In September of 2017, I read Jane Harper’s debut novel The Dry. I was instantly hooked on Harper’s immersive and captivating stories of long-held secrets, suspense and family drama. Since 2017 I have eagerly awaited every year for a new release from Harper.

I will start this review with a question. Would you listen to a Podcast that opens with the following statement? - “I’m Rachel Krall. This is Guilty or Not Guilty, the podcast that puts you in the jury box.” I know I would! This fictional podcast is right up my alley and features heavily in Megan Goldin’s newest release, The Night Swim. Goldin brilliantly merges the worlds of true crime and crime fiction creating a haunting and suspenseful tale of tragedy, the search for justice, and hope.

I attended a virtual author event earlier this year. The author stated “ it is easy to create a likable character, but creating an interesting character is the real challenge.” When the author made this statement, the first author that came to mind was Liz Nugent. Nugent brilliantly creates characters readers will despise, but undoubtedly remember for some time. With Little Cruelties, Nugent continues this wonderfully captivating trend.

Last year I read book one of the Cyrus Haven series Good Girl, Bad Girl. The lead character Evie Cormac has been on my mind ever since. I was immediately drawn to her bold yet vulnerable disposition. Evie is the ultimate underdog; abandoned, abused, and neglected. Yet she is strong, smart, and brave. The second installment of the series, When She Was Good has only strengthen my obsession with this series making Evie one of my favorite characters of all time.

In 2018 Alice Feeney burst onto the psychological thriller scene with her debut novel, Sometimes I Lie. Sometimes I Lie became a New York Times best seller and has been optioned as a TV series. Feeney’s next book I Know Who You Are, was just as entertaining and compelling as Sometimes I Lie, making Feeney an auto read author for me. With His & Hers, Feeney has more than proven her staying power in the crowded arena of psychological thrillers.

Beauregard “Bug” Montage is having money problems. The mortgage on his mechanics shop is behind, his children need braces and college tuition, and his elderly mother needs his financial support. These situations come up in everyone’s lifer sooner or later. For some the solution is easier than others. Some would just write a check, others may have to take out a loan or borrow from a parent. However for some, none of these options are available. Their only option is to do something illegal. While it is very easy to past judgement on such a person the truth of matter is; it is very easy to find yourself on the wrong side of the law. While there are people who do bad things because they are jealous, greedy, or angry ; there are a large number of people in prison for life because they did something out of desperation. Cosby does a fantastic job driving this point home.

When seeing the cover of Harding’s latest release The Swap, readers will assume they know the storyline of the book. A marriage swap gone terribly wrong. Those readers would be correct, but there is much more to this story.

It has been three years since I read book two of the Manon Bradshaw series, Persons Unknown. I also read book one of the series Missing Persons. I was immediately taken with all the characters but particularly the main character, Detective Inspector Manon Bradshaw. Although brash and moody I could tell Manon was a kind, generous, and dedicated police officer. Since 2017, I have been readily awaiting the next release of the series. Happily, book three Remain Silent was well worth the wait.

A bride, a groom, a best man, a wedding planner, and a maid of honor attend a wedding on an island off the coast of Ireland. Each with secrets to spare and plenty of reasons to preserve their secrets. This is not a joke but rather a brief synopsis of one of my favorite books of 2020. Foley’s latest release The Guest List is a gripping, tangled tale of a wedding doomed from the very start.

To most Rose Gold Watts is a victim. For years she was abused, drugged, and starved by her mother Patty. After being convicted of child abuse and sentenced to five years in prison, the town of Deadwick Indiana breathes a sigh of relief. After serving her time Patty is released from prison and lives with Rose Gold. The citizens of Deadwick see Rose Gold’s decision as further evidence of Patty’s control, however Rose Gold is not the same helpless little girl she was five years ago. Darling Rose Gold is a tangled and disturbing tale of a mother’s obsession and a daughter’s revenge

Sixteen year old Clara is not your average teenager. Rather than picking out prom dresses and scouting colleges, she is working as a tarot card reader on the boardwalk of Atlantic City, New Jersey. When vulnerable women start disappearing, Clara’s gift allows her to see what has become of these women. Terrified for herself and possible future victims, Clara enlists the help of Lily Louten to investigate the disappearances. However while Clara and Lily are searching for the killer, the killer has already found them.

An escape to a private island is the ideal vacation for most. For the Sinclair family it has turned into their worst nightmare. In the Thousand Islands of Upstate New York, the Sinclair family has gathered together to meet Jasper Sinclair’s new girlfriend. The family is based out of New York City where they are legendary for their fabric house in New York City’s world famous garment district. When the family wakes up one morning, Jasper has disappeared. His bed soaked in blood while his girlfriend slept beside him. BCI (Bureau Of Criminal Investigation) Investigators Shana Merchant and Tim Wellington are assigned to investigate Jasper’s disappearance.

The Overlook Hotel and The Bates Motel are probably the most infamous hotel/motel in literary  history. The characters who had the unfortunate luck of working and/or living in The Overlook Hotel and The Bates Motel did not fair very well. The same can be said of the characters employed at The Sun Down Motel. 

Loving an author’s first book can be a gift and a curse. Discovering a new author is wonderful but I tend to measure all subsequent books released by the author against the first book. Creating an unfair standard which is almost impossible for the author to meet. Tudor’s latest release The Other People did not manage to dethrone The Chalkman as my favorite but it is a close second. 

I know you should never judge a book by its cover but full disclosure, what drew me to Long Bright River was the cover. The misty rain spattered picture obscuring the view just enough so you know something is there but you cannot make it out. The cover created a mystery before I opened the book. However I can promise you there is so much more to Long Bright River than just a beautiful cover. Long Bright River is a dark yet beautiful story of two sisters who’s paths led them apart, but they remained linked through secrets, betrayals, and love. 

I have come to expect several things from Lars Kepler ; a fast paced plot, a complex mystery, and an extremely disturbed villain. The Rabbit Hunter is no exception, but what I love most about the series is how Kepler places Joona in extremely different circumstances with each book. In one book he is grieving, in another book he is personally under attack, in The Rabbit Hunter we find him in prison. Reading about Joona in these varying circumstances allows readers a full picture of his character.