The Dinner Guest by B P Walter

 

I received an ARC of this book thanks to NetGalley and publisher HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter in exchange for an honest review.

Sometimes thrillers are just okay and sadly I must add The Dinner Guest to that pile. Though it has two narrators, this book primarily tells the story of Charlie, a rich influencer who is struggling to raise his son, Titus, with his husband, Matthew. Titus is going through his teenage years and his parents aren't sure how to handle it when he reveals he is having sex. Furthermore, Charlie feels Matthew is hiding something from him. The plot kicks off properly when they run into our other narrator Rachel, a woman who has engineered herself into their lives for her own unknown purposes. You learn from the prologue that Rachel will turn herself in for Matthew's murder by the time the book is through, but what led to that situation?

For a book called The Dinner Guest, I expected a little more focus on the dinner party itself. This is a very basic thriller with no real theme, which means the title could have been anything from the plot really. If you're expecting the actual dinner party to be significant beyond somewhere for a character to be murdered, then you will be sadly disappointed.

The characters were well-written for a book of this kind, although I wasn't particularly fond of any of them. Rachel probably ended up being my favourite but Charlie was very insufferable. It felt like him and Matthew viewed Titus as a pet rather than a son, and this was something that was kind of addressed but not really in a way which made me satisfied it was a deliberate decision from the author and not just a result of convenience. Titus neatly comes in and out of the plot as needed and might as well not exist when he's not directly being discussed. He seems the least real out of the characters and the book suffered from it.

As this all seems very negative, now is the time to stress I didn't hate this book. It has a decent plot and I couldn't predict what was going to happen, and it also makes a fair attempt to discuss some wider social issues. There was just nothing that really wowed me or made it stand out among the thriller market. If you need a thriller to pass the time, you could do a lot worse than this. It's just a shame it had nothing new to offer readers.

Overall Rating:

The Decagon House Murders by Yukito Ayatsuji

 

I received an ARC of this book thanks to NetGalley and publisher Pushkin Press in exchange for an honest review.

There are genuinely few things in the world which can compare with a truly well-written murder mystery to me. Every since I discovered Agatha Christie, I have constantly been looking for other authors which can match her tone and ingenuity. I do not say it lightly when I say that Ayatsuji is up there with the best.

This book starts so strong that it instantly got my attention. A group of college students are part of a club dedicated to mystery stories. Each one has taken the name of a mystery author (including my dear Agatha) and they have embarked on a trip to stay in the infamous Decagon house. This house was previously the site of an unsolved grisly murder, and the students are staying there as a chance to experience something from a real-life murder mystery. As can be predicted when a bunch of people go to stay in an unusual house on a remote island, it soon becomes clear that there might be an all-new murder mystery starring them.

This book does reference Agatha Christie and And Then There Were None a lot, but apart from the basic premise of a murder island there isn't much in common with the book. I really appreciated that as a lot of people lift from Christie without adding anything new, whereas this felt much more like a standalone work with some neat references. Tonewise though this very much felt like the classic mysteries I love, and it was so refreshing to find that from a different author. This book also created some serious tension. I was genuinely scared reading it at times and I never felt like I had worked it out, so it was this delicious combination of not wanting to stop reading to reach the solution whilst also being incredibly tense as I waited to see what would happen next.

Overall, there's not much else I can say about this book without giving stuff away, but if you're a fan of classic murder mysteries then this is one you have to check out. I was gutted to discover that this is the only one of Ayatsuji's mysteries translated so far, and I really hope the rest of them receive the same treatment. For a spooky, intriguing, murderous time, you can't go wrong here.

Overall Rating:

.5

Every Vow You Break by Peter Swanson

 

I received an ARC of this book thanks to NetGalley and publisher Faber and Faber Ltd in exchange for an honest review.

It is no secret that I love island-based thrillers and Every Vow You Break is a great addition to the genre. Abigail Baskin has just married a very rich man, one rich enough to whisk her away to a remote island resort for their honeymoon. There's only one problem-days before the wedding, Abigail slept with a mysterious man on her bachelorette weekend. When he turns up at the resort, Abigail begins to panic and soon he's making demands of her that she's not prepared to fill. It starts to become very clear that she doesn't know her new husband very well either, and things quickly go south when an incident at the resort has Abigail fearing for her safety.

Swanson has struggled in the past with making me relate to his characters, but thankfully that's not an issue here. Even with the cheating aspect, Abigail is very likeable and you really feel for her and her situation. A lot of the strength of this book comes from the fact that you really don't know what's going on. Every time I was sure I knew what was happening, something else would throw doubt on that and it meant I was constantly generating theories and changing my mind about characters. It really put you in the shoes of Abigail (who doesn't know who to trust) and it made for effective thriller tension.

I won't spoil the plot of course but I will say that it does lean on the more dramatic side compared to a lot of domestic thrillers. Some people might find it unbelievable and if you prefer stories more grounded in reality, this might not be the book for you. Still, overall I would recommend this as a thriller to check out. Swanson consistently produces thrillers with a classic setup and then puts a unique spin on it, and this is hugely enjoyable to fans of the genre. This is the perfect book for a holiday (or wishing you could holiday if you're stuck inside) and definitely worth picking up.

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Camp Neverland by Lisa Quigley

 

I received an ARC of this book thanks to NetGalley and publisher Unnverving in exchange for an honest review.

The Rewind or Die horror series is fast becoming one of my favourite sources for good horror. I feel like every installment has something new and interesting to offer, and Camp Neverland is no exception. As always this is a standalone book which tells the story of Max, a girl keen to escape her life of being bullied by going to a mysterious camp for the summer. Unfortunately for her, when she arrives she discovers her bully is also there. Thankfully she has a whole host of new female friends who have her back, though soon she realises the camp is not as innocent as it seems when a grisly death occurs.

This book was so interesting to me on so many levels. The story is somewhat predictable from the outset but the exact nature and depth of the horror is kept hidden, so you never quite feel like you know how it's going to turn out. Max was a very compelling character and I found the way she reacted to the camp and what was going on around her really added to the story.

Like the best horror stories, Camp Neverland has plenty to say about people and society. There are strong feminist themes throughout and these are woven effortlessly into the story. It gave me a lot to think about and even though it is relatively short, it felt like it carried a lot of depth to it because of these themes.

If you are looking for something beyond the typical slasher, Camp Neverland is a great book to pick up. It is a quick and entertaining read with great characters, an engaging story and some classic horror imagery. I am a huge fan of these kinds of books and I can't wait to see what comes out in the future.

Overall Rating:

Bookishly Ever After by Lucy Powrie

 

I received an ARC of this book thanks to NetGalley and publisher Hachette Children's Group in exchange for an honest review.

I was in serious need of sunshine in my life so I ended up binge-reading the entirety of the Paper & Hearts Society books in the space of about two weeks. Bookishly Ever After is the final book of the series and it focuses on Ed, an exuberant member of the gang who has just started working at a bookshop. He begins to bond with his new autistic co-worker and might even be getting a crush on her, but alas things never go entirely to plan in this world.

Ed is one of my favourite members of the Paper & Hearts society so it was great to get a whole book focusing on him. I will admit, I was a little confused about his romantic arc. He is presented as being gay in the first book, comes out in the second and then has two sort-of flirtations throughout those two books. His sexuality wasn't discussed at all in this book and he has a female love interest, which of course doesn't negate him being queer but it would have been nice to just have a line or two clarifying it, even if the character isn't sure of his identity yet. Having said that, I loved Hannah as a character and her and Ed had such a great dynamic. One of the strengths of this series as a whole is the way it explores different relationships between these lovable characters, and I liked how Ed and Hannah had a dynamic we hadn't seen before. I am not autistic so can't speak for the representation, but there were no red flags to me and Hannah felt very real and very likeable.

As a finale to the series, this was very well-handled. I liked how details from Tabby's life from the first book came back, and I really loved how Tabby was the one who best understood Hannah from her own experiences with anxiety. Having started the journey with Tabby, it was only right to have her play an important role in this book and it was great to feel like her story kept going and didn't just stop because we weren't focusing on her.

Overall, if you love the series then this is a fantastic final addition to it. It has all of the same character dynamics and representation that really make the series strong, whilst adding new kinds of scenarios and developing the characters we already know and love. As a whole, this series is a love letter to friendship and being yourself and those themes can absolutely be found here. This was a series created for people who love books and it has been a joy to live in this world for a little bit.

Overall Rating:

.5

The Marlow Murder Club by Robert Thorogood

 

I received an ARC of this book thanks to NetGalley and publisher HQ in exchange for an honest review.

I am somewhat of a novice when it comes to the 'cosy mystery' genre. I'm not even really sure what qualifies something as cosy vs an actual murder mystery, but however you class The Marlow Murder Club, it stands out as a really enjoyable story.

Judith is an elderly woman with a talent for crossword puzzles. When she hears her neighbour shot dead out on the river by their house, she takes it upon herself to investigate. Soon she gains two companions in the form of Becks, the lovely but prim vicar's wife, and Suzie, the rambunctious down to earth dog walker. Together they begin to investigate a crime involving art, rowing, mysterious medals and many intriguing suspects.

I was delighted with how well this book is written. I've not read anything by this author previously and I didn't realise he was behind the Death in Paradise fame until after I'd finished this book, but I can absolutely tell he is a master at a good murder mystery. There is nothing particularly showy here but this is a solid and interesting mystery told at the perfect pace with some wonderful characters serving as our protagonists. I loved the unique dynamics between the three women and how each of them brought something different to the table. Their dialogue and personalities felt very natural and I could believe they would be friends and would be brought together in this way.

There's not much else I can say about this book except for that if you like cosy mysteries, you should definitely give this a go. It reminded me a lot of Agatha Raisin but with a stronger emphasis on the actual plot and a bit less ridiculous characters. I would happily read a whole series about these characters and I sincerely hope that a sequel will be out soon.

Overall Rating:

Healthy Easy Mexican by Velda de la Garza

 

I received an ARC of this book thanks to NetGalley and publisher The Experiment in exchange for an honest review.

Mexican food is without a doubt some of my favourite food to cook and eat, but I will admit that my own recipes lack that authenticity. I was very excited by the idea of this book as I am always looking for new Mexican flavours to mix things up. I also have a tendency to just pile cheese on everything, which is not ideal now I am trying to eat healthier.

The layout of this book is fantastic. The recipes are split into clear sections, the presentation of each recipe is as simple as possible and it also includes detailed nutritional information which is exactly what you want from a health-focused recipe book. At the top of each recipe, there is also a detailed breakdown of which ingredients are good for you and how they help which was a really nice touch. I think more healthy cookbooks should do this as it encourages education and experimentation.

Now to the recipes themselves. I think there is a fine selection but unfortunately a large portion of them aren't personally suitable to me. The sections are: Salsas & Dips, Appetizers & Sides, Soups & Breads, Salads, Meat & Fish, Poultry, Meatless, Rice & Beans and Desserts. As you can probably tell, the bulk of this book was not main meals which was a bit of a shame as that's what I was looking for. Having said that, I am a little biased in that I don't eat soup or salads and I am unlikely to make dip which already rules out three whole sections. Add in my partner being veggie and you can see I have a more limiting set of circumstances than most.

One thing I liked about the recipes themselves is that they are all fairly simple or at least, contain ingredients which aren't too hard to get. I have a strong preference for recipes I am realistically likely to cook and that tends to mean easy to follow, relatively cheap and ingredients that won't go to waste. This book had plenty of those and a lot of them also provided great opportunity for adaptation and experimentation.

Overall, I would recommend this book if you are looking for a good, all-round Mexican cookbook which also happens to have a healthy skew. I think even if you're not specifically looking for the health aspect, having detailed nutritional information is always a bonus, and the recipes definitely aren't just for people trying to be healthier or lose weight. Advanced chefs might not find enough to offer them here but for most people, it's a great place to start.

Overall Rating:

My Best Friend's Murder by Polly Phillips

 

I received an ARC of this book thanks to NetGalley and publisher Simon & Schuster UK Audio in exchange for an honest review.

My Best Friend's Murder is the perfect example of how to take a really simple concept and turn that into a brilliant thriller. Bec and Izzy have been best friends since childhood, although this friendship has always been tinged with competitiveness and a certain toxicity. Now adults, the toxicity gets knocked up a gear through a series of misfortunes and revelations. When Izzy is found dead by Bec, she quickly realises that she may be the prime suspect.

The first thing to note is that I think the blurb is actually a little misleading. I would say Izzy's body is not found until at least halfway through the book, and the focus is split equally between building tension up in Izzy and Bec's friendship, and Bec then living on past Izzy's death. You really get to dive deep into these characters and find out all intricacies in their relationships, and this paints a really full and interesting picture for when the body is found.

I really liked the characters a whole lot. Bec isn't the most likeable person around but that was quite refreshing, and it helped balance the story so she wasn't just the innocent victim of Izzy. Izzy is a piece of work but with depth, and the more you learn about her, the less black and white things become. I think thrillers like this really need to have that depth in order to be compelling, and this book certainly doesn't disappoint in that aspect. I also really enjoyed Bec's brother and the role he played in the story. It's rare for characters in a thriller to have healthy sibling relationships and it made Bec feel a bit more real, as well as being a key part of the plot. Similarly, Izzy's young child was actually a strong part of the story and not just a plot device. These sound like basic things but it's amazing how many thrillers don't develop these kinds of characters.

The plot itself is also solid. Like I said, it is simple but I mean that entirely as a compliment. This was especially welcome when listening to the audiobook (which is fantastically narrated) as I could listen whilst doing other things and not lose track of what was going on. Rather than trying to focus on huge surprises, instead a muddier picture is drawn throughout so you're never quite sure if you're seeing things correctly. It means that tension and dread build up in a way that makes you slow to realise, and the attachment to the characters keeps you invested every step of the way.

Overall, My Best Friend's Murder is a fantastic thriller and a great audiobook. If you like character-based thrillers which focus on intense relationships and the complex dimensions they can have, I thoroughly recommend checking this out. I am always looking for good thrillers about female friendships and I am pleased to say I have found one.

Overall Rating: