Tag: suspense

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Audio Books Beat the Backlist book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures

BOOK REVIEW: The Art of a Lie by Laura Shepherd-Robinson

Published July 10th, 2025 by Mantle
Historical Fiction, Mystery, Thriller, Historical Mystery, Suspense, Historical Romance

*I listened to this on Bookbeat. Click here to listen free for 45 days*

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

THE INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER

One of The Telegraph‘s greatest books of 2025

London, 1749

Hannah Cole’s world shatters following her husband’s brutal murder. Her confectionary shop, the Punchbowl and Pineapple, teeters on the brink of ruin. Just as she uncovers a hidden fortune―money her husband secretly possessed―a new nightmare begins.

Magistrate Henry Fielding, the renowned author, suspects illicit gains. To save her inheritance, her shop, and her very reputation, Hannah must delve into her late husband’s secret life. But as she unearths a labyrinth of lies and deceit, she finds herself entangled in a battle of wits far more dangerous than she could ever have imagined.

From Sunday Times bestselling author Laura Shepherd-Robinson comes a twisty, immersive thriller where the truth is a luxury Hannah Cole can’t afford, and every secret is a step closer to her own undoing.

BUY HERE

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MY REVIEW:

London, 1749. Following her husband’s brutal murder, Hannah Cole is left to run their confectionery  shop, the Punchbowl and Pineapple, alone but she is teetering on the brink of ruin. Then she discovers her husband, Jonas, had a secret hidden fortune and she thinks that finally her problems could be over. But they are in fact just beginning. Magistrate Henry Fielding has questions about how Jonas died and suspects the fortune was gained by illicit means forcing Hannah to delve into her husband’s secret life and step into a dangerous world in order to save her shop, her inheritance and her reputation. 

Darkly atmospheric, mysterious, seductive, tense and addictive, The Art of a Lie is a mesmerising tale you’ll not be able to put down. Set to a backdrop of the blazing summer sun, this labyrinthine tale of skullduggery, deception, lies and murder will have you glued to the pages. Exquisitely written, cleverly choreographed and full of shocking twists, it showcases why Laura Shepherd-Robinson is one of my auto-buy authors. She gets better with each book and this one is without a doubt her best yet. Laura’s meticulous research is evident on every page, taking me back to her event about the book last year when she talked about all the research she’d done for the book, including the Georgian art of ice-cream making as Hannah introduces the British public to this tasty dessert. Just be prepared to crave some yourself when reading. 

And though this is a Georgian murder-mystery, it is also much more nuanced and complex. We learn the truth about Jonas’ murder early on and you will find yourself rooting for the crime not to be solved. It has some elements of an unhealthy love story but most of all this is a story about the art of telling lies; lies for survival, lies for profit and lies for love. The characters are flawed but likeable and compelling, and you will root for them despite all their schemes and deception. I didn’t want them to be brought to justice and behind them every step of the way.

A must-read for anyone who loves historical mysteries. Just make sure you’ve got some ice-cream in the freezer!

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✮

Thanks to Bookbeat and Mantle for sending me a proof copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Laura Shepherd-Robinson is the award-winning, Sunday Times and USA Today bestselling author of four historical novels. Her books have been featured on BBC 2’s Between the Covers and Radio 4’s Front Row and Open Book. Her fourth novel, The Art of a Lie, will be published in Summer 2025.

Laura was born in Bristol in 1976. She has a BSc in Politics from the University of Bristol and an MSc in Political Theory from the London School of Economics. She worked in politics for nearly twenty years before re-entering normal life to complete an MA in Creative Writing at City University. She lives in London with her husband, Adrian.

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxxx

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book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures

BOOK REVIEW: Five by Ilona Bannister

Published May 5th, 2026 by Juniper
Thriller, Suspense, Psychological Fiction, Mystery, Literary Fiction

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

Five passengers. Five minutes until the next train … five minutes until someone dies.

‘Will have you glued to the page … guaranteed to shock and entertain’The Times

‘Ridiculously good … darkly thrilling and unforgettable’ Chris Whitaker

* * * *

Someone will die here this morning, at this suburban train station. It will happen in the next five minutes when the 7:06 to London Victoria arrives.

Take note of their positions. The child, the mother, the businessman, the old woman and the gambler.

One of them will die despite your attachment to them. There is probably one you want to get rid of. You don’t have to admit who. But perhaps you should ask yourself why.

The train has stopped.

Someone is dead.

Was it who you chose?

It wasn’t your fault …

So why, dear reader, do you feel so guilty?

Five stories. Five minutes until a life ends. Unfolding in real time, FIVE doesn’t just tell a story; it provokes, unsettles, and lingers. By weaving together the stories of those complex, flawed lives, Bannister creates a tapestry of human struggle, resilience, and hope. FIVE offers no easy answers, but rather a nuanced exploration of the human condition in all its messy complexity.

BUY HERE

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MY REVIEW:

Five passengers are waiting for a train. Five minutes until it arrives…five minutes until one of them dies.

Atmospheric, intense, propulsive and gripping, this heart-stopping debut asks you to become the detective and try to predict which passenger will die. Most books will give you time to get to know the characters and grow attached to them before ticking down the clock to one’s impending doom. But in this book Ilona Bannister does things differently and starts the countdown on the first page. It means the tension is sky high and the reader is kept on the edge of their seat from the first page. And as the clock ticks down, we get to know the five passengers: mother Emma and her son, Gideon, businessman Liam, old Mrs Worth and gambler Sonny. Interspersed with events at the station are the character’s stories that allow us to learn their histories and what brought them to the station today. Skillfully written, razor-sharp, deftly plotted and fizzing with tension I was in Ilona’s thrall from start to finish. And as the jaw-dropping revelations kept coming I still couldn’t predict who would live and who would die.

The five passengers are an eclectic cast of characters who are all broken in some way. Each of them have said and done horrible or even despicable things and their histories are filled with tragedies that make every character a candidate for death. None of them are particularly likeable, but some are more unlikeable than the others. – Liam, I’m looking at you. To be honest, I felt like they all deserved to die in some way and it was more a case of ranking whose death felt most justified than wishing any of them would survive. Yes, even the child. But while I didn’t particularly like them, I was still very invested in them and their stories; each of them kept me glued to the pages of their chapters. This is a testament to the excellence of Ilona’s writing which was acutely observed, achingly human and emotionally resonant.

A jaw-dropping, darkly funny and urgent ticking-clock of tension, this is a must for all thriller lovers.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

Thank you Juniper for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Ilona Bannister was a dual qualified US attorney and UK immigration solicitor before she started writing fiction. Her first novel, When I Ran Away, was developed on Faber Academy’s Work in Progress course. Ilona’s experiences as a mother, lawyer, and an American transplant in Britain are reflected in her novels. Although she will always be a New Yorker at heart, Ilona’s home is in London with her husband and young sons.

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

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Audio Books book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures Most Anticipated 2026

BOOK REVIEW: Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke

Published April 9th, 2026 by Fourth Estate
Historical Fiction, Satire, Suspense, Thriller, Psychological Fiction, Speculative Fiction

*I listened to this on Bookbeat. Click here to listen free for 45 days*

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

‘My name is Natalie Heller Mills, and I was perfect at being alive…’

Natalie lives a traditional lifestyle – and her followers are sick with envy. Her charming farmhouse on her working ranch is artfully cluttered, her husband is a handsome cowboy, her homemade sourdough boules are each more beautiful than the last. So what if there are nannies and producers and industrial-grade ovens behind the scenes? What her followers don’t know won’t hurt them.

Then, one morning, Natalie wakes up in a strange, horrible version of reality. Her home, her husband, her children―they’re all familiar, but something’s off. Is this a hoax? A reality show? A test from God? Natalie knows just two things for sure: this isn’t her perfect life, and she must escape, by any means possible.

As darkly funny as it is shocking and gripping, Yesteryear is an electrifying examination of tradition, fame, faith and the grand performance of womanhood, from a thrilling new talent in fiction.

NOW BEING ADAPTED INTO A MAJOR FILM STARRING ANNE HATHAWAY

BUY THE BOOK

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MY REVIEW:

Natalie Heller Mills is perfect at being alive. A flawless Christian woman, she is the wife men dream of, the mum every woman wants to be. She lives with her husband Caleb and their soon-to-be six children on a working ranch where every inch of their life and home is perfectly staged. No-one sees the nannies and producers behind the scenes. And they never will. Then one morning Natalie wakes up and doesn’t recognise her reality. This is her ranch but it’s dirty, the man looks like her husband but doesn’t act like him, and she doesn’t recognise the children who call her ‘Mama’. Natalie wonders if this is a test from God or maybe she’s on a reality show. But whatever the reason she’s here, she knows she must escape and get back to her perfect life.

This book is everywhere. I couldn’t wait to read it and listened to the audiobook as soon as it was released. But since then I’ve struggled to write my review. I think that’s partly because this book wasn’t what I expected. The marketing focuses on the historical side but a lot of the story is contemporary. And I found my attention wavering half way through the second timeline until the big twist brought things back around. But there was also a lot I loved. Dark, bold, original, perceptive and unsettling, it’s a timely and thought-provoking read and one hell of a wild ride.

Well written, cleverly crafted, acutely observed and interwoven with humour, Caro Claire Burke delivers an unforgettable debut. Caro explores some important and relevant themes, including feminism, religion, misogyny, motherhood, marriage, mental health and sexuality. She also explores social media, influencers and trad wife culture, showing the reality of these people’s lives versus the polished version they present to the world. In the 1850s timeline Caro showcased how different the life these modern women glamorise would really look as Natalie is forced to live the harsh reality. And it’s nothing like she thought it would be. This timeline also shows us that the modern trad-wives have autonomy and choices that the women of the past didn’t have, reminding us why it’s so dangerous to promote a return to these times and to strip women of their autonomy in so many areas of life. It’s an uncomfortable read at times, but it is a necessary discomfort that helps the reader really understand what the author is trying to convey.

Natalie is a great protagonist, but not because she’s likeable. Quite the opposite. She’s totally insufferable, bitchy and mean to the people around her. Caro has written her so well and I loved reading her. But I was also rooting for her to be brought down a peg or two. Though I will admit part of me also felt sorry for her. She’s so caught up in the trap of being a perfect trad-wife and portraying a perfect life for her followers that image matters more than anything to her. Even her own happiness or that of her children. To her, the worst thing would be for her followers to find out she has nannies, hear the way she really talks to people or what she actually thinks. So when she woke up in the 1850s I was thrilled and hoped she would finally be humbled.

One of the things I loved about this book was how it was so unpredictable. I had a number of predictions about how and why Natalie was in the 1850s but I could never be sure if any of them were right or guess what direction the story would take next. And that ending! It was so unexpected, powerful and moving. Even a month later I’m still thinking about it.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Caro Claire Burke received her Master’s in Fine Arts from the Bennington Writing Seminars. She is the co-host of Diabolical Lies, a politics and culture podcast. Yesteryear is her first novel.

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxxx

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Audio Books book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures

BOOK REVIEW: Darling Bud by C. J. Skuse

Published June 4th, 2026 by HQ
Dark Comdey, Suspense, Mystery, Crime Fiction, Psychological Thriller

*I listened to this on Bookbeat. Click here to listen free for 45 days*

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

The brand-new gripping dark comedy thriller from the world of the Sweetpea series – Now a major TV series on Sky Atlantic, starring Ella Purnell!

Murder can be a family business …

Even wallflowers have to bloom.

Sixteen-year-old Ivy is your average teenager. She’s annoyed by the scratchy labels on her school uniform, old men who wolf-whistle, and her mother the serial killer.

But is murder in her roots?

Ivy was raised far away from the shadows of Rhiannon Lewis, the Sweetpea killer, but when the local predator – better known as Ivy’s football coach – is found dead, could it be that she has discovered a taste for blood?

As suspicion grows deeper, Ivy’s only way out is to get some motherly advice. But when the internet’s unlikeliest vigilantes determine that Ivy must be punished for her mother’s crimes, she must decide whether to control the rage burning inside her.

Or to unleash her thorns…

BUY HERE

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MY REVIEW:

Move over Sweetpea; there’s a new flower in bloom and she’s ready to take centre stage.

It’s no secret that Sweetpea is my favourite series of all time and I was bereft when it was over. But C. J. Skuse did hint that she *might* write a book from the perspective of Ivy, Rhiannon’s daughter. I’m thrilled to say not only has she done it, but it’s bloody brilliant. I finished this book a few days ago and I haven’t been able to pick up anything else as I’m still reeling. That ending!! How could you end the book there?! My jaw is still on the floor and I need the rest of the story right now! 

Darkly funny, sassy, compelling and emotional, this book had me in a chokehold from the first page to the last. As the story is from a new character’s perspective, I wasn’t sure what to expect. But thankfully this book has everything I’ve come to love about the Sweetpea series and more: the humour is black as ink, there is bloody murder, complex characters and heaps of emotion. Expertly written, intricately interwoven and perfectly plotted, it showcases why C.J. is one of my favourite authors.  It’s also a masterclass in ambiguity, making you torn between rooting for wickedness and knowing murder is wrong. 

When we meet Ivy things aren’t going well. Not only is she an angst-ridden sixteen-year-old, but her adoptive mum is dying and she’s under suspicion after the pervy football coach at her school was found murdered. Everyone seems to think murder runs in the blood and she’s just like her biological mother – serial killer Rhiannon Lewis. But Ivy maintains her innocence. So, with nowhere else to turn, she reaches out to Rhiannon for advice and goes down the rabbit hole of her mother’s crimes. Meanwhile, there is a creepy man who follows her everywhere, she’s arguing with her girlfriend, and she’s facing being left with no-one once her adoptive mother dies. It’s an emotional rollercoaster and C.J. took me along for every bump of the ride. 

I loved Ivy. She is such a great character who was easy to like and root for despite and I was with her on every step of her escapades. She might have spiky edges, but at heart Ivy is a vulnerable teenager who is trying to find her place in the world. She acts out but all she wants is a family and a place to belong. She’s also trying to escape the shadow that her birth mother has cast over her life, no mean feat when everyone knows who she is, what she did, and she’s about to give a live TV interview from jail about her crimes. I also loved being back with Rhiannon and seeing some new sides to her in addition to the ones we know and love. No one writes a complex anti-hero like C. J.

Read it now!

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✮

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

C.J. Skuse is the bestselling author of the Sweetpea series (2017–2024), along with six other novels spanning both young adult and adult crime fiction. She holds First-Class degrees in Creative Writing and Writing for Young People and earned a PhD by Publication from the University of Gloucestershire in 2025. Her work has received multiple accolades, including the Dumfries and Burgh Book Award and the Jean Monnet University Student Literary Prize in France. She has also been shortlisted for the Lancashire Book of the Year, the BookTrust Best Book Award, and longlisted for the Branford Boase.  Skuse was credited by The Guardian with pioneering the ‘YA antiheroine’ trend following the publication of her debut novel Pretty Bad Things. Her adult debut Sweetpea was a flagship title in the rise of ‘Sassy Noir’ – a crime fiction subgenre defined by confident, darkly complex female protagonists, often serial killers, and infused with biting social satire.

Sweetpea was optioned for television by See-Saw Films in 2017 and premiered on Sky Atlantic on October 10, 2024 starring Ella Purnell. A second series is currently in production.

Skuse now writes full-time and lives in South West England.

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxxxx

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Blog Tours book reviews

BLOG TOUR: The People Next Door by Carla Kovach

Published June 2nd, 2026 by Bookouture
Thriller, Mystery, Crime Fiction, Suspense, Noir Fiction, Psychological Thriller, Romance Novel

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

Dear Neighbour. I know who you are. I know what you did…

After that summer, I swore I’d never come back to Clover Lane. But when my aunt left us her house, I couldn’t say no. The last in a neat row of houses with white fences and countryside views, it was the life I’d always dreamed of for my family. They deserved it, even if I didn’t.

As the last boxes are unpacked and neighbours drop by to welcome us, I see the sparkle back in my daughter Morgan’s eyes and know we’re safe. I won’t ever let her near the woods where my best friend went missing, but welcome gifts and a coffee date with my neighbours have me feeling like we belong here. But then the first letter arrives, and my perfect new life shatters…

Suddenly, I notice curtains twitch as I unload the car and I find myself looking over my shoulder every time I leave the house. When more letters arrive and rumours poison the street, I start double-locking the doors at night. How much do I really know about the people next door? Are my children safe? Is there anyone I can trust?

Someone in this close-knit community thinks they know what happened that summer. I know they’re wrong, but my worst fear is realised when the last letter drops: Morgan is missing…

If you loved reading The Housemaid, The Perfect Marriage and The Girl on the Train, you will devour this absolutely jaw-dropping psychological thriller from Carla Kovach.

BUY HERE

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MY REVIEW:

The woods that surround Clover Lane are the place Gemma’s nightmare’s started. And after the terrible events one summer when she was a teenager, she vowed she’d never go back. But when her aunt dies and leaves them her house she doesn’t feel she has any other choice. So, Gemma returns to the picturesque street with her family, warning her teenage daughter to never go into the woods. But just as they are trying to settle in, the neighbours start receiving nasty notes and Gemma is the prime suspect. She finds herself looking over her shoulder, double-locking the door and second guessing everything. Including the one neighbour who is willing to give her a chance. And there is someone who thinks they know what happened that summer. And they will go to dangerous lengths to prove it…

Carla Kovach never disappoints. Heart-poundingly tense, twisty, mysterious and addictive, this riveting thriller had me on the edge-of-my seat from start to finish. Expertly written and cleverly choreographed, Carla held me in her thrall as she delivered shocking twists, clever red herrings and dark secrets. It is a book full of questions with multiple mysteries that run parallel to one another. And every time a question is answered or a mystery seems to be solved, more appear, keeping you guessing until the very last page. It is a clever and intricately woven web that Carla skillfully spins around her reader. And that explosive double bluff ending! What a finale! My heart raced and my jaw hit the floor as everything was finally revealed. I’m still not over it. 

Carla is great at writing characters you aren’t sure if you can trust, and this book was filled with them. Every single one is flawed and unreliable, even protagonist Gemma. I was pulled into the crazy lives of the people on this street and while I didn’t think Gemma was behind the poisoned pen letters, I couldn’t figure out her secret and wanted answers about what really happened that summer. I also wanted the real author of the letters to be unmasked but loved how there were so many suspects. It was really hard to pinpoint just one person I thought was behind it all, and no-one was free of my suspicion. 

A twist-filled rollercoaster ride that will keep you on your toes, this is a must for thriller lovers.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

Thank you to Bookotoure for the invitation to take part on the tour and the copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Carla has been writing seriously since her mid-thirties. She started by writing stage plays which led to her producing and directing her own full length piece of theatre. After that, she decided to write films and books where she began by self-publishing. In the past, she has acted in a few indie films and has also co-owned a photography and video production company.

Right now, she is a full time crime and thriller author living in Worcester with her husband, Nigel and Poppy the cat.

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

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book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures Most Anticipated 2026

BOOK REVIEW: Deception by Jack Jordan

Published June 4th, 2026 by Simon & Schuster UK
Mystery, Thriller, Suspense, Psychological Thriller

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

A deadly game. The ultimate price. The Chain meets Squid Game meets Emily the Criminal in this pulse-pounding new thriller from the master of the moral dilemma, Jack Jordan. 

SOON TO BE ADAPTED FOR TV!

‘The most tense book I’ve ever read. Instantly gripping, utterly addictive’ ANDREA MARA
‘A blistering, nerve shredding thriller … Electrifying’ JOHN MARRS
‘A top-tier thriller. High-concept and brilliantly written … I could not stop turning the pages!’ C. M. EWAN
‘A thriller that reads like the plot of an action movie but with a thumping emotional heart’ NIKKI SMITH

Emma and Miles are out of options. Their son needs life-saving transplant surgery, but in a world of privatised healthcare and impossible costs, they can’t afford it.

Then comes the offer: a shadowy syndicate known only as The Levels promises them the exact amount of money they need. All they must do is complete a series of tasks.

The catch? Each task is a crime. With every level the stakes rise, the payout grows and the line between right and wrong blurs.

But Emma and Miles aren’t the only ones playing this deadly game. As the competition intensifies and they struggle under the weight of their choices, they’re faced with the ultimate question:

How far would you go to save the one you love?

BUY HERE

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MY REVIEW:

The king of the moral-dilemma thriller is back with another hit to keep you on the edge of your seat. 

Emma and Miles’ nine-year-old son, Ryan, needs a heart and lung transplant to save his life. But they live in the USA, where the cost of his healthcare is financially crippling. They are out of options and have no way to pay for the surgery he needs. But hope then comes in the form of an offer from a shadowy syndicate known as The Levels. They say they will give them the exact amount of money they need in return for them completing a series of tasks. The catch? The tasks are all crimes. With no other option, Emma and Miles decide they have no choice but to play. As they move up the levels the stakes increase, as does the payout. and they quickly find that the line between what’s right and wrong blurs. Then they find themselves faced with the ultimate question: how far will they go to save their son’s life?

Jack Jordan has done it again! This man seriously never misses and I feel like his books just get better and better. Jaw-dropping, propulsive and unbelievably tense, Deception is an action-packed thriller with an emotional heartbeat. It’s an impossible dilemma. And that’s what makes it so addictive. It will shatter your nerves, have your jaw on the floor and break your heart all at the same time. And I loved every minute, binging it in just two sittings.

Exquisitely written, expertly choreographed and perfectly paced, Jack had me in his thrall from start to finish. Emma and Miles are great protagonists. They are the everyman and woman, people we can see ourselves in and relate to.  My heart shattered as Emma sat by Ryan’s bedside trying to find ways to save his life and for Miles as he worked to breaking point to try and pay for it all. Jack asks the questions I was thinking about private healthcare, exploring how a civilised country can treat their most vulnerable that way and prioritise profit over human life. By the time the offer from The Levels comes, you’re as beaten down and desperate as Emma and Miles and totally understand why they are considering it. After all, what parent wouldn’t do whatever it took to save their child? These are good people in a dire situation and it is easy to understand how they end up doing bad things. It is a reminder that things aren’t always black and white and that so much of life lives in the grey.

An astonishing masterpiece that will leave you breathless, this is a must-read for all thriller lovers.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✮

Thank you to The Likely Suspects for sending me a proof copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Jack Jordan is the global number one bestselling author of Anything for Her (2015), My Girl (2016), A Woman Scorned (2018), Before Her Eyes (2018), Night by Night (2019), Do No Harm (2022), Conviction (2023), and Redemption (2024).

His thriller, Do No Harm, was an instant Times bestseller and shortlisted for the Most Recommended Book in the DeadGood Reader Awards, coined the thriller of the summer for 2022.  The idea for Do No Harm came to Jack after undergoing a minor medical procedure where he had to be sedated and trust strangers with his welfare. After the anaesthesia wore off, Jack began scribbling his notes, wondering to himself just how iron-clad a surgeon’s oath is, and what it would take to break it…

Jack’s book Redemption, was longlisted for Theakston’s Crime Novel of the Year in 2024 and 2025, and shortlisted for the 2025 Wilbur Smith Adventure Writing Prize, both Thriller of the Year and Crime Audiobook of the Year at London’s Capital Crime Fingerprint Awards, and the Most Recommended Book in the De.ad Good Reader Awards.

Jack’s upcoming thriller Deception is publishing with Simon & Schuster in June 2026

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxxx

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book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures Squadpod Squadpod Featured Books

SQUADPOD BOOK CLUB: Kiss Marry Kill by Yemi Dipelou

Published April 23rd, 2026 by Faber & Faber
Psychological Thriller, Crime Ficiton, Suspense, Domestic Fiction

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

It’s Ife’s dream wedding – until her new husband Ade is arrested for murder.

His missing ex, Cynthia, has been found dead on the Dorset coast.

Case closed: it’s always the ex, right?

But did Ade kiss, marry – and kill? One person hopes the truth never comes out.

‘Fast-paced, wickedly witty, and brimming with Nollywood-level drama. An unforgettable story that pulls you in and refuses to let go.’ LIZZIE DAMILOLA BLACKBURN
‘Rich in character, smart and pacy. Yemi Dipeolu brings a brilliant new voice to the thriller genre.’ L. V. MATTHEWS
‘A deliciously twisty debut thriller that adeptly explores the lethal margins of love, with compelling characters and a fiendish ending.’ ISABELLE GREY

A pulse-racing, bingeable thriller about love, marriage and obsessions that fans of Adele Parks and The List will LOVE

BUY HERE

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MY REVIEW:

Ife and Ade’s wedding day is the day she’s always dreamed of. Until her groom is arrested on suspicion of murder at the reception. Ade’s ex, Cynthia, has been missing for months and now her body has turned up on the Dorset coast. Ade is their prime suspect. But did Ade really kiss, marry and kill?

What a wild ride! I did not expect the crazy, messy and heart-stopping rollercoaster that this story took me on when I opened the book. Well written, cleverly plotted, witty and fast-paced, Yemi Dipeolu has crafted a debut that had me hooked from start to finish. It sizzles with tension and I suspected them all, though there were times my suspicions about certain characters was stronger and I did have a strong primary suspect at the end. But I was never sure who did it and Yemi Dipelou kept me guessing until that final page. And when the truth was revealed my jaw dropped! It was the kind of ending you don’t see coming and I am still reeling!

The characters are dynamic, relatable, chaotic and deeply flawed. The story is narrated by Ife and Cynthia, the two women in suspect Ade’s life. His new wife, Ife, narrates the current timeline while his deceased ex, Cynthia, tells her story leading up to her disappearance. Moving between these narrators and timelines kept the tension high and helped create suspicion on many of the characters. I loved how I could never be sure who had killed her or what really happened between her and Ade at the end of their relationship. From the start Ife reveals she has a secret, making her an unreliable narrator who we second-guess the whole time. I loved this as it increased the suspense and made her as much of a suspect as everyone else. The character I really couldn’t stand though was Mama, She is the mother-in-law from hell and a vile woman. I was raging every time she was on the page and she made their family one that is toxic, dysfunctional and full of drama.

Unpredictable, mysterious and totally bingeable, this is a debut you don’t want to miss.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

Thanks to Faber for sending me a proof copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Yemi Dipeolu is a British-Nigerian writer from South East London. She studied English Literature with Creative Writing at the University of Surrey and has an MFA from Kingston University. By day, Yemi works as a copywriter, using her passion for storytelling to help businesses connect with their customers.

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxxx

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Audio Books book reviews

BOOK REVIEW: The Weekend by T. M. Logan

Published February 26th, 2026 by Zaffre
Mystery, Thriller, Suspense, Psychological Fiction

*I listened to this on Bookbeat. Click here to listen free for 45 days*

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

THE BRAND NEW, ADDICTIVE UP-ALL-NIGHT THRILLER

Six friends. Five secrets. One holiday to die for . . .
Welcome to THE WEEKEND.

When a group of friends rent a converted farmhouse in the Yorkshire Dales, they have little idea that this one weekend may change the course of their lives forever.

While out on a walk, a storm descends and the friends take shelter in the mouth of an old lead mine. Inside, they discover a backpack filled with more money than they’ve ever seen.

Of course, they agree, they will hand the money to the police at the first opportunity. But as the storm continues and time passes, some of the party begin to think again. Because there are secrets festering at the heart of this group. Debt. Obsession. A career on the brink. Problems that could be solved instantly with an unexpected windfall.

And perhaps they don’t know each other as well as thought they did.

Before long, six good friends find themselves sliding headlong into a world of deceit, treachery, betrayal and murder . . .

BUY HERE

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MY REVIEW:

I have a confession. Although I’m a thriller fan, this was my first time reading a book by T. M. Logan. And after finishing it I’m so mad at myself for sleeping on his books for so long! Skillfully written, perfectly paced and cleverly choreographed, Logan had me in his thrall. I can’t wait to read more from him and the good thing about waiting so long to read his books is that now I have a backlist to enjoy. 

In this book, Logan takes something all of us have dreamed about – an unexpected windfall – and shows how it can become a nightmare. The story follows a group of six friends on their annual New Year holiday in a converted farmhouse in the Yorkshire Dales. While out on a walk they shelter from a storm inside an old lead mine. Inside, they discover a backpack stuffed with more money than they’ve ever seen. They decide they will hand the money in to the police. But as time goes on and the drinks flow, temptation soon wins out and some of the group admit they want to keep it. A secret ballot results in them keeping the cash. It seems like a victimless crime. After all, they just found the money, can find no trace of the police looking for it online, and they have problems that this money could solve. But there is no such thing as a free lunch and it is soon apparent that the cash could be the start of much bigger problems and they find themselves caught up in a world of secrets, lies, betrayal and murder.

Compelling, tense, twisty and propulsive, this book had me on the edge of my seat and was impossible to put down once I’d started. There are so many red herrings and twists and turns that got whiplash. Seriously, every time I thought I had it all figured out Logan would come along with another twist that changed everything. And that ending! I did not see it coming until it was pretty much right in front of me. The characters are relatable and real. People you can imagine hanging out with and they have problems we can relate to, helping us understand their actions even when we don’t agree with them. 

A riveting thriller that keeps you on your toes, this is a must-read for all thriller fans.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

TM Logan’s thrillers have sold more than three million copies in the UK and are translated into 23 other languages for publication around the world.

His new novel, THE WEEKEND, opens with six friends out on a hike in the remote beauty of the Yorkshire Dales. Taking shelter from a storm, they make a chance discovery: a backpack full of money. They all know they should ‘do the right thing’ and take it straight to the authorities, but before long they’re sliding headfirst into a world of deceit, betrayal, treachery and murder… THE WEEKEND is out now!

THE DAUGHTER follows the story of Lauren, who goes to pick up her daughter from university at the end of her first term – only to find the room occupied by a stranger. No-one knows her daughter’s name or recognises her picture, and it soon becomes clear she’s vanished without trace…

THE HOLIDAY was a Richard & Judy Book Club pick and spent ten weeks in the Sunday Times paperback top ten. It has since won a Nielsen Gold Bestseller Award and been made into a four-part TV drama with Jill Halfpenny. THE CATCH was also adapted for TV, starring Jason Watkins, Poppy Gilbert, Aneurin Barnard and Cathy Belton.

Tim’s other books are THE DREAM HOME, THE MOTHER, THE CURFEW, TRUST ME, LIES and 29 SECONDS.

A former national newspaper journalist, Tim lives in Nottinghamshire with his family and writes in a cabin in the corner of his garden.

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxxx

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Audio Books book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures

BOOK REVIEW: This Story Might Save Your Life by Tiffany Crum

Published March 12th, 2026 by Hodder & Stoughton
Thriller, Suspense, Psychological Thriller, Romance Novel

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

‘A MYSTERY WRAPPED INSIDE A LOVE STORY. A STUNNING DEBUT’ ALICE FEENEY

‘THIS IS THE THRILLER I NEEDED TO FILL THAT GONE GIRL-SHAPED HOLE’ RUTH MANCINI

‘Absolutely addictive. This story might keep you up at night’
‘THIS AMAZING THRILLER MIGHT JUST SAVE YOUR LIFE’

Benny and Joy like to say that they’ve been saving each other since the moment they met.

Until the day Joy disappears and Benny is accused of her murder.

Best friends Benny and Joy host a beloved ‘comedy survival’ podcast, gleefully finding life-affirming humour in near-death experiences.

When Benny arrives at Joy and her husband’s home one morning to record, he finds shattered glass and an empty house.

With Joy missing and the hours ticking by, not even their most devoted fans could guess the terrible secrets they have hidden from the world – and from each other.

If Benny wants to find Joy in time, and clear his own name, he’ll have to solve the highest stakes survival story yet.

BUY THE BOOK

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MY REVIEW:

We have a strong contender for my favourite book of the year. 

Best friends Benny and Joy co-host a popular comedy survival podcast, finding life-affirming humour in near death experiences. But when Benny arrives at Joy’s house one morning to record, he discovers the house empty and in disarray. Joy and Xander are missing. There are few clues and as the police search for the couple, Benny is trying to decipher them in an attempt to find Joy and clear his own name before it’s too late.

What a rollercoaster! Funny, vibrant, and heart-poundingly tense, This Story Might Save Your Life is a  love story cloaked inside a compelling mystery. Tiffany Crum has crafted a truly original debut. Beautifully written, perfectly paced, meticulously choreographed and layered with intimacy, humour and suspense, Crum had me in her thrall from start to finish. This feels like a very modern story and I loved the podcast element, especially 

how clips from actual episodes were included. I listened to the audiobook and the narrators elevated every facet of the story, which also meant I often found myself forgetting I wasn’t listening to a real podcast. I also loved  trying to piece together the clues alongside Benny but it was hard to predict and my jaw dropped with every revelation. Totally unputdownable, it kept me on the edge of my seat and up well past my bedtime. And that ending! I’d never have guessed it.

The book is filled with a cast of characters that were likeable, charismatic and real, especially Benny and Joy, whose friendship felt genuine. I loved their easy, witty banter and the way they supported each other. And then there’s the undercurrent of love and longing, which creates a will they/won’t they tension. It’s obvious from the start that they have feelings for each other, but there is always a reason not to confront it, whether that’s other relationships or fear of ruining their friendship. I was screaming at them that they were meant for each other and that none of this would have happened if they’d just been together all this time.

A magnificent and unforgettable debut, this is a must for your TBR.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✮

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Tiffany Crum grew up on a dairy farm just down the road from a maximum-security prison. A longtime Californian, she now lives in Atlanta with her husband, two sons, and dogs, and spends her free time trying to keep her vegetable garden alive. Her debut novel, This Story Might Save Your Life, is a New York Times bestseller, an Amazon Best Book of March, a Book of the Month selection, and a BBC Radio 2 Book Club pick. It will be published in nineteen languages and is under option for television.

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

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book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures Most Anticipated 2026

BOOK REVIEW: It’s Not What You Think by Clare Mackintosh

Published March 26th, 2026 by Harper Fiction
Thriller, Suspense, Crime Fiction, Mystery, Psychological Fiction

*I listened to this on Bookbeat. Click here to listen free for 60 days*

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

YOU THINK YOU KNOW THE PEOPLE YOU LOVE

Nadeeka is certain Jamie is having an affair. She knows the tell-tale signs.

She’s been here before.

YOU THINK YOU KNOW WHO YOU CAN TRUST

When Jamie claims to be at work late, she knows he’s lying. He’s with another woman, and she’s determined to catch him in the act.

YOU THINK YOU KNOW HOW THE STORY ENDS

But when Nadeeka arrives home to confront him, Jamie can’t explain himself. The house has become a crime scene…

Jamie is dead.

IT’S NOT WHAT YOU THINK

BUY HERE

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MY REVIEW:

Nadeeka is racing home, a sick feeling in the pit of her stomach after what she thinks she heard while talking to her boyfriend Jamie on the phone. She’s sure he’s having an affair. After all, she’s been here before. But when she gets home Jamie can’t explain himself. He’s dead. Murdered. And her home is a crime scene. But this is not what you think…

Clare Mackintosh has done it again! I finished this book a few days ago now and I’m not over it. This book really should come with a warning because my heart couldn’t take it! Heart-stopping, propulsive, addictive and unguessable, it had me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. This is a clear-your-schedule, lock out the world and read in one sitting kind of book and I did just that, devouring it in under a day.

Madly twisty, tense and unpredictable, this is everything you want a thriller to be. On the surface it’s a simple story and there’s a way you would expect it to unfold. But Clare doesn’t take that route. Expertly written, cleverly choreographed, tightly plotted and filled with charismatic characters, this is a book that keeps you on your toes. A sense of dread and unease pervades the whole story and you can’t shake the feeling that things are going to get so much worse for Nadeeka before they get better. I listened to this on Bookbeat and I have to mention the narrators. Not only did they bring the characters and story to life in vivid technicolour, they convey a feeling of urgency and suspense that has your heart pounding. At that point, I couldn’t have stopped listening even if I’d wanted to.

And we have to talk about the twists. Clare is known for them but this time she took things to another level, toying with the reader and carefully stitching misdirection into the narrative to make the reader look the wrong way and then pulling the rug out from under us. And she doesn’t do it just once. No. Every time I got comfortable and thought I knew where this was going she hit us with another jaw-dropping twist that changed everything I thought I knew. 

A nail-biting thrill ride that you won’t be able to put down, this is a must-read.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✮

Thank you to Harper Fiction for sending me a proof copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

With more than two million copies of her books sold worldwide, number one bestseller Clare Mackintosh is the multi-award-winning author of I Let You Go, which was a Sunday Times and New York Times bestseller, and the fastest-selling title by a new UK crime writer in 2015. It also won the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year in 2016.

Both Clare’s second and third novels, I See You and Let Me Lie, were number one Sunday Times bestsellers and Richard & Judy Book Club picks. Clare’s novel After the End was published in June 2019 and spent seven weeks in the Sunday Times hardback bestseller chart, and in June 2021, Clare’s locked room thriller, Hostage, flew straight into the top ten.

In July 2022, Clare launched a crime series set on the border between England and Wales. It features Welsh detective DC Ffion Morgan and is currently being adapted for television. The first book in the series, The Last Party, was an instant Sunday Times bestseller. The sequel, A Game of Lies, publishes in July 2023.

Together, Clare’s books have been published in more than forty countries and have spent a combined total of 64 weeks in the Sunday Times bestseller lists.

Clare is patron of the Silver Star Society, a charity based at the John Radcliffe hospital in Oxford, which supports parents experiencing high-risk or difficult pregnancies. She lives in North Wales with her husband and their three children.

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

*This post contains affililate links