Thriller Thursday

Review: The Woman Inside My Home by D.L. Fisher

Title: The Woman Inside My Home
Author: D.L. Fisher
Format: eBook
Length: pages
Rating: 4 stars
Publication Date: October 15, 2026

A MESSAGE POPS UP ON MY HUSBAND’S PHONE. I READ IT, OF COURSE — WHO WOULDN’T?

I’m thirty in two weeks. I can’t wait to find out what my husband has got me.

So when his phone lights up while he’s in the bathroom, I sneak a peek. What I read takes my breath away.

Congratulations on your new home! You’ll find the key under the welcome mat.

He’s bought us our dream home. A log cabin in the mountains, by a private lake.

I have to see it! So the moment Ethan leaves for his work trip, I get in the car and drive. He’s not back until tomorrow evening. He won’t suspect a thing.

But when I pull up on the gravel driveway deep in the Poconos, Ethan’s truck is there.

And so is another woman . . .

The Woman in My Home by D.L. Fisher was a fast-paced, twisty psychological thriller that had me questioning almost everyone. Elena thinks Ethan has secretly bought them a dream home for her upcoming 30th birthday, so she heads to the secluded cabin in the Poconos to get a sneak peek. Instead, she finds Ethan there with another woman, Summer, and what starts as a suspicious husband and possible affair quickly turns into something much more complicated.

I really enjoyed the way the story shifted between Elena and Summer’s perspectives. Just when I thought I understood what was happening, another piece of the puzzle would come along and make me question everything again. Elena’s growing paranoia and Summer’s own suspicions created a lot of tension, while Ethan was the kind of character who made me want to yell at the page. The gaslighting, manipulation, secrets, and constantly changing perspectives kept me invested, and I especially liked how the pieces eventually came together.

There were definitely moments where I had to suspend my disbelief, and some of the twists felt a little over-the-top, but this was still such an entertaining and bingeable thriller. The isolated cabin setting added an extra layer of uneasiness, and the ending had a few reveals I didn’t see coming. Overall, a solid four-star read!

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

Thriller Thursday: On The Ice by Keaton McGruder

Title: On The Ice
Author: Keaton McGruder
Format: eBook
Length: 352 pages
Genre: Thriller
Publication Date: February 2, 2027

A chilling, complex mystery about a screenwriter’s feverish search for her missing brother on an Antarctic research station by debut author Keaton McGruder.

Ellie Best wins a coveted grant to write a screenplay while staying in Antarctica at McMurdo Station, and the best part is that her brother Leo, a climate scientist, is leading a research expedition there. But when she arrives, Leo has gone missing . . . and no one can survive for long out on the ice.

Desperate to find out what happened to Leo, Ellie begins to investigate. Everyone is a suspect in the isolated, claustrophobic research station. The scientists and support workers Leo knew were changed by the months of darkness, forming a tangled web of relationships, lovers, enemies and secrets. And when there’s a deadly fire on the base that echoes the script Ellie is writing, she realizes that danger is still lurking in the station—and she could be the next target.

Told in dual perspectives, in Leo’s polar winter in pure darkness and Ellie’s austral summer in constant light, On the Ice is a chilling debut mystery about isolation, survival, and the need for human connection and love—set against the breathtaking, and deadly, landscape of Antarctica.

Kat White over at St. Martin’s Press sent me a widget through NetGalley.

Thriller Thursday: Don’t Tell Me How To Die by Marshall Karp

Title: Don’t Tell Me How To Die
Author: Marshall Karp
Format: eBook
Length: 385 pages
Genre: Thriller
Publication Date: March 4, 2025

I have one thing to do before I die.
And time is running out.

I had it all: a fantastic husband, two great kids, an exciting career. And then, at the age of forty-three, I found out I would be dead before my next birthday.

My mother also died young. I was seventeen, and she warned me that women would flock to my suddenly single father like stray cats to an overturned milk truck. They did. And one absolutely evil woman practically destroyed his life, mine, and my sister’s.

I am not letting that happen to my family.

I have three months, and I plan to spend every waking minute searching for the perfect woman to take my place as Alex’s wife, and mother to Kevin and Katie.

You’re probably thinking, She’ll never do it. Did I mention that in high school I was voted “Most Likely to Kill Someone to Get What She Wants”?

From thriller writer Marshall Karp (cocreator with James Patterson of the #1 New York Times bestselling NYPD Red series), and rich with Karp’s deft array of three-dimensional characters and his signature biting humor, Don’t Tell Me How to Die has so many twists and turns, you’d swear he wrote it with a corkscrew.

Thriller Thursday: The Woman In My Home by D.L. Fisher

Title: The Woman In My Home
Author: D.L. Fisher
Format: eBook
Length:
Genre: Thriller
Publication Date: October 15, 2026

A MESSAGE POPS UP ON MY HUSBAND’S PHONE. I READ IT, OF COURSE—WHO WOULDN’T?

I’m thirty in two weeks. I can’t wait to find out what my husband has got me.

So when his phone lights up while he’s in the bathroom, I sneak a peek. What I read takes my breath away.

Congratulations on your new home! You’ll find the key under the welcome mat.

He’s bought us our dream home. A log cabin in the mountains, by a private lake.

I have to see it! So the moment Ethan leaves for his work trip, I get in the car and drive. He’s not back until tomorrow evening. He won’t suspect a thing.

But when I pull up on the gravel driveway deep in the Poconos, Ethan’s truck is there.

And so is another woman . . .

Perfect for fans of Daniel Hurst, BA Paris, Freida McFadden, Shari Lapena and Riley Sager. BET you can’t guess the final twist—it’s going to blow your mind!

Thank you to Thriller Book Lovers: The Pulse for sending me an e-ARC copy. I will be reading this one later in the month, and will have a review post up on the blog mid October.

Review: Dear Debbie by Freida McFadden

Title: Dear Debbie
Author: Freida McFadden
Format: eBook
Length: 340 pages
Rating: 3.5 stars
Publication Date: January 27, 2026

Dear Debbie by Freida McFadden is a quick psychological thriller with a straightforward writing style typical of the author. The story moves at a steady pace and kept my interest. The characters are not especially deep. It’s an easy read that may appeal to readers looking for a light, uncomplicated suspense novel.

I received a complimentary e-copy. Thank you to Edelweiss.

Review: The Safe Room: A Short Story by Lisa Unger

Title: The Safe Room: A Short Story
Author: Lisa Unger
Format: eBook
Length: 63 pages
Rating: 4 stars
Publication Date: July 1, 2026

Private investigator Rae Donovan’s relationship with her father is distant to the point of estrangement. But when she learns he’s dying in hospice, she drops everything to be at his side. By the time she arrives, he’s already too far gone to speak, and a doctor says his death is consistent with poisoning.

As she scours his isolated Adirondack home for clues, she discovers a hidden room filled with surveillance equipment, weapons, and a safe full of cash—maybe her father wasn’t the unassuming retiree she’d imagined. Rae must decide whether knowing the full truth about her family is worth the danger of tracking it down.

Lisa Unger knows how to pull you into a story, and The Safe House was no exception. From the very beginning, I was hooked by the mystery of who killed Rae’s father, and wanted to know how everything was connected. I wish this story could of been a little bit longer so the ending could of been more flushed out, but overall I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys quick paced thrillers.

I chose this book as a First Reads choice in June 2026.

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.

Review: The Kind Worth Killing by Peter Swanson

Title: The Kind Worth Killing
Author: Peter Swanson
Format: Paperback
Length: 311 pages
Rating: 5 stars
Publication Date Of My Edition: 2015

The Kind Worth Killing by Peter Swanson was an absolutely brilliant psychological thriller that kept me hooked from beginning to end. The story is packed with twists, deception, and morally complex characters who are impossible to look away from. The multiple perspectives added so much depth to the plot, allowing the tension to build steadily while revealing just enough information to keep me guessing. Swanson’s writing is sharp, suspenseful, and impossible to put down. Every chapter left me wanting to read just one more, and the ending was perfectly satisfying. If you enjoy clever psychological thrillers filled with manipulation, secrets, and unexpected twists, this is a must-read.

Her Last Breath by Taylor Adams

Title: Her Last Breath
Author: Taylor Adams
Format: audiobook
Length: 10 hours 8 minutes
Narrator: Sophie Amoss
Genre: Thriller
Rating: 4 stars
Publication Date: February 17, 2026

Her Last Breath by Taylor Adams is a gripping, high-stakes thriller that refuses to let you look away. Adams has a remarkable ability to drop readers straight into danger and then steadily tighten the screws with each chapter. The pacing is razor-sharp—every scene feels purposeful, every detail loaded with tension—and the story escalates in a way that makes it nearly impossible to stop reading.

What truly elevates the novel is its emotional core. Beneath the suspense and shock lies a deeply human story about fear, resilience, and the instinct to survive. The protagonist is written with depth and vulnerability, making the stakes feel intensely personal. You’re not just watching events unfold—you’re experiencing them alongside the characters, sharing in their dread, hope, and determination.

The author also does a great job at the atmosphere. The setting feels immersive and vividly cinematic, heightening the sense of claustrophobia and urgency. Quiet moments are just as powerful as the explosive ones, creating a rhythm that keeps readers on edge. And when the twists arrive, they’re both surprising and satisfying, grounded in the logic of the story.

The audiobook narration adds another layer of intensity, with a performance by Sophie Amoss that captures the urgency and emotional nuance of the story beautifully, making the suspense even more immersive.

In the end, Her Last Breath delivers exactly what great thrillers promise: relentless tension, emotional investment, and a finale that lingers long after the final page. It’s a standout read for fans of smart, character-driven suspense.

I received a complimentary audiobook through William Morrow’s Scene of The Crime program. I was sent a widget through NetGalley.

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.

Thriller Thursday: Witness 8 (Eddie Flynn #8) by Steve Cavanagh @sscav #LibraryLoveChallenge2025 #Netgalley

Title: Witness 8
Author: Steve Cavanagh
Format: audiobook
Length: 12 hours 16 minutes
Genre: Thriller
Rating: 4 stars
Publication Date: March 25, 2024

Challenges: Beat The Backlist, COYER, Library Love Challenge, Netgalley

Steve Cavanagh just keeps getting better. Witness 8 hooked me from page one! A murder, a mysterious witness, and Eddie Flynn right in the middle of everything. Ruby Johnson is one of the most fascinating characters Cavanagh’s written yet: part victim, part mastermind, and totally unpredictable.

The twists come fast, the courtroom scenes are tense, and I loved the mix of clever legal drama and real danger. Every time I thought I knew what was happening I didn’t. The pacing is tight, the writing’s great, and it was impossible to put down.

If you love smart, twisty thriller, this one is a must! Easily one of my favorite Eddie Flynn books so far!

I borrowed the audiobook of a Netgalley eBook I have thanks to Libby.

Thriller Thursday: The Passengers (Dark Future #2) by John Marrs @johnmarrs.author #LibraryLoveChallenge2025 #SciFiMonth2025

Title: The Passengers
Author: John Marrs
Format: eBook
Length: 341 pages
Genre: Speculative Thriller
Rating: 4 stars
Publication Date: August 27, 2019

Challenges: Beat The Backlist, COYER, HRCYED 2.0, Library Love Challenge

This book takes you on a whirlwind ride – literally. It’s multiple POV, as you’re strapped into the autonomous cars with the characters of this story. All of them are on a crash course collision to their deaths by a Hacker. It was fast paced and didn’t stop till the end! What a great book! I definitely plan to read the next book in this series. P.S. all of the books can be read as standalones, they are just set in the same universe.