Tag: thriller

Shiver by Allie Reynolds [BOOK REVIEW] If you love winter, snowboarding, thrillers and people keeping secrets, you shouldn't miss this one! Shiver by Allie Reynolds [BOOK REVIEW]
Book Review · Books

Shiver by Allie Reynolds [BOOK REVIEW]

innah9616 Comments
Shiver by Allie Reynolds [BOOK REVIEW]

★★★★★

Shiver by Allie Reynolds is one of the most intense thrillers I have read this year, and I am so glad I came across it. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher – Headline, for approving me the ARC copy. Also thanks to the team at Tandem, for letting me join the readalong and chat with amazing people while reading the book.

Synopsis:

When Milla is invited to a reunion in the French Alps resort that saw the peak of her snowboarding career, she drops everything to go. While she would rather forget the events of that winter, the invitation comes from Curtis, the one person she can’t seem to let go.

The five friends haven’t seen each other for ten years, since the disappearance of the beautiful and enigmatic Saskia. But when an icebreaker game turns menacing, they realise they don’t know who has really gathered them there and how far they will go to find the truth.

In a deserted lodge high up a mountain, the secrets of the past are about to come to light.

My Thoughts:

Shiver is set in two timelines; one in current day, and the other 10 years ago. The story is told from Milla’s point of view, but we get to read about all the other characters in great detail. As you dive into the book, you start to get a very good idea of what goes in people’s heads and what they are like.

I used to be a professional karate athlete for the Macedonian team for many years. This experience made me feel connected to Shiver in a much deeper level. The competitive spirit, the rivalries, the effort they put into everything they do – it all came back as a deja-vu to me. Even their fears of failing and their anger when injuries prevented them from competing.

The winter setting is so well written.

I could picture them on the snow so easily, imagine their jumps and their warm sports gear. The snowboarding setup for the competitions, the people watching, the ice rink, and the glaciers – it was so vividly written!

“There’s something about fresh snow that brings your inner child to the surface.”

The mystery was amazing as well, and it was also my favorite part of the book. To gather a group of people and be around them alone. All while knowing one of them is capable of doing horrible things is quite scary. And this feeling lingered throughout the whole book. I had many different theories of the ending and the reveal, and they kept changing as I was reading. In the end, I did manage to predict it, but it still caught me off guard when the reveal happened.

I also enjoyed the romantic element in Shiver as well. I didn’t expect a romantic part, but it was quite pleasurable to read about. It brought a nice balance between the many intense moments. And it wasn’t too much as well, which I also liked.

I loved Shiver and would never have guessed this was Allie’s debut novel. If you love winter, snowboarding, thrillers and people that are quite good in keeping secrets, you shouldn’t miss this one!

Purchase Links:
Amazon UK | Amazon US

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Elevator Pitch by Linwood Barclay [BOOK REVIEW]
Book Review · Books

Elevator Pitch by Linwood Barclay [BOOK REVIEW]

innah9616 Comments
Elevator Pitch by Linwood Barclay [BOOK REVIEW]

★★★★

Elevator Pitch by Linwood Barclay has one of the most intriguing urban mystery storylines I have encountered so far. It had amazing characters and kept me on edge until the very end, and I really enjoyed it!

Synopsis:

The terror starts on a Monday, when four people get into an elevator in a Manhattan office tower. They each press their buttons for their floors, but the elevator continues going to the top, without stopping. Once it reaches the top, it pauses for a few seconds, but the doors don’t open. Instead, the elevator starts to go down. And then it plummets.

Right to the bottom of the shaft.

It seems to be a terrible accident, but on Tuesday, it happens again, in a different skyscraper in Manhattan. And then it happens on Wednesday too. In three days, this city that represents the capital of media, finance and entertainment is in chaos.

Nothing is random about these events. This is clearly a very calculated attack. And it works. Thousands of men and women that work in the offices across the city refuse to leave their lives in fear. Economy starts to slow down. Emergency calls to the top floors of the apartment towers go unanswered.

Who is behind all of this, and why are they doing it? Are these terror attacks connected to a body that was recently found? Two New York detectives and a journalist that doesn’t hold back will race against time to try and uncover the truth, before another accident happens again.

My Thoughts:

Believe it or not, this is the first book I read by Linwood Barclay. Listened to, more specifically. I have realised during lockdown that I love listening to audiobooks a lot more than usual. But I also realised that my preference with audiobooks seems to be the mystery genre. This may be the first, but it certainly won’t be the last book by Linwood Barclay that I will pick up.

I have always had a thing for elevators. The closed confined space, where you have nowhere to go once you’re inside. The random people that walk inside the elevator and that you may never see again. And the fear of “what if”. What if it falls today? What if those big chunky wires that hold the big cart in place and move it around one day snap, and I happen to be inside. And that random scene from the Resident Evil movie, where one member of the group loses their head trying to climb out from the stuck elevator, and it suddenly starts moving.

From the first moment I read the synopsis, I knew this book was for me. And it didn’t disappoint me. I loved the descriptions of the elevator falls, and the search from the detectives. I also loved the journalist, Barbara, and her daughter Arla. Even though a mystery, this book was focused a lot on the characters, and I think that added up to the richness and beauty of the story. I loved how different side characters were included in the story often, and by the end of the book they ended up having crucial roles to the climax.

The suspense in Elevator Pitch was a bit on the low side, in my opinion, and I think that was the main reason why this book wasn’t a 5 star. Whilst the accidents and mystery itself was quite intriguing, there weren’t any nail-biting moments, except for the very last few chapters of the book. The book prepared us very nicely for that, and that part was really suspenseful and very well-written. I wish that the previous events were more suspenseful too.

The ending was magnificent and so well done. The reasoning behind the who and why was so satisfying in the end, and as soon as you find out the answers you were waiting for, you will feel the relief and satisfaction flowing through you. And if that’s not a sign that this book is a very good thriller, then I’m not sure what is. I definitely recommend Elevator Pitch, a true gem!

Purchase Links:
Amazon UK | Amazon US

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The Searcher by Tana French [BLOG TOUR]
Blog Tour · Book Review · Books

The Searcher by Tana French [BLOG TOUR]

innah962 Comments
The Searcher by Tana French [BLOG TOUR]

I am so happy to be part of this blog tour for the very much anticipated book release of The Searcher by Tana French. Huge thank you to the Penguin and Viking team, for this amazing opportunity!

The Searcher by Tana French [BLOG TOUR]

★★★★

Synopsis:

Cal Hooper is a retired detective, and he moves to a remote village in rural Ireland. He’s fixing up this old house, and is getting used to this new mountain life, trying to forget about his previous profession of chasing criminals.

That is, until one day, a kid comes to his door and asks for help. His brother is missing, and he knows something must’ve happened to him. But no one else in the village seems to care. Unable to leave this a mystery, Cal starts to ask questions.

But the whole village seems like they don’t want new people messing up with whatever secrets they may have.

My Thoughts:

The Searcher was a true slow burner. At times, it was even too slow for me, and I was struggling. However, I have never before read a book so well built, and despite the slow pace, I kept returning to it.

This is my first book from Tana French, and I will definitely be reading more from her. I think the next one will be The Wych Elm, as I already have that one in my library. Tana French did such a good job at describing this rural village in Ireland, and its people. From the cold mountains, to the lovely cottage in need of renovating, to the pub and the people living in the village, it felt as if I was there. Even though I’ve never been to Ireland before.

Cal Hooper was an intriguing character, and I loved his story. The reason he moved to the mountains, and the ongoing experiences helped me understand the issues he was facing, and I loved how he started to personally grow throughout the book, with Trey’s help. And as for Trey, I loved his personality too. The quiet, but also savage and arrogant character, that wasn’t afraid to be nosy. But also the innocent child that desperately wanted help and support, when they didn’t receive it before.

The book was very dark and eerie throughout all times.

And the people are savage and brutal, and you can feel this even when the conversations are about happy things. There was a certain eerie cloud surrounding this book, and I really loved that. I don’t think another book has made me feel this way before.

As for the mystery, I feel that part was a bit weak. I loved the search itself, and the moments when Cal would try and dig deeper into what actually happened. But as any informal investigation, he couldn’t get too far. And the villagers didn’t try and help him too much. It was an interesting dynamic I really enjoyed. But the ending and the revelation weren’t too satisfying for me.

The Searcher by Tana French is truly one of a kind. With its description, the rural scenery and brutality of the people, it’s one of those books that will give you slow chills down your spine.

Purchase Links:
Amazon UK | Amazon US

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The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson [BOOK REVIEW] The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson
Book Review · Books

The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson

innah9611 Comments
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson [BOOK REVIEW]

★★★★★

The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson is a book I have had on my TBR the longest.

The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo is also the first book in the Millennium series. I wanted to read it since I was in high-school and developed my love for thrillers. Even though I was vaguely familiar with the plot, I went in blind, and I enjoyed every second of it!

Synopsis:

Lisbeth Salander can dig the deepest secrets of her targets. She is often underestimated because of her looks, but loves nothing more than to prove people wrong.

Mikael Bloomkvist is a disgraced journalist and when tasked to investigate him, Lisbeth finds nothing but integrity.

When his investigation of a mystery that happened a long time ago comes to a dead end, he needs help. And who could do that better, than the same person who investigated him. 

My Thoughts:

I loved the pace this book has. It starts very slow, giving you time to adjust to the new setting and the characters that will be your companions for the rest of the book. Then it gradually throws plot twists and new challenges that need to be overcomed. By the end, you are on a rollercoaster and your hunger for clues and resolution comes to a climax. Every character has their own story and personal development that fits perfectly into the story. 

The way the characters have their own personal development is incredibly done, especially in the case of Lisbeth. Even though Mikael’s development is also very noteworthy. 

I had mixed feelings about the ending. I loved the mystery part, and I think that ended very satisfying. However, I wasn’t a fan of how the romance concluded, or rather, continued. But with that being said, and knowing the series continues, I am hoping to read the next book and see whether this might change in the future. 

After finishing the book, I was curious about the author, and I was so sad to find out that he passed away before he knew about his book and the success it has in the world. I also feel for his partner as well – for all the injustice she has gone through. 

To conclude, I loved The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo so much, and I am so glad I finally read it. I will definitely be continuing the series, and I hope you pick this one up as well.

Purchase Links:
| Amazon UK |Amazon US |

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The Hidden Beach by Karen Swan Book Review readalong books blog blogging pan macmillan tandem tandemcollective romance thriller The Hidden Beach by Karen Swan [BOOK REVIEW]
Book Review · Books

The Hidden Beach by Karen Swan [BOOK REVIEW]

innah9616 Comments
The Hidden Beach by Karen Swan Book Review readalong books blog blogging pan macmillan tandem tandemcollective romance thriller

★★★★★

I had the most amazing opportunity this month! Thanks to the team at Tandem Collective UK, I participated in a #Readalong on Instagram for The Hidden Beach by Karen Swan. The book is published by the amazing team at Pan Macmillan.

And I can immediately say – this experience was, so far, the highlight of my reading year! 

Together with a number of amazing bookstagrammers, we read this book in 5 days, chatting about the plot twists and the ending. By the end of the second day, we were all in love with Karen Swan’s writing and decided to do another readalong for August. I also had the chance to participate in a Live Q&A session with Karen Swan herself and win a prize for being a runner-up to the quiz. And on top of everything, I visited my mum on the weekend, and we talked about books we’re reading. And to my surprise, she owns FOUR books of Karen Swan already! So we decided to swap some books, and I came home with four more books I want to read!

We will be reading The Greek Escape by Karen Swan in August – so please shout if you have this book and want to join us! 

I shared my readalong journey on my Instagram, and the highlights are still up, in case you want to have a look at my journey! I always share posts and stories of the books I am currently reading – so don’t forget to follow for more updates. 

Synopsis:

In the oldest part of Stockholm, Bell Everhurst is working as a nanny for an affluent family. Hanna and Max Von Greyerz are parents to 7 year-old Linus, and 5-year old twins Ellinor and Tilde, and Bell has been with the family for over two years.

One early Spring morning, as she’s rushing out to take the children to school, she answers the phone – and everything changes. A woman from a clinic she’s never heard of asks her to pass on the message that Hanna’s husband is awake.Bell is confused. She clearly just saw Max walking out of the house a few minutes earlier, but the woman mentioned Hanna by name…

When she gets hold of her employer, the truth is revealed: Hanna’s first husband fell into a coma seven years earlier, following a terrible accident. He has been in a Persistent Minimally Conscious State since and there was very little hope of further improvement. But now he’s awake. And life is going to change for them all.

My Thoughts:

I absolutely adored this book! I loved it so much, that I am unsure how to contain all my impressions in a well-written review. 

Let’s start with the setting.

It is set in Stockholm, on the coast, during summer. The descriptions about the place and the season really fit the mood. There is also a midsummer festival in the book which made me feel as if I was transported there, dancing with people from the town and enjoying the sunshine. 

The characters have that aura about them, that makes you want to know them. Or they happen to remind you of someone you know, but you can’t just recall where you know them from. They are so familiar, but distant at the same time. Each of them carrying their weight on their shoulders and each of them having their separate story. 

We meet Bell – the nanny, who has her own reasons of why she decides to become a nanny and stay in Stockholm longer than she needed to. Her love for the children, especially for Linus is so adorable, and I can understand why she is so protective of him. 

I felt for Linus.

The trauma he is going through in this book is heartbreaking, he’s introduced to his real father, but he doesn’t remember him. The way some situations are handled also doesn’t do him any favours and just contributes to his confusion and anger, and I completely understand him. It is a very difficult situation to be in. 

The most intriguing character in this book is definitely the husband that was in coma. Losing seven years of your life is devastating. One day – you have everything, and then you wake up to find out that your wife is with another person, happy, and has more children of her own with another man. And all you want to do is bring them back. Just like it was. Like time never passed. But time did pass. And people continued living… 

Very emotional read.

I had all emotions flowing in me at certain moments. Sometimes I had conflicted opinions about some decisions the characters made. I had suspicions, hopes and anticipated a lot. And I loved it. It ended on a very (for me) satisfying ending, and I got the result I was hoping to get. 

I definitely recommend you pick up this book straight ahead – it’s simply amazing! The perfect summer read with thriller elements, plot twists like you’ve never seen before and a subtle touch of romance.

Purchase Links:
| Amazon UK |Amazon US |

Social Media:
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