Synopsis:
When a troubled young man moves into a dilapidated house with his childhood friend, the perfect life of the sexy next door neighbors entices him–and ensnares him.
Review:
The Neighbors is a creepy little thriller whose twists take the form of character revelation. I was never exactly surprised by the actual plot, but I kept turning the pages because of the complexity of the characters, their backstories, and their relationships.
Synopsis:
A high school girl agrees to help a mysterious stranger rescue his little sister, whom he claims has been kidnapped by her father.
Review:
I used to love me some Lois Duncan back in the day (Stranger With My Face, anyone?) but this one just didn’t do anything for me.
Many thanks to Laurel Leaf Suspense for the review copy.
Synopsis:
A single mom decides to return to work, inciting a chain of events that puts her daughter in jeopardy.
Review:
The Playdate felt like a great follow up to Gone Girl. It’s not that they are so similar in terms of plot or genre. But they both built great suspense from intimate relationships, and had plenty of twists and turns.
I also really loved the way the book dealt with the stresses faced by working moms in the creative sector. It’s so competitive and nobody cares about your personal troubles. And in order to be creative, you have to be able to separate emotionally and focus when you’re away from your kids. I really connected with Callie’s dilemma, and am really thankful for my husband, because I couldn’t do any of it without him.
Synopsis:
When an FBI agent’s undercover contact is killed in a seemingly random accident, the presence of a striking young woman leads him back into the world of profiling, possible on the trace of a rare female serial killer.
Review:
I have long been a big fan of Alexandra Sokoloff‘s paranormal thrillers, and was excited to see what she would do with a different genre. Huntress Moon is a pitch-perfect serial killer thriller, with a riveting, suspenseful plot enhanced by vivid descriptions and truly fascinating characters. I couldn’t put it down and I just can’t wait for the next installment to come out this fall.
Synopsis:
A geneticist prepares a computer-designed monster for competition in an Olympic gladiatorial competition between genetically engineered creatures, only the codes may have engineered the creature for more than just a game.
Review:
The Games is a fast-paced, scary thriller that harkened back to Michael Crichton’s down-and-dirty days. I have to say I regretted finishing it so late at night! Creepy monster + creepy computer + gladiatorial spectacle = quite the riveting read. Plus the prose was better-than-average and I actually enjoyed the author’s style. I don’t like plot for plot’s sake–though I do love plot in general–so the good writing is really what kept me going.
Synopsis:
When her autistic son is accused of murder, a lawyer takes the law into her own hands, convinced of his innocence despite the rampant evidence against him.
Review:
I really don’t think that many parents of autistic children are going to be pleased with Saving Max, which preys on the common fear that autistic children are unmanageable and unable to love. Combine that with parental anxiety over watching your vulnerable little boy grow into a strong man, and you have the roots of the tension that fuels Saving Max, one that plants the seeds of wondering whether those innocent-looking stimming behaviors could turn violent.
That said, I did find the book to be a real page-turner in terms of plotting, even though I guessed the murderer and their motive about halfway through. That’s way early for me, because I’m usually in the dark until the last pages, so it must be really obvious. But even so I enjoyed seeing how all the story events played out and felt satisfied with the ending. What more can you ask for from a thriller, really?
Many thanks to Mira for the review copy.
Synopsis:
Freed from the clutches of the madman who abducted her, a broken young woman tries desperately to make sense of what happened to her.
Review:
I find it really strange that the New York Times gave Still Missing such a glowing review, because while I enjoyed the read I didn’t think it rose above genre expectations at all. The prose is pedestrian and the revelations contrived. Oh well.
Synopsis:
An amnesiac high school boy is on the run from both the US government and fundamentalist Islamic extremists.
Review:
I couldn’t get into The Long Way Home, despite Andrew Klavan’s stellar reputation. It had a lot of action but the plot and characters seemed too simply drawn.
Many thanks to Thomas Nelson for the review copy.
Synopsis:
Kaylee is a bean sidhe, a soul screamer who thinks she can save lives–until she discovers that some souls–like a talented pop star–are beyond saving because they’ve made a deal with the Netherworld.
Review:
My Soul To Save is a quirky read with an interesting concept, albeit one that never quite came together for me. I had difficulty grasping the worldview behind the notion of soul screamers and grim reapers (all attractive teens, of course), and so it was hard for me to connect with the story. I sometimes couldn’t tell whether a particular action was good or bad, and that moral ambiguity just didn’t sit well with me.
Then again, I probably spend more time than the average person contemplating theology, so if you’re not plagued by that particular blessing/curse, then you’ll probably really enjoy My Soul to Save. It’s a solid YA suspense thriller with all the elements you want. And you can enter to win one of three free copies by leaving a comment here!
Many thanks to Harlequin Teen for the review copy.
Synopsis:
A childless couple contracts with a lonely drifter to carry their sole remaining embryo, but little do they know that the baggage she brings includes criminal connections and demonic possession.
Review:
The Surrogate was simply terrible. Cardboard characters, overstuffed plotting, and an implausible storyline just really got on my nerves.
