Melody's Reading Corner: Psychological Thriller

Showing posts with label Psychological Thriller. Show all posts

The Trap by Catherine Ryan Howard | Happy 2024!

Melody

Blackstone Publishing Inc | 1 August 2023 | 270 pgs

Source: Library

One year ago, Nicki went missing after she left a pub in Dublin. She is the third woman who vanished without a trace and till present the police couldn't find any clue about their disappearances nor the perpetrator. Their cases remain unsolved and it was only one of the victims who received the most attention due to her racial and her young age. Nicki, on the other hand, is deemed as a free-spirited woman so there're speculations that she might have run away on her own. But Nicki's sister, Lucy, is certain that Nicki has no reason to run away and with the agony of not knowing what happened continues to torment Lucy, she decided to take matters into her own hands, by putting herself in dangerous circumstances and hoping to lure the perpetrator into giving her a ride. Just like what Nicki was last seen doing.

Angela is a civilian paper-pusher in the Missing Persons Unit, but her goal is to be a member of An Garda Síochána, the Irish police force. So when she receives a physical evidence by chance that may link to one of the victims' disappearance, she begins to raise the issue with her superior who happens to know the detective who handle the cases. And of course, Angela wouldn't stop there and she'd try every means to get involved in the investigations.

On the other end, a nameless man reflects on his past actions and "accomplishments" without being caught by the law. His narrative, without a doubt, is the most intriguing considering he's THE serial killer and he's telling us, the reader, how he chooses and abduct his victims.

Part police procedural and part thriller, this was an unputdownable book in my opinion. The author has crafted an interesting premise of a serial killer and a daredevil woman who's not afraid of the danger she's putting herself into. Angela was another great character to read; and I admired her determination and her perseverance in getting the cases solved. There are twists and turns, of course, but there's also that ending which I didn't see coming and think it might lead to some readers being unsatisfied. Truth be told, I think it kind of worked for me. And I want to reiterate this before ending this review, NEVER get into a stranger's car no matter how harmless the driver appears to be. As the saying goes, you can never judge a book by its cover.

I can't believe Year 2023 is coming to an end and I'd like to take this opportunity to wish you a very Happy New Year! I hope 2024 brings you lots of love, good health and joy!

© 2023 Melody's Reading Corner (https://mel-reading-corner.blogspot.sg/), All Rights Reserved. If you are reading this post from other site(s), please take note that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

Labels: 4 stars, Book Review, Psychological Thriller 10 comments |

I'm Not Done with You Yet by Jesse Q. Sutanto

Melody

Berkley | 22 August 2023 | 352 pgs

Source: Library

Jane is a midlist writer who's not happy with her life - her stagnant writing career, the house mortgage and even her marriage, too. There's only one person on earth who could keep her alive but they've lost touch. Thalia, her best friend and classmate during their Creative Writing days at Oxford, had disappeared from her life since that fateful night a decade ago. Jane thought she's lost Thalia for good, until she sees her name at the top of the New York Times bestselling list.

Jane begins her stalking journey on Thalia from following her social media feeds to attending a book convention in NYC where Thalia will be promoting her book, "A Most Pleasant Death". Jane is sure Thalia is writing about their story after reading the blurb, and she couldn't wait to meet her in person. She goes to great lengths in fulfilling her mission, too. She deceives her husband and even her book agent so that both are convinced that she has a reason to be at the book convention. And when she finally did meet Thalia in person, all the past memories and what happened on that fateful night come flooding back.

I liked reading about the dynamics between Jane and Thalia. Besties or frenemies? They've so much emotional tug of war between them; at times I feel like watching a cat and mouse chase. Jane's narrative was so honest and well descriptive that you're afraid to get into her head sometimes, because they could be dark and disturbing and yet you couldn't tear your attention away. The first half of the story was slow, but it was a good introduction of Jane as well as her friendship with Thalia during the flashbacks; the second part was exciting after they meet and this is where the games really begin. Overall it was a great riveting read and I'd never have thought that this is the same author who wrote the Aunties series and Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers. I look forward to reading more of her suspense books in the near future.

Labels: 4 stars, Book Review, Psychological Thriller 10 comments |

The Passengers by John Marrs

Melody

Del Rey | 30 May 2019 | 416 pgs

Source: Library

After reading John Marrs' phenomenal The One and loving it, I decided to check out his other books and came across this book. The blurb read: "Eight self-drive cars set on a collision course. Who lives, who dies? You decide." Sounds absolutely intriguing, isn't it?

So it begins with the backstory that manual cars would be abolished under the UK laws and replaced by self-driving cars (also known as autonomous cars) that's capable of travelling without human intervention. They could perceive the environment, monitor important systems, and control, including navigation. Drivers are now referred as the passengers; and although accidents still do incur under circumstances, choices made by the autonomous car are often weighted according to the victim's contribution and importance to society (e.g. an ordinary citizen versus a mayor, you get the picture.) This is a grey area and thus has sparked many people questioning about the moral issue though there's no official addressing to it.

It then took someone to hack into the systems of eight self-driving cars and set them on a fatal collision course for worldwide attention. Each of these individuals carries a different role and secrets and it is up to the jurors, amongst them is Libby (who's one of the narratives and is not a believer of autonomous cars) to decide who should die or survive.

This was an intense and a fast-paced read, so to speak. I was in awe of John Marrs' creativity of concocting a different take of autonomous cars in this thriller, although the reading journey was dark and a scary one. While there are thrills and somewhat a cinematic entertainment to the story, there are parts that allow the reader to think deeply about the morality issue and how terrifying that would be if it happened in reality. I find that the decisions/actions driven by keyboard warriors and mob mentality especially in social media was well written and thought-provoking, too. Overall it was a great read; and as much as I was impressed by the technology in every aspect, I think having no manual control of the car is terrifying and I'd think twice about taking a ride.

Labels: 4 stars, Book Review, Psychological Thriller 6 comments |

When You Are Mine by Michael Robotham

Melody

Sphere | 24 June 2021 | 416 pgs

Source: Library

Philomena McCarthy has a complicated dark background. Being the daughter of a notorious London gangster and her uncles are ex-prisoners, one would think that her characteristics and her upbringing would be as bad, but ironically Phil's job is the polar opposite of her family's doings. She works as a police officer with the Metropolitan Police and it's actually a childhood incident which prompted her to follow this career path. A female police officer saved Phil from a bus bombing and from there onwards her life changes.

Given her family background, it's no surprise that Phil is often judged by her peers and superiors, but this doesn't deter her until a domestic assault case landed her job in jeopardy. Phil and her partner are called in to assist a woman who's believed to be abused by her boyfriend. The abuser turns out to be a decorated police detective and is widely known for his heroic act in a saving attempt years ago. Once again, Phil finds herself being discriminated and worst of all, being threatened to drop the case and eventually the incident is hushed up and put away. Phil didn't just let this go; she befriends Tempe Brown, the victim, so that she could find out more about DS Darren Goodall. Tempe and Phil soon become good friends, but the former keeps interfering into Phil's personal life. Phil's once peaceful life becomes chaotic ever since her involvement of the domestic assault case; it is apparent that Darren Goodall has several powerful friends within the police force and as more sinister incidents crop up, Phil has no one to turn to except her estranged family.

This book was a page-turner and the author has captured the tension and the atmosphere well, especially the male-dominated police force, its hierarchy and how a "clique" within the police force could be quite menacing once any one of their authorities is being questioned. And then, there's the toxic relationship between Tempe and Darren, and the obsessive friendship between Tempe and Phil which overall made this a compelling read. Phil was an interesting character, but I wasn't enamoured by her reckless behaviours and how gullible she could be at times, but I understand this is part of the portrait of who she is. This is my first Michael Robotham book and definitely not my last.

Labels: 4 stars, Book Review, Crime Thriller, Psychological Thriller 9 comments |

The Couples Trip by Ulf Kvensler

Melody

Hanover Square Press | 6 June 2023 | 400 pgs

Source: Library

This book is named "Shortlisted for the Crimetime Award 2022" and "Swedish Academy of Crime Writers' Award Best Debut of the Year". And with the story set in the wilderness of Sarek National Park in Sweden, I knew I've to read it.

Anna, Henrik and Milena always make it a point to go for their hiking trip once a year. Anna and Henrik are a couple and the three of them have known one another for some time. This year, however, is different from their annual hiking trip as Milena is bringing her new boyfriend, Jacob, along. Anna and Henrik have had some disagreements amongst themselves since they hardly know Jacob but in the end Henrik gave in.

Jacob happened to be a seasoned hiker and while this comes as a relief to the others, Henrik isn't pleased that Jacob suggested a different hiking route; one which they haven't hike before - Sarek. On top of it, Jacob made a few arrangements beforehand and this adds tension to the group. But it is a bit too late to reverse their trip so they could only move forward to their destination. But uneasiness begin to set in as they wander deeper into the vast wilderness and further away from civilization, as Anna begin to question herself if bringing Jacob along might be a mistake after several circumstances that put their safety at risk. Jacob seems like a person who couldn't take no for an answer and his attitude annoys both Anna and Henrik. Milena, on the other hand, is too meek to point out anything probably she doesn't want to make matters worse. But, the situation gets worse as they progress and things start to go terribly wrong.

This was a wild ride and I enjoyed the thrill and intensity throughout my reading journey. The dynamics among the four characters and their hiking journey are the highlight of the story alongside the various challenges imposed by Mother Nature; but the biggest surprise of all is learning that things aren't as straightforward as what they're seemed to be. I like twisty ending and while this book has it, I felt that there are still some knots left untied and it took away that reading satisfaction and the perfection I'd had in mind initially (perhaps there's a sequel? Please say yes, Mr Kvensler! Otherwise that ending was a bit of a letdown.) That said, I'll read all future works by this author as his writing is captivating.

Labels: 3.5 stars, Book Review, Psychological Thriller 6 comments |

The One by John Marrs

Melody

Hanover Square Press | 20 February 2018 | 416 pgs

Source: Library

If there's such a medical/scientific technology that allows you to find your perfect partner through matched DNA, would you do it? This book revolves around that topic and how far one would go to find their perfect partner.

Although Match Your DNA, a company which has matched many couples is gaining recognition with their program, they also face a backlash from some that the test results have led to the upending of the traditional ideas of love and romancing, not to mention the breakup of countless relationships and marriages. Despite this, the idea of finding your genetically matched partner outrun the downsides.

Jade, Mandy, Nick, Christopher and Ellie are some of the few millions who signed up and have their test results matched with their designated partner. While these five characters are different on many levels, they've one thing in common - secrets. Despite they're a perfect match, will they find their happily-ever-after despite who they really are?

This book was a wild ride. Fast-paced, unputdownable and filled with entertainment and intrigue, I couldn't flip the pages fast enough. This is one book which I'd called a perfect read in a psychological thriller - it has a cast of intriguing characters, multilayered plots, twists and turns and then of course, there's that refreshing and original premise. And this is so much I can tell you because to say more will spoil the fun for you. Last but not least, I want to thank Lark for putting this book on our buddy read list. Both of us had so much fun discussing this book throughout our reading journey. Visit Lark's blog here for her review.

Here are some questions from Lark to me:

What do you think about the whole idea of soulmates? And if you had the chance to find your 'perfect Match' through a simple DNA test, would you do it? Why or why not?

Soulmate is defined as a person with whom one has a strong affinity, shared values and tastes and while I think they can enhance a couple's relationship with many shared similarities, I feel that communication, understanding and mutual respect remain the core of a strong and loving relationship. As for if I'd find my perfect match through a DNA test, I think I've no intention of finding that out. After all, it's not like a genetically matched relationship would guarantee a perfect relationship. Humans aren't perfect; and also I've seen couples who are opposite each other are staying happily together, too.

Labels: 5 stars, Book Review, Psychological Thriller 6 comments |

The Last One by Will Dean

Melody

Atria/Emily Bestler Books | 8 August 2023 | 448 pgs

Source: Publisher via Edelweiss

Caz is excited to be on board the exclusive cruise liner RMS Atlantica with her new love, Pete. Well, who would want to turn down a vacation and do nothing but eat, dance and make some new friends on board the ship, right?

But when Caz wakes up the next morning to find Pete is missing, she thought he's just wander off to explore the cruise without her. However, as Caz walks out into the corridor and find all the cabin doors are open and the cabins empty, she has a bad feeling that something has gone terribly wrong. As she goes from floors to floors and from cabins to other various places, she's horrified to find that there's no one out there, not even the crew except herself! Their cruise liner is steaming into the mid-Atlantic and Caz is trapped alone out in the sea. What happened and what'd she do?

At first glance, the blurb sounds like an intriguing locked-room mystery but there's much more to the story. Unfortunately, I couldn't divulge more from that point and let's just say this novel may polarise readers into two groups. You either love it or hate it. From my point, I don't hate it but I don't love it either. Initially I'd the notion that this story might gear towards the direction of "Mary Celeste mystery" given the blurb but it was anything but. After going through a few chapters as lost as Caz, something came up and from there the story started to go downhill for me. To be fair, the story was good from another angle and there were even some very intense moments, but the direction and the motive are lost to me. I think I'd have loved it if it was a straightforward locked-room thriller. I enjoyed Will Dean's previous novel, First Born, but this novel just didn't work for me.

Labels: 3 stars, Book Review, Psychological Thriller 8 comments |

The Patient's Secret by Loreth Anne White

Melody

Montlake | 8 March 2022 | 383 pgs

Source: Purchased

I may have only read three books (4 including this) by Loreth Anne White thus far, but I find her writing and her storytelling are excellent and this is no exception.

The story begins when a female jogger is found dead beneath the cliffs of an idyllic coastal community where many of the wealthy families live. Lily Bradley is one of them. She's a respected psychotherapist and is married to a distinguished professor. In everyone's eyes, they're a perfect family with two lovely children, Phoebe and Matthew. Lily thinks she has everything in order, until the day she found her husband, Tom, behaving suspiciously and thereafter with the police arriving, stating that he's a person of interest relating to the female jogger's case, never mind that he'd found her first and tried to resuscitate her.

After the initial investigation, it turns out that the dead female jogger is Arwen Harper, who moved into their neighbourhood together with her 16-year-old son, Joe, not too long ago. The neighbours have a deep impression on this pair of mother and son, especially Arwen who worked in the bar and many men (usually patrons) are acquainted with her. Tom and a few of the husbands frequent that bar regularly, and the wives don't often have a good impression on Arwen and think she's too friendly towards their men.

Detective Rue Duval is assigned to the case and being a person of colour and one who works in a male dominated field, she's adamant to prove herself capable in solving the case. As much as Rue is capable of digging information, she's also an expert in keeping secrets, and she has a few of her own.

The story was told by multiple narratives between the present and the past and one would think it'll be confusing but this is where the author's writing skill shines. The chapters are not hard to follow and in fact read very quickly. I was sucked into this multilayered psychological thriller/police procedural from the beginning till the end. The characterisations are great and almost everyone of them read like a case study. Alongside the suspense, the story also portrays the human nature and what one would do in order to save himself and to survive. Recommended.

Labels: 5 stars, Book Review, Police procedural, Psychological Thriller 12 comments |

Thicker Than Water by Megan Collins

Melody

Atria Books | 11 July 2023 | 320 pgs

Source: Publisher via Edelweiss

Julia and Sienna Larkin are sisters-in-law and business partners as well. To them, Jason (Julia’s husband and Sienna’s brother) is a good and a hardworking man who'd put others before himself. He's also been working diligently for a promotion at work and life is happy for them, until his boss, Gavin, is found brutally murdered.

A few days later, Jason is met in an accident and is in a coma. The police investigation points to Jason as the prime suspect of Gavin's murder, since the murder weapon is found in his car. The news rattled Julia and Sienna, since they didn't believe Jason would hurt anyone. Sienna believes in Jason strongly since he saved her from a sexual assault years ago. With Jason in a coma and he couldn't defend himself, Julia and Sienna decided to take matters into their own hands and investigate themselves, starting with his colleague, Maeve, who claimed that Gavin was acting suspiciously before his death. But as Julia and Sienna dig further, they find their opinions are divided and this put their friendship at risk.

The story is told between Julia’s and Sienna’s POV. Julia's narrative is calm while Sienna’s is full of rage and in a defensive mode. As much as this book was interesting in a way that it captured the relationship between two sisters-in-law, the pace was extremely slow and there wasn't much intensity and thrill as too much was focused on the two sisters-in-law's investigation and their reactions. Perhaps this is the intention by the author to portray their dynamics as the story progresses. While the plot did escalate towards the end, it felt a bit rushed and although there was a twist, it was easy to figure out if you follow through the story. Overall, I enjoyed this more of a domestic suspense than a psychological thriller.

Labels: 3 stars, Book Review, Psychological Thriller 8 comments |

All the Dangerous Things by Stacy Willingham

Melody

HarperCollins | 2 February 2023 | 336 pgs

Source: Library

Isabelle Drake's world has turned upside down ever since her young son, Mason, disappeared from his bedroom a year ago. With no clue and evidence, the police have stopped looking and even her husband, Ben, wants her to move on and keep herself together. Isabelle has a tendency of sleepwalking during her childhood days and while the issue seems to have stopped as she gets older, she couldn't help but to think if she's responsible for Mason's disappearance. After all, she has a traumatic past after the passing of her younger sister and she's not sure if she has fully healed from that unfortunate incident.

Despite everything, she has not given up on searching for Mason so she decided to take things into her own hands by holding talks and eventually allowing herself to be interviewed by a true crime podcaster named Waylon Spencer even though she isn't keen of this idea in the beginning. But Waylon had solved a cold case before and Isabelle is interested to see how he could assist her if they decided to work together. However, Waylon seems to have motives of his own and as Isabelle continues to be troubled by her insomnia in connection to her past, she isn't sure what and who to trust anymore, including herself.

I enjoyed the twisty ending, but the journey to the end was long and a slow one. Don't get me wrong, I love a slowburn thriller, but there wasn't much to hold my attention in the first three quarters of the book and truth be told, I wasn't enamoured by Isabelle’s constant whining and her reckless behaviours (e.g. why did she invite Waylon to stay with her? He may be her working partner, but she's all alone at home and he was still an outsider after all.) The writing was great but too wordy and poetic for a suspense thriller (perhaps it's only me). That said, many Goodread readers loved this book so please do not let my opinions deter you from reading it.

Labels: 3 stars, Book Review, Psychological Thriller 6 comments |

What Lies in the Woods by Kate Alice Marshall

Melody

Flatiron Books | 28 February 2023 | 336 pgs

Source: Library

Naomi, Cassidy and Olivia are best friends since their childhood days. During those times they spent a lot of their moments roaming the woods and playing the Goddess Game - their own game made up of three different goddesses who they believe to have their own strengths and magic. Some might say they're simply silly girls game, but the three girls think their imaginative goddesses play an important part in their lives and they gave them courage and confidence. Sadly, their happiness came to a halt after Naomi was attacked and she lived to identity the perpetrator who stabbed her seventeen times. Alan Michael Stahl was eventually put in prison after the girls' testimony and for nearly two decades they've somehow left that horrifying past behind until Alan's death (of cancer) in prison brought back their unpleasant memories.

Naomi, now a wedding photographer who struggles to make ends meet, reunites with her two friends in Chester after hearing Olivia's remark about coming clean from a secret they've since hidden those two decades ago. To complicate matters, Naomi is approached by a guy named Ethan who does podcast and he's interested in interviewing her, especially he has some questions surrounding Alan's trial and her testimony. These circumstances propel the story forward as the reader learn more about the past through flashbacks and the present through Naomi's unreliable narrative as she come to realise that her memory of that fateful day might be tainted.

To begin with, I enjoyed the author's writing. The story was engaging and her characters were well described and well developed. However I've to say while there are some parts which are good, there are times I wished some chapters read quickly instead of fillers. Naomi's narrative was well done but I didn't like some of the decisions she made, e.g. how silly to explore the crime scene alone. As far as the suspense goes, there are some clichés and predictability but there was the final twist which I didn't see coming, which was a good thing. This book is Kate Alice Marshall's debut adult thriller but she's written novels for YA and middle grade. I can't wait to read what she'll write next.

Labels: 4 stars, Book Review, Psychological Thriller 4 comments |

Daisy Darker by Alice Feeney

Melody

Macmillan | 18 August 2022 | 352 pgs

Source: Library

Inspired by Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None, this latest release by Alice Feeney was an engaging tale of a dysfunctional family and how their doom was fixed when a family gathering forced them to unravel their secret past.

This was a great psychological thriller which I'd suggest diving in totally blind so I tried my best to keep this minimal. Daisy Darker, our protagonist, was an intriguing character from the start. She was born with a broken heart; and her relationship and the dynamics with her family was the core of this story. The isolation at Daisy's grandmother's estate on a private island in Cornwall provides a claustrophobic feel to the family's tension, further trapping them and forcing them to probe into each member's inner dark thoughts and secrets after someone was found dead overnight.

On top of that, the characterisations and the characters developments are great, too. The author has done a great job in describing their personality but yet not revealing too much at the same time. However I've read that there are some mixed reviews about this book and while I could see their point, I thought the ending was twisty and clever. In fact, this is my favourite amongst all of Alice Feeney's books so that tells how much I enjoyed this book. Have you read this? I'll be curious of your thoughts if you did.

Labels: 4.5 stars, Book Review, Psychological Thriller 1 comments |

The Writing Retreat by Julia Bartz

Melody

Atria/Emily Bestler Books | 21 February 2023 | 320 pgs

Source: Publisher via Edelweiss

What'd you do if you're an aspiring writer who receives an opportunity to attend an exclusive, month-long writing retreat at the estate of your favourite author; never mind that someone has pulled the string for you and that your frenemy is attending the retreat, too?

Alex, our protagonist, is elated when she heard that she'd be attending a writing retreat at the estate of feminist horror writer Roza Vallo, even with the knowledge that Wren, her former best friend turns rival is also attending. There's some history between them and the reader would find out the reason as the story progresses. But, there's more dynamics behind their relationship once they've stepped into Roza’s isolated mansion. There are other three attendees as well and Roza announces that they'd have to complete an entire novel from scratch after their stay and the winner of the best novel will receive a seven-figure publishing deal.

The task seems simple enough, but as Alex gets to know more about the other three attendees (and not to mention facing Wren) including Roza’s erratic behaviour, she begins to wonder why they're selected in the first place. But Alex is adamant to finish the novel despite having writer's block for a while; and through the one-to-one writing séances with Roza she begins to share about her past with Wren and in return, Roza offers some advice about writing and in particularly the history of the Blackbriar estate where they're currently staying.

Alex thinks that as long as she could finish her novel and make it to the top, her life will get better once she leaves the Blackbriar estate. But the writing itself is not the only challenge, Alex soon finds out that the other attendees harbour some secrets of their own and aside from Wren's cruel mind games, Roza’s demands have become more unconventional and worse, unethical. As bad things start to happen within the isolated haunted estate, Alex has to find a way to escape from the place alive.

There're several things I liked and disliked about this debut book. To begin with, I loved the author's writing style and the claustrophobic feel of the setting. The premise was refreshing and the characters were flesh-out and intriguing in their own ways, especially the erratic author Roza Vallo. The first half of the book was good and engaging, but the story started to go downhill when Roza started to show her erratic side and the unexpected genre/occurrences that were mixed in this thriller which had me thinking that the connection was getting further away and lost from the plot, thus the outcome didn't work for me. That said, it was still a good read for a debut novel and I look forward to the author's future releases as I enjoyed her writing style.

Labels: 3.5 stars, Book Review, Psychological Thriller 4 comments |

The Disinvited Guest by Carol Goodman

Melody

William Morrow | 12 July 2022 | 336 pgs

Source: Library

I've enjoyed most of Carol Goodman's books I read thus far. She's excellent in creating atmospheric settings and a cast of intriguing characters and this book is no exception. And as much as I enjoyed the above, I wasn't in love with this book.

To begin with, the premise was good. It was set in several years after the 2020 pandemic but a new virus surfaces (yikes!). Lucy Harper and her husband, Reed, decided to seek refuge on his family’s private island off the coast of Maine together with a few of their close friends. The group of seven understood the threat of the outside world and thought it was a good choice to stay isolated, with minimal Internet and social media if possible (especially the latter since they didn't want to announce their location). As they quarantined themselves in the island, the dark history of the island resurfaced as Lucy found a journal chronicling the island’s history as a quarantine hospital for typhus patients and that the island might be cursed after what happened in the past, involving one of Reed's ancestors. But Reed was reluctant to say more regarding the past, either he was spooked or there's some dark family secrets.

Lucy didn't give up and continued in reading the journal discreetly. It was also at that moment that the dynamics between the group started to change and some members started to badmouth and take sides. It wasn't until an incident happened and the group started to wonder if the island was indeed haunted or if someone amongst them had an agenda including murder.

This book has all the tropes for a locked room mystery. Atmospheric setting, a cast of intriguing characters, a mysterious past surrounding the location and/or characters; and a murder that changed all the dynamics. All these elements sound intriguing but the pace was slow, the characters unlikeable and while the journal entries were interesting, they're long and most of all, I thought the motives in the end felt a bit flat (and ridiculous) to me. That said, Carol Goodman is a good writer and I hope her next book will be better.

I took an unexpected blogging break so this explains my belated post and also my absence in blogs commenting. I can't believe 2022 is coming to an end soon and I hope next year will be a better one in every aspect. Usually this time around, I'd have a post of my favourite reads of the year ready (or posted) but I've not written anything since I've yet to go through my list due to my break. 😅 Still, I'll have it done soon and last but not least, I hope the new year bring you happiness, peace and prosperity!

© 2022 Melody's Reading Corner (https://mel-reading-corner.blogspot.sg/), All Rights Reserved. If you are reading this post from other site(s), please take note that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

Labels: 3.5 stars, Book Review, Psychological Thriller 10 comments |

The House Across the Lake by Riley Sager

Melody

Hodder & Stoughton | 7 July 2022 | 368 pgs

Source: Library

Casey Fletcher is an actress but has since pause her career after her husband's passing. Despite her husband's accidental drowning at their family's lake house in Vermont, Casey returns to the place to escape from bad press and also to drown her sorrows with alcohol. Bored with nothing much to do, Casey spends most of her time drinking and watching with her binoculars and that's when she started to watch the couple who live in the house across the lake.

Casey soon learns that the couple is none other than Tom and Katherine; both whom have made their success and fame through their jobs as a tech innovator and a model respectively. Casey later become friends with Katherine after she's saved her from drowning, but her impression on the glamorous couple starts to change after she got to know Katherine more and her spying habits continue. Tom's and Katherine's marriage may not seem as perfect as what she's thought the more she watches them until one day, Katherine goes missing. Curious and bothered by her disappearance, Casey is adamant to find out the truth till she's unravel something darker and more sinister than she's thought.

At first glance the premise gave off the Rear Window and The Woman in the Window vibes. I didn't mind this trope as I think with the trend of the thriller genre goes, most of the tropes have been used in one way or another and it's up to the author's imaginations and writing skills to make the story different and captivating in their own way. This book is a fine example of it; and I've enjoyed most of Riley Sager's books but this story was a letdown despite the intriguing premise. Don't get me wrong, Sager's writing is good and I feel his story settings' descriptions is one of his strengths but this story veered off in another direction which was simply too far-fetched for me to fathom and to appreciate the conclusion as it comes to a closure (I couldn't say why due to spoilers). Another thing that bothered me was Casey's alcoholic obsession; she really did nothing but drank and spied on her neighbour most of the times. There's some twists and turns as expected in this genre, but alas I think the author was trying too hard and this ended flatly in my opinion. I hope his next book will be better and that it'd surpass Final Girls and Home Before Dark, which remain my favourite Sager books.

Labels: 3 stars, Book Review, Psychological Thriller 10 comments |

Mother May I by Joshilyn Jackson

Melody

Raven Books | 4 August 2022 (Reprint) | 336 pgs

Source: Library

At its core, this is a story about power, deceptions, revenge and how far a mother would go to protect her child.

Bree Cabbat has everything what a woman would wish for: a loving husband with a successful career, two lovely young girls and an adorable baby boy. Until the day she wakes up and finds a witch peering into her bedroom window. Convinced that it might be a trick of the light, she dismiss the bad feeling and go on with her day. Everything seems normal until she spies the witch again at her daughter's school's parking lot. Turns out that she's an old woman who kidnapped her baby thereafter. Bree is then instructed to fulfill a few tasks with no questions asked in order to get her baby back, but alongside the tasks she'd soon find out a few things that will tear her family apart.

I've mixed feelings about this book but I'd start off with the things I liked. The beginning was intriguing and compelling; the characters are flesh-out and the author has done a great job in portraying Bree's emotions and her role as a mother. Onto the parts which gave me mixed feelings are the surrealism of the tasks Bree had to accomplish and the motives behind the kidnapping. I get it that the kidnapper wanted justice on her end, but I didn't agree with her acts and her choice of victim(s) considering she herself as a mother, too. The pacing was great in the beginning, but it was slowed down by another character's POV and some flashbacks, thus leading to the inconsistency of narratives and the intensity momentum. Overall it was a decent read but it wasn't enough for me in the thriller aspect.

Labels: 3 stars, Book Review, Psychological Thriller 7 comments |

The Children on the Hill by Jennifer McMahon

Melody

Scout Press | 26 April 2022 | 352 pgs

Source: Library

"Monsters are real. They're all around us, whether we can see them or not." ~ Pg 31

Jennifer McMahon is a master when it comes to creating atmospheric settings combining with a cast of intriguing characters. This book explores the complexity and perceptions of the human minds. It's also a book about monsters, fear and the darkness that lurks within us all.

In 1978, Dr. Helen Hildreth was the brilliant psychiatrist at her renowned treatment center in Vermont. Helen was devoted to her work and it is no wonder that many mentally challenged patients seemed to deem fit to perform their daily lives through her supervision and special care. For this, she was well-known in the community and many respected her for her works. But back at home, she was simply a grandmother who took care of her grandchildren, Violet and Eric, after the passing of their parents due to an accident. As much as Helen was kind and loving towards them, she'd her rules when it comes to discipline and behaviours. So while Vi and Eric were nice and obedient children, their lives were basically quite reserved and all the more they were homeschooled. Then, their once-mundane lives changed after Helen brought a girl into their home. Iris was quiet and was different from all the children they'd met. But Vi was excited to meet a new friend so in no time she and Iris formed a bond and the three of them would go explore for monsters and the likes (Vi and Eric formed their own club in which they'd go investigate all kinds of supernatural things and urban legends. More like to satisfy their curiosity and to justify their findings rather than hearsay.)

In another timeline in 2019, Lizzy Shelley is the host of the popular podcast, Monsters Among Us. When news of a young girl is abducted and a monster sighting have the neighbourhood worried and scared, Lizzy decided to visit her old hometown in Vermont, hoping to find some answers not only of the missing girl case and also what happened to the once renowned mental facility and the rumours surrounding it.

I was glad to report that I've finally found a book that surpassed (or at least on par with) another McMahon book which remains my favourite - The Winter People. The author's writing is smooth and engaging and this is one reason why I enjoy reading her books so much, alongside with the atmospheric setting (which is her signature) and of course, the characters. What's haunting about this story is; perception can be a tricky thing and there's sometimes a fine line between good and evil, ethical and immorality. Without saying too much, all I could tell you is to read this book and enjoy McMahon's marvellous storytelling. It was an unforgettable journey to me and I hope you feel the same after reading it.

Labels: 4.5 stars, Book Review, Paranormal, Psychological Thriller 8 comments |

First Born by Will Dean

Melody

Atria/Emily Bestler Books | 5 July 2022 | 368 pgs

Source: Publisher via Edelweiss

Molly and Katie Raven may be twins, but their personalities are totally different from each other. Molly is more like an introvert; keeping things to herself and finding comfort in security and routines. Katie, on the other hand, is outgoing and adventurous. At present, Molly lives in London while Katie in New York. They don't really contact much with each other partly due to the distance; and when Molly receives news about Katie that she's dead, she knew she has to get out from her comfort zones and travel across the ocean to find out about her death.

Through the police's initial findings, it seems like there's nothing suspicious about Katie's death but Molly suspects there's more than meets the eye. As she tracks Katie's final movements, she's come to realise that her twin sister may not be the person whom she thinks she was. And the more Molly explores about Katie's past, the more she thinks that Katie's death may not be random or accidental. So what happened to Katie and is she murdered?

This book explores the relationship and the dynamics between the twin sisters alongside the mystery. The first half was a slowburn as the reader get to know more about Molly, her characteristics and her overly cautious attitude that will lead you thinking if she was being paranoid, thus making her an unreliable character. Just when I thought things are going where I assumed them to be, there are further unexpected twists and turns as the story progresses, though you've to suspend some disbelief but I thought the execution and the plot have effectively diverted that little shortcoming so it wasn't too much of an issue to me. This book was a wild ride; and I'll be on the lookout for the author's next release.

Labels: 4 stars, Book Review, Psychological Thriller 8 comments |

The Dare by Lesley Kara

Melody

Corgi | 22 July 2021 | 400 pgs

Source: Library

The Dare is basically a story revolves around two teenage girls and how a tragedy would lead to revenge and the unravelling of past secrets would both surprise the protagonist and the readers as well.

Thirteen-year-old Alice Dawson and Lizzie Molyneux are best friends. Lizzie has epilepsy and there are times she would be unconscious of her behaviours whenever it hit her and often the aftermath causes her confusion and doubt since she has no recollection of what really happened. This happened when both girls are playing by the train tracks and they'd a spat over some minor issues. Unfortunately Lizzie's epilepsy is triggered at that moment and the next moment she comes to, Alice is killed by the passing train. While there is no evidence and on top of Lizzie's epilepsy that shows anything suspicious, Alice's friends and especially her eldest sister, Catherine, is sure that Lizzie is responsible because she is jealous of Alice.

Moving forward to Lizzie's adulthood twelve years later, she is still haunted by Alice's death and that unknown moments before tragedy struck but she is glad to have found someone whom she could lean on. Ross Murray is a GP and his schedules are often full but he's been very supportive and understanding for Lizzie. Their life is happy until someone from the past reappears and Lizzie's discovery of some hidden secrets shattered her hopes of finding peace and moving on.

I enjoyed Lesley Kara's The Rumour so I picked up this book with some expectations. The story switches between the past when they are teenagers and the present time in which we see the grown-up Lizzie who's trying to adjust to her new life. The characters are realistically portrayed and I enjoyed reading the friendship and dynamics between Lizzie and Alice. There is an unknown narrative alternating in between the two timelines as a mystery effect and although I'd somewhat guessed a part correctly, the ending still left some surprises and a sad revelation as well. Though it wasn't fast-paced or action packed for a psychological thriller, the strength was its well-developed characters and the gradual build of suspense as the story progresses. Overall it was a satisfying read and I look forward to her next release, The Apartment Upstairs, set to release in June 2022.

Labels: 3.5 stars, Book Review, Psychological Thriller 12 comments |

Survive the Night by Riley Sager

Melody

Hodder & Stoughton | 29 July 2021 | 336 pgs

Source: Purchased

The year is 1991. College student Charlie Jordan is grieving over the death of her best friend, Maddy. Also plagued with guilt, Charlie felt she was indirectly responsible for Maddy's death since she'd left her alone at a bar late one night over a squabble. Charlie didn't get a chance to reconcile with her ever again, because Maddy fell victim to the murderer who's dubbed the Campus Killer since all his victims were killed near the campus. Charlie decides to leave the campus but with her boyfriend, Robbie, being busy (unless she could wait a bit but no) and she doesn't drive (for a reason after her parents' accident), she put up a flyer at the campus ride board so that someone would share the ride to her hometown in Ohio.

Josh Baxter answers to Charlie's flyer, claiming that he's to return home to take care of his father who's sick. Despite Charlie's doubts about Josh from his behaviour of hiding his view from her when he packs her suitcase into his car trunk, she hops into his car nonetheless and even chides herself to have some trust and faith in people. As they begin their journey and their conversations start to flow, Charlie soon realises that there's something suspicious about Josh and that there're holes in his story about his father. However, Charlie isn't sure about her judgement because at times when she's under stress or fear, her mind would conjure up some "movie moments" in which she herself wouldn't differentiate if she's in reality or in her own movie-fueled imaginations (she's a big fan of movies, especially Hitchcock's). And this begins the cat-and-mouse game of a story with an unreliable character who has to survive the night.

I've to confess I'm a huge fan of Riley Sager's books and I've read all of his books todate, but this latest release was a huge disappointment. To begin with, I was horrified to see that Charlie hopped into a stranger's car despite her doubts and the fact that a killer is still on the loose. This may be a fiction, but in reality it's a BIG no-no no matter whatever the circumstances are. Then, there's Charlie's movie-fueled moments (which I wasn't sure if there's such a mental issue or perhaps similar to hallucinations?) and a few chances that she could escape but decided not to because she wants to be the one to stop Josh from committing more murders. However, this isn't as straightforward as far as the plot goes because there're twists and it becomes more mind-boggling (and absurd) as the story reaches its final destination. I hate to say this, but this story totally didn't work for me but onto a positive note, it was entertaining and a page-turner! That said, I'd had a great time reading and discussing this book with Lark (go check out her review here) and both of us decided to skip the Q&As for this round of our buddy read since we couldn't come up with any interesting questions. All being said, I'll still anticipate for Sager's future releases and I hope his next book will be better.

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