Tag: thriller

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book reviews Emma's Anticipated Treasures Most Anticipated 2025 Squadpod Squadpod Featured Books

SQUADPOD FEATURED BOOK: Against the Tide by G. D. Wright

Published June 18th, 2026 by Avon Books
Mystery, Suspense, Thriller, Psychological Ficiton, Police Procedural, Domestic Fiction

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

If the truth could destroy you, would you choose to know it?

DC Vinny Robson has spent his career seeking justice for others, but when an elderly couple are violently murdered in his hometown of Beachbrook, the investigation takes a devastating turn – one that cuts straight through his own family.

As Vinny dives deeper, the case becomes more than a pursuit of a killer – it’s a fight against the undertow of his own past. But in chasing the truth, will he finally find justice, or will he drown in the wreckage of everything he thought he knew?

Some truths should stay submerged. But once the tide turns, there’s no stopping what comes to light.

An emotional crime drama set on the south coast of England, perfect for fans of Karin Slaughter, Gillian McAllister and Ann Cleeves.

BUY HERE

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MY REVIEW:

G. D. Wright never misses. He’s three for three on the tense and emotional thrillers that you can’t put down. And this is his best yet!

An elderly couple are brutally murdered in their home in Beachbrook and DC Vinny Robson is on the case. But the case soon takes an unexpected and devastating turn that could turn Vinny’s world upside down. Now, this is more than the hunt for a killer; it’s the pursuit of a truth and justice that he never knew he needed to find.

Suspenseful, gripping, twisty and totally unpredictable, this sensational thriller was impossible to put down. I’m a big fan of Gaz’s books so I was thrilled when I heard that the SquadPod had got his latest novel as one of their July reads. And he has knocked it out of the park once again. He lulls us into a false sense of security, starting slowly by introducing us to the characters and the story. But the pace soon picked up, and before long I was holding on tight for dear life with no idea what shocking revelation would hit next. Expertly written, cleverly choreographed and intricately interwoven, this is a complex thriller filled with twists you’ll never see coming and characters you’ll love. And that ending! I was not prepared and it will stay with me for a very long time.

Gaz is the King of the emotional thriller and this story had me fighting back tears quite a few times. Vinny’s mum has dementia in the story, something I know was inspired by a member of Gaz’s own family. And his experience of this terrible illness is evident in the care, sensitivity and honesty with which it was written. Another thing I love about Gaz’s books is the authenticity that shines through from his time as a Police Officer. Those small details really make a difference and allow you to have confidence in the accuracy of what you are reading.

A must-read for any thriller lover.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✮

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

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

From his website: Hi, and thanks so much for visiting my website. My name is Gary (pen name G.D. Wright) and I live in Kent with my wife and two young children.

I joined Kent Police at the age of 18, working on the front line in a variety of uniformed roles until the age of 29 when, completely out of the blue, I suffered two cardiac ‘events’, and was subsequently diagnosed with a hereditary and incurable disease of the heart (arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy if you’re being fussy!). As a result, I had an internal defibrillator implanted in me, and I had to retire from the police aged 30.

One door closed, but another opened, and my wife and I bought a coffee shop in Ramsgate Harbour. We spent eight of the happiest years of our lives there but, when the kiddies came along, it just wasn’t sustainable. Family comes first, every single time (a theme in my books…), and the simple fact was that we knew our summers should be spent with the kids, not working seven days a week. In 2022, we sold our ‘third baby’ (the coffee shop, not an actual baby – although… what a plot line for the future… making a mental note…), and I took to writing full time.

Fast forward to now. I’ve signed a two book deal with Avon UK (part of the Harper Collins family), and my debut was released in August 2024. It’s called AFTER THE STORM, and it’s a police procedural with a twisty, emotional hook. My second novel, INTO THE FIRE, was released in June 2025.

As a screenwriter, my feature film BREATHE DEEP is scheduled to shoot in September 2025.

I’m always up for chatting, so find me on my socials (below) and I’ll happily answer any questions you might have!

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

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Audio Books book reviews

AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: The Mad Wife by Meagan Church

Published October 30th, 2025 by Sourcebooks
Historical Fiction, Thriller, Suspense, Psychological Fiction, Bildungsroman, Domestic Fiction

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

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

THE INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

From bestselling author Meagan Church comes a haunting exploration of identity, motherhood, and the suffocating grip of societal expectations that will leave you questioning the lives we build―and the lies we live.

They called it hysteria. She called it survival.

Lulu Mayfield has spent the last five years molding herself into the perfect 1950s housewife. Despite the tragic memories that haunt her and the weight of exhausting expectations, she keeps her husband happy, her household running, and her gelatin salads the talk of the neighborhood. But after she gives birth to her second child, Lulu’s carefully crafted life begins to unravel.

When a new neighbor, Bitsy, moves in, Lulu suspects that something darker lurks behind the woman’s constant smile. As her fixation on Bitsy deepens, Lulu is drawn into a web of unsettling truths that threaten to expose the cracks in her own life. The more she uncovers about Bitsy, the more she questions everything she thought she knew―and soon, others begin questioning her sanity. But is Lulu truly losing her mind? Or is she on the verge of discovering a reality too terrifying to accept?

In the vein of The Bell Jar and The Hours, The Mad Wife weaves domestic drama with psychological suspense, so poignant and immersive, you won’t want to put it down.

BUY HERE

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MY REVIEW:

Atmospheric, thought-provoking, moving and powerful, The Mad Wife is a haunting and mesmerising portrait of identity, motherhood, silenced voices and societal expectations. It follows Lulu, an ordinary suburban woman who has spent the last five years becoming the perfect 1950s housewife that everyone expects her to be. But she never quite feels like she fits in and it all seems so much easier for the other women on her street. Then, after the birth of her second child, her carefully curated life begins to unravel and she develops a fixation on her new neighbour, Bitsy, who she is sure is hiding something. People soon notice something isn’t right. The doctor diagnoses hysteria. Is Lulu really losing her mind? Or is there another explanation?

What an amazing read! An easy five stars from me. This was my first time reading a Meagan Church novel, but now I can’t wait to devour her backlist. Exquisitely written, cleverly choreographed, intricately woven and meticulously researched, I felt like I’d stepped back in time when reading this book. 1950s America is brought to life in vivid technicolour and I could see the perfectly manicured lawns and smell the cigarette smoke. The characters are richly drawn and compelling while Lulu is a great protagonist who was likeable and easy to root for. I felt for her being trapped in a world where she has so many expectations on her while she’s in the trenches of motherhood. Men at the time were completely unhelpful so she was basically doing it all alone and it was expected that she do so with a smile on her face and without complaining. In terms of other characters, I really enjoyed Nora, her neighbour and friend, who seemed like a light in her life.

A haunting story with warm humanity at its heart, Meagan shines a light on some important issues including the silencing of women’s voices, medical misdiagnosis, and the dangerous consequences of doctors dismissing women, something that is sadly still all-too prevalent today. But I loved the dark humour that is woven into the story from the start and how such a complex story that explores some dark topics manages to remain enjoyable. And that twist! I did not see it coming and my heart broke in two as it was revealed, pulling the rug from under me and changing everything I thought I knew. Then there is the epilogue. I was fighting back tears and I swear, Meagan, that you were trying to break me. 

A riveting and surprising story that will have you hooked, I highly recommend this book.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✮

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Meagan Church is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of The Mad Wife, The Girls We Sent Away, and The Last Carolina Girl. She writes emotionally-charged, thought-provoking, empathy-inducing stories that explore the complexity of human nature. Her historical fiction chronicles the plight and fight of unheard voices of the past. Meagan holds a B.A. in English from Indiana University and is an adjunct for Drexel University’s MFA in creative writing program. A Midwesterner by birth, she now lives in North Carolina with her high school sweetheart, three children, and a plethora of pets.

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxxx

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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

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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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Audio Books Blog Tours book reviews

BLOG TOUR REVIEW: Under the Blazing Sun by Jenny Lund Masden

Published May 21st, 2026 by Orenda
Mystery, Thriller, Crime Fiction, Nordic Noir

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

Hannah’s love life is in ruins, writer’s block hits, and her agent sends her to Sicily to finish her sequel. But when murder strikes, Hannah’s life turns into the crime novel she’s meant to write. Darkly funny, atmospheric, and full of twists, the second instalment in an addictive new series.

‘Jenny Lund Madsen’s spoof destination thriller is a brilliant follow-up to her meta-mystery Thirty Days of Darkness… It cunningly fulfils Hannah’s promise to her agent that her second crime novel will be “bloodier and more dangerous. Just the way you like it, with lots of twists and turns’ The Times

‘Hilarious, dark and whip-smart, Under the Blazing Sun confirms Madsen as a wonderful literary talent’ Doug Johnstone

‘This flight from Denmark to Sicily will offer plenty of wry smiles for fans of the genre in a clever, double-pronged approach’ Nordic Watchlist

‘The quintessential holiday read, funny and atmospheric. Hannah is the kind of heroine we’d all love as a friend, and it’s also a brilliant evocation of the stunning island landscape of Sicily. My favourite read of the year so far!’ Kate Rhodes

‘A wild ride of murder and humour. The most fun I’ve had reading a crime novel this year’ Will Carver

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Hannah is miserable. Her love life is in ruins, her contract demands a sequel to her bestselling crime debut―and she’s out of ideas. After a mortifying TV interview, her agent ships her off to a sun-drenched Sicilian villa with a simple order: finish the book. No distractions. No excuses.

But inspiration doesn’t strike―murder does.

When a night out ends in murder, Hannah finds herself at the centre of a murder investigation… again. The police want her out of the way, and the only person who seems to believe her is a young but charming Italian police officer. That is, until she doesn’t.

Soon Hannah is chasing suspects, fleeing crime scenes, and doing whatever it takes to avoid becoming the next victim. She came to write a crime novel. Now she’s trapped inside one.

Dark, sly and deliciously atmospheric, Under the Blazing Sun is the second novel in the award-winning series featuring accidental sleuth and disgruntled literary author Hannah, whose pursuit of plot twists keeps turning dangerously real.

BUY HERE

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MY REVIEW:

Hannah’s life isn’t going well. Her love life is in ruins, she’s struggling with writer’s block, and she owes her agent a sequel to her bestselling crime debut. Her agent has an idea and sends her off to Sicily to finish the book free of distractions. But instead of inspiration, Hannah once again finds herself caught up in a murder and now instead of writing a crime novel she is trapped inside one. She’s fleeing crime scenes, dodging the police, hunting down suspects and searching for clues. Can Hannah solve the crime before she becomes the next victim?

Sinister, twisty, devious and darkly funny, Under the Blazing Sun is the second book in Jenny Lund Marsden’s Murder by the Book series. I loved Jenny’s debut, Thirty Days of Darkness, so I was excited to see what was next for writer-turned-accidental sleuth Hannah. And it turns out she is either the unluckiest or luckiest person in the world as she’s once again caught up in a murder while trying to write a crime novel. I love this premise and enjoyed seeing Hannah even more out of her depth this time around. And I enjoyed every second of the ride as she searched for clues, hunted down and questioned suspects and seemed oblivious to the dangerous situations she kept putting herself in.

Well-written, cleverly plotted and full twists, this slow-burn thriller took me a little while to get into but soon had me hooked. The tension ramped up as we approached the finale and I was on the edge of my seat with my heart racing as I impatiently waited to learn Hannah’s fate.

Adding to the tension was the setting itself. The foreignness of Sicily compounds Hannah’s feelings of isolation and everyone and everything feel ominous as she tries to figure out who is friend and who is foe. Jenny draws upon the good and bad of Sicily, nodding to the Mafia history of the island while showcasing the kindness of the locals that could be genuine, or could be a ploy to make Hannah drop her guard. Like Hannah, I struggled to decide which it was. I also couldn’t decide between the array of suspects and found it impossible to predict who the killer was before the big reveal, which wraps the story up nicely whilst perfectly setting things up for a third instalment.

Hannah is a great protagonist. She’s flawed and moody but there’s something about her you can’t help but like and I loved being back with her. The supporting characters were just as richly drawn and added to the intrigue. I also enjoyed the added complications that characters such as her girlfriend Margrét and local police officer, Carlotta, added to Hannah’s life.

A compelling escapade that will have you hooked, I recommend this to all thriller fans.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

Thank you Orenda Books for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Jenny Lund Madsen is one of Denmark’s most acclaimed scriptwriters (including the international hits Rita and Follow the Money) and is known as an advocate for better representation for sexual and ethnic minorities in Danish TV and film. She recently made her debut as a playwright with the critically acclaimed Audition (Aarhus Teater) and her debut literary thriller, Thirty Days of Darkness, first in an addictive new series, won the Harald Mogensen Prize for Best Danish Crime Novel of the year and was shortlisted for the coveted Glass Key Award. She lives in Denmark with her young family.

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx

Please check out the reviews from the other bloggers taking part in the blog tour.

Categories
Blog Tours book reviews

BLOG TOUR REVIEW: Stop Dead (Iceland Mysteries, Book 2) by Katrín Júlíusdóttir

Published May 21st 2026 by Orenda
Mystery, Thriller, Police Procedural, Hardboiled, Noir Fiction

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

When detective-in-training Sigurdís interrupts her studies in the US to return to Iceland, after discovering that the investigation into her abusive father’s death has been dropped, she’s plunged into a completely new case when a controversial TV personality is murdered during the Reykjavík Marathon.

Icelandic detective-in-training Sigurdís is studying criminal psychology in the US, but her plans are thrown into disarray when she discovers that her boss and mentor, Garðar, has been fired from Reykjavík CID over his investigation into Sigurdís’s father’s death. 

Returning to Iceland to deal with the fallout, Sigurdís finds herself pulled into a disturbing case: controversial TV personality Olga Einars has been stabbed to death during the Reykjavík Marathon. Struggling to locate a runner waring the number 1407, who was seen near the murdered woman during the race, the police soon discover that several masked runners were wearing the same number.  

As the mystery deepens, Sigurdís and her fellow detective Unnar soon learn exactly how unpopular Olga was – not just with the interviewees she humiliated on live TV, but with her own son, her business partner, a widower who insists that she had a hand in his wife’s death, and her ex-husband, who died in suspicious circumstances thirty years ago…

As her exploration into Olga’s past becomes ever darker and more harrowing, Sigurdís must also face the truth about her own father, while searching for an attacker who will go to any lengths to cover up their crimes…

BUY HERE

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MY REVIEW:

Sigurdis is studying criminal psychology in the US when she receives a call informing her old boss and mentor, Garðar, has been put on leave from the Reykjavík CID after a standard review called his work into her violent father’s death into question. Sigurdis immediately returns to Iceland and begins to ask questions she’s never considered before about the night her father died. And she is soon pulled into the investigation into the disturbing murder of controversial TV personality Olga Einarsdóttir, who was stabbed to death during the Reykjavik Marathon. It is soon clear that Olga was unpopular with many people, including her business partner and her own son. And questions are being asked about her ex-husband’s death that make Sigurdis and fellow detective, Unnar, wonder if Olga was involved. 

Propulsive, tense, twisty and totally addictive, the second instalment in Katrín Júlíusdóttir’s Iceland Mysteries is Nordic noir at its best. Skillfully written, acutely observed, cleverly plotted and fast-paced, Katrín shows that her sensational debut was not a fluke with this thrilling follow up. I was in her thrall and unable to stop reading once I’d started and was again taken on a turbulent ride filled with dark secrets and traumatic pasts that come back to haunt you. With  multiple timelines, two different crime investigations, a vast array of characters and numerous suspects, it is a testament to Katrín’s skill that none of this ever feels confusing. I had so many predictions and loved that I was never sure which were right and which were wrong, keeping me on a knife-edge of suspense and anticipation right up until the last page.

The book is filled with a cast of characters who are richly drawn, relatable and real. Sigurdis is a great protagonist and I loved being back with her. She’s likeable and easy to root for, but also flawed and complex, her dark and traumatic past causing CPTSD. That past plagues her this time around as questions are asked about her violent father’s death. Could her mother have killed him or did he take his own life as Sigurdis has always believed? Katrín writes about these topics with authenticity, honesty and sensitivity, really making you feel the characters’ emotions at every step. But it isn’t all dark, and one aspect of the story that provided some light was Sigurdis’ relationship with fellow detective, Unnar. The chemistry sizzles between them from the start and I was rooting for them to give into it and finally get together. But did they? You’ll have to read to find out.

An addictive thriller that keeps you on your toes, I highly recommend this one.

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✰

Thank you Orenda for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Katrín is a Policy advisor and author. She received the Blackbird Award, an Icelandic crime-writing prize, for her first novel, Sykur (en: Sugar) in 2020. Her debut novel was reviewed well by critics and hit the best-selling lists in the first weeks after publication.

She was the Managing Director of Finance Iceland from 2016-2022. She has a political background and was a member of Parliament from 2003 until 2016. The Minister of industry, energy and tourism from 2009-2012 and Minister of finance and economy from 2012-2013. She served as the Social Democratic Alliance’s vice-chair from 2013-2016.

Before she was elected to Parliament, Katrín was an advisor and project manager at a tech company and a senior buyer and CEO in the retail sector, as well as the Managing Director of a student union during her uni years. She worked from a young age in the fishing industry, as a store clerk and took nighttime shifts at a pizza place. She studied Anthropology and has an MBA from Reykjavík University.

She was raised in Kópavogur, about 15 minutes’ drive from downtown Reykjavík. She now lives in the neighbouring town of Garðabær with her family. She is married to author Bjarni M. Bjarnason, who encouraged her to start writing. They have four boys.

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ABOUT THE TRANSLATOR:

Larissa Kyzer is a writer and Icelandic to English literary translator. In 2019, she was awarded the American Scandinavian Foundation’s translation prize. That same year, she was one of Princeton University’s Translators in Residence. Larissa has received grant funding and support from the National Endowment for the Arts, the European Union Prize for Literature, the Fulbright Commission, the Icelandic Ministry of Education and Culture, the Icelandic Literature Center, and Finland’s Kone Foundation. She is an at-large board member of the American Literary Translators Association, a member of the Translators Organizing Committee, and runs the virtual Women+ in Translation reading series Jill!

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Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxxx

Please check out the reviews from the other bloggers taking part in the blog tour.

Categories
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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