A Lesson in Cruelty by Harriet Tyce

 

I received an ARC of this book thanks to NetGalley and Headline Audio | Wildfires in exchange for an honest review.

The plot of A Lesson in Cruelty is a little hard to summarise without spoilers but I shall do my best. This is really a book of three separate plots which then come together. The first part is about Anna, a woman who is being let out of prison only to find her cellmate dead on the day of her supposed release. The second is about Marie, a woman imprisoned on a remote Scottish island (that's about it really). Finally we have Lucy, a law student who desperately wants to sleep with her professor and gets the chance to when they go away to a conference together.

If these plots sound a bit disjointed then good, I have accurately represented the listening experience. Never has a book had so much going on and yet so little of it which actually matters in the end. The swaps in character did not feel particularly natural and I actually found it intrusive to the flow of the story. The three characters are distinct but when the plot starts coming together and the different threads start to collide, you start to realise how much faff there was. It is at this point that some events are chalked up to 'random coincidence', something I'd be more forgiving of if this wasn't already a bit of a mess in terms of how its crafted.

I also just need to talk about Edgar for a minute because he is in some ways the most outlandish character. He is a law professor and honestly cartoonish in the way he neglects his family and how he conducts 'research'. I'd like to point out here that I am actually a lecturer and even allowing for the liberties fiction can take, what he gets away with is absurd. It pokes a huge hole in an already-punctured plot.

The 'twist' at the end is painfully obvious as several reviewers have pointed out, but it's made even more obvious by the way the audiobook is narrated. The narrator does an ASMR voice for some passages where we're not supposed to know who exactly is narrating them, but then the same voice (admittedly dialled back) is used for that character so it becomes clear who it's going to turn out to be. Additionally, some lines near the end are a different volume to the surrounding ones. This was very distracting and just made the production seem a bit cheap, like they'd been dubbed in afterwards.

Overall, I sadly wasn't very impressed by this thriller. The plot is oversaturated and requires suspension of disbelief to buy that certain aspects would be allowed to happen. The characters are decent but there are so many of them and too many coincidences play out in terms of their relationships. Perhaps if the audiobook had been better then I would have enjoyed this more, but it wasn't my cup of tea

Overall Rating:

His & Hers by Alice Feeney

 

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

His & Hers is the story of two exes and their respective involvement in a murder investigation as a reporter and a police officer. When Anna's ex-friend and Jack's current lover Rachel is found murdered in a car, it becomes the start of a murder spree focused around people from their past. As they both try to figure out what's going on, trust begins to wane on both sides and neither knows exactly who to trust.

This was an enjoyable thriller, albeit one which suffers a little from its own simplicity in plot. Due to the author and general blurb, I was expecting a twist going in and so I spent a lot of the time trying to work out what it was instead of focusing on the story being told. The story itself is a decent one but if you're used to other works by the author, you might be disappointed by the relative 'straight-forwardness' of the thriller element. It is engaging and surprising, but doesn't have a huge trick like some of the other works.

As an audiobook, this mostly worked well but there was some confusion in the voices. There are two narrators for Anna and Jack, and then additional sections narrated by the killer. Presumably to prevent it being obvious who is the killer, they are alternatively narrated by Anna and Jack's voice actors using a distortion technique, but this only serves as a distraction. I do wish they'd just gotten in a third voice actor rather than swapping between them, as again it just primes you for a twist at best and is distracting at worst. I found myself just ignoring these sections mostly as they weren't particularly insightful or interesting.

Overall, this was an enjoyable enough listen. The narrators did a great job with the material and the story is interesting enough to keep your attention. If you go in expecting a typical (well-written) thriller, then you're in for a good time

Overall Rating:

Lord of the Fly Fest by Goldy Moldavsky

 

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

This book is completely different tonally than what I was expecting from the cover. This looks kinda like a horror/thriller, but really it's a straight contemporary in tone. Lord of the Fly Fest is a retelling of Lord of the Flies, shifted to be a YA comedy. Our protagonist Rafi runs a true crime podcast and decides to attend the next big music festival, Fly Fest, to try and interview popstar River Stone. River's girlfriend went missing and Rafi is convinced he killed her, though her conviction looks more like she has a crush on him at times.

As mentioned, this book is pretty much a straight comedy. One of the main model characters is called Hella Badid, the name that made me realise I wasn't getting the horror I wanted. It's also way more like Lord of the Flies than I expected, with characters and some (loose) plot elements being lifted from it. This may sound odd and if it does, that's because it is. The end third of the book tries to ramp up the serious plot developments with increased comical farce, and the result is very hard to get what the author was going for.

Once I got over my disappointment about the lack of horror, this book was fine I guess. It feels a little dated already, making fun of influencers and popstars in a way which feels very 2016. Characters are often clear parodies of real people (Hella Badid, James Charles -> Jack, Harry Styles -> River Stone) and it all feels a bit mean. The main character is mocked mercilessly for running a podcast, even though podcasts are mega popular and tons of influencers either have their own or frequently guest on them.

I will say, I really enjoyed the audiobook. I think the narrator does some fun voices for the characters, and it was a lot more palatable to hear the humour than it would have been to just read it on the page. If you do decide to pick this up, the audiobook might be the way to go.

Ultimately, this book was a fun time but it's a big step down in my opinion from Moldavsky's other work. I also think it needs clearer marketing to avoid disappointed readers

Overall Rating:

Five Survive by Holly Jackson

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

I have long given up on finding a YA thriller which will genuinely surprise me, and sadly Five Survive is no exception. Having said that, this is a genuinely enjoyable listen and is by far one of the best examples of its genre.

Five Survive is the story of a group of friends on their way to spring break when they get caught in a nightmare situation. After going off road, a sniper shoots out all of their tyres and holds them hostage. Their only hope for escape is for them to correctly identify the secret the sniper wants, and potentially sacrifice that person to the sniper.

As mentioned, this book did not surprise me once. I think it is painfully clear from the first few chapters why the teens are held hostage, as well as a few other 'reveals' from later on. It would be nice if a few of these story elements were masked a bit better because it does undercut a lot of the tension.

The main strength of this book is the characters and the tension they provide from being trapped. Oliver in particular is a super interesting character, and Red herself made for a reasonable enough protagonist. I do think there was scope to develop characters even further. Maddy in particular is very important to the narrative throughout, but we barely learn anything about her despite her being Red's best friend. They never speak independently of the group or really interact properly, which seems super weird.

I had a few issues with the audiobook specifically. Some of Red's inner narration is quite annoying when it is read aloud to you, though I think this would be better in print. Several times the narrator says a line and then the speech tags say a completely different delivery (for example, shouting a line then following it with 'Maddy said quietly') which was just jarring to listen to.

Overall, I think this book would be very much enjoyed by a teen audience but it doesn't have much reach beyond that. In terms of YA thrillers, it is one of the better ones out there. I would probably recommend the text version over the audiobook, just because of the minor narration issues I pointed out

Overall Rating:

.5

The Therapist by B A Paris

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

The Therapist is the story of Alice, a woman who moves into a new home and becomes obsessed with the woman who lived there before her. Convinced by a visitor to investigate, she starts to suspect that her new neighbours aren't all what they seem.

This was a decent, well-crafted thriller if a bit basic. I read it two months ago and don't remember a ton of the details now, but I enjoyed it quite a bit as an audiobook experience. I remember confusing two of the characters/not being quite sure what was going on at certain points, but the ending was satisfying enough and it had a decent amount of tension. Sadly I can't remember much more detail than that but I've definitely read worse thrillers.

Overall Rating:

Her Last Holiday by C.L. Taylor

 

I received an ARC of this book thanks to NetGalley and publisher Avon Books UK/HarperCollins UK Audio in exchange for an honest review.

Fran never found out what happened to her sister when she disappeared from a self-help retreat two years ago. When the man responsible for the retreat is released from prison after serving time for the deaths of two other people, Fran's mother is determined to find out what happened to her daughter and sends Fran to go investigate. Told between the present day and flashbacks to Jenna's time at the retreat, slowly you begin to uncover what actually happened to Jenna and what might still happen to Fran.

It took me a few chapters to get into this book but once I did, I enjoyed it immensely. There is a lot of information to take in but once the story starts, it really is a cracking plot with plenty going on to keep you entertained. The audiobook was fantastically narrated and I found both easy to listen to and to follow. I always knew which timeline I was in which made keeping track of the story very easy.

The plot focuses on a closed setting with a set group of characters. They were all fairly decent and, while I could see some of the plot developments coming, I was genuinely surprised a couple of times. I think this would be the perfect book to read on holiday as it has that kind of atmosphere which would work brilliantly if you're sat by the pool or travelling somewhere. Overall this was a solid thriller with a believable, enjoyable plot and plenty to keep you interested.

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:

Shiver by Allie Reynolds

 

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

I have discovered I really love winter thrillers. Something about a group of people being trapped in the snow and dealing with a threat makes for a very enjoyable atmosphere. Shiver is definitely a solid take on the formula, with the snowboarding aspect adding a nice unique spin to it.

A group of friends reunite after a 10 year gap caused by the disappearance of their friend Saskia. Now in a mountain resort, things are starting to go wrong as it becomes clear someone is messing with them. Meanwhile you get flashes back to the past as the story of what really happened 10 years ago is uncovered.

Right off the bat, I really liked the unique aspects to this thriller. I've already mentioned the snowboarding but it really does provide an excellent backdrop for drama, as well as a solid reason for all the main characters to know each other. For this reason, the flashbacks to the past were my favourite parts because I really felt like the interpersonal dramas and general competitive atmosphere were executed so well. It gave the characters a lot of depth and made you care about the nuances which is so important in a thriller like this.

As an audiobook, this was a great experience. The narrator does a good French accent for one of the characters and has a lovely clear voice which was easy to listen to. I didn't get lost as to whether I was in the past or present and it was very easy to follow key plot points.

Overall, Shiver is a solid thriller with a lot of strengths to offer. It is the perfect read for a chilly day or if you fancy a thriller which really focuses on the character drama and dynamics. The ending is satisfying and makes sense, the tension is there and it doesn't overstay its welcome. For your next wintery read, Shiver is definitely worth a try.

Overall Rating:

The June Boys by Court Stevens

 

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

The June Boys is the story of Thea, a girl whose father is accused of a terrible crime when there are an occurrence of several kidnappings in a town. Every year, three boys are taken on the 1st June and held captive for a month before being released. This so-called Gemini Thief has never been caught and Thea, along with her boyfriend Nick, have become involved in investigating ever since Thea's cousin was taken by the thief. Suspicion falls on her father and she must come to terms with the fact that the Thief might be someone close to home.

I wasn't really sure what to expect from this book and I went in fairly blind. It is definitely a thriller in terms of plot but the style is quite laid-back and at least for me, it didn't have a strong sense of tension the way a traditional thriller usually does. Having said that, I was very intrigued and engaged with the premise of this book. I found Thea to be a very interesting character and I felt I could both sympathise and understand the personal dilemmas she went through. My favourite sections by far though were the 'Elizabeth Letters' written by Aulus while he is in captivity, and these added that much-welcomed sense of danger and tension to the story.

As an audiobook, I found both the narrators were great. I will say that the Elizabeth Letters section does lose a little of the detail in audio format as the physical book has little doodles, asides and other comments with the way the letters are presented. However, this is a very minor thing.

In terms of the mystery, I wasn't necessarily shocked by anything that happened in this book. I think that was down to the more laid-back style. There were also some strong religious undertones to the whole thing which I didn't personally connect to much. Overall though, the June Boys is an intriguing YA thriller with a very unique premise and setting which was a breath of fresh air in the genre. I think it deals with the subject of kidnapping well and has some interesting exploration surrounding that topic. It is definitely worth checking out if you're sick of being disappointed by YA thrillers and want something with a bit more meat to it.

Overall Rating:

Little Bones by N V Peacock

 

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

Little Bones is a thriller with a lot of elements. At its core, it's the story of Cherry, a woman who is the daughter of a famous serial killer, Mr. Bones. When a child in her local area goes missing, a new podcast accuses her of being involved. Next her own son vanishes and she must deal with trying to find out what's happened to him whilst also being accused of murdering him herself.

I was pleasantly surprised by this thriller. Ordinarily I don't like missing children books, and I wouldn't actually have requested this ARC if I'd known the main character's child also went missing (this happens very early on but is absent from the blurb). Having said that, this completely won me over by the end. Cherry was a fantastically complex protagonist and I loved it when the book focused on her childhood with her serial killer father and how it had affected her as an adult. These moments were infrequent but fantastic when they happened.

The main strength of this thriller is it manages to be interesting, which sounds like a low bar but honestly it does it so well. There are plenty of characters and what's more, they have a role in the narrative beyond 'potential suspect'. This isn't an edge-of-your-seat thriller but it has a solid story and you feel like Cherry is a real person acting mostly reasonable (she still makes the odd thriller protagonist mistake but I can forgive her for that). I wasn't sure how it was going to end and I found the eventual ending satisfying. It does go on a bit after the ending but that might have been due to me being more used to written thrillers which I can read faster than listening.

Speaking of the audiobook, I was pretty pleased with the narrator. I liked the different voices and it made it really easy to follow what was going on, even whilst doing other tasks. I have two minor gripes: firstly, the voice for Mr. Bones was a little annoying just because it was so gruff and the use of 'mon cherie' was so repetitive. I also found it very annoying to listen to the phrase 'Little Bones' so many times, though this is a fault of the author and not the narrator. I couldn't help thinking it would make a fantastic drinking game.

Overall, this is a solid and entertaining thriller and definitely worth the listen/read if you're a fan of the genre. Just be aware that it is a missing child story primarily as I feel this aspect is hidden somewhat (at least, the fact the main character also loses her child is hidden) and the blurb does suggest more of a focus on the unreliable narrator angle which isn't a big part of it. But I thoroughly enjoyed Little Bones and would strongly suggest checking it out.

Overall Rating:

Silent Night by Nell Pattison

 

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

Had I realised this was a police procedural type book, I probably wouldn't have requested it. Having said that, I was pleasantly surprised by Silent Night. Paige is a deaf interpreter hired by the police to help out when a student and teacher go missing at a school for the deaf. When the teacher is found dead, the hunt for the student intensifies but with both students and staff keeping secrets, this is definitely not a clear cut case.

There was a lot going on in this book in a good way and having the main character being an interpreter did add a nice spin on the usual detective story. I liked the main character on the whole and I thought her past and life added to the plot greatly which isn't always the case with these thrillers. In particular, her relationships with her sister and her ex were some of my favourite parts of the book, and they really drove the emotional core of the story.

I listened to this as an audiobook and I would definitely recommend it this way. The main narrator was great and easy to listen to. There was an additional deaf narrator brought in to narrate some chapters from a student's point of view, something which is fantastic in concept but I feel isn't executed well. Those chapters are simply not very clear and I really struggled to make out what was happening in them. I don't think this is the fault of the narrator but more to do with the way it was recorded/produced as it mostly seems to be a volume issue, at least for me. It's a shame because it really added to the tone of the book and I think it's a fantastic decision representation-wise.

Overall, Silent Night is an engaging police procedural thriller with a unique and interesting setting. There is a lot of meat to the plot but it never feels confusing, and the strong relationship with the characters keeps you invested throughout. I would definitely recommend giving it a try and if you like police procedurals, I'm sure you will love this more than I do.

Overall Rating:

.5

The House Mate by Nina Manning

 

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

I was pleasantly surprised by this thriller! The House Mate is the tale of Regi, a woman suffering from OCD who moves into a student houseshare after mysteriously uprooting her life. She quickly becomes obsessed with an Instagram cleaner, as well as a troll of said cleaner who won't stop posting nasty comments.

Firstly, I really liked the unique set up of this book. I've never read a thriller set in a student houseshare and Regi herself was a really interesting character to read about. There were so many unique elements which really made this stand out as a thriller and kept me paying attention. I normally zone out or miss details when listening to a thriller audiobook, but that didn't happen here. Manning is a skilled thriller writer and I definitely want to check out her other work now. I also found the OCD rep pretty decent on the whole, although it is a relatively minor part of the book.

Sadly this book was a little let down by the fact it had so much going on. Whilst reading it, I liked this element a lot but when you reach the conclusion and find out what's going on, there are large plot points which don't seem to matter much at all. The houseshare elements trailed off towards the end and the book became more generic without them. A lot of the earlier tension is lost as characters or plot points just disappear, and it's a shame to learn how much didn't really matter in the end. It's still a good read and I'm glad those elements were there, I just wish they'd been better woven into the story.

Overall, The House Mate definitely stands out as a thriller and has some really engaging, interesting stuff going on. It falls a bit flat near the end but it is still worth the read and it certainly won't be a book I forget in a hurry. It also works really well as an audiobook and I would recommend listening to it if you're so inclined. I look forward to reading Manning's other work.

Overall Rating:

.5