I seem to be devouring a lot of psychological suspense and domestic thrillers these days. There is so much to choose from and so many good titles out there. Today’s reviews are a mix of an auto-buy author and a new-to-me author. Both earn five glowing stars!
BOOK BLURB:
TOO CLOSE
The site of the old campus bungalow where two girls were brutally slain is now a flower patch covered with chrysanthemums. It’s been fifty years since the Immaculate Conception Murders. Three more students and a teacher were killed in a sickening spree that many have forgotten. But there is one person who knows every twisted detail. . . .
TO SEE
Hannah O’Rourke and her volatile half-sister, Eden, have little in common except a parent. Yet they’ve ended up at the same small college outside Chicago, sharing a bungalow with another girl. Hannah isn’t thrilled—nor can she shake the feeling that she’s being watched. And her journalism professor, Ellie Goodwin, keeps delving into Hannah and Eden’s newsworthy past. . . .
THE DANGER
When Hannah and Eden’s arrival coincides with a spate of mysterious deaths, Ellie knows it’s more than a fluke. A copycat is recreating those long-ago murders. Neither the police nor the school will accept the horrific truth. And the more Ellie discovers, the more she’s convinced that she won’t live to be believed. . . .
MY REVIEW:
Kevin O’Brien is one of my auto-buy authors. I can always count on him to deliver a complex mystery with characters who are easy to relate to.
Hannah and Eden are sisters who only recently learned they’re related. Their relationship is rocky, but when they go away to Our Lady of the Cove college, they both end up sharing the same bungalow with a third girl. Rachel tells them about the Immaculate Conception Murders which occurred fifty years ago. It’s not long after Hannah and Eden arrive that a copycat killer strikes, staging his victims in the same manner as the original murderer.
The problem with mysteries is it’s hard to say a lot about them without giving away the plot, but O’Brien has a solid winner with The Bad Sister. He builds tension throughout, the clock ticking with each successive murder. Several characters sent up potential suspect flags for me, but in the end, I was completely off base.
In addition to the sisters and Rachel, other key players include a journalism teacher and one of her students—a thirtyish man who doesn’t fit with the rest of the student body. Each has a background that plays into the overall plot, subtle layers about their pasts revealed a bit at time. When everything comes together at the end, each twisty plot thread is wrapped with a satisfying conclusion. I always think of O’Brien’s mysteries as fat, juicy reads, and for that reason I buy his novels in paperback form—perfect beach reads no matter the time of year or place.
If you like a good whodunit with strong, relatable characters, I highly recommend The Bad Sister. And if you haven’t read O’Brien before, you’re missing out. My bookcase is filled with his novels!
5 STARS
BOOK BLURB:
Four people walked into the dining room that night. One would never leave.
Matthew: the perfect husband.
Titus: the perfect son.
Charlie: the perfect illusion.
Rachel: the perfect stranger.
Charlie didn’t want her at the book club. Matthew wouldn’t listen.
And that’s how Charlie finds himself slumped beside his husband’s body, their son sitting silently at the dinner table, while Rachel calls 999, the bloody knife still gripped in her hand.
Classic crime meets Donna Tartt in this nerve-shredding domestic noir thriller that weaves a sprawling web of secrets around an opulent West London world and the dinner that ends in death.
MY REVIEW:
This is a quick read that immediately sucks you into the story with subtlety. Matthew and Charlie are married, with an adopted teenage son, Titus. One day while shopping, they encounter Rachel, a newcomer who has moved nearby. After some chit-chat, Matthew invites her to his book club. Charlie is puzzled by the swiftness of Mathew’s actions and feels there is something off with Rachel, though he can’t put his finger on why. This is just the beginning of Rachel winding her way into their lives, the lives of their family, and friends. With each successive chapter, Rachels actions grow more and more questionable, but she is far from the only character keeping secrets.
The book shifts in time with scenes in the present—Matthew has been murdered—to scenes in the past leading up to the moment of his death. Gradually, the backstories of the four main characters—Matthew, Charlie, Titus and Rachel—unfold as past rushes to join present and we learn the identity of Matthew’s killer. There are multiple twists and turns along the way. Some I figured out beforehand, others caught me blindsided. The ending is different than most books of this type but altogether satisfying in its cleverness.
This is slow build psychological/domestic suspense, but at the same time, a riveting page-turner. I finished it in two-sittings, and have no problem awarding it a well-earned five stars. I’ll look for more from this author.
5 STARS
I had an entertaining week of reading, as you can see. I’m also excited that another of my auto-buy authors (Jennifer McMahon) has a new novel out. I pre-ordered The Drowning Kind, it’s now on my Kindle, and I can’t wait to get to it. But…TBR, you know? Hopefully, soon.
Happy Reading!
I’ve heard about ‘The Dinner Guest'(tbr) but this is the first time I’m hearing about ‘The Bad Sister’ and it sounds really good! Thank you!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Hi, Sheri. I’m glad both of these appealed to you. Thanks for dropping by and checking out my reviews!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Of course, you’re so welcome. Thank you for the book recommendations.
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great reviews, Mae:) I will be adding to my TBR list!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Fantastic, Denise. They’re both awesome reads!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Two great reviews, Mae. I’ll have to take a look at both books. Thanks for sharing 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Happy browsing, Harmony. I loved both of these.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sounds interesting. Looks like something I might enjoy. Thanks for sharing
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi! Thanks for stopping by to check the reviews. I’m glad they interest you.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Great reviews, Mae. I’ve been reading a lot of psychological fiction these days. Both of these sound like ones I would enjoy.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Psychological fiction and domestic thrillers are my go-to genre these days, too, Joan. I think you’d like both of these.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m glad you enjoyed The Dinner Guest. It is very clever, isn’t it? It took a bit for the full ramifications of the ending to hit me. A very interesting play on the sub-genre. I’ll have to keep my eye out for Kevin O’Brien books. I’m pretty sure I’ve never read anything by him. Wonderful reviews Mae!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Tessa, it was your review that enticed me to read The Dinner Guest. And that ending really delivered! Thanks for introducing me to an excellent book.
I LOVE everything Kevin O’Brien writes. He’s awesome. You can’t go wrong with any of his books. I think you’d enjoy them.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Yay for two five-star reads! Good reviews. I do like a fun whodunnit. And a domestic noir thriller, cool.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Priscilla. These were both fantastic books. I love when I get two good five star reads back-to-back!
LikeLike
Sounds like they were both quite good this week.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Absolutely, Craig. I devoured them, LOL!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Fantastic reviews Mae! I loved The Dinner Guest, and Kevin O’Brien never disappoints.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hear, hear all the way around, Kim! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
These both sound like books I’d love. Thanks for sharing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
II think you’d enjoy them, Staci 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great reviews, Mae. Thank you for sharing them. I’ve not read anything by either writer, but you’ve intrigued me by your assessments. Off to Amazon…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Heehee. Happy browsing, Gwen! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Both of these sound very good and very tense, Mae.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Robbie. Two really excellent reads 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
You wrote two great reviews, Mae. I want to read both of these and they aren’t even my genre!
LikeLiked by 1 person
LOL! Mission accomplished 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Two 5-star books this week. You hit the jackpot! Hope your winning spree keeps up! You enticed me to order The Bad Sister. It sounds like a page-turner.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yay! Can’t wait to see what you think of it, Judi! Kevin O’Brien is a NYTBS Kesington author. I’ve been reading him for decades. I was fortunate enough to get a review of A Thousand Yesteryears from him when I was with K. Sent me over the moon because I love his work so much. Happy reading!
LikeLike
Thanks for the recommendations Mae, both books sound promising. I must check them.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great! I wish you happy browsing and happy reading, Balroop. I loved both of these!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Fantastic reviews, Mae. I think it takes talent to keep the identity of a murderer hidden until the end of the book. Kudos to both of these writers. Your reviews make both books more intriguing to me. Thank you for sharing!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi, Jan. Both of these authors delivered extremely deft plots with excellent story-telling. I agree they are quite skilled. So glad I intrigued you with the reviews!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ve never read Kevin O’Brien. Is this a series or standalone? Sounds soooo good. Thanks, Mae!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sue, all of Kevin’s books are standalones. As a crime fiction writer, I think you would love his stuff. I’ve been reading him for decades!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Kevin O’Brien has been on my radar for a while, but I haven’t tried his books. Your review tipped the scales, I’m heading to Amazon- shh, don’t tell my Kindle, lol
LikeLiked by 1 person
Woohoo! Kevin has been an auto-buy author for me for a very long time, Jacquie. He never disappoints and writes fat, juicy mysteries. I highly recommend him. Happy reading. And no worries, I’ll keep it a secret from your Kindle, LOL.
LikeLiked by 1 person
These sound like good reads, Mae. They are in my reading niche.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Awesome, Michele. These are both awesome books!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for sharing, Mae.
LikeLiked by 1 person
My pleasure, John. Thanks for visiting!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I saw another 5 star review for The Dinner Guest – maybe on Tessa’s blog? Sounds like it packs a punch – love it when the twists catch me by surprise.
LikeLike
I think you probably did see it on Tessa’s blog. That’s where I first heard of this book, too, Teri. I loved it!
LikeLike
I can see why Kevin O’Brien is your auto-buy author, Mae. There must great deal of tension with several characters are potential suspects but it turned out different in the end. The author new to you didn’t disappoint you with the domestic murder. Thank you for sharing the fabulous reviews.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for visiting, Miriam! Both of these books were awesome, and I’m a fan of Mr. O’Brien’s from way back. I just love his work!
LikeLike
Thanks for these marvelous reviews, Mae. That’s a whole lot of excitement! Best to Kevin and BP. Hugs on the wing!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Teagan. Glad you dropped by to check them out!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Both are new authors to me. I love cold case shows and books, so “The Bad Sister” has caught my interest. Congratulations to both authors for the great reviews. Thanks for the introductions, Mae.
LikeLike
Your reviews invariably intrigue me, Mae. I’m not familiar with these authors, but both books sound great. Thanks for bringing them to my attention!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I highly recommend both books, Diana. It was my first experience reading B. P. Walter, but Kevin O’Brien is a fave of mine from way back 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Pingback: How Much is too Much? – Judi Lynn