Thriller – Page 2 – That Library Girl

The Sunday Salon / The Sunday Post #52

What is the Sunday Salon? The Sunday Salon is a place to link up and share what we have been doing during the week. It’s also a great opportunity to visit other blogs and join in the conversations going on there. Hosted by Readerbuzz.

What is the Sunday Post? The Sunday Post is a blog news meme hosted by Caffeinated Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news~ A post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things we have received. Share news about what is coming up on your blog for the week ahead. Join in weekly, bi-weekly or for a monthly wrap up.

My NJ in-laws (I have two sets) were gracious enough to offer up their house to host our son’s college graduation party, which happened yesterday. My sister and her family came up from NC so they could attend the party… and have a week of “Jersey Summer” as she likes to call it (since we grew up here and her children didn’t she likes to come in the summertime and take them to the beach and boardwalk… summery things they don’t have down south lol).

The week was spent getting everything ready for the party and having house guests staying with us.

I can’t believe that July is practically over…. which means that summer is kinda almost over. Not cool!

I am reading a NetGalley ARC titled Do You See What I See?: A Novella. This was a Christmas in July plan but didn’t get a chance to get to it until now. Should be finished with it in the next day or two.

I chose Silent Victim back in 2018 as a First Reads choice, but never got around to reading it after all these years. I am doing really good with clearing out my e-reader (the COYER challenge) so I randomly decided to read this one. This one should be finished come Monday.

I am reading You Killed Me First, a paperback I was gifted.

This is an older show, and I am sure I’ve seen some of it before… but it popped up on my TikTok page last week and I decided to watch. I am halfway done with season 2.

I got sucked back in to Dreamlight Valley and I played for a few days this week. I have a ton of quests I have to complete, and a bunch of realms to open up. Cozy game my butt cheeks, haha!

The Sunday Salon / The Sunday Post #51

Review: Three Reasons For Revenge by Dervla McTiernan

Review: Two Kinds of Stranger (Eddie Flynn #9) by Steve Cavanagh

Review: Druid Vices and a Vodka by Annette Marie

Library Love Audiobook Challenge 2026
Library Stats and Savings For July 2026
Monthly Wrap Up: July 2026

Review: Two Kinds of Stranger (Eddie Flynn #9) by Steve Cavanagh

Title: Two Kinds of Strangers
Author: Steve Cavanaugh
Format: eBook
Length: 400 pages
Rating: 5 stars
Publication Date: March 24, 2026

Steve Cavanagh has done it again!! Two Kinds of Stranger grabbed my attention from the very first chapter and never let me go. The story is packed with tension, twists you don’t see coming, and the kind of suspense that keeps you saying, “Just one more chapter” long into the night.

I loved how every character seemed to be hiding something, making it impossible to know who could be trusted. The pacing was relentless, with shocking reveals that continually changed my assumptions. Cavanagh’s ability to build suspense while delivering believable, complex characters is what sets his thrillers apart.

This was a fast-paced, addictive read that kept me guessing until the very end. If you’re a fan of psychological thrillers with clever plotting, unforgettable characters, and jaw-dropping twists, this book is an absolute must-read!

Thank you to Edelweiss for my e-copy of this book. I listened to this one thanks to my library.

Review: Three Reasons For Revenge by Dervla McTiernan

Title: Three Reasons For Revenge
Author: Dervla McTiernan
Format: audiobook
Length: 10 hours 28 minutes
Rating: 4 stars
Publication Date: July 21, 2026

Dervla McTiernan has delivered a brilliantly layered thriller with Three Reasons for Revenge. What begins with Alexis Turner reporting an assault to Detective Sergeant Judith Lee quickly spirals into a much larger mystery, when Alexis vanishes and three seemingly unrelated people receive mysterious packages designed to destroy their lives. I loved how every new revelation only raised more questions, and the connections between the characters unfolded so naturally that I was constantly rethinking my theories.

I also appreciated how each of the package recipients had their own compelling storyline, making it impossible to know who could be trusted or what role they ultimately played in the larger puzzle.

This is a smart, fast-paced thriller that rewards readers who love piecing together complex mysteries alongside memorable, well-developed characters. I plan to read more books by this author!

Thank you to William Morrow’s Scene Of The Crime Program, which sent me a complimentary audiobook.

The Sunday Salon / The Sunday Post #51

“Canadian wildfire smoke” covered New Jersey in the middle of the week and I refused to be outside breathing in all that crap. So we stayed inside and did a whole bunch of nothing. Then we had two nasty rain storms with up to 80 mile an hour winds one of the days, so we were practically inside all week. BUMMER!!!!!!

I am reading an older Amazon First Reads choice that I never got around to reading called White Out. I am using it as for two HRCYED 3.0 prompts as well. This one should be done by the middle of the week!

I have the ARC of Dear Debbie, but had also thrown myself on the waitlist with Libby for the audiobook. The hold came in so I borrowed it. I am enjoying it more than I thought I would (since I am on the fence with McFadden books), and am about 40% of the way through.

I am not too far in to The Pallbearers Club, a book I borrowed from a friend. It’s a different style of writing and not my usual genre, so I am taking my time with it to really give it a chance.

I can’t stand Argentina so I am rooting for Spain. My son’s girlfriend is also half Spanish so he is supporting her team too, lol!

This is an older show, and I am sure I’ve seen some of it before… but it popped up on my TikTok page last week and I decided to watch. I am almost halfway done with season 2.

Since we were in the house all week, I got sucked back in to Dreamlight Valley. It’s a cozy game that you can pick up pretty much whenever, so I was just messing around on it for almost three days straight!

My Library Card Anniversary Day

WWW Wednesday – July 15, 2026

Review: Three Reasons For Revenge by Dervla McTiernan
WWW Wednesday
Review: Two Kinds of Stranger (Eddie Flynn #9) by Steve Cavanagh
Review: Druid Vices and a Vodka by Annette Marie
Sunday Salon #52

WWW Wednesday – July 15, 2026

Welcome to WWW Wednesday! This meme was formerly hosted by MizB at A Daily Rhythm and revived on Taking on a World of Words.

The Three Ws are: What are you currently reading? What did you recently finish reading? What do you think you’ll read next?

I am trying to read books I already have, and White Out is a First Reads backlogged eBook (I chose it in 2020). This book will be used for two HRCYED 3.0 prompts as well!

Yesterday I started listening to Druid Vices and A Vodka, the next book in the group read-along I am participating in. I am enjoying this series and I know I will end up liking this one.

I switched up the physical book I was reading and started a book I borrowed from a friend titled The Pallbearers Club. I wanted to switch up genres to maybe help me get out of the slump…

Since I last posted all of the books pictured above have been finished and rated &/or reviewed on Storygraph.

Two NetGalley eBooks are next on my list. I am trying to keep up my NetGalley ratio and cleaning out my eReader!

Don’t forget to link up with Taking On A World Of Words to share your WWW!

The Sunday Salon / The Sunday Post #50

Nothing too exciting happened in my neck of the woods. My son’s girlfriend came to visit for most of the week. The weather was mostly yuck out- warm, muggy, and rainy. I did not get a whole lot of reading in either – it’s sort of a slump and life things going on.

This photo was from their graduation day in May.

I am trying to figure out other types of posts I can share on my blog. Lately I feel like I keep sharing the same stuff (WWW Wednesdays, Salon Sundays, Monthly Wrap Up, Library Savings, Books Acquired, and obviously reviews) and it just feels stale to me. If you’d like to share any ideas I am all ears.

I am reading an older Amazon First Reads choice that I never got around to reading called White Out. I am using it as for two HRCYED 3.0 prompts as well.

I am listening to an ALC of Three Reasons For Revenge. It takes place in Australia and the author lives there, so one for The Laws of Five challenge.

I am about to start The Pallbearers Club, a book I borrowed from a friend.

I’ve watched almost every single match of the World Cup this year. What am I going to do once the tournament is over? Probably get back in to reading, lol!!!

This is an older show, and I am sure I’ve seen some of it before… but it popped up on my TikTok page last week and I decided to watch from season 1.

The Sunday Salon / The Sunday Post #49

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

2026 Audiobook Challenge Mid Year Check In

WWW Wednesday – July 8, 2026

2026 Mid Year Challenge Check-In

Review: Slaying Monsters For The Feeble by Annette Marie

My Library Card Anniversary Day
WWW Wednesday
Sunday Salon #51

WWW Wednesday – July 8, 2026

Welcome to WWW Wednesday! This meme was formerly hosted by MizB at A Daily Rhythm and revived on Taking on a World of Words.

The Three Ws are: What are you currently reading? What did you recently finish reading? What do you think you’ll read next?

I am dealing with a reading slump at the moment, so these are the books I am trying to get into so the slump goes away…

Christmas in July, a thriller and a novella… Do You See What I See? by Peter Swanson is something I am gonna try to read later today. I requested this NetGalley ARC and was approved a few hours later.

I am listening to a NetGalley ARC that publishes later this month titled Three Reasons For Revenge by Dervla McTiernan, a new to me author. This one has an interesting premise, I just haven’t had a lot of time to listen to an audiobook in the last few days.

I wanted to read an older James Patterson book, so I chose one off my shelf… Sail. Summertime vibe and all that. But I’m not sure if it’s for me right now. I’m gonna give it two more days and if it’s not hitting I am just gonna DNF it and move on.

Since I last posted all of the books pictured above have been finished and rated &/or reviewed on Storygraph.

One read-along audiobook and two NetGalley eBooks that are publishing in August are next on my list. I am trying to keep up my NetGalley ratio!

Don’t forget to link up with Taking On A World Of Words to share your WWW!

2026 Audiobook Challenge Mid Year Check In

Halfway through the year and I have listened to 29 audiobooks!

23 audiobooks were from my library
6 were through NetGalley

For the challenge, I chose “Listen to 20-30 audiobooks this year (Binge Listener)” and I will complete that goal within the week. Woohoo!

Thanks to Kim, as always, for hosting this fun challenge!

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.

The Sunday Salon / The Sunday Post #49

Since I am off of work all summer, I get housework done in the morning and then have the rest of the day to do whatever I please. In the afternoon I would eat lunch, then sit in the backyard and read &/or watch World Cup games.

It’s been straight up BRUTAL outside for most of the week- this nasty heatwave is something else! Lots of staying cool indoors with the AC blasting!!

I switched it up and am reading a historical fantasy called Queen of Shadow. I am not that far into it at this point, but thought I needed a break from all the thrillers… and this ARC publishes in August so why not get a jump on it, lol. P.C. Cast is also a new to me author and I am really attracted to this cover art.

I just started listening to Three Reasons For Revenge by Dervla McTiernan. New to me author and I am excited to get into this one.

I am reading a physical book on my shelf called Sail by James Patterson. It’s an older title that I maaaayyyyyy of read before, but it’s been so long that it feels like it’s new to me. I also prefer James Patterson’s older books over his new ones lately so why not read it, lol.

I’ve watched almost every single match of the World Cup this year. Germany lost in penalty kicks, and it was such an atrocious loss. And I was rooting for Cape Verde to win, but that also didn’t happen. Lots of PKs to determine who moves on to the next round, which just feels… eh, to me.

Library Stats and Savings For May and June 2026

Books Acquired In June 2026

June Is Audiobook Month 2026

Monthly Wrap Up: June 2026

Review: The Delivery: A Novella by Gregg Hurwitz

Holiday: Fourth of July 2025

Review: The Safe Room: A Short Story by Lisa Unger
2026 Mid Year Challenge Check-In
WWW Wednesday – July 8, 2026
Review: Slaying Monsters For The Feeble by Annette Marie
2026 Audiobook Challenge Mid Year Check In
My Library Card Anniversary Day
Sunday Salon #50

Review: The Delivery: A Novella by Gregg Hurwitz

Title: The Delivery: A Novella
Author: Gregg Hurwitz
Format: eBook
Length: 225 pages
Rating: 4 stars
Publication Date: July 1, 2026

Rebecca and Mark Higgins are doing their best to hold their family together. She’s healing from the pain of a miscarriage, he’s drowning in pressure at work, and their neurodivergent daughter, Maddy, needs all the care she can get. So when a cutting-edge tech company offers the perfect solution, they jump at the chance. And they welcome “Mr. Man”―a humanoid AI companion―into their home.

Designed to anticipate their needs, he’s like a miracle at first. The house runs like clockwork. Meals appear on the table. And Maddy thrives under his patient attention. But when inexplicable tragedies start to strike the neighborhood, Rebecca glimpses a darker pattern at play.

Each incident is an answer to an unspoken fear, each kindness shadowed by violence. Mr. Man isn’t just following instructions―he’s anticipating what they want. Even the things they never dared to say. And if he’s executing their darkest desires, it’s their responsibility to stop him…at any cost.

Gregg Hurwitz knows how to write suspense, and The Delivery was an entertaining read. The story grabbed my attention immediately with what seemed like a routine delivery that quickly spiraled into a dangerous, high-stakes fight for survival. The tension never let up, and I found myself constantly wondering how the family was going to escape each new obstacle. I especially enjoyed the fast pacing and the way Hurwitz kept raising the stakes without slowing the story down. There were several tense confrontations that had me turning the pages as quickly as possible. This was a fun, adrenaline-fueled thriller that delivered exactly what I was expecting from the synopsis. If you enjoy nonstop action and edge-of-your-seat suspense, this one is well worth reading.

This is a new author to me and I would definitely read more of his work.

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

Books Acquired In June 2026

Good morning readers! These are all of the books that I acquired/received/borrowed onto my shelves, virtual and/or physical, for the entire month of June:

I borrowed all of these from Libby.

These two are First Reads choices for the month of June.

I enjoy Chad Zunker’s books so when I saw this one on NetGalley I knew I had to request it. Turns out, it was a Read Now book and I snagged it up so quick!

I signed up for this traveling book and it made it’s way to my house earlier this month. To learn more about Traveling Books or the Literally Bookish Facebook Group, leave me a comment and I’ll send you all the details!

Acquired: 8

Total spent this month: $0.00

Total spent this year: $0.00

The Sunday Salon / The Sunday Post #48

I was dog-sitting my friends dog (his breed is a Shipoo) and he was with us for most of the week, just hanging out at the house and in the backyard.

And we went to a concert for our family’s favorite band, The Head and The Heart, on Friday night.

This is my Facebook page, if you’d like to follow me.

I am reading last month’s Amazon First Reads choice Murder By Design. I am liking this one a lot, the characters are great and really making the story!

I am listening to Slaying Monsters For The Feeble. I am involved in a buddy read-along and this is the next book to listen to. Not that I forgot about the read-along, but I didn’t realize the month is almost over lol!

I am making good progress in Dungeon Crawler Carl (a hardcover book I am borrowed). I am hoping to be finished with this one by the end of the month.

I’ve watched almost every single match of the World Cup this year (sometimes they had two games going at the same time and my TV does not have split screen capabilities)!

WWW Wednesday – June 17, 2026

Review: The Kind Worth Killing by Peter Swanson

Review: Keep Them Close by David Ellis

Review: The Bone Stalker (Vegas Shadows 3) by Victor Methos

Library Stats and Savings For May and June 2026
Books Acquired In June 2026
June Is Audiobook Month 2026
Monthly Wrap Up: June 2026
Sunday Salon #49

Review: The Bone Stalker (Vegas Shadows 3) by Victor Methos

Title: The Bone Stalker
Author: Victor Methos
Series: Vegas Shadows 3
Format: eBook
Length: 373 pages
Rating: 4 stars
Publication Date: June 23, 2026

I received a complimentary e-copy. Thank you to NetGalley for approving my request of this ARC.

The Sunday Salon / The Sunday Post #47

My daughter celebrated her 19th birthday at the beginning of the week! And I’ve been pretty much getting any housework done in the early morning, then going into the backyard to watch the World Cup games and reading at commercial breaks, half time and in between matches. The weather has been in the mid 70s most of this week so I wanted to spend every second I could outdoors.

Today is Father’s Day here in the USA. My husband has decided that he wants to spend it in the pool, watching World Cup games and barbecuing dinner later tonight. Low key and I am here for it!

This is my Facebook page, if you’d like to follow me.

I am reading the newest short story I chose through Amazon First Reads program called The Safe Room by Lisa Unger. It’s only 63 pages so I should have it done rather quickly.

I am listening to The Fourth Monkey by J.D. Barker. The beginning has really drew me in, I just haven’t had a lot of time to listen to an audiobook this past week.

I am more than halfway through The Kind Worth Killing (a paperback I own). I am hoping to be finished with this one by the middle of the week.

I’ve watched every single match of the World Cup this year!

The Sunday Salon / The Sunday Post #46

WWW Wednesday – June 17, 2026

Review: The Bone Stalker (Vegas Shadows 3) by Victor Methos
WWW Wednesday – June 17, 2026
Review: Keep Them Close by David Ellis
Sunday Salon #47

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.

WWW Wednesday – June 17, 2026

Welcome to WWW Wednesday! This meme was formerly hosted by MizB at A Daily Rhythm and revived on Taking on a World of Words.

The Three Ws are: What are you currently reading? What did you recently finish reading? What do you think you’ll read next?

I was on vacation in St. Lucia last week so I was barely reading.

Because of my vacation I had my dates mixed up and was supposed to post my review of Keep Them Close, an ARC I received from Thriller Book Lovers: The Pulse (through NetGalley). I am trying my best to power through it so I can make a post by the weekend. I feel so bad missing the agreed upon deadline!

I am listening to a Libby borrow titled The Fourth Monkey. In a Facebook group I am in this one was raved about and I saw my library had the audio available through Hoopla.

I just started reading Dungeon Crawler Carl. I borrowed the hardcover from a friend so I am prioritizing this one so I can return it by the end of the month.

Since I last posted all of the books pictured above have been finished and rated &/or reviewed on Storygraph.

I have these three ARCs in my possession. I borrowed the audiobook of Two Kinds of Stranger from my library, and the other two publish in July. I am trying to keep up my NetGalley ratio!

Don’t forget to link up with Taking On A World Of Words to share your WWW!

The Sunday Salon / The Sunday Post #46

I had three days of work after vacation and then the school year is over! I’ve been trying to spend as much time outside as possible, since June is National Great Outdoors Month.

This is my Facebook page, if you’d like to follow me.

I am reading the newest short story I chose through Amazon First Reads program called The Safe Room by Lisa Unger. It’s only 63 pages so I should have it done rather quickly.

I am listening to The Fourth Monkey by J.D. Barker. The beginning has really drew me in, I just haven’t had a lot of time to listen to an audiobook this past week.

I am more than halfway through The Kind Worth Killing (a paperback I own). I am hoping to be finished with this one by the middle of the week.

I rewatched episodes 1 and 2 of Mindhunter the other night. Such a good show! So sad they cancelled it before season 3.

This game came up on my FYP on TikTok and I caved in and started playing it. I’m addicted! There are over 3,000 books all over the floor in the library and you have to pick them up and put them back on their correct shelf. It’s chaos and also so satisfying!

WWW Wednesday – June 17, 2026
Sunday Salon #47

The Sunday Salon / The Sunday Post #45

Since I last posted, we went on a big 10 person family vacation to St. Lucia to celebrate my son’s college graduation.

I am dreading the last three days of work for this school year this week. I’m totally in vacation/summer mode!!!

This is my Facebook page, if you’d like to follow me.

I am reading the last book in the Vegas Shadows trilogy, The Bone Stalker. When I saw it on NetGalley I HAD to request it! I’m 62% in and it’s already keeping my interest. I hope Lazarus and Piper end up together.

I am listening to Heather by Caitlin Mullen. Definitely a slow burn mystery. Celadon sent me the widget so I am trying to finish the book before it publishes. I’m 34% into the audiobook.

I also started The Kind Worth Killing (a paperback I own). I read it a bunch by the pool. I’m 25% through it according to Storygraph.