en-US Sun, 19 Jan 2025 09:45:08 -0800 60 144 41 /images/layout/goodreads_logo_144.jpg 445046 The battle ends here! 216 Tsugumi Ohba 1421513277 Ri 4 manga, read-in-2025, thriller 4.39 2006
author: Tsugumi Ohba
name: Ri
average rating: 4.39
book published: 2006
rating: 4
read at: 2025/01/09
date added: 2025/01/19
shelves: manga, read-in-2025, thriller
review:

]]> 445044 216 Tsugumi Ohba 1421511789 Ri 3 manga, read-in-2025, thriller 4.21 2006
author: Tsugumi Ohba
name: Ri
average rating: 4.21
book published: 2006
rating: 3
read at: 2025/01/09
date added: 2025/01/19
shelves: manga, read-in-2025, thriller
review:

]]> 13623 188 Tsugumi Ohba 142151155X Ri 3 manga, read-in-2025, thriller 4.21 2006
author: Tsugumi Ohba
name: Ri
average rating: 4.21
book published: 2006
rating: 3
read at: 2025/01/09
date added: 2025/01/19
shelves: manga, read-in-2025, thriller
review:

]]> 13622 208 Tsugumi Ohba 1421506300 Ri 3 manga, read-in-2025, thriller 4.20 2005
author: Tsugumi Ohba
name: Ri
average rating: 4.20
book published: 2005
rating: 3
read at: 2025/01/08
date added: 2025/01/19
shelves: manga, read-in-2025, thriller
review:

]]> 13614 208 Tsugumi Ohba 1421506297 Ri 3 manga, read-in-2025, thriller 4.23 2005
author: Tsugumi Ohba
name: Ri
average rating: 4.23
book published: 2005
rating: 3
read at: 2025/01/08
date added: 2025/01/19
shelves: manga, read-in-2025, thriller
review:

]]> 13615
Boredom
Light tests the boundaries of the Death Note's powers as L and the police begin to close in. Luckily, Light's father is the head of the Japanese National Police Agency and leaves vital information about the case lying around the house. With access to his father's files, Light can keep one step ahead of the authorities. But who is the strange man following him, and how can Light guard against enemies whose names he doesn't know?]]> 195 Tsugumi Ohba 1421501686 Ri 4 manga, read-in-2025, thriller 4.47 2004
author: Tsugumi Ohba
name: Ri
average rating: 4.47
book published: 2004
rating: 4
read at: 2025/01/03
date added: 2025/01/19
shelves: manga, read-in-2025, thriller
review:

]]> 13619 197 Tsugumi Ohba 1421501694 Ri 4 manga, read-in-2025, thriller 4.48 2004
author: Tsugumi Ohba
name: Ri
average rating: 4.48
book published: 2004
rating: 4
read at: 2025/01/03
date added: 2025/01/19
shelves: manga, read-in-2025, thriller
review:

]]> 13618 193 Tsugumi Ohba 1421501708 Ri 4 manga, read-in-2025, thriller 4.46 2004
author: Tsugumi Ohba
name: Ri
average rating: 4.46
book published: 2004
rating: 4
read at: 2025/01/04
date added: 2025/01/19
shelves: manga, read-in-2025, thriller
review:

]]> 13616 204 Tsugumi Ohba 142150331X Ri 4 manga, read-in-2025, thriller 4.42 2004
author: Tsugumi Ohba
name: Ri
average rating: 4.42
book published: 2004
rating: 4
read at: 2025/01/04
date added: 2025/01/19
shelves: manga, read-in-2025, thriller
review:

]]> 13617 201 Tsugumi Ohba 1421506262 Ri 3 manga, read-in-2025, thriller 4.33 2005
author: Tsugumi Ohba
name: Ri
average rating: 4.33
book published: 2005
rating: 3
read at: 2025/01/04
date added: 2025/01/19
shelves: manga, read-in-2025, thriller
review:

]]> 13620 215 Tsugumi Ohba 1421506270 Ri 4 manga, read-in-2025, thriller 4.39 2005
author: Tsugumi Ohba
name: Ri
average rating: 4.39
book published: 2005
rating: 4
read at: 2025/01/04
date added: 2025/01/19
shelves: manga, read-in-2025, thriller
review:

]]> 13621 211 Tsugumi Ohba 1421506289 Ri 3 manga, read-in-2025, thriller 4.44 2005
author: Tsugumi Ohba
name: Ri
average rating: 4.44
book published: 2005
rating: 3
read at: 2025/01/06
date added: 2025/01/19
shelves: manga, read-in-2025, thriller
review:

]]> 25362841
Diana has heard of a town made for people like her, a town that takes in people on the run who want to shed their old lives. You must apply to live in Rockton and if you're accepted, it means walking away entirely from your old life, and living off the grid in the wilds of Canada: no cell phones, no Internet, no mail, no computers, very little electricity, and no way of getting in or out without the town council's approval. As a murderer, Casey isn't a good candidate, but she has something they want: She's a homicide detective, and Rockton has just had its first real murder. She and Diana are in. However, soon after arriving, Casey realizes that the identity of a murderer isn't the only secret Rockton is hiding—in fact, she starts to wonder if she and Diana might be in even more danger in Rockton than they were in their old lives.]]> 471 Kelley Armstrong 075156253X Ri 4 4.03 2016
author: Kelley Armstrong
name: Ri
average rating: 4.03
book published: 2016
rating: 4
read at: 2024/02/20
date added: 2024/02/20
shelves: 2024-favourites, read-in-2024, thriller
review:

]]> 50358142 From the author of You Must Not Miss comes a haunting contemporary horror novel that explores themes of mental illness, rage, and grief, twisted with spine-chilling elements of Stephen King and Agatha Christie.

Following her father's death, Jane North-Robinson and her mom move from sunny California to the dreary, dilapidated old house in Maine where her mother grew up. All they want is a fresh start, but behind North Manor's doors lurks a history that leaves them feeling more alone . . . and more tormented.

As the cold New England autumn arrives, and Jane settles in to her new home, she finds solace in old books and memories of her dad. She steadily begins making new friends, but also faces bullying from the resident "bad seed," struggling to tamp down her own worst nature in response. Jane's mom also seems to be spiraling with the return of her childhood home, but she won't reveal why. Then Jane discovers that the "storage room" her mom has kept locked isn't for storage at all—it's a little girl's bedroom, left untouched for years and not quite as empty of inhabitants as it appears . . .

Is it grief? Mental illness? Or something more . . . horrid?]]> 327 Katrina Leno 0316537241 Ri 4 3.54 2020
author: Katrina Leno
name: Ri
average rating: 3.54
book published: 2020
rating: 4
read at: 2024/01/24
date added: 2024/01/24
shelves: 2024-favourites, highly-recommended, read-in-2024, thriller, young-adult
review:
Amazing YA thriller - did not expect that ending!
]]> 36405454 A brilliantly original high concept murder mystery from a fantastic new talent: Gosford Park meets Inception, by way of Agatha Christie and Black Mirror.

'Somebody's going to be murdered at the ball tonight. It won't appear to be a murder and so the murderer won't be caught. Rectify that injustice and I'll show you the way out.'

It is meant to be a celebration but it ends in tragedy. As fireworks explode overhead, Evelyn Hardcastle, the young and beautiful daughter of the house, is killed.

But Evelyn will not die just once. Until Aiden � one of the guests summoned to Blackheath for the party � can solve her murder, the day will repeat itself, over and over again. Every time ending with the fateful pistol shot.

The only way to break this cycle is to identify the killer. But each time the day begins again, Aiden wakes in the body of a different guest. And someone is determined to prevent him ever escaping Blackheath...

Also titled as The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle.]]> 528 Stuart Turton Ri 3
This is hands down one of the most creative books I've read in a long time. The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle is Groundhog Day meets Agatha Christie. Fans who love whodunnit books will enjoy this story with its twists. The main character, Aidan Bishop, relives the same day over and over in a mission to find who murders Evelyn Hardcastle.

This isn't your ordinary crime novel though. In this book, Aidan is able to 'jump' from one character to another, allowing him to live the same day through someone else's perspective. I found this part of the book particularly clever and plotting the book with all the time shifts Turton adds to the mix must have been a mission and a half. It worked incredibly well though and it was my favourite thing about the book.

One thing that didn't work well for me was the pacing. The book kicks off with a great start but after reading 20% of it, it stalled quite a bit as Aidan relived each day. The mini hints and clues kept me reading but it also got quite repetitive. The last 10-15% of the book then became very action packed as it tied everything together. The thing is, I loved the reveal and what came after it BUT since the book also introduced some new information at the end, I was left wanting more.Ěý So yes, it's a solid standalone, but I also wished it was a series? I mean that's a good sign, right?

Overall, I would recommend this book for fans of mystery/crime/thriller books. It's a unique novel with a blend of genres and I'm always going to love it for that.

ARC received from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.




]]> 3.97 2018
author: Stuart Turton
name: Ri
average rating: 3.97
book published: 2018
rating: 3
read at: 2018/03/27
date added: 2023/11/01
shelves: crime-fiction, mystery, read-in-2018, sci-fi, thriller, time-travel
review:
Rating: 3.5/5

This is hands down one of the most creative books I've read in a long time. The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle is Groundhog Day meets Agatha Christie. Fans who love whodunnit books will enjoy this story with its twists. The main character, Aidan Bishop, relives the same day over and over in a mission to find who murders Evelyn Hardcastle.

This isn't your ordinary crime novel though. In this book, Aidan is able to 'jump' from one character to another, allowing him to live the same day through someone else's perspective. I found this part of the book particularly clever and plotting the book with all the time shifts Turton adds to the mix must have been a mission and a half. It worked incredibly well though and it was my favourite thing about the book.

One thing that didn't work well for me was the pacing. The book kicks off with a great start but after reading 20% of it, it stalled quite a bit as Aidan relived each day. The mini hints and clues kept me reading but it also got quite repetitive. The last 10-15% of the book then became very action packed as it tied everything together. The thing is, I loved the reveal and what came after it BUT since the book also introduced some new information at the end, I was left wanting more.Ěý So yes, it's a solid standalone, but I also wished it was a series? I mean that's a good sign, right?

Overall, I would recommend this book for fans of mystery/crime/thriller books. It's a unique novel with a blend of genres and I'm always going to love it for that.

ARC received from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.





]]> 61156433 A young woman’s carefully constructed fantasy world implodes in this brilliantly conceived novel that blurs distinctions between right and wrong, comedy and tragedy, imagination and reality: "Surreal . . . leaves you with the creeping certainty that there is a different world lurking just under the surface of our own, filled with technicolor lies and terrible truths"Ěý(Alix E. Harrow, New York Times bestselling and Hugo‑award winning author).

Katrina Kim may be broke, the black sheep of her family, and slightly unhinged, but she isn’t a stalker. Her obsession with her co-worker, Kurt, is just one of many coping mechanisms—like her constant shape and number rituals, or the way scenes from her favorite children’s book bleed into her vision whenever she feels anxious or stressed.

But when Katrina finds a cryptic message from Kurt that implies he’s aware of her surveillance, her tenuous hold on a normal life crumbles. Driven by compulsion, she enacts the most powerful ritual she has to reclaim control—a midnight visit to the Cayatoga Bridge—and arrives just in time to witness Kurt’s suicide. Before he jumps, he slams her with a devastating accusation: his death is all her fault.

Horrified, Katrina combs through the clues she’s collected about Kurt over the last three years, but each revelation uncovers a menacing truth: for every moment she was watching him, he was watching her. And the past she thought she’d left behind? It’s been following her more closely than she ever could have imagined.

A gripping page-turner, as well as a sensitive exploration of mental health, Liar, Dreamer, Thief is an intimate portrayal of life in all its complexities—and the dangers inherent in unveiling people’s most closely guarded secrets.]]> Maria Dong 1668621002 Ri 4
Thank you to the publisher and Libro FM for my ALC! All opinions my own.]]> 3.53 2023
author: Maria Dong
name: Ri
average rating: 3.53
book published: 2023
rating: 4
read at: 2023/01/11
date added: 2023/01/14
shelves: mystery, read-in-2023, thriller, 2023-favourites
review:
This was freaking fantastic. Started off a little weak for me but got stronger and stronger as it went on. Longer review to come once I organize my thoughts.

Thank you to the publisher and Libro FM for my ALC! All opinions my own.
]]> 42429769
A short, darkly funny hand grenade of a novel about a Nigerian woman whose younger sister has a very inconvenient habit of killing her boyfriends.

"Femi makes three, you know. Three and they label you a serial killer."

Korede is bitter. How could she not be? Her sister, Ayoola, is many things: the favorite child, the beautiful one, possibly sociopathic. And now Ayoola's third boyfriend in a row is dead.

Korede's practicality is the sisters' saving grace. She knows the best solutions for cleaning blood, the trunk of her car is big enough for a body, and she keeps Ayoola from posting pictures of her dinner to Instagram when she should be mourning her "missing" boyfriend. Not that she gets any credit.

Korede has long been in love with a kind, handsome doctor at the hospital where she works. She dreams of the day when he will realize she's exactly what he needs. But when he asks Korede for Ayoola's phone number, she must reckon with what her sister has become and how far she's willing to go to protect her.

Sharp as nails and full of deadpan wit, Oyinkan Braithwaite's deliciously deadly debut is as fun as it is frightening.]]> 226 Oyinkan Braithwaite Ri 4
I didn't realize how much I needed a satirical slasher book in my life until this one and oh was it GOOD. I don't usually read thrillers but this was so much more than that. My Sister, the Serial Killer is about two sisters who couldn't be more different from each other. There's Korede, the older sister who is bitter about everything her younger sister, Ayoola, has. Ayoola has beauty, charm, and their mother's favour while Korede is often considered subpar in everything she does. My Sister, the Serial Killer is dark, witty, and funny all at once. Braithwaite masterfully includes a social commentary on women's roles in society, social media, and abuse to name a few. It's a story of sisterhood, moral dilemmas, and dysfunctional relationships. It's fascinating and highly addictive, and Braithwaite is a writer to watch out for.]]> 3.56 2018
author: Oyinkan Braithwaite
name: Ri
average rating: 3.56
book published: 2018
rating: 4
read at: 2019/02/02
date added: 2019/02/23
shelves: 2019-favourites, highly-recommended, read-in-2019, thriller, audiobook
review:
4.5/5

I didn't realize how much I needed a satirical slasher book in my life until this one and oh was it GOOD. I don't usually read thrillers but this was so much more than that. My Sister, the Serial Killer is about two sisters who couldn't be more different from each other. There's Korede, the older sister who is bitter about everything her younger sister, Ayoola, has. Ayoola has beauty, charm, and their mother's favour while Korede is often considered subpar in everything she does. My Sister, the Serial Killer is dark, witty, and funny all at once. Braithwaite masterfully includes a social commentary on women's roles in society, social media, and abuse to name a few. It's a story of sisterhood, moral dilemmas, and dysfunctional relationships. It's fascinating and highly addictive, and Braithwaite is a writer to watch out for.
]]> 38496985
As the guests arrive at beautiful, remote Mitchell's Inn, they're all looking forward to a relaxing weekend deep in the forest, miles from anywhere. They watch their fellow guests with interest, from a polite distance.

Usually we can avoid the people who make us nervous, make us afraid.

With a violent storm raging, the group finds itself completely cut off from the outside world. Nobody can get in - or out. And then the first body is found . . . and the horrifying truth comes to light. There's a killer among them - and nowhere to run.

Until we find ourselves in a situation we can't escape. Trapped.]]> 290 Shari Lapena 0385690797 Ri 3 3.82 2018
author: Shari Lapena
name: Ri
average rating: 3.82
book published: 2018
rating: 3
read at: 2018/10/20
date added: 2018/10/22
shelves: mystery, read-in-2018, thriller
review:
Like And Then There Were None, with an additional twist.
]]> 23492630
There is only one Guinevere Beck in New York City. She has a public Facebook account and Tweets incessantly, telling Joe everything he needs to know: she is simply Beck to her friends, she went to Brown University, she lives on Bank Street, and she’ll be at a bar in Brooklyn tonight—the perfect place for a “chance� meeting.

As Joe invisibly and obsessively takes control of Beck’s life, he orchestrates a series of events to ensure Beck finds herself in his waiting arms. Moving from stalker to boyfriend, Joe transforms himself into Beck’s perfect man, all while quietly removing the obstacles that stand in their way—even if it means murder.

A terrifying exploration of how vulnerable we all are to stalking and manipulation.]]> 422 Caroline Kepnes 1476785600 Ri 2 read-in-2018, thriller 3.96 2014
author: Caroline Kepnes
name: Ri
average rating: 3.96
book published: 2014
rating: 2
read at: 2018/10/17
date added: 2018/10/18
shelves: read-in-2018, thriller
review:

]]> 17235026
Every morning, Melanie waits in her cell to be collected for class. When they come for her, Sergeant Parks keeps his gun pointing at her while two of his people strap her into the wheelchair. She thinks they don't like her. She jokes that she won't bite, but they don't laugh.

Melanie loves school. She loves learning about spelling and sums and the world outside the classroom and the children's cells. She tells her favorite teacher all the things she'll do when she grows up. Melanie doesn't know why this makes Miss Justineau look sad.

The Girl with All the Gifts is a sensational thriller, perfect for fans of Stephen King, Justin Cronin, and Neil Gaiman.]]> 461 M.R. Carey 0356500152 Ri 4
I love good standalones. You'll usually find me raving about them because they're so rare. A well-written standalone typically becomes a favourite on my shelf and I'm proud to say that The Girl with All the Gifts is now one of them!

TGWATG is best experienced when you know nothing about it coming in. You can read the synopsis but DON'T read reviews until you're finished. What I love about this book is discovering the world and its secrets through the eyes of the main character Melanie. But it's not just that. Melanie learns about herself and her place in the world with the reader. If you've read Flowers for Algernon, you'll know what I mean. This way of writing worked so well for Melanie's growth and character development that I couldn't help but love her.

TGWATG focuses on Melanie and four other characters. Because of this, some chapters are told from their perspectives and I like how that added more to the worldbuilding of the story. Each character had a distinct voice and specific things motivating them to act the way they do, and the best part was that I could relate to them and understand where they were coming from.

This book was a page-turner with the right amount of break in between. It had action, facts, internal struggles, obstacles, and heartbreaking moments. I do wish Carey expanded on the ending a little bit, or took more time to get there. Other than that TGWATG was a very satisfying read and it's one book I'll be recommending from now on.

TGWATG was my second pick for . It was highly recommended to me by a few friends and I'm so glad I read it. Don't let the 'thriller' or 'horror' labels scare you. This book has so much more to offer and for someone who's never read horror, I'm surprised to see TGWATG under that category. I was very hesitant to read books for this month's challenge but I've enjoyed everything I've read so far. Here's to more discoveries!]]> 3.94 2014
author: M.R. Carey
name: Ri
average rating: 3.94
book published: 2014
rating: 4
read at: 2016/10/25
date added: 2017/07/04
shelves: 2016-colour-me-read-challenge, highly-recommended, thriller, horror, read-in-2016, 2016-favourites
review:
4.5/5 stars

I love good standalones. You'll usually find me raving about them because they're so rare. A well-written standalone typically becomes a favourite on my shelf and I'm proud to say that The Girl with All the Gifts is now one of them!

TGWATG is best experienced when you know nothing about it coming in. You can read the synopsis but DON'T read reviews until you're finished. What I love about this book is discovering the world and its secrets through the eyes of the main character Melanie. But it's not just that. Melanie learns about herself and her place in the world with the reader. If you've read Flowers for Algernon, you'll know what I mean. This way of writing worked so well for Melanie's growth and character development that I couldn't help but love her.

TGWATG focuses on Melanie and four other characters. Because of this, some chapters are told from their perspectives and I like how that added more to the worldbuilding of the story. Each character had a distinct voice and specific things motivating them to act the way they do, and the best part was that I could relate to them and understand where they were coming from.

This book was a page-turner with the right amount of break in between. It had action, facts, internal struggles, obstacles, and heartbreaking moments. I do wish Carey expanded on the ending a little bit, or took more time to get there. Other than that TGWATG was a very satisfying read and it's one book I'll be recommending from now on.

TGWATG was my second pick for . It was highly recommended to me by a few friends and I'm so glad I read it. Don't let the 'thriller' or 'horror' labels scare you. This book has so much more to offer and for someone who's never read horror, I'm surprised to see TGWATG under that category. I was very hesitant to read books for this month's challenge but I've enjoyed everything I've read so far. Here's to more discoveries!
]]> 32796253 Ěý
Now, Quincy is doing well—maybe even great, thanks to her Xanax prescription. She has a caring almost-fiancé, Jeff; a popular baking blog; a beautiful apartment; and a therapeutic presence in Coop, the police officer who saved her life all those years ago. Her memory won’t even allow her to recall the events of that night; the past is in the past.
Ěý
That is, until Lisa, the first Final Girl, is found dead in her bathtub, wrists slit, and Sam, the second, appears on Quincy's doorstep. Blowing through Quincy's life like a whirlwind, Sam seems intent on making Quincy relive the past, with increasingly dire consequences, all of which makes Quincy question why Sam is really seeking her out. And when new details about Lisa's death come to light, Quincy's life becomes a race against time as she tries to unravel Sam's truths from her lies, evade the police and hungry reporters, and, most crucially, remember what really happened at Pine Cottage, before what was started ten years ago is finished.]]> 352 Riley Sager 1101985364 Ri 4 read-in-2017, thriller do read them, end up enjoying them, and roll my eyes at myself for not reading them sooner. Had it not been for Dutton Books sending me a copy of Final Girls, I probably would have added it to my TBR and left it there to collect imaginary virtual dust.

I'm so glad I read it though because I haven't flown through a book that quickly in a long time!

I enjoyed reading about the main character, Quincy, and how her life has been after what she went through. I was intrigued by the idea of a Final Girl which was a term coined for the last surviving girl in horror movies. In this book, there were three and while the story focuses on Quincy, we also got to read about two other Final Girls.

It's hard to say much without spoiling anything but I really liked how Sager wrote her characters. They were interesting yet 'normal' enough to be relatable while being suspicious and unreliable at the same time. I was hooked by every new piece of information that could lead me to guess the missing pieces in Quincy's story but as hard as I tried to figure out the plot twist, I was off until just before the reveal. Sager put enough misdirection in the book that it challenged any assumptions I had, which was what made it fun!

The only thing I didn't like about the book was the underwhelming feeling I got with the reveal. The reason behind the person's actions was quite... anticlimactic and I just expected a bit more punch to come along with it. I also thought the ending, particularly the last page, was a little cheesy/out of character. I could see the character making the same decision in the future but not at the time she did. It just felt a bit too clean and convenient.

Overall, Final Girls was a successful debut novel by Riley Sager and I'll be on the look out for her future releases. I recently discovered Sager is a pseudonym too so I'm also very curious about what else she writes under.]]> 3.81 2017
author: Riley Sager
name: Ri
average rating: 3.81
book published: 2017
rating: 4
read at: 2017/07/01
date added: 2017/07/02
shelves: read-in-2017, thriller
review:
I tend to avoid Thrillers because I always think I'm too much of a wimp to read them. And then I do read them, end up enjoying them, and roll my eyes at myself for not reading them sooner. Had it not been for Dutton Books sending me a copy of Final Girls, I probably would have added it to my TBR and left it there to collect imaginary virtual dust.

I'm so glad I read it though because I haven't flown through a book that quickly in a long time!

I enjoyed reading about the main character, Quincy, and how her life has been after what she went through. I was intrigued by the idea of a Final Girl which was a term coined for the last surviving girl in horror movies. In this book, there were three and while the story focuses on Quincy, we also got to read about two other Final Girls.

It's hard to say much without spoiling anything but I really liked how Sager wrote her characters. They were interesting yet 'normal' enough to be relatable while being suspicious and unreliable at the same time. I was hooked by every new piece of information that could lead me to guess the missing pieces in Quincy's story but as hard as I tried to figure out the plot twist, I was off until just before the reveal. Sager put enough misdirection in the book that it challenged any assumptions I had, which was what made it fun!

The only thing I didn't like about the book was the underwhelming feeling I got with the reveal. The reason behind the person's actions was quite... anticlimactic and I just expected a bit more punch to come along with it. I also thought the ending, particularly the last page, was a little cheesy/out of character. I could see the character making the same decision in the future but not at the time she did. It just felt a bit too clean and convenient.

Overall, Final Girls was a successful debut novel by Riley Sager and I'll be on the look out for her future releases. I recently discovered Sager is a pseudonym too so I'm also very curious about what else she writes under.
]]> 29758010 THE #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER!

Lisa Gardner's latest thriller following her runaway hit Find Her takes her wildly popular brand of suspense to new heights.

Eight years ago, Sharlah May Nash's older brother beat their drunken father to death with a baseball bat in order to save both of their lives. Now thirteen years old, Sharlah has finally moved on. About to be adopted by retired FBI profiler Pierce Quincy and his partner, Rainie Conner, Sharlah loves one thing best about her new family: They are all experts on monsters.

Then the call comes in. A double murder at a local gas station, followed by reports of an armed suspect shooting his way through the wilds of Oregon. As Quincy and Rainie race to assist, they are forced to confront mounting evidence: The shooter may very well be Sharlah's older brother, Telly Ray Nash, and it appears his killing spree has only just begun.

As the clock winds down on a massive hunt for Telly, Quincy and Rainie must answer two critical questions: Why after eight years has this young man started killing again? And what does this mean for Sharlah? Once upon a time, Sharlah's big brother saved her life. Now, she has two questions of her own: Is her brother a hero or a killer? And how much will it cost her new family before they learn the final, shattering truth? Because as Sharlah knows all too well, the biggest danger is the one standing right behind you.]]> Lisa Gardner 1472220358 Ri 4 I received an advance reading copy of this book from Dutton Books and Penguin Random House in exchange for an honest review.

4.5/5 stars

I can count the number of thrillers I’ve read in one hand but since I started reading them in 2016, it’s one genre I’ve enjoyed coming back to. Lisa Gardner’s Right Behind You was the thriller I didn’t know I was searching for.

Here’s what I loved about it:

I could tell a lot of research went into writing Right Behind You. From handling specific guns, tracking fugitives, background on the foster system, and mental disorders, I appreciated the amount of information the author provided without turning it into a dull info dump.

Readers who love seeing the behind-the-scenes of police/investigative work will have fun with this book. I loved watching the characters� line of thinking with each theory they came up with, specially when they’d find contradicting evidence.

The best part about Right Behind You is that I cared about the characters. Any author who can get me invested in a character’s story is a must-read in my books. There’s being interested in how things turn out and there’s also the need-to-know kind where you can’t possibly sleep unless you know certain characters are going to be okay. Right Behind You did that which, being a thriller, I didn’t think was possible (I know, I’m new).

I did feel the book was repetitive and a touch dramatic in parts but these were very minor when it came to how much I loved reading it. Right Behind You is definitely a thriller you don’t want to miss. It felt like watching a multi-episode storyline of Law & Order and I was ready to cancel my plans and binge-watch all day. Right Behind You is one exciting page-turner that will leave Lisa Gardner on my watch list for years to come.]]> 4.04 2017
author: Lisa Gardner
name: Ri
average rating: 4.04
book published: 2017
rating: 4
read at: 2017/01/13
date added: 2017/01/21
shelves: mystery, thriller, read-in-2017
review:
I received an advance reading copy of this book from Dutton Books and Penguin Random House in exchange for an honest review.

4.5/5 stars

I can count the number of thrillers I’ve read in one hand but since I started reading them in 2016, it’s one genre I’ve enjoyed coming back to. Lisa Gardner’s Right Behind You was the thriller I didn’t know I was searching for.

Here’s what I loved about it:

I could tell a lot of research went into writing Right Behind You. From handling specific guns, tracking fugitives, background on the foster system, and mental disorders, I appreciated the amount of information the author provided without turning it into a dull info dump.

Readers who love seeing the behind-the-scenes of police/investigative work will have fun with this book. I loved watching the characters� line of thinking with each theory they came up with, specially when they’d find contradicting evidence.

The best part about Right Behind You is that I cared about the characters. Any author who can get me invested in a character’s story is a must-read in my books. There’s being interested in how things turn out and there’s also the need-to-know kind where you can’t possibly sleep unless you know certain characters are going to be okay. Right Behind You did that which, being a thriller, I didn’t think was possible (I know, I’m new).

I did feel the book was repetitive and a touch dramatic in parts but these were very minor when it came to how much I loved reading it. Right Behind You is definitely a thriller you don’t want to miss. It felt like watching a multi-episode storyline of Law & Order and I was ready to cancel my plans and binge-watch all day. Right Behind You is one exciting page-turner that will leave Lisa Gardner on my watch list for years to come.
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But that woman’s husband died last week. And Jean doesn’t have to be her anymore.

There’s a lot Jean hasn’t said over the years about the crime her husband was suspected of committing. She was too busy being the perfect wife, standing by her man while living with the accusing glares and the anonymous harassment.

Now there’s no reason to stay quiet. There are people who want to hear her story. They want to know what it was like living with that man. She can tell them that there were secrets. There always are in a marriage.

The truth—that’s all anyone wants. But the one lesson Jean has learned in the last few years is that she can make people believe anything…]]> 324 Fiona Barton 1101990260 Ri 3
The Widow was my Thriller pick for . I'm not a frequent reader of this genre so while I was up for taking on the challenge, I didn't really look forward to it. I did love The Girl on the Train when I read it, so part of me also missed that experience.

The Widow is the perfect book for people curious enough to dabble in this genre but know in their heart of hearts that they would rather start with something mild. I'm one of those people by the way, so this book was right for me. There was nothing graphic or gory in the book and I was able to read it without being concerned about nightmares.

My favourite thing about this book was the changing perspectives from the widow, the reporter, and the detective. I'm normally not a fan of books written in this format because they typically end a character's chapter with a cliffhanger, but the great thing about The Widow is that it continues cliffhangers from the perspective of another character. I loved this part of the story because I was hopping from one mind to the next, looking at the case through the eyes of people who have very different motives.

This book was a faster read than I anticipated and while I don't think it's as thrilling as The Girl on the Train, it's interesting and captivating in its own right. I will say that it felt like a wild goose chase in parts and it kept building to a climax that didn't quite deliver it.

Overall, I would recommend The Widow to new readers of this genre and while seasoned readers may still enjoy it, they may find its thriller factor underwhelming.]]> 3.44 2016
author: Fiona Barton
name: Ri
average rating: 3.44
book published: 2016
rating: 3
read at: 2016/10/18
date added: 2016/10/18
shelves: 2016-colour-me-read-challenge, read-in-2016, thriller
review:
3.5/5 stars

The Widow was my Thriller pick for . I'm not a frequent reader of this genre so while I was up for taking on the challenge, I didn't really look forward to it. I did love The Girl on the Train when I read it, so part of me also missed that experience.

The Widow is the perfect book for people curious enough to dabble in this genre but know in their heart of hearts that they would rather start with something mild. I'm one of those people by the way, so this book was right for me. There was nothing graphic or gory in the book and I was able to read it without being concerned about nightmares.

My favourite thing about this book was the changing perspectives from the widow, the reporter, and the detective. I'm normally not a fan of books written in this format because they typically end a character's chapter with a cliffhanger, but the great thing about The Widow is that it continues cliffhangers from the perspective of another character. I loved this part of the story because I was hopping from one mind to the next, looking at the case through the eyes of people who have very different motives.

This book was a faster read than I anticipated and while I don't think it's as thrilling as The Girl on the Train, it's interesting and captivating in its own right. I will say that it felt like a wild goose chase in parts and it kept building to a climax that didn't quite deliver it.

Overall, I would recommend The Widow to new readers of this genre and while seasoned readers may still enjoy it, they may find its thriller factor underwhelming.
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