bethreadscrime's reviews
290 reviews

This debut novel from Callie Kazumi is described as "a story of obsession, love and murder – and not the one you’re expecting. . . Discover a gripping new thriller with a killer twist at its core."

Naturally I was really looking forward to reading it! The book is split into two parts and as chapters unfold they are interspersed with both Claire's diary entries and flashbacks to her childhood memories. Claire is thrilled to be celebrating her first anniversary with her fiancé, Noah. Claire is a little awkward; she was bullied at school and raised by a controlling mother who cared more about men than her. So Claire is completely enamored and all in with her relationship with Noah. 

She decides to surprise him with a special lunch at his office, but when she arrives, he doesn’t seem to be on the system. In fact, he hasn't  worked there for nine months! A confused Claire tries to reach him, but Noah won't answer her calls or messages – he's vanished. #FindNoah.

Ok so we know there is a twist coming from the book's description and I did guess it very early on. However, this didn't take away any enjoyment from reading. Cuckoo was really fun – full of characters you hate to love and love to hate (Sukhi FTW) – and it was great to see the story unfold. I won't mention the contents of part two as I don't want to spoil it. If you enjoy domestic thrillers then this is for you. 

A solid debut – I look forward to seeing what Callie writes next!

Thank you to Cornerstone and Rachel Quin for my proof copy of the book.

This psychological thriller revolves around three neighbouring couples and kicks off with a dark, tantalising mystery: someone is trapped inside a bonfire on Bonfire Night. But who? And why? From there, the book rewinds, taking us through the events leading up to that fateful night – and beyond.

The three women are incredibly well-crafted, each with complex inner workings and hidden secrets. But Margot stole the show for me. My phone is now full of screenshots of her hilarious one liner thoughts, including gems like: “I swallow a couple of painkillers for a headache that’s been stalking me like a charity worker rattling a can in the high street” and “Who goes for a walk at midnight in March aside from badgers and sex offenders?”

I love when characters sit in that morally grey space and John Marrs does this brilliantly here – none of these women are wholly good or bad, which makes the story even more gripping.

I won’t say much more because I don’t want to spoil it, but You Killed Me First was a thrilling, highly enjoyable read. If you love psychological thrillers packed with secrets, suspense, and sharp wit, this one’s for you.

I adored The Guilty Couple and Every Move You Make so I was very excited to read the new standalone thriller from C. L. Taylor.

Jude is new to town and has no patience for the school gate politics. She’s not interested in cliques or gossip – she just wants to get on with things. But after her daughter keeps inviting her friend over, Jude finds herself drawn to Will – her friend’s father.

One morning, Will is attacked outside the school. The other mums just watch – but Jude rushes to his aid. Later, they reach out with a chilling warning. Doesn’t she know about Will’s past? His first wife died and his second vanished without a trace. They’re convinced he’s responsible for both events. After all, it’s always the husband, isn’t it?

What follows is a gripping, twist-filled psychological thriller packed with secrets, suspicion and shocking revelations. This was a fab read, I especially adored the final couple of pages! If you love fast-paced thrillers that keep you guessing then make sure to jump on this one.

Thank you Avon Books and NetGalley for ARC. 

The moment I saw this book advertised, I knew I had to read it. The vibrant bento box cover immediately caught my eye (it's also the softest cover ever!), and the premise had me hooked. 

𝘚𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘗𝘪𝘤𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘴 is written by Japanese YouTuber and author Uketsu, a mysterious figure who always appears in videos wearing a white mask and black bodysuit, with a digitally distorted voice. His real identity remains unknown…

The book opens with a drawing being analysed by a psychologist, drawn by a child who has committed matricide, to assess whether they should be reintegrated. Then we reach the contents page and see that the book is divided into four distinct stories, years apart. The challenge? Finding the hidden clues that reveal the sinister truth connecting them all.

True to its title, 𝘚𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘗𝘪𝘤𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘴 integrates mixed media elements – blog posts, floor plans, letters, and of course, eerie illustrations. If you know me, you’ll know I love mixed media in fiction, and this was no exception. I’m keeping this review short to preserve the mystery, but I’ll say this I was thoroughly impressed. A definite recommendation!

And the best part? Another of Uketsu’s books, 𝘚𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘏𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘦𝘴, is being translated and is set to release later this year. I can’t wait to read more!

The Ffion Morgan series just keeps getting better – Other People’s Houses is my new favourite! Clare Mackintosh has absolutely knocked it out of the park with this one.

For starters, it opens with a map and a snippet about a podcast running alongside the story – two of my favourite things a book can do.

This time, Ffion is investigating a body found in a kayak, while Leo is dealing with a string of burglaries in the posh neighbourhood of The Hill. The characters are so well-developed and distinct. Ffion herself is fierce, funny, independent and shows real growth in this latest entry. Plus, if you read A Game of Lies, you’ll be pleased to see Dave the dog making a return!

While Other People’s Houses does introduce everyone, I wouldn’t recommend jumping in without reading the first two books. It’s only a small backlog and you would be depriving yourself of some brilliant character development and storytelling if you skipped them.

I clocked onto something early, but there was so much more to uncover! And I have to share this quote, which ties in perfectly – picture the “I’m in this photo and I don’t like it” meme alongside:

When I reached the end of the book, I welled up more than once – which never happens and is a testament to what an amazing world Mackintosh has crafted.

Thank you Little Brown Book Group for the advanced copy. Other People’s Houses is out on the 27th February and is available to pre-order now. 

The story follows Claire, whose world is turned upside down when her husband, Tom, fails to pick up their daughter, Isla, from school. As worry sets in, Claire discovers a threatening message on his phone, setting off a frantic search for answers. It takes a lot of digging are Claire realises she doesn't have much to go on and she begins to question everything she thought she knew about the man she married eight years ago.

This is an enjoyable popcorn domestic thriller. While it sticks to familiar genre conventions, it delivers plenty of suspense, making it a great choice for readers who enjoy gripping, binge-worthy thrillers.

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I've been a longtime Palahniuk fan – discovering his books in my teens and even focusing a section of dissertation on 𝘍𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘊𝘭𝘶𝘣. I regularly import his books from the US, where he does signings, and I’ve been lucky enough to receive two completion prizes from him. Someone, please get him to tour the UK!

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𝘚𝘩𝘰𝘤𝘬 𝘐𝘯𝘥𝘶𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 feels like a return to classic Palahniuk – experimental, chaotic and yet completely digestible. Opening with a reader warning about ERE poisoning, you'll find out in due time what that acronym stands for of course. This is fleshed out further into the book with interwoven newspaper snippets that I couldn't believe were true. They are. 

As is tradition with Palahniuk, this book is hard to review. It made me long to be reading him as a teen for the first time again, just so I could properly dissect it. I think my brain may be a little too fuzzy for that these days. 

It's reminiscent of 𝘍𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘊𝘭𝘶𝘣 – including a nice nod to the cave of your power animal. Every food is italicised. There's an author's note prior to the end. There's fantastic imagery throughout about Devil's Breath. The cover art makes beautiful sense after reading. Each section is divided by a little hummingbird image. Paramecium.

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Here are some of my favourite quotes...

A person not so young they bank on every haircut being a fresh start. A person old enough to recall when the top of all windshields was colored blue.

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Do you even know what you truly want? Or are you waiting for the television to tell you?

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"When you sign your married name, your signature is never as beautiful as the maiden name you learned to write while growing up." Women never like to admit that, she says. "All your married life, your hand hates signing anything. Your hand fights this constant betrayal of the original you." 

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Avocado. 

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