, sharply written psychological thriller with plenty to admire. Knútsdóttir may not quite stick the landing, but the journey is more than worth it.

For more information, visit the author's website, Amazon, and Goodreads. 

(2025, 54)

I just finished reading The Housemaid Is Watching, the third book in Freida McFadden's addictive, page-turning series, and I was genuinely impressed by how natural and fresh the story expanded. That third installment was a hit for me, and it left me eager for more. To my surprise, I discovered there’s a short novella in the series—The Housemaid’s Wedding—a quick story meant to fill the gap between books two and three. Still riding high from Watching, I decided to dive in.

Millie is just four hours away from what’s supposed to be the happiest day of her life, her wedding to Enzo. It’s a day she’s dreamed about, though never truly believed would come, especially after everything the couple has endured. When Millie found herself pregnant, Enzo popped the question, and now a small, winter-themed ceremony is underway. But things are already starting to unravel. Her dress doesn’t fit, she’s running out of time, and then she gets a threatening phone call from an unknown number. It’s not just cold feet—someone doesn’t want her to walk down the aisle. Someone wants her dead.

After enjoying all three full-length novels in Freida McFadden’s Housemaid series, I have to admit this novella left me disappointed. The Housemaid’s Wedding struggles to justify its existence. There’s little suspense, barely any twists, and even the central mystery feels underdeveloped. I suppose you could read it for completion’s sake, but honestly, even that seems unnecessary. McFadden has wowed me up until this point, but this one just doesn’t work. If you’re looking for more thrills from the Housemaid universe, you’re better off skipping this one.

For more information, visit the author's website, Amazon, and Goodreads. 

(2025, 52)

The blistering heat of a Texas summer is officially upon us, and the only way I’ve learned to cope, short of staying inside, is to escape to the lake cabin. That’s precisely what I did this weekend, and it was a much-needed relief. Of course, no summer getaway is complete without a page-turning read, and I had the perfect book waiting to be devoured.

I first discovered Freida McFadden’s addictive writing late last year. Her blockbuster novel The Housemaid was everything I look for in a popcorn thriller, and its sequel delivered even more jaw-dropping twists. I’d been sitting on the third book in the series, The Housemaid Is Watching, for a while now, and this lake trip felt like the perfect moment to dive in.

Millie’s life is now much different from when we last saw her. In fact, she’s more reminiscent of the women she used to clean for than the maid she once was. She’s no longer scrubbing toilets. She’s earned her degree, works as a hospital social worker, and is now married to Enzo, the charming Italian landscaper who’s stood by her through more than one dark chapter. They have two kids, Ada and Nico, and are finally moving out of their cramped Bronx apartment into a bigger home on Long Island. It’s a stretch financially, but Millie is determined to make it work.

But trouble has a way of finding Millie, and this new neighborhood is no exception. Their next-door neighbor, Mrs. Lowell, is all smiles and fake sweetness, the kind of woman who can't stop bragging about her bigger house, her maid, her booming real estate career, and her child-free lifestyle. Millie doesn’t trust her for a second. Especially when Mrs. Lowell takes a little too much interest in Enzo. Still, Millie is trying to fit in, even if it means enduring fake friendships. So she accepts an invitation to dinner at the Lowells’. But the second the door opens and she sees their maid—expressionless, silent, eerie—Millie gets chills.

Then there’s the house across the street. Someone seems to be watching them. Flickers in the window. Unsettling stares. Enzo starts acting strange, claiming he’s trying to build his landscaping business and needs Mrs. Lowell’s help to network. But Millie isn’t convinced. And when she finally meets the reclusive woman who lives across the street, she’s greeted with a chilling warning: don’t trust the neighbors. Millie thought a fresh start would finally free her from the darkness that had haunted her past, but this new neighborhood might hold the darkest chapter yet.

With The Housemaid Is Watching, Freida McFadden proves once again why she’s the queen of the psychological thriller. This third installment isn’t just a retread of what’s come before. McFadden evolves her characters, places them in new and perilous situations, and manages to thrill in completely original ways. While returning readers will appreciate the callbacks and nuance, newcomers can jump in here without feeling lost. The story stands on its own, and the continuity mostly serves to reward longtime fans.

As with the previous books, I couldn’t put this one down. I read it in a single sitting, and I suspect you will too. McFadden writes with urgency. Her short chapters keep the pages flying, and she expertly drops breadcrumbs that pull you along until the very last twist. Every time I thought I had it figured out, she flipped the script. This is exactly the kind of addictive summer read I crave: fast, fun, and full of surprises.

For more information, visit the author's website, Amazon, and Goodreads. 

(2025, 51)

Are you in a book club? For as much as I read each year, you’d probably be surprised to hear that I’ve never had much luck with them. I’ve taken part in virtual discussions, read the same books as friends, but I’ve never officially joined a club. That changed recently when a co-worker invited me to take part in a new club they’d started. At first, I wasn’t sure I could commit to a monthly discussion, but then I learned the group would focus exclusively on thrillers. I was in. This month’s pick is What the Wife Knew by Darby Kane.

Addison’s marriage was brief and unexpected. Everyone who knew Dr. Richmond Daugherty was surprised when the renowned pediatric surgeon married the much younger Addison, his second wife. They were even more surprised when, just 97 days later, he died after a mysterious fall down the stairs, leaving his grieving young bride the sole beneficiary of his fortune. Suspicion immediately falls on Addison. After all, there had already been two suspicious “accidents” before this one. And if Addison’s being honest, she hadn’t married for love. No—she always intended to get revenge and take down this powerful man. His untimely death may have altered her plans, but she’s far from finished with the late doctor.

Then there’s Kathryn, Richmond’s first wife and the mother of his children. From the start, she suspects Addison’s involvement and leads the charge to convince authorities of her guilt. But are Kathryn’s motives as pure as they seem? What really caused her marriage to fall apart in the first place? As the layers of this tangled drama unfold, it becomes clear that no one here is innocent. Family, love, and revenge all collide in dangerous ways. Only one thing is certain. You won’t see the ending coming.

In What the Wife Knew, Darby Kane delivers a psychological thriller packed with twists, time jumps, and shifting perspectives. I’ll admit, when I first started listening to the audiobook, I found myself hitting rewind more than once just to keep track. Many of the key players are women with personal vendettas against the deceased Richmond Daugherty, and their voices can blur together, especially in audio format. I imagine the story would be easier to follow in print—something to keep in mind if you’re considering how to read it.

That said, the pacing is relentless. Kane keeps the reader intentionally off-balance, jumping from one scene to the next as she constructs a layered mystery that only clicks into place once the final piece is revealed. Each character operates with self-serving motives, and even the victim proves to be deeply unsympathetic. As a result, there’s no real moral center or character to root for, which, for me, brought the book down a notch.

Still, I’d be lying if I said the final quarter didn’t have me hooked. Revelation after revelation hits in rapid succession, and though the ending feels a little abrupt after all that buildup, it’s still an undeniably gripping ride. It may not be my favorite thriller of all time, but it’s certainly a fun, twisty one. I’m looking forward to unpacking it with my book club later this month.

For more information, visit the author's website, Amazon, and Goodreads. 

(2025, 48)

I’ve often preached the good word about author Stephen King, urging readers to look beyond his horror proclivities—most of which he hasn’t fully embraced in decades—to recognize that he is, quite simply, one of the best authors writing today. His prose flows effortlessly, his plots are consistently imaginative (even if he doesn’t always stick the landing), and above all, he creates characters that feel fully lived-in. While I do enjoy the eerie, often unsettling situations that form the backbones of many of King’s novels, it’s the characters who keep me coming back.

Among the most compelling of those characters is Holly Gibney. What began as a supporting role in the Bill Hodges trilogy has evolved into something much larger—she’s now appeared in two standalone novels, a novella, and she continues to grow in complexity with each new outing. Clearly, she’s taken up as much space in King’s imagination as she has in ours. With Never Flinch, King brings Holly back for another dark, gripping mystery, cementing her place as one of his most enduring protagonists.

Detective Izzy Jaynes is at her wits’ end with her latest case. It begins with the Buckeye City Police Department receiving a letter from a disturbed individual threatening to kill thirteen innocent people and one guilty person, retribution, they claim, for a jury that wrongfully convicted an innocent man. The threat turns all too real when a murder victim is found clutching the photo of a juror involved in that conviction. When a second body turns up under the same circumstances, Izzy knows she needs help, and fast. She turns to her friend Holly Gibney.

Holly, meanwhile, has her hands full. As the head of the private detective agency Finders Keepers, she’s juggling multiple cases while working to keep the business afloat. Her latest assignment is serving as bodyguard to Kate McKay, a controversial and outspoken women’s rights activist on a multi-city speaking tour. While McKay’s events draw passionate supporters, they also attract aggressive detractors—one of whom has begun actively targeting her. What starts as disruptions quickly escalates, and Holly is brought on to provide protection. The task is anything but easy. Kate is headstrong, and the stalker is growing bolder, driven by wrath and a dangerous sense of righteousness. With two intense cases demanding her attention, Holly must work quickly to untangle both before more lives are put at risk.

In Never Flinch, Stephen King puts his beloved hero Holly Gibney at the center of two intersecting mysteries. There's no supernatural twist this time. As with her previous outing, the real horror lies in the monstrous acts ordinary people are capable of. Both plotlines build toward a convergence that showcases King at his page-turning best. That said, I found myself wanting to enjoy this novel more than I actually did.

Part of the issue lies in the setup of the two central cases, both driven by timely but overtly political themes. The injustices of the court system and the attacks on women’s rights are undeniably relevant, especially in today's climate. I often agree with King’s views, but here the political messaging felt more forced than organic, unlike the seamless way he incorporated COVID into Holly. The themes themselves are worthy. It's their execution that feels heavy-handed.

Then there’s the handling of queer characters. There is one possibly transgender character and two gay characters who seem to exist mainly to serve tragic ends. The language used doesn’t always reflect contemporary understanding or nuance, either. While I know King is passionately progressive on many issues, his portrayal of queer characters continues to lag behind the care and depth he affords others.

These missteps might have been easier to overlook if the mystery had delivered more surprises. The story builds nicely and ends in a satisfying place, but it all feels too predictable. Never Flinch is a decent crime novel, but it doesn't reach the heights of the best entries in the Holly Gibney series or in King’s larger body of work. I enjoyed it, but I expected more.

For more information, visit the author's website, Amazon, and Goodreads. 

(2025, 46)

S.A. Cosby has quickly become one of my favorite authors. He writes dark, gritty crime novels rooted in the American South, stories populated by deeply flawed characters grappling with race, class, masculinity, and generational trauma. These are crime novels with teeth. Cosby’s voice is distinct, his perspective unflinching, and his storytelling electric. I first encountered his work with Razorblade Tears, a breakout novel that blew me away, and I’ve been a fan ever since. Now, with his latest release, King of Ashes, Cosby may have delivered his most complex, haunting story yet. It's a Southern noir epic with echoes of The Godfather, soaked in blood, betrayal, and moral reckoning. The book is relentless, gripping, and impossible to put down.

Roman Carruthers, the eldest of three grown siblings, has spent years avoiding his roots in the rundown town of Jefferson Run, Virginia. A successful financial advisor with a talent for turning big risks into bigger rewards, Roman has built a comfortable life far from the shadows of his past. But when his father is left comatose after a mysterious car crash, Roman returns home to help his fractured family pick up the pieces.

Waiting for him is his sister Naveah, who’s spent years holding things together, running the family business, Carruthers Crematorium, and managing their father's care. She’s also still chasing answers about their mother’s decades-old disappearance, though deep down, she suspects she already knows the truth. After all, as their father always said: “Everything burns.”

Then there’s Dante, the youngest Carruthers sibling, and a mess of grief and panic. At first, Roman assumes it’s all about their father. But soon, he learns Dante has gotten in deep with a dangerous drug crew, is heavily in debt, and is convinced the car crash wasn’t an accident. Roman, ever the fixer, tries to throw money at the problem. But he underestimates how dangerous real gangsters can be.

With few options left and time running out, Roman makes a deal. He’ll utilize his financial expertise to aid their illicit activities. He launders money, manipulates markets, anything to keep his family safe. But as the stakes rise, so do the secrets. And the gangsters are about to learn that Roman is far more dangerous than they imagined. Because when it comes to protecting his family, Roman isn’t afraid to get his hands dirty. Or bloody.

In King of Ashes, S.A. Cosby delivers an epic American crime novel that's gritty, emotionally rich, and bursting with raw, grounded characters. This is a story steeped in themes of family, love, loss, and the dark legacies we inherit. Roman is a prodigal son returning to the small-town traumas he once escaped. He’s built a life for himself far removed from Jefferson Run, only to be pulled back into its web of secrets and sins. His siblings react much like those in the original parable, being either unable or unwilling to see the good that his return could bring. The tension that unfolds from these strained relationships is masterfully rendered.

Cosby plots this drama with precision, pacing the novel in a way that builds both dread and depth. The stakes rise with each chapter, culminating in an unforgettable ending that is full of revelations, brutal inevitabilities, and a reckoning with the past that feels as mythic as it is deeply personal. With King of Ashes, Cosby continues to cement himself as one of the most powerful and essential voices in American fiction today. I can’t recommend this book highly enough. Add it to your list.

For more information, visit the author's website, Amazon, and Goodreads. 

(2025, 45)

Dating in New York City isn’t easy, and Jane knows this all too well. While striving to make it as a playwright, she’s also on a quest for true love. Nothing less will do. It’s a tall order, so it’s no wonder her romantic luck has been dismal. That is, until she meets Colin, a kind, thoughtful software engineer who seems to understand her in a way no one else does. After six perfect dates, Jane is convinced he’s The One. So when Colin suddenly ends things, she’s blindsided but not discouraged. To her, it’s just a minor setback. She knows they’re destined to be together, and she’s determined to prove it.

Things take a turn when Colin starts dating Zoe, a rising Brooklyn artist who’s maddeningly perfect and, even worse, genuinely kind. But Jane is convinced Zoe can’t love Colin like she can. Determined to show him the truth, Jane takes matters into her own hands. When she sneaks into Colin’s apartment to dig up intel on her so-called rival, she makes a discovery that completely unravels her plan. What begins as a romantic pursuit quickly spirals into a tangled web of deception, secrets, and ultimately, murder.

In So Happy Together, Olivia Worley delivers a campy, twisty, over-the-top story of obsession, delusion, and desire. Told entirely from Jane’s perspective, we’re given full access to her warped logic and increasingly questionable motivations. I was immediately reminded of Caroline Kepnes’s Joe Goldberg from You, another character whose obsession is tethered to a bizarre sense of morality that only makes sense in their own mind. Worley writes with propulsive energy, dropping twists, reveals, and red herrings at just the right moments. It all culminates in a finale that’s as satisfying as it is unhinged. Is it realistic? Not at all. But that’s not the point. This is a quick, wild, and thoroughly entertaining page-turner that leans into the absurd, and that’s precisely what makes it so much fun.

For more information, visit the author's website, Amazon, and Goodreads. 

(2025, 43)

Haunted. That’s one word to describe how the past year has left poor Annie Blunt. First, her husband was killed in a hit-and-run accident, leaving her alone to raise their young son, Charlie. Her personal life in shambles, at least she still had her career to anchor her—Annie was the author and illustrator of a beloved children’s book series featuring a lovable penguin. But then, tragedy bled into that world, too. In one of her books, the penguin crafted wings out of cardboard and tape in a whimsical effort to fly, its message clear: you can do anything you set your mind to. Tragically, a young reader took that message literally, fashioning wings of his own and leaping to his death. Annie couldn’t help but blame herself. Now, she’s haunted by everything she’s endured, unable to write, barely able to live.

Her agent suggests a change of scenery, somewhere far from the noise and reminders of her life in New York City. A quiet town in upstate New York might give Annie and Charlie the space to heal, maybe even help her start on the next book in her series, for which she’s already been paid an advance. Their new surroundings are peaceful, if a bit too quiet, and boredom soon begins to creep in. That is, until Charlie discovers an old, forgotten train set hidden away in a locked shed on the property. At first, Annie is relieved to see her son smiling again. But there’s something off about the toy. At night, Annie wakes to the sound of a train, despite the nearest tracks being miles away. And strange things begin to happen around the neighborhood. Most unsettling of all, Annie finds herself compulsively sketching a new character—one that has no place in a children’s story, and one she doesn’t remember creating. Despite her quest to escape her grief, Annie’s misery may only be beginning.

Only in the capable hands of Linwood Barclay could a model train set become the stuff of nightmares. I first encountered his writing with the stellar thriller A Noise Downstairs, so when his publisher offered me the chance to read his latest, Whistle, I jumped at the opportunity. There’s a timelessness to this terror. Barclay sets Annie’s story in the present day but also takes us back to 2001, offering glimpses of the horror that was and hints of the darkness still to come. We’ve seen where the tracks go before Annie does. All we can do now is look on in dread as it all unfolds. Whistle reads like a classic Stephen King novel. It's full of unsettling scenarios (some of which are genuinely hard to read), but anchored by well-developed characters who bring even the most outlandish moments into sharp, chilling focus. It’s the kind of summer page-turner that demands to be read. Quick, eerie, and thoroughly enjoyable.

For more information, visit the author's website, Amazon, and Goodreads. 

(2025, 40)

Dan can pinpoint the exact moment his life changed forever. He was just a child when it happened. His father had pulled into a quiet rest stop so Dan could use the bathroom. As soon as he stepped inside and saw another boy standing there alone, he knew something was wrong. Their eyes locked—briefly, urgently—and Dan could feel the danger. From the last stall came a faint whistling, a deceptively cheerful tune that masked the malevolence waiting within. Dan should have done something. He should have taken the boy’s hand and run. But when the whistling stopped, and the man in the stall realized they were no longer alone, Dan panicked. He hid in the nearest stall, trembling, listening. Then came the chilling words: “No one sees, no one cares.” Moments later, the man was gone, his whistling fading into the distance. The boy walked dutifully behind him, resigned to whatever fate lay ahead. 

“We are shaped by our pasts, not defined by them.”

Years later, Dan still lives with the guilt of that day. He would eventually learn that the man he encountered was known as the Pied Piper—a serial killer responsible for the disappearance of countless boys. The child Dan saw was almost certainly one of his victims. Now an adult, Dan works as a criminal profiler, devoting his life to saving the innocent lives he once failed to protect. But when his father dies under suspicious circumstances, Dan is pulled back to the place he thought he’d escaped. As he investigates the final days of his father’s life, a terrifying truth begins to take shape. The monster from his past may never have left.

The Man Made of Smoke sees Alex North return to the kind of chilling, standalone thriller that first put him on the map. I was introduced to his work with his breakout debut, The Whisper Man, and this latest novel draws on the same atmospheric dread and psychological intensity that made that book such a standout. Only here, it feels even more urgent, more unsettling.

North is a master at preying on the imagination, understanding that what we conjure in our minds is often far scarier than anything he could explicitly describe. In The Man Made of Smoke, mere suggestion becomes nightmare fuel. There were moments I had to pause just to collect myself before diving back in. The story alternates between Dan’s present-day investigation and the haunting perspective of one of the Pied Piper’s abducted victims from two decades earlier. North weaves these timelines together with precision, gradually building toward a final act that’s both terrifying and emotionally resonant.

This is a remarkably effective thriller—dark, original, and full of psychological menace. The Man Made of Smoke will have you second-guessing what’s real, what’s imagined, and what’s lurking just beyond the shadows. Keep the lights on for this one.

For more information, visit the author's website, Amazon, and Goodreads. 

(2025, 37)

With a hurricane bearing down on Galveston, Charlie Book gives his team the night off. They've been stationed offshore with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Service, studying the Christabel—a half-sunken 19th-century freighter swallowed by Gulf waters and tangled in a lattice of mangrove trees. Over time, nature has turned the wreck into something strange and beautiful, a ghost ship wrapped in living roots. Book has grown obsessed with the vessel’s eerie stillness, isolation, and secrets. He plans to ride out the storm alone aboard the ship, despite the warnings.

Just as he’s about to depart, Ruby appears on the dock. He hasn’t seen her in years. Their relationship ended in pain, the kind you don’t easily talk about or forget. Now here she is, soaked in rain and panic, not alone but with a frightened woman and an infant in tow. They beg him to take them aboard the Christabel. They're running from a coven of witches, no less, and believe the child is marked for sacrifice. Book knows it sounds insane. He almost laughs. But something in Ruby’s eyes makes him pause. Against his better judgment, he agrees to help.

As the storm closes in and the wind howls through Christabel's broken ribs, something stirs in the dark. The night birds are circling, watching, waiting. What seemed like an act of mercy may have just invited an ancient terror aboard.

I'll admit, the setup of The Night Birds struck me as a bit over-the-top when I first read the synopsis. A coven of witches chasing a woman with the intent to sacrifice an infant? It sounded more pulpy than genuinely terrifying. And yes, there are certainly moments in this story that invite an eye-roll or two. But Christopher Golden is a master of horror for a reason, and that expertise is on full display here.

Golden conjures a setting that’s as eerie as it is beautiful—a half-drowned ship tangled in mangrove roots, isolated off the Texas coast. It’s the kind of place that keeps you off balance, unsure whether to marvel or shudder. The forest-aquatic atmosphere alone generates a steady undercurrent of unease, and when Golden decides to go for the scares, he delivers. Several moments in this novel had me reaching for the nearest light switch.

Is The Night Birds my favorite of his? No. That title still belongs to The House of Last Resort. But it’s always a thrill to dive into horror that’s atmospheric, original, and unapologetically weird. The Night Birds might be a little silly, but it’s also a creepy, fast-paced blast. And really, what more could you ask for?

For more information, visit the author's website, Amazon, and Goodreads. 

(2025, 35)