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860 reviews
The Strange Case of Jane O. by Karen Thompson Walker
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
I read and loved The Age of Miracles by this author a few years ago so I was looking forward to reading her latest book. I thoroughly enjoyed this speculative mystery, which I listened to on Bookbeat.
The story is narrated by Jane O and her psychiatrist Dr.Byrd. Jane has been suffering from a series of hallucinations and periods of amnesia since having her young son. The latest one lasted several days and she was found in the park, not knowing how she got there.
I loved the psychological aspect of the story and found Dr.Byrds theories about Jane's blackouts really interesting. It was fascinating to delve into the subject of memory, too.
I thought the dual narration worked well as both had a slightly different vantage point on what was happening to Jane. I was really intrigued about Jane's relationship with Nico and what had happened to him.
I listened to this in just a few days as I was really engrossed in the story. I read the very last part as I was lucky to have a proof and wanted to find out how the story resolved. I didn't predict the ending at all and I thought it was quite clever.
Overall, this was such an original mystery with great memorable characters. A thought provoking read.
The story is narrated by Jane O and her psychiatrist Dr.Byrd. Jane has been suffering from a series of hallucinations and periods of amnesia since having her young son. The latest one lasted several days and she was found in the park, not knowing how she got there.
I loved the psychological aspect of the story and found Dr.Byrds theories about Jane's blackouts really interesting. It was fascinating to delve into the subject of memory, too.
I thought the dual narration worked well as both had a slightly different vantage point on what was happening to Jane. I was really intrigued about Jane's relationship with Nico and what had happened to him.
I listened to this in just a few days as I was really engrossed in the story. I read the very last part as I was lucky to have a proof and wanted to find out how the story resolved. I didn't predict the ending at all and I thought it was quite clever.
Overall, this was such an original mystery with great memorable characters. A thought provoking read.
The Swell: A captivating mystery set in Iceland and steeped in myth by Kat Gordon
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
I found this such an atmospheric read. I'm always fascinated by books set in Iceland and would really like to visit this country!
The book is written in two parts. In 1910, Frejya and Gudrun, rescue a man from a shipwreck in the middle of a storm. Following this, Tomas goes to live with them on their small, remote farm.
In the second story, which takes place sixty-five years later, Sigga is spending time with her grandmother when they learn a body has been discovered on a mountainside near Reykjavik, perfectly preserved in ice.
There are lots of Icelandic myths interwoven through both stories, which I found interesting.
I particularly enjoyed the story set in 1910 and felt immediately invested in Freyja's and Gudrun's lives.
This book really demonstrates the constraints women felt, in a very male dominated society both in 1910 and 1975. Despite being years apart the women experience some very similar emotions.
I couldn't put the book down in the final chapters. The tension and mystery really builds in each separate story, and I loved how the two slowly connected, and some of the characters' true intentions were revealed. I didn't see the ending coming at all!
If you enjoy a good historical mystery steeped in folklore and with a very atmospheric setting I would recommend this book.
The book is written in two parts. In 1910, Frejya and Gudrun, rescue a man from a shipwreck in the middle of a storm. Following this, Tomas goes to live with them on their small, remote farm.
In the second story, which takes place sixty-five years later, Sigga is spending time with her grandmother when they learn a body has been discovered on a mountainside near Reykjavik, perfectly preserved in ice.
There are lots of Icelandic myths interwoven through both stories, which I found interesting.
I particularly enjoyed the story set in 1910 and felt immediately invested in Freyja's and Gudrun's lives.
This book really demonstrates the constraints women felt, in a very male dominated society both in 1910 and 1975. Despite being years apart the women experience some very similar emotions.
I couldn't put the book down in the final chapters. The tension and mystery really builds in each separate story, and I loved how the two slowly connected, and some of the characters' true intentions were revealed. I didn't see the ending coming at all!
If you enjoy a good historical mystery steeped in folklore and with a very atmospheric setting I would recommend this book.
The Mother by T.M. Logan
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
4.5
The Lost Passenger: A Novel by Frances Quinn
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
I loved The Bonesetter Woman so I was excited to read Fran's latest book. I absolutely loved this story and couldn't put it down.
Elinor was such a brilliant character, and I could hardly believe the circumstances she found herself in following what she believed to be a marriage of love to Frederick. It was so frustrating to see how powerless she was against the aristocratic family she married into.
I loved Elinor's resilience and determination to be with her son. The backdrop of the Titanic was fascinating and heartbreaking to read. The family in New York were brilliant, and I loved all of the different characters that Elinor met in her new life. The way Elinor built a new life for herself in New York through the fashion industry and the street carts was fascinating!
The novel is clearly meticulously researched, and this comes through in all the details of the story.
Overall, this is a heartwarming story of a mother's love as well as of family and friendship. If you like historical fiction, I highly recommend this book.
Elinor was such a brilliant character, and I could hardly believe the circumstances she found herself in following what she believed to be a marriage of love to Frederick. It was so frustrating to see how powerless she was against the aristocratic family she married into.
I loved Elinor's resilience and determination to be with her son. The backdrop of the Titanic was fascinating and heartbreaking to read. The family in New York were brilliant, and I loved all of the different characters that Elinor met in her new life. The way Elinor built a new life for herself in New York through the fashion industry and the street carts was fascinating!
The novel is clearly meticulously researched, and this comes through in all the details of the story.
Overall, this is a heartwarming story of a mother's love as well as of family and friendship. If you like historical fiction, I highly recommend this book.
The Darkest Water by Mark Edwards
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
Other People's Houses by Clare Mackintosh
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
'Even on the most desirable street, there's a dark side . . .'
I was really looking forward to returning to Leo and Ffion's lives. This was another fast-paced crime thriller and my favourite book of the series so far.
The story starts with DS Leo Brady investigating a series of break in a luxurious estate called The Hill.
Over the border in Wales, DC Ffion Morgan recovers the body of an estate agent from the lake.
Ffion and Leo start to find their cases have more and more in common. I loved how the two cases merge as more secrets are uncovered from the residents of The Hill and the estate agents surrounding the murder investigation.
Leo and Ffion are such brilliant, relatable characters, and I love their relationship. The banter between them is so funny!
I also really enjoyed reading some chapters from Ali's perspective (Leo's ex and Harris' mum) and I couldn't help feeling sorry for her as she so desperately tries to be accepted into the women from The Hill.
I couldn't put this book down and flew through it. There were some very unexpected twists, too! I highly recommend this whole series and I can't wait for book four!
I was really looking forward to returning to Leo and Ffion's lives. This was another fast-paced crime thriller and my favourite book of the series so far.
The story starts with DS Leo Brady investigating a series of break in a luxurious estate called The Hill.
Over the border in Wales, DC Ffion Morgan recovers the body of an estate agent from the lake.
Ffion and Leo start to find their cases have more and more in common. I loved how the two cases merge as more secrets are uncovered from the residents of The Hill and the estate agents surrounding the murder investigation.
Leo and Ffion are such brilliant, relatable characters, and I love their relationship. The banter between them is so funny!
I also really enjoyed reading some chapters from Ali's perspective (Leo's ex and Harris' mum) and I couldn't help feeling sorry for her as she so desperately tries to be accepted into the women from The Hill.
I couldn't put this book down and flew through it. There were some very unexpected twists, too! I highly recommend this whole series and I can't wait for book four!
The Lollipop Man by Daniel Sellers, Daniel Sellers
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
3.25
This was a twisty thriller set in the nineties in West Yorkshire.
In the eighties a serial killer, known as 'the Lollipop Man' had previously abducted and murdered three children. After a failed attempt to kidnap a fourth child the Lollipop Man mysteriously vanished and the abductions stopped.
Ten years later, another young girl, Sarah, has been abducted, and it seems possible the Lollipop Man is back and is the person behind her disappearance.
The story is narrated by Adrian who works at a local newspaper. He was also the fourth child the Lollipop man attempted to take but has since changed his name to hide his identity. Alongside another journalist, Sheila, they both seek to uncover the truth.
The book did take me a little while to get into as there were quite a lot of characters. I enjoyed the nostalgic trip back to the nineties, which was well written!
I raced through the second half of the book, which had more twists, tension, and suspense and was a lot harder to put down. I didn't guess the perpetrator but found it a satisfying ending to the book. Overall, this was a dark, enjoyable, crime thriller, and I'd be interested to read more by this author.
In the eighties a serial killer, known as 'the Lollipop Man' had previously abducted and murdered three children. After a failed attempt to kidnap a fourth child the Lollipop Man mysteriously vanished and the abductions stopped.
Ten years later, another young girl, Sarah, has been abducted, and it seems possible the Lollipop Man is back and is the person behind her disappearance.
The story is narrated by Adrian who works at a local newspaper. He was also the fourth child the Lollipop man attempted to take but has since changed his name to hide his identity. Alongside another journalist, Sheila, they both seek to uncover the truth.
The book did take me a little while to get into as there were quite a lot of characters. I enjoyed the nostalgic trip back to the nineties, which was well written!
I raced through the second half of the book, which had more twists, tension, and suspense and was a lot harder to put down. I didn't guess the perpetrator but found it a satisfying ending to the book. Overall, this was a dark, enjoyable, crime thriller, and I'd be interested to read more by this author.
All the Colours of the Dark by Chris Whitaker
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Money to Burn by Asta Olivia Nordenhof
dark
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
3.0
The Blackbirds of St. Giles by Lila Cain
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
This has been my favourite read of 2025 so far! It was atmospheric, evocative and immersive from the first page, and I couldn't put it down.
The characters (both good and bad) were brilliantly written and so believable. Daniel was such a great character, and I was willing him (and Pearl) to find a way out of their desperate situation.
The gritty, grimy London streets were vividly brought to life in Georgian London and were such a contrast to the lavish houses and lifestyles enjoyed by the higher society at the time.
I loved reading about the dangerous streets in the underground labyrinth and the Blackbirds of St.Giles. They were fascinating and I didn't know anything about them before reading this book.
I loved the romance that was interweaved in the story, too, and the relationships between all of the different characters was so well written!
The characters (both good and bad) were brilliantly written and so believable. Daniel was such a great character, and I was willing him (and Pearl) to find a way out of their desperate situation.
The gritty, grimy London streets were vividly brought to life in Georgian London and were such a contrast to the lavish houses and lifestyles enjoyed by the higher society at the time.
I loved reading about the dangerous streets in the underground labyrinth and the Blackbirds of St.Giles. They were fascinating and I didn't know anything about them before reading this book.
I loved the romance that was interweaved in the story, too, and the relationships between all of the different characters was so well written!
This will definitely be in my top ten books of the year! I really hope there is a sequel as I would love to find out what happens next to Daniel and Pearl.
If you enjoy historical fiction, I really recommend this book!
If you enjoy historical fiction, I really recommend this book!