Hannah Morrissey’s outstanding debut suspense novel HELLO, TRANSCRIBER delivers a blend I wouldn’t have thought possible if I hadn’t read it myself. In this gripping and rough-around-the-edges suspense story, Morrissey combines a fresh twist on a procedural with psychological suspense and even a touch of romance, all wrapped up in the gritty atmosphere of a small city that has seen better days. Following a woman who has just accepted a job as a transcriber for the local police force, and soon finds herself drawn into a dangerous world when she becomes obsessed with an ongoing investigation in the city, HELLO, TRANSCRIBER is an inventive and irresistible crime story perfect for your winter to-read list. The world Morrissey crafts in HELLO, TRANSCRIBER delivers the appeal of a police procedural—an insider’s glimpse into the inner machinations of policework—coupled with a fresh and engaging suspense plot, a combination sure to thrill genre newcomers and seasoned readers alike. HELLO, TRANCSRIBER is exactly the fresh twist on the procedural that I’ve personally been craving, and it makes Morrissey’s debut a perfect entrée into the world of the procedural for readers who typically gravitate towards lighter psychological suspense. Readers craving something dark and rough around the edges will devour this irresistible tale of intrigue, secrets, and murder.
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Book Review: THE DARK by Emma Haughton
I will happily read a wintry mystery any time of year, but there’s nothing more perfect (in my opinion!) than sinking into a chilling crime novel as the winter season approaches—and if you agree, you’ll want to add Emma Haughton’s recently-released mystery THE DARK to your to-read pile. THE DARK has garnered major buzz in the UK, and it’s easy to see why. This atmospheric and immersive crime novel transports readers to the desolate landscape of Antarctica, weaving a clever and claustrophobic mystery that will appeal to fans of classic “locked room” crime stories and psychological suspense alike. Following an emergency medicine doctor who accepts the job of a lifetime, THE DARK takes place in the isolated setting of a UN research station in Antarctica. Surrounded by nothing but ice and snow, unable to leave or be reached by outside help, our story’s unwitting characters settle in for months of isolation… with a killer in their midst. THE DARK blends immersive setting with palpable tension and ever-increasing stakes. A slow-burning first half builds to a white-knuckle conclusion in this chilling and atmospheric story. Consider adding this one to your winter to-read list.
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Nordic Thriller Mini Reviews: THE ICE COVEN by Max Seeck & THE CORPSE FLOWER by Anne Mette Hancock
Mini reviews of two new Nordic thrillers I recently read and loved: THE ICE COVEN by Max Seeck and THE CORPSE FLOWER by Anne Mette Hancock! These dark, chilling tales both put their own unique spin on the Nordic crime novel, and both deliver thrilling stories perfect for your fall to-read list.
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Book Review: DARK THINGS I ADORE by Katie Lattari
Katie Lattari’s DARK THINGS I ADORE is easily one of the most unusual suspense novels I’ve read this year—and I mean that as a compliment. DARK THINGS I ADORE is a book that manages to be both beautiful and horrific all at once; author Katie Lattari delivers a unique and beguiling blend of lush storytelling and disturbing content that kept me engaged from the book’s first page to its very last. While this book’s dark subject matter and slow-burning pacing won’t be for everyone, readers who gravitate towards dark tales with immersive world-building will relish DARK THINGS I ADORE. In this lush-yet-disturbing story, the author weaves an irresistible tale of past sins that have never truly been forgotten, and present-day vengeance for those past evils. Centering around an art student and her professor caught in a deadly cat-and-mouse game, DARK THINGS I ADORE explores the dark corners of artistic inspiration, drawing readers into a world where villains get their comeuppance and victims fight back. DARK THINGS I ADORE is both beautiful and sinister, an elegant story of revenge with very sharp teeth.
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Book Review: ROCK PAPER SCISSORS by Alice Feeney
If you love domestic suspense and aren’t reading Alice Feeney yet, you’re missing out. The author of deliciously twisty and dark thrillers including His & Hers and Sometimes I Lie returns this week with her newest suspense novel ROCK PAPER SCISSORS, a winning blend of chilling atmosphere, cinematic setting, and unpredictable characters. In ROCK PAPER SCISSORS, a couple’s anniversary getaway takes a dark and dangerous turn… and their happily ever after might be ending sooner than they thought. True to form for Feeney, ROCK PAPER SCISSORS is a domestic suspense novel that stands out thanks to a masterful twist (or two, or maybe more…) and vividly-drawn characters who leap off the page. While ROCK PAPER SCISSORS may not be my personal favorite of Feeney’s thrillers—that title still belongs to Feeney’s 2020 release His & Hers, which has one of my favorite final reveals of any thriller I’ve ever read—it is nevertheless a standout in the domestic suspense space, a must-read for anyone who loves stories that delve into the darkest corners of interpersonal relationships.
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