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Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for an advanced copy of this title.

The Girlfriend’s Secret kept me engaged with a steady stream of mystery, suspicion, and unanswered questions. The story is told mostly from Liane’s perspective in the present, with a few chapters from Haven and Scott that add just enough extra context to keep the mystery unfolding without giving too much away.
The short chapters, multiple POVs, and steady pacing kept the story moving. What worked best for me was the mystery itself, which kept me invested more than the characters did.
There were enough twists and red herrings to keep me guessing, even if a few of those distractions weren’t fully explained in a satisfying way by the end. The one that stood out most was Haven’s relationship with Calvin, which felt intentionally mysterious throughout but was left a little too vague for my liking. I would have liked a bit more depth there. The final reveal also wasn’t particularly shocking or unique, but I don’t think every thriller needs a shocking ending to be enjoyable.
Overall, this was an entertaining psychological thriller that delivered what I was looking for: an engaging mystery with plenty of suspense. If you’re looking for a good thriller and don’t need a shocking ending to enjoy the ride, this one is worth picking up.
If you like family secrets, red herrings, and psychological suspense, then you will enjoy this book.
#NetGalley #TheGirlfriendSecret

WOW! This was my very first book by Jennifer Hillier, and I am officially a massive fan. Heart of Glass feels less like reading a book and more like an immersive experience—it pulls you so deeply into the story that you feel like you are part of the plot. It is rare for me to become this emotionally invested in a book, but I found myself deeply attached to the entire cast. I felt incredibly strong emotions—both good and bad—toward every single character as the events unfolded.
The story is told through various POVs, which adds incredible depth. While there is a surprisingly large cast of characters, they are introduced slowly, making it easy to keep track of everyone. The short chapters keep the pacing fast, and the secrets are peeled back layer by layer, keeping the suspense high the entire time. This book is a must-read for anyone who loves a great story with depth that will have them feeling all the emotions!
#HeartOfGlass #NetGalley

It was wonderful to reunite with the Fairway Players in The Silent Appeal. I absolutely love Janice Hallett’s unique writing style, and jumping back into this familiar, mixed-media format was a treat. The fact that Sarah-Jane's sister, Nicky-Rose, appears out of the blue and becomes so important to the group added an exciting level of mystery and intrigue right from the start. Plus, the surprise return of a previous Fairway Player was a great twist - that was the moment I knew things were going to get wonderfully wacky!
However, I felt this installment wasn't quite as strong as her previous books. The correspondence and summaries sent from Femi and Charlotte to Roderick were very redundant, often bogging down the pacing. There is also a massive cast of characters to keep track of, and I found it difficult to remember everyone's roles at times, even with the handy character list at the beginning of the book. Surprisingly, the main murder ended up being overshadowed by the other events and interpersonal dramas unfolding at the same time.
I really enjoyed this book even though the ending felt a bit crammed with information. Hallett’s signature format is engaging, and seeing the theater troupe back in action was a lot of fun. If you love a good mystery, this book is well worth the read.

The narrative structure of The Black Orchid immediately establishes a tense atmosphere by jumping between the fateful voyage of the ship and a podcast produced years later to investigate its sinking and the current efforts to recover a few still missing victims. I loved how this framing casts a lingering shadow over the events, making the confined environment of the cruise ship feel even more claustrophobic.
One of my favorite elements of the story is Carter, an inquisitive eight-year-old boy who wants to solve crimes just like his grandfather, Gideon. Because Gideon is a former FBI profiler and is also a fellow passenger aboard the ship, he provides the perfect inspiration. Children are rarely main characters in thrillers unless they are kidnapped or evil, but Carter brings a refreshing dynamic. He spends the voyage making a list of suspicious happenings around the ship, and I found his perspective to be a unique lens for uncovering the truth. I also appreciated the subtle touches of Greek mythology woven into the plot, which added an engaging layer of intrigue.
This book is more of a slow burn but, the medium chapters keep the momentum steady. There are enough little mysteries scattered throughout the voyage to keep the story moving and prevent the plot from stalling. When all the threads finally come together, the conclusion provides a satisfying wrap-up that answers the core questions without dragging out the ending.
If you like cruise ship thrillers and many little mysteries to unwind, then you will enjoy this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for an advanced copy of this title.
I was very excited for the premise of this locked room mystery, but this story struggles to find its footing early on. The beginning drags while attempting to introduce the sheer number of people involved. While it is established quickly that everyone has a motive for murder, the pacing remains sluggish well into the narrative. There is a heavy focus on the characters being shocked that Hazel changed the decor in the house Lily initially designed, and this specific detail becomes repetitive rather than revealing.
Because of the slow momentum, I remained disconnected from the cast and indifferent to their fates. The writing lacks the sharp edge needed to elevate the tension, leaving the high-stakes situations feeling flat. I never felt the stress or urgency that should accompany a group dealing with a potential killer. To make matters stranger, the side story involving Wintour the dog feels out of place and distracts from the core mystery. By the time the climax arrives, the execution reveals a few noticeable plot holes and leaves far too many questions unanswered.
If you like large suspect pools and remote settings, then you will may enjoy this book.
#NetGalley #TheGetaway

The House Swap throws you straight into the deep end, told almost entirely from Poppy’s perspective in the present day. The story moves at a fast pace, broken up into medium-sized chapters. The setting adds a heavy layer of tension. Poppy is staying in a gigantic villa in Greece, and that sheer size and isolation really amplifies her paranoia. I spent a large amount of the book trying to decide if she was losing her mind or if there was a calculated conspiracy against her. I could not figure out the truth until the final pieces fell into place.
The twist is a good one. It caught me off guard and shifted the narrative in a way that made all the previous anxiety feel justified. My only real gripe is the final stretch. After such a suspenseful ride, the ending felt a little too abrupt. The fates of certain characters were just settled in a few rushed lines, rather than giving them a proper wrap-up or even leaving things intentionally ambiguous. Still, the psychological manipulation and that striking Greek setting kept me hooked.
If you like isolated foreign settings, intense paranoia, and surprising twists, then you will enjoy this book.

Thank you to Danielle Fear for an advanced copy of this title.
Watching a protagonist who has sunk into absolute apathy - surrounding himself with hoard and simply refusing to care about anything - is frustrating and heartbreaking all at once. Yet, when he witnesses a murder and chooses total inaction, the quiet, magnetic pull of the narrative becomes impossible to look away from. The psychological tension created when a stalker grows increasingly furious at being ignored by a man who genuinely cannot be bothered is brilliant, and the short chapters keep the story moving at a brisk pace.
What stands out most is the efficiency of the writing. Danielle Fear has a talent for crafting vivid, fully realized characters without burying the reader in endless descriptions or fluff. Every line feels intentional, making it easy to form a strong, complex sense of empathy for a main character who has completely given up on the world. While the ending turns out to be a bit more restrained than what you might expect from a typical thriller, the sheer quality of the prose, the dark tension, and the character work make it a deeply satisfying read from start to finish.
If you like deeply flawed protagonists, unique cat-and-mouse suspense, and phenomenal writing, then you will love this book.

There is a distinct kind of dread that builds when you watch someone consumed by grief fall into the orbit of the wrong person. Tayler Vaughn captures that eerie atmosphere perfectly, tapping into the unsettling reality of manipulation. The characters are all reeling from profound personal losses, leaving them vulnerable to exploitation. It creates a quiet, creeping tension that pulled me in immediately and anchored the narrative.
The story moves quickly through short chapters, creating a momentum that pushes everything forward. Jumping between timelines keeps the plot fresh and engaging, revealing pieces of the puzzle at just the right time. The shifting perspectives build a cohesive picture of how tragedy can warp a person's judgment. The twist is executed well, and ended the story on a satisfying note. If you like eerie psychological tension, short chapters, and explorations of grief, then you will enjoy this book.

Shade Owens nails the Halloween atmosphere right out of the gate. The plot mostly jumps back and forth between Claudia and Ruth's perspectives, keeping the pacing fast and the tension high. I spent the entire read questioning whether Ruth was actually dangerous or if Claudia was just completely paranoid. Nothing is what it seems, and the suspense never lets up.
The twists work very well and feel totally earned. The clues are planted throughout the story, so the surprises make sense instead of just being thrown in for shock value. The ending wraps everything up perfectly without dragging on or relying on an unearned info dump. If you like spooky Halloween settings, unreliable characters, and intense paranoia, then you will enjoy this book.

W.M. Lessman brings a refreshing dynamic to the investigative protagonist with his character Xavier Bradshaw. As an ex-cop turned reporter, Xavier operates with the sharp mind of a detective but without the red tape of law enforcement. He isn't much of a rogue wildcard yet, but staying grounded makes him a solid anchor for the story, and I am curious to see if his personality develops in that direction as the series continues. The supporting cast adds a lot of value too, particularly Stephanie and Bobby, who are great side characters and really help Xavier and Jessi bond with each other.
The story has a slower pace, but it never drags or gets boring. Momentum stays alive thanks to the short chapters, and the author’s wonderful writing. There is a sizable cast to keep track of, but the background provided for each major player is distinct and thorough enough that I never felt lost or confused about who was who.
This leans much more into traditional suspense and mystery territory rather than a high-octane thriller. It builds to a genuinely good twist. The ending, however, wrapped up quickly, leaving the fates of some characters rather vague.
If you like character-driven mysteries, ex-cop protagonists, and methodical pacing, then you will enjoy this book.