Category Archives: Thriller

Recent Reads

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Sharing the love of reading!

Looking for your next read? You might like to consider exploring some of my most recent reads.

Happy Reading.

Jody

Share your love of books!

The mysterious bakery on Rue de Paris by Evie Woods

I found ‘The mysterious bakery on Rue de Paris’ to be the perfect mix of modern day, mystery and charming! Guaranteed magical read that will keep you fully absorb you and warm your heart.

I simultaneously read & listened to ‘The mysterious bakery on Rue de Paris. The elements of the French language throughout the book were essentially enhanced by listening to the audio edition.  

About the book

Nestled among the cobblestone streets of Compiègne, there existed a bakery unlike any other.

Rumours were whispered through the town that its pastries offered a taste of magic, chasing away the darkest of sorrows. Just one bite of a croissant might bring luck, unlock a precious memory or reveal hidden longings.

But dark clouds were looming on the horizon…

For Edie Lane, a recipe for disaster doesn’t require that many ingredients. Take an unhealthy amount of wishful thinking and a sprinkle of desperation and that’s how Edie left everything behind in Ireland for her dream job at a bakery in Paris. Except the bakery isn’t in Paris – and neither is Edie.

This might not be where Edie intended to be, but she soon realizes it’s exactly where she needs to be…

The fallen women by Fiona McIntosh

A totally absorbing historical fiction with a strong female focus. Full of family dynamics and social ideals of the time. Fiona McIntosh is certainly becoming another author I can always count for an enjoyable read when I find myself in a reading funk.

About the book

Botanical artist Jane Saville is devastated when her manipulative mother banishes her to the countryside to protect someone else’s honour. Isolated far from home, she is forced to live an impoverished, secretive life to save the family from public shame.

Guy Attwood is heir to a fortune but prefers his quiet passion for rare-apple hunting on behalf of Royal Kew Gardens to building the family’s business empire. He sets out to find a critically endangered apple species that he dreams of gifting and re-naming for his friend, the soon-to-be coronated George V.

When the paths of these people from two very different worlds collide, Jane begins to hope for a different future, but their new friendship is shattered by jealousy, misunderstanding, duty and treachery. A young boy will inspire Jane to defy the powers working against her and prove she is no woman to be outcast.

Set in the picturesque English countryside, in a forgotten orchard and beneath the ancient spire of Salisbury Cathedral, this is a heart-wrenching story about a woman who finds that in her darkest hour she can harness her greatest strength.

When she was gone by Sara Foster

Sara Foster can do no wrong in my eyes; I have read every one of her books and have absolutely loved all of them. I loved ‘When she was gone’, and it wasn’t the suspense of finding out ‘who did it’ that kept me glued to the pages, it was the way Sara Foster builds a connection with characters, so you become invested in their story and the outcome. This is what I love about Sara Fosters books. If you enjoy a good thriller or domestic thriller/mystery, then please explore Sara Fosters books if you have not already.

About the book

Was she taken … or did she run? The pulse-pounding new psychological thriller from the bestselling author of You Don’t Know Me

Rose was torn away from her daughter. Now, is she the only one who can save her?

Former London police officer Rose Campbell has been estranged from her daughter, Lou, for almost a decade. But when Lou disappears from a remote Western Australian beach, and the police suspect her of kidnapping the two young children in her care, Rose is asked to help bring Lou home. The police think Rose’s insights will lead them to Lou, but they don’t realise that Rose hardly knows her daughter anymore.

This is the final case in DSS Mal Blackwood’s illustrious career, and there’s a lot riding on it. The missing children are heirs to the Fisher property empire, and as their multimillionaire grandfather breathes down Blackwood’s neck for results, the media storm is intensifying. Faced with a deluge of evidence and accusations, Blackwood doesn’t know who he can trust.

Rose arrives in Australia intent on proving her daughter’s innocence, but how can she be sure of that when she’s no longer part of Lou’s life? Meanwhile, as Blackwood begins to expose the Fishers’ secrets, the investigation takes a much darker turn. Shadows of the past gather around the Fishers and Rose, and soon it’s clear that every hour is critical. What has happened to Lou and the children? And can Rose and Blackwood find them in time?

Happy Reading!

Jody

January Five Star Reads

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Well! 2025 has began with a bang! A bang of ‘Great Reads’.

Out of the 10 books I read in January these are my ‘Top 5’ five star reads. In no particular order.

Every Last Suspect by Nicola Moriarty

Manipulative, irresistible, monstrous.

Love or hate her, Harriet Osman is impossible to turn down. But someone in her life has finally snapped, leaving her face-down in a pool of her own blood. Harriet isn’t one to die quietly though, and she is determined to reveal her killer before she goes.

Was it her devoted husband, Malek, with a violent past? Her best friend and lover, Victoria, with a deadly secret only Harriet knew? Or the new woman in her life, fellow school mum Karen? The one with an impeccable reputation … or so she says.

Bullying, friendships and games (in and out of the bedroom) combine with envy, lust and revenge, creating a darkly twisted tale of drama and suspense where the question isn’t who killed Harriet, but why did it take them so long to do it?

Nicola Moriarty’s books just keep getting better, and better!

We Begin at the End by Chris Whitaker

Thirty years ago, Vincent King became a killer.

Now, he’s been released from prison and is back in his hometown of Cape Haven, California. Not everyone is pleased to see him. Like Star Radley, his ex-girlfriend, and sister of the girl he killed.

Duchess Radley, Star’s thirteen-year-old daughter, is part-carer, part-protector to her younger brother, Robin – and to her deeply troubled mother. But in trying to protect Star, Duchess inadvertently sets off a chain of events that will have tragic consequences not only for her family, but also the whole town.

Murder, revenge, retribution.

This one stayed with me longer after I finished reading it.

The Lost Bookshop by Evie Woods

On a quiet street in Dublin, a lost bookshop is waiting to be found…

For too long, Opaline, Martha and Henry have been the side characters in their own lives.

But when a vanishing bookshop casts its spell, these three unsuspecting strangers will discover that their own stories are every bit as extraordinary as the ones found in the pages of their beloved books. And by unlocking the secrets of the shelves, they find themselves transported to a world of wonder… where nothing is as it seems.

Beautiful! Had me hooked from the very first page. I am officially a Evie Woods fan!

One Dark Night by Hannah Richell

He murdered her at the folly on their wedding day, left her body for the crows. They say she haunts the woods now, a girl in a white dress …

Everyone in the small town of Thorncombe knows the tales of the haunted woods where the birds don’t sing and a girl in a white dress roams, luring people to their deaths. But when a girl in white is found dead the morning after Halloween, her body carefully arranged at the bottom of an old stone folly, the community is thrown into turmoil.

With a teenage daughter of his own, police detective Ben Chase knows how high the stakes are. Was the girl the victim of a party prank gone wrong, or does her death represent something more sinister and ritualistic?

As the investigation unfolds and the noose tightens around Chase’s own family, the only thing anyone can be sure of is that no one is safe until this violent killer is caught.

How far can we run from the past, when the past seems doomed to repeat itself?

Hannah Richell never falls to write amazing stories.

The Ledge by Christian White

When human remains are discovered in a forest, police are baffled, the locals are shocked and one group of old friends starts to panic. Their long-held secret is about to be uncovered.

It all began in 1999 when sixteen-year-old Aaron ran away from home, drawing his friends into an unforeseeable chain of events that no one escaped from unscathed.

In The Ledge, past and present run breathlessly parallel, leading to a climax that will change everything you thought you knew. This is a mind-bending new novel from the master of the unexpected.

Another gripping thriller from Christian White.

I hope you find another great read to add to your TBR pile.

Happy Reading.

Jody

Book Review Storm Child

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Storm Child by Michael Robotham

About the book

The most painful of Evie Cormac’s memories have been locked away ever since she was held prisoner as a child – a child whose rescue captured hearts and headlines.

Forensic psychologist Cyrus Haven‘s mission is to guide her to something near normality. But today, on a British beach, seventeen bodies wash up in front of them. There is only one survivor, with two women still missing.

Suddenly, Evie’s nightmares come roaring back. Whatever happened all those years ago lies at the core of this new tragedy. Because these deaths are no accident. The same dark forces are reaching out, dragging her back into the storm.

Comments

This fourth book in the Cyrus Haven series did not disappoint our group.

The characterisations are believable and engaging and the plot has twists and turns which keep the reader guessing. Set in Scotland and involving ‘people in high places’, it is a story of abuse, people smuggling and greed. Evie’s repressed memories from her past abuse begin to resurface in this story and as Cyrus continues to help Evie resolve her past, he gains resolution of his own.

A thoroughly gripping and enjoyable read.

Read by Dundas Readers 8/10

Click here to discover more books by Michael Robotham

Spotlight on Australian Crime Authors

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Australian Crime Fiction

My advice to those people who are yet to discover the wonderful world of Australian Crime fiction is, do yourself a favour and make Australian crime fiction your next obsession!

Over the last couple of months, I have read some amazing Australian Crime fiction. Chris Hammer’s latest book, The Seven started me off. I loved the characters and nuances of small-town life, not to mention the mystery of who committed the murders.

After finishing The Seven and then re-reading all of Chris Hammer’s other books I decided to look for new Australian Crime authors to explore, and now I am two months in and can’t seem to stop! Strange though it might seem I find them relaxing.

So, in the hopes that you to, may find something new and interesting to read here, are some of my favourite Australian Crime reads to get you started or, assist longtime fans discover something new.

Happy reading!

Jody

Margaret Hickey

For those of you who are yet to discover award-winning Australian Crime author Margaret Hickey, you are in for a treat! Cutters End, Stone Town and Broken Bay all featuring Detective Mark Ariti are, simply put, unputdownable!

The pace, setting, dialogue and interaction of the characters is what makes Margaret Hickey’s books standout.

Margaret Hickey’s new book, The Creeper is due for can’t wait]. To read more about The Creeper and Margaret Hickey’s other books check out https://www.penguin.com.au/authors/margaret-hickey

Gary Disher

Hirsch Series

Paul Hirschhausen is one of my favourite characters! I re-read this series every year. Jody

For further information about Gary Disher and his incredible books check out his website.

You can even read a chapter of Sanctuary Gary’s new stand alone novel coming out later this year. Place a Hold now!

Christian White

Chris Hammer

Mark Brandi

Jane Harper

Darcy Tindale

Kyle Perry

Dinuka McKenzie

Sarah Bailey

Michael Trant

Lyn Yeowart

Candice Fox

Peter Temple

Nikki Mottram

Emma Viskic

Kerry McGinnis

Ben Hobson

Aoife Clifford

Fiona McIntosh

Jack Heath

Brian Brown

Barry Maitland

Popular Australian Reads 2023

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What great Australian authors have you discovered this year?

There is nothing we like better here at City of Parramatta Libraries than discussing and recommending Australian authors to our community of readers. Below is just a small selection of some of our current favourites.

Enjoy!

Seven days by Fleur Ferries

Winner of Best Young Adult novel, 2023 Davitt Awards.

When Ben is dumped with his country relatives for the holidays, he starts counting down the days until it is over, loathing every second.

However, Ben’s stay takes a sharp turn when he comes across his great-great grandfather’s journal – the final entry being from one hundred years ago, right after he was shot. With his cousin, Josh, Ben starts unravelling mysteries, lies and shocking crimes. Can the two boys beat the odds to resolve a century of bad blood between two families?

Fleur Ferries diverse background as a Paramedic and Police Officer has provided a unique narrative into current society.

https://www.penguin.com.au/books/seven-days-9781761043352

Stone town by Margaret Hickey

With its gold-rush history long in the past, Stone Town has seen better days. And it’s now in the headlines for all the wrong reasons . . .

When three teenagers stumble upon a body in dense bushland one rainy Friday night, Senior Sergeant Mark Ariti’s hopes for a quiet posting in his old home town are shattered. The victim is Aidan Sleeth, a property developer, whose controversial plan to buy up local land means few are surprised he ended up dead.

However, his gruesome murder is overshadowed by a mystery consuming the entire nation: the disappearance of Detective Sergeant Natalie Whitsed.

Natalie had been investigating the celebrity wife of crime boss Tony ‘The Hook’ Scopelliti when she vanished. What did she uncover? Has it cost her her life? And why are the two Homicide detectives, sent from the city to run the Sleeth case, so obsessed with Natalie’s fate?

Following a late-night call from his former boss, Mark is sure of one thing: he’s now in the middle of a deadly game . . .

Margaret Hickey is a playwright & author who has a strong interest in rural communities.

https://www.penguin.com.au/books/stone-town-9781761048692

The all of it by Cadance Bell

Seven years ago, Ben was loveless, overweight, in debt and living in his parents’ rumpus room, trying to find a way to quietly die. Days passed by in a haze of marijuana smoke and self-loathing. Then, one day, Ben decided not to die. He decided to change everything – starting with the Ben bit. Becoming Cadance would be more than a gender transition. It would be a transition in every way. It would mean leaving behind a rural Mudgee childhood filled with Frogger, hot chips, Godliness, and a forbidden love of Sarah Parker’s My Little Pony; and the violence, drugs and secrecy that plagued her twenties. Choosing to live was just the beginning; what mattered was how she existed.

Cadance Bell is a storyteller whose various pieces have appeared in The Guardian, popular blogs – ‘Rainbow Roo’ and ‘I miss pockets’. Documentaries to explore include ‘Rainbow Passage’ and ‘Who I am’. Candances’ hobbies and interests include playing Pokemon Go and eating burritos.

https://www.penguin.com.au/books/the-all-of-it-9781761045028

Believe by Sam Frost

Believe a mental health initiative created by Sam Frost and supported by her sister Krister is an online community forum inclusive to everyone focussing on mental health subjects as depression, anxiety, unhealthy relationships and dealing with the challenges of social media.

Believe has progressed from an online community forum into a great book!

In Believe, Sam shares her own experiences navigating dark mental health periods and, alongside Kristine’s own insights, offers warm, gentle inspiration and tips to help you come through to the other side of your own. Believe is a personal story, a battle cry and a reassurance for the many of Sam’s fans who have struggled as she has.

https://www.believebysamfrost.com/about

https://www.hachette.com.au/book/believe