Thriller

A ghostwriting challenge with a lucrative reward, a windswept and isolated island estate, and seven authors full of writing insecurities and personal baggage. A book revolving around a potential collab to finish a famed late author’s last serial entry, the Ending Writes Itself is itself a collaborative novel by veteran fantasy author V.E. Schwab and scriptwriter Cat Clarke (yes, pun intended). Pitched as a mystery thriller, this story also doubles as a literary/contemporary fiction book filled with strong commentary and discussions about the publishing industry’s flaws and authors’ struggles. As a study on character writing, this novel gets top marks and is conceptually brilliant. But as a mystery thriller for casual readers, the ending perhaps wrote itself too much with some notable narrative flaws and questionable pacing. There are quite a lot of books out there about ghostwriting in the publishing industry and ghostwriting job vetting, but has it ever been crossed with a free‑for‑all challenge turned survival story? The Ending Writes Itself is a book that blends familiar mystery‑thriller beats and connects them to the highs and lows of publishing; more often the lows. Easily the most impressive aspect of this book is its strong commentary on the publishing…

Blending together Japanese samurai culture, time-travel speculative fiction, tense horror ambiance with mystery thriller intrigue, Japanese Gothic by Kylie Lee Baker is as ambitious of a novel as it is graphic and violent. One of the most anticipated horror releases of the year, like her inspirations and goals, this book crossovers between genres, storylines, and realities, telling a compelling and gripping story in just over three hundred pages. Steeped in Japanese folklore and culture but presented in a way that’s accessible, Japanese Gothic is an excellent mystery thriller/horror novel that’s powerfully written and creatively conceptualized. There’s a lot that could be said about Japanese Gothic’s story, but this is one book that’s best experienced on its own with minimal overview given the tension, mysterious intrigue, and unexpected narrative elements benefit from the reader being left in the dark. The book features a split POV and timeline perspective that’s similar to Lee’s presentation, a meeting of the East and West. In 2026, Lee Turner escapes to his father’s house in Japan following the murder of his college roommate that he can’t remember how or why he killed. Racked with anxiety and paranoia, his chapters follow his descent into borderline psychosis as…

This review is based on a complimentary Advanced Reader Copy provided by Entangled: Mayhem Books. Like a flashback to the highs of the dystopian trend of the 2010’s, The Verdant Cage is an expertly crafted start to an utterly compelling new YA series. Taking the best elements of past dystopian works modernized and fused with fresh and green ideas, Jess Lourey takes the reader on a thrilling murder mystery story set within a lush valley surrounded by a foreboding and immense ancient wall. Featuring excellent plotting, great pacing, well-written and appealing characters, The Verdant Cage is a book that understands the assignment, delivering a satisfying and pitch perfect YA dystopian reading experience and an ending that leaves you eager for more! Born into the apothecary house, Rose Allgood has trained extensively in the art of healing, medicine, and caregiving. Living in the pleasant and rural Noah’s Valley, the village and surrounding forest are protected by staggering ancient walls built over a hundred years ago to protect them from the dangerous beasts and unknown threats outside. Warned to keep a low profile and abiding by the laws of the village, Rose has lived her whole life responsibly following the rules and what’s…

This review is based on a complimentary Advanced Reader Copy provided by St. Martin’s Press. Love, guilt, judgement, and paranoia, all within the four walls that may or may not be alive and angry, You Did Nothing Wrong is psychological thriller and explores Elodie’s twisted descent into madness. C.G. Drews’s adult novel debut, rather than simply serving as a straightforward haunted house narrative, this book instead is a horror story of an entirely different monster. Compared to Drews’s past books that had a more paranormal and fantasy angle to their stories, You Did Nothing Wrong instead plays off the monsters in our head and the horrifying ways love and devotion can spiral into something dark and unrecognizable. While featuring Drews’s signature macabre metaphors and stylistic prose, this book is very different from past YA books for those that enjoyed their past books. Marketed as a pulse-pounding and clever take on the haunted house novel, I went into this book expecting something along the lines of Drews’s past books that mixed elements of paranormal horror with fantasy flair. As a strong cautionary disclaimer upfront, You Did Nothing Wrong is very different and was not at all what I was expecting. While…

This review is based on a complimentary Advanced Reader Copy provided by Wednesday Books, an imprint of St. Martin’s Press via Netgalley. Magically captivating while simultaneously dark and harsh, Julia Alexandra’s debut novel Midnight on the Celestial is a well-paced and solid YA fantasy story that effortlessly walks the line between the fantasy and thriller genres. Prominently featured on both the book’s cover and in its blurb, the focal luxury cruise line enchanted with opulent and imaginative magic immediately catches attention but there’s a lot more to this story than what meets the eye. A dark fantasy thriller featuring a likable group of found family friends paired with a great plot and excellent age-appropriate character writing, Midnight on the Celestial is a great all-rounder book that tells a compelling standalone story with dazzling visuals. The land of Tamarynth is overseen by the elected Council and system that regulates those with magical powers. Referred to as morphia, this substance possessed by certain individuals grants them a variety of powers, in Roe Damarcus’s case the power of resurrecting spirits from the afterlife. As the famed daughter of one of the councilmen and only member with magical powers, her powers are largely used…