Edge-of-your-seat suspence in this psychological thriller
583472
Okay, so I was a bit out of my comfort zone reading this book... after reading the first chapter (in which we crawl into the head of a serial killer) I literally felt sick to the stomach from reading what he did to one of his victims. I usually read romance & YA books, so maybe I'm just being a cry-baby here! Anyway, this wasn't just a crime novel - it was actually a very well-executed, creepy and gripping psychological tale that kept me flipping pages long after bedtime. I started out being seriously creeped out by Jimmy, the psycho killer, but as the story progressed, I came to learn more about his background and why he was the way he was. It wasn't that the writer wanted me to sympathize with him (I don't think anyone ever would) but I could sort of understand why he turned out this way. On the other hand, I was beginning to see a lot of parallels between Jimmy and Julia, the female main character who discovers notes in a library book that were left by Jimmy (and subsequently tries to track down the person who borrowed the library book - without knowing she is being hunted by the same guy). Julia had a difficult relationship with her mother - so did Jimmy. Julia is kind of paranoid about things, and so is Jimmy. They just express themselves differently. Maybe that is why Julia feels this drive to find the Brain Surgeon Killer.. she might feel a connection with him.
Sometimes, it was hard for me to connect with the characters because they were both so uptight, stressy and weird about things, but they were written true to their characters and I applaud the writer for producing such an exciting and well-woven tale. I loved the writing style, I loved the suspense, and I can recommend this book to any fan of crime or psychological thrillers!
1765593
If you enjoy books about crazed, serial killers who have a normal day job,  this is the book for you.  Its a psychological thriller about a man with a history of abuse, neglect and trauma who takes it upon himself to punish people who commit small, possibly unnoticed crimes.  When a 16  year old girls witnesses one of his murders, he kidnaps her and keep hers unharmed in a secluded house...after all she did not commit a crime so it is hard to justify killing her. Of course here enters a husband and wife detective team hired by the girls mother and determined to find the young girl.  They unravel the mystery leading to the killer but find themselves endangered as well.  This is a well, written page turner.
4852690
When Morgan returned home to find the front door ajar she was worried  the dogs could easily escape  she worried Bennett hadnt latched it properly. Bennett didn't like her dogs; but Morgan loved dogs and had rescued two pit bulls plus she had owned her Great Pyrenees since she was a puppy; Cloud was a gentle giant. The absolute horror of what confronted her when she entered the house was shattering  her dogs were covered in blood and her fianc, Bennett, dead in a brutal, macabre way.

With help from her brother Steven, Morgan began to search for Bennetts family to let them know what had happened to their son. She hadnt been to his home, but he had told her the address  but that address didn't exist. When the police could find no identification for Bennett, the situation became bizarre. Deeper investigation revealed to a stunned Morgan that the man she had been engaged to was not the man she thought he was. Was his name even Bennett? The lies and deception; the layers and layers of deceit were shocking! But the sudden realization of the immense danger that Morgan as well as others were in left her in a state of complete disbelief. What was the truth? Who was this person?

The Hand That Feeds You is an incredibly twisted and gripping psychological thriller which I found impossible to put down! The fast pace and page turning action was full of suspense; Morgan was a well-crafted character, flawed but likeable. For those of you who love a good psychological thriller, I have no hesitation in highly recommending The Hand That Feeds You.
1926541
Extraordinarily intense, exceptionally sinister, and darkly entertaining!

This story reminds us just how much our familial relationships, environments and experiences can affect our physical and psychological health and emphasizes how fragile and complex our minds truly are.

It, ultimately, is a story about abuse, loss, death, grief, guilt, manipulation, and obsession.

The plot is told from different points of view and shifts between the past and present effortlessly creating an exciting thrill ride of twists, turns, suspense, and tension. The writing is smooth and clear. And the characters are lonely, damaged, desolate, and devious.

Overall, this is an incredibly clever, debut psychological thriller with just the right amount of mystery and eeriness to keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish.

Thank you to NetGalley, especially Bookouture, for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
2659302
The description for this book is chilling. This is a dark psychological thriller with plenty of suspense, and I believe this will be one of the most talked about books this year. Nina Laurin has an excellent writing style and descriptive imagery that grabs you from the prologue and never lets go. She taps into the main characters thoughts and shares them as an internal narration throughout the book. The character development is extensive and very well done. I believe this is Laurin's debut thriller, and I look forward to more reading more novels from her.

The first big plot twist that I didn't see coming comes about 10% into the book. Definitely an "oh boy" moment. As the book progresses, Lainey (Laine) gets pulled deep into the investigation of the current abduction. The detective on the current case was involved in Laine's abduction a decade before. She is naturally apprehensive about getting involved in the new case, and the detective also voices his concerns against it.

Laurin does an excellent job portraying Laine's internal struggles with her past, and her many coping mechanisms to deal with her past and the present situation. A series of plot twists ensue that will keep you guessing, because nothing is as it seems. Laine scrambles to keep up and desperately tries to stay in front of the dangers around every corner. She soon comes to the startling realization that she's all alone again, and her desperation and determination intensifies. Before long her past and present worlds collide and crash down around her, and she must scramble to figure out a way to resolve things before it's too late. The conclusion is shocking and explosive.

I hope this book will be adapted into a movie, but of course there is no way the movie could match the caliber of the novel. I would recommend this book to fans of suspense and psychological thrillers. I received this as a free ARC from Grand Central Publishing on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
820659
A psychological thriller with plenty of twists and turns.  A young woman trying to come to terms with violence and death in her present life learns to embrace her past and rise above the trauma of a childhood experience.  A well-written, worthy read...
548872
5 star suspense-filled psychological thriller. Just when I thought I'd put my finger on who the criminal was, I was proved wrong. This is a fast-paced thriller with enough twists and turns to throw any who-done-it expert reader off track, at least temporarily. Crazy yet believable. The ending really snuck up on me. You got me, well done!
3126738
This story is well crafted, intriguing, and I had to wrestle with my compulsion to finish it in one night. This psychological thriller is part heart-wrenching and part affirming at the same time.  There are insights into the worst and the best hiding inside people.  To say much more would be giving it away. I'm quite pleased to say that I was NOT distracted by the rampant grammatical and spelling errors I've encountered in other recent reads.
299840
This book was a real page turner!  Psychological thriller at its best.  I couldn't help enjoying every character, even the bad guys.  Once one learns the concept of"no judgment" it becomes easier to live and learn.
2728250
What if you found yourself locked into a bomb shelter in the pitch blackness with no way of escape at the age of six? Crazy ideas spill through your mind and threaten to eat at every ounce of your sanity. Nineteen years later, Austin Ward while trying to maintain a sense of normalcy fought against her fearful mind as it threatened to bury her alive in the darkness. Each time the lights go out, you think you are another step closer to the truth only to have P.J. Cowan yank you down another dark alley. SOMETHING IN THE DARK is an excellent psychological thriller that keeps the reader guessing until the very end. I do not want to say more as the true thrill of the story is Ms. Cowan keeping the reader in the dark. Psychological thrill seekers should find this novel one big roller-coaster of unexpected twists, turns, and loops.
258062
An amazing, dark psychological thriller. I was fascinated by the little hints of observations about human nature - things that go against the grain. And the overall structure of the violence only occurring at the end made for great anticipation.
3300691
I really enjoyed this book, but I knew going in that it wasn't for the faint of heart. It's deeply disturbing, and will draw you in quickly.

The story is about Horatio, a very disturbed individual. He is so far removed from reality and is a social misfit, to say the least. Most of the conversation in this book is between Horatio and his imaginary "friend" and his "wife" (a blow up doll.) It's very well written and, in spite of its dark themes, is quite humorous. A very good psychological thriller. I'd recommend it!
1723593
This is a well-crafted psychological thriller packed full of twists and turns in a plot that lingers in your subconscious long after you finish reading. You definitely want Adam to like you and be your friend! The characters are perfectly drawn and develop naturally along with the story line, which is unforced and captivating. The character of Adam has suffered and his internal struggles are revealed as you are drawn into his world and experiences. What I enjoyed the most was that the author pulled all the loose ends together for the reader in the end, something that sometimes is lacking in books of this genre. I am looking forward to reading more from this author.
3845757
In this deeply disturbing psychological thriller, we meet Louisa Williams who is trying to build a new life for herself after the car accident that ripped her world apart. Dealing with the death of Sam, the loss of her children, and scarred for life, Louisa has left her past behind her and moved to the city, in the hopes of creating a different future than the one she always thought she would have. Leaving her married name behind, she becomes Lou Turner again. With a new apartment, a new job, and a new caring, younger man, Louisa starts to feel confident again and that everything is a little brighter. But when her husband's lover, Sophie, tracks her down and starts demanding money, Louisa's past is soon firmly mixed with her present. Sophie wants the money that she feels her daughter, Sam's daughter, is entitled to, but more than that she wants to clear Sam's name and she will stop at nothing to expose Louisa for the liar she believes her to be. With plenty of twists, turns, and unbelievable shocks (trust me you will be shouting OMG about twenty times!) HER HUSBAND'S LOVER by Julia Crouch is a pure masterpiece of crime fiction. Fast-paced, with gripping characters, and exquisite detail, HER HUSBAND'S LOVER by Julia Crouch is a must-read for 2017!!

*I voluntarily reviewed this book from Netgalley.com
3124116
McGrath has created an evocative, shadowed mystery all the more compelling for the fact that it is born in childhood experience, young Charlie Weir the heir of a dysfunctional family that ultimately casts him in the role of caretaker. With parents that lash out at one another and a gregarious brother who seeks his identity outside their troubled home, Charlie is the de facto caretaker of his alcoholic, depressed mother, who pens somewhat successful mysteries in her later years, ever praising older son, Walt, a successful artist, while denigrating Charlie's efforts to bring a modicum of peace and order to his mother's self-destructive days. While Fred Weir abandons his family for a younger woman and a wasted life of philandering, Charlie is the only one willing to step into the breech and protect the family from complete disintegration. It is no surprise, then, that in the 1970s Charlie should become a doctor who specializes in treating the mental disorders of returning Vietnam vets suffering from PTSD.

One of these damaged vets, Danny, is the focus of Charlie's professional energy, the young man severely traumatized by what he has seen- and done- while in service to his country. Danny's sister, Agnes, is an unexpected gift to the young doctor; Charlie and Agnes marry and have a daughter, Cassie, embracing the tormented Danny as a part of their small family. But Danny's slow disintegration ultimately takes a toll on the marriage, Charlie unable to comfort Agnes when she most needs him. His work becomes salvation until his mother's death, when Charlie's careful house of cards comes crashing down: he assumes her chronic depression, a cloak of dread that weighs upon every aspect of his life. Charlie finds brief respite in Agnes' kindness and a chaotic romance with an equally-damaged Nora Chiara; but Charlie soon realizes that the needy Nora, while thrilling and seductive, is an emotional burden he cannot carry.

In an effort at self-preservation, Charlie changes jobs and location, drawn to a familiar place to confront his family drama. Subconsciously searching for safety, Charlie comes face to face with his own truth. His protagonist the heart of this complex psychological thriller, McGrath exposes the layers of denial and pain that have shielded Charlie Weir from the memory he fears. The human mind as dark and many-chambered as any nightmarish crime scene, this illness is far more subtle and pervasive, turning a well-meant life into a series of painful episodes that batter Charlie's psyche and leave him unable to navigate the world. Facing his brother, Walt, and an indifferent father in a heart-stopping moment of reckoning, Charlie's harrowing confrontation with the past is long overdue, his path strewn with loss and disappointment. A broken man, Charlie must find the strength to save the child he once was from a long-buried memory, to return to a life worth sustaining. Luan Gaines/ 2008.
3662239
Julia Dudek takes the reader on an emotional roller-coaster ride through a dark, twisted tunnel as it enters the human psyche. The ride begins slow, then speeds up, and suddenly you feel like you're on a rocket. As you wait to see if there will be light at the end of that horrifying tunnel as chills go up your spine, while sitting on the edge of your seat, you witness a heart-pounding thriller. This compelling, nail-biting story portrays the terrible truths that hide behind everyday appearances. The plot is a spellbinding, chilling journey that reveals just how little we know about the world around us. The pages are filled with revenge, passion, and rage, with a spectrum of terror that only a few can see. Evil has its winning ways, but how far will Angelique McCourt go to seek her revenge on Bernadette's killer? Will Angelique find the mysterious pieces to the bizarre puzzle? This spine-tingling suspenseful journey will continue through relentless psychological torment. How many victims does detective Ben Marsden find, and does he solve the puzzle before Angelique? On the quest of vengeance for the murder of her best friend, does Angelique's life fall apart, and how does she change? Does an intelligent beauty queen, with a photographic memory battle a blood-thirsty monster, and where does she find that demon? As rage and danger light up the pages, while Angelique embarks on a ruthless mission to hunt the killer, who's on the hunt for her? Does Angelique's mission become seductive and deadly to find the missing pieces? Will passion distort the hidden truth in the case? After suffering the loss of a loved one, then jumping into the mind of a deranged killer, will Angelique survive her struggles for justice as she faces her worst fears? I highly recommend this novel to all thriller lovers. The pages are packed with drama, the characters are intriguing, and the plot explodes into an entertaining, psychological thriller. The author cleverly defines the good, the bad, and the evil through characters that come to life in a twisted, emotional story. "PIECES" is as chilling as DON'T SAY A WORD, as intense as ALONG CAME A SPIDER, and as suspenseful as THE BONE COLLECTOR, with Denzel Washington, and Angelina Jolie.
3453736
The Blow Up Man is a really great psychological thriller, with plenty of twists and turns, most of which you will not see coming. The prose flowed really well and the characters really developed throughout the book, especially with Annette. We meet her as the victim of an uncaring and selfish ex-husband, and you can't help but empathise with her. But as with many things, all is not as it seems, perhaps Annette is not as innocent and hard done by as she makes out. And perhaps her ex-husband's new squeeze Faye, should be very worried indeed.

Without giving too much away, I will say that some women will stop at nothing to get what they want, and some women will have to suffer because of it.