As promised, here is part two of the mini reviews. I like bundling them up by genre like this, so this might happen more in the future (depending on the reviews I let pile up).
Thanks to the publishers mentioned for any gifted copies!
All of these lovely authors are auto-buy for me, so it’s always fun when they release new books
Mini Reviews – August 2023 – Thriller Books:
STRANGE SALLY DIAMOND – Liz Nugent (Released July 18th, 2023 – Thanks to Scout Press for the copy)
The internationally bestselling author of Lying in Wait returns with a wickedly dark, twisted, and brilliantly observed new novel about an enigmatic woman confronting her unknown past.
Reclusive Sally Diamond causes outrage by trying to incinerate her dead father. Now she’s the center of attention, not only from the hungry media and police detectives, but also a sinister voice from a past she does not remember. As she begins to discover the horrors of her early childhood, Sally steps into the world for the first time, making new friends, big decisions, and learning that people don’t always mean what they say.
But who is the man observing Sally from the other side of the world, and why does he call her Mary? And why does her new neighbor seem to be obsessed with her? Sally’s trust issues are about to be severely challenged…
My Thoughts: 5/5 stars – This was a wild ride, and I loved every page.
A dark and gripping story awaits you, and I have yet to be disappointed by Liz Nugent’s books. She knows how to tell a compelling story and how to create some memorable and twisted characters. I highly recommend picking this book up and seeing for yourself. Be warned, there are some very dark topics in the book, but I just couldn’t put it down.
GONE TONIGHT – Sarah Pekkanen (Released August 1st, 2023 – Thanks to St. Martin’s Press for the copy)
Catherine Sterling thinks she knows her mother. Ruth Sterling is quiet, hardworking, and lives for her daughter. All her life, it’s been just the two of them against the world. But now, Catherine is ready to spread her wings, move from home, and begin a new career. And Ruth Sterling will do anything to prevent that from happening.
Ruth Sterling thinks she knows her daughter. Catherine would never rebel, would never question anything about her mother’s past or background. But when Ruth’s desperate quest to keep her daughter by her side begins to reveal cracks in Ruth’s carefully-constructed world, both mother and daughter begin a dance of deception.
My Thoughts: 5/5 stars – I was so happy with this one. I love the writing duo of Sarah Pekkanen and Greer Hendricks, so I was anxious to finally pick up a title for one of these authors. Zero disappointments. The writing was captivating, the complexities in a relationship between mother and daughter were so real, and it was a cleverly crafted thriller that kept me glued to the pages. I can’t recommend this enough – mesmerizing, compelling, and twisty. Now the wait begins for another book to release!
NONE OF THIS IS TRUE – Lisa Jewell (Released July 20th, 2023 – Thanks to Atria Books for the copy)
Lisa Jewell returns with a scintillating new psychological thriller about a woman who finds herself the subject of her own popular true crime podcast.
Celebrating her forty-fifth birthday at her local pub, popular podcaster Alix Summers crosses paths with an unassuming woman called Josie Fair. Josie, it turns out, is also celebrating her forty-fifth birthday. They are, in fact, birthday twins.
A few days later, Alix and Josie bump into each other again, this time outside Alix’s children’s school. Josie has been listening to Alix’s podcasts and thinks she might be an interesting subject for her series. She is, she tells Alix, on the cusp of great changes in her life.
Josie’s life appears to be strange and complicated, and although Alix finds her unsettling, she can’t quite resist the temptation to keep making the podcast. Slowly she starts to realise that Josie has been hiding some very dark secrets, and before she knows it, Josie has inveigled her way into Alix’s life—and into her home.
But, as quickly as she arrived, Josie disappears. Only then does Alix discover that Josie has left a terrible and terrifying legacy in her wake, and that Alix has become the subject of her own true crime podcast, with her life and her family’s lives under mortal threat.
Who is Josie Fair? And what has she done?
My Thoughts: 3.5/5 stars – Just like any other Lisa Jewell book, you can expect some memorable characters, intense building suspense, and a pacing that will keep you glued to the pages. I’m torn because I loved everything about this book until the very end. Just something rubbed me the wrong way with how certain pieces of the story were just glossed over (don’t wanna risk spoilers, so I’ll leave it at that). Overall? If you love Jewell already, then this is a no-brainer. Highly recommend!
GOOD BAD GIRL – Alice Feeney (Released August 29th, 2023 – Thanks to Flatiron for the copy)
Sometimes bad things happen to good people, so good people have to do bad things.
Our Queen of Twists, bestselling author of Daisy Darker and Rock Paper Scissors Alice Feeney, returns with another thrilling mystery filled with drama and her trademark surprises.
Twenty years after a baby is stolen from a stroller, a woman is murdered in a care home. The two crimes are somehow linked, and a good bad girl may be the key to discovering the truth.
Edith may have been tricked into a nursing home, but at eighty-years-young, she’s planning her escape. Patience works there, cleaning messes and bonding with Edith, a kindred spirit. But Patience is lying to Edith about almost everything.
Edith’s own daughter, Clio, won’t speak to her. And someone new is about to knock on Clio’s door…and their intentions aren’t good.
With every reason to distrust each other, the women must solve a mystery with three suspects, two murders, and one victim. If they do, they might just find out what happened to the baby who disappeared, the mother who lost her, and the connections that bind them.
In the style of Daisy Darker and Rock Paper Scissors, Good Bad Girl is a thriller in which nobody can be trusted and the twists come fast and furious.
My Thoughts: 3/5 stars – I love Alice Feeney’s books, and I will continue to grab her books as soon as they release! This one is more domestic suspense as opposed to thriller, so that’s something to keep in mind before starting.
While I love her writing and how she weaves a suspenseful story, I found myself slightly confused through the first portion of the book. Keeping some characters straight and following along had me backing up a couple of times to set it straight. However, I’m in the minority here. I did enjoy the ending, and once we hit the 75% mark, it all fell into place!
Jessicamap Reviews 