The Method By Matthew Quirk

The Method centers on Anna and Natalie, two professional actors whose lives are built on slipping into other identities. When Natalie disappears, Anna doesn’t feel like she is getting help from the police and she takes it upon herself to figure out what happened, because all signs pointed to something amiss. Anna must take on the biggest, and possibly implausible roll of her life, by walking straight into the world of the people responsible. What follows is Anna wildly overestimating her ability to play hero, convinced she can infiltrate the bad guy’s lair, find Natalie, and get them both out on sheer nerve and learned skills alone. Spoiler: it’s a terrible plan. The villains here are truly dangerous, the things they’re involved in are unsettling, and Anna has no idea who she can trust.

Anna is not your typical thriller heroine; she’s scrappy, stubborn, and fully aware that what she’s doing is unhinged, which somehow makes her even more compelling. This book reads just like a binge worth television series allowing you to only breathe at the end of a chapter. Matthew Quirk’s writing is clean, direct, and unapologetically cinematic, populated with espionage archetypes that shouldn’t work but absolutely do. If you love fast-paced thrillers, bold and ballsy female leads, lean into this one and enjoy the ride.

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Inside Man By John McMahon

Inside Man reminded me why this series has become one of my absolute favorites. John McMahon delivers a narrative that is both tightly constructed and richly layered, but it is the PAR unit that truly defines the experience. If Sheldon Cooper and Dr. Spencer Reid somehow produced a child, the result would be FBI Agent Gardner Camden, a neurodivergent analytical prodigy whose mind catalogs every tree along the interstate and every stray serial number with equal intensity. He is brilliant in a way that feels both extraordinary and deeply human, and he occupies an essential place in the intricate puzzle of personalities that make up the PAR team. His ongoing attempts to interpret Cassie speak provide some of the book’s most satisfying and surprisingly tender moments, illustrating how intelligence and social intuition often collide and then, slowly, find a rhythm.

McMahon brings together multiple story lines that could easily feel unwieldy but instead unfold with admirable clarity and momentum. The investigation into a militia’s growing weapons stockpile and the disturbing pattern of missing women create a dual-track tension that builds steadily until the connections snap into focus. The pacing is deliberate without ever losing its urgency, and the escalating suspense feels earned because every detail, no matter how small, is placed with intention. By the conclusion, every thread has been addressed, every question has been given its due, yet the door remains open just wide enough to make the anticipation for the next installment almost immediate.

I feel like the second book in a series can make or break it. This book will stand out for the character depth it adds to the PAR team. Each of them has always been compelling, but this installment allows them to exist with more nuance and emotional complexity. Gardner’s evolving relationship with his daughter Camilla and the difficult dynamics with his mother reveal sides of him that extend well beyond the role of gifted investigator. Likewise, the rest of the team is presented with a fullness that makes their humor, loyalty, and occasional operational disruption resonate on a more personal level. The result is a cast of characters that stands apart in the crime fiction landscape.

Inside Man delivers a rare blend of sharp suspense and unforgettable characters, proving this series has only begun to reveal its full force. The PAR unit is the kind of team you follow anywhere, and the next case feels impossible to wait for – and yes – I am a card carrying member of The Head Cases Fan Club.

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Dark Sisters By Kristi DeMeester

Dark Sisters by Kristi DeMeester completely consumed me from the first page. I went into this blind never having read anything by this author, but knew from the blurb it was for me. I found myself compulsively turning pages, unable to break away from its eerie pull. DeMeester’s mastery of atmosphere is undeniable — each scene pulses with tension, thick with dread, vivid locations and quiet fury. It’s not just that I couldn’t stop reading; it was that I didn’t want to.

The story unfolds through three distinct points of view across different timelines, covering multiple generations of women, each one deepening the emotional impact and adding layers to the mystery. The shifting narratives created a rhythm and keeping me fully immersed in each character’s world, and DeMeester handles the transitions with such precision that it never once pulled me out of the story. If anything, it made me more invested — eager to see how each thread would eventually weave together – and when it did – holy smokes.

And at the heart of it all are the women. Fierce, wounded, searching — each of the female protagonists had me in their corner from the beginning. Whether they were trapped in the grips of a suffocating cult or navigating who they are and what their purpose is, I rooted for them with everything I had. Their pain was palpable, but so was their strength, and watching them fight for autonomy, understanding, and connection was harrowing. Dark Sisters is dark gothic horror, yes — but it’s also a haunting story for women who refuse to disappear.

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Silent Bones By Val McDermid

Silent Bones by Val McDermid is Book 8 in the Karen Pirie series, and even though I arrived embarrassingly late to the party, it worked perfectly as a stand alone. After a brief adjustment to the language and little Scottish nuances, I felt completely transported. I was in the middle of Scotland, ready to pull on a pair of wellies and follow Karen Pirie or any other member of the straight into the muck. The discovery of Sam Nimmo under a road after years of vanishing flips every theory about his past on its head. At the same time the Historic Case Unit is handed new evidence on the so called accidental death of Tom Jamieson, a hotel manager whose fall down the famous Scotsman Steps suddenly looks a lot more deliberate.

What makes this book such a rush is the way McDermid turns what seem like separate cold cases into a single maze of past crimes, corruption, and the kind of dark secrets that only very powerful people can hide. The character work is sharp, the atmosphere is thick, and the plotting is so intricate that watching the pieces lock together is its own thrill. When the investigation edges toward a secret group with influence, privilege, and more than a few ugly connections, the story gains real moral weight. By the time the twist lands, you are picking your jaw up off the floor and wondering why you have not been reading Val McDermid all along.

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Dead Ringer By Chris Hauty

If you have ever loved a larger than life conspiracy theory book, Dead Ringer by Chris Hauty is absolutely for you. It pulls you in from the first chapter and never lets go. The story takes real historical events and threads of truth about the assassination of President John F. Kennedy and spins them into a high-octane pursuit for answers that stretches across the country, where danger hides behind every clue and every revelation propels you deeper into the chase.

I love the way this story weaves through true historical facts, real people, and plausible motives that connect key figures across decades and continents. The layers of history, politics, and religion are perfectly stacked, creating a relentless hunt that feels like running side by side with Joe Mingus, a fallen Secret Service agent, and Joseph Verdugo, a brilliant Jesuit professor with secrets of his own. Let’s not forget the assassin on a divine mission, the financier pulling the strings, and the political leader being molded to serve unseen powers. I cannot even begin to tell you how many rabbit holes I went down while reading this book — and that made the experience even more addictive.

And those letters underneath each chapter number? Did I try to decode them myself? Yes. Did I fail? Also yes. Will I keep trying? Again yes. That is the magic of Hauty’s storytelling — it does not just hand you the truth, it dares you to chase it. Every chapter hums with tension, every reveal cracks open a deeper mystery, and by the end you are left questioning how much of it might actually be real.

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Executive Power By Andrews & Wilson

From the first page this story throws you into the fire and never gives you a chance to look away. Kyle Ryan is the quiet genius of the family, a runner with a sharp mind who sees the world in numbers and probabilities. He is former Navy and now part of a small DIA team in Angola where a mission to intercept Chinese communications goes violently wrong. His team is attacked and wiped out in seconds and Kyle survives only by sheer instinct as he sprints through gunfire and dives through the embassy gates. It is a bold and breathless opener that sets the tone for everything that follows. Katie Ryan steps into the spotlight as well and she shines with power. She is brilliant, outgoing, analytical, and already a leader in the ONI. Watching the two youngest Ryans take center stage gives this book a new spark and a fresh angle that feels smart and long overdue.

From that moment forward the pace never lets up. The story becomes a relentless drive through kidnapping, torture, political hardball, covert intel work, and combat that is so realistic you can practically hear the radio chatter and feel the pressure of each decision. Kyle grows into his strength in a way that is incredibly satisfying. He finds his backbone and discovers that he is not the weak link but a force who never breaks under pressure. Katie is positioned for greatness and I am calling it now. She is presidential material. Their dynamic with the rest of the Ryan family adds emotional power to scenes that already feel cinematic. Jack Junior operates with trademark precision. Jack Senior stays in the background just enough to let his children rise. The balance is sharp, gutsy, and completely addictive.

This one hits every button I want in a modern thriller and somehow still gives me more. Andrews and Wilson deliver action that feels like live coverage and character moments that hit with real force. The realism of the procedures and the intensity of the setting make the entire book feel immersive. As this marks the final Ryan novel from this duo I am honestly going to miss their work. They are an automatic read for me. But what a way to exit. This book is fierce, bold, and easily one of the best books I have read this year. If you are a Ryanverse fan or just want a thriller that grabs you by the collar and does not let go, you absolutely need to read this.

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Best Offer Wins By Marisa Kashino

Marisa Kashino's Best Offer Wins is a darkly humorous debut that takes the soul-crushing chaos of the D.C. housing market and cranks it up into a wickedly fun, sometimes feral and compulsively readable ride.  At the center of it all is Margo Miyake, a thirty-something publicist whose life feels stalled until she sets her signs on the dream house she has to have.  But forget open houses and Zillow scrolling - Margo's obsession escalates fast and watching her spiral from stressed house-hunter to delightfully unhinged is equal parts shocking and delicious.  Kashino nails the balance of domestic suspense, mystery and perfectly timed humor pulling readers into a world where ambition, envy and desperation blue the line between relatable and downright terrifying.

What really seals the deal is Kashino’s voice—it’s sharp, fearless, and refreshingly unique. The author doesn't just give us a character in Margo - she gives us an unforgettable force of chaos who is off her rocker in the most entertaining way.  I found myself asking, what extremes would I go to if the house of my dreams was just out of reach.  (I wouldn't do what Margo did - maybe.) The tension ramps up, the plot escalates quickly and the humor makes the madness strangely palatable.  It's dark, twisty and impossible to put down.  Best Offer Wins is smart, sassy and downright addictive and Kashino proves she's an author to watch with this wildly entertaining debut.

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The Picasso Job By Avanti Centrae

The Picasso Job is book one in a brand new series from Avanti Centrae, and yet the players feel so familiar it’s as if they’ve stepped out of her previous worlds. I tried my darndest to connect them to the VanOps crew but no luck, though that same heartbeat of danger and intelligence is there. There’s a new player in the game now: Phoenix. And by the time you hit the last page, you’ll be ready to follow wherever this team goes next.

This is so much more than a cops and robbers thriller. A priceless Picasso painting has been stolen, and the notorious art thief Bijan Renoir Reza is locked away in Folsom State Prison. The feds think they’ve contained their problem, focused on Iran’s race toward nuclear capability, not a painting. But what if that masterpiece could bankroll the purchase of uranium? What if a single heist could fund catastrophe? When Reza gets wind of the plan, he knows he needs help and a way out. Enter Dakota Black, his cellmate so ordinary you can’t imagine how he ended up behind bars, and Winters, a man nursing a years-long vendetta. When the prison goes dark and chaos erupts, the three flee into a dangerous race for the Picasso, each driven by their own motives and an uneasy alliance that teeters between loyalty and betrayal.

FBI Agent Elizabeth Everett is the perfect counterbalance to their storm. Still reeling from the loss of her partner, she’s a sharp, determined agent with her own score to settle and nothing will stop her from finding Reza. Centrae threads the chase with her signature tension and moral complexity, weaving a story that asks not just who will survive, but what justice, freedom, and redemption truly cost. The Picasso Job is fast, clever, and cinematic . Firing on all cylinders, this is a fresh start to a series that promises even bigger things ahead.

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Trigger By Jennifer Stockdale

Trigger is not a book that tiptoes around its subject matter. It dives straight into the wreckage of memory, trauma, and the fragile trust we place in family. Jennifer Stockdale crafts a chilling and heartbreaking psychological thriller that asks what if the people who are supposed to protect you are also the ones rewriting your truth?

Told across two timelines, 1976 and 1982 - 1983, the story follows Dora Culligan, the youngest of five and the only girl in a wealthy, tightly controlled New England family. With four older brothers, Dora knows her place in the pecking order. Sometimes she is the tattletale, sometimes the baby who gets away with everything, and sometimes the one whose memories do not quite match what everyone else insists happened. But when one of her brothers, Tommy, dies by suicide, the family’s perfect façade fractures. Secrets start stacking up, each one heavier than the last, until the weight of them becomes suffocating. Years later, a song triggers a memory, and Dora begins to pull at the threads of a carefully constructed story, one her family has gone to great lengths to protect.

Trigger is raw and unnerving, exploring themes of suicide, family trauma, gaslighting, denial, lies, and the corrosive power of love twisted by control. Stockdale writes with precision and empathy, unspooling the tension slowly, allowing readers to feel Dora’s growing disorientation and dread. The alternating timelines build a steady rhythm of unease, and the sense of claustrophobia, emotional and physical, is relentless in the best possible way. This is a story about what we choose to remember, what we are forced to forget, and the haunting possibility that sometimes our minds are not the problem, our families are.

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The Secret Sand Circle By Christina M. Abt

Christina M. Abt asked me to read this novel, and I went into it completely blind, with no idea what kind of experience was waiting for me. What I found was a thoughtful and deeply emotional journey that unfolds through a dual timeline marked as “Then” and “Now,” each chapter stamped with the exact time of day. That structure pulls you through twenty-four hours of intense reflection while also reaching back into everything that shaped Dr. Juliet Olivia “Jo” Harkins. Jo is a psychologist who dedicates her life to survivors of abuse and trauma, and through her we meet five unforgettable patients—Solana, Aiysha, Tristan, Kit, and Constance—each trying to rise above circumstances they never deserved. The book handles difficult themes with incredible care, especially around memory, identity, and the long shadows cast by pain.

Everything about Jo is calm, measured, and intentional, from her therapeutic strategies to the soft edges of her personal habits. I loved how Abt slowly reveals Jo’s past in fragments—memories, reflections, the small turning points that pushed her toward this work. She is fully committed to her patients, researching the meaning behind their names, creating safe spaces for them, and offering a constant presence that never wavers. The therapeutic tool she developed, the Secret Sand Circle, is brilliant in its simplicity and symbolism. The idea that you can draw something in sand and also sweep it away becomes a powerful metaphor for healing, renewal, and release. As Jo guides her patients through their pain, she is quietly confronting her own trauma and limits. The question becomes: what is the personal cost of carrying so much for others?

By the end, this book left me thinking about how little we truly know about what others are carrying, and how much gentler the world would be if we remembered that. The gardening metaphors—seeds, soil, tending—fit beautifully with the way healing grows in unexpected places. The Secret Sand Circle is a reminder that holding everything in is often the worst choice we can make. Mental health matters, and the story honors the courage it takes to face what hurts. Read this one all the way to the end, and remember: whatever you are navigating, you do not walk through it alone.

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The Adversary By Andrews & Wilson

Andrews & Wilson prove once again why they are at the very top of the thriller game with The Adversary. You really need to read all of the Tier One books—and don’t forget the Sons of Valor series as well. I mean really, what are you waiting for? These two give readers everything we crave: jaw-dropping action, crossovers between series, deep-buried easter eggs, and subtle hints that pay off down the line. Nothing in their universe is ever throwaway—if you catch it once, odds are it will come back around.

To really appreciate this story, you need to understand Task Force EMBER. This isn’t a typical military unit; it’s an off-the-books counterterrorism task force born from tragedy, made up of former SEALs, spooks, and special operations veterans who fight the wars America can’t acknowledge. They are a deniable, black-ops unit operating in the shadows where the rules of war don’t apply—and The Adversary shows both the price and the necessity of their work. That cost hits hard here, as Jake Kemper finally uncovers the truth about his father and proves he has what it takes to carve his own path. There’s a deeper emotional core in this installment, layered over relentless tension, and it’s impossible not to hope we’ll see Jake and Jack side by side in future books.

Of course, Andrews & Wilson never neglect the action. The combat scenes here are sniping precision, brutal close-quarters, and high-tech chaos all rolled into one. Every firefight is written with explosive intensity and immersive realism. The Taiwan operation is a perfect example: claustrophobic, tactical, and spiraling out of control in a way that makes you read faster just to breathe again. The action is always thrilling, but what elevates it is the emotional weight—loyalty, sacrifice, survival. You feel every decision, every shot fired.

And then there’s Liu Shazi, the kind of antagonist who you just can’t shake. A former Snow Leopard turned MSS asset, he’s ruthless, cunning, and untethered by rules or loyalty. A lone wolf with the authority to command and the will to destroy, he’s both terrifying and fascinating. Shazi operates as though every boundary is his to break, which makes him deadly—but also sets the stage for his inevitable downfall.

The Adversary delivers everything that makes this series addictive: sharp authenticity, nonstop action, and a villain who gets under your skin. But it also deepens the emotional heart of the story, pulling secrets into the light and setting the stage for what’s next. It’s a relentless, pulse-pounding ride with real soul.

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The Mannequins By C. Toms-Arbel

C. Toms Arbel’s The Mannequins is a debut that does more than just dip its toes into the dark waters of psychological thrillers. It dives headfirst and drags you under with it. This is as much a detective procedural as it is a chilling psychological horror, and it is an absolute banger. DI Cora Steele is a standout, a woman carving her path in a male dominated field with grit, intelligence, and hard earned determination. She feels fully realized, as do the other characters, all three dimensional and layered with flaws, strengths, and motivations that make them feel hauntingly real. The fact that the antagonist remains unnamed for part of the story only heightens the tension, keeping readers guessing while pulling them deeper into the nightmare.

What really sets this apart is how well Toms Arbel handles the pacing and perspective. The novel alternates between the procedural investigation and the twisted mind of a serial killer whose childhood trauma and abuse are revealed in unsettling, gut wrenching detail. You do not just read about the horrors he endured, you feel them, and you grow to loathe the forces that shaped him, especially his mother. The murder scenes are graphic and visceral, written with such sensory intensity that I could hear the bones break and smell the aftermath. It is uncomfortable, but in a way that makes the novel unforgettable.

This is a dark, gritty, and deeply disturbing ride, a story layered with grit, gore, and psychological depth that does not shy away from the horrors of violence or the complexities of human behavior. The mix of horror, murder, and procedural detail kept me awake long past midnight, and as someone who has been eagerly awaiting this release and following the author’s journey, I can say it was more than worth the wait. For a debut, this is astonishingly confident, unsettling, graphic, and impossible to put down.

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Remain By Nicholas Sparks & M. Night Shymalan

I picked this book up solely on the fact that Nicholas Sparks and M. Night Shyamalan collaborated on this project. I didn’t even read the blurb – my instincts chose this one for me.   I love Nicholas Spark’s books and M. Night Shyamalan’s work on the big screen, so this had to be a win.  I was right.  Let’s make this a little better – there is going to be a movie based on this book with M. Night Shyamalan directing the movie and writing the screenplay so watch for in October 2026. That being said, go into this blind and just love it. 

Remain is a rare beast—a mash up of genres for all the right reasons. Nicholas Sparks brings the tender, soul-deep romance, while M. Night Shyamalan layers in an eerie, slow-creeping dread. Tate Donovan isn’t just another wounded hero looking for a fresh start; he and his late sister Sylvia share an otherworldly connection that defies reason. When Wren walks into his life—magnetic, mysterious, and possibly not of this world—the line between healing and haunting blurs into something unforgettable. It’s part romance, part supernatural thriller, all wrapped in Cape Cod’s windswept, salt-bitten atmosphere.

And then come the twists. The kind that rearranges everything you thought you knew about the characters, the powers at play, and even the nature of love itself. Sparks makes you ache for these people, and Shyamalan makes you question every page—right up until the ending hits like a full-blown tilt, flipping the board and leaving your heart in freefall. It’s haunting and beautiful, impossible to put down.

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The Midnight Knock By John Fram

John Fram’s The Midnight Knock is a locked-room thriller draped in horror, gore, and supernatural dread. Eight strangers, each running from something and carrying secrets they’d rather bury, converge at a desolate desert motel. None of them know each other, yet they are tied together in ways that defy logic. When a murder occurs, it becomes clear that their arrival isn’t chance—it’s fate. And the true danger might not be the killer among them, but something older, darker, and far less human that prowls just beyond the glow of the motel lights.

This was my first book by Fram, and I was hooked from the start. I love a locked-room mystery with teeth, and this one sunk in deep. The structure, broken into parts, gave the story a relentless rhythm, and when I reached the end of the first night, I actually stopped and thought: holy fright, this is a mistake. But there was no turning back. From that point on, the tension tightened like a noose—hold on to your pants, people, because what unfolds is no simple whodunnit.

What makes this novel unforgettable is the atmosphere. Fram paints scenes so vivid they feel alive: roads that hunger, motels that breathe, landscapes that loom with menace. Inanimate objects pulse with life, liminal spaces swallow up reality, and every page feels like stepping deeper into a nightmare you strangely don’t want to wake from. I can say with certainty—I’ll never wander the borderlands, never stop at an outpost, and never risk getting caught in a liminal space. But I was thrilled to live it vicariously in these pages, where the horror is irresistible and survival is anything but guaranteed.

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War On The Porch By Travis Davis

War on the Porch by Travis Davis is a fictional account inspired by real events and a soldier that overcame odds and turned his loss into inspiration.  This novel channels the voice of a WWI soldier so authentically that it reads like a personal remembrance—harrowing, reflective, and hauntingly intimate. Blinded in combat and forever changed, Patrick King recounts the events that stole his sight during the Second Battle of the Marne in July 1918—truths he never revealed, not even to his wife. What unfolds is a confessional, decades in the making, marked by silence, trauma, and the ache of memory finally set free.

Travis Davis writes with more than skill—he writes with heart. Drawing from his own military experience, he brings authenticity, compassion, and deep emotional truth to every page. His stories aren’t just about war—they’re about what it means to carry a promise, to love without limits, and to find connection even in silence. Every word reflects the time, care, and research he pours into his craft. Davis doesn’t just tell a story; he invites readers to feel it—to understand what it means to serve, to listen, and to truly be heard.

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The Gunman Jackson Swagger By Stephen Hunter

Stephen Hunter’s The Gun Man: Jackson Swagger throws every ounce of classic Western energy onto the page with dusty trails, gunfights, horses, saloons, and a hierarchy of power built on money and control. I couldn’t help but picture Sam Elliott stepping into the boots of Jackson Swagger, his quiet authority filling every scene. The  sun beats down on a land still haunted by war, where tension lingers like smoke after a shot. There are plenty of men eager to prove themselves with a gun, but Jack Swagger doesn’t need to boast; his steadiness and precision say it all. He’s the kind of man who’s seen too much, yet still lives by a code that feels carved in stone.

What makes this story stand out isn’t just the action, though the gunfights will absolutely satisfy, but the authenticity in every detail from the sound of spurs to the smell of gun oil and grit. Hunter’s knowledge and history of weaponry is stellar, giving the story an expert realism that never feels forced. I also loved how true events from the time period are woven seamlessly into the story, grounding the fiction in believable history. The pacing builds to an ending that leaves you breathless, not for the shock or spectacle, but for the weight of legacy it leaves behind. This isn’t just a Western about bullets and bravado; it’s about the cost of survival, the measure of a man, and the quiet understanding that sometimes the truest battles are the ones that never make a sound.

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Cold Zero By Brad Thor & Ward Larsen

I was lucky enough to meet Brad Thor and Ward Larsen at Bouchercon in New Orleans in 2025 and walk away with an early copy of Cold Zero, and as if that was not enough, Simon Audio granted me access to the audiobook narrated by one of my all time favorites. From the opening moments, this story wastes no time. A commercial flight carrying a revolutionary and dangerously powerful piece of technology disappears over the Arctic, triggering a collision course between China, Russia, and the United States. What follows is a brutal standoff at the top of the world, where CIA operative Kasey Sheridan and former fighter pilot Brett Sharpe find themselves stranded in unforgiving conditions, tasked with staying alive, helping other survivors, and protecting both the scientist and the invention that could reshape global power.

Yes, Cold Zero delivers everything thriller readers want. Espionage, cutting edge technology, and geopolitical power struggles are all here. But the heart of the book is the Arctic itself and the escalating tension of three superpowers converging in a place where one wrong move could turn frozen terrain into an active war zone. Thor and Larsen make the environment feel relentless. You feel the wind, the ice, the exhaustion, and the constant calculations behind every decision to move or stay put. The survival elements are as gripping as the political maneuvering, and watching Sheridan and Sharpe navigate impossible choices under mounting pressure is what makes this story sing.

The audiobook elevates an already electric novel, adding urgency and weight to every moment, and the ending lands with confidence, leaving me more than ready for what comes next. Cold Zero is cinematic, tense, and razor sharp, and it is no surprise that it has already been optioned for a major Netflix film adaptation before publication. This is a thriller that understands its scope and delivers on every level - icy, intelligent, and impossible to put down.

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Murder By The Book
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The Gallery Assistant By Kate Belli

This book doesn’t just tell a story—it places you in New York in the raw, fractured aftermath of 9/11. The author captures the city's ache with the sensitivity of a portraitist—layering mood and memory like oil glazes on canvas. Through the lens of the art world, we see how creation, destruction and criminal activity layer together to make a page turner that is completely immersive.   It’s a thriller that doesn’t just chase danger, but emotion, beauty, and truth in a world forever altered.

This is a tightly-wound mystery that plunges you into a web of deceit and trail of money, when an emerging painter is found dead.  Chloe Harlow thought the art community was close and protected, but after a night of black out drinking and she finds one of the gallery’s top artists is dead she is left with hazy memories that are blurred with conflicting accounts of what happened that night.  Chloe never imagined she would be a “Nancy Drew” in her own story.  Especially when she is being questioned by the police and protected by her employers.

Kate Belli delivers everything mystery readers crave: layered, unreliable characters that feel strikingly real, razor-sharp pacing, high stakes, and just the right amount of red herrings and misdirection. Set against a vividly immersive art world backdrop, the story blends suspense, emotional depth, and gallery-life intrigue in a way that truly sets it apart.

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Chapter 2 Books
Murder By The Book
Once Upon A Crime
The Book Dragon
The Poisoned Pen

The Devouring Light By Kat Ellis

When Haden Romero and her bandmates, along with their rivals, crash deep in the swamplands on their way to a music festival, they think they’ve found shelter in an abandoned house rising from the muck. But this house isn’t just setting — it’s a predator. The deeper they explore, the more it devours their sanity, their secrets, and one by one, their lives.

What makes The Devouring Light unforgettable is how Ellis turns atmosphere into menace. The storm, the swamp and the sticky claustrophobia of the decaying house all presses down like a fever dream. Mixed media elements like found footage, transcripts, and news reports pull you in even deeper, making the terror feel disturbingly real. The pacing never lets up, barreling forward with that relentless, pulse-pounding rhythm. And then comes a twist at the end that will absolutely gut you.

Beyond the blood and leeches, though, Ellis leaves you chewing on something more sinister — the cost of wanting too much. What price would you pay for fame, for fortune, for being seen? How far would you go to grasp the spotlight, even if it burns you alive? Don’t let the YA label fool you this one bites hard, sinks its teeth deep, and refuses to let go. It is a perfect addition to your spooky season reading.

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Purchase The Devouring Light
(Note: most indie bookstores can fulfill an order as quickly as larger retailers. Please consider contacting them for your next purchase.)

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Chapter 2 Books
Murder By The Book
Once Upon A Crime
The Book Dragon
The Poisoned Pen

Keep This For Me By Jennifer Fawcett

From the very first line—“The lake is the great devourer; the giver and taker of life”—I knew this was going to be more than just a mystery. Jennifer Fawcett’s Keep This for Me is layered, haunting, and deeply atmospheric. What begins as a decades-old disappearance tied to a notorious serial killer grows into something much larger: a meditation on grief, identity, and the shadows that linger across generations. The lake itself is more than a backdrop. It is a living metaphor for memory, loss, and inevitability, the unknowns, fear, swallowing secrets and reflecting truths in equal measure.

One of the aspects I loved most was the use of multiple points of view and shifting timelines. Instead of distracting from the story, these perspectives added richness and emotional depth, allowing me to connect not just with Fiona, but with the echoes of her mother’s disappearance and the reverberations through the Ward family. The book takes its time, unfolding layer by layer, building both suspense and meaning. Yes, there’s a mystery to unravel, but what you are the reader will take away, are the undercurrents: mental illness, depression, motherhood, trauma, and the ways silence and secrets can ripple through families for decades.

The atmosphere is chilling, the characters flawed and human, and the themes profound enough to spark long conversations. My own thoughts have shifted and evolved even as I write this review, which for me is a sign of a story with real staying power. I could talk about this book for days, and I believe it would make a phenomenal book club pick because there’s simply so much to unpack. Dark, unsettling, and unforgettable, Keep This for Me should not be missed.

Follow Teresa on Twitter or Instagram or contact her via the site.

Purchase Keep This For Me
(Note: most indie bookstores can fulfill an order as quickly as larger retailers. Please consider contacting them for your next purchase.)

Barrington Books
Chapter 2 Books
Murder By The Book
Once Upon A Crime
The Book Dragon
The Poisoned Pen

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