Category: Genres

Alafair Burke’s The Note had potential, but it takes a while to find its footing. The premise—three old friends caught up in a prank gone wrong—starts off more annoying than intriguing. Their constant secrets and poor decisions pile up fast, making it hard to root for anyone early on.

Things do improve as the story shifts into thriller mode. The misdirection kicks in, the pace picks up, and the paranoia starts to work. You’re never quite sure who to trust, which keeps you turning the pages, even if the characters remain frustrating.

In the end, the mystery is solved more by process of elimination than real suspense, and while the reveal mostly lands, it doesn’t fully make up for the bumpy ride getting there. The Note is readable, but not one that lingers after the final page.

I really wanted to enjoy The Mouthless Dead – the premise is certainly intriguing, and there’s a definite air of Mr Ripley-style psychological tension woven into the story. But unfortunately, for me, the novel just didn’t deliver.

Set against the real-life backdrop of the infamous Wallace murder case of 1931, Anthony Quinn builds his story around the mystery of an unsolved crime and the inspector still haunted by it fifteen years later. The setup is atmospheric, and the historical details are well-researched, but I found the narrative slow-moving and often lacking in engagement. There’s a heavy, almost meandering quality to the storytelling that made it difficult to stay invested.

While there are hints of suspense and psychological unease throughout, the journey felt more like a slog than a thrill. I kept waiting for the story to kick into gear or offer a new twist, but the path to the conclusion was too predictable for my taste. The resolution didn’t feel earned, and by the time I reached the end, I regretted not giving up sooner – though I did soldier through to the final page.

This book will likely appeal to readers who enjoy slow-burn historical crime fiction and don’t mind a more literary, atmospheric approach. But if you’re looking for a gripping mystery or a satisfying psychological payoff, this one may leave you cold.

When Shadows Fall is another absolute triumph from Neil Lancaster. This latest instalment in the DS Max Craigie series is everything I want from a crime thriller – fast-paced, clever, and utterly gripping from start to finish. It’s a tense, expertly woven police procedural that combines the chilling presence of an incel serial killer with the far-reaching consequences of corruption in the justice system. The result? A thriller that grabs you by the throat and doesn’t let go.

What begins as a tragic accident – the death of Leanne Wilson on a remote Scottish mountain – quickly turns into something much darker. DS Max Craigie starts to spot disturbing patterns, uncovering a series of similar deaths involving experienced female climbers, all found at the bottom of cliffs. As Max digs deeper, it becomes clear that they’re not just chasing a lone killer – they’re up against something far more insidious and powerful.

Lancaster’s writing is razor-sharp. He builds suspense masterfully, ratcheting up the tension with every chapter. The plot twists are genuinely surprising, keeping you second-guessing all the way through, and the final reveal is both shocking and incredibly satisfying – a real page-turner in every sense.

As always, the characters are a highlight. I’ve grown to love these characters more with each book, and When Shadows Fall only cements that further.

Dark, thrilling, and full of heart, this is Neil Lancaster at the top of his game. If you love smart, gritty crime fiction with complex characters and jaw-dropping twists, this one’s for you – keep them coming, Neil!

The Girl in Cell A is a brilliantly constructed psychological thriller that grips from the very first page and never lets go. Vaseem Khan has crafted a dual-plot mystery so rich in intrigue, misdirection, and buried secrets that it practically demands to be devoured in one sitting.

The story centers around Orianna Negi, once a teenage killer turned infamous true crime celebrity, who’s always claimed innocence. But if she didn’t kill Gideon Wyclerc… then who did? With no memory of the crime and a town full of secrets, the layers begin to peel back under the skilled hand of forensic psychologist Annie Ledet.

What follows is a dark, slow-burning unraveling of family secrets, power plays, and long-buried scandals. Everyone in Eden Falls has something to hide, and just when you think you’ve figured it out, Khan throws in another twist that leaves you reeling. The subtle misdirection is handled masterfully – it’s not flashy, it’s clever – pulling you deeper into a web of lies and half-truths.

The characters are complex, flawed, and convincing. Each interaction adds another shade to the truth, and the building tension is palpable. The ending? Cracking. Satisfying and thought-provoking, it leaves you questioning everything.

Scandal, race, power, and memory intertwine in a fallen Eden where guilt and innocence blur beyond recognition. The Girl in Cell A is a standout thriller – smart, suspenseful, and utterly unforgettable.

Line of Sight by Claire Askew is a compelling, razor-sharp police procedural that had me hooked from the first page. Set against the backdrop of Edinburgh, the novel dives headfirst into the harrowing world of people trafficking and forced prostitution, told through a powerful three-pronged narrative that is both emotionally resonant and utterly unputdownable.

DI Helen Birch is once again a standout lead—sharp, determined, and fiercely principled. Her fight to be heard within a police force that’s all too ready to look the other way is a central tension that drives the story forward with urgency and grit. Her strained dynamic with her boss and the friction between doing what’s right versus what’s expected, adds even more depth to her character.

Equally compelling is Beatrice “Bee” Crozier, the psychic whose visions become increasingly impossible to ignore. Her storyline adds an eerie, almost otherworldly layer to the plot that somehow blends seamlessly with the gritty realism of the case. And then there’s Linh—one of the trafficked girls—whose chapters are heartbreaking, raw, and vital. Askew gives her a voice that demands to be heard, making the reader feel every ounce of her fear and courage.

The way the novel threads these perspectives together is masterful, building to a tense, emotional crescendo where not everyone makes it out unscathed. This is not just a thriller—it’s a wake-up call. Sharp, humane, and deeply engaging, Line of Sight is Claire Askew at her absolute best. I loved it.

A Beautiful Way to Die by Eleni Kyriacos is a pacy, razor-sharp thriller that peels back the glamorous façade of 1950s Hollywood and Ealing Studios to reveal a world just as corrupt, but on a smaller, more insidious scale.

Kyriacos contrasts the excess and power plays of Hollywood with the quieter yet equally treacherous workings of the British film industry. The characters are richly drawn, with relationships that shift and unravel in fascinating ways. Ginny Watkins and Stella Hope are compelling leads, caught in a tangled web of ambition, betrayal, and survival. The narrative weaves their stories together, with moments of brilliant misdirection that build toward surprising twists and a satisfying conclusion.

This novel is a must-read for fans of classic Hollywood noir, historical thrillers, and stories that explore the darker side of fame. With its intoxicating atmosphere and sharp storytelling, A Beautiful Way to Die is as seductive as the world it portrays—glittering on the surface but filled with danger just beneath.