Category: Thriller Book Lovers The Pulse

Review: He Had It Coming by Darby Kane

Title: He Had It Coming
Author: Darby Kane
Format: eBook
Length: 132 pages
Rating: 4 stars
Publication Date: October 6, 2026

Synopsis: It’s been eight years since “the incident” that stole the future Jerek Hayes had planned. Accusations. Negative press attention. Rabid anger from people he’s never met.

Some say he avoided responsibility for his crime. That his family’s money saved him. But he’s ready to put those years behind him. He’s moved across the country. Established a new life.

He acts like he’s gotten away with it.

But revenge requires perfect timing and Sabrina’s been waiting for this moment. Waiting for him to start over…so she can take it all away.

He Had It Coming by Darby Kane was a fast-paced and entertaining thriller that kept me turning the pages. I especially enjoyed how unlikable and morally questionable so many of the characters were, which made it impossible to know who to trust. The secrets, betrayals, and twists kept the story moving, and I loved watching everything unravel as more was revealed. Overall, this was a messy-in-a-good-way read with plenty of characters to love to hate!

I received a complimentary e-copy through Thriller Book Lovers: The Pulse.

Review: Keep Them Close by David Ellis

Title: Keep Them Close
Author: David Ellis
Format: eBook
Length: 348 pages
Publication Date: June 30, 2026

From the bestselling author of Look Closer comes a new domestic thriller about betrayal and murder inside one twisted family

Two siblings. One murder. So many lies.

Siblings Allison and Luke have been through a lot together. They’ve always stood by each other. They’d do anything for each other.

Or so it seems.

When Allison’s husband, Finley, is murdered, the investigation threatens to expose the siblings’ darkest secrets. An illicit affair. A decades-old accident. A stunning deception. How do these events explain Finley’s death? How far will Allison and Luke go to keep their secrets buried? And can the siblings even trust one another anymore?

As the investigation winds tighter and past and present collide, the most shocking betrayal might lie a little too close to home…

Keep Them Close by David Ellis was a twisty, fast-paced thriller that kept me guessing from start to finish. The story is packed with family secrets, betrayals, and unexpected revelations, and I never felt completely sure who I could trust. The alternating perspectives and timelines added to the suspense and made it hard to put down. Ellis does a great job weaving together multiple storylines and delivering surprises at just the right moments. If you enjoy domestic thrillers filled with deception, family drama, and plenty of twists, this one is definitely worth picking up!

I received a complimentary e-copy through Thriller Book Lovers: The Pulse.

Cover Reveal: Night Calls by Joe Hart

Joe Hart has a new novel coming out September 22, 2026. I’m really digging the eerie vibe of this cover!

Synopsis: A mother who has vanished into seclusion is forced to revisit her son’s heinous crimes in a haunting psychological thriller by the Edgar Award–winning author of Or Else.

Eight years ago, Hattie Conlee’s world was torn apart when her son, Tommy, was convicted of being a serial killer known as the Bedfellow. When Tommy escaped custody, he simply disappeared. So did Hattie. She changed her name and moved to a coastal town in Maine to build an anonymous new life. No one would find her here. Hattie couldn’t have been more wrong.

Now investigative journalist Ross Eeling has come calling. He agrees to keep Hattie’s new identity a secret on one condition: Hattie tell him things she’s never told the vultures of the press before—about her son, the murders of so many innocent women, its impact on a devastated family, and the depths of a mother’s love. Ross wants the truth.

Dredging up the most painful moments of her life is a revelation for Hattie too. Because the past is more complicated and disturbing than she realizes. And its deadly repercussions are far from over.

Shout out to Thriller Book Lovers: The Pulse for sponsoring this cover reveal.

An Unboxing: A Place To Die For by A.M. Strong and Sonya Sargent

@thatlibrarygirl27

Thank you to @thrillerbookloverspulse for hooking me up with this amazing book box complimentary from the authors. In the box I received a signed paperback copy of A Place To Die For by A.M. Strong and Sonya Sargent, along with some goodies like a bumblebee keychain, moon necklace and raven temporary tattoo. A young couple’s dream apartment hides a deadly secret in a terrifying novel of psychological suspense by the authors of Gravewater Lake. Jordan and her fiancé, Sam, can hardly believe their luck when they are accepted into the Glendale, an exclusive Boston co-op dripping in historic turn-of-the-century splendor. Still reeling from a devastating personal loss, the couple hopes their new digs will let them heal the past and build a brighter future. But Jordan’s joy soon turns to unease. Spending long hours alone while her fiancé is at work, she starts to suspect that all is not right with the Glendale. There is the empty apartment on the ground floor that nobody wants to talk about, and the unnerving sensation that she is being watched. The haunting cries of a baby—even though there are none in the building—don’t help, either. As their relationship falters and Sam grows ever more distant, Jordan comes to a terrifying conclusion. The Glendale won’t let her go…at least, not alive. booktok thrillerbooks bookbox unboxingvideo books

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Title: A Place To Die For
Author: A.M. Strong and Sonya Sargent
Format: audiobook
Length: 7 hours 52 minutes
Narrator:  Hallie Ricardo and Connor Brannigan
Publication Date: March 17, 2026

A young couple’s dream apartment hides a deadly secret in a terrifying novel of psychological suspense by the authors of Gravewater Lake.

Jordan and her fiancé, Sam, can hardly believe their luck when they are accepted into the Glendale, an exclusive Boston co-op dripping in historic turn-of-the-century splendor. Still reeling from a devastating personal loss, the couple hopes their new digs will let them heal the past and build a brighter future. But Jordan’s joy soon turns to unease.

Spending long hours alone while her fiancé is at work, she starts to suspect that all is not right with the Glendale. There is the empty apartment on the ground floor that nobody wants to talk about, and the unnerving sensation that she is being watched. The haunting cries of a baby—even though there are none in the building—don’t help, either.

As their relationship falters and Sam grows ever more distant, Jordan comes to a terrifying conclusion. The Glendale won’t let her go…at least, not alive.

I received a complimentary book box and an ALC from Thriller Book Lovers: The Pulse in partnership with the authors. I listened to this book through NetGalley shelf.

Spotlight: The Valet by Bonnie Traymore

Title: The Valet
Author: Bonnie Traymore
Format: e-ARC
Length: 241 pages
Publication Date: February 12, 2026

In this twisty domestic suspense novel with a touch of dark humor, a struggling valet driver with a shady side hustle and a soft spot for the ladies suspects that one of his targets might be a serial killer.

You never know what hides behind a smile.

It’s tough to get by in Honolulu these days. Prices are high. Salaries are low. Which is why Johnny Silva tells himself he’s not doing anything that bad. The people he and his girlfriend target have a lot of insurance—and a lot of jewelry.

But when not one, but two guests from the resort where he works turn up murdered in a similar manner, Johnny starts to suspect that one of his targets, a regular at The Grand Royal Hotel, is the serial killer terrorizing Honolulu.

When the cops start questioning him, Johnny suspects that someone is trying to frame him. Does his girlfriend know he’s been chatting up his ex? Does his co-worker know his dark secrets? Are there other enemies out to get him?

Then Johnny becomes a person of interest in the case, and he’ll stop at nothing to find the real murderer, even if a stone-cold killer might be a little too close for comfort.

And even if it might cost him his life.

Perfect for fans of Freida McFadden, Kaira Rouda, Daniel Hurst, Emily Shiner, and Shari Lapena.

I received a complimentary e-ARC through Thriller Book Lovers: The Pulse.

Spotlight: Murder At 30,000 Feet by Susan Walter

Under the cover of turbulence, a killer strikes. With nowhere to land and nowhere to hide, who will save the passengers from this nightmare at 30,000 feet?

It’s a ticket to paradise. Flight 868 with nonstop service to San Juan, Puerto Rico. Over a dozen tipsy passengers are off to a destination wedding. A team of high school baseball players are headed to a tournament. The plane is packed with people eager to escape their lives, and others who can’t wait to return to their beloved home.

But sweet anticipation turns to terror when a lightning strike short-circuits the avionics and plunges the plane into darkness. When the lights come back on, a passenger is found brutally murdered, with only a bewildered air marshal to solve the crime. He soon realizes that several passengers are harboring dark secrets, but the identity of the murderer eludes him. There’s only one certainty: the killer is on the plane.

Thousands of feet above the earth with thunderstorms closing in, the danger outside is as grave as the mounting threat within. Can the captain outrun the storm? Or will the murderer among them bring the plane down first?

Passion, betrayal, and murder collide in this high-stakes, locked-room mystery. A must-read for fans of T. J. Newman and Jeneva Rose. 

I received a complimentary e-copy through Thrill Book Lovers: The Pulse.

Spotlight: We Were Never Friends by Kaira Rouda

Title: We Were Never Friends
Author: Kaira Rouda
Format: eBook
Length: 288 pages
Publication Date: February 3, 2026

Sisters? Forever. Friends? NEVER. Who knew a reunion weekend could be so deadly?

Meet the sorority sisters of Theta Gamma Mu:

  • Roxy Callahan Gentry, the ruthless former sorority president and current hostess who has painstakingly choreographed every detail of this weekend—even matching the cocktails to her couture—to prove that she remains their undisputed queen
  • Amelia Dell, the widow drenched in old money and alcohol, with her big pot-stirring spoon and uninvited boy-toy in tow
  • Jamie Vale, the double-legacy pledge, straight-A student with no sparkle, now a top cardiologist with a picture-perfect family—and a well-guarded bad habit
  • Beth Harrison, the scholarship student who never quite fit in and was only admitted because her best friend Sunny insisted that the two were a package deal
  • Sunny Spencer, the carefree and beloved friend to all, or so it seemed—until she wasn’t

They’ve been summoned to Roxy’s luxurious Palm Springs vacation home to celebrate the engagement of her son to Beth’s daughter. But the refurbished 1920s estate is eerily reminiscent of the hotel where tragedy struck during Spring Break twenty-five years ago. Long-simmering tensions and shocking secrets begin bubbling to the surface like bodies—because while the weekend was supposed to be about celebrating the future, it’s not so easy to bury the past…

For fans of Shari Lapena, Mary Kubica, and B. A. Paris, We Were Never Friends is an unputdownable, riveting train wreck full of dark humor and bad behavior.

I received a complimentary e-copy through Thriller Book Lovers: The Pulse.

eBook Spotlight: Such A Clever Girl by Darby Kane

Fifteen years ago, the Tanner family vanished without a trace, leaving behind a chilling scene: half-eaten meals, a bloodstain by the door, and a smoldering fire consuming their business across town.

The once-vibrant home stands untouched, a haunting relic of the past. As rumors fade into local folklore, the mystery of their disappearance seems destined to remain unsolved–until Aubrey Tanner returns.

Now a hardened thirty-year-old, Aubrey arrives in town with secrets etched in her silence. Why did she come back? Was she a victim of the night that changed everything, or does she hold the truth of what happened to her family? The town is rife with theories, but three women share a dangerous bond: they know more than they’ve ever confessed.

As the past resurfaces, old alliances fray. A teacher, a café owner, and a psychologist are drawn together by memories they’d rather forget. Each holds a piece of the puzzle–and a dark secret of their own. When a new disappearance sends shock waves through the town, blackmail begins, and the stakes climb higher.

In a race against time, these women must confront the truth or risk becoming the next victims of a past they cannot escape. With tension rising and danger lurking, one thing is clear: someone is destined to kill again.

I received a complimentary ARC through Thriller Book Lovers: The Pulse.

Review: The Wife Deserves It by Darby Kane @hkdimon #thrillerbookloversthepulse

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Title: The Wife Deserved It
Author: Darby Kane
Format: eBook
Length: 115 pages
Rating: 4 stars
Publication Date: October 21, 2025

Challenges: COYER, NetGalley/Edelweiss

Synopsis: Darby Kane, author of #1 international bestseller Pretty Little Wife, delivers an unputdownable domestic thriller novella in which a man has laid the foundation for the perfect murder… or so he thinks.

Reid Cavanagh is done with his marriage. He wants out. He wants the kids. He wants his wife to shut up. He wants the legal fees to stop. He wants peace.

His wife has to die.

Reid is a smart guy. He has a plan to make it happen. He’s studied. He’s been in the chatrooms. He’s heard other men’s stories. He’s learned from their mistakes. He’s ready. His alibi is in place. He has the weapon. Nothing, none of this, will trace back to him. He can do the deed and move on.

Unfortunately for Reid, she’s ready for him. 

Review: This fast-paced thriller was so freaking good! I loved the different POVs from each character. It’s exactly what the story needed. I am always wanting more from novellas… like if it was just a little bit longer, lol!

I received a complimentary e-copy through Thriller Book Lovers: The Pulse.

Publication Day: Jill Is Not Happy by Kaira Rouda

Title: Jill Is Not Happy
Author: Kaira Rouda
Format: eBook / audiobook
Length: 256 pages / 7 hours 11 minutes
Rating: 3 stars

Some secrets keep a couple together.

If you ask Jill Tingley, she’ll tell you she and her husband Jack are college sweethearts living the dream in Southern California. Wealthy, popular and genetically blessed, theirs is an enviable life, though they’ve grown distant in recent years. Newly empty nesting with their daughter Maggie away at college, Jill suggests a road trip to reconnect.

Jack would rather do anything else than drive to Utah with his wife. He’s only stayed in this marriage because of a shared secret, a tragedy in the past he wanted to keep buried. And for his daughter’s sake. But Jack is finished with the charade of his marriage. He’s filing for divorce as soon as they return, no matter what.

But he doesn’t realize what else Jill is hiding.

So begins a cat-and-mouse road trip as a cunning wife–think Ripley in yoga pants–and a reluctant husband match wits and drive each other to the edge. But everything will be fine. Jill still loves Jack and believes he’s the only one for her. She’ll do anything to keep him. Anything. She always has.

Challenges: Audiobook, COYER, NetGalley

Review: This was a wild ride! Jill is delusional in her relationship with Jack. Jack wants out of this marriage and keeps getting trapped into staying by Jill’s words and actions. The more the story goes on the more unhinged Jill becomes. A really good thriller I would recommend to people who read the genre.

I would like to note that I feel this book could of used another narrator, a man, for Jack’s chapters, instead of Marnye Young reading both Jack and Jill’s chapters.

Thank you to Thriller Book Lovers: The Pulse for allowing me to read and listen to this book. I received a complimentary eBook and audiobook.

Review: Dead Of Night by Lisa Gray

Title: Dead Of Night
Author: Lisa Gray
Format: eBook / Audiobook
Length: 267 pages / 7 hours 11 minutes
Rating: 4 stars

Challenges: Audiobook, COYER, NetGalley

Review: While I was not a fan of the narrator, I was hooked into the story. The plot is real simple, a writer vacations in a small town with a rental property whose previous renters disappeared. Of course the author has to investigate what happened and figure out why they disappeared. You also get the POV from Ruby, a young mom whose child is missing. The stories intertwine, and the plot twist at the end comes out of nowhere! Four stars!

Thank you to Thriller Book Lovers: The Pulse for allowing me to read this ARC, and listen to this ALC.

@thatlibrarygirl8