A Good Thriller discussion

Here is my 4.02 rounded to 4 stars review of Stuart Woods' Finders Keepers by Brett Battles:

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

Action Thriller
66th book in the Stone Barrington series
Comfort reading
In this adventure and crime novel, readers quickly learn the antagonists, but it’s the journey that Stone and his team take that kept me engaged.
Tense, clever, action-filled, well-developed characters

I have to say The Names by Florence Knapp is quite a debut. It takes choosing a name for your baby to a whole nuther level, especially when the father is a control freak. Terrific book club choice or conversation starter.
My review of The Names

Her First Mistake - Kendra Elliott

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

Here is my 3.47 rounded to 3 stars review of Hard Lights by J.B. Turner:

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

Crime Novel
More of an investigation than a thriller, which is a departure for this series
14th book in the Jon Reznick series
Compelling, Atmospheric, Slow pacing in the first half or so of the book

WKK fans! Cork O'Connor #21 Apostle's Cove is due out Sept. 2.

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

Murder on Sex Island
Jo Firestone
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

The Devil’s Advocate is entertaining if you can suspend belief. My three star review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

The Bachelorette Party
Camilla Sten
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Here is my 4.25 rounded to 4 stars review of Her First Mistake by Kendra Elliot:

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

Mystery
1st book in the Noelle Marshall series
Full of twists, turns, lives, and action with good world-building, great characterization, and a gripping storyline. What an ending!

Here is my 4.52 rounded to 5 stars review of Gone Dark by Ryan Steck:

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

Heart-pounding and suspenseful thriller
Fantastic sense of place and atmosphere
Heart-wrenching at times, heartwarming at other times
Fourth book in the Matthew Redd series
Intense action scenes
Wildfires

Here is my 4.12 rounded to 4 stars review of One Dark Kiss by Rebecca Zanetti:

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

Romance / Fantasy / Romantasy / Suspense
2nd book in the Grimm Bargains series
Darker than other books I've read by this author
Action-Filled, Fast Romance, Well-Developed Characters
Unique fantasy element related to social media empires
I wanted a few more details wrapped up cleanly at the end.

My 4 star review of The Sinful Lives of Trophy Wives --> https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Here is my 4.57 rounded to 5 stars review of Beyond Her Reach by Melinda Leigh:

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


Police Procedural
10th book in the Bree Taggert series
Intriguing, fast-paced, plot twists, and suspenseful
Solid mystery, strong female protagonist, plenty of action, and a little romance

The full five stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ for A Beautiful Family by Jennifer Trevelyan. an exquisite and nostalgic blend of mystery, suspense and family dynamics. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Sequel. Best Wishes from The Full Moon Coffee Shop

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

Here is my 3.05 rounded to 3 stars review of The Best Lies by David Ellis:

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

Psychological Thriller / Crime Thriller
Moves Back and Forth in time
Frequently changes Points of View
Good characterization, some originality, plenty of twist.
The flow was interrupted and slowed the pace too much for me, but many reviewers enjoyed this one more.

Here is my 3.59 rounded to 4 stars review of Them Bones by David Housewright:

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

Mystery / Crime Novel
Combines mystery, science, and a theft
Paleontology
Great worldbuilding, good characterization, solid plot
Mac McKenzie series bk 22

Here is my 4.57 rounded to 5 stars review of The Blue Horse by Bruce Borgos:

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

Crime Thriller / Police Procedural
3rd book in the Porter Beck series
Action-packed, Thought provoking, A few gruesome scenes
Excellent world-building
Intense and Suspenseful
Great Characterization

Here is my 4.12 rounded to 4 stars review of The Medusa Protocol by Rob Hart:

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

Thriller
2nd book in the Assassins Anonymous series
If you’re in the mood for something a little different, come to Assassins Anonymous with Mark, Astrid, Booker, Valencia, and Ms. Nguyen.
Filled with dark wit, action, and thrills.
Great sense of place
Unique premise

⭐⭐⭐⭐.4 for this sweeping story of family, love, resilience and survival set during the Japanese occupation of Hong Kong in WWII. When Sleeping Women Wake by Emma Pei Yin https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Just read a fantastic book by Philip Gwynne Jones. Can't rate this author highly enough. Out on 3 July 2025

The Magus of Sicily by Philip Gwynne Jones
See my 5 star review - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I couldn't pass up an ARC by Karin Slaughter! This is the premier of a new series! We Are All Guilty Here

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

Here is my 4.23 rounded to 4 stars review of Broke Road by Matthew Spencer:

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

Police Procedural
2nd book in the Rose Riley series
set in the community of Red Creek in New South Wales, Australia
Plenty of twists, turns, and suspects
Well-written
Captivating storyline
Compelling characters

Kiss Her Goodbye #4 in the Frankie Elgin series

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

I read A Dark and Deadly Journey by Julia Kelly It is book 3 in the series, but worked for me as a stand alone. My 3.5 star review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Here is my 4.07 rounded to 4 stars review of The Elias Enigma by Simon Gervais:

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

Political / Espionage Action Thriller
Covert Operations, Assassins, Spies, Government operatives
2nd book in the Caspian Anderson series
Main Setting: Bordeaux, France and surrounding areas
Overall, this book was suspenseful, riveting, fast-paced, and pulse-pounding.
There is a strong sense of good versus evil throughout the novel.

Here is my 4.48 rounded to 4 stars review of Rage by Linda Castillo:

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

Police Procedural / Crime Thriller / Mystery
Descriptive - great sense of place (Painters Mill, OH)
Great Characterization
Gritty, Suspenseful, Action-Packed, Gripping

⭐⭐⭐⭐.4 for rural romance and family drama Cockatoo Cove by Maya Linnell https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

⭐⭐⭐.6 for the lovely Finding Joy in Oyster Bay by the late Susan Duncan https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Here is my 4.28 rounded to 4 stars review of The Last Wizards' Ball by Charlaine Harris:

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

Alternate History / Fantasy
6th and final book in the Gunnie Rose series.
Excellent characterization and fantastic world-building

Charlaine Harris is one of my favorite authors and she did not let me down with this conclusion to the series. The characters are compelling, led by strong and capable protagonists. While I hoped for a different ending, the ending was in keeping with the somewhat dark alternative history theme.

I read The Killing Stones by Ann Cleeves It is book 9 in an excellent series, which has been adapted for tv. My 4 star review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Here is my 4.23 rounded to 4 stars review of Forged in Battle by Marc Alan Edelheit:

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

Science fiction military action thriller
Book 1 in the Command Decision series
Fast-paced, action-packed
Compelling characters, fantastic world-building, exceptional action scenes

Finished Wild Instinct

https://www.goodreads.com/blog/show/2...

I finished Which Witch? by Simon R. Green


Fast and funny: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

⭐⭐⭐⭐.7 for #19 in the Tom Thorne series by Mark Billingham, What the Night Brings. Easily able to be read as a stand-alone. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...💖📚

Here is my 4.56 rounded to 5 stars review of Dead Line by Marc Cameron:

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

Crime Thriller
7th book in the Arliss Cutter series
Action, A brutal Alaskan Winter, a manhunt, ruthless criminals
Fantastic world-building
High-octane action

We're in the midst of a HOT spell, so there's nothing like a big snowstorm! Finished The Secret Christmas Library

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

⭐⭐⭐⭐.1 for #2 in the Philomena McCarthy series from Michael Robotham The White Crow https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Here is my 4.05 rounded to 4 stars review of Hunter's Heart Ridge by Sarah Stewart Taylor:

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

Historical Mystery / Police Procedural
2nd book in the Franklin Warren and Alice Bellows Mystery series
Set in November 1965 in Bethany, Vermont and the surrounding area
Good characterization and world-building
Well-developed and intricate plot
Somewhat slower paced

Here is my 4.2 rounded to 4 stars review of Throwing Shadows by Claire Booth:

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

Police Procedural
Excellent world-building
Compelling characters
7th book in the Sheriff Hank Worth series
Setting: in and near Forsyth, MO - largely in the Ozark backwoods

Here is my 4.28 rounded to 4 stars review of The Devil's Advocate by Steve Cavanagh:

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

Legal Thriller
6th book in the Eddie Flynn series
Compelling characters
Well-written
Tough to read at times
Corruption, racism, murder, a character's enjoyment of others' suffering

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

Here is my 4.7 rounded to 5 stars review of Framed in Death by J.D. Robb:

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

Near-future police procedural
61st book in the Eve Dallas / In Death series
Great sense of place, wonderful characters / strong female protagonist, a bit of romance

A Box Full of Darkness


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

I read The Women's Orchestra of Auschwitz: A Story of Survival by Anne Sebba
It is not an easy book to read, but informative. The author was able to interview some surviving members of the orchestra. My 4 star review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Here is my 4.56 rounded to 5 stars review of Knife in the Back by Karen Rose:

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

Romantic Suspense
Book four in the New Orleans series
Suspenseful, Intriguing, splendid setting
Pulls on the heartstrings at times

Here is my 3.35 rounded to 3 stars review of Please Don't Lie by Christina Baker Kline & Anne Burt:

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

Psychological thriller / Domestic Suspense
Great worldbuilding
Lacked action and suspense except at the beginning and the end. Great prologue, then slow for a long time before the book picked up again.
Not really a thriller for me for most of the book, but still entertaining.

Finished Like Family, fiction, multi-family drama, lots of drama. Slow-moving at times, picks up near the end. 3 stars.

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

A stunning ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐gritty Aussie crime thriller debut Stillwater by Tanya Scott. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Here is my 4.3 rounded to 4 stars review of Dying Cry by Margaret Mizushima:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Mystery / Police Procedural
10th book in the Timber Creek K-9 series
Overall, this is a clever and suspenseful mystery with compelling characters, a great sense of place, and tense moments throughout the story.