A Good Thriller discussion

Just completed Strangers in Time by David Baldacci - a great book and an even better audio book!!

Here's my 5* review - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Here is my 3.47 rounded to 3 stars review of Pride or Die: A Novel by CL Montblanc:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

YA Mystery
LBGTQ+
Engaging debut young adult mystery
Teen angst / Bullying / Treatment of others / Irresponsible Adults
Solid mystery
Some plot twists
Social commentary
Some humor
Several serious topics explored
CL Montblanc

Here is my 3.69 rounded to 4 stars review of Another Fine Mess by Lindy Ryan:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Horror, Mystery, Humor, and Compassion
2nd book in the Bless Your Heart series
Intriguing prologue
Dark, Clever, and Unsettling
Excellent characterization
Some disturbing details

Here is my 4.09 rounded to 4 stars review of Dead Post Society by Diane Kelly:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Cozy mystery
Great characters, wonderful atmosphere
Diane Kelly is one of my favorite cozy mystery authors
Engaging, clever, and entertaining with great atmosphere

Here is my 4.45 rounded to 4 stars review of Hidden in Smoke by Lee Goldberg:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Crime Thriller / Police Procedural / Arson Investigation
3rd book in the Sharp and Walker series
Also features Detectives Eve Ronin and Duncan Pavone
Twisty plot, fast-paced, compelling, suspenseful

I read My Friends by Fredrik Backman It is a coming of age literary fiction story with a depressing amount of domestic violence. My 3.5 star review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I read My Friends by Fredrik Backman It is a coming of age literary fiction story with a depressing amount of domestic violence. My 3.5 star review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I'm Here to Help

3 stars
read as an ARC from NetGalley
psychological thriller with compelling elements
focus on family pressure and mental health

My review here - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Published April 8

The Maid's Secret

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Here is my 4.36 rounded to 4 stars review of Shadow of the Solstice: A Leaphorn, Chee & Manuelito Novel by Anne Hillerman:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Mystery
Book 10 in the Leaphorn, Chee, and Manuelito series
Overall, this is a suspenseful, heart-wrenching, and compelling novel.
Great characterization / atmosphere / world-building

Here is my 4.27 rounded to 4 stars review of Season of Death: A Barker & Llewelyn Novel by Will Thomas:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Historical Mystery
London, England in November of 1895
16th book in the Barker and Llewelyn series
Features two private enquiry agents
Sprinkled with humor
Great characterization and atmosphere

I Remember You

3 stars
ARC from NetGalley
predictable but entertaining thriller which starts off with a beautiful premise

My review here - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Here is my 4.25 rounded to 4 stars review of The Cornish Castle Murder by Fiona Leitch:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Mystery - Sleuthing along with a police investigation
8th book in the Nosey Parker Mystery Series
Great characterization, entertaining, solid mystery to unravel with humor sprinkles throughout the novel

The Ayakashi Hunter's Tainted Bride 1
4 stars
Manga. Graphic novel.
A captivating blend of fantasy and romance with stunning artwork.

My review here - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I read My Name Is Emilia del Valle by Isabel Allende It is historical fiction set in 1891 Chile, during a Chilean civil war. My 4 star review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Here is my 4.45 rounded to 4 stars review of Cold Burn by A.J. Landau:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

A. J. Landau is a pseudonym for authors Jon Land and Jeff Ayers.
Mystery
Action packed thriller
Book 2 in the National Park Thriller Series
Gritty, intense, and chiller
Great characterization and plenty of action

Wow! Intense. Dark. Kate Burkholder #17 Rage

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Here is my 4.57 rounded to 5 stars review of The Boomerang: A Thriller by Robert Bailey:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Political Thriller
Gritty and suspenseful high=stakes thriller
Thought-provoking and moving
Extraordinary, but flawed characters

Here is my 4.55 rounded to 5 stars review of South of Nowhere by Jeffery Deaver:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Crime Thriller
5th book in the Colter Shaw series
Suspenseful, high-stakes, well-written, great characterization, extraordinary atmosphere

Here is my 4.41 rounded to 4 stars review of The Heist by Jack Du Brul:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Historical Thriller
14th book in the Isaac Bell series
Briskly paced
Centers around the beginning of the Federal Reserve Systerm
Mix of real and fictional characters woven into a fictional set of events
Over-the-top action at times, but engaging, suspenseful, and entertaining in this high stakes thriller

Audiobooks

Hidden Nature - Nora Roberts
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

No One Was Supposed to Die at This Wedding (The Vacation Mysteries, #2) - Catherine Mack
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Here is my 4.3 rounded to 4 stars review of The Ladies Road Guide to Utter Ruin by Alison Goodman:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Historical Mystery
Regency Period
Features 2 financially independent 43-year-old twin sisters
Great world-building
Wonderful characterization
Slow-burn romance as a sub-sub-plot
A few real historical figures appear in the novel

Scent of Murder: An Issy Castillo Murder Mystery

3 stars NetGalley review
quirky and interesting with cultural references to Latin-American values

My review - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Shoot! I missed #9 somewhere along the way. But #10 is a real thriller. Little Child Gone

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Here is my 3.96 rounded to 4 stars review of The Girls of Good Fortune by Kristina McMorris:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Historical fiction
Standalone novel
Riveting, Intense, Heart-Breaking
Dual timeline
Well-researched

Here is my 4 star review of Skin and Bones: And Other Mike Bowditch Short Stories by Paul Doiron:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Crime stories
Set in rural Maine
Collection of 8 short stories featuring Mike Bowditch and Charley Stevens
They cover a wide range of years in Mike's career.
Briskly paced, intriguing, sometimes quite dark.

The Cornish Castle Murder by Fiona Leitch, #8 in this cosy mystery series featuring an ex-detective who has become a caterer. This time her own wedding is the scene of a crime.

review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I read The Martha's Vineyard Beach and Book Club by Martha Hall Kelly
It is historical fiction set in WWII and 2016 on the island of Martha's Vineyard, Mass. Both my wife and I enjoyed it. My 4 star review
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...#

Michael Without Apology

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

The White Crow is a great, suspenseful mystery. My 4.5 star review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I read Rage Linda Castillo. It is book 17 in the Kate Burkholder series. Both my wife and I enjoy this series. My 4 star review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Here is my 4.48 rounded to 4 stars review of Death at a Highland Wedding by Kelley Armstrong:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Historical Mystery / Time Travel
Scottish Highlands setting
Suspenseful, entertaining
Great characterization and atmosphere

Welcome to West Street

3 stars NetGalley
gripping psychological thriller
movie/OTT style drama

My review here - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I read Death of an Ex by Delia C. Pitts. It is book two in the series but worked for me as a stand alone. My 4 star review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Here is my 4.52 rounded to 5 stars review of Save Her Life by Carolyn Arnold:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Crime Thriller / FBI
First book in the Sandra Vos series who was introduced in the 13th book in the Detective Amanda Steel series.
Successful Negotiator
Suspenseful, thought-provoking, and action-packed with compelling characters

Chasing Shadows

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Here is my 4.32 rounded to 4 stars review of A Hired Kill by Steven Konkoly:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Thriller
Book 2 in the Garrett Mann series
Overall, this book was intense, suspenseful, action-packed and violent with compelling characters, high-stakes, and a story that is unsettling, gripping, and thought-provoking.
I feel that those who haven’t read book one will be somewhat lost, as no recap is provided.

The Man Made of Smoke - Alex North
https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...

Our Last Wild Days - Anna Bailey
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I read The Unraveling of Julia by Lisa Scottoline Both my wife and I like this author's books. But this one had too much astrology. My 3.5 star review. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Here is my 4.48 rounded to 4 stars review of Hidden Nature by Nora Roberts:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Romantic Suspense
What an opening sentence!
Overall, this a well-written, intriguing, and gripping novel with an action-packed show-down that has well-developed and compelling characters.

Here is my 4.43 rounded to 4 stars review of Bodies and Battlements by Elizabeth Penney:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Cozy Mystery
Book 1 in the Ravansea Castle series
Set in the castle overlooking the village of Monkwell in Yorkshire, England
Filled with suspense, occasional action, and memorable characters, this was a fun read.
The atmosphere and world-building were great.

Here is my 4.5 rounded to 5 star review of Burned Bridges by John Gilstrap:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Crime Thriller
Setting: West Virginia's Eastern Panhandle
First novel in a series featuring former FBI director Irene Rivers (She was a supporting character in the Jonathan Grave series).
Overall, this is a powerful, emotional, intense, and riveting novel with great characterization, a solid mystery,

Welcome to Murder Week
Karen Dukess
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Their Double Lives
Jamie Lynn Hendricks
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

My wife and I have just returned from a Baltic sea cruise. I read these books on the way home.
6:40 to Montreal by Eva Jurczyk My 3 star review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Finlay Donovan Knocks 'Em Dead by Elle Cosimano It is book 2 in the series and I recommend that you read the series in order, as each book builds on events in the previous book. My 4 star review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I read book 3 in the Finlay Donovan series Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun by Elle Cosimano
My 4 star review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Here is my 4.55 rounded to 5 stars review of A Dead Draw by Robert Dugoni:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Police Procedural / Crime Novel
11th book in the Tracy Crosswhite series
Suspenseful
Well-developed and compelling characters
Occasionally pulls on the heart strings
Plenty of action

Did You See Evie?

4 stars
read this book as an ARC. #netgalley female author
Team sleepover gone bad.

My review here - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I finished King of Ashes by S.A. Cosby - another bold, brutal adventure in Southern Noir by this talented author! 5 Stars My Review

I read Oxford Soju Club by Jinwoo Park It is a spy story, set in Oxford, England. My 4 star review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Here is my 3.73 rounded to 4 stars review of Chasing Shadows by Robert Bryndza:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Police procedural / crime novel
9th book in the Erica Foster series
Gripping, emotional, and complex
Well-developed and compelling characters
Plenty of action
Chilling prologue
The storyline goes back and forth in time frequently which disrupted the flow and pacing for me.