Looking at my Instagram page and comparing it to here, I’ve been slacking when it comes to getting my reviews posted! I’m going to split them up so I don’t have all seven in one post. I’ll have the horror books in this post and the thrillers in the next post.
Thanks to the mentioned publishers for any gifted copies!
Mini Reviews – August 2023 – Horror Books
LOOKING GLASS SOUND – Catriona Ward (Released August 8th, 2023 – Thanks to Tor Nightfire for the copy)
Looking Glass Sound is the newest twisty psychological horror novel from Catriona Ward, the internationally bestselling author of The Last House on Needless Street and Sundial.
In a lonely cottage overlooking the windswept Maine coast, Wilder Harlow begins the last book he will ever write. It is the story of his childhood summer companions and the killer that stalked the small New England town. Of the body they found, and the horror of that discovery echoing down the decades. And of Sky, Wilder’s one-time best friend, who stole his unfinished memoir and turned it into a lurid bestselling novel, Looking Glass Sound.
But as Wilder writes, the lines between memory and fiction blur. He fears he’s losing his grip on reality when he finds notes hidden around the cottage written in Sky’s signature green ink.
Catriona Ward delivers another mind-bending and cleverly crafted tale about one man’s struggle to come to terms with the terrors of his past… before it’s too late.
My Thoughts: 5/5 stars – I love Catriona Ward’s books, and I know there’s always something creepy waiting for me when I start. Wow, this book was incredibly twisty and really keeps you on the edge of your seat.
When I say this book makes your brain really work, I’m not exaggerating. This had my undivided attention, and I was almost positive I had it all figured out. Nope. I was so wrong, and that just goes to show how well she can weave a story. I think the synopsis is the perfect amount of information without risking spoilers. I recommend this and her other books
MISTER MAGIC – Kiersten White (Released August 8th, 2023 – Thanks to Del Rey for the copy)
Who is Mister Magic? Former child stars reunite to uncover the tragedy that ended their show—and discover the secret of its enigmatic host—in this dark supernatural thriller from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Hide.
Thirty years after a tragic accident shut down production of the classic children’s program Mister Magic, the five surviving cast members have done their best to move on. But just as generations of cultishly devoted fans still cling to the lessons they learned from the show, the cast, known as the Circle of Friends, have spent their lives searching for the happiness they felt while they were on it. The friendship. The feeling of belonging. And the protection of Mister Magic.
But with no surviving video of the show, no evidence of who directed or produced it, and no records of who—or what—the beloved host actually was, memories are all the former Circle of Friends has.
Then a twist of fate brings the castmates back together at the remote desert filming compound that feels like it’s been waiting for them all this time. Even though they haven’t seen each other for years, they understand one another better than anyone has since.
After all, they’re the only ones who hold the secret of that circle, the mystery of the magic man in his infinitely black cape, and, maybe, the answers to what really happened on that deadly last day. But as the Circle of Friends reclaim parts of their past, they begin to wonder: Are they here by choice, or have they been lured into a trap?
Because magic never forgets the taste of your friendship. . . .
My Thoughts: 5/5 stars – I read, and loved, Hide last year so I was excited to see how her next book would be. A book involving cults never disappoints and I was just so sucked into this one and I couldn’t put it down. This is a dark read and I don’t want to accidentally spoil anything, so I’ll just leave you with the synopsis below. Highly recommend and I can’t wait for more!
FULL BRUTAL – Kristopher Triana (Released January 1st, 2018)
Kim White is a very popular cheerleader. She’s pretty, healthy, and comes from a well-off family. She has everything a girl of sixteen is supposed to want. And she’s sick to death of it.
In search of something to pull her out of suicidal thoughts, she decides to lose her virginity, having heard it’s a life-changing event. But Kim doesn’t want to do it the same way the other girls do. She seduces one of her teachers, hoping to ruin his life just for the fun of it. This starts Kim on a runaway train of sadism as she makes every effort to destroy the lives of those around her. But soon simple backstabbing is not enough to keep her excited, and she nosedives into sabotage, violence and even murder.
When Kim finds out she’s pregnant with her teacher’s child, a new madness overtakes her, and she realizes there’s only one thing that will satisfy her baby’s hunger . . .
My Thoughts: 5/5 stars – Let’s see, where do I begin with this book. I don’t think evil even comes close to describing Kim White. The true brutality and gruesome acts she commits in this book are not for the faint of heart. This is not just a fun slasher type horror story, oh no. If you go into this expecting that, there are just some parts you probably won’t recover from. You’ve been warned
We’re in her head the entire time, and I’ll never say no to a villain POV. Such a vicious and wicked teenage girl without a trace of empathy. I’ve seen some others compete this to Clueless meets American Psycho, and that’s pretty spot on. I loved it, even through that ending… that will now be burned into my brain.
Jessicamap Reviews 