Thriller Thursday

Review: You’ve Killed Me First by John Marrs

Title: You’ve Killed Me First
Author: John Marrs
Format: paperback
Length: 381 pages
Rating: 4 stars
Publication Date: March 11, 2025

You Killed Me First was such a wild and twisted thriller! The story centers around three very different women: Margot, a former pop star whose life revolves around appearances; Anna, the quiet and seemingly innocent neighbor with a much darker side; and Liv, the glamorous newcomer who seems to have the perfect life. When Liv moves into the neighborhood, the complicated relationship between these three women quickly turns into a tangled web of jealousy, secrets, revenge, infidelity, and murder.

I really enjoyed how John Marrs slowly revealed more about each character and their pasts. None of these women are exactly what they first appear to be, and I constantly found myself questioning who I could trust. The story jumps between their perspectives and gradually connects their lives to the mysterious events surrounding Bonfire Night. Just when I thought I had figured out where the story was going, another revelation completely changed things. The characters are messy, flawed, and often completely unlikable, but that made them even more interesting to read about. Another addictive and seriously twisted read from John Marrs!

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: It’s Not Her by Mary Kubica

Title: It’s Not Her
Author: Mary Kubica
Format: audiobook
Length: 11 hours 32 minutes
Narrators: Jennifer Jill Araya, Brittany Pressley, Gary Tiedermann
Rating: 4.5 stars
Publication Date:February 3, 2026

It’s Not Her was such an addictive and suspenseful read. Mary Kubica does an amazing job creating tension from the very beginning, and every chapter pulled me deeper into the mystery. Just when I thought I had things figured out, another twist completely changed everything.

I especially loved the emotional depth of the story and how layered the characters felt. The pacing was fantastic, the atmosphere was unsettling in the best way, and the ending was absolutely everything. This was one of those thrillers that was impossible to put down!

I also enjoyed each narrator. They made the characters come to life in such a great way!

I borrowed this book from Libby.

Review: The Anniversary by Alex Finlay

Title: The Anniversary
Author: Alex Finlay
Format: audiobook
Length: 7 hours 38 minutes
Narrators: Ari Fliakos & Brittany Pressley
Rating: 4 stars
Publication Date: May 12, 2026

I really enjoyed The Anniversary by Alex Finlay. The story pulled me in right away with its intriguing premise and didn’t let go. The pacing was steady, with just the right amount of suspense to keep me listening, and I found myself constantly trying to piece together what was really going on.

The plot twist completely caught me off guard in the best way. It was the kind of reveal that makes you stop and rethink everything you’ve read up to that point, which I always appreciate in a thriller. It felt well-executed and satisfying rather than rushed or predictable.

I listened to the audiobook, and both narrators (Ari Fliakos and Brittany Pressley) did a fantastic job bringing the story to life. They really captured the tone and emotions of the characters, adding depth and tension in all the right moments. Their performances made it even easier to stay fully immersed in the story.

Overall, this was a gripping and entertaining read with strong storytelling and a memorable twist. I’d definitely recommend it to anyone who enjoys a well-crafted thriller.

I received a complimentary audiobook copy. Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to listen.